text:
Hydrangeas Pruning In Spring
Formative pruning, as such, it is not required. Enough for them cosmetic and sanitary intervention. Cut from the inflorescence before the first buds. In addition, cut the roots frozen or dried shoots and weak branches, thickening the Bush and violate its harmony. Pruning is advisable in the spring when buds swell. At this time you can assess.
like smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) that thrives in USDA zones 4 though 9, can be trimmed at any time after bloom as long as pruning is completed before new growth forms in spring. If.
Q.: When is a good time to trim our hydrangeas? I like them big and full during the summer and fall. Also, are they supposed to bloom every year? Robert Gizowski, Freeland A.: Spring, then don't prune.
Is it a good idea to prune back hydrangeas in early fall? Most often the answer is no. Unless they are blocking a structure like a dryer vent for example and can't wait to be trimmed back it's a good idea to wait until late winter or early spring to.
Rinse shears in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to disinfect. Summer- and fall-flowering hydrangeas don't require spring pruning, although you can trim out any damaged or badly overgrown.
Consequently, you should prune them in late winter or early spring. One advantage of shrubs that flower on new wood is that you don't have to worry about flower buds being killed off in a harsh winter. You can fertilize Bobo hydrangeas in early spring. Growers typically apply a slow-release fertilizer. Bobo is said to have strong stems, but don't put too much stock in that claim. It will flop over after a good rain, just.
So while pruning will decrease flowering, it will not eliminate all blooms for the season. If the hydrangea bloomed in the spring or early summer, it blooms on old wood. This type of hydrangea (H.
The rain just keeps coming. We continue to get dumpings of excess rain, and some gardeners are paying the price for poor drainage. Roots of many plants rot when rain piles up faster than it drains.
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07-04-2019 · Panicled hydrangea grows quickly and gets large, so cut it back heavily in spring to creating a pleasing shape and size for the season. Prune it to the ground, or to create a taller plant, prune.
Sharon Dubois. A: The pruning method of hydrangeas depends to which of the two well-adapted types they belong. Hydrangea arborescens types, like Annabelle with the large, round, white flower clusters,
Hydrangeas generally bloom in June, after they have put on some new growth. At first glance, we might assume that they are blooming on new wood, just like a rose, and follow the same pruning regime:.
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29 Jul 2014. If they are trimmed in the fall, winter or spring, all of those precious buds will be removed and you summer hydrangeas will be flowerless. Only prune in June or July! Only prune if the shrubs are too large for their space.
15-05-2019 · Monty Don explains why different hydrangeas need different types of pruning and how to do it, in this video From BBC Gardeners' World Magazine.
However, the biggest cause of a lack of flowers is incorrect pruning. Bigleaf hydrangeas flower on old wood, which means branches that developed in prior years. If you prune in the spring, you could be pruning off that year's flower buds. The best time to prune bigleaf hydrangeas is immediately after flowering.
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20-05-2015 · You should prune macrophylla hydrangeas right after they bloom, before they have a chance to start making new flower buds. Annabelle and PG hydrangea and other hydrangeas that flower on new wood can be pruned during the late fall, winter or early spring. Once they start growing in the spring, do not do any pruning until after they bloom.
In spring uncover with your perennials when the ground is no longer frozen. The plant will grow from the. PRUNING. Endless Summer Hydrangea is very forgiving and will not suffer if left unpruned or pruned at the wrong time. In fact, young.
"How do I prune my hydrangea?" This is a common question from gardeners each spring. No wonder it's confusing — there are several hydrangeas species commonly grown by Nebraska gardeners, with a.
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20 May 2014. If there is die back after a hard winter then prune to the lowest emerging buds. If you do need to prune a mature specimen of Hydrangea macrophylla remove one or two stems at the base during spring, but leave several intact.
Panicle hydrangea. • Potentilla. • Red-twig dogwood. (blooms on old wood, but best pruned in early spring for longest recovery period). • Rose of Sharon. • Rose. Special Cases. • Reblooming plants like Bloomerang® lilac and Bloom-A-Thon®.
Hydrangea Pruning. Dead-Heading. For all species, spent flowers should be trimmed back to the uppermost pair of new leaf buds. This should be done in early spring after the last frosts. Great care should be taken to avoid damaging new.
9 Jun 2017. The solution is to prune in summer when the flowers start to fade, if it is even necessary to prune at all. Only prune if the shrub has grown too big, cut it back after the spring bloom but before late summer. Older shrubs can be.
The flowers appear in summer, first a light greenish cream and aging to creamy white. This and other panicle hydrangeas bloom on "new wood" — from the new branches that sprout each spring. Schedule pruning in late winter or very early.
If frost damage is suspected, wait until the hydrangeas begin to leaf out in spring before pruning so you cut out only the damaged branches. A hard frost in late winter or early spring sometimes kills.
1 Oct 2015. So if you prune these in the fall, winter or spring you remove the buds and chances are will have few blooms the next summer. Oakleaf hydrangeas fall under this pruning method, too. Rule of thumb; prune these before August.
Forever and Ever Peppermint hydrangea is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Wait until early spring to perform major pruning of a Forever and Ever Peppermint.
I am confused as to when to prune hydrangeas. I have heard to prune in the spring, while others say the fall. Which is correct? Diane W., Owasso Actually, both answers are correct, as it depends on.
Hydrangea macrophylla. The best time to prune a common hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is spring, once all chance of frost has passed. Common hydrangea is pretty hardy but it can get some frost damage in very severe winters. In spring, you can cut any frost damaged branches right back to the living wood. Common hydrangeas flower on the previous year's growth (so not branches grown this.
Rejuvenation pruning is intended for caning shrubs, those that send up multiple stems straight from the ground. Hydrangea arborescens cut to the ground in late winter or early spring. Credit: Missouri.
30 Mar 2011. You should prune it back in late winter or early spring. These hydrangeas bloom on "new wood"—the current season's growth. Pruning them back at that time encourages new growth, which produces flowers. Spring pruning.
Hydrangeas are very popular garden plants. or accidentally removed during spring pruning. This rule works well: don't prune until the earliest leaves have reached a larger size. Then remove any.
19 Jun 2017. The general rule for pruning is to prune spring blooming shrubs after they flower and summer blooming shrubs in. Acid soils will cause Bigleaf Hydrangeas to bloom blue and alkaline soils will cause the plant to bloom pink.
Hydrangeas are really popular shrubs with big flower heads in shades of pink, white or blue. Shrubby hydrangeas should be pruned in early spring, remove the spent blooms, cutting back to the first strong healthy pair of buds down the stem.
Spring is the time to prune most hydrangeas. However, different families or groups of hydrangeas are pruned differently, so it pays to know which type of hydrangea you have. The five main groups of hydrangeas are arborescens, macrophylla.
Hydrangea arborescens should be pruned back in late winter or early spring. These hydrangeas bloom on 'new wood' the current season's growth. Pruning them back at that time encourages new growth,
Bloom on new wood: prune in late winter/early spring. Big-leaf hydrangeas and mountain hydrangeas are closely related and native to the same region of Japan, but mountain hydrangeas have. Oak leaf hydrangeas bloom in early to mid summer from flower pruning oak leaf hydrangeas in spring buds they set in the fall. By now, they have set or are.
18 Dec 2015. My hydrangea is a Hydrangea macrophylla or Bigleaf Hydrangea. The ones that bloom on old wood carry the next year's flower buds on the barren sticks, through the fall, winter and next spring. If these are pruned during the.
28-10-2019 · More About Pruning Different Hydrangea Types. Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)Even though I'm located in Zone 5, my 'Endless Summer' mophead hydrangea—which usually has huge blue blossoms all summer long—was killed to the ground.Luckily, it has the wonderful ability to bloom on both old and new wood, so even though they were a bit later than usual, there were.
Many customers ask why their hydrangeas aren't blooming. The primary reasons hydrangeas don't bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer. Let's start with pruning…
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The great thing about Endless Summer hydrangeas is that you don't need to prune them back to the base like other hydrangeas. They bloom on previous years' growth and the new season's growth, so you can leave them all winter long to achieve double the blooms next spring. Don't prune Endless Summer hydrangea back in fall. Leaving the fall.
18 Apr 2016. If yes, you're the proud owner of a panicle or smooth hydrangea that blooms on new wood. Prune in winter or early spring before they start growing. Pruning New Wood Hydrangeas. For the biggest flowers, prune shrubs to the.
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Penrith's innovative Pop Up Park is set to become a permanent fixture.
Penrith Council this week endorsed a report that recommended a new permanent park be designed for the location at the western end of High Street, in consultation with local businesses, residents and the Penrith CBD Corporation.
Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said this ambitious trial project had been a success and could be used as a blueprint for other Australian communities wanting to place urban transformation in local hands.
"The park was designed by community and business representatives, designers and student architects in 2013. They were guided by world renowned urban tactician Mike Lydon and place-making specialists Place Partners and The Lot," Cr Fowler said.
"The recognition of this project in the prestigious Planning Institute of Australia (NSW) Great Place Awards program is testament to Council's innovative approach to trialling changes in public spaces."
In June 2014 Council responded to feedback from users and business owners and the eastern end of the Pop Up Park was reopened to vehicle traffic, with the introduction of parking spaces for short term parking.
Surveys, conducted by Urban Design and Planning Consultants Hames Sharley Pty Ltd following the park's trial period, showed that a majority of users and business owners believed it should become permanent.
"The construction of the trial park has allowed Council to assess the need and impacts of a permanent facility at minimal cost," Cr Fowler said.
"The temporary nature of the park meant that some compromises were originally made in regards to the choice of construction material. This will be addressed in the new design."
Council resolved that the new design should also address the need for amenities, lighting and wi-fi with an ongoing marketing program planned.
The Pop Up Park will continue while a permanent park is designed.
Pic caption: Penrith CBD Corporation Chairman Owen Rogers (left) and CEO Gai Hawthorn (right) with Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM.
Information contained within this news release was correct as at Tuesday, 14 July 2015.


