The music she makes is future-facing, bass-heavy, trap-infused stuff – it's awash with glorious triumphal synth chords, glistening bleepsome clusters, and collections of ornamented, rolling percussion; indeed, a love of styles like trap and future bass permeates her sound, but even though she's racked up many thousands of plays on SoundCloud, Polar is still searching for a truly signature sound.
Welcome to our new feature, Magic Touch. In this irregular series, we'll be interviewing some of our favourite up-and-coming producers from all over the world, seeing what makes them tick and gaining an insight into their production techniques.
Polar Youth is a 20-year-old producer from Gent, Belgium, whose name is Elisabeth. The music she makes is future-facing, bass-heavy, trap-infused stuff – it's awash with glorious triumphal synth chords, glistening bleepsome clusters, and collections of ornamented, rolling percussion; indeed, a love of styles like trap and future bass permeates her sound, but even though she's racked up many thousands of plays on SoundCloud, Polar is still searching for a truly signature sound. We asked the producer about her style, how she got into music, and what she's aiming for.
It's as if it already was my intention to make music since I was born. I started playing guitar at a very young age. I just played very simple chords and sang on it, that's really when I knew that music was going to be a very important part of my life. When I was twelve years old I read on the internet that I could produce music on the computer and then I discovered Fl Studio. I thought, if I produced my own songs, then I would probably think it's perfect and that was my goal. With all the ideas in my head I tried to achieve that goal but now I realize it's far more complicated than that. I've really been a perfectionist these past few months, so I'm still trying to achieve that goal when I'm in the studio.
How has your sound developed since you first began producing?
At the very beginning I had no idea what I wanted to make. I just wanted to make something. I did listen to a lot of Dubstep and Drum and Bass when I was twelve so I started with Dubstep. Between the age of twelve and seventeen I produced a lot of different genres. Dubstep, House, Hardstyle, Drum and Bass etc.
I've worked with Fl Studio for almost 8 years and I'm very grateful with the support they've given me. It certainly is a good DAW to start with. Now I'm experimenting with different genres and also with Ableton to expand my boundaries and learn new things. I also have a better workflow now thanks to Ableton and I'm also going to translate that into my productions.
What is your favourite sound to put into a track?
It depends from track to track. I love to put real instruments in my songs. I love the combination between the electronic sounds and the real instruments that give the warmth and organic feeling to the song.
Is there a particular style you've always wanted to make but haven't, for whatever reason?
Real heavy Trap. Because I play it a lot when I'm doing DJ sets and I'd love to play as much of my own songs. It's difficult to make people dance at 3am if I play songs like mine for instance. I'm experimenting with Trap and Twerk but with my own Polar Youth touch so you can expect more heavy productions in the future.
My taste for music is very wide. I can appreciate Trap as much as I can appreciate Jazz for instance. RL Grime is definitely one of my favourites. There's not one song I dislike. His productions are so heavy and good. I really look up to that guy. Wave Racer is the one who made me love Future Bass and convinced me to start producing it too. Tchami certainly belongs in my list too. I'm a huge fan of Deep House, or as it's been called lately, Future House. I've always loved the rhythm and interaction between the kick and the bass. Tchami's sounds are so on point.
Are there any singers or musicians you'd love to work with?
There are a few, yes. Soon I'm going to release songs with amazing singers but I can't say more than that right now. Tokimonsta is definitely someone I want to work with. She's been a huge inspiration for me. It would be interesting to work with her because her style is very experimental so I know her knowledge of music is very wide too. I also appreciate her as a DJ because I went to see her not so long ago. She can perfectly mix House with Hip Hop with Reggae etc.
The most important things about my songs right now are the harmonies and mix between the different instruments. If I had a time machine I would gladly hang out with Mozart for a day.
More and more people are venturing into the world of production. Why do you think this is?
It's easier and cheaper than before. You don't need a professional studio to record. Also if you're new you can easily go on the internet and find information about production. All you need is knowledge and money to buy the DAW you want to use.
Any technical tips or production tricks for budding producers?
I know this sounds very cliché but work hard everyday and release your music only if you're really happy about it. Just be yourself, don't copy another producer's sound. Develop your own sound, just go for it!
What, aside from other music, most inspires you?
I actually have no idea where my inspiration comes from. When I start to produce a song I never think about it, I just let my feelings guide me through the production process. There's maybe one thing that helps me find some inspiration and that's hanging out with my chickens and my duck. I just sit in the garden with them and relax. Being relaxed helps.
How do you think the future looks for producers?
I think the future looks very good. More and more people can start making music; it's easier to start. But the downside of this is that it's going to be more difficult to stand out because the quality of music is going to improve. For me, personally, I hope I can keep learning and evolve but most important, keep making music.


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Lakewood High School Newspaper
SNN's Doubletrucks
About SNN
Past Issues of SNN
Graduation date now May 22
By LEAH BROADNAX
SNN Staff Writer
The graduation date for the Class of 2020 has been reset a week and a half earlier to May 22, 2020, at 1 p.m. at Tropicana Field, principal Erin Savage said Tuesday morning. The original date, June 3, caused some controversy because it was so late.
Initially graduation was in June for all schools because the school district wanted to make sure all students got testing out of the way before getting their diplomas.
The district went back to the drawing board because the June date was after teachers leave for summer vacation. In addition, some parents were giving some push back about the June date, so the district regrouped and looked for a week that the Tampa Bay Rays would not be in town, Savage said.
The earlier date puts some extra pressure on the schools.
"Now with it being pushed back we have to make sure our seniors are done and ready, but we're okay with that," Savage said.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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In statistics, ordinal regression, also called ordinal classification, is a type of regression analysis used for predicting an ordinal variable, i.e. a variable whose value exists on an arbitrary scale where only the relative ordering between different values is significant. It can be considered an intermediate problem between regression and classification. Examples of ordinal regression are ordered logit and ordered probit. Ordinal regression turns up often in the social sciences, for example in the modeling of human levels of preference (on a scale from, say, 1–5 for "very poor" through "excellent"), as well as in information retrieval. In machine learning, ordinal regression may also be called ranking learning.

Linear models for ordinal regression
Ordinal regression can be performed using a generalized linear model (GLM) that fits both a coefficient vector and a set of thresholds to a dataset. Suppose one has a set of observations, represented by length- vectors  through , with associated responses  through , where each  is an ordinal variable on a scale .  For simplicity, and without loss of generality, we assume   is a non-decreasing vector, that is,  . To this data, one fits a length- coefficient vector  and a set of thresholds  with the property that . This set of thresholds divides the real number line into  disjoint segments, corresponding to the  response levels.

The model can now be formulated as

or, the cumulative probability of the response  being at most  is given by a function  (the inverse link function) applied to a linear function of . Several choices exist for ; the logistic function

gives the ordered logit model, while using the probit function gives the ordered probit model. A third option is to use an exponential function

which gives the proportional hazards model.

Latent variable model
The probit version of the above model can be justified by assuming the existence of a real-valued latent variable (unobserved quantity) , determined by

where  is normally distributed with zero mean and unit variance, conditioned on . The response variable  results from an "incomplete measurement" of , where one only determines the interval into which  falls:

Defining  and , the above can be summarized as  if and only if .

From these assumptions, one can derive the conditional distribution of  as

where  is the cumulative distribution function of the standard normal distribution, and takes on the role of the inverse link function . The log-likelihood of the model for a single training example ,  can now be stated as

(using the Iverson bracket .) The log-likelihood of the ordered logit model is analogous, using the logistic function instead of .

Alternative models
In machine learning, alternatives to the latent-variable models of ordinal regression have been proposed. An early result was PRank, a variant of the perceptron algorithm that found multiple parallel hyperplanes separating the various ranks; its output is a weight vector  and a sorted vector of  thresholds , as in the ordered logit/probit models. The prediction rule for this model is to output the smallest rank  such that .

Other methods rely on the principle of large-margin learning that also underlies support vector machines.

Another approach is given by Rennie and Srebro, who, realizing that "even just evaluating the likelihood of a predictor is not straight-forward" in the ordered logit and ordered probit models, propose fitting ordinal regression models by adapting common loss functions from classification (such as the hinge loss and log loss) to the ordinal case.

Software

ORCA (Ordinal Regression and Classification Algorithms) is an Octave/MATLAB framework including a wide set of ordinal regression methods.

R packages that provide ordinal regression methods include MASS and Ordinal.

See also
Logistic regression

Notes

References

Further reading

Generalized linear models
Categorical regression models
Classification algorithms

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Platinum catalysts help deactivate toxic exhaust gases from traditional car engines. Platinum is also used to help drive the chemical reactions that make zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cells possible – a technology that could transform automobiles as we know them.
The new catalyst combines gold and platinum to form what's known as a single-atom catalyst, resulting in nearly 100-fold increases in efficiency over market platinum catalysts, says Peng Zhang, the Dalhousie professor who led this research.
Image: The blue balls represent platinum atoms, surrounded by gold atoms (yellow). This structure maximizes the platinum catalyst's efficiency.
Figure: (extract) (A) A computational model of crystals inside a block of titanium, (B) includes effects noticed during the experiment to place permanent deformations (the darkened areas,) [not visible here, entire picture here] while (C) models permanent deformations without incorporating the diversity of load seen in the experiment.
The European Synchrotron is immersed in the construction of the Extremely Brilliant Source, a new machine which has and will continue to open doors for industry to get involved.
From procurement to licensing or even through European programmes, the possibilities of marrying the big scientific infrastructures to industry are endless. A team of ESRF engineers and experts are present at the Big Science Business Forum this week to showcase their expertise and match it with the best companies.
In the coming years, with the new machine, there will be 56 million euros for technology development up for grabs. These will cover instrumentation and X-ray optics for the beamlines, detectors, electronics and motor control and information technology. "We have successfully finalised all of the procurement regarding the construction of the new machine, now we are concentrating on the new beamlines", explains Ingrid Milanese, head of procurement and contracts.
Procurement at a place like the ESRF is an exciting albeit sometimes challenging task. The fact that the institute's developments are at the forefront of technology means that the procurement officers deal with a very specialised market, so there is a lot of work on trying to find the right companies. On top of that, there are strict timeframes to be respected, as well as a policy of juste-retour with the member states that participate in funding the ESRF. "Because of our nature, we challenge industry and create opportunities for disruptive innovation in many different fields", explains Michael Krisch, member of the ATTRACT Project Consortium Board and Head of the Instrumentation Services and Development Division at the ESRF.


