text:
A True Green Foreign Policy: From Advocacy to Human Empowerment
Alfredo Sfeir-Younis
Today, we witness an anachronistic pattern of foreign policy: incoherent, homocentric, far removed from the reality of people, and dominated by economic and political interests (the neoliberal system). The EU needs to become a driver of change. The ultimate goal should be a Global Government with direct global citizens' participation, with a form of governance that is truly democratic, cooperative, and transparent.
Global citizens demand and experience a completely new form of life without the political frontiers of the past: they live in a planet with no borders. There are no borders for the problems of climate change, ozone layer depletion, destruction of biodiversity, pollution of our oceans, conservation of our global public goods (including culture, arts, music, stability, and security), transmission of diseases, effects of an external economic crisis, pressure of migration, global security, peace or conflicts.
Transport and communications have significantly contributed to humanity's inter-dependent form of existence. We have become a human collective. However, this must be understood as being within a life collective, which includes all forms of life on the planet. This is what must redefine the core of a country and of a global foreign policy-making. We have to consider the welfare of all living beings. The key tasks of foreign policy today are to include all forms of life and to make "global welfare" greater than the "sum of its parts".
The above raises important demands at the institutional level – on both bilateral and multilateral activities and organisations. This implies a foreign policy that evolves and responds to the realities we will face in the 21st Century.
Today, we witness an anachronistic pattern of foreign policy: it is incoherent, homocentric, far removed from the reality of people, and dominated by economic and political interests (the neoliberal system), a cold war mentality, governments' egocentric global views (including military concerns), and a notion that we need to be governed by a 'super power', and not by people's individual and collective interests.
We must revise drastically the content of this foreign policy. For the moment it is biased and not aligned with the interest of the collective, nor does it represent the regular citizens of the world. This is a huge democratic deficit and demands a structural change in the international organisational architecture, diminishing the excessive power we are subject to from international organisations. This situation is happening as we see the strengthening of private corporate power at the global level (a move away from a citizens-based foreign policy and an accelerator of inequalities), the ever weakening power of the state, and the blooming of citizens' global activism. Certainly, environmental and human rights issues have been part and parcel of this activism.
We see that the greatest challenge today is to live as a human collective, as "one world" on this smaller and smaller planet.
The true meaning of foreign policy
In this context, people are asking about the true meaning and purpose of a 'Green Foreign Policy' (GFP). What is it? Which are the real differences between traditional and green foreign policy? What are the thematic and strategic issues that should become central to GFP, that are not yet included in existing frameworks? These are very important questions to ask, even if we do not know the full answer to them. I have asked them a hundred times, with no satisfactory answers coming back to me.
While the answers are not easy to portray, it is fundamental that GFP embraces the abovementioned dimensions and goes far beyond issues of the environment and ecology. It is understandable that the beginning of a GFP be defined and oriented by ecological issues and concerns. But today, we must also acknowledge many other issues, like human development and health (ecological depletion and diseases), ethnic inclusion and self-determination (the rights of indigenous peoples and our natural capital), social integration and development (clean environment and family cohesion), macro-policies for sustainability (environmental macroeconomics), anthropological and cultural issues (understanding motivation, behaviour and welfare), inter-generational concerns (the rights of our children), spatial externalities (trans-boundary pollution), public-good-based conservation and management (our common heritage), energy conservation and management (new and renewable energy sources), and many others. These are all dimensions of the new GFP.
The new state of play
We are living in a world where the major constraints are ecological, notwithstanding the importance of the social dimensions of human transformation. We are witnessing the important role that civil society plays in world affairs, in contrast to the traditional role played by governments. We know that material welfare alone is not enough to attain higher levels of human advancement. Non-material welfare has become equally important.
We are fully aware that technology is not the answer to all our questions. Neither is it the solution to all our problems. The key to change is the level of our human consciousness. We see that the greatest challenge today is to live as a human collective, as "one world" on this smaller and smaller planet. However, the incentives to do so are not there, and existing foreign policy insists on defending individual national positions (as on climate change). The world's citizens perceive that a sustainable society is not just another option: it is our only destiny.
A GFP is not just about governments, it is also about citizens. This brings to the table the limits we observe in material, socioeconomic, and human development: ecological constraints and the level of our collective consciousness. These are accompanied by population growth and density, migration, city expansion, pollution of all sorts, destruction of biodiversity, etc., creating an ever more complex global scenario.
Green values are collective values: justice, cooperation, solidarity, love, compassion, inter-connectedness, inclusion, interdependence, peace, security, and more.
Democratic deficit and international institutions
Today, we need a Global Government, more than ever, with a global form of governance. Today none of the international organisations are truly "global" in scope. Not even the United Nations System, where national interest still is the main driving force. This applies to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organisation. They were all founded nearly a century ago under rules of engagement that no longer apply.
We must construct the Global Government with direct global citizens' participation, with a form of governance that is truly democratic, cooperative, and transparent. We must carry out a democratic election of the UN Secretary General, where billions of global citizens participate in the nomination. We have to create a Global Organisation for peace and environment, as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) does not have the stature to govern our global public goods and services. We need to drastically change the goals, structure and activities of the World Bank and the IMF, which must be managed by the Global Government and not be, as they currently are, a system of self-government or institutions that follow their own interests.
It is crucial that the Greens not only advocate for ecology and environment, but that they present to world citizens another socioeconomic model for human transformation. Thus, we must change the impressions of what constitutes the boundaries of Greens. In order to achieve this, we have to make clear to the people what it means to be Green. The meaning of the word Greens needs to be extended. It has to embrace all aspects of life, including macroeconomic, institutional, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual issues. People need to see that sustainable development is not just another option or just another topic, but the only destiny of humanity. This understanding is not yet widespread in most countries. People are still bonded to the neoliberal views and practices. People still think that Green proposals are not real, that they will not promote growth and employment, and that a paradigm shift of that nature will demand too many structural changes they are unwilling to go through. A GFP has to prove them wrong.
A new superpower?
The notion of a superpower has dominated the foreign policy framework of developed and developing countries. Today, it looks like a new superpower is rising, and we have to know what type of superpower it will be in relation to a GFP. Superpowers create political dependency, alliances or their opposite, a social and political grammar that dominates world views and institutions, and unique patterns of economic growth and human development. Today's crisis is the mirror image of the existing superpower(s). This is the context within which the EU role must be defined.
The EU is fundamental, particularly in the transition to a new GFP, a new superpower and the formation of a Global Government. We know that, if taken together (votes/resources supplied by the EU) it has a significant power in most international organisations. Several EU countries are listened to; thus, they are essential to forming new coalitions for change at the global level.
Nevertheless, we see an EU moving inwards rather than outwards. The Greens may play a critical role in fostering the formation of a new Global Government with EU support, not as an advocacy but as a unique view of life on this planet. The Greens may enrich and nurture new values, aims and horizons for Europe and the whole globe. A GFP may become its immediate instrument.
Private sector responsibilities
The private sector is as responsible for the state of global affairs as governments are. For centuries it has been the major cause of environmental destruction. Thus, today, it must become an organic part of the processes described above.
For once, it is essential that the private sector makes a contribution to the collective welfare of humanity, and not just to itself. Job creation is insignificant in relationship to other components of collective welfare. We need a new industrial revolution that passes from the steam engines to human consciousness. It is not possible to have a foreign policy that chases free trade agreements only. We ought to create the necessary spaces for production and consumption systems that do not destroy human lives or any other form of life in the planet.
Green empowerment: 'We, the people' not 'We, the governments'
The fight for global change must transition from advocacy to human empowerment. This is a fundamental change, which is far from trivial in its implementation. This model is not just an economic model of a sustainable development society. Sustainability must be accompanied with an empowered citizenship. These two dimensions are one. Today's economic system focuses only on expanding material opportunities and not on creating a space for empowerment, active participation, human security, and democratic citizenship. The engagement of civil society in GFP is fundamental. GFP must not be top-down; and the EU has a unique opportunity to lead this shift in paradigm.
We must construct the Global Government with direct global citizens' participation, with a form of governance that is truly democratic, cooperative, and transparent.
Greens should play an important role in the process of empowerment. A true GFP is the framework needed to pass from advocacy to human empowerment. But in order to achieve this, Greens should not only advocate values (green values), they need to actively empower the people. "Values" are not words, they are "states of being" that must be self-realised. Human empowerment is born out of the self-realisation of those collective values. One important green value is "interdependence". It is essential in order to understand the true meaning of sustainability. Also, sustainability is not just a word. It is an experience, a human right, and a state of consciousness. If the value of interdependence is not self-realised, there is little we can do to save the planet.
Green values are collective values: justice, cooperation, solidarity, love, compassion, inter-connectedness, inclusion, interdependence, peace, security, and more. All these values are to be self-realised, which implies thinking of new forms of education, civil engagement, and spirituality. People will truly understand the meaning of ecological justice when it becomes something real in their consciousness! This is a justice that involves all living beings.
We are to decide
This is a time of deep and structural change; not of marginal change. GFP is not another suit of different economic interest. Thus, a sustainable society is not a well-behaved and nice child of the neoliberal system. It is something completely different. Will the EU lead the shift in paradigm, or will it be caught on more of the same? A Global Government is not just about economics. A Global Government is not about governments but citizens. This is not a marginal adjustment. Only a new collective consciousness will create a new GFP.
From the paper edition
Peace, Love and Intervention
The 10th edition of the Green European Journal seeks to identify what makes the Green approach to foreign affairs distinctive, and asks whether ideals of peaceful resolution can stand up against the reality of a world ridden with complexity and conflict.
A Green New World – French, British and German Perspectives
Noël Mamère, Omid Nouripour, Tony Clarke
"I Never Thought It Would Be Easy" – EU Foreign Policy and Ukraine
Rebecca Harms
Dutch Green Party and R2P: Soul-Searching Over Military Intervention
Tamara van Ree
Fair Trade or Feel Good? Justice
By Ellen Mangnus
The idea that fair trade labels will change the world economy is questionable. Often the main beneficiaries are not farmers in the Global South.
Gender Justice: Beyond Binaries and Buzzwords Justice
By Claire Gilder, Dinah Bons, Dounia Jari, Jennifer Kwao
Breaking the silos of the mainstream and in gender equality policies requires a new approach centred around justice.
The Cost of Making America Great Again Politics
By Morgan Henley
As Trump steps into the White House, does this signal the end of US soft power? And if so, what could this mean for Europe and the rest of the world?


