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Packing It In
Life has changed a lot in the last 50 years. Technologically, we've gone from hard-wired telephones and physical communication modes to an unlimited universe of advanced electronic, mobile, and Internet devices. Despite all those technological changes in our lives, perhaps our societal attitudes have evolved even more.
Think of how dramatically our thoughts about gay rights, abortion, drinking and driving, privacy, climate change, public safety and other big ticket issues have been altered over that time.
If you've ever watched the television show Mad Men before, you'll know what I'm talking about. Set in the early 1960s, almost every scene in the program involves someone either a) drinking alcohol b) cheating on their spouses or c) smoking in a venue where it would be prohibited today.
What brought the last point to mind this week was a photo I noticed of a diplomat sitting in the White House with then-President John F. Kennedy back in 1962. Tucked in the very corner of the photo, sitting inconspicuously on a coffee table, is a fancy glass case loaded with cigarettes.
To anyone born in the last 20-30 years, the thought of being able to smoke in the White House, let alone an airplane, movie theatre, doctors' office, hospital or restaurant, is something totally foreign.
Today, it is not just illegal, it's also socially unacceptable in many circles. Ostensibly, JFK was a cigar smoker in private and his wife Jackie was a heavy cigarette smoker but, even in 1962, this was not something generally acknowledged in public. However, that certainly didn't stop the rest of North Americans puffing away wherever they pleased.
According to a 2013 University of Waterloo report on smoking, in 1965, over 62% of Canadian men were smokers and about 50% of all adults in this country smoked, the all-time peak in tobacco usage. Today, just 16% of Canadians are regular smokers and the number continues to fall every single year.
That's a phenomenal change in less than half a century. Pressure by The Canadian Cancer Society, the Non-Smokers' Rights Association and a variety of other public and private organizations has led to more and more restrictions on where people can smoke and what age you can buy cigarettes, along with packaging changes and warning notices, plus a whole bunch of other deterrents.
Health concerns have become better known. Workplaces have banned smoking. Governments have systematically bumped up "sin" taxes. The list of hindrances has grown to the point where smokers are not just a tiny minority, they're ostracized for taking part in an activity that, in addition to being perfectly legal, continues to be a massive source of revenue for government, accounting for over $7 billion in tax revenue annually.
Most politicians wouldn't be caught dead smoking a cigarette in public, partly because they know their political careers would likely be dead, too. In July 1984, I was working in the Press Gallery on Parliament Hill and found myself at a picnic one Sunday afternoon, chowing down next to Brian Mulroney, who would become Canada's Prime Minister just two months later. Seeing the writing on the wall, he told me how he'd quit smoking a short time before that, as he realized how difficult being a smoker would be while holding the highest office in the country.
Barack Obama made a similar decision in February 2011 after 30 years of being addicted to the weed. And I'm sure thousands of other politicians made the same commitment, partly for their health, but mostly because it's become a habit the majority of people not only don't participate in, but actually frown upon, especially when it comes to the people they elect.
There's an interesting article in the November 2014 issue of The Walrus by longtime magazine writer Lynn Cunningham about her lifelong attempt to quit smoking, part of which details her spending time in the Mayo Clinic's Nicotine Dependence Centre.
After 50 years and numerous attempts to rid herself of the habit, nicotine had become a vice she knew she couldn't overcome without serious help. Serious enough to travel to Rochester, Minnesota and pay $5,500 U.S. for the Mayo's eight-day cessation program.
Cunningham talks about the lack of residential treatment options for those who simply cannot quit on their own – and the similar lack of public sympathy for cigarette addicts. Unlike other addictions for which there are numerous support groups available, she says reformed smokers rarely have such avenues.
She comments on the fact that many recovering addicts, especially alcoholics, are often chain smokers who don't even consider smoking an addiction.
And she even talks about how many popular movies have been made about the struggles of quitting alcohol or drugs – when nobody would even think of making a blockbuster about someone who quit smoking.
"Popular culture basically doesn't acknowledge smoking as a dangerous addiction, nor does it lend it the patina of romantic dissolution that might garner users more sympathy – or better treatment options," writes Cunningham.
Last week, the Canadian Cancer Society said it is taking the "next logical step" by urging Health Canada to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes, according to a Canadian Press article.
It's already the law in Australia, where cigarettes have been packaged in plain olive brown wrapping since late December 2012 and cigarette use has fallen sharply since.
The CP story says similar plans are in the works in Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and France. "Plain packaging is an important and logical next step for Canada to curb tobacco marketing, reduce smoking and save lives," says Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst at the Cancer Society.
As more and more pressure is inflicted on Canada's remaining smokers to quit the killer weed, it's amazing to look back at the changes that have taken place since the 1960s. When the Non-Smokers' Rights Association (NSRA) was formed in 1974, its founders had very modest goals. They hoped to convince a few people that smoking was bad for their health and, in doing so, make them consider the idea of quitting.
As Canada gets closer and closer to being a non-smoking society, the NSRA must look back and marvel at how boldly life has changed in their 40 years of existence. It's just one example of the ways our lives in this country have evolved, but it's a profound one.
Leave a comment Posted in Advertising, Books, Children, Communication, Education, Entertainment, Ethics, Government, Money, Movies, Parenting, Politics, Taxes, Television, Websites, Women, Work, Writing Tagged Addiction, Advertising, Alcoholism, Barack Obama, Books, Brian Mulroney, Business Writing, Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Children, Cigarettes, Dependency, Education, Effective Writing, English Usage, Entertainment, Eric Nixon, Grammar, Health Canada, House of Commons, JFK, John F. Kennedy, Lynn Cunningham, Mad Men, Movies, Non-Smokers' Rights Association, Online Communication, Politics, Smoking, Taxes, Teenagers, Television, University of Waterloo, Web Content Writing, Website Writing, Women, Writing, Writing Services
(The following was written and originally published prior to the tragic August 9th shooting in Ferguson, Missouri and is not intended to reference that incident in any way)
Nuts. Psycho. Two sandwiches short of a picnic. What's your attitude when you hear that someone is suffering from mental illness? The three examples above were among many given in a U.S. police training exercise about dealing with people who may be emotionally disturbed. The officers were asked to come up with pejorative terms for mentally ill people. Although initially uncomfortable, it didn't take long for them to rhyme off the above examples.
Later in the exercise, the officers were asked for similar adjectives to describe people with cancer. About the worst they could come up with were "sick," "brave" and "courageous." Looking at the two lists side-by-side on a blackboard, the officers realized how distorted their viewpoints were about mental illness.
This is just one example of the problems police and other first responders have in trying to deal with those who may have mental disorders. They're part of an absorbing article called, 'Stand Down' by John Lorinc, which appears in the July/August 2014 edition of The Walrus.
One focus of the wide-ranging article concerns the unique approach developed by the Memphis Police Department in dealing with incidents involving emotionally disturbed suspects. In response to a tragic shooting nearly 30 years ago, the MPD created the Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), a specially trained group of officers who are dispatched to emergency scenes and given over-reaching powers when a potential incident occurs involving a suspected mentally ill individual.
Lorinc describes the CIT model as "a progressive approach to de-escalate high-tension confrontations, improve police attitudes toward those suffering from mental illness, and divert them from the criminal justice system."
Since its creation, similar programs have been developed in 2,700 regions in the U.S., including Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as in Vancouver and Hamilton. Almost across the board, there have been vast improvements made in the way police departments deal with such incidents, many of which can be prevented from escalating just by having trained people on-scene who know how to deal with mentally ill people.
With so many departments adopting such programs, one notable exception stands out from the list: Toronto. This is particularly disturbing given the number of high profile shootings in recent years involving Toronto Police Services and mentally ill individuals.
The most notorious happened just over a year ago when teenager Sammy Yatim was shot to death on a Toronto streetcar by Constable James Forcillo, who fired three times at Yatim, paused, then took six more shots at close range. Forcillo has since been charged with second-degree murder in the incident.
According to Lorinc's article, between seven and 40 percent of people who police come in contact with may have some form of emotional disturbance. And there are often additional factors such as homelessness, addiction or people suffering some kind of emotional crisis.
Lorinc indicates that Toronto police deal with about 19,000 calls per year involving someone who's emotionally disturbed. That's less than one percent of all police contacts with residents in Toronto, far from the estimated seven to 40 percent quoted above. Lorinc surmises that, possibly due to inadequate training, Toronto police simply are unable to recognize signs of mental illness when they see them.