"Do I look old to you?" Local New York-based filmmaker Noah Baumbach has two new films coming out this year, the first being the wacky While We're Young about a couple growing older (see the trailer), and the other being Mistress America, a sort-of-sequel to his 2012 film Frances Ha. In honor of the upcoming release of While We're Young this spring, a nationwide screening series has launched called "Growing Up Baumbach" recapping at least four of his indie gems from the past decade. This includes The Squid and the Whale (still my favorite Baumbach film so far) and Kicking and Screaming, plus a few other films. Read on.
The Growing Up Baumbach series will take place in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach. Some places already have tickets for sale with event details/listings available from the official site. As far as I can tell, each local setup seems to be linked with a local art house or event, whether it be a film festival or screening series at your local cinema. Some will be showing just The Squid and the Whale, or just Kicking and Screaming, leading up to While We're Young. As for Mistress America, that film still doesn't have a release date set yet. Some places are offering free tickets to While We're Young if you see another Baumbach film. Just click above and check for details in your area.
While We're Young is Noah Baumbach's eighth feature film, following Frances Ha recently and Greenberg before that. Ben Stiller & Naomi Watts star as a couple getting older, who befriend a younger couple played by Adam Driver & Amanda Seyfried. Typical Baumbach antics ensue, including an ayahuasca ceremony. Mistress America is Baumbach's next film after this one, while plays more as a spiritual sequel to Frances Ha, once again starring Baumbach's muse Greta Gerwig along with Lola Kirke. Both films might be worth seeing, whether you're a Baumbach fan or not. While We're Young arrives in US theaters on March 27th.
FRANCES HA was fantastic. Baumbach's style is unique to him and I respect the hell out of him for sticking with his guns. Very few directors out there are able to wrangle the system in a way that allows them to create their vision.


The very first Tale of the Zombie Apocalypse. As you may be able to tell from this initial posting, there will really be no type of sequence to all this. Simply, a weekly tale will be told- each showing a day in a world now reluctantly resolved to living with a global Zombie pandemic. Most of our tales will take place in the Cascadia Quarantine Zone, an area of cities, rural communities, and wilderness- some of which have been lost to the infection, some which "soldier on" day to day, striving to maintain some form of normalcy in a crazy world. As we progress, we will look at the quasi-military zombie eradication and containment units, the Marine units that keep the peace (and keep the eradication units in check), and the civilian populace who are just trying to live their days in relative quiet.


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Q: eclipse luna external jar classpath broken In Luna when I click on build path, click libraries, add external jar files, it will not show the file dialog. Sometimes if I restart eclipse it will work but only for the first few items I add, then it stops allowing the dialog to appear.
It's very strange and no errors or anything else appears. I tried Lunda 4.4.0 IDE Java version and also the EE version same thing both 64 bit versions.
Any idea what could be causing this?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Sinead McEneaney
You Say You Want a Revolution? Will You Settle For Some Nostalgia?
September 24, 2016 sineadmceneaney	Leave a comment
Last Sunday I went to see the new exhibition 'You Say You Want a Revolution: Rebels and Records, 1966-1970' which has recently opened at the V&A. For students of the 1960s, like me, this has been much anticipated, although with equal measures of hope and anxiety. As Alexis Petridis wrote in the Guardian a few weeks ago, the V&A's treatment of the end of a 'radical decade' is not particularly revisionist. The curators Geoffrey Marsh and Victoria Broackes give us a rollicking ride through the more notorious happenings of the 1960s. In the words of Martin Roth, the Director of the V&A, the aim is to frame the counterculture in a way that "shows the incredible importance of that revolutionary period to our lives today". But by maintaining the focus on the music and the 'rebels' of the decade, there is little real room for critical thought about the ways that music and rebellion were often uncomfortable bedfellows. After all, this was also the period when the modern music industry was born, and anti-establishment figures like Bob Dylan profited greatly from a new music capitalism and the cultural appropriation of African American musical genres. This is not to say that the exhibition is badly organized, or badly curated: it is not. Quite the opposite: it is a completely immersive experience of music and 60s nostalgia, and it is thoroughly enjoyable. But if you say you want a revolution, well, it doesn't really give you that.
The first thing to say is that the exhibition is sponsored by Levi's and Sennheiser. The product placement is everywhere. If one of the legacies of the 1960s is the monetization of what Tom Wolfe called 'radical chic', then the V&A have captured the sentiment perfectly. Several corridors before you get to the entrance of the exhibition space proper, a V&A assistant gives you a pair of Sennheiser headphones, and once they go on, you enter into a totally individual experience, with few points of communal reprieve. My wife Fiona was with me, and as soon as she put on her headphones she blew me a kiss goodbye from the tips of her fingers. Well, it wasn't quite as final as that, but if we wanted to exchange any commentary as we walked around, we had to yell at each other. As we walked towards the entrance, stories of community and shared experience streamed through these personal headphones, a strange contradiction between the notional shared trip of the decade and the isolation produced by Sennheiser.
On Sunday afternoon, the V&A was already busy. The exhibition space itself was packed. As you enter, the first section is an assault of nostalgia: perhaps unsurprisingly, Beatlemania reigns supreme, and there is an impressive selection of handwritten Beatles lyrics and notes. Of course, all of this coincides nicely with the London opening of Ron Howard's new documentary The Beatles: Eight Days a Week: a veritable cocoon of sixties nostalgia. An array of LP covers juxtaposed with paperback novels attempts to set the ideological tone of 'revolution'. All the usual suspects are there: Ken Kesey, Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe, Allen Ginsberg, Herbert Marcuse. Not many women: the exception is Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, which shares a display case with Herbert Marcuse's One Dimensional Man, symbolizing an ideological mishmash that we often forget was part of the youth experience. John Peel's musical soundtrack is fabulous, but everybody was on their own individual trip (as Ken Kesey might have said), bopping to the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel or clips from Radio Caroline or Radio Tiger, 'the radio that listens to you.' I felt controlled by the curation: the music transitions as you move from one part of the space to the next. It is relentless. It is inescapable. To paraphrase Kesey again, you are on the bus and you can only get off by throwing off the Sennheiser.
Around the corner in the next section, a large poster of a Blow Up magazine cover, featuring Vanessa Redgrave, reminds us how the 60s generation continues to occupy a significant place in today's cultural imagination. While Redgrave kept her radical and left-wing credentials, many others did not. Most of the hippies grew up and got jobs in the new corporations of the 1980s. Jerry Rubin of the Yippies became a banker. Tom Hayden of SDS went into mainstream politics. In the Guardian, Polly Toynbee asked whether the baby boomers brought revolution, or neo-liberalism: the display of the first Barclaycard credit card is perhaps a nod to the answer. Not far away from the V&A, the gentrification of King's Road is a testament to the failure of revolution.
There is no denying that the exhibition is slick. It is beautiful. It holds over 350 items, including album covers, books, posters, letters, clothes, furniture. It is incredibly impressive in its breadth, and it is visually impressive. There were some things that I hadn't seen before. In the Psychedelic section, a poster for the AntiUniversity of London reminds us of a time before mass-availability of education raised the technocratic university to an art form.
Against the strains of Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit, I could hear well heeled ladies in their sixties discussing which of the wide array of albums they owned. Ravi Shankar, Syd Barret, Black Widow's 1970 Prog Rock album Sacrifice. Album covers are placed alongside iconic novels of the era: Hunter S. Thomson, Erich Von Daniken, the Children of Albion's Poetry of the Underground, Theodore Roszak's Making of a Counterculture. The maleness of it all is overwhelming. The women, in keeping with almost all narratives of the 1960s, have their own space towards the 'end' of the decade, alongside the gay rights section, and near the black power section. This is a classic sixties: the 'identity politics' that emerged towards the turn of the decade. It was an international movement: Kate Millett, Germaine Greer, Angela Davis and her raised fist: the movements that transcended and sought to undermine borders. This is further underscored by materials relating to the student movements in France and Germany, accompanied by the wonderful soundtrack of Claude Nougaro's Paris Mai.
Two of my favourite objects are in this part of the exhibition. The first is Huey P Newton's throne, immortalized by Sam Durant's famous photo. I have seen reproductions of the photo hundreds of times, but the empty chair was striking.
Credit: American National Biography Online
The second item that really caught my eye was the papier-mâché figures of Lyndon B. Johnson and a Vietnamese mother and baby, which was produced and used by the San Francisco Mime Troupe. No photo: there is a strict no camera policy.
The rest of the exhibition asks us to think about the 'defining moment' of the 1960s. Is Robert Poole right when he says that the space programme was the 'defining moment of the twentieth century'? Did Al Aronowitz get it right when he wrote in the New York Post that Woodstock was 'probably the single greatest moment of the sixties'? Festivals, the space race, the Oz trial, Warhol's Campbell's Soup: idealism gives way to consumerism. The 'recreation' of the Woodstock festival space is the only part of the whole exhibition that is designed to be experienced communally: time to ditch the Sennheisers, sit on bean bags and experience images and sounds of Woodstock via huge cinema-style screens. Country Joe's anti-war anthem was accompanied by karaoke lyrics, but I think it was just me and a couple of old guys who were singing along. By the time we arrived at this point, all the bean bags were already occupied. Some people were having a better version of the sixties than others.
The experience ends as it begins, with a nod to the Beatles. Or at least, with the remnants of a split Beatles. John Lennon's Imagine plays unironically at the end, juxtaposed by newsreel catastrophe: Donald Trump, Wikileaks, the Paris attacks, Police brutality and #blacklivesmatter in the US. Did these things start in the sixties? Are they the legacy of the 'excesses' of the decade? Or did the revolution simply not happen? Even as the screens remind us of the important legislative changes (civil rights laws, the Equal Pay Act, decriminalization of abortion and homosexuality, among others) we are painfully aware that we are nowhere near the alternative that Lennon imagined. And as we emerge into the shop at the end, we could hear the woman ahead of Fiona say to the assistant, as she handed her Sennheisers back, that the whole experience was exhausting. It was. Relentless, immersive. But really worth a visit. #RecordsandRebels
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Crno bijeli svijet je drugi studijski album zagrebške rock skupine Prljavo kazalište. Glavni vokal je prispeval Davorin Bogović, album pa je obarvan v ska in new wave stilu. Album vsebuje hita: »Crno bijeli svijet« in »Mi plešemo«. Producent albuma je Ivan Stančić, album pa je izšel pri založbi Suzy.

