text:
Top 15 Hidden American Travel Gems
New York City? Too crowded. Los Angeles? Too much traffic. Chicago? Freezing. Instead of the usual destinations venture out to these underrated cities.
Joe Resendiz - April 23, 2019
We're all familiar with the allure of snagging a picture in front of a world-famous site. Oftentimes, though, we're left disappointed and wondering if we bought into the hype a bit too much.
Many U.S. cities have industries built around famous sites that can make the whole experience feel a bit commercialized and inauthentic. Travel to the Statue of Liberty, for example, and you'll be bombarded with people trying to sell you tours and trinkets. Go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and you might start to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people there.
The good news? Some American cities still haven't been discovered by the masses. In the spirit of discovery, we're offering what we believe to be the top 15 American hidden travel gems of 2019. These places may not carry the reputation of a large city, but they offer just as much as—if not more than—those big names.
1. Best Hidden Gem for Barbecue: Killeen, Texas
Killeen is located an hour north of Austin, Texas, and filled with top-notch barbecue. We recommend you stop by Petty's BBQ and try the ribs or the pulled pork. And no trip to Texas is complete without a stop at Rudy's Texas Bar-B-Q for a second helping. This barbecue joint is a hybrid restaurant, gas station and grocery store. It doesn't get anymore Texan than that.
2. Best Hidden Gem for Rest and Relaxation: The Ozarks, Missouri
The Netflix show of the same name paints the Ozarks as a bleak and barren place, but that couldn't be further from the truth. While the Ozarks region is quiet, we think it's for the better. The area features plenty of mountains and forests to get lost in. If you prefer civilization, you can also find some outstanding waterfront golf courses. Check out a list of available courses here. Personally, we prefer the Cove at the Lodge of the Four Seasons.
3. Best Hidden Gem for American History: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
When we think of American history, we typically think of Boston and Philadelphia. But don't underestimate the number of historical events that took place in the South. Baton Rouge itself has had seven flags fly over it during its time:
We recommend checking out the River Road African American Museum and the West Baton Rouge Museum. Once you're done there, you're only an hour from the world-famous Oak Alley Plantation, so be sure to stop by on your way out of town.
4. Best Hidden Gem for Nontraditional Museums: Lowell, Massachusetts
If you're the type of person who enjoys spending hours in museums, then put Lowell, Massachusetts, on your bucket list. Start your day by hopping over to the New England Quilt Museum and follow it up by dropping by the Lowell National Historic Park. Once the museums close for the night, be sure to catch a Lowell Spinners baseball game at LeLacheur Park.
5. Best Hidden Gem for a Night on the Town: Savannah, Georgia
When you think of Savannah, Georgia, you probably picture tree-lined streets and brisk autumn weather. You're not far off in your thinking, but Savannah is also one of the best places in the country to go to a bar and let loose. Here's the lowdown.
For classic cocktails: The Grey
Where the locals hang out: The Jinx
For cheap drinks: The Rail Pub
We recommend booking a stay in Savannah's historic district so you can be close to the action. A personal favorite of ours is the Kehoe House.
6. Best Hidden Gem for Wineries and Vineyards: Willamette Valley, Oregon
We're not exactly sure how Willamette Valley is still flying under the radar in 2019. The region features more than 500 wineries, and its pinot noir is very highly regarded. There aren't many other places in the country where you can enjoy a glass of wine (or two) and then hop on a hot air balloon to enjoy pristine countryside views. Before getting your drink on, we recommend filling up with a meal at Babica Hen Cafe or at The Barberry.
7. Best Hidden Gem for Families: Carlsbad, California
If you're on the hunt for a family vacation, we suggest visiting Carlsbad, California. You can stop by Legoland's massive California Resort or bask in the sun at the Legoland Water Park. If you're trying to save a little bit of money, you can also enjoy budget-friendly water sports at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The city sits on the coast, so going to the beach is also an option we recommend. We also suggest driving over to Tamarack State Beach for a nice, relaxing evening of wave watching.
8. Best Hidden Gem for Hunting and Fishing: Winthrop, Washington
Here's what you'll find in Winthrop, Washington: pristine rivers, a large population of trout and one of the biggest populations of mule deer in the entire country. The fishing is great all year, but if you're more interested in hunting, then we suggest visiting during the fall. That's when the deer population is at its peak. You can choose to camp, but the city also features plenty of wonderful lodging options. We suggest staying at the Mazama Country Inn or the Methow Reservations.
9. Best Hidden Gem for Car Aficionados: Glenn County, California
Slow pokes need not apply. If you're itching for speed and want to get behind the wheel or simply experience motorsports in person, you've got to visit Thunderhill Raceway Park in Glenn County, California. The complex features tracks that can be rented for any motor-related events. There are plenty of events throughout the month, so be sure to drop by and check one out.
10. Best Hidden Gem for Art: Denton, Texas
If you live in Texas, you probably already know Denton deserves praise. The city is home to a vibrant art and music scene that rivals even Austin, which is consistently billed as the live music capital of the world. Denton is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and seems poised as a top travel destination for years to come. Here are some of our favorite spots around town:
A Creative Art Studio
North Art Gallery at UNT
Patterson-Appleton Arts Center
11. Best Hidden Gem for Beaches: Forks & La Push, Washington
When you picture Washington state, beaches are probably not what comes to mind. But that's exactly what makes Forks & La Push a must-visit locale for 2019. The area, which was popularized by the "Twilight" novels, features 70 miles of protected coastline. It also serves as the perfect spot to hit the beach and get some hiking done, since the area is home to plenty of trails. If you're looking to snag an amazing and unique Instagram picture, we recommend checking out the Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail. We guarantee it'll leave your followers envious.
12. Best Hidden Gem for Kayaking and Diving: Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
If kayaking and diving are your idea of a good time, you'll need to visit the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. Kayaking in the Apostle Islands is a one-of-a-kind experience, in which you get the opportunity to paddle inside caves and take in the beautiful sandstone shoreline. The good news is that you don't need to be an expert, as there are tours for all experience levels. Once you're done getting wet, pick up a mountain bike or an ATV and go for some off-road fun.
13. Best Hidden Gem for a Trip to a National Park: Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is located near the Canada-United States border and encompasses more than 1 million acres. It's not a national park that you often hear about, but we certainly believe it deserves more recognition. There are some iconic lodges you can stay at if you're not one to camp out. We suggest checking out the Grouse Mountain Lodge or the Prince of Wales Hotel.
14. Best Hidden Gem for Skiing: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Not many people know Tennessee is a ski destination, which means shorter lift lines and less-crowded slopes. It's also convenient to get to, as a tram located in downtown Gatlinburg will take you straight to the slopes. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is open from December through March, leaving you plenty of time to book a trip for next year. There are slopes for all types of skiers, from beginners to seasoned pros. One of our favorite things about this resort is that it doesn't close as soon as the sun goes down, as all the slopes are lit for skiing in the nighttime.
15. Best Hidden Gem for Charm: Beaufort, South Carolina
South Carolina is filled with charming cities, but many of them have become overcrowded. Thankfully, Beaufort has managed to retain its southern charm. Take a stroll down the scenic historic district, and there will be plenty to see. After all, Beaufort is the second-oldest town in South Carolina. We suggest visiting during the city's Shrimp Fest since it's when the city fully comes alive. The festival typically takes place in early October, but be sure to check the city's website before planning your trip.
Joe Resendiz
Joe Resendiz is a former investment banking analyst for Goldman Sachs, where he covered public sector and infrastructure financing. During his time on Wall Street, Joe worked closely with the debt capital markets team, which allowed him to gain unique insights into the credit market. Joe is currently a research analyst who covers credit cards and the payments industry. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in finance.
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Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).
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text:
Q: Short story about a boy who makes a virtual girl and updates her A.I as he grows up I am searching a free short story I found about 5 years ago on some book app on my tablet.
Basically in the story, this young boy got a computer (sometime during the 80s I believe) that had just enough RAM to be able to run a simple paint.exe type program, and he drew out this virtual girl out of pixels.
As the story continues, he's growing up and technology is getting better. He becomes able to make a small looping animation of the girl, then a basic program of A.I.
By the end of the book he has a wife (and kids I believe) and he hasn't taken out the computer he last programmed her on in 15-20 years, but then he does and it's still how it was.
Also, I believe the name of the virtual girl he made was Sinclair, but I could be wrong.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It will be no surprise that we were up early again to start our day at Campo. Thankfully, we are mainly getting enough sleep at night, however some on our team are feeling a bit under the weather (mainly cold symptoms). We are praying nothing will spread as we still have a good bit of mission ahead of us.
We were again on our full camp schedule that starts with our morning chapel time followed by our classes. I've had some of our students sharing their stories as a part of this time. We prepare to be able to share the Gospel during our mission training, but for many, this is the first time they will have shared in public, much less having to share through a translator.
The children have really enjoyed the classes and as much as we are teaching them, they are teaching us too. We are learning more about their personalities, culture and faith journeys in our time with them. They are continuing to open up with us and allow us into their lives. It's always amazing to me how we can come and do our best through the language barrier, have some help from translators, but really speak through the language of love. It's a continual reminder to me that the Gospel is best shared through word and deed. And these kids are watching… all the time. They are watching not only how we are interacting with them, but also each other as a team.
Since the "treasure hunt" was such a big hit with the groups, we decided to do another competition that we called "the great competition"… sometimes the more simple ideas translate better. But this was a survivor-style series of challenges from the three-legged race, tug of war, to a buried dig, dizzy bat race and more! They had so much fun competing that we've decided to make this a staple of camp each year.
Our meals have been awesome and dinner was no exception. We not only serve the food, but deliver the plates to the kids. It's a honor to serve them and allow them to get as much food as they want – and some of them take advantage of seconds. This would definitely be a foreign concept to them at home.
At evening chapel, I had the opportunity to share out of Matthew about the wise and foolish builder and ask them what kind of a foundation they were building their life upon. This led to a great opportunity to present the Gospel to them and invite them to respond to Jesus Lordship over their lives. We are praying that those who responded to the Gospel – the seeds would grow in good soil in their lives.
During our team time, we looked at the cost of following Jesus as a disciple. We talked about the danger of "deciding to make Jesus our personal, Lord and Savior." Not that Jesus isn't a personal God, because He most certainly is, but He is also not definable by our desires, but rather revealed to us in God's Word. I fear many of us make Jesus more palatable by picking and choosing what we want to believe from God's Word – we don't want a Savior that challenges our desires, leads us down a difficult path of discipleship, convicts our desire to have more (materialism) and calls us to die to our own dreams and plans and embrace His mission. These times being shaped by God's Word and our conversation in small groups have been powerful.
Pray for our day tomorrow as it is our last one at camp. It's usually an emotional time all around. This has been a great camp so far and we are praying for it to end in a way that directs everyone's attention to God to give Him the glory for the great work He has done!


