text:
namespace content {

// This class handles VA-API calls and ensures proper locking of VA-API calls
// to libva, the userspace shim to the HW codec driver. libva is not
// thread-safe, so we have to perform locking ourselves. This class is fully
// synchronous and its methods can be called from any thread and may wait on
// the va_lock_ while other, concurrent calls run.
//
// This class is responsible for managing VAAPI connection, contexts and state.
// It is also responsible for managing and freeing VABuffers (not VASurfaces),
// which are used to queue parameters and slice data to the HW codec,
// as well as underlying memory for VASurfaces themselves.
class CONTENT_EXPORT VaapiWrapper {
 public:
  enum CodecMode {
    kDecode,
    kEncode,
  };

  // |report_error_to_uma_cb| will be called independently from reporting
  // errors to clients via method return values.
  static scoped_ptr<VaapiWrapper> Create(
      CodecMode mode,
      media::VideoCodecProfile profile,
      Display* x_display,
      const base::Closure& report_error_to_uma_cb);

  ~VaapiWrapper();

  // Create |num_surfaces| backing surfaces in driver for VASurfaces, each
  // of size |size|. Returns true when successful, with the created IDs in
  // |va_surfaces| to be managed and later wrapped in VASurfaces.
  // The client must DestroySurfaces() each time before calling this method
  // again to free the allocated surfaces first, but is not required to do so
  // at destruction time, as this will be done automatically from
  // the destructor.
  bool CreateSurfaces(gfx::Size size,
                      size_t num_surfaces,
                      std::vector<VASurfaceID>* va_surfaces);

  // Free all memory allocated in CreateSurfaces.
  void DestroySurfaces();

  // Submit parameters or slice data of |va_buffer_type|, copying them from
  // |buffer| of size |size|, into HW codec. The data in |buffer| is no
  // longer needed and can be freed after this method returns.
  // Data submitted via this method awaits in the HW codec until
  // ExecuteAndDestroyPendingBuffers() is called to execute or
  // DestroyPendingBuffers() is used to cancel a pending job.
  bool SubmitBuffer(VABufferType va_buffer_type, size_t size, void* buffer);

  // Submit a VAEncMiscParameterBuffer of given |misc_param_type|, copying its
  // data from |buffer| of size |size|, into HW codec. The data in |buffer| is
  // no longer needed and can be freed after this method returns.
  // Data submitted via this method awaits in the HW codec until
  // ExecuteAndDestroyPendingBuffers() is called to execute or
  // DestroyPendingBuffers() is used to cancel a pending job.
  bool SubmitVAEncMiscParamBuffer(VAEncMiscParameterType misc_param_type,
                                  size_t size,
                                  void* buffer);

  // Cancel and destroy all buffers queued to the HW codec via SubmitBuffer().
  // Useful when a pending job is to be cancelled (on reset or error).
  void DestroyPendingBuffers();

  // Execute job in hardware on target |va_surface_id| and destroy pending
  // buffers. Return false if Execute() fails.
  bool ExecuteAndDestroyPendingBuffers(VASurfaceID va_surface_id);

  // Put data from |va_surface_id| into |x_pixmap| of size |size|,
  // converting/scaling to it.
  bool PutSurfaceIntoPixmap(VASurfaceID va_surface_id,
                            Pixmap x_pixmap,
                            gfx::Size dest_size);

  // Returns true if the VAAPI version is less than the specified version.
  bool VAAPIVersionLessThan(int major, int minor);

  // Get a VAImage from a VASurface and map it into memory. The VAImage should
  // be released using the ReturnVaImage function. Returns true when successful.
  // This is intended for testing only.
  bool GetVaImageForTesting(VASurfaceID va_surface_id,
                            VAImage* image,
                            void** mem);

  // Release the VAImage (and the associated memory mapping) obtained from
  // GetVaImage(). This is intended for testing only.
  void ReturnVaImageForTesting(VAImage* image);

  // Upload contents of |frame| into |va_surface_id| for encode.
  bool UploadVideoFrameToSurface(const scoped_refptr<media::VideoFrame>& frame,
                                 VASurfaceID va_surface_id);

  // Create a buffer of |size| bytes to be used as encode output.
  bool CreateCodedBuffer(size_t size, VABufferID* buffer_id);

  // Download the contents of the buffer with given |buffer_id| into a buffer of
  // size |target_size|, pointed to by |target_ptr|. The number of bytes
  // downloaded will be returned in |coded_data_size|. |sync_surface_id| will
  // be used as a sync point, i.e. it will have to become idle before starting
  // the download. |sync_surface_id| should be the source surface passed
  // to the encode job.
  bool DownloadAndDestroyCodedBuffer(VABufferID buffer_id,
                                     VASurfaceID sync_surface_id,
                                     uint8* target_ptr,
                                     size_t target_size,
                                     size_t* coded_data_size);

  // Destroy all previously-allocated (and not yet destroyed) coded buffers.
  void DestroyCodedBuffers();

 private:
  VaapiWrapper();

  bool Initialize(CodecMode mode,
                  media::VideoCodecProfile profile,
                  Display* x_display,
                  const base::Closure& report_error__to_uma_cb);
  void Deinitialize();

  // Execute pending job in hardware and destroy pending buffers. Return false
  // if vaapi driver refuses to accept parameter or slice buffers submitted
  // by client, or if execution fails in hardware.
  bool Execute(VASurfaceID va_surface_id);

  // Attempt to set render mode to "render to texture.". Failure is non-fatal.
  void TryToSetVADisplayAttributeToLocalGPU();

  // Lazily initialize static data after sandbox is enabled.  Return false on
  // init failure.
  static bool PostSandboxInitialization();

  // Libva is not thread safe, so we have to do locking for it ourselves.
  // This lock is to be taken for the duration of all VA-API calls and for
  // the entire job submission sequence in ExecuteAndDestroyPendingBuffers().
  base::Lock va_lock_;

  // Allocated ids for VASurfaces.
  std::vector<VASurfaceID> va_surface_ids_;

  // The VAAPI version.
  int major_version_, minor_version_;

  // VA handles.
  // Both valid after successful Initialize() and until Deinitialize().
  VADisplay va_display_;
  VAConfigID va_config_id_;
  // Created for the current set of va_surface_ids_ in CreateSurfaces() and
  // valid until DestroySurfaces().
  VAContextID va_context_id_;

  // Data queued up for HW codec, to be committed on next execution.
  std::vector<VABufferID> pending_slice_bufs_;
  std::vector<VABufferID> pending_va_bufs_;

  // Bitstream buffers for encode.
  std::set<VABufferID> coded_buffers_;

  // Called to report codec errors to UMA. Errors to clients are reported via
  // return values from public methods.
  base::Closure report_error_to_uma_cb_;

  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(VaapiWrapper);
};

}  // namespace content

#endif  // CONTENT_COMMON_GPU_MEDIA_VAAPI_WRAPPER_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The recent horrific shootings in Aurora, Colorado is yet another event that children have been exposed to over the past many years that threatens their sense of safety and security. While some children are able to learn of such events and seemingly "move on" with no noticeable impact, others are momentarily "shaken", respond with genuine feelings of fear and their sense of safety and trust in the world are temporarily altered.
There are other children, however, who are deeply shaken and even traumatized by such events. Such children may portray numerous anxiety reactions including renewed fears of separation from their parents and caregivers, fears of going to public places and/or even obsessive thoughts about the event or reports of it seen on TV. Others may regress in previously gained developmental achievements and, for example, may want to sleep with parents when prior to the event they had been comfortable and secure in their own beds.
1. Listen—allow your child to talk about their reactions, fears, and resulting fantasies without rushing to reassure them- thereby cutting them off from having a chance to express their fears (which also allows you to fully understand the extent of their fears). 2. Understand that children deal with trauma different than adults. Children tend to "touch it", have brief periods of dealing with it and then return to do the same thing hours or even days or weeks later (adults tend to talk in depth for extended periods of time). 3. Provide reassurance, love and support and maintain the child's regular schedule and routine. 4. Do Not develop an avoidant life style which will only serve to increase the child's fears of the world. 5. Allow for partial and temporary regressions-with love, ongoing structure and routine developmental achievements will be regained. 6. If your child portrays ongoing nightmares, obsessional thoughts and/or unresolvable anxiety, seek the help of a child expert.


Protecting your brand and reputation in an environment of increasing cyber threat – What could be more important?
Our mission is to help protect your business reputation and sensitive data from today's cyber threats. We accomplish this by using proprietary tools and partnering with leading cyber prevention firms. The result is industry-leading approaches and solutions that identify sensitive data on your network usually within 48 hours and attempts to compromise your business identity.
To protect your sensitive personal or business data, you must know where it resides. Hacking and ransomware are increasing weekly, creating havoc for businesses and individuals. And you must know of attempts to divert traffic to sites posing as yours. Fraudulent sites divert business traffic, compromising your business identity.
Healthcare is one of the top attack targets and the financial penalties for compromised PHI are high. Do you know where all the PHI resides on your network? Laptops have been embraced by many providers but they can be lost or stolen. Are you doing all you can to safeguard your patient's protected information and your website and brand identity?
Protecting your client's confidential information is of utmost importance to maintaining a relationship of trust. Are you sure the information is safe? Are you sure client's are getting to your website and not an importer site that captures their personal information and damages your brand?
Client's turn to you for the benefits and value you provide. And share personal and confidential information as members. How confident are you that the information is safe? How confident are you that there are no clones of your website capturing your members and damaging your reputation?
All companies need to gather personal information about employees. Do you know all the locations where all the confidential information resides? Do you know who may be sharing the information? Are you sure the websites you direct employees to are the real ones and not clones?
Your websites and brands are of critical importance to your reputation and your business. Are you sure that the website people are finding are yours and not clones or cyber-squatters on common misspellings of the site name? Are you sure that you are conforming to the laws in different countries to protect your brand name and trademarks?
Trust is essential to maintaining and growing your business. Gathering of confidential information is an inherent part of the profession. Do you know every place on your network where sensitive information resides? Are you sure it isn't being carried out on laptops and mobile devices? Are there any clones of your websites stealing client's confidential information? And are you doing all that is necessary to protect your brand and trademarks in different countries and jurisdictions?
You can order online today or call us at 1-866-921-6150 to get started.