Album je bil leta 1998 uvrščen na 36. mesto lestvice 100 najboljših jugoslovanskih rock in pop albumov v knjigi YU 100: najbolji albumi jugoslovenske rok i pop muzike, skladbi »Mi plešemo« in »Crno bijeli svijet« pa leta 2000 uvrščeni na 49. in 74. mesto Seznama 100 najboljših jugoslovanskih rock skladb po izboru revije Rock Express.

Seznam skladb
Avtor vseh skladb je Jasenko Houra, razen, kjer je posebej napisano.

Zasedba
 Jasenko Houra – kitara
 Tihomir Fileš – bobni
 Marijan Brkić – solo kitara
 Ninoslav Hrastek – bas kitara
 Davorin Bogović – vokal

Sklici

Albumi leta 1980
Albumi skupine Prljavo kazalište
Albumi založbe Suzy Records


Microsoft provides a good discount on Xbox One S 1TB during Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale. You can save up to 40% on selected Xbox, Xbox Games, and Xbox gears. So check this out best Xbox One S 1TB Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals 2018 above.


p style="font-size: 12.8px">A man allegedly committed suicide in an uncompleted building in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Govt, Delta state.
p style="font-size: 12.8px">According to reports, it was said his wife delivered a baby through operation and was charged N15,000. He was said to have no money, hence he committed suicide.


Members of a group tasked with advising agency officials on how to eliminate pay disparities between federal employees and their private sector counterparts are in the midst of a debate on how best to calculate that pay gap, with Trump administration appointees on one side and labor groups on the other.
The Federal Salary Council on Tuesday weighed potential changes to how the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates pay disparities to determine which regions require their own locality pay levels so that federal employees' pay keeps pace with workers in the private sector.
The three Trump administration appointees argued that the current methodology does not adequately capture differences in pay and advocated, among other ideas, that the White House propose legislation to require pay comparisons to include "total compensation," including non-salary benefits like health insurance and pensions. But the proposal, along with two more modest suggestions to widen data collection, were opposed by members representing federal employee unions, who argued the proposed changes were an attempt to "politicize" the council's work.
Council Chairman Ronald Sanders said the current methodology, which consists of examining the three-year average of a scientific sample of compensation by employers in a region, can be something of a lagging indicator. He cited Charleston, S.C., a region that is not yet eligible to become a locality pay area in part because of recent changes to its labor market.
Jacque Simon, director of public policy at the American Federation of Government Employees, took issue with that assessment.
A council working group, despite a lack in consensus among its members, criticized the current model as a "black box" that "relies heavily on statistical modeling," and offered options that would not require a change in law. One would be to continue the current methodology, and another that could be accomplished administratively would be to develop a survey of benchmark jobs, rather than looking at the labor market as a whole. A third option would be to supplement the existing BLS research with additional human capital data like agency attrition rates and recruitment and retention data.
Two proposals that would require legislation include "developing a method for taking benefits into account when comparing federal and non-federal total compensation," and establishing a periodic "comprehensive" review of total compensation for federal workers, akin to the Defense Department's quadrennial review of military compensation.
AFGE, the National Treasury Employees Union, and the National Federation of Federal Employees, all of which have a seat on the council, issued a formal dissent of the working group's staff report blasting it as both "anti-scientific" and improper, given the lack of consensus by the council.
Proponents of the changes to methodology insisted that the proposals are merely an effort to acquire additional data to aid locality pay decision-making.
Union officials largely focused on the proposals to include non-salary benefits in comparisons, which they said were a veiled attempt to either reduce locality pay rates or to justify oft-proposed cuts to the Federal Employees Retirement System and other programs.
NFFE National President Randy Erwin said that the current methodology is important to preserve as a longitudinal benchmark to guide decision-making.
Sanders said that given the lack of consensus on the council, he will solicit written recommendations from each member to be submitted to the President's Pay Agent for review by the end of this year.


This deal gives the Braves a middle of the order right fielder to pair with Freeman, Donaldson, and Acuna and a young, controllable, lefty starter to give thier top pitching prospects more time to develop instead of rushing them. It also allows the Braves to move on from Nick Markakis, save money as opposed to Brantley/Pollock, and without blocking prospect Christian Pache (Braves #6, MLB #68) in the long-term. It also gives Detroit two much need positional prospects as well as another pitching prospect to pair with Mize, Manning, Faedo, Burrows, and Funkhouser.
Yankees get a controllable, quality starting pitcher and add to what is likely the most dominant bullpen in baseball.
Detroit adds an impact bat in Frazier, Drury to hold down 2B, Wade to take SS if/when Iglesias is dealt or hits free agency, and a top tier pithing prospect in Sheffiled.
Can we all stop pretending Brandon Drury is good?
He currently has a wRC+ of 51. If he was a qualified hitter, he's be ranked the third worst hitter in baseball. His value may never be lower, and there's no team that is taking him on as a piece for their controllable pitching unless he's just a throw in.
And while we're talking about putrid hitters, let's talk Tyler Wade. A career wRC+ of 32 (51 in 51 PAs this year) . That's all while being a below-average defender at the various positions he's played.
He holds little, if any, value as a big league hitter. Even as a minor-leaguer, he didn't hit this year (101 wRC+) . The Tigers "interest" in him likely extends to "he's a warm body at a position of weakness". He's organizational filler who they might want to see what he does. But I keep seeing him and Drury floating around from Yankee fans as though they are hot commodities. They aren't.
For further context of how bad Tyler Wade has been, of ALL current MLB hitters with at least 100 career plate appearances, no hitter has a worse wRC+ than Wade. No one. Not even Yadiel Rivera (career 36 wRC+) or Ryan LaMarre (37). He's currently the absolute worst hitter in baseball.
Phillips has plummeted on the depth chart with the Brewers additions of Yelich and Cain. To push their squad, they need better starting pitching. While I know Greene is a bullpen arm; he can slot in as a setup guy which allows the Brewers to move Josh Hader back into the rotation, giving them a lefty and an upgrade over their current options. The Tigers can finally get a quality outfielder and continue on with their rebuild.
This might be a little light still. Greene was one of the better relievers in 2017 especially on a team like the Tigers who had nothing to play for. Considering he is still fairly cheap and controllable through 2020 so the brewers would have to include another prospect or two.
Houston gets a huge middle of the order bat to go with Correa, Altuve, and Gourriel. They can afford to move Bregman due to their considerable depth in the infield but of course Bregman alone can't net one of the best bats in the game. Detroit clears salary, gets an infield mainstay that would allow them to shop more players, a controllable starter, and an outfield prospect that could help out in the near future.
IMO, Houston would be silly to make such a move. Miggy costs a lot of money, and it would creates holes in the Astros' infield and rotation.
There's no doubt moving McCullers causes a hole to open but Houston has considerable pitching depth. Moving Bregman for Miggy would move Marwin Gonzalez off of 1B and into the utility infielder he's best suited for.
Unless the Tigers are going to take on most of or all of Cabrera's huge contract, which I don't think the Astros will, they won't get anything significant in return.
Huston has to stay young and not spend a lot of money this goes against both of those ideas.
At some point sull they are going to have to spend some money to lock these young guys up.
Trading their most valuable piece will undoubtedly bring in top prospects to make their farm system much better while making their future a whole lot brighter.
Votto obviously becomes an instant starter which allows AJ Reed to develop more. Once Reed is ready, Votto and Reed split time between 1st and DH.
I can't see anyone touching Votto's contract.
Votto is a great player. That contract, on the other hand, is a grenade waiting to explode.
This deal would only work if CIN pays for 75%+ of Votto salary.
Houston has AJ Reed, a young power-hitting 1B, in the wings. It doesn't have any albatross contracts. Thus, Houston doesn't need Votto long-term, and sure doesn't want his contract.
Votto is from Canada. The Jays are the best bet to be a sucker for Votto if the Reds want to deal.
Anyone think there is a possible scenario the Tigers move Anibal Sanchez. Would likely have to eat salary given salary and injury history but i can see Boston, New York (AL), and possibly San Francisco showing interest.
He needs to rebuild his value. So maybe next summer or next offseason.
Moya is far from untouchable and you're the only person ever to refer to him as a "young star"
I don't think the Braves would waste money on Lynn when their arm is loaded with young, talented arms.
As a Tigers fan, I wouldn't be opposed to this whatsoever. Includes an immediate replacement, allows the Tigers to move Castellanos to 1st once VMarts contract is up, and adds a long term piece to pair with Fulmer, Norris, and Manning in the future.
I don't see the Tigers dealing Kinsler to the Dodgers without getting a viable replacement for him in the deal.
Where is Matt Boyd? He had a solid year and is not expected to start in the minors. Also, I'd switch the positioning of Jones and Hernandez.


