The second month of 2018 saw quite a bit go down – from the revival of Lakan Tamil cinema to the first Sinhala punk track being released. Here's a look back!
A very special version of that Crossculture classic 'Namooru' (produced by Deyo) that was part of ADK's documentary 155 got dropped as a release on itunes.
Iraj drops his second electronica single after 2013's 'Celebration' that had Markia & Janani on vocals. 'I Can't Keep Lying' features Mickey (USA) on vocals and is also worked on by Asher Postman and was a number 1 on The YES Home Grown Top 15.
Komaali Kings ushers in the revival of Tamil cinema after nearly 4 decades in the island.
Constellation releases 'The Gallows Of The Mind' : The first single off their much anticipated debut album that is yet to be released.
While this is one of the longer vlogs, there are some pretty funny moments like him trying to avoid "that girl" and why does the UK have such ugly furniture?


text:
https://queensawards.blog.gov.uk/2017/11/22/a-league-of-their-own-lancashire-based-linemark-uk-share-their-incredible-success-story/
A League of Their Own ! Lancashire based Linemark UK share their incredible success story.
Posted by: zakshahriar, Posted on: 22 November 2017 - Categories: Advice, International trade, Winners
Linemark UK
Based in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire, and starting our journey in 1997 with three people to 42 members of staff today, we manufacture paint and supply machines for the sports and amenity industry. Paint manufactured here at the foot of the Pennines is in use at some of the world's major stadiums, including: Old Trafford (Manchester United); The Etihad (Manchester City); Anfield (Liverpool); Wembley; Twickenham; Borussia Dortmund (Germany); Barcelona (Spain); Ellis Park (South Africa); London and Manchester velodromes; and, Estadio Centenario (Uruguay).
Our products are used at most of the English Premiership clubs and we have manufactured paint and supplied signage (through our HD Signology business) for the London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup 2015.
Having won a Queen's Award for Innovation in 2011 the recognition it brought for the company was fantastic, not just here in the UK; we had many enquiries from abroad, interested to know about our game-changing new and innovative products, paint and machine, that could mark a football pitch with only ONE LITRE of paint (A World First!). In fact, it was that first Queen's Award that gave us the drive to really expand internationally. Momentum had begun with enquiries from France and Denmark and we didn't look back. We now export to 43 countries on 5 continents, and we're still striving ahead.
Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
The process for our Queen's Award application wasn't complicated at all, with an online form which we could just keep working on and saving. It takes a great deal of hard work but starting the process early saved us from that 'last minute deadline' feeling, as we had been chipping away at the form for months, telling our story and gathering all the information required.
When it actually comes together as the finished article, then you receive the news that you've been shortlisted, the whole thing starts to become real and exciting.
Having achieved a Queen's Award in 2011, one of the highlights was having the privilege to meet and share a little of our story with Her Majesty The Queen. It was such an honour to attend the reception at Buckingham Palace, which our Export Manager and General Manager went on to experience five years later in 2016. Discovering we'd won a 2nd Queen's Award, this time for International Trade, particularly on The Queen's 90th Birthday, was a very special moment. We told all at Linemark as soon as we were allowed and every single person was aware that they were part of a real celebration that everyone had contributed to - it was so lovely to see everyone feel rewarded for their work and share stories together. We hired a venue locally and the Linemark team, distributors and guests from around the world gathered to celebrate - we received the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and so many commented on how proud they, as individuals, felt.
Flying the Flag
As with our first Queen's Award, this new addition has been a real boost for the company, with more distributors and countries added since the announcement of our International Trade Award. The Queen's Award Flag flies proudly in front of our building and we feel honoured to have such prestigious recognition - it's one of those symbols that when you see it, you take note.
Apply for a Queen's Award for Enterprise
Shaken, not stirred! 2013 International Trade winners Fever-Tree share their global success story.
Esh Group share their excitement of winning a Queen's Award in Promoting Opportunity

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is the 4th out of 5 imprint logos for TM Publishing called Amber Ocean. This logo is for children's books so when I was researching I looked up the top 10 logos for kids and they were very colorful, playful, sometimes hand-drawn and just plain fun.
After researching those logos, I searched to see what logos were out there already with wave or ocean theme. Below are the top three that I was influenced by.
Again, I had to be literal about the ocean, but I noticed that the waves resemble book pages in a way. Below are my sketches I came up with. A, B, and D are pretty literal waves, while C, E, and F resemble pages in a book turning.
My client liked D the best and one the first round (a miracle) he liked it. All I had to do was tweak some more to refine the smooth edges and I was finished.
Burgundy Grove is my 3rd out of 5 logos I am working on for TM Publishing. This branch is the Literary and Contemporary genre. (Emily Dickinson to the new American Dervish novel) My client wanted a pretty literal representation of their imprint brand.
In my sketch phase I wanted to have a visual metaphor of poetry represented in the trees. I wanted the trunk to be fluid and elegant. I also played with the style of leaves including blocked shape, variety in line width and individual leaves. I presented the following sketches to my client.
The client liked the 2nd one down on the left the best, because the trees where becoming one, he also likes the leaves on the top right tree and finally the trunk on the 2nd down to the right. I went back to the sketch book and came up with the following drawing (one of many) and my client liked it.
I then brought the following drawings into the computer and cleaned them up in Illustrator.
In all of these trees I wanted to portray grace and elegance as well as exploring different leafy top options. My client liked "A" the best and I refined the symbol further and added color. From my previous comp I fixed the line width of the trees leaves to flow better. I also condensed the trunks to become more of a solid shape as well as thickening the braches so you can see it when printed small on a book spine.


Tall clump-forming perennial with a thick taproot and oblanceolate toothed leaves.
Bears clusters of sky-blue( occasionally pink or white) flowers throughout summer.
The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs).
Can grow in any well-drained soil.
Flowers can be added to salad.
The root is best harvested in autumn.
The leaves are harvested as the plant comes into flower.
Chicory resembles the dandelion in its medicinal action.
Like dandelion, it also has diuretic properties and can be used for treating rheumatism and gout, because it eliminates uric acid from the body.
A tincture made from the whole plant has an anti-inflammatory activity.
Has a tonic affect upon the liver and digestive tract.
A decoction of the root has proved to be of benefit in the treatment of jaundice, liver enlargement, gout and rheumatism.
A decoction of the freshly harvested plant is used for treating gravel.
Chicory is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites - used over the world as a forage supplement for farm animals.


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The Black Horse Inn
91 Church StreetWhitbyYO22 4BHUnited Kingdom
About The Black Horse Inn
The Black Horse Inn is one of the ancient fishing port of Whitby's oldest inns, being the home to a pub since at least the 16th century, located on one of its most historic streets.
It now offers four guest bedrooms, including a single and a family room - all named after Whitby's former resident Captain Cook's ships of discovery. Each one has an en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities and a flat-screen TV.
The Black Horse Inn offers free Wi-Fi throughout the establishment.
The traditional pub with its two bar areas offers local cask ales and snacks including Yorkshire goat's milk ice-cream and cheeses. There are many other restaurants, fish and chip shops and cafes nearby to eat in.
The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is just 100 metres away, whilst Whitby's famous Abbey, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, is just 300 metres away. However, there are also 199 steps to clamber up!
91 Church Street, Whitby, YO22 4BH, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44(1947)602906 | Official Homepage
Check-out: 10
Great old town location
Guests love the cosy feeling of snuggling up above an ancient inn, busting with history - right in the heart of the charming old town of Whitby. You are very centrally located too, right near the bridge and surrounded by lots of cafes - ideal to grab a spot of breakfast in the morning.
Lovely and friendly staff
Guests find the hosts and the staff to be very helpful and friendly. They are also very discrete and respect your privacy.
The rooms may be pretty simple, but they are full of charm. Guests appreciate the cosy atmosphere and the cleanliness of the rooms, not to mention the lovely tray with not only tea and coffee, but hot chocolate, biscuits and even porridge!
No breakfast included
Even though there is a wealth of cafes in the streets around, where you can grab a nice breakfast each morning, a lot of guests would expect that breakfast would be included in their room rate.
Noisy touristic street
Being in the heart of one of Whitby's premier streets adds to the authentic ambiance of your stay. However, this also comes with consequences. You have the constant hustle and bustle of everyday life to contend with - from the delivery trucks and bin-men arriving at seven o'clock each morning to the buzz of tourists and businessmen talking outside. Being above a pub also means some inevitable noise in the evening. Even if many guests find the pub to be relatively quiet overall with no music they would still prefer better soundproofing!
Wi-Fi problems
Guests find that the Wi-Fi is very temperamental. It is not very reliable and drops constantly.
Hotel White Horse & Griffindeals from €74
Hotel Cliffemount Hoteldeals from €86
Hotel Sanders Yarddeals from €89
Hotel Raithwaite Estatedeals from €99
Hotel Bay Royal Whitbydeals from €78
Hotel The Dolphindeals from €97
The White House Inn - Whitby
Resolution Hotel
Riviera Guest House
The Stables at Cross Butts
Hotel Discovery Accommodation
The Wheeldale
All hotels in Whitby
Hotels in Whitby