In November 2006, we took another look at his work in "By Way of a Window," where Carothers maintained, "All art starts from nothing" and humorously described the creative process as "true chaos." Like Mary Beth McKenzie, Carothers is committed to working from life. "Painting what I can see is a humbling experience, but I'm more patient than I used to be. I also believe my eye for worthy subjects is more sensitive." His works are part of the permanent collections of the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Elliston Poetry Collection at the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Kentucky Art Museum. Learn more at his website.


Another spring will soon be upon us in the Midwest which many of us know as planning season. The adoption of new technologies to improve quality and yields faster than ever before, with each new advance allowing us to be more efficient, productive, and environmentally responsible.
Researchers across the industry continue to analyze some of the key factors that come together for increasing yields efficiently in our region. They have concluded that planting date is possibly the most important controllable management factor in Corn.
Advances in equipment, seed treatment technology, drainage improvements, reduced tillage technology, and stress tolerance in hybrids have enabled us to continually shift to earlier plantingdates. These continually evolving technologies have enabled us to grow longer season hybrids that we know will yield more per acre if we can manage them to reach physiological maturity.
Farmers across the upper Midwest are planting about 2 weeks earlier now than they did in the 1970's. Corn will not germinate below 50 degrees F soil temperature. The seed, however, will still absorb water regardless of soil temperature. If the seed sits too long absorbing water without germination, plant populations will suffer, especially if the seed is not treated. In a dry spring with normal temperatures, planting on the back side of 50 degrees shouldn't be a problem. In a wet spring with cool temperatures, however, seed borne problems will be more common and soil warmup is more important. If you're a Certified Organic grower, and/or you're not using seed treaters, you should make sure soil temperature is holding near or above the 50 degree target throughout the day and night.
Other factors are driven by that magical 50 degree mark…nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization rates, for example, are significantly slower under 50 than over 50. The reason is that microbial action, which is the key component of availability, doesn't begin until the soil is warmed above 50. With the trend to earlier planting, the value of starter fertilizer, even at very low rates with precise placement is greatly enhanced. As little as 30 lbs of N per acre, properly placed in the band, can significantly effect emergence and early development. If you're not using chemical fertilizers, organic sources that are high in immediately available N (eg: poultry manure based) will have the same positive effect.
It's true that in certain years, planting too early can cause negative results relative to emergence and population; but it's been consistently shown that if you're selecting long season hybrids for yield, you'll greatly increase your chances of achieving yield potential, test weight, dry down, and timeliness of harvest by planting as early as possible.


text:
Federal Aviation Administration v. Cooper
566 U.S. 284, 132 S. Ct. 1441 (2012)
Stanmore Cooper (plaintiff) was a private pilot who contracted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (defendant) would not issue pilot licenses to individuals with HIV. To keep his license, Cooper deliberately did not disclose his HIV status on his license-renewal applications. However, Cooper's health deteriorated at one point, causing Cooper to disclose his HIV status to the Social Security Administration (SSA) (defendant) as part of an application for disability benefits. Later, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) (defendant) gave a list of FAA-licensed pilots to the SSA, and the SSA gave the DOT all the information in its records about the listed individuals. As a result, the FAA learned about Cooper's HIV status. Cooper's license was revoked, and Cooper eventually pleaded guilty to a criminal charge for his false statements to the FAA. Cooper sued the FAA, DOT, and SSA for violating the federal Privacy Act by disclosing his records to each other. Cooper alleged that he had suffered mental and emotional distress but no economic damages. The district court found that Cooper had stated a Privacy Act violation but that he could not recover anything because he had not alleged any economic damages. The Ninth Circuit reversed, finding that economic damages were not necessary for a person to recover under the Privacy Act for mental and emotional distress. The United States Supreme Court agreed to review the damages issue.
Holding and Reasoning (Alito, J.)
Dissent (Sotomayor, J.)
McGeveran, 1st Ed.
Actual Damages
Emotional-Distress Damages
Privacy Act of 1974

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Laura Hoppes and her husband and daughter will be at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta to watch Laura's brother and nephew coach for the Rams.
Laura Hoppes will be attending her third Super Bowl.
Her brother Aaron is a longtime NFL assistant and is on the L.A. Rams staff along with his son.
Hoppes and her family have lived in Marion since 2015 and she is a buyer at Sika.
The Super Bowl will be held in Atlanta Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
MARION - This family reunion won't be in a backyard or in a park shelter house.
How does Atlanta sound, site of Super Bowl LIII this weekend?
Marion residents Laura Hoppes, her husband Jeff and daughter Callie left for the big game Thursday morning. They will meet up with Laura's father Aaron Kromer Sr., and her brother Aaron Kromer Jr. and his family.
You see the younger Kromer is the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and his son Zak works in quality control for the Rams as well.
This will be the third Kromer Super Bowl Reunion as they get set to watch the Rams play New England Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
In 2003, they met in San Diego when he coached for the Oakland Raiders and lost Super Bowl XXXVII to Tampa Bay 48-21. They got together again in 2010 at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami when he was coaching at New Orleans and the Saints beat Indianapolis 31-17.
"When we went with the Saints, there was a pre-party and an after party. With the Rams, things have changed a little bit. As far as I know we don't have any plans with the team for pre- or post-party. We'll be down there hanging out, and we'll run into people," Laura Hoppes said.
Football has always been central to the Kromers. Growing up in Castalia, Ohio, they were always Cleveland Browns fans. Her brother, who is 11 months younger, was a standout at Margaretta, graduating in 1985, before playing offensive line at Miami of Ohio.
"My sister and I were going to school at the University of Toledo and my dad would pick us up every time he had a game and we'd go to wherever he was playing," she said. "We'd go to all the home games and any of the away games that were close enough to travel."
After Kromer graduated from Miami, he stayed as a graduate assistant in 1990 and continued with the program in a variety of capacities throughout the '90s. He then spent two years at Northwestern as a line coach.
"He coached there and we went to a lot of those games as well when he was a graduate assistant. We knew some of the coaches and players and stuff like that. When he went to Northwestern we went to Northwestern and watched quite a few games as well. We've been following him around since college."
Kromer made the move to the NFL in 2001, joining the Raiders as an assistant offensive line coach. In 2005, he moved to Tampa Bay to work with former boss Jon Gruden again.
From 2008 to 2012, he was on the staff at New Orleans, working six games as an interim head coach in 2012 in the aftermath of the Saints' Bountygate.
From there, he was the offensive coordinator at Chicago for two years and then the offensive line coach for Buffalo before joining the Rams staff in 2017.
"He always teases us to not buy too many clothes because you never know what's going to happen. I have sweatshirts and jackets from every one of those teams," Hoppes said.
Seeing her nephew Zak on the sidelines, too, is only natural.
"He's always been on the football field," she said. "I remember him running out during the game and pulling off the kicking stand. He's been on the field with these players and the coaches his whole life. He's a natural fit for it. He's got a great personality for it like his dad. They definitely network and help each other out."
It might be a vacation for the rest of the family, but for the two coaches it's a business trip. Still, they will try to steal as many minutes as they can with the loved ones, which will include Kromer's wife Dawn and her siblings and their families..
"Whenever he has a good 45 minutes, he'll stop and say hi," she said. "We'll all meet him in the lobby or wherever we're at to see him. He will spend any time that he has available with us."
Everyone will get together for a family dinner Saturday night at a restaurant. Before that, the rest of the family plans to take a tour of Coca-Cola and head down to Super Bowl Live in Centennial Park to shop and play.
Making this one extra special for Hoppes, who works as a buyer at Sika, will be sharing the Super moments with her daughter, a fifth grader at Pleasant.
"She's been a big football fan this year and last year and really since Aaron was coaching for the Buffalo Bills," Hoppes said, who has lived in Marion with her family since 2015. "We went up there and to Niagara Falls. My daughter was just old enough to appreciate it. We got to go through the offices where he worked and the locker room. So she's been in love with football since then.
"She knows the players and the games and who's ranked where. She's talking to all the kids in school about the games. She's been amazing and so excited, so it's going to be exciting to see her at the game."
As for a prediction, Hoppes of course thinks the running game and offensive line will be the difference in Sunday's outcome, a Rams victory.
"We peaked a little early and then we had some down time and now we're back. We're right where we need to be," Hoppes said.
And the family is right where it needs to be this weekend, too.


