Peeps are a staple of this time of year—thank you Easter! If you haven't noticed them in grocery stores already, just wait, soon they will be EVERYWHERE. If you have a Mom, Grandma, or any family at all, you may find yourself sitting on a mountain of peeps–with all their beady little candy eyes mocking you. If you're like me, you may get tired of simply shoveling them into your mouth and will need to find more creative ways to dispose of all your excess peeps.
Here's a list of all the things you can do with your peeps.
3. Dip them in chocolate.
4. Put them on top of cupcakes, cookies, or make a whole cake out of them.
7. Microwave them. In all honestly, I usually just go straight for this, because I'm a diabolical jerk.
8. For those of you who are charitable, the most reasonable thing to do is give them away! Take them to work and sneakily place them on the kitchen counter when no one is looking. Anyone who is dieting will thank you for giving them a good reason to cheat. Think—do you know any children, great! They LOVE peeps. They will thank you and so will their parents—there is nothing in the world more adorable and heart-warming than children hopped up on sugar!


Choosing an off-season wedding will help with the budget greatly. Many photographers will consider offering discounts for off-season weddings as these dates are less popular and they are less likely to get booked up quickly. These off season months are November to February and if you contact your chosen photographer and ask them if they could offer some reduction for those months, few are likely to say no to a little reduction.
Book a digital package only. Although it's nice to have albums, frames and videos, they are items you don't necessarily need. You could always ask for photography vouchers from your guests as a wedding present and then pay for an album, frame or video this way.
If you are still unable to make your budget reach, why not ask friends or family to contribute to the wedding photography as a gift? Most parents or grandparents would be willing to help with the cost of the wedding instead of buying a present as not only do they know it is something which is wanted and useful, it also saves them hours or running around shops trying to find something you might like.
Do you know someone else who is getting married and looking for a photographer? If so, ask your photographer if they would consider giving you a referral fee. Then if the other couple also books with your photographer, you may be able to get another £25-50 off your own wng package.
Ask your photographer if they take payment plans. Some photographers will allow you to pay in instalments so allowing you to spread the cost of payments. Here at Easy View Photography we have had a number of clients who paid for their photography in this way as this can take away the pressure of having to come up with the entire sum at once.


More detail on this person: Two tours in Vietnam, Captain in the army, attorney.
Survivors: Wife: Jean Byarlay-Carpenter Johnson City, TN. Sons: David Carpenter & wife Jamie Petersburg, VA; Jeremiah Carpenter Johnson City, TN; Jacob Carpenter Johnson City, TN. Daughters: Erika Carpenter, Deceased, Crystal Carpenter Houston, TN; Rachael Carpenter Johnson City, TN; Grandchildren: Nathan Carpenter Petersburg, VA; Micah Carpenter Petersburg, VA.


text:
The internal ad agency for Dell and Alienware
What Marketers Can Learn from Actors
When was the last time you went to the theater? What do you remember about that experience? Does Romeo's confession of undying love for Juliet still pull at your heartstrings? Do you still feel the anxiety you had sitting next to the boyfriend you went to see it with- the one you broke up with immediately afterwards because you realized while watching that he was never going to be your Romeo?
You remember these things because they have emotional relevance to you.
photo by Alex Avalos
We go to the theater to witness our shared human experience. Professional stage actors have spent years studying different techniques in order to authentically embody characters on stage. These same methodologies can be accessed by marketers to channel our audience when developing our campaigns.
Alright, so tell us how. While traditional marketing uses methods like data-driven customer segmentation, brand audits and competitive analysis to shape a strategy, one of the most widely taught acting techniques, the Stanislavski system, uses "emotional memory recall, spiritual realism and self-analysis" to bring an actor into the state of the character he or she is performing.
These very different techniques are used to answer the same set of seven questions with the shared goal of telling a compelling story that engages, resonates and entertains an audience. (source)
These are those questions:
This presents us as marketers with an opportunity to cross-pollinate; to be inspired by Stanislavski to build upon our current approach to creative strategy, on the side of both agency and client.
"Empathy is at the heart of the actor's art." - Meryl Streep
I get it, but now what do I do? We can use the actor's method to build upon our existing marketing strategic framework, as illustrated below.
The magic happens when we embark on building out an emotional journey roadmap for our target customer, inspired by both our own experience as well as in depth qualitative research. When done effectively, this thoughtful work can inspire product and brand marketing that breaks through the clutter, hitting at the emotional hierarchy of needs, and ultimately driving relevance.
In order to build an emotional journey roadmap, you must first be clear on who your ideal target customer is. Below is a sample framework, that can be fleshed out using demographic & psychographic data, ethnographic research, cultural trend mapping, and a bit of imagination.
This is your jumping off point. From here, determine the emotional life of this person through empathy mapping, using emotional recall, as well as qualitative research, to concept what people think, say, do and feel at each step of the customer journey. IDEO presents a great technique, but if you don't have the time and team to tackle this undertaking, identify the key moments in that customer journey and dive in deeply at these moments.
Use the 7 questions to dig deeper into the person's need state, its causes, our contrary nature as human beings, and how we, as marketers, can deliver value at this moment in time.
If you leave with nothing else, remember this: In order to build an emotional journey roadmap, you must first understand that humans are not simple or rational. Our reactions to things are based upon our experiences as people in the world.
When building a creative strategy, it is essential that we consider the multitude of influences that will affect how someone experiences our marketing communications. Yes, our audience may be thousands, if not millions of people, but the power comes when you aim to make an intimate connection with one person.
The marketing machine will put the rest of the puzzle pieces together to ensure the we hit our touchpoints, but deeper, emotions-driven thinking, is the key to delivering breakthrough across the customer lifecycle.
In cross-pollination Tags actors, stanislavski, marketing, strategy, frameworks, empathy, breakthrough
What we can learn from Micro-Marketing
"The Caring Economy" is having a moment.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Android Text To Speech Repeat Functionality Have two buttons. Start and Repeat. On start TTS(Text To Speech) should start reading text from textview(t1). While reading text if I clicked repeat button TTS should keep repeating reading text(once it finished reading (t1) completely) till I clicked stop button. (Just Like Music Player)

A: Got Solution by calling method onUtteranceCompleted.
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements TextToSpeech.OnInitListener, TextToSpeech.OnUtteranceCompletedListener {
...
}

private void speak(String text) {
    if (text != null) {
        HashMap<String, String> myHashAlarm = new HashMap<String, String>();

String.valueOf(AudioManager.STREAM_ALARM));
        myHashAlarm.put(TextToSpeech.Engine.KEY_PARAM_UTTERANCE_ID, "SOME MESSAGE");
        tts.speak(text, TextToSpeech.QUEUE_FLUSH, myHashAlarm);

    }
}

@Override
    public void onUtteranceCompleted(String s) {
             if(repateOn) {
              // call speak method
              speak(textString);
             }
        }

Thanks.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Chrome session remains after deleting cookie and then refreshing Problem: When I delete my session cookie and hit refresh in chrome all my form data and other settings remain. (essentially the session is still active)

*

*When I close Chrome and relaunch everything is fine. Session is cleared. (I am running the no history extension so perhaps this has some effect on this behavior)

What could be causing this?


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Meet the Raspberry Pi Supercomputer--with Lego!
Parted Magic Team Releases 2012_09_12
Too Many Geeks, Too Much Choice
In Spain, Hundreds of Thousand of Students Get Ubuntu Access
As we've noted, when it comes to the top open source stories of 2012, it's clear that one of the biggest is the proliferation of tiny, inexpensive Linux-based computers at some of the smallest form factors ever seen. And, the diminutive, credit card-sized Raspberry Pi, priced at $25 and $35, is one of the most widely followed of these miniature systems. People are putting all flavors of Linux and even Android on the tiny computers, and now news comes from the University of Southampton that Professor Simon Cox and his team of researchers have lashed together an actual supercomputer made of 64 credit card-sized Raspberry Pis using Lego pieces as the glue for the cluster.
Professor Cox said: "As soon as we were able to source sufficient Raspberry Pi computers we wanted to see if it was possible to link them together into a supercomputer. We installed and built all of the necessary software on the Pi starting from a standard Debian Wheezy system image and we have published a guide so you can build your own supercomputer."
You can get the guide to making your own Raspberry Pi supercomputer here, and find more information on Cox's version here.
A quick glance at the instructions supplied by Cox and his team make clear that it's not hard to build one of these supercomputers, and the Lego casing is certainly very cool.
So what kind of power does this supercomputer pack? As The Register notes:
"The cheapo cluster has 1TB of storage, thanks to the 16GB SD card inserted into each board, and 16GB of RAM. Each Pi is connected by 100MBit Ethernet, and is powered by a Broadcom BCM2835 graphics chip that handily features a 700MHz ARMv6 processor core. he Debian GNU/Linux cluster runs off a single 13-amp mains plug, and uses the Message Passing Interface (MPI) protocol to manage the communications between each of the 64 nodes. Professor Cox wrote the control code in Python using Microsoft's Visual Studio."
The team from Southampton claims it built its supercomputer for under $5,000. Did you ever come up with that when you used to play with Lego blocks? Here's a gander at the lashup:
Photo Credits: University of Southampton and Professor Simon Cox
Alcohol Law