text:
Google Research
People ›
Peyman Milanfar
I lead the Computational Imaging/ Image Processing team in Google Research. My team develops core imaging technologies that are used in a number of products at Google.
One of these technologies is RAISR (Rapid and Accurate Image Super-Resolution): Given an image, we wish to produce an image of larger size with significantly more pixels and higher image quality. With pairs of example images, we train a set of filters (i.e., a mapping) that when applied to a given image that is not in the training set, will produce a higher resolution version of it. The work was highlighted in a Research Blog post. The technology was launched for G+ photos G+ Photos worldwide; and also as part of the MotionStills app .
Another is Turbo Denoising for camera pipelines and other imaging applications. We produced a single-frame denoiser that is (1) fast enough to be practical even for mobile devices, and (2) handles content dependent noise that is typical for real camera captures. For realistic camera noise, our results are competitive with BM3D, but with nearly 400 times speedup. This technique allowed us to speed up denoising algorithm by two orders of magnitude, while producing quality that is state of the art. As a side benefit, less noisy images compress better and lead to smaller file sizes.
Another is Style Transfer which is a process of migrating a style from a given image to the content of another, synthesizing a new image which is an artistic mixture of the two. Our algorithm extends earlier work on texture-synthesis, while aiming to get stylized images that get closer in quality to ones produced by Convolutional Neural Networks. The proposed algorithm is fast and flexible, being able to process any pair of content + style images .
My team also works on more theoretical questions. For instance, in RED (Regularization by Denoising) we proposed a new way to use the denoising engine in defining the regularization for any inverse problem. RED is an explicit image-adaptive Laplacian-based regularization functional, making the overall objective functional clear and well-defined. With a complete flexibility to choose the iterative optimization procedure for minimizing the above functional, RED is capable of incorporating any image denoising algorithm, treat general inverse problems very effectively, and is guaranteed to converge to the globally optimal result. As examples of its utility, we test this approach and demonstrate state-of-the-art results in the image deblurring and super-resolution problems.
A bit about my background: Prior to joining Google, I was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at UC Santa Cruz from 1999-2014. I was also Associate Dean for Research at the School of Engineering from 2010-12. From 2012-2014 I was on leave at Google-x, where I helped develop the imaging pipeline for Google Glass. I received my undergraduate education in electrical engineering and mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, and the MS and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from MIT. I hold 11 US patents, several of which are commercially licensed. He founded MotionDSP in 2005. I've been keynote speaker at numerous technical conferences including Picture Coding Symposium (PCS), SIAM Imaging Sciences, SPIE, and the International Conference on Multimedia (ICME). Along with my former students, I won several best paper awards from the IEEE Signal Processing Society.
I am a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Signal Processing Society, and a Fellow of the IEEE "for contributions to inverse problems and super-resolution in imaging."
Please visit my public website, for the most up to date list of my publications, cv, etc.
Machine Perception
Authored publications
Google publications Other publications
FiltersReset filters
///::filterCtrl.getFilterName(filterType)///
///::filterCtrl.getOptionName(optionKey)/// ///::filterCtrl.getOptionCount(filterType, optionKey)///
///searchCtrl.sorts[searchCtrl.currentSort].title///
Year Alphabetical ascending Alphabetical descending
///countCtrl.countPageResults("of")/// publications
No results found. Try different keywords or filters.
///card.title///
Preview Abstract
///::card.abstract///
///::card.title//////::card.title///
///::author.name//////::author.name///,
1 ... ///paginationCtrl.getCurrentPage() - 1/// ///paginationCtrl.getCurrentPage()/// ///paginationCtrl.getCurrentPage() + 1/// ... ///searchCtrl.pages.length///
///::searchCtrl.pages.indexOf(page) + 1///
Learn more about how we do research
We maintain a portfolio of research projects, providing individuals and teams the freedom to emphasize specific types of work
Our Research Philosophy
Privacy Terms About Google Google Products

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to replace the single quote ( ' ) into double quotes ( " ) in Robot Framework? I have a List, items are created by append by a Loop. I want to use this list as a json. The problem is that the items of that list use the single quote so it can't be the json.
Get Order Items
    [Tags]    Get Order Items
    Set Headers    ${HEADER CUSTOMER}
    GET            ${ORDER GET BY CODE ENDPOINT}/${ORDER CODE}
    Integer        response status    200
    ${NUMBER OF ITEMS}    Output     $.number_of_items
    ${NUMBER OF ITEMS}    Evaluate  ${NUMBER OF ITEMS} + 1
    ${ORDER ITEMS}     Create List
    :FOR    ${i}    IN RANGE  1  ${NUMBER OF ITEMS}
    \    Append To List    ${ORDER ITEMS}    ${ORDER CODE}${i}
    Set Global Variable    ${ORDER ITEMS}

Actual result: ['N19072596HB1', 'N19072596HB2', 'N19072596HB3', 'N19072596HB4', 'N19072596HB5']
Expected result: ["N19072596HB1", "N19072596HB2", "N19072596HB3", "N19072596HB4", "N19072596HB5"]

A: This: ['N19072596HB1', 'N19072596HB2', 'N19072596HB3', 'N19072596HB4', 'N19072596HB5'] , is python's string representation of a list, and they have picked to use single quotes for it.
As your end goal is to use the double-quoted version in a json, the best bet is to use the python's json library to convert it for you, instead of replacing single with double quotes:
${list as string}=    Evaluate    json.dumps($ORDER_ITEMS)    json

(note how the variable is not surrounded by curly brackets - thus you're passing the actual variable to the method, not its value)
Why not to use a simple string replacement?
Because you don't want to deal with cases where a list member may have a quote, single or double - like ['N19072596HB1', "N1907'2596HB2", 'N19072596HB1', 'N19072"596HB2'].
A trivial string replace will fail miserably, while the json library is designed to handle these cases as expected.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, utility products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment and hand tools, and designs and manufactures systems that produce copper and aluminum rod. To our knowledge, none of our products or services are specifically banned anywhere in the world.
Southwire's products help provide power to millions of people around the world. The Southwire brand, along with individual product brands such as SIMpull Solutions®, TAPPAN™ and SCR®, is our promise to our customers. We established a companywide branding style guide to be governed, managed and maintained by marketing teams across all business units. The guidelines also address all acquired brands as they fold into the Southwire branding structure.
To best serve customers' needs, Southwire's two business groups, Power Systems & Solutions (PSS) Group and Construction Systems & Solutions (CSS) Group, provide a centralized structure for our commitment to customers while fostering creativity and providing market-driven solutions to deliver value to our end users.
*The Technology & Innovation page highlights Southwire's products and services for both business groups.
A strong, integrated support function backs the company's business groups, allowing Southwire to sell across product lines more effectively and maximize the value the company brings to our customers. To support the success of these business groups, Southwire is investing in technologies to maintain and govern best business practices for marketing assets in supporting product management. These technologies allow us to be more efficient and make it easier for customers to do business with us. This is a scalable and sustainable method to support future growth.
For example, our Power Systems & Solutions Group unveiled a Customer Experience Center at the Huntersville Plant in Huntersville, N.C. The updated lobby allows visitors to journey through our company history with a focus on medium, high and extra-high voltage products.


text:
Q: Jquery form submit with id, serializeArray cant get input data I have a form with an id being submit, but serializeArray cant get the input data. Why?

$(document).on('submit', $('#abc')[0], function(e) {
  e.preventDefault();

  var d = $(this).serializeArray();
  console.log(d);
});
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<form id="abc">
  <input type="number" name="min">
</form>

A: The issue is because you're passing an Element object as the second argument of a delegated event handler. The correct delegated event handler method signature is expecting a string selector:

$(document).on('submit', '#abc', function(e) {
  e.preventDefault();

  var d = $(this).serializeArray();
  console.log(d);
});
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<form id="abc">
  <input type="number" name="min">
</form>


text:
Home News and Analysis IPOs Carlyle-backed Ortho Clinical Diagnostics goes public
Carlyle-backed Ortho Clinical Diagnostics goes public
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc, an in-vitro diagnostics company, has raised $1.3 billion for its IPO after pricing its 76 million shares at $17 per share.
Iris Dorbian
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc, an in-vitro diagnostics company, has raised $1.3 billion for its IPO after pricing its 76 million shares at $17 per share. The stock began trading January 28, 2021 on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "OCDX." J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, and Goldman Sachs are the lead underwriters. Ortho is backed by The Carlyle Group.
RARITAN, N.J., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc ("Ortho"), the world's largest pure-play in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to improving and saving lives through innovative laboratory testing and blood-typing solutions, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 76 million ordinary shares at $17.00 per share. The gross proceeds raised from this offering are expected to be $1,292 million. Ortho's ordinary shares are expected to begin trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on January 28, 2021, under the symbol "OCDX," and the offering is expected to close on February 1, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
Ortho has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 11.4 million additional ordinary shares at the initial public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions.
Ortho intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to redeem $160 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due 2025 and $270 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.250% senior notes due 2028, in each case issued by certain of Ortho's subsidiaries, repay borrowings under its dollar term loan facility, and for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include further repayment of indebtedness.
The offering is being made through an underwriting group led by J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, who are acting as lead bookrunning managers, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, UBS Investment Bank, Evercore ISI and Piper Sandler, who are acting as joint bookrunning managers, and ING, Macquarie Capital, Nomura, TCG Capital Markets L.L.C., Drexel Hamilton, H.C. Wainwright & Co., Ramirez & Co., Inc. and Siebert Williams Shank, who are acting as co-managers.
A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
The offering of these securities may be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus may be obtained by contacting:
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 1-866-803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; or
BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; or
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: +1 866 471 2526, facsimile: +1 212 902 9316, or email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.
About Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is a global leader of in vitro diagnostics dedicated to improving and saving lives through innovative laboratory testing and blood-typing solutions.


