Saudi Arabia's tourism sector will contribute $70.9 billion to the country's GDP this year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Data released by Colliers International ahead of this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has also revealed that international arrivals to Saudi Arabia are expected to increase 5.6 per cent, per year, from 17.7 million in 2018 to 23.3 million in 2023. Religious tourism will be key over the next decade, with a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims to the Kingdom by 2030 – an 11 million jump on the 19 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims that visited the country in 2017.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has set aside $64 billion for culture, leisure and entertainment projects over the next decade.
Phase one of the highly anticipated Red Sea project is expected to reach completion in 2022. The project is estimated to boost the Kingdom's GDP by $5.86 billion and will comprise an airport, marinas, up to 3,000 hotel rooms and various recreational activities.
In 2018, the country's Public Investment Fund announced the development of Amaala, a new ultra-luxury tourism megaproject, scheduled to launch in 2028. This project will contribute 2,500 hotel rooms to the country's portfolio.
During this year's ATM, Saudi exhibitors will include The Red Sea Development Company, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Makarem Hotels, AlfaOne Concierge and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. A seminar entitled 'Why Tourism is Saudi's new White Oil' will be held on the Global Stage on April 29, at 14:50 until 15:50.
And while international tourism is on the rise, domestic tourism contributes to the positive figures. The number of local tourist trips inside Saudi Arabia exceeded 47 million in 2018, and Colliers International forecasts this figure to increase by eight per cent 70.5 million by 2023.
Curtis said: "Plans are already afoot in Saudi to achieve the projected increase in domestic visitors, with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 blueprint forecast to double the number of UNESCO heritage sites and increase household spending on cultural and entertainment activities inside the country from 2.9 per cent to six per cent.
"Meanwhile, the Quality of Life Vision Realisation Programme (VRP) and the General Entertainment Authority are both working to create new attractions and recreational activities within the country," she concluded.


With a fundraising goal of $500 million–the largest philanthropic investment in the history of our province–we have identified campaign priorities that will ensure our province's long-term economic, social, and cultural vitality.
Our alumni, donors, and university community have shaped these priorities.
They have helped us identify the areas that will have a substantive impact on Manitoba's success. From their insight we have developed five campaign priorities in which the University of Manitoba is uniquely qualified to lead this province into a new era of unprecedented prosperity.
Manitoba will become a centre of excellence for Indigenous education and research.
Manitoba's capacity for innovation will grow with an increased number of exceptional graduate students.
Our researchers and scholars will make discoveries that contribute to knowledge, grow the economy, and improve lives here and around the world.
Our students will benefit from exceptional experiences and support.
Our community's quality of life will be enhanced through new environments for learning, discovery, and engagement.


We've received a couple of invites for Thanksgiving ... already?! After a week of being in denial I guess it's time to accept it. The year is almost over, and winter is around the corner here in Louisiana.
If you live in the United States, you know that today is Election Day. Ken and I voted last week, and your voice matters ... go vote! The results won't be posted till way past my bedtime ... guess I'll find out who our new president is tomorrow morning.
Our daughter turns 21 in less than three months ... another reminder of how fast time flies by! I remember perfectly her first day at day-care at age 2. She was fine ... I cried the whole way to work. She's already in her third year at LSU, and we're so proud of her. Soon ... she'll be my sister!
I can't ignore the Christmas commercials. My first impulse this year was to boycott Christmas ... no tree or decorations. After all, our house is for sale and I wanted to be homeless and in some little apartment this Christmas! However, I reminded myself that every day is precious and we need to enjoy the present while planning our future. Also, this will be a great time to go through all those boxes of Christmas stuff that I haven't used in years. Whatever my daughter doesn't want will go to either a garage sale or Goodwill ... just in time for someone else to enjoy it for the holidays.
I'll turn 46 in two weeks. I don't mind the number, as long as I feel good. I do my best to stay in shape through yoga, pilates and strength training. Age doesn't make you old, attitude does! I think change and challenge keep a person young too. Cruising should definitely keep things new and challenging!
I've read that redheads don't get gray hair ... they lied! I have a few, but they're supposed to look like highlights ... yeah, right. I only have a few and I've never dyed my hair, so I'm not complaining. Those lines appearing on my face ... I'd prefer they weren't there but it's better than not growing older! I may be moving onto a sailboat, but I don't wanna look like a duck. No botox on this face, especially not my lips. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against all that stuff ... I just think that some women go overboard and lose their beauty. Less is more!
Between Ken and I, we're still only finding ourselves with one-day weekends. However, Ken got off work a little early yesterday and was able to work on the hurricane damage to our house. He hung the new sheetrock and he'll "tape and float" soon. Now that we no longer have a huge hole in our foyer ceiling and the roof no longer leaks, we're going to lower the price of the house before this weekend. When we listed the house about a week before the hurricane, there were only a handful of homes to compete with in our subdivision. Since the storm ... there's about thirty! I don't know if the hurricane had anything to do with it, but timing is everything.
I'm thinking about going through all of our old photos and scanning the important ones. I have some really great photos of my grandparents and great-grandparents. Since our daughter was born before the age of digital cameras, I'd like to scan her baby pictures too. With today's technology, I can be sure that our pictures are safe.
We have a ton of projects in store for Nirvana once our house sells. We can't wait to get started on them. Maybe I'll post a list soon of our upcoming projects. This may also be a good time to start a log of expenses. I need to go back and start with our haul-out costs.
Love the shot taken of your trip to the Virgin Islands. I'd like to be there this winter. You know like the month of January or February.
Yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
Enjoy the holidays. Life is indeed short.
You're only 46? Baby. I'll be 62 next year. Enjoy your youth.
Hey, you are a very young 46. Plenty of time to get out there. Getting that house sold will be a huge step.
I am scanning photos and digitizing videos every night in my little apartment. Put everything on the computer, then back it up to several "thumb" drives, and possibly online storage too. We will put one in a safe deposit box, and make copies for the kids.
I can't believe the Holidays are right here!!
Can't wait to hear news of your house selling..just keep moving on.


Congratulations, you've got the keys to your HDB flat! Now for the ultimate housewarming party, what about holding your wedding ceremony and reception right in the comfort of your first home together as husband and wife? Today Chere Weddings & Events, who have planned several weddings in HDB flats and condominium apartments, share the benefits of a wedding in your own abode along with tips on how to make your guests feel right at home.
Chere Weddings & Events: There are a few advantages to holding your wedding at home. First, it is cost-effective. The biggest expenditures of your wedding – venue and food – are taken care of when you move your entire wedding to your home, and there are no corkage fees or service charges!
Secondly, there's nothing more intimate or cosy than opening up your house to your family and closest friends to celebrate love.
Finally, your home is yours, making it an absolutely unique wedding venue.
With HDB or home weddings, there may be a limit as to how many guests you can comfortably host at your wedding! Take time to understand your space to ensure your guests will feel comfortable. For newlyweds, consider getting married at home at your new house before you move furniture in! This way, you have an empty canvas to work with for your wedding and won't need to worry about where to place those bulky sofas and TV sets!
There are many options for catering food for your guests. For a unique experience, consider hiring a private chef and lending him your kitchen! Seeing a chef whip up something fresh and hot may be interesting for your guests as well!
This might be one thing couples miss out on. Having a sound system sets the mood and ambience for the entire ceremony so you won't be marching in in silence!
Weiwei of Chere Weddings & Events: In accordance with Singapore law, we had to produce a marriage certificate with the collection of our BTO. With all our plans messed up because our flat came early, we decided to wing it and plan our ROM at home just as we finished renovations.
Before the furniture came in, we got to work with an empty home which made things easier as we had an abundance of space (ironic for a Singaporean home). We needed just our immediate family with us and that's what we decided on, so there were only around 15 to 20 of us, including our entire team.
Using their living room space and existing furniture, we reconfigured the layout slightly and made creative use of everything they had. The curtains were re-arranged to create the illusion of a draped arch and adorned with a simple garland.
Michael and Leei Hong chose to have their ceremony on the open balcony of their penthouse. Emphasizing that they love nature and the setting of the balcony, we added aisle stands to highlight the space. Leei Hong had an amazing red carpet which added a strong foundation to the colour palette and completed the whole look.
The ceremony was attended by their closest friends and family – there were just about 8 of them in total. For their dinner, we arranged for a private chef to cook dinner in their kitchen, and every dish was professionally, individually plated. As wedding planners, we doubled up and helped with serving the dishes.
Thank you for sharing your ideas with us Chere Weddings & Events, we're sure it'll inspire Wedding Scoopers to plan HDB or condo weddings in the future!