text:
Hosts Brazil strike late to win FIFA Under-17 World Cup for fourth time
By Dan Palmer
Hosts Brazil scored two late goals to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup as they stunned Mexico with a 2-1 victory.
Brazil edge past France to reach FIFA Under-17 World Cup final
By Nancy Gillen
Brazil recorded a dramatic comeback to narrowly defeat France and reach the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Brazil and France set up mouthwatering FIFA Under-17 World Cup semi-final
By Daniel Etchells
France and hosts Brazil confidently claimed the last two semi-final places at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup today, with Spain and Italy exiting the competition.
Mexico and Netherlands reach last four at FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Mexico and The Netherlands booked the first semi-final spots at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup as both won their last eight clashes today in Brazil.
Duarte scores late winner as Paraguay fight back to reach FIFA Under-17 World Cup
By Patrick O'Kane
Diego Duarte scored an 86th-minute winner as Paraguay stormed back from 2-0 down to defeat Argentina and reach the FIFA Under-17 World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil.
Jorge double downs Chile as Brazil reach FIFA Under-17 World Cup quarter-finals
Hosts Brazil were forced to dig deep against South American rivals Chile, as they booked their place in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup quarter-finals.
Hansen hat-trick sees Dutch through to FIFA Under-17 World Cup quarter-finals
European champions The Netherlands overcame Nigeria to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil.
Mexico thrash Solomon Islands as last 16 line-up confirmed at FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Mexico thrashed Solomon Islands 8-0 to secure their place in the last 16 of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil.
South Korea beat Chile to book last 16 place at FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Paik Sang-hoon scored the fifth fastest goal in the history of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup as South Korea beat Chile to secure their place in the last 16 of the tournament in Brazil.
Australia and Ecuador qualify for last 16 at FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Australia secured their place in the last 16 of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Brazil.
Argentina and Italy leave it late at FIFA Under-17 World Cup
By Alex Bell
There were goals aplenty at the men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, with Argentina defeating Cameroon in the game of the day in Group E.
France fly but The Netherlands stumble at FIFA Under-17 World Cup
France comfortably progressed to the knockout stages of the men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, defeating South Korea 3-1 in Group C.
Brazil make knockout stages at men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Hosts Brazil have continued their impressive start to the men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, defeating New Zealand 3-0.
Stalemate for Spain and Argentina at men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Two of football's powerhouses began their campaigns at the men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, with Spain and Argentina drawing 0-0 in Group E.
Senegal come from behind to beat US in FIFA Under-17 World Cup debut
By Duncan Mackay
Senegal made a memorable debut in the men's FIFA Under-17 World Cup by coming from behind to beat the United States 4-1 at the Estádio Kléber Andrade in Cariacica.


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Deputy Writes Out Speeding Ticket To Man He Never Saw Speeding
Volia CarrUncategorized
Driver, Gabriel Stitt, is currently trying to fight a ticket in court that he claims was issued unfairly. While driving his truck in late March of 2017, Stitt was pulled over by a deputy for speeding and given a ticket. However, the deputy never witnessed the actual speeding occur.
1. Gabriel Stitt
Driver, Gabriel Stitt, was pulled over by a deputy in March for speeding. A woman had called into the Dare County's Sheriff's Department and reported that Stitt was driving in excess of 100 miles per hour.
2. Speeding Ticket
A deputy quickly pulled Stitt over near the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge. He then issued Stitt a $213 speeding ticket for driving in excess of 60 miles per hour. The deputy claimed that an off-duty former police officer had called in the violation to the department.
3. The Only Witness
The only person to actually witness Stitt's alleged speeding was a woman who was a former law enforcement officer. She had called in the speeding vehicle and had stated that the car was speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour, despite having no radar equipment in her vehicle to verify the claim.
4. Questions Asked
Stitt filmed the interaction and questioned the deputy's issuing of the ticket to which the deputy replied, "It'll be your word against hers in court." Jeff Cruden, assistant district attorney, has spoken out about the situation claiming that although it is "unusual" it is still legal.
5. Defense
Jeff Cruden, has stated that the former officer's background and training in speed detection qualified her to make the assertion that Stitt was driving way past the speed limit. "If it was a regular civilian, the officer would not have wrote that citation on the word of someone like you or I," said Cruden.
6. Stitt's Response
Stitt is continuing to claim his innocence, stating that he was never speeding. He was quoted by 10 On Your Side saying, "It was a cruel, unusual thing to do to someone coming home from work without any kind of radar device. Because someone says you're speeding? If that's the case, anybody can say you are doing anything in this country and you get locked up or you get cited."
7. The Legality
John Graham, A Traffic defense attorney with no ties to the case, has spoken out about the legality of the entire situation. Having practiced law on the outer banks since 1985, he has stated that the laws in North Carolina make this a perfectly legal ticketing situation.
8. Graham's Take
John Graham also stated, "It's different than your routine speeding ticket. It might be a reasonable assumption that if [the deputy] was told the vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour, that even if she was 20 miles an hour off then he was still traveling 80 in a 60 mile an hour speed zone."
9. Aftermath
Stitt has stated that he wants his case dismissed and a formal apology from Jeff Cruden. However when Cruden offered a case dismissal at the first court appearance Stitt did not take him up on the offer.
10. Future Plans
Stitt will continue to fight the $213 ticket when he meets in front of a judge in early June. Jeff Cruden has stated that the former officer will show up to testify.
Spookiest Place on Earth: The Creepiest Things About Disney Parks
Brianna Ahearn
The Perfect Pregnancy Weight
Help Your Children Evolve from Enemies to Best Friends
Organize Your Kids and Your Life With These 8 Simplification Tips
Motherhood: What I packed (and used) in my hospital bag
Lila Hanson
Don't Let Smartphones Ruin Your Relationships: Tips to Maintain Good Communication


text:
Re-Direct
Former Norwich fire station to become art gallery?
David Bale
david.bale2@archant.co.uk
@DBaleReporter
Bethel Street fire station in Norwich.; Photo: Bill Smith
Archant © 2011
Art organisations are calling for part of the former city fire station in Bethel Street to become an art gallery.
The 1930s-built station was closed in the summer and the new Carrow fire station was opened in August at Trowse.
As reported, Norfolk County Council is selling the former station and expects it will net at least £650,000, with planning permission for a mixture of residential, retail and office use.
But three organisations, Norwich Twenty Group, East Anglia Art Fund and Norfolk Contemporary Art Society want part of it to be converted into an art gallery.
In a letter to the Evening News, they said: "What a huge loss it will be to the centre of Norwich if this important civic building, opposite the nation's most popular library, ceases to have any public function.
"Surely there must be a way for the two main spaces at the front of the old fire station to take on a new life as vibrant galleries for the display of modern and contemporary art? Many cities in the UK have experienced a sustained growth in tourist numbers due to the presence of a new art gallery in town."
How would you like to see the old fire station used? Write to Evening News Letters at Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk.
Norwich Evening News daily newsletter


text:
Srní Potok (německy Rehwasser) je osada, která je jednou z osmi částí města Mimoň. Leží v katastrálním území Vranov pod Ralskem, na levém břehu Ploučnice a od samotného města Mimoň je vzdálena asi 2 km na severoseverovýchod. Leží v okrese Česká Lípa v Libereckém kraji.

Historie
Osada byla vybudována roku 1575 pánem na hradu Děvín u Hamru na Jezeře, Karlem z Biberštejna. Tehdy se říkalo řece Ploučnici Srní potok a ves byla zprvu pojmenována Nová Ves na Srním potoce, časem bylo pojmenování zkráceno na Srní potok (tehdy zpravidla v němčině Rehwasser). Zpět jen české pojmenování bylo osadě vráceno v roce 1945.

V roce 1906 byl na jižní straně vsi vybudován na břehu Ploučnice Přírodní domov, což bylo nevelké rekreační zařízení s koupáním a lázní. U něj byl hostinec a malá dřevěná rozhledna. V době první světové války areál zanikl.

