Developing countries often presume, for a variety of reasons, that they have limited or no capacity to influence the outcome of negotiations of a loan agreement with an international lender. They often feel that international lenders generally do not subscribe to the viewpoint of borrowers or amend the clauses of the loan agreements. This is a serious misconception. Once the parties are committed to the negotiating process, the existence of convincing reasons, may be guided by national financial and economic considerations, for proposed amendments in the clauses of a loan agreement are difficult to ignore and often find acceptability with the lenders. The preparation and strategy of negotiation plays an important role in determining the outcome.
Prepare a draft loan agreement with effective negotiating clauses.
The course is designed for government officials, policy makers, negotiators, economists, financial analysts, accountants as well as lawyers.


text:
using content::BrowserThread;
using content::PluginService;

namespace Clear = extensions::api::content_settings::ContentSetting::Clear;
namespace Get = extensions::api::content_settings::ContentSetting::Get;
namespace Set = extensions::api::content_settings::ContentSetting::Set;
namespace pref_helpers = extensions::preference_helpers;
namespace pref_keys = extensions::preference_api_constants;

namespace {

const std::vector<webkit::WebPluginInfo>* g_testing_plugins_;

bool RemoveContentType(ListValue* args, ContentSettingsType* content_type) {
  std::string content_type_str;
  if (!args->GetString(0, &content_type_str))
    return false;
  // We remove the ContentSettingsType parameter since this is added by the
  // renderer, and is not part of the JSON schema.
  args->Remove(0, NULL);
  *content_type =
      extensions::content_settings_helpers::StringToContentSettingsType(
          content_type_str);
  return *content_type != CONTENT_SETTINGS_TYPE_DEFAULT;
}

}  // namespace

namespace extensions {

namespace helpers = content_settings_helpers;
namespace keys = content_settings_api_constants;

bool ContentSettingsContentSettingClearFunction::RunImpl() {
  ContentSettingsType content_type;
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(RemoveContentType(args_.get(), &content_type));

  scoped_ptr<Clear::Params> params(Clear::Params::Create(*args_));
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(params.get());

  ExtensionPrefsScope scope = kExtensionPrefsScopeRegular;
  bool incognito = false;
  if (params->details.scope ==
          Clear::Params::Details::SCOPE_INCOGNITO_SESSION_ONLY) {
    scope = kExtensionPrefsScopeIncognitoSessionOnly;
    incognito = true;
  }

  if (incognito) {
    // We don't check incognito permissions here, as an extension should be
    // always allowed to clear its own settings.
  } else {
    // Incognito profiles can't access regular mode ever, they only exist in
    // split mode.
    if (profile()->IsOffTheRecord()) {
      error_ = keys::kIncognitoContextError;
      return false;
    }
  }

  ContentSettingsStore* store = extensions::ExtensionSystem::Get(profile_)->
      extension_service()->GetContentSettingsStore();
  store->ClearContentSettingsForExtension(extension_id(), scope);

  return true;
}

bool ContentSettingsContentSettingGetFunction::RunImpl() {
  ContentSettingsType content_type;
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(RemoveContentType(args_.get(), &content_type));

  scoped_ptr<Get::Params> params(Get::Params::Create(*args_));
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(params.get());

  GURL primary_url(params->details.primary_url);
  if (!primary_url.is_valid()) {
    error_ = ErrorUtils::FormatErrorMessage(keys::kInvalidUrlError,
        params->details.primary_url);
    return false;
  }

  GURL secondary_url(primary_url);
  if (params->details.secondary_url.get()) {
    secondary_url = GURL(*params->details.secondary_url);
    if (!secondary_url.is_valid()) {
      error_ = ErrorUtils::FormatErrorMessage(keys::kInvalidUrlError,
        *params->details.secondary_url);
      return false;
    }
  }

  std::string resource_identifier;
  if (params->details.resource_identifier.get())
    resource_identifier = params->details.resource_identifier->id;

  bool incognito = false;
  if (params->details.incognito.get())
    incognito = *params->details.incognito;
  if (incognito && !include_incognito()) {
    error_ = pref_keys::kIncognitoErrorMessage;
    return false;
  }

  HostContentSettingsMap* map;
  CookieSettings* cookie_settings;
  if (incognito) {
    if (!profile()->HasOffTheRecordProfile()) {
      // TODO(bauerb): Allow reading incognito content settings
      // outside of an incognito session.
      error_ = keys::kIncognitoSessionOnlyError;
      return false;
    }
    map = profile()->GetOffTheRecordProfile()->GetHostContentSettingsMap();
    cookie_settings = CookieSettings::Factory::GetForProfile(
        profile()->GetOffTheRecordProfile());
  } else {
    map = profile()->GetHostContentSettingsMap();
    cookie_settings = CookieSettings::Factory::GetForProfile(profile());
  }

  ContentSetting setting;
  if (content_type == CONTENT_SETTINGS_TYPE_COOKIES) {
    // TODO(jochen): Do we return the value for setting or for reading cookies?
    bool setting_cookie = false;
    setting = cookie_settings->GetCookieSetting(primary_url, secondary_url,
                                                setting_cookie, NULL);
  } else {
    setting = map->GetContentSetting(primary_url, secondary_url, content_type,
                                     resource_identifier);
  }

  DictionaryValue* result = new DictionaryValue();
  result->SetString(keys::kContentSettingKey,
                    helpers::ContentSettingToString(setting));

  SetResult(result);

  return true;
}

bool ContentSettingsContentSettingSetFunction::RunImpl() {
  ContentSettingsType content_type;
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(RemoveContentType(args_.get(), &content_type));

  scoped_ptr<Set::Params> params(Set::Params::Create(*args_));
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(params.get());

  std::string primary_error;
  ContentSettingsPattern primary_pattern =
      helpers::ParseExtensionPattern(params->details.primary_pattern,
                                     &primary_error);
  if (!primary_pattern.IsValid()) {
    error_ = primary_error;
    return false;
  }

  ContentSettingsPattern secondary_pattern = ContentSettingsPattern::Wildcard();
  std::string secondary_pattern_str;
  if (params->details.secondary_pattern.get()) {
    std::string secondary_error;
    secondary_pattern =
        helpers::ParseExtensionPattern(*params->details.secondary_pattern,
                                       &secondary_error);
    if (!secondary_pattern.IsValid()) {
      error_ = secondary_error;
      return false;
    }
  }

  std::string resource_identifier;
  if (params->details.resource_identifier.get())
    resource_identifier = params->details.resource_identifier->id;

  std::string setting_str;
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(
      params->details.setting->GetAsString(&setting_str));
  ContentSetting setting;
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(
      helpers::StringToContentSetting(setting_str, &setting));
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(
      HostContentSettingsMap::IsSettingAllowedForType(profile()->GetPrefs(),
                                                      setting,
                                                      content_type));

  ExtensionPrefsScope scope = kExtensionPrefsScopeRegular;
  bool incognito = false;
  if (params->details.scope ==
          Set::Params::Details::SCOPE_INCOGNITO_SESSION_ONLY) {
    scope = kExtensionPrefsScopeIncognitoSessionOnly;
    incognito = true;
  }

  if (incognito) {
    // Regular profiles can't access incognito unless include_incognito is true.
    if (!profile()->IsOffTheRecord() && !include_incognito()) {
      error_ = pref_keys::kIncognitoErrorMessage;
      return false;
    }
  } else {
    // Incognito profiles can't access regular mode ever, they only exist in
    // split mode.
    if (profile()->IsOffTheRecord()) {
      error_ = keys::kIncognitoContextError;
      return false;
    }
  }

  if (scope == kExtensionPrefsScopeIncognitoSessionOnly &&
      !profile_->HasOffTheRecordProfile()) {
    error_ = pref_keys::kIncognitoSessionOnlyErrorMessage;
    return false;
  }

  ContentSettingsStore* store = extensions::ExtensionSystem::Get(profile_)->
      extension_service()->GetContentSettingsStore();
  store->SetExtensionContentSetting(extension_id(), primary_pattern,
                                    secondary_pattern, content_type,
                                    resource_identifier, setting, scope);
  return true;
}

bool ContentSettingsContentSettingGetResourceIdentifiersFunction::RunImpl() {
  ContentSettingsType content_type;
  EXTENSION_FUNCTION_VALIDATE(RemoveContentType(args_.get(), &content_type));

  if (content_type != CONTENT_SETTINGS_TYPE_PLUGINS) {
    SendResponse(true);
    return true;
  }

  if (!g_testing_plugins_) {
    PluginService::GetInstance()->GetPlugins(
        base::Bind(&ContentSettingsContentSettingGetResourceIdentifiersFunction::
                   OnGotPlugins,
                   this));
  } else {
    OnGotPlugins(*g_testing_plugins_);
  }
  return true;
}

void ContentSettingsContentSettingGetResourceIdentifiersFunction::OnGotPlugins(
    const std::vector<webkit::WebPluginInfo>& plugins) {
  PluginFinder* finder = PluginFinder::GetInstance();
  std::set<std::string> group_identifiers;
  ListValue* list = new ListValue();
  for (std::vector<webkit::WebPluginInfo>::const_iterator it = plugins.begin();
       it != plugins.end(); ++it) {
    scoped_ptr<PluginMetadata> plugin_metadata(finder->GetPluginMetadata(*it));
    const std::string& group_identifier = plugin_metadata->identifier();
    if (group_identifiers.find(group_identifier) != group_identifiers.end())
      continue;

    group_identifiers.insert(group_identifier);
    DictionaryValue* dict = new DictionaryValue();
    dict->SetString(keys::kIdKey, group_identifier);
    dict->SetString(keys::kDescriptionKey, plugin_metadata->name());
    list->Append(dict);
  }
  SetResult(list);
  BrowserThread::PostTask(
      BrowserThread::UI, FROM_HERE, base::Bind(
          &ContentSettingsContentSettingGetResourceIdentifiersFunction::
          SendResponse,
          this,
          true));
}

// static
void ContentSettingsContentSettingGetResourceIdentifiersFunction::
    SetPluginsForTesting(const std::vector<webkit::WebPluginInfo>* plugins) {
  g_testing_plugins_ = plugins;
}

}  // namespace extensions

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Here's a first picture of a new series which is in the pipeline. Beside using the casual professional camera of Nikon I discoverd an old 'Click camera' of the company AGFA years ago.
The allure is that you can only control the size of the lens (2 oppertunities) and with the ASA-code of your film the colors and the exposure in a way. All the rest is more or less a product of furtuity.
I had the pleasure to do the new press portraits for the Stuttgart based artist Nikita Gorbunov. Nikita is doing a wild mixture of poerty slam and singer/songwriting.


