text:
Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan to resolve disputes on Caspian oil field
This file photo shows oil platforms operated by Lukoil company are seen at the Korchagina oil field in Caspian Sea, Russia, Oct. 17, 2018. (Reuters Photo)
by Agencies Jan 22, 2021 10:36 am
Solar power excels in Turkey's rapid shift to green energy sources
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding Thursday on joint exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources of the Dostlug (Friendship) field in the Caspian Sea.
The agreement on the joint exploration of the once-disputed section of the undersea hydrocarbons field was signed in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov.
A meeting through video conferencing was held between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in connection with the signing of the agreement.
"This document, which is the result of many years of work between our countries, is aimed at strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding in the field of energy, unlocking the joint potential of the two largest energy states, creating the most favorable conditions for sustainable energy, and further reinforcing our mutually beneficial and international partnership," Berdymukhamedov said in remarks carried by the Anadolu Agency (AA).
The two leaders congratulated each other for reaching an agreement, calling it a "historic day" in the relations between the two countries.
"I would call today's document historic because Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are starting joint work on the development of a field in the Caspian Sea for the first time, and this field and work on the field will bring our countries and peoples even closer together and benefit both the Turkmen and Azerbaijani peoples," Aliyev said.
Dostlug means "friendship" in the Turkic languages of both countries, as well as in modern Turkish. The hydrocarbons field was formerly known as Serdar to Turkmenistan and Kapaz to Azerbaijan.
Deal could boost Trans-Caspian pipeline
The agreement is expected to support progress on the Trans-Caspian pipeline, a multi-billion dollar plan to link Turkmenistan's giant gas fields to Europe via Azerbaijan.
The link has been held up by geopolitics and a lack of commercial backing, although a landmark deal on the status of the Caspian Sea signed by Caspian littoral states that Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Russia in 2018 was viewed as a positive step.
Robert Cutler, director of the Energy Security program at the NATO Association of Canada, said the Dostlug agreement "clears the last obstacle" to the Trans-Caspian pipeline.
"The gas exists, the valve is off, (Turkmenistan) is just waiting to turn the gas on," Cutler told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that the project did not require a "commercial champion" to build the pipeline.
Experts estimate that the Dostlug hydrocarbons field contains natural gas and 60-70 million tons of oil. Azerbaijan currently delivers natural gas to Turkish and European markets through the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and recently completed Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), together forming the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) to deliver natural gas to Europe.
Baku, Ashgabat willing to boost bilateral ties
During the meeting, the diplomats emphasized the high level of bilateral ties in political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas.
It was noted that the visit of Bayramov to Ashgabat complements the "start of a new stage of energy cooperation" between the two neighboring countries.
"In this regard, the significance of joint steps on resource use and collaboration on the Caspian Sea was highlighted," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to AA.
The top diplomats also highlighted the efficiency of political and diplomatic dialogue between the two states and discussed bilateral issues and the aspects of regional and international agendas.
The ministers also underlined the importance of the collaboration of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in the framework of regional and international formats.
They also discussed the opportunities of holding joint events in 2021 and the issue of expanding cultural and humanitarian ties between the two states.
The possibilities of expanding economic and investment cooperation, including through the use of the transport-transit potential of the two countries, which possess modern automobile, railway and sea infrastructures, were also discussed in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Bayramov and Meredov emphasized the importance of the Transit and Transport Cooperation Agreement between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Afghanistan (Lapis Lazuli Route Agreement).
The ministry also noted that the people of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are united by firm historic, cultural and spiritual values.
Earlier in the day, the Azerbaijani foreign minister was received by the Turkmen leader.
Bayramov started his two-day visit to Turkmenistan along with the Azerbaijani delegation on Jan. 20.
Turkey welcomes deal
Turkey's Foreign Ministry in a written statement welcomed the energy agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
"We wish that this agreement will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries, will be auspicious for the friendly and brotherly peoples of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and contribute to the prosperity and stability of the region," it said.
"We also wish that this agreement will pave the way for the projects to enhance the energy security of Turkey and the rest of Europe," the statement added.
Last Update: Jan 22, 2021 12:24 pm
caspian oil azerbaijan turkmenistan energy hydrocarbon ilham aliyev gurbanguly berdymukhamedov
List of main winners at 2021 Emmy Awards


Thank you so much for your donation to help return buffalo to Native lands, diets and economies.
Tanka Fund is fiscally sponsored by Propel Nonprofits, a tax exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 41-1916337. Donations to the Tanka Fund are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law. We deeply appreciate your generosity and support!
"The Return" blanket can be yours for a gift of $200 or more to Tanka Fund! Each blanket is shipped to you USPS Priority Mail and comes in a special gift box.


This pilot is about goods transport in a company, such as factory intra-logistics. It can be used to showcase robotics navigation, e.g. to show the performance of goods delivery and according non-functional requirements. It can be extended to object recognition and manipulation.
The pilot is intended for open call 2 contributors to showcase the ease of system integration via composition of software components to a complete robotics application.
The pilot is physically located at Ulm University of Applied Sciences; Germany and may be used on site or remotely. An excerpt is available in simulation for off-site use.
The pilot is fully supported by the SmartMDSD Toolchain, an Integrated Software Development Environment (IDE) for system composition in an robotics software business ecosystem. This ensures full conformance to the RobMoSys methodology when using this pilot.
Depending on your use-case, software component templates for manipulation and object recognition are available or you may want to use manipulation on task-level.
The pilot features the flexible navigation stack.
The pilot is intended for the use with FESTO Robotino but can be extended to any robot thanks to the Flexible Navigation Stack. It covers navigation via the Flexible Navigation Stack and mobile manipulation using the Mobile Manipulation Stack.
Interact with the pilot on task-, service- or component-level.
Software components and system composition: e.g. composition of previously developed software components and/or exchange of software components to address new needs.


At a certain point or another your specialist will prescribe a lymphatic seepage rub particularly in the event that you have ever had intricacies with your lymph hubs. As its name recommends, the masseuse will delicately knead your muscles in the bearing the lymphatic framework courses to energize waste into the lymph hubs. The final result is to help your body in moving waste items in the lymphatic framework far from the issue and closer to the heart for speedier removal outside the body. In the event that this does not sound restorative to you, I don't realize what will. It is really one of those treatments, like neurofeedback treatment adhd, that essentially help your body in dealing with its exercises rather than pumping it with meds each other day. Chelation therapy benefits is the answer.
Like most integrative treatments, lymphatic seepage includes going out on a limb a. This does not mean experiencing treatment without doing your examination or counseling your specialist first. Prescription has made considerable progress. With treatments such as the ozone treatment that is proposed to lower cholesterol in the body or even the glutathione iv for skin helping, it's no big surprise individuals have gotten to be distrustful about cutting edge treatments. Lymphatic seepage is essentially a method for supporting your body to perform its typical everyday exercises whilst getting an unwinding background. There truly are no drawbacks dissimilar to the undocumented and undeclared ozone treatment symptoms or iv rehydration.


FOR DETAILED CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SANCTUARY please see our blog bhhummer.blogspot.com THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING and COOPERATION, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SURVIVAL.
Welcome to these pages describing a unique private hummingbird sanctuary on the north shore of Long Island. The site also gives information about hummingbirds, and ways of attracting them, with particular relevance to Long Island. All photos were taken at the Sanctuary and are by Paul Adams unless otherwise acknowledged. We thank all the photographers who have supplied images. .


text:
var multilevel = require('multilevel')
var manifest   = require('./manifest.json')
var through    = require('through')
var h          = require('hyperscript')

var reconnect = require('reconnect')
var widget    = require('reconnect/widget')

var r = reconnect(function (stream) {

  db = multilevel.client(manifest)
  stream.pipe(db).pipe(stream)

  db.createLiveStream({tail: true})
  .pipe(through(function (data) {
    main.appendChild(
      h('pre', JSON.stringify(data, null, 2))
    )
  }))

}).connect('/ws/taco-demo')

var main = h('div')

document.body.appendChild(
  h('div', widget(r), main)
)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
What are the best free to play games on Xbox One?
See Product Page for "Warframe"
Warframe is a free to play sci-fi third-person co-op action shooter. A very cinematic shooter that also has a very original look. The gameplay is fast and consists of gunplay and melee brawls, allowing for a great selection of playstyles and maneuvers.
GenreAction
Co-OpYes
Fast-paced, space ninja action
Warframes are essentially space ninjas that can move incredibly fast. Just running won't be enough, so you'll have to build momentum by sliding, jumping, and rolling. Each of these moves also help you dodge enemy attacks, while allowing you to attack. It takes a while to get used to the fast pace, but when you do, it feels incredibly satisfying.
Great contact physics
Many online titles and MMOs feature combat with poor contact physics, so it often feels like you're not actually hitting the enemies. In Warframe, hitting an enemy with a hammer will make them fly and sliding at their legs will make them trip. This makes it feel more like a single player game than an online co-op game.
You can choose your own play style
In Warframe, there are tons of weapons, both ranged and melee, that will let you fight however you like. Maybe you want to be a long-range sniper, or a massive melee beast with a huge hammer, or maybe you want to stick closer to the ninja tradition and use a sword and a bow. Whatever you prefer to play, Warframe has an option.
Great selection of classes
In Warframe, you're able to play as one of the many Warframes, which are essentially character classes. You start off by choosing one of the three basic frames. Excalibur who specializes in swords and has an ability to equip an energy sword and shoot beams of energy. Volt who uses electricity to boost his damage, movement speed and attack speed. Or Mag, a frame specializing in magnetism and controlling the enemy. After that you can run missions to find plans for new ones, or purchase them with platinum (the real-money currency).
There are currently more than 30 basic Warframes and their "Prime" variants, which are superior versions of the basic frames.
A huge array of weaponry
Warframe boasts over 300 weapons, split into 3 classes: Primary, Secondary, and Melee. Primary weapons are the big guns such as assault rifles, shotguns, bows, and grenade launchers. Secondary weapons are the sidearms, usually handguns, machine pistols, and thrown weapons. The melee weapons consist of swords (even katanas), hammers, fist weapons, scythes, and others.
Most of the weapons have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Simulor is a weapon which creates small balls similar to black holes, which pull in and kill enemies. Unfortunately, the range is very short, so you'll have to predict enemy movements and place the shots carefully. Another example is the Zarr, a massive canon, which has two firing modes, allowing you to use it as a canon or a shotgun. The downside is that you'll get damaged by your own explosions, so you have to always keep distance.
The weapons can also be upgraded, adding various elemental damage types such as radiation or corrosion. You can also improve other stats such as rate of fire, crit or reload speed.
Crafting new equipment takes really long
The crafting system in Warframe involves very long wait times, varying from 12 to 72 hours. The wait times can be be skipped by paying platinum (bought in the in-game store with real money), but most of the time it's not worth it.
New content is poorly optimized
Warframe was released in 2012 and has received a lot of improvements over the years. This includes updating the old tilesets with new textures, which has caused a lot of performance drops. The prime example would be the Earth tileset update, which caused performance drops and made it unplayable to a lot of people, even though they could play normally before it.
Can get repetitive easily
At the very core, Warframe is a game that needs a lot of grinding. You'll always be grinding for new blueprints, relics, materials, credits or just leveling your existing equipment. After a while some of the mission types such as defense (where you fend of waves of enemies), will get really boring. Then it turns out the blueprint or relic is really rare and you'll probably have to repeat that mission about a hundred more times. Coupled with the fact that there's no real progression outside the Mastery Rank, some players may quickly lose interest.
Krrny
Have a question about Warframe? Leave a comment for Ryan, Kristaps and 1 other contributor.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
namespace boost {

