My blogger friend, Hippie, has this cool collaborative blogging exercise going on as part of her Algonquin Experiment. It involves Hippie posing a question and people responding on their own blogs.
So this is the question she posed: What do you love more than love?
I thought of a thousand answers. God. But that one's sort of obvious. Cycling. Obvious squared. Ice cream. Sadly, also very apparent. Writing. Same. My friends. But everyone loves their friends. My little ones. But I've written about them ad nauseam as of late. My husband. (A fact I should probably mention to him more often.) All of my answers were so generic.
The thing I love more than love is being on the other side of it.
Sure love is great when it's new and shiny, when your beloved can do no wrong. And after a few years when the sheen wears off a little bit and you settle into the day to day acts of love, mmmm, that comfortable love is good, too.
But sometimes love unravels, frays at the edges and begins to fall apart in the very hands that made it.
I've been in this stage of love, too. When love was painful work, when it was all we could do to hang onto each other and pray. A lot. This isn't the kind of glass slipper love that fairy tales are made of. It's not pretty. It is devastatingly hard, so much so that for me, heartache was actually physically painful.
But we chose to press into God, to hold onto the frayed pieces. We chose to love when it wasn't the easy choice. And that's what I mean by the other side of love.
So the thing I love more than love is love that has been worn thin. Love that has broken into shards. Love that has taken on water fast and is listing badly. You might be thinking that's a bit of a metaphor overload. If so, to you I say count your blessings. Others know with painful precision what I'm talking about. You, dear ones, know that it's possible to be frayed, shattered, and sinking all at once.
I can only hope that you also know about the love that comes out on the other side of all that pain. This love is scarred. And fierce. And secure. And more wonderful than anything I could have ever imagined. This is the love I have in my life. I thank God for it every single day.
You know, I wish fairy tales did talk about this kind of love because I can say with assurance that this is the kind of love that creates a happily ever after.
SNOW! Real, honest to goodness, sticking on the ground snow!!!
Okay, you've probably had it up to here with cute stories about my little ones. (I'm holding my hand up over my head, just in case you're wondering where 'up to here' is.) I promise I actually have other stuff in the works, but sometimes my kiddos just sweep in and steal my heart and I can't keep from writing about it.
One boy in particular made me laugh so hard today that I actually had to wipe the tears from my eyes. This kid always has a twinkle in his eye and he recently told me that he styles his fauxhawk every morning. All. By. Himself. He's the kid who writes his own knock-knock jokes and reads them to the class. It matters little that most of his jokes don't make any sense. Relevant punchlines are totally optional in first grade.
Early this morning Twinkle Eyes came in the classroom and whispered in my ear "Tomorrow is the day my mom comes home!" Okay, what started as a whisper ended up more like an ear-piercing, headache inducing screech, which is absolutely forgivable since his mom is in the military and hasn't been home in months. I can overlook a little tinitis.
Later that day, I was reading a book about George Washington to the class. I was in the middle of explaining why the colonists didn't want be under England's rule.
"Exactly." I pulled down the map and showed them England in relation to the colonies and also in relation to California.
"I remember you reading about the Pilgrims coming across the ocean on The Cauliflower." He sat up tall, so proud to remember such a good detail from November.
And I tell you, I couldn't help it, I cracked up. Not just a snicker behind my hand or a dainty little giggle. I was laughing so hard I had to put the book down and wipe my eyes on the back of my hand. They sailed on The Cauliflower! The Cauliflower! Even now as I type it, I'm fighting back the chuckles. Gimme a sec to get a grip. Talk amongst yourselves.
As I was having a complete fit, my class sat on the rug giggling at their teacher who had surely lost it for good this time. Twinkle Eyes was equal parts happy to have made us all laugh and perplexed at what exactly was so funny.
I clicked on our interactive whiteboard and pulled up a photo of cauliflower and explained that it's a vegetable. Then I pulled up a drawing of The Mayflower. I flicked back and forth between the two pictures explaining to Twinkle Eyes and the rest of my little ones how it would have been really funny to see a bunch of Pilgrims sailing across the Atlantic on cauliflower. By this point, they were beside themselves, giggling and snorting and holding their sides. And I was right there with them. Twinkle Eyes was laughing the hardest of all.
Somehow we managed to collect ourselves and have a productive day. Toward the end of the day, Twinkle Eyes was working on a card for his mom. I looked over his shoulder to see how it was progressing. The card was a folded piece of sky blue construction paper and on the inside he'd markered a dark blue ocean. His mom was sailing in a boat toward him. And he was sailing a second boat toward her. I bet you can guess what their boats were made of. Yep. Cauliflower. Cauliflower with little broccoli oars.
My little guy may have to explain why the boats are made of cauliflower, but I'm certain in my bones that his mom will understand the meaning of the card. I can just picture Twinkle Eyes sitting in her lap reading it. I picture her laughing at his jokes. I picture her helping him style his hair in the mornings. I picture him whispering special things in her ear.
In a couple of days his mom will pack her things up again and fly back across the ocean. In her suitcase I imagine she'll carry that drawing of cauliflower ships. And in her mind she will hold the memory of her son's twinkling eyes.
Thank you for smashing my thumb into oblivion when I was putting the curtain rod back up. It took my mind off my throbbing head.
Thank you for making heart-shaped pizzas for girls like me who should never, ever, ever be allowed near the oven. It was nice to give my special someone something edible for a change.
Happy Valentine's Day! Maybe today is your favorite day of the year and you're surrounded by chocolates and roses.
Maybe you're spending today in your own good company, but you wish you could just pull the covers over your head and stay in bed until February 15th shows its face.
No matter what today looks like for you, I hope you find a way to show someone you care about that they're loved.
And to get you in the mood, here are a few love poems written by my little ones.
Here's one a little girl wrote for her mommy.
Mom, you are as beautiful as a rose!
Your hugs feel like soft, soft marshmallows.
I love you more than the moonlight.
And a couple for sisters and brothers.
You are as sweet as a rose.
I love you so much more than my dog.
You are sweet as sugar.
I like you because you share with me and you help me read.
Last, but not least, here is my favorite poem written by a little boy to his dad.
Your love is soft like a soft cloud.
I love you to the ocean.
You are handsome like a tiger.
I love you with joy.
I am so using that tiger line on my hubby tonight. Happy Valentine's Day!


