Leela Dance in "The Son of The Wind"
Sonoma State University is hosting a pair of premieres at the Green Music Center with the world premiere of Leela Dance Collective's kathak dance drama "Son of the Wind" at Weill Hall on April 8 and the West Coast premiere of the restored 1948 Hindi film "Kalpana" in Schroeder Hall on April 7.
"Son of the Wind" brings to life the ancient Indian poem of Ramayana focusing on its hidden hero, Hanuman, the son of the mighty wind god. Through his mischievous ingenuity and indomitable vigor, Hanuman proves to be an integral force in the rescue of the kidnapped princess Sita and the defeat of the arrogant King Ravan.
"The dancing is incredible and the story they portray through the way they move their bodies is remarkable," says Ajay Gehlawat, a Sonoma State University film studies professor who helped coordinate the event.
Leela Dance is a collective that brings together leading kathak dance artists to create new art grounded in Indian dance tradition with bold innovation. Kathak is a regional Indian dance style traveling storytellers used to tell a unique story through the art of dance.
The weekend will also feature the West Coast premiere of the restored version of Uday Shankar's 1948 film "Kalpana," the first Indian film to have dances especially choreographed for the camera. "It creates these amazing dance sequences that are like nothing I have seen before," says Gehlawat.
Uday, older brother of musician Ravi Shankar, wrote, directed and starred in the surreal film, which revolves around a young dancer's dream of opening his own academy.
The film was thought to be lost due to time and degradation but was restored in 2008 by Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project. "It is also a genuine dance film, in other words, a film that isn't just about dance, but is dancing, movement and energy," says Scorsese in the intro to the restored version.
The University is also hosting an international symposium on the evolution of song and dance in Hindi cinema on April 8 beginning at 9 a.m. in the Alexander Valley Room in the Student Center. The symposium features a group of internationally renowned scholars who will discuss the historical role that song and dance has played, and continues to play, in the cinema now known as Bollywood. The symposium is free and open to the public.
"To have even one of these scholars would be amazing, but to have them all together at Sonoma State is an incredible privilege," says Gehlawat.
Leela Dance's "Son of the Wind" is Saturday, Apr. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Weill Hall. "Kalpana" is Friday, Apr. 7 at 7 p.m. in Schroeder Hall. For more information and for tickets, visit gmc.sonoma.edu.


During a Trump Rally today in Denver Colorado, Donald Trump claimed that Bernie Sanders "sold his soul to the devil." As a Christian, I snickered to myself realizing that despite numerous myths, Satan does not make deals for people souls.
However, Sanders new pact with Crooked Hillary Clinton may be the closest a man on earth may ever come to selling his eternal soul to Satan.
In consideration of known devil worshipers, it makes sense that the evil cabal of Satanists want Clinton for their leader within the White House.
Arguably, it is why they killed John F. Kennedy Junior so he would not run against her for the NY Senate seat. She was an interloper in NY and he was a native east coaster and would have beat her hands down for the nomination, so they had to do away with him.
For those familiar with why Lyin' Crooked Hillary was fired from the Watergate investigation years ago, those who remember the facts surrounding her termination from the investigation should have no doubt that Hillary is the Mother of Darkness and a witch.
Hopefully after you read this, you will understand why these Satanists always murder Christians who are antithesis to everything these Satanists believe in, since they stand in the way of the satanic agenda.
There is no doubt that many people who have been associated with the Clinton's have turned up dead. In past history, similar to the Clinton's mass murdering of those who know too much about them, the Khazars (Jews at the time) killed millions of Christians when they took over Russia from the Czar.
In all due consideration, a person would have to be insane to ever vote to elect Crooked Hillary President of the United States.
When former FBI Agent, Gary Aldrich, wrote in his book, "Unlimited Access: An FBI Agent Inside The Clinton White House", he strenuously wanted to expose the Clinton's actions which endangered National Security. Little did he realize, when he was reporting personal observations of Clinton behavior, he was providing iron-clad proof that Bill and Hillary are, indeed, powerful Illuminati witches!
In Old Testament times, the Israelite's understood the power behind a name. Whether there was actual spiritual blessing or power imparted through a God-given name, or whether the names given simply powerfully influenced the thoughts and beliefs of persons about themselves, the names of the Old Testament characters in many ways predicted or foreshadowed important characteristics or the roles that they would play.
"On earth as it is in heaven." Everything to take place in the physical realm, such as earth, takes place in the spiritual realm as well. That's why you constantly hear of Hillary in the physical realm, and the spiritual realm of her, as God has revealed to me, is absolutely Hephzibah.
Who could argue that Hillary has not been guarded beyond what anyone could rightfully say is reasonable and or sane. There are numerous instances of Hillary's escape from prosecutions, however no other instance stands as loud as her recent free pass from prosecution behind the Clinton email scandal.
It just gives new meaning to the "Whore of Babylon" when you realize that Hillary is masquerading as the physical form of her.
Hephzibah—Clinton, The most powerful woman on earth–the woman beast.
In ancient times Hephzibah was the mother of Manasseh who led the nation of Israel into idolatry and devil worship. For this, the Lord allowed them to go into Babylonian captivity.
The entire Satanic kingdoms are a matriarchal society where the women are the real rulers. Most of their ruling class is hidden, in other words the Queen of England bows down to Hephzibah. There are six separate kingdoms, three kings of patriarchal societies; and three Queens of Matriarchal societies.
Like the "blue bloods" their marriages are arranged and genetics play a big part in who gets to rule in their society. There are some specifics to Hillary's genetics that would allow her to rule over the United States land area.
It is suspected Clinton will be the grandmother of the Antichrist. She is the granddaughter of Lucifer.
Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush are both Grande Dame's of the Mothers of Darkness group, but they don't have the power to rule over the entire occult world.
Hephzibah is a bridged gap that the rulers needed to be able to locate Mystery Babylon in the U.S.
Hillary's grandmother was the top Grande Dame Mother of Darkness and carried the "Great Whore" spirit passed down through the generations from ancient Babylon. Her mother, Lucifer's daughter committed some kind of offense in the occult world and they stripped her of the position of ruler-ship, so the position was not passed onto her, instead it was given on to the granddaughter.
Hephzibah's—Hillary's titles include, "The Great Whore" "The Most Powerful Witch (MPW)" "The Locust Queen, or Queen of the Locusts." The name Hephzibah is a name of blasphemy and means "my delight is in her." Hillary is the physical form of the whore that sits upon the beast. She claims direct lineage to Semaramis and is worshiped as the goddess Ishtar.
The big fish in the New World Order you will never hear about, they are too important for their true identity to be discovered.
In the occult world, whomever has the most power rules over others. Their rulers are determined by power encounters where one group or witch or wizard who is trying for the position will 'go to war' with the ruler, and a clash of each one's powers are tested against the other one to find who has the greater power, and the winner is the one who walks away alive.
The Great Whore spirit is passed down when an older witch gives up her life to the younger and the last dying breath of the Grande Dame is taken into the mouth of the younger receiver. This is how the entity is passed on in the Mothers of Darkness.
The Antichrist spirit is an entity passed down to the Nephilim rulers, and Hillary is the one who possesses this entity. That doesn't mean she will be successful in rising to power though. There are many others including witches who want this title and spirit to be passed on to their prodigy and they are all in competition for it. There have been many in the occult world that have had this spirit and almost came to power with it.
There are Six Satanic Kingdoms that cover the earth. Three are ruled by Queens. Three ruled by Kings. It is a war between the Nephilim, "their seed and our seed (humankind)" as per Gen. 3:15. They are nonredeemable and their thoughts evil continuously.
What part Bernie Sanders plays in Hillary's evil attempt to rise to the most powerful position in the world, President of the United States of America, is arguably debatable.
However, a prudent person must understand that Donald John Trump has been equipped and called by God to lead the last Christian stronghold in the world, the United States of America, into battle with Satan's—Clinton's / Obama's forces who were set in to a full scale press by Barrick Hussein Obama.
"For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
There is no doubt, as God has revealed to me, that we are quickly heading into the last day's prophesied in the bible as Armageddon. I thank God that he has sent us a true Christian warrior, Donald John Trump, to lead us into and through our last battle over good versus evil.
I have a very colorful history that I feel I should briefly explain. I have been a pastor since February of 2011. Prior to being a pastor, I was an internet entrepreneur earning approximately $80,000 a week.
During the past five years, my financial existence has been one of a pauper. When God called me on June 9th of 2009 to turn away from serving Satan to serving him, he instructed me to give everything I had to the poor. I did so reluctantly.
I was a rich man by most people standards and I was definitely in every respect living a very evil life. I spent most of my free time in Vegas, Laughlin and Tahoe, gambling and drinking.
When I was at home, I spent 15-18 hours a day finding new ways to earn more and more money, with no regards for those I had to hurt to claim more wealth for myself.
I will never forget the day God called out to me. It is very difficult to explain in comprehensible words what happened to me on that day in June of 2009 because frankly if I prior to my life changing experience with the Almighty God, I would have never believed anyone who may talk about a similar experience.
Am I crazy? Am I someone special? I do not believe so. However, since I have become a servant of God, I can now pray to him to heal people. I have laid my hands on literally hundreds of people who were blind, who can now see; people who could not walk or now walking; people whose bodies were ridden with late stages of cancer, are now free of any trace of the deadly disease.
God has opened my eyes. I see things in people instantly that I never seen before. Repeatedly, I have met people since June 2009 that within minutes of talking to them, I was able to understand things about them that would normally take decades to learn.
I have walked into burning buildings to rescue people, walking out with them suffering no harm to myself. At one time I was walking along the edge of a lake when my wife looked at me very strangely. Before she could blurt it out, I realized that I was standing on top of water about a foot deep—I have no idea how far I had walked on the water, however I can tell you that once I realized I was standing on the top of the water, I sank like a rock.
What does any of my testimony mean to you or anyone else? I do not have an answer for that, however it is important to me that you understand why I so firmly believe that Crooked Hillary is the physical form of Hephzibah and that Donald John Trump has been called upon by God to defeat her and her Satanic army.
I have been recently called upon by God to share his vital messages to me with you. It is your choice whether to believe me or not. However, from God to me to you, please pass this article on to every Christian you know. Allow them to make their own decision to its correctness. To fail to do so, would be a slap in the face to the person who has brought you God's message.
May God have mercy on all of our souls and continue to bless Donald John Trump.
Are faith and reason incompatible?