namespace BOOST_TEST_UTILS_RUNTIME_PARAM_NAMESPACE {

// ************************************************************************** //
// **************      runtime::environment implementation     ************** //
// ************************************************************************** //

namespace environment {

namespace rt_env_detail {

template<typename T, typename Modifiers>
variable_data&
init_new_var( cstring var_name, Modifiers m = nfp::no_params )
{
    rt_env_detail::variable_data& new_vd = new_var_record( var_name );

    cstring str_value = sys_read_var( new_vd.m_var_name );

    if( !str_value.is_empty() ) {
        BOOST_TEST_IMPL_TRY {
            boost::optional<T> value;

            if( m.has( interpreter ) )
                m[interpreter]( str_value, value );
            else
                interpret_argument_value( str_value, value, 0 );

            if( !!value ) {
                new_vd.m_value.reset( new typed_argument<T>( new_vd ) );

                arg_value<T>( *new_vd.m_value ) = *value;
            }
        }
        BOOST_TEST_IMPL_CATCHALL() { // !! could we do that
            // !! should we report an error?
        }
    }

    if( !new_vd.m_value && m.has( default_value ) ) {
        new_vd.m_value.reset( new typed_argument<T>( new_vd ) );

        nfp::optionally_assign( arg_value<T>( *new_vd.m_value ), m[default_value] );
    }

    nfp::optionally_assign( new_vd.m_global_id, m, global_id );

    return new_vd;
}

//____________________________________________________________________________//

} // namespace rt_env_detail

} // namespace environment

// ************************************************************************** //
// **************             runtime::environment             ************** //
// ************************************************************************** //

namespace environment {

    // variable access
    variable_base
    var( cstring var_name );

    //________________________________________________________________________//

    template<typename T>
    inline variable<T>
    var( cstring var_name )
    {
        rt_env_detail::variable_data* vd = rt_env_detail::find_var_record( var_name );

        return environment::variable<T>( !vd ? rt_env_detail::init_new_var<T>( var_name, nfp::no_params ) : *vd );
    }

    //________________________________________________________________________//

    template<typename T, typename Modifiers>
    inline variable<T>
    var( cstring var_name, Modifiers const& m )
    {
        rt_env_detail::variable_data* vd = rt_env_detail::find_var_record( var_name );

        return environment::variable<T>( !vd ? rt_env_detail::init_new_var<T>( var_name, m ) : *vd );
    }

    //________________________________________________________________________//

    // direct variable value access
    inline cstring
    get( cstring var_name )
    {
        return environment::var<cstring>( var_name ).value();
    }

    //________________________________________________________________________//

    template<typename T>
    inline T const&
    get( cstring var_name )
    {
        return environment::var<T>( var_name ).value();
    }

    //________________________________________________________________________//

    template<typename T>
    inline void
    get( cstring var_name, boost::optional<T>& res )
    {
        variable<T> const& v = environment::var<T>( var_name );
        v.value( res );
    }

    //________________________________________________________________________//

} // namespace environment

namespace env = environment;

} // namespace BOOST_TEST_UTILS_RUNTIME_PARAM_NAMESPACE

} // namespace boost

#ifndef BOOST_TEST_UTILS_RUNTIME_PARAM_OFFLINE

#ifndef BOOST_TEST_UTILS_RUNTIME_PARAM_INLINE
#   define BOOST_TEST_UTILS_RUNTIME_PARAM_INLINE inline
#endif
# include <boost/test/utils/runtime/env/environment.ipp>

#endif

#endif // BOOST_TEST_UTILS_RUNTIME_ENV_ENVIRONMENT_HPP


text:
Exhibitor's News
TECNO EDM TECNO EDM: quality, innovation and sustainability
TECNO EDM has been on the market since 1992 and deals the production of graphite and copper electrodes, addressing the offer to multiple sectors: mold makers, energy and aeronautics. The ISO 9001:2008 certifications place the company at the forefront of the sector, able to offer customers an innovative service model in the field of EDM processes.
Our company has twelve machining centers, five of which have 5 axes, two robotic islands, six wire erosion machines, three adjustments and a testing department equipped with optical and contact measuring machines. TECNO EDM is able to create electrodes capable to satisfy every customer's request; from large pieces to extremely thin ribs guaranteeing the relative dimensional certifications.
TECNO EDM has always been sensitive to environmental issues and its sustainable commitment consists in the realization of two projects:
– "Perpetua"; the only pencil produced in Italy, the only one in the world ever made with graphite powder recovered from industrial production processes. Perpetua wins the prize for best eco-sustainable invention at the 2013 SETTEGREEN AWARDS of Corriere della sera and obtains international recognition.
The success of this pencil has led it to be present in several countries in Europe and from 2017 also in the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan.
– "Graphi-Tee" Wrad; in 2017 was born the "Graphi-Tee" t-shirt, dyed with recycled graphite powder.
"Graphi-Tee" is awarded with the "Red Dot Design Award" and in 2018 the poject was a finalist at the Green Carpet Award of the Camera Nazionale della Moda.
Nowadays, thanks to these projects, TECNO EDM has managed to reduce the impact on the environment, disposing of about 8 tons of graphite powder, which otherwise would have been destined for landfill.
View all other news


Hex Feeders split in 2 halves for easy transport, it holds 1 bale but if you add the slant bar feeder panel, you can stretch it to contain 3 bales. We can add tin on the bottom of panels, as an optional hay saver. Light tombstone feeders for horses available upon request.


Today's productivity tool to make your life a whole lot easier is Grammarly.
Attending industry events helps you connect with the right prospects and partners.
Today's productivity tool to make your life a whole lot easier is Giphy Capture.
Sometimes, all you have to do is ask. That's really what the Awesome Upsell Email is all about. And it can significantly increase your dollars per sale.
If you want to connect with more like-minded people who can help grow your business, try finding a niche-focused forum to participate in.
Today's productivity tool to make your life a whole lot easier is Upwork.
How (and why) to create brand consistency.
Does your business present itself consistently across all its touch points? If not, then here's 3-steps to regaining that brand consistency.
Today's productivity tool to make your life a whole lot easier is Shakr.
Today's productivity tool to make your life a whole lot easier is called TeamWork.


text:
FutureSplash Animator — редактор векторної анімації, написаний Джонатаном Ґей () для його компанії, FutureWave Software. Компанія і продукт були пізніше куплені Macromedia (потім Adobe Systems). FutureSplash Animator — родоначальник мультимедійної платформи Adobe Flash (раніше Macromedia Flash).

Фактично програма призначалася для анімації простої векторної графіки. Було головне меню, часова шкала (за допомогою якої і здійснювалася анімацію об'єктів) та панель інструментів (інструмент виділення об'єктів, текстовий інструмент, олівець і пензель, інструменти заливки, ластик, піпетка для захоплення кольору, лупа для масштабування і ласо для виділення довільних областей). Програма мала хороший вбудований довідково-навчальний матеріал. Результат роботи в програмі можна було зберегти в декількох форматах, в тому числі і зі збереженням анімації: spl (попередник swf), avi, jpg, gif, bmp, ai, eps, emf, wmf і dxf. Початковий код можна було зберегти в спеціальному форматі spa і редагувати його надалі.