Chief Niwot or Left Hand(-ed) (c. 1825–1864) was a tribal leader of the Southern Arapaho people and played an important part in the history of Colorado. Chief Niwot and his people lived along the Front Range often wintering in Boulder Valley, site of the future Boulder, Colorado. Despite breaching the borders of Arapaho territory — defined by the Fort Laramie Treaty as the area between the North Platte River and the Arkansas River — early prospectors were welcomed by Niwot in Boulder Valley during the Colorado Gold Rush. Niwot was thought to have died with many of his people at the hands of the Third Colorado Cavalry in the Sand Creek Massacre, which was one of the precipitating events that led to some three decades of Indian Wars throughout the American West. Throughout Boulder County, many places pay tribute to Chief Niwot and the Arapaho Tribe. The census-designated place of Niwot, Colorado, Left Hand Creek, Left Hand Canyon, Niwot Mountain, Niwot High School, Niwot Elementary, Niwot Ridge and the Left Hand Brewing Company are all named for him. Additionally, a main thoroughfare through Boulder is Arapahoe [sic] Avenue.
Up through the mid-19th century Southern Arapaho hunting parties had ventured as far north as Boulder Creek. The tribe considers Valmont Butte, east of present-day Boulder, a sacred site where rituals and ceremonies were performed. It was one of these hunting parties, led by Chief Niwot, that encountered the first gold seekers to enter Boulder Valley in the fall of 1858.
Led by Captain Thomas Aikens, the gold seekers came from Fort St. Vrain, 30 mi (48 km) east. Chief Niwot and his deputies, including Bear Head and Many Whips, who were camped near Valmont Butte, immediately rode to meet them, greeted them peacefully, and promptly told him and his party to go away. An alternate version of this encounter was retold by Eliza Buford Rothrock in 1946. Her husband, John Rothrock, was a member of the Aikens party and said that the group had camped on the "17th day of October in 1858 at a place called 'Red Rocks' on Boulder Creek." This would be the area of Settler's Park at the mouth of Boulder Canyon. According to John Rothrock, Chief Niwot did not welcome the settlers at first but they "gave him gifts and fed him some good meals and told him he was our great advisor, our big chief, too. So Left Hand said we would be brothers and we could stay." Bear Head did not agree with Left Hand and did not want the settlers to build cabins on Boulder Creek. Bear Head later dreamed that a great flood had washed the Indians away, but the white man's cabin remained. Bear Head took this as a sign that the Great Spirit did not want the white man disturbed.
Chief Niwot is said to have first stated at this meeting his legendary Curse of the Boulder Valley. According to the chief, the curse was its breathtaking landscape: "People seeing the beauty of this valley will want to stay, and their staying will be the undoing of the beauty."
When Niwot threatened the gold seekers, they refused to leave and flattered Chief Niwot, plying him with exotic fare like canned beans and salt pork, and getting him drunk. Meantime, Bear Head and Many Whips returned to the Arapaho camp to raise a war party, but when they returned Niwot had made an uneasy peace with the gold seekers.
After three tense days, with the threat of a battle hanging palpably in the air, Niwot rode into Aikins' camp once more. One of the Arapaho shamans, he told the Captain, had received a dream from the Great Spirit the night before. In the dream, the holy man saw a great flood covering the earth and swallowing the Arapahos, while the whites survived. Niwot interpreted this to mean that gold seekers would flood his homeland, and he could do nothing to stop it. Peace with the whites, Niwot realized, was the only way his people would avoid being swept away by the flood.
Thereafter, Niwot and his neighboring chief, Little Raven, who had recently welcomed white settlers to the Denver gold camp, maintained their stance of peaceful coexistence with the whites. The Arapaho chiefs were so welcoming that the newcomers named the first county in the territory after the tribe, as well as streets in both Denver and Boulder.
The initial peace did not hold. As whites continued to encroach on Arapaho land, a rash of settlements broke out along the Front Range. An 1862 Sioux uprising in the northern plains states made frontier settlements like Boulder jittery and suspicious of the Arapahos they initially thought were friends.
By 1864, a fateful year along the Front Range, tension between whites and Arapaho warriors was at a boiling point. Raids by tribes other than Niwot's people on wagon trains and outlying settlements intensified, culminating on June 11 with the brutal murder of the Hungate family on their ranch 25 mi (40 km) southeast of Denver.
Territorial Governor John Evans, convinced all the Native tribes were equally responsible, decided to be rid of the "Indian problem" once and for all. He ordered the peaceful Arapaho and Cheyenne to camp near Fort Lyons, on Sand Creek in a remote part of eastern Colorado on the plains. The governor then raised the Third Colorado Cavalry, led by Colonel John Chivington with orders to patrol the prairies for hostile Indians. Chief Niwot, along with Chiefs Little Raven and Black Kettle, did as they were told, camping peacefully at Sand Creek and continuing to refuse to make war on their white neighbors.
After months of patrolling, Chivington and the Third Colorado failed to find any hostile Native tribes on the prairie. In frustration, they headed for Sand Creek. Despite the testimony by Major Edward Wynkoop, commander of Fort Lyons, that the Native people at Sand Creek had not been raiding, Colonel Chivington and his men attacked at dawn on November 29, 1864, completely surprising the sleeping Native families.
Chief Black Kettle was sure there was a mistake, and hastily raised both a U.S. flag and a white flag of surrender. As bullets, including the only artillery barrage ever put forth by one group on another in the history of the State of Colorado, rained down on the scattering Arapaho and Cheyenne, it is reported Chief Niwot stood in the middle of the battle, arms folded, refusing to fight the white men he still believed were his friends.
Chief Niwot was mortally wounded and died a few days later. Of the ten lodges of Arapaho camped at Sand Creek, about 50 or 60 Arapahoes, only four or five escaped with their lives. No exact statistics exist on the total number of natives killed at the Sand Creek Massacre, but most historians place the number at approximately 180. And sadly, most of the dead were women, children and the elderly.
The Sand Creek Massacre was such an atrocity that President Abraham Lincoln, though in the midst of the Civil War, called for a Congressional investigation into the tragedy. Congress ruled the "gross and wanton" incident a "massacre" rather than a "battle." Chivington was censured for his actions. Governor Evans was removed from office and Colorado was placed under martial law.
Chief Niwot and his people's massacre at Sand Creek represents a major precipitating event that resulted in three following decades of "Indian Wars" in the West.
The fighting between whites and the Arapaho continued. The Treaty of Medicine Lodge, signed in 1867, put the Southern Arapaho on The Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, but resistance continued until 1869, when General Eugene Carr, assisted by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, finally defeated the Cheyenne and Arapaho at the Battle of Summit Springs, ending their presence in Colorado. The Northern Arapaho continued to resist white settlement seven more years until 1876, fighting General George Armstrong Custer at the Little Bighorn before finally being driven into the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
Over the years, reports filtered out of Oklahoma that Chief Niwot did not die at Sand Creek, but rather was alive and well on the reservation. Since he made it off the battlefield alive after the Sand Creek Massacre, official accounts never confirmed his death. Photos of an Arapaho named Niwot appeared in the late 19th century, which only fueled the rumors of Chief Niwot's survival. A 1907 Baptist Home Monthly (Vol. 29, p. 113) reports that "old Chief Left Hand" and 100 of his Arapahoes had converted that January to the Baptist faith, quoting him as reminiscing about his more warlike days.
But historians agree Niwot did not go with his people to Oklahoma. A younger warrior named Niwot, possibly a distant relative, did emerge as a leader of the Arapahos in Oklahoma, but it is now believed he was confused in news reports with the legendary chief who first welcomed the white man to the Boulder Valley. There are no known photographs of Chief Niwot, although there is a bronze sculpture interpreting his likeness in front of the Boulder Courthouse in downtown Boulder, Colorado.
^ a b c d e Morley, Judy Mattivi. "Our People: Southern Arapahos Are Part of Boulder's Spirit", Boulder Magazine', 2005.
^ Brown, Seletha (September 1946). "Eliza Buford Rothrock, Colorado Pioneer" (PDF). The Colorado Magazine. XXXIII (5): 212.
^ a b Coel, Margaret (1981). Chief Left Hand. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 64–70. ISBN 978-0-8061-2030-0.
^ Broome, Jeff (January–February 2004). "Indian Massacres in Elbert County, Colorado:New Information on the 1864 Hungate and 1868 Dietemann Murders". The Denver Westerners Roundup. LX (1).
^ a b Cahill, Kevin (2005). Sand Creek. Bloomington, Indiana: Author House.
^ Smiley, Brenda (November–December 1999). "Sand Creek Massacre". Archaeology. 52 (6).
^ Grinnell, George (1915). The Fighting Cheyennes. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
^ Hyde, George (1968). Life of George Bent. Univ. of Oklahoma Press.
^ "Chief Niwot Image Gallery" (PDF). BoulderHistory.org. Boulder History Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
Hall, Frank. History of the State of Colorado, Chicago, Blakely Printing Co., 1889.
Hafen, LeRoy and Ann W. Hafen, eds. Relations with the Indians of the Plains, 1857–1861 [before the Sand Creek Massacre], in The Far West and the Rockies Historical Series, Vol. 9, Glendale, California, Arthur H. Clark Co., 1959.
"Chief Niwot: Legend and Legacy". Boulder History Museum exhibit. 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2012-09-19.


World Borders – Getting the Hong Kong to Zhuhai ferry, basically a "fast boat to China"!!
Today I give you the details on getting from Hong Kong to Zhuhai by ferry. Zhuhai is a pretty seaside city in China, right on the border to Macau, so you could easily just go in there from Macau. However I took the ferry from Kowloon in Hong Kong. It's an easy and simple border crossing and is done by ferry. Here's the details.
Some of the ferries leaving from the China Hong Kong City Ferry Terminal in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
What Routes are there for getting the Hong Kong to Zhuhai, China ferry?
A ticket counter in China Hong Kong City ferry terminal for booking the Zhuhai ferry.
I went from Kowloon, so here's the rundown on how to do it.
Head to the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal in China Hong Kong City Shopping Mall which is off Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Take Exit L5 from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station to get to it. It's a 10 minute walk from the station and the Ferry Terminal is inside a modern shopping complex by the water. Please note that it is not Star City Shopping Centre though. Head on past Star City on the left and you'll find the China Hong Kong City Shopping Mall.
This is the China Hong Kong Ferry Terminal – housed in a shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Head inside and up the escalators and turn right. There are ferries run by a company called CKS (Chu Kong Shipping). There are a number of ferries running throughout the day, everyday. Translations for everything is in English as well as Chinese (obviously). There's normally a few hours gap between each ferry so check up to date with the current timetable when you decide to go. We got the 11.30 am crossing on a Saturday. Had we missed that, the next one was at 1.30 pm.
The Chu Kong Shipping Company (CKS) booth where I bought my ticket for Zhuhai, CHINA.
CKS sell ferry tickets to a few places of which Zhuhai is one. Easy to book – just turn up on the day!
You can then buy a one way ticket or a return to Zhuhai. Zhuhai is pronounced more like "Zchew High" than "zoo hey" by the way. I left Hong Kong on the 6th July on a one way ticket and this cost me 198 Hong Kong Dollars. I didn't book a return as we were unsure of when and how we would get back to Hong Kong (in the end we came back via Macau).
My one way ticket on a fast boat to China. Hong Kong to Zhuhai ferry!
Once you have your ticket, check the time that the ferry leaves and allow half an hour for going through departures and boarding. In honesty, unless it's a busy time you don't need a full 30 minutes, but just to be sure I'd allow myself this amount of time.
Ticket check before immigration heading on the Hong Kong to Zhuhai ferry.
Ticket check happens before immigration. There wasn't a big queue at the Hong Kong immigration point for departures. Having a Hong Kong ID card that is registered for e-Channel makes things quicker for me as I never need to go to a human to leave Hong Kong. I put my card into the slot, then the system checks my thumb print and lets me through. If you're going through with a passport, you will get a stamp here. They didn't check if I had a valid China visa and they will only do that in suspicious circumstances. If you want more information on getting a Chinese Visa, check my full post here: Getting a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong.
Relaxing while I wait for the Hong Kong to Zhuhai ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.
Once you're through immigration find your departure gate – ours was Berth 4. There are a few shops and machines for buying snacks and drinks near the departure gates. Food and drink isn't checked – neither are your bags. This is a very straight forward departure from a country.
What the ferry looks like on board between Hong Kong and Zhuhai, China.
Sit back and relax! This is a great journey which passes by Kowloon and Lantau Island. There is a small "bar/kiosk" on board the ferry and they sell a few drinks and snacks. You can pay in either Hong Kong Dollars or Chinese Yuan (RMB).
Relax with a coffee on board and enjoy the ferry crossing to China.
You may also be able to pay in Macau Dollars but I didn't ask. Prices are surprisingly reasonable on board and for that reason I bought a hot coffee. It was 12 Hong Kong Dollars.
About to board my ferry from Hong Kong to Zhuhai in China.
After about an hour you arrive in Jiuzhou Harbour in Zhuhai. You are now officially in China and need to head to immigration.
Arrival into Zhuhai in China.
** Please note that if you possess a US Passport you CANNOT use this option – you must have a visa in advance.
Arrival in the cool seaside city of Zhuhai in China!
What is there to see and do in Zhuhai?
Don't worry, a post on this will come soon! Zhuhai is a great seaside city and worth seeing! As well as Zhuhai itself there is also the option to visit Macau (it basically borders Zhuhai and yes, requires another border crossing and immigration check). You'll not be short of things to see and do, this is China after all!
Loving the seaside city of Zhuhai in China. More to follow!
This entry was posted in Asia, China, Destinations, Ferries, Guangdong, World Borders, Zhuhai. Bookmark the permalink.
← One of My Dream Locations: Aruba!!
I love these lessons in world borders Jonny. A little knowledge can go a long way and of course, the way you tell a story always makes for a great read.


