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Security topic in which the post is published Yemen country in which the post is published Commentary content-type in which the post is published
Saudi's Social Contract
2015 was a seminal year in the history of Saudi Arabia.
Fahad Nazer Jan 11, 2016
Fahad Nazer
2015 was a seminal year in the history of Saudi Arabia. Not only did it mark the passing of King Abdullah who had been de facto monarch since 1995 and the ascension to the throne of his brother Salman, it also ushered in a new era of a more assertive foreign policy and a more agile domestic policy. Just as importantly, it was a year in which Saudi Arabia adopted a new strategic national narrative that reframed its role in the international arena and recalibrated the social contract between the government and Saudi citizens.
It has become customary for prominent Saudis who write in the Western media or who give talks at think-tanks and academic institutions to stress one specific theme when speaking about Saudi Arabia's current foreign policy posture: The Saudis have adopted a new "doctrine".
Saudis present this change in foreign policy as their answer to confronting the multiple security threats they are facing from the spread of terrorist militant groups like Daesh and from the expanding influence of the Shiite theocracy in Iran. This new posture is also presented as their attempt to adjust to what they see as another disconcerting new reality: The United States has elected to extricate itself from the turmoil of the region.
However, close observation of both traditional and new Saudi media, the kingdom's launch of an unprecedented military operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen in March 2015, and its recent announcement that it was spearheading a Muslim military coalition of 34 countries suggests a much broader and deeper shift is taking place in Saudi thinking than a mere more "assertive" foreign policy.
The Saudis have modified their general ethos by propagating a strategic national narrative. This discernible change has manifested itself dramatically in how the Saudi public has responded to the war effort in Yemen and in how the government reacted to the Swedish foreign minister's public criticism of its human rights record over the summer. In the same vein, a broad segment of Saudi society has expressed wide support for the formation of the Muslim coalition and the leading role that Saudi Arabia appears poised to play in it.
Just as importantly, the recently announced 2016 budget and the reduction of subsidies on fuel, electricity and water, along with a soon to be unveiled "National Transformation Plan" of structural economic reforms suggest that the political leadership may also be ready to make some difficult, and according to many, necessary decisions to reduce the Saudi economy's dependence on oil and to wean some Saudis' dependence on government largesse. In return for a narrower social safety net, the public political space available to both Saudi men and women, could potentially be widened. These reforms could potentially reconfigure the Saudi social contract.
Saudi Arabia was taken aback by the "Arab Spring". Not only did the Saudis lose one of their most dependable allies—Egypt's Hosni Mubarak—but the collapse of several regimes made apparent a new reality: The world's sole remaining superpower, the United States, was no longer willing or able to assume what some in the region consider to be its moral responsibility—as the world's sole remaining superpower—to try to stabilize it. The difficult transition that the "Arab Spring" countries have undergone also proved to be fertile ground for the most brutal terrorist organization the world has ever known: the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
One of the reasons that Daesh flourished in Syria is because of the carnage that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad inflicted on his own people and it has since not only taken over a large area spanning the Syrian-Iraqi border, it has vowed to expand its "state" to include Saudi Arabia.
The post "Arab Spring" turmoil has also provided Iran with an opportunity to widen its influence in the region. The Saudis and Iranians continue to support opposing sides in many of the region's hotspots especially in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. To compound the Saudis' concerns, the U.S. and the rest of the P5 + 1 countries reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear energy program, potentially allowing it to shed its international pariah status and its rehabilitation into the international community.
In light of these new security challenges and new realities, the Saudis have changed the way they view themselves and reached new conclusions about how best to deal with their ascendant adversaries—Daesh and Iran—and their reluctant ally, the United States.
The new Saudi ethos stresses its independent decision-making and its confidence in the capability of its military forces. Saudi Arabia no longer feels beholden to the United States. The military action in Yemen—designated initially as Operation Decisive Storm—was the culmination of years of Saudi innuendo, followed by warnings that it will not "stand by idly" as the region is convulsed by unprecedented violence.
Likewise, Saudi Arabia's orchestration of a wide coalition of Muslim countries to combat "terrorism" could also be seen as its attempt to create an Islamic equivalent of NATO, which would serve to compliment—or perhaps even supplant—the international security framework embodied in the United National Security Council.
The Saudis have long spoken about being a blessed nation, endowed with the world's largest proven reserves of crude oil but, more importantly in their eyes, custodianship of the two holiest sites in Islam.
While Saudi Arabia has traditionally preferred to use its eminent status in the Muslim world and wealth to quietly mediate between regional rivals, the turmoil that has gripped the region since 2011, and the United States' unwillingness to stem it, has compelled the Saudis to adopt more assertive foreign policies to confront head-on the sources threatening their security. This outward posture has been bolstered by a concerted effort that has included not only political leaders and opinion-makers in the media but even Saudi clerics, who have played a role in advancing this new strategic national narrative. Many imams have used the Friday sermons in mosques to rally support for the Yemen operation and to warn about the "machinations" of Iran in the region.
As expected, Saudi Arabia incurred its largest budget deficit on record in 2015, an estimated $98 billion. Policymakers are anticipating revenues to drop from 608 billion Riyals in 2015 to 513 billion next year. In response, planners are hoping to spend 14 percent less next year than actual spending in 2015.
After much speculation, Saudi economic planners followed the lead of their Gulf Cooperation Council neighbors by increasing the prices of some utilities by as much as 60 percent. However, Saudi officials have maintained that most of the price hikes are progressive and Saudis will still pay lower prices for utilities than most other countries in the region and the world. Saudi consumers have had to "tighten their belts" in the past during similar oil crises but a consensus appears to be emerging that citizens need to temper their expectations in terms of the public goods and services the government should provide. At the same time, influential Saudis, inside and outside government, are asking their fellow Saudis to reassess whether they are meeting their own responsibilities as citizens.
Contrary to some predictions, this latest budget shortfall will not lead to the "collapse" of the entire Saudi state. The Saudi social contract has proven to be more resilient than many outside observers have assumed. And although Saudis appear to be in the midst of re-calibrating their social contract with the political leadership, there is indication the new and considerably younger generation of Al Saud are ready and willing to redefine what it means to be a Saudi both inside the kingdom and abroad.
This article originally appeared in Newsweek Middle East.
Economic Crisis, Political Divisions Spark Protests in Yemen's South
Abdulaziz Kilani Oct 8, 2021
As divisions among competing parties and the conflict persist, the economy is spiraling, leaving the majority of Yemenis without access to public services and without the means to meet their basic needs.
GCC Interests in the Horn of Africa: Economic Interests and Security Strategies
Annette Weber, Michael Woldemariam and Elizabeth Dickinson Nov 27, 2018
Politics and Governance topic in which the post is published
Gulf Strategic Interests Reshaping the Horn of Africa
Taimur Khan Nov 27, 2018
is a former non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington as well as a political analyst with intelligence consultants JTG, Inc., where he focuses on political, social, and economic developments in Saudi Arabia.


The most principal and commonly availed of type of web hosting is the shared web hosting service. It represents a means to host your web portal without having to know much about programming and administrating a web server. Additionally, it's also the cheapest form of hosting and it's in fact affordable for anybody. Nonetheless, what is shared web page hosting?
Web hosting firms that deliver shared webspace hosting accounts usually have diverse website hosting plans. Those plans offer diverse amounts of site hosting features and specifications, which in fact determine the limits that a webspace hosting plan will have. The customer may select between the different web hosting plans and sign up for the one that he believes will befit him best. The web space hosting package will then define what restrictions the client's account will involve, once set up. The prices and the features of the web space hosting plans are specified by the particular hosting supplier. Depending on the policy of the provider, the shared hosting service falls into 2 types - the free hosting service and the popular shared solution, currently very popular among "cPanel hosting" wholesalers as a cloud web hosting one. It's not possible to say, which one is more preferable, since they are quite different from one another and they actually are determined by the marketing policy of the specific corporation and, of course, the demands of the specific user.
What is the distinction between the free and the popular shared web hosting service?
Of course, the chief difference between the free and the paid service is in the amount of resources that they include. Free webspace hosting firms are not able to maintain an immense number of web hosting servers, hence, they merely host more customers on one single hosting server by reducing the amount of resources offered by the accounts. This will be effective only on condition that the hosting servers are monitored and dealt with appropriately, since the enormous amount of accounts may make the hosting server crash on a regular basis. The majority of the free web site hosting distributors, though, ignore the quality of the service and therefore, it's quite tough to stumble upon a free of charge web hosting solution that's in fact worth the time. The top free hosting providers normally provide free technical support even to the free web site hosting customers, because they want their web pages to enlarge so that they subsequently migrate to a paid web space hosting account, which includes more hosting features. One such vendor, for example, is FreeHostia.com, which is one of the largest and oldest free website hosting suppliers worldwide.
On the other hand, traditional shared web hosting companies such as SupremeCenterHost, for instance, may afford to keep numerous servers and so, they are able to offer much more feature-rich webspace hosting plans. Of course, that influences the pricing of the website hosting plans. Paying a higher fee for a webspace hosting package, however, does not automatically signify that this solution has a finer quality. The best solutions are the balanced ones, which offer a fee that matches the concrete service which you're getting. The top-notch web site hosting distributors that have been around for quite some time are revealing their prices and package specifications in a realistic manner, so that the client may familiar with what in fact he is receiving. Furthermore, some of them provide a free bonus with the web space hosting package, like the 1-click applications installer, complemented with 100's of cost-free web page templates that are furnished by 'SupremeCenterHost'. Such hosting providers do worry about their good name and this is the reason why if you choose them, you can be certain that you won't get hoaxed into buying a service that you cannot in fact utilize.
The shared web page hosting solution is best for persons who would like to host a standard site, which is going to generate a small or medium amount of bandwidth each month. You cannot anticipate, however, that a shared web site hosting account will last you a lifetime, because as your business grows, your site will become more and more resource consuming. So, you will have to eventually migrate to a more feature-rich web space hosting solution like a semi-dedicated server, a VPS (a.k.a. a private virtual server, or VPS), or why not a dedicated server. Therefore, when picking a hosting provider, you should also consider how they can be of service to you, or else you might end up migrating your domain name manually to a separate supplier, which can cause web site predicaments and even extended downtime for your website. Therefore, going with a website hosting distributor like 'SupremeCenterHost', which can supply you with the needed domain name and hosting services as you grow, is vital and will spare you lots of problems in the future.


