Abhay Singh Deol (born 15 March 1976) is an Indian film actor and producer who is known for appearing in the Hindi language films of Bollywood. His family has a long history in the Hindi film industry; Dharmendra is his paternal uncle, and he is the cousin of Esha Deol, Bobby Deol and Sunny Deol. Over the years, he has been recognised for his performances, and has established himself as a leading contemporary actor of Hindi cinema. His role in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was appreciated and earned him his first nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and he has since appeared in films such as Chakravyuh, Shanghai and Raanjhanaa, receiving critical acclaim and being described as an actor who continuously understands how to play complex characters.


Uglyworld #786 - Cash Injection Required (266-365), originally uploaded by www.bazpics.com.
This evening after work I opened my wallet to give Turtle some cash so that he could head out for his dinner this evening, and discovered it was completely empty other than a single dollar bill.
Turtle was over the moon when I jumped into the car with him and headed to one of the local ATM's to top up my wallet with another injection of cash.


text:
// <copyright file="AutoTuneMiddleware.cs" company="Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.">
// Copyright 2011-2013 Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
// </copyright>

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Microsoft.Owin.Host.HttpListener;

namespace Katana.Performance.ReferenceApp
{
    using AppFunc = Func<IDictionary<string, object>, Task>;

    [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Design", "CA1001:TypesThatOwnDisposableFieldsShouldBeDisposable", Justification = "Not disposed until app teardown.")]
    public class AutoTuneMiddleware
    {
        private readonly AppFunc _next;
        private readonly OwinHttpListener _server;
        private Timer _timer;
        private int _requestsProcessed = 0;
        private double _currentMaxAccepts = 5;
        private int _currentMaxRequests = 1000;

        public AutoTuneMiddleware(AppFunc next, OwinHttpListener server)
        {
            _next = next;
            _server = server;
            _server.SetRequestProcessingLimits((int)_currentMaxAccepts, _currentMaxRequests);

            _timer = new Timer(TimerFired, null, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(0), TimeSpan.FromSeconds(0.1));
        }

        public Task Invoke(IDictionary<string, object> environment)
        {
            Interlocked.Increment(ref _requestsProcessed);
            return _next(environment);
        }

        private void TimerFired(object state)
        {
            int requestsProcessed = Interlocked.Exchange(ref _requestsProcessed, 0);

            int maxAccepts, maxRequests;
            _server.GetRequestProcessingLimits(out maxAccepts, out maxRequests);
            Console.WriteLine("Active/MaxAccepts:"
                + maxAccepts + "/" + (int)_currentMaxAccepts
                + ", Active/MaxRequests:"
                + maxRequests + "/" + _currentMaxRequests
                + ", Requests/1sec: " + requestsProcessed);

            _server.SetRequestProcessingLimits((int)(_currentMaxAccepts += 0.1), _currentMaxRequests);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


A new internet tool seeks to put activists in closed societies in touch with skilled people in the free world who can help them. It's crowdsourcing for human rights.
When legendary former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky sought help from the outside world to fight for freedom decades ago, he had to rely largely on individuals he knew to get help from outside the Iron Curtain. The dissidents of the 21st century now have a new tool to connect them instantly over the internet to hundreds if not thousands of people around the world already standing ready to pitch in.
Today, the organization Advancing Human Rights will unveil a new web platform called Movements.org, a site where dissidents and human rights activists can go to access a growing network of lawyers, publicists, journalists, and human rights advocates and ask them for help on any range of tasks from seeking asylum, organizing their efforts, or just getting the word out to the world about their struggle. The project began with a $250,000 seed grant provided by Google, which has been expanding its involvement in the internet freedom space.
Sharansky, also a former Israeli parliament member, told The Daily Beast that the site could be game changer in the field of human rights activism by enabling people in free societies to become active in closed societies on a grand scale without risk.
David Keyes, the executive director of Advancing Human Rights, told The Daily Beast that hundreds of activists and dissidents have already been connecting on the site during its testing phase. The platform removes the need for a middle man between those in need of help and professionals who can help them, he said.
Activists still have to reach the site on their own, escaping efforts to censor or monitor the internet in their home countries. But once on the site, dissidents and activists will be now be able to connect and communicate better than before.
Already the site is boasting about some successes. In May, Syrian activist Kamal Labwani posted a request for press on the site, later publishing an op-ed on the Daily Beast website. Syrian activists successfully got lawyers in New York to handle their asylum cases after contacting them through the site.
The former business associates of killed Russian anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky posted a request on the site for a song about him and a New York based song-writer joined with Russian activists to produce one. A Saudi expert fighting against laws restricting freedom of speech connected with German officials using the platform, AHR said.
"Dictatorships are paying hundreds of millions to PR firms. Why shouldn't every democratic dissident also have PR help? This platform can be a force multiplier for those struggling against tyranny. It gives average people with unique skills the ability to help dissidents in need," reads a press release about the site, obtained by The Daily Beast.
Ahed Al Hendi, a Syrian who heads up Arabic programs for AHR, told The Daily Beast that activists inside Syria, Russia, and Iran have been using the site to find help for everything from building websites to connecting with reporters.