text:
Q: Drupal 7 Jquery Action needs to Happen Every time instead of just once I have a drupal 7 site and I'm loading a theme level jquery script by adding this in my .info file:
scripts[] = script.js

I want it to move an views ajax pager every-time a link is clicked (link changes vote on content like on hotornot.com). Exact code I'm using in my script.js is below and so far it's working, but it only works on the first click and not afterwards. How can I have this $("li.pager-next a").click(); happen on EVERY click of a.ratebutton?
(function($) {
  $(document).ready(function() {
     $("a.rate-button").click(function(){

    // $(this).hide();
    $("li.pager-next a").click();
      // window.location = $("li.pager-next a").attr('href');

    });
  });
}(jQuery));

A: You should use Drupal's JavaScript behavior system and jQuery Once instead of document ready. Other well behaving code adding content to the page should then attach all defined behaviors using Drupal.attachBehaviors(addedElement).
(function($) {
  Drupal.behaviors.myFunkyTheme = {
    'attach': function(context, settings) {
      $("a.rate-button", context).once('funky-theme').click(function(){
        // $(this).hide();
         $("li.pager-next a").click();
         // window.location = $("li.pager-next a").attr('href');
      });
    }
  }
}(jQuery));

A: I'm not sure if this is your case, but if the link is rebuilt by ajax you must use live() (if you are using jQuery prior to 1.7)
 $("a.rate-button").live('click', function(){

// $(this).hide();
   $("li.pager-next a").click();
  // window.location = $("li.pager-next a").attr('href');

   });

or on() jQuery  1.7 and after
$("body").on("click", "a.rate-button", function(){
   $("li.pager-next a").click();
});


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New Delhi: The Army is seriously considering recalibrating its counter-insurgency strategy in the militancy-hit North East in the wake of an "over cautious" approach being adopted by its field units in the region following the Supreme Court's strict orders to the CBI to ensure thorough probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur, military sources said.
CBI director Alok Kumar Verma was summoned by the apex court in July over the "unduly long time" taken by the agency in probing the cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in the state.
The sources said there has been perceptible disquiet among some of the soldiers and officers deployed in Manipur following the court orders and subsequent CBI action and that they are adopting an "over-cautious approach" in carrying out the operations against militants.
Till August this year, only three insurgents have been killed where as five soldiers were killed and 17 injured in military-led operations, they said.
"The Kargil conflict had left 527 army men dead and 1363 wounded. But look at the casualty figures in the North East," he said.
Without elaborating, the sources said the Army was considering various options to address its concerns over rising ratio of casualties of its personnel in the region, particularly in Manipur.
Earlier during a hearing on AFSPA related cases in Manipur, the Supreme Court had rejected the government's contention that the disturbed area is akin to a war like situation.
Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and a number of states in the North East were brought under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which gives the security forces special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations. There has been a long-standing demand from various quarters in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast to withdraw it.
In a major move, around 700 Army officers and soldiers have approached the Supreme Court against reported move to dilute some provisions of the AFSPA. The act protects the security forces from prosecution without the Government of India's approval.


text:
title: Concert Explorer
github_repo_name: concert-search
tech:
  - angular
  - ionic
  - sass
  - apache cordova
  - angular ui router
  - google maps javascript api
  - bandsintown web api
images:
  - /images/work/concert-search/0.png
  - /images/work/concert-search/1.png
  - /images/work/concert-search/2.png
---

Apps like BandsInTown and Songkick allow you to explore concerts you're likely to enjoy by searching within a geographic region. With this integration, I wanted to take that location-based search experience in a new direction by combining a map view for a spatial presentation. The result is fast, fun panning and zooming to locate concerts not just in your area, but anywhere around the globe. I used Ionic to quickly build out the app not only as a great mobile and desktop web experience, but also as an installable iOS application.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: session cookie is not being send by server Moving to an other server with my website, i'am facing serious problems with the php sessions. As i can inspect it from my chrome dev console, cookies are send when i use setcookie(), but using session_start() leaves no trace of a cookie send by to server to the browser.
Having the site on a subdomain, i already tried to give the real subdomain:
ini_set('session.cookie_domain', 'real.subdomain.net');
session_set_cookie_params( 0, "/", "real.subdomain.net", false, false);

I found some people with the same problem, who where able to solve theres by changing the session save path:
ini_set('session.save_path', realpath(dirname($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']) . '/../session'));

Neither works that for me. I do not get any errors or notice.
phpinfo() and the session section leaves no clue, i looks just like the one of anybody else.

