CUPERTINO, Calif. – Sept. 29, 2015 – Zeidman Consulting, a research and development contract firm specializing in digital hardware design, software design and software forensics, announced today that founder and president, Bob Zeidman, secured the Outstanding Engineer Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) Region 6 Central Area. Zeidman was honored for his significant advances in the field of software forensics. The IEEE Region 6 Central Area includes Central California, Northern Nevada and Hawaii.
The IEEE Awards program recognizes professionals who have made substantial contributions to technology and the engineering profession. An expert in a variety of engineering fields, Zeidman is distinctly renowned for his pioneering work in software forensics. Zeidman is credited for using software forensics to turn previously subjective information into empirical evidence. He has personally consulted on more than 150 court cases involving billions of dollars in disputed intellectual property, the software forensics tools he developed have been used in litigation worldwide, and his book, "The Software IP Detective's Handbook," is considered the standard textbook for software forensics.
Bob Zeidman is an inventor and entrepreneur whose ventures include Zeidman Consulting, Zeidman Technologies, Software Analysis and Forensic Engineering, Z Enterprises, SamAnna Designs, and Swiss Creek Publications. Bob holds 22 patents and earned degrees in physics and electrical engineering from Cornell University and Stanford University.
CUPERTINO, CA (June 3, 2015) – Software Analysis & Forensic Engineering Corporation, the leading provider of forensic tools for software copyright and trade secret analysis, recently earned a seventh patent covering its CodeSuite® tool for comparing software code to help detect copyright infringement.
US patent 9,043,375, "Searching the Internet for Common Elements in a Document in Order to Detect Plagiarism," covers CodeSuite's innovative SourceDetective® functionality. While other "software plagiarism detection" tools perform a comparison of code and provide an indication of copying, SourceDetective takes the analysis further by searching the Internet to determine whether code in two different programs – including open source code – might be third-party code.
CodeSuite is the only commercially successful tool for comparing computer source code and object code to find infringement. It has been used successfully in more than 70 intellectual property litigations worldwide, and is recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a unique invention.
CodeSuite 4.7 is available now and can be purchased on a term license or project basis. Project pricing is based on the size of code analyzed and the specific function used for the analysis. More information, and free trial licenses, can be requested by contacting sales@SAFE-corp.biz.
CUPERTINO, CA (February 9, 2015) – Software Analysis & Forensic Engineering Corporation, the leading provider of forensic tools for software copyright and trade secret analysis, had its sixth patent allowed covering its CodeSuite® tool for comparing software code to help detect copyright infringement.
This latest patent is entitled "Detecting Plagiarism in Computer Source Code" and covers the CodeCross functionality that compares functional code to non-functional code. CodeSuite is the only commercially successful tool for comparing computer source code and object code to find infringement that has been accepted by the courts. It has been used successfully in over 70 intellectual property litigations worldwide. CodeSuite has been recognized by the USPTO as a unique invention. Our customers agree.
CodeSuite 4.7 is available now and can be purchased on a term license or project basis. Project pricing is based on the size of code analyzed and the specific function used for the analysis. Pricing varies from $10 per megabyte for CodeCross® to $400 per megabyte for CodeMatch®. A six-month unlimited use license for CodeSuite is $50,000. A limited feature version of the program, CodeSuite-LT, is available for a six-month unlimited license for $3,000. Free trial licenses can be requested by contacting sales@SAFE-corp.biz.
The history of the computer industry is filled with fascinating tales of sudden riches and lost opportunities. Take that of Ronald Wayne, who cofounded Apple Computer with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs but sold his shares for just US $2,300. And John Atanasoff, who proudly showed his digital computer design to John Mauchly who later codesigned the Eniac, typically recognized as the first electronic computer, without credit to Atanasoff. Perhaps the most famous story of missed fame and fortune is that of Gary Kildall. A pioneer in computer operating systems, Kildall started the company Digital Research and wrote Control Program for Microcomputers (CP/M), the operating system used on many of the early hobbyist personal computers, such as the MITS Altair 8800, the IMSAI 8080, and the Osborne 1, before IBM introduced its own PC. Kildall could have been the king of personal computer software, but instead that title went to his small-time rival Bill Gates. For years, rumors have circulated that the code for the original DOS operating system sold by Microsoft is actually copied from the CP/M operating system developed by Digital Research.
A couple years ago we took it upon ourselves to search out the original code and use CodeSuite to determine the truth once and for all. Our research was summarized in a popular (and not-so-popular) article in IEEE Spectrum entitled Did Bill Gates Steal the Heart of DOS? If you haven't read it, you should. It's a fun read but it only summarizes our exhaustive results using our tools and procedures for finding copied code. The article generated a lot of controversy and we always intended to publish the full technical details of our analysis, but it's surprising how many people don't like our conclusion and wouldn't publish my paper. But now the full academic paper entitled A Code Correlation Comparison of the DOS and CP/M Operating Systems is available online in the Journal of Software Engineering and Applications. If you want to know the details, and you want to know the truth, it's in the article and the details are in the paper.
You can order your copy on Amazon here or at other online and brick-and-mortar bookstores.
If you want to get up-to-date information on the world of intellectual property, and you want it to be interesting, passionate (yes, some people are passionate about IP) and sometimes even controversial (yes, IP can also provoke fiery controversy), then you definitely need to sign up for Gene Quinn's IP Watchdog blog.
IP Watchdog is considered one of the most influential IP blogs in cyberspace. In fact, the American Bar Association runs a poll each year to rank the best law blogs, and IP Watchdog usually comes out on top or near the top for IP blogs. But as they say on DWTS, you need to vote! There's no guarantee that your celebrity will win. So I'm asking you to vote for IP Watchdog in the ABA blawg 100 competition. Go here to vote and look for IP Watchdog in the… where else?… IP category.
Software Analysis and Forensic Engineering has just released a new version of CodeSuite that has some really great new features.
What's a PID? It's a partial identifier. Or more specifically, a partially matching identifier. That's where two identifiers in code almost match. So for example, the identifiers identifier1 and confident_boy share the partial identifier (or "PID") ident. CodeMatch has always been able to correlate PIDs and use that in calculating the identifier correlation score as a component of the entire correlation score between two source code files. But there can be so many PIDs that users got blurry-eyed trying to view them all and find suspicious ones in a CodeMatch HTML report. So we came up with a solution. You can now export the PIDs from a CodeSuite database into a spreadsheet. You can see not only the PIDs, but the original identifiers that share the PIDs. Now you can sort and select, cut and paste, and generally look for clues to copying in a simple spreadsheet.
Part of our process for finding copying has been to first find all the source code files in a directory of files so that you know what to examine. However, there are lots of source code files, and some can be missed. Some programming languages are a bit uncommon and you may not recognize the source code files. Well, we found a solution to that too. The new FileIdentify function of CodeSuite allows you to point at a folder and generate a spreadsheet containing all of the file extensions in that folder and all subfolders. If CodeSuite recognizes the (potential) programming language, it will put that information in the spreadsheet too.
From the beginning of CodeSuite, when there was only CodeMatch, the database has always been a fully documented text file that anyone can view. This allows our customers to make their own tools to extract data and statistics from a CodeSuite comparison, and some customers have created some very interesting utilities. Our database format was simple, but grew more complex over the years. Now we have a function in CodeSuite that converts any CodeSuite database into XML so that you can use off-the-shelf tools to examine it, translate it, or write utilities to extract data and statistics.
CodeMatch®, a program for comparing and measuring the similarity of different programs.
CodeGrid®, a computer grid-enabled version of CodeMatch®.
RPG, a tool for automatically generating expert reports for copyright, trade secret, and patent litigation.
At least a bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent. Advanced degree is preferred.
Excellent programming skills in one or more programming languages.
Ability to work independently on projects that are not well-defined.
Excellent verbal and writing skills for creating detailed specifications and reports.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to switch projects suddenly as the need arises.
Enjoys working long hours on interesting projects, including weekends when projects hit critical periods.
Enjoys free time when projects are not in critical periods.
Zeidman Consulting pays above average salaries with profit-sharing and provides health insurance and paid time off for holidays, vacation, and illness. To apply, please email a resume to Info@ZeidmanConsulting.com.
I hope you're all aware of my book The Software IP Detective's Handbook: Measurement, Comparison, and Infringement Detection. It's the first book on Software Forensics, a field that I pioneered at Software Analysis and Forensic Engineering and Zeidman Consulting. Whereas Digital Forensics deals with bits and files, without any detailed knowledge of the meaning of the data, Software Forensics deals with analysis of software using detailed knowledge of its syntax and functionality to perform analysis to find stolen code and stolen trade secrets. The algorithms described in the book have been used in many court cases. The book also describes algorithms for measuring software evolution, particularly as it relates to IP changes.
If you are a teacher, this is a great time to incorporate the materials in the book into your courses on software development, intellectual property law, business management, and computer science. There's something for everyone in the various chapters of the book. Your students and you will be at the forefront of an important and very new field of study.