Based on numerous examples given in the article, it would certainly seem so. Rather than talking rationally and calmly to emotionally disturbed suspects, many of the noted incidents involve officers screaming and shouting commands at the people, often the worst possible approach.
At the end of July, Toronto police Chief Bill Blair had his contract turned down for renewal by the city's Police Services Board. According to reports by the CBC, Board chair Alok Mukherjee said it was time for a change and there was a need for renewal.
The CBC said Mukherjee indicated what some of the changes might be when that "renewal" happens: "They will include the way that the police interact with the community; the way officers interact with emotionally disturbed persons and the mentally ill; and the need to transform the police service in a way that ensures it is effective and sustainable in the long term."
In a not-too-subtle way, Toronto's Police Services Board has confirmed what Lorinc and many others already believe – that the city's police force is ill-equipped and poorly trained to deal with incidents involving those with emotional disturbances.
Lorinc talks at length about a coroner's jury in Toronto that held an inquest earlier this year into three police shootings. Its recommendations echo many of those from the Memphis CIT training manual. These include a better knowledge of mental health problems, more training in verbal de-escalation techniques, and an abandonment in certain instances of what's referred to as the "twenty-one-foot-rule," where police are often expected to subdue suspects forcibly who are closer than that arbitrary distance and are considered a potential threat.
The rules need to change. According to Lorinc, during the coroner's inquest, one police officer said about the shooting he was involved in, "It's textbook, and I wouldn't change a thing." But, if that "textbook" is outdated and incomplete, why is it still being used?
Lorinc indicates that in that same shooting, one police officer actually called on his comrades to use some sense of calm. The author wonders why and concludes: "He likely had enough life experience to think beyond the twenty-one-foot rule, and to recognize what was in front of him: a man in crisis, rather than a police killer brandishing a potentially fatal weapon."
Ironically, a local resident, out for a jog the morning of the incident, saw the confrontation and instantly recognized the situation for what it was: "It's a cold winter day. The guy is standing there in a hospital gown, with bare legs. My first thought: this guy is in a mental health crisis."
If an average citizen with no training determined what was happening instantly, why couldn't a group of ostensibly "trained" police officers? And why did it take all of 72 seconds for them to end the emotionally disturbed patient's life with their guns?
The bottom line is that we all need to be better educated about mental illness. That education starts with our frontline police officers.
Leave a comment Posted in Children, Communication, Education, Equality, Ethics, Government, Guns, Parenting, Politics, Violence, Work, Writing Tagged Bill Blair, Canada, Children, CIT, Crisis Intervention Team, Education, Effective Writing, Emotional Disturbance, Eric Nixon, Grammar, James Forcillo, John Lorinc, Media Writing, Memphis Police Department, Mental Illness, Online Communication, Ontario, Police, Sammy Yatim, Shooting, Stand Down, Teenagers, The Walrus, Toronto Police Services, Violence, Web Content Writing, Writing, Writing Services
We all have them. Chocolate. Soap operas. Romance novels. Ice cream. Trashy reality television shows. Tabloid newspapers. They're called "guilty pleasures." Mostly innocuous stuff but, perhaps, not the types of things you'll readily mention to strangers or casual acquaintances.
One of my personal favourites is detective novels. I used to read a lot of the "classics" like Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man series with Nick & Nora Charles) and Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye).
Over the years, I began enjoying many of the later authors in the genre, which include John D. MacDonald, Robert P. Parker and more recent practitioners such as Robert Crais and Louise Penny, among many others.
But, in my opinion, there's one particular novelist and one specific "detective" who stand above the rest. The author's name is Lawrence Block, a Buffalo, New York born writer who's lived much of his 76 years in New York City and sets many of his novels there.
Block has written several different series, a humourous one about a gentleman burglar named Bernie Rhodenbarr and a more recent one about a hit man called simply "Keller."
All of the series are entertaining in one way or another, but if Block did nothing else but create one particular character, that would have been fine with me. His name is Matthew Scudder. To say he's "flawed" would only begin to poke at Scudder's many issues.
When the series started back in 1976 – nearly 40 years ago – he was an alcoholic, ex-NYPD detective who'd left his wife and two boys. He admits to taking bribes, sleeping with prostitutes, covering up crimes and much more during his time on the force. He makes the decision to quit the NYPD after accidentally killing a young girl when he was off-duty and had been drinking.
The first few novels in the series are good but, other than Scudder's many less-than-savoury habits, aren't particularly memorable. Ironically, the whole enterprise really takes off when the character, who now gets by as an unlicensed "detective" who helps out friends for money and lives in a seedy Hell's Kitchen hotel, wises up and quits boozing, joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
The story goes that, at this point, Block had decided to abandon the series because he didn't think there was any future in the story of a dry alcoholic. It goes to show that sometimes we're not the best judges of our own talents. Far from being over, Scudder's story had really just begun to be told.
Much of the next few novels deals with the reformed drunk's agonizing attempts to remain sober. You'd think that learning about someone's efforts to find his next AA meeting or trying to overcome the pull of alcohol everywhere he goes would be pretty dull stuff. On the contrary. Instead, Block creates one of the most multi-layered, morally-conflicted humans you're likely to encounter in fiction.
On top of that, he's some kind of detective. Dogged. Determined. Brilliantly analytical. Able to take the tiniest most insubstantial thread and keep pulling on it with his mind until a twisted, unsolvable case is put to bed. As one of his former coworkers on the police force described him, he's like a dog with a bone.
But, having created a great character is only part of Lawrence Block's attraction. He also happens to be a spectacular wordsmith. And he does it with seeming effortlessness, a true sign, in my mind, of a very talented writer.
Much like Chandler or Parker in their prime, his writing is spare, his imagery always on the money. As the New York Times Book Review put it: "Bulls-eye dialogue and laser-image description," calling his characters "almost real enough to touch."
I rarely re-read books. Without exaggeration, I can count on one hand the number I've read more than once. But, that hand does not include Block. I have read the entire Scudder series, many of them more than once.
And a few years back, I decided to make it my mission to purchase each of the books in order, one or two a year, and take a run at the entire 17-volume series, just to experience the pure joy of the character that Block created so many years ago.
What a pleasure that's been. I'm only seven books into my journey of rediscovery and I'm loving every minute. I could probably knock off each one in an evening but, instead, I'll usually take at least a week to pore over every page, savouring the dialogue, reintroducing myself to Scudder and all his acquaintances, and learning to love this amazing, twisted, tormented character all over again.
I've never written to an author before, but I've often considered dropping Block a note, just to thank him for creating these mini-masterpieces. Maybe he'd appreciate it, as he's hardly a household name and has never become anything close to being wealthy for his efforts. Or maybe he's a snooty snob who would be too good to care what others think of him.
I'll never find out because I never want to spoil the enchantment and the mystery behind both Block and his wondrous creation. Like discovering the secret behind a magic trick or the recipe for a perfect dish, sometimes, it's just better not knowing.
Approaching the age of 80, it's hard to know how many years Block still has with us or how many more Scudder novels he has in him. The last one came out in 2011 and he's only written three in the past 13 years, so the end of the line could be near. That would be heartbreaking news for a devoted fan like me, but all good things end someday.
In the meantime, I intend to savour every moment of this guilty pleasure, taking snack-size pieces of Block's delectable goodies whenever I hunger for the unmistakable taste of Scudder. Whatever your guilty pleasure, I hope you get to enjoy it for many years to come, as well. Life's too serious not to take a few moments every once in awhile just to enjoy it. Grab a piece and take a giant bite whenever you can. Delicious!
5 Comments Posted in Books, Communication, Education, Entertainment, Ethics, Grammar, Guns, Internet, Money, Parenting, Violence, Websites, Work, Writing Tagged Books, Dashiell Hammett, Detective Novels, Education, Effective Writing, English Usage, Entertainment, Eric Nixon, Grammar, John D. MacDonald, Lawrence Block, Louise Penny, Matthew Scudder, Media Writing, New York Times, Online Communication, Private Eyes, Private Investigators, Raymond Chandler, Robert B. Parker, Violence, Web Content Writing, Website Writing, Writing, Writing Services
You don't have to go back too many years to remember when the majority of workers had weekends off. Search your memory banks and you can probably recall sitting on the back deck with your feet up, enjoying a refreshing beverage, putting the work week behind you and letting your mind drift off to Never Never Land. Zzzzzz.
Where was I? Oh, right – weekends. Well, unless you're one of the few fortunate souls who still works Monday to Friday from 9-5, those days are long past. In addition to the normal busy parts of life (family functions, charitable endeavours, kids' sports activities, etc.), most of the world is now burdened with a variety of tethers that tie them to their jobs 24/7, even if they're far away from their physical workplaces.
