than happy to serve you!
We're ready to serve you with the best quality of printing work.
Jefferson Printing works hard to provide our customers with the best quality in printing and advertising products. Our goal is to make our customers thrive through a great representation of their values and ideas in our products.
Our vision is to help you achieve your goals by offering the best quality in every product. Jefferson Printing takes pride in supplying you with all the items you need to grow and prosper.
Jefferson Printing embraces and stands by our values, which are passed on to you in every product.
Whether you need a flyer to promote your business or uniforms for your company, Jefferson Printing can offer supreme quality every time.
With our fast turnaround, your order can leave our facility in 24 hours.
We are available on Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm EST.
Jefferson Printing works hard to offer high quality products at an affordable price. We make our prices available to our customers through our website. Just select the product you need and get instant pricing.
The environment is as important to us as it is to you. Rest assure that we use vegetable based inks with low VOC emissions to constantly keep the environment as one of our main concerns. We also have a selection of recycled papers to choose from!
What files are recommended for printing?
We recommend using vector files (.eps, .ai, .psd files work best), or PDF files. For vector files, please make sure the fonts are broken before uploading them. High-resolution .jpg files also work. Please make sure that the resolution is 300dpi or higher for a better final product.
What is "bleed" and how do I set it up?
The bleed is an extra area around your file that allows us to cut your product to its final size. It should be set up as the files are being designed. Please leave .125 extra on both the height and the width. For instance, if you selected the 4"x6" Postcards, then your file should be designed as 4.125" x 6.125".
How should my files be designed?
Because we print in CMYK ( Cyan – Magenta – Yellow – Black ), your file should be designed and sent in this format. Files designed in RGB ( Red – Green – Blue ) mode might have a slight change in colors.
What is the margin for text?
Text may be included 3/16" from the edges of your desired product. For instance, if your selected product measures 3.5" x 2", your text should not be within the 3/16" margin from each side of that size.
I don't have the artwork ready. Could you help me design it?
Absolutely! We will be glad to design your product for you. For more information, please get in touch with us on the Contact Us tab.
Since 2005, Jefferson Printing creates and delivers unique products that will surely satisfy your needs.
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On Saturday, 14 November, Grenlec will be hosting its first Electric Vehicle island-wide motorcade. The motorcade will travel around the island starting from the Grenlec Corporate Office in Dusty Highway at 9 am, making stops at Bruce Street, Gouyave, Victoria, Sauteurs, Grenville, and the LaTante Junction.
It is an opportunity for members of the public to view the vehicles in action, and also learn more about their energy efficiency. The motorcade will consist of Grenlec's 2 electric Nissan Leafs and the electric Nissan e-NV200 van as well as branded Grenlec service vehicles.
The motorcade is part of Grenlec's Electric Vehicle pilot programme, which was launched in October. The pilot is in support of Grenada's energy efficiency goals and is designed to not only test the energy efficiency of the vehicles but the range, cost savings, road performance and environmental benefits compared to conventional engine vehicles.
Grenlec is inviting the public to join in the experience on Saturday.


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Home Developer .NET Goes Open Source and Catches Mono
.NET Goes Open Source and Catches Mono
By Sean Michael Kerner | May 08, 2004
Microsoft's .NET Framework has won many converts since it was first released with even the open source community now appearing to embrace it. There are currently at least two open source projects that are developing implementations of the .NET Framework, the Novell Ximian-led Mono and the DotGNU project.
Mono has been making the rounds with Novell at Brainshare and at Real World Linux, among countless other shows. Mono released its 1.0 version Beta 1 this week. Mono's creator and leader Miguel de Icaza told internetnews.com that the response to the beta version has been strong, noting that in the first few hours of its release it had tallied over 40,000 downloads.
The Mono Project was begun by Ximian co-founder de Icaza in 2001 and was originally expected to have been released by the end of 2003. Essentially Mono is an open source implementation of Microsoft's .NET 1.1 specifications that are now under the standardization control of the EMCA standards body.
Mono includes a C# compiler, CLR (Common Language Runtime) and class libraries as well as numerous bindings. In particular Mono has bindings for the GTK+ GUI toolkit that is an underlying and core GNOME open source technology.
Mono includes tools that allow for a degree of language and platform independence for the creation of production API's and SDK. For example, a developer may use C#, Python or PHP as their language of choice and deploy on GNU/Linux or Window without issue.
During a demo at the Real World Linux show in Toronto, Eric Dasque, Mono senior project manager at Novell, demonstrated to an audience the ease with which he was able to create a simple cross platform .NET Help application in Mono in a matter of minutes.
Nat Friedman, Ximian's other co-founder, demonstrated in his keynote address at Real World Linux his Mono developed dashboard application that, among other things, allows an IM, mail and web client to "talk" to each other. The consolidated metadata allows users to view all their information on a single topic/individual whether that information is a web site visited, an IM message or an e-mail. And all that is viewable inside of a single dashboard sidebar window.
For its part,. NET's creators are encouraged that the .NET framework is being endorsed and used by others. "I think it's great that people are building on .NET no matter what platform it is," Robert Scoble, Microsoft's platform evangelist said. "The more that people see the advantages of the platform, they'll want to use .NET."
Another Microsoft spokesperson told internetnews.com that, "Mono is just one example of the level of excitement within the developer community around .NET," he said. "At this point, we have millions of developers building .NET connected applications."
The .NET Framework specification is part of Microsoft's Shared Source program and according to Microsoft's spokesperson, "with the Shared Source CLI implementation, Microsoft is demonstrating its commitment by making the source code to an implementation of the ISO/ECMA standards available through a shared-source license."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Drawings on my original photography. Assembled into calendar product for my shop.
Illustrations on original photography, mostly from travels through Eastern Europe. Designed calendar using the images to illustrate a series of themes that tell a story.


Interest Payment Agreement. No amounts were received during 2016 as the remaining outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan was fully repaid on January 28, 2015.
On January 28, 2015, Terra LLC and Terra Operating LLC entered into the Amended and Restated Interest Payment Agreement (the "Amended Interest Payment Agreement") with SunEdison. Pursuant to the Amended Interest Payment Agreement, SunEdison agreed to pay amounts equal to a portion of each scheduled interest payment of the Senior Notes due 2023, beginning with the first scheduled interest payment on August 1, 2015, and continuing through the scheduled interest payment on August 1, 2017. Amounts were to be paid by SunEdison as follows: (1) in respect of the first scheduled interest payment, $16.0 million, less amounts already paid by SunEdison under the Interest Payment Agreement, (2) in respect of each scheduled interest payment in 2016, $8.0 million, and (3) in respect of each scheduled interest payment in 2017, $8.0 million, provided that the maximum amount payable by SunEdison under the Amended Interest Payment Agreement (inclusive of amounts already paid under the Interest Payment Agreement) would not exceed $48.0 million (plus any interest due on any payment not remitted when due). SunEdison is not obligated to pay any amounts payable under the Senior Notes due 2023 in connection with an acceleration of the indebtedness thereunder. The Company received equity contributions totaling $8.0 million and $6.6 million from SunEdison pursuant to the Amended Interest Payment Agreement during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The 2016 contribution was received in the first quarter of 2016 and accrued for during fiscal 2015. As of the first quarter of 2016, the Company had received a cumulative amount of $24.0 million under the Interest Payment Agreement and Amended Interest Payment Agreement from SunEdison with $24.0 million of scheduled payments due in future periods. The Company has not received any payments from SunEdison pursuant to the Amended Interest Payment Agreement since the first quarter of 2016.
On July 29, 2016, SunEdison delivered a notice purporting to terminate the Amended Interest Payment Agreement. The notice alleged that SunEdison's bankruptcy permits termination as of right without following the bankruptcy procedures for rejection of executory contracts. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described above under Settlement with SunEdison, the Amended Interest Payment Agreement will be rejected as part of the Settlement Agreement entered into with SunEdison without further liability, claims or damages on the part of the Company.
The Company entered into a project support agreement with SunEdison (the "Support Agreement") on July 23, 2014, which provided the Company the option to purchase additional renewable energy facilities from SunEdison. The Support Agreement also provided the Company a right of first offer with respect to certain other renewable energy facilities. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company acquired renewable energy facilities with a combined nameplate capacity of 19.2 MW, 350.9 MW and 75.7 MW respectively, from SunEdison under the Support Agreement (see Note 3. Transactions Between Entities Under Common Control).
In connection with the First Wind Acquisition, the Company and SunEdison entered into an agreement (the "Intercompany Agreement") pursuant to which the Company was granted the option to purchase additional renewable energy facilities in the First Wind pipeline from SunEdison. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company acquired renewable energy facilities with a combined nameplate capacity of 222.6 MW from SunEdison under the Intercompany Agreement (see Note 3. Transactions Between Entities Under Common Control). The Company did not acquire any renewable energy facilities from SunEdison under the Intercompany Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described above under Settlement with SunEdison, the Support Agreement and Intercompany Agreement will be rejected as part of the Settlement Agreement entered into with SunEdison without further liability, claims or damages on the part of the Company. Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as discussed in Note 1. Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation, the Company will enter into the "Relationship Agreement" with Brookfield pursuant to which Brookfield will provide the Company with a right of first offer on certain operating wind and solar assets that are owned by Brookfield and certain of its affiliates and are located in North America and certain other Western European nations.
The Company believes it continues to maintain a call right over 0.5 GW (net) of operating wind power plants that are owned by a warehouse vehicle that was owned and arranged by SunEdison (the "AP Warehouse"). The Company believes SunEdison has sold or is in the process of selling its equity interest in the AP Warehouse to an unaffiliated third party, and the Company is currently evaluating its alternatives with regard to these assets.


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Advertising and Partnerships About Us Contact Magazine and Email Newsletter Subscriptions
SE Fairfax County
Resident's Guide
Made in ALX
Home Business Alexandria Launches New Marketing Campaign
Alexandria Launches New Marketing Campaign
Historic charm, waterfront, proximity to the District are focal points of the new campaign.
K Summerer for Visit Alexandria
Tourism in Alexandria continues to be a major economic driver, and Visit Alexandria is launching a new marketing campaign to encourage even more visitors to come experience Alexandria's charm. The campaign is targeted at overnight travelers who live outside the D.C. region.
Alexandria saw record tourism revenue in the 2018 calendar year — $859 million from residents coming from more than 50 miles away. The travel and tourism industry in Alexandria supported 6,583 jobs in Alexandria that year, or 7% of the local workforce, according to data from Visit Alexandria released in late 2019.
Other than word-of-mouth advertising from friends and family, the top channels where people learn about places to visit are online searches, travel review websites and magazines articles. Social media through friends and family also ranked highly, according to research.
Alexandria's new marketing campaign is designed to raise awareness about Alexandria, increase visitors' length of stay, suggest Alexandria as a "home base" for Washington, DC-region vacations, and highlight the historic character, walkability and waterfront setting of Alexandria.
The "Seize the Day, Stay in the Moment" campaign highlights Alexandria's historic character, waterfront and proximity to the District through a variety of print and digital ads.
A survey of East Coast travelers value Alexandria's historic features. History was "top of mind" for 56.2% of respondents.
Almost one-quarter of those surveyed said ambiance/atmosphere was top of mind for them (24.3%), and accessibility and ease was top of mind for 22.6%. Ten to 12% used the following terms to describe Alexandria: adorable, beautiful, scenery, expensive, charming, entertainment, activities, safe, friendly, nice and family, according to Visit Alexandria's research.
The characteristics of Alexandria that motivate visitation are Alexandria's history, walkability, location close to the District, affordable hotel rates compared to Washington, DC, architecture and the number of independent restaurants in a historic setting.
Still, Alexandria has some work to do with building awareness about the City as a destination for visitors, and this campaign is designed to increase visits.
Visit Alexandria also presented the following data points on visitors to Alexandria:
72.1% are married or partnered
16.4% have children under the age of 18
The mean age of visitors is 52.8 years old
The average annual household income of visitors is $120,437
View more Visit Alexandria ads along with more data, trends, and reporting on initiatives at Visit Alexandria's Research and Reports page.
Government Old Town Out and About History
Alexandria Living Magazine is your go-to source for exploring the past, present and future of Alexandria's people, culture and happenings. Come explore with us!
201 N. Union Street, Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314
Intern for Alexandria Living
Copyright Alexandria Living, LLC


text:
Q: Android Studio OnCreate Never used warning This is an rssfeed and everything compiles and I don't think i am missing anything but my app wont launch and there is a warning about my OnCreate never being used.  I am unsure if this is related to the problem.
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private TextView src;
private Button btn;

protected void OnCreate(Bundle SavedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(SavedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    src = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.text);
    btn = (Button)findViewById(R.id.Fetch);
    btn.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
        @Override
        public void onClick(View v) {
            fetch();
        }
    });
}
public void fetch() {
    Downloader d = new Downloader();
    d.execute("https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page");
    try {
        src.setText(d.get());

    } catch (Exception e) {
        Log.e("Error to thread", e.toString());
    }
}

class Downloader extends AsyncTask<String, Void, String> {
    @Override
    protected String doInBackground(String... urls) {
        String result = null;
        try {
            URL url = new URL(urls[0]);
            HttpURLConnection conn = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
            InputStream in = conn.getInputStream();
            BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(in));
            String line = null;
            while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
                result = result + line;
            }
            conn.disconnect();
            reader.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            Log.e("error to fetching", e.toString());
        }
        return result;
    }

}

A: The correct writing is onCreate, not OnCreate. Try to change that.

A: OnCreate -->  onCreate  and use @Override

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


So much love here. I chose Global to travel abroad for the first time and I chose it particularly because it wasn't glamorous. Our trip also ended up being one of the most unpredictable trips that Global has encountered but it was real. It was exactly how I wanted to experience a developing area for the first time – as an observer with no pre-set plans of how to "fix" things. I hope that if Global can't continue it can at least set a precedent for more volunteer NGOs!
Thanks for your response! I'm glad we got to share similar experiences. By no means were we traveling with Global to "fix" things, but I benefited a lot from observing and participating in daily life.


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Professor Robert J MayhewB.A., D.Phil.(Oxon.), Ph.D.(Cantab.)
Professor of Historical Geography and Intellectual History
School of Geographical Sciences
Historical and Cultural Research Group
My main areas of research interest to date have been twofold. First, deriving from my doctoral work in Oxford, I am interested in the ways in which landscape was represented in English literature. I have sought to show in a number of articles the extent to which landscape was a theological category in eighteenth century thought. This work has led me to write about a range of canonical authors in the "long" eighteenth century including Addison, Pope, Fielding, Gilpin and Radcliffe.My main focus, however, has been on the work of Samuel Johnson, and this has resulted in a monograph with Palgrave, Landscape, Literature and English Religious Culture, 1660-1800 (2004).
Second, my interest in the eighteenth century led me to a concern with the history of geography in early modern England. This was the main project I pursued during my time in Cambridge and has been my main area of research ever since. I have concentrated on seventeenth and eighteenth century British geographical writings for the most part, with some excursions into the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, this range being fully exemplified in a monograph on the topic, Enlightenment Geography (2000).
At present I am writing a book, provisionally entitled Untimely Prophet, about the intellectual history of Thomas Robert Malthus and the reception of Malthusianism from 1798 to the present day for Harvard University Press. Malthus is key to the emergence of recognisably "modern" debates about the nexus between resources, population and economic decision making, and to recover his thought and the debates which have surrounded it is vital if we want to make historically-informed choices in the present day. The British Academy have geneously awarded me a Senior Research Fellowship for the academic year 2011-12 to pursue the completion of this book.
Structured keywords and research groupings


Citation: Jones, Karen, et al. Multi-Language Conversational Telephone Speech 2011 -- Slavic Group LDC2016S11. Web Download. Philadelphia: Linguistic Data Consortium, 2016.
Multi-Language Conversational Telephone Speech 2011 -- Slavic Group was developed by the Linguistic Data Consortium (LDC) and is comprised of approximately 60 hours of telephone speech in each of three distinct Slavic languages: Polish, Russian and Ukrainian.


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False fire alarms, car accidents reported
June 6, 2014 June 17, 2015 Siali Siaosi / Online Editor
OCCC police responded to a number of false alarms and non-injury vehicle accidents May 12 through 27.
Officer Daniel Piazza was dispatched to the Health Professions Building after a fire alarm sounded on Monday, May 12, according to a filed police report.
After checking the area and fire risers, Piazza said, the system was reset and the all clear was given to students, visitors and staff.
On Thursday, May 15, Officer Tim Harris responded to Faculty Circle at the entrance of Parking Lot C in reference to a vehicle accident, according to the filed report.
Upon arrival, Harris said he met with the drivers and determined there were no injuries among the parties involved.
Officer Nelson Gordon, along with other members of the OCCCPD, responded to a fire alarm on Wednesday, May 21, in Room 1P1-B of the Main Building, according to a filed report.
Upon arriving, Gordon said he checked the door to see if it was hot and opened it when he found it was cool to the touch. He said the room was partially filled with smoke and he smelled an odor resembling burned food.
Gordon said he observed a microwave at one end of the room which contained a melted container with some burned food in it.
He said he radioed the other units and gave the all clear upon finding the source of the fire alarm.
On Wednesday, May 27, Harris was dispatched to assist the Oklahoma City Police Department responding to a non-injury vehicle accident involving an OCCC vehicle, according to a report filed.
When he arrived, Harris identified the driver of the OCCC vehicle as Garrett Romines and the passenger as Lauryn Romines.
Garrett Romines said he was sitting at the light on S May Avenue to turn onto SW 74th Street when he felt an impact to the vehicle from the rear.
The driver of the other vehicle was identified as Marsha Burton, but Harris said the woman initially gave a false name and incorrect birthdate.
She also did not have a state driver's license to provide, according to the filed report.
When Harris could not locate her credentials within the information system, Harris said, he asked Burton to verify her name and date of birth.
He said she then gave her real name and her real date of birth, which Harris said he confirmed by locating her State Driver's License in the information system.
According to the report filed by Harris, both passengers said they were fine and had no injuries.
Names redacted on the reports was done so under the direction of Marketing and Public Relations Director Cordell Jordan who said names are redacted "according to OCCCPD Standard Operating Procedures involving information released and information withheld." To obtain a copy of the procedure, email cjordan@occc.edu.
To contact campus police, call 405-682-1611, ext. 7747. For an emergency, use one of the call boxes located inside and outside on campus or call 405-682-7872.
Film institute offers crash course in production
Summer fashion seen across OCCC campus


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Impulse Records Celebrating Their 60th Anniversary
Impulse Will Celebrate 60 Years in 2021
For 60 years, the legendary Impulse! Records has been home to the greatest jazz artists of all time, including John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Quincy Jones, and more. The orange-and-black imprint known as the House That Trane Built was a cultural beacon of progressivism, spiritualism, and activism throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the label thrives with a new vanguard of jazz artists including Shabaka Hutchings, Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, Brandee Younger, Ted Poor and more.
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Impulse! Records and UMe, the global catalog company of Universal Music Group, announce today a year-long campaign that includes a gorgeous, curated box set, a reimagined Alice Coltrane rarity, Turiya Sings, high-fidelity vinyl reissues, curated playlists, brand partnerships, new deep-dive video content and more to be announced throughout 2021.
Jamie Krents, EVP of Verve and Impulse! says, "Impulse! Records has an important and enduring legacy that we are proud to celebrate during this anniversary year. We are thrilled to unveil new music, visual content, merchandise, partnerships and more. The famous orange label has been the musical home to progressive artists that pushed the boundaries of music, thought, and culture. Impulse! continues this legacy with a commitment to our history, and our future with artists like Shabaka and Brandee, who both carry the torch and blaze new trails. We are proud to share the story of this remarkable label with the world in this, its 60th year."
"Over the last 60 years, Impulse! Records has released some of the most important and influential jazz albums of all time and UMe remains honored to continue to help expand the legacy of this exceptional catalog," said Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO of UMe. "We're thrilled to celebrate six decades of this iconic and truly American label by shining a light all year long on the profound way that Impulse! and its many incredible artists have forever impacted music and culture."
Now available for pre-order is Impulse Records: Music, Message & The Moment, a 4-LP museum drop-front box set that tells the story of the political, social and spiritual facets of the artists and music of Impulse! Records. Impulse! was at its prolific height throughout the 1960s, a decade marked by political protest, racial unrest, social revolution, dismantling institutions – not unlike our current times. Jazz was an integral part of exploring Black identity and pushing cultural and political boundaries and conversations, as outlined in the box set essays by poet and critic A.B. Spellman and critic Greg Tate, both of whom offer vital perspective on the importance of this label, the artists and music that flowed through it, and the cultural backdrop. Watch an unboxing video of the set here.
The set features a curation of music that speaks to the political, social and spiritual elements that were swirling in the music during this time. Conversations about civil rights were echoed in records such as John Coltrane's Alabama, Archie Shepp's Attica Blues, John and Alice Coltrane's Reverend King, Charlie Haden and the Liberation Orchestra's We Shall Overcome, and Oliver Nelson's The Rights Of All. Spirituality, transcendentalism, and Afrofuturism offered a higher plane of existence and identity through the music of Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane. The historical importance of social music too is reflected in the works of Quincy Jones, John Handy and more.
This summer, Impulse! Records will release a true rarity, Turiya Sings, by Alice Coltrane. Turiya Sings is a record of devotional chants recorded in the early 1980s at her ashram – the only place it was ever available. It is Alice Coltrane at peak spirituality and features her playing organ and chanting.
A version of this music was released on cassette in 1982, with synth and strings added, but never released after. For the first time ever, Turiya Sings will be released in its purest form – just organ and voice –as Alice's son and reissue producer Ravi Coltrane has long wanted to do. Turiya Sings (Deluxe Edition) will feature both versions of this spiritual recording – both remixed, remastered and released for the first time digitally and physically on CD and LP.
The acclaimed audiophile vinyl reissues series, Acoustic Sounds, (Verve/UMe) will celebrate Impulse! all year long with high-end, audiophile grade pressings of integral records from the label's vaunted catalog, starting with Ray Charles' Genius + Soul = Jazz, which was one of the orange label's first four commercial releases in 1961.
Utilizing the skills of the top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings, all titles will be mastered from the original master tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co.in high-quality tip-on gatefold jackets. Like all Acoustic Sounds LPs, the releases will be supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings.
Additionally, keep an eye out for frontline releases from Sons of Kemet (Spring 2021), Brandee Younger (Summer 2021), and Pino Palladino and Blake Mills (March 2021).
Visit impulserecords.com for more information on Impulse! 60 and to keep up to date with new releases, curated playlists, videos, clothing/branded merchandise and more.
4-LP Box Set Impulse Records: Music, Message & The Moment (May 2021)
Remixed, Reimagined Rarity from Alice Coltrane Turiya Sings Never Before Released Digitally or on LP, CD (Summer 2021)
New Video Series Deep-Dive – Watch Pilot Episode About John Coltrane's A Love Supreme HERE
Impulse! Records Acoustic Sounds Series: Ray Charles, Gil Evans, Charles Mingus and more
Thelonious Monk Palo Alto – Custodian's Mix Record Store Day exclusive (June 2021)
New 2021 Frontline Releases from Sons of Kemet, Brandee Younger, Pino Palladino/Blake Mills
Impulse! Records Website and Webstore Relaunch including limited edition merch + Fixed Playlists Launch Impulse! 60: The Best of Impulse! Records, On Impulse: John Coltrane, On Impulse: Charles Mingus, On Impulse: Sonny Rollins and many more coming soon.
Partnership with Jazz Is Dead including a bespoke t-shirt, poster, and collaborative content.
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text:
Interested in Joining? Find out more on UGLE
UGLE & SGC
Supreme Grand Chapter
Initiatives & Clubs
Provinces, Districts & Groups
Lodges, Chapters & Individuals
Freemasonry Cares
Masonic Charitable Foundation
RMBI
Lifelites
Dementia Life computers at RMBI care homes help older Freemasons get online
We live in a technology-driven society that takes instant access and interaction with the rest of the world for granted. Tabby Kinder finds out how the RMBI is helping the older generation cross the digital divide
Late one morning in a sleepy cul-de-sac in Chislehurst, the residents of the RMBI Prince George Duke of Kent Court care home relax in armchairs and sip from mugs of tea. It seems a typical state of affairs that you might find in any UK care home – until you see that the residents are also selecting their favourite songs from a touch-screen computer.
The new Dementia Life computer provides interactive games and entertainment, with photos, TV shows, music and film clips from the 1930s onwards. The touch-screen device is just one of a collection of digital machines installed in all RMBI care homes this year to help get elderly residents interacting with new technologies.
Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the number of people over the age of sixty-five using the internet is on the up. And with more older people getting used to new technologies, the RMBI is welcoming the opportunity to make sure its care home residents are seeing both the social and mental benefits of using computers.
'Some of the residents are scared of the computer at first because they've never used one before,' says Sue Goodrich, Activity Coordinator at the Prince George care home. 'It's a generational thing. But when I show them how to play their favourite song or look up photos of the place they grew up in, suddenly they're fascinated.'
A paper presented at the International Conference for Universal Design claimed that using a computer can help older people live a fuller life, as it allows them to engage, communicate and create. Scientific journal Plos One suggests that using a computer, smartphone or tablet and regularly using the internet can even decrease the risk of cognitive impairments such as dementia.
While technology has revolutionised communication, entertainment and shopping, until recently it has remained almost exclusively the preserve of the young. In the UK, while ninety-nine per cent of adults aged sixteen to twenty-four have used the internet, according to the ONS, just thirty-three per cent of people over seventy-five have ever spent time online.
But computer use by the older generation is growing and the benefits of online access for older people are being recognised as a necessity, rather than a luxury.
The RMBI offers computer facilities and informal support with IT tasks at all of its care homes in England and Wales, often accompanied by scanners, projection screens, games consoles, and enlarged keyboards and computer mice for improved accessibility. In addition, a few homes are now leading the way with the launch of regular IT training sessions and internet cafes.
Every week, Diane Vowles, a volunteer from Age UK, gathers up a folder of printouts and heads to the Chislehurst care home where she holds workshops to demonstrate the use of personal computers (PCs) using the Dementia Life machine and a shared PC in the home's dedicated computer room. 'The residents who are interested surf the net with me and enjoy researching and investigating various subjects. We chat about our personal histories and experiences while searching for images and information on the web.'
'Some residents can be a bit resistant to new technology but others are relishing it. The ones who get into it are amazed by what they can do.' Diane Vowles
Vowles's workshops are part of a national campaign by Age UK to promote digital inclusion among elderly people. 'Some residents can be a bit resistant to new technology but others are relishing it,' Vowles says. 'The ones who get into it are amazed by what they can do.'
One such resident is David Giles, a ninety-one-year-old former lodge Secretary of St Mary's, Gillingham Green Lodge, No. 6499, and Rainham Lodge, No. 3079, at which he is now an honorary member. 'When I first met David he was one of the only residents here to have his own computer,' says Vowles. 'It was filled with a lifetime of documents – minutes from lodge meetings, agendas, letters, banking – plus he had begun putting together his father's memoirs.' Vowles and David now sit down together twice a week at David's computer and type up pages of memories from his father's life spent in the steam, seaplane and tractor industries.
'Hopefully it will make an interesting book for the enthusiasts,' David says. Although using the computer is a challenge in his advanced years, David puts his ease around the technology down to his daughter and his career spent working as an engineer in the aircraft industry. 'I started using computers in the 1970s and then I started to get better at using them when my daughter Mary was doing an Open University degree.'
At Prince George, other residents are beginning to follow David's lead and some have brought their own computers to use in their rooms. 'One resident wanted to be able to look online to see if she had won on the Premium Bonds and to see where the larger winners lived,' says Vowles. 'Another wanted to see images of his previously owned, now vintage, cars and motorcycles. We even checked if an old Birmingham Small Arms Company motorbike was still in circulation – it was!'
Google Earth and Skype software, which allows residents to communicate with relatives around the world, are also proving popular. 'One resident was able to look up the new home of her daughter in Perth, Australia – the swimming pool was a big surprise,' laughs Vowles. 'One former resident used his PC extensively to keep in contact with his wide circle of friends via email and Skype. He had led a very interesting life and I learned a great deal from him, all about his career in everything from wartime flight navigation to optical lenses.'
Susan Barnes, eighty, has been a resident of RMBI Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court in Mid Glamorgan for ten months and uses the library computer for sending emails, writing letters and research. 'When I first arrived here I was quite lonely and missed my bungalow,' she says. 'The computer provided a welcome distraction and allowed me to keep in touch with friends and family. I now have my own laptop and internet in my room. I'm delighted to have learned a new skill and all the staff are great if I have a problem doing something on the laptop.'
'It's essential that older people are supported to learn and access the internet if they want to,' says Charles Knowles, who has been a resident at James Terry Court in Croydon for almost two years. Charles uses a digital camera to send photos of him and his friends during outings to his family, uses the internet to read and listen to the news, and will soon be installing a webcam so he can see his grandchildren. 'The internet can take you back down memory lane as well as let you see new places and meet new people. It can also make managing day-to-day tasks much easier.'
'When I show [residents] how to play their favourite song or look up photos of the place they grew up in, suddenly they're fascinated.' Sue Goodrich
A new computer cafe, currently in planning stage at the home, will encourage more residents to get online. 'We are very lucky here at James Terry Court to have access to computers and the internet whenever we like and to have helpful staff around every day who can help with computing tasks,' adds Charles.
'It's all about independence,' says Rosie Bower, Marketing Manager for the RMBI. 'We're committed to offering person-centred care across all of our care homes, allowing our residents to remain in control of their own lives, long after they have moved into one of our homes. Internet and computer access is integral to maintaining a person's independence in the modern world. The more external interaction our residents have, the more able they are to keep making their own choices.'
Published in RMBI
FMT No 24 – Winter 2013
Dementia Life
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
Prince George Duke of Kent Court
Knowle Masonic Centre working in partnership with Age UK Solihull thanks to £63,000 grant
Swansea Masons raise £12,500 for the RMBI by cycling the length of Wales
Help for older people to relieve loneliness thanks to £78,000 grant from Cornwall Freemasons to the Royal Voluntary Service
Cheshire Freemasons support Men in Sheds with £580 donation
The tracing boards of John Harris
More in this category: « Duke of Kent opens new RMBI care home at James Terry Court, Croydon Duke of Kent opens RMBI's refurbished home at James Terry Court in Croydon »
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text:
Antonio da Lonate (born  1456–1457, Lonate Pozzolo - died after 1541, Milan) was an Italian architect who is known for his Renaissance architecture. A follower of Donato Bramante, his works were designed in the High Renaissance style. Among the works attributed to him are the altar at the Basilica of San Magno in Legnano and the Vigevano Cathedral.

References

1450s births
15th-century Italian architects
16th-century Italian architects
Architects from Milan
Renaissance architects

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Javascript; Sending user to another page I am trying to send a user to another page using a Javascript Function:
<input type="button" name="confirm" value="nextpage" onClick="message()">

And my JavaScript:
function message() {
    ConfirmStatus = confirm("Install a Virus?");

    if (ConfirmStatus == true) {
        //Send user to another page
    }
}

Does anyone know how to send a user to another specific page?

A: I believe window.location.href = "newpage.html"; will work.

A: You can also use a meta refresh tag to redirect.
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2;url=http://other-domain.com">

Will redirect to the site http://other-domain.com after two seconds.

A: your code got messed up, but if I got it right you can use the following:
location.href = 'http://www.google.com';
or
location.href = 'myrelativepage.php';

Good luck!
But I must say to you,

*

*Javascript can be turned off, so your function won't work.

Other option is to do this by code:
PHP:  header('Location: index.php');
C#:  Response.Redirect("yourpage.aspx");
Java:  response.sendRedirect("http://www.google.com");
Note:

*

*All of those redirects must be placed before any outputs to the client ok?

A: try this!
window.location.replace("http://www.link.com");

A: try this:
window.location.href = "YOUR_RELATIVE_PATH_HERE" ex ./pages/aboutus"

A: window.location.href = url;
It is ok for redirecting to the required url using javascript.
The simple example can be found in this url


Would You Rock Rainbow Armpit Hair?
2018 was the year of the unicorn with the colorful trend popping up everywhere from food to makeup, but according to Marie Claire, the unicorn trend is nowhere near over, in fact it's making a move down under ... arms.
In a recent post on their website, the beauty magazine calls unicorn armpit hair "the best beauty trend of 2019 so far".
I'm not here to bash rainbow pits, but you definitely won't find me rocking this look anytime soon. Mostly because 1. I don't have the patience to grow out my armpit hair and 2. if I actually did grow out my pits I wouldn't have the patience to sit there and dye those scraggly hairs multiple colors. That is a big commitment right there!
Will you try out unicorn armpits?


text:
Q: Finding maximum clique efficiently in matrix with 4 similar triangles Is it possible to find the maximum clique more efficiently in a matrix with 4 identical triangles?
As an example consider a matrix below where:
$$A_{12} = A_{21}\,,~ A_{1n} = A_{n1}\, ,~ \ldots$$
and
$$A_{11} = A_{nn}\,,~A_{12} = A_{n-1\,n}\,,~ \ldots$$

A: The maximum clique problem is NP complete and all known algorithms take exponential time; this isn't going to change for your class of matrices, because it is very general.
In particular, for any graph $G$ with adjacency matrix $A_G$, the matrix $$\begin{bmatrix}A_G & 0 \\ 0 & A_G' \end{bmatrix}$$ (where $A_G'$ denotes the matrix $A_G$ with all rows and columns reversed) satisfies your condition. It represents a graph consisting of two disjoint copies of $G$.
In this graph, the maximum clique is the same as the maximum clique in one copy of $G$, and so we're solving the maximum clique problem for an arbitrary graph of size $\frac n2$. As a result, if the best maximum clique algorithm takes time $\Theta(C^n)$, the best algorithm for your class of graphs can't do better than time $\Theta(C^{n/2})$.
We can think of your condition as saying that the map $\phi :V(G) \to V(G)$ which reverses the order of the vertices (if $V(G) = \{v_1, \dots, v_n\}$ then $\phi(v_i) = v_{n+1-i}$) is an automorphism of $G$. So we might be able to speed up the search for a clique slightly, in a way that depends on your algorithm but probably isn't too significant. For example, if we're using a brute-force search, we can cut the search space in half by not checking the set $\phi(S)$ for being a clique if we've already checked the set $S$.


text:
Home / La Liga / Endrick Real Madrid PSG latest
Endrick Real Madrid PSG latest
Chelsea are "absolutely" one of the teams in the running for the transfer of Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues have long been linked with Endrick, but are joined by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in chasing the Brazilian forward, who looks like one of the most exciting prospects in world football right now.
The 16-year-old will surely earn himself a big move before too long, and Romano says there is still not much change as Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG battle it out for his signature.
The three clubs still have to negotiate with both the player and his club, so it could take some time to make concrete progress on this one, but Romano insists Chelsea are definitely in the race, as things stand.
Endrick in action for Palmeiras
Still, one issue could be that Real Madrid supposedly have an "excellent" relationship with Endrick's representatives, according to the transfer news expert.
"My understanding is that it is the same three clubs in the race – Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain," he said.
"All of them are still in the race, and PSG are the only club to have made an official proposal a few days ago, but from what I am told there is still no agreement with Palmeiras. The clubs will also need to find an agreement with the player and his family, not just his club.
"PSG are still there, Chelsea are absolutely still there, and Real Madrid have an excellent relationship with his agents. Let's see what happens."
Exclusive: Fresh Dortmund 'hope' could scupper interested clubs' Jude Bellingham transfer plans
Chelsea considering swap deal involving RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol
Exclusive: Fabrizio Romano responds to those Luis Suarez to West Ham transfer rumours
David Moyes rejects January striker signing for West Ham
Steven Gerrard sacked as Villa manager
Newcastle to try sign £113m star with Ronaldo's agent negotiating the deal


Frequently individuals feel too depleted to even think about evening consider tidying up their home and this is acknowledged by the possibility of their consistently business. Tidiness is basic whether at home or in the work environment. Along these lines, it is essential to ensure that the home or the working environment is for each situation clean regularly. There are different cleaning services that outfit their clients with a wide extent of cleaning services packs for both the home and business use. Port Elgin is known to have a significant number of surely understood cleaning services which give cleaning services to the inhabitants of Port Elgin. There are also a number of factors that should be taken into consideration when hiring cleaning services.
A standout amongst the most fundamental elements to put into thought is the notoriety of the cleaning services. This is on the grounds that it is critical to work with a cleaning organization who has great notoriety among its clients. A decent notoriety is regularly realized by the nature of administrations the cleaning organization gives its customers. It is therefore essential to ensure that the cleaning services are remarkable inside your private or business area. In order to get reputable cleaning service company, it is likewise important to get referrals from friends and family members who have had the opportunity to hire cleaning services.
This is due to the fact that they will be in a better position to recommend the best cleaning services within your local area. The location of the cleaning services is also another key factor when looking for cleaning services to hire. This is in light of the fact that cleaning services that are arranged inside your neighborhood progressively beneficial to rouse a hold of when appeared differently in relation to cleaning services that are not arranged inside your neighborhood. Regularly, unique cleaning services charge their customers distinctive rates relying upon the bundle that the customer lean towards. It is therefore important to shop around for different cleaning services, then get to compare the prices being offered by each company.
This will ensure that one motivates the chance to pick cleaning services that are sensible or inside their set economic plan. Cleaning as often as possible incorporates a wide variety of activities, for instance, climbing the housetop or cleaning windows that are discovered high up a building. It is therefore important to ensure that the cleaning services have an insurance cover for its employees. This is due to the fact that an individual may get injured while cleaning or may even fall off a ladder. In this manner having a protection cover will guarantee that the harmed individual gets therapeutic consideration at no additional expense.


My two absolutely favorite colors this fall are burgundy and bottle green. Both are deep, rich colors with the ability to mix with a variety of other hues in your closet. Ranging from super cheap to über expensive, here are some pieces to incorporate into your fall wardrobe. My personal picks are these B Brian Atwood booties and the Jil Sander shoulder bag. To die for!!


The bridge above Cascade Falls in Mill Valley.
The rolling hills of California with the Pacific Ocean in the background. Mt Tam from the Ridgeview Road.
Stinson Beach in the late afternoon as seen from the Ridgeview Road on Mt Tam. Spring.


After the 12th week of the season, we know who is bad, and we know who is probably the best. But if you want to know who the 2-7 teams are, I don't really know. Oh, and YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHERE I HAVE AUBURN.
The Tide were tied with the Citadel at halftime. That should knock them out of the Playoffs. It was a fun ride.
You gave up 27 points to UMass? Where was that last week?
The corndogs pummeled Rice like it was in a bowl of gumbo.
Auburn did what they were supposed to do leading in to Iron Bowl Week.
The Aggies were able to show UAB what a decent level of football feels like.
I wasn't expecting this one. Apparently Arkansas can't stop a one-dimensional offense at all.
The Wildcats were able to bounce back and win a football game during basketball season.
A week after Tennessee handled Kentucky, the Tigers absolutely destroyed the Vols. I guess they aren't back just yet.
Look at the Dores getting out of the cellar.
I talked good about Ole Mis last week, and then they go and lose to Vandy.
Well I thought Arkansas was the best 2-win team in the nation, but I think that distinction is gone.
You are stupid as hell if you think this AU team is better than Fla, Ky or MSt. You will probably pick Auburn to win this week. I expect us to lose by 24 if not more.


text:
A Tale of Two Countries -- Qatar and Bahrain
While I was away on vacation there was a lot of action in the Middle East with protests against governments in many countries -- Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Bahrain. These protests were very disruptive to their respective countries and in most cases there were battles with police or the army, and a number of deaths. I've already been asked by a few people that since Qatar is so close to Bahrain whether Qatar is at risk for any kind of protest or strife?
Despite their close proximity, their shared history, and close ties (many Qataris have relatives in Bahrain and a number of tribes have a presence in both countries) the two countries have significant differences, and these differences mean that while one country has unrest the other is fine. So what are the differences? Here are some that I know of:
1) Wealth
Bahrain was one of the earliest of the Gulf countries to utilize its petroleum reserves and this brought it significant wealth, it also gained a lot of the regional financial services industry back in the 70s during the unrest in other parts of the region and Lebanon. Unfortunately it is a small country and it wasn't long before it had used up most of its oil. Meanwhile other countries in the region gained prominence and attracted away many of the companies (at first Kuwait, then after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the UAE became the major hub). Bahrain today is not as wealthy as many of its neighbors, and many Bahrainis have issues with poverty, finding affordable housing, and simply making a living. For example I believe all of the taxi drivers in the country are Bahraini.
By contrast Qatar has significant reserves of oil and gas and only in the last decade really begun to tap those reserves. Its reserves in comparison to its size and population are massive, this has allowed Qatar to have the highest per capita GDP in the world. The Qatari government is also utilizing a lot of that money into benefits for its citizens: free healthcare, free education (even paying for university abroad), monthly allowances when you get married and have children, a generous pension plan for government workers, assistance with building your first home, subsidized water and electricity, and I'm sure there are many more benefits. There are no significant issues with unemployment and Qataris tend to be employed in the government, large energy companies or banks, or running their own businesses. No Qatari works as a taxi driver.
2) Sunnis and Shi'as
There are two main groups in Islam: Shia (this is the main form of Islam in Iran), and Sunni (predominate in most of the rest of the Islamic world, including Saudi Arabia). The schism that created the two occurred early in the history of Islam and ever since there have been times of peace and times of strife between the two groups. An analogy for Westerners would be the problems that occurred between Protestants and Catholics since the Reformation. Things have been relatively peaceful between Protestants and Catholics now, with the possible exception of Northern Ireland, but for centuries there have been wars, purges, and violence on one or the other group. Sectarian violence between Shia and Sunnis still tends to flare up every now and then, with Iraq and Lebanon being good examples. This is one of the main reasons why much of the Islamic world has tensions with Iran. I suggest viewing the recent Wikileaks diplomatic cables regarding Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE if you want to see examples of the mistrust.
In Bahrain the majority of the citizens are Shi'a (I believe around 60%) yet the Royal Family and most of the people in power are Sunni, so you essentially have a Sunni minority ruling over a Shi'a majority. This has caused problems -- Shi'as accuse the ruling Sunnis of discrimination and limiting access to good jobs and housing. I can't tell you to what extent this is true or not but such accusations have existed for years. Protests in Bahrain by the Shi'a majority tend to occur every couple of years or so and many Shia clerics and other leaders have been imprisoned or have had to flee the country. The recent chaos in Tunisia and Egypt has really lit a fire under the Shi'a citizens who immediately began mass demonstrations in Bahrain, much bigger than in the past.
In Qatar however the majority of citizens are Sunni, well over 90%, so you do not have the level of sectarian tension that exists in Bahrain. While I'm not sure if there is any discrimination in Qatar against Shi'a I've never heard of any. I do know that some of the wealthiest businessmen in the country are Shi'a so I don't think there is any kind of "glass ceiling" in terms of being allowed to be successful, though that may or may not be the same in government. There have certainly never been any mass protests by Shi'a in the time that I have been here. Qatar also maintains reasonable relations with Iran, and had invited them to the last GCC summit that was held in Qatar.
3) Qatar won the 2022 World Cup bid
Thanks to the successful 2022 World Cup bid Qatar is in the midst of a wave of nationalistic pride. In about 15 years His Highness the Emir has taken this country from obscurity to the international spotlight, managing a feat that a couple of years ago even I highly doubted would ever happen. If there were such things as popularity polls here in Qatar I'm sure right now His Highness would be enjoying the strongest results of his entire reign.
So why do I not think there'll be any problems in Qatar? A wealthy country whose citizens are comparatively well-off, a government that has been using some of that wealth for the benefit of its citizens, a demographic that minimizes sectarian tensions, and the pride that comes from hosting the World Cup.
Other Middle East rulers may be having some sleepless nights. There won't be any problems here.
Very interesting blog from a non-Muslim.
Abdul M, Orlando, Florida
Glen McKay said...
Thanks for the compliment Abdul, glad you are enjoying the blog.


text:
Comment Letter on NIST's "AI Risk Management Framework Concept Paper"
Comment • 01/25/2022 Artificial Intelligence
Re: Feedback On AI Risk Management Concept Paper
To Whom It May Concern: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Technology Engagement Center ("C_TEC") appreciates the opportunity to submit feedback to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's ("NIST") "AI Risk Management Framework Concept Paper." C_TEC appreciates NIST's ongoing efforts to engage stakeholders during the Risk Management Framework process to help inform and further develop its approach to the voluntary framework. We also appreciate the opportunity to provide details and specifics on what we believe would be helpful in the upcoming first draft of the AI RMF.
First, C_TEC believes that more context is necessary to fully determine if the NIST AI Risk Management Framework is moving in the right direction. Specifically, we would encourage NIST to provide more information surrounding the "measurable criteria" for risk which it intends to use, especially since NIST indicated in section three "framing risk1" they plan to use a "broader definition that offers a more comprehensive view."
Also, using the word risk to encompass positive and negative outcomes can be misleading. C_TEC would encourage NIST to be clear about how it is defining risk. Also, C_TEC would like to highlight that a critical issue for practitioners is assessing the probability of an event and its associated consequence. The necessary data may not be available to assess. The concept paper assumes that such data is widely available in sufficient quantities to develop "methods and metrics for quantitative or qualitative measurements." The paper considers that such data is available in adequate amounts to build "methods and metrics for quantitative or qualitative measurement of the enumerated risks, including sensitivity, specificity, and confidence levels for specific inferences are identified and applied to the enumerated risks."
Furthermore, the concept paper section highlights the risk that can be "analyzed,
quantified, or tracked where possible." We encourage NIST to give more information and guidance in its upcoming draft on how it plans to address risk in situations when these areas cannot be easily measured in a quantifiable way.
Additionally, under the proposed AI RMF structure, C_TEC recommends NIST expand the descriptions within the functions, categories, and subcategories. This expansion should include information about the implementation of controls to mitigate risk to an acceptable level, according to predefined tolerances. Also, while the document references outcomes, these are often an end result. C_TEC recommends more emphasis on where and how AI is integrated into a process or experience. It is it how the AI is expected to be consumed that sets the contexts and possible impacts and expected value of integrating AI into the process or experience.
C_TEC would also like to reemphasize that there is a growing patchwork of local, state,
federal, and international regulations and standards around AI, which challenges AI actors and their ability to manage AI risks effectively. An overcomplicated regulatory environment potentially inhibits effective management. International standards serve as a tool for harmonizing regulatory processes to ensure greater interoperability and avoid a fragmented global network of differing regulations. This is why C_TEC supports efforts to harmonize with other international risk management standards, and only look to expand if they find substantive gaps within those standards.
Finally, C_TEC highly encourages NIST to consider policy prototyping as a mechanism to improve the efficacy of the risk management framework. C_TEC provided the following comment to NIST's initial request for information:
"Policy prototyping is an experimentation-based approach for policy development that can provide a safe testing ground to test and learn early in the process how different approaches to the formulation of the AI RMF might play out when implemented in practice while assessing their impact before its actual release. Policy prototyping involves a variety of stakeholders that come together to co-create governance frameworks, including regulation and standards. Developing and testing governance frameworks collaboratively, this allows policymakers to see how such frameworks can integrate with other co-regulatory tools such as corporate ethical frameworks, voluntary standards, certification programs, ethical codes of conduct, and best practices, as referenced below. This method has been successfully used in Europe to test an AI Risk Assessment framework, leading to several concrete recommendations for improving self-assessments of AI.2"
C_TEC appreciates NIST's ongoing efforts to improve the management of risk to
individuals, organizations, and those associated with AI by creating a voluntary Risk Management Framework. Establishing a voluntary Risk Management Framework has significant promise in creating an innovative environment for Artificial Intelligence, which is why we are eager to work with NIST to ensure that the AI RMF continues to support innovation in a way that strengthens public trust in AI. We thank you for your consideration of these comments and would be happy to further discuss any of these topics.
Director, Policy


text:
Q: Polytonic Greek in LaTeX with Arno: multiple diacritics on one letter I am trying to paste in a text in Unicode polytonic Greek where there are multiple accents on a single character.  As discussed in Multiple diacritics on one character, it is totally feasible to create multiple diacritics on one character with LaTeX, but my problem is slightly different: is there a way, perhaps using Lua, to paste in polytonic Greek pre-composed, and have the correct output be produced?  (The alternative is hand recomposing each glyph with two accents, which is quite annoying) I am using Arno, as purchased from Adobe, which should be capable of outputting polytonic Greek, but is failing.
MWE:
\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\setmainfont{Arno Pro}
\begin{document}
 ἐπῐ́λογος
\end{document}

A: This turned out to be relatively easy using code lifted from this answer (Conditional string replacements in LuaLaTeX); just a neat bit of LuaCode renders this working nicely:
\documentclass{standalone}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\combinedaccent}[2]{%
\leavevmode\vbox{\offinterlineskip
    \ialign{\hfil##\hfil\cr
      \char#1\relax\cr
      \noalign{\vskip -1.3ex}
      \noalign{\vskip 0.1ex}
      #2\cr
    }%
  }%
}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\iotafix}{\combinedaccent{180}{ῐ}}   % oxys

\usepackage{luacode} % for '\luaexec' and '\luastringN' macros
\luaexec{ % set up Lua function called 'fhg_sub':
function iota_sub ( s )
   s = s:gsub ( "ῐ́" , "{\\iotafix}")
   return s
end
}
\newcommand\iotaOn{\directlua{luatexbase.add_to_callback(
   "process_input_buffer", iota_sub, "iota_sub" )}}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\setmainfont{Arno Pro}
\begin{document}\iotaOn
  ἐπῐ́λογος
\end{document}

Produces the beautiful:


Thick 3D mesh lining at the back.
Stretch panels at back of shoulder.
Fleece-lined, wind-protective high collar and inner elastic cuffs.
Thumbholes to keep you warm and comfortable.
Reflective details and zip chest pocket with attachment for ID badge.
Fabric: 100% power polyamide shell, 220gsm.
100% Polyamide Cordura® reinforcements 205gsm.


text:
California Wastes Its Public Space
by Howard Kozloff 08/13/2009
California's favorable climate makes it a haven for outdoor activity. Enlightened and forward-looking planning has largely preserved the waterfronts for public access and set aside a lot of space for public use and activity. Yet despite this, there are few great urban gathering spaces. This is most obvious in the two largest population centers – Los Angeles and San Francisco. read more »
Why The 'Livable Cities' Rankings Are Wrong
by Joel Kotkin 08/10/2009
Few topics stir more controversy between urbanists and civic boosters than city rankings. What truly makes a city "great," or even "livable"? The answers, and how these surveys determine them, are often subjective, narrow or even misguided. What makes a "great" city on one list can serve as a detriment on another.
Recent rankings of the "best" cities around the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Monocle magazine and the Mercer quality of life surveys settled on a remarkably similar list. For the most part, the top ranks are dominated by well-manicured older European cities such as Zurich, Geneva, Vienna, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Munich, as well as New World metropolises like Vancouver and Toronto; Auckland, New Zealand; and Perth and Melbourne in Australia. read more »
New York City Closes Shop
by Steve Null 08/06/2009
Mayor Michael Bloomberg owes 200,000 small business owners an apology.
When Michael Bloomberg was first elected Mayor of New York City in 2001, the city's small business owners were hopeful and confident that finally a successful businessman would be creating the city's economic policy. They hoped to see an end to powerful special interests that, through political donations, had gained control over the economic policy of the city. read more »
Tracking Business Services: Best And Worst Cities For High-Paying Jobs
Media coverage of America's best jobs usually focuses on blue-collar sectors, like manufacturing, or elite ones, such as finance or technology. But if you're seeking high-wage employment, your best bet lies in the massive "business and professional services" sector.
This unsung division of the economy is basically a mirror of any and all productive industry. It includes everything from human resources and administration to technical and scientific positions, as well as accounting, legal and architectural firms. read more »
Unsustainable Transit: New York City
by Wendell Cox 05/07/2009
When it comes to transit, as like many things in the United States, there is no place like New York City. The subways and buses of the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) carry more than 40 percent of the nation's transit rides (unlinked trips). To account for 40 percent of the nation's ridership is quite an accomplishment inasmuch as the city represents less than 3 percent of the nation's population. read more »
Credit Cards Flash At The White House
by Henry Ehrlich 04/29/2009
Back in the 1980s, Citibank CEO John S. Reed looked at the bank's earnings and said, more or less: This is really a credit card company with six other lines of business. That is, the card portfolio was making lots of dough, and carrying the rest. Commercial lending, real estate lending, clearing, foreign exchange, branch banking — all of them were flat or losing money, while the card business was cooking. read more »
Obama's America
Compensation Confidential
The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not
a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal gesture by the individual to himself.
John Kenneth Galbraith
What would Galbraith have said about the AIG bonuses? read more »
The "To Do" List for Middle-Class New Yorkers
by Zina Klapper 02/18/2009
This month, a new report from The Center For An Urban Future, Reviving The City of Aspiration, examines the squeeze on middle class New Yorkers.
The struggle to afford life's basics—and a few indulgences, too—is nothing new to urbanites of modest means. A 1907 New York Times piece headlined 'Very Soon New York Will Be A City Without Resident Citizens' reported, "Life in the big city is becoming impossible to the average householder, living on an average income." 'Average' necessities were identified as rent, home-cooked meals, servants wages, ice, and coal. Occasional luxuries included theater and restaurant visits. read more »
Musings on Urban Form: Is Brooklyn the Ultimate City?
by Peter Smirniotopoulos 02/06/2009
It's clear we need a new lexicon for emerging urban forms that are neither urban nor suburban in character. Yet when you raise that issue, you elicit some strongly held views — most of them negative — about whether anything other than a "real city" with its bad sections, panhandlers, and industrial areas can qualify as urban.
I feel it is increasingly difficult to make such distinctions. This is particularly true as we observe the rapidly changing character of inner-ring suburbs in particular, as well as the innumerable "new towns" that have sprouted up in what would otherwise clearly be suburban or even exurban locales. read more »
Reviving the City of Aspiration: A Study of the Challenges Facing New York City's Middle Class
by Jonathan Bowles 02/05/2009
For much of its history, New York City has thrived as a place that both sustained a large middle class and elevated countless people from poorer backgrounds into the ranks of the middle class. The city was never cheap and parts of Manhattan always remained out of reach, but working people of modest means—from forklift operators and bus drivers to paralegals and museum guides—could enjoy realistic hopes of home ownership and a measure of economic security as they raised their families across the other four boroughs. read more »


I have not been doing too much reading lately. Combine my lack of traveling and new found car sickness = no new books read. Anyways, I read By The Time You Read This by Lola Jaye on my last work trip.
By The Time You Read This follows 12 year old Lois through her life after her father's death when she was 5 years old. Her father, knowing he only had 6 months to live, wrote The Manual - advice for hie daughter to live by, laugh at and follow from 12 to 30.
3. No peeping at the next entry unless it's your birthday!
When Lois Bates is handed the manual, she can barely bring herself to read it as the pain of losing her dad is still so raw. Yet soon his advice is guiding her through every stange of her life - from first love and relationships to her career.
The manual can never be a substitute for having her dad back, but through his words Lois learns to start living again, and discovers that happiness is waiting around the corner..."
Overall, this was a good book. I thought I would be more emotional when reading it but the manual was not as in depth as I first imagined. A fairly quick read that rates 3.5 out of 5 in by book.


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Sophie Charlotte may refer to:

 Sophie Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel (1678–1749), princess of Hesse-Kassel
 Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1694–1715), German duchess
 Princess Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1731–1810), German duchess
 Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria (1847–1897), Duchess of Alençon and born Duchess in Bavaria
 Sophie Charlotte (actress) (born 1989), Brazilian actress

See also
 Sophia Charlotte (disambiguation)


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Microsoft is hiring for its automation engineering team
Microsoft is adding another engineering hire to its automation team, the company announced on Monday, adding the engineer to a previously announced group of 10 engineers with expertise in software development, and one engineer to an existing engineering group.
The hiring of these engineers is part of a wider plan to create "a more integrated team of engineers and software developers that can work across Microsoft's various business functions."
The hiring of the engineering group includes the engineering team at Microsoft Research, which is responsible for Microsoft's cloud-based data center infrastructure and Microsoft's infrastructure for the Office 365 cloud and Azure.
The other engineers will work in the Office, cloud- and cloud-side teams.
The engineering team will be led by an engineering manager, and will be part of Microsoft's research and development team, according to the company.
Microsoft's hiring of engineers has been in the works for a while.
The company recently announced a hiring freeze, with a full-time job offer coming to all employees on March 31, according a blog post from the company on March 6.
The freeze comes after Microsoft announced a large-scale hiring freeze in May of this year, the first such move in more than a decade.
The hiring freeze came just weeks after Microsoft said it was considering expanding its workforce in the areas of data center, cloud, and mobile computing to help it tackle some of the toughest problems in the cloud.
Microsoft also said in April that it was moving to a "flexible" hiring model that would allow employees to apply for jobs across multiple industries, including technology and engineering.
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by adminNovember 25, 2021
The small-engine warehouse startup has been hiring DevOps engineers for the past few months, and is hiring engineers in a growing number of areas including finance, IT, and healthcare.DevOps Engineer Salary for a Small Engine: DevOps Engineering Salary for an Engineer: $69,000.00DevOps Engineer Career: Devops…
by adminNovember 3, 2021
A high-school math teacher in Illinois has been fired after an intern allegedly punched a female teacher in the face for being an "engine knocking nerd."According to a report by Fox 2, the incident occurred during a class at Lake Park High School, which is…
When the job search engine craze hit the internet, it was with some success.But the search engines have only become more powerful over the years, and it's still not easy to find the perfect job.The top engine is Google, with an average of over 6.7…
A Utah-based engine manufacturer says it has rebuilt an engine used in the Coyote commercial jet jet engine.The engine, a turbofan, was installed at the University of Utah's Boeing plant in May and is undergoing a new rebuild to improve reliability, said John Baugh, the…


True Story – this precious pie was supposed to be Sunday's Dinner Dessert, but after whipping up the tasty filling, I dropped the whole damn pie crust! I was so mad, but refused to leave to buy another one. So yesterday, on my lunch, I was on a mad hunt to find the Oreo Cookie Crust that takes this tasty treat over the top! My co-worker made this pie and shared it with us at the office and was nice enough to share the recipe after I inquired.
Mix Cream Cheese and Confectioners Sugar (I used electric mixer); add Cool Whip and Strawberries and mix well by hand.
Put in crust and garnish with Strawberries.
Mods: I used an Oreo Cookie Crust, that I could not find in my local Publix, but it was in Walmart.
I have a work potluck next week…is this prize winning?
It's pretty tasty to me! You will probably need to double the recipe so you can have 2 pies!


It's a coincidence that I wrote the last entry in my journal on February 28 at the same time I finished my book. Well, my book is not finished-finished but it's getting its final editing—by a professional content editor—as I compose this post.
I have been using a 5-subject wide-rule notebook every morning to put down whatever wanders into my head ever since I decided two years ago I would FINISH THIS BOOK! Daily notations first thing in the morning, something akin to morning pages suggested by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist's Way, have kept me primed to write.
And it's a coincidence that when I started this particular journal on April 4, 2013 I had just received feedback from four beta-readers. In between the first and last journal entry, I have incorporated the changes they suggested and made edits based on feedback from two more beta readers and, later yet, made changes suggested by another two readers. Whee!
Besides acting on feedback from beta-readers, I spent time in May at a writers-in-residence at Weymouth Center and attended a writers' retreat at Wild Acres in September and, of course, kept my pen moving on the pages of my journal each morning.
Get yourself a notebook and begin to journal daily. Who knows what you will accomplish!
Congratulations, Marianna. I can't wait until it's published and I can read it. I'll also introduce it to my book group.


text:
package org.springframework.mobile.urbanairship.impl.json;

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.List;

import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonCreator;
import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonIgnoreProperties;
import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonProperty;
import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonDeserialize;

@JsonIgnoreProperties(ignoreUnknown = true)
public class BlackberryDeviceMixin {

	@JsonCreator
	BlackberryDeviceMixin(
			@JsonProperty("device_pin") String deviceToken,
			@JsonProperty("alias") String alias,
			@JsonProperty("tags") List<String> tags,
			@JsonProperty("created") @JsonDeserialize(using=DateDeserializer.class) Date created,
			@JsonProperty("last_registration") @JsonDeserialize(using=DateDeserializer.class) Date lastRegistration,
			@JsonProperty("active") boolean active) {}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Barcelona is likely one of the most ancient cities in Spain, and positively it is rich with I offer a Barcelona Historical past Timeline, from 2000BC to the twelfth century. You'll be able to really watch all the favorite tv programs online from any location on this eibar vs real madrid planet supplied they've a steady internet connection. So it doesn't matter if you are sports fanatic and want to watch football, nfl, tennis, golf, baseball, basketball, athletics on-line; you'll get all of the sports channels that you simply need in a single package deal.
At the start of the current match, the Torneo Néstor Kirchner Clausura 2011 - Copa Malvinas Argentina, mainly all soccer fanatics and commentators shared the opinion that Estudiantes de La Plata, Vélez Sarsfield, Racing Membership and Boca Juniors had best playing cards to win the championship.
xkcd is a webcomic created in 2005 by American creator Randall Munroe Describing itself as "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language", its subjects embrace statements on life and love in addition to mathematical, programming, and scientific in-jokes. Though it has a forged of stick figures , the comic occasionally options landscapes, graphs, and intricate mathematical patterns reminiscent of fractals New cartoons are added three times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
It worked. Alto's Journey has been downloaded 36.5 million instances on Android, with 647 billion play periods whole, Snowman founder Ryan Cash told Engadget. Over the previous three months, Alto's Adventure Android gamers have logged on for a mean of thirteen million classes a day across 1.5 million devices. Take into accout, these numbers are all for a recreation that is more than two years old.
Within the dugout, Invoice Evers rounds out Rocco Baldelli 's employees as the most important league catching coach. Evers, sixty four, is a 30-year teaching veteran with experience as a bench coach, manager, and minor-league area coordinator. He managed Baldelli when he was a participant in Triple-A back in 2002, a relationship redolent of Alex Cora 's hiring of Ron Roenicke as his bench coach. Roenicke, too, managed his future helmsman when Cora was a prospect coming up in the Dodgers system.
The guests have actually started extra constructive - as was to be anticipated. Atletico are a well-drilled side though, urgent the man in possession always, forcing the play all the best way back to the goalkeeper earlier than it's as soon as again despatched ahead.


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text:
Dinowars: The Jurassic War of the Worlds is a comic book from Antarctic Press. It centers on Earth today beset by dinosaurs that escaped into space to avoid the ice age and have now returned to claim the world as their own, mirroring the original The War of the Worlds. The comic is written and illustrated by Eisner-nominated artist Rod Espinosa.

External links
 Gallery with preview images
 When Dinosaurs Attack!: Interview with Rod Espinosa

Antarctic Press titles
Comics based on The War of the Worlds
Dinosaurs in comic books


These are self-contained ice machines, which can fit underneath most counters. Produce less ice than other ice machines.
These modular ice machines have to be set on top of an storage ice bin. They can produce a lot more ice than an undercounter ice machine.
Put these ice bins under one of our modular ice machines, and then you've got yourself a great ice-machine-storage-bin-combo!
These are pre-matched modular ice machines with ice storage bins, so that you don't have to go through the trouble of matching them yourself.
The name says it all. These machines can create ice, dispense ice, and dispense water, either in countertop or floor model machines.
Making mojitos, frozen margaritas, daiquiris, or some Canadian frozen treat? Well you've come to right place then.
There are three major questions to ask when purchasing and ice machine. (1) What size ice machine should I have? (2) What is the amount of ice I need? (3) What type of ice do I want?
To know what size of machine you'll need, you'll need to do some measuring. If you don't have a lot of space, an undercounter machine (also known as self-contained) is ideal, and it doesn't necessarily need to go underneath a counter. If you have more then enough space and need a lot of ice, a modular unit with a bin could be ideal.
cafeteria: 1 lb per person.
And finally, you need to choose the type of ice you want. Cube ice is the most common and can be used in almost anything. Flake ice is great for displays at grocery stores and with seafood. And nugget ice is soft and chewable, making it great for beverages.
We know this is a lot of information. That's why we're here. If you're having a hard time knowing which ice machine you should buy, just give us a call toll free at 1-855-388-5999, and we can help you decide.


Today CD Projekt RED, the developer behind The Witcher franchise, released the Midwinter Update for Gwent.
The Midwinter Update is available for download now on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. Gwent is a card game found in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It gives you and your opponent a set of cards which simulate battles. You must use certain warriors at the right time to win. Gwent got a standalone experience a few months ago but since then many gamers have been asking for a single-player expansion. While this may seem like an odd request, The Witcher lore is so vast that a lot of stories can be told through it.


text:
Making Smart CRM Choices for 2009
This year, companies seeking to invest further -- or for the first time -- in a CRM software system will find not only a wide array of vendors, but also a large selection of computing platforms to support the application. These can range from Software as a Service offerings typified by the standard-...
SaaS Integration Woes and Other Things to Look Forward To in 2009
Finding business value in Software as a Service implementations is a perennial topic of discussion, no matter how established the SaaS business model becomes. In part, that's because it's more a business than a tech issue, and companies tend to focus more on features and functionality during the pro...
Microsoft's CRM Hustle
Microsoft CRM operations are in full swing, and bloggers are sharing tips and information. Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is now available. No, it's not a new release -- but as with anything Microsoft, the cyber-community is talking about implementation do's and don'ts. Microsoft is ...
The Buzz About Beehive
Oracle introduced a new collaborative platform called "Beehive" at OpenWorld last week. To be sure, it was hardly the only announcement the enterprise software vendor made -- but it did serve as grist for many bloggers. Oracle is basically jumping on a bandwagon in the collaboration space, said Davi...
The Many Points of Entry to Oracle OpenWorld
Oracle OpenWorld wasn't a day old before Twitter-like blog posts began peppering the Internet. Mike Gotta from the Burton Group posted notes encapsulating his essential gleanings from Charles Phillip's keynote. Paul Greenberg was equally terse in his posts, which numbered at least five by the middle...
Ruminations on CRM Following Gartner's Industry Bash
Gartner's CRM conference is always a big event for the industry. The 2008 gathering, which just wrapped, was no different, with attendees leaving the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in Oxon Hill, Md., in a thoughtful mood over the direction CRM is heading. Not surprisingly, there was a...
The Long Wait for Mobile CRM: Are We There Yet?
CRM users have been waiting for a viable mobile CRM market ecosystem to develop for years. To be sure, the industry tantalizes users with news that this or that vendor or offering or solution will herald mainstream application of this technology. For the most part, though, it hasn't happened yet, sa...
SugarCRM Leaps and Bounds and Other Cool Moves
Last week, SugarCRM made version 5.1 generally available. With its beta release earlier this year, the open source CRM provider broke new ground, providing innovations in business intelligence and an intriguing mobile app for the BlackBerry and the iPhone. Developers are particularly excited about t...
Bringing Web 2.0 Behind the Firewall
Some of your employees have a blog -- approved, of course -- as do some of your customers. In addition, your employees have been posting videos from the latest trade show on your Web site, as well as on some of your partner Web sites. Your latest project is the funneling of customer comments from yo...
The Customer Loyalty Myth
Do loyal customers translate into steady sales or profits? Intuitively, the answer should be yes -- and indeed, customer loyalty is a significant metric by which companies rate their performance. However, there a few problems with the concept of customer loyalty and a corporate strategy to develop i...
Microsoft Ready to Hit the Gas on CRM Accelerators
Microsoft will be rolling out eight CRM "accelerators" for its Dynamics CRM product line in the second half of 2008. On the Javista blog, Microsoft's Reuben Krippner gives readers a thorough update on what they will offer customers. On the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog, he shares information for ...
Landslide – and Other Moving and Shaking – in the Blogosphere
Landslide has a friend in blogger Chris Bucholtz, who writes, "Here's what Landslide provides in the new release: a single-screen interface that walks its users through the standard tasks that CRM fulfills -- gathering data on customers and leads -- and then beyond that into a set of processes that ...
Customer Conversations: Approach With Care
One best practice forward-looking companies have adopted is being proactive with online conversations that criticize, question -- or hopefully compliment -- a company's products or services. Not enough companies do this, of course, and of those that do, most do it more out of curiosity than anything...
Microsoft Plugs Dynamics, Cloud Services
Microsoft held its Worldwide Partner Conference last week, and Sonoma Partners' Mike Snyder summed up the event's highlights. "Once again, Microsoft CRM was a featured product at the conference! Microsoft sells thousands of products, but CRM gets plenty of attention," he wrote. "During the opening k...
Sizing Up the Cloud
Merrill Lynch has predicted that the cloud computing market could reach $160 billion by 2011. By any measure, in any industry, that's a huge number -- it's astronomical for one that can only be described as "nascent." To be sure, the potential for cloud computing is immense. Still, Merrill Lynch may...


text:
Destinations to Explore Using Miles and Points
Zermatt: Gateway to the Matterhorn
Andy Shuman
The Swiss call the Matterhorn "the mountain of the mountains", which is a particularly impressive designation, given its location in the Alps. This nearly triangular rock towers over beautiful Riffelsee Lake, and it is so famous that Disneyland decided to build a 147-foot-high replica in its honor.
Budget-Friendly Lisbon Doesn't Disappoint
Lisbon might not be as popular as Rome, Paris or London, but it's rich with culture, architectural beauty and history. The capital of Portugal is built on seven hills and has a lot to offer to visitors. And it's much more budget-friendly than most of Europe's capital cities.
The Unique Feudal Abbey of Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is often called the Wonder of the West. During high tides, its slender towers and sky-scraping turrets, encircled by stout ramparts and battlements, appear to rise out of the middle of the bay. In addition to being home to the abbey that is its namesake, this feudal town once served as an impenetrable fortification and jail.
Taiwan's Modern Marvels and Natural Beauty
Taiwan is an island nation probably best known for its modern cities, but it also has beautiful tropical beaches, sea-skirting cliffside roads, mountain peaks, hot springs and tranquil lakes. Portuguese sailors who saw it for the first time in the 16th century were so impressed with its natural beauty that they called it Ilha Formosa, which means Beautiful Island.
The City of Pearls: Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad sits at an ancient crossroads of commerce, and was once famous as a pearl and diamond trading center. Still known as the City of Pearls, its centuries-old shopping bazaars offer modern and exotic goods from all over India. This 400-year-old city on the banks of the Musi River is full of striking Qutb arches, royal palaces and minarets.
Serene and Mysterious Mount Koya, Japan
Nestled between eight mountain peaks in Japan, Mount Koya was once home to just one Buddhist monastery. The area, known locally as Koyasan, has since grown into a small, tranquil town with about 120 temples.
Medellin's Magnificent Mountain Setting
Nestled among seven hills, it almost feels like Medellin, the second largest city in Colombia, was built especially for tourists. That wasn't always the case. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was home to drug cartels and intense violence. But city planners have transformed the area into an international tourist destination.
The Mountainous Mediterranean Island of Corsica
The French island of Corsica is not only Napoleon's birthplace, but also an idyllic land of deep forests, stylish coastal towns and craggy peaks. Much of the island remains undeveloped, adding to the natural beauty of its stunning coastlines and mountains.
The Baroque Palaces and Gardens of Valletta, Malta
Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea located about 50 miles south of Sicily. Valletta, the capital of Malta, is nicknamed Superbissima, or "most proud" because of its many impressive and ornate Baroque palaces, churches and gardens. The preservation and historic importance of Valletta resulted in the entire city being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Take Time to Explore Tunis
Golden Mediterranean beaches, perpetually sunny weather, affordable luxuries and world-renowned resort villages abound in Tunisia, an amazing North African country rich in culture and history. Most visitors use Tunis, the country's capital, as a stepping stone to the nearby Mediterranean resorts of Hammamet and Sousse, or as the starting point for tours of the Sahara Desert. But you shouldn't rush to get out of Tunis.
Tourists are Flocking to Oman's Outstanding Beaches and Rich History
Oman, a Middle Eastern country bordered on three sides by the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is undergoing a tourism boom. The country's miles of pristine beaches, rich history, friendly people and stable political regime all but ensure a steady influx of travelers.
See the Giant Pandas of Chengdu
Chengdu is the fifth largest city in China and a booming economic center. More than 250 Fortune 500 companies have opened outposts in the city. But that's not why tourists are flocking there.
East Meets West in the Ancient City of Istanbul
Istanbul, founded in 657 B.C. as Byzantium, is an ancient transcontinental city. The historic city center lies in Europe, while a third of the city's population of 14.4 million lives in Asia. Because of its unique location, it's the largest city in both the Middle East and Europe. Located between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus Strait in Northwestern Turkey.
Rotterdam's Rich with Maritime History and Modern Culture
Rotterdam is both an historic city and a dynamic, modern metropolis. The Netherlands second largest city, it's known as "Manhattan on the Maas" for its high rises and impressive architecture. The city also boasts more than a dozen museums dedicated to architecture, contemporary art, natural history, maritime history and ship building.
Lose Yourself in the Ancient Medinas of Fez, Morocco
Founded in 1859 and featured in Travel and Leisure's Best Places to Travel in 2015, Fez has been called the "Mecca of the West" and the "Athens of Africa." It is Morocco's second largest city and home to more than a million people.
Experience Abu Dhabi's Sophistication and Culture
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the second biggest city in the country. As a travel destination, it is usually eclipsed by its more glamorous cousin Dubai, with its grandiose architecture and burgeoning travel industry.
Visit the European Capital of Culture: Mons, Belgium
You may have never heard of Mons, Belgium, but that's about to change. The latest CNN report on top travel destinations puts it in the spotlight as one of the prime places to visit in 2015, and for a good reason.
Explore the Extremes of Bolivia
Bolivia was once largely cut off to travelers due to endless transportation strikes and general dysfunction. But that's changed, and thanks in part to recent investments in tourist-friendly infrastructure it's number eight on the New York Times' 52 Places to Go in 2015.
Go Stargazing and Wine Tasting in Elqui Valley in Chile
The incredible clear skies, high altitude and remote location of the Elqui Valley in Chile have long made it the ideal environment for large research telescopes. But it has recently also become a hotbed for astrotourism. Small, private observatories now dot the landscape, along with quaint hotels catering to stargazers.
The Rainforests, Volcanos and Beaches of Costa Rica Draw Ecotourists
There are good reasons why Costa Rica is a prime ecotourism destination for North American tourists. It has hundreds of breathtaking waterfalls, peaceful lakes, and roaring rivers.