FNF has used Bob Lee Tree Service, Inc. on several projects and to bid on several more. They were able to meet our schedules while performing the work with experienced and professional crews. They are knowledgeable, experienced, and efficient and we would recommend them for any of your tree removal and clearing & grubbing needs.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your staff for the very nice job your company did removing my trees. As you may remember I had a huge Pine that was the focal point of my 2 1/2 acre property. It was about 40 feet high and had a huge trunk/base. When it died I had no idea how to get it taken down or who to call? Some friends of mine had just used your company and recommended you to me. Since they were happy with your services I thought I would call and see what we could do. I wish to add what outstanding job was done with a highly technical project this was!
Since that time I have had you come back and remove more trees that have died. I have been so pleased with your company and staff. The staff is so thorough with their work, take the branches and trunk/base away and do a great job cleaning up. I could not be happier with the work of Bob Lee Tree Service and I am happy to recommend you to my friends and family who need an excellent tree service company.


WASHINGTON (AP) - This is nothing new for the Washington Nationals: enjoy the euphoria of an NL East title, then the disappointment of a Division Series exit - usually with a narrow Game 5 loss, usually at home.
So once again, this time by virtue of a wild 9-8 defeat in the deciding game against the visiting Chicago Cubs, the Nationals head into the offseason knowing they've still never won a playoff series. As always, there are important questions to ask and answer, the biggest being whether manager Dusty Baker will be back.
Harper himself only is under Washington's control for one more year and can become a free agent after the 2018 season, which will undoubtedly be a major topic of serious conversation and speculation from now until either the Nationals sign him or he heads to the open market.
But more likely to get resolved, one way or the other, in the near term is Baker's situation. His contract expires at the conclusion of this season, his second in Washington and 22nd as a skipper in the big leagues.
Dating to spring training, he has made clear his desire for a new deal, but the Nationals refused to negotiate at all until season's end.
Baker's teams in Washington have won two division titles - they were 97-65 in 2017, finishing 20 games out in front - and finished with two one-run Game 5 setbacks at Nationals Park.
There are pressing matters other than his future, of course.
For one, the not-so-small matter of how to go from being such a consistently good regular-season team to one that finally manages to get over the hurdle of collecting a single postseason series victory.
Can't be easy being a sports fan in the nation's capital. Over and over, when the local teams in the four major professional sports leagues get to the playoffs, their runs are brief: None has reached a league semifinal stage in 19 years, a combined drought of 69 seasons (remember, there was a three-decade-plus gap without baseball in Washington until the Expos moved from Montreal in 2005). The Capitals were the most recent club to get that far, losing in the 1998 Stanley Cup Final. The Wizards were last in the Eastern Conference finals in the 1978-79 season. The Redskins haven't been to the NFC title game since the 1991 season.
Moving forward, the brightest spot for the Nationals is their 1-2 punch at the top of their starting rotation: Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, who might both finish in the top three of NL Cy Young Award voting. Scherzer's one-inning disaster of a relief appearance in Game 5 notwithstanding, he is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball and is under contract for four more years. Strasburg's 12-strikeout masterpiece in Game 4 - after the unmitigated PR disaster that preceded it - completely altered his reputation and backed up a tremendous season. Now the Nationals have him under contract for another half-dozen years.


text:
What the UK coronavirus delay phase is and how it will help deal with the Covid-19 outbreak
The action plan stages are to contain, delay and mitigate, with research running alongside
Patrick Daly PA
Victoria Jones
Boris Johnson is expected to accept that the coronavirus outbreak can no longer be contained in the UK, signalling the start of the next phase in the battle against Covid-19.
When Cobra meets on Thursday lunchtime, the Prime Minister is expected to advance preparations for combating the deadly virus by switching to tactics designed to delay its spread rather than contain the disease.
It comes after the global Covid-19 outbreak was categorised as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation and eight people in the UK were confirmed to have died after contracting the illness.
The action plan stages are to contain, delay and mitigate, with research running alongside.
This is what you need to know about the delay phase.
What is the delay phase?
The delay phase will see a mixture of the same advice given out, such as encouraging the washing of hands regularly, while also introducing social restriction measures to slow the spread of the virus.
The Government has confirmed it will be guided by the experts about what the most effective measures for delaying the virus will be.
How will the delay phase help deal with the outbreak?
The end goal of the delay phase is to slow the rate of coronavirus being contracted and allow the NHS to clear the annual winter pressure it faces.
It would also provide a buffer to allow a possible vaccine to be developed, although this would not come into use for at least another year.
The Government's planning document explained: "The benefits are that if the peak of the outbreak can be delayed until the warmer months, we can reduce significantly the risk of overlapping with seasonal flu and other challenges, societal or medical, that the colder months bring.
"The delay phase also buys time for the testing of drugs and initial development of vaccines and/or improved therapies or tests to help reduce the impact of the disease."
What do they mean by social restrictions?
According to the Government's published action plan, the restrictions being considered would have "social costs".
These are thought to include urging employees to work from home where possible and even shutting down schools and cancelling events where masses of people will gather.
"Some of these will have social costs where the benefit of doing them to delay the peak will need to be considered against the social impact," said the Government's action plan.
Is it the same as what is happening in Italy and China?
The severity of the interventions have differed on a country by country basis.
China and Italy have put full scale lock downs in place, with court action and fines threatened for people breaking imposed curfews.
Wuhan, the Chinese city of 11 million people, which was at the epicentre of the initial outbreak, temporarily shut down its public transport network.
And in countries such as France and Spain, large public gatherings have been banned in a bid to prevent widespread contamination.
Schools could shut for a month from next Friday
Cineworld could lose three months of revenue because of coronavirus
Are sporting events at risk?
Football matches in the European countries, including Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, have been played behind closed doors as a result of bans on gatherings of 1,000 people or more.
But there is doubt about whether the UK would follow suit after the deputy chief medical officer suggested scientific research did not back up the decision to outlaw public events.
Dr Jenny Harries, in a video exchange with the PM on Wednesday, said: "In general, those sorts of events and big gatherings are not seen to be something which is going to have a big effect, so we don't want to disrupt people's lives."
You can go on a course about coronavirus to try to understand it better
The reason why coronavirus has spread so rapidly in Italy
Why is the UK not doing the same as Italy?
Mr Johnson suggested the decisions had come about because "politicians and governments around the world are under a lot of pressure to be seen to act, so they may do things that are not necessarily dictated by the science".
Why has it taken so long to move from the contain phase to delay?
Ministers have regularly stated that implementing tough social clampdowns too early can prove counterproductive as the public could tire of the restrictions, but it appears the PM and his advisers feel the time is right to escalate delay preparations.
Current advice, including washing hands and catching coughs and sneezes with tissues before binning them will continue during the delay period, as will trying to find and isolate coronavirus cases at an early stage.
UK & World NewsTwo-thirds of us want a vote of no-confidence in Boris JohnsonPeople have also indicated who they want as the next Prime Minister
Hull woman's search for childhood dollhouse which has secret message from her dad
Real LifeHer father had written a message to her when he built it 33 years ago, but she has never seen it
How the royal family will weather the Prince Andrew scandal
UK & World NewsAndrew likely to be positioned as Queen's wayward son in ways that may win more support for the monarch
Gousto has two new recipe options for Valentine's Day
Food & DrinkIn eight steps and with just 14 ingredients, home cooks will show off some serious kitchen skills

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ashley Monroe's eagerly anticipated fourth full-length release, Sparrow, dropped on April 20—and there's one fan who definitely approves heartily of the album.
That would be Monroe's adorable son, Dalton William Danks, who is just shy of nine months old, and looks thrilled both examining and chewing on his mom's CD in a cute multi-photo post she shared on Instagram.
The album has a good deal of adult-flavored vibes, celebrating Monroe's sensual side, but it still has much to do with her life as a wife and mom. Monroe worked on the album while pregnant with her first child, so was approaching it completely substance-free; additionally, she explored themes of her own childhood, including the pain of losing her father at an early age.
Dalton was born July 28 of last year. Monroe and husband John Danks, a free MLB agent who was the former pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, were married in 2013, with bestie Miranda Lambert serving Monroe's maid of honor. The couple announced their pregnancy on Christmas day 2016 and revealed the gender in March.
Monroe's previous studio record, The Blade, was released to critical acclaim and named one of the best albums of 2015 by several publications, including Rolling Stone and Time magazine. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Country album. She also released a live album in 2016 recorded at Nashville's Third Man Records, owned by Jack White.


