text:
Google Drive update brings support for spreadsheets, homescreen shortcuts
If you're the type who regularly writes and edits documents online, you'll be happy to know that Google Drive on mobile devices now lets you make and edit spreadsheets. Google has launched an update to Google Drive that includes a new native editor that lets you create a new spreadsheet or edit an existing one right from the Drive app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. You can switch fonts, resize columns, sort data and do much more in a spreadsheet. And just like on the online service, you will be able to see other people's edits and comments in real time. Click here to get the update.
More interestingly, Google Drive now lets you create a shortcut to Drive files and folders on your homescreen. This will allow you to directly access frequently accessed files and folders from the shortcuts on the homescreen instead of having to navigate to the Drive app, opening it and then browsing to the desired file or folder. This feature can be quite useful if you have a truckload of files and folders stored on Drive.
The update also includes a slew of functionality improvements to the Google Docs editor. You can now edit the contents of tables in the Google Docs editor. The updated editor also preserves the formatting of content when copy/pasting content within Google Docs. You can also enter the 'Edit' mode in Google Docs by single tapping, instead of having to manually switch between the edit and view modes.
What's more, the Send Link option for files and folders now has a new option that lets you copy links to the clipboard, in addition to giving you the usual roster of services and applications you can use to share links.
This is only the latest in the improvements that Google is rolling out for Google Drive in a bid to increase the integration between its various services and the cloud storage solution. Just yesterday, the company announced that Drive has now been integrated into Gmail, allowing you to directly attach files to emails from Google Drive. This feature allows you to attach a maximum 10 GB worth of files to your emails. Google explained that since the files being sent are stored in the cloud, this feature would let the recipients access the most recent version of the file.
Interestingly, Gmail will also work like a smart assistant and double-check that the intended recipients have access to the files being sent. This way, whenever a user sends a file from Drive that isn't shared with everyone; he will be given the option to change the file's sharing settings, without moving away from his mail. Moreover, this will work with Drive links pasted directly into emails. The new feature that will be rolled out over the next few days will only be available with Gmail's new compose experience, so you'll need to opt-in if you haven't already.
Google also announced early this month that Google Drive now lets you share your files on Google+. People you share your files with can now view presentations, open PDFs, and play videos and music, right from their Google+ stream. Unlike shares on Facebook or Twitter, where you can only share links of certain files, Google+ adds functionality that would let you view your documents and presentations in the Google+ stream itself. If on a mobile device, the document or file will instead open in the Google Drive app.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The last part of this Scripture is the third part we will look at today and pray about this week. Each one of us has been dealt "a" measure of faith. Each and everyday we need to grow in our faith. As God gives us wisdom, then share that wisdom. As He encourages you, then encourage others. After you have come to know Him and have allowed Him to be Lord of your life share His love. We all have a story to tell and how He has saved us. We each are unique yet others have problems just like we have had. Some of the problems are different, or the same and some may be larger or even smaller. Yet we all need His love, mercy and grace.
As you grow in your faith you will see others around you. As you see them do not criticize them instead pray for them and see what God wants to do through you. You may have the ears to listen, the hands to help, resources to share, wisdom to flow through you, or a smile that reflects the love of Jesus in their dark moment. Please be in prayer of how to share your faith so that others will see Him through you and His love for them through you. When you share all He has given you He gets all the glory. What a loving God we get to know when we spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to be all that You would have us to be. Please help us to share our faith by showing others Your love, mercy and grace. May You be glorified in all that you do through me each and every day.
Previous Post: Is He Your Guide?


Sam Edelman has made it, and lost it all, several times. He sold equestrian-inspired footwear to Ralph Lauren, co-founded Kenneth Cole Productions, and launched the shoe division at Esprit. He took his own shoe company, Sam & Libby, public in 1991, but sold it at a loss. That's when he turned his attention full time to his horse farm and said goodbye to the shoe business. But a crippling riding accident made Edelman realize he wasn't done with shoes, and shoes weren't done with him, just yet.
My father, Arthur, owned a leather tanning company that specialized in exotics. So when alligator, iguana, and python [lost popularity] in the 1970s, so did the idea that I'd take over the family business. I started buying and selling horses instead. My then-girlfriend thought equestrian-inspired footwear and accessories would do well. So my father and I started Horseshoes and became Ralph Lauren's first shoe license. Then we lost our domestic factory and went out of business.
I called Kenny Cole, who was at Candie's, and went to work there. Then we started Kenneth Cole Productions. He did creative. I did licensing, legal, and selling, but the company felt too small for both of us. I went to Esprit to start their shoe line.
I was 27 when I met my future wife, Libby. After I left Esprit, I said to her, "Let's do our own line." She agreed, and I said, "We may lose our house." That's one of three times I've said that. It was 1987. We sold our horse and raised money, but we didn't have a lot, so we used our own story to sell our shoes. Our first ad was a photo of us on the beach. Our round-toe ballerina flats with bows were our first hit, and we had three of the biggest shoes in the history of the industry. I took my eye off the ball when we took Sam & Libby public. We sold the company in 1996.
In 2001, I got thrown from a horse, and my leg got twisted and broken badly. I was crippled for nine months. As I was lying in bed, reading magazines, I saw all these great affordable clothes paired with $800 shoes. I decided to start an affordable shoe line. I was rusty. Things had changed, and I made mistakes. Libby and I sold our new horse farm to finance our business. Then Brown Shoe Company, now Caleres, bought some, then all, of the company. Most founders are gone within six months of selling. But I'm still here. Caleres gave me an opportunity to realize my vision: to buy back Sam & Libby [which we did in 2012]. Edelman Shoes is a division of Caleres, but we run the company like it's ours. If a shoe is late, it kills us. If it sells, we're ecstatic. To this day, whenever I see someone wearing our shoes, I introduce myself. I still love that.


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text:
Q: How do Java decompilers discern a for-loop from a while-loop? Consider these two methods:
public static void forLoop(int start, int limit) {
    for (int i = start; i < limit; i++) {

    }
}

public static void whileLoop(int start, int limit) {
    int i = start;
    while (i < limit) {
        i++;
    }
}

When compiled, they produce the bytecode (this is the verbose output of javap):
  public static void forLoop(int, int);
    descriptor: (II)V
    flags: ACC_PUBLIC, ACC_STATIC
    Code:
      stack=2, locals=3, args_size=2
         0: iload_0
         1: istore_2
         2: iload_2
         3: iload_1
         4: if_icmpge     13
         7: iinc          2, 1
        10: goto          2
        13: return
      LineNumberTable:
        line 6: 0
        line 9: 13
      LocalVariableTable:
        Start  Length  Slot  Name   Signature
            2      11     2     i   I
            0      14     0 start   I
            0      14     1 limit   I

  public static void whileLoop(int, int);
    descriptor: (II)V
    flags: ACC_PUBLIC, ACC_STATIC
    Code:
      stack=2, locals=3, args_size=2
         0: iload_0
         1: istore_2
         2: iload_2
         3: iload_1
         4: if_icmpge     13
         7: iinc          2, 1
        10: goto          2
        13: return
      LineNumberTable:
        line 12: 0
        line 13: 2
        line 14: 7
        line 16: 13
      LocalVariableTable:
        Start  Length  Slot  Name   Signature
            0      14     0 start   I
            0      14     1 limit   I
            2      12     2     i   I

As you can see, the code section for both of these methods is exactly the same. However, when I decompile this class using JD, it correctly produces:
public static void forLoop(int start, int limit) {
  for (int i = start; i < limit; i++) {}
}

public static void whileLoop(int start, int limit)
{
  int i = start;
  while (i < limit) {
    i++;
  }
}

How was it able to do this? The bytecode of these methods is exactly the same! Despite the fact that the LineNumberTable and LocalVariableTable attributes were different for each method, I am reluctant to believe that is the reason since those are not required attributes for the Code attribute of a method to contain (per section 4.7 of The Java Language Specification, Java SE 8 Edition).