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What's Coming to Amazon Prime Video in October 2021, Including 'My Name is Pauli Murray' and Justin Bieber Doc
28 set. 2021 12:07 UYT – Fern Siegel
The Amazon Prime Video original doc My Name Is Pauli Murray tells the life story of civil-rights activist and lawyer Pauli Murray, who pre-dates Rosa Parks' famous refusal to give up her seat on the bus. From the directors of RBG, the film showcases a remarkable woman who fought for social justice in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Also on the doc front, Justin Bieber: Our World, takes viewers on and off stage as Justin Bieber delivers his first concert in three years.
Plus, Blumhouse is offering its latest terror fest: Bingo Hell. A senior citizen fights to save her neighborhood from an evil force that's killing residents. Similarly, in the original The Manor, a supernatural element is suspected of murdering nursing home residents.
Coming to Amazon Prime Video in October:
Bingo Hell – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
Black as Night – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
My Name is Pauli Murray – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
American Masters: Raul Julia: The World's a Stage (2019) (PBS Living)
Anaconda (1997)
Atonement (2007)
Bad Hombres (2020) (Showtime)
Blue Crush 2 (2011)
Breach (2007)
Bulworth (1998)
Dear Christmas (2020)
Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995)
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Duplicity (2009)
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
Flash Of Genius (2008)
Flight Of The Phoenix (2004)
Fools Rush In (1997)
Garden State (2004)
Get Shorty (1995)
Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
It's Kind Of A Funny Story (2010)
Killers (2010)
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life (2003)
Macho: The Hector Camacho Story (2020) (Showtime)
Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Rugrats Go Wild (2003)
Stomp The Yard (2007)
Swimming For Gold (2020)
The Bad News Bears (1976)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
The Christmas Edition (2020)
The Last Exorcism (2010)
Welcome To The Jungle (2014)
All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs – Amazon Original Series: Season 1
Beau Sejour: Season 1 (Topic)
Cities of the Underworld: Season 1 (HISTORY Vault)
Hightown: Season 1 (STARZ)
I Love Lucy: Seasons 1-2
Killer Kids: Season 1 (A&E Crime Central)
Latino Americans: Season 1 (PBS Documentaries)
NOVA: The Planets: Season 1 (PBS Documentaries)
Pompon Little Bear: Season 1 (Kidstream)
Roadkill Garage: Season 1 (MotorTrend)
Side by Side with Malika & Khadijah: Season 1 (UP Faith & Family)
Supermansion: Seasons 1-2
The Hunter (il Cacciatore): Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
The Kings: Season 1 (Showtime)
The Trouble With Maggie Cole: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
The Undertaker: Season 1 (MHz Choice)
When Hope Calls: Season 1 (Hallmark Movies Now)
Do, Re & Mi: Halloween Harmony – Amazon Original Special (2021)
Justin Bieber: Our World – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
Madres – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
The Manor – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
Jessey and Nessy – Amazon Original Series: New Episodes
Pan y Circo – Amazon Original Series: New Special Episodes
Deutschland 83: Season 1
Akilla's Escape (2021)
I Know What You Did Last Summer – Amazon Original Series: Season 1
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – Amazon Original Series: New Episodes
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Maradona: Blessed Dream – Amazon Original Series: Season 1
"My Name Is Pauli Murray"


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New Zealand Implements GPA
Posted on August 12, 2015 by Jean Heilman Grier
[Next posting will be on August 31, 2015]
New Zealand's accession expands the GPA roster to 17 parties.
On August 12, New Zealand became a party to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), following Montenegro's accession by a month and extending the GPA's reach to 45 WTO members. NZ's terms for accession to the GPA were approved in October 2014 by the WTO Government Procurement Committee, which gave it nine months to ratify the agreement and submit its instrument of accession. On July 13, NZ ratified the GPA, which allowed the GPA to enter into force 30 days later. The procurement that NZ is opening under the GPA is set out in its coverage schedules available on the WTO website. The European Union has imposed certain restrictions on NZ's access to the procurement that the EU covers under the GPA.
Central Government Entities: New Zealand covers 31 central government entities, including their subordinate agencies. Its list includes 13 ministries, its Treasury, various departments and other entities. For these entities, NZ applies the same thresholds as most of the GPA parties: 130,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for the procurement of goods and services and five million SDRs for construction services.
Sub-central Government Entities: With respect to sub-central government entities, New Zealand bases its coverage on listed entities, as does the United States and other GPA parties. NZ covers 17 sub-central entities: 11 district health boards (including procurement undertaken through their agent healthAlliance Limited) and seven city or regional councils. Its health boards are responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services in their respective districts. New Zealand limits the coverage of its councils to the procurement of goods, services and construction services relating to transport projects funded, in whole or in part, by the New Zealand Transport Agency. These entities apply a threshold for goods and services of 200,000 SDRs, the same as the EU and most parties; only the U.S. and two other parties apply a higher 355,000 SDRs threshold.
Other Entities: With regard to the coverage of Other Entities, NZ lists 19 entities, which includes agencies, authorities, commissions and corporations. For corporations, it covers:
Accident Compensation Corporation, (excluding procurement of pension fund management, public insurance and fund placements, investments and financial services related to securities or trading on an exchange);
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited;
Housing New Zealand Corporation;
KiwiRail Holdings Limited;
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Transpower New Zealand Limited (excluding procurement of electrical stringing services, tower painting services and "projects funded directly by private sector customers where those projects would not be undertaken except for the funding provided by those customers")
NZ's coverage of Sport New Zealand adds an unusual exclusion: procurement of goods and services containing confidential information related to enhancing competitive sport performance. For all of its Other Entities, NZ applies a 400,000 SDRs threshold for goods and services, the threshold applied by most parties.
Services: New Zealand has joined the U.S. as the only GPA parties to base coverage of services on a negative list, covering all services purchased by the covered entities, except those explicitly excluded. NZ excludes four categories of services: R&D services, public health services, education services and welfare services. NZ also covers all construction services.
General Notes: NZ is permitted a special use of limited tendering procedures — for unsolicited unique proposals, in accordance with its guidance document, "Unsolicited Unique Proposals – How to deal with uninvited bids" (May 2013).
EU Restrictions on NZ: The EU has indicated its apparent dissatisfaction with NZ's coverage by restricting its access to European procurement. The restrictions are similar to those the EU imposed on other GPA parties, including the United States. The EU withholds some of the central government entities of its member states from NZ. It also denies NZ access to procurement of two categories of sub-central entities, including smaller local contracting authorities, and to the procurement of utilities engaged in activities related to drinking water, airports and ports, as well as certain urban transport procurement. These restrictions are set out in the October 2014 Committee Decision.
USTR Waiver: Based on the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, the U.S. Trade Representative has waived discriminatory purchasing requirements, namely the Buy American Act of 1933, for New Zealand. The waiver, which was published in the Federal Register on August 12, adds NZ to the list of designated countries from which federal agencies can purchase goods and services.
GPA Gains Two New Members
Montenegro Joins GPA
New Procurement Opportunities under Revised GPA
Other Entities Covered under GPA
Sub-central Entities Covered under GPA
Trade Agreements Act of 1979: Broad Authority, Narrow Application
This entry was posted in GPA Accession, U.S. Federal Procurement, U.S. Government Procurement, WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and tagged Buy American Act, Designated Country, New Zealand GPA Accession, USTR, Waiver by Jean Heilman Grier. Bookmark the permalink.


