text:
Q: Stop accepting new TCP connections without dropping any existing ones I have two servers listening on a TCP port behind a load balancer. The load balancer can detect if a TCP connection attempt from a client was unsuccessful and retry it to the second server without dropping that connection. I want to be able to bring any of these two servers down for maintenance without dropping a single client collection.
My servers use this code to process client requests:
ServerSocketFactory ssf = ...
ServerSocket serverSocket = ssf.createServerSocket(60000);
try {
    while (true) {
        Socket socket = serverSocket.accept();
        ...// Do the processing
    }
} catch (IOException e) {
    ...
}
...

My initial thought was to add a boolean that would be set on application shutdown and prevent new serverSocket.accept() calls while waiting for all existing connection to be processed and closed. However, new connection are being established even before the serverSocket.accept() call. Here's what I see in Wireshark if I put a breakpoint before that call.

The problem is at this point as soon as I call serverSocket.close(), all such client connections get dropped. What I want to achieve is some way of telling ServerSocket to stop accept all new connections (i.e. only send RST for new connections or let them time out), so the load balancer can reroute them to another server, but at the same time not drop any already established connections.
Edit: I'm looking for some automated solution which wouldn't require me to change any load balancer or OS settings every time I want to update the application.

A: You could add firewall rule on the server which will block new but keep old connections active. I guess the server is Linux based? If so, you could try with:
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --syn --destination-port <port> -j REJECT --reject-with icmp-host-prohibited

After that you can check with netstat is there any active connection and bring the application down once when there is no any:
netstat -ant|grep <port>|grep EST

After you finish with the maintenance, you can remove the firewall rule. First, list all the rules to find it:
iptables -L -n

And remove it:
iptables -D INPUT <rule number>

A: At any point when ServerSocket.accept() blocks, or ServerSocketChannel.accept() returns null, the backlog queue is empty. At that point, stop accepting and close the listening socket. Wait for all existing accepted sockets to finish their work and let the application exit at that point.

A: The easiest way to solve your problem is to put additional load balancer locally right before your application server.
Check nginx and HAproxy and chose on of them, which is better for your task. They both have a feature for graceful shutdown, which  means that they stop accepting new connections but continue serving existing to the end. Another advantage is that your application doesn't require any changes in code.
Graceful shutdown for nginx:
nginx -s quit

Graceful shutdown for HAproxy:
haproxy -sf $(cat /var/run/haproxy.pid)

A: I came to the conclusion that what I'm trying to achieve is not possible on Linux. The problem is the OS completes the initial handshake with the clients by sending the SYN,ACK and ACK packet, without any control over this process by the application. After the handshake, the connection becomes established and the OS puts it in the backlog queue. As soon as the connection is established, the load balancer that I'm using (F5 BigIP) doesn't forward it to another server under any circumstances, regardless of what kind of health checks I have there. When I close the socket, already established but not yet accepted connections from the backlog queue got dropped.
However, it's possible to achieve with Windows using the SO_CONDITIONAL_ACCEPT socket option and WSAAccept function of the Windows Sockets C++ API. This option allows the application to control the initial handshake. A good explanation can be found in this answer:

When calling listen() on a port, the OS starts accepting connections
  on that port. This means that is starts replying SYN,ACK packets to
  connections, regardless if the C code has called accept() yet.
  ...
  However, on windows, the SO_CONDITIONAL_ACCEPT call allows the
  application to take control of the backlog queue. This means that the
  server will not answer anything to a SYN packet until the application
  does something with the connection. This means, that rejecting
  connections at this level can actually send RST packets to the network
  without creating state.

It looks like Linux doesn't have a similar feature, as described in this answer:

The three-way handshake is a part of the basic structure of tcp/ip, so
  it's imbeded in the stack (i.e. kernel level).  All the non-kernel
  code you get your hands on operate AFTER the handshake.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


England away? Love it! Having just got back from Dortmund along with over four thousand other noisy England fans there is time to reflect on the trip. Not only our performance on the pitch, but also our performance off the pitch which sadly took the majority of the headlines once again.
EP01: Three Lions Podcast: Finally a podcast just for England fans!