A: The line numbers and local variable scope.
for loop:
 LineNumberTable:
    line 6: 0
    line 9: 13
  LocalVariableTable:
    Start  Length  Slot  Name   Signature
        2      11     2     i   I
        0      14     0 start   I
        0      14     1 limit   I

while loop:
LineNumberTable:
        line 12: 0
        line 13: 2
        line 14: 7
        line 16: 13
  LocalVariableTable:
    Start  Length  Slot  Name   Signature
        0      14     0 start   I
        0      14     1 limit   I
        2      12     2     i   I

The for loop has fewer distinct lines of code - which makes sense because it wraps up the initialization and increment in one line.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I've written this before, but will again here. Cameras come and go in the digital era. They have a half-life of about 12-18 months. Sony is very much on the way to get to the very top... But lenses, and especially great lenses can be forever. Like several Olympus Zuikos, older Nikon e.g. 2.8/180 and of course the Planar.
The changes in soft- and hardware I haven't noticed so much because I've been using GNU / Linux for years, simply because UNIX generally compresses more gentle. But in recent weeks certain technical photographs had been requested by a ship-yard and I had to have a good RAW converter. The thing is, they are running mostly on Windows or Mac. Adobes CC and Microsoft Win 8 versions which would make me a subscriber are useless if I do not have a interet connection, so I installed the 32bit version on a Windows7 virtual machine and then installed CapterOne 7.
Using for a long time mostly digiKam for RAW processing to work on images from the D800, E3/E5 and from a databack of an older Hasselblad my mind got blown away as I opened one image at random in Capture One Pro 7. I always knew my lenses and cameras would do better.
More detail, better contrast, magnificent colors. Even images I've taken with with the D800 at 3200 ISO had lost their noise considerably ! Skin color of portraits was exceptional on old images I had taken with the old Olympus. Pushing the highlight slider, then color balance, it is simple and easy to do with Capture One. Looking at the results: Details appeared everywhere, without the rest of the image losing clarity.
Sadly, digiKam was nowhere near the results of Capture One. Nor DarkTable, another RAW converter, was even coming close, even if it surface is a bit similar to this of Capture One's. Now I have to find a machine with 64 bit to run on Win 7 only to work with Capture One because the workflow is faster and most of all the results are much better. The price of the program is nothing comparing to Photoshop, - but it looks we are reaching the post Photoshop time anyway.


Greater Bay Area: Will the initiative benefit Hong Kong?
According to Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's chief executive, the benefits Hong Kong can bring to China's Greater Bay Area initiative are clear: an independent and strong legal system, the provision of world-leading financial and professional services, and an efficient regional transportation hub that can boost connectivity across the mainland.
Despite these competitive advantages, participating cities in the Greater Bay Area must address disparities in regulatory, business and cultural norms to succeed. What are the challenges they face? Which particular areas require urgent focus? And, ultimately, what benefits will the Greater Bay Area initiative deliver to Hong Kong and its people?
What is the Greater Bay Area initiative, and why has this become a priority for the Chinese government?
What avenues exist for collaboration between Hong Kong and Greater Bay cities?
How will this 'cluster' of cities deliver benefits and opportunities for businesses and investors, as opposed to operating individually?
How will the Greater Bay strategy affect related industries such as logistics, finance, infrastructure and others?
Is the Greater Bay Area plan the answer to Hong Kong's housing needs and land shortage?
In Hong Kong, the adoption of smart home technology is increasing with the current household penetration rate of 20.1% in 2018. By 2022, the rate is expected to hit 33.4%. Smart homes use wireless technology to connect, collect and exchange data from a network of devices, appliances and applications.
Smart homes are changing people's lifestyles by offering comfort, convenience, cost savings and energy efficiency. For the elderly, smart home-based remote health care technologies help monitor their health conditions in the comfort of their own homes.
Despite the purported benefits of smart home technology, there are growing concerns that it could potentially bring on cyber attacks, privacy breaches and security risks to users. How can Hong Kong bring the future to the present homes using smart technology while managing the potential risks?
How can industry players solve the interoperability problems of household appliances and devices to offer a seamless experience for users?
Can smart home technology help the elderly manage their conditions and avoid accidents?
How can industry players address cybersecurity and consumers' privacy concerns?
Will voice-activated home automation gain momentum in Hong Kong?
Government coffers have surpassed the "saving rainy day" excuse; can the government finally start spending more liberally? Will there be more handouts or fiscal prudence must come first?
How is the new administration investing in the future of Hong Kong to enhance the city's competitiveness?
How to ensure sustainable economic development, talent and innovation?
How is the budget addressing Hong Kong's housing challenges to become a liveable city?
Hong Kong is losing its lustre as the world's favoured destination for companies to raise funds this year, falling behind New York and Shanghai. Over the first six months of this year, the city's stock market raised US$5.8 billion worth of IPOs, a drop of 19.5 per cent from the US$7.3 billion it raised in the same period in 2016, when it was ranked as the leader for new listings worldwide. How can Hong Kong regain its status as the world's No. 1 IPO market in terms of fundraising size? Should Hong Kong loosen listing rules and regulations to attract more IPOs?
Should Hong Kong reform listing rules to attract more technologies and new-economy business?
Should Hong Kong tighten listings regulations in order to uphold the quality of the markets?
Will over-regulation hamper Hong Kong's competitiveness as the world's top IPO market?
CFOs are under increasing pressure to acquire new skills and upgrade existing ones.
However, research shows that many of them do not see clearly the changes undergoing in the finance function and the need it creates for a CFO, who can fulfil the role of strategic advisor to the CEO.
The role is not clearly cut out and much depends on the company's individual needs, but expectations are high.
Hence, do CFOs need to rethink their roles?
Should CFOs adapt to the complex business environment by taking on non-financial-related responsibilities to future-proof their role?
Are CFOs well-equipped to take on new technologies and data analytics to meet future priorities? Isn't that the COO's or CTO's job?
Should CFOs be groomed into future-CEOs or it's best to hire externally?
Should business priority be focused on cyber security or safeguarding sensitive data?
Asia is a prime target for cyber criminals due to lack of awareness of cyber threats, use of outdated or unlicensed technology, data breach or lack of disclosure regulation. Hence, many organisations see both cyber security and data protection on their business priority list, but which is more important? How should a company balance the investment in cyber security over user convenience?
Is cyber security more than a technology issue? Should information security be elevated to the importance of enterprise-wide security?
Should there be more investment spending on beefing up cyber security and protecting data privacy despite unquantifiable ROI?
Should big data be used to minimise cyber risks?
Is 2017/18 Hong Kong Budget on track to rejuvenate the city's economy?
It is no surprise that Hong Kong will have HK$92 billion in budget surplus for 2017/18. But there are surprises on how financial resources were distributed on medium- and longer-term.
How sweet or sour is the budget for Hongkongers and companies?
Has the proposed budget addressed the city's deep-seated thorny social issues including the poor and middle class? Does Hong Kong really need sweeteners?
Are the proposed budget measures sufficient in alleviating housing problems?
Should there be more initiatives to relieve the city's SMEs financial burden?
Should a new tax scheme be introduced (such as GST) to offset foreseeable tax revenue decline caused by an ageing workforce?
Is Hong Kong losing its appeal as Asia's financial centre?
Are financial or listing reforms going to further impede competitiveness and the ease of business?
Are Shanghai- and Shenzhen- "connect" stock market schemes helping?
What can Hong Kong do to stay ahead in FinTech investment and banking?
Hong Kong has seen a transformation in its political and social landscape since Occupy Central in 2014. How will Hong Kong's political stakeholders and the newly-elected LegCo members position the city in the new political era?
How civil disobedience movements and radical protests are causing political animosity and adding to impacting the effectiveness of government policies going forward.
Can Hong Kong be governable regardless of who the chief executive is?
How will grassroots leaders and their newly created political parties address the city's societal issues?
How widening political divides hurt the city's economic prospects and credit ratings, making Hong Kong less competitive?
The Honourable John C Tsang, GBM, JP delivered his ninth budget speech against the backdrop of a slowing Hong Kong economy and growing tensions in society earlier this year. Will people's livelihood continue to suffer because of political stalemate?
What steps can be done to steer the fiscal policy forward?
How can Hong Kong re-invent itself in the new economic order?
What is the long-term economic vision and positioning for Hong Kong's future if we want to minimise the reliance on the mainland economy?
In the context of nation-wide policies of "One Belt, One Road" and the 13th five-year plan, how should Hong Kong position itself to capitalise on opportunities arising from them?
MPF reform: Tougher regulations or higher investment returns?
The Mandatory Provident Fund has failed to ensure adequate protection for retirees. Policy failures have led many elderly people without retirement protection. Complaints of lacklustre fund performance and high administrative fees continue to be on the rise.
By the end of this year, a core fund option for employees will be introduced. What will this mean for the providers and the employees going forward?
Many have criticised the MPF system for their high fees. Will the core fund fee cap make a change to the system? Are there any other options in reducing the fee?
The MPF has performed sluggishly since last October, what should employees do in this volatile market?
How can the current MPF system be further developed to fully address retirement protection for the elderly?
Setting the scene: Is Hong Kong's aviation hub leading or lagging the regional competition?
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is a premier gateway to and from Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe and mainland China with passenger numbers exceeding 68 million passengers last year – an all-time high. To absorb more planes and passengers, the airport has also opened a new Midfield Concourse but aviation chiefs want to expand the airport to meet fresh demand now and in the future. Although HKIA is continually raising the bar to achieve customer service excellence, product innovation as well as enhancing the passenger experience, there is mounting scepticism and opposition in building a third runway at HKIA.
Will an expensive third runway be cost efficient to the detriment of airlines and passengers?
Fixing education: Students first or bureaucracy first?
There are a myriad of challenges in Hong Kong's education system.
Budget prognosis: Healthy or bleak for Hong Kong's future economic growth?
Looking back to the year 2015, did the proposed measures enhance both Hong Kong's business environment and competitiveness? What could we expect going forward?
Hong Kong is a knowledge-based economy; however the city suffers from mounting challenges. Political stalemate continues as Hong Kong's election reform plan has been rejected. Hong Kong's technological innovation is losing ground in comparison to her neighbouring countries. Economic uncertainty looms due to an over-reliance on the four industry pillars. Hong Kong desperately needs a radical shake-up to break the inertia.
Is nurturing emerging pillar industries such as cultural and creative industries, innovation and technology; testing and certification services and environmental industries the key solution to propelling economic growth and increasing the City's competitive edge?
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge: White elephant or cash cow?
Hong Kong is expanding its connectivity through partnerships and investments, including the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge project. This strategic piece of infrastructure will link Hong Kong with the rest of the Pearl River Delta, benefitting the free-trade zone's development. What role will the HZM bridge play in overall infrastructure development over the next ten years? How will the government develop and position the artificial island in Hong Kong waters?
English in Hong Kong: Will declining standards undermine our identity?
Hong Kong's struggle with the English language is hurting its competitiveness. While English is a vital tool for international commerce, it seems to be increasingly sidelined in Hong Kong. Last year, Singapore retained its position as the world's second-most competitive economy, whereas Hong Kong lagged behind, ranking seventh on a list of 144. Have standards here always been low or are they getting worse? How should Hong Kong tackle this problem to retain its status as Asia's World City?
Social mobility: Does the younger generation stand a chance?
In a stagnant economy such as Hong Kong, with a struggling job market and a lack of senior positions, the key to breaking the social mobility shackles is to develop new industries and create new jobs. By grooming and enhancing the skills of young people, they could potentially become the future business leaders in another 10 to 15 years. What can be done now to help create upward mobility for Hong Kong's future young generation?
overcoming the challenges of cultural and social changes and competition while heading "north"
Stock Connect: The Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock trading scheme: Who wins what?
Whereas only 50 percent of the 35 Chinese IPOs in Hong Kong have registered price gains of 11 percent in 2014 (Dealogic), most Chinese listings completed in Shanghai or Shenzhen have doubled in share price after listing. Will the Shenzhen - Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme help Hong Kong tap into this momentum to attract big IPO deals, improve market sediments and boost competitiveness amongst exchanges?
Budget 2015: Will the livelihood debate suffer because of political stalemate?
Each year, the financial secretary sets out the government's tax and fiscal policy plans in the budget speech. Looking back on 2014, we consider what has been done since to improve Hong Kong's competitiveness and to develop industry, education, health and welfare for the elderly. Our panelists will debate about the key recommendations presented in this year's budget speech and evaluate the government's measures and priorities for strengthening the economy and enhancing the city's future.


