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CHAMBER CHOIR: WOMEN ARE THE FACE OF FAITH IN BAY STATE POLITICS
Written by CLAIRE SADAR Posted March 30, 2021 Filed Under: News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS
"This idea of what it means to be religious as a very conservative thing has upheld the power of the Christian Right for the last 40 years and is really deeply embedded in how we think about religion."
In January, Rev. Raphael Warnock was elected as the first Black Senator from Georgia. Sen. Warnock's historic election catapulted his identity as a Black man into headlines around the world, while his status as a pastor was relegated to a biographical note. In the American imagination, it makes sense that a pastor seeped in the tradition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be elected in a place like Georgia. We expect certain regions and populations to be more pious and comfortable with the overlap of religion and politics.
Boston is of course not Georgia. In 2015 and 2016, it was ranked by the American Bible Society as the third and second least "Bible-minded" city in America, respectively. (Our close neighbor, Providence, came in first and third in those same years). Boston magazine ran a story just two years ago entitled "Has Boston Given Up On God?" detailing how churches and synagogues of various denominations are struggling with a drop in attendance. Missionaries from other parts of the country have even relocated here in an effort to save our souls.
Boston's reputation as a "godless" city is partially deserved; after all, it has some of the lowest self-reported religious believers and practitioners in the country. But Boston is not as irreligious, and certainly not as anti-religious, as the above headlines might suggest. After all, one of our neighborhoods recently elected a progressive Black attorney who also happens to be the founder of her own Christian ministry to state office.
State Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley, who represents the 12th Suffolk District serving parts of Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Milton, was steeped in her Christian faith from an early age thanks to her mother, Rev. Brenda A. Fluker. As a teenager, her young-adult Bible study leader told Rep. Fluker Oakley she had a calling to ministry due to her insightful interpretation of Biblical passages. It wasn't until more than 10 years later, during a particularly difficult period in her life, that she answered this call and founded Delighting in God ministries (D.I.G.). What began as a weekly young adult Bible study in her home has now evolved into several different forms of ministry, including online classes and weekly devotionals, due to her changing life circumstances.
"I don't know if I will ever go to seminary to be a traditional minister or faith leader, but I do think that I have been called to policy and politics to have more things to converse to God about and to be a true light and reflection of his kingdom on earth. And that responsibility I take seriously. And it keeps me humble," Rep. Fluker Oakley said in an interview.
Deeply embedded
Any analysis of Bostonians', and our elected officials', religiosity suffers from the fact that the parameters of what makes a person "religious" in the United States has for decades been defined against the scale established by the religious right—that of white, evangelical Christian churchgoers.
The vast majority of religious Bostonians, and our elected officials of faith, do not fit into this mold. Instead of white, conservative, and evangelical Christians, people of faith in Boston are more likely to be people of color, left of center, Catholic or non-Christian, and/or fall into all three of these categories.
"There's a widely held misconception in the United States that to be religious is to be conservative Christian," said Dr. Lauren Kerby, the religious literacy specialist for Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School. "Americans tend to believe that if you are more religious, then you are more conservative, and if you are less religious, then you are more progressive."
Despite prominent examples like Dr. Martin Luther King, according to Dr. Kerby, "the fact that someone can be deeply religious and progressive is an idea unfamiliar to many Americans because that's not what we see on television, that's not in the messaging we get from conservative religious organizations and politicians. This idea of what it means to be religious as a very conservative thing has upheld the power of the Christian Right for the last 40 years and is really deeply embedded in how we think about religion."
Rep. Fluker Oakley has observed this phenomenon: "So often in the media and politics, we see the conservative right dominating what it means to be a Christian in this country. I always thought that that was skewed, and certainly not representative of my political views and how deeply I hold my faith."
Fluker Oakley is far from the sole person of faith to be elected to office from the Boston area.
I also spoke with two more recently elected officials with deeply held religious beliefs—Back Bay City Councilor Kenzie Bok, and Concord School Committee member Fatima Mezdad—to get a sense of what it looks like and means to be both a public official and person of faith in our contemporary, local context.
"For me it has never been that I have my faith and I have my political activism side by side, it's always been that my faith is what motivates my political activism in a very fundamental way," Bok said in an interview for this article.
"I've always felt like an activist. I've always felt like I've needed to fight for what I believe is right," Mezdad said. "I like to think of my faith as a living faith, a faith that is adaptable… For me, faith comes down to kindness. Being kind to everything and everyone around us—whether it is our neighbors, or our environment."
Councilor Bok also sees her faith as something that is not just abstract, but manifest in the world. She grew up in and still attends Trinity Church Boston, and it was through her church that she was introduced to progressive activism.
"I think one of the things the church really taught me growing up was how to put on a different pair of glasses and see the world as it should be," Bok said. "As I grew into adulthood, I was really drawn to the opportunity for faith in action—what does an ethic of love look like in terms of public policy. That didn't feel like a step away from my church and what I had been brought up believing, it felt like a deepening."
Bok gained some of her first exposure to progresive political organizing through the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), helping to lead their push for the adoption of Boston's Community Preservation Act. The councilor learned more from her experience in the GBIO than just the mechanics of how to lobby for and pass legislation.
"Sometimes, I feel in secular society we gloss [religious difference] over. 'Oh, we all believe in the same things' in some sort of amorphous values, surface level way…. And I just think you can't get very far in understanding people's motivations or building trust or coming into partnership without talking about those things," Bok said. "That's something I feel that I gained from interfaith conversation that has served me well in the political space. Because there is nothing easier, and more deceptive, than saying, 'Of course we all agree.'"
Concord School Committee Member Mezdad also has deep roots in interfaith work. She was part of the original Daughters of Abraham group that was founded in Cambridge post-September 11, and 18 years later she is still a member of her local branch. Mezdad also believes that acknowledging religious difference is an essential component of progressive political policy.
"Because faith is so present in our lives, we cannot deny it, we cannot ignore it. It is part of the work that we do- to advocate for recognition, for protection of rights," Mezdad said. "That's where I see faith intersecting with politics—activism, in terms of protection, in terms of outreach, in terms of understanding."
There doesn't appear to be many academic studies exploring the connections between interfaith experience, a commitment to progressive political activism, and eventually running for office. However, it seems to be more than a coincidence that many interfaith organizations, such as the GBIO are deeply involved in political organizing, and two of the three elected officials that I spoke with have a background in interfaith groups.
Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), which works with college students "to make interfaith cooperation a vital part of the college experience," shared some findings from its Interfaith Diversity Experiences & Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (IDEALS), conducted in partnership with Drs. Alyssa Rockenbach and Matt Mayhew. The study showed that "most college students place a high value on interfaith leadership and service—the basic ideas that people with different religious and nonreligious beliefs should work together for the common good," according to Mary Ellen Giess, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at IFYC.
It is also no accident that the three elected officials who agreed to be interviewed, and the majority of elected officials with publicly available evidence of their faith commitments, were all women. Women, particularly women of color, have always been at the forefront of progressive politics, even if their role has often been downplayed or overlooked. And like their male counterparts, progressive women are often inspired by their faith.
"Religious women played critical roles in the major social movements of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries," writes Dr. Kerby in American Religious History: Belief and Society through Time, "They often did so not in spite of their religious commitments, but because of them."
Dr. Kerby further explained that "when we think of religious leaders, it is going to reflect that patriarchal bias that is so embedded in how we think about religion, so Ilhan Omar does not get characterized as a religious leader, for example."
All newly elected to their respective offices, Rep. Fluker Oakley, Councilor Bok, and Member Mezdad are part of a record-breaking number of women who have run for and been elected to office in the last four years. But they are also part of a decades long tradition of women of faith who have worked toward progressive political change both nationally and locally.
"Being a Black American here in the United States, [I recognize] the role that the Black church has played in the Civil Rights Movement and I've always kind of viewed the church as a place for social justice," Fluker Oakley said.
"Boston has a pretty substantial tradition of left religious organizing," Bok noted. She went on to detail some of the work GBIO has done in its more than two decades of existence, from increasing access to affordable housing to helping to pass criminal justice reform.
"It's not just me that bucks that trend, it is Boston activist religious life that bucks that trend," the councilor added. "There is considerably more religious organizing on urban justice issues in the city than there is in the other direction."
On Tuesday, March 23, another progressive politician was sworn in as the first Black, first female mayor of Boston. In a ceremony that made history and broke a half-dozen Boston stereotypes, Mayor Kim Janey was ushered into office with a prayer by Reverend Willie Bodrick, II, Senior Pastor at the Twelfth Baptist Church and the chords of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
Introducing the new Mayor, Representative Ayanna Pressley, quoted Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "We are not makers of history, we are made by history." In this same vein, Pressley noted that Mayor Janey's rise to office "is not an individual achievement, it is the culmination of the ancestors' prayers."
"There are so many people with the misconception that religion doesn't matter in public life, that it doesn't play a role, and these women are offering really direct counter evidence to that," Dr. Kerby said. "Religion is embedded in all dimensions of human experience."
CLAIRE SADAR
Claire Sadar is a freelance journalist covering religion, politics, social justice, and their intersections. You can follow her work at ClaireSadar.com and on twitter @KARepublic.
Filed Under: News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS


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Day-long protests and marches continue the conversation about racism's role in law enforcement
The scheduled protests at Civic Center are scheduled to end at 8 p.m.
Activist Larry Thompson Sr. leads protesters on a march out of Civic Center Park into downtown Denver on Friday.
Hart Van Denberg/CPR News
David Sachs
On the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial, hundreds of people filtered in and out of the Greek Theater at Civic Center Park on Friday to listen to speeches about the changes they want to see in local and national institutions that disproportionately harm people of color.
"This is the time we're supposed to be alive and these are the issues we are supposed to show up with our entire bodies for," said Bianca Mikahn, a Denver poet and hip hop artist.
Tweet from @DavidASachs
It was the Denver Solidarity March (on Washington). Crowds were relatively thin during the morning and afternoon as 100 or so people gathered at the downtown park. Crowds are expected to grow throughout the day and night, with four marches scheduled citywide.
"Enough is enough! Free the people! Enough is enough! Get rid of the jails!" the crowd chanted as it returned from its first march. "Enough is enough! Abolish the jails! Enough is Enough! Abolish ICE! Enough is enough! Stop killing our people!"
More than 30 people were scheduled to speak, including organizers, artists, politicians and everyday people. Some came from elsewhere in the country, like Demita Bishop, who flew to Denver from Atlanta. Bishop is scared of flying, she told Denverite, but made her first trip ever at the age of 44 to represent Fighting Against Institutionalized Railroading, or FAIR.
Protesters chant at the Greek Theater during protests against racism on August 28, 2020.
David Sachs/Denverite
Her organization helps people who have received excessive sentencing or wrongful conviction get back into a courtroom, she said. FAIR includes imprisoned volunteers who research court cases from the inside to help people on the outside. When Bishop spoke, she made a distinction between policing as an institution and policing as it relates to human beings.
"We wouldn't dare make a sweeping indictment and criminalize everyone for the wrongs of a few. We're not like them," Bishop said. "All we're saying is, get them off the streets and put the ones out that are gonna be fair. Were saying to stop allowing them to murder and put seven bullets in the backs (of people) like they did to brother Jacob Blake," she said, speaking about Kenosha police who shot Blake, a Black man, as he was getting into his car.
Kids chipped in, too. Twelve-year-old Sorl "King" Shead IV stood on a massive stage that might've dwarfed him if his words weren't so large.
"I'm tired and I'm scared and I'm only 12," Shead said. "Will I make It home from school? Will I make it to my friend's house or to the store and back? I don't know who I have to protect myself from — the guys on the block or the police on the block."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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HomeSports NewsCricket
Paytm requests BCCI to assign home title sponsorship rights to Mastercard
The ongoing association between Paytm and BCCI was inked in September 2019 and will go till March 2023.
By Akshay Sonawane
The Indian mobile and financial services company, Paytm has reportedly asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to assign its home cricket sponsorship rights to the American multi-national company, Mastercard.
The ongoing association between Paytm and BCCI was inked in September 2019 and will go till March 2023. Payment made the winning bid at INR 326.80 crore for the home season.
The timeline for requesting the reassignment of the sponsorship has been missed by Paytm.
The BCCI is likely to accept Paytm's proposal as the two entities have had a long-term fruitful collaboration.
A source close to the BCCI, said, "Paytm has requested the BCCI for reassignment and the board is considering it."
The initial cooperation between the two parties was etched in 2015 for a duration of four years.
The Indian company had replaced Micromax after a successful bid of INR 2.42 crore per match in October 2015. The partnership was then later extended in 2019.
If things go ahead as planned, the home title sponsorship rights will be a magnificent addition to Mastercard's portfolio. The American financial services corporation has teamed up with global sports teams and leagues in the past – Saudi Esports Federation, Inter Milan, Copa America, UEFA Champions League, Olympique Lyonnais Women's football team, and many more.
BCCI
BCCI requests bids for title sponsorship of Women's Premier League
CONMEBOL agrees sponsorship extension with Mastercard
BYJU'S steps back as the lead sponsor of BCCI
Australian Open 2023: Sponsors Watch
Viacom18 acquires exclusive media rights to WIPL
The saga of BCCI witnessing changes in sponsors continues
DP World Tour acquires multi-year partnership with Standard Chartered


An in-depth look at some brilliant engineering.
The drinking bird is an iconic desk toy, right up there with Newton's Cradle, but can you explain how it works? The principle is unintuitive at first glance, but beautifully simple in hindsight, like only the most mesmerizing bits of engineering are.
It stumped Albert Einstein, who could not immediately figure it out.
It will drink twice as fast if it's drinking whisky.
The bird does not drink at all.
The hat isn't a fashion statement; it hides a small stem used to fill and seal the birds innards.
Let's face it, you are long overdue to get one for your desk.


Dr. David Vearrier, Program Director Medical Toxicology Fellowship Drexel University College of Medicine, joins me to discuss the physiology of opioid withdrawal and approaches to treatment including suboxone and other approaches.
Check back for another podcast on our lessons learned when we initiate the program.
← Peeling the banana out of the banana bag: why it's time for it to go!
Try this Kim HK, Nelson LS. Reducing the harm of opioid overdose with the safe use of naloxone: a pharmacologic review. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2015 Jul;14(7):1137-46.
Heh, thanks. Lewis is one of the folks I've been talking to about this. I've pasted the relevant passage from that paper below. Bup has such fantastically complex pharmacology, I wonder if we'll ever be able to develop a sound strategy for managing buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal (BPW) across the spectrum of different patient presentations (and the pharmacology they come in with) and bup doses.
And the relationship between bup and naloxone is super-complex. I'm not terribly concerned with bup toxicity, am more interested in transitioning patients with NPW (naloxone-precipitated withdrawal) to bup MAT in the ED.
In healthy volunteers, buprenorphine's extremely high μ-receptor affinity (Kd: 0.08 – 0.22 nM) and its correspond- ing slow association and dissociation rate from the μ-receptor (receptor dissociation half-life [t1/2 koff]: 41 – 68 min) were associated with a delayed onset of action of naloxone in reversing the buprenorphine-induced ventilatory depression compared with that of fentanyl (Kd: 3.39 μM; t1/2 koff: 2 mg) were required to reverse buprenorphine- induced ventilatory depression [40,42]. But, the administration of > 4 mg of naloxone showed an inverse dose-response rela- tionship, accompanied by significant decreases in the reversal of buprenorphine-induced ventilatory depression [40,42]. This finding has been theoretically attributed to the non- competitive auto-inhibition of two μ-receptor subpopulations by buprenorphine in which one mediates the agonist effect at low doses and the other mediates the antagonist effect at high doses [42,77,78]. Similar delay in the reversal of ventilatory depression with naloxone was also observed between morphine (t1/2 koff: 5 min) and its active metabolite, morphine-6-glucuronide (t1/2 koff: 21 min). In this situation, the reversal of morphine-6-glucuronide-induced ventilatory depression with naloxone was slower by ~ 30 min, compared with that of morphine .
Bingo – that's the ref!


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Q: Combine Laravel Collections items I have this collection with this elements:
Collection {#325 ▼
  #items: array:3 [▼
    0 => array:4 [▼
      0 => array:2 [▶]//element1
      1 => array:2 [▶]//element2
      2 => array:2 [▶]//element3
      3 => array:2 [▶]//element4
    ]
    1 => array:4 [▼
      0 => array:2 [▶]//element5
      1 => array:2 [▶]//element6
      2 => array:2 [▶]//element7
      3 => array:2 [▶]//element8
    ]
    2 => array:4 [▼
      0 => array:2 [▶]//element9
      1 => array:2 [▶]//element10
      2 => array:2 [▶]//element11
      3 => array:2 [▶]//elemen12
    ]
  ]
}

And I need combine this elements in only collection.
I want an result like this:
Collection {#325 ▼
  #items: array:12 [▼

      0 => array:2 [▶]//element1
      1 => array:2 [▶]//element2
      2 => array:2 [▶]//element3
      3 => array:2 [▶]//element4
      4 => array:2 [▶]//element5
      5 => array:2 [▶]//element6
      6 => array:2 [▶]//element7
      7 => array:2 [▶]//element8
      8 => array:2 [▶]//element9
      9 => array:2 [▶]//element10
      10 => array:2 [▶]//element11
      11 => array:2 [▶]//elemen12
    ]
  ]
}

Each element1, element2, etc, contains other array like this:
   3 => array:2 [▼//element 3 for example
        "id" => 50
        "type" => "ARTICLE"
      ]

Is there any way to do this? I´m using Laravel 5.3 version and I not have idea about that collection function use for this case.

A: Use flatten() method:
$collection->flatten();

The flatten method flattens a multi-dimensional collection into a single dimension

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Polyurethane steel wire reinforced T2.5, T5, T10, AT5 & AT10 timing belts. Standard T profile to DIN 7721 in metric pitch with trapezoidal toothform.
The Synchroflex range of belts consists of two components, a wear resistant Contilan carcass, and high grade endless galvanized steel wire tension members. The excellent nobd between the two results in a belt with high tooth load capacity combined with low elastic elongation, making them unsurpassed for quality and accuracy. The Synchroflex process produces close tolerance timing belts to ensure optimum mesh in all power ranges. Synchroflex belts comply with DIN7721, having proved themselves for over 30 years.


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Story Uuid: f4b311df-88c5-4fb4-994a-068dc0a068cf
Story Link: /#story/f4b311df-88c5-4fb4-994a-068dc0a068cf
Ad Zone: entertainment
Story Slug: a-journey-nears-its-end-in-d23-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-teaser
A journey nears its end in D23 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' teaser
By Stephen Loiaconi 1566824280000
A new poster for 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' was unveiled at D23 over the weekend. (Star Wars/Twitter)
WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) —
Disney unveiled about a minute of new material from the final film in the Star Wars saga at its D23 Expo over the weekend, and the climactic footage is now available online for all who were not there to see it in Anaheim.
After recalling iconic moments from the previous eight films, the D23 sizzle reel reveals new characters, new locations, and Daisy Ridley's Rey armed with a new double-sided lightsaber.
"The Force Awakens" director J.J Abrams returns to helm "Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker," with Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Mark Hamill, and Billy Dee Williams reprising their roles, as well as Carrie Fisher making a final appearance as Leia in footage shot before her death.
"The Rise of Skywalker" is set to hit theaters Dec. 20, 2019.


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https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/2017/11/28/billy-donovan-may-be-turning-toward-terrance-ferguson-more-in-the-near-future/
Billy Donovan may be turning toward Terrance Ferguson more in the near future
A.J. Mason
With the Thunder having three full days off prior to heading to Orlando to face the Magic on Wednesday night, the team has gotten some much-needed practice time.
The player whose been brought up most often over the past few days has been rookie Terrance Ferguson, who played a career-high 21 minutes against the Mavericks on Saturday night. Although the effort came in a loss, head coach Billy Donovan sounds like he may be inclined to give the rookie some additional opportunities moving forward.
Donovan spoke with Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript to discuss why he turned to Ferguson in the Dallas game and what it could mean for the future.
"Finding a way to get him maybe a few more minutes would be good," Donovan said on Monday.
"He's done a good job in practice. I think it was good that he got an opportunity. Hopefully, something he can build his confidence on."
Writing for OKCThunder.com, Nick Gallo also discussed Ferguson's recent impact.
Rookie guard Terrance Ferguson hadn't played more than five minutes since the Thunder's second game of the season, on the road against Utah. But last week he had an energetic and productive performance for the OKC Blue, as he scored 24 points. In practice, he competed at an impressive level. That earned him some minutes in Dallas, where he went to high school, and he performed nicely by scoring seven points while notching a rebound, assist and a steal in 21 minutes….
"You're always trying to look at different ways — our staff, myself — to try to help the group," Donovan said. "And I think you've got to keep the whole roster engaged. And it's gotta make sense when you engage a guy that a guy could potentially go in there and have success.
With the team still looking for some consistency and a spark, Ferguson could emerge as an unlikely source for some inspiration.
At this point, it certainly doesn't seem like a bad idea.


