text:
Q: How to properly reference dlls that will be in the GAC using TFS and a Build Agent We are moving to VS2010 and TFS from VS2008.
Presently we have a solution that has a dozen or so projects that are built into DLLs and then put in the GAC as well as 3 website projects in this solution that are built that use these DLLs that are put into the GAC.
In VS2008 we have post build events that use gacutil to register them and this all worked great on local developer machines however it doesn't work with TFS and the Build agents.  I had to remove this post build event.
The issue now is the websites won't build because the DLLs are not in the GAC on the build machine where the agent is doing the building.
I tried referenceing the projects in VS2010 from the websites but this simiply removes the assembly references from the web.configs and then copies the dlls to the bin folder when it's built/published which is not what we want.
These DLLs will be in the GAC in production and the 3 websites all use them so we don't want them in the BIN folders.
We have third party DLLs as well that will go in the GAC that are used in all 3 websites as well.
What is the proper way to get this to work in VS2010 and TFS?

A: Installing the DLLs into the GAC can be a real pain with version management and deployment. Try creating a "Lib" folder to keep all the third party DLLs. We do this in our work and works fine. This won't be a problem with XCopy deployment as well.
See help with TFS and referenced DLLs for more details.

A: To register a DLL into the GAC you need admin level privileges, which is by default not the case of you Team Build Service account. That's the reason why it fails.
You have then two choices:

*

*Put admin privileges to the Build Account for you GACTUtil to succeed.

*Change your Visual Studio projects that reference the DLLs that were supposed to be in the GAC to a specific location you'll deploy them (e.g a ThirdParties folder for third parties DLL, and another one for your own DLLs) in debug/testing configurations, keep the GAC reference in release.

Some people will tell you that 1. sucks because you're not supposed to give admin level to the account, because it's bad.
Some people will tell you that 2. sucks because things get over complicated and that you won't test things the way they actually ship.
My advice is go for 1. because:
 - It's easy to do
 - You don't break your current architecture
 - Admin level to the service won't be that bad a risk, really...


Adam Dreece is known for three great worlds, enjoy up to 40% of each of them!
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Join the Newsletter! Lots of great stuff!


Ploughcroft were called to Bingley recently to install a cavity tray to a window in a home.
This customer had rain driving in her lounge every time it rained with a strong wind behind it. We're sure you'll agree that, with the Yorkshire weather, it is not going to be very comfortable!
The home already had a cavity tray installed from when it was built in 1975. By 2014 it was bitumen and was corroded and allowing water to seep into the living room through the windows.
A cavity tray is a permanent solution to protecting properties against damp. They can only be used on properties with cavity walls – that is, external walls with a gap between, known as the cavity. If your house was built after 1920 it is likely to have cavity walls.
Homes with extensions, conservatories, or have windows like the ones in the photos below will need cavity trays installed in order to protect the internal walls from leaks and damp.
Cavity trays are inserted between the outside wall and the inner cavity. They are lipped upwards on the inside to catch moisture from the inside of the outer wall.
This prevents water to leak down to the internal wall. They are also lipped downwards on the outside to direct water to the outside of the wall.
In this property, we installed a plastic cavity tray that will last at least 50 years. This gives the owner peace of mind and means her living room won't be getting wet every time it rains!
If you're experiencing damp in your home or leaks through the windows, please contact Ploughcroft today. We will be more than happy to help.


We "Rockstar Industries" are a Sole Proprietorship firm engaged in manufacturing and wholesaling high-quality array of Kids Bicycle, Boys Bicycle and Girls Bicycle. Since our establishment in 1999 at Ludhiana (Punjab, India), we have been able to meet customer's varied needs by providing products that are widely appreciated for their sturdy design, easy to ride and high strength. Under the strict direction of "Mr. Amit Khanna" (Proprietor), we have achieved an alleged name in the industry.


Ann Arbor Mediation Center is one of lawyers - adoption divorce & family law (lawyers - adoption divorce & family law) we can find in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Located at 330 East Liberty Street Suite 3A, 48104. You can contact them by phone at (734)663-1239.
10 website users and contributor has written a review about Ann Arbor Mediation Center. Scroll down the page to see them. Remember, don't always believe info on internet, to see the real condition of Ann Arbor Mediation Center, please visit the real place.


text:
Advisory: Replacing saturated fat with healthier fat could lower cardiovascular risks
Replacing saturated fat with healthier fat in the diet lowers cardiovascular disease risk as much as cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, according to an American Heart Association advisory issued Thursday.
"This important paper reaffirms the scientific evidence that saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol, a leading cause of atherosclerosis," said Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont, who was not an advisory author. "Furthermore, replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease."
Researchers culled hundreds of research papers published since the 1950s, finding evidence supporting the AHA's recommendation that saturated fat should make up less than 10 percent of daily calories for healthy Americans.
Atherosclerosis is the hardening and clogging of arteries that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular disease was lowered by about 30 percent, similar to the effect of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs when vegetable oil replaced saturated fat in the diet, according to the advisory. The switch to healthier oils also was associated with lower rates of death from all causes.
The finding doesn't mean that people prescribed statins to lower heart disease risk should give up medication. Nor should they eat too much saturated fat, said Frank Sacks, M.D., lead author of the advisory and professor of cardiovascular disease prevention in the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
"That statin is only going to go part of the way," he said. "You're going to mess up the effect of the statin if you're eating all unhealthy foods."
The tipping point that led to the advisory was a well-publicized 2014 study that concluded that the amount of dietary and saturated fat had no bearing on the risk of heart disease, said Sacks. But the study had at least one major flaw: It didn't consider what people ate in place of saturated fat, Sacks said.
"The people who were eating low saturated fats were eating a lot of junk food carbohydrates," Sacks said. Trading bad fat for bad carbs doesn't reduce cardiovascular disease, he said. "You wouldn't tell people, 'Hey reduce your sat fat and replace it with sugary soft drinks or donuts.'" You'd tell them to replace it with unsaturated oils, whole wheat bread, vegetables, nuts or beans, Sacks said.
The publicity surrounding the study and others has shaped public perception about saturated fats, partly reflecting the way nutrition studies are reported by news media, said Sacks.
"One of the real problems in transmitting health information is that generally people who are writing about it don't look into what's come before," he said. The media also don't pay much attention to new studies that support or extend current dietary recommendations. "The overall effect has misled the public on the science of dietary fats," he said.
People are also quick to believe trends that aren't supported by science, he said. A prime example is coconut oil, widely touted for its health benefits. "I just don't know" who is pushing it, but it's not scientists, Sacks said. It may be driven by manufacturers looking to profit, or some countries' economic dependence on coconut oil, he said.
According to the advisory, coconut oil is 82 percent saturated fat, and studies show it raises LDL "bad" cholesterol as much as butter, beef fat or palm oil. Canola oil, on the other hand, has only 7 percent saturated fat. All fats and oils have varying levels of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. One reason people may have a hard time reducing their saturated fat intake is the familiarity of foods made with it, Sacks said. "People also have a strong emotional connection to what they eat," Sacks said. "What you're brought up eating, what people call their comfort food -- there's a lot of emotion in that." But nutrition science may not support the health of that kind of eating, he said.
Overall fat intake was higher when early studies of saturated fats were done in the 1950s and 1960s, according to the advisory. The studies showed that reducing saturated fats lowered cholesterol, reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke, and in some cases lowered the risk of death from coronary heart disease.
Although people are eating less saturated fats today than in the 1950s, they still eat too much, Sacks said. Most restaurants today cook with unsaturated fats, but foods like beef and bacon still contain saturated fat.
"If you have a cheeseburger or bacon burger, you get sat[urated] fat from almost everything except the bread," Sacks said. Despite its lower fat status, a white bread bun isn't particularly healthy either, Sacks said.
He advises people to reduce saturated fats by not cooking with butter, but with canola, or corn oil or soybean oil, or extra virgin olive oil.
Johnson said the main sources of saturated fats are butter, lard, beef tallow, palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil. Healthier oils include canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, and walnuts, she said. Olive oil, avocados and tree nuts such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, and pecans are low in saturated fats, and largely composed of monounsaturated fats, Johnson said.
Surprisingly, Sacks isn't against frying foods, even deep frying. "There's nothing wrong with deep frying as long as you deep fry in a nice unsaturated vegetable oil," he said.
Saturated fats: Why all the hubbub over coconuts?
Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil may be recipe for 'good' cholesterol
Overall heart-healthy diet is more important than occasional indulgences

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Miami Travel Agency's deal with Priceline goes to trial
A Florida travel agency has agreed to pay $3.8 million to a Florida man who sued to get a lower-priced hotel in a Florida hotel chain.
The Florida Travel Agency has agreed in a settlement with Brian Smith that it will pay $2.4 million to Jeffrey Smith, who sued the Tampa travel agency in December over the company's decision to accept a Priceline hotel booking.
The Tampa travel company, which had previously said it did not know Smith was in Tampa, was not named in the settlement agreement.
In January, Tampa-based Priceline agreed to settle with Smith after the Florida Travel agency alleged that the company did not have an independent vetting process in place.
The company had said it used a third-party company to conduct the vetting process and did not need a third party to review the hotel.
Smith, who has been working with the Florida travel company for years, alleged that Priceline had pressured him to accept Priceline's hotel booking as part of a larger hotel chain in Tampa.
The Tampa travel agent said it had no involvement with the hotel and that Smith had signed an agreement not to use the hotel for business purposes.
Smith's lawsuit also alleged that he received a $2,500 check for his hotel booking, but that the check had been canceled before he could get a receipt.
He also alleged in his complaint that a Pricemanal.com website that was used to book the hotel had an error and that a customer was sent a message saying he was not booked in the hotel, which caused Smith to be charged a higher hotel price than he was entitled to.
The company said in a statement to The Associated Press that the Tampa-area travel agency had not been involved in the vetting or processing of the hotel booking and that it had not made any decisions related to Priceline prior to Smith's claim.
Tagged: group travel agency, prestige travel agency, tampa travel agency, the travel agency, travel agency miami
Japan travel agency to open up new locations
What is a traveler visa and why does it need to be updated?


text:
Il Jeep Gladiator è un pick-up prodotto dalla casa automobilistica Jeep dal 1962 al 1988.