List of villages in Chhibramau taluka or tehesil is listed below. Please click on a village link to view every detail of the village. Chhibramau is under the Kannauj district in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.


text:
Climate crisis raises risk of conflict
Written by Tim Radford
A warmer world will be more dangerous. As the thermometer rises, so does the risk of conflict and bloodshed in more vulnerable regions.
If the world warms by 4°C this century, the climate factor becomes more dangerous – five times more dangerous, according to new research, which predicts a 26% increase in the risk of conflict, just because of climate change.
Even if the world sticks to a promise made in Paris in 2015, when 195 nations vowed to contain global warming to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, the impact of climate on the risk of armed conflict will double. The risk will rise to 13%.
US researchers report in the journal Nature that they quizzed a pool of 11 experts on climate and conflict from a range of disciplines. There is no consensus on the mechanism that links a shift in average temperatures and ethnic bitterness, migration, violence and outright civil war within any single nation. But there is a simple conclusion: whatever the process, climate change raises the risk of conflict.
And the study comes just as the latest publication of the Global Peace Index warns that 971 million people now live in areas with what is termed high or "very high climate change exposure", and 400 million of these people already live in countries with "low levels of peacefulness."
Making conflict likelier
The Global Peace Index issues the same warning: that climate change can indirectly increase the likelihood of violent conflict by affecting the resources available to citizens, to jobs and careers, and by undermining security and forcing migration.
And, the same study says, this comes at a colossal economic cost. In 2018, the impact of violence on the global economy totalled $14.1 trillion in purchasing power. This is more than 11% of the world's economic activity and adds up to $1,853 per person.
Both studies reinforce earlier research. Social scientists, geographers and statisticians have repeatedly found links between climate change and conflict, between climate change and migration, and have warned of more to come, specifically in South Asia, and worldwide.
"Over this century, unprecedented climate change is going to have significant impacts … but it is extremely hard to anticipate whether the political changes related to climate change will have big effects on armed conflict in turn"
There is a debate about the role of drought in the bloodshed in Syria, but there is less argument about the proposition that climate change unsettles what may already be nations or communities vulnerable to conflict.
There have also been bleak warnings from prehistory: archaeologists think that climate change may have been behind the collapse of the Bronze Age Mediterranean culture and the fall of an ancient Assyrian society.
The point of the latest study was simply to find some consensus on the risks of conflict in a world in climate crisis. The theorists think that climate stresses over the last century have already influenced in some way between 3% and 20% of armed conflict risk.
They think the risks could increase dramatically, as normally productive agricultural regions face catastrophic crop failure, as extremes of temperature make crowded cities more dangerous, as people are driven off their land by sustained drought, and as climate impacts impoverish the already vulnerable, to increase global levels of injustice and inequality.
Planning protection
Armed with a sense of the scale of the future hazard, governments and international agencies could equip themselves with strategies that might help to increase global food security and provide other economic opportunities. Peacekeeping forces and aid agencies need to understand, too, that climate factors are, increasingly, part of the risk.
"Historically, levels of armed conflict over time have been heavily influenced by shocks to, and changes in, international relations among states and in their domestic political systems," said James Fearon, a political scientist at Stanford University and one of the authors.
"It is quite likely that, over this century, unprecedented climate change is going to have significant impacts on both, but it is extremely hard to anticipate whether the political changes related to climate change will have big effects on armed conflict in turn. So I think putting non-trivial weight on significant climate effects on conflict is reasonable." − Climate News Network
Tim Radford is a freelance journalist. He worked for The Guardian for 32 years, becoming (among other things) letters editor, arts editor, literary editor and science editor. He won the Association of British Science Writers award for science writer of the year four times. He served on the UK committee for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. He has lectured about science and the media in dozens of British and foreign cities.
Book by this Author:
Science that Changed the World: The untold story of the other 1960s revolution
by Tim Radford.
Click here for more info and/or to order this book on Amazon. (Kindle book)
This Article Originally Appeared On Climate News Network
Life After Carbon: The Next Global Transformation of Cities
by Peter Plastrik , John Cleveland
The future of our cities is not what it used to be. The modern-city model that took hold globally in the twentieth century has outlived its usefulness. It cannot solve the problems it helped to create—especially global warming. Fortunately, a new model for urban development is emerging in cities to aggressively tackle the realities of climate change. It transforms the way cities design and use physical space, generate economic wealth, consume and dispose of resources, exploit and sustain the natural ecosystems, and prepare for the future. Available On Amazon
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
by Elizabeth Kolbert
Over the last half-billion years, there have been Five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us. In prose that is at once frank, entertaining, and deeply informed, New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert tells us why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before. Interweaving research in half a dozen disciplines, descriptions of the fascinating species that have already been lost, and the history of extinction as a concept, Kolbert provides a moving and comprehensive account of the disappearances occurring before our very eyes. She shows that the sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy, compelling us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human. Available On Amazon
Climate Wars: The Fight for Survival as the World Overheats
by Gwynne Dyer
Waves of climate refugees. Dozens of failed states. All-out war. From one of the world's great geopolitical analysts comes a terrifying glimpse of the strategic realities of the near future, when climate change drives the world's powers towards the cut-throat politics of survival. Prescient and unflinching, Climate Wars will be one of the most important books of the coming years. Read it and find out what we're heading for. Available On Amazon

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is the Federal Government's abrogation of its duty to decide on what 'marriage' means by putting it out to a survey of public opinion. Even if the Australian population votes in favour of marriage equality, the politicians who must then decide on changing the official Marriage Act can ignore what we, the people, actually want.
They can try, but won't get far if we support a 'YES' vote in large numbers.
What I want to make clear – and, hey, Roger Corbett, you seem to be stuck in the 1950s – should be no surprise to regular readers of Watercooler.
To leave no-one in any doubt whatsoever, I support, and my company SKINS supports, marriage equality.
In simple terms, for me, this is overwhelmingly an issue of human rights.
If you love someone and want to commit to them, what is the difference between whether it's a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman? What is wrong with more love in the world? What is wrong with a family unit that values commitment, love, belonging and building for the future, however that is shaped?
And to those who don't support marriage equality, who are any of us to presume that our morality is better than anyone else (to paraphrase Graham Greene)?
But I'm not writing this blog for the fun of it. I'm putting some #SkinInTheGame and putting my money where my mouth is.
I'm pledging to give away $1 million of SKINS apparel if the 'YES' vote reaches 70%.
Not sure you read that right? Take a look here.
At SKINS, we don't want the YES vote to just scrape through, we want it to be a complete landslide.
We want to encourage all of you to vote because we believe the overwhelming view of Australians is to support marriage equality.
We want to send a clear message to the world that we are a tolerant, fair and progressive nation that embraces the important social movements of our time.
For me and for SKINS, marriage equality is key amongst those.
Please take a look at the video, and the website www.skininthegame.com.au to find out more.
So what will you do to put #SkinInTheGame?
If you're as committed as I am to marriage equality, perhaps you want to show how much a 'YES' vote means to you.
We're asking you to put #SkinInTheGame also by making a personal pledge if the vote achieves 70% support.
It doesn't have to be a million bucks.
It might be running a marathon, teaching your little sister or brother to surf, running along Adelaide's Rundle Mall in a Richmond jumper or The Strand in Townsville in a Melbourne Storm jersey.
While this survey has been set-up by the conservatives in our Parliament to suit them – and, hey, don't you pity the poor voters of Warringah with another 1950s blowback as local member? This is all the more reason to show the 225 people who we elected to sit in our Parliament just what we want.
Remind them who's in charge.
Be a Citizen of Sport. Don't just spectate, participate.
Regardless of how flawed the marriage equality survey is, grab this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be remembered for something incredible.
When the question is asked about which side of history we were on when it comes to marriage equality, I am proud for SKINS to be seen as a brand where we didn't fail to put our money where our mouth is and for standing-up for what we believe in.
Help the LGBTI community in overcoming the adversity they have faced for decades, and beat the odds to bring about a victory that will define succeeding generations of Australians.
Vote 'YES' and make sure I give away $1 million in SKINS gear.
* P.S. For A-League fans heading into the new season, if you've still got your rainbow laces from earlier in the year, why not show your support by wearing them to an A-League game over the next month?


This course includes the practical principles of Project Management. It includes effective project management tools and techniques to enable successful completion of projects within budget and on time. This one day project management training course is run regularly at several locations including: Woking, London, Oxford, Southampton, Basildon, Swindon, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Reading, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds. Alternatively we can run this Project Management Training Course in house.
• Newly appointed project managers or project leaders. • Project Managers with no formal project management qualification or training. • Anyone being prepared for promotion into a project management position. • Experienced project managers looking for a refresher.
• Makes the move into project management easier. • Improves effectiveness and credibility. • Have a range of project management tools at your disposal. • Enhance your career prospects.
• Increase the effectiveness of project managers. • Maximise the use of resources. • Ensure that projects are completed successfully, within budget and on time. • Be seen as an organisation that invests in people.
• To highlight the importance of the correct approach to project management. • To illustrate how to develop a Strategic approach. • To show the importance of Stakeholders. • To illustrate how to assess and manage the Risk associated with a project. • To demonstrate how to define the Key Phases of the Project Life Cycle. • To illustrate the importance of creating an accurate Project Specification. • To demonstrate the appropriate structure, roles and responsibility. • To show how to use Project Planning Tools to develop a Project Plan and to identify the Critical Path. • To demonstrate how to monitoring a Project's progress. • To show how to minimise Problems and Delays when handing over a Project. • To illustrate the importance of Reviewing a Project.


text:
Fuat ist ein osttimoresischer Suco  im Verwaltungsamt Iliomar (Gemeinde Lautém). Der Ort Fuat liegt im benachbarten Suco Iliomar I.