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Mexican financier launches prodco Dos Corazones
By Jesse Whittock
6th August 2014 @ 10:02
Mexican film financier Pablo José Barroso has created a move and TV production and finance house hat will focus on "positive" programming.
Barroso, a businessman who turned to film financing nearly a decade ago, has launched Mexico City-based Dos Corazones Films, which plans to be a "top-tier supplier" for networks, studios, digital platforms and independent distributors globally.
The company will aim to create TV series of US$5 million-US$10 million, and movies of between US$10 million-US$50 million, all of which will be English-language and carry "positive messaging" and "family values" for a worldwide audience.
Its first TV project is The Cave, which is based on near-death experiences. Two feature films are also slated, the animated Max & Me, about a priest during the Nazi invasion of Poland during World War II, and Maccabees.
Mexican private equity sources are backing the firm, and there are "no set restrictions on how or where they allocate capital" in order to allow Dos Corazones "maximum flexibility in sourcing projects and material and collaborating with various partners to build a diverse slate".
Barroso has a history financing faith-based films. He acquired a studio in 2008 to animate 3D projects in Mexico, going to create locally-successful picture The Greatest Miracle.
Tags: Dos Corazones Films, Pablo José Barroso, The Cave

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A finely crafted chiswick bracket, this wall accent is sure to make your place look traditionally beautiful with no extra efforts.
This ornamentation has a classy distressed finish on light wood in gold color. Green and gold birdie on the top of this wall accent will give any place a fresh appearance.


Our research focuses on financing for development issues, with a strong emphasis on the adequacy of the international financial and development architecture to facilitate growth and development, and advocates for policies that address the needs and vulnerabilities of Commonwealth developing countries.
Presents revenue and tax system in Uganda, a country that has moved from analysis to action in gender responsive budgeting. This book shows policy-makers in ministries of finance worldwide how government revenue collection practices affect men and women differently, and how to build an awareness of gender into financial policy.
Examines the poverty endured by women in developing countries and how it can be alleviated.


text:
Ww Heart It
Sun Shining On Nutella Jar Allegedly Causes House Fire That Kills Dog
By Emily Arata
Chocolate is dangerous to more than just your diet.
A Twickenham, England family will have to find somewhere else to live for a full year after a glass Nutella jar sparked a fire that burned down much of their house and killed their dog, Chili.
Get West London reports 41-year-old Declan Murphy and his wife, Lindsay, left home this past Sunday afternoon to celebrate their anniversary, and brought along their young daughter and son.
While they were out, however, an empty jar being used as loom band storage was left in the sun that was pouring in their daughter's bedroom. The glass reportedly refracted the sunbeams, sparking a fire in her blinds.
As smoke and flames spread through the house, the Murphy family's 9-year-old Jack Russell was unable to escape. Heartbreakingly, he died of smoke inhalation.
Charlie Pugsley, an investigator for the local fire department, told press his unit has seen at least 125 fires from sun-related incidents in the past five years.
He said, "These sort of fires are not as rare as you would think."
"I've seen everything from sparkly door knobs to crystal balls starting fires."
Although firefighters arrived in time to put out the blaze, Murphy said his family was "heartbroken" over Chili's loss.
He added, "I want to ensure other people are aware of the dangers and know to keep glass items away from windows and out of direct sunlight so they don't have to go through anything like this."
The lesson: Think twice before you set glass in a sunny place.
Citations: Jack Russell terrier dies in house fire sparked by sun rays shining on a Nutella jar (Daily Mail)


Wholesale Spiral Nebula Tie-Dye Baby Doll Convertible Top/Skirt - Sell these flashy baby doll tops made from our spiral nebula sarongs. They come in a variety of tie-dye colors. Each top has a fully elastic(shirred) bodice for ease in fitting, along with adjustable spaghetti straps. This top can also be worn as a skirt, with the straps tucked in.


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Riot in a Penal Institution, But Not Necessarily a Riot
There are certain jurisdictions that like to use OCGA 16-10-56 for any little thing that happens in their local jail, but many more that do not. In Uno, this would be the "Draw 4" card. It takes a crime that may be a misdemeanor or a felony and makes sure that it is a felony. Where the underlying crime carries more penalty than OCGA 16-10-56, the prosecutor can stick with the original charge. The actual title of the statute is "unlawful acts of violence or other violent or tumultuous acts committed in a penal institution."
What is a Penal Institution?
While the acts must occur in a penal institution, the definition of "penal institution" is fairly broad. A penal institution is "any place of confinement for persons accused of or convicted of violating a law of this state or an ordinance of a municipality or political subdivision of this state."
It is a jury question whether a particular location qualifies as a penal institution, so at least one case has held that a county jail was not necessarily a penal institution.
So, it seems like a penal institution could include a county jail, a city jail, a holding cell in a police station, sheriff's office, courthouse, etc. Could it apply to a conference room place detainees in a courthouse while they await their turn before the court? Maybe. Nobody really knows until a jury says so.
What Acts Qualify?
Let's start with the idea that there are many examples of things that assuredly qualify as acts of violence: aggravated assault, battery, simple battery, murder, etc. But a concern is that there are many other things that might qualify.
There are two kinds of act that may qualify for treatment under this statute:
unlawful act of violence or
any other act in a violent or tumultuous manner.
The first group of offenses have to be unlawful, so they are already crimes. This may refer to crimes against the person, assaultive sexual offenses, and, possibly, some offenses against public administration or order.
But what about that second group? I cannot say that I have found an example of a prosecution of something that would not have been a crime outside a penal institution. Most of the reported cases are pretty clear examples of violent acts that are unlawful: gouging out a guard's eye, injurious assaults, etc.
But that second group is still troubling to me. I provided a link to a dictionary for those that are not exactly certain what tumultuous means.
The first definition is loud, excited and emotional. Given its use in combination with violent, that is probably not what was meant, but we don't really know. So any act. So, if a person is visiting a jail, which a jury finds to be a penal institution, and they crumple up a piece of notebook paper and spike it into the trash receptacle while loudly proclaiming "score" in an emotion fashion, have they committed an act in a tumultuous manner, and may they be successfully prosecuted and sentenced under this statute.
The second definition is reductive, it just says to cause a tumult. So, a tumult can be a disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices. That is also known as a commotion or hubbub. Again, that really does not seem like what should be within the range of the criminal offense, but it is left to the jury.
The more appropriate definition of tumult is riot.
Again, most of the time, the charged acts are indisputably violent acts which should qualify. But idoes something like simple assault, threatening to do an injury qualify? What if it is said in the metaphorical sense, i.e. I am going to kick your butt in Parcheesi or basketball?. What if it is one of these ridiculous obstruction charges where the officer says the person tensed their arms for a second when they were being handcuffed or manacled?
I am just pointing out that by using this kind of vague language, the legislature opens up people to prosecution for cases that stretch those terms.
Person Does Not Have to be Confined
So, the person charged does not have to be a detainee, a prisoner or an inmate. The law could apply equally to an employee of the facility, a visitor, a law enforcement officer, or a repairperson. It does not have to occur in a containment area of the facility. The plumber could come to work on the jail's lobby toilet and get into a fight with a visitor over a bet on a football game and could be charged with the felony offense, and the jury would have to figure out if that law should apply.
Punishment for Offense
A person charged and convicted of the offense can be sentenced to one to twenty years in a state prison. That sentence can be suspended or probated.


GREAT CONDO IN NORTH RESTON!! ACROSS FROM NORTH POINT SHOPPING CENTER!! NEW PAINT AND KITCHEN FLOOR!! MOVE IN READY!!!SIDES TO TREES!! LARGE PATIO ON SOUTHWEST SIDE FOR GARDENING!!LOTS OF LIGHT!!!NOT A SHORT SALE OR FORECLOSURE!!ASK ABOUT KITCHEN UPGRADES!!!


The horror film The Darkroom concerns an amnesia victim who has been in an asylum for years. One day he begins to remember flashes from his life, decides to escape from the hospital, and soon befriends a teenager. As he pieces together his former life, he begins to suspect he may be in terrible danger.
Half horror movie, half a mediocre episode of The Twilight Zone.
The story is kind of loopy and aspires to be a bit much more than the budget could possibly allow (think: Jacob's Step-Ladder), but thanks to excellent casting and some very good acting, The Darkroom is a bit brighter than you might expect.
This is one of those horror movies that tries to scare you based on the, "it could actually happen' premise. The ending makes the movie. When you finally put it all together at the end, you realize that eventhou most of the performances sucked, and the story was kinda confusing, it was actually very clever. Up until that point, it's jumpy and confusing as hell, but I can promise you it will keep you thinking and you won't have any idea until the end.
Intriguing journey of amnesiac who takes an experimental drug to restore his memory and then escapes from the institution lacks luster with unconvincing attempts to bill itself as a horror film. There is a really nifty twist which makes a lot of sense in hindsight, a feature not many screenplays can withstand so credit the writers for that. The acting is pretty good during the calmer segments with Jon Favreau-like Greg Grunberg and youngster Shawn Pyfrom scoring highest, but are only spottily convincing during ratcheting tension. Unfortunately the film needs those scenes to work better for any lasting impact. Lucy Lawless is notable for being unrecognizable as a boozy bathrobe-wearing blonde. If you're more interested in characters than chills in a suspenser, this could be one to check out.


Judy Kundert, Award-Winning Children's Author and Debut Women's Fiction Author, has been recognized by Marquis Who's Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Publishing.
Marjorie Anne Flory, Writer, Editor, has been recognized by Marquis Who's Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Journalism.
Laura Balatbat Corpuz, Interlibrary Loan Coordinator and Writer at Bradley University Library, has been recognized by Marquis Who's Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Fine Arts.


