text:
- Added post install message.
- Removed Bundler Audit development dependency.

# 0.21.0 (2019-01-01)

- Fixed Circle CI cache for Ruby version.
- Fixed Layout/EmptyLineAfterGuardClause cop issues.
- Fixed Markdown ordered list numbering.
- Fixed Rubocop RSpec/DescribeClass issue.
- Added Circle CI Bundler cache.
- Added Rubocop RSpec gem.
- Updated Circle CI Code Climate test reporting.
- Updated Semantic Versioning links to be HTTPS.
- Updated project changes to use semantic versions.
- Updated to Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct 1.4.1.
- Updated to Gemsmith 13.0.0.
- Updated to Git Cop 3.0.0.
- Updated to RSpec 3.8.0.
- Updated to Reek 5.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.57.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.58.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.60.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.61.x.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.62.0.
- Updated to Ruby 2.5.2.
- Updated to Ruby 2.5.3.
- Updated to Ruby 2.6.0.

# 0.20.0 (2018-04-01)

- Fixed Rubocop Style/MissingElse issues.
- Fixed gemspec issues with missing gem signing key/certificate.
- Added gemspec metadata for source, changes, and issue tracker URLs.
- Updated README license information.
- Updated gem dependencies.
- Updated to Circle CI 2.0.0 configuration.
- Updated to Gemsmith 12.0.0.
- Updated to Git Cop 2.2.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.53.0.
- Updated to Ruby 2.5.1.
- Removed Circle CI Bundler cache.
- Removed Gemnasium support.
- Removed Patreon badge from README.
- Refactored temp dir shared context as a pathname.

# 0.19.0 (2018-01-01)

- Updated Code Climate badges.
- Updated Code Climate configuration to Version 2.0.0.
- Updated to Apache 2.0 license.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.52.0.
- Updated to Ruby 2.4.3.
- Updated to Ruby 2.5.0.
- Removed documentation for secure installs.
- Refactored code to use Ruby 2.5.0 `Array#append` syntax.

# 0.18.1 (2017-11-19)

- Updated to Git Cop 1.7.0.
- Updated to Rake 12.3.0.

# 0.18.0 (2017-10-29)

- Added Bundler Audit gem.
- Added dynamic formatting of RSpec output.
- Updated GitHub templates.
- Updated to Git Cop 1.3.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.50.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.51.0.
- Updated to Ruby 2.4.2.
- Removed Pry State gem.

# 0.17.0 (2017-06-25)

- Fixed Rubocop Style/Send issues.
- Fixed Travis CI configuration to not update gems.
- Added Circle CI support.
- Added Git Cop code quality task.
- Added Rails 5.1.0 support.
- Added code quality Rake task.
- Updated CONTRIBUTING documentation.
- Updated Circle CI build to skip database setup.
- Updated Guardfile to always run RSpec with documentation format.
- Updated README headers.
- Updated README semantic versioning order.
- Updated RSpec configuration to output documentation when running.
- Updated RSpec spec helper to enable color output.
- Updated Rubocop configuration.
- Updated Rubocop to import from global configuration.
- Updated contributing documentation.
- Updated gem dependencies.
- Updated to Gemsmith 10.0.0.
- Updated to Ruby 2.4.1.
- Removed Code Climate code comment checks.
- Removed Travis CI support.
- Removed `.bundle` directory from `.gitignore`.

# 0.16.0 (2017-01-22)

- Updated Rubocop Metrics/LineLength to 100 characters.
- Updated Rubocop Metrics/ParameterLists max to three.
- Updated Travis CI configuration to use latest RubyGems version.
- Updated gemspec to require Ruby 2.4.0 or higher.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.47.
- Updated to Ruby 2.4.0.
- Removed Rubocop Style/Documentation check.

# 0.15.0 (2016-12-18)

- Fixed Rakefile support for RSpec, Reek, Rubocop, and SCSS Lint.
- Updated Travis CI configuration to use defaults.
- Updated to Gemsmith 8.2.x.
- Updated to Rake 12.x.x.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.46.x.
- Updated to Ruby 2.3.2.
- Updated to Ruby 2.3.3.

# 0.14.0 (2016-11-14)

- Fixed Rakefile to safely load Gemsmith tasks.
- Fixed contributing guideline links.
- Added Code Climate engine support.
- Added GitHub issue and pull request templates.
- Added IRB development console Rake task support.
- Added Reek support.
- Added Rubocop Style/SignalException cop style.
- Added Ruby 2.3.0 frozen string literal support.
- Added `Gemfile.lock` to `.gitignore`.
- Added bond, wirb, hirb, and awesome_print development dependencies.
- Added frozen string literal pragma.
- Updated GitHub issue and pull request templates.
- Updated README secure gem install documentation.
- Updated README to mention "Ruby" instead of "MRI".
- Updated README versioning documentation.
- Updated RSpec temp directory to use Bundler root path.
- Updated Rubocop PercentLiteralDelimiters and AndOr styles.
- Updated gem dependencies.
- Updated gemspec with conservative versions.
- Updated to Code Climate Test Reporter 1.0.0.
- Updated to Code of Conduct, Version 1.4.0.
- Updated to Gemsmith 7.7.0.
- Updated to Rails 5.0.0.
- Updated to Rubocop 0.44.
- Updated to Ruby 2.2.4.
- Updated to Ruby 2.3.0.
- Updated to Ruby 2.3.1.
- Removed CHANGELOG.md (use CHANGES.md instead).
- Removed RSpec default monkey patching behavior.
- Removed Rake console task.
- Removed Ruby 2.1.x and 2.2.x support.
- Removed gemspec description.
- Removed rb-fsevent development dependency from gemspec.
- Removed terminal notifier gems from gemspec.
- Refactored RSpec spec helper configuration.
- Refactored gemspec to use default security keys.
- Refactored version label method name.

# 0.13.0 (2015-12-02)

- Fixed README URLs to use HTTPS schemes where possible.
- Fixed README test command instructions.
- Added Gemsmith development support.
- Added Identity module description.
- Added Patreon badge to README.
- Added Rubocop support.
- Added [pry-state](https://github.com/SudhagarS/pry-state) support.
- Added project name to README.
- Added table of contents to README.
- Updated Code Climate to run when CI ENV is set.
- Updated Code of Conduct 1.3.0.
- Updated README with Tocer generated Table of Contents.
- Updated RSpec support kit with new Gemsmith changes.
- Updated to Ruby 2.2.3.
- Updated README with SVG icons.
- Updated to Travis CI Docker container builds.
- Removed GitTip badge from README.

# 0.12.0 (2015-07-05)

- Removed JRuby support (no longer officially supported).
- Fixed secure gem installs (new cert has 10 year lifespan).
- Updated to Ruby 2.2.2.
- Added code of conduct documentation.

# 0.11.0 (2015-01-01)

- Removed Ruby 2.0.0 support.
- Removed Rails 4.0.x support.
- Removed Rubinius support.
- Removed `has_lineage` macro (use `lineage` instead).
- Updated gemspec to add security keys unless in a CI environment.
- Updated Code Climate to run only if environment variable is present.
- Updated gemspec to use RUBY_GEM_SECURITY env var for gem certs.
- Added Ruby 2.2.0 support.
- Added Rails 4.2.x support.
- Refactored common RSpec configurations to RSpec support/kit folder.

# 0.10.0 (2014-07-06)

- Added Code Climate test coverage support.
- Updated to Ruby 2.1.2.
- Updated gem-public.pem for gem install certificate chain.

# 0.9.0 (2014-04-16)

- Updated to MRI 2.1.1.
- Updated to Rubinius 2.x.x.
- Updated README with --trust-policy for secure install of gem.
- Updated RSpec helper to disable GC for all specs in order to improve performance.
- Added Rails 4.1.x support.
- Added Gemnasium support.
- Added Coveralls support.

# 0.8.0 (2014-02-16)

- Updated gemspec homepage URL to use GitHub project URL.
- Added JRuby and Rubinius VM support.

# 0.7.0 (2013-12-29)

- Fixed Ruby Gem certificate requirements for package building.
- Fixed RSpec deprecation warnings for treating metadata symbol keys as true values.
- Removed UTF-8 encoding definitions - This is the default in Ruby 2.x.x.
- Removed .ruby-version from .gitignore.
- Removed Gemfile.lock from .gitignore.
- Updated to Ruby 2.1.0.
- Updated public gem certificate to be referenced from a central server.

# 0.6.0 (2013-08-12)

- Dropped Rails 3.1.x support.
- Upgraded to Rails 4.0.0.
- Cleaned up requirement path syntax.
- Switched to the public_send instead of the send method where appropriate.
- Treat symbols and true values by default when running RSpec specs.
- Added .ruby-version support.
- Added pry-rescue support.
- Removed the CHANGELOG documentation from gem install.
- Added a Versioning section to the README.
- Converted from RDoc to Markdown documentation.
- Added public cert for secure install of gem.
- Switched from the pry-debugger to pry-byebug gem.
- Ignore the signing of a gem when building in a Travis CI environment.

# 0.5.0 (2013-03-17)

- Upgraded to Ruby 2.0.0.
- Switched gemspecs to listing files via Ruby code rather than shelling out to Git. Removed the packaging of test files.
- Added Travis CI build matrix for Rails.
- Switched gem dependency to Rails 3.x.x range.
- Added mention of Gemsmith gem to README.
- Fixed diagram links in README.
- Added Guard support.
- Converted/detailed the CONTRIBUTING guidelines per GitHub requirements.
- Added Gem Badge support.
- Added Code Climate support.
- Switched from HTTP to HTTPS when sourcing from RubyGems.
- Added Pry development support.
- Added 'tmp' directory to .gitignore.

