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Tag Archives: AUP
The Heritage Book Project: Selected Science Books
In this final contribution to the University Press Week Blog Tour (November 12-17), Harriet Kim provides a selection of interesting science books that she recently brought back into print as part of UTP's Heritage Book Project. For today's theme of #TurnItUP: Science, Harriet provides some fascinating picks from our backlist.
By Harriet Kim
University of Toronto Press carries a rich history in the breadth and depth of scholarly, reference, and general interest books published since our founding in 1901. Expanding on our tradition of advancing knowledge, the Heritage Book Project aims to increase access to our books by bringing out-of-print titles back into circulation as ebooks and as print-on-demand paperbacks. Titles date from 1928 to 2011 and range in categories from health sciences and medicine to philosophy, anthropology, politics, mathematics, and literature. We are making these important heritage resources available for a new generation of readers and learners to discover and to continue outreach to academic communities in their engagement of critical and innovative scholarship.
When I think of a new generation of readers and learners, I think of many of my friends, colleagues, and peers who are pursuing a variety of career paths and could possibly benefit from having these resources. I think of, for example, those pursuing careers in science – as science educators, climate change researchers, and epidemiologists – and the heritage titles that cater to their work.
I also think of the readers and learners who could benefit from this series in a less traditional or obvious way. Working on this series and having firsthand access to these resources has been a learning process for me, too. I think about a younger version of myself with her love of science and her many dreams of becoming everything from astronomer to zoologist. As someone who pursued a different path from the sciences, this has been a unique way for me to be doing what I am doing in publishing but also continue chasing my curiosity of the sciences.
Here is a roundup of some science titles from Heritage Book Project that piqued my curiosity:
Forest Regeneration in Ontario: Based on a Review of Surveys Conducted in the Province during the Period 1918-1951 (1953) by R.C. Hosie, "presents a general view of the nature of tree reproduction on cut-over forest land, an analysis of the procedure in conducting and reporting regeneration surveys, and conclusions and recommendations for the conducting of future surveys."
The Snakes of Ontario (1957), by E.B.S Logier, gives an account of "the natural history of snakes, or how to identify those found in Ontario."
Bacteriology Primer in Air Contamination Control (1967) by V. Victor Kingsley, provides a basic overview of the "problems in bacteriology which would help in the understanding, handling, and moving of 'clean' (uncontaminated) air to and from critical areas."
The Life Puzzle: On Crystals and Organisms and on the Possibility of a Crystal as an Ancestor (1971), by A.G. Cairns-Smith, advances the author's theories on the origin of life, with considerations of molecular biology and chemistry.
The Natural Alien: Humankind and Environment (1993) by Neil Evernden, "evaluates the international environmental movement and the underlying assumptions that could doom it to failure."
Wild Things: Nature, Culture, and Tourism in Ontario, 1790-1914 (1995), by Patricia Jasen, "shows how the region now known as Ontario held special appeal for tourists seeking to indulge a passion for wild country or act out their fantasies of primitive life."
The Discovery of Insulin: The Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition (2000), by Michael Bliss, recounts the fascinating story behind the discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921-22: "a story as much filled with fiery confrontation and intense competition as medical dedication and scientific genius."
The Sleep of Others and the Transformation of Sleep Research (2007), by Kenton Kroker, is the "first ever history of sleep research, drawing on a wide range of material to present the story of how an investigative field – at one time dominated by the study of dreams – slowly morphed into a laboratory-based discipline."
The magnitude of such a project is not lost on me – from the figurative weight of UTP's history represented in this series to the literal weight of all the books that are sent for scanning! Since 2014, we have brought nearly 1,000 titles back into circulation and over 1,600 titles will end up in the Heritage Project. It has been and continues to be a tremendous effort supported by continuously improving scanning and printing technology and more importantly, many people at University of Toronto Press, University of Toronto libraries, and the Toronto Reference Library.
Whether you are reading any of these titles out of interest (and maybe even indulging your nostalgia of a childhood dream) or as a way to support your research and work, I hope they will be invaluable learning resources for you, too.
To continue on the final day of the University Press Week Blog Tour, check out posts by these other fine university presses:
Johns Hopkins University Press
Blog: https://www.press.jhu.edu/news/blog
Twitter: @JHUPress
Blog: http://blog.press.princeton.edu/
Twitter: @PrincetonUPress
Blog: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/category/news/
Twitter: @RutgersUPress
University of Colorado Press
Blog: https://upcolorado.com/about-us/blog
Twitter: @UPColorado
Blog: cupblog.org
Twitter: @ColumbiaUP
Blog: www.ugapress.wordpress.com
Twitter: @UGAPress
This entry was posted in Books, Events & Conferences and tagged Harriet Kim, AUP, Heritage Book Project, Association of University Presses, aupresses, #TurnItUP, science, #ReadUP, University Press Week, Publishing on November 16, 2018 by adelcol.
The Enduring Power of University Press Publishing
In this contribution to the University Press Week Blog Tour (November 12-17), our editor, Stephen Shapiro, reflects on the enduring power of university press publishing. When considering today's theme of #TurnItUP: History, Stephen goes beyond just our history list to explore the legacy of what we do as a publisher.
By Stephen Shapiro
The theme of today's contribution to the University Press Week Blog Tour is #History. As one of three acquiring editors for history who work at University of Toronto Press, I assumed that I would write about some of the excellent history books that UTP publishes every year. Many of those books reflect the press' mission to advance scholarly knowledge and our authors' commitment to #TurnItUP by amplifying stories and voices from the margins, whether those are geographic, social, or temporal. Indigenous history, queer history, and migration and memory studies are only some of the areas where UTP is proud to bring important, often overlooked, issues to public attention.
However, the more I dug into the press' backlist to write about those themes, the more I was reminded that they were just a small slice of the publishing that University of Toronto Press has done over the past 117 years. A quick look uncovered some eclectic bestsellers from the press' past, like Frank Parker Day's novel Rockbound, first published in 1928 and re-issued in 1973 by UTP, which became a CanLit smash hit after it won the first CBC Canada Reads competition in 2005. Or E.H. Moss's Flora of Alberta (revised by John G. Packer in 1983), which seems to still have a devoted following in that province. Other strong sellers include the works of Canadian Jesuit theologian Bernard Lonergan, whose papers are held at the Lonergan Research Institute at Toronto. UTP published the first volume of the Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan in 1988 and should complete the twenty-five volume series, with any luck, in 2020. It is only one of several major series at the press that have taken twenty or more years to complete (the eighty-nine volume Collected Works of Erasmus of Rotterdam, a truly herculean project, began in 1968 and is still ongoing here). Like many university presses, UTP has to balance obligations to stay the course with the need to encourage the latest trends in scholarship (like those fields mentioned above that barely existed in academia in 1968, when the Erasmus project began), but it's humbling as an editor to think the manuscripts on my (virtual) desk today might still be relevant fifty-plus years from now.
Of course, no editor goes into a project thinking they are handling a future classic. But I take comfort in knowing that, smash hit or not, the books UTP publishes will be out there, making a contribution to knowledge, fifty or more years on. That's a consequence of unsung work all across the press, from the managing editors whose XML workflow helps us "future-proof" our e-books to the production department, printing our physical copies on acid-free, 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and a sales and marketing team that aims to put books not just in the hands of consumers today but also in libraries around the world. UTP's own heritage is being preserved at the University of Toronto, where they fill 1,070 boxes spanning 450 linear metres (almost 1,500 linear feet) … so far. According to our website, right now the press has 4,898 different books either in print or forthcoming. With any luck, they'll all still be available to #TurnItUP in another 117 years.
To continue on Day Four of the University Press Week Blog Tour, check out posts by these other fine university presses:
Blog: https://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Blog
Twitter: @wlupress
Blog: https://www.ucpress.edu/blog/
Twitter: @ucpress
Blog: https://unpblog.com/
Twitter: @UnivNebPress
University of Alabama Press
Blog: https://uapressblog.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @UnivofALPress
Blog: https://boydellandbrewer.com/blog/
Twitter: @boydellbrewer
Blog: https://www.beaconbroadside.com
Twitter: @BeaconPressbks
University Press of Kansas
Blog: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/
Twitter: @Kansas_Press
Blog: https://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/
Twitter: @Harvard_Press
Blog: ugapress.wordpress.com
Blog: https://mitpress.mit.edu/blog
Twitter: @mitpress
This entry was posted in Books, Events & Conferences, Humanities and tagged Collected Works of Erasmus, Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan, backlist, Stephen Shapiro, AUP, Association of University Presses, aupresses, #TurnItUP, humanities, #ReadUP, blog tour, University Press Week, History, Publishing on November 14, 2018 by adelcol.
The Heritage Book Project: Selected Politics Books to Stand the Test of Time
In this contribution to the University Press Week Blog Tour (November 12-17), Harriet Kim provides a selection of interesting politics titles that she recently brought back into print as part of UTP's Heritage Book Project. For today's theme of #TurnItUP: Politics, Harriet provides some useful historical perspective.
With all the different titles that have gone through the Heritage Book Project process, working on this series has been a unique learning process for me. As I try to put into words the scope of the Heritage Book Project, I reflect about what it means to bring back books that matter. Many of the books themselves are old (again, some are as old as 1928!) and/or the subject matter studies a time period that feels removed or irrelevant to us today. However, it is notable that some of the titles feel like they could have been written in today's political climate, which tells me how necessary it is to learn from what has happened in the past to inform us of what is happening now and of how to move forward.
If you are interested in reading some politics books that seem to stand the test of time, here is a round-up of titles that might be of interest:
Is God a Racist?: The Right Wing in Canada (1989), by Stanley Barrett, examines the rise of right-wing extremism in Canada.
Who Owns Domestic Abuse?: The Local Politics of a Social Problem (2000), by Ruth M. Mann, "is a case study of community activism around domestic violence against women and children in a small-town Southern Ontario municipality… and is relevant to social theory and social policy."
Not This Time: Canadians, Public Policy, and the Marijuana Question, 1961-1975 (2006),
by Marcel Martel, "explores recreational use of marijuana in the 1960s and its emergence as a topic of social debate."
In Saturday's Child: Memoirs of Canada's First Female Cabinet Minister (1995), Ellen Louks Fairclough, the first woman in Canada to become a federal cabinet minister, tells her story.
Canadian Family Policies: Cross-National Comparisons (1995), by Maureen Baker, explores Canada's family policies in an international context.
The Quest for Justice: Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal Rights (1985), edited by Menno Boldt and J. Anthony Long, is a "collection of many voices from representatives of the aboriginal people's organizations, of governments, and of a variety of academic disciplines. The issues of aboriginal rights and of what these rights mean in terms of land and sovereignty has become increasingly important on the Canadian political agenda."
The magnitude of such a project is not lost on me – from the figurative weight of UTP's history represented in this series to the literal weight of all the books that are sent for scanning! Since 2014, we have brought nearly 1,000 titles back into circulation and over 1,600 titles will end up in the Heritage Project. It has been and continues to be a tremendous effort subject to continuously changing and improving scanning and printing technology. More importantly, it has been an effort supported by many people at University of Toronto Press, University of Toronto libraries, and the Toronto Reference Library.
Politics can be a challenging conversation to broach and it can be hard to know where to start. Thoughtful and interesting books can be a start to engage in conversations with peers, academics, librarians, and many others. I hope these heritage titles will be a helpful resource for you, too.
To continue on Day Two of the University Press Week Blog Tour, check out posts by these other fine university presses:
Blog: http://pressblog.uchicago.edu
Twitter: @UChicagoPress
Blog: georgetownuniversitypress.tumblr.com
Twitter: @GUPress
Teachers College Press
Blog: https://www.tcpress.com/blog/
Twitter: @TCPress
University of Wisconsin Press
Blog: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/blog/
Twitter: @UWiscPress
University of Virginia Press
Blog: https://www.upress.virginia.edu/blog
Twitter: @uvapress
Blog: ubcpress.ca/news
Twitter: @UBCPress
LSU Press
Blog: https://blog.lsupress.org/
Twitter: @lsupress
Blog: kansaspress.ku.edu/
This entry was posted in Books, Events & Conferences, Politics, Social Sciences and tagged book history, AUP, Heritage Book Project, Association of University Presses, aupresses, #TurnItUP, #ReadUP, blog tour, University Press Week, Publishing, politics on November 13, 2018 by adelcol.