By now you've probably seen Breadfaceblog on Instagram and wondered "why does she do that?" YouTube channel Super Deluxe recently interviewed the mysterious girl behind the page to explore the world of "breadfacing." According to her, she always enjoyed putting soft bread to her face and one day decided to film herself doing that which was how Breadfaceblog started. Additionally, she notes that she used to wear whatever she had on to film her videos, but now she approaches her breadfacing videos like a date. Stating that she now chooses what she wears to "look good for the bread." Watch the video above to learn more about the mysterious figure behind Breadfaceblog.
For more food news, check out the limited edition durian flavor Kit Kat set to release in Thailand.
As well as Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, YG, Big Sean, 21 Savage, Lil Yachty, Lil Wayne, Chief Keef, 2 Chainz and more.
With tests at over 400 restaurants in the US.
Stream 'Rather You Than Me,' which features Future, Young Thug, Nas & Gucci Mane, here.


Summary: A new study reports the popular body building protein supplement, L-norvaline, can have a negative impact on brain health. Researchers found that in low concentrations, the supplement causes damage to neurons which eventually leads to cell death.
Source: University of Technology Sydney.
"Protein requirements are higher in very active individuals and proteins are considered to improve and increase performance. The demand for amino acids in supplements has expanded but in addition to the normal protein-building amino acids other 'non-protein' amino acids are being taken", the UTS School of Life Sciences PhD candidate said.
This is the first study that investigates the toxicity of L-norvaline in human cells, specifically testing its effect on the health of brain cells arising from its ability to mimic protein amino acids. NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Abstract for "Cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the dietary supplement l-norvaline" by Kate Samardzic, and Kenneth J. Rodgers in Toxicology in Vitro. Published February 72019.
University of Technology Sydney"Body Building Supplement May Harm Brain Health." NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 7 February 2019.
University of Technology Sydney"Body Building Supplement May Harm Brain Health." http://neurosciencenews.com/body-building-suppliment-brain-health-10712/ (accessed February 7, 2019).
In addition to the 20 protein amino acids that are encoded for protein synthesis, hundreds of other naturally occurring amino acids, known as non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAAs) exist. It is well known that some NPAAs are toxic through their ability to mimic protein amino acids, either in protein synthesis or in other metabolic pathways, and this property is utilised by some plants to inhibit the growth of other plants or kill herbivores. L-norvaline is an NPAA readily available for purchase as a dietary supplement. In light of previous evidence of l-norvaline's antifungal, antimicrobial and herbicidal activity, we examined the toxicity of l-norvaline to mammalian cells in vitro and showed that l-norvaline decreased cell viability at concentrations as low as 125 μM, caused necrotic cell death and significant changes to mitochondrial morphology and function. Furthermore, toxicity was reduced in the presence of structurally similar 'protein' amino acids, suggesting l-norvaline's cytotoxicity could be attributed to protein amino acid mimicry.


November 17th, 2011 - Robin loves cinnamon rolls. Thus we're making them from scratch!
November 24th, 2011 - Happy Thanksgiving!
The Kentucky rains are as abundant as the temperatures in Fairbanks are cold. We give thanks today for spending time with friends and for being able to share another part of our lives with you.
The importance of Dads. Jasmine gets a lesson in building IKEA cabinets.
December 14th, 2011 - Nature+Imagination=Lots of fun.
Cheyenne, Jasmine and Robin are using their imagination and creativity to build a village in the yard.
December 20th, 2011 - Bill: Man of Many Talents.
From the Pacific Ocean into the Big Ditch over the Colorado Plateau.


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Q: WooCommerce programtically add variations to product last variation is not filled We are importing products in our WooCommerce shop with an API. All is working but we have a problem with the variations we are importing for a product. Everything is importing correctly but the last variation is set to Every size... while it should be 11/XXL. If I click on the variation which is set to Every size... all the data is filled in but it is not automatically setting the variation to 11/XXL while all other variations are set automatically the correct way.
Here is the function we are using to add the variations.
/**
 * Create a product variation
 */
function create_variation($product_id, $variation_data) {
    // Get variable product parent
    $product = wc_get_product($product_id);

    $variation_post = array(
        'post_title'    => $product->get_name(),
        'post_name'     => 'product-'.$product_id.'-variation',
        'post_status'   => 'publish',
        'post_parent'   => $product_id,
        'post_type'     => 'product_variation',
        'guid'          => $product->get_permalink()
    );

    // Create product variation
    $variation_id = wp_insert_post($variation_post);

    // Get WC_Product instance of variation
    $variation = new WC_Product_Variation($variation_id);

    // Iterate through variation attributes
    foreach($variation_data['attributes'] as $attribute => $term_name)
    {
        $taxonomy = 'pa_'.$attribute;

        // Create taxonomy if it doesnt exist
        if(!taxonomy_exists( $taxonomy )) {
            register_taxonomy(
                $taxonomy,
                'product_variation',
                array(
                    'hierarchical' => false,
                    'label' => ucfirst($attribute),
                    'query_var' => true,
                    'rewrite' => array('slug' => sanitize_title($attribute)),
                )
            );
        }

        // Create term if it doesnt exist
        if(!term_exists($term_name, $taxonomy))
            wp_insert_term($term_name, $taxonomy);

        $term_slug = get_term_by('name', $term_name, $taxonomy)->slug;

        // Set/save the attribute data in the product variation
        update_post_meta($variation_id, 'attribute_'.$taxonomy, $term_slug);

        // Get the post Term names from the parent variable product.
        $post_term_names = wp_get_post_terms($product_id, $taxonomy, array('fields' => 'names'));

        // Check if the post term exists and if not, set it in the parent product
        if(!in_array($term_name, $post_term_names))
            wp_set_post_terms($product_id, $term_name, $taxonomy, true);
    }

    ## Set/save other data
    //SKU
    if(!empty($variation_data['sku']))
        $variation->set_sku($variation_data['sku']);

    //Prices
    if(empty($variation_data['sale_price'])) {
        $variation->set_price($variation_data['regular_price']);
    }else {
        $variation->set_price($variation_data['sale_price']);
        $variation->set_sale_price($variation_data['sale_price']);
    }
    $variation->set_regular_price($variation_data['regular_price']);

    // Stock
    if(!empty($variation_data['stock_qty'])) {
        $variation->set_stock_quantity($variation_data['stock_qty']);
        $variation->set_manage_stock(true);
        $variation->set_stock_status('');
    }else {
        $variation->set_manage_stock(false);
    }
    $variation->set_weight('');

    $variation->save();
}

Here is the $variation_data
Array
(
    [attributes] => Array
        (
            [maat] => 7/S
        )

    [sku] => 14120007
    [regular_price] => 1.53
)
Array
(
    [attributes] => Array
        (
            [maat] => 6/XS
        )

    [sku] => 14120006
    [regular_price] => 1.98
)
Array
(
    [attributes] => Array
        (
            [maat] => 8/M
        )

    [sku] => 14120008
    [regular_price] => 1.53
)
Array
(
    [attributes] => Array
        (
            [maat] => 9/L
        )

    [sku] => 14120009
    [regular_price] => 1.53
)
Array
(
    [attributes] => Array
        (
            [maat] => 10/XL
        )

    [sku] => 14120010
    [regular_price] => 1.53
)
Array
(
    [attributes] => Array
        (
            [maat] => 11/XXL
        )

    [sku] => 14120011
    [regular_price] => 1.53
)

Here is the output in the back-end of WooCommerce

As you can see the variation 11/XXL is set as Every size... but it should be 11/XXL.
Does anyone know how to fix this so the variation is set as 11/XXL instead of Every size...
Thanks for your time!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to use JPL (the java prolog interface of swi-prolog) with Eclipse? I donwnloaded swi-prolog 7.2.2.
I copied the jpl.dll file (under swipl/bin) to system32.
I created a new project in Eclipse and I put the jpl.jar in the path (like any other jar files).
Then, when I try to launch this code:
package main_package;

import org.jpl7.Query;

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        String s = "consult('lib\rules.pl')";
        Query q = new Query(s); //the exception is thrown here
        System.out.println(q.hasSolution());

    }

}

I obtain:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: C:\Windows\System32\jpl.dll: Can't load IA 32-bit .dll on a AMD 64-bit platform
I read online that maybe I should change the java vm to his 32 bit version. I tried it by going to Window->Preferences->Java->Installed JREs and change the vm to the one under program x86 folder, but it did not help.
Any ideas?

A: Install the 64-bit version of SWI-Prolog (http://www.swi-prolog.org/download/stable) and add the new directory to path.

A: Although the directory name
C:\Windows\System32

leads us to believe that it contains the 32-bit versions of DLLs and programs, it does not. In fact, on 64-bit Windows systems it contains the 64-bit versions. The directory name was not changed due to compatibility reasons.
If a 32-bit program is started on a 64-bit Windows system, the operating system maps the directory
C:\Windows\SysWOW64

to be the System32 directory. So you have to place your 32-bit DLL into the SysWOW64 directory.
Summary:

*

*The directory System32 contains the 64-bit versions of the files.

*The directory SysWOW64 contains the 32-bit versions of the files.