# 0.4.0 (2012-01-08)

- Replaced the class_inheritable_reader and write_inheritable_attribute methods with the class_attribute method.
- Upgraded to Rails 3.1.
- Switched to sqlite3 in-memory database for testing.
- Added Ruby 1.9 requirements to the README.
- Added the spec/tmp dir to .gitignore.
- Added Travis CI support.
- Applied Gemsmith updates to README.

# 0.3.0 (2011-11-08)

- Applied Gemsmith spec updates.
- Applied Ruby 1.9 syntax changes.
- Added Ruby 1.9 requirements.

# 0.2.0 (2011-10-16)

- Fixed Ruby warnings with symbol to proc method calls.
- Switched to Bundler for building/packing of gem.
- Updated README to support Rails 3.0.0.
- Refactored the code to use the Closure Table instead of the Nested Set pattern.
- Updated the README.
- Upgraded to Gemsmith specifications.
- Added automatic construction of branch model associations.
- Removed the unused namespace placeholder.
- Removed Ruby 1.8.7 requirements.

# 0.1.0 (2010-10-04)

- Initial version.


I never liked podcasts. I can read five times faster than I can listen to someone talk; thank god for transcripts.
And while I type over 100 words per minute, there's no way I can type as fast as I can talk.
So it seems obvious: the killer app combines talking-as-input with reading-as-output. Which is called Voice-to-Text.
Voice-to-Text: a Future Whose Time Has Come?
Voice-to-text has been around for quite a while, but it seems to me it's making some serious inroads lately. In part, the technology has gotten better; you used to spend more time correcting mistakes than you saved in using the tool.
But it's also become ubiquitous. I love voicemail-as-text, aka visual voicemail, which you can get through pretty much all phone service providers. Here's the AT&T Blackberry version, and here's the Vonage version. Instead of dialing up and listening while someone drones on, I just get the transcription via email. (Of course, some pretty funny errors arise…).
You may also have noticed voice-to-text is popping up in lots of cellphone and search engine uses. Microsoft's Bing offers voice search on my iPhone, and Google is building it into its Chrome Browser. Apple is apparently baking dictation capability into its new iOS5 internal settings. Droid users already have access to it in some form.
All that's exciting; but what can you do right now, today? The main company in the business is Nuance. They have absorbed many companies over the years and incorporated them into their flagship product Dragon Naturally Speaking.
I use the product three ways: the desktop version, the desktop version on my laptop, and my smartphone. I love them all, but the biggest story is the phone app.
It's absolutely amazing how much you can do by voice commands alone. If you're visually impaired, for example, this software is the key to freedom. For most of us, in fact, it's like the Sunday New York Times—all you'd ever want, and then some.
Desktop. The trick is to restrict your use to the simple stuff you need. Learn to articulate well, learn the basic movement commands, and don't worry about all the esoteric voice versions of all the menu offerings.
I followed the advice of many and got a really good microphone. I'm sure it helps. I use it to rough out blogs, or emails, or letters. I also use it when my arms and hands are tired, or I just want to free-form some thoughts. Interestingly, your thoughts come out differently when speaking than when typing—they are less constrained. Sometimes that's good, sometimes not.
Laptop. The most powerful impact of voice-to-text on the computer platform, though, is not on the desktop–it's on my notebook (MacBook Air for me)–and all I need is my plain old apple iPhone earbuds.
Fire up the software, plug my earbuds into the laptop, and start speaking into email.
And yet, the poster child of voice-to-text has got to be phone apps. Dragon has a 60-second free version available on the iPhone and iPad. Here's what you can do.
Start the app. Speak into the microphone (bottom of iPhone). The app recognizes your speech, and displays it in text form. You can make corrections, or choose to send directly (one button) to SMS, or to email (or, if you must, directly to your Twitter or Facebook account). Or—to your clipboard, from where you can paste it into any other application.
Press the Send button–your text message is on its way.
Why would you hassle typing a message onto a tiny keyboard when you can simply say it? And it's free!
You can thank me for this, or you can just send donations to the Charles H. Green Pizza Fund; all contributors gratefully acknowledged.
Part 1 of the My Killer Apps series discussed the notetaking and archiving application, Evernote.
What are your killer apps that make you more efficient and productive? Please share your suggestions in the comments.


