text:
Q: Separate string column by row efficiently I'm trying to separate a string column into two pieces based on chopping up the string.  It's best illustrated with example below. rowwise does work, but given the size of the data.frame, I'd like to use a more efficient method. How can I avoid using rowwise?
library(dplyr)
library(stringr)
library(tidyr)

#make data
a <- "(1, 10)"
b <- "(10, 20)"
c <- "(20, 30)"

df <- data.frame(size = c(a,b,c))

# Goal is to separate the 'size' column into 'lower' and 'upper' by
# extracting the value contained in the parens and split by a comma.
# Once the column is split into 'upper' and 'lower' I will perform
# additional operations.

# DESIRED RESULT
  size     lower upper
  <fct>    <chr> <chr>
1 (1, 10)  1     10
2 (10, 20) 10    20
3 (20, 30) 20    30

# WHAT I HAVE TRIED

> #This works... but too inefficient
> df %>%
+   rowwise() %>%
+   mutate(lower = str_split(size, ",") %>% .[[1]] %>% .[1] %>%
+            str_split("\\(") %>% .[[1]] %>% .[2])
  size     lower
  <fct>    <chr>
1 (1, 10)  1
2 (10, 20) 10
3 (20, 30) 20

> # I'm not sure why this doesn't work
> df %>%
+   mutate(lower = str_split(size, ",") %>% .[[1]] %>% .[1] %>%
+            str_split("\\(") %>% .[[1]] %>% .[2])
      size lower
1  (1, 10)     1
2 (10, 20)     1
3 (20, 30)     1

> #Not obivous how to use separate (tidyr)
> df %>%
+   separate(size, sep=",", c("lower", "upper"))
  lower upper
1    (1   10)
2   (10   20)
3   (20   30)

A: For rowwise operations, I prefer data.table.
Try this
library(data.table)
library(stringi)

#make data
a <- "(1, 10)"
b <- "(10, 20)"
c <- "(20, 30)"

dt <- data.table(c(a,b,c))
dt[, lower := tstrsplit(V1, ",")[1]]
dt[, lower:= stri_replace_all_regex(lower, '\\(', '')]

dt

A: You don't state your goal explicitly, but it seems like you want to extract the first number from a string. This is easy with stringi::str_extract_first_regex
library(stringi)
stri_extract_first_regex(df$size, "[0-9]+")
# [1] "1"  "10" "20"

So in your case,
df %>% mutate(lower = as.numeric(stri_extract_first_regex, size, "[0-9]+"))

You can extract all numbers with stri_extract_all_regex.

Based on your edits:
df$nums = str_extract_all(df$size, "[0-9]+")
df$lower = as.numeric(sapply(df$nums, `[[`, 1))
df$upper = as.numeric(sapply(df$nums, `[[`, 2))
df
#       size   nums lower upper
# 1  (1, 10)  1, 10     1    10
# 2 (10, 20) 10, 20    10    20
# 3 (20, 30) 20, 30    20    30

Another way to go is to get rid of the parens and whitespace and then use separate:
df %>%
    mutate(just_nums = str_replace_all(size, "[^0-9,]", "")) %>%
    separate(just_nums, into = c("lower", "upper"))
#       size lower upper
# 1  (1, 10)     1    10
# 2 (10, 20)    10    20
# 3 (20, 30)    20    30

The regex pattern "[^0-9,]" matches everything except numbers and commas.

A: An option is to use tidyr::separate after removing both ( and ) from the data.
library(tidyverse)
df %>% mutate(size = gsub("\\(|)","",size)) %>%  # Both ( and ) has been removed.
  separate(size, c("Min", "Max"), sep = ",")
#   Min Max
# 1   1  10
# 2  10  20
# 3  20  30

A: You are almost there. Here is my explanation for two approach, one is similar to yours:
In the first code, I have used unnest_tokens from tidytext package, which can split words on a different rows, since you want to extract the first item before the comma(I have assumed it basis your example, although you should mention it). I have choosen the first row basis this by using filter command.
In the second code, I have used the regex (note you can also use here str_replace also). Here I am using map(since the items returned by str_split is a list) to iterate the returned items and pass each by gsub, which can replace the regex matched with the back referencing items. Also to select only the first item, I have used [[1]] in the end of gsub.
library(tidyverse)
library(stringr)
library(tidytext)
df %>%
    unnest_tokens(lower,size, token="words",drop=F) %>%
    filter(row_number()%%2==T)

df %>%
    mutate(lower = map(str_split(df$size, ","), function(x)gsub("\\((\\w+)","\\1",x)[[1]]))

Output:
   #       size lower
   # 1  (1, 10)     1
   # 2 (10, 20)    10
   # 3 (20, 30)    20

In case you want to extract both the terms before and after the commas, you can use extract function as well.
tidyr::extract(df, size, c("lower", "upper"), regex= "\\((\\w+),\\s+(\\w+)\\)")

Output:
  #   lower upper
   # 1     1    10
   # 2    10    20
   # 3    20    30


text:
Australian man was bitten on the head by a crocodile when swimming. He opened the crocodile's mouth with bare hands to escape.
January 29th – On the 28th local time, a 44-year-old Australian man was bitten on the head by a two-meter-long crocodile while swimming.
At the critical moment, he opened the mouth of the crocodile with his hand and miraculously survived.
According to the British Daily Star, the man swam in Lake Placid near Cairns, Queensland at about 12.45 p.m. that day.
While he was enjoying the pleasure of drifting, he suddenly suffered a sharp pain on his head. "We saw a clear crocodile bite on his head when we arrived at the scene, but he was very calm," said Sweeney, an intensive care worker.
Sweeney said, "He described to us that the crocodile bit his head and almost died.
He tried his best to pry the crocodile's mouth open with his hand, but the crocodile still bit his left hand."
The man was stabbed by a crocodile on his scalp, side face, finger and shoulder, but the injury was not serious enough to be fatal, Sweeney said.
If a crocodile bites a densely veined neck or throat, he may die. The man was undoubtedly lucky, and it was the best result."
Undersea volcanoes erupted violently! Tsunami warning issued by many countries! Tonga's communication with the outside world is interrupted?!
After the eruption of an undersea volcano in Tonga, a South Pacific island country, erupted violently on the 15th, and...
Biden wants to reopen American schools in 100 days. Fauci: Maybe not.
South Korea woman sentenced to 25 years for child abuse: stuff her stepson into the suitcase and call on her own children to step on it together

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Q: Multiple inputs from a user in a single line for pythong With python you have input()
it takes one user input and you can assign it to a variable and then do what you please.
I have heard about the .split() method but don't know how to implement it into my code.
I want to create a function use def() so i can call back the function several times while asking the user for input as to whether they want to got through with the process, end it or do another function
print("Hello, welcome to the change calculator")
print("Here we will ask you to tell us the amount of each individual coins you have")
#create variables that hold the amount each one states such as five pence would == £0.05
fivepence = 0.05
tenpence = 0.10
twentypence = 0.20
fiftypence = 0.50
onepound = 1
twopound = 2
#Get the user to input everything

fivepencetotal = input(("How many 5 Pence coins do you have? : ")) * fivepence

tenpencetotal = input(("How many 10 Pence coins do you have? : ")) * tenpence

twentypencetotal = input(("How many 20 Pence coins do you have? : ")) * twentypence

fiftypencetotal = input(("How many 50 pence coins do you have? : ")) * fiftypence

onepoundtotal = input(("How many 1 Pound coins do you have? : ")) * onepound

twopoundtotal = input(("How many 2 pound coins do you have? : ")) * twopound

#function to add everything and do the opposite if that is what the user wants

def changeaddup():
    print("do you want to add everything up?")
    print("Type either Yes, yes , Y or y to add all your change up")
    if input( "Yes","yes","Y","y"):
        print("Just calculating how much money you have based on the data you have inputed")
        print("Here you have a total of £", fivepencetotal + tenpencetotal + twentypencetotal + fiftypencetotal + onepoundtotal + twopoundtotal)

    else:
        return
print(changeaddup)

A: Dont exactly know what you want, but may be something like this
positive_choice_options = ["Yes","yes","Y","y"]

# and there can be other choice if you need. ie.
negetive_choice_options = ["No", "no", "N", "n"]

def normalized_user_choice(user_choice):
    if user_choice in positive_choice_options:
        return "yes"
    if user_choice in negetive_choice_options:
        return "no"

def changeaddup():
    print("do you want to add everything up?")
    user_choice = input("Type either Yes, yes , Y or y to add all your change up: ")
    if normalized_user_choice(user_choice)=="yes":
        print("Just calculating how much money you have based on the data you have inputed")
        print("Here you have a total of £", fivepencetotal + tenpencetotal + twentypencetotal + fiftypencetotal + onepoundtotal + twopoundtotal)
    else:
        return

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Mikołaj Szetesza (Sietesza, Setesza,) (ur. w Sieteszy, zm. 1475 w Krakowie) – polski duchowny, kopista, wikariusz katedry krakowskiej, wicekantor krakowski.