text:
Home > Motoring > Car Buyer's Guide > Car Reviews > DS 5 Elegance >
DS 5 Elegance
The new grille dispenses with Citroen chevrons
Stylish and distinctive interior
Low-slung body gives a sporty, premium look
Diesel engines provide plenty of performance
Generally good body control in corners
Not as comfortable as it should be
Poor outward visibility in most directions
Not particularly refined at any speed
Precious few interior practicality features
The DS 5 is the first car produced under the DS brand following its deliberate separation from the Citroen name. It is not an all-new vehicle, instead simply changing the front grille and upgrading various technological features. The styling, especially at the front, is the template from which future DS models will be drawn.
Positioned as an alternative to the executive saloon norm, the DS 5 is a hatchback built almost in the style of a 'shooting brake' estate. It's long, sleek looks are aided by distinctive 'blades' running the length of the bonnet. Blacked-out door pillars again serve to emphasise the horizontal lines, making it seem low, long and poised.
Parent company PSA, which also owns Citroen and Peugeot, has some difficulty in defining the car's identity. It has attempted to distance it from the classic Citroen with which it shares part of its name while insisting that it looks forward, not back, despite it being essentially a re-branded Citroen product.
As well as distinctive styling it has various other clear identifiers that separate it from the crowd it competes with. Bold seat designs and a bulky, cockpit-like dashboard and console construction give it a unique feel. The large, quite oval-shaped steering wheel is another signature design with its broad, flattened lower portion.
Until an all-new model arrives to more clearly define what the young DS brand stands for, the existing 5 is the flagship. This version has placed comfort higher up the list of priorities than before and rides on much more compliant suspension, but its greatest strengths lie in its dramatic interior and its peerless ability to do things differently.
Our verdict on the DS 5 Elegance
As much as the people behind the DS brand might try, there is no escaping this car's recent Citroen past. It is a car built in an image it no longer wishes to have, which does present problems in terms of how well-resolved a product it can actually be. It has its merits and is good value when compared to German mainstream alternatives, but is unlikely to win many fans.
This car seems like poor value, depending on what it is compared against and by what measure. Versus German premium rivals it may seem like a cheaper alternative, but BMWs and Audis will hold their value better. The comparison looks especially bleak against similarly-priced executive cars from Volkswagen, for example, whose Passat is financially a much wiser option over a period of time.
With the body unchanged from that of the Citroen it once was, the DS 5 remains hampered by a boot smaller than a car of its size deserves. While 465 litres is far from bad it falls some way short of cars like the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and even the much cheaper Skoda Octavia. The hybrid DS 5's load bay is reduced to just 325 litres to make way for four-wheel drive components. There are few spaces in the cabin where everyday essentials, drinks and paperwork can be easily and safely stashed.
The roof line slopes back to a hatchback-style boot
Unsurprisingly there is an unconventional arrangement of instruments in the main cluster. An analogue rev counter is underpinned by a digital speedometer, which can be annoying when it skips numbers as speeds rise or fall. The central media interface screen is good, albeit a little small for the class of car, and its means of operation are clear. The steering wheel features audio controls and menu navigation buttons in an easy-to-fathom layout.
As if emulating the German premium cars it aims to rival, the DS 5 has very firm seats. It means they should last the test of time and high mileage well, which is good news for fleet managers looking for robust cars and less good news for drivers who may sometimes wish the chairs were a little more forgiving. While the centre console and dashboard almost wrap around the driver there is still plenty of legroom for all. The offset pedals on manual models could be a problem for driver comfort.
It could be argued that the DS 5 is quite a conspicuous car, with bright silver bodywork highlights gleaming in the midst of the paintwork and aggressive, blade-type wheels filling the chunky wheel arches. It's possible that the car might attract a degree of the wrong sort of attention. That said, alarms, an immobiliser and deadlocking, which is all linked to keyless entry, allow for a good degree of confidence in its anti-theft measures.
For an optional extra fee drivers can add a head-up display, which consists of a small projector that beams speed, navigation and cruise control data onto a clear plastic screen that folds up out of the top of the instrument binnacle. It works very well, reducing the length of time the driver's eyes spend away from the road. The cosy cabin is lined with airbags to the front, sides and front corners, while the cruise control system is a non-adaptive type so will not slow the car automatically.
The main improvement made to the DS 5 is in its suspension, where softer springs and more compliant dampers have replaced the terribly uncomfortable setup of the old version. That makes it a much more pleasant thing to drive under all conditions, although it is still on the firm side. Its body control is good, which gives confidence for brisk cornering, and it has excellent directional stability for motorway cruising. The noisy diesel engines do detract from the experience, though.
A unique interior environment is part of the DS 5's appeal
The DS 5 is built primarily for form before function, despite the latter having been improved for this facelifted version. As such its basic proportions leave it at a disadvantage next to more sober alternatives, with a lower roof line over the rear seats reducing the available headroom when leaning in to try to fit a child seat. There are bigger boots to be had among rival cars, too, and cheaper ways of buying a family-friendly model.
It is almost impossible to conceive of a reason why a first-time car buyer would even seek out the DS 5 in the first place, let alone buy one with their own money. It is not particularly novice-friendly because of its restricted visibility and imposing size on the road, it is expensive to buy, costly to insure and has little going for it in terms of first-car appeal. Its one saving grace in this category is its uniquely aggressive looks, which may curry some favour among young drivers.
There are mixed messages within the DS 5's cabin, where high-quality leathers sit alongside smooth and shiny plastics that feel rather cheap by comparison. It looks like a dynamic car from the outside, which helps its image by adding desirability, but its reputation for an unforgivably hard ride will take time to change, if indeed it can ever be overcome. Under the Citroen banner the DS 5 developed an image of being easy to want, but hard to actually choose.
While it's fair to say the seats are not positioned as low as the sleek, coupe-like body might lead you to believe, they are low enough to necessitate dropping the last few inches rather than gently lowering yourself into place. The front doors are quite long and need a good amount of empty space beside the car, but they do at least open and close with less weight than their bulk might suggest. The tailgate opens easily after an initial tug at the handle.
There are two Hi-Fi options; the standard item and an upgraded Denon unit. Both allow the user to play music from sources including CDs, FM/AM/DAB radio, USB and auxiliary inputs. Bluetooth is also included and can be used to play music, connect a mobile phone or both. The controls to operate the interface are fairly intuitive and fall easily to hand. Audio quality is very good.
Future models will feature variations on the new grille
There are colours that a buyer would expect to find, including the commonplace black and white. There are four greys, one of which is the standard free option, and a blue, plus one left-field choice in the form of a deep, luxurious purple. The interior trim is a mix of many shapes, finishes and styles that, although less discordant than the DS 5's predecessor's was, can still feel a little overwhelming. Seat leathers feel high-quality while many of the plastics do not.
Visibility is a real Achilles' heel for the DS 5, thanks to one of the shallowest rear windows of any car along with thick pillars surrounding it. The twin A-pillars sometimes intrude when approaching roundabouts, too, leaving a narrow gap through which to peer out of, or forcing the driver to manoeuvre their body to see around the assembly altogether. In summary, the standard parking sensors are often essential in order to park safely.
Emergency tyre repair kit supplied as standard.
Petrol engine options - 1.6-litre (163bhp). Diesel engine options - 1.6-litre (118bhp); 2.0-litre (148bhp, 177bhp, 197bhp hybrid). Transmission options: six-speed manual (118bhp and 148bhp diesels only), plus six-speed automated manual (163bhp petrol, 177bhp diesel and 197bhp hybrid). Trim levels: Elegance, Prestige.
BMW 3 Series Uninspiring best-seller does everything it's required to do, and does it well
Ford Mondeo Spacious option can't match the DS 5's flair or style, but is good value
Mercedes C-Class Drab looks are disappointing, but interiors are high-quality
Volkswagen Passat Offers superb refinement, efficiency and comfort in a hard-to-beat package
Site map Contact us Mobile site Jobs Newsroom Accessibility Privacy policy Cookies Terms & conditions AA Charitable Trust Affiliates/advertising
© Automobile Association Developments Limited 2014

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Belmont West student Grayson Flatness was a featured contestant on the game show "The Price is Right," which aired last week.
Sporting a Belmont University T-shirt, Flatness attended the show's "Spring Break Edition" taping where he competed in the Grocery Game. The goal of the game is to purchase products that total between $20 and $21. Flatness was shown five grocery items and was instructed to choose an item and a quantity of that item to buy.
"Being able to participate in such a historic show will always be a memory that I cherish for the rest of my life and share with plenty of my friends. I am proud that I was able to represent the likes of Belmont University and Nashville on national television. I advise any and all future students of the Belmont West and East to make use of your time and resources because you never know what amazing opportunities may arrive," Flatness said.


text:
Q: Unload Realm because of new database file I am trying to update precompiled database in my app using a new database file downloaded from the internet. However when I download the file and replace the old one used by Realm with it, Realm still uses the old one till the next app restart. Unfortunately I still need to open the first DB to copy some data from it before downloading a new database. Is there a possiblity to force unload/reload the whole database?

A: I made a mistake and I accidentally created a new instance of Realm. The problem is that Realm instances are cached. I needed to use autoreleasepool {} and ensure that Realm is created only in the block.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Rule: asEquivalentb3sb3sifpdbprdf-labelfacetshttp://dbpedia.org/resource/inference/rules/dbpedia#http://dbpedia.org/resource/inference/rules/opencyc#http://dbpedia.org/resource/inference/rules/umbel#http://dbpedia.org/resource/inference/rules/yago#http://dbpedia.org/schema/property_rules#http://www.ontologyportal.org/inference/rules/SUMO#http://www.ontologyportal.org/inference/rules/WordNet#http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#ldpoplwebskos-transvirtpivot-rulesvirtrdf-labelNone
About: schema:SportsEvent Goto Sponge NotDistinct Permalink
An Entity of Type : owl:Thing, within Data Space : dbpedia-live.openlinksw.com associated with source document(s)
is rdf:type of
King of the Ring (1994)
MLS Cup 1997
Royal Rumble (1994)
WrestleMania IX
WrestleMania X
WrestleMania XI
1972 AFC Asian Cup
1951 FA Cup Final
Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres
Cycling at the 1936 Olympics
1950 BRDC International Trophy
Fencing at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's team épée
Firenze–Pistoia
Hot Summer Night
Sunnehanna Amateur
Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre freestyle
Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay
Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay
Trofeo Luis Puig
2010 MLS All-Star Game
Prix Matchem
2008 Chatham Cup
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's double trap
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's skeet
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's trap
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 10 metre air pistol
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 10 metre air rifle
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 25 metre pistol
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 50 metre rifle three positions
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's skeet
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's trap
1975–76 KNVB Cup
1979 Dino Ferrari Grand Prix
2005 FAI Cup Final
1938 Cork Grand Prix
2009 Sultat Shaab Cup
1923 Italian Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Final 16
1996–97 Russian Cup
2002 Legg Mason Tennis Classic
2010 North African Super Cup
2010–11 Welsh Cup
2011 CAF Champions League group stage
Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles
Callers of Newcastle
Celtic International
Double Diamond (golf)
Dubliner Challenge
El Paraiso Open
Lithuania's Strongest Man
Parco di Monza Challenge
Rowing at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics
Southern Cross Classic
Weightlifting at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics
Ypsilon Golf Challenge
1965 RCD Cup
2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
Athletics at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics – Boys' shot put
Girl Talk Classic
2011 CAF U-23 Championship
2011 Island Games
Prince of Wales Stakes (Australia)
Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres
1996 DFB-Supercup
2010 Celtic League Grand Final
2011–12 UAE President's Cup
2012 Pro12 Grand Final
Weightlifting at the 2016 Summer Olympics
1956 National Challenge Cup
1946–47 Copa México
1959–60 Scottish League Cup
Fencing at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's team épée
Fencing at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's épée
Fencing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's team foil
Fencing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's team sabre
Fencing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's foil
Fencing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's team épée
Fencing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's épée
1997 Torneo di Viareggio
Five Rings of Moscow
2013 DFL-Supercup
◂◂ First
◂ Prev
Last ▸▸
OpenLink Virtuoso version 08.03.3319 as of Sep 1 2020, on Linux (x86_64-generic-linux-glibc25), Single-Server Edition (61 GB total memory)