In the "old days," they used to say certain types of work required people to be "on-call." What an antiquated term that seems today. Now we're all on-call, around the clock, wherever we are, even if we're, technically, on vacation.
Some of that may be a requirement of our employment, but much of it is self-inflicted. It's our choice to carry our smartphones or other technological umbilical cords with us at all times, glancing at them like Pavlovian dogs every time we're summoned, whoever is beckoning us. We can't seem to turn them off – and most of us wouldn't be inclined to do so whether or not we had the choice.
It's bad enough that most of the non-stop interruptions that keep us from doing something useful with our lives involve Facebook updates ("I just bought a hat!"), tweets (#cleaningthesink), selfies (me and a lint ball), YouTube videos (Cat licks paw!!!), or whatever.
It really starts to get sad, though, when all roads inevitably lead back to our jobs: checking our emails, making notes to ourselves, calling the office, dealing with customer concerns and, of course, actually working from home for 10, 20, 30 or more additional hours a week.
At some point, we all need to shut it down and give our weary brains a much-needed snooze. In a Scientific American article from last fall entitled Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime, author Ferris Jabr says, "Throughout history people have intuited that such puritanical devotion to perpetual busyness does not in fact translate to greater productivity and is not particularly healthy."
Instead, we should be searching for ways to disengage ourselves from work, rather than trying to perpetually add more to our overflowing plates. Quoting an essay from The New York Times by essayist Tim Kreider, Jabr says: "Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets.
"The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration—it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done."
How very true. Jabr adds, "Downtime replenishes the brain's stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life. A wandering mind unsticks us in time so that we can learn from the past and plan for the future. Moments of respite may even be necessary to keep one's moral compass in working order and maintain a sense of self."
As well, just what are we doing with all that additional "work time?" Not much of any true value, to be honest. Quoting a 2010 study of 1,700 white collar workers from the U.S., China, South Africa, the U.K. and Australia, Jabr says, "On average employees spend more than half their workdays receiving and managing information rather than using it to do their jobs."
It's easy to offer advice on how to consolidate or eliminate much of our "busywork" but, in the long-term, how effective will those efforts be if we don't make our own commitment to downsizing our lives, resisting the temptation to peek at our electronic devices whenever they call out to us, choosing not to spend that extra hour or ten at our workplaces, deciding not to sacrifice our nights and weekends to "catch up" on our mountain of neglected employment spewage and, generally, making a choice to put leisure time ahead of our jobs.
Or maybe all of that is some unrealistic, out-of-date fantasy. Have we come so far in our evolution that we're ready to give up all the things we've always cherished and that have provided us with an antidote to our jobs?
If so, perhaps it's time we rewrote that 1981 Loverboy classic, Working for the Weekend. In today's frenzied world, maybe it's time to come up with some lyrics that truly reflect where we're at today. In that case, we'll just retitle the song, Working on the Weekend and be done with it.
Leave a comment Posted in Books, Communication, Education, Entertainment, Holidays, Internet, Money, Movies, Music, Politics, Television, Work, Writing Tagged Books, Brains, Business Writing, Canada, Downtime, Education, Effective Writing, Employment, English Usage, Entertainment, Eric Nixon, Facebook, Holidays, Media Writing, Movies, New York Times, Online Communication, Overtime, Politics, Productivity, Scientific American, Teachers, Television, Time Off, Twitter, Vacation, Web Content Writing, Website Writing, Weekends, Work, Work Week, Writing Services, YouTube
"No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks," the great philosopher Alice Cooper once wrote. A recent experience where I watched a large family in a restaurant spend the majority of their meal cruising their smartphones led me to wonder how students in the digital age are managing to learn in a traditional school environment – when so much of their lives revolve around their electronic devices.
With the question of new teaching methods picking at my brain, I started searching for answers on the Internet. And, as so often happens, I ended up finding out much more than I ever wanted to know in the first place.
In the case of my search for teaching trends in the digital age, I stumbled upon a professor from the UK named Steve Wheeler. The educator recently wrote a three-piece series that commented on yet another article about three new emerging teaching trends. That article was written by Daniel S. Christian, an information technology instructor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Now you see what I mean about already discovering more than I really wanted to know.
According to his original thesis, Christian said he believes that new teaching methods are being driven directly by the upsurge in online activity and identifies three key changes to support his argument.
The first trend is "a move to opening up learning, making it more accessible and flexible." Christian says, "The classroom is no longer the unique centre of learning, based on information delivery through a lecture."
Wheeler comments on Christian's first trend by saying that this has been happening for at least the last decade. Classroom centred learning may be cost effective in terms of having a teacher deliver lessons in front of the class, allowing the students to reflect on what they might have learned and then testing them afterwards. But, is it still effective? With new technology, Wheeler says, learning can now take place anywhere and, more importantly, at the pace of each individual learner.
Of course, by taking teaching out of the classroom, we're also introducing a whole series of other issues. As Wheeler asks, "Will there be a divide between learning that continues to rely on traditional learning spaces, compared to learning that takes place largely outside the walls of the traditional classroom? Moreover, if there is such a divide, will it be delineated by its cost effectiveness, its conceptual differences, or its pedagogical impact?"
Christian's second trend involves "an increased sharing of power between the professor and the learner." He continues: "This is manifest as a changing professorial role, towards more support and negotiation over content and methods, and a focus on developing and supporting learner autonomy.
"On the student side, this can mean an emphasis on learners supporting each other through new social media, peer assessment, discussion groups, even online study groups but with guidance, support and feedback from content experts."
Wheeler wonders if teachers will be willing to voluntarily relinquish their position as the sole instructors in the classroom and become "co-learners." He believes, "Some would feel justified in jealously protecting their positions as acknowledged experts and resist any calls to take a sideways step and let their students lead. Knowledge is power, and holding that position of power can be seductive."
On the flip side, will students be willing to let their teachers into their personal digital world? "They are intimately familiar with the functionality of their devices, knowing how to use them to connect to, create and organize content. They are adept at connecting to their friends and peers too, but will they be willing to power share with their professors, take on greater autonomy and assume more responsibility to direct their own learning in the future?" wonders Wheeler.
Christian's final changing trend in teaching centres around "an increased use of technology not only to deliver teaching, but also to support and assist students and to provide new forms of student assessment."
Wheeler says this issue may be the stickiest of all, because learning and assessment are inseparable in education. Therefore, how do you reconcile digital learning methods with traditional grading systems? Wheelers reasons, "If students are relying increasingly on digital technology to connect them with content, peers and tutors, and to facilitate new, distributed forms of learning, then we should endeavour to assess the learning they achieve in a relevant manner."
In Wheeler's own classrooms, he often frees students from the confines of paper-based essays and allows them to submit videos, blogs and other forms of assignments. But how do you grade one form against another? In Wheeler's case, he tries to determine equivalencies in effort, the sequencing of content and how well his students use the different capabilities of each technology. That's a long, long way from having students take multiple-choice exams – and one that seems ripe for disagreements.
Whether we agree with Wheeler's interpretation of Christian's new trends or not, there can't be any doubt that the way we teach our children is undergoing an extraordinary change because of the light-speed advancements happening in digital technology.
To return to Alice Cooper's philosophical treatise on education: "Well, we got no choice/All the girls and boys/Makin' all that noise/'Cause they found new toys." New toys, for sure. And we'd better start thinking of more productive ways to make use of those toys if we intend to keep pace with the way we educate our children. If not, Mr. Cooper's prediction that "School's out forever" will almost certainly become increasingly true.
Leave a comment Posted in Children, Communication, Education, Entertainment, Games, Government, Grammar, Internet, Money, Movies, Parenting, Politics, Television, Websites, Writing Tagged Alice Cooper, Books, Business Writing, Children, Classrooms, Daniel S. Christian, Education, Effective Writing, English Usage, Entertainment, Eric Nixon, Grammar, Learning, Media Writing, Online Communication, Politics, School's Out, Smartphones, Social Media, Steve Wheeler, Teachers, Teenagers, Television, Web Content Writing, Website Writing, Writing Services