Geographie

Vor der Gebietsreform 2015 hatte Fuat eine Fläche von 97,50 km². Nun sind es 91,67 km². Der Suco liegt im Osten des Verwaltungsamts Iliomar. Er liegt auf einem grasbewachsenen, windigen Hochplateau mit Blick herab auf die Timorsee. Hier ist es in der Regenzeit relativ kühl. Südöstlich liegt der Suco Iliomar I, im Südosten trifft Fuat auf die Sucos Aelebere und Tirilolo und im Westen grenzt Fuat an den Suco Caenlio. Mehrere Flüsse entspringen in Fuat. Der Veira (in seinem Oberlauf heißt er Vatatina), der Miaira und der Massoco fließen weiter nach Iliomar I und münden in die Timorsee. Irarau und Pirusoro fließen nach Osten in den Namaluto, der die Ostgrenze Fuats bildet. Auf der anderen Seite liegt das Verwaltungsamt Lospalos mit seinen Sucos Lore I und Cacavei. Cacavei begrenzt Fuat auch im Nordosten. Im Norden trifft Fuat auf den Suco Maina II (Verwaltungsamt Lautém). Im Nordwesten liegt das Verwaltungsamt Luro mit seinen Sucos Luro und Baricafa. Die Nordspitze Fuats wird durch die beiden Quellflüsse des Malailada begrenzt.

Entlang der Grenze zu Aelebere und Caenlio verläuft weitgehend die Straße von der Gemeindehauptstadt Lospalos zum Ort Iliomar. Nur beim Ort Caenlio verläuft die Grenze entlang dem Ortsrand, so dass das Siedlungszentrum auf Seiten des gleichnamigen Sucos liegt. An der Grenze zu Baricafa schwenkt die Straße nach Osten, trennt die Nordspitze Fuats vom restlichen Suco und führt schließlich in den Suco Cacavei.

Im Nordosten liegt an der Straße der Ort Caidabau. Ebenfalls an der Straße befindet sich nah der Grenze zu Cacavei der Ort Locileu. Im Süden des Sucos liegen die Ortschaften Bunabiqui, Rumutau (Rumotau, Rumatau), Vataomar und Acadirulo (Acaidoroloho, Acadiro Loho). In Acadirulo gibt es eine Grundschule.

In Fuat befinden sich die drei Aldeias Acadirulo, Rumutau und Vataomar.

Einwohner

Im Suco leben 575 Einwohner (2015), davon sind 268 Männer und 307 Frauen. Die Bevölkerungsdichte beträgt 6,3 Einwohner/km². Im Suco gibt es 96 Haushalte. Über 94 % der Einwohner geben Makalero als ihre Muttersprache an. 2,5 % sprechen Fataluku, Minderheiten Sa'ane, Tetum Prasa oder Galoli.

Politik
Bei den Wahlen von 2004/2005 wurde Fernando Jeronimo zum Chefe de Suco gewählt. Bei den Wahlen 2009 gewann Martins Pinto und wurde 2016 in seinem Amt bestätigt.

Persönlichkeiten

 Armindo da Silva (Mau Kade), bis 1999 Freiheitskämpfer und Träger des Ordem de Timor-Leste

Weblinks

 Ergebnisse des Zensus 2010 für den Suco Fuat (tetum; PDF; 8,6 MB)
 Ergebnisse des Zensus 2015 für den Suco Fuat (tetum; PDF)
 Seeds of Life: Suco information sheets Iliomar (tetum)

Einzelnachweise

Suco in Lautém (Gemeinde)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


we're celebrating our recently restored chimney & newly arrived sofa, and blogging by firelight.
In honor of our living room's upgrade from neglected hallway to comfy perch, I made a simple garland inspired by the bridesmaid necklaces my sister made for her wedding (anyone who knows me knows it to be my favorite possession) and a Smith & Hawkin swag that I couldn't justify buying. It's made almost entirely out of things the girls and I found around the house and yard...pine cones, cinnamon sticks, kitchen twine, buttons, a few round silver beads, and ribbon. Festive and not too flashy, we like it.
Besides the garland and our advent wreath, we're holding off on Christmas decorations for the time being, but here are some great holiday designs from Martha the Master Stewart with her subtle, elegant colors and creative use of natural objects.
I think this wreath would be a very appropriate addition to our front door.
this is a creative take on an advent calender. each stocking has a number and little gift to count down the days to Christmas.
cookie tree, yum...I don't think it'd last long in this house. Oh Martha, she's so great.
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was a fantastic weekend long celebration made all the more special by my little sister's visit from New York and all the laughs she brought along with her.
Now that Thanksgiving has kicked off the holiday season, I wanted to share a couple of easy and festive recipes for the coming weeks.
this is a twist on a family favorite of my dear friend, Jennifer's cranberry salad. I just added a few ingredients to her already incredibly delicious dish.
I made a version of this a few weeks ago for my friend Ruth's bridal shower and it was a hit. Since then, I've added a few things to jazz it up. It's incredibly easy and takes maybe 5 minutes to prepare. Its a great mix of flavors.


text:
Knowles v. Lindstrom
2014 ONCA 116
The appellant and the respondent were in a 10-year common-law relationship where they resided both in Florida and Ontario. After separating, the Respondent moved from Florida to Toronto. She commenced an application in Ontario seeking spousal support and a declaration that she was a beneficial owner of two Muskoka properties purchased by the appellant.
The appellant brought a motion seeking a stay of the respondent's application. He argued that Ontario did not have jurisdiction over the claims and that if Ontario had jurisdiction, Florida was the forum conveniens (legal doctrine whereby courts can choose to not take jurisdiction over a matter because a more appropriate forum is available). Alternatively, the appellant sought an order that, if the application did proceed in Ontario, Florida law should apply to the claims because under Florida law, the respondent has no claim for support because she and the appellant never married.
The motion judge held that Ontario had jurisdiction and that Ontario was the forum conveniens. He further held that Ontario law applied to the claims. The appellant appealed all holdings made by the motion judge.
A. Does Ontario Have Jurisdiction?
The motion judge recognized that there were no statutory provisions governing Ontario's jurisdiction to hear the claims advanced. He turned to the real and substantial connection test:
"Ontario has jurisdiction over this case because there is a real and substantial connection between the parties, issues and transactions in question in this case and Ontario. The presumptive factors establishing jurisdiction are that the case involves a claim to ownership of Ontario land, a claim for damage (the allegation of detriment incurred by the applicant in enriching the respondent) suffered in Ontario and a claim for support by a party who is ordinarily resident in Ontario. Further, the parties were both ordinarily resident in Ontario (as well as Florida) until their separation. Although their primary residence was in Florida, their customary pattern of life included residence for a substantial period each year in their Ontario home from 2007 through 2011, which made Ontario a "real home". From the date of separation, the applicant was ordinarily resident in Ontario and not elsewhere."
The Family Law Act was silent on the question of jurisdiction over the respondent's support claim. Without a controlling statutory provision, the concept of ordinary residence is appropriate when considering whether the parties' physical connection to a jurisdiction is sufficient to constitute a presumptive connecting factor. The motion judge stated that if such a connection exists in respect of a factual and legal situation, the court must assume jurisdiction over all aspects of the case. Ordinary residence at the time of break-up therefore sufficiently connected the litigation and the parties to Ontario to warrant Ontario's jurisdiction over the support claim.
The appeal judge agreed that the parties were ordinarily resident in Ontario at the time of the break-up and that ordinary residence provides the connecting factor to find that Ontario courts have jurisdiction over both the property and support claims.
B. Is Florida the Forum Conveniens?
The motion judge held that the appellant failed to demonstrate that Florida was the forum conveniens. He correctly placed the burden on the appellant to demonstrate it would be fairer and more efficient to adjudicate the claims in Florida than in Ontario. The respondent failed to show that Florida was the more appropriate forum and therefore the motion judge was correct in finding that Ontario was the forum conveniens. It was not enough to merely show that a Florida court could also have jurisdiction.
C. Is Ontario Law Applicable?
The appellant submitted that Florida law should be applied to both the property and support claims because Florida had the closest and most real connection to the issues and facts of the case. He relied on the fact that the parties' primary residence was in Florida throughout their 10-year relationship. However, as the appellant and respondent were ordinarily resident in Ontario for the last five years of their relationship and the respondent was resident in Ontario at the time of the application, the appeal judge found that the motion judge properly found that there was no compelling reason to apply Florida law to the support claim.
The appeal was dismissed.
Jul 30 Kyle v Atwill: Domestic Contracts and Limitation Periods
Factual Background The issue on this appeal is whether setting aside a marriage contract is subject to a limitation period. The ...
Feb 06 Fiorellino-Di Poce v. Di Poce: Interim Disbursements
Per Rule 24(18) of the Family Law Rules, courts can order a party to pay an amount of money to another party to cover part or all ...
Jan 24 Costs Consequences of Unreasonable and Unnecessary Litigation
The costs decision in Calver v. Calver, 2019 ONSC 7317 exemplifies the severe costs consequences that can accrue for parties that ...