(JTA) — The Anti-Defamation League called on the Huffington Post's Arabic-language edition to remove a blog post claiming a Jewish woman poisoned the Prophet Muhammad with arsenic.
The ADL has been urging the site to take down the article since shortly after it was published Nov. 29, the organization said in a press release on Thursday.
The ADL said that after urging the site to remove the piece, the headline was changed to frame the arsenic charge as a question: "Did the Prophet Die From Being Poisoned With Arsenic?" However, the article's content remained unchanged, according to the ADL.


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Miley Cyrus and Jared Leto Are Sleepover Buddies
Today in celebrity gossip: Two of the industry's most celebrated artists "are hooking up," Adam Brody secretly married Leighton Meester, and Gwyneth Paltrow most certainly did not have an affair with an entertainment lawyer.
Price Peterson
Celebrated performance artist Miley Cyrus may have changed the world's collective mind about the merits of gawky, awkward gyrations slathered in sequins, but that doesn't mean she's been lucky in love! Cyrus famously called off her engagement to Liam Hemsworth and recently enjoyed a brief fling with noted flesh golem Kellan Lutz, but now we can add no less than Oscar-nominated 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto to her list of conquests! According to "a source," the two "are hooking up." In this case "hooking up" means that Cyrus "stayed over at his house." Was he himself present? Unclear! Did they enjoy sexual congress? It's a mystery! But we do know that Leto is literally twice Cyrus' age, in case that is important to you. Also they have a few important things in common: "They like to have a good time, they love to talk about art and music -- and they're both comfortable with nudity!" Almost no other celebrities could claim these things about themselves, so it's truly lucky that Cyrus has found someone so like-minded. But let's hope this art and nudity-cemented slumber party friendship doesn't give Cyrus any wrong ideas about what Leto's into. "Jared doesn't do girlfriends." Dang. Sorry, girl. [Us Weekly]
Gwyneth Paltrow would like you, the world, and Daily Mail to know that she most definitely did not cheat on her husband Chris Martin with some lowly entertainment lawyer, okay? She did not. Ever since an alleged Vanity Fair "takedown" of the actress/guru was abruptly cancelled, speculation pointed to possible affair allegations that Paltrow did not want broadcast. That all culminated this week when the name of entertainment lawyer Kevin Yorn began spreading through Whisper, "a new secret-sharing app" which existence I will have to take on faith because what even? The rumors had reached enough of a fever pitch that Gwyneth Paltrow's people were forced to respond: "The story is completely false. Gwyneth knows Kevin casually through business contacts." There you have it. How could Paltrow possibly engage in sensual activities with someone she only knows "casually through business contacts"? Not possible. Relax, everybody. Rest assured that if YOU woke up next to the man who wrote "Yellow," you wouldn't be climbing around on an entertainment lawyer either. [Daily Mail]
I can't tell you how to feel about this, nobody can: Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and The OC's Adam Brody secretly got married! Though their relationship seemed to have sprung from a click-pandering online poll of some kind and their engagement lasted only about three months, Brody and Meester are now legally wed. Considering they'd never even publicly confirmed they were dating, this was some Katie Holmes-divorcing, Beyoncé album-dropping clandestine-type operation. So now the question remains: Do you, as a fan of either Leighton Meester or Adam Brody (or both), feel cheated out of a big public event? Do you feel entitled to tons of pictures and spreads and guest lists and interviews about this wedding? Or are you merely just sort of happy for the two? There are no wrong answers, because again, everyone must process this news on their own terms. [Us Weekly]
Our nation's shame Shia LaBeouf may have reached another all-time low in the series of publicity stunts to which he's devoted his career these past few months. But this time it involves no plagiarism nor sky-writing nor tear-soaked paper bag performance art pieces. No, this time LaBeouf's career-ending crime is the sudden and unwavering support he's received from After Earth's Jaden Smith! If you weren't already aware of Will Smith's progeny's amazingly terrible Twitter feed, all you need to know is he tweets in sentence-caps the most mind-numbing pseudo-philosophical yammerings on the internet. (From last November: "We Need To Stop Teaching The Youth About The Past And Encourage Them To Change The Future.") Now Smith has taken a break from hanging out with Justin Bieber or lesser Kardashians to reach out to embattled Battle of Shaker Heights star Shia LaBeouf:
I Waited In Line Today On Beverly Blvd To See @thecampaignbook I Never Got See Him But I Had A Very Important Message To Deliver.
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) February 17, 2014
It Was A Message That Only Could Be Understood Artist To Artist. @thecampaignbook I'm Here For You I Believe In What Your Doing.
Clearly the best part of this interaction was the idea that Jaden Smith waited in line outside of LaBeouf's #IAMSORRY venue and didn't get in. Say what you will about the circus surrounding this plagiarist's stunt, at least there was no velvet rope favoritism shown toward celebrities. Or children of celebrities who appear in M. Night Shyamalan films with their fathers and aren't great at acting. Not even them. [E! Online]
Meanwhile national folk hero Demi Moore may have snagged another young hunk for her increasingly next-level Little Black Book of Young Hunks. After divorcing Ashton Kutcher she'd been spotted around town having a fling with 27-year-old drummer, but according to Daily Mail she has an even newer and younger fella in her sights: 23-year-old Alex Pettyfer of Magic Mike and I Am Number Four fame. But not Endless Love fame, because first of all who cares about Endless Love, but also bringing it up would imply that this whole story was planted to somehow generate publicity for Endless Love. Anyway! As "a source" who is definitely not a publicist for Endless Love told Daily Mail, Demi Moore and Alex Pettyfer were recently seen interacting at a night club: "There was major chemistry between them, they were flirting up a storm. And, it's got to be said, despite the age difference they make a really hot couple!" Yes, it's GOT to be said. Let there be no more hedging on the issue of whether two of the hottest people alive make "a really hot couple" or not. Let us join hands with this bold statement and walk bravely in the cleansing light of truth. [Daily Mail]
Now that The Tonight Show is watchable again, expect many more clip-of-the-day segments drawn from Jimmy Fallon's excellent taste in guests! Like, please enjoy this visit from Kristen Wiig doing her very finest Harry Styles impersonation:


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November 18, 2014 Reviews
Bad Hair
by Scott Tobias
Nine-year-old Junior (Samuel Lange), a curly-haired outcast living in a Caracas housing project, is gay, but doesn't fully realize it yet. He steals glances at the handsome grocery clerk at the foot of his building, waves his arms gently to the music in his head, and obsesses over straightening his afro for a school portrait he can't afford. He feels different from other kids, but he hasn't developed enough to recognize his own latent desire. The adults in his life are another story. They see how he's developing, and they react—sometimes cruelly, sometimes confusingly, but in every instance unfairly. Junior can't help being himself, and it's a traumatizing ordeal for him to be pinballed back and forth between a mother who teems with hatred and resentment, and a grandmother who shares her old '60s pop records with him, encouraging him to sing.
Without being didactic for a second, Mariana Rondón's Bad Hair gets at the hardship of a gay child's formative years, when he isn't fully cognizant of his predilections or actions, but gets punished for them anyway. When Junior's mother Marta (Samantha Castillo) has sex in clear view of the boy, she's teaching him a lesson cloaked in hostility, like a parent trying to get a kid to stop smoking by making him smoke the entire carton. But Rondón herself isn't cruel to anyone in Bad Hair, including Marta, whose anger is placed in the context of a single mother of two who cannot figure out how to take care of her children, and cannot find work without humiliating herself. Rondón has made an intimate, character-driven drama that nonetheless doesn't limit itself to the confines of Marta's apartment building. There's a big, bustling city out there, too, and an indifferent one at that.
Rondón drops into Junior's life in media res, and leaves his family's circumstances in the dark. We know, for example, that his father is no longer around, but not what happened to him. Junior's grandmother Carmen (Nelly Ramos), from his father's side, has a brittle relationship with Marta, and openly denies that Marta's new baby is her grandson. Rondón also opts not to clarify why Marta has lost her job as a security officer, which has resulted in minimum-wage work cleaning houses while she begs for a second chance. As much as Junior's grandmother indulges him, combing his hair straight and sharing her music collection with him, he doesn't like her any more than his mother. The best he can do is close his eyes and daydream a little.
There's some neo-neo-realist boilerplate to Bad Hair, particularly when it comes to Marta's struggle to find work, which ends in a predictable act of degradation. But Rondón fends off the plotty elements as best she can, and situates the story so firmly in the ecosystem of a massive Caracas housing project that it could scarcely be mistaken for another city or another culture. She leaves the impression that the tension between mother and son has as much to do with economics as with cultural factors; Marta's stress in living hand-to-mouth spills over into the abuse of a boy she doesn't understand. Rondón treats her characters with toughness and empathy, without devising easy outs or slipping into sentimentality. Like Junior's hair, they're all dealing with the tangled mess they've been given.
GoWatchIt: Buy. Rent. Stream Bad Hair
93 min / Run Time
November 19 2014 / Release Date
Spanish / Language
Mariana Rondón
Samantha Castillo
Samuel Lange
Nelly Ramos
Cinema Tropical