text:
New York Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Role in $1.7 Million Insider Trading Scheme
New York Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Insider Trading Scheme
United States Attorney's Office
A former vice president in the Los Angeles office of the Lippert Heilshorn & Associates investor relations firm has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for providing confidential information that was used in an insider trading scheme that generated $1.7 million in illegal profits for his associates.
Zachary Bryant, 40, of Long Island City, New York, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge John F. Walter. Bryant pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiring to commit insider trading.
While employed at Lippert Heilshorn, Bryant took $30,000 in bribes in exchange for providing confidential information on publicly traded companies. Bryant had access to the non-public information that was being used at Lippert Heilshorn to prepare press releases for corporate clients.
Bryant received the bribes from Ahmad Haris Tajyar, a securities trader who also was the owner and president of the Sherman Oaks-based investor relations firm Investor Relations International. Tajyar, 35, of Encino, used the inside information he received from Bryant to make securities trades in advance of the planned press releases, generating more than $1 million in profits from these illegal trades.
Tajyar also passed the information to others, including his cousin, Omar Tajyar, 31, of Porter Ranch; Ahmad Noory, 36, of Ladera Ranch; and Vispi Shroff, 58, of Canyon Country, each of whom traded in advance of the press releases. After the press releases were issued and the market reacted to the news, the conspirators quickly closed out trading positions, reaping huge profits in a short period of time.
Shroff pleaded guilty last year to two counts of insider trading, admitting that he received more than $165,000 in illegal profits. Shroff was sentenced by Judge Walter on March 21 to nine months in prison.
Bryant left Lippert Heilshorn in July 2007 to work at Ahmad Tajyar's investor relations firm. Bryant admitted that when he left Lippert, he provided Ahmad Tajyar and Omar Tajyar with the password that Lippert's employees used to remotely access their e-mail accounts at the firm. At this week's sentencing hearing, prosecutors noted that Omar Tajyar used this password to continue to obtain inside information about Lippert clients long after Bryant left the firm. Prosecutors told Judge Walter that Omar Tajyar and Noory generated more than $1 million in illegal profits from additional trades based information stolen after Bryant left Lippert Heilshorn.
Criminal charges against Ahmad Haris Tajyar, Omar Tajyar, and Ahmad Noory are still pending in United States District Court.
The investigation into the insider trading conspiracy was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The role of the tavern has transitioned as America has attempted to redefine itself from a colonial society with a dependence on alcohol to a more controlled, restrained society. Taverns historically served as multifunctional spaces: community center, networking center, civic center, entertainment center and visitors center, complete with food and drink. Through historical documents, case studies, and visiting local establishments, while focusing on Colonial New England, an exploration of the tavern typology will present the social relevance of the historical tavern in a modern setting. This proposal explores how to further redefine the tavern in modern New England, while keeping its historical roles in the community, and modernizing its social component with digital networking tools. This project proposes a modern tavern in Northampton, Massachusetts, where local residents can enjoy gathering as a community.


text:
Baralt Theater In Venezuela
January 30, 2021 Zahira
There's more to theatre than just somebody enacting one thing on the stage. Such performances are normally referred to as performs. Throughout this period, Ming Huang formed an acting school often known as The Pear Backyard to supply a type of drama that was primarily musical. Save on tickets to Tuesday showtimes of THE LION KING when you be part of AMC Stubs.
Now in its third yr, the Corkscrew Theater Festival is a welcome breath of recent air in a New York summer season tormented by heatwaves and exploding manholes Corkscrew provides up a yearly lineup of performs and different theater productions at the East Village's Paradise Manufacturing unit, and in accordance with its mission assertion, it champions underrepresented artists and viewpoints … providing audiences a unique combine of work at numerous phases of growth, selling interaction and dialogue among artists, and constructing a community round a season of theater." Last year's festival had a near-full roster" of ladies and trans creatives behind its shows, and this yr's lineup continues its legacy of featuring various, artistic voices.
However,I believe that to bring in the audience in this country, the very first thing we have to do is to develop our personal theater that can connect easily with our people. Sanskrit theatre was performed on sacred ground by monks who had been educated in the crucial skills (dance, music, and recitation) in a hereditary process.
Probably the most relative form of theater emerged in Athens around the 6th century (BC) as a part of festivals and rituals, and theater has continued to evolve to incorporate all kinds of genres and types outdoors the essential three of comedy, tragedy and satyr play.
AMC Hialeah 12 Film Instances
Log in here to view current gives and buy tickets. With 3,000 seats, state-of-the-art sound, video and lighting, you'll expertise your favorite artists in an intimate setting unlike some other. Cats," a giant-finances adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, will arrive in theaters on Dec. These plays have evolved from Greek tragedy plays that targeted on a single theme and plot, to its present day form that tackles a number of themes, storylines and sub-plots.
Here, we assist you to stay on prime of the developments with the latest in films, music, vogue, television, drama, and video games. Tickets for the tour will go on sale this coming Friday (July 26) from 10am local time. There is something magical in watching an ensemble of actors performing on the stage in front of you, telling you a narrative that you just share with a room full of individuals.
Broadway Theater Firm
Theater is likely one of the oldest types of performing artwork. The play's 2017 world premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago sparked discussions about racism and free speech, partly because of a Chicago Solar-Times assessment which mentioned that Nwandu's portrayal of the white officer was wrong-headed and self-defeating" and that a lot of the violence in the black neighborhood is perpetrated throughout the group itself." In 2018, Move Over" opened in New York's Lincoln Heart Theater, and it recently wrapped a run at A Up to date Theatre in Seattle.
Whereas the theater has at all times been an superior technique to spend one's time, now there's more choice than ever in what sort of show once you head out a theater in your city or in a city you've got traveled to. So regardless of if you're in the temper for a musical, comedy, adventure, tragedy, drama or anything else you can possibly think about, you can discover exactly what you are searching for with the assistance of StubHub.
Dream Theater have introduced the second North American leg of their Distance Over Time tour, splitting their set between new and classic songs in addition to the efficiency of Metropolis Half 2: Scenes From a Reminiscence in its entirety. Each Tuesday, Cinemark, along with most film theaters in Utah, presents $5 film tickets all day. It's our mission to create new life for these performs by way of analysis, dramaturgy, manufacturing, publication, readings and a variety of enrichment packages. Inbuilt 1928, the Fox Theater is an architectural masterpiece and former movie house that underwent a $seventy five million renovation to reopen its doorways in February of 2009 below the route of One other Planet Entertainment.
Musicals are performs which can be carried out in completely in song and dance form. We believe that music is a common language that unites all of us and brings people from all walks of life together.
baralt, theater, venezuela
You Could Be A Drama Queen If
Top Reasons People Commend or Criticize Street Art


text:
The Rise of the Stroke Rate
BY VOLKER NOLTE
PHOTO BY PETER SPURRIER
Stroke rates in the finals at the World Rowing Championships made a significant jump in 2017 and 2018. In some races, such as the lightweight men's pair in 2017 and the men's coxless four in 2018, it seemed rates were going through the roof–possibly indicative of a trend.
Statistics published annually by Valery Kleshnev identified an increase of stroke rates between one and two strokes per minute on average over the whole 2,000-meter racecourse after about 10 years of steady numbers.
Although stroke rates have risen in general, the impression that stroke rates have "skyrocketed" derives mainly from the performance of select top-level crews.
The way the Irish lightweight men's pair in 2017 and the Australian and Italian fours in 2018 chased down the racecourse was astonishing, but they remained clear outliers with over-the-top stroke rates.
There are examples to the contrary, too. Most of the gold medalists at the 2019 World Rowing Championships rowed either with the lowest stroke rate or at a lower rate than most of their competitors in their final.
It is unlikely that boat design influenced the stroke- rate increase in 2017 and 2018. The minimum boat weight has been fixed for decades, and small changes in boat shape don't seem to favor rowing at higher stroke rates. Oars may have been a factor with the introduction of thinner shaft diameters that have less air resistance, especially during the recovery, but there may be other, more important reasons.
Stroke rate and a rower's power output are closely related. To produce the highest power during a 2,000-meter race starting at stroke rate 20/min., you'll get better results by increasing the stroke rate.
But there is a limit. At some point, further increases in stroke rate will result in diminishing returns, as reflected by the inverted U that shows the optimal point in efficiency studies. This optimal point–the highest power at a specific stroke rate–is different for individual crews.
Perhaps coaches and athletes in the first two years of the Olympic cycle tried something new by focusing on higher stroke rates–a specific target, perhaps, in training and tactics. Yet, interestingly, the speed of racing did not increase with the higher stroke rates. On the contrary, the speed of the winners at the world championships steadily declined. So it may be that they passed the above-mentioned "optimal point," which can be explained biomechanically. When watching these high-rate crews, it appears they sacrifice stroke length, especially at the catch. This, of course, leads to less-efficient strokes, which leads to loss of speed.
The coming years will show in which direction stroke rate and boat speed will evolve. Unfortunately, we had to miss this year's pinnacle racing event, and only one international competition–the European championships– was held in the fall. Therefore, any analysis must be conducted with care, since major international players were missing.
One of the races that stood out was the men's single, with the three medal winners from the 2019 World Rowing Championships again racing each other in the final. In particular, the difference between the high-rate German sculler, Oliver Zeidler (last year's world champion), and the lower-rate Danish sculler, Sverri Nielsen (last year's bronze medalist), was noteworthy.
Zeidler, leading most of the race, seemed to lack an extra accelerating gear when three scullers passed him near the end to push him out of the medal ranks. Nielsen, meanwhile, kept his strokes longer and more efficient in the middle of the race (taking about 20 fewer strokes than Zeidler over 2,000 meters), rowed at a rate that was about three strokes lower throughout, and in the process secured gold.
This may be the sign for future developments in international rowing: stroke rates are going slightly up from the pre-2017 level, but keeping strokes long and efficient.


text:
Q: How to split the model.fit for continue training in multi days The tensorflow model uses the following code for training:
model.fit(train_dataset,
          steps_per_epoch=10000,
          validation_data=test_dataset,
          epochs=20000
         )

The total steps_per_epoch is 10000 and epochs is 20000.
Is it possible to split the training time for multiple days:
day 1:

model.fit(..., steps_per_epoch=10000, ..., epochs=10, ....)
model.fit(..., steps_per_epoch=10000, ..., epochs=20, ....)
model.fit(..., steps_per_epoch=10000, ..., epochs=30, ....)

day 2:

model.fit(..., steps_per_epoch=10000, ..., epochs=100, ....)

day 3:

model.fit(..., steps_per_epoch=10000, ..., epochs=5, ....)

day (n):

model.fit(..., steps_per_epoch=10000, ..., epochs=n, ....)

The expected epochs is:
20000 = (day1 + day2 + day3 + ... + dayn)

Can I simply stop the model.fit and start the model.fit on another day?
Is it the same as running once with "epochs=20000"?

A: I think you're asking if multiple calls to model.fit will continue training the model (instead of starting from scratch)--the answer is yes, it will. However, a new History object is generated for each model.fit call, so if you are capturing that, you may want to handle that separately.
So running
model.fit(..., epochs=10)
model.fit(..., epochs=10)

will train the model for 20 epochs in total.