Działalność zawodowa
Mikołaj Szetesza pochodził z diecezji przemyskiej. Po raz pierwszy został wymieniony w 1453 roku w krakowskich Acta officiala jako wikariusz katedry krakowskiej. W 1469 roku został wicekantorem katedry wawelskiej, wikariuszem kantora Mikołaja Hymbira (Imbira) z Kiszewa, kanonika krakowskiego i scholastyka łęczyckiego. Kierował tam zespołem śpiewaków liturgicznych i przewodniczył śpiewom chórowym. Po śmierci Mikołaja urząd kantora objął Jan z Humisk a Szetesza pozostał na stanowisku. Obowiązki wicekantora łączył z pracą jako kaligraf, kopista i notator ksiąg liturgicznych w szczególności muzycznych. O jego działalności mówią zachowane kościelne księgi sądowe z lat 1464 - 1474, które notują imiona i kwoty jakie Szetesze byli winni zleceniodawcy za jego prace skryby i kopisty.

Przypisywane prace
W latach 1451–1457 przepisał antyfonarz Antiphonarium de Sanctis ufundowany dla katedry krakowskiej z zapisu testamentowego kanonika katedralnego krakowskiego Adama z Będkowa. W 1467 roku ukończył dla Mikołaja Hymbira część pierwszą czterotomowego Graduału łęczyckiego będącego darem dla Kolegiaty w Tumie koło Łęczycy . W obu pracach Szetesza wykonał ozdobne inicjały kaligraficzne; prace dekoracyjne wykonali inni dwaj iluminatorzy Mistrz Graduału łęczyckiego z pomocnikami oraz Mistrz Pontyfikału Tomasza Strzępińskiego. Według ksiąg kościelnych wykonał jakieś dzieło na zlecenie Rady miejskiej Koszyc.

Uwagi

Przypisy

Bibliografia

Anonimowi malarze polscy
Artyści związani z Krakowem (I Rzeczpospolita)
Ludzie urodzeni w Sieteszy
Ludzie związani z krakowską kapitułą katedralną
Polscy kopiści
Polscy malarze gotyku
Polscy malarze XV wieku
Polscy iluminatorzy
Polscy kaligrafowie
Urodzeni w XIV wieku
Zmarli w XV wieku

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Kazusa DNA Research Institute. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Citation PODRANEA RICASOLIANA (Tanfani) Sprague, in Harvey, Fl. Cap. 4(2): 450. 1904.
Basionym: Tecoma ricasoliana Tanfani 1887.
Pandorea ricasoliana Pandorea ricasoliana (Tanfani) Baillon, Hist. Pl. 10: 40. 1888. BASIONYM: Tecoma ricasoliana Tanfani 1887.
USA Florida Hillsborough Co. 14 Jan 1994 M. Woernle 3 CULTIVATED.
USA Florida Hillsborough Co. 12 Oct 1973 D. Burch 6753 CULTIVATED.
Mexico Jalisco Zapopan Mun. 25 May 1971 C. L. Díaz Luna 2575 CULTIVATED.
USA Florida Miami-Dade Co. Jul 1963 R. W. Read 1223 CULTIVATED.
USA Florida Hillsborough Co. 28 Jul 1970 D. Burch 3948 CULTIVATED.
USA Florida Manatee Co. 21 Jul 1970 D. Burch 3947 CULTIVATED.
USA Florida Palm Beach Co. 10 Oct 1967 W. L. McCart 9364 CULTIVATED.
Cayman Islands Grand Cayman Island 23 Aug 1971 N. Chevalier 172 CULTIVATED.


text:
'use strict';

var util = require('../util/util');
var Bucket = require('../data/bucket');
var FeatureIndex = require('../data/feature_index');
var vt = require('vector-tile');
var Protobuf = require('pbf');
var GeoJSONFeature = require('../util/vectortile_to_geojson');
var featureFilter = require('feature-filter');
var CollisionTile = require('../symbol/collision_tile');
var CollisionBoxArray = require('../symbol/collision_box');
var SymbolInstancesArray = require('../symbol/symbol_instances');
var SymbolQuadsArray = require('../symbol/symbol_quads');

module.exports = Tile;

/**
 * A tile object is the combination of a Coordinate, which defines
 * its place, as well as a unique ID and data tracking for its content
 *
 * @param {Coordinate} coord
 * @param {number} size
 * @private
 */
function Tile(coord, size, sourceMaxZoom) {
    this.coord = coord;
    this.uid = util.uniqueId();
    this.uses = 0;
    this.tileSize = size;
    this.sourceMaxZoom = sourceMaxZoom;
    this.buckets = {};

    // `this.state` must be one of
    //
    // - `loading`:   Tile data is in the process of loading.
    // - `loaded`:    Tile data has been loaded. Tile can be rendered.
    // - `reloading`: Tile data has been loaded and is being updated. Tile can be rendered.
    // - `unloaded`:  Tile data has been deleted.
    // - `errored`:   Tile data was not loaded because of an error.
    this.state = 'loading';
}

Tile.prototype = {

    /**
     * Given a data object with a 'buffers' property, load it into
     * this tile's elementGroups and buffers properties and set loaded
     * to true. If the data is null, like in the case of an empty
     * GeoJSON tile, no-op but still set loaded to true.
     * @param {Object} data
     * @returns {undefined}
     * @private
     */
    loadVectorData: function(data, style) {
        this.state = 'loaded';

        // empty GeoJSON tile
        if (!data) return;

        this.collisionBoxArray = new CollisionBoxArray(data.collisionBoxArray);
        this.collisionTile = new CollisionTile(data.collisionTile, this.collisionBoxArray);
        this.symbolInstancesArray = new SymbolInstancesArray(data.symbolInstancesArray);
        this.symbolQuadsArray = new SymbolQuadsArray(data.symbolQuadsArray);
        this.featureIndex = new FeatureIndex(data.featureIndex, data.rawTileData, this.collisionTile);
        this.rawTileData = data.rawTileData;
        this.buckets = unserializeBuckets(data.buckets, style);
    },

    /**
     * given a data object and a GL painter, destroy and re-create
     * all of its buffers.
     * @param {Object} data
     * @param {Object} painter
     * @returns {undefined}
     * @private
     */
    reloadSymbolData: function(data, painter, style) {
        if (this.state === 'unloaded') return;

        this.collisionTile = new CollisionTile(data.collisionTile, this.collisionBoxArray);
        this.featureIndex.setCollisionTile(this.collisionTile);

        // Destroy and delete existing symbol buckets
        for (var id in this.buckets) {
            var bucket = this.buckets[id];
            if (bucket.type === 'symbol') {
                bucket.destroy(painter.gl);
                delete this.buckets[id];
            }
        }

        // Add new symbol buckets
        util.extend(this.buckets, unserializeBuckets(data.buckets, style));
    },

    /**
     * Make sure that this tile doesn't own any data within a given
     * painter, so that it doesn't consume any memory or maintain
     * any references to the painter.
     * @param {Object} painter gl painter object
     * @returns {undefined}
     * @private
     */
    unloadVectorData: function(painter) {
        for (var id in this.buckets) {
            var bucket = this.buckets[id];
            bucket.destroy(painter.gl);
        }

        this.collisionBoxArray = null;
        this.symbolQuadsArray = null;
        this.symbolInstancesArray = null;
        this.collisionTile = null;
        this.featureIndex = null;
        this.rawTileData = null;
        this.buckets = null;
        this.state = 'unloaded';
    },

    redoPlacement: function(source) {
        if (this.state !== 'loaded' || this.state === 'reloading') {
            this.redoWhenDone = true;
            return;
        }

        this.state = 'reloading';

        source.dispatcher.send('redo placement', {
            uid: this.uid,
            source: source.id,
            angle: source.map.transform.angle,
            pitch: source.map.transform.pitch,
            showCollisionBoxes: source.map.showCollisionBoxes
        }, done.bind(this), this.workerID);

        function done(_, data) {
            this.reloadSymbolData(data, source.map.painter, source.map.style);
            source.fire('tile.load', {tile: this});

            this.state = 'loaded';
            if (this.redoWhenDone) {
                this.redoPlacement(source);
                this.redoWhenDone = false;
            }
        }
    },

    getBucket: function(layer) {
        return this.buckets && this.buckets[layer.ref || layer.id];
    },

    querySourceFeatures: function(result, params) {
        if (!this.rawTileData) return;

        if (!this.vtLayers) {
            this.vtLayers = new vt.VectorTile(new Protobuf(new Uint8Array(this.rawTileData))).layers;
        }

        var layer = this.vtLayers._geojsonTileLayer || this.vtLayers[params.sourceLayer];

        if (!layer) return;

        var filter = featureFilter(params.filter);
        var coord = { z: this.coord.z, x: this.coord.x, y: this.coord.y };

        for (var i = 0; i < layer.length; i++) {
            var feature = layer.feature(i);
            if (filter(feature)) {
                var geojsonFeature = new GeoJSONFeature(feature, this.coord.z, this.coord.x, this.coord.y);
                geojsonFeature.tile = coord;
                result.push(geojsonFeature);
            }
        }
    },

    isRenderable: function() {
        return this.state === 'loaded' || this.state === 'reloading';
    }
};

function unserializeBuckets(input, style) {
    // Guard against the case where the map's style has been set to null while
    // this bucket has been parsing.
    if (!style) return;