text:
Posts made in: 'Kids' (4) Currently Viewing: 1 - 4 of 4
June 3, 2014 at 2:57pm
Farrelli's Pizza to install a new play set at JBLM's Fisher House
By Melanie Casey Comments
Farrelli's Pizza family, Fisher House staff and even Harmon Brewing Co. staff pictured at the Fisher House at JBLM. See caption below.
Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza is all about family, and the popular local restaurant chain is doing its part to help military families living at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fisher House feel a little more at home.
In the next few weeks, volunteers from Farrelli's will install a new play set in the backyard of the home, which is located just down the street from the Madigan Army Medical Center on JBLM.
Since Fisher House families reside at the house while an ill or injured servicemember undergoes treatment at Madigan, it is understandably a very stressful time in their lives. They stay at the home from a few days to several months, and staff and volunteers do what they can to help make it a "home away from home."
There is a cozy living room complete with a TV, toys and books as well as a spacious kitchen, laundry facilities and backyard grill and gazebo area. There is also a beautifully landscaped garden and a fenced play area so the littlest residents can burn off some steam.
A few weeks ago, several members of the Farrell family and its management team visited the home to formalize a fundraising partnership with Harmon Brewing Company. While on a tour with Manager Jodi Land, they noticed that the play area in the backyard was in desperate need of new equipment.
The company - which in 2010 won the National Restaurant Association's National Neighbor Award - knew what it needed to do. "We saw an opportunity to lend a hand," said Clayton Krueger, Farrelli's director of marketing and communications. So Margaret "Mama" Farrell went out and purchased a large new playground, which staff will install and assemble in the coming weeks.
"This new playground will give children staying at the Fisher House an outlet and an opportunity to get outside in a safe, secure environment," said Land. "The new equipment was badly needed, and we are thankful that the Farrell family not only donated the materials, but also that they are going to install and assemble it for us."
The family owned and operated restaurant chain, which started in Lacey in 1995 and caters to families, has always supported and honored its military neighbors. "The military is the glue that holds our community together," Krueger said. As a show of the company's appreciation to its military neighbors, service members returning from deployment get a free meal at both of the family's Farrelli's and MacNamara's restaurants.
To learn more about Farrelli's, visit farrellispizza.com. For more information about Fisher House, visit fisherhouse-jblm.org, call 253.964.9283 or stop by the home, located at 9999 Wilson Ave. on JBLM.
Jodi Land (Fisher House), Jesse Holder (Harmon Brewing Co.), Clayton Krueger (director of Marketing & Communications), Jacque Farrell (founder & COO), James Mickelson (director of Project Management & IT), Rob Rasmussen (director of Design & Promotion), Margaret Farrell (founder), Lizz Farrell-Lewis (director of Guest Satisfaction) and on the bottom row — John Farrell (founder)
Filed under: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Comment The The Day, Food & Drink, Kids, Health, Military, Madigan Army Medical Center,
May 16, 2014 at 2:45pm
Parenting Teens in Washington Workshop will focus on marijuana and alcohol
By Kristin Kendle Comments
The Washington State drug and alcohol landscape is changing. Alcohol sales have been privatized, and hard liquor is now present on retail shelves. Marijuana has been legalized, and soon enough things like candy and baked-good edibles will be widely available. While these shifting sands may or may not affect adults, parents may be wondering - how will these new laws impact kids, specifically teens who will likely encounter these substances through friends, at parties or in other social situations? What can parents do to prevent their teens from abusing alcohol and marijuana?
The Thurston County drug prevention non-profit TOGETHER! is offering a free workshop for parents aimed at answering these questions. Experts in the fields of substance abuse, parenting, prevention and law enforcement will weigh in on what parents need to know.
Filed under: Kids, Community, Olympia,
The difficult road to building a military family
By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger Comments
An image of Heidi Burger, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger, and a teddy bear that honors his son, Gabriel, who died last November from pregnancy complications. Photo credit: Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Burger II, 11th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT HOOD, Texas - My story isn't unique in the military. In fact, it's more common than people know.
This week has been a hard Army week for me. It's not about being deployed for the fifth time or recovering from the media event we conducted yesterday morning or even dealing with young Soldiers that don't quite seem to understand the concept of the term "professional development."
As I sit behind my desk, I look at the beautifully expensive photo of my wife from Glamour Shots and the tiny cotton teddy bear with the red bow tie next to it and realize that my son, Gabriel, would be born this week.
That is to say he would have been, if he hadn't died five months ago. My son died last November due to a premature labor. The teddy bear the nurses put next to his tiny body is all I have left to even know he ever existed.
Service members and their families sign up to support and defend our great country. It's an honorable profession and wonderful experience that many, myself included, wouldn't change for anything. But some Service members sacrifice more than others. Some sacrifice the time and effort to build families of their own.
Filed under: Military, Health, In Their Words, Kids,
Live-Blogging: The Salute to Military Kids
By Northwest Military News Team Comments
Military kids from the South Sound are enjoying a free day of fun at Pierce College in Lakewood.
Military children make up a very special part of our region's population. Although young, these brave sons and daughters stand in steadfast support of their military parents through moves and deployments. To honor their unique contributions and sacrifices on behalf of the South Sound, The Ranger and Northwest Airlifter, with support from child car seat manufacturer Diono, have planned a free day of fun for the military kids at Pierce College. Old McDebbie's Petting Zoo, The Reptile Man, a gym full of inflatable toys, Starbucks treats, A Princess Party with hair designs, a Home Depot building craft center, games, prizes, a kids' game show, the Pierce College's Planetarium and much more will be available to the military dependents.
There are a lot of things more important than following live-blogging of our Salute To Military Kids event today at Pierce College - but none of them are things you have to do today. That's right, we're doing us some live-blogging.
11 a.m.: Doors are open at the Pierce College Health Education Building. The whole building and nearby parking lots are loaded with stuff to do. A bit disappointed the weight room is closed. Today was chest and triceps day.
11:05 a.m.: The kids have found the At A Simple Wish princesses.
Filed under: Military, Events, Food & Drink, Lakewood, Kids,

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There are endless amounts of training plans out there that claim they will help you run your fastest race ever. How do you choose?
The #1 Rule of Thumb: Unless you are following a true beginner program (like a "Couch to 5k"), most programs assume you are already running.
With that being said, a good goal is to find a plan where Week 1 is similar to your current activity levels. If you are running 5x per week totaling 20 miles, look for a program where Week 1 has you running about 20 miles and 5x per week.
If you know you can only run 3x per week, there are enough programs out there that do just that. Unless running is your job, running should fit into your life, your life shouldn't have to fit into your running schedule.
Everyone has a bad day or even a bad week. A stressful week at work, you get sick, you go on vacation, whatever. Life happens. You may have to change up your schedule a bit or even miss a few days. Training plans are only a guide. Don't beat yourself up; just get back on track the next week. Also, it's not a good idea to try to make up workouts and overdo it the next week. That will set you up for injury and burnout.
A good training program will have a little variety. Look for one long run, one workout (track, speed, fartlek, hills), and 1-3 easy to moderate days. Incorporating cross training and strength workouts are also important. Each week long runs should get a little longer and speed workouts a little faster. Every few weeks, you should back off in mileage for the week to help recover and recharge.
I have helped a number of my friends and clients find and choose training plans from 5k all the way up to the marathon. If you need help, you know where to find me!