A: You can save your model after each day as a pickle file then tomorrow load your model and continue training:
training the model in day_1
import tensorflow_datasets as tfds
import tensorflow as tf
import joblib

train, test = tfds.load(
    'fashion_mnist',
    shuffle_files=True,
    as_supervised=True,
    split = ['train', 'test']
)

train = train.repeat(15).batch(64).prefetch(tf.data.AUTOTUNE)
test = test.batch(64).prefetch(tf.data.AUTOTUNE)

model = tf.keras.Sequential()
model.add(tf.keras.Input(shape=(28, 28, 1)))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Conv2D(128, (3,3), activation='relu'))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dropout(rate=.4))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Flatten())
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dense(512, activation='relu'))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dropout(rate=.4))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dense(128, activation='relu'))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dropout(rate=.4))
model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dense(10, activation='sigmoid'))
model.compile(loss=tf.keras.losses.SparseCategoricalCrossentropy(from_logits=False),
              optimizer='adam', metrics=['accuracy'])
model.summary()

model.fit(train, batch_size=256, steps_per_epoch=150, epochs=3, verbose=1)
model.evaluate(test, verbose=1)
joblib.dump(model, 'model_day_1.pkl')

Output after day_1:
Epoch 1/3
150/150 [==============================] - 7s 17ms/step - loss: 23.0504 - accuracy: 0.5786
Epoch 2/3
150/150 [==============================] - 2s 16ms/step - loss: 0.9366 - accuracy: 0.7208
Epoch 3/3
150/150 [==============================] - 3s 17ms/step - loss: 0.7321 - accuracy: 0.7682
157/157 [==============================] - 1s 8ms/step - loss: 0.4627 - accuracy: 0.8405
INFO:tensorflow:Assets written to: ram://***/assets
INFO:tensorflow:Assets written to: ram://***/assets
['model_day_1.pkl']

Load model in day_2 and continue training:
model = joblib.load("/content/model_day_1.pkl")
model.fit(train, batch_size=256, steps_per_epoch=150, epochs=3, verbose=1)
model.evaluate(test, verbose=1)
joblib.dump(model, 'model_day_2.pkl')

Output after day_2:
Epoch 1/3
150/150 [==============================] - 3s 17ms/step - loss: 0.6288 - accuracy: 0.7981
Epoch 2/3
150/150 [==============================] - 2s 16ms/step - loss: 0.5290 - accuracy: 0.8222
Epoch 3/3
150/150 [==============================] - 2s 16ms/step - loss: 0.5124 - accuracy: 0.8272
157/157 [==============================] - 1s 5ms/step - loss: 0.4131 - accuracy: 0.8598
INFO:tensorflow:Assets written to: ram://***/assets
INFO:tensorflow:Assets written to: ram://***/assets
['model_day_2.pkl']

Load model in day_3 and continue training:
model = joblib.load("/content/model_day_2.pkl")
model.fit(train, batch_size=256, steps_per_epoch=150, epochs=3, verbose=1)
model.evaluate(test, verbose=1)
joblib.dump(model, 'model_day_3.pkl')

Output after day_3:
Epoch 1/3
150/150 [==============================] - 3s 17ms/step - loss: 0.4579 - accuracy: 0.8498
Epoch 2/3
150/150 [==============================] - 2s 17ms/step - loss: 0.4078 - accuracy: 0.8589
Epoch 3/3
150/150 [==============================] - 2s 16ms/step - loss: 0.4073 - accuracy: 0.8560
157/157 [==============================] - 1s 5ms/step - loss: 0.3997 - accuracy: 0.8603
INFO:tensorflow:Assets written to: ram://***/assets
INFO:tensorflow:Assets written to: ram://***/assets
['model_day_3.pkl']

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
COP14: 2019 L4L award winners will share expertise in New Delhi
Ordos, China – The seventh Kubuqi International Desert Forum opened on 26 June with a message from the President of China H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, who reiterated county's commitment to international cooperation for protecting global environment. Vice Premier of China H.E. Ms. Sun Chunlan also addressed the Forum, emphasizing that green economy is an important platform for achieving sustainable development goals and that China's success in reversing desertification and land desertification can contribute to the global ecological governance.
The UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw stated that the Forum demonstrates the power of partnerships at every level in tackling issues related to desertification and land degradation, such as biodiversity loss, climate change and social inequality. Mr. Thiaw also delivered the message from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who stressed the utmost importance of reversing land degradation and desertification to meet the challenge of deepening climate emergency and rapid population growth. Mr. Guterres also remarked that the Forum is an opportunity to share and scale up success stories in and beyond China.
Kubuqi is the seventh largest desert in China. Since the 1980s, a number of measures has been implemented in Kubuqi to bring degraded land back to life, resulting in 6,000 square kilometers of restored land as well as financial gain of over 500 billion Yuan (approximately USD72 billion).
In the afternoon of 27 July, a ceremony to honor the 2019 Land for Life (L4L) Award winners took place. Mr. Thiaw and the President of Elion Foundation Mr. Wang Wenbiao congratulated the winners and presented trophies to recognize decades of dedicated work and lasting impact in land restoration and sustainable management.
The L4L award winners will travel to the upcoming UNCCD COP14 in New Delhi, India, to present their work and share experiences with conference attendants from around the world.
Photo (l. to r.): UNCCD Spokesperson Ms. Yukie Hori, National Focal Point of UNCCD in Nigeria Mr. Bala Harlan Gukut, receiving the prize on behalf of Mathieu Ouédraogo – Burkina Faso, President of the Elion Foundation Mr. Wang Wenbiao, National coordinator of MERET Project (first prize) – Ethiopia, Mr. Betru Nedessa Beyene, Executive Secretary of UNCCD Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Director General, Department of Combating Desertification, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Mr. Hu Peixing, receiving the prize on behalf of Mr. Yun Dan – China.
UNCCD Executive Secretary's statement
UN Secretary-General's message
UNCCD COP 14


text:
ZEISS Innovation Offers Consumers Digital Value-Added Vision Care
Study shows ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 meets consumer needs when it comes to purchasing eyeglasses
Digitalization is on everyone's lips and it plays a major role in our day-to-day lives – eye care is much the same. The present and the future of eye care are already digital. With ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 enables eye care professionals to make the digital future a key part of their practice today. A ZEISS study has shown that while consumers feel at home online, they nevertheless prefer precision and on-site consultation when it comes to purchasing glasses.
Joachim Kuss
Phone +49 151 42112288
joachim .kuss @zeiss .com
Download & Share
Further Articles
Aalen | 11 September 2018 | ZEISS Vision Care
A recent study from ZEISS1 on centration confirms that online shopping has become routine for most consumers. Yet when they plan to buy glasses, 98% of those eyeglass wearers surveyed put their trust in an eye care professional and purchase their glasses offline. According to this study, the reasons for purchasing glasses offline are clear: consumers want precisely fitted lenses, good service and the expertise of an eye care professional. These are all areas where, in the future, eye care professionals can stand out from the crowd thanks to digital ZEISS applications, systems and platforms.
Currently, 52% of eyeglass wearers surveyed would consider purchasing their glasses online in the future. The same amount of respondents said that choosing frames virtually at home is very appealing to them. But at the same time, the majority (66%) admitted that a consultation with an eye care professional is still very important. So the local expert, someone they can trust, cannot be replaced. Eye care professionals can even strengthen this relationship by enhancing the consultation with future-proof technology like ZEISS VISUFIT2 1000.
Figure 1: Offline and online eyeglass purchases and percentage of consumers considering online eyeglass purchases in the future
Figure 2: In the study the majority of people reported that personal consultation with an eye care professional is very important, even if trying on frames at home is very appealing to many.
Digital features instore
ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 is a platform for the digital determination of 3D centration data, which is precise, quick and easy to use. With only a single shot a 3D image of the consumer can be created. Nine cameras and 45 million points ensure maximum precision of centration data. ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 provides the consumer with a 180° visualization of his/her head with the frames selected. Consumers try on at least seven different frames. The visualization means they can see themselves from different angles on iPad or PC. That means the purchasing decision is simplified not only for those people with a strong visual impairment. The visualization is something consumers might already have experienced while shopping online. But with ZEISS VISUFIT 1000, this experience is high-quality, precise and has the advantage of a personal consultation; according to the study, consumers perceive this as very important.
With ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 a 3D image of the head is created.
In the future, ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 will be complemented with modules for customizing frames and for virtual try-on. Alongside highly precise centration, this will be a key differentiator so that eye care professionals can enjoy a competitive edge with consumers who like it digital.
Figure 3: ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 allows consumers to compare different frames on the iPad or PC.
Development with a focus on the future
"When developing ZEISS VISUFIT 1000, it was very important that we not only facilitate precise centration but, most importantly, look to the future. We want to take the next big step in digitalization – a new era has begun. Prior to the development of ZEISS VISUFIT 1000, we asked ourselves how we can help our partners – eye care professionals – master the digital future," says Dr. Marc Wawerla, Chief Operating Officer at ZEISS Vision Care.
"The ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 software was then developed by an agile team," says Désirée Niendorf, Head of Product Management for Vision Technology Solutions at ZEISS. "This is a very flexible way of working, as we have quick reaction times and can easily adapt to new requirements or changes. This ensures the flexibility needed to create high-quality software. With this new method we were able to deliver superior digital technology that caters to our customers' needs."
Consumers demand exceptional quality
Precise centration performed by an expert is essential for ensuring optimum, natural vision when wearing glasses. The best eyeglass lenses do not perform properly if they are not correctly centered in the frame and in relation to the eyes. The study revealed that the majority of consumers are not interested in getting more information about centration, but they care very much about precision and quality. They put their trust in eye care professionals' good service and consultation, which is represented by state-of-the-art technology like ZEISS VISUFIT 1000.
Excellent reasons in favor of digital centration
Today it is possible to manufacture customized, highly sophisticated eyeglass lenses designs. The correct calculation of the lens takes into account the position of the lens in relation to the eyes, face and frames, which is essential in order to reach the full potential of the lens and to provide the best possible vision to the wearer.
"For progressive lens wearers, many eye care professionals opt for digital centration methods because of the quick, extremely detailed data capture. However, precise fitting is relevant for all types of lenses. Our study has confirmed that there are good reasons for going digital, the most important being data precision and usability. Our ZEISS devices are digitally linked and make day-to-day work, which includes documentation and orders, significantly easier. In particular, ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 is particularly impressive thanks to its ease of use," says Wawerla. According to the study, the reasons for using digital centration methods are improved service quality and opportunities for upselling.
Figure 4: The use of digital devices for centration differs between the countries.
Figure 5: The four most popular purchasing criteria for a new digital centration device.
ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 is a high-end solution in the ZEISS portfolio of mobile and stationary centration devices. In conjunction with a special connectivity solution, ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 makes it possible to reach another milestone: digital eyeglass consultation. This will play a central role for consumers who like digital experiences instore. "As soon as an eye care professional wishes to offer accurate customization of frames, a digital platform to ease the process of consultation and to enhance the consumers experience is a major next step. In the future ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 will offer specific modules to customize frames and to try on frames virtually, ensuring they are ready for this new era," says Niendorf.
5 pages, 171 kB
ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. The ZEISS Group develops, produces and distributes measuring technology, microscopes, medical technology, eyeglass lenses, camera and cinema lenses, binoculars and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. With its solutions, the company constantly advances the world of optics and helps shape technological progress. ZEISS is divided up into the four segments Research & Quality Technology, Medical Technology, Vision Care/Consumer Products and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. The ZEISS Group is represented in more than 40 countries and has over 50 sales and service locations, more than 30 manufacturing sites and about 25 research and development centers around the globe.
In fiscal year 2016/17 the company generated revenue approximating €5.3 billion with around 27,000 employees. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is the strategic management holding company that manages the ZEISS Group. The company is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).
Further information at www.zeiss.com
The Vision Care business group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments. The business group develops and produces offerings for the entire eyeglass value chain that are distributed globally under the ZEISS brand. The business group is allocated to the Vision Care/Consumer Products segment. In fiscal year 2016/17 the segment generated revenue of €1.1 billion with around 9,770 employees.
More information about ZEISS Less information about ZEISS
Download Press Photo
The future of ophthalmic optics: virtual frame selection with digital twin
New "Virtual Fitting" module for the ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 platform turns on-screen frame selection into an experience
Press Release about New Feature
Digitalizing Centration for 25 Years at ZEISS
Rapid development challenges teamwork
Interview about Agile Methods
More than Centration
All you need to know about ZEISS VISUFIT 1000
9.04.2018 г.
ZEISS Launches Platform for 3D Centration Data Determination
Taking digitalization to the next level
Press Release about Product Launch
Press Releas about New Feature
1 All the results from the study shown here refer to two market research studies commissioned by ZEISS on the topic of centration. One study was conducted with a consumer focus, n (eyeglass wearers) = 900 (300 in Germany, 300 in the USA and 300 in South Korea) – sample period: 4–14 September 2017; the other study focused on ECPs, n = 985 (250 in Germany, 485 in the USA and 250 in South Korea) – sample period: 17 August–29 September 2017
2 VISUFIT 1000 is a registered trademark of Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH.