text:
First All-Electric Utility Truck in North America
Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation announced recently that it has teamed up with Altec Industries Inc. to introduce America's first all-electric utility truck with an aerialdevice. The truck was unveiled last summer at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The truck is a battery, all-electric Smith Newton produced by SEV U.S. and SEV UK with an aerial bucket integrated by Altec Industries Inc., a leading provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications and contractor markets.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States, is playing a critical role in the development of this vehicle. The first test unit will be added to PG&E's fleet to conduct routine and emergency overhead line work in PG&E's northern and central California service area. PG&E will provide test data to SEV U.S. and Altec for the creation of a production model.
This unit is the first all-electric aerial utility truck to be put into operation by a major utility company before being brought to the market.
The Smith Newton has a top speed of up to 80 km/h, a range on one battery charge in excess of 160 km and a payload of up to 7400 kg. The trucks will be assembled at the company's plant in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Altec component, an AT37-G aerial boom, is a telescopic articulating device used for electric utility line maintenance and installation. The aerial has a maximum height of 11,5 m and reach of 8,6 m.
SEV U.S. is a privately held company and is owned by Private Investors Management, and The Tanfield Group Plc, based in the United Kingdom.
Source: Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation


text:
'use strict';

var showNoWebGlMsg = require('./show_no_webgl_msg');

// Note that this module should be ONLY required into
// files corresponding to regl trace modules
// so that bundles with non-regl only don't include
// regl and all its bytes.
var createRegl = require('regl');

/**
 * Idempotent version of createRegl. Create regl instances
 * in the correct canvases with the correct attributes and
 * options
 *
 * @param {DOM node or object} gd : graph div object
 * @param {array} extensions : list of extension to pass to createRegl
 *
 * @return {boolean} true if all createRegl calls succeeded, false otherwise
 */
module.exports = function prepareRegl(gd, extensions, reglPrecompiled) {
    var fullLayout = gd._fullLayout;
    var success = true;

    fullLayout._glcanvas.each(function(d) {
        if(d.regl) {
            d.regl.preloadCachedCode(reglPrecompiled);
            return;
        }
        // only parcoords needs pick layer
        if(d.pick && !fullLayout._has('parcoords')) return;

        try {
            d.regl = createRegl({
                canvas: this,
                attributes: {
                    antialias: !d.pick,
                    preserveDrawingBuffer: true
                },
                pixelRatio: gd._context.plotGlPixelRatio || global.devicePixelRatio,
                extensions: extensions || [],
                cachedCode: reglPrecompiled || {}
            });
        } catch(e) {
            success = false;
        }

        if(!d.regl) success = false;

        if(success) {
            this.addEventListener('webglcontextlost', function(event) {
                if(gd && gd.emit) {
                    gd.emit('plotly_webglcontextlost', {
                        event: event,
                        layer: d.key
                    });
                }
            }, false);
        }
    });

    if(!success) {
        showNoWebGlMsg({container: fullLayout._glcontainer.node()});
    }
    return success;
};


text:
Local (current)
Hurricane Fiona aftermath
20 Questions: P.E.I. edition
Housing crisis in P.E.I.
7-day outlook and daily forecasts from SaltWire Weather
Try the SaltWire News app
Prince Edward Island > News > Local
Canadian Armed Forces task force begins cleanup operation in P.E.I.
Colin MacLean · Journalist | Posted: Sept. 27, 2022, 5:43 p.m. | Updated: Sept. 27, 2022, 5:43 p.m. | 7 Min Read
Pte. Emma Bowman, a medic with the 33 Field Ambulance, was responsible for cutting up a large cluster of trees on Sept. 27 that fell behind Birchwood Intermediate School on Longworth Avenue in Charlottetown. Bowman was one of 34 soldiers tasked with helping with cleanup efforts from post-tropical storm Fiona. TERRENCE MCEACHERN • THE GUARDIAN
SPRING VALLEY, P.E.I. — The P.E.I. Regiment armoury building in Slemon Park was a beehive of activity the morning of Sept. 27 as Task Force Prince Edward Island prepared to roll out.
The Canadian Armed Forces has dispatched a team of about 120 personnel and roughly 30 vehicles to the Island to help recovery efforts from post-tropical storm Fiona, which hit P.E.I. on Sept. 24 and caused historic levels of damage to the province.
Capt. Jim Ryan, commander of Task Force Prince Edward Island, said his crews were being divided into three troops of about 40 soldiers each and were fanning out from Slemon Park to help recovery efforts from one end of the province to another.
"This morning we're dispatched throughout the Island, all the way from the east to the west. We're working with the local agencies on what they need help with," said Ryan.
"Currently, right now, we're working on helping to get some access back into some school areas, but also our main task ... is doing some route opening and clearing up the downed trees and trying to get the infrastructure restored."
Capt. Jim Ryan, commander of Task Force Prince Edward Island, speaking with media as the soldiers of his unit work to set up a command centre in Slemon Park to support the Canadian Armed Forces's contribution to post tropical storm Fiona recovery. Colin MacLean - SaltWire Network
Ryan said the task force members are embedded with P.E.I.'s Emergency Measures Organization and are helping wherever they are needed most.
Many of the soldiers under his command, and himself included, had helped respond to the cleanup after post-tropical storm Dorian hit the Maritimes in 2019, and they all learned valuable lessons from that task, added Ryan.
"Very similar challenges, (but) I do think we're a little better prepared (for Fiona)," he said.
"We kind of rolled into this knowing what to expect, so we could adjust quicker. It took us a day or two during Dorian to get shaken out and know what to expect. (This time) we were out doing the business almost the day we arrived here."
One of the units under Ryan's command was busy on a secondary road in the Spring Valley area, north of Kensington. They had been asked to clear a path for local farmers who needed access to their crops, but once that was done they were heading just down the road to another area to keep clearing roadways.
A bulldozer attached to Task Force Prince Edward Island works to clear a secondary road in Spring Valley on Sept. 27. Colin MacLean
Sgt. Thomas Berry of the 4 Engineer Support Regiment was commanding the unit as they used their vehicles to plow away fallen trees before the soldier moved in with chainsaws to break them up and clear debris.
"We've been at it for about two hours, we've cleared about 60 trees. Overall, we're about 30 per cent done of our task as of right now," said Berry over the roar of a chainsaw.
"Glad to be here. This is what I've trained for. We're happy to help for however long we're needed."
It's not known how long the task force will be operating on the Island, but Ryan said they are prepared to help for as long as they are needed.
"We're happy to be here. This is one of the prides of being a Canadian Armed Forces soldier, getting out and assisting in emergency responses. We have multiple people in my task force who are Prince Edward Islanders, they're helping their own families out. It's an awesome thing to do," he said.
Lt. Cole MacEachern agreed that the opportunity to help his home province with post-tropical storm Fiona cleanup was a privilege.
Soldiers from Task Force Prince Edward Island at work, Sept. 27. Colin MacLean
MacEachern, 26, of the P.E.I. Regiment, was one of 34 Canadian soldiers dispatched to help clean up fallen trees at Birchwood Intermediate school on Longworth Avenue in Charlottetown on Sept. 27.
MacEachern, who was born in Charlottetown, supervised the cleanup efforts. Like many Islanders, MacEachern has family and friends who have been affected by post-tropical storm Fiona.
"It's very rare that somebody in uniform gets to help out and work in their hometown. I think we all feel really privileged to be able to do that," he said.
One way to clear a road. #pei #Fiona #OpLENTUS pic.twitter.com/JzEUEvX0sP
— Colin Roger MacLean (@JournalPMacLean) September 27, 2022
About 40 of the soldiers from the Prince Edward Island Regiment are part of the task force, and an additional five or six Islanders are serving in the off-island contingent.
Ryan did also have one request for Islanders. He asked that if residents see the troops out working and want to say hello that they should feel free to do so, but they should be aware that these people are here to do a job and it will be better and safer for everyone if they are given space to do that.
He also asked that residents direct all their requests for assistance through local authorities and not ask individual groups of soldiers for help. All the task force's work is being directed through the local emergency response centres, so any requests should go through those local authorities to keep everyone working smoothly together.
Pte. Emma Bowman, a medic with the 33 Field Ambulance, was responsible for cutting up a large cluster of trees that fell behind Birchwood Intermediate School on Longworth Avenue in Charlottetown. Bowman was one of 34 soldiers tasked with helping with cleanup efforts from post-tropical storm Fiona on Sept. 27. TERRENCE MCEACHERN
Well-known P.E.I. landmarks destroyed by post-tropical storm Fiona
Updated Sep. 27, 2022 |5 min read
IN PICTURES: Fiona clean up continues on P.E.I.
One person dead, Fiona cleanup will take 'herculean effort'
More Local Stories
P.E.I. furnace oil, diesel prices increase Jan. 28, 2023
'My husband didn't want to die': Death of Charlottetown man at Province House could have been prevented, says family
Updated 6 hours ago |11 min read
Halifax police appeal for help to solve 35-year-old killing of Derek Alan Lowe
Former P.E.I. PC leader James Aylward will not run in 2023
Updated 10 hours ago |3 min read
UPDATED: Missing P.E.I. teen found
Most of P.E.I. is potato wart free, say international experts
P.E.I's elected school trustees host first public meeting
UPEI students offered $1,500 to vacate residence during Canada Games