Shane's parents had a photographer come and take pictures while we were there for Christmas. After looking through them I see a lot of laughing and a lot of kissing. I think that makes for a successful family!


text:
Markarian's Alexandra O'Neill and interior designer CeCe Barfield Thompson, both wearing a dress O'Neill designed inspired by Christie's upcoming Interiors auction.
Photo: Christie's LTD 2019
Bergdorf Goodman Debuts Exclusive Line Inspired by a Christie's Interiors Auction
Markarian's Alexandra O'Neill and interior designer CeCe Barfield create beautiful pieces that take cues from ravishing antiques
By Jill Sieracki
Markarian's Alexandra O'Neill and interior designer CeCe Barfield Thompson. Photo: Christie's LTD 2019
Among the 495 lots coming to the block at this month's Christie's Interiors auction are early-1900s glassware by Tiffany Studios, artworks by Helen Frankenthaler and Robert Natkin, and a circa-1964 George Nakashima pedestal desk. But on display at the August 16–20 preview are a pair of capsule collections that are decidedly more modern.
Markarian designer Alexandra O'Neill—whose stunning dresses and gowns have been seen on Priyanka Chopra, Felicity Jones, and Kate Hudson—and interior designer CeCe Barfield Thompson, a former senior designer for the legendary Bunny Williams, were given early access to source inspiration for new pieces they created to be sold exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, beginning August 12.
"When CeCe and I walked the Christie's warehouse, we were both immediately drawn to the same pieces for inspiration," says O'Neill, who created the intricate embroidery on a dress based the traditional Indian floral motif found on a pair of recamiers. The same fabric also inspired the painted border on a set of dinner plates and the etching on silver-plate cups designed by Barfield Thompson.
Tabletop pieces designed by CeCe Barfield Thompson that were inspired by items in Christie's upcoming Interiors auction. Photo: Christie's LTD 2019
"This is as classic as you get in an Indian floral; it's been reinterpreted by designers for centuries, and it's so fresh every time," says Barfield Thompson of the pattern. In another moment of synchronicity, the motif on a Parisian porcelain urn was reimagined by O'Neill as a shimmery embroidery on rich velvet for a dress, then translated into scalloped table linens by Barfield Thompson.
Recommended: 7 Sculptural Lighting Options That Instantly Transform a Space
The two creatives, best friends since their days studying art history at New York University, envision their separate lines as companions that together make up the ultimate environment for a discerning hostess. "The idea is you have this perfect ensemble. I dream of living my life in a modern way that's also rooted in traditional hospitality of receiving people at home and having the dress that coordinates with the tabletop and the linens," says Barfield Thompson. "Hopefully we're making that appealing to a new generation."
The fabric of this recamier inspired embroidery O'Neill's Markarian dresses, and the linens designed by Barfield Thomspon. Photo: Christie's LTD 2019
While this is their first formal collaboration, their influence on each other's work runs deep—from O'Neill creating Barfield Thompson's bridesmaid dresses to the interior designer decorating the fashion designer's office. "There's never been a formal client relationship," says Barfield Thompson, whose pieces for this capsule collection also mark her first official product line. (O'Neill is working on a hat collection with accessories designer Gigi Burris for next spring.) "We're best friends, so we always help each other out. There's a constant dialogue."
To help illustrate the cross currents of the auction (which will take place August 21–22) and the capsule collections, the designers built several vignettes at Christie's Rockefeller Center galleries using auction items as well as the new home goods and fashions. "Christie's wanted us to show how a new generation can interpret antiques and live with them in a way that is modern," says Barfield Thompson. "We picked a very monotone palette for the walls and the curtains. Streamlining the background allowed the antiques to come forward and really pop so they felt bold and sculptural."
The 14 Most Stunning Public Artworks of All Time
Diébédo Francis Kéré's Serpentine Pavilion Unveiled in London
Architecture Firm Barozzi Veiga Designs Sleek New Art Museum in Switzerland


text:
The Frame: Why Auschwitz Is 'Not Long Ago. Not Far Away'
In Blade Runner, The Future Is Asian
Henry Huntington: A Railroad Tycoon Who Transformed Southern California
Powerful images from the Chicano rights movement
A young Chicanita hawks La Raza newspapers at the Poor People's Campaign, Washington, D.C. May-July 1968.
Maria Varela/Maria Varela Photography
Karen Grigsby Bates | NPR | September 16, 2017
Ask Luis Garza how the La Raza exhibition came to be at The Autry Museum of the American West, and he raises his palms, eyes heavenward:
"Karma," he says. "Fate. Serendipity. The gods have chosen to align us at this moment in time."
Garza, who co-curated the exhibition with Amy Scott, is being a little dramatic, but he's not wrong. The country has finally started paying attention to Latino culture.
Planning for Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, a huge, international group of shows focusing on Latin American culture in the Americas and in Los Angeles, was underway, spearheaded by the powerful Getty Museum. And at about the same time, Garza and others had begun to review thousands and thousands of photographs taken during the Chicano Rights movement.
Photographers from La Raza (literally "the race"), an activist newspaper-turned-magazine published from 1967-1977, chronicled Chicanos in LA and Southern California; it would become nationally significant. After the magazine shut down, the archives were eventually gifted to UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center. Years later, the Center wondered if the Autry might be interested in doing something with them.
The Autry was. Rick West, the museum's president and CEO, jumped at the idea. The museum's mission, West says, "is to look at the cultures that make up the American West in a very inclusive and pluralistic way." The La Raza exhibition had all the elements.
"You have what was a very, very important moment 50 years ago in Latino/a history—the Chicano rights movement," West ticks off. "You had the voice that articulated that—the photographers of La Raza. And that voice was a first-person voice": photographers as witnesses.
About 200 of the 25,000 (yes, that's not a typo) photographs are up on the Autry's walls. And they are only the tip of the visual iceberg. "The vast body of this work has never been seen, has never been printed—until now," Garza says.
"From the mundane to the magnificent"
The photos—all black and white—range from shots of homey gatherings (neighborhood barbecues, parades, playground scenes) to protests, demonstrations and boycotts. On one wall, a line of Mexican Americans stretches to the distant horizon. They're walking down a long dusty road waving banners and placards. Participants in La Marcha de la Reconquista covered almost 1,000 miles in a month. They started from Calexico, in California's Southern-most boarder, and walked to Sacramento to lobby the state government for several things, including improved conditions for farm workers, and an end to police brutality.
In another shot, a little girl walks with a huge sign that warns onlookers a local auto dealership engages in discriminatory labor practices.
There are photos of high-school students during a convulsive series of walk-outs, as students protested the shabby education the Los Angeles school board thought was good enough for them. And a fetching picture of a bridal couple, still in their finery, who left church immediately after their vows and marched with the crowd to protest the inordinate numbers of Chicanos that had been drafted, injured and killed in the Vietnam War.
Most of the photographers were self-taught. Before he joined La Raza as a staff photographer, Garza apprenticed with a professional, learning exposures, lighting, composition and developing. When he went to the paper, he took those skills and shared them with others who wanted to shoot. "We were mentoring each other," he says now.
The exhibition shows they were quick learners. They're not all memorable photos, Garza says; there's a little of everything here. "You go from the mundane to the magnificent."
One of the most memorable was taken by one of a handful of women photographers. Maria Varela's portrait of a little girl hawking La Raza at the Poor People's Campaign in Washington, D.C. is a standout for its energy and its size—it's one of the photos that have been blown up into a stele-sized image.
Varela had a long and storied career as a Chicana who went south in the early 60s to photograph the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC, as volunteers worked to register black voters in Mississippi and Alabama. In 1968, she came to D.C. with a contingent of Chicanos who'd come to participate in several Poor People's Campaign marches.
She doesn't remember the little paper girl's name, but she says, "This might have been the time that everyone emptied out to go up to Arlington Cemetery to honor Robert Kennedy, who had been assassinated two weeks before."
"This was our Facebook"
Although La Raza was the best-known of the Chicano newspapers, there were about 35 of them scattered across the US, from California to the Midwest, anywhere there were substantial Chicano populations. Sometimes travelers would carry an armload to Mexico or overseas, where they were snapped up. The pictures drew people in.
The stories gave them ideas for organizing. And, Varela says, they served another, important purpose: "This was our Facebook. This was our communication network. It was a little clunky, but it got the word out about what was going on in these individual communities."
The Autry Museum sits near several Latino communities, and the La Raza show may draw in people who've never crossed its threshold before. Some may be surprised to find faces they know in this exhibit—of long-lost friends, family, maybe even their own.
Luis Garza looks around the gallery and smiles. "That's the beauty of the power of photography," he says. "If one picture is worth a thousand words, how many are being said in this exhibition?"
Oh, and he might be right about that serendipity thing: La Raza opens to the public on September 16—Mexican Independence Day.
Latino identity fades as immigrant ties weaken, study finds
App helps art lovers find OC muralist Emigdio Vásquez's work
California high court upholds farmworker law
Prize-winning photos show another side of Instagram
Getty director tapped to lead National Trust board
Visual, visceral accounts of the Chicano movement on display in LA
KPCC's Arts & Entertainment coverage is a Southern California resource provided by member-supported public radio. We can't do it without you.