Pick up a pencil and learn to draw your favorite characters from Pokemon Go! Whether it's Pikachu, Bellsprout or Jigglypuff you'll be drawing them all in no time at all. Once you've finished sketching them, color them in!
A fantastic new activity book that allows kids to put pen to paper and create their own Pokemon heroes! With pages and pages of colourful ideas and instructions, kids will be entertained for house with this new addition to their Pokemon library.
Gotta Draw 'em All! Learn to draw one of the top all-time favorite cartoon characters--Pikachu-- and other popular Pokemon! Grab your pencil. Pick up some paper. And get ready to tdraw the coolest, most action-packed Pokemon art ever. Catch step-by-step secret tips on drawing your favorite Pokemon, like Pikachu, Togepi, Chikorita, Meowth, Pichu, Houndour, Lugia, Cyndaquil, and more! Plus, draw bonus poses of Pokemon in action, and create your own battle scenes! You'll be a Pokmon drawing-Master in no time!
This book contains step by step instructions of how to draw your favorite Pokemon Sun and Moon Characters in a picture book format. Intermediate Level artists will find this book good to start with whereas complete beginners might have to practice more. You can check out other books in our Pokemon Art Book Series including New Pokemon Characters, Pokemon GO Characters and Pokemon Sun and Moon Characters. We recommend beginners to start with the Pokemon GO characters as they are easy to draw compared to the characters from other series. All the steps in our books are visually depicted in a very detailed manner and are self explanatory. Hence there are no written instructions required. You can also color the final characters, partly using this book as a coloring book too. This book contains following Pokemon characters: Learn To Draw Alola Vulpix Learn To Draw Brionne Learn To Draw Dartrix Learn To Draw Faba Learn To Draw Hakamo-o Learn To Draw Jangmo-o Learn To Draw Kommo-o Learn To Draw Lana Learn To Draw Lusamine Learn To Draw Lycanroc - Midday Learn To Draw Lycanroc - Midnight Learn To Draw Mallow Learn To Draw Mudbray Learn To Draw UB-01 Learn To Draw Wicke We hope that you enjoy this book.
This book contains step by step instructions of how to draw your favorite Pokemon Sun and Moon Characters in a picture book format. Intermediate Level artists will find this book good to start with whereas complete beginners might have to practice more. You can check out other books in our Pokemon Art Book Series including New Pokemon Characters, Pokemon GO Characters and Pokemon Sun and Moon Characters. We recommend beginners to start with the Pokemon GO characters as they are easy to draw compared to the characters from other series. All the steps in our books are visually depicted in a very detailed manner and are self explanatory. Hence there are no written instructions required. You can also color the final characters, partly using this book as a coloring book too. This book contains following Pokemon characters: Learn To Draw Alola Grimer Learn To Draw Alola Muk Learn To Draw Cosmog Learn To Draw Decidueye Learn To Draw Gladion Learn To Draw Ilima Learn To Draw Olivia Learn To Draw Tapu Bulu Learn To Draw Tapu Fini Learn To Draw Tapu Lele Learn To Draw UB-02 Absorption Learn To Draw UB-02 Beauty Learn To Draw Zygarde Cell Learn To Draw Zygarde Complete Forme Learn To Draw Zygarde Core We hope that you enjoy this book.
This book contains step by step instructions of how to draw your favorite New Pokemon Characters in a picture book format. Intermediate Level artists will find this book good to start with whereas complete beginners might have to practice more. You can check out other books in our Pokemon Art Book Series including New Pokemon Characters, Pokemon GO Characters and Pokemon Sun and Moon Characters. We recommend beginners to start with the Pokemon GO characters as they are easy to draw compared to the characters from other series. All the steps in our books are visually depicted in a very detailed manner and are self explanatory. Hence there are no written instructions required. You can also color the final characters, partly using this book as a coloring book too This book contains following Pokemon characters: Learn To Draw Absol Learn To Draw Doduo Learn To Draw Mega Absol Learn To Draw Mega Altaria Learn To Draw Mega Audino Learn To Draw Mega Charizard Y Learn To Draw Mega Gallade Learn To Draw Mega Latios Learn To Draw Mega Salamence Learn To Draw Mega Scizor Learn To Draw Mega Sharpedo Learn To Draw Mega Slowbro Learn To Draw Mega Swampert Learn To Draw Mega Tyranitar Learn To Draw Mega Venusaur We hope that you enjoy this book.


text:
Tight supply cramps Nissan volume
Lindsay Chappell
Nissan Division posted 77,828 U.S. sales in September, a decline of 6 percent from September 2012.
NASHVILLE -- Nissan's fresh product line failed to lift the brand over the twin challenges of a short September sales month and a tight supply of small cars.
Nissan Division posted 77,828 U.S. sales for the month, a decline of 6 percent from September 2012. There were two fewer selling days this September than in September 2012.
Sales of the line's volume-leading Altima dipped 13 percent to 21,221 units in September. But Fred Diaz, Nissan Division vice president of sales, marketing, service and parts, said that resulted in part because Altima sales in August were higher than expected.
"September was a strange month, but it was just an anomaly," Diaz said. "We continue to see strong demand into the fourth quarter of the year."
Diaz says the company is struggling with capacity limits for two critical cars, the Versa and the Sentra. The restyled Sentra was down 17 percent from a year earlier, while the Versa rose just 10 percent despite the introduction of a Versa Note hatchback version.
Diaz says Nissan's U.S. dealers are relying on a recently launched factory line in Mississippi for their Sentras. But a new factory in Mexico will come on line this year to increase the supply of both models, he says.
"We're catching up on supply," he says, adding that it will take 30 to 60 days to build inventories.
The luxury Infiniti brand had sales of 9,040 vehicles for the month, a decline of 4 percent from a year ago.
But sales of the new Q50 sedan helped restore volume levels from the past few months. Infiniti introduced the Q50 in August and sold 2,367 in September.
Although the Q50 was created to replace the G, Infiniti now intends to sell the two together. Combined with the September sales of the G37, Infiniti sold a total of 4,144 entry-segment sedans. In September 2012, Infiniti sold 2,807 G37s.
Ford, Chrysler big winners as U.S. volume slips 4%
Sponsored Content: Acxiom VP on the intersection of analytics and car shoppers
Sponsored Content: The Heat is on as Automakers Seek Differentiation


InfoQ just posted a video interview with me. Deborah Hartmann interviewed me at Agile 2007 last year just before the book came out. It came out great, and InfoQ also included a transcript for those of you who prefer reading to watching.
This interview joins a few other good recent interviews: Bob Payne's Agile Toolkit interview, also conducted at Agile 2007, and Clarke Ching's Agile Thinkers interview.


text:
using Landis.Utilities;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System;
using Landis.Core;
using Landis.SpatialModeling;
using Landis.Library.LeafBiomassCohorts;

namespace Landis.Extension.Succession.NECN
{
    /// <summary>
    /// </summary>
    public class AvailableN
    {
        //Nested dictionary of species,cohort
        public static Dictionary<int, Dictionary<int,double>> CohortMineralNfraction;  //calculated once per year
        public static Dictionary<int, Dictionary<int, double>> CohortMineralNallocation;  //calculated monthly

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Method for retrieving the available resorbed N for each cohort.
        // Return amount of resorbed N in g N m-2.
        public static double GetResorbedNallocation(ICohort cohort, ActiveSite site)
        {
            //cohort = null;
            int cohortAddYear = GetAddYear(cohort);
            //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("GETResorbedNallocation: year={0}, mo={1}, species={2}, cohortAge={3}, cohortAddYear={4}.", PlugIn.ModelCore.CurrentTime, Main.Month, cohort.Species.Name, cohort.Age, cohortAddYear);
            double resorbedNallocation = 0.0;
            Dictionary<int, double> cohortDict;

            if (SiteVars.CohortResorbedNallocation[site].TryGetValue(cohort.Species.Index, out cohortDict))
                cohortDict.TryGetValue(cohortAddYear, out resorbedNallocation);

            //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("GETResorbedNallocation: year={0}, mo={1}, species={2}, cohortAge={3}, cohortAddYear={4}.", PlugIn.ModelCore.CurrentTime, Main.Month, cohort.Species.Name, cohort.Age, cohortAddYear);

            return resorbedNallocation;
        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Method for setting the available resorbed N for each cohort.
        // Amount of resorbed N must be in units of g N m-2.
        public static void SetResorbedNallocation(ICohort cohort, double resorbedNallocation, ActiveSite site)
        {
            int cohortAddYear = GetAddYear(cohort);
            //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("SETResorbedNallocation: year={0}, mo={1}, species={2}, cohortAge={3}, cohortAddYear={4}.", PlugIn.ModelCore.CurrentTime, Main.Month, cohort.Species.Name, cohort.Age, cohortAddYear);
            Dictionary<int, double> cohortDict;
            double oldResorbedNallocation;

            // If the dictionary entry exists for the cohort, overwrite it:
            if (SiteVars.CohortResorbedNallocation[site].TryGetValue(cohort.Species.Index, out cohortDict))
                if (cohortDict.TryGetValue(cohortAddYear, out oldResorbedNallocation))
                {
                    SiteVars.CohortResorbedNallocation[site][cohort.Species.Index][cohortAddYear] = resorbedNallocation;
                    return;
                }

            // If the dictionary does not exist for the cohort, create it:
            Dictionary<int, double> newEntry = new Dictionary<int, double>();
            newEntry.Add(cohortAddYear, resorbedNallocation);

            if (SiteVars.CohortResorbedNallocation[site].ContainsKey(cohort.Species.Index))
            {
                SiteVars.CohortResorbedNallocation[site][cohort.Species.Index].Add(cohortAddYear, resorbedNallocation);
            }
            else
            {
                SiteVars.CohortResorbedNallocation[site].Add(cohort.Species.Index, newEntry);
            }

            //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("SET ResorbedNallocation: ResorbedNallocation={0:0.00000}.", resorbedNallocation);
            return;
        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Method for RESETTING the available resorbed N for each cohort.  Any remaining in the Dictionary is deposited as Mineral N.
        // Amount of resorbed N must be in units of g N m-2.
        // This is necessary to prevent infinite storage of N.
        //public static void ResetResorbedNallocation(ICohort cohort, double resorbedNallocation)
        //{
        //    CohortResorbedNallocation = new Dictionary<int, Dictionary<int, double>>();
        //}

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Method for calculationg how much N should be resorbed, based the difference in N content between leaves and litterfall;
        // month is only included for logging purposes.
        public static double CalculateResorbedN(ActiveSite site, ISpecies species, double leafBiomass)
        {

                double leafN = leafBiomass * 0.47 / SpeciesData.LeafCN[species];
                double litterN = leafBiomass * 0.47 / SpeciesData.LeafLitterCN[species];

                double resorbedN = leafN - litterN;

                //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("How much N to resorb?  leafN={0:0.00}, litterN={1:0.00}, resorbedN={2:0.00}, leafbiomass={3:0.00}.", leafN, litterN, resorbedN, leafBiomass);

                SiteVars.ResorbedN[site] += resorbedN;

                return resorbedN;

        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Method for calculating Mineral N allocation, called from Century.cs Run method before calling Grow
        // Iterates through cohorts, assigning each a portion of mineral N based on coarse root biomass.  Uses an exponential function to "distribute"
        // the N more evenly between spp. so that the ones with the most woody biomass don't get all the N (L122).

        public static void CalculateMineralNfraction(Site site)
        {
            AvailableN.CohortMineralNfraction = new Dictionary<int, Dictionary<int, double>>();
            double NAllocTotal = 0.0;

            foreach (ISpeciesCohorts speciesCohorts in SiteVars.Cohorts[site])
            {
                foreach (ICohort cohort in speciesCohorts)
                {
                    int cohortAddYear = GetAddYear(cohort);
                    //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("CALCMineralNfraction: year={0}, mo={1}, species={2}, cohortAge={3}, cohortAddYear={4}.", PlugIn.ModelCore.CurrentTime, Main.Month, cohort.Species.Name, cohort.Age, cohortAddYear);

