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What to read this fall based on your zodiac sign
By Ashley Johnson|2020-12-30T23:10:36-07:00August 19, 2019|Categories: Book Lists|
We all know the struggle of trying to decide which book to read next. Instead of having to make the tough decision in picking from your overwhelming #TBR pile this fall, let the stars guide you with these books we think you'll love based on your zodiac sign.
If you're a Leo, read Smokescreen by Iris Johansen
When Jill Cassidy shows up at Eve Duncan's door explaining a horrific attack by guerilla soldiers in a small African village, Eve launches on a mission to save the innocent families who live there. Traveling to Africa, it's not long before Eve realizes she has been sent there for another reason and it will take all of her strength and resilience to save the families in the village along with her own family back at home. Your generosity and passion as a Leo will have you relating to Eve in Smokescreen.
If you're a Virgo, read Your Turn: Ways to Celebrate Life Through Storytelling by Dr. Tyra Manning
Tyra Manning believes that writing can provide a gateway to happiness and hope. In Your Turn, she offers up stories from her own life and advice to her readers for how to unlock their emotions through writing prompts and other creative means. Embrace your deep connection to humanity with this new and insightful read that will get your fall off to a great start.
If you're a Libra, read A Prayer for Travelers by Ruchika Tomar
Cale Lambert likes to keep to herself in her hometown near the California-Nevada border. Raised by her grandfather, her life changes when his health begins to falter. Now forced to provide for herself, she takes a job as a waitress at a nearby restaurant. It's at the restaurant that she bonds with Penélope who expands her horizons and introduces her to a new life. But then Penélope disappears and it's up to Cale to find her and bring her home safe. This new novel is the perfect read for harmonious Libras this fall.
If you're a Scorpio, read The Whisper Man by Alex North
When Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake move to Featherbank, all they want is a new start. But soon, Tom learns about the small town's gruesome past and the criminal who murdered a handful of young boys 20 years ago. When another boy goes missing and is later found dead, Tom and Jake are suddenly pulled into a new nightmare they never saw coming. Brave Scorpio souls will love this horror read from Alex North.
If you're a Sagittarius, read Singapore Sapphire by A.M. Stuart
It's 1910 in Singapore and Harriet Gordon is looking for a new start. Now living with her brother and trying to find work that will make her money, she's shocked when she finds her first client dead. Teaming up with Inspector Robert Curran, the two investigate this murder as well as a subsequent killing that happens shortly after the first. This new book will fulfill your Sagittarius need to travel by taking you on a literary trip to Singapore.
If you're a Capricorn, read Trust Me When I Lie by Benjamin Stevenson
Producer Jack Quinn's latest true crime docuseries focuses on Curtis Wade, a man convicted of murdering a young woman. But when the show brings about a retrial, Wade walks free and after a short time, there's another murder, forcing Quinn to question the effect his show had on the case. Capricorns love a good challenge and will be relating to Jack Quinn as he does everything in his power to find out what really happened in the case of Curtis Wade.
If you're an Aquarius, read Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity by Felicia Day
Fall is the perfect season for Aquarius readers to embrace their creative side. Bestselling author and creator Felicia Day returns with a new book that will help you face your biggest fears and get in touch with your light-hearted self. Whether you've discovered your creative outlet already or you're looking for a new hobby, this book will help you find your fall-time inspiration and take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle you're currently facing.
If you're a Pisces, read On Swift Horses by Shannon Pufahl
Although she's newly married, Muriel feels unhappy since moving to San Diego from Kansas. Missing her mother and her brother-in-law, Julius, she starts going to the Del Mar racetrack where she learns about the culture of the sport and the risk involved. Meanwhile, Julius is in Vegas working at a casino and falling for card cheat Henry. But when his lover is run out of town, Julius follows him to Tijuana where he'll find new mystery and danger at every turn. This novel will bring out the artistic and spiritual side of Pisces this fall.
If you're an Aries, read Life on Loan by Ashley Farley
College friends Lena and Olivia have just reunited by chance at an airport in Atlanta after 30 years apart. Both dealing with issues in their own lives, they agree that switching homes and responsibilities for a month could be exactly what they both need. With Lena now staying in Charleston and Olivia jetting off to Virginia, the two will find that this month away from their lives will remind them of their dreams and give them the second chance they've both been looking for. Life on Loan is a great book for Aries as it will help them bring out their courageous side this season.
If you're a Taurus, read The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester
In 1942, American model Jessica May has just arrived in Europe to secure coverage during the war on behalf of Vogue. While the soldiers give her a hard time, she bypasses their challenging behavior and makes lasting bonds with three people that will help her find great success. Decades later in 2005, D'Arcy Hallworth has just touched down in France to curate a collection of wartime photos. Little does she know, the collection and the secrets around it will change her life forever. The Paris Orphan is great for the devoted Taurus who loves a story with a bit of romance.
If you're a Gemini, read maggie's ruse by Anne Leigh Parrish
Twins Maggie and Marta are both having trouble fully reaching their potential while living in New York City. Frustrated and bored, Maggie decides to pose as her sister one day while visiting with Marta's friends, creating a rift between the sisters. While spending time apart, they start to come into their own success but begin feeling lonely without one another. The two must get past their differences together or potentially lose their bond forever. Gemini twins will find themselves in these two similar but vastly different characters.
If you're a Cancer, read Find Me by André Aciman
Find Me follows up on the relationship between Elio and Oliver decades after first meeting in Call Me By Your Name. Elio is now a talented classical pianist living in Paris and has fallen for a new love interest. Meanwhile, Oliver is living in New England with his family, working as a college professor. But Oliver is still tempted by the connection he had with Elio and can't ignore the urge inside of him to travel across the Atlantic to visit him again. The emotional and loyal side of Cancers will love André Aciman's highly-anticipated fall release.
*Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links. These picks are editorially selected, but if you purchase, She Reads may get something in return. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
About the Author: Ashley Johnson
Ashley has always been a writer at heart, receiving a diary from her mother at a very young age. Supportive book-buying parents influenced her love of literature and storytelling as she grew up. Her love for songwriting led the way to creating short stories and the start of her own blog where she documented her life as a college student. A fan of dark plot lines, Ashley picked up Stephen King's It and never looked back. When she is not working on her first novel or new story ideas, Ashley can be found curled up with her rescue chihuahuas or exploring breathtaking locations throughout the US.
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Marcie August 21, 2019 at 5:37 pm - Reply
I want to read all of them!!


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Qantas: To be split in two business units: Qantas International, Qantas Domestic (announced 22/5/12, effective 1/7/12).
Air Pacific: To be re-branded as Fiji Airways (announced 14/5/12, tobe fully effective 2013Q4).
Cimber Sterling, DENMARK ceased operations (equipment: 6 B.737-700, 11 CRJ 100/200, 8 ATR-42/72). Resumed limited services 5/5/12 on SAS routes.
Delivery of New ERJ-175STD (ERJ-170-200STD) (G-FBJF, msn 17000341) to FlyBE.
B.737-75V (BBJ) (N920DS, msn 28579) of Universal Jet Aviation delivered on lease to Shazin Aviation Services, leased from Turnberry Investm.
SAIC DC-9-82 (MD-82) (UR-CIK, msn 49519) of Bukovyna Aviation Enterprise delivered on lease to ATA Airlines, leased from JTR Company S.A.L.
DHC-8Q-402 (G-JEDL, msn 4067) put in storage by FlyBE.
Total of 842 events during this month.


Even the prisons of Bern make for an attraction in the city. Isn't that so unique? The Prison Tower locally known as Kafigturm is the cornerstone of Bern's history. The work of the old tower was initiated in 1256 but the tower was only erected in 1344. The clock was put on the tower in 1961. The tower changed its purpose of service in 1999. The tower now often hosts exhibitions relevant to the history of Switzerland. As the tower stands right in the center of Bern, you definitely can't miss it. If you are inquisitive about this beautiful country, start at the Prison tower to get your heap on historic information.
Be careful as the stairs to the top of the tower are steep.
Get to the top of the tower to witness to breathtaking view of the city.
How popular is Prison Tower?
People normally club together Child Eater Fountain and Old Town Bern while planning their visit to Prison Tower.
Excellent location. Nice seating arrangement. Not a very big hall but good enough .
Originally a gate house of mid 13 century medieval Bern, demolished and rebuilt 400 years later. The 50 m high tower is now a distinctive landmark of old Bern on the same street where the Zytglogge is. Trams on one side of the street pass through the tower itself. Although the Kafigturm is rich in itself but the Zytglogge is more overwhelming.
Located in the heart of Bern, this tower is a Swiss Cultural Property of National Significance. The original tower was demolished and this new one was built in the first half of the XVII century. If you walk on Bern's main street there is no way you can miss it! Just be careful when you stop to take pictures because there are a lot of trams and buses going by.