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Rune: Lesser Health
Tovenaar Skyfire Feb 26, 2011 @ 7:12:42 am
Zamaz Antonia Bayle Mar 1, 2011 @ 5:20:49 am
Naggato Maj'Dul Mar 1, 2011 @ 5:30:55 am
Kouroon Barren Sky Mar 1, 2011 @ 6:14:08 pm
Makya Halls of Fate Mar 1, 2011 @ 9:25:22 pm
Aryang Sebilis Mar 2, 2011 @ 9:53:20 am
Emlar Storms Mar 2, 2011 @ 5:21:43 pm
Unknown Harla Dar Mar 4, 2011 @ 3:07:59 am
Grimshadez Nagafen (old) Mar 5, 2011 @ 7:38:15 am
Luji Test Apr 5, 2011 @ 9:35:39 pm
Unknown Drunder Sep 2, 2015 @ 11:47:39 pm
Wdnyiss Isle of Refuge Nov 26, 2016 @ 6:07:18 pm
Tovenaar Permafrost Feb 26, 2011 @ 7:12:42 am
Meaghan Crushbone Feb 27, 2011 @ 6:32:08 am
Volkov Unrest Mar 1, 2011 @ 1:55:34 am
Sounson Butcherblock Mar 1, 2011 @ 5:30:55 am
Makya Everfrost Mar 1, 2011 @ 9:25:22 pm
Onodi Guk Mar 2, 2011 @ 3:22:37 pm
Tankerdab Oasis Mar 2, 2011 @ 11:27:22 pm
Backstabb Freeport Mar 4, 2011 @ 6:51:40 am
Grimshadez Nagafen Mar 5, 2011 @ 7:38:15 am

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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TotalNtertainment
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Embrace & The Lightening Seeds join Wychwood
Festivals Music
Embrace & The Lightening Seeds & The previously announced Saturday headliners The Divine Comedy will be joined by Mercury nominee & folk singer Seth Lakeman,
By TotalNtertainment / 29/02/2020
Embrace & The Lightening Seeds & The previously announced Saturday headliners The Divine Comedy will be joined by Mercury nominee & folk singer Seth Lakeman, fellow 90's Brit poppers Sleeper, who consistently skirted the charts throughout the 90's with 8 Top 40 singles and 3 Top 10 albums and Tankus The Henge, a cult London band, known for their wild showmanship, musical dexterity and a relentless touring schedule. They have a unique style which they term "Gonzo Rock 'n' Roll"; with influences from New Orleans Jazz, Psych & 70's Funk.
Wychwood festival, make their second line up announcement, with even more to come! Wrap your arms around the ones you love on Friday night as Embrace will be headlining the main stage, performing great favourites such as 'All You Good, Good People', 'Come Back To What You Know', 'My Weakness', 'Gravity', 'Natures Law', 'World at Your Feet'… so many brilliant hits over two decades. Last year the band celebrated their coming of age – 21 years since the release of their number 1 debut album, 'The Good Will Out'
On Saturday, getting us ready for the Euros 2020 The Lightening Seeds will be holding court on the main stage. The band had many top 40 hits throughout the 90's, but are best known for the '3 Lions' England Team theme tune, which reached number 1 twice in 1996 and 1998, with guests Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, who always had an uncanny resemblance to Ian Broudie, the bands lead singer!
The festival are also proud of their brilliant comedy line up this year with Kerrang's favourite rock comedian Andrew ONeill, & Chortle Best Newcomer winner Daisy Earl, plus Cerys Nelmes, Jenny Collier, David Eagle, El Baldhiniho, Jon Wagstaffe, Nick Page, Andrew Bird & Karen Bayley.
Wychwood always brings new discoveries, a heritage of world & fusion music, and established performers, plus award winning family activities, workshops, arts, kids entertainment, dance & comedy. There are more acts to be announced, but currently the rest of the line-up includes, the previously announced Dreadzone, The Christians, Craig Charles & Basil Brush, alongside new additions to the bill Josh O'keefe, Folk On, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, The Rajhastan Heritage Brass Band, John Leather's 80's Movie Disco and Thrill Collins who are programming The Hobgoblin (*beer sponsor) stage, inviting their friends Funky Business, Wrapped In Cheese, Way Out West and Roguey Roads to join in the shindig!
Early Bird Tickets are SOLD OUT! Day and weekend tickets now on sale with a few more surprises to be announced in the coming weeks!
Day Tickets and Weekend tickets available from: https://wychwoodfestival.com/buy-tickets
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Most readers know me as a missional community practitioner and don't realize I am also an entrepreneur. I currently own an investment portfolio management firm, and have for 10 years. I've started three other businesses, and will be starting another when we move to Phoenix later this year. I am a business starter, that's my 'day job.' Most churches have a hard time getting entrepreneurs, like me, to join their mission and vision. We are either running from church or passively sitting in pews on Sunday. We have gifts and strengths to offer, but they lay dormant in the local church. Why? It isn't for a lack of asking. Pastors frequently attempt to pull the business owners in but are met with, "I'm too busy." Excuses, like these, are usually a cloud of smoke to mask the true objections. My hope is to help shed some light on what lies beneath the "I'm too busy" objection.
First, entrepreneurs are not more important or better than the rest of the church. However, we can all agree that the entrepreneur is usually a pretty odd specimen with unique gifts and abilities. The church can't afford to have anyone's gifts sidelined. The mission of the church is too important to miss out on a single part of the body. What does it say about our church, if a fraction of its gifts go unused, unengaged?
The entrepreneur is not super human, but they usually have a ton of capacity, they aren't scared of risk, they love thinking outside the box, and they don't mind submitting to leadership. What's really interesting is that if they find something they are sold out for, they'll call others to join them. They can become a huge ally for the church to aid in the understanding of making disciples who make disciples. The problem is that for many years the entrepreneur has been told to "fit into this box" or go elsewhere. Many have. Many entrepreneurs have decided to fulfill the great commission through para-church organizations and non-profits. I understand why.
What if you were a baseball player and were continually told by your coach that instead of playing baseball, you were going to knit scarfs? I'm guessing you'd find a different place to allow your talent to mature. In a sense, churches have been doing this for years with the entrepreneur. We don't put them in the game they were designed to play.
Entrepreneurs are so unique they can give a church's vision a run for its money, ask tough questions, and sharpen the leadership of the local church. They have the ability to challenge and push leaders in ways other folks can't. They cause us to dream bigger, get specific, empower others, and take major risks. So, why do entrepreneurs hate your church?
What do I mean by "vision?" The mission of all followers of Jesus is to make disciples who make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). The vision for your local church is the how, where, and who of this commission. How are you going to make disciples? Where are you going to go? Who are you going to reach? Your church was placed on earth to make disciples. That is why you exist. If we all had the exact same vision for the how, where, and who we were going to make disciples of, then we might as well be one big church. But, the fact is, God has given each church a unique vision to carry out the mission he has given us all. Far too often, churches settle for a vision that is too small.
Entrepreneurs think big. Honestly, that's also what makes us (entrepreneurs) fail sometimes. We think all our ideas are going to be the next big thing, when in reality, our dreams are often bigger than the marketplace can handle. However, these big dreams allow businesses to be born and succeed.
Entrepreneurs want to be part of something big, not something that is going to only affect those around the block. Now, those around the block might be the starting point to implement the vision, but shouldn't be the end point. If you want entrepreneurs to be engaged on the mission in the context God has given your church, think big, not small.
Soma Communities told me they wanted to see 3,000 missional communities in the Seattle area. That's 1 for every 1,000 people. That vision started with me getting after it, trained, and excited for multiplication. If they merely told me that they wanted me to go and start a missional community in my neighborhood, that would have been great and all, but the first thing I'd be thinking is: "Is that it? Is that where I stop?" Honestly, as an entrepreneur, to have that be the end goal, wouldn't be exciting enough.
God is our example for casting vision. He told Abraham: "Your offspring will be numbered as the stars. The whole earth will be blessed through your family." This is a big vision. God also said that we were to be his witnesses, not only to our neighbors and cities, but to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Think of this vision laid out by God in Genesis and Acts. It includes the people next door to you, but is also much bigger that that. God's vision is simultaneously as small as a family and as big as the world.
So, when we hear this, we get excited. Not because we can do it on our own, but because we know that God can and he has given us the Spirit to empower us for the mission. This is a vision beyond our powers and requires us to rely on the Spirit. So, while others may balk at a large vision, the entrepreneur will be your ally in calling people to fulfilling the seemingly impossible. We need entrepreneurs calling us to push the envelope, to think beyond our neighborhood and consider the world. They will become a litmus test: if your vision is too small and doesn't require risk, innovation, or creative thinking, they will pick up on this.
Having a large vision is one thing, but if it is a generic vision, it will likely die. God's vision for Abraham was big, but it was also specific. He told Abraham: "Go to the land I will show you." At times, God is not always specific with us, but that's okay. He's God. But, what I do find interesting is how God treated Paul on the mission field. Paul listened to Jesus when he said, "you'll be my witness even to the ends of the earth" (big vision) and then listened to the Spirit as he continued to instruct Paul where to go and where not go. It is amazing to watch how specific the Spirit was with Paul as he listened and relied on God (Acts 16).
What we'll see in churches is that their vision is: "We want to glorify God in all the earth." Well, thanks? It is a big vision, but I can frankly do that without being connected to your specific church.
Give us some handles on what you mean. When Soma Communities says: "We want to see 3,000 Missional Communities in the Puget Sound area." This gives me so much information right up front. I see a big vision: a number that they desire to attain. I also see the means by which they are going to see disciples made: missional communities. The vision tells folks how they plan on glorifying god in the earth. You don't necessarily need to see a number, but put some sort of descriptive handles so we aren't left to wander.
It'd be like me trying to secure a loan for my business and saying: "We want to be the best company in the whole world!" How? By being the best. Where? The world. Ridiculous. Entrepreneurs need specific vision.
Many churches and pastors usually fail the most here. You literally take the best weapon from the entrepreneur out of their hand by wanting to control everything.
You tell them how things are going to run on Sunday, how things are going to run in your programs, and how things are going to work in their community, small group, or missional community.
Churches then chalk it up to us not wanting to submit to leadership, but that's not it. We don't want to be controlled and manipulated into thinking the pastor knows it all and knows how our lives should work. That sounds a little harsh, but that's how they see it.
Entrepreneurs are used to being handed the "rules" to live within as they deal with local government, tax laws, officials, etc. Once we figure out the "rules of engagement" we can take it and build our businesses within that framework.
Think like that when implementing your vision. How can the church set up a system where it allows the entrepreneurs to use their gifts instead of restrict them? In Soma Communities, the parameters or rules are: we believe that the primary organizing structure of the church is gospel communities on mission and how you work that out is up to you! They train, equip, and encourage. They don't control.
The Austin Stone does this well, too. My friend Todd Engstrom, says, "For us inviting entrepreneurs into conversations that are in their fields, not just ours. Most entrepreneurs hate the church because everything is pretty prescribed, and honestly not very complex. So, we help them think through ministry in their world, but allow them to be the experts." By inviting the entrepreneur into these conversations, Austin Stone has launched 9 different non-profits and unleashed leaders into full engagement in the mission of making disciples.
This is a dream for the entrepreneur. It allows us to work within the time frame that our businesses allow instead of having to be at programs, church services, or church buildings. To be part of most churches, you have to be at the church building more often than a hipster wears a scarf. Most business owners don't have time for that. When they don't show up to those events, they are made to feel guilty and less than a Christian for not showing up to the latest greatest event.
As a church, flip that scenario and say, "the mission and vision is critical; figure out how to make disciples in the ways that God has given you." Empower folks! Free up the implementation of your vision to liberate more gifts. This respects the uniqueness of everyone's design. We have all been made differently, with different gifts, with different schedules, and different ideas.
Entrepreneurs can see right through the leaders who are more afraid of man than God. They can see the fear of failure. They never want to be part of something safe and want to push the envelope with mission. They want to be sent to the places considered unsafe to live in, work in, and do ministry in.
Last year as Soma leadership, we prayed for leaders to be sent to Seattle, San Francisco, and Phoenix. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but the more I heard about Phoenix and some of the "hard things" about it, I knew I was ready.
Phoenix has a ton of gangs and drugs and horrid schools.
Phoenix is spread out and is more like a suburban context, which is impossible to do missional community life in.
Phoenix is hard for relationship building. Most people just stay inside and don't want to get to know other people.
Pastors, stop being safe with your people. Call them to take risks in making disciples. If it doesn't work, who cares? You'll learn something. If you're following Jesus, you have nothing to lose. It's not even really a risk. God is in control and he is good at it. If you enable entrepreneurs to take risks, others will follow. Your church will quickly see the joy in following Jesus with reckless abandonment.
Honestly, if you are reading this and you are a pastor, know this: entrepreneurs desire to be part of what the local church is doing. They're just tired of you thinking too small and being too timid. Dreaming big. Leading strong. Take risks. Entrepreneurs will follow you.
This article isn't a fix-it-all. However, pastor and business starters are on the wrong page. This is meant to be a shout to the pastor from the pew on why you have been frustrated with us and we (entrepreneurs) have been frustrated with you.
I don't believe that we are always right, or that we are better than any other person in your flock. But, for too long, we've been shelved and treated as though our gifts are a hindrance to the church instead of actual gifts.
If you can start to lean into these four basic things…you'll be surprised how much you'll see the entrepreneur get behind you and desire to be part of what the church is doing.
Other article by Seth: Leading Joe Blow Into Mission, The Introverted Evangelist, and How Kids Learn to Follow Jesus.
Also Read Proclaiming Jesus by Tony Merida.