Див. також
Adobe Flash

Анімація

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Numsa strike hits car production across South Africa
By Marcus Williams2014-07-16T11:30:03+01:00
Ongoing strike action by more than 220,000 workers affiliated with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has caused Ford, Nissan and Toyota to shut down production this week. The action is affecting the supply of components to the majority of carmakers in the region with GM having already lost eight days of production.
The strike is estimated to be costing the industry R300m ($28m) a day, according to the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa).
As reported last week, NUMSA-affiliated workers are locked in a wage dispute with Seifsa, which has a number of critical component manufacturers as members. The strike is now in its third week.
Numsa rejected a final offer by Seifsa on Monday this week (14 July).
"We have now done everything that we could possibly have done to end the strike and we deeply regret the fact that all our efforts have been in vain," said Kaizer Nyatsumba, CEO of Seifsa. "It is very unfortunate that a strike which has already caused much damage to our economy appears set to continue indefinitely."
With component supply used up Ford has been forced to suspend production at its Silverton assembly plant, which makes the Ranger, and at its Struandale engine plant. The carmaker refused to provide further comment on what contingencies it was working on to mitigate the impact of the shutdown.
GM South Africa said that it built up sufficient inventory of vehicles in anticipation of the strike to ensure ongoing supply of vehicles to customers in the short to the medium term.
"Our parts and accessories operations are running as normal, ensuring full aftersales service and support to our customers," added a spokesperson.
Nissan closed its plant at Rosslyn on Monday for a full week.
Toyota, meanwhile, has had to suspend assembly on both lines at the Prospecton facility in Durban but like Ford, did not provide further comment. The carmaker makes the Corolla, Hilux and Fortuner models at the plant.
For its part BMW said it was having to reduce output to two shifts.
"The current NUMSA strike impacts nine of Plant Rosslyn's more than 200 suppliers," said the company in a statement. "However, some of these components are critical for production to take place. That being said, this strike was foreseen and some contingencies were put in place to lower the risk to the plant. This includes production in only two shifts instead of three for the time being. However, we hope for a speedy resolution to the strike in order to not put Plant Rosslyn's production volume at further risk."
Carmakers across South Africa were affected by similar strike action taken by Numsa in autumn last year, which also affected component suppliers. According to the African Manufacturers' Employer Organisation (AMEO), that strike action lasted a month and cost the industry up to R600m ($60m) a day.
The repeated and prolonged action has once again raised the question of South Africa's image as a manufacturing base.
"The ongoing labour disruptions are harming the South African economy and are affecting the country's image around the globe," said GM in a statement this week. "Government, business and labour need to work together in a constructive manner to implement solutions which are in the best interest of the country as a whole."


text:
Q: How to square only the positive numbers in a list? I am trying to only square the positive numbers in a list. But when I try the code it squares all of them
def squarethis(numbers):
for n in numbers:
    if n > 0:
        return[n ** 2 for n in numbers]

print(squarethis([1, 3, 5, -81]))

Why does it square all numbers? The if-statement should filter the negatives out right?

A: Just use a single list comprehension:
def squarethis(numbers):
    return [n ** 2 for n in numbers if n > 0]

What you are doing in the code your provided is checking if the first value in numbers is > 0, and if it is, returning your list comprehension with every value in numbers squared. Instead, you can do your filtering in the list comprehension itself, and return the list.

A: A purely functional alternative ->
>>> map(lambda x: x**2, filter(lambda x: x > 0, [1, 2, 3, -1, -2, -3]))
[1, 4, 9]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV) today announced it has broken ground on two manufacturing plants that will significantly strengthen the Company's market-leading positions in providing composite pipe technologies and tubular coatings within Saudi Arabia. Both facilities will be located at MODON 3 near the city of Dammam.
NOV has provided comprehensive tubular services to customers in Saudi Arabia for more than 40 years. The investment in a state-of-the-art 130,000 ft² facility will expand NOV's legacy Tuboscope™ pipe inspection, repair, threading, and machining services to include internal and custom coating capabilities and the Company's proprietary TK™ liner platform. NOV's comprehensive coating capabilities, covering pipe from 2 to 24 in., will allow customers to extend the life of their pipe, enhance production, and decrease nonproductive time. The TK liner platform of glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) coatings will cover pipe from 2 to 9⅝ in., providing customers in Saudi Arabia access to a new technology that extends the life of pipe. NOV will also provide customers with full life-cycle management of drill pipe through the TracID™ platform, which utilizes proprietary RFID technology.
Additionally, NOV is constructing a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will provide the Company's market-leading composite pipe technology to the MENA region. The 260,000 ft² facility will establish NOV as Saudi Arabia's first local manufacturer of high-pressure spoolable composite pipe. The operation will become part of NOV's global network, supplementing a team of experts that provide lightweight, corrosion-resistant, engineered solutions from 12 existing manufacturing facilities around the world. The manufacturing complex will produce spoolable and jointed pipe, including the flagship line of Fiberspar™ spoolable products, STAR™ GRE high-pressure line pipe, and downhole tubing and casing.
Both facilities are expected to be operational in first quarter of 2018.
National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV) is a leading provider of technology, equipment, and services to the global oil and gas industry that supports customers' full-field drilling, completion, and production needs. Since 1862, NOV has pioneered innovations that improve the cost-effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and environmental impact of oil and gas operations. NOV powers the industry that powers the world. Visit www.nov.com for more information.


text:
1. movies
(Tags)
2. "Annihilation" Is An Ambitious, Creative Sci-Fi Thriller Led By Five Women: BUST Revie
(Article tagged with: movies)
As the February 23 release date for the sci-fi thriller Annihilation has drawn closer, film critics have speculated about its quality: is it being released in the "dump month" of February, right after ...
3. "Permission" Is A Comedy Of Errors About An Open Relationshi
Permission Directed by Brian Crano Out on February 9, 2018 Anna (Rebecca Hall) and Will (Dan Stevens) have been a couple since childhood. Just turned thirty and on the brink of starting their adult ...
4. "Surviving R. Kelly" Is Dark, Revealing And Absolutely Necessary TV Viewin
R. Kelly's reputation as a sexual predator has been public knowledge for decades. In 1994, a 27-year-old R. Kelly married a 15-year-old Aaliyah, who he was mentoring at the time. In 2002, Kelly went ...
5. "Chappaquiddick" Shows The Machinery Behind The Kennedys — But Still Minimizes Mary Jo Kopechne's Deat
When Senator Ted Kennedy died in 2009 after serving in the Senate for almost half a century, obituarized memorialized him as "the Lion of the Senate," praising his leadership among Senate Democrats ...
Created on 05 April 2018
6. Abbi Jacobson Confirms She Dates Both Men And Women
Actress and comedian Abbi Jacobson, best known her role in Broad City, addressed her sexuality in an interview with Vanity Fair while discussing her new Netflix film 6 Balloons. Jacobson is super busy ...
7. Bryan Singer Preemptively Denies As-Yet-Unpublished Esquire Exposé Covering Decades Of Sexual Assault Accusations
Director Bryan Singer's history of alleged rape, sexual harassment, and assault has been an "open secret" in Hollywood for years—but a damning Esquire expose is supposedly imminent, reports the Wrap. ...
8. Dolly Parton And Sia Team Up In A Collaboration We Didn't Know We Neede
The queen of country is teaming up with the queen of wigs. Dolly Parton and Sia have recorded a new rendition of Parton's "Here I Am." The song originally appeared on the album Coat of Many Colors, ...
9. Ekwa Msangi Scrutinizes American Exceptionalism In Her First Film: "Farewell Amor
The feature debut of Tanzanian American writer/director Ekwa Msangi, Farewell Amor, follows an immigrant family from Angola that reunites 17 years after husband and father Walter (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) ...
10. Is Lena Dunham Really The Best Person To Write A Syrian Refugee Story?
... 242 programs and found that MENA actors occupy only 1% of regular roles. 78% of guest roles were "terrorists, soldiers or tyrants." Hollywood movies set in the Middle East are plagued by racist tropes: ...
11. Joseph Gordon-Levitt Goes Courting in "The Trial of The Chicago 7
If you're a millennial of a certain age, it's possible you've been lusting after Joseph Gordon-Levitt for basically your whole life. From grade-school sleepovers in the late '90s (10 Things I Hate About ...
12. Maisie Richardson-Sellers On "Kissing Booth 2" And Representation On And Off-Screen: BUST Interview ...
... whose brains and beauty make her the envy of Elle, the film's lead (played by Joey King). Although the Kissing Booth movies have received criticism for portraying sexist themes and tokenized characters, ...
Created on 30 July 2020
13. New Natalie Morales' Film Language Lessons, Explores Zoom-Facilitated Long-Distance Friendships
LANGUAGE LESSONS Written and directed by Natalie Morales Out September 10 Natalie Morales, the actor, has been gracing our screens for more than a decade (Parks & Recreation, Battle of the ...
14. No One Knows Who Michaela Coel Has Been Cast As in The Black Panther Sequel, But Twitter Has Some Theories
... Black Earth Rising as well as the movies Been So Long and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The secrecy surrounding Coel's role in the Black Panther sequel has left many on Twitter with no choice but to throw ...
15. Regina King's Directorial Debut Makes History ...
Regina King's movie entitled "One Night in Miami" premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Monday night. The film, based on Kemp Powers' play of the same name, follows Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown ...
16. Rotten Apples Lets You Know Which Movies And TV Shows Feature Accused Sexual Predators
... misogynistic, racist, etc. It also doesn't include accusations of domestic violence — many of Johnny Depp's movies are marked "Good Apples." Still, it beats having to search IMDB and crosscheck your findings ...
17. The "Respect" Teaser Trailer Is Finally Here: Jennifer Hudson Stars as Aretha Frankli
"You have to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace." These are the timely words that ring in the teaser trailer for Respect, a new biopic directed by Liesl Tommy that follows Aretha Franklin's ...
18. The First "Captain Marvel" Trailer Is Here, And We're Hopef
We've waited through one decade and twenty movies for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to give us a female-led film. Well, the first trailer for March's Captain Marvel is here, promising all the female ...
19. This Coming of Age Film, "The More You Ignore Me", Will Make You Fall in Love With "The Smiths" All Over Aga
A coming of age story meets The Smiths' fandom of the '80s in The More You Ignore Me. This film weaves Morrissey's legacy into the befuddled homelife of Alice (Ella Hunt), her loyal father, Keith (Mark ...
20. Three Must-Watch Speeches From The Golden Globes
... Hollywood, please heed their requests accordingly. Top photo: Regina King in If Beale Street Could Talk More from BUST BUST's 10 Best Bets For January And February 2019 BUST's 24 Best Movies of 2018 ...


The students asked lots of questions on my personal and professional trajectory, on the boom of French dual-language programs in New York, and on the diversity of the city's French-speaking community. I couldn't help but see future teachers for the ever-expanding French dual-language schools.
This entry was posted in Bilingual Education, Bilingual Revolution, Bilingualism, Francophonie, French, New York by Fabrice Jaumont. Bookmark the permalink.