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The Brambles
Request Information for The Brambles
Simply fill out a few details and let us know how you would like to receive your information about The Brambles
All plots now sold
Coventry, West Midlands
All homes now reserved
A delightful collection of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom new homes in Coventry which benefits from a desirable and well-connected location just 10 minutes drive from the city centre. Ideal for families, The Brambles features extensive areas of green space throughout the development along with a well-equipped children's play area.
Development features
2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes
10-minute drive from Coventry
Green space and play area on site
Close to family-friendly attractions
Good transport connections
Blackberry Lane, Coventry, CV2 3JZ
There is currently no sales presence on site. Please direct all enquiries the The Hedgerows development in Coventry.
southmids-sales@bellway.co.uk
Siteplan of The Brambles
The Brambles is located on Blackberry Lane in Coventry, just a 10-minute drive from the city centre.
The Brambles features extensive areas of green space throughout the development along with a well-equipped children's play area. In the close surrounding area, residents will find several attractive public parks, including Wyken Croft Nature Park, the city's first ecological park which provides an ideal site for walking, cycling or wild-life spotting. The historic Caludon Castle Park is just one mile from the development and houses a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the fascinating remains of the Grade 1 listed Caludon castle.
The thriving city centre of Coventry is just a short drive from The Scholars and promises a rich art and theatre culture alongside stunning architecture, encapsulating the region's world-famous heritage. From Elizabethan parks and ancient castles to state-of-the-art theatres and fascinating museums, Coventry is sure to delight visitors and residents of any age.
Families are well-catered for in the area, with a number of well-regarded local schools covering infant through to higher education. Henley Green Primary School and St. John Fisher Catholic Primary School are both within walking distance of The Scholars, while Courthouse Green Primary School and Wyken Croft Primary School are both located less than one mile from home. Older students are served by three highly-rated institutions within a five minute drive, including Lyng Hall School, Caludon Castle School and Henley College Coventry.
Commuters will delight in the convenience of nearby transport connections, with easy access to both the M6 and M69 motorways. Birmingham can be reached in around 30 minutes via the M6, while Coventry is just a 10 minute drive via the local A444 road. The city centre has a comprehensive train station which provides regular services to major destinations such Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Nuneaton. International travel is provided by Birmingham airport, approximately 25 minutes away by car.
Register your interest to be kept informed of development updates
Similar developments nearby
The Hedgerows
Scots Lane, Coundon, Coventry, West Midlands, CV6 2DN
Within 2.89 Miles Prices from £270,000 to £358,500
3 & 4 bedroom homes Detached, Semi-Detached
View development
The Long Shoot, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 6JD
3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes Detached, Semi-Detached
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Heathcote Park
Lower Heathcote Farm, Harbury Lane, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6SL
Within 11.58 Miles Prices from £600,000
5 bedroom homes Detached

