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Jinxed (Paperback)
By Amy McCulloch
Available for Immediate Order
15 on hand, as of Jan 18 2:03pm
(JUVEF-)
The Golden Compass meets the digital age When a coding star enters an elite technology academy, she discovers a world of competition, intrigue, and family secrets--plus a robotic companion that isn't what it seems.
Lacey Chu is a girl who codes. She has always dreamed of working as an engineer for MONCHA, the biggest tech firm in the world and the company behind the "baku"--a customizable "pet" with all the capabilities of a smartphone. But when Lacey is rejected by the elite academy that promises that future, she's crushed.
One night, Lacey comes across the broken form of a highly advanced baku. After she repairs it, the cat-shaped baku she calls Jinx opens its eyes and somehow gets her into her dream school. But Jinx is different than any other baku she's ever seen...He seems real.
As Lacey settles into life at school, competing with the best students in a battle of the bakus that tests her abilities, she learns that Jinx is part of a dangerous secret. Can Lacey hold on to Jinx and her dreams for the future?
Jinxed is the perfect...middle grade book for girls who are passionate about codingsummer reading chapter book for kids 9-12science fiction book for kids 9-12engineer academy bookrobot book for kids
"With a sharp eye toward the rising awareness of device addiction and a keen sense of wonder, McCulloch's tale is a feast for the imagination that celebrates women in STEM fields."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
"I raced through this book...a little bit Golden Compass and all adventure."--Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Animals - Cats
Hardcover (January 7th, 2020): $16.99


Skoda Octavia 2.0T (2004) Front Strut Bar, Sway Bar and other Ultra Racing Bars, pictures, descriptions, tests, movies.
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Martin Bellander, a doctoral candidate in psychology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, has conducted a controversial experiment in which he concludes that blue is the most popular color in today's art world.
Without going into detail about his scientific process, Bellander used the BBC search browser to save and date thousands of artworks created between 1800 and the current day. He then categorized them according to medium (oil, acrylic, tempera or other/mixed media) and then analyzed the images. The images were separated by hue, saturation and value. Bellander then turned to math to create viable data and added the values of the paintings for that year together. Because analyzing every pixel of each painting would take quite some time and create discrepancies in the data, 100 random pixels were chosen. Then the missing paintings were counted and excluded from those that had already been analyzed. Final calculations were performed and then the data was plotted.
The result of his foray into scientific art analysis is a wide, sweeping statement that seems to generalize the last 200 years of art making. Naysayers have claimed that the technology is inaccurate and Bellander's process is unreliable. I, however, believe there is some validity in his conclusion. There is a logical scientific process to Bellander's research. Yes, the experiment has to be replicated multiple times for his conclusions to be accepted in the art and science industries, but there is more than just scientific evidence here. The beauty of art is the fact that it is rooted in observation. The change in colors can be visually charted by the human eye. Even if modern technology had not been used at all, it is entirely possible that the change in color could have been noticed by viewers.
Bellander presents four possible theories for the 20th century color shift in his blog. The first is that blue has just recently been recognized as a word for color. This idea is fascinating in that it examines the effects history and culture have had on the development of color theory and art. Bellander establishes, however, that it is the least likely explanation for the increasingly cooler paintings of the last two centuries. Another theory lies in the flaws of the technology he used. Dark or black colors often have blue in them or are tinted blue, which potentially caused the machine to read colors incorrectly. This is, again, unlikely. It is also possible that the colors have changed throughout time. Resins used in the paint will cause shifts in color as a painting ages. Lastly, blue was historically a very expensive pigment. As time passed and blue paint became cheaper and more accessible, it became more widely used.
Bellander has also stated that there is a lot more research to be done and that, apart from orange, all of the colors increased in usage at least a little bit during this time period. I tend to think that the significant shift in blue is a combination of these factors, but the experiment itself raises other interesting questions.
After seeing and acknowledging this shift in tone in paintings since the 1800s, I can't help but wonder if it is now a self-perpetuating process. How set in stone are the tendencies toward bluer shades in our society? The last two centuries — those that Bellander studied — are extremely important in the history of art. The art that was produced is wide-ranging and radical. There was everything from neoclassicism to impressionism to futurism to cubism. Are artists today subconsciously using cooler colors because of their most recent and significant predecessors? Is the art world stuck in a rut of blue-based paintings until it reaches such a point that there is a backlash and warmer colors emerge once again?
Regardless of the conclusions drawn and questions raised from this experiment, I applaud Bellander for adding something new to the conversations in the art world surrounding the evolution of color usage and theory. His conclusions are almost too broad and catch the eye of many people who are not at all interested in art, but that could be a good thing. He is prompting experts to further his research and attracting newer, wider audiences with issues that extend to language, culture and history.


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Kim Cope
Head of Product, Dapper Labs
Kim Cope is the Head of Product at Dapper Labs and one of the founding members of CryptoKitties. Kim is Dapper's in-house expert on everything blockchain, internally developing new products and market strategies for consumer-facing products and infrastructure tooling. She currently leads a team of dedicated product managers, engineers, designers, and marketers – all working to bring the first billion people to the blockchain.
Kim is a tireless advocate for smart contract-based solutions and has developed best practices to serve the intersection of decentralized technologies, user experience, and interoperability. Her dedication and expertise has made her an in-demand speaker at numerous global conferences, including the recent Global Bank of International Settlements in Switzerland, where she educated leaders from the world's top 60 banks on the benefits of decentralization. She also speaks regularly to private audiences on topics including blockchain, smart contracts, innovation, and product strategy.
Prior to joining Axiom Zen, Dapper Labs' parent company, Kim was an analyst at renowned financial services firm Raymond James, where she worked on various cash management solutions and analyzed stocks for Fortune 500 clients. She then moved on to a product role with a fintech startup before founding Startup Skool, an international edtech company focused on educating youth on entrepreneurship, design thinking, and technology. Startup Skool has worked with young learners in North America, Central America, and Asia, amongst other regions.
Kim has also been a fellow at Vancouver's The Next Big Thing Foundation, a recipient of Spin Master's Innovators of the Year award, a TedX speaker, and included in The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business' Top 25 Alumni to Watch cohort.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Problem Solved: Must I pay $425 to redeposit my…
Problem Solved: Must I pay $425 to redeposit my United Airlines miles?
Plus: Might be time to reconsider your loyalty to a company that tried to take advantage of you.
By Christopher Elliott, King Features Syndicate, Inc. |
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. | UPDATED: April 26, 2020 at 8:35 a.m.
Q: My wife, Setsuko, was scheduled to attend a conference in Hiroshima, Japan, in May. She had booked a ticket from San Francisco to Osaka with her United Airlines miles, so she did not have to pay anything at all.
Christopher Elliott
Due to the coronavirus, the conference was canceled. When she called United to attempt to cancel her flight they stated they would cancel her flight and refund her miles but charge her $425, which they have charged her credit card.
Later, United sent us another email saying it will cancel flights for free. But United hasn't refunded the $425 mileage redeposit fee.
Maybe you can sort this out for her. Any help would be appreciated. I am a great fan of your column.
Regis Amann, Union City
A: Thank you. You're right, there are a lot of people in a similar situation. United Airlines is not making any friends with its coronavirus refund policies.
First, a little background. When coronavirus struck, airlines faced a tsunami of cancellations. Many of them did the right thing — they followed federal rules that required a full refund. But some didn't. United tightened some of its refund policies and, instead of offering full refunds, gave customers only a ticket credit.
At the outset of the pandemic, I began to receive so many questions about United's refund policies that I personally contacted the U.S. Department of Transportation. I forwarded some of the denied refund requests. DOT's refund requirements are clear: If an airline cancels a flight, you get your money back. A week later, DOT issued an enforcement action reminding airlines to give their passengers a full refund.
Now, I realize there are some folks out there who think we should give the airlines a break and allow them to keep our money. Offering vouchers would give airlines much-needed cash to continue operating. I agree that a voucher might be an option, but it should be your choice — not theirs. Airlines need to follow the rules.
Your assertion that you didn't have to pay for your award ticket on United is incorrect. You paid a lot for that ticket by giving United your loyalty over another, potentially cheaper airline, or by using an affinity credit card. But United's actions are absurd. How can a "free" ticket cost $425 when United cancels the flight?
That's not loyalty — it's a scam.
To answer your question, you should not have to pay a $425 fee to redeposit your miles, whether United cancels your flight or not. That's what we like to call a "junk" fee, and it's wrong, now more than ever.
You could have reached out to one of the United Airlines executive contacts I publish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. I list the names, numbers and email addresses for the people in charge. They need to hear from customers like you.
After I approached the DOT and it issued its enforcement action, United agreed to refund your wife's $425. It shouldn't have taken regulatory action to get that money back. I would reconsider your loyalty to United.
If you need help with a coronavirus-related refund, please contact me. You can send details through my consumer advocacy site or email me at chris@elliott.org.
Disney World to add Joe Biden animatronic to controversial Hall of Presidents
Californian who enthused Bali was queer-friendly is being deported for 'disseminating information disturbing to the public'
Yosemite closed because of wind damage
High winds cause Tahoe power outages, close 2 ski resorts
Wish We Were There: Readers share their travel dreams
Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers resolve their problems. Contact him at elliott.org/help or chris@elliott.org.
Lifestyle Columnists
Christopher Elliott, King Features Syndicate, Inc.