Power Electric Solution is specialised in distribution system of industrial Electronic components, Defence components, Systems and Sub-systems, Signage, Telemarketing both Inland and International. With our broad network of Electronic Component suppliers, we offer an additional service to support extensive source and International procurement for our valuable customers. We position ourselves as a procurement agent and distributor to purchase electronic components from preferred suppliers, for and on behalf of our customers.


text:
'Cocaine & Rhinestones' Is the Only Great Music Podcast
Tyler Mahan Coe sets the record straight on country music history and its greatest singer ever, George Jones, in his show's second season.
Josh Terry
Les Blank's Documentary About Leon Russell Finally Makes Its Way into Theaters
Filmed in 1974, 'A Poem Is a Naked Person' is an album on film with an all-star cast, including Willie Nelson, George Jones, and Jim Franklin.
Michael Barron
So Lonesome I Could Cry: Twelve of the Saddest Classic Country Love Songs
Lovesick blues.
Weekly Music Round-Up: Kanye West Tweeted Some Words, Macklemore's Number One, and George Straight Is Incomprehensibly Popular
Is Macklemore going Number One more important or less important than Kanye West tweeting seven words?
Drew Millard


Jefferson University Hospital has elevated hand washing to an art form. The hospital put together an impressive video that serves as a tribute to the king of all music videos, Michael Jackson. This organization's latest effort to boost healthy hand washing practices is a video called "Wash 'Em."


text:
Karl Lagerfeld opens up about his ex-boyfriend: "I was seduced by his physical charm"
In 18 years, the two never had any physical contact
By Ella Alexander
Karl Lagerfeld rarely talks about his former or current loves, but he's opened up about his ex-boyfriend, Jacques de Bascher, in a new book.
Marie Ottavi's new tome, Jacques de Bascher, dandy de l'ombre ("Jacques de Bascher, shadow dandy") is a portrait of the cultivated, aristocratic Frenchman, who was known for his elegance, debauched parties and sharp tongue.
However, in an extract published by WWD, Lagerfeld says that - despite being together for 18 years during the 70s and 80s - the two never had sex.
"I infinitely loved that boy but I had no physical contact with him. Of course, I was seduced by his physical charm," he said.
The Chanel creative director remained loyal to his boyfriend (despite his well-known affair with Yves Saint Laurent) until he died of AIDS in 1989 at the age of 38. He slept in a cot next to Bascher's hospital bedside.
Lagerfeld was drawn to Bascher's decadence and irresistible wildness; they were complete opposites.
"I'm a total puritan, but I found Jacques' adventures amusing," the designer explains in the book. "We couldn't be further apart. I am a Calvinist toward myself, and totally indulgent toward others."
"Of course I knew about the affair with Saint Laurent. I had been close friends with Yves for more than 20 years. We used to go out in the early days with Anne-Marie Munoz and Victoire Doutreleau. Pierre [Berge, Saint Laurent's long-term partner] smashed that to bits. He said I engineered their liaison to destabilise the house of Saint Laurent," he added.
Although he was aware of his partner's wild streak, he turned a blind eye to his partner's promiscuity and perverse tendencies, which included locking Saint Laurent in a closet as part of their BDSM sex games.
"I didn't hold him accountable. I only wanted to see the bright side of Jacques," he said. "I was unaware of what he kept in the shadows. He would tell me about what he did when I wasn't around, but I didn't ask questions."
Karl Lagerfeld has his say on Brexit
Karl Lagerfeld: Choupette and I
Karl Lagerfeld now has a beard
Karl Lagerfeld: life in pictures
Olivia Palermo's collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld
The world according to Karl Lagerfeld
Confirmed: Karl Lagerfeld is not retiring


Sedu Icon Hair Straightener is the very latest in technology from Sedu. Designed with exclusively engineered ultra-smooth Tourmaline Ionic plates, this Sedu Icon hair straightener creates super smooth, sleek and shiny hair while sealing in hair's moisture and reducing frizz, without causing heat damage; the slim 1 inch plates allows you to straighten, curl and create waves all in one tool. It is backed by a 3 year warranty.
Unique curved edge plate system for styling versatility: straight, curly, wavy or flips.
Sedu Revolution Tourmaline Ionic Hair Straightener 1"


So…the flare is back and admittedly, I am ready to jump on this bandwagon. I just realized that my first post from Paris Fashion Week (during my Sunday off) was also wearing flares. These on the other hand are much more fitted and more trouser than a jean. I think I was running to meetings and wanted something business casual, which pretty much sums up this outfit. And yes. I'm in a full color outfit again. I love blue, especially in Paris.
a really minimalistic outfit! love it!!


text:
Every Student Has a Story: Angela Fini '24
The Army ROTC program intensely demands a cadet's full-time commitment, much the like commitment required to participate in a Division 1 sport. It would be almost impossible to participate (let alone excel) in both. Almost.
Angela Fini '24 (above, middle) just happened to look outside her Ryan Hall 4th floor window at the perfect moment to change her life. It was the spring of her freshman year, and she was in the middle of a MAAC championship run with the soccer team. Her goal for as long as she could remember was to play college soccer and then pursue a career in medicine... until she looked out the window. Four stories below, a group of ROTC cadets was walking toward the dining hall. Angela wondered why the Army was on campus, and she also wondered why she wondered. She went to Siena's website, and she clicked her way through to the ROTC program. There's a button near the bottom of the page that says "request information." She clicked it, and her life pivoted in a whole new direction.
The Army ROTC Mohawk Battalion, hosted at Siena College but serving several area colleges and universities, trains and develops future leaders of the United States Army. In addition to Siena's traditional curriculum, ROTC students take specialized coursework that includes classes in military science, leadership, and management. In the past ten years, only one local Division 1 student athlete completed the program and was commissioned into the Army (a UAlbany student). Angela is on track to be the second.
"After I requested information, I quickly got an email response and we set up a meeting. I was told how rare it is for student athletes to participate, plus, since it was already the spring of my freshman year, I'd have to catch up. I was told I could attend two weeks of PT (physical training - running and weightlifting at 6:00 a.m., or earlier), and we'd try it out. I walked back into the office two weeks later and said, 'I'm ready.'"
Angela has no family or personal connection to the military, and she struggles to explain the pull she felt that day when she saw the cadets walking to lunch. But, she's always had a desire to help people, which is why she originally gravitated toward medicine.
"In the Army, you're serving people in a different way. I want to take people under my wing as an officer. I'm excited to be a strong leader. I want to make people the best soldiers and the best versions of themselves they can be."
Angela convinced her soccer coach she could handle the rigors of both, and with the help of her teammates, she's kept her word. Last year, Angela struggled to adjust to a sleep schedule that worked, trying to balance homework, practice, classes, and early morning PT. Her roommates would buy her coffee and leave it on her desk. Maybe that's why Angela doesn't mind it when they call her "Cadet Fini" during practice.
Angela is contracted for eight years of military service after graduation, and based on evaluations this year and advanced camp in Fort Knox, KY next summer, she'll be placed in a branch of the Army. Her first choice will be medical services, but she also has an interest in field artillery.
"A lot of my soccer teammates are trying to figure out what to do professionally. It's scary that my path is different than theirs. But if I wasn't a little bit scared, I know it wouldn't be the right thing. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be."
"With all of the early morning training that she does for ROTC, I have never seen her at a soccer practice without a smile and high energy. She has never had a day where she looked tired or didn't give a full 100% effort. Her athleticism and drive is truly remarkable!"
Steve Karbowski, head soccer coach
"What has impressed me the most about Cadet Fini is her drive and resiliency. She is not afraid of challenges. She jumps in with extreme confidence, rolls up her sleeves, and gets dirty to accomplish any mission or task. But what impresses me the most is her character. She is the epitome of what we are looking for from our tactical leaders - confident, agile and most importantly, resilient."
Master Sergeant Bradley Hecker, military science instructor
"Cadet Fini is exactly the type of leader our soldiers need and deserve. I'm very proud of her performance both as a college athlete and an Army cadet."
LTC Luis Mejia-Roman, professor of military science
Top One-Percenter
Angela scored a perfect 600 on the Army Combat Fitness Test, a strenuous gauntlet of six disciplines testing physical and mental strength. Angela was the first female cadet at Siena to record a perfect score in the recently modified standard, an accomplishment that likely ranks her among the top one percent in the country. When her teammates on the soccer team found out, they surprised her with a gift basket.
"I didn't know it, but they kicked me out of the group chat so I wouldn't be suspicious, and they planned this big surprise. They showed up at lift with this huge gift basket. It was overwhelming. I cried a little!"