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Krasnyansky () is a rural locality (a khutor) and the administrative center of Krasnyanskoye Rural Settlement, Kumylzhensky District, Volgograd Oblast, Russia. The population was 166 as of 2010. There are 3 streets.

Geography
Krasnyansky is located in forest steppe, on Khopyorsko-Buzulukskaya Plain, on the right bank of the Medveditsa River, 50 km south of Kumylzhenskaya (the district's administrative centre) by road. Kozlov is the nearest rural locality.

References

Rural localities in Kumylzhensky District

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: How to add file in Solr? I use Apache Solr so that I can work with files, I can add regular text fields via Spring, but I don't know how to add TXT / pdf
@SolrDocument(solrCoreName = "accounting")
public class Accounting {
@Id
@Field
private String id;
@Field
private File txtFile;
@Field
private String docType;
@Field
private String docTitle;

public Accounting() {
}

public Accounting(String id, String docType, String docTitle) {
    this.id = id;
    this.docTitle = docTitle;
    this.docType = docType;
}

here is the problem with the txtFile field
   <field name="docTitle" type="strings"/>
  <field name="docType" type="strings"/>

These fields that I manually added to schema.xml, I can not figure out how to add a field here that will be responsible for the file, for example, I will add here a txt file, how to do it? Thank you very much. And do I correctly declare the field  private File txtFile; in the entity for the file?

A: Solr will not store the actual file anywhere. Depending on your config it can store the binary content though. Using the extract request handler Apache Solr which relies on Apache Tika to extract the content from the document.
You can try something like below code. The current code is not using anything from the springboot. Here the content is read from the pdf document and then the data is indexed into solr along with id and filename. I have used the tika apis to extract the content of the pdf.
public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException, TikaException, SAXException {

        String urlString = "http://localhost:8983/solr/TestCore1";
        SolrClient solr = new HttpSolrClient.Builder(urlString).build();

        BodyContentHandler handler = new BodyContentHandler();
        Metadata metadata = new Metadata();
        File file = new File("C://Users//abhijitb//Desktop//TestDocument.pdf");
        FileInputStream inputstream = new FileInputStream(file);
        ParseContext pcontext = new ParseContext();

        // parsing the document using PDF parser
        PDFParser pdfparser = new PDFParser();
        pdfparser.parse(inputstream, handler, metadata, pcontext);

        // getting the content of the document
        //System.out.println("Contents of the PDF :" + handler.toString());

        try {
            String fileName = file.getName();
            SolrInputDocument document = new SolrInputDocument();
            document.addField("id", "123456");
            document.addField("title", fileName);
            document.addField("text", handler.toString());
            solr.add(document);
            solr.commit();
        } catch (SolrServerException | IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