text:
Market advances following upside reversals
by Lowry Research | Dec 2, 2020 | How I See It
Among the primary missions of the Lowry Analysis is to help investors avoid the worst of bear markets while making the most of bull markets. As it relates to the latter, Lowry's Average Power Rating (APR) Index is a valuable tool in confirming whether a new bull market is underway and in identifying the continuation of a preexisting longer-term uptrend.
The reason the APR Index is so pragmatic is that it acts as a gauge at the intersection of market breadth and demand intensity. Both factors are crucially important determinants of an advance's sustainability. Where Lowry's Power Rating reflects the present relative strength of each issue, the APR Index is the average power rating of all stocks in Lowry's database (currently 3,550).
Demand powerful enough to propel the Lowry universe of stocks is worth monitoring closely. This study comes at a time when investors are attempting to determine whether the next stage of the recovery off the March 23, 2020, market bottom has begun or is destined to reverse.
Since the advent of Lowry's APR Index in 1949, robust gains in the APR Index that endure two or more consecutive weeks preceded positive returns in the S&P 500 Index on multiple time frames with high degrees of consistency. The latest instance was recorded last month and clarifies the market's most likely course.
Lowry's Power Rating had a maximum score of 69 from 1949 to 2001, and then 99 thereafter. So, the criteria used for a Lowry APR Index "thrust" was for a two-week gain of at least 9 points prior to 2001 and a two-week gain of at least 11 points subsequently.
From the time of the completion of the identified APR Index thrusts, on average, the S&P 500 Index climbed 12.51% six months later and 20.26% after 12 months (see summary statistics in Table 1.) There have been 33 observations since 1949, with the most recent occurring off the late September 2020 market low (see Table 2.)
Although these signals do not correspond with precise lows, it is worth recognizing that it is the force of these APR Index gains that led to further price index gains on a longer time horizon. This indication is conceptually aligned with Lowry's philosophy of waiting for the market to demonstrate the return of strong demand before aggressively adding equity exposure in the wake of market corrections.
TABLE 1: SUMMARY STATISTICS—MARKET ADVANCES FOLLOWING APR INDEX THRUSTS
(SINCE 1949)
Source: Lowry Research, market data
TABLE 2: ROBUST TWO-WEEK GAINS IN LOWRY'S APR INDEX AND SUBSEQUENT MARKET ADVANCES SINCE 1949
After examining the data in Tables 1 and 2, there are several key takeaways as it relates to subsequent stock index performance.
The first point is that nearly all instances (94%) identified market entry points that produced positive 12-month returns. This figure is what the statistical summary refers to as the "win rate." Further, the average forward 12-month return of 20.26% was well above the historical annualized return of the S&P 500 of 7.82% since 1949, which carried a relatively high 16.29% standard deviation compared to the APR Index thrusts.
In fact, the three-month return after these two-week APR Index thrusts was 7.10%—nearly matching the market's annualized return over the time period. In absolute performance terms, there was only one instance of a negative cumulative return for all time horizons (1969). It is worth noting that this negative instance was contextualized by the start of a new secular bear market in December 1968 that was preceded by a 17-month negative divergence in the NYSE all-issues advance-decline line. Other Lowry indicators identified this time period as a bear market for investors to avoid.
Taking into account all observations, the standard deviations of returns were below the average returns for the six and 12-month periods, indicating a high level of consistency of returns around the mean. However, it should be recognized that the greatest consistency appears for 12-month forward returns, which possess the lowest standard deviation relative to its performance figure, 12.29% versus 20.26%. This would suggest that these demand thrusts have the most utility for intermediate- to longer-term investors.
Another interesting and confirming characteristic of these observations is that five of them coincided with the timing of Lowry dynamic demand expansions. These rare signals occur when Lowry's Short Term Index rises by at least 40 points from an oversold level in less than four weeks.
See Related Article: Comparing preelection market conditions: 2020 vs. 2016
As detailed in our white paper "Lowry's Dynamic Demand Expansions After Important Market Bottoms," these conditions are historically consistent with the accurate identification of lasting market lows and new intermediate- to long-term uptrends. The overlapping signals of dynamic demand expansions and APR thrusts were observations in 1962 (both instances), December 1971, August 1982, and January 2019. The average 12-month S&P 500 return subsequent to these overlapping observations was 26.36%—firmly above the average performance for even the formidable APR thrust observations of 20.26%.
Most recently, the APR Index improved sharply as the market rallied from its late September 2020 low—jumping from 45 on Sept. 24 to 56 on Oct. 8, achieving a new recovery high ahead of the major price indexes. This 11-point, two-week climb is among the most vigorous in recent years. While these signals occur infrequently, three have now been registered since the start of 2019, with two of those occurring since May 2020. The last such rise developed between May 14 and 28 when the APR Index rose from 39 to 50. Prior to that, the most recent jump of 11 or more points in two weeks was off the late December 2018 market bottom. This observation yielded positive and above-average returns for each time measurement period.
While it is unknown how the newest 2020 signals will unfold, the greater context of them materializing after the major market bottom in March 2020 and while the APR Index was above its 30-week moving average (WMA) reflects growing market demand. Figure 1 highlights the two most recent instances of robust two-week APR Index increases. The Lowry Analysis uses the 30-WMA of the APR Index as a gauge for the market's longer-term demand trend with APR readings over the 30-WMA indicative of a healthy condition. The fact that recent signals were observed above this level likely demonstrates a reassertion of the preexisting market uptrend. Deeply oversold conditions, often coinciding with major market bottoms, occur when APR readings are less than 30, as was the case in late March when the reading reached 24. Typically, these opportunities only present themselves about once a decade.
FIGURE 1: 2020 AVERAGE POWER RATING (APR) INDEX THRUSTS
Source: Lowry Research
The background factors, including the resilience of the APR Index above its 30-WMA before reversing and the once-in-a-decade APR Index low having been reached in late March 2020, established conditions conducive to a durable advance. These characteristics, along with the evidence illustrated in prior observations of APR thrusts since 1949, suggest that the market's recovery off its March bottom is likely in the early stages of reaccelerating.
Vincent Randazzo, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Lowry Research with more than 15 years of experience in professional equity market research, technical analysis, and market intelligence. Before joining Lowry, Mr. Randazzo was chief market analyst at NASDAQ. He was also director of research at ICAP and a research salesperson at Morgan Stanley and UBS. He has been a Chartered Market Technician (CMT) since 2008. For more information on Lowry Research, please visit lowryresearch.com.
The state of retail wealth management: 2020 trends and opportunities for 2021
Research findings from the 2020 PriceMetrix study, "The State of North American Retail Wealth Management," identify key trends, "lessons learned," and potential success factors for financial advisors.PriceMetrix, a data and analytics company that is a division of...