text:
Story Contest
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Suspended Animation
The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont, edited by Roger Anker
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Gauntlet Press
Review Posted: 4/15/2005
Reviewer Rating:
Reader Rating: Not Rated
Book Review by Jeff Edwards
Have you read this book?
The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont: Volume One opens with an apt quote from Beaumont himself: "All the fantasy writers I know have a way of dwelling on their own fears and phobias. A writer spends his life being his own psychiatrist." These words echo quietly throughout the collection.
Writers - and others with strong imaginations - often terrify themselves with demons of their own design. Beaumont takes this idea and amplifies it: his trademark scenario is a claustrophobic, nightmarish situation from which his characters cannot escape. In "Perchance to Dream," Edward Hall stays awake for eighty-seven hours, convinced that his dreams will kill him. "The mind is everything," he says. Edward is certain that if he dies in a dream, his heart won't withstand the shock in real life. In "The Jungle," Alan Richards and his wife are terrorized by a curse laid upon them by angry African shamans. Alan has seen voodoo work - has seen healthy people sicken and die - because the victims believed in the dark magic, "and their belief made it real."
In his own life, Beaumont fell victim to the typical Hollywood syndrome: "[T]he more money he made, the more he spent," says a friend. Too much was never enough. Beaumont's scripts reflect the same type of excess. In "A Nice Place to Visit," a small-time criminal dies and goes to heaven (he thinks) where everything he wants is just a wish away. In "The Prime Mover," Ace Larsen is ecstatic to learn that a friend possesses the power of telekinesis - and that this talent can be exploited for profit in the casinos of Las Vegas. Despite winning enough money to last a lifetime, Ace continues to gamble with bigger and bigger stakes, his behavior turning uglier with every dollar he wins.
In addition to tales of greed and overactive imagination, Beaumont (whose real name was Nutt until he had it legally changed) often wrote about losing one's identity. In "Person or Persons Unknown," David Gurney is puzzled - then horrified - when no one seems to recognize him. His wife and co-workers all regard him as a stranger, as though David's existence has been wiped out. At the start of "In His Image," Alan Talbot finds himself in a similar situation: when he returns to his hometown after only a few days' absence, Alan discovers someone else living in his house. His neighbors are gone; the town has changed - even the buildings are different: "[E]ither I've got the worst memory in the world...or..." Sadly, Beaumont would soon struggle with his own memory: he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of thirty-five. He died just a few years later.
Beaumont's premature death at the age of thirty-eight was tragic, but he left behind a body of work that continues to inspire writers and filmmakers. The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont: Volume One does a superb job of preserving that legacy for a new generation of readers to discover.
Click here to buy The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont, edited by Roger Anker on Amazon
The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont, edited by Roger Anker on Amazon
More Books You Might Like
Broken Hero, by Jonathan Wood
Green Sky & Sparks, by Kate Coe
The Devil Inside, by Jenna Black
Midnight Riot, by Ben Aaronovitch
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Comments on The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont, edited by Roger Anker
Posted by Larry on 10/24/2020
You may be interested to hear of a small book.
Sands of Time a collection of thought provoking stories.
So much like early TZ shows
Fascinating insight.
I recently read a small book by Beatrice C Snipp.
It so much reminded me of early TZ shows.
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text:
Q: Bind multiple parameters match against fulltext search I'm implementing a search feature based on tags, and I have the following SQL to match keywords in a tags column in one of my tables.
Example:
row 1 tags column:   car city night
row 2 tags column:   truck city day

SQL:
WHERE MATCH(s.tags) AGAINST (+:keyword IN BOOLEAN MODE)

However if the user searches multiple keywords separated by spaces, such as "car city ...", the query should be:
WHERE MATCH(s.tags) AGAINST ('+:keyword1 +:keyword2 +...' IN BOOLEAN MODE)

Currently I have just
$stmt->bindParam(":keyword", $keyword);
which won't produce what I want, I believe it produces:
WHERE MATCH(s.tags) AGAINST (+'keyword1 keyword2 ...' IN BOOLEAN MODE)

How would I bind each keyword separately to produce that when there an unknown number of keywords? Or is there another way?

A: I believe I was able to solve it.
Use a single placeholder:
WHERE MATCH(s.tags) AGAINST (:keyword IN BOOLEAN MODE)

Split the keyword into an array of words separated by spaces:
$keywords = preg_split('/\s+/', $keyword);
$numKeywords = count($keywords);

Then when binding the parameter, concatenate each keyword with a plus:
for ($i = 0; $i < $numKeywords; $i++){
  $keywordBind .= "+".$keywords[$i]." ";
}
$stmt->bindParam(":keyword", $keywordBind);


This fund provides scholarships an award that recognizes outstanding academic and performance achievement in dance and honors the legacy of Elizabeth Sherbon.
Current sophomore and junior dance students are encouraged to apply by completing an application (doc) and submitting it to kudance@ku.edu by 4 p.m., Thursday, April 11, 2019.
Contributions to the Elizabeth Sherbon Dance Fund may be made via KUEA.


Use our list to find details of Chesterfield commercial property agents and property owners. You can find out more about our major regeneration sites and their commercial agents here.
Find out exactly what space is available in Chesterfield for your business using our online commercial property search.
Use our list to find details of Chesterfield commercial property agents and property owners.


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Asset & Invoice FinanceAsset financeNews
Henry Howard Finance boost asset finance provision
Ryan Fowler	31st May 2016
Henry Howard Finance has secured a £51m facility from the British Business Bank's Enable Funding programme.
The facility, which is 50% guaranteed by the European Investment Fund, will allow Henry Howard to extend its asset finance funding to a larger portfolio of smaller UK businesses.
The funding will be used to increase Henry Howard Finance's provision of asset finance for smaller businesses.
Suros Capital plans 2022 expansion
Mark Crook, co-founder and chief operating officer at Henry Howard Finance, said: "We are delighted to be working with the British Business Bank to boost much needed funding for SME asset procurement.
"Access to asset finance is a major barrier to growth for many small businesses. We hope the new facility will remove this barrier and allow more SMEs to grow and prosper."
Keith Morgan, British Business Bank CEO, added: "Henry Howard Finance has a proven track record in providing much-needed asset finance to small businesses and this facility will help it significantly increase its asset finance lending to smaller businesses across the UK.
"This is the third transaction in our Enable Funding programme which has now provided a total of £202m to non-bank asset finance providers."
And Pier Luigi Gilibert, EIF chief executive, concluded: "We are very pleased to see that our collaboration with the British Business Bank is working so well in supporting UK SMEs.
"This new EIF guarantee on the asset finance funding facility now brings the total finance available under the Enable programme to more than £200m, for UK entrepreneurs.
"In addition, we have recently further developed our collaboration with the British Business Bank by signing a new EC-backed guarantee transaction."
The Enable Funding programme is delivered by British Business Bank on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Fiduciam accredited for RLS by British Business Bank
Suros Capital offers pre-arranged finance facility
Nucleus accredited to offer RLS term loans


If there's a must-see cultural attraction in Porto it's the contemporary art museum and park run by the Fundação Serralves, 4km west of the centre. The Museu de Arte Contemporânea is the work of Porto architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, and is a minimalist triumph of white facades and terraces strikingly set in an overwhelmingly green park. There's no permanent collection – instead, several changing exhibitions a year draw on the works of Portuguese and international artists, mainly from the 1960s to the present day. Other exhibitions are held in the separate, pink Art Deco Casa de Serralves in the grounds.
You can get an idea of the main building from the outside, and from the terrace café, more formal restaurant and museum shop (all free to enter), which means if the exhibitions aren't to your taste, you miss nothing by just visiting the park. Indeed, many people prefer this to the museum itself and it's easy to spend a lazy afternoon here, winding along swept gravel paths and clipped lawns before descending wooded tracks to the herb gardens and farmland beyond, grazed by goats and cattle. There are art installations dotted around and a tea house (open weekends only in winter) in a glade with a vine colonnade. July and August see a sequence of "Jazz no Parque" (Jazz in the Park) concerts held in the gardens.


9 out of 10 based on 987 ratings. 4,410 user reviews.
Instant download of a repair manual for the 1986-1987 Honda ATC 200x. I have the 1983-1985 200x manual in a different listing. Covers complete tear down and rebuild, pictures and part diagrams, torque specs, maintenance, troubleshooting, etc.