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Mitchell James Larkin (born 9 July 1993) is an Australian competitive swimmer who specialises in backstroke events. He currently represents the Cali Condors which is part of the International Swimming League. Larkin competed for Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Career

2014
Larkin won a gold medal in the 200 meter backstroke and a silver medal in both the 50 meter and 100 meter backstroke at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

2015
He won two gold in the 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia.

His personal best in long course events are 52.11 for the 100 meter backstroke and 1:53.17 for the 200 meter backstroke, both set at the Dubai world cup in November 2015.

In November 2015, Larkin broke the short course world record in the 200 meter backstroke, lowering it to 1:45.63.

2016
At the 2016 Summer Olympics swimming championships, Larkin represented Australia in the 100 metre and 200 metre backstroke and the 4 x 100 meter medley relay. In the 100 metre backstroke, Larkin was the third fastest in the heats with a time of 53.04 and third fastest out of the two second semi-final heats with a time of 52.70.

Despite only being three hundredths slower than his gold medal-winning time at the 2015 world championships, he missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the final with a time of 52.43.

Larkin set a record as the first swimmer to win every backstroke event and also the most gold medals for a swimmer at a single Commonwealth Games event. Five gold medals included 50 meter, 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke, as well as the 200 meter Individual Medley and 4 x 100 meter Medley.

International Swimming League
In 2019 he was a member of the inaugural International Swimming League representing the Cali Condors, who finished third place in the final match in Las Vegas, Nevada in December. Larkin was one of the top point scorers at each match for the Condors swimming backstroke, IM, and relays.

World records

Short course metres

See also
List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)
World record progression 200 metres backstroke

References

External links
  (archive)

1993 births
Living people
People from Nambour, Queensland
Australian male medley swimmers
Australian male backstroke swimmers
Olympic swimmers of Australia
Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Olympic silver medalists for Australia
Olympic bronze medalists for Australia
Olympic silver medalists in swimming
Olympic bronze medalists in swimming
Swimmers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
Swimmers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Swimmers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming
Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia
Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia
World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)
World record holders in swimming
People educated at John Paul College (Brisbane)
20th-century Australian people
21st-century Australian people
Sportsmen from Queensland
Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Loyalty programs connect guests with independents
27 JULY 2016 11:07 AM
Loyalty programs offer independent hoteliers another way to connect with guests and compete against the draw of major brands.
By Bryan Wroten
bwroten@hotelnewsnow.com
@HNN_Bryan
REPORT FROM THE U.S.—Traditionally, loyalty programs and the opportunity for guests to earn points toward different perks and rewards have given brands an advantage over both standalone and collections of independent hotels.
In recent years, independent hoteliers have found ways to move in on the loyalty program territory, either through starting one of their own programs or signing up with a third party, such as Stash Hotel Rewards and Voilà Hotel Rewards.
Creating a program
Preferred Hotels & Resorts created its own loyalty program, iPrefer, 10 years ago as a perks program guests could join by sharing their email addresses, said Casey Ueberroth, chief marketing officer at Preferred Hotels, and in exchange guests could receive things like free internet, late check-in and early check-out.
Three years ago, hoteliers within the brand* asked about adding points to the program so guests could earn free nights or treat the points as cash. The company added points and a three-tier system, but it also removed some of the upfront amenities.
"Six months ago, we decided to simplify it and make it an extremely easy program, catering to anyone going to book at an original, one-of-a-kind property," Ueberroth said.
The company eliminated one of the tiers, added some of the upfront amenities back and kept the points.
When Preferred Hotels started its own program, there were no independent loyalty programs like Stash and Voilà. Since their creation, Ueberroth said, programs like that helped motivate Preferred Hotels to look closer at its own program because they showed the viability of loyalty among independents.
Choosing a third-party program
Greystone Hotels has worked with Stash for a number of years, said Candice Cancino, GM of the King George Hotel in San Francisco. http://www.greystonehotels.com/about-us.aspx
Greystone's guests are looking for something beyond a cookie-cutter hotel experience, she said, and they want something that fits their personality. Stash reward members are looking for the same thing, she said.
"What we like about Stash is, it's a unique program for us and is more than building loyalty points," Cancino said. "We do cross marketing with our sister hotels in the Stash portfolio. We work with guests and say, 'If you love the King George, you'll love other Stash hotels in Nashville.'"
The Voilà rewards program is similar to Stash in that it connects different independent properties, according to Michael Lorenz, SVP of sales and marketing at L.E. Hotels Collection. About three to four years ago, his company was looking to start a rewards program, he said.
"We felt we weren't large enough to do it on our own and be impactful," he said. "We wanted an organization with more reach."
Guests in the L.E. Hotels Collection want to travel worldwide and experience different things, he said, so his company felt Voilà was a good match for what guests would want out of a program.
What guests want
Preferred Hotels has a mix of leisure and resort properties, with some more corporate hotels mixed in, Ueberroth said. While points chasers don't view the iPrefer program on the same scale as a major brand loyalty program, he said, it does capture the business traveler seeking higher-end properties and who travels about 10 to 15 times a year to two or three destinations.
"People like the redemption side and that they can earn points," he said. "I think that's a huge reward that brands don't have."
L.E. Hotels has a mix of leisure and corporate guests, Lorenz said, and many of the corporate guests are independent business owners who tend to be receptive to programs like this. Many of the traditional business travelers are already members of several different reward programs, he said, but they aren't the key focus of L.E. Hotels. Instead, the company focuses more on leisure and corporate guests.
Most Voilà members look to earn points to redeem free stays at hotels in the program, Lorenz said, as well as to take advantage of the retail options, such as gift cards to airlines, online retailers and charities.
"That's what differentiates us from the larger programs," he said. "They don't have as many choices as we do."
Major brands have a larger selection of hotels worldwide, he said, but when looking at today's consumers, mainly millennials, the trend in thinking is they're not loyal to brands.
"That tells me they prefer the independent properties," Lorenz said. "Let's not kid ourselves, everyone likes rewards. Millennials like rewards as much as anyone else, but they're more transaction-based."
The financial side
The algorithm to determine what rooms are worth for free night redemption makes sure it's not a big margin cut for hotels in the brand, Ueberroth said. The iPrefer program points are like cash, he said, which gives the hotel owners a good value.
"It's nice for owners getting cash-on-cash for everyone delivered to their property," he said.
Lorenz agreed and added that the margins are worse for the bigger brands.
"When I look at the margins that the loyalty program provides us, it's one of the more affordable channels we have," he said.
Free-night redemptions through Stash work great at the property level, Cancino said. Her hotel can do a full-bar rate for redemptions, she said. While major brand loyalty programs get the selling rate for the day, her hotel can tell Stash what the rate is and it receives the redemption for that.
"I think that as far as a revenue aspect, it's been great for us," she said.
*Clarification, 28 July 2016: This story has been updated to refer to Preferred Hotels & Resorts as a brand.
Austin Market Overview


Reports say that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has gone to the US for medical treatment for soft tissue sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.
Even as news reports about Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's trip to the US for medical treatment for soft tissue sarcoma, a rare type of cancer, are doing the rounds here is a closer look at the disease, that occurs when cells develop errors in their DNA.
It begins as a tumorous growth in the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures. Though the disease can occur in any part of the body, it is mainly found to affect arms and legs of a person.
Surgical removal is the most common treatment for the disease. However, radiation and chemotherapy are also followed depending on the size, type and location of the aggressive tumour.
The disease may not display any noticeable signs or symptoms in its early stage. The swelling or lump will start appearing as the ailment progresses. It may cause acute pain if it puts pressure on nerves or muscles.
Jaitley, 66, had undergone a renal transplant surgery on May 14 last year. Officials have been tight-lipped about the trip which has come at a time when the Finance Ministry is busy with the preparations of the vote-on-account budget to be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1 - his sixth and the last by the BJP-led NDA government in its current term.