Occasionally, marine wildlife or seabirds may become entangled in recreational gillnets or fishing gear. Take the following steps to avoid this.
NEVER FEED SEALS! Never use fish as a decoy or throw fish waste to seals. This is training them to associate boats with an easy feed. Seals that expect a regular source of food can become nuisance animals.
Try to avoid areas where seals are known to interact with fishers and if a seal takes your fish move away.
Keep noise to a minimum because seals have good hearing eg. use matting on your boat, set gear quietly and don't leave fish flapping.
Remember, seals target fish not boats, so try to minimise your interactions with them. Clean fish at sea and dispose of frames and offal away from boat ramps and fishing grounds.
Seals are protected by law in Tasmania. Don't approach them when they are hauled out on land.
For more information or to report seal interactions, call the WHALE hotline on 0427 WHALES.
Little penguins have darkish grey colouring on the top of the head and their neck and belly are silvery-white. They are vulnerable during spring and summer months when going ashore to nesting sites, so remove your gillnet at least one hour before sunset.
Also known as mutton birds, shearwaters are sooty-grey with paler colouring under the wings. Large flocks are seen from September to April where they hunt close to shore in channels and bays.
Several species of cormorant breed in Tasmania, often in colonies on islands or rock stacks. Cormorants may also roost on jetties and feed in areas where gillnetters target fish.
Whales are vulnerable to entanglement, so ensure that buoy lines are not over long. Endangered Southern right and humpback whales migrate close to the Tasmanian shoreline between May and November. Don't set lines or nets if whales are in the area.
Report whale sightings to 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537) and interactions with protected wildlife to DPIPWE Resource Management staff on 1300 827 727.