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What's in Your Warehouse: A Giant Bubble?
April 22nd, 2014 | Wheaton News & Events.
Wheaton agent's located all over the country store unique items in their warehouses. This giant practice field bubble, which belongs to the University of Cincinnati (UC), is definitely different than most household goods stored in agent's warehouses. From running a successful play to serious coaching moments to teammates creating lasting memories it's safe to say that this University of Cincinnati practice field bubble has seen its fare share of incredible moments. But where do you store a bubble that stands 75 feet high and stretches nearly 370 feet long?
Who stores it?
Bell Moving & Storage, located in Fairfield, Ohio, has accepted the challenge. Bell Moving & Storage has provided relocation services for the University for more than 15 years. Bell's warehouse space, which totals nearly 15,000 square feet, is managed by owners Tamara and Bill Kissel. The Kissel's customer-first philosophy has led the University of Cincinnati to call this Wheaton agent its official mover.
What does the storage process look like?
Bubble roofs grace many sports arenas and practice fields across the United States. Have you ever stopped for a minute to consider how on earth this giant bubble appeared overhead? As one would assume, it is a very involved process. Lucky for you, we caught up Tamara who gave us the inside scoop.
"This is our second year storing the bubble for UC's practice field," said Tamara. "The take down, which took place a few weeks ago, included 200 people onsite that helped roll the giant bubble. It's quite the process. My husband, Bill, jumps right in the action assisting with rolling and loading."
Once rolled, it takes a combined effort of cranes and flatbeds to transport to the moving vans. From there, it's distributed to the necessary location within the warehouse until the Bearcats take on their next season.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Strategic Approaches to Infrastructure Sustainability
Organization: Cloud Carib & World Bank
Session Leads: Yohannes Kesete, World Bank & Eamonn Sheehy, Cloud Carib
Summary: We have all seen the impact of natural disasters on Caribbean small island states. Recent major hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria severely impacted many of the Caribbean island states. The impact on the economies of such events on small island development states (SIDS) is proportionately much greater than those of larger developed economies. The ability to recover and rebuild infrastructure also takes considerable time and resources which are not necessarily available to these countries. A 2016 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Policy Report states that "On average, the annual cost of disasters for small states is nearly 2 percent of GDP—more than four times that for larger countries….. About 9 percent of disasters in small states involve damage of more than 30 percent of GDP, compared to less than 1 percent for larger states."
The disproportionate impact natural disasters have on small Caribbean island states both in terms of loss of physical infrastructure and the financial impact of replacing this infrastructure, necessitates countries to act smarter and develop highly resilience infrastructure environments. A systematic approach to managing, optimizing and prioritizing infrastructure investments is key to ensuring sustainability and viability.
While the impact on larger physical infrastructure components, such as those outlined above, is highly visible and potentially more immediately impactful, the increasing reliance on ICT by Caribbean governments brings a new set of risks which need to be understood and considered when viewing the overall strategic approach to infrastructure sustainability.
Caribbean governments and commercial operators are moving to digitize many of their strategic business processes as part of e-government strategies which cover both government to business (G2B) and government to citizen (G2C). However, while ICT environments are, like other national infrastructure components, vulnerable to natural disasters they also carry a set of specific risks which need to be understood and for which mitigation policies and procedures need to put in place. These risks can be as impactful as natural disasters as they result in unavailability of critical ICT systems.
This session will address the critical issues impacting infrastructure sustainability from physical infrastructure to digital infrastructure components. Strategies on how to approach infrastructure sustainability both in terms of physical asset management and financial sustainability will also be addressed.
See Presentation Below:
"The Nuts and Bolts of Adaptive/Shock-Responsive Social Protection – Integrating Social Protection into Disaster Risk Management."Download
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When did you realize that it can happen to you?
Bad things do happen to good people. All the time. But until it happens to you, it's not a very real or pressing possibility.
My sister Lisa holding me, at home on the ranch, 1982 or so.
Most people start off life thinking that nothing bad can happen to them or their families. It's not conscious thought, usually. We realize something could happen, but in our day-to-day lives we operate on the belief that terrible, unexpected things happen to other people. Those other people are not us. We feel terrible for those other people and try to help however we can, but we don't expect to find ourselves in their shoes.


This entry was posted in vacation and tagged fall, heat, new-england. Bookmark the permalink.
That crispness exists up in Sequoia, at 4800 ft. where I have my house, in the temperate zone.
You and Martine should visit up there sometime; meanwhile, enjoy your vacation!


Design, implement, test, document, and deploy quality code; be an example for the team.
Be a champion of a dynamic, quality-centric culture, in which rapid iteration and continuous improvement are basic values; foster a collaborative, customer-focused, agile engineering environment.
Partner with founders, technical advisors, customers, and other stakeholders to design and implement technical solutions which meet product requirements.
Maintain overall industry knowledge on latest trends and technologies. Embrace new technologies, as appropriate, to continuously improve products.
Serve as the subject matter expert for Navya's front-end and back-end technology stacks.
Create and grow relationships with vendors to maximize value of their software and services.
Build a collaborative, self-organizing team, dedicated to Scrum/agile principles, with a focus on timely task completion and efficient problem solving.
Ensure that team is following agile software development practices (Scrum).
Serve as cross-functional advocate for engineering teams; enable team members by encouraging and resolving healthy conflicts; be willing to challenge and be challenged by others.
Define policies and procedures for prioritizing and addressing unexpected issues; make everyone adhere to them.
Monitor progress and achievement through performance metrics; take corrective action as appropriate, and in a timely manner.
Provide senior management with regular status reports and alert them of any problems or potential service issues, as appropriate.
Successfully motivate and inspire team to achieve outstanding results.
Recruit and develop a team of highly capable and technically talented developers who can work independently or collaboratively.
Create a culture of ownership and accountability; ensure team members understand their objectives and are provided the tools and guidance to be successful.
Coach and develop team members; identify opportunities for improvement.
5 to 10 years building multiple "full stack" software applications (i.e., GUI, API, DB), for one or more product companies.
Understanding of complete SDLC; extensive experience with agile methodologies.
Expertise in at least one modern language (e.g., Python, Java, Go, Scala, C#, C++, etc.).
Expertise in at least one SQL database (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc.).
Familiarity with CICD tools, QA testing tools, and cloud deployment technologies.
Good understanding of OOP, design patterns, ORM.
Computer Science or Engineering degree from an excellent university program.
Basic ScrumMaster certification (i.e., CSM or higher).
Recent experience with any of ReactJS, Python, MySQL, Jenkins, Docker, and/or AWS is highly desirable. PHP knowledge also desirable for legacy applications.
Prior experience with NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB) and search tools (e.g., Elasticsearch).
Navya's product is a clinically validated and patented software which utilizes computational models and machine learning to predict expert grade treatment decisions in oncology. Navya is used to provide lifesaving online evidence-based expert opinions to cancer patients in over 42 countries.


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Derek Chauvin to plead guilty to federal civil rights charges in George Floyd's death
iStock/nirat
(NEW YORK) — Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is expected to plead guilty on federal civil rights charges in the death of George Floyd on Wednesday, Dec. 15, according to a court filing added to the case docket Monday. He had previously pleaded not guilty.
Former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were also charged, and the three of them have pleaded not guilty.
A grand jury indicted the four of them for depriving Floyd of his constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force when they saw him lying on the ground "in clear need" of medical care but "willfully failed to aid Floyd, thereby acting with deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm."
They were attempting to place him under arrest on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a convenience store.
During the encounter, Chauvin held his knee on the back of Floyd's neck for more than 9 minutes. Floyd, who was handcuffed and in a prone position on the pavement, repeatedly said he couldn't breathe, before falling unconscious and losing a pulse, according to evidence presented at Chauvin's state trial. Floyd was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Video footage — from police body cameras, security cameras and civilian witnesses — played at the trial, showed Kueng and Lane helping Chauvin hold Floyd down, and Thao keeping away witnesses who were expressing concerns for Floyd.
In April, Chauvin, 45, was found guilty on three counts in Floyd's death — second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter — for pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for more than 9 minutes.
WisDOT Moves To Increase Number Of School Bus Drivers


The county is in the Chicago metro area.The estimated population in 2004 was 613,849. This was an increase of 22.22% from the 2000 census.
In 2002, the per capita personal income in Will County was $29,461. This was an increase of 11.2% from 1997. The 2002 figure was 95% of the national per capita income, which was $30,906.
20% of Will County residents report German ancestry, and 15% report Irish. For more info on local ancestry groups, see the Will County ancestry & family history guide.
Will County supported George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. For more information, see our Will County political report.


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If the pain in your back worsens, or you can't find relief through moderate exercise and over the counter medications, it's time to see a doctor to find the cause of lower back pain. There can be many reasons why you're having back pain and they can extend beyond simple muscle sprains. Finding the cause can be tricky though, because many times the problem won't show up on an x-ray or MRI. For example, a spine slightly out of alignment with your body may not be very noticeable, yet it causes d8aily pain.
The doctor will do many tests to begin eliminating each possible cause of lower back pain. For example, he or she will manipulate the leg through various moves to determine if the pain increases or results in pain elsewhere in the body. Some tests you will be familiar with such as the reflex test. Other tests may be unfamiliar but they are very simple. If the doctor determines the basic moves indicate further testing is necessary to find the cause of lower back pain, the next steps will be taken.
Some of the tests the doctor will perform entail the use of very high tech medical equipment. Each test can provide a higher level of detail of your spine and surrounding muscle and ligaments. Most people have had an x-ray in their life, but an x-ray will only show bones. If the cause of lower back pain is muscle, tendon, ligament or nerve damage, the x-ray is pretty much a useless test.
The MRI, on the other hand, gives a lot more information about your back. It can show the doctor the condition of every part of the structure of your back including the nerves and discs. There are so many possible causes of lower back pain, that when pain won't subside, the MRI is a great tool for diagnostic testing. Other testing methods include a CAT scan or a discogram. A discogram involves injecting dye into the spinal discs to pinpoint the source of pain.
So what can be the cause of lower back pain? There are numerous conditions that can result in ongoing back pain.
With all these potential causes of back pain, it's no wonder it can take several months and lots of testing to determine the problem. The lower back is particularly susceptible to pain, because it has a lot of pressure put on it while sitting. People who sit at desks all day frequently end up with lower back pain. In that case, strengthening the lower back muscles can work wonders. There are even special chairs made that take the strain and pressure off the lower back while sitting.
The good news is that most of the time the cause of lower back pain is quite simple, and can be corrected with moderate exercise.