text:
Lessons From the 2018 Winemaker Challenge
By Robert Whitley
While pricey Napa Valley wines dominated the top awards at the 2018 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition in San Diego at the end of January, other trends emerged, as they always do.
The Winemaker Challenge involves blind tastings, as all credible wine competitions do. Judges evaluate each wine without such vital information as producer or price. Blind tastings level the playing field and allow each wine to be judged on merits rather than reputation or price. Anything can happen, and it often does.
Yes, the wine of the year was a $95 cabernet sauvignon from the Napa Valley, but 16 of the 45 wines awarded platinum carried a price tag of $20 or less. A dozen wines with a retail price tag of $20 or less were deemed best in their class. The lesson, of course, is that price alone doesn't foreshadow the quality in the bottle.
Closer scrutiny of the best-of-class awards teaches us that good wine is being made all over the world. Napa may have dominated the best-of-show awards (best red, best white, best sparkling and best dessert), but 26 of the best-of-class awards went to wines that are neither from Napa nor Sonoma.
Virginia's Horton Vineyards was honored, for example, for its brilliant 2016 rkatsiteli, named best white wine from the eastern United States. It happened to be one of my favorite white wines from anywhere during the two-day competition. The Best of Show white, Cakebread Cellars' 2016 Chardonnay Reserve, was clearly the top wine presented, but it retails for $56. Contrast that with the Horton rkatsiteli at $15, which certainly belonged in the same league.
North Carolina's Jolo Winery 2016 Pilot Fog ($29) was named Best Native American Red (the grape is Norton) at $29. I might prefer the V. Sattui 2013 Morisoli Vineyard cabernet sauvignon, the wine of the year, but the far less expensive Norton from the obscure Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina could hold its own in just about any company.
There were other highlights that vividly illustrated location and price aren't the only factors to consider when evaluating wine for quality.
Villa Bellezza Winery of Pepin, Wisconsin, entered 15 wines — all from the not-so-familiar Upper Mississippi Valley appellation — and earned 10 awards of silver or better, four of them gold and three of them platinum. They ranged in price from $15 to $35.
E&J Gallo's Dark Horse winery, with grapes sourced mostly from California's Lodi region, earned a best-of-class award for its 2015 petite sirah for $10. The 2017 Whitehaven sauvignon blanc ($20), a Gallo import from Marlborough, New Zealand, also was best in its class. Gallo's Barefoot Cellars captured 27 medals (2 platinum, 10 gold) at prices ranging from $7 to $10. Overall, Gallo's collection of domestic wineries and imports collected more than 80 medals.
Berryessa Gap Vineyards, from California's Yolo County near Sacramento, proved itself a rising star. The winery entered five wines and took gold of better with four of them, including a best-in-class award for its 2015 Coble Ranch Vineyard malbec ($23).
Italy's Chianti region once again demonstrated that it is one of the world's finest area's for excellent red wine at a reasonable price. The Da Vinci 2015 Chianti DOCG ($15) and the Castello Banfi 2015 Chianti DOCG ($14.99) tied for best-in-class Chianti.
Cameron Hughes scored awards with six of the seven wines it entered. Four of those were gold, marking a huge triumph for value. The most expensive of the gold-medal wines was a $17 chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. The Cameron Hughes business model is a novel concept. Winemaker Cameron Hughes and his team scour the world for top-notch wineries that are willing to sell off their leftover wine each vintage in bulk. The catch is that the wineries involved wouldn't want consumers to see their wine selling at such low prices, so the source producer is never divulged. It's a great way to "drink up," as it were, at very modest prices.
Complete results, including best-of-show and best-in-class awards, can be found on the challenge website, WinemakerChallenge.com.
Follow Robert on Twitter at @wineguru. To find out more about Robert Whitley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Category: Western Balkans
Russia's soft power set to divide Council of Europe's democracies
The late Russian president Boris Yeltsin once said his country's entry into the Council of Europe would help create a "new, greater Europe, free from dividing lines" and "united by common… Read more »
Analysis, Authoritarianism, Central/Eastern Europe, Civil Society, Democratic institutions, disinformation, Eurasia, Europe, Human rights, Russia, Western Balkans "Ill Winds: Saving Democracy From Russian Rage, Agata Palickova, and American Complacency, Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Chinese Ambition, Council of Europe, Dmytro Kuleba, Konstantin Baranov, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Soft power, The American Interest editor-in-chief Jeff Gedmin., Yuri Dzhibladze
'Pushing on an Open Door': countering illiberal alliances in the Western Balkans
DemDigest May 3, 2019 May 3, 2019
Nearly two decades after the cessation of violent conflict in the Western Balkans and efforts by the international community to support democratic reform, analysis suggests that most countries in the… Read more »
Analysis, Authoritarianism, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Central/Eastern Europe, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance and Promotion, Democratic institutions, Europe, illiberal movements, illiberalism, International Forum for Democratic Studies, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, National Endowment for Democracy, Serbia, Western Balkans Democratization Policy Council, illiberal alliances of convenience, Kurt Bassuener, Pushing on an Open Door: Foreign Authoritarian Influence in the Western Balkans, Western Balkans
Western Balkans: how to build democratic resilience?
DemDigest April 18, 2019 April 18, 2019
Twenty years after the wars in the Western Balkans ended, internal and external authoritarian tendencies threaten democracy in this troubled region. While technically free, elections are hardly fair. Internally, they are… Read more »
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Central/Eastern Europe, Montenegro, National Endowment for Democracy, Serbia, Western Balkans Agon Maliqi, Associate Director for Europe, Building Democratic Resilience in the Western Balkans, Hunger & Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans., Ivana Cvetkovic Bajrovic, Jasmin Mujanović, Molly Montgomery. Albright Stonebridge Group, National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Anti-government protests in Montenegro, Serbia and Albania prompt talk of 'Balkan Spring'
It all started with a video posted on social media: a secret recording from 2016 that appears to show a well-known local tycoon hand over an envelope containing bundles of cash… Read more »
Albania, Analysis, Authoritarianism, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Central/Eastern Europe, China, Civil Society, corruption, Democracy Assistance and Promotion, Democratic Governance, Democratic institutions, Democratic Transitions, democratic values, Montenegro, National Endowment for Democracy, Serbia, Western Balkans Ambassador Vesko Garcevic, Anti-government protests in Montenegro, Balkans Civil Society Development Network, China's 'silk road', CIVICUS Monitor, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)., Dimitar Bechev, Emilija Tudzarovska Gjorgjievska, European Union will enhance its engagement with the Western Balkans, Future Policy Award, Metodija Koloski, national Civil Society Week (ICSW), Reuf Bajrovic, Richard Kraemer, Serbia and Albania inspire hopes of 'Balkan Spring', Slavko Curuvija Foundation, U"s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
Open society and democratic renewal – mission impossible?
The three pillars of freedom, protection and progress form the basis of democratic renewal, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. He proposes the establishment of a European Agency for the Protection of… Read more »
Analysis, anti-corruption, Authoritarianism, Baltic states, Central/Eastern Europe, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance and Promotion, Democratic Governance, Democratic institutions, Eurasia, Europe, illiberal democracy, illiberal movements, illiberalism, Russia, Western Balkans Berlin Policy Journal, Beyond anti-democratic temptation, Daniela Schwarzer, democratic renewal, Emmanuel Macron, former Slovak deputy prime minister, German Marshall Fund, Iulia-Sabina Joja, Ivan Mikloš, militant democracy, National Endowment for Democracy (NED)., of Political Capital, Peter Kreko, rius Stan and Vladimir Tismaneanu, Ryszard Legutko
Balkans: Putin's next playground or E.U.'s last moral stand?
The Balkans has once again become a playground for great power politics, says analyst Ivan Krastev. European Union policy toward the Balkans is more driven by ideology than in any other… Read more »
Analysis, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Central/Eastern Europe, Democratic institutions, Kosovo, National Endowment for Democracy, Serbia, Western Balkans Balkans, Ivan Krastev, National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
AI systems accelerating authoritarian resurgence
Artificial intelligence systems are showing their potential for abetting repressive regimes and upending the relationship between citizen and state, accelerating a global resurgence of authoritarianism, notes Steven Feldstein, a nonresident fellow… Read more »
Analysis, Authoritarianism, Central/Eastern Europe, China, Civil Society, Democracy and security, Democracy Assistance and Promotion, Democratic institutions, disinformation, Eurasia, fake news, INFORMATION WARFARE, National Endowment for Democracy, Russia, Western Balkans China's 'Digital Silk Road', China's 'Digital Silk Road' is looking more like an Iron Curtain, Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond To The Redesigned Human Of The Future., EU East StratCom Task Force, Journal of Democracy, National Endowment for Democracy (NED)., Steven Feldstein, Understanding the Emerging Era of International Competition.
Serbia convicts youth activist critics of war criminals
DemDigest November 5, 2018 November 5, 2018
Serbia's Misdemeanor Appellate Court has confirmed an earlier ruling against eight Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) activists for "disturbing public peace" during an event in Beska in January 2017,… Read more »
Balkans, Central/Eastern Europe, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance and Promotion, Democratic institutions, Europe, National Endowment for Democracy, Serbia, Western Balkans, World Movememt for Democracy National Endowment for Democracy, Serbia Embraces War Criminals and Convicts Their Critics ran the headline of Balkan Insight., Tanja Dramac Jiries, Youth Initiative for Human Rights
Elections in MENA and the Western Balkans: what impact?
The Transatlantic Leadership Network (TLN) is a new think-and-do tank organized and registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in Washington, D.C. The network will engage international scholars, government officials, parliamentarians,… Read more »
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central/Eastern Europe, Elections, Middle East/North Africa, Western Balkans Investment as a Means to Strengthen Democracy and Stability in Fragile Countries, The Impact of Elections in MENA and the Western Balkans, Transatlantic Leadership Network (TLN)
Combating information warfare is a bipartisan issue
Deciding how to combat information warfare should not be a partisan issue, argues Renee DiResta, the director of research at New Knowledge, citing the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence policy… Read more »
Analysis, Central/Eastern Europe, Civil Society, cyber warfare, cybersecurity, Democracy Assistance and Promotion, disinformation, Eurasia, fake news, INFORMATION WARFARE, National Endowment for Democracy, Russia, Western Balkans Alina Polyakova, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)., Centre for Research, cyber warfare, dezinformatsiya, Edward Lucas, eu disinfo, EU DisinfoLab, Geysha Gonzalez, Global Engagement Center, Information Operations doctrine, information warfare, Memetic Warfare, Renee DiResta, StopFake.org, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA)