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Notable Observations in Physical Retail in New York
On my recent trip to New York, I was really impressed by the innovations in physical retail that are shaping the customer experience on the high street. As described by a local investor, New York is a city where fashion, tech and creativity seamlessly integrate to spark innovation. Therefore, it is not a surprise that physical retail is more evolved here than in other regions and it is also a home / notable presence of several direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands.
In this short blog, I would like to summarise my key observations and provide some visual clues of stores/concepts that are representative of the overarching trends observed.
Please note that I am not a retail expert so that all these observations represent an "outside-in" view on the sector.
OBSERVATION 1: THE RISE OF EXPERIENCE STORES
Experience stores are a useful tool for companies with products that need to be experienced offline to fully grasp the potential of the products. This helps win over customers, who are less inclined to purchase online and reduces product return rate. Furthermore, it provides the brands with an opportunity to physically interact with its customer base.
Sonos Store — © Chirag Modi
The main purpose of the Sonos store is to let potential customers experience the sound of Sonos devices. The store has several closed cabins that are decorated as living rooms/bedrooms with different mood lights and themes. Furthermore, the sound system integrates various Sonos products (speakers, home sound systems), which can be turned on/off with a tablet so that potential customers have an opportunity to experience individual products but also the whole Sonos experience.
Casper Store — © Chirag Modi
The Casper store utilises a similar concept. There are several little 'houses', which showcase different Casper mattresses that customers are encouraged to try. When you walk into a store, you are greeted by friendly employees, who give advice on how to 'experience' the mattresses. As an example, they explain that you have to lie on the mattress for at least three minutes to fully register the difference of the Casper mattress and provide advice on the suitability of the mattress product line. I obviously took the opportunity to test the mattress and it was definitely more comfortable than my current mattress! Finally, Casper has also expanded its product line, which now also includes pillows, bed frames, and bedding products.
OBSERVATION 2: INTELLIGENT CURATION DRIVEN BY DATA ANALYTICS
With the explosion in SKUs (Amazon has 400m+ SKUs), the need for curation has also increased. Online stores have the ability to curate potential product purchase ideas based on user behaviour, leveraging AI/ML. The use of analytics is now also penetrating the offline world, enabling intelligent curation of products.
Amazon Store — © Chirag Modi
In Sep-18, Amazon launched its 4-star store, "a physical store where everything for sale is rated 4 stars and above, is a top seller, or is new and trending on Amazon.com". In my opinion, this store is a good place to purchase gifts as well as various Amazon devices (echo, kindle, ring products etc.). Furthermore, customers can pay with Amazon App, linking the offline world with Amazon's online capabilities.
b8ta Store — © Chirag Modi
b8ta is a software-powered company, designed to make physical retail accessible for all. It was founded in 2015 and has received c.$38.5m in funding to date. Its investors include Macy's and TriplePoint Capital. The company is "focused on building a new retail-as-a-service model with stores that let people experience products the way their makers intended." They enable manufacturers (i) get into physical retail, (ii) manage the brand's identity and (iii) capture live insights into capture rates, dwell times, discoveries and demos.
I visited b8ta-powered shop-in-shop at Macy's. The products offered were primarily tech gadgets including smart GPS dog collars, robo temi and Snapchat's spectacles.
OBSERVATION 3: PHYSICAL PRESENCE FOR MANAGED MARKETPLACES
Managed marketplaces, especially pre-owned goods as well as rental platforms, are booming. However, given the service/value-add aspect of these types of marketplaces, a physical presence can be highly beneficial. It provides a physical touch point for both sellers and buyers.
The RealReal Store — © Chirag Modi
The RealReal is a leader in authenticated luxury consignment marketplace, where you can buy and sell luxury goods from top designers. The company matches sellers with buyers and provides authentication services. The company was founded in 2011 and has received c. $288m in funding to date. Notable investors include Great Hill Partners, Springboard Growth Capital, Sandbridge Capital and PWP Growth Equity.
The physical store is huge and is spread across two floors. The products shown are curated and representative of their online offering and include clothes, watches, jewelry etc. Given its marketplace role, it also has meeting rooms and a coffee shop in the basement. The physical store also services as a physical drop-off for users to bring in their goods for consignment and have advice sessions with staff.
In case you are in New York, its worth visiting some of the emerging retail concepts. I have mapped some selected stores on Google Maps. To follow the list, please click here: https://goo.gl/maps/zM4tpHPzka92
Originally published on cmodi.com https://www.cmodi.com/blog/2018/11/29/notable-observations-in-physical-retail-in-newnbspyork
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The IT Summit
The IT Summit produces technology conferences for executives from the government, education, and corporate sectors. These conferences are produced by and for senior leaders to promote economic development, education, and the proliferation of information technology. We ensure the highest quality events through extensive CIO input.
Brett is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for First Federal in Port Angeles, WA. Brett is responsible for developing and maintaining the bank's Information Technology and Facilities infrastructures, as well as overseeing enterprise Project, Vendor, and Change management for the organization. Brett has over 25 years of experience implementing and supporting various technologies for several industries. He holds a B.S. degree in Business – IT Management, an Associate of Arts degree and several technology related certifications.
Alycia DuBry is a Senior Information Security Engineer at Pushpay who is invested in customer success and assurance of their data protection with a diverse background and a broad range of proven skills. Alycia has a distinguished military service background as a retired Signal Corps Senior NCO combat veteran and specializes in Information Assurance Security and cyber quarantine operations skills with an investment in legacy.
For this topic I will do a walk through of a senior leader's action of "stopping the bleeding" on the Chinese Byzantine Virus, the basic questions we asked the compromised users plus the security culture support we gained and how.
Tony North is currently the President of the Seattle HDI (Help Desk Institute) Chapter, a non-profit business serving the Greater Seattle Technical Community. He helped restarted the Chapter two years ago but prior to that he spent six years as the VP of Programs. In the private sector Tony helps clients adopt (cloud) technology and improve management operations while increasing revenue in retention or additional services. He is known for being a trusted advisor who is always looking to streamline processes improving efficiency. Tony started learning about technology while in the United States Marine Corp, after which becoming the first PC Software Trainer at SAFECO Insurance Home Office. This experience helped Tony land technical deployment roles where he provided over 125 implementations for Help Desk and HR Software Companies; HEAT by iVanti, Magic Solutions by BMC, HROffice by Ascentis, and SumTotal by SumTotal Systems. During this time traveling to 26 states and 21 countries, Tony helped develop processes, improve staffing or shift models, and trained executives, managers and their teams on the best practices for Help Desk (Internal), Technical Support (External) and Human Resource (Talent & Payroll) operations. Now living in Bothell with his wonderful wife and three children, Tony helps youth in his community as a volunteer through the YMCA as a Head Basketball Coach, as well as, serving time on various boards like the NorthCreek Youth Football.
There are certain customer services skills that every manager and employee must master if you want to think "ahead" of your customer. This can help you learn more but has a bigger benefit to how you can improve helping your customers. During this session we will discuss how; ?	Patience will help you win the race ?	How to use Communication as a Strategy ?	Ask, Don't Tell ?	Listen, Don't Talk ?	Knowledge and Timing Plan Customers need your help, not just to answer the phone quickly. Turning around information that can benefit your client, understanding what is important and their time element, can show your customer care Learn techniques that can Expand your mind and change your customers world!
Enjoy a complimentary plated lunch courtesy of The IT Summit.
A manager at Darktrace, Christopher Coppock has helped numerous companies secure their networks with the Enterprise Immune System. He has worked extensively with companies across industries, helping companies of all sizes defend their networks from sophisticated threats with Darktrace's unique early threat detection capabilities. While he has been with Darktrace, the company was named a Wall Street Journal "Top 25 Company to Watch" and experienced a 3x increase in US customers. Coppock is based out of the company's headquarters in San Francisco, CA.
The fight is no longer at the perimeter. In the new era of cyber-threats, machines fight machines on the battleground of corporate networks. No human security team can keep pace. From high-speed global ransomware attacks to sophisticated threats that disguise themselves for months on a network before taking action, these attacks call for a change in the way we protect our most critical assets. Self-learning, self-defending systems are now being deployed to secure complex enterprise networks across all environment types – ranging from physical, virtual, and cloud, through to the IoT and industrial control systems. Known as 'immune system' defense, this approach uncovers threats that have already penetrated the network border and then automatically fights back. Unlike legacy approaches that rely on rules or signatures, immune system security learns and responds autonomously, enables the security team to focus on high-value tasks, and can counter even fast-moving, automated attackers. In this session, learn about: The new age of silent, stealthy attacks that lie low in networks for weeks and months Why legacy approaches, like rules and signatures, are proving inadequate on their own How new 'immune system' technologies based on advanced mathematics and machine learning are being deployed today Real-world examples of subtle, unknown threats that routinely bypass traditional controls
An engineer with over 10 years of experience in enterprise and manufacturing IT, Kellen serves as a Solution Architect for Dasher Technologies, focusing on solving client challenges surrounding networking and security needs. Kellen's background covers a broad range of manufacturers, including Aerohive, Aruba, Cisco, F5, HP Enterprise, Palo Alto Networks, and vmware, as well as with concepts such as security policy guidance, various compliance standards, and the CIS Controls.
In 1943, Psychologist Abraham Maslow presented his "Hierarchy of Needs", a ranked set of motivations that humans tend to build upon in search of their full potential. Today, Dasher Technologies presents a new hierarchy…of IT Security needs! Come learn about this ranked set of priorities, applicable to organizations large and small, who are in search of their fullest (IT security) potential. Attendees will learn about the Center for Internet Security's 20 Critical Security Controls, including practical application of their ranked importance in deciding how to best implement security infrastructure in their environment.
Fiercely self-motivated, customer-focused, results-driven technical professional with 20+ years in the networking industry. Having worked with everything from early stage start-ups to large service providers, I provide a diverse mix of technical expertise and sales acumen to drive sales success and continual product improvement. Helping my customers be successful with technology is always my first priority. Currently helping great companies get connected to their WiFi. Passionate about Competitive Sales, Entrepreneurship, Data Center Design, Routing & Switching, Cloud Computing, Product Design/Marketing and Management. Specialties: Network Architecture, Network Virtualization, WiFi, Routing & Switching, Data Center Architecture, Virtualization, WAN Optimization, VPNs & Network Security, SDN, Product Marketing, UI Design.
Senior IT sales leader with a 25+ year accomplished career track - having successfully opened new geographies for emerging technologies across very diverse vertical businesses in both thriving and declining markets with world-class companies such as Cisco, Infoblox, Brocade and Aerohive. I am a senior-level enterprise infrastructure sales and business development professional with tremendous success and experience across enterprise, public sector, and service provider marketplaces. My strategic advantage is my ability to align customer business initiatives with IT enablement showing paths to rapid return on invested time and capital. I am extremely competitive and have a strong desire to succeed. I live in Portland Oregon area with my family and have the ability to travel extensively both domestic and international. Specialties: Value Proposition Articulation, Management, Leadership, Strategy, Negotiation, Territory Development, Presentation, Network, Data Center Infrastructure, Channel Development, Finance.
Next Gen WiFi Elements Market Transition Drivers Aerohive Hive Manager Demonstration
Nick Brestoff is the founder and CEO of Intraspexion Inc., a startup which uses Deep Learning to find litigation risks to avoid or financial advantages to obtain. Nick received his education in engineering at UCLA and the California Institute of Technology, and then went to law school at the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the Law Review. After a 38-year career as a California litigator, Nick retired from the legal profession in 2014. But because he was cross-functional in engineering and law, and had a flash of insight and couldn't sit still, he started Intraspexion in 2015. He had never envisioned that his self-described "second childhood" would be so exciting. For example, on January 24, 2017, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to him as the sole inventor for "Using Classified Text and Deep Learning Algorithms to Identify Risk and Provide Early Warning." And by September 12, 2017, Nick was the lead inventor on six (6) additional software system patents, all of which are based on Deep Learning.
There are two buzzwords in data science today: Blockchain and Deep Learning. It's been said that Deep Learning is the "new electricity," meaning that just as electricity changed every industry during the Industrial Revolution, it will be Deep Learning that will change everything now. Without getting into the math weeds, I'm going to explain Deep Learning and, using my company's first product as an example, how to put Deep Learning to good use to solve a big problem. The title of my talk is "Why Intraspexion is the New Sonar Machine."
Ben Rockwood is the Director of IT & Operations at Chef. He has been a UNIX System Administrator for over 20 years and an Operations Management junkie for the last 8. Between 2006 and 2014 he was the Director of Operations at Joyent, one of the first IaaS Cloud providers.
Requirements on modern IT organizations have become more and more complex as the number and type of applications has grown. Cloud infrastructure, decentralized teams, SaaS solutions, compliance and regulatory requirements. Automation is the key to managing the increasing complexity with the limited human resources available. In this discussion we'll talk about the variety of problems spaces, available solutions, and approaches for leveraging automation.
Brian J. Evergreen is the Director of Technology Solutions at CORTAC Group, a management consulting firm. He partners primarily with Fortune 100 companies to enable their strategic business goals with best-of-breed technological capabilities paired with design thinking.
Cloud applications stormed the industry over ten years ago, breaking most IT architectures out into even more complexity, with a mix of on-premise vs. cloud applications, out-of-the-box integrations, home-grown integrations, layered-on home-grown services or applications, overlapping systems of record, band-aided with processes and for some organizations, a return to spreadsheets, truing up information from multivariate systems, frustrating experiences across the organization, and a loss of budget for IT. For many, the allure of simple, per-seat charges and out-of-the-box features has worn off in the face of fixed roadmaps, integration issues, and the battle for governance. With the rise of cloud technologies and technical skills, the time is ripe for IT organizations to evolve, embrace modern frameworks, and build systems of execution, employing strategy and design-first principles that produce delightful user experiences, are fitted to the strategic business needs of the organizations, and secure the IT organization's place on the proactive, leading edge of the organization, where it belongs.
People want to work anywhere; on any device, and IT needs to enable them — without drowning in complexity or compromising on security, performance, reliability or cost. Aerohive's mission is to Simpli-Fi these enterprise access networks with a cloud-enabled, self-organizing, service-aware, identity-based infrastructure that includes innovative Wi-Fi, VPN, branch routing and switching solutions.
Affirma is an award-winning full service technology consultancy based out of Bellevue, WA. We have expertise in Mobile, Cloud, Business Intelligence, SharePoint, Technology Infrastructure, Custom Development, Visual Design, and Staffing Services. We focus on delivering true, measurable business value to our clients. We have a passion for customer satisfaction and are dedicated to delivering dependable and reliable solutions that exceed client expectations.
Our clients include Microsoft, the Seattle Art Museum, Children's Hospital, Starbucks, Blue Nile, TreeTop, MoneyTree, and many more. We have been ranked one of Puget Sound Business Journals "Best Workplaces" and "Fastest Growing Companies" for four years in a row.
Barracuda Networks, Inc. offers industry-leading solutions designed to solve mainstream IT problems – efficiently and cost effectively – while maintaining a level of customer support and satisfaction second to none. Barracuda Networks products span three distinct markets, including: 1) content security, 2) networking and application delivery, as well as 3) data storage, protection and disaster recovery.
While Barracuda Networks maintains a strong heritage in email and web security appliances, their award-winning portfolio includes more than a dozen purpose-built solutions that support literally every aspect of the network – providing organizations of all sizes with true end-to-end protection that can be deployed in hardware, virtual, cloud and mixed form factors.
CitiBank, Coca-Cola, Delta Dental, FedEx, Harvard University, IBM, L'Oreal, Liberty Tax Service, Mythbusters and Spokane Public Schools are amongst the more than 150,000 organizations worldwide confidently protecting their users, applications and data with Barracuda Networks' solutions. The company is privately held with its international headquarters and manufacturing facility based in Campbell, California. Barracuda Networks has offices in eight international locations and distributors in more than 80 countries worldwide.
Cerium Networks is a leading integrator of advanced solutions, delivering design, implementation & support. This includes telephony, mobility, messaging, contact center, video, data center, network security, route/switch and wireless.
Comcast was founded in 1963 as a single-system cable operation of 1,200 subscribers. Since then we've grown to be the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services with 24.4 million cable customers, 14.7 million high-speed Internet customers and 6.1 million digital voice customers in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Darktrace is the world's leading machine learning company for cyber security, having developed AI algorithms that mimic the human immune system to defend enterprise networks of all types and sizes. Created by mathematicians from the University of Cambridge, Darktrace's Enterprise Immune System is the first non-consumer application of machine learning to work at scale, across all network types, from physical, virtualized, and cloud, through to IOT and industrial control systems. Installed as a self-configuring cyber defense platform, Darktrace continuously learns what is 'normal' for all devices and users, updating its understanding as the environment changes.
By applying its unique, unsupervised machine learning, Darktrace has identified 30,000 previously unknown threats in over 2,000 networks, including zero-days, insider threats and subtle, stealthy attacks. The company has experienced 600% year-on-year revenue growth. With 370 employees in 23 offices and dual headquarters in San Francisco and Cambridge UK, Darktrace was named 'Best Security Company of the Year 2016,' 'Bloomberg Innovator,' and 'GSN Homeland Security' award winner. The company's valuation is $.5 billion and its investors include KKR, Softbank, Summit, Invoke Capital, and Samsung.
Dasher Technologies is a premier IT solution provider that delivers expert technical resources along with trusted account executives to architect and deliver complete IT solutions and services to help our clients execute their goals, plans and objectives.
Green House Data is dedicated to our mission of providing enterprise-quality infrastructure and cloud infrastructure along with services and support, all delivered in an environmentally sustainable way.
Our secure and reliable vCloud Powered cloud hosting and colocation facilities are located in geographically diverse green data centers. Each facility is SSAE 16 Type II and HIPAA compliant and is highly reliable and redundant. We realize your bottom line relies on uptime, so we guarantee our 100% SLAs. You'll also get customer service that will WOW you and prices that will benefit your budget.
HarborTech Mobility, Inc. is recognized as a leading provider of secure enterprise wireless networks and mobility solutions. Our differentiation is the depth and experience of our sales and engineering teams which allows us to provide the highest level of support to our customers.
HARMAN designs and engineers connected products and solutions for consumers, automakers, and enterprises worldwide, including audio, visual and infotainment systems; enterprise automation solutions; and software services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® , Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world.
In 1989, HDI became the first professional association created for the technical support industry. Since then, HDI has remained the source for professional development by offering resources to promote organization-wide success through exceptional customer service. We do this by:
Facilitating collaboration and networking
Hosting acclaimed conferences and events
Producing renowned publications and research
Certifying and training thousands of professionals each year
Technical support professionals love HDI because it provides them with a profound sense of community. At 150,000 people strong, HDI is a community built by industry peers and leaders that gives you the resources, knowledge, and drive to be great at what you do.
The Evergreen InfraGard Members Alliance area of operation is Washington State and over 600 members. As part of the Western Region, we work closely with the IMAs in Los Angeles, San Diego, Oregon, and Idaho. Our chapter's mission is, "To protect Washington State's Infrastructure and critical services by providing a secure platform and trusted community to share experiences and information."
Established in 1989 under the name MACROSEARCH, Inc, we updated our name to MACRO.CCS in 2011 to better reflect who we have become: an IT services company with heavy concentration in fixed deliverable computer consulting. Under our new corporate name, we retain the names of our original services; MACROSEARCH for direct hire placement services, and MACROSTAFF for technical staffing.
We serve the West Coast through our offices in Seattle and Los Angeles. We are proud of the successful, long term relationships we enjoy with a wide variety of companies and technical specialists.
Our corporate culture is formed by the goals and values we have set for ourselves. We have established and maintained an industry reputation as one of the most honest and ethical companies in the marketplace.
The Heart of Your Northwest tech community with monthly events connecting you to people and resources to take your career or company to the next level. Join us for New Tech Eastside's Women in Tech Special Event on May 16th with presenters including Catalyze Seattle, ADA Academy, Diverse City and Ebay's eWit Program.
Founded in 1996, Opus Interactive provides cloud hosting, managed services and colocation from Tier III+ data centers. Through close partnerships with industry leaders, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, the company has earned a reputation for customized, reliable IT solutions for their customers.
Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is an easy-to-use application and desktop delivery solution that enables access to Windows applications and desktops on any device, anywhere. With intuitive configuration wizards, PowerShell integration, and application provisioning, Parallels RAS streamlines the deployment and management of Microsoft RDS and VDI while offering an impressive locally installed representation to users. All Parallels RAS components can be deployed in multi-active/passive or multi-active/active mode. They are also load balanced, reducing the risk of downtime while providing a seamless end-user experience. Parallels RAS increases IT agility, supporting Citrix XenServer, VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V and hyperconverged infrastructures. Moreover, this cloud-ready product supports on-premise, hybrid, or cloud deployments on Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure.
Recover your applications instantly to any second in the past with BackDating. Reduxio's HX550 enterprise storage array redefines flash hybrid array performance and reinvents data protection with capabilities far exceeding anything on the market. Reduxio Systems is an enterprise storage company based in Silicon Valley founded by visionaries from Oracle, NetApp, and Dell. Reduxio - Best of VMworld 2015 award winner in the Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure category. Twitter @ReduxioSystems
As one of the oldest and largest statewide technology trade associations in North America, we're passionate about promoting Washington as a desirable place to start and grow successful technology companies amid a strong and connected community. WTIA isthe place to connect to Washington's technology industry