Nel 1971 il nome Gladiator venne abbandonato e il veicolo venne ribattezzato semplicemente come Jeep Pick-Up.

Storia

1962-1971: Jeep Gladiator
Introdotto nel 1962 come "Model Year 1963", il Gladiator era un pickup che condivideva la sua architettura di base di telaio, parte frontale e abitacolo con il Jeep Wagoneer.

Le designazioni dei vari modelli erano J200 (passo corto da 120 pollici, fino alla metà del 1965) e J200 (passo lungo da 126 pollici, fino alla metà del 1967). Successivamente vennero ribattezzate J2000 e J3000 (che hanno sostituito rispettivamente j200 e j300), senza importanti alterazioni esterne: le modifiche sono state limitate ai miglioramenti alla trasmissione. Venne introdotta anche la versione J4000, con un passo più lungo di 132 pollici (3.400 mm).

I Gladiator erano disponibili in versione due ruote motrici RWD o quattro ruote motrici 4WD, con doppie ruote posteriori gemellate opzionali. Una notevole innovazione è stata la sospensione anteriore indipendente al posto dell'assale anteriore rigido.

Il motore era il Jeep Tornado da 3,8 litri e sei cilindri in linea da 142 CV. Fu il primo motore a camme in testa di produzione montato su un pick-up leggero americano e fu uno dei primi motori OHC offerti da un produttore americano.

Ulteriori innovazioni per i pickup a quattro ruote motrici furono la trasmissione automatica opzionale, i freni a disco, il servosterzo e proprio come Jeep del primo dopoguerra numerosi accessori che includevano spazzaneve e spingi piastre.

All'inizio del 1963, Willys Motors cambiò il nome in Kaiser Jeep Corporation.

Nel 1965 divenne disponibile il motore AMC V8 da 5,4 litri erogante 252 CV (186 kW) e 461 N⋅m di coppia a 2600 giri m/min. Il motore Tornado standard è stato sostituito dal 3,8 litri OHV sei cilindri della di American Motors Corporation.

Nel 1967 tutte le versioni a due ruote motrici (RWD), ad eccezione del modello base J100, furono tolte di produzione a causa delle scarse vendite.

Dal 1968 al 1971 i pickup Jeep offrirono il motore Buick 350 da 5,7 litri erogante 233 CV.

L'American Motors Corporation (AMC) acquistò le operazioni della Kaiser Jeep nel 1970 quando Kaiser Industries decise di abbandonare l'attività automobilistica. I pick-up Jeep di conseguenza adottarono tutti i motori AMC per migliorare le prestazioni e standardizzare la produzione e l'assistenza. Il motore Buick è stato sostituito dall'AMC V8 da 5,9 L o 6,6 L.

Nel 1970, la griglia anteriore del Gladiator fu cambiata adottando la medesima del SUV Jeep Wagoneer. Questo è stato il primo restyling del modello dalla sua introduzione. Il badge AMC è stato aggiunto sulla griglia frontale.

1971-1988: Jeep Pick-Up (serie J)
Il nome del Gladiator fu abbandonato dopo il 1971 e il veicolo venne ribattezzato semplicemente come Jeep Pick-Up, o serie J (la denominazione delle varie versioni venne mantenuta). Le designazioni dei vari modelli erano J2000 e J4000 (la serie J3000 non fu più prodotta dal 1971). Dal 1974 al 1988 vennero ribattezzati J10 e J20.

Dal 1971 al 1972 i pickup Jeep offrirono il propulsore AMC 5.0 213 CV V8 come opzione.

Il motore base era l'AMC 4.2 sei cilindri in linea da 114 cavalli e 285 N⋅m di coppia.

Il motore AMC da 5.9 litri è stato offerto dal 1971 fino al 1988. Produceva nelle prime versioni 177 CV e 332 N⋅m di coppia. Successivamente venne potenziato a 198 CV e 400 N⋅m di coppia. Il sistema di trazione integrale Quadra-Trac era disponibile su tutti i motori.

Dal 1974 al 1978 venne proposto anche il motore top di gamma AMC da 6,6 litri erogante 228 CV e 434 N⋅m di coppia ma a causa degli alti costi di gestione e dei consumi elevati non riscontrò molti consensi.

Il 1983 vide il debutto del nuovo sistema a quattro ruote motrici full-time Selec-Trac che sostituire il precedente Quadra-Trac.

Nel 1981 debutta un restyling per la versione J10 e la denominazione cambia in Jeep CJ-10, con frontale e cabina simili a quelli della Jeep CJ e cassone posteriore riprogettato ed ingrandito dal design molto più squadrato.

Fina produzione

Chrysler acquistò AMC nel 1987. La gamma di Jeep Pickup ormai era anziana e non più competitiva sul mercato inoltre entrava direttamente in concorrenza con la gamma più ampia di pick-up prodotti dalla Dodge (marchio del gruppo Chrysler). Il veicolo uscì di produzione nel 1988 sostituito dal piccolo Jeep Comanche che altro non era che la versione pick-up del fuoristrada Jeep Cherokee (XJ).

Riutilizzo del nome

La denominazione Gladiator è stata riutilizzata dalla Jeep per un pick-up di medie dimensioni prodotto dall'aprile del 2019 e derivato dalla piattaforma del fuoristrada Jeep Wrangler.

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Gladiator

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
As a top US destination, Chicago welcomes more than 50 million visitors each year. That said, you can still enjoy a tranquil visit to the Windy City. From exploring by boat to discovering Chicago's local restaurants and neighborhoods, here's how to beat the crowds.
Explore the City by Boat
Instead of fighting the crowds of Magnificent Mile, take to the Chicago River or Lake Michigan, from which you can admire the Windy City's skyscrapers and skyline without the crowds on an open-top boat tour; head out at sunset for the best views.
Venture Beyond the Loop
The Loop—Chicago's downtown business district—is home to top attractions such as Millennium Park, the Willis Tower, and the Art Institute, meaning that it's reliably packed with visitors. Go beyond the Loop's radius to see how locals live on a neighborhood tour, which tend to cover the heritage architecture of the Prairie District, street art in Pilsen, and the mansions of Wicker Park.
Discover Local Eateries
There's more to Chicago's food scene than deep-dish pizza. Enjoy shorter wait times and more diverse cuisine when you venture off-the-beaten-track. Food- and drink-themed neighborhood walks offer a first-hand introduction to many of the city's less-trafficked culinary haunts, including the coffee shops of Logan Square, Chinatown, and the eateries of River North.
Visit Year-Round
As well as soaring temperatures, summer in Chicago brings peak crowds. For a quieter experience of the city, visit during the shoulder season. Alongside the crisp breezes and golden leaves of fall, you'll encounter quieter museums and sidewalks. And if you don't mind a winter-wonderland experience, the Windy City's snowfall provides a magical backdrop to your exploration.
Head Underground
One of Chicago's most surprising attractions is the subterranean Pedway. Located beneath the Loop's famed skyscrapers, the network lets you slip past crowds and discover a whole new side of the city. Book a guided tour to navigate the underground labyrinth with ease.
Take a Private Tour
Private and small-group tours allow you to the explore the city in a more intimate setting. Soar over Chicago's iconic skyscrapers in a helicopter tour, or cruise along the lakefront on a private minibus tour customized for your group.
7 Tours and Activities | All Chicago Tours
Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise
Take in superlative-worthy views of the beautiful Chicago lakefront and its many landmarks during this 40-minute Lake Michigan sightseeing boat cruise. Climb aboard your vessel for a laid-back ride, enjoying panoramic views of the Windy City's iconic skyline from a unique perspective. Along the way, you'll listen to informative commentary and take in views of the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower, along with many other landmarks. Plus feel free to bring your own lunch or grab a drink at the onboard bar, during your ride.
Small-Group Chicago Food Tour of Chinatown
Sample different styles and varieties of Chinese food during this gourmet walking tour of Chicago's Chinatown. Follow your local food-loving guide through one of the oldest Chinese neighborhoods in the country to taste several Chinese regional delicacies. The price of this small-group tour, limited to 12 people, includes tastings at restaurants; enough food to add up to a full lunch.
Private Chicago City Mini Bus Tour
Don't miss Chicago's famous sights (now including Wrigley Field!) and fabulous views on this award-winning private sightseeing tour of the city. Travel through Chicago with an expert guide on a comfortable minibus, stopping at iconic locations like early skyscraper "The Rookery" (Frank Lloyd Wright architecture), Museum Campus (for the BEST skyline view in town), Millennium Park (The Bean), Buckingham Fountain, The Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park, Chicago River, The Gold Coast, Lake Shore Drive and more! Along the way, your guide will provide historical and informational commentary about the area and its beautiful attractions. Your private tour ensures a more personal experience. If you would like to take the tour at a time other than what is offered, please note in special requests field when booking. The best way to tour at this time! Sanitized vehicles with just your group.
Private Chicago Architecture Tour
Ever since Chicago became the birthplace of the modern skyscraper, the city has been renowned for its architectural creativity and ingenuity. Led by an expert guide, explore some of the city's most iconic buildings such as Sears Tower, The John Hancock Building, historic brownstones, and the homes of Oak Park designed by beloved architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You will be able to explore the insides of some locations on this completely customizable tour.