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Q: Debug so file in Android Studio 3 I have a project that by historical reasons I can compile only on VS + old NDK.
The result is an so file which originally then was wrapped into an apk, so there is no way to debug it in VS.
I have created a new project in Android Studio that loads the library in hopes that having the source code I will be able to debug it in Android friendly environment, but all I could was stepping through the so functions without any feedback, moreover, AS strips the so file, despite project is set to compile for debug.
Is there a method to utilyse the source code to make debugging easier in Android Studio?

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Keen to get started? Join us for the the first Dickson test calling event, where you'll trial out and help refine our draft call script!
Before GetUp members all around Australia launch into the campaign, we need to make sure our scripts and resources are effective, useful and the best they can be! This will be a short community calling session where we'll make a few calls, trial our scripts and report back on how well they performed and any changes we need to make.
Your personal insights will be incredibly valuable for rolling out this campaign to all the GetUp Action Groups.
How: RSVP using the form on this page, and we'll send you an email with the details.
Haven't attended a community calling session before? That's no problem at all - we'll provide training on using our innovative calling tool, scripts and resources.


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Helping young people to aspire and older people to thrive
What we do for younger people
What we do for older people
'Miss Marple' joins 1,000 older people at Sir Simon Milton Foundation Tea Dance
The Sir Simon Milton Award - nominate today
A Terrific Tea Dance 2018
Silver Sunday "Commemoration of Remembrance: 100th Anniversary of the Armistice"
Celebrating an incredible Silver Sunday 2018
Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC is 'Topped Out'!
On Wednesday 29th March 2017 LinkCity (Bouygues UK), the developers of the Sir Simon Milton Westminster University Technical College, hosted a Topping Out ceremony in the sports hall of the UTC. Invitations to this event were highly sought after to be able to witness this fabulous new, start-of-the-art school in Pimlico arise from the ground. It was a seminal moment to see an idea from one of our Trustees, Christabel Flight, that germinated only a few years ago made real and foretells an exciting year ahead when the College opens in September 2017.
Representatives were present from Westminster City Council, our founding partners, the University of Westminster and Network Rail, our Employers' Alliance, including Land Securities, Sir Robert McAlpine, Transport for London and Alstom. Speeches were made by LinkCity, Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader of Westminster City Council, Karen Barker, Principal of the UTC, and Robert Davis on behalf of the Sir Simon Milton Foundation. Ceremonial trowels were handed over and we were treated to a big advantage of having a French developer, delicious food!
Sir Simon Milton Foundation
We are a Westminster based charity that provides opportunities in education and training for the young and for older people to feel valued
© Sir Simon Milton Foundation. A charitable incorporated organisation registered in England and Wales. Registered Charity Number: 1174405

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The AIGA SF Trading Cards are a series of five cards to promote membership in the San Francisco chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. Our solution focuses upon the qualities that make the Bay Area and AIGA SF unique: as a laboratory of innovation, a home to championship teams, a location of scenic beauty, a center for creative endeavors, and a place that embraces diversity and new ideas.
The organization's robust programming slate is referenced on the back of every card and incorporated into the front designs. The card's diverse design approach conveys AIGA SF's commitment to providing value for every creative professional.


