text:
package com.nguyenquyhy.discordbridge.commands.discord;

import com.nguyenquyhy.discordbridge.config.command.CoreCommandConfig;
import com.nguyenquyhy.discordbridge.utils.ChannelUtil;
import com.nguyenquyhy.discordbridge.utils.DiscordUtil;
import de.btobastian.javacord.entities.Channel;
import de.btobastian.javacord.entities.Server;
import de.btobastian.javacord.entities.User;
import de.btobastian.javacord.entities.message.Message;
import de.btobastian.sdcf4j.Command;
import ninja.leaping.configurate.objectmapping.Setting;
import ninja.leaping.configurate.objectmapping.serialize.ConfigSerializable;

import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

public class ClearCommand extends DiscordCommand {

    private static String template = "**%d messages removed!**";

    public ClearCommand(Server server) {
        super(mod.getCommandConfig().getDiscordCommands().getClearCommand(), server);
    }

    @ConfigSerializable
    public static class Config extends CoreCommandConfig {
        @Setting
        public String template;
        @Setting(value = "clear-pins")
        public boolean clearPins;

        public Config() {
            super(true, "clear");
            template = ClearCommand.template;
            clearPins = false;
        }
    }

    @Command(aliases = {"clear"}, description = "", usage = "")
    public void onClearCommand(User user, Channel channel, Message command) {

        if (!isEnabled() || !isSupportedChannel(channel) || !hasPermission(user))
            return;

        ClearCommand.Config config = (Config) this.config;

        // Delete the command message
        DiscordUtil.deleteMessageAfter(command, expiration, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

        String[] history;
        try {
            if (config.clearPins) {
                history = channel.getMessageHistoryBefore(command, 100).get().getMessagesSorted().stream().map(Message::getId).toArray(String[]::new);
            } else {
                history = channel.getMessageHistoryBefore(command, 100).get().getMessagesSorted().stream().filter(m -> !m.isPinned()).map(Message::getId).toArray(String[]::new);
            }
        } catch (InterruptedException | ExecutionException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return;
        }

        if (history.length > 0) {
            mod.getLogger().info(String.format("%s: %d messages removed.", channel.getName(), history.length));
            channel.bulkDelete(history);
        }

        ChannelUtil.sendSelfDestructingMessage(channel, String.format(config.template, history.length), expiration, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
    }
}


text:
Q: dynamically generate tests based on command line arguments I want to dynamically generate test functions based on presence or absence of command line argument.
I have command line argument --connection where I specify interface. For example --connection "com5". I have also set of tests to be run only on SW (without HW) and set of tests to be run on HW.
Here is the problem: When I do not pass argument --connection, I want to run only SW-related tests (for example only 3 tests), HW-specific will be skipped (this is handled by fixture connection). When I specify connection (for example --connection "com1") I want to run all tests (both HW and SW-specific)- 3 SW tests + 5 HW tests all together.
Here is the snippet of code. My part of confest.py to handle fixture:
def pytest_addoption(parser):
    parser.addoption(
        "--connection",
        action="store",
        help="Provide interface parameters",
    )

@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
def connection(request):
    if not request.config.getoption("--connection"):
        pytest.skip("need to provide connection")
    return request.config.getoption("--connection")

Example of tests:
def test_command_sw():
    command= "some-command"
    result = run_command(command)
    assert result == 0

def test_command_sw(connection):
    command= f"{connection} some-command"
    result = run_command(command)
    assert result == 0

I have tried using pytest_generate_tests:
def pytest_generate_tests(metafunc):
    option_value = metafunc.config.option.name
    if option_value is not None:
        metafunc.fixturenames.insert(0, 'connection')

Where I insert fixture based presence of command line option. But in this case, the amount of test is settled and can't be changed. For example always there will be 8 tests all together (no dynamic creation).
Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Бертхолд фон Райнфелден (, * ок. 1060, † 18 май 1090) е херцог на Швабия от 1079 до 1090 г.

Биография
Той е син на Рудолф († 1080), германски геген-крал от 1077 г. към Хайнрих IV. Майка му вероятно е Матилда († 1060), дъщеря на император Хайнрих III и Агнес Поатиенска и по-голяма сестра на крал Хайнрих IV.

Бертхолд последва баща си като херцог, когато е още жив. Император Хайнрих IV поставя Фридрих I за новия херцог на Швабия. Бертхолд оставя борбата против императорската партия преди всичко на херцог Бертхолд II фон Церинген и на Велф IV.

Той умира без деца и е погребан в манастира Сен Блез. Последван е от зет му Бертхолд II, съпруг на полусестра му Агнес († 1111).

Източници
 Gerold Meyer von Knonau, Berthold (Herzog von Schwaben), Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). 28. Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1889, S. 382.

Херцог (Швабия)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Congressman Garret Graves of Louisiana said at a press conference about the Green New Deal, "I've heard Democrats over and over again accuse Republicans of denying science[.] ... There is another type of science that is being denied here, and that is economic science."
Ideological corruption of economics has a long history. John Maynard Keynes was one of the most influential economists of the early 20th century. He wrote that giving people money to dig holes and fill them would increase employment and be good for the economy. He had a point. As long as the government can print or borrow enough money to pay people to dig holes, they will create jobs; however, those jobs will not produce the food needed to feed the hole-fillers, nor will it build them a home to go to after they finish filling their last holes of the day. Basic economics teaches us that printing or borrowing the money to pay for unproductive work will result in inflation. The result will be that the money of those who do productive work will lose value, so farmers who would normally produce the food that would feed these hole-fillers will find it more and more difficult to pay for the resources they need to do so, including workers whom they will have to lay off.
Left-wing Keynesian thinking (if you can call it that) is not far removed from the Democrats' conception of how they will pay for the Green New Deal. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the Green New Deal will create many jobs. Certainly, building energy-efficient high-speed trains and retrofitting buildings to require less energy and building giant solar farms will require a lot of labor. There is no doubt that the Green New Deal would create many jobs in the short term, just as the government paying for people to dig and fill holes would create many jobs in the short term.
Perhaps the major selling point Trump has for re-election is the number of jobs he has created. The Green New Deal gives the Democrats an answer to that. They can claim they will create jobs and save the Earth from climate catastrophe in the process. In fact, the text of the Green New Deal guarantees a job for everyone.
The problem is that the contribution to the economy of the Green New Deal would actually be less than that of digging and filling up holes, since even though it might reduce energy use of buildings and transportation, it would replace cheap energy with expensive energy. Replacing fossil fuels with solar cells and windmills will cause the cost of energy to go up. As the cost of energy goes up, the cost of production of useful goods will go up as well, with the result that Americans will buy cheaper goods from countries that do use fossil fuels. The result will be that fossil fuels will still be burned, the only difference being that they will be burned overseas. Just as with paying people to dig and fill holes, such a policy will result in inflation.
Supporters of the Green New Deal argue that according to science, it must be implemented, or climate disaster will ensue. This argument is based on ideologically corrupted science. In the '70s, alarmists predicted global cooling. When that didn't pan out, they raised the alarm about "global warming." When those predictions didn't pan out, they raised the alarm about "climate change." If changing alarmism didn't make it clear that the science was corrupted, the leaked emails from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit that exposed the corruption of climate alarmists should have made it clear to everyone.
Instead of being embarrassed by the shifting, changed predictions, the Green New Dealers use the predictions as justification for why the multi-trillion-dollar Green New Deal is necessary. It doesn't occur to them that instead of preventing an apocalypse, the cost of the deal could bring about an economic apocalypse. Ocasio-Cortez said the Green New Deal could be partly funded by cuts in military spending. This after Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will deploy hypersonic nuclear missiles, which the United States has no defense against. Where is the concern about the effects on global warming when one of those goes off?
Ironically, it is unlikely that reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the United States would significantly affect the climate. In 2014, the Cato Institute published an article with an estimate of how much a 30% drop in U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide would reduce global temperature by the year 2100. The estimate was 0.018 degrees centigrade. The only change in climate will be in the homes of people who can't afford to pay their soaring heating bills. Soaring energy prices due to efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions have led to the highest winter death rate in Britain in 42 years. In 2018, 48,000 Britons essentially froze to death.
The absurdity of the Green New Deal becomes even more apparent when one considers the evidence reported by NASA that the Earth is heading for a period of global cooling.
Might Americans be so foolish as to elect politicians who would enact such a disastrous deal? Don't be too confident they would not. Ocasio-Cortez, although wrong about almost everything, is right when she says the Green New Deal "is a winning issue." She pointed out that "about 67% of Iowa voters in the caucus support" it. Dr. Rael Jean Isaac showed in her book, Roosters of the Apocalypse, that masses of people have endorsed self-destructive policies multiple times in the past with disastrous consequences.