text:
Home/Drinks/What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like? Does Oolong Tea Taste Good?
What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like? Does Oolong Tea Taste Good?
What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like
What Is Oolong Tea?
How to Drink Oolong Tea Properly?
Is there anyone who does not love tea? Tea is the world's most consumed beverage, whether it is Chai tea or Oolong tea.
What do you think of black dragon tea? and What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like? Yes, the Oolong tea.
The same plant that makes black and green teas makes oolong tea as well, right?
Moreover, it accounts for 2 percent of world tea production. Wouldn't it be interesting to avoid sickness by only drinking oolong tea?
Even though oolong tea has its uses, there is no evidence of its health benefits.
Don't let your disappointment get the best of you. What does oolong tea taste like? Let's read on to find out. Using oolong tea as a beverage, what are the best ways to do so?
The leaves, buds, and stems of the Camellia Sinensis plant, with a semi-oxidized quality, are used to make black and green tea.
However, the way the plant is harvested and processed makes all the difference.
Oxidation levels and processes result in either green or black leaves. Oolong tea falls between the two.
Essentially, it has been partially oxidized, which is why it has such a delightful color and taste.
In the production of the tea, the plant is kept and deteriorated under the intense sun for eight to eighty-five percent. Tea in Taiwan and China enjoys high consumption.
According to how it is processed, oolong tea can taste light or full-bodied, toasty or floral, floral or grassy.
There are also a variety of leaf colors from green to brown.
When comparing different kinds of tea, one sometimes compares them to the differences between fine wines.
The tea is the most precious of teas because of its complicated making techniques.
Herbal, fruity, and thick teas are most commonly found.
While the oxidation and process of green tea and oolong tea are entirely different, they share a similar taste.
Tea drinkers around the world appreciate both equally. Caffeine is present in both.
Oolong tea is also known as brown tea, black dragon tea, dragon Noir, Wu Long, Camellia Sinensis, Wu Long, Earl Grey tea, among others.
There are different names for tea in different countries.
During the oolong tea processing process, the tea is harvested, withered, oxidized, rolled, dried, roasted, and packaged.
There is evidence that the antioxidant and anti-mutagenic properties of oolong tea are greater than those of black and green tea.
A variety of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals are also present.
The Oregon State University reports that a cup of oolong tea provides the following percentage of daily recommended nutrition value: 26 % manganese and fluoride, 5 to 24 % calcium, 36 mg caffeine, 1 % sodium and magnesium, and 1% sodium and magnesium.
Oolong tea contains polyphenols, or antioxidants, which include theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG. These antioxidants are what give it all its health benefits.
Additionally, the tea contains an amino acid known as Theanine, which gives you a relaxing feeling after drinking it.
There are many types of oolong tea that people enjoy. In addition to the different ways in which Oolong tea is consumed, it has also evolved over centuries.
Depending on the taste and preference of the individual, the tea is developed with different flavors and colors.
Tea should usually steep between one and five minutes. The longer you steep it, the stronger the flavor will be.
Steeped teas should be sipped every 30 seconds after steeping for 1 minute.
You will be able to get a flavor that suits the way you like it. Afterward, put your teacups with your oolong tea in them and enjoy it.
Whenever you drink oolong tea, you should take certain precautions.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is recommended that you only drink small quantities of tea.
Anxiety disorders are known to be caused by the presence of caffeine in teas.
Oolong tea has been found to worsen bleeding disorders through the tendency to slow the clotting process, some research indicates.
Some people who have the condition can also suffer from irregular heartbeats.
As a result of the caffeine in oolong tea, blood sugar levels can be raised or lowered. Taking an oolong tea while diabetic is very important and should only be done with the permission of a doctor.
In extreme cases, tea may cause indigestion, diarrhea, as well as irritable bowel syndrome if consumed in large quantities.
In addition to this, the caffeine in it also contributes to the increase in blood pressure.
Although oolong tea is not as well known as green tea, it has similar benefits.
There are benefits to the heart, brain, bone, and dental health. A particular type of cancer is also prevented by the tea by enhancing metabolism and boosting metabolism.
Consumers are greatly benefited by the tea. There is no doubt that you will not be disappointed if you give it a try.
If you want to read more about drinks, read here: Drinks Tips and Tricks.
What Does Twisted Tea Taste Like? Does Twisted Tea Taste Good?
What Does Thick Water Taste Like? Does Thick Water Taste Good?
What Does Gin And Tonic Taste Like? Does Gin And Tonic Taste Good?
What Does Ceylon Tea Taste Like? Does Ceylon Tea Taste Good?
What Does Ginger Ale Taste Like? Does Ginger Ale Taste Good?
What Does Hennessy Taste Like? Does Hennessy Taste Good?
What Does Kona Coffee Taste Like? Does Kona Coffee Taste Good?
What Does Sambuca Taste Like? Does Sambuca Taste Good?
What Does Irn Bru Taste Like? Does Irn Bru Taste Good?
What Does Soju Taste Like? Does Soju Taste Good?
What Does Pinot Grigio Taste Like? Does Pinot Grigio Taste Good?
What Does Grappa Taste Like? Does Grappa Taste Good?
What Does Mountain Dew Taste Like? Does Mountain Dew Taste Good?


During the first 8 months of this year, the number of lakefront home sales increased by by15.7% compared to 2014 and 2013. The average sales price increased 3.6% this year over 2014 however 2013's average sales price was 2.1% higher than 2015. The median sales prices remained about the same in homes priced under $500,000 with the $500,000 and up market showing increases however the higher price range showed a decrease of about 50% in the number of sales. I have been seeing a great deal of activity in the upper end market homes under contract and I think we will see some "catching up" in the upper price range over the next 30-60 days.
Condo Sales increased by 27.4% in 2015 with a total of 446 sales. The average sales price was down 3% over last year but showed a 1.4% increase in price over 2013 as well as an 18.9% increase in the number of units sold in 2013.
The overall market is seeing a nice, steady increase. The Fall market indicators look good. I am also seeing an increase in lot sales and interest in building. There are a large number of buyers who are already second homeowners looking to either build a new home or purchase a larger home as well as buyers making the switch from a condo to a home.
Sales data represents January 1 through August 20 of each year reported and was obtained from the Lake of the Ozarks/Bagnell Dam AOR MLS.
I realize that this data combines all property types and locations of lakefront homes and condos. There are many areas and price points that I see decent value increases while other still continue to remain steady; I am seeing very little decrease in values compared to the last two years. If you would like a detailed sales report and value for your specific property type or neighborhood, please contact me.


One of the largest and most inspiring aquariums in the world, Georgia Aquarium features whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, African penguins, sea lions, beluga whales and thousands of aquatic animals in more than 10 million gallons of water. The convenient General Admission ticket offers access to all seven galleries and all presentations and exhibitions. Enhance your experience by visiting the website [georgiaaquarium.org/cpd] for special discounts on General Admission and Animal Encounters. A 501©(3) not-for-profit organization, Georgia Aquarium is dedicated to global leadership in research and preservation of aquatic animals around the world. For a Centennial Park District fans and followers, enjoy a special discount on admission and animal encounters by clicking here.
Tuesday, Apr 23, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
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Slim and meticulously sharpened, professional cuticle scissors Inox Style n4 by Niegeloh is a delight for those who like to detail their cuticles with the best cuticle cutters. They are crafted in Germany from hardened stainless steel which retains the cutting edge for a very long time without service. Improved design is ideal for people with larger hands and allows optimal manoevring to achieve neat, beautiful cuticles, without tearing the skin.
Distinctive feature of Niegeloh German cuticle scissors Inox Style n4 is the slim blades which allow to cut cuticles easily and precisely. Each pair of Inox Style n4 cuticle scissors has been manually tested to meet strict Solingen engineering standards and is guaranteed to last for a very long time, without losing original sharpness and precision. Manually adjusted Torx screw allows easy gliding of the blades and makes the scissors perfect for people with limited strength in their hands.
Niegeloh's professional line of Style n4 manicure scissors is award-winning collection featuring hand-flattering design and perfectly sharpened blades for long-lasting performance. Since its launch in 2012, they became beauticians' favourites around the world, thanks to impeccable sharpness of the cutting edge and comfortable handles with wide grips. The scissors work beautifully and rostfrei Inox stainless steel makes them fully washable and sterilisable. For added benefit, the Inox steel in Style n4 scissors is nickel-free and anti-allergic – great companion for people with sensitive skin.
Slightly curved blades are specially designed to follow the natural shape of your cuticles and achieve a beautiful line, without tearing the skin around nails.
Manufactured by Niegeloh Solingen Germany. Family tradition since 1936.


