When Seema who blogs at Mildy Indian suggested the above theme, I didn't even want to know what the other choices were. I like something that jolts me from my comfort zone and this was just the right theme. Basically for this theme we could prepare any dish and then work on the photography or presentation, pretending that its for a magazine cover. How exciting would that be in reality. In reality I would not be the one photographing the food or working on the presentation. I would have to just cook the recipe. Well, we all can wish for anything dear to our heart.
Before I go into the recipe, I must mention that Seema has had the opportunity to stay in several countries and what I like about her blog is that she writes a bit about her stay in these places, her travels and also learns the cuisine and use local ingredients. Please check out her blog.
Coming back to the recipe, I recently had to travel to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya to get US and Thai visas. We stayed at hubby's cousin's home this time (usually stay with my kaki and kaka). I learnt an easier sourdough bread recipe from him and couldn't wait to get back home to try out the recipe on my own. I decided to use the recipe for this theme. Photographing bread is not the easiest as besides antique knives, butter, good spreads what else can one use as a prop? The star has to be the bread. However, I gave it a shot. The easier thing would have been to make a dessert and make the photo all colorful.
Anyway waiting for my main critic, my daughter to check out the post. Its at times like this I wish she was here. However, as she constantly reminds me that I have to learn. Remembering her tip on some food photos being minimal I really hope that to some degree it does meet the magazine cover criteria.
A few years ago my hubby's cousins had come down to Mombasa and stayed with us for a week. While hubby went to work, the younger cousin would be busy on his computer and the elder one would be in the kitchen, watching what I'm making and giving tips. We got talking about sourdough and we tried baking a sourdough bread. The starter was perfect but the bread dough was another story. As minutes turned into hours, the dough became so so soft that we just couldn't handle it without it getting stuck everywhere on the counter. We didn't even know the right technique to proof the final stage or didn't have the right equipment. After adding copious amounts of flour, we finely managed a bake a shapeless bread that tasted sour but nothing like the authentic one. After that I tried once again and messed it up as I was not able to transfer the proved dough onto the baking tray. It fell flat! After that, though I always have a sourdough starter in my fridge, I usually make breads where a bit of the sourdough is used along with the yeast.
In the meantime, cousin must have been through tonnes of flour and sourdough starters to perfect the technique that is workable without a banneton proofing basket, a dutch oven or an iron cast pan. When I was at his place, he made about 4 loaves of sourdough bread to show me his technique. Not much kneading was required and if the sourdough starter is perfectly hydrated then the bread turns out awesome.
Before I forgot how to proof and bake it, I had to try it out. I really can't thank hubby's cousin enough, teaching me how to make a perfect loaf of sourdough bread. Now my brains are working overtime and want to bake some more with added ingredients but I really have to hold on as by Friday I need to shut down my kitchen. I'm traveling on Monday to Mumbai and from there to Bangalore. We're actually away from home for a whole year, which means need to shut down the fridge and clear the pantry completely.
Though my bread didn't have the typical holes, the taste and crunchiness was perfect. With practice and trying to make the dough more suitable for my humid and hot climate, I'm sure I'll be able to make the bread perfectly.
Lets now get into the manageable technique of making a perfect sourdough bread. For perfect measurements of the ingredients for this bread, I had to use the weighing scales and not cup measurements.For the technique and various steps check out this video.
Sift the flours, gluten, salt and sugar together in a bowl.
Add water and knead it into a shaggy dough.
Cover the dough with a lid or cling film and leave it in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
Before going to bed, remove the dough and starter from the fridge. Let both reach room temperature overnight.
Next day, flatten the dough using your fingers.
Smear the starter all over it. Using your finger tips, work the starter into the dough by creating dimples or holes.
Place the dough in a kneading machine and on minimum speed let it run for 5-10 minutes. The dough should become smooth and stretchy. Or you can fold and knead the dough by hand.
Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a clean bowl.
Cover it and place it in a warm place.
After 1 hour, with wet hand, take a bit of the dough, pull and stretch it gently, and fold over. Repeat for 4-5 folds.Each fold will become tighter.
Cover the dough and let it rest in a warm place.
Repeat the folding like in step 10 after an hour. This step has to be done 6 times… after each hour fold.
After the 6th time, let the dough rest for 10 -15 minutes, then take it out on a lightly dusted worktop and shape it into a ball. Be gently as by now air bubbles will have formed.
Use a 7-8 inch wide bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or thin cotton cloth.
Dust the cloth generously with flour so that the dough comes out easily.
Place the shaped dough in the cloth covered bowl.
Cover the top and let it rise for 2 – 4 hours in a warm place. It is ready when the dough becomes double the size.
Preheat the oven to 220ºC along with a baking tray and a big steel or heatproof bowl. Both should be really hot.
Take the tray and bowl out of the oven.
Place hot water in a heatproof container at the bottom shelf.
Dust the tray lightly with some coarse maize meal flour or semolina.
Gently turn the bowl with the dough in it, over completely onto the hot tray.
Remove the bowl and gently peel off the cloth.
Using a sharp knife or blade make 2-3 slashes on top of the dough.
Cover the dough with the hot bowl.
Bake the bread for 20-25 minutes.
Remove the bowl and lower the temperature to 180ºC.
Bake the bread for another 30-35 minutes or till the loaf is dark golden brown. If you knock the bottom of the bread it should sound hollow.
Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
Slice it when its cold and hear the musical crunch crunch. Serve it with your favorite soup, stew or enjoy it with some jam, make a sandwich or just toast it and enjoy it with some butter.
Mix all the three very well till it becomes gluteny. Leave it outside at room temperature for 1-2 hours or till its double the size. Put it in the fridge till required.
You will have some leftover after adding the required amount to the dough. Use that to make the next batch of starter.
I followed the method of making sourdough starter here. Check it out.Its easy to follow and foolproof as long as you keep feeding it correctly and also keep it in a relatively warm place. I will probably have a post on how to make the sourdough starter, step by step with photos later on.
When folding work on the dough gently.
Sourdough starter should be bubbly, airy, frothy. If its not like that then its not active and needs to be activated.
You will have some activated starter leftover, feed that with 30g water and 30g flour to make some for the next bake.
Dust the cloth generously with flour otherwise the dough will get stuck to it.
You can knead the dough by hand. Just check the video how to knead with your hands.
Use a banneton for proofing and an iron cast pan for baking if you have them both.
If you use bread flour then don't add gluten.
Oh, wow! The sourdough looks just perfect! ♥ Great share!
I love a good sourdough bread. It is a great skill to be able to make one.
It is a skill to make sourdough bread Heidi, but I love it.
Your bread look so delicious! Definitely worthy of any magazine cover – yum!
Mayuri, firstly your daughter is going to be super happy with the images. Great light and sharp photos. Secondly, the sourdough looks great with very visible air pockets showing good hydration of the dough. I don't prefer too many pockets as it doesn't give a chance to smear something on it so this is my kinda slice. As an eternal bread lover, I am now super tempted to bake something over the weekend.
Thank you Vidya for the kind words, still waiting the results from my daughter… its as though I sat for an exam. First to get my brother in law's approval for the loaf and then my daughter for the clicks 🙂 Life definitely keeps me on my toes.
I love baking my own bread but haven't tried sourdough yet. It's definitely on the list to make asap!
Must try it as it brings great satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
This looks amazing, sourdough is a real art and I couldn't keep my starter alive! Well done.
Thank you so much, I've taken care of my starter like a baby.
I don't know how you managed to take such good pictures of a sourdough bread. My bread images never do justice to the taste and flavour of the bread, whether I show them whole or sliced, or whatever! A perfect recipe and image for a magazine, and a perfect share for this theme!
Thank you so much Sujata, breads are difficult to click and I still think it could have been better.
The sourdough bread looks very inviting di ! Perfect share for the theme !
I adore sourdough bread but have never tried to make it, I definitely will now! Look at that beautiful crust and sort fluffy interior, just perfect!
Gorgeous Cover Pic!!! Sourdough bread looks so gorgeous.Perfect crumb smeared with Jam..Aah…makes it so tempting.Fantastic Share.I am yet to try Sourdough bread.Bookmarking this recipe.
Thank you so much Preethi, the bread tasted yummy with butter and jam.
Mayuriji, you got a perfectly baked boule!!The bread looks so crusty, loved the texture too!! Very detailed recipe with nicely explained steps.
Thank you so much Swaty, my teacher was really good. He too explained everything in detail.
Bread looks so perfect Mayuri. Loved the tiny holes. And pictures are also beautiful and perfect for magazine cover. You know I also hesitate to share my pictures because of daughter. On every picture I sent her she said pictures are good but not like high resolution magazine cover pictures 😁. Its all of you who encouraged me to share. But your pictures are really too good. Loved it.
Thank you so much Sujata. You may remember how my photos were when I joined the group, they were so bad. Have slowly learnt over the years and still learning.
Thank you so much Freda.
I am yet to try my hands on baking a sourdough from scratch at home. Long process but when you see a good results all the efforts are worth it. Bread looks delicious.
Thanks Jagruti, after you've baked your first one then you'll want to bake it again and again.
The sourdough bread looks so awesome, wish I could grab it. Perfect for a mag cover.
Sourdough is something I am nervous to work with. I know it needs time and patience, and I lack both, unfortunately. Your bread looks perfect, with those big holes and such a pretty shape… so well done!
Thank you so much Rafeeda, I have all the patience in the world if I need to bake a good loaf.
Sourdough is my favorite! This looks amazing!
Thank you so much Sasmita. Once you master the technique its not too difficult.
If that sourdough cannot bring a smile in the morning nothing can. I will love to see this as a magazine right next to my slice of toast. Perfect.
Wow!!!! Mayuri I am floored. This is an amazing picture of an amazing bread! Sour dough at that! How I wish I can get my hands on the bread or better still on your starter. I have to try making this beautiful bread but now that the heat has started will wait till the next season to try my hand. Or on second thought say what the heck and waste another lot of dough 😀 !
I am sure your daughter had nothing to complain about with these pics. Absolutely beautifully clicked.
Thank you so much Archana, the heat may help to get the sourdough starter ready sooner.