text:
View source for Codeathon
← Codeathon
== About == [[File:Nyc-codeathon-participants.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Participants of a Codeathon: Coding for Women's Health]] Codeathon is a health-focused version of a [[hackathon]], at which designers and coders are challenged to build a completely original and functional application prototype, based on one of the social determinants of health, as defined by The Clinton Health Matters Initiative. The prototype may be web, mobile, or desktop-based, and can be developed via data sets, APIs, conceptually or through ideas of the developers' own device. Projects are judged by a panel of industry leaders identified by the series' founding partners. Typically, Codeathons run for 3 days, starting on a Friday afternoon. Codeathon was formed by [[Ace Hotel]], working with The Clinton Foundation and Tumblr in 2013. Originally, two separate projects were being brainstormed - with Tumblr on game-based events, and with The Clinton Foundation on health-focused programming. The concepts were combined to "gamify" health, at which point Jawbone joined as a the series' Heath Technology Partner. == Codeathon Elements == [[File:Nyc-codeathon-snacks.JPG|200px|thumb|right|Water, fruit, granola, yogurt, and salads are foods typically found at Codeathon]] * Healthy food options, such as salads, fruit, nuts, water, etc - all which meet The Clinton Foundation Health Matters Initiative guidelines * Reasonable hours: Typically 2 half-days and one full work day * Optional stretching and yoga sessions from health and wellness experts * Team-based collaboration; many teams formed on-site * Mentorship from industry leaders * Access to technology and tool kits (APIs) * Prizes for winning teams. * Rubric-based judging of live presentations == Partners == '''Current''': *[[Ace Hotel New York]] and [https://www.clintonfoundation.org/our-work/clinton-health-matters-initiative The Clinton Foundation Health Matters Initiative]: Founding Partners *[https://jawbone.com/ Jawbone]: Health Technology Partner *[http://www.bs.pharmacology.ucla.edu/ UCLA Business of Science Center]: Supporting Partner [[File:nyc-codeathon-original_flyer.png|200px|thumb|right|Promotional flyer for the first Codeathon, Sept 2013]] *[http://www1.equinox.com/ Equinox]: Supporting Partner *[http://www.self.com/ SELF Magazine]: Media Partner '''Past''': *[http://www.tumblr.com Tumblr]: Founding Partner (Season 1) *[https://www.exhalespa.com/ Exhale Spa]: Supporting Partner (Season 1) *[http://sweetgreen.com/ sweetgreen]: Supporting Partner (Boston, New York) *[http://hackingmedicine.mit.edu/ MIT Hacking Medicine]: Supporting Partner (Boston) *[http://www.brighamandwomens.org/ Brigham and Women's Hospital]: Supporting Partner (Boston) == Past Codeathons == * August 9-11, 2013 at [[Ace Hotel New York]], New York City, NY * September 27-29, 2013 at [[Ace Hotel New York]], New York City, NY * November 15-17, 2013 at [[Ace Hotel New York]], New York City, NY * January 10-12, 2014 at [[Ace Hotel and Swim Club]], Palm Springs, CA * August 15-17 at [[Ace Hotel New York]], New York City, NY * Nov 7-9 at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston == Current Codeathon == * [[Codeathon: Coding for Women's Physical Activity]], Jan 16-18, Los Angeles == Past Winners == * FitCoin (New York) * Moro (New York) * Automatic (Palm Springs) * Feasted (New York) * Safe Me (Boston) == Awards == * "Most Creative Collaboration", [http://www.lemiami.com/Awards.html LE Miami Awards], 2014 == Press == * ''[http://www.fastcolabs.com/3015972/finally-a-hackathon-that-doesnt-destroy-your-brain-and-body#6 Finally, A Hackathon That Doesn't Destroy Your Brain And Body]'', Fast Company, August 2013 *''[http://www.desertsun.com/story/tech/science/2014/01/09/teams-put-health-first-at-palm-springs-codeathon/4450117/ Teams put health first at Palm Springs codeathon]'', The Desert Sun, January 12 2014 * ''[http://www.rookiemag.com/2015/01/scene-report-coding/ Scene Report: Coding for Women's Health]'', Rookie online, Jan 15 2015 == Related Articles == * [http://www.knightfoundation.org/blogs/knightblog/2013/9/12/how-data-driven-solutions-can-transform-health/ ''How data-driven solutions can transform health''], Lexie Komisar for The Knight Foundation Blog, September 2013
Return to Codeathon.
Retrieved from "http://wiki.acehotel.com/view/Codeathon"
About Ace Hotel Wiki