Modern Times Group (MTG), the international entertainment group, has signed a partnership agreement with Viacom International Media Networks to include exclusive advertising-funded VoD content from the MTV and Comedy Central channels in MTG's free-TV online 'catch-up' services in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. MTG will also handle advertising sales for Viacom's online platforms, and sell the combined online reach of the MTG and Viacom online catch-up TV services to advertisers.
From February 4th, MTV and Comedy Central content will therefore be shown on TV3Play.se, TV6Play.se, TV8Play.se, and TV10Play.se in Sweden; and MTV content will be shown on TV3Play.no, Viasat4play.no and TV6Play.no in Norway, and on TV3Play.dk in Denmark.
The content includes MTV and Comedy Central hit formats such as Catfish, Geordie Shore, Teen Mom and The Daily show, as well as an extensive library of successful TV series such as The Hills, Punked and Cribs. Kids TV series such as SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer from Viacom channel Nickelodeon are also already available through MTG's Viaplay online pay-TV subscription service.


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Even though I was always coming in to get treated for cancer, I never felt like I had a fatal disease… they made me feel good.
Tara Finley, Patient
Tara Finley, a 31-year-old woman from Battle Creek, has a family history of breast cancer. However, being so young, she didn't think that it was something she needed to worry about for at least another decade. What she didn't know was that she carried the BRCA 1 gene, meaning that her chances of getting breast cancer were much higher than average.
One night in December Tara noticed that she was having some pain in her chest. Not thinking much of it, she thought maybe she pulled a muscle while working out. As the pain persisted, she performed a self-breast exam and noticed a lump. After discussing it with her husband, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor to have a mammogram. When the results came back unclear and suspicious, her doctor performed a biopsy on the lump. On January 3, 2017, the doctor confirmed that Tara had breast cancer.
"Living on the east coast at the time, I knew immediately that I wanted to go back to Michigan so I could be closer to my family. I was also familiar with the Bronson Battle Creek Cancer Care Center because my good friend Julie works there. I knew instantly that I didn't want to have my treatment anywhere else," Tara shared. On January 14, Tara packed her bags and left for Michigan. That's when she met her doctor, Nidhi Mishra, MD, of Bronson Oncology and Hematology Specialists. "Dr. Mishra is very patient-oriented; she was always focused on me and my needs. At one point she told me that we would grow old together, and that gave me hope."
Another benefit that drew Tara to Bronson was the DigniCap, a scalp cooling system that can be used during chemotherapy treatment to help reduce or prevent hair loss. "Being a woman and a hairstylist, one of my biggest fears was losing my hair. It was difficult enough to lose my eyebrows and eyelashes so I wanted to do whatever I could to prevent losing all of my hair," Tara said.
Every time Tara went in for treatment she was committed to using the DigniCap, and she highly recommends it to everyone who has access to one. "I was very surprised that a smaller city like Battle Creek would have a DigniCap," Tara said. "In 2016 I saw something on Facebook about the DigniCap and I thought about how beneficial that would be for someone going through chemo. Little did I know I would need it a year later! I'm grateful to Bronson for having something like that available. I feel beautiful today because of it."
Having breast cancer at a young age taught Tara a lot of things, the most important of them being to seize the day and her time with her children and husband. She is now a strong advocate for educating the younger generation that cancer doesn't discriminate. "You don't have to be 70 or 80 years old to get cancer," she said. "It can happen to anyone. Go get checked. Do your self-exams and due-diligence."
All of the staff members at the Bronson Battle Creek Cancer Care Center had an impact on Tara's treatment. "Even though I was always coming in to get treated for cancer, I never felt like I had a fatal disease while I was there. Everyone was so cheerful, supportive and uplifting. They made me feel good," Tara said. She feels blessed to have started 2018 cancer free, and thanks the entire team at Bronson for providing her with outstanding care.
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The Cooperative Extension (CE) advisor for viticulture will conduct a locally based extension, education and applied research program to address vine growth and development, table grape production, irrigation/water management, vine nutrition, rootstock evaluation, vineyard management systems, automation and mechanization, crop/fruit development, integrated pest and disease management in table grape vineyards including soil pests, post-harvest handling, cultural practices and their impact on fruit quality and yield, and best practices to minimize the environmental effects of production and cultural practices.
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS: All UC ANR CE advisors are responsible for performance in the areas of 1) applied research and creative activity, 2) extension of knowledge and information, 3) professional competence and activity and 4) University and public service.
This is not an academic career-track appointment and is not eligible for indefinite status. This position is co-funded by the California Table Grape Commission for a period of five years with intent for co-funded renewal. The CE advisor will initially be appointed to a term of up to two years with an academic review taking place prior to the end of this initial term. If the review reflects that the incumbent's performance is of high quality, as evaluated by UC ANR procedures, the CE advisor will be offered a second definite term appointment of two years, subject to renewal based on the availability of funding and satisfactory performance of the academic.
A minimum of an earned master's degree or higher is required prior to the appointment start date, preferably in plant science, viticulture, pomology or closely related disciplines such as water/soil science, plant pathology, entomology and others with experience in plant science. Education, training, or experience in viticulture is highly preferred, and relevant experience in other permanent cropping systems will be considered.
The CE advisor must possess or obtain a Qualified Pesticide Applicator Certificate (QAC) or License prior to applying or supervising the application of any pesticide.
Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills are required.
The ability to build partnerships and to work with multidisciplinary teams to address production and complex challenges is required.
Willingness and ability to embrace change as clientele and organizational needs evolve.
Demonstrated ability in applied agricultural research and extension is preferred.
Additional Salary Information: Beginning salary will be in the Cooperative Extension Assistant Advisor Rank and commensurate with applicable experience and professional qualifications. For information regarding Cooperative Extension Advisor salary scales, please refer to the University of California, ANR website: http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/293542.pdf.
The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is a statewide network of UC researchers and educators dedicated to the creation, development and application of knowledge in agricultural, natural and human resources.300 locally based Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists 57 local offices throughout California 130 campus-based Cooperative Extension specialists 9 Research and Extension Center 6 statewide programs 700 academic researchers in 40 departments at three colleges and one professional school:UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine UC Riverside College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Since the first UC Cooperative Extension office opened in Humboldt County in 1913, UC scientists have been reaching out to communities across California, serving as problem-solvers, catalysts, collaborators, stewards and educators.Advisors live and work in the communities they serve. To many Californians, they are the face of UC—providing expertise, visibility and a keen understanding of local issues.Together with their campus partners, they build the bridge between the people of California and their great University.


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Q: Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 create directory if not exists in python How to check whether the directory exists. if not create a directory
filesystem_client.create_directory("my_directory")

will create a directory, but i want to achieve something like this:
if not os.path.exists("my_directory"):
   filesystem_client.create_directory("my_directory")

A: A directory will automatically be created if it does not exist, however, if you're referring to a file system/container then from my knowledge there does not seem to be a pythonic way of doing that, however, you can just wrap the code within a try except block, if it does not exist it will get caught in the except block and you can then create the file system/container.


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Inter Miami vs Toronto Match Review
At DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday, a whopping three points will be on the line as Inter Miami and Toronto compete to move beyond the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference playoff line.
The Herons trail state rival Orlando City for the final playoff berth on goal differential, while TFC has re-entered the race for a spot in the top seven after going unbeaten in their past five league games.
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Inter Miami vs Toronto Tips and Prediction
With 11 points from their previous six games, Miami has shown flashes of life just in time to position themselves in the center of a competitive postseason race.
If they lose, they might fall to 12th, three points below the Chicago Fire, where they would need to win to move up to the top seven.
Three consecutive MLS matches at South Beach have been won by Phil Neville's team, each time with three or more goals.
The Herons have given up the first goal in back-to-back games, but they have come back to win both of those games.
Miami would surpass the previous high of 41 established in 2021 and create a new club record for points in a season if they can win three of their final 10 regular season games.
They have to keep winning because all of their remaining games are against Eastern Conference opponents and five of them will be against clubs who are presently in the playoff hunt.
Toronto has had a memorable few weeks because they relied on their new acquisitions to get back into the playoff picture.
TFC fans are fascinated by the Italian invasion since six of the previous nine goals scored by the Reds have been by Azzuri players, while the dependable Jonathan Osorio has added three goals of his own.
This week, Bob Bradley saw his team play well in the first half against the New England Revolution, scoring from the penalty spot after 31 minutes. However, between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, the team lost focus and gave up two goals before a last-minute wonder goal gave them a point.
Being in the fight for a playoff spot is a significant improvement from what this team shown in the early part of the season, but they don't have much time on their side because there are four teams they need to catch in the postseason race and just nine games left to accomplish it in.
Their performance on the road has improved recently; they went undefeated in their past two away games and scored four goals during that span after going without a goal in three consecutive away games prior to a victory against Nashville SC.
Although 23 of their 45 goals allowed this season have come away from home, they haven't kept a clean sheet at home all season. Instead, they drew with the Revs on the road earlier this year.
The significant experience in big games that Insigne, Bernardeschi, and Criscito have provided this Toronto team has been invaluable, and we anticipate that the Reds will play with a greater sense of urgency in this game given that they know they have little room for error at this point in the season.