text:
in: 1932 births, 1996 deaths, Christians,
Dutch writers
People from the Netherlands
Writers from Canada
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen, (Nijkerk, January 24, 1932 - Hilversum, September 21, 1996) was a Dutch Catholic priest and writer who authored 40 books on the spiritual life.
His books are widely-read today by both Protestants and Catholics alike. The Wounded Healer, In the Name of Jesus, Clowning in Rome, The Life of the Beloved and The Way of the Heart are just a few of the more widely recognized titles. After nearly two decades of teaching at the Menninger Foundation Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, and at the University of Notre Dame, Yale University and Harvard University, he left to share his life with mentally handicapped people at the L'Arche community of Daybreak in Toronto, Canada. He died in September 1996 from a sudden heart attack.
His spirituality was influenced by many, notably by his friendship with Jean Vanier. At the invitation of Vanier he visited L'Arche in France, the first of over 130 communities around the world where people with developmental disabilities live and share life together with those who care for them. In 1986 Nouwen accepted the position of pastor for a L'Arche community called "Daybreak" in Canada, near Toronto. Nouwen wrote about his relationship with Adam, a core member at L'Arche Daybreak with profound developmental disabilities, in a book entitled Adam: God's Beloved. Father Nouwen was a good friend of the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin.
The results of a Christian Century magazine survey conducted in 2003 indicate that Nouwen's work was a first choice for Catholic and mainline Protestant clergy. See: Carroll, Jackson W. (8-23-2003). Pastors' Picks: What Preachers are Reading. Christian Century, 120(17), 31.
One of his most famous works is Inner Voice of Love, his diary between December 1987 to June 1988 during one of his most serious bouts with clinical depression. Famous Hong Kong Christian theologian Milton Wan Wai Yiu had appended this book with his spiritual experiences with the encounter with him. Milton had commented his spiritual theology with the level 'Higher and Deeper than Catholicism and Protestant' and his works are well accredited by many Christians even with gospel stream.
1 Themes
Nouwen put his stamp on Christian spirituality by conveying his understanding of the belovedness of God, that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God. Books such as the Return of the Prodigal Son, Adam, Compassion and Life of the Beloved all emphasize this. One of his major ongoing themes involved his struggle reconciling his depression with his Christian faith.
In Return of the Prodigal Son, for example, Nouwen describes love and forgiveness as unconditional. Though this is not a novel idea, Nouwen's approach is arguably unique as we approached this theme from the angles of the younger son, the elder son, and the father. Each captures the unconditional quality of love and forgiveness in their own way. The younger son's life shows how the beloved lives a life of misery by thinking he can be loved only by meeting certain qualifications of the lover (which he fails to meet). The elder son's actions shows how the beloved can be depressed because he thinks he should receive greater love because he has done all the right things (i.e., that he has met these qualifications). The father alone understands how to love and forgive and is able to do so and be happy. Nouwen explains that we are the younger son at times (when we think we don't deserve the love or the forgiveness) and the elder son at times (when we think we deserve love or that another doesn't deserve it more than us), but that we are all called to be like the father (and that only by being like the father can we come closer to being loved as we should be loved).
Nouwen also wrote, in part, about his struggles reconciling his priestly vows of celibacy with his human desire for physical and emotional intimacy.
See External links for an excellent example of the use of Nouwen's work in modern meditations.
Nouwen is thought to have struggled with the question of whether or not he was homosexual. Although he never directly addressed the matter of his sexuality in the writings he published during his lifetime, he acknowledged the struggle both in his private journals and in discussions with friends, both of which were extensively referenced by Michael Ford in the biography Wounded Prophet, which was published after Nouwen's death.
Ford suggests that Nouwen only became fully comfortable with his sexual orientation in the last few years of his life, and that Nouwen's depression was caused in part by the conflict between his priestly vows of celibacy and the sense of loneliness and longing for intimacy that he experienced. There is no evidence that Nouwen ever broke his vow of celibacy.
"We often confuse unconditional love with unconditional approval. God loves us without conditions but does not approve of every human behavior. God doesn't approve of betrayal, violence, hatred, suspicion, and all other expressions of evil, because they all contradict the love God wants to instill in the human heart. Evil is the absence of God's love." -Bread For the Journey, 1996
"Although we tend to think about saints as holy and pious, and picture them with halos above their heads and ecstatic gazes, true saints are much more accessible. They are men and women like us, who live ordinary lives and struggle with ordinary problems. What makes them saints is their clear and unwavering focus on God and God's people." -Bread For the Journey, 1996
"Jesus was a revolutionary, who did not become an extremist, since he did not offer an ideology, but Himself. He was also a mystic, who did not use his intimate relationship with God to avoid the social evils of his time, but shocked his milieu to the point of being executed as a rebel. In this sense he also remains for nuclear man the way to liberation and freedom." -The Wounded Healer, 1972
"I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self." -In the Name of Jesus, 1989
"What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life." -In the Name of Jesus, 1989
"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." - Out of Solitude
"Your body needs to be held and to hold, to be touched and to touch. None of these needs is to be despised, denied, or repressed. But you have to keep searching for your body's deeper need, the need for genuine love. Every time you are able to go beyond the body's superficial desires for love, you are bringing your body home and moving toward integration and unity." - The Inner Voice of Love
Henri Nouwen on Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son
L'Arche Daybreak
This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Henri Nouwen. The list of authors can be seen in the page history.. As with LGBT Info, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
André Louis Chevrillon, född den 3 maj 1864 i Ruelle-sur-Touvre (Charente), död den 9 juli 1957 i Paris, var en fransk författare. Han var systerson till Hippolyte Taine.