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
CHAPTER XI:
SECOND OBJECT OF A GOOD GOVERNMENT, — TO PROCURE THE TRUE HAPPINESS OF THE NATION
§ 110. A nation ought to labour after its own happiness.
Let us continue to lay open the principal objects of a good government. What we have said in the five preceding chapters relates to the care of providing for the necessities of the people, and procuring plenty in the state: this is a point of necessity; but it is not sufficient for the happiness of a nation. Experience shows that a people may be unhappy in the midst of all earthly enjoyments, and in the possession of the greatest riches. Whatever may enable mankind to enjoy a true and solid felicity, is a second object that deserves the most serious attention of the government. Happiness is the point where centre all those duties which individuals and nations owe to themselves; and this is the great end of the law of nature. The desire of happiness is the powerful spring that puts man in motion: felicity is the end they all have in view, and it ought to be the grand object of the public will (Prelim. § 5). It is then the duty of those who form this public will, or of those who represent it — the rulers of the nation — to labour for the happiness of the people, to watch continually over it, and to promote it to the utmost of their power.
§ 111. Instruction.
To succeed in this, it is necessary to instruct the people to seek felicity where it is to be found; that is, in their own perfection, — and to teach them the means of obtaining it. The sovereign cannot, then, take too much pains in instructing and enlightening his people, and in forming them to useful knowledge and wise discipline. Let us leave a hatred of the sciences to the despotic tyrants of the east: they are afraid of having their people instructed, because they choose to rule over slaves. But though they are obeyed with the most abject submission, they frequently experience the effects of disobedience and revolt. A just and wise prince feels no apprehensions from the light of knowledge: he knows that it is ever advantageous to a good government. If men of learning know that liberty is the natural inheritance of mankind; on the other hand they are more fully sensible than their neighbours, how necessary it is, for their own advantage, that this liberty should be subject to a lawful authority: — incapable of being slaves, they are faithful subjects.
§ 112. Education of youth.
The first impressions made on the mind are of the utmost importance for the remainder of life. In the tender years of infancy and youth, the human mind and heart easily receive the seeds of good or evil. Hence the education of youth is one of the most important affairs that deserve the attention of the government. It ought not to be entirely left to fathers. The most certain way of forming good citizens is to found good establishments for public education, to provide them with able masters — direct them with prudence — and pursue such mild and suitable measures, that the citizens will not neglect to take advantage of them. How admirable was the education of the Romans, in the flourishing ages of their republic, and how admirably was it calculated to form great men! The young men put themselves under the patronage of some illustrious person; they frequented his house, accompanied him wherever he went, and equally improved by his instructions and example: their very sports and amusements were exercises proper to form soldiers. The same practice prevailed at Sparta; and this was one of the wisest institutions of the incomparable Lycurgus. That legislator and philosopher entered into the most minute details respecting the education of youth,1 being persuaded that on that depended the prosperity and glory of his republic.
§ 113. Arts and sciences.
Who can doubt that the sovereign — the whole nation — ought to encourage the arts and sciences? To say nothing of the many useful inventions that strike the eye of every beholder, — literature and the polite arts enlighten the mind and soften the manners: and if study does not always inspire the love of virtue, it is because it sometimes, and even too often, unhappily meets with an incorrigibly vicious heart. The nation and its conductors ought then to protect men of learning and great artists, and to call forth talents by honours and rewards. Let the friends of barbarism declaim against the sciences and polite arts; — let us, without deigning to answer their vain reasonings, content ourselves with appealing to experience. Let us compare England, France, Holland, and several towns of Switzerland and Germany, to the many regions that lie buried in ignorance, and see where we can find the greater number of honest men and good citizens. It would be a gross error to oppose against us the example of Sparta, and that of ancient Rome. They, it is true, neglected curious speculations, and those branches of knowledge and art that were purely subservient to pleasure and amusement; but the solid and practical sciences — morality, jurisprudence, politics, and war — were cultivated by them, especially by the Romans, with a degree of attention superior to what we bestow upon them.
In the present age, the utilily of literature and the polite arts is pretty generally acknowledged, as is likewise the necessity of encouraging them. The immortal Peter I. thought that without their assistance he could not entirely civilize Russia, and render it flourishing. In England, learning and abilities lead to honour and riches. Newton was honoured, protected, and rewarded while living, and after his death, his tomb was placed among those of kings. France also, in this respect, deserves particular praise; to the munificence of her kings she is indebted for several establishments that are no less useful than glorious. The Royal Academy of Sciences diffuses on every side the light of knowledge and the desire of instruction. Louis XV. furnished the means of sending to search, under the equator and the polar circle, for the proof of an important truth; and we at present know what was before only believed on the strength of Newton's calculations. Happy will that kingdom be, if the too general taste of the age does not make the people neglect solid knowledge, to give themselves up to that which is merely amusing, and if those who fear the light do not succeed in extinguishing the blaze of science!
§ 114. Freedom of philosophical discussion.
I speak of the freedom of philosophical discussion, which is the soul of the republic of letters. What can genius produce, when trammelled by fear? Can the greatest man that ever lived contribute much towards enlightening the minds of his fellow-citizens, if he finds himself constantly exposed to the cavils of captious and ignorant bigots — if he is obliged to be continually on his guard, to avoid being accused by innuendo-mongers of indirectly attacking the received opinions? I know that liberty has its proper bounds — that a wise government ought to have an eye to the press, and not to allow the publication of scandalous productions, which attack morality, government, or the established religion. But yet, great care should be taken not to extinguish a light that may afford the state the most valuable advantages. Few men know how to keep a just medium; and the office of literary censor ought to be intrusted to none but those who are at once both prudent and enlightened. Why should they search in a book for what the author does not appear to have intended to put into it? And when a writer's thoughts and discourses are wholly employed on philosophy, ought a malicious adversary to be listened to, who would set him at variance with religion? So far from disturbing a philosopher on account of his opinions, the magistrate ought to chastise those who publicly charge him with impiety, when in his writings he shows respect to the religion of the state. The Romans seem to have been formed to give examples to the universe. That wise people carefully supported the worship and religious ceremonies established by law, and left the field open to the speculations of philosophers. Cicero — a senator, a consul, an augur — ridicules superstition, attacks it, and demolishes it in his philosophical writings; and, in so doing, he thought he was only promoting his own happiness and that of his fellow citizens: but he observes that "to destroy superstition is not destroying religion; for," says he, "it becomes a wise man to respect the institutions and religious ceremonies of his ancestors: and it is sufficient to contemplate the beauty of the world, and the admirable order of the celestial bodies, in order to be convinced of the existence of an eternal and all-perfect being, who is entitled to the veneration of the human race."2 And in his Dialogues on the Nature of the Gods, he introduces Cotta the academic, who was high-priest, attacking with great freedom the opinions of the stoics, and declaring that he should always be ready to defend the established religion, from which he saw the republic had derived great advantages; that neither the learned nor the ignorant should make him abandon it: he then says to his adversary," These are my thoughts, both as pontiff and as Cotta. But do you, as a philosopher, bring me over to your opinion by the strength of your arguments: for a philosopher ought to prove to me the truth of the religion he would have me embrace, whereas I ought in this respect to believe our forefathers, even without proof."3
Let us add experience to these examples and authorities. Never did a philosopher occasion disturbances in the state, or in religion, by his opinions: they would make no noise among the people, nor ever offend the weak, if malice or intemperate zeal did not take pains to discover a pretended venom lurking in them. It is by him who endeavours to place the opinions of a great man in opposition to the doctrines and worship established by law, that the state is disturbed, and religion brought into danger.
§ 115. Love of virtue, and abhorrence of vice, to be excited.
To instruct the nation is not sufficient: — in order to conduct it to happiness, it is still more necessary to inspire the people with the love of virtue, and the abhorrence of vice. Those who are deeply versed in the study of morality are convinced that virtue is the true and only path that leads to happiness; so that its maxims are but the art of living happily; and he must be very ignorant of politics, who does not perceive how much more capable a virtuous nation will be, than any other, of forming a state that shall be at once, happy, tranquil, flourishing, solid, respected by its neighbours, and formidable to its enemies. The interest of the prince must then concur with his duty and the dictates of his conscience, in engaging him to watch attentively over an affair of such importance. Let him employ all his authority in order to encourage virtue, and suppress vice: let the public establishments be all directed to this end: let his own conduct, his example, and the distribution of favours, posts, and dignities, all have the same tendency. Let him extend his attention even to the private life of the citizens, and banish from the state whatever is only calculated to corrupt the manners of the people. It belongs to politics to teach him in detail the different means of attaining this desirable end — to show him those he should prefer, and those he ought to avoid on account of the dangers that might attend the execution, and the abuses that might be made of them. We shall here only observe, in general, that vice may be suppressed by chastisements, but that mild and gentle methods alone can elevate men to the dignity of virtue; it may be inspired, but it cannot be commanded.
§ 116. The nation may hence discover the intention of its rulers.
It is an incontestable truth, that the virtues of the citizens constitute the most happy dispositions that can be desired by a just and wise government. Here then is an infallible criterion, by which the nation may judge of the intentions of those who govern it. If they endeavour to render the great and the common people virtuous, their views are pure and upright; and you may rest assured that they solely aim at the great end of government — the happiness and glory of the nation. But if they corrupt the morals of the people, spread a taste for luxury, effeminacy, a rage for licentious pleasures — if they stimulate the higher orders to a ruinous pomp and extravagance — beware, citizens! beware of those corruptors! they only aim at purchasing slaves in order to exercise over them an arbitrary sway.
If a prince has the smallest share of moderation, he will never have recourse to these odious methods. Satisfied with his superior station and the power given him by the laws, he proposes to reign with glory and safety; ho loves his people, and desires to render them happy. But his ministers are in general impatient of resistance, and cannot brook the slightest opposition: if he surrenders to them his authority, they are more haughty and intractable than their master: they feel not for his people the same love that he feels: "let the nation be corrupted (say they) provided it do but obey." They dread the courage and firmness inspired by virtue, and know that the distributor of favours rules as he pleases over men whose hearts are accessible to avarice. Thus a wretch who exercises the most infamous of all professions, perverts the inclinations of a young victim of her odious traffic; she prompts her to luxury and epicurism; she inspires her with voluptuousness and vanity, in order the more certainly to betray her to a rich seducer. This base and unworthy creature is sometimes chastised by the magistrate; but the minister, who is infinitely more guilty, wallows in wealth, and is invested with honour and authority. Posterity, however, will do him justice, and detest the corruptor of a respectable nation.
§ 117. The state, or the public person, ought to perfect its understanding and will.
If governors endeavoured to fulfil the obligations which the law of nature lays upon them with respect to themselves, and in their character of conductors of the state, they would be incapable of ever giving into the odious abuse just mentioned. Hitherto we have considered the obligation a nation is under to acquire knowledge and virtue, or to perfect its understanding and will; — that obligation, I say, we have considered in relation to the individuals that compose a nation; it also belongs in a proper and singular manner to the conductors of the state. A nation, while she acts in common, or in a body, is a moral person (Prelim. § 2) that has an understanding and will of her own, and is not less obliged than any individual to obey the laws of nature (Book I. § 5), and to improve her faculties (Book I. § 21). That moral person resides in those who are invested with the public authority, and represent the entire nation. Whether this be the common council of the nation, an aristocratic body, or a monarch, this conductor and representative of the nation, this sovereign of whatever kind, is therefore indispensably obliged to procure all the knowledge and information necessary to govern well, and to acquire the practice and habit of all the virtues suitable to a sovereign.
And as this obligation is imposed with a view to the public welfare, he ought to direct all his knowledge, and all his virtues, to the safety of the state, the end of civil society.
§ 118. And to direct the knowledge and virtues of the citizens to the welfare of the society.
He ought even to direct, as much as possible, all the abilities, the knowledge, and the virtues of the citizens to this great end; so that they may not only be useful to the individuals who possess them, but also to the state. This is one of the great secrets in the art of reigning. The state will be powerful and happy, if the good qualities of the subject, passing beyond the narrow sphere of private virtues, become civic virtues. This happy disposition raised the Roman republic to the highest pitch of power and glory.
§ 119. Love for their country. (53)
The grand secret of giving to the virtues of individuals a turn so advantageous to the state, is to inspire the citizens with an ardent love for their country. It will then naturally follow, that each will endeavour to serve the state, and to apply all his powers and abilities to the advantage and glory of the nation. This love of their country is natural to all men. The good and wise Author of nature has taken care to bind them, by a kind of instinct, to the places where they received their first breath, and they love their own nation, as a thing with which they are intimately connected. But it often happens that some causes unhappily weaken or destroy this natural impression. The injustice or the severity of the government loo easily effaces it from the hearts of the subjects; can self-love attach an individual to the affairs of a country where every thing is done with a view to a single person? — far from it: — we see, on the contrary, that free nations are passionately interested in the glory and the happiness of their country. Let us call to mind the citizens of Rome in the happy days of the republic, and consider, in modern times, the English and the Swiss.
§ 120. In individuals.
The love and affection a man feels for the state of which he is a member, is a necessary consequence of the wise and rational love he owes to himself, since his own happiness is connected with that of his country. This sensation ought also to flow from the engagements he has entered into with society. He has promised to procure its safety and advantage as far as in his power: and how can he serve it with zeal, fidelity, or courage, if he has not a real love for it?
§ 121. In the nation or state itself, and in the sovereign.
The nation in a body ought doubtless to love itself, and desire its own happiness as a nation. The sensation is too natural to admit of any failure in this obligation: but this duty relates more particularly to the conductor, the sovereign, who represents the nation, and acts in its name. He ought to love it as what is most dear to him, to prefer it to every thing, for it is the only lawful object of his care, and of his actions, in every thing he does by virtue of the public authority. The monster who does not love his people is no better than an odious usurper, and deserves, no doubt, to be hurled from the throne. There is no kingdom where the statue of Codrus ought not to be placed before the palace of the sovereign. That magnanimous king of Athens sacrificed his life for his people.4 That great prince and Louis XII, are illustrious models of the tender love a sovereign owes to his subjects.
§ 122. Definition of the term country.
The term, country, seems to be pretty generally known: but as it is taken in different senses, it may not be unuseful to give it here an exact definition. It commonly signifies the State of which one is a member: in this sense we have used it in the preceding sections; and it is to be thus understood in the law of nations.
In a more confined sense, and more agreeably to its etymology, this term signifies the state, or even more particularly the town or place where our parents had their fixed residence at the moment of our birth. In this sense, it is justly said, that our country cannot be changed, and always remains the same, to whatsoever place we may afterwards remove. A man ought to preserve gratitude and affection for the state to which he is indebted for his education, and of which his parents were members when they gave him birth. But as various lawful reasons may oblige him to choose another country, — that is, to become a member of another society; so. when we speak in general of the duty to our country, the term is to be understood as meaning the state of which a man is an actual member; since it is the latter, in preference to every other state, that he is bound to serve with his utmost efforts.
§ 123. How shameful and criminal to injure our country.
If every man is obliged to entertain a sincere love for his country, and to promote its welfare as far as in his power, it is a shameful and detestable crime to injure that very country. He who becomes guilty of it, violates his most sacred engagements, and sinks into base ingratitude: he dishonours himself by the blackest perfidy, since he abuses the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and treats as enemies those who had a right to expect his assistance and services. We sec traitors to their country only among those men who are solely sensible to base interest, who only seek their own immediate advantage, and whose hearts are incapable of every sentiment of affection for others. They are, therefore, justly detested by mankind in general, as the most infamous of all villains.
§ 124. The glory of good citizens (51) Examples
On the contrary, those generous citizens are loaded with honour and praise, who, not content with barely avoiding a failure in duly to their country, make noble efforts in her favour, and are capable of making her the greatest sacrifices. The names of Brutus, Curtius, and the two Decii, will live as long as that of Rome. The Swiss will never forget Arnold de Winkelried, that hero, whose exploit would have deserved to be transmitted to posterity by the pen of a Livy. He truly devoted his life for his country's sake: but he devoted it as a general, as an undaunted warrior, not as a superstitious visionary. That nobleman, who was of the country of Underwald, seeing, at the battle of Sempach, that his countrymen could not break through the Austrians, because the latter, armed cap-a-pie, had dismounted and forming a close battalion, presented a front covered with steel, and bristling with pikes and lances, — formed the generous design of sacrificing himself for his country. "My friends," said he to the Swiss, who began to be dispirited, " I will this day give my life to procure you the victory: I only recommend to you my family: follow me, and act in consequence of what you see me do." At these words he ranged them in that form which the Romans called cuneus, and placing himself in the point of the triangle, marched to the centre of the enemy, when, embracing between his arms as many of the enemy's pikes as he could compass, he threw himself to the ground, thus opening for his followers a passage to penetrate into the midst of this thick battalion. The Austrians, once broken, were conquered, as the weight of their armour then became fatal to them, and the Swiss obtained a complete victory.5
1. See Xenophon, Lacedæmon. Respublica.
2. Nam, ut vere loquamur, superstitio fusa per gentes oppressit omnium fere animos, atque omnium imbecillitatem occupavit.... multum enim et nobismet ipsis et nostris profuturi videbamur, si eam funditus sustulissemus. Nec vero (id enim diligenter intelligi volo) superstitione tollendâ religio tollitur. Nam et majorum instituta tueri, sacris cæremonilsque retinendis, sapientis est: et esse præstantem aliquam æternamque naturam, et eam suspiciendam, admirandamque hominum generi, pulchritudo mundi, ordoque coelstium cogit confiteri. De Divinatione, lib. ii.
3. Harum ego religionem nullam unquam contemnendam putavi: mihique ita persuasi, Romulum auspiciis, Numam sacris constitutis, fundamenta jecisse nostræ civitatis, quæ nunquam profecto sine summa placatione Deorum immortalium tanta esse potjisset Habes, Balbe, quid Cotta, quid pontifex sentiat. Fac nunc ego intelligam, quid tu sentias: a te enim philosophe rationem accipere debeo religionis; majoribus autem nostris, etiam nulla ratione reddita, credere. De Natura Decorum, lib. iii.
4. His country being attacked by the Heraclidæ, he consulted the oracle of Apollo; and being answered, that the people whose chief should be slain should remain victorious, Codrus disguised himself, and rushing into the battle, was killed by one or the enemy's soldiers.
(51) See observations, post, § 190, p. 92. — C.
5. This affair happened in the year 1386. The Austrian army consisted of four thousand chosen men, among whom were a great number of princes, counts and nobility of distinguished rank, all armed from head to foot. The Swiss were no more than thirteen hundred men. ill armed. In this battle, the duke of Austria perished, with two thousand of his forces, in which number were six hundred and seventy-six noblemen of the best families in Germany. History of the Helvetic Confederacy, by De Wateville, vol. i. p. 183. — Tschudl — Etterlln. — Schodeler. — Ræbman. — (See the national consequences of this valour, stated post. § 190, pp. 92-3.)