The ironing Certification is the perfect course choice for anyone who wants to improve their career prospects or open their own ironing service business. The course teaches you everything you need to know about ironing and running your own successful business.
The ironing Certification is an industry recognised certification which is broken down into eleven manageable modules, taking approximately five hours to complete. The course teaches you how to use your new skills and how to implement the skills into your own business to achieve success.
This course is offered online, which enables you to study at your own pace without any schedules or deadlines. If you like you can take months to complete the course while working full time. An affordable one-off payment gives you access to all eleven modules, online tutoring and on successful completion and passing of the multiple choice test at the end, you can download and print your certificate.
This course is going to take you through eleven information packed modules, each one providing you with knowledge, skills and guidance to improve your career prospects or start your own ironing services business.
A basic introduction to ironing where you will learn about the demand for this service, why you should consider opening your own business and how to get up and running in the shortest space of time.
Learn the importance of a business plan and what to include in your plan. Also get valuable advice on the five financing options to get your business off the ground.
Understand how working from home can be the most cost-effective solution when starting your own business, but also pitfalls you may encounter along the way.
Get a good understanding of the types of items you will be asked to iron, what pricing structure you should put in place, along with services you may want to offer, such as drop off and collection services.
Know about ironing equipment from the type of iron you should buy to choosing the right ironing board and so much more.
Learn the art of ironing from ironing various clothing items to speeding up your ironing abilities to complete more items in the shortest space of time.
Understand the importance of customer care. You will learn how to improve your service levels and how to ensure you enjoy repeat business.
Learn all there is about advertising. You will learn how to set advertising goals, where to advertise, what your adverts should include and how to advertise your business effectively to achieve the best results.
The course will teach you how to name your business to create a name that is memorable. You will learn how to register your business and whether registration is essential. You will also learn where you must display your name.
Learn the ins and outs of insurance and tax from registering as self-employed and operating as a sole trader to income tax and national insurance requirements.
You will also gain some valuable insider tips and advice from time management tips to the importance of ironing in an odour free environment.
An easy syllabus broken down into eleven information packed modules to help you achieve success.
Improve your career prospects by using the skills and knowledge you learn when completing this course.
Carry an industry recognised certification which you can use to push your own business or to improve your career prospects with your existing employer.
Learn how to run your own successful ironing services business.
Identify what you need to promote your business effectively.
Gain insight, information and tips to help you grow your business and achieve success on a daily basis.
Learn how to exceed your clients' expectations to enjoy a high percentage of repeat business.


Choose from three accounts and pick the perks that matter most.
Whether Visa® or American Express®, we have the right card for you.
Get instant access to money for withdrawals and purchases.
Choose from three types of protection to cover checking account oversights.
Gift cards and travel cards are perfect for any gift or excursion.
- Melinda & Kelsey P.


text:
Listen to The Mould Show Podcast on ITunes
About Academic Publications Media - Radio & TV Contact Blog Events Login
How a Sauna Could Help You Detoxify From Mould - Part 1
Uncategorized Feb 06, 2020
"Mould Detox Using Saunas". In today's live stream we are going to be focusing on one of the most important aspects of mould exposure. This has to do with how you can potentially take control of your health. We're taking a close look at one of the methods that has been written up reasonably extensively in the peer-reviewed literature that talks about practical methods that have shown strong effectiveness in people who have serious mould symptoms. In part 1 of this live stream I'm going to be reviewing some of the key papers that discuss how saunas have been used for mould detoxification. I'll also be discussing how saunas have been used by firefighters in an effort to combat problems associated with chemical and particulate matter challenge that they are exposed to as part of their work. Therefore, in part 1 I will review both recent and existing literature on which you can make some decisions regarding whether you want to incorporate this health modality into your own detoxification strategy. In part 2 we will discuss some of the fundamentals of infrared thermal energy and in part 3 we will talk to practitioners and people who use saunas for this purpose. In this livestream we will also review some of the current breaking news in the microbiology literature that has appeared in the first week of February.
The treatment of patients with mycotoxin-induced disease.
A Large Case-series of Successful Treatment of Patients Exposed to Mold and Mycotoxin.
A review of the mechanism of injury and treatment approaches for illness resulting from exposure to water-damaged buildings, mold, and mycotoxins.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2013/767482/
Exposure of firefighters to particulates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24512044
Sauna bathing, health, and quality of life among octogenarian men: the Helsinki Businessmen Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29188579
© 2023 Copyright © This Site Online Since 1996, Dr. Cameron L. Jones, PhD.
Get your FREE mould assessment questionnaire
Find out today how your home ranks using our 12-point rating scale and take control of your environmental health.


text:
Browse: Home / 2012 / January / 03 / REEL LIFE WITH JANE: The Adventures of Tintin Review
REEL LIFE WITH JANE: The Adventures of Tintin Review
MPAA Rating: PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking
Released in Theaters: Dec. 21, 2011 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Family, Adventure, Based on a Book
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Toby Jones, Cary Elwes, Sebastian Roche
Official Site: http://www.tintin.com/
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: When investigative reporter Tintin buys a model ship at an outdoor market, it sparks a journey that includes an ocean ride on a cargo ship, a plane crash in North Africa, and a sunken treasure at the bottom of the sea. Ever-present is Tintin's resourceful dog Snowy and an unquenchable thirst for adventure.
Sex/Nudity: None.
Violence/Gore. Fair amount for a family movie, including guns, explosions, swords, razors, and fires that put the main characters in peril. People are threatened, shot, punched and chased, and there's even some blood when a secondary character dies by gunshot; he leaves a clue by marking letters in blood on a newspaper headline. One of the more intense moments occurs when an unconscious Tintin nearly gets his head cut off in an airplane propeller after crash-landing in the desert.
Profanity: Somewhat mild, but includes one "damned," along with salty language via pirates and Captain Haddock, like "Christopher Columbus," "great snakes," "bloomin' barnacles," and "simperin' son of a poor-faced profiteer."
Drugs/Alcohol: Captain Haddock drinks whiskey, slurs words, and acts tipsy through most of the movie. Shipmates drink, and alcohol is served at a fancy party. While their plane is falling from the sky, Haddock and Snowy drink blobs of floating alcohol in zero gravity.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 8 and older who've read Herge's Tintin books or like action movies a la Indiana Jones.
Will Parents Like It? Yes, it's a little violent for a PG movie, but also fun, joyful and well made.
MOVIE REVIEW: What a fun movie! I haven't read the comic books by Belgian author Herge (a.k.a. Georges Remi) on which The Adventures of Tintin is based, but no matter. It's an action-packed caper with smart dialogue and great character development, despite the motion-capture animation. It will also bring Herge's wonderful stories to a whole new audience unfamiliar with his work.
At first, I wondered about the wisdom of using motion capture, but learned that director Steven Spielberg had originally planned to do a live-action adaptation and called Peter Jackson to ask if his visual effects company, Weta Digital, would work on the film. Turns out that Jackson, who produced the movie along with Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, was a longtime fan of Tintin. He convinced Spielberg that motion capture was the best way of representing Hergé's world of Tintin. However, Tintin's brave and resourceful dog Snowy would still be CGI.
The movie also pays homage to Herge in the noir-themed opening credits, which are done in the same typeface as the comic books. It's nice when filmmakers pay attention to those important details so that the original creators and authors don't get lost in the process. I'd expect nothing less of Spielberg, who's had the rights to Tintin since 1983. He's been thinking about this film for a long time, and two sequels are already in the works.
The story begins in Brussels with well-known investigative reporter Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) buying a replica of a legendary pirate ship called the Unicorn at an outdoor market. He's immediately approached by a buyer named Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who won't take no for an answer.
Unfortunately, "no' is the answer he gets from Tintin, who takes the ship home and ends up being kidnapped – along with his brave and resourceful dog Snowy – and placed aboard a cargo ship helmed by the whiskey-loving Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis).
Tintin and Snowy escape, but learn that Sakharine is after some hidden scrolls leading to a sunken treasure buried by Haddock's ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock. The race is on as Tintin, Haddock and Sakharine race to find the final scroll and, ultimately, the treasure.
When a movie is made by Spielberg and Jackson, the details are nothing less than magnificent. You can tell at a glance that a lot of time and thought has gone into making this movie, and it's not lost on audiences — from details like a Citroen car to a vintage motorcycle with a sidecar (a Knucklehead Harley-Davidson, perhaps?). Even though Tintin is technically a kids' movie, it's also perfect for adults who love Herge or 1930s adventure flicks.
There's a fair amount of violence for a family movie, but it's Indiana Jones-type violence that's integral to the story and not gratuitous in any way. Another similarity to Indiana Jones is that Tintin is highly resourceful and only falters in his mission at one point in the story. He has that "improvise, adapt and survive" motto of the Marines down pat.
The dialogue is also very creative and funny. Here's a sample which, again, reminds me of a line you'd hear in an Indiana Jones movie:
Captain Haddock: "Do you know what you're doing?"
Tintin: "More or less."
Captain Haddock: "Well, which is it? More or less?"
If you've been missing a good old-fashioned adventure film out of Hollywood, go see The Adventures of Tintin. Oh, and take the kids along. They'll enjoy it, too.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at ReelLifeWithJane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
REEL LIFE WITH JANE: Jack & Jill Review
REEL LIFE WITH JANE: Arthur Christmas Review
REEL LIFE WITH JANE: Alvin and the Chipmunks — Chipwrecked Review
Posted in Reel Life with Jane | Tagged movie reviews, tintin | Leave a response
+ 6 = ten


text:
using Microsoft.Xaml.Interactivity;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Windows.UI.Xaml;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
using System.Globalization;

namespace Naylah.Toolkit.UWP.Behaviors
{
    public class RegexTextBoxBehavior : DependencyObject, IBehavior
    {

        public string Regex
        {
            get { return (string)GetValue(RegexProperty); }
            set { SetValue(RegexProperty, value); }
        }

        // Using a DependencyProperty as the backing store for Regex.  This enables animation, styling, binding, etc...
        public static readonly DependencyProperty RegexProperty =
            DependencyProperty.Register("Regex", typeof(string), typeof(RegexTextBoxBehavior), new PropertyMetadata("", RegexChangedCallback));

        private static void RegexChangedCallback(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            var behavior = (RegexTextBoxBehavior)d;

        }

        public string CurrentTextValue { get; set; }

        ///
        /// Used to attach this behavior to an element.
        /// Must be a TextBox.
        ///
        ///TextBox to assocate this behavior with.
        public void Attach(DependencyObject associatedObject)
        {
            TextBox tb = associatedObject as TextBox;
            if (tb == null)
            {
                throw new ArgumentException("NumericTextBoxBehavior can only be used with a TextBox.");
            }

            AssociatedObject = associatedObject;
            AssociatedObjectAsTextBox = tb;

            CurrentTextValue = "";

            AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.Loaded += (s, e) => { TbOnTextChanging(s, null); };