text:
Life Cycle of Storage Challenges
By Jeff Boles
Primary Storage -- The Origin of a Life Cycle of Storage Challenges
The most complex and costly storage challenges are entirely related to storing and managing data over a life cycle that must be longer than reasonable on rapidly evolving digital systems. CES will have resounding and lasting impact on the practice of storage because that life cycle begins when data is created on primary storage. The integration of cloud and primary storage systems for the first time enables primary storage to deliver features and data management well beyond physically limited devices, systems or data centers. Such storage can eradicate or at least massively reduce the need to move and manipulate stored data.
The lifecycle of data and information management within the business is tremendously long, complex and costly because data must be moved and manipulated. Such a life cycle, which starts with primary storage systems, can involve many different specialized, siloed storage systems and technologies, and create entire stand-alone domains of IT practice within the business (e.g., backup, archive and disaster recovery). Within each of these practices and storage silos, the cloud has so far delivered innovative possibilities for reducing complexity and cost of ownership. But each of these practices, even with new technologies, remains an isolated silo and each carries enormous cost. This makes the life cycle of data management tremendously expensive (see Figure 3).
Pairing the cloud with this primary source of data creation presents the opportunity to touch nearly every piece of business data at the very point in time when it is created, and this can put an end to these separate practices. The consequent cost savings will drive cloud integration to the forestage of the primary storage market. What complex data problems and practices could such a solution take on? A few examples include:
Retention: Data could be captured for archive and compliance as soon as it is created, and then transferred into the cloud when the time is right, without requiring separate applications, storage appliances, and IT processes. Meanwhile, all data was kept visible and accessible in one consolidated point of access.
Protection: Copies of data for protection -– snapshots and clones -– could be migrated into the cloud over time, and transform high speed primary protection. By leveraging the ability to automatically place snapshots on-premise, in the cloud or both, a CES array could deliver long-term, low cost, globally dispersed, and on-premise accessible backup that does away with the need for traditional backup and offsite tape. Moreover, based on the solutions available today, such a solution could perform at vastly faster speeds than traditional onsite and offsite backup, irrespective of whether data is recovered from on-premise copies or off-premise copies.
Disaster: Meanwhile, primary data could still be synchronized with the cloud periodically to create offsite replicas that could, if done right, forever replace complex disaster recovery technologies, dispense with tape and physical transport, and provide a master repository from which recovery data could be accessed, from anywhere. This could unlock highly virtualized, hosted DR on-demand, and do away with wasted standby conventional infrastructure.
These are not small challenges to tackle, but the potential improvements we've highlighted in these examples can create a massive transformation in the practice and costs of data storage and management and reduce a surfeit of technologies to one single data storage and management array.
Core Requirements -- Cloud-Integrated Enterprise Storage
While there is vast room for considerable innovation and differentiation, we can boil the fundamental requirements for delivering CES down to a few capabilities. While each may seem simple or common place on its own, it is the synergistic integration of these capabilities that will create an enormous breakthrough in how we store data and deliver a comprehensive set of features such as those in Figure 4.
Built for Primary Storage.
CES must be engineered for primary storage performance and availability. As usual, primary storage must include the best clustered, active-active controllers designed for non-stop operation, enterprise components, and redundancy throughout. Moreover, today performance is a hotbed of innovation, and customers are steadily coming to expect uniquely integrated and always optimized high IO media (solid state) alongside exceptional approaches to caching that can constantly deliver maximized performance but simultaneously auto-tier data to rotational disk to minimize the cost of capacity.
Built with Primary Storage Features.
Just as importantly, CES requires state of the art primary storage features, that are entirely array-integrated. Such features include internal array virtualization that reduces complexity and harnesses all disks into a single pool of easy to use storage, thin-provisioning, a full set of snapshot and cloning technology, flexible replication, and enterprise caliber management and visibility. There can be absolutely no compromise in the performance and use of these features. First-generation cloud-attached storage devices were too often dependent upon a cloud connection for the use of their features; such systems are not ready to delivery primary storage that must be always-on.
Innovative beyond the Array.
Finally, delivering CES is more than simply turning to the cloud as a parking lot for old data. The cloud requires unique integration, and vendors that fail to innovate may serve up additional capacity, but they will fall far short of enhancing and extending an array to tackle complex lifecycle problems. Innovative integration will reach beyond capacity expansion and provide effortless, always-on backup, seamless offsite data protection, instant DR from anywhere, cloud provider lock-in elimination, and total performance and capacity optimization irrespective of where data is located. The combination of those features will enable a single physical device to reach far beyond physical boundaries and handle all data storage lifecycle needs.
CES will be the most impactful storage technology to emerge from the cloud. It stands to eliminate the most complex storage tasks in the data center, without any more infrastructure alteration than the replacement or addition of a primary storage array. Such potential can yield a massive transformation in the total cost of ownership for storage, and it will foment rapid innovation in this market. But a vendor's attention to integrating both on-premise and off-premise data, and using the combination to address a lifecycle of data management pain points, will differentiate vendors over the long run.
Representative Vendors
Only a few vendors have broken through in delivering what we consider true CES, although there are several who have begun steadfastly moving in the direction of CES. Among major vendors, HP's 3PAR deserves credit for taking first steps here. Some time ago the 3PAR team began crafting innovative cloud partnerships under the banner of their CloudAgile program. Hitachi has more recently moved toward CES by linking their BlueArc (NAS) and Panasas (scale-out file storage) acquisitions to offsite, Hitachi Content Platform storage. But for major vendors, much work and opportunity remains. In each case these traditional legacy vendors have taken the first step by integrating their primary storage with their own "private cloud." We expect the next step will be to integrate with the pubic cloud. But political considerations remain.
Among new innovators, there are many cloud-attached appliances serving up various incarnations of product similar to CES. Vendors include Avere, CTERA, Nasuni, Panzura, Riverbed, TwinStrata, Nasuni, StorSimple, TwinStrata and others. At their forefront today, is clearly StorSimple, and they are the only one yet delivering true CES for core business data. Many vendors still fall short in xyz dimensions (HA, clustering, snapshots that can function locally as well as deliver protection in the cloud, etc. etc.). Many of these vendors are trying to move up the "enterprise primary storage" flagpole, and we expect each to either continue reaching for more primary capabilities as they innovate around cloud attachment, or else rapidly choose a more selective path that targets single storage challenges.
Such solutions will no doubt continue to deliver significant value, but if selecting a vendor on the promise of transforming the entire lifecycle of data storage, pay close attention to their current product and the practicality of their promised roadmap. Cloud-integrated Enterprise Storage stands to be transformative across all data storage practices, and will alter the cost equation of enterprise storage. The question is when, not if, it will someday cross the threshold of your business place.
This article was originally published on March 30, 2012
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text:
package org.wildfly.security.sasl.util;

import static org.wildfly.security.sasl._private.ElytronMessages.log;

import java.text.Normalizer;

/**
 * Preparation of Internationalized Strings ("stringprep") by RFC 3454
 *
 * @author David M. Lloyd
 * @author Jan Kalina
 */
public final class StringPrep {
    // these flags must keep their numeric values permanently, and must not conflict

    // mappings

    public static final long MAP_TO_NOTHING             = 1L << 0;
    public static final long MAP_TO_SPACE               = 1L << 1;
    // XXX case folding would go here

    public static final long MAP_SCRAM_LOGIN_CHARS      = 1L << 30;
    public static final long MAP_GS2_LOGIN_CHARS        = 1L << 31;

    public static final long UNMAP_SCRAM_LOGIN_CHARS    = 1L << 28;
    public static final long UNMAP_GS2_LOGIN_CHARS      = 1L << 29;

    // normalizations

    public static final long NORMALIZE_KC               = 1L << 2;

    // prohibitions

    public static final long FORBID_NON_ASCII_SPACES                = 1L << 3;
    public static final long FORBID_ASCII_CONTROL                   = 1L << 4;
    public static final long FORBID_NON_ASCII_CONTROL               = 1L << 5;
    public static final long FORBID_PRIVATE_USE                     = 1L << 6;
    public static final long FORBID_NON_CHARACTER                   = 1L << 7;
    public static final long FORBID_SURROGATE                       = 1L << 8;
    public static final long FORBID_INAPPROPRIATE_FOR_PLAIN_TEXT    = 1L << 9;
    public static final long FORBID_INAPPROPRIATE_FOR_CANON_REP     = 1L << 10;
    public static final long FORBID_CHANGE_DISPLAY_AND_DEPRECATED   = 1L << 11;
    public static final long FORBID_TAGGING                         = 1L << 12;
    public static final long FORBID_UNASSIGNED                      = 1L << 13;

    public static final long PROFILE_SASL_QUERY = 0
        | MAP_TO_NOTHING
        | MAP_TO_SPACE
        | NORMALIZE_KC
        | FORBID_NON_ASCII_SPACES
        | FORBID_ASCII_CONTROL
        | FORBID_NON_ASCII_CONTROL
        | FORBID_PRIVATE_USE
        | FORBID_NON_CHARACTER
        | FORBID_SURROGATE
        | FORBID_INAPPROPRIATE_FOR_PLAIN_TEXT
        | FORBID_INAPPROPRIATE_FOR_CANON_REP
        | FORBID_CHANGE_DISPLAY_AND_DEPRECATED
        | FORBID_TAGGING;

    public static final long PROFILE_SASL_STORED = 0
        | PROFILE_SASL_QUERY
        | FORBID_UNASSIGNED;

    public static final long PROFILE_SASL_STORED_NON_NORMALIZED = (0
            | PROFILE_SASL_STORED)
            & ~NORMALIZE_KC;

    // StringPrep section 3 - Mapping

    public static boolean mapCodePointToNothing(int input) {
        return input == 0xAD
            || input == 0x034F
            || input == 0x1806
            || input >= 0x180B && input <= 0x180D
            || input >= 0x200B && input <= 0x200D
            || input == 0x2060
            || input >= 0xFE00 && input <= 0xFE0F
            || input == 0xFEFF;
    }

    public static boolean mapCodePointToSpace(int input) {
        return input == 0xA0
            || input == 0x1680
            || input >= 0x2000 && input <= 0x200B
            || input == 0x202F
            || input == 0x205F
            || input == 0x3000;
    }

    // StringPrep section 5 - Prohibited I/O

    public static void forbidNonAsciiSpaces(int input) {
        if (mapCodePointToSpace(input)) {
            throw log.invalidNonAsciiSpace(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidAsciiControl(int input) {
        if (input < 0x20 || input == 0x7F) {
            throw log.invalidAsciiControl(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidNonAsciiControl(int input) {
        if (input >= 0x80 && input <= 0x9F
            || input == 0x06DD
            || input == 0x070F
            || input == 0x180E
            || input >= 0x200C && input <= 0x200D
            || input >= 0x2028 && input <= 0x2029
            || input >= 0x2060 && input <= 0x2063
            || input >= 0x206A && input <= 0x206F
            || input == 0xFEFF
            || input >= 0xFFF9 && input <= 0xFFFC
            || input >= 0x01D173 && input <= 0x01D17A
        ) {
            throw log.invalidNonAsciiControl(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidPrivateUse(int input) {
        if (input >= 0xE000 && input <= 0xF8FF || input >= 0xF0000 && input <= 0xFFFFD || input >= 0x100000 && input <= 0x10FFFD) {
            throw log.invalidPrivateUseCharacter(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidNonCharacter(int input) {
        if ((input & 0xFFFE) == 0xFFFE || input >= 0xFDD0 && input <= 0xFDEF) {
            throw log.invalidNonCharacterCodePoint(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidSurrogate(int input) {
        if (input >= 0xD800 && input <= 0xDFFF) {
            throw log.invalidSurrogateCodePoint(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidInappropriateForPlainText(int input) {
        if (input >= 0xFFF9 && input <= 0xFFFD) {
            throw log.invalidPlainTextCodePoint(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidInappropriateForCanonicalRepresentation(int input) {
        if (input >= 0x2FF0 && input <= 0x2FFB) {
            throw log.invalidNonCanonicalCodePoint(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidChangeDisplayPropertiesOrDeprecated(int input) {
        if (input >= 0x0340 && input <= 0x0341
            || input >= 0x200E && input <= 0x200F
            || input >= 0x202A && input <= 0x202E
            || input >= 0x206A && input <= 0x206F) {
            throw log.invalidControlCharacter(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidTagging(int input) {
        if (input == 0x0E0001 || input >= 0x0E0020 && input <= 0x0E007F) {
            throw log.invalidTaggingCharacter(input);
        }
    }

    public static void forbidUnassigned(int input) {
        if (Character.getType(input) == Character.UNASSIGNED) {
            throw log.unassignedCodePoint(input);
        }
    }

    private static boolean isSet(long test, long bit) {
        return (test & bit) != 0L;
    }