text:
The 5 wildest claims made in the explosive behind-the-scenes book on Trump's White House
David Choi 05 Jan 2018 242
Foto: REUTERS/Daron Dean
The new book from columnist Michael Wolff has taken political and media circles around the country by storm, particularly for providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at several turning points of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and the first aughts of his presidency.
Excerpts of Wolff's "Fire and Fury," reportedly sourced from over 200 interviews during an 18-month time span, were distributed to various publications and have since painted a sometimes embarrassing picture of current and former White House officials and life in the West Wing.
Some of the wilder tales have raised eyebrows. Skeptics have gone so far to as to question their validity, including the New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman who on Wednesday called some of the book's claims "thin but readable."
"Well written. Several things that are true and several that are not. Light in fact-checking and copy-editing," Haberman wrote on Twitter.
Following the release of some of the more tantalizing details, Trump, his family, and White House officials went on the offensive by casting doubt on the book's legitimacy and railed against some of Trump's critics who were quoted in the book.
"This book is clearly going to be sold in the bargain fiction section," Stephanie Grisham, communications director for the first lady Melania Trump, said in reference to the claim that she burst into tears – "not of joy" – when Trump was poised to win the 2016 presidential election.
Here are some of the wildest portions of the book so far:
Bannon called the infamous Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, a Russia-linked lawyer, and others "treasonous" and "unpatriotic."
Foto: source Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Bannon's tirade against the Trump family did not end with Ivanka.
According to Wolff, he was also quoted as saying that the controversial meeting between Jared Kushner, a White House senior adviser and Trump's son-in-law; Donald Trump Jr.; and Russian lobbyists in June 2016 was "treasonous" and "unpatriotic."
"The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor – with no lawyers," Bannon reportedly said in the book, according to The Guardian.
"They didn't have any lawyers. Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it's all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately," Bannon continued.
Bannon reportedly suggested that Trump Jr. may have taken "these jumos up to his father's office on the 26th floor."
Bannon went on and reportedly said that special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election, would "crack Don Jr. like an egg on national TV."
Trump passed on nominating an official because of his mustache.
Bannon also appeared to confirm previous rumors that Trump passed on nominating former UN ambassador John Bolton as national security adviser, according to Wolff.
"Bolton's mustache is a problem. Trump doesn't think he looks the part," Bannon reportedly said. "You know Bolton is an acquired taste."
Bolton served as US ambassador to the UN between 2005 and 2006.
Amid reports that he was left out of the running for secretary of state when Trump was assembling his Cabinet, Bolton shaved off rumors of a tweet in December: "I appreciate the grooming advice from the totally unbiased mainstream media, but I will not be shaving my #mustache," Bolton said.
Steve Bannon called Ivanka Trump "dumb as a brick."
Foto: source Thomson Reuters
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, whose relationship with some of Trump's members was apparently strained in the waning days of his tenure in the White, called White House senior adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump "dumb as a brick," according to Wolff's book.
Bannon was eventually fired from the administration, shortly after White House chief of staff John Kelly began regulating traffic in the West Wing. Bannon has since embarked on a personal crusade to support antiestablishment congressional candidates for the upcoming midterm elections.
After Ivanka publicly criticized Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore amid a ballooning controversy over his sexual-misconduct scandal, Bannon quipped and referenced her previous remarks: "There's a special place in hell for Republicans who should know better."
"Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my Presidency," Trump said, following the release of the book's excerpts. "When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind."
Kellyanne Conway went job-hunting because she thought Trump would lose the election.
Foto: source Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway reportedly was looking into high-profile on-air media jobs during the last days of the 2016 election because she thought Trump would lose.
While the book claims that Conway was prepared to blame Trump's expected loss on former Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, she was also interviewing for jobs on news outlets, according to Wolff's book.
Trump eats McDonald's because he fears being poisoned.
Foto: source Will McNamee (Getty Images)
Trump's love for fast food was linked to a his fear of being poisoned, according to Wolff.
"Trump 'had a longtime fear of being poisoned, one reason why he liked to eat at McDonald's – nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely premade,'" Wolff wrote.
Trump has previously been reported to order two Big Macs, two Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, and a large chocolate shake for his meal, according to Trump's former aides.
Volg ook Business Insider Nederland
Rachel Premack, Business Insider Nederland 30 minuten 6


text:
HomeBlog BlogThis Week in Texas Politics: December 23, 2011
This Week in Texas Politics: December 23, 2011
BLOG: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison decries nine "accounting tricks" that hide government spending
Winston Churchill once said, "The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is."
(View complete article here.)
Tea partyers not keen about GOP presidential field, fear loss of passion in next election
Just a year ago, tea party activists came roaring out of the congressional elections eager to shape the looming race for the White House.
Speed limits going up on area highways
Signs with an unfamiliar message "speed limit 75" have been showing up on major Central Texas roads this fall, the result of a change in state law earlier in the year. And limits on Interstate 35 through Austin, now 55 mph to 70 mph, likewise will be inching up 5 to 10 mph in many sections during the next week or so.
Two Central Texas health care giants teaming up in new federal program for Medicare patients
Two of the largest health care providers in Central Texas are teaming up as part of a new federal program aimed at keeping Medicare patients healthier and less likely to be hospitalized.
Texas may have lost 10% of its trees
The current Texas drought has killed as many as 500 million trees 10 percent of the state's forest cover and the end is not in sight, according to the Texas Forest Service. Some of the hardest-hit areas are in Central Texas.
Texas faces critical shortage of primary-care providers
If you have a primary-care provider, you are one of the lucky ones. If you are looking for one, good luck. They are becoming harder to find because Texas has a severe shortage of primary-care providers, and the problem will only get worse unless the state does something to remedy the situation.
Texas' Move to Managed Care Comes With Strings Attached
The federal government has granted Texas permission to move almost all of its Medicaid patients into managed care in an effort to save money. But as Carrie Feibel of KUHF News reports, hospitals will now have to do more to show how they spend — and prove they deserve — state money.
Navigating the Texas School Finance Lawsuits
One consequence of the $5.4 billion cut to Texas public schools is already known: By the end of the year, there will likely be four school finance lawsuits filed against the state.
Heavy turnover likely at State Board of Education
Even before the first vote is cast, it's clear that the State Board of Education will look much different in 2013 than it does today.
BLOG: Straus mulled bringing consultant Johnson into key role, while quest for Lege's budge staff boss narrows to 2
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has considered tapping his political consultant Gordon R. Johnson to be his next chief of staff or play some other leading role in his office, though no final decision's been made, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.
Eagle Ford Drilling Rush May Boost Texas Tax Revenue 15-Fold
While the Eagle Ford shale boom in Texas isn't the first that Daryl Fowler has seen, the DeWitt County judge is working to ensure that his community will be left with new roads and housing when the oil and gas are gone.
Texas is tops in population growth
Texas has once again topped the national growth chart, adding 529,000 people since the 2010 Census, though its rate of growth has slowed slightly.
New rules needed for large private water companies
A growing number of Texans, especially suburban and rural Texans, get their water and sewer service not from municipal utilities but from large, investor-owned multistate corporations. In recent years, these private water companies, attracted by profits to be made in drought-prone Texas and by a friendly regulatory environment, have bought up scores of the smaller, locally owned water companies that historically have served customers outside cities.
Texas Tree Ring Study Warns of Long Droughts
A new study of tree rings adds to evidence that Texas has experienced at least one 10-year drought every 100 years, as well as several "mega-droughts" lasting 15 to 30 years over the centuries.
Fewest layoffs since '08 as economy shows signs of improvement
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to its lowest level since April 2008, the government said. The report suggested that layoffs are slowing further and that employers may be ready to hire more aggressively in the new year.
63 school districts file 4th suit against Texas
A coalition of school districts that educate more than 1.5 million Texas children filed a fourth lawsuit against the state Thursday over school funding, alleging that the current system doesn't provide schools enough money and distributes it unfairly.
Largest school finance lawsuit in Texas takes shape
Texas' largest school districts — including Austin, Houston and Dallas — joined the fight Thursday when they and 60 other districts, including Round Rock, filed a lawsuit that claims the method for funding Texas public schools is unconstitutional. It is the fourth such legal challenge filed against the state in recent months.
Texas Electric Grid Faces Uncertainty in 2012
The state's electric grid operators are coming off of a tumultuous year, one they are not eager to repeat. In February, a deep freeze knocked numerous power plants out of commission as equipment broke, causing rolling blackouts across the state. Then, the hottest summer on record spurred repeated conservation warnings, as grid managers worked — successfully — to avoid more blackouts.
Interactive: Mental Health Workforces Shortage More Critical in Minority Communities
Texas is already short on mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed counselors, nurses and social workers. But another issue compounds the problem: a disparity in diagnosing and treating the state's rapidly growing minority communities.