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Jazz Guitar wallpaper
July 10, 2010 July 12, 2010 thelonggoodbye
Headless bodies and other immigration tall tales in Arizona
The Arizona governor, seemingly determined to repel every last tourist dollar from her pariah state, has sounded a new alarm about border violence. "Our law enforcement agencies have found bodies in the desert either buried or just lying out there that have been beheaded," she announced on local television.
Ay, caramba! Those dark-skinned foreigners are now severing the heads of fair-haired Americans? Maybe they're also scalping them or shrinking them or putting them on a spike.
But those in fear of losing parts north of the neckline can relax. There's not a follicle of evidence to support Brewer's claim.
Milbank notes FBI statistics show violent crime in Arizona has not increased or decreased in ten years. John McCain(R-AZ) and of course Rush Limbaugh seemed obvious to those facts when mentioned by President Obama in a speech. Hey man you're messing with our wing-nut narrative where headless bodies and shrill demagoguery are much more interesting than the truth. This was to be expected. Conservatives can whip up all the fauz outrage they like about the deficit, but that just reminds everyone that Republicans sucked at running the economy. The old cultural hot button issues do not carry the kind of shock and awe value they once did. Let's make bizarre xenophobic claims and run on them as a platform. We could have an honest debate about illegal immigration. To be in this country illegally is not a good thing. After everyone agrees that we're a nation of laws and something should be done we have to get past the lies and talk about the estimated $285 billion dollars it would cost to track down, process and deport all illegal aliens which come from every corner of the world, not just Mexico. Compare that to the extension of unemployment insurance of $38 billion. Which should be the bigger priority at a time of so much economic misery for so many people. Bush 43 tried to reach a consensus and compromise about one issue. Immigration reform. It was perhaps the only time when right-wing pundits and bloggers ganged up against him. If the guy who took right-wing fringe ideology to new heights of extreme can't get a compromise it is doubtful Obama could propose any solution that would please even half of the far Right. There is no $285 billion to spend. So maybe we could do the ear plug manufacturers a favor and just buy some American made plugs that would shield us from the never ending shrill.
The newest immigration myth – Fox Minister of Propaganda Steve Doocy still misinformed –and misinforming — about AZ law. The Arizona law is just like an immigration law on the books in Rhode Island, except, there is no law like Arizona's in Rhode Island. John McCain and Fox hack Steve Doocy aside there are very likely citizens of Arizona who have good intentions. They're against illegal immigration, jay walking and shop lifting. Just because they have good intentions does not mean they're correct on the Constitutional issues in question or the morality of the law – Ariz. immigration law ushers in Jose Crow era
As a result of Jim Crow laws and being born suspects, African-Americans are all too familiar with the consequences of "reasonable suspicion." My father and those of his generation dealt with the obstinacy of an elected class determined to keep discrimination enshrined in statute. Sadly, with the passage of this anti-Fourth Amendment legislation in Arizona, it appears a similar elected class is determined to pass on that experience to a new generation of Americans. After decades of progress, it is painful to see a state put discrimination back into place with a new twist on old laws — ushering us into the Jose Crow era.
Masquerading as a fix to our broken immigration system, Arizona's law sacrifices the liberties we have worked so hard to gain and protect. Under Arizona's stringent anti-immigrant law, a person's ethnicity and culture makes him or her "reasonably suspicious," thereby eroding the constitutional rights of certain U.S. citizens and legal residents. Americans whose families have lived in Arizona for generations will have their citizenship questioned based on their "reasonably suspicious" physical appearance.
Why the Obama-is-a-socialist poll isn't surprising – 55 percent of likely voters in this year's elections think their president is a socialist
Of course, this only accounts for a few extra points. As the poll shows, even when the pool is broadened, the number of voters who describe their president as a socialist is quite high. But maybe this has always been the case? The right has been screaming about Obama's "socialism" since the summer of 2008 (at least) — long before he was elected, long before he was sworn in, and long before he signed a single piece of legislation. In other words, the right reached its conclusion before there was any evidence. (This is the "thinking with my gut" mentality that Stephen Colbert likes to mock.)
It seems like they over sampled far right likely voters. The Christan Science Monitor looked into this socialism bunk last week – Is Obama a socialist? What does the evidence say?
What Mr. Johns, Mr. Gingrich, and others brandishing the "socialist" s-word are really complaining of is a return to the policies of John Maynard Keynes, the English economist who advocated vigorous government involvement in the economy, from regulation to pump priming, says labor historian Peter Rachleff of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.
"Socialism suggests getting rid of capitalism altogether," says Dr. Rachleff. "Mr. Obama is not within a million miles of an ideology like that."
For what it's worth, socialists deny that Obama is one of them – and even seem a bit insulted by the suggestion.
"I have been making a living telling people Obama is not a socialist," says Frank Llewellyn, national director of the Democratic Socialists of America. "It's frustrating to see people using our brand to criticize programs that have nothing to do with our brand and are not even working."
I've seen one of the viral e-mails the Right is circulation on another blog(sorry forgot the link). One of the reasons i forgot to keep the link was the e-mail – while from a far right web site – simply echoed the same factless BS passed around by what passes for mainstream GOP politicos like Gingrich. Newt states the easily debunked lie that President Obama sent government agents into AIG's offices to take it over. AIG was bailed out and taken over during the Bush administration. Newt and others claim the government took over GM. We the tax payers bailed them( a process started by Bush) out and the government thus took part owner ship as collateral against the loan. An ages old practice of capitalism. One assumes Newt would have taken a promissory note from GM and said have a nice day, spend wisely. If the tea nut definition of socialism is that nebulous then the Bush/Republican Medicare Part D drug legislation was a socialistic pact with the pharmaceutical industry as was outsourcing contracts to Blackwater and Halliburton.
The CSM article is unlikely to have much effect. Less than have of Republicans believe president Obama was born in the U.S. In 2006 a Harris poll showed that half the U.S. believed Iraq did have WMD ( never had and never found). In a Time/CNN poll done in 1997, 80% believe that the government is hiding the existence of extraterrestrial life forms. People believe lots of things that are either false or highly unlikely. The Right in particular seems to thrive on beliefs as opposed to knowledge. We're all human and that trend is not exclusive to conservatives, but as Governor of Arizona Brewer, Rand Paul's conspiracy theory about the U.S. and European Union, what state Minnesota' representative Tom Emmer believes or feels he knows about business and senatorial candidate Sharron Angle believes about government forcing rape victims to carry their pregnancies to term all demonstrate is conservatives would be lost without their beliefs. One of the difficulties in running against conservatives for political office or debating them is getting past the pure unadulterated bull they believe in. They tend to govern badly because they want to, but also because they're generally guided by the delusions which dance in their heads and those of their supporters.
culture, Liberalism, politics, spin, values, wallpaperpolls