text:
Sixi6 Me Element
General Fun Facts About Ziplining
Kay Gregory Blogging, tourism December 4, 2019 June 23, 2020
Ziplining has been around for quite a while, and many individuals are courageous enough to take on the daring struggle to do such an adrenaline-rushing activity. In the previous times of Ancient China, zip wires as they called them, were used at the Nujiang Valley of Yunnan Province. This area offers rivers, mountains, and valleys. Since they didn't have the gear we've got in contemporary times, it was hard to cross the rivers safely. Zip cables were the response to safely crossing the rivers instead of swimming and utilizing ferry rides. For this day, some of those first lines remain and are being replaced with modern-day ziplines.
Ziplines have existed for centuries in one form or another, however, they didn't gain popularity until the '70s when wildlife biologists working in Central America began pruning cables from tree to tree into easily maneuver about the tropical rainforest canopy. That system allowed scientists to examine the local ecosystems without destroying the flora and fauna on the rainforest floor. This led to the first rise in canopy and zipline tours — as a way of ecotourism.
Nowadays, clearly, there's been less and less emphasis on the ecotourism aspect of ziplining and more and more about the utter delight of the experience. As such, the zipline industry is rapidly growing and as quickly evolving. There's a lot of rivalries as zipline attractions strive to outdo or one-up every other in terms of height, speed and distance.
Ziplining attractions are available in many locations around the world, which means you are bound to see a different source of scenery where you go. In modern times, most folks zipline for the excitement and enjoyable experience. Here are some surprising facts you May Not have known about ziplining:
In America, the state that has the most ziplines is North Carolina. The Tarheel nation has 24 commercial ziplines.
72 countries and six continents in the world have commercials ziplines.
The most individuals to go down a single zipline in 1 hour was 183 — achieved by ACE adventure resort in West Virginia on June 3, 2012.
You're able to travel internationally on ziplines. For example, if you want to cross the Guadiana River which is the border between Spain and Portugal, you will have to use a zipline to do so.
The Limite Zero Zipline crosses the Guadiana River from Spain to Portugal.
Ziplines in Costa Rica generate approximately $120 million in annual earnings.
In New Zealand & Australia, a zipline is popularly called a"fly fox."
Ziplines are also called Zippy's, zip wires, aerial runways, aerial rope slides, Tyrolean traverses or alternative tours.
Kids in the Hongdae village in China utilise a zipline to cross a 460-foot profound and 260-foot wide gorge to journey to and from college.
At New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia, a zip line Is Popularly Called a "flying fox." A flying fox park in Victoria, in particular, is popular with local residents and visitors alike.
The word Zip comes from the idea of an object having to move at a high speed.
In some areas of rural China, children use zip lines to their educational institution. For example, students from Maji Township use these zip lines to cross the Nujiang river.
How Does It Work? So, you've got a lineup tied at a slope. Now, what is the next step? How would you make it so that you can slide down fast enough to be fun and exhilarating? The answer lies in the pulley that attaches to the cable or rope.
Ziplines can also be known as zippy's, zip wires, aerial runways, aerial rope slides, or canopy tours.
The Invisible Man Ziplined–H.G. Wells said ziplines from the novel The Invisible Man.
The founder of modern zip-lining had written a book about his life experience using the zip line while studying the jungle at Costa Rica. The book is titled Life Above The Jungle Floor. This publication finally became an inspiration for the 1992 film Medicine Man, which features Sean Connery flying through the jungle on ziplines.
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A Look at the CG-CSR Interface
January 5, 2021 · by The Council on Business & Society · in The Academic Eye. ·
Despite ample research on corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR), there is a lack of consensus on the nature of the relationship between the two concepts, says Professor Tanusree Jain of Trinity Business School, as she sheds light in a two-part feature on the full sweep of this bond.
A Look at the CG-CSR Interface. By CoBS Editor Megha Sureshkar. Related research: Zaman, R., Jain, T., Samara, G., & Jamali, D. (2020). Corporate Governance Meets Corporate Social Responsibility: Mapping the Interface. Business & Society, 0007650320973415.
"The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume." – Tony Hayward, former BP CEO, on the oil spill disaster that claimed 11 lives and has since spewed 20 to 100 million gallons of toxic oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The tragic event represented a failure of more than just environmental law, with corporate governance(CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) attitudes equally to blame.
The deep-water BP oil spill is just one of the many damaging incidents. The new millennium has been wrought with social, environmental and governance related scandals, linked by the common thread of the interplay between corporate governance and responsibility. So, how do the CG and CSR concepts interlink and overlap with each other? This question has spurred the interest of academics, practitioners and legislators alike.
A Look at the CG-CSR Interface: Getting the ball rolling
Professor Jain kicks off the investigation by categorizing the world's major business systems into 9 clusters. These clusters include liberal market economies (LME), coordinated market economies (CME), highly coordinated economies, European peripheral economies, advanced emerging economies, advanced city economies, Arab oil-based economies, emerging economies, and socialist economies. Understanding the shades of each cluster is essential to paint a picture of the CG-CSR behaviours unique to firms present in different environments.
The whole nine yards
LMEs (e.g. USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand) and CMEs (e.g. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland) are differentiated on the basis of how firms coordinate with each other and with other actors. With individualism being encouraged, workers and other actors are less organized in LME countries, indicating that firms coordinate their activities through a free market system and hierarchies. In LMEs, corporate governance norms are guided by shareholder value maximization. There is greater reliance on stock markets translating into short-termism, with inter-firm relations being more competitive and at arm's length.
CMEs, on the other hand, emphasize collectivism, with strong reliance on non-market forms of coordination between firms and other actors. There is a greater dependence on credit-based financial systems that translates into long-termism and inter-firm relations are collaborative in nature with unionization being accepted. State has a greater role in organizing economic activities in CMEs than in LMEs and there is increased focus on value maximization for multiple stakeholders, influencing how firms perceive both CG and CSR norms and behaviors.
Highly coordinated economies (e.g. Japan) witness the state's dominant role in the coordination of economic activities and regulation of markets, as opposed to banks and financial institutions. Also, there exists a high level of paternalistic authority. Insider‐dominated governance structures are prevalent which decide how firms function and conceive responsibilities within society.
European peripheral economies (e.g. France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) exhibit a strong presence of industrial and craft unions, banking-led financial systems, and hierarchical decision-making at firm and national levels. Family and state ownership are key with moderately strong corporate governance norms in place.
Advanced emerging economies (e.g. Chile, Turkey, Israel, South Africa, Korea and Taiwan) comprise a geographically diverse group of emerging countries that reflect similar economic development patterns in terms of their reliance on developmental state policies. Common attributes include banking-led financial systems, hierarchical governance at firm and national levels, dominant role of families in firm ownership and control, and well-defined corporate governance norms, which have distinctive consequences on CSR.
Advanced City Economies (e.g. Hong Kong and Singapore) represent trade dependent hubs that mainly rely on banking-led financial systems with very high levels of inward foreign investment. Hierarchical decision-making exists within firms and so do superior corporate governance norms. A strong role of family ownership is emphasized in Hong Kong, whereas state ownership remains strong in Singapore. While the state is regulatory in Hong Kong, it includes a developmental element in Singapore and is highly effective in character. These specificities shape corporate orientations towards CSR.
Arab oil-based economies (e.g. Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) primarily rely on oil production and exports, with ongoing efforts at diversifying into other industries. These countries are characterised by absent or weak unions rights, banking-led financial investments and low foreign investment, hierarchical decision-making at firm and national levels, and an emphasis on the role of powerful families and state in the economy. These economies demonstrate poor to average corporate governance norms as well as peculiar CSR practices.
Emerging economies (e.g. Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine and Vietnam) represent the largest cluster with a very wide geographical spread of countries. Their features include relatively low levels of per capita GDP, suppressed union rights, important role of credit and banking-led finance aligned with developmental goals of the state, hierarchical decision-making at firm and national levels, and family and state ownership of firms with poor corporate governance norms.
Finally, socialist economies (e.g. Cuba and Venezuela) have weak union rights, banking-led financial systems coupled with absent or very low foreign direct investment, hierarchical decision-making at firm and national levels, state ownership and control of firms (with family involvement in Venezuela), very weak corporate governance norms and existence of a state that hinders economic development.
A gradual shift in the CG-CSR interface
With the clusters and their unique elements identified, Prof. Jain proceeds to divide the selected articles into three main timeframes: prior to the start of the global financial crisis (GFC); during GFC; and post GFC.
Closer inspection revealed that prior to the GFC, there was a dominance of CG-CSR research in LMEs followed by very limited research in CMEs, emerging economies and European peripheral economies. No studies were conducted in the other clusters. However, this trend gradually shifted in the post GFC period. While LMEs still dominated the research space, growing efforts were made in emerging economies, advanced emerging economies and in European peripheral economies. Unfortunately, there were still very few studies carried out in CMEs, advanced city economies, Arab oil-based economies, and highly coordinated economies, with gross neglect of research in socialist economies.
Within non-LME countries, most of the research has taken place in emerging economies. The increased research interest in CG-CSR within emerging economies, most of which is contextualized in Asia, primarily India and China, can be traced to the implementation of regulations on CG and CSR by national stock exchanges across Asian countries.
Although the European context (which mainly includes CMEs and European peripheral economies) is argued to exhibit stronger institutional pressures for CSR especially from the European Commission, LME firms often have more pronounced and explicit CSR practices. These are well documented and reported, and therefore more researched, as compared to those prevalent in CMEs and European peripheral economies, where CSR tends to be more implicit in nature.
Additionally, the majority of the studies measured CSR holistically, considering commitment and practices that affect firms' relations to their stakeholders – employees, customers, society, environment etc. Studies focusing on specific aspects of CSR such as environmental performance or corporate philanthropy were limited in number. Interestingly, a larger proportion of the environment-focused studies correspond to the post GFC period – reflecting both an acknowledgement of environmental issues as well as a move that emphasizes specificity in CSR measurements.
Prof. Jain contends that there is an urgent need to re-think the fundamental assumptions and boundary conditions of CG and CSR theories that may have universal appeal in LME and CME business systems, but exhibit limits when applied across other business systems. The domination of specific theories (e.g., agency theory) across a few clusters exposes an underlying etic approach in international business research that assumes that theories are universal and applicable across contexts. This is dangerous she warns because CG and CSR may manifest in different ways or even have different meanings across contexts. Adopting a native lens to understand CG and CSR is necessary and important to account for cultural, historical, and ethnic dimensions affecting the understanding and practice of CG and CSR.
Read part 2 of this research feature.
Dr-Prof. Tanusree Jain
Follow Prof. Tanusree Jain on Twitter @TanusreeJain
Link up with Prof. Jain via LinkedIn
Read a related article: How Boards Can Fix Corporate Social (i)Responsibility
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Tags: compliance, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, ethics, leadership, Tanusree Jain, Trinity Business School
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I just watched Whoopi Goldberg present "MOM's Mabley!" She was so hilarious! AND, what about "My Three Sons, etc., etc.,…" or "Chutes & Ladders" or the "Log Cabin" and all the rest of the "Toys!" Do any children today even know who Davey Crockett was?
Love this, and yes I had a barrel just like that!!


The Roderick C. Meredith Memorial Library website contains links to many powerful online tools and search engines. View the menus and look for the area of research you need. Also, visit our tutorials and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for more answers and directions on how to conduct your research. Our online catalog (OPAC) is open to all and lists primarily our on-site holdings. Use the search bar above to search the Library catalog.


Many who know me, know that I've been away from a lot of things for the past 7 months as I've journeyed through the world of hospital, rehab and home hospice care with my grandmother, Virginia (most affectionately called Gram). I chose not to speak much of it in my business capacity while it was going on, she deserved and needed my full attention and as early on in growth as my business was, it allowed me time to step away and do one of the most difficult and yet amazing things I will likely ever do in my life. For those that weren't aware of the circumstances, I do apologize for the disappearance, however, in my return I believe you will find that a whole new depth of understanding of this work, my role in it and how to assist others has emerged. In the coming days, weeks, months, heck even years, I plan to share much of what I learned, what we learned, so stay tuned!
Gram passed on October 1, 2016. She was here, in my home, surrounded by love, friends, family and comfort. I can honestly say I believe that she had the best 6 months at home that we could have hoped for. I cannot tell you that she didn't suffer at any time in the journey. I don't know that it is possible to not suffer in the process of making peace with 88 years of life on this earth. I can tell you, however, that I wholeheartedly believe that her suffering was minimized by the honoring of her wishes, by choosing hospice and home care, and by the support and love she received from so many. To those that were part of our journey, we thank you. To those that will become part of our journey, we welcome you. Though Gram has moved on from this earthly realm, her spirit, her love, her strength and her knowledge continue on. Gram chose to share portions of her journey with others to help improve the way we approach end-of-life, I am honored to be her voice in this final wish.
It has been barely more than a week since she died. Even for me, that word sticks in my throat on this occasion, but I refuse to let semantics best me, I have always argued that the power that the word "death" holds over us is a social construct of fear that we have allowed to form over our collective heads. Avoidance of the word perpetuates the false power we have given it, it is but a word, and she has but slipped away beyond our sight, the spirit of her life lives on in the legacy work we did, in her wishes to share her life and her death. I still break down and cry at the oddest things, I panic at moments thinking I need to check on her, I see a beautiful flower and want to show her. It hurts, because I loved her so, and from that place of understanding, the pain hurts not necessarily less, but differently.
I find returning to writing a struggle right now, as if my silence keeps the essence of her bundled deeply within me, safe and secure, so I can linger in her memory. The truth is however, that her memory will remain more vivid and vibrant the more I share, and I cannot lock her away in my heart to remember her, there is no sanctuary in the unwritten or unspoken word now, our futures lie in our resolution to share our stories to help others. Oh and we have so much to share.
I sit in the corner of my dining room, the room she occupied for all that time, the center of the household. The hospital bed and medical supplies no longer clutter the space, the sun shines across the back yard and brilliant colored leaves let go of their branches and fly in the wind. Here I am surrounded by her, even though I can no longer wrap my arms around her. The honest truth is, seven months ago when we started on this journey, we had no idea where we would end up, but we took the leap anyway, a choice I will never regret. Now, I find myself at a similar crossroad, I do not know how this plays out, where I go from here, what the exact nature of my work will entail going forward, I do know however, that it will work out, that I will share our story, and that at the end of the road, we will change the face of dying.