Side note:
The "WOW" part in the directory name SysWOW64 means "Windows on Windows".
Link:
Wikipedia article about WOW64


Comparative economic systems is the subfield of economics dealing types economy co best communism socialism totalitarianism and capitalism. Ppt video online model can co. Paper why economical system ten reasons morally superior contracting business neither nor a third alternative gods mixed grows up to be right wing tea party member trump supporting warm what are questions every cringe at its most cancerous cringeanarchy v anthropology on traditional market command ever devised that doesn t political ideas teaching innovation machine analyzing growth miracle how do answer basic me storyboard by maryam. Major production produce cold war terms graphics democracy dom individualism really cybes xcyberxx twitter quotes brainyquote.
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text:
Q: Jupyter Import Module AND use function. How can I do that? I need to import a function classify(par1, par2, par3)
from a module called _Y03_Labeling. Importing does work, but using its functions with more than one extra parameter doesnt work.
Question : How can I import functions with more than one Parameter?
.
What I already tried ( Without Success):
I successfully can run the whole notebook2 from notebook1 with the following code:
import _Y03_Labeling
Labeling =_Y03_Labeling

(Why I know if it is successful? Because its comments are printed out). Whenever I try to run:
X,y = classify(a,b,c)

I get the following error: "TypeError: 'module' object is not callable"
I tried many variations from the import line, including:
import _Y03_Labeling
Labeling =_Y03_Labeling
X,y = Labeling.classify(a,b,c)

#  or:

from _Y03_Labeling import classify

#  or:

import _Y03_Labeling
X,y = _Y03_Labeling .classify(a,b,c)

Sadly none of them worked for me.
Things i also did so far:

*

*shutting down the _Y03_Labeling notebook before I run the main Notebook

*putting the function in the second notebook into a class, importing the class from the notebook and calling the function. (works only if function needs 1 parameter)

*also i didnt forgot "self" i the function declaration with the class try.

I am glad, this forum exists and thankful for every possible help.


Environmental Biotechnology: A Biosystems Approach introduces a systems approach to environmental biotechnology and its applications to a range of environmental problems. A systems approach requires a basic understanding of four disciplines: environmental engineering, systems biology, environmental microbiology, and ecology. These disciplines are discussed in the context of their application to achieve specific environmental outcomes and to avoid problems in such applications.
The book begins with a discussion of the background and historical context of contemporary issues in biotechnology. It then explains the scientific principles of environmental biotechnologies; environmental biochemodynamic processes; environmental risk assessment; and the reduction and management of biotechnological risks. It describes ways to address environmental problems caused or exacerbated by biotechnologies. It also emphasizes need for professionalism in environmental biotechnological enterprises.
This book was designed to serve as a primary text for two full semesters of undergraduate study (e.g., Introduction to Environmental Biotechnology or Advanced Environmental Biotechnology). It will also be a resource text for a graduate-level seminar in environmental biotechnology (e.g., Environmental Implications of Biotechnology).


Welcome to the new Student Success GPS advising platform.
The appointment will appear in your calendar in the red banner on the left under the calendar icon.
*If there is an active appointment campaign with your advisor, it will appear as a yellow banner at the top of your homepage. Follow the prompts from there to make an appointment within that campaign instead.


text:
Home / Science / Complex quantum teleportation achieved for the first time
Complex quantum teleportation achieved for the first time
August 23, 2019 Science 2 Views
Austrian and Chinese scientists have succeeded in transferring three-dimensional quantum states (symbolic image). Credit: ÖAW / Harald Ritsch
Austrian and Chinese scientists have succeeded in teleporting three-dimensional quantum states for the first time. High-dimensional teleportation could play an important role in future quantum computers.
Researchers from the Academy of Sciences and the University of Vienna have experimentally demonstrated what was previously only a theoretical possibility. Together with quantum physicists from the University of Science and Technology of China, they have succeeded in teleporting complex high-dimensional quantum states. The research teams report Physical Review Letters .
In their study, the researchers teleported the quantum state of one photon (light particle) to another distant one. Previously, only two-level states ("qubits") had been transmitted, i.e., information with values "0" or "1
". However, the scientists succeeded in teleporting a three-level state, a so-called "qutrit". In quantum physics, "0" and "1" are not "either / or" – both simultaneously, or anything in between, is thus possible. The Austrian-Chinese team has now demonstrated this in practice with a third possibility "2."
Novel experimental method
It has been known since the 1990s that multidimensional quantum teleportation is theoretically possible. However: "First, we had to design an experimental method for implementing high-dimensional teleportation, as well as to develop the necessary technology", says Manuel Erhard from the Vienna Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. [19659005] The quantum state to be teleported is encoded in the possible paths a photon can take. One can picture these paths as three optical fibers. Most interestingly, in quantum physics a single photon can also be located in all three optical fibers at the same time. To teleport this three-dimensional quantum state, the researchers used a new experimental method. The core of quantum teleportation is the so-called Bell measurement. It is based on a multiport beam splitter, which directs photons through several inputs and outputs and connects all optical fibers together.
Through clever selection of certain interference patterns, the quantum information can be transmitted to another photon far from the input photon, without the two ever physically interacting. Erhard emphasizes.
Higher information capacities for quantum computers
With this, the international research team has thus made an important step towards practical applications such as a future quantum internet, since high-dimensional quantum systems can transport large amounts of information than qubits. Anton Zeilinger, quantum physicist at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and University of Vienna, says "This result could help to connect quantum computers with information beyond qubits."
The participating Chinese researchers So see great opportunities in multidimensional quantum teleportation. "The basics for next-generation quantum network systems is built on our foundational research today," says Jian-Wei Pan of the University of Science and Technology of China.
In future work, the quantum physicists will focus on how to extend the knowledge to enable the teleportation of the entire quantum state of a single photon or atom.
One step closer to complex quantum teleportation
Yi-Han Luo et al. Quantum Teleportation in High Dimensions, Physical Review Letters (2019). DOI: 10.1103 / PhysRevLett.123.070505
Complex quantum teleportation achieved for the first time (2019, August 23)
retrieved 23 August 2019
from https://phys.org/news/2019-08-complex-quantum-teleportation.html
This document is copyrighted. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is for information purposes only.
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Role of Science and Technology in Education Sector
Photos show life on Mars, claims the Ohio entomologist
Scientists may have discovered the fifth force of nature, announces the lab


text:
Abdominal Ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen. Sometimes a special ultrasound is done for a closer look at a specific organ, such as a kidney ultrasound. An ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of radiation. During an abdominal…
Current as of: March 28, 2019
Medical Review:Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Howard B. Schaff, MD - Diagnostic Radiology
Howard B. Schaff MD
Martin J. Gabica MD
An abdominal ultrasound uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen. Sometimes a special ultrasound is done for a closer look at a specific organ, such as a kidney ultrasound.
An ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of radiation. During an abdominal ultrasound, a small handheld unit called a transducer is gently moved over the belly. A computer converts the reflected sound waves into a picture shown on a TV screen.
An abdominal ultrasound may help find problems of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, abdominal aorta, and kidneys.
Medical Review:Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine & Adam Husney, MD – Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD – Family Medicine & Howard B. Schaff, MD – Diagnostic Radiology


text:
Born in Berlin, Germany, Jürgen Vogt is a Canadian photographer living in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was raised in Toronto and lived for several years in Montreal. Jürgen's personal work is of an ever evolving style, rooted in documentary and reportage genres. His images explore a fascination with history, the environment, architecture and sometimes politics.
In 1981 he travelled to Warsaw, Poland to photograph the Solidarity Union demonstrations during an intense period of their activity. In 1986 he completed extensive work for the book, "The Expo Celebration" and again in 1988, for "Share The Flame", where he covered the Winter Olympic opening ceremonies in Calgary. Jürgen has made annual trips to Havana, Cuba since 2004, to document the city, its people, and the unique qualities that make Havana such an interesting mosaic. In 2011, an exhibition of Jürgen's portraits of Cubans and Canadians, titled "The Portrait Project" opened at UNEAC, (The National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba)
in Havana.
His Photographs have been published widely in newspapers and magazines including TIME, MacLean's, Business Week, the Vancouver Province, and the Toronto Star. Jürgen has also photographed for advertising campaigns, annual reports and trade publications, with a client list including Mary Quant and Pertegaz, Polygram Records, Air Canada and Canadian Airlines, MacMillan Bloedel and Crown Forest Products, Suntour Travel and Sunquest Travel, Florida Tourism and BC Tourism.
Jürgen's images have been shown in galleries and museums, and are included in a growing number of gallery and private collections in Canada, Cuba and the USA. In addition, a selection of his photographs are housed in the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography in Ottawa Canada.