The HRK is the voluntary association of state and state-recognized universities and colleges in Germany. About 98 per cent of all students in Germany are registered in its member universities.
The AKS and the HRK have regular exchanges of information, in particular through mutual visits of trade events and the exchange of expertise.


text:
<?php

namespace WindowsAzure\ServiceRuntime\Internal;
use WindowsAzure\Common\Internal\Validate;

/**
 * The role data.
 *
 * @category  Microsoft
 * @package   WindowsAzure\ServiceRuntime\Internal
 * @author    Azure PHP SDK <azurephpsdk@microsoft.com>
 * @copyright 2012 Microsoft Corporation
 * @license   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0  Apache License 2.0
 * @version   Release: @package_version@
 * @link      https://github.com/windowsazure/azure-sdk-for-php
 */
class Role
{
    /**
     * @var string
     */
    private $_name;

    /**
     * @var array
     */
    private $_instances;

    /**
     * Constructor
     *
     * @param string $name      The role name.
     * @param array  $instances The role instances.
     */
    public function __construct($name, $instances)
    {
        Validate::isArray($instances, 'instances');

        $this->_name      = $name;
        $this->_instances = $instances;
    }

    /**
     * Returns the collection of instances for the role.
     *
     * The number of instances of a role to be deployed to Windows Azure is
     * specified in the service's configuration file.
     *
     * A role must define at least one internal endpoint in order for its set
     * of instances to be known at runtime.
     *
     * @return array
     */
    public function getInstances()
    {
        return $this->_instances;
    }

    /**
     * Returns the name of the role as it is declared in the service definition
     * file.
     *
     * @return string
     */
    public function getName()
    {
        return $this->_name;
    }
}


The Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos runs on Android OS v2.2 (Froyo) and is powered by 800 MHz processor . It has a 3.5-inch, 320 x 480 pixel display. The Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos also comes with a 3.15-megapixel camera. It is able to support microSD cards of up to 32GB.