Designed to invigorate & vitalise the Garden philosophy is derived from the origin of well-being and use of nature's resources. Traditional practices of attaining a state of harmony and supporting health are the cornerstone of the water relaxation area The Garden.
The whole complex is an exceptional ritual path of physical and spiritual recovery. It is an unforgettable trip through the bath and water treatments, in which the elements interact with each other, enhancing the body's energy balance and helping to restore vitality.
Massage bath Jacuzzi – activation of metabolism.
Amber bath – removes negative information and fills the vital energy.
Shower of impressions – removes stress and tension.
Old wood sauna – replenishes energy resource and revives the body and mind.
Ice fountain – improves resiliency and elasticity of tissues.
Pool with reverse flow, underwater massage and cascade – improves metabolism, shapes silhouette.
Hammam – Turkish bath, where soap cocktail is prepared with the disposable glove for peeling – thoroughly cleanses body pores, removes upper layer of dead skin and facilitates self-renovation of the body.
Rasul – oriental apartments with stellar sky, where a mask of alpine clay is applied – enriches the body with minerals and vitamins.
Kneipp path – contrasting water paths enhance immunity, improve functioning of vital organs and systems.
Phytobar – health and beauty elixirs prepared by special recipes, wide range of natural juices, cocktails, smoothies, herb and berry teas.
A visit of The Garden lasts 120 min and includes two self-treatments: The visit includes 2 self-service treatments: soap foam cocktail and disposal Kessa peeling glove in Turkish sauna Hamman and Alpine clay mask in Oriental apartments Rasul.
After The Garden visit guests can relax in the Salt Room (surcharge). Salt crystals naturally create negative ions, which have beneficial effects on the overall sense of well-being, reduce stress and headaches, as well as help a range of respiratory ailments, including colds, asthma, allergies and bronchitis.


Oropharyngeal cancer, or "oral" cancer, is a disease that occurs when malignant cells form in the mouth or throat. This can include areas such as the back of the tongue, tonsils, walls of the throat, or palate. Three of the leading causes of oral cancer are heavy alcohol use, a history of smoking, and being infected with HPV (human papillomavirus). The signs of the disease are typically subtle and painless, which can cause it to progress without being noticed. This is why preemptive screenings are so important.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 49,750 Americans will be diagnosed within the next year. Fortunately, with oral cancer screenings, our experienced dentist can help detect the disease early, which significantly increases the rate of survival by preventing harmful cells from spreading.
In addition to those with a history of tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and HPV, factors that have been linked to a high risk of oral cancer include the following: significant sun exposure (increases chances of lip cancer), genetic predisposition, older age, and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. To reduce your risk of potentially developing these unhealthy tissues, it is best to adjust your lifestyle accordingly and schedule routine screenings, which can be the most powerful method of preventing the disease from becoming life-threatening.
Signs or symptoms of oral cancer can include anything on the following list. As always, it is best to schedule an appointment with your doctor if any of these issues are persistent or cause discomfort.
A persistent sore throat or trouble swallowing.
Trouble opening the mouth or moving the tongue.
Ear pain, coughing up blood, or a change in voice.
An early diagnosis of the abnormal cells can greatly increase the chance of recovery and survival. Since symptoms are typically not obvious in the beginning, a screening can catch the disease before it has had the chance to progress and spread. As a result, you are able to seek immediate treatment for your condition.
Dr. Robin Rutherford offers oral cancer screenings as a preventative test to be completed during a regular oral exam. The screening helps detect any abnormalities in and around the mouth that might reveal cancerous cells. Dr. Rutherford uses one of the most powerful detection tools available, called the VELscope® Vx, for assisting in the discovery of potential oral abnormalities that are otherwise unseen to the naked eye.
During the screening, Dr. Rutherford will guide the VELscope Vx® light device around the inside of the mouth. Healthy tissue will reflect the light; abnormal, unhealthy tissue will absorb the light and appear dark. The entire process takes about two minutes to complete and is generally a very comfortable procedure. If any unhealthy tissue presents itself, Dr. Rutherford may suggest a biopsy, which will be tested to learn whether the cells are cancerous.
Early signs of the condition are often barely noticeable; therefore, it is essential to come in for screenings at least twice a year. If the cancer is caught early, it is not likely to have spread elsewhere in the body and can often be contained. When considering scheduling an appointment for a screening, a dental professional will be most helpful because they will look at multiple factors including dental history and lifestyle characteristics.
Our team at The Art of Dentistry would be happy to set up an oral screening to assess the health of your mouth and throat. When you call to schedule your bi-annual dental cleaning, let the office know you would also like to have an oral cancer screening.


Using a monthly budget planner is the best way to keep your finances organized and pay bills on time. This is also an opportunity to see where you can trim back, teach your children about money, and look for discrepancies in your financial records. Whether you purchase your monthly budget planner or make it yourself, a few simple tips can help you get the most from your planner and help you take better control over your finances.
Put your planner in the same place you keep your bills. This will ensure you have it when you need to make an entry. Also, show your spouse where the planner is so if they bring in the mail, an entry can still be made. If you don't already have an organized area for your bills, create a box where bills can be opened and put with your planner and a pen. Label it and put it where you toss your keys and other items at the end of the day. This will make it easy to find and give you a stop to open your mail before moving on to other things.
Put a pen in the planner or bill box that stays with them. If you go looking for a pen and get distracted, you may never find your way back to enter the bills. Treat yourself to a special planner pen and you may be more inclined to use it. Do not use gel pens as they can bleed and run. You want a good solid pen or pencil. If you're worried about mistakes or just getting to know a budget planner, using pencil might be the best way to go.
Show your spouse how to enter bills into the planner, and he'll be more likely to do it when the mail comes in instead of setting them aside for you. If he helps pay the bills, he should also be shown how to record payments as well. Work together to ensure you're both using the same entry system to avoid confusion.
While your children won't be recording anything, show them where the planner is in case they come in with the mail. Then they know where to stick bills so you can find them later.
In most monthly budget planners, there is a place to record all banking information. If there isn't, create a page for just that located at the front of the planner. Do not write down your routing or account numbers; record only the complete contact records for your bank and other financial institutions.
When you use a monthly budget planner, you'll have the ability to keep better track of your income and where your money is going. You'll find the confidence necessary to pay off debt, stick money aside for fun stuff and start building your savings.