text:
December 16 in history
On December 16:
1431 Henry VI of Englandwas crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris.
1485 Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England, was born.
1497 Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope, the point where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal.
1653 Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
1707 Last recorded eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan.
1770 Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer was born.
Portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler, 1820
1773 Boston Tea Party – Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawks dump crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act.
This iconic 1846 lithograph by Nathaniel Currier was entitled "The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor
1775 Jane Austen, English writer, was born.
A watercolour and pencil sketch of Jane Austen, believed to be drawn from life by her sister Cassandra (c. 1810)[A]
1787 – Mary Russell Mitford, English writer, was born.
1790 King Léopold I of Belgium, was born.
1850 The Charlotte-Jane and the Randolph brought the firs tsettlres to Lyttelton, New Zealand.
1882 Sir Jack Hobbs, English cricketer, was born.
Jack Hobbs (left) walks out to the SCG with his opening partner Herbert Sutcliffe.
1883 Max Linder, French pioneer of silent film, was born.
Max Linder
1888 King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, was born.
1893 Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From The New World" was given its world première at Carnegie Hall.
1899 Sir Noel Coward, English playwright, actor and composer, was born.
Noël Coward, c. 1920s
1905 Piet Hein, Danish mathematician and inventor
Piet Hein (Kumbel) in front of the H.C. Andersen statue in Copenhagen
1905 A great rugby rivalry was born when a last-minute try to All Black Bob Deans was disallowed, handing the Welsh victory.
1907 The Great White Fleet (US Naval Battle fleet) began its circumnavigation of the world.
Map of the Great White Fleet's voyage.
1915 – Turk Murphy, American trombonist, was born.
1917 Sir Arthur C. Clarke, English writer, was born.
1920 The Haiyuan earthquake, magnitude 8.5, in Gansu province in China, killed an estimated 200,000.
1938 Adolf Hitler institutd the Cross of Honor of the German Mother.
Mutterkreuz
1943 Tony Hicks, English guitarist (The Hollies), was born.
1944 The Battle of the Bulge began with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest.
1946 Benny Andersson, Swedish musician, singer and songwriter (ABBA), was born.
1947 Ben Cross, English actor, was born.
1947 William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain built the first practical point-contact transistor.
1949 Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, later knons as SAAB, was founded in Sweden.
1952 Joel Garner, Barbadian West Indies cricketer, was born.
1955 – Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este, was born.
1960 1960 New York air disaster: While approaching New York's Idlewild Airport, a United Airlines Douglas DC-8 collided with a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation in a blinding snowstorm over Staten Island, killing 134.
1971 Bangladesh War of Independence and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan army brings an end to both conflicts.
1971 – Independence Day of the State of Bahrain from British Protectorate Status.
1972 Angela Bloomfield, New Zealand actress, was born.
1991 Independence of The Republic of Kazakhstan.
1997 Dennō Senshi Porygonan episode of Pokémon, was aired in Japan, inducing seizures in hundreds of Japanese children.
2003 President George W. Bush signed the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 into law. The law established the United States' first national standards for the sending of commercial e-mail.
Sourced from NZ History Online & Wikipedia.
Leave a Comment » | history | Tagged: Alexander I, All Blacks, Angela Bloomfield, Antonín Dvořák, Arthur C Clark, Bahrain, Bangladesh War of Independence, Battle of the Bulge, Ben Cross, Benny Andersson, Bob Deans, Boston Tea Party, CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, Canterbury, Catherine of Aragon, Charlotte-Jane, Cross of honour of the German Mother, December 16, Great White Fleet, Haiyuan earthquake, Henry VI, Indo-Pakistani War, Jack Hobbs, Jane Austen, Joel Garner, Kazakhstan, Léopold I, Ludwig van Beethoven, Mary Russell Mitford, Max Linder, Mount Fuji, Mutterkreuz, Noel Coward, NZ History Online, Oliver Cromwell, Piet Hein, Pokémon, Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Randolph, SAAB, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, Tony Hicks, Turk Murphy, Vasco de Gama, Wales, Wikipedia | Permalink
RT @JoeWStanley: .@Minette_Batters once again highlighting that environmental targets are a VITAL part of sustainable modern farming - but… 2 hours ago
RT @Donna_ashworth: Right at the top, where it belongs #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #tuesdayvibe #WordsOfWisdom https://t.co… 3 hours ago
RT @TheAliceSmith: https://t.co/Otjt8Gwk0P 3 hours ago
@aniobrien Me too. Used to donate regularly in gratitude for urgently needed transfusion, but haven't been able to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 3 hours ago
Day Date at The Patch


This alambre skillet cheese dip is has got it all: steak, peppers, onions, cheese and yes even bacon! A fun appetizer to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
In a large cast iron or oven proof skillet, brown your bacon and then take it out and set aside.
Pour out excess grease but leave a bit to saute the onions for a couple minutes.
Then add in your peppers and steak and saute until the steak is browned.
Add in the cream cheese, bacon and 1 cup of the Mexican cheese and mix well until melted.
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for 10-15 minutes or lightly browned on top.
Add chopped avocados, tomatoes, cilantro or even a squeeze of lime if you wish.


text:
Relativity Media Release Third Trailer for Tarsem Singh's 'IMMORTALS'!
Relativity Media have released a third trailer for Tarsem Singh's epic 3D action-adventure fantasy Immortals. The movie stars Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, John Hurt & Mickey Rourke. Immortals opens in 2D & 3D theaters this November 11th. Hit the jump for the details. Updated: with Embed.
Synopsis: "Visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) transports us in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure. As a power-hungry king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful.The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king's missionAs village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion's brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man's future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity. Immortals is produced by Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300) and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter)."
I'm reading: Relativity Media Release Third Trailer for Tarsem Singh's 'IMMORTALS'!Tweet this!