        }

        public virtual void TbOnTextChanging(object sender, TextBoxTextChangingEventArgs e)
        {

            if (AssociatedObjectAsTextBox == null)
            {
                return;
            }

            try
            {

                AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.TextChanging -= TbOnTextChanging;

                if (IsValidValue())
                {
                    CurrentTextValue = AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.Text;
                }

                AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.Text = CurrentTextValue;

                AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.SelectionStart = AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.Text.Length;

            }
            catch (Exception)
            {
            }
            finally
            {
                AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.TextChanging += TbOnTextChanging;
            }

        }

        public virtual bool IsValidValue()
        {
            try
            {
                return System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.IsMatch(AssociatedObjectAsTextBox.Text, Regex);
            }
            catch (Exception)
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        ///
        /// Detaches the behavior from the TextBox.
        ///
        public void Detach()
        {
            TextBox tb = AssociatedObject as TextBox;
            if (tb != null)
            {
                tb.TextChanging -= this.TbOnTextChanging;
            }
        }

        ///
        /// The associated object (TextBox).
        ///
        public DependencyObject AssociatedObject { get; private set; }
        public TextBox AssociatedObjectAsTextBox { get; private set; }
    }

}


text:
Carrie Underwood Shows Her Face in One of Her First Photos Since Her Scary Fall
She also hinted at new music.
Update, 4/6: Carrie Underwood posted a new Instagram photo on Friday signaling that new music is in the works. The photo shows her on stage rehearsing with a band, showing her full face for the first time since her accident this past fall.
"Missed these guys. #bandrehearsals," she wrote in her Instagram caption. If she were planning a comeback for next weekend's ACM Awards, the timing would be pretty great. Though naturally, she's not giving any more details.
Missed these guys. #bandrehearsals
A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Apr 6, 2018 at 8:04am PDT
Original post, 4/4: Back in November, Carrie Underwood suffered a scary fall on stairs outside her home. The country star told her fans that she had to get more than 40 stitches in her face, and warned she "might look a little different" once she got back in front of a camera.
Months later, Underwood is clearly inching back into the spotlight, and she looks like she's fully recovered—and ready to release new music, too. On Wednesday, Underwood posted a photo on Twitter and Instagram without a caption, showing herself in a recording studio. Half her face is visible, and it's the first time she's showed this much of her face since the accident.
pic.twitter.com/2QDk7Dxqp6
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) April 4, 2018
Underwood was first spotted by a fan back in January, who said on social media that she "looked amazing." The only injury visible in that photo was her broken wrist, which required surgery to mend. But Underwood kept her face off social media entirely until now, and any photo she posted would mostly obscure her face, or focus on her family and her husband, hockey player Mike Fisher, instead.
When in 5 degree weather, wrap your @caliabycarrie scarf around your neck and face...you keep warm AND look like an awesome winter snow ninja! #WinWin #StayThePath #LetItSnow #BabyItsColdOutside ❄ ⛄
A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Dec 27, 2017 at 12:30pm PST
Together, we're in it to end it! Help us shine a light on modern day slavery. @enditmovement #enditmovement
A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Feb 23, 2018 at 11:05am PST
But what's most important for fans is that she's doing okay, and that we'll likely be hearing more of her music very soon. She's reportedly set to perform at the CMA Fest this June, and released a music video for "The Champion," an Olympic anthem featuring Ludacris, earlier this year. And here's hoping she'll make an appearance at this year's ACM Awards, too, since she's nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
More From Country Music News
Proof Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Are Adorable
Dolly Parton Has Music Planned for 'When I'm Gone'
60 Best Country Love Songs of All Time
Everyone's Obsessed With Lauren Daigle
35 Romantic Song Lyrics You'll Want to Share
Martina McBride is Mourning the Death of Her Mom
The Best Photos of Tanya Tucker Through the Years
Reba McEntire Reflects on Divorce and Moving On
Blake Shelton Has Really Changed Over the Years
Carrie Underwood Is Returning to the Stage
See Carrie Underwood's First Photo Since Falling
Shop Carrie Underwood Beauty Secret: Eye Masks
Carrie Underwood's First Performance Since Fall
Carrie Underwood Announces Return to Stage
Carrie's Face Injury Made It Impossible to Sing


text:
https://apnews.com/article/sports-soccer-james-milner-premier-league-virgil-van-dijk-7febf6647ce7e7306c5fe8dd1931ad6f
'I'm concerned': Liverpool under scrutiny after slow start
By STEVE DOUGLASAugust 23, 2022 GMT
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and his teammate Andrew Robertson leave the pitchat the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford stadium, in Manchester, England, Monday, Aug 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Their foreheads nearly touching, Liverpool teammates James Milner and Virgil van Dijk exchanged furious words on the field. They pointed, gesticulated, looked utterly disgusted.
Liverpool had just fallen behind for the seventh straight Premier League and, amid the bedlam inside a reawakened Old Trafford, two of the team's senior players were going after each other.
A sign that they care? Maybe.
To many people, though, that moment will be used to show all is not quite right inside Jurgen Klopp's team.
The results bear that out, too.
It's always dangerous to jump to early-season conclusions — only three rounds of games have been played, after all — but such have been the fine margins in Premier League title races in recent years that every point counts.
And Liverpool, already, have dropped seven of them after the 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Monday followed draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace.
The Premier League's crisis club for the first two weeks was United. Now, much of the scrutiny will switch to Liverpool.
"The team is tight, we are a close unit but things need to be said sometimes," Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said. "Things will get better. But we are far behind where we want to be."
Graham Arnold reappointed Australian national coach
U.S. men end training camp in scoreless draw with Colombia
Almeria beats Espanyol 3-1 to stay unbeaten after World Cup
Almada relishes World Cup win, looks forward to MLS season
In all likelihood, Liverpool will pick up its first win of the season on Saturday against Bournemouth, a promoted team that has just shipped a total of seven goals in losses to Manchester City and Arsenal.
And it shouldn't be forgotten that the loss to United was Liverpool's first in the league in 2022.
Still, the first three games have highlighted some problems for the Reds.
INJURIES TAKING TOLL
Liverpool's strength in depth has improved immeasurably in recent seasons but the glut of injuries afflicting the squad is a concern.
Klopp said he was down to "14, 15 senior players" for the United game with the following out injured: defenders Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip, midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones, and forward Diogo Jota. Meanwhile, Darwin Núñez, the new signing up front, was serving the first match of a three-game suspension.
So, it meant Liverpool was playing its fifth-choice forward (Roberto Firmino), its fourth-choice central defender (Joe Gomez) and a journeyman midfielder (James Milner). Klopp filled his bench with two back-up goalkeepers.
"I'm concerned about our situation," Klopp said.
WEAKENED MIDFIELD
The midfield might be the biggest area of concern, even if Klopp maintains his options there are sufficient.
Without Thiago, Liverpool lacks a player to run a game and deliver a killer ball. Fabinho, the Brazil anchorman, was dropped against United because of a middling start to the season. Jordan Henderson is a leader, sure, but rarely plays 90 minutes these days. Keita is hit and miss, yet to develop into the dynamic player Liverpool thought it was getting. Milner, at 36, has played the last two games despite being well past his best.
Liverpool's failure to buy a midfielder in this transfer window and move on others looks to be a misjudgment, with Klopp perhaps having too much faith in players who have served him so well.
Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund might be the midfielder Liverpool is waiting to get next year. Maybe the Reds should have gone all out this summer.
STRUGGLING VAN DIJK
He was turned easily by Aleksandar Mitrovic and gave away a penalty in the opening-weekend draw at Fulham. He stood like a statue as Jadon Sancho lined up his shot to put United ahead on Monday.
That's two more errors than Van Dijk usually makes in an entire season.
If the imposing Dutchman — the player who holds the defense together — is off the pace, it is bound to seep into the rest of the team.
Van Dijk hasn't been helped by having to start alongside three different center-back partners already this season, in Matip, Nat Phillips and Gomez.
The Reds have conceded the first goal in all three games and now in nine of their last 10 competitive games. They need to be switched on earlier in games.
MISSING MANE
Sadio Mane was a mainstay in Liverpool's attack for six years, a regular source of goals and the provider of so much energy and thrust that it helped his teammates around him. In the second half of last season, he mostly started as a center forward and was more prolific and important than Mohamed Salah.
He is sorely missed following his move to Bayern Munich, where he sought a new challenge. Luis Diaz is a fine replacement — Klopp called the Colombian "special" last week — but it's asking a lot of him to have the same output as Mane.
With Firmino on the decline and the tall Núñez a very different type of striker, Liverpool has a remodeled attack that requires a whole new style of play. That may take time and, after such a poor start to the season, time is already something Liverpool doesn't really have.


text:
My game is ITCHY! The adventures of a bug fleeing the very creature it is walking on. The idea emerged from the "problematic togetherness" in the extreme asymmetry of a parasite-host relationship. The purpose of this work is creating interesting and unique gameplay with a simple structure. So I mostly focused on the core components and parameters that define the gameplay. The maps are automatically generated from Voronoi diagrams because they resemble a reptile skin, and they give us an irregular cellular structure that allows complex strategy to emerge from a simple conflict. I also recorded and created beast sounds. The audio is critical in the gameplay, because the bug avoids the host by hearing its groanings.
* The map of the beast's skin is generated automatically each time as a Voronoi Diagram of uniform random center points. We used Delaunay Triangulation code by Sjaak Priester, which can be found at: http://www.codeguru.com/cpp/cpp/algorithms/general/article.php/c8901
* SDL, SDL_image, SDL_gfx, SDL_ttf and SDL_mixer libraries were used with C++ in MSVC 2003
* The sounds were recorded in the stairway of ATOM building with an M-Audio Microtrack II.
* The beast's groanings and moanings in fact belonged to Ugur, before they were pitch-shifted down a few octaves.
* Version 1.01 is released with some bug fixes
About a project on game culture and industry in Turkey:
http://dijitaloyun.wordpress.com/about-the-projec/
Number of Members:
Full Name / affiliation / email / role:
Işık Barış Fidaner, PhD student in Bogazici Univ Comp Eng, fidaner gmail [dot] com, Code-Graphics-Game Design etc.
fidaner gmail [dot] com
Game Submission
Just copy the folder and run Itchy.exe
Brief Play Description:
In the game, we find ourselves a bug trying to survive on the skin of a reptile-like giant (relative to the bug of course). The problem is, the bug needs to run and eat the foods on the skin, but this makes the beast itchy, and he scratches the itchy places on his skin. We, the bug, cannot see his entire body, but we try to predict and escape his scratches by interpreting the noises he makes. The skin is clustered into irregular cells and regenerated every time, so we cannot memorize the map.
Game Files:
Itchy-Parazit.rar
Itchy-1.01.zip
Itchy-1.01-src.zip
Game Characteristics:
Windows 98/2K/XP or DOS
By Parazit at 02/01/2009 - 07:24
Nice work - I had fun playing
By The Kranzky Bros. at 02/01/2009 - 22:13
Nice work - I had fun playing it!
Agreed, this one is a lot of
By cdrates (not verified) at 11/05/2009 - 07:13
Agreed, this one is a lot of fun to play.
thank you :) i played brown cloud, it's fun too..
it's my first game jam, i guess you have some experience..