    var output = {};
    for (var i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
        var layer = style.getLayer(input[i].layerId);
        if (!layer) continue;

        var bucket = Bucket.create(util.extend({
            layer: layer,
            childLayers: input[i].childLayerIds
                .map(style.getLayer.bind(style))
                .filter(function(layer) { return layer; })
        }, input[i]));
        output[bucket.id] = bucket;
    }
    return output;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Home / Giveaway / Smile Brilliant CariPRO Toothbrush Review + Coupon Code!
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This Op-Ed appeared in Housing Wire on November 22, 2017.
The Community Home Lenders Association is very supportive of the goals of the pending House and Senate tax bills of providing tax relief for individuals and corporations and simplifying and reforming the tax code. And if this means reforming existing homeownership tax provisions in order to help finance these tax cuts, that is fine with us.
Unfortunately, the combination of almost doubling the standard deduction, eliminating deductions for state income tax, and limiting or eliminating deductions for property taxes will mean that less than 10% of homeowners will use the mortgage interest deduction – the key tax incentive driving home purchases. This could dramatically reduce home purchases, our homeownership rate, and ultimately home prices.
Homeownership is a vital part of the economy, contributing roughly 15% of GDP. The importance of the housing market to the overall economy was vividly demonstrated by the 2008 housing collapse, which resulted in millions of Americans losing their home to foreclosure, a multi-trillion dollar bailout of our largest financial institutions, and the worst recession since the Great Depression.
For those reasons, CHLA is opposing the current versions of House and Senate tax reform – unless substantive changes are made to ameliorate their negative impact on housing. But CHLA is not just raising concerns, we have a proposed solution.
Last April CHLA first wrote Congress to suggest a mortgage interest credit. This week, in letters to House and Senate leaders, we provided details for our proposal. It would restore important tax incentives for home purchases and homeownership through a non-refundable tax credit of 15% for combined mortgage interest and property tax payments on primary and second home residences.
To avoid double dipping, the credit would only be available for taxpayers that use the (new and increased) standard deduction. To limit the revenue loss and more closely mirror the current tax code, the credit would be limited to only interest and tax payments which, when combined with state and local income tax payments, exceed $13,000 for married couples ($6,500 for individuals). Because of this feature, our proposal would also cut taxes for the very families experiencing a tax increase under the House and Senate bills due to the loss of deductions for MID and property taxes.
What about other reforms? Both tax bills end tax benefits for interest on second homes. CHLA opposes this as this could have a devastating effect in areas with higher concentrations of second homes. More to the point, it is arbitrary to allow a tax benefit on a $500,000 home, but not on both a $300,000 primary and $200,000 second home. But, CHLA is open to reducing the current $1 million cap on mortgage interest.
CHLA is also sympathetic to reforms of the capital gains exclusion for profits on sale of a principal residence – such as phasing out the exemption for couples with AGI over $500,000 and doing something to limit excessive uses of multiple properties. Both tax bills tighten the principal residence requirement from two of the last five years to five of the last eight years. CHLA believes this is too restrictive. Why deny the benefit to a family living in a home one week shy of five years? Instead, CHLA would suggest a requirement of two of the last three years – and allow this only once in a five-year period when trying to use it for a former second home or investment property.
Finally, while CHLA appreciates that H.R. 1 would reduce the corporate tax rate, many of our members are Subchapter S Corporations, and therefore support the bill's pass through treatment for such firms.
However, both bills exclude pass through tax treatment for certain "personal services" corporations, such as attorneys, accountants, and consultants. It is not clear whether independent mortgage bankers (IMBs) would receive such treatment under the personal services exclusion. CHLA has called on Congressional leaders to amend or clarify the bill to ensure that pass through tax treatment is afforded to IMBs – since they provide a tangible product (mortgage loans) and are labor-intensive.
While these restoring homeownership tax incentives would result in some revenue loss, CLHA believes that homeownership is too important to our citizens and to our economy not to make it a priority.


text:
My Reasons for Engaging in the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
In Honor of Veterans
Election Day Predictions and Consequences
The Washington Report – July 10, 2015
WASINGTON REPORT: DECEMBER 11th, 2015
The Washington Report: December 18, 2020 … "T-Minus 7 Hours (or so)"
The Washington Report: December 11, 2020 … "For The Record: Biden. Won."
The Washington Report: December 4, 2020 … "Demo-crazy's Stress Test"
The Washington Report: November 20, 2020 … "It's A Clown Show"
The Washington Report: November 13, 2020 … "Tin Foil Hat Stuff"
The Washington Report: October 30, 2020 … "Fasten Your Seatbelt…"
Defense News Inside Wisconsin 2/4/2013
Wisconsin Recruiter Named Nation's Best After advancing to regional competition, which included the top recruiters from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and Minnesota, Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mannel was named one of the nation's Expert 7, a distinction reserved for the top recruiting noncommissioned officer in each of the...
National Defense News Impacting Wisconsin 2/4/2013
Debt Deal May Increase Risk Of Sequestration The federal debt limit extension deal passed by House Republicans last week assures that the federal government will not default on its loans through mid-May. But that might not be good news for Pentagon officials gearing up for the next showdown: sequestration. Military...
Recent Defense Contracts 2/4/2013
The Oil Gear Co. Defense Logistics Contract- awarded a contract with a maximum $16,000,000 for meter assembly skids and fuel. Criticare Systems Inc. Defense Logistics Contract- awarded contract with a maximum $17,799,831 for patient monitoring systems, subsystems, accessories, consumables, spare/repair parts, and training.
Current Grant Opportunities 2/4/2013
The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program provides more than $2 billion of R&D funding to innovative small businesses across a broad range of technologies each year. Along with the SBIR/STTR reauthorization that was passed early last year, there are new rules and regulations. As...
Lessons From The Sandbox
As the Morning Fix noted, "Congress is not particularly good at getting things done these days. What it is very good at, however, is waiting till the last minute, delaying and — eventually, when all other options are exhausted — kicking the can down the road. Congress continued its trend...
Top One-Liners From The Week
You didn't mess up." -- First daughter Sasha congratulating her dad for getting his oath right "I love her bangs." -- President Barack Obama on his wife's new hairdo "We've got to stop being the stupid party." -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal telling the GOP to shape up "I wish...
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At Kidira station on the border between Senegal and Mali. To the left of my green train is the Bamako-Dakar express going the other way. It consists of the smarter silver stock of Senegalese Railways.
She spreads her hands helplessly.
As for female circumcision, she thinks it will begin to die out. The National Assembly in Senegal has brought in a law against it, but the women who were practising it, the ones who held the secrets, are having to be given financial incentives to end their vested interest in this particular ritual.
Dhadi is a Muslim, but stoutly against the prevailing custom of polygamy.
She doesn't hold out much hope that polygamy will go the way of circumcision. She reckons only 3 or 4 per cent of Senegalese feel as she does.
It's not just what she says but how she says it that makes Dhadi exceptional. Or maybe not. Maybe African women are by nature more direct, more open, more honest and considerably less submissive than their menfolk expect them to be.
Night falls and we are still some way short of the Malian border. To the bar, where three or four customers are gathered in the gloom, drinking Cokes from the bottle. I'm the only one ordering beer, until the crew finish filming of course. The barman is a big man with a tartan cap and shades. A radio is crackling out. Highlights of a football game. Last night Senegal were playing a vital World Cup qualifying match with Morocco. I ask the result. It was a draw. Senegal are through to the finals.
Chicken for supper. It's fine, but the bench I sit on collapses.


Thank you for the wonderful job you have done for us. Somehow your listings do get sold and that is what all sellers want. You must be a magnet for buyers or have some magical power to attract the right buyer for us.
The timing seems just right which makes it even more a mystery of how it happens that way. This is the second time you have accomplished the perfect happening for us, thank you. We received the signed contract in the mail today and will drop off the info for the settlement to you in the next few days.
Thank you again for our 50th wedding anniversary gift, the sale of our home.