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Architecture & Exteriors
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Terascale Simulation Facility
Livermore, California | civic & academic, science & health
How do you house the world's most powerful supercomputer – while also meeting the needs of the humans who run it?
When Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) hired RMW to create the home for Sequoia, the world's most powerful supercomputer at the time, it set some ambitious design goals: make the building flexible, scalable, reliable, sustainable, and beautiful. And do it all on a relatively tight parcel, for under $220 a foot.
The resulting LEED® Gold certified 268,000-square-foot Terascale Simulation Facility (TSF) not only shelters Sequoia, it provides office and research space for nearly 300 scientists who use the computer for visualization and hardware prototyping. RMW met the challenge within the building's 92,000-square-foot footprint by consolidating office and support functions in a four-story office tower, oriented to create a plaza that connects the TSF to adjacent campus buildings. This office tower includes a 150-seat auditorium and visualization theater for unclassified presentations, a second visualization theater for classified reviews, and an operations hub that controls the computation directorate's high-performance computers across the Livermore site.
The supercomputer resides on the second floor of a two-story wing. Part of the sustainable design approach was to make the computer floor more efficient by designing it as an upside-down clean room, with HVAC tucked underneath. Air units under the computer room blow cool air up to the second level, where it is recaptured and forced into large return-air plenums for recirculation.
Other sustainable strategies include extensive use of natural light in the office tower to reduce the necessity of artificial lighting. The centralized stair/atrium was provided with a skylight and an array of floor-to-ceiling windows at the ends of corridors to grab natural light and provide views for orientation. A one-of-a-kind facility that did not match up with any of the typical LEED® building type models, TSF required a unique research and calculation package to prove to the U.S. Green Building Council that it was worthy of Gold status.
RMW continues to work with LLNL to make the TSF as green as possible. Most recently, we provided architectural services for modifications to the computer floor that will allow the TSF to take advantage of "free" seasonal and nighttime outside air variations to help cool the computer rooms. The modifications included a new wall structure with louvers and dampers to allow outside air in or exhaust air out, humidifiers, exhaust fans, and associated controls. The renovation enables the directorate to save an estimated $1 million annually in energy costs.
Sequoia supports the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program, a part of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration and an important component of stockpile stewardship.
Abutting the entry lobby, the whimsical "Armadillo Room," a zinc-clad structure resembling an armadillo's armored body, houses the 3D simulation auditorium and recalls the design vernacular of LLNL in the Atomic Age.
Award: 2010 Project of the Year, Project Management Institute
Bart McClelland
Principal Project Manager
Josie Camaclang
Senior Project Architect
Gloria Rasmussen
© 2020 RMW architecture & interiors. All rights reserved. | Contact RMW

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Here's another fungi story coming from the WVU Kasson Lab: Cordyceps infected Citrus Cicadas (Diceroprocta apache).
The story goes like this: because of Ed Yong's article about the Massospora fungus that infects cicadas, someone sent the Kasson Lab photos, and then samples, of Diceroprocta apache (Citrus Cicadas) infected with a different type of fungus: Cordyceps. Looks like the lab is going to study this fungus, and I'm sure they'll produce a paper.
Many cicada species suffer from fungal pathogens belonging to the genus Massospora. These fungi destroy the reproductive organs of males and cause them to behave like female cicadas — in the case of Magicicada cicadas, they flick their wings instead of singing — and they attempt to mate with other males, thus spreading the fungus.
A new paper has been published titled Discovery of psychoactive plant & mushroom alkaloids in ancient fungal cicada pathogens. Authors: Greg Boyce, Emile Gluck-Thaler, Jason C. Slot, Jason E. Stajich, William J. Davis, Tim Y. James, John R. Cooley, Daniel G. Panaccione, Jorgen Eilenberg, Henrik H. De Fine Licht, Angie M. Macias, Matthew C. Berger, Kristen L. Wickert, Cameron M. Stauder, Ellie J. Spahr, Matthew D. Maust, Amy M. Metheny, Chris Simon, Gene Kritsky, Kathie T. Hodge, Richard A. Humber, Terry Gullion, Dylan P. G. Short, Teiya Kijimoto, Dan Mozgai, Nidia Arguedas, Matthew T. Kasson. You can access it on biorxiv.
This new paper makes discoveries about the fungi.
Entomopathogenic fungi routinely kill their hosts before releasing infectious conidia, but select species keep their hosts alive while sporulating to enhance spore dispersal. Recent expression and metabolomics studies involving host-killing entomopathogens have helped unravel infection processes and host responses, yet the mechanisms underlying active host transmission in insects with Entomophthoralean fungal infections are completely unexplored. Here we report the discovery, through global and targeted metabolomics supported by metagenomics and proteomics, of the plant amphetamine, cathinone, in Massospora cicadina-infected periodical cicadas, and the mushroom tryptamine, psilocybin, in M. platypediae- and M. levispora-infected annual cicadas. The neurogenic activities of these alkaloids provide a hypothetical framework for a chemically induced extended phenotype of Massospora that alters cicada behavior by increasing endurance and suppressing feeding prior to death.
A new paper, A specialized fungal parasite (Massospora cicadina) hijacks the sexual signals of periodical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada), has been published by John R. Cooley, David C. Marshall & Kathy B. R. Hill, in Scientific Reports 8, Article number: 1432 (2018).
In a nutshell: the fungus infects males and causes them to exactly mimic the mating behavior of female cicadas, thus infected males end up spreading the fungus to uninfected males.
Male periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) infected with conidiospore-producing ("Stage I") infections of the entomopathogenic fungus Massospora cicadina exhibit precisely timed wing-flick signaling behavior normally seen only in sexually receptive female cicadas. Male wing-flicks attract copulation attempts from conspecific males in the chorus; close contact apparently spreads the infective conidiospores. In contrast, males with "Stage II" infections that produce resting spores that wait for the next cicada generation do not produce female-specific signals. We propose that these complex fungus-induced behavioral changes, which resemble apparently independently derived changes in other cicada-Massospora systems, represent a fungus "extended phenotype" that hijacks cicadas, turning them into vehicles for fungus transmission at the expense of the cicadas' own interests.
Cicadas, when infected, are called "salt shakers of doom". Add that to the meme "Salt Bae", and the image makes sense.
Many types of fungi will eat cicadas, but one type — the Massospora — specifically infests and destroys cicada genitalia. Specifically, Massospora cicadina attacks Magicicada cicadas, and Massospora levispora attacks Okanagana rimosa. According to the website MycoBank Database, there's at least 19 species of Massospora. By the names of some, you can guess which cicada it infects; Massospora diceroproctae likely infects Diceroprocta cicadas.
It's not certain, but there are sure to be many more species of Massospora fungi — if not one for each species, perhaps approximately one for each genus. Considering that Massospora infects cicadas all around the world, it's fair to assume that Massospora has been infecting cicadas for many millions of years.
If you have some samples of such cicadas and are willing to part with them, let Matt know.
What eats cicadas? A better question is: what doesn't eat cicadas?
Pretty much every creature with a mouth will eat a cicada, given the chance. Even organisms without mouths like fungi will consume cicadas.
People, pets, rodents, marsupials, reptiles, birds, fish, insects, arachnids — virtually any creature will eat them.
Some insects are known for specifically preying on cicadas, for example, Cicada Killer Wasps are well known for capturing cicadas for their larvae to eat them.
What eats them when they're underground? When they're underground they're often eaten by moles and other furry insectivores, but enough of them escape the moles for the species to survive.
Read are cicadas safe to eat if you're planning a cicada buffet.
Comments Off on What eats cicadas?
The fungus Massospora cicadina preys on Magicicadas cicadas. This is particularly interesting because the fungus is able to prey upon them in spite of their long 17 year life cycle (apparently fungi are not phased by prime numbers).
When the fungus destroys the abdomen of male cicadas, they will behave like female cicadas and flick their wings in response to the songs of male cicadas, and attempt to mate with other males.
magicicada fungus (massospora cicadina) from Roy Troutman.
New from 2017: the Massospora cicadina viewed under a microscope.