text:
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Interpreting the concordance statistic of a logistic regression model: relation to the variance and odds ratio of a continuous explanatory variable
Peter C Austin1,2,3 &
Ewout W Steyerberg4
BMC Medical Research Methodology volume 12, Article number: 82 (2012) Cite this article
When outcomes are binary, the c-statistic (equivalent to the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve) is a standard measure of the predictive accuracy of a logistic regression model.
An analytical expression was derived under the assumption that a continuous explanatory variable follows a normal distribution in those with and without the condition. We then conducted an extensive set of Monte Carlo simulations to examine whether the expressions derived under the assumption of binormality allowed for accurate prediction of the empirical c-statistic when the explanatory variable followed a normal distribution in the combined sample of those with and without the condition. We also examine the accuracy of the predicted c-statistic when the explanatory variable followed a gamma, log-normal or uniform distribution in combined sample of those with and without the condition.
Under the assumption of binormality with equality of variances, the c-statistic follows a standard normal cumulative distribution function with dependence on the product of the standard deviation of the normal components (reflecting more heterogeneity) and the log-odds ratio (reflecting larger effects). Under the assumption of binormality with unequal variances, the c-statistic follows a standard normal cumulative distribution function with dependence on the standardized difference of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition. In our Monte Carlo simulations, we found that these expressions allowed for reasonably accurate prediction of the empirical c-statistic when the distribution of the explanatory variable was normal, gamma, log-normal, and uniform in the entire sample of those with and without the condition.
The discriminative ability of a continuous explanatory variable cannot be judged by its odds ratio alone, but always needs to be considered in relation to the heterogeneity of the population.
Logistic regression models are frequently used to determine the association between a set of explanatory variables and a binary or dichotomous outcome variable. There are three primary reasons for fitting a logistic regression model: i) to determine the independent predictors of a binary outcome; ii) to determine the association between a specific variable and the probability of the occurrence of an outcome after adjusting for a set of other covariates; and iii) to predict the probability of the occurrence of a binary outcome given a specific vector of covariates. The third reason for fitting a logistic regression model occurs frequently in biomedical research, where researchers are interested in predicting the prognosis of individual patients [1].
Two key elements in assessing the performance of a fitted logistic regression model are the assessment of model calibration and model discrimination. Calibration refers to the agreement between observed outcomes and predictions, while discrimination refers to the ability of model predictions to discriminate between those with and those without the outcome [1, 2]. The discriminative-ability of a logistic regression model is frequently assessed using the concordance (or c) statistic, a unitless index denoting the probability that a randomly selected subject who experienced the outcome will have a higher predicted probability of having the outcome occur compared to a randomly selected subject who did not experience the event. One can calculate the c-statistic by taking all possible pairs of subjects consisting of one subject who experienced the event of interest and one subject who did not experience the event of interest. The c-statistic is the proportion of such pairs in which the subject who experienced the event had a higher predicted probability of experiencing the event than the subject who did not experience the event [3]. The c-statistic can also be interpreted as the rank correlation between predicted probabilities of the outcome occurring and the observed response: it is equal to the Wilcoxon rank sum statistic for measuring the rank correlation between observed and predicted outcomes divided by the product of the number of subjects with the outcome or condition and the number of subjects without the outcome or condition [4, 5]. It is also related to Somer's D xy rank correlation between the predicted probability of the occurrence of the outcome and the observed outcome: D xy = 2 c − 0.5 [3].
The discrimination of a logistic regression model can also be described by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, often denoted by AUC [3]. Each value of the predicted probability of the occurrence of the outcome allows one to determine a threshold. For each possible threshold, one can dichotomize the predicted probabilities into those above and below the threshold. Subjects with a predicted probability below the threshold are classified as low risk, while those above the threshold are classified as high risk. One can then estimate the sensitivity and specificity of these classifications. The ROC curve is the plot of sensitivity vs. one minus specificity over all possible thresholds. The area under the ROC curve is equivalent to the c-statistic [4, 5].
The relationship between the c-statistic of a logistic regression model and the regression coefficients and the variance-covariance of the explanatory variables has not been fully explored. The objective of the current paper was to examine the relationship between the c-statistic and the regression parameters and the variance of the explanatory variable in the case of a univariate logistic regression model. We first use mathematical derivations to explicitly derive the relationship between the c-statistic and the outcome odds ratio and the variance of the continuous explanatory variable under the assumption that the continuous explanatory variable follows a normal distribution in subjects with and without the outcome. Second, we use Monte Carlo simulations to examine this relationship in a more general setting.
Mathematical derivation of the c-statistic under the assumption of binormality
Many derivations concerning the discrimination of different procedures require the assumption that the distribution of a continuous explanatory variable is normally distributed in those with the condition or outcome and also in those without the condition or outcome [4, 6–9]. Thus, in each of the two populations (those with the condition or outcome and those without the outcome or condition), the explanatory variable is assumed to be normally distributed. Therefore there are two normal distributions: a normal distribution in those subjects with the condition or outcome and a normal distribution in those subjects without the condition or outcome. In the literature on statistical methods for diagnostic medicine, this assumption has been referred to as the binormality assumption [10].
Let Y denote the dichotomous response variable indicating the presence or absence of the outcome or condition of interest. Let X denote the continuous explanatory variable. We assume that X has means μA and μU and variances σ A 2 and σ U 2 in the affected (Y = 1) and unaffected (Y = 0) populations, respectively. Finally, we assume that β is the log-odds ratio relating X to the dichotomous outcome Y: a one-unit increase in X results in a relative increase of the odds of the event occurring by exp(β). Finally, let Φ denote the standard normal cumulative distribution function. We let AUC denote the area under the ROC curve, which is equivalent to the c-statistic.
General derivation: no restrictions on σ A 2 and σ U 2
We begin our derivation using a result derived by Zhou et al. [10]. Using the notation from Zhou et al., let a = μ ^ A − μ ^ U σ ^ A 2 and b = σ ^ U σ ^ A . Then, AUC = Φ a 1 + b 2 = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U σ ^ A 2 1 + σ ^ U σ ^ A 2 = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U σ ^ A 2 + σ ^ U 2 , where Ф() denotes the cumulative normal distribution function. Thus, with no restrictions on the variances in the two groups, the c-statistic is a function of only the means and variances of the continuous explanatory variable in those affected and unaffected by the condition. The above expression can be rewritten as:
AUC = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U σ ^ A 2 + σ ^ U 2 = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U 2 σ ^ A 2 + σ ^ U 2 2 = Φ d 2
where d denotes the standardized difference or Cohen's effect size [11–14]. The standardized difference is the difference in means in units of pooled standard deviation. Thus, the c-statistic is a function only of the difference in means between those affected and unaffected by the condition, in units of standard deviation. Since the standard normal distribution function is an increasing function, the c-statistic increases as the difference in the mean of the explanatory variable between those with and without the condition increases.
Special case: σ A 2 = σ U 2
In the special case when the explanatory variable has the same variance in those affected and unaffected by the condition, one can simplify the above result using a result from discriminant analysis. Let σ2 denote the common variance of explanatory variable in the two groups. Then, the log-odds ratio relating the explanatory variable X to the log-odds of the occurrence of the condition has the following property: β = μ A − μ U σ 2 [15] (page 19). We then have that
AUC = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U σ ^ A 2 + σ ^ U 2 = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U 2 σ ^ 2 = Φ μ ^ A − μ ^ U 2 σ ^ = Φ σ ^ 2 μ ^ A − μ ^ U σ ^ 2 = Φ σ ^ β 2
Thus, when the explanatory variable is normally distributed in both those affected and unaffected by the condition, and furthermore has the same variance in both groups, then the c-statistic is a function of only the log-odds ratio relating the explanatory variable to the occurrence of the condition and the variance of the explanatory variable in each of the two groups. Since the standard normal distribution function is an increasing function, the c-statistic increases with increasing log-odds ratio relating the explanatory variable to the outcome and the standard deviation of the explanatory variable. Finally, the c-statistic is independent of the proportion of subjects with the condition.
Accuracy of predicted c-statistic when the distribution of the explanatory variable is normal in the combined population of those with and without the condition
The analytic derivations in the previous section assumed that the explanatory variable is normally distributed in those with and without the condition. A potentially more realistic scenario is when the explanatory variable is normally distributed in the overall sample, rather than in those with and without the condition. In many such instances, it would be reasonable to expect the distribution of the explanatory variable to be approximately normally distributed in those with and without the condition. In this section we describe an extensive set of Monte Carlo simulations conducted to examine the accuracy of the predicted c-statistic derived under the assumption of binormality in the setting when the explanatory variable is normally distributed in the overall population.
Monte Carlo simulations-methods
We simulated a continuous explanatory variable for each of 1,000 subjects from a normal distribution with mean 0 and standard deviation σ mc : x i ~ N 0 , σ mc for i =1, …, 1,000. We determined a linear predictor as follows: logit p i = β 0 + β 1 x i , where p i denotes the probability of a binary condition occurring. For each subject, we then randomly generated a binary condition from a Bernoulli distribution with subject-specific parameter p i . We then fit a univariate logistic regression model (in which the binary condition was regressed on the continuous explanatory variable X) in the simulated dataset and estimated the c-statistic of the fitted model, which we refer to as the empirical c-statistic. We also determined the predicted c-statistic using the formulas (1) and (2) from Sections 2.1 and 2.2, respectively. To apply formula (1) from Section 2.1, we determined the mean and variance of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition. To apply formula (2) from Section 2.2, we used the estimated regression coefficient (log-odds ratio) from the logistic regression model relating the explanatory variable to the presence of the condition and an estimate of the common variance of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition. This estimate of the common variance was obtained as the variance in the combined sample of those with and without the condition. We repeated the above process 500 times. The mean empirical c-statistic along with the mean of the predicted c-statistics was determined across the 500 simulated datasets.
These Monte Carlo simulations used a full factorial design in which the following factors were allowed to vary: β 0 (which will influence the overall probability of the condition occurring), exp β 1 , and σ mc . We allowed β 0 to take on the values −2, −1, 0, 1, and 2; exp β 1 to vary from 1 to 4 in increments of 0.2; and σ mc to vary from 0.2 to 4 in increments of 0.2. In each of the 1,600 (5 × 16 × 20) different scenarios, we computed: the mean of the empirical and predicted c-statistics and the mean of the skewness of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition across the 500 simulated datasets that were generated under each scenario.
Data were simulated using the R statistical programming language [16]. The logistic regression models were fit using the lrm function in the Design package. The skewness of the explanatory variable was estimated using the skewness function in the e1071 package.
Monte Carlo simulations – results
The relationship between the predicted c-statistics and the empirical c-statistics across the scenarios is described in Figure 1. The left panel reports the predicted c-statistics when formula (1), which does not make the assumption of the equality of the variance of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition, was used to predict the c-statistic. The right panel reports the predicted c-statistic when formula (2), which assumes that the variance of the explanatory variable was the same in those with and without the condition, was used. Both formulas provided very accurate prediction of the c-statistic when the predicted c-statistic was less than 0.80 to 0.90. Modestly more accurate predictions were obtained in the higher range of predicted c-statistics under the assumption of equality of variance.
Comparison of empirical and predicted c-statistics: normal distribution.
The relationships between the difference between the empirical and predicted c-statistics and the skewness of the distribution of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition are reported in Figure 2. In general, one observes a pattern in which the difference between empirical and predicted c-statistics increased as the skewness of the distribution of the explanatory variable increased.
Difference between empirical and predicted c-statistic and skewness.
Accuracy of predictions under non-normal distributions of the explanatory variable
The analytic derivations in Section 2 required the assumption of binormality. In Section 3, using an extensive set of Monte Carlo simulations, we found that the formulas derived under the assumption of binormality allowed for relatively accurate prediction of the empirical c-statistic when the distribution of the explanatory variable was normally distributed in the entire sample of those with and without the condition. In this section, we examine the accuracy of these predictions when the distribution of the explanatory variable was non-normal in the combined sample. We considered the following three distributions: gamma, log-normal, and uniform.
We used Monte Carlo simulations similar to those described in Section 3. For each of the three non-normal distributions, we used a full factorial design. When the explanatory variable followed a gamma distribution, we allowed β 0 to take on the values −1, 0, and 1 and exp β 1 to vary from 1 to 4 in increments of 0.25. The gamma distribution had the scale parameter fixed at 1, and the shape parameter was allow to vary from 0.25 to 4 in increments of 0.25. We thus considered 624 (3 × 13 × 16) different scenarios. When the explanatory variable followed a uniform distribution, we allowed β 0 to take on the values −2, −1, 0, 1, and 2, exp β 1 to vary from 1 to 4 in increments of 0.2, and the parameter of the uniform distribution to vary from 0.2 to 4 in increments of 0.2 (the uniform distribution U(a) was parameterized so that its range was from –a to + a). We thus considered 1,600 (5 × 16 × 20) different scenarios. When the explanatory variable followed a log-normal distribution, we allowed β 0 to take on the values −1, 0, and 1, exp β 1 to vary from 1 to 4 in increments of 0.25. The logarithm of the log-normal distribution had mean zero and its standard deviation varied from 0.1 to 2 in increments of 0.1. We thus considered 780 (3 × 13 × 20) different scenarios.
The relationship between the empirical and predicted c-statistics is described in Figure 3. The top three panels describe the relationship when binormality with unequal variances (formula (1)) was used to predict the c-statistic. The lower three panels describe the relationship when binormality with equal variances (formula (2)) was used to predict the c-statistic. In general, better predictions were obtained using formula (2) compared to formula (1). Prediction was most accurate when the distribution of the explanatory variable was uniform, and was the least accurate when the distribution was log-normal. Prediction was relatively good when the explanatory variable followed a gamma distribution.
Comparison of empirical and predicted c-statistics: non-normal distributions.
We examined the ability of our derived formulas to predict the c-statistic for two logistic regression models in a sample of subjects hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
We used patients from the first phase of Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment (EFFECT) Study, an initiative to improve the quality of care for patients with cardiovascular disease in Ontario [17, 18]. Detailed clinical data were collected on patients hospitalized with AMI between April 1, 1999 and March 31, 2001 at 86 hospital corporations in Ontario, Canada, by retrospective chart review. Data on patient demographics, vital signs at presentation, medical history, and results of laboratory tests were collected for these patients. After excluding subjects with missing data on key variables, 9,298 subjects were available for use in this case study.
The outcome of interest for the current example was whether the patient died within 30 days of hospitalization. We fit two different logistic regression models. The first was a univariate logistic regression model in which we regressed 30-day mortality on patient age. In the second model, we regressed mortality on the following baseline covariates: age, sex, cardiogenic shock, acute congestive heart failure/pulmonary edema, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, diabetes, hypertension, current smoking status, dyslipidemia, family history of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease/transient ischemic attack, angina, cancer, dementia, peptic ulcer disease, previous AMI, asthma, depression, peripheral vascular disease, previous revascularization, congestive heart failure, hyperthyroidism, aortic stenosis, haemoglobin, white blood count, sodium, potassium, glucose, urea, and creatinine.
We determined the empirical c-statistic for each of the two logistic regression models. We estimated the components of the distribution of age and of the linear predictor from the second logistic regression model that were necessary to predict the c-statistic using formulas (1) and (2). When using formula (2) with the multivariable model, we used β = 1, since the regression coefficient for the linear predictor would be one if the outcome were regressed on the linear predictor alone.
The empirical c-statistic of the univariate logistic regression model that regressed 30-day mortality on age was 0.759. The corresponding predicted c-statistics were 0.760 and 0.790 when formulas (1) and (2) were used, respectively. The empirical c-statistic of the multivariable model was 0.853. The corresponding predicted c-statistics were 0.849 and 0.855 when formulas (1) and (2) were used, respectively. The improved accuracy of prediction of the c-statistic for the multivariable model is likely due to the distribution of the linear predictor having a distribution that is closer to a normal distribution compared to the distribution of age.
Under the assumption that the explanatory variable was normally distributed in those with and without the condition, we derived an explicit expression for the c-statistic. We demonstrated that the c-statistic is a function of only the mean and variance of the explanatory variable in those with and without the condition. In particular, the c-statistic is a function of the standardized difference comparing the mean of the explanatory variable between those with and without the covariate. When the explanatory variable had the same variance in those with and without the condition, we demonstrated that the model c-statistic is an increasing function of the standard deviation of the normal distributions and of the log-odds ratio. The primary novelty of our findings is that the functional relationship of the c-statistic of a logistic regression model has now been described. Using an extensive set of Monte Carlo simulations, we found that our formulas provided reasonably accurate prediction when the distribution of the explanatory variable was normal in the entire sample of those with and without the condition. Some of our findings corroborate previous observations based on Monte Carlo simulations on how the c-statistic improved with increases in the odds ratio [19]. While our derivations are based on a single explanatory variable that is normally distributed in those with and without the condition, our results will generalize to any setting in which there is a real valued transformation of a set of explanatory variables, f(X), such that the distribution of f(X) is normal in those with and without the condition.
There are two implications of these findings for researchers constructing and interpreting predictive models for binary outcomes. First, it is widely known that greater discrimination is possible when the regression model contains independent explanatory variables that are strongly associated with the outcome [20]. However, we have demonstrated that when comparing the performance of the same regression model in different populations, a higher c-statistic is to be expected for the model fit in the population in which there is greater variation in the explanatory variable. Conversely, diminished predictive accuracy is to be expected in more homogeneous populations and samples, even if the odds ratio is transportable across populations. In a multivariable model, the linear predictor was recently suggested as the summary continuous variable to indicate population heterogeneity, with direct impact on the magnitude of the c-statistic [21]. In our case-study, we found that accurate prediction of the c-statistic was obtained from the distribution of the linear predictor. As noted above, the linear predictor is a real-valued function of the set of explanatory variables. Furthermore, the central limit theorem suggests that the distribution of the linear predictor will tend to be approximately normally distributed as both the sample size and the number of explanatory variables increases.
In conclusion, when a continuous explanatory variable is normally distributed both in those with and without the outcome or condition, and these two normal distributions have equal variances, then the c-statistic follows a standard normal cumulative distribution function with dependence on the product of the standard deviation of the normal components (reflecting more heterogeneity) and the log-odds ratio (reflecting larger effects). When the explanatory variable is normally distributed in the combined population of subjects, then the formulas that we derived provide a reasonably accurate prediction of the empirical c-statistic. We conclude that discriminative ability of an explanatory variable cannot be judged by its odds ratio alone, but always needs to be considered in relation to the heterogeneity of the population.
Steyerberg EW: Clinical Prediction Models. 2009, Springer, New York
Steyerberg EW, Vickers AJ, Cook NR, Gerds T, Gonen M, Obuchowski N, et al: Assessing the performance of prediction models: a framework for traditional and novel measures. Epidemiology. 2010, 21: 128-138. 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181c30fb2.
Harrell FE: Regression modeling strategies. 2001, Springer, New York, NY
Hanley JA, McNeil BJ: The meaning and use of the area under a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Radiology. 1982, 143: 29-36.
Bamber D: The area above the ordinal dominance graph and the area below the receiver operating characteristic graph. J Math Psychol. 1975, 12: 387-415. 10.1016/0022-2496(75)90001-2.
Demler OV, Pencina MJ, D'Agostino RB: Equivalence of improvement in area under ROC curve and linear discriminant analysis coefficient under assumption of normality. Statistics in Medicine. 2011, 30: 1410-1418.
Royston P, Altman DG: Visualizing and assessing discrimination in the logistic regression model. Statistics in Medicine. 2010, 29: 2508-2520. 10.1002/sim.3994.
Royston P, Thompson SG: Model-based screening by risk with application to Down's syndrome. Statistics in Medicine. 1992, 11: 257-268. 10.1002/sim.4780110211.
Deeks JJ, Macaskill P, Irwig L: The performance of tests of publication bias and other sample size effects in systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy was assessed. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2005, 58: 882-893. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2005.01.016.
Zhou X, Obuchowski N, McClish D: Statistical Methods in diagnostic medicine. 2002, Wiley-Interscience, New York
Cohen J: Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioural Sciences. 1988, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ, 2
Flury BK, Riedwyl H: Standard distance in univariate and multivariate analysis. Am Stat. 1986, 40: 249-251.
Austin PC: Balance diagnostics for comparing the distribution of baseline covariates between treatment groups in propensity-score matched samples. Statistics in Medicine. 2009, 28: 3083-3107. 10.1002/sim.3697.
Normand ST, Landrum MB, Guadagnoli E, Ayanian JZ, Ryan TJ, Cleary PD, et al: Validating recommendations for coronary angiography following acute myocardial infarction in the elderly: a matched analysis using propensity scores. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2001, 54: 387-398. 10.1016/S0895-4356(00)00321-8.
Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S: Applied Logistic Regression. 1989, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY
R Core Development Team: R: a language and environment for statistical computing. 2005, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna
Tu JV, Donovan LR, Lee DS, Wang JT, Austin PC, Alter DA, et al: Effectiveness of public report cards for improving the quality of cardiac care: the EFFECT study: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2009, 302: 2330-2337. 10.1001/jama.2009.1731.
Tu JV, Donovan LR, Lee DS, Austin PC, Ko DT, Wang JT, et al: Quality of Cardiac Care in Ontario. 2004, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario
Janssens AC, Moonesinghe R, Yang Q, Steyerberg EW, van Duijn CM, Khoury MJ: The impact of genotype frequencies on the clinical validity of genomic profiling for predicting common chronic diseases. Genetics in Medicine. 2007, 9: 528-535. 10.1097/GIM.0b013e31812eece0.
Pepe MS, Janes H, Longton G, Leisenring W, Newcomb P: Limitations of the odds ratio in gauging the performance of a diagnostic, prognostic, or screening marker. Am J Epidemiol. 2004, 159: 882-890. 10.1093/aje/kwh101.
Vergouwe Y, Moons KG, Steyerberg EW: External validity of risk models: Use of benchmark values to disentangle a case-mix effect from incorrect coefficients. Am J Epidemiol. 2010, 172: 971-980. 10.1093/aje/kwq223.
Pre-publication history
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://0-www.biomedcentral.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/1471-2288/12/82/prepub
The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is supported in part by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The opinions, results and conclusions are those of the authors and no endorsement by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences is intended or should be inferred. This research was supported by operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (MOP 86508). Dr. Austin is supported in part by a Career Investigator award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Dr. Steyerberg is supported in part by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (grant 9120.8004). The authors acknowledge the contributions made by two reviewers which substantially improved the manuscript.
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, G1 06, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
Peter C Austin
Department of Health Management, Policy and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Ewout W Steyerberg
Search for Peter C Austin in:
Search for Ewout W Steyerberg in:
Correspondence to Peter C Austin.
PA derived the mathematical relationships, conducted the Monte Carlo simulations, and drafted the initial version of the manuscript. ES provided insight on study design, interpretation, and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Austin, P.C., Steyerberg, E.W. Interpreting the concordance statistic of a logistic regression model: relation to the variance and odds ratio of a continuous explanatory variable. BMC Med Res Methodol 12, 82 (2012). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/1471-2288-12-82
DOI: https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/1471-2288-12-82
c-statistic
Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve
ROC curve
Predictive model