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Dowding & Churchill
The Dark Side of the Battle of Britain
Jack Dixon
* Dowding created RAF Fighter Command and led them through the Battle of Britain.
* Despite being responsible for victory, he was sacked shortly after.
* This book explains the conspiracy behind this injustice; who was responsible and why.
* Questions Churchill's role.
* A new and dramatic angle to the historic Battle of Britain
Not Yet Published. Available for Pre-Order
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh – later Lord – Dowding was one of the greatest Englishmen of the 20th century. He created Fighter Command with its unique early warning system (radar) from nothing in 1936 to the efficient defensive force it became in 1940. In consequence Fighter Command was the only arm that was properly prepared for battle when war was declared against Germany. Hugh Dowding led Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, and was victorious. The campaign, although a series of defensive engagements, was one of the decisive battles of Western Civilization.
The strategic importance of the Battle of Britain was recognized at the time, yet, the moment it was won Dowding was summarily relieved of his command and shuffled into retirement without recognition, reward or promotion. This book reveals that this was the result of a shabby conspiracy by fellow officers. The Air Ministry published a brief account of the Battle in March 1941 and in it there was no mention of Dowding. Churchill was furiously indignant. But in November 1940 he had acquiesced in Dowding's removal. Why? And what are the factors that led to Dowding's dismissal in the first place? In this thought-provoking and authoritative book Jack Dixon answers these questions and explains Dowding's true greatness
Jack Dixon is an author and historian.
Dowding & Churchill Reviews
Invasion 1982
Graham Bound
Air Battle for Malta
James Douglas
Victoria Crosses on the Western Front August 1914 - April 1915
Bourlon Wood
Nigel Cave, Jack Horsfall
By Hellship to Hiroshima
Bicycles, Bloomers and Great War Rationing Recipes
Vicky Straker
The Jihadist Threat
Paul Moorcraft
Guards Brigade in the Crimea
Michael Springman


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NFL ROUNDUP: Jets continue to win late; Bills season over; Giants destiny in their own hands
The Associated Press NEW YORK - These nerve-racking New York Jets sure have a flair for the dramatic lately. Maybe that deflating loss to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos nearly three weeks ago rubbed off a little. "We're a team that just wants to win and get in the playoffs and see what happens," coach Rex Ryan said Monday on a conference call. "Our goal is intact, even though it looked really bad a few weeks ago." Since allowing Tebow to march down the field 95 yards for a winning touchdown, New York has pulled out two victories in the fourth quarter. Last week, it was an impressive winning drive with just over a minute left against Buffalo. On Sunday, the Jets scored three touchdowns in the last 5 minutes to pull away from the Washington Redskins 34-19 and keep pace in the AFC playoff race. "We have a lot of games left," guard Matt Slauson said, "and we can still do this." But the Jets (7-5) are certainly living dangerously with these slow starts and frantic finishes. Then again, it's nothing new for quarterback Mark Sanchez, who has led New York to 10 fourth-quarter comebacks or overtime victories in less than three seasons. "Everybody believes in him and it's just a matter of time, a matter of do we have enough time for him to come back, because we think he's going to get it done," Ryan said. The Jets have several issues to improve on, such as improving their running game to help Sanchez and increasing their defensive pressure on opposing quarterbacks. But they're feeling pretty confident and, finally, somewhat consistent. The offense is suddenly humming with a few new wrinkles added - including a handful of wildcat plays Sunday - behind an offensive line that has allowed no sacks in two games, despite facing a Redskins pass rush that ranked among the league leaders. The defense has also been able to come up with some plays to close out games. If there's a glaring weakness the last few weeks, it's surprisingly the special teams unit, which has a league-high six fumbles on returns. "It hasn't always been perfect here," Ryan said. "Our first year here, we really struggled to make the playoffs, but we always believed that if we could get in there, we could do some damage. That's what we plan on doing this year." That's a far cry from the feeling around the team when the Jets trudged off the field in Denver and wondered how they let one slip away so badly. It was their second straight loss and they knew their playoff hopes were suddenly in serious doubt. "There was a point after the Denver game there where it seemed like the panic button had been pressed a little bit," Slauson said. "There were a couple days, and also the three-game losing stretch at the beginning (of the season), things weren't going the way we all expected them to go." Especially for a team whose coach had guaranteed a Super Bowl appearance after two straight trips to the AFC championship game. Five days after being in position to take over the AFC East, losses to New England and Denver had the season on the brink. "We know we're a better team than how we played in some of these games earlier this year," Ryan said, recalling his message to the team at the time. "But we also know what we have to get better and we have to work at it. You can't just assume it's going to happen. You have to hit the practice field with a purpose every day, and the same thing in meetings, or the same thing will happen to you." Nose tackle Sione Pouha thought that, to a man, the players took that to heart. "I would describe it more of an urgency to get things done," Pouha said. "Slaw talked about pressing the panic button. The more important part is how you react to pushing that button. Are you going to fold under pressure or get yourselves ready to perform?" The schedule might be New York's biggest ally with four games left against teams without winning records: Kansas City (5-7), at Philadelphia (4-8), against the Giants (6-6) and at Miami (4-8). The Jets say they need to win them all, especially since they're in a group of five teams going for two wild-card spots - and another loss and needing to rely on tiebreakers would likely leave New York out of the mix. "This team has plenty of confidence," Ryan said. "We don't lack for confidence, not one bit. We think we can beat any team in this league. Obviously, we've lost five games, so that's not always a fact, but we believe going into every single game that we're going to win. We're capable of beating anybody in this league. We just have to put it together." Bills surprising start dashed by 5-game skid ORCHARD PARK - So much for this season being any different for the Buffalo Bills, who find themselves once again on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention. After a surprising start, the Bills are in the midst of a perplexing five-game skid that's left quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick having difficulty coming to grips with how his team's fortunes have turned. Coming off a 23-17 loss to Tennessee, the Bills (5-7) are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a 12th straight season. After showing signs of being ready to contend for the AFC East title, Buffalo suddenly has its hands full in holding off Miami (4-8) from finishing last in the division. Buffalo hits the road for the fourth time in five weeks to face the San Diego Chargers on Giants NFC East title hopes still alive EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Despite losing four straight games and having a .500 record, the New York Giants control their playoff chances with four games left in the season. Making the situation most interesting is the Giants (6-6) don't have to run the table to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2008. All coach Tom Coughlin's team has to do is beat the Dallas Cowboys (7-5) twice and win one other game. That would leave the Giants at 9-7 and it would give them the NFC East title. "I think obviously you get late in the season and every game is important, every game is going to dictate whether you make the playoffs or not, so we know what is ahead of us," Eli Manning said Monday. "We know what we have to do right now. This is a huge game. It's not a situation where all the sudden you get stressed or you get worried about winning or losing. You get excited about these games. This is where you want to be. This is going to be fun and we have to look forward to it." New York opens the stretch run with a game at Dallas on Sunday night, followed by a home game against Washington, an 'away' game with the Jets and a final home game against Dallas on New Year's Day. The Giants have not won since beating New England 24-20 on Nov. 6. It gave New York a two-game lead in the division that's gone now. The Giants might have gained some momentum, though. They played an outstanding game against the undefeated Green Bay Packers (12-0) on Sunday, dropping a 38-35 decision on a last-second field goal by Mason Crosby. It was the closest call the Packers have had all season, and they needed Aaron Rodgers to hit three passes of 18 yards or more in the 58-second drive to win their 18th straight game. Coughlin said thinking about the game wasn't fun. But speaking to his team Monday, the 65-year-old coach already was looking ahead. "I talked to them about that because I think our goals are still in hand," Coughlin said. "Everything that we wanted to achieve at the very beginning of the season, having played 12 weeks, they're still there. This is obviously a big game in the division, in Dallas, for first place in the division." The Giants' offense looked a little more balanced with running back Ahmad Bradshaw back in the starting lineup. His cutback ability and toughness on each play seemed to motivate the team and helped set up the power rushing of backup Brandon Jacobs. Receiver Hakeem Nicks, who caught two touchdowns, said the running attack forced the Packers to bring a safety closer to the line of scrimmage and that allowed Manning to throw deep passes, including a 67-yarder to Travis Beckum for a score, a 51-yarder to Nicks, and a 42-yarder to Victor Cruz, who is closing in on the Giants' single-season record for yards receiving. "We're in a situation where we control our own destiny," Nicks said. "We know where we want to be and what we want to do. We just have to get the job done." Veteran defensive tackle Chris Canty smiled when asked about the stretch run. "I guess the playoffs have already started for us," Canty said. Notes: Safety Kenny Phillips was in the locker room with a brace on his sprained left knee. Coughlin said doctors are uncertain how long he will be out. ...OT Stacy Andrews is going to miss the rest of the season after being hospitalized on Saturday night with embolisms in both lungs. ...Bradshaw and LB Michael Boley were sore after seeing their first action in weeks. ...DE Osi Umenyiora is looking doubtful again this week with an ankle injury ...MLB Mark Herzlich, who was inactive Sunday, was still wearing a boot on his right foot Monday. Photo indicates refs missed call EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Game officials seemingly missed a call on an apparent first-quarter touchdown catch by New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard against the Green Bay Packers. The officials ruled that Ballard was out of bounds on the play and Giants coach Tom Coughlin challenged during the Giants' 38-35 loss to the undefeated Packers on Sunday . Referee Jeff Triplette reviewed the play and upheld the call on the field. Asked about losing two challenges in the game, Coughlin says Monday he felt sick about the first one because he had just seen a still photo of the play and Ballard had one knee down in the end zone, making it a touchdown. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said officials don't look at still photos when they review a play.