I think that this is the right forum to post this question..but Mods..please move if I am incorrect.
Much of it would be difficult and sometimes impossible to replace.
I am starting to give some consideration to backing this up. My first thought is to want to use an online service.
To double my drives just for a backup seems like it would be expensive and I know I would not be dedicated enough to do backups daily...weekly...and maybe not even monthly.
I have considered online as a possibility..but I have a lot of questions..
Questions such as...can anybody get into my files for any reason when they are backed up?
Does having 8TB of data raise a lot of red flags and make people take an interest in you?
And the cost.....I have looked but have not seen any hard numbers on what the max storage would be 59.00/mo..
I am guessing it would not be 8TB though..they are talking in Gigs there. My trash can is more than a couple of gigs.
I am curious to hear what people have tried, how they liked it..and what would you think is the best solution?
Check out http://www.carbonite.com/. It's $55 per year and they claim the storage amount is only limited by your upload speed. I understand the information is encrypted. Or for peace of mind, you can buy several TB drives (cost~ $80 each if you get them on sale at newegg) and set up backup using a freeware backup soft.
Unless you've got super-high upload bandwidth, backing that much data up using online storage is impractical.
A duplicate set of data stored on removable drives would be more practical - and if you want off-site backups, in case of fire, etc, leave the drives at a friends house, or some other local but physically detached property.
And if you want the data to be extra safe, use external storage that has RAID.


text:
Home Breaking News Turkey Threatens To Reveal the naked Truth of Khashoggi death
World insider
Turkey Threatens To Reveal the naked Truth of Khashoggi death
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday vowed to reveal within days the "naked truth" over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as Riyadh said it did not know the whereabouts of his body and that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had been unaware of any operation to murder him. The Turkish leader's statement came the day after Saudi authorities conceded Khashoggi had been killed inside their diplomatic compound in Istanbul.
"We are looking for justice here and this will be revealed in all its naked truth, not through some ordinary steps but in all its naked truth," Erdogan told a rally in Istanbul.
In his strongest comments to date on the affair, President Donald Trump accused Saudi Arabia of lying about the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who fell out of favour with the ultraconservative kingdom, as pressure built on the US administration to strike a tougher line.
The Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, on Sunday described the killing as a "tremendous mistake" and said it had been a "rogue operation" by individuals who "exceeded their responsibilities" and then "tried to cover up for it".
Jubeir insisted in an interview with Fox News that the operation was not ordered by the crown prince known by his initials MBS, also adding that "we don't know where the body is".
Erdogan, who has not yet directly blamed Saudi Arabia, held a telephone call with Trump on Sunday where the two leaders agreed the Khashoggi case needed to be clarified "in all its aspects," a Turkish presidential source said.
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Erdogan is expected to make a full statement to his party's MPs in parliament at around 0800 GMT on Tuesday.
Turkish officials have said they believe that 15 Saudi men who arrived in Istanbul on two flights on October 2 were connected to Khashoggi's death.
Riyadh reacted by claiming one of the 15 had died in a car accident years ago.
Saudi officials originally said Khashoggi, who stepped inside the doors of the diplomatic mission on October 2, had left unharmed, before announcing he was killed inside the building in what they described as an altercation.
The kingdom has since admitted Khashoggi died in a "brawl" inside the consulate and said it has fired five top officials and arrested 18 others in an investigation into the killing.
'Lies'
Khashoggi, who would have been 60 this month, sought refuge in the United States after fleeing his native Saudi Arabia after the 2017 appointment of strongman Mohammed bin Salman as heir to the throne.
The journalist, who had espoused both Islamist and liberal views throughout his decades-long career in the press, was engaged to a Turkish woman.
His killing has further soured relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, already at loggerheads over Qatar, with which Riyadh cut ties in 2017 and to which Ankara has deployed aid and troops.
Related Video: Russian Woman Courageously Walks Through Explosions And Fire
Turkish officials now believe Riyadh carried out a state-sponsored killing and dismembered the body, with pro-government media in Turkey reporting the existence of video and audio evidence to back those claims.
As the Turkish leader is expected to reveal all details into the journalist's killing, Trump has stepped back from his stance that Saudi Arabia's latest explanation over the death was credible amid mounting pressure at home.
"Obviously there's been deception and there's been lies," he said of the shifting accounts of Khashoggi's death offered by Riyadh.
"Their stories are all over the place."
Several senior members of Trump's Republican Party said they believed Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler, was linked to the killing, and one called for a "collective" Western response if a link is proved.
Trump has stopped far short of calling for the prince to be replaced, emphasising as he has before how important the US-Saudi relationship is to Washington's regional strategic goals.
He described the 33-year-old prince as a "strong person; he has very good control."
"He's seen as a person who can keep things under check," added Trump. "I mean that in a positive way."
UK, France, Germany intervene
The controversy has put the kingdom — for decades a key ally in Western efforts to contain Iran — under unprecedented pressure.
It has also blown up into a major crisis for Prince Mohammed whose image as a modernising Arab reformer has been gravely undermined.
Britain, France and Germany have shown a united front, demanding Saudi Arabia clarify how the journalist died inside its Istanbul consulate backed by "credible" facts.
Late Sunday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed "the circumstances" around Khashoggi's "tragic death" in a phone call, without offering further details.
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Australia, Canada, the UN and the EU have also demanded greater clarity around Khashoggi's death.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel added that Berlin would not export arms to Saudi Arabia "in the current situation".
Germany last month approved 416 million euros ($480 million) worth of arms exports to Saudi Arabia for 2018. In the past, military exports by Berlin to Saudi have mostly consisted of patrol boats
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Theresa May - October 21, 2018


Ehh, what harm could a little computer error be anyway?
It seems we are going to just have to wait till the older generation is replaced with younger people that know technology, the good and the bad of it.
The e-voting was experimented in 3 Finnish municipalities and the amount of lost votes was 232.
Maybe the uncounted votes would have changed the local councils by one person but very probably would not have affected the seats for the parties.
Also I think the equipment is not the only thing to blame. People can't use them!
Except a lot of them just don't care. As long as they've got a party to go to this weekend, they're happy. I'm surprised at the number of commenters over on slashdot that see nothing wrong with these kind of election results.
What was the difference in resulting votes between the parties? If there was a 1 or 2% difference, then there's room for concern and this is a major controversy. If one party thrashed the other by an 18% margin, I can see why the Finn aren't worried about this specific result, though I hope it does still raise serious questions before they're used again.
"Once again, we're left wondering why various governments keep trusting such questionable equipment?"
... perhaps because they know something we don't about how they might make use of the equipment and its vagaries for their own ends?
Naa, that's my suspicion too - really. How can a company that makes ATM's that almost never, ever miscount cash - not be able to count votes properly? At least in a lot of cases, that is true.
It seems that the system required the voter to insert a smart card to identify the voter, type in their selected candidate number, then press "ok", check the candidate details on the screen, and then press "ok" again. Some voters did not press "ok" for the second time, but instead removed their smart card from the voting terminal prematurely, causing their ballots not to be cast.
On an ATM for instance - on the last part; it will ask you to confirm too - but it's nice and clear.
technical harm...the lil. computer being unable to connect to the server.


text:
package org.onosproject.net.intent.impl.compiler;

import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
import org.hamcrest.Matchers;
import org.junit.Rule;
import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
import org.onlab.packet.VlanId;
import org.onlab.util.Bandwidth;
import org.onosproject.TestApplicationId;
import org.onosproject.core.ApplicationId;
import org.onosproject.net.ConnectPoint;
import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
import org.onosproject.net.FilteredConnectPoint;
import org.onosproject.net.PortNumber;
import org.onosproject.net.flow.DefaultTrafficSelector;
import org.onosproject.net.flow.TrafficSelector;
import org.onosproject.net.flow.TrafficTreatment;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.AbstractIntentTest;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.Constraint;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.Intent;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.IntentException;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.IntentTestsMocks;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.Key;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.LinkCollectionIntent;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.SinglePointToMultiPointIntent;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.constraint.BandwidthConstraint;
import org.onosproject.net.intent.constraint.PartialFailureConstraint;
import org.onosproject.net.resource.ContinuousResource;
import org.onosproject.net.resource.MockResourceService;
import org.onosproject.net.resource.ResourceAllocation;
import org.onosproject.net.resource.ResourceService;
import org.onosproject.net.resource.Resources;
import org.onosproject.net.topology.PathService;

import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Set;

import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.instanceOf;
import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.notNullValue;
import static org.hamcrest.MatcherAssert.assertThat;
import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.hasSize;
import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.is;
import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
import static org.onosproject.net.intent.LinksHaveEntryWithSourceDestinationPairMatcher.linksHasPath;