text:
/*
 * Implementation of Distributed Simulated Annealing
 *
 * DSAN chooses a state that may be worse than its current state with
 * a certain time-variant probability. The longer the algorithm runs,
 * smaller this probability gets.
 * This behavior is implemented in the component SimulatedAnnealingDecision.
 * Otherwise, DSAN uses a parallel random schedule.
 *
 * Based on a description from:
 *   Arshad, Silaghi, 2003.
 *   Distributed Simulated Annealing and comparison to DSA.
 *
 */

package com.signalcollect.dcop.evaluation.candidates

import com.signalcollect._
import java.util.Random
import DSANVertex.{TimeStep, UtilityDelta, Probability}
import com.signalcollect.dcop.evaluation.candidates.RandomStateSearch
import com.signalcollect.dcop.evaluation.candidates.MapUtilityTarget

// Simple Type synonyms for easier identification
object DSANVertex {
  type TimeStep = Int
  type UtilityDelta = Double
  type Probability = Double
}

class DSANVertexBuilder(
    randomInitialState: Boolean,
    pSchedule: Double,
    const: Int,
    k: Int = 2)
  extends VertexBuilder {

  def apply(id: Int, domain: Array[Int]): Vertex[Any, _] = {
    val initialState = {
      if (randomInitialState) {
        val r = new Random
        domain(r.nextInt(domain.size))
      }
      else {
        domain(0)
      }
    }

    new DSANVertex(id, initialState, domain, pSchedule, const, k)
  }

  override def toString = s"DSAN p=$pSchedule c=$const"
}

class DSANVertex(id: Int, initialState: Int, newDomain: Array[Int], val p: Double, val const: Int, val k: Int)
  extends ColorConstrainedVertex[Int,Int](id, initialState, newDomain)
  with SimulatedAnnealingDecision[Int]
  with RandomStateSearch[Int]
  with MapUtilityTarget[Int]
  with ParallelRandomSchedule

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ This section contains the changelog from the last release to the next release.
* `imag-diary` supports "daily" diaries now.
* `imag-tag` commandline was rewritten for positional arguments.
example like with `imag store ids | head -n 1`.
@@ -78,6 +80,8 @@ This section contains the changelog from the last release to the next release.
`std::str::Lines` iterator takes empty lines as no lines.
# This is a example configuration file for the imag suite.
# functionalities, from colorizing to underlining and such things.


Aisha Jordan, Ilana Warner, and Gabriel Gonzalez-Parent in Catalyst. Photo by Beth Mattison.
BOTTOM LINE: Catalyst is a unique theater experience that demands we consider the ways in which we recreate our own systems of oppression.
"The life of man," Hobbes famously wrote in his political text Leviathan, "is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." In Catalyst, a production of the social justice theater ensemble 2050 Legacy, the fundamental quality of the human spirit is explored, engaging with Hobbes' pessimistic understanding of life. Pre-show, the sound of a heavy rainstorm fills the theater, through which six seemingly unrelated characters make their frenzied entrances, eventually finding themselves gathered together in the suspiciously well-stocked luxury bomb shelter of the perky Catherine (Michelle Perez or Liz Mazzei).
Like a John Hughes movie gone dark, the characters each embody a different but complementary role. Nissa (Aisha Jordan) is down-to-earth but struggling with a low-paying service job despite her three degrees. Kovac (Gabriel Gonzalez-Parent) is a bit of a stoner, spending much of the early show confused and chilled out about what's happening. Anabelle (Ilana Warner), attentive and sharp, is an activist whose immediate concerns are about getting out to help others. Zachariah (Liana Eldora or Aileen Velazquez) is as peaceful as possible in the unsure circumstances, and moves with a measured calm that helps the others. Last, Adrian (Frantz Jerome) is a mysteriously solemn and logical figure who doesn't totally seem to fit in with the others. Over the course of their time together, we learn that they are not all there by accident, having been brought together by Catherine for desperate purposes. Interpersonal tensions build, culminating in a final dramatic moment that affects them all.
Based on energy level, Catalyst almost operates like two separate shows. Scenes are strangely paced and slow, with long silent pauses that do not serve the urgency of the circumstances. Director Jana Lynne Umipig seems to have missed an opportunity to create a real sense of tension, undercutting moments of emotional height with long, tentative exchanges. It is unfortunate, because some of the show's funny lines are lost due to awkward pacing. However, when the cast breaks into the creative and unexpected moments of lyrical storytelling, they sparkle with charm and focus. There are a number of these exciting moments, even more so in the second half of the show. As Catherine encourages the group to get to know each other, the bunker suddenly becomes a game show and all the strangers are contestants. In another poignant example, a conversation about jobs leads to a step routine and rap with the refrain "This is why I'm broke." These moments are ushered with a light and sound cue, suggesting that these moments exist outside of time and space. They play with the audience's expectations about the reality of the show, and are genuinely the strongest parts of the play.
Catalyst believes deeply in the messages it conveys to the audience about social justice and systematic violence. The struggle—both of this show and of our world—is that there are just so many different kinds of violence. It is challenging to engage when characters address topics as wide-reaching as domestic abuse, racial injustice, police brutality, environmental conservation, and systematic inequality. Unfortunately, this means that few of the subjects get plumbed with real depth, save for those explored in the poetry, spoken word, or movement-based parts of the show. There are many beautiful moments in Catalyst, but it feels like they would be more poignant if the overall show were edited down to a more thorough piece.
Built upon the ensemble's personal experiences and reactions to issues of violence, Catalyst shows a group of individuals grappling with the structures of power and feelings of powerlessness. Nissa and Adrian share a lovely and real exchange about how we cannot use the master's tools to dismantle the master's house—a reference to the writing of Audre Lorde about black liberation and intersectional consciousness. As the world outside the bunker is washed away, the characters recognize that they must resist falling into the same patterns of oppression and hate to which they themselves have been subjected. It is, Adrian notes, "a system that keeps me hungry." It is powerfully ambiguous, then, that the characters ultimately destroy their chance at a new utopia, beginning again the cycles of pain they seek to leave behind. Perhaps the monsters have always been inside. Catalyst ultimately leaves us with a stark mirror for us to reflect upon.
Catalyst is by Aisha Jordan and Rafael Jordan. Directed by Jana Lynne Umipig. Assistant Director Rafael Jordan. Stage Manager Ashley Lopez. Co-Producers Aisha Jordan and Katie Falter. Choreography by Timothy Costa, Ilana Warner, and Denae Hannah. Sound Design by Chris Schultz. Lighting Design by Pope Jackson. Videographer/Editor is Benjamin Lundberg and Frantz Jerome. Light Board Operator is Yolanda Hoskey.
The cast is Aisha Jordan, Gabriel Gonzalez-Parent, Liana Eldora, Aileen Velazquez, Ilana Warner, Liz Mazzei, Michelle Perez, Frantz Jerome, Darnell Wickham, and Jonathan Villanueva.