This week I've had a lot of people talk to me about the right to bigoted 'free speech' following the attack in Christchurch.
I've been told that this is just a normal part of existing in society and that we just have to accept that people will hold these views and that this is okay.
I'm going to agree and say sure. Yeap. Cool. Yeap. No worries.
But I just want to make a short post to tell you you're hypocrites. Dirty, filthy hypocrites.
Where were you all when Muslims tried to exercise their right to free speech?
Where were you all when Yassmin Abdel Magied was shunned and abused by the media when she exercised her right to free speech?
Why is it offensive for Yassmin to post those seven words and not offensive for Fraser Anning to suggest that the victims in Christchurch were to blame for their deaths?
Why can the Prime Minister be offended at the suggestion that his words created an environment that allowed someone like the Christchurch terrorist to be created in Australia but I can't be offended that he suggests that refugees are child molesters and rapists?
Why is it offensive to suggest that Australia day should be moved to a day that doesn't crush the hearts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
Why is it literally illegal for those working in detention centres to speak about what they see?
Why is the government currently in the High Court trying to ensure that public servants or employees can be silenced by their employers?
Why have you not been defenders of these rights to freedom of speech?
Surely those who believe in the right for bigots to exercise free speech complete unencumbered think everyone can do the same?


Many mothers and daughters across the world feel hurt and angry with each other, when historically they used to enjoy a close relationship. Many feel misunderstood, let down, guilty, and hurt by each other, while yearning to feel loved and supported. This huge problem deserves to be understood and addressed.


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Tobin, Robert Park
Type: Trailhead: 150 Ira Lee; Concrete/asphalt
/ Length (Miles): 1.65
Robert L.B. Tobin Park offers San Antonio an opportunity to spend time enjoying the outdoors, with fresh air, sunshine and exercise on tap for visitors. Take a walk, enjoy the scenery, and de-stress. Studies show people who spend time in parks will be sick less often, which means less time missing from school and work, as well as lower healthcare costs and better overall health. And it's fun and refreshing. Visit a San Antonio park today!
Alcohol is prohibited, amenities are first come, first serve.
Within Robert L.B. Tobin Park, a 2.1 mile segment of the Salado Creek Greenway has been constructed (between Loop 410 and Eisenhauer Road). The park includes hike and bike trails, including associated amenities, low-water crossings, bridge structures, pedestrian access features and associated project signage.
The trailhead located off Loop 410 also features a statue of Robert L.B. Tobin, in addition to faux bois picnic tables and signage elements designed by artisan Carlos Cortés. The Tobin Endowment generously contributed 89 acres of land to the project and the trailhead enhancements. The San Antonio Parks Foundation participated in the project by facilitating the land donation and trailhead improvements. The improvements were dedicated in December 2008, with Mayor Phil Hardberger, former Mayor Howard Peak, and Mayor Emeritus Lila Cockrell. Tobin Statue - This project was part of the bigger Linear Creekway Parks Development Program, which was designed to acquire open space and create linear parks along Salado Creek, Leon Creek, Medina River and the San Antonio River. Sales Tax funding for the project was approved by voters in 2000 (Proposition 3) and 2005 (Proposition 2). The program was begun under the leadership of Mayor Peak, who continued his service to the project by serving as Chairman of the Linear Creekway Parks Advisory Board, which meets monthly to discuss issues and make recommendations related to the program.
The total budget for the design and construction of Robert L.B. Tobin Park was $2,671,832 coming from the Proposition 2 Sales Tax Initiative. The consultant for this phase was Coletrane, Fernandez and Zavala (CFZ Group LLC), and the contractor was Shorty, Inc. (dba Charlie & Company). Special Projects Manager Brandon Ross of the Parks and Recreation Department oversees the Linear Creekway Parks Development program. This phase of the project was managed by Landscape Architect Assistant Agdel Rivera and inspected by Tony Baerman, also of the Parks and Recreation Department.
George Cortez bench - The trailhead features the work of Mr. Cortés, a third-generation artisan who works in faux bois (false wood) or trabajo rústico that reproduces natural elements such as wood, thatch, vines and branches in concrete to form garden furniture. Mr. Cortés carries on the tradition of his great uncle Dionisio Rodriguez, who brought the skill to Texas from Mexico in the 1920s. In addition, The Tobin Endowment commissioned a statue of Robert L.B. Tobin by Santa Fe artist Norman L. Boyles.
The Tobin Endowment was established after the death of Robert L. B. Tobin, a local philanthropist known for his charitable giving to the arts. The land donated by the Endowment was part of the Margaret Batts and Edgar Gardner Tobin farm where the family raised cattle. Robert Tobin grew up on the property, riding in the woods and swimming in Salado Creek.


Let's face it, not everyone has the money to jet off to California to film a sun-kissed surf video for their latest single. Ronika is one such cash-strapped pop star but does she complain? DOES SHE HECK. She drags out her film projector, beams footage of a seagull onto her bedroom wall and stands in front of it looking a bit moody.
I love Ronika and that is that is that.
Automatic is out on 9th April, and she's launching it with a gig at The Old Blue Last on the 10th. See you there.