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56 Kosciuszko St., Brooklyn, NY 11205
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Your One-Stop Jeep Repair Shop in Brooklyn, NY
Jeep has a long history of producing trucks and SUVs that are meant to go off the beaten path. The Wrangler and the Cherokee have remained immensely popular since the 1980s, and with recent improvements in performance and quality, the Jeep brand is likely maintain its fan base and attract new followers. If you are among them, our mechanics are ready to work on your Jeep when it needs repairs.
The modern Jeep Wrangler is one of the last remaining four-wheel drive vehicles with solid front and rear axles, which are known for their strength, durability, and precision. Wranglers also have differentials, transmissions, and heavy duty suspension systems developed to withstand heavy-duty, off-road use. At Urban Classics, we repair Wranglers, ensuring Jeeps leave our shop ready to hit the road or the trail.
At Urban Classics in Brooklyn, NY, we are dedicated to keeping your exceptional automobile in exceptional condition. While Jeep vehicles are engineered for industry-leading performance and safety, proper preventative maintenance and repairs will extend its life and reliability. We want to keep your investment in great condition!
With many years of experience in the automotive service industry, we know how to determine what your Jeep needs at any given time and provide thoughtful service recommendations, from oil changes to adjustments. It is also important to note that your vehicle's priorities will change depending on its age, mileage, and drivetrain. We'll take full stock of all factors affecting your Jeep, and work to return or maintain its performance and superior drivability.
Bring Your Jeep to Urban Classics in Brooklyn
If your Jeep needs repairs or maintenance service, call Urban Classics in Brooklyn. You can also request an appointment through our online contact form. We'll contact you to confirm the date and time.
Home | About | Services | Specials | Hiring | Reviews | Car Care Tips | Blog | Contact
Urban Classics — Truck & Auto Repair & Service in Brooklyn, NY
We also serve Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, and Crown Heights as well as all other communities throughout Brooklyn and the 5 Boroughs.
56 Kosciuszko St. • Brooklyn • NY 11205 • (718) 622-8484
© Drive. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy • Accessibility Statement


All our garments are made with certified organic cotton yarn, certified under either the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the Organic Content Standard (OCS). Our clothes are made in Turkey and China, by factories that have Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits (SMETA). Sedex is a not-for-profit working to make responsible sourcing easier.
Our muslin swaddles are made in India using GOTS certified organic cotton yarn. Brilliantly, our factory does its own CSR work, supporting disabled children locally and in some cases providing them employment when they become adults, supporting them to lead independent lives.
Our wooden toys are made in China, using wood from sustainable sources, in a factory that is audited under ICP (ICTI CARE Process) certification. All the box packaging is made from recycled material and can be recycled. Our Wooden Duck Family is held firmly in place without the use of any plastic ties, just cleverly designed recycled card.
Our soft toys are made in the UK using GOTS certified organic cotton for the outside, and a fibre upcycled from plastic bottles for the filing – each toy saves seven 500ml water bottles from landfill. Our greetings cards, art prints and door hangers are also made in the UK, with recycled card.


Home / Blog / Beauty Is All In the Eyes: So Treat Them To A Makeover!
Beauty Is All In the Eyes: So Treat Them To A Makeover!
Human eyes convey emotion and attract attention like no other part of the body. They might not be the first thing that you notice about a person, but it doesn't take long before your eyes meet… yet some people aren't happy when that happens. Age, stress, and a busy lifestyle all take their toll on the eye area just as they do on other parts of the body. Everything from your diet to your job and social habits can make your eyes look tired and add to the impression of aging.Luckily, there are a number of possible treatments that can help improve the appearance of your eyes.
Restylane –a popular filler made from hyaluronic acid often used to treat crow's feet.
Sculptra – often favored because of its natural results, particularly for use in correcting hollow eyes.
Depending on the expectations and possible results, either of these can be used effectively to reduce the signs of aging around the eyes while also being used as a good filer for other parts of the face. Either can be injected in under an hour, and can even be used together in layers to boost the effect.
In fact, often the most natural result is achieved by using both products as they are complementary, and long lasting. Sculptra is delivered over a period of several months, while Restylane treatments can be completed in a single session in some cases.
The main surgical procedure that is often used for the eye area is called blepharoplasty and it involves removing fat from the upper and lower eyelids. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with facial fillers.Where Restylane and Sculptra can be used on the area around the eyes, only a blepharoplasty can actually correct the eyelids themselves. It's a delicate procedure but results are often very dramatic. It's also a procedure that will require several weeks of recovery time, with the stitches being removed after a few days.
With so many options, it's easy to lose sight (pun intended) of the goal – a natural, youthful appearance – so be sure to explore all options thoroughly with your surgeon.
This process can start with something as simple as emailing a snapshot of your eyes and asking what can be done to improve their appearance. You might be surprised at what we can do! To learn more about treatments for aging eyes, contact Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery of Houston, Texas, at (281) 484-0088.


Sure, it's been like forever since Castle Crashers was released. It was really fun but there were a ton of problems with the game such as data loss issue, networking issues, and other bugs such as these. Well, The Behemoth and Microsoft will finally be patching the game today, hopefully addressing the various issues players have been experiencing.
So, it looks like a LOT of people decided to pick up Castle Crashers. Which is good, the game is totally awesome. Apparently, it's sold about 78,545 units in 3 days, breaking Arcade sales records (at least according to vgchartz).
For those of you who are experiencing online issues, saving issues, etc I want to assure you that we are all very hard at work at getting an update to the game out as fast as we can. I am gathering all of the emails, forum posts, etc, etc for all of the issues that have been reported. As soon as I get them organized I will try to post them on here so everyone can see what we're going to fix for the update. Again if you have any issues you want to discuss with us please email them to games[at]thebehemoth[dot]com and try to put a relevant subject line on there so I can sort through them easier.
I haven't really had any problems, well, except the one time I tried to join a random game and my Xbox froze. Besides that though, every thing has been working fine. So, some good news, some not so good news (but they're working to make it good news) from The Behemoth. Make sure you email them any bugs you're experiencing.