Další informace
Spojení je možné po silnici 241 z Vranova (také část Mimoně) na obec Noviny pod Ralskem. Je zde evidováno 5 adres, které tvoří několik rozptýlených domů trvale obydlených a je zde řada rekreačních chalup. Patří pod poštu Mimoň, PSČ: 471 24.

V blízkém okolí je několik starých vojenských bunkrů (Lehké opevnění vzor 37, tzv. ŘOPíky) rozmístěných v lese, na loukách a v polích.

Srní Potok leží na úpatí hory Ralsko, vysoké (696 m n. m.) se zříceninou gotického hradu Ralsko. Přes osadu vede žlutě značená turistická trasa z Pertoltic pod Ralskem na Vranov. Stavení osady jsou v nadmořské výšce zhruba 300 m.

Fotogalerie

Odkazy

Reference

Externí odkazy

 Oficiální stránky Mimoně

Vesnice v okrese Česká Lípa
Sídla v Zákupské pahorkatině
Místní části Mimoně
Sídla na Ploučnici

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I know a fair few individuals that have failed their hazard perception test. Since we're mentioning driving; I failed my driving test for bibbing the conductor prior to him jumping in the car. I guess the nerves got the better of me. If for some reason you are wondering: you're only meant to use your horn for emergencies – not for signalling over the instructor.
In comparison to my minimalistic driving skills, there is no doubt that being an F1 driver takes a lot of skill. Especially considering the speed they drive at, and the reactions needed to ensure they're safe. Im sure being one is a nerve racking experience.
As such, having lightning fast reactions is a must for any F1 drivers, as one mistake can make or break their race.
Nonetheless, if like myself you find yourself occasionally day dreaming, and also loosing concentration at times – being an F1 driver probably isn't going to be your desired occupation. But that shouldn't stop you testing your reaction times.
Goldsmiths in conjunction with one of my favourite watch brands – Tag Heuer have recently created a game to test your reflexes. The game lasts 20 seconds and aims at testing your reaction speed. Currently, my personal high score is 29 however I do have the disadvantage of using a trackpad instead of a mouse.
They're also offering the chance for one lucky individual to walk away with a £150 voucher.
Good luck and feel free to let me know your scores!


英文引用格式: Ren Zhi,Xu Zhaokun,Kang Jian. High slot utilization rate and fast directional MAC protocol for Terahertz[J]. Application of Electronic Technique,2019,45(3):55-58,62.
Abstract: In order to solve the problem of redundant time slot allocation for single node sectors, too large overhead and excessively long time spent for beamforming training under mobile scenarios in existing directional MAC protocols, this paper proposes high slot utilization rate and fast directional MAC protocol(HUFD-MAC) for Terahertz wireless personal area networks. The HUFD-MAC protocol uses redundant single node sectors to transmit downlink data and reduces the number of transmitted beam training frames based on time information. This effectively improves the utilization of time slots, reduces network overhead, and decreases the time required for beamforming. The simulation results show that compared with the IEEE 802.15.3c and ACAP-MAC protocols, the network overhead of HUFD-MAC is reduced by about 3.23%, and the MAC layer throughput is increased by about 8.50%.
 Zhang Jian,Deng Xianjin,Wang Cheng,et al.Terahertz high speed wireless communications:systems,techniques and demonstrations[J].Journal of Terahertz Science and Electronic Information Technology,2014,12(1):1-13.
 Wang Pu,MIQUEL J J,ABBAS M M G,et al.Energy and spectrum-aware MAC protocol for perpetual wireless nanosensor networks in the Terahertz band[J].Ad Hoc Networks,2013,11(8):2541-2555.
 WANG J,ZHOU L,PYO C W,et al.Beam codebook based beamforming protocol for multi-Gbps millimeter-wave WPAN systems[J].2009 IEEE Journal Selected Areas in Communications,2009,27(8):1390-1399.
 BILE P,SEBASTIAN P,THOMAS K.Fast beam searching concept for indoor Terahertz communications[C].The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation(EuCAP 2014).Netherlands:IEEE Press,2014:639-643.
 KIM E J,JUNG J J.Adaptive CAP assignment approach for IEEE 802.15.3c[J].Computer Science and Its Applications,2015,330(1):149-154.


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Home Features DHBs DHB executives spend millions on 'extravagant' travel for work
DHB executives spend millions on 'extravagant' travel for work
Senior health executives are globe-trotting to exotic destinations on taxpayer money, spending millions of dollars on travel, food, meetings and hotels in three years.
By: Natalie Akoorie
The expenses, released exclusively to the Weekend Herald under the Official Information Act, have been labelled "extravagant" and "indulgent".
A nurses' union is calling for the Ministry of Health to rein in the spending, saying DHB executives should be leading by example.
Cities and countries visited in the name of health included New York, Washington, Minneapolis, Honolulu, Rome, Milan, Geneva, Switzerland, London, Shanghai, France, Canada, Australia and more.
The figures show almost $3 million was spent on flights, food and accommodation between July 2014 and June last year by 207 executives across the country's 20 district health boards.
It comes after the Herald revealed in December DHB chief executives racked up an additional $1.2 million during the same three financial years.
In real terms, $4.2m could pay most of the running costs of a hospital ward for a year, buy much-needed lifesaving equipment, or pay for 123 heart bypass operations.
At the time Health Minister David Clark said he wanted evidence the spending was worthwhile, and a former DHB chief executive called international travel an unnecessary luxury.
Now the New Zealand Nurses Organisation has called for measures to prevent "precious health dollars being squandered" on non-core health services.
"It is concerning, particularly the amount spent on international travel costs," industrial adviser for DHBs Lesley Harry said.
"It does appear on the face of it to be indulgent and we would expect that executive DHB staff lead by example."
The Weekend Herald's special investigation into spending within DHBs also revealed last month that chief executives, their senior executive teams and board members, about 444 people, cost the country around $66 million a year in salaries.
A nurses union says almost $3 million spent by DHB executives in three years is hard to swallow for exhausted nurses under pressure in an ailing health system. Photo / 1234RF
The newest figures show Counties Manukau District Health Board's leadership team, between 10 and 12 people, spent the most since July 2014, at $550,694.
The highest average spend per executive at the DHB was $18,304 in one year, and collectively they spent $201,000 in the 2015/16 financial year alone.
Counties Manukau acting chief executive Gloria Johnson said expenses at the DHB were more closely scrutinised since mid-last year, now requiring CEO sign-off for all international travel including transtasman, and as a result were markedly lower for the first half of this financial year, at $22,993.
The extra scrutiny coincided with the launch of an investigation by Waikato District Health Board into its then chief executive Dr Nigel Murray, who was found to have breached travel policies when he spent $218,000 of taxpayer money in three years.
It also followed changes to Counties Manukau's executive leadership team including the departure of chief executive Geraint Martin and four executives, whose jobs were then rolled into one position.
Johnson said the costs of domestic travel increased from 2014 because three executives were national chairs or in senior DHB leadership positions and needed to travel to Wellington regularly.
She defended international travel, saying it enabled executives to visit and observe programmes in similar health systems.
"Our approval process for overseas travel includes ensuring that a trip relates to current health service initiatives or requirements, and/or provides professional development opportunities, including visiting hospital and clinical facilities and interacting with other health service providers."
Only one other DHB, Hawke's Bay, spent more than $10,000 per executive each year, with an average spend of $11,394. Other DHB executives spent between $2000 and $7000 each year.
Expenses for all DHBs included domestic and international flights, meals, accommodation, conference registration, professional association and membership fees, practising certificates for executives who were also health professionals, mileage, relocation costs and equipment.
Of the 20 DHBs surveyed, Canterbury and West Coast refused the OIA request but provided the results of an expenses audit conducted after Murray's spending came to light.
Nelson Marlborough DHB did not supply expenses despite a two-week extension.
Harry said the spending was out of balance with the expectations on nurses and midwives to "do more with less".
"At a time when our members are expected to work under enormous pressure that's arisen primarily as a result of cost-cutting, of course we're very concerned that precious health dollars may be squandered on matters that actually don't necessarily benefit the health consumer and the workforce that provide the services."
She called for "sound oversight" on spending, particularly for international travel.
"It seems like there has become a culture of indulgence in this sector and with a new Minister of Health, it's a good time to look at the systems to make sure that extravagance is not tolerated."
A spokeswoman for the Minister's office said it was up to district health boards to ensure they shared relevant information from training events and conferences.
Craig Climo, a former DHB chief executive for 17 years, said there was a culture of expectation among public health executives.
He said anyone who travelled for work on the public purse should have a genuine need to and not "just be swanning around".
Source: NZ Herald
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Commander Says Police Managed to Squeeze Terrorists to Borders
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's border police commander said strict control over border areas has invited terrorist attacks, including the deadly one on Friday, as his forces have cut the lifeline of drug traffickers and bandits, and added that the armed groups rely on the support of some countries.
"Since we focused on controlling these regions, there have been different threats on the part of armed groups and bandits against border guards. Due to the measures of the border police, we now see that such threats are carried out closer to the border," said Major General Hossein Zolfaqari in a meeting with border guards from across Iran.
Zolfaqari said the Friday ambush on border guards was not a lone incident as he said since late last year (Iranian calendar) "there have been dozens of attacks against our border forces, in many of which the bandits had to flee the region after sustaining high casualties."
The border police commander further said regions like Saravan, close to the border with Pakistan, had in the past been used as routes for the transfer of terrorists and different types of trafficking, and that the reaction of the armed groups reflects their frustration.
He added that the terrorist groups operating in the southern regions of the country are supported by regional and transregional countries.
"According to the existing information two countries give financial support to such groups while three others provide them with intelligence... As a result of measures we have done to control the borders, it is difficult for bandits and armed people to carry out raids without (foreign) support," Zolfaqari added.
Iran's Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Ali Amir Abdollahi said on Saturday that the interior ministry and the foreign affairs ministry are jointly pursuing the case.


Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle is an ingenious cross between cookies and brittle! This can add tasty variety to your holiday cookie repertoire.
BEAT butter, sugar, vanilla extract and salt in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in 1 1/2 cups morsels and nuts. Press into ungreased 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.
MICROWAVE remaining 1/2 cup morsels in small, heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for 30 to 45 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over cookie. Allow chocolate to cool and set; break cookie into irregular pieces.


text:
Considered opinions, unconsidered rants, pictures, and general fluff related to the state of rail transport in New Zealand today. And sometimes in its history. Phew!
Auckland Transport's freight train concerns
In September 2011, KiwiRail made a somewhat surprising announcement in its staff newsletter "Express", that it intended to proceed with construction of a third mainline between Otahuhu and Wiri, and eventually to Papakura. To quote part of the the report:
Preliminary design work on a third main line to the North Island Main Trunk into Auckland between Otahuhu and Papakura has begun with the expectation that a section between Otahuhu and Wiri will be completed by mid 2013.
"A third line would have significant benefits for both freight and metro services," says KiwiRail Network General Manager Rick van Barneveld.
The report continued:
KiwiRail is working on a four-stage project expected to cost between $60 and $70 million dollars. Funding by other parties for some elements are expected to bring the whole project cost to around $100 million.
The announcement was a surprise to many observers at the time, as it was also known publicly that Auckland Transport was not keen to provide any funding for the project, despite the fact that their passenger services would benefit from greater separation of freight trains and suburban passenger trains. It was this anticipated funding from Auckland Transport that was included in what the KiwiRail report refers to as "other parties".
Perhaps KiwiRail got a bit ahead of themselves by anticipating this funding contribution from Auckland Transport, but during 2012 they commenced work on the third main, constructing the formation between Otahuhu and Mangere, and between Puhinui and Homai. January 2013 saw track reconfigurations take place at Otahuhu, and track laying commence around Wiri in association with EMU depot track construction. However, at Wiri only the portions of third main required to provide access to the new depot were constructed. The bulk of the third main through Wiri itself was not laid.
Third main formation construction through Wiri, January 2013.
As of April 2014, the track has still not been laid.
Third main construction at Puhinui, January 2013.
It became evident in early 2013 that the third main project had stalled because of no agreement being reached between KiwiRail and Auckland Transport around joint funding of the project. The track was not laid through Wiri station, while the track laid at Puhinui became nothing more than a temporary backshunt for the new EMU depot. Between Otahuhu and Mangere, the third track was not connected at the south end and has remained out of use ever since, bar a short section at the Otahuhu end, used as another temporary backshunt.
Track to nowhere: The third main at Mangere, with no
funding to complete it.
Jump forward to March 2014, and the division between Auckland Transport and KiwiRail over the third main project has become more evident, through their respective submissions to the Environmental Protection Authority over a plan change request being made by Tainui Group Holdings Ltd and Chedworth Properties Ltd in relation to their proposed industrial park for Ruakura, in Hamilton.
This industrial park is a $3 billion project to be constructed where the East Coast Main Trunk and proposed Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway intersect, and will include a large rail-served container terminal. It is expected that initially four freight trains per day will operate between the container terminal and Ports of Auckland, increasing to six each way as capacity at the terminal is reached.
The proposed container terminal at Ruakura.
The developers (Tainui/Chedworth) believe that the existing Auckland network (i.e., without a third main) can accomodate the new services in the short term, particularly if they operate through the Auckland area during the off-peak suburban train hours, but anticipate that the planned third main will enable the proposed future increase in services to be accomodated when they eventuate.
Auckland Transport Submission, 26th March 2014
Auckland Transport has submitted its concerns over the proposal, making several points:
The additional freight trains, both short term and long term, may not be able to be accomodated north of Papakura, and that the developers assessment that they can, may be premature.
There is no certainty that the additional freight trains will operate outside peak passenger hours.
There is no certainty over whether or not the third main will be built, or whether it will provide enough capacity for the Ruakura trains if it is built.
Concern that the developer has assumed it will be granted access to the Auckland rail network for its services when there is no such guarantee.
Auckland Transport's submission continues, by pointing out that access to the Auckland rail network is governed by the Auckland Network Access Agreement (ANAA), an 85-year agreement granting access rights to Transdev for services between Huapai and Pukekohe. Timetables and capacity provision are decided by the Auckland Timetable Committee (ATC) which comprises representatives from Transdev, KiwiRail Freight, KiwiRail Passenger, and Auckland Transport. The submission points out that decisions by the ATC must be unanimous to take effect.
The insinuation here is that Auckland Transport may not be willing to allow the passage of these additional freight trains. However, the concerns appear to be based on an assumption by Auckland Transport that the additional freight trains will be operated by a party other than KiwiRail Freight, which is unlikely to be the case. The proposed services will more than likely be operated by KiwiRail as "hook and pull" services. Neverthess, it is clear that regardless of who operates the additional freight trains, Auckland Transport may not allow them.
KiwiRail submission, 26th March 2014
The first point made by KiwiRail in its submission is that even without the Ruakura development, there will soon be conflict between freight trains and suburban passenger trains in Auckland.
Of particular note, the submission states:
There is no doubt that the NIMT in the Auckland Network does not have capacity to accommodate the timetabling objectives of the Metro Service provider with its new trains and the freight operator at critical times of the day from 2015.
The submission then outlines a timetable of when third main work must be completed, in order to prevent capacity constraints on the Auckland network, giving a 2015 date for Westfield to Wiri, and approximately ten years later for Wiri to Papakura. Interestingly, KiwiRail also states that should electrification be extended to Pukekohe, the third main will also need to go to Pukekohe:
In the longer term a third main will need to be built between Wiri and Pukekohe, and that may also require some passing areas, effectively a fourth main in places.
The submission continues:
The immediate solution is the completion of the third main between Westfield and Wiri, plus some reconfiguration in the Westfield and Southdown freight yards. Both ends of the third main are already in place, and the freight yard works will be complete at the end by June 2015. What remains is the 7km in the middle.
Auckland Transport and KiwiRail clearly have shared concerns over capacity constraints within the Auckland suburban network, on the North Island Main Trunk, but it's apparent that two quite different views exist as to what should be done about it.
Auckland Transport appear to favour restricting the passage of freight trains, whilst KiwiRail favour proceeding with construction of the third main, at least between Westfield and Wiri, where conflict will exist from next year even without any additional freight trains.
It is important that the rail network be developed to accomodate growth by all of its users, both freight and passenger. Auckland Transport will benefit from greater separation of freight and passenger trains once their higher service frequency between Otahuhu and Wiri is implemented during 2015. Auckland Transport also benefits from increased use of rail for the cartage of freight, as it keeps trucks off Auckland area roads, making them safer for other users and cheaper to maintain, and reducing air pollution for the people of Auckland.
Hopefully the funding issue can be resolved soon. KiwiRail is already prepared to pay the lion's share. But Auckland Transport needs to come to the party and provide some of the funding shortfall. The matter is becoming critical, as there is only about 18 months remaining before capacity constraints cause delays to both passenger and freight trains south of Otahuhu.
Labels: Auckland Transport, Freight, KiwiRail, Third main, Transdev
CNI Railfan NZ May 11, 2014 at 8:17 PM
It seems like since the "super city council" has been formed, that they now think they hold the key playing cards. They forget they are only really new to the rail game, and they run on KR's tracks. There is the end result for AT, shape up, or we all pay the price in other ways... congestion on the road and rails.
Hi I really appreciate all the great content you have here. I am glad I cam across it!
FREIGHT FORWARDER DIRECTORY
Sleep all day, work all evening, play all night