Once you index the data, it can be verified on the solr admin page by querying for it.
Please find the image for your reference.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that causes muscle degeneration and weakness, progressing to the point where the individual does not have the strength to stand or sit up without support. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common, affecting boys only as women carry the gene and pass it on to half of their male children.
Affects the muscles of hips, thighs, calves and shoulders first, eventually spreading to the whole body.
After around age 12, children are confined to wheelchair.
May cause respiratory infections as the muscles are too weak to function properly.
Pay attention to what you are eating. Good nutrition and weight control are very important as this disease leads to a predominantly sedentary lifestyle.
Start physical therapy early to strengthen muscles to help to delay muscle weakness as long as possible.
Keep hand sanitiser and take measures to prevent germs from spreading in the home.
Provide help with mobility around the home or when on outside visits.
A walking frame, walking stick or wheelchair may help with outdoor activities.
Provide general support with day to day living.
Develop a rota for preparing meals or doing household tasks to be shared among other family members.
Ensure assistance is provided with personal care.
Visiting nurses, caregivers and occupational therapists can assist with ways of adjusting to incontinence.
Dominic, 21, has muscular dystrophy. He spent his day sitting in an electric wheelchair which didn't always provide the support and comfort he required. He got the opportuity to try a Seating Matters chair at his day centre and noticed how comfortable and safe he felt.
It is very important that the chair is adjustable to allow it to meet the changing needs of the person as their condition changes. For patients with muscular dystrophy, the chair will need to become more supportive as time goes on and it is good to start with a chair that you can add accessories to as new symptoms arise.
The Sorrento™ and Phoenix™ in particular are designed to suit the needs of those with muscular dystrophy. These two Seating Matters chairs are highly adjustable and accessories can be included at a later date if they are not needed at the initial assessment. This allows the chair to meet changing patient needs over a long period of time. These chairs are also available as part of our Kidz Range, as well as for adults.
Both the Sorrento and Phoenix come in manual and powered options. Manual adjustment leaves the control of the seating positions to the caregiver. Partially motorized options give the user of the chair more independent control to change the angle of tilt in space and their leg elevation as and when desired. Fully motorized options give the user of the chair control to change the angle of tilt in space, their leg elevation and the back angle recline as and when desired.
Bear in mind, each person is different and so you must use clinical judgement, knowledge of the patient, environmental considerations and personal preferences before deciding on which Seating Matters chair to use.
For further information on our range of specialist seating designed by Martina Tierney Occupational Therapist. This comprehensive product guide provides information about the Seating Matters company, the features of the chairs and advises on which chairs are most suitable for various conditions.


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8 to 10% Is A Reasonable Expected Rate of Return
March 11, 2016/Gary Duell/No Comments
Reminder: These Financial Myths Headings are Myths.
No. 8-10% is not a reasonable rate of return, even though national investment "superstars" still claim that it is.
Here in Oregon, that point has been driven home . . . again, unfortunately, by Aequitas Management. The article that follows is long but instructive. (Thank you Advanced Regulatory Compliance, Inc.!)
But here are the warning signs:
They put almost all of their eggs in one basket: notes on Corinthian College loans. Investors need to understand where their money is going!
They issued their own statements. Never rely on statements issued by your broker/agent/adviser. Always insist on third party generated statements.
They were high-flying. Take note of what your adviser himself invests in. Fancy offices & furnishings? Expensive cars? Jets? Expensive client events? You should wonder how those "investments" improve your financial situation.
So, enjoy the article. I hope you learn something from it!
The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday charged an Oregon-based investment group and three top executives with hiding the rapidly deteriorating financial condition of its enterprise while raising more than $350 million from investors. Aequitas Management LLC and four affiliates allegedly defrauded more than 1,500 investors nationwide into believing they were making health care, education, and transportation-related investments when their money was really being used in a last-ditch effort to save the firm. Some money from new investors was allegedly used to pay earlier investors
The SEC's complaint, filed yesterday in federal district court in Oregon, alleges that CEO Robert J. Jesenik and executive vice president Brian A. Oliver were well aware of Aequitas's calamitous financial condition yet continued to solicit millions of dollars from investors to pay the firm's ever-increasing expenses and attempt to stave off the impending collapse. Former CFO and chief operating officer N. Scott Gillis allegedly concealed the firm's insolvency from investors and was aware that Jesenik and Oliver continued soliciting investors so that Aequitas could pay operating expenses and repay earlier investors with money from new investors.
"We allege that Aequitas had severe and persistent cash flow shortages and top executives knew they weren't using money raised from investors like they said they would. But they refused to disclose the true financial condition, continued to draw lucrative salaries, and roped even more unknowing investors into a losing venture," said Jina L. Choi, Director of the SEC's San Francisco Regional Office.
According to the SEC's complaint:
From January 2014 to January 2016, Aequitas raised money from investors by issuing promissory notes with high rates of return typically ranging from 8.5 to 10 percent.
While Aequitas did use some investor money to acquire trade receivables in health care, education, transportation, and other consumer credit sectors, the vast majority was concentrated in student loan receivables of for-profit education provider Corinthian Colleges. Corinthian defaulted on its recourse obligations to Aequitas in mid-2014, which significantly exacerbated the firm's already severe cash flow problems.
The executives continued to draw their lucrative salaries, use a private jet, and attend posh dinner and golf outings, all at the expense of investors. They used the outings to raise more money from investors. Jesenik, Oliver, and Gillis took home at least $2.5 million in combined salaries during this period.
By November 2015, Aequitas could no longer meet scheduled redemptions. Last month, the firm dismissed two-thirds of its employees and hired a chief restructuring officer.
The SEC's complaint charges violations of the federal securities laws by Aequitas Management, Aequitas Holdings LLC, Aequitas Commercial Finance LLC, Aequitas Capital Management Inc., and Aequitas Investment Management LLC as well as Jesenik, Oliver, and Gillis. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and monetary penalties from all defendants as well as bars prohibiting Jesenik, Oliver, and Gillis from serving as officers or directors of any public company.
Aequitas and the affiliated entities have agreed to be preliminarily enjoined from raising any additional funds by offering and selling securities, and agreed to the appointment of a receiver to marshal and preserve remaining Aequitas assets for distribution to defrauded investors. The stipulated orders are subject to court approval.
The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted in the San Francisco office by Brent Smyth, Crystal Boodoo, and Tracy Combs and supervised by Steven Buchholz. An examination of Aequitas's registered investment advisory affiliate, and examinations of other registered investment advisers that recommended Aequitas investments to their clients, contributed to the investigation and were conducted by Thomas Dutton, Bradley Cline, Edward Haddad, Matthew O'Toole, Caroline Smith, Bernice You, Marc Valle, and Alice Schulman. The SEC's litigation will be led by Sheila O'Callaghan and Wade Rhyne.
Advanced Regulatory Compliance, Inc. ("ARC") is a national full-service investment advisory compliance consulting firm backed by its association with The Law Offices of Patrick J. Burns, Jr., P.C., a securities law practice. ARC provides practical solutions to complex compliance issues. Our key services include investment adviser registrations, mock audits, annual reviews, due diligence, development of best practices and ongoing compliance support. If you have any questions or concerns about this newsletter, please contact our firm at (310) 275-7300.
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What I Learned From Bullies as a Child →
Posted in elder abuse, financial fraud, fraud, greed, scam, scam artists, scams

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: com.parse.ParseException: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Attempted to find non-existent uuid I am using parse android SDK in my app. Here is my login activity:
public class LoginActivity extends Activity {

    EditText username, password;
    Button login;
    SharedPreferences prefs;
    ProgressDialog dialog;

    @Override
    public void onBackPressed() {
        super.onBackPressed();
        startActivity(new Intent(this, LogSignActivity.class));
        finish();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_login);
        dialog = new ProgressDialog(LoginActivity.this);
        dialog.setCancelable(false);
        dialog.setMessage("Loading...");
        initializeViews();
        if (prefs.getBoolean(PreferenceStrings.logged, false)) {
            username.setText(prefs.getString(PreferenceStrings.uname, ""));
            password.setText(prefs.getString(PreferenceStrings.pwd, ""));
            dialog.show();
            ParseUser.logInInBackground(username.getText().toString(), password
                    .getText().toString(), new LogInCallback() {

