There were 15 posts published in January 2018 (this is page 1 of 2).
Buying the new The Room game on the iPad. Resistance is futile.
Yesterday morning, I slipped on thin ice, also called "Black Ice" here, outside the house and fell on my back. I'm totally ok, don't worry. During fall, I brought my chin close to the chest, so the head didn't hit the pavement.
This morning I discovered that I have muscles in the neck that I didn't know existed. They hurt. The muscles are like on the front side of the neck, by the side of the throat. And I feel them the most when I need to hold head from falling back (not something that one needs to do day-to-day). So, lifting the head from a lying-down-on-the-back position is hard and painful. These must be the muscles that held the head against the fall. Felt strange to help myself get up by lifting the head with the hands.
Five days after submitting Trickster, it got rejected for two supposedly macOS Human Interface Guidelines points, one of them being: "your app does not have any features with the menu icon".
That's funny (and sad) because Trickster is menubar-only app. It seems to me that they didn't understand how to use Trickster; perhaps I need to provide them with a video walkthrough or something.
I don't even want to talk about the 2nd reason because it's strange too, probably because they couldn't use Trickster in the first place. But why did it take 5 days "In Review"?
I replied with a screenshot for the second issue and some explanation about Trickster and offered a walkthrough.
iTunes Connect interface was a bit confusing because it had both a reply option and an Appeal options. I guessed that I had to reply and not to appeal, since appealing sounds like a longer process and probably for heavier reasons.
And, frankly, I'd rather pull Trickster out of the Mac App Store than fight the App Review team. I've already invested so much time and made Trickster worse (harder to use initially) to comply with Sandboxing restrictions of the Mac App Store and the sales are so low that I might just abandon the Mac App Store build. Maybe Sandboxing limitation is also why they didn't even succeed to us eit. Trickster will not work without initial configuration because Sandboxing restricts everything. It prompts to do so but maybe the reviewers didn't understand how to do this correctly. Oh, well.
App Store review process is still a mystery. Both Cashculator versions (Paid and Freemium) went Submission -> Ready in under 1 hour. Amazing! The new version of Trickster is 3rd day "In Review".
I just realized that the last 3 fictional 📚 that I read were all written by software developers turned writers: Andy Weir and @mattgemmell. Wow.
Finished reading Artemis last week. Really liked it. I dig Weir's conversational and humorous writing style. Next 📚on the fictional list is The Fifth Season by N.K. Jamisin. Have no idea what to expect.
Current fiction 📚 I'm reading is "Artemis" by Andy Weir. In the last several years I rarely read fiction books but I really liked "The Martian", so got this one from the city library (in digital).


Downtown Victoria Business Association is a Swiftsure sponsor starting in 2018.
DVBA is the association that represents business owners downtown who promote and support each other, generating new business in the downtown core. They also support Downtown Victoria Events like the Swiftsure International Yacht Race.
If you're a visitor to Victoria, the DVBA provides information about shops and businesses in the city, and includes information about parking.
If you're a business in Victoria, the DVBA will keep you informed about changes which you'll be interested to know and contains the member's directory.
The DVBA site also lists Events in Victoria, including the 2018 Swiftsure International Yacht Race.
Swiftsure is proud to promote and support the DVBA. Marketing Manager Anne-Sophie Dumetz happily accepted Swiftsure's recognition of the significant contribution of DVBA to Swiftsure.