Chevrillon var en tid professor vid marinskolan vid Lilles universitet. Han skrev innehållsrika studier över brittisk litteratur, bland vilka märks Sydney Smith et la renaissance des idées libérales en Angleterre (1894), Études anglaises (1901), Nouvelles études anglaises (1910) och Trois études de littérature anglaise (1921). Han utgav även ett flertal reseskildringar, varibland märks Dans l'Inde (1891), Terres mortes (1897), Sanctuaires et paysages d'Asie (1905), Crépuscules d'Islam (1906) samt La Bretagne d'hier. Chevrillon var från 1920 ledamot av Franska Akademien.

Källor
 Svensk uppslagsbok. Malmö 1931.

Noter

Externa länkar

Franska reseskildrare
Franska fackboksförfattare
Franskspråkiga fackboksförfattare
Franska professorer
Personer verksamma vid universitetet i Lille
Ledamöter av Franska Akademien
Franska författare under 1800-talet
Franska författare under 1900-talet
Personer från Charente
Födda 1864
Avlidna 1957
Män
Svensk uppslagsbok

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has emerged as an exciting vehicle in every respect. With unprecedented power and confident capabilities on the track, it delivers an astounding amount of power for the drivers behind its wheel. In fact, it can deliver up to 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque!
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Jeep vehicles have always been known for their rugged capabilities and their confident versatility on the road. However, that dedication to quality and confidence is further elevated when you get behind the wheel of the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Jeep Gladiator's return is some of the most exciting car news we've heard recently. Not only is this Jeep vehicle a testament to the power and the confidence that all other Jeep vehicles exude on a daily basis, but it also brings a fresh, bold new vision to what a Jeep vehicle can look and feel like.
Jeep models continually stand atop the SUV segment as uniquely equipped to satisfy a variety of driving styles and preferences - boasting plush interior comfort, modern advanced technology and tried-and-true powertrains, Jeep SUVs seamlessly combine the rugged, durable engineering of yesteryear with the latest in modern automotive design.
When Will The Jeep Gladiator Be In Stores?
Since the Jeep Comanche ceased production in the 1990s, drivers have anxiously been awaiting the return of a Jeep pickup truck. However, recently, Jeep unveiled and announced the release of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator pickup truck - the latest entry in a rich history of Jeep pickup production. Based on the latest generation of Jeep models, namely the Jeep Wrangler JL, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator stands poised to impress drivers with its unparalleled off-road capability, surprisingly comfortable and composed on-road handling, and innovative design.
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The Jeep Gladiator is leading the industry as the only open-air pickup truck with best-in-class payload and towing. This truck can do almost everything: it is the ideal choice for utility and for adventure.


This week the crew sifts through the calamity that was Sony's presser last week. Going after Apple is never a good idea to begin with…but the soothing tones of Mark Cerny may not be the best way to go either (just sayin'). If you thought we were judgemental before…you should listen to this!