text:
Hamamelidaceae
Liquidambar macrophylla Oerst.
Common Name: Sweet Gum
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: TreesOfTheWorld.net
Ripening and ripe fruits
Photograph by: Kew on Flickr
Flowers - the males are in a penuncle at the top, the females below are pendulous
Photograph by: Philmarin
Cultivated tree
Photograph by: Kugamazog
Photograph by: Luis Fernández Garcia
Sample of the wood
Photograph by: Ryan Somma
Liquidambar styraciflua is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall. The crown is often tall and spire-like, though it can become rather broadly pyramidal and even somewhat rounded in age[
Flora of Guatemala
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. The straight bole can be 1 metre or more in diameter[
A multipurpose tree, valued especially for the gum it yields which has a variety of medicinal, edible and other uses. A high quality timber is also obtained from the tree. A highly ornamental plant, especially in its autumn foliage[
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
F. Chittendon.
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
Vines. R.A.
University of Texas Press.
A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.
], it is often grown in gardens, parks etc.
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Bean. W.
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition
Fernald. M. L.
American Book Co.; New York
A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
MacMillan Press
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Central America - Honduras and El Salvador, north through Mexico, southern N. America north to Connecticut and Illinois.
Swampy woods which are often inundated annually[
] and on rich bottom lands[
Manual of the Trees of N. America.
Sargent. C. S.
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Dover Publications Inc. New York.
0-486-20278-X
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
]. Moist or wet, often mixed forest, mostly on mountain sides or along streams, often associated with pine or oak, at elevations from 900 - 2,100 metres in Guatemala[
Other Uses Rating
Habit Deciduous Tree
Height 25.00 m
Growth Rate Fast
Pollinators Bees
Cultivation Status Ornamental, Wild
Liquidambar styraciflua is a tree with a wide environmental range, being found as far north as Connecticut in N. America and south to El Salvador and Honduras in Central America. It is mainly, but not exclusively, found at elevations above 1,000 metres in the south of its range, but with some specimens succeeding down to 450 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 34°c, but can tolerate 5 - 38°c[
Ecocrop
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -11°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 800 - 2,500mm[
Prefers a moist but not swampy loam in a sunny sheltered position[
]. Another report says that the plant can tolerate salt-laden winds[
]. Succeeds in light shade[
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Brickell. C.
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
]. Prefers a neutral to acid soil[
The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983.
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants, including Distylium racemosum and some perennial members of the family Berberidaceae.
]. Plants grow poorly in shallow soils overlying chalk[
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[
Trees commence flowering when about 20 - 25 years old[
The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History.
Elias. T.
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.
A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.
Trees are not very resistant to forest fires[
The leaves emit a balsam-like fragrance when they fall in the autumn, this is retained until the leaves are quite withered[
Scented Flora of the World.
Genders. R.
Robert Hale. London.
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
Plants in the north of their range do not produce much resin[
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Facciola. S.
Kampong Publications
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
], yields being best in Central America[
Resists honey fungus[
The Garden. Volume 112.
RHS.
Snippets of information from the magazine of the RHS. In particular, there are articles on plants that are resistant to honey fungus, oriental vegetables, Cimicifuga spp, Passiflora species and Cucurbits.
This species resents root disturbance, young plants should be pot-grown and be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[
A chewing gum and a stabilizer for cakes etc is obtained from the resin[
Native Harvests.
Kavasch. B.
Another guide to the wild foods of America.
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
Trees of Central Texas.
Vines. R. A.
A good concise guide, it gives details of habitats and some of the uses of trees growing in Texas.
Wild Food Plants of Indiana.
McPherson. A. and S.
A nice pocket guide to this region of America.
]. It can also be chewed to sweeten the breath[
A resin obtained from the trunk of the tree (see 'Uses notes' below) is antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, parasiticide, poultice, salve, sedative, stimulant, vulnerary[
The Herb Book.
Lust. J.
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Uphof. J. C. Th.
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
Plants for Man.
Schery. R. W.
Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.
A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Usher. G.
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
Economic Botany.
Hill. A. F.
The Maple Press
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some detail about the plants it does cover.
Earth Medicine, Earth Food.
Weiner. M. A.
A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
Medicinal Plants of China
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Reference Publications, Inc.
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
Houghton Mifflin Co.
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Bown. D.
Dorling Kindersley, London.
0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. It is chewed in the treatment of sore throats, coughs, asthma, cystitis, dysentery etc[
Native American Ethnobotany
Moerman. D.
Timber Press. Oregon.
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. Externally, it is applied to sores, wounds, piles, ringworm, scabies etc[
The resin is an ingredient of 'Friar's Balsam', a commercial preparation based on Styrax benzoin that is used to treat colds and skin problems[
The mildly astringent inner bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and childhood cholera[
The leaves are added to bathes as a soothing and healing application for the skin[
Agroforestry Uses:
A fast-growing and long lived tree, it is fairly free from pests and diseases and has the potential to be a re-forestation tree in cutover lands[
Leaf decay improves soil by increasing the activity of soil microflora and building up the humus layer[
World Agroforesty Centre
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
The aromatic resin 'Storax' is obtained from the trunk of this tree[
Vegetable Gums and Resins.
Howes. F. N.
A very good book dealing with the subject in a readable way.
]. It forms in cavities of the bark and also exudes naturally. It is harvested in autumn[
Meet Flora Mexicana.
Pesman. M. W.
Dale S. King. Arizona.
Very readable flora but rather lacking botanically. A few notes on useful plants.
]. Production can be stimulated by beating the trunk in the spring[
]. The resin has a wide range of uses including medicinal, incense, perfumery, soap and as an adhesive[
]. It is also chewed and used as a tooth cleaner[
The heartwood is brown or reddish brown, the sapwood nearly white[
]. The wood is heavy, fairly hard, fine-grained, not strong, light, tough, resilient. It weighs about 37lb per cubic foot[
]. The wood is sometimes beautifully figured with dark markings; it has a satiny lustre; takes a high polish and can be stained then used as a cherry, mahogany or walnut substitute[
]. It is also used for furniture, flooring, fruit dishes, veneer etc[
The wood is used locally for fuel[
Timber Trees of Meso America.
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/timber/workshops/reports/MA2005/Annex%202.pdf
A PDF document, published on the internet. Detailed reports on about 30 species of timber trees from Central America.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Harvest the seed capsules as they ripen, dry in a warm place and extract the seed by shaking the capsule. Stored seed requires 1 - 3 months stratification and sometimes takes 2 years to germinate. Germination rates are often poor. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Since they resent root disturbance, it is best to plant them out into their permanent positions when they are about 25cm tall.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame.
Suckers as new growth commences.
Layering in the autumn. Takes 12 months.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2019-07-18. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Liquidambar+styraciflua>
Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?