This version starts a new development branch for version v5 which brings some new, not-so-intrusive features. This release includes enhancements for imfile, support for TCP KEEP ALIVE and a way to name actions (primarily for impstats).
Note that the main development activity is still focused at version 6.
So this release is only for those interested in the minor enhancements to v5.


text:
A simple app to make pixel art.

[Demo](https://bheinzelman.github.io/bitgram)


text:
Updated May, 2022
Peter H. Gregory, CISM, CISA, CIPM, CDPSE, CISSP, CRISC, CCSK, DRCE, is an information security executive and career technologist, executive advisor, published author, public speaker, adjunct professor, and commentator in the fields of data security, business security, and business use of technology. He is an expert on a wide variety of business and technology issues including:
Development of strategies for the protection of critical assets
Protection of corporate assets, both physical and information-based
Compliance with U.S. laws including Sarbanes Oxley, FISMA, and HIPAA; and U.S. state laws including CCPA and NYDFS
Compliance with international standards such as ISO27001, NIST 800-30, NIST 800-37, NIST 800-53, and PCI DSS
Compliance with privacy laws such as GDPR and CCPA
Management of SOC 1 / SOC 2 / SSAE16 / SSAE18 / ISAE3402 service provider audits
Security policy, controls, governance, risk management, training, and business processes
Key business processes that support security, including risk management, change and configuration management, vulnerability management, identity management, access management, and the systems development life cycle
Business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning, crisis management, including pandemic contingency planning
Advisory board member, University of South Florida executive cyber security program
Adjunct professor (emeritus) and advisory board member, University of Washington certificate program on Information Systems Security
Advisory board member, University of Washington certificate programs in Information Security and Risk Management
He is currently employed as a security senior leader in a North America-based telecommunications organization.
CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), 2000
CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), 2002
DRCE (Disaster Recovery Certified Expert), 2008
CRISC (Certified in Risk, Information Security, and Control), 2010
CCSK (Cloud Computing Security Knowledge), 2010
CCISO (Certified Chief Information Security Officer), 2012 (expired)
PCI-ISA (Payment Card Industry Internal Security Assessor), 2013 (expired)
PCI-QSA (Payment Card Industry Qualified Security Assessor), 2014 (expired)
CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), 2017
CIPM (Certified Information Privacy Manager), 2018
CDPSE (Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer), 2020
Mr. Gregory has published over forty books in five languages on security and technology, including:
CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor All-In-One Exam Guide (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions)
CISM Certified Information Security Manager All-In-One Exam Guide
CIPM Certified Information Privacy Manager All-In-One Exam Guide
CDPSE Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer All-In-One Exam Guide
CRISC Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control All-In-One Exam Guide
CISSP Guide to Security Essentials (1st and 2nd editions)
IT Disaster Recovery Planning for Dummies
CISSP for Dummies (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th editions)
Solaris Security
Mr. Gregory was an expert witness (Amicus Curiae) in a successful federal prosecution of a cybercriminal in 2006 resulting in a multi-year prison term.
He has written over twenty articles in publications including:
BankInfoSecurity
SearchSecurity
Software Magazine
Dark Reading Daily, where his analysis of the TJX 10-K filing topped their "Best of the Web" listing
Mr. Gregory is regularly interviewed for industry news articles. His comments have been quoted in:
Forward View
CIO Magazine
CSO Magazine
Information Security Magazine
SC Magazine
C|Net News
Peter H Gregory on the stage
He has also spoken at numerous security conferences and events throughout the United States and Canada, including:
RSA, San Francisco
SecureWorld Expo, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston
(ISC)2 Congress, Orlando and Austin
Interop, Las Vegas
Victoria Privacy and Security Conference, Victoria, B.C.
Optiv Enterprise Security Solutions Summit (ES3), Seattle, Denver, Omaha
Dark Reading Cyber Security Summit, Las Vegas
Tech Junction, Albuquerque
ArcticCon, Anchorage
ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association), Seattle
West Coast Security Forum, Vancouver
Washington Technology Industry Association, Seattle
InfraGard, Seattle
Source, Seattle
Western Pension and Benefits Conference, Seattle
Wyoming Governor's Broadband Summit, Cheyenne
Credit Union National Association Security Summit, Las Vegas
Veritas Worldwide User Conference, Phoenix
International Gaming Business Exposition, Las Vegas
Society for Information Management, Bellevue
IT Connect Expo, Santa Clara
Interface, Anchorage and Seattle
Security Professionals Information Exchange (SPIE), Calgary
numerous private events
As an event speaker, Mr. Gregory is effective and entertaining whether the audience is highly technical or highly non-technical.
Mr. Gregory has served on several advisory boards, including:
InfraGard, the Evergreen State (Washington) Chapter (Emeritus)
University of Washington certificate program for Information Security and Risk Management, one of the first such programs certified by the U.S. National Security Agency
University of Washington certificate program for Information Systems Security
SecureWorld Expo Conference
He has also been involved in various community service efforts, including:
Co-founder and group manager for the Pacific CISO Forum (Emeritus)
Proctor at CISSP certification exams (Emeritus)
Developer of CISA, CRISC, and CISSP certification exam questions (Emeritus)
Graduate of the FBI Citizens' Academy
Member of the FBI National Citizens' Academy Alumni Association
Contributor, Security Guidance for Critical Areas of Focus in Cloud Computing, Cloud Security Alliance
Certification Board, Cloud Security Alliance
Board Member Emeritus, Seattle InfraGard
Trade Association Memberships
Mr. Gregory is a member of the following trade associations, including:
Pacific CISO Forum (Emeritus)
FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association
(ISC)² (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium)
ISACA (Information Security Audit and Control Association)
IAPP (International Organization of Privacy Professionals)
CyberEdBoard
EC-Council (Emeritus)
Mr. Gregory can be reached by filling out the inquiry form below. This will be sent directly to Mr. Gregory's publicist and business manager in confidence.