text:
How do you implicitly differentiate #(x/(x-4y))=x^(3)/y^2-1#?
Calculus Basic Differentiation Rules Implicit Differentiation
Ratnaker Mehta
#y'=(2x^3-y^2-6x^2y)/(2xy+2x^3-6y^2)#
#(x/(x-4y))=x^3/y^2-1=(x^3-y^2)/y^2#
#:.xy^2=(x-4y)(x^3-y^2)=x^4-xy^2-4x^3y+4y^3#
#:.xy^2+xy^2+4x^3y=x^4+4y^3#
#:.2xy^2+4x^3y=x^4+4y^3#
Diff.ing both sides w.r.t. #x#,
#d/dx(2xy^2)+d/dx(4x^3y)=d/dx(x^4)+d/dx(4y^3)#
#:. 2{xd/dx(y^2)+y^2d/dx(x)}+4{x^3dy/dx+3x^2y}#
#=4x^3+4d/dx(y^3)........(1)#
Here, let us note that, by Chain Rule,
#d/dx(y^2)=d/dy(y^2)*dy/dx=2y*dy/dx=2yy'#,
and on the same lines, #d/dx(y^3)=3y^2y'#.
These results will be used in #(1)# [after cancelling #2# throughout]
to get,
#{x*2yy'+y^2*1}+2{x^3y'+3x^2y}=2x^3+2*3y^2y'#
#2xyy'+y^2+2x^3y'+6x^2y=2x^3+6y^2y'#
#y'(2xy+2x^3-6y^2)=2x^3-y^2-6x^2y#
What is implicit differentiation?
How do you find the derivative using implicit differentiation?
How do you find the second derivative by implicit differentiation?
How do you find #y''# by implicit differentiation of #x^3+y^3=1# ?
How does implicit differentiation work?
How do you use implicit differentiation to find #(d^2y)/dx^2# of #x^3+y^3=1# ?
How do you Use implicit differentiation to find the equation of the tangent line to the curve...
How do you use implicit differentiation to find #y'# for #sin(xy) = 1#?
How do you find the second derivative by implicit differentiation on #x^3y^3=8# ?
What is the derivative of #x=y^2#?
See all questions in Implicit Differentiation


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text:
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protect_page();
include 'layout/overall/header.php';
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	if($undelete_q1) {
		mysql_delete('DELETE FROM `znote_deleted_characters` WHERE `id` = ' . $undelete_id);
		echo 'Pending delete of ' . $undelete_q1['character_name'] . ' has been successfully cancelled.
';
	}
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				$hide = (user_character_hide($char_name) == 1 ? 0 : 1);
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					user_character_set_hide(user_character_id($char_name), $hide);
				}
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			case 'delete_character':
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					$charid = user_character_id($char_name);
					if ($charid !== false) {
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								if (guild_leader_gid($charid) === false) user_delete_character_soft($charid);
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							} else echo 'Character must be offline first.';
						} else {
							$chr_data = user_character_data($charid, 'online');
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								if (guild_leader_gid($charid) === false) user_delete_character_soft($charid);
								else echo 'Character is leader of a guild, you must disband the guild or change leadership before deleting character.';
							} else echo 'Character must be offline first.';
						}
					}
				}
				break;
			// end
			// CHANGE character name
			case 'change_name':
				$oldname = $char_name;
				$newname = getValue($_POST['newName']);

				// Check if user is online
				$player = false;
				if ($config['TFSVersion'] === 'TFS_10') {
					$player = mysql_select_single("SELECT `id`, `account_id` FROM `players` WHERE `name` = '$oldname'");
					$player['online'] = (user_is_online_10($player['id'])) ? 1 : 0;
				} else $player = mysql_select_single("SELECT `id`, `account_id`, `online` FROM `players` WHERE `name` = '$oldname'");

				// Check if player has bough ticket
				$order = mysql_select_single("SELECT `id`, `account_id` FROM `znote_shop_orders` WHERE `type`='4' LIMIT 1;");
				if ($order !== false) {
					// Check if player and account matches
					if ($session_user_id == $player['account_id'] && $session_user_id == $order['account_id']) {
						// Check if new name is not occupied
						$exist = mysql_select_single("SELECT `id` FROM `players` WHERE `name`='$newname';");
						if (!$exist) {
							// Check if new name follow rules
							$newname = validate_name($newname);
							if ($newname !== false) {
								$error = false;
								// name restriction
								$resname = explode(" ", $_POST['name']);
								foreach($resname as $res) {
									if(in_array(strtolower($res), $config['invalidNameTags'])) {
										$error = true;
									}
									else if(strlen($res) == 1) {
										$error = true;
									}
								}
								// Check name for illegal characters.
								function checkNewNameForIllegal($name) {
									if (preg_match('#^[\0-9åäö&()+%/*$€é,.\'"-]*$#i', $name)) {
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								}
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									$error = true;
									echo 'This name contains illegal characters.';
								}
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								}
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				break;
			// end
			// Change character sex
			case 'change_gender':
				if (user_character_account_id($char_name) === $session_user_id) {
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						if ($account_id != $user_data['id']) die("wtf? Something went wrong, try relogging.");

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						$tickets = shop_account_gender_tickets($account_id);
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							// They are allowed to change gender
							$last = false;
							$infinite = false;
							$tks = 0;
							// Do we have any infinite tickets?
							foreach ($tickets as $ticket) {
								if ($ticket['count'] == 0) $infinite = true;
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							}
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							if ($tickets[0]['count'] > 1) { // Decrease count
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							} else if ($tickets[0]['count'] == 1) { // Delete record
								shop_delete_row_order($dbid);
								$tks--;
							}

							// Change character gender:
							//
							user_character_change_gender($char_name);
							echo 'You have successfully changed gender on character '. $char_name .'.';
							if ($tks > 0) echo '
You have '. $tks .' gender change tickets left.';
							else if ($infinite !== true) echo '
You are out of tickets.';
						} else echo 'You don\'t have any character gender tickets, buy them in the SHOP!';
					} else echo 'Your character must be offline.';
				}
				break;
			// end
			// Change character comment PAGE1:
			case 'change_comment':
				$render_page = false; // Regular "myaccount" page should not render
				if (user_character_account_id($char_name) === $session_user_id) {
					$comment_data = user_znote_character_data(user_character_id($char_name), 'comment');
					?>

Change comment on:

					<form action="" method="post">

								<input name="action" type="hidden" value="update_comment">
								<input name ="selected_character" type="text" value="<?php echo $char_name; ?>" readonly="readonly">

								Comment:

								<textarea name="comment" cols="70" rows="10"><?php echo $comment_data['comment']; ?></textarea>

							<?php
								/* Form file */
								Token::create();
							?>

<input type="submit" value="Update Comment">

					</form>
					<?php
				}
				break;
			//end
		}
	}
}

if ($render_page) {
	$char_count = user_character_list_count($session_user_id);
	$pending_delete = user_pending_deletes($session_user_id);
	if ($pending_delete) {
		foreach($pending_delete as $delete) {
			if(new DateTime($delete['time']) > new DateTime())
				echo 'CAUTION! Your character with name ' . $delete['character_name'] . ' will be deleted on ' . $delete['time'] . '. Cancel this operation.
';
			else {
				user_delete_character(user_character_id($delete['character_name']));
				mysql_update('UPDATE `znote_deleted_characters` SET `done` = 1');
				echo 'Character ' . $delete['character_name'] . ' has been deleted. This operation was requested by owner of this account.';
				$char_count--;
			}
		}
	}

	?>

My account

Welcome to your account page, <?php echo $user_data['name']; ?>

			You have <?php echo $user_data['premdays']; ?> days remaining premium account.

Character List: <?php echo $char_count; ?> characters.