Manual. 113.243300 Craftsman 12 Inch Band Saw Sander 113.243311 Craftsman 12 Inch Band Saw Sander View and Download Craftsman 113.236090 owner's manual online. 16 INCH VARIABLE SPEED SCROLL SAW. 113.236090 Saw pdf manual download. Need to fix your PCB270TS Type 1 Table Saw?


text:
Saying No to Soy: The Campesino Struggle for Sustainable Agriculture in Paraguay
by April Howard
(Jun 01, 2009)
Places: Latin America
April Howard (april.m.howard [at] gmail.com) is a journalist and teacher of Latin American history at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and of high school social studies in Vermont. She is also an editor of Upsidedownworld.org, an online magazine reporting on politics and social movements in Latin America.
When Paraguay elected Fernando Lugo, its first non-Colorado Party president in more than sixty years, the mood was elated. In the streets of Asuncion that night in April 2008, "Grandmothers, wrapped in the Paraguayan flag, danced with children in the streets, and cried at the top of their lungs that this [was] the moment they'd been waiting for their whole lives."1 While Lugo's election was a clear victory for the social movements that united to elect him, movement leaders knew that this was just the beginning. As Worker Party and Indigenous Farmer organizer Tomás Zayas told me the previous year: "Lugo will not solve our problems. If Lugo is elected, it will be a door, an opening, through which we can add to our movement and demands."
One sector of Paraguayan society that has the most to gain from this transfer of power is the dwindling, poisoned, and often criminalized campesino (peasant farmer) population. Across Latin America, incomplete or corrupt agrarian reforms have left farmers fighting for their right to grow food for themselves. The flourishing soybean industry in Paraguay is leading towards an industrial agricultural export model that leaves no room for small food producers. While many Paraguayan campesino families have moved into urban peripheries, tenacious farmers have fought not only for their right to land, but also to redefine and recreate the agricultural model based on cooperative, organic, and people-friendly alternatives.
Leftist presidents, recently victorious in Bolivia and Ecuador, are contemplating land reform and agricultural planning to serve internal consumption. Such actions have been at the heart of revolutionary struggles for centuries. Cuba remains a leader in this area. Venezuela, under the leadership of Chávez, has made major advances in this realm through encouraging endogenous development and cooperatives. Both of these examples have much to offer Paraguayan campesinos, as they continue to mobilize and exert pressure on the new government to institute agricultural change.
The Colorado Road to Ruin
Last year's election marked the end of the official rule of the Colorado Party, in power since 1947, but left its legacy of corruption, clientilism, and violent repression. During the thirty-five year dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, the Colorado Party and the military worked as the "twin pillars" holding Stroessner in power. The Colorado Party's vast system of clientelism—offering public jobs to gain political support—is entirely reliant on state programs and public services. It is effective because of the country's high unemployment rate: one of the few prospects for employment is through the Colorado Party, whether as a road construction worker, teacher, or mayor. Though many citizens viewed the party as corrupt and ineffective, supporting it often meant receiving a salary. As of 2007, the Colorado Party employed some 200,000 people, 95 percent of whom are members of the party.2 Much of the party mechanism remains intact, even though the executive branch has changed.
The need for change in the Paraguayan countryside is urgent. Paraguay has the most unequal land distribution in Latin America; 83 percent of Paraguayan campesinos occupy only 6 percent of the land. Forty percent of all property is possessed by 351 owners of large estates.3 Stroessner's land reform institution, INDERT, ran a corrupt and incomplete agrarian reform that illegally sold vast parcels of state land reserved for Paraguayan farmers to Brazilian and Argentine buyers and left most campesinos landless, with no choice but to occupy unused land for subsistence farming.
Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo, a former bishop, was born in 1951. He grew up in a family opposed to the Stroessner dictatorship and his three brothers were exiled. As a young man he taught in a rural school that was "so remote that he was able to escape the usual rule that teachers had to be members of the Colorado Party." After he became a priest in 1977, he worked as a missionary in Ecuador, then studied at the Vatican, and returned to Paraguay in 1982 where he became the bishop of the San Pedro province. His support for landless families' occupations of large estates put him in conflict with the Catholic hierarchy. In 2006 he led a march of nearly 50,000 Paraguayans in Asuncion against then-president Nicanor Duarte Frutos's plan to change the constitution to allow a second term for president. Lugo was catapulted into the national political scene and social movements requested that he run for president.4 Nearly a year after his election, social movements are pressuring Lugo to enact the changes he promised in his platform. As Paraguayan farmer and anti-industrial agriculture activist Letitia Galeano explained to me, "Lugo is alone, he is at the top, but he is alone. We need change now, and we are going to have to make it happen ourselves."
The Agricultural Export Industry—A Poisonous Green Desert
A biologically diverse Interior Atlantic Forest once covered 85 percent of Eastern Paraguay. Intermingled with the necessary shade and fruit-bearing trees of the forest, farmers grew diverse crops and raised a variety of livestock. However, today only 5–8 percent of that forest remains. The land now resembles the rolling hills of a green desert. Brazilian industrial farmers have invaded Eastern Paraguay and bought up the much of the land, bit by bit, in order to grow monoculture crops for export. Their bounty is sold to such companies as Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, and Bunge. They transform communities and strong-arm farmers to produce soy, corn, and cotton for export. Paraguay and parts of Brazil and Argentina have become "soy republics."
Soy production has increased exponentially in recent years to keep up with worldwide demand for animal feed, as well as the ecologically bankrupt, but still thriving, agrofuel industry. Industrial soy is directed toward these markets, not human food. Today, Paraguay is the world's fourth-largest exporter of soybeans. In 2003, five million acres of land were devoted to soy cultivation—more than double the amount ten years before that.5 Today, according to sociologist Javiera Rulli, that number is closer to thirty million acres, and is expected to continue rising exponentially.6
The expansion of the soy industry in Paraguay has occurred in tandem with the violent oppression of small farmers and indigenous communities. Farmers have been bullied into growing soy with pesticides, at the expense of their food crops, health, and subsequently their farms. Farmers who live next to the soy fields have been driven away by the chemicals, which kill their crops and animals and cause illnesses. Since the first soy boom, almost 100,000 small farmers have been evicted from their homes and fields. Countless indigenous communities have been forced to relocate. Mechanized production reorganized labor relations, as those who stayed to work in the soy fields were replaced by tractors and combines. Entire communities fled to the cities to be street vendors and live in the exploding semi-urban slums around large cities. Farmers who refuse to leave their land are targeted by hired security forces, employed by the surrounding soy growers, in hope that they will eventually sell. A simultaneous campaign of "criminalization" has allowed the soy industry to use the state security and judicial apparatus to remove and punish resistant farmers. More than a hundred campesino leaders have been assassinated, and more than two thousand others have faced trumped-up charges for their resistance to the intrusion of agribusiness.
Various campesino organizations have joined forces to fight the violence and criminalization experienced by their members. The Front for Sovereignty and Life is made up of the National Workers' Center, the Authentic Unitarian Center of Workers, the Permanent Popular Plenary, the Coordinating Table of Campesino Organizations, the National Campesino Organization, and the National Coordinator for Life and Sovereignty.7 Some groups have taken the next step and are working not only to stop the fumigations and criminalization, but to create alternative models of agriculture.
Though the soy plants are green, they represent the death not only of the way of life of Paraguayan farmers, but of the land itself. According to campesino leader Tomás Zayas, "transnational businesses are not concerned with the destruction and contamination of the land because when the land can't give any more, they just move to another country." Soy cultivation dumps more than 24 million liters of toxic agro-chemicals in Paraguay every year, including pesticides designated by the World Health Organization as "extremely hazardous" and "moderately hazardous." These include Paraquat (a toxin with no antidote), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), Gramoxone, Metamidofos (which reduces sperm count and health in exposed males), and Endosulfan (which causes birth defects in the infants of repeatedly exposed mothers). Rather than "pesticides" or "herbicides," Paraguayan campesinos call them "chemicals," "agrotoxins," and "venenos" (venoms).
Paraguayan farmers exposed to these pesticides have experienced all of the known side effects and worse. While laws dictate spraying practices and safe barriers between fields and residential and community land, there is no official enforcement. A recent investigation conducted in areas of high soy production found that 78 percent of families in several of the communities had health problems caused by the pesticides used in crop spraying. Sixty-three percent of this was due to contaminated water. Children have died as a result of coming into direct contact with chemical clouds. In most cases, farming families are isolated and lack medical or monetary resources, so their complaints go undocumented.8
In the spring of 2007, Meriton Ramírez, a farmer, and his daughter Angélica, a university student studying agronomy, escorted me to the site of their former home in the eastern province of Alto Paraná. Minga Porá, once a community of several thousand farmers, is now occupied by only thirty families who don't know where else to go. "I didn't want to leave. I built my farm and raised my children here. I planted fruit trees. For the first time in my life I had good land," Ramírez said, motioning to the vacant space that used to be his home. "Then the soy farmers arrived… The days following crop spraying we had terrible headaches, nausea, and diarrhea, and skin rashes, problems seeing, and respiratory infections. Our well was full of chemicals. The chickens died. The cows aborted their calves and their milk dried up." His crops and fruit trees withered along with his animals, and the fish and wildlife disappeared. One by one, the neighbors fled due to the worsening conditions. When the Ramírez family left Minga Porá in 2001, there was almost no evidence that there had ever been a community there.
Now the green desert of soy plants extends monotonously in all directions. The schools and farms that used to exist along the road are gone. Trucks heaped with pale soybeans rumble down the road. "It's endless," Angélica Ramírez muttered. She clenched her fists as she looked at the site of her former home. "Terrible. Disaster!" As we drove back through the soy fields, I noticed a bitter, foul smell. Our eyes began to itch and sting. I felt a moment of panic as I realized that I was breathing in poison, but there was no way to escape it. "That's the smell of the venom," said Angélica, covering her mouth with her sleeve. "This is what it was like at our house every day. Unbearable!"
In spite of the arrests and assassinations, farmers have fought against the agribusiness invasion. The remaining campesino communities have become increasingly organized and radicalized. This January, one hundred campesino residents of the Ybypé community in the province of San Pedro physically blocked the crop spraying of a new soy field in their community. Communities are making appeals for legal protection, which have been backed by the Paraguayan Human Rights Committee (Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay). They want public scrutiny of how soy growers fail to follow protective policies, such as the installation of live barriers like tall bushes or other plants to block the drift of pesticides onto community lands.9 Farmers confront many difficulties in their efforts to fight back agro-capital. In 2004, residents of the Ypecuá community were beaten and killed for attempting to block spraying.10