text:
Today's Guidelines, Runners, Outcomes And Stats For The Meeting Live On ITV And Racing UK
Your Blog » Today's Guidelines, Runners, Outcomes And Stats For The Meeting Live On ITV And Racing UK
Previous: Dental Care Ideas
Next: Horse Racing Guidelines
The away goals rule was introduced as a way to cease sides defending also a lot, giving them a cause to attack as to make a a lot more intriguing game. The away objectives rule functions by providing the win to the side who has scored a lot more away targets in the match(es). Let's use an away goals rule example. Let's say in a two-legged semi final, Group A beat Team B at residence three-two. For the second leg, Group B beat Group This Internet site A two-1 at house. The aggregate score is 4-four, but since Team B scored two away goals and Group A only a single, Team B are declared the winners.Maintain the suitable position and tackling form. When you have almost any queries with regards to in which along with how to work with This Internet site, you'll be able to e mail us from our This Internet site. Your head must be up and your eyes need to be on the ball carrier at all occasions when you happen to be playing defense. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with your knees bent and your shoulders back. Ideally, you want to have your back at about 45 degrees relative the ground.It is now an FA requirement that your group is covered by individual accident insurance coverage so your players are protected for loss of wages must they receive an on-field injury that prevents them from functioning. Your group will also call for public liability insurance, which covers spectators and passers-by from any injuries that they receive as a result of any match played in a public location. You can often get both as element of a package deal that normally comes to about £200 a year.Other 'hidden factors' to contemplate consist of checking a team's property and away kind, how numerous goals they are scoring (at residence and away), and how many they are normally conceding. Look at the disciplinary record of the team and who the referee will be to see if there is a likelihood of This Internet site players getting red carded.Tipena gives the most correct football predictions and tips on-line. Two pass sorts - a single great defensive save. The strong running of Brazil's proper winger Jairzinho set the stage, with initial path by captain Carlos Alberto. Sprinting down the flank, Jairzinho pounced on an exceptional via pass from Alberto, accelerated past Cooper the English back, and lofted a higher arcing cross to Pele in the centre. Pele headed down powerfully and was already raising his arms in triumph when Banks leaped to his proper "like a salmon more than a fall" Pele mentioned later, and somehow flailed the bouncing ball over the crossbar, saving a confident purpose. The Brazilian forward stated it was the greatest save he had ever seen, and numerous would agree.New consumers only. £10 minimum deposit employing promo code '888ODDS' needed. Qualifying bet have to be placed at the normal odds. Min bet £5, max bet £5. Added winnings paid in Free BETS and added inside 72 hrs of qualifying bet settlement. Totally free bet stakes not included in bet returns. Cost-free bets expire 7 days right after credit. Full T&Cs apply. 18+.London's football clubs can collectively claim to have won the Champions League, numerous Premier League titles, loads of FA Cups and a lot more, but spare a believed for the smaller sized teams in our list too - they're just as deserving as your help as the big boys. So whether or not you want to know exactly where to get tickets to watch Planet Cup-winners, or simply know exactly where to get a good feed and a pint close to the ground, verify out our guide to the capital's leading teams.There are several reasons for playing five-a-side football: for the fitness, the social aspect, or simply for the really like of the game. Yet another tactic on a corner is to let the best shooter remain in the back "trash" position and have the defence worried about those up front. The player taking the corner kick tends to make a small pass back to the trash shooter who has time and space to take a excellent shot. Fans are encouraged to cheer, sing, and otherwise help their team while remaining respectful and courteous to their fellow patrons, referees, opposing group fans and players. The winger had his very best scoring season to date, netting 18 instances and assisting 15 in 33 Premier League appearances.Utilizing data such as how a lot of objectives a particular player has scored in their last ten games can help you improve your possibilities of creating income when you bet For example, a player has scored ten ambitions in their final ten games, and their club is playing a residence match against an opponent they are anticipated to beat. By studying these football stats, you can come to the conclusion that the chances of This Internet site player scoring again is higher, and the odds are worth betting on.Manchester City will acquire about £3.9million from FIFA, the highest sum of any club contributing players to the ongoing Planet Cup in Russia. New players only. 18+, UK & Ire only. Promo code 'G30' necessary. Min 1st bet £10. Should be placed within 14 days of account reg. £30 credited as £3 x £10 free bets. Not valid with CashOut. Cost-free bet valid for four days. T&Cs apply.