On this week's show I interview author and serial entrepreneur, Small Business Stacey Riska. Stacey has gone from the brink of collapse (with $500K in debt) to a profitable 7-figure business. This is one powerful and inspiring interview, do not miss it!


text:
Q: Add field to sales_flat_order I'm trying to add a new field to the sales_flat_order table via a module I'm making. I've tried to run the setup script but it doesn't seem to be changing the table at all.
Here is the update script:
mysql4-upgrade-0.1.1-0.1.2.php
<?php

$installer = $this;
$installer->getConnection()->addColumn($installer->getTable('sales_flat_order'), 'expected_delivery_date', 'datetime');

Here is my config.xml
...

<modules>
    <Optimiseweb_OrderPad>
        <version>0.1.2</version>
    </Optimiseweb_OrderPad>
</modules>

...
<resources>
  <orderpad>
      <setup>
          <module>Optimiseweb_Orderpad</module>
          <class>Optimiseweb_Orderpad_Model_Mysql4_Setup</class>
      </setup>
  </orderpad>
</resources>

<models>
  <orderpad>
    <class>Mage_Sales_Model</class>
    <resourceModel>orderpad_mysql4</resourceModel>
  </orderpad>
  <orderpad_mysql4>
           <class>Optimiseweb_Orderpad_Model_Mysql4</class>
           <entities>
               <order>
sales_flat_order
</order>
           </entities>
  </orderpad_mysql4>
</models>
...

The two models referred to in the config.xml
Optimiseweb/Orderpad/Model/Mysql4.php
<?php

class Optimiseweb_Orderpad_Model_Mysql4 extends Mage_Core_Model_Abstract
{

}

Optimiseweb/Orderpad/Model/Mysql4/Setup.php
<?php

class Optimiseweb_Orderpad_Model_Mysql4_Setup extends Mage_Sales_Model_Resource_Setup
{

}

Anyhelp to add the new field to the orders table would be most appreciated.

A: If you need to add a column to a flat sales table, it is better to do via adding an attribute to a sales entity (sales_order). Make sure that your install modell Optimiseweb_Orderpad_Model_Mysql4_Setup extends  Mage_Sales_Model_Resource_Setup and execute
$installer = $this;
$installer->startSetup();

$installer->addAttribute('order', 'expected_delivery_date', array('type'=>'datetime'));

$installer->endSetup();


text:
Grantees awarded loans in June 2017
We have just held our June set of interviews and awarded loans to five inspirational women.
The first is undertaking an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Oxford, as a foundation for her planned career as a criminal Barrister.
Our second grantee is a former professional actress who is now undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.
We also awarded a loan to a student of Contemporary Crafts who will shortly be moving to Edinburgh College of Art to take up her place on an MA Glass degree.
Our fourth grantee is working as a Research Scientist in planetary physics but is due to return to university to study an MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering in order to pursue a career in the renewable energy industry.
Finally we met a musician studying a DPhil in Music at the University of Oxford where she is researching how contemporary opera is being shaped by digitization.
Yet again Trustees were delighted to be able to assist such dedicated and hard-working women attain their chosen career.


The singer's loved ones, including ex-boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama, are rallying around her.
After Demi Lovato's hospitalization due to an apparent overdose, friends and family members kept quiet about her condition, apart from a statement confirming that she is awake and surrounded by loved ones.
Now some of those closest to the former Disney star are sending positive vibes her way via heartfelt social media messages wishing for her recovery and calling out those trying to tear her down.
Lovato's backup dancer Dani Vitale, who takes the stage with Lovato every night during her "Tell Me You Love Me" tour, posted a message to fans, saying that she's at the singer's side.
Lovato was transported to a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday after police responded to call from her home in the Hollywood Hills regarding an apparent overdose.
While her family's statement said some of the information in early reports was incorrect, she was reportedly given Narcan, an emergency treatment for narcotic overdoses, before she was taken to the hospital.
Since her teenage years, Lovato has struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction, resulting in a 2010 stint in rehab and then time spent in a sober living facility.
Actor Matthew Scott Montgomery, who appears in her acclaimed YouTube documentary, "Simply Complicated," also addressed her hospital stay in a moving post about her unwavering friendship.
Demi Lovato (right) and her backup dancer Dani Vitale perform on July 22 in Paso Robles, California — the singer's last show before her July 24 hospitalization.
Another person in Lovato's corner is actor Wilmer Valderrama, an ex-boyfriend, who has reportedly remained by her side during her recovery. The couple split after six years together in June 2016 but have remained close, and she has often credited him for helping her with sobriety.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story indicated Demi Lovato went to rehab in 2011 instead of 2010.


It looked like almost every fire truck, ambulance, police car and emergency service vehicle in Townsville was at the Murray Sports Complex on Thursday, ready for an emergency exercise to test their capabilities under pressure.
Fortunately there were still enough crews on standby for any real emergencies that afternoon as well.
The exercise, dubbed Urban Blister, was a collaboration between the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, SES volunteers, Queensland Police and Queensland Health.
It was a chance to stage a large scale counter-terrorism exercise which in real life would involve all the services working together.
The scenario? It was Anzac Day eve, with about 200 people attending a celebration at a concert hall. An explosion was heard and a whitish gas was filling the hall. Victims had itchy, blistering skin and burning eyes.
Emergency workers set up mass casualty decontamination units to process victims, who were role-played by SES volunteers.
The exercise continued on to Townsville Hospital, where they practised dealing with a mass influx of contaminated people.
The response will be evaluated against agency-specific legislative responsibilities.


text:
The Colombian singer-songwriter of hits like "Tutu" and "Favorito" received a leading 10 nominations Tuesday, including song of the year and record of the year, for "Vida de Rico," and album of the year for "Mis Manos" (My Hands). Camilo competes twice in the record of the year...
Most Notable Performances, Moments & Winners at The 2021 Latin Grammys
After last year's toned-down show amid the coronavirus pandemic, the stars returned to Las Vegas to celebrate the best in Latin music. Hosted by Roselyn Sánchez, Ana Brenda Contreras and Carlos Rivera, the awards ceremony featured dynamic performances, heartfelt speeches, and many memorable moments....


I started this blog because I feel like I am always answering the same questions to clients, and I want the information to be readily available to anyone. Sometimes I feel like the digital marketing world is very secretive!
First off, I am a mathematics super nerd. I love analyzing large data sets to find insights for better results. When I was younger I always told people I wanted a job where I could go into a business and fix whatever they were doing wrong. These days I largely help business use their data better, and most of that work has been in the digital analytics realm. So you could say I am ultimately living out my long-term dream of fixing business process.
At the end of the day I want to be a resource for marketers to use their data to better connect with their consumers. This means using A/B Testing, UX Optimization, and Attribution and Predictive Modeling in both B2C and B2B markets.
Feel free to check out my LinkedIn profile for more information.


Currently, I own two (Feathery Friends and In the City). For today's card, I focused on Feathery Friends. I love stamp sets that I can color, so of course, I had to get this set first! I made a simple grid background of stamped and colored flowers. I added the focal point image of a stamped and colored bird. The focal point really pops due to the stitching around the edge (yeah for the Stitched Shapes Framelits) and being physically popped out using dimensionals. From there I added a simple coordinating bow to tie everything together.


text:
Link Crew Helps Hall Freshmen Prepare for New School Year
Hall High School Link Crew. Aug. 30, 2021. Courtesy photo
Link Crew, the national orientation and mentoring program, is in its 11th year at West Hartford's Hall High School.
Freshmen and other first-year students at West Hartford's Hall High School are eased into the transition to a new school thanks to the a dedicated group of upperclassmen who apply to be selected and then volunteer as members of Link Crew, a national orientation and mentoring program that is now in its 11th year at the school.
Last year's program was completely virtual, and while the program remained abbreviated for 2021, on the Monday before the first day of classes, 85 junior and senior volunteers welcomed approximately 350 new students to Hall.
"Although we didn't get a chance to all gather all together in the gym like years past, ninth graders were still able to meet their new classmates in small groups and tour the school," said Christina Hunter, a math teacher at Hall who is also one of the Link Crew coordinators.
"A new addition to this year's program was a school scavenger hunt," Hunter said. "Link Leaders led their groups around the school, stopping at important locations to grab a sticker to add to their maps. All completed maps were entered into a gift card raffle."
Erina Cayford, Gavin Kaminski, and Miriam Youel were raffle winners.
The goal is to have freshmen feel welcome and comfortable, so they can avoid that "deer in the headlights" look on the first day of classes.
Link Crew doesn't stop with orientation. The program sets the tone for a successful year through email connections as well as follow up through academic and social activities.
Hunter said that Link Crew hopes to bring back in-person events later in the school year, popular events like "Cocoa and Cram" for midterm exam review sessions in January.
This year's "The Link Crew of Hall High" t-shirts were inspired by "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Hunter said.
Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha's newsletter so you'll always be in the know about what's happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.
featured hall high school link crew newsletter West Hartford west hartford public schools
University of Saint Joseph Remembers 9/11
Authors to Share Story of Mitka Kalinski, Enslaved as a Child During WWII
Schools • Sports
CIAC Names Hall Student as Michael H. Savage Spirit of...
Diving Key as Conard Defeats Enfield-Suffield...
New Mural at Aiken School Celebrates Diverse and...
Best-Selling Author Tayari Jones Workshops at...