text:
Posts made in July 2019
Tee Grizzley "Scriptures" Visuals
Rapper Tee Grizzley releases the visuals for "Scriptures" the title track off of his sophomore album. The cinematic video finds champion boxer Gervonta Davis, who successfully defended his world title this past weekend, sparring bar for bar alongside Grizzley's enticing wordplay. The song "Scriptures", produced by Timbaland, is a prime example of Tee Grizzley's versatility and ability to lyrically attack any beat thrown his way.
This entry was posted in Fashion + Music and tagged 360, 360 Magazine, album, apple music, iTunes, Madison Smushkevich, music video, Scriptures, spotify, tee grizzley, Vaughn Lowery, vevo, YouTube on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
Senri Oe "HMMM" Jazz Album
Jazz pianist Senri Oe will release his first-ever trio jazz album titled HMMM on September 20 on PND Records; the single from HMMM titled "Orange Desert," will be released on September 4 digitally on iTunes, Amazon and all digital retailers.
Accompanied by bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Ari Hoenig on six of Senri's nine self-composed tracks, the album features Senri's multitude of diverse musical explorations on HMMM. The track listing includes: "Re:Vision," "Poignant Kisses," "Freshening Up," "The Look," "Indoor Voices," "Bikini," "When Life Was A Pizza Party," "Orange Desert" and "A Fireplace."
HMMM will mark Senri's sixth jazz album, following a remarkable career as a former J-Pop superstar of the 80's and 90's. Leaving his pop career behind him in 2008 to pursue his true dreams of becoming a jazz artist, Senri moved to New York to study at the New School for Jazz, and has since released five previous jazz albums: BOYS & GIRLS (2018), ANSWER JULY (2016), COLLECTIVE SCRIBBLE (2015), SPOOKY HOTEL (2013) and BOYS MATURE SLOW(2012).
Dedicated to his father, HMMM includes six trio tracks and three solo piano tracks, all infused with a swirl of emotions that Senri experienced during the previous month. The album features the highs of some of his most acclaimed live performances with Hoenig and Clohesy in Tokyo Blue Note and the Blue Note Hawaii; to the sorrowful parting and celebration of the life of his father. Album was recorded at 2nd Story Sound (NYC), and he locked out Sony Nogizaka Studio (Tokyo) for mixing and mastering it, but the outpouring of his energy and emotion was so intense from hearing of his father's passing, that Senri completed the three solo piano tunes in thirty minutes before Hoenig and Clohesy have arrived.
"I feel like life is sometimes very hard, but when I think about it in a deeper way, like the album title says, Hmmm," says Senri. He adds, "I'm the luckiest person in the world to be given that opportunity to make that final toast. In the weeks leading up to the recording, I was riding a rollercoaster of good and bad things and felt like I was in emotional limbo. I learned a lot about myself from my dad passing away. Life is tough, but you have to move forward. Life can also be more beautiful than you ever expected as you learn to ride. I make music to get fresh air, and I want people to think of me and listen to my music when they feel life is too tough to face."
Senri's song titles speak to the blend of introspection/reflection he brings to the collection. He intersperses his three brief, beautiful and graceful piano pieces – two interludes ("Freshening Up," "When Life Was A Pizza Party") and a postlude (the Christmas-themed "A Fireplace") – amongst six lively gems that showcase Senri's spirited, often lighthearted yet powerfully percussive trademark piano style, as he interacts with the dynamics-filled grooves created by Hoenig and Clohesy.
"Everything we've done on 'Hmmm' goes back to that emotional rollercoaster," Senri says. "You can't stop it, but you can find places in your life where you feel no tension and just relax and let things flow the way they are supposed to. Ari, Matt and I found this kind of place, exchanging very organic musical ideas throughout the shows and recording of the album. Once someone had a sustainable idea he could convey, the others would catch it and from that create some incredible, unexpected interplay. After a while, we had the power to believe in each other onstage, and that chemistry translated perfectly to the studio."
Since his 2012 jazz album debut, Senri has long thrived on building relationships with other artists and creating fresh musical collaborations, as he produced and arranged a collaborative recording by Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer; recorded with renowned jazz vocal greats Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann, Becca Stevens andLauren Kinhan of the Grammy winning vocal ensemble New York Voices.
Senri has performed at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Blue Note NY, Blue Note Hawaii, Blue Note Tokyo, Vitello's in Los Angeles, PianoForte in Chicago, and many more. Aside from Blue Note NY, he often performs at NYC venues such as Tomi Jazz, Zinc, the Jazz Gallery, Birdland, Soho House, Smalls and Dixon Place.
A multi-faceted singer, songwriter, actor and radio host in Japan, Senri is the recipient of a Japanese Grammy®, topped the Billboard charts, headlined stadiums, performed on TV soap operas, and had his hits used for major Japanese TV commercials.
This entry was posted in Fashion + Music and tagged 360, 360 Magazine, album, apple music, Freshening Up, HMMM, iTunes, jazz, Jazz pianist, Madison Smushkevich, Poignant Kisses, Re:Vision, Senri Oe, spotify, Vaughn Lowery, vevo, YouTube on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
Melii ft. Tory Lanez "Slow for Me" Video
Melii releases video for "Slow for Me" featuring Tory Lanez out now!
Melii shines brighter than ever before in her speakeasy-inspired track, "Slow for Me" from phAses. The glamorous Tory Lanez-assisted, "Slow for Me," music video shows the pairs undeniable musical chemistry on-camera.
This entry was posted in Fashion + Music and tagged 360, 360 Magazine, apple music, iTunes, Madison Smushkevich, Melii, music video, Slow for Me, spotify, Tory lanez, Vaughn Lowery, vevo, YouTube on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
Exclusive Quentin Tarantino Interview Out Now Via Discogs
Discogs was granted an exclusive interview with Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino to discuss his new film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and his very special approach to the film's soundtrack.
While Tarantino might be best known for his filmography — Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Inglorious Basterds — his discography is crafted with equal intention and precision. He's a music fan, and it shows.
Speaking about the soundtrack, Tarantino said, "I've long been saying that I have a modus operandi where when I'm thinking about a movie, I go into my record room, and I start looking for music for the film. And that's kind of how I've been doing it from the beginning…That wasn't the case on this one."
Read the entire interview HERE exclusively via Discogs.
This entry was posted in Feature, Uncategorized and tagged 360, 360 Magazine, apple music, Discogs, Inglorious Basterds, iTunes, Kill Bill, Madison Smushkevich, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, pulp fiction, Quentin Tarantino, Reservoir Dogs, soundtrack, spotify, Vaughn Lowery, vevo, YouTube on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
Premiere Networks and Hollywood Unlocked Founder/CEO Jason Lee announced today the launch of a new weekly radio show, Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee.
The two-hour, original program will debut August 17 on 50 iHeartMedia Urban Contemporary stations nationwide, in addition to iHeartRadio.
Co-hosted by Melyssa Ford and DJ Damage, Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee will keep listeners on the pulse of Hip Hop and pop culture in this fun and entertaining program featuring celebrity news, information and gossip, along with candid conversations with the stars who will bring truth to the latest stories and rumors.
Additionally, Lee's podcast Hollywood Unlocked Uncensored, which is also co-hosted by Ford and Damage and has more than 33 million views on its YouTube channel, will be made available on iHeartRadio.
Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee is the latest extension of Lee's Hollywood Unlocked multi-platform empire – one of the nation's top urban and entertainment brands that includes the popular website the Hollywood Unlocked Uncensored podcast; the Hollywood Unlocked YouTube channel; and events like the Hollywood Unlocked Social Impact Brunch awards show.
"When I first started Hollywood Unlocked four years ago, I had a dream of having a national show," said Lee. "After several years of working hard and never losing sight of my journey, this dream has now come into reality. Joining iHeartMedia and Premiere Networks with the likes of Ryan Seacrest, Big Boy, and The Breakfast Club is not only exciting, but also an honor to be added to this list of iconic trailblazers in the field of broadcast. We are excited to share with the iHeartRadio listeners our unfiltered and sometimes wild and hilarious way of asking the biggest celebrities questions that fans want answers to. Hold on for this exciting ride!" Lee Stated
"Jason has created a brand that connects millions of fans with celebrity news, pop culture and exclusive star interviews across multiple platforms, including events, digital, social media and podcasting," said Doc Wynter, iHeartMedia Executive Vice President of Urban/Hip Hop Programming Strategy. "He's a true influencer and we're excited to partner with him to expand Hollywood Unlocked to radio listeners across the country."
Culture disruptor and multi-media powerhouse Lee has unlocked the secret to success in Hollywood. He built an ever-evolving brand empire through strategic campaign oversight, event production, and influential relationships with stars including Tiffany Haddish, Cardi B, Kris Jenner and Floyd Mayweather. In the competitive world of entertainment, Lee has elevated his brand recognition as a pivotal voice on "Love & Hip Hop," MTV2's "Wild N' Out," "The Wendy Williams Show," "Dish Nation," and many more. Lee continues to shine as the talent and face of the Hollywood Unlocked brand, which connects with millions of fans online, and via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
iHeartRadio featuring more than 250,000 podcasts, with more than 750 iHeartRadio Originals and is available on over 250 platforms and over 2,000 different connected devices — including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, televisions and gaming consoles. Visit iHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen to Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee and Hollywood Unlocked Uncensored on your favorite device, beginning August 17.
This entry was posted in Feature and tagged 360 Magazine, Alejandra Villagra, Big Boy, Celebrity, Celebrity News, DJ Damage, entertainment, Floyd Mayweather, gossip, hip hop, hollywood, Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee, iHeartMedia, iheartradio, influencer, information, Jason Lee, Kris Jenner, LGBT, melyssa ford, Podcast, podcasts, pop culture, Premiere Network, Ryan seacrest, shannon barr, The Breakfast Club, Tiffany Haddish, Vaughn Lowery, Wendy Williams on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
DREAMstate
Joseph Lee | Dennis Osadebe | Erik Mark Sandberg | Joshua Vides
GR Gallery is thrilled to present "DREAMstate", featuring for the first time artists Joseph Lee, Erik Mark Sandberg, Dennis Osadebe and Joshua Vides in a fresh, groundbreaking group exhibition. The show puts together 20 pieces, including paintings, works on paper and installations. The title is inspired by the unique creative energy that connects the four artists, able to forge, through different visions and techniques, an oneiric reality that misleads our visual realm.
Opening reception: Thursday September 12th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm(Exhibition Dates:September 12th– October 12th 2019). Members of the press can contact GR gallery in advance to schedule a private viewing and/or an interview with the artists before the exhibition is officially open. Visitors who want to attend the opening can RSVP by contacting the gallery.
Where: GR Gallery, 255 Bowery (between Houston & Stanton) New York, NY 10002 | info@gr-gallery.com | tel: +1 212 273 2900
Who: Joseph Lee (1987, Indiana), Dennis Osadebe (1991, Lagos), Erik Mark Sandberg (1975, Los Angeles), Joshua Vides (1989, California)
DREAMstate" aims to exhibit the exclusive artistic approach of these four internationally known and trendsetting talents that are bringing new vitality into a specific technical and aesthetical idea, through the use of patterns, optical illusions, decontextualized images and ambiguous imaginaries that lead toward the creation of a new dimension. The strong familiarity of this with actual reality will destabilize the viewer, throwing him in a confused state of deja vu'. Solid bold lines, illusive interiors, surrealistic figures, hypnotic arrangements, thick brushstrokes, subconscious revelations and visual puzzling, will channel their energy into a clean and dreamy form that affects the whole environment, able to immerse the spectator into a dreamlike atmosphere.
Painting by Joseph Lee
This entry was posted in Design and tagged 360 Magazine, aesthetic, Alejandra Villagra, art, creative, creative energy, deja vu, Dennis Osadebe, Dreamlike, DREAMstate, Erik Mark Sandberg, exhibit, GR Gallery, groundbreaking group exhibition, illusive interiors, installations, Joseph Lee, Joshua Vides, Optical illusion, paintings, patterns, trendsetting, unique, Vaughn Lowery, visual on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
