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Il Tien Shan o Tian Shan (in cinese: ; ; ) è un vasto sistema montuoso, posto al confine tra Asia centrale e orientale, esteso per circa 2.500 km da ovest/sud-ovest a est/nord-est e largo circa 500 km in alcuni punti delle sue estremità orientale e occidentale, ma solo circa 350 km nella sua parte centrale, costituendo prevalentemente il confine tra Cina e Kirghizistan e tagliando in due l'antico territorio del Turkestan.

Geografia
Confina a nord con il bacino di Junggar (o Zungaria) della Cina nord-occidentale e con le pianure del Kazakistan meridionale e a sud-est con il bacino del Tarim (o Talimu). A sud-ovest i monti Hisor (o Gissar) e Alay del Tagikistan si ricollegano ad alcuni punti del Tien Shan, facendo delle valli dell'Alay, del Surkhandarya e dello Hisor i confini del sistema, assieme al Pamir a sud. Comprende anche i monti Shū-Ile e i monti Qarataū, che si spingono verso nord-ovest nelle pianure del Kazakistan orientale. Entro questi confini l'area totale occupata è di circa 1.000.000 di km².

Le vette più alte sono un gruppo centrale di montagne formanti un nodo, dal quale varie creste montuose si estendono lungo i confini tra Cina, Kirghizistan e Kazakistan; queste vette sono il Pik Pobedy (in kirghiso Jengish Chokusu), che con i suoi 7.439 m è la cima più alta della catena, e il Picco Khan Tängiri (in kirghiso Kan-Too Chokusu), che raggiunge i 6.995 m ed è la vetta più alta del Kazakistan.

Morfologia

Il rilievo è caratterizzato da una combinazione di catene montuose e da una serie di valli e bacini intermedi che si allungano generalmente da est a ovest. La depressione più profonda nel Tien Shan orientale è la depressione di Turfan (o Turpan), regione in cui si trova il punto più basso dell'Asia centrale - 154 m sotto il livello del mare. Quindi, le differenze di altitudine sul Tien Shan sono estreme, superando i 7 km. L'estensione orientale della depressione di Turpan è il bacino di Hami (o Qumul); entrambi i bacini sono cinti a nord dai monti Bogda, che raggiungono i 5.445 m di altitudine, e dall'estremità orientale del Tien Shan, i monti Karlik, che raggiungono un'altitudine massima di 4.925 m.

Le montagne sono di tipo alpino, con pendici impervie; lungo le loro creste si estendono ghiacciai. I bacini sono cinti a sud dai monti Qoltag, poco elevati. A ovest della depressione di Turfan vi è uno dei più grandi nodi orografici del Tien Shan orientale: i monti Eren Habirga, che raggiungono i 5.550 m. Tale catena presenta un considerevole sviluppo glaciale, nonché numerose forme del rilievo indicanti che l'area fu il sito di un'antica glaciazione.

A ovest degli 84° di longitudine est, la catena orientale del Tien Shan si biforca, suddividendosi in una catena sud-occidentale e una nord-occidentale, e racchiude la vasta depressione della valle dell'Ili (in kazako Ile; in cinese Yili) in Kazakistan, che gradualmente si allarga e diminuisce di quota procedendo verso ovest. Essa è cinta a nord dai monti Borohoro, che ospitano ghiacciai nella parte orientale e sono caratterizzati da creste dalle pendici ripide. Anche questa catena si abbassa gradualmente procedendo verso ovest, dove a una quota di 2.073 m si trova il grande lago Sayram, privo di emissari. La depressione dell'Ili è limitata a sud dalle più alte montagne del Tien Shan centrale - i monti Halik, che culminano a 6.811 m, e gli isolati monti Ketpen (o Ketmen), che si innalzano fino a 3.474 m nella parte centrale della depressione.

L'estremità settentrionale del settore kazako del Tien Shan forma i monti Zhonggar Alataū (o Džungarski Alataū) (4.464 m), soggetti a considerevole azione glaciale. A sud i monti Ile Alataū (o Trans-Ili Alataū) si innalzano improvvisamente sulla depressione dell'Ili fino a un'altezza di 4.973 m. La transizione successiva delle zone climatiche, determinata dall'altitudine, dalle steppe aride e asciutte delle quote inferiori alle zone glaciali delle cime, è ben evidente sulle pendici settentrionali di questa catena. Anche i monti Kyrgyz Ala (o Qyrghyz Ala) e Talas Alataū, che si innalzano al di sopra dei 4.000 m e sono situati più a ovest, appartengono alla catena esterna del Tien Shan settentrionale. Vi è una grande differenza altitudinale tra queste creste montuose esterne e le pianure sottostanti. I torrenti, di conseguenza, scendono lungo i fianchi delle montagne attraverso profonde gole e, raggiunte le pianure, formano vasti conoidi alluvionali di limo e fango. Sul terreno fertile formato da questo processo sono situate molte oasi e centri abitati, comprese le città di Almaty in Kazakistan e Bishkek in Kirghizistan. I monti Küngöy Ala (o Küngey Alataū) e Teskey Ala (o Terskey-Alataū) appartengono anch'essi al Tien Shan settentrionale. I Teskey Ala culminano a circa 5.300 m e cingono il vasto bacino del lago Ysyk (o Ysyk-köl), al centro del quale è situato il lago omonimo.

Il settore occidentale del bacino del fiume Ak-Say (Toshkan in Cina) e gran parte del bacino del fiume Naryn sono situati entro il bacino interno del Tien Shan. Questa regione è caratterizzata dall'alternanza di catene montuose relativamente brevi e vallate, entrambe estese da est a ovest. L'altitudine media di queste montagne varia da circa 3.000 a 4.600 m, mentre quella delle depressioni che le separano varia da 1.800 a 3.200 m. Le più importanti tra queste catene montuose sono i monti Borkoldoy, Dzhetym, At-Bashy e Kakshaal (o Kokshaal-Tau), con il Picco Dankova che culmina a 5.982 m.

L'altitudine delle montagne cresce sui monti Sary-Jaz (o Saryzhaz) nel Tien Shan centrale, situati a est dei monti Ak-Shyyrak (o Akshiyrak). Qui le distinte catene convergono gradualmente, formando l'elevato nodo orografico già menzionato, che comprende il Picco Khan Tängiri e il Pik Pobedy.

Diversamente da gran parte delle catene del Tien Shan, che corrono approssimativamente lungo un asse est-ovest, i monti Fergana Kyrka, che separano la regione interna dal Tien Shan occidentale e meridionale, si allungano da sud-est a nord-ovest. Essi culminano a 4.940 m. Le pendici sud-occidentali mostrano tutta una varietà di zone climatiche nel corso della loro discesa graduale.

Le catene del Tien Shan occidentale si estendono a nord della valle di Fergana. In questa regione alcune catene brevi, ma elevate e scoscese, che corrono lungo un asse sud-ovest/nord-est incontrano i fianchi meridionali di catene che si allungano verso ovest e nord-ovest. Le cime più elevate si trovano sui monti Chatkal (4.503 m), e l'altitudine prevalente varia tra i 2.300 e i 3.200 m.

Le catene del Tien Shan meridionale (comprendenti, tra le altre, i monti Turkistan, Zeravshan e Alay) cingono a sud la valle di Fergana e si estendono prevalentemente da est a ovest. Culminano a 5.621 m, con varie vette che superano i 4.600 m. A sud il Tien Shan incontra il Pamir. Una serie di colline pedemontane si sviluppano lungo le pendici settentrionali di queste catene, e nelle pianure sottostanti sorgono oasi.

Geologia
Le montagne del Tien Shan sono costituite principalmente da rocce cristalline e sedimentarie dell'era paleozoica (circa 540-250 milioni di anni fa). I bacini che si estendono tra le montagne sono ricoperti da sedimenti più giovani formatisi in breve tempo dall'azione erosiva dei fiumi della regione. Affioramenti di rocce granitiche si trovano in gran parte dei settori settentrionale e orientale del Tien Shan.

Il corrugamento dei settori settentrionale e orientale della regione avvenne durante l'orogenesi del Paleozoico inferiore; a quell'epoca essi si sollevarono dal mare che un tempo ricopriva la regione, e la loro copertura sedimentaria originale è stata quasi completamente cancellata dall'erosione. I settori meridionale e occidentale del Tien Shan, tuttavia, consistono principalmente da rocce sedimentarie metamorfosate (dalla struttura trasformata dal calore e dalla pressione) e, in minor quantità, da rocce intrusive e vulcaniche. Queste regioni sperimentarono un corrugamento durante il Paleozoico superiore.

Un nuovo stadio di sviluppo, protrattosi fino a oggi, ebbe inizio circa 25 milioni di anni fa. Esso è stato caratterizzato da improvvisi movimenti della crosta terrestre. Frammenti sciolti di roccia sono scivolati nelle vallate, formando accumuli; quelli nella valle di Fergana sono spessi quasi 8 km. In molte vallate si formarono laghi poco profondi, successivamente evaporati, che hanno lasciato al loro posto depositi salini.

Successivamente, i ghiacciai produssero sulle montagne morene costituite da sedimenti di massi, mentre ghiaia (sedimenti erosi dalle acque) e loess (sedimenti depositati dal vento) si accumularono nelle vallate. Nell'area avvengono movimenti di faglia, generalmente lungo i confini tra le creste montane e le valli. Movimenti orizzontali su vasta scala sono avvenuti lungo la grande faglia Talas-Fergana, che attraversa quasi l'intero sistema del Tien Shan lungo le pendici nord-orientali dei monti Fergana Kyrka e la loro estensione nord-occidentale. I movimenti più profondi sono associati ai catastrofici terremoti avvenuti a Verny (1887), a Kashgar (o Kashi; 1902), sulle catene del Tien Shan settentrionale (1911), e a Chatkal (1946) e Khait (1948).

Glaciologia

La superficie totale occupata dai ghiacciai del Tien Shan è di circa 10.100 km², approssimativamente per i quattro quinti in Kirghizistan e Kazakistan. Le maggiori aree occupate dai ghiacciai sono quelle attorno al Khan Tängiri e al Pik Pobedy e i monti Eren Habirg. Molti ghiacciai si trovano inoltre sui monti Kakshaal, Ak-Shyyrak, Ile Alataū e sul Tien Shan meridionale. Il ghiacciaio più grande del Tien Shan è il ghiacciaio Engil'chek (o Inylchek), lungo circa 60 km; scende lungo le pendici occidentali del massiccio del Khan Tängiri e si suddivide in numerose ramificazioni. Tra gli altri grandi ghiacciai di quest'area ricordiamo il North Engil'chek (39 km) e quello situato in prossimità del passo Muzat (34 km). La lunghezza dei maggiori ghiacciai del Tien Shan, tuttavia, è di 10–19 km; più comuni sono i ghiacciai che occupano il fondo di vallate relativamente piccole, lunghi 2,4–5 km.

I ghiacciai vengono generalmente alimentati dalle nevi che cadono sui ghiacciai stessi o dalle valanghe provenienti dalle pendici circostanti. L'azione dei ghiacciai del Tien Shan è apparentemente in decrescita; la maggior parte dei ghiacciai stanno infatti recedendo o rimangono immobili. A partire dalla metà del XX secolo, tuttavia, i grandi ghiacciai della parte centrale del Tien Shan hanno effettuato avanzate a breve termine. I ghiacciai del Tien Shan alimentano molti grandi fiumi, tra cui il Naryn, il Sarydzhaz, l'Ili, l'Aksu e lo Zeravshan.

Idrografia

L'intervento umano alle altitudini inferiori ha modificato irreparabilmente l'intera rete idrografica del Tien Shan. Vasti sistemi di irrigazione nelle vallate pedemontane hanno ridotto notevolmente l'apporto delle acque dirette verso il mare d'Aral e il bacino del Tarim. Il prelievo di acque per impiego sia agricolo che urbano è particolarmente caratteristico dei fiumi Ili e Kaidu nel Tien Shan orientale. La portata attuale di questi fiumi è divenuta trascurabile. Perfino il livello del lago Ysyk, che ha acque salate, è diminuito in seguito a deviazioni periferiche. Centrali idroelettriche sono state costruite in un gran numero di gole; la diga di Toktogul sul fiume Naryn è la più grande. Inoltre, piccoli impianti sfruttano l'energia dei fiumi occidentali, quali il Kaxgar (o Kashgar), l'Ak-Say e l'Aksu, in piena per il disgelo estivo.

Clima
La posizione del Tien Shan al centro dell'Eurasia governa il suo clima spiccatamente continentale, caratterizzato da grandi escursioni termiche tra estate e inverno. La caratteristica aridità della regione si manifesta nei deserti e nelle regioni aride circostanti. L'area assorbe molto calore solare, e ogni anno vi sono circa 2.500 ore di Sole. Il clima si fa progressivamente più rigido e più umido man mano che aumenta l'altitudine delle montagne. Le zone di permafrost (suolo con temperature perennemente al di sotto degli 0 °C per due o più anni) sono molto frequenti al di sopra dei 2.750 m. Le masse d'aria prevalenti vengono trasportate sul Tien Shan da venti occidentali carichi di umidità provenienti dall'oceano Atlantico. Gran parte delle precipitazioni cade sulle pendici sopravvento occidentali e nord-occidentali tra i 2.300 e i 2.750 m; esse variano da un minimo di 710–790 mm annui a un massimo di 1.500–2.000 mm annui.

A est e nelle regioni interne del Tien Shan, il totale delle precipitazioni scende a 200–400 mm, e in alcune località addirittura a meno di 100 mm. Sul Tien Shan meridionale la maggior parte delle precipitazioni cade in marzo e aprile, e l'estate è asciutta. Sul Tien Shan occidentale e settentrionale, la maggior parte delle piogge cadono nel periodo caldo dell'anno, con un massimo in aprile o maggio. Gran parte delle piogge nelle regioni interne e orientali del Tien Shan cadono durante i mesi estivi. Molte valli di montagna vengono utilizzate come pascoli invernali a causa della scarsa quantità di neve che cade durante l'inverno.

Nel Tien Shan le temperature variano molto, soprattutto in base all'altitudine. L'estate è calda nelle colline pedemontane: le temperature medie in luglio possono raggiungere i 27 °C nella valle di Fergana, i 23 °C nella depressione della valle dell'Ili, e addirittura i 34 °C a est, nella depressione di Turfan, dove il clima è ancora più continentale. La temperatura in luglio a una quota di circa 3.200 m nel Tien Shan interno scende fino a 5 °C, e possono esserci gelate in ogni periodo dell'estate. La temperatura media di gennaio nella valle di Fergana è di -4 °C, nella depressione dell'Ili di -10 °C e nelle regioni alpine del Tien Shan interno può scendere fino a -23 °C; in alcuni luoghi (in particolare nella valle dell'Ak-Say) sono state registrate temperature anche di -50 °C.

Flora

Le caratteristiche della flora della regione sono determinate per lo più dalle distinte zone di altitudine, alle quali corrisponde una diversa distribuzione di suoli e vegetazione. Nelle colline pedemontane e nelle pianure ai piedi delle montagne, si trovano generalmente aree semidesertiche e desertiche; nella sezione orientale queste zone si incontrano fino a 1.500–1.800 m di quota. Nel Tien Shan tali zone sono caratterizzate da crescite di vegetazione effimera che appassisce agli inizi dell'estate; erbe xerofile (resistenti alla siccità), assenzio e specie deserticole di arbusti del genere Ephedra sono diffuse un po' in tutta l'area. L'ambiente naturale più comune del Tien Shan è la steppa, che si incontra a quote comprese tra i 1.050 e i 3.350 m. In Cina e nelle repubbliche dell'Asia centrale sono state intraprese apposite misure per ripristinare vaste aree di steppa che erano state danneggiate dal sovrappascolo.

Le foreste del Tien Shan occupano la fascia compresa tra steppe e prati alpini. Si sviluppano principalmente sui versanti settentrionali a quote comprese tra i 1.500 e i 3.000 m. Sui versanti più bassi delle catene esterne, le foreste sono prevalentemente decidue, costituite da aceri e pioppi tremuli, con una grande varietà di alberi da frutto selvatici (meli e albicocchi). Vaste aree dei versanti sud-occidentali dei monti Fergana Kyrka sono occupate da antiche foreste di noci. Boschetti di pistacchi, noci e ginepri si possono rinvenire fino a 2.000 m di quota sui versanti in ombra di alcune catene del Tien Shan occidentale e centrale. A nord e a est della valle di Fergana, predominano le foreste di conifere (molto importante è un endemismo, Abies sibirica semenovii, sottospecie di A. sibirica che vegeta sui Monti Talas Alataū). A quote più elevate esse vengono spesso rimpiazzate da foreste sparse di ginepri. Le foreste paludose che crescono sul fondo delle vallate fluviali, in cui crescevano originariamente pioppi tremuli, betulle, pioppi e vari arbusti, si trovano a grande distanza dalla zona di foresta. Nel corso dei millenni, il prelievo di legna da ardere ha ridotto gran parte del manto boschivo in alcune aree, anche se il trasferimento forzato di molti abitanti di montagna nelle valli irrigate a partire dalla seconda metà del XX secolo ha invertito il processo.

Le radure e le zone adiacenti alla linea superiore degli alberi sono generalmente ricoperte da prati. Prati subalpini di erbe miste e cereali si estendono fin quasi a 3.000 m sui più umidi versanti settentrionali, ma su quelli meridionali questi vengono generalmente rimpiazzati da steppe di montagna. Prati alpini di erbe basse si spingono fino a 3.500 m. Nelle regioni interne e orientali del Tien Shan, a quote comprese tra i 3.400 e i 3.700 m e talvolta superiori, le aree pieneggianti e i versanti dai pendii più dolci sono ricoperti da «deserti freddi», con vegetazione sparsa e breve. Muschi e licheni sono diffusi nelle aree della zona glaciale prive della copertura del suolo.

Fauna

La diversità e la distribuzione degli animali e degli uccelli del Tien Shan sono cresciute sensibilmente in seguito al trasferimento di gran parte della popolazione umana verso quote inferiori. Tra le specie tipiche della fauna di montagna figurano lupi, volpi ed ermellini. Sono presenti anche molte specie esclusive dell'Asia centrale, che abitano prevalentemente sulle montagne più elevate; tra queste ricordiamo leopardi delle nevi, stambecchi, wapiti della Manciuria, caprioli e argali. La zona di foresta-prato-steppa è abitata da orsi, cinghiali, tassi, arvicole, membri della famiglia dei gerboa (roditori saltanti notturni) e membri della famiglia degli Ocotonidi (mammiferi dalle orecchie corte parenti dei conigli). Tra i molti uccelli ricordiamo pernici di montagna, piccioni, gracchi alpini, corvi, ballerine di montagna, codirossi, birket (una particolare sottospecie dell'aquila reale), avvoltoi, galli delle nevi himalayani e altre specie. Le zone inferiori - regioni desertiche e semidesertiche - sono visitate da animali provenienti dalle pianure limitrofe, quali antilopi, gazzelle, lepri di Tolai e criceti grigi. Sono presenti anche lucertole e serpenti.

Popolazioni

Situato lungo il confine tra Turkestan orientale e occidentale, il Tien Shan è la dimora di molti gruppi etnici. I più numerosi tra questi sono i Kirghisi e gli Uiguri, concentrati rispettivamente a ovest e a est. Altri gruppi che risiedono lungo le aree periferiche sono Kazaki, Mongoli e Uzbeki. La porzione cinese della valle dell'Ili ha attratto una grande quantità di immigrati, compresi rifugiati da disordini civili provenienti da altre regioni. Una contea autonoma per i Mongoli, di religione buddhista, è situata nel Tien Shan orientale; l'islamismo sunnita predomina presso le comunità kirghise e uigure, mentre piccole comunità relitte di ebrei e di cristiani ortodossi russi sono presenti a Ürümqi e nei suoi dintorni nella regione autonoma uigura dello Xinjiang, in Cina. Durante la seconda guerra mondiale molti gruppi etnici russi, ucraini, ebrei, tatari e caucasici provenienti dal settore occidentale dell'Unione Sovietica furono trasferiti nelle città-oasi del Tien Shan sovietico. Con il consolidamento del controllo cinese nel Turkestan orientale, i Cinesi (Han) sono divenuti ubiquitari negli insediamenti urbani del Tien Shan orientale.

I grandi centri abitati sono etnicamente diversificati. Le città della valle di Fergana attraggono lavoratori immigrati provenienti dal territorio circostante, e lo stesso fanno le capitali regionali di Bishkek, in Kirghizistan, e Almaty, in Kazakistan; nel settore orientale cinese della catena montuosa domina la grande città di Ürümqi. La sedentarizzazione forzata di popolazioni nomadi e transumanti veniva praticata in precedenza sia dal governo cinese che da quello sovietico, ma attualmente alcuni spostamenti stagionali sono stati restaurati, e le pratiche agricole si sono adattate a questo utilizzo variabile del territorio. Nonostante l'ambiente marginale del Tien Shan, migranti provenienti dalla Cina orientale, dalla Siberia e dall'Asia centrale continuano a trasferirsi in gran numero nella regione. Le montagne e i laghi, specialmente quelli in prossimità dei centri urbani, attraggono numerosi visitatori estivi.

Storia

Nell'antichità la Via della Seta che collegava la Cina e l'Asia sud-occidentale correva lungo il margine meridionale del Tien Shan. Una serie di conflitti continentali limitò l'utilizzo di questa rotta dopo il 1500 circa. Le ambizioni delle potenze imperiali - Russia, Cina e Gran Bretagna - alla fine del XIX secolo cancellarono le unità politiche tribali della regione. Le dispute per il controllo del territorio vennero successivamente risolte e furono stabilite precise linee di confine.

A partire dalla seconda guerra mondiale le principali esplorazioni scientifiche della regione sono state di natura applicata. Nell'area sono state effettuate ricerche per valutare lo sfruttamento a scopo agricolo delle acque del disgelo estivo, ricerche geomorfologiche per determinare la stabilità dei versanti nei pressi delle vie di trasporto, e ricerche biogeografiche sul campo volte ad aumentare la produttività di praterie e foreste. L'estesa mappatura delle montagne, effettuata in particolare dai cinesi, ha permesso una pianificazione dettagliata per la costruzione di strade e siti industriali.

Economia

Risorse naturali
L'irrigazione, sia attraverso i sistemi tradizionali di acquedotti sotterranei che drenano il substrato acquifero adiacente ai corsi d'acqua di deflusso o attraverso grandi reti di canali, fornisce la base per gli insediamenti umani. Nelle vallate, l'irrigazione permette la crescita di cotone, frumento e colture foraggere e consente di innaffiare i pascoli. Sui versanti liberi dal gelo dei conoidi alluvionali, gli alberi da frutto vengono coltivati in tutti gli insediamenti delle repubbliche dell'Asia centrale. L'allevamento dei bovini ha in gran parte rimpiazzato la pastorizia tradizionale di pecore e capre nel settore occidentale della catena montuosa, mentre un allevamento misto di pecore e cavalli prevale nel settore orientale; nell'est viene inoltre allevato un piccolo numero di yak e cammelli della Battriana.

Il Tien Shan è ricco di minerali. Petrolio, gas naturale e carbone sono presenti nelle vallate, mentre le alte montagne contengono quantità commerciali di vari metalli non ferrosi (antimonio, mercurio, piombo, zinco, nichel e tungsteno) e di fosfati. L'estrazione di petrolio e gas naturale e l'estrazione e la lavorazione di metalli non ferrosi ha stimolato la rapida industrializzazione dei versanti settentrionali delle catene orientali; la trasformazione dei prodotti alimentari e la produzione tessile sono le altre principali attività industriali nelle repubbliche. Nell'area di Ürümqi, in Cina, predominano la produzione di veicoli a motore e l'industria alimentare.

Trasporti

A partire dalla fine della seconda guerra mondiale, sono stati fatti notevoli investimenti nelle infrastrutture di trasporto della regione. Le ferrovie delle repubbliche attualmente sono collegate a quelle della Cina attraverso la porta di Zungaria (un passo al confine tra Cina e Kazakistan) e le sponde del lago Ysyk. Le ferrovie del lato cinese penetrano a ovest fino al bacino del Tarim e alla valle di Fergana. Strade collegano le valli più interne, e un servizio aereo giornaliero è disponibile nella maggior parte delle città. Il lago Ysyk e il fiume Ili vengono sfruttati come vie d'acqua.

Note

Bibliografia
 Istituto Geografico De Agostini. Il Milione, vol. V (Regione fennoscandica - U.R.S.S.), pagg. 333-340. Novara, 1962.
 Istituto Geografico De Agostini. Il Milione, vol. VIII (Regione cinese - Regione indocinese), pagg. 25-62. Novara, 1962.
 The Contemporary Atlas of China. 1988. London: Marshall Editions Ltd. Reprint 1989. Sydney: Collins Publishers Australia.
 The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World. Eleventh Edition. 2003. Times Books Group Ltd. London.

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

 United Nations University (2009) digital video "Finding a place to feed: Kyrgyz shepherds & pasture loss": Shepherd shares family's observations and adaptation to the changing climate in highland pastures of Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan mountains Accessed 1 December 2009

Catene montuose dell'Asia
Tien Shan
Tien Shan
Tien Shan
Patrimoni dell'umanità della Cina
Patrimoni dell'umanità del Kazakistan
Patrimoni dell'umanità del Kirghizistan
Patrimoni dell'umanità dell'Uzbekistan


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Tourism Events
The Arena di Verona mourns the passing of Maestro Franco Zeffirelli
15/06/2019By travelweeklyPosted in News
The tragic news of the death of Maestro Zeffirelli, creator of dreams, arrived today in the Arena di Verona Foundation, while definitive preparations are underway for the rehearsal of his last and long awaited Traviata, which will debut on June 21st in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic Mattarella.
The Superintendent and Artistic Director of Arena di Verona, Cecilia Gasdia – Zeffirelli's friend since her very young debut on the scene, was taken by surprise on a very intense day and, for all the workers, artistic complexes and administrative employees of the Foundation, declared: "We all loved Maesrto Zaffirelli unconditionally, he has indelibly marked our professional and personal lives.
Our heart cry for the man, the artist, the friend, but if we really want to honor him as he deserves, we must not allow this to happen: we will hide our sorrow by working at best, at most of our strength to honour his genius, because his last Traviata, but also his Troubadour, shine and contribute to the future memory of his irreplaceable genius.
We have the tools and its imprimatur as well, because Traviata comes from afar, a year of intense work in which every detail, has been shared with its historical assistants and collaborators of the Arena Foundation who have absorbed the thought.
Once this dutiful homage is over we will finally be able to vent our private feelings and mourn it. Now we still have to work for him even if, unfortunately, without him. "
And it is the entire city of Verona that mourns the passing of the Master, because his mark is strong in the urban and social fabric of the city that felt him a friend and accomplice of many summers.
Buzz travel | eTurboNews |Travel News
Article Source: https://www.eturbonews.com/
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Founder died in Palma de Mallorca
Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen, a founder of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) and a visionary strategist of the modern cruise industry, died Saturday, April 11, 2020, in Palma, Spain. He was 90. […]
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


may not be present in all implementations.
one part, an enabler, of a complete Internet Printing solution.
administrators requirements will be included in version 1.0.
include support for these initially excluded requirements.
altering the attributes of a print job.
printer, as an attribute of an IPP Printer.
controlling the authorization of other end-users and operators.
in this document can be met by existing protocols and services.
enumerated values for existing attributes.
and releasing of jobs are not requirements for IPP v1.0.
match between these scenarios and the implementation documents.
Kinko's print shop. The report was written using Microsoft Word.
printer is capable of spooling the output. No errors occur.
She connects to the URI given to get a driver.


text:
1.0.3 / 2015-03-05
======================

 * fix error when `development` is set to `true` but the `.development` property does not exist

1.0.2 / 2014-11-22
======================

 * consider changes for files listed in the `.development` property

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
CBD ME - NEWS FEED
CBD ME - NEWS FEED curated by WHITE LABEL
We aim to present you with a curated yet balanced selection of news featuring what we believe to be relevant stories, including different / negative points of view on our industry and covering our competitors, so you have access to a broad spectrum of information in order to make the most informed decisions possible.
Reefer Madness or Pot Paradise? The Surprising Legacy of the Place Where Legal Weed Began | THE NEW YORK TIMES
June 30, 2019 / white label cbd market/ Davey Napoli
Colorado's first-in-the-nation experiment with legalized marijuana has infused the drug into almost every corner of life.
WLM Synopsis:
This article focuses on Colorado five years after its first-in-the-nation legalization of cannabis.
Legalization is viewed to have changed health, politics, rural culture, and criminal justice in surprising ways.
The reporter summarizes the changes are somewhere between the fears of critics and hopes of the industry and offer a vision of the future for other states as they legalize.
As an example, teenage use has actually fallen slightly since medical marijuana ramped up in 2009 and flat since full legalization.
On the other hand, twice as many Colorado residents smoke compared to the rest of the country (we wonder how sampling bias in states where it is still illegal are accounted for).
A lot is also made of increased hospital visits related to cannabis use but also acknowledges that "none" of these resulted in death.
The article also delves into the other social and economic impacts of cannabis, positive and negative.
Workers prepared for marijuana planting on Woody Farms in Pueblo, Colo. The state's first-in-the-nation experiment with legalizing recreational marijuana put it on the front lines of changing America's drug laws.CreditCreditBenjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times
DENVER — Serenity Christensen, 14, is too young to set foot in one of Colorado's many marijuana shops, but she was able to spot a business opportunity in legal weed. She is a Girl Scout, and this year, she and her mother decided to sell their cookies outside a dispensary. "Good business," Serenity said.
But on the other side of Denver, legalization has turned another high school student, David Perez, against the warehouselike marijuana cultivations now clustered around his neighborhood. He said their skunky aroma often smacks him in the face when he walks out his front door.
These are the ripples of five years of legal marijuana. Colorado's first-in-the-nation experiment has reshaped health, politics, rural culture and criminal justice in surprising ways that often defy both the worst warnings of critics and blue-sky rhetoric of the marijuana industry, giving a glimpse of what the future may hold as more and more states adopt and debate full legalization.
Since recreational sales began in 2014, more people here are visiting emergency rooms for marijuana-related problems, and hospitals report higher rates of mental-health cases tied to marijuana. At the same time, thousands of others make uneventful stops at dispensaries every day, like the hiking guide in the college town of Boulder who now keeps a few marijuana gummies in a locked bag to help her relax before bed.
Some families rattled by their children's marijuana problems have moved, seeking refuge in less permissive states. But over all, state surveys do not show an increase in young people smoking pot.
And while low-level marijuana charges have plummeted, the racial divide in drug arrests has persisted. State numbers show that African-Americans in Colorado were still being arrested on marijuana charges at nearly twice the rate of white people.
"You don't see drug-addled people roaming the streets, but we haven't created a utopia," said Jonathan Singer, who was one of just two state legislators who endorsed the Colorado ballot measure that made it legal for adults 21 and over to buy, consume and grow recreational marijuana.
Mr. Singer nodded to his 3-year-old, who sat in the back seat one afternoon as they headed to a picnic. "The fact that I'm willing to have this conversation in front of my daughter," he said, "shows how much we've destigmatized this."
The 'Drug Talk,' Rewritten
This is the world reconfigured by legalization — the world that 18-year-old Ethan Pierson grew up in. He was born the same year that Colorado's first medical-marijuana law took effect. He watched dispensaries bloom along the commercial streets leading to his high school in suburban Lakewood.
"If you live in Colorado, it feels like somebody's always smoking next to you," said Mr. Pierson, who abstains.
Doctors, educators and state officials have been particularly worried about the effects of legalization on Colorado's youth. Would a proliferation of recreational pot shops make marijuana seem innocuous to teenagers, despite studies showing that it is harmful to their developing minds? Would teenage pot use spike? How would it affect graduation rates and school discipline?
Five years in, surveys show that most Colorado teenagers are like Mr. Pierson: They may have tried it, but 80 percent are not current marijuana users. State surveys show that teenage marijuana use has fallen slightly since medical marijuana sales ramped up in 2009, and has been basically flat since full legalization.
But Mr. Pierson and other students and parents said that legalization had changed marijuana's image and availability.
Ethan Pierson was born the same year that Colorado's first medical-marijuana law took effect.CreditBenjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times
Older siblings or even parents can now buy it legally and pass it along. Classmates take Snapchat videos of one another smoking on the edges of school. Instead of dime bags, there is now a buffet of concentrates, tinctures and edibles — still illegal for young people, but easy to come by.
"It's easy to conceal," Mr. Pierson said. "They carry it around in their purse or pencil bag."
Some school administrators say they are catching more students using marijuana and fewer drinking. School disciplinary numbers show that marijuana is a leading reason students are punished or handed over to the police. But the overall number of students being expelled for drug infractions has actually fallen since legalization, in part because Colorado lawmakers sought to get rid of "zero tolerance" policies at schools around the same time pot was legalized.
In a fourth-floor juvenile courtroom in Denver, where children stand in front of a magistrate on charges including curfew violations and fighting, the number of marijuana possession cases is thinning out. The share of teenagers arrested for marijuana offenses has fallen by about 20 percent since Colorado voted to legalize, but black youths and adults are still getting arrested at much higher rates than white or Hispanic Coloradans, according to a state report. In 2017, black people in the state were arrested on marijuana charges at double the rate of white ones, according to the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice.
Note: Juveniles are between 10 and 17 years old. Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation. By Jason Kao
Some parents said that marijuana was becoming too normal, another legally permissible health risk with slick marketing, like alcohol or cigarettes. But marijuana shops cannot advertise on billboards. They are required to check identification at the door. They are supposed to be located at least 1,000 feet from schools. Edibles can no longer look like gummy bears or fruit or be called "candies."
To some parents, this is not enough. They say their children smell marijuana on hikes, and count dispensaries on their rides home from school. Before play dates, Ben Cort now asks other parents whether they keep marijuana in the house before his daughter visits a new friend's home. Sujata Fretz, a physician in Denver, said she found herself having a conversation with her 13-year-old son about marijuana that was shaped by the proliferation of the industry.
"I'm forced to have a conversation with my kids because it's more public and out there," Dr. Fretz said. "I can't just say, 'Hey drugs are bad' when it's legal and there are stores that sell it. My goal is to get them to not use marijuana."
'Nothing Is Completely Safe'
The numbers seem clear: Nearly twice as many Coloradans smoke pot as the rest of America. The number of adults who use has edged up since legalization.
Now, the battle between legalization's supporters and foes is focused on whether heavier pot use is hurting people's health. It is a high-stakes question, and Andrew Monte, an emergency and medical toxicology physician and researcher at the University of Colorado Hospital, is on the front lines, trying to decipher what the numbers are saying.
Hospital data analyzed by Dr. Monte and others indicate that more people are arriving at emergency rooms for marijuana-related reasons. He has treated many of them. Some are heavy marijuana users with severe vomiting. Others are children who have eaten edibles, accidentally or not. They come to the E.R. disoriented, dehydrated or hallucinating after consuming too much marijuana.
"There's a disconnect between what was proposed as a completely safe drug," Dr. Monte said. "Nothing is completely safe."
And researchers have reported that patients in the E.R. with marijuana-related cases were five times as likely to have a mental-health issue as those with other cases.
The state has seen a proliferation of recreational pot shops.CreditBenjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times
Five years of legalization have yielded stories of haunting deaths: A father of three who shot his wife dead after eating edibles. A young man visiting Colorado whose family blamed his suicide at a ski resort on the marijuana he had consumed. Rising numbers of drivers in fatal traffic crashes who test positive for marijuana (though a positive test does not necessarily mean the driver was high).
But none of the emergency-room visits tracked by researchers in recent studies ended with a patient's death. And Dr. Monte, who has treated and studied so many cannabis cases, said that thousands of Coloradans every day safely use marijuana.
A retired farmer in Southern Colorado takes it as a balm for his aching feet. It was how a woman in Denver surmounted the nausea and pain after a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. Veterans fought to use it for post-traumatic stress. Children use it for severe seizure disorders. It is how Alli Fronzaglia, who runs a women's hiking group, relaxes before bed.
"It's not wreaking havoc," she said. "There are people using responsibly in Colorado."
Stephanie Angell, 63, used to think she was one of them. Then she began smoking heavily every day, after she learned she had multiple sclerosis in 2014. She started smoking after waking up, and then gravitated to the thick, amberlike extractions that offer higher concentrations of psychoactive THC. Dispensaries offered specials, she said, like Edible Wednesdays.
"I began to smoke morning, noon and night," she said.
Compared with the 72,000 drug overdose deaths in America in 2017, with the crimes and loss spawned by the opioid crisis, marijuana addiction, users say, can seem too innocuous to even merit attention. State health data have not shown a surge of patients seeking addiction treatment.
But Ms. Angell said her habit had left her life dull, like a worn pencil. She lost interest in cross-stitching and other hobbies and felt like she had to smoke before going to the movies or to dinner.
Ms. Angell still supports legalization. But she and other heavy users say the risks of marijuana dependence are real, and are being overlooked as medical and recreational marijuana spread to 34 states. While legalization efforts failed this year in states including New Jersey and New York, Illinois last week became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana.
"There's a real denial," Ms. Angell said. "It's a very subtle, subtle addiction."
Planting and Busts
There's a new kind of planting season in Pueblo County, home to wide acres of pastureland and green chile fields that elected officials want to remake as the Napa Valley of legal weed.
Law-enforcement officials say that legalization has also created fertile soil for black-market cultivations that pop up in basements. Legalization advocates said that regulating marijuana would starve cartels and illegal marijuana trafficking. But some officials say it has made the problem worse.
As licensed growers in Pueblo legally harvested 113,000 marijuana plants from fields and greenhouses, police and sheriff's officers here have been raiding houses converted to illegal cultivations that they say export marijuana to other states. People cover the windows to hide the glowing grow lights. They rewire the electric and water lines to avoid the meters.
Michael Cole is the owner of Colorado Rocky Mountain Farms, which grows marijuana, in Pueblo.CreditBenjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times
Last month, police and federal drug-enforcement agents raided 240 homes around Denver and Northern Colorado that were illegally growing marijuana, the largest sweep since legalization. Jason Dunn, the United States attorney in Denver, said it was a sign Colorado had become "the epicenter of black-market marijuana in the United States."
Legalization coincided with a 20 percent rise in violent crime rates in Colorado from 2012 to 2017, according to a state report, giving ammunition to critics. But it is almost impossible to attribute broad changes in crime rates to just one cause. Over the same period, the number of marijuana-related arrests fell by half. The Denver Police say that marijuana offenses — which make up less than 1 percent of overall crimes — fell by about 25 percent since recreational sales began in 2014.
Source: Colorado Department of Revenue. By Jason Kao
Still, tiny rural places and struggling cities that were left out of Colorado's booming economy have decided it is worth the gamble. So marijuana shops are crowding into tiny towns near the Utah, Nebraska or New Mexico borders — a concern for officials worried about out-of-state trafficking. Farmland and open space are becoming huge cultivations and processing centers.
"We were pretty broke," said Patricia Reigel, the mayor of Moffat, a town of 119 people in the sagebrush of the San Luis Valley. It now has two dispensaries and recently approved plans for a cannabis campus that could eventually hold 43 cultivations and processing businesses.
A Green Party
When it comes to politics, legalization was just the beginning.
With a new, marijuana-friendly governor in office, bipartisan groups of Colorado legislators passed a half-dozen marijuana laws this year that were on the cannabis industry's wish list.
They approved marijuana-delivery services to bring weed to people's front doors. Out-of-state investment and publicly traded cannabis companies. Pot lounges — called "marijuana hospitality establishments" — that could allow consumption and be exempted from the state's indoor clean-air laws.
The state also allowed medical marijuana to be used to treat autism, or in place of opioids. Medical marijuana is less taxed than marijuana sold as "recreational."
The laws were just one sign of the growing political clout of an industry that does $1.5 billion in yearly sales here.
Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, campaigned on supporting marijuana. For his cannabis adviser, he picked not a law-enforcement type or public-health official, but a onetime owner of a Denver dispensary who had run a marijuana consulting business.
But as the industry expands, some of marijuana's earliest supporters and first entrepreneurs have raised concerns about being left out as pot companies in the United States and Canada chase billion-dollar valuations and hire powerful politicians like John Boehner, the Republican former House speaker. As marijuana starts to look like the next Silicon Valley, early advocates such as Wanda James, the first African-American woman in Colorado to own a dispensary, now worry that small businesses, women, and people of color — who were disproportionately hurt by harsh marijuana laws — are now getting left on the sidelines.
Wanda James and Scott Durrah, who became the first African-Americans to obtain a license to sell marijuana in America, at their dispensary, Simply Pure, in Denver.CreditBenjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times
In Denver's working-class Elyria Swansea neighborhood, the newly elected City Council member Candi CdeBaca supported legalization and won an endorsement from Colorado Norml, the marijuana-reform group. But she has also become a critic of the marijuana cultivation and processing businesses that are concentrated in her largely Hispanic neighborhood.
David Perez, 17, said he had gotten used to the smell that leaks out of marijuana businesses in his neighborhood. It was in the air one afternoon as he walked to a friend's graduation party.
"Every time I go for a walk or go to the rec, I smell it. It's everywhere," he said. He didn't like it, but he was used to it. "It just feels normal."
by Jack Healy
Click here to view this story as it appeared on The New York Times website
June 30, 2019 / white label cbd market/ Davey Napoli/ /Source
BUSINESS/ECONOMY, POLICY
Cannabis Tourism Is on the Rise | ...
Abercrombie & Fitch will sell ...


text:
Home / Blog / How politics is dashing the dreams of DREAMers
How politics is dashing the dreams of DREAMers
(This article was originally published in the Milwaukee Jorunal Sentinel)
In light of the news from Washington, D.C., about divisions over immigration reform, it is hard to believe that there was at one point an immigration issue that brought Democrats and Republicans together: what to do about the children of illegal immigrants already living in the United States.
However, today, in the shadow of an election less than 100 days away, the hopes of finding a bipartisan solution for these "DREAMers" — undocumented immigrants who came here as children — is fading and falling victim to political games by both sides.
Before the border crisis captivated headlines, DREAMers had friends on both sides of Capitol Hill. And not just among Democrats but also high-profile Republican senators such as Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. In the House of Representatives, the most powerful members, Speaker John Boehner and Reps. Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan, expended precious political capital to mainstream a separate policy for minors. In Cantor's case, some argue that his efforts played a role in his stunning primary loss in June. But rather than building upon this coalition, political considerations drove the parties apart and dragged hopes of a resolution down with them.
On one side, Republicans have failed to deliver on their piece-meal approach to immigration reform. While there was a growing consensus in Congress that the plight of these children needed to be addressed legislatively, no such legislation was introduced and no vote scheduled. The GOP-led House did, however, act to address the current border crisis: a solution whose merits are debatable, but a solution nonetheless. Sadly, the vote was joined with another to limit the only relief DREAMers currently have — the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — and pushed DREAMers into further uncertainty.
On the other side, the president continues to play politics with the issue. In 2012, as Rubio was working on a GOP Senate alternative, the president decided to go it alone — squashing legislative efforts in order to position himself more favorably with Hispanics for that year's elections. He is doing so again now. Rather than head to the Capitol and work with Congress to find a solution, the president continues to deliver speeches from the Rose Garden and issue threats of unilateral action — the most current of which is expected to expand and cover an additional 5 million undocumented immigrants.
While many Hispanics may welcome the president's move, it's essential to acknowledge that these are the same unilateral actions that have deterred true relief for DREAMers and will only continue to do so. The president's actions to cater to Hispanics on the eve of elections place immigrants at greater risk of unintended consequences and push true relief further away.
The current border crisis is an example.There are a number of factors contributing to it, but even the administration has admitted that its Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy is partly responsible. Without a legislative solution, smugglers have manipulated the situation to their advantage. And now, the country finds itself in the middle of a humanitarian crisis that has exposed a weakness on our border and placed impediments to advancing DREAM legislation.
In short, the president's policies have created a disastrous trifecta — increasing human trafficking, separating new waves of children from their families and decreasing the hopes of a bipartisan, long-term solution for deserving DREAMers. Such are the repercussions of President Barack Obama reneging on his promise to pursue immigration reform in his first year in office (when Democrats controlled both House and Senate) — as well as his penchant for skirting Congress and abrogating his constitutional duty to enforce laws.
Time will tell whether the actions by either party will further erode their ratings among Latinos. But for the time being, Latinos are taking note of the failed promises and are not happy. A recent poll illustrated that 68% of Latinos disapprove of Republican efforts on immigration. Similarly, the president's approval numbers among Hispanics have dropped from a high of 67% to 44% since early 2013. That's an astonishing 23-point drop, the largest and fastest drop of any demographic. Clearly, Hispanics are punishing the president for not passing immigration reform, for rolling out a destructive health reform plan with an insulting Spanish language website and presiding over an economy that has put 2.6 million more Hispanics in poverty while driving down Hispanic family income.
It's time to put politics aside and find a solution to our immigration problem, both for the millions waiting for relief as well as for the country. Hispanics want leaders, and they want to adhere to the rule of law. After all, many have lived under the alternative and have risked everything — including their lives and the lives of their precious children — to escape it.
The president's actions place immigrants at greater risk of unintended consequences
Latinos are taking note of the failed promises and are not happy
It's time to put politics aside and find a solution to our immigration problem


text:
Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Armoire
An Exceptional Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Armoire by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener.
The bronze mounts stamped to the reverse 'ZN'.
The armoire is of bombe shape with an arched broken pediment centred by a pierced gilt-bronze crest above a pair of shaped doors divided into cartouche panels each finely inlaid with foliate marquetry opening to an interior with two drawers and shelves. The shaped sides have conforming marquetry panels and the armoire is raised on tapering legs and paw feet.
Object History
Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener (1848- 1895) was one of the leading furniture makers of the end of the nineteenth century. Of German extraction he established a very successful studio in Paris, producing the very finest furniture, often inspired by the public collections in France. He employed as his sculptor Léon Messagé, the genius Parisian sculptor.
Zwieners pieces were acquired by many of the leading collectors of the nineteenth century. In particular he supplied his interpretation of the famous Bureau du Roi to Ludwig II at Herrenchiemsee, which was placed in the King's study in 1884.
Zwiener exhibited at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle, where he was awarded a gold medal, for a stand which included an exceptional cabinet designed by Messagé (illustrated in Meyer, pl. H14).
In 1898, Zwiener received an extensive Royal commission from the King of Prussia, and was recalled to Berlin as the King would not order furniture from overseas makers when furnishing his palaces, preferring to order work only from native Germans. The Berlin Sculptor Otto Rohloff, whose bronze work is very similar to that of Messagé, may well have been hired by Zwiener for this Royal commission.
In 1895 his Paris workshop was taken over by the important émigré and ébéniste, François Linke. Christopher Payne, in his book on Linke, speculates that Linke may have worked for Zwiener when he first arrived in Paris in 1875. Linke is known to have also taken on Zwiener's sculptor Léon Messagé. For this reason many of Zwiener's pieces have often been mistakenly attributed to Linke.
In order to differentiate between Messagé's commissions, the gilt bronze mounts were often marked to the reverse with the maker's initials. Several of Zwiener's mounts have been found to have a 'Z', ' Zw', a 'IZ', 'NZ', 'ZN' or a 'ZJ' on the reverse. This was primarily for the purpose of differentiation, rather than an artist's signature. Some of Zwiener's work was stamped but not exclusively, and only a few pieces have been found with a full signature and /or a date.
It can be speculated that Zwiener continued to work in Germany, after giving up his Paris workshop in 1895, as in 1900 he participated in the German section of the Paris Exhibition, where he exhibited the famous bedroom suite made for the Kaiser.
Object Literature
Mestdagh, Camille & Lécoules, Pierre. L'Ameublement d'art français : 1850-1900, Les Editions de l'Amateur, (Paris), 2010; pp. 301-305.
Payne, Christopher. François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2003.
Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions – London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851-1900, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; p. 270, pls. H14; p. 299, p.302.
Maze-Sencier. Les Livres des Collectionneurs, (Paris), 1885.
gilt-bronze & marquetry
W:171 x H:259 x D:62 centimeters
joseph-emmanuel zwiener
Dealer Ref: B68160
www.adrianalan.com
66-67 South Audley Street
London W1K 2QX


text: Q: Run multiple Select queries as batch/pipeline using Xorm Can we run multiple select queries as a batch/pipeline using Xorm Engine in Go? I have a set of 5 queries and if any of them fails my whole logic should fail, but then if they succeed I need the output from all of them. So I want to save on the round trip time in running individually vs batch. Any way to achieve this using Xorm Engine in Go?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


As North Carolina State University's fall semester winds down, so will our routine publication of the Philanthropy Journal Newsletter and update of our website. We will take this time to review our business model to better articulate our value proposition; what is it that sets PJ apart from other philanthropy news outlets and resource providers? If you would like to share your ideas, please take this short survey.
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust pledges $5 million to provide healthcare access for underserved populations, Perot Museum of Nature and Science celebrates its first anniversary, Keep America Beautiful and the Education Alliance announce new CEOs, and more.
Wake Technical Community College raises more than $17.5 million in first major gifts campaign, Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina appoints new board members, an anonymous donor helps 1,600 Salvation Army Angels, Carolina Diesel Trucks Christmas Convoy delivers Toys for Tots, and more.
Harnessing big data to make small changes to the giving process can result in substantial increases in donations because charities appear more appealing and can target the right people, explains Jed Mole with Acxiom.
Motivated and engaged NCSU students are launching social entrepreneurship projects to change the world. A new initiative seeks to forge a vision for how students, faculty and community partners can "do good" in addition to doing well, says Elizabeth Benefield, program coordinator with the Institute for Nonprofits.
Hasbro employees celebrate the holidays with children on Global Day of Joy, UJA-Federation raises record $26 million at Wall Street dinner, new Madeira Global Foundation focuses on for-profit social enterprises, new Community Resilience Fund helps nonprofits in hard times, and more.
Discovery Place in Charlotte selects a new CEO, GSK IMPACT Awards recognize nine Triangle nonprofits, Open Door Ministries of High Point plans dinner to honor homeless, Urban Ministry Center of Charlotte plans a concert with the Blind Boys of Alabama, and more.
As nonprofits deliver more services once provided by local governments that face tight fiscal times, four objective accountability measures can help smooth the relationship between nonprofits and government, Nick Byrne, a UNC J.D. candidate, explains in his research.
Discovery Place, Inc. in Charlotte announced that Catherine Wilson Horne, chief executive officer of a South Carolina children's museum, has been selected as its new CEO and president.
Nonprofits can make real, game-changing progress in medical innovation, and the need for private philanthropy to close a critical gap that industry and government cannot fulfill has never been greater, says Neal F. Kassell, MD, founder and chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.


There is a reason that Birder's World Magazine has named City Park as the best birding spot in New Orleans. Whether you are a novice birder or have been birding for years, come and enjoy the feathered friends of the Park.
A list of approximately 280 birds that have been sighted in the Park, particularly Couturie Forest and the City Park Birding Cooridor, follows below with a sampling of birds photographed by Bill Bergen. Special thanks to Robert D. Purrington for the list. The photographed birds have all been seen in City Park although not all the photographs were taken at the Park. Some of the species in this list have been recorded within a few blocks of the Park or are reasonably surmised to have occurred in the Park.


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Launch Event for the 2023 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy
Now in its 16th year, the Otis College Report on the Creative Economy is a vital annual resource that focuses on the ways in which California's creative industries form an essential part of its overall economy. For the first time since 2019, Otis College is proud to host an in-person launch event for the release of the 2023 Report at the Richard J. Riordan Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
The program will include opening remarks from Otis College President Charles Hirschhorn and a presentation of 2023 Report findings by CVL Economics Founding Partner, Adam J. Fowler, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A on Gaming and the Digital Shift in Art and Design.
Learn more about the program and register to attend here.
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Richard J. Riordan Central Library
RSVP by February 09 | RSVP NOW
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Richard J. Riordan Central Library
630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90071


text:
Vigyan Bhavan & Kempinski Ambience
10 - 14 February 2014 Delhi, India
GUIDELINES ON PLENARY SESSIONS
WCA Evaluation
GUIDE TO THE POSTER SESSIONS
In Social Media Wonderland
Social Media training at the World Congress on Agroforestry
Someone once told me, we can do all the science we want, we can do all the agricultural research for development we want, unless if our findings get "out there", the research is a useless spending of public funding.
And "getting it out there" is not just publishing in scientific journals, but "getting it out there" through open access, giving each and everyone access not only to our research findings, but also to the insights of our research process, inviting discussions already during the research process itself.
In that philosophy, social media plays an increasingly important role, as we have proven in our CGIAR research in the past years.
And this goes also for conferences like the World Congress on Agroforestry: For us, the communications team, conferences are not a goal, they are a means. A means to advocate for our causes, a means to include of remote participants into the onsite discussions and presentations, and also a means to build capacity amongst participants, our partner organisations, and youth in the use of online media and social media, for science communications.
Core to the social media outreach at #WCA2014 was a group of 135 social reporters from all over the world. Around 110 social reporters supported us remotely, and 25 of them were onsite.
Fifteen social reporters followed a two-day social media induction course just prior to the Congress. Many of them came from the "traditional media": the print media, radio or TV, and had little exposure to online media, leave alone, social media.
One of them is Beena Kharel who just started her new job as a Communication and Research Uptake 'Specialist' for The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Nepal
Coming from a traditional media and journalism background, Beena wrote the following blogpost about her first "adventures in social media wonderland", the challenge faced in using a plethora of social media tools, and the challenges to "communicate about science without being a scientist".
My First Social Media Ramblings
New to online science communication? "Please don't lose your heart!" This is what seasoned social reporters told me in the corridors of the World Congress on Agroforestry (WCA) in Delhi.
The can-do camaraderie generated amongst online communicators saved the heart of CGIAR online newbies, like myself, who were ready to learn and contribute to live reporting (or social reporting) from the Congress.
It was heartening to see how a small group of dazed professional communicators, assembled as online newbies, transformed themselves into spontaneous online communicators in a couple of days.
Peter Casier, the WCA2014 social media coordinator, guided us through the process: "I know several of you struggle real hard to find a sense, a flow, and a schwung in your blog post. But your blood, sweat, and tears is worth it!", he exclaimed the first day. And as Peter loves people who love social media, he guarded over us like a hen guards its chicks.
Transforming into an online communicator
Peer learning and interaction with communities of practice boosted the secret drive of the social reporters at the WCA2014. The group of trainees, based in Asia and Africa, wanted to assimilate into the world of social media for a professional cause. They knew adoption of a fast-emerging medium will also fetch them more dollops to butter their daily breads.
These communicators and online writers, of course, were the quintessential lot with adequate skills they have honed over the years, with a fair share of stumbles and successes. Above all, they had the love for reaching out to tell more stories in the interest of humanity.
Some of them, overdosed by traditional communications, were trying to rehabilitate into professional bloggers and hashtaggers.
Casier, an online communication expert, offered buckets of wisdom in a two-day social media boot camp set-up as a precursor to the Congress. It was in the boot camp I had met half a dozen enthusiasts from the CGIAR family dedicated to communicating science.
Social media is one thing. Social reporting is a different thing altogether.
Live tweeting and blogging from an international Congress expanded into four plenaries and six breakout sessions with a range of topics—from application of science to business impacts of agroforestry…
It was nerve-wrecking.
A social media reporter from Europe quipped: "It is like picking up a sachet of an instant Nestle kaffee in a place without taste buds for the original coffee."
Blogs and Twitter, the main official online media, chosen for social reporting for the Congress could have been somewhat new and awkward for some professional communicators. Some needed a little push to rekindle their interest in instant communication.
A few others (like me) with no science background had to muster courage and energy only to listen to the scientists who tried to explain their findings in serious languages in less than 10 minutes in a packed auditorium. Breathless!
After the painful listening was over, the question was: What to do with the learned ramblings they had uttered during the training, which we had so dutifully jotted down or captured in gadgets? Chase a panelist on tree fodder and animal nutrition after a breakout?
Thank You, done! But a young scientist from the Indian state of Mizoram must have found my question how the villagers in rugged terrains do to get their daily supply of animal fodder too simplistic to answer. He described the landscape of North-East India instead. After the third attempt, he politely said that he would improve his presentation in the future, as I clearly did not get it. My pain: How to ask the right question on a subject you hardly know anything?
Look for audience in help? A nice tip! I tried when a female audience urged the panelists to walk extra miles to advocate their findings for actions and criticized their shy and neutral approach. Content for a blogpost?
Follow a vocal audience! Even a better tip! I grabbed a Filipina scientist-turned-activist who is married to an Indian. She wanted the scientists to become advocates and more, something like God! Content for a blogpost?
Social media for Scientists
To be or not to be an advocate is an individual choice. Not all scientists have the aptitude and incentives to opt for trendy communications. Publishing in scientific journals is one thing; publishing online in blogs or on Twitter or Facebook is another game.
More scientists, especially from the social spectrum, are appearing online to storify their findings. This is helping sell science better, inform funders about the good use of their money and create the impact of researches, say senior managers of agroforestry institutes.
Dr Sandeep Sehgal, assistant professor on agroforestry based in Jammu of India, acknowledges his student who opened his eyes to social research and the importance of online communications to get the message across. He had contributed "Scary Trees" for a blog competition in the run-up to the Congress.
An increasing number of scientists, researchers, science writers and publishers with a knack for instant, crisp and convincing narration have joined social communication channels to bridge the gap between 'serious' scientists and 'fluffy' communicators. This has given a fresh spin to innumerable campaigns—seen online even on casual clicks—to generate awareness about natural resource management, its effects on daily lives and the future for humanity.
What will happen to our dear traditional forms of communications then? I believe they will continue to bring sanity to online media!
Blogpost by Beena Kharel, Communication and Research Uptake Specialist, The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Nepal
Preface by Peter Casier, WCA2014 Social Media Coordinator
Photo by Daniel Kapsoot (World Agroforestry Centre)
Business and Agroforestry: the Role of Public-Private Partnerships
Actualizing a landscape approach: issues and challenges
Reaching the "hard-core aggies" with Evergreen Agriculture
Coffee Agroforestry: A Shady Affair?
Where good science and the art of innovation meet
We need Steve Jobs' in agroforestry
Your lovely furniture is made of paperwork
Post your comments on our social media pages
Tweets about "#wca2014"
ICRAF
Indian Society of Agroforestry


text:
/*
  Cookbook/db/setupCollection.js
    database setup

  Last edited
    by pavasich
    on 1/5/2016
*/

require('./database');

var models = require('../models/Cookbook');

models.Cookbook.create({
    'name': 'ADPV Recipes',
    'recipes': [],
    'accounts': []
  },
  function(err, cookbook) {
    console.log(cookbook);
})


To use the Puppia Gia Harness, simply pop the harness over your dog's head and then secure the harness by using the quick-release snap buckle. On the back of the Puppia Gia Harness is the nickel-plated metal D-ring on to which you can attach the matching Puppia Gia Lead/Leash for the ultimate in chic attire for your pet. The Puppia Gia Harness also comes with the Puppia Smart Tag which can be attached to the fabric loop on the chest of the Gia Harness, or can be interchanged with your dog's own I.D. Tag or pendant. Although Puppia harnesses are machine washable, we advise special care with this harness due to its delicate nature and advise to hand wash only.


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri man was found guilty Friday of murdering his wife after the couple's daughter found the woman's body in the basement.
According to court records, Byers' daughter told a school counselor she found a dead body in her basement. When officers arrived at the home, they found Benjamin Byers. Byers then told police he didn't know where his wife was.
Police said they found blood throughout the home, and court records said a large section of carpet had been removed from the dining room.
According to court documents, police found Melissa Byers' body covered with carpet, sheets, clothing and plastic. A medical examiner said she died from multiple stab wounds.
Benjamin Byers' sentencing has not yet been scheduled.


text:
N*E*R*D's 'Fly or Die' Album Is Now Available On Vinyl For Its 15th Anniversary
Reissued on limited edition 2LP translucent red vinyl exclusively on Urban Legends.
Originally released in 2004, N*E*R*D's Fly or Die was a follow up to the alternative hip-hop staple, In Search Of, and today Urban Legends has released the monumental album in limited edition translucent red vinyl in honor of its 15th anniversary. With production credits from music titans like The Neptunes, Lenny Kravitz, and Questlove, the album toppled expectations by fusing hip-hop and rock genres. N*E*R*D members Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shay even learned how to play the instruments featured on each track so they could perform the album live cementing the group as leaders in the genre.
Purchase Fly or Die in the Urban Legends store now.
Fly or Die was considered a deeper look into the group with more layers than any of its predecessors. Chad Hugo told MTV News after its release, "It's all over the place but with a little more direction," taking note of the change. "Even in the songwriting, Pharrell wrote songs with more issues involved, more storytelling."
Video of N*E*R*D's 'Fly or Die' Album Is Now Available On Vinyl For Its 15th Anniversary
N*E*R*D, Fly or Die [2LP red vinyl]
A1. "Don't Worry About It"
A2. "Fly Or Die"
A3. "Jump" (feat. Benji Madden & Joel Madden)
A4. "Backseat Love"
B1. "She Wants To Move"
B2. "Breakout"
B3. "Wonderful Place/Waiting For You"
C1. "Drill Sergeant/Preservation"
C2. "Thrasher"
C3. "Maybe"
D1. "The Way She Dances"
D2. "Chariot Of Fire/Find My Way"
You can purchase the limited edition 2LP in the Urban Legends store now.


text:
MLSGB
MLS and Premier League news, previews and analysis from the UK.
Could Aston Villa's Christmas curse drag them into relegation scrap?
December 17, 2014 December 19, 2014 / Ben Ashton	/ Leave a comment
Aston Villa are currently 13th in the Premier League table and sitting five points above the relegation zone as we approach the traditional busy Christmas period of fixtures.
Having gone on a six-game losing run between September and the beginning of November, Villa have turned it around slightly and have lost just one of their last six, picking up two wins and three draws.
However, a look at their form over Christmas in the last five years makes for a worrying read to those affiliated with the Midlands side.
Aston Villa's Christmas fixtures in the last 5 years:
They've managed just two wins in the festive period in the last five years, and with the one game they had postponed against Wigan in 2010, that makes for a record of two wins from 14 games.
Perhaps even more concerning for Villa is the recent end of year results, as the last two seasons has seen them gain just one point from those six games and they've lost the rest.
If the history since 2009 repeats itself then Aston Villa will find themselves very much in a fight to beat the drop once again.
Paul Lambert's side welcome the in-form Manchester United to Villa Park at the weekend before a trip to Wales to face Swansea City on Boxing Day, and then they host Sunderland in their last game of 2014.
Will Aston Villa comfortably survive relegation this season?
The reasons why 2014 was the most entertaining MLS season for nine years
December 16, 2014 January 26, 2015 / Ben Ashton	/ Leave a comment
Fans of the game don't need to be told how entertaining the most recent Major League Soccer campaign was in terms of the tension, adrenaline, jubilation and despair that it created.
Having been through the emotional roller coaster of supporting your club through a season, most will now be at peace with how their team performed in 2014 – whether they are pleased or disappointed is another question entirely.
In terms of entertainment value, MLS has come up trumps once again as the 2014 season saw 924 goals hitting the back of the net – the most ever scored in a regular season.
Since 2012, MLS has seen more matches being played over the course of the season due to more teams being in the league and format adjustments, so it would be easy to say that the only reason we've seen the most goals is because there are more games.
While that is true, it's important to bear in mind that 2014 managed to produce the highest average goals-per-game ratio since 2005 and that the standard of play in the league is now far higher than nine years ago.
MLS, year by year:
A closer look at the numbers will also tell you that the 2014 season saw the highest average attendance in the history of Major League Soccer.
The average attendance is up by 554 on last season and is 341 higher than the previous record of 18,807 that we saw in 2012.
With New York City and Orlando City joining in 2015, it's clear for all to see the growth of MLS and if ever there was proof needed that the league was on the rise, then the attendance figures for this year just about confirm that fact.
Is Major League Soccer becoming one of the biggest leagues in the world?
How will New York Red Bulls cope with life after Thierry Henry?
Losing a player of Thierry Henry's quality and presence is never an ideal situation, but it's the one that New York Red Bulls are now currently faced with.
Henry scored 10 goals in 2014, but perhaps more importantly, he made 15 assists over the course of the regular season and the MLS playoffs combined.
A large proportion of the credit for the Red Bulls success last season will have been given to Bradley Wright-Phillips for his scintillating goalscoring form, but it will be interesting to see how he manages now that his key creator is no longer around.
Thierry Henry played the role of provider for nine of the goals that Wright-Phillips scored last season which accounts for just under one third of his overall combined total of 31.
Upon equalling the record for most goals in one MLS regular season, Bradley Wright-Phillips has since been rewarded with a designated player contract.
And with no clarification over Tim Cahill's future as yet, there may still be two DP slots available should he decide to move on to pastures new.
It will then be down to whether or not the Red Bulls choose to fill the spaces, but it certainly allows them the option to bring in world-class talent in an attempt to replace the legendary Frenchman.
The assumption would be that New York are currently on the hunt for an attacking player to partner BWP in 2015 as Henry has played such a crucial role for the last four years, so that void will certainly need to be filled.
Can New York Red Bulls cope with life after Thierry Henry?
Can Jermaine Jones help New England Revolution dominate MLS in 2015?
New England Revolution will still be licking their wounds after an agonising defeat at the hands of LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final, but all isn't lost and they have plenty to look forward to in next year's campaign.
One of their key assets in the end of season run-in was USA international Jermaine Jones who joined the Revs from Turkish side Besiktas in August 2014 and went on to make 15 appearances combining the end of the regular season and New England's MLS Cup run.
As well as his dominant midfield performances which further allowed playmaker Lee Nguyen to express himself, he also chipped in with three goals and four assists.
With Jones in the side, New England won 11, tied two and lost two of the 15 games in which he featured – one of those being that painful 2-1 defeat after extra-time against LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final.
If they can continue that kind of form when the 2015 season gets underway then they will be a serious force and you would expect them to be the team to beat.
New England Revolution's stats and projected points total with Jones on the pitch compared to without him makes for frightening reading for other MLS teams going in to the next campaign.
[*Includes points that New England Revolution would have gained from MLS playoff fixtures]
The highest points tally in an MLS season came when LA Galaxy accrued a total of 68 in the 1998 season, which they did so at a rate of 2.13 points per game.
The stats show that if New England can continue to play the way they have been, then they could potentially blow that record out of the water.
Will New England Revolution break the record for the highest points tally next year?
West Ham continue their best ever start to a Premier League season
West Ham United continued their best ever start to a Premier League season with a 1-1 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
The Hammers have amassed an impressive 28 points from their opening 16 games, which is their best total in the top flight at this stage for 29 years.
Their previous best start came when they had 29 points from their opening 16 fixtures in the 1985/86 season.
To put it in to perspective, Diafra Sakho, their top goalscorer in the Premier League at the moment, wasn't even born when that happened.
Manager Sam Allardyce has come under pressure in the past and a stuttering start to the season made it look like he was going to be in for another year of being questioned, but a run of ten games with just one defeat has turned the tide.
They are currently now sitting nicely in fourth position in the table and are well on course to mount a serious challenge to try and qualify for Europe next season, although they will face stiff competition from those around them.
West Ham's top five best starts to a Premier League season:
They host Leicester City next weekend before a tough Christmas test arrives in the shape of a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Boxing Day. They then welcome Arsenal to Upton Park two days later.
If the Irons find themselves sitting in the top four come the new year, then they will certainly fancy their chances of maintaining their form for the second half of the campaign.
Can West Ham United qualify for European competition?
Playoff Preview and Prediction: Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy
November 27, 2014 December 1, 2014 / Ben Ashton	/ Leave a comment
Seattle Sounders welcome the LA Galaxy to CenturyLink Field in what will be the last game of the 2014 season for one of these sides and a place in the MLS Cup Final is at stake.
The Galaxy take a narrow 1-0 lead to Seattle with them thanks to a deflected second-half strike from Marcelo Sarvas in the first leg at the StubHub Center last weekend.
The Sounders will be thankful that they limited the damage to just a one goal deficit in a game where they will be the first to admit that they weren't at their full-flowing best, but they've still managed to keep themselves very much alive in the tie.
It has been an amazing season for Seattle no matter what happens but they appear to be stuttering slightly in recent weeks and they will hope that they don't fall at the final hurdle, so to speak.
They'll be looking to their usually solid home form and hoping that it will be their saviour in this clash and also hoping that Osvaldo Alonso will return from injury in time to give his side the edge they need in midfield.
Seattle Sounders 2014 home record: Played 18 – Won 12 – Drawn 2 – Lost 4
Boosted from their 5-0 thrashing of Real Salt Lake in the semi-final, LA Galaxy look like a revitalised team from the one that succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against the Sounders on the last day of the regular season and will be happy with their lead, as well as being quietly confident they can get themselves over the line.
Hitting a good vein of form at the right time is crucial in competitions like this because one moment in a game can change the face of everything, so LA can be pleased that they've scored six in their last three games and conceded none.
They know that they are now the slight favourites as keeping a clean sheet at home means that the Sounders don't have an away goal to their name, so if the Galaxy can knick one in Seattle, they will be firmly in the driving seat and will leave their opponents needing three.
LA Galaxy 2014 away record: Played 18 – Won 5 – Drawn 7 – Lost 6
It's a clash of the Western Conference titans and the incentive to get to the final couldn't be higher as both are seeking to make history – MLS Cup success for Seattle would see them become the first team in MLS to win the treble (Supporters' Shield, U. S. Open Cup and MLS Cup) while LA Galaxy are looking to record their fifth MLS Cup glory and become the most successful club in the history of the competition.
Both sides know what to expect from each other and they both also know how tough a game it will be, which can only make for a tight and intense encounter which looks set to go down to the wire.
Key Player: Clint Dempsey – he's missed a few good chances of late and he knows he can do better. He's a player of real high quality and the Sounders will be looking to him to inspire the team.
Key Stat: LA Galaxy are without a win on the road in their last five attempts – their last win away from home came at Chivas USA on September 1.
Seattle Sounders last five: D/W/D/D/L
LA Galaxy's last five: D/L/D/W/W
Score Prediction: Seattle Sounders 1-2 LA Galaxy – We aren't expecting a goal-fest but it should be a tight game. The Galaxy are high on confidence right now and look hungry for success, while Seattle look like they have run out of steam right at the end.
The 2014 MLS Cup guarantees to make history
November 17, 2014 December 3, 2014 / Ben Ashton	/ 1 Comment
The team that now goes on to win the 2014 MLS Cup will be making new history in some way or another which only adds to the excitement and intensity we're all expecting.
Seattle Sounders have had a fantastic season irrelevant of the eventual outcome of their MLS Cup campaign as they scooped the Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup double.
However, should they manage to seal MLS Cup glory, they will become the first ever team to complete the treble and thereby print their name in the record books, which would be a remarkable achievement and truly cement the fact that they have been the best team this season.
[Seattle Sounders enjoyed success in this year's U.S. Open Cup]
LA Galaxy narrowly missed out on the Supporters' Shield title when they lost 2-0 to Seattle Sounders, but they can focus all their attention on trying to bring home the MLS Cup.
If they go on to win it, they will become the most successful team in the history of the competition with five titles – they are currently tied on four with DC United.
Meanwhile, both New England Revolution and the New York Red Bulls are hunting down their first ever title in this competition.
The Revs are probably the unluckiest team in MLS Cup history having been to four finals and finished on the losing end on every occasion, twice losing 1-0 after extra-time and once losing on penalties.
Title winners since 1996:
Whatever happens, it promises to be entertaining and will also set new history for one of the clubs.
Who do you think will win the 2014 MLS Cup?
2014 MLS Season Review: Real Salt Lake
November 16, 2014 November 19, 2014 / Ben Ashton	/ Leave a comment
Western Conference Final Position: 3rd
Western Conference Playoffs: Semi-Final
Real Salt Lake's capitulation in what turned out to be their last game of the season when they lost 5-0 at LA Galaxy was both inexcusable and inexplicable, but one poor game should not overshadow what was – on the whole – a brilliant season.
They made the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season and also enjoyed great form at home winning 11 games and suffering just one defeat. Only LA Galaxy and FC Dallas fared better on home soil in the 2014 MLS season.
Best Moment
The 12-game unbeaten run at the beginning of the season set the tone for a successful campaign and it shouldn't be underestimated as to how hard it is to maintain that kind of form.
Worst Moment
An obvious choice, but the 5-0 defeat against LA Galaxy in the playoff semi-final will be a painful final memory for 2014 and one they'll want to forget as soon as possible.
Javier Morales was a joy to watch and was truly inspirational for his side. Picking up nine goals and 12 assists from midfield makes it hard to look any further, although Kyle Beckerman deserves a special mention for another great season at the heart of the team.
Biggest Win
Real Salt Lake 5-1 Colorado Rapids (September 20 2014)
Biggest Defeat
Regular season: Seattle Sounders 4-0 Real Salt Lake (May 31 2014)
Including playoffs: LA Galaxy 5-0 Real Salt Lake (November 9 2014)
What to improve for the 2015 season…
It's hard to pinpoint any areas that specifically need improving for a side that are so consistent, but one disappointment for RSL would be their form on the road. They only managed to pick up four wins on their travels and if they could improve that number next season and maintain their strong home form, then they would be serious contenders for the Supporters' Shield title in 2015.
Clint Dempsey says Seattle Sounders are "feeling good" ahead of LA Galaxy clash
November 12, 2014 December 15, 2014 / Ben Ashton	/ Leave a comment
Following their Western Conference playoff semi-final victory over FC Dallas, Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey has been looking ahead to the conference final against LA Galaxy in a fortnight.
"We believe in ourselves – to win the Supporters' Shield we had to play two games against them (LA Galaxy) and get the right result, so we're a team that's done well this season in terms of silverware.
"We have that confidence moving forward and we feel good," he said to the Seattle Sounders YouTube channel.
Despite the high level of confidence in the team, Dempsey is still cautious of the quality that the Galaxy possess.
"They're a good team with a lot of quality – that's the reason why they're still in the playoffs.
"We have to figure out a way to manage these games in the right way because you don't want to leave yourselves with a mountain to climb come the second game.
"To be the best you've got to play against the best and we've got to stay hungry for more."
Dempsey's partnership with Obafemi Martins has been inspirational to the Sounders this season and is one of the main reasons that they're where they are.
"I love playing with Oba, he's a world class player, we have a good chemistry, I think you can see that all year, we work well together and create chances for each other."
Although Dempsey has been left off the roster for the upcoming USMNT friendlies, he still "wishes them the best" and he's had a "good conversation with Jurgen (Klinsmann) and looks forward to 2015".
Every cloud has a silver lining though, as his omission from the squad for this international break should leave him feeling fresh and ready to fire on all cylinders in the next stage of the playoffs.
How crucial is Clint Dempsey to Seattle Sounders?
Playoff Preview and Prediction: LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake
November 7, 2014 November 10, 2014 / Ben Ashton	/ Leave a comment
LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake meet again in the reverse leg of their Western Conference playoff semi-final at the StubHub Center on Sunday.
This second leg is so delicately poised after a hard-fought goalless draw in the blustery wind at the Rio Tinto Stadium last weekend, much to the credit of the Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo who kept them in it.
The onus will very much be on LA Galaxy to produce after they've now gone four games without a win if you include the three games at the end of the regular season and have hit a stale run of form at the worst possible time.
The Galaxy have drawn two and lost two of the last four and it equals their worst run of form since the turn of April in to May when they went on a four game winless streak, also recording two draws and two defeats.
[Jaime Penedo kept his side in it last time out]
LA will be looking to their strong home form and desperately hoping that it's going to come up trumps for them once again.
With just one home defeat in the entire regular season, they will take some confidence from that, but they need to win this game or they risk being eliminated on away goals.
LA Galaxy's home form: Played 17 – Won 12 – Drawn 4 – Lost 1
Real Salt Lake will come away from the first-leg with mixed emotions after they spurned the opportunity to take a lead with them to LA.
They dominated the majority of their home game but couldn't capitalise on it and it may come back to haunt them.
However, a 0-0 draw at home is never a bad result in the first-leg as they know that a score draw sees them through on the away goal rule.
[Main man: Joao Plata has had a great season for RSL]
They haven't won on the road for six games since a 1-0 win in Colorado at the beginning of August, so they'll be thankful that a draw could be enough to see them home.
Real Salt Lake's away form: Played 17 – Won 4 – Drawn 6 – Lost 7
With the game on such a knife edge, it promises excitement and drama, especially as the newly introduced away goals rule may well play a crucial role in the final outcome.
Many will be expecting another tightly contested game and it could take a moment of magic or a moment of madness from someone to turn the tide in favour of either side.
Extra-time and penalties are looming if we see a repeat result of last weekend's game, so can either side take the initiative?
Key Player: Landon Donovan – he will be desperate to ensure that this isn't his last ever game for LA Galaxy and there isn't a better moment for him to shine.
Key Stat: These two sides have only produced four goals in their last four meetings so we expect another cagey affair.
LA Galaxy's last five: W/L/D/L/D
Real Salt Lake's last five: L/W/D/W/D
Prediction: LA Galaxy 1 – 1 Real Salt Lake – The Galaxy to suffer the pain of an away goals defeat for the first time in Major League Soccer.
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text:
Q: Find the inverse of the function: $f(x)=x^9+x$ Let $f(x)=x^9+x$. Show that $f$ has an inverse and find the inverse.
I don't seem to be able to find a way to start tackling this equation. Appreciate any tips on this question.

A: $$f'(x)=9x^8+1>0$$
for all $x$. Therefore it's strictly increasing and thus injective. Moreover, $$\lim_{x\to \infty }f(x)=+\infty \quad \text{and}\quad \lim_{x\to -\infty }f(x)=-\infty .$$
Therefore $f(\mathbb R)=\mathbb R$ by Intermediate value theorem, and thus it's surjective. Therefore it's bijective.


text:
Q: Allow access of application based on ip, or proxy network coverage I have a reader application and we are customizing the reader to a certain institution to allow the user to use the application and read from its content. I have to verify whether he is under a certain proxy coverage and that he is logged in to that proxy.
I personally have very little experience with networking and proxy, therefore I would like to ask, whether this is doable and if so, what is the best way to approach it?
In case this is doable will Apple accept it and how can Apple team test the functionality?
I have come over this solution, but I'm not sure if this is what I need:
How can I get the username for a proxy host from KeyChain?

A: I would go and use the public WAN IP address of the device to check for proxy usage.
Knowing the IPs of the proxy, I would put those in a whitelist, stored preferably on an external server which will by queried by the app instead of hardcoding it into the app in case a proxy server changes its IP.
On every app start I would then get the public IP of the device, which will be one of the proxy IPs if the user is using the proxy. So you can simple compare those IPs and if they match you know the user is using a proxy.
If you don't know the specific IPs of the proxy there are plenty of services available which can determine if an IP belongs to a proxy and which type of proxy it is. IP2location is one of the many sites which offer such things.

A: As I understood, you would like to check the global proxy settings.
It's possible to do in this way:
NSDictionary *proxySettings = CFBridgingRelease(CFNetworkCopySystemProxySettings());
NSString *type = proxySettings[(id)kCFProxyTypeKey];
NSString *hostname = proxySettings[(id)kCFProxyHostNameKey];
NSNumber *port = proxySettings[(id)kCFProxyPortNumberKey];
NSString *username = proxySettings[(id)kCFProxyUsernameKey];
NSString *password = proxySettings[(id)kCFProxyPasswordKey];

Then you can do checks that you may need to verify the proxy. For other possible keys and values in proxySettings dictionary you can check CFProxySupport.h file.
You can store some JSON file on your server that is behind your proxy, where you'll describe configuration of the proxy that you'll verify, e.g.
{
    "type":"https",
    "host":"my_awesome_proxy.edu",
    "port":8080
}

At the app start, your app will first download this file, and then check that it's behind the proxy that is specified in the file.
This will make your app independent of the changes in proxy settings in future, so you won't need to submit the app to the app store with another hardcoded proxy values for verification.
During app review, Apple may ask you to provide them access credentials to test the app. So, at the time of review, your proxy should be globally accessible and have some test credentials configured, which you'll forward to Apple.
P.S.
The approach to verify proxy is very insecure, and VPN connection into university's intranet sounds much more reliable.


Laserfilm was a videodisc format developed by McDonnell-Douglas in 1984 that was a transmissive laser-based playback medium (unlike its competitor, LaserDisc, which was a reflective system).
It worked by having the laser shine through one side of the disc to a receiving sensor on the other side, where the beam of the laser would be interrupted by a spiral of small dots on the disc.
This would in turn modulate the laser beam to represent the video and audio information, which was then interpreted by the receiving sensor receiving the beam on the other side.
The disc was made out of ordinary photographic film (hence the format's name), which was mounted in a caddy for playback, much like the RCA Selectavision CED and VHD videodisc systems.
Laserfilm players were chiefly manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas, and weren't marketed successfully outside the company.
However, the format was employed for use in their flight simulators, by linking several players together.
The Laserfilm format was originally based on an earlier videodisc format called ARDEV, developed by a company of the same name which was originally a subsidiary of Atlantic Richfield until 1981.
At that time, ARDEV and all of its videodisc technologies were acquired by McDonnell-Douglas.
This page was last edited on 10 September 2018, at 22:08 (UTC).


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