text:
TV seriesVideo Games
Video Games Encyclopedia by Gamepressure.com
Released Games 129 Upcoming Games 3
Browse genres/themes ?
Browse the Encyclopedia by genre and tags. Each game has one main genre: Action, Fighting, Puzzle, Adventure, RPG, Sports, Strategy, Simulation, Party, Racing, Arcade. You can search multiple tags and filter games by platforms, scores, or release dates.
Action 05 April 2016
A dynamic, third-person action game, featuring a science-fiction setting inspired by modern theories about time travel. This title is the first next-gen production from Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment, best known for the Max Payne series and Alan Wake. Set in the near future, the story is split into TV-like episodes. The player's point of view alternates between three characters who, as a result of a failed time-travel experiment, gain different time-based abilities.
PCXONE
Stargate: Timekeepers
A tactical real-time strategy set in the Stargate universe. The Polish studio CreativeForge Games, a developer of games such as Hard West and Phantom Doctrine, is behind the development of Stargate: Timekeepers.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues
Action 26 October 2020
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues is a beat 'em up set in the universe known from the Cobra Kai series and Karate Kid movies. The game was developed by Flux Games.
PCXSXXONEPS4Switch
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
Adventure TBA
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a narrative adventure game set in the universe of the popular novel series and TV series. The player takes on the role of Drummer, a character known to fans of the brand, who has to face a rebellion on a spaceship.
Gold Rush: The Game
Simulation 13 October 2017
A simulator of a gold seeker. Developed by the Polish studio Code Horizon, the game gives the player an opportunity to travel to the cold regions of Alaska in order to excavate lodes of shining gold. The player supplies their equipment with fuel and electricity, carries loads of soil using an excavator or a loader, cleans the material with a sifter and other devices, and ultimately picks lumps of gold with tweezers.
PCXONEPS4
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Puzzle 20 August 2020
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a unique gangster puzzle-adventure game based on the popular Peaky Blinders TV series, produced by BBC television and Netflix. The game was created by FuturLab and Curve Digital.
PCXONEPS4Switch
Crash Time IV: The Syndicate
Racing 28 February 2011
The fourth installment of the popular car series by Synetic studio, based on the themes of the German thriller series Alarm for Cobra 11 and since 2008 developed under the export brand Crash Time. In this installment of the series, two likable detectives, Semir and Ben, face off against the eponymous criminal syndicate intent on taking total control of the Colony.
PCX360PS3
Strategy 26 March 2019
Extended browser production, combining elements of a strategy game and RPG. The game is based on the license of the popular TV series Game of Thrones. The Chinese studio Yoozoo Games is responsible for its creation.
PCWWW
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
Action 19 March 2013
First person shooter (FPS) based on the motives of The Walking Dead television series. The game was produced by Terminal Reality, a development studio whose output includes such titles as BloodRayne, Aeon Flux and Ghostbusters: The Video Game. The plot of The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct presents adventures of Dixon brothers - Daryl (you play as this character) and Merle. After the outbreak of zombie epidemic heroes are trying to get to Atlanta, where supposedly was set safe zone.
PCX360PS3WiiU
Puzzle 18 June 2008
Fishdom is a puzzle game with arcade and simulation elements, created by Playrix's development team for aquaristics enthusiasts. Solving the puzzles of the match-3 type, the player has the opportunity to build their own dream aquarium, where the most beautiful specimens of marine fauna will swim.
PCNDS
The Walking Dead: Survivors
Strategy 12 April 2021
A strategy for mobile devices set in the popular universe of The Walking Dead. The player's task is to build a prosperous settlement where people can live safely and comfortably. To do so, he collects resources, recruits survivors and constructs buildings.
ANDiOS
Ice Road Truckers
An arcade car game, which is an adaptation of a popular TV program. Players have the opportunity to join Lisa, Hugh and Alex to see who will be able to transport the most loads on the icy truck routes. The game was produced by Kuma Games studio in cooperation with A&E Television Networks.
Stranger Things 3: The Game
Action 04 July 2019
A two-dimensional walking beat'em up which action is set in the Stranger Things universe. The plot of this production is related to the third season of the series. BonusXP studio is responsible for its creation.
Saddle Club: Grand Galop
Party 27 August 2010
Saddle Club: Adventures in the saddle is a family game prepared by Tate Interactive studio addressed to young horse and horse riding enthusiasts. The title is based on a popular series and books by Bonnie Bryant. Players follow the adventures of the main characters - Stevie Lake, Carole Hanson and Lisy Artwood. The game consists mainly of exploring the terrain, performing simple tasks, taking care of animals and participating in equestrian tournaments.
PCWii
Arcade 27 September 2015
Next installment in a bestselling game series devoted to LEGO bricks and developed, as usual, by Traveller's Tales studio. This title is Warner Bros'. response to the growing popularity of franchises like Skylanders or Disney Infinity. This is the first game in the series that uses real LEGO minifigures, which are transferred into virtual word through a special port.
XONEPS4X360PS3WiiU
Lost: Via Domus
Adventure 26 February 2008
Action adventure game based on the license of a popular TV series. We play the role of one of the 815 flight survivors, trying to solve the riddles of the island. The game is divided into seven basic chapters, and the gameplay is linear in nature. In order to move the story forward, you have to deal with the solution of the quests assigned by the game.
Alarm for Cobra 11: Nitro
Racing 06 November 2006
In Alarm for Cobra 11: Nitro the player takes on the role of a member of the elite police unit - title unit Cobra 11. This membership puts us practically above the law - sitting behind the wheel of a patrol car we have one goal - to get criminals, regardless of the circumstances and actions taken.
Alarm for Cobra 11: Burning Wheels
The sequel to Alarm for Cobra 11: Crash Time, which is the sixth installment of the car-based series launched in 2000 and based on the popular German series Cobra: Special Branch. In the game, we play as well-known on-screen detectives Semir and Ben, participating in 50 diverse missions involving a wide range of police cars and civilian vehicles such as trucks, go-carts and tuned sports cars. Tasks include catching road pirates and chasing dangerous criminals and illegal racers.
PCX360
Adventure 16 November 2004
CSI: Miami is an adventure-detective production that is directly based on a television series of the same title. This is the third edition of the CSI series - the previous two are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2 - Dark Motives.
Dexter: The Game 2
Adventure canceled
Dexter: The Game 2 is a continuation of the action adventure game from 2009. Similarly to the original, the production of Ecko|Code is based on the license of a popular TV series. The player directs the actions of Dexter Morgan, a Miami criminologist who murders various types of gallows outside working hours.
Futuristic first-person shooter MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online), plot related to the series broadcasted by the American television station SyFy. Game was produced by Trion World Network studio. In unspecified future, the Earth became a target for alien colonization mission. Despite peaceful declarations, a war broke out between humans and Voltans. Alien fleet in orbit was destroyed, which led to spreading and mutation of alien species of flora and fauna.
Street Outlaws 2: Winner Takes All
Racing 21 September 2021
The second part of a series of racing games based on the license of the Street Outlaws TV show. In Street Outlaws 2: Winner Takes All we sit behind the wheel of more than 30 cars and take part in spectacular races. Apart from that we deal with tuning cars and taking care of our team.
PCPS5XSXXONEPS4Switch
The Grand Tour Game
Racing 15 January 2019
A racing game based on the eponymous Amazon Prime show. In The Grand Tour Game, you play as Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, and face various challenges straight from the show.
XONEPS4
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels
Strategy 19 November 2019
Turn-based strategy developed by Kuju Entertainment studio for Curve Digital and Gaumont International Television. Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is a game based on the license of a popular series under the same title, available on the Netflix platform.


text:
<?php

namespace FOS\RestBundle\DependencyInjection;

use Symfony\Component\Config\FileLocator;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Extension\PrependExtensionInterface;
use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\DependencyInjection\Extension;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ContainerBuilder;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\XmlFileLoader;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\DefinitionDecorator;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Reference;
use FOS\RestBundle\Util\Codes;

class FOSRestExtension extends Extension implements PrependExtensionInterface
{
    /**
     * Default sensio_framework_extra { view: { annotations: false } }
     *
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    public function prepend(ContainerBuilder $container)
    {
        $configs = $container->getExtensionConfig($this->getAlias());
        $parameterBag = $container->getParameterBag();
        $configs = $parameterBag->resolveValue($configs);
        $config = $this->processConfiguration(new Configuration(), $configs);

        if (!empty($config['view']['view_response_listener'])) {
            $container->prependExtensionConfig('sensio_framework_extra', array('view' => array('annotations' => false)));
        }
    }
    /**
     * Loads the services based on your application configuration.
     *
     * @param array            $configs
     * @param ContainerBuilder $container
     *
     * @throws \InvalidArgumentException
     * @throws \LogicException
     */
    public function load(array $configs, ContainerBuilder $container)
    {
        $config = $this->processConfiguration(new Configuration(), $configs);

        $loader = new XmlFileLoader($container, new FileLocator(__DIR__.'/../Resources/config'));
        $loader->load('view.xml');
        $loader->load('routing.xml');
        $loader->load('util.xml');
        $loader->load('request.xml');

        if (!empty($config['disable_csrf_role'])) {
            $loader->load('forms.xml');
            $container->setParameter('fos_rest.disable_csrf_role', $config['disable_csrf_role']);
        }

        $container->setParameter('fos_rest.cache_dir', $config['cache_dir']);

        $formats = array();
        foreach ($config['view']['formats'] as $format => $enabled) {
            if ($enabled) {
                $formats[$format] = false;
            }
        }
        foreach ($config['view']['templating_formats'] as $format => $enabled) {
            if ($enabled) {
                $formats[$format] = true;
            }
        }