The Hispano Suiza Carmen has made its global dynamic debut on the streets of Barcelona, its home city. Cruising the famous city streets and coastal roads, the fully-electric hyperlux grand tourer was piloted by a selection of drivers, including Sergio Martinez Campos, the brand's CEO and Lluc Martí, Technical Director of Carmen.
With less than a year until customer deliveries begin in June 2020, the Carmen's debut saw it glide past a selection of Barcelona's architectural and design landmarks including Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, and the modern and imposing Agbar Tower. The drive included an exclusive opportunity for customers to see and experience the car in motion as part of the tour that also took in some of Barcelona's most exclusive hotels.
Since the global premiere of the Carmen at the Geneva Motor Show, the development team has worked on a comprehensive testing and refinement programme. The car now has an entirely new suspension system, alongside a series of weight-reduction and rigidity enhancements. The chassis development also includes crash structure optimisation with extensive use of carbon fibre enhancing performance, while shedding weight.
Miguel Suqué Mateu, Hispano Suiza President, said: "We are extremely proud of our long heritage, which dates back to our beginnings on the streets of Barcelona in 1904. This legacy and the style icons of our home city made it easy to decide where the Carmen should make its global dynamic debut."
The next stage of the Carmen's journey intensifies vehicle speed and dynamism to realise the car's full – 1,019 PS – potential. The hyperlux grand tourer will first conduct a series of on-road tests in the north of Catalonia, before moving to the world-famous Ascari racing circuit for high-speed testing and handling development.
Hispano Suiza's headquarters, technical centre, and manufacturing facility are all in Barcelona – a city intertwined with the brand's proud Spanish spirit and strong family legacy. Owned by the fourth generation of the Suqué Mateu family, Hispano Suiza built more than 12,000 luxury performance cars and 50,000 aeroplane engines between 1904 and 1946.
Today, the Carmen hyperlux grand tourer is designed, developed and manufactured in Barcelona. The handcrafted Carmen is based on a super-stiff, hand-laid carbon fibre monocoque, which provides the foundation for the car's exceptional luxury, comfort, and attention to detail.
Development and build of the Carmen and its custom-designed electric powertrain is led by the company's production partner, QEV Technologies. Also based in Barcelona, the team of highly-skilled engineers at QEV Technologies boasts experience across design, engineering, R&D and production for Formula E teams, supercar brands and mainstream car manufacturers.
This entry was posted in Auto and tagged 360 Magazine, Agbar Tower, Alejandra Villagra, auto, Barcelona, custom-designed, design, European, exclusive, fully-electric, Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, grand tourer, handcrafted, Hispano Suiza Carmen, Hispano Suiza Cars, hyper-lux, Lluc Martí, luxury, luxury car, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, QEV Technologies, Sergio Martinez Campos, spanish, Suqué Mateu, Vaughn Lowery on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
Pop Singer – Ashlee Keating Drops New Video "Bad Mistake"
Pop singer Ashlee Keating drops new video for her recent single "Bad Mistake." The single is Ashlee's follow up to her chart-topping dance record "Hurt Me So Good", which peeked at #8 on the Billboard Dance Club Charts. "Bad Mistake" is an empowering up-tempo pop song with an urban melodic vibe that shows off Ashlee's powerhouse vocals; It's full of attitude, strength, and swag.
"Bad Mistake is me at my most authentic & vulnerable. The lyrics I wrote were inspired by a real relationship in my life turned bad, but then taking the positive, I became better and stronger from it by not letting a relationship ruin me. Eventually, the other person realized what they lost, now I'm his "Bad Mistake", stated Ashlee.
This entry was posted in Feature and tagged 360 Magazine, Alejandra Villagra, Ashlee Keating, Bad Mistake, Billboard Dance Club Charts, Celebrity, dance, entertainment, music, music video, new video, pop, PR Strategic, shannon barr, singer, songwriter, Vaughn Lowery on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
How eating habits have an impact on our oral health
Will An Apple A Day – Along With Checkups – Help Keep Tooth Decay Away?
Eating may be a necessity, but when it comes to your teeth and gums, all that munching also can lead to quite a battle raging in your mouth.
Some of those foods – especially the sugary and starchy ones – act like invading forces, feeding the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, even as the saliva in your mouth fights back as best it can, trying to ward off the detrimental effects of the acids and enzymes.
"Tooth decay can be a problem for people of all ages – children, teenagers and adults – and yet it's completely avoidable," says Dr. Seth Newman (www.asktheorthos.com), an orthodontist and co-author with Dr. Steve Giannoutsos of Giving It To You Straight: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Orthodontics But Were Afraid To Ask.
Newman and Giannoutsos say that there are plenty of ways that what's in your diet affects not just your weight, but also your teeth and gums.
"Most people know that sugar and processed snacks can lead to tooth decay, even if they don't always avoid those foods," Giannoutsos says. "But there are other foods that also can be troublesome, and many people may not realize that."
He and Newman provide a few tips for making sure your diet isn't harmful to your oral health:
Watch out for bread – and chips. Chomp down on a candy bar and you might think to yourself that you better brush soon, lest the sugar go to work on your teeth before you can head it off. But the same thought might not occur to you when you're eating breadsticks. Yet, foods that are high in carbohydrates and starches – such as bread, chips, pasta and crackers – contribute to the plaque acid that attacks tooth enamel.
Braces come with extra concerns. Beyond the usual dental care, there are additional dietary worries to consider when you have braces. People wearing braces should avoid foods that are too hard, sticky or chewy, Newman says, such as gum, nuts, corn chips, hard taco shells, hard candy and popcorn, just to name a few.
Develop good food-choice habits. When you're grocery shopping, always check the nutrition labels. "Selecting snacks that are low in sugar can help combat tooth decay," Giannoutsos says. "If poor nutrition continues, your oral health will decline, potentially resulting in gum disease and tooth loss." Fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber are a good choice for improving your oral health. Examples are apples, carrots and celery. In addition, milk, cheese and other dairy products are excellent options because of the calcium, phosphate and vitamin D they contain. Finally, drink fluoridated water as much as possible. If your tap water doesn't include fluoride, check with your dentist for a fluoride supplement.
Ultimately, more is at stake than your teeth and gums. Left untreated, Giannoutsos and Newman say, oral-health problems can have a detrimental effect on your overall health, contributing to such conditions as heart disease and diabetes. That's an additional reason why regular checkups – along with brushing and flossing – are so critical.
"It's hard to resist your inner sweet tooth, so I wouldn't say that you should never indulge in treats," Newman says. "But when you do, brushing your teeth as quickly as possible afterwards will help decrease the risk of decay."
About Seth Newman, DDS
Dr. Seth Newman (www.asktheorthos.com) is an orthodontist and co-author, with Dr. Steve Giannoutsos, of Giving It To You Straight: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Orthodontics But Were Afraid To Ask. He owns orthodontic practices in the New York City area. Dr. Newman completed his dental training at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, where he was a member of the National Dental Honor Society. He was a clinical instructor of the Invisalign system at the NYU School of Dentistry.
About Dr. Efstathios "Steve" Giannoutsos
Dr. Efstathios Giannoutsos, or "Dr. G." as he is commonly called, was born in Astoria, Queens, just outside of New York City. He graduated from St. John's University in Jamaica, Queens, with high honors and a BS in Biology. He is also the co-author with Dr. Seth Newman of Giving It To You Straight: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Orthodontics But Were Afraid to Ask(www.asktheorthos.com). He completed his dental training at NYU, where he graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. He was also accepted into NYU's highly competitive orthodontic residency program. During that time, he also discovered a passion for treating children and adults with facial deformities. Coinciding his passion, his research thesis to attain specialty certification involved children with cleft deformities.
This entry was posted in Health and tagged 360, 360 Magazine, Apple, calcium, candy, chips, disease, Dr. Efstathios "Steve" Giannoutsos, eating, eating habit, Fruits, gum disease, habit, health, junk food, Miguel Casellas-Gil, News And Experts, nyu, phosphate, Seth Newman, Tooth Decay, Vaughn Lowery, Vegetables, Yitian Huang on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.
CapitalOne breach: how to protect yourself
A massive data breach hit Capital One. Digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson shares the most essential steps consumers can take to keep themselves safer.
On Monday, it was announced that a data breach of Capital One compromised the personal information of approximately 100 million consumers in the United States and 6 million consumers in Canada. It is said to be one of the top 10 largest data breaches ever.
The bank announced that in addition to the credit card application data, portions of credit card customer data were also obtained, including credit scores, limits, balances, payment history, transaction data, and contact information. Stolen data also included 140,000 Social Security numbers, 80,000 linked bank account numbers.
What to do if your account gets compromised
NordVPN's digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson shares the most essential steps consumers can take to keep themselves safer.
Get back into your account
The first important step is to log into your online account and change the password immediately. Go through the privacy settings and check if you can make your account more secure. Invoke all recommended security settings.
It is as well advised to sign up for email or text alerts about your monetary transactions.
Freeze your credit
The best way to protect yourself is to freeze your credit. This makes it very difficult to open new accounts in your name, even if someone is using your stolen financial information. It is important to note, that credit freeze doesn't influence your score.
With credit freeze invoked – most creditors will decline to open a new account as they will not be able to check your credit history.
Place a fraud alert and check credit reports
If freezing your credit is not an option for you – contact one of the credit bureauses and invoke a fraud alert. Fraud alerts flag creditors and they verify your identity before issuing new credit in your name. Such alerts usually last for a year but can be renewed.
Capital One said that they "will make free credit monitoring and identity protection available to everyone affected." Check for credit inquiries, balances, and new accounts that you haven't opened or applied for.
Check credit card statements
It is very important to regularly check your credit card statements online, even if you think that your data hasn't been affected by the breach. If you see any strange activities on your balance – try to recall whether you authorized the charge. If you can't recall it, inform your bank and the merchant immediately.
Make sure to keep all your documentation, such as order confirmation numbers or receipts.
Since hackers may have detailed information on more than 100 million individuals, there might be a spike in more personalized phishing scams. Such scams are usually very effective as criminals use a piece of real information, for example, your name and address.
Personalized phishing messages are designed to look as if they are coming from a legitimate bank or other familiar organization. Be vigilant and contact the organization before clicking on any links, filling in forms or transferring funds. For additional safety, use a VPN, like NordVPN, when browsing.
Report unusual activities
And finally, if you notice something unusual – report the incident to the authorities. Raising the alarm can help not only you, but others affected by the breach as well.
ABOUT NORDVPN
NordVPN is the world's most advanced VPN service provider that is more security oriented than most VPN services. It offers double VPN encryption, malware blocking & Onion Over VPN. The product is very user-friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 5,000 servers worldwide and is P2P-friendly. One of the key features of NordVPN is zero log policy. For more information: nordvpn.com.
This entry was posted in Tech and tagged 360, 360 Magazine, Capital One, consumer, credit card, Daniel Markuson, data, data breech, digital privacy, finance, fraud, Internet, Laura Tyrell, nord vpn, nord vpn public relation, protection, safe, safety, Vaughn Lowery, VPN, world, Yitian Huang on 07/31/2019 by Vaughn Lowery.