CRA = chief ray angle. The effect of the sensor receiving light is related to the sensor itself, and on the other hand, it has a great relationship with the angle of light incident on the Sensor. CRA is associated with illumination on the original photographic film, and if the efficiency of the light on the CMOS or CCD sensor is not only related to the CRA, it is also related to the Sensor's Micro Lens opening layout. Therefore, when doing Lens design CRA to meet the sensor manufacturers to provide the CRA reference value, so as to match their Sensor layout, improve the efficiency of light reception.
The interface between the camera and the sensor is one of the most important interfaces in the entire camera system. As the length of the lens becomes shorter and shorter, the angle of light reaching the pixel position of the sensor will become ever greater. Each pixel has a micro lens. The main function of the micro lens is to focus light from different angles on this pixel. However, as the pixel position becomes more and more large, some light will not focus on the pixels, resulting in loss of light and reduced pixel response.
The angle of light entering each image will depend on the position of the pixel, and the light near the lens axis will enter the pixel at a nearly zero angle as the distance from the axis is larger and the angle becomes larger. CRA is associated with the position of the pixel in the sensor.
From the lens side of the sensor, the maximum angle of light that can be focused onto the pixel is defined as a parameter called the (CRA). The general definition for the main light angle is that the pixel response at this angle is reduced to 80% of the zero angle pixel response (in this case, the pixel is perpendicular to the ray).
The angle at which the light enters each pixel will depend on where the pixel is located. The light near the lens axis will enter the pixel at an angle close to zero. As it increases with the axis line, the angle increases. CRA is related to the position of the pixel in the sensor, and the relationship between them is related to the design of the lens. Very compact lenses have a very complex CRA mode. If the lens's CRA does not match the sensor's microlight design, there will be an undesirable light intensity through the sensor (ie, "shadow" pink glow). By changing the micro-lens design, and the image to the appropriate processing, you can greatly reduce this phenomenon.
Changing the micro lens design can greatly reduce the shadow phenomenon and pink glow. However, in changing the microlens design, you must work closely with the lens designer to find the appropriate CRA mode for the various shots. The camera's design engineer should ensure that this technical cooperation is achieved and that the sensor and lens CRA characteristics are well matched. To ensure the success of this goal, Micron developed the relevant simulation tools and evaluation tools.
As the light is incident along the different angles on the sensor, so for a variety of miniture lenses design, the shadow phenomenon is inherent. "Cos4 law" shows that the reduced light is proportional to the quadratic of increasing the angle cosine. In addition, in some cctv lens design, the megapixel lens itself may block part of the light (known as "halo"), which will also cause shadows. So, even if the micro-lens design can minimize the shadow of the short lens phenomenon, this phenomenon will still exist more or less. In order to provide the camera designer with additional methods to correct shadows, the embedded image processor in the MT9D111 contains shadow correction, which is tailored for certain specific shots.
To help design engineers integrate sensors into their products, Micron offers a variety of development software for all of its sensor products. By using these software, the camera design engineer can simplify the modification of the various chip feature defaults. The results of each change can be displayed on a PC monitor. For many cameras used in the camera, through the use of this development system, you can correct the lens shadows and spatial color distortion parameters set. By using a uniformly lit white object, you can simply set the response process for a simple test. The software development tool can display the results of the analysis of the shadow phenomenon. After that, the engineer can use the regional method to apply the correction value. The register settings for the calibration process will be stored in the development system for the camera design.
These three parameters are the primary considerations for Lens and Sensor selection.
We send two lenses to our client for testing.
As the client needs a wider angel lens ,So they choose the the 2.81mm lens,and we fix the pink glow problems in the software.
General in the Sensor data sheet will be attached to the full field of view CRA reference value, different sensor manufacturers have different requirements, you can do this in accordance with this design reference. Some Sensor manufacturers in the public data table will not show out, but can ask with them. LENS and SENSOR generally require CRA curve error of +/- 2 degrees, of course, there are other aspects, which I also want to know.
The CRA value of the Lens should be less than the Sensor's Micro Lens CRA value, otherwise it will cause imaging illumination or color problems. The lens CRA is less than the SENSOR CRA or the lens CRA is close to the SENSOR CRA is the best, the lens CRA and the chip CRA is generally within three degrees. Requires high of 2 degrees Lens CRA does not match Sensor CRA Typical example of color cast: OV9655 / 53/50 Sensor When you use Lens TTL value below 5.0mm to determine the majority of the lens, carefully observe the imaging of the white Screen, you can see the whole picture will be color cast phenomenon.OVT for this problem improved after the Sensor model: OV9656.
In the Sensor CRA curve, the vertical axis represents the main ray angle, the unit is the degree, the horizontal axis represents the field of view, there are two representations, one is expressed as a percentage, the maximum effective imaging height of 100%, generally 10% One is directly in mm, in turn from the Sensor center to the maximum imaging height position.
SENSOR has a CRA value, which is SENSOR MICRO high resolution lens with the location of the photodiode there is a horizontal error, not in a straight line, made such a certain purpose, according to the usual practice, because SENSOR MICRO LENS and photoelectric There is a certain distance between the diodes, so the purpose is to do with the good LENS.
2.LENS also exists a CRA value, which in the LENS design is to consider the content, according to SENSOR CRA value of the design, the deviation is better within 2 degrees, too much, likely to cause lack of light and color cast.
LENS CRA is not the smaller and the better, some people think that 0 is the best, it is not right, can only say that board lens CRA and SENSOR CRA closer and the better.


In this scene, Ayushmann Khurrana is picking up the frisbee.
In next shot, Sonam Kapoor is shown with frisbee.
There is a wallet in this shot.
Suddenly wallet disappears in next shot.
Ayushmann spills coffee mug when he heard that Rishi Kapoor is at his workplace. He quickly goes to receive him while leaving the coffee mug on desk.
When he brings Rishi Kapoor in his office, there was no coffee mug on the desk.


« finding your "so that…"
Where else can you see an octopus being thrown onto a giant slab of ice in the middle of the Arizona desert?
Tonight marks Game 2 of the "Best of 7" series between the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Detroit Redwings. Game one was this past Wednesday, and it revealed a series that will be incredible to watch. And I'm not saying that just because I'm a Wings fan.
Both teams had not been seen as playoff contention material before the Olympic break. But with the return to NHL, both turned up their level of play with incredible speed, winning almost every game they played. Climbing to the number 4 (PHX) and number 5 (DET) spots, they ended up being nearly perfectly matched for the first round of playoffs.
Heading into Game One, there was a lot of pressure on Detroit's goalie, Jimmy Howard. Howard was intended to be the backup goalie to veteran Chris Osgood this season. But especially in the second half of the season, Howard came out strong and earned his position as starting for the playoffs. But here we are, the heat turned up a notch in a place where Ozzie's played many many times, and Howard seems a little nervous. Will the Wings continue to start him? I suppose that depends on his play tonight.
Game one was a physical game right out of the gates. Phoenix definitely seemed like the over-enthused 7th grader feeling like he has something to prove to the much more seasoned Detroit team. Dirty hits seemed to be the norm, until the Officials finally had to call several PHX penalties in a row. Fortunately for them, Bryzgalov (Goalie) was solid during those penalty minutes. Just wish the same could be said of Howard during ours. But no doubt he's spent a few of these past 48 hours working on stopping screened shots.
Tonight looks to be another goalie match up, although I'm sure Detroit has been told to increase the physicality of their presence a bit more, but hopefully safely avoiding the penalty box. They're bringing in Justin Abdelkader from the Griffins to replace Jason Williams, which will certainly help the checking on that line a bit. Watch for Shane Doan to bring some more hitting power, leading his team and screening pucks.


Explore world-class special exhibitions and the museum's outstanding collection, showcasing the very best of 20th-century American art.
Will you be visiting Asheville and the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains this year? Not sure where to go for the best photos, or how to best capture them? Make reservations for private photo tours and personal instruction.
This historic department store is now home to 160+ local artists offering jewelry, fine art, decorative art and crafts in its nearly 20,000 sq. ft. of space. Browse while sipping a milkshake from the Old Fashioned Soda Fountain. 25 Haywood Street.
(77 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, South Slope) In addition to their longtime favorites, their brewer series pushes the paradigm with amazing creations. Ask for a tour! In addition to great pizza, their downtown spot has a huge covered patio. Their original "mothership" location at 675 Merrimon Avenue has a movie theater.
(829 Riverside Drive, Asheville) A short drive north of downtown, this new brewery specializes in gluten-free alcoholic ginger beers as well as grain-based brews. All organic ingredients, including ginger direct from Hawaii. In RAMP Studios, open Wed-Sun afternoons.
This secluded swimming spot in Pisgah National Forest is just 5.5 miles from Sliding Rock, down river from Cove Creek Falls near Looking Glass Rock.
The Western North Carolina Cheese Trail includes several small cheesemakers and farms near Asheville. Sample cheeses and buy some to take home. Looking Glass Creamery is an easy drive from downtown Asheville.
Discover the story of the Cherokee people in this impressive museum that sets the scene for the Cherokee Heritage Trails. The Cherokee community presents its perspective on its own history and culture.
Near Cashiers is another "Sliding Rock", created by the Chattooga River gliding over a 10-foot high rock face. It's a popular local spot during the summer because the water is quite cool. You can slide down the rock, cannonball into one of the potholes or just wade in the pool below the rock.
Since 1999, they bake a wide variety of artisan tradition French breads daily. Choose from an array of house-made croissants, danishes, eclairs, cheddar-scallion biscuits, sticky buns, bagels and other pastries. And pair it up with locally-roasted organic coffee or espresso. Opens at 7 AM for early risers. Two locations in downtown Asheville: 60 Biltmore Avenue & 88 Charlotte Street.
Downtown's only cinema is dedicated to first-run and independent films. See fine films not necessarily shown in the larger commercial theaters in the wonderfully-renovated, older movie house. Located in downtown Asheville at 36 Biltmore.
See high-quality productions of classical, contemporary and original works in venues all around Asheville. They create some of the best children's theater in the area.
Tour this beautiful church in Biltmore Village, built by Biltmore House owner George Vanderbilt in 1896. The sanctuary is open Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4 PM. From April-December, volunteer docents answer questions and provide historical information from 1-4 PM. Free, but donations appreciated.
(7 miles roundtrip, easy) This scenic creekside trail follows Big Laurel Creek as it flows to the French Broad River in Pisgah National Forest near Hot Springs.
Make your wedding getaway personal, simple, elegant and beautiful. Elope in Hot Springs with a room for two nights, ceremony planning, officiant, bridal bouquet, photographer, champagne, small wedding cake, five-course dinner and breakfasts.
(21 Craven Street, Asheville) Sample brews in the riverside Liquid Center Tasting Room, located just across the French Broad River from downtown Asheville. And take a free, 90-minute brewery tour.
Discover nature on a different level on this rugged mountain, with endless vistas, great hiking and wildlife habitats. Walk across the famous swinging bridge. Located 75 miles north of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
For a challenging-yet-amazing full-day hike with a "catered" picnic, hike to the 6,593-ft. summit of Mount LeConte (third highest peak in the Smokies). You'll climb 2,853 ft. in elevation in 5.5 miles on the spectacular Alum Cave Trail. LeConte Lodge sits atop the mountain with lunch and snacks for day hikers. Myrtle Point lookout on the summit is a fabulous perch.
Receive many wonderful benefits and save with an annual membership to the North Carolina Arboretum Society. Attend special events and educational programs and receive benefits such as free parking, discounts, special mailings, e-newsletter and reciprocal privileges with 200 American Horticultural Society gardens nationwide.
See the latest seasonal ticket specials and deals to tour Biltmore House, gardens and winery on our Biltmore Guide. Often, you can save $10/person or more if you buy tickets 7 days in advance! Senior & military discounts too.
SART is a professional theatre company in residence at the historic Owen Theatre at Mars Hill University, just 18 miles north of Asheville. Presents 4-5 shows a year, including plays, musicals and original works about Southern Appalachia.