What is Cabbage soup from the past? That may be the question on the minds of some. Others know exactly what it is. Here is the answer for those who do not.
Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains, in the Kanawha Valley, in the state of West Virginia, is the small rural community of Saint Albans. It is the town that my family and I moved to in 1967 when I was a mere five years old, and the town that I grew up in and lived in until I moved away, to a nearby community in 2002. Saint Albans is a little town of about 11,000 people, located on the banks of the Kanawha River and situated at the mouth of the Coal River.
In many ways, in the 1960s and 1970s, it was the picture of the typical small town America. There was a main street with a five and dime store, a department store, a local small town bank, and a barber shop, along with a few other stores along its path. There were hometown parades and summer town fairs that we all, young and old alike, looked forward to every year. There was Friday night football under the lights, in an age where school pride and loyalty still existed. There was that feeling of safety of being a small town where everyone looked after each other, and where it was safe to walk down the street at night, or ride your bicycle home in the dark after staying just a little too long at your friends house. There was little to no crime to be reported, and drugs were only seen on television shows of the day such as Dragnet or Hawaii Five-O. It was a simple time in a simple place. One I only wish I could now recreate for my own children. A lot has changed over the years.
Historically, the land was once surveyed and owned by George Washington. The town itself, however, was laid out in 1816 and was originally known as Phillippi after one of its early settlers. There were a few name changes along the way before finally, in 1872, being renamed by H.C. Parsons of the C & O Railroad, which ran through the center of the town, after his birthplace in Saint Albans Vermont.
Moving forward 114 years from the 1872 renaming of the small town described above, I can now answer the original question. What is cabbage soup from the past.
In the small town of St. Albans was a family owned restaurant that opened it's doors in 1986 in the heart of town. I have been asked not to mention the name of the restaurant, so out of respect, I have taken the name out. Sadly they had to close their doors nearly 10 years ago due to the changing economic and demographic landscape.
I had the pleasure of working for this restaurant, and the family that owned it, in different capacities, both as a chef and in management, from its inception in 1986 until life's circumstances led me to leave to pursue other interests and opportunity's in 1996. I still have many fond memories of the people, and lots of life lessons from the events from those days in that little place in that small little town.
I also still have many recipes that were used in the successful building of the business. Some are ones that I created myself along the way. Some, like this soup, were created by others, but ones that, after ten years of producing or supervising the production of, have stuck in my mind like glue. Some I have shared with others along the way. Some I have kept to myself. That finally brings me to the main topic of this article: cabbage soup.
The restaurant I am speaking about was well known for many things. Mouth watering, aged, hand cut steaks, shredded lettuce salad with their signature house dressing, delectable desserts, and warm sweet hush puppy's served with whipped honey butter. But perhaps the thing that they are most talked about for, even years after their closing, is the cabbage soup that was served up to every guest. Yes. Every guest, upon being seated, was greeted with a basket of the sweet hush puppy's and honey butter and a steaming 8 ounce cup of their homemade cabbage soup.
It is the latter that has been the source of hundreds of requests over the years and is the subject of the recipe that I will share in this article. As stated, I have had, literally, hundreds of requests over the years for the recipe for this soup. While I have been more than willing to share it with folks, and it is really quite simple, there was one small problem. The recipe I have had for all these years has been for an 80 quart batch. That doesn't do the average consumer much good when trying to prepare this for home. At this restaurant we would go through anywhere from two to four of these 80 quart pots of soup EVERY DAY. So I have taken part in or seen thousands of gallons of this particular cabbage soup prepared over ten years. Again though, that did not help the individual who wanted to make a pot of this memorable soup for home. Therefore, I would usually just approach the requests with a simple, "I can tell you how to make it but you will have to make 80 quarts at a time." I would then always get requests to break down the recipe for them. I would always promise that I would some day, but have just never got around to it... until now.
For some reason, of late, I have had a recent renewed barrage of requests for the recipe. I have even seen a few posts on social media and even a newspaper article in our local paper, trying to re-create this long sought after recipe. I have seen people come up with some strange ingredients that they were sure was in the soup. While each of the many attempts to re-create was good in its own right, they just were not correct, at least when described as the soup from this particular restaurant. So I decided that it was finally time to make the effort and break down the recipe for a small home sized batch and share it with others.
The funny thing about all of this "hoopla" over the recipe, is that when people see the small number of ingredients actually used, and how very simple it is to make, they will wonder what all the fuss was about and why they worked so hard to figure out something so simple.
So without further delay, I give you... Cabbage Soup From the Past!
Rinse and chop the cabbage into about 1-inch squares and place in the bottom of a six-quart stock pot.
Clean and chop the celery into about 1/4 inch slices. Put into stock pot on top of the cabbage.
Fill the stock pot up with water to about 3/4 full.
Note: You may adjust the salt pepper and crushed red pepper to suit your taste. Some people like it a little spicier some like it a little saltier. Experiment a little at a time.
Stir and serve. It's really that simple.
This recipe can also be used as a base for a more hearty vegetable soup. Just add your choice of vegetables. You can even beef it up and make a vegetable beef by adding cooked stew beef to the mix.
As with many things...taste is subjective. Feel free to modify in any way that best suits your taste. However, for those trying to recreate the recipe for this long gone restaurant, this recipe is for you.
Thanks Howie! Love this soup and loved the restaurant (that shall not be named, LOL) that created it! They had the BEST baked steak and gravy EVER. Loved the salads too...there was just something about the shredded lettuce! BTW, I think you may know my husband Randy's brother, Tom Mallory? Also, my friend Jack Cook and his friend Lance (I can't remember Lance's last name) used to work in the kitchen there...I bet you knew them too!
I remember this soup well and I loved it even though I did not like cooked cabbage. I am going to fix it for my Father who loves cabbage soup.
Wonderful article! I too graduated from SAHS. My husband and I had our first date at RE restaurant which included cabbage soup. My only comment about the town is: I the 60s , football games were on Saturday afternoon because Crawford Field had no lights for a night game.
Thanks for the recipe. Another thing I remember was how huge the salads were.
Do you have recipes of hush puppies and blu cheese French dressing?
Do you have the blue cheese french salad dressing recipe? It was from the old Sterling Resturant in Charleston, WV from way back in ybe 70's. We loved visiting home and going to Rivers Edge. Hope you can share dressing recipe...my search has been long. Blessings..
Love, Love, Love the soup. Just one question, Should the pot be covered with a lid while cooking? Or not?
Thank you. Yes he (Carl) did. He had a remarkable way of growing a restaurant business. He and the entire Frame family are wonderful people who I had the pleasure of working for/with for over 20 years. This article is as much a tribute to them and the little piece of so many memories that they helped create for so many, as it is for the town we grew up in and still love. Thank you for the compliment on the article.
I too grew up in a Saint Albans before leaving in 2000 Carl had a good thing going with Rivers Edge! I too miss the simple way of life the low crime and the good small town feeling! What a great article and a great tribute to our Home Town of our past!
Loved the whole article! It is a cold and rainy Winter day here in SA and was was craving this soup! Googled Rivers Edge soup and here it is! Thank you so much for sharing this!! Loved your history of our town too.
I really miss this restaurant. The soup, hush puppies, and prime rib were the best. Thanks!
I made this and it is Excellent!
Would love to have hush puppy recipe.
Do you happen to have the hush puppy and honey butter recipe?
This post is so enjoyable and interesting, thank you!
AHHHHH! Thank you soooo much!! I remember this place from when I was about 5 years old because of the amazing cabbage soup, hush puppies, and butter spread! Phenomenal!
Loved the soup, recipe was spot on from what I remember. Sure would like the hush puppies to go with it. The Chinese restaurant in cross lanes is pretty good too that serve the soup and hush puppies.
Omg love this.. Rivers Edge was one of my fave restaurants.. do you have recipe for the hush puppies n honey butter, and also recipe for the 1000 island dressing. it was fantastic.
Howie, thanks for the recipe and for the story most of all. I lived in St. Albans in the early 50's, we moved to Boone County to be near my dad's family. In 1968 I moved to NJ where I still reside. West Virginia will always be my home and I will make the Cabbage Soup and think of home.
Lindell, Leslie, Donna and Nancy. Thanks for stopping by and I am glad it brought back great memories for you. Sorry Donna...No I will not be sharing any other recipes out of respect at the request of the family.
Sadly....this evening I went to the memorial service of the man who started it all. It was a very moving and honoring service. He touched many lives through his years, mine in particular, and I will cherish the memories that I made with him and the bonds that I made with the entire family, for the rest of my days. They are truly wonderful people. Although the patriarch has gone on the be with the Lord, he will not be forgotten by anyone who was blessed to know him. His legacy lives on through many, and especially through the lives of his children, whom I am blessed to call friends.
Would you share the hush puppie and honey butter recipes. Please!!!!
This was a favorite place among friends. I never knew anyone who didn't like the food or the atmosphere. I often make this soup and can't wait for it to finish cooking. There is a restaraunt in Cross Lanes, Wv who make the hush puppies and honey butter and they make them to go too.
Loved Rivers Edge. Always great food, especially cabbage soup and hush puppies.
Thanks Trudy. Not sure why all the drama. I think it has all been settled though. I tried to make it clear to all, that there was never any intent to disrespect anyone but quite the opposite. There was nothing cynical about sharing the recipe. I think (at least I hope) that they all understand that by now :-) Glad it could evoke a few great memories for you.
Howie...Hubby is from St Albans... do you have 2 brothers that start with R and the other is M ?
Thank you for recipe, can't wait to make it!
Looks yummy! Voting up and following you now..I am a foodie!
I grew up eating cabbage soup from a more ethnic, Jewish background. The local deli's in the midwest had some great ones..but my favorite bowl was at Katz's Deli in New York!
Thanks CM. Glad you got a chance to make it and enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing. Bring on the hush puppies.
I grew up in WV and moved a few years back. I was so disappointed to go back for a visit and find the restaurant closed. Hopefully this will help. :).
Can't wait to get the recipe for the hush puppies and honey butter as well, then I'll be all set. Thanks, so much.
My husband and I celebrated many anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions at The Rivers Edge! It was definitely our favorite restaurant! We loved the soup, salad, and especially the hush puppies with honey butter. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I also hope you'll share the recipe for the hush puppies, and maybe the seasonings for the Grecian bread!
I'll be watching for the hush puppy recipe in the future from your posts. Have a wonderful day, and thanks for sharing!!
My husband has been wanting this soup all winter, Thanks for sharing. We will have it by this evening! Yum!
I hope you do the hush puppies and honey butter as well and I don't miss the post. I loved that place and it's food.
my husband and I moved to St Albans where we raised our three daughters in the mid 80s. One of our favorite things was to eat at Rivers Edge and of course the cabbage soup, warm hush puppies with that sweet butter was always high on our list of favorites. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It brings back some great memories of food, family, and just good friends. I hope you will share the hush puppy recipe sometime soon. Again, thanks.
Thanks for sharing the Cabbage Soup recipe! This was always one of our favorite places to eat when visiting home, and I was so sad when they closed their doors for the last time. Cabbage Soup may be on my menu for next week now that I don't have to make 80 quarts at one time. The number of hush puppies I consumed there was too many to count. I have many great memories from meals there with my family.
I have been trying unsuccessfully to replicate the hush puppies from rivers edge for years.....have you posted that recipe anywhere?
I love cooked cabbage and love home made soups!! I will have to try this!
Thanks for sharing your recipe and the history!!
The photos make this look delicious and healthful. I love cabbage and veggies generally. I would have to lose the red pepper I'm afraid as spicy doesn't suit me, but I might add onions in it's place. I love to throw a pot of soup together every now and then, no recipe, just what's on hand and appeals. This really sounds great!
I love cabbage! I wonder, can you substitute vegetable broth for the water when making this soup?
When a recipe instinctively sounds delicious, it's a winner!


text:
Q: Multiple Markers, InfoWindow Against Address API V3 Goal: I want to display Multiple Markers and InfoWindow against Adress.
Searching got me to this code, shows Multiple Markers and InfoWindow against Lang & Lat
but in my case there will be address array that i have...
What function google provides to convert adress into lat , lang
     var markers = [
                      { lat: -33.85, lng: 151.05, name: "marker 1" },
                      { lat: -33.90, lng: 151.10, name: "marker 2" },
                      { lat: -33.95, lng: 151.15, name: "marker 3" },
                      { lat: -33.85, lng: 151.15, name: "marker 4" }
                    ];
               //this puts lat and lng.. but i have array of Address's
               // Create the markers
                for (index in markers) addMarker(markers[index]);
                function addMarker(data) {
                    var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
                        position: new google.maps.LatLng(data.lat, data.lng),
                        map: map,
                        icon: '/images/shorticon_13.png',
                        title: data.name