/**
 * Unit tests for SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler.
 */
public class SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompilerTest extends AbstractIntentTest {

    private static final ApplicationId APPID = new TestApplicationId("foo");
    private static final String S1 = "s1";
    private static final String S2 = "s2";
    private static final String S3 = "s3";
    private static final String S4 = "s4";
    private static final String S5 = "s5";
    private static final String S6 = "s6";
    private static final String S7 = "s7";
    private static final String S8 = "s8";

    private static final DeviceId DID_1 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:" + S1);
    private static final DeviceId DID_2 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:" + S2);
    private static final DeviceId DID_3 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:" + S3);
    private static final DeviceId DID_4 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:" + S4);
    private static final DeviceId DID_5 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:" + S5);
    private static final DeviceId DID_8 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:" + S8);

    private static final PortNumber PORT_1 = PortNumber.portNumber(1);
    private static final PortNumber PORT_2 =  PortNumber.portNumber(2);
    private static final PortNumber PORT_3 =  PortNumber.portNumber(3);

    private TrafficSelector selector = new IntentTestsMocks.MockSelector();
    private TrafficTreatment treatment = new IntentTestsMocks.MockTreatment();

    /**
     * Creates a SinglePointToMultiPoint intent for an ingress point
     * and a group of egress points.
     *
     * @param ingress the filtered ingress point
     * @param egress the set of filtered egress points
     * @return a single point to multi point intent
     */
    private SinglePointToMultiPointIntent makeIntent(FilteredConnectPoint ingress,
                                                     Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress) {
        return makeIntent(ingress, egress, selector);
    }

    /**
     * Generates SinglePointToMultiPointIntent with filtered connection point
     * and the specified selector.
     *
     * @param ingress the filtered ingress point
     * @param egress the filtered egress point
     * @param trafficSelector the intent traffic selector
     * @return a single point to multi point intent
     */
    private SinglePointToMultiPointIntent makeIntent(FilteredConnectPoint ingress,
                                                     Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress,
                                                     TrafficSelector trafficSelector) {
        return makeIntent(ingress, egress, trafficSelector, Lists.newArrayList());
    }

    /**
     * Generates SinglePointToMultiPointIntent with filtered connection point
     * and the given constraints set.
     *
     * @param ingress the filtered ingress point
     * @param egress the filtered egress point
     * @param constraints the list of intent constraints
     * @return a single point to multi point intent
     */
    private SinglePointToMultiPointIntent makeIntent(FilteredConnectPoint ingress,
                                                     Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress,
                                                     List<Constraint> constraints) {
        return makeIntent(ingress, egress, selector, constraints);
    }

    /**
     * Generates SinglePointToMultiPointIntent with filtered connection point,
     * and the specified traffic selector and intent constraints.
     *
     * @param ingress the filtered ingress point
     * @param egress the set of filtered egress points
     * @param trafficSelector the intent traffic selector
     * @param constraints the list of intent constraints
     * @return a single point to multi point intent
     */
    private SinglePointToMultiPointIntent makeIntent(FilteredConnectPoint ingress,
                                                     Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress,
                                                     TrafficSelector trafficSelector,
                                                     List<Constraint> constraints) {
        return SinglePointToMultiPointIntent.builder()
                .appId(APPID)
                .treatment(treatment)
                .selector(trafficSelector)
                .filteredIngressPoint(ingress)
                .filteredEgressPoints(egress)
                .constraints(constraints)
                .build();
    }

    /**
     * Creates a compiler for SinglePointToMultiPoint intents.
     *
     * @param hops hops to use while computing paths for this intent
     * @param pathService the path service
     * @param resourceService the resource service
     * @return a single point to multi point intent compiler
     */
    private SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler makeCompiler(String[] hops,
                                                               PathService pathService,
                                                               ResourceService resourceService) {
        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler =
                new SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler();
        compiler.deviceService = new IntentTestsMocks.MockDeviceService();

        if (pathService == null) {
            compiler.pathService = new IntentTestsMocks.Mp2MpMockPathService(hops);
        } else {
            compiler.pathService = pathService;
        }

        if (resourceService == null) {
            compiler.resourceService = new MockResourceService();
        } else {
            compiler.resourceService = resourceService;
        }

        return compiler;
    }

    /**
     * Creates a compiler for SinglePointToMultiPoint intents.
     *
     * @param hops the hops to use while computing paths for this intent
     * @return a single point to multi point intent compiler
     */
    private SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler makeCompiler(String[] hops) {
        return makeCompiler(hops, null, null);
    }

    /**
     * Tests a single ingress point with 8 hops to its egress point.
     */
    @Test
    public void testSingleLongPathCompilation() {
        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));
        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress =
                Sets.newHashSet(new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_8, PORT_2)));

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent =
                makeIntent(ingress, egress);

        assertThat(intent, is(notNullValue()));

        String[] hops = {S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7};
        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler = makeCompiler(hops);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(Matchers.notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));
        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent, is(true));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(7));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S1, S2));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S3));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S3, S4));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S4, S5));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S5, S6));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S6, S7));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S7, S8));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));
    }

    /**
     * Tests a simple topology where two egress points share some path segments
     * and some path segments are not shared.
     */
    @Test
    public void testTwoEgressCompilation() {
        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        FilteredConnectPoint egressOne =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4, PORT_2));
        FilteredConnectPoint egressTwo =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_5, PORT_2));
        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = Sets.newHashSet(egressOne, egressTwo);

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent = makeIntent(ingress, egress);

        assertThat(intent, is(notNullValue()));

        final String[] hops = {S2, S3};
        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler = makeCompiler(hops);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));
        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent, is(true));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(4));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S1, S2));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S3));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S3, S4));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S3, S5));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));
    }

    /**
     * Tests multiple egress points that share a common path to the ingress
     * point.
     */
    @Test
    public void testMultiEgressCompilation() {
        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        FilteredConnectPoint egressOne =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_3, PORT_2));
        FilteredConnectPoint egressTwo =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4, PORT_2));
        FilteredConnectPoint egressThree =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_5, PORT_2));
        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = Sets.newHashSet(egressOne,
                                                           egressTwo,
                                                           egressThree);

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent = makeIntent(ingress, egress);

        assertThat(intent, is(notNullValue()));

        final String[] hops = {S2};
        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler = makeCompiler(hops);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));
        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent, is(true));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(4));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S1, S2));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S3));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S4));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S5));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));
    }

    /**
     * Tests ingress and egress on the same device.
     */
    @Test
    public void testSameDeviceCompilation() {
        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress =
                Sets.newHashSet(new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_2)),
                                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_3)));

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent = makeIntent(ingress, egress);
        assertThat(intent, is(notNullValue()));

        final String[] hops = {};
        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler = makeCompiler(hops);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));
        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent, instanceOf(LinkCollectionIntent.class));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(0));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));
    }

    /**
     * Tests filtered ingress and egress connect points.
     */
    @Test
    public void testFilteredConnectPointIntent() {

        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = ImmutableSet.of(
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_3, PORT_1),
                                         DefaultTrafficSelector.builder().matchVlanId(VlanId.vlanId("100")).build()),
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4,  PORT_1),
                                         DefaultTrafficSelector.builder().matchVlanId(VlanId.vlanId("200")).build())
        );

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent = makeIntent(ingress, egress, selector);
        String[] hops = {S2};

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler = makeCompiler(hops);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));

        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent, instanceOf(LinkCollectionIntent.class));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(3));

            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S1, S2));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S3));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S4));

            Set<FilteredConnectPoint> ingressPoints = linkIntent.filteredIngressPoints();
            assertThat("Link collection ingress points do not match base intent",
                       ingressPoints.size() == 1 && ingressPoints.contains(intent.filteredIngressPoint()));

            assertThat("Link collection egress points do not match base intent",
                       linkIntent.filteredEgressPoints().equals(intent.filteredEgressPoints()));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));

    }

    /**
     * Tests filtered ingress and egress points with an intent selector set.
     */
    @Test
    public void testNonTrivialSelectorsIntent() {