                    //Nallocation is a measure of how much N a cohort can gather relative to other cohorts
                    //double Nallocation = Roots.CalculateFineRoot(cohort.LeafBiomass);
                    double Nallocation = 1- Math.Exp((-Roots.CalculateCoarseRoot(cohort, cohort.WoodBiomass)*0.02));

                    if (Nallocation <= 0.0)
                        Nallocation = Math.Max(Nallocation, cohort.WoodBiomass * 0.01);

                    NAllocTotal += Nallocation;
                    Dictionary<int, double> newEntry = new Dictionary<int, double>();
                    newEntry.Add(cohortAddYear, Nallocation);

                    if (CohortMineralNfraction.ContainsKey(cohort.Species.Index))
                    {
                        if (!CohortMineralNfraction[cohort.Species.Index].ContainsKey(cohortAddYear))
                           CohortMineralNfraction[cohort.Species.Index][cohortAddYear] = Nallocation;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        CohortMineralNfraction.Add(cohort.Species.Index, newEntry);
                    }

                }

            }

            // Next relativize
            foreach (ISpeciesCohorts speciesCohorts in SiteVars.Cohorts[site])
            {
                //PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine(" SpeciesCohorts = {0}", speciesCohorts.Species.Name);
                foreach (ICohort cohort in speciesCohorts)
                {
                    int cohortAddYear = GetAddYear(cohort);
                    double Nallocation = CohortMineralNfraction[cohort.Species.Index][cohortAddYear];
                    double relativeNallocation = Nallocation / NAllocTotal;
                    CohortMineralNfraction[cohort.Species.Index][cohortAddYear] = relativeNallocation;

                    if (Double.IsNaN(relativeNallocation) || Double.IsNaN(Nallocation) || Double.IsNaN(NAllocTotal))
                    {
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  N ALLOCATION CALCULATION = NaN!  ");
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  Site_Row={0:0}, Site_Column={1:0}.", site.Location.Row, site.Location.Column);
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  Nallocation={0:0.00}, NAllocTotal={1:0.00}, relativeNallocation={2:0.00}.", Nallocation, NAllocTotal, relativeNallocation);
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  Wood={0:0.00}, Leaf={1:0.00}.", cohort.WoodBiomass, cohort.LeafBiomass);
                    }
                }
            }

        }

        // Calculates how much N a cohort gets, based on the amount of N available.

        public static void SetMineralNallocation(Site site)
        {
            AvailableN.CohortMineralNallocation = new Dictionary<int, Dictionary<int, double>>();

           double availableN = SiteVars.MineralN[site];  // g/m2
           Math.Max(availableN, 0.01);

            foreach (ISpeciesCohorts speciesCohorts in SiteVars.Cohorts[site])
            {
                foreach (ICohort cohort in speciesCohorts)
                {
                    int cohortAddYear = GetAddYear(cohort);
                    if (Main.MonthCnt == 11)
                        cohortAddYear--;

                    double Nfraction = 0.05;  //even a new cohort gets a little love
                    Dictionary<int, double> cohortDict = new Dictionary<int,double>();

                    if (AvailableN.CohortMineralNfraction.TryGetValue(cohort.Species.Index, out cohortDict))
                        cohortDict.TryGetValue(cohortAddYear, out Nfraction);

                    double Nallocation = Math.Max(0.05, Nfraction * availableN);

                    if (Double.IsNaN(Nallocation) || Double.IsNaN(Nfraction) || Double.IsNaN(availableN))
                    {
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  LIMIT N CALCULATION = NaN!  ");
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  Site_Row={0:0}, Site_Column={1:0}.", site.Location.Row, site.Location.Column);
                        PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("  Nallocation={0:0.00}, Nfraction={1:0.00}, availableN={2:0.00}.", Nallocation, Nfraction, availableN);
                    }

                    Dictionary<int, double> newEntry = new Dictionary<int, double>();
                    newEntry.Add(cohortAddYear, Nallocation);

                    if (CohortMineralNallocation.ContainsKey(cohort.Species.Index))
                    {
                        if (!CohortMineralNallocation[cohort.Species.Index].ContainsKey(cohortAddYear))
                            CohortMineralNallocation[cohort.Species.Index][cohortAddYear] = Nallocation;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        CohortMineralNallocation.Add(cohort.Species.Index, newEntry);
                    }
                }
            }

        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Method for retrieving the available mineral N for each cohort.
        // Return amount of resorbed N in g N m-2.
        public static double GetMineralNallocation(ICohort cohort)
        {

            int cohortAddYear = GetAddYear(cohort);
            double mineralNallocation = 0.0;
            Dictionary<int, double> cohortDict;

            if (AvailableN.CohortMineralNallocation.TryGetValue(cohort.Species.Index, out cohortDict))
                cohortDict.TryGetValue(cohortAddYear, out mineralNallocation);

            return mineralNallocation;
        }
        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        /// <summary>
        /// Calculates cohort N demand depending upon how much N would be removed through growth (ANPP) of leaves, wood, coarse roots and fine roots.
        /// Demand is then used to determine the amount of N that a cohort "wants".
        /// </summary>
        public static double CalculateCohortNDemand(ISpecies species, ActiveSite site, ICohort cohort, double[] ANPP)
        {
            if(ANPP[1] <= 0.0)
                return 0.0;
                //return 0.01;

            if (SpeciesData.NFixer[species])  // We fix our own N!
                return 0.0;

            double ANPPwood = 0.0;
            double ANPPleaf = 0.0;
            double ANPPcoarseRoot = 0.0;
            double ANPPfineRoot = 0.0;
            double woodN = 0.0;
            double coarseRootN = 0.0;
            double leafN = 0.0;
            double fineRootN = 0.0;

            if(ANPP[0] > 0.0)  // Wood
            {
                ANPPwood = ANPP[0];
                ANPPcoarseRoot = Roots.CalculateCoarseRoot(cohort, ANPPwood);

                woodN       = ANPPwood * 0.47  / SpeciesData.WoodCN[species];
                coarseRootN = ANPPcoarseRoot * 0.47  / SpeciesData.CoarseRootCN[species];
            }

            if(ANPP[1] > 0.0)  // Leaf
            {
                ANPPleaf = ANPP[1];
                ANPPfineRoot = Roots.CalculateFineRoot(cohort, ANPPleaf);

                leafN       = ANPPleaf * 0.47 / SpeciesData.LeafCN[species];
                fineRootN   = ANPPfineRoot * 0.47/ SpeciesData.FineRootCN[species];

            }

            double totalANPP_C = (ANPPleaf + ANPPwood + ANPPcoarseRoot + ANPPfineRoot) * 0.47;
            double Ndemand = leafN + woodN + coarseRootN + fineRootN;

            if(Ndemand < 0.0)
            {
                PlugIn.ModelCore.UI.WriteLine("   ERROR:  TotalANPP-C={0:0.00} Nreduction={1:0.00}.", totalANPP_C, Ndemand);
                throw new ApplicationException("Error: N Reduction is < 0.  See AvailableN.cs");
            }

            return Ndemand;
        }

        public static void AdjustAvailableN(ICohort cohort, ActiveSite site, double[] actualANPP)
        {
            // Because Growth used some Nitrogen, it must be subtracted from the appropriate pools, either resorbed or mineral.

            double totalNdemand = AvailableN.CalculateCohortNDemand(cohort.Species, site, cohort, actualANPP);
            double adjNdemand = totalNdemand;
            double resorbedNused = 0.0;
            //double mineralNused = 0.0;

            // Use resorbed N first and only if it is spring time unless you are evergreen.
            double leafLongevity = SpeciesData.LeafLongevity[cohort.Species];
            if ((leafLongevity <= 1.0 && Main.Month > 2 && Main.Month < 6) || leafLongevity > 1.0)
            {
            double resorbedNallocation = Math.Max(0.0, AvailableN.GetResorbedNallocation(cohort, site));

            resorbedNused = resorbedNallocation - Math.Max(0.0, resorbedNallocation - totalNdemand);

            AvailableN.SetResorbedNallocation(cohort, Math.Max(0.0, resorbedNallocation - totalNdemand), site);

            adjNdemand = Math.Max(0.0, totalNdemand - resorbedNallocation);
            }

            // Reduce available N after taking into account that some N may have been provided
            // via resorption (above).
            double Nuptake = 0.0;
            if (SiteVars.MineralN[site] >= adjNdemand)
            {
                SiteVars.MineralN[site] -= adjNdemand;
                //mineralNused = adjNdemand;
                Nuptake = adjNdemand;
            }

            else
            {
                adjNdemand = SiteVars.MineralN[site];
                //mineralNused = SiteVars.MineralN[site];
                SiteVars.MineralN[site] = 0.0;
                Nuptake = SiteVars.MineralN[site];
            }

            SiteVars.TotalNuptake[site] += Nuptake;

            if (OtherData.CalibrateMode && PlugIn.ModelCore.CurrentTime > 0)
            {
                CalibrateLog.resorbedNused = resorbedNused;
                CalibrateLog.mineralNused = Nuptake;
                CalibrateLog.demand_N = totalNdemand;
                //Outputs.CalibrateLog.Write("{0:0.00},{1:0.00},{2:0.00},", resorbedNused, Nuptake, totalNdemand);
            }

        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // This is the SIMULATION year that a cohort was born (not its age).
        // The number can be negative if the cohort was added with the initial community.
        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        private static int GetAddYear(ICohort cohort)
        {
            int currentYear = PlugIn.ModelCore.CurrentTime;
            int cohortAddYear = currentYear - (cohort.Age - Main.Year);
            if (Main.MonthCnt == 11)
                cohortAddYear++;
            return cohortAddYear;
        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------

        public static void AddResorbedN(ICohort cohort, double deadLeafRootsBiomass, ActiveSite site)//, int month)
        {

            // Resorbed N:  We are assuming that any leaves dropped as a function of normal
            // growth and maintenance (e.g., fall senescence) will involve resorption of leaf N.
            double resorbedN = AvailableN.CalculateResorbedN(site, cohort.Species, deadLeafRootsBiomass); //, month);
            //double resorbedN = AvailableN.CalculateResorbedN(site, cohort.Species, cohort.LeafBiomass); //, month);
            double previouslyResorbedN = GetResorbedNallocation(cohort, site);