Doitsuyama had the most liked content!
I always thought ketaguri is kicking the leg while kekaeshi has longer contact, and the difference has nothing to do with time into the bout.
@AsashosakariDumb question... I have added day 2 to day 5 results to the database now, the basho scores also are as of day 5. Are day 6 to day 9 summaries planned?
I would very much like to point out that both Haru 1993 and Haru 2019 have exactly 20 recruits at 18 years or older. The huge difference is completely among those younger than 18 years.
Thanks for listing the first name changes, I added them to the DB. Here I saw that I still had Ryu for Hayatonishiki. Do you have the kanji for Yuki available?
That's true. The torikumi sometimes have sources day by day, in that case it's most likely 100% correct. Often I had only the hoshitori-hyo as source, here the torikumi is simply reconstructed going by standard rules.
Speaking about Hakuho's allegedly dwindling dominance, did anyone notice that he is arguably on a 28 win streak right now?
It's kinda unbelievable now, but these four (together with Kotooshu) were Ozeki together during Hakuho's time as Ozeki from Natsu 2006 to Natsu 2007... when Tochiazuma retired before Natsu 2007, Hakuho decided to leave Ozeki as well, going one higher. Almost twelve years as Yokozuna now, that's long ago.
Nowadays Makuuchi is fixed to 42 rikishi (40 before that), but it used to be more flexible depending on needs for promotions/demotions/retirements etc.
Have a look at a real banzuke, and you will realize that "East" and "West" aren't theoretical concepts but indeed the side of the banzuke they are written on. So the uneven Ozeki (or Sekiwake or Komousubi) is written on the west side if there is an uneven number already above them. That rule doesn't count for the last Maegashira though. Well, since they are written in smaller script and there is a much bigger number of them anyway there's not a big need here. But the high ranks are small in number and written larger, so effort is made to even the number out on the left and right side.
Eventually it does of course, but most certainly not for Hatsu. Even if they decide to remove him from the banzuke (normally an untimely intai just gets a 0-0-15 score, but in more extreme cases the rikishi is not even written on the next banzuke), the slot will just be blank.
The gyoji wasn't all that bad. He clearly saw that Tochinoshin's foot dragged out, but since he wasn't 100% sure he let the match go on. I mean, it would have been even more embarassing to stop the match only to make the check and see that his foot wasn't out. After the match he probably had a quick look to check the imprint and pointed to Shohozan's side.
Wait, if this was indeed the last clock change then it will stay only at Makuuchi forever. What's "hopefully" about that?
I'm just seeing the "heart over matter" article. @John Gunning, you should use my DB more often.


We have now launched the new album, 'Never enough'. Rhys's production skills have gone from strength to strength, and it is sounding good.
There are some fabulous contributions from other lovely musicians – Rhys of course but also Matt Kelly and Lucinda Fudge on strings, Myke Clifford on sax, Dawn Loombe on accordion and Brian Harvey on bass. I'm grateful to them all.
It was filmed in and around St Pancras station, Gare du nord, Gare de l'est and Gare de Lyon. I'm grateful to the SNCF and St Pancras for the publicly available pianos – the grand at the Gare de Lyon is especially wonderful. And I'm even more grateful to the people of Paris and London for going around their daily travels and inadvertently (and in one lovely moment a the end of Verse 1, advertently) participating in the film, and for proving that what makes us different makes us shine.


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news, local-news, drink, drug, driving, bendigo, court, sentence
Three drug and drink-drivers have lost their licences after admitting to their offences. Gary Kitt was convicted and fined $600 in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink-driving and driving unlicensed. Kitt returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.112 after he was pulled over at Junortoun in November 2017. He also produced a licence that had expired in August that year. Kitt told police he had consumed alcohol, but did not think he was over the limit. Magistrate John Bentley cancelled Kitt's licence and disqualified him from driving for 22 months, as he had a prior drug-driving offence. Linda McCumber was also convicted and fined $600, and banned from driving for a year, after she admitted to drug-driving and driving while suspended. McCumber returned a positive test for methamphetamine after she was pulled over on Marong Road in February this year for a random licence check. More court news: Magistrate questions charges against drunk drivers who crash She co-operated with police and admitted to taking ice. It was her second drug-driving offence. Meanwhile Tyler Estrada pleaded guilty to driving with both alcohol and drugs in his system, which cost him his licence for two years and $600. A probationary driver, Estrada returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.034 and a positive result for ecstasy in February this year. He told police he had been drinking the day before. The court heard he had previously been caught drink-driving and driving while suspended. He will have to do both the drink-driver and drug-driver courses before he becomes eligible to get his licence back. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
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Bendigo drug and drink-drivers taken off the roads after facing court
Natalie Croxon
Three drug and drink-drivers have lost their licences after admitting to their offences.
Gary Kitt was convicted and fined $600 in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink-driving and driving unlicensed.
Kitt returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.112 after he was pulled over at Junortoun in November 2017.
He also produced a licence that had expired in August that year.
Kitt told police he had consumed alcohol, but did not think he was over the limit.
Magistrate John Bentley cancelled Kitt's licence and disqualified him from driving for 22 months, as he had a prior drug-driving offence.
Linda McCumber was also convicted and fined $600, and banned from driving for a year, after she admitted to drug-driving and driving while suspended.
McCumber returned a positive test for methamphetamine after she was pulled over on Marong Road in February this year for a random licence check.
More court news: Magistrate questions charges against drunk drivers who crash
She co-operated with police and admitted to taking ice.
It was her second drug-driving offence.
Meanwhile Tyler Estrada pleaded guilty to driving with both alcohol and drugs in his system, which cost him his licence for two years and $600.
A probationary driver, Estrada returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.034 and a positive result for ecstasy in February this year.
He told police he had been drinking the day before.
The court heard he had previously been caught drink-driving and driving while suspended.
He will have to do both the drink-driver and drug-driver courses before he becomes eligible to get his licence back.


text:
Johney
Adani Group to take over Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram airports from AAI
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which maintains the country's civil aviation infrastructure, is set to hand over Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports to the Adani…
Los Angeles BOAC approves LAX PLA's ten-year extension
CDC study finds Covid-19 screening ineffective at US airports
Albany Airport partners with GE to ensure safe travel amid pandemic
Finnair signs agreement for ground handling services at Helsinki Airport
Stockholm Skavsta Airport to commission solar plant in 2021
Stockholm Skavsta Airport will commission its solar energy plant in the summer of 2021.
FAA releases final decision on South-Central Florida Metroplex project
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released the final decision on the proposed South-Central Florida Metroplex project, as…
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways launch new accessibility guidelines
Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have introduced new accessibility guidelines for passengers requesting special assistance at…
IATA calls for further financial support to save air transport
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for continued financial support for aviation as the shutdown of air…
US TSA deploys CAT at Atlantic City Airport security checkpoint
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed new credential authentication technology (CAT) at the security checkpoint of Atlantic…
Dnata forays into Indonesia through strategic partnership with UNEX
Dnata, an air services provider, has partnered with ground handling and cargo warehouse company PT UNEX Rajawali Indonesia (UNEX)…
India to develop new greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has started the construction of a new greenfield airport at Hollongi in Arunachal…
Zurich Airport International signs deal to develop Jewar Airport in India
Zurich Airport International has signed the concession agreement for the development of Jewar Airport on the outskirts of Delhi,…


Roger Williams, 71, of Chapin, South Carolina, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Porter Regional Hospital.
Arrangements are pending with Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte (219) 362-3100.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Roger Williams, please visit our Tribute Store.
"Email Address" would like to share the life celebration of Roger Williams. Click on the "link" to go to share a favorite memory or leave a condolence message for the family.


Spence worries that his girlfriend's fear of dogs is affecting their relationship, and Carrie finds a way to buy expensive clothes until Doug urges her to stop.
After realizing they have more in common with each other's wives than with their own, Doug starts spending time with Kelly, and Deacon starts hanging out with Carrie.
Doug decides to drive up and surprise Carrie while she's away on a business trip, but he inadvertently ends up ruining a fun "girls' weekend" with her coworkers.
Doug befriends a driver from a rival delivery company, and when Carrie volunteers to mentor a troubled teen, she only ends up enabling the girl's delinquent behavior.
After Arthur nearly burns down the house, Carrie and Doug decide to move him into a retirement home, but a personal story from his father-in-law gives Doug second thoughts.
Tasked with investing his and Carrie's tax refund, Doug decides to buy an ice cream truck instead, and Carrie pretends to be part of a fake family to sell a model home.


Home / Fitness / Olympics Day 1 and Homespunspa Was There!
The Olympic torch blew through my town today.
I found out by fluke that the Olympic Torch Relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games was actually coming through my little town of Saanichton, BC. And on Day 1 of all days. I had no idea when I was blogging about Centennial Park two days ago that I would be blogging about my neighborhood again so soon.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay began on October 30th, 2009 in Victoria, British Columbia. The Olympic Flame was originally lit in Olympia, Greece on October 22nd, 2009. The Olympic flame will crisscross Canada over the next 106 days, visiting 1000 communities.
I love the Olympics because the athletes show us the amazing strength and beauty of the human body and spirit. And the Games bring people together.
Oh my goodness! There was way more to the torch festivities that I had imagined! So glad you were there to capture it for the rest of us who had to work. Thanks, Maria. Great pictures!!


Very poor. Staff are friendly, but ordered kids kebab meal and cowboy dinner. Cowboy dinner sausage tasted funny and was left ill after, chips were dry and kebab was like rubber. Only given 1 star as have to, wouldn't give rating if possible as not even worthy of 1 star.


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Q: How to map users for chatting? I am building a new chat application with a real-time communication server. I can send and receive messages from the server. Now I need to map the the users for private real time communication. How can I get it either client side or server side?
I am getting msg from the server as follows:

msg:"blah blah",
participants: [id1,id99],
sessionid: "I need to create unique id for each conversation"(this id is the whole thing to maintain msgs between users),

use case

*

*I have 100 users

*I have to send a message from 1 to 55

*Now I need to map 1 and 55

*One more 2 to 33

*Again I need to map 2 and 33

*Similarly I need to map each and every user with other user.

Is there anything wrong in my approach?
Please suggest what the other approaches are for building a multi-user chat application with JavaScript?