Chandigarh Tourism runs a hop on hop off bus that starts from Hotel Shivalikview at Sector 17 and runs to prominent sites like the Rose garden, Museum and Art gallery, Bougainvillea Garden, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. There are no restricted timings for the hop on hop off bus. It keeps plying through out the day. So you can spend as much time as you want in one attraction and then wait for the bus before proceeding to the next. It is a double decker bus and looked cool. I noticed this bus only when I was at the Museum and Art gallery. By then I was done with half a day hence it was a late information for me. It is a good idea to take the bus and then combine your own attractions that you want to visit too.
Rock garden also known as the Nek Chand's Rock Garden is a sculpture garden at Chandigarh. One man's vision to convert waste materials into a garden is something you need to visit and appreciate. Nek Chand started working on this garden secretly using the debris collected from the demolition site across Chandigarh as that was the time Chandigarh was being built. He started it at a gorge near the Sukhna lake which was actually a protected land and the garden was illegal. He kind of kept it as a secret of nearly 18years building stuff and artificial water bodies and figurines. That place is a marvel. Who would have thought that broken tiles or a comode and pipes from your bathroom can be made into a piece of art? It is astounding to see figurines made out of glass pieces, colored tiles, broken pottery, so creative!
The newer additions like the place with used clothes not so creative as what Nek Chand had done. It is a place that you will easily need 2 hours to spend. Quite possible to get lost in the maze of this garden too. I was like Alice in the Wonderland walking through tiny small door ways and entering into mythical gardens. It is so much fun. Every city should take inspiration from this Rock garden and channel their waste into beautiful piece of art.
By the time you are out of the garden it will be 11:00am. Head to the Tourist Facilitation Center at the Capitol Complex and book yourself for a tour of some of the famous architectural spots in Chandigarh like Capitol Complex, Open Hand Monument, etc for a 3:00pm slot. You cannot visit these buildings on your own! From there head to the Museum and Art Gallery.
Even if you think you are not a history buff and museums are boring, you have to go here. It is huge and a wealth of information and filled with awesome collection! The building itself was constructed by architect Le Corbusier, who designed and built Chandigarh. The museum has everything from history of Chandigarh to information on textile, images, sculptures from the past, history of India, antiques from pre historic and historic period, beautiful different style of paintings, collectives from the partition period. As I walk through the museum and when I see stunning sculptures but it reads, "the other half of the collection is in museum at Lahore as it was divided during the partition", felt really bad. Such wealth of information and we decided to break up our country! A prominent part of the museum has Gandhara Buddhist sculptures. If you read about the Gandhara kingdom, you will feel like packing your bags and going off on a tour to Pakistan. Majority of the kingdom was in the northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hence most of the artifacts excavated from the Gandhara period and Indus valley civilization have been split between India and Pakistan. The Gandharas were followers of Mahayana Buddhism and you can see their representation of Buddha will have an Indo Greek influence.
A Patua Scroll Painting in display. Patua scroll painting gets the name from patua community who are painters and story tellers. The stories are painted in a vertical scroll that run for meters, each scene bound by floral patterns that separate one from other. And as they move across villages telling stories, they unravel one scene after another by unscrolling it. This one in display was on a pillar that ran for two floors!
Hariti, a Buddhist Goddess. According to mythology, Hariti was a demon who would children and Buddha to teach her a lesson, hid one of her children. Grief stricken, she decided to not harm children and turns into a protector of children and subsequently people call her a Buddhist Goddess. This is a principle taught in Buddhism, like despise the sin not the sinner.
It will easily take 2 hours and if you do not keep tap of time you will land up spending 3 to 4 hours in this museum. Be out by 1 pm. Have a simple lunch. And then let's head to the Le Corbrusier Centre.
Once the office of work for Le Corbusier who was the architect of Chandigarh, is now a museum or rather stands as a tribute to it's creator. Please don't think two consecutive museums at a stretch, they are both different in many ways. Le Corbusier center talks of how Chandigarh came into existence, how a city is planned, the design templates of the famous buildings and a little bit of the French architect himself. It was here that I came to know that Chandigarh is named after Chandi Mandir, the temple dedicated to Chandi matha, Goddess Parvati. Chandi Mandir is however not within Chandigarh. I was told that it is about 15 kilometers away from the city inside an army camp that we do not have permission to visit to. There are many photos from the past on the city, on the architect, on politics of India, about Nehru's vision to build the city and much more. So when Punjab was split and its capital went away with the partition, Chandigarh became the capital of Punjab. Nehru had this vision to have a planned city and thus Chandigarh was born. We can see many letters going back and forth between the architect, the labor community and poilitcians of India to make this thing happen in spite of the differences. This centre also houses few furniture and other stuff used by Le Corbusier.
If you are not very keen to do Le Corbusier Centre, you can replace this with one of the many gardens like rose garden, cactus garden, terrace garden, Japanese garden, etc. Check if it is the right weather and season to visit that garden and you can spend sometime in the gardens too. I skipped all the gardens as it was too humid and definitely not that time of the year when roses would be in bloom.
Leave a little time before 3:00pm and reach the capitol complex by 3:00pm ready for your tour.
The symbol of Chandigarh that can be found all around Chandigarh and the first emblem designed by Le Corbusier. You can visit this monument only as part of the Capitol Complex tour. The tour covers High court building and museum, Open hand monument, Punjab assembly, Punjab & Haryana Civil secretariat. These buildings have architectural nuances that are nice to take a tour of and see. I was not part of this tour, I did not have this information and I missed all the tour timings for the day. There is one at 10am, 12pm and 3pm. Public entry is prohibited. This information was provided to me by the police security forces stationed at the Open Hand Monument. They still let me go take a photo of the monument after doing a little bit of inquiry and submitting my ID, bag, etc.
Open hand is a tall structure that pretty much looks like a flying bird. Erected on a concrete platform, it moves along with the speed of wind. This monument is highly guarded and it is best you come along with the Capitol complex tour.
You should be out by 5pm from this tour. Lets head for some breezy time at Sukhna Lake.
All these are just kilometers apart. Sukhna lake is a huge man made water body on the foothills of Shivalik hills. It is a reservoir and hats off to Le Corbusier who could foresee that the city will expand and the people will need water, let's build a huge reservoir. The place is ideal for sunrise and sunset. Sunsets opposite to the lake and not on the water body still it is a pleasant place to be. Many Chandigarh people can be seen walking around the lake as their daily exercise regime. There is boating option available, both pedal and a motor boat which takes you around the lake. The lake has few birds nesting and some ducks. With trees lining the lake, neat huge footpath to walk, a children area to play, a small food court to munch on, this is a place to wind up your day. You can walk around the lake till the end and watch the flora and fauna. Or just find your sweet spot, sit, munch on peanuts and watch people.
With that being 7:00pm let's head out for some shopping or window shopping and have dinner.
The popular hangout place of Chandigarh people is the Sector 17 Market. Plenty of high end shops lining the streets with lights gleaming away, cobbled footpath, a neat parking area and benches for people to sit, this place is just the feel of piece of Europe. There is some nitty critty shop or the other for you to buy a souvenir even if you cannot afford all the branded stuff. And who says no to window shopping!! Wind your day at the sector 17 market, and have some dinner at one of the many options available in this place.
And that my friends is how you can spend Chandigarh in a day. 🙂 It also has things like zoo and many many gardens, but these are my favorite picks. Happy traveling.
Chandigarh has an airport, so not a problem in reaching it through air. The airport is pretty outside the city but we don't have a hand in it. By rail, many trains ply from New Delhi which is about 5hour journey. So you can always fly to the capital and take a train from there too. By road, many volvo buses ply from Delhi, Amritsar, etc.
This is not a sponsored or promotional post that am recommending this stay but the hosts were very sweet so am recommending this AirBnb. A spacious bed room, kitchen and a spacious bathroom comes along with a big garden in the front. The property is in a good residential area with restaurants close by, parks to stroll and markets and shops nearby for your daily needs. The room has separate entrance. The host, Harmandar and his family were very friendly and made me feel home in a new city. Harmandar himself being a well traveled person, it was interesting and fun to catch up with all his travel stories.
Keep in mind that AirBnBs are not hotels. You should not expect room service, or party, or bring other guests and have fun. You will be sharing the house of another family and be their guest. So if you are one of those polite travelers who can mind their business, not demanding and polite then please check out this property.