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using Exportable.Helpers;
using Exportable.Resources;
using NPOI.SS.UserModel;

namespace Exportable.Engines.Excel
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Clase para importar Excel
    /// </summary>
    public class ExcelImportEngine: ExcelEngine, IExcelImportEngine
    {
        private static readonly object locker = new object();
        private readonly IList<Tuple<string, Type, string, int>> _containers;
        private MemoryStream _file;
        private bool _wasReaded;

        /// <summary>
        /// Constructor
        /// </summary>
        public ExcelImportEngine()
        {
            _containers = new List<Tuple<string, Type, string, int>>();
            _wasReaded = false;
        }

        public string AddContainer<T>() where T : class
        {
            var key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
            _containers.Add(Tuple.Create(key, typeof (T), string.Empty, 0));
            return key;
        }

        public string AddContainer<T>(string sheetName) where T : class
        {
            var key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
            _containers.Add(Tuple.Create(key, typeof(T), sheetName, 0));
            return key;
        }

        public string AddContainer<T>(string sheetName, int firsRowWithData) where T : class
        {
            var key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
            _containers.Add(Tuple.Create(key, typeof(T), sheetName, firsRowWithData));
            return key;
        }

        public void SetDocument(MemoryStream file)
        {
            _file = file;
        }

        public void SetDocument(string path)
        {
            _file = new MemoryStream();

            using (FileStream stream = File.Open(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite))
            {
                byte[] buffer = new byte[32 * 1024]; // 32K buffer for example
                int bytesRead;
                while ((bytesRead = stream.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)) > 0)
                {
                    _file.Write(buffer, 0, bytesRead);
                }
            }
            _file.Position = 0;
        }

        public IList<T> GetList<T>(string key) where T : class
        {
            if (!_wasReaded)
            {
                lock (locker)
                {
                    if (!_wasReaded)
                    {
                        ReadFromMemoryStream(_file);
                        _wasReaded = true;
                    }
                }
            }

            IList<T> data = new List<T>();
            var tuple = _containers.FirstOrDefault(c => c.Item1 == key);

            //Check tuple exists
            if (tuple == null || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(tuple.Item1))
                throw new Exception(string.Format(ErrorMessage.KeyNotFound, key));

            //Get sheet name from tuple or attributes
            var sheetName = tuple.Item3;
            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sheetName))
                sheetName = MetadataHelper.GetSheetNameFromAttribute(tuple.Item2);

            if(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sheetName))
                throw new Exception(ErrorMessage.SheetNameNotProvided);

            //Get sheet
            ISheet sheet = GetSheet(sheetName);

            //Check sheet exists
            if(sheet == null)
                throw new Exception(string.Format(ErrorMessage.SheetNotFound, sheetName));

            //Get properties from T
            var properties = MetadataHelper.GetImportableMetadatas(typeof(T));

            //Get firs row with data
            var firstRowInAttribute = MetadataHelper.GetFirstRowWithDataFromAttribute(typeof (T));
            var firstRowInTuple = tuple.Item4;
            var firstRow = sheet.FirstRowNum <= firstRowInAttribute ? firstRowInAttribute : sheet.FirstRowNum;
            firstRow = firstRow >= firstRowInTuple ? firstRow : firstRowInTuple;

            for (int rowIndex = firstRow; rowIndex <= sheet.LastRowNum; rowIndex++)
            {
                IRow row = sheet.GetRow(rowIndex);
                //Fix error when excel has blank/empty lines
                if (row == null)
                    continue;

                int colIndex = 0;
                T t = (T)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(T));
                foreach (var cell in row.Cells)
                {
                    //Get metadata of column
                    var instanceMetadata = properties.FirstOrDefault(p => p.Position == colIndex);

                    //there is not field mapeable to T
                    if (instanceMetadata == null)
                    {
                        colIndex++;
                        continue;
                    }

                    //Get propertyInfo
                    var instanceProperty = t.GetType().GetProperty(instanceMetadata.Name);

                    //Set numeric value
                    if (instanceProperty != null && instanceProperty.IsNumeric())
                    {
                        double numberValue;
                        if (!TryGetNumber(cell, out numberValue))
                            if (!double.TryParse(instanceMetadata.DefaultForNullOrInvalidValues, out numberValue))
                                throw new Exception(string.Format(ErrorMessage.CannotParseNumber, GetText(cell)));
                        instanceProperty.SetValue(t, Convert.ChangeType(numberValue, instanceProperty.PropertyType), null);
                    }

                    //Set date value
                    else if (instanceProperty != null && instanceProperty.IsDateOrTime())
                    {
                        DateTime dateValue;
                        if (!TryGetDate(cell, out dateValue))
                            if (!DateTime.TryParse(instanceMetadata.DefaultForNullOrInvalidValues, out dateValue))
                                throw new Exception(string.Format(ErrorMessage.CannotParseDatetime, GetText(cell)));
                        instanceProperty.SetValue(t, Convert.ChangeType(dateValue, instanceProperty.PropertyType), null);
                    }

                    //Set boolean value
                    else if (instanceProperty != null && instanceProperty.IsBoolean())
                    {
                        bool boolValue;
                        if(!TryGetBool(cell, out boolValue))
                            if (!bool.TryParse(instanceMetadata.DefaultForNullOrInvalidValues, out boolValue))
                                throw new Exception(string.Format(ErrorMessage.CannotParseBoolean, GetText(cell)));
                        instanceProperty.SetValue(t, Convert.ChangeType(boolValue, instanceProperty.PropertyType), null);
                    }

                    //Else is string
                    else
                    {
                        string value = string.Empty;
                        if (TryGetText(cell, out value))
                            instanceProperty.SetValue(t, Convert.ChangeType(value, instanceProperty.PropertyType), null);
                        else if (instanceMetadata.DefaultForNullOrInvalidValues != null)
                            instanceProperty.SetValue(t, Convert.ChangeType(instanceMetadata.DefaultForNullOrInvalidValues, instanceProperty.PropertyType), null);
                        else
                            throw new Exception(ErrorMessage.CannotParseString);
                    }

                    colIndex++;
                }

                //Add data to collection
                data.Add(t);
            }

            return data;
        }

        public IDictionary<string, string> RunBusinessRules()
        {
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }

        public IExcelImportEngine AsExcel()
        {
            return this;
        }

        private bool TryGetNumber(ICell cell, out double returnValue)
        {
            returnValue = -1;

            try
            {
                returnValue = cell.NumericCellValue;
                return true;
            } catch { }

            try
            {
                switch (cell.CellType)
                {
                    case CellType.Blank:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Boolean:
                        returnValue = cell.BooleanCellValue ? 1 : 0;
                        return true;
                    case CellType.Error:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Formula:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Numeric:
                        returnValue = cell.NumericCellValue;
                        return true;
                    case CellType.String:
                        return double.TryParse(cell.StringCellValue.Trim(), out returnValue);
                    case CellType.Unknown:
                        return double.TryParse(cell.StringCellValue.Trim(), out returnValue);
                    default:
                        return false;
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        private bool TryGetText(ICell cell, out string returnValue)
        {
            returnValue = string.Empty;

            try
            {
                returnValue = cell.StringCellValue;
                return true;
            } catch { }

            try
            {
                switch (cell.CellType)
                {
                    case CellType.Blank:
                        returnValue = string.Empty;
                        return true;
                    case CellType.Boolean:
                        returnValue = cell.BooleanCellValue.ToString();
                        return true;
                    case CellType.Error:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Formula:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Numeric:
                        returnValue = cell.NumericCellValue.ToString();
                        return true;
                    case CellType.String:
                        returnValue = cell.StringCellValue;
                        return true;
                    case CellType.Unknown:
                        returnValue = cell.StringCellValue;
                        return true;
                    default:
                        return false;
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        private bool TryGetBool(ICell cell, out bool returnValue)
        {
            returnValue = false;

            try
            {
                returnValue = cell.BooleanCellValue;
                return true;
            } catch { }

            try
            {
                switch (cell.CellType)
                {
                    case CellType.Blank:
                        returnValue = false;
                        return true;
                    case CellType.Boolean:
                        returnValue = cell.BooleanCellValue;
                        return true;
                    case CellType.Error:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Formula:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Numeric:
                        if (cell.NumericCellValue == 0)
                        {
                            returnValue = false;
                            return true;
                        } else if (cell.NumericCellValue == 1)
                        {
                            returnValue = true;
                            return true;
                        }
                        else
                            return false;
                    case CellType.String:
                        return bool.TryParse(cell.StringCellValue.Trim(), out returnValue);
                    case CellType.Unknown:
                        return bool.TryParse(cell.StringCellValue.Trim(), out returnValue);
                    default:
                        return false;
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        private bool TryGetDate(ICell cell, out DateTime returnValue)
        {
            returnValue = new DateTime();

            //First try to get the value from date cell
            try
            {
                returnValue = cell.DateCellValue;
                return true;
            }
            catch { }

            try
            {
                switch (cell.CellType)
                {
                    case CellType.Blank:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Boolean:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Error:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Formula:
                        return false;
                    case CellType.Numeric:
                        return DateTime.TryParse(cell.NumericCellValue.ToString(), out returnValue);
                    case CellType.String:
                        return DateTime.TryParse(cell.StringCellValue.Trim(), out returnValue);
                    case CellType.Unknown:
                        return DateTime.TryParse(cell.StringCellValue.Trim(), out returnValue);
                    default:
                        return false;
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        private string GetText(ICell cell)
        {
            var value = string.Empty;
            if (TryGetText(cell, out value))
                return value;
            else
                return String.Empty;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Imagining Tomorrow is a project of Good Shepherd SLF and Good Shepherd Academy Association who make dreams happen. Dreams that have the power to change one life or an entire continent. Dreams that live in the heart and soul, gradually taking shape in the power of a vision. Dreams whose time has come through their cross cultural commitment to the mission of educating Cameroonian students for a sustainable world.