I posted this initially on Google+, but expanding on it a little here.
Sometimes the internet does do some good. Today, in memory of Aaron Swartz's death, academics are taking time to freely "publish" their papers and make them available for the general public. You can follow the #pdftribute tag on Google+ and Twitter.
It's a good way to help spread information that is typically free to view and read, save for either restrictions due to copyright or distribution rights. Things that were what Aaron circumvented and ended up being charge for. More details are available on the corresponding Wikipedia page.
I didn't know much about Aaron, but the punishment just did not fit the crime. Anyone could see that. A million dollars and a 35 year jail sentence for the release of publications that were otherwise available to the [academic] public (just not as a mass archive). Academic papers that, being academic, were supposed to be for the enlightenment and education of others, not to be tucked away behind publication paywalls and restricted repositories. A punishment of this magnitude can certainly put a weight on anyone's mind if they were being prosecuted for what was deemed an acceptable thing to do, albeit close to the line.
But this is not what bothers me the most.
It's just unfortunate, that as usual, it took a life before this was realized. And as great as this #pdftribute movement is, it really could have made a significant difference to have done this for Aaron while he was alive. To be able to show active, not reactive support. Obviously the movement shows that a supportive community exists, but only after the fact.
This isn't a lesson to teach to the world about Aaron and the inequities of the justice system. There will always be "Aaron"s and there will always be overzealous prosecutions. Laws can be changed and attitudes turned, but something unfortunately always needs to trigger it to actually make it happen.
No, this incident is a lesson for us.
This is a lesson to teach to us that if we continue to ignore these things as just a problem that someone else has, we're going to end up with more reactionary efforts rather than proactive ones. We will continue to lose people that may make mistakes, but are in no way deserving of depression, punishment, or even death. It's a problem we all have: apathy, turning the eye, someone else's problem. Of course, I'm guilty of that to. This post is completely reactionary after all.
But this is the exact mindset that needs to change. To see an injustice and to be able to do something proactive, not reactive, about it. Tributes are fine. They're a way to show support. But they're often just too late. We need to be able to see what's happening around us now and change what we can when we can to spare the need for a tribute. It's not an easy thing since people really are often driven by damage rather than motivation. But that really needs to change.
This change in mindset, perhaps, is a much more fitting tribute for Aaron, and falls in line with what he was trying to accomplish.
Image courtesy of Quinn Norton via The Verge.


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After wind scare, balloons fly over Macy's Thanksgiving parade
SpongeBob SquarePants flies low to the ground during the 2019 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Windy weather meant the giant balloons flew at a lower level. (Porter Binks / EPA/REX/Shutterstock)
Santa Claus waves in front of Radio City Music Hall during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Associated Press)
Participants make their way down Sixth Avenue during the annual parade, which began in 1924. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Associated Press)
Members of the crowd along Sixth Avenue snap smartphone pictures of the parade entries. (Jeenah Moon / Associated Press)
Astronaut Snoopy is a new version of a Macy's parade favorite. (Porter Binks /EPA/REX/Shutterstock)
A participant throws confetti during the 93rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. (Porter Binks /EPA/REX/Shutterstock)
Smokey Bear floats along the parade route. (Porter Binks /EPA/REX/Shutterstock)
Giant balloon Jett is from the animated series "Super Wings." (Porter Binks /EPA/REX/Shutterstock)
Spectators watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from a New York apartment building. (Porter Binks /EPA/REX/Shutterstock)
The beloved balloons flew Thursday, but lower than usual, in a windy Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade after an anxious weather watch.
Wind had threatened to ground the giant inflated characters. But officials announced less than an hour before Thursday's start time that the balloons could fly, if in a down-to-earth way.
During the parade, as officials issued a public alert about wind gusts, handlers struggled with some of the giant balloons and pulled them close to the ground for maximum control.
Meanwhile, winds did keep giant balloons out of Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day parade.
The Macy's parade balloons might have been kept low, but Susan Koteen's spirits weren't. She has traveled from Florida three years in a row to see the parade.
"We love it. Because it's exciting, it's patriotic, and it just — it warms your heart," she said.
Spectators lined up a half-dozen deep along the route on a gusty fall day, with leaves and confetti swirling in the wind.
A "Green Eggs and Ham" balloon joined the lineup this year, Smokey Bear returned for the first time since 1993, and spectators got to see new versions of favorites Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants.
A smaller new balloon, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's "Love Flies Up to the Sky," and two star-shaped balloons ultimately didn't make the lineup, and a giant Ronald McDonald balloon was removed because it tore during inflation, Macy's said. The McDonald's character had a visibly deflated left leg and foot.
Macy's spokesman Orlando Veras called the parade "a fantastic event despite these minor challenges."
The wind during the parade blew about 13 mph with gusts up to 32 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
City rules require balloons to be grounded if sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts exceed 34 mph. The balloons have been grounded only once for weather-related reasons, in 1971.
On Thursday, in a windy spot near the start of the 2½-mile route, a Nutcracker balloon knocked into one of its handlers, who fell down but got up and continued walking. A Grinch balloon touched some trees as it passed a corner, drawing an "ooh!" from the crowd.
To paradegoer Kate O'Connor, the wind was "scary, especially around the corners — they're like wind tunnels."
It was exciting to see the balloons up close, "but they're really meant to be seen from underneath," said the resident of Newtown, Conn., who said she comes to the parade every other year with her daughter, Megan, 8.
Joanna Mammen said she and her family came from Bradford County in northern Pennsylvania to see the parade she attended every year while growing up in the Bronx.
"My favorite float, as a kid, was Santa Claus," said Mammen, 69. "Most of the other floats from that time, the kids these days wouldn't even recognize. But it's a beautiful tradition, to come out and experience the crowd."
Willie Brown said he traveled from Dallas to see the parade, particularly entertainers Ciara and Kelly Rowland.
"This was really a bucket list item for me, Macy's Day Parade in New York City," the 23-year-old said. "You grow up seeing glimpses on TV, but it's something I knew I needed to experience."
The parade, one of the city's most popular events, features about 8,000 marchers, two dozen floats, entertainers and marching bands, ending with an appearance from Santa Claus.
The character balloons can float as high as 55 feet off the ground and as low as 10 feet.
The rules requiring the balloons to be grounded in high winds came after a "Cat in the Hat" balloon blew into a lamppost near Central Park in 1997, critically injuring a woman.
In 2005, an M&M's balloon smacked into a lamppost in Times Square, causing cuts and bruises to a woman in a wheelchair and her 11-year-old sister.
In 2017, a gust on an otherwise calm day sent a smaller balloon into a tree branch. That one popped and fell harmlessly onto the crowd.
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Twitter suspends Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over election fraud claims
Twitter has temporarily suspended the account of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican who has expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories online.
Nationwide protests authorities feared by Trump supporters fail to materialize
Protests by armed right-wing groups erupted at some state capitols, but remained small and peaceful
Trump allies behind rally that ignited Capitol riot, records show
An AP review of records finds veterans of President Trump's failed campaign were key players in the rally that spawned the U.S. Capitol assault.
Coronavirus and Pandemic
Another new coronavirus variant found across California, including L.A. County
As the number of coronavirus infections in California approaches 3 million, health officials said Sunday that a new strain — different from a highly contagious variant first identified in the U.K. — is popping up across the state.
A COVID-era balancing act for survival at world-famous Le Petit Cirque
Le Petit Cirque is like a mini Cirque du Soleil for kids. How the Inglewood circus studio has adapted to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first two weeks of 2021 saw 59 shooting victims in South L.A. compared with seven last year, Chief Michel Moore says.
More contagious coronavirus strain detected in L.A. County as total cases top 1 million
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What is Powerpoint for YOU?
What is powerpoint for YOU? At first glance, you might think this is a strange question Surely everyone has heard of, and knows what it is. You may be right, but then again...... read on.
Here are some other online answers to the question.
A graphical approach to presentations in the form of slide shows that accompany the oral delivery of the topic. This program is widely used in business and classrooms and is an effective tool when used for training purposes.
The program you use for making a presentation.
A complete presentation graphics package. It gives you everything you need to produce a professional-looking presentation.
Let me return to my question and ask what is powerpoint for YOU? You see, it may well be a great tool that can assist presenters to communicate their ideas and passions with power and authority. It may help them connect with, engage and inspire their audience. Yet it has also caused the phrase 'death by powerpoint' to become widely known and feared.
In my experience, having witnessed considerable numbers of business presentations in my work, there are two typical answers to the question, and these answers have gone a long way to making 'death by power point' common business parlance.
This means I have typically prepared my presentation using this software and the vast majority of my slides are designed to remind me what comes next. Many of my slides contain far too much text and probably consist of mostly bullet points. The slides offer very little value to my audience in supporting my words and helping them get my key messages. They do however give me some comfort that I will remember what I intended to say, and worst case, I can simply read the slides to my audience and know I will have delivered my message.
I know that my audience will ask for a copy of my slides at the end of my presentation. I have therefore crammed as much detail as possible into the presentation to ensure value for my audience. This has meant I have had to use very small fonts in places, and have a lot more slides than I expected, but I have effectively killed two birds (and probably one presentation) with one stone.
It's good software and a useful tool if used well. Its purpose is to support what you are saying and make it easier for your audience to relate to, understand and remember your key messages.
If you want to remember your presentation content, use notes. Your audience doesn't expect you to have memorised every word.
If you want to provide handout material, design this separately. You can use powerpoint for this if you wish, but keep the slides separate to those you plan to actually present.
Who knows, maybe one day we can banish 'death by power point' from our vocabulary.
Finally, here's a funny video that highlights some key powerpoint traps we all fall into from time to time.