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Hey Baby Joanna Gaines Chip Gaines
Chip and Joanna Gaines Reveal They're Having a Boy in a Sweet Video You HAVE to See
Mar 7, 2018 at 10:15 am UTC / Last Updated at Jun 10, 2019 at 22:50 pm UTC By TheBlast Staff
Chip and Joanna Gaines are having a boy!
The "Fixer Upper" stars are expecting their fifth baby and Chip let the cat out of the bag about the baby's sex and gave us a hint about the potential name ... all with the help of his new buddy.
Chip Gaines was at a golf tournament for the Tim Tebow Foundation where he met a little boy named Gage and figured there was no one better to let the world know the big news.
We're thrilled for the HGTV stars but, really, in this video, it's Gage who's melting our hearts. Chip and Gage revealed that Joanna is indeed carrying a boy and they're going to give him a name that starts with the letter "D." So far, Chip only came up with the name Dragon, which elicited quite a giggle from Gage.
The whole day was quite exciting for Gage, who, on top of meeting Chip, also got to hang out with former NFLer Tim Tebow.
Congratulations to the whole family! Hopefully, Gage can talk Chip out of Dragon Gaines. ??


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There But for the Grace
There But for the Grace Recap
Father Jim leaves the Santa Luisa Mission for his nightly rounds delivering food to the homeless. He tells his assistant, Rachel, that he'll be at the public hearing on time and to tell his friend MacGyver "black and blue" if he stops at the mission. As he goes down the street, a homeless man, Mooney, holds him up. When Father Jim tries to appeal to him, Mooney's partner Riker comes up from behind and knocks the priest out, and the two men drag their victim into an alley. A homeless boy, Danny, is sleeping nearby. He wakes up at the noise and sees the entire thing.
MacGyver arrives at the public hearing as the locals complain the homeless problem is ruining the property values and causing an increase in crime. He talks to Rachel, who passes on Father Jim's message and admits she's worried that he hasn't arrived yet. MacGyver explains that the phrase was a codeword he and Father Jim used when they were playing hockey together and needed to protect each other from the opposing team. The chairman receives a message and informs the attendees that Father Jim is in critical condition after the mugging.
MacGyver and Rachel go to the hospital and talk with the dying Father Jim, who says to check his papers. They go outside and meet with Lt. Rhone, who admits they don't have much to go on and the homeless community isn't willing to talk to the police. The doctor comes out to tell them that Father Jim has passed away.
Three days later, MacGyver and Rachel attend the funeral and meet with Aaron Sandler, a local businessman. He expresses his condolences and explains that he had just met Father Jim when they started working together to find employment for the homeless at Sandler's plant. Among the many homeless persons present are a guilty Mooney. Father Jim's friends serve as pallbearer and Rachel points out Doc, one of the priest's closest friends. Another was a boy, Danny. MacGyver explains that the police want to help but the homeless don't trust outsiders, but he has an idea.
MacGyver, wearing old clothing, goes to a local gathering of homeless beneath a bridge. Among the people present are Mooney. MacGyver finds the cardboard box that Doc uses for a shelter and spots a photo of him and Father Jim together. Doc arrives and demands to know what he wants and then panics, having an asthma attack. MacGyver manages to calm him down and explains that Father Jim told him to find Doc and Danny if anything happened to him. Doc agrees to lead MacGyver to Danny, but warns that due to mental problems the boy can barely talk. Mooney, listening in, leaves after noting MacGyver's interest.
As they look for the boy, Doc explains that Danny was in a mental institution until cutbacks forced them to put him out on the streets. The priest did what he could for Danny. Doc insists that no one among the homeless would have mugged Father Jim because of his efforts on their behalf. They find Danny and Doc leaves for what he claims is an appointment. MacGyver tries to befriend Danny but the boy refuses to say anything and barely acknowledges his efforts. MacGyver goes back to Doc's box and sees the man at a distance, talking to a young woman who quickly leaves. Doc comes over and explains that the woman is his daughter Allison, and she comes to visit him once a week even though her mother disapproves. The stress brings on another asthma attack. Once Doc recovers, he explains that he used to be a well-paid English teacher with a home and family until he had a breakdown. He couldn't afford the medical bills, lost everything, and his wife divorced him.
That night, MacGyver forages for food and brings it to Danny. The boy starts to warm up to him but as MacGyver cooks a meal, Danny notices a newspaper with a photo of Father Jim's funeral. He panics and MacGyver realizes that the boy recognizes one of the men in the photo from the mugging. He gets him to point out Mooney, and Danny mimes an explanation that there was a second man, and that both muggers were driven away by a third man in an expensive car. Doc finds them and explains that Mooney is a homeless ex-con known for causing trouble. MacGyver convinces him to go through Father Jim's papers and use his knowledge and experience to see if he can find anything useful.
MacGyver starts searching for the streets. He finds the man just in time to witness him be stabbed and killed by his partner, Riker. MacGyver chases Riker into an alleyway but a security guard catches both of them. Riker insists that MacGyver tried to mug him. The guard, prejudiced against the homeless, believes Riker and tells him to go call the police while he holds MacGyver there.
The next day, Rhone gets the situation cleared up and gets MacGyver out of jail. He explains that with Mooney's death, his department has closed the case. The dead man had Father Jim's wallet on him and was wearing his stolen shoes. MacGyver explains that there was an eyewitness who identified two other men, but admits that Danny's testimony won't stand up in court and they need solid evidence. MacGyver heads out of the station house and back to the streets, unaware that Riker is watching him from across the street with his accomplice: Sandler. Sandler realizes who MacGyver is from the funeral and tells Riker to take care of him.
MacGyver goes back to the mission and meets with Doc. Rachel is also there and says MacGyver's name, and Doc realizes that he's been tricked. He has another asthma attack as he panics and MacGyver calms him down, explaining that they're both friends of Father Jim and regardless of where they live or how much money they have, they both want the killers brought to justice. Doc calms down and shows MacGyver what he's found, while Rachel goes to meet with a visitor: Sandler.
According to Father Jim's files, the mental hospital where Danny was staying kept his name listed as a patient up to a year after he left. The files show that the hospital owner, a man named Rooter, did the same thing with hundreds of other discharged patients, keeping their medical checks for himself. According to Dr. Kessler, the woman who ran the hospital, Rooter arranged fires at the hospitals, bought them up cheap, and then used them to run his scam before disappearing. There are no photos or description of Rooter. MacGyver has Doc continue to look for information while he goes to the library to check the newspapers for any photos.
In the hallway, Sandler offers Rachel a major donation. As MacGyver leaves, Rachel explains that he's working with Danny to identify the killers. Sandler offers her a truckload of warm coats for the homeless community and asks Rachel to get Danny and all the others there to collect them.
An hour later, the homeless community gathers to collect the coats. Danny arrives and Rachel identifies him for Sandler, and then calls the boy over.
MacGyver finds a newspaper of photo of Rooter and confirms that he's actually Sandler. As he leaves, Riker grabs him and takes him to a nearby construction site to finish him off. MacGyver manages to stun him with a scaffold rail and then uses a staple gun to pin Riker to the wooden floorboards. He goes back to the mission just in time to see Sandler taking Danny away in his car. He tells Doc and Rachel to call the police and goes after him on a motorbike.
Sandler takes Danny to his manufacturing plant. Making sure not to leave his fingerprints, Sandler offers Danny the knife that Riker used to kill Mooney, and says that it was the weapon used to punish the man who killed Father Jim. Danny starts to take it but MacGyver slips in and tells him not to. Sandler reaches for the gun in his belt to shoot MacGyver. Seeing his new friend in Danger, Danny manages to overcome his speech inhibition and yell a warning. MacGyver ducks for cover and Sandler goes after him. Spotting a rubber glove, MacGyver attaches it to a gas valve, release the gas, and hangs up a light bulb nearby. He then ducks behind some shelves and finds some wet clay used to make toilets. When Sandler comes by and finds the glove, MacGyver throws the clay, shattering the bulb and sparking off the gas. The concussion knocks out Sandler, and MacGyver assures Danny that the businessman will never hurt anyone again.
Later at the mission, MacGyver, Doc, and Rachel say goodbye to Danny, who is going back to the mental hospital with Dr. Kessler. Danny is able to say goodbye to his friends and thank MacGyver for his help. Doc's daughter Allison is there and Rachel assures him that he can help her carry on Father Jim's work. As doc goes inside with his daughter, Rachel thanks MacGyver. He wonders if they're doing enough and insists that they can never accept what has happened to the homeless.
Written by Gadfly on Nov 10, 2019


p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth, ages 15-23, through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. Each year our programs serve more than 500 homeless and transitional young people. p:ear staff and volunteers serve as mentors, friends, and role models, while p:ear's unique programs create opportunities for young people to grow intellectually, express themselves constructively, communicate in positive ways and engage in meaningful interactions with the larger community of Portland.