    // Encoding

    public static void encode(char[] string, org.wildfly.common.bytes.ByteStringBuilder target, long profile) {
        encode(new String(string), target, profile);
    }

    public static void encode(String string, org.wildfly.common.bytes.ByteStringBuilder target, long profile) {
        // technically we're supposed to normalize after mapping, but it should be equivalent if we don't
        if (isSet(profile, NORMALIZE_KC)) string = Normalizer.normalize(string, Normalizer.Form.NFKC);
        final int len = string.length();
        boolean isRALString = false;
        boolean first = true;
        int i = 0;
        while (i < len) {
            char ch = string.charAt(i++);
            int cp;
            if (Character.isHighSurrogate(ch)) {
                if (i == len) {
                    throw log.invalidSurrogatePairHightAtEnd(ch);
                }
                char low = string.charAt(i++);
                if (!Character.isLowSurrogate(low)) {
                    throw log.invalidSurrogatePairSecondIsNotLow(ch, low);
                }
                cp = Character.toCodePoint(ch, low);
            } else if (Character.isLowSurrogate(ch)) {
                throw log.invalidSurrogatePairLowWithoutHigh(ch);
            } else {
                cp = ch;
            }

            if (!Character.isValidCodePoint(cp)) {
                throw log.invalidCodePoint(cp);
            }

            assert Character.MIN_CODE_POINT <= cp && cp <= Character.MAX_CODE_POINT;

            // StringPrep 6 - Bidirectional Characters
            switch (Character.getDirectionality(cp)) {
                case Character.DIRECTIONALITY_RIGHT_TO_LEFT_ARABIC:
                case Character.DIRECTIONALITY_RIGHT_TO_LEFT: // R/AL character
                    if (first) {
                        isRALString = true;
                    } else if (!isRALString) {
                        throw log.disallowedRalDirectionalityInL();
                    }
                    break;
                case Character.DIRECTIONALITY_LEFT_TO_RIGHT: // L character
                    if (isRALString) {
                        throw log.disallowedLDirectionalityInRal();
                    }
                    break;
                default: // neutral character
                    if (i == len && isRALString) {
                        throw log.missingTrailingRal();
                    }
            }
            if (first) {
                first = false;
            }

            // StringPrep 3 - Mapping
            if (isSet(profile, MAP_TO_NOTHING) && mapCodePointToNothing(cp)) continue;
            if (isSet(profile, MAP_TO_SPACE) && mapCodePointToSpace(cp)) {
                target.append(' ');
                continue;
            }

            // Escaping used in GS2 and SCRAM username/authzid (RFC 5801,5802)
            if (isSet(profile, MAP_SCRAM_LOGIN_CHARS) || isSet(profile, MAP_GS2_LOGIN_CHARS)) {
                if (cp == '=') {
                    target.append('=').append('3').append('D');
                    continue;
                } else if (cp == ',') {
                    target.append('=').append('2').append('C');
                    continue;
                }
            }

            // Unescaping used in GS2 and SCRAM username/authzid (RFC 5801,5802)
            else if (isSet(profile, UNMAP_SCRAM_LOGIN_CHARS) || isSet(profile, UNMAP_GS2_LOGIN_CHARS)) {
                if (cp == '=') {
                    if (i + 1 >= len) {
                        throw log.invalidEscapeSequence();
                    }
                    char ch1 = string.charAt(i++);
                    char ch2 = string.charAt(i++);

                    if (ch1 == '3' && ch2 == 'D') {
                        target.append('=');
                        continue;
                    } else if (ch1 == '2' && ch2 == 'C') {
                        target.append(',');
                        continue;
                    } else {
                        throw log.invalidEscapeSequence();
                    }
                }
            }

            // StringPrep 5 - Prohibition
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_NON_ASCII_SPACES)) forbidNonAsciiSpaces(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_ASCII_CONTROL)) forbidAsciiControl(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_NON_ASCII_CONTROL)) forbidNonAsciiControl(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_PRIVATE_USE)) forbidPrivateUse(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_NON_CHARACTER)) forbidNonCharacter(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_SURROGATE)) forbidSurrogate(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_INAPPROPRIATE_FOR_PLAIN_TEXT)) forbidInappropriateForPlainText(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_INAPPROPRIATE_FOR_CANON_REP)) forbidInappropriateForCanonicalRepresentation(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_CHANGE_DISPLAY_AND_DEPRECATED)) forbidChangeDisplayPropertiesOrDeprecated(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_TAGGING)) forbidTagging(cp);
            if (isSet(profile, FORBID_UNASSIGNED)) forbidUnassigned(cp);

            // Now, encode that one
            target.appendUtf8Raw(cp);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sherlock Holmes is an unparalleled genius who uses the gift of deduction and reason to solve the most vexing of crimes.
Warlock Holmes, however, is an idiot. A good man, perhaps; a font of arcane power, certainly. But he's brilliantly dim. Frankly, he couldn't deduce his way out of a paper bag. The only thing he has really got going for him are the might of a thousand demons and his stalwart flatmate. Thankfully, Dr. Watson is always there to aid him through the treacherous shoals of Victorian propriety… and save him from a gruesome death every now and again.
An imaginative, irreverent and addictive reimagining of the world's favourite detective, Warlock Holmes retains the charm, tone and feel of the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while finally giving the flat at 221b Baker Street what it's been missing for all these years: an alchemy table.
Reimagining six stories, this riotous mash-up is a glorious new take on the ever-popular Sherlock Holmes myth, featuring the vampire Inspector Vladislav Lestrade, the ogre Inspector Torg Grogsson, and Dr. Watson, the true detective at 221b. And Sherlock. A warlock.
I love Sherlock Holmes! I love the Robert Downey, Jr. movies, the BBC show, Elementary. All of it. But, I have a confession. I've never even read the original books! I know! I need to read them. I want to read them. But instead I read Warlock Holmes! Forget the Sherlock Holmes you know and love and make room on your bookshelf for Warlock Holmes. Where Sherlock is brilliant and able to deduce the most minuscule details from seemingly nothing, Warlock Holmes fails miserably. He does, however have the power of demons behind him. His new roommate John Watson has to help him time and time again from letting his powers be revealed to the general public. Delightfully witty, this book is great for any Sherlock fan. Quirky, funny, and clever are all excellent words to describe this quick read. The book is divided into several cases that Warlock and Watson must solve, to assist the real Scotland Yard detectives, Lestrade (a vampire) and Grogsson (an ogre.) If they can't solve the cases, they risk being incriminated themselves, because of their oddities. I would definitely keep reading this series if they release more books.
PS: What do you think of this take on Sherlock Holmes?
Previous Funko Fridays Funko Pop Swap!!


text:
E-mail this story Write letter to editor Order a classified ad
10 days for icing
Arena users scramble to schedule ice times
Nathan VanderKlippe
Yellowknife (Aug 23/02) - City officials now believe the arena won't be complete until the beginning of October, or about two weeks later than the Sept. 20 target date.
At least one city councillor, Dave Ramsay, isn't counting on the arena to open until Halloween, or even later.
"I think it could be anywhere from after Oct. 15 to Nov. 15," he said. "It's wide open."
The arena is about $2.5 million over budget. Worker shortages at the construction site have pushed back the estimated completion date for construction.
Grant White, the city director of community services, said concrete for one pad of the rink will be poured either today or Monday. After that, it takes 28 days to cure and another 10 days before a useable layer of ice can be built up. That means the earliest the rink could open is Oct. 1.
"It's one of those things -- you never know," he said.
And even when it meets minimum occupancy requirements, the building won't be complete.
White says at least two change rooms should be completed and most of the work on washrooms and the lobby should be finished.
However, not all of the bleachers will be installed and work will remain on the second floor.
White predicts the entire project should be finished by November.
Bartering for time
One group is already thinking about what happened four years ago, on April 15, 1998, when a plebiscite on borrowing money for a new arena was turned down by ratepayers.
At the time, 43 per cent of voters turned down a council request to borrow $2.8 million to build an arena estimated to cost between $10-$12 million.
This Sept. 10, the polls will again open to ratepayers to decide whether the city should borrow $1.65 million to finish an arena that will now cost well over $13 million.
A lobbying campaign has already begun to convince Yellowknifers that the cost is worth it. The arena development committee has created a pamphlet detailing the costs and benefits of borrowing the cash. It was distributed by ice user groups early this week.
The pamphlet is "essentially what we feel the facility will bring to the community," said Gary Vivian, the committee's chair.
"What it will bring business-wise and visitor-wise. It will be a tremendous impetus to any business in town."
Vivian predicts a yes vote this time around. However, the outcome of the vote will be essentially negligible, he said.
"The bottom line is that even if the ratepayers should decide for the city not to go through debenture, the city's too committed not to finish the first pad. They're going to get the 1.6 million from someplace."
Now one of the big questions remaining is where to raise the estimated $3.4 million necessary to finish the second pad at the new arena. To do that, Vivian's committee has been trying to secure advertising dollars for parts of the arena.
So far, the advertising sales have not been strong. However, the committee expects to make a major sponsorship announcement as early as this week.
That could mean that someone has purchased naming rights to either one of the two rinks, selling for $250,000 apiece for 10 years, or to the entire arena, which is on the block for $500,000 for a decade.