                    });
                    google.maps.event.addListener(marker, "click", function () {
                        openInfoWindow(marker);
                    });
                }

AM newbie to Google maps API v3...
Thanks in advance

A: Geocoding is the process of converting addresses (like "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA") into geographic coordinates (like latitude 37.423021 and longitude -122.083739), which you can use to place markers or position the map.
If you have more than about 10 addresses, you will run into the rate limit/quota.  For known addresses, it is better to geocode them offline and use the coordinates to display them on page load (like your example).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: CAPL measure time from sleep to wakeup LIN I am using CANoe 10 with LIN bus.
I want to  measure the time from sleep command to wakeup(the first frame from the slave).
Here is a sample of the code that I made soo far in a test node
    void MainTest ()
    {
    linGotoSleep();
    testWaitForTimeout(1000);
    linWakeup(1, 1, 300);

    ReceiveLinFrame(Status);
    ReceiveLinFrame(Status);
    }
void ReceiveLinFrame(linFrame *rxFrame)
{
    int ret = 0;
    rxFrame.rtr = 1;
    output(rxFrame);
    rxFrame.rtr = 0;

    ret = TestWaitForMessage(rxFrame.id, 500);

    if(ret==0)
    {
        TestStepFail("Receiving Message", "No answer received for:0x%02X",rxFrame.id);
    }
    else
    {
        TestGetWaitEventMsgData(rxFrame);
        TestStepPass("Receiving Message", "Answer received for:0x%02X",rxFrame.id);
    }
}

I don't understand why the first frame is not visible in trace.
Here is the report

Also, why needs to be  a wait time from sleep to wakeup in order to see the frames in trace window?


Neymar is said to be regretting swapping Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain just half a season in after he was booed by fans for not allowing Edinson Cavani to take a penalty that would see him become the clubs all-time top goal scorer, surpassing Zlatan Ibrahimović.
The Brazilian's had clashed with Edinson Cavani earlier in the season over set-piece duties, though the feud was reignited in the French side's 8-0 win over Dijon. Since the incident, Neymar hasn't played with an apparent injury, missing a loss to Lyon and Wednesday night's 4-2 win over Guingamp.
It's also reported that Neymar has told friends that Ligue 1 is to 'raw and physical' and the 25-year-old is eyeing up a return to Spain, most likely with Real Madrid. The report, coming from L'Equipe, was quickly backed up by SPORT and the Spanish outlet also say Neymar isn't a fan of how permissive referees are in France's top league.
If Neymar does wish to leave PSG, who made him the world's most expensive player in the summer, only a handful of clubs will be able to compete for his signature and the club allowing the star to leave after such a short period of time would be nigh impossible. However, it's certainly one to keep an eye on.


text:
Tomoko Ohta
Scientist, Author
Who is Tomoko Ohta?
Tomoko Ohta is a Japanese scientist working on molecular evolution. She graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1956. After working on the neutral theory of evolution with her mentor, Motoo Kimura, she became convinced of the importance of the mutations that were nearly neutral. She developed the slightly deleterious model, then a more general form, the nearly neutral theory of evolution. She worked at the Japanese National Institute of Genetics from 1969 to 1996, and, in 2002, she was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences as a foreign associate in evolutionary biology.
"Tomoko Ohta." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2022. Web. 20 Jan. 2022. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/tomoko_ohta>.
Discuss this Tomoko Ohta biography with the community:


text:
Governor Abbott Visits Canton, TX Following Severe Weather
April 30, 2017 | Austin, Texas | Press Release
Governor Greg Abbott today visited Van Zandt County following the severe weather and deadly tornadoes that struck Texas overnight. During his visit, the Governor surveyed the damage and received updates from local officials. Following the briefing, the Governor held a press conference where he called on Texans to come together to rebuild and help those affected, as well as pray for those who were lost and their families.
"Today is a difficult day for the people of Canton and the surrounding region," said Governor Abbott. "In response to the devastation, I'm confident Texans will come together to rebuild and help their neighbors in need. I would like to express my deepest sorrow to the families of those lost, and thank the first responders for their preparedness and efforts to keep Texans safe."
Four confirmed tornadoes impacted Northeast Texas on the afternoon and evening of April 29, 2017. The City of Canton, in Van Zandt County, sustained extensive damage from two large, long-track tornadoes in and around the city. The Texas State Operations Center has increased to a Level 1 Activation (Maximum Readiness - Emergency Conditions) to support local government requests for state assistance. Governor Abbott also activated the Texas Emergency Management Council, including Texas Task Forces 1 & 2, in response to the devastation.
View a full list of state agencies that are currently engaged in the response and recovery effort.