text:
Youth Right Advocacy Network Chiang Mai Campaigns for Safe Love
UNFPA Thailand kick off a Co-Pilot Project to empower young people as…
Working Panel to prepare for training youth advocates on teen pregnancy
'Small Voices from Forsaken Children' forum of vulnerable young people.
UNFPA and Thai Health Promotion Foundation Welcome Young People to Youth Advocate…
"The Time is Now" to Invest in Youth, Girls
UNFPA mourns passing of Executive Director
UNFPA Thailand Trains Youth Council Representatives for Teen Right Advocacy
UNFPA Thailand and WHAF Train Youth to Help Supervise the Teen Pregnancy…
UNFPA Thailand trained youth for the Sexual Health Conference
SEX-EDUCATION
Share & Learn
Foundation for Empowerment: Awarded Grants from UNFPA Thailand
Home /CAMPAIGNS, NEWS/EVENTS, SEX-EDUCATION, SHARE & LEARN/Foundation for Empowerment: Awarded Grants from UNFPA Thailand
3c4teen
CAMPAIGNS,NEWS/EVENTS,SEX-EDUCATION,SHARE & LEARN |
Sis Pha shared her experience through a group activity called Peer Support Group, initiated by FEPD, to provide an exchange of experience forum among disabled people with similar disabilities. They will take turns talking about their stories, perspective of living a life, which are specifically direct experience, such as having a love experience, building a family for the disabled, etc. Everyone takes turns as both speaker and listener.
Such activities help inspire members to apply each friend's stories and approaches to their own lives. From these specific experiences like in this group, if one has never faced with a disability, it would be hard for them to understand and realize these valuable experiences.
UNFPA Thailand Country Office presses priority on youth leadership in demanding their sexual and reproductive health and rights to be protected and their accessibility to such services with special focus on the problem of teenage pregnancy. In 2014, UNFPA has awarded the grants to 15 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
The purpose of these grants is for capacity development activities that will enable the CSOs to function as the supporter of future youth-led initiatives on the prevention of teenage pregnancy and/or the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people.
Foundation for Empowerment
by Daranpon Timnikai
Foundation for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
"Refusal to be easily discouraged or to give up effortlessly should result in the road to achieving our dream." Sis Pha … a girl with post-polio syndrome since the age of 8 months, shared her stories and experiences of living on disability with patience and relentlessness to obstacles. Moreover, she even has an unwavering commitment to become a government officer, building up a security for herself and her family, which is also a dream of many others.
Sis Pha or Mrs. Jirapha Piyaphaniphan, aged 56, had the opportunity to attend a workshop on sexual and reproductive health for people with disabilities, arranged by the Foundation for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (FEPD). During a small group seminar, she told the fellow participants her valuable experience in living her life from little until grownup as if she were handled with kid gloves. As a girl with a disability, unable to walk, she had to do routine chores in a wheelchair only. Just being female would make your parents worry and be overprotective more than being a boy already. When this was added up with the disability, even more concerns, attention, and cares were given to you. But that was only because of a petite reason called "love", so Sis Pha simply accepted and well understood her own condition. Therefore, she was not demanding, resistant, nor persistent, but she behaved responsibly in working hard to acquire knowledge and improve her capacity to be as equal as other people in general.
Sis Pha tried assiduously to pursue her dream, becoming a government officer. Although she had failed the civil servant recruitment test for five times, she never gave up. In the last exam, she told herself that if she could not get good news from this test, she would never come back to take it again. She spent time attentively to defeat that exam and her efforts paid off eventually. She received a letter informing her successful application for the position of government official, level five, at the Department of Public Works and Town Planning. She could finally take care of herself and her family. This is the result of her patience and relentlessness to obstacles in the first step in terms of occupation.
"I am proud to be a part of the work with honor and dignity. To be a civil servant working for people. To be benevolent to public just like other people," said Sis Pha proudly in the seminar.
Even if she became successful in her career, already creating security for herself, as a woman, being in love, getting married, meeting the loving and understanding right man, and even building the future together were all natural that even she, herself, could not refuse. When she came into her reproductive age, Sis Pha also did not experience a love story just like others did. Even so, she was casual about it and told herself, "if I am to have one, it will come to find me on its own." She still lived her cheerful and lively life and was happy with her daily living. Until one day, she was destined to meet a physically challenged man, by an introduction of a friend. She and the man had tried to date and grow a relationship. Then they both found that they were happy together and complement each other perfectly. No matter how far they were apart, she did not feel tired to make a trip to see him. Yet, her life was not that happy or smooth. She faced with an obstacle, which was a challenging test again. But this time it was her love story…where the family's love and care became a wall separating them from each other.
When her parents did not agree that Sis Pha should have a love experience because they believed that no one would sincerely love their child and give a good care as well as they did, she became really sorrowful and discomfort about this. Then again, as she was not easily discouraged by the obstacles, Sis Pha continued to see her lover to fill joy and encouragement to each other, with their endeavors that they still loved each other even if their parents and families were opposed to the love of the disabled persons. Eventually, the couple decided to let their parents know their true identities. And even if the parents were not satisfied, the couple decided to get married and legally registered as husband and wife. After that, the parents and the family members started to love and understand the couple, until today.
Sis Pha shared her experience through a group activity called Peer Support Group, initiated by FEPD, to provide an exchange of experience forum among disabled people with similar disabilities. They will take turns talking about their stories, perspective of living a life, which are specifically direct experience, such as having a love experience, building a family for the disabled, etc. Everyone takes turns as both speaker and listener. Such activities help inspire members to apply each friend's stories and approaches to their own lives. From these specific experiences like in this group, if one has never faced with a disability, it would be hard for them to understand and realize these valuable experiences.
Group Captain Sathitpong Athiphiromsi, President of FEPD, concluded what they have learned from the project that despite its merely short time, he, himself, and all of the participants realized that the value of love can make a real difference to families, community and society.
"Today, we have proved that love is beautiful, valuable, nondiscriminatory and inclusive of everyone. No matter he or she is disabled or not," said Gp. Capt. Sathitpong.
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Efficacy between "Spencer Technique" and "Muscle Energy Technique" in Treatment of "Adhesive Capsulitis"
Bhargab Bhattacharya Department of Physiotherapy, College of Physiotherapy and Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
Ujwal Bhattacharya Department of Physiotherapy, Pratiksha Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
Chatrajit Das Department of Physiotherapy, College of Physiotherapy and Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
Urvashi Bhattacharya Department of Physiotherapy, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Baridua, Meghalaya, India
Adhesive capsulitis, Muscle energy technique, Range of motion, Shoulder pain disability index, Spencer technique
Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a painful and disabling condition of unknown etiology, in which the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint become inflamed and causes chronic pain with restriction. Although there are multiple ways to treat the disorder, there is a lack of evidence in indicating a specific technique to treat the disorder. In this study, we intend to check the efficacy of two different techniques in improving the range and function of the shoulder joint.
Methodology: Thirty subjects were randomly allocated to two different groups. One group was administered with muscle energy technique (MET) and the other with Spencer technique. The pain intensity and disability of shoulder joint is evaluated with shoulder pain disability index. For range of motion for shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation, Goniometry was used as an outcome measure.
Results: The results are tabulated in terms of mean, standard deviation, variance, t-test, and P-value. Student t-test shows that there were statistically significant values for groups (P < 0.05). Variance test has been found to be significant at P < 0.05, Spencer technique is found to be more effective compare to MET.
Conclusion: When applied to the patients, both MET and Spencer technique are found to be effective, in comparison using t-test, it is concluded that Spencer technique is more effective than MET.
Bhargab Bhattacharya, Ujwal Bhattacharya, Chatrajit Das, & Urvashi Bhattacharya. (2022). Efficacy between "Spencer Technique" and "Muscle Energy Technique" in Treatment of "Adhesive Capsulitis". Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences, 9(4), 59–62. https://doi.org/10.21276/apjhs.2022.9.4S1.08
Copyright (c) 2022 Bhargab Bhattacharya, Ujwal Bhattacharya, Chatrajit Das, Urvashi Bhattacharya


The blade is just the beginning. Meet the unsung heroes of a flawless shave. A razor is only as good as its accompaniments. Enter this Shaving Bundle trifecta: It includes our rich-lathering shave soap made from bentonite clay, a double-walled stainless steel shave bowl to house it, and a boar-bristle brush with a lightweight (read: easy to wield) wooden handle.


George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Washington to Continental Congress Army Committee . 1778. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw449393/.
(1778) George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Washington to Continental Congress Army Committee . [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw449393/.
George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Washington to Continental Congress Army Committee . 1778. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/mgw449393/>.