text:
Úvodní stránka » RECORDS » Xenia Rubinos — Magic Trix
Xenia Rubinos — Magic Trix (2013)
Xenia Rubinos — Magic Trix
Björk + Celia Cruz = Xenia Rubinos
∫ Music maker Xenia Rubinos uses her powerful voice to create beats and melodies from scratch. Her sound grows from a wide palette of influences ranging from Caribbean rhythms and beat music to minimalism and indie rock all delivered with a soulful punk aura. Xenia's ecstatic songs feature layered beats, crunchy keyboards, and driving syncopated rhythms.
Location: Puerto Rico ~ Cuba ~ Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Album release: April 30, 2013
Record Label: Ba Da Bing!
01. Help 4:58
02. Ultima 4:49
03. Whirlwind 2:08
04. Hair Receding 5:37
05. Cafe con Leche 0:44
06. Cherry Tree 6:04
07. Pan y Cafe 1:46
08. Los Mangopaunos 2:49
09. I Like Being Alone 2:59
10. When You Come 4:37
11. Let's Go Out 3:28
12. Aurora De Mayo 0:34
∫ Drums, Marco Buccelli
∫ Bass, Adam Minkoff
∫ Keyboards & Vocals, Xenia Rubinos
∫ Produced by Jaba Jaba Music
∫ Engineered by Jeremy Loucas
∫ Mixed & Mastered by Jeremy Loucas, Highend Studio
∫ Photography by Camilo Fuentealba
∫ Photo Editing by Emanuela Buccelli
∫ Design by Mark Ohe
° Brooklyn-based keyboardist and vocalist Xenia Rubinos likes to play with syncopation. Her debut album, Magic Trix, is based around rhythms that sometimes are identifiable as Caribbean, and at other times veer into the experimental.
° "It's something I have a lot of fun with — just taking one rhythmic figure and turning it around as many ways as I can," Rubinos says. "That's a huge part of my compositional process, just messing around with something very simple and seeing how far I can take it."
° And that's just one of the ways Rubinos' music resists classification on the whole.
° "I think it's a good problem to have. Although I do aspire to eventually, concisely and clearly, explain exactly what it is I do, I'm not there at the moment," she says. "I don't really think about genres, and I think that's why my music sounds the way it does. I'm thinking more about texture and sound and flavors."
° Xenia Rubinos spoke with NPR's Rachel Martin; click the audio link on this page to hear more of their conversation: http://www.npr.org/2013/04/28/179281913/xenia-rubinos-adventures-in-syncopation. Xenia in Italy
° On initial listen to Magic Trix, the first album by Brooklynite Xenia Rubinos, one might feel as though one is being tased (bro). Little compares to the sharp, thick spine of keyboard sound that shoots out from the very first moments. An oblique assemblage of uncommon rhythms, forceful singing and dance- til-you-puke styles combine to make Magic Trix one of the most exciting debuts in years. Surprisingly, the record s aggressive sound is achieved without the use of guitars. Rubinos, with the assistance of drummer / sound magician Marco Buccelli, creates a dozen songs that bring to mind the adventurous spirit and whacked-out mentality found in the best moments of Rip, Rig and Panic, DNA and The Contortions. Rubinos expands on her Cuban, Puerto Rican and American roots, and while the songs shoot off to new stratospheres, they never lose the sense that the music is at its core two people banging on things, making a racket. It was such a racket that their home production of the album was often interrupted by paintings falling from the walls of their apartment as they recorded. Rubinos and Buccelli can also fully replicate the record live, thanks in part to the latter s makeshift analogic distorted snare. In order to alter his snare sound, he circuits the drum through an array of reverb and distortion pedals, projecting the sound through an amp at his side. Rubinos s songs cover intimate topics of family and travel. Help is based on a family legend of a woman flown to the states from Puerto Rico in order to heal a dying man with her powers. She brought over her six sons and lived under a bridge until she was able to afford a roof. Los Mangopaunos is a fantasy about the origin of the mice with whom Rubinos shared her Gowanus apartment; it chronicles their independent tribal lives and their lineage from Marvin the Martian. Meanwhile, Cafe Con Leche and Aurora De Mayo are original takes on traditional songs that Rubinos learned in her childhood. Magic Trix takes all its diverse origins and combines them into an aggressively danceable dozen tunes. Ponder it. Shake your booty to it. However you hear it, Rubinos s songs will get things moving.
Website: http://xeniarubinos.com/
MySpace: https://myspace.com/xeniarubinos
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xeniarubinos
Label: www.badabingrecords.com/store/products/category/xenia-rubinos/
Contact: info@jabajabamusic.com
Press: brendan@chartroommedia.com
Agent: US: alex@moveforwardmusic.com EU/UK: nikita@paperandironbooking.com
By Laura Snapes; May 24, 2013 Score: 7.8
°° Throughout "Whirlwind", the third song on Xenia Rubinos' debut album Magic Trix, there's a joyous vocal choppiness that darts between speakers like a figure in a stop-motion film. There's the seesawing groan of a squeaky door, low, crunching keyboards, and a hectic, roiling drumbeat that Zach Hill wouldn't be ashamed of. When you listen closely, you realize there are words to Rubinos' scrambled ululations: "When you get the feelin' that you're startin' to wake up," she trills, like an alarm.
°° "Something I really wanted on this record, and in general, is exuberance," the young Brooklyn-dwelling singer told Rookie recently. She's triumphed unambiguously: Magic Trix is a startling lightning bolt of a record.
°° There are four primary parts to Rubinos' busy sound: her electric, smoky voice; overdriven keyboards, which often seem like electric guitar but aren't; the contributions of syncopation-happy drummer Marco Buccelli and funk-inclined bassist Adam Minkoff. Magic Trix recalls tUnE-yArDs, Battles, Camille, and the melodies of St. Vincent's Marry Me remade with a Strange Mercy-era approach– but true to the record's title, Rubinos has a wizard's unique flair.
°° Rubinos is of Puerto Rican and Cuban origin, and sings in English and Spanish. (The Spanish-language songs here are either fantastical, punky jump-rope chants, or sweetly sad lullabies.) She has as much of a cool, incisive way with intimate as political matters: "Ultima" opens with a collage of beatboxed vocals, and is exhausting and soothing, like watching an extravagant display while lazing on a beach. She coolly recounts how, in Cuba, simple things like going to the bank are different enough to throw you for a moment. After an indignant, yelped chorus of "Oye, yo soy la ultima!" ("Hey, I'm the last one!" your cue to join the back of a line) she flips the sentiment back onto herself: "You know it really, really takes a long, long time/ To understand what's going on around you/ To grow and change."
°° Magic Trix deals with the fear that time will destroy the things you love, but it's not so paralyzing that you're unable to take advantage of the new wisdoms it brings, particularly concerning romance– and Rubinos writes sexy, surrealist love songs. On "When You Come", her keyboards take on a seductive, sleazy tone, and she describes her crush in deliciously weird terms: "He ties my heart in knots/ Just like Polish sausages." Her odd, folkloric intentions (also: laying an egg into his mouth) stave off her impulses to look beyond the fantasy of the guy who "makes love to [her] like [he's] seen something new" and folds her clothes afterwards, preferring "to keep pretending/ You are the sweet thing/ I made you out to be."
°° Navigating the balance between all-out fantasy and dulling realism is another of Magic Trix's strong suits. (Rubinos channels Poly Styrene on "Pan Y Cafe", where she recasts the mice behind her refrigerator as Martian invaders.) On "Hair Receding"'s vibrant mathy bent, Rubinos laments the passing of time, writ in the wrinkles of a face she's starting to forget. The temperature drops on the ensuing "Cherry Tree", where frenzied drums melt into blossoming keys, and she yells with frustration, knowing that her memory of this guy is already fading. By "Let's Go Out", the drums slump with dejection: She's given up trying to remember. After the tropical wilds that precede it, the synthetic, silvery keyboards here sound effectively bleak.
°° Although Rubinos' heart is aching, she's not completely giving up on life in color; "I Like Being Alone" is a chirruping ode to solitude: "Because it means I don't have to be something I'm not…/ Because it means I don't have to consider you/ I can just be awful like I am/ I can be as lazy as I am." It's that comfort with her own ideas and company that makes Magic Trix so life-affirming, transcending its sound-a-likes to proudly show off a unique new pop personality. Rubinos' remarks on exuberance reminded me of something the similarly single-minded Natasha Khan said recently, about our culture emphasizing art that is "down, dark, and fucked up– so when there's unabashed joy, that's embarrassing for people. It's too much, or it's not cool." If you're looking for a way out of those doldrums, then Magic Trix is the glitter in the dark.
Fortaken: http://pitchfork.com/


text:
Q: Thermal superconductivity I have heard several times of the concept of "thermal superconductivity" (As opposed to "electrical superconductivity"), but I am unclear on exactly what that could mean. It turns out to be really hard to google, since everything comes up with thermal effects on electrical superconductivity (critical temperature and all that).
So, given that electrical superconductivity is when electrical current can flow without energy loss, what exactly is the corresponding concept for thermal superconductivity? Given that flows of heat are, well, already composed entirely of heat, what energy-loss mechanism is there that could be minimized? Or am I just completely missing the point?

A: In the less exotic world, I understand that single crystals of sapphire of sufficient purity can allow phonons (quanta of sound in a solid) to travel with little or no scattering.  Phonons carry energy, and they are the main mechanism of thermal conductivity in solids.  This means that heat applied one side of the crystal can travel unimpeded at the speed of sound (very high in sapphire) to the other side.
This "ballistic conduction" of heat via phonons could be considered a form of "thermal superconductivity". Alas it would not in practice allow a persistent current of heat analogous to the persistent current in a superconducting magnet.