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How many World Series have the Philadelphia Phillies won in the last 100 years?
Since the team was founded in 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies won two World Series (1980, 2008).
Q: How many World Series have the Philadelphia Phillies won in the last 100 years?
When was the last time the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series?
First and last in 1980The Philadelphia Phillies appeared in 6 World Series, losing in the years 1915, 1950, 1983, 1993, and winning the 1980 World Series for the first, and last time. the 2008 World Series is still in progress.The Phillies did win the world series in 2008.
What was the year and date the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series?
The Philadelphia Phillies appeared in 6 World Series, losing in the years 1915, 1950, 1983, 1993. After 77 years since the first World Series in 1903 The Phillies were the only team not to win a Title. The Phillies won Their first World Series title on October 21, 1980. This was also the lat time they won depending on the outcome of the 2008 World Series which is still in progress.
What were the Phillies World Series appearances?
The Philadelphia Phillies appeared in 6 World Series, losing in the years 1915, 1950, 1983, 1993, and winning the 1980 World Series for the first, and last time, depending on the outcome of the 2008 World Series.
When was the last time Philadelphia won the World Series?
The Philadelphia Phillies appeared in 6 World Series including this year 2008. After 77 years since the first World Series in 1903, The Phillies were the only team not to win a Title. The Phillies won Their first World Series title on October 21, 1980. This was also the lat time they won.
Who qualified for this years World Series?
The New York Yankees and The Philadelphia Phillies qualified for the 2009 World Series by winning the pennant in their league. The Yankees beat the Phillies 4 games to 2.
When did the Phillies win their first World Series?
First in 1980The Philadelphia Phillies appeared in 8 World Series, losing in the years 1915, 1950, 1983, 1993, and 2009. After 77 years since the first World Series in 1903, The Phillies were the only team not to win a Title. The Phillies won Their first World Series title on October 21, 1980. They won their second world series in 2008.
What movie and television projects has Garry Maddox been in?
Garry Maddox has: Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1976 National League Championship Series" in 1976. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1977 National League Championship Series" in 1977. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1978 National League Championship Series" in 1978. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1980 World Series" in 1980. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1980 National League Championship Series" in 1980. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1983 World Series" in 1983. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1983 National League Championship Series" in 1983. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Pinch Hitter in "1983 World Series" in 1983. Performed in "Centennial: Over 100 Years of Philadelphia Phillies Baseball" in 1986. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Broadcaster in "High Hopes: The Anatomy of a Winner" in 2003.
When did the phillies win the World Series?
The phillies won their first world series in game six against the kansas city Royals in 1980. More then twenty five years later the world series was brought back to philadelphia against the Tampa bay devil rays and won by the phillies in a whacky rainy series. Hopefully world series number three is coming up this week!
What movie and television projects has Bake McBride been in?
Bake McBride has: Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Center Fielder in "1977 National League Championship Series" in 1977. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Right Fielder in "1977 National League Championship Series" in 1977. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Right Fielder in "1978 National League Championship Series" in 1978. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Pinch Hitter in "1978 National League Championship Series" in 1978. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Right Fielder in "1980 National League Championship Series" in 1980. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Right Fielder in "1980 World Series" in 1980. Played himself in "Centennial: Over 100 Years of Philadelphia Phillies Baseball" in 1986.
How long did the Phillies have to wait to win a World Series?
The Phillies were founded in 1883 and won their first World Series in 1980. So they waited 97 Years.
What is only baseball team without a world series wn in over 100 years?
The record belongs to the Chicago Cubs, with 104 years from 1908 to present. Second place is the Philadelphia Phillies, with 97 years from 1883 to 1980.
What is the average age of a Philadelphia Phillies player?
As of the 2014 season, the average age of a Philadelphia Phillies player is 28.6 years old.
What years did the Kansas City Royals play in the World Series?
1980 - lost to the Philadelphia Phillies four games to two.1985 - defeated the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three.
What years did the philly's win the world series?
it's phillies not Philly's and they've won 1980, 2008
What years did Babe Ruth lose a World Series in Boston?
He didn't. Ruth was on the Red Sox for three World Series (1915, 1916, 1918) and the Red Sox won all three. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies in 1915, Brooklyn Robins in 1916, and Chicago Cubs in 1918.
What national league team after 98 years won a World Series in 1980?
cubs The Philadelphia Phillies, (National League team, established 1883) won the World Series in 1980, not the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs last won the series in 1908, so it's possible the previous responder transposed the digits in the question.
What movie and television projects has Ivan DeJesus been in?
Ivan DeJesus has: Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Shortstop in "1983 World Series" in 1983. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Shortstop in "1983 National League Championship Series" in 1983. Played Himself - St. Louis Cardinals Shortstop in "1985 World Series" in 1985. Played himself in "Cubs Forever: Celebrating 60 Years of WGN-TV and the Chicago Cubs" in 2008. Played himself in "Prime 9" in 2009.
What movie and television projects has Dallas Green been in?
Dallas Green has: Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Manager in "1980 World Series" in 1980. Played Himself - Phiadelphia Phillies Manager in "1980 World Series" in 1980. Played Himself - Philadelphia Phillies Manager in "1980 National League Championship Series" in 1980. Played Himself - NL Manager in "1981 MLB All-Star Game" in 1981. Played himself in "Centennial: Over 100 Years of Philadelphia Phillies Baseball" in 1986. Played Himself - New York Mets Manager in "Sunday Night Baseball" in 1990. Played himself in "ESPN SportsCentury" in 1999. Played himself in "Prime 9" in 2009. Performed in "Studio 42 with Bob Costas" in 2009.
Who is the oldest pitcher to start a World Series game?
Jack Quinn for the Philadelphia Athletics started in the 1929 World Series when he was 46 years, 103 days old.
Who was the oldest player in baseball?
Jamie Moyer on the Philadelphia Phillies. He is 47 years old.
What years have the Phillies won the World Series?
As of the 2009 season, the Phillies have won 2 World Series. The first was in 1980 when they defeated the Kansas City Royals, 4 games to 2 and the second was in 2008 when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 4 games to 1.
Which years did the Philadelphia Phillies win 100 games?
The Philadelphia Phillies won 100 or more games three times in their history.2011 (102)1977 (101)1976 (101)
Aside from the Cubs what Major league baseball playoff team has waited the longest to win a World Series?
The San Francisco Giants As of the 2007 season, the Cubs have waited 99 years to win a World Series. Their last World Series victory came in 1908. The longest streak before that belonged to the Philadelphia Phillies who entered the National League in 1883 and won their first and only World Series in 1980, a length of 97 years. Currently, after the Cubs, the longest World Series victory drought is the Cleveland Indians who last won the Series in 1948. After the Indians comes the Giants who last won a World Series in 1954.
What years did mike schmidt play for the Phillies?
Mike Schmidt played his entire 18 year career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972 - 1989.
What two teams did the blue jays beat during the two years of the World Series?
1992: The Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves, 4 games to 2. 1993: The Blue Jays defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 2.