text:
Evaluating the Impact of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
USC symposium brought together scholars and practitioners who shared research insights on China's public diplomacy strategies and the impact of these games on perceptions of China's soft power resources and global attitudes towards a rising China.
Geoffrey Wiseman, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Panel 1: China's International Goals for the Olympics
Chair: Pat James, Center for International Studies, USC
• Jeffrey Wasserstrom, History, UC Irvine
• Xu Xin, China & Asia-Pacific Studies, Cornell University
• Shen Dingli, Center for American Studies, Fudan University
• Discussant: Daniel Lynch, School of International Relations, USC
Panel 2: The Domestic Political Ramifications of the Beijing Olympic Games
Chair and Discussant: Stanley Rosen, Professor of Political Science, USC
• Susan Brownell, Author, Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China
• Jian Wang, Annenberg School for Communication, USC
Luncheon:
Introductory Remarks: Barry Sanders, Chairman, Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games
Presentations by
•Janet Evans
Former USC athlete, winner of four gold medals and a silver at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, one of her three world records still stands
•Larsen Jensen
Former USC athlete, silver medalist in 2004 and bronze medalist in 2008
Panel 3: The Economic Significance of the Beijing Olympic Games
Chair: Clayton Dube, U.S.-China Institute, USC
• Jeffrey G. Owen, Economics and Management, Gustavus Adolphus College
• Kelly Crabb, International Counsel, Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee
• Discussant: Baizhu Chen, Marshall School of Business, USC
Panel 4: The Role of the Media in the Beijing Olympic Games
Moderator: Dan Durbin, Annenberg School of Communication, USC
• Barbara Walkosz, Communication, University of Colorado at Denver
Monroe Price, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania
Susan Brownell
Susan Brownell heads the Department of Anthropology and Languages at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her first book, Training the Body for China, was based on her experiences as a member of the Beijing University track and field team in 1985-86, when she won a gold medal in the 1986 Chinese National College Games. Her most recent book, Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China, provides the historical and cultural context for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She was the translator of the biography of China's senior sports diplomat and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), He Zhenliang and China's Olympic Dream. In 2007-08 she was a Fulbright Scholar at the Beijing Sport University. She collaborated with the Beijing City government on Olympic education programs in primary and middle schools, and was recently named a "capital city advanced Olympic individual" for her contributions. In the lead-up to the Games she was interviewed by nearly 100 journalists from more than 20 countries.
Click here to view Susan Brownell's presentation
Baizhu Chen
Baizhu Chen was educated at Fudan University and the University of Rochester. He is an economist and teaches finance and business in the USC Marshall School of Business. He heads the USC/Shanghai Jiaotong Global Executive MBA program in Shanghai and is a member of the USC U.S.-China Institute executive committee. Chen has published many articles on the political economy of growth, private investment, foreign currency markets, China's financial markets, and monetary policy. His current research projects include these topics and Chinese savings patterns.
Click here to view Baizhu Chen's presentation
Kelly C. Crabb
Kelly Crabb's is a partner at Morrison & Foerster, the international counsel for the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee. He previously served as counsel for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. He has extensive experience in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Latin America. He is especially well-versed in handling broadcasting and other media rights. His responsibilities included overseeing contracts for licensed goods and working to curtail intellectual piracy. In addition to Olympics projects, Crabb has extensive experience in content rights acquisition and licensing; motion picture, television, Internet and other content production, financing, distribution and exhibition; music business contracts; commercial endorsements and advertising; live entertainment, sporting events and legitimate stage productions; and corporate mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions. His book, The Movie Business, was published by Simon & Schuster.
Click here to view Kelly Crabb's presentation
Shen Dingli
Shen Dingli earned his doctorate in physics and was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. He is a professor of international relations at Shanghai's Fudan University. He directs the university's Center for American Studies and is and executive dean of the university's Institute of International Studies. He is the co-founder and director of China's first non-government-based Program on Arms Control and Regional Security, at Fudan University. Prof. Shen teaches courses on nonproliferation and international security, and China's foreign policy and carries out research on China-US security matters and nuclear ties, regional security and nonproliferation issues, and Chinese and American foreign and defense policies. He is a member of the USCI board of scholars and publishes widely.
Click here to view Shen Dingli's presentation
Clayton Dube
Clayton Dube teaches history and is the associate director of the USC U.S.-China Institute. He chaired the panel on the economic impact of the Beijing Games.
Dan Durbin
Dan Durbin teaches in the USC Annenberg School of Communication and is a specialist on sports and the media. He chaired the panel on the role played by the press in the run up to and during the Olympics.
Janet Evans
Four-time Olympic gold medalist, Janet Evans is recognized as the best female distance swimmer in United States history. In addition to her gold medals, she held six American records, three world records, 45 national titles, 17 international titles, and five NCAA titles. Evans's records have been difficult to beat, one of her world records still stands. She won medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics and also represented the United States at the Atlanta Games in 1996, serving as one of the final torch carriers. Evans is also a member of the Trojan family, having studied here. Each July, USC hosts the Janet Evans Invitational, a major swim meet.
Click here to view Janet Evans' presentation
Patrick James
Patrick James is professor of international relations and directs the USC Center for International Studies. He chaired the panel on the international impact of the Beijing Olympics.
Larsen Jensen
Larsen Jensen is also a USC graduate. As a swimmer, he distinguished himself in the freestyle. He earned a silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics and a bronze medal in Beijing. NBC's interview with Jensen, now a soldier, is available here.
Click here to view Larsen Jensen's presentation
Daniel Lynch
Dan Lynch teaches in the USC School of International Relations and is a member of the USC U.S.-China Institute executive committee. He's the author of two books, Rising China and Asian Democratization: Socialization to Global Culture (2006) and After the Propaganda State: Media, Politics, and "Thought Work" (1999). He publishes extensively in academic journals and also in popular publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review. Lynch is currently researching how Chinese political and intellectual elites expect China will, or should, change in the years leading up to about 2030. He is focusing on five interrelated issue-areas: domestic political processes and institutions; comprehensive national power and its implications for the country's role(s) in world politics; Party-state defense of cultural integrity and national identity under conditions of deepening globalization; development and diffusion of potentially transformative new technologies; and prospects for achieving sustainable development.
Click here to view Daniel Lynch's presentation
Jeffrey Owens
Jeff Owens teaches economics and economic history at Gustavus Adolpus College. His research and publications include work on returns to public investment in stadiums and sporting events. Among the most influential of these works is "Estimating the Cost and Benefit of Hosting Olympic Games: What Can Beijing Expect from its 2008 Games?" in The Industrial Geographer, and "Bread or Circus? The Ethics of Economic Impact Studies." in Enterprising Worlds: A Geographic Perspective on Economics, Environments & Ethic.
Click here to view Jeffrey Owens' presentation
Monroe E. Price
Monroe Price heads the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Global Communication Studies at the Annenberg School for Communication. In that role he works with a wide transnational network of regulators, scholars, and practitioners in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia as well as in the United States. Earlier, Price founded the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy at Oxford University and remains a Research Fellow there. He also chairs the Center for Media and Communications Studies at Central European University. Price has served on the President's Task Force on Telecommunications Policy and the Sloan Commission on Cable Communications (both in the 1970s) and on the Carter-Sagalaev Commission on Radio and Television Policy (in the 1990s). Price has also taught at UCLA, the Cardozo School of Law in New York City, and has visited at Cornell and the University of Sydney among other places. His most recent book Owning the Olympics: Narratives of the New China (co-edited, 2008). Price is a fellow of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. He contributed a number of Olympics-related entries to the Huffington Post.
Click here to view Monroe E. Price's presentation
Stanley Rosen
Stan Rosen teaches political science at USC and directs the USC East Asian Studies Center. He's also a member of the USC U.S.-China Institute executive committee. Rosen is co-editor of the journal Chinese Education and Society. He teaches courses on Chinese politics, East Asian societies, Chinese film and film and politics. He has written or edited seven books, the most recent of which are State and Society in 21st-Century China (co-edited, 2004) and Chinese Cinema at a Hundred: Art, Politics and Commerce (co-edited, forthcoming). His current research involves public opinion surveys, higher education reform in China, the Chinese film industry and its overseas prospects, the prospects for
Hollywood film in the Chinese market, and value change among Chinese youth.
Click here to view Stanley Rosen's presentation
Barry Sanders is Chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. As Chairman, he led the recent effort to bid for the 2016 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In September 2007 he received the Olympic Spirit Award from the United States Olympic Committee and the William May Garland Award from the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. He is also President of the Board of Commissioners of the Recreation and Parks Department of the City of Los Angeles and Chairman of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. Following the 1992 riots, Sanders co-chaired Rebuild L.A., an effort aimed at improving inner-city conditions and ethnic relations. Sanders teaches about architecture as non-verbal communication and about public diplomacy at UCLA. Sanders recently retired as a partner with Latham & Watkins, where he practiced law for more than 35 years. During that time he headed the firm's international practices group. He received the 2001 Lerned Hand Award for outstanding leadership in the profession. Sanders continues to be involved with a wide variety of community organizations, including those supporting the arts.
Click here to view Barry Sanders' presentation
Barbara J. Walkosz
Barbara. Walkosz teaches communication studies at the University of Colorado, Denver. Her research and teaching focus on the role of mass media in society, political and civil discourse, and health communication. She has also been examining how China is represented in leading American media outlets and in the emergence of new media in Asia. She co-authored the study "Definition, equivocation, accumulation, and anticipation: America media's ideological reading of China's Olympic Games," which was published in Owning the Olympics: Narratives of the New China(2008).
Click here to view Barbara J. Walkosz's presentation
Jian "Jay" Wang studies international corporate communication and public diplomacy and teaches public relations at USC Annenberg's School of Journalism. He previously taught at Purdue University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has published extensively on corporate social responsibility practices in emerging economies, Chinese corporate communication, health care branding, and corporate public diplomacy initiatives. He wrote Foreign Advertising in China: Becoming Global, Becoming Local and co-authored China's Window on the World: TV News, Social Knowledge and International Spectacles. He is a member of the USC U.S.-China Institute executive committee.
Click here to view Jay Wang's presentation
Jeffrey Wasserstrom
Jeff Wasserstrom studied at UC Santa Cruz, Harvard, and UC Berkeley. He previously taught at the University of Kentucky, Indiana University, and UC San Diego and is now professor of history at UC Irvine. He is the editor of the Journal of Asia Studies and is the author or editor of nine books. His most recent books are Global Shanghai, 1850-2010: A History in Fragments (author, 2008) and China in 2008: A Year of Great Significance (co-editor, 2009). He has also consulted on two documentary films (most recently, Morning Sun) and he has contributed essays to a number of prominent newspapers and blogs. Wasserstrom is also a founder of and steadfast contributor to The China Beat, one of the liveliest China-corners on the web.
Click here to view Jeffrey Wasserstrom's presentation
Geoffrey Wiseman
Geoffrey Wiseman is a former Australian diplomat who has also worked for the United Nations. He teaches in the USC School of International Relations and directs the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. He opened the conference.
Xu Xin
Xu Xin teaches in the Department of Government at Cornell University and is associate director of the China and Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) program. Prior to joining the faculty at Cornell, Xu Xin headed the the China and the World Program from 2006-07. He was also formerly Associate Professor of International Relations in the Department of International Politics at Peking University in China, and Associate Professor of Asia Pacific Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. He was also a Visiting Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, an International Fellow at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation in the U.S., and a Postdoctoral Fellow on national security in the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University. His current areas of interest include the Taiwan issue, East Asian security politics, Asian regionalism and multilateralism, and China's foreign policy.
Click here to view Xu Xin's presentation
USCI and US-China Today Olympics resources:
Air Quality at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Counting Medals – 2008 Beijing Games
Will the Olympics Change China?
Video Interview with Hongping Li (USC coach and former Chinese Olympian)
From Olympia to Beijing: Olympic Torch Relay (interactive map)
Breathing in Beijing: Pollution a Problem for Olympians
Have You Seen Me Yet? Olympics Advertising
Diplomacy in the Sports Arena
The Olympic Glow Gives Way to Economic Worries
Note: The thumbnail image for this story is of an MP3 player made in the shape of the Beijing Olympic Stadium, the so-called "Bird's Nest." It is produced by Kophee Technologies, Inc.
Film/TV/radio