            AvailableN.SetResorbedNallocation(cohort, resorbedN + previouslyResorbedN, site);

            return;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Sacred Evil
The double event. The killer had gone for the double event on the night that Angus Avery had been under house arrest. The body of this woman lay identical in pose and mutilation to that of Catherine Eddowes, fourth Ripper victim. When the autopsy was performed, he knew the findings would be nearly exact.
She was warm.
She hadn't been dead long.
He spoke into his radio mouthpiece. "Get Fullbright over here. Get him over here now. And get every man on the street moving. Subways, alleys—set up a roadblock along Broadway. I don't care if we bring the entire city to a halt."
He stood, feeling as if his veins and muscles were made of ice, as if he had grown very old. Then he walked over to where the others were standing a distance from the body. "Ellis, stay with Fullbright, please. Keep every available person searching the streets. Somewhere nearby, we're going to find the words The Juwes are not the men to be blamed for nothing written over a doorway—and there will be a bloody piece of our victim's clothing beneath it."
He looked around the street. He stood and started walking. A bit in the distance, he could see the spire of Trinity church. He considered himself a decently spiritual man, if not a religious one. At that moment, he wished he could go into the church, fall on his knees and beg God to send them all a miracle.
He started for the church, but then he paused.
He knew where he would find the writing.
Whitney must have read his mind.
"Blair House," she said from behind him.
They were both right; the gate to the house was open. They didn't need to speak to one another to remember to touch nothing.
On the porch lay a bloody strip of fabric, ripped from the last victim's skirt.
And over the door of Blair House was written in chalk the words that Jude had just said.
The Juwes are not the men to be blamed for nothing.
"We'll get Forensics," he said wearily. "We're going to need several teams out here on the streets tonight. No one sleeps."
If the city had been in a panic before, it was afire now.
The papers and media carried nothing but information on the New York murders, and the hotels in Lower Manhattan were emptying.
Angus Avery screamed for his freedom, demanding that he be set free from his electronic monitor.
But because of the evidence against him, Deputy Chief Green could continue to hold him; it was more than possible that the murders had been committed by more than one person, and that Avery's accomplice had purposely timed the double event when he was under monitor and guard, therefore trying to prove his innocence.
Jude spent the day at the station reinterviewing every possible suspect and witness. He had in Captain Tyler and Major Radison, as well. He had in the best possible sketch artist, and he gave the sketch to both Hannah and Jake Mallory, and both returned the typical Victorian gaslight picture of the Ripper, excellent 3-D images.
He questioned both men further about the killer's face.
Captain Tyler proved to be no help. He hadn't seen the man's face; he had only seen the figure at a distance. Nor had his memory returned about anyone having been in his room. He'd had some water before he went to sleep…he often did when he could. But he hadn't seen anyone in his room.
Major Radison gave the question of the man's face deep thought. "It was very odd," he said.
"Odd how?" Jude asked him.
"Like—blank. As if he was wearing some kind of Venetian carnival mask," Major Radison said after a minute. "As if there was really nothing there, just a white face with no expression and nothing…live about it. Nothing real at all."
Jude sat back, drumming his fingers on the table. A mask. That brought him back to costumes and make-believe—the movies.
But it was true that Angus Avery had not left his apartment during the night. His ankle monitor had not gone off. Any device could be hacked, Jude knew, but several cops had been watching the director's place. It would have been damn hard for them all to be crooked.
He allowed the old soldiers who had tried valiantly to help to return to the veterans' home. They had become good friends, so it seemed, in the time they had been at the police station. Trying to help had seemed to strengthen them both, and Tyler was mortified that he couldn't help more. Jenna, at the station with Jackson, Whitney and Jake, assured the captain that he had done a great deal for them, and it was not his fault that he could remember nothing—it had been the drug.
He had Mrs. Allie Lipton, the wardrobe mistress from the movie set, brought in. At first, she stubbornly denied having made any mistake on her calculations; she knew that Angus Avery was strict. He had to stay on budget. He wouldn't stay on budget by having to replace costumes stolen by two-bit extras.
But then he asked her why one of the limo drivers had had to go to a fabric store.
She was an older woman, plump, somewhere over fifty. He saw her hesitate, though she quickly gathered her wits and said, "Costumes are always tearing, and I'm always mending something. He went for patches, thread, that kind of thing."
"And, of course, a receipt was turned in. I'll get a copy of that receipt," Jude told her. "Even if you don't have it, believe me, I'll track down your purchase."
She sat very still, and then her lower lip began to tremble. "One of the cloaks disappeared—they're actually caped coats, you know—regular coats with sleeves, and then a short cape over the shoulders. I didn't dare tell the director. He would have said it was my fault. And I could swear that every extra on the set returned his or her costume. I could swear it! Avery would have fired me for not having control. I can't get jobs as easily as I used to—you've got to believe me, Detective, the movies are run by the young."
Jude stared at her. He wanted to tell her that her lie might have cost lives, but it wouldn't have been true—they had suspected that the killer's period costume had come from the movie set.
"When did the cloak disappear?" he asked her. "At the shoot at the construction site?"
"Oh, no—two weeks before that," she told him. "We'd been working on Staten Island. That's when the cloak disappeared. I didn't try to replace it until we had the same number of extras working again. That's why…that's why I didn't believe that its disappearance could be related to the killing that night. And the papers said that there were Jack the Ripper victims, but they didn't say that anyone had actually seen Jack the Ripper walking around. Please, please, you can't tell Mr. Avery. Of course, Mr. Avery has a court date now, but…oh, he couldn't have anything to do with this! Detective, I know that you have this information, but, please, please, please, don't report me to the powers that be at the movie company. I used my own money to buy the fabric to replace the cloak. Please."
He couldn't help but feel sorry for Allie Lipton. "I need the information for our investigation, Mrs. Lipton. I'm not the movie police."
He let her go; she could return to work. Apparently, the assistant director was filming action shots that day with the film's stunt performers.
Sherry Blanco came back in, her lawyer in tow this time. Jude was surprised, but he had nothing against the lawyer sitting in.
"Miss Blanco, we're not accusing you of anything, but I'm afraid that you were working with a murderer at some point during this film," he said.
She looked at her lawyer, and then at Jude. "I told you, and I don't know why you don't understand this. I don't know the extras. Sometimes I don't even see the extras." She sat back, shaking her head, and then she leaned forward again. "Look, I'm not trying to pull any kind of…rank here, but I'm the star. Stars don't have to know the extras, or even the bit players. I don't eat with the others, I don't get warm and chummy with the others. And, hey, I'm not a nasty person. I do make friends, but you have to realize, people want to use me, too. I have to keep my distance."
He smiled. She wasn't going to give him anything. He was going to give her something to think about. "Well, I suppose that's good. Because the killer could still be working on your set."
"You've arrested Angus Avery, remember?"
"Two women were killed last night, remember?" Jude countered.
"Then maybe you should let Angus go," she said, smirking.
"Maybe. And maybe he has been working with someone. Killers who work together have certainly caused a great deal of death and agony over the years. But you are the star. I guess you don't have to worry, walking out of your trailer or getting into a limo."
She turned white.
"Detective!" her lawyer snapped.
"Yes? Can you point out what's untrue about my words?" he asked.
Her attorney wasn't a fool. He stood, drawing her up by the elbow. "My client isn't under arrest. She has answered all your questions, and we're leaving."
Jude stood and smiled. "Thank you so much. Enjoy your day, Miss Blanco."
When they left, he discovered that Deputy Chief Green wanted to see him in the lab. He knew that Whitney and Jake had been at the computers all day with Hannah, searching for any trigger in the background of any possible suspect or major player in the case. But he and Jackson weren't heading to the computers; they were off to see Judith Garner in the lab.
As they walked to the lab, Jude again felt a sinking feeling.
"A letter—we've received a letter," he said, seeing Green. In London, back in the day of Jack the Ripper, the police had received hundreds of letters from those wanting to solve the case, and those convinced they were, or knew, Jack the Ripper.
Green nodded grimly. "In the mail, postmarked Lower Manhattan," Green told him.
"And it's an exact copy of the letter sent to George Lusk, head of the Whitechapel Vigilante Committee—the 'From Hell' letter. It's one of the few letters they considered not to be fake, am I correct?"


[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How long for a refund from the ATF?
I had an eform 1 rejected in Januay, how long does it take to get a refund?
Will a check be mailed, or will it be credited back to my credit card.
If it is past due, how / who do I contact?
Did they not contact you about fixing it?
-call them like you would checking on the status ( (304) 616-4500 ) and whoever picks up just say you have a question about your refund. they may ask if its been more than 90d, but usually they just transfer you to one guy, Scott i think it is (you can ask for him by name). He's super helpful, but hardly answers the phone so prepare to leave a message with al the info and play phone tag. Even his direct line gets intercepted by the normal people.
-******SUPER IMPORTANT PERSONAL TIP********** make sure you check ALL your CC statements. I used an obscure one that i never use, and thought i didn't get my refund (cause i did like 2 or 3 form 1s that month, but this one rejection was paid with some other CC) so Scott and i were going through all the hassles for me to find out that i didn't see the refund.
It used to be 3-4 months about a year ago. Every mention of it I've seen in 2016 has been in the 1-3 week range.
glad it worked out without having to go through all the phone tags!
Dang. I waited 2 months last fall when I filed my first form.
Mine took 3 weeks. Credited back to card without issue.
My first refund (2014) took about 4 months. My second (2016) took about a week. Both were credited back to my card.


RHCEs have proven they can set up and configure Linux servers, configure network services and security, and perform diagnostics and troubleshooting. But there is more to the story. The increasing commoditization of IT and the goal of making IT a more customer-centered, on-demand type of service. The new architectures enable centralized manageability with fewer personnel for managing complex back-end systems in the data center, for Internet transactions or for managing thousands of remotely administered desktops. This is where IT is converging. But what are the Linux tasks and job roles at the most challenging levels of enterprise Linux deployment? What skills are required? Who provides training at that level? Will there be a certification at that level, beyond RHCE? Will it be (can it be) performance-based? Let us discuss this and find out the answers.