text:
The End Is Near!
Rome, Byzantine, Ottoman- all great empires must fall eventually. Fake Empire here at Mixed Greens is no exception. In fact, the end is only a few days from now, which means you're running out of time to see this wonderful exhibition in person.
Hurry over to see beautiful paper cathedrals crafted by Susan Giles, spectacular videos by Olivo Barbieri and Rob Carter, and gorgeous digital prints by Dionisio Gonzalez and the show's curator, Lee Stoetzel.
You can come by June 29-30 between 11am and 6pm, July 5-6 between 10am and 6pm, or by appointment.
Come witness Fake Empire before it crumbles like the rest of them.
KICKING OFF SUMMER SEASON
Mixed Greens is kicking off the official start of summer - it was June 20th this year - by our annual tradition of going through our inventory. This year we have a quite OCD intern who is super-enthusiastic about re-organizing all the flat files and boxes of artwork. We will keep you all posted about how the inventory-ing goes so be tuned!
Also, the gallery hours during the summer is Tuesday - Friday 10am - 6pm or by appointment (although some of us will be here on Mondays going through inventory).
CS is Indiana Jones-ing it in Cerveteri, Italy (the necropolis where the Euphronios Krater was found)
This post title isn't taking a shot at James Cohan Gallery's current show, it's giving you a warning! Everyday Abstract- Abstract Everyday is in fact well put together and fun to walk through (hats off to curator Matthew Higgs). However, my favorite part of the exhibition also happened to well up one of my biggest fears- drowning. In the farthest back room of the gallery there is a side-by-side monitor looping footage of two people's faces underwater. I happen to have this strange tick where I indirectly take on the struggle/pain of anyone I'm watching on a screen (i.e. when Protagonist is trapped under the water in That Movie, yours truly is sitting on the couch, unable to breathe as well). I found myself immediately transfixed on this underwater scene, wishing I could rip my gaze away and grab a breath, but couldn't. Before passing out my instincts took over and I turned my face to look at other work, but not without breathing a tad heavily. I guess it's fair for me to call this show 'absolutely breathtaking.'
Fresh Ink: Steed Taylor Tats Up Chicago's Navy Pier
Steed Taylor is not your average tattoo artist. His list of clientele sets him apart, without touting names like Rihanna or Beckham. This artist caters to a special set of customers, inking up what he calls 'the skin of the public,' aka city streets. His latest road tattoo can be found at the Navy Pier in Chicago, as a part of the BIGart exhibition.
Tattoos are commemorative and ritualistic in nature, meant to mark the skin with permanent expressions of tribute. Taylor's works accomplish this aim in the most public of settings.
Creating a road tattoo is far more than just filling in stencils; in fact it is an extremely intimate process. Once the tattoo is outlined on the pavement, Taylor fills its skeleton with a specific set of names whilst praying over them. After this ritual the names are covered over to complete the tattoo and solidify the sacred design. Each location pays homage to a different set of selected people; Chicago's 'Galloon' for example honors the out gay and lesbian members of the armed service.
'Galloon' will remain on display in Chicago from now until October, which means YOU still have time to go see it!
Breanne Trammell: Nails In The Key Of Life
ArtInfo says nail art is in. We think so too. Breanne Trammell is starting an art project in which she will travel across the country with a mobile nail salon.
Breanne stopped by MG last Thursday to practice her skills before earning her official license. Chuka got his nails done that day. So did Steven. JEALOUSSS!!!! (says the intern who was not in that day Breanne was here)
If you want to know more about the project or would like to support her road trip, check out her kickstarter page!
Fake Empire Opening Tonight!
Tonight marks the opening of a (literally) monumental show at Mixed Greens, curated by our very own Lee Stoetzel. Fake Empire is a dynamic group exhibition featuring works by Susan Giles, Rob Carter, Olivo Barbieri, Dionisio Gonzalez, and Stoetzel himself. This diverse collection is an absolute treat to witness in person, allowing guests to behold famous landmarks like they never have before.
Unlikely and ironic materials comprise Stoetzel's awe-inspiring landscapes (McDonald's food sphinx above). Equally surprising are Giles' stalwart cathedrals (below), which reveal themselves as delicate paper structures upon closer inspection.
Gonzalez's whimsical structures (below) are a surefire crowd pleaser, and two remarkable videos by Barbieri and Carter bolster the show's running theme. Barbieri takes viewers on an aerial tour of the infamous Sin City while Carter presents an accelerated reel of a monastery's construction.
Bird's eye view of Las Vegas, compliments of Barbieri.
This is a must-see exhibition... be sure to come by and experience Fake Empire for yourself!
Bushwick Open Studios
Mixed Greens visited the Bushwick Open Studios last Saturday.
One of Heather's favorites from the Open Studios was Oliver Warden's Untitled Box 2.0. Cornell Dewitt of PULSE seems to enjoy it too!
That being said, we can't end the blog post without a photo of our very own Heather. HBD in the studio of Susan Hamburger, photo taken by Rachel Hegburg!
PARIS-SCOPE: See Rock City
PARIS—SCOPE
AUDREY HASEN RUSSELL: SEE ROCK CITY
June 8–August 17, 2012 Opening: Friday, June 8, 6-8pm
Mixed Greens announces the second installment of Paris-Scope, a series of peculiar, collaborative exhibitions that give visitors to Mixed Greens a glimpse into Paris-based Projective City's newest gallery space. Operating as a kind of alchemical experiment into the possibilities of "action at a distance," viewers are able to peer into (but obviously not enter) the space both thousands of miles away and inches from their grasp—to mystically be both HERE and THERE simultaneously. The Paris-Scope series allows artists unprecedented control over the gallery space, and focuses on ambitious solo installations. The second exhibition in the series is See Rock City by Audrey Hasen Russell
SEE SEVEN STATES! LEFT IN FIVE MILES to see WONDER of the WORLD!
In her installation for Paris-Scope, Russell returns to her Tennessee roots and the phenomenon in which farmers
advertise local attractions (like "Rock City") on the huge walls of their barns. The notion of a rock city, simultaneously real and imagined, is an ideal starting point for Russell's unique practice.
Russell's work is deceptively ambitious. Initially, it comes across as whimsical: Mysterious, incongruous, and very much playful. Yet under this lightness of touch, Russell engages the heavy notion of "second nature," the way in which our constructed world appears natural to us as we grow up within it. We've slipped into a world in which a string of electrical pylons stretching over farmland seem utterly natural to us, while neither the pylons nor the farm are anything of the kind. How to carve out somewhere to live in the space of second nature? Russell faces the question head on, yet the seriousness of this vexing philosophical
problem is belied by the aroma of playfulness, hope, and fun lingering in the atmosphere around the work.
Audrey Hasen Russell grew up in East Tennessee at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on the family farm. She received a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an MFA in Sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has been included in recent exhibitions at Lesley Heller Workspace, NY, NY; Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL; Philadelphia Art Alliance, PA; and Nurture Art, Brooklyn, NY. Solo show venues include Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL; The University of Wyoming, Laramie; WaveHill, Bronx, NY; and ADA Gallery, Richmond, VA. Audrey has been honored to participate in residencies including The Fountainhead Residency in Miami, FL; SculptureSpace in Utica, NY; The Robert MacNamara Foundation, Westport Island, ME; and most recently as a fellow at The MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH. Russel currently lives and works way out in Queens, NY.
Projective City, under the direction of Benjamin Evans, aims to advance, promote, and make visible the work of emerging artists through an ongoing, flexible, and interconnected series of projects. Working on the assumption that bigger is generally worse, projects are for the most part designed to be smaller-scale and more intimate, aiming for personal encounters between artists, artworks, and audiences.
Projective City's gallery space is located at 34 Rue Hélene Brion, Paris 13eme, and, for the time being, through a peephole at Mixed Greens.
TAGS: exhibitions / paris-scope
Joseph Smolinski: Studio Visit
We had an amazing visit with artist Joseph Smolinski yesterday at his studio in Connecticut. Check out some pictures we took while we were there!


text:
Authors
================

* Matthew Westcott matthew.westcott@torchbox.com twitter: @gasmanic
* David Cranwell david.cranwell@torchbox.com twitter: @davecranwell
* Karl Hobley karl.hobley@torchbox.com

Contributors
============

* Helen Chapman helen.chapman@torchbox.com
* Balazs Endresz balazs.endresz@torchbox.com
* Neal Todd neal.todd@torchbox.com
* Paul Hallett (twilio) hello@phalt.co
* Tom Dyson
* Serafeim Papastefanos
* Łukasz Bołdys
* peterarenot
* Levi Gross
* Delgermurun Purevkhuu
* Lewis Cowper
* Stephen Newey
* Ryan Foster
* v1kku
* Miguel Vieira
* Ben Emery
* David Smith
* Ben Margolis
* Tom Talbot
* Jeffrey Hearn
* Robert Clark
* Tim Heap
* Nathan Brizendine
* thenewguy
* John-Scott Atlakson
* Eric Drechsel
* Alejandro Giacometti
* Robert Rollins
* linibou
* Timo Rieber
* Jerel Unruh
* georgewhewell
* Frank Wiles
* Sebastian Spiegel
* Alejandro Varas
* Martin Sanders
* Benoît Bar
* Claudemiro
* Tiago Henriques
* Arne Schauf
* Jordi Joan
* Damian Moore
* signalkraft
* Mac Chapman
* Brett Grace
* Nar Chhantyal
* Michael Fillier
* Mitchel Cabuloy
* Piet Delport
* Tom Christie
* Michael van Tellingen
* Scot Hacker
* Kyungil Choi
* Joss Ingram
* Christoph Lipp