The Slow Boat located on Frodsham Street is one of Chester's longest established restaurants and have gained a reputation for fantastic spicy food from around South East Asia including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore .
The extensive menu includes a large number of original and unique dishes form a cross-cultural kitchen of traditional Malaysian, Malaysian/Chinese, Chinese and Indian dishes.
The venue is one of the largest in Chester with a seating capacity for up to 200 people (ideal for business events).
Conveniently located next to the canal on Frodsham Street, both parking and public transport links are available anytime day or night, offering something for everyone who enjoys an authentic oriental meal.


text:
devarattam director name
In a recent interview to Behindwoods, the director had attempted to clear the air of controversies that surround his filmography. Gautham Karthik,Manjima Mohan,Soori,Vela Ramamoorthy are playing lead roles in Devarattam. The movie produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja under Studio Green. With Gautham Karthik, Manjima Mohan, Soori, Fefsi Vijayan.
These films follow a cliched template, which deal with the story of a hero avenging the death of his loved one. Devarattam Cast & Crew, Devarattam Tamil Movie Cast, Actor, Actress, Director - Filmibeat. Devarattam Movie Review: Ever since he made his debut in Kutti Puli, Muthaiya has been making the same film again and again. Devarattam is a Tamil action movie directed by M. Muthaiah. Movie Name: Devarattam. Director: M Muthaiah. Directed by M. Muthaiah. After horror comedies, village-based entertainer is the most exploited genre in Tamil cinema. In Devarattam, my character's name is Vettri, but the title can be misintepreted by people. The movie stars Gautham Karthik, Soori and Manjima Mohan in lead roles.
When questioned about the title of his recent film, he replied "The titles of my films are based on names of my protagonists. A lawyer ends up killing the son of a gangster and the latter swears revenge.
Sweetness In The Belly 123movies, Dips And More, Fervent Champion Art, How To Pronounce Spark, Williams Air Rifle Sights, Glastonbury 2002 Lineup, Torbram And Chandra Emblem, Combat Flight Simulator Ps4, Hearing A Mourning Dove Symbolism, The Doors Other Voices Vinyl, Cackling Meaning In Urdu, сваты 3 сезон, 3 серия, O Saiyyan Chords, What Are The Most Intelligent Signs, Brucie Gta 4 Likes, Decision Making Skills Ppt, House Of Balloons Drum Kit, Hanging Mirror Walmart, All Black Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff Rescue Maine, Vocabulary Builder Book, Antsingy Leaf Chameleon, Water Moccasin Vs Cottonmouth, Divina Misericordia Novena, How Do Little Brown Bats Protect Themselves, Paramotor Kestrel Frame, Oh Julie Lyrics, Timothy Adams Net Worth, Bronze Meaning In Telugu, Dunvant Male Voice Choir, Scriptures On Working Together In Unity, Bobby Simha Movies, Live In The Light Of Hope, Adélie Penguin Habitat, Pedro Alvares Cabral Quotes, Baby Girl Born In Bharani Nakshatra, National Cowboy Hall Of Fame Inductees 2019, The Doors 1978, Robert Louis Stevenson Illness, Marlin 336 Sight Picture, Marj Dusay Son, Louisiana Dog Names, Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans Iguanas, Types Of Ladybugs, How To Break Rules, Where Is Richard Cromwell Buried, Himalayan Rabbit Names,


text:
angeluzoma80@gmail.com
Events of charity work include helping the poor with their clothing, food banks and providing entertainment such as theatre to help those in need.
Water For All Children
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that.
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being. The legal definition of a charitable organization varies between countries and in some instances regions of the country
Apostle Angel's Charity Foundation is a non-profit agency providing support and development to the youths and people within the Umuodu Mbieri community
No 6, Marcon Estate, Umuodu Mbieri, Mbaitoli, Imo State
apostleangelcharityfoundation@gmail.com
Copyright © 2023 Apostle Angel's Charity Foundation - Powered by {Angel's Charity}


Safe Mode: What Does It Do?
byVirus Repair Expert 7 Jun inVirus Removal Service Comments Off on Safe Mode: What Does It Do?
If you have ever struggled with computer problems and attempted to fix them yourself, it is likely that you will have heard of something called safe mode, or a safe boot. This is a diagnostic tool built into most modern operating systems which allows the user to run the computer under special conditions.
In a windows computer, safe mode was traditionally accessed by tapping the f8 key while booting. However, due to faster boot times and newer design, this method doesn't work on the newest windows operating systems. Instead, it is most easily accessed by changing your settings once your computer is booted and loaded normally. If you use a different operating system, it's fairly easy to learn how your specific system can access its version of safe mode.
But what does safe mode do? Safe mode is used in a few scenarios. If the computer will not boot normally, it may be possible to force it to boot into safe mode, allowing you to troubleshoot. This could happen for a variety of reasons. For example, if malware has infected your computer, it might be disabling elements needed for a normal boot. However, safe mode uses only the bare minimum of the required elements. This means that you will see some features that do not work in safe mode, but you are more likely to be able to boot under extreme conditions. This can be extremely valuable when you are dealing with insidious malware which abuses many of the normal operations done by a computer.
Malware isn't the only reason to boot into safe mode. Other computer problems might mean that you need to start the computer in safe mode. Only the most basic drivers will be loaded, and this can help the diagnostic process for repair. If the problem does not persist, then it is likely that the problem exists among the programs and elements which were not loaded.
With that said, if you are struggling with your computer, it is usually best to take it in to an expert. This is only a brief explanation, and it would take some time to fully explain even a few of the possible steps one could take when looking to troubleshoot and repair a damaged or infected machine. So while its nice to understand some of the things your machine is capable of, as well as a few of the tools we have in our arsenal to fix problems, simply booting into safe mode is unlikely to solve any problems, unless you have additional knowledge of where to go from there.


Beautiful 70s red and brown patterned silk scarf. Add a touch of interest to your look with this unique accessory. Wear around your neck, tie in your hair or knot around the handle of your handbag - the possibilities are endless!


text:
EXPO CHICAGO 2019: Dialogues September 20
@ Navy Pier
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Opening Friday, September 20th, from 11AM - 6PM
On view through Sunday, September 22nd
Presented in partnership with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), /Dialogues offers panel discussions, conversations and provocative artistic discourse with leading artists, curators, designers, and arts professionals on the current issues that engage them.
SYMPOSIUM: ON UTOPIA
Within the modernist imagination, utopias once functioned as fictitious sites of yearning—not necessarily as artificial spaces, but as indicators of what could be. Within a twenty-first century context, concepts of utopia have remained relevant, fueling discussions within fields of politics, art, architecture, and culture. The 2019 /Dialogues Symposium: On Utopia, gathers scholars and artists to discuss the various ways in which utopias are continuously being imagined through a series of panels, performances, and book signings that examine how the 'ideal' can exist within contemporary structures.
11:30AM–12:00PM
PERFORMANCE | CONCERT FOR A FLY (1988)
by llya and Emilia Kabakov (Artists | GALLERIA CONTINUA, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac)
The Kabakovs present a new iteration of Concert for a Fly, a string orchestra performance and sculpture work centered around the conductor: a fly hanging from the ceiling. This performance will enact a piece by composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975), entitled Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73.
12:00–1:00PM
THE KABAKOVS | ON UTOPIA
Panelists | Emilia Kabakov (Artist | GALLERIA CONTINUA, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac), Matthew Jesse Jackson (University of Chicago), and Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi (Sharjah Art Foundation). Moderated by Jill Snyder (moCa Cleveland).
Artist Ilya Kabakov, a main figure of the Moscow Conceptualists, began working with Emilia Kabakov upon relocating to America in the late 1980s. The Kabakovs have produced work together for over thirty years, imagining utopic possibilities that originated from painting to found a new genre known as 'total installation.' Conceived in Russia at the height of the Cold War, early ideas within the Kabakovs' works have served as monuments to universal themes such as history and memory. Throughout their career, the duo has placed utopia as a potential outcome and influence of their work. Presented in partnership with The Art Newspaper.
BOOK SIGNING & PERFORMANCE
Concert for a Fly (1988) by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov
Painting the Stage published by Skira
Following the panel, a book signing for Painting the Stage by Denise Poray-Wendel will be presented in partnership with Skira. A special edition of the publication created and signed by Mario Botta, with an edition by the Kabakovs, will be included in this Chicago debut. A second rendition of the Kabakovs' Concert for a Fly performing Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's (1844–1908) Flight of the Bumblebee will occur throughout the signing. Select titles by Matthew Jesse Jackson, published through the University of Chicago Press, will also be available.
WALKS TO THE PARADISE GARDEN: HISTORIES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH
Panelists | Phillip Jones (Curator and Writer), Jeffrey Gibson (Artist | Kavi Gupta), and Tau Lewis (Artist | Monique Meloche Gallery).
"We make up beauty out of air, and out of nowhere."
The recently published book Walks to the Paradise Garden takes a deep look into the utopian desires of artists in the Southern United States to make a paradise for themselves—from the front yard to the back garden, the parlor to the basement. The editor of the publication, Phillip March Jones, will be joined by individuals whose work has sought to revisit the histories of these artists, many of which remained little-known until the late-twentieth century.
BOOK SIGNING AT INDEX ART BOOK FAIR
Walks to the Paradise Garden published by Institute 193 Press.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DREAM WALKING?
Panelists | Samson Young (Artist) and Avery Trufelman (99% Invisible). Moderated by Orianna Cacchione (Smart Museum of Art).
Hong-Kong-based artist Samson Young's first museum solo exhibition in the United States, Silver Moon or Golden Star, Which Will You Buy of Me?, draws inspiration from a song by Bing Crosby in 1933 and the utopic ideals of the Chicago World's Fair, subtitled "A Century of Progress," of the same year. Joined by Avery Trufelman of 99% Invisible and Orianna Cacchione of the Smart Museum of Art, Young's film installations will be discussed alongside the futuristic themes of the world's fair, as well as its impact on global history years later. Presented in partnership with Ocula.
BOOK SIGNING & SCREENING
Samson Young catalogue published by the University of Chicago Press
The New Bauhaus by Opendox
Following the panel, join this book signing with Samson Young for his most recent monograph, published through the Smart Museum of Art with the University of Chicago Press, alongside a screening of excepts from the newly released film The New Bauhaus, an Opendox production, which traces the legacy of how László Moholy-Nagy brought the international movement to Chicago.
100 YEARS OF BAUHAUS | FUTURE/PAST: BAUHAUS PALMISTRY AND ASTROLOGY
Panelists | Jan Tichy (Artist | Fridman Gallery, Galerie Kornfeld) and Laura Forlano (IIT)
The Bauhaus is often remembered for its signature austere aesthetic, yet its foundational members were motivated by unconventional subject matter. Focusing on László Moholy-Nagy's experimentations with palmistry, Chicago-based artist Jan Tichy will relate these archives to Future/Past: Crossing Lines, his solo exhibition at IIT's Mies-designed Carr Chapel. Moderated by Laura Forlano, IIT faculty member and editor of Bauhaus Futures, this conversation will trace these lesser-known histories to define a different type of 'future.' Presented in partnership with 100 Years of Bauhaus, IIT Institute of Design (ID), and Wallpaper*.
Tags: Avery Trufelman, Chicago, Denise Poray-Wendel, Emilia Kabakov, EXPO CHICAGO 2019, Jan Tichy, Jeffrey Gibson, Jill Snyder, Laura Forlano, llya and Emilia Kabakov, Matthew Jesse Jackson, Navy Pier, Near North Side, Orianna Cacchione, Phillip Jones, Samson Young, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Tau Lewis