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← Back to Issue
One Generic Mental Illness: A Principle-Based Psycho-Spiritual Explanation of General Factor p and Its Application to Spiritually Informed Clinical Practice
Author/s: Thomas M. Kelley, William F. Pettit Jr., Judith Sedgeman, Jack Pransky
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.37898/spc.2021.6.2.132
Multiple forms of psychopathology appear to have one common liability typically referred to as general factor p (or p). The possibility of a general factor of psychopathology begs several questions. If something substantive exists that accounts for patterns of co-morbidity across myriad forms of psychopathology, what exactly is it? If higher levels of this factor account for more severe and sustained psychological ill-heath, what explains it and its developmental progression? If this factor exists, does it account for varying levels of mental health and the apparent decline in mental health from childhood to mid-life? Does this factor have a common prevention and remediation? The authors offer a possible answer, a new psycho-spiritual explanation of general factor p grounded in understanding the way people's psychological life experiences are created via three universal Principles—Mind, Consciousness and Thought. Given this understanding of p, we propose a process from p to psychopathology. Then we offer a prevention and remediation for the ill-effects of our view of p which we call factor U. Factor U describes people's awareness and sufficient insight-based understanding of the way these three Principles manifest within everyone. Finally, we apply our view of p to clinical practice emphasizing empirically supported mental health education grounded in factor U for preventing and remediating the ill-effects of p, thus reducing psychopathology and its symptoms, and naturally restoring a state of innate mental well-being.
General Factor p; Universal Mind, Consciousness, and Thought; Innate mental well-being; Mental health education
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8 Influential Cannabis Icons You Need to Know
Do you feel passionate about the cannabis cause? You're not alone. There are plenty of influential cannabis icons that feel just as strongly as you do about the benefits of marijuana.
This article will provide some background on who they are and the steps they have taken to support the cause.
WHICH INFLUENTIAL CANNABIS ICONS DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?
You can't really talk about influential cannabis icons without mentioning Snoop Dogg. The rapper has long rapped about cannabis benefits and even turned his entire record into a marijuana tribute. In 2021 he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel to advocate marijuana use for athletes after Sha-Carri Richardson was banned from competing in the Olympics after testing positive for THC.
And Snoop is more than just an entertainer who likes cannabis. He is a marijuana mogul. He is currently the owner of Leafs By Snoop a cannabis dispensary that boasts selling the best cannabis on the market. He is also a co-owner of Canopy Growth, the largest cannabis cultivation business in the world.
Seth Rogan
Seth Rogan is known for including cannabis related humor in his films. But his connection to cannabis is much stronger than that. He has long been counted among influential cannabis icons due to his connection to many people who have used weed to address their medical conditions.
The comedian's activist standpoints have earned him the title of Stoner King of Comedy and Stoner of the Year. His films normalize cannabis use for adults. He has strongly spoken out about marijuana decriminalization.
Like Snoop Dogg, Rogan also opened his own cannabis business. Established in 2021, Houseplant sells a variety of marijuana products. It also sells lighters, ashtrays, and pottery.
Joe Rogan is not related to Seth Rogan, but they do have one thing in common, they are both influential cannabis icons. The UFC commentator turned comedian/podcaster has been known to advocate for cannabis legalization and to promote its health benefits.
His podcast, which may be the most famous currently in existence, features celebrity interviews that often revolve around the subject of marijuana. He has had in-depth conversations with a variety of well-known people regarding weed benefits. His guest roster includes Elon Musk, Post Malone, Mike Tyson, and many more.
The original influential cannabis icons, Cheech and Chong were promoting cannabis use before it was legalized. They starred in countless movies based on hilarious weed-related adventures which came out in the 1970's and 1980's. Up in Smoke was released in 1978 and is widely credited as being the first stoner comedy.
The duo are still important influential cannabis icons for many people. Tommy Chong has been particularly active in legalization measures taking to the media and fighting the man in court. The pair also started their own Cheech & Chong Cannabis Co. which sells quality wholesale products and provides licensee opportunities.
They also have their own cannabis selling companies. Chong owns Tommy Chong Cannabis while Cheech owns Cheech's Stash.
Mike Tyson has been known for his crazy antics. But he says cannabis 'turned his life around'. Since then, he's been building an empire of all things weed related.
The former boxer currently owns a 40-acre farm that grows nine strains of cannabis. He reportedly sells $500,000 worth of cannabis to dispensaries each month. The property doubles as an adult playground featuring a theater, dispensary, an edible making facility, an extraction facility, and great camping areas.
With all her mainstream success, you might be surprised that Whoopi Goldberg is ranked as one of the influential cannabis icons of our time. Yet, here we are.
One of the comedian's greatest achievements was the opening of Whoopi & Maya, a company that sold cannabis products specifically for the relief of menstrual pain. Unfortunately, the business had to shut down as the government would not acknowledge menstrual cramps as something you could prescribe cannabis for. This caused W&M to jump through hoops making keeping it active more trouble than it was worth.
However, Whoopi keeps up the good fight. She uses cannabis to treat her glaucoma and makes frequent public appearances to speak about its health benefits. She has also recently advocated for the use of non-psychoactive marijuana for children.
Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker is among the influential cannabis icons to establish a name for himself as a CBD supporter. He believes that CBD can be more effective in addressing health needs than cryotherapy and massage. He also notes that it is useful in reducing anxiety and improving sleep.
Like many of the celebrities mentioned in this article, Barker has become a cannabis entrepreneur. His 2021 company Barker Wellness offers THC free, all-natural, vegan and cruelty free cannabis products. Each product has been used by Travis and members of his family daily for improving general wellness.
Martha Stewart may be another surprising entry on this list of influential cannabis icons, but then again, she is awfully friendly with Snoop Dogg. So friendly in fact that she partnered with him on the launching of Canopy Growth. This huge cannabis business sells a variety of CBD products including gummies, soft gels, oils, and pet treats.
However, Martha is quick to point out that she does not indulge in marijuana with a high THC content. She is more interested in hemp compounds that provide a non-psychoactive effect. I wonder if she'll come out with a line of CBD recipes?!
With marijuana becoming more popular, it's no surprise that it's used by so many influential cannabis icons. They are helping to raise awareness so more people can take advantage of the benefits cannabis has to offer.
If you are interested in trying cannabis, or are already an active user, it's important to shop smart. This ensures you will get pure, potent marijuana you can count on.
420 Central has a variety of top-notch products that will help you reach your wellness goals. Our Santa Ana recreational dispensary and Costa Mesa recreational dispensary are well stocked with everything you need to improve your quality of life. Come into our shops or browse our online selection to find out what we have to offer.
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text:
Q: How to add new items to json and insert to mongodb can someone help me add new items to a json object and the insert the new result to mongoDB, here is my json object
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/h1c/h3c/9351894368286/silo-6003901000319-front-335548_140Wx140H"
  name: "Boss Mature Captains Chicken 775g x 6"
  new_price: "R10794"
  old_price: "R13699"
},
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/h27/h17/9623589617694/silo-product-image-v2-01Nov2019-180040-6001889008532-front-382785-2_140Wx140H"
  name: "Ideas Double Hot Plate"
  new_price: "R11900"
  old_price: "R22900"
},
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/h94/h83/9529131663390/silo-product-image-v2-02Jul2019-180102-6002322013991-front-360000-24_140Wx140H"
  name: "Russell Hobbs Supremeglide Steam Iron"
  new_price: "R24900"
  old_price: "R25900"
},
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/h99/hd6/9258690871326/silo-6009523601514-front-312470_140Wx140H"
  name: "Purity Aqueous Cream Goodnight 325ml"
  new_price: "R2199"
  old_price: "R3299"
},
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/he4/hf2/9823222464542/silo-product-image-v2-26May2020-180139-6009523601460-up-426623-1762_140Wx140H"
  name: "Purity Baby Aqueous Cream 325ml"
  new_price: "R2199"
  old_price: "R3299"
},
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/h94/hc2/9732176904222/silo-product-image-v2-21Mar2020-180150-6009708050465-up-416097-1344_140Wx140H"
  name: "SCORE ENERGY DRINK ORIGINAL 500ML"
  new_price: "R999"
  old_price: "R1099"
},
{
  image: "https://cdn-prd-02.com/sys-master/images/h45/hbb/9195891654686/silo-4971850090250-front-280121_140Wx140H"
  name: "Casio Advanced Scientific Calculator"
  new_price: "R38400"
  old_price: "R54900"
}

so i basically want to add a new item after old_price called sale_type: "reduced", and then inset into the mongodb. I'm currently using
var user = new Parse.User();
user.set("name", $scope.Fullname);

to set another info to the DB.

A: to add new item sale_type to json object you can use
for(i=0;i<user.length;i++)
{
user[i].sale_type="reduced"
}

to insert into mongodb use
var client = require('mongodb').MongoClient;
var url = "";

client.connect(url, function(err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;
  var db = db.db("mydb");
  col = db.collection('myCol');
for(i=0;i<user.length;i++)
{
  col.insertOne(user[i], function(err, res) {
    if (err) throw err;
    console.log("1 document inserted");

  });
}
  db.close();
});


text:
Q: Magento2 : How to validate cart rule using plugin? I was trying to validate the cart rule using plugin, but not able to do this, here I am explaining my approach in form of code files, please let me know how to do this.
app\code\Vendor\Module\Plugin\Condition\Product.php
<?php

namespace Vendor\Module\Plugin\Condition;

use Magento\Framework\Exception\NoSuchEntityException;

/**
 * Additional attr for validator.
 */
class Product
{
    /**
     * @var \Magento\Catalog\Api\ProductRepositoryInterface
     */
    private $productRepository;

    private $stockItem;

    public function __construct(
        \Magento\Catalog\Api\ProductRepositoryInterface $productRepository,
        \Magento\CatalogInventory\Api\StockStateInterface $stockItem
    ) {
        $this->productRepository = $productRepository;
        $this->stockItem = $stockItem;
    }

    /**
     * @param \Magento\Rule\Model\Condition\Product\AbstractProduct $subject
     * @param \Magento\Framework\Model\AbstractModel $object
     */
    public function beforeValidate(
        \Magento\Rule\Model\Condition\Product\AbstractProduct $subject,
        \Magento\Framework\Model\AbstractModel $object
    ) {
        if ($object->getProduct() instanceof \Magento\Catalog\Model\Product) {
            /** @var \Magento\Catalog\Model\Product $product */
            $product = $object->getProduct();
        } else {
            try {
                $product = $this->productRepository->getById($object->getProductId());
            } catch (NoSuchEntityException $e) {
                $product = null;
            }
        }

        $qty = $this->stockItem->getStockQty($product->getId(), $product->getStore()->getWebsiteId());

        $logger = \Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager::getInstance()->get('\Psr\Log\LoggerInterface');
        $logger->debug($qty."<= plugin working =>".$product->getProductId());

        $object->setData('product_qty', $qty);
        //return parent::validate($object);
    }
}

di.xml
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:ObjectManager/etc/config.xsd">
    <type name="Magento\SalesRule\Model\Rule\Condition\Product">
        <plugin name="Custom_Rules::Condition_Product" type="Vendor\Module\Plugin\Condition\Product" />
    </type>
</config>

My cart rule condition is as below:-

If product qty condition is true then rule will apply for that product in cart.
Any help would be much appreciated.


Despite a little wind and rain, the barn sale was a HUGE success. I'm spending my day in a hazy combination of basking in the afterglow of having spent a wonderful weekend with amazing artisans, new and old friends and family. I'd write about it but I need some time to let it all sink in. In the mean time, this is what I did last this weekend.
Shoppers (and furniture) lined the driveway.
Some of the vendors in the yard.


STCW deadlines arrived for STCW-credentialed mariners as well as mariners renewing their credentials on December 31, 2016. As of January 1, 2017, mariners will have had to update their credentials ("close the gaps") to continue sailing under the authority of STCW 2010. However, for those who could not meet that deadline, all is not lost. While the STCW portion of their credential will not be valid after 2017, they need only submit course completion certificates and/or the appropriate assessments sheets to NMC for the credential to be resuscitated and the limitations lifted. The National Credential will not be affected by these requirements. Personnel serving on uninspected fishing vessels, vessels operating only on Inland Waters and vessels less than 100 GT are not required to comply with STCW.