Saying No to Soy
One famously political community that supported Lugo's candidacy is the Tekojoja settlement, located seventy kilometers from the city of Caaguazú. This community is part of the campesino movement, and its organization—the Popular Agrarian Movement—promoted the separate Tekojoja Popular Movement during Lugo's campaign.11 In the recent elections, the Tekojoja Popular Movement made gains in Congress.12
Tekojoja, meaning "equal terms" in Guaraní, is one of the peasant settlements recovered during the land reform. It is a land settlement of five hundred hectares where fifty-six peasant families remain out more than a hundred. By 2002, nearly half of the five hundred hectares of community lands had become soy fields. According to community leader Jorge Galeano, it was "a terrible period for us, every day we witnessed how seven to eight families were leaving their land. We calculated that 120 families had been expulsed because of the entrance of the Brazilian producers." Residents complained, but INDERT made contracts granting the lands to Brazilian soy producers. In 2003, campesinos forcefully reoccupied their lands, but they were served an eviction order in 2004, which resulted in forty-six houses being burned and twenty hectares of crops being destroyed. According to community members, "after the tractors had destroy[ed] our crops, they came with their big machines and started immediately to sow soy while smoke was still coming out from the ashes of our houses. Next day we came back with oxen and replanted all the fields over the prepared land. When the police came, we faced them with our tools and machetes, we were around seventy people and were ready to confront them. In the end they left." In 2005, soy producers evicted four hundred people and killed two community members.13 Since that time, the community has repeatedly denounced illegal and inappropriate use of agrochemicals in neighboring soy fields.14
One of the principle zones of production of genetically modified soy in Paraguay is the eastern province of Alto Paraná. Here the campesino organization, the Association of Alto Paraná Farmers (ASAGRAPA), is attempting to forge alternative models of agriculture while resisting the expansion of the soy empire. It is a regional chapter of the National Center of Indigenous and Popular Organizations, but in many ways it leads the organization. Tomás Zayas, is the leader of both organizations, and participates heavily in the Workers' Party. While the goals of these organizations have changed over time, their main focus now is the danger of the growing green desert of soy.
While many of the campesino organizations in Paraguay share the vision of "agroecology," Zayas believes that the movement needs a "philosophical and theoretical framework so that it can become a project not only of resistance, but of the construction of a new society that prioritizes human life." ASAGRAPA promotes small-scale organic farming of a diversity of crops for community needs, and community ownership of land to protect farmers from isolation, land speculation, and fumigation. In this context, it started the Stop the Fumigation: In Defense of Communities and Life campaign in December of 2007.
In 1989, Zayas helped found the community where the Ramírez family now lives. El Triunfo (The Triumph) is a community with a vision. It was formed by farmers involved in ASAGRAPA, and it is designed to prove that small-scale, non-chemical agriculture is possible.15 In February 2007, I visited El Triunfo. The shady agricultural town seemed like an oasis in the soy desert. Each family has two parcels: one in the residential center for their house and small gardens, and another for larger fields of crops. Over the years, the community has built a health clinic, school, and soccer field. The community started as a squat, and has been attacked several times by what the farmers call the local "soy mafia."
The land is communally owned and the charter does not allow farmers to sell their land. If they decide to leave, the community assumes possession and can give the land to a new member. Members see the formation of a democratically led collective (minga, in Guaraní) with indivisible and non-transferable ownership of land as the only way to ensure that members do not sell their land to soy growers. In this, they are fighting against fumigations and the pressure to grow soy. While all farmers may choose what to grow on their land and may sell some of their produce, they must use their land to plant diverse crops for their own consumption without pesticides.16
ASAGRAPA reaches out to communities in Alto Paraná that need to defend their land physically or legally, or want to learn more about its organic "agro-ecological" model. "It has been difficult to convince people," said Zayas. "They are told that you can't grow anything without chemicals, that you need to grow soy to make money, and then we show them that soy and agro-toxins are killing us, and people are unsure. They don't want to take risks. But every year it becomes more obvious that soy only benefits the big businesses." When communities decide that they want to stop growing soy, they face many challenges. The pesticides used to grow soy are so toxic that after a few seasons of growing soy, microorganisms in the soil die, the soil is compacted, and vital nutrients have been lost. ASAGRAPA shows farmers how to use plants with deep, strong roots to reclaim and aerate the degraded fields. In 2007 ASAGRAPA used a grant from the European Union to help farmers plant fruit orchards on their land.17
In March 2008, the Workers' Party published a Proposal for Agrarian Reform, which drew on the model of agrarian ownership as established in El Triunfo. It called for the "confiscation of large estates without compensation and delivery of the land to campesinos." The Workers' Party notes that it has pulled out of the fight to give land to poor campesinos, but that they will "work within the fight with two axes that point in the direction of even more integral change." They see the occupation of land by cooperatives as the only viable way for campesinos to gain property. Their declaration reads: "The conquest of land will only come through the force of our organization, mobilization and fight, never through the good will of bourgeois governments." They call for an end to the use of pesticides and for the nationalization of all large agro-export businesses. "Right now," they write, "the campesino is a stranger in his own land because the countryside is bought up by foreign businesses. The monocultivation of soy is directly commercialized by the multinationals, which have also appropriated the business of agricultural products and seeds." The proposal also calls for the creation of a national production program of food security and sovereignty over natural resources that promotes sustainable agriculture geared toward ending hunger and creating campesino farming communities.
State Prospects for Agricultural Change
The campesino struggle has gained strength and press over the past few years. In the buildup to the election, presidential candidates postured themselves either against soy expansion or in favor of it. Former vice president Luis Castiglioni, who lost the Colorado Primary to former education minister Blanca Ovelar, was seen by many as a representative of the soy industry.18 To distance herself from this, Ovelar played up the Colorado Party's populist rhetoric, saying that as president she would change agro-legislation and fight against the development of a "soy fatherland."19 In opposition to the Colorado Party stood Lugo. A large part of his base was made up of farmers who had been hurt by the soy companies. Lugo promised his campesino supporters comprehensive land reform.20
While Zayas and some campesino organizations stopped short of promoting the election of Lugo as a panacea, the Workers' Party proposal outlined some of their demands on the new president:
We promote and defend a State that assures all the conditions for this form of production by supplying credit, raw materials, tools and technology for this model of production and guarantees the process of commercialization of all production through adequate trade centers and at low cost to the working people. We reclaim, as well, the fixing of base prices for agricultural products, agricultural insurance and retirement for campesino producers.21
Before the elections, Zayas expressed hope but not enthusiasm for a Lugo presidency, "If Lugo is elected, it will open a door for there to be changes in the future, but that's all. We'll take what we can get."
Though Lugo has characterized himself as inspired by the liberation theology movement, he has also described himself as "not of the left, nor of the right. I'm in the middle, a candidate sought by many."22 Throughout his campaign, he worked hard to maintain his "middle of the road" image. He deflected questions about how his policies were similar to those of Chávez, Morales, and Correa, with comments such as "Paraguay is feeling the new winds growing across the region….But it cannot be like Venezuela because it has no oil. Nor can it be like Bolivia because it has no natural gas and it can't be like Chile because it has no copper."23
Agrarian reform is one of the most contentious topics a new leader can take on and the most likely to cause uproar among powerful landowners. In Paraguay, land reform involves much more than taking fallow fields from the landed gentry. Here much of the land is owned and in use by Brazilian farmers and multinational corporations. Plus, if the land is reclaimed, additional support is needed to help enrich the depleted soil after years of exploitation under soy production and pesticides.
So, in a Paraguay with no oil or gas or copper, how will the state respond to campesino demands for agrarian and agricultural reform? Campesino organizations in Paraguay are working at the grassroots level to forge a new future. They have concrete proposals for how to transform destructive industrial-export agriculture by following an "agro-ecological" model that will serve the Paraguayan people, rather than the soy corporations that are poisoning the land and people.
↩ Michael Fox, "Paraguay Celebrates Lugo's Historic Victory," April 20, 2008.
↩ Raúl Zibechi, "Paraguay's Hour of Change," IRC Americas Program, September 24, 2007; "The Twin Pillars of the Stroessner Regime," Library of Congress Studies (1988).
↩ Document.
↩ Andrew Nickson, "Paraguay: Fernando Lugo vs the Colorado Machine," February 28, 2008.
↩ April Howard and Benjamin Dangle, "The Multinational Beanfield War," In These Times online, April 12, 2007.
↩ Javiera Rulli, "GM Soy Brings Death & Misery to Paraguay."
↩ Frente por la Soberanía y la Vida—contiene el Central Nacional de trabajadores (CNT), Central Unitaria de Trabajadores Autentica (CUT-A), Plenaria Popular Permanente (PPP) Mesa Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas (MCNOC), Organización Nacional Campesina (ONAC), Coordinadora Nacional por la Vida y la Soberanía (CNVS).
↩ Andrew Nickson, "Paraguay: Fernando Lugo vs the Colorado machine," Open Democracy, September 28, 2008.
↩ Reto Sonderegger, "Paraguay: Campesino Families Block Fumigation of Soy Fields," January 10, 2008.
↩ David Vargas, "Fighting for Survival in Paraguay's Green Desert Wonderland," March 18, 2008.
↩ Partido Popular Tekojoja.
↩ Partido Popular Tekojoja, "Izquierda logra escaños en un Congreso mucho más plural (ABC)."
↩ "The Battle of Tekojoja, Paraguay."
↩ Jorge Galeano, "Contamination, Violence and Oppression Continue in Tekojoja, Paraguay," November 5, 2007.
↩ Tomás Zayas, "Informe sobre la situación campesina en Paraguay," June 16, 2005.
↩ Personal interview, February 2007.
↩ Research in Paraguay, February 2007.
↩ April Howard & Benjamin Dangl, "Dissecting the Politics of Paraguay's Next President," April 11, 2008.
↩ "Contra la patria sojera," ABC Color, (April 10, 2008).
↩ "Paraguay: Land Reform for Sure, Says Lugo," Prensa Latina, March 27, 2008.
↩ Julio López, Cynthia Fernández, and Tomás Zayas, "Paraguay—Propuesta de Reforma Agraria del PT."
↩ Agencia de Noticias del Pueblo, "Masiva manifestación en apoyo al sacerdote José Palmar en el Zulia: El Gobernador Rosales perdió el derecho de frente."
↩ Jenna Schaeffer, "Is Paraguay Set to Be the Next Latin American Country to Lean to the Left," Council on Hemispheric Affairs, June 29, 2007.
2009, Volume 61, Issue 02 (June)
About April Howard
View all posts by April Howard →
Jews Confront Zionism
The North American Auto Industry in Crisis
June 2009 (Volume 61, Number 2)	, The Editors
The Penal State in an Age of Crisis	, Hannah Holleman, Robert W. McChesney, John Bellamy Foster and R. Jamil Jonna
The North American Auto Industry in Crisis	, Herman Rosenfeld
Jews Confront Zionism	, Daniel Rosza Lang/Levitsky
Don't Pity the Poor Immigrants, Fight Alongside Them	, Michael D. Yates