text:
Jonathan Aguilar
jaguilar@ksu.edu
Twitter: k_state_news
http://www.k-state.edu
Sweeping study of US farm data shows loss of crop diversity the past 34 years
(Press-News.org) MANHATTAN, KANSAS - U.S. farmers are growing fewer types of crops than they were 34 years ago, which could have implications for how farms fare as changes to the climate evolve, according to a large-scale study by Kansas State University, North Dakota State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Less crop diversity may also be impacting the general ecosystem.
"At the national level, crop diversity declined over the period we analyzed," said Jonathan Aguilar, K-State water resources engineer and lead researcher on the study.
The scientists used data from the USDA's U.S. Census of Agriculture, which is published every five years from information provided by U.S. farmers. The team studied data from 1978 through 2012 across the country's contiguous states.
Croplands comprise about 408 million acres (165 million hectares) or 22 percent of the total land base in the lower 48 states, so changes in crop species diversity could have a substantial impact, not only on agroecosystem function, but also the function of surrounding natural and urban areas. Because croplands are typically replanted annually, theoretically crop species diversity can change fairly rapidly. There is the potential for swift positive change, unlike in natural ecosystems.
Aguilar began the study while working as a researcher with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. He joined K-State Research and Extension, a part of the university, in 2012. The study was conducted in collaboration with a diverse team, including rangelands expert John Hendrickson, USDA-ARS; weeds experts Greta Gramig, NDSU, and Frank Forcella, USDA-ARS; agricultural economics expert David Archer, USDA-ARS; and soils expert Mark Liebig, USDA-ARS.
"At the very simplistic level," Aguilar said, "crop diversity is a measure of how many crops in an area could possibly work together to resist, address and adjust to potential widespread crop failures, including natural problems such as pests and diseases, weed pressures, droughts and flood events. This could also be viewed as a way to spread potential risks to a producer. Just like in the natural landscape, areas with high diversity tend to be more resilient to external pressures than are areas with low diversity. In other words, diversity provides stability in an area to assure food sustainability."
The study is the first to quantify crop species diversity in the U.S. using an extensive database over a relatively long period of analysis, Aguilar said.
The results of the effort, partially funded by the K-State Open Access Fund, were published Aug. 26, 2015, in the scientific journal PLOS One.
In addition to the national trend, the researchers studied regional trends by examining county-level data from areas called Farm Resource Regions developed by the USDA's Economic Research Service. Although the study showed that crop diversity declined nationally, it wasn't uniform in all regions or in all states.
"There seem to be more dynamics going on in some regions or states," Aguilar said, noting that not all of the factors affecting those regional trends are clear.
For instance, the Heartland Resource Region, which is home to 22 percent of U.S. farms and represents the highest value, 23 percent, of U.S. production, had the lowest crop diversity. This region comprises Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and parts of Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kentucky.
In contrast to all of the other regions, the Mississippi Portal Region, which includes parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Arkansas, had significantly higher crop diversity in 2012 than in 1978.
While overall, the national trend was toward less crop diversity, the region called the Fruitful Rim (parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina) and the Northern Crescent (states along the northeast border from part of Minnesota east through Wisconsin, Michigan through to Maine and south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania) had the most crop diversity.
The data used was specific enough that the researchers were able to quantify crop diversity and trends even down to the county level.
"A significant trend of more counties shifting to lower rather than higher crop diversity was detected," the team wrote in the study results. "The clustering and shifting demonstrates a trend toward crop diversity loss and attendant homogenization of agricultural production systems, which could have far-reaching consequences for provision of ecosystem services associated with agricultural systems as well as food system sustainability. "
"Biodiversity is important to the ecosystem function," the researchers wrote. "Biodiversity in agricultural systems is linked to critical ecological processes such as nutrient and water cycling, pest and disease regulation, and degradation of toxic compounds such as pesticides. Diverse agroecosystems are more resilient to variable weather resulting from climate change and often hold the greatest potential for such benefits as natural pest control."
A classic example where high crop diversity could have been crucial was during the corn leaf blight epidemic in the 1970s, Aguilar said.
During the 20th century, increases in the value of human labor, changes in agricultural policies and the development of agricultural technologies led to increased specialization and scale of production. Economic and social factors helped drive the adoption of less-diverse cropping systems.
"An important consequence of increased crop homogeneity is the potential for yield instability with anticipated increased unpredictability in weather patterns linked to climate change. Diverse cropping systems tend to increase farmers' chances of encountering favorable conditions while decreasing the probability of widespread crop failures," the team wrote, citing a study based on long-term data collected in Ontario, Canada.
A simple example would be if a farmer planted part of his acreage to sorghum and the rest to corn. If the growing season was unusually dry and the farmer didn't irrigate, the sorghum would likely fare better, because it's more drought tolerant than corn. In that example, the farmer has come out better by having diverse crop species than if he had planted all of his acreage to corn, in which case he may have had low or non-existent yields.
In addition to quantifying the changes in crop diversity, Aguilar said, the scientists hoped to spur further studies and research with regard to changing agricultural condition and status.
"The factors that affect crop diversity in North Dakota do not necessarily apply to what is happening here in Kansas. This study also has relevance to other agronomic and environmental issues," he said, adding that the research has already generated inquiries from scientists who are studying weed resistance to herbicides, honeybee "friendliness" of the landscape and agricultural community resilience to pressures such as climate change.
In first, Salk scientists use sound waves to control brain cells
LA JOLLA--Salk scientists have developed a new way to selectively activate brain, heart, muscle and other cells using ultrasonic waves. The new technique, dubbed sonogenetics, has some similarities to the burgeoning use of light to activate cells in order to better understand the brain. This new method--which uses the same type of waves used in medical sonograms--may have advantages over the light-based approach--known as optogenetics--particularly when it comes to adapting the technology to human therapeutics. It was described September 15, 2015 in the journal Nature ...
Additional time spent outdoors by children results in decreased rate of nearsightedness
The addition of a daily outdoor activity class at school for three years for children in Guangzhou, China, resulted in a reduction in the rate of myopia (nearsightedness, the ability to see close objects more clearly than distant objects), according to a study in the September 15 issue of JAMA. Myopia has reached epidemic levels in young adults in some urban areas of East and Southeast Asia. In these areas, 80 percent to 90 percent of high school graduates now have myopia. Myopia also appears to be increasing, more slowly, in populations of European and Middle Eastern ...
Sex differences in academic faculty rank, institutional support for biomedical research
Women are less likely than men to be full professors at U.S. medical schools, and receive less start-up support from their institutions for biomedical research, according to two studies in the September 15 issue of JAMA. Women now make up half of all U.S. medical school graduates. However, sex disparities in senior faculty rank persist in academic medicine. Whether differences in age, experience, specialty, and research productivity between sexes explain persistent disparities in faculty rank has not been studied. Anupam B. Jena, M.D., Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, ...
Factors for higher risk of death following hip fracture surgery than hip replacement
Patients undergoing surgery for a hip fracture were older and had more medical conditions than patients who underwent an elective total hip replacement, factors that may contribute to the higher risk of in-hospital death and major postoperative complications experienced by hip fracture surgery patients, according to a study in the September 15 issue of JAMA. Although hip surgery can improve mobility and pain, it can be associated with major postoperative medical complications and mortality. Patients undergoing surgery for a hip fracture are at substantially higher risk ...
Equity gap
Women physicians are substantially less likely to be full professors than men of similar age, experience, specialty and research productivity. With recent increases in the number of women attending medical school, women now comprise nearly half of all new physicians. But the proportion of women at the rank of fullprofessor at U.S. medical schools has not changed since 1980, despite efforts to increase equity, according to a new research study led by Anupam Jena, associate professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. The results are published today in JAMA. "Many ...
Doubt cast on recent study claiming to have unraveled the last mystery of electromagnetism
A group of scientists from ITMO University, Australian National University and Aalto University called into question the results of a study, published by the researchers from Cambridge University in a prestigious scientific journal Physical Review Letters. In the original study, the British scientists claimed that they managed to find the missing link in the electromagnetic theory. The findings, according to the scientists, could help decrease the size of antennas in electronic devices manifold, promising a major breakthrough in the field of wireless communications. The ...
Popular hypertension drugs linked to worse heart health in blacks compared to whites
Drugs commonly used to treat high blood pressure, and prevent heart attacks and strokes, are associated with significantly worse cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive African Americans compared to whites, according to a new comparative effectiveness research study led by researchers in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone Medical Center. The study, published on September 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), is unique, the authors say, in that it evaluates racial differences in cardiovascular outcomes and mortality between hypertensive ...
New perspectives for long-term climate predictions?
Are climate predictions over periods of several years reliable if weather forecast are still only possible for short periods of several days? Nevertheless there are options to predict the development of key parameters on such long time scales. A new study led by scientists at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel shows how the well-known 11-year cycle of solar activity affects the long-time development of dominant large-scale pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere. For their investigations the scientists used a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. In addition, ...
Number of people at high risk of fracture set to double by 2040
September 15, 2015 - Nyon, Switzerland A study from the University of Southampton and Sheffield Medical School in the UK projects a dramatic increase in the burden of fragility fractures within the next three decades. By 2040, approximately 319 million people will be at high risk of fracture -double the numbers considered at high risk today. In this first study to estimate the global burden of disease in terms of fracture probability, the researchers quantified the number of individuals worldwide aged 50 years or more at high risk of fracture in 2010 and projected figures ...
Teen marijuana use down despite greater availability
Marijuana use among American high school students is significantly lower today than it was 15 years ago, despite the legalization in many states of marijuana for medical purposes, a move toward decriminalization of the drug and the approval of its recreational use in a handful of places, new research suggests. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers say, however, that marijuana use is significantly greater than the use of other illegal drugs, with 40 percent of teens in 2013 saying they had ever smoked marijuana. That number was down from 47 percent ...
[Press-News.org] Sweeping study of US farm data shows loss of crop diversity the past 34 years


The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money. Since 2011, the DCSEU has delivered financial incentives, technical assistance, and information to tens of thousands of District residents and businesses, helping them to save millions of dollars on their energy costs. Led by the Sustainable Energy Partnership and under contract to DOEE, the DCSEU is committed to environmental preservation, community engagement, and economic development. Visit dcseu.com for more information.
The Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 (CAEA) requires the Mayor, through DOEE, to contract with a private entity to conduct sustainable energy programs on behalf of the District of Columbia. The CAEA authorizes the creation of a District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) and designates the SEU to be the one-stop resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy services for District residents and businesses. The DCSEU operates under a performance-based contract with DOEE, with input and recommendations from the SEU Advisory Board, and oversight from the Council of the District of Columbia.
From energy-efficient lighting and appliances to home energy retrofits, the DCSEU offers rebates and technical assistance to help DC residents save money and energy.
From equipment upgrades to major renovation and new construction, the DCSEU offers technical assistance and rebates designed to help DC business owners find the right energy solutions.
Visit the DCSEU website for more information.


text:
/******************************************************************************
 * $Id: msp430_sysclock.h $
 *****************************************************************************/
/**
 *  @defgroup MSP430_System_Layer MSP430 System Layer
 *  @brief  MSP430 System Layer APIs.
 *          To interface with any platform, eMPL needs access to various
 *          system layer functions.
 *
 *  @{
 *      @file       msp430_clock.h
 *      @brief      Functions to configure the MSP430 system clock to settings
 *                  required for eMPL.
 *      @details    ACLK, MCLK, and SMCLK are all sourced directly by the DCO.
 *                  The DCO frequency is set by multiplying the internal
 *                  32.768kHz oscillator, which may vary in performance between
 *                  multiple chips. This may be an issue for time-critical
 *                  tasks such as providing a baud rate reference.
 */
#ifndef _MSP430_CLOCK_H_
#define _MSP430_CLOCK_H_