A: I don't know if i correctly understood your question, but how about introducing the concept of a private conversation at the back-end. Then you can store all the participants of that conversation (in your case i guess there will be only two).
This way you set the server side responsible for all the details needed to make this possible. The clients would only need to pass the message and the id of the private conversation (that will probably be store in a list of private conversations), and leave the server do all the other stuff.


text:
Result: Oxford win 8.5 - 6.5
And so, dear readers, we have reached the end of the road. From the first faltering steps that were the early season's match reports to the flourishing tomes of pseudo-fiction that documented the closing stages of the year for posterity, we've all come a long way over the last few months. There remains, then, one more tale to be told- that of the 125th University Match played out on the historic links at Rye. There will be highs and lows, hope and fear, strength and honour. It won't be brief.
With the academic term over, Oxford's golfers were able to turn their full attention to the whole week of golf that lay ahead of them, ready to assert dark blue dominance over all the games waiting to be contested. The Blues headed down to Rye on the Sunday evening, checking in to what would become Oxford HQ for the next 7 days- a spacious farmhouse in Bosney which, whilst charming, had some hazardously low ceilings. Ryan and Cansfield were in all sorts of trouble. Now, the first thing to be fought over in any Varsity week is a sleeping space- with beds always at a minimum it's inevitably a scramble to avoid having to settle down in the arms of your foursomes partner on the sofa. Thankfully, the farmhouse came with an adjacent outhouse containing a bed, perfect for the man looking for some glorious isolation in the evenings. It didn't take much persuasion to get someone into this apartment, with Bastianello jumping at the opportunity (budgie smugglers in hand). Hardy pulled the short straw and ended up bunking with notorious sleep-talkers Charteris-Black and Ryan whose nightly conversations reached Delphic levels of lucidity with topics ranging from house music to whether Jim Mercurio hunts for birdies. He does.
The Blues, joined by the Divots and Ladies, turned up to a sun soaked Rye on Monday morning for a full day of practice. The old course was in stunning condition and with rumours circulating that the already glassy greens were only due to be cut and ironed more as the week progressed, all knew that it would be razor sharp short games that would decide the outcome of this Varsity Match. That said, the players poured over the course planners making sure they knew exactly where the right misses were on every hole. This seemed a strange concept to some- it was left unclear whether the 4-inch fat or sniping hook is ever a good miss. Brian Wilson just told us "I'm just not convinced I've ever really missed." After a fruitful day at the grind, the team retired home for the nightly ritual of a wonderful home-cooked meal, a couple of beers and listening to Basti and Mercurio exchange accent based insults, a few of which were actually funny.
Tuesday once again dawned sunny which, combined with the wind, was actually becoming a real issue for the fairer skinned in OUGC- faces were being shredded like the Bridge dance floor on a Thursday evening, doubles akimbo. Armed with silly levels of moisturizer and the faux-logic that "this time next week, we'll just be really, really tanned", the boys pressed on. But Today was not about the boys, indeed it was all about the ladies who had the first opportunity to draw light blue blood. Unfortunately, the morning foursomes did not get underway as Oxford would have hoped with all three of the matches going narrowly Cambridge's way. Convinced that a turnaround was possible in the afternoon singles, Captain Lise Lorup led the charge taking down the Cambridge number one seed, the lady in red herself, Francesca Bastianello. Audrey "FTT" Davies then played some stellar golf to win her match on the 17th with a clutch par to keep the Oxford salvo alive. Cambridge, however, proved too strong in the other matches with the only other half point coming from Sabrina Sayeed leaving the final result at 6.5-2.5 to Cambridge.
Wednesday was the turn of the Divots and Stymies to do battle on the square greens at Littlestone. There were some intriguing subplots at play in the lead up to this match which kept the fans engaged right up to the get go- would Wilmore and McCluskey lay off the sauce for long enough to play golf? Would James Black finally win a point in a Varsity Match? Would Oxford's ex lovable rogue George Croft actually play golf for Cambridge? All these questions would be answered in the fullness of time. What was certain though, was that the Stymies' jumpers were absolutely hideous.
The first two foursomes matches went all the way to the wire, both ending in halves before Cambridge sneaked their noses in front by taking the third game. Then it happened. The stars aligned. The prophecies were fulfilled. Indeed, playing with his long-term partner in crime and online Oxford celebrity Will Dufton, Blacky had finally broken the duck at the fifth time of asking by convincingly taking down the Stymies fourth pair in what was either a stunning display of golf or a spectacular display of lightening chat. Oxford also won the anchor game to go in at lunch 3-2 up. There was no room for complacency though; this was exactly the position the Divots had been in at Deal 12 months previously when the final result had been a comprehensive 11.5-3.5 loss (in fact "Divots VM singles 2013" still comes up just below the battle of Thessalonica on Wikipedia's list of biggest massacres). Oxford got off to a slow start in the afternoon with Wilmore and Kamm both enduring narrow defeats on the 18th. HMS Divot was steadied in the third match with a superb win from debutant Tom Rollinson before big hitting South African Terry Scott added another dark blue point. Cambridge took their chances well in the other matches though and with three games left on the course, the score stood at 7-5 in favour of the light blues. Morris Kim, however, produced one of the most clutch moments of the week in his match by jamming his 3-iron on the treacherous par 3 17th to take the point. This was quickly followed by a sturdy win by McCluskey to level up the scores at 7-7. It was all down to Bealing in the final match. The game went all the way but eventually Cambridge prevailed, rounding off a narrow, but enthralling 8-7 defeat for the Divots.
Desperate to avenge themselves at dinner, the Divots turned up looking for chat but were instead met by some Stymies who didn't seem to want to play Stymies rules; very odd. But if things were dry at the dinner, they certainly weren't by the time the Divots got back to their house and they were positively wet by the time McCluskey woke up the following morning. Miaow.
Next up on Thursday was the all important dinner match to decide which University would pick up the bill for the Blues dinner on the Saturday night. Conditions were tough with the greens running at their quickest all week and the wind up. Yet another Bastianello (Freddie) was involved in this for Cambridge but with his big brother Alex unwilling to divulge any needling chirps to be used on the course, the Oxford double of Nichamin and Charteris-Black would just have to beat him at golf instead. And in the morning they did. The boys put on a stunning display to win the foursomes 4&3 with some of the most outrageous up and downs this side of Seve being bandied around freely. The Cambridge pair found their form after lunch, though, and played some really solid stuff to just pinch both of the singles matches meaning that dinner would unfortunately be paid for from dark blue pockets this year.
And so the big match was almost upon us. The team went through their usual customs on the night before the foursomes with everyone having their own superstitions: Cansfield, a wise man who often prefers the Spoon of Ingenuity over the Driver of Luck, whispered sweet nothings to his clubs whilst he cleaned them; Padre van Wyk listened to his favorite song, 'Dance Wiv Me' by Dizzee Rascal, on repeat (we're all still wondering if he'll ever get the line 'you've got a body to die for, let me merk it' into a sermon); and Hardy turned to the book he's currently teaching his year 11s, The Catcher In The Rye, for some advice on how to play the 10th. As it turns out, teenage sexual frustration is not the best route to a par. Our invaluable coach JC also provided the dinner table with some of the best chat OUGC has ever seen- an exploration of father-son relationships or something. Parisian cats went wild.
The Varsity Match got underway in quite benign conditions on the Friday. Overnight rain had softened the greens and there was little wind to speak of. Oxford made hay and by lunch time Hardy and van Wyk were 3 up, Ryan and van Wijk were 1up, Reynolds and Wilson were 8up and the other two matches were all square. A very promising start from the dark blues. Mercurio and Crummey, the archetypal married couple, came out guns blazing in the afternoon and quickly stormed to a 5up lead through 9. They would maintain this lead coming home and with an immaculate 2 at the short 14th, take the first full point of the match 5&4. Bastianello and Cansfield did exactly the same thing, powering out in the afternoon on their way to a 3&2 victory. A strong fight back in the afternoon from the Cambridge pair playing Reynolds and Wilson gave the boys a momentary scare but one that was soon abated by some solid golf that led to an eventual 3&2 vicory. Ryan and van Wijk's match was a real battle of Odyssian proportions, both in drama and the inordinate time taken to reach home. After fighting back from 3 down on the 11th to find themselves 1up on the 16th, Cambridge's Atherton holed a monstrous putt from off the green to tie up the match and this is how it would end after Ryan rammed home a putt for the half on 18. In the fifth match, the strong Cambridge pairing of Giddins and Birrell-Gray played some superb golf after lunch to sneak the match away from the Oxford pairing. That did leave Oxford in the commanding position of being 3.5-1.5 points up after the Friday Foursomes. However, the legendary dark blue comeback of 2013 on the fabled links of St George from the same scoreline was fresh in the memory of the players and all knew that this match was far from a done deal.
The teams reconvened early on Saturday morning to contest the singles that would eventually decide the outcome of the Varsity Match, with Oxford needing 4.5 points from the available 10 to win the title outright. Things got off to a flyer in the Captains' match. Matthew "range is good" Reynolds stormed to a 9up lead at lunch and quickly started trending on twitter as 'The Butcher Of Rye'. A spirited retaliation from Cambridge skipper Cumberland after lunch saw the match prolonged to the 12th with Reynolds quite happy to not have to pay any more than the base 7 shillings and 6 pence for his dog license. The next three matches were all thrillers with a combination of superb comebacks, moderate jibbing and extremely considered pre-shot routines leading Mercurio, Ryan and Bastianello to the 36th hole. But in a display of clutch golf that OUGC have become renowned for (perhaps) all three of the matches went Oxfords way and with news coming in to the clubhouse that Wilson had just won his match 5&4, that meant that the Blues had crossed the winning threshold. It was just as well, because Cambridge produced some fine golf of their own in the other five matches to win all of them. But no one cared- the singles had been halved at 5 points each and Oxford had taken their fifth varsity match in a row by a margin of 8.5 points to 6.5. The celebrations began. It might be worth pointing out that if anyone wants a more in depth account of the exact chronology of the match, the CUGC twitter page might be worth checking out as it provides a near shot-by-shot coverage of the two days. Best to wear your wellies though, the number of factual statements followed by #GDBOs make for some of the wettest chat since Noah.
The 125th University Match at Rye was one of firsts- it was the first time Oxford have won five in a row for a number of decades, it was the first time Bastianello tried his hand at being clutch and it was the first time the average height of the dinner match has been below 5'8''. But through all of this, it was an exhibition of what amateur golf truly stands for and all those returning for another year with OUGC are already chomping at the bit to do it all over again in 12 months at Hoylake.
#varsity