A: This is a very interesting question. In fact liquid helium-4 exhibits this property of "thermal superconductivity". What happens is that when one tries to establish a thermal gradient a "temperature wave", also referred to as second sound, propagates. This gives it effectively an infinite thermal conductivity or as you put it, thermal superconductivity. My guess is that you were just calling the phenomenon by unfamiliar names which is why you didn't get a hit online.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Kosovo Effect Group
The year 2007 was expected to become the year of Kosovo's status: resolved as a result of the mission of Marti Ahtisaari and his team, fulfilling a mandate by the UN Security Council. Kosovo's eventual independence was supposed to affect the Balkan region and especially the countries of the Western Balkans.
The expectations for an unambiguous decision of the Kosovo status issue, however, proved to be too optimistic. The re-emergence of Russia as a great revisionist power in Europe took Kosovo as a next hostage. Due to the Russian objection the Ahtisaari plan failed in the UN Security Council; a new round of negotiations lead by representatives from the US, EU and Russia started practically an open-ended process. Meanwhile, the tensions in Kosovo are rising and the voices for a unilateral declaration of independence grow in numbers.
The aim of the Kosovo Effect Group project was to evaluate the risks throughout the status negotiating process as well as to outline the possible effects of Kosovo's new status both on the Balkan region and on other countries in Europe's neighborhood. Treating the solution to the Kosovo status as a model for 'frozen conflict zones' like South Osetia, Abhasia or Trasnistria, was a major risk anticipated by the project.
Two meetings of the Group took place in December 2006 and in March 2007 in Berlin and reflected the opinion of leading experts from countries involved in the Kosovo status negotiations. Some of the participants included experts on both Balkan region and the Caucasus: Goran Svilanovic, Charles King, David Bakradze, Mark Medish, etc.
Overall, the Kosovo Effect Group created its own synergy reaching beyond the duration of the project as a network of experts and opinion makers with high awareness of the risks and opportunities offered by the Kosovo status negotiations.
Period: December 2006 - March 2007
Coordinators: Vessela Tcherneva
Financing Organisations: Robert Bosch Stiftung
2007-03-30 15:30 Global Affairs


text:
Q: Can we use DC-DC Buck convert installed 3.8v battery to power Phone continuously? I have a Windows tablet whose battery is dead and I want to convert it to without battery to use as a digital photo frame.
Table dead battery is 3.8V
Can I use DC-DC Buck convert (DC-DC converter step-down 1.23-30V 1.5A)  with input 5V regular mobile charger to power this tablet?
What about Current is it enough?
Full specs of converter:-
Input voltage: 4 – 35VDC
* Output voltage: 1.23 – 30VDC
* Max current: 3A (1.5A continuous)
* Maximum efficiency: 90%

A: It may not be enough, depending on what you are doing on the tablet. It may try to pull more current than just 1.5A. And the tablet may need the battery sensor connection, as its not just power and ground. Some devices are finicky about that (for example, a Mifi 7700 hotspot).
You can certainly try it to see if it will run or not.


text:
PTC for case against blogger to be heard on Mar 5, pending apex court application
Dec 18, 2013, 10:31 am SGT
http://str.sg/yEQ
Walter Sim
Japan Correspondent
waltsim@sph.com.sg
A second pre-trial conference (PTC) for the contempt of court case against sociopolitical blogger Alex Au Wai Pang has been fixed for Mar 5.
This is to take into account a new application by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) at the Court of Appeal, in which it had sought permission to take action against the 61-year-old for contempt for an Oct 12 article he wrote, which was refused by the High Court last month. The matter will be heard in the week of Feb 24.
This was decided at a closed-door pre-trial conference on Wednesday morning, presided by Senior Assistant Registrar Wendy Yap. It was held in relation to an Oct 5 article published on Mr Au's Yawning Bread blog, for which permission has been granted for AGC to proceed.
Referring to the postponement, Mr Au's lawyer Peter Low told The Straits Times: "This is pending the decision at the Court of Appeal, in case there are any consequential procedural matters that have to be attended to."
He added that if the AGC succeeds at the Court of Appeal, they would likely "apply for both cases to be heard together".
Mr Au is said to have accused the Supreme Court of "deliberately manipulating hearing dates" in the earlier article, titled "377 Wheels Come Off Supreme Court's Best-Laid Plans".
In the second piece dated Oct 12, titled "Church Sacks Employee And Sues Government - On One Ground Right, On Another Ground Wrong", Mr Au is alleged to have accused the judiciary of being incapable of making independent judgments.
In a media statement on Tuesday, the AGC had said: "It is in the public interest that the law in this area is clear, so that there is clarity on what material is, and what material is not, in contempt of court."
It added that court rules "expressly permit" such an application to be made at the Court of Appeal if permission has been refused by the High Court, and that if eventually granted, Mr Au will have "every opportunity" to contest the allegations against him.


ABSTRACT The porphyrias are a diverse group of metabolic disorders arising from diminished activity of enzymes in the heme biosynthetic pathway. They can present with acute neurovisceral symptoms, cutaneous symptoms, or both. The complexity of these disorders is demonstrated by the fact that some acute porphyria patients with the underlying genetic defect(s) are latent and asymptomatic while others present with severe symptoms. This indicates that there is at least one other risk factor required in addition to the genetic defect for symptom manifestation. A systematic review of the heme biosynthetic pathway highlighted the involvement of a number of micronutrient cofactors. An exhaustive review of the medical literature uncovered numerous reports of micronutrient deficiencies in the porphyrias as well as successful case reports of treatments with micronutrients. Many micronutrient deficiencies present with symptoms similar to those in porphyria, in particular vitamin B6. It is hypothesized that a vitamin B6 deficiency and related micronutrient deficiencies may play a major role in the pathogenesis of the acute porphyrias. In order to further investigate the porphyrias, a computational model of the heme biosynthetic pathway was developed based on kinetic parameters derived from a careful analysis of the literature. This model demonstrated aspects of normal heme biosynthesis and illustrated some of the disordered biochemistry of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). The testing of this model highlighted the modifications necessary to develop a more comprehensive model with the potential to investigated hypotheses of the disordered biochemistry of the porphyrias as well as the discovery of new methods of treatment and symptom control. It is concluded that vitamin B6 deficiency might be the risk factor necessary in conjunction with the genetic defect to trigger porphyria symptoms.


PHOENIX, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Vince Carter scored 19 points in his second game for Phoenix Friday and the Suns broke it open in the second quarter on their way to a 92-75 win over Detroit.
Carter, recently obtained in a trade with Orlando, added nine rebounds in helping the Suns end a four-game losing streak.
Jared Dudley also had 19 points for Phoenix and Grant Hill added 12.
The Suns already had a seven-point lead early in the second quarter when they embarked on an 11-point run. The closest Detroit came after that was its 10-point deficit at the end of the third period.
Detroit was led by Ben Gordon with 19 points and Tayshaun Prince with 12.


text:
Tourism Asturias. Open Data.
Tourism Asturias. Contact with us.
The Archaeological Museum of Asturias
Museums and other cultural venues
Add to my notebook
Oviedo (Central Asturias)
C/ San Vicente, 5. 33003 Oviedo
Email info@museoarqueológicodeasturias.es Website
www.museoarqueologicodeasturias.com
Further information: ;
Timetable and Admission Prices
Wednesday to Friday: 9:30am-8:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am-2:00pm and 5:00pm-8:00pm
Sunday and holidays: 9:30am-3:00pm
Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
A centre of reference for the study and promotion of Asturian archaeology
The Archaeological Museum of Asturias is housed in the former Benedictine Monastery of San Vicente, dating from the 16th century, a building closely linked to the history of Oviedo, in which Friar Benito Feijóo (1676-1764) lived and wrote all his works.
Through its permanent collection, the museum offers a reading of history in the light of recent archaeological discoveries in the region. The new centre has sought scientific and museographic rigour through the reassessment of many original objects interpreted in their geo-historical context.
The exhibition is housed on three floors of the building, displaying the major cultural periods from Prehistory to the dawn of the Modern Age. The thread of historical sequence is completed with a specific section devoted to the history of the formation of the museum, which, in the case of Asturias, runs parallel to the beginnings of scientific archaeology in the region. The visit includes a room given over to the dissemination of Asturian legacies declared World Heritage Sites, such as the prehistoric caves with rock art and the monuments dating from the Kingdom of Asturias.
The permanent exhibition uses various interactive and other, traditional elements like 3D models, drawings with technical details and others with reconstructions, maps and audio-visual projections that expand on the textual introduction to each section.
From How to get here »
Near The Archaeological Museum of Asturias 5 km 10 km 15 km
Search on the map of Asturias by borough or territory.
Biosphere Reserves, routes and more than sixty protected areas.
Nineteen fishing towns and villages and over two hundred beaches.
World Heritage, museums, cultural venues and history and tradition.
Get to know Asturias' three cities: Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés.
Sport and adventure
Find all of the sports, events and adventures on offer.
Information on tourist accommodation in Asturias.
Information on places to eat in Asturias.
Information on local and regional Tourist Offices.
2014 © Sociedad Pública de Gestión y Promoción Turística y Cultural del Principado de Asturias S.A.U. All rights reserved


text:
Q: How to get linq sum of IEnumerable How do I get the sum of numbers that are in an IEnumerable collection of objects?  I know for sure that the underlying type will always be numeric but the type is determined at runtime.
IEnumerable<object> listValues = data.Select(i => Convert.ChangeType(property.GetValue(i, null), columnType));

After that I want to be able to do the following (the following has the error:"Cannot resolve method Sum"):
var total = listValues.Sum();

Any ideas? Thank you.