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David: At one point in your contest-winning essay "A Fable for Our Times", you write, "The call for change did not die, but its message often seemed lost amid the static roar of greed and violence that filled the next forty years, until new leaders again stirred the conscience of the nation." As someone who was active during the Civil Rights Movement, do you think there is a similar energy surrounding our nation's current Black Lives Matter movement?
Michelle: Even at my advanced age, I still believe in the idea of moral progress. So it always comes as a brutal surprise to me that we are still having to assert the basic tenet that the life of a Black woman, child or man is exactly as valuable as the life of, say, Rick Perry. The unbearable conception of the Black body as merchandise, and thus disposable, is woven into the creation myth of this country. So the movement is always working to change something that runs deep and strong in our collective unconscious. I do believe that many people know right from wrong and want our nation to do the right thing, but most of us aren't watching very closely. I wish that were not the case, but it is. So we desperately need the people who are watching to speak up, speak out, use bullhorns, make speeches, run for office, interrupt. Disrupt. We desperately need disruption. So, yes, I think Black Lives Matter is a desperately needed disruption, and in that sense it is a continuation of the same struggle, the same movement, calling our attention to contemporary forms of the same fundamental injustice.
I do want to make clear that I was 18 when MLK Jr. was killed, and just beginning to be politically active. The following year I went to university and became active in the peace movement, as well as the civil rights movement on my campus, which was different from the forms these movements took in the South and out in the broader world. Though I did run from the police and the tear gas, my life as a white college student was not in danger in the same way the lives of the civil rights workers, especially those in the South, were in danger.
David: While reading this, I had a kind of "aha" moment when I got to the end of the first section, where you write, "What the students did not yet understand was that the murder and suppression of those leaders had altered the course of this nation's history." And when you then proceed to tally up just how many of the most influential, progressive speakers who were killed, it really drives home the idea that violence has pushed America to where it is today. But I'd like to play what-if for a moment: what kind of a difference do you think some of these people could have made if they were spared?
Michelle: This is a fascinating question, and I wish I were more knowledgeable so that I could answer it more intelligently. From what I've studied, it seems clear that MLK Jr had begun to broaden his understanding of the roots of injustice to include poverty and the cost of war, both literally and figuratively. His vision of nonviolence expanded to nations, to the entire world. The Poor People's Campaign was his, and the SCLC's, vision of one way to unite poor Black people with poor people of all races, in order to strengthen and broaden the movement and call attention to issues of employment, housing and aid.
I thought of this recently when reading Bryan Stevenson's book JUST MERCY—"The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice." Stevenson's understanding places him solidly in line with the thinking of MLK Jr and the SCLC. So again, it seems the movement has continued, addressing the same intransigent issues—though we are in far worse shape, in terms of wealth and poverty, than we were in the 1950's and 60's.
Without the voices that were silenced then, the nation seemed to lose its conscience. The War on Poverty became the War on Drugs, which was in essence a war on poor people, and poor black people in particular. Would the nation have swung so far to the right if the people who were gunned down had survived and continued to speak? Perhaps the inevitable reaction would have happened later, for a shorter time, and we would not have gone so far into the world of private prisons and private jets before being called, again, to act.
The fact of the violence speaks to the fact of the effectiveness of these dead leaders. Someone was threatened, and threatened enough to do whatever it took to maintain the status quo.
David: I find it interesting that, unlike most nonfiction pieces I've read, this one is entirely in the third person. What made you choose this point of view?
I started this piece in the first person, but two things happened: first, when I wrote it in the first person, this story struck me as being too cute and heart-warming; then I understood that the piece was not about a baby boomer, her delightful child and an amazing coincidence but, instead, about the huge events linking the two meetings with Baez. What lured me was the difference between those two moments in history.
During the 1960's there was a phrase that became popular in the Women's Movement—"The personal is political. And the political is personal." I kept thinking about those sentences and the ways in which they were true for me. At my age, I have experienced a lot of history. I grew up in the Jim Crow South. I witnessed the years between the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s and the election of Barak Obama, and though the link between those two historical moments is on some level obvious, it struck me that it was also complex and torturous. The story of how our nation got from the moment I heard a young, starry-eyed Baez sing in her father's living room to the moment Baez serenaded my daughter and her team of Obama workers is not exactly, or not purely, a triumphant one. It's painful and ragged and, frankly, just way too bleeping long.
When I understood that I wanted to tell THAT story, or a wildly reduced version of it—and also when I realized I didn't want to tell MY story but OUR collective story—the first person became useless. I needed a third person voice to turn the narrative into a tale of the times and also to provide enough distance to allow me to track the historical events themselves.
David: The fact that both you and your daughter had chance encounters with Joan Baez is an almost unbelievable touch of serendipity, and does a perfect job of bringing the piece full circle. What was going through your head when you heard Baez on the other end of the phone? Did you get a feeling that you had a potentially great story on your hands?
It wasn't until I was sitting with a group of musicians and storytellers, a few years back, that I put the two events together and thought, "Oh. A story." I told it that night, and the response was so strong that I decided to try to write it. But as I've explained above, it turned out to be a different tale from the one I first told. Isn't that one of the most wonderful gifts of writing—that our material makes so much more, and such different, sense than we think it does?
David: You've had two other nonfiction pieces published by Solstice but this one differs from those in its heavy usage of historical content. How did the process for constructing this one differ from some of the other nonfiction pieces you've written?
Michelle: I think I've answered this already, to some degree, but I'll add that the non-fiction pieces I like most always include history and a bigger context, a bigger container (to quote Charlotte Joko Beck). I wrote a piece for MORE Magazine about money anxiety and began to research the origins of the Poverty Thresholds, which were developed by a woman named Mollie Orshansky who worked for the Social Security Administration in the 1960's. This material got cut from the piece as it appeared, but will be in the collection of essays I am working on (slowly, the way I write everything, unfortunately). And there have been others like this, too. The lyrical personal essay can be beautiful, moving, insightful, but I'm always looking for ways to include the rest of the world. The personal is political; the political is personal.


Building a solid volunteer base is one of the greatest challenges volunteer-based efforts confront. Get off that roller coaster ride of prospecting, recruiting and retaining volunteers! Consider influencing participation through creating prime-connecting conversations with perspective volunteers on an individual basis by using the SMILE method: Stimulate, Manage, Involve, Lavish and Encourage!
Stimulate: Be enthusiastic about your organization! Share information and compelling stories about how the organization benefits others or how the association has benefited you personally. Ask the candidate why they considered joining your agency. As a leader, communicate how you can help the perspective volunteer meet their goals.
Manage: Most volunteer projects involve project management. Be honest about how much time and what skills might be required from the perspective volunteer. Create and furnish each candidate a job description of the required task or title of the position. Whereas volunteers often are very willing to share the time and talents with an organization, these same people appreciate organization and a fair assessment of what the organization requires.
Involve: It is wise to conduct a critical conversation to establish 'good fit' at the onset of the relationship. Does the volunteer's skills match the task? Will the candidate work solo or with others?, Will training be required? Who will mentor or oversee the newbie's progress? How does the volunteer manage their own time? Where does the person see themselves in your organization?
Lavish: Lavish means giving bountifully and freely of any good thing. Spending time with volunteers and giving praise are two things that all people crave. Be sure to see the volunteer in action often. Ask how they are doing and if any questions exist. Note their progress and give thanks for their support and involvement on a personal level and with group recognition events.
Encourage: Be open to listening when difficulties arise without going into 'fix-it' mode. Allow the volunteer to talk about the issue, allow them to offer creative solutions and empower them to move forward. Confidence-building, as well as skill-building, will help retain volunteers who believe their work is adding value to the organization. Happy volunteers often recruit others.
Take an honest look at the prospecting, recruiting and retaining efforts of your volunteer organization and make adjustments accordingly. Are you smiling?
Prospecting, recruiting and retaining volunteers-Oh, my!
Think about the last time you went to your favorite amusement park. What ride held most spectators spellbound? Which ride garnered the most screams? Which ride was the most fear inducing? Which ride do you see people riding over and over again? When you think of Six Flags or Cedar Point, what ride comes to mind? Yup, you guessed it, the roller coaster! Some liken working with volunteers similar to riding a roller coaster. Indeed!
Recently, as a leader in a women's organization, I was tasked to recruit a team of multi-talented volunteers to help with an annual fundraising event. Amazingly, no one volunteered because the call for volunteers went out through the newsletter! Prospecting, recruiting and retaining volunteers has never been a daunting experience for me because time is taken upfront to create prime connections with every potential volunteer candidate. Before one person is approached, the organization's needs are outlined and a job description is created. What do these potential candidates need to know? What skills do these women need to be able to contribute for this event? Matching talent and time commitment towards 'best fit' is paramount.
There is an ebb and flow to working with volunteers. Volunteers come and go for many reasons. Yet by creating prime connections upfront, trust is established. Volunteers can be inspired to jump in to the roller coaster car for at least one ride! Some will take the front seat-some will not. Some will scream at the top of their lungs and some will close their eyes. Others will waive their hands in the air but others will clench the safety bar for dear life! Some will ride again, and some, well, will need additional time to reflect on the activity before getting in line! The volunteer leader must take the time upfront to get to know each rider before boarding to create that trust. The organization's pledge to take care of all of the riders along the way to both insure and ensure safety needs to be heartfelt. Volunteers, like roller coaster riders, must make it back to the station in varying degrees of happiness. Thrilled that they participated or at the very least, happy to live for another day!