text:
Q: GetModuleHandle does not work properly After debugging and trying to fix this issue for several hours, I'm at the point to try to solve this once again before giving up this project.
Given the following code I try to inject a DLL into Solitaire with the purpose to manipulate the score but it won't work, the app crashes on the final manipulation.
void SetGameTime(int time)
{
MessageBox(NULL, "Func just begins here - ", "Func start", MB_OK | MB_ICONHAND);
DWORD baseAddress = (DWORD) GetModuleHandle(0);
baseAddress = *(DWORD *) (baseAddress + BASE_OFS_DEF);

DWORD temp  = *(DWORD *)(baseAddress + SCORE_OFS1_DEF);
DWORD temp2 = *(DWORD *)(temp + SCORE_OFS2_DEF);
*(DWORD*) temp2 = 500; // solitaire crashes right here
}

So what am I doing wrong? I tried to get the wrong logic while using a debugger that yields, that 'eax' is 0 due to the whole function.
Output of debugger:
    SetGameTime(500);
703E1284  push        10h
703E1286  push        703E3170h
703E128B  push        703E317Ch
703E1290  push        0
703E1292  call        dword ptr ds:[703E30ACh]  // GetModuleHandle operation (?)
703E1298  push        0
703E129A  call        dword ptr ds:[703E3000h]  // base Address operation (?)
703E12A0  mov         eax,dword ptr [eax+97074h]  // eax keeps zero so the wrong function has to be GetModuleHandle?
703E12A6  mov         eax,dword ptr [eax+2Ch]  // first offset of score
703E12A9  mov         eax,dword ptr [eax+10h]  // and the second one...
703E12AC  mov         dword ptr [eax],1F4h  // unhandled exception, no access to write at pos 0x00000000
    return 0;

A: You should check the return value. Here's from GetModuleHandle docs:
If the function fails, the return value is NULL.
To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

The shown assembly is interpreted incorrectly. Here's what it does:
SetGameTime(500);
703E1284  push        10h         // four arguments of MessageBox call
703E1286  push        703E3170h
703E128B  push        703E317Ch
703E1290  push        0
703E1292  call        dword ptr ds:[703E30ACh]  // MessageBox call
703E1298  push        0                         // argument for GetModuleHandle()
703E129A  call        dword ptr ds:[703E3000h]  // GetModuleHandle call

I think that your comment // eax keeps zero... is misleading.
The call to GetModuleHandle (this is 703E129A  call ptr ds:[703E3000h]) doesn't return 0, it returns 0x400000. Plase check in the debugger and, if needed, call GetLastError() to see why, but I am sure it is OK.
Here's also a good tip if you use Visual Studio. Add following to your debugger's watch window: @err, hr. This will ensure that you always see the value of the last error, and also the corresponding message, if there is one.
Your constants (BASE_OFS_DEF & co) seem to be invalid. Where do you get them from? You read the content of baseAddress + BASE_OFS_DEF and treat it as a valid address, but I believe it is not. Later on you do the similar with SCORE_OFS2_DEF.
It seems that value written at address temp + SCORE_OFS2_DEF is 0 and you assign it to temp2, thus getting the access violation. Monitor baseAddress, temp and temp2 in debugger and you will see.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


What is the best way to insulate a home from the outside?
What type of wood can be installed on a radiant floor?
The effects of our changing climate aren't just coming anymore, they are here. How and where we build has to change as well.
Ecohome Jan. 26, 2017, 1:49 p.m.
'Future-proofing' homes: Anticipating future challenges and building to withstand them.
While it is impossible to know exactly what the future holds, some of the earlier predictions about the impacts of climate change are already happening, and modern building practices should reflect that. While one single event cannot be attributed solely to climate change, the type and frequency of events we are seeing are exactly what was predicted by climate scientists and can no longer be ignored.
If a 'once in a century' storm now comes by a couple of times in a decade, we need to factor that in when deciding where and even how we build. Higher global temperatures means more moisture in the air, more turbulent air, and consequently more violent and unpredictable storms.
We are already paying for our inaction through tax dollars directed at disaster relief, reduced production in many industries, and increased drains on power grids and resources. Most directly perhaps, would be through home insurance rates which are creeping up to cover the added claims we are seeing. And in some cases like flooding, you aren't automatically covered.
Property values are also being affected, as homes built in low-lying areas that have either seen or are at risk of seeing flooding will have significantly less appeal to a buying market that is becoming increasingly more aware of global climate issues.
We have now hit the ominous 400ppm (parts per million) mark of carbon in the atmosphere, the point that climate scientists have often identified as the point of no return. Despite that grim forecast, the talk we hear is about reducing emissions to a few percentage points below levels that was already much too high, and someday in the future. That is comically insufficient and darkly amusing at best. Modern society has simply handed the issue to our kids to deal with, as collectively we are unwilling to make any sacrifices ourselves.
And as we have committed ourselves to emptying one of the biggest carbon lockers on the planet with pipelines stretching from the Alberta oil sands across the continent, there is still one way you can help your kids out since our elected policy makers are failing to do so - let them inherit a house that can handle the mess we are leaving them.
Since a home built today should be around at least many decades, it is worth anticipating the possible challenges we might have to face in an uncertain future climate. Resources are becoming increasingly more scarce and expensive, so the less energy you need to operate a home the better.
Increased durability and performance measures will add upfront costs to a building project, but they can help save on operational and maintenance costs, both of which could see dramatic increases in the future. And it only makes sense to protect your investment by building something that will last.
It is easy to believe that a brand new house that has met a provincial building code is ready to face these challenges, but that is far from the truth. Building code continues to improve performance requirements (albeit slowly) as it is being driven by innovation and market demand among other things. Ultimately though, it is a follower not a leader. As the challenges a home will face continue to increase in magnitude, we are best to factor that into our designs now. Just because building codes likely won't recognize that for another 30 years doesn't mean you can't build something better now.
Climate change isn't just coming anymore, it's here. Data shows that since 1980, extreme weather events around the globe have doubled. The frequency and severity of extreme events like storms, floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires are almost exactly double what they were just a few decades ago.
The potential challenges a house may face will vary by climate, but the main concerns that could lead to increased damage to homes would be periods of extreme heat and humidity ; heavier rain fall and in a shorter amount of time; heavier snow loads; high winds; more frequent and sustained power outages and the migration of harmful insects like termites to new climates.
Recognizing which issues you are most vulnerable to and factoring that into your design can result in a more resilient home, which will last longer and add value.
Design ideas and home-durability measures to help families and homes withstand a changing climate.
How to prevent flooding, sewage backup and leaks from appliances with a couple of 'smart' devices.
Energy modeling can help you find the weak link in a building envelope and tweak your design before you start building.
Vapour retarder primers can be twice as effective as the requirements laid out in our national building code regarding vapour barriers.
Straw bale SIPS (Structural Insulated Panels) have all the benefits of traditional straw bale homes, but address all the risks.
Solariums and sunrooms in cold climates will not add heat to a homes as commonly thought.


text:
CLVS2 () – білок, який кодується однойменним геном, розташованим у людей на 6-й хромосомі. Довжина поліпептидного ланцюга білка становить 327 амінокислот, а молекулярна маса — 38 000.

Кодований геном білок за функцією належить до фосфопротеїнів.
Задіяний у такому біологічному процесі, як альтернативний сплайсинг.
Білок має сайт для зв'язування з ліпідами.
Локалізований у мембрані, цитоплазматичних везикулах, апараті гольджі, ендосомах.

Література

Примітки

Див. також
 Хромосома 6

Некатегоризовані білки

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A total of 360 drugs are known to interact with Kristalose (lactulose).
Show all medications in the database that may interact with Kristalose (lactulose).
Type in a drug name to check for interactions with Kristalose (lactulose).
View interaction reports for Kristalose (lactulose) and the medicines listed below.