Can a high school boy lead a double life? Lee Min Seok (Seo In Guk) is a rising hockey player at his high school leading an average high school life, complete with a groupie classmate, Jung Yoo Ah (Lee Yeol Eum), who has a crush on him. But suddenly one day, Min Seok's older brother, who looks just like him except for the fact that he's nine years older, calls and begs Min Seok to impersonate him at his new job as he inexplicably goes into hiding for awhile. As he goes to work as his older brother, Min Seok meets Yoo Ah's older sister, Jung Soo Young (Lee Ha Na), a contract worker at the same company, and clashes with the Director Yoo Jin Woo (Lee Soo Hyuk), the son of the company president. As Min Seok leads a double life, will both Yoo Ah and Soo Young fall for the same guy? "King of High School" is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Yoon Je Won.


Fantasy Scroll Magazine is a new semi-pro market launching later this month. My story "Seven Conversations in Locked Rooms" is in the first issue line-up, along with many other authors. I interviewed the zine's editor-in-chief Iulian Ionescu.
When does the first issue of Fantasy Scroll Magazine launch? What sort of publishing schedule will you adhere to?
In our first year we aim to publish four quarterly issues, with the first one scheduled for mid-April. As a fledgling publication we didn't want to stretch ourselves too thin in the first year; we want to establish a good process, a steady readership, and grow our presence in the social media. We want to analyze the data from year one and use that to tweak our efforts in the years to come.
During the following years, we will focus on growing the number of issues, hoping to get to a monthly publication by year three. This is a conscientious decision that works hand-in-hand with our other goal, which is to become a pro-market who can pay writers what they deserve.
I am also planning to issue an annual anthology containing the best stories from that year, and the proceeds from those publications will be used to achieve the goals above.
What niche do you expect Fantasy Scroll to fill among the speculative markets? What will make a Fantasy Scroll story different from what's being published elsewhere?
I actually don't want this magazine to be labeled into a very narrow niche, and that's not to say that we won't be focused at all. I gave a lot of thought to the magazine's mission statement, and it came to me after many nights of staring at the blank ceiling at night. The mission statement says that the magazine will publish high-quality, entertaining, and thought-provoking speculative fiction.
Second of all, we want these stories to be entertaining. I want to publish something that can drive lovers of speculative fiction to turn off their TV, shut down their Facebook, and sit down to read just because they enjoy it. And when they're done, I want them to call their friends and tell them how much they loved it. If I can accomplish that, then I'll call this magazine a success.
Lastly, we are looking for thought-provoking stories, the kind of stories that linger in your brain long after you've done reading them. I want people to feel the same way as ten-year old me felt when I first read "The Invisible Man," and for days and nights I kept thinking what if?, is it possible?, can it be?
If I could turn this upside-down, I'd say that my goal is to publish stories that entertain, make you think, and touch the soul on an emotional level – and that is what I call a quality read.
During our Kickstarter Campaign, in order to entice the readers and let them know about the kind of stories they would see in our magazine, we launched a teaser issue that includes two sample stories. I invite you to read them.
Despite the magazine's name, you are open to science fiction. What about horror, slipstream, any other stories that can't be strictly defined as SF or fantasy?
In the magazine's description I declare that we accept fantasy, science fiction, horror, and paranormal stories. This really opens it up to a very wide area of speculative fiction. I think the most important aspect here is the speculative element. I want that to permeate the story – I don't want to have a regular story where an alien pokes his head at the end and says hello. The unusual must ooze from the story.
This, of course, puts a hold on some of the horror stories, because I am definitely not looking for the next Texas Chainsaw Massacre story. What's funny is that I LOVE and enjoy watching gory, slasher movies, partly to annoy my wife, but I truly HATE reading those stories.
Just to show the confusion that exists among writers as well: I've seen a lot of stories in our slush that were qualified by the writers as horror, but I considered them dark fantasy, and stories that were qualified as fantasy, but I considered them pure horror.
I definitely accept slipstream; I actually like to see stories that nicely break the genre boundaries and take me to an unexpected place. The weirder the better.
We recently accepted some stories that border literary fiction, but the speculative element was strong enough that we felt they were appropriate.
Will you publish lighter or outright humorous stories? What sort of humor works or doesn't work for your tastes?
I definitely don't want the magazine to be totally dark; there will be some humor sprinkled here and there. I enjoy humorous stories, like the kind included in your UFO anthologies. The problem I find with humor, and verified statistically through the magazine's slush pile, is that good speculative humor is hard to write, especially when it starts to be stretched out. As a successful writer who published a lot of funny stories, you probably know this better than me, but here are my thoughts about it.
Some of the funny stories we've accepted are very short—they made the point, made us laugh, and moved on. Those that started out nicely, but lingered on, trying too hard to be funny for a long time, eventually got nowhere. The problem is I like a story with a plot. What I've seen in some funny stories is writers mistaking being funny for plot. To have a truly funny story the writer has to do double-duty – the author not only has to create convincing characters that play in a good plot, but humor must also pervade through that somehow.
At the end of the day, we are looking for high-quality speculative stories, and if they happen to be funny too, we'll never say no.
What's your slush process? Will you read all the submissions yourself, or rely on slush readers? What is your estimated response time?
I think any publication is as good as its team, and I am working with a nice group of professionals who read slush, provide feedback, edit, and proofread. I read a lot of the stories, and definitely all of those that pass the initial slush process. At the end of that process we have editors that work directly with the authors to make sure the stories are in the best possible shape for publication.
Being a writer myself, I know how important it is to get a quick response from a magazine, and therefore I try to send all rejections as soon as possible. Our general rejection period has been about 10 days, and my goal is to shorten that even more.
For acceptances the timing might be a little longer, especially if the stories require work, but I am doing my best to notify the writers that their story is in a shortlist. We aim to notify writers of their acceptance or shortlist within 30 days.
How many stories or words of fiction do you anticipate publishing per issue?
We started boldly with twelve stories per issue, or approximately 25,000 words (we accept lengths from 100 through 5000 words). The first year will be a market test for us as well. We'll run reader surveys and polls, we'll analyze the traffic and reading patterns of our magazine readers, and take the pulse of the social media.
Based on these results, in the years to come, we will probably alter the content to match the market demand. One of our goals is to become a pro-market, so that analysis will also come into play when deciding how many words to include in future issues.
You are offering a combination of original stories and reprints from established authors. This is a model several new publications have adopted, most notably Galaxy's Edge. Is this a long-term plan for FS, or is it just the way to fill the early issues, with more and more original fiction in future volumes?
We do accept reprints, but most recently we have restricted the reprints only to those that are not still currently available online for free. One of our core goals is to become a platform for new, unpublished authors, looking to launch their writing careers. From that perspective, our magazine will always include a majority of new, original content. But, being a reader and a fan of the genre myself, I see it as an homage to my favorite writers to be able to include their works in my magazine. I take pride and joy in sharing their work with our readers, resurfacing old works in front of new eyes.
I think one of the hardest parts of editing a magazine is putting the pieces together, matching the stories inside an issue for the best overall experience. Grouping reprints and originals under one roof is a part of that process. Whereas we will continue to accept reprints, our emphasis will always be on original works.
There's lots of non-fiction scheduled for the first issue, such as interviews and reviews. Are you looking for non-fiction submissions too, or will that be handled internally?
For the time being the interviews are conducted by me personally, and I intend to continue doing that for one reason only: I really enjoy it. However, I will open the gates to interview requests from writers and agents, and an acceptance will depend on our schedule and the nature of the interviewee's work—it needs to somehow be related to speculative short fiction.
As a last minute thing, I introduced one movie review and one book review per issue, and I'd like to continue doing that. So far, I am reaching out and requesting permissions to reprint, but in the future, I will probably open the submissions up to some of these non-fiction categories. This will not be our main focus, obviously, but I do see it as nice added bonus.
Fantasy Scroll Magazine is currently on Kickstarter. Please check out their crowdfunding campaign!