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Karen Miramontes, Staff Writer
Karen Miramontes is a staff writer at Cerritos College's newspaper Talon Marks. After Cerritos she wants to transfer to Cal State Fullerton or Long Beach to major in journalism. She is passionate about film, music, and all things entertainment.
All content by Karen Miramontes
[Photo] Night of Altars celebrates Day of the Dead holiday
[Photo] Dance the night away with Pacifico Dance Company
Great turnout for Viva Frida Festival hosted by Pacifico Dance Company at Plaza de la Raza.
[Photo] Witches walk among us in Downtown Santa Ana
Surrounded by bright lights and wonderful people, attendees stuck around for the costume contests, face painting, and the many services these local vendors had to offer! Children and pets were welcomed...
[Photo] Tropicalia Festival 2019 needs improvements
People were in awe as they took a walk on this path. They would take pictures or sit by the Day of the Dead figures created by artist Ricardo Soltero.
[Photo] Falcons lose to Lancers but not without a fight!
Jackie Dixon, Freshman outside hitter No. 5, lays on the floor as she attempted to hit the ball but landed on their side of the court resulting in no point.
[Photo] Smashing Pumpkins, Noel Gallagher and AFI thrill fans at Irvine
The last performance of the night was SOFI, famed German singer, joins Deadmau5 to perform one of his popular song, "Sofi needs a ladder." The crowd cheered as they hear their favorite duo play right in...
The first DJ to open Deadmau5 was Monstergetdown. He's from Boyle Heights and his music is quickly gaining attraction, fans in the front hype the DJ up to attract more people to listen.
Towards the end of the show, Lights, Canadian singer and songwriter, joins Deadmau5 to perform Raise Your Weapon. Fans raise their arms and dance along to their music.
Before Deadmau5, L.A based i_o, Garret Lockhart, performs in a dark space with a computer virus theme light show. He plays his most notable songs such as "House of God" and "Low."
As Deadmau5 performs, the bright lights light up the venue. Fans with their homemade Deamau5 masks dance along as they reach to the front.
Before his set, Deadmau5 prepared his fans a few fun facts. The facts include about his cube v3 production, his friends, and just plain, random facts like this.
Deadmau5, Joel Zimmerman, takes off his mask as he performs for his fans. Concert-goers cheer as they get to see his face.
Deadmau5 performs his most popular songs like 'Ghost n Stuff' and 'I Remember.' He looks down on his fans as he djs.
Deadmau5 performs inside of his cube. He's in total control of what he wants to show on his cube like dark imagery or messages like these.
As Deadmau5 performs, he types messages onto his cube along with crazy imagery on the background. Fans are mesmerized by the music along with the lights.
Canadian DJ, Deadmau5, performs at the Hollywood Palladium on a Sunday night September 29th. He introduces his latest version of his Cube stage.
As his Cubev3 slowly rotates, Deadmau5 finally shows his 'face' embracing the crowd. Concert go-ers are relieved that they finally get to see their favorite DJ. Taken Sept 29, 2019.
'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' gives Jesse Pinkman the closure he deserves
Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'1jkphUh3SgNpg1ZwIbOb2w',sig:'kAFQyOLTQK04ZTD0VCKq2FXFOLRJuhzfVf7dRzh9Pjk=',w:'594px',h:'594px',items:'1179693835',caption:...
Deadmau5's Cubev3 Tour
Deadmau5, also known as Joel Zimmerman remains a prominent figure in the EDM world as he sold out five Los Angeles shows from his North American Cubev3 tour from Sept. 25th to the 29th at the famous Hollywood...
Santa Fe Springs Annual Fiestas Patrias creates an abundance of ethnic pride
An orgulloso Mexicano/a would come to appreciate Santa Fe Springs' Fiestas Patrias as the place to be where you can express your authentic self with great food, fun music, and be surrounded by amazing...
Surf City Blitz gonna dry your eyes!
SoCal punk rock bands came together on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 at Huntington Beach hosted by Frosty, Heidi & Frank from radio station 95.5 KLOS. Everyone was welcomed at the event, ages ranged from...
Jonah Hill's directorial debut film, 'Mid90s' is spectacular!
"Mid90s" is an edgy coming-of-age story directed and written by actor Jonah Hill, as he brings a hint of 1990s nostalgia, the skateboarding culture and a stellar cast onto the big screen that will make...
Shane Dawson's Jake Paul docu-series sheds a light on mental disorders
YouTube's OG creator, Shane Dawson, has been uploading his eight-part documentary series about Jake Paul and it has left some viewers divided. Dawson's new investigative documentary series has changed...
Netflix's 'Daredevil' Season 3 is a must-watch!
'Daredevil's third season had a rough start, but quickly picked up the pace with its notable quick action scenes, amazing storytelling and well-written characters that make this season the best one by...
Vote for the right cause
Recent hurricanes like Michael, which wreaked major havoc throughout Florida, demonstrates that we can no longer ignore climate change, we must pump the brakes on fossil fuel emissions and start rethinking...
'Venom', a movie so bad it's GOOD!
Ruben Fleischer's "Venom" tried to take itself seriously in the first few minutes of this anti-hero movie, but would later feel as a wacky, bizarre superhero film that felt like it was made in the 1990's. Embed...
Netflix's 'Atypical' Season 2 keeps getting better and better!
Netflix's newest season of "Atypical" focuses on the importance of becoming independent and surrounding yourself with people that care about you. The uniqueness of the series is about the main character,...
Death Cab for Cutie 'Thank You for Today' will make you miss home
Death Cab for Cutie's ninth studio album, "Thank You for Today," should be recognized by its rare and relatable indie-pop songwriting by vocalist, Benjamin Gibbard as he expresses nostalgia, loss and new...
Karen Miramontes


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Q: Multiple imputation of conditional variables I need to impute the missing values of a dataset of medical data in which several variables only make sense if another variable has a specific value. In the questionnaire the data come from they were conditional questions.
Example: one variable is "Have you ever had a stroke?"; and only the observations that have "Yes" here are then asked "At what age did you have the stroke?". Of course, all people that said "No" to stroke have a "missing" at the age question.
I have this problem in 4 out of 32 variables. Those 4 variables have something like 70-80% missing, because most people have not had infarct or stroke and similar (while most other variables have maximally 10% missing). The dataset is large, with 13000 observations. I am not an expert, but it doesn't seem right to impute in those 4 variables all of those missing values that do not even make sense for most of the observations.
What would be a correct approach? I am going to use R, package "mice".
Thanks!


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Welcome to Cam Gigandet Fan! This site aims to be your ultimate online resource for all things related to actor, Cam Gigandet. You may know him for his roles in several movies such as Never Back Down, Twilight, Burlesque, Easy A, and Priest. Thank you for visiting the site, and come back soon for the latest updates on Cam. Please note that this site will stay free from gossip articles and paparazzi photos.
Christina Aguilera And Cam Gigandet Talk Sexy 'Burlesque' Wardrobe
While Xtina squeezed into 'push-up bras, high heels and fishnet stockings,' Gigandet wore …a cookie box?
Fresh off Christina Aguilera's saucy song-and-dance number at the American Music Awards on Sunday, many are sweating out the release of her new film, "Burlesque," which hits theaters Wednesday.
"Burlesque" follows a small-town girl (Aguilera) who journeys to the city looking for her big break but instead finds herself in the sensual world of burlesque. Aguilera makes her feature debut alongside the legendary Cher and a beautiful and talented supporting cast that includes Cam Gigandet, Stanley Tucci, Julianne Hough and Eric Dane.
We recently caught up with the stars of the film, who giggled as they recalled their unique wardrobe racks for the suggestive-yet-sweet musical.
Gigandet joked that, unlike the women in the film who were clad in elaborate bustiers and stockings, his wardrobe included "cookie boxes and pajamas." (In one very memorable scene, Gigandet parades around with nothing but a Famous Amos box covering his nether regions.) Aguilera lamented that he got off easy: "You didn't have to do any push-up bras, any high heels, any fishnet stockings."
Aguilera did reveal a few makeup secrets, however, and reported that Gigandet donned eyeliner for his part as Jack, the love interest to Aguilera's Ali. Gigandet took it all in stride. "It was fun to be something different," he said. "Yes, it was. I gotta say, it made my job easier to kind of, you know, step into a different character, into a different world."
On a side note, Gigandet also commented on how the legion of fans from his stint in the "Twilight" series has followed him, as compared to other roles — particularly as martial-arts champion Ryan McCarthy in 2008's "Never Back Down."
"It varies, where I am," he said, regarding whether he's still bombarded by Twilighters wherever he goes. "I mean, you know, when I was in New Orleans and Louisiana a few months ago, it was 'Never Back Down' that caught everyone's attention. I know, I love it. But there's 'Twilight' fans all over the world."
Aguilera noted that, once "Burlesque" hits theaters, it will be Gigandet's character Jack who will get all the buzz from fans. "Of course," Gigandet laughed. "Then I'll be 'Famous Amos cookies' for the rest of my life."
Source: MTV News
I'm Jen, the new owner of Gigandet Fan! I've been a fan of Cam for years and decided I wanted to adopt this site. Within the next two weeks, I'll be updating the site, so bare with me while I work on the site! I'll also be working on a theme for the gallery as well as capping Twilight and just updating the gallery in general.
I've just created a twitter page for the site as well, so please follow!
http://twitter.com/camgigandetorg
general site
Burlesque International Trailer
The Experiment Captures
I know that I haven't updated the site in some time and for that I'm sorry, but I am starting to slowly work on it again and have caps from The Experiment for the time being. This movie was good and had a interesting plot, but it did drag a little for my taste,but I would definitely rent it and check it out.
Cam talks about his Priest Weaponry
Movie Trailers – Movies Blog
Twilight and Priest only have vampires in common
Cam did a interview at MTV News during Comic Con and said that the only thing Twilight and Priest have in common is the vampire storyline.
Burlesque and Priest Trailers
Priest Trailer
Uploaded by teasertrailer. – Check out other Film & TV videos.
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A diamond dealer navigates the culturally diverse and otherwise treacherous world of the diamond business.
Updates IMDb
The leader of a 'Dirty Dozen'-esque band of military prisoners has to fight off a terrorist attack on the remote "black site" prison in which they're being held, which, unknown to them, is a cover for a secret drone control facility.
Updates Photos IMDb
A charming yet troubled man spirals into a rage after being rejected by the woman he initially seduced.
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Laserland SK Series and LP Series include IPL safety glasses, Eagle Pair Laser safety glasses and Optical Filming, which passed the Chinese Quality Control (QS) and European CE, comply with EN207:1998+A1-2002 Standard. ; LP series also passed L Rating Certification. All glasses is with no trace of hazard materials in the products qualified for exportations.Our laser safety glasses are made of Polycarbonate and optical absorption films with patented optical technologies and production schemes. Eagle Pair IPL safety glasses provide protective coverage over specific laser wavelengths with high attenuation rate. The laser safety glasses and filter can block and diffuse most of the laser light which ensures the safety of the user without jeopardizing the visibility. The laser safety glass piece is made from industrial polycarbonate or glasses with latest scratch protection technology and reinforced surface ensuring the long life usage, which can provide comprehensive protections and suitable for industrial use.OEM service is also available for companies around the world as well as customized designs on IPL safety eyewear, other laser safety glasses.