text:
Bill Murray >
Bill Murray 'paid 100k settlement' following misconduct allegation
Follow Bill Murray
Bill Murray Aziz Ansari
Bill Murray reportedly paid a "much younger" production assistant $100,000 after being accused of "inappropriate behaviour" on the set of 'Being Mortal'.
Bill Murray reportedly paid a "much younger" production assistant $100,000 after being accused of "inappropriate behaviour".
The 72-year-old actor's film 'Being Mortal' shut down production in April after an allegation was made against him, and a new report has alleged the 'Groundhog Day' star grabbed the unnamed woman near a production bed, kissed her on the mouth - though both were wearing face masks due to COVID-19 protocols 0 and kissing her body while "straddling her".
According to Puck, "the woman interpreted his actions as entirely sexual" and was "horrified" by the actor's alleged conduct, which was also reported by a second staff member, who witnessed the alleged incident.
Sources told the outlet Murray settled the claim out of court for $100,000 in exchange for the woman - who was said to have been "particularly friendly" with the actor - agreeing to maintain confidentiality and giving up her rights to later sue the producers of the film, Searchlight, and Disney.
The 'French Dispatch' star previously claimed he had "done something [he] thought was funny" on the set of the film and hoped to "make peace" with the woman.
He said: "I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn't taken that way.
"The company, the movie studio, wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it. and so they stopped the production.
"As of now, we're talking and we're trying to make peace with each other. I think that's where the real issue is, between our peace.
"We're both professionals, we like each others' work."
Bill has "done not much else but thinking about it" in recent weeks and claimed the incident and its fallout have been an "education" for him.
He continued: "We like each other, I think, and if we can't really get along and trust each other, there's no point in going further working together or making the movie as well. It's been quite an education for me.
And I feel like if I don't see that, you know, the world is different than it was when I was a little kid. You know, what I always thought was funny as a little kid isn't necessarily the same as what's funny now. Things change and the times change, so it's important for me to figure it out. And I think the most important thing is that it's best for the other person. I thought about it, and if it's not best for the other person, doesn't matter what happens for me.
"[I wondered], 'How could I misperceive? How could I be so inaccurate and so insensitive when you think you're being sensitive to some sensibility that you've had for a long time?'
" So we're talking about it. We're, I think we're gonna make peace with it. I'm very optimistic about that.
"I think it's a sad dog that can't learn anymore. I think that's a really sad puppy that can't learn anymore. I don't want to be that sad dog and I have no intention of it."
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text:
How politicians helped redeem themselves by taking on the big guys
July 24, 2011 April 16, 2012 by dsmooney, posted in EU, Fine Gael, Politics
My Evening Herald article is online Here
Saturday July 23 2011
JUST by coincidence, I happened to be passing through Brussels this week.
From the window of my hotel room near the Schuman roundabout, I could both see the European Council building and hear the sirens roar as EU heads of government arrived for the emergency EU summit.
From the the TV in the background I could hear and see the continuing fallout on BBC World news from the hacking scandal, while on my laptop I read and listen to the deserved praise being heaped on the Taoiseach for his speech on the Cloyne scandal.
As these three separate news stories competed for my attention it began to dawn on me that these three very different events have a common thread: how politics can work and how politicians can make a difference when they reflect the public mood.
In the case of the News of the World hacking scandal we see the politicians finally recovering their sense of confidence and self worth and shedding their decades of deference to one media mogul.
In the European Council decision we see politicians taking bolder and coordinated actions to exert some meaningful control over Europe's economic destiny and shunning the cautious advice of bankers or ratings agencies.
In the case of Enda Kenny's Cloyne speech we see a political leader not just standing up to Rome, but finding his voice calmly and forcefully telling it some home truths and reminding it how much it has lost its way.
By their actions and words, across these three events, public representatives have helped redeem the profession of politics somewhat by taking on three of the most powerful interest groups: the Church, the banking sector and the media.
This is no renaissance for politics, but just a timely reminder that politics and politicians can rise above the cynical and do good.
While the common thread in the three events is the primacy of democratic politics, it is no harm to reflect on how much further Enda is along the road of telling the Church its role and place in modern society than David Cameron is in his attempt to break this news to Rupert Murdoch and News International.
Nonetheless, this should not stop us taking a leaf out of Westminster's book and, just as the MPs did with the Murdochs, bringing senior churchmen before a public hearing of a Dail Committee to answer questions from the people's chosen representatives.
Just over a year ago the Papal Nuncio refused to appear before a committee considering the report of the Murphy Commission.
Let us test the water now to see if the Vatican and the Nunciature think they can sustain this refusal to answer for their actions.
As Fergus Finlay said, the Taoiseach's Cloyne speech has set the bar high.
It follows on from Brian Cowen's hard hitting speech responding to the Ryan Report and Dermot Ahern's declaration following the Report of the Murphy Commission that a "clerical collar will protect no criminal".
To quote Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: "There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune."
Enda has taken that tide and the Cloyne speech will help establish a political legacy.
However, while he is entitled to enjoy the coming few weeks as the speech continues to reverberate, he should make a quick call to a certain former Taoiseach in Drumcondra to discover how quickly the sheen on his real achievements in the Good Friday Agreement can be dulled by harsh economic realities.
Enda needs to apply the same clarity of language and and certainty of approach to tackling the economy that he has found in tackling the Vatican and Catholic hierarchy.
The new measures agreed by euro leaders at the emergency EU Summit may just afford him such an opportunity — but he needs to take this particular tide soon and not squander the opportunities it affords.
Tagged Derek Mooney, Enda Kenny, EU Council, European Parliament, Fine Gael, government, politics, Taoiseach
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text:
Microsoft's success in China
Microsoft appears to be making inroads in the Chinese market. According to a blog post over at Tech Republic, Microsoft, through aggressive price reductions and a willingness to grant more access to source code, has managed to convince the Chinese government to use Windows and Office.
By John Carroll for A Developer's View | July 30, 2007 -- 13:57 GMT (06:57 PDT) | Topic: Government : US
Microsoft appears to be making inroads in the Chinese market. According to a blog post over at Tech Republic, Microsoft, through aggressive price reductions and a willingness to grant more access to source code, has managed to convince the Chinese government to use Windows and Office. Similarly, Microsoft has opted not to go on a piracy offensive in China, though it does try to minimize demand for pirated wares by offering a $3.00 Windows / Office bundle to students.
Of course, in talkbacks to the post over at OSNews, there were plenty of sour grapes. Some think it's unfair that Microsoft charges Chinese consumers less than they charge richer markets. The complaints exaggerate the situation somewhat. Most consumers in developed markets don't pay sticker prices for Windows and Office, opting to acquire Microsoft software included as part of a new computer purchase.
Granted, such OEM pricing still costs more, but then again, all products are priced at different levels depending on the target market.
I noted in a previous post the practice of SKU proliferation, wherein Microsoft offers a number of product packages priced at different levels. That's normal business activity in most markets, whether the product is cars, printer paper or cheese. You find ways to maximize revenue by figuring out the optimal price, in terms of potential revenue, to charge an individual consumer. In so doing, you maximize the share of revenue which falls under the demand curve by charging the most a given consumer is willing to pay (or at least the closest approximation possible of that maximum). It's the way software companies make money, and Apple, Adobe and Oracle are as "guilty" as anyone else of similar practices.
Charging a price based on local market conditions in a given country is an outgrowth of the same economic principal that drives SKU proliferation. Most Chinese consumers can't afford developed-market prices for proprietary software, because it consists of a much higher percentage of an average user's income. If a company like Microsoft wants to yield any revenue from that market, they need to lower prices. As local incomes increase, Microsoft can and will raise prices, but that, too, is normal business activity. Lots of things are cheaper in Mexico or the Phillipines than in the United States, because companies want to make money in those markets, and pricing at developed market levels simply makes no sense.
Alternatives to multi-level pricing do exist. A flat international price might make rich world consumers happy, but would seem an expensive luxury that would throttle growth of the company that practiced it. Likewise, consumers can opt for free (as in cost) software, a category which would have included Red Flag Linux. The Chinese government, and most chinese consumers, have opted not to do that. Microsoft has made a credible response to the challenge of free (as in cost) competition in the largest market in the world, and that is the real reason people are so incensed by Microsoft's success in China.
It certainly has little to do with perception that Microsoft "validates" the Chinese government by opting to respond to its demands. The blog reports an instance where David Fitzpatrick stumped Mr. Gates by asking how Microsoft could reconcile China's suppression of speech and human rights with Microsoft's business relations with the government.
The answer is simple (IMO), even if it didn't fly to the tip of Mr. Gates tongue. As I've argued before, there are two approaches to dealing with a problem government. You can isolate them, which is essentially what the United States has done with Iran and Castro's Cuba. Alternatively, you can engage them, allowing trade to flow as normal and counting on citizens to make their own changes when they are ready to make them, as we did with Taiwan and South Korea.
Clearly, the latter option has proven more useful. You don't have to like a regime with which you are dealing. You just choose not to penalize its citizens, allowing them the economic growth they deserve and counting on a familiarity with freedom in their economic lives to drive demand for freedom in political expression. It happened in Taiwan and South Korea (both of which were ruled by military regimes until the mid-80s), and can happen in China.
You don't validate a government by opting not to starve a country's citizens of trade with the outside world. You just treat a country's citizens as masters of their own destiny. They will change their government when they are ready to change it.
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Opinion: As should Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and all other responsible social media sites. The right to free speech doesn't give you the right to right to shout fraud in a fractured ...