text:
I Don't Know If I'll Ever Get Over This Miss from #DozVsTheDozen XXIII (which is now available on Youtube!)
I've talked myself out of a fair share of correct answers on #DozVsTheDozen, but no incorrect answers in the 23 episode history of this project hurt as much as this one:
I've had tough misses on #DozVsTheDozen before & will again but I legit don't think I'll be able to fall asleep tonight after blanking on Koosh Balls. Absolutely inexcusable considering I had a real life Slumdog Millionaire experience with them. pic.twitter.com/3e1ZuzLLE8
— Doz #HireDozo (@DozonLife) December 1, 2021
ICYMI, the entire match, Misfits, came to fucking play. I told you they were more than a respectable squad. They put up numbies and covered -3.5 with ease, but could they cover against Ole Dozo? Watch and like the video to find out!
Quick trust tree: Am I being too liberal with my scoring? I don't mean that in the sense of being for common-sense gun laws, thinking that the ultra-rich shouldn't be allowed to evade taxes or that fascism is not ideal, I'm talking about being too lenient with my scoring. I'm a guilty-conscious guy, so the fact that I'm even posing the question feels like half an answer already. At the same time, I'm also way too overly critical of myself, according to my shrink and those who are close to me.
Gun to my head, all is fair in love and trivia. I can't steal answers, obviously, but if someone happens to give a hint or say half of any answer shouldn't I be able to capitalize on that like the other teams? Plus, I'm a marbles in my month guy. I screw up with pronunciations, sorry! I haven't had any complainants yet about padding the stats, but as hashtag good guy and man of honor, I'm leaving it up to the fans. Feel free to score the matches as you watch like a grandfather at a baseball game.
Can Ya Boi Get Back in the Win Column? Tune Into #DozVsTheDozen XXIII at 7:05 pm to Find Out!
Ya boi lost a couple of heartbreakers last week, but the fact that I even showed up on Thanksgiving Thursday at the crack of 10 am while battling a major cold shows the type of trivia competitor I am! Despite virtually no support, the #HireDozo movement never stops! I'll continue to make my content for an audience of close friends and haters alike. As I type this blog, I'm rewatching #DVTD XXII with hopes of having it ready for the Youtube machine by the time I finish this post. Bam, here it is:
Tonight we've got a match with potential playoff seeding/making the dance in general on the line with (11) Misfits and (14) Fellas. Misfits are last season's defending runners-up and, despite a 1-3 record, are a more than respectable trivia squad. I don't have anything nice to say about The Fellas, so I won't say anything at all.
A post shared by The Dozen Trivia (@thedozentrivia)
Tonight's line has already been set (Misfits -3.5) and has the approval of at least one of my future co-workers.
Misfits -3.5
— Doz #HireDozo (@DozonLife) November 30, 2021
I haven't won a match since #DozVsTheDozen XVIII, but I LOVE my chances tonight. Misfits are solid but basically play with two guys (sorry Hank, I love you), and 10.5 points is right around my wheelhouse, so of course, I'm gonna have my own back here.
Again, I'm still sick, so I want to preemptively apologize for the fog horn, trombone nose blows you're going to hear, but like the show must go on like Queen. There's one place and one place only that you can catch #DozVsTheDozen LIVE, which is Instagram/Dozonlife. That's INSTAGRAM.COM/dozonlife.
I can't wait to see you in the comment section!
Song of the Day: November 30th, 2021
Song: Time (2014)
Artist: RiFF RAFF
Album: Neon Icon
Today's SOD comes straight for the 30 year old birthday man himself! Happy Birthday 3!!
This is my 369th blog of year. Bonus school dance BANGER second helping SOD.
Kyle Mooney Has a New 80s/90s Themed Netflix Show and It Looks AWESOME
Kyle Mooney has been an SNL cast member since 2013, but it feels like James Austin Johnson has already appeared in more skits than him. I mean, we've seen glimpses of Kyle's comedic genius and style with stuff like The Fight or Inside SoCal, but it feels like he's been underutilized during his SNL tenure.
It wouldn't be the first time that SNL didn't recognize the talent they had in house. Look at a guy like Tim Robinson, who was only in the cast for a year, and what he's since accomplished with "I Think You Should Leave." It's only one of the most memeable shows of the last two years in a poll that I just made up. But steering wheels that don't fall off when you're driving, coffin flops, sloppy steaks, TC Tuggers, Baby of the Year contests, and Dan Flashes shirts are all in the public consciousness thanks to ITYSL. I don't like taking cheap shots at SNL, but at least 75% of ITYSL sketches are more memorable than anything SNL has made in a similar time frame in another made up poll. With its success, it's understandable why Netflix feels comfortable rolling the dice with another zany SNL cast member, and naturally, Kyle Mooney is the perfect fit.
Two weeks ago, he announced his new project.
A post shared by @kylemooney
And today, Netflix dropped the trailer for "Saturday Morning All Star Hits!". The aesthetic screams 1990s and will have you feeling nostalgic for things you never experienced. I love how Kyle is playing both co-hosts. To paraphrase another SNL alum, "this looks AWESOME!"
"Saturday Morning All Star Hits!" debuts on Friday, December 10th. Might I suggest waiting until the following morning with a big bowl of Honey Combs to experience the full effect?
John Tomase's Terrible Column About Fenway Sports Group Buying the Pittsburgh Penguins is an Insult to Red Sox Fans
In nearly six years of blogging, DOL has changed in a multitude of ways. I want to think I've improved as a writer over that timeframe, and spending so much time chasing a seemingly unreachable goal has helped me grow as a person. Still, one thing that undoubtedly has gotten worse throughout this publication's history is my baseball knowledge. I used to be able to recite the results of all World Series since 1955. Now I struggle to remember the order of who the A's beat in the early 70s (JK it's Reds in 7, Mets in 7, and Dodgers in 5 respectively), but in all seriousness, the shady business practices of the Boston Red Sox have ruined the undying love I once had for this beautifully boring game.
If you've read anything I've written in the last two years, you know how much the Mookie Betts trade disgusts me to my core; so much so that I stopped being a Red Sox fan for over a year. I couldn't consume anything baseball-related in 2020 because it would remind me that one of the richest teams in all of sports traded away the best player to don its uniform in 40 years to avoid paying taxes. When it costs a mortgage payment to take a family of four to Fenway, that should infuriate you too.
It took me a solid year to get over the trade, and as I type this sentence, that feels like a lie. Sure, I think about it less often, but I'll never truly forgive the cheapskate ways of a billionaire who does not care about the people who make up Red Sox Nation, only the money he can make from that cringeworthy moniker.
Admittedly, I'm not up to date with free-agent classes and what the Red Sox should do this off-season. I don't know if I'll ever return to my pre-2020 baseball fandom, but I'm well aware of John Henry's desire to own other sports teams instead of focusing on keeping the Red Sox in contention.
Today, the news became official after weeks, maybe months (who could ever possibly know?) of rumors. Fenway Sports Group now owns the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).
FSG bought the Penguins for $900 million after cutting organizational salaries by 20-25% during COVID and traded Mookie Betts for pennies on the dollar a little over a year after he became the first player in MLB history to win a batting title, MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and World Series in the same season.
Today, John Tomase, a RED SOX reporter for NBC Sports Boston, released one of the worst columns in the history of humanity, not only defending John Henry and FSG but also shitting on fans who are responsible for him having a job covering a team because God forbid they get emotionally invested in their favorite sports team(s)!
Typically whenever I include an article in my blogs, I post the entire thing and give my two cents afterward, but tonight I'm switching it up and interjecting throughout the piece. Tomase's words will be in black and bolded. My responses will be in grey and italicized.
Via: NBCSports Boston.
Two words for anyone who wants to charge John Henry with reckless abandonment because he just agreed to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins: Grow up.
Very professional and adult start to this column by a "journalist!" Save that shit for the bloggers, you human scarecrow.
If there's a downside to the region's unprecedented 20-year run of championships, it's that it has bred an entitled fanbase of trust fund proportions. We reside at the center of the sports universe, and we do not share.
This is one of the laziest takes going. Every fanbase wants to win, and winning only makes you want to win more. Should Kansas City Chiefs fans be satisfied with one Super Bowl while employing someone with the potential to be the best QB ever?
How ironic is it that he's shitting on trust funds while sucking John Henry's wrinkly dick throughout this column? Plus, this is simply untrue. The entire sporting world outside of Cleveland and maybe their NL Central rivals rooted for the Cubs in 2016. I know I'm not the only sports fan who wanted to see their friends of loser franchises get their moment in the sun!
Because I'm a hashtag good guy I'm rooting for @ZachLabreche's Canadiens & @KyleDoubrava's Bucks. My guys are pushing 30 and haven't gotten a ship yet. No dog in the fight let the fam eat.
— Doz #HireDozo (@DozonLife) June 25, 2021
So when the news broke that Fenway Sports Group will take controlling interest of the Penguins and extend its reach into the NHL, Boston fans threw a tantrum.
The Red Sox just aren't important to him anymore! He's not spending on us because he's buying them! They're just another line in his portfolio, like his yacht, or hanging with LeBron! Only the Red Sox matter, because we demand it!
Waaaah.
What do the bottoms of John Henry's boots taste like? My guess is fake outrage. P.S. Learn how to drop a wah properly. At least have a funny remark. The Red Sox matter to Red Sox fans. It's entirely fair for fans to think these other "business interests" take away from caring about building the best Red Sox team humanly possible. After breaking the curse and winning three more championships, it's fair to assume the desire to win isn't the same as 20ish years ago.
This is how the world works. Big businesses buy other businesses. When Facebook hoovers up Instagram and WhatsApp, no one says they're spreading themselves too thin. It's a natural step in their desire to dominate cyberspace, and about the only thing that can stop them is an act of Congress
Great comparison, Tom! Nobody ever mentions how problematic one company controlling the lion's share of data and manipulating algorithms to line their own pockets is! Nobody EVER calls Facebook a monopoly, and if something is, it must always be. Why would we ever try to change the way the world works? That's why slavery is still legal and women can't vote!...
Henry bought the Penguins to make money, just like he bought Liverpool to make money, and the Red Sox. He has every incentive to put winners on the field/ice/pitch, because when those teams win, they make money. There's enough for everybody.
Tell that to Mookie Betts.
And his teams win. The Red Sox won two World Series before FSG bought Liverpool in 2010, and they've won two since. The soccer club claimed its first Premier League title in 30 years on his watch and is one of the 10 or 12 most valuable brands in the world. The Red Sox just reached the ALCS. I confess to not following auto racing so you tell me if Roush is any good. What more do we want?
Idk, an ownership group that's dedicated to WINNING? (THE VAST MAJORITY OF) RED SOX FANS DO NOT CARE ABOUT LIVERPOOL. This isn't helping your argument, John!
Saying that Henry won't spend in free agency because he's saving his money for a hockey team effectively lets him off the hook. One has nothing to do with the other, and our proof is in the fact that Henry hasn't been spending for three years now. Is that because he knew he might one day buy another team and needed to squirrel away every nickel? Maybe. Or maybe it's because he's caught the efficiency bug that's sweeping similarly analytics-minded front offices across baseball.
There's a reason a bunch of teams, including the Red Sox, lined up to offer nondescript starter Andrew Heaney -- whom we once would've uncharitably labeled "a bum" -- $8 million. He represents "value" belying his sky-high ERAs because he strikes out a lot of people and doesn't walk anyone.
All you're doing is proving how the Red Sox have more than enough resources to not worry about things like the luxury tax and that analytics have gone too far. Who cares if you don't walk guys and strike dudes out if you're giving up 30 homers a year? (of all my takes in this blog, this may be the weakest, but as I said, I'm less focused on current free agent classes and more worried about absentee ownership. I couldn't give less of a fuck about Andrew Heaney)
But when Henry adds Liverpool to FSG's holdings alongside Roush Racing, and then joins forces with LeBron James, and then strikes a deal to buy the Pens with the NBA reportedly next in his sights, the news is met with a romanticized angst that denies reality.
He's not gonna fuck you, bro.
The Red Sox wanted a piece of that value, instead settling on Michael Wacha of the Six Week Intriguing Changeup and Otherwise Cruddy Track Record. Even as free agency largely passes Boston by in the race to beat this week's CBA expiration, the bulk of spending is being conducted by a handful of teams trying to escape the second division -- the Tigers, Rangers, Mets, Angels.