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The original android smartwatch models were bulky and uncomfortable, but technological advances have led to stunning designs including the Samsung smart watch and apple smart watch. Our incredible selection of android smart watch devices is packed with the latest smartwatch android OS systems for maximum performance. Together with clear displays (with customization options), they also deliver maximum comfort with premium quality straps (including leather) for all-day use, Bluetooth functionality to connect to your smartphone for notifications, and dedicated apps for precise control. Enjoy a smart watch android experience with the freedom to do more and achieve so much more with your time.
What's on display?: Most smartwatches have full-colour displays, though the underlying technology will determine how good the screen looks. There has been a move towards AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diode) displays, as used in the Apple Watch which present a bright screen, crisp text and accurate colours. Fitness trackers tend to have lower-quality screens and may not present in full-colour, partly to save battery life.
Apple has announced the Apple Watch Series 4. It's the first real redesign of the wearable since Apple introduced it in 2014, but the changes aren't so drastic that you won't recognize it as an Apple Watch. The Series 4 comes with an upgraded display, and you can choose either a 40mm or 44mm model. Even though the screens on the new models are bigger, the overall body of the Watch is roughly the same as previous models, so you shouldn't notice much of a difference on your wrist.
On-Screen Workouts/ Connected GPS/ Bluetooth/ Smartphone Notifications/ 4 Day Battery Life/ Heart Rate Tracking/ 15 Exercise Modes/ SmartTrack/ All-Day Activity/ Female Health/ Sleep Tracking And Stages/ Cardio Fitness Level/ 3-Axis Accelerometer And Gyroscope/ Optical Heart Rate Monitor/ Color LCD Touchscreen Display/ Water Resistant To 50 Meters/ Peach And Rose Gold Aluminum Finish
The Watch 2 comes in two varieties, Sports and Classic. The former is a little cheaper, looking unsurprisingly much like a standard sports watch. The Classic is noticeably more attractive, with a premium-looking shell and included leather band. If you're after something that's appropriate at a nice restaurant as well as the gym, you may want to pay the extra money, but all features are otherwise the same.
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Battery life for the Q watches is unremarkably reliable, and that's the best thing you can say about a touchscreen smartwatch. The Q Explorist never ran out of juice entirely while wearing it, even after having it be the primary turn-by-turn direction notifier on two 1-hour drives, followed by 30 minutes of actively tracked cycling and the usual all-day text/app notifications. While we didn't wear the Venture for full days of testing, most reviews find no fault with the battery. The USB charger is a basic magnetic disc that slides onto the rounded back of the watch (though it could stand to stick onto the watch more strongly, like the Apple Watch's similar disc).
If you don't need your smartwatch to look business-casual, you want more fitness and exercise features than our top pick, or you're a Samsung loyalist, the Samsung Gear Sport is a better pick for you. (You can use the Gear Sport with non-Samsung phones, but doing so requires that you install at least four apps.) The Gear Sport handles all the casual notification and message-triage functions of a smartwatch about as well as our top pick—with the exception of voice transcription—but it adds heart-rate monitoring, GPS tracking, swim tracking, and built-in reminders to move throughout the day. It doesn't do all of these things perfectly, but it does just enough to make for a generally useful smartwatch, with great battery life and a clever interface.
The Series 4 now has several new health-focused features, which are very intriguing, including the ability to detect when you fall and even alert emergency contacts if need be, as well as an electrical heart rate sensor that works with an app to alert you to heart health issues. The electrocardiogram (ECG) app has been certified by the Food & Drug Administration, but it's not out yet.
In the same year, Microsoft announced the SPOT smartwatch and it began hitting stores in early 2004.[30] SPOT stands for Smart Personal Objects Technology, an initiative by Microsoft to personalize household electronics and other everyday gadgets. For instance, the company demonstrated coffee makers, weather stations, and alarm clocks featuring built-in SPOT technology.[31] The device was a standalone smartwatch[32] that offered information at a glance where other devices would have required more immersion and interaction. The information included weather, news, stock prices, and sports scores and was transmitted through FM waves.[30] It was accessible through a yearly subscription that cost from $39 to $59.[31]
Wirecutter writers have been researching, testing, and writing about smartwatches since early 2013, just after the first Pebble watches were shipped to Kickstarter backers. I've personally worn nearly every notable smartwatch since that first Pebble and have written about them for a number of publications, including IT World and Fast Company. I also have extensive experience with Android phones, having written the (since outdated) Complete Android Guide and numerous articles about Android. I also contribute to and help edit the Wirecutter guide to the best smartwatch for iPhones.
When it comes to smartwatches, one size most definitely does not fit all. The best option for you depends on a number of factors, including the smartphone you use; whether you want strong activity-tracking features; your budget; and your aesthetic tastes. For example, many people prefer a smartwatch with a round display because it looks more like a standard wristwatch than a piece of tech. You'll want to take all these factors into consideration when you begin the search for the best smartwatch for you. So whether you're looking for something appropriate for dinner parties or back-country trails, high-end, budget or something in between, we've tracked down the best smartwatches on the market this year.
The Samsung Gear Live is the first of the company's smartwatches to be compatible with any Android phone running Android 4.3 or higher; other Gear models can be paired only with specific Samsung phones. Like the LG G Watch and Moto 360, it runs the Android Wear OS, allowing voice commands and pushing relevant information to the wearer. Compared with the LG G Watch, we prefer the style and fit of the Gear Live. The watch body is slightly curved, which made it more comfortable. The Gear Live also has a heart-rate monitor, which the G Watch lacks.
Although rectangular is the most common design, there are smart watches that have a circular display similar to regular watches. The Apple Watch is only available in the rectangular design. The circular design is available in the Samsung Gear S2, Moto 360, and LG G Watch R models. Many models have changeable straps, so you can dress casual, sporty, and formal.
It has all the sensors you might want if you're an avid runner, but it goes so much further. If you're a hiker, you'll love the altimeter, air pressure read-outs, the clock showing the sunrise and sunset times, compass and the indicator of the day's tide levels. You can also download map data for use offline, meaning if you're the Bear Grylls type then you'll be well prepared.
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The Huawei Watch 2 was one of the first smartwatches to launch with Android Wear 2.0 (now known as Wear OS), so delivers the handy Google Assistant straight to your wrist. Other improvements include more ways to respond to messages from your wrist, including a new on-screen keyboard. Wear OS doesn't quite rival Apple's watchOS for app support, but it has a decent stable of apps you'd expect.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch, a Tizen OS watch (starting at $329), is our favorite smartwatch for Android users. In addition to up to four days of battery life and a great design, the Galaxy Watch offers built-in GPS, heart rate sensor, water-resistance, Samsung Pay support, plus a nifty rotating bezel for navigating the interface. You can also download music from Spotify to the watch for offline listening. However, you get far fewer apps than you would with a Wear OS watch.


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HomeBusiness News
Auto market pulls into slow lane as economy slams on the brakes
The booming auto sales which pushed the Russian market into the realms of the worlds largest came to a screeching halt with the economic downturn, with the government looking at measures to spur buying once again.
Soviet car brands like Volga and Lada may be still proudly trundling the roads of Russia – but a lot has changed since Soviet days. Sales of foreign car brands had been rising steadily before the crisis making Russia the biggest car market in Europe.
In the first half of 2008 Russia overtook Germany in the number of new car registrations, and that steady acceleration was driven by the rising availability of finance, the wealth of an oil fueled economy and – last but not least – the mentality of Russian buyers.
A car in Russia is perceived to be more than just a vehicle – it's a status symbol. People are ready to fork out for a flashy, big and costly vehicle even at the expense of other pleasures, with the comments of Russian drivers typifying the attitude.
"Your car is your lifestyle. I am young. And I want my car to be flashy, fast and a bit playful. So that girls like it."
"I love this car. It has all what it takes. It's fully electronic. I have a big belly you see so this Russian Volga is a good fit for me."
"I have bought an offroad because you sit high and see well. But first of all it's about the safety of a big car. And you can park anywhere even in the middle of a snowhill."
In 2009 car sales in the country tumbled 50% and are unlikely to pick up any time soon despite state help. The government offered subsidies for new cars as well as cash-for-scrap schemes but Ivan Bonchev, Associate Director at Ernst and Young says they had minimal effect.
"Despite the fact that some measures were introduced to stimulate the market, such as subsidies on cars produced in Russia, the effect was quite limited and only about 60 thousand vehicles were bought using the state subsidies."
Russia may have failed to lay its hands on Opel and its technology but was promised assistance from Renault, which holds a 25% stake in Russia's struggling car producer – Avtovaz
Industry analysts predict the next development could be the rise of local component industry serving foreign brands. And with the roar of the crisis fading away, car analysts say the Russian car market could claim third place by 2012 – after the US and China.
Russia's year in the wake of Lehman Brothers
Falling interest rates throw spotlight on fight for deposits
Ukraine waits on IMF bailout funds
End of U.S. poultry imports leaves onus domestic producers
Wine sellers furious over sudden change in customs legislation
President looks for financial markets to underpin economic development
Russia to power into global carbon trading market
Russia looking to avoid worst of economic downturn
Time to focus on savings
The "Gathering Storm" warning on global economy


For clergy leadership, Reverend Cindi reports to the Prairie Rivers District Superintendent Lance Clay in Grand Island. Rev. Clay reports to Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. in Kansas and the Conference Cabinet. Nebraska is broken into six districts with Nebraska and the state of Kansas making up the Great Plains Conference.
For laity leadership, all committee and group chairs report to the Church Council, which typically meets on fourth Mondays in odd months and is chaired by Justin King. The Council reports to the local church-wide Church Conference called at least annually, and as otherwise needed, and open to all, with all FUMC members attending the meeting having a vote.
The "program" committees typically meet on second Mondays of each month and consist of Education, Evangelism, Mission, and Worship, except Youth Ministry Team which meets on first Mondays. Ministry Development Team meets on second Tuesdays of the even months.
The "administrative" committees typically meet on third Tuesdays of each month and consist of Trustees, Finance, and Staff Parish Relations.
Major planning goals and assessments are done on an annual basis as part of the annual Charge Conference meeting.
For more detail on these organized committees, please see the Committees page.