I pulled a "Jennifer Hudson" while watching Dexter sing this song last night… I took my shoes off and threw them, then took my husband's off and threw them, and next I threw my kid's shoes. By the time Dexter was through, I had a big o' pile… You killed it Dexter! Great Job… vote team Dexter!!!
I just realized that the mic that Dexter is even using isn't on… Just.. what in the hell?
Finally, actually moved in the depths of my emotions by a true, natural, gifted singer! Dexter just doesn't try to sound different or exaggerated to get attention like some, but just sings simply beautifully what is inside him! Congratulations, winner!
What a voice. Speaks for itself (literally).
This was solid. Nice voice. He didn't let himself get ahead of the melody which is easy to do on something that starts out slow and opens up without speeding up. Nice job.
One of my fav songs from Brooks and Dunn.
Dexter draws you in and makes you feel the song deep within your soul. It's very rare to have that ability. Now that's what you call a great country singer. Andrew has a great voice to. But the passion of the song goes to Dexter.
His technique is definitely up there! My personal favorite. He just needs to be a tiny bit more relaxed and then I believe he'll be able to convey emotions even more.
It's a safe song choice and well-done but not stand out to me.
His voice is so beautiful 😭 He deserves to be in the finale.
Every country singer sounds the same to me.
I believe you deserve to win Dexter!!
Dexter clearly won this cross battle!
Pedantic and pedestrian country music.
i'd bet this guy will win ! what an absolutely wonderful voice, definitely a fan!!!
Deserves a stand and a votes! Sounds consistent till the end… Nice!
Such a good song and singer! I think the males are KILLING it this season!
Wish they allowed him to sing the entire song.