This beautifully illustrated interactive presentation by Marina Forbes will feature the history of Matryoshka nested doll making in Russia. Using a fully illustrated show and numerous exhibits, including examples of her own work and from her extensive collection, Forbes will examine the tapestry of the rich folk tradition and symbolism of the doll's appearance and the interesting link between doll making and other traditional Russian art forms. There will be a quick stop at the 1900 World Fair in Paris that made Russian nested dolls and Fabergé eggs famous followed by an exciting illustrated tour of a working doll-making factory in rural Russia, depicting the various stages in the doll making process. The presentation will conclude with a glorious show of hundreds of examples of the finest Matryoshka artwork available in Russia.
This program was made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council. For more information, please call the library at 934-9712.


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Bogdan Ulm
First Major European Newspaper il Giornale Accepting Bitcoin
The Journal (Il Giornale) is the first newspaper in Italy and in Europe who accepts payments in Bitcoin.
A recent reader email mentions that major Italian newspaper accepts digital subscriptions via Bitcoin. Il Giornale has the bitcoin logo boldly stamped on the digital subscription page. There's also a statement that says:
"The Journal is the first newspaper in Italy and in Europe who accepts payments in Bitcoin."
Il Giornale is one of Italy's top 20 newspapers, with a reported number of readers of approximately 700,000 in 2012. The digital subscriptions permit fans to browse through all articles and new categories in PDF files that are optimized for iPads, smartphones, and other mobile devices. The cost is 0.45 cents/day with a twelve-month subscription. Even though Il Giornale is the first newspaper in Europe to accept payments via Bitcoin, it is not the first in the world.
TheChicago Sun-Times has been accepting subscription payments via Bitcoin since April, because they want to do everything in their power to keep the newspaper "current and evolving with changing technology."
Back in February, The Sun-Times placed a Bitcoin paywall to test the way people interact when they are asked to use the digital currency. Users were asked to make a donation, and believe it or not, there were 713 donors who used Bitcoin to contribute to a non-profit.
The Italian community reacted positively to Il Giornale's decision to adopt bitcoin. Davide Barbieri, Bitcoin Foundation member and entrepreneur says:
"I heard that today on a national TV interview Paolo Berlusconi (yes, his brother), told that it will possible to buy his newspaper 'Il Giornale' with bitcoin. It's basically an endorsement [of bitcoin]".
This opinion was also shared by Sebastiano Scrofina, who hopes that other newspapers will follow the footsteps of Il Giornale. He mentions:
"This is good news. Unfortunately, il Giornale is heavily politically sided, so this could stir up controversy and label bitcoin as a right-wing conservative thing."
About Il Giornale
Launched in 1974, Il Giornale went through a financial crisis in 1977, when member of the company and editor Montanelli sold the newspaper to Silvio Berlusconi, a politician who later became Italy's prime minister. In 1994, Berlusconi sold Il Giornale to his brother. Receptive to innovation, the paper became Europe's most powerful newspaper, and now it accepts bitcoins for subscriptions. Together with Chicago Sun-Time, a US newspaper that recently announced it is accepting Bitcoin payments for subscriptions, too, Il Giornale's goal is to embrace advanced technology and be one step ahead of the competition.
#Bitcoin Accepted
Trump Tweets Crypto Rant — What Is the Bitcoin Reference Really About?
SBI Partners With Stock Exchange Boerse Stuttgart to Drive Crypto Adoption
Binance Users Can Now Buy Four Cryptos with Visa Credit and Debit Cards
New Year 2020 Crypto Shopping Guide for Filthy Rich Hodlers


So if you end up finding me on here, please ask for access and subscription, I'd love to connect with you here also.
This entry was originally posted at http://smalltrolven.dreamwidth.org/96356.html. Please comment there using OpenID.


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HSBC's Smart Move Toward Artificial Intelligence
Date icon	June 15, 2017
There are many benefits of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into business sectors, often leading to maximum efficiency of a unit. Banks are increasingly utilizing AI to interact with customers.
Authors and Contributors: Sankar Krishnan, Executive Vice President, FSSBU; and Ramsha Perwez, Software Associate
In the world of finance, AI has taken a step to improving productivity by using algorithms to perform the tasks that humans do. Recently, HSBC Holdings Plc. moved forward with a pivotal decision to tackle money-laundering investigations by AI technology with startup Ayasdi Inc.
Of course, while this decision comes with many positives, many questions arise too, as this unit was dominated by thousands of real humans. This change leads to major shift in the demographics of the company. Optimization of human workers will be at an all-time high. According to the report made by Reuters, 20% of investigations in HSBC were dropped after converting to AI. The initial number of cases remained the same. The freed-up capacity of humans can be redeployed by HSBC into newer domains that make the employees more engaged and valuable.
Perhaps it is time to integrate new technology into processes more closely, so that future mistakes can be avoided. HSBC was not the only bank that had to pay fines for failure to detect money laundering. Last week, Deutsche Bank was fined a staggering $41 million over anti-money laundering deficiencies. Another bank hit with massive fines was Allied Irish Banks Plc, who was preparing massive share sales and billed 2 million euros according to a Bloomberg report. If AI was implemented, time would not be wasted by human workers on cases that were not in any risk. Decisions would also be made faster. If mistakes were being missed by humans in these examples, it would seem that now is the time to take correct proactive measures against the rising competitors. Our belief is that a lot of the automated tasks would initially have to be reviewed by a human before the audit committee signs off on the process and assigns it to "bots" completely.
Banks all over the world are being reprimanded by regulators and are being forced to cough up heavy fines that could even potentially dismantle them so it may seem as though investing into an AI system would be the proper step.
It is nice to see HSBC take the lead here. A lot of banks are also keen to put AI and Machine Learning to "botify" areas ranging from fixed income sales and regulatory reporting to production support and testing to customer service.
Cognitive bots (that integrate analytics, AI, machine learning) will take over a significant portion of the work done by humans and it is not going away come what may.
Sankar Krishnan
Lessons from COVID-19: A framework for operational resilience and sustainability
Amit Choudhary
Date icon	January 13, 2021
This article reviews financial services lessons from the pandemic and explores ways firms can...
Artificial Intelligence: with great power comes great responsibility
Paul van der Linden
AI is an evolution and we are just at the beginning. The choice is not "when",...
Pioneering intelligent banking
Elias Ghanem
Date icon	January 5, 2021
Eighty-five percent of banking executives stated that AI and AI-powered automation would be...


The Perfect Bacon Bowl, Hot Huez, Eggies and GyroBowl were featured yesterday on a Fox&Friends segment celebrating National Inventor's Month.
All are shining examples of products that have transformed from great ideas to Million Dollar hits (the PBB sold over 2 million units in a couple of months!) The CEO of Edison Nation was there to introduce the products and to explain their role in taking the products from prototype to megahit.
We are always pleased and honored to work with the great team at Edison Nation, who clearly know a good thing when they see it.
Congratulations to Edison Nation for the great piece, and for the continued success of these awesomely creative, innovative, must-have inventions!


I'll tell you how it all happened: in the summer when I saw the competition, I was sitting at a coffee shop working (or, you know, browsing online beauty shopping pages when I should be working) when I saw the competition where BWC were looking for five Faces of the brand. It said on the page that "you don't have to work as, or want to work as, a model to enter", so I thought what the heck. I mean, it's fun, it's for a cause I truly believe in and besides they're NEVER going to pick me, so why not?
When I got the email that said that I'd made the top 20, I didn't tell anyone and put it out of my mind. I figured that was as far as I was going to get. After all, even if it said that you "don't have to work as a model", the term spokesMODEL is usually used to describe someone who, yes, has charisma and personality, but who also must possess at least some physical attributes that bring the term "model" to mind. Which, in my own idea of what society accepts as a "model", does not always include a 30-year-old who's 170cm, 58 kg and and has a complexion that can best be described as vampiresque chic (nope, there's no bronzer known to man that will make me appear at least human-coloured. Only a week in Costa Brava will do, as I learned this summer. But I find my pallor tends to look quite striking with red lipstick). As Carrie Bradshaw put it, "I don't want people to think I can't see the difference between a model and me."
Having made piece with being more Carrie than Cara (Delevingne), I forgot all about the competition until yesterday when another email arrived: I've been selected. I, along with four other girls, will represent Beauty Without Cruelty all through 2014.
I mean, how crazy is this.
My first reaction was WHAT.
My second reaction was, "but I have a huge wrinkle on my forehead".
My third reaction was, "free stuff! YAY!"
My fourth reaction was to go find the other girls on Facebook and Twitter (I have my ways...) and find that yes, they are in fact all gorgeous. And much younger than me. One is a singer and absolutely stunning. Cue panic.
Now as the initial OMG moment has settled, I'm beyond honoured and humbled to have been chosen. This is a cause I believe in with all my heart and want to dedicate my life to, so I'll try to give my very best to the campaign and be as good a spokesperson for the brand as I possibly can.
I just hope there's no runway involved.