		<?php
		// Echo character list!
		$char_array = user_character_list($user_data['id']);
		// Design and present the list
		if ($char_array) {
			?>

					NAME	LEVEL	VOCATION	TOWN	LAST LOGIN	STATUS	HIDE

				<?php
				$characters = array();
				foreach ($char_array as $value) {
					// characters: [0] = name, [1] = level, [2] = vocation, [3] = town_id, [4] = lastlogin, [5] = online
					echo '
';
					echo ''. $value['name'] .'	'. $value['level'] .'	'. $value['vocation'] .'	'. $value['town_id'] .'	'. $value['lastlogin'] .'	'. $value['online'] .'	'. hide_char_to_name(user_character_hide($value['name'])) .'	';
					echo '
';
					$characters[] = $value['name'];
				}
			?>

				<form action="" method="post">

							<select id="selected_character" name="selected_character" class="form-control">
							<?php
							for ($i = 0; $i < $char_count; $i++) {
								if (user_character_hide($characters[$i]) == 1) {
									echo '<option value="'. $characters[$i] . '">'. $characters[$i] .'</option>';
								} else {
									echo '<option value="'. $characters[$i] . '">'. $characters[$i] .'</option>';
								}
							}
							?>
							</select>

							<select id="action" name="action" class="form-control" onChange="changedOption(this)">
								<option value="none" selected>Select action</option>
								<option value="toggle_hide">Toggle hide</option>
								<option value="change_comment">Change comment</option>
								<option value="change_gender">Change gender</option>
								<option value="change_name">Change name</option>
								<option value="delete_character" class="needconfirmation">Delete character</option>
							</select>

							<?php
								/* Form file */
								Token::create();
							?>
							<input id="submit_button" type="submit" value="Submit" class="btn btn-primary btn-block"></input>

				</form>

			<?php
		} else {
			echo 'You don\'t have any characters. Why don\'t you create one?';
		}
		?>

	<?php
}
include 'layout/overall/footer.php';
// ZEOTSS: Register visitor
if ($config['zeotss']['enabled'] && $config['zeotss']['visitors']) {
	$curl_connection = curl_init($config['zeotss']['server']."modules/visitor/registervisitor.php");
	curl_setopt($curl_connection, CURLOPT_CONNECTTIMEOUT, 1);
	curl_setopt($curl_connection, CURLOPT_USERAGENT, "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)");
	curl_setopt($curl_connection, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
	curl_setopt($curl_connection, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, false);
	curl_setopt($curl_connection, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, 0);
	$post_string = "longip=".ip2long($_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])."&register=1";
	curl_setopt($curl_connection, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $post_string);
	$result = curl_exec($curl_connection);
	if ($config['zeotss']['debug']) data_dump(false, array($result), "CURL DATA");
	curl_close($curl_connection);

	// Check if site is registered on ZEOTSS and can use its utilities:
	$result = json_decode($result);
	if ($result->data->exist === false) {
		?>

		<?php
	}
}
?>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tuesday market close: Price of gold predicted to double by summer
By Mickey Clark for MailOnline
Updated: 12:34 EST, 27 January 2009
Stand by for the biggest gold rush since the Klondike. The price of the precious metal is set to soar as investors becoming increasingly gloomy about the global economy.
Gold is often seen as a safe haven in times of economic and political upheaval, and is certain to benefit as investors' options of where to put their money are reduced.
Citigroup forecasts gold will top $2,000 an ounce, the price more than doubling by the summer. It currently trades at about $901, having already come up from $777 since Lehman went bust last September.
Gold rush: The price of the precious metal is set to soar
Citigroup says: 'We continue to remain unequivocally bullish on the medium- to long-term view on gold, and still believe that we can ultimately see levels in excess of $2,000.'
It adds that this can be achieved in several ways, either with gold continuing to be used as a safe haven or by it starting to trade higher as the massive liquidity injection by governments around the world brings reflation, and with it inflation.
Latest gold price and charts (thisismoney.co.uk) Latest mining share prices (thisismoney.co.uk)
The broker does not believe in the hyper-inflation scenario, but takes the view that generating such levels of liquidity will result in growing inflation.
Gold briefly touched a record $1,030 last March, coinciding with JPMorgan's rescue of bear Stearns.
It has since traded within a narrow range, but Citigroup concludes: 'We feel that if we can see a break through resistance in the $875-$890 area, it could open up the way for a move to new highs by this summer.'
Dealers say companies likely to benefit would be the big gold miners such as Anglo American, down 17p at 1346p, and Randgold Resources, 100p lower at 3075p.
Meanwhile, Rio Tinto remained a weak market, losing 17p at 1639p amid persistent talk the miner may eventually need to tap shareholders to reduce debt levels. BHP Billiton lost 31p at 1219p after Citigroup dropped the shares from its most favoured list, but later closed 14p up at 1264p.
Shares generally came off the boil, giving back some of yesterday's gains as investors focused on the economy and growing job losses.
The FTSE 100 index fell 14.6 to 4194.4. Wall Street traded nervously this afternoon after US consumer confidence dropped to a record low. The Dow rose 8.53 to 8124.56.
Barclays extended yesterday's lead, but only just, with a rise of 1.3p to 90p. The price has slumped from 157p in the past week amid fears the bank will need further funding, and may be nationalised. But Barclays has reassured the City, saying it remains profitable and has no need to raise extra cash.
Royal Bank of Scotland added 1.2p to 15.7p while Lloyds Banking firmed 1.9p to 67.1p.
Wolseley continued to reel from yesterday's profits warning, the shares losing a further 21p to 180p, stretching the two-day deficit to 104.8p. Brokers fear the plumbing-equipment supplier will have to turn to shareholders for extra funds to reduce debt.
Panmure Gordon has cut its target from 280p to 170p.
Kalahari Minerals firmed 1½p to 43¼p after the miner reported that uranium resources at a prospect in Namibia had exceeded expectations.
British Land fell 14p to 431p after Goldman Sachs downgraded from neutral to sell and slashed its target from 613p to 383p.
The broker warned that real estate investment trusts will need to dispose of properties to combat the recession in the commercial property market, and that could lead to a dilution of earnings.
Goldman has raised rival Hammerson, 5p lighter at 393p, from sell to neutral but lowered the target from 591p to 484p. It has cut Brixton, off 2½p at 93¾p, from 153p to 103p, Great Portland Estates, 1¾p softer at 218p, from 244p to 221p, Segro, 2½p easier at 163p, from 276p to 190p and Shaftesbury, 2¾p better at 279¾p, from 316p to 281p.
All three companies continue to be rated neutral.
Derwent, off 9½p at 590½p, remains a sell, with its sights lowered from 607p to 537p, along with Liberty International, 5¼p lighter at 375p, with the target down from 581p to 392p.


Grid and Cloud computing are research and development topics, currently getting much attention. As a result, new ideas as well as research and project results are being produced at very high rate. Therefore, it is difficult for resource providers and researchers in these areas to keep track of the development. Resource providers and researchers, new to the topic of Grid and Cloud computing, have to overcome a huge inhibition threshold before work in these areas can be started. The SuGI project (Sustainable Grid Infrastructures) is aiming to support providers and researchers with two approaches. First, the SuGI portal presents videos, documents, and links regarding many topics in the area of Grid an Cloud computing for newcomers as well as for experts. Second, the training systems for Grid middleware created by the SuGI project can help beginners to do their first steps without a complex installation process, while experts can easily try out different configurations without interfering with their productive systems. Thus, Grid computing becomes as easy and powerful for e-science as Cloud computing is already for e-business.
Within the last years, several technologies have been developed to help building e-learning portals. Most of them follow approaches that deliver a vast amount of functionalities, suitable for class-like learning. The SuGI project, as part of the D-Grid (funded by the BMBF), targets on delivering a highly scalable and sustainable learning solution to provide materials (e.g. learning modules, training systems, webcasts, tutorials, etc.) containing knowledge about Grid and Cloud computing to the international Grid and Cloud communities. In a poster presentation combined with live demos, we will demonstrate, how well designed (by use of good quality enhancement of the software development process, Web templates for uploading new contents, and rich search and filter functionalities) learning content management solutions in co-operation with crucially developed learning contents may contribute for informal learning in e-science and e-business.
keywords: sugi, grid, cloud, portal, e-learning, learning content management, content design, e-business, e-science.
M. Seifert (2010) SUGI – AN E-LEARNING PORTAL AND TRAINING SYSTEMS FOR GRID AND CLOUD COMPUTING, INTED2010 Proceedings, p. 5038.


Clear Springs Foods makes its home on the scenic Snake River Canyon of southern Idaho's Magic Valley. Here, our Rainbow Trout are farm-raised in concrete raceways fed by an abundance of crystal clear spring water. Ideal growing conditions, combined with a commitment to quality and innovation, have made Clear Springs the world's largest producer of Rainbow Trout, processing over 20 million pounds a year.
Clear Springs Foods is the leading supplier of Fresh and Frozen Rainbow Trout to the many segments of the Foodservice Industry throughout the United States and Canada.