Missing, so far, are heavyweights like the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox. Is this because they all plan to buy hockey teams? Or are they simply following the same statistical models of value? The Rays spending big on 20-year-old wunderkind Wander Franco just reinforces this point; Tampa doesn't pay for anything except youth, the most valuable currency in the game.
Just what fans dropping $500 for a night a Fenway care about---statistical models of value!
I'm no Henry apologist, and I believe he'll be as militant as any owner about protecting his profits in the next CBA, which could make him a problem. But we should take a step back and ask what we really want. Is it Mark Cuban berating umpires from the box seats and shilling garbage on Shark Tank? No thank you. Is it the fantasy of the beloved local steward who cares about nothing more than the sanctity of the public trust and blah blah blah? Because we had him and his name was Tom Yawkey, and all that got us was 70 years of Elks Clubbing and zero World Series titles.
I'm sorry, I missed everything after "I'm no Henry apologist" when you spent 11 paragraphs defending him.
If you want to label Henry a bit spectral or weird or withdrawn, no argument here. But this idea that he's not committed to Boston doesn't withstand even mild scrutiny. He bought a bleeping newspaper, for God's sake. Nothing says public caretaking at the expense of profit better than that.
Riiiight, that's why Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post too. These guys just love public caretaking and aren't using their money to control the media!
We'll just have to live with the fact that we're not the only apple of his eye. That's life. That's what rich people do. If he doesn't want to spend recklessly in free agency because he's been burned by John Lackey, and David Price, and Hanley Ramirez, and Pablo Sandoval, there's an argument in his favor. As long as the Red Sox continue to build on the success of 2021, who cares how they get there?
So, yes, I will take the guy who just bought the Penguins, imperfections and all. If Boston fans stamp their feet about anything, it should be that he didn't buy their hockey team.
"That's life. That's what rich people do." Way to have a spine! Also, John Lackey and David Price helped the Red Sox win World Series....and the Sox overpaid for them after horrible decisions (trading Lester) forced their hand. Let's see if they build off of 2021's success or go back to the middle of the pack. I'm sure a Devers trade is coming soon!
Admittedly, I don't give a fuck about hockey, but how can someone own the channel the Bruins play on while also owning a competitor? How is that not a conflict of interests? I can't wait to see what happens next time the Bruins are in the playoffs.
Welcome back, #NHLBruins! Good luck this season! pic.twitter.com/OjC0PGVeiE
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 14, 2021
It blows my mind that someone whose job only exists because of fans has the balls to get on his high horse to scold those same fans who genuinely care about their team. You have 1000% benefitted from those "trust fund" fans that want their teams to win. Do the Red Sox have the same media presence as the Colorado Rockies? Without fans, there are no professional sports. If people aren't going to games or watching on tv, there is no league. Maybe start catering to their wants instead of the soulless billionaire who would charge you to breathe Fenway air if he could instead of saying "waaaah." This article should've been titled "HOW DARE YOU DISAGREE WITH THE RULING CLASS??!"
The Patriots "Could" Change Their Uniforms For Next Season
The New England Patriots currently sit at 8-4 and would be the 2nd seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today. Of course, they don't, NFL hasn't had a 12 game regular season since 1960, and back then, only the two conference winners made the playoffs. Plus, with a primetime matchup against the Buffalo Bills next Monday, the AFC standings could change rather quickly, but for now, it's hard to complain about the 2021 Pats. They're the hottest team in the NFL, winners of 6 straight with a point differential of +148 during the streak.
One thing you could certainly complain about is their fugly, high school quality, Wal-Mart knock-off jerseys, which is something I did the first moment I saw them.
When Tom Brady officially left the Patriots in March of 2020, the Patriots made one of the most stereotypical post-break-up moves of all time and changed up their look. Like girls who butcher their gorgeous hair, this change was not well received. It screamed of trying to turn a new leaf, post-losing the greatest QB in NFL history, only the leaf had been used as toilet paper by someone stranded in the woods. I'll never for the life of me understand how actual living humans with brains and families thought these:
Were an improvement from these:
Now I don't want to get too excited about a story that is essentially one tweet (even though Zo does have a good sense of what's going on inside the organization).
According to @scottzolak the #Patriots could be changing their uniforms for next season □□ #ForeverNE
— Justin Ramos (@patriotsnews247) November 28, 2021
Seriously, every single one of these articles is just two sentences of shit that links to that tweet.
Plus, we all know what can happen when you overreact to something that hasn't been confirmed.
But this is great *potential* news that wouldn't be unprecedented. The NFL currently has a rule that you can only change your primary uniforms once every five years, but this is the same league that brought you the non-guaranteed contract and flex-scheduling. Nothing is real, and if the Pats want to fix this fashion faux pas, I'm sure they'll find a way.
When the Patriots ditched the three-point stance Pat Patriot for the 1993 season, they upgraded their new blue look after only two seasons, then revamped that entire look after just five years.
A quick uniform pivot wouldn't be unprecedented for the Patriots.
They wore those hideous uniforms on the left in 1994 and changed to the ones on the right in 1995. pic.twitter.com/gTYU7WnlYB
— Will D. (@WAD1980) November 28, 2021
With the NFL's ban on alternate helmets set to get repealed next season, plenty of people are hoping the Pats return to their Pat Patriot look; I'd welcome that, but I feel like they're from a purely speculative standpoint just gonna use those as an alternate. Maybe the Pats just realized they fucked up and would rather nip this issue in the bud now instead of rocking their Wal-Mart jerseys for the third leg of the Belichick Dynasty?
Song: What is Life (1970)
Artist: George Harrison
Album: All Things Must Pass
Twenty years ago today, the world lost George Harrison and you can bet your ass I won't being use the term anniversary.
Shallow Hal came out only 20 days before George Harrison's death; crazy timing. Mauricio done fucked up now!
Special Thanksgiving Edition of #DozVsTheDozen Airs Tomorrow at 10:05 am and I've Got a Nice Lil Appetizer for You Today
Tonight is usually one of my favorite nights of the year, Thanksgiving Eve, aka Drinksgiving. I wrote about this glorious night back in the inaugural year of DOL, and despite still fucking with the concept, I'm not really feeling up to it this year. For one I have a little bit of a cold, but mainly because I didn't go out last year due to the whole Covid pandemic situation. So a bunch of the people I'd run into haven't seen me since Drinksgiving 2019 when I was thriving, "slim," enjoying existence.
Two years later, I've blown up like Violet Beauregarde and have some Rudolph-like growth on my nose, so I'd rather stay away and give myself another year to get my shit together. (maybe my 30s will be "my time") Some of my friends will be like, "nobody cares, bro, just go out" well, I care. I'm embarrassed by what I've become but can't break this cycle because the last two years have broken my spirit. I'm trying to inch my way back, but my job, the GQP & multiple fucked up relationships don't help. Sorry, nobody clicked on a #DVTD preview expecting all this to get dropped into their lap, but then again, nobody will see this blog, so it's all good baby, baabbbbyyy.
Regardless of whether I go out tonight or not, the show must go on! Tomorrow, The Dozen returns to its 10:00 am time slot for Thanksgiving, which means #DozVsTheDozen XXII is moving up as well. 10:00 am is sorta early for me on a non-work day, so I'm posting this now to give everybody ample planning time. Plus, you can pregame tonight with #DVTD XXI.
I plan on waking up at like 9:55 am, maybe 9:45, to give myself ample bathroom time. Then it's time to play some trivia and go to my Grandma's for Thanksgiving since my dad cares more about his third wife than his firstborn!
Tomorrow's match-up should be a doozy: (2) Frank and the Frankettes vs. (6) UrMom. Since I'm posting this the day before the official match, the graphic isn't out yet. My spread for last match ended up being pretty spot on so let's see if I can keep it going....Frank and the Frankettes -2.5.
If a living person is reading this, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Eve. Whatever you do, I hope you have a good time and stay safe (which includes not gambling on the Lions-Bears game). You can catch #DozVsTheDozen XXII tomorrow, November 25th, 2021, at 10:05 am EST on my IG at @dozonlife. That's instagram.com/dozonlife.
I can't wait to see you there! Happy Thanksgiving.
Song: Celebration (1980)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Album: Celebrate!
Happy Birthday Grandma! I'll be over soon.
Tom Brady Advocating for Rodney Harrison's HOF Case Warms My Heart
Back in January I wrote a blog with essentially the same title about Richard Seymour, but unfortunately he was not inducted into Canton this year. Although he earn a red jacket as a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
(swag hat) Image Source
With the NFL set to announce semifinalists for the 2022 Hall of Fame class tomorrow, today, former Patriots VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli released an article on NFL.com about Rodney Harrison's Hall of Fame credentials. My man brought the receipts!! Watch out on John Lynch (who was NOT on my 2021 HOF Ballot) you're about to catch some ricochets!
Rodney Harrison was the first player in #NFL history to record 30 sacks and 30 INTs in a career. That stat is only a small part of his story. He still hasn't received the knock on his door to be put into the @ProFootballHOF - it's time folks... https://t.co/WV4cknYt6G
— Scott Pioli (@scottpioli51) November 23, 2021
It's a quick read that does a great job breaking down Rodney's stats, and lack of recognition with Pro Bowls and All-Pros compared to 2021 HOFer John Lynch. Despite playing 38 fewer career games than Lynch, Rodney finished his career with more sacks, interceptions, and defensive touchdowns.
Scott Pioli is well-respected around football circles, blah, blah, blah, but that dude is vanilla wallpaper boring and does not move the needle like the greatest quarterback of all time. His article started the conversation, but Brady's seal of approval should be like an Oprah Book club sticker endorsement for Rodney's case.
The original "edger" … it's most certainly time @ProFootballHOF https://t.co/P8taGZPHki
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) November 23, 2021
I haven't had a chance to watch the new episode of Man in the Arena yet, but with it being 2003 focused, there's going to be plenty of Rodney coverage. After this blog, I'm calling it a night from writing, packing a fat Super bowl, and taking a trip down XXXVIII lane.
With only two career Pro Bowls and three All-Pro seasons, Rodney might not seem like a Hall of Famer at first glance, but his actual stats and accomplishments speak much louder than the Pro Bowl popularity contest. As Scott said, he's one of only two players in NFL history with at least 30 interceptions AND sacks, and he was the first player to cross that threshold. Sure, he did HGH in 2007, but everybody in the NFL is on something; this isn't baseball, nobody really cares.
I think Rodney's demeanor on the field, association with the Patriots, and "wasted" years on last place Charger teams have cost him to this point, but when you look at the numbers, and on the field impact, Rodney is a clear cut HOFer. He was a guy that opponents feared and game-planned around.
It's a semi-cherry picked stat, but Rodney Harrison is the last player to record multiple interceptions in the Super Bowl (2 vs. the Eagles in SB XXXIX). Rodney played hard and left it all on the field. Maybe being on the wrong side of the luckiest play in NFL history has cost him to this point?
Maybe it's my inner child of divorce speaking, but I love seeing Brady show love to former Patriots. It's such a weird situation because even though he's in Tampa, he's ours, and he'll always be ours. Once he retires in 2-9 years, we all know that he'll likely be affiliated with the Pats somehow. We all saw his post gamer after "the return." I'm a support my friends and show love guy, so seeing Brady do the same warms my clogged heart. I want to see him continue to support his teammates because it can't hurt their case and helps heal the "I still can't believe Brady is on the fucking Tampa Bay Buccaneers" wound. #FOREVERAPATRIOT.
There are not many people on this planet with a higher football IQ than Tom Brady. If he thinks you belong in Canton, that should be good enough for the Hall. I'd love to see him do the same for Vince Wilfork and Logan Mankins. If Welker made that catch against the Giants on a slightly overthrown ball, I'd add him to the list too.
When I was at Gillette for Brady's return, Rodney was outside of the stadium doing a segment with NBC and there had to a couple hundred people chanting "Rodney, Rodney, Rodney," and it was awesome. You'd love to see his colleague Tony Dungy pump his HOF tires too. Sure, I'm biased and love Rodney, but that doesn't change that fact he deserves a bronze bust in Canton, Ohio.