This anatomically correct doll by Miniland Educational has well-defined features that help identify races that make up the big wide world.
Featuring soft hair, lightweight underwear and a vanilla scented body, they smell like a newly born baby and are just lovely.
The doll is articulated & also shows gender which allows children to learn the important differences between males & females.
This cute doll will be loved by your little one and adults alike!
Recommended for ages 0 to 6 years.
Made from phytalates-free vinyl. The dolls are hermetically sealed for 0-3 play so can't be bathed.


text:
DHS Drama Spotlights: Caeden Perriman
Alexandra Stassinopoulos, Editor in Chief
Last year, DHS drama wowed Dublin High with their production of In the Heights. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights follows the story of the people who live in a bodega in Washington Heights. Of the show's many professional-grade performances, current Junior Caeden Perriman's portrayal of Usnavi–a bodega shop owner– was one of the
best. Becoming Usnavi required a lot of dedication, including several hours of rehearsal everyday and Caeden credits the role as one of his favorite so far. "Being Usnavi for Dublin High's production of In The Heights was a great experience. I definitely think we changed the perception of our Arts program with this show. It was one of the most fun and entertaining shows I have ever been in."
Heather Whitning
Caeden Perriman (middle) finishes a show as Usnavi, one of the starring role in last year's spring musical "In the Heights".
Although In the Heights was his only DHS Drama show so far, Caeden's been acting in different shows outside of DHS since 2013, such as Seussical and 13. During these shows, Caeden's biggest inspiration has been his mother, who, despite recent health challenges, continues to perform and direct shows. This year, Caeden's also acting in the Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre's (TVRT) version of In the Heights (to learn more about the production go to https://www.trivalleyrep.org/).
When he's not acting, Caeden's favorite things to do are to play football, video games and sing. He's also an active member of the DHS Drama club and hopes that anyone interested in performing arts to check them out. His advice to any DHS students who want to become part of drama, but might not be sure is to "take the chance to be a part of it. It teaches you how to enjoy life more and be yourself. It's a space free of judgement and you can be your true self around all the people involved."
2016-2017 Article
DHS Spirit
Alexandra Stassinopoulos, Editor-in-Chief
Alexandra Stassinopoulos was a senior at Dublin High School and the 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief. She joined the Dublin Shield as a sophomore and worked as...
DHS Film Festival goes drive-in for 2021
DHS presents Social Dis-Dance, the first virtual winter concert
DHS Drama presents virtual production: 'Alone Together'
DHS Fall Art Show Accepting Submissions
Profiling Talented and Dedicated Student Artists: Jessica Yu and Ryan Leung
DHS Student Jenny Nuo Releases Original Song
Singagrams Take Center Stage Once Again
Drama Department Kicks off 2020 with One Acts
Profiling Talented and Dedicated Student Artists: Jessica Huang and Emma Sundstrom
Louisiana's Way Home: Yet Another Example of Kate DiCamillo's Mastery in Literature


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Clément Mierassa (parfois orthographié Miérassa), né en 1949, est un homme politique de République du Congo ; il est le président du Parti social-démocrate congolais (PSDC) depuis 1990. Il a été ministre du Commerce de 1991 à 1992 et ministre du Développement industriel de 1992 à 1993. Il a été candidat aux élections présidentielles de 1992 et 2009, mais n'y a recueilli qu'un très faible pourcentage des voix.

Biographie

Du monopartisme à la Conférence nationale

Économiste et statisticien de profession, Clément Mierassa appartient à l'ethnie téké. De 1977 à 1984, pendant le monopartisme, il est le directeur du Centre national de la statistique et des études économiques. Lors du congrès du parti unique, le Parti congolais du travail (PCT), qui se tient du 27 au , il fait partie du secrétariat du comité central, où il est le seul Téké. Il en est exclu lors d'une session plénière du comité central, du 24 au , lorsqu'il est décidé de réduire le secrétariat de onze à huit membres.

Avec trois cents autres personnalités congolaises, Miérassa signe une pétition publiée le , dans laquelle le président Denis Sassou-Nguesso est appelé à réunir une conférence nationale en vue de réformes politiques. Au cours de la semaine qui suit, le gouvernement annonce qu'un complot visant à renverser Sassou-Nguesso a été découvert ; Mierassa, ainsi qu'un autre signataire de la pétition, Auguste-Célestin Gongarad Nkoua, sont arrêtés. La tentative de coup d'État est appelée le « complot téké » en raison de l'identité des comploteurs. Le gouvernement insiste dans des déclarations publiques sur le fait que ces arrestations sont liées à la tentative de coup d'État, et non à la pétition.

Mierassa est libéré au bout de quelques semaines, et s'engage alors ouvertement dans l'opposition au régime de parti unique. Il fonde un nouveau parti politique, le Parti social-démocrate congolais (PSDC). Aussitôt après la restauration du multipartisme, il demande au ministre de l'Administration territoriale la reconnaissance légale du PSDC le  ; d'après lui, son parti aurait été le quatrième (PCT non compris) à s'enregistrer auprès du gouvernement.

Au terme de la Conférence nationale souveraine qui se tient de février à , Mierassa est nommé ministre du Commerce et des PME dans le gouvernement de transition du Premier ministre André Milongo ; il reste à ce poste jusqu'en 1992.

Clément Mierassa sous la présidence de Pascal Lissouba

Le , Mierassa annonce qu'il sera le candidat du PSDC à l'élection présidentielle d'août 1992. Il n'obtient qu'un nombre très réduit de suffrages, et réalise un score de 0,67 %, ce qui le place au dixième rang. Il obtient 4,8 % des suffrages dans le département des Plateaux, son score est négligeable dans le reste du pays. Au second tour, il soutient Bernard Kolélas, le candidat du Mouvement congolais pour la démocratie et le développement intégral (MCDDI), mais celui-ci est battu par Pascal Lissouba, le candidat de l'Union panafricaine pour la démocratie sociale (UPADS). Le MCCDI, le PSDC et cinq autres parties forment le  une coalition d'opposition, l'Union pour le renouveau démocratique (URD).

Après l'installation de Pascal Lissouba à la présidence, le PCT, qui l'avait soutenu dans un premier temps, passe dans le camp de l'opposition. L'URD et le PCT contrôlent une majorité de sièges à l'Assemblée nationale, et cherchent à faire nommer Premier ministre la principale figure de l'opposition, Bernard Kolélas. Mierassa rencontre Lissouba le  pour lui demander de nommer Kolélas, mais le président refuse, et préfère dissoudre l'Assemblée nationale quelques jours plus tard. Cette décision provoque une crise politique, résolue par la formation le  d'un gouvernement d'union nationale dominé par l'opposition, sous la conduite du Premier ministre Claude Da Costa. Dans ce gouvernement, Mierassa est ministre du Développement industriel, de la Pêche et de l'Artisanat.

En apaisant la coalition URD-PCT, le gouvernement Da Costa est censé stabiliser la situation politique et offrir les conditions appropriées à l'organisation d'élections législatives anticipées. Celles-ci ont lieu en mai 1993, mais leur résultat suscite des controverses : la coalition soutenant Lissouba arrive en tête au premier tour, ce qui amène la coalition URD-PCT à dénoncer des fraudes et à boycotter le second tour. Le , quatre jours après la tenue du second tour, Mierassa demande à la Cour suprême de se prononcer sur la légalité de l'élection. La Cour estime que la publication des résultats du premier tour et l'organisation du second tour sont entachées d'illégalité. Le président Lissouba nomme néanmoins un nouveau gouvernement sur la base de sa majorité parlementaire, mais la coalition URD-PCT refuse de l'accepter. S'ensuit une longue période de violence politique ; malgré la tenue d'un nouveau second tour le , les troubles se poursuivent pendant l'année 1994, faisant au total environ  victimes.

Le , quelques jours après le déclenchement de la guerre civile de 1997, Mierassa est arrêté par des soldats fidèles au président Lissouba. D'après certains témoignages, il aurait été torturé et son exécution aurait été ordonnée puis annulée par une autorité supérieure.

De la guerre civile à l'élection présidentielle de 2009

Denis Sassou-Nguesso l'emporte au terme de la guerre civile, et chasse Pascal Lissouba du pouvoir en . Miérassa reste à la tête du PSDC au cours des années qui suivent. Le , le PSDC appelle à l'établissement d'une commission nationale électorale indépendante qui serait chargée de superviser l'élection législative de . Il appelle également à ce que l'élection soit préparée sur la base du consensus, avec la participation de toutes les parties, et demande aux hommes politiques de « rejeter la logique de guerre ». Le , Miérassa prend part à un meeting des partis d'opposition, à l'issue duquel est rendu publique un communiqué en faveur de l'instauration d'une commission indépendante ayant l'entière maîtrise des opérations électorales. Il est désigné pour prendre la tête d'un comité technique, chargé de recueillir des avis à ce sujet auprès des partis d'opposition et de ceux qui soutiennent le président Sassou-Nguesso, pour que ces avis soient soumis au gouvernement.

Miérassa et plusieurs autres cadres de l'opposition continuent au cours des mois qui suivent d'exiger la création d'une nouvelle commission électorale ; ils se réunissent le  pour appeler au boycott de l'élection si cette exigence n'est pas satisfaite. Ils insistent sur le fait qu'une loi mettant à jour le code électoral a été votée par le Parlement mais n'a pas encore été promulguée par le président, et critiquent la convocation d'une élection régie par une loi obsolète. En , lorsque l'élection a lieu, Mierassa est président du Collectif des partis et des associations politiques de l'opposition et du centre.

Après la tenue de l'élection, le PSDC participe à la création d'une coalition d'opposition, l'Alliance pour la démocratie et la République (ARD). Mierassa y joue un rôle majeur ; il préside la session d'ouverture de la coordination nationale de l'ARD en , et en est élu président. C'est en cette qualité qu'il tient une conférence de presse à la mi-, aux côtés du chef de file d'une autre coalition d'opposition, l'Alliance pour une nouvelle République de Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, pour exiger que le gouvernement retire un décret fixant le délai pour la clôture des candidatures aux élections locales de 2008. Ils objectent qu'aucune date n'a été fixé pour ce scrutin et que les partis politiques n'ont pas été consultés pour l'établissement d'un calendrier. Mierassa accuse le gouvernement d'employer une tactique d'intimidation et insiste sur le fait que l'opposition ne menace pas de violences et ne protestera que par les moyens légaux si leur exigence est ignorée.

Lors d'une conférence de presse à Brazzaville le , Mierassa annonce sa démission de la présidence de l'ARD et critique le discours sur l'état de la nation du président Sassou-Nguesso prononcé à l'occasion de la fête nationale. Il lui reproche de n'être disposé ni à ouvrir le dialogue avec l'opposition, ni à mettre en place une commission électorale vraiment indépendante, et de s'attarder sur une « liste grandiose de prétendues réalisations » en masquant « une réalité, celle d'un pays extrêmement riche dont les citoyens s'enfoncent de façon paradoxale dans la misère ».