All of the novel's enigmatic variations are animated by Aciman's ability to render the subtle moments that become turning points in the protagonist's journey of love. The flowing nature of desire alternately plays and mutes aspects of the melodies that form a human being's identity. After all, the title pays homage to composer Edward Elgar, and Aciman's "music in words"—to quote the Times review—reminds us that we are all varying melodies that can be played on different instruments.


text:
Lonely + Lonely = Friendship (In the great equation of mad scientist tropes)
Selene Lacayo interviews author Chantel Acevedo
The Curse on Spectacle Key (Balzer + Bray, 2022) is a spooky-sweet middle grade novel by the great storyteller, Chantel Acevedo, who most recently had gifted us with the Muse Squad novels.
Acevedo tells a perfect ghost story sprinkled with Cuban American and Southern culture for readers between grades 3-7. She introduces us to lonely Frank Fernandez –a fifth grader who has never stayed at a place long enough to make friends. His parents do home renovations of the extreme kind turning anything from silos to old churches into homes. Their passion for reinventing and salvaging abandoned buildings is what brings them to Spectacle Key, the place they promised Frank to make their home for good.
Except there is a minor problem awaiting them at the lighthouse that is to be turned into their new home. To Frank's parents, it seems that their new investment is riddled with problems that no sooner they fix one, they encounter another. To Frank himself the problem is that a ghost of sorts lives there and has stubbornly decided to get his attention by causing all kinds of trouble for his parents (and him).
This charming novel is about loneliness and friendship found in unexpected times and places. It is about trusting children to explore the world with openness and wonder as much as it is about adults realizing that they don't have answers to everything.
I chatted with Chantel Acevedo about her inspiration for this book in the summer of 2022.
Selene Lacayo:
Chantel thanks a million for meeting with me. I became a fan after reading Muse Squad with my daughter and couldn't wait to get my hands on this mystery novel! What gave you the idea of making your main character, Frank, a lonely boy, and what burden does he have to carry through his childhood that gets him to this point where he feels the need to ask for stability from his parents?
Chantel Acevedo:
Frank was an interesting creation for me. The initial sort of seed of the story was my love of mad scientist stories –not the very creepy ones, but sort of lovable ones. I think one of the first inspirations was [the movie] Back to the Future. In the revision process, I got down a lot of Frank's quirks and personality traits and things that he likes, but his loneliness was also always there.
Often when you see that kind of wacky scientist with more of a "normal" person who's guiding them in some way, the "normal" person is usually friendless too because, otherwise, why would they choose to hang out with the mad scientist? It is because they are both lonely and looking for connection, that they end up becoming friends.
In terms of a personal connection, we moved from Alabama to Miami when my oldest was entering fourth grade. In a sense, she was ripped away from everything she'd ever known and all her friends. It introduced a layer of instability in her life, so in the years that followed, she would ask from time to time if we were moving again. Because if it had happened once, it could happen again. Extrapolating that to the life of a child like Frank who for whatever reason, moves a lot, that child lives an ongoing grieving process. Leaving behind friends every time and going to scary new places.
Speaking about moving a lot, where did you get the idea of having these wacky places to renovate all over the country as a business?
There are a million reasons why a family moves around a lot. Most always is for jobs. I thought, what's fun, and what's weird, and what would get Frank to the Florida Keys, which is a very unique place.
I love renovation shows on TV –especially when amazingly talented designers and architects turn these unusual places into very comfortable, beautiful homes. Once I got that idea, Frank's backstory became so vivid in my head as well as all the weird places in which he's lived.
That's terrific! I also love reno shows! Here I was thinking that because of the big role that Frankenstein plays in your story, the houses were a sort of monster that the parents were putting together. Especially the lighthouse, it had a very Frankenstein element to itself because it was falling apart in so many ways and they were patching it up. It became unusually hard to fix but, they didn't know this was a ghost playing tricks on them.
Speaking about the ghost. I have a question about the parallel between the ghost companion and this idea of the imaginary friend that the mom and the grandpa had in their own childhoods because of their loneliness. And another layer to that question: Don't you feel like having a ghost companion who can't come with you to school and other activities is just like a patch for your loneliness?
Absolutely! That is why it was important for me at the end of the story for Frank to make real life friends that are in the flesh and who will be able to grow up with him. Frank will always miss his old friend Connie slash Alice as a supportive part of his life, but she is moving on in her plane of existence, which is not his.
Of course, in the story, this imaginary friend that accompanied grandpa, mom and now Frank has been the same kid trying to call the attention of each of them. We assumed it was an imaginary friend because that's where your logical mind goes: "I'm not actually seeing a ghost; this is my imagination playing tricks on me". This is what Frank feels for a while, and it is suggested that he comes from a line of lonely people. Frank's mom was potentially lonely, and his grandfather was as well as a child. In his loneliness, Frank wasn't alone, there are people around him who experienced it too.
This opens the door to my next question about the scientist grandpa with his logic and the supernatural elements and how you reconcile them to then play a role in the story because they're opposites. Science is one thing, the supernatural is another and they don't necessarily talk to each other, but in this story they do. Why did you do that?
Going back to the mad scientist trope we touched on, there is this tradition in sci-fi of mad scientists making magical things happen (it happens in superhero comics too). It is not possible to time travel in a 1985 DeLorean, for example, but a mad scientist makes it happen in the movie Back to the Future.
Also, plot wise, it creates a tension in the story because Frank sees himself as a junior scientist. He has a scientific mind however, everything he is learning on Spectacle Key challenges it. I think of other childhood influences, like Scooby Doo, where some characters were always dubious, looking for a real logical explanation. And then you had Shaggy and Scooby always certain they were dealing with ghosts. That's always a really fun tension to explore.
Oh, that's interesting. I thought about how in Latin America we just commune with the supernatural and it is the most normal thing, but then when you try to explain that to someone who's not from the culture, they think you're crazy. I think we know how to bring both worlds together and how to live in an existence that is not just one thing. It's not very black and white. We're very open to the supernatural as part of our daily lives.
Absolutely! maybe this is an adjacent conversation to The Curse on Spectacle Key, which is fantasy centered in the paranormal (not magical realism). But oftentimes, when people talk about magical realism, particularly as it relates to Latin America, they misunderstand it. There is this feeling that magical things are reality. It's not just some fanciful thing the artist makes up. It's rooted in the stories your grandmother told you and how they manifest in many ways in your life. And that's the realism part of it that people forget. They'll call anything-goes-magic, magical realism but they forget about the realism part of that equation. I think that's an interesting conversation.
I believe your character Mama Z is almost a representation of this marriage between magic and logic that happens in your book because she's the mayor of the town; however, she also reads your fortune. It seems like the most opposite type of a characteristics to have in one person, but it totally makes sense in your story. I believe that, right there, is very Latin American!
I want to change the course of our conversation to Frank's dad, who's Cuban American and his mom who is from Southern USA. How does this bi-cultural relationship shape Frank?
There's a lot of dualities in the book. Frank is my first bicultural character. Part of the influence there was from our time in Alabama. Although my husband and I are both Cuban American, I could see while we were living there, how my daughter absorbed a lot of southern culture. Even though technically she wasn't bicultural, it was a bit like growing up almost in a third culture. That was interesting to me.
At the same time, I have never written a southern character. I wanted to give Frank's mom a little bit of the Alabama that I remembered and really loved while I lived there.
Duality is a big part of the story. Frank's mother is the daughter of a scientist and thus, scientifically minded. His dad is very practical. Curiously in the way I imagined it, the father who is from Cuba is not liking the imaginary friend thing. Bringing a bit of that macho mentality where fathers tell their sons to be tough, and tough guys don't have imaginary friends. But then the mom chimes in saying that maybe they do have imaginary friends. There's this constant pull in different directions for Frank, but at the same time they are very amicably and lovingly together and form a family culture. I wanted Frank to feel that he could draw from both elements of his culture equally.
This has been so wonderful. I have one last question for you, Chantel. Do you have any suggestions for someone who's feeling lonely and is thinking well, imaginary friends and ghosts are great in books, but what can I do in real life? What advice do you have for your readers?
If you're young, and you're feeling lonely, I think there are a couple of avenues to find friends. Find places that you love because likely, there will be other people there who love the same thing you do. You'll find kinship and affinity. Finding common ground is usually the first step in becoming a friend with someone. So going into places where you might find others with common interests it's important.
The other thing I think with Frank, is that he learns a lesson here, which is not to make quick judgments, because he dismisses Lucas right away. He distrusts him because past experiences have told him new kids get teased. I think sometimes you have to simply trust that perhaps this person has good intentions and be friendly in return.
Called "a master storyteller" by Kirkus Reviews, Chantel Acevedo is the author of the novels Love and Ghost Letters, A Falling Star, The Distant Marvels, which was a finalist for the 2016 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and , The Living Infinite, hailed by Booklist as a "vivid and enthralling tale of love and redemption." Muse Squad: The Cassandra Curse and Muse Squad: The Mystery of the Tenth, Acevedo's new middle grade duology (called "Riveting and suspenseful" by School Library Journal) was published by Balzer + Bray. Her latest middle grade novel, THE CURSE ON SPECTACLE KEY, is a lightly spooky story set in the Florida Keys, coming September 6th, 2022. She is Professor of English at the University of Miami, where she directs the MFA program
Buy THE CURSE ON SPECTACLE KEY
Originally from Mexico, Selene Lacayo is a writer and translator living with her husband and three children in The Greater Philadelphia Area. She holds a master's degree in English from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she focused in creative writing. She was the 2018 Judge's Choice Runner-Up for the Write Michigan Short Story Contest. Her essays have been published by InCulture Magazine, Americans Resisting Overseas, the COVID-19 Community Stories of the Grand Rapids Public Museum and Alebrijes Review. Her short story Amalgam forms part of The Best Short Stories of Philadelphia of 2021. She is currently working on a memoir centered around the themes of belonging, identity and motherhood.
Tip Selene Lacayo
Image by Daniel Gregoire via Unsplash
What Color was the Tomato?
Ahogando
México Mágico finds a home in the pages of Lotería