text:
var assert = require('assert');
var math = require('../../../index');

describe('compile', function() {

  it('should compile an expression', function() {
    var code = math.compile('(5+3)/4');
    assert.ok(code instanceof Object);
    assert.ok(code.eval instanceof Function);
    assert.equal(code.eval(), 2);
  });

  it('should parse multiple expressions', function() {
    var codes = math.compile(['2+3', '4+5']);
    assert.ok(Array.isArray(codes));
    assert.equal(codes.length, 2);

    assert.equal(codes[0].eval(), 5);
    assert.equal(codes[1].eval(), 9);
  });

  it('should throw an error on wrong number of arguments', function() {
    assert.throws(function () {math.compile()}, /TypeError: Too few arguments/);
    assert.throws(function () {math.compile('2+3', '3+4')}, /TypeError: Too many arguments/);
  });

  it('should throw an error on wrong type of argument', function() {
    assert.throws(function () {math.compile(math.complex(2, 3))}, TypeError);
  });

  it('should LaTeX compile', function () {
    var expression = math.parse('compile(1)');
    assert.equal(expression.toTex(), '\\mathrm{compile}\\left(1\\right)');
  });

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Making research open access so that it can be read, re-used and built upon is seen as a key part of the research lifecycle by many funders.
Please read the relevant SGUL process workflow chart below to find out how to claim or request open access publication fees.
Open access (OA) is the practice of making scholarly material (e.g. journal articles, book chapters) freely available via the internet. Institutional and subject repositories are collections of open access research, and preserve the material on a long term basis. There are currently over 150 institutional or departmental repositories in the UK (Registry of Open Access Repositories); worldwide there are over 3200 (OpenDOAR).
In order to support open access at SGUL we have developed an institutional repository called SORA (St George's Online Research Archive). SORA is publicly accessible and holds details of publications written by SGUL researchers. Additionally, there are also open access subject repositories e.g. Europe PubMed Central (Europe PMC – formerly UK PubMed Central) where researchers can deposit their research outputs.
A useful overview of open access is provided by Peter Suber.
2. Am I obliged to publish my research as Open Access?
Many research funders will have policies regarding making published outputs available on an open access basis. If in any doubt, please check with your funder(s). For specific information on the COAF funders (including Wellcome Trust), and RCUK (UKRI) please see the links on the menu to the left.
3. Does St George's have a policy on Open Access?
St George's position on open access is contained in our Research Publications Policy.
This requires that published outputs be available on an Open Access basis in full text via SGUL's Institutional Repository, SORA , (where publishers' copyright agreements allow), and that St George's researchers should comply with the publication policies of research funders with regards to Open Access.
4. What are the benefits of Open Access?
Open access is a topic that those involved in Higher Education cannot ignore, due to changes in funders policies, the Finch report (2012) and the UKRI Open Access Policy for REF 2021.
Swan, Alma (2010) The Open Access citation advantage: Studies and results to date.
5. I'm the author, can't I make my work available online if I want to?
The rights you retain over your work can vary considerably. When you or your co-authors sign a Copyright Transfer Agreement or a Licence Form, this can mean many re-use rights are at the publisher's discretion. You can check what rights are granted back to you by checking these agreements, and there will usually be a copyright statement on the published version which should indicate who holds the copyright and what the permitted reuse rights are. If the work contains any third party copyright material, it is your responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holders to reproduce the work.
6. What is Green Open Access?
Green Open Access means making the author's version of a published research output available via an institutional or subject repository. Traditionally, there has been a distinction made by publishers with regards to which version of the publication can be deposited where no open access fee has been paid, and there may be embargo periods which restrict how soon after publication the author's version can be made available. For more information on the terms for versions of an article, please refer to point 9.
7. What is Gold Open Access?
Gold Open Access means that the published version of the research is made available on a freely accessible basis via the publisher's website.
This is most usually by the payment of an open access fee, often referred to as an APC (article processing charge).
The term 'Gold' may also be used to refer to journals that operate on a totally open access model, for example PLOS One, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience and Nucleic Acids Research. The funding models of such journals means that all content is accessible for free, publishing costs being met by for example author payments, institutional memberships.
8. What is hybrid Open Access?
This usually describes a journal which operates under a subscription based model, but also gives the option for articles to be published as open access upon payment of an APC.
9. I'm confused about the terms for different versions of the article, what do they mean?
Pre-print : a version of an article as submitted to a journal, but prior to peer review changes (preprints are not made available in SORA).
Post-print / authors accepted manuscript / authors final version : this is the version of your paper as accepted for publication, including any changes following peer review, but prior to publisher typesetting, formatting and copyright statements.
Publisher version : the article as published.
There is more information on pre and post prints on the SHERPA website.
10. What is a CC Licence?
If one of the CC licences is applied to your work this identifies exactly what re-use rights are allowed. There are different types of CC licences, some more restrictive than others. Your work should still be correctly cited and attributed to you.
The CC BY licence is the most open, and the CC BY-NC-ND is the most restrictive, and there are several other options inbetween.
Please be aware that your funder may require that you make publications arising from research they have funded, either in whole or in part, available under a specific type of CC licence. COAF and RCUK (UKRI) require CC-BY where their funds are used to pay for the open access publication charges.
11. What is an APC?
APC stands for Article Processing Charge. This is a payment made to the publisher prior to publication so that the published research output is freely available on an open access basis immediately on publication via the publisher's website.
12. How can I get funding to pay for an Open Access APC?
If your funder requires publication on an open access basis, they may ask that you incorporate anticipated open access publication costs into your grant application.
If you are considering submitting an article where a charge is due for open access, and there are no funds in your grant or your work is unfunded, please see the Claiming Open Access Fees from Institutional Fund form. To claim, please see the top of the page.
13. What if my research is funded by more than one funder?
If the article has arisen from research funded by more than one funder, where the block grant is available the cost of making the paper available on open access should be split proportionally.
14. I haven't submitted my research to a journal yet, how do I know the journal meets my funder's requirements?
Check via SHERPA/FACT. SHERPA/FACT is a tool to help researchers check if the journals in which they wish to publish comply with their funder's requirements for open access.
15. I've been approached to publish, how do I know the journal is trustworthy?
16. What is ORCiD and why is it useful?
ORCiD stands for the Open Researcher and Contributor ID. It's free to sign up for one, and can be used across different information systems to disambiguate researchers and their research outputs.
There is a list of some of the publishers, societies and system suppliers integrating use of ORCiDs into their systems. See the Wellcome Trust blog post to see why Wellcome Trust support adoption of this ID standard.
17. How can I find Open Access articles to use in my research?
Unpaywall: This is a browser extension for Firefox and Google Chrome. Once you've installed it, any time you find an article behind a paywall, you can click on the padlock icon on the right hand side of the screen and be taken straight to an open access version of the article, if there's one available.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories) aggregates open access research outputs from repositories and journals worldwide.
Dimensions is a system allowing search & discovery of articles. The free to access version also allows you to click through to OA articles by virtue of having Unpaywall data integrated into the Dimensions database.
Kopernio (previously Canary Haz) part of the same company that includes Web of Science & EndNote, helps you find open access versions of articles including those on pre-print servers. You will need to register to use. If you are at an institution which is set up to allow for searching of university subscribed content beyond open access content, signing up with your university email will allow for this enhanced searching facility.
OA DOI: If you know the DOI (digital object identifier) of the article you're looking for, you can paste it onto the end of this web address https://oadoi.org/ to find open access versions of the article.
Open Access Button: a similar tool to Unpaywall, this also allows you to search for an article directly from their website and request copies of articles from authors.
CRIS (Current Research Information System) Information.
SORA FAQs - Links to the FAQ page on the SORA website.
Repository Policies - Links to SGUL's institutional repository policies on the SORA website.