text:
October 2021 Tarot Scopes by Melodie
With several planets retrograde at the beginning of this month, you could be dealing with feelings of restlessness and frustration, and longing to break free.
This is especially true with your ruler (Mars) debiliated by sign, in addition to both of your relationship rulers (Venus and the Sun).
But fortunately, things will start picking up for you in the 2nd week, starting with Venus changing signs, Saturn going direct and the New Moon falling in your sign.
During this time, you could be feeling a renewed sense of freedom and liberation — as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders and been replaced with wings to fly.
The Horse — Spirit of Freedom in the Animal Wisdom Tarot — is this deck's version of the Chariot. Here the Horse has taken flight and is balanced between Sun and Moon, which is associated with day and night, or will and intuition.
The Chariot is all about harnessing your inner reserves of strength and power. In this deck the emphasis is on liberation, emancipation and being freed from the chains that bind you.
Starting on the 19th, when Jupiter goes direct and the full Moon occurs in the sign, you should start to feel that your spirits are lifting as you ascend to higher realms. You'll still have to work on harnessing your baser instincts, but know that in doing so your goals are much closer to your reach.
December 2020 Tarot Scopes by Melodie
With Mars (your ruler) now moving forward again in its own sign, this should be a great month for you to work on harnessing your personal power and manifesting your goals.
This is the Chariot card from the New Palladini Tarot. It's associated with courage, determination, stamina and self-control.
The Chariot card is associated astrologically with the sign Cancer, which the Moon rules. In that respect it's a reminder of how divergent forces in all of our lives — light vs. dark, positive vs. negative, instinct vs. action, etc. — compete with one another for control.
The figure in the card stares straight ahead, wearing a Sphinx hood and golden chainmail, and weilding a mighty sword. The Chariot's wheels replicate the Sun shining high in the sky, just as the hawk's gaze replicates the Charioteer's.
You may be called upon to both maintain control and harness the opposing forces in your life. Whether this is related to relationship, career, or the dual desires within your own psyche, the challenge will be to find a way to pull your energy inward and funnel it outward into one solid direction.
Aries: The Sun
This month you want to focus on what's right in your world rather than what might be wrong. The Sun card is all about happiness, optimism and vitality: it's about being present in the moment and celebrating being alive.
Look around you and take notice of the blessings that surround you. Step away — at least mentally — and turn your attention away from work and mundane affairs long enough to soak in the energizing rays of the Sun.
The Sun card — this version from the Lightseer's Tarot — represents energy and vitality. Feeling happy to be alive. Getting in touch with your inner child, your true authentic spirit, the part of you that longs to embrace life with ever fiber of your being.
When we think of the Sun, we think of warmth, light and life. It warms our spirits as well as our bodies; it brightens our moods as well as the outside world, and it brings life to our dreams and goals as well as to every living thing on the planet.
The Sun card in the Tarot is much the same way. It refers to the wonder and glory of being alive. Of feeling warm, confident, radiant and spirited. Its attitude is that "everything is as it should be," for you and all around you.
The Sun reflects your own inner light and inspires you to let it shine. It encourages you to say yes to life rather than letting your troubles hold you back. It tells you to turn your face to the Sun rather rather than looking back over your shoulder toward whatever caused you to dim your light in the first place.
The Sun card is all about optimism, enthusiasm and personal radiance. It's about being yourself and allowing yourself to "shine," without any pretense or constraint. Even when the sky is cloudy, the Sun is still shines. We may not always see it but it's always there — and serves as a reminder of the warmth and vitality that each of us possess
Aries: Black Tortoise Six
Opportunities abound for you this month with your ruler (Mars) joining Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in your public sector. This is a powerhouse conjunction that's likely to get you noticed. It can herald a period of increased public scrutiny, and can bring you more recognition on the job.
You may have been putting a lot of effort into your work and not even realizing that others have taken notice. Or you could be unexpectedly pulled aside by a loved one, just to tell you how much you're valued.
This is the Feng Shui Tarot's version of the Six of Wands. It's a card of appreciation and admiration. You "win" something and have earned the right to be satisfied with the spoils of your victory.
This isn't about ego or conceit and it's never at someone else's expense. There's a strong sense of being supported and lifted up by others who rejoice right along with you.
You could be in line for a promotion or an award at work. You could be given the okay to go ahead with a project you've been excited about. Or it may be as simple as pat on the back and some words of encouragement from those who look up to you.
Whatever form this takes for you this month, know that you've earned it and that you deserve it. It may just give you the incentive to keep shooting for the stars and manifesting your highest goals. Don't shy away from celebrating your achievements with others.
Even if it feels premature at this stage know that you're well on your way and that the fun doesn't have to stop once you reach your goals. Embrace the accolades that are coming toward you and don't forget to thank those who've helped you along the way.
September 2019 Tarot Scopes by Melodie
Aries: Two of Wands
Your card this month is the Two of Wands from the beautiful Fantastical Tarot. The Two of Wands — like all Twos — refers to taking the spark of an idea (seen in the Aces) and forming it into a tangible, working plan.
This requires looking at it from all angles — weighing the pros and cons, evaluating time and energy, separating the wheat from the chaff and so on. This is beautifully represented in the imagery depicted on this version of the card.
Here we see two leopards — one dark and one light — each standing watch by their own ornate pillars. The dark leopard is an exact mirror image of the light. Their sleek bodies curve toward one another and become "one," reminding us of the power of uniting opposing forces to make one stronger entity. The Sun shines high in the sky between them.
The key here is balance: you won't be able to make something happen without careful consideration and planning. And all the planning in the world won't cause your ideas to materialize without putting in the effort.
There's a certain give and take with the Two of Wands (as with all Twos in the tarot) that is mirrored right back to you. There's also a need for discrimination — throwing out the unrealistic or half-baked ideas and focusing on what has a genuine shot at being successful. The Two of Wands requires you to be objective and this is why it's always wise to bounce your ideas off of another.
If you want to make something happen this month, prove it by participating in its development. The outcome you achieve will be directly proportionate to the energy you put into making it manifest.
Aries: Seven of Wands
This month, with your ruler (Mars) moving into Cancer — the sign of its fall — you may feel like your back is against the wall, or that you need to hold your ground against what feels like perilous opposition.
The Seven of Wands — this version from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's Shadowscapes Tarot — refers to a need to be more alert, guarded and cautious, rather than accepting things at face value. It can manifest as a need to brace for attack
You may face opposition from others, in the form of competition or outright resistance. You may also feel "under siege:" as in being attacked or ganged up on.
There is a "hold your ground" element to this card which is in keeping with the traditional Seven of Wands. But rather than fighting off someone trying to unseat you, you may be fighting off your own urges to see the grass as greener on the other side.
The Seven of Wands — like all Sevens — refers to a dilemma that is not going to be easily reconciled. The question is: do you take the easy way out (in this case giving in to the masses and compromising your own integrity)? Or do you hold your ground and risk further alienating your detractors?
This card requires you to look at your situation from all sides and figuring out the best course of action. There are issues with boundaries that are present in this card, and it can manifest as feeling imposed upon or backed into a corner. But the same dilemma applies. You have to choose whether to give in or maintain your stance and deal with whatever repercussions result.
Whatever happens this month — no matter how this plays out for you — you're going to be called upon to take the high road. You're going to be challenged to stand your ground and to not allow yourself to back down. You'll also have to reconcile a "me against the world" attitude before it turns into a chip on your shoulder.
ARIES: Page of Swords
This month should be loaded with opportunities for you to go back and clear up some unfinished business. With your ruling planet (Mars) still retrograde, you may be dealing with a sense of urgency to tie up loose ends and put the past behind you.
An important part of this is going to be acknowledging and then learning from your mistakes.The Page of Swords — this version from the Tarot of Trees — is all about clearing the air and cutting to the chase. It's about seeking out the truth and being honest with yourself, even when it hurts.
It's also about communications, ideas, information and news. The Page of Swords is generally very curious, a good judge of character, quick to size up others and able to see through ulterior motives and agendas.
Like all the Pages, it's a messenger card so you want to pay attention to any messages you receive. You want to remember that things are not always as they seem. And while it's not the time to take things at face value, although you don't want to be so focused on ferreting out hidden information that you become paranoid.
The Full Moon lunar eclipse this month is going to be exactly conjunct that retrograde Mars. This should make for some high energy days; just be sure you choose your battles wisely as it can also manifest as impulsive or irrational behavior. You may uncover a deception or meet with someone whose motives prove to be disingenuous. Or you may have to be the bearer of uncomfortable news yourself, in which case you find yourself needing to deliver it carefully and diplomatically.
ARIES: Two of Swords
With your ruler (Mars) moving through its polarity sign (Libra) this month, you may need to look at things from a different perspective. You might feel like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, or you could be struggling with a decision that's not going to be easy to make.
Perhaps this is why you've held off in the first place, as the the Two of Swords refers to not just feeling torn between two options but wanting to avoid making a choice between them as well.
The figure in this card — from Rome Choi's Dreaming Way Tarot — is blind-folded and holding up two sharp swords. She may be leaning towards one but she's not taking any steps to act on it.
In this respect the Two of Swords can refer to inaction and immobility. Sometimes this is due to fear: "What if I make the wrong decision?" But it's just often related to a desire to not have to choose at all.
Alternately you may have come to an impasse with someone and are actualizing this energy through passive resistance. This isn't a better solution and it won't solve anything: while you may need some time to pause and reflect, you're going to have to take a stand whether you like it or not.
The inertia that comes from choosing not to choose can prevent you from moving forward. It's going to be critical to weigh your options, make your decision and then stand by it in the end.


text:
Hindujas get backing of Etihad, Naresh Goyal to board Jet Airways
The Hinduja Group has engaged investment bankers led by SBI Capital Markets for due diligence.
Satish John
Anirban Chowdhury
May 21, 2019, 07:26 IST
MUMBAI: The Hinduja Group will start the process of bidding for Jet Airways this week, having obtained the assent of key stakeholders in the grounded airline including founder Naresh Goyal and Etihad Airways, strategic investor in the carrier.
The Hinduja Group has engaged investment bankers led by SBI Capital Markets for due diligence, which will commence soon, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Sources close to Goyal and the Hindujas said they share cordial ties that go back more than two decades. They said the Hindujas expect the banks to take a sizeable haircut—initial calculations peg Jet's dues at Rs 12,000 crore.
India's leading conglomerates had declined approaches by Jet's banks and Goyal for a possible rescue. The Tata Group had shown an inclination to consider a bid for the airline but subsequently lost interest, said the people cited above. The Hinduja Group had in the past eyed Air India when the state-run, heavily indebted airline came up for privatisation. It had also tied up with Lufthansa AirCargo for services between Sharjah and India in 1997-2000.
Several Levels of Due Diligence
Jet is running out of time as its pilots are being hired by rivals in India and abroad.
Apart from that, its much-coveted overseas routes are being eyed by rival airlines. The aviation regulator has handed over some of its domestic routes to rivals temporarily. ET reported on Monday that Air India has been given half of Jet's busiest overseas routes with the rest to be shared out among domestic carriers, also on a temporary basis, pending Jet's possible revival.
To be sure, it's not at all certain that Jet has found a saviour yet, said a person close to the development. "Any investor will have to wade through several levels of due diligence," he said. "Without the audited financial results, no investor can be sure of the gaping hole that is Jet's accounts at this point."
At least 30 Jet commanders flying long-haul, wide-bodied aircraft have applied to Turkish, Korean Air, Qatar Airways and Rwanda Air for jobs, said people with knowledge of the matter. Closer home, IndiGo has hired over 30 Jet pilots who flew Boeing 737s. The pilots will be inducted after training on IndiGo's Airbus 320s, sources said. IndiGo had offered Rs 15-20 lakh as sign-on bonus for Jet Airways pilots for a limited period of time.
Anyone looking to revive the carrier will have to start from scratch, since the top management at Jet has quit. The support of Goyal and Etihad is therefore crucial, said the people cited above. The Hinduja Group will also gauge the level of support from the government and bankers for a revival plan before making a final move. Another aspect of the Hinduja Group is that their acquisitions are predicated on gaining majority control.
sbi capital markets
Naresh Goyal
Hinduja Group