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Q: PPTP VPN connection always connects successfully in Mac OS X/windows but drops after 2 minute in iPad or it doesn't connect al all! I've a big problem with using iPad's VPN connection. When I use the same VPN connection (PPTP) configuration parameters in my Mac OS X Snow Leopard or my windows XP (Bootcamp), it works flawlessly but when I define the same connection in my iPad, connection drops in about 1 or 2 minutes (some times) and most of the time, it Doesn't Connect at all.
I'm using iPad 3G with iOS 4.2.1 and my iPad is not jail-broken.
I've tried so hard to make it work in an stable manner but not found any solution yet. (I should have put encryption level to No-Encryption in Mac and Windows otherwise it won't connect in my desktop operating systems. It is a host-related issue and I'm binding to that).
I'm sure there is no technical problem in my iPad's hardware and this problem also exists in my friend's iPad too. Our devices work perfectly with 3G and Wifi connections.
Your answers are really appreciated.

A: I finally realized that if I redefine VPN connection using L2TP, the problem would be completely disappeared.


Unusual agave with slender trunks up to 4 m tall that from a distance it is vaguely reminiscent for Yucca aloifolia.
Origin and Habitat: Mexican States of Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz.
It grows in dry scrub or grassland between 1500 and 1900 m elevation where it forms small colonies through creeping rhizomes.
Description: Vaguely reminiscent for Yucca aloifolia, it forms slender trunks up to 4 m tall, with crowns Upright leaves.
Leaves: Stiff, succulent, pale green, fiercely armed with black thorns along the margins.
Cultivation and Propagation: It is very adaptable in cultivation and can take drought and moderate freezes.
Uses: The leaves of this species are fiercely armed and thus this it can be used to make a formidable living fence.


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Barcelona will once again become the global capital of bridal fashion
Valmont Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, set to conquer the fashion industry at its biggest event
The fair devoted to bridal fashion will hold the biggest event in its history, focusing on creativity, talent and design as key innovation and internationalisation elements of the project, which will once again bring together the market's leading companies from home and abroad at the fashion show and trade fair.
With the presence of 35 companies at the fashion shows and more than 429 brands at the trade fair, 74% of them international companies from 34 countries, Valmont Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, organised by Fira de Barcelona, will establish itself as the flagship international event and the global epicentre of bridal fashion. Thus, the fashion shows at VBBFW 2019 will set the trends for the coming season, with more than 900 dresses on display throughout the four days of the fashion show. The trade fair will then follow, opening its gates between 26th and 28th April to exhibit more than 28,000 garments for brides and grooms, cocktail dresses and evening wear in Halls 1 and 2 of the Montjuïc venue at Plaza de España in the city centre.
Estermaria Laruccia, the event's director, states: "Today VBBFW is fashion, design, business, vitality, a mixture of cultures and international transactions. It's a catalyst of trends and a merger between tradition and innovation, it's the stage on which the main figures in the international industry meet to display, sell, purchase and above all, explain the fashion that will arrive in the coming months to win women's hearts all over the world".
Marchesa, The Atelier and Zac Posen make their débuts at the event
In this regard, Valmont Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week will bring together the leading domestic and international companies and designers and, in addition to its more regulate exhibitors, it will welcome new brands taking part for the first time. These include Marchesa, the American brand founded by English designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, The Atelier, one of the celebrities' favourites when it comes to stepping onto red carpets around the world, a Malaysian company which, since 2017, has employed Jimmy Choo, the footwear expert, as the creative director of its bridal collections, and Zac Posen, the renowned US designer and one of the stars of Project Runway, the successful TV show, who will showcase the latest bridal, cocktail and evening wear creations from his ZAC Zac Posen line.
The trade show's new entries include Americans Maggie Sottero and Mori Lee, Flora from Israel, Aire Barcelona, Fely Campo, Beba's Closet, Sedomir Rodriguez de la Sierra and María Salas from Spain and the Bulgarian Julia Kontogruni. The exhibitors set to attend the trade fair for the first time include Sareh Nouri, Anne Barge, Casablanca and Savannah Miller, together with Italians Antonio Riva, one of the most prestigious global ambassadors of made in Italy fashion, Tosca, Maison Signore, Iris Noble and Valentini. As well as Sassi Holford from the United Kingdom, Flora from Israel and two new Australian brands: Rachel Gilbert and Leah Da Gloria, among many other firms from around the world.
The ELLE International Bridal Awards choose Barcelona
In the wake of the success of the last Elle International Bridal Awards, they will be held for the second consecutive year during VBBFW (Valmont Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week) at a ceremony in the evening of 27th April that will bring together designers, manufacturers, buyers, the media, digital influencers and operators from the industry in the Main Hall of the Historical Building of the University of Barcelona. Their aim is to consolidate and internationalise these awards that acknowledge excellence and creativity in the area of bridal fashion; they are organised by Elle, one of the largest networks in the world of fashion and lifestyle publications, with a presence in 46 countries. The winners in the 10 categories in 2018 included Carolina Herrera, Reem Acra, Viktor & Rolf Mariage, Carlo Pignatelli and Pronovias and Sophie et Voilà from Spain, among other companies.
Furthermore, in the evening of 23rd April VBBFW will give special recognition to journalist Jesús María Montes-Fernández, director of TVE's Flash Moda programme, for his 25 years' experience in the fashion world and, in particular, his constant support for the bridal industry.
Spanish bridal fashion consolidates its leadership
This year the fair will confirm its vocation as a hub for knowledge and the popularisation of the industry and present the study titled Millennial and Gen Z brides: the bridal fashion sector in 2020, written by IESE professor and fashion industry expert José Luis Nueno. According to the results of the report, the Spanish bridal dress sector is a leader in Europe and Spain is the second largest exporter in the world behind China. Alone it has a turnover of 860 million euros; if we add accessories, cocktail dresses, evening wear and footwear, the global turnover totals 1.35 billion euros, 105 million euros more than in 2016. The 730 companies that comprise it employ more than 13,400 people, who produced 841,489 wedding dresses in 2018, 11% more than in 2016. In addition, the data confirms the international dynamism of this area, which exports 74% of its production. The study also analyses the new consumption patterns established by Millennials and Gen Z, made up of people born since 1995. The two groups, digital natives who are constantly connected, are obliging the retail channel to evolve towards omni-channel.
VBBFW commits to design and innovation
For the first time VBBFW will take a step further in its commitment to design and innovation, which will feature not only on the catwalks and at the presentations of the collections, but also in all the areas that will host the different activities and events during this week devoted to bridal fashion. In this regard, The Reunión de Empresas de Diseño (Meeting of Design companies), or RED in its Spanish initials and VBBFW have joined forces to place value on design as a cultural vehicle and a driving force of innovation. The made in Spain design companies forming part of RED will provide decorative items such as lamps, furniture and textiles to create environments at VBBFW that convey creativity, charm and harmony, key factors in facilitating relationships, stimulating networking and promoting business. Furthermore, the IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) will deliver a workshop on innovation in the world of fashion at VBBFW, focusing on the merger between new technologies and artisan tradition when it comes to creating innovative fabrics and fashion items.
Valmont and the fair, a success partnership
VBBFW has changed its name this year as a result of a co-branding agreement with Valmont, the Swiss luxury cosmetic brand and one of the leading companies in the creation of beauty products. Under this partnership, the two key players, which share values such as creativity, art, innovation and beauty, will combine synergies so as to promote the bridal fashion industry, its internationalization and its reference platform.
Barcelona, 11th April 2019
Mª Gloria Dilluvio
gdilluvio@firabarcelona.com
Eva Martín – XXL
eva@xxlcomunicacion.com


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Spears Can Skip Hearing in Stalker Case
Britney Spears doesn't have to appear at a hearing next week to seek a permanent order to keep an alleged stalker away, a judge ruled.
Superior Court Judge Alan Haber also ruled that Spears can skip a question-and-answer with the lawyer for Japanese businessman Masahiko Shizawa.
"I don't think (ordering her appearance) would add up to anything but additional harassment," Haber said Monday.
The judge also told Shizawa's attorney, Simon Robert Hiller, that the evidence shows his client "has been stalking and harassing Spears for a considerable amount of time." But he said he'd keep an open mind for the Oct. 7 hearing on Spears' request for a permanent injunction.
"She doesn't want to come to court and substantiate or back up her statements," Hiller said after the hearing. "It's hard to have a fair hearing when your client is innocent. He's the one being harassed in a sense."
He said his client was "definitely a fan," who has sent the 21-year-old pop star letters and e-mails, but has never been on her property.
Shizawa, 43, has had no contact with Spears since last October, Hiller said. Spears claims that the Yokohama, Japan, native has called and sent faxes several times in the past five months.