Pema Chodron teaches that in order to feel compassion for other people, we have to feel compassion for ourselves. In particular, to care about people who are fearful, angry, jealous, overpowered by addictions of all kinds, arrogant, proud, miserly, selfish, mean, you name it – to have compassion and to care for these people means not to run from the pain of finding these things in ourselves. – Mathew Fox in One River Many Wells.
How true is that. I'm not sure about you but I know that there are times when I am amazed at how little I feel for myself or am in touch with exactly how I feel. Sure, I've done pity parties before but this isn't about asking for sympathy – even if it is from yourself, which are what pity parties are about…well okay, it's the gala dinner for feeling sorry for yourself.
When I read that I realized something. I've grown up feeling quite numb for myself and because of this I don't feel so much for others too. I'll be honest and say that sometimes I find that I can say all the "right" things when the situation calls for it but I know that my number 1 battle right now is to truly feel – feel for others…and before that I guess for myself . That's what I mean when I say that I want to…need to open my heart. It had been closed up for so long that trying to get the door open has been (and still is) an upward battle. One way that I'm learning to use is to consciously tell (more like berate) myself when I feel that I'm being unreasonable or impatient with another. When my assumptions are skewing the situation to something that it is not, I try my best not to "scold" myself or judge it but instead (again consciously) tell myself that it's good that I am becoming more aware and that it's okay to feel whatever I feel, that it's okay to make mistakes…that I managed to catch it in time.
Compassion allows you to decide that you are going to buy a meal for the homeless man just as it allows you to forgive yourself for yelling at your spouse the last evening. It means that you buy the meal for the homeless man and then let it go with no feelings of pity for him as you would apologize to your spouse and let it go without berating yourself over it.
Just as compassion to ourselves does not mean having self-pity, it also means that compassion for others does not have pity attached to it. There is no "poor Mr X" just like there shouldn't be a "Poor little me". Pity degrades and brings us down. I should know! Throwing pity parties can be energy depleting!
The sad thing though is that it's something that we need to actually put effort into…being compassionate and loving to ourselves when it's supposed to be a natural thing to do. It's sad that society has deemed it not right behaviour to love yourself first, to allow the word "selfish" which means taking care of yourself first as something bad, when it's not.
True that Anyes! 🙂 It's something that I feel most of us need to learn to do though because we have been taught, in some form or the other that it is not okay to do so.


I recommend doing some sort of physical practice before meditating. Whether it's a full yoga asana (posture) practice, a tai chi sequence, or a set of simple stretches. It doesn't have to be long. Just a minute or two is all you need. This will help to loosen the body for the period of time you will be sitting, and bring some focus on the present moment.
The best position to meditate in is in a seated position. Lying down can be beneficial at times, and is the recommended position in practices like yoga nidra, but lying down can cause us to fall asleep when the point of meditation is to cultivate awareness and focus. So sitting is recommended.
You may sit cross legged on the floor, on a cushion, or on a chair.
Use enough support to keep your knees at or below hip level. A folded blanket, cushion, or foam block, are all useful for this. Feel your sit bones connected to whatever you're sitting on. This provides a firm foundation, and ensures your pelvis is at the proper angle for the vertebrae of your spine to be naturally stacked, minimizing the amount of muscular effort needed to keep your torso erect. This way minimum effort is needed to sit up straight, and maximum tension can be released into the support of the floor.
Feet should be hip width apart and flat on the floor.
Knees also should be hip width apart and directly over the ankles.
Sit as near to the edge of the seat as is comfortable, and feel your sit bones firmly planted on the seat. Just like on the floor, this ensures your pelvis is in the right alignment for your spine to naturally stack for minimum muscular effort, and maximum ease as you sit.
Hands should lay on the thighs. The palms can be facing down or up, depending on your intention. Palms up opens the chest more and elevates the awareness. Palms down is more grounding, and can allow the breath to move more into the belly.
Eyes should be closed, or slightly open with a soft, unfocused gaze.
Cushions are a good way to assist sitting cross-legged on the floor if your hips and legs are not open enough to sit comfortably on just the floor or a folded blanket.


text:
package org.axonframework.commandhandling.distributed;

import org.axonframework.common.AxonException;

/**
 * Exception that is triggered when an error occurs that is related to the registration or deregistration of a member to
 * the distributed command bus service registry.
 */
public class ServiceRegistryException extends AxonException {

    /**
     * Initializes the exception using the given {@code message}.
     *
     * @param message The message describing the exception
     */
    public ServiceRegistryException(String message) {
        super(message);
    }

    /**
     * Initializes the exception using the given {@code message} and {@code cause}.
     *
     * @param message The message describing the exception
     * @param cause   The underlying cause of the exception
     */
    public ServiceRegistryException(String message, Throwable cause) {
        super(message, cause);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


**33% Off Intro offer Funful Flower Pattern** is a Photoshop friendly pattern set created with moveable layers and easy to change backgrounds.
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A description published on Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 in Graphics, Patterns by andreio that has 88 views.


text:
Endpoints Still Vulnerable to Breaches Despite Advancements in Antivirus Technologies
Minerva Labs, a leading provider of anti-evasion technology for enterprise endpoints, today announced the results of a survey of 600 IT security professionals which found endpoint security solutions are failing to provide adequate protections to address today's security threats, specifically malware. A majority of the respondents surveyed indicated a heightened concern of a major malware breach in the coming year and acknowledged that they require more than an antivirus (AV) solution on the endpoint to combat the rising threat.
After a year of massive ransomware outbreaks, NSA state-grade exploit leaks, and an extraordinary number of cybersecurity meltdowns, defenders are not getting ahead despite the continued innovation in endpoint security technologies. The uptick in attacks demonstrates that attackers are not standing still, and evasion methods are becoming increasingly accessible. In fact, nearly half of the respondents surveyed (48%) said that they have seen about the same number of malware infections than previous years while almost one-third (32%) claim to have seen an increase in malware infections. This further corresponds with the extent to which respondents feel their current endpoint defenses are protecting them against modern malware threats: three-quarters of respondents deemed their existing anti-malware solutions to be able to prevent no more than 70% of infections.
These findings demonstrate that today's endpoint solutions cannot address sophisticated malware, specifically those threats that use evasion techniques.
According to the Minerva Labs survey, the malware evasion techniques that posed the biggest concern are avoidance of malware analysis and forensic tools (32%) followed by fileless or memory injection attacks (24%). Attacks that use malicious documents also raised concerns (24%). Two-thirds of respondents (67%) were concerned that existing controls won't prevent a significant malware attack on the endpoints. Furthermore, the survey found that over half of the respondents (53%) preferred adding a meaningful layer to their endpoint security stack instead of completely replacing their existing AV.
Nearly 39% of IT leaders said that besides security benefits, the other operational aspects they find most important when adding a security layer on the endpoint is the ability for it to work even on low-resource systems. 28% expressed easy deployment and upgrades across multiple endpoints were important while 18% valued the ability to not interfere with current business applications.
With the increase in ransomware and other malware threats, the time it takes to remediate these attacks is crucial to enterprises today. The good news is that 41% of respondents said that when faced with a compromised endpoint, within hours the endpoint is restored to a normal state. However, there is still some room for major improvements, as more than 40% said it takes days or weeks to return to a normal state.
"The results from our survey indicate that while malware threats are still growing, endpoints remain highly vulnerable to a cyber-attack," said Eddy Bobritsky, Co-Founder & CEO of Minerva Labs. "We continue to see more complex and sophisticated threats, where traditional blocking and prevention mechanisms, such as antivirus, are no longer enough to keep endpoints safe. Beyond merely relying on baseline anti-malware solutions to protect endpoints, companies should strengthen their endpoint security architecture to get ahead of adversaries, such as blocking off attempts to get around existing security tools."
The survey was conducted between February 8 and February 28, 2018 and reflects responses from more than 600 IT security decision makers including CISOs, senior management, and network and systems engineers.
Access the full report or to learn more about Minerva Labs and its offerings, please visit: www.minerva-labs.com
Published Wednesday, April 25, 2018 8:09 AM by David Marshall
Filed under: Survey, Security
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The song �White Corvette� from The Intelligence�s sixth full-length begins as a low-end buzz, about 10 seconds in length. Longtime fans should enjoy it while it lasts, because it�s the only distortion on the track. The rest is airy, melodic and precise, The Intelligence�s characteristic jittery aggression set in Hemingway�s �clean, well-lighted place.� Not that there�s any give-up in intensity. The band�s scrambling post-punk guitars, its straight-up, dry-as-a-bone drums, its laconically abstract verses are all here, just viewed through an unusually clear lens.
Not all of Males is as lucid as �White Corvette,� but the album, as a whole, is defiantly cleanly produced. Never mind that the first line of The Intelligence�s wiki reads: �The Intelligence is a lo-fi post-punk rock band from Seattle.� That was then. This is now. The Intelligence is surprisingly hi-fi these days, if not up to Steely Dan levels of fussiness at least well out of the Blank Dogs/Wavves/Vivian Girls fug.
This is, perhaps, Finberg�s pop album, though The Intelligence�s boxy belligerence is less tamed than civilized. Brief, metronomically repetitive guitar riffs still dominate, often paired in sing-songy couplets that seem to swing first one way, then back again. Drums remain hard and unmelodic, heavy on snares, easy on the cymbals. And though Finberg experiments with melody, his range is still narrow. He�s fairly compelling, though, even in monotone, especially when spitting out strings of �no no no no�s (�Bong Life�) or �like like like like�s (�Like Like Like Like Like Like Like�). And finally, there�s very little syncopation in these songs. Everything seems to land hard on the fours. There�s a post-punk simplicity � a purity even � that reminds you of The Fall.
The main difference is that you can hear everything distinctly. You can even hear between the things you�re listening to � for instance, the infinitesimal hitch in �The Universe� that separates the taunt of the guitar riff and the answering clatter of drums. There�s a clarity and precision to this album that�s very different from the cavernous clamor of Deuteronomy or even the slightly better behaved Fake Surfers. And that�s a good thing, because it shows off the songs better, which are as acerbic and bile-filled and manic as the old ones. �Like Like Like Like Like Like Like� is a spittle-crusted rant through suburban California angst, while �Estate Sales� ponders materialism from a sidewalk jumble table (�When I die, all the things I saved up for, are headed for the rummage sale�). �White Corvette,� the disc�s highlight, sounds all the better for having the grime scraped off. Its tangled Orange Juice-ish thickets of guitar, are no less tense, just shinier and easier to follow.
You always wonder, listening to deliberately lo-fi albums, whether the fuzz is there to cover up weaknesses, and what these songs would sound like if you could actually hear them. In The Intelligence�s case, they sound pretty damned good. I�m just not sure that would hold true for everyone.