A: You can use expression trees to generate the required add function, then fold over your input list:
private static Func<object, object, object> GenAddFunc(Type elementType)
{
    var param1Expr = Expression.Parameter(typeof(object));
    var param2Expr = Expression.Parameter(typeof(object));
    var addExpr = Expression.Add(Expression.Convert(param1Expr, elementType), Expression.Convert(param2Expr, elementType));
    return Expression.Lambda<Func<object, object, object>>(Expression.Convert(addExpr, typeof(object)), param1Expr, param2Expr).Compile();
}

IEnumerable<object> listValues;
Type elementType = listValues.First().GetType();
var addFunc = GenAddFunc(elementType);

object sum = listValues.Aggregate(addFunc);

note this requires the input list to be non-empty, but it has the advantage of preserving the element type in the result.

A: If you know the exact type is always going to be a numeric type, you should be able to use something like:
double total = listValues.Sum(v => Convert.ToDouble(v));

This will work because Convert.ToDouble will look for IConvertible, which is implemented by the core numeric types.  You are forcing the type to be a double and not the original type, as well.

A: convert to one type. Say, decimal.

data.Select(i => Convert.ToDecimal(property.GetValue(i, null)).Sum();

A: you can use dyanmic, works perfect:

    listValues.Sum(x => (dynamic)x);


An ideal way to learn if you want a one-off lesson or cannot commit to a snowboarding course. However you can combine Open Classes into a programme to suit your needs.
All prices subject to Midlothian Council scale of charges.
This class is for complete beginners who want to try this exciting sport - Saturdays and Sundays.
Learn how to sideslip/diagonal sideslip - first Saturday or Sunday of the month.
Learn to use 'falling leaf' and introduction to the tow - second Saturday or Sunday of the month.
Must be able to use the tow. Introduction to garlands - third Saturday or Sunday of the month.
Introduction to basic turns - fourth Saturday or Sunday of the month.
Children must be 8 years old or above to participate in an open snowboard class.


I have a requirement to parse strings from an particular field from an input file.
The input field can have from 1 to 100 or more values delimited by a semicolon.
All the records in the input file will have this field. But each record can have different number of values for this field.
Once each value is parsed, this value will be used to extract a value from a look up table using vlookup (DBquery select) function and the output field will have multiple emails separated by semicolons.
So for record 1 that field need to have below value. This value with mutliple emails need to be passed to the output file.
1. Create two Local variable at Root level of the Target Schema.
*In one variable(say varQuote) save '.
4. Use the DB Lookup to pass the Email id corresponding to the ID in the field in which you want the emailID to be sent.


text:
require 'spec_helper'
require 'cucumber_csteps'

include CucumberCsteps

describe "cucumber csteps parser" do
  it "should parse simple steps with no arguments" do
    line = 'GIVEN("the room is warm")()'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /the room is warm/
    step.c_args.should == [ ]
  end

  it "should parse simple steps with no arguments and trailing garbage" do
    line = 'GIVEN("the room is warm")() {'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /the room is warm/
    step.c_args.should == [ ]
  end

  it "should parse simple steps with one arguments" do
    line = 'GIVEN("the room is at (\d+) degrees")(int degrees)'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /the room is at (\d+) degrees/
    step.c_args.should == [ CArg.new('int', 'degrees') ]
  end

  it "should parse simple steps with more than one argument" do
    line = 'GIVEN("the room is at (\d+) degrees and (\d+) persons are in the room")(int degrees, int num_persons)'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /the room is at (\d+) degrees and (\d+) persons are in the room/
    step.c_args.should == [ CArg.new('int', 'degrees'), CArg.new('int', 'num_persons') ]
  end

  it "should work for string arguments" do
    # Given the room is warm
    line = 'GIVEN("the (\w+) is (\w+)")(char* room, char* temp)'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /the (\w+) is (\w+)/
    step.c_args.should == [ CArg.new('char*', 'room'), CArg.new('char*', 'temp') ]
  end

  it "should cope with escaped quotes" do
    # Given the "room" is "warm"
    line = 'GIVEN("the \"(\w+)\" is \"(\w+)\"")(char* room, char* temp)'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /the \"(\w+)\" is \"(\w+)\"/
    step.c_args.should == [ CArg.new('char*', 'room'), CArg.new('char*', 'temp') ]
  end

  it "should cope with commas" do
    line = 'GIVEN("a list with 1, 2, 3")()'

    step = CucumberCsteps.parse_cstep(line)
    step.keyword.should == "Given"
    step.regex.should == /a list with 1, 2, 3/
    step.c_args.should == []
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Highfield Energy B Complex contains the perfect blend of the eight essential B vitamins as well as the powerful antioxidant, coenzymeQ10 – a critical factor for energy production in the cell.
Vitamins B6, riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3) also contribute to maintaining healthy hair and skin. The combined formula aids the function of the nervous system and supports overall mental and physical wellbeing with a major impact on daily energy levels.
Recommended Intake: One capsule daily with or after food, or a directed by your healthcare professional. Food Supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet.
Ingredients: Typically per capsule: Vitamin B1 34mg, Vitamin B2 25mg, Vitamin B3 25mg, Vitamin B5 26mg, Vitamin B6 25mg, Vitamin B12 25mcg, Vitamin C 23mg, Choline Bitartrate 15mg, Inositol 15mg, L-Glycine 15mg, PABA 15mg, Folic Acid 200mcg, Biotin 150mcg, CoQ10 10mg, L-Carnitine 10mg, CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) 26mg, Mangesium 5mg, Safflower oil*, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.


This lovely old ex coaching inn conveniently situated between Windsor and Ascot is now a small family run 4diamond Hotel offering quality accommodation for both the business traveller or holiday maker.We are apprx 10-15 mins from Royal Windsor. Legoland is nearby as is Ascot and Wentworth Golf course. London is extremely accessible, with very good transport links to the capital.


Just had a quick look at my previous post about my April tag for Tim Holtz Tags of 2016 and realised I hadn't done a post about the March tag oooopss!!
Tim applied colourful Distress Crayons over a diecut to create a bright, colourful base layer, but as I didn't have a suitable die OR any Distress Crayons, I used an embossing folder and Distress paints to achieve a similar effect (although you can't see much of it here).
The top layer was made with recycled corrugated card, which I love. Tim's was given a gorgeous textural effect with Distress Spray Stains, but I enjoyed using a combination of ink sprays, acrylic paints, inks and heat embossing to create a grungy metallic finish, which contrasts nicely with the colourful under layer.
This one has joined its friends in my little leather bound book - can't wait to see what Tim will come up with next to keep them company!
Love the grungy colours and background texture in this! The staples give it a nice twist too!


Very cute! Looks great in my back yard! Easy to assemble. Comfortable to sit on. Love the looks! Totally worth the price! Would recommend this product.
This Estero bistro set from Simple Living will bring the old-world sophistication and ornateness of a Parisian street cafe to your back patio or outdoor dining area. This set includes a bistro table and two chairs, all made of weather-resistant metal with a gorgeous vintage copper finish.
Hi, I had been wanting a Bistro Set for off and on now for at least 10 years, No kidding ! I had never been able to find one that i really liked, so Not long ago i was looking at my OverStock.com store, when I just so happend to run across there Bistro Sets (wasnt looking or even thinking about getting one at this time) I saw this very exact Estero Bistro Set and i lookd at the picture and thought to myself, thats kinda cute and I thought you know what the price isn't bad so you mite as well get it , your not ever going to find one you like thats both really pretty. AND affordable..,I ordered this exact Bistro 3. Thinking. I would get it in 3 weeks if I was Lucky..Well my dear Fellow shoppers i got it in 7 or 8 DAYS, !!! YES 7or 8 Days! I had to wait awhile for my Husband to getting around & putting it together and plus with all this rain and storms we've been having the back porch needed a good cleaning so have to wait even longer.....WELL husbi put my Bistro Set together THIS past Saturday evening AND FOLKS. Let me tell you what, I absolutely LOVE IT . Its Beautiful the design the color PLUS PLUS its Heavy extremely well made this is very IMPORTANT as most of my family is over weight ( i have had serval outside chairs break with me setting in them only to end up on the Ground and getting my back,arm,hurtting super bad for 3 or 4 days) NO WORRIES WITH THESE !!VERY IMPORTANT PART MY HUSBI SAID TIHIS WRENCH THEY GIVE YOU AINT WORTH A D... THING FOR NOTHING AND THAT WAS ALL HE SAID EXTREMELY QUIET AND PEACEFUL PUTTING THE BISTRO SET TOGETHER, never in almost 41years together has this ever happened BEFORE, before it was ALWAYS CARRYING ON AND MUMBLING BEING GROUCHY But not this time , Nosirry. This Estero Bistro set is HIGH QUALITY thats made Affordable. ALL SHOPPERS NO MATTER WHAT THIER FINANCIAL STANDING IS OR NO MATTER THIER ETHNIC. THIS ESTERO BISTRO REALLY IS FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!! Thank you.
This was an inexpensive bistro set so we didn't have high expectations for it, but it was easy to assemble and looks great on my patio. Great choice if you have limited space.
Love my little bistro set! It is of good quality and heavy. It was fairly easy to assemble. I keep it outside and it has not rusted or become discolored with the rain.
Once completed, this set looks great and I am really happy with the sturdiness and function. I love how this set completes the small garden patio I put in just to feature this set. The assembly process was the only issue I had with this purchase. I was thrilled to receive all of the parts and pieces especially since the screw package had come open in the box and I was afraid that some may have fallen out in transit. The other issue I had was in the base portion and leg attachment. The pre-drilled holes did not line up quite right and it took a bit of wiggling, tugging and adjusting to get the table together. This set can be assembled by one person, but as far as the table goes, I recommend not tightening everything up until you get the table completely assembled, then go back and tighten all the nuts and bolts. The chairs went together like a dream (follow the instructions and don't jump ahead, the backs do need to go on first). All and all this is a great little bistro set. It is sturdy, once fully assembled, and looks cute. The finish I chose is nice looking, too. I feel that it will last outdoors for years. I am happy with this purchase and the price was good for this type of metal furniture.
Lovely little bistro set. Easy to assemble and very sturdy. Unique flower design. Perfect for a small space, yet enough table surface area for 2 coffee mugs and cake plates :-). I would definitely recommend this bistro set.
This table and chairs is very good quality. It goes together easily and I did it alone. Excellent Bistro set.
This bistro set is perfect for a small space indoor or outdoor. We used it for a table in the kitchen area to eat and have a more intimate space. It is perfect. You need sometime committed to assembly. It took about 2 hours.
Perfect for a small balcony. Assembly takes time but not bad. Center piece on table near bottom didn't fit right side up but I flipped it and it seems to be fine, would have preferred this to be right side up.
Pretty easy to assemble, and love it on my front porch!
Definetely would encourage others to purchase this set. I purchased it for my kitchen and its perfect. Takes up little space and very sturdy. Im thinking of buying another for my porch.
Very sturdy, should take weather in Tahoe. Color of dark bronze goes well with condo's exterior colors.
Love this bistro set. It is stylish and affordable. It looks fantastic in my sitting area just outside my bedroom. I would totally recommend for anyone.
This 3-piece bistro set is absolute garbage. When it was first received it came with a broken chair leg, they did send a replacement piece but I now wish I would have just sent it back in the beginning. When putting the table together, nothing lined up, the top is completely warped and the center brace cracked in 3 places. The chair bolts immediately stripped when tightening. And nothing sits level. I am pretty sure that it is not safe for a child to sit on, let alone an adult. This item doesn't even deserve 1star.
This set is great! Sturdy and good quality. The color is more of a bronze shade, it is hard to tell online. We get lots of compliments on it and would definitely recommend!
Just what I wanted, nice lil settee for outside, nice quality, easy assembly required, 15" round cushions fit the seats perfectly, coffee on the patio anyone!
"How "low" is the bottom piece? Wondering if our current metal umbrella holder will work under this set since one person noted this was a very low space... Would be nice if you had included it in the description of this set..."
well it is very low ,i don't think it will hold an umbrella ,its more for just the look ,you see i had mine on the front of my from porch and we never seat on it!! !!hope it help!!
"How much weight will the chairs hold?"
The set is very sturdy, but small. I would worry more about the comfort and fit than the sturdiness as it is very good quality. But a person with large bottom would not be comfortable.
"What size cushions fit these chairs?"
great price and the design so beautiful. it fit and nice to place in front house fr early morning tea time.
"what is the weight of the table?"
The weight of the table is approximately 15 lbs.
"ok table is low so what kind of umbrella brace do i need to purchase Any idea on heigth for it TKS ive never owned a patio set so im depending on advice thank you"
I own this set also and found the height of the lower umbrella circle to be 11 inches from ground to circle so a 10 inch or so base height needs to be purchased. Sturdy set , we like it .