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By Lidia Creech | 7 January 2021 | Add a Comment
Fires broke out at a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Walbottle, near Newcastle, on Tuesday (5 January).
Following the first fire, which was spotted at around 11.20 in the morning originating from waste compactors, which were crushing black bags of household waste, another broke out at around 1.20 in the afternoon.
It is believed that batteries and waste electricals were to blame for the first fire. The cause of the second remains unknown.
Though no one was injured in either fire, Newcastle City Council is taking this as an opportunity to remind residents to dispose of their batteries and waste electricals properly.
In September, the Council urged residents to dispose of their batteries properly by promoting the Environmental Services Association's Take Charge campaign to residents.
Alongside this, the national Recycle Your Electricals campaign ran in Newcastle on several occasions in the last year, which entailed radio ads encouraging residents to dispose of WEEE responsibly.
The Newcastle City Council website also contains information on safe battery disposal, and the issue is among those covered in its social media messages regarding waste.
Cllr John-Paul Stephenson, Cabinet member for Environment and Regulatory Services, said: "Batteries, chargers, items like old mobile phones or vape pens, and other small devices should not just be placed in general waste and need to be disposed of separately, or they pose a serious fire risk, be that in a bin, bin wagon or – as we see in this case – at our recycling centres.
"If you need to get rid of them, please use the large network of free-to-use battery collection points, including at supermarkets, large DIY stores and many other shops across the city, or take them to the dedicated Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) areas of our HWRCs."
Research has found evidence of harmful synthetic fibres in playgrounds and equestrian arenas
Cross-sector engagement essential to waste sector resilience, CIWM Covid-19 report finds
Findings highlight need for policy framework that recognises role of waste industry to public health
Third major waste fire of week at Siteserv's Glamorgan plant
A large fire containing 2,000 tonnes of waste broke out at Siteserv in the Vale of Glamorgan last night, the third major waste fire of the week and the third at this particular site in four years.
New figures show 11,000 waste sector workers report work-related injury or illness every year
New figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that an average of 5,000 workers in the UK waste industry have sustained injuries and 6,000 work-related illnesses every year since 2009, with 14 fatal injuries occurring in 2016/17.


'Agnes' 009. Own roots at Northcliffe, WA. Nov 9, 2011. Provenance: Zephyr Brook 7-29 in 1999. Blooms.
UK, 31st May 2018, at the Hiller Garden, near Alcester.
'Agnes' 014. Own roots at Northcliffe, WA. Nov 21, 2018. Provenance: Zephyr Brook 7-29 in 1999. Bare legged bushes.
'Agnes' 015. Own roots at Northcliffe, WA. Nov 21, 2018. Provenance: Zephyr Brook 7-29 in 1999. Blooms.


Our Emergency First Aid at Work with Forestry are tailored to the remote environments people work within in Scotland and Northern England. Our EFAW+F Emergency First Aid For Forestry Courses are designed for Forestry workers and everyone else involved in working in the outdoors. Our experience in working in the same outdoor environment helps us to continually develop our courses to meet with the challenges of delivering emergency first aid for forestry workers stalkers renewables and estate workers in their own environment. All of our instructors are full time outdoor professionals and fully qualified expedition leaders ex military or mountain rescuers and train from their own experience.
Our Forestry First Aid Efaw+F courses are suitable for Forest Workers, Forestry and Fencing Contractors, Arborist, Stalking Contractors, Civil Engineering Contractors, Recreational Hunters or anyone wishing to work on Forestry Commission land or rural contracts.
Our First Aid at Work training courses can be tailored and delivered at your own venue minimising staff down time and maximising course content. Bespoke courses delivered on your own premises or working environment means your staff are trained in the environment they work in giving your staff the best possible. As part of the course we can offer a free first aid consultancy service were we can recommend first aid equipment and consumables base on your own work requirements. This 3 day course provides workplace first aiders to gain the necessary skills and competencies required to deal with a range of emergency first aid situations in the general workplace. It will help ensure your employees are able to demonstrate practical, safe, prompt and effective first aid practices in emergency situations.
CA First Aid specialise in Outdoor and Wilderness first aid and this tailored course has been designed for people involved in outdoor instruction and guiding clients. Our course is delivered by full-time outdoor professionals who have a number of governing body awards and understand the risks involved in adventure activities. Our instructors have served or are serving members of Mountain Rescue and Fire and Rescue Service teams around Scotland.


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Center for Environment & Natural Resource Policy
Biomass, Bioenergy, and Climate
Forest Land Economics
Forest Practices
Natural Resource Governance
Private Forest Land Management
The idea of offsetting the cost of wildfire fuel reduction treatments by selling the biomass removed is appealing. Biomass utilization also offers hopes of restoring forests to a healthy ecological state, providing critical employment and economics benefits to rural communities, and is increasingly seen as a viable option for greenhouse gas mitigation strategies and renewable energy generation. But for all the possibilities, uncertainty exists regarding the factors necessary to stimulate utilization. How much biomass is available? Are landowners willing to participate in new energy markets? What is the role of federal, state, and local initiatives in stimulating utilization?
State Biomass Policy Database (.pdf)
Joint Fire Science Program in Biomass
Recent Presentations and Initiatives
FPS 2009 (BioSS Policy Implications) (.pdf)
Great Lakes Biomass Policy Forum hosted by University of Minnesota, Pinchot Institute for Conservation, and the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment
Forest Guild partnership for biomass research
For recent results, see:
Becker, D.R., D. Abbas, K.E. Halvorsen, P.J. Jakes, S.M. McCaffrey, and C. Moseley. 2011. Conventional wisdoms of biomass utilization: findings from federal case studies. In Woody Biomass Utilization: Proceedings of the International Conference on Woody Biomass Utilization, Starkville, MS. August 4-5, 2009, ed. John R. Shelly, 83-91. Madison, WI: Forest Products Society. ISBN-13:978-1-892529-60-2.
Becker, D.R., D. Abbas, K.E. Halvorsen, P.J. Jakes, S.M. McCaffrey, and C. Moseley. 2009. Conventional wisdoms of woody biomass utilization (.pdf). Final report to the Joint Fire Science Program.
Becker, D.R., D. Erylimaz, J. J. Klapperich, and M.A. Kilgore. 2013. Social availability of residual woody biomass from nonindustrialprivate woodland owners in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Biomass and Bioenergy 56:82-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.04.031
Becker, D.R., J.J. Klapperich, G.M. Domke, M.A. Kilgore, A.W. D'Amato, D.A. Current, and A.R. Ek. 2010. 2010 Outlook for forest biomass availability in Minnesota: Physical, environmental, economic, and social availability (.pdf). Staff Paper Series no. 211. St. Paul, MN: Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota.
Becker, D.R., D. Larson, and E.C. Lowell. 2009. Financial considerations of policy options to enhance biomass utilization for reducing wildfire hazards (.pdf). Forest Policy and Economics 11(8):628-635.
Becker, D.R., D. Larson, E. Lowell, and R. Rummer. 2008. User guide HCR Estimator 2.0: software to calculate cost and revenue thresholds for harvesting small-diameter ponderosa pine (.pdf). Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-748. Portland, OR: USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Becker, D.R., S. McCaffrey, D. Abbas, K.E. Halvorsen, P. Jakes, and C. Moseley. 2011. The conventional wisdoms of woody biomass utilization on federal public lands. Journal of Forestry 109(4):208-218
Becker, D.R., C. Moseley, and C. Lee. 2011. A supply chain analysis framework for assessing state-level forest biomass utilization policies in the United States. Biomass and Bioenergy 35:1429-1439.
Becker, D.R., M. Nechodom, A. Barnett, T. Mason, E. Lowell, D. Graham, and J. Shelly. 2009. Assessing the role of federal community assistance programs to develop biomass utilization capacity in the western United States (.pdf). Forest Policy and Economics 11(2):141-148.
Becker, D.R., K. Skog, A. Hellman, K.E. Halvorsen, and T. Mace. 2009. An outlook for sustainable forest bioenergy production in the Lake States (.pdf). Energy Policy 37(12):5687-5693.
Becker, D.R., S.Taff, A. Smale, D. Wilson, J. Klapperich, C. Hartley, K. Fernholz, S. Bratkovich, J. Bowyer, G. Atwood, and C. Miller. 2011. Forest biomass heating and electricity in Cook County, MN: Phase I report. Produced by Dovetail Partners for Cook County, MN Board of County Commissioners. [Internet] Available from: http://www.co.cook.mn.us
Brown, R.N., M.A. Kilgore, and A.R. Ek. 2007. An assessment of dead wood standards and practices in Minnesota (.pdf). Staff Paper Series no. 189. St. Paul, MN: Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota.
Dirkswager, A.L., M.A. Kilgore, D.R. Becker, C. Blinn, and A. Ek., 2011. Logging business practices and perspectives on harvesting forest residues for energy: A Minnesota case study. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 28(1):41-46.
Halvorsen, K.E., T.A. Selfa, D.R. Becker, and C. Hinrichs, eds. 2011. Socioeconomic dimensions of U.S. bioenergy. Biomass and Bioenergy (Special Issue) 35(4).
Hjerpe, E., J. Abrams, and D.R. Becker. 2009. Socioeconomic barriers and the role of biomass utilization in southwestern ponderosa pine restoration (.pdf). Restoration Ecology 27(2):169-177.
Kelkar, V., B. Geils, D.R. Becker, S. Overby, and D. Neary. 2006. How to recover more value from small pine trees: essential oils and resins (.pdf). Biomass and Bioenergy 30:316-320.
Lowell, E.C, D.R. Becker, and D. Larson. 2011. Influence of policy incentives on biomass utilization. In Woody Biomass Utilization: Proceedings of the International Conference on Woody Biomass Utilization, Starkville, MS. August 4-5, 2009, ed. John R. Shelly, 74-82. Madison, WI: Forest Products Society. ISBN-13:978-1-892529-60-2.
Lowell, E.C., D.R. Becker, D. Larson, R. Rummer, and L. Wadleigh. 2008. An integrated approach to evaluating the economic costs of wildfire hazard reduction through wood utilization opportunities in the southwestern U.S. (.pdf). Forest Science 54(3):273-283.
Nechodom, M., D.R. Becker, and R. Haynes. 2008. Evolving interdependencies of community and forest health. In Forest and Community Connections, eds., E. Donoghue and V. Sturtevant, 91-108. Washington, D.C.: Resources for the Future.
Robertson, A.L., M.A. Kilgore, and A.R. Ek. 2009. Tools to minimize the impacts of energy wood harvesting on the environment and soil productivity in Minnesota (.pdf). Staff Paper Series no. 200. St. Paul, MN: Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota.
Systems Analyses of Policy Instruments
Policy instruments, which are the tools used by governmental authorities to achieve certain outcomes, are critical to natural resource management. However, the appropriate mix of instruments ranging from regulations to tax credits and technical assistance programs are difficult to create. Uncertainty exists regarding the optimal mix of policies to achieve sustainable outcomes and the synergies created and unintended consequences of their interaction. This research takes a systems approach to policy evaluation in which theoretical aspects of policy design and implementation are investigated in the context of forest planning, bioenergy development, ecosystem services, and carbon markets.
SAF 2009 (Supply Chain Analysis) (.pdf)
Becker, D.R., and C. Lee. 2008. State woody biomass utilization policies (.pdf). Staff Paper Series no. 199. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources.
Becker, D.R., C. Moseley, and C. Lee. 2011. A supply chain analysis framework for assessing state-level forest biomass utilization policies in the United States (.pdf). Biomass and Bioenergy 35:1429-1439.
Carbon Analysis
Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation is increasingly an important topic for forest policy. This research examines the impact of different carbon mitigation policy strategies including forestation, bioenergy development, and forest land management activities.
Assessing Forestation Opportunities for Carbon Sequestration in Minnesota (.pdf)
EESI Congressional Hearing
Domke, G.M., D.R. Becker, A.W. D'Amato, A.R. Ek, and C.W. Woodall. 2012. Carbon emissions associated with the procurement and utilization of forest harvest residues for energy, northern Minnesota, USA. (.pdf) Biomass & Bioenergy 36(1):141-150. doi.10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.10.035
Domke, G.M., A.R. Ek, D.R. Becker, J.F. Espeleta, A.W. D'Amato, P.B. Reich, S. Suh, M.A. Kilgore, D.A. Current, H.M. Hoganson, T.E. Burk, and C.R. Blinn. 2008. Assessment of carbon flows associated with forest management and biomass procurement for the Laskin Biomass Facility (.pdf). Staff Paper Series no. 198. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources.
Miller, K.A., M.A. Kilgore, and S.A. Snyder. 2012. An assessment of Lake States landowner interest in selling forest carbon credits. Staff Paper Series no. 217. St. Paul, MN: Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota.
Miller, K.A., S.A. Snyder, M.A. Kilgore, M.A. Davenport. 2014. Family forest landowners' interest in forest carbon offset programs: focus group findings from the Lake States, USA. Environmental Management 54(6):1399-1411.
Turner, C., D.R. Becker, S.J. Taff, G.M. Domke, and V. Gauto. 2010. Assessing forestation opportunities for carbon sequestration in Minnesota. Report for the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, St. Paul, MN.
Department of Forest Resources
115 Green Hall | 1530 Cleveland Ave. N. | St. Paul, MN 55108
612-624-3400 | Fax: 612-625-5212 | frweb@umn.edu