A lot less than $100,000.
I think we all know that America is way behind on retirement savings.
But when I read this new stat, my jaw hit the floor. Because, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts (which you can see here), the average American has $72,383 stashed in a 401(k), which sounds encouraging.
However, the average can sometimes be misleading, because a large balance in a few 401(k)s can skew the result -- after all, consider a hypothetical example of five people with a combined 401(k) savings of $500,000. The average is $100,000, which sounds pretty good until you discover that one person has $450,000, two people have $15,000, and the other two have $10,000 each in their 401(k)s.
That's why I prefer to look at the median: It gives a better indication of the population, as you know that half of 401(k) balances will be below that number and half will be above.
Unfortunately, the median paints a much grimmer picture. According to the Pew report I mentioned above, the median 401(k) balance in America is $18,433.
Millions delay enrolling in 401(k)s -- or don't enroll at all. This is in large part because of status quo bias. The idea behind status quo bias is that people tend not to change things unless they see a clear need for change. (Ever put off doing paperwork because it wasn't your top priority? Yeah, me too.) It's one of the reasons why millions of Americans who have access to 401(k)s delay enrollment; it's just one more piece of paperwork, and they have other things to do.
Workers simply aren't saving enough. Many will simply enroll in their 401(k) at whatever the automatic rate is and ignore it after that. An analysis of Vanguard plans revealed that 65% of plans had an automatic rate of 3% or less -- not nearly enough for most workers to build a sufficient nest egg.
Status quo bias isn't inherently a bad thing -- and in fact, it can be used to benefit workers. One of the key benefits of the 401(k) is the fact that savings are automatic (and, often, forgotten) -- meaning that status quo bias encourages saving through a 401(k). A few simple tweaks can extend those benefits even further.
401(k) delays can be largely wiped out if employers make 401(k) enrollment automatic so that workers have to opt out if they don't want to save for retirement. The data backs this up: Among Vanguard plan sponsors, 401(k) plans with automatic enrollment had an 89% participation rate, compared to just 61% for plans lacking automatic enrollment.
401(k) plans can easily juice their savings numbers in three other ways.
First, plan administrators can increase the default contribution rate. Given that most financial planners recommend workers save 10% or even 15% of their annual salaries, automatic enrollment at 3% or less is far too low. Imagine, instead, if the benchmark were set at 6% or 8% to start.
Another easy change is to include automatic savings increases in the plan. So if someone starts at, say, a 6% deferral, then in the following year the plan might automatically increase that to 7% (and to 8% the year after) unless the worker adjusts their contributions. Vanguard ran the numbers in late 2013, using the example of someone with a $40,000 salary who contributed 4% a year. If that person increased their deferral by two percentage points annually (so, from 4% to 6% in year one, 6% to 8% in year two, etc.), then that worker would save an extra $100,000 over a 20-year period.
Finally, employers should consider spreading out their matching funds. Many companies will match $0.50 on the dollar of the first 6% workers contribute to their 401(k) plans -- but that same amount of money could be better used by matching $0.25 on the dollar of the first 12% workers contribute. That motivates employees to put more money aside beyond the default contribution rate the employer sets.
Without a push from employees, your employer will likely keep the 401(k) plan they currently have -- warts and all. (HR reps are not immune to status quo bias.) Go advocate for change so that you, your colleagues, and the workers that come after you can have the best possible retirement plan.
And even if your employer won't change the rules of your 401(k), you can make most of these changes in your savings. Take a look at your budget and see if you can increase your deferral right now. Then set a calendar invite to increase your deferral each year. While that's not the broad systemic change we might all want, you can at least make sure that your 401(k) quickly grows to a lot more than $18,433.


On 27 November 2017, the High Court of Hong Kong issued a judgment in which it again demonstrated its willingness to uphold an arbitration agreement, despite arguments that the arbitration agreement had been superseded by a supplemental agreement.
In this case, the plaintiff as purchaser, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants together as sellers, and the 1st defendant agreed inter alia to negotiate for the acquisition by the plaintiff of an 80% shareholding of and in the 1st defendant and another company from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants by an agreement dated 19 June 2015 ("the June Agreement"). The parties entered into a further agreement dated 30 November 2015 which supplemented and varied the June Agreement ("the November Agreement"). It was the relationship of those two agreements that gave rise to the Stay Application.
This Letter of Intent shall be governed by the laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Any dispute arising from this Letter of Intent or in connection therewith shall first be resolved by consultation and negotiation among the parties, failing with [sic] any party may submit the dispute to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules then enforce [sic] at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in Hong Kong. The award of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding upon the parties.
4.1 The conclusion validity interpretation and performance of this Supplemental Letter of Intent and any dispute arising therefrom shall be governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and the parties agree to submit to the non exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The question before the Court was whether there was a binding or operative arbitration agreement pursuant to which the High Court action must be stayed pursuant to section 20 of the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609). In order to succeed in a stay application, the applicant must show that the action before the Court is "in the same matter" that is the subject of the arbitration agreement and not purely "related" to it or "involved" in it. The focus is on the substance of the dispute and not the pleadings.
iv. Is the dispute or difference between the parties within the ambit of the arbitration agreement?
In applying the above principles, the Court had to determine whether the jurisdictional reference in Clause 4.1 of the November Agreement superseded or replaced the arbitration agreement Clause 8 of the June Agreement.
The Court emphasised the principle that absent overwhelming evidence of an unequivocal waiver, a stay in favour of arbitration should be ordered since to do otherwise would be to usurp the function of the arbitration tribunal, which is empowered by Article 16.1 of the UNCITRAL Model Law to rule on its own jurisdiction, including any objection as to the existence or validity of the Arbitration Agreement and as to whether disputes had arisen concerning the contracts: Paladin Agricultural Ltd v Excelsior Hotel (Hong Kong) Ltd  2 HKC 215.
This decision by Sherrington J is consistent with previous decisions3 demonstrating the Hong Kong Courts' willingness to uphold arbitration agreements and to grant stays in favour of arbitration absent a clear and unequivocal agreement of the parties to proceed otherwise. The case thus stands as another example of the refusal of the Hong Kong Courts to usurp the function of an arbitral tribunal to determine its own jurisdiction in the first instance, so that only the prima facie or "plainly arguable" existence of a valid arbitration agreement needs to be established in order to justify a stay in favour of arbitration. It reflects the strong pro-arbitration stance of the Hong Kong Courts, demonstrating yet again why Hong Kong is the third busiest seat of international commercial arbitration in the world and the gold standard of judicial support for arbitration.
Another aspect of the decision that may surprise readers unfamiliar with Hong Kong law is the extent to which the Hong Kong courts still rely on English law and precedents. Even though appeals from their judgments no longer lie ultimately to the Privy Council in London, Hong Kong judges closely follow English common law, according precedential weight to cases decided not only by the English courts but also by those of other commonwealth jurisdictions, notably including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
1 NEO Intelligence Holdings Ltd V. Giant Crown Industries Ltd. And Others HCA1127/2017.
3 Polytec Overseas Ltd and another v Grand Dragon International Holdings Co Ltd and others  HKCFI 604; and Bluegold Investment Holdings Ltd v Kwan Chun Fun Calvin  HKCFI 415.