I've seen the adverts about packing in more at lunch time with KFC Burritos and decided to play along. There is a KFC opposite where I work, so Spectre and I decided to treat ourselves on a lunch work break. I think the idea from the advertising campaign is that you can grab a Burrito and go, but I didn't fancy lunch at my desk so we ate in. Spectre sneakily ordered himself a variety meal (with extra hot wings), not wanting to miss out on the opportunity to eat his favourite KFC lunch. Mister Adventure!
I stuck to the plan at least and ordered the Burrito meal, I went for the Original Recipe variety for a first try. The Zinger version did sound lovely, but I though the Original worked better as a starting point.
My Burrito came rapped in foil, and as part of the meal deal with chips and a sot drink. I carefully unwrapped it and realised that there was nowhere for the filling to fall out as it was neatly wrapped in the Burrito. I quick bite in revealed the goodies.
There was all sorts in with the chicken, rice, beans and a spicy tomato salsa. I loved the mix of flavours, and textures. I've discovered writing this blog that a mix of textures works really well for me. Soft Burrito, rice and the firm chicken meant I found this a pleasure to eat.
I liked that the chicken still had the distinctive KFC flavour, but that you could taste all the other ingredients too. The Burrito was surprising spicy in places, there must have been the odd bit of hot chilli in the salsa that gave a pleasing tingle. I can't wait to go back and try the Zinger version.
I had a half an hour lunch break and my walk to and from KFC, the ordering and eating of this took up exactly the thirty minutes. I'm not sure this was packing more in as per the advert, but it was a really nice weekday treat.


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I'm absolutely convinced that this lovely transom fits like a glove on this beautiful home entry!!!
Its size is 47 3/8" wide X 15 5/8" tall.
Glass: We used medium green wispy opal, aqua blue wispy opal, honey amber opal and solid white opal for all the geometric borders. The numbers are solid black opal glass and the background is a pale amber/white mixed translucent glass.
Do you want a new look for the front of your house? Then you should contact us right now!


text:
Kentucky clerk won't interfere with gay marriage licenses
Clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday for the first time since being jailed for disobeying a federal judge and said she was faced with a "seemingly impossible choice" between following her consci...
Published: 5:22 AM PDT September 14, 2015
Updated: 5:22 AM PDT September 14, 2015
MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday for the first time since being jailed for disobeying a federal judge and said she was faced with a "seemingly impossible choice" between following her conscience and losing her freedom over denyingmarriage licenses to gay couples.
With her voice shaking, she said she decided not to interfere with deputy clerks who will continue to hand out the marriage licenses in Rowan County, but Davis declared they would not be authorized by her and she questioned their validity.
In her first day back after a five-day stint in jail, Davis said she was torn between obeying God and a directive from the judge that "forces me to disobey God." Davis, an Apostolic Christian, believes gay marriage is a sin.
"I'm here before you this morning with a seemingly impossible choice that I do not wish upon any of my fellow Americans: my conscience or my freedom," Davis said, reading from a hand-written statement outside the courthouse where she works.
The first couple to come to the office for a license on Monday was Shannon Wampler and Carmen Collins. They stood at the counter for a half-hour, dozens of reporters at their back and microphones bobbing above their heads.
Deputy clerk Brian Mason — now sitting behind a sign that reads "marriage license deputy" — gave them a license despite his boss's objections and after a delay because of a printer problem. Protesters in the back heckled Mason, but he ignored them, initialed the license and shook the couple's hands.
One protester waved a Bible. Elizabeth Johnson from Ohio screamed, "Don't let Kim's five days in jail be in vain."
Marriage equality supporters chanted, "Love has won."
Davis sat in her office with the door closed and the blinds drawn. She became a hero to many conservative Christians when she stopped issuing the licenses after the Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage. Her profile reached a fever pitch when she was jailed, as protesters, presidential candidates and news crews from across the county descended on the small town of Morehead.
Davis said in her statement that marriage licenses would now say they were issued "pursuant to federal court order."
The governor, the attorney general and the county attorney have said the licenses are valid. Davis and her attorneys claim otherwise.
"I don't want to have this conflict. I don't want to be in the spotlight. And I certainly don't want to be a whipping post," Davis said. "I am no hero. I'm just a person that's been transformed by the grace of God, who wants to work, be with my family. I just want to serve my neighbors quietly without violating my conscience."
The issue has drawn some of the most fervent Christian activists from across the country. Their trucks are parked up and down the street, bearing signs that read "sodomy ruins nations" and "repent."
One truck, with a North Carolina license plate, has a poster-sized photo of an aborted fetus on the side. Others, from Iowa and Colorado, feature photos of two men kissing with doomsday warnings about the sin of homosexuality.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning held Davis in contempt and ordered her to jail Sept. 3 when she continued to refuse to issue the licenses. In her absence, her deputies issued at least seven licenses to gay couples and altered the forms to exclude Davis' name.
Mason, 38, said that he spoke with Davis only briefly Monday. He's worked for Davis for a year and a half, and his background is in retail, he said.
"It's a little crazy," he said of the several dozen video cameras trained on him. "But I try not to let it bother me." Mason declined to comment on his personal opinion on gay marriage, or whether he's issuing the licenses only because of the court order.
In her statement, Davis said: "I love my deputy clerks and I hate that they have been caught in the middle of any of this. If any of them feel that they must issue an authorized license to avoid being thrown in jail, I understand their tough choice and I will take no action against them."


Awana Club at Prentiss Church of God is now under way. The club is for kids from 2 years old through the 5th grade and meets on Wednesdays evenings; Free meal for children at 6 and Awana Clubs starts at 6:30. The mission of Awana is to help "reach kids, equip leaders and change the world for God." For more information, email awana@prentisschurch.com or call (828)369-3885. The church is located at 59 Church Hill Lane.
Turning Home from Sylva will perform at Coweeta Baptist Church on Sunday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m. The church is located at 780 Coweeta Chruch Rd.
Spiritual Light Center on Sunday, Jan. 27, 11 a.m. Rev. Dr. Katherine R.B. Greysen will speak on "Outreach/Reaching Out – Healing Ourselves/Healing Others. "The church is located at 80 Heritage Hollow Dr., behind the Gazebo Restaurant in Heritage Hollow.
"The Marksmen Gospel Quartet" will perform at Grace Baptist Church on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 am. The church is located at 143 Setser Branch Road, Franklin. For more information, call (828)369-2435.
Balsam Ridge Baptist Church will hold a gospel singing on Sunday, Feb. 3, featuring Soul Vision from Hendersonville beginning at 11 a.m. The church is located at 464 Balsam Ridge Road, in Waynesville.
Baha'i Community of Macon County: Weekly devotions and discussions in Franklin, open to members of all religions or no religion. Bring a quote, poem, prayer or song if you'd like to share. Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. This month's topic is, How can we uplift our spirits on gloomy days? For more information and directions, call (302)383-6835.
Memorial United Methodist Church regular Sunday services are held at 10:55 a.m. each Sunday, and Sunday School at 9:45 am. Everyone is welcome to attend. The church is located at 4668 Old Murphy Rd., just off 64 West. For more information, call (828)369-5834 or visit our website at: www.memorialmethodistchurch.org.
Son Rise Ministries is a Non-denominational, Full-gospel, Christian Fellowship that meets Friday evenings at 7p.m., Men's Bible Study is Monday night at 7 p.m., Ladies Bible Study is Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call (828)369-2465.
Memorial United Methodist Church Anonymous Call-in Prayer Line. If you need prayer, call (828)369-0707. Leave a message with your prayer request, and the church will be happy to pray for you or whoever you request prayers for. You may also leave a request for a call back if you need one.
Baha'i Community of Macon County Weekly Devotions and Discussions in Franklin are held on Thursday, 7:30 p.m. The devotions are open to members of all religions or no religion. Bring a quote, poem, prayer or song if you'd like to share. This month's topic is, How can we create peace in an atmosphere of divisiveness and conflict? For more information, call (302)383-6835 National Baha'i website: www.bahai.us.
Olive Hill Church services are Sunday School, 10 a.m.; Sunday Worship Service, 11 a.m.; Sunday Night Service, 6 p.m.; Wednesday Bible Study, 6 p.m. Each 4th Sunday Night from June through September, the church hosts a Gospel Singing. Everyone is welcome. The church is located at 2389 Olive Hill Rd Franklin.
Prentiss Church of God Sunday services include Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.; Worship at 10:30 a.m. On Wednesday, pre-service prayer begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by praise and worship at 7 p.m. Pastor Kevin Chapman invites the community to attend. The church is located at 59 Church Hill Lane, off Addington Bridge Road. Phone: (828)369-3885.
Franklin Church of the Nazarene Service times are Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. Praise and worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday night prayer service 6 p.m. The church is located at 266 Belle Dowdle Rd. in Franklin.
Morrison Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Service is held at 9:30 a.m. The church is located off 441S.; take the first right after the visitors center onto Morrison Church Rd.; go 1/4 mile to the church.
Franklin Seventh Day Adventist Church Services are, Saturday Sabbath school 9:30 a.m., Saturday services 11:30 a.m., Wednesday prayer meetings 6:30 p.m. The church is located at 71 Brindle Rd., Franklin. Pastor is Glenn Marshall. For more information, call (828)524-5493.
Iotla Baptist Church services are Sunday School at 10 a.m., followed by worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday and Wednesday evening supper 5:30 p.m., services at 6:15 p.m. The church is located at 1537 Iotla Church Road. Pastor is Brandon Breedlove. For more information, call the church office at (828)524-7167.
Grace Baptist Church Sunday School is at 10 a.m.; Sunday morning worship service at 11 a.m.; Sunday evening at 6 p.m., and Wednesday evening prayer meeting at 7 p.m. Pastor is Frank Rodriguez. The church is located at 143 Setser Branch Rd.
Bethesda Baptist Church Sunday morning service 10:30 a.m., Sunday evening 5 p.m. Direction are North Jones Creek Rd. to Giles Holler Rd., then turn left. For more information, call (828)524-2454.
Ridge Crest Baptist Church services are held on Sunday School begins at 10 a.m., Sunday morning worship service at 11 a.m., Sunday evening worship service 6 p.m. Listen live on WNCC 104.1 FM Radio. Wednesday evening Bible study 6:30 p.m. The church is located on 441N., at 206 Ridgecrest Baptist Church Rd. Rev. Guy Duvall, pastor (828)369-6252.
Community Bible Church of Sky Valley service times are 9 a.m. Sunday morning and small Revisit group meetings Tuesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. The church is located at 696 Sky Valley Way #11, Sky Valley, Ga. Phone (706)746-3144. Gary Hewins, pastor.
Mulberry United Methodist Church's Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. A Prayer/Healing Service followed by Bible Study is on Wednesdays at 12 noon. The Church is located at 155 Mulberry Rd., Otto. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Rev. Sherron Geiger at (828) 369-8890.
Newman Chapel Weekly Services are Sunday School 10 a.m., Sunday service 11 a.m., Sunday night 6 p.m. and Wednesday night 7 p.m. The pastor is Rick Potts. The church is located on Mulberry Rd. in Otto.
Emmanuel Baptist Church Service times are Sunday School 10 a.m., Sunday morning service 11 a.m., Sunday night service 6 p.m., Wednesday night pray meeting 7 p.m. The church is located at 129 Emmanuel Rd. For more information, contact (828)524-3214.
House of Hope Church of God service times are Sunday School 10 a.m., Sunday Morning Service 10:30 a.m., Sunday evening services first and second Sundays are 6 p.m., third Sunday youth service 6:30 p.m. no fourth Sunday services. Bible school classes Wednesday 7 p.m. The church is located at 1111 Tessentee Rd. in Franklin. For more information, contact Pastor Greg Bartram (828)524-5361.