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MONTREAL– December 5, 2017 – Atrium Innovations, a globally recognized leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative, science-based, natural health products, and Permira, the global investment firm, today announced that Atrium will be acquired by Nestlé from…
Study confirms substantial and significant effects of Wobenzym® in attenuating exercise-induced muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness in endurance athletes Pittsburgh, PA, March 13, 2017 – A new study published today in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine shows promising results…
Our collective purpose across Atrium Innovations is to EMPOWER HEALTHIER LIVES. We cherish this mandate and work towards its fulfillment each and every day by delivering scientifically sound, innovative and quality natural health supplements, that enable people to live longer, healthier lives….
Atrium Innovations is recognized worldwide as an innovative leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of science-based nutritional health products of the highest quality. We have leading brands such as Garden of Life, the #1 brand in the natural products industry in the…
Barry Ritz, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for Atrium Innovations Accepts 2016 NBJ Business Award for Achievement in Science and Innovation. Leading industry publication praises company's dedication to furthering the science behind supplements. Montreal (Quebec), June 21,…
BÉNÉFIQ's 2014 Diamond Sponsor
Montreal (Quebec), June 26, 2014 – Atrium Innovations Inc. (the "Company"), a globally recognized leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative, science-based, natural health products, is proud to announce its diamond sponsorship of BÉNÉFIQ 2014, an…
Peter Luther named President and Chief Executive Officer
MONTREAL, June 5, 2014 – Atrium Innovations Inc. ("Atrium" or the "Company"), a globally recognized leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative, science-based natural health products, announced today that Peter Luther, former President of Johnson &…
Announcement of a Management Transition
MONTREAL, April 8 2014 – Atrium Innovations Inc. ("Atrium" or the "Company"), a globally recognized leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative, science-based natural health products, announced today that Pierre Fitzgibbon, President and CEO of Atrium,…
Announcement of the Completion of Acquisition by the Permira Funds
MONTREAL, Feb. 13, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ – Atrium Innovations Inc. (TSX:ATB & ATB.DB) ("Atrium" or the "Corporation"), a globally recognized leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative, science-based natural health…
Atrium Innovations Inc. Receives Investment Canada Act Approval for the Arrangement with the Permira Funds
MONTREAL, Feb. 10, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ – Atrium Innovations Inc. (TSX:ATB & ATB.DB) ("Atrium" or the "Corporation"), a globally recognized leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative, science-based natural health products, is pleased to announce that…


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Q: Playing two videos side by side:Videos not showing I'm trying to build a GUI that is made of multiple videos played in different positions on the window, all videos with alpha channels, as some overlap others, based on the instructions provided by the firmware of an external device.
I'm at the very beginning of the project, so all I want is to play two videos on the same screen and go from there. (although if you know a good example to share in regards of my final objective, that would be awesome too).
The hierarchy that I have seen that would work for this project would be a QMainWindow that contains a QGraphicsView, that contains a QGraphicsScene, that contains two QGraphicsVideoItem, being those the "output" of the QMediaPlayer. (Am I already taking the wrong way with this?)
A window opens, properly sized but no videos played. I've done many tests, such as adding a layout, changing the order of certain instructions, etc. But nothing.
import sys
from PyQt5.QtMultimedia import *
from PyQt5.QtMultimediaWidgets import *
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *
from PyQt5.QtCore import *

class VideoWindow(QMainWindow):
     def __init__(self):
        super(VideoWindow, self).__init__()
        self.setWindowTitle('QMediaPlayer TEST')
        self.resize(1920, 1080)

        self.vista = QGraphicsView(self)
        self.vista.setGeometry(QRect(0, 0, 1920, 1080))

        self.scene = QGraphicsScene(self.vista)
        self.scene.setSceneRect(0, 0, 1920, 1080)

        self.graphvitem1 = QGraphicsVideoItem()
        self.graphvitem2 = QGraphicsVideoItem()

        self.mediaPlayer1 = QMediaPlayer(None, QMediaPlayer.VideoSurface)
        self.mediaPlayer1.setVideoOutput(self.graphvitem1)
        self.mediaPlayer1.setMedia(QMediaContent(QUrl.fromLocalFile("/Users/elemental/Desktop/pyvids/v1na.mp4")))

        self.graphvitem1.setPos(100, 100)
        self.scene.addItem(self.graphvitem1)

        self.mediaPlayer2 = QMediaPlayer(None, QMediaPlayer.VideoSurface)
        self.mediaPlayer2.setVideoOutput(self.graphvitem2)
        self.mediaPlayer2.setMedia(QMediaContent(QUrl.fromLocalFile("/Users/elemental/Desktop/pyvids/v1na2.mp4")))

        self.graphvitem2.setPos(100, 500)
        self.scene.addItem(self.graphvitem2)

        self.mediaPlayer1.play()
        self.mediaPlayer2.play()
        self.vista.show()

if __name__ == '__main__':
     app = QApplication([])
     window = VideoWindow()
     window.show()
     sys.exit(app.exec_())

A: You didn't set the scene on the view.
While the constructor of QGraphicsView can accept a QGraphicsScene (which will automatically be set on it), there's no such convenience for the QGraphicsScene constructor (since a scene can be shared among many views), and adding the view as argument will just set that view as a parent.
        self.scene = QGraphicsScene(self.vista)
        self.vista.setScene(self.scene)


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Shack's Arcade Corner: The Real Ghostbusters
 Published December 16, 2015 5:59 AM
The Real Ghostbusters is probably one of the most iconic cartoons of all time. It's a shame the one and only arcade machine of the iconic cartoon isn't nearly as good. Join Greg as he dives into The Real Ghostbusters Arcade on this week's Arcade Corner.
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Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Developer Interview
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Developer Interview. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer.
Published August 18, 2017 11:25 AM , by
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Battle Gameplay
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Battle Gameplay. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer CONNECT WITH US! FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shacknews TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shacknews INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/shacknews Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Battle Gameplay. Watch us live at http://www.twitch.tv/shacknews To support the team, visit the site: http://www.shacknews.com
Published August 17, 2017 7:00 AM , by
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Campaign Map Gameplay
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Campaign Map Gameplay. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer. CONNECT WITH US! FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shacknews TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shacknews INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/shacknews Watch us live at http://www.twitch.tv/shacknews To support the team, visit the site: http://www.shacknews.com


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