I have made this profile on behalf of my sister. She is currently working as an executive in private sector, after having completed her master's degree. We come from a middle class, nuclear family with moderate values presently living in Jhalrapatan.


text:
Xu Yuhua –en chino, 徐玉华– (Binzhou, 2 de marzo de 1983) es una deportista china que compitió en judo. Ganó una medalla de oro en los Juegos Asiáticos de 2006, y una medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Asiático de Judo de 2012.

Palmarés internacional

Referencias

Judokas de la República Popular China

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Testing the limits
Plans to reform British exams are less drastic than had been rumoured, but will still mean an upheaval in schools
BritainJul 7th 2012 edition
AT THE end of June a scheme to transform the exams most British pupils sit at the age of 16 was leaked to the press. Traditionalists were thrilled. The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is now broadly thought too easy, with an ever-rising number of pupils awarded top marks. Might Michael Gove, the Conservative education secretary, revert to the tougher, more selective O-levels which were ditched in the late 1980s? It turns out that he will not. Nonetheless, he has plenty of radical plans to transform testing, and the education system with it.
The case for more rigorous exams is strong. British pupils' performance in international tests has lagged even as the proportion passing GCSEs has risen. In 2000 the country's pupils exceeded the OECD average in reading, maths and science. By the most recent test, in 2009, they had slipped (see chart). Denmark, France, Germany and Sweden also languish in the could-do-better category. But Asian countries are pulling ahead alarmingly.
It is from Asia, specifically Singapore, that Mr Gove draws inspiration for his reforms. That country spent 3.3% of its GDP on education in 2010, compared with nearly twice that in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, yet its performance in international league tables is startling in comparison. Four-fifths of Singaporean pupils sit an O-level exam, set by the Cambridge University examinations board, at 16.
There will be no return to O-levels in Britain—at least, in the sense of an exam taken by only a few. Liberal Democrats in the coalition loudly oppose revisiting the two-tier education system that prevailed before the late 1980s, when less able pupils sat a Certificate of Secondary Education. Mr Gove is, however, determined to raise exam standards and remove "modules"—mini-exams testing a small part of the curriculum—from courses.
The new goal is a world-class qualification, modelled on the International GCSE (deemed tougher than the GCSE and undertaken largely by private schools in Britain) and the International Baccalaureate. Slower pupils will not sit different exams. Rather, following Singapore's lead, they will continue to study the core subjects of English and mathematics as long as they remain in education.
Many "dead-end" subjects will be cleared out. Courses on horse-care and hairdressing will no longer claim dubious parity with GCSEs. Instead, following the recommendations of a review of vocational education, a fifth of lesson time for pupils from age 14 will be allotted to technical and practical studies for pupils who want more hands-on options. Reformers reckon substandard further-education colleges, into which many academic laggards are presently dumped, will quickly come under pressure to produce better results in mainstream subjects.
The energy behind this attack on mediocrity is admirable, but contradictions remain. The government, which has liberated schools to run their own affairs, is increasingly dirigiste about what it wants taught. Mr Gove recently delivered a passionate defence of history and geography in schools—to add to his emphasis on English, maths, sciences and modern languages. He runs the danger of prescribing too tightly what schools should do, as well as the standards they should attain.
Plans for vocational qualifications remain vague. Ministers admire the German system, which combines the teaching of core subjects with apprenticeships and real-life technical expertise. But Germany's school system is diverse. Pupils are divided by age 13, with the most academically inclined going to grammar schools while others follow a part-academic, part-vocational path. That divide seems anathema in Britain.
Nonetheless, something important is changing in the exam system. The orotund Mr Gove says he wants to "move the Bell-curve rightward", requiring higher standards for all pupils. Put more simply, there is a time when the celebration of ever-rising scores on ever-easier tests and the excuses for international underperformance have to stop. It might as well be now.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline "Testing the limits"


text:
Greenbelt Resources and Biofuels & Energy Execute Contract for Colorado Project Engineering Services
adminSeptember 29, 2018News Releases
PASO ROBLES, CA – September 29, 2018 – Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO) (Greenbelt or the Company) and Biofuels & Energy (B&E) have announced the execution of a contract for engineering services on the SLV Biopro Project located in San Luis Valley, Colorado announced earlier this year. Greenbelt will provide engineering consulting services to B&E during the development phase of this project, which intends to utilize various food wastes and surplus, including potato industry processing waste and off-spec grains.
The total SLV Biopro Project budget is estimated at $8.0 to $9.0 million, depending on final location and production capacity, of which about $7.2 million is allocated to Greenbelt's system. This project is the first of three similar projects on B&E's four year time horizon and therefore potentially represents in excess of $20.0 million in additional sales for Greenbelt.
"We are confident that Greenbelt's technology provides us with a significant, unique value added investment return to the project," said Richard Mason of B&E, adding "The model of utilizing local regional wastes and low value surplus materials as feedstocks to produce a wide range of bioproducts has been proven. As demonstrated by the Greenbelt system in Australia, we feel the market potential for deploying Greenbelt's ECOsystem model is potentially limitless worldwide."
Extensive feasibility analysis conducted by B&E indicates that the SLV region produces a significant variety of wastes which qualify as feedstocks, in quantities well beyond that needed for the project. B&E is currently securing both feedstock and off take agreements for the project.
"The B&E vision addresses a variety of niches in the SLV region. Deploying Greenbelt technology for their SLV Biopro Project to address a local waste/surplus issue and also creating valuable bioproducts via a sustainable model is ideal for the local economy," says Darren Eng, CEO of Greenbelt. "Once established in Monte Vista, we look forward to working with B&E to replicate the model and become a leading regional source of bioethanol and biobased protein."
Greenbelt has pioneered this local community scale model, which uses a variety of organic feedstocks and converts these into valuable bioproducts such as bioethanol and biobased protein products. The Company is currently raising funds for two projects focused on producing bioethanol for use in the cannabis industry as extraction solvent, using winery and brewery wastes as feedstocks: PRECO and the California BioEthanol Project.
Greenbelt recently announced a profitable second quarter, primarily the result of a project for the Andrew J. Young Foundation, cultivating duckweed as a feedstock to produce bioethanol and biobased protein concentrate.
Greenbelt Resources Corporation™ is an award-winning provider of automated, modular, small scale sustainable energy production systems, products and processes that enable local cost-effective processing and disposal of food, beverage and cellulosic waste to be converted into commercially viable saleable consumer products such as bio ethanol, protein concentrate and fertilizer. Operating in several business segments, Greenbelt provides value added solutions to the cannabis, food, beverage and agricultural industries. For more information visit www.greenbeltresources.com.