Depuis 2009

En , avec dix-sept autres chefs de partis d'opposition, Mierassa signe un accord qui crée un front uni en vue de l'élection présidentielle de juillet 2009. Il est désigné comme candidat du PSDC. Le  le Conseil constitutionnel valide quatorze candidatures, dont celle de Clément Mierassa ; il rejette en revanche la candidature d'Ange-Édouard Poungui, candidat de l'UPADS, le principal parti d'opposition congolais, parce qu'il n'a pas résidé au Congo de façon continue pendant deux ans. Comme d'autres cadres du Front des partis de l'opposition congolaise (FPOC), Mierassa proteste contre cette décision, dont il conteste la validité.

Deux jours avant l'élection, Mierassa et cinq autres candidats (Mathias Dzon, Guy Romain Kinfoussia, Bonaventure Mizidy Bavoueza, Jean-François Tchibinda-Kouangou et Marion Mazimba Ehouango, appellent au report de l'élection, déclarant que les listes électorales sont faussées et incluent des personnes qui n'existent pas. Lors d'un meeting d'opposition le même jour - le  - ces mêmes candidats appellent au boycott de l'élection. Le , des résultats provisoires sont annoncés et le président sortant l'emporte avec 78,61 % des voix, pour une participation de 66,42 % ; Mierassa se place en dixième position avec un score de 0,25 %. Le , aux côtés des cinq autres candidats, qui avaient appelé au boycott, il dénonce lors d'une conférence de presse le taux de participation officiel, qu'il juge absurde, estimant qu'il n'a pu être supérieur à 10 %, et en déduit que Denis Sassou-Nguesso n'a aucune légitimité populaire. Leur recours devant le Conseil constitutionnel est rejeté le .

Le , Clément Mierassa est élu pour succéder à Mathias Dzon comme président du FPOC.

Bibliographie
Bazenguissa-Ganga, Rémy, Les voies du politique au Congo : essai de sociologie historique, Paris, Karthala, 1997
Weissman, Fabrice, Élection présidentielle de 1992 au Congo : Entreprise politique et mobilisation électorale, Bordeaux, CEAN, 1993

Notes et références

Personnalité politique congolaise (RC)
Naissance en 1949
Ministre de la république du Congo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


All three occupants of the Honda Civic sustained serious injuries in the Sunday morning crash on Triviz Drive.
LAS CRUCES - A Sunday morning crash that temporarily closed north Triviz Drive resulted in serious injuries to the three occupants of the vehicle.
The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle, Savannah Ruth Bigelow, is facing the following charges: one count each of aggravated driving while intoxicated causing bodily injury, child abuse causing great bodily harm, reckless driving causing great bodily injury and operating a vehicle with an open container of alcoholic beverage.
The crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday, May 13, on the 2500 block of North Triviz Drive, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.
Police learned that a 2012 Honda Civic was traveling south on Triviz Drive at a high rate of speed when the driver, later identified as Bigelow, failed to negotiate a turn and crashed into a large pole.
Two of the vehicle's occupants, the driver and a 17-year-old boy in the rear seat, were pinned inside the car and had to be extracted by Las Cruces firefighters. The passenger of the vehicle's front seat, a 19-year-old woman, was located on the ground outside the vehicle, according to LCPD. She had visible injuries to her head and right leg.
All three occupants sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Their injuries, although serious, are not considered to be life-threatening.
Las Cruces police say the driver and both passengers were intoxicated. Police also located an empty bottle of whiskey, an empty bottle of rum and a bottle of cognac that was about a quarter-full. Authorities also found several opened or shattered bottles of beer in the trunk of the vehicle.
Bigelow and the two passengers remain hospitalized. A warrant has been obtained for Bigelow's arrest.
Anyone with information on who provided alcohol to the three underage occupants of the vehicle is encouraged to call police at 575-526-0795.
A portion of Triviz Drive, between Bentley Drive and north Main Street, was closed to traffic for most of Sunday morning while police investigated the crash.


Looking for a low-key coastal getaway that boasts the perfect balance of abundant natural beauty, a surprisingly cosmopolitan dining scene and the friendliest locals to boot? Let me introduce you to Port Macquarie on New South Wales' north coast. As one of the most loved coastal destinations in the state, I was thrilled to be invited up recently to explore the region. Within only a couple of hours of landing, I completely understood why it's such a favourite spot for holiday-goers. If you're thinking of planning a visit, here's a quick guide to the best of Port Macquarie with my best tips on where to eat, stay and play.
For Melbournians, getting to Port Macquarie wasn't always the easiest of feats as there was never a direct flight…. until now! JETGO Australia have just launched the first direct route from Essendon Airport in Melbourne to Port Macquarie, with four flights per week. I was lucky enough to be one of the first passengers to touch down on the inaugural flight and it was fantastic! The plane is small, holding only 37 passengers, and the flight is super quick (1hr 45 mins) and comfortable. There are complimentary snacks and drinks onboard and the crew give a really warm and personal touch.
Having your own two wheels will give you all the freedom and flexibility you need to make the most of your time in Port Macquarie. I'd recommend booking a rental car through 1st Class Rentals at Port Macquarie Airport. The centre of town is an easy 10 minute drive from here.
If you're looking to kick off the day right with a Melbourne-style breakfast and coffee, LV's on Clarence is your place. Locavores will be in heaven here at this family-owned café, where the focus is all about serving the freshest local produce from nearby farms and suppliers. The nourish bowl tickled my fancy and was served with ancient rice, halloumi, kale, cherry tomatoes, marinated pumpkin, a poached egg, avocado, spiced seeds and almond hummus. The coffee from Bassett Espresso is top-notch too.
There's a buzz of excitement about this new café located in the forefront of the celebrated Glasshouse. Serving up fresh local produce, Drury Lane Eatery is a popular lunch spot and a lovely place to unwind over a meal. Don't pass up the classic smashed avo and a homemade lemon iced tea.
A Port Macquarie institution, the hatted The Stunned Mullet is an award-winning fine dining restaurant located on the Town Beach foreshore. Offering exceptional views out across the water, some of the best service in town, one of the most extensive wine lists I've seen and serving up some of the most exquisite seafood I've ever tasted, it's a dining experience not to be missed. Order the albacore tuna sashimi as an entree and then the glacier 51 toothfish for your main and prepare to have your mind blown.
If you're in the mood for some seriously good tapas and delicious wine overlooking a vibrant sunset over the Hastings River, book a table at The Latin Loafer, one of Port Macquarie's most talked about new restaurants. Serving authentic, fresh South American tapas made from some of the region's best local produce, you'll just want to keep ordering more and more. The highlight? The tequila, lime and tabasco granita oysters, sourced from just up the river. My oh my. You've never known oysters until you've had these babies.
Greater Port Macquarie is home to 84 km of unspoilt, pristine coastline and boasts 17 beautiful, golden beaches. It's a popular region for surfers and generally anyone who loves beach activities. If you're feeling active, take the iconic 9km coastal walk which offers unsurpassed views of the dramatic coastline all the way from Town Green to Lighthouse Beach. If you're keen for some adventure, why not take a surf lesson or even a camel ride along the beach?
Every year between May and November, the coastal region around Port Macquarie is a prime place for humpback whale watching. After spending the summer feeding in Antarctica, the whales (over 16,000 of them!) migrate north to subtropical waters to mate. I just missed the season so wasn't able to see the whales, but I've heard that it's absolutely breathtaking.
In addition to its string of beautiful beaches, Port Macquarie is also home to tranquil, inland waterways fed by the Hastings River which is just bursting with wildlife. There are a number of operators that run daily cruises on the river, including The Cruise Terminal that give a great insight into the history of the region as well as plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities. Dolphins can be seen year-round in the river and they came right up to our boat to play in the bow waves!
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is the world's first hospital dedicated solely to the care and preservation of koalas. Founded in 1973, it has been caring for sick and injured koalas for over 43 years. Entirely self-funded and reliant on donations, adoptions and bequests, the hospital treats between 250-300 sick and injured koalas each year and impressively rehabilitates about 80% for release back into the wild.
You can walk the grounds and see the koalas in care during normal opening hours, but try and time your visit to catch the daily 3pm 'Walk, Talk and Feed' tour. A volunteer will feed the koalas and explain their personal histories. It's a wonderful opportunity to learn about koala conservation and the particular issues impacting koalas in this region.
Although it might be tempting to spend all your time in Port Macquarie itself, the lush Wauchope hinterland is just begging to be explored. This region is filled with pristine forest, lakes and wineries. The best way to see it all is to book an 'On the Grapevine' full day tour with Frankie's Travel, which will take you out to taste your way around the hinterland's hidden, boutique wineries, stop in for some locally made, gourmet treats and even see a pretty special 'secret spot' or two. Local guide, Monique, is a passionate Port Macquarie local who will give you a rich insight into the region's history and natural treasures and will introduce you to some lovely local operators you probably wouldn't otherwise see. It's a fabulous way to get a sense of the wider region and takes the worry out of driving after a few cellar door tastings!
Even for this laid-back beach town, there's a lot going on in Port Macquarie town centre. Not only will you find Insta-worthy cafés, a decent shopping strip and heritage buildings dating back to our convict and colonial days, you'll also find the celebrated Glasshouse. Comprising a 594-seat theatre, art gallery, heritage displays and a tourism information centre, the Glasshouse is representative of the rich art and culture precinct that Port Macquarie has become.
Dotted throughout the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, you'll find 51 large-scale koala sculptures, all beautifully hand painted by local artists. Known as the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, each sculpture is sponsored by a local business and community organisation. The project is designed to raise awareness about koala conservation, celebrate local artists and highlight Port Macquarie as the arts and cultural capital of northern NSW. Make a plan to discover them all or let yourself stumble upon them.
Let's face it. You want to be close to the water during your stay in Port Macquarie but still feel connected to all that is happening downtown. I stayed in a huge one bedroom spa view apartment at Macquarie Waters, a boutique 4.5 star hotel located right by the breakwater. The apartment was contemporary, unbelievably spacious and contained everything I needed for my short getaway. There's a pool you can chill by or pop into The Corner Restaurant on site for a casual bite to eat. Everything you need is within walking distance, making it the perfect place to base yourself.
Share your Port Macquarie tips in the comments below!
Disclosure: I experienced Port Macquarie as a guest of Greater Port Macquarie Tourism. Many thanks to Gabrielle and Jane for arranging my trip and to all the operators for their warm hospitality. As always, my opinions remain my own.
Wow, Port Macquarie looks like a beautiful place to visit with lots of things to see and do, and obviously, great restaurants to eat at! I'd love to go to the koala hospital and do the Walk, Talk and Feed Tour.
You would seriously LOVE Port Macquarie! You have to take a trip there!
This looks like an amazing place. The food looks great (fantastic photographs!) and at this hectic time a long walk walk along this stunning unspoilt beach would just be what the doctor ordered. 🙂 Thanks for your inspiring posts and pictures.
I loved Port Macquarie so much Daniela! It was so relaxed and the weather was just gorgeous! Hope you had a lovely Christmas!
Rachel – have you seen – Douglas Vale Historic Homestead and Vineyard which is within walking distance of Port Macquarie CBD. Tours, tastings and now cheese. Perhaps on your next visit?