I have an account number and email address, either because I already have an account or I have signed up with a customer care representative.
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Check back with us in July for access to FoodScience of Vermont - our human supplement line.


text:
Palestinians Welcome UN Vote on Israel's 'Occupation' as 'a Victory'
(From left) "Equiano.Stories" producer Mati Kochavi, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan and New York City Mayor Eric Adams at an event at the United Nations on March 29, 2022. Photo: Shahar Azran.
The Palestinians on Saturday welcomed a vote by the United Nations General Assembly requesting that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) provide an opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's "occupation" of the Palestinian territories.
The Hague-based ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the top UN court dealing with disputes between states. Its rulings are binding, though the ICJ has no power to enforce them.
The vote on Friday nonetheless presents a challenge for Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who took office on Thursday at the head of a hard-right government that includes parties who advocate for West Bank lands to be annexed.
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem – areas the Palestinians want for a state – in a 1967 war. Peace talks broke down in 2014.
Website Promoting Holocaust Education Titled 'EducateKanye' Launched by Jewish Activist
A new initiative to promote awareness of the Holocaust launched on Friday to coincide with worldwide observance of Holocaust Remembrance...
"The time has come for Israel to be a state subject to law, and to be held accountable for its ongoing crimes against our people," Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said.
Israeli officials have not yet issued a comment on the vote. It was condemned by Israel's UN envoy Gilad Erdan before it was held as the Jewish Sabbath began.
Senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh said on Twitter that the vote "reflects the victory of Palestinian diplomacy." There were 87 members who voted in favor of adopting the request; Israel, the United States and 24 other members voted against; and 53 abstained.
The Palestinians have limited rule in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem was annexed by Israel in a move not recognized internationally. Its settlements in those territories are deemed illegal by most countries, a view Israel disputes citing Biblical and historical ties to the land, as well as security.
The UN General Assembly asked the ICJ to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's "occupation, settlement and annexation… including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures."
The new Israeli government has pledged to strengthen its settlements in the West Bank but Netanyahu has given no indication of any imminent steps toward annexing them.


text:
English繁體中文 (中國香港)English(Hong Kong)简体中文 (中国)
Wallboard Slice
Engineered Wood Veneer
PSPC
Vita Semplice
Rare Wood Species
VSPC
Zero Series
Laminate Series
Chronicle of Events
Product Functions
Home / Michael Liu
Michael Liu
Player & Founder
Mr. Liu ShuoZhen (Michael), Nick Name: Mr. M
Michael Liu, an entrepreneur, graduated from the School of Finance and Economics of Taiwan University in 1983, is now the chairman of INNOMASTER Home (ZhongShan) Co., Ltd.
So far, his achievements include: Patent Holder of Antique Flooring, Personal Achievement Award for Forest Industry and Influential Man of Flooring Industry in 2003-2004.
In 1993, Michael set up his first marketing team in Shenyang.
In 1998, China carried out the nation's Forest Protection Project, and with a keen strategic awareness, Michael established Wankelong Wood Co., Ltd.
In 2000, registered the "Elegant Living" trademark, and introduced the new product, Wood Composite Flooring, to the market.
In 2002, Michael reached a cooperative intention with Armstrong, the No.1 company in wood flooring industry of the United States.
In 2004, the first phase of Elegant Living Zhongshan factory opened, and received an initial order of 2 million US dollars from Armstrong; Elegant Living became the very first company in China to produce hand-scraped flooring in significant quantities to the U.S. market.
In 2005, Michael was awarded the 2003-2004 "Science and Technology Progress Award" in the flooring industry.
In 2007, the global sales revenue of Elegant Living reached 700 million RMB, with a growth rate of more than 80%.
In 2008, a ceremony was held in Beijing to launch the strategic partnership between Elegant Living and Samling Global Group of Malaysia, which is a publicly listed company; as a result, the Samling Global Group became the controlling shareholder of Elegant Living.
In 2010, China Forest Industry Association presented Michael with the "China Flooring Industry's Most Brilliant and Influential Person Award in the Past 15 Years" award.
In 2013, Michael was named CEO for the Custom-Made Home Division of Elegant Living , starting a new round of business.
In 2016, Michael created INNOMASTER.
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text:
Media Radio News
IMPACT Annv Spl: On running an all English radio station
George M George, CEO, Chennai Live 104.8 FM, writes about the advantages and disadvantages of being an all English talk radio station.
by George M George
Updated: Jan 4, 2012 8:43 AM
Wherever I travel in India, people ask me the same questions: what is it like to operate a 24x7 English radio station? Do people want to listen to English music on the radio? How big is your audience? How do you make revenue from an English radio station?
Interestingly enough, it's the same audience that consumes English music and media that asks these questions, at least the people that I have met. So let me pen down my thoughts in seven points as to what it is like to run an all English radio station.
Chennai Live 104.8 FM is the only English radio station in the city of Chennai and we have brought a whole new set of audiences to radio listenership. Those who avoided radio, primarily because of the regional content that most radio stations provided, are now flocking to our station because it provides them value from the infotainment.
We frequently hear loyal listenership statistics from various other stations, but unless the content is differentiated, there is room for doubt about who stays loyal to which station, let alone knowing which one they are listening to. In this respect we enjoy an audience that comes to us, and stays with us, only because of the content we provide, which is highly differentiated from the others.
But, we have a challenge. Being the only English station in town makes it difficult for us to cater to all the various genres our audience clamours for. So we need to continuously segment our programming to please at least certain sections of our audience, but not all. Our fan mail speaks volumes about this.
Our next challenge is that of being a single radio station with a segmented audience (meaning we are not into 'mass' radio). It takes a bit of convincing for our clients to appreciate this fact and over a period of time they see the benefit of advertising their brand on Chennai Live. Therefore, we have to be very selective about who should advertise on our station. A brand that does not meet the requirement of our audience would only be wasting their precious resources without adequate results.
But we still can't offer the benefits of a networked station. When it comes to media, most brands blindly follow the mantra of mass media buying and ignore the ones that offer more intrinsic benefits to their brand in each market. But the continued focus on our audience and the market we operate in gives us that edge over other networked stations in Chennai and this is what our clients have been appreciating over the years.
Now let me get to the real essence of an English radio station: the talent. The team at Chennai Live is very close knit and so communication is easy and frequent. But more importantly, we carry the right attitude towards our work. It's the passion for what we do that matters. We love radio, we love the content and we just love to hear back from the people we interact with. And we all love to party, especially with our listeners! If we are not having any fun doing what we do best, then we will rewire and do it all over again to see where the fun element is. And it only seems to happen in an all English radio station.
But on the flip side, it's hard to find the right people. We are not looking for presenters/ RJs. We look for people with passion, attitude, communication skills and good general knowledge about anything and everything, especially English music. You could be a doctor, business person, tech geek or anything else that warrants a bio, but if you don't have what it takes, then we don't have what it gives.
In short, we love what we do at Chennai Live and are proud to be part of a great city and its people. And we will keep doing it till our voices wear out or our last listener leaves.
Psssstt: we are the only radio station in the country named after the city we talk to!
(George M George is Chief Executive Officer, Chennai Live 104.8 FM.)
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