Many people often ask me what happens to us after we have left this world . We all have different views and beliefs about life after death and reincarnation. Some people don't know what to believe others are firm believers in that once we leave this world that is it, the end for us . Some believe that there is life after death but are either too scared to let themselves think about it or they believe that they would be ridiculed for such views.
Let me tell you what I know through my work as a Medium and Hypnotherapist. When the soul leaves the physical body or when a person dies it spends the first few years after passing looking over what is known as the akashic records . This is the Sanskrit word for "sky" or "space" where every second of are lives are recorded in order . These records are stored in the subconscious mind almost like a library of our lives . The reason the subconscious does this is because the concious mind could not possibly cope with this overload of information.
The reason for the soul or higher self as is know to some , spends time viewing these records is to reflect on his/her life in the physical world. Reflection is very important as this is when we can see the mistakes we have made, and wrongs we need to put right or any karma we need to repay. Only when the soul has done this can it decide where and who with it needs to reincarnate.
The soul reincarnates every 15-25 years, and very often with the same group of people but in a different capacity . People often ask me "will he/she come back to us" , the answer is yes indeed they may well come back but not as you know them . For example it is possible that your Grandfather who passed over 20 years ago may reincarnate again in this lifetime but as another family member possibly a granddaughter or nephew . The reason for this is normally due to karmic issues that need resolving.
Another thing people often say to me is " I feel my partner and I were together in a previous lifetime, is that possible ? . Again absolutely yes it is possible and indeed if you feel strongly connected on a spiritual level to that person then the chances are you were together in a previous lifetime . You have come back together in this lifetime to resolve issues left behind from your past.
I believe wholeheartedly that the soul incarnates again and again to continue learning and evolving , the soul is eternal and will progress through each lifetime, taking with it the lessons learnt until it no longer needs to learn or repay karma . Only at this point will the soul be truly free.
Help! I've been looking for you!


The Olivet Nazarene University SAE Baja team designs a custom off-road vehicle every year to compete against teams from other schools at competitions throughout the year. The current car that the Baja team is working on needs some improvements, but they need some help gathering data to see where to make these improvements. In previous years, the Baja team would not have any feedback besides what they observed while driving, so this year they have tasked the SAE Baja Data Acquisition design group with the project of creating a sensor system and a data logging program to gather information that will be useful to them.


Welcome to the law firm world!
There are a variety of sources available that would be helpful.  If you haven't already, I would encourage you to visit the ARMA bookstore and search on law firm/lawyer-related publications.  In addition, there are some wonderful free resources available that have been created as a part of the Law Firm Information Governance Symposium that was formed in 2012 and sponsored by Iron Mountain.  Visit this link:  http://bit.ly/1nhPe4Q.  This will take you to IM's resource page, but all of the reports are downloadable from there - in addition to other publications and videos.  There are a series of reports spanning from 2012-2014 (with new reports to come later this year!).  The Symposium consists of 30-40 industry experts who have gathered and collaborated on content to produce these reports.
Please feel free to contact me off list if you'd like to discuss further.  I'd be happy to chat.
NOTICE TO RECIPIENT | This e-mail is meant for only the intended recipient of the transmission, and may be a communication privileged by law. If you received this e-mail in error, any review, use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. Please notify us immediately of the error by return e-mail and please delete this message from your system. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.


text:
Q: How can I set a gif as background in android I want to set a gif for my background but I don't know how to do it. Please to help me clearly.

A: Here is another example with the gif animation. The view is extended to ImageView so it is not a style but you can sort it out with a RelativeLayout.
https://github.com/frapontillo/ImageViewEx


text:
Q: Animate SVG text along a text-path only when hovering over a circle I would like to move the animation from HTML to
css.  I would like to add it as an animation only when you hover over <circle id="circle"..
 <svg height=600 width=800>
        <g>
          <circle id="circle" cx="400" cy="300" r="130" />
            <path id="arc" d="M395 170.1
                  A 130 130, 0, 1, 0, 400 170 Z"
                    stroke="green"  fill="transparent"/>
                    <text id="circleText" width="500">
                      <textPath id="circleTextPath" xlink:href="#arc" startOffset="48%">
                        Resume
                        <animate attributeName="startOffset"
                        from="48%" to ="90%"
                        begin="0s" dur="5s"
                        repeatCount="1"/>
                        <animate attributeName="startOffset"
                        from="90%" to ="48%"
                        begin="5s" dur="4s"
                        repeatCount="1"/>
                      </textPath>
        </g>
      </svg>

My fiddle: https://jsfiddle.net/ezouras/1ndac69e/

A: You can't animate startOffset with CSS. It is not one of the designated properties that can be styled with CSS.
You would need to either use SMIL animation (as you are doing now), or Javascript.
However since your path is simply a circle, why not just move the text by rotating the <textPath>?

.flex{
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      justify-content: center;
      align-items: center;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
    }
    circle {
      fill: white;
      stroke: yellow;
      stroke-width: 2;
    }

#circle-and-text:hover {
  transform-origin: 400px 300px;
  animation-name: rotator;
  animation-duration: 9s;
  animation-iteration-count: infinite;
}

@keyframes rotator {
  0% {
    transform: rotate(0deg);
  }

  55% {
    transform: rotate(-151deg);
  }

  100% {
    transform: rotate(0deg);
  }
}
<!DOCTYPE html>

   <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>swing Text</title>

     <svg height=600 width=800>
       <g id="circle-and-text">
         <circle
          id="circle"
          cx="400" cy="300"
          r="130" />
         <path id="arc" d="M395 170.1 A 130 130, 0, 1, 0, 400 170 Z"
           stroke="green"  fill="transparent"/>
         <text id="circleText" width="500">
           <textPath id="circleTextPath" xlink:href="#arc"
            startOffset="48%">
               Resume
            </textPath>
          </text>
        </g>
      </svg>

A: You need to modify your <animate> begin when the mouse hovers over the path of the circle and trigger the second animation after 5 seconds have been elapsed since the beginning of the first animation by modifying these two lines.
<animate attributeName="startOffset"
               from="48%" to ="90%"
               begin="arc.mouseover" dur="5s"
               repeatCount="1" id="go"/>
<animate attributeName="startOffset"
                from="90%" to ="48%"
                begin="go.begin + 5" dur="4s"
                repeatCount="1"/>

'go' is the id given to the first animation. The second animation can be started at any time elapsed with reference to the beginning of the first animation using 'go.begin + seconds' or if it has to be started when the first animation ends, 'go.end'.
Working solution:

.flex{
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      justify-content: center;
      align-items: center;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
    }
    circle {
      fill: white;
      stroke: yellow;
      stroke-width: 2;
    }
<!DOCTYPE html>