                @Override
                public void done(ParseUser user, ParseException e) {
                    dialog.dismiss();
                    if (e != null) {
                        prefs.edit()
                                .putBoolean(PreferenceStrings.logged, false)
                                .commit();
                        e.printStackTrace();
                    }
                    if (user == null) {
                        prefs.edit()
                                .putBoolean(PreferenceStrings.logged, false)
                                .commit();
                        Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), "User not found!",
                                Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                    } else if (!user.isAuthenticated()) {
                        prefs.edit()
                                .putBoolean(PreferenceStrings.logged, false)
                                .commit();
                        Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(),
                                "User is not authenticated!",
                                Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                    } else {
                        prefs.edit().putBoolean(PreferenceStrings.logged, true)
                                .commit();
                        prefs.edit()
                                .putString(PreferenceStrings.uname,
                                        username.getText().toString()).commit();
                        prefs.edit()
                                .putString(PreferenceStrings.pwd,
                                        password.getText().toString()).commit();
                        startActivity(new Intent(LoginActivity.this,
                                HomeActivity.class));
                        finish();
                    }
                }
            });
        }
        TextView back = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.nav_back);
        back.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {

            @Override
            public void onClick(View arg0) {
                startActivity(new Intent(LoginActivity.this,
                        LogSignActivity.class));
                finish();
            }
        });
        login.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {

            @Override
            public void onClick(View arg0) {
                if (username.getText().toString().equals("")) {
                    Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), "Please enter username!",
                            Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                } else if (password.getText().toString().equals("")) {
                    Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), "Please enter password!",
                            Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                } else {
                    dialog.show();
                    ParseUser.logInInBackground(username.getText().toString(),
                            password.getText().toString(), new LogInCallback() {

                                @Override
                                public void done(ParseUser user,
                                        ParseException e) {
                                    dialog.dismiss();
                                    if (e != null) {
                                        prefs.edit()
                                                .putBoolean(
                                                        PreferenceStrings.logged,
                                                        false).commit();
                                        e.printStackTrace();
                                    }
                                    if (user == null) {
                                        prefs.edit()
                                                .putBoolean(
                                                        PreferenceStrings.logged,
                                                        false).commit();
                                        Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(),
                                                "User not found!",
                                                Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                                    } else if (!user.isAuthenticated()) {
                                        prefs.edit()
                                                .putBoolean(
                                                        PreferenceStrings.logged,
                                                        false).commit();
                                        Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(),
                                                "User is not authenticated!",
                                                Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                                    } else {
                                        prefs.edit()
                                                .putBoolean(
                                                        PreferenceStrings.logged,
                                                        true).commit();
                                        prefs.edit()
                                                .putString(
                                                        PreferenceStrings.uname,
                                                        username.getText()
                                                                .toString())
                                                .commit();
                                        prefs.edit()
                                                .putString(
                                                        PreferenceStrings.pwd,
                                                        password.getText()
                                                                .toString())
                                                .commit();
                                        startActivity(new Intent(
                                                LoginActivity.this,
                                                HomeActivity.class));
                                        startActivity(new Intent(
                                                LoginActivity.this,
                                                HomeActivity.class));
                                        finish();
                                    }
                                }
                            });

                }
            }
        });
    }

    private void initializeViews() {
        username = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.username);
        password = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.password);
        login = (Button) findViewById(R.id.btn_log);
        prefs = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(this);
    }
    }

I was able to login successfully, but after some logins, I was unable to login and the following error is returned from Parse:

Any ideas?

A: This is a known bug, and has been verified by the Parse team for the iOS API (my hunch is that it runs deeper and is the same bug you are seeing here on the Android side).
You can find out more here:
https://developers.facebook.com/bugs/614018488703097/
Until it's resolved, it might be wise to turn off the Local Data Store and see if that helps.


Factor giant Euro Car Parts has opened its second purpose-built training centre in Sunderland. The facility will deliver the full range of Euro Academy courses with an IMI-accredited ADAS course also available.
The centre is fully equipped with an Automated Test Lane (ATL) for MOT training, multiple lifts and a fleet of dedicated training vehicles. In addition to offering repairers access to the latest training backed by major parts manufacturers, the Academy also gives technicians the opportunity to try out the factor's product range.
Courses delivered at the new training facility range from electrics and diagnostics to hybrid vehicle servicing and customer care. Most courses are run over the course of one to two days and some have an e-learning element enabling repairers to go away and undergo further training.
Speaking about Euro Academy, Bill Stimson, Technical Sales Director at Euro Car Parts, said: "With alternatively-fuelled vehicles on the horizon and diagnostics a daily reality, training is becoming more important for repairers. With the addition of our new Sunderland training centre supporting our existing Avonmouth facility, we are developing a comprehensive, nationwide training provision, which is accessible to all independent repairers".
The government has announced that it won't permit the registration of petrol and diesel light vehicles from 2040, effectively ending the age of the internal combustion engine.
Existing vehicles will continue to be re-licenced for an unspecified period, but there is no doubt that the writing is finally on the wall for both cars and the way of business as we know it.
Engineering consultancy firm Ricardo chose the day of the announcement to launch its Global Automotive Group, which it says has a focus only on electric and autonomous powertrains. Mike Garrett, COO at the firm will head up the new division. He said: "We are ready both to help our customers with the most exacting challenges they face today, as well as helping them prepare for the cleaner, more electrified, technology-rich future".
Perhaps understandably, a lot of talk was generated about scrappage schemes, even though Environment Secretary Michael Gove all but ruled out the idea for any such scheme on Radio Four's Today programme.
"Whilst we are waiting for the details of the diesel scrappage scheme, we understand that it will have a 10 year limit", explained Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI. "This means it will basically cover mainly Euro three emission standard and older. However, Euro four for diesel was introduced in January 2006 and remained in force up to January 2011. There will be a huge number of Euro four and five cars on the road as those standards ran though the peak registration years, especially Euro five which covered the period from January 2011 to September 2015. None of these cars have the Adblue (Urea) treatment introduced with Euro six which significantly reduces the NOx emissions which are now the main cause of concern regarding air quality".
Nash also noted that a study conducted by his organisation found that insurance for alternative fuel vehicles can be 50 percent higher than for petrol or diesel equivalents and warns these won't become more competitive until more people are qualified to work on them.
Currently only one percent of all technicians have been trained to work safely on the high-voltage technology, of which almost all of them work exclusively for manufacturers franchised dealers.
"The IMI is continuing its campaign for the introduction of a licensing scheme for those working on the high voltage vehicles, and we've asked the government to contribute £30m to support the uptake of the necessary training", added Steve Nash. "In order to facilitate this and help clarify the competencies required for working on these vehicles, the IMI has launched a new Electric & Hybrid Vehicle qualification along with the appropriate support materials" he said.
Motor Industry trade bodies have expressed dismay over the arrangements put in place for apprenticeships.
IMI Chief Steve Nash says the piecemeal approach of Government apprenticeship reforms is a 'potential disaster for the motor industry'. Nash is urging ministers to undertake a wholesale review before pressing ahead with the changes. Meanwhile, RMI Bodyshop Director Jason Moseley warned that the new funding rates 'fall concerningly short' of those needed to deliver a 'robust and quality' apprenticeship programme.
Government has announced new funding arrangements for apprenticeships in connection with introduction of the Training Levy in 2017. The IMI says that many of the courses currently used by the motor industry to fill around 13,000 apprentice vacancies every year are subject to cuts of up to 50 percent in Government funding. This has sparked fears that the retail motor sector will suffer a trainee drought from next year, worsening what the IMI calls an 'already critical skills shortage' across the nation.
The IMI believe the Government's plans are designed to push its 'Trailblazer' and 'Employer Standards' Apprenticeships. These courses attract three times the funding under the new arrangements than most current training schemes. £18,000 for a level three compared to £6,000 the three- year courses available now. However, with just one exception, the Institute say that none of the new schemes for the motor industry have been completed and that most won't be fit for purpose for some time. In the meantime, the Institute believes that some of the existing courses will become economically unviable for colleges to provide leaving employers and learners in difficulty.
Nash said, "These proposed funding levels will leave some vital apprenticeships with up to 50 percent less funding. Employers around the country will struggle to get training places for their apprentices under this system. It begs the question, how this can possibly support the Government's aim to create more apprenticeships?
Moseley said: "Funding levels in our industry are four times less than that for an aerospace technician – which is concerning to see as modern motor vehicles are often more technology laden than an aircraft. These new funding rates will affect hundreds of apprentices in our sector at a time where we should be increasing our investments – not reducing. This has a significant knock on effect to insurance companies who use our members to repair their policyholder's vehicles safely.
is rendered unusable", concluded Nash.
The chief of the IMI has used a keynote speech to highlight the issues of low pay among apprentices and the problems of attracting new people to the industry.
Speaking at the IMI Annual dinner in Central London, the IMI's CEO Steve Nash spelled out what changing expectations of school leavers mean to the industry if it wishes to succeed in attracting the best talent.
To offset arguments against raising pay on economic grounds, the IMI recently produced evidence to show the motor industry can cope with a £2 per hour uplift in the starting salary for apprentices.