Well it didn't take long for the highly anticipated Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV to leak onto the web and now there are fingers being pointed and threats from HQ to take the images down.
According to claims made by Instagram poster eng_aalhammadi, Rolls-Royce PR had been sliding into his DMs (direct messages) ordering him to take down a leaked image of the luxury marque's first ever SUV.
That instruction didn't go down too well with the Instagrammer from the United Arab Emirates so he went on to post an entire gallery of the car which you can see below.
Whilst the apparent PR bungle makes for a good little chuckle, it's the car itself which will draw the most attention when it debuts. Rolls-Royce have been drip feeding teasers and a camouflage version for months now ahead of the car's official launch later this week.
From the images which appear to be official renderings, the car will be rather huge as with most vehicles from their current portfolio. It will also come with a plush interior complete with luxurious lounge seats wrapped in pristine white leather.
An even cooler feature is the split tailgate boot which opens up to a luxurious mini patio. You can read about the full specs on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan here before you put your deposit on one.


LEXINGTON—Nick Sandefur, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church for two years, will be nominated for president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention when it meets in Pikeville Nov. 13.
He will be nominated by evangelist Don Mathis, of Bowling Green, who endorsed Sandefur as "a godly man whom I know, who has been pastor to my family, a servant leader, and a man who will be an outstanding KBC President."
Mathis said he had come to know Sandefur during his 13-year ministry as senior pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, where he had been pastor to most of Mathis' family.
"I have had the privilege of observing Bro. Nick's ministry on KBC committees and as church pastor," Mathis said, "and am impressed that he will speak his convictions and opinions, but is equally quick to listen to those of others."
Describing Sandefur as "a Bible-believer," Mathis added, "He preaches the word … loves the Lord, loves people."
Sandefur has been a member of the KBC Mission Board, served on its Nominating Committee, and on a search committee that recommended Paul Chitwood to become executive director.
He also has been a KBC consultant for the North Central Region, working with more than 400 churches. In that role, he developed a regional leadership network involving 140 ministers, conducted numerous training events, and preached in many area churches.
"In short, Bro. Nick (Sandefur) knows Kentucky Baptists from both a convention viewpoint, but more important in our churches," Mathis said.
As pastor of Porter Memorial, Sandefur is leading the Lexington congregation to increase Cooperative Program giving from 7 percent to at least 10 percent by raising it .25 percent each year. Thus far, after being increased three times, the CP percentage now stands at 7.5 percent, Mathis said, noting that worship attendance also has increased by 200, with 82 coming by baptism.
During Sandefur's tenure at Edgewood, average worship attendance increased from 235 to 778, as 459 baptisms were recorded, and giving grew from $295,000 to more than a $1 million. He also led the church through a relocation effort involving $5.2 million dollars. "Even with their debt, Edgewood never gave less than 11 percent though the Cooperative Programs," Mathis noted.


text:
Langara's Story
49 Langarans
49Langaran
Joseph Abercrombie
Langara Alum | Sustainability Innovator
When Joe Abercrombie moved from his home province of Alberta to attend Langara College in Vancouver, he figured he'd better pick up some part-time work to help pay for school.
He had years of experience working at his uncle's wildlife control business back home and, despite being overqualified, decided to take a pest control technician job in the city. His first assignment was a house that had a heavy rat infestation.
"I took a walk outside and the place was riddled with holes," Abercrombie remembers. "It was obvious the holes were the problem, so I looked at the guy who was supposed to be training me and asked, 'We're here to fix those, right?'"
Not quite, Abercrombie was told. Instead, the trainer said to put on his gloves, fill up poison stations and lay them out next to the holes.
"I was blown away," Abercrombie said of the instructions.
He said the trainer went on to tell the homeowners that they would be billed monthly until they didn't see any more rats inside their property, at which time the company would quote them on sealing up the house.
"That's completely backwards to me," he said. "That's treating the symptom. Maybe you're going to kill a rodent, and if you do it's going to die in your structure. It's obvious — you have to fix those holes and then deal with what's left. Stop the flow."
Abercrombie quit that day, only to find out that other companies in the city were the same. The "poison slingers," as he calls them, were perpetuating the myths that customers can't get a permanent result and that relying on poison to "control" the population is the only economical option.
"The industry standard is essentially to neglect the root cause in order to turn your wildlife conflict into a source of recurring revenue at your expense and at the environment's," he said.
So he got a loan, bought a truck and founded Humane Solutions Inc., a sustainable, innovative wildlife management company. By addressing root causes, such as filling holes in a house, he has grown a team of internationally qualified, human-wildlife conflict specialists and wildlife technicians. Over the past several years they have developed innovative services for all common pests, as well as high-profile wildlife concerns, helping everyone from homeowners to business owners and municipalities while earning nothing but five-star reviews.
"Instead of poison we use humane traps. Every rodent we control we physically remove," he said. "We provide monthly reports with what we call 'CatchData,' making them unique to the industry. Customers get to see the total number of rodents caught, cost per rodent, and trend over time in terms of expenditure and catch.
"With that data we modify customers' programs and make small changes. The idea is to get customers a permanent result and ultimately lower their pest control budget.
"That runs completely contrary to the industry standard globally."
Humane Solutions Inc. is an eco-friendly wildlife pest control company, but at its core, Abercrombie said, is innovation.
For example, he has also developed a low-labour, humane rodent control system that is meant to directly compete with the poison industry and scale the CatchData methodology globally. He recently secured partnership and the system is about to move into the development stage.
Using his cutting edge company as a catalyst, he intends to come up with more creative solutions to serious ecological problems in the future.
Courtesy of Black Press Media.
49 Facts — NO. 35
Langara has partnership, exchange, and transfer agreements with universities across Canada and around the world, including Queen's University in Ontario, Griffiths University in Australia, and the University of Sussex in England.
Meet more 49 Langarans.
Scott Bellis
Langara Alum | Actor & Director
Scott is a Vancouver-based actor, director, and theatre instructor. He is a Founding Member and Artistic Associate of Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival and has worked with a variety of theatre companies, including Arts Club Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, and Carousel Theatre. Scott has also been involved with over 150 theatre, TV, and film productions across Canada. Elected to the National Council of Canadian Actors' Equity Association in 2012, he served as Secretary/Treasurer from 2015 to 2017 and was appointed as Council President in November 2017. He has been nominated for 20 Jessie Richardson Awards and received awards for his performances in Midsummers Night's Dream (2007), All's Well That Ends Well (2010), Avenue Q (2014), and Après Moi (2016). Scott also mentors and teaches young people through the Arts Club Actors' Intensive and often returns to Studio 58 to teach or direct.
Kevin Lanthier
Langara Alum | Visual Artist
Kevin is a visual artist, commercial photographer and retoucher, and educator. With his company Cake Imagery, he works with top creative agencies and advertising photographers in Vancouver and around the world. He mixes his technical foundation from the commercial world into his fine art pieces creating visually compelling photo composites. His current work focuses on distilling and amplifying narratives found in urban spaces via highly controlled, concept-driven compositions, exploring the experience of the wildlife living amongst us in our cities. His recent exhibition series The Special examined Vancouver's history and culture by combining separately photographed structures into hyper-real, imaginary streetscapes. The series was widely exhibited in both group and solo shows throughout the city. An addendum to this series, wherein the same process was applied to imagery he shot in Istanbul, was selected as a finalist for the Saltspring National Art Prize. Kevin also teaches photography with Langara College Continuing Studies.
Avram Agov
Current Employee | Scholar & Humanitarian
Avram is an instructor in the Asian Studies department at Langara College and part of the Langara Asia Field School program. He received a BA in philosophy and history at Sofia University and was a visiting scholar at Columbia University on a Fulbright Fellowship. Avram worked at Samsung Electronics in Korea for six years and is the author of several academic papers on North Korea. He worked with the Eugene Bell Foundation on humanitarian programs to assist those from North Korea, especially in the area of tuberculosis. He has an MA in Regional Studies East Asia from Harvard University and a PhD in History from UBC. He did his specialization at Jiatong University in Shanghai and completed his postdoctoral programs at Harvard and UBC.
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I am most excited to be back at Langara where I took my first step to becoming a Registered Social Worker AND to see 54-40 at Community Day!! – Bee M. Grandison
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I will celebrate YOU. 49 is a perfect square (meaning 49, 7 to the power of 2). This college celebrated only 7 of them, but there are plenty of perfect things we can celebrate with our students and faculty. – Nora Franzova
Thank you Langara for always being the soul that I have been looking for throughout my life. Life never seemed as beautiful as it is now after joining Langara. – Ishant Goyal
Forever grateful to Langara for the opportunities given to me as a student, and now as a proud Alumni. Always a Langaran. – Christine Woodington
I'm celebrating the continued opportunity to support faculty, staff, and students through their journey at Langara. – Mark Adams
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I was new to Vancouver, Langara's coaching staff gave me a community of high performance. Something I was missing. – Jordan
Langara's unique place and identity in higher learning in the lower mainland, after so many years. – Michael Fox
I love studying at Langara and meeting amazing classmates and teachers. – Monika Szucs
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College football rankings: Week 16, 2020
By Kevin Kelley - December 13, 2020
Photo: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
College football rankings for week 16 of the 2020 season have been released. Alabama remains the top-ranked team, while Cincinnati moved up to No. 6.
Alabama retained their near unanimous hold on the top spot following their 52-3 victory on the road over the Arkansas Razorbacks. Notre Dame remains in second place although they were off on Saturday.
Ohio State remained third in the AP Poll and fourth in the Coaches Poll even though their game against Michigan was canceled. Clemson was off this weekend but held at third in the Coaches Poll and fourth in the AP Poll.
Texas A&M was slated to host Ole Miss, but the game was canceled. Still, the Aggies remained fifth in both polls. The Florida Gators were upset by LSU, 37-34, and dropped five spots to No. 11 in both the AP and Coaches polls.
Colorado (21) and Wisconsin (25) each dropped out of both polls following their losses in Week 15.
Cincinnati is currently the highest-ranked non-power conference team at No. 6. The next closest team is Coastal Carolina at No. 9.
Below are the full AP and FBS Coaches polls for Week 16 of the 2020 season (first-place votes in parentheses):
AP Poll – Week 16
1. Alabama (62)
2. Notre Dame
3. Ohio State
5. Texas A&M
6. Cincinnati
8. Iowa State
9. Coastal Carolina
10. Georgia
12. Oklahoma
13. USC
14. BYU
15. Northwestern
16. North Carolina
17. Louisiana
18. Iowa
19. Miami
20. Tulsa
22. Liberty
24. NC State
25. San Jose State
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 83, Marshall 47, Boise State 12, UCF 11, Army 9, Washington 9, Auburn 8, TCU 3, Appalachian State 1
Dropped from rankings: Colorado 21, Wisconsin 25
FBS Coaches Poll – Week 16
2. Notre Dame (2)
12. Coastal Carolina
22. Oklahoma State
Others receiving votes: Buffalo 102, Auburn 45, Army 35, Boise State 30, Marshall 29, Washington 22, Missouri 17, Colorado 17, Nevada 10, Wisconsin 8, SMU 7, Oregon 6, Utah 4, TCU 1


text:
Q: limit of division with 2 square roots I know how to deal with limits with one square root. But I have no idea how one would deal with a limit of a square root devided by a different square root, like this one:
limit of division with 2 square roots

A: Hint: Apply L'Hopital's rule here.