text:
You are here: Home » Discover Islam » A Tale of Two Cities
Discover Islam Published July 21, 2013 at 2:49 pm 1 Comment
This is A Guest Post Post By Abdullah Intekhab. In the Writer`s own words:
I'm an Engineer; and no I cannot fix your TVs and DVD players. But I can, however, say the most random things and then later defend them with great zeal: that requires a lot of reverse Engineering
I'm a student of knowledge (I try); insomniac; food junkie and a wannabe fatty (well, who am I kidding ). O and last but not the least; a "diehard" wannabe writer (I'm not necessarily any good) and photographer (although I don't have a camera).
The Writer Also Blogs HERE!.
1. I am only the house of your beloved, not the beloved Himself: true love is for the treasure, not for the coffer that contains it. "The real beloved is that One who is unique, who is your beginning and your end. When you find that One, you'll no longer expect anything else: that is both the manifest and the mystery.
"There will be no town which Ad-Dajjal will not enter except Mecca and Medina, and there will be no entrance (road) (of both Mecca and Medina) but the angels will be standing in rows guarding it against him, and then Medina will shake with its inhabitants thrice (i.e. three earthquakes will take place) and Allah will expel all the non-believers and the hypocrites from it."1 (Al-Bukhari)
'There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be; here I am, this is me.' Brian Adams wrote these words for a VERY different reason but anyhow, we take the good with the bad and the ugly right! I want to tell you a story, nay, not a story; in fact, I'm going to share with you a feeling. (Ed`s Note: if you think we are advocating music, then think again. HARAM bro, HARAM all year round, not just Ramadan:P)
Mecca and Medina are the two places that everyone in the Muslim world feels an attraction towards; after all these are the holiest pieces of land on God's dear earth. The two words seemingly roll off of our tongues in unison as though they are two parts of whole. But for all the unanimity and shared heritage the two cities couldn't be more different in their ambience and general aura.
Before I begin, I'd like to mention a little dua'a that a GREAT, GREAT man once made, this was Prophet Abraham (alaihi salam) and the occasion was the building of the Kaa'ba:
'…"My Lord, make this (Mecca) a secure city and provide its people with fruits – whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day."…'2 2:126
When you enter Mecca you can feel this sense of security but with it comes an overbearing sense of something much, MUCH grander. You feel humbled and overawed by the might; you can feel that the Majesty and Glory of the ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ is eminent in the streets. The safety is a by-product of that presence.
The air is different; an awe-inspiring, all-encompassing feeling takes over ones existence and one is no longer an individual but a part of a bigger whole. As you walk towards the Kaa'ba a crescendo builds up to a heart shaking silence. It is here that you realize the importance of using the phrase "revert to Islam" instead of "convert" because this is most definitely our origin, we all come from Islam. We answer to only One Power in all its Magnificence. Words don't come to you like they do in normal life, and I always wonder how it is that people can describe the "magic" of this city; I can't possibly imagine how you can do that. The "magic" is in the indescribability.
Now we look at the stark contrast of the feeling above; we take a Journey approximately 350km north to Medina.
Medina, o lovely Medina!
"O Allah! Bestow on Medina twice the blessings You bestowed on Mecca."3 (Al-Bukhari)
You remember one of those films in which the hero sees the heroin for the first time and the time kinda stops and the wind kinda picks up and everything moves in slow-motion but is still somehow a blur? Well, no actually, think of it as the best feeling you've ever felt and then multiply it by a hundred. Umm, no, that's not it either but that's Medina…
When the muhajiroon first came to Medina, it was riddled with disease and discomfort. And many of the Prophet's (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) companions felt extremely homesick. That is when Rasool Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) made the dua'a that Medina's love be put in the heart of every Muslim till the last day; and that it be dearer to the Muslims. And isn't that so?
For my personal experience I'll have to say: yes!
The city is peace in itself, it is love and infinity; and they say that love is dead that it lives no more, I say come here and breathe in it. This is the place where the greatest man who ever lived, lived. This is where Islam found home after a tumultuous start in Mecca. The air is calm and serene and peaceful, you feel so at home that you forget whence you came from. There's no longer the over-bearing sense of Grandeur just a wholesome feeling of love that takes over your existence. The Majesty and Might in Mecca smoothens down to serenity. It is as if the whole universe is at peace with itself.
2. In love one finds that infinity may no longer be an irrelevant concept
Both cities are absolutely mind-bogglingly beautiful; both cities are places where I'd LOVE to spend the rest of my days. ( And I don't know if I'm right in saying this) But if I'm being truly honest, and if "the home is where the heart lies" then mine surely lives in Medina.
1. Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1881, In-book reference: Book 29, Hadith 15, USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 3, Book 30, Hadith 105
2. The holy Qur'an, Chapter 2 (Al-Baqarah), Verse 126
3. Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1885, In-book reference: Book 29, Hadith 19, USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 3, Book 30, Hadith 109support@malonama.com
admin@malonama.com
dpadmin@malonama.com
Tags: beauty, comparison between makkah and madinah, love, madinah, Makkah, my spiritual journey
« When The Clouds Spoke
Competition-I Want That Too! »
One Comment to "A Tale of Two Cities"
jaweria says:
LOVE THIS!!! Beautiful, mashallah! And spot on, too! The overwhelming sense of grandiosity in Makkah and the sweet love in the air of madinah…especially madinah!!!


Last year Roll for Combat sent multiple people to PaizoCon 2018, and they're at it again! This year though, unbelievably, anyone in the world is eligible to win a trip to PaizoCon 2019 in Seattle thanks to Roll for Combat!
If you're not a listener, or were in the past but have fallen behind, it's a great time to hop in as they are just starting Book 4 of the Dead Suns Starfinder Adventure Path. Also, as they do periodically on the show, in this episode Stephen Glicker gives a synopsis of what's happened so far. So you can hop in without having to listen to all 69 existing episodes—though I recommend you do!
Ok, ok, but how does the competition for a free trip to PaizoCon 2019 work? What I have gleaned from the podcast so far—you (at least 18 years old) listen to the show, every week, starting with the February 5th episode, and for the next few episodes. Sometime around early April, there will be a form to fill out. You provide your information, including a required Discord ID, and answer one question from each episode such as "how much total damage did Rusty do during combat in that episode?" Sometime mid- to late April, Roll for Combat will randomly select a winner from all entrants with correct and complete entries.
The winner will receive a trip to PaizoCon 2019 including airfare (or a portion for some international locations), hotel room, a 4-day pass to PaizoCon, and a ticket to the PaizoCon banquet. Again, this is open to anyone in the world, however, with the caveat that since travel from anywhere in the world could be quite expensive, they will provide a stipend for a certain amount of airfare. Anything over that amount and the winner will have to cover the rest. Pretty sweet!
What is PaizoCon you ask? PaizoCon is a four-day gaming convention this Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, in Seattle, Washington.
The annual celebration of Paizo, Pathfinder, Starfinder, and the folks who play. From special guests to once-in-a-lifetime game events to previews of future releases, PaizoCon is the annual epicenter of all things Paizo. Gamers from all over the world converge for a laid-back, gaming-focused gathering unlike any other.
Some 'Starfinder' being played with James Sutter at PaizoCon 2017 when it was first released. In addition to 'Starfinder,' you'll be able to play 'Pathfinder,' 'The Adventure Card Game,' and other games. Photo by Ryan Hiller.
GeekDad has written about PaizoCon numerous times here. My son and I have been going for years, and it's our favorite convention! PaizoCon is large enough to fill my schedule with gaming, seminars, and other events, while still being small enough that you can easily interact with any Paizo staff, other gaming celebrities, and take in most of the con.
Roll for Combat is an excellent Starfinder actual-play podcast taking us through the Dead Suns adventure path. We've also written about this superbly produced and always entertaining show. Even if you can't make PaizoCon, you should check it out! Want to know more about Starfinder? GeekDad also has some posts on that topic as well!
In addition to trying to win tickets from Roll for Combat, tickets are still available on the Paizo site. If you need to get a hotel room, that's the most likely component to sell out, so you may want to get on that if you're not the Roll for Combat winner!
Here's me, on the far left, with 'Roll for Combat's GM Stephen Glicker on the far right. Oh, hey, and there's Spencer Crittenden, of 'HarmonQuest' and other fame, there in the upper right. You too could win a spot at the banquet. There's also still banquet tickets available if you are already attending and want to just purchase one. It's a must-attend PaizoCon event! Photo by Dan Tharp, @Piazo.