What's keeping you from being rich? In most cases, it is simply a lack of belief. SUZE ORMAN, "The Courage to Be Rich"
Are you latte-ing away your financial future? DAVID BACH, "Smart Women Finish Rich"
I know you re capable of picking winning stocks and holding on to them. JIM CRAMER, "Mad Money"
They re common refrains among personal finance gurus. There's just one problem: those and many similar statements are false.
For the past few decades, Americans have spent billions of dollars on personal finance products. As salaries have stagnated and companies have cut back on benefits, we ve taken matters into our own hands, embracing the can-do attitude that if we re smart enough, we can overcome even daunting financial obstacles. But that's not true.
In this meticulously reported and shocking book, journalist and former financial columnist Helaine Olen goes behind the curtain of the personal finance industry to expose the myths, contradictions, and outright lies it has perpetuated. She shows how an industry that started as a response to the Great Depression morphed into a behemoth that thrives by selling us products and services that offer little if any help.
Olen calls out some of the biggest names in the business, revealing how even the most respected gurus have engaged in dubious, even deceitful, practices from accepting payments from banks and corporations in exchange for promoting certain products to blaming the victims of economic catastrophe for their own financial misfortune. "Pound Foolish "also disproves many myths about spending and saving, including: Small pleasures can bankrupt you: Gurus popularized the idea that cutting out lattes and other small expenditures could make us millionaires. But reducing our caffeine consumption will not offset our biggest expenses: housing, education, health care, and retirement. Disciplined investing will make you rich: Gurus also love to show how steady investing can turn modest savings into a huge nest egg at retirement. But these calculations assume a healthy market and a lifetime without any setbacks two conditions that have no connection to the real world. Women need extra help managing money: Product pushers often target women, whose alleged financial ignorance supposedly leaves them especially at risk. In reality, women and men are both terrible at handling finances. Financial literacy classes will prevent future economic crises: Experts like to claim mandatory sessions on personal finance in school will cure many of our money ills. Not only is there little evidence this is true, the entire movement is largely funded and promoted by the financial services sector.
Weaving together original reporting, interviews with experts, and studies from disciplines ranging from behavioral economics to retirement planning, "Pound Foolish "is a compassionate and compelling book that will change the way we think and talk about our money.
HELAINE OLEN is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in "The New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, Salon, Forbes, BusinessWeek, "and elsewhere. She wrote and edited the popular Money Makeover series in the "Los Angeles Times." She lives in New York City with her family. Follow her on Twitter at @helaineolen."


"Embracing that I AM all I Need.
Finding Beauty in All I See.
Embracing the light, the love, the joy.
1. You are a miracle. Never forget this fact. Just the science alone is mind blowing.
2. You are unique. No one will ever be as good at being You as you are. Seriously.
3. You are enough. Always. Never doubt this. There is nothing to add, but feel free to expand.
4. There is always more to learn, but that is not failure, it is a gift.
5. Every obstacle is an opportunity to fall further into the miracle that is you.
6. Commit to being the best version of you every day. Recalibrate definition of "best" as needed.
7. Leave room for others when they fall off the wagon of their own miracle.
8. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive every which way. Forgive him. Forgive her. Forgive you. The more you forgive, the more you'll enjoy being you, because the lighter your load will be.
9. Compassion is the key to forgiveness. Compassion means you feel the humanity in others.
10. In the end, as in the beginning: You. Are. Amazing.


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Has 30 minutes on a treadmill become a chore? The daily downward dog become a snore? Using a FitBit performance tracker, we recently tested out a series of alternative workouts to add a bit of variation to our regular workout routine: Bocce, Shuffleboard & Archery. We tracked steps taken, calories burned and rated level of fun on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most entertaining.
Modern Bocce is a combination of skee-ball, bowling &. Shuffleboard. Per the United States Bocce Federation, the game first appeared in ancient Egypt as early as 5000 B.C., traveling across the Mediterranean to Greece around 800 B.C. Bocce, has evolved from a noble pastime to the third most played sport in the world. We recently rolled a few rounds at Union Hall in Brooklyn, NY.
The objective of the game is to score points by rolling or tossing ones balls down the court, strategically aiming for the pallino or marker ball. The winner of the set or "in" team is the one who's balls landed closest to the pallino. Games are played usually to 13 points. Good players work defensively & offensively, aiming to knock the opposition's balls out of play.
We played three rounds at Union Hall, taking a total of 347 steps and burned a total of 40 calories. This game is perfect for friendly banter and giggles in between plays and definitely brought out the competitive nature of the participants.
participants, the crowd at Royal Palms skewed significantly younger, appearing to be in their mid- to late- twenties.
Requiring at least two players, the objective of the game is to score points using cues to push discs, or biscuits, down a court into a marked scoring area, worth 10, 8 or 7 points, without landing in the penalty box, worth -10 points. Like in Bocce, skilled players are always aiming to knock their opponents biscuits out of the scoring area.
We played three rounds, taking a total of 331 steps and burning 44 calories. Royal Palms upped the ante on the social aspects of Shuffleboard play, offering a full bar, food trucks and live music. The lively banter and laughter between rounds was ever-present and it's a wonderful activity to share between friends.
We ended the day at Gotham Archery in Brooklyn, NY. Dating back to around 10,000 B.C., archery has historically been associated with hunting or combat. It is an Olympic sport, which recently had a cultural resurgence with popularity of the Hunger Games movies.
Our one hour Introductory Class, complete with bow rental and safety instruction, covered the mechanics of the bow, proper form and finally how to aim and fire at a target. Unlike Bocce or Shuffleboard, archery proved meditative, emphasizing stillness and steadiness. Somewhat counter-intuitively, to properly shoot an arrow at a target requires a moment of relaxation before the release.
We took a total of 110 steps and burned 33 calories. This was the only activity of the day that left us sore, as firing a bow triggers muscles not typically used in other activities. We rate this a 3 out of 5 on the fun scale for the sheer novelty & challenging nature of the experience.
Though Bocce, Shuffleboard and Archery don't necessarily offer a high-intensity workout, they do offer a delightful departure from an everyday workout. Part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is stepping away from a screen and tackling new experiences with friends. Get out there and try something outside your comfort zone today. Your body will thank you!


Celebrating the grace, mercy and favour of the Lord over our ministry.
Our Founder, Pastor Shyju Mathew started preaching at the tender age of seven. He began travelling for ministry from the age of eleven. After over two decades of serving Jesus, in 2013, "Shyju Mathew Ministries", changed their ministry name to, Revive Nations, to reflect its global mandate to lead nations into a fresh encounter of the love of Jesus. Today, his wife Pastor Tiny along with Shyju, pastors a multinational church in Montreal. They oversee over 23 churches and lead a team of Jesus lovers, including pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets and apostles, with Revive Nations.
Prophets Emmanuel and Ruth Makandiwa, operates as Pastors Shyju and Tiny Mathew's spiritual parents, a great honour for Revive Nations and all her daughter churches.
God blessed Pastor Shyju with a special honour extended to him to preach at the church of his spiritual father, on the 25th anniversary of Revive Nations ministry, and in our 100th city!
Prophet Makandiwa has a global impact and operates in deep spiritual dimensions with his phenomenal prophetic and teaching ministry. His church hosts over 80,000 people in their services every Sunday.
We like the God who promotes us, but we often ignore the truth that God is also the God over our valleys. It is in our valleys that He builds, moulds, strengthens and prepares us for the mountain top. God has hidden great gems in our valleys for those who don't give into despair. Study more about that in these series of videos.
At the 25th year anniversary, Pastor Shyju shares personal and deep thoughts on what next looks like.
Understanding the concept of Spiritual father in our modern context and learn personal lessons from Pastor Shyju.
Interview by Pastor Priji on what Pastor Shyju understands success to be from God's perspective. Don't miss!
Don't despise the valley, God will do transformative work in your life there. You are simply passing through the valley, it is not your destination. Learn whatever you need to learn in this season. Praise God through it and look forward to your mountain top.