A senior Two Sigma researcher provides an overview of some of the most interesting Deep Learning research from ICML 2017.
Deep learning–a powerful class of machine learning algorithms–represents an increasingly potent way to uncover patterns in vast datasets. Each year, researchers gather at conferences like the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) and the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) to share new research and gain better awareness of the state of the art.
ICML 2017, which Two Sigma sponsored, was held in August in Sydney, with about 2500 people attending. Spread over the course of several days, the conference featured a wide variety of tutorials, presentations, and workshops. The program covered nine parallel tracks (encompassing about 400 accepted papers out of 1600 submitted), many of which focused on Deep Learning and related topics.
Several of Two Sigma's deep learning researchers attended this year's event. Below, senior researcher Satrajit Chatterjee summarizes some noteworthy papers and presentations from the conference.
Bernhard Scholkopf gave a very interesting talk on Causal Inference. By way of motivation, he provided a compelling example of how current ML systems lack knowledge of causality: When he was looking for a laptop rucksack on Amazon, for example, it recommended a laptop.
The question I find most interesting in causal inference is whether it is possible to detect causal connections from data without intervention. Scholkopf seemed to indicate that it is indeed possible, under certain circumstances (when one has "independent noise"). He mentioned his book Elements of Causal Inference, which covers many of the topics he spoke about in the talk.
Scholkopf covered a number of real-world applications of causal inference, and in particular how his group was able to find more than a dozen new exoplanets from publicly available Kepler data.
He concluded with the thought that statistical information is only an epiphenomenon; what is more primitive is the causal generative process–and that's what we should aim to understand.
Hierarchical RL for long-term planning and decision-making (based on Feudal RL, an old idea that is now coming back in Neural Network form).
Continual Learning to allow generalization to new tasks without forgetting how to do the old tasks (using elastic training and progressive nets).
In terms of general techniques, Hadsell said that she and her colleagues have found A3C (Asynchronous Advantage Actor-Critic) to be very powerful and stable. They have also found it useful to make the agent perform auxiliary tasks such as predicting the next state or trying to change the input image as much as possible.
An interesting audience question was whether these ideas have had any impact outside of computer Go. As far as I could tell, the answer was no, but the success of computer Go has encouraged others to try RL on a variety of different problems.
A standing idea in the community is that gradient descent finds relatively flat minima and that the flatness of the minima is what leads to good generalization in practice (via robustness to noise in parameters, and therefore minimum description length). The authors show that for ReLU networks, previously published notions of flatness are problematic in the sense that they are not immune to re-parameterization. In other words, what looks like a flat minimum (in one parameterization) can be made to look sharp (in a different parameterization) without changing the function itself, and therefore without altering generalization.
The recent work of Zhang, et al. ("Understanding Deep Learning Requires Rethinking Generalization", 2016) shows that deep nets trained with gradient descent have large effective capacity: they are capable of memorizing pure noise without even needing substantially longer training time. This indicates that generalization in deep nets cannot be explained through traditional statistical learning theory, which relies on restricting capacity to prevent shattering to claim generalization.
In this work, the authors build on the work of Zhang, et al. to show that there are qualitative differences in optimization behavior of networks on real data vs. noise. For example, with real data, there are easy examples (learnt in a few epochs) and hard examples (only learnt after many epochs), whereas all examples in the random case are hard. Another example is the difference between random and real data in disparity of influence that each training example has on the loss function after many SGD steps. The authors go on to demonstrate that network optimization is content-aware i.e., networks learn simple patterns first, before resorting to memorization. Finally, the authors show that regularization can differentially hinder memorization without affecting what the networks learn about real data.
Although the experiments presented in this paper are fascinating, it is hard to extract a definite conclusion. At best, the takeaway seems to be that generalization in deep nets depends on the dataset, itself.
In the authors' telling, careful initialization and batch normalization address the problem of vanishing and exploding gradients. However, Residual Nets (i.e., architectures with skip connections) still perform much better than standard architectures (i.e., those without any skip connections) when the networks are sufficiently deep. The authors ask why, and the answer that they come up with is the shattered gradient problem.
The authors study the gradient of the output of a deep standard architecture (at initialization) with respect to the input in a simple 1-dimensional case and find that the gradient resembles white noise, i.e., it shows no correlation with the input. On the other hand, for a deep residual network and for a shallow standard architecture, it resembles that of brown noise, i.e., there is some correlation with the input. They also explain these empirical results with a theoretical analysis, as well as with an empirical study on real conv nets.
The upshot of the shattered gradients problem is that using gradients that resemble white noise makes training using current techniques (such as ADAM) very difficult (though the astute reader will notice that the gradients used in training are different than the ones studied here).
Finally, as a constructive test of their theory, the authors propose a looks-linear initialization for standard architectures that attempts to preserve the structure of the gradients much as a linear network would, and they show that this is effective in allowing much deeper networks without skip connections to be trained.
Modern networks based on ReLUs and max pooling are neither convex nor smooth. In fact, the number of linear regions grows exponentially with depth leading to more than 10^344 regions even for a network with 80 inputs and 20 hidden layers with 100 neurons each. The gradients in nearby linear regions could be very different, and so it is unclear why Hessian-based methods that rely on gradients being continuous work at all. And this puts into question previous attempts to understand the behavior of adaptive optimizers (such as AdaGrad or ADAM) since those attempts are based at the relationship of the gradient estimates computed by the optimizer to the Hessian.
The authors approximate the net (NOT the loss) with a Taylor approximation, plug that into the loss function to get a convex approximation to the loss and then use online (adversarial) convex optimization techniques to study the behavior of optimizers. They also conduct an empirical study and find that ADAM and other adaptive methods find better local minima, and are better at searching the discrete space of the various linear regions, than plain SGD.
A key challenge for Deep RL is sample complexity: Deep Q-Networks, for instance, take four days (of game time) to learn Pong, whereas a human can master it in a couple of hours. In this work, the authors conjecture that the slow learning is due to the slow update of the Q-network (over many small stochastic gradient steps) and propose augmenting the Q-network with an explicit memory. This is a return to table-based approaches for Q-learning, except this time the table is an approximate associative lookup table per action (like a k-NN but not quite) that maps each state to a value. The states are obtained from a convolutional network that is updated slowly. They store about 500,000 states per action. They show that this does indeed lead to faster learning: I believe they now learn Pong in two days.
The authors use RL to train an RNN to learn a mathematical equation for weight update (rather than the function itself, since they say that it allows them to try the optimizer on other problems as well without retraining). The equation is expressed in a DSL that is pre-seeded with useful operations, such as the gradient and average of gradients. They show that this found a better update rule than ADAM for CIFAR-10 and that the resulting optimizer also worked well for a different problem (language translation).
Incidentally, the rule they found that did do well was scaling up the gradient by e if the sign of gradient and running average agree and scaling it down by e otherwise.
In cooperative multi-agent RL, it is often convenient or necessary to have each agent train independently, treating the other agents as part of the environment. However this leads to non-stationarity, and consequently, Deep Q-learning becomes hard. (As Foerster pointed out during the talk, this is a very different situation from Atari: The Atari simulator is very stationary since it hasn't changed in 30 years!) They propose two techniques to handle the non-stationary: one, a natural way to do importance re-sampling to decay previously stored experiences, and another based on a low-dimensional fingerprint to indicate the age of the data. They apply this to the problem of unit management in Starcraft. In more recent work, they have moved to Actor Critic algorithms and think they have a way to solve it there, too.
This is a nice paper that points out that modern nets trained with cross-entropy loss are overconfident. I.e., if you look at all examples for which the network assigns 85% probability to the most likely class, only about 50% of those examples are correctly classified (instead of 85%). The solution to calibrate the network properly turns out to be a simple one: use a softmax with a temperature scale that is adjusted to get correct calibration post-training (changing the temperature preserves relative values of the output of the softmax and so does not change accuracy).
The authors introduce a convex optimization layer that can be used in a network and back-propagated through. The idea is to put this in as a structural prior if you suspect that the function you are modeling is solving an optimization problem as part of its computation; during training, this layer will learn the optimization constraints and objectives (e.g. the constraints for Sudoku from examples of puzzles and solutions). What is notable is that they don't do it the obvious way, i.e., by unrolling an optimization algorithm for a certain number of steps, and they use a parametrization that is always feasible.
Deep Nets are not robust to adversarial examples: one can craft inputs that fool the network by adding a little noise to training examples. Adversarial training address this problem by adding such examples to the training set. To do that, however, it has to make assumptions about the process that generates the adversarial examples. The authors propose a different approach to making a network robust that depends on bounding the Lipschitz constant of the network (by controlling each layer). They do so by putting in a Parseval constraint on the weights (i.e., w wT ~= I, which is a generalization of orthogonality to non-square matrices). They then show that this makes the network more robust in the sense that one needs to add more noise to fool the network.
The authors track how the meaning of a word changes over time. At each point in time, they fit a word2vec model, but these models are tied together with a latent diffusion process and jointly trained. This allows one to see how the vector associated with a word changes over time.
Learning in (most) humans is continuous and not separated into training and inference phases. This allows them to deal with non-stationarity. The authors conjecture that some of this ability is due to more complicated synaptic structures in humans compared to simple scalar weights in artificial nets.
In artificial nets this boils down to solving the problem of "catastrophic forgetting," i.e., training a net for a new task causes it to forget how to do an old task. This often not a problem with capacity, since the network can solve all the tasks well if trained jointly on them. Rather, it is more a problem of not simultaneously tracking the loss landscape of the various tasks that the network needs to solve.
The authors propose a method that, during training, tracks locally at each neuron how important it is to solve the task at hand by integrating the gradients seen during training and then uses this information to modulate weight updates when learning a new task. This method is similar to elastic weights by Kirpatrick, et al., except, in that work, the importance of a neuron to a task is estimated with a point estimate post-training.
This is a very interesting paper on unsupervised learning. The authors want to learn features (without looking at labels) that can then help with a later classification problem (think transfer learning, etc.). Amazingly, the method boils down to assigning a random target vector from a large space (in the extreme case, each image is given a unique label) and doing supervised learning. The authors mention specifically that they use L2-loss instead of cross-entropy, but doing so entails regularizing the outputs as per Tygert et al. (2017) and batch normalization to get performance.
In this work, the authors take on the problem of attributing the prediction of a deep network to its inputs, i.e., determining how much each input contributes to a prediction. They set up a list of desiderata (based on previous work in Economics on cost attribution) that a good attribution algorithm should satisfy and show that there is only one algorithm that satisfies it (their method of integrated gradients) and that it is easy to compute in practice.
Their work could be viewed as the analog of studying weights to understand linear models. They note that the obvious extension to nonlinear models through linear approximation (i.e., just gradients) fails since the gradient could be locally zero but the function still sensitive to an input. This limitation of gradients is overcome by their method of integrating gradients along a path from a specified non-informative baseline to the example for which one seeks attribution.
The paper has a number of examples from different domains where this method of attribution has been useful to understand the behavior of deep nets and to help debug and refine the networks.
Does this mean that the attribution problem is solved? Probably not. Their method depends on having a non-informative baseline (such as a black image) which may be difficult to figure out in a new setting. And the result of the attribution depends on the choice of the baseline which (if I understood correctly Mukund's response to an audience question) they appear to consider to be a feature, not a bug. A second issue is that the linearity preservation axiom can be confusing (or useless) for very nonlinear functions (such as parity), and so new ideas are needed to understand how to explain the prediction of a network in such cases.
This was a very interesting talk on using techniques from Cognitive Psychology to understand the behavior of deep neural nets. In line with their inspiration from Psychology, the authors' goal was to measure the behavior of the network rather than study the internal structure.
Studies in Cognitive Psychology have shown that humans have a shape bias that they use to prune hypothesis when learning: when shown a new object along with a novel name, people associate the name with the shape of the object (rather than say the color).
The authors' work finds that two published architectures for one-shot learning from images end up displaying a shape bias similar to that exhibited by humans. They do this by essentially applying the same test that psychologists administer to humans to the networks.
One interesting finding was that the shape bias differed quite significantly between different networks (e.g. trained from different initial conditions) of comparable accuracy indicating that networks can have quite significant different behavior along an important axis that is not captured by the training metric alone. (An interesting question is whether a network with a stronger shape bias is more resistant to adversarial attacks than one with a weaker shape bias.) A second interesting finding was that shape bias emerges early on in training, long before convergence; and this is similar to what is observed in humans in early childhood.
The initial motivation for this work focussing on CPUs comes from looking at 3D convolutions where current GPUs are limited by memory. Another important reason to look at CPUs is when batch size is 1, as may be the case in Reinforcement Learning, where it is not worthwhile to move data between CPU and GPU. The authors provide an algorithm for automatic synthesis of N-dimensional convolution codes that, unlike Winograd style methods, can handle arbitrary geometries. They show that their method beats existing CPU implementations even in the 2D case.
Direct convolution is slow, due to its poor memory access pattern. im2col convolution changes the input to make it BLAS-friendly. This gives it a better memory access pattern but unfortunately needs extra memory. The authors propose a new way to convert convolution into BLAS calls that does not suffer from extra memory overhead (and also allows multiple BLAS calls to run in parallel). They are better than Winograd convolution in that they work for arbitrary geometries.
This is a very nice paper on building architectural priors into networks. Researchers often want a network to be invariant to certain transformations of the inputs (think translation invariance for object recognition). A slightly more general notion is that of equivariance, where the action of a group on the input-output pair commutes with any function implemented by the network, i.e., f(g x) = g f(x).
The authors provide an algorithm that, given a group, constructs a sparsely connected layer that is equivariant w.r.t. to that group. They improve upon previous work by ensuring that the layer is only equivariant to that group and NOT to a larger group.
Sergey Levine and Chelsea Finn, U. C. Berkeley.
Deep RL is a hot research area right now, and one of the challenges is putting all the recent advances (e.g., A3C or TRPO algorithms) into a common conceptual framework and tying them to the foundational algorithms in the field (e.g. REINFORCE). This tutorial does a very good job on both these counts. The authors put forth a general framework for RL algorithms and show how various algorithms fit into this general framework, and they provide entry points into the literature covering both the classic papers and selected recent advances. Finally, it also has a flowchart to help practitioners decide which RL algorithm to use in practice.
This was a tutorial on Contextual Bandits, which is a setup like RL, where one observes the state of the world, acts, and then immediately receives a reward (the difference with RL being that the reward there may be delayed). Langford takes the position that for many interactive learning problems in the real world, Contextual Bandits are better than the alternatives, such as RL and supervised learning followed by A/B testing for handling non-stationarity; and it is better than active learning since it uses a better signal (doesn't ask the user to label examples explicitly).
A significant focus of the tutorial was on real-world applications (e.g., ad selection and placement, recommendation systems, news, etc.) and the problems that arise in practice. Vowpal Wabbit has a mature implementation of these algorithms, with Langford making the point that the software has been around longer than many of the companies currently using it. There are other implementations, including a hosted service on Azure.
Some key features the authors highlight include performance often competitive with supervised learning; the ability to create counter-factual dashboards; and the ability to evaluate these online algorithms offline by progressive validation (test on next; then train on next).
Finally, they discuss some real-world pitfalls (e.g., some downstream process overriding the actions of the algorithm and detecting such off-policy behavior). Many more such issues were discussed by their colleague Sarah Bird at a workshop later on in the week.