You may not have JOB experience, but you DO have experience in something. Give them enough confidence that you COULD do the job based on these five factors.
Overwhelmed with School? Start here.
Girls' Pit Stop helps young women overcome uncertainty, so they can own their careers, their lives, and their futures.
Kelsey Fluehr Trainor and Rebecca Joelle Michelson both left their prosperous careers as a licensed attorney and a casting and television producer and together, created Fluehr & Joelle.
Need help with your application? We got you, girl.
Email us at hello@girlspitstop.com, and we'll give you feedback on your resume & cover letter!


This is a beautiful 3 pieces top quality wedding engagement ring set. The feature of engagement ring is a 6*6 mm (1.26 ct) princes cut stone in center with a prong setting. And alongside stones are 13 round cut stones in a channel setting. The feature of matching engagement ring comes with 15 smaller round stones in a channel setting. The total carat weight is 2.1 CTW (approximate). The metal of men's ring is made from stainless steel. The ring is 8mm of width and 2-2.5mm of thickness.
WOMEN'S RING: 2.10 CTW Princess Cut Simulated Diamond Cubic Zirconia Sterling Silver Classic Wedding Ring Set; Solid Sterling Silver .925 Stamped with "925".
OCCASION USE: These rings can be used for engagement, promise or anniversary. It's a great gift for someone that means a lot to you and that you want to show how much you appreciate it.
GIFT BOX INCLUDED: The Rings will come in a nice gift box. Ready to give to your partner.
60 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: 100% satisfaction and money back guarantee. 100% nickel-free. Hypo-allergenic, Never Green!


This is my last Christmas theme bento and the last one for this year. I made a simple fried rice bento covered with omelet, decorated with egg sheets to form our family. From here, although it's a bit early, we want to wish you a joyous Christmas! Our family has been so blessed through out this year, in bad times or good times ... God is always watching over family. I'm personally want to thank you all for your supports via comments, emails, tweets all this time. I really appreciate the friendship through this blog with all of you, I really do.
Tomorrow, kids will have their school Christmas celebration and it will be a final day of school for this semester. They will have school break until 9 January, 2011. So the second semester will start again on 10 January, 2011 where I will begin my bento making again. So now, it's time to enjoy the holiday. We will depart from Jakarta this Sunday to our holiday destination, Maldives. And later we will stop by in Singapore to celebrate Christmas there. And back to Jakarta again to celebrate the New Year with our families and friends.
Hope all of you enjoy and have fun holiday with your family and friends!
I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and that 2011 brings you all the best, for you and your pretty family.
Aw, and I've been so enjoying your holiday bentos! I love this family portrait one. Lia, I am so lucky to have met you here and on twitter. It is I, who feels privileged to have met you! Have a wonderful time on your xmas holidays. Enjoy your family time together! Hope you pop in some times during your vacation. : ) Happy Holidays to you and your family and enjoy the New Year!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday to you and family. Enjoy the trip and take as many photos as you can to share with us late...hehe.
Merry Christmas Lia, I'll sure miss your bento!! Wish you & family a great holiday!
AWWWW!!!! This is so so so sweet and lovely!!!
Oh my~how lovely is the bento..
So sweet; thank you for the family Christmas card. I love it! Have a wonderful break-- you get a week longer than us! Sounds like a fun travel itinerary for you and the family. Enjoy!
A beautiful bento that expresses family love and togetherness so well. Your holiday plans sound so special and I hope they will prove memorable and joyous.
Thank you for all the bento love and friendship you share, Lia...this, along with your magical bento art, makes you such a radiant star in our community. Peace and blessings to you and yours!
Merry Christmas! Ive just discovered your blog and absolutely love it. This is my first Christmas married to my husband and for us Christmas is always a big deal. Definitely the time where you appreciate all the loved ones who your blessed to have sharing your life. We celebrate Christmas day with our family then have the following Monday as a "Christmas" for close friends with a ornament exchange so that we all have a wonderful memory every year when dressing our tree and also its not too expensive.
Hope your family has a absolutely lovely Christmas.
This is super cute and nice!
What a sweet bento! I hope that you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your trip! It's been so much fun seeing your beautiful bento creations and I can't wait to see beauty you make in the New Year!
Merry Christmas!! Have a wonderful time with your family. See you next year!
What a cute family caroling bento, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
It's a lovely xmas bento!you're always great in bento-making.Thumbs up to you!
Have a blessed Christmas & Happy Holiday!
Wow, what great Christmas carolers!
Can't wait to see your new bento next year!
Hope you had a merry Christmas with your family !
See you next year for beautiful bento !


text:
Q: Does WordPress send data about your blog to WordPress.org or Automattic? I've recently heard someone say WordPress does send data about your blog to back home. Is that true? and if so what data is that or where in the code can I see what's exchanged?