#include <stdint.h>

/**
 *  @brief      Set the frequency of MCLK, SMCLK, and ACLK.
 *  @param[in]  mclk    Frequency of master clock.
 *  @param[in]  xt      1 if XT1 is present, 2 if XT2 is present, 0 otherwise.
 *  @return     0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_clock_init(unsigned long mclk, unsigned char xt);
/**
 *  @brief  Enable the millisecond timer.
 *  This function is automatically called by @e msp430_clock_init. It should be
 *  used to re-enable the timer after @e msp430_clock_disable is called.
 *  @return 0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_clock_enable(void);
/**
 *  @brief  Disable the millisecond timer.
 *  This function should be used prior to entering a low-power mode.
 *  @return 0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_clock_disable(void);
/**
 *  @brief      Get current clock count.
 *  Timer overflow will occur after 2^32 milliseconds.
 *  @param[out] count   Timer count in milliseconds.
 *  @return      0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_get_clock_ms(unsigned long *count);
/**
 *  @brief      Perform a blocking delay.
 *  @param[in]  num_ms  Number of milliseconds to delay.
 *  @return     0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_delay_ms(unsigned long num_ms);
/**
 *  @brief      Get frequency of SMCLK.
 *  Currently, the sub-master clock and the master clock are the same frequency.
 *  @param[out] smclk   SMCLK frequency.
 *  @return     0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_get_smclk_freq(unsigned long *smclk);
/**
 *  @brief      Slow down the timer.
 *  By default, a millisecond timer is used for timing/scheduling purposes.
 *  This API can be used to slow down the interval at which this clock is
 *  updated, saving power by reducing interrupts.
 *  @param[in]  slow    1 to slow down timer.
 *  @return     0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_slow_timer(unsigned char slow);
/**
 *  @brief      Register a one-time timer event.
 *  Only one event can be registered. If this function is called before the
 *  current timer ends, the new event will be registered and the current one
 *  will be discarded.
 *  @param[in]  timer_cb    Function called when timer is expired.
 *  @param[in]  num_ms      Number of milliseconds before function is called.
 *  @return     0 if successful.
 */
int msp430_register_timer_cb(void (*timer_cb)(void), unsigned long num_ms);
#endif  /* _MSP430_CLOCK_H_ */

/**
 * @}
 */


Contact us at the above email address to submit Letters to the Editor or for concerns related to current subscriptions, including address corrections, missed-issue notifications, and all other communications regarding current subscriptions.
The Cresset, a journal of commentary on literature, the arts, and public affairs, explores ideas and trends in contemporary culture from a perspective grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith while informed by the wisdom of the broader Christian community.
crane ready to mourn out the window.
and my brain is all cloud pregnant with baptismal rain.


text:
Behold, a Massive Knit Map of the Cosmos
Three colors of yarn, seven panels, and all 88 constellations.
by Jessica Leigh Hester September 11, 2018
Do you see your favorite constellation? All images: Courtesy Sarah Spencer
Until a few months ago, the largest thing Sarah Spencer, of Melbourne, Australia, had ever knitted was a baby blanket. But she recently decided to scale things up—astronomically. The result is a vast tapestry of the cosmos, 21 times bigger than her blankets.
Spencer is a software engineer by trade, and pulled this project off by tinkering with a domestic knitting machine from the 1980s. She grabbed star data from publicly available maps, and then designed an algorithm that could translate pixels into stitches in one of three different colors. And then, bang! "Yarn is a fuzzy material to work with," she says, "so it wasn't a perfect science."
The stars are scaled based on brightness. That's Rigel at bottom right.
It might not be up to the engineer's standards for precision, but it includes all 88 constellations, including Spencer's favorite, Orion. Visible, at various times of year, from both hemispheres, the warrior has been a friendly fixture in the sky for Spencer, "like having a friend from home join me on my travels," she says. "I was always able to find him whenever I went looking." The white stars are scaled based on their brightness, and the tapestry includes our close neighbors, including the Sun, Moon, and visible planets. A gray band like a rippling stream represents the Milky Way.
The tapestry is roughly nine by 15 feet, and weighs about 33 pounds. The graphic spans seven separate panels, each of which the machine executed overnight—between dusk and dawn, appropriately. It then took days to stitch them together into a single skyscape.
It took days to stitch the sky's seven panels together.
Spencer debuted her piece at Electromagnetic Field, a camping tech-and-arts festival in the United Kingdom that had offered her a grant to work on the installation. She even arranged the planets to correspond to their locations the night of the festival's kickoff, on August 31, 2018.
Now that the event is over, Spencer isn't sure where the map will go next. She hopes to find a home for it that will inspire the next generation of craft- and tech-savvy space nerds. "As a woman in tech, I wanted to create something which would engage young minds in an area of STEM," she says. It's sure to inspire makers, too.
What Happens When Your Country's Tallest Mountain Peak Shrinks?
The southern summit of Kebnekaise was the highest point in Sweden. Then it melted.
constellationsknittingstarsmap mondayspacemaps
The Dazzlingly Colorful Atlases That Brought the Night Sky Within Reach
Detailed maps of the heavens weren't just for scholars.
objects of intrigue
The Tiny Globe That Puts the World and Heavens in Your Palm
Elizabeth Cushee's elegant 1745 orb was boundary-pushing at the time.
Jessica Leigh Hester December 3, 2018
The Lost Constellation Meant to Honor a King's Escape
The oak tree that sheltered Charles II once had a place in the night sky.
Jessica Leigh Hester July 9, 2018
The Exquisite Drawings from the First Map of the Entire Sky
Johann Bayer's star maps depict the mythological beasts and characters on both celestial spheres.
Lauren Young October 24, 2016
Video • Object of Intrigue
Here Be Dragons: Secrets of One of the Earliest Terrestrial Globes
Mapping the World Through Smell
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With Colored-Pencil Cartographer Anton Thomas


LATE BREAKING GIG!!! I'll be playing a show of mostly original music, solo and acoustic at Tongue's Cafe in Wyandotte Friday, July 3rd, from 7-9pm. I truly hope you can join me!
I'll feature tunes from both my EP's "Resonance" and "One That Got Away," as well as songs I've written for the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church band. Tongue's is a great place to chill and enjoy great food and drinks, and of course, the show is all-ages.


Since its start nearly three decades ago, Studio Ghibli has been dominated by the creativity of co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. But since the turn of the millennium, five of its 10 feature films have been made by other, younger directors.
One reason is that Ghibli releases about one film a year, but Miyazaki and Takahata preferred a more deliberate pace. The gap between the two most recent Takahata films was 14 years, while Miyazaki spent five years on his last full-length animation, 2013's "Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises)," before announcing his retirement in September 2013. Ghibli seems to have prepared for the inevitable changing of the guard by giving its younger animators chances to direct.
One of those directors, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, had a hit in 2010 with "Karigurashi no Arrietty (Arrietty)" and now, with his new animation "Omoide no Marnie (When Marnie Was There)," he has made the first Ghibli film without Miyazaki or Takahata's names anywhere on the credits. Based on a 1967 children's book by British writer Joan G. Robinson, it is also the studio's first film with two heroines: Anna (voiced by Sara Takatsuki), an unhappy 12-year-old orphan who calls her kindly adoptive mother "aunt," and Marnie (Kasumi Arimura), an outgoing, if mysterious, blonde-haired girl who Anna befriends while spending a summer on the Hokkaido coast with her mother's relatives.
It quickly becomes apparent, however, that Marnie is not what she seems and that the story will be more than an ode to budding female friendship. It is, instead, a hybrid that combines familiar Ghibli elements — from meticulously observed details to gorgeously realized landscapes — with a script by Yonebayashi that departs from the concerns and motifs Miyazaki made his signatures.
That is, he has not tried to make a Miyazaki film by proxy, and "Marnie" is all the better for it. If this film is indicative of Ghibli's future direction, Miyazaki can rest easy in retirement. (Takahata, aged 78, has yet to call it quits.) At the same time, Yonebayashi is no Miyazaki-like genius transcending the limits of his material with daring imaginative flights; he has turned in a solid adaptation, squarely aimed at girls the same age as his heroines, made with the sort of tugs to the heartstrings Miyazaki disdained (though he has loudly praised the film to the media).
Anna is a sensitive, socially awkward loner who barely cracks a smile to the warm-hearted couple caring for her over the summer in their cozy Hokkaido cottage. She has come to them for relief from her chronic asthma and, her worried adoptive mother hopes, to make friends with the neighborhood children.
Exploring a nearby inlet with sketchbook in hand, Anna happens on a large, dilapidated summer villa by the water that looks uninhabited — until she spies a girl behind a second-story window, having her long blonde hair brushed by an elderly woman.
Later, after a bruising encounter with a local girl at a town festival sends her running away angry and in tears, Anna returns to the inlet. This time she meets the blonde-haired girl, Marnie, who is eager to escape her gilded cage of a house that both fascinates and frightens Anna. Smilingly overcoming Anna's initial shyness, Marnie quickly makes her a friend and confidante. "Let's keep us a secret, forever," she says, and Anna agrees.
Soon, Anna is telling Marnie things she has never told anyone, while Marnie introduces her to the nighttime revels at the villa, presided over by Marnie's stylish socialite mother. In the daytime, however, the villa looks as abandoned as ever. What is going on here? A lonely girl's unusually vivid fantasy/dream life? Perhaps a huge silo that terrifies the usually unflappable Marnie hold a clue?
All is finally illuminated, with a humanistic realism that is more Takahata than Miyazaki — see the former's 1991 film "Omohide Poro Poro (Only Yesterday)" for a good example — though "Marnie" does not entirely escape the uncanny, or even want to. Scenes in the villa brought back memories of "The Shining," though not the hotel's terrifying Room 237. Meanwhile, Anna sees Marnie, not as an exotic Other but as a friend who, however elusive, is essential to her at the deepest level for both her present happiness and her future growth.
Is she real? Does it matter? Marnie rows the enraptured Anna about in a boat with brisk confidence, but she also teaches her to do it herself. That's what counts, isn't it?
Fun fact: Hiromasa Yonebayashi's previous Ghibli film, "Kashigurashi Arrietty (Arrietty)," was also based on a work of fantasy by a British author: "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton. The 2010 film earned $145 million worldwide and won animation of the year at the 34th Japan Academy Prize awards.