EMOTION AND INDULGENCE, FROM FRUIT TO BOTTLE!
Natural flavours that retain all the freshness of fruit. A velvety texture that evokes that of fruit straight off the vine. 100% made in France, the Création FRUITS 1883's recipes consist of 55% fruit for a unique and authentic taste. With a consistent quality guaranteed all year round, the possible uses are endless with each coming season.
AUTHENTIC FLAVOURS – thanks to a mild pasteurization process that respects each of the characteristic notes of the fresh fruit.
AUTHENTIC COLORS AND TEXTURES – faithful to both the vibrant shades of the fruit and its consistency.
PURE TASTE – for an ideal balance between the freshness of the fruit and the sweetness of the sugar to accurately match the natural flavours of the original fruit.
Création FRUITS 1883 is offered in an ergonomic designed 900ml bottle. Accurate pouring is assured thanks to its nozzle. A convenient and practical format with multiple potential uses that gives free reign to your creativity.
For more information, download the 1883 Puree's Sheet.
Click here for more information on the 1883 website.


Have you driven a 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Displaying all 7 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider reviews.
Slow And Steady Wins The Race, If It Can Stay In One Piece. — It's basically all summed up above. Overall though? Best /favorite car I have ever owned. Loads upon loads upon years of fun. It keeps going, nothing can kill this car. It has overheated, leaked gallons of oil, engine has been flooded, throttle linkage smashed in a pothole... It always starts running as good as new. I love it. This car is always loads of fun to drive with the top down in the rain and slide around a bit, you get all the looks at stoplights, nobody knows what it is. If you find one and want a toy. Buy a Spider!
Pros: Awesome Italian roadster. Beautiful lines, beautiful styling. Pininfarino designed the original slantback Spider and Alfa retained most of his styling throughout the life of the Spider. This is a series 3 Graduate trim level.
The handling is top notch... ... if everything is working perfectly. It can slide through corners and come out with awesome grip. The 50/50 weight ratio was very unique at the time. It is so light that sometimes you feel like you're on a bike.
Some thing is always broken. Even when you think that nothing is broken, something is broken. Right now my clutch main hose is leaking and needs to be replaced, my doorhandles and window cranks won't stay on. There's a nice sized gash in the rear plastic window. It grinds into 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. No gearbox will be necessarily soon. The list goes on. Parts are expensive and hard to get. I'll often order a part only to have my money refunded because it is sold out.
20 of 23 people found this review helpful.
Fun Ride At A Very Reasonable Price. — It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow! this is a perfect case in point. Handling is great yet the ride is smooth. This is one of those cars you can work on yourself without getting into real, costly trouble. Nearly all parts are readily available at reasonable cost.
Pros: Very nice little car. Fun to drive, easy to maintain and very affordable!
Cons: Cars of this age don't have many of the safety features of later cars.
I'm In Love — I am a little bias. It is a beautiful, reliable little car that turns heads. My son's are in love with it as well. Great cruiser and reminds me of Italy.
You Will Get A Lot Of Onlookers When You Drive It. — Because it is a convertible, there is a lot of flex in the body and squeaks and rattles. No where near the solidity of a hard top but that is expected. Great car for a leisurely cruise downtown.
Stylish Little Italian — This is a very fun car to drive around town in. It's swanky good looks gets a lot of attention. I love almost anything designed by Pininfarina, this car being one of them. It handles well, and gets good gas mileage.
Cons: Could use a touch more punch!
CarGurus has 70 nationwide Spider listings starting at $9,995.


The FBI is investigating Enrique Marquez and a possible 2012 terror plot that never grew to fruition with San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Syed Farook and his former neighbor Enrique Marquez had plotted a terrorist attack together back in 2012, ABC News reports.
Farook shelved the attack after the FBI made a round of terror-related arrests in different cities, ABC7 learned.
Another aspect of the investigation into Marquez involves his November 2014 marriage.
ABC News learned the FBI is trying to determine if the 24-year-old used the government's marriage citizen program fraudulently.
A marriage certificate shows he married a Russian woman whose sister is married to Farook's older brother, but there is little evidence they acted like a couple.
Authorities believe the nuptials were faked in an attempt to help the woman stay in the U.S.
The latest developments comes after news that Marquez may face criminal gun charges after federal authorities said he may have purchased two of the weapons used in the attack because Farook didn't want his name on file in connection with the assault-style rifles.
Friends said Marquez may have known about the terror plot in advance.
Hours after the San Bernardino attack, a post to Marquez's Facebook indicated he knew something was very wrong. "I'm. Very sorry sguys. It was a pleasure (sic)," he wrote.
Marquez lives in Riverside with his mother and younger brothers. Over the weekend, authorities raided the home in connection to the attack.
Marquez's family broke their silence on Wednesday, telling ABC7 they have spoken with authorities.


Pick your style. Rings are custom made and only $130, just include what your size is in order notes.
All rings are made to order and take about 3 weeks to ship.
Rings are made of white Bronze. Want Sterling Silver for $20 more? No problem, shoot us an email to info@easyriderrecords.com.
Previous post: Electric Citizen Cassettes are HERE!
Next post: NEW TUNE BY THE WELL!!!


Buy one, get one 30% off, on sunglasses! Call us!
We take pride in saying that our eyecare practice is family owned and operated. Our optometrist has over 30 years of experience and is passionate about helping others in the community. Our family eyecare center provides our patients with exams, contact lenses, and eyeglasses for everyone's needs. We are not your basic eyecare facility and we ensure that all exams are done correctly and thoroughly before you leave our office. Aside from English, we also speak Spanish and Vietnamese. Make an appointment and call us today!


text:
JAMB: underage not required to produce vaccination card
By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie On Dec 28, 2021
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that people below 18 are not required to show vaccination cards before they are allowed into its offices nationwide.
The Federal Government has a policy barring access to federal institutions by people who have not taken the COVID-19 vaccination.
However, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) does not presently require people younger than 18 to be vaccinated.
A statement by the JAMB public relations officer, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, noted that while underage people can access the board's offices, they have to show proof that they are underage to check abuse.
The statement reads: "All candidates, clients and other members of the public below the age of 18years are not required to produce any vaccination card before being allowed access to our facilities.
"This category of persons are not covered by the NCDC Vaccination Policy.
READ ALSO: Get NIN ahead of 2022 UTME, JAMB tells candidates
"You will recall that the Board had announced a policy of no vaccination card, no entry into any of its facilities nationwide but discovered that many underage candidates were making frantic efforts to get vaccinated with some even falsifying their age to be vaccinated just to access services at the Board's facilities.
"It is to be noted that the policy, as announced by the Board, is in tandem with the NCDC policy of no vaccination, no access to public places as well as ensuring that only persons eligible for vaccination are vaccinated and issued the card.
"Meanwhile, in view of likely abuse by individuals, the Board would also require evidence of being underage to allow any underage individual access to its facilities.
"This directive is to protect the public as well as the staff of the Board from the ravaging virus and would want all and sundry to play their own part in this battle of ensuring that we have a healthy and productive population."
Inferno: FCT minister pledges to support NEXT Supermall
NBA: it's illegal to fire single police women who get pregnant


text:
'RHOA's Porsha Williams Shows Off Her Sexy Strut In Hot Slo-Mo Video
May 12, 2020 12:16PM EDT
Why Ariana Grande Decided To Confirm Romance With Dalton Gomez In New Music Video
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Samantha Wilson, Sarah Jones and Russ Weakland
Ariana Grande's fans were surprised to see her confirm her relationship with BF Dalton Gomez in the 'Stuck with U' music video — and so was she! We've learned exclusively why Ariana decided to announce.
After several high-profile relationships, Ariana Grande was looking forward to keeping her new romance with Dalton Gomez under the radar — at least for now. But that all changed when fans started connecting the dots, and connecting her to the luxury real estate agent. Ariana, a source tells HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY, knew "that fans were starting to catch on to the fact that [she and Dalton] were dating and she wanted to be the one to confirm their relationship, rather than have someone else do it for her." Fast forward to Dalton's adorable cameo in the "Stuck with U" music video!
The music video for "Stuck with U", Ariana and Justin Bieber's quarantine ode, was totally DIY. It featured Justin, Ariana, and some of their closest famous friends dancing in their own homes as they all deal with being locked down during the pandemic. At the very end of the clip, Ariana brought out Dalton for a little dance with herself and her dog, Toulouse! It was incredibly romantic, and Ariana looked so happy during the touching moment in her bedroom. "Ariana thought it would be a really sweet way to officially confirm things in her music video, especially since it was really organic and not a big production," the source dished.
Fans first knew that there was a new guy in the "God is a Woman" singer's life when they noticed him in the background of one of her quarantine Instagram videos, petting her dog. The eagle-eyed followers were able to figure out that it was Dalton from the tattoo on his arm, and realized that he had actually been hanging out with Ariana and her friends for awhile. In fact, he was at the party she threw at her home for producer Xavi before California's stay-at-home orders began. Ariana's besties, including Alfredo Flores, Scott Nicholson, and Courtney Chipolone, all follow him on his private Instagram account, too.
Though Ariana really would've preferred to keep her relationship somewhat under wraps still, she felt wonderful about having Dalton in her music video. Dalton, according to a second source who spoke to HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY, "is just cool, and there are no gimmicks to who he is. You know instantly from meeting him that he's a good guy. Dalton isn't looking to be a star; he's just a normal guy with lots of confidence — and that's a turn on for Ariana."