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Queens of the Seven Kingdoms
Posted on June 26, 2016 by alysonmiers
At Wars of Ice and FireWars of Ice and Fire, Something Like A Lawyer fields a question about the series ending with each of the provinces of Westeros having a female leader. His answer is, basically, no:
I personally don't think that there will be a united Westeros at the end, but rather a federation of kingdoms. I don't think there will be a female head of each independent kingdom, but rather they will be a generation that isn't considered 'perfect' by the past generation's social structure. They will be women (Asha), they will be bastards (Edric Storm, legitimized as a trueborn Baratheon), they will have physical impairments (Willas), they will care for their smallfolk (Edmure).
Sansa is a special case in that I don't think she'll stay in the North (though she will undoubtedly return there). I believe, as tied as she is to other kingdoms, she will strive her hardest to ensure that peace, trade, and justice remain between the kingdoms. A sort of honored diplomat and guest to all the Seven Kingdoms.
And sorry to say this, but Arianne is doomed.
I don't know any more than SLAL about what the status quo will be at the end, but I have my own ideas. I agree with the idea of a federation of independently governed provinces. I don't think each province will have a female leader, but a pattern I'm picking up from the series is that the men who are on track to survive are the ones who are willing to work with, and learn from, powerful and capable women.
Granted, this involves some speculation on my part, but the ending I foresee will show a strong positive correlation between men who survive and women who guide, employ, and protect those men. For example, Tyrion will make as much headway as he does because he's serving Daenerys. I seem to be in the minority in the fandom by thinking Jaime will survive the series, but I do think he'll survive the series, and he'll owe much of his success to learning from Brienne's example. Sandor will be alive and thriving at the end because he shows up for Sansa. Bran will be alive because of Meera Reed. Jon Snow is a squishy area, but if he's in good shape at the end, it'll owe a lot to Melisandre, and to working with Sansa. Theon will survive because he's willing to work with his sister.
Meanwhile, Ned Stark died because he underestimated Cersei. Littlefinger will end up dying because he tried to use Sansa as his pawn. Robb died because he didn't listen to his mother. Robert Baratheon died…because he also underestimated Cersei's capacity for violence. Renly Baratheon died because he had no business becoming king, BUT ALSO because he underestimated Melisandre's powers.
As for who's in charge of the provinces at the end…I have some ideas. I may be wrong about Edric Storm, but I just can't see him being in a position of power at the end. Who would legitimize him as a trueborn Baratheon? It's not in Tommen's interest to recognize him as a son of Robert Baratheon, and Daenerys would have no interest in acknowledging the offspring of the Usurper, either.
I think Edmure will survive the series, and he'll owe much of his survival to sitting out the war at Casterly Rock. He may return as Lord of Riverrun, but the Riverlands have always been such a hot mess, they need someone made of tougher stuff than Edmure to be their overlord.
Willas Tyrell may yet pull through, and I expect Asha Greyjoy to be in power in the Isles at the end, but I also think Sansa will mostly stay in the North once the new status quo is established. I agree that Arianne is doomed. All the Martells are doomed, the legitimate Baratheons are doomed, the Arryns are fucked sideways, Cersei and all her kids are doomed. I like to hope the Freys are doomed, but the best I can realistically expect is that the new Riverlands overlord builds some new bridges along the Green Fork so the Freys have to develop other sources of income. I think there'll be some power vacuums after the war, and the final status quo will depend on how those vacuums are filled.
This entry was posted in Little Red Writing Hood and tagged a song of ice and fire by alysonmiers. Bookmark the permalink.