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Stateless: Exploring the Political Dynamics of Cultural, Ethnic, and Religious Minorities Around the World, This Week's Focus–The Kurds
February 15, 2016 by Arjun Ahu Leave a Comment
The Kurds are an ethnic group native to the area of eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, western Iran, and northern Syria, an area which they call Kurdistan. The northern part of Iraq is called Iraqi Kurdistan and is an autonomous region. Kurds are related to Persian peoples and speak various dialects of Kurdish, which is most similar to Persian. In Iraq, Kurdish is an official language, alongside Arabic. There are approximately 30-35 million Kurds worldwide, with the most significant population in the Western world being in Germany. Kurds comprise about 18-20% of the population of Turkey and about 15-20% in Iraq. They are the fourth largest ethnic group in west Asia after Arabs, Persians, and Turks. They are considered to be the largest ethnic group without a state.
Early Kurds were groups of central Asian nomads, and were converted to Islam from about 600-800 CE due to Arab conquerors. Kurds are one of the most religiously diverse peoples in Western Europe; today, the majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslim, but significant minorities of Kurds follow Shia Islam, Yazidism, Yarsanism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity.
The Kurdish nationalist movement and push for an autonomous state began in 1880 under Sheik Ubeydullah, who led an uprising against the Ottoman Empire and Persia. His efforts were suppressed, however, and many Kurds, including himself, were exiled. Nationalism gained support after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and persecution by the Young Turks of Kurds (along with the Armenians) where thousands of Kurds were displaced. Kurds were at this time staunchly religious and also did not approve of the continued secularization of Turkey. Kurdish uprisings continued through the 20th century. In the 1970s, the movement incorporated Marxist-Leninist ideology and created the Kurdish Workers' Party or PKK, but nationalist movements have since abandoned this ideology.
The Kurdish people have recently garnered attention due to the war with ISIS and the Arab Spring. The PKK continues to operate, adding another layer of complexity to the war in Syria and Iraq, as another force in addition to the Free Syrian Army, ISIS, and the Assad Regime. The Kurds are enemies of ISIS, and have fought against them bravely while continuing realize their dream of an autonomous Kurdistan.
Kurds are reported to be more progressive than many of their Middle-Eastern Muslim counterparts in their interpretation of Islam. One of the ways this has been manifest is their apparent gender equality, at least in terms of fighting forces. The PKK and Kurdish armies have units of female combat soldiers who have fought valiantly in recent years. Enigmatically, research suggests that Kurdish people also have high rates of female genital mutilation, which seems to be at odds with their otherwise seemingly progressive positions. However, the extent of this practice in Kurdistan is disputed, and seems to be declining.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-nazand-begikhani/kurdish-women-rights-fight_b_6205076.html
http://www.vice.com/video/female-fighters-of-kurdistan-part-1
http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/countries/iraq/
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kurdish-language-i
https://books.google.com/books?id=GN5yv3-U6goC&pg=PA159#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/world/middleeast/kurds-remain-on-sideline-in-syrias-uprising.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1
http://www.hum.uu.nl/medewerkers/m.vanbruinessen/publications/Bruinessen_Religion_in_Kurdistan.pdf
Arjun Ahu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The historic drought of 2011 and 2012 killed some 500 million trees in Texas, forced ranchers to slaughter cattle early, slowed barge traffic on the Mississippi River, just to mention a few negative economic impacts.
Last year produced the hottest year since record keeping began more than a century ago, with several weeks in a row of 100+degree days. It also brought drought to close to 65% of the country by summer's end.
But even the heavy snowfalls some parts of the country have seen were not enough to recharge the soil, the NOAA scientists said.
Nearly 80 percent of farmland experienced drought in 2012, with more than 2,000 counties designated disaster areas. By September 2012, 50 percent of the crops being harvested were in poor or very poor condition.
Bob Young, the chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation's largest farm organization, said that while the heads-up may influence some crop decisions, most farmers probably won't pay attention to the scientific findings.
Sigh. I guess when your losses are paid for by the government and insurance companies there's less incentive to listen to scientists, learn from recent history and adapt to a changing climate.
The historic drought of 2011 and 2012 cost more than $50bn, greater than the economic damage caused by hurricane Sandy. Unfortunately, NOAA predicts 2013 will be even worse.
How the insurance industry can help fight climate change. Or not!


Rated 70 / 100 based on 142 customer reviews.
There is no restaurant and coffee shop, but easy access to Royal Palaces, Namdaemun & Dongdaemun markets and Myeong-dong. This hotel is suitable for budgeted travelers. 12/08 CH The hotel is a four-story modern building. The hotel is ideally located at Insa-Dong, which is the Seoul's world-renowned cultural district. It is easy access to Royal Palaces, Namdaemun & Dongdaemun markets and Myeong-dong. It takes about 5 minutes from Jonggak subway station (Line #1) to the hotel.


History rich Rome (2.5 milion residents) was founded according to the legend by Remus and Romulus on April 21st 753 BC. to become the center of the ancient world ("the Etternal City"). After the fall of the Roman empire, the city was known as the Papal capital and one of the most important cultural centers of the Renaissance. It became capital of Italy in 1871. Tourist attractions combine ancient monuments (Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, the Trajan's Column, the Arch of Constantine, Castello d'Angello and the Bocca della Verita), Renaissance and modern buildings (Piazza del Campidoglio, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spania, Fontana di Trevi, Piazza dei Popoli, Altar of the Fatherland) and parks (Garden Hill). While in Rome visit Vatican museum and San Peter basilica in Vatican city. Take a bus to the famous Via Appia Antiqua and visit Quo Vadis Domine church and the Catacombes. Rent a bike and enjoy an amazing ride on the world's famous road to ancient Rome. Traffic in Rome is hectic, and parking is very hard to find. Public transportantion provides a better alternative. Summers in Rome are very hot and crowded with many tourists. Best time to visit is Spring or Fall.


While it took Rilo Kiley the better part of a decade to rise through the indie rock ranks, frontwoman Jenny Lewis proved an immediate force to be reckoned with her 2006 solo debut, "Rabbit Fur Coat."
While it took Rilo Kiley the better part of a decade to rise through the indie rock ranks, frontwoman Jenny Lewis proved an immediate force to be reckoned with her 2006 solo debut, "Rabbit Fur Coat." Now on the heels of Rilo Kiley's 2007 career best seller "Under the Blacklight," Lewis is ready to unveil what else she's got up her sleeve with "Acid Tongue," due this week via her band's current home, Warner Bros.
"It rocks a little harder," Lewis says of the new set. On "Rabbit Fur Coat," which was released on pal Conor Oberst's label Team Love and has sold 129,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, she paired up with the Watson Twins for a folk- and-soul-influenced collection of songs that showcased her intimate side.
But with "Acid Tongue," her main objective going into the studio was to cut as many songs live as possible. In January, Lewis and co-producers Johnathan Rice, "Farmer" Dave Scher and Jason Leder retreated to Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Calif., for three weeks of all-analog recording sessions. "The vibes were fantastic," she says.
The album features guest spots from a number of Lewis' friends, including Elvis Costello, who duets with her on "Carpetbaggers"; the Black Crowes' Chris Robinson; and current beau Rice. Zooey Deschanel offers backing vocals on several tracks ("I love being flanked by hot brunettes," Lewis says), and Deschanel's She & Him cohort M. Ward provides a moody guitar part on "Pretty Bird." Lewis' sister Leslie also supplies backing vocals, and her dad, Eddie Gordon, plays bass harp on the honky-tonk-ish "Jack Killed Mom."