Edited by slmn, 09 April 2012 - 02:18 PM.
Heat capacity of air is roughly 0.24 kcal/kg, so you need 0.24*4.19*15 ~ 15 kJ to heat 1 kg air from 0 to 15 oC, which is in rather good agreement to 14.876 kJ/kg of the book.
Attached "Rev0.xls" contains the spreadsheet of enthalpy calculation, with some remarks on it. No arithmetic errors could be traced, it seems that the application of enthalpy formula for gases contains some error. Probably the units? Resulting heat capacities for gases are not realistic, as indicated in the added columns.
Check formula for enthalpy again, error cannot be specifically located by me. Hopefully tracing will be easy.
Edited by kkala, 15 April 2012 - 05:48 AM.
What you are looking for is psychrometric calculations for wet or humid air including the entahlpy of wet / humid air.


text:
How Steve Madden Achieved a Net Worth of $120 Million
Steve Madden is a well-known American businessman who has worked his way into the lap of luxury and a very wealthy lifestyle. His net worth is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $120 million. You may have known he was rich, but how did he ever manage to amass such a huge fortune? It didn't take a lot of research until the source of his wealth became evident. He's an interesting character and here is what we found out.
Name Steve Madden
Born Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City, New York
Birth Date 1958
Source of Wealth American Fashion Designer and Businessman
Steve Madden was born in Far Rockaway, Queens. He is married to Wendy Ballew and together, the couple has two children. They know what it is to live the American dream, but their lives have not been easy or without serious complications. They've climbed to high pinnacles of success in business, but their personal lives have been in the depths of near ruin.
Their business
Steve Madden was a very wealthy CEO. He established the well-known footwear company called Steve Madden Ltd. This is one of the reasons why his name is practically a household words. His products are branded with his name and they're quite popular with consumers. The source of Steve's wealth comes directly from Steve Madden Ltd. The business that he and his wife build was acknowledged with a great honor in 2006 when it was named "Company of the Year." This distinction was bestowed upon Steve Madden Ltd by the Footwear News Achievement Awards. It's a highly coveted award, but it's important to note that it was well-deserved.
Madden got derailed
Steve Madden was once the Chief Executive Officer of the company that he founded. Somewhere along the way, he lost his direction and committed illegal acts that cost him his position with the company and years of his freedom. He was compelled to resign as the Chief Executive Officer of Steve Madden Ltd and he was also removed from the company's board. These actions were the result of his conviction for committing money and stock manipulation as well as securities fraud. His illegal actions were punished with a sentence to serve a total of 41 months in prison. He still had the authority to remain as an active employee of the company that he owned and he created the position of creative consultant for Steve Madden Ltd and paid himself a salary of $700,000 per year. This kept finances coming into the household for the family even though he was incarcerated.
Where the Maddens are today
Steve and Wendy Madden currently have a net worth of around $120 million. The couple lives together. Wendy Ballew was previously the director of operations for Steve Madden, Ltd, but is no longer working for the company. Although he has a criminal record for violations discovered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, he's served his time. Madden finished serving his sentence and upon his release, he was ordered to live in a New York City halfway house for sixty days. He remained under house confinement for a certain period of time so the day of his release wasn't the day that he was allowed to return home.
Steve Madden is a savvy businessman who knows how to make money, but unfortunately, he got caught up in financial activities that many others engage in, he just happened to get caught. Hopefully, he's learned his lesson and will continue to grow as a human being and to prosper. His famous brand of footwear has not diminished in value or in popularity. It's a fairly high-end brand that is sold in some of the finer retail stores throughout the United States.
With his past behind him, he has a new lease on life. Money isn't a problem and he was smart enough to take actions that protected his family and his interests while he was serving out his sentence in prison. There are many lessons to be learned from Madden's story. It's a chapter in his life that can never be forgotten. It's doubtful that there was much comfort in his wealth during the long months that became years that he lost his freedom. He and his family paid a high price for a few misguided actions that could have cost him everything.
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Part of the Growth Model, a Proximity Monitor, or ProxMonitor, increases ProxAwareness (proximity awareness), which can help many kinds of relationships. To better relate in a ProxThink Core Idea sense, people need greater awareness of and information about the proximity. Further, this awareness is a key part of taking ProxPatterns-related action. A Proximity Monitor, or ProxMonitor, provides some of this awareness and information, or ProxAwareness. It helps us monitor the status, progress, and other dimensions we want to keep track of, in the proximity of a situation. It may also include the perceived quality of relationships in a proximity.
ProxMonitors are one process in the ProxThink Growth Model. They can best be understood in the context of the Growth Model.
We invite you to adopt and adapt the related standards of the Growth Model, including ProxMonitors. If you do, we ask you to proxri (ProxReward) us for developing, pioneering and promoting some new ways of growing and relating. Join here to discover more about adopting and adapting.


Weather has recovered in Ishigaki Island!
Weather has recovered in Ishigaki Island. Manta rays everyday!
The weather has finally recovered in Ishigaki Island!
According to Viking Scuba Kabira, manta rays are seen everyday at "Manta Scramble" and "Manta City Point". Manta ray season in Ishigaki usually ends in November, but maybe this time it won't be over too soon? Schools of sea goldies, green sea turtles, and an ornate ghost pipefish are also being seen.
The temperature is still very high in Ishigaki Island (the highest temperature today was 28℃!). It's almost like summer. Come visit Ishigaki Island if you want to escape from the coldness!
For information about the dive sites, click here.


The Internationalt Forum Middle East Group organized an information sharing action in Copenhagen on Monday, 21 January as part of the International Week of Action to Free Ahmad Sa'adat. Following on an earlier event raising funds to support Palestinian prisoners' advocacy, the event included the distribution of flyers and literature about the case of Ahmad Sa'adat, the imprisoned General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and his fellow nearly-6,000 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails.
The participants distributed hundreds of flyers to passers-by amid a rainy, snowy evening. Despite the winter weather, activists reported that the information was very well-received by people on the streets, especially on Blågårdsgade, where the participants gathered.
They also distributed information about the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign and the boycott of Israel. One campaign involving many activists in Denmark and across Europe is the campaign to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest so long as its finals continue to be scheduled in apartheid Israel. Organizers across the continent are participating in creative actions, petition campaigns and protests, urging that the final series be moved.
The protest came as part of the international events marking the 17th anniversary of the political leader's arrest by deception by the Palestinian Authority on 15 January 2002. He was imprisoned by the PA for four years under U.S. and British guard, part of its security coordination with the Israeli occupation. In March 2006, shortly before newly elected PA officials were to be sworn in, Israeli occupation forces violently attacked the PA's Jericho prison where Sa'adat and his comrades were held; the U.S. and British guards moved aside in advance to support the attack, in which two Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces. Today, Sa'adat is serving a 30-year sentence in Israeli occupation prisons.
As Israeli elections approach, politicians have competed with one another to urge harsher repression and violations against the prisoners. Gilad Erdan, the Israeli minister over the Israel Prison Service – who also is responsible for the apartheid colonial state's global anti-BDS campaign – has launched a string of attacks on the prisoners, cutting their water supply and confiscating thousands of books.
The Week of Action is continuing with upcoming events in Sao Paulo, Athens, Alicante, Toulouse, New York, Paris and Milan, highlighting the struggle of Palestinian prisoners and Sa'adat's case in particular.


text:
Pick a random title Danger Mouse / Season 10 / Rhyme and Punishment
1981 7.4/10 (3.0k) TV-Y SuperHD
While Penfold is writing his memoir of his life with Danger Mouse, Dr. Crumhorn 'Kazonks' them into a hallucinatory world.
Terry Scott, Edward Kelsey, Brian Trueman, David Jason
Kids' TV, TV Comedies, TV Shows
Language audio available in United States: English, Spanish
Language subtitles available in United States: English, Spanish
Available in these countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States
Available since Jun 15, 2015.
Season 10 1981 TV-Y SuperHD Play Netflix Page Follow the adventures of superspy Danger Mouse and his bumbling sidekick, Penfold, as they jet around the world foiling their enemies' evil plots. Terry Scott, Edward Kelsey, Brian Trueman, David Jason Jun 15, 2015
Your Turn to Kill / Season 1
Single's Inferno / Season 1
Biohackers / Season 1
Biohackers / Season 1 / Suspicion
Diary of a Gigolo / Season 1 / Episode 2


text:
DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS `pickem_updateStandings`;

DELIMITER $$

CREATE DEFINER=`inqsports`@`%` PROCEDURE `pickem_updateStandings`(nInWeekID int(4), nInSeason int(4))
    DETERMINISTIC
doUpdate:BEGIN

DECLARE dtPicksDue int;
DECLARE nStandingRecordCount int;
DECLARE nLeastWins int;
DECLARE nFirstPlace int;

DECLARE EXIT HANDLER FOR SQLEXCEPTION
 BEGIN
  ROLLBACK;
  SELECT 'SQLException invoked';
 END;

-- if we have a 0 week id exit
IF nInWeekID = 0 THEN
    LEAVE doUpdate;
END IF;