Workaround
I found a little workaround for this case, where "normal" cookie are working but not the session cookie:
if ( isset($_COOKIE[session_name()]) ) {
    session_id($_COOKIE[session_name()]);
    session_start();
} else {
    session_start();
    setcookie(session_name(), session_id());
}


text:
world war ii era (1940-1946) (5)
united states. army -- women (4)
general perspectives on race relations (3)
greensboro (n.c.) -- history -- 20th century (3)
segregation in education -- united states (3)
army -- army nurse corps (2)
army -- army medical specialist corps - diet (1)
oh001 greensboro voices collection (2)
dar scrapbooks collection (1)
mss141 clarence lee harris papers, circa 1916-1997 (1)
oh006 preserving our history: rotary club of greensboro (1)
wv0022 ethel leblanc palma papers (1)
wv0120 janet froome papers (1)
wv0161 bernice b. mccormack papers (1)
wv0383 jean holdridge reeves papers (1)
wv0426 caroline morrison garrett papers, 1941-1948 (1)
harris, harvey (1)
kornegay, horace (1)
mckissick, floyd b. (1)
palma, ethel m. leblanc (1)
reeves, jean holdridge (1)
asher, joseph (1)
daughters of the american revolution (greensboro, n.c.) (1)
froome, janet hester (1)
garrett, caroline morrison (1)
Description: battles
Oral history interview with Janet Froome, 1999
WV0120 Janet Froome Papers
Primarily documents Janet Hester Froome's experiences with the Army Nurse Corps in Australia and New Guinea from 1941 to 1945.
Froome chiefly discusses her service during World War II. She details her decision to join the Army Nurse Corps;...
Oral history interview with Caroline Morrison Garrett, 2008
Primarily documents Caroline Morrison Garret's education at Woman's College and service as a dietitian for the U.S. Army during WWII.
Garrett briefly outlines her parents' career and her early childhood, but focuses on her time at Woman's...
Blacks, Young Becoming Church Leaders, Group Told
MSS141 Clarence Lee Harris Papers, circa 1916-1997
In this November 23, 1970 Greensboro Daily News article, Harvey Harris reports on the increased involvement of blacks and youths in church leadership. Dr. Robert V. Moss Jr., president of the United Church of Christ, says that the involvement of...
Oral history interview with Floyd McKissick by Eugene Pfaff
OH001 Greensboro Voices Collection
In this transcript of an August 9, 1982, oral history interview conducted by Eugene Pfaff with Floyd McKissick, McKissick discusses the organization of CORE chapters in North Carolina, its national and regional leaders, and his activities as a...
Oral history interview with Horace Kornegay, 2008
OH006 Preserving Our History: Rotary Club of Greensboro
Horace Kornegay was born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1924, but his family moved to Greensboro shortly afterward. He discusses his childhood in Greensboro, forming early connections that would later help his career as a lawyer, and his...
Oral history interview with Joseph Asher by Eugene Pfaff
In this transcript of an April 22, 1982, oral history interview conducted by Eugene Pfaff with Rabbi Joseph Asher, Rabbi Asher discusses some events that influenced his involvement in the civil rights movement in Greensboro, including the...
[DAR scrapbook, 1945-46]
DAR Scrapbooks Collection
Scrapbook contains hundreds of clippings from the Greensboro Daily News and the Greensboro Record, including notices of wartime enlistments, graduations, promotions, transfers, casualties, furloughs, everyday life and entertainment in war times,...
[Diary of Bernice B. McCormack, 1942-1944]
WV0161 Bernice B. McCormack Papers
Bernice McCormack served as a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps during the Second World War. She was stationed in West and North Africa during the conclusion of the Allied North African Campaign. The diary spans the period from December 5, 1942 to May...
Oral history interview with Ethel LeBlanc Palma, 1999
WV0022 Ethel LeBlanc Palma Papers
Documents Ethel LeBlanc Palma's early life; her work as a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) recruiter stateside and a foreign mail censorer in the Pacific during World War II; and her personal life after the war.
Prominent pre-war topics...
Base E beacon [1945]
WV0383 Jean Holdridge Reeves Papers
Volume 2, Number 6 of the newsletter announces base activities, Army policies, Homefront news, and war-related activities, especially the Battle for Berlin. Other topics include the agriculture of New Guinea, editorial on Russia joining Allied...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
require_relative BASE_PATH + "/core/router.rb"
require "test/unit"
require "yaml"

class Test_Router < JFW::Router

    def initialize
        super
        @plurals = YAML.load("tests: \"test\"\ncategories: \"category\"")
    end

    def get_route_array path
        _get_route_array path
    end
end

class Test_Test_Router < Test::Unit::TestCase

  def test_default_route
    router = Test_Router.new
    path   = '/'

    result = ['/', {:klass=>"Dashboard_Controller", :method=>"index", :directory=>"../../../app/controllers/dashboard/dashboard"}]

    route  = router.get_route_array path
    assert_equal(result, route)
  end

  def test_css
    router = Test_Router.new
    path   = '/something/something/style.css'

    result = [/style\.css$/, {:klass=>"Global_Controller", :method=>"style_css", :directory=>"../../../app/controllers/global_controller"}]

    route  = router.get_route_array path
    assert_equal(result, route)
  end

  def test_js
    router = Test_Router.new
    path   = '/something/something/scripts.js'

    result = [/scripts\.js$/, {:klass=>"Global_Controller", :method=>"scripts_js", :directory=>"../../../app/controllers/global_controller"}]

    route  = router.get_route_array path
    assert_equal(result, route)
  end

  def test_index_controller
    router = Test_Router.new
    path   = '/categories/'

    result = [/.*/, {:klass=>"Category_Controller", :method=>"index", :directory=>"../../../app/controllers/category/category"}]

    route  = router.get_route_array path
    assert_equal(result, route)
  end

  def test_index_controller_explicit
    router = Test_Router.new
    path   = '/categories/index'

    result = [/.*/, {:klass=>"Category_Controller", :method=>"index", :directory=>"../../../app/controllers/category/category"}]

    route  = router.get_route_array path
    assert_equal(result, route)
  end

  def test_custom_method
    router = Test_Router.new
    path   = '/tests/something'

    result = [/.*/, {:klass=>"Test_Controller", :method=>"something", :directory=>"../../../app/controllers/test/test"}]