text:
Senior Farewell: Roxana Becerril
Roxana Becerril
A photo of Roxana Becerril from her trip to Lake Tahoe, CA.
by Roxana Becerril, Marketing and Public Relations Director
During an ordinary fall semester at San Diego State, I made one of the best decisions in my junior year of college. I joined The Daily Aztec.
Within just over a year, the paper has given me the opportunity to author over twenty articles about art, culture and news in both English and Spanish. All of this, in addition to promoting me from staff writer to engagement editor, and finally, to my current position of marketing and public relations director.
A byline and promotions weren't the only things that made my time at the newspaper memorable. Meeting inspiring people from my community, sharing their stories, making life-long friendships and seeing my words in print are also at the top of my list.
It is because of The Daily Aztec that I'm most proud of being an Aztec.
Sharing your work — creative or not — with the entire student population at State sounded nerve-wracking during my first three years at State. Thanks to the supportive and involved community at The Daily Aztec, the fear of publishing my work was abandoned and my confidence as a young journalist was boosted.
Once I finally reached out to the student newspaper, everything changed. I joined the paper during Hispanic Heritage Month and the first story I ever pitched focused on mine and my classmates' experiences as Latinas. I was terrified.
Nervous and unsure of what I was doing, I made calls, had multiple interviews and ended up with 11 pages of notes to be exact. I thought about what being Mexican meant to me, condensed my thoughts to 500 words or so, put them on a Google document and shared it with my editor.
A few days later, I headed to campus and picked up the latest issue of the paper.
An illustration of a ballet folklorico dancer painted the cover of the Hispanic Heritage Month issue with colors of blue, yellow and pink accompanied by blocks of text. Right above them, a byline with my name on it.
My story had made the front page.
It was because of The Daily Aztec that I finally started to believe in myself, my craft and my potential. There is still room for improvement, there will always be. Nonetheless, The Daily Aztec provided me with a platform to communicate the messages most important to me and my community. It also brought me to a lot of dedicated and passionate people who I get to call friends.
Like most good things, my time at the paper must come to an end. The good news is, every ending is just a new beginning. While I will no longer be a writer, editor or director for The Daily Aztec, I'll always be an Aztec. From the bottom of my heart, gracias.
Marketing and Public Relations Director
sdsu grad
Senior Farewell
Senior Farewells
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In this series of columns, we are looking at recent recommendations by the Panel of Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds for the dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients. In Part 1, we chatted with Panel Chairman Dr. Norman Krinsky and Panel Member Dr. Maret Traber _ about the actual findings of the Panel, rather than the misleading information promulgated in some media reports. In the second installment, we reviewed with Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg some of the complexities and issues of making recommendations for antioxidant nutrient intake. In this column, we will discuss what the studies show with Dr. Denham Harman of the University of Nebraska School of Medicine, who is widely known as the father of the free-radical theory of aging.
I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with many brilliant scientists including four Nobel laureates, but none is more brilliant, nor has done more for human health, nor is a greater pleasure to know and converse with, than Denham Harman. His contributions to the understanding of human health, in my opinion, exceed that of Louis Pasteur. He was the first to appreciate the importance of free radicals in the disease processes.
In fact, I believe that the identification of Dr. Harman's work with the phenomenon of aging actually has prevented him from getting all the credit he deserves. Were he known as the "father of the free radical theory of disease" instead of "aging," I think he certainly would have received his Nobel prize by now. Several theories on aging have been postulated, and none is generally accepted. Meanwhile, as people have focused on Dr. Harman's aging research, they have tended to overlook what his discoveries have taught us about many human diseases. In Table 1, I have listed many of the diseases that have been linked to free radicals. Nevertheless, even this table is now out of date. Most experts agree that there are between 60 and 80 diseases that involve free radicals (the exact number depends on how some of the closely-related diseases are sub-categorized).
Table 1. Diseases and disorders in which free radicals play a role. Free radicals can be the sole cause of a few diseases, but more often are involved in the disease process by predisposing the human body to diseases directly caused by other factors. Free radicals also may worsen the conditions and be antagonistic to the healing process.
Aging Disorders of "premature aging"
Adapted and modified from: Proceedings of the Davis Conference: Oxygen radicals and human disease of Internal Medicine 107: 527 (1987).
The antioxidant nutrients that protect us against damage from free radicals not only reduce the risk of developing the diseases listed in Table 1, they decrease our risk of contracting "germ-borne" diseases and genetic diseases as well. Yes, Louis Pasteur discovered that germs are, responsible for many diseases, but germs cause disease only when our immune systems are impaired or overwhelmed. Antioxidant nutrients enhance our immune systems so that germs are less likely to succeed. Later on, we'll look at some of the studies that show this to be true. What is even more exciting, is the fact that antioxidant nutrients help regulate the expression of genes by up-regulation or down-regulation so that genetic diseases may be postponed or completely controlled.
It has been a while since Dr. Harman published his theory in 1956. He is now 84 years old, but usually can be found year round at his office at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. When he is not there, normally it means that he is presenting new research at a scientific symposium. More details about Dr. Harman and his research can be found in the March 1995 and April 1995 columns.
Passwater: Dr. Harman, the media seems to have missed the message about the Panel's report on antioxidant nutrients. What is the message you get from reading this report?
Harman: The overriding message from the Panel is the recommendation that people get more vitamin C and vitamin E in their diets, and that more research be conducted to learn more about the benefits of antioxidant nutrients. The Panel also set safe upper limits fog dietary intake that are far greater than the amounts usually taken by those of us who wish to get effective antioxidant protection.
though they feel that more studies are required before they can make widespread health recommendations.
Passwater: Yes, the Panel did increase the recommended intakes for vitamin C and vitamin E, but the members didn't believe there is sufficient evidence to make public health recommendations for everyone to get even larger amounts of antioxidants. Since "adequate evidence" is lacking-and we may never have enough evidence about anything to convince some scientists-do you feel that there is "good evidence" on which prudent decisions can be made?
Harman: Yes. Laboratory animal studies-such as those you and I both have conducted many times over-have shown consistently-for about 40 years-that increased levels of antioxidant nutrients improve health as well as longevity. These findings also are supported by epidemiological (population) studies on lifespan, cancer and heart disease as well as in vivo studies.
It has been these studies that have prompted the Antioxidant Panel to be established and have encouraged prudent people to take antioxidant supplements.
Passwater: You bring up an interesting point: we've observed changes in the population that are consistent with antioxidants helping people live better longer. I want to discuss this with you in depth later, but right now I want to follow up on your comment that you were pleased that the Panel's report mentioned the possible benefits of antioxidant nutrients in a number of diseases. What did you find encouraging?
Harman: In discussing cancer, the Panel reported that "a great deal of epidemiological evidence indicates that diets rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with a lower risk. However, these studies provide only limited support for a protective association of individual food components categorized as antioxidants. Data regarding the protection by individual food components against cancer in humans are not yet available." In essence, the Panel recognizes the scientific merits of the possible involvement of free radicals in cancer, but states that there is not sufficient data to evaluate the role of individual antioxidants. Much more research is needed in this area.
Passwater: Let me remind our readers that the term "oxidative stress" refers to the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. When there are not enough antioxidants to prevent damage to the body, "oxidative stress" is said to occur. Thus, oxidative stress is the condition that allows free radical damage to occur.
Harman: The research indicating involvement of free radicals in cataractogenesis also was discussed in the Panel's report. "Several studies indicate a lowered risk of cataracts associated with either an increased serum level of these dietary components or supplement use. These studies, since observational in nature, do not constitute at this time a sufficient basis for a conclusion that these dietary components can prevent cataracts in humans."
Similarly, with age-related macular degeneration (AMD): "Epidemiological studies find a decreased likelihood of AMD associated with higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, especially those that are rich in the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin... The association has also been observed in smokers, who have lower plasma levels of carotenoids and are also at an increased risk of developing AMD. However, all reports are associative in nature and have not established a causal relationship between intake or plasma concentration of lutein and/or zeaxanthin and risk for AMD."
In regard to central neurodegenerative diseases the Panel remarked, "Increasing evidence suggests that a number of common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, may reflect adverse responses to oxidative stress. Small intervention trials with either vitamin C or vitamin E have reported symptomatic improvement in those already afflicted with the disease. However, these preliminary findings do not constitute adequate proof of the usefulness of these antioxidants in decreasing the development or delaying the onset of these diseases."
These statements definitely are not negative as the media reports often suggested. These statements recognize that some studies have shown that antioxidants improve the condition of many patients, but that due to the early stage of this area of research, the clinical trials needed to prove the relationship have not been carried out. This is entirely different from saying that clinical trials have been carried out and found no relationship.
The Panel even discussed the possible involvement of free radicals in diabetes mellitus. "Although some evidence suggests diabetes mellitus may be attributable to either an oxidative stress or a stress to reactive carbonyls, much of the research has been inconclusive. In addition, no clinical intervention trial has tested directly whether provision of antioxidants can defer the onset of the complications of diabetes."
Passwater: While scientists do not yet have enough evidence of the type needed to make public health recommendations, there is indeed lots of supporting scientific evidence. There are enough studies to fill a book, but a few will suffice to make this point. This will be hard to do, but could you list just three studies demonstrating that antioxidant nutrients help us live better longer?
Harman: Well, that is a toughie! I would have to include the Harvard epidemiological studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1993 that suggest that vitamin E supplements can reduce the incidence of heart disease in both men and women by about 40%. (1,2) The two studies were published back-to-back in the same journal with the major differences being that one was a study of women and the other of men. So let's count them as a single study giving good evidence that vitamin E reduces the risk of heart disease.
In another important study, vitamin E and beta-carotene reduced the incidence of prostate cancer. (4) Male smokers, aged 50 to 69, receiving 50 IU of vitamin E daily for six years had a 32% decrease in prostate cancer incidence and a decrease of 41% in prostate cancer deaths.
These are certainly health benefits, and since there is no known adverse risk from taking the supplements at the levels used in the studies, it does seem prudent to take antioxidant supplements.
Passwater: I'll share my list with our readers shortly, but let me follow up on your list. Can the effects reported in these studies be obtained by good diet alone?
Harman: No. In the vitamin E and heart health study, the protective effect was not observed below 100 IU/day The individuals who benefited from vitamin C in Dr. Enstrom's study averaged about 300 mg/day. Men in the prostate study took 50 IU/day.
Passwater: Is it safe to take megavitamin quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E, as commonly advocated?
Harman: Yes. Vitamin C intake commonly advocated in megavitamin usage is from about 200 mg to around 2,000 mg. I am not aware of any adverse effects in this range. Vitamin E intake advocated is often around 200 to 1,000 IU/day. Again, I am not aware of any adverse effects in this range.
Passwater: Does the Panel's report change any of your recommendations for antioxidant supplementation.
Passwater: I knew that was a silly question, but I wanted your answer on the record.