        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = ImmutableSet.of(
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_3, PORT_1),
                                         DefaultTrafficSelector.builder().matchVlanId(VlanId.vlanId("100")).build()),
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4, PORT_1),
                                         DefaultTrafficSelector.builder().matchVlanId(VlanId.vlanId("200")).build())
        );

        TrafficSelector ipPrefixSelector = DefaultTrafficSelector.builder()
                .matchIPDst(IpPrefix.valueOf("192.168.100.0/24"))
                .build();

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent = makeIntent(ingress, egress, ipPrefixSelector);
        String[] hops = {S2};

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler = makeCompiler(hops);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));

        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent, instanceOf(LinkCollectionIntent.class));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(3));

            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S1, S2));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S3));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S2, S4));

            Set<FilteredConnectPoint> ingressPoints = linkIntent.filteredIngressPoints();
            assertThat("Link collection ingress points do not match base intent",
                       ingressPoints.size() == 1 && ingressPoints.contains(intent.filteredIngressPoint()));

            assertThat("Link collection egress points do not match base intent",
                       linkIntent.filteredEgressPoints().equals(intent.filteredEgressPoints()));
            assertThat(linkIntent.selector(), is(ipPrefixSelector));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));
    }

    /**
     * Tests if bandwidth resources get allocated correctly.
     */
    @Test
    public void testBandwidthConstrainedIntentAllocation() {
        final double bpsTotal = 1000.0;
        final double bpsToReserve = 100.0;

        ContinuousResource resourceSw1P1 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_1, PORT_1, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw1P2 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_1, PORT_2, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw2P1 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_2, PORT_1, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw2P2 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_2, PORT_2, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw3P1 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_3, PORT_1, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw3P2 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_3, PORT_2, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw3P3 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_3, PORT_3, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw4P1 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_4, PORT_1, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);
        ContinuousResource resourceSw4P2 =
                Resources.continuous(DID_4, PORT_2, Bandwidth.class)
                        .resource(bpsToReserve);

        String[] hops = {DID_3.toString()};

        final ResourceService resourceService =
                MockResourceService.makeCustomBandwidthResourceService(bpsTotal);
        final List<Constraint> constraints =
                Collections.singletonList(new BandwidthConstraint(Bandwidth.bps(bpsToReserve)));

        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4, PORT_1));

        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = ImmutableSet.of(
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_2)),
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_2, PORT_2)));

        TrafficSelector ipPrefixSelector = DefaultTrafficSelector.builder()
                .matchIPDst(IpPrefix.valueOf("192.168.100.0/24"))
                .build();

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent =
                makeIntent(ingress, egress, ipPrefixSelector, constraints);

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler =
                makeCompiler(null,
                             new IntentTestsMocks.FixedMP2MPMockPathService(hops),
                             resourceService);

        compiler.compile(intent, null);

        Key intentKey = intent.key();

        ResourceAllocation rA1 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw1P1, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA2 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw1P2, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA3 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw2P1, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA4 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw2P2, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA5 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw3P1, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA6 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw3P2, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA7 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw3P3, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA8 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw4P1, intentKey);
        ResourceAllocation rA9 = new ResourceAllocation(resourceSw4P2, intentKey);

        Set<ResourceAllocation> expectedResourceAllocations =
                ImmutableSet.of(rA1, rA2, rA3, rA4, rA5, rA6, rA7, rA8, rA9);

        Set<ResourceAllocation> resourceAllocations =
                ImmutableSet.copyOf(resourceService.getResourceAllocations(intentKey));

        assertThat(resourceAllocations, hasSize(9));
        assertEquals(expectedResourceAllocations, resourceAllocations);
    }

    /**
     * Tests if all expected links are present when a partial failure
     * constraint is used and one ingress is not present.
     */
    @Test
    public void testPartialFailureConstraintSuccess() {
        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = ImmutableSet.of(
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4, PORT_2)),
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_5, PORT_2)));

        final List<Constraint> constraints =
                Collections.singletonList(new PartialFailureConstraint());

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent =
                makeIntent(ingress, egress, constraints);

        String[] hops = {S3};

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler =
                makeCompiler(null,
                             new IntentTestsMocks.FixedMP2MPMockPathService(hops),
                             null);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, is(notNullValue()));
        assertThat(result, hasSize(1));

        Intent resultIntent = result.get(0);
        assertThat(resultIntent, instanceOf(LinkCollectionIntent.class));

        if (resultIntent instanceof LinkCollectionIntent) {
            LinkCollectionIntent linkIntent = (LinkCollectionIntent) resultIntent;
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), hasSize(2));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S1, S3));
            assertThat(linkIntent.links(), linksHasPath(S3, S4));
        }
        assertThat("key is inherited", resultIntent.key(), is(intent.key()));
    }

    /**
     * Exception expected to be raised when an intent does not find all paths
     * and a partiale failure constraint is not specified.
     */
    @Rule
    public ExpectedException intentException = ExpectedException.none();

    /**
     * Tests if compiling an intent without partial failure constraints set and
     * with a missing egress connect point generates an exception and no other
     * results.
     */
    @Test
    public void testPartialFailureConstraintFailure() {
        FilteredConnectPoint ingress =
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_1, PORT_1));

        Set<FilteredConnectPoint> egress = ImmutableSet.of(
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_4, PORT_2)),
                new FilteredConnectPoint(new ConnectPoint(DID_5, PORT_2)));

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntent intent =
                makeIntent(ingress, egress);

        String[] hops = {S3};

        SinglePointToMultiPointIntentCompiler compiler =
                makeCompiler(null,
                             new IntentTestsMocks.FixedMP2MPMockPathService(hops),
                             null);
        assertThat(compiler, is(notNullValue()));

        intentException.expect(IntentException.class);

        List<Intent> result = compiler.compile(intent, null);
        assertThat(result, null);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text: .:[ circles demo ]:.


text:
Local tapes!
I'm really happy to be stocking all of these as they represent some of my favorite music going on in Portland right now. I order a lot of tapes based on the reputation of the label or a hunch or nice cover art or whatever, but these are ones I really wanted to make sure I was carrying and tracked down. Pretty eclectic group here but all of it stellar.
SAD HORSE - SELF-TITLED
Sad Horse come with a Mississippi Records pedigree and their 7" for the label's North Portland Music Series is a prized item in my record collection. Though out-of-print for a little while now, five of that record's six tracks ("Coyote" is absent) are on this tape, along with a dozen or so other tracks of similar vintage. Sad Horse play short, fast songs that are as punky as they are personable, whose frenetic energy plays off their odd structures and meters. I think one of the reasons I like their music so much is that the personalities of the two members come out so well -- that it seems like two people making music together as a way of life. I'm looking forward to their next release, and hopefully it'll have their killer cover of Dead Moon's "Loafer" that they've been playing at their shows recently. Only $3!
PETE SWANSON - DENIM LIFE
PETE SWANSON - UNLIMITED OPTIONS
I'm pretty certain that these are Pete's first releases since the end of Yellow Swans, and it's hard to be bummed about that group's end if it means more releases like these ones. Both of these tapes are really amazing -- it's clear that Pete has been at this game for a long time. The man knows what he's doing and how to make music that is shredded, imploding, brutal and above all beautiful. I was shocked at how emotional this music is and the kind of visceral punch it packs. Unlimited Options is the more monolithic of the two tapes -- each side is a heavy duty drone that builds in intensity at the same time that it feels like it's disintegrating. Denim Life feels more tangible with the rhythmic and melodic undercurrents of the two pieces (similarly side-long drones) showing more clearly through the obliterated sonics. I can't decide which one is my favorite. Each is $6.
Nucular Aminals - Self-Titled - Ick Ick Records
Very charming bedroom recordings from the Aminals. I particularly like the combination of '90s-isms and '60s-isms. On the one hand, the muffled DIY sound, strum-y songs with weird lyrics, on the other, plenty of vocal harmonies and those great, great organ lines. Some very catchy numbers here, in their own off-kilter way (i.e. the best way), and a Daniel Johnston cover to close things out ("Walking the Cow," one of my favorite songs in the world). I hear there is a 7" on the way. $4
Posted by Eggy Records at 5:58 PM