-- Get the difference between now and the time when picks are due
SET dtPicksDue = (SELECT TIMESTAMPDIFF(
    SECOND,
    STR_TO_DATE(CONCAT(dPicksDue, ' ', tPicksDue, ':00'), '%Y-%m-%d %H:%i:%s'),
    NOW())
FROM week
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID);

-- determine if the picks are locked for this week
IF dtPicksDue <= 0 THEN
    -- exit the procedure if picks aren't locked
    LEAVE doUpdate;
END IF;

-- Determine which team won the game
UPDATE game
SET nWinner = fn_calculateWinner(nHomeTeamID,nHomeScore,nAwayTeamID,nAwayScore,nSpread,sSpreadFavor)
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND bGameIsFinal = 1;

-- Update all of the wins for indivdidual picks this week
UPDATE pick set nWin = fn_isPickWin(nGameID, nTeamID)
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID;

-- Update all of the has pick users
UPDATE standing
SET bHasPicks = 1
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND nUserID in ( SELECT DISTINCT nUserID FROM pick where nWeekID = nInWeekID and nPick IS NOT NULL );

-- Update all of the auto pick users
UPDATE standing
SET bAutoPick = 1
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND nUserID in ( SELECT DISTINCT nUserID FROM pick where nWeekID = nInWeekID and bAuto = 1 );

-- Insert all of the wins per user
INSERT INTO standing  (nUserID, nWeekID, nSeasonID, nWins, nLosses, bHasPicks)
SELECT DISTINCT nUserID, nInWeekID, nInSeason, SUM(nWin), 20 - SUM(nWin), 1 as bHasPicks
FROM pick
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND nUserID not in (select nUserID from standing where nWeekID = nInWeekID)
AND nUserID in (select nUserID from userSeason where nSeasonID = nInSeason)
GROUP BY nUserID;

-- Update the records that already exist for this week
UPDATE standing
SET nWins = (SELECT SUM(nWin) FROM pick WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID AND pick.nUserID = standing.nUserID),
nLosses = (20 - nWins)
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND bHasPicks = 1;

-- Insert a record for users that don't have picks
INSERT INTO standing (nUserID, nWeekID, nSeasonID, nWins, nLosses, nHighestTiebreak, bHasPicks)
SELECT nUserID, nInWeekID, nInSeason, 0 as nWins, 20 as nLosses, 0 as nHighestTiebreak, 0 as bHasPicks
FROM user
WHERE nUserID not in (select nUserID from standing where nWeekID = nInWeekID)
AND nUserID in (select nUserID from userSeason where nSeasonID = nInSeason);

-- Update number of nTiebreaks
UPDATE standing
SET nHighestTiebreak = fn_getHighestTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID),
nTiebreak2 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nHighestTiebreak),
nTiebreak3 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak2),
nTiebreak4 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak3),
nTiebreak5 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak4),
nTiebreak6 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak5),
nTiebreak7 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak6),
nTiebreak8 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak7),
nTiebreak9 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak8),
nTiebreak10 = fn_getNextTiebreak(nWeekID, nUserID, nTiebreak9)
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID;

-- remove any records for users who are inactive
DELETE FROM standing
WHERE nUserID IN (SELECT nUserID FROM user WHERE bActive <> 1)
AND nSeasonID = nInSeason;

-- Update the standings place for this week
UPDATE standing
         JOIN (
--          SELECT nStandingID, rank_calculated
--          from (
--            SELECT nStandingID, nWins, nHighestTiebreak, @winrank := @winrank + 1 AS rank_calculated
--            from standing, (SELECT @winrank := 0) r
--            where nWeekID = nInWeekID
--            ORDER BY nWins DESC, if( nHighestTiebreak=0, nTiebreak2, nHighestTiebreak), nTiebreak2, nTiebreak3, nTiebreak4, nTiebreak5, nTiebreak6, nTiebreak7, nTiebreak8, nTiebreak9, nTiebreak10 ) rt
--          ORDER BY rank_calculated

SELECT nStandingID, rank_calculated
  from (
    SELECT    nStandingID, @curRank := @curRank + 1 AS rank_calculated
    FROM      standing s, (SELECT @curRank := 0) st
    WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
    ORDER BY  nWins DESC, nHighestTiebreak DESC, nTiebreak2, nTiebreak3, nTiebreak4, nTiebreak5, nTiebreak6, nTiebreak7, nTiebreak8, nTiebreak9, nTiebreak10
  ) rt
ORDER BY rank_calculated
--          SELECT nStandingID
--                , @rownum:=@rownum+1 AS rank_calculated
--           FROM standing
--              , (SELECT @rownum:=0) AS st
--           WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
--           ORDER BY nWins DESC, if( nHighestTiebreak=0, nTiebreak2, nHighestTiebreak), nTiebreak2 ASC, nTiebreak3 ASC, nTiebreak4 ASC, nTiebreak5 ASC, nTiebreak6 ASC, nTiebreak7 ASC, nTiebreak8 ASC, nTiebreak9 ASC, nTiebreak10 ASC
         ) AS r
         ON r.nStandingID = standing.nStandingID
SET standing.nPlace = r.rank_calculated
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID;

-- get the least wins
SET nLeastWins = (SELECT nWins
FROM standing
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND bHasPicks = 1
ORDER BY nWins
LIMIT 1);

-- update users who did not make picks
UPDATE standing
SET nWins = nLeastWins,
nLosses = (select (count(*) - nLeastWins) as nLoses from game where nWeekID = nInWeekID)
WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID
AND bHasPicks <> 1;

-- do fix for first place being off one
SET nFirstPlace = (SELECT count(*) as nFirstPlace
FROM standing
WHERE nPlace = 1
AND nWeekID = nInWeekID);

IF nFirstPlace < 1 THEN
  UPDATE standing
  SET nPlace = (nPlace - 1)
  WHERE nWeekID = nInWeekID;
END IF;

END $$

DELIMITER ;


text:
The Women Divers of Jeju
7 Comments / Asia, Destinations, South Korea / By Stephen Bugno
By Stephen Bugno
Circle the coastline of Korea's Jeju island long enough and eventually you are likely to come across women decked out in diving gear popping up to the surface now and again. These are the haenyeo—the world-famous women divers of Jeju, keeping alive a centuries-old tradition while maintaining the economic viability of their island home.
Their Work
History of the Haenyeo
The Diving
Haenyeo Happy Hour
The famous Haenyeo women divers of Jeju Island, South Korea
They perform the underwater harvest of seaweed, abalone, and shells that is called muljil, which literally means either "water working" or "water playing". Their work is often divided into three categories: ganmuljil, baenmuljil, and nanbar, according to the distance of the worksite from the shore, as well as the use of a boat.
Haenyeo– The Woman Divers of Jeju Island, South Korea
The haenyeo originated on Jeju, a volcanic island about 60 miles off the southern coast of the Korean peninsula. Over the years there have been migrations of haenyeo to various parts of nearby China, Japan, Russia, and mainland Korea. These are known as chulga haenyeo, literally "women divers who left home".
No one knows exactly when the haenyeo began their underwater gathering work, but it is agreed that it started before the Three Kingdoms Period (2nd Cen. AD). Records state that pearls were sent by the islanders to the court in Goguryeo. However, before 1629 the diving was performed by men. Only after this point did the women begin the custom.
The haenyeo I saw in the water nearby to the coast.
Najam is the term used to describe unassisted dive fishing to garner shellfish and other marine products from 10 to 20 meters below the surface of the water without using an oxygen tank. On Jeju Island it has been one of the most profitable and productive means for women to contribute to both the local economy and that of each household.
Most haenyeo hold their breath for about one minute, although some are able to remain underwater for up to two minutes. As they come to the surface to breathe, they hold onto a buoy called a taewak, in order to take a brief rest before the next dive.
As she surfaces, the haenyeo lets out a whistle-like shriek exhaling carbon dioxide and inhaling the oxygen necessary for the next submersion.
After a hard day's work the haenyeo traditionally meet at the bulteok. This is protected spot close to shore where they sit around a fire to warm themselves, dry out their wet diving clothes, exchange information, and take care of the seafood they collected.
Future haenyeo
I visited the Jeju Haenyeo Museum with a group of my students from English camp at the Jeju International English Village. A few days later, I was in the nearby village of Buckchon-ri where I saw some haenyeo in the small municipal port with their catch. I approach one of them, said hello, and asked if I could take a photo.
"No, no, no." She responded adamantly, making an x-sign with her hands and turning her back to me.
The students arrive at the Haenyeo Museum in Jeju
The Jeju Haenyeo Museum is located next to the Anti-Japanese Movement Memorial Park about an hour east of Jeju City. Take the bus that goes towards Saeha or Seongsan (Route No. 12) and get off at the Hadoo-ri, Gujwa-eup stop. The museum is open daily from 09:00-18:00, except for the first Monday of the month. Admission is 1,100 Won (about $1 US).
Today Jeju Island is known as Samdado or the "Island of Three Abundances" due to its plentiful supply of rocks, strong winds, and hardy women.
Read more about why I'm in South Korea…
Stephen Bugno has been volunteering, working and traveling around the world for the past decade. This is his second visit to South Korea's Jeju Island. He freelances for various publications, edits the GoMad Nomad Travel Mag and blogs about his travels at BohemianTraveler.com
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7 thoughts on "The Women Divers of Jeju"
They are amazing. I don't know how they do it. Several minutes! Some say it is a dying profession and I can see why but hope the history remembers their strength and their dedication.
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Did they pay you for working there or are you one of the many people who have been screwed by the famous Mr Lee who now continues to operate his business after the provincial government revoked his license, and demolished the facility you worked in before?
Thanks for stopping to comment. I have heard many stories of people being mistreated and underpaid by Mr. Lee, you are not the first person to mention that. But indeed I was paid after working at his camp, so I can't mention any first-hand abuses.
Check out more comments regarding that situation: http://bohemiantraveler.com/2010/12/going-to-south-korea/
Luke McKee
This illegal English camp has been covered by KBS and 50 newspapers in Korea. He still hasn't paid me but it looks like there will be some arrests in the near future.
He didn't pay his chef either, nor the hotel he rented to run the scam camp, or the gas bill leaving children freezing for a week in the middle of winter in their rooms.
http://cafe.daum.net/hojuruku -> (In Korean) but you get the idea. The western news seems to have boycotted the issue.
Thanks for letting us know. You may also want to post your link and message over here: http://bohemiantraveler.com/2010/12/going-to-south-korea/


text:
using System;
using SpiceSharp.Simulations;

namespace SpiceSharp.IntegrationMethods
{
    /// <summary>
    /// A class that implements the trapezoidal integration method as implemented by Spice.
    /// </summary>
    /// <seealso cref="SpiceIntegrationMethod" />
    public partial class Trapezoidal : SpiceIntegrationMethod
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the xmu.
        /// </summary>
        public double Xmu { get; } = 0.5;