text:
Obritzberg-Rust is a municipality in the district of Sankt Pölten-Land in Lower Austria, Austria.

The municipality is divided into 19 cadastral communities. These are Diendorf, Doppel (with the localities of Doppel, Neustift and Hofstetten), Eitzendorf, Flinsdorf, Fugging, Greiling, Großrust, Grünz, Hain (with the localities of Kleinhain, Angern and Großhain), Heinigstetten, Kleinrust, Landhausen, Obermerking, Obritzberg, Pfaffing, Schweinern (with the localities of Schweinern and Thallern), Untermerking (with the localities of Untermerking and Mittermerking), Winzing and Zagging.

Population

References

Cities and towns in St. Pölten-Land District

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Lounge Underwear Sees Big Wins by Putting Customer Experience First
2020 was a year of tectonic change in digital marketing, and the massive growth in online shopping continues to drive e-commerce brands to beat out competitors on customer experience alone.
Recently Payal Hindocha, Vertical Product Marketing Manager at Emarsys spoke with Arron Kooner, Head of Customer Communications at Lounge Underwear. The online clothing company is growing fast — sales are up 250% YoY so far in 2021 — and engaging communications is a central part of their strategy.
Relevant Content and Communications
As many brands learned in the last year, consumers rely on online shopping when traditional stores and services are closed or limited. The key for brands is a strong web experience founded on personalization. There's little excuse for sending irrelevant messages, unnecessary discounts, or recommending products a customer has never shown interest in.
Lounge Underwear has focused deeply on this across multiple channels:
"I think that it's a combination across the brand that we work towards to retain these customers. It's not like one department is in charge of retaining them — it's a combination of everything we do as a business. So that will go from everything from our brand team — so the content we're putting out, how we're connecting, how we're communicating with our customers, and building that rapport from that — from the content you see on Instagram, on YouTube, and our various social media platforms."
— Arron Kooner
Head of Customer Communications, Lounge Underwear
Plugging It All into the Customer Experience
Since great personalization is the key to a great customer experience, the most successful e-commerce brands have leveraged all the data they collected in 2020 to provide that great experience. But there's a lot to orchestrate to seamlessly pull that experience off.
"We have a brilliant digital marketing team here who do a lot of the paid media that we do and how we target the customers through that and retargeting customers. It goes all the way through to our customer experience. We're not shy about it. We want to be one of the biggest brands in the world, and to do that, we need to give the best experience in each department, but especially when it comes to customer experience."
Customer-First Tech to Drive the Whole Thing
The tech stack is the physical backbone of your brand's shopping experience — but to drive engagement long-term, not just any tech will suffice. It must take all the data your brand generates at every touchpoint, place it in a single platform accessible to the entire brand, and glean the important behaviors and trends to always deliver that relevant shopping experience.
Implementing new tech is no easy job — that's why many companies put it off — but Lounge Underwear understands the value of a machine learning solution running constantly in the background, because real-time data analysis gives a brand agility and speed in serving the individual customer just what she wants.
"When we partnered with Emarsys, one of the things that we were really drawn to was the ability for the platform to showcase data in a really clean and productive way. We can easily see our customers and the lifecycles they're in for different territories. And it also gives us insight as to how we can target these people in the future, whether that's kind of targeting customers with retention-based campaigns for email, SMS, or generally to segmenting customers and allowing us then to target them on our various marketing initiatives that we have with that digital page, etc."
More Customers, More Engagement
Having the right tech and the right engagement strategy allows you to make the most of any opportunity to attract new customers (at a 350% increase in 2020 for Lounge Underwear) or draw existing customers back.
During Black Friday 2020, Lounge Underwear put their customer data to work and knew the typical journey a returning customer would make:
"We use our data to really understand where our customers are in their lifecycle. So, for example, a returning customer, their journey towards a peak period like Black Friday would be slightly different than a customer who hasn't purchased before. And we may know, for example, the types of products that a customer has already purchased, shown an affinity for, viewed our website, for example. And we can then kind of tailor our ads and give them bespoke marketing. Chances are they're more likely to repurchase again. We know who they are. We know their profile. So we can kind of target them a bit better."
The online boom of 2020 also brought waves of new customers to Lounge Underwear and, with it, the data needed to engage these first-timers to come back.
"With new customers, it's kind of a similar strategy. So we may not necessarily know what they purchased in the past, but we'll have an idea from online what they're viewing, things that they may have signed up for on our preference center to give us an idea of what kind of things they're looking for and for us to target them and really give them what they want."
Success comes from customer-obsessed organizations that connect the entire operation to data. Every process, from your front office to your back office, strings together the customer experience and gives the brand that single view of the customer.
For Lounge Underwear, all the data they collected went right into the operations, allowing them to make sure everything in the back end (warehouse to distribution) guides their engagement strategies and ensures they can meet changes in customer demand.
In 2020, the majority of growth came from existing clients, but now with a glut of new customers engaging with brands, it would be wise to focus on getting those first-timers to repeat purchase.
What's your plan for 2021?
Find Out How Lounge Underwear Grow & Retain Customers
What You Must Know about Zero-Party Data and Major Changes to Facebook Ads & Third-party Cookies
Putting the Customer Front and Center Isn't a Marketing Platitude, It's a Winning Business Strategy
9 Critical Insights from National Retail Federation 2021
Mark Enochs is Sr. Content Marketing Manager at Emarsys, where he specializes in content on machine learning, the Emarsys marketing platform, and digital technology subjects for end users and decision makers.


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Guys, the academic year 2009 has started and we are to witness AAKRITTI yet again! but what's the big deal about it? we've already seen two of them!
yes we've been through the event twice, but this time it's different!
This time it's us, this time it is OUR AAKRITTI, this time it is our WAR!
Rather more than a year has passed since the last AAKRITTI... what a cataract of disaster had poured upon us then... we saw the dramatic yet heroic rise of the MECHIES, and the almighty ENTC sweeping the event!
Meanwhile, we have not only fortified our hearts, but our minds too!
We have rearmed and rebuilt our cricket team in a degree which would have been deemed impossible an year back! and presumably, we own the best cross-country team ever! The girls' volley-ball team, the baddy team, table-tennis, squash and basketball teams have all been worked upon! We have some of the best debators, jammers, play-writs, dancers, painters and actors!
But why do i say all this? Not, assuredly, to boast; not assuredly, to give the slightest countenance to complacency. The dangers we face are still enormous, but so are our advantages and resources. I recount them because the people have a right to know that there are solid grounds for the confidence which we feel, and that we have good reason to believe ourselves capable of continuing the war...!
We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.
"Life's battles don't always go to the strongest or the fastest..but in the end, the one who wins is the one one who thinks HE CAN!"
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the AITian dream.
I have a dream that one day, COMP will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, "compies are risky, after the whisky."
I have a dream that in the choreo this year, we will see the finest dance by Rawat's boys!
I have a dream that I will dine with Shekhu, Dobal and Barun as the winners of Folk, an event that has a dreadful history!I have a dream that our LIM's team will cast a spectacular charm of their melody and will keep the audience spellbound!I have a dream today!I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain that comes between us and the AAKRITI trophy shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight! and then we will rise up... rise up the Raman's stage... and 'Our Precious' AAKRITI will be ours yet again!
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I blast off the AAKRITI '09 with!With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our unabilities into a beautiful symphony of luck.
With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to perform together, to stand up for victory together, knowing that we will WIN one day.
compies did better this time and Rawat rocked the stage yesterday..