text:
12 crazy-cool toys that can teach your kid how to code
by Stephanie Jade Wong
Stephanie Jade Wong
https://twitter.com/stephaniejwong
Stephanie Jade's Most Recent Stories
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Lucélia Ribeiro/Flickr
Computer science classes may be popular on college campuses, but what if someone in elementary school wants to learn how to code? If children can learn foreign languages at a young age, they can learn coding language too.
Related story Meet Corinne Tan, American Girl's First Chinese American 'Girl of the Year' Doll
So what exactly is coding? It's basically computer language. When you code, you're telling a computer to create something. Code creates things such as websites and mobile apps.
According to Ocado research, more than 70 percent of kids would rather learn to program a robot than to speak a foreign language. Technology will keep advancing, and new gadgets will keep surfacing, which means coding isn't going away. With President Barack Obama's new initiative, Computer Science for All, students from K-12 will now have the tools they need to help them succeed in our digital-first world.
A kid can probably figure out how to play with a new toy or use a computer on their own, but they should also understand how a toy or computer is put together.
"Learning to code is more than just learning the language," Alex Klein, the CEO and co-founder of Kano, a DIY computer kit, tells SheKnows. "It's important to introduce kids to the fundamental concepts that power the devices they use every day."
Klein says that coding is not only preparing kids for their futures, but it empowers them to be creative and think about the things that exist in the world.
Coding is educational, so how do you get a kid to code? Check out these coding toys that are so fun your little one might just forget for a second that they're learning important skills.
kids tech guide
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Cate Blanchett Reveals Her Youngest Daughter's Hilarious Demands During Remote Learning: 'I Was a Dead Duck'
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Climbing and trekking up to 4000 m a.s.l., which is the altitude where the glaciers start. The southwest of Kyrgyzstan provides excellent opportunities for mountain climbing and trekking where it reaches the Pamir Alai.
Here remote valleys and soaring granite walls first attracted large numbers of Soviet climbers in the 1980s.
This type of mountain tourism also is possible in the accessible peaks near Bishkek, wooded valleys of southern Issyk Kul, as well as glaciers of the northern Tien Shan.
If properly managed the mountains of Kyrgyzstan have the potential to be one of the world's premier destination points for mountain adventure seekers.


text:
using namespace std;

namespace caffe {

template <typename Dtype>
void SigmoidCrossEntropyLossLayer<Dtype>::LayerSetUp(
    const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom, const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top) {
  LossLayer<Dtype>::LayerSetUp(bottom, top);
  sigmoid_bottom_vec_.clear();
  sigmoid_bottom_vec_.push_back(bottom[0]);
  sigmoid_top_vec_.clear();
  sigmoid_top_vec_.push_back(sigmoid_output_.get());
  sigmoid_layer_->SetUp(sigmoid_bottom_vec_, sigmoid_top_vec_);

  ///
  label_blob_.Reshape(
      bottom[0]->num(),
      bottom[0]->channels(),
      bottom[0]->height(),
      bottom[0]->width()
  );
}

template <typename Dtype>
void SigmoidCrossEntropyLossLayer<Dtype>::Reshape(
    const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom, const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top) {
  LossLayer<Dtype>::Reshape(bottom, top);

  ///
  label_blob_.Reshape(
      bottom[0]->num(),
      bottom[0]->channels(),
      bottom[0]->height(),
      bottom[0]->width()
  );
  const int sub_count1 = bottom[1]->count() / bottom[1]->num();
  const int sub_count2 = bottom[0]->count() / bottom[1]->num();
  if(sub_count1 < sub_count2) {
    const Dtype Ones = Dtype(1);
    const Dtype Zeros = Dtype(0);
    caffe_set(
        label_blob_.count(),
        Zeros,
        label_blob_.mutable_cpu_data()
    );
    // copy the label
    for(int n = 0; n < label_blob_.num(); n++) {
      const int offset1 = bottom[1]->offset(n);
      const int offset2 = label_blob_.offset(n);
      const int sub_count = bottom[1]->count() / bottom[1]->num();
      //
      for(int idx = 0; idx < sub_count; idx++) {
        const int label_idx = bottom[1]->cpu_data()[offset1 + idx];
        label_blob_.mutable_cpu_data()[offset2 + label_idx] = Ones;
      }
    }
  } else {
    CHECK_EQ(bottom[0]->count(), bottom[1]->count()) <<
        "SIGMOID_CROSS_ENTROPY_LOSS layer inputs must have the same count.";
    caffe_copy(label_blob_.count(), bottom[1]->cpu_data(), label_blob_.mutable_cpu_data());
  }
  // int ind = 0, ind2 = 0;
  // for(int n = 0; n < label_blob_.num(); n++) {
  //   for(int idx = 0; idx < bottom[1]->count() / bottom[1]->num(); idx++) {
  //     std::cout << " " << bottom[1]->cpu_data()[ind++];
  //   }
  //   std::cout << std::endl;
  //   for(int idx = 0; idx < label_blob_.count() / label_blob_.num(); idx++) {
  //     std::cout << " " << label_blob_.cpu_data()[ind2++];
  //   }
  //   std::cout << std::endl;
  // }
  // std::cout << std::endl;