        /// <summary>
        /// Integration coefficients
        /// </summary>
        protected double[] Coefficients { get; } = new double[2];

        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="Trapezoidal"/> class.
        /// </summary>
        public Trapezoidal()
            : base(2)
        {
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes the integration method.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="simulation">The time-based simulation.</param>
        public override void Initialize(TimeSimulation simulation)
        {
            base.Initialize(simulation);

            // Reset all coefficients
            for (var i = 0; i < MaxOrder; i++)
                Coefficients[i] = 0.0;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Destroys the integration method.
        /// </summary>
        public override void Unsetup(TimeSimulation simulation)
        {
            base.Unsetup(simulation);

            // Reset all coefficients
            for (var i = 0; i < MaxOrder; i++)
                Coefficients[i] = 0.0;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Predicts a solution
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="simulation">The time-based simulation.</param>
        protected override void Predict(TimeSimulation simulation)
        {
            simulation.ThrowIfNull(nameof(simulation));

            // Use the two previous solutions to predict a new one (the one we're about to test)
            var future = IntegrationStates[0];
            var current = IntegrationStates[1];
            var previous = IntegrationStates[2];

            // Predict a solution
            switch (Order)
            {
                case 1:
                    // Divided difference approach
                    for (var i = 1; i <= Prediction.Length; i++)
                    {
                        var dd0 = (current.Solution[i] - previous.Solution[i]) / current.Delta;
                        Prediction[i] = current.Solution[i] + future.Delta * dd0;
                    }
                    break;

                case 2:
                    // Adams-Bashforth method (second order for variable timesteps)
                    var second = IntegrationStates[3];
                    var b = -future.Delta / (2.0 * current.Delta);
                    var a = 1 - b;
                    for (var i = 1; i <= Prediction.Length; i++)
                    {
                        var dd0 = (current.Solution[i] - previous.Solution[i]) / current.Delta;
                        var dd1 = (previous.Solution[i] - second.Solution[i]) / previous.Delta;
                        Prediction[i] = current.Solution[i] + (b * dd1 + a * dd0) * future.Delta;
                    }
                    break;

                default:
                    throw new CircuitException("Invalid order");
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Truncates the timestep using nodes.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender">The sender (integration method).</param>
        /// <param name="args">The <see cref="TruncateEvaluateEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.</param>
        protected override void TruncateNodes(object sender, TruncateEvaluateEventArgs args)
        {
            args.ThrowIfNull(nameof(args));

            // Get the state
            var state = args.Simulation.RealState;
            double tol, diff, tmp;
            var timetemp = double.PositiveInfinity;
            var nodes = args.Simulation.Variables;
            int index;

            // In my opinion, the original Spice method is kind of bugged and can be much better...
            switch (Order)
            {
                case 1:
                    foreach (var node in nodes)
                    {
                        if (node.UnknownType != VariableType.Voltage)
                            continue;
                        index = node.Index;

                        // Milne's estimate for the second-order derivative using a Forward Euler predictor and Backward Euler corrector
                        diff = state.Solution[index] - Prediction[index];

                        // Avoid division by zero
                        if (!diff.Equals(0.0))
                        {
                            tol = Math.Max(Math.Abs(state.Solution[index]), Math.Abs(Prediction[index])) * LteRelTol + LteAbsTol;
                            tmp = IntegrationStates[0].Delta * Math.Sqrt(Math.Abs(2.0 * TrTol * tol / diff));
                            timetemp = Math.Min(timetemp, tmp);
                        }
                    }
                    break;

                case 2:
                    foreach (var node in nodes)
                    {
                        if (node.UnknownType != VariableType.Voltage)
                            continue;
                        index = node.Index;

                        // Milne's estimate for the third-order derivative using an Adams-Bashforth predictor and Trapezoidal corrector
                        diff = state.Solution[index] - Prediction[index];
                        var deriv = IntegrationStates[1].Delta / IntegrationStates[0].Delta;
                        deriv = diff * 4.0 / (1 + deriv * deriv);

                        // Avoid division by zero
                        if (!deriv.Equals(0.0))
                        {
                            tol = Math.Max(Math.Abs(state.Solution[index]), Math.Abs(Prediction[index])) * LteRelTol + LteAbsTol;
                            tmp = IntegrationStates[0].Delta * Math.Pow(Math.Abs(12.0 * TrTol * tol / deriv), 1.0 / 3.0);
                            timetemp = Math.Min(timetemp, tmp);
                        }
                    }
                    break;

                default:
                    throw new CircuitException("Invalid order");
            }

            // Get the minimum timestep
            args.Delta = timetemp;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Computes the integration coefficients.
        /// </summary>
        protected override void ComputeCoefficients()
        {
            var delta = IntegrationStates[0].Delta;

            // Integration constants
            switch (Order)
            {
                case 1:
                    Coefficients[0] = 1.0 / delta;
                    Coefficients[1] = -1.0 / delta;
                    break;

                case 2:
                    Coefficients[0] = 1.0 / delta / (1.0 - Xmu);
                    Coefficients[1] = Xmu / (1.0 - Xmu);
                    break;

                default:
                    throw new CircuitException("Invalid order {0}".FormatString(Order));
            }

            // Store the derivative w.r.t. the current timestep
            Slope = Coefficients[0];
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Produces a derivative.
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns>
        /// A <see cref="StateDerivative" /> that can be used with this integration method.
        /// </returns>
        protected override StateDerivative ProduceDerivative() => new TrapezoidalStateDerivative(this);
    }
}


The Building Resilience through Innovation Communication and Knowledge Services (BRICKS) project invites you to join the ranks of his SAWAP experts. To do so, you have to join at first as user by creating an account via the tab "Create new account" and then complete the form. Once you validate your registration and your account activated, log in as member and fill the three (3) forms containing sections dedicated to the personal data, professional experience and in the fields of expertise. The BRICKS developed for the SAWAP projects, this database with the biggest care and integrated security filters. The contents of experts forms do not commit the SAWAP but is of the only responsibility of those who filled them.


Beautifully cared for 4-bedroom, 2-bath bungalow with its original natural woodwork remaining throughout home. Comfortable 23 ft living room with gas fireplace. Formal dining room with hardwood flooring. Nicely updated kitchen with all appliances to remain as well as the center island. Three bedrooms and 1 bath on main level with an additional bedroom and full bath in the basement. The lower level also features a theater room and craft area. Vinyl Thermopane windows. 2 car garage and fenced yard. Tall attic for future expansion.


Start the week off right with a bright bit of color. Worked in the round in alternating colors, this face-framing scarf alternative has a fold-over hem finished with a pretty picot edging.
21 sts and 21 rnds to 4"/10cm over Fair Isle pat using size 8 (5mm) needles.