Translators
===========

* Basque: Unai Zalakain
* Bulgarian: Lyuboslav Petrov
* Catalan: David Llop
* Chinese: Victoria Chan, Leway Colin, hanfeng, qiulin, Tulpar Turamat, wwj718
* Chinese (China): hanfeng, Lihan Li, ufoym
* Chinese (Taiwan): wdv4758h, jshc
* Croatian: Luka Matijević
* Czech: Jiri Stepanek
* Dutch: t.vandemeer, mahulst, Samuel Leeuwenburg
* Finnish: Glen Somerville
* French: Sylvain Fankhauser, sephii, Adrihein, Bertrand Bordage, Romain Hardouin, linibou, nahuel, Benoît Bar
* Galician: fooflare, fonso
* German: Karl Sander, Johannes Spielmann, m0rph3u5, pcraston, Tammo van Lessen
* Greek: Serafeim Papastefanos, Jim Dal
* Hebrew (Israel): bjesus, Lior Abazon
* Icelandic: Arnar Tumi Þorsteinsson, saevarom
* Italian: Andrea Tagliazucchi, Claudio Bantaloukas, Alessio Di Stasio, Giacomo Ghizzani
* Japanese: Daigo Shitara, Toshikazu Michisu
* Mongolian: Delgermurun Purevkhuu, miiiga
* Norwegian Bokmål: Eirik Krogstad
* Polish: Łukasz Bołdys
* Portuguese (Brazil): Gilson Filho, Douglas Miranda, Thiago Cangussu, João Luiz Lorencetti, Gladson Brito, Marcelo J. Both
* Portuguese (Portugal): Jose Lourenco, Tiago Henriques
* Romanian: Dan Braghis
* Russian: ice9, HNKNTA, MechanisM, Andrey Tykhonov, Kirill Drozdov, Liliana Kastilio, Sergey Komarov
* Spanish: Unai Zalakain, fooflare, Yusuf (Josè) Luis
* Ukrainian: Andrey Tykhonov, Mykola Zamkovoi
* Vietnamese: binhle, Luan Nguyen
* Korean: Ji Han Chung

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
«Хор»— американский телевизионный сериал с элементами мюзикла, драмы и комедии, транслируемый телеканалом Fox в США и Канаде. Сериал был номинирован на девятнадцать премий «Эмми», четыре премии «Золотой глобус», шесть премий «Спутник» и пятьдесят семь других номинаций. «Хор» дважды стал лауреатом премии «Золотой глобус» в категории «Лучший телесериал — комедия или мюзикл» — в 2010 и 2011 годах; в 2010 году актёр Крис Колфер был отмечен в категории «Лучшая мужская роль второго плана — мини-сериал, телесериал или телефильм». Актриса Джейн Линч получила награду «Эмми» как «Лучшая актриса второго плана в комедийном сериале» Нил Патрик Харрис — как «Лучший приглашённый актёр в комедийном сериале», а в 2011 году — Гвинет Пэлтроу как «Лучшая приглашённая актриса в комедийном телесериале».

Награды сайтов AfterEllen.com и AfterElton.com

Dorian Awards

Эмми

Прайм-тайм премия «Эмми»

Творческие премии «Эмми»

Золотой глобус

Выбор народа

Премия «Спутник»

Teen Choice Awards

Другие награды

Примечания
 в категории «Лучший комедийный сериал»: «Pilot» и «Preggers»; «Wheels» и «Sectionals»; «The Power of Madonna» и «Home».

 в категории «Лучший комедийный сериал»: «Audition» и «Silly Love Songs»; «Original Song» и «The Substitute»; «Duets» и «Never Been Kissed».

 в категории «Лучший актёрский состав в комедийном сериале»: Дианна Агрон, Крис Колфер, Патрик Галлахер, Джессалин Гилсиг, Джейн Линч, Джейма Мэйс, Кевин Макхейл, Лиа Мишель, Кори Монтейт, Хизер Моррис, Мэтью Моррисон, Эмбер Райли, Ная Ривера, Марк Саллинг, Гарри Шам-младший, Джош Сассман, Айкбал Теба, Диджон Тэлтон и Дженна Ашковиц.

 в категории «Лучший актёрский состав в комедийном сериале»: Макс Адлер, Дианна Агрон, Крис Колфер, Джейн Линч, Джейма Мэйс, Кевин Макхейл, Лиа Мишель, Кори Монтейт, Хизер Моррис, Мэтью Моррисон, Майк О'Мэлли, Эмбер Райли, Ная Ривера, Марк Саллинг, Гарри Шам-младший, Айкбал Теба и Дженна Ашковиц.

Источники

Ссылки
 Награды телесериала «Хор» на сайте Internet Movie Database

Хор (телесериал)
Хор

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Renal artery aneurysm (RAA) is an uncommon and usually asymptomatic renovascular abnormality. Its incidence varies from 0.09 % up to 1 % and almost always is an incidental finding through imaging investigation tests for other reasons1-3. Treatment in most of the cases can be successful using surgical or endovascular repair methods even though up to 20 % of these cases will eventually need a nephrectomy, ex-vivo aneurysm repair/reconstruction and subsequent autotransplantation4. We report a case where the kidney with the RAA was used as a graft for a living related allotransplantation.
A 68-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease secondary to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis on hemodialysis for six months, was admitted for an elective living-related kidney transplantation. The donor was his 45-years-old daughter. Pre-transplant histocompatibility testing showed 1, 1, 1 mismatch on the A, B and DR loci, respectively. The preoperative renal function of the donor was normal. The donor's pre-assessment with an abdominal computed tomography (CT) angiogram demonstrated a saccular non-thrombosed aneurysm of the left renal artery (Figure 1). The right renal vessels were unremarkable. The transplant team decided to use the left kidney as a graft with a plan to carry out an aneurysm reconstruction.
Figure 1: Computed tomography angiogram of the abdomen demonstrating the left renal artery aneurysm, at the bifurcation of the renal artery, with dimensions approximately 13 x 17 mm.
After laparoscopic removal of the kidney, ex-vivo reconstruction was performed before transplantation. The renal artery was irrigated to distend the aneurysm (Figure 2), from which two distinct arterial branches were identified. The saccular aneurysm was excised, and the defect was repaired with a running 6-0 polypropylene suture (Figure 3). The reconstructed renal artery was anastomosed end-to-side to the recipient's external iliac artery. At revascularization, there was no anastomotic leak with good perfusion of the organ. The operation lasted 245 minutes with a total ischemic time of 130 minutes.
Figure 2: Irrigation of the aneurysm sac located at the bifurcation of the renal artery to posterior and anterior renal branch.
On the first postoperative day the protocol kidney ultrasound exam was unremarkable with good flow throughout, normal resistant index and normal appearances of the renal artery and the anastomosis. The donor was discharged two days after the laparoscopic nephrectomy and the recipient after an uneventful recovery was discharged on the 8th postoperative day.
Figure 3: Excision of the saccular aneurysm sac ex-vivo before the transplantation (A) and repair of the defect after excision of the aneurysm with a running 6-0 polypropylene suture (B).
Five months after the transplantation the function of the renal graft is satisfactory with a serum creatinine of 121 μmol/L and donor's postoperative creatinine level is 82 μmol/L.
Excluding the cases with multiple vessels, anomalies of the renal vasculature can be identified up to 6 % of the live donor pre-assessment investigations1,5. RAA is one of the most uncommon anatomical abnormalities with a prevalence of less than 1% in the general population1,2,4,6,7. The majority of RAAs are classified as saccular and less frequently can be fusiform, dissecting or intra-renal1,7.
RAA is usually an incidental finding because it is either asymptomatic or has no specific clinical presentation and causes no subsequent problems3,4,7 unless it is complicated by rupture, thrombosis or causes embolic episode especially in pre-menopausal women. These can present as acute medical conditions causing morbidity or mortality6,7. Although currently there are no strong associations identified, the renal aneurysm has been correlated with systematic hypertension; however, it is unclear whether hypertension is the causative factor or just the result of it7.
The difficulty of identifying causative and prognostic factors for RAAs is the main reason why there are no specific guideline recommendations regarding the management of this rare entity. Henke et al3 support that all patients with uncontrolled hypertension and RAAs more than 1 cm should undergo surgical repair. Surgical repair is also necessary for all aneurysms greater than 2 cm, regardless of the patient's blood pressure. For aneurysms between 1 and 2 cm, they suggest close follow-up. Non-calcified saccular aneurysms in hypertensive patients have increased risk for rupture7. Literature agrees that the decision for a surgical repair of renal aneurysms should be based on the age, gender, anatomic characteristics of the aneurysm and its size2,3,7. Autotransplantation of the kidney after ex-vivo surgical repair of the aneurysm in cases that the repair is not feasible using endovascular methods is a well-established treatment option2,3,7. Also, re-implantation of the organ after ex-vivo surgical repair of the aneurysm has been successfully used in cases of an aneurysm in already transplanted kidneys8,9. In the reported case the aneurysm was a non-calcified saccular aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 1.7 cm, located at the bifurcation of the left renal artery and discovered incidentally in a young hypertensive female donor. Based on the literature recommendations, we believe that use of this kidney as a graft after ex-vivo repair of the aneurysm was justified.
The fact that the number of the patients with end-stage renal disease is increasing and the number of donor organs is limited, expansion of the donor selection criteria in order to increase the number of organs available for transplantation is inevitable, both for cadaveric and living donor allograft transplantation1,5,10. Isolated case reports and small case series1,4,6 showed that the selected use of organs with renovascular pathology is a safe solution for the recipient and at the same time gives definite treatment to the donor. There is, however, the need for close post-operative follow-up for the donor (in addition to the recipient) because of a reported increased risk of aneurysm incidence in the remaining kidney1.
After careful selection and in experienced surgical transplant centers, renal artery aneurysm should not be considered an exclusion criterion for transplant. This does not possess any additional risks for the recipient. We, however, advocate close postoperative follow-up for both the donor and the recipient.
The authors declare that there is not conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
This case was presented as an e-poster at the 12th Congress of the Surgical Society of North Greece, Kavala.
1. Olakkengil SA, Mohan Rao M. Transplantation of kidneys with renal artery aneurysm. Clin Transplant. 2011; 25: E516-E519.
2. Genzini T, Noujaim MH, Mota TL, Ianhez LE, Azevedo de Oliveira R, Shiroma ET, et al. Renal autotransplantation to treat renal artery aneurysm: case report. Sao Paulo Med J. 2014; 132: 307-310.
3. Henke PK, Cardneau JD, Welling TH 3rd, Upchurch GR Jr, Wakefield TW, Jacobs LA, et al. Renal artery aneurysms. a 35-year clinical experience with 252 aneurysms in 168 patients. Ann Surg. 2001; 234: 454-462; discussion 462-463.
4. Jung CW, Park KT, Kim MG. Experiences of renal transplants from donors with a renal artery aneurysm after a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy and ex vivo reconstruction of the renal artery. Exp Clin Transplant. 2013; 11: 324-326.
5. Serrano DP, Flechner SM, Moldin CS, Streem SB, Golfrarb DA, Novick AC. The use of kindeys from living donors with renal vascular disease: expanding the donor pool. J Urol. 1997; 157: 1587-1591.
6. Hwang JK, Kim JI, Moon IS. Kidney transplantation after ex vivo repair of an aneurysm of the donor renal artery. J Korean Soc Transplant. 2009; 23:166-168.
7. Schulte W, Rodriguez-Davalos M, Lujic M, Schlosser F, Sumpio B. Operative Management of Hilar Renal Artery Aneurysm in a Pregnant Patient. Ann Vasc Dis. 2015; 8: 242-245.
8. Busato CR, de Lima Utrabo CA, de Sousa WF, Gomes RZ, Hosoume JK, Hoeldtke E, et al. Renal artery aneurysm in a transplanted kidney: ex vivo graft repair and reimplantation. J Vasc Bras. 2009; 8: 89-91.
9. Guleria S, Ahmad N, Pollard SG, Newstead CG, Lodge JP. Transplant renal artery aneurysm following venous patch repair of a traction injury to the renal artery. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1998; 13: 1577-1578.
10. Kumar A, Das SK, Srivastava A. Expanding the living related donor pool in renal transplantation: use of marginal donors. Transplant Proc. 2003; 35: 28-29.