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Home >> Federal >> SCOTUS to Hear Gun & Hunting Cases
SCOTUS to Hear Gun & Hunting Cases
Posted by EVC Bucks-Montco in Federal
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that this term of the Supreme Court may be one of the most significant for gun owners and hunters.
The first case is obviously going to be an incredible step for the Second Amendment – in either direction. The Court has already ruled that the Second Amendment is an individual right, but the Heller case only challenged a gun ban by a federal enclave, not states or cities. By going after the gun ban in Chicago, attorney Alan Gura, the same attorney who successfully argued Heller in his first ever appearance before the Court, is hoping for a ruling that would hold the Second Amendment is a fundamental right that must by honored by state and local governments.
Based on the observations of Court watchers and a report by Gura, we can expect that McDonald v. Chicago will follow a similar timeline to the Heller case. Briefs will be due starting in November with a hearing date in the spring and a decision by the end of June.
In Pennsylvania, the impact of McDonald will be minimal. Since 1776, we've had our own state constitutional protections against infringement. However, for the states without such protections, or with state courts unwilling to enforce those protections, a positive decision for incorporation will ensure that there are legal protections for gun owners and those who want the right to defend themselves.
The other case seems a little less obvious for those who don't follow the Court closely. Hunters and fans of outdoor programming will want to keep a close eye on US v. Stevens when the arguments are made next Tuesday.
Robert Stevens is an unsympathetic plaintiff in a case that could hurt all hunters and outdoor media news sources. He was convicted of selling videos of illegal dog fights in Virginia. He happens to be the first person charged under a 1999 law that bans the depiction of animal cruelty. Unfortunately for lawful hunters, the definition of animal cruelty is extremely broad in the statute. In the amicus brief filed by NRA, the threats are outlined as such:
Although apparently intended to address only depictions of depraved animal cruelty such as crush videos, Section 48 also criminalizes hunting-related media that indisputably is entitled to First Amendment protection. For example, all of the following fall within Section 48(a)'s criminal prohibition: selling a video depicting a deer hunt to a citizen of the District of Columbia, showing a television program depicting a dove hunt to a citizen of Iowa, or selling a magazine with a photograph of a mountain lion hunt to a citizen of California. Yet organizations like the NRA, retailers like Wal-Mart and Amazon.com, and media companies like ESPN create and sell these types of media into these states every day, and therefore potentially run afoul of Section 48.
Section 48(b)'s exception for works of "serious" educational, journalistic, or artistic value does not eliminate the threat to hunting media from Section 48(a)'s overbroad prohibition. While enjoyable to millions of Americans, an average hunting video or television show might not be found by a jury to have "serious" educational, journalistic, or artistic value or—as the district court here interpreted the standard—to be of "great import."
Section 48 thus is not narrowly tailored to achieve—and does not use the least restrictive means to achieve—the Government's stated objectives of eliminating animal cruelty and the societal implications flowing from animal cruelty. Moreover, Section 48 criminalizes substantially more protected speech, including hunting media, than all of the speech that the Government claims is unprotected. Section 48 is therefore substantially overbroad on its face.
Never has a statute that reaches this far beyond the Government's stated interests—and that reaches so much protected speech—been upheld under the First Amendment.
Additional briefs have been filed by groups such as Safari Club International, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (a group that supports the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus), Professional Outdoor Media Association, Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, and National Shooting Sports Foundation.
A win for free speech in this case means that images and videos of Pennsylvania bear hunts can be legally sold and viewed in New Jersey (a state that banned bear hunts to appease animal rights activists) – whether in an edition of Field & Stream or on an episode of American Hunter Television.
Political Sign Wars Have Begun
Sportsmen to Rally for McCain!
Responses to Castle Doctrine Passage
HSUS Attacks 1st & 2nd Amendments


Below is the tentative outline for the workshop. Activities are ultimately weather-dependent and are subject to adjustment. Please come prepared for ample learning and for hands-on activities in the field!
Supplies to consider bringing along includes but is not limited to notebooks, writing utensils, camera, sun protection, wind protection, rain gear, long pants, bug spray and comfortable close-toed shoes. It is also wise to carry your own supply of fresh water and enough snacks to keep you nourished during any prolonged periods of field activities between lunch and dinnertime.
Lecture on perennial farm economics.