A: As long as there isn't a root nested in the other root, you can treat them independently:
\begin{align}
\frac{\sqrt{x+1}-3}{4-\sqrt{2x}}=\frac{x+1-9}{\sqrt{x+1}+3}\,\frac{4+\sqrt{2x}}{16-2x}=-\frac12\frac{4+\sqrt{2x}}{\sqrt{x+1}+3}\to -\frac43\enspace \text{ as } \;x\to 8.
\end{align}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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The MSc in Bioengineering provides education and training to the next generation of biomedical engineers. Bioengineering is defined as the application of the principles of engineering to advancements in healthcare and medicine. Some of the most exciting work in biomedical engineering today takes place at the intersection of disciplines where the biological, physical and digital worlds intersect and have an impact on the human condition. The MSc Bioengineering gives students the opportunity to be involved in exciting new developments in biomedical engineering ranging from developing new materials for use in cardiac care, analysing minute electrical signals changes in the brain for neurological diagnosis to artificially growing new tissue to replace organ transplantation.
The MSc in Bioengineering is designed to provide engineers and scientists with the education, training and creative skills needed to practice and focus on important clinical needs in the medical devices industry, or research and clinical institutes. Students of the MSc in Bioengineering in Trinity College Dublin take lectures from experts in a variety of biomedical engineering subjects and carry out research in world class, state of the art research laboratories and facilities. This MSc programme also provides an excellent foundation for further research and many graduates are currently pursuing Ph.D. research in diverse fields of biomedical engineering in universities in Ireland and around the world.
The MSc in Bioengineering offers four distinct streams tailored to the background and previous experience of entrants.
1. General stream
2. Neural Engineering Specialisation
3. Medical Device Design Specialisation
4. Tissue Engineering Specialisation
Our unique streams provide our graduates a distinct competitive edge in the global medical device and biomedical engineering market place. Students of the MSc in Bioengineering with the appropriate background have the opportunity to specialise in one of three key research themes – neural engineering, medical device design, or tissue engineering. All four streams lead to the award of the MSc in Bioengineering and consist of compulsory core modules as well as optional modules
The MSc in Bioengineering General stream has been designed to provide a sound and broad basis in bioengineering for entrants without a previous background in biomedical engineering, providing engineers and scientists with the education needed to practice bioengineering in the medical devices industry.
The MSc in Bioengineering with specialisation in Neural Engineering aims to provide students with the education needed to undertake neural engineering in research and clinical environments. Students receive a focused education on the key subjects of neural engineering such as Neural Signal Analysis, Implantable Neural Systems and Neuroimaging Technologies. Neural engineering has generated considerable scientific and clinical opportunities, not only for the development of interfaces between the brain and computers but also for its mostly untapped potential to help understand neurological disorders such as Parkinsons Disease or psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
The MSc in Bioengineering with specialisation in Medical Device Design is designed to bring together clinicians, researchers and the medical device industry to produce new solutions for clinical needs. The field of medical device research is a fast moving area which can offer students a rewarding career in the global medical device market. Students will gain a specific education of the key topics in medical device design process and a knowledge of medical device regulation.
The MSc in Bioengineering with specialisation in Tissue Engineering provides students with an understanding of stem cells, animal and human cell culture processes, and strategies to regenerate or repair damaged tissues. This exciting multidisciplinary field of research holds significant potential in the treatment of many diseases and disorders such as Osteoarthritis, Back pain, Diabetes, Corneal degeneration, Peripheral nerve damage and Cardiovascular disease. Students receive a focused education on the key subjects of tissue engineering such as Biomaterials, Advanced Cell and Tissue Engineering and Laboratory Techniques in Cell and Tissue Engineering. This stream is designed to provide hands-on training in state of the art cell and tissue engineering techniques, which provides the necessary skills to pursue a significant research topic in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The only course of its kind in Ireland, the MSc in Bioengineering has received a number of awards (Engineers Ireland Excellence in Education Award and Best Postgraduate Course of the Year 2012 in Engineering; Runner up, Best Postgraduate Course of the Year 2016 in Engineering) which recognise the scale and diversity of the MSc in Bioengineering course delivers in terms of the student experience, its contribution to the economy and making an impact on global healthcare
College Trinity College Dublin
Course Location Dublin
Location Postcode Dublin 2
Course Category Bioengineering, Science & Technology
Course Duration 1 year full-time.
Entry Requirements Applicants will be required to hold at least an upper second class honours degree in engineering, biomedical technology, or a cognate discipline. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis and short-listed candidates will be invited for interview on a rolling basis.
Phone 353-1-896 4214
Course Code DPTEG-BIOE-1F09
For information about Trinity College Dublin, please visit our College Profile page on Postgrad.ie by clicking here.
College Green, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Please insert your contact details and any additional information you require and we will forward your request to Trinity College Dublin.


BELMAR -- The Jersey Shore Basketball League's best-laid plans have gone awry, at least for now.
The league is set to return on Tuesday evening at St. Rose High School with one game, RKE Athletic vs. Doughboys. The original plan was a doubleheader with Team Rio vs. Stern's Trailer, but that game has been put on hold.
If Team Rio sounds familiar, it should. The Under Armour-backed AAU program is home to two of the nation's top recruits, Ranney school juniors Scottie Lewis and Bryan Antoine, in addition to high-major Class of 2019 point guard recruit Jalen Gaffney. Team Rio was set to be a "guest" of the JSBL, playing in one or two games this summer, but insurance issues are preventing that.
Greg Kapalko, Chairman of the JSBL Board of Governors, has expressed optimism that the insurance issue will get worked out and Team Rio will make an appearance this summer. For now, though, the six-team league does seem to have a healthy amount of talent.
On paper, Monmouth University is expected to have a larger presence than it has in several years, while other current college stars with local ties are expected to participate.
Coming off a strong rookie season in Russia, two-time MAAC Player of the Year Justin Robinson will miss opening week with Seaview Jeep, but is expected at St. Rose next week. Robinson has been named JSBL playoff MVP each of the last two seasons, including a 66-point outburst in last season's semifinals.
Below are the rosters, which are unofficial fluid, and the regular-season schedule.
RKE Athletic vs Doughboys, 7:30 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. Seaview Jeep, 7:15 p.m.
Orthopaedic Institute vs. Doughboys, 8:45 p.m.
RKE Athletic vs. Seaview Jeep, 7:15 p.m.
Larson Ford vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 8:45 p.m.
Larson Ford vs. Seaview Jeep, 7:15 p.m.
RKE Athletic vs. Otrhpaedic Institute, 8:45 p.m.
RKE Athletic vs. Larson Ford, 7:15 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. Dougboys, 8:45 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 7:15 p.m.
Seaview Jeep vs. Doughboys, 8:45 p.m.
RKE Athletic vs. Stern's Trailer, 7:15 p.m.
Larson Ford vs. Doughboys, 8:45 p.m.
RKE Athletic vs. Doughboys, 7:15 p.m.
Seaview Jeep vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 8:45 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. Larson Ford, 7:15 p.m.
RKE Athletic vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 8:45 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. Doughboys, 7:15 p.m.
Larson Ford vs. Seaview Jeep, 8:45 p.m.
Doughboys vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 8:45 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 8:45 p.m.
Seaview Jeep vs. Orthopaedic Institute, 7:15 p.m.
Stern's Trailer vs. RKE Athletic, 7:15 p.m.