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'What is very complicated, he makes very easy'
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From glory to hell, Dani Alves' wife deleted all the photos in which they appeared
'Percy Jackson': Revealed the actors who will play Zeus and Poseidon in the series adaptation!
Home/Technology/Sony says Microsoft's proposal for Call of Duty on PlayStation was "inadequate"
Sony says Microsoft's proposal for Call of Duty on PlayStation was "inadequate"
Admin September 8, 2022 Technology Leave a comment 17 Views
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan said Microsoft's proposal to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles was "inadequate on many levels."
Last week, Microsoft revealed its plans for Call of Duty following its acquisition of US$ 68.7 billion (~R$ 371 billion) be finished. The deal was announced in January and is the biggest in the tech industry to date.
In an official statement, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said he would keep the franchise for many years on his rival's console, even after Sony's contractual agreement with Activision ended.
During this time, Call of Duty games would launch for PlayStation on the same day and with the same Xbox content, a proposition that would go beyond game industry deals.
However, in a new interview with the GamesIndustry.biz website, Jim Ryan expressed himself uncomfortable and dissatisfied with Microsoft's proposal.
I had no intention of commenting on what I thought was a private business meeting, but I feel the need to talk about the case because Phil Spencer has brought it to the public. Microsoft offered Call of Duty to continue on PlayStation for just three more years after Sony's contractual agreement with Activision ended."
After nearly 20 years of Call of Duty on PlayStation, their proposal was inadequate on many levels and failed to understand its impact on our players. We want to ensure that PlayStation users have the best Call of Duty experience possible, but Microsoft's proposal prevents that goal."
A few months ago, Bloomberg had revealed that Activision is contractually obligated to release just three more Call of Duty games for the PlayStation. Among them would be Modern Warfare 2, Warzone 2 and a new game in the Black Ops franchise, which should not arrive before 2024.
Previously, Sony had taken a stand against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, fearing Call of Duty exclusivity on Xbox consoles.
Currently, several regulatory bodies around the world are considering Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, with Saudi Arabia being the first country to recognize the deal. However, the UK asked for more information and wants assurances that Microsoft will not use its control of the Call of Duty franchise to harm its competitors.
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U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke talks about Israel trip
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who was criticized for voting against U.S. funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense...
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke talks about Israel trip U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who was criticized for voting against U.S. funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense... Check out this story on ElPasoTimes.com: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/2015/05/11/u-s-rep-beto-orourke-talks-about-israel/31260475/
El Paso Published 9:26 p.m. MT May 11, 2015
O'Rourke(Photo: )
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who was criticized for voting against U.S. funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system and skipping the Israeli prime minister's address to Congress, spoke Monday evening at a community meeting about gaining greater understanding during his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories last week.
O'Rourke, D-El Paso, was among members of Congress who took part in a six-day visit that included meetings with Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators, political leaders and residents.
More than 100 people at Monday's meeting at Congregation B'Nai Zion listened as O'Rourke said that the trip gave him hope for peace for what one audience member described as "the most difficult social problem in the world."
Members of the Jewish community gave O'Rourke credit for his willingness to listen and learn, but some criticized what they saw as a lack of support for Israel.
Dori Fenenbock, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso, which hosted the meeting, said some people will agree with O'Rourke and others will not. "I think the politics in Israel are as complex and sometimes as polarizing as those in the United States," said Fenenbock, who recently won a seat on the El Paso Independent School District's Board of Trustees.
There is blame on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said O'Rourke, adding that he was not there to judge.
"Both sides have this problem where if they suggest anything that the other side accepts without pain, it is some kind of failure," O'Rourke said.
"It was really striking to me how much the relationship between these two peoples is governed out of fear, out of humiliation and most deeply and profoundly out of pain. And the need for the other side to recognize that pain and make amends for that pain," he said.
Last August, O'Rourke angered members of the Jewish community when he was one of eight members of the House of Representatives to vote against additional U.S. funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system at a time when Israel was under attacks by rockets fired by Hamas.
O'Rourke said that he was not against the Iron Dome, but that he could not support sending $225 million to Israel without any debate or discussion. The funding was approved by the House on a 395-8 vote after the Senate approved earlier legislation.
At the meeting, O'Rourke spoke of the fear described by Jews he met who lived at ground zero of the rocket and terrorist tunnel attacks.
"I was looking at the border wall as though I was in Chihuahuita looking at Mexico and talking to people who lived in that village and what they experienced this last summer and learning from them how they literally watched rockets arching over their heads, northbound," O'Rourke said. "And not too long after, they would see missiles and fire coming right in the other direction over their heads."
An audience member asked O'Rourke that having now visited Israel if he would have voted different on the Iron Dome funding last year.
O'Rourke, who has backed the Iron Dome in other votes, responded that funding should be questioned before being approved by Congress. "I think our unequivocal support at times has been damaging to Israel," he said.
In March, O'Rourke was criticized by some for being one of 58 lawmakers who did not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress. O'Rourke said he felt Netanyahu's speech could hurt U.S. foreign policy and was politicizing the relationship between the United States and Israel.
On Monday, O'Rourke said all sides should work on a two-state solution for peace — a complicated issue in one of the most volatile parts of the world.
"There is going to be peace only when the Palestinians start loving their children more than they hate the Jews," Pini Kachel of El Paso said after the meeting. "You don't find Jews strapping bombs to their children so they can kill Palestinians."
Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102.
Read or Share this story: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/2015/05/11/u-s-rep-beto-orourke-talks-about-israel/31260475/
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Solar panels attract birds quite easily due to its installation. They create a perfect space for birds to roost and nest under the solar panels. The warmth emitted all year around is another benefit to the birds. They create an ideal habitat for birds as well as other insects such as mites and lice. You will waste energy and money in the long run due to the lost efficiency. Bird proofing solar panels is the perfect answer to prevent loss of energy and money in the long-term. Here are some important things to consider when purchasing bird proofing solar panels.
You can fulfill your energy requirements as well as sell back electricity to the grid thanks to solar panels. Bird nesting and droppings reduce the efficiency of the solar panels quite drastically. Bird droppings will cut back the ability of the solar panels to collect sunlight which is essential to generate electricity. The panels should be in pristine condition at all times to maximize the performance of the solar panels. If you have 50% of bird droppings on the solar panels, it can result in a 50% reduction of energy. If the whole cell gets covered with droppings, it may not be able to produce any electricity at all. Bird proofing these panels is extremely important due to this reason. It improves the productivity and efficiency of the panels.
There are many reputed solar panel manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom that use effective techniques to bird proof solar panels to improve their efficiency and productivity. It will also help prevent any unnecessary damages to the panels. A mesh system is installed over the panels to protect them from birds. Birds and other insects are kept away from the solar panels due to the mesh system. The mesh system is not visible from ground level. The roof is not screwed or drilled to install the mesh system. A special kind of clip is used to secure the mesh system which will not damage the solar panels. They will not invalidate the warranty on the solar panels. Hence, you have nothing to worry when installing them on your roof. These are some of the major considerations when bird proofing your solar panels right now. It will help improve the energy efficiency and save your money in the long run. The aforementioned article provides an overview of the importance of bird proofing your solar panels.