Layrite is passionate about creating grooming products that you can live with. They understand that the classic appeal sometimes comes at a cost the modern man isn't willing to pay. So, they have set about creating styling agents for the modern man who loves the vintage look.
This product works great in all types of hair - straight, wavy, curly, thin, thick, coarse. It can handle messy looks, pomps, quiffs or more. Simply rub a small amount of the clay in your hands until pliable and then work through damp or dry hair. Dry hair with a blow dryer for higher hold and lower shine. Allow to dry or towel dry for a lower hold but higher shine look.
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I really do enjoy writing this blog. If you're new here, Life as Told by an Upcoming Twenty Something is all about the mishaps, blunders, pitfalls, mistakes and lessons learned while in your twenties. I am learning, writing and sharing with you all as I go. So usually when I write something, it's because it is either something I have walked through or am walking through. If you ever feel like I am preaching to you, please don't. Because I am telling myself these lessons as much as I am telling you guys.
So I am 24 years old as I write this, and I find myself in a bit of slump lately. Talking to my older brother the other night, I found ironically that when he was 24, he too found himself in a bit of a "quarter life crisis". Not to be dramatic, but 24 has been rough. These last six months have been hard. I have encountered a lot of uncertainty in my career, my friendships, with dating, you name it!
In the midst of all the uncertainty and the chaos, I was reminded the other day the value of perspective. Feeling despondent and down on myself, I quickly remembered the value of what I choose to focus on.
If all you choose to focus on are the clouds, you might miss out on the rainbow that peers through the darkness at the end of the storm. You might only see an inconvenient crack in the sidewalk that causes you to slip but completely overlook the flower sprouting in the imperfect, tattered cement.
One saying that I live by is, "There is always hope." Lately, I have gotten off track and forgotten that there is always something good to hope for. There are always second chances, new beginnings, births after deaths, wins after losses.
So maybe you're like me and you're at a point where life doesn't quite look like what you had planned. Or maybe you have had some success but lately only seen setbacks and losses. Well, I am here to give you a kick in the rear and encourage you to see that there is still good to be found from your frame of reference. There is beauty in the masterpiece called your life. Sometimes you just have to dust your eyes off to see that it's there.
My voice. The thing that I have been fighting to find the last four years. Speaking up for myself. Saying a decisive yes or no. Telling someone when I do or do not like something. Asking another person to stop. Telling someone that they have crossed a line and have gone too far. Asking for more. Demanding respect, honestly, graciously, without pretense. Asking to be seen, to be heard.
The twenties for me have been all about finding my voice. It has been the most painful uphill battle I have ever walked through. You see, sometimes on the journey to find your voice you bump heads with people along the way. Sometimes when you speak up, people don't like what you have to say. People may get offended. They may get upset. They just may not like you.
Speak up anyway. It's the hardest and yet most encouraging lesson I have learned in my twenties thus far. Speak up anyway. You see, by not speaking you are only doing yourself and the world around you a huge disservice. People will never see you for who you really are until you learn to speak up. Of course, speak up in a way that is still respectful to other people, but don't fear speaking up simply because they may not like what you have to say.
People will never see you for who you really are until you learn to speak up.
I was recently reminded of this when a friend (also 24 years old) text me, disgruntled and upset, because her mother told her she was too loud. She goes on to tell me that her mother gets on to her and her oldest sister a lot actually- my friend for her loudness and my friend's sister for her curly hair. This is probably something more common in black culture, but oftentimes women from older generations will deride or be critical of a young, black woman for wearing her hair in it's natural, curly state.
I laughed when my friend text me. My first thought was why does her mother's opinion affect her so much and make her come undone? Funny thing, my mother has criticized me for both things, my hair and my supposed loudness. I remember, like my friend, being frustrated by my mom's words and opinion of me. After much thought, I decided to respectfully disagree with my mom's opinion and own my truth.
I have an older brother and never once have I heard him being derided by parents for his loudness. Neither my brother nor I are particularly loud people (neither is my friend). Yes, in the occasional heated moment of passion or humor, we can be loud, but we are not loud people in general. Maybe because of my femininity or my age, I was told to be more quiet. To be meek and mild. To be lady-like. As far as my hair, I guess people my mother's and my friend's mother's age do not like the volume, the texture or the curl?
I say this with all respect to older generations and to people of my own generation with differing opinions, but I DISAGREE. I like my natural, curly hair. I think my friend's sister's hair is just lovely in it's natural state. And yes, sometimes I can be loud. In my 24 years of life, I am sure I have had more than one loud moment like most people. But I am not going to allow someone's opinion of me to make me feel like I must keep quiet. That a more quiet me equals a better me.
These are just small examples of a bigger idea. The twenties are all about growing, changing, becoming better, finding who you are meant to be. How can you do that if you are worried about coloring inside the lines? How can you do that if you are worried about momma's opinion and the opinions of those people over there? You can't. You have to fight to find a voice and you have to fight to keep it.
My personality has always tended to lean toward being a people pleaser. So for me this idea of finding my voice in my twenties is monumental! It's huge! It means speaking up for myself and others. It means being brave. It means having the courage to not back down and to not quit. It means being bold enough to say, "Hey world! This is me! I am here! I matter!" I hope you will join me on this journey of finding your most true, authentic voice, unapologetically.
Consistency. I have been pretty bad about this lately. With this blog, with my work ethic, with keeping a positive attitude, with pretty much just about everything. What's the phrase that Dory from Finding Nemo made so famous? Oh, yes. "Just keep swimming." Well, that is what I am here to tell you and to remind myself, as well. Keep swimming.
A few synonyms for consistency are: regularity, constancy, routine, recurrence, steadiness, invariability, clockwork, predictability. In what areas of your life can you stay constant? Is there something important that you have slacked on in your routine? Is there a commitment or an area that you chose to make a priority where you no longer have kept constancy?
One thing you hear thirty somethings say a lot is that the twenties are more about the baby steps rather than the giant leaps. The twenties are all about the behind the scenes work rather than the big show. I don't think I quite understood this until I walked through it.
In the midst of my weariness and cynicism, I have been able to find the good in this rough patch known as the twenties: the growing. While I sometimes hate it and find it rather uncomfortable. the twenties are a painfully, beautiful moment in time where you have the chance to blossom. It is said that by the time a person is 18 years old, their major ways of thinking and viewing the world have been developed. The twenties, then, must be a time for picking out those thought processes, habits, and ways of doing things and evaluating them. The twenties must be the time in between, not only where you get older, but when you choose to mature.
So stay consistent. Right where you are. In that job. In that relationship. In that position. Stay faithful and when the going gets rough and you want to quit (because you will), just remember little Dory singing, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming." Because it's in the consistency and the faithfulness that you grow and mature. It's there that you become a better you.
Once upon a time lived a wide-eyed girl with big dreams. Dreams so big, they oftentimes scared her, but she dreamed anyway. Despite circumstances around her and the things she did not have, she believed she could be absolutely anything that she wanted to be in her wildest, most daring, brave dreams. If she worked hard and believed, then she just knew there was nothing she could not be.
The girl got older and somewhere along the way she lost her way. Life took its tool. The hand dealt out wasn't always fair. People came and went. She grew tired, and the wide-eyed, dreaming young girl unknowingly became a bitter, hopeless young, woman.
This story is not a magical fairy tale of a girl in a far away land. This is my story, and the story of so many people who lose the wonder and magic of their crazy, most wild, daring dreams. As of late, I have found myself in a dry season (a.k.a the longest winter, according to my last post). I have found myself in a place where the dreams I have held so dear, for so long seem completely out of reach. I have seen myself grow tired of the hum drum, day to day grind of life, of the constant work, effort and toil that seems to never end. I have found myself dry and to be honest, extremely worn out.
I read somewhere recently that age 24 is a carefree time, a time where you are supposed to persistently and incessantly pursue your dreams. I laughed when I read this, more like scoffed. For me and so many people I know, 24 has been hard and the journey to getting here has been even harder.
Let me explain. The twenties have not exactly looked like I thought they would so far. I am not nearly as put together as I thought I would be. My career? Not where I thought it'd be. Dating? Relationship? Nonexistent. Living in my dream city? Let's just say, Tulsa, Oklahoma isn't exactly where I planned to be in my post grad years. It's been a hard road these last few years. There have been a number of attempts, followed by a lot of getting knocked down, just to have to find the courage to get back up again. Talking to a lot of my twenty something friends, their journey has been a lot like mine, not according to plan.
To anyone reading this, whether you're in your twenties, thirties, forties or even in your teens, here is what I want to leave you with: Get back up!
I know a lot of my blogs are about the mishaps, missteps and lessons learned of the twenties, but overall my biggest goal with this blog is to encourage my readers to keep going. Even when the road gets hard, especially then, keep chasing your dreams. Do not lose the wide-eyed, childlike wonder of your dreams. Without them, life becomes lackluster, dull and bitter. That is not a road that you nor I should travel.
So if you have been down at all about a season you are walking in with your career, relationships, locale, etc., I want you to keep dreaming, not for me, not even for yourself, but for all the people you will impact by daring to dream those crazy dreams. After all, crazy dreamers are the people who change the world.


text:
Free Books / Reference / The American Cyclopaedia /
This section is from "The American Cyclopaedia", by George Ripley And Charles A. Dana. Also available from Amazon: The New American Cyclopædia. 16 volumes complete..
Datura, a genus of rank, poisonous, narcotic plants, of the order solanacece, having showy flowers, some of which possess fragrance as well as beauty. The word datura is said to be derived from the Arabic tatorah, which indicates the oriental origin of the herb. Two varieties of D. stramonium (known as thorn-apple, and also in some parts of this country as Jamestown weed) grow in the United States, one having a green stem and white flowers, the other a dark red stem and purple flowers. The latter is sometimes considered a distinct species (D. tatula). The leaves and seeds are officinal under the name stramonium. Their activity depends upon a crystallizable alkaloid called daturia, which closely resembles atropia and hyoscyamia chemically and physiologically. Stramonium gives rise to symptoms closely resembling those produced by belladonna and henbane, such as dryness of the throat, active delirium, usually of a whimsical and fantastic character, dilatation of the pupils, and a rapid pulse. Death may occur, with coma and convulsions. Accidental poisoning, especially in children, is not very rare, the plant with its seeds being abundant about dwelling houses and waste places. The leaves and bruised roots, smoked like tobacco, are often efficient in relieving the paroxysms of spasmodic asthma.
This practice was introduced into England from the East Indies, where the D.ferox is used for this purpose. Ten to 30 grains of the leaves are sufficient for once smoking. They should be smoked with caution, and the practice discontinued if it produces vertigo or dryness of the throat. Stramonium is also used for the relief of spasmodic cough, neuralgia, and dysmenorrhoea; and oculists employ it locally to produce dilatation of the pupil. It is given in the form of the powdered leaves of the plant, of extract, and of tincture. The dose of the leaves is from 1 to 3 grs.; of the extract, 1/4 to 1/2 gr.; of the tincture, from 10 to 30 drops. The active principle, daturia, is rarely used in medicine by itself. - D.fastuosa has a polished, purple stalk, large leaves, and beautiful flowers, of a rich purple outside, pure satiny white within, of an agreeable odor, sometimes also having semi-double blossoms. The odor of D. Wrightii is also pleasant; its flowers are large, of a creamy white, delicately tinted with violet as they fade.
D. arborea (now Brugmansia) is one of the greatest ornaments of gardens; its flowers are trumpet-shaped, nearly a foot in length, coming out of the division of the branches, pale yellowish outside and white within, and diffusing a delightful fragrance in the open air. They are all raised from seeds or propagated by cuttings, and even the roots of the herbaceous kinds survive if protected from severe frost.
Datura stramonium.
Datura arborea.
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