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Q: File Upload in NodeJs with express-fileupload not working properly I have made a REST API in NodeJs for File Upload working okay but there is an Issue, if i upload more then 2 images only 2, 3 get uploads and sometimes 1 gets corrupted. i think my Loop is running too fast for this.
blow is my Code:
app.post('/img-upload', function(req, res) {
  if (!req.files)
    return res.status(400).send({"status":"false", "data":"Image Not Found"});

  // Use the mv() method to place the file somewhere on your server
    for(var key in req.files) {

        thisFile = req.files[key];
        let name = +new Date();
        thisFile.mv('./images/' + name++ +'.png', function(err) {
            if (err) {
                res.send(err);
            }

        });

    }
        res.json({"status":"File uploaded!"});
});

module used: express-fileupload

A: Posting an answer that may not be the answer, to explain the comment by @PatrickRoberts who seems to have a point.
thisFile.mv apparently works asynchronously, meaning function(err){...} might be run after res.json(...) and the following implicit return.
Although Node shouldn't kill the remaining async processes, you're anyway too early to tell the user that files were uploaded successfully. (You could send that success, then one of your callbacks throws an error... but too late, you can't send that error to the client.)
Two options to see this through.
a decent option
Wait for all callbacks to be completed to send a successful result. Probably something like:
let uploads = [];
for (let k in req.files) {
  req.files[k].mv('/my/path/to.png', function(err) {
    let promise = new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
      if (err) {
        reject(err);
      } else {
        resolve();
      }
    });
    uploads.push(promise);

  })
} // end for loop
Promise.all(uploads).then(function() {
  res.json({"status":"File uploaded!"});
}).catch(function(err) {
  res.send(err);
});

a slow option that I'm ashamed of
In case this doesn't fix it, and assuming @PatrickRoberts spotted the correct issue, you can try and make the uploads sequentially, like:
function processFile() {
  let file = req.files.shift()
  if (!file) return; // stop sequence condition
  file.mv('/my/path/to.png', function(err) {
    if (err) {
      res.send(err);
    } else {
      processFile();
    }
  })
}
processFile(); // start the recursive and sequential "loop"

If none of these work (the second, bad option is slow but a clear proof of whether res.json/res.send are involved), then your issue lies elsewhere. In such a case, please give more information about "sometimes one is corrupted": is the file incomplete? Is it the server showing an error? The client receiving an error? In the latter cases, what error?

A: this work for me
 let media = req.files;

 for (let pos in media) {
   media[pos].mv(`./media/${renameFile}`, (err) => {
        if (err) {
            return res.status(500).json({
                ok: false,
                err
            });
        }
    });
}

A: if you have installed express-fileUpload again do it with this command
if you want to upload image kindly give name attribute (case sensitive ) and try
npm install express body-parser cors express-fileupload morgan lodash --save
for me it worked ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


How to support different platforms and different OpenGL capabilities within one codebase.
If Magnum is compiled with e.g. OpenGL ES 2.0 support, some features present in desktop version are not available. It means that some classes, functions and enum values are simply not included in headers. It is designed this way to make porting easier — it is better to fail at compile time on e.g. undefined enum value than fail at runtime in some corner case because given texture format is not supported.
Each feature is marked accordingly if it is not available in some targets. See also Functionality requiring desktop OpenGL, Functionality requiring OpenGL ES 2.0 or WebGL 1.0 and Functionality requiring OpenGL ES 3.0.
Magnum is attempting to be future-proof and as intuitive for users as possible. Many features from C++11 are used to simplify things and make them faster and more secure, but on the other hand it requires a compiler with good enough support of the standard. Currently Magnum is written with at least GCC 4.8, Clang 3.1 and MSVC 2015 in mind. See Corrade.h for more information.
Each feature is marked accordingly if it is not available on some compilers, see SceneGraph::DrawableGroup3D for an example. It is up to you (or your platform) which compiler your code will support, code written for e.g. GCC 4.8 will work also on Magnum compiled with support for newer compilers, although newer compilers may catch errors that weren't spotted by earlier versions.
Some functionality (such as dynamic plugin loading or filesystem access) might not be available on particular platforms. Corrade.h contains defintions which you can use for platform-aware code.
You can also decide on particular OpenGL version using GL::Context::isVersionSupported(), but remember that some features from that version might be available even if the drivers don't fully expose that version.
Each class, function or enum value is marked accordingly if it needs specific extension or specific OpenGL version. Various classes in Magnum are taking advantage of some extensions and enable faster code paths if given extension is available, but also have proper fallback when it's not, see for example AbstractShaderProgram, AbstractTexture or Mesh. See also Version and extension requirements.
Shaders are probably the most painful thing to port. There are many issues to address — different shader syntax (in / out vs. attribute and varying etc.), explicit vs. implicit methods to specify vertex attribute, uniform and texture uniform locations, required precision qualifiers in OpenGL ES etc.
See also GL::AbstractShaderProgram class documentation for information about specifying attribute location, uniform location and texture binding unit in various OpenGL versions.
All shaders in Shaders namespace support desktop OpenGL starting from version 2.1 and also OpenGL ES 2.0 and 3.0 (or WebGL 1.0 / 2.0). Feel free to look into their sources to see how portability is handled there.
Your application might run on Windows box, on some embedded Linux or even in browser — each platform has different requirements how to create an entry point to the application, how to handle input events, how to create window and OpenGL context etc. Namespace Platform contains application base classes which are abstracting out most of it for your convenience.
All the classes support limited form of static polymorphism, which means you can just switch to another base class and in many cases you won't need to change any other code. It has its limitations, though — some toolkits don't support all special keys, mouse movement events etc.
As mentioned in Platform support, all the classes, macros and CMake variables have generic aliases, thus using different toolkit is in most cases only matter of replacing two lines of code.