You listed studies that support the body of evidence that antioxidant nutrients reduce the risk of human heart disease and cancer, while increasing lifespan. This is what we have learned over 30 years beginning with our animal experiments. There are other human studies that can be named that add to this line of evidence. I also choose to pick studies that show the health benefits of antioxidant nutrients against heart disease and cancer and improve lifespan.
My favorite is Dr. Larry Clark's study showing that taking supplements of 200 mcg a clay of selenium cuts the cancer death rate in half. (5) 1 have been preaching since 1972 about the importance of selenium in protecting against cancer. This was the basis for one of my patents. (6) In the future, I hope to be able to present evidence that certain selenium compounds of the triselenide family destroy cancer.
I, too, like to point to Enstrom's study that indicates that vitamin C increases the lifespan of men because it is an extension of a study in which I participated with Dr. Linus Pauling and Dr. Enstrom. (8) By the way, as this interview is going to press, a supporting article has just appeared in the July American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN). (9) Researchers from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Johns Hopkins University and Tulane University examined blood levels of vitamin C in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Using government data from nutritional surveys and death records, they concluded, "These data suggest that men with low serum ascorbate (vitamin C) concentrations may have an increased risk of mortality, probably because of an increased risk of dying from cancer."
In this study, vitamin E alone reduced the risk of (lying (all-cause mortality or total mortality) by 34% and reduced the risk of dying from coronary disease by 47%. More striking is that vitamin E alone reduced the risk from dying of coronary heart disease by 63% and the risk of dying from cancer by 59°/.
Vitamin E and vitamin C taken together reduced the risk of dying by 42% and reduced the risk of dying from coronary disease by 53%. The researchers concluded, "These findings suggest protective effects of vitamin E supplements in the elderly."
As an aside and not to count as one of my three selections: this year, Dr. Losonczy and colleagues reported that "vitamin E and vitamin C supplements may protect against vascular dementia and may improve cognitive function in late life." (11) In this study, vitamin E and vitamin C reduced the risk of developing vascular dementia by 88% and mixed or other demen6as by 69%. This addresses the quality of life as well as the length of life.
Also, it brings me back to the point you made earlier: people are living better longer and taking antioxidant supplements is part of the reason. You recently published your observations on this subject in the journal of the American Aging Association. (12) What are some of your observations on the effects of antioxidant supplements on disease and aging in the United States population?
Harman: The percentage of the population that takes antioxidant supplements has grown since the mid-1950s from probably less than a fraction of 1% to 40% or 50% today. According to accepted figures, it appears that most people who take antioxidant supplements take them on an irregular basis. Around 4% of Americans take vitamin E daily (usually 100 IU or more) and 8% take vitamin C (frequently 500 mg). Antioxidant supplement advocates often also take coenzyme Q-10, polyphenols such as Pycnogenol, lipoic acid and melatonin supplements.
Passwater: Has the balance between food antioxidants and supplement antioxidants changed during this period?
Harman: In comparison, food antioxidant consumption, such as fruits and vegetables, has remained relatively constant over this period, so the ratio has changed dramatically towards supplement antioxidants.
Passwater: We always advocate that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the foremost requirement for good health, but there is a limit to how many fruits and vegetables one (,,in eat.
Harman: Yes, there are many reasons to eat a varied diet containing lots of fruits and vegetables. However, to significantly increase the antioxidants in the body to counteract free radicals, one needs more than is easily provided by the food alone. Remember that the Harvard vitamin E studies found that the protection against heart disease was apparent only in those taking supplements. Also, in the selenium study by Dr. Clark-the one you mentioned in which the cancer death rate was cut in half-the result was obtained with supplements at a level that would be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain on American diets alone.
Here's another example: a person would have to eat about six cups of peanuts-with all the calories and fat they contained-in order to obtain the amount of vitamin E in one 400 IU capsule.
Passwater: You are saying that the intake of antioxidant supplements has increased since the 1960s. So, in the real world, does that mean we are we living better longer?
Harman: The average life expectancy at birth (ALE-B) increased from 69.7 years in 1960 to 75.4 years in 1990 and 76.1 years in 1996. The 65 years and older age group increased by 86.7% and the 85-plus years age group grew by 225.2%. There are many factors contributing to this improvement, but the important point is that the results are in agreement with the premise. This is a first requirement. If lifespan were decreasing, that would not be supportive.
Passwater: Well, my next question is this: if we are living longer, are we living better longer? That's the important thing.
Harman: Yes. The good news is that the number of chronically disabled individuals aged 65 and over is not increasing at its former rate. In fact, the rates are significantly lower than forecast by the official government 1982 and 1984 Long Term Care surveys. In 1994, there were 33.7 million people aged 65 and over in the United States. The number of chronically disabled people in that group was 7.1 million. That is 1.2 million people fewer than had been predicted just 10 years before. That's 17%nearly one in five-fewer disabled persons. Again, we can't say that all of the improvement is due to antioxidant supplements, but the data once again support the premise that they help people live better longer.
Passwater: Presently, the scientific community has great interest in the Genome project and identifying genes that increase the risk of disease. Many people are under the false impression that cancer is hardwired into our genes. Our genes account for only 20% to 40% of cancers, and even this contribution is largely regulated be antioxidants that can help determine whether the gene is expressed or suppressed. Diet and environmental factors, both of which affect the antioxidant-free radical balance (oxidative stress), are the overwhelming contributing factors in cancer. Cancer is a disease that usually takes a decade or two to develop. Have there been enough people taking meaningful dosages of antioxidant nutrients to produce a noticeable effect on cancer rate?
Harman: The total cancer incidence and total cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 1991. This has been the first decrease since the record keeping was instituted in the 1930s. As you mentioned, because of the mechanisms involved for free radicals and oxidative stress to initiate the cancer process, it would take a long lead time for the cancer death rate to be altered by taking antioxidant supplements because we have to be concerned with a combination of both dosage and time. If the cancer death rate had fallen earlier, it would not be supportive of the premise that antioxidant involvement makes a difference. Again, there may be other contributing factors that help explain the decrease in cancer death rate, but the data once again support the premise that antioxidant supplements help us live better longer.
Passwater: The biggest killer has been heart disease. There are several proposed mechanisms by which antioxidant nutrients protect us against heart disease. What do the data show?
Harman: Heart disease has been declining since the 1950s as some of the risk factors were brought under control and considerable life-saving progress has been made in first-aid CPR, medicines and surgeries. However, there has been a significant improvement in the rate of decline of heart disease that began in 1965. As your 1976 study and the 1993 Harvard studies show, vitamin E supplements are associated with a 40% or more decrease in risk of heart disease.
Passwater: OK. The real life and real people data support the premise. And I would like to suggest that older age groups today look and act much younger than comparable age groups in previous generations.
not found an association between antioxidant supplements and decreased illness, the body of the scientific literature-and as you have just shown, the observed results with real people-does support the premise that antioxidant supplements help us live better longer. In science, we give much more weight to positive results than to negative results because there are many factors that bury the true effect and keep it from being distinguished from the background information. Inappropriate measurements, insufficient time allowed for the effect to be observed, and insufficient numbers of people enrolled in the studies are often the reason that real effects are not observed in studies. What is important is the entire body of the scientific evidence-including mechanistic and laboratory animal studies, as well as epidemiological and clinical studies.
In conclusion, let's look in more detail at heart disease, just to illustrate more of the depth of the body of science. There are several mechanisms by which vitamin E and some other antioxidants can prevent heart attacks. The most widely discussed is the fact that vitamin E and other antioxidants prevent oxidation of the cholesterol carriers in the blood called low density lipoproteins (LDL). Normal LDL does not form cholesterol deposits in the arteries. It is only the oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) that invades the arteries and begins the plaque-building process that leads to narrowed arteries and the disease called atherosclerosis. But even after cholesterol deposits form, antioxidants such as vitamin E and Pycnogenol reduce the risk of having a blood clot form in the narrowed arteries by their action on blood platelets. These antioxidants keep the blood "slippery" rather than "sticky" and tending to clot. If a blood clot forms, it shuts off blood flow and can result in a coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke. These antioxidants, and possibly others, keep the platelets and red blood cells from sticking together, and, just as important, sticking to the artery walls where they can narrow and inflame them. Another way in which vitamin I? protects against heart and artery disease is via its protection of the lining of the artery (endothelium) which helps keep injury-related plaque from forming. There are other mechanisms, too, by which antioxidants, especially vitamin E, work to reduce the risk of death from heart disease.
We already have mentioned the Harvard studies showing that supplementation with more than 100 IU of vitamin E for more than two years decreases heart disease by 40%. Now I would like to add the study by Fred Gey that found that the greatest risk factor for heart disease was vitamin E deficiency. This one risk factor was more significant than blood cholesterol, blood pressure and tobacco smoking combined. This relationship held true in all of the 12 countries studied. (13, 14) The study found that heart disease was inversely correlated to blood levels of vitamin E, whereas there was poor association between heart disease and blood cholesterol levels.
CHAOS study. (15) CHAOS is an acronym for Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study. This was an intervention trial in which 2002 heart patients were divided randomly into one of three groups and given either a placebo or 400 IU or 800 IU per day of vitamin E. After 200 days, both vitamin E groups had a 77% decrease in nonfatal myocardial infarction (common heart attack) and a 47% reduction in combined cardiovascular disease death and non-fatal myocardial infarction. The huge reduction in heart attacks was statistically significant (p=0.005, 95%Cl= =89 to -53) .
Critics of this study pointed out that there wasn't a statistically significant reduction in myocardial infarction death in spite of the great reduction in non-fatal heart attacks. However, the researchers provided more information in a later report that is important. (16, 17) An analysis of the heart attack deaths shows that there were six heart attack deaths in the patients who were compliant with taking the vitamin E supplement, 21 heart attack deaths in the "non-compliant group" and 32 in the placebo group. Some patients were originally assigned to take vitamin E supplements, but for one reason o- another decided not to. They are called "non-compliant." Blood levels of vitamin E and pill counts distinguish compliant patients from non-compliant patients. Only six of 59 heart attack deaths were in the group that took vitamin E supplements.
Passwater: Another study of interest is the GISSI study. (18) Here GISSI is an Italian acronym for a phrase meaning prevention of heart attacks. It is often reported as being a negative study, but when the details are closely examined, there are positive findings. This study of 11,324 heart patients was conducted in Italy and compared the effects of fish oil and vitamin E supplements on death and heart attacks. The summary found that there was a positive benefit from the fish oil (1,000 mg/day) and that when 300 IU of vitamin E was added, there was no additional benefit. Thus, it was incorrectly concluded that there was no benefit from taking the vitamin E. However, a subgroup analysis of heart disease deaths showed a decreased risk for individual components (ranging from a 20% lower risk for all cardiovascular deaths to a 35% lower risk of sudden death) in the vitamin E group.
More recently, in the February 1998 column, we spoke with Drs. Marvin Bierenbaum and Tom Watkins about their research showing that a mixture of natural vitamin E vitamers, primarily tocotrienols but with some tocopherols, reversed the cholesterol deposits in carotid arteries in the neck. (21) Yes, these studies showed a reversal of heart and artery disease.
9. Vitamin C Status and Mortality in U. S. Adults, Loria, C.M.; Klag, Mj.; Caulfield, L.E. and Whelton, PK.
21. Antioxidant-induced regression of carotid stenosis over three years, Kooyenga, D.K.; Geller , M.; Watkins, T.R. and Bierenbaum, M.L. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Nutrition, Montreal (July 29, 1997).