text:
10 Best Hard Rock Riffs of the 2000s
Chris Ford
Chris Ford Published: December 18, 2013
Kevin Winter / David Wolff-Patrick / Mark Metcalfe, Getty Images
We've been looking at the evolution of the hard rock riff, and we've gotten to the turn of the century. The riff has come a long way since it was born some time ago and in our latest list we can see how it has evolved.
The early 2000s saw the rise of a whole new batch of hard rock and metal acts. Bands like the White Stripes, Baroness and A Perfect Circle found their audiences during this time. Meanwhile, other legendary bands like King Crimson, The Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity continued to put out amazing music. Thanks to these and other bands who've kept the faith, the art of the guitar riff is alive and well. We happily present to you our list of the 10 Best Hard Rock Riffs of the 2000s.
'Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With'
King Crimson have been putting out amazing music for over 40 years. Their 2002 single, 'Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With,' was their ode to the angry, over-dramatic metal from the turn of the century, and is a perfect candidate for our list of the 10 Best Hard Rock Riffs from the 2000s. The opening riff mimics the radio metal from that time, but it's also super heavy. The verse riff grooves just before the off-kilter pre-chorus kicks in.
'The Birthing'
In 2007, Baroness dropped their first full-length release, 'Red Album.' It's full of riff-heavy songs with complex melodies and dramatic guitar work. The second track, 'The Birthing,' is full of amazing riffs from beginning to end. This song seems simple enough at first, but its simple-sounding opening riff belies the complex lead lines that make up the rest of the song.
'Elite'
When the Deftones broke out in the '90s, they were all riffs. Their first two albums were among the heaviest out in the mainstream at the time. They would later start to explore moodier, more layered, less heavy music. But the track 'Elite,' from 2006's 'Saturday Night Wrist,' shows the band didn't forget how to be heavy. The riff for this song has that crisp-yet-ragged sound that the Deftones have perfected.
'The Incomparable Mr. Flannery'
The first decade of this century could be said to belong to Clutch, and no list of the 10 Best Hard Rock Riffs of the 2000s would be complete without a nod to them. Clutch released one amazing album after another, from 2001's 'Pure Rock Fury' to 2009's 'Strange Cousins From the West,' all showing the band's huge range, along with their ability to rock. 'Robot Hive/Exodus' has some of the band's most stellar work on it. 'The Incomparable Mr. Flannery' starts off with one of the sweetest guitar licks ever written, then moves on to a catchy, but still very heavy chorus.
'Pet'
With their second album, 'Thirteenth Step,' A Perfect Circle evolved their style from their first massively popular release. They retained their own unique sound, though. With 'Pet,' the band gets intensely heavy. A kick-snare combo starts the song off, and the intense guitars work together to move this track along.
'Hot Rod'
Goatsnake probably never got the full attention they deserved. They have consistently been one of the heavier bands to ever exist. When they put out the 'Trampled Under Hoof' EP in 2004, they included their Black Oak Arkansas cover, 'Hot Rod.' While they didn't write this iconic riff, they certainly made it their own. They play it in their signature down-tuning, giving it some extra sludge and a hint of evil.
'It Is That Way'
Corrosion of Conformity has been producing their own brand of heavy metal since the '80s, and they're still going strong today. 'It Is That Way' is a greasy riff-filled track from the 2005 album 'In the Arms of God.' This riff chugs along like a mountain on wheels, accompanied by guitar harmonies aplenty.
'The Hawk'
'The Hawk' is so full of different amazing riffs that it defies belief. The whole song plays out like a barrage of punches from a prize fighter. For this album, '(a) Senile Animal,' Melvins founders King Buzzo and Dale Crover enlisted the help of the raging two-piece, Big Business. With a new bass player/singer and a second drummer, the band began churning out some of their heaviest music to date. Any song from this album would be a good fit for our list of the 10 Best Hard Rock Riffs of the 2000s.
'Seven Nation Army'
While The White Stripes may not be considered a hard rock band on the whole, the Detroit duo has been known to bust out some fuzzed-out riffs from time to time. The intro bassline to 'Seven Nation Army' became instantly recognizable when it hit the airwaves. When the slide guitar kicks in, you just know that Jack White means business.
'No One Knows'
Queens of the Stone Age largely flew under the radar for the first few years after they formed. But that changed when they released their first single from 'Songs for the Deaf.' 'No One Knows' helped to remind rock and roll fans of the appeal of a good, strong guitar riff. The verse bounces along like a Jeep speeding through the desert. Then the song builds up into a massive affair before wrapping it all up neatly.
What Is Your Favorite Hard Rock Riff From The 2000s?
We've had our say. We sifted through our music collection from the last 10 years or so and made up our list. What riffs would you include on your list? Have your say in the comments below.
Best Hard Rock Riffs of the '90s


text:
News Sports Weekender Lifestyle USA TODAY Opinion Obituaries eNewspaper Legals
95th Civil Affairs Brigade names Civilian of the Year
95th CA Bde. (Abn.) PAO
At a Nov. 27 ceremony at the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) headquarters, Don Calvin, the brigade's senior civilian logistician, was recognized as the brigade's Civilian of the Year, while Maricella Glazier was honored as Civilian of the Quarter for the fiscal year ending October 2012.
Calvin was cited for "flawlessly" executing the duties of the brigade property book officer for nine months during a transition of property book officers, while simultaneously maintaining property accountability oversight and implementing the Army-wide property accountability campaign, said Maj. Craig Jones, 95th CA Bde's supply officer.
"Without fail, Calvin is the 'go-to' person in the Brigade's Property Book Office," Jones said. "Calvin is a person who does not stop until the task at hand is complete. More than that, he goes above and beyond expectations to support subordinate units and ensure they are successful."
Calvin, who retired as a master sergeant after 23 years of military service, joined the brigade as a logistics management specialist in March 2008. He said the major challenges of his job have been briefing new company commanders, continuous splitting and merging company property books, unit transfers and property disposition.
Calvin said the key to his success as an employee was being proactive, prioritizing the workload, and working late when needed.
Glazier, the brigade's executive secretary, was cited for "her expert management" of the daily scheduling and activities of the brigade's command team, especially as the command transitioned to a new commander, deputy commander and executive officer.
Lt. Col. Stephen Petzold, the brigade executive officer, also noted Glazier's personal qualities that earned her the quarterly award.
"Marci executes her duties with an infectious enthusiasm that contributes to a positive work environment. She constantly goes out of her way to assist others."
Glazier, a native of Ogden, Utah, joined the brigade in June 2009 as the command group secretary. She previously worked as a military personnel technician at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah and University of Utah, Salt Lake City, for the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Other civilian employees honored at the awards ceremony were employee of the year runner-up, brigade safety officer David Trotter, and employee of the year nominee, brigade resource management budget analyst Larry Jones.
"It's the civilians who are here today who are the subject matter experts on critical things. When someone comes in new to the unit, the learning curve is very steep. It's the civilians who are here today who allow us to continue on the glide path to success as an organization," said Col. James C. Brown, 95th CA Bde. commander, in his remarks at the ceremony.
© 2023 www.fayobserver.com. All rights reserved.


text:
Rice applications top 20,000 for the first time
In 2008, the number of applications to Rice was just over 9,800. In 2018, applications to Rice topped 20,900, the most freshman applications in Rice's history.
By Cameron Wallace 3/20/18 10:42pm
Rice University admissions saw the largest number of applicants in its history this year: 20,898, a 16 percent increase from last year.
This marked the largest year-to-year increase in applicants to Rice in the school's history, according to Rice News. She said there was also a 19 percent increase in early decision applicants.
Romero da Silva said that she thought the rise could be attributed to a number of factors, including changes to the application system, increased recruitment by Rice to lower and middle income populations, and an increasingly strong reputation for Rice.
"Top students from around the country and the world continue to look for excellent educational opportunities," Romero da Silva said. "Many of our peers saw increases in their applicants pools but not to the degree that Rice did this year."
According to Romero da Silva, the increase in applications was not limited to any single category. Applications from all economic levels, geographical areas and ethnicities increased.
This year, Rice eliminated a requirement to submit SAT subject tests with the SAT exam, and instead made SAT subject tests recommended for all students, according to Romero da Silva.
"Our hope was to open the door to students who might be strong candidates for Rice [but] were not considering us because they had not completed the testing requirements," Romero da Silva said. "Many of these students might not get the type of counseling or coaching that other students have, or simply do not have the resources to pay for an extra exam."
Romero da Silva said that while the admissions office does not attempt to project how many applications they will receive from year to year, they were not expecting such a large increase.
"As a vice president of enrollment, you always expect or hope that your applications will increase," Romero da Silva said. "We had a sense from the size of our prospect pool that we might be ahead. That we were up 19 percent in Early Decision and 16 percent overall far exceeded our expectations. We heard that a number of our competitors were up as well, but few achieved the increases we saw at Rice."
Romero da Silva said the committee-based evaluation method she created at the University of Pennsylvania to keep up with large application increases helped ensure that each applicant was fairly reviewed. The CBE evaluation system guaranteed that each applicant was reviewed closely by at least two admissions officers, which ensures that each application has a substantial and holistic consideration, she said.
"One of the parts that I love about [committee-based evaluation] is that through the discussion the student's voice comes to life, you can read a part of the essay that articulates the student's academic interests, ready a funny statement they've made, listen to the words shared by a school counselor or teacher," Romero da Silva said. "You also get to learn how your colleague views an application and what in the file they gravitated to."
Romero da Silva said that she could not say for certain whether she expected to see the trend of application growth continue, but she was optimistic.
"I hope so, as it means more students are learning about the amazing education Rice has to offer," Romero da Silva said.