text:
June 25, 2013 Lolita and FriendsAngelic Pretty, Classic Lolita, Essentialism, Japanese fashion, Lifestyle lolita, Lolita fashion, Lolita lifestyle, Philosophy, Sweet Lolita, Victorian MaidenCure Utsukushiku
Welcome to our series on Lolita fashion! There are many sites and blogs devoted to Lolita fashion, but we like to think this one will be a little different – for our interest lies not just with the fashion itself, but with the philosophy and meaning behind the fashion.
So is this about "lifestyle Lolita"? Yes and no. We think this series will appeal to lifestyle Lolitas, but we are hoping to offer a perspective that is rather different from what is available elsewhere.
For the uninitiated, Lolita is a style that emerged from Japan in the 1990s. The style is characterised by knee length skirts with petticoats, lace and bows, and a girlish yet elegant aesthetic. Although it is heavily inspired by Western historical fashion ranging from the 18th century to the 1950s, the style is something unique to Japan.
So what makes lolita so different from any fashion current in the West?
In most Western countries, the clothing of the average woman on the street is often sloppy and baggy, or scruffy and casual. Or else there is the other side of the coin: an over sexualised parody of femininity: the "glamour model" aesthetic. Or there is "high fashion" which in spite of the name, is often deliberately ugly and grotesque. It seems that in the world view of these designers, straight up prettiness is unchallenging and unartistic.
This is exemplified by the disturbing term "heroin chic" which was widely used in the 1990s to describe the trend of already thin models made to look outright gaunt and ill with dark make up.
Then there are "alternative fashions" which are mostly really just more variations on the same theme. Often taking elements of traditional femininity, but adding an ugly and discordant element, like 50s dresses with tattoos and facial piercings.
Lolita on the other hand is truly different.When I found Lolita, I finally had an ideal to aspire to. It gave me permission to be what I had always wanted to be: feminine, elegant, and pure. It spoke so deeply to the part of my heart that had resisted the corrupting influence of the culture I had grown up in, and showed me an alternative. A real alternative in a world where "alternative" is a rallying cry, but whose "individual and alternative" choices are all variations on the same theme. It really is completely different from anything else, and I don't think it could have come into being in a Western country.
The traditional classic and sweet Lolita looks are unaplogetically feminine; lace, full skirts, cute or dainty shoes, neat and feminine hair, enough makeup to look polished, but not too much.
Look at this model from Victorian Maiden; her demure and peaceful expression, her gentle pose – now, compare that with a Western fashion model, any style you can think of. The Western model will likely either be making a highly sexualised pose, or looking distant and cynical, or even aggressive. There is so much pressure when dressing in a feminine style to add a harsh and discordant element, whether it is through facial piercings or tattoos, a pair of stompy boots, or even just an just an angry facial expression; to add an "edge" to one's image, to show that one is not "weak", not "vulnerable".
It seems to the present writer that this is a defense mechanism towards the harshness of 21st century life: "the world is hard and coarse, so I need to harden myself, and coarsen myself to protect myself". This is understandable, but is it really true strength? Isn't this just playing into the idea that femininity is weakness? We believe that femininity, cuteness and innocence are powerful things and will always prevail against darkness and coarseness in the end.
Some of you may now be wondering, "Isn't it just clothing? Something we use to cover our bodies? It doesn't really mean anything does it?" or "I just like frilly clothes, why does that mean I should be pure or innocent?". It is understandable that you may feel this way. This is the standard view of the 21st century West, and for many who have grown up in this culture it can seem like the only logical viewpoint. But for the vast majority of the history of humanity, people have held the belief that clothing and design do have meaning, and that they are important.
Now, we understand that not all Lolitas will feel this way. If you just want to wear the clothes, but think and behave as a typical 21st century young Western woman we are certainly not here to stop you. This site may not be for you and that is fine. We are writing for the minority who feel lost and out of place in the modern world and are yearning for something deeper, gentler, and more beautiful. If you are one of these girls please stay true to your principles, and please keep checking back here for more!
The Philosophy of Doki Doki Precure: Overview
April 28, 2013 Anime, Doki Doki, PrecureLove, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Suit (cards)Cure Dolly
Recovering the True Heart
Very few and small spoilers.
The new Precure series is already up to episode 14, so what do we think? Does it continue the surprising metaphysical depth and wisdom of the other later Precure shows (not to mention the delightful cuteness)? Let's take a look.
People who dismiss Precure as superficial fluff are really looking in the wrong place for profundity. I blame modern media studies and literature courses and suchlike. They teach people that "depth" lies in such essentially superficial matters as "social reality" or "character development" or "moral ambiguity" rather than in the reflection of cosmic realities and the fundamental moral realities without which there wouldn't be anything to be ambiguous about.
So, on to Doki Doki Precure.
Doki Doki is a common Japanese term for excitement. It is onomatopoeia for a fast-beating heart, and on one level indicates the exciting nature of the show, but on a deeper level indicates the show's theme of the heart. "The heart" in the West has become a relatively superficial term indicating the emotions as opposed to the reason, rather than the center of each soul which is ultimately one with the center of the cosmos (which is why the individual Heart Flowers were connected to the Great Heart Tree in Heartcatch Precure).
The symbolism of playing card suits is a primary theme
The primary theme of Doki Doki is the four card suits: Hearts, Swords (spades), Diamonds and Rosettes (clubs). Swords, of course, are the original form of spades, as anyone familiar with the tarot knows (the English name comes from espada = sword). Rosettes for Clubs is a little less easy, but recall that clubs are wands in the tarot and the wands are all depicted as living things sprouting green leaves. Cure Rosetta's surname is Yotsuba (四葉)= "four-leafed" and the four-leafed clover is her symbol, which is a vertically symmetrical version of the traditional Club symbol.
We should also realize that while in the Western system Clubs/Wands are attributed to the element of Fire, in the Eastern system they very naturally fit the element of Wood. This has a further ramification in that Wood is connected in the eastern system with Jupiter (or Sai Thamë in the feminine system) and thus with the rulership of life and nature from the courses of the stars to the smallest growing thing. Alice Yotsuba, Cure Diamond, as the head of the Yotsuba organization has enormous power which she often uses to help the precures in their work. She is also surrounded by the opulence of traditional aristocratic wealth which is a very Thamic (Jupiter-y) motif.
However, the costumes of each of the Precures are adorned most prominently with a heart at the front, while the other suit motifs are relegated to hair decorations and earrings. Similarly the respective fairies each have a large heart with a small heart above it at the center of their foreheads with the other suit-motifs on their ears. Even the baby (tiny spoiler) has a heart that glows visibly when she works her magic.
Cure Rosetta, in her battle-speech, indicates the profound reason for this:
The heart is the primary symbol even for Cures of other suits
世界を制するのは愛だけです
sekai wo sei suru no ha ai dake desu
Now this is a little hard to translate directly into English. I would be inclined to say "It is love alone that reins the world". Sei suru is defined as "to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to bridle; … to control; to command". The word sei 制 alone is a root-word meaning: system; organization; imperial command; laws; regulation etc.
The statement is very close to the feminine scripture "It is love that holds the stars within their courses" which unites the Thamic, or world-controlling harmony, function with the Sushuric or love function indicated by the prevailing heart-motif of the series.
Even kakkoii warrior Cure Sword is adorned with a heart
The battles in this series (reminiscent of Heartcatch) are to return the true heart of the owner, which have been taken over by selfishness. When a heart is taken over by selfishness it becomes dark and has bat wings. When it is recovered it returns to being bright and pink with angel-wings. This clearly depicts the deeper metaphysical significance of the choices each of us makes every day.
Interestingly, each of the people thus "tempted" actually resists the temptation and returns her own heart to its true, healthy state (an optimism one would hardly expect in a Western production) but it is then violently taken by the Selfish who "grant the wish" of the victim by turning her into a monster.
We have only looked at a few of the fundamental motifs of the series. The stories contain lots of interesting philosophy which we may look at later, but it will be harder to keep that spoiler-free!
Personal note from Cure Dolly at time of writing
Watching Doki Doki Precure has been a bit slow as I watch in Japanese with Japanese subtitles, but I find I get faster and faster as I go on. Episode 14 aired yesterday and I am currently on episode ten. Cure Peace (another writer for this site) has recently found a site that relays the Japanese broadcasts in real time and has invited me to watch with her. I should be up to date by the next broadcast. But watching in real time with no subbies is kind of scary, so wish me luck.


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Idenilde Araújo Alves da Costa, conhecida pelo nome artístico de Núbia Lafayette, (Assu,  21 de janeiro de 1937 — Niterói, 18 de junho de 2007) foi uma cantora brasileira.

Núbia nasceu em Assu, no interior do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, onde residiu até os três anos, idade que tinha quando a família se mudou para o Rio de Janeiro. Desde tenra idade demonstrou talento para a música apresentando-se em programas infantis desde os 8 anos de idade.

A carreira de Idenilde teve início no final da década de 1950, com o nome artístico de Nilde Araújo. Nessa época, trabalhava como vendedora nas Lojas Pernambucanas do Rio de Janeiro, quando resolveu participar no programa de calouros "A Voz de Ouro", da TV Tupi, interpretando canções da época. Foi crooner da boate Cave do Rio e estreou cantando Dalva de Oliveira.

O nome artístico definitivo de Núbia Lafayette foi adaptado em 1960 por sugestão do compositor Adelino Moreira. Foi este compositor que a levou à gravadora RCA, com o apoio de Nelson Gonçalves. Foi nesse ano que gravou o seu primeiro disco, que contava com o samba-canção "Devolvi", de Adelino Moreira. Este trabalho projetou-a definitivamente como cantora romântica e popular.

Núbia continuou a participar em programas especiais e apresentações esporádicas até ao fim da sua vida. Morava em Maricá, no litoral do Rio de Janeiro.

Doença e morte
Núbia sofreu um AVC hemorrágico no dia 10 de março de 2007, tendo ficado internada por dez dias. No dia 25 de maio do mesmo ano, voltou a ser internada no Hospital de Clínicas Niterói devido a complicações. Faleceu aos 70 anos de idade.

Discografia

 Solidão (1960) - pela gravadora RCA Camden
 Devolvi (1961) - Compacto pela gravadora RCA Camden
 Devoção (1961) - pela gravadora RCA Camden
 Diferente (1962)- Pela gravadora RCA Camden
 Eu, Núbia Lafayette (1963) - pela gravadora RCA Camden
 Triste Madrugada (1964) - pela gravadora RCA Victor
 Noites sem fim  (1965) - pela gravadora RCA Camden
 Nem Eu, nem Tu, Ninguém (1970) - pela gravadora Philips
 Núbia Lafayette (1971) - pela gravadora CBS
 Casa e Comida (1972) - pela gravadora CBS
 De quem eu gosto (1973) - Compacto pela gravadora CBS
 Núbia Lafayette (1974) - pela gravadora CBS
 Abandono Cruel (1975) - pela gravadora CBS
 Núbia Lafayette (1976) - pela gravadora CBS
 Migalhas (1977) - pela gravadora CBS
 Núbia Lafayette (1978) - pela gravadora CBS
 Núbia Lafayette (1980) - pela gravadora CBS
 Os vinte anos artísticos de Núbia Lafayette (1981) - pela gravadora CBS

Coletâneas
 A Voz Quente de Núbia Lafayette (1971) - pela gravadora RCA

Nascidos em 1937
Mortos em 2007
Naturais de Assú
Cantores do Rio de Janeiro (estado)

Mortes por acidente vascular cerebral

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia