text:
"Before I Forget"
An Encounter that Changed My Life
For almost eight years I lived in New York City, and every time I would find myself on 34th Street, I would walk toward 9th Avenue and stand in front of the William Sloane YMCA and look up at a window on the sixth floor. It was at that window on a rainy August afternoon in 1985 that I spoke to a stranger who altered the course of my life.
I had spent a week in Connecticut working with silent film actress Patsy Ruth Miller on her autobiography. It had not gone well. She was not in a good mood and had been very critical of the writing I had done so far. She said rather bluntly that asking me to help her with the book had been a mistake. "I don't think that you have the ability or the skill to take on this project," she said. "I'm sorry, dear, but you just don't have the talent." My self esteem was at a low ebb and I had no confidence in myself. I was so discouraged and depressed that I had left her house a day earlier than planned and was spending a night in New York City before flying back to Tennessee the following afternoon.
It was my very first visit to the Big Apple and I was very nervous. I had never been in such a big city all by myself and after taking a cab from Grand Central to the YMCA, I was reluctant to go outside. I thought if I went out the front door, I might be mugged or accosted or caught in the crossfire of a gangland shooting. And hearing the constant sound of sirens was very disturbing.
I was assigned to a room on the sixth floor, and after settling in, I stepped out into the hallway and noticed a bright window at the end of the hall. As I got closer, I could see the silhouette of someone standing there. It had started raining, and little rivulets of water were running down the windowpane. As I got closer, I could see that it was a young man, gazing pensively out the window. I must admit that I was immediately attracted to him. He was young and tall and slim, with an athletic build. His hair was blonde and it had started to thin at his temples. I slowly approached the window, which looked down onto 34th Street, and said, "when did it start raining?"
When he turned to look at me, my heart skipped a beat. He had a handsome baby face, with bright blue eyes. I was still deep in the closet at that time, but I couldn't help staring at him.
"A minute ago," he said. "There is something very relaxing about watching rain. It is very soothing."
I was immediately drawn to him. Not only did he have a gentle manner but he had an accent that caressed my ears. It made everything he said sound very mysterious and poetic. "Yes, I suppose so," I managed to say in reply. "May I ask where you are from?"
He said he was from Hamburg, in Germany, and was visiting America for the first time. "I've been here for only one day," he added. "Where did you come from?"
I told him that I was from Tennessee and that it was my first time to be in New York City. "I've been here for only one hour." He laughed, and I was hooked.
We stood there at that window for a long time. The rain stopped, the sky cleared and we continued to talk, even as the sun sank lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the street below. We were so curious about each other. I learned that he would be in the US for two weeks and was spending his time in New York. He wanted to see some Broadway plays and visit the famous tourist attractions. He was especially looking forward to walking through Central Park. I told him all about my little hometown in Tennessee, the college in the north I had attended and about the book project with Patsy Ruth Miller that had come to an abrupt end.
Suddenly realizing that we were hungry, we went down to the little restaurant that adjoined the lobby and continued our conversation. I was particularly impressed by how well he spoke English. He said he had been studying the language for a few years and was also fluent in French and Latin, something he had in common with many of his German classmates. I assumed he was a college graduate, but he said no, that he would be enrolling in a college in Berlin that fall, to study computer science and economics. His worldliness and sophistication, knowledge and experience made me think he was several years older than me, probably around 28, but he surprised me by saying he had recently turned 21. We were less than a year apart. It was obvious to me that German students were certainly better educated than American students!
I admitted to him that I was very curious about New York City but did not feel comfortable going out exploring on my own. "I have only seen a little of the city so far," he said, "so let's go and explore together."
It was an invitation that thrilled me, so when the meal was over and the bill was paid, we went out the front door and turned onto 34th street, heading east. We had walked several blocks when we spotted a movie theater. BACK TO THE FUTURE had just opened to rave reviews, and when we saw the title in big letters on the marquee, we quickly bought tickets! We loved it, and the film is still one of my most favorite movies. We later found ourselves on Broadway and walked up to Times Square, where we marveled at the stores, the crowds of people and the brightly lit marquees advertising such plays as THE ODD COUPLE, BILOXI BLUES and BIG RIVER. There was so much excitement and energy around that famous intersection that it was impossible not to be caught up in the mood, which was intoxicating. We walked into an arcade, which were so popular at the time, and spent all of our quarters playing Centipede, Space Invaders and Pac Man. As we were enjoying the sights and sounds of Times Square, I realized that all my fears and apprehensions had disappeared. It was after 2 AM when we finally returned to the YMCA, and despite the late hour, I felt so happy that it took me a very long time to fall asleep.
The plane to Tennessee was departing LaGuardia the following day about 4 pm, so I invited my young German friend to join me in exploring more of the city before I had to leave. We met in the lobby the next morning, had some breakfast at a diner, and walked to the Empire State Building. We purchased our tickets and took the elevator to the very top, the observation deck on the 102nd floor, where we walked out into the open air and looked out over the city and the world beyond, almost able to see the curvature of the earth! I've been to the top of that building twice since then, but nothing can compare to the exhilaration I felt on that warm August morning in 1985. When our feet were back on the firm pavement of 5th Avenue, we took the subway all the way down to lower Manhattan, to Wall Street, and walked over to the World Trade Center. I'll never forget that magnificent lobby with its enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and the bright red carpeting. We went to the highest floor of Tower One, to the observatory. I think it may also have been floor 102, but unlike the Empire State Building, visitors could not feel the wind rushing around their heads as they looked down at the city. It was an enclosed space, and we had to peer through thick-paned windows. But it was just as thrilling, and the windows were tilted slightly outward, so you could lean against them and look almost straight down.
A quick subway ride took us back to midtown Manhattan and we emerged at Grand Central Station, where we grabbed a quick lunch at a deli on Lexington Avenue. It was close to 2 pm already and there was just enough time to walk back to the YMCA, past the famous New York City Public Library with its two enormous lion statues in front. I picked up my suitcase at the front desk and waited for the airport shuttle. I had grown to feel very close to my young friend, and I was delighted when he climbed onto the shuttle and sat with me until it was ready to leave.
"I've just realized that I don't even know your name," I grinned. "My name is Jeff, Jeff Carrier, and it has been a great pleasure to spend time with you." He shook my hand and said his name was Christian Pless. "It has been a pleasure for me, also," he added.
A plan suddenly took shape in my mind and without even thinking it through, I blurted out, "come to Mountain City, Tennessee!" As he looked at me with wide-eyed surprise, I continued, "don't base your idea of the United States on New York City. You should also get to know people who live in the rural areas. That's where you'll find true American values."
As the shuttle driver announced that we were ready to depart, I scribbled my phone number on the torn half of my Empire State Building ticket and handed it to him. I'll be home tonight. Call me and we can talk about it.
There was just enough time for him shake my hand again, put the number in his pocket and leave the shuttle before the doors closed and we drove off. I could see him on the sidewalk, watching as we were swallowed by the traffic.
As the plane made its way to Tennessee, I wandered if I would ever see Christian again, if I would ever hear that interesting accent or look into his sparkling blue eyes. But to my delight, he did call me at home later that night. He said he had been to the Port Authority and purchased a bus ticket. "I could not buy a ticket to Mountain City," he said, "but I did buy a ticket to Abingdon, Virginia. I was told that it is very close to Mountain City. Is that right?" I assured him that it was indeed close, about 30 miles away. He was calling from a payphone and had run out of change, but before he was cut off, he did manage to tell me that he would be getting to Abingdon at 10 am in two days.
At 10 am on that morning, I was waiting at the bus station, my heart beating fast as I watched for the Greyhound to pull into the lot. It was a few minutes late, but when it arrived and I saw him get off, I could not control my excitement and I ran to him with my arms out-stretched. It was a wonderful reunion. He had been on the bus all night and was tired and hungry, so we drove down the highway to Bristol, where we had a hearty breakfast. The road from Bristol to Mountain City winds its way through hills and mountains, and Christian marveled at the scenery. He said it reminded him of Bavaria.
He stayed several days with me in Mountain City. I don't remember how many exactly, perhaps four or five, and every day was like a dream. By the time I had to drive him back to Abingdon to catch the return bus to New York, I'm sure that I was in love with him, but it was something that I did not dare discuss or allow myself to show. I think he preferred women to men, or at least that was my impression, especially after he told me about having a passionate encounter with a young woman in a Paris phone booth.
Everyone in my hometown who met Christian was totally charmed by him. My father grew very fond of him, particularly after learning that his grandfather had been a Lutheran minister. My step-mother was a bit suspicious at first, but she also succumbed to his charms and surprised him by including sauerkraut as a side dish one night at supper. The only person I knew who did not want to meet him was my dear friend, Bulah Vaught. I had planned to bring him to her house one afternoon, but when she learned that he was German, she cancelled. "I don't want a German in my home," she said. I had to accept the fact that some people of her generation, who had been born during the First World War and had lost friends and family in the Second World War, still harbored ill feelings toward the Germans. It made me feel sad and disappointed.
He made a big hit with my friend, Kay Adams. She was a local radio personality and invited him to spend an afternoon with her during her shift at WMCT, Mountain City's country music station. She put him in front of a microphone and chatted with him between songs, asking him about his homeland and what he thought of Tennessee. It made him a celebrity for the afternoon! Several people called the station to ask him questions and he was invited to the high school to talk to the students who were learning German.
Kay planned something special for his last night in town and drove us to the Appalachian Fair near Johnson City. We had great fun looking at the livestock exhibits, sampling baked goods, riding the ferris wheel and taking in some of the side shows. I think Christian learned more about America at that fair than he could have by spending six months in New York City. I was a little jealous of Kay. She and Christian were very chummy and I noticed them occasionally holding hands. But I was glad that he was enjoying himself so thoroughly.
There was a popular song at the time by Phil Collins called "One More Night" and it played on the radio as we drove back to Mountain City. I would have to take Christian to the bus station the next day, and as I sat in the back seat as we drove along through the dark, the lyrics took on a new meaning. "One more night, one more night. I've been trying, oh so long to let you know, let you know how I feel." I felt a tear run down my cheek.
The drive to Abingdon the next afternoon was a sad one for me. I did not want to see Christian leave, but all good things must come to an end. He told me how glad he was that he had made the journey, that I had made his trip to the States exciting and memorable, and that he would never forget his time in Tennessee. And then he his voice took on a more serious tone.
"I want you to promise me that you will search for your destiny," he said. I gave him a quizzical glance and he continued. "Don't spend your life in Mountain City. It is a beautiful town and the people are very friendly, but I think you need to spend time in other places. It is too small for you. You have a good brain. Use it to explore ideas and go on adventures. Meet new people and learn from them. And don't give up on Patsy Ruth Miller. She needs you to help with that book. No one else wants to work with her, so don't feel discouraged. Make it happen."
And then he reached over and gently rubbed my shoulder. "I know you are searching for someone to love. You won't find him until you move away. He waits for you somewhere else." I could not say anything.
We had reached the Abingdon Greyhound station and the bus was already being loaded. We stood together near the bus for a few minutes, but I was too emotional to say anything. If I tried to speak I knew that my voice would break and I would cry. I think he understood, because he started to shake my hand, but hugged me instead and whispered in my ear "I will never forget you. To me, you are America."
The drive back to Mountain City was a miserable one. I don't think I have ever missed anyone as much before, or since. But by the time I reached home, I felt better. Meeting Christian had changed me. My confidence had returned and I could sense that something exciting was waiting for me. I felt a strong desire to go back to New York. He had inspired me to find my place in the sun. And I knew, as though it had been written in letters of fire, that what my heart had been longing for all of my life, was out there, just beyond the horizon.
And I did get back to that Big City, but it took me two years, first to attend graduate school at NYU and then to begin a career. I stayed in Mountain City for several months, working as a reporter for the local paper. The first story I wrote was about Christian, and when I sent the clipping to Patsy Ruth Miller she called me right away. "The story about the young German man was very good," she said. "I think I was wrong about you. If you work with me on my book and write as well as you did for the newspaper, we'll have one helluva book!" Her memoirs were published in 1988, and I wanted to tell Christian the good news, but I did not know how to find him. We kept in touch for a few months after he returned to Germany, but the last letter I sent to him was returned marked "Gerührt. Keine Weiterleitungsadresse." (Moved. No Forwarding Address). That was in early 1986, and there has been no word from him since then.
Hardly a day has gone by in the last 35 years that I have not thought of him, wondering where he is, what he is doing, what kind of a life he is living. Did he became a computer programmer? Did he marry and have children? Does he ever think of me?
The YMCA is no longer there, but the building still stands, and so the next time I am in New York City I will go to 356 West 34th Street and gaze up at a window on the sixth floor. I will be thinking of a young German who helped a kid from Tennessee with low self esteem to regain his confidence and find the courage to leave home and go out into the world.
I love you, Christian, and I hope that wherever you are, you are happy.
Posted byJeffrey Carrier October 22, 2021 November 12, 2021 Posted inUncategorized
Published by Jeffrey Carrier
Just living life day by day. View all posts by Jeffrey Carrier
The Snow Storm
Susan Uballe says:
I feel like a better person now, having read your posts. Beautifully written and very moving!
Jeffrey Carrier says:
Thank you, Susan!
"Before I Forget", Blog at WordPress.com.


Enhance your business vision with these books.
Every time you pick up a book — or download one to a device — opportunity knocks at your door. A good book represents a chance to expose yourself to groundbreaking, thought-provoking ideas that could blow your mind and enhance your vision.
The truth is that you can never know enough. There is always more to learn, and there are infinite ways you can grow. Whether you're an ambitious entrepreneur, a rising executive or someone just starting out, you can often find the keys to success in a good book.
If you're up for the challenge, start now with these eight must-read business books that will propel you toward your dreams and boost your opportunities for success.
Top of Mind is packed with actionable advice and relatable examples for anyone looking to grow his or her business and build solid relationships. John Hall's step-by-step guide walks you through how to break down your audience's trust barriers, gain their confidence naturally and get inside (or on "top of") their minds so opportunities flow your way.
The book explains how you can attract people (and business opportunities) if you are routinely helpful, likable and authentic. It also takes it a step further by detailing how you can use digital content to enrich your target audience. With Top of Mind, you'll learn how delivering value and serving others is key to staying relevant and keeping your brand in the minds of the stakeholders who matter most to you.
If you're contemplating heading out on your own to start a business and wondering whether you have the skills to succeed, this book is a must. Based on their own observations and experiences, as well as those of other business leaders, Joel Comm and John Rampton break down the top 50 qualities and mindsets that personify entrepreneurs.
Self-Employed provides real stories of successful entrepreneurs and gives a simple framework for evaluating your own characteristics to see how you measure up. One of the most important takeaways is that successful entrepreneurs tend to share one common trait: the propensity to take action and keep pushing forward.
The principles and skills in this book will help you channel your passions, give yourself an edge, and start your day with purpose. The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs has helped transformed lives though six daily practices, or Life S.A.V.E.R.S. (silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading and scribing).
The Miracle Morning explains these principles to give you the essential skills you need to create a successful business and personal life, accelerate your influence, and develop your vision. Most importantly, Hal Elrod and Cameron Herold demonstrate why mornings are so important in managing your physical, mental and emotional energy. They give you the guidance to get focused and chart your own course for success.
Looking solely at your company's internal data won't give you all the necessary information you need to make the most informed decisions about your content, products or services. In Jørn Lyseggen's latest book, Outside Insight, the true power behind data -- and what it can tell you about your business practices -- is examined.
Lyseggen provides thorough case studies on how outside data has proven effective in transforming business decisions into ones that produce concrete results. Offering a detailed account of Meltwater's software, the most effective tool out there to monitor presence through various mediums, Lyseggen's book gives you the tools you need to strengthen your media presence.
How many times in the past 15 or 20 minutes have you been distracted by emails, social media notifications or text messages? Deep Work explains how living in an age of technology with constant interruptions and distractions obstructs our ability to "go deep" and completely focus on the task at hand.
Learning to practice deep work -- when you don't let distractions interfere with your concentration -- will not only make you better at what you do, but also give you a sense of fulfillment. Cal Newport gives readers a rigorous training regimen and a series of four rules that will transform your mind and embrace the habits that allow deep work to take place.
If you're looking for a deep dive into the world of affiliate marketing, Robert Glazer's new book, Performance Partnerships, is perfect. Consider it a crash course filled with insights, starting with the birth of affiliate marketing, its evolution in an ever-changing industry, and its progression into one of the most important forms of digital marketing out there. A customer acquisition expert, Glazer delivers the education you need on how to build the types of beneficial relationships you need to grow your business.
Do you have a hobby or a passion that you absolutely love? What If It Does Work Out? shows you how to turn your talent and passion into a successful side hustle -- and more. Susie Moore inspires readers to let go of animosity and frustration and walk "in the direction of their dreams."
This book will give you that boost of motivation you need to overcome your fears and transform your interests or side projects into lasting success. Moore includes the tools, tips, and strategies required to become a kickass entrepreneur. If your day job isn't fulfilling you and you have an inkling that maybe you're meant to do more, grab this book and start reading.
Entrepreneurs are constantly looking for ways to grow their businesses and themselves. In Rhett Powers' book, The Entrepreneur's Book of Actions, you'll learn tactics and exercises to help you do just that and make the journey of entrepreneurship much less intimidating.
Unlock your full potential and experience true personal growth that will help you in your business endeavors and beyond by reading Powers' book, and improve your entrepreneurial power by checking out the other works on this list.


Want to know what's more fun than writing? Talking about writing. Thinking about writing. Imagining how cool you would look pulling out your laptop in some hipster coffee shop and typing away. Of course looking the part is also essential, but you don't want to look like you're trying too hard. Just wear some skinny jeans with slouchy boots, slouchy shirt, oversized scarf, and hair in a messy up-do. It's almost like you rolled out of bed but with lip gloss and mascara. It seems so glamorous doesn't it?
When I started this blog, this is how I pictured it in my mind. Just hanging out in coffee shops, pretending I'm some sort of connoisseur of coffee when really all I get is a latte. Coffee is bitter. I care much less about the roast and much more about what's going to be added into it to make it taste like dessert. Then I would sit for hours having amazing ideas pour out of my fingertips onto the keys of my laptop. For the record, I'm not sure this has ever happened while I've been trying to write in a coffee shop.
The problem is I get distracted easily. I get more into people watching than getting my thoughts out. Sometimes if the tables are too close together, I can't finish a thought because I keep overhearing what the people at the table next to me are talking about. And sometimes it's more interesting than whatever my thought is. Then I want to know more about what Luke did to make her so mad. And is she really going to break up with him this time? How does she know he won't just revert back to his bad behavior? These are the things that keep me from getting work done.
The thing about working is that, well, it's work. I'm beginning to understand that if I want to be a writer I'm going to have to…write. Like make it a priority. Instead of dreaming about my perfect setting in which to write, just go sit at my kitchen table and actually do it. So today I'm writing at my kitchen table. And it's not glamorous. I have my house shoes on and am eating Greek yogurt (see, sometimes I do make good food choices). But it's happening. Words are coming out of my fingers. I'm turning something I want to do into something I'm doing. Go do something today instead of just thinking about it. You won't regret it.


At present, Canada does not permit the manufacturing of concentrates and edibles for retail to the general public. In 2019 this is changing.
Cannabis Compliance Inc is currently engaged with Health Canada in stakeholder consultations to develop new regulations to allow their manufacturing and sale. The term "edibles" within our discussion includes all cannabis-infused food products, including beverages and baked goods. It is expected that regulations around edibles will be proposed in early 2019, with regulations being published in the summer of 2019 – and coming into force in the Fall of 2019. However, this timeframe is only estimated by CCI based on prior communications from Health Canada.
In theory, the manufacturing of cannabis food products is expected to fall within the Micro Processing and Standard Processing Licences once regulations are introduced and come into force (as per above). However, many companies are getting ready by applying for a Research and Development Licence under the Cannabis Regulations. This would permit a company to "play around" with cannabis in creating recipes and product formats ahead of large-scale manufacturing which could begin late 2019 with the new regulations. Given the expected very high demand around edibles in the years ahead, getting an early start in the R&D is highly recommended.
In addition to achieving a Research & Development Licence, an edibles manufacturer would also implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and good practices within their facility, which is standard practice for many food manufacturers. Cannabis Compliance Inc has extensive experience working on Health Canada applications and developing (and auditing) best practices within the food industry, as many of our regulatory experts have a long history of food compliance prior to joining CCI.
With regulations being introduced in the year ahead, established food manufacturers who do not yet have cannabis experience would be very interested in achieving a Research & Development Licence for a designated area in their existing facility. For example, a chocolate manufacturer could continue manufacturing non-cannabis chocolate while at the same time devoting some of their facility space to experimenting with infusing cannabis into chocolate, assessing the shelf life and taste, and testing the consistency and potency of its experimental formulations.
Building Quality Management Systems (QMS) based on GFSI benchmarked schemes such as Safe Quality Food (SQF), The British Retail Consortium (BRC), Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000), or International Featured Standards (IFS), (etc).
Cannabis Compliance Inc is the world's largest professional cannabis consulting firm, with over 60 full time salary employees across Canada. Contact us today to start a conversation around preparing for the upcoming edibles market.


The incubator is the clear plexiglass box that makes up your baby's bed. This enclosed space protects the baby from temperature changes. A radiant warmer over the bed may be used instead of an incubator to keep the baby warm. A cloth cover can be placed over an incubator to keep out noise and light.
A cardiorespiratory monitor keeps track of the baby's heartbeat and breathing. It's attached to the baby's skin with three leads (sensors). These are held in place with a gel that's gentle to the skin.
A pulse oximeter measures the level of oxygen in the baby's blood. It's attached to the skin with a sensor taped to the baby's hand or foot. It works by shining a light through the baby's hand or foot.
A blood pressure monitor may be a smaller version of the blood pressure cuff used on older children and adults. Or an arterial catheter (tiny tube inserted in an artery) may be used to monitor blood pressure.
A temperature probe measures the baby's body temperature. It's attached to the skin surface.
An intravenous line (IV) is a catheter (small, flexible tube) inserted into a vein. It's used to give the baby fluids, nutrition, and medicines.
An umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) or umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is placed in the artery or vein at the stump of the umbilical cord. It's used to give the baby medicines, fluids, and nutrition. It's also used to draw blood for lab tests. Because there are no pain nerves in the umbilical cord, putting the line in and maintaining it causes the baby no pain. But there is a higher risk of complications with an umbilical catheter than with an IV.
A feeding tube (also called a gavage tube) goes through the mouth or nose into the stomach. It is used to feed the baby milk or formula.
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine delivers air or oxygen through tubes in the nostrils. It uses low, continuous pressure to keep the lungs inflated.
An endotracheal tube (ETT) goes through the baby's mouth or nose into the windpipe. It is used with a respirator or ventilator to send air directly to the lungs.
A respirator or ventilator may be used to help the baby breathe. These machines are attached to an ETT.
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) or a percutaneous central venous catheter (PCVC) may be inserted in a central (large) vein. This catheter is used to give the baby fluids, nutrition, and medicine.


Functionality related to index storage and the DefaultList type.
Parse a string of comma-delimited integers to a list. Unparseable substrings are left out of the result.
A list which, when indexed on non-existant positions, returns a default value.
Safe indexing of a DefaultList - returns the default value if the given index is out of bounds.


text:
/**
  ******************************************************************************
  * @file    MRPi1.h
  * @author  Mace Robotic
  * @version V1.1
  * @date    22/08/2016
  * @brief
  *
 *******************************************************************************/
#ifndef _MRPi1_H
#define _MRPi1_H

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <termios.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#define NUMBER_LEDS 3
#define NUMBER_GROUND_SENSORS 3
#define NUMBER_PROX_SENSORS 6
#define SIZE_BUFFER_READ 100

typedef enum
{
FORWARD,
BACK
}MotorDirection;

int init();

// Led control
int led(unsigned int id, unsigned int state);
int ledToggle(unsigned int id);

// move robot
void forward(unsigned int speed);
void back(unsigned int speed);
void stop(void);
void turnRight(unsigned int speed);
void turnLeft(unsigned int speed);
void forwardC(unsigned int speed, unsigned int distance);
void forward_mm(unsigned int speed, unsigned int distance_mm);
void backC(unsigned int speed, unsigned int distance);
void back_mm(unsigned int speed, unsigned int distance_mm);
void turnRightC(unsigned int speed, unsigned int angle);
void turnLeftC(unsigned int speed, unsigned int angle);
void turnRight_degree(unsigned int speed, unsigned int angle);
void turnLeft_degree(unsigned int speed, unsigned int angle);

// control
void controlEnable(void);
void controlDisable(void);

// motor control
void motorRight(MotorDirection direction, unsigned int speed);
void motorLeft(MotorDirection direction, unsigned int speed);

// Firmware
float firmwareVersion(void);

// Battery
float battery(void);

// temperature
float temperature(void);

// ground sensor
unsigned int groundSensor(unsigned int sensor);

// ambiant light
unsigned int ambiantLight(unsigned int sensor);

// proximity sensor
unsigned int proxSensor(unsigned int sensor);

// encoder sensor
int encoderLeft();
int encoderRight();

// accelerometer
float acceleroX();
float acceleroY();
float acceleroZ();

// play wav file
void playWav(char *file);

void playTxt(char *file);

void play(char *file);

#endif
// End Of File

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Release of heavy metal without proper treatment poses a significant threat to public health because of its persistence, biomagnifications and accumulation in food chains. Non degradability and sludge production are two major constraints of metal treatment. The chemical processes are not economical and physical processes consume lot of energy. In this endeavor, microbial biomass has emerged as an option for developing economic and eco-friendly waste water treatment processes. Non living and dead microbial biomass may passively sequester metal by the process of biosorption technology. It has advantages like low operating cost and is effective in dilute solutions and generates minimumeffluent. Here, the dead microbial biomass has several reactive groups available on the cell surface such as carboxyl, amine, imidazole, phosphate, sulfhydryl, sulfate and hydroxyl. The pretreatments modify the cell surface either by removing or masking the groups or exposing more metal binding sites. Immobilized biomass offers the continuous sorption-desorption systemin a fixed bed reactor. Various commercial microbial biosorbents available are Alga sorbs, AMT Bioclaimand Bio-fix. The economics of these sorbentsmerit their commercialization, over chemical ion exchangers. Although a lot of research is done in the field of biosorption the applicationsmade on large scale are still less.


Baby Mohammad Musa along with his father and other family members was booked for throwing rocks at gas company officials in the working-class Ahata Thanedaran neighbourhood on February 1, the family's lawyer Chaudhry Irfan Sadiq said Friday.
Yasin later fed him milk from a bottle while fielding questions from reporters.
"Everyone in the court was saying 'How can such a small child be implicated in any case'? What kind of police do we have?" the 50-year-old labourer said.
The charge is in direct contradiction with Pakistan's minimum age of criminal responsibility, which was raised from seven to 12 years in 2013 except in terrorism cases.
Yasin accused the police of fabricating the charges because they were colluding with a rival party who wanted to see the accused evicted from their land and had obtained an order to remove their gas connections.
"The police and gas company officials came without any notice and started removing gas meters from houses. Residents started protesting and blocked the road but ended the protest when senior police officers arrived in the area and assured them that no injustice would be done.
"But later we found out that cases have been filed against us," he added.
But Sadiq, the lawyer, said the charges against the child should have been dropped.
"The court should have simply referred the minor's case to the High Court to drop the charges against the innocent child and acquit him from the case," Sadiq told AFP.
"This case also exposes the incompetence of our police force and the way they are operating," he added.
He said: "It's not common for babies to be accused but it is common for other family members to be accused," he said.
"What happens then is that vendettas are going on so everyone gets picked up and gets chucked in jail," he added.
Shoaib Suddle, a retired police chief, added that the system operates via 'first information reports' that date back to British colonial times, which give too much weight to allegations made by accusers.
"The moment they are able to file a complaint, accusers expect that without any evidence people should be locked up and the investigation should follow, whereas the world over it is the other way around," Suddle said.
The entire world is going mad, that is what is happening.


Mark F. Underwood is an attorney at Underwood Law Offices and helps clients address Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff legal issues. He also assists clients regarding Employee Benefits and Criminal Defense issues.
Super Lawyers is a designation of top-rated practicing attorneys selected through extensive evaluation. He was awarded this distinction for 2007.
Mark Underwood graduated in 1989 from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Mark Underwood was admitted to practice law in 1989. He represents clients in the Huntington area.


text:
Biografia
Anche suo figlio Barnabas Imenger è calciatore.

Carriera
Ha giocato una partita nella Confederations Cup 1995.

Palmarès

Club

Competizioni nazionali

Lobi Stars: 1999

Note

Collegamenti esterni

Calciatori della Nazionale nigeriana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Meet the reigning Chili Chicks of Canyon Falls
22 March . 2022
When the Goodman family moved to Canyon Falls in 2017, there weren't many other homes around their newly completed home in the Highpoint neighborhood.
"As more houses were built, we hoped some amazing people would move in, and we lucked out when Veronica Delic and her family arrived in 2018," recalls Christina Goodman, at right in the photo. "We were looking for neighborhood friends and found so much more than that in the Delics. We call them our 'framily.'"
The two moms instantly connected and have been good friends ever since, enjoying driveway chats, pool parties, dining at home and restaurants, and even traveling together.
Veronica's family includes husband Jacob, who works for Charles Schwab, along with daughter Ana and dog Elsa. Christina, an English teacher in Lewisville ISD, is married to Brandon, an Army veteran, and their family includes three daughters and a dog.
"We couldn't have asked for better neighbors," says Veronica, a real estate agent with EXP Realty.
Veronica and Christina have shared many recipes and cooked together over the years, so it seemed only natural that they would team up for the first-ever Canyon Falls Chili Cook-Off, held at the Hay Barn in March.
Dubbing themselves the Chili Chicks, they hit the grocery store to gather the ingredients for what turned out to be an award-winning recipe. Veronica, who is originally from Mexico, loves spicy food. Christina agreed that they would amp up the heat level of their chili.
They ended up using nearly a dozen spices, including several kinds of peppers. The secret ingredients, though, were love and fun, according to Veronica.
"We tenderized the meat heavily and made sure it was room temperature before it hit the stove to be cooked. It makes a difference," Veronica says.
"Joining the Chili Cook-Off was meant to be a fun way to spend a Sunday, and winning was the icing on the cake," adds Christina. "We spent all morning cooking and laughing and making silly videos. We had a blast!"
Live music, lawn games and pots and pots of chili from other contestants added to a lively atmosphere for the chili cook-off. Every attendee got a vote, and when they were all counted, Veronica and Christina took home the first prize trophy, and forever bragging rights as the very first Canyon Falls Chili Cook-Off winners.
Meet Cloud, a rescued pup who's loving life in Canyon Falls
Meet the principal of the new elementary school opening in Canyon Falls

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Explore the Region from Coast to Cactus is an interactive website that illustrates the biological richness of southern California by taking users on a journey through its diverse habitats and the plants and animals that live in them. San Diego is known for its incredibly diverse terrain, ranging from the beaches and chaparral near the coast, to the mountains and the desert farther afield. This terrain is what makes the region one of only 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world, meaning areas that have the highest concentration of different species of any geographic area of similar size. Featuring species profiles, habitat descriptions, unique places to visit, and stories about the people who have deepened our understanding of the region, Explore the Region from Coast to Cactus is a dynamic tool that gives users the ability to go out, identify and record species, and explore the region on their own.
In January 2015, the San Diego Natural History Museum opened a new, 8,000 square foot permanent exhibition, Coast to Cactus in Southern California, that invites visitors to explore the unique habitats of Southern California. The Balboa Park Online Collaborative (BPOC) team, in collaboration with staff at the Museum, developed a website to accompany the exhibition. The goal was to produce a web-based interactive map of the exhibition to enhance visitors' understanding of the southern California region, to foster caring and stewardship of natural places, and to deepen citizens' sense of place in the region.
The Museum engaged Designing Insights LLC to conduct a usability evaluation of the website in order to assess if the site is clear, usable, and intuitive. The evaluation was conducted on an in-progress beta site (http://coast.sdnhm.org) utilizing a Heuristic Evaluation and Think Aloud User Tests. The evaluation showed that users felt that (1) Using a map of the physical space as the primary organizing principle is problematic for online-only use, (2) it's unclear what content a user will see in the actual exhibition versus additional content that is only available online, (3) limited content and content specific to the in-person experience is not successful online, (4) legibility over imagery is poor and color-coding is unclear, and (5) content access is inconsistent; content nomenclature and categories are not always clear.
After reviewing the findings of the evaluation, we renegotiated our contract with BPOC to redesign the website from top to bottom. The new website (http://coasttocactus.sdnhm.org) design addressed the five most problematic areas (listed above) that were identified in the evaluation. As a result, the new website: (1) engages a user through an interactive regional map of southern California, not a map of the physical exhibition, (2) presents content relevant to regional exploration rather than the exhibition itself, (3) streamlines content categories and nomenclature in navigation menus, and (4) makes content browsing primarily image driven through the use of a familiar visual grid.
For users who want to enhance their connection to the region even further, we provided an avenue to do this through Share Your Findings. This section lists links to citizen science opportunities, two of which (Amphibian and Reptile Atlas of Peninsular California and Flying Squirrel Study) are research programs run by the Museum. The third, iNaturalist, is a project in which our scientists are active participants. The fourth means of enhanced engagement is Coast to Cactus Digital Scrapbook, where users can submit photos—old or new—that depict the natural world throughout southern California. The images will become part of the Museum's photo archive and may appear in the Digital Scrapbook within the Coast to Cactus in Southern California exhibition.
Though we stripped the website of direct ties to the exhibition, there is a design aesthetic that ties it to the exhibition holistically (fonts, color palette, region, species). It is an expansion of the exhibition, giving users tools and information to get out and experience the natural world for themselves.
The Museum has again engaged Designing Insights, this time, to conduct a follow-up Usability Evaluation of the redesigned Explore the Region from Coast to Cactus site (http://coasttocactus.sdnhm.org). In addition to conducting user Think Aloud tests, Designing Insights will evaluate the redesigned site against the findings from the original Heuristic Evaluation and assess the changes that were made based on the heuristic findings. Users will be asked to follow the same or similar use-case scenarios and tasks as in the first evaluation. This follow-up evaluation will take place from April 15 – June 15, 2016.


The supply of active listings fell from 165 to 152 during June. This total is down 12% from the 173 that we saw on July 1st, 2017. We have one short sale but no lender-owned homes. There were just fifteen sales during June, a large drop from 33 in May and down 29% from 21 in June last year. Despite this, Fountain Hills has seen supply drop and demand rise over the past 4 months. The twelve-month average price per sq. ft. was at $229 in June, up from $217 from a year earlier. Similarly, the six-month average moved up to $232 from $217 a year ago but the three-month average dipped to $231 per sq. ft. from $232 a year earlier.


Website design for mobile has never been more important for businesses. Without a mobile or responsive website design, you could lose up to 90% of visitors. Which it is why it is so important to visit a site like Web Design Cardiff in order to help you create a more effective website.
Do you like to surf on slow, hard to navigate websites? Yeah, me neither, especially when I am on my mobile.
This morning I came across some interesting mobile-first statistics for 2018. While these stats are no shocker for us web users that saw smartphones invented, they should be eye-opening for the business owner that is still depending on an outdated website design.
Mobile (dedicated or adaptive), and responsive design are both ways to offer a positive mobile user experience on your website. But, which is better?
First, let's look at mobile design. This design can deliver a fast user experience specifically formatted for a mobile device's smaller screen. It requires a separate distinct website using a unique URL different from your main website.
Next, we'll look at responsive design. From desktop to mobile, this website offers ease to the user with little to no need to resize, pan, or scroll sideways. The responsive design is coded into your main website with the goal to ensure a positive user experience across all devices.
Responsive is clearly the winner, right?
Not so fast, says, Neilson Norman Group.
Modern search engines have learned to recognize mobile-dedicated sites, and no longer rank them lower just for having a different URL than their more known desktop version. Search engines will now send users to the mobile version of a website…if one is available.
Most folks do not know the difference between mobile and responsive websites and could actually care less. They just want a website to be fast and easy to use. And, it's this experience on a site, regardless of the device they are using, that matters.
When was the last time you took a long hard look at your own website? Many people often feel as though the hard work with their site is done as soon as they've got their own web hosting from somewhere like https://www.hostiserver.com/, but this is not quite the case. Especially on a mobile device. Go ahead, do it right now. Do you like what you see? If not, a simple website refresh might be all you need. Or, you may find that a complete do-over is necessary. Either way, you have countless options for a website that works for all users. WordPress is my favorite, however, you can find other easy to manage websites that look great on mobile.
So which is better? Mobile or Responsive?
I believe it depends on the website's purpose. I personally prefer to shop and book travel on websites that offer specific user-friendly mobile, or adaptive layouts. Just simply being "responsive" doesn't necessarily mean easy-to-use. The buttons need to be bigger; the form fields easily found, and data quickly populated. Sometimes, successful website navigation requires us to create a much different, device-centric website design.
What should you do now? Ask a friend or customer to look at your site on their mobile device and give you honest feedback. What did they like or dislike about the experience? It can be very helpful to get another person's perspective. Then, if you find you need a little updo, maybe I can help. I have been helping businesses transition their marketing to mobile since 2009. Before that, I worked in yellow-page advertising…but that is another story for another time.
Rebecca Ruck founded Mobloggy® in 2009 to help small businesses get found online.
Mobloggy® offers a holistic approach to digital marketing and web design, utilizing industry tools and it's many strategic layers.


This entry was posted in Artificial Intelligence and tagged AI, Artificial Intelligence, Least weighted path algorithms, velociraptors by Ezra. Bookmark the permalink.
I find this problem fascinating.
For years I have worked on creating 'optimal' AI (fastest path, unobserved path, a path beyond enemy weapons range, etc.). Now I'm confronted with creating less than perfect AI. This is a very interesting problem.


text:
The Traveller in the Evening
A talk given by Andy Wilson for the Blake Society at St Luke's Community Centre, Islington, London, on 24th Nov 2021, for the residents around Bunhill Fields, where Blake is buried.
Videos and podcasts of various discussions. Updated regularly.
While A L Morton thought Blake may have read the work of the Ranter, Abiezer Coppe, modern historians say there is no evidence of Blake being familiar with Ranter texts. How much do Blake's ideas overlap with The Ranters? I look at the Justification of the Mad Crew (1650) to compare.
Brian Catling gave a talk to the Blake Society about his relationship to Blake, running a meter over his work to detect splinters of Blakean influence, from his early confusion of Blake and Bunyan, to his use of Blake as a character in his novel, The Erstwhile.
In Sept 2021, Iain Sinclair gave an improvised talk to the Blake Society about how Blake's poem, The Mental Traveller, became the map and model for a lifetime of journeys and pilgrimage quests. The Mental Traveller was an awakening, to be experienced but not yet understood. The poem returned at various points in the years that followed, until it was acknowledged as the secret code for Sinclair's most recent book, The Gold Machine, a late-life expedition to one of the sources of the Amazon, in the footsteps of his great-grandfather.
Fed up with the wholesome goodness that pops magically out of the negation of the negation every time you try it? Try Michael Tencer's affirmation of the affirmation instead to experience a life crumbling like your teeth in dreams.
John Higgs recently published his book, William Blake vs the World—a 'countercultural' take on Blake's work, written for a non-academic audience. Here, Conor Kostick interviews Andy Wilson about his review of the book and more generally about Blake's relevance to the countrculture.
John Higgs's new book promises a contemporary take on the works of William Blake, making them relevant to a modern audience generally, and to the counterculture in particular. So, how well does it live up to its promise?
The topic of art and revolution deserves a much better book than John Molyneux's The Dialectics of Art. This critical review explains why.
The Fall's Before the Moon Falls, W.B., Jerusalem and creating a system of your own
What did Blake meantby saying that when he looked at the sun he saw a choir of angels singing 'Holy, Holy, Holy', and how does it relate to his depiction of apocalypse.
The film Blade Runner is hugely successful, but what does it mean? As the makers hint, the key is to watch it through the eyes of William Blake and his mythology of liberation.
Few could deny that William Blake supported the radical politics of his time, yet revolutionary ideas were not an adjunct to his visionary genius, but the living heart of it as a poet.
In the wake of the attempted QAnon putsch, and in the run-up to the inauguration of Joe Biden, when Trump's supporters are expected to take to the streets again, Aleks McHugh considers QAnon hysteria and social media generally as incarnations of Meyrink's Golem, as portrayed in the 1920 film by Paul Wegener.
Images from Serge Arnoux's le sexaphysique du texte, 1981.
Reflections on William Blake, radical theology, politics and surrealism.
[Blake's] spiritual rebellion against the powerful of this world was not made of that type of water-soluble gunpowder to which we have more or less accustomed ourselves.
Welcome to The Traveller in the Evening, a site focused on the work of William Blake. But it is a loose focus, because, in the right mouths, the discussion of Blake quickly turns to the discussion of surrealism, revolution, radical theology and much else besides. Blake himself easily combined all of these things, well in advance of his age—and ours.
It is… proper to state that Blake never had, strictly speaking, any influence and that it is extremely probable that he never will. The reason is that in Blake we behold not so much a fountain, a source, as a mountaintop.
Phillippe Soupault
The Traveller Hasteth in the Evening is an engraving by Blake from 1793, as part of his early collection, For the Sexes. Blake's image shows his traveller pacing his way toward some unknown destination. Morton Paley shortened the title to The Traveller in the Evening for his book about Blake's later works (after Jerusalem). I borrowed Paley's title for the blog because it reflects my own situation with respect to Blake, and our collective situation more generally.
I've been reading Blake for years, quietly taking notes. My dream was to find the time and space one day to write a book about what I learned from him. Right now, it doesn't seem that day is getting any closer. At the same time, the world has taken a dark and threatening turn, with the rise of far-right globally and of authoritarian governments bent on marching us headlong toward an environmental catastrophe we set in train a long time ago. Some days it feels like it is evening everywhere.
The old world is dying, and the old left, in the form of communism and social democracy, has perhaps run its course, because it was based too closely on an idealisation of production's 'Satanic mills'. The environmental movement is urgently relevant, but struggles to paint a coherent picture of any alternative. Social movements against oppression tackle the world's abuses without being able to attack them at the root.To do so would mean coming to a very different picture of who we are in relation to our world. I believe Blake can help point us toward the reversal of perspectives needed, to fan the flames of solidarity and help to wake us from our long collective sleep. The ramifications of his thought would overturn our deepest assumptions—hence the need to present this new, and unheard Blake: a profound esoteric thinker and a thoroughgoing surrealist militant.
Author: Andy Wilson
Andy Wilson lived in Seaham Harbour, Peterlee, Hartlepool, Kings Lynn, Coventry, Torpoint, Eastleigh, Lee-on-Solent, Portland, Weymouth, Loughborough, York and Liverpool before finally putting down anchor in Hackney, London. He served as an Avionics Artificer in the Royal Naval Fleet Air Arm from 1976 to 1982. Andy studied at the Co-operative College, York University and Middlesex University. Since then he has worked as a political full-timer, a lecturer in FE and in the Workers Educational Association, as a computer programmer, and finally as an engineering manager, CEO and a Director of a number of companies. He has authored books on the group Faust ('Faust: Stretch Out Time 1970-75'), the Romanian Spectral / Acousmatic composers Iancu Dumitrescu and Ana-Maria Avram ('Cosmic Orgasm: The Music of Iancu Dumitrescu and Ana-Maria Avram'), and he created a series of psychedelic-fanzine illustrations to the work of Blake ('The Brilliant New Hercules: A Blake Reader'). His main interests lie with Blake, radical theology and Surrealism.


Yesterday was a great day. A great day because as I get closer to my commitment of blogging for 100 days I'm becoming more willing to add texture and content about our outer world to the message. I beleive that a conversation takes place within all of us about life and its issues all the time, and how best to navigate the journey. There is this crazy spinning around social media, politics, economy, weather, you name it, there is spinning. While I don't know exactly what I'm going to do after the 100 days I'm excited to have successfully navigated 88 days of dialogue and authentic expression. No one HATES me (ok maybe a few, lol) and I'm OK. The world has not ended and I feel safe and confident that we will somehow endure. We can have faith, we can love ourselves and each other and by taking one step at a time make life much easier to navigate. That is my quest. After all, the years of our lives do not arrive all at on once, they greet us day by day. The way we show up for our lives today and tomorrow has an enormous affect on who we will be and what we will be experiencing years from now. If we can remain fully engaged in the day at hand, enjoying all it has to offer and putting our energy into making the most of it, we will find that we are perfectly ready and capable to handle any future when it arrives.
Thank you for coming along on this ride and let me know where you might like to go next. I realize that it is hard work for everyone, but I am fully committed and willing to engage and learn. The journey continues and I welcome your thoughts and input.
My journey is called waking up from the dream and going home to a world of oneness and love. The outer world is an illusion and is keeping is mesmerized. I am glad for our awakening.
Previous Previous post: What are we to do?


This Easter, support McCallum Journalism Programs and make the holiday extra special by having Easter eggs containing toys and candy scattered around your yard or on your porch for Easter morning. You can even send them as a surprise to friends and family members in the Austin area!
Delivery available within an 8 mile radius of McCallum HS. For more details click here.


text:
March 12, 2013 9:30PM ET
Bob Dylan Voted Into American Academy of Arts and Letters
Elite honor society inducts its first rock musician
RJ Cubarrubia
RJ Cubarrubia's Most Recent Stories
Anoushka Shankar, Norah Jones Bond on 'The Sun Won't Set'
Seth Rogen Sparking Up a Christmas Stoner Movie
Pearl Jam's 'Lighting Bolt' to Strike at World Series
Bob Dylan in Los Angeles, California.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1
Bob Dylan has been voted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, marking the first time a rock musician has been chosen for the elite honor society. Officials in the Academy – which recognizes music, literature and visual art – were unable to decide if Dylan belonged for his words or his music and instead inducted him as an honorary member like previous honorees Meryl Streep, Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese.
100 Greatest Artists: Bob Dylan
"The board of directors considered the diversity of his work and acknowledged his iconic place in the American culture," executive director Virginia Dajani told the Associated Press. "Bob Dylan is a multi-talented artist whose work so thoroughly crosses several disciplines that it defies categorization."
Outside of the honorary choices, the American Academy of Arts and Letters consists of 250 artists, musicians and writers. Openings are available upon a member's death, and current members conduct the nominating and voting process. The Academy, founded in 1898 and based in New York, has historically locked out the likes of Dylan, dismissing jazz artists to modernist poets; it has largely recognized classical musicians but has also honored artists like Stephen Sondheim and Ornette Coleman. Dajani and other officials have pointed to other organizations that recognize rock music, like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as to why the Academy has skipped out on rock musicians.
50 Best Albums of 2012: Bob Dylan, 'Tempest'
For his part, Dylan has accepted the membership – a stipulation for him to be voted through – but his manager, Jeff Rosen, had no comment on whether he'll attend the Academy's April dinner or May induction ceremony. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon will be the keynote speaker at the May ceremony, and his address is titled "Rock & Roll."
In This Article: Bob Dylan


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Funko Announces X-MEN Movie 20th Anniversary Pops
May 14 2020 • 4:58 PM
Believe it or not, this year marks the twentieth anniversary of the original X-Men film. That particular movie started a franchise lasting 19 years and 12 movies. It also initiated the concept of Marvel as a powerhouse cinematic brand. So no X-Men, no MCU. As a way of celebrating two decades of the leather-clad mutants, Funko has just announced a special X-Men anniversary wave of Pop! vinyls, one that encompasses the entire original X-Men trilogy.
Funko / Marvel
Among the Pop! figures in this wave are two different versions of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine; one in his X-Men costume, with the other in his street clothes. There's a Patrick Stewart version of Professor Xavier, along with Ian McKellan's Magneto. Rounding out the characters from the first film are Mystique, Storm, Rogue, and Cyclops. From the other films in the original trilogy, there's Nightcrawler from X2; and Beast and Jean Grey as Dark Phoenix from X-Men: The Last Stand.
Of course, there will be exclusives as well. Target and Walmart will feature metallic versions of Magneto (naturally) along with Mystique.
For many years, there were little to no X-Men movie-based toys, outside of the occasional high end item. This had to do with licensing agreements between Marvel and Fox. But with the Fox/Disney merger, there can now be toys aplenty for the cinematic franchise. In fact, Hasbro was only recently allowed to create Marvel Legends action figures for the original movie series, which they debuted at this year's Toy Fair.
Hopefully, this not just a one-off celebrating the original film's twentieth anniversary. Because the X-Men also have another big anniversary this year, as 2020 marks 45 years since the debut of the "All-New, All-Different X-Men" in the pages of Marvel Comics. I know fans would love to see those classic iterations of the characters. They deserve to get their shot at Funko Pop glory as well.
Featured Image: Funko / Marvel
NO WAY HOME Stars Surprise Fan at Children's Hospital ...
TAGGED: Marvel Comics, X-Men, Funko, Funko Pop Vinyls, x2, x-men the last stand
'90s Mutants Get a Modern Remix in X-MEN '92: HOUSE OF XCII
Who Is Marvel Comics' Morbius, the Living Vampire?
The Marvel Comics History of 'Evil Doctor Strange'
Where We Should See [Spoilers] from SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Next
How SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Sets Up Miles Morales


text:
Q: Apache Connections I have an i5 server 2.8 Ghz, 16GB Ram, no swap, it is connected to 100Mbps port + Debian 6 Stable
I'm running a small LAMP site, and the server is almost idle... it uses 1400MB of ram and cpus near 4%.
I did a small benchmark from another server at 100Mbps
#!/bin/bash
for i in {1..300}
 do
  wget -b -r -l 1 -x www.site.com
 done

and I got this:
141 files, 3.3M (per download)
I can achieve up to 97Mbps, that's ok (MTRG).
But the problem is on the first server... when I got something like this:
root@server:~# ss | grep ESTAB | wc -l
300  (or more)

The server seems unresponsive, but it is still almost idle...
The i/o according to iotop is idle too.
Mysql is setup to allow 1000 connections, no problems so far.
Apache config
Timeout 300
KeepAlive On

MaxKeepAliveRequests 0

KeepAliveTimeout 15

<IfModule mpm_prefork_module>
    StartServers          5
    MinSpareServers       5
    MaxSpareServers      10
    MaxClients          150
    MaxRequestsPerChild   0
</IfModule>

And
root@server:~# cat /etc/sysctl.conf
net.core.somaxconn = 10240
....

I played with Apache and Sysctl, looking for something better but I did not found it.
Any help is appreciated

A: Turn off KeepAlive and then re-run it.. You are keeping apache connections open for 15 seconds per connection waiting for another connection from the wget's you run. I'm sure you will get better results with KeepAlive off

A: You can also probably safely increase the MaxClients setting.  Apache children often use between 20MB and 100MB depending on what modules you have loaded.  Unless you are at the top end of that range you can probably handle 200 or 300 children.
More children means more simultaneous requests, even if the children are tied up with keepalives.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A dedicated resource for all information related to the Resident Evil franchise.
These is indeed a good time to be alive, to experience the remake of the game we have all been longing to see for so many years. The full remake of the classic Resident Evil 2 has been released, and it is gorgeous!
As soon as this game was released we were playing it, and not just to experience it for ourselves but with the aim of covering it in all its glory on Evil Resource. We have already started adding content to the site, as we decided it would be better to drip-feed you all updates rather than wait until everything was finished. With this in mind there will be areas that are a bit work-in-progress, but you can count on us to get all this cool new game data delivered to you very soon.
So please go and check out the brand new section of the site - Resident Evil 2 Remake - and please bear with us as we continue to grow this information over the coming days and weeks.
After many years and after so many requests, Evil Resource is finally proud to announce the coverage of Resident Evil Outbreak File #2!
We have added all the items, files, enemies and characters of the game, and of course provided you with a complete set of interactive maps to tie them all together.
Not only this, but all four modes are covered. Yes, that means we have Easy, Normal, Hard and Very Hard modes available for browsing.
So please go and check out the brand new section of the site - Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 - and we hope very much that the wait has been worth it. Enjoy!
Evil Resource is proud to announce a new update to the site.
Given that the two Revelations games have been re-released, we thought it appropriate to work on providing as much information on these games as possible. Therefore, we thought covering the dreaded Infernal mode of the first Revelations game would be a good starting point.
Not only do we cover the locations of the seemingly unfair number of new enemy placements in this mode, but at long last we can helpfully reveal the locations of those sought-after Legendary Parts!


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This bank is designed for self-employed persons, young people and people who is working in agriculture and all those who want to give extra value to it´s payroll.
Enjoy the service with significant developments and specific conditions for an extra performance from you payroll. In addition to offering young people in the field of housing for young people between 22 and 30 years of age they can receive aid for the rental housing that allows them to be emancipated.
4.What content does it certain?
The bank specializes in offering the following services at a distance: it offers a high range of products and services, and accounts, cards, mortgage, loans, deposits, insurance, securities. It may also operate through the telephone or internet and finally offers a customer service via phone, internet and ATM´s.
I found interesting in banking Granada investment in health and social care in addition to helping the restoration of the organs of the historical heritage of Granada.


This 2009 paper by Fraulo and Nguyen looks at the debate over whether momentum is a industry or a individual stock dynamic. The jury is still out. At Atlas we use both as a factors.
This 1997 piece by Mark Carhart suggests that funds with high returns last year have higher-than-average expected returns next year, but not in years thereafter. This work has been an important add-on to the Fama and French model, showing momentum to be a key factor contributing to stock outperformance. It also shows that the investment costs of expense ratios, transaction costs, and load fees all have a direct, negative impact on performance.
This 1993 paper by Narashimhan Jegadeesh and Sheridan Titman documents that momentum strategies, which buy stocks that have performed well in the past and sell stocks that have performed poorly in the past, generate significant positive returns over 3- to 12-month holding periods.
This 2014 paper by Asness, Frazzini, Israel and Moskowitz reviews the academic discovery of momentum investing. They highlight ten myths about momentum and refute them, using results from widely circulated academic papers and analysis from the simplest and best publicly available data.


It was Leo's third birthday a couple of weeks ago and to celebrate a group us headed off to Paultons Park in Romsey for a day full of pig and dinosaur fun. We have been living only 15 minutes away from Peppa Pig World for nearly a year and I honestly can't believe it has taken us so long to go. Like most kids his age, Leo is obsessed with Peppa Pig and I'm sure spending a day completely immersed in a world based on his favourite show is like some kind of dream come true. Paultons Park is not just about Peppa Pig World though, there are loads of rides to suit all ages and the new Lost Kingdom part of the park is a must for any dinosaur fan. For anyone planning a trip to Paultons Park you can find out all about it here and my thoughts on it as a family friendly day out. Spoiler alert – we LOVED it.
If your child is over a metre tall then you have to pay for their admission into the park, which is £30. It can get pretty pricey if you have a few tall children so that is something to consider before you make the trip to the park, maybe buying a family ticket would be best. There is no point trying to hide your child's height by sitting them in a pram as they have to walk under a 1 meter barrier and then once through the gates they are measured by a member of staff to see how tall they are. Children are then given different coloured bands depending on their height to show what rides they can go on. Leo got a green band, this meant he was under a metre and couldn't go on rides unsupervised. The staff seem really strict about the height thing so I wouldn't bother even trying to blag your way past them, like I saw a couple families attempting to do. Adult tickets are £30 but it might be worth keeping an eye out online and in kids magazines for voucher codes. Here is a full list of the entry fees.
As soon as we were through the gates into the park we headed straight to Peppa Pig World. As we went on a Saturday in the summer holidays is was so busy! The queues weren't unbearable though and Leo seemed quite happy to wait as there was so much to look at. The Peppa Pig theme tune was on repeat throughout the park as well as other popular songs from the show so I think this helped to keep Leo and the other kids entertained in the long queues. We really felt like we had stepped on to the set of a live action version of the Peppa Pig TV show, there were lots of brightly coloured buildings, Madame Gazelles Play School and Peppa's house to name just two, and various characters could be seen wondering around throughout the day for photo opportunities.
Our first stop was Grandpa Pig's Little Train to ease Leo into the rides and once we were done on there Leo wanted to go on everything. We had fun driving around in Daddy Pig's Car and Leo had a ride on George's Dinosaur Adventure with his very own Grampy. We all had a ride on Grandpa Pig's Boat Ride too, Leo loved all the rides and seeing models of all the TV characters as we were span round and round. There were a few rides we didn't go on as I don't think Leo fancied going up in the air, these were the Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Ride, Windy Castle Ride and Peppa's Big Balloon Ride.
After all that fun we all stopped for lunch to gather some much needed energy for the rest of our day. We had bought a picnic with us and we sat at the tables outside Daddy Pig's Big Tummy Cafe in the shade. This was a great spot to soak up the crazy colourful view of Peppa Pig World and we had lots of ducks hanging out by our table, we all know ducks love picnics too after all. If you don't fancy a picnic you could eat in the cafe or treat yourself at Miss Rabbit's Ice Cream Parlour. There is a soft play centre, a splash park and a playground if your child wanted to burn off some energy, we avoided these as they are things we can do any old day and I thought they would be full of too many screaming children!
* The rides are very toddler friendly and, although most of them just go round in a circle, there is a lot to look at and regular characters from the TV show are there to make them more exciting for kids.
* Considering how long the queues were some of the rides felt quite short. This was ok but a bit annoying when you've spent so long queuing.
* George's Dinosaur Adventure seemed the most popular and there were long queues for that right up until closing time.
* The park is set out brilliantly and there is lots going on to keep little ones entertained.
* A great day out for toddlers, although I think children any older than 4/5 would find the rides a bit boring.
* Rides close at 5pm which felt a little early, we could have easily spent another hour there.
* Leo loved it and I think it's a must for Peppa Pig fans.
My 6 year old nephew came along with us for the day and he got bored of Peppa Pig world pretty quickly. We managed to keep him happyish for as long as possible as it was Leo's birthday treat but not long after lunch we decided to head on over to Paultons Park's latest attraction. the Lost Kingdom. Leo wasn't upset by this at all as he loves dinosaurs and I was pleased to see there were a few rides he was big enough to ride on in this part of the park too. This is where we lost Oli and his brother to the big thrill seeker rides, including Velociraptor and Flight of the Pterosaur.
Leo played around in the Little Explorers outdoor play area for a bit and then his Grampy whisked him off to go on some dino rides. The Dino Chase is a small rollercoaster that Leo was somehow big enough to go on, I am not sure he liked it as when he got off he kept saying 'too fast for me Mummy!' and the picture they had taken on the ride is just hilarious. After his brief encounter with a big boy ride, it wasn't long before Leo was back on the round and round kids rides he has grown to know and love. Boulder Dash was a favourite and The Dinosaur Tour Co was an easy going car ride looking at all the different dinosaurs, be warned you might get wet at the end of this one. After all the fun and excitement it was time for ice cream from one on the kiosks in the Lost Kingdom, if you fancy hot food while in this part of the park there is the Base Camp which sells mostly chicken type meals.
* There are rides to suit all ages which was perfect for us. This part of the park managed to keep a 3year old, a 6year old and my parent's and in laws (who are in their 50s/60s) happy.
* If you are pregnant you can't go on any of the fun rides.
* Queues were shorter than in Peppa Pig World.
* The robotic dinosaurs were amazing, really big and really life like. When he wasn't going on rides Leo enjoyed just walking around and looking at all the dinosaurs.
* We missed this but at different times throughout the day a giant T-Rex comes out of hiding to say hello.
* The music will make you feel like you've been dropped into a scene straight from Jurassic Park.
* Although they are big, the dinosaurs are not scary and Leo wasn't intimidated or scared of them at all.
* Makes a nice break from the bright and loud toddler filled Peppa Pig World.
Once we were all dinosaured out we went for a look around the rest of Paultons Park. There are lots of rides we didn't go on but everyone managed to go on what they wanted. Oli, his brother and my nephew went on The Edge (which I was secretly glad I couldn't go on!), my Dad joined them and they all went on The Cobra which I was informed was pretty scary too. Leo was napping at this point so I kind of felt like I was at least missing out on rides for a reason. Everyone had a go on the Raging River Ride Log Flume and got soaked, none of them minded too much as it was a boiling hot day.
We also checked out the Critter Creek part of the park where there was a small train ride for Leo to enjoy and there was also a small insect/aquarium attraction where you could check out all the critters. This was a very small part of the park but Leo and my nephew seemed to enjoy it, for some reason it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Never ones to miss out, Oli and his brother tried out the children's roller coaster Cat-O-Pillar Coaster too with my Dad and nephew. Due to the amount of time we spent in the other parts of the park we didn't get around to going on all the rides in Paultons Park, here is a full list of them if you want to see what there is.
For the last hour of our day we headed back to Peppa Pig world and got one last ride on all of Leo's favourites. The rides all closed at 5 and we stayed right up until every ride had stopped! After a long and fun filled day we headed for the exit which is of course through the gift shop! We spent ages waiting for Leo to choose something and once he had bagged himself a George sat on a dragon toy it was time to go home.
* It is set out brilliantly and there are lots of sign posts to stop you getting lost.
* There is lots there for small children and toddlers. I loved that there were playgrounds and soft play for children who don't fancy the rides.
* The different parts of the park mean if one bit is too busy (probably Peppa Pig World) you can probably find a ride with a small queue somewhere else.
* The staff were friendly and helpful.
* I loved that the toilets had built in smaller seats for toddlers – there's absolutely no need to take your own potty.
* Some of the rides were really short.
* 5pm is a bit too early for the park to close, especially in summer when there are loads of hours of daylight left.
We had a fantastic day out at Paultons Park, despite the few negatives I have mentioned, and we can't wait to go back again. I think we will wait until baby boy is here so I don't have to miss out on all the rides!
Have you been to Paultons Park, did you enjoy your day out there? If you have considered going has this post persuaded you to visit? I definitely think it is worth the money, we all had a brilliant day and Leo loved his special birthday treat.
Wow it looks like a fabulous day out. My 3yo was nuts over Peppa Pig too, wish we had taken him when we lived in the UK now!
I don't live far away but for some reason have never been…I think the cost has put me off, but maybe for my next son's birthday we will do it as a special day out.


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text:
The Empire State
This city is often thought to be the center of the world. New York, the most populous city in the United States (US), is the capital of culture, finance, media and international diplomacy.
Its five counties – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island are all famous in their own special ways.
With nearly 9 million inhabitants, New York is also the most linguistically diverse city in the world where 800 different languages are spoken. Being a city that never sleeps, New York is a dream destination for many.
A Brief History of New York
The first Europeans who settled in the area in 1609 were from the Netherlands. They named the colony New Amsterdam.
In 1664, the British conquered the colony and renamed it New York.
After the War of Independence, New York City served as the first capital of the United States for only a year, until the role was transferred to Philadelphia.
George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on the steps of the Federal Hall on Wall Street.
In 1898, the modern City of New York was formed with the consolidation of several counties and Brooklyn, which had been a separate city until then.
Now, New York is the center of international affairs, hosting the headquarters of the United Nations.
Although called a square, Times Square is in fact an entire neighborhood in Manhattan, famous as a major commercial intersection, entertainment center and a place with most flashing billboards and advertisements.
On certain days, more than 400,000 people walk through Times Square, which makes it one of the world's busiest pedestrian areas.
This busy neighborhood, which got its name when The New York Times moved its headquarters there, attracts every single tourist who comes to New York City. For this reason, it is called "The Crossroads of the World".
Statue of Liberty is a colossal copper statue located on the Liberty Island in New York Harbor. This statue, a gift from the people of France, was built by Gustave Eiffel, who also constructed the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The statue is a figure of a woman representing Libertas (Latin for Liberty), a Roman goddess representing the concept Liberty. She is holding a torch and a tablet (tabula ansata) where the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence is inscribed.
Libertas also has broken chains at her feet as a symbol of freedom. During past migrations, the Statue served as a welcoming sight to many immigrants arriving on ships.
This remarkable structure over the East River is one of the oldest roadway bridges in the U.S. Connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, it is a favorite site for both tourists and locals, open for pedestrians and traffic.
Brooklyn Bridge is one the most easily recognizable symbols of the city, having appeared in wide shots in many Hollywood movies. The structure has also inspired many painters and playwrights.
The Skyscrapers of New York
Extremely tall buildings are such a common thing in New York City that sometimes passengers on the street feel like they can't see the sky.
The Chrysler Building, unique for its roof, is 319m (1,046 feet) tall, yet, it lost its status as the tallest building in 1931. It was built during the New York City's building boom, when different corporations were competing to build the world's tallest building.
With 102 floors, the Empire State Building was the tallest in the world for four decades. This breathtaking structure is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and its name also serves as a nickname for the city.
At the moment, the tallest building in New York is the recently-opened One World Trade Center. This 541 m (1,776 feet) tall architectural masterpiece was built in an effort to memorialize the original World Trade Center destroyed in a terrorist attack.
What does "consolidation" mean?
asking for someone's opinion
combining several things into one more effective piece
dividing one city into several districts
What does "inaugurate" mean?
to admit someone to office or an official position
to be a presidential candidate
to finish your term as a public official
What does "colossal" mean?
made of concrete
extremely large or great
hard to break or destroy
What does "pedestrian" mean?
the side of the road where people walk
a place where people cross the street
a person walking, traveling on foot
What does "infamous" mean?
well known in New York
well known for being amazing
well known for some bad quality
Brooklyn was ____________ city until 1898.
an independent
a separate
a distinct
Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most easily ____________ symbols of New York.
recognizable
The date of the Declaration of Independence is ____________ on the tablet.
One World Trade Center is an architectural ____________.
The Statue of Liberty served as ____________ sight to immigrants arriving on ships.
an embracing
an inviting
a welcoming
The new building was built in ____________ to memorialize the original World Trade Center.
an effort
an attempt
Times Square is filled with ____________ billboards.
New York hosts the ____________ of the United Nations.
The Chrysler Building was built during the building ____________.
New York is a city that never ____________.
takes a break
Where was the inauguration of the first US President held?
In Washington, D.C.
In Philadelphia.
In New York City.
Why is Times Square called "The Crossroads of the World"?
Because it is where Russian and American politicians meet.
Because it gathers thousands of tourists from all over the world.
Because it connects the East and West of the US.
Which building is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World?
Empire State Building.
One World Trade Center.
Chrysler Building.
Who were the first foreign settlers in New York?
the German
the British
How was New York called in 1609?
You can walk or ride your bicycle across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Due to large inflows of traffic, Brooklyn Bridge is closed for pedestrians.
New York City was the capital of the US until the role was transferred to Philadelphia.
New York City was the capital of the US until the role was transferred to Washington D.C.
"When it was built in 1930, the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in New York."
"Gustave Eiffel never made any other famous structures apart from the Eiffel Tower in Paris."
1. B | 2. A | 3. B | 4. C | 5. C | 6. B | 7. C | 8. B | 9. A | 10. C | 11. A | 12. A | 13. C | 14. B | 15. C | 16. C | 17. B | 18. A | 19. C | 20. A |21. A | 22. B | 23. A | 24. B
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