text:
bathroom decoration
Living Room Decoration
home Real Estate
Ariela Is Shocked By Biniyam's Appearance After Reuniting in Ethiopia
Bynikholas
Jul 29, 2020 Appearance, Ariela, Biniyams, Ethiopia, Reuniting, Shocked
Ariela's long-awaited reunion with her boyfriend, Biniyam, in Ethiopia wasn't the happy occasion she thought it was going to be on Monday's episode of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way after she became overwhelmed and had a panic attack.
Ariela — who's pregnant and moved from Princeton, New Jersey, to Ethiopia so that Biniyam can be there for the birth of their child — arrived with her mother after traveling for more than 24 hours. Biniyam had been eagerly awaiting their arrival and told TLC cameras he was humbled by Ariela uprooting her whole life to be with him. He also expressed nervousness at meeting her mom for the first time, who had accompanied Ariela on the trip to make sure that her living conditions were suitable enough for her to give birth and to raise their child.
But 28-year-old Ariela was in shock as she reunited with 29-year-old Biniyam at the airport, explaining that he had changed his appearance drastically. He cut his dreadlocks — which she said was the first thing that she noticed about him when they met — and commented that he looked "so skinny." Ariela then got emotional, explaining to cameras that she felt like she had to get to know Biniyam again after being away from him for so long, and now they were going to be thrown into living together.
In the car, Ariela burst into tears and had trouble breathing, telling Biniyam that she was having a panic attack. Ariela's mom — who actually liked Biniyam immediately after meeting him — said that she needed time for her emotions to settle in.
Later, when Ariela saw the apartment Biniyam rented for them for the first time, she again got stressed and bluntly said she "hated" it and that it was "terrible." Ariela explained that the colors were depressing and that the decoration was obviously left over from the last tenant, and that the bathroom "looked like a scene from a Saw movie" and smelled like mold. She said that while she had lived in precarious places before while traveling, this time was different given that she now had a baby to think about.
There was a storm on the way to the apartment, so all of the clothes in Ari's suitcases were wet. She wanted to hang them in the closet to dry but when she opened the door it fell off its hinges. #90DayFiancepic.twitter.com/CwSFJgPhd4
— 90DayFiance (@90DayFiance) July 7, 2020
For his part, Biniyam was sad that the apartment failed to live up to Ariela's expectations and felt like it was his fault. However, he reassured her that this was only her first step to living in Ethiopia and that they could find a new place.
"Welcome to Africa," he told her with a smile.
But in a preview of next week's episode, Ariela's mom — who works as a nurse — is similarly shocked at the living conditions in Ethiopia. She is shown telling Ariela that she can't give birth and live there, which is what Ariela had feared would happen when her mom insisted on coming on the trip with her.
ET spoke to Ariela last month, and she gushed about Biniyam and explained why she decided to move to Ethiopia for him. Further complicating their situation is that she met Biniyam shortly after going through a divorce, and that he also has an American ex-wife and a 2-year-old son he hasn't seen since his ex decided to move back to the United States.
"Biniyam is really an amazing guy," she told ET. "Anyone who meets him really likes him the first time that they meet him. He is a very kind person and that's what I noticed at first. Of course, the first thing I noticed is he's a very attractive guy. He has a personality that I think people will really connect to."
"You know, in a way it's true, I barely even knew him, but at the same time, when you meet someone and you have that connection, you can feel like you know someone even if it's only been a couple of months," she continued. "I decided that I wanted to try at least the experience of being together because I really wanted to start my own family."
She also teased what viewers can expect from their journey this season.
"You'll see more than a few tears," she shared. "I feel confident to say that my story line is going to be one of the more emotional … heart-wrenching, and I think, funny — I think people are gonna laugh. I think there's gonna be quite a few moments where people laugh."
Watch the video below for more:
'90 Day Fiancé' Star Ariela Defends 'Genuine' Relationship With Ethiopian Boyfriend Biniyam (Exclusive)
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Not mine, but an interesting little story: "Perhaps this is the root of all evil, that gardeners are not put in charge of our schools."
I read it a few months ago, forgot about it, then read it again just recently. I don't have coherent thoughts about it yet, but if you do, I'd be curious to hear them.
srs: I need more time to mull this over. I haven't read/analyzed anything in a long time, but the obvious reoccurring theme is that of relying on others to show you the errors of your ways. And the beginning statement of "how can members know what they can change when they are forced to cherrypick evidence?" makes me thing the lesson to be learned from this is that not everything you should learn is easily reached. You have to leave your safe zone (garden/meeting) in order to get the real answers from others who know better (green house/Ace/neighbor). Though you obviously can't always rely on people for everything.
I don't know man, this is just the ramblings of a sleep deprived man running on fumes.
I think you probably are on to something with that reading. What I notice is how the two stages (rather than 90) of his "recovery", both in the garden and Ace hardware, parallel the serenity prayer they were forced to recite each AA meeting--in the garden are things that you must accept (irises don't bloom in the shade), in Ace hardware are things you can change (individual chainsaws to cut down trees and clear land), and people to ask for the wisdom to tell the difference. That's where I guess the parable lies.
Thanks for your input CD-Mann. Sometimes you just have to put something out, see how others react to it, before you can really identify your own response. What do you think of the above reading?
I'm actually in agreement with CD-Mann on this one. This was a good article to read through, because it does make me think. The way I see it is that you can't force people to change either by following strict rules; hence why people are rebelling by not attending the AA meeting. Some have to be self taught or find someone with the knowledge they need in order to use a chainsaw or grow flowers. I might have more to say on this later, but I need to chew on it some more before I can say what else comes to mind. The simplicity of the flowers stuck out to me the most, because it reflects society today to some degree.
Seems to me a story about getting so caught up in something and the ideas therefrom that they serve as therapy.
The first few paragraphs describes a man, with a garden, who suffers from alcoholism and nicotine addiction and is thoroughly unsatisfied with conventional means to deal with them. So he focuses on his garden, imagining how much better the world would be if it was like a well-maintained just like it.
But the writing goes on, in detail, about things that don't seem all that important. I mean, this was supposed to be a story about fixing the world and overcoming vices. Why do I need to know about chainsaws and soil acidity? Beyond the introduction, most of the description revolves around the garden, describing things within or relating to it. It makes the writing feel unfocused, like the point has been lost amid the author's love of gardening.
And that's the point. The "author" here is Candide. There are no quotations, yet we see his thoughts clear as day. This short piece is the recording of this character's thoughts. He becomes so focused in the minutia of his hobby, that everything else is superfluous, including his thoughts on how the world should be. Even as he praises the joys of gardening so much that he wants to write a novel about it, the man's problem has already been solved.
The key to this is in the final paragraph, with the oddly specific list of things that he bought with the advance paycheck. Specifically, alcohol and cigarettes are nowhere to be found. His own hobby saved him for no other reason than he became absorbed in it.