Since if the tastiest Indian cuisine I have tasted outside of India!
Food was refreshingly good. The dessert was amazing. I thought I won't find a great Indian restaurant in MA as compared to NJ, but this place proved it wrong. The space is big and the buffet spread was nice. Staff was attentive and courteous. No complaints.
Great food. Authentic indian taste. Lunch buffets are better than the dinner ones.
We are giving this a 5 star based on the food and selection of verity. But we have some important questions for management. I would like to hear from the manager or owner of the restaurant. Thank you.
Great food and service. My husband is a vegan and this place offers a lot of options for Vegan. They were able to adjust some dishes for his diet. We have gone back and will be back. This is our new favorite place.
Friendly staff, decent food and reasonable prices. We went for a buffet lunch on a weekend. We didn't have any waits but the place seemed almost full so people might have to wait when they come for lunch. The staff was really friendly and the buffet spread was really good for a vegetarian. I would probably stay away from some of the super oily dishes but overall I would rate it as worth it.
I've had great experiences here. The menu has good options for dinner. I'm not a vegetarian but the friend I once brought was a vegan and she had plenty of choices too. The lunch buffet is good also. The service is quick and friendly too. I highly recommend it!
I have been going to Priya for ten years now at their location in Hartford CT, and I haven't had a bad experience. This location is no different. Excellent food with fresh ingredients, catering very well to vegetarians. Their buffet is reasonably priced and has a wide array of food for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Everything is made in house down to the condiments, including the best lemon pickle I have ever had. The staff and atmosphere are stellar, with always friendly service.


text:
Q: How to use existing weights (in ndarray format) for tf.layers.dense in python?

I want to use existing matrix in ndarray format as initial weight to create a fully connected layer by using tensorflow.layers.dense. I am not sure how to do that. can anyone help? ideally I want to do following:
weight = np.array([1,2,3],[1,2,3]) # as example
fully_connected = tf.layers.dense(input, hidden_unit, initializer = weight)

But I am not sure if possible I can directly do that.

A: You need to specify a custom kernel initializer. The docs for tf.layers.dense do not do much to explain this, but show that you have the option at least. You can use:
init = np.array([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]])
x = tf.placeholder(tf.float32, shape=[1, 2])
fc = tf.layers.dense(x, 3, kernel_initializer=tf.constant_initializer(init, dtype=tf.float32))

And to make sure it works:
with tf.Session() as sess:
    for v in vars:
        print('{}\n{}'.format(v.name, sess.run(v)))