At last, after months of gremlin battles we finally achieved first light for the RiDK 16″ scope! For details on the battle itself you can read the blow by blow in this page. This is a 10 minute guided luminance image of IC 5146, the "cocoon" nebula, a combination emission and dark nebula 4000 LY away in the constellation Cygnus. I picked this object mainly because there are a good number of stars and it is well positioned high in the sky at this time of year. Seeing was a marginal average and what I am discovering is that imaging at this focal length of 2800mm is not going to be easy. I am very satisfied with the star images. They are as advertised, crisp and round throughout the field and no flattener is required. OK so I guess you can get what you pay for sometimes!
"Cocoon" nebula. An emission/ reflection nebula in Cygnus. First light for RiDK!
Now that the big event is over, we've shared our eclipse stories and relived the glory over and over, it's time for some of us to finish up the last of our image processing. By now I think everyone is fairly burnt out over eclipse images which have been flooding the internet for the past 2 weeks. For myself , since this was my very first eclipse experience, I wanted to share the moment with friends etc using the best single image of totality I had. But this is just one image. For imaging total eclipses, it's all about the corona, that "ring of fire" as my wife calls it, that seems to explode in the instant of totality. No camera can record the sheer immensity and beauty of it such as the human eye can see it all at once. No wonder we were told to ditch the equipment during totality and just watch! The corona is that "aura of plasma surrounding the Sun that extends millions of kilometers into space" (Wikipedia). Temperatures in the millions of degrees! The physics of it are incredible in itself. We can only see it during totality (scientists can use an instrument to study it called a coronograph which blocks out the sun's disc) However to photograph it is very challenging because it has such a wide range of brightness. The inner corona is very bright while the outer corona is very dim. One exposure is not going to capture it all. Hence the concept of "bracketing exposures" during totality has become well known to eclipse imagers. You automate a series of different exposures, in my case 4, and repeat the sequence again and again until totality ends. Different cameras may be able to take up to 7 different exposures automatically. This depends on the camera type (i.e Canon vs Nikon, full frame sensor vs APC or cropped sensor). Exposure during totality generally can range roughly from 1/1000 down to about 1 second or so. After the images are obtained you take all of the images from each exposure setting and combine them to create a single image, a process called "stacking" which increases the signal to noise ratio in the final image, improving resolution. At the end of this procedure you are left with let's say 4-7 "master" images, each showing different parts of the corona by virtue of the different exposure times. In my case unfortunately the 4th series or slowest exposure time was way overexposed and not usable. That's why I would change my ISO to 200 from 400 at the next eclipse, as was suggested to me!
Now the next step is the most critical. Combining , in my case 3, master exposures into one image which captures the entire corona in all of its detail. How the heck do you do that? Actually this is the easiest part! For myself I am reasonably experienced at deep space image processing and I use a program called Pix Insight. While the program's features are well beyond the scope of this post, what I can say that is interesting about it is that it is "open source" and anyone can potentially contribute any image processing script or other process to it if it is deemed useful. There are a lot of smart folks out there and thankfully a process was created called "HDR composition" which does exactly what we need! Now get this: you open the program, go to Process> HDR composition and you get the pop up shown below. Click on "add images". Click on the round blue sphere at the bottom and Voila! That is totally all you do! I should say you can if you want to, fuss with any or all of the parameters shown but the default values work very well. How this accomplishes the seemingly impossible task of merging images of different exposures to capture the entire brightness range in a single image , all in 1 click, is quite beyond the scope of this discussion! But trust me on this , it works!
HDR composition in Pix Insight which stands for "high dynamic range". Click on "add files". Add your files into the window. Click on the blue sphere at the bottom. You're done!
Final notes: I was puzzled by a couple of things. One was the sort of pink bias in the single images and the other was the brightening of the Moon's limb. You can see this brightening on many of the single exposures as well as the pink hue . This is not a processing artifact or enhancement of any kind. My hypothesis on this that the presence of high cirrus clouds during totality which we all forgot about in the moment I believe affected the images perhaps causing this phenomena. It is also possible in the case of the Moon's limb brightening there could have been a hint of Earthshine getting in there! To my wife's chagrine I decided not to artificially darken the Moon's disk. She wanted to have it look like what we saw but as I was saying, this is NOT about what we saw! What the camera saw is going to be different. I was careful not to overprocess the coronal detail. This is very easy to do! As I am sure you have seen, there are a lot of way overprocessed coronal images out there. I thought this was just about right, preserving some of the impressive brightness of the corona as well as the structure without making it look like Saran Wrap!
However, as with any image, terrestrial or celestial, the beauty or lack thereof is ultimately in the eye of the beholder!
I would have thought that was impossible. But I suppose God has a way of manifesting sometimes in unexpected ways. So here we are in Astronomyland! I swear I really do have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure it's real!
When I am not working the weekend, my wife and I are up here and we take a morning walk through the Stars End neighborhood where we have our place. What an amazing place this is! Sure, since this development was started there are several "Astronomylands" that have popped up but this one is still special. Still a Bortle 2 sky with no sign of degrading. Very interesting folks have settled here from all different backgrounds, some teachers, some retired NASA scientists, software developers and engineers, retired physicians etc. All with like minded interest, ..a dark night sky!
We live on Orion's Belt! All of the streets in this development have astronomical signs. What else would you expect in Astronomyland?
In case you get lost, the trail is readily marked!
Panoramic view from Galaxy Point, the very top of Stars End. You can see a cement pad on the left for a future observatory.
An interesting concept, but honestly, the idea that your images are going to be significantly better by building your observatory 30 feet above ground to avoid the ground convection is absurd,.. in my opinion. After all we are just taking pictures, not trying to discover dark matter! But hey, to each his own.
And here we are, back at the home of Orion's Belt Remote Observatory! We have a modular home at the base of the hill and a deck where we can sit outside and take in the surroundings! You can see the observatory up the hill to the right.
The walk up to the observatory is about 300 feet. I call this "Alnitak Trail" after one of the stars in Orion's Belt. You can actually drive a vehicle on this part of the trail. I usually do this at night because there are creatures out there that you can't see! I think there is a bobcat that lives here in the woods!
We arrive at the top of "Mintaka Hill"! The home of Orion's Belt Remote Observatory! Here is the view to the South.
Local weather at Orion's Belt. Humidity really surprised me but there are a few sporadic periods where it can be high. When I first started observing I did not look at this thinking the humidity was going to be guaranteed low all of the time and got burned when my refractor actually frosted over!
Now with the eclipse excitement settling down it's time to return to the night time world! Back at Orion's Belt for the holiday weekend we have arrived at a critical point in the installation process for the newly acquired 16″ telescope. Time for optical testing which means we have to take an image! I guess technically it's sort of a first light but I don't really count it as such because it's just star testing. However it is kind of a big deal because if we take this image and the stars are totally jacked up either we have to start collimation from scratch which means we have to buy more collimating equipment or in the worst case scenario there is an optical problem which needs repair! After all the scope is shipped from overseas. Who knows what could have happened. There is also the issue of focus, if it can be reached at a point somewhere in the middle of the focuser travel so we can do automated focusing. There are no "spacers" with this system. We had to get the right adaptor with just the right amount of backfocus. Hopefully we did the math right!
To get to this point it took the last 2 months slogging through the installation of the accessory equipment on the scope: the focuser, control system etc. You can see the blow by blow narrative in this page. I think overall it really went fine. Yes there were some issues but with this kind of stuff how can there not be? Mostly I was very anxious and apprehensive due to the huge expense of this equipment, every step of the way worrying about something breaking or malfunctioning. But thankfully no disasters yet and I got through it and learned a bunch in the process!
All the operating components are now in position. 'A' is the USB hub. 'B' is the focuser. 'C' is the camera. The OS bus controller is on the other side of the scope. Cables are secured to the holes in the telescope frame with the use of cable ties.
Looks more like a NASA space probe than a telescope, but then again we are able to "travel" to the far reaches of the Universe with it!
First ever image taken with new set up!
Near focus is reached somewhere in the middle of the travel.
Next we rack out the focuser to close to focus position and see it does lie somewhere in the middle of the focus travel.
Conclusion so far anyway is that 1) We are close to decent collimation and 2) We can reach focus pretty easily with room in front and behind. That is a huge relief! Now onward and upward!
The 16 is powered up with covers off, ready to work!


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Geneva motor show 2011: De Tomaso crossover
Reborn Italian firm has shown the first of three new Pininfarina-designed models at Geneva
by Autocar
The model that has relaunched De Tomaso at the Geneva motor show is this Pininfarina-designed BMW 5-series GT-rivalling luxury crossover concept, dubbed SLS.
Former Fiat marketing executive Gian Mario Rossignolo will present De Tomaso's new SLS (meaning sport luxury sedan) at the Geneva show and the Italian is also planning to launch new coupé and luxury saloon models.
See the official pics of the new De Tomaso SLS - now updated with Geneva show pics
De Tomaso went bankrupt seven years ago. Rossignolo purchased it from a bankruptcy court in November 2009.
He signed a deal with Pininfarina a month later to rent its Grugliasco plant near Turin, having previously failed to acquire Bertone's coachbuliding facilities. The SLS, which will be renamed for production, is going to be put together at the Grugliasco plant from 2012, with Rossignolo planning an annual production run of 3000 units.
The plant has an assembly line, body shop and paint shop and employs 900 people. Planned production of the luxury saloon is 3000 units, while 2000 units of the coupé will be made.
All will be built on an aluminium chassis using an innovative construction technique known as Univis, full details of which will be revealed at Geneva by Rossignolo.
In production, the all-wheel-drive SLC will be offered with 542bhp V8 and 296bhp V6 petrol engines and a 247bhp V6 diesel.
Rossignolo is investing 116 million euros (£98m) in the project. The LC is pictured here in these teaser images ahead of its full reveal at Geneva.