Every player wants to win the championship. Professional athletes stay in shape during the off-season but a championship campaign begins with training camp.
After a few weeks, preseason begins. Here the players get back into the groove of competing. While everyone wants to win the real purpose of preseason games is to evaluate the ability of each player to execute both personally and with the team.
Some players won't make the team. In the end, the manager puts the best team he can on the field with the intention of winning the championship at the end of the season.
Championships are often won or lost before the season begins. It is often the discipline each team member has during off-season, training camp, and preseason that makes all the difference.
What does this have to do with our personal success next year? Everything.
More than half of all people in the world look at New Year's Day as a new beginning. The other half are in denial. A new year is simply that, "new".
That's where trouble begins. We approach New Year's Day as Championship Day. It's as if we suddenly are thrown into the biggest game of our lives. And the bad news? We prepared for the big game by doing everything we no longer want to do.
Take a professional baseball player and have him practice missing the ball for an extended period of time and it will take him a while to get back to hitting the ball at all.
It's the same for you and me. We've been practicing all the wrong skills.
We desire something better. So we set New Year's Resolutions or goals. Sadly, most of us will fail. Not because we didn't earnestly desire or genuinely try, but because we prepared poorly in the off-season (aka last year).
So let's take a new approach this year. Let New Year's Day be the beginning of a winning campaign. Let's bring our best discipline but be aware we've been enjoying the "off-season" for a while now. We're going to make some mistakes, engage in some old behaviors, and yes, we'll even fail.
But remain diligent and disciplined. When we fail, begin again with the knowledge we gained in failure. Examine what caused the failure and endeavor to avoid those circumstances next time.
In the end, we may find that some players (our new goals) won't make the team. We just might find that we can win our championship without them. Better still, we may find that goal wasn't big enough for us.
It's time to put our best team on the field and begin our winning campaign.
New Year's Day shouldn't be the end. New Year's Day is by its very nature is the beginning.


text:
You are here: Home>Themes>Entertainment>Events>Programme for The Return, 26 April 1954
Programme for The Return, 26 April 1954
Harry Hanson's Court Players performed on the pier from 1932 to 1963 in the Shore Pavilion Theatre, built at the shore end of the Pier in 1926.
Harry Hanson's Court Players performed regularly in the Shore Pavilion Theatre, built at the shore end of the Pier in 1926. They remained very popular until the 1960s.
Harry Hanson brought the repertory rights of well know West End successes and presented them in his repertory companies all over the country. The Shore Pavilion Theatre at the landward end of Hastings pier was a home base for Harry Hanson's Court Players, who often moved into the White Rock Pavilion during the winter months.
It is easy to dismiss the Court Players as a by-word for 'Tat': true that it was not unusual to see a red chintz table cloth used as curtains one week and a table cloth the next, true that the flats were often nailed together rather then cleat and lines used, and that the Hanson carpenter having removed those nails at a week-end strike had to straiten them out for re-use rather then buy new nails. However, on the basis that you get what you pay for, by far and large Harry Hanson gave value for money, and audiences returned week after week to see his plays.
Harry Hanson was reputed to have a different coloured hairpiece for each season, and it is said that when presenting Dracula he wore a white hairpiece and would tell his company, "My Dears, you have played yours parts so well that my hair has turned white with fright." Harry Hanson gave employment to many, and enjoyment to tens of thousands. Long live the name of Harry Hanson's Court Players.
(Alan Chudley)
Roy Henry Woodcock (8)
HPC026.001a,b
More from Events
Smoking ruins of the Pier after the 2010 fire
Opening day on the Pier
The Pier on fire, 2010


text: define('jsLoaderStress', 'jsLoaderStress');


How Can Blockchain Technology Transform the Electricity Production Industry?
One of the typical market inefficiencies that green energy producers have to constantly deal with is the cost of project financing. There are hundreds of green-energy producers around the world that are not able to fund their projects because of the high financing costs.
This situation is a great example of how Blockchain technology is not only about speculation but social purpose as well. By enabling green-energy producers to quickly access credit at reasonable rates, the Blockchain deeply contributes to the process of developing renewable energy production hubs on different countries all over the world.
1 – A team of experts on green-energy production and Blockchain technology audit & review different projects that green-energy producers want to fund.
2 – If they approve its viability, the project is presented to the community on a proprietary exchange so that end-customers can purchase energy tokens directly to fund the project.
3 – The green-energy producer makes a promise on future energy production to be delivered to the exchange so that token holders can acquire green-energy at a preferential price below the typical market price.
4 – Token holders living in some specific countries will be able to use those tokens to acquire electricity for domestic use. Token holders that don't reside on countries where the electrical grid is connected to the Blockchain, can sell the tokens at proprietary project exchanges or traditional centralized exchanges where the token is listed. With fixed token supply and growing demand based on cheaper energy acquisition through the token, the Blockchain enables energy producers, end-users and wholesale electricity buyers to purchase clean energy at better prices.
There are several projects using the typical ERC-20 tokens that use this methodology to allow end consumers to directly finance green-energy producers. Different ICOs with this business model have been funded throughout Europe, Asia, etc. during 2017 & 2018.
Just like with Ethereum, RSK enables companies to create projects like this by developing smart contracts running under Bitcoin´s Blockchain. If you want to learn more about RSK, do not hesitate to check our website, the Ambassadors & Educate Programs.


OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion operating system update will not include support for some older models with Intel chip-sets and on-board graphics.
Apple announced that OS X Mountain Lion in February, specifically mentioning newer Macs as qualifying for the upgrade. At the time, it was rumored that older Macs with Intel's GMA 950 and GMA X3100 integrated graphics processors would not be able to upgrade to OS X 10.8.
OS X 10.8 is only available on the Mac App Store. Older Apple Computers not capable of installing at least OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 will not be able to access the App Store.
The upgrade to OS X 10.8 is to cost $19.99 and said to contain over 200 new features, including better support for flash, voice recognition, and visual tweaks.


Celebrate Dad in style this Father's Day with our Father's Day Cookie Cake! This 12-inch cookie cake is packed with delicious chocolate chips and hand-decorated with rich vanilla frosting. If you're looking for a Father's Day gift this year that is guaranteed to put a smile on Dad's face, look no further! Our Father's Day Cookie Cake will do the trick over and over again until it's gone.
I ordered this gir my dad Hans he was delighted. He said it was really delicious!


text:
var assert = require('assert');
var Response = require("response").Response;
require('bdd').mount(this);

describe('Response', function () {
  describe('#constructor()', function () {
    it('should return a proper Response object.', function () {
      var res = new Response('hello');
      assert.equal(!!res, true);
    });

    it('should return an object with a JSON body.', function () {
      var res = new Response({hello: 'world'});
      assert.equal(!!res, true);
    });

    it('should return an object with a content type.', function () {
      var res = new Response('hello', 'image/jpeg');
      assert.equal(!!res, true);
    });

    it('should return an object with a content type and status code.', function () {
      var res = new Response('hello', 'image/jpeg', 301);
      assert.equal(!!res, true);
    });
  });

  describe('#body', function () {
    it('should return the body string of a Response obj.', function () {
      var res = new Response('hello');
      assert.equal(res.body, 'hello');
    });

    it('should return the stringified JSON body of a Response obj.', function () {
      var body = {hello: 'world!'};
      var res = new Response(body);
      assert.equal(res.body, JSON.stringify(body));
    });
  });

  describe('#contentType', function () {
    it('should return the content type of a Response obj.', function () {
      var res = new Response('hello', 'image/jpeg');
      assert.equal(res.contentType, 'image/jpeg');
    });
  });

  describe('#statusCode', function () {
    it('should return the status code of a Response obj.', function () {
      var res = new Response('hello', 'image/jpeg', 301);
      assert.equal(res.statusCode, 301);
    });
  });
});


text:
WGC-HSBC Champions
HSBC Women's
HSBC Junior
Qualifying Criteria
The 149th Open Ticket Giveaway 2021
Interactive Village
View Our VR360
Abraham Ancer
The Players // Abraham Ancer
Abraham Ancer has two professional victories to his name. The 28-year-old Mexican turned professional in 2013 and won his first event as a professional in 2015 at the Nova Scotia Open.
This year, Abraham is enjoying a good season on Tour, with four top-10 finishes including a runner up finish at The Northern Trust.
Abraham will be making his debut appearance at the WGC-HSBC Champions this year.
WGC-HSBC Champions Cancels for 2021 Edition
On the advice of the China Golf Association, due to COVID-19 related restrictions, it...
McIlroy Leads The Way
The sun was going down and so, too, were the putts on the third...
The statistics were downright crazy as the leaders set off on their third rounds...
Matt Fitzpatrick Sits Atop Cosmopolitan Leaderboard
Rory McIlroy, the No 2 in the World, is one shot behind Matt Fitzpatrick...
All Rights Reserved © 2002-2022 hsbcgolf


Home Page | News | You're Invited To Our Perfectly Polished Event!
You're Invited To Our Perfectly Polished Event!
Our team is excited to announce our upcoming in-house event.. Perfectly Polished!! This is a chemical peel and microdermabrasion event where you'll be able to learn more about the peel and micro services that we offer! This event will take place on Thursday, November 30th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at our salon located at 5725 Main St. in Williamsville, NY.
Attendees will receive 30% Off their Glytone & Avene purchase with the purchase of a peel or micro package during the event!! Do we have your attention yet??
Sound good? Mark your calendars today for our Perfectly Polished Event! We'll see you Thursday, November 30th!


text:
Q: boolean options from boost program options I am using boost program options to get boolean values from command line argument. I would like my argument to be specified as "Y", Yes", "N", "No".
Actually my code did it using a temporary string that

*

*will be parsed by boost program options

*checked against "Y", "Yes", "N" or "No"

*assigned to the boolean variable member.

On top of that I am also using another temp string getting the default value.
I did all that work since I tried thee code below that didn't work
      namespace pod = boost::program_options;

      ("Section.Flag",
           pod::value<bool>(&myFlag_bool)->default_value( false ),
           "description")

Do you know whether boost program options can be used some better then the one I use to achieve that?