Does Peaceful Living Pch, Inc offer the following services?
Peaceful Living is situated in a corner lot with lots of private space. A nice clean safe environment, a home away from home feel.
We offer three healthy home cooked meals and two snacks, daily activity and outings.
Call Dorine at 770 815 3152 and come and see for yourself.


* Capital is at risk. Past results do not guarantee future results.
** Fees may apply to Secondary Market and transferring out of an ISA.
^ T&Cs apply. £250 cashback subject to meeting investment criteria.
Kuflink Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (Registration Number 724890).


text:
import json
import os

from django.http import JsonResponse, StreamingHttpResponse
from django.views.decorators.http import require_http_methods

from authentication import authenticator
from machine import machine_controller
from virtualbox import virtualbox_controller

GUEST_ADDITIONS_DIR = '/var/tinymakecloud/additions/'
GUEST_TEMPLATES_DIR = '/var/tinymakecloud/templates/'
GUEST_OS_DIR = '/var/tinymakecloud/images/'

def _ListFiles(dir_path):
  return [
    name for name in os.listdir(dir_path)
    if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(dir_path, name))
  ]

def StreamJson(iterator):
  yield '['
  seq = 0
  for line in iterator:
    line['seq'] = seq
    line['done'] = False
    seq += 1
    yield json.dumps(line) + ','
  yield json.dumps({'seq': seq, 'msg': '', 'done': True, 's': 'OK'})
  yield ']'

def StreamError(error):
  json_str = json.dumps({'s': 'FAIL', 'msg': error, 'done': True, 'seq': 0})
  yield '[' + json_str + ']'

@require_http_methods(['POST'])
@authenticator.RequireAuth
def StartVms(request, vm_names):
  vm_names = vm_names.split(',')
  return StreamingHttpResponse(StreamJson(
      virtualbox_controller.StartVms(vm_names)))

@require_http_methods(['POST'])
@authenticator.RequireAuth
def PowerOffVms(request, vm_names):
  vm_names = vm_names.split(',')
  return StreamingHttpResponse(StreamJson(
      virtualbox_controller.PowerOffVms(vm_names)))

@require_http_methods(['POST'])
@authenticator.RequireAuth
def DeleteVms(request, vm_names):
  vm_names = vm_names.split(',')
  return StreamingHttpResponse(StreamJson(
      virtualbox_controller.DeleteVms(vm_names)))

@require_http_methods(['POST'])
@authenticator.RequireAuth
def CreateVm(request):
  reqJson = json.loads(request.body)
  vm_name = reqJson['name']
  machine_name = reqJson['machine']
  memory = reqJson['memory']
  if memory not in virtualbox_controller.OPTIONS_MEMORY:
    return StreamingHttpResponse(StreamError('Invalid memory option.'))

  if reqJson['guest_creation'] == 'CLONE':
    guest_template = reqJson['guest_template']
    guest_template_from_machine = reqJson['guest_template_from_machine']
    return StreamingHttpResponse(StreamJson(
        virtualbox_controller.CreateVmFromSnapshot(
            vm_name,
            machine_name=machine_name,
            memory=str(memory),
            snapshot_path=guest_template,
            snapshot_from_machine=guest_template_from_machine)))
  elif reqJson['guest_creation'] == 'INSTALL':
    guest_image = reqJson['guest_image']
    guest_image_from_machine = reqJson['guest_image_from_machine']
    guest_addition = reqJson['guest_addition']
    guest_addition_from_machine = reqJson['guest_addition_from_machine']
    return StreamingHttpResponse(StreamJson(
        virtualbox_controller.CreateVm(
            vm_name,
            machine_name=machine_name,
            password=virtualbox_controller.GetDefaultPassword(),
            memory=str(memory),
            image=guest_image,
            image_from_machine=guest_image_from_machine,
            additions_iso=guest_addition,
            additions_iso_from_machine=guest_addition_from_machine)))
  else:
    return StreamingHttpResponse(
        StreamError('Invalid option: ' + reqJson['guest_creation']))

@require_http_methods(['POST'])
@authenticator.RequireAuth
def GetAllVmInfo(request):
  return JsonResponse({'vms': virtualbox_controller.GetAllVmInfo()})

@require_http_methods(['POST'])
@authenticator.RequireAuth
def GetOptions(request):
  try:
    return JsonResponse(virtualbox_controller.GetDefaultVm())
  except Exception as e:
    return JsonResponse({'error': str(e)})


Cleaning the toilet takes a lot of time and effort and the results may not always be up to the mark.
Thankfully, we've got you covered. You just need a few household ingredients to get the job done. It may sound unrealistic but it is true.
Mix vinegar and water in the spray bottle and add baking soda in it.
Shake it well to dissolve the baking soda.
Squeeze a whole lemon in it or pour a few drops of any scented oil.
Grate less than a quarter of a bathing soap in it.
Put the cap back and shake well before each use.
Spray it all over the floor and mop the surface.
Voila, your toilet floor should be bright and shiny.
Cif surface cleaner works wonders too.