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Q: SQL Server Hardware Specs for Analyzing TBs of Data I am building a workstation with the purpose of analyzing multiple terabytes of data.  Hundreds of tables, hundreds of columns, various data types throughout. This will include slicing-and-dicing the data into various aggregations and writing it back to summary tables (similar to building a cube) as well as processing large queries with lots of joins.
Most of the specs for database servers are (obviously) designed with lots of users in mind hitting the server.  In this case, I'm the only user, so most of the times there will be only one or two big queries going on at once.  Likewise, I may be taking a complex query and then rendering the output of that query (say 500GB+) to another table somewhere.
I want these reads/writes to happen as fast as possible but I also don't want to invest in hardware that is never going to be utilized. What recommendations does anyone have as far as CPU (clock-speed vs core count), memory size, and disk speed?
One setup I had considered was the following:

*

*CPU: i7-6950X

*RAM: 128GB (is this enough?)

*SSD: Multiple Samsung 960 PRO 2TBs (NVMe sticks)

No one database should exceed 2TB so the various DBs might be spread across multiple of the NVMe drives.  Not sure if I should be going Xeon instead of i7 and, if so, should favor higher clock speed or higher core count. Lastly, wondering if 128GB RAM is enough but I was hoping the blazing fast disks would help make up for that.
Any and all versions of SQL Server are in play (including Enterprise Edition), meaning I can use whatever version best fits the performance needs.
Any advice is appreciated!

A: Favor the fastest processors you can get, over pure core count.  Get as much memory as you can afford up to the maximum size of data you expect to process in one chunk.  The NVMe SSDs you have specced are exactly what I would recommend.
Without more precise requirements, it is difficult to recommend specifics.
Take a look at this answer for details about clock speed vs core count.  Which edition of SQL Server are you going to use?


Mr. Edwin T. Merrick, of New Orleans, La., for plaintiff in error.
Messrs. Junius Parker, of New York City, and George Denegre, Victor Leovy, and Henry H. Chaffe, all of New Orleans, La., for defendant in error.
On January 4, 1912, the People's Tobacco Company, Limited, began suit against the American Tobacco Company in the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Louisiana to recover treble damages under section 7 of the Sherman Act of 1890 (Act July 2, 1890, c. 647, 26 Stat. 210 [Comp. St. 1916, § 8829]). On January 5, 1912, service of process was made upon W. R. Irby as manager of the company. On January 16, 1912, the company filed exceptions to the service on the ground that it was a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey; that it was not found within the Eastern District of Louisiana or in the State of Louisiana, and was not engaged in business there, nor had it an agent therein; that W. R. Irby, upon whom service had been attempted, was not an officer, agent, or employe of the defendant, the American Tobacco Company, or authorized to accept service of process upon it at that time. On January 25, 1912, service was made upon the Assistant Secretary of State of Louisiana. Exceptions to that service upon practically the same grounds were filed by the defendant company. A further service was undertaken on February 2, 1914, on the Secretary of State of Louisiana and like exceptions were filed by the defendant company to that service.
3. That the attempted service upon the Secretary of State of Louisiana did not bring the defendant corporation into court.
Section 7 of the Sherman Act provides that suits of the character of the one now under consideration may be brought in the district in which the defendant 'resides or is found.' When applied to a corporation this requirement is the equivalent of saying that it must be present in the district by its officers and agents carrying on the business of the corporation. In this way only can a corporation be said to be 'found' within the district. In that manner it may manifest its submission to local jurisdiction and become amenable to local process.
The testimony shows that up to November 30, 191 , the American Tobacco Company had a factory in New Orleans for the manufacture of tobacco and cigarettes known as the W. R. Irby Branch of the American Tobacco Company, of which W. R. Irby was manager. Under the law of the State it had filed in the office of the Secretary of State an appointment of W. R. Irby as agent, upon whom service of process might be made.
On November 16, 1911, the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York made a decree dissolving the American Tobacco Company. Among other things that decree provided that the American Tobacco Company should convey its W. R. Irby Branch to a company to be formed and known as the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company. Conveyances were made to carry out this purpose.
The American Tobacco Company by an instrument executed by Mr. Hill, its vice president, revoked the authority of W. R. Irby as its resident agent, and filed the revocation of authority in the office of the Secretary of State of Louisiana on December 15, 1911. W. R. Irby testified that thereafter he was the manager of the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, and that he had no connection whatsoever with the American Tobacco Company, nor had he drawn any salary from that company since December 1, 1911.
It is true that the record discloses some instances in which collections were made upon bills in the name of the Irby Branch of the American Tobacco Company after the revocation of Mr. Irby's authority as its agent. Most of them were stamped across the face, Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company.
There remained on hand with the Irby Branch at the time of the dissolution a quantity of cigarette paper which was continued to be delivered to purchasers by the employes of the Irby Branch of the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company upon orders received from the American Tobacco Company, and for its benefit and upon its account. This practically continued until the stock was exhausted, which the testimony shows was within a month after the dissolution, and before the attempted service of process in this case.
A consideration of all the testimony leads us to the conclusion that the American Tobacco Company undertook in good faith to carry out the decree of dissolution, and to take that company out of business in the State of Louisiana. It is true, as found by the District Court, that at the time of the service, and thereafter, the American Tobacco Company was selling goods in Louisiana to jobbers, and sending its drummers into that State to solicit orders of the retail trade, to be turned over to the jobbers, the charges being made by the jobbers to the retailers. It further appears that these agents were not domiciled in the State, and did not have the right or authority to make sales on account of the defendant company, collect money, or extend credit for it. It also appears that the American Tobacco Company owned stock in other companies which owned stock in companies carrying on the tobacco business in the State of Louisiana. With these facts in mind we come to a consideration of the proper disposition of the case.
We agree with the District Court that Irby at the time of the attempted service upon him was not the authorized agent of the American Tobacco Company. On December 1, 1911, the American Tobacco Company conveyed its Irby Branch to the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company. On the same day W. R. Irby, who had been the designated agent of the defendant company, resigned as a director of the American Tobacco Company, and ceased to remain in it employment. On December 5, 1911, the power of attorney was revoked as we have hereinbefore stated by the company filing an instrument of revocation in the office of the Secretary of State of Louisiana; it is true that the revocation was by one of the vice presidents of the company and was attested by the seal of the corporation. But we are not impressed with the argument that this revocation was ineffectual because not sanctioned by formal action of the board of directors of the company. The vice president seems to have had authority in the matter. Apparently he acted with the knowledge and acquiescence of the corporation, and was carrying into effect the decree of dissolution.
Upon the broader question, we agree with the District Court that the American Tobacco Company at the time of the attempted service was not doing business within the State of Louisiana. The question as to what constitutes the doing of business in such wise as to make the corporation subject to service of process has been frequently discussed in the opinions of this court, and we shall enter upon no amplification of what has been said. Each case depends upon its own facts. The general rule deducible from all our decisions is that the business must be of such nature and character as to warrant the inference that the corporation has subjected itself to the local jurisdiction, and is by its duly authorized officers or agents present within the state or district where service is attempted. Phila. & Reading R. R. Co. v. McKibbin, 243 U. S. 264, 37 Sup. Ct. 280, 61 L. Ed. 710; St. Louis Southwestern R. R. Co. v. Alexander, 227 U. S. 218, 226, 33 Sup. Ct. 245, 57 L. Ed. 486, Ann. Cas. 1915B, 77.
The fact that the company owned stock in the local subsidiary companies did not bring it into the State in the sense of transacting its own business there. Peterson v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. R. Co., 205 U. S. 364, 27 Sup. Ct. 513, 51 L. Ed. 841; Phila. & Reading R. R. Co. v. McKibbin, 243 U. S. 264, 268, 37 Sup. Ct. 280, 61 L. Ed. 710. As to the continued practice of advertising its wares in Louisiana, and sending its soliciting agents into that State, as above detailed, the agents having no authority beyond solicitation, we think the previous decisions of this court have settled the law to be that such practices did not amount to that doing of business which subjects the corporation to the local jurisdiction for the purpose of service of process upon it. Green v. C. B. & Q. R. R. Co., 205 U. S. 530, 27 Sup. Ct. 595, 51 L. Ed. 916; Phila. & Reading R. R. Co. v. McKibbin, 243 U. S. 264, 268, 37 Sup. Ct. 280, 61 L. Ed. 710.
The plaintiff in error relies upon International Harvester Co. v. Kentucky, 234 U. S. 579, 34 Sup. Ct. 944, 58 L. Ed. 1479, but in that case the facts disclosed that there was not only a continuous course of business in the solicitation of orders within the State, but there was also authority upon the part of such agents to receive payment in money, checks and drafts on behalf of the company, and to take notes payable and collectible at banks in Kentucky; these things, taken together, we held amounted to doing business within the State of Kentucky in such manner as to make the Harvester Company amenable to the process of the courts of that State.
As to the attempted service of process upon the Secretary of State of Louisiana under the Louisiana Act of 1904 (Act No. 54 of 1904) as amended 1908 (Act No. 284 of 1908), we understand the Act, as construed by the State Supreme Court, is not applicable to foreign corporations not present within the State and doing business therein at the time of the service, and having as in this case withdrawn from the State and ceased to do business there. Gouner v. Missouri Valley Iron Co., 123 La. 964, 49 South. 657.
Mr. Justice McREYNOLD took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.