        // The validator service alias is only set if validation is enabled for the request body converter
        $validator = $config['service']['validator'];
        unset($config['service']['validator']);

        foreach ($config['service'] as $key => $service) {
            if (null !== $service) {
                $container->setAlias($this->getAlias().'.'.$key, $service);
            }
        }

        if (!empty($config['serializer']['version'])) {
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.serializer.exclusion_strategy.version', $config['serializer']['version']);
        }
        if (!empty($config['serializer']['groups'])) {
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.serializer.exclusion_strategy.groups', $config['serializer']['groups']);
        }
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.serializer.serialize_null', $config['serializer']['serialize_null']);

        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.formats', $formats);
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.default_engine', $config['view']['default_engine']);

        foreach ($config['view']['force_redirects'] as $format => $code) {
            if (true === $code) {
                $config['view']['force_redirects'][$format] = Codes::HTTP_FOUND;
            }
        }
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.force_redirects', $config['view']['force_redirects']);

        if (!is_numeric($config['view']['failed_validation'])) {
            $config['view']['failed_validation'] = constant('\FOS\RestBundle\Util\Codes::'.$config['view']['failed_validation']);
        }
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.failed_validation', $config['view']['failed_validation']);

        if (!is_numeric($config['view']['empty_content'])) {
            $config['view']['empty_content'] = constant('\FOS\RestBundle\Util\Codes::'.$config['view']['empty_content']);
        }
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.empty_content', $config['view']['empty_content']);

        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.serialize_null', $config['view']['serialize_null']);

        if (!empty($config['view']['view_response_listener'])) {
            $loader->load('view_response_listener.xml');
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.view_response_listener.force_view', 'force' === $config['view']['view_response_listener']);
        }

        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.routing.loader.default_format', $config['routing_loader']['default_format']);
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.routing.loader.include_format', $config['routing_loader']['include_format']);

        if ($config['exception']['enabled']) {
            $loader->load('exception_listener.xml');
            if ($config['exception']['exception_controller']) {
                $container->setParameter('fos_rest.exception_listener.controller', $config['exception']['exception_controller']);
            }
        }

        foreach ($config['exception']['codes'] as $exception => $code) {
            if (!is_numeric($code)) {
                $config['exception']['codes'][$exception] = constant("\FOS\RestBundle\Util\Codes::$code");
            }
            $this->testExceptionExists($exception);
        }
        foreach ($config['exception']['messages'] as $exception => $message) {
            $this->testExceptionExists($exception);
        }

        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.exception.codes', $config['exception']['codes']);
        $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.exception.messages', $config['exception']['messages']);

        if (!empty($config['body_listener'])) {
            $loader->load('body_listener.xml');

            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.throw_exception_on_unsupported_content_type', $config['body_listener']['throw_exception_on_unsupported_content_type']);
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.body_default_format', $config['body_listener']['default_format']);
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.decoders', $config['body_listener']['decoders']);

            $arrayNormalizer = $config['body_listener']['array_normalizer'];

            if (null !== $arrayNormalizer['service']) {
                $bodyListener = $container->getDefinition($this->getAlias().'.body_listener');
                $bodyListener->addArgument(new Reference($arrayNormalizer['service']));
                $bodyListener->addArgument($arrayNormalizer['forms']);
            }
        }

        if (!empty($config['format_listener']['rules'])) {
            $loader->load('format_listener.xml');

            foreach ($config['format_listener']['rules'] as $key => $rule) {
                if (!isset($rule['exception_fallback_format'])) {
                    $config['format_listener']['rules'][$key]['exception_fallback_format'] = $rule['fallback_format'];
                }
            }

            $container->setParameter(
                $this->getAlias().'.format_listener.rules',
                $config['format_listener']['rules']
            );

            if (!empty($config['format_listener']['media_type']['version_regex'])) {
                $container->setParameter(
                    $this->getAlias().'.format_listener.media_type.version_regex',
                    $config['format_listener']['media_type']['version_regex']
                );
            } else {
                $container->removeDefinition('fos_rest.version_listener');
            }
        }

        if (!empty($config['view']['exception_wrapper_handler'])) {
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.view.exception_wrapper_handler', $config['view']['exception_wrapper_handler']);
        }

        if (!empty($config['view']['jsonp_handler'])) {
            $handler = new DefinitionDecorator($config['service']['view_handler']);
            $handler->setPublic(true);

            $jsonpHandler = new Reference($this->getAlias().'.view_handler.jsonp');
            $handler->addMethodCall('registerHandler', array('jsonp', array($jsonpHandler, 'createResponse')));
            $container->setDefinition($this->getAlias().'.view_handler', $handler);

            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.view_handler.jsonp.callback_param', $config['view']['jsonp_handler']['callback_param']);

            if ('/(^[a-z0-9_]+$)|(^YUI\.Env\.JSONP\._[0-9]+$)/i' !== $config['view']['jsonp_handler']['callback_filter']) {
                throw new \LogicException('As of 1.2.0, the "callback_filter" parameter is deprecated, and is not used anymore. For more information, read: https://github.com/FriendsOfSymfony/FOSRestBundle/pull/642.');
            }

            if (empty($config['view']['mime_types']['jsonp'])) {
                $config['view']['mime_types']['jsonp'] = $config['view']['jsonp_handler']['mime_type'];
            }
        }

        if (!empty($config['view']['mime_types'])) {
            $loader->load('mime_type_listener.xml');

            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.mime_types', $config['view']['mime_types']);
        } else {
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.mime_types', array());
        }

        if (!empty($config['param_fetcher_listener'])) {
            $loader->load('param_fetcher_listener.xml');

            if ('force' === $config['param_fetcher_listener']) {
                $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.param_fetcher_listener.set_params_as_attributes', true);
            }
        }

        if (!empty($config['allowed_methods_listener'])) {
            $loader->load('allowed_methods_listener.xml');
        }

        if (!empty($config['access_denied_listener'])) {
            $loader->load('access_denied_listener.xml');
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.access_denied_listener.formats', $config['access_denied_listener']);
            $container->setParameter($this->getAlias().'.access_denied_listener.unauthorized_challenge', $config['unauthorized_challenge']);
        }

        if (!empty($config['body_converter'])) {
            if (!empty($config['body_converter']['enabled'])) {
                $parameter = new \ReflectionParameter(
                    array(
                        'Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Request\ParamConverter\ParamConverterInterface',
                        'supports',
                    ),
                    'configuration'
                );
                if ('Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Configuration\ParamConverter' == $parameter->getClass()->getName()) {
                    $container->setParameter(
                        'fos_rest.converter.request_body.class',
                        'FOS\RestBundle\Request\RequestBodyParamConverter'
                    );
                } else {
                    $container->setParameter(
                        'fos_rest.converter.request_body.class',
                        'FOS\RestBundle\Request\RequestBodyParamConverter20'
                    );
                }
                $loader->load('request_body_param_converter.xml');
            }
            if (!empty($config['body_converter']['validate'])) {
                $container->setAlias($this->getAlias().'.validator', $validator);
            }
            if (!empty($config['body_converter']['validation_errors_argument'])) {
                $container->setParameter(
                    'fos_rest.converter.request_body.validation_errors_argument',
                    $config['body_converter']['validation_errors_argument']
                );
            }
        }
    }