# dense_7/kernel:0
# [[ 1.  2.  3.]
#  [ 4.  5.  6.]]
# dense_7/bias:0
# [ 0.  0.  0.]

The docs for tf.constant_initializer.
Note that you have to provide an input tensor to tf.layers.dense that specifies your input shape, thus x in the above, and you have to provide a second argument that tells it the dimensionality of your output; the 3 in the above. The shape of x and the dimensionality of your output will depend on your problem and what shape your weight matrix needs to take.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Evan Mactavish
A few days into my trip I found myself sitting in a salon in Brazzaville waiting to be given a haircut. It was then that Nabir, a Lebanese man there to pass his day with his friend, learned that I would be traveling to Pointe Noire. He summoned a camera phone picture with excitement and said, "When I show you this, you'll want to go today." He held out his phone: a sunset over the beach illuminated two huge oil platforms in the distance. Looks like heaven.
To most it would. Oil signals opportunity, wealth, and business in Congo. The derivative businesses associated with oil are immense: subcontractors upon subcontractors reap the benefits of the oil industry by charging extraordinary fees. However, it's not just subcontractors that swoon over available jobs. The amount of money that goes in and out of Pointe Noire is not lost on the local population.
I met a Scottish guy, Dave, who traveled to Pointe Noire for a series of safety trainings for Congolese workers installing power lines. Discussions about local salaries are always a subject of interest for me, especially when there's Ngok involved. Luckily, it's a popular discussion among those who want the outside traveler to know the reality of the people. Dave and his host were able to explain that in Congo, the average day laborer earns 150,000 XAF, or just about $334, per month. In comparison, a taxi driver expects to make anywhere between 12,000 to 15,000 XAF ($26-33) per day. The taxi driver then stands to make anywhere from 300,000 – 375,000 XAF (or roughly $667-834) per month based on working an average of 25 days each month.
And then there's the lonely man factor. The term "night club" varies in meaning from country to country. In Congo, a nightclub is essentially a hostess bar. Pointe Noire has several options, ranging from Casino, a smoke filled gambling all with slot machines and eager girls looking for a complementary drink, to Master, a bar filled with girls that are not shy to give a price for extra-marital services. 25,000 XAF for a goodnight lay, just over $55. It's no wonder than that it's a thriving industry and a means to capitalize off the international presence in town.
Comment February 21, 2010 March 23, 2010 evanmactavish
A Small Visual of Brazzaville
Internet connections here in West Africa have slowed my pace of visual contributions to the blog. Below are two images of Brazzaville that I've managed to bring to the web.
This picture was taken on a Sunday when activity around town was at a minimum. To the left was a pile of burning trash as it sloped into a creek below that ran through town. The booth is used for the Congolese lottery.
Here's a general view of the main street that runs from end to end of Brazzaville. Again, it was taken on a Sunday. Normally, the road would be filled with green taxis, all beeping their horns in hope of some business.
I took some video when I took a bribed tour of the Catholic University of Brazzaville, but it will have to wait until I get back to 1st world internet speeds.
As the plane descends on approach into Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, rolling hills covered in tightly cropped grass spreads out below. Roads are non-existent, only footpaths of dirt link sporadic plots crops fields, erratic in size and length. There are no crops, just that these plots are slightly darker green than the surrounding hills. There are no trees.
The plane shifts to the right and the wide Congo River comes into view. Suddenly, a massive city appears underneath just seconds before touchdown. The runway is one strip of asphalt, so when the plane comes to a halt, it turns back down the runway to make an arrival on the strip. The airport is small. Everything is white tile highlighted by off-white paint. The tile runs from the floors and consumes the construction of the immigration desk. I feel like I'm in a public bathroom that would be found under the supervision of a Parks and Recreation department somewhere. Spray paint graffiti on the windows lingers. The bathrooms have no light, and as the door closes behind me, it becomes pitch dark. I realize why it smells so terrible.
Finding a cab outside, we make the ten minute drive through the city and to the hotel. Congo has undergone two civil wars since their independence, the last of which ended in 2005 after 21 years of fighting. The road to the airport feels like it is a byproduct of this time: the road emerges through dense jungle-like foliage as if the forrest around has started to reclaim the city.
In Untapped: The Scramble for Africa's Oil, John Ghazvinian explains the reasons for the considerable disparity of poverty in a country which is within the top five producers of oil exports in Africa. While the book was published in 2007, at that time, oil exports accounted for 90% of the entire export revenue for the Republic of Congo. When so reliant on such a volatile world petroleum market for state revenue, it is no wonder why the country appears stagnant and in a process of being consumed by the jungle. Moreover, as Ghazvinian explains, in country that has discovered "the curse of oil," the government becomes reliant on the income generated by oil to fund the state, so much so that other manufacturing and agriculture markets become underfunded and even ignored. The state starts giving jobs out to satisfy a labor force void of opportunities in other fields. As a result, as it is highly apparent in Congo, the economy becomes stagnant and lives hand to mouth off the oil fields.
None of this though is evident in Brazzaville from the surface. There are no oil workers and as a matter of fact, very few foreigners comparatively with other state capitols. Then there are the Lebanese. Every store, restaurant, hair salon or airline service counter is either under the direct supervision or owned entirely by a Lebanese man. There are some 100,000 Lebanese that live in Congo, a small number as a man explains, who sits waiting for a haircut with me. He himself has just arrived to the country from Lebanon to invest his entire savings into trucking: dump trucks and long distance haulers to cater to building projects within the country. The influence of this small middle-eastern country on the continent is very apparent to the Congolese. Their distaste for the Lebanese is palpable.
Oil, however, would be a strong and present issue once I arrived to Pointe Noire. More on that later. As I regain internet, I will follow up with more writing about Brazzaville.
1 Comment February 11, 2010 March 23, 2010 evanmactavish
South Island, New Zealand
Boarding the ferry from Wellington, Doug and I departed on a three hour boat ride across Cook Strait to the northern town of Picton on the South Island. The strait is said to be one of the roughest pieces of open ocean in the world. Even on the giant car-carrier Interislander ferry, the 10 foot swells felt immense. Once in Picton, our plan was to drive the West Coast of the South Island through to Franz Josef Glacier and south to the Fiordland National Park. The West Coast is what one of our cab drivers dubbed the "wild west of New Zealand"; with mountains that fall away to pure blue ocean below and nature more expansive than any comparable civilization, it's apparent that the island is home to only 25% of the entire New Zealand population. The island itself is just over 58,000 square miles but has only 1 million people. In comparison, the North Island is home to about 3.3 million people but a landmass of just 44,000 square miles.
We picked up our "touring car," as our rental agent praised the 1990's vintage Toyota. She claimed she had driven one down the coast and it was a dream. No wonder the rental price seemed such a bargain when we booked it. With neither of us having experience driving a car on the left side of the road and from the right side of the car, Doug took first shift behind the wheel. We clipped a curb as we drove out of town which snapped the zip tie holding the hubcap to the car and not soon after, we saw the thing fly off to the left and tumble down the road. It wasn't two minutes before Doug says, "I'm getting pulled over."
The exchange went somewhat like the following:
Police officer: How you doing then? You were going about 85 kilometers per hour …
Doug: Yeah, I'm sorry, I just picked the car up and just getting used to it.
Police officer: Oh, you're from the States then? Well, you're doing a great job. Fantastic really. But at 85 you're impeding the flow of traffic. You see these turn-outs here? Well, just stay to your left so people can pass you.
Doug: What's the speed limit?
Police officer: Well it's 100. So you were just going a bit slow. You're doing fantastic though.
Me: So officer, if I may clarify, you pulled us over because he was going too slow?
Police officer: Well yup, you were just impeding traffic a bit. Do you guys have a map? Can I get you a map?
548 kilometers is 340 miles. In that distance to Franz Josef, we passed through rolling mountains lined with wineries and out onto the West Coast.
West Coast, South Island, NZ
We arrived late at night into Franz and booked a heli hike up to the Franz Josef Glacier. The glacier is 7.5 miles long and is fed by a 7.7 square mile snowfield high above the Tasman Sea. The reason why Franz Glacier (and neighboring Fox Glacier) is so remarkable is that it ends just under 1000 feet from the sea amid a temperate rainforest. This also means that temperatures on the glacier are incredibly warm. The ten minute ride up the glacier was spectacular. We buzzed the top of a mountain peak and the cliff fell away to the glacier far below. With crampons on, we tramped along the ice, navigated around cravasses and through ice caves.
Franz Josef Glacier
We moved south and through the Southern Alps and up Haast Pass. The drive from Franz Josef through to Queenstown is remarkable. At every corner, Doug and I would yell "Ohhhhhhh!" as we approached another unbelievable vista. We made a stop in Wanaka and determined it would be a fine place to live in the future but continued through to Manapouri, our resting place for the night. Manapouri is a small little town, fit with a motel and situated on the bank of Lake Manapouri, and is the gateway to Doubtful Sound in the Fiordlands.
Doubtful Sound, Fiordland National Park
We boarded a tour of Doubtful Sound. Doubtful Sound is actually a fjord, a deep cut into the rock produced by a glacier that forms a body of water and typically much deeper than the surrounding sea. Leaving the dock in the morning and across Lake Manapouri, the fog lifted off the water and cleared into blue. The view from the top of the pass overlooking Doubtful Sound is remarkable. We sat among dolphins swimming by, watched Fiordland Crested Penguins jump to the water, and seals basking in the sun. A fitting end to a trip that still leaves me speechless.
Below is a map of our entire trip. I have yet to figure out how to get the road map to transfer to wordpress, but imagine a line through the points.
A: Picton
B: Franz Josef
C: Manapouri
D: Queenstown
To learn about the Franz Josef heli hike, click here to visit the Helicopter Line.
To visit the tour companies for our trip to Doubtful Sound and more information, check out Real Journeys.
Below is more photo evidence of the South Island.
… and what was Doug's reaction to all of this? (And mine, but off-camera) …
Loving Life and a Missing Hubcap
1 Comment November 11, 2009 March 23, 2010 evanmactavish
Welcome to Wellington Mate!
It seems a cliché to title a post ending in "mate!" but New Zealanders do utilize that word above any other.
But let's start from the beginning. Traveling with my co-worker Doug, we checked in to our connecting Qantas flight from LA to Auckland. Coming off a seven hour, American Airlines operated cramped flight from Boston, neither of us were looking forward to a thirteen hour connection to Auckland. "You've been upgraded to business due to an oversold flight," the Qantas agent says with a smile. "Really pays to have your frequent flyer number in the system. You'll be on the top deck, Sir." It was like winning the lotto. The MegaMillions kind of lotto. I returned to my seat in the departure lounge with the relative equivalent of a Wonka Bar Golden Ticket and a big fat smile.
How can you not sit in a seat that reclines into a flat bed without trying all the buttons to see what they do? Doug and I played like children as the rest of the true business folk, in suit (of both the skirt variety or standard) and tie boarded. Resting comfortably, at one point the video system has to be reset for some reason and the stewardess apologizes for the inconvenience. She quotes that it should take half an hour to reset, but ultimately it takes an hour. She returns to profusely apologize that the reset took longer than she anticipated. Doug looks to me as she walks away and says, "I'm nobody."
Wellington is a very small capital city. Propped in a cove at the southern tip of the North Island, it's home to just around 300,000 people. What I just called small is a huge city to those who live there. It sits among rolling hills with houses scattered around the hills and the bay. To walk the majority of the downtown area would take under twenty minutes. Wellington has great bars, restaurants, cafes, walking malls and a fantastic national museum, the Te Papa which houses Maori art. And everyone is incredibly friendly. The best way to explain New Zealanders would be this: picture your closest friend, your nicest friend. Your friend is always positive and never has a bad thing to say. The friend always is excited to see you and lives as though today is the best day that's ever been – and it genuinely is. Not one person I encountered was dismissive or annoyed. Everyone wants to chat and tell a story. Even cab drivers. (One cab driver, as we counted, said "thank you" roughly over a dozen times during a ride that lasted five minutes.) Another man who worked in a wine shop told us how he had lived in Bahrain for three or so years and when we asked how it was, he remarked that it was fantastic, and what a rich a wonderful experience of culture it had been. If you can be positive about living in Bahrain for years without making any negative claim, it's a testament to a general outlook on life that was incredible.
A city view of Wellington
New Zealand is not a tip culture. When the check comes in a restaurant, you pay at the cashier just as you would if you bought a soda at a supermarket. A taxi, the driver will give you exact change and won't grimace as he says, "oh, sorry, I have no change." He'll walk to every nearby store to insure you get proper change. It is a fantastic relief. No one looks to profit at the expense of another and service is always given with a smile and not via a tip jar that says, "Tips = to insure prompt service."
But if life was good in Wellington, it was about to get better. Doug and I finished work and planned a whirlwind tour to the South Island: a trip that would cover nearly 1200 kilometers or 750 miles, span mountain ranges and limitless, breathtaking scenery.
1 Comment November 1, 2009 March 23, 2010 evanmactavish
Weekend in Zanzibar
Leaving the mess of traffic behind in Dar es Salaam, I hopped a ferry to Zanzibar to enjoy the weekend. The plan: to sit on a white-sand beach and read. As luck would have it, I sat next to a couple on the ferry over to the island, of which one was a BC '03 grad. Realizing we had many friends in common, it was nice sharing such a small-world experience and talking about the comforts of home. Departing the ferry terminal, I took a few hours to roam Stonetown. The town, which historically sat as the seat of its own sultanate, is entertaining to wander. Stonetown has winding, narrow paths, like those of the Old City in Damascus. While Dar es Salaam did not strike me as dominantly Muslim, Stonetown immediately did. When I was in Oman, I was told of the historical tie to Africa through the vast empire the Omanis built centuries ago, but it becomes more apparent in Zanzibar. Men wear Omani-styled dishdashas. Women can be found in headscarves and burkas. I was cautious to take pictures but roamed the narrow alleys as the town hummed with activity: kids played and ran after one another and men and women mingled as they visited small shops or gathered on street corners to chat.
I arrived on the island with no plan. I had booked a hotel on the northern most tip of the island in Nungwi, a hour-and-a-half drive from Stonetown. With no concept of how to get there, I learned a taxi would be $60 one way. Ouch. I found a shared van headed north and paid 10,000 (about $9). Whatever mental images I had associating Zanzibar and Bermuda quickly disappeared. Zanzibar is incredibly poor. The middle of the island looks like the most remote places of Africa, with dirt houses, half-clothed kids running around, and donkey carts pulling farming equipment. Nungwi, I expected would be a developed, beach town. Instead, dirt roads led off the main road and we bounced through a poor town until we arrived at the gates to the hotel. The beachfront is a network of interlocking hostels, bungalows, and wealthy hotels that form the town.
I passed the next two days exactly as I had anticipated: reading and lying on a beach. However, I met a group of Irish med students, which provided a much-needed outlet for entertainment. They had traveled for the past six weeks after completing projects working in hospitals all over Africa. A group at subsequently climbed Kilimanjaro, another traveled in northern Mozambique and experienced the most interesting boarder crossing into Tanzania I've ever heard of, and the other went gorilla trekking in Rwanda. We stayed up all night on Saturday as I introduced Kings to the group, thus providing hours of drinking entertainment.
On Monday morning, faced with the necessity of return to work, I opted to return to the mainland by air. Again, assuming the conveniences of modernity, I figured a flight could easily be booked with a credit card. False. Cash only I was told. Having 39,400 Shillings on me, I was told the flight costs 68,000 and I would pay the guy at the check-in counter. Looking into my wallet, I was about to convert some Rwandan francs into Shillings to cover the gap when I fortuitously found $20 crammed in a pocket. Graced by a good exchange rate, I got 27,600 for the twenty bucks. 67,000 total. Shit, I was short by 1,000. Without a choice, I walked up to the check-in counter, confidently said, "67,000…all set" and the handed the cash over. The guy just nodded in agreement and handed me my boarding pass. I noticed there was a 5000 airport departure fee and turned back to the guy and said, "oh, and that includes the departure fee right?"
I headed to the gate and climbed aboard a 10-seater prop plane to Dar. The plane tossed and jumped as it sputtered over crystal-clear blue turquoise waters, and twenty minutes later, we touched down on the mainland. My island adventure was over and back into the traffic jams of the city I went.
1 Comment September 16, 2009 March 23, 2010 evanmactavish
Safari in the Masai Mara
Billed as a three-hour drive from Nairobi, my safari bus set out on what would be a six-hour ordeal to Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara is the northern continuation of the Serengeti: the Serengeti plains span the northern region of Tanzania and continue into the Masai Mara on the Kenya side of the border. These two reserve areas are famous for an event called the Great Migration, where herds flow north from the Serengeti into Masai Mara during July and August in search of greener pastures. It's pure luck of the draw that I would be in the country during this annual event.
Just outside the city, climbing high through the hills, the road descended and opened to the vast landscape of the Rift Valley. We passed towns and villages, and without fail, excited kids ran to the roadside to wave us on. We arrived in camp around 3:30pm: a small campground of sorts filled with permanent safari tents. These modest digs would be home for two days and a few breathtakingly cold showers. But as the purpose of the weekend was to see animals, I would spend very little time under the mosquito net covering the bed. With no delay, our bus set out on the first of three game drives at 4pm.
Game drives, as I would soon learn, are filled with other safari vehicles from numerous other tour companies. This was far from my mental expectation that a safari was done in solitude. Far from it actually. Each vehicle roams the vast plains alone, with other vans in the distance, looking for unique encounters. However, once one guide finds something of interest, the call goes out on the radio for the other guides to satisfy their "game-hungry" guests. We would troll the fields for hours then suddenly the bus would jerk into action and we'd be flying toward a scene littered with safari trucks surrounding an event of interest. It became humorous to actually watch the on-lookers watching the scene unfold as telephoto lenses and expressions of awe added to all the commotion. (I'm not exempt from this either…my zoom lens was transfixed as well.)
The first game drive, just two hours, was completely successful as far as I'm concerned. We passed gazelles, zebras, antelope, and wildebeest. Of the "big five" (the lion, African buffalo, spotted leopard, elephant and the black rhino), we managed to see three. We watched as a sleeping lion slept on a hill, and in waking from sleep, regrouped with the rest of the pride and started to play. An elephant wandered by our bus just a half hour later and we came upon a group of buffalo meandering through tall grass. Not bad.
But if the first day was good, the second would prove better. Just after starting out at 7:30am, on Saturday, our bus jerked into action. We raced to a scene that made National Geographic come to life: a pride of lions had just caught, and was in the process of devouring a zebra. With the zebra still kicking, two male and six female lions feasted. I was amazed to have the opportunity to watch such an event unfold. We moved on and found a spotted leopard resting in a tree. While leafs veiled the cat for the most part, four of the big five were checked off the list. We roamed to the south and to the boarder where the Serengeti plains lingered beyond. We gazed upon hippos lounging in the Mara River and spotted a crocodile upstream. Turning back, we drove alongside more elephants meandering and finally got the first look at giraffes up close. Giraffes may be my favorite of the whole bunch. They cruised a long for a while, but out of nowhere, one set off across the fields to join another group. This was the first time I've seen a giraffe run, and I have to say, it's one of the most awkward things I've ever seen. Unlike any other four-legged animals that walk with diagonally opposite steps, a giraffes' gait falls with both legs on the same side of it's body striking the ground simultaneously. When a giraffe runs, it looks like a gangly uncoordinated spastic horse trying to gallop: the knees kick out in front, it jerks its head up as a horse does when it shies, and launches forward at incredible speed. I think I could get hours of entertainment out of watching giraffes.
That evening, I visited a Masai village. The women and men sang and the men explained the traditions of the Masai people. Widely known as fierce warriors, the Masai are actually more peaceful farmers than anything. They are semi-nomadic as their villages move every nine years due to termite infestation. Their homes are built out of sticks and hardened cow manure. The family lives in one of the three rooms, while the other two are reserved for the goats and the family cow. The cow provides milk and blood, which provides a central part of the Masai diet. The goats roam around the pitch-black house at will where the only light comes from a small window above and a timid fire. It's smoky and the air is thick. In the middle of the compound is a sick of sorts, which is used in the ceremonious circumcision ritual. Performed when the young man becomes 14 years old, I was told, "you must come strong and not cry. If you cry, you have shamed your family."
The next morning we rose early before the sunrise. We watched the sun come up over the plains as wildebeest grazed beneath. Having been eluded by the rhino and a clear view of the leopard the day before, we were quickly off as the radio sprang to life. There, in the open, was a spotted leopard standing over a half-eaten impala. Watching until it dragged its prey away from the herds of safari trucks, we drove until we found ourselves between two groups of lions. As they came together, our car sat alone as the lions passed just feet from the vehicle. A male lion looks much more intimidating from three feet away than it does behind zoo bars.
I've always romanticized about the idea of an African safari. The idea has always sounded so distant and unattainable. But I leave Kenya knowing that this seemingly unlikely event of a safari became reality. It's a reality marked by remarkably memorable events and fortune.
Comment September 3, 2009 March 23, 2010 evanmactavish