    route  = router.get_route_array path
    assert_equal(result, route)
  end

end


Poland is located in Central Europe and is a parliamentary republic. It is a unitary state that is divided into 16 administrative subdivisions. The capital is Warsaw, and it's Poland's largest city.
Poland has history, peaceful mountain areas, and cities for travellers to explore. There are so many sites to see like Warsaw's Museums and Palaces, Stowinski National Park and so much more.
Whether you love to explore, learn or taste cuisine, Poland has everything you need to have the time of your life.
Do I Need Vaccines for Poland?
Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Poland. The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Poland: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Some European countries have recently had routine disease outbreaks. Make sure your MMR, TDaP and other routine vaccinations are up-to-date.
Do I Need a Passport or Visa for Poland?
A visa is not required for stays under 90 days. A valid passport with six months validity is required for entry.
For My Trip to Poland?
The same rules apply for business travellers.
What Is the Climate like in Poland?
It has a moderate continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. It is also one of the driest countries in Europe.
When there is precipitation, summer thunderstorms may occur. Temperatures are not easy to predict in Poland. In the wintertime temperatures may go down from around freezing to far below it. Winter may change to spring within 24 or 48 hours. This pattern is also seen during autumn.
The summers in Poland are warm with temperatures of 22-24 degrees Celsius but at night it may be cold. There's a warm current that comes from Russia that makes the temperatures rise in Poland.
The southwest part of Poland is the wettest area. The Sudetes is a mountain range in Poland that gets 800-1,200 milliliters of rain annually. In the wintertime it becomes snow or glazed frost.
Terrorist groups may be plotting possible attacks in Europe. Action is being taken by the European government to prevent more attacks.
But, Europe is still vulnerable to attacks by terrorist organizations. Canadians should stay away from all demonstrations. Travellers should be aware of what is happening in the media.
Crime in Poland is low, but there are some cities where there are higher rates of crime. You can protect yourself by keeping your belongings safe. Don't leave valuables in plain sight.
Change money at banks and exchange kiosks that are legitimate. Stay away from adult entertainment venues and use a legitimate taxi driving company.
There are a lot of cool and unusual things to do in Poland. The Crooked Forest is one of those places. You can discover this unusual site in Gryfino, Poland. 400 trees are mysteriously bent in an abnormal way. They hover a few inches above the ground and have a J-like shape that point to the sky. Although we don't know for sure what makes the trees look so strange, the stories range from normal to weird.
Some people believe the trees were buried under a snowstorm in their infancy. Others believe that the reason for the trees' appearance is due to gravitational pull in the area. The most unique explanation is that foresters in the local area manipulated the trees. They wanted to make furniture and left the trees in bent condition.
Despite their weird shapes, the trees have thrived in their environment. The site continues to bring awe to the people who travel to Poland today.
What Should I Take to Poland?
When you pack for Poland, there are some things you should take with you before you leave.
Visa and Passport — You need a visa to travel to Poland, depending on how long you plan to stay. You also need to bring a passport that has at least six months validity.
Clothes — Comfortable shows are essential if you're planning to see the sites. In the spring you should pack clothes for the rain, snow, cold winds, and sunshine. In the summer you should bring a sun hat, sandals, t-shirts, and an umbrella for the rainy days. In autumn and wintertime you should pack warm clothes.
Money — The currency for Poland is Polish zIoty (zI, PLN). In some places you can pay with euros or U.S. dollars. ATMs are available to withdraw Polish money. You can also use exchange offices. Some shops accept credit cards. Traveller's checks are not accepted.
Pack for Health — It's important to pack for your health when travelling to Poland. You should also consider bringing supplies to prevent injury or illness and a first aid kit.


text:
141st General Assembly
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 3, 7, AND 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CERTAIN CRIMES INVOLVING ANIMALS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend § 1325(c), Title 11 of the Delaware Code by inserting immediately after the phrase "such sale or resale." as it appears at the end of the first paragraph of said subsection the following:
"Any person convicted of a second or subsequent misdemeanor violation of this section shall be prohibited from owning or possessing any animal for 5 years after said conviction without exception.".
Section 2. Amend § 1325(d), Title 11 of the Delaware Code by inserting immediately after the phrase "such sale or resale." as it appears at the end of the first paragraph thereof the following:
"Any person convicted of a second or subsequent felony violation of this section shall be prohibited from owning or possessing any animal for 15 years after said conviction without exception.".
Section 3. Amend § 1326(a), Title 11 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "class G felony" as it appears therein and by inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "class F felony".
Section 4. Amend § 1326(b), Title 11 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "class B misdemeanor" as it appears therein and by substituting in lieu thereof the phrase "class A misdemeanor".
Section 5. Amend § 1326, Title 11 of the Delaware by adding a new subsection "(e)" thereto to read as follows:
"(e) Any person convicted of a felony violation of this section shall be prohibited from owning or possessing any animal for 15 years after said conviction.".
Section 6. Amend § 7904(a), Title 3 of the Delaware Code by inserting between the phrases "Kent County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," and "may, in instances" as they appear therein, the phrase:
"or any law enforcement officer as defined in 11 Del.C. § 222,".
Section 7. Amend § 7904(b), Title 3 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "against the owner or custodian." as it appears in the first sentence of said subsection, and by inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"against the owner or custodian, except that upon good cause shown a court may permit a reasonable extension of the 48-hour period not to exceed thirty days.".
Section 8. Amend § 7904, Title 3 of the Delaware Code by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) thereof as subsections (d) and (e) respectively, and by adding a new subsection (c) thereto, to read as follows:
"(c) Upon a determination that probable cause exists to believe that the animal cruelty or animal fighting laws have been violated by the owner or custodian of any impounded animal, the State and/or the appropriate Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shall have the right to recover the costs of holding and caring for any animal impounded under this section from the owner or custodian of the animal. Each month, the State or appropriate Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shall submit a detailed billing to the owner or custodian of the animal, listing the accrued monthly costs of boarding, veterinary and other costs incurred. Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, failure of the animal's owner or custodian to pay these costs within 30 days of the receipt of a detailed monthly billing will result in ownership of the animal reverting to the State, or to the appropriate Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable notwithstanding the final disposition of the criminal charges.".
Section 9. Amend § 1732(a)(3), Title 7 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "of its owner." as it appears therein, and by substituting in lieu thereof the phrase "of its owner; or".
Section 10. Amend § 1732(a), Title 7 of the Delaware Code by adding a new paragraph (4) thereto, to read as follows:
"(4) Was subject to, or was used to facilitate, animal cruelty or animal fighting, as alleged in a criminal complaint or charge.".
"(3) Was subject to, or was used to facilitate animal cruelty or animal fighting as alleged in a criminal complaint or charge.".
Approved March 27, 2002


Monteverde inks are made in Austria. Here are swabs for all of the Monteverde inks I have reviewed so far. If you click on the swab it will take you to the review of that ink. I will update this page every time I review a Monteverde ink.


To develop respect for Christian and moral values.
To nurture respect for other races, religions and cultures.
To help children understand and care about the world in which they live and to have respect for the intrinsic worth of others.
To hold high expectations for pupils' achievement and provide opportunities and encouragement for pupils to achieve to the maximum of their potential in all areas.
To encourage in the pupils a confidence to learn, an ability to make decisions for themselves and self-discipline to achieve through their own endeavours.
To have a constant concern to provide quality education and be continually striving for improvement and growth.
To ensure that all teaching staff continue to develop their own expertise.
To work in close co-operation with parents and the worshipping community of St Andrew's Church, Townfield Church and other Christian denominations.
To work in close co-operation with the L.A., the Diocese of Chester and outside support agencies.
To create a caring environment where the needs of all are considered, and a community in which all feel they are valued members.
To maintain strong links with other local schools in primary, secondary and special education.


text:
from sketch.controllers.api import ApiController
from pecan import expose

class RootController(object):

    @expose()
    def index(self):
        return 'Index'

    api = ApiController()


text:
"This Is What I Call Un-Presidential": Donald Trump's War On People With Disabilities
Donald Trump, truth-manipulator-in-chief, has again run afoul of reality—this time when he spoke about his relationship with Americans with disabilities.
"Nobody gives more money to Americans—you know, the Americans with Disabilities Act—big act," Trump confusingly said at a rally in Sarasota, Florida, on Saturday. "I give tens and tens of millions of dollars and I'm proud of doing it. I don't mock people that have problems."
This was his defense after Trump maliciously imitated a New York Times reporter with a physical disability and followed it up by saying he had never met him and requested that the publication apologize to Trump.
"I was very expressive in saying it, and they said that I was mocking him," Trump told the crowd in Sarasota over the weekend. "I would never mock a person that has difficulty. I would never do that. I'm telling you, I would never do it."
He previously also made fun of columnist Charles Krauthammer, who is paralyzed from the waist down. "I went out, I made a fortune, a big fortune, a tremendous fortune… bigger than people even understand," Trump said in July after Krauthammer referred to him as a "rodeo clown."
"Then I get called by a guy that can't buy a pair of pants, I get called names?"
Now, it is true that Trump has a pretty extensive track record with ADA.
His properties have been sued a number of times for violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act, including one instance where a man claimed that the buses to his Atlantic City casino were virtually impossible to access in a wheelchair.
James Conlon, the plaintiff in that 2003 case, alleged that he was told on two separate occasions that there were no "buses available for use by persons who use wheelchairs who choose to leave from the Long Beach, New York departure site."
The case was later settled.
In the most egregious case, the U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene because the Trump Taj Mahal was nearly inaccessible for people with disabilities.
In 2011, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey conducted a compliance review of Trump's Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. They discovered an extensive list of problems.
There were no signs indicating handicapped parking in the self-park garage. A number of bathrooms lacked proper Braille for visually impaired people. The pipes in the bathroom were not insulated to prevent harm when contacted. The counter surfaces in the buffet were not at a proper height for individuals in wheelchairs. The list goes on, as these were only "some of the Department's more significant findings."
The terms of the settlement between the company and the federal government mandated that appropriate updates be made as soon as two weeks after the agreement in order to prevent further inspections thereafter. A representative for the Taj Mahal has not responded to a request for comment from The Daily Beast about the status of these updates.
According to its official website, ADA compliance is required for "commercial and public entities that have "places of public accommodation." There are clear instructions for accessibility certification on the website, including updates to the original requirements from the act's inception in 1990.
Trump's problems went beyond his properties. In 2005, attorney James Schottel Jr. sued producers of The Apprentice for discrimination by requiring "excellent physical" health to appear on the show. Schottel, who is quadriplegic, took issue with this requirement at the time and eventually got the show to change the language on its casting call.
David F. Jacobs, a representative of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, told The Daily Beast he couldn't speak on the record about any existing ADA complaints related to Trump properties, some of which are no longer owned by Trump himself. He instead provided a link to their website, which listed cases including the 2011 one involving Trump Taj Mahal.
These cases notwithstanding, Trump has earned the ire of American disability organizations for his recent mocking of a New York Times reporter, who challenged Trump's claims that "thousands" of Muslim people in New Jersey were cheering after the 9/11 attacks.
"Considering there are 56 million Americans living with a disability, you would think a candidate for president would be looking for opportunities to highlight their remarkable contributions to society, not mock them," former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge told The Daily Beast. Ridge serves as the chairman of the National Organization on Disability, working alongside former president George H.W. Bush.
"Just ask any of the companies NOD works with and they'll tell you people with disabilities are their best workers," Ridge added.
"Mr. Trump would be wise to remember the words of NOD's longtime honorary chairman, President George H.W. Bush, who after signing the ADA into law 25 years ago said to those in attendance: 'We embrace you for your abilities and for your disabilities, for our similarities and indeed for our differences.' That is what I call presidential."
By: Gideon Resnick, The Daily Beast, December 2, 2015
December 3, 2015 Posted by raemd95 | Americans With Disabilities Act, Discrimination, Donald Trump	| Charles Krauthammer, Handicapped, John Conlon, National Organization on Disability, The Apprentice, Tom Ridge, Trump Taj Mahal | 1 Comment


text:
Q: Javascript: What is the best method/practice for returning a value from a function? I am trying to make my javascript conform to the best practice for returning values from a function.  Currently, I declare a variable, process that variable in the function and then return it.  I thought it was good practice to explicitly state things, but I am wondering if that's just a myth in my head and there are better ways.  So of the two methods, or even neither of these, which is best?  Thanks
Example A:
function foo( a ){

    var str = "";

    if (a == "bar"){
        str = "barbar";
    } else {
        str = "foofoo";
    }

    return str;
}

Example B:
function foo( a ){

    if (a == "bar"){
        return "barbar";
    } else {
        return "foofoo";
    }
}

A: In Example B you could do the following and that would be what I would do, you don't need the extra else since you are returning if you evaluate true:
function foo( a ){
    if (a == "bar"){
        return "barbar";
    }
    return "foofoo";
}

A: In Javascript there is a very small performance improvement for B as in example A you have an additional variable str that must be looked up in the local scope 3 times (initialise, set one or other value, and return).
Example A is actually something like this under the covers (note that you can't actually explicitly access the local object, any var you declare is on it automatically):
function foo( a ){

    local["str"] = "";

    if (a == "bar"){
        local["str"] = "barbar";
    } else {
        local["str"] = "foofoo";
    }

    return local["str"];
}

However, you will need to hit this a lot of times to see the difference - it's going to be near negligible, and possibly eliminated completely in the latest optimised Javascript engines (as seen in better browsers). I'm pretty sure Chrome's V8 engine does.
Outside of that it is a question of coding style - many teams prefer A because you can set a watch on str and always know what it holds. Personally I prefer B because it's more spartan and because I find short-circuited logic easier to follow, but many developers don't like it because if they miss an early return they can find bugs hard to follow.
It's really a 'house style' question.

A: In your example I'm not sure if either one is technically better. A good use case for this would be inside of a loop, if you get the result that you're looking for, then return the value immediately. If you do it this way your loop won't have to continue executing when you already got the result you wanted.