Takeaway: Don't poo-poo the free options out there. They are often more valuable than the paid options. You just have to approach them strategically. And that takes target audience research and knowledge of the mediums.
Takeaway: Did you hear that? She said traffic doesn't mean all that much. Stop bragging about your hit count and start bragging about your conversion rate and sign-ups. Get Google Analytics running on your site and spend a day learning what the reports mean. Don't spend bags of money on pulling people into your website (SO easy to do) before you know what they're likely to do there. Mass traffic doesn't matter, quality traffic does.
Takeaway: I want to add to this point with something Jenka has emphasized before: some things are changing, others are not. The need to research your target audience, for example, is not going anywhere. How and where you reach that audience, on the other hand, is changing all over the place. And in such a rapidly changing time, you can't afford to be making assumptions about any step in the marketing process. You have to step up, pay attention, see what's working, and avoid what's not. And the next time you do it, you need to assume that a whole bunch of things have changed yet again. Change, change, change, change, change!
You would not believe how many ad agencies contact me about landing them new clients and can't give me a single example of how a campaign they developed helped their client.
They can all give me household names of past clients, but rarely can they tell me what the client actually got for their money.


The area of Son Bou offers a variety of activities you can enjoy with your family. The beach with its white sand and clear waters, is the perfect place to go to relax. The sea is not very deep and the kids can easily remain standing. In the afternoons you can also enjoy the wonderful sunsets.
For those that like to hike: In Son Bou there are two Camí de Cavalls routs. One of the routes takes you to the beach of Santo Tomas, through a road that goes along the wet area of Son Bou. After crossing the bridge over the torrent of Sa Vall, the road begins to descend towards a rocky area leading to Atalis and from there on towards the beach of Santo Tomas. It has a distance of 6.4km and done by an easy route.
This same route can also be enjoyed riding a horse. With the company of Son Bou rutes a Cavalls you can find a perfect excursion to see the diversity of landscapes offered by the island. At the reception of Royal Son Bou Family Club you can make your reservation. Ask us!
The opposite route leads us to Cala en Porter. It begins a few meters from the Basilica of Son Bou, at the end of the beach and up a fairly steep slope, you reach Llucalari. After leaving the ravine, across the fields you have to cross a wooden bridge leaving behind the Talayotic village of Torre d'en Galmés. After a 10 minute walk, you enter the farm Torrenova and from there on you go down into the ravine of Cala en Porter. From here on, follow the walls of the ravine and between the fruit trees, you reach the beach of Cala en Porter. It has a distance of 8 km is and a medium difficulty.
Are you looking for shade and a perfect spot to enjoy a picnic? Well... look no further. The beach of Son Bou has picnic areas surrounded by nature to make this moment special. You can hear the birds singing and even some chickens of hens are walking around.
Do you like sports? In Son Bou you can spend the day snorkeling with the Scuba Diving team and get to know more about sea life. You can also see Son Bou from out the sky with a paraglider and capture amazing views. For those who prefer bike riding, there is also the possibility to rent one and ride through the lanes within the urbanization.
Son Bou also offers fun for the whole family. There is a train that takes you to the top of the urbanization and makes a round of approximately 45 min. Your kids will love it! Do not forget your camera because it is a perfect moment to take some very cool photos! In the evenings there is also a small amusement park featuring inflatable jumping castles and much more. Fun for your children is assured and for sure after a day like this they will fall fast a sleep!
And finally, you can enjoy the excursions we have prepared for kids at Club Kikoland: mini farm, visit the ducks on the beach, pony riding and a trip to prehistoric cave, where they can learn about the history of first inhabitants of Son Bou.
Did you like reading about all the things you can do in Son Bou? Come and live an unforgettable holiday with your family! We will be awaiting you!