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Finance Commission's Terms Of Reference Unitedly Opposed By Southern States
Posted by debduttag | Apr 10, 2018 | NEWS, Politics | 0 |
Claiming that the Terms of Reference of the 15th Finance Commission for devolution of funds to states do not conform to the sprit and principles of federalism as enshrined in the Constitution, a demand for reframing those Terms of Reference have been made by three non-BJP ruled southern states.
The demand was put forward following a first of its kind meeting of the finance ministers of south Indian states in in Thiruvananthapuram. The states allegedly face severe reduction in their share of Central transfers due to the new Terms of Reference (ToR). The states agreed that the issue was clearly against the interest of all of the southern states that have progressed steadily.
There would be loss of revenues for the states that were doing well in various social indices including population because of the ToR, said the representatives from the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh in addition to the Congress-ruled Union Territory of Puducherry. All the states opposed the ToR. The meeting was however skipped by AIADMK-ruled Tamil Nadu and TRS-ruled Telangana.
One of the major bones of contention in the proposed ToR is the method that is used to calculate the population where the 2011 census is proposed to be used instead of the customary 1971 census for the division of allocation of central funds. The previous Finance Commissions used the 1971 census.
The difference in population between some of the Northern states and the Southern states according to the 1971 census is much lower than the 2011 census because of population explosion in some Northern states. Central funds are distributed keeping in mind the relative population in states.
It has been claimed by some of the southern states that they have been able to control population over the decades since 1971 while the Northern states have not been able to do so. This has enhanced the quality of life in the South – in major parameters such as health, education and life expectancy. Southern states claim that now if the 2011 census population data is used, they will stand to lose out on central funds despite the good work that they have done over the decades.
The 'conspicuous bias' in-built in the ToR of the new commission resulted in unprecedented heated debates following the appointment of the Commission, said Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
He said that the Finance Commission could be potentially restricted from fulfilling its constitutional duties because of the ToR framed by the Central Government.
"Therefore, it is only proper for all of us to appeal to the Union Government to reframe the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission," Vijayan added.
Financial autonomy of the states has been eroded by the introduction of the GST, Vijayan said.
"We are all aware that the terms of reference of the 15th FinanceCommission has created apprehension about principles of fairness and equity in the distribution of national resources for development," the CPI-M veteran said.
He further claimed that the ToR had unprecedently directed the Commission to evaluate making a proposal for performance-based incentives over and above of those dealing with fiscal responsibility, population and devolution to local bodies.
"This reflects the viewpoint and ideological inclinations of the Centralgovernment and are attempts to micro-manage the fiscal domain of states'," he said.
The better performing states would be adversely affected by the ToR and hence it was "seriously flawed", said senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in a tweet supporting the stand of the southern states. On an earlier occasion, he had commented that the BJP led central government had "lit a fire" and such a fire needs to be immediately put out before the southern "flames scorch the federation".
(Adapted from www.hindustrnatimes.com)
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Many aspects of printing are changing including the way people print, the frequency of which they print and the things they are printing. Printing technologies have evolved immensely over the years and one major innovation that is changing the future of printing is the 3D Printer. Although this is a still a fairly new concept, the printing experts at Cartridge World believe that 3D printing will be a great feature in the future of printing.
Local Motors in Phoenix, AZ have topped the list with their 3D printed customized vehicles. The first vehicle was printed at the International Manufacturing Technology show in Chicago in 2014 and was printed in 44 hours from an ABS/carbon fiber composite material. The company plans to print another car, this one will be road-ready.
Roel Deden, who is a graduate of the Dutch Design Academy in Eindhoven, decided to reimagine a 3D printable version of the arm called the Printhesis. Deden did this when she learned that the prosthetic that her friend was currently using, made out of titanium and fiberglass, cost upwards of $8900, was heavy, and oftentimes uncomfortable. The device, which cost about $335 to print and won The Netherlands' 2015 James Dyson Award.
China-based WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co. has made significant progress in their drive to 3D print livable homes and other structures. They have managed to 3D print an entire apartment building, consisting of 6 stories, as well as an impressive home. The machine they used to create the building is 20 feet tall, 33 feet wide and 132 feet long. The company 3D printed the walls of this office building within their manufacturing facility before shipping them off to the build site.
South African engineer Hans Fouche, who has been working on a large-scale 3D printer in his garage called the Cheetah, decided to use it for something functional— a lawn mower. The white ABS lawn mower remarkably took just 9 hours to print. Fouche has also 3D printed a variety of interesting objects such as a vacuum cleaner and furniture.
Lance Abernethy, from Auckland New Zealand, created two functioning power tools, the world's smallest working drill and a circular saw. Both tools actually function, but because of their small size its very difficult to get either of the tools to actually be of any use besides getting a ton of attention. Abernethy plans to create an even smaller drill, using a smaller battery that he has already found.


Wow! Check out the heavy artillery from the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show. This is an over the top "gun show"! Click on the link to see the video. Whoa! Can these weapons actually end up in the hands of civilians?
Put this in your home or cell phone list. Find phone numbers for free!
Google has managed to streamline a free directory service that may have implemented its search ranking engine, "pay for placement". Its efficient and easy to use.
Although minuscule space debris may strike any satellite on occasion, the first known collision between time two full satellites occurred only last week. Even though thousands of satellites have been launched, the low collision rate is caused by the great vastness of space. Last week, however, a defunct Russian communications satellite named Cosmos 2251 smashed right into an operational US communications satellite named Iridium 33 over Siberia, Russia. Both satellites were destroyed. The sheer number of massive particles in a dispersing debris cloud, depicted in an inset image above, increases the risk that other operating satellites might be struck by a harmful fast-moving projectile. The collision occurred in low Earth orbit only 750 kilometers up, a height shared by many satellites but significantly higher than the 350-km high human-occupied International Space Station. Since satellites may disintegrate when struck by fast-moving space junk, the crash focuses concern that a future dramatic satellite collision may one day start an cascade of increasingly more collisions.
Turn em off for an Earth hour!