text:
Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase
Qingming Fang, Natalia A. Loktionova, Robert C. Moschel, Sahar Javanmard, Gary T. Pauly, Anthony Pegg
The human DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) is an important source of resistance to some therapeutic alkylating agents and attempts to circumvent this resistance by the use of hAGT inhibitors have reached clinical trials. Several human polymorphisms in the MGMT gene that encodes hAGT have been described including L84F and the linked double alteration I143V/K178R. We have investigated the inactivation of these variants and the much rarer variant W65C by O6-benzylguanine, which is currently in clinical trials, and a number of other second generation hAGT inhibitors that contain folate derivatives (O4-benzylfolic acid, the 3′ and 5′ folate esters of O6-benzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine and the folic acid γ ester of O6-(p-hydroxymethyl)benzylguanine). The I143V/K178R variant was resistant to all of these compounds. The resistance was due solely to the I143V change. These results suggest that the frequency of the I143V/K178R variant among patients in the clinical trials with hAGT inhibitors and the correlation with response should be considered.
Biochemical Pharmacology
10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022
Dive into the research topics of 'Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
DNA alkyltransferase Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Folic Acid Medicine & Life Sciences 61%
Folate Chemical Compounds 49%
Esters Medicine & Life Sciences 42%
Clinical Trials Medicine & Life Sciences 40%
Resistance Chemical Compounds 39%
O(6)-benzylguanine Medicine & Life Sciences 34%
Deoxyguanosine Medicine & Life Sciences 29%
Fang, Q., Loktionova, N. A., Moschel, R. C., Javanmard, S., Pauly, G. T., & Pegg, A. (2008). Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. Biochemical Pharmacology, 75(3), 618-626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022
Fang, Qingming ; Loktionova, Natalia A. ; Moschel, Robert C. et al. / Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. In: Biochemical Pharmacology. 2008 ; Vol. 75, No. 3. pp. 618-626.
@article{9c717af846f0453abf1ce3f4a606e8e7,
title = "Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase",
abstract = "The human DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) is an important source of resistance to some therapeutic alkylating agents and attempts to circumvent this resistance by the use of hAGT inhibitors have reached clinical trials. Several human polymorphisms in the MGMT gene that encodes hAGT have been described including L84F and the linked double alteration I143V/K178R. We have investigated the inactivation of these variants and the much rarer variant W65C by O6-benzylguanine, which is currently in clinical trials, and a number of other second generation hAGT inhibitors that contain folate derivatives (O4-benzylfolic acid, the 3′ and 5′ folate esters of O6-benzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine and the folic acid γ ester of O6-(p-hydroxymethyl)benzylguanine). The I143V/K178R variant was resistant to all of these compounds. The resistance was due solely to the I143V change. These results suggest that the frequency of the I143V/K178R variant among patients in the clinical trials with hAGT inhibitors and the correlation with response should be considered.",
author = "Qingming Fang and Loktionova, {Natalia A.} and Moschel, {Robert C.} and Sahar Javanmard and Pauly, {Gary T.} and Anthony Pegg",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research. Work in AEP's laboratory was supported by grants CA-018137 and CA-071976 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, USA.",
doi = "10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022",
journal = "Biochemical Pharmacology",
Fang, Q, Loktionova, NA, Moschel, RC, Javanmard, S, Pauly, GT & Pegg, A 2008, 'Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase', Biochemical Pharmacology, vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 618-626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022
Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. / Fang, Qingming; Loktionova, Natalia A.; Moschel, Robert C. et al.
In: Biochemical Pharmacology, Vol. 75, No. 3, 01.02.2008, p. 618-626.
T1 - Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase
AU - Fang, Qingming
AU - Loktionova, Natalia A.
AU - Moschel, Robert C.
AU - Javanmard, Sahar
AU - Pauly, Gary T.
AU - Pegg, Anthony
N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research. Work in AEP's laboratory was supported by grants CA-018137 and CA-071976 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, USA.
N2 - The human DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) is an important source of resistance to some therapeutic alkylating agents and attempts to circumvent this resistance by the use of hAGT inhibitors have reached clinical trials. Several human polymorphisms in the MGMT gene that encodes hAGT have been described including L84F and the linked double alteration I143V/K178R. We have investigated the inactivation of these variants and the much rarer variant W65C by O6-benzylguanine, which is currently in clinical trials, and a number of other second generation hAGT inhibitors that contain folate derivatives (O4-benzylfolic acid, the 3′ and 5′ folate esters of O6-benzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine and the folic acid γ ester of O6-(p-hydroxymethyl)benzylguanine). The I143V/K178R variant was resistant to all of these compounds. The resistance was due solely to the I143V change. These results suggest that the frequency of the I143V/K178R variant among patients in the clinical trials with hAGT inhibitors and the correlation with response should be considered.
AB - The human DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) is an important source of resistance to some therapeutic alkylating agents and attempts to circumvent this resistance by the use of hAGT inhibitors have reached clinical trials. Several human polymorphisms in the MGMT gene that encodes hAGT have been described including L84F and the linked double alteration I143V/K178R. We have investigated the inactivation of these variants and the much rarer variant W65C by O6-benzylguanine, which is currently in clinical trials, and a number of other second generation hAGT inhibitors that contain folate derivatives (O4-benzylfolic acid, the 3′ and 5′ folate esters of O6-benzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine and the folic acid γ ester of O6-(p-hydroxymethyl)benzylguanine). The I143V/K178R variant was resistant to all of these compounds. The resistance was due solely to the I143V change. These results suggest that the frequency of the I143V/K178R variant among patients in the clinical trials with hAGT inhibitors and the correlation with response should be considered.
U2 - 10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022
DO - 10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022
JO - Biochemical Pharmacology
JF - Biochemical Pharmacology
Fang Q, Loktionova NA, Moschel RC, Javanmard S, Pauly GT, Pegg A. Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2008 Feb 1;75(3):618-626. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2007.09.022


demanding lubrication requirements of turbo charged diesel engines, trucks, buses, vans, passenger cars, etc.
Recommended for use in heighly rated turbocharged or naturally aspirated high speed diesel engines of European, American and Japanese engine both onroad and offroads.
It can also be used for mixed fleet operations.
Detergent and dispersant additives keep the engine clean.
Highly stable under high temperature and load.
Reduces wear which increases the engine life.
Allows extended oil drain period.