   <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>swing Text</title>

     <svg height=600 width=800>
       <g>
         <circle
          id="circle"
          cx="400" cy="300"
          r="130" />
         <path id="arc" d="M395 170.1
           A 130 130, 0, 1, 0, 400 170 Z"
           stroke="green"  fill="transparent"/>
         <text id="circleText" width="500">
           <textPath id="circleTextPath" xlink:href="#arc"
            startOffset="48%">
               Resume
             <animate attributeName="startOffset"
               from="48%" to ="90%"
               begin="arc.mouseover" dur="5s"
               repeatCount="1" id="go"/>
               <animate attributeName="startOffset"
                from="90%" to ="48%"
                begin="go.begin + 5" dur="4s"
                repeatCount="1"/>
            </textPath>
            </text>
        </g>
      </svg>


text:
Nocturnal Intelligence Robot
Top 35 Senior Trends in 2020
Stone Ground Taco Shells
Location Data Startup Acquisitions
Adjustable AIoT Workspaces
COM-BAT Droid
IdeaMan — March 20, 2008 — Tech
References: ns.umich.edu
There are a number of nicknames that could be used to describe the new spy bot being developed by the US Army, but I can guarantee most of them would be easier to use than to call it by its technical description: a robogargothopter! I think it means "robot bat-like flapping wing thing" (or something like that). Sensors, microelectronics, and batteries for the "spy bat" will be developed at the University of Michigan at the new Center for Objective Microelectronics and Biomimetic Advanced Technology, hence the acronym "COM-BAT".
One of the concepts calls for night time intelligence gathering capabilities, allowing the aircraft to hang out in trees, buildings or on power poles, then swoop out like a real bat over enemy territory, and send video, audio, or other sensor measurements (such as radiation or gas detector data) back to friendly troops in real-time.
According to the University of Michigan press release, "These are all concepts, and many of them are the next generation of devices we have already developed. We're trying to push the edge of our technologies to achieve functionality that was not possible before," said Kamal Sarabandi, the COM-BAT director and a professor in the U-M Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Get the 2021 Trend Report FREE
Keynotes & Workshops
Snacking-Friendly Cereal Products
The Post Cereal Snacks are a New Twist on Breakfast Classics
Virtual Airport Agents
United Launched 'Agent on Demand' to Provide Contact-Free Customer Service
Vegan-Friendly Coffee Pods
The Nescafé Dolce Gusto Plant-Based Coffee Pods Come in Two Options
Instinct-Satisfying Dog Games
The Gosewalk Indoor Dog Game Has a Two-Piece Construction
Top 100 Tech Trends in 2021
From Voice-Activated Face Masks to Food Waste-Collecting Indoor Farms
Top 100 Computer Trends in 2020
From Immersive Gaming Monitors to Productivity-Boosting Laptops


Perm is a city and the administrative center of Perm Krai, Russia, located on the banks of the Kama River, in the European part of Russia near the Ural Mountains. From 1940 to 1957 it was named Molotov (Мо́лотов). Perm is served by the Bolshoye Savino Airport and hosts Bakharevka air base.


text:
Nicolas Giffard (nascut el 4 d'octubre de 1950 a Ar Baol-Skoubleg), és un jugador i escriptor d'escacs francès, que té el títol de Mestre Internacional des de 1980.

Resultats destacats en competició
Nicolas Giffard fou Campió de França en dues ocasions, els anys 1978 i 1982. A més, fou subcampió nacional els anys 1974 i 1976, i tercer el 1977. Va vèncer els torneigs d'Alès 1981, Paris-Ulm 1983, Andorra 1985 i Meudon 1987.

Ha estat membre de l'equip francès en tre les Olimpíades d'escacs, entre els anys 1978 i 1982.

Llibres publicats
 La Fabuleuse Histoire des champions d'échecs
 Huit candidats, quatre KO, L'Impensé radical, 1977
 Les Échecs, leçon particulière avec un champion, 1997
 Les Échecs, la tactique moderne, éd. du Rocher, 1997
 L'Efficacité aux échecs, éd. Bornemann, 1998
 Comprendre les ouvertures, éd. Bornemann, 1999

Enllaços externs
  [Consulta: 9 novembre 2010]
 Fitxa de Nicolas Giffard a la FIDE

Mestres Internacionals d'escacs
Escriptors d'escacs francesos
Persones del Loira Atlàntic
Jugadors d'escacs francesos de la dècada del 1970
Jugadors d'escacs francesos de la dècada del 1980
Competidors en les olimpíades d'escacs representant França
Esportistes del País del Loira


text:
Iain Banks, Little, Brown; £12.99
I've always enjoyed the science fiction novels of Iain M Banks, but I've found that some of his more recent "mainstream" novels (published under the name Iain Banks, without the M) don't always have quite the same pull over me.
But Transition is a new departure for the author, a sort of mix of both genres. Rather than a near infinite universe full of bizarre Banksian creations, we have instead a "multiverse", where the characters stay near motionless in time and space, but have the ability to skip through dimensions, inhabiting different bodies and experiencing different realities.
Transition uses first and third person narratives to follow the lives of a cluster of characters whose stories are, in some way or another, intertwined. Temudjin Oh is the central protagonist. He is an assassin for "the Concern", an apparently benevolent body devoted to meddling with these different realities.
We are also introduced to Adrian Cubbish, a cocaine dealer turned hedge fund manager from our own world, reaping the rewards of deregulated capitalism. Patient 8262, meanwhile, spends much of the story describing life in a hospital bed, as he tries to keep a low profile. Then we have shadowy Madame d'Ortolan, the leading figure in the Concern, and Mrs Mulverhill, a renegade member of the group. And it is an Iain Banks book, so there is the near mandatory professional torturer and weirdo, the Philosopher.
There aren't many authors who can pull off skipping between narratives at such a speed without turning the reader's brain into mashed potato, but Banks (just about) gets away with it. The separate story threads build the characters up so well that you sometimes feel you are reading several different books at once. It's a little like he has spliced together chapters from The Wasp Factory, Consider Phlebas, The Steep Approach to Garbadale and Use of Weapons into one epic narrative.
The story is sandwiched (approximately) between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Lehman Brothers, via the World Trade Centre attacks. With that backdrop we see light-handed but compelling arguments regarding torture, humanitarian intervention and the absurdities of finance capitalism.
There is also a commentary about religious intolerance. The terrorists and the marginalised are, in one of the worlds, Christians. Here Christianity is seen as inherently reactionary because its adherents can commit a multitude of sins before confessing and being assured a place in heaven.
There are a lot of loose ends and red herrings in Transition. Rather than a defined and racing plot, it feels a little like an exploratory meander through various imagined realities. That's not necessarily a problem though. This is a novel that will take you to other worlds, but make you think about your own.


text:
You are at:Home»Posts Tagged "navy"
Browsing: navy
Air Force on lower end of best fed jobs
By Oriana Pawlyk on	 December 18, 2013 Air Force, Defense Department
The Department of the Air Force ranks 14th among the 19 largest agencies in this year's "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" list released today. According to the agency list – indexed by scores that measure overall performance related to employee satisfaction and commitment – the Air Force's ranking fell by 4.30 points and from 13th place in last year's ranking. The Navy took 10th place this year, and the Army tied for 17th with the Department of Labor; the Office of the Secretary of Defense ranked 15th. The Department of Homeland Security ranked lowest once again, and…
VIDEO: Mid-air refuel between an AF tanker and a Navy Super Hornet
By Oriana Pawlyk on	 December 2, 2013 Air Force, Uncategorized, Video
Check out this video of the 909th Air Refueling Squadron refueling a Navy F-18E Super Hornet in the skies above Okinawa, Japan.
Military services seeing double? Twins, siblings serving together
By Oriana Pawlyk on	 July 2, 2013 Air Force, Defense Department, Photos
For the past couple months, the DoD has been putting out releases about twins — some sisters, some brothers — serving together, retiring together, re-enlisting together, etc., overseas and on the home front. For example, Navy Lt. Cdr. Anthony Scott administered the oath for Air Force Master Sgt. Antone Scott, his twin brother, for his fifth enlistment ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., June 27, 2013. Master Sgt. Scott is a member of the the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "It's a great honor knowing he could have selected any officer for his re-enlistment, but he was willing to make…
Created for the military, the T-shirt celebrates 100 years
By Oriana Pawlyk on	 June 11, 2013 Air Force, Air Force swag, Charity, History, Uniforms
Something as simple as a T-shirt has a military connection. And this year, it celebrates its 100th birthday. In 1913, the U.S. Navy was the first military branch to issue the T-shirt to be worn under uniforms. By WWII, it became standard issue for both the Navy and the Army. Labeled as "underclothing," it eventually became acceptable for soldiers to remove their dress shirt while working in hot climates, wearing nothing but their uniform pants and a T-shirt. While the public didn't love that idea at first, more and more people embraced T-shirts when new designs and colors emerged in…
AF reserve captain becomes part of the McCain family
By Oriana Pawlyk on	 June 5, 2013 Air Force Reserve
Sen. John McCain has a new daughter-in-law. And she's an Air Force reserve captain. People Magazine reports that the senator's son, Jack, married Renee Swift over the weekend in San Francisco. Swift, 29, met Lt. McCain, 27, in Guam, where he serves as a helicopter pilot in the Navy. According to Swift's LinkedIn, she is the chief financial officer in the 36th Medical Group at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. All the McCain children were in attendance and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney also stopped by. The ceremony was held at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, with a reception following at…
Loss of prestige
Americans believe the Air Force is third-most important branch of the military, trailing the Army and Marine Corps, according to a recent national poll. Seventeen percent of respondents listed the Air Force as "most important to our national defense," Gallup announced June 21. The Army was seen as the most important (25 percent), followed by the Marines (24 percent), the Navy (11 percent) and the Coast Guard (3 percent). Sixteen percent believed the branches were the same. Gallup interviewed 1,020 adults representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The margin of error was 5 percent. The findings represent…