Ranger's apprentice. Main series volume 13.
#1 New York Times bestselling author John Flanagan returns to the world of Ranger's Apprentice, continuing the story arc starring fan favorites, Will and Maddie ( The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning ). Picking up where The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning left off, this next installment continues the story arc featuring young apprentice, Maddie, and the student-turned-master, Will Treaty. The time has come for the next generation to assume the mantle and become protectors of the kingdom of Araluen. After passing her third-year assessment as a ranger's apprentice, Maddie is called home to Castle Araluen. Forced to keep her ranger training a secret, Maddie feels trapped by the monotony of castle life and longs to find a way out. But there are whisperings of a new threat to the kingdom. The mysterious Red Fox Clan, a group of anarchists all donning fox masks, have threatened Castle Araluen and question Princess Cassandra and Madelyn's succession to the throne. Will they succeed in unseating Cassandra and Madelyn and take the throne for themselves? Bestselling author of the Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband series, John Flanagan returns in the captivating follow-up to The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning . Perfect for fans of Tolkien, Redwall, and Game of Thrones!


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Observations: Alabama 49, Auburn 27
The Tigers continued to run the ball well, but the defense struggled in Tuscaloosa. Still, things have shifted for the program as the coaching search continues.
RB Jarquez Hunter (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)
There are no moral victories in the Iron Bowl. There's too much history, too much passion, too much pride on the line.
So, even though an Auburn team with the worst record of any that had played inside Bryant-Denny Stadium over the last decade managed to score more points (27) than any of the last three trips there Saturday, it's still a loss in the record books.
And it's one that interim head coach Cadillac Williams, in what could very well be his last game in charge of his alma mater, says starts with him.
"I didn't do a good enough job to get those guys prepared," Williams said. "And I honestly feel that way — not just coach talk. At the end of the day, I had a group of men in those kids, and this staff, we did not do a good enough job of getting these guys prepared, locked in."
Auburn made too many mistakes to get the win against an elite team that still, theoretically, has an outside shot at making the College Football Playoff. The talent gap was clear and decisive. The Tigers' best-laid plans of playing clean, complimentary football were dashed by an uneven performance, particularly on defense.
"At the end of the day, we didn't get a W," quarterback Robby Ashford said. "But you're always trying to look at the positives, the bright sides."
Yes, there were positives. In addition to the 27 points on the board in Tuscaloosa, a rather one-dimensional Auburn offense recorded 300-plus rushing yards on Alabama for the first time since the 1983 Iron Bowl. The Tigers ran for 7.4 yards per carry for only the eighth time in an SEC game since 2000. They even had a lead of more than three points for the first time in Bryant-Denny Stadium since the 2014 shootout.
As anyone watching this team over the last month would have expected, Auburn fought until the bitter end of its regular season. The final result was a 49-27 loss that really didn't feel close after the first quarter. But the process to get there, led by a resilient senior class, still looked better than some of its recent road Iron Bowls.
"I feel like everybody came together," linebacker Cam Riley said. "I really wouldn't take it as a loss. Just a lesson learned."
For the last time in the 2022 regular season, here are five postgame Observations from Auburn football's performance. And, in lieu of Nerd Stats this time, the fifth and final Observation has some thoughts on the Tigers' ongoing coaching search — but we close, as always, with the Quote of the Night.
QB Robby Ashford (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)
A (healthy) Robby Ashford has real potential
Ashford didn't want anyone outside of the program to know just how hurt he was this season. He said he suffered a sprained AC joint in the second half of the Missouri game, then he picked up even more injuries — a bruised rotator cuff, a sprained trap muscle, a sprained index finger.
Ashford, who was notably still Auburn's best option at quarterback for most of the season despite these multiple injuries, said he didn't want opponents to get that information. But the toll was immense.
"There were plenty of nights where I couldn't sleep because I was in so much pain," Ashford said. "Shoulder swollen, a whole lot of weeks where I couldn't throw in practice until game day."
Those injuries undoubtedly had a lot to do with Ashford's rough passing numbers, especially toward the end of the season. But he still made plays for the Tigers game in and game out. On Saturday, he became the first Auburn player to rush for multiple touchdowns in the Iron Bowl since his interim head coach did it back in 2003 — the famous "Go Crazy" game.
"That guy's a fighter," Williams said. "He's going to compete. He's going to give you everything he has. The guy's incredible. One of the better athletes I've been around. Ever. And, man, he was trying to will us to that win."
Ashford ran the ball 13 times for 146 yards against Alabama, once you take out the sacks. More than half of those carries went for at least 10 yards, including three that went for at least 24 yards. Even though Alabama knew what was coming on defense, he still was a difference-maker.
While Ashford completed less than half of his passes again and had only a little more than 3 yards per attempt, he still unleashed his best throw in a college uniform Saturday — an absolute dime of a 20-yard touchdown to Ja'Varrius Johnson on third-and-7 after Alabama had scored 21 unanswered points.
Auburn Football @AuburnFootball
You can't throw this any better...😮💨 @varjohnson1 collects the 20 yard TD!!
TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! An absolute DIME from @robby_ashford to @varjohnson1 🎯 https://t.co/t0puRkt2D2
9:42 PM ∙ Nov 26, 2022
440Likes75Retweets
"Ja'Varrius Johnson is one of the best receivers in the country," Ashford said. "People didn't get to see it this year, but I feel like if I was healthy, my passing game would have been 100% better. There were a lot of days where I wasn't able to get those reps. I'm getting mental reps, but it's not the same as practice. You get out there and you're not as confident — you know what you're doing, but it's like, I haven't thrown this all week.
"So I feel like next year is going to be (Johnson's) breakout year — and a breakout year for all of us."


It is important to understand that administrative consequences are completely different than criminal consequences in your DWI case. Criminal penalties relate only to the criminal case that you have pending in the New Mexico courts, and may also result in a revocation of your driver's license. However, administrative consequences, which typically include a period of license revocation and an ignition interlock license, are completely separate from, and in addition to your criminal penalties. You can consult the table below to determine what the possible administrative consequences of your DWI case may be. However, because DWI laws are constantly changing, you should always consult a qualified DWI attorney to discuss the consequences of your case.


text:
A New Progressive Pediatric Cardiac Care Unit
Innovative hospital unit is designed to strengthen care and reduce length of stay and readmissions for patients discharged from the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.
In the PCU, from left, nurse practitioners Pat Kane, Nichole Fusco and Annie Grace with nurse manager Sapana Edwards and pediatric cardiologist Lasya Gaur.
When their pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) opened its doors in 2020, Johns Hopkins pediatric cardiologists felt it offered advantages over traditional intensive care unit (ICU) cardiac care, including shorter ventilator stays. Experience has proved that to be true. Now, in a move to shorten overall hospital stays, Johns Hopkins Children's Center has opened a new pediatric cardiac unit (PCU) that offers provider skill sets and services beyond those found in a traditional acute inpatient unit.
"We are enhancing the strength of the team by recruiting pediatric cardiac nurses and nurse practitioners who are working alongside pediatric cardiology attendings and our pediatric cardiology fellows in caring for our patients," says Shelby Kutty, director of the Division of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology. "Enhanced services will allow us to care for sicker patients who can transition faster from pediatric cardiac intensive care to the floor and potentially go home sooner, thereby making our length of stays even shorter."
"A team of pediatric cardiologists, nurse practitioners, pediatric cardiac intensivists, nurses and nurse educators has worked together for months utilizing best practices and evidence-based methods in creating this unit, which is set to assume a higher level of care than prior," adds Lasya Gaur, pediatric cardiologist and interim inpatient director of the PCU. "The overarching goal is to allow our patients to 'graduate' from the intensive care unit faster and focus on specific goals for safe discharge home."
Multidisciplinary services on the PCU will include pulmonology, child life, nutrition, feeding specialists, physical and occupational therapy, respiratory therapy and social work. Also, while ambulating on the unit, patients will be monitored with state-of-the-art telemetry to speed recovery and safely simulate home activities.
"There will be significant monitoring, as well as guided therapeutic interventions specific to children with acquired and congenital heart disease," says pediatric cardiac critical care specialist Darren Klugman, director of pediatric cardiac critical care. "It will provide patients a more comfortable inpatient environment and allow us to provide additional therapies with a focus on neurodevelopmental outcomes."
One goal of the unit is to reduce ICU readmissions, with studies showing postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality rates significantly higher among patients readmitted to an ICU. Klugman points to growing evidence that a progressive cardiac care model in the continuum of care improves outcomes and reduces length of stay.
"If we do this properly," he says, "we will move pediatric patients quicker through intensive care and improve ICU capacity, which is an ongoing challenge in the hospital as our program gets busier and busier."
Key to the progressive cardiac care model is advanced nursing. Children's Center nurses, says the PCU's nurse manager, Sapana Edwards, have had cardiac and critical care training to work in the unit, which opened Aug. 31 on the ninth floor of the Children's Center.
"Nurses on this floor saw this as a challenge, but one they were very excited about," says Edwards. "They are now confident and skilled with this population of patients."
"Families should feel assured that they have a highly trained team caring for their child, including board-certified pediatric cardiologists and cardiology fellows, nurse practitioners and nursing staff," says Gaur.
Regarding the recently opened Blalock-Taussig-Thomas Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center and the PCICU, along with the PCU, Kutty concludes, "Our goal is to launch an unmatched level of expertise of heart care in the region."
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