text:
import java.io.*;

public class PrintVisitor implements FileSystemVisitor
{
   public void visitFileNode(FileNode node)
   {
      for (int i = 0; i < level; i++) System.out.print(" ");
      System.out.println(node.getFile().getName());
   }

   public void visitDirectoryNode(DirectoryNode node)
   {
      for (int i = 0; i < level; i++) System.out.print(" ");
      System.out.println(node.getDirectory().getName());
      level++;
      for (FileSystemNode c : node.getChildren())
         c.accept(this);
      level--;
   }

   private int level = 0;
}


text:
Department of Sanitation Proposed Derelict and Ghost Bike Removal Rule Promulgation
Testimony of Caroline Samponaro, Director of Bicycle Advocacy, Transportation Alternatives
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Caroline Samponaro and I am the Director of Bicycle Advocacy for Transportation Alternatives. Transportation Alternatives is a non-profit advocacy organization with over 8,000 members and over 35,000 active supporters. We work with tens of thousands of advocates and volunteers to promote and increase bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives, and to make New York City's streets safe, accessible and livable for all.
Transportation Alternatives commends the Department of Sanitation for accepting the responsibility of clearing away "derelict" bicycles in New York City. For the more than two hundred thousand cyclists that bike everyday in NYC, this announcement is welcome news. Clearing derelict bicycles from precious outdoor bicycle parking facilities is an urgently needed service, and one that Transportation Alternatives fully supports and has advocated for over the years.
However, Transportation Alternatives does not support DSNY's inclusion of "Ghost Riders [sic]," or Ghost Bikes, in this policy. *
In cities around the world, Ghost Bikes are installed by cyclists, victim's families and concerned citizens, as a public monument at a location where a cyclist has been killed. To the friends and family of deceased cyclists, these white painted bikes are memorials of remembrance and reflection. To the public, these bikes serve as a newsflash as to the often unseen dangers faced by cyclists in any given community. To motor vehicle drivers, Ghost Bikes are cautionary reminders of the potentially fatal outcome of careless and dangerous driving behavior.
Ghost Bikes are intentionally rendered unusable, through the removal of unnecessary components and the application of white paint, to transform them from working vehicles into static monuments to fallen cyclists. Therefore, while these memorials may take on some of the characteristics of a standard bicycle that could be classified as "derelict," Ghost Bikes are not working vehicles that have fallen into disrepair, nor are they in reality "derelict" and therefore should never be tagged or removed by DSNY.
Our support of the removal of "derelict" bicycles not withstanding, it is the position of our organization that the Department of Sanitation's proposed "derelict" bicycle removal policy must draw a clear distinction between (1) "derelict" bicycles and (2) Ghost Bikes. While we agree that existing bicycles which meet the proposed definition of "derelict" should be tagged and cleared from public property, fundamentally, we believe it is both an improper and inaccurate to attempt to classify a Ghost Bike as "derelict," even if that bike meets the proposed definition of a "derelict" bicycle.
There are less than 70 Ghost Bikes currently spread across the five boroughs of New York City. Because this small number is such a minor blip of the NYC streetscape, Transportation Alternative's discourages DSNY from doing anything at all to NYC's Ghost Bikes.
If DSNY determines that it is unwilling to revise its proposed rules by entirely removing Ghost Bikes as bicycles which could be classified as "derelict," the following recommendations are necessary to further clarifying the proposed rules:
In general, all Ghost Bikes are not "derelict" bicycles as the current Proposed Rules imply. While like all bicycles, they may fall into a level of disrepair that would classify as "derelict", it must be considered that the bikes are memorials, constantly exposed to the elements, and built to not function as vehicles, and thus should be viewed with a different consideration of the "derelict" definition. There are several instances whereby the proposed language in regard to Ghost Bikes has the potential to create confusion as to the basic definition of this type of bicycle:
1. Proposed Section 1-05.1 (a) (2) states that, "Ghost Rider [sic]" shall mean a derelict bicycle…". While we agree that Ghost Bikes may become derelict, Ghost Bikes are not per se derelict. The usage of "shall" in this section creates a situation where it appears that Ghost Bikes are in fact by definition inherently "derelict." Rather, if a Ghost Bike becomes derelict—either through exposure to the elements, vandalism, etc.—then it should be dealt with accordingly. Accordingly, the current language should be modified to indicate that a Ghost Bike is not automatically considered derelict because of its stature as a Ghost Bike.
2. Proposed Section 1-05.1(c) should insert the word "derelict" as follows: "Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of this section, in the event that a derelict ghost rider [sic] is affixed to public property…" Again, without the insertion of the qualifying "derelict" adjective, a reasonable, though incorrect, conclusion could be drawn that Ghost Bikes are fundamentally, per se, derelict in nature, regardless of their actual condition. The existing mischaracterization appears to be inline with the proposed language in Section 1-05.1(a)(2) as noted above.
Since Ghost Bikes are located in fixed locations, relative to where a cyclist was killed, it must be addressed that the Proposed Rules do not address what occurs if a "derelict" Ghost Bike is cured of the characteristics which qualified it as "derelict" within the time period of when it was tagged and when it was scheduled to be removed. If a Ghost Bike is tagged for removal, and then the offending parts and conditions are repaired, the Ghost Bike should no longer be considered "derelict" and therefore should not be removed. To prevent this incongruity, we recommend:
1. In order to alert the family or friends of slain cyclist's Ghost Bike what characteristics of the bicycle qualify it as being derelict, the tags used by DSNY to identify a Ghost Bike as being "derelict" should list the specific characteristics that qualified it as such.
2. These characteristics should also be recorded in DSNY records, so as to inform those in charge of bicycle removal as to what those in charge of bicycle tagging found as grounds for "derelict" classification, and to thus know if these have been corrected. Providing this information on the tag and in DSNY records will ensure that only bikes that remain derelict after the 30-day grace period are removed.
In conclusion, Transportation Alternatives commends DSNY for establishing a policy to make New York City's limited and therefore precious bike parking infrastructure more accessible and functional for all, but strongly encourages DSNY to not apply their policy to the scant number of Ghost Bikes which serve as memorials to those lost to the chaos of our streets, that serve as significant beacons for the friends and families that they have left behind.
*It should be noted that DSNY uses incorrect terminology in their Proposed Rules. There is no such thing as a "Ghost Rider." The correct term for the white-painted bicycles locked on NYC streets in memoriam of slain cyclists is "Ghost Bike," which is used throughout the following testimony. In all instances, the word "Rider" should be replaced with "Bike."


text:
Alumni awards presented at Reunion 2014 Dinner
Andrea and Peter Klein '64 were given the Distinguished Service Award, and Scott Zoback '04, M.P.A. '05, received the Young Alumni Award at the May 16 Clark University Reunion Dinner in Tilton Hall.
Scott Zoback '04, M.P.A. '05, receives the Young Alumni Award.
President David Angel noted Zoback's contributions as a volunteer and class agent, his service as president of the Alumni Association, and his work as an "incredible ambassador" for Clark. Angel recalled that when he assumed the presidency, he asked Zoback for advice. "One of the things he said to me that has rung true is: 'David, if you're going to be anything at Clark, you have to be authentic.'"
Zoback said his greatest honor was not receiving the award but "being in the room with a number of people who played key roles for me in my development as a person," citing, among others, professors Virginia Vaughan and Paul Ropp, his mother Ronni Spiegel Zoback and sister Emily Zoback '08, M.P.A. '09. "This place, and what it has done for us, is truly unique," he said.
Andrea and Peter Klein '64 receive the Distinguished Service Award at the 2014 Reunion Dinner.
In presenting the Distinguished Service Award to the Kleins, President Angel noted the couple's "extraordinary dedication" to Clark University, which includes Peter's more than 15 years on the Board of Trustees (including his recent term as chair), numerous volunteering and hosting efforts, and their endowment of the Andrea B. and Peter D. '64 Klein Distinguished Professorship, which recognizes and rewards a faculty member for outstanding scholarship, teaching and community involvement. The Klein name also graces an endowed scholarship for transfer students, and various rooms and other spaces across campus.
"They are a couple who places values first, and who keeps the long-term health of Clark very close to their hearts," Angel said.
The Clark Cougar leads the audience in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Peter Klein '64.
In accepting the award, Peter Klein said he and Andrea are "grateful for the opportunity to participate in the life of this wonderful university," adding that their involvement has given them "a sense of joy and satisfaction."
Following the presentation, President Angel announced that it was Peter Klein's birthday, and the audience serenaded him with a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday."