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Review: Rainy Day Friends (Wildstone #2) by Jill Shalvis
"I'm afraid of something happening to the people I care about. Including you." - Mark Capriotti
Rainy Day Friends
Series: Wildstone #2
Buy Links: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - iBooks - Google Play - Kobo
Following the USA Today bestseller, Lost and Found Sisters, comes Rainy Day Friends, Jill Shalvis' moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship.
Six months after Lanie Jacobs' husband's death, it's hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn't the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife.
Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person? Can she even trust herself?
Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she's bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie's cold, broken heart—along with the rest of the clan.
Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Green changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie's only just begun to build.
Holy shit... Words cannot describe how much I loved Rainy Day Friends. When I'm reading a review book, I love highlighting passages, quotes, descriptions... Pretty much anything that pops out at me. While I read Rainy Day Friends, I stopped highlighting and I just read. I stopped looking at it through a reviewer's eye and just enjoyed the book. Sunday's calm and slow pace moved around me while I laid on my bed with an iced coffee and just read. And you know what? That was marvelous.
Rainy Day Friends was a breathtakingly haunting novel about love, friendship, and forgiveness. The love between family and friends. A budding friendship between two very unlikely women. And not just forgiving others, but also learning to forgive yourself.
Lanie, Mark, and River are all beautifully flawed characters. Lanie doesn't know how to be loved because she's never been loved. Between her parents and her late husband, it's no wonder Lanie always believe she wasn't good enough to be loved. When Mark and his family welcome her with open arms, she's taken aback by their love and acceptance. Just as she starts to feel comfortable, her world is shaken by a woman who had a precious gift that Lanie was once denied.
Mark's world was tilted off it's axis the day his wife left him. Now he's back in Wildstone with adorable twin daughters and a woman he can't resist. He told himself that he wasn't going to open his heart until his daughters were older, but things change. With this heart on the line, Mark can only pray Lanie is brave enough to stay and fight for their love.
River is desperate to stand on her own two feet. To do so, she has to confront Lanie, a woman who has every right to hate her. When River's actions threaten the unlikely bond that formed between the two women, it breaks her in ways she never thought possible.
Wow, I just realized how incredibly cryptic that whole thing sounded. I'm trying my hardest to not give anything away because it's best to experience Rainy Day Friends yourself. I loved this book beyond words. From the characters to Jill's writing, I was in heaven. I loved all of the characters. Not just Lanie, Mark, and River, but also the rest of the family and Holden. I wan everyone to be happy and full of love. It's a tough road for all of them, but I know they're strong enough to fight. There were moments when I giggled and moments that had me tearing up. Rainy Day Friends was just everything I needed wrapped up in a pretty book. Simply amazing. I can't wait to see whose book is next because I don't want this series to end.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women's fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she's also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.
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Posted by CrystalBee at 12:41 PM
Labels: Avon, blog tour, review
Crystal Blogs Books in now on Blog Lovin'!
Share book reviews and ratings with Crystal, and even join a book club on Goodreads.
Crystal has completed her goal of reading 1 books in 2018!
7 of 1 (100%)
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text:
This is how the readathon ends:
not with a bang but a whimper.
Saturday was never going to have a huge page count. I read a few pages of Watchmen over breakfast, before heading off to work. On my lunch break, I popped into Boots and realised that I couldn't focus on the words on any of the packaging. I'd been feeling a migraine brewing for a few days, and had just been relieved that it hadn't ruined my day off. But the time I'd got back into the open air, everything was a grey blur. If I concentrated really hard I could make out words, but forming those words into meaning was another matter entirely. It was terrifying. So reading was out of the question.
I powered through the rest of the day on sheer willpower, and by the end of the day I'd perked up a bit, which was just as well because my friend was coming over to watch the Doctor Who season finale and Eurovision, while eating takeaway pizza.
DOCTOR WHO SPOILERS, SWEETIE. Scroll down to black text if you don't want to read.
I'll be honest, I haven't been overly impressed with this season. After the last series, since the series' return in 2005, the plots have been getting bigger and bigger, whereas the latest season has been a bit more understated, with only single-episode stories, and the big mystery of "how can the Doctor's new companion have lived and died in different times and places?" being the only connecting plot-thread. This mystery hasn't really been grown or developed through the series, just left hanging there, a loose thread for the Doctor to wrinkle his brow at when he thinks to do so.
But the finale was impressive, with clips and moments involving all the previous Doctors, scenes sliced and reused right back from William Hartnell's days. That was the moment for the nerds, and we loved it. The episode was called "The Name of the Doctor." Because no one knows the Doctor's real name, only the name he chose for himself. And whatever that name is, whether it be Fred or Slartibartfast, it can never live up to the mystery surrounding his identity.
"The Doctor has a secret; one he will take to his grave. And it is discovered."
I figured out the tricksy wording just a few split seconds before the Doctor said it. (Steven Moffat, you cunning devil.) It is not the secret that is discovered - but the Doctor's grave. Because even time lords don't live forever, and somewhere, somewhen, the Doctor dies and is buried. The series' final confrontation between the Doctor and his foe The Great Intelligence takes place here - a creepy place, even for a graveyard. The mystery of why Clara keeps on turning up in his timeline, not just in the past series, but throughout his life, largely unnoticed by the Doctor, is resolved, and far more satisfactorily than I expected. And then, while the duo are trapped in the wildernesses of the Doctor's timeline - "Everything around you is me." - their attention is drawn to a solemn sillhouette, terrifying even while standing with his back to them. Even the Doctor is afraid.
"He's me. There's only me here; that's the point, now let's - get - back."
"But I never saw that one. I saw all of you. Eleven faces, all of them were you. You're the Eleventh Doctor."
"I said he was me. I never said he was the Doctor."
Because the Doctor is the name the Time Lord chose for himself, the name that he has taken as his identity. This other man - played by John Hurt and credited as "The Doctor" - has done something so terrible that The Doctor has disowned him from himself. Theories abound, but mine is that this person, this non-Doctor Doctor, was a previous regeneration, between Paul McGann (8th Doctor, 1996) and Christopher Eccleston (9th Doctor, 2005) - during which time the infamous, appalling Time War destroyed Gallifrey, the race of Time Lord and many, many other planets. We know of the Time War only from details let slip by the only survivor, the Doctor. The next episode, due to be aired in November, is the show's 50th Anniversary special. It has long been a theory of mine that this episode's topic will be the Time War in the missing years. The cliffhanger supports this theory. But we have six months until then.
After Doctor Who came the Eurovision Song Contest. How does one describe Eurovision to one unfamiliar to it? From a British point of view, at least, it is just a chance to shamelessly make fun of the TV - a European musical competition. Well. I say "musical." It is generally considered a poor evening if there is actually much musical merit in any of the performances. There is a mixture of cheesy pop, dance music with a heavy beat, big inspirational ballads and a few strange acts. The most memorable acts of last night were Finland's song "Marry Me," an infuriatingly catchy ditty ending on a kiss between two women; Romania's falsetto-singing Dracula lookalike (pictured above) and Greece's "Alcohol is Free," which was just plain ridiculous, but had us all grinning all over our faces. The UK always does badly, whether because we are isolated from the rest of the European countries who like to vote for their neighbours, or because our songs seem to be trying too hard. I suspect the British pop industry has been ruined by being dominated by talent shows, (X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and the Voice) whose theme is pursuing one's dreams, and churns out very earnest songs on that subject.
Saturday 18th May:
Books read today: Watchmen - Alan Moore
Today #insixwords: little reading, pizza, Doctor Who, Eurovision
Worst lyric on Eurovision:
If you don't know I'm in love with you
When summertime falls it becomes untrue
Because of the shoes I'm wearing today
One is called Love, the other is Pain...
(Culprit: Andrius Pojavis from Lithuania)
I've only read a handful of pages today - worse than yesterday. It is my mother's birthday, so we went out for a meal in a lovely little pub in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately, the migraine came back in double strength around that time, and knocked me out completely for the entire afternoon. Probably writing up this blog post is a bad idea. Feeling a little better now, but not great. I expect I'm more likely to spend the evening watching Les Miserables than reading, though I will try to get a little more in before bed.
Today #insixwords: not a bang but a whimper
Labels: blogging challenge, bout of books, Doctor Who, eurovision, happy birthday mum, health, readathon
"This is how the readathon ends:
not with a bang but a whimper."
How very poetic, if not quite the sentiment you wanted to end the week on. But... life happens, and a week is a long time to keep up that level of enthusiasm. I felt myself waning over the weekend too. It's probably best to focus on what we DID get accomplished, not what we DIDN'T.
Absolutely, and I'm quite pleased with myself. I have been reading less this year for some reason, and 2 and a bit books in a week is more than some weeks.