Kraftwerk have announced an 11-date UK tour to take place in summer next year, marking their first full tour of Britain since 2004.
The band will perform their 3D concerts, which they first played in 2013 at New York's Museum Of Modern Art and have since performed at art galleries around the world. They have also played the show at festivals including Latitude and T In The Park.
The shows end with a pair of dates at London's Royal Albert Hall the week before Glatonbury. Kraftwerk have never appeared at the festival, with the timing of the new tour leading to speculation that they could make their first appearance at Glastonbury next year.
Tickets for the tour go on sale at 10am on Friday.
Kraftwerk haven't released any new music since 'Tour De France Soundtracks' in 2003, with their last full studio album being 'Electric Café' in 1986. Their current line-up features Ralf Hutter, Fritz Hilpert, Henning Schmitz and Falk Grieffenhagen. Hutter is the only remaining member of Kraftwerk's classic line-up, following the departure of co-founder Florian Schneider in 2008.


text:
package jelectrum;

import java.security.MessageDigest;

import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
import java.io.ObjectOutputStream;
import com.google.bitcoin.core.Sha256Hash;
import com.google.bitcoin.core.Transaction;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import org.json.JSONObject;
import org.json.JSONArray;

public class Util
{

    public static String getHexString(byte[] data)
    {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        for(byte b : data)
        {
            sb.append(String.format("%02x", b));
        }
        return sb.toString();
    }

  public static String SHA256(byte[] P)
  {
        try
        {
            MessageDigest SIG=MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
            SIG.update(P, 0, P.length);

            byte D[]=SIG.digest();

            return getHexString(D);

        }
        catch (java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException e)
        {
            throw new RuntimeException(e);

        }

  }

  public static String SHA256(String s)
  {
    return SHA256(s.getBytes());
  }

  public static int measureSerialization(Object obj)
  {
    try
    {
        ByteArrayOutputStream out = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
        ObjectOutputStream obj_out = new ObjectOutputStream(out);

        obj_out.writeObject(obj);
        obj_out.flush();
        obj_out.close();

        return out.size();

    }
    catch(Exception e)
    {
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }

  }

    public static Sha256Hash treeHash(Sha256Hash a, Sha256Hash b)
    {
        try
        {

            MessageDigest md = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
            md.update(swapEndian(a).getBytes());
            md.update(swapEndian(b).getBytes());

            byte[] pass = md.digest();
            md = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
            md.update(pass);

            return swapEndian(new Sha256Hash(md.digest()));
        }
        catch(java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException e)
        {
            throw new RuntimeException(e);
        }

    }
    public static Sha256Hash doubleHash(Sha256Hash a)
    {
        try
        {

            MessageDigest md = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
            md.update(a.getBytes());

            byte[] pass = md.digest();
            md = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
            md.update(pass);

            return new Sha256Hash(md.digest());
        }
        catch(java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException e)
        {
            throw new RuntimeException(e);
        }

    }

    public static Sha256Hash swapEndian(Sha256Hash a)
    {
        return new Sha256Hash(swapEndianHexString(a.toString()));

    }
    public static String swapEndianHexString(String in)
    {
        StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder();

        for(int i=0; i<in.length(); i+=2)
        {
            String s = in.substring(i,i+2);
            sb.insert(0,s);
        }
        return sb.toString();
    }

    public static JSONObject getMerkleTreeForTransaction(Collection<Transaction> tx_list, Sha256Hash tx_hash)
    {
        try
        {
            ArrayList<Sha256Hash> tx_hash_list=new ArrayList<Sha256Hash>();
            int target_pos=-1;

            for(Transaction tx : tx_list)
            {
                if (tx.getHash().equals(tx_hash)) target_pos=tx_hash_list.size();
                tx_hash_list.add(tx.getHash());
            }
            if (target_pos < 0) throw new RuntimeException("Target transaction not in collection");

            JSONObject result = new JSONObject();
            result.put("pos", target_pos);

            ArrayList<Sha256Hash> out_list = new ArrayList<Sha256Hash>();
            int span=1;
            while(span < tx_hash_list.size()) span = span*2;
            Sha256Hash root = getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(tx_hash_list, target_pos, out_list);

            //result.put("root", root);

            JSONArray merkle = new JSONArray();
            for(Sha256Hash h : out_list)
            {
                merkle.put(h.toString());
            }
            result.put("merkle", merkle);

            return result;
        }
        catch(org.json.JSONException e)
        {
            throw new RuntimeException(e);
        }

    }

    private static Sha256Hash getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(ArrayList<Sha256Hash> tx_list, int target_pos, ArrayList<Sha256Hash> out_list)
    {
        int magic_pos = target_pos;
        while(tx_list.size() > 1)
        {
            ArrayList<Sha256Hash> next_list = new ArrayList<Sha256Hash>();
            if (tx_list.size() % 2 == 1)
            {
                tx_list.add(tx_list.get(tx_list.size()-1));
            }
            for(int i=0; i<tx_list.size(); i+=2)
            {

                if (magic_pos==i)
                {
                    out_list.add(tx_list.get(i+1));
                }
                if (magic_pos==i+1)
                {
                    out_list.add(tx_list.get(i));
                }

                next_list.add(treeHash(tx_list.get(i), tx_list.get(i+1)));
            }
            magic_pos = magic_pos / 2;
            tx_list=next_list;
        }
        return tx_list.get(0);

    }

    private static Sha256Hash getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(ArrayList<Sha256Hash> tx_list, int target_pos, int start, int span, ArrayList<Sha256Hash> out_list)
    {
        if (start >= tx_list.size()) return getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(tx_list, target_pos, start-span, span, null);
        if (span == 1)
        {
            return tx_list.get(start);
        }
        int mid = start + span/2;
        if ((start <= target_pos) && (target_pos < (start+span)))
        {

            Sha256Hash first = getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(tx_list,target_pos, start, span/2, out_list);
            Sha256Hash second = getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(tx_list,target_pos, mid, span/2, out_list);
            if (out_list != null)
            {
                if (target_pos < mid)
                {
                    out_list.add(second);

                }
                else
                {
                    out_list.add(first);

                }
            }
            return treeHash(first, second);

        }
        else
        {
            return treeHash(
                getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(tx_list, target_pos, start, span/2, null),
                getInternalMerkleTreeMadness(tx_list, target_pos, mid, span/2, null));

        }

    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


After struggles last year, a forward-thinking strategy and community support will be vital to keeping the theatre going. Anna Ngo reports.
A community fixture since 1991, Artworks Theatre has brought island residents a quarter-century of entertainment: song, dance, laughter and drama.
Last August saw drama of a different kind – plagued by financial troubles, the theatre was unable to retain manager Lisa Garrity. She was reinstated and members of the board stepped down. Now, with a new board in place, the theatre is working hard to turn things around.
Lisa attributes the theatre's difficulties to "growth and speed wobbles".
Currently, the theatre has 200 members, but Lisa's hope is to drive those numbers up to 500, as demonstrating a strong community interest is vital to securing funding.
The theatre has a strong offering with Dracula, made by the Funnybones team, running over the next two weekends. It is aiming for a 200-plus turnout at its 31 March Circus Dance Extravaganza (see story in What's On). Money raised will go toward the management of the theatre and buying new equipment. Two more fundraisers, a VIP luncheon and a variety show, are also in the works.
Back as manager on a contract basis, Lisa is now dedicating her energy to growing the theatre's membership, applying for grants and planning fund-raising events.
The theatre held focus group meetings on 25 February and 1 March to get public feedback on what's working, what isn't and where it sees the theatre going. The aim is to formulate a strategic vision and ultimately a prospectus to present to potential donors.
On 22 March at 7pm, the theatre will hold its annual general meeting for members only.
"This is going to be the biggest AGM we've had in many years," Lisa says, "mainly because we're looking at adjusting our constitution and having five on the board, not three, so that we get a bigger spread of people." Going forward, board appointees will serve for a minimum two years rather than one.
Lisa already has several knowledgeable people on her side. Brand expert Raul Sarrot, who was instrumental in the Essentially Waiheke workshops, volunteered to facilitate the focus groups and compile a report to be used for grant applications. "He managed to get a lot of stuff out of people, which is really helpful going forward." Also acting as external advisors are well-known New Zealand actors Michael Hurst and Charlie McDermott.
Other feedback was that while people wanted better facilities, they were firm that the look and feel of the theatre should remain the same. Specific suggestions included a bathroom in the green room, a better stage, better lighting equipment, more efficient use of space and greater youth involvement.