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text:
April 2014, VOLUME 133 / ISSUE 4
Patterns of Mobile Device Use by Caregivers and Children During Meals in Fast Food Restaurants
Jenny S. Radesky, Caroline J. Kistin, Barry Zuckerman, Katie Nitzberg, Jamie Gross, Margot Kaplan-Sanoff, Marilyn Augustyn, Michael Silverstein
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mobile devices are a ubiquitous part of American life, yet how families use this technology has not been studied. We aimed to describe naturalistic patterns of mobile device use by caregivers and children to generate hypotheses about its effects on caregiver–child interaction.
METHODS: Using nonparticipant observational methods, we observed 55 caregivers eating with 1 or more young children in fast food restaurants in a single metropolitan area. Observers wrote detailed field notes, continuously describing all aspects of mobile device use and child and caregiver behavior during the meal. Field notes were then subjected to qualitative analysis using grounded theory methods to identify common themes of device use.
RESULTS: Forty caregivers used devices during their meal. The dominant theme salient to mobile device use and caregiver–child interaction was the degree of absorption in devices caregivers exhibited. Absorption was conceptualized as the extent to which primary engagement was with the device, rather than the child, and was determined by frequency, duration, and modality of device use; child response to caregiver use, which ranged from entertaining themselves to escalating bids for attention, and how caregivers managed this behavior; and separate versus shared use of devices. Highly absorbed caregivers often responded harshly to child misbehavior.
CONCLUSIONS: We documented a range of patterns of mobile device use, characterized by varying degrees of absorption. These themes may be used as a foundation for coding schemes in quantitative studies exploring device use and child outcomes.
parent–child interaction
What's Known on This Subject:
Mobile devices are ubiquitous in children's lives, but how caregivers and children use them in everyday situations, and how use of devices affects caregiver–child interactions, has not been studied.
What This Study Adds:
In naturalistic mealtime observations, we documented the behavior of many caregivers whose attention was highly absorbed in their mobile devices, with varying child reactions to this absorption. This study raises several hypotheses about mobile device use and caregiver-child interaction.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are ubiquitous in children's lives.1–3 Parental use of mobile devices in playgrounds, restaurants, or other public venues with children has received criticism in the lay press,4,5 with concern that parental distraction by these devices may affect child safety or emotional well-being. Studies have demonstrated unsafe driving6 and pedestrian behavior7 while people are distracted by mobile devices, but the ways in which devices are being used around children, and the parenting behaviors associated with such use, have not been investigated.
Depending on how they are used, mobile devices could have both positive and negative impacts on family interactions.3 Devices can be used for family entertainment, social support, or access to educational materials for children. However, mobile devices can also distract parents from face-to-face interactions with their children, which are crucial for cognitive, language, and emotional development.8–10 In addition, devices provide instant access to videos and games, increasing the likelihood that screen time will replace other enriching child activities or be used as a "pacifier" to control child behavior. The complexity of mobile device use and its potential positive and negative effects on parent–child interaction remain unexplored.
Measurement of device use is more complicated than that of traditional media such as television because of the multitude of ways devices can be used and because of their constant accessibility. Most previous epidemiologic studies of mobile device use have used methods such as retrospective self-report or review of cell phone records to assess frequency of use.11–15 However, simply measuring the frequency of device use fails to capture modes of use that are most relevant to parent–child interactions and thus may be insufficient to describe the true impact of this technology on child health and development. A relevant categorization framework is necessary to begin to study how mobile device use affects caregiver–child interaction.
We sought to observe caregiver and child use of mobile devices during a daily encounter when families would typically talk and interact: while they are eating together in a fast food restaurant. We chose a method of naturalistic, anonymous observation, because this would allow description of real-life use of devices around children, a crucial step in elucidating this complicated behavior.16 Through qualitative analysis and identification of themes from detailed observations of public behavior, we aimed to describe patterns of how caregivers and children use mobile devices around each other, with the ultimate purpose of developing a categorization scheme of mobile device use for future quantitative study.
Study Design: Naturalistic, Anonymous Observation
We conducted 55 public, anonymous nonparticipant observations of caregivers and children eating in fast food restaurants in the Boston area during July and August 2013. This method of direct, nonparticipant observation is common in the field of anthropology, and it involves the researcher blending in with the observational setting so as to not affect the publicly observable behavior of others while taking detailed notes about observed behaviors, their sequence, and consequences. The purpose of this approach is to identify cultural patterns and generate hypotheses for additional investigation.17 Field note data are particularly useful when investigators hope to approach novel cultural phenomena without applying preconceived hypotheses, to help develop classification systems, and to avoid social desirability bias.
This study was considered exempt from review by the Boston University Medical Center Institutional Review Board.
Observation Sites and Participants
We chose to observe caregivers and children during meals because this is a daily routine in which face-to-face caregiver–child interactions are considered beneficial.18 It has been estimated that 40% of American meals are eaten outside the home,19 so fast food outings probably represent a substantial proportion of family meals. In playgrounds or other public venues where adults use devices, children are often occupied with their own pursuits, so fewer face-to-face interactions with caregivers are expected to occur.
We performed observations in different fast food restaurants in 15 neighborhoods in the metropolitan Boston area. These neighborhoods were selected for their range of income, geographic location, and urbanicity. This sampling was not intended to be representative of the general population; rather, it provided an opportunity to observe the behavior of a diverse group of caregivers and children.
We observed any group in which an adult accompanied 1 or more children who appeared to be 0 to 10 years old (ie, infancy to elementary school age). Child age was estimated based on height, general appearance, and developmental status. There was no upper limit of children or caregivers present and no exclusions based on language spoken. We did not study caregivers eating with an adolescent, because adolescents are likely to have different patterns of mobile device use themselves.
Researchers (J.S.R., K.N., J.G.) individually visited restaurants between lunch and dinnertime, purchased food, and sat as close as possible to the easiest caregiver–child group to observe. If no children were in the restaurant, researchers waited for a group to sit down at a nearby table. Observations contributed to the data set if the recorded portion of the meal lasted at least 10 minutes, all individuals were visible (visible from behind or profile was acceptable), and the observer was close enough to record facial expressions and tones of voice of most members. The content of conversation was not considered a prerequisite because most device use and mealtime behaviors are nonverbal; however, spoken language was recorded when audible. In order to capture a variety of styles of device use, we initiated record-taking regardless of whether a device was visible at the start of the meal. Researchers took paper notes or typed on laptops with security screens to preserve anonymity. Researchers received training on how to respond if questioned about their observations; however, at no time were the researchers questioned by others in the restaurant.
Researchers performing these observations had background training in either child development (J.S.R., K.N.) or anthropology (J.G.). Additional training applicable to our field observations included review of materials on specific anthropological methods,17 practice sessions in restaurants, and guidance from a medical anthropologist on field note taking.
Consistent with nonparticipant observational methods,17 researchers recorded detailed notes about what they witnessed, the sequence of events, child and caregiver characteristics (eg, number, gender, estimated age range), specific child and caregiver behaviors, and other unanticipated events. Observers also recorded their own interpretations of behavior and reactions. When making interpretations, observers indicated what behaviors led to this interpretation (eg, woman appears bored; has flat expression, stares into space).
Direct observations permitted investigators to explore findings without imposing researcher-derived constructs or preconceived hypotheses. Field notes were reviewed in detail with child behavior specialists (B.Z., M.K.-S.), and through an iterative process, we used a grounded theory approach to develop themes related to mobile device patterns and caregiver and child behavior. The grounded theory approach involves systematic review of qualitative data to allow novel ideas and theories to emerge from the observations rather than imposing existing theory or conceptual models to arrive at, or interpret, results.
Investigators (J.S.R., K.N., C.J.K.) reviewed each field note independently and discussed the salient themes of each. Investigators then agreed on a set of codes to capture the presence or absence of these themes, which were applied to each field note by using Dedoose software (SocioCultural Research Consultants, Manhattan Beach, CA).20 After 55 observations, thematic saturation was reached.
We used accepted techniques to ensure the validity of our data21,22: investigator triangulation, whereby the investigators who coded the data were from different disciplines and read the transcripts independently before meeting to ensure consensus of all codes applied; and expert triangulation, whereby the study's methods, coding scheme, and results were presented separately to a group of health services researchers, to parents of young children, and to child development experts.
We conducted 55 observations in 15 neighborhoods in the Boston area, with median incomes ranging from $45 604 to $108 686. The majority of caregiver–child groups observed had 1 caregiver present (58.2%), and the number of children ranged from 1 to 3 (Table 1). Most children appeared to be of school age (Table 1). Length of meal observations ranged from 10 to ∼40 minutes. Of the 55 caregiver–child groups observed, 40 used a mobile device.
Observation and Family Characteristics