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Price Controls, Price Ceilings, and Price Floors
Definitions and Basics
Price Controls, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics
Governments have been trying to set maximum or minimum prices since ancient times. The Old Testament prohibited interest on loans, medieval governments fixed the maximum price of bread, and in recent years governments in the United States have fixed the price of gasoline, the rent on apartments in New York City, and the minimum wage, to name a few. At times governments go beyond fixing specific prices and try to control the general level of prices, as was done in the United States during both world wars, during the Korean War, and by the Nixon administration from 1971 to 1973.
The appeal of price controls is understandable. Even though they fail to protect many consumers and hurt others, controls hold out the promise of protecting groups that are particularly hard-pressed to meet price increases. Thus, the prohibition against usury–charging high interest on loans–was intended to protect someone forced to borrow out of desperation; the maximum price for bread was supposed to protect the poor, who depended on bread to survive; and rent controls were supposed to protect those who were renting when the demand for apartments exceeded the supply, and landlords were preparing to "gouge" their tenants….
The reason most economists are skeptical about price controls is that they distort the allocation of resources. To paraphrase a remark by Milton Friedman, economists may not know much, but they do know how to produce a shortage or surplus. Price ceilings, which prevent prices from exceeding a certain maximum, cause shortages. Price floors, which prohibit prices below a certain minimum, cause surpluses, at least for a time. Suppose that the supply and demand for wheat flour are balanced at the current price, and that the government then fixes a lower maximum price. The supply of flour will decrease, but the demand for it will increase. The result will be excess demand and empty shelves. Although some consumers will be lucky enough to purchase flour at the lower price, others will be forced to do without.
Rent Control, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics
Rent control, like all other government-mandated price controls, is a law placing a maximum price, or a "rent ceiling," on what landlords may charge tenants. If it is to have any effect, the rent level must be set at a rate below that which would otherwise have prevailed….
Minimum Wages, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics
Minimum wage laws set legal minimums for the hourly wages paid to certain groups of workers. In the United States, amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act have increased the federal minimum wage from $.25 per hour in 1938 to $5.15 in 1997. Minimum wage laws were invented in Australia and New Zealand with the purpose of guaranteeing a minimum standard of living for unskilled workers. Most noneconomists believe that minimum wage laws protect workers from exploitation by employers and reduce poverty. Most economists believe that minimum wage laws cause unnecessary hardship for the very people they are supposed to help….
Agricultural Subsidy Programs, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics
Farm subsidies stimulate additional production of government-favored commodities by raising incentives to use scarce land and farmer talent on some products rather than on others. The specifics of the government program determine the degree of production stimulus; real farm programs are usually much more complex than the per unit production subsidies or price supports described in textbooks. Eliminating a subsidy for just one crop would cause production of that crop to fall much more than if all crop subsidies were eliminated simultaneously. Because most farmland would remain in use, economists would expect relatively small adjustments in total U.S. agricultural production if all farm subsidies were eliminated together, although some shifts in the mix among commodities would occur….
In the News and Examples
Policy Debate: Does an increase in the minimum wage result in a higher unemployment rate? From swcollege.com.
Minimum wage laws in the U.S. were first introduced during the 1930s in response to the Great Depression. This period was characterized by falling output, falling prices, and falling employment. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of 1933 attempted to stop this downward spiral by encouraging the formation of trade association agreements that established price floors and minimum wages….
Introductory economics textbooks usually first introduce the minimum wage as an application of demand and supply analysis….
While minimum wage increases generally receive substantial public support, economists have generally relied on the above analysis to argue that such legislation will result in an increase in the unemployment rate in low-wage labor markets. In recent years, however, a series of studies by David Card, Alan B. Krueger, Lawrence F. Katz, and others have suggested that small to moderate increases in the minimum wage will have no adverse effects on unemployment (and may even lead to reduced unemployment)….
Unintended Consequences, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics.
The law of unintended consequences is at work always and everywhere. People outraged about high prices of plywood in areas devastated by hurricanes, for example, may advocate price controls to keep the prices closer to usual levels. An unintended consequence is that suppliers of plywood from outside the region, who would have been willing to supply plywood quickly at the higher market price, are less willing to do so at the government-controlled price. Thus results a shortage of a good where it is badly needed. Government licensing of electricians, to take another example, keeps the supply of electricians below what it would otherwise be, and thus keeps the price of electricians' services higher than otherwise. One unintended consequence is that people sometimes do their own electrical work, and, occasionally, one of these amateurs is electrocuted….
McKenzie on Prices, podcast on EconTalk. June 23, 2008.
Richard McKenzie of the University California, Irvine and the author of Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies and Other Pricing Puzzles, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a wide range of pricing puzzles. They discuss why Southern California experiences frequent water crises, why price falls after Christmas, why popcorn seems so expensive at the movies, and the economics of price discrimination.
Rent controls: David Henderson, podcast on EconTalk. July 30, 2007.
David Henderson, editor of the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics and a research fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about when and why economists disagree. Harry Truman longed for a one-armed economist, one willing to go out on a limb and take an unequivocal position without adding "on the other hand…". Truman's view is often reflected in the public's view that economic knowledge is inherently ambiguous and that economists never agree on anything. Henderson claims that this view is wrong–that there is substantial agreement among economists on many scientific questions–while Roberts wonders whether this consensus is getting a bit frayed around the edges. The conversation highlights the challenges the everyday person faces in trying to know when and what to believe when economists take policy positions based on research. Is it biased or science?
Rent controls in Mexico City: Tepito's Way, by Ibsen Martinez on Econlib
However, in Maracaibo, Medellín, Caracas, Colon, Guayaquil or San Salvador, as in many other Latin American cities, "barrio" almost invariably is shorthand for "populous, dangerous and smelly sinkhole on the fringe of civil society." There are, of course, other accepted though more complex meanings of the word. Consider Tepito, in downtown Mexico City….
Munger on Fair Trade and Free Trade, podcast on EconTalk. Dec. 3, 2007.
Mike Munger, frequent guest and longtime Econlib contributor, speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about fair trade coffee and free trade agreements. Does the premium for fair trade coffee end up in the hands of the grower? What economic forces might stop that from happening? They discuss the business strategy of using higher wages as a marketing strategy to attract concerned consumers. They turn to the issue of free trade agreements. If the ideal situation is open borders to foreign products, is it still worthwhile to negotiate bilateral and multilateral agreements that requires delays, exemptions and a bureaucracy to enforce? What is the cost of including environmental and various labor market regulations in these agreements?
Munger on Price Gouging, podcast on EconTalk. Jan. 8, 2007.
Mike Munger of Duke University recounts the harrowing (and fascinating) experience of being in the path of a hurricane and the economic forces that were set in motion as a result. One of the most important is the import of urgent supplies when thousands of people are without electricity. Should prices be allowed to rise freely or should the government restrict prices? Listen in as Munger and EconTalk host Russ Roberts discuss the human side of economics after a catastrophe.
Boettke on Katrina and the Economics of Disaster, podcast on EconTalk. Dec. 18, 2006.
Pete Boettke of George Mason University talks about the role of government and voluntary efforts in relieving suffering during and after a crisis such as Katrina. Drawing on field research he is directing into the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Boettke highlights the role of what he calls "civil society"–the informal, voluntary associations we make as individuals with each other to create community.
Ticket Prices and Scalping, podcast on EconTalk. July 16, 2007.
EconTalk host Russ Roberts talks about scalping and visits AT&T Park hours before Major League Baseball's All-Star Game to talk with a scalper, a merchandiser, a fan, and the police about prices, tickets, baseball and the law.
A Little History: Primary Sources and References
Defense of Usury, by Jeremy Bentham.
In this very readable work, Bentham accomplishes two things. First, in an orderly manner replete with concrete examples he covers every possible objection to the regulation of usury (charging of interest rates that are apparently above the market rate), from religious restrictions that tainted the connotation of the word, to the economics of risk premiums. Second, throughout the work he champions those who are marginalized by society. He tears apart anti-Jewish bigotry. He argues strongly for the rights of the poor and even the feeble-minded to make their own choices in life. His emphasis on the ability of individuals to be the best judges of their own particular circumstances, and their right to use their own best methods for the pursuit of happiness, became the basis of modern utility theory.
Bentham's ability to entertain his readers is well-illustrated in his classic horse-trading satire in Letter IX. Here, he uses the words of Sir William Blackstone (renowned jurist, whose works later became the basis of legal education throughout England and the United States) to highlight Blackstone's own inconsistencies. Bentham's sentence structures often seem ornate and overly-complex today. Yet, these very ornaments enabled him to spoof and poke at the foolish ideas of legislators and judges while maintaining decorum, delivering what we would today call "zingers".
Advanced Resources
Munger on John Locke, Prices, and Hurricane Sandy. EconTalk Podcast.
Mike Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the gas shortage following Hurricane Sandy and John Locke's view of the just price. Drawing on a short, obscure essay of Locke's titled "Venditio," Munger explores Locke's views on markets, prices, and morality.
Supply and Demand, Markets and Prices
Roles of Government
Government Failures, Rent Seeking, and Public Choice
Employment and Unemployment
Barriers to Trade


How to Create a Career Portfolio (05:19) – A career portfolio shows your achievements and skills, and it helps you obtain employment opportunities. It can include letters, essays, awards, volunteer work and anything else you have accomplished.
Specific Skills: Hard Skills (02:57) – Hard skills are specific skills such as being proficient in a particular type of software, knowing how to speak a language, or operate a type of vehicle or machinery.
Employability Skills (05:31) – Soft skills are generic skills that people learn throughout life. These include self-discipline, teamwork, communication, and other skills that are developed at school, at home or while working.
Portfolio Assembly (08:44) – It is important to have a career portfolio to show your skills to a potential employer. You don't need to send the portfolio with your job application. Use it to get promotions in your field and decide on a career.