1 - a 13" iPad which could be a serious competitor to similarly sized laptops as well as the Microsoft Surface tablet. This last comparison is all the more interesting since a Microsoft employee came on stage at the Apple event to show how MS Office works on the iPad - what were they thinking??
2 - iPhone 6s and 6s plus - significant improvements in several areas in spite of the "s" designation.
3 - A long over due version of Apple TV to compete with a variety of other Internet connection devices from the likes of Google, Amazon and Roku.
4 - iOS 9 - the latest version of its mobile operating system was released. Of the myriad of features included only one appeared "major" to me. Some Android devices have had a split screen for years and Apple played catch up with a great version of its own. I do a lot of writing on my iPad using a Logitech keyboard/case and now I can read or copy from a source (web page on the right) and compose a document or email (on the left). I have MS Office and Apple's office suite on my iPad so I have power tools at my fingertips wherever I am. I can also have email opened on the left and check or update my calendar on the right which makes scheduling a breeze.
5 - 3D Touch is likely to be the biggest one of all. It combines old style pressure touch with common capacitive touch.
6 - In another development that some would say is a "catchup" move iOS 9 now has a "back button" of sorts which I really like because it is tailored to the application. For example if you tap a date in an email message it will open your calendar to that date and display a "back to email" icon at the top of the calendar. The same thing happens if you click on a web page in a specific document - you will see a back to that source on the web page. I'm sure the debate will rage about whether the more generic Android version is better than the more tailored version of Apple.
Last month I explained how you could avoid visiting "bad" web sites. This article describes the very serious threat of Ransomware. I don't like to write "scary stories" about online dangers but this one is serious and has afflicted several acquaintances. The latest plague on the Internet Land is dubbed Ransomware because these attacks take control of your computer and demand payment. There are two different versions - one not too serious and one really, really serious.
In the first case, clicking on a link in an email message or web page takes you to a fraudulent web site. You will immediately lose control of your computer which is now controlled by code in your browser. The web page displayed will be overlaid by messages saying your computer is locked and you need to "call this number" (don't) for assistance. You cannot get rid of the message or do anything else with your computer. Even if you restart your computer or the browser, the problem often persists. There are so many browsers and operating systems versions I can't tell you exactly what to do. I will say the problem is usually not "fatal" meaning no loss of data and there are ways to deal with it that should be found by a search - obviously on another computer.
The second case is much more serious. Again, clicking on a malicious link (do you see a pattern here?) can cause a total lock up of your computer AND YOUR DATA. Your data is encrypted (unusable) and you will be instructed to pay a fee of several hundred dollars to fix the problem - which of course they may or may not do when you pay up - remember these people are criminals. Sometimes your data can be retrieved by an expert and sometimes not. What can you do?
Prevention is the only good approach because there is no certain cure; you should have a good back up system. Assume all your data will be lost sometime. This can include a backup disk strategy that is well thought out - unconnected backup disks (otherwise they might also be corrupted), disk rotation including off-site copy, etc. Increasingly we are turning to cloud storage to put our information in an entirely different location. Dozens of these service exist - Dropbox, Box, Sugar sync, MS iDrive, Google drive, Apple iCloud, etc.
Of course the best strategy is to use more than one - combine local storage with a remote service. I was a cautious at first but my preference now is to use cloud storage - iCloud and Dropbox - for my "originals" and make copies on to my local hard drives from time to time. Having the originals stored in the cloud makes them accessible from any device anywhere. I use the word "originals" advisedly since the original meaning of original no longer applies. My originals are the cloud based working copies - which are occasionally backed up locally.
You would certainly be cautious when opening your door to let someone into your house. You should be just as careful when opening your computer to someone you don't know. A single mouse click can let a total stranger take control of your computer and all the information in it. We often hear you should only click on links sent to you by people you know. The bizarre assumption here is that you don't know how to spot bad web sites but all of your friends do - so apparently ALL of your friends are smarter than you. I doubt that.
The important thing to remember is that a web site is identified by two different character strings. The first one is the one you see displayed as a "link". It might be something like "click here" or www.IBM.com. It could also be a picture. The words are usually underlined and often a different color. The second string is the real "website address". It is always a string of characters such as www.com.com/abcde/mnop.html and it is always hidden from view. This is the one that matters. The one you can see may have no real meaning at all and if someone were trying to get you to go to the Toyota web site, they could show www.Honda.com but connect it to the address www.Toyota.com.
More likely scammers would link www.Honda.com to a fraudulent web site. That's how it works - what you see is not what you get. If you are not certain a website link is legitimate you need to view the actual (hidden) website address. How you do this varies from device to device but you can usually right click or copy the displayed link and paste it into the address/search field of your browser. The supposed www.IBM.com link might look more like "www.companyyouveneverheardof.ch - a company you've never heard of with a website registered in China (ch). Be very suspicious when there are two unrecognized letters following the first period. These are country codes - MX Mexico, RU Russia, etc.
Since apps are generally inexpensive and easy to try out I'm just going to make a list of my favorites as a starting point. You can check them out and judge pretty quickly whether or not you want to try them. PS Photoshop is the most expensive ($10) but it's worth it if you want to do serious photo editing.
I was thrilled recently when I discovered our new microwave had one hundred "power levels" - exactly ten times as many as its predecessor - which cooked quite well until it quit cooking. Then I discovered a scary fact: that amount of power was what you would expect from the radiation leak of a medium sized nuclear reactor - a scary thought indeed. Upon further research I discovered that power level 100 (new) is exactly the same as power level 10 (old). Just one of many problems we can blame on Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) better known as "the first programmer" - yes the first programmer was a woman!
A few decades back when you designed something - a car or a toaster for example - every feature you added required metal or plastic pieces and usually some wiring. read the rest of the story here.
Once the product was created, modifying it was very difficult and usually accomplished by the kid next door souping up a hot rod in a month's long undertaking. For better, but often for worse, things are different today due to the curse of software.
Now a new feature or a modification - like increasing the power levels on a microwave - can be done by assembling a series of ones and zeros (called programming) and these can be injected into your stereo or carburetor with the click of an "upgrade now" button. This has lead to the "Because We Can" syndrome. Programmers are known for their dedication to their task, creativity and long hours. And of course the marketing department adds to the problem by dreaming up new "features" in day long brain storming sessions. These powerful forces combine to crank out millions of zeros and ones (called features) every month.
Is it any wonder most of us can't figure out most things we own that run on electricity. It started with our inability to program a VCR so we couldn't even use it to tell time let alone schedule recordings.
I've previously used the example of "feature bloat" in Microsoft Word which grew by their own admission from 150 to 1,500 commands. Why? Two reasons. Something had to change to sell upgrades over the years and software is incredibly easy to modify.
Now - years after we gave up trying to program our VCRs - we face the challenge of programming our microwaves, refrigerators, smoke detectors, auto dashboards and thermostats and - even more exciting - we will be able to do it from any place in the world. Due to this great advance in technology - willy nilly adding more digits - you can now know precisely to the one hundredth of an ounce how much weight you gained over the holidays!
Raise your hand if you've ever ask a nephew, neighbor or colleague for help with your computer - maybe trying to change a page margin or turn off the bold setting in MS Word. That's what I thought, put your hands down. There are really a small number of "experts" like your nephew - maybe 5% of users. Everyone else just tries to get by and learn as little about technology as possible - "I don't want to study it, I just want it to work" you say - and life goes on. Now, imagine the future Internet of Things where "they" want to connect everything you own to the Internet.
"Everything" includes your washing machine, your thermostat, your blood pressure cuff, your garage door opener and your mother's heart monitor. Now imagine what happens if you really don't understand how it all works. It's one thing to have a not so pretty Word document but what if you decide when you wake up that you don't want the coffee maker to start right away and turn it off with your everpresent smartphone - but accidentally disable grannie's pacemaker. Those darned icons look a lot alike without your glasses. The bigger point is that if you think using a handful of PC programs is hard, what will it be like when dozens of other "things with computers" are "upgraded" with a host of features and commands - just like MS Office. "I need to call Philbert 'cause I can't figure out how to make toast"! I'll continue this topic next month with "Because we can - the curse of modern software".
You might think that information on the web stays on the web - but sadly it does not. Quite often embarrassing or incriminating pages just disappear as fast as you can say "delete". Since web resources are routinely quoted for much of our work, what happens when those links are no longer available. Whether it's a class report, a research study or a legal document, the veracity of our work often depends on the sources. This New Yorker report goes into great detail on this very critical topic and the Wayback web archive that hopes to solve the problem.
It's likely tablets will continue to grow in power, storage and size. If they hope to replace laptops, they will need to be bigger and rumors abound that Apple will introduce a 12 inch model this year. This could be related to the recent agreement between Apple and IBM which is beginning to bear fruit - including their first roll out of business apps.
Speaking of replacing laptops, a good keyboard is a must companion for your tablet and the latest models by Logitech are astounding. I do most of my typing - including this newsletter - on the one shown above at a coffee shop recently. If you want to use a tablet as a productivity tool, you really should get a keyboard.
What can Samsung learn from Downton Abbey?
My apologies if you are one of the three people not yet hooked on Downton Abbey but there really are striking similarities between the two. DA features the owners of a large English estate governed by a descendant of previous owners. Likewise Samsung is ruled by the grandson of the original founder like many other SE Asian companies.
DA and Samsung are both struggling to find a new business model. In the case of DA they decided to raise pigs! Samsung has lost significant ground in the the smartphone market in the last year due to competition from Xiaomi at the low end and Apple at the top. Their focus at last week's Consumer Electronics extravaganza was not on phones (or pigs) but all the things they could connect to the Internet - the Internet of Things. Samsung still sells more smartphones than anyone - they just don't make much money doing it.
Please forgive me - I never imagined I'd be writing my tech column about a soap opera!
Picture This: Have you tried video/still photography?
For kids, sports and wildlife photography, it's very difficult to press the shutter at exactly the right time for that "special" image. As smartphone cameras improve, you should consider taking action shots in video mode and then extracting the best stills.
Professionals who spend thousands of dollars on a single lens for cameras that can snap ten frames per second and weigh five pounds have the perfect solution - but I only know six professional photographers. For the rest of us a good quality smartphone, a little time to get the best video possible and an app such as SnapStill to locate and save special images is all it takes. The picture at the right was taken on my iPhone originally as a video.


Tourism Top End offers a range of cottages, chalets and private villas in Darwin and the Top End. Chalets, villas and cottages can be rented as a whole house to ensure complete privacy and comfort on holiday. They have numerous bedroom options to suit your requirements. A villa or a cottage is perfect for a family with kids as you can enjoy the luxury of a having private swimming pool, a modern kitchen for cooking meals and sometimes even a separate children's room!
The villas are also suitable for a group of friends or couples who seek a private retreat to relax and unwind amongst the beautiful scenery of this region.
A great advantage of staying in a villa is that you have privacy and don't have to share space, unlike in hotels. A villa is self-equipped, and many offer luxurious amenities such as modern bedrooms with ensuites, separate living and dining areas, a kitchen and a private garden with a pool. Some of them may even have a media and entertainment room or a study.
Other features can include TV, DVD, Wi-Fi, BBQ and a host of other amenities that will ensure you enjoy a stress free holiday in the Top End. The Top End has some stunning, luxury villas, cottages and chalets accommodate each one's comfort and style. We have villas and cottages in Darwin, Kakadu National Park and around Alice Springs and Surrounds.
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Home/science/Allegations of Toxic Behavior in Team of the Season for PS5 – Nerd4.life
Allegations of Toxic Behavior in Team of the Season for PS5 – Nerd4.life
Phil Schwartz January 27, 2021
season It is new exclusive to PS5 Which was considered one of the best news seen during the 2020 Game Awards, but apparently within the indie team Scavenger Studio Things do not properly reflect the beauty of the product being worked on, and management has also accused it Toxic behaviors And violent.
A new study by GamesIndustry.biz begins from various Testimonials – recommendations By developers of Scavenger Studio (also team author of The Darwin Project) who decided to unveil theProblematic environment Where they work. There are 9 people, including developers who are still working by the team and others who have left, which is an important ratio if we consider that the studio in question consists of about 30-40 employees.
The developers report that the team consists of talented and passionate people, but the work environment is under great risk from team management, especially for Simon Darvo (Coming from Ubisoft, another company that has been at the center of a similar controversy, and founder of Spearhead Games) supported in some way Scavenger Amélie Lamarche CEO, Which in fact also has a romantic relationship with Darfu.
Various testimonies talk about discrimination Towards women, even really Officer Inappropriate behavior, which also results from alcohol use in the workplace, but generally aggressive behavior toward many employees. In addition, the witnesses reported ill-treatment and allergies.
The problem is that these fluctuations cannot pass Procedure standard Within the company because in reality there is no human resources department within it, as it is A very small teamThe reference figure for these matters is CEO Lamarche, who is closely associated with Darvo with respect to emotional and personal matters and actually appears to support his behavior.
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But it is surprising how all this is clear variance With what happens from Season the game was admired upon display: its poetic beauty and the fact that it appears to be based on a story that speaks to empowerment and the glorification of diversity.
In any case, we are looking forward to any clarifications and developments on this issue, which at the moment seems to be in line with other similar cases that have emerged recently in the indie field such as Aeon Must Die or Qena: Spirits Bridge.
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