  ///
  sigmoid_layer_->Reshape(sigmoid_bottom_vec_, sigmoid_top_vec_);
}

template <typename Dtype>
void SigmoidCrossEntropyLossLayer<Dtype>::Forward_cpu(
    const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom, const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top) {
  // The forward pass computes the sigmoid outputs.
  sigmoid_bottom_vec_[0] = bottom[0];
  sigmoid_layer_->Forward(sigmoid_bottom_vec_, sigmoid_top_vec_);
  // Compute the loss (negative log likelihood)
  const int count = bottom[0]->count();
  const int num = bottom[0]->num();
  // Stable version of loss computation from input data
  const Dtype* input_data = bottom[0]->cpu_data();

  // const Dtype* target = bottom[1]->cpu_data();
  const Dtype* target = label_blob_.cpu_data();

  Dtype loss = 0;
  for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
    loss -= input_data[i] * (target[i] - (input_data[i] >= 0)) -
        log(1 + exp(input_data[i] - 2 * input_data[i] * (input_data[i] >= 0)));
  }
  top[0]->mutable_cpu_data()[0] = loss / num;
}

template <typename Dtype>
void SigmoidCrossEntropyLossLayer<Dtype>::Backward_cpu(
    const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top, const vector<bool>& propagate_down,
    const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom) {
  if (propagate_down[1]) {
    LOG(FATAL) << this->type()
               << " Layer cannot backpropagate to label inputs.";
  }
  if (propagate_down[0]) {
    // First, compute the diff
    const int count = bottom[0]->count();
    const int num = bottom[0]->num();
    const Dtype* sigmoid_output_data = sigmoid_output_->cpu_data();

    // const Dtype* target = bottom[1]->cpu_data();
    const Dtype* target = label_blob_.cpu_data();

    Dtype* bottom_diff = bottom[0]->mutable_cpu_diff();
    caffe_sub(count, sigmoid_output_data, target, bottom_diff);
    // Scale down gradient
    const Dtype loss_weight = top[0]->cpu_diff()[0];
    caffe_scal(count, loss_weight / num, bottom_diff);
  }
}

#ifdef CPU_ONLY
STUB_GPU(SigmoidCrossEntropyLossLayer);
#endif

INSTANTIATE_CLASS(SigmoidCrossEntropyLossLayer);
REGISTER_LAYER_CLASS(SigmoidCrossEntropyLoss);

}  // namespace caffe


text:
A Portland 'Rite of Spring' momentous in its own right
Ken Selden and Agnieszka Laska join forces to celebrate the 'Rite'
June 17, 2013 // DANCE // Oregon ArtsWatch
By JAMUNA CHIARINI
On May 29, 1913, "The Rite of Spring," choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky to music composed by Igor Stravinsky, premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for The Ballets Russes, the ballet captured a pagan celebration of spring: A young virgin, The Chosen One, sacrifices herself to the God of Spring by dancing herself to death. There were only eight performances of the ballet in Paris and London, and it was not performed again until its careful reconstruction by The Joffrey Ballet in 1987.
""The Rite of Spring"" is notorious for the riots that supposedly occurred on its opening night in Paris. The night was a hot and humid, and tempers flared as the patrons at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées shared their opinions on the new production. Some reported that the theater broke out in pandemonium and the police were called; another report said a duel was scheduled because a lady was slighted; and another that the music was almost inaudible for the dancers onstage because of all the whistling, catcalling and shouting in the audience. Audiences up until this point were accustomed to a very different esthetic, what was seen and heard that night was considered by many to be ugly and noisy. Whatever the truth was, this was a turning point for both music and dance.
Henri Quittard, a music critic for Le Figaro, called the work "a laborious and puerile barbarity": "We are sorry to see an artist such as M. Stravinsky involve himself in this disconcerting adventure." But the view of Jacques Riviere, a French intellectual and editor of The New French Review, has prevailed: "The great innovation of le Sacre du Printemps is the absence of all "trimmings." Here is a work that is absolutely pure. Cold and harsh, if you will, but without any glaze to mar its inherent brilliance, without any artifices to rearrange or distort its contours. This is not a "work of art" with all the usual little contrivances. Nothing is blurred, nothing obscured by shadows; there is no veiling or poetic mellowing, no trace of esthetic effect. The work is presented whole and in its natural state; the parts are set before us completely raw, without anything that will aid in their digestion; everything is open, intact, clear, and coarse…"
Lauren Michelle Richmond, The Chosen One, in Agnieszka Laska's version of "The Rite of Spring" /Photo by Chris Leck
The June 7 centennial celebration of "The Rite of Spring" at Lincoln Hall with Ken Selden conducting the PSU orchestra and choreography by Agnieszka Laska was momentous. A live orchestra and a live dance performance on the same stage is rare in Portland, and the concert was met with great enthusiasm by the audience, a sold-out house and a standing ovation.****
In his program notes, Selden wrote about his vision for celebrating the centennial:
"When I first dreamed about producing ""The Rite of Spring"" at PSU, I was not sure it would be possible to bring it to life in the way I imagined. I had no specific ideas of what a new choreography would look like, but I felt strongly that rather than a dance show, there could be an intense and shattering human experience that would be expressed physically through the music. When I met Agnieszka for the first time last summer, I was deeply moved by her musical and artistic knowledge, and her powerful creative energy. It was immediately clear to me that she would be the ideal choreographer for out project. It has been an inspiration to see the development of her choreography, and to see the dancers transform into her visionary image."
In choreographing "The Rite of Spring," Laska "felt absolutely compelled to quote from Vaslav Nijinsky's original choreography, largely because of our common Polish, expatriate heritage."
In the program, Laska wrote:
"This Rite of Spring is "both contemporary and primitive. It is set … in an imaginary corner of the world where an undeveloped people struggle desperately, day in and day out, just to find enough water to survive. This urgent, relentless quest dominates their tribal life, to the point that human sacrifice is an integral act of faith in their survival ritual-in some ways analogous to certain rituals in the modern, developed world. Some things never change; no matter how convenient, nothing is free."
The lights dimmed and the curtains opened to reveal the PSU orchestra filling up what would have been the backstage area behind the stage at Lincoln Hall.
The music and the dancing began together as Sissy Dawson took center stage and danced an introspective, personal, sensual, quirky and eclectic solo. Turned-in feet (a quote from Nijinsky's version), weight shifted to one side, head and wrists rolling with the spine following—the solo was absolutely gorgeously fluid movement on a gorgeous dancer.
Then the chorus entered en masse, a group of female dancers from upstage left that included two very young dancers who looked to be about 9 or 10 years old. I was at first taken aback by the young dancers presence among the older ones, but they grew on me as I began to see the community they helped create onstage and felt the importance of representing the generations in the story.
There were large group dances, small group break-offs, duets, solos, lots of big sweeping movements mixed with smaller details in the hands and feet, foot stomping, body slapping, limb tickling and frenzied passionate partnering with four male dancers, one of whom was a guest dancer borrowed from the Contemporary Dance Production Center of Mexico.
The costumes were diaphanous, opaque tunics, dresses and shorts in muted blues and grays, all very natural and ethereal looking, designed by Rebecca Price and dyed with natural plant and mineral derived colorants. The costumes flattered the movement and didn't set the ballet in any particular time period, which was helpful in letting the imagination go where it wants instead of being directed somewhere specific.
Lauren Michelle Richmond as The Chosen One and the AL Dancers/Chris Leck
Lauren Michelle Richmond, "The Chosen One," began her transformation center stage as a cluster of attendants braided her long hair into multiple braids, tying the ends with cloth. They then painted her face white with red circles on her cheeks and tied a white strip of cloth around her forehead. The look was very reminiscent of Nijinsky's own Chosen One.
Once transformed, she began her dance sacrifice, starting with dance steps that quoted Nijinsky's original version. She begins by holding her right elbow cupped in her left hand, resting her head in the palm of her right hand. From there she begins a series of tucked knee jumps, jumping straight up in the air and reaching out desperately towards the audience, landing in a wide parallel lunge, leaning back and pleading up towards the heavens. Repeating these steps over and over, she dances furiously until the sky above her opened up and "rain" poured down upon her, drenching her as she died. Her friends, who have witnessed her rite and are bereaved, slowly leave the stage one by one, leaving only the two young girl laughing and playing in the newly found water as they ignore the dead woman lying close by. "Death so that life can continue," Laska said in the post-show talk.
The rain falls on
Lauren Michelle Richmond during "The Rite of Spring"/Chris Leck
I enjoyed the mix of Nijinsky's original choreography and Laska's own movement, a genuine way to pay homage to the history and the choreography of "The Rite of Spring." Laska's own choreography was dramatic and emotional, balanced between narrative and abstract, deeply engaging and captivating. At times I lost track of the story and lost myself completely in the swirling movement and energy onstage. The dancing was heartfelt and attacked the choreography with commitment and passion.
Laska has stretched her self choreographically and has gone to new heights in this amazing body of work. The only drawback is that the performance was for one night only.
The Cast:
The Chosen One-Lauren Michelle Richmond
Opening Solo—Sissy Dawson
The Sage—Heidi Nelson
The Women—Karissa Dean, Allie Fahsholz
The Young Maidens—Kelsey Adams, Sissy Dawson, Sharon Lane, Nikki Leoplod, Amelia Unsicker.
The Young Men—Niqi Cavanaugh, Gentry Fielder, Jonathan Garza, Jorge Ronzon
The Girls—Natalie Cheechov, Sophie Marcus
Jack Gabel says:
Bravo, jamuna – well written, detailed, keen observations
ALD tried for a 2nd performance at PSU but Lincoln Hall scheduling was maxed out – to any who missed it or could not get a ticket, ALD is performing 'The Rite…' at The Astoria Music Festival, Sat. June 29, 7:30 pm on the Liberty Theatre stage – details and ticketing here: http://astoriamusicfestival.org/
recommendation: make a weekend of it; among several other offerings (including a fun-for-kids show & free chamber music concert), take in 2 fully staged operas in one night, either Friday or Sunday:
Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center (PAC)
APPRENTICE ARTISTS OPERAS: Fully Staged with Chamber Orchestra
Juliana Gondek, Director of Apprentice Vocal Artist Program
Puccini — GIANNI SCHICCHI Sung in Italian with English Super Titles
. Noel Koran, Stage Director (General Director, Tacoma Opera)
. Olivia Tsui, Conductor (Los Angeles Opera Orchestra)
Purcell — DIDO AND AENEAS Sung in English
. Catherine Turocy, Stage Director (Director, New York Baroque Dance Company)
. Gwendolyn Toth, Conductor (Director, New York's ARTEK Ensemble)
. With dancers of
. The Astoria School of Ballet
. Margaret Wall, Director
Agnieszka Laska says:
Thanks so much Jamuna!
I appreciate your knowledge, deep analysis and historical context! Thanks so much for noting dancers commitment and passion!
And, yes besides Portland and Astoria there are planes of touring the work in Oregon and possibly washington in 2013/2014 season.
Details soon available at http://aldancers.org/
A.L. Adams says:
Rite on, Jamuna!
I also always appreciate Laska's versatile and visionary casting of my friend Niqi Cavanaugh, a pointe-trained trans dancer, in both male and female roles.
thanks Ann,
Niqi is one of a kind, with very strong persona and charismatic stage presence – really hard to overlook for choreographer 🙂
I always try to pull out the best and the most interesting from the performers – I'm so grateful for the fantastic group of dancers I'm privileged to work with! Kudos to all ALDancers and guest dancers!
yes, a fine review of a mighty fine evening.
i would also like to thank ken selden for his VERY effective programing of the first half – terrific works by cage & gruber set things up nicely for "the rite" to follow . . .
Huge thank you to Maestro Ken Selden and the PSU Orchestra for this amazing opportunity!