Dominant Theme: Absorption With the Mobile Device
Although many ways to categorize device use were identified and discussed, the concept of absorption, defined as the extent to which the primary focus of the caregiver's attention and engagement was with the device rather than the child, consistently arose as most salient to the caregiver–child relationship. Three independent but overlapping characteristics of mobile device use contributed to the degree of absorption. These included the frequency, duration, and modality of use, child bids for attention and caregiver responses during use, and whether devices were viewed separately or coviewed.
Frequency, Duration, and Modality of Use
Caregiver degree of absorption depended largely on how frequently the device was used, for what duration, and what apparent modality was in use (eg, phone calls versus typing or finger swiping). Naturally, not bringing a device out (n = 15) or having the device only on the table (n = 3) was consistent with no apparent absorption. In contrast, many caregivers (n = 16) used the device almost continuously throughout the meal, eating and talking while looking at the device or only putting it down briefly to engage in other activities (Table 2, excerpt 1). This pattern of use occurred both with sole caregivers and those who had another adult present, of all age groups and both genders. The highest degree of absorption occurred when this nearly continuous use consisted of typing or making swiping finger motions, rather than with phone calls, because the caregiver's gaze was directed primarily at the device (Table 2, excerpt 3).
Observation Field Note Excerpts Illustrating Caregiver Absorption With Mobile Devices
Absorption was not necessarily related to continuous use; it could occur intermittently or at the end of meals, when many caregivers took out their device while the children were still eating or the caregiver appeared bored (n = 8). Phone calls could be absorbing, but caregivers usually maintained some eye contact with children during these calls, which did not last through entire meals as texting or swiping could.
A lesser degree of absorption was exhibited when caregivers used their device for brief, intermittent periods, such as quickly checking their device, typing or texting for a brief time, or responding to phone calls but then putting the device away (n = 9). These caregivers appeared to balance their attention between device and child by using it quickly when children were otherwise engaged, and then returning to conversation. A few caregivers held their smartphones in their hands while doing other things (n = 3), suggesting to observers that their attention may have been partially on the device during other interactions.
Bids and Responses
A second axis on which to categorize device use related to how children responded when caregivers began to use a device and how caregivers managed this behavior. Some school-aged children were already engaged in eating, talking to another child, or playing with a toy and did not seem to change their behavior based on caregiver mobile device use, especially if the use was brief. When caregivers were continuously absorbed in the device, some children did not make bids for attention or conversation with the adult (Table 2, excerpt 3).
Many children started to exhibit limit-testing or provocative behaviors during adult device absorption (Table 2, excerpts 4 and 5). The highest degree of caregiver absorption was evidenced by responses such as gaze being directed primarily at the device, keeping the gaze on the device while answering questions or giving instructions to others, having a longer latency to respond to bids, or not responding to bids from others. In addition, caregivers absorbed in devices frequently ignored the child's behavior for a while and then reacted with a scolding tone of voice, gave repeated instructions in a somewhat robotic manner (eg, without looking at the child or relevant to child behavior), seemed insensitive to the child's expressed needs (Table 2, excerpt 2), or used physical responses (eg, one female adult kicked a child's foot under the table; another female caregiver pushed a young boy's hands away when he was trying to repeatedly lift her face up from looking at a tablet screen).
Using Devices Separately Versus Coviewing
Separate use of devices included caregiver use as described earlier but also occurred when caregivers gave a device to a child for entertainment purposes or to seemingly control the child's behavior (n = 3). Smartphones and tablets were provided to some toddlers to apparently entertain the child during or after the meal when the child's behavior became more active, such as crawling under the table. Some caregivers showed absorption in their own device while their toddler engaged with a separate one (Table 3, excerpt 1). Even when the device was not offered to the child, many children were fascinated by adults' devices and made attempts to grab or use them when they were on the table or peered over their caregiver's shoulder to see what they were doing.
Observation Field Note Excerpts Illustrating Separate Versus Shared Use of Devices
Shared device use was also observed (n = 4). On several occasions the caregiver offered the device to the children to pay joint attention to a video or photos or to apparently look things up during conversation (Table 3, excerpt 2). These caregivers were deemed less absorbed in the device because their primary focus of concern appeared to be the shared experience with the child.
Through detailed observations of caregivers and children eating together in fast food restaurants, we characterized how mobile devices are used by caregivers and children in natural settings, with the most dominant theme being absorption in the device. Degree of caregiver absorption was determined by frequency, duration, and modality of device use, how the child reacted to the caregiver's device use and resulting child bids and caregiver responses, and whether the device was shared.
Caregivers who used devices ranged from having the device on the table to almost constant absorption with the device throughout the meal. Although detailed analysis of interpersonal interactions was beyond the scope of this study, we did find it striking that during caregiver absorption with devices, some children appeared to accept the lack of engagement and entertained themselves, whereas others showed increasing bids for attention that were often answered with negative parent responses. Child use of devices was less common (most children were engaged in eating, playing with other children, or playing with "kid's meal" toys) but appeared to be for the purposes of entertainment or behavior control. Children were almost always curious about what adults were doing on devices, and sharing information or media on devices appeared to be a source of joint enjoyment for adults and children. These findings warrant additional study but are an important first step in the study of how device technology affects the daily interactions that are so important to child development.
This study raises several hypotheses that might be explored in future qualitative or quantitative work. For example, what content or reasons for mobile device use (eg, work, entertainment) are associated with the highest levels of caregiver absorption? It will also be important to explore how caregivers conceptualize their own mobile device use and whether they have any rules about use during family times. Caregivers have always had to multitask or toggle their attention between care of children and other activities, but is mobile technology particularly absorbing or pervasively available, so that it is more difficult to stay present during interactions with children? Do children react to this by making more bids for attention during caregiver device use? What are the longer-term effects of frequent exposure to others' "present absence,"23 during which a companion is physically present but his or her thoughts are elsewhere? In addition, it will be important to know more about patterns of child use and modes of shared use that harness joint attention between caregivers and children. In a future separate study, we plan to use laboratory-based videotaped mealtime encounters to further refine and operationalize our coding scheme using the themes presented in this study and begin to quantitatively examine these hypotheses regarding family interactions.
Because no previous studies have examined this topic, our goal was to perform a small, hypothesis-generating study that helps to understand how adults balance attention and engagement between a ubiquitous technology and the children in their care. Several limitations to our study must be mentioned. We should not draw conclusions about relationships between mobile device use and caregiver–child interaction from our results. This was a descriptive study using anthropological observational methods; we did not code device use or frequency of behaviors quantitatively, so could not statistically test associations. Although diverse sites were sampled and clear patterns of device use noted, it is possible that we did not describe the entire range of how devices are used, particularly with regard to child device use, which was uncommon in the groups we observed.
This study documents a range of patterns of mobile device use, including a large proportion of caregivers who were highly absorbed with their handheld devices. These themes can be used to characterize device use for future studies examining associations between mobile device use and child or caregiver outcomes. We hope our findings will help generate additional research and discussion about the use of this technology around children.
We thank The Joel and Barbara Alpert Endowment for the Children of the City and the Boston University School of Medicine for funding this study. We thank Lisa Messersmith, PhD, Boston University Department of Anthropology, for her assistance with research assistant training. We also thank Betsy Groves, MSW LICSW, Boston Medical Center Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, for her help with thematic analysis.
Accepted January 17, 2014.
Address correspondence to Jenny S. Radesky, MD, Boston Medical Center, Vose Hall 4th Floor, 88 E. Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: jenny.radesky{at}bmc.org
Dr Radesky conceptualized and designed the study, supervised the study, collected data, analyzed and interpreted data, and drafted the initial manuscript; Dr Kistin supervised the study, contributed to study design, analyzed and interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript; Drs Silverstein and Augustyn contributed to study design, analyzed and interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript; Ms Nitzberg and Ms Gross contributed to study design, collected data, analyzed and interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript; Drs Kaplan-Sanoff and Zuckerman contributed to study design, trained research assistants, analyzed and interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript; and all authors approved the final manuscript as submitted.
FUNDING: All phases of this study were funded by The Joel and Barbara Alpert Endowment for the Children of the City and Boston University School of Medicine.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
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You are going to email the following Patterns of Mobile Device Use by Caregivers and Children During Meals in Fast Food Restaurants
Pediatrics Apr 2014, 133 (4) e843-e849; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3703
Psychiatry/Psychology