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Governors' Pardons/Clemency
Sexual Abuse & Labor Issues
Corporate Governance Advisor
FINALLY! Incoming Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Will Grant Pardons
For 8 years, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker refused to pardon a single person. A pardon is an executive act of forgiveness. Governor Walker did not believe in second chances.
In an interview with Madison radio station WKOW, Governor Evers said,
"We will get that board up and running and utilize the constitutional authority that the governor has. I think most people in the state understand that people are going to be rehabilitated, need a second chance. This gives people the second chance."
In 2013, Gov. Walker refused to grant a single pardon to over 1400 petitioners. (By comparison, between 2008-2013, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn had granted 842 pardons out of 2,237 petitions.) The Associated Press reports in the past twenty-five years, two Republican governors combined to issue 86 pardons, and Democratic Governor Jim Doyle issued nearly 300.
Chicago clemency and pardon attorney Tamara Holder & her team are ready to help those with a conviction in Wisconsin seek forgiveness and a second chance. The majority of people who have felony records never served a day in prison but rather took probation, to avoid prison…and most likely not realizing it was a life sentence…and yet have gone on to live lives as law-abiding, contributing members of society.
By Tamara Holder | Posted on February 14, 2019
Contact Tamara: phone 312-818-3850 917 W Washington Blvd, Suite 222
Chicago, IL 60607 contact@tamaraholder.com
Any information contained herein is not to be construed as legal advice. © 2018 The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder, LLC. All rights reserved.


Music City - mosaic Hopped Hazy IPA This beer is inspired by our recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee for the American Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). Nashville is a crazy, vibrant place; full of live music, in every bar, at all times of day and night. It's a place famous for hot chicken, cowboy boot stores, and a never ending flow of hen nights. This place is pretty much the Vegas of the south. With its blend of beer, food, and culture we could only think of one hop that would sum the place up; Mosaic. So, this Hazy IPA is chock full of Mosaic hops to represent how many things are going on in Music City. It's a Mosaic of experiences and flavours. Enjoy Ya'll.


Hard gelatin capsules number 2, with the inscription "Micro / Micro", consisting of a gray body and a blue lid.
Contents of the capsule: yellow granular powder.
Diacerein inhibits the synthesis and activity of IL-1, which plays an important role in the development of inflammation, degradation and subsequent destruction of cartilage in osteoarthritis. Diacerein also slows down the formation of metalloproteinases (collagenases), which are involved in the process of damage to the cartilaginous tissue. With long-term use, diacerein stimulates the synthesis of proteoglycans and does not affect the synthesis of PG.
After oral administration, diacerein is rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract and completely deacetylated to rhein. Simultaneous intake of the drug with food increases bioavailability by 25%. Cmax rhein in plasma is achieved after 144 min. T1 / 2 from the plasma is 255 minutes. The connection of rhein with albumin is almost 100%. With a single admission 50 mg Cmax reaches 3.15 mg / l. With repeated administration of the drug, Cmax increases in connection with the cumulation of the drug. Rein is excreted by the kidneys unchanged (20%) and in the form of glucuronide (60%) and sulfate (20%). Rein penetrates the placental barrier and the BBB.
children's age (under 18 years).
With caution: patients with irritation of the lower intestine - only in special cases.
If hypersensitivity to the components of the drug may be allergic reactions of varying degrees, rash, itching.
On the part of the digestive system: in the initial period of taking the drug, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain may temporarily occur. In this case, the dose should be reduced to 1 caps. in a day.
An intense urine coloration may appear, from yellow to brown (depending on pH), which does not require a reduction in the dose (withdrawal) of the drug.
It is not recommended to take an arthroker together with drugs or products that affect the consistency of the intestinal contents (for example, a large amount of cellulose).
Antacids reduce the absorption of the drug.
With simultaneous administration with antibiotics or chemotherapeutic drugs that affect the intestinal microflora, the frequency of adverse events from the intestine can increase.
Inside, after eating (wholly, without chewing, washing with water).
The standard dosage is 1 caps. 2 times a day (morning and evening). The effect of treatment should be expected in 2-4 weeks. The arthroker is applied continuously, for a long time or by courses lasting not less than 4 months. The length of the break between the courses of treatment is set by the doctor.
Symptoms: possible diarrhea, weakness. In case of overdose or accidental medication, children should consult a doctor.
The duration of treatment (depending on the result achieved) can be prolonged.
In the period preceding the development of the therapeutic effect, the arthroker can be taken simultaneously with non-narcotic analgesics and other NSAIDs.
Precautions for use. Periodic monitoring of blood levels, activity of liver enzymes, urine is necessary. If the kidney function worsens, the doctor must decide whether to reduce the dose or to cancel it.
Influence on the ability to drive vehicles and mechanisms. The drug does not affect the driving of motor vehicles and employment by other potentially hazardous activities requiring increased concentration of attention and speed of psychomotor reactions.
Capsules, 50 mg. For 10 caps. in aluminum strips or aluminum / aluminum blisters; 1, 3 or 10 strips or blisters in a pack of cardboard.
In a dry, the dark place at a temperature of no higher than 30 ° C.