text:
package main;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Date;
import java.util.List;

import javax.xml.bind.JAXBException;

import org.jxmapviewer.viewer.GeoPosition;

import tcx.TcxAdapter;
import track.Track;
import track.TrackPoint;

import com.garmin.xmlschemas.trainingcenterdatabase.v2.TrainingCenterDatabaseT;
import common.GeoUtils;

/**
 * TODO Type description
 *
 * @author Martin Steiger
 */
public class GapInserter {

    private static final File folder = new File(System.getProperty("user.home")
            + File.separator + "trackviewer");

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, JAXBException {
        FileInputStream fis1 = new FileInputStream(new File(folder, "2012-06-26-16-51-03_fix.tcx"));
        FileInputStream fis2 = new FileInputStream(new File(folder, "2012-06-10-12-25-41_fix.tcx"));

        TcxAdapter ta = new TcxAdapter();

        TrainingCenterDatabaseT file1 = ta.unmarshallObject(fis1);
        TrainingCenterDatabaseT file2 = ta.unmarshallObject(fis2);

        List<Track> tracks1 = ta.convertToTracks(file1);
        List<Track> tracks2 = ta.convertToTracks(file2);

        Track track1 = tracks1.get(0);
        Track track2 = tracks2.get(0);

        TrackComputer.repairTrackData(track1);
        TrackComputer.repairTrackData(track2);

        insertGaps(track1, track2);

//        [230..630] - 11094m
//        Closest index in other track: 240 -- 530
//        [970..986] - 710m
//        Closest index in other track: 879 -- 898
//        --------------------------------------------
//        [243..527] - 7537m
//        Closest index in other track: 227 -- 632
//        [881..896] - 642m
//        Closest index in other track: 968 -- 986
    }

    public static void insertGaps(Track track1, Track track2) {
        double sepVal = 70;

        List<Range<Integer>> gaps1 = findGaps(track1, track2, sepVal);
        List<Range<Integer>> gaps2 = findGaps(track2, track1, sepVal);

    //    removeOverlaps(track1, track2, gaps1, gaps2);
        System.out.println("--------------------------------------------");

        asdf(gaps1, track1, track2);

        System.out.println("--------------------------------------------");

        asdf(gaps2, track2, track1);
    }

    private static void asdf(List<Range<Integer>> gaps1, Track track1, Track track2) {

        List<TrackPoint> pts1 = track1.getPoints();
        List<TrackPoint> pts2 = track2.getPoints();

        for (Range<Integer> range : gaps1) {
            double gapDist = pts1.get(range.getEnd()).getDistance()
                    - pts1.get(range.getStart()).getDistance();
            long gapTime = pts2.get(range.getEnd()).getTime().getTime()
                    - pts2.get(range.getStart()).getTime().getTime();

            System.out.println("[" + range.getStart() + ".." + range.getEnd() + "] - " + (int)gapDist + "m");

            int otherStartIdx = findClosestPointIndex(pts1.get(range.getStart()).getPos(), track2.getRoute());
            int otherEndIdx = findClosestPointIndex(pts1.get(range.getEnd()).getPos(), track2.getRoute());