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text:
Q: Java sending image through network with ImageIO I have a network program that sends a stream of BufferedImages through a network using ImageIO.write(..), this is working as intended apart from sometimes the Image received on the other end will just be a series of small black and white squares for a long time, then it will eventually switch back to sending the actual images.
I can't find any help with this anywhere.
I'm using Java version 1.8.0_65, I send the image like so:
BufferedImage capture = robot.createScreenCapture(new Rectangle(Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize()));
BufferedImage newImage = new BufferedImage(capture.getWidth(), capture.getHeight(), BufferedImage.TYPE_4BYTE_ABGR_PRE);
newImage.createGraphics().drawImage(capture, 0, 0, newImage.getWidth(), newImage.getHeight(), null);
capture = newImage;
BufferedImage difference = null;
if (lastImage != null) {
    difference = getDifferenceImage(capture, lastImage);
} else {
    difference = capture;
}
long generated = System.currentTimeMillis() - start;
ImageIO.write(difference, "png", socket.getOutputStream());
socket.getOutputStream().flush();

A: Try this code:
public byte[] getCustomImageInBytes(BufferedImage originalImage) {
    byte[] imageInByte = null;
    try {
        // convert BufferedImage to byte array
        ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
        ImageIO.write(originalImage, "png", baos);
        baos.flush();
        imageInByte = baos.toByteArray();
        baos.close();
    } catch (IOException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

    return imageInByte;
}

socket.getOutputStream().write(getCustomImageInBytes(difference));
socket.getOutputStream().flush();


text:
DATA & EVALUATION
LOCAL CARE TEAM
CURRENT FUNDED PARTNERS
DEMAUNE A. MILLARD
The rent you owe living in this world is to lend your hand to others in need."
– Lee Millard
A well-rounded body of work as an agent for change best describe a career nurtured in service and leadership. Family League's 5th President & CEO, Demaune Millard was raised in Baltimore grounded in his mother's words "the rent you owe living in this world is to lend your hand to others in need."
The phrase summarizes a career spanning across tenures in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Upon completing his first year of college, Demaune was selected as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation intern for U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-7). This opportunity was the first instance exposing him to the importance of the legislative process on Capitol Hill. Subsequently, he also interned with D.C. lobbying giant Cassidy & Associates and was eventually hired on staff as a researcher covering U.S. Senate and House committees while drafting briefs for the firm's partners and associates.
Always intrigued with the mystique and history of the United States Senate, Demaune interned for Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and was employed full time following college. Like many Mikulski junior staffers, he started in the mailroom before earning his way onto her legislative team; handling issues such as labor, trade, small business, telecommunications, commerce, and transportation.
Following four years of service in the Senate, Demaune left Capitol Hill for Maryland State Government. As a legislative officer for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), he worked directly with the state legislature to adopt the administration's $502 million public transportation initiative. MDOT is also where he staffed the workgroup charged with the reauthorization of the state's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program resulting in legislation that increased participation goals from 14 to 25 percent. Upon completing his stint at MDOT, Demaune received a promotional assignment to the office of Gov. Paris N. Glendening (D-MD) as a special assistant where he organized environmental advocates to restore $10 million in budget cuts initially made by the General Assembly.
Prior to coming to Baltimore's City Hall, Demaune worked for the American Public Transportation Association where he organized advocacy activities in support of the D.C. based trade association's policy goals in conjunction with its marketing research campaign. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating with partners from across the country through the National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates, as well as the Center for Transportation Excellence in developing awareness on critical issues facing public transportation nationwide at the state and local level. These efforts among many contributed to Congress reauthorizing the federal surface transportation law TEA-21.
As the first African American woman sworn-in to be Mayor for the city of Baltimore, Sheila Dixon appointed Demaune as Director of Government Relations, where he was the city's primary point of contact with federal, state, and local lawmakers. The former mayor eventually elevated him to Chief of Staff, expanding his responsibilities to manage the Mayor's Office, including government relations, communications, constituent services, budget planning and development for improved municipal interagency coordination.
Today, Demaune leads Maryland's largest local management board, Family League of Baltimore. As an adaptable vision cultivator, he fosters stakeholder consensus with the ability to optimally leverage team member skill and talent. He successfully shepherd a community-centric strategic plan, Transformation 2024 during COVID-19.
All of these attributes he credits a mother's refrain of service and leadership.
Mayor's Cabinet, City of Baltimore
Baltimore City Community Schools Steering Committee
Education and Workforce Committee, Greater Baltimore Committee
Greater Baltimore Committee's Presidential Advisory Council
Johns Hopkins University Center on Adolescent Health Community
CONNECT WITH DEMAUNE
Family League of Baltimore works collaboratively to support data-informed, community-driven solutions that align resources to dismantle the systemic barriers which limit the possibilities for children, families, and communities.
SUPPORT FAMILY LEAGUE
© Copyright 2022 The Family League
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text:
NPT Turns 50: A Legacy Of Failures – OpEd
July 25, 2018 Beenish Altaf 0 Comments
By Beenish Altaf
Theoretically, 1 July 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) for signatures. Two schools of thought are prominent in explaining the emergence and evolution of the Nuclear Nonproliferation regime. One of them propagates this achievement as a sincere effort on the part of the major powers to curb the spread of nuclear weapons for a secure and peaceful world. Contending opinion explains it as a political move with implicit ambitions to sanction and secure the monopoly of major powers in this regard.
The NPT Review Conferences specifically the most recent being in May 2018 faced huge disappointment in showing up any positive outcome. It too ended up with nothing concrete in the sphere of non-proliferation regime. Likewise, the Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) are still not taking any substantial step / stance for Nuclear Disarmament (ND), which makes zero contribution to Article VI of Treaty. By what means can a settlement in presence for almost fifty years be judged as something besides a disappointment when one of its particular destinations, the end of atomic weapons, is much further away than in the season of its marking in 1968?
Since its inception, the Treaty has faced enormous challenges in securing its objectives. Ambiguity of its various clauses and discriminatory nature of its agenda has remained crucial in its failure to move towards non-proliferation and complete disarmament. NPT, as an instrument of eliminating nuclear weapons from this planet earth, does not have a well-connected, internally coherent mechanism to achieve the stated objective of arms control and disarmament. Adding to this, the text of this agreement provides for the serious rifts between its signatories and creates an unfavourable environment for the survival of the NPT. Furthermore, the question of haves and have-nots' establishes the authority of some states and denies this privileged treatment to others. Based on these contradictions, its member states has clearly manipulated its existence for certain vested interests. The USA's attempt to provide its NATO allies with nuclear technology and the recent nuclear deal between India (non-NPT state) and the US characterises a clear violation of provisions of the NPT.
Despite the fact that the indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995 reflects the strong commitment of member states to work on stated objectives, the treaty faces a bleak future. In a more recent event, in last review conference of 2015, committed signatory states were unsuccessful in reaching to an agreement / consensus. The divisive issue of complete nuclear disarmament between non-nuclear weapon states and nuclear weapons states has exposed the vulnerabilities of this regime.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) yearly survey all the nuclear weapons powers, driven by Russia and the United States, are modernizing frameworks that will be effective by the 2040s. Analytically, the NPT is being utilized, not to advance nuclear disarmament, but somewhat to legitimize it. The NPT ought to be rejected and supplanted by a Comprehensive Disarmament Treaty (CDT) that revives the charter of the United Nation that was willingness and a desire for a world free of nuclear weapons and its threat of war.
During 1960-1970s both the USSR and the United States expected that their nuclear predominance was being diluted as nations outside their particular collusion structures, strikingly France and China, made nuclear bombs. Restricting the spread of atomic weapons was, in this manner, seen as commonly favourable. The inquiry was the manner by which to get guarantee from nations that were being requested to give up the nuclear choice.
Yet, numerous nations that upheld the guideline of non-proliferation had genuine reservations. As opposed to seeing the arrangement fall flat, the USSR and the United States concurred, at the later phases of the transactions, "to the consideration of Article VI requiring a cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament." But ironically there was no time-plan with respect to how this could be accomplished.
To end this deadlock and to achieve the desired objective of non-proliferation and complete disarmament, the NPT needs to revisit its long held agenda which is now becoming irrelevant in the face of much bigger challenge and changed realities. For this regime to be successful, all the established nuclear weapon countries, P-5 or more specifically signatories to the agreement, are required to take the lead by getting rid of their nuclear arsenals which would incentivise others to follow the suit. In addition to this, reservations of non-NPT nuclear weapon states, which have acquired nuclear weapons for certain security concerns, require immediate attention through the modification of the current NPT structure. Considering the failure of last held NPT review conference, the need is to change the traditional consensus based arrangement that has obstructed the progress over other areas of serious nature.
The desired objective of arms limitation and finally complete disarmament demands no less. This 50th anniversary reminds all nations, particularly to the major powers, that their commitment to the cause has remained interest based and much more of a political nature. Therefore, in order to move towards a safe and secure world, genuine efforts of all nations are needed in preserving, sustaining and strengthening the declining role of the NPT regime.
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Beenish Altaf
Beenish Altaf works for the Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad and be reached at [email protected] Ms. Beenish Altaf holds masters degree in Defence and Diplomatic Studies from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.