text:
Rampado proves to be clutch, again, for Niagara
Victoria Rampado became Niagara's all-time leading scorer. (Photo courtesy of Niagara Athletics)
By Amy Moritz|Published Thu, Mar 1, 2018 |Updated Thu, Mar 1, 2018
ALBANY – There was a collective nervousness. The team as a whole could feel the game slipping. Niagara didn't seem to have an answer for the latest push from Saint Peter's.
Victoria Rampado knew this could be the end of her collegiate career. So she wanted the ball in her hands. Even if it was 20 feet, 9 inches away when she does her best work at the rim.
The senior forward nailed a three-pointer late in the shot clock to quell a Saint Peter's run. Her ability to come up with the clutch play helped the Purple Eagles advance with a 60-48 win in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament in Times Union Center Thursday afternoon.
"I know that she loves to have the ball in her hands, a lot, but especially in the clutch moments when we really need her," Niagara coach Jada Pierce said. "She understood what the shot clock situation was and was not afraid to take the shot.
"When you have a first-team all-league player and you have those moments where you need a basket, that's the person you have to go to and she's ready to step up."
Rampado, who earned first-team All-MAAC honors after leading the league in scoring, finished Thursday's game with 15 points and nine rebounds. She extended her collegiate career, one that has thrown just about everything but the kitchen sink at the education major from Niagara Falls, Ont.
She came to Niagara under then-head coach Kendra Faustin and had an outstanding freshman campaign winning league rookie of the year honors.
Her sophomore season saw her playing time, scoring and rebounding averages increase. She also was part of one of the wackiest stories in Big 4 basketball lore, getting stuck on a bus for 30 hours as the Purple Eagles were caught in a massive snowstorm on their way home from a game in Pittsburgh.
Then, three games into her junior season, as Pierce had just taken over the program, she injured her shoulder and had to make a decision.
"I could play through it, but I knew I had the redshirt option," Rampado said. So she elected surgery. Two of them in fact.
It was an agonizing season, as it is for most players sidelined by injury. But in hindsight, that's the year Rampado thinks she needed to grow into her game. She found an opportunity to study basketball in a different way. That year away from playing added maturity to her game.
"Freshman and sophomore year, I wasn't mature," Rampado said. "I wasn't the player that I knew I could have been. But after my redshirt year, I knew who I'm supposed to be and how good I can be in this league. I think that's how I became more mature is just watching the game. It slowed down."
Back from injury, and sporting a brace, Rampado had a solid junior season, starting all 30 games, notching her 1,000th career point and earning second-team all-league honors. She could have walked away with her degree, but there was no chance that was happening. Not after losing to rival Canisius in overtime in the first round of the MAAC tournament.
"Last year losing to Canisius gave me a lot of motivation because I knew we weren't done yet," Rampado said. "We're trying to chase that ring."
But while chasing that ring, Rampado chased down another legacy. She became the program's all-time leading scorer, passing Eva Cunningham's record of 1,753 points set in the 2004-05 season. Oh, and her 41 points she dropped on Siena in a 73-68 win on Jan. 7 are the second-most points scored in a single game in program history.
"You don't do that by accident," Pierce said. "There's a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication and I think she's so unselfish with her teammates. It's not about her scoring her points. She wants her teammates to be successful as well."
Rampado's maturity takes center stage when talking about the scoring record and her role in Niagara's offense. She's learned to go with the flow of the game, even while battling fiercely in the low post.
"At the beginning of the year, I felt like I would force the matter and now I have the game come to me and get my teammates open," Rampado said. "Because the double team, triple team comes to me so the ball has to be reversed a few times for me to get open."
And there's the scoring record. Which, don't get her wrong, is pretty awesome and humbling. But there's still that MAAC championship ring to chase.
"I knew I was coming close to it," Rampado said. "I mean it's an amazing accomplishment for sure. I'm proud of it. But my aim is to get a MAAC Championship. To win it for our school."
That road continues Saturday when Niagara faces third-seeded Siena in the quarterfinals at noon in Times Union Center.
Amy Moritz – Amy Moritz, a native of Lockport, has covered colleges, baseball and hockey for The Buffalo News since 1999. An endurance athlete, she has completed an Ironman along with numerous marathons and half-marathons.