A: You are going to be parsing a string one way or another. There are a couple options, mostly depending on how often you are going to be querying this value. Here is an example of something similar to what I recently used; CopyConstructable and Assignable so it works well with STL. I think I needed to do a few extra things to get it to work with program_options, but you get the gist:
#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>

class BooleanVar
{
public:
    BooleanVar(const string& str)
        : value_(BooleanVar::FromString(str))
    {
    };

    BooleanVar(bool value)
        : value_(value)
    {
    };

    BooleanVar(const BooleanVar& booleanVar)
        : value_(booleanVar)
    {
    };

    operator bool()
    {
        return value_;
    };

    static bool FromString(const string& str)
    {
        if (str.empty()) {
            return false;
        }

        // obviously you could use stricmp or strcasecmp(POSIX) etc if you do not use boost
        // or even a heavier solution using iostreams and std::boolalpha etc
        if (
            str == "1"
            || boost::iequals(str, "y")
            || boost::iequals(str, "yes")
            || boost::iequals(str, "true")
        )
        {
            return true;
        }

        return false;
    };

protected:
    bool value_;
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Today, the Chairman House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee Clive Hollick, along with the UK High Commissioner to Kenya, Nic Hailey, officially opened the Kenya Markets Trust office in Turkana.
The Kenya Markets Trust is a Kenyan organisation which works in partnership with the private sector and government to unleash large scale, sustainable market transformation by changing the underlying incentives, capacities and rules which shape how markets work.
It aims to make markets more inclusive, more competitive and more productive with a focus on recognising that these are the main mechanism through which wealth is created and growth occurs.
KMT's long term goal is to deliver large scale, sustainable change in our selected markets which benefits all players in the market, including poor producers and consumers.
The KMT are supported by UK's Department for International Development (DFID), along with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation (GCF) under the 6 year Kenya Market Assistance Programme (MAP).


text:
Redmond's station designs
Posted on November 21, 2017 September 8, 2019 by Dan Ryan
Hand sketch of the Downtown Redmond station (Image: Sound Transit)
Last Thursday, Sound Transit and the City of Redmond held an open house to share the latest designs for the two stations on the Redmond Link extension, planned to open for service in 2024. Following a Sound Transit Board decision in June to ratify alignment recommendations from the City of Redmond, the agency has moved quickly advancing design on stations in Downtown Redmond and Southeast Redmond.
The Downtown Redmond station is a simple elevated design between Cleveland St and NE 76th St. Elevating the station eliminated conflicts with pedestrians and vehicles crossing the line. The Redmond Central Connector trail is diverted very slightly to the north. There will be space for bus access and layover on both sides of the station area. The station platform is centered above 166th Ave NE, with entrances at either end.
Downtown Redmond Station Site Plan (Image: Sound Transit)
East of downtown Redmond, the alignment quickly comes to grade before passing underneath SR 520 where the off-ramps to Redmond Way will be rebuilt. It then turns sharply to the southwest where a second station will be built in the Marymoor area. That larger station is close to the southern perimeter of SR 520. The city this year adopted a package of zoning amendments intended to remake the Marymoor Subarea as a denser mixed use neighborhood. With downtown increasingly built out, Marymoor is likely to become an important growth area for Redmond.
Hand sketch of the SE Redmond station area, facing east with the platform to left and parking structure in background (Image: Sound Transit).
The Southeast Redmond station itself is at grade. To the east is an 1,100 car garage. It's a five level structure, with parking on the upper four floors. Because of the tight geometric constraints, the trains will travel through the first floor, which also contains bus bays for connecting service and bus layover space. To avoid conflicts, cars will access the garage via ramps directly to the second and third floors.
Another 300 parking spaces (Sound Transit has committed to 1,400 in all) will be in a surface lot. If a partner is found, that lot could be redeveloped and the developer would accommodate the rail station parking along with their own needs.
Southeast Redmond Station Area (Image: Sound Transit)
The alignment choice (elevated in central downtown, but at-grade elsewhere) has enabled a connection of the East Lake Sammamish Trail with the Redmond Central Connector. Currently these trails, both built on the old BNSF corridor, are separated by the ramps at the end of SR 520, requiring dangerous street crossings. Both of the ramps to/from Redmond Way will be rebuilt and raised to allow trains to pass underneath. This allowed a connection for the trail with short tunnel sections under the ramps at little additional cost.
A survey on design options is open through the end of this month. Online resources include the staff presentation, open house overview displays, and preliminary designs.
Rebuilding two ramps to SR 520 creates an opportunity to connect the East Lake Sammamish Trail to Redmond Central Connector Trail (Image: Sound Transit)
24 Replies to "Redmond's station designs"
It's cool to see the light rail platform and bus platform/layover area somewhat integrated with the parking structure at the SE Redmond Station.
They're doing something similar at Redmond Technology Center (ugh) station with the buses on the first floor and separate access to higher levels for cars and I think it's a really good way to use the structure. That one doesn't have any rail going through it though–part of me wishes they would extend the structure towards 520 slightly to cover the station platforms, which would both add a bit of parking and also completely cover the station from rain. Probably too high a cost for the benefit though.
poncho says:
The ease of bus-rail transfers should be one of, if not the main, design priorities for a rail station. Not like the failed designs of Mount Baker or UW.
RossB says:
I agree, poncho. I was going to write that some are more important than others, but I really can't think of a station that isn't important. Even stops that have very high walk-up ridership also have very important bus connections. Places like downtown, or the U-District, or Capitol Hill all have high occupancy buses near them. Prioritizing bus to rail transfers makes sense for each and every train station.
Scott Stidell says:
Exactly, poncho and RossB. Why this seems to be so difficult to comprehend in planning is beyond me; this issue will become more and more acute as denser neighborhoods (with their amenities) inevitably grow over time near stations, and bus routes will be added or shifted to serve them.
Kathy Lambert says:
I agree with the writer. But I do think it should all be covered so people do not get wet on rainy days.
Al S. says:
Overall, these designs work well.
It's a bit mystifying that Redmond hasn't tried to make as many places as easily walkable as possible from station platforms. In the Downtown station, the escalators are almost across the street from each other rather than have one pointed in the other section. It would seem so easy to turn one set of escalators or stairs in the other direction, rather than have entrances directly across the street and less than 200 feet from each other.
In the SE station, all the passengers will have to cross a track going in one direction. I get how that the crossing will allow trains to see anyone walking across the tracks since they will be stopped at the eastbound station platform — but I'm left wondering how the conflict will actually work as people getting off the train will block a leaving train. (Note that most of the users — probably 95%+ — of this station will not be going to or from Downtown Redmond but instead will be going to or from all of the points west of the station.) The surge of eastbound people getting off the train will all cross the tracks in front of the train, creating a conflict. There may be people running in front of an arriving eastbound train to get on a westbound train, but those people wouldn't likely run across an eastbound train pulling into the station unless both trains arrive at the same time. In sum, a second track crossing behind the eastbound train is needed and doesn't appear to pose much of a problem and would make it easier for eastbound trains to leave the station!
The other big elephant in the room that continues to be under-addressed by ST is the growing demand for drop-off and pick-up. This acts like there will just be two or three cars meeting every train. With Uber and Lyft, cell phone texting, employer and apartment shuttles — and maybe even driverless cars, this need will have to be increasingly accommodated more in the future. I don't know why ST continues to design stations like it is 2005, when these were only about 5 ort 10 percent of how people get to stations. Surveys across the country at other urban rail stations already put this at 25 to 30 percent!
Will the crossing in front of the eastbound train have a set of gates preventing people from crossing there until the train leaves? I would think they would make people wait for the train to leave before letting them cross.
AJ McGauley says:
The train is elevated, that shouldnt be a problem, right?
Dan Ryan says:
I think Brian was talking about the SE Redmond station which is the at-grade one. There's a pedestrian walkway at grade across the tracks east of the platform. So somebody getting off an eastbound train might have to wait until the train has left, I'd think. The design pictures don't specify how this would work, but there are similar scenarios at several Rainier Valley stations.
If you zoom in real close on page 7 of the design slides, you'll see the issue. https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/downtown-redmond-link-open-house-preliminary-design-displays-11162017.pdf
I believe there's no traffic interaction even on the at-grade sections? That seems like the key thing to me, but often isn't clear from the maps that Sound Transit makes.
That's correct. It wasn't always so in the earlier versions, but the elevated downtown section eliminated those.
Mark Dublin says:
[OT]
Doug Bostrom says:
Still largely in rain-denial mode, looks like. But we should still be thankful it's necessary to plan this facility, even if a few warts slip through. :-)
Bruce Nourish says:
Nice station, about 1,100 parking spaces too many. Maybe if the MVET cuts happen we'll get to delete them from the plan.
Still more of the car-centered requirements from suburban cities that ST acquiesces to. Building parking structures at high cost hardly creates the more carbon-friendly approach that Sound Transit should be embracing: people need to be lured out of their cars by a combination of reduced parking, paid parking and improved walking and biking options. As other posters have noted, employer shuttles and drop-off services might be a bigger part of the mix and should, in theory, reduce the need for parking. As other cities have learned – but apparently ST has not – if you build structures with 1500 free parking slots, you will get 1500 cars. ST really needs to figure out the whole equation better, including the last/first 1-5 miles of a trip.
I was thinking the same thing. 1500 parking spaces for a place as compact as downtown Redmond is ridiculous. The drivers from Sammamish already have their SE Redmond Station.
Then, there's the problem that 1,500 additional cars all driving to the station within a span of a couple hours every morning is going to add a lot of traffic to the already clogged downtown Redmond streets. The light rain won't do anything to relieve local traffic on the Redmond streets as long as there's going to be significant numbers of people driving to the station.
Richard Bullington says:
There's no garage in the Downtown Redmond station. The garage is at Marymoor.
Sorry, misread.
Mike Orr says:
ST's motivation for building parking is to minimize hide-n-ride, which is considered an impact on the neighborhood caused by the station. So the number of spaces is chosen to absorb all the cars that would otherwise park just outside the station.
If it's relieving neighborhood intrusion, then ST should have the same motivation to add more pick-up spaces too.
It's not unusual for 20 to 40 people to get off each train during the afternoon peak hour in just one direction. If 25 percent of those are being picked-up, that's 5 to 10 people getting picked up for each train. Without having 5 to 10 spaces for those pick-ups, the stations will be deficient and they'll be using nearby neighborhood streets..
Is there any way the garage could be repurposed if driverless car technology someday renders it obsolete? Could the walls be filled in and converted to housing? Or will the entire structure just have to be razed to the ground and rebuilt?
It would be nice to have a repurpose option. That however would require level floors and maybe higher ceilings, like the SeaTac Airport garage.
Most new garages today have half to mostly slanted floors — which maximizes spaces but makes reuse very unlikely. That seems to be what ST builds.
Previous PostPrevious Sound Transit Approves Station Names and Vehicles for Tacoma Link Extension
Next PostNext RapidRide H (Metro 120) Is Having a Second Survey
Seattle Transit Blog is an independent, award-winning publication covering transit and land use issues in Seattle and the Puget Sound area since 2007. About Us
Seattle for visitors
Frequent transit map
Sign up for a weekly summary of our articles delivered via email.