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text:
Lacrosse season canceled after player accused…
NewsEducation
Lacrosse season canceled after player accused of racial slur
By Chico Enterprise-Record |
May 11, 2018 at 4:43 p.m.
HADDONFIELD, N.J. (AP) — Officials in a New Jersey school district canceled the remainder of the boys' lacrosse season Friday after allegations that a white team member used a racial slur against a black female athlete from another school.
Interim Haddonfield School District Superintendent David T. Lindenmuth issued a statement saying the season was canceled effective immediately and that there was "no room for hate of any kind" in the district. The allegations stem from a track meet held at the suburban Philadelphia school district earlier this month.
A black female track athlete told officials from her school that she was tying her shoes on the track that surrounds the practice lacrosse field at Haddonfield High School when a group of white lacrosse players passed by her during a multi-school track event on May 1. She said one of the boys told her to get off his track and called her a racial slur.
Lindenmuth's statement said the district had investigated and "some issues were discovered that are completely unacceptable for this community." The statement did not give details of any other possible incidents or issues uncovered in the investigation.
He said the district had reached out to the NAACP and other organizations to hold training sessions. The district has also begun a dialogue with the student body about diversity and inclusiveness, which will include trainings for staff and coaches.
The Courier Post reports that complaints about the incident have been filed with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and the civil rights division of the state attorney general's office.
Prosecution rests in Alfredo Ruvalcaba's murder trial for
Prosecution rests in Alfredo Ruvalcaba's murder trial for
Chico Enterprise-Record
Annika Gnesda brings competitiveness and leadership to Pleasant Valley soccer | Prep Athlete of the Week


Martin is an IP Network and Security consultant with over 15 years experience providing Technical Leadership and Architecture skills to IP Network, Data Centre and Infosec projects for clients including Future Publishing, Juniper Networks, Virgin Media and NCC Group. He is the lead author of the Center for Internet Security secure configuration benchmark for Juniper JUNOS devices and has been involved with numerous other good of the Internet and technical community organizations. Martin has previously presented at BrisTech with "What's this Internet thing anyway?" and is a regular BrisTech attendee.


I wondered for a second how I could be held responsible.
This has, however, nothing whatsoever and in no fashion to do with what I am about to say, which is Happy Birthday to Jesus and Shane McGowan (at least one documented to be alive as we go to press)!
And now, hearken ye to the greatest Christmas song for adults that isn't exactly a Christmas carol, Fairytale of New York. I want to hear Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty duet on this, and I want them to do it now, before they no longer qualify under the above parenthetical.
And despite the drink and the drugs, the fall-outs and the punch-ups, MacGowan's music looks likely to endure.
I've built my dreams around you.
Good, I have something more for you.
I have the best Christmas story I know.
I have A Christmas Story, by Sarban.
I will tell you a Christmas story. I will tell it as Alexander Andreievitch Masseyev told it me in his little house outside the walls of Jedda years ago one hot, damp Christmas Eve.
It was the custom among the few English people in Jedda in those days to make up a carol-singing party on Christmas Eve. For a week before, the three or four of us who had voices they were not ashamed of, and the one or two who had neither voice nor shame, practiced to the accompaniment of an old piano in the one British mercantile house in the place: an instrument whose vocal cords had not stood the excessive humidity of that climate any better than those of some of the singers. Then, on Christmas Even, the party gathered at our house where we dined and, with a lingering memory of Yuletide mummers in England, arrayed ourselves in such bits of fancy dress or comic finery as we could lay our hands on; made false whiskers out of cotton-wool or a wisp of tow, blackened our faces, reddened our noses with lip-stick supplied by the Vice-Consul's wife, put our jackets on inside-out and sprinkled over our shoulders 'frost' out of a little packet bought by someone ages ago at home and kept by some miracle of sentimental pertinacity through years of exile on that desert shore.
I am no singer, but I always had a part in those proceedings. It was to carry the lantern.
Our Sudanese house-boys observed us with more admiration than amusement on their faces, and the little knot of our Arab neighbours, who always gathered about our door to watch us set out, whatever the occasion, gave not the slight4est sign of recognizing anything more comic that usual in our appearance. We made our round of th4e European houses in our Ford station-wagon; I holding my lantern on its pole outside the vehicle and only by luck avoiding shattering it against the wall as the First Secretary cut the corners of the narrow lanes. Fortunately, expect for our neighbours, who never seemed to go to bed at all (or, at least, didn't go to bed to sleep), the True-Believers of Jedda kept early hours, and by nine or ten at night the dark sandy lanes were deserted but for pariah dogs and families of goats settled with weary wheezings to doze the still, close night away. Poor Jedda goats! Whose pasture and byre were the odorous alleys; pathetic mothers of frustrated offspring, with those brassieres which seemed at first sight such an astonishing refinement of Grundyism, but which turned out to be merely and economic safeguard – girdles not of chastity but of husbandry; with your frugal diet of old newspapers and ends of straw rope, to whom the finding of an unwanted (or unguarded) panama hat was like a breakfast of 'Id ul Fitr; how many a curse and kick in the ribs have you earned from a night-ambling Frank for couching in that precise pit of darkness where the feeble rays of one paraffin lamp expire and those of the next are not yet born!
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Love that song … Merry Christmas, Rain!
Merry Christmas, Raincoaster. May the rest of the year and beyond be eternally filled with your nuggets of wisdom.
I hope you get whatever it is your little heart desires today.
Merry Christmas. I love that well-written story, and notice that the song references what appears to be a winning horse bet ("got on a lucky one/came in 18 to 1").
Merry Christmas, az, stiletto, and kstafford!
I did get a pony, after all.
You wanted a pony?! Why didn't you say so?
Interesting song and a great painting.
I ALWAYS wanted a pony. I got a six inch high appaloosa with a white, fuzzy mane and silky tail. Could be worse!
I remember the story from last year—I read it again and it is still wonderful.
That was quite the wakeup call you got that morning.
"Filthy, tender duet?" Gotta hear.
Did you REALLY get a pony? Is this some code word for man?
Merry Christmas Raincoaster :) and here's another Christmas Birthday; my Grandmother who turned 93 on Christmas day.
I really got a pony, but it's not really a pony.


I wrote a piece for Hurlingham Polo magazine about how Thai Polo won the 2012 RMPA International League. You can view it here. It's always nice to see Malaysian polo in the news, and to know that it is newsworthy.


text:
Q: Local Account: Find Last Password Change Is there a an easy way from the command line (or even just a setting to check somewhere) to see when a password for a local Windows account (specifically Server 2K3) expires or when it was last changed?

A: Assuming that we're talking about a local account on Windows Server, and not an Active Directory Domain user. Then open cmd.exe and enter the following command:
NET USER username

You'll get a dump of information about the account including the password last set information.
If you want to make it fancier and get back just that information you can pipe the output of net user to the find command:
NET USER username | find "Password last set"

Note for Active Directory accounts: If you're more interested in a domain account you can add the /domain switch to check for the same information.  However, due to the distributed nature of AD you may not get the most accurate time from the DC you're asking.  The most precise time is stored in the pwd-last-set attribute of the user account, but that requires some manipulation to make sense.