    /**
     * Checks if an exception is loadable.
     *
     * @param string $exception Class to test
     *
     * @throws \InvalidArgumentException if the class was not found.
     */
    private function testExceptionExists($exception)
    {
        if (!is_subclass_of($exception, '\Exception') && !is_a($exception, '\Exception', true)) {
            throw new \InvalidArgumentException("FOSRestBundle exception mapper: Could not load class '$exception' or the class does not extend from '\Exception'. Most probably this is a configuration problem.");
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Energizing trekking visits along the most pleasant unspoilt places in Kyrgyzstan are in front of you. If you like enjoying the nature far from the civilizations and you are not afraid of long walking passages and overnights in tents, at that point a trekking visit can be a fantastic choice for traveling.
In the event that you've spent even a couple of days in Kyrgyzstan, you've in all likelihood caught an impression of Jeti-Oguz. The Seven Bulls, projections of dark red rock raising from the backwoods, makes up one of the nation's most cherished unspoilt landmark, even few bus stops have its image engraved its image as the signature image.
Being an iconic sight, how could looking over the relentless bulls potentially not top your itinerary.
To get the postcard-culminate shot of the dynamic red shake line, take after the dusty street that breezes up the slope behind the town.
A simple climb from the town on a rough track that crisscrosses the stream that leads to the most picturesque, Valley of Flowers.
In between the dewy green fields embraced by pine timber lands, you'd be pardoned for supposing you'd walked directly into the countryside than a remote valley in Kyrgyzstan.
The hike to the fifth bridge is 6km and can be reached in around 1.5 hours.
There're no less than two reasons why the Ala Archa National Park in the Tian Shan mountains is an ideal place to begin your trekking tour in Kyrgyzstan.
The first is that it's situated close to the capital, Bishkek, and is effectively open by marshrutka (minibus), which settles on it an exceptional choice for a decent prologue to what the Kyrgyz mountains bring to the table. Only a one-day hike traverse you to the base camp Ratsek at an elevation of more than 3000 meters, encompassed by great perspectives on high rough pinnacles that can be climbed!
The way is all around checked, with a fast climb to an edge, where you catch after a trail over a stream for two or three kilometres. After around 4 kilometres you will achieve a little cascade.
Fly over to the stream for a relaxing break, before proceeding to hike towards the slope station. Past the waterfall, the remainder of the hike involves some steep ascents.
Ala-Kul lake is a standout amongst the most delightful and well-known snow capped lakes in Kyrgyzstan. This trekking visit has been intended for trekkers fit as a fiddle and ready to climb for 5-8 hours for every day.
Trek through the Ala-Too Mountain Range and see the Altyn Arashan 2700m, Sirota Mountain Hut 2800m, Karakol Gorge, Ala-Kul Pass 3850m, Ala-Kul Lake 3500m and appreciate the hot springs in Altyn Arashan!
From Altyn Arashan, it's anything but difficult to add multi-day outing to Alakol on horseback or add two or three days to climb to Alakol.
Feel the liberty, excitement and romance amid meandering rustic spots that approach you on the off chance on your Kyrgyzstan trekking tour. Call us or visit our website to book your trekking tour now.


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Con il termine elettrofisiologia si indica una branca della fisiologia che ha come studio il funzionamento dell'organismo dal punto di vista elettrico, sia in condizioni fisiologiche normali sia sotto l'influsso di un potenziale elettrico esterno. In particolare l'elettrofisiologia può essere applicata al funzionamento elettrico del cuore o al funzionamento elettrico delle cellule. In questo secondo caso si parla di "elettrofisiologia cellulare".Alcune delle tecniche sfruttate nell'ambito dell'elettrofisiologia sono le seguenti:

 elettrocardiografia
 elettroencefalografia
 elettromiografia
 elettroretinografia.

Elettrofisiologia del cuore

Uno studio elettrofisiologico (SEF) è uno dei possibili test di conduzione elettrica del cuore. Questo test viene eseguito utilizzando dei cateteri situati nel cuore.
In elettrofisiologia clinica, particolare rilevanza assume lo studio del segnale R-R. Esso prende in considerazione l'intervallo temporale che intercorre tra un battito cardiaco e il successivo in un tracciato ECG registrato di norma per un tempo non superiore ai cinque-sei minuti.

È possibile studiare il segnale R-R anche per intervalli di tempo molto lunghi, ad esempio per 24 ore mediante Holter. Di particolare rilievo è il fatto che il segnale R-R è modulato prevalentemente dall'attività del Sistema Nervoso Autonomo. Lo studio della variabilità del ritmo cardiaco (R-R) consente quindi di stimare l'attività della componente del simpatico e del parasimpatico nella modulazione del ritmo cardiaco stesso. La metodologia più frequentemente utilizzata è quella della FFT (Fast Fourier Tranform).

Con questo metodo è possibile rappresentare il segnale R-R nel dominio della frequenza, ottenendo in ordinata il valore spettrale della PSD (Power Spectral Density) e in ascissa il corrispondente valore della frequenza. Lo studio consente in particolare di analizzare tre bande di frequenza, la VLF nell'intervallo di frequenza compreso tra 0,003 e 0,04 Hz, la LF compresa nell'intervallo di frequenza tra 0,04 e 0,15 Hz e la HF , nel corrispondente intervallo di frequenza di 0.15 e 0.4 Hz. Le bande LF ed HF consentono un'analisi descrittiva dell'attività di modulazione del simpatico e del vagale e del loro bilanciamneto nella caratterizzazione del ritmo cardiaco.

L'analisi mediante FFT presenta tuttavia dei limiti notevoli perché il segnale R-R è in sé un segnale non stazionario e non lineare e pertanto la sua analisi richiede metodi più avanzati. Il gruppo di ricercatori Elio Conte, Antonio Federici, Joseph P. Zbilut hanno introdotto di recente un metodo di studio molto avanzato. Esso prende il nome di CZF method e si presenta come un autentico marker dell'attività modulante del sistema nervoso autonomico sul ritmo cardiaco. Esso può essere applicato sia per lo studio di soggetti normali sia nei casi delle diverse patologie che caratterizzano il ritmo cardiaco.

Note

Bibliografia
 Capella Guido, Rauhe Werner G., Sanna Gianpietro, "Elettrofisiologia clinica", Piccin-Nuova Libraria editore, 1993. ISBN 88-299-1021-X
 Elio Conte, "La variabilità dei segnali in Elettrofisiologia clinica: principi e metodi di analisi", 2007. ISBN 978-88-7959-410-3
 Santini M., Ricci R. P., "Manuale di elettrofisiologia ed elettrostimolazione cardiaca per infermieri e tecnici di cardiologia", Centro Scientifico editore. ISBN 88-7640-732-4
 Alberto Zani, Alice Proverbio, "Elettrofisiologia della Mente - Il cervello e le funzioni cognitive", Carocci Editore, 2003.

Voci correlate
 Cateterismo cardiaco
 Sistema di conduzione del cuore

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


O.Enkhjavkhlan was appointed as President of School of Broadcasting and Media Arts of The Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture since June 2012.
In the years of 1995-2005, she worked as journalist, editor, head of department at "Ardiin erkh", "Zasgiin gazriin medee" newspaper, "Durvun uul" radio, "Eagle TV" and "TV9" television.
She has a vast experience of social, economic, art and cultural journalism and specialized at investigative journalism.