text:
the back of an amtrac and still be
effective," said Oldland, a retired
Marine officer who has ridden in
AAVs. "What we want to do is to con-
duct a scientifically based test and
evaluate the performance of Marines
at one, two, three hours and measure
their effectiveness when they're at the
end of that water march."
The testers then would examine
"what are some of the things that
we possibly can do to improve
their performance," Oldland said.
Radocha said her draft test plan had to be approved by a review board because the trials involved humans. But she had expected to do the tests in August or September, depending on troop availability from the Pendleton-based I Oldland said the ACV-focused tests were built around the concept that the amphibious assault would be launched from 12 to 18 nautical miles offshore.
Using the habitability test results, they would know if an hour "is the real limitation or is it some other value," Oldland said.
Those facts would indicate the water speed the ACV would need.
"That will help provide the technical information to the requirements community to make their decisions on what kind of vehicle, at what kind of cost, they might want to buy," Oldland said.
The new round of tests on the prototype EFVs is being conducted by Marine Corps personnel, but supported by General Dynamics under the $766.8 million contract it was awarded in 2008 to build seven new vehicles for the reliability trials, Radocha said.
"Because of where we were in the developmental
cycle when the program was canceled, we did not have
tech manuals that would have allowed for Marines to
safely maintain the vehicles," she said. "At that phase
of development, the prime contractor typically is
responsible for that."
So General Dynamics (GD) continues to maintain the
vehicles, but is not involved the tests and does not have
access to any of the information they produce, she added.
"We've developed a fire-walled database so all of the testing we've been doing is without any GD participation, because the data is for government use only," Radocha said.
That data "fire wall" is necessary to ensure a fair competition when the ACV is offered for bids, Oldland said. ■
Along with developing a new Amphibious Combat Vehicle, the Marine Corps' "integrated acquisition portfolio approach" includes investment in upgrades and service life extensions for existing Amphibious Assault Vehicles, some of which are Vietnam-era vintage. Here, an Amphibious Assault Vehicle assigned to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, lands on a beach at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 28 during Exercise Iron Fist, a three-week bilateral training event with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
to provide data on land and water mobility of the EFV in different configurations, and overwater radio performance, he said.
"We recrafted the test program to get at the different information the Marine Corps needs for the requirements process," Radocha said.
Because the EFV had the transformer-like capability to change its external shape by covering up its tracks and extending a bow flap to reach high-water speeds, the testers were able to put the test vehicles into different configurations "that replicated possible conditions of an ACV" to provide data on land range and water speed at various weights and forms, Oldland said.
Those tests started in February and will continue into October at Pendleton, Radocha said.
Tests also will be conducted at Yuma, Ariz., that involve running a vehicle up to 3,000 miles to see how its tracks hold up, she said.
The tracks on the EFVs are a significantly lighter-weight design than on current amtracs, Oldland said. If they prove to be durable, it could reduce the life-cycle cost of future vehicles, he said.
The team will do firepower and water gunnery tests to "get some data on the vehicle we never had a chance to get," Radocha said.
Flynn also has ordered habitability tests "to see how effective a Marine can be" after various times inside an amphibious vehicle.
The high-water speed on the EFV was considered necessary to make the 25-mile transit from the amphibious ships to the beach in an hour and keep the Marines inside ready to fight.
Because a ship-to-shore ride inside AAVs is unpleasant, "there's the lure that a Marine can only sustain one hour in


DIRTY BEACHES/LAST LIZARD/ALEX ZHANG HUNGTAI!
This week, Alex Zhang Hungtai of DIRTY BEACHES and LAST LIZARD records some answers to burning questions, including a description of performing at David Lynch's bar that's straight out of a David Lynch movie! plus learn about accepting culture through food, and the appeal of dirty old man literature.
Emmanuel plays a 90s set, a third language set, and Travis plays a tape segment!


Every Bloggers / Writers have schedule for their work like article writing, SEO analysis, link building, content planning, WordPress Customization and much more. Isn't it?
Well, there are so many note taking applications available out there. Some of my very popular app includes Microsoft OneNote, Evernote and Google Keep.
Even though we setup pre-scheduled tasks properly, sometimes we simply miss it.
To solve that problem we usually keep our notes on laptop screen or on our work desk. If you are WordPress Developer, Content Writer, Author or Auditor then I would say, the most effective way to keep your personal instruction in your mind is to add all notes to Wordpress dashboard.
In this post I will share some of plugins to add Notes, Reminders and Instructions to your WordPress dashboard simple way.
First of all we will take a look at the WP Dashboard Notes. This is a free plugin which is used to post instructions in WordPress dashboard. You can restrict the visibility of the notes to just for you, or made available to all of the registered users of your blog.
if you are working alone, working from home or managing a multi-author blog, Then it is beneficial to stick virtual notes to the WordPress dashboard area.
It can be a good way to share important instructions to authors, and store your ideas and reminders for your work.
This plugin hasn't been updated for long time, but it still seems to work fine. The main difference between this plugin and others is that it can be displayed on all of the admin pages of your website, and not just the dashboard.
So, If you want to give an important message to all logged in users on your website to see, WordPress Admin Notepad does give you the feature to display your message everywhere on the back end of your site.
It will not post message on front of your blog. In addition to this you could also choose which user roles can see and edit the Message and its contents.
WP Noteup is a new plugin that allows you to add notes to the WordPress post editor screen sidebar.
The notes will only available when the post are being created. This feature makes WP Noteup a good choice for making a post or any instruction you want to include in your post, that will be visible as you write it.
Dashboard Site Notes is also a plugin that hasn't been updated for a long-time. But, it stills looks to be working without any kind of problem.
You just need to activate a plugin, then you can start creating multiple site notes. The site notes are created using the WordPress post editor, it make the process of making notes very familiar with WordPress interface.
Each note have its own visibility settings. The options for where and how each note is displayed includes which admin pages to show it, and which user roles can view them. It has all the features regarding visibility control to user role control.
Notes can also be inserted into posts and pages using shortcode.
If you have created notes on website, then it can be compiled into one set of instructions to author or contributor. Another great feature is the ability to display certain notes on specific admin pages.
It helps to make Dashboard Site Notes a good choice for adding instructions for clients and other users on website.
WP Dashboard Notes plugin is all in one plugin for creating notes and also in terms of the design and appearance of the notes.
If you do want display your notes in more than one location then one of the other options might be a better choice.
If you want to add personal reminders, instructions for your co-authors, or information for clients to their website after handing over, you should use a notes plugin is an easy way to keep everything organized in one place.
If you have used this type of plugin then DO share your experience with us in comment section and share your ideas and new features that should be added into this type of plugins.
Helpful content for the beginner, nice blog.
This site if excellent, the tips are very helpful, keep up the great work. Quick note, you spelled the word dashboard wrong on the featured image.
Thank you nice feedback Scott and reporting typo. I've just updated image and fixed typo.


noted the similarity between the two comedies and asked what went wrong with the CBS one. "It was really bad," Halpern said. "You're aware you created that show," joked Bill Lawrence, who exec produces Jack with Halpern, Patrick Schumacker and Jeff Ingold. "Yes, and I put the blame squarely on Patrick," Halpern joked. The CBS sitcom, he said, was "very much the wrong tone." The dad character, he said, did not live well in a multi-cam sitcom world where it's all about setup and punch lines. On a single cam, "the comedy comes more organically," he said.
Although the show — which also stars Connor Buckley as the kid — is set in the '90s, it's not a nostalgic slice of life in The Wonder Years vein, Lawrence said. But "these guys sold us on the show partly based on the pitch that it was a time when you couldn't just hit a button on your phone and … know everything immediately." Surviving Jack premieres at 8:30 PM Thursday, March 27. following the American Idol results show.


Images are the first impression people will get of you and your music. Because they are so important, not having them may keep you out of marketing feature opportunities. Download our brand-new requirements to learn what images we need and how to get them.
We're already getting requests for all sorts of Holiday tracks from advertising agencies, non-profits, and more. Send us the Holiday material you've been working on so we can start pitching it to clients!
We'll start pitching your best cover material.
While we can't put cover material live on the site, we can start pitching your songs directly to music supervisors for trailers, original content, etc. So if you've put a great spin on someone else's work, let us know!