A: The 'net user' command line will do just that:
C:\Documents and Settings\adam>net user adam

User name                    adam
Full Name                    Your Momma
Comment
User's comment
Country code                 000 (System Default)
Account active               Yes
Account expires              Never

Password last set            7/1/2009 10:32 AM
Password expires             Never
Password changeable          7/1/2009 10:32 AM
Password required            Yes
User may change password     No

Workstations allowed         All
Logon script
User profile
Home directory
Last logon                   8/19/2009 3:24 PM

Logon hours allowed          All

Local Group Memberships      *Administrators       *Debugger Users
                             *Users
Global Group memberships     *None
The command completed successfully.

A: Use the "net user" command - for example "net user USERNAME" will display a list with all sorts of info, including password last set and password expiration.

A: NET USER username /domain | find "Password last set"
Just change the username to your actual "user name". The /domain is just that.


Comments: I got the new shirt in and it fits good a bit big but that's how I like them anyway. Great product high quality material can't wait to order another one. I will getting 2 more 1 in red and 1 in white.


Welcome to 8 Limbs! We are so glad you found us and hope to meet you very soon.
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Join one of our 6-week Intro Series offered at each of our four neighborhood studios.
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Tim Nunney, Marketing Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Surface Analysis & Microanalysis, talks to AZoM about the new Thermo Scientific Nexsa™ XPS system. A high performance XPS instrument with unparalleled sensitivity for large and small area analysis.
Please could you start by introducing the Nexsa?
The Thermo Scientific Nexsa Surface Analysis System is the newest XPS product from Thermo Fisher Scientific. At its heart, Nexsa is a high performance XPS instrument. It has a brand-new X-ray monochromator which has unparalleled sensitivity for large area analysis, but can operate at smaller X-ray spot size to enable small feature analysis as well. This gives the user a much better imaging than was previously available, without compromising the XPS performance for more routine, large area analysis.
Thermo Scientific - Nexsa XPS Surface Analysis System from AZoNetwork on Vimeo.
What's the benefit of being able to analyze a smaller area?
Increasingly we are seeing that materials analysts want to look at small features at the sample surface. These can be things like bond pads, or defects in the coatings that have been applied to surfaces. Having this capability with the new X-ray source really allows the Nexsa to meet those challenges.
What analytical capabilities does the Nexsa have?
As well as the XPS capabilities, with Nexsa we're able to integrate other key surface analysis techniques onto the system. These include ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS, also sometimes known as LEIS - low energy ion scattering), UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), refelected electron energy loss spectrocopy (REELS), and also the possibility of adding our Thermo Scientific™ MAGCIS™ dual mode cluster and monatomic ion source. With these capabilities we're able to investigate other surface properties that XPS alone cannot look at.
Uniquely, with Nexsa we're also able to integrate a Raman Spectrometer onto the instrument adding molecular spectroscopy to the portfolio of techniques available. Rather than having to move samples from instrument to microscope to do the XPS and Raman analysis, now being able to do it on the same platform at the same time means that you can be sure that you're analyzing the same point on the sample, and getting the data from exactly the same position.
Please can you tell us about the Thermo Scientific™ Avantage™ software package?
Like all our surface analysis instruments, Nexsa runs on Avantage, the software package that controls all vacuum operations, data acquisition, data processing, and output of data into reports.
Avantage has many features to enables you to get your sample data and processed results quickly. It has the capability to automatically interpret the scan that starts most analysis, the survey scan, to identify which elements are present and lead onto what you need to do next to understand the chemical states in the sample. We have new features that enable you to process images quickly and understand the distribution of chemical states across the surface, and also to process the other types of data we're generating from ISS, or REELS, or UPS. This includes being able to process REELS and UPS data to look at band gaps or work functions, for example.
By being able to collect data with Nexsa using a multiple array of techniques, we need to be able to process the results from ISS, XPS, Raman, UPS- in concert to be able to understand exactly what's happening at the sample surface. Avantage allows you to process the results from these different techniques together, for example ISS and XPS, or Raman and XPS, enabling you to understand exactly what's happening at the sample surface by getting a complete picture quickly.
How do SnapMaps help NEXsa users?
SnapMap not only enables the users to take rapid XPS images, but also positional information can be taken from these images, and used for subsequent analysis.
SnapMap can be used for a number of different experimental purposes. Large-area SnapMaps can be used to determine the distribution of chemistry across the sample surface. Small-area SnapMaps can be used to isolate features down to 10 microns in size. Even features invisible to the naked eye can be identified and isolated for further analysis, as SnapMaps contain full spectra, which can be used to isolate areas with differing chemistry which may not differ optically.
The speed that a SnapMap is acquired means that they can be included into a typical work flow very easily, non-intrusively, and will give spatial information that is complimentary to conventional XPS analysis. Complex analysis that may have taken hours in the past can now take minutes, thanks to the automation and ease of use of the Nexus system, with Avantage and SnapMap.
Lithium-ion battery material analysis is a key area of focus in research and industry right now. What are some of the key challenges and how does the Nexsa system help overcome these?
There are a couple of key challenges in analyzing lithium-ion battery materials.Firstly, the materials can be sensitive to air. This means that even before they've entered the system, any exposure to air can change their chemistry.
Secondly, lithium can be very difficult to detect, so a very highly sensitive instrument is required.
With Nexsa, we have an optional vacuum transfer module. This can be loaded with samples inside a glovebox, and then transported directly into the system without exposure to air. It is also possible to integrate a glove box onto the system, if the primary focus is air-sensitive materials.
XPS can be used to analyze cathodes, anodes, and separator materials. For example, looking at the surface chemistry of pristine electrodes and comparing it to the surface chemistry of used electrodes. One of the ways that the performance of a battery degrades is in the formation of an SEI layer. The composition of this can be analyzed with an XPS depth profile.
The multi-technique analysis capability of the Nexsa is particularly valuable for analyzing lithium-ion batteries. The unique capability of performing coincident XPS and Raman spectroscopy without removing the sample from the system, can be useful for fully characterising carbon-based anode materials for example.
With its high performance and multi-technique capabilities, the Nexsa is ideally suited for analysis of lithium-ion and future battery challenges.
Thin films are becoming increasingly popular for increasing the energy output and power density of batteries. How can XPS be used to analyze these materials?
Batteries with thin film solid state electrolytes are already in production, but over the next few years there'll be an increasing demand to grow the energy output and power density of these batteries. Lithium phosphorus oxynitride, or LiPON, is one material that may enable this.
To fabricate these LiPON films atomic layer deposition (ALD) is typically used. To achieve the required electrical properties of the film, the elemental concentrations or the chemical bonding of those elements is modified to produce the required perfromance. XPS is the ideal technique for analyzing the elemental concentrations and chemistry of LiPON films. It's chemically selective, surface sensitive, and you can quantify without using standards.
LiPON films can be fabricated with thicknesses anywhere from 10 nanometers up to one micron. For the thinner films we could just use XPS to analyze the chemistry, but for the thicker films, beyond 10 nanometers, we must combine XPS with ion sputtering. Traditional forms of sputtering, with monatomic Ar+, are very good at quickly profiling through films, but they destroy the very chemistry we are trying to investigate. With Nexsa, and the MAGCIS ion source, we can generate beams of ion clusters with anywhere from 75 up to 2,000 atoms of argon. With the smaller clusters between 75 and 300 atoms, we can efficiently sputter through LiPON films without modifying the chemistry.
Dr Tim Nunney is the Marketing Manager for the Thermo Scientific Surface Analysis (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) & Microanalysis (EDS, WDS & EBSD) product lines. His role involves all aspects of product marketing, including collateral development, customer evaluations, product development and commercial support. He has been with Thermo Fisher Scientific since 2004, previously holding positions as an applications scientist, and in the operations group. Prior to joining Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tim worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Southampton, investigating the dynamics of molecular dissociation on metal surfaces. He completed a PhD in Surface Science at the University of Liverpool, studying the surface catalysed decomposition of methylamines on transition metal surfaces using reflection absorption infra-red spectroscopy (RAIRS) and XPS.