            System.out.println("Closest index in other track: " + otherStartIdx + " -- " + otherEndIdx);

            double overlapDist = pts2.get(otherEndIdx).getDistance()
                    - pts2.get(otherStartIdx).getDistance();
            long overlapTime = pts2.get(otherEndIdx).getTime().getTime()
                    - pts2.get(otherStartIdx).getTime().getTime();

            double totalDistGap = gapDist - overlapDist;
            long totalTimeGap = gapTime - overlapTime;

            if (totalDistGap > 0 && totalTimeGap > 0) {
                System.out.println("Inserting gap of " + (int)totalDistGap + "m at " + otherStartIdx);
                insertGap(track2.getPoints(), otherStartIdx, totalDistGap, totalTimeGap);
            }
        }

    }
//
//    private static void removeOverlaps(Track track1, Track track2, List<Range<Integer>> gaps1, List<Range<Integer>> gaps2)
//    {
//        List<TrackPoint> pts1 = track1.getPoints();
//        List<TrackPoint> pts2 = track2.getPoints();
//
//        for (Range<Integer> range1 : gaps1)
//        {
//            int otherStartIdx = findClosestPointIndex(pts1.get(range1.getStart()).getPos(), track2.getRoute());
//    //        int otherEndIdx = findPointAtDistance(track2.getPoints(), track2.getPoints().get(otherStartIdx).getDistance() + gap);
//            int otherEndIdx = findClosestPointIndex(pts1.get(range1.getEnd()).getPos(), track2.getRoute());
//
//            Range range1t = new Range<Integer>(otherStartIdx, otherEndIdx);
//
//            reduceOverlap(pts2, range1t, gaps2);
//        }
//    }
//
//    private static double reduceOverlap(List<TrackPoint> points, Range<Integer> other, List<Range<Integer>> gaps)
//    {
//        double total = 0;
//        int start = other.getStart();
//        int end = other.getEnd();
//
//        for (Range<Integer> range : gaps)
//        {
//            int rs = range.getStart();
//            int re = range.getEnd();
//
//            if ((rs > start && rs < end) &&        // range start is inside
//                (re > start && re < end))        // range end is inside
//            {
//                double dist = points.get(re).getDistance() - points.get(rs).getDistance();
//
//                System.out.println("Fully inside: " + rs +  "-" + re);
//            }
//            else
//            if (rs > start && rs < end)        // range start is inside
//            {
//                double dist = points.get(end).getDistance() - points.get(rs).getDistance();
//                total += dist;
//
//                System.out.println("Start inside: " + rs +  "-" + re);
//            }
//            else
//            if (re > start && re < end)        // range end is inside
//            {
//                double dist = points.get(start).getDistance() - points.get(rs).getDistance();
//                total += dist;
//
//                System.out.println("End inside: " + rs +  "-" + re);
//            }
//        }
//
//        return total;
//    }
//
//    private static int findPointAtDistance(List<TrackPoint> points, double dist)
//    {
//        for (int i = 0; i < points.size(); i++)
//        {
//            TrackPoint pt = points.get(i);
//
//            if (pt.getDistance() > dist)
//                return i;
//        }
//
//        return -1;
//    }

    private static void insertGap(List<TrackPoint> points, int idx, double dist, long time) {
        for (int i = idx; i < points.size(); i++) {
            TrackPoint pt = points.get(i);
            pt.setDistance(pt.getDistance() + dist);
            pt.setTime(new Date(pt.getTime().getTime() + time));
        }
    }

    private static List<Range<Integer>> findGaps(Track track1, Track track2, double sepVal) {
        List<GeoPos> geoList1 = new ArrayList<>();
        List<GeoPos> geoList2 = new ArrayList<>();

        for (GeoPosition pos : track1.getRoute()) {
            geoList1.add(new GeoPos(pos.getLatitude(), pos.getLongitude()));
        }

        for (GeoPosition pos : track2.getRoute()) {
            geoList2.add(new GeoPos(pos.getLatitude(), pos.getLongitude()));
        }

        return findGapsGeo(geoList1, geoList2, sepVal);
    }

    private static List<Range<Integer>> findGapsGeo(List<GeoPos> track1, List<GeoPos> track2, double sepVal) {
        List<Range<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<>();

        boolean inside = false;

        int start = -1;
        int end = -1;

        for (int i = 0; i < track1.size(); i++) {
            GeoPos pos1 = track1.get(i);

            double dist = GeoPos.distanceToPolyMtrs(track2, pos1);

//            System.out.println(dist);
            if (dist > sepVal) {
                if (!inside) {
                    inside = true;
                    start = i;
                }
            } else if (inside) {
                inside = false;
                end = i;

                result.add(new Range<>(start, end));
            }
        }

        return result;
    }

    private static int findClosestPointIndex(GeoPosition pos1, List<GeoPosition> route) {
        double minVal = Double.MAX_VALUE;
        int minInd = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

        for (int i = 0; i < route.size(); i++) {
            double dist = GeoUtils.computeDistance(pos1, route.get(i));

            if (dist < minVal) {
                minVal = dist;
                minInd = i;
            }
        }

        return minInd;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Coloring Pages ~ Free Printable Leaf Coloring Pages Fall Leaves F free printable leaf coloring pages. Free Printable Autumn Color Pages. Free Printable Leaf Coloring Sheets. Free Printable Autumn Colouring Pages.


text:
Polycarpa madagascariensis is een zakpijpensoort uit de familie van de Styelidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1912 door Michaelsen.

Styelidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Most people agree that the Internet of Things (known in the industry as IoT) has already become transformative in how we live our daily lives. While IoT may have been a sci-fi vision just a couple of decades ago, it is a fast evolving reality of today and the future. As economists to sociologists frantically study the current and anticipated effects of IoT, Internet of Things companies like Mesh Systems are busy working with organizations around the world to help them incorporate this new technology approach into their business models. IoT has far reaching implications on every aspect of a business including product development, communications, customer service, maintenance, inventory management, and much more.
What is the Internet of Things (IoT) exactly?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that refers to transforming devices or machines (such as lights, signs, parking gates or even pacemakers) from ordinary to "smart" through the use of sensors, actuators and data communication technologies embedded into the physical objects themselves. IoT enables these smart devices to be "virtually" tracked, monitored and controlled across a wireless network (or the Internet). There are three fundamental functions of Internet of Things applications: capturing data from the device, transmitting that information across a data network and taking action based on the intelligence collected. From the simple to the sophisticated, there is unlimited potential for Internet of Things applications. Mesh Systems helps its customers bring their IoT applications to market.
What is the potential for Internet of Things (IoT) Applications?
The May 2013 McKinsey Institute report on the Internet of Things (IoT) quantifies the impact of this truly "disruptive technology" at the mass global economic level. Currently, there are more than nine billion devices connected to the Internet (worldwide) – primarily in the form of computers and smart phones. According to the study, IoT experts estimate this number will skyrocket from 50 billion devices to one trillion in the next decade as ordinary devices become smart networked. Mesh Systems, which makes Internet of Things (IoT) possible for OEMs, has been gearing up for widespread adoption and unprecedented market demand for IoT that will drive new applications for M2M wireless sensor network technology across every conceivable industry sector, from shipping, transportation and public safety to retail, healthcare and foodservice. The McKinsey Institute report projects the global economic impact of the Internet of Things could reach as high as $2.7 trillion to $6.2 trillion annually by 2025.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is just the starting point for next generation technology. While IoT quite literally brings static devices to life by connecting them to the global Internet and giving them the intelligence to send and receive data; it is an extremely linear process. IoT connects each device, individually, to the Internet – but it does not interconnect and integrate multiple devices controlled by the same operator. The networking of IoT is a much more complex process called machine-to-machine, or M2M technology. This is the futuristic frontier Mesh Systems has been at the forefront developing since 2005.
Mesh Systems is one of the few companies, globally, that has successfully developed technology solutions that integrate into the Internet of Things. The company partners with global OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to help them create and place networked smart devices in remote field locations that the OEMs can control, manage and gather data from using M2M technology. Mesh Systems developed MeshVista®, an M2M platform-as-a-service (PaaS) to quickly design, develop and deploy custom M2M solutions for its customers.
What types of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are being developed?
MeshVista® enables OEMs to grow exponentially, gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, increase operational efficiencies, enhance their end-users' experience and eliminate geographic barriers that typically slow expansion. Mesh Systems has extensive expertise in developing, deploying and managing remote wireless sensor networks that integrate M2M and IoT technology. This involves sophisticated network design, the production of embedded smart devices, multi-system integration, solid partnerships with worldwide cellular connectivity providers and robust knowledge of data analytics. Mesh Systems has experience across a wide range of industries where there is growing market demand for Internet of Things applications including industrial, commercial, retail, foodservice, energy, oil and gas, environmental, government, military, transportation, agriculture, tank and pipeline management, waste water management, metered and sub-metered utilities, healthcare, life science and assisted living.
If you're interested in learning more about IoT technology or your company has new IoT applications it would like to develop, please contact the M2M experts at Mesh Systems to schedule a consultation.


A healthy Goan breakfast made with moong beans, coconut and jaggery.
1. In a pressure cooker add the moong beans with double amount of water.
2. Add in the fresh whole green chilies. Close the lid and pressure cook till you hear 3 whistles.
3. Wait for approximately 10 minutes till the pressure is released to open the lid. Then add in the coconut, jaggery and salt.
4. Mix everything well together. Moong usli is ready to be served.


You asked, we answered: Introducing our new intimates collection, featuring very comfy, very pretty bras and undies that are based off of our best-selling swim fits. Now, the details. We crafted our hipster silhouette in super-soft cotton Modal and gave it a pretty lace trim. It's perfect if you're looking for a little more coverage.