Ever wonder what happens in the mind of a person right before they decide to buy something?
Yesterday, when I sold two of my monthly planners to a friend I was having lunch with, I saw a glimpse of what went through his mind.
This is some nice quality paper.
There's plenty of space for extra notes.
Two? What just happened there?
The Jobs-To-Be-Done theory states that people don't buy products, they hire a product for a job.
I had created the monthly planner for the following job: When I have a lot going on and I'm tired of typing on a phone, I look for a no-fluff way to see the full month so I can freely just write and see what's coming.
But it was for a different job that he hired those two planners.
"One for my girlfriend, and one for my mom".
At that point I understood that he had probably hired those planners for the job of crossing off Christmas shopping off his list.
But there was still a hesitation, a pause, a moment of reflection right before the purchase. What went on in his mind? What made him go for it?
The Re-Wired group came up with the Forces of Progress tool. It's a diagram of four forces that are at play in the mind of the buyer.
The top two forces bring the buyer toward the purchase, toward saying yes, this, now.
The two bottom forces bring the buyer away from the purchase, putting a break on the purchasing momentum, toward the purchaser saying either not this or not now.
The product has appealing properties, and its fit to the job is apparent. It's attracting the buyer toward purchase.
The Attraction force pulls the buyer toward the purchase, toward hiring the product.
The force that starts the purchasing engine is the first one: the Struggle. It propels the buyer into action, into getting off her chair and doing something. There's an element of urgency that develops. There's an itch that just keeps scratching.
If there were only these two forces, most purchases would be pretty automatic. But there are two other forces which put the breaks on the purchase momentum.
←⚬ How is this planner going to wear over the year?
←⚬ Are my girlfriend and my mom going to be okay with the colour?
In the case of the sale of these two monthly planners, there didn't seem to be too many objections, or too many things that made my friend anxious about the solution. The struggle was felt, the product did the job well and its features supported that job. Easy sale.
Still, anxieties about your product can put a serious drag on the momentum to purchase a product.
In the Bottom Left: Habits of the present.
Habits are strong things to change in a person. A buyer will prefer not doing anything over doing something. He will prefer his inefficient cobbled-together process over buying some software to smooth out the process and make it more efficient. He just won't be upgrading his drill to a new model if the old one does the job, even if the new model has many attractive features.
"I will just…": these are the words that end up pulling back the buyer into not buying the product, into ultimately saying not this or not now.
The force of the Habits of the Present are essentially the buyer's fallback position. The place of highest entropy. It's where the real purchase friction comes from.
Habits are the most influential force in the mind of the buyer, the thing that most pulls back from the purchase.
All the other forces have to compensate for the pull of that gravity well.
If all the forces check out, you've got a sale. If the top forces are stronger than the bottom forces, you've got a sale. If the bottom forces are stronger than the top forces, you don't have a sale.
Crafting and shaping your product, its marketing, all the experiences around your product too, is the craft of tending to those forces.
These forces are at play not only when selling a product, but when selling just about anything: selling your services, getting buy-in for idea from someone, and even for signups to your newsletter.
Even if your product is free, there are still forces at play, pushing and pulling in the mind of the person making that decision to go ahead with what you're offering.
If you'd like to uncover the forces that were at play in the purchase of your own product or service. Reach out. I've got a special interview technique to use when talking to your recent buyers.
By Pascal Laliberté. Published on Dec 6, 2018.
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text:
Florence 1 School District Preparing for Inaugural Esport Season
Industry, Latest
Florence 1 School district to begin inaugural season in 2021
Florence 1 Schools made history earlier by announcing that they would create a district wide Esports league for students, and the plan is slowly coming to fruition. In fact, the various schools have already moved past tryouts for each team and are now gearing up for tournament season in the spring of next year.
The teams will be playing rocket league, which requires gamers to control a high-powered mini car that can push a ball down the field. The goal of the game is to move the ball down the field with the user's car and try to get it into the opposing team's net. The other team is supposed to try to knock the ball away or steal it to try to score themselves. Each score equals a point and whoever has the most at the end of game is the winner
Esports presents an opportunity to teach inclusivity
What's interesting about this league though is how inclusive it is to all students in the community. Not only is that evident by the district allowing students of all ages to compete for their school, but also due to them placing no restrictions on gender. That means males and females will be working together in order to defeat teams from other schools.
"When you see a kid who is really good at something and never gets to show it and aren't as confident and you put them in this among their peers, and they are doing well, you see them blossom and their personality comes out," Howle said when asked about the inclusivity of Esports.
Preparing players for the upcoming esports season
Believe it or not, the district is supposed to compete all over the east coast during the early parts of next year, which will put them up against a variety of different opponents from other schools. Although players in the league are unsure of how they will perform in primetime, Coach Howle is discussing the idea of facing collegiate teams for practice.
"I'd hazard a guess we could beat any collegiate team in the state, "district coach, Wyatt Howle said in an interview regarding his team," We have some great athletes. There is one guy who is in the top 1 percent. We actually have about three players in the top 1 percent and one who is in probably the .5 percent of the world,"
The coach even went as far as to have the coach of the USC Sumter college team sit in on practices, and he was impressed in with what he saw. Whether that results in a win during their inaugural season remains to be seen, but it's nice to see something bring people together for a change. It's also nice to see school districts embrace Esports on this kind of level. And it should be fun to see how it evolves.
In the end, the new Esports leagues are a win for students that want more out of their high school experience. It is also something that allows gamers, who were previously playing video games in the shadows, to finally take center stage. One day, the top gamer in school might even be on the same level as the star Quarterback on varsity.


text:
Kno Gets $46M For Tablet-Based Digital Textbook
Mathew Ingram Sep 8, 2010 (Jun 8, 2020) -- Blog Post
Kno, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based startup that plans to launch a two-screen "digital textbook" later this year, today announced that it has raised a $46-million financing round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with Silicon Valley Bank and TriplePoint Capital also participating in the debt and equity funding. The latest cash infusion brings the total raised by the company to $55 million, which the company says should provide enough resources to get its tablet to market by the end of this year.
This is Kno founder Osman Rashid's second crack at revolutionizing the textbook market: He's also the founder and former CEO of Chegg, a startup that rents access to university textbooks. Kno is a much more ambitious project, however, since it involves launching a new hardware device and a software platform at the same time. The Kno — which runs a version of Linux and uses the Chrome (s goog) browser as its interface — is designed to replicate the printed textbook, but also allows users to write notes on the screen and search through the text. The company has a beta trial underway with several textbook publishers, including McGraw-Hill (s mhp) and Wiley (s jw-a).
Kno isn't the only company who wants to use a tablet to revolutionize the textbook business: A startup called Inkling is also going after that prize, but it's using the iPad (s aapl) as a platform, rather than building a dedicated device. The company recently launched its software, which allows for a wide range of interactivity within a digital textbook, including 3-D spinning molecules that can be rotated in any direction. Inkling has also been funded by a group of venture capital firms — including Sequoia Capital, Sherpalo Ventures and former Google staffer Aydin Senkut's Felicis Ventures — although the size of the funding round hasn't been released.
Until the Kno hits the market, it's difficult to say whether it will get widespread adoption by students (or parents). The company hasn't said exactly how much the device will cost, but has estimated that it will be under $1,000, which could be a hefty price tag for some. It's also not clear how much the company's digital textbooks will cost, or whether they will be bundled with the device. Plus, the two-panel tablet looks fairly bulky, which could be an issue as well. Inkling's solution is somewhat less expensive, since it's based on the cheaper (and lighter) iPad, which some students may already own or be thinking of buying.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd): Analyzing the Social E-book


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