text:
MANY WAYS TO REJOICE
By PRUE SALASKY Daily Press
FORT MONROE
The ecumenical sunrise service at Fort Monroe has a rich history stretching back for more than five decades. It's the first, though, for Chaplain (LTC) Juan M. Crockett of the garrison's Religious Services Office, who was previously in Ansbach, Germany, where he worked with deployment and re-integration issues for military personnel. Since August, Crockett has been responsible for religious support services to the entire base. He conducts the Protestant services and contracts with other ministers for the Episcopal and Catholic services.
On Easter, all come together to celebrate the theme of the Resurrection and God pouring out his spirit on the people. "All of us will get a chance to see the Son rise and the sun rise," says Crockett, noting that the symbolism extends to each attendee receiving a vial of blessed oil as a keepsake. It's a stirring service that includes participation from two local churches, Gloria Dei Lutheran and Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple, and music from a hand-bell choir and the TRADOC band. "We'll usher in this special day with thunderous hymns and praise as well as the release of doves," he says, adding, "I'm really excited about this."
Retired Maj. Gen. Robert "Bob" Dees, now part of Military Ministry for Campus Crusade for Christ, headquartered in Newport News, is delivering the sermon. His daily work involves providing rapid deployment kits and Bible readings to soldiers. "I think it's appropriate he can talk about his faith. He visits military families all over. It's good to hear from a military leader at a time like this," says Crockett. Though Fort Monroe doesn't deploy on a unit basis, there are several dozen individuals deployed or in redeployed status at any given time.
Later, separate services for the different denominations will be conducted throughout the morning. The offerings from them will be given as a faith community to benefit Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters for their ministry to children and meeting their needs, says Crockett. "It's a collaborative community effort. It's about community and faith."
BETHEL TEMPLE
On an average Sunday, more than 2,000 people attend the two morning services at the multicultural, interdenominational Bethel Temple in Hampton. For Easter services, after distributing 50,000 postcards, 5,000 yard signs and 5,000 invitations, new Lead Pastor Glenn Reynolds was hoping to attract a crowd of 4,000. Even with that number, the capacity of the sanctuary is such that no extra services are scheduled.
"Everyone has a longing to celebrate Easter. They may not know why. I try to help them understand that it has relevance for their family all year round," the pastor says, referring to the "casual church person, the dechurched and the unchurched." Reynolds joined Bethel seven months ago, after founding a church in Des Moines, Iowa, and leading it for 14 years.
The highlight of Bethel's Easter preparations came on Palm Sunday with the dramatic presentation, "Passion: The Week that Changed the World," featuring soliloquies by different characters and hundreds of dancers and musicians from its associated Bethel School of the Arts: "We're trying to convey not just the knowledge but also to give people the experience through the creative arts," says Reynolds.
At Easter Sunday's services, he's starting anew with a four-week message series, "Discovering Hope." "In this time, when there's a lot of fear, Easter is relevant because it gives hope to people, no matter what their circumstances," he says.
More than 30 different nations of origin are represented in the congregation. "One of our core values is to demonstrate reconciliation, not just diversity," says Reynolds, describing how congregants are encouraged to intermingle. "We're trying to make the fruits of Scripture relevant to people's daily lives, to make it matter."
At St. Joseph Church in Hampton's Buckroe area, the biggest celebration of Holy Week ---- the week leading up to Easter ---- came on Saturday night with the Easter Vigil, says Father Peter Sousa, who moved from Venice, Fla., to lead the 1,200-family Catholic congregation last August. "The vigil is probably the most beautiful service we have."
Starting after sunset, the two-hour service, divided into four parts, began with a service of light with each member of the congregation lighting a candle, followed by a procession into the darkened church behind the large, ornate Paschal candle. Then followed the Easter Proclamation, or Exaltat. The third element, the service of the Word, consisted of readings from both the Old and New Testaments, the latter focusing on baptismal readings. To honor the congregation's diversity, of the three Old Testament readings, one was in English, one in Spanish and one in Vietnamese.
The vigil replaced the Spanish Mass conducted every Saturday evening, which routinely draws up to 100 people, compared to the 1,000 who typically attend Sunday services. Sousa is one of three priests at St. Joseph's who conducts services in Spanish.
A baptism service concluded the vigil. Six adults were baptized after completing their rite of Christian initiation that started in September, and six others, brought up in other denominations, were received into the church.
The largest attendance, however, is at Easter's three Sunday morning services when Sousa focuses his sermon on the day's themes of Resurrection and new life.
UNITED HOUSE OF PRAYER
Apostle Joseph Barksdale, pastor of the United House of Prayer for all People, is a 31-year veteran of pulpits in Philadelphia and Newark, N.J., but has only been in Newport News since October. "Within United we're all the same. Services in churches in Los Angeles and Philadelphia are carried out exactly the same way. They don't miss a beat," he says.
This year, from more than 130 churches in two dozen states, the national bishop, The Hon. Bishop C.M. Bailey, headquartered in Washington, D.C., chose to attend the mother house of prayer. The Newport News church is "mother" to 12 in a region that stretches from Richmond to Elizabeth City. Consequently, Barksdale was expecting his regular congregation of 200 to 300 to swell to around 3,000 over the weekend with guests, including choirs, coming in from all over the country to fill the church's main sanctuary, which is reserved for special occasions.
All year round, in addition to nightly services, the church conducts midday services Monday through Friday, with additional youth services on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. "We're celebrating Christ all the time, it's part of our life. We believe in doing it every day, not just Easter. That's why we do what we do," says Barksdale, noting that the Easter Day services will be largely the same as usual but enhanced by the bishop's visit at 5 p.m. on Sunday. "It's very uplifting. It's a time of celebration," he says.
The joyfulness will include an additional sunrise service, and bands playing gospel and spiritual hymns along with four local choirs. "The emphasis lies on the Resurrection. It's a joyful time," he says. "My favorite part is the sermon, the delivering of God's word. I truly believe in the word of God, that's the essence of our belief."
BRUTON PARISH
Bruton Parish Church sits smack dab in the middle of Colonial Williamsburg's restored historic area. And though independent, the 18th-century Episcopal church is a tourist destination in its own right. To that end, Bruton has 60 trained volunteer guides who give daily tours. Easter services, which see a surge in attendance, create a distinct challenge in terms of accommodating all the visitors.
As interim rector, The Rev. Ronald Jaynes ---- he's filling in until a successor is found for Herman "Holly" Hollerith IV, who was consecrated as bishop of the diocese in February ---- likens Bruton Parish to his most recent congregation in Coronado, Calif., another popular tourist stop.
The congregation, he notes, doesn't just swell on Easter Sunday, but every weekend, when the 2,000-member Episcopal church, which can hold just 400, routinely offers four services ---- five when the College of William and Mary is in session. "We might add 100 or more tourists," he says. "A lot of people come because of its historic nature. They enjoy that experience."
On Easter, additional services indoor and out, starting at 5:30 a.m., help to accommodate the throngs, with two mid-morning services confined to members. "It's a very active Episcopal church. Our ministry is to do that dual thing, to minister to a regular congregation and to visitors," says Jaynes, who on this holiday is sharing duties with four regular clergy, bolstered by three retired priests. "It's very helpful to have a group of people working together, it's very exhilarating and uplifting."
Though he acknowledges that he has to keep in mind constantly that he's addressing both regulars and visitors, the message doesn't change. "We try to be useful, challenging, and helpful for their daily life," he says. "If they come just that one time they want to know the experience of that Christian community all the time ---- the complicated liturgy, the beautiful music - that's what people want."
Fort Monroe Chaplain (LTC) Juan M. Crockett, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Monroe, Religious Services Office; Easter services, Episcopal 8:30 a.m.; Catholic Mass 9:30 a.m.; Protestant service 11 a.m.
Bethel Temple 1705 Todds Lane, Hampton; interdenominational, Lead Pastor Glenn Reynolds; Easter services 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
512 Buckroe Ave., Hampton; Catholic, Father Peter Sousa; Easter services 7:30 a.m, 10 a.m. and noon
United House of Prayer for all People
1811 Ivy Ave., Newport News; Holiness Faith, Apostle Joseph Barksdale, pastor; Easter services 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.; Sunday School 9 a.m.
Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg. Easter services at 5:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. (cards required), 5:30 p.m.; Episcopal, The Rev. Ronald Jaynes, interim rector
View a picture gallery of Bethel Temple's services at dailypress.com/betheleaster


Thursday's matinee concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts center opened with the Good Friday Spell an instrumental arrangement of a scene from the third act of Wagner's final opera Parsifal. Starting with a fanfare and flourish, the NJSO woodwinds and horns blended with a luminous sound, evoking the peace and tranquility of Wagner's stage picture. One could almost hear the voices as the tone poem wound forwrd, conducted with purpose by Mr. Lacombe.
Ms. Chang joined the orchestra for the Bruch concerto, that composer's best-loved and most popular work. She plaayed the first notes with a singing, aspiring tone, lending poetry to the notes of the cadenza that starts the concerto before being answered by the full power of the orchestra. The soulful, folk-inspired main theme had warmth and heft.
This lyric approach to the concerto extended to the soulful Adagio, where the violin theme is supported by warm, rich chords for cellos and low winds that make the utterance of the soloist sound vocal and almost operatic. The monologue-like solo part arose to a climax of quiet joy before launching into the folk-dance rhythms of the all-out finale. This propulsive last movement, with its signature theme was accompanied with energy by Mr. Lacombe's forces, engaging in call-and-response with Ms. Chang up to the furious finish.
Bruckner's Fourth Symphony was the composer's first real success. The composer edited down his sprawling ideas, creating a romantic work that had just enough of a programmatic idea to make this composer's unique, somewhat abstract vision understandable to the general public. It also has the virtue of being the shortest of the major Bruckner symphonies, clocking in at over an hour.
Playing Bruckner's demanding brass parts are the true test of any orchestra. Here, the NJSO players launched into the ascending theme in the horns over a lush tremolo of strings. The horn-call was answered by a surge of low brass and percussion. Mr. Lacombe proved adroit in navigating the repetitions of the opening movement, building each of Bruckner's sonic structures with increased energy, density and spiritual commitment.
The slow movement proved ideally suited to this orchestra, with an eloquent opening for plucked strings giving way to a majestic climax. The Scherzo, with its "hunting horn" theme was played with clarity and rhythmic grace, with Mr. Lacombe leading his players expertly into the eloquent central Trio. The finale assembled all of the previous themes (plus a reference to the funeral march from Act III of Parsifal) into a furious assault of sound, staking Mr. Lacombe's claim as a Bruckner conductor to be reckoned with..


text:
require "mongoid/matchers/strategies"

module Mongoid #:nodoc:

  # This module contains all the behavior for ruby implementations of MongoDB
  # selectors.
  module Matchers

    # Determines if this document has the attributes to match the supplied
    # MongoDB selector. Used for matching on embedded associations.
    #
    # @example Does the document match?
    #   document.matches?(:title => { "$in" => [ "test" ] })
    #
    # @param [ Hash ] selector The MongoDB selector.
    #
    # @return [ true, false ] True if matches, false if not.
    def matches?(selector)
      selector.each_pair do |key, value|
        if value.is_a?(Hash)
          value.each do |item|
            return false unless Strategies.matcher(self, key, Hash[*item]).matches?(Hash[*item])
          end
        else
          return false unless Strategies.matcher(self, key, value).matches?(value)
        end
      end
      return true
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
KLINSMANN BACKS WORLD CUP PROPOSAL
Posted on October 19, 2021 by index
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQfWIXAX0AAxtF1.jpg
German football icon Jurgen Klinsmann has backed the World Cup proposal being pushed by Arsene Wenger and other FIFA officials. JurgenKlinsmann revealed his decision to back the new World Cup proposal in a recent interview as monitored by English media portal Daily Mirror.
The new World Cup proposal is under review and has not been approved. The new proposal will see the World Cup tournament being moved from a four-year interval tournament to a two-year interval tournament and it has divided opinions amongst football stakeholders.
Ex-Arsenal boss Wenger is the head of global football development at FIFA and he has been championing the new proposal.
Jurgen Klinsmann revealed that he was shocked at first when he found out about the new World Cup format being proposed by world football's governing body, FIFA and that he has been able to understand the idea behind the proposal. According to the former Tottenham Hotspur striker, change is constant and football will benefit from the new proposal.
Liverpool manager JurgenKlopp is a compatriot of Klinsmann but he's not buying the idea of playing the World Cup tournament every two years. According to him in a recent press conference via the Daily Mirror, the players already have to deal with a relentless football calendar as things stand and it would get worse with the hosting of the World Cup tournament.
Klopp is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the world and he has achieved a lot in his time as a Liverpool manager including the Premier League title during the 2019/20 season and the Champions League title the season before the Premier League title was sealed. The German has been able to lead Liverpool to the top of the Premier League standings this season after six games. They have a one-point lead at the summit.
Posted in UncategorizedTagged Jurgen Klinsmann
KLINSMANN: TUCHEL IS A VERY BRILLIANT MANAGER
SERIE A: KLINSMANN EXPLAINS JUVENTUS STRUGGLES


text:
Q: Java: file not found exception File file1 = new File("news1.txt");
System.out.println(file1.exists());

This prints false, but file news1.txt is in directory, with that class.

A: This assumes that news1.txt is in the same folder as the class, calling this code. If you are using Eclipse, for example, this will look for the file in the root folder of the project, and not in the src folder. You should verify that the file is indeed in the right location.

A: I usually fist try to get folder from where my class reads. That's easily done by writing a test file on disc and taking a look where it was created. You can do that with:
PrintWriter writer = new PrintWriter("the-file-name.txt", "UTF-8");
writer.println("The first line");
writer.println("The second line");
writer.close();

Now you know where your default directory is so you can navigate to your file or put your file in right place