A: Yes, you are correct. The wordpress update checker, the plugin update checker and the theme update checker sends regular information about

*

*Your IP

*Blog URL

*WordPress version

*PHP version

*Locale setting if there is one

*Plugin title, description, author – including all URL's that form part of this.

*Full list of all plugins on your site, whether they are active or not.

to the api.wordpress.org site. This is an old discussion since 2007. You can read about it more in my post WordPress phone home - Spyware or Justified post.

A: Yes, it does. See Ticket #16778 wordpress is leaking user/blog information during wp_version_check(). All the details are in /wp-includes/update.php:
if ( is_multisite( ) ) {
    $user_count = get_user_count( );
    $num_blogs = get_blog_count( );
    $wp_install = network_site_url( );
    $multisite_enabled = 1;
} else {
    $user_count = count_users( );
    $user_count = $user_count['total_users'];
    $multisite_enabled = 0;
    $num_blogs = 1;
    $wp_install = home_url( '/' );
}

$query = array(
    'version'           => $wp_version,
    'php'               => $php_version,
    'locale'            => $locale,
    'mysql'             => $mysql_version,
    'local_package'     => isset( $wp_local_package ) ? $wp_local_package : '',
    'blogs'             => $num_blogs,
    'users'             => $user_count,
    'multisite_enabled' => $multisite_enabled
);

$url = 'http://api.wordpress.org/core/version-check/1.6/?' . http_build_query( $query, null, '&' );

$options = array(
    'timeout' => ( ( defined('DOING_CRON') && DOING_CRON ) ? 30 : 3 ),
    'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
    'headers' => array(
        'wp_install' => $wp_install,
        'wp_blog' => home_url( '/' )
    )
);

$response = wp_remote_get($url, $options);

The user agent contains the URL of your installation, so all of these data are not anonymous anymore. To get some privacy back filter 'http_request_args' and change the data you don't want to leak.
Here is a simple example to anonymize the UA string (from a recent blog article):
add_filter( 'http_request_args', 't5_anonymize_ua_string' );

/**
 * Replace the UA string.
 *
 * @param  array $args Request arguments
 * @return array
 */
function t5_anonymize_ua_string( $args )
{
    global $wp_version;
    $args['user-agent'] = 'WordPress/' . $wp_version;

    // catch data set by wp_version_check()
    if ( isset ( $args['headers']['wp_install'] ) )
    {
        $args['headers']['wp_install'] = 'http://example.com';
        $args['headers']['wp_blog']    = 'http://example.com';
    }
    return $args;
}

You can change that to …
add_filter( 'http_request_args', 't5_anonymize_ua_string', 10, 2 );

… and get the request URL as second parameter for your callback. Now you can check if the URL contains http://api.wordpress.org/core/version-check/ and change all the values as want cancel the request and send a new one. There is still no way to change just the URL, that's why I created the patch in the ticket.

A: WordPress sends version data back to .org when using the .org API (installing/searching/updating) to my knowledge. That data is then collated into chart graphics. You can see the data here. I assume this is also used when plotting the roadmap for environment requirements (i.e. PHP4 > PHP5, MySQL version support, etc...).
Here's a sample of what the .org stats data looks like:

As a side note, it's always imperative that you install plugins from trusted sources. Otto, and the other curators of the plugin directory have done a great job weeding out plugins that use base64+eval to send personal information back to unscrupulous plugin authors. I can guarantee there are some that pop up on a weekly basis in the repository. This applies to themes outside of the .org repo as well.
I've heard talk of creating a plugin review team (similar to the theme review team) that will secure the integrity of the repository in the future. You can join the wp-hackers mailing list and get more information there. That's where these type of discussions really are fleshed out.


text:
Q: Singleton constructor fails c++ - what can be? I am actually facing a huge problem: I have a singleton class. My program is a multi-threaded MFC, so the singleton's constructor can be called from different threads. I surrounded the singleton instance-getter function with a mutex to avoid deadlocks and multiple constructions. The call of the below meant function fails directly at the first time.
The function looks like (LOG_MSG macro logs the given string into my log file):
MyClass& MyClass::singleton ()
{
    LOG_MSG("MyClass::singleton -> jump in");

    static CMutex oInitMutex;
    try
    {
        CSingleLock oSingleLock((CSyncObject *) &oInitMutex, TRUE);
        LOG_MSG("!!! SINGLETON LOCK OKAY !!!");
        static MyClass oMyClassInstance;
        LOG_MSG("!!! SINGLETON CONSTRUCTION OKAY !!!");
        return oMyClassInstance;
    }
    catch(...)
    {
        CString excMsg("Unexpected exception by creating MyClass singleton instance!");
        LOG_MSG(excMsg);
        throw excMsg;
    }
}

I've figured out, that the construction of the singleton object will NOT fail (since we get the "!!! SINGLETON CONSTRUCTION OKAY !!!" message).
Log output says:
09.04.2013 ;07:14:51:832;"MyClass::singleton -> jump in"
09.04.2013 ;07:14:51:841;"!!! SINGLETON LOCK OKAY !!!"
... (constructor logs => NOTHING unexpected in it!!! everything runs fine, as they must!!!)
09.04.2013 ;07:14:52:125;"!!! SINGLETON CONSTRUCTION OKAY !!!"
09.04.2013 ;07:14:52:170;"Unexpected exception by creating MyClass singleton instance!"

What does it means? When would a return statement throw exception(s)??? Please help me resolve this matter...

A: While this doesn't answer your particular question, it's still a solution to your overall problem: you don't need the mutex at all. The C++11 standard [stmt.dcl]§4 specifies (when talking about static variables local to functions):

If control enters the declaration concurrently while the variable is
  being initialized, the concurrent execution shall wait for completion
  of the initialization.88 If control re-enters the declaration
  recursively while the variable is being initialized, the behavior is
  undefined.

Where note 88 is:

Note 88: The implementation must not introduce any deadlock around
  execution of the initializer.

In other words, the compiler introduces synchronisation for you; no need to do that manually.

A: SOLUTION:

I figured out the problem, it was not easy. To learn from my error, I
  will share the code, caused the failure.
In the constructor I use an sscanf function call in improper way:
const char* sBuffer;
// some stuff here that fills the sBuffer up
sscanf(sBuffer, "%X %X %X %X", &tags_[0], &tags_[1], &tags_[2], &tags_[3]);

The array was defined in the singleton class as:
private:
    char tags_[4];

Beware: the format codes awating specific type of variables to be able
  to write the data in. For example: in my case the tags_ array should
  be an array of integers instead of array of chars. Since the singleton class
  should store the tags_, after indexing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th element,
  the sscanf function will write into an undefined place of memory,
  something will be overwritten about the static class's data, which
  caused multiple instancing of it, however: this can be avoided by
  mutexing, but in that case the mutex object will be overwritten.
  More infos about required types for (s)scanf can be found here and here.

CONCLUSION:

Be smart and aware of using C-functions/low-level calls. Pay a lot of
  attention on input parameters, not only their value, but their type
  too. If you support other type as expected, the behaviour of your program will be
  undefined, but you won't get compiler error: it is very hard to find out
  that issue later on.