text:
Tenacious D lubes 'em up and knocks 'em down at The House of Blues
In ComedyMusicReviews
By Jason Greenoughon November 6, 2018
One part rock opera, one part theatrical adventure, and one part pure clown powder is what the recipe called for to make Tenacious D's visit to Boston on Monday night (November 5) an extravaganza to remember — and boy, did the D bring the goods.
Touring in support of their brand new full-length album, Post-Apocalypto, the comedic metal duo melted the collective face of the very sold-out House of Blues and its highly-intoxicated crowd, playing the new record front to back before launching into a masterful peppering of hits from their past studio efforts. The D could've gotten the party started all on their own, but instead, they let L.A.-based Americana duo Wynchester have the honors of further priming the already lubed-up crowd.
Wynchester's sound was largely country, but the attitude they put through their monitors was purely punk. From the speed at which they played, to the barn-burning acoustic covers they performed of The Commodores' "Easy" and Dio's "Rainbow In The Dark," the toe-tappers connected well with the predominantly metalhead crowd.
While their original tunes dealt largely with the "typical" country music subject matters — trucks, heartbreak, and at least one reference to a dog — lead vocalist Mike Bray let the harmony with guitarist John Konesky do the talking, and it showed how far beyond those stereotypes their musical talents stretched. They even made a cult following for their truck driver Cliff, after dedicating a song to him (no joke, fans were asking Cliff for autographs after the show). At first glance, the decision to have a country/Americana band open up for "the greatest band in the world" seemed a little odd, but once Wynchester left the stage, it all made sense, and really turned out to be a seamless fit.
Tenacious D fans came to Lansdowne Street prepared for metal on a Monday night, starting a chant for the band almost immediately after the openers left the stage. Their preparation was greeted with what can only be described as the very definition of a cinematic adventure, with a full scale see-through curtain that doubled as a movie screen, as the D began their rock opera portion of the evening. For the first 12 songs, the band stayed behind the screen, lights shining through to reveal the band following every hand-drawn cartoon short film explained the story of the new album in absurd and poorly-drawn detail.
The two sides of Tenacious D — Kyle Gass with his calm and cool demeanor, accented by Jack Black's ridiculous amount of energy and dramatism — played their parts to the utmost extreme. The two bearded rockers are very different in their stage presence, but what they have in common, obviously, is the serious ability to rock the house together. And with the help of a three-headed dog, some weird vagina monster, and the Terminator, they also saved the world (in cartoon form, at least.)
Once the pair defeated space monsters, "turd whistle" Donald Trump Jr., as well as the the nazis and members of the Klan that apparently guard the White House in a post-apocalyptic world, they shed the sheet, and dug into a cornucopia of classics from their consistently impressive catalog, and with the first note of "Rize of the Fenix," sent the already-rambunctious crowd into a complete frenzy.
Sing-alongs and quasi-mosh pits became the norm for the rest of the night, as Gass and Black resurrected fan favorites like "Kickapoo," "Beezleboss (The Final Showdown)," and "Tribute," causing a whole wave of nostalgia to wash over folks that have followed the band since they were kids — or in the case of "The Metal," a whole generation of Guitar Hero gamers that couldn't get past that song, but were able to memorize every word because they had to play it over and over again.
Sprinkling in a handful of b-list faves like "Low Hangin' Fruit" and "Kielbasa," Gass and Black showed just masterful they are at their craft, not just from a musical standpoint, but a lyrical and creative one, as well. Their musical intuition may be overshadowed by their lyrical fascination with dicks and jizz, but it takes an experience like a live Tenacious D show to fully witness just how much they put into their work.
The absence of "Master Exploder" didn't go unnoticed, but there were folks blitzed out of their gourds who sang it anyway, so that kinda counts. (Right?) And while the night was driven by hard metal riffs and operatic bellows from Black's impressive set of pipes, there was still an appreciation for the slow jams, with Black presenting a stripped down version of Van Halen's "Panama" as Gass strummed his way into "Double Team" to bring the night to its riotous croschendo of "Fuck Her Gently," which Black dedicated to the ladies, but was singing to the dudes.
For the full hour and a half they were on stage at The House of Blues, Tenacious D continuously explained what has given them such a massive following all over the world. They never phoned it in, entertained to the umpteenth degree, and while they may apologize for it, they did mean to your blow your mind. They played hard, they played dirty, and above all else, they played tenaciously.
Photos by Jason Greenough for Vanyaland; follow him on Twitter @DadBodVanilla.
Swipe or use your ← → (arrow) keys
House Of BluesJack BlackKyle GassPost-ApocalyptoTenacious DWynchester


text:
Source: Press Release 3/5/2014
USANA And WTA Extend Partnership
SALT LAKE CITY, March 5, 2014 -- USANA Health Sciences, a leading global vitamin and health supplement manufacturer, announced today the renewal of its partnership with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) through 2016. USANA, the Official Health Supplement Supplier of the WTA, first partnered with the WTA in 2006, and will continue to provide its nutritional products to more than 160 WTA athletes.
Under the extended agreement, Eugenie Bouchard (CAN), Madison Keys (USA), Monica Puig (PUR) and Zhang Shuai (CHN) will join Sloane Stephens (USA), Samantha Stosur (AUS) and Zheng Jie (CHN) as USANA Brand Ambassadors.
"We are honored to be able to extend our relationship with the WTA and continue providing our quality supplements to these elite female athletes," said USANA Chief Communications Officer, Dan Macuga . "As a global leader in our industry, partnering with the world's leading women's professional sport for nearly a decade, not only signifies that we stand by our science, but that we really do offer products that world-class athletes can trust. We look forward to what the future has in store for our partnership and working with the WTA to maximize our global audiences, together."
"We are thrilled to continue our relationship with USANA for another three years," said WTA Chairman and CEO, Stacey Allaster. "In 2006, the WTA searched for a company that would fulfill a longtime request by players for nutritional supplements that are guaranteed to be free of banned substances on the WADA Prohibitive List. USANA stood out as an organization that felt so strongly about the quality and purity of its product, and we look forward to our continued partnership with this great company."


Prototyping Model is the rough version of the Software development. Prototyping Model revealed restricted functional potential. And performance measurement is also low as compared to other Software development Models. It uses shortcuts for the development of the Software Product. It uses replica functions and fake calls (like stubs) for the rapid delivery of the Software Product.
The most effective use of the Prototype is to create urgent reports, messages, data input arrangement, and display output. It is used to create the immediate the Customer Product Screens formats, designing of the user interface, and output which is according to the customer requirements. Prototype Modeling is very efficient to create urgent output for the Customer.
Prototyping Modeling is a repetitive development Process, in first attempt good product could not develop. Most engineers and developers insist that if you create a good product; put the first attempt of prototyping development into bin. The most authentic use of the Prototyping Development Process is the Gain of Experience.
Mostly the Prototyping Modeling is very useful when the clarity about the Software Product is not clear from the customer's point of view. Then the development team took help from the Prototyping Modeling to understand the Customers stories.
It is also very useful for solving the technical issues of the Software Product. Prototyping Process is very useful for increasing the efficiency of data structures and the efficient utilization of the hardware.
It is used when the Customer requirements are not clear.
It is also very useful when the technical issues encountered in Software Product Development.


text:
Cooper: Reformation still impactful today
October 29, 2017 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated October 28, 2017 at 9:17 p.m.
by Clint Cooper
One of the themes to come out of the Reformation is that the Bible is the highest authority for instruction in the Protestant faith.
It's been called one of the most profound religious, political, cultural and intellectual movements of the second millennium.
One recent pundit even suggested it spawned the presidency of Donald Trump.
However seriously or trivially you look at it, the Reformation - which began when a professorial monk posted his radical religious thoughts on the door of a Wittenberg, Germany, church 500 years ago Tuesday (a story some claim is apocryphal) - continues to have a significant impact on our lives today.
In essence, what Martin Luther began with the 95 points of his "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" split the Europe-dominated Catholic Church - though that was not his intent - and led to the defining of structures and beliefs that would form the backbone of modern Protestant religion.
Today, around the world, by one source, there are more than 30,000 Protestant denominations and 560 million Protestants.
In 1517, though, indulgences were being sold throughout Europe under the auspices of Pope Leo X to help get a loved one out of purgatory.
"As soon as the coin in the coffer rings," the saying at the time went, "the soul from purgatory springs."
Luther, through his reading and understanding of the Bible as a professor of biblical theology at the University of Wittenberg, believed one's salvation could not be purchased or earned but was a free gift from God.
He further felt Christians needed no middle man - not the pope, a priest nor the church - to reach God, that believers could communicate with their Creator directly through prayer. The concept is often called "the priesthood of all believers."
It was - and is - freedom.
Nevertheless, his church door rant may have been lost in history had Luther not been able to spread it via print, an innovation less than 70 years old at the time. And he had it (and later the Bible) printed in German, not the Latin of the Catholic Church, increasing its distribution among the more common people.
In today's parlance, he went viral.
Indeed, Luther's zeal for communicating his thoughts to a wider audience is said to be a forerunner of television or radio evangelism today, and the tunes he wrote ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is the best known) have earned him the descriptor as the father of protest songs.
From the Reformation, five statements, or five solas (Latin for alone) emerged that are often cited as the backbone of many existing Protestant denominations.
-Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone): The Bible is the faith's highest authority.
-Sola Fide (faith alone): Christians are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
-Sola Gratia (grace alone): Christians are saved by the grace of God alone.
-Solus Christus (Christ alone): Jesus Christ alone is Lord, savior and king.
-Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone): Christians live for the glory of God alone.
Yet, many of today's believers may have a difficult time enunciating where such thoughts emerged. According to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, 18 percent of U.S. adults believe "the term commonly used to refer to the historical period in which Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church" was the Great Crusade. Another 6 percent say it was the Great Schism, and 5 percent even say it was the French Revolution.
In the same survey, 16 percent believe Methodist founder John Wesley was behind the Reformation, and 10 percent say it was Thomas Aquinas.
However, a majority of survey respondents (61 percent) say Catholics and Protestants are more similar today than they are different.
Even the Catholic Church's Pope Francis has called Luther a "reformer" who rightly protested the "corruption of the Church," though "some methods were not correct."
"In that communion of harmony which permits the Holy Spirit to act," he said more recently, "we will be able to find further convergence on points of doctrine and the moral teaching of the Church, and will be able to draw ever closer to full and visible unity."
Susan Karant-Nunn, director of the Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies at the University of Arizona, said in the recent German Day lecture at the University of Calgary International that Luther simply didn't feel he fit into a 16th-century culture that "invited everyone to be the same."
"Martin Luther unsettled what was considered settled," she said. "He was from a different age and culture; the values that prevailed in society at the time were very different from our own. But Luther was an idealist, and he wanted to see his ideals manifested in society."
Five hundred years later, though the reformer's ideas have taken hold, we still feel we must struggle against convention and push for more freedom, whether it's in our faith or in our government.