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Doors Open to Rhetorical Listening
By Madison Williams
Historic Milwaukee's Annual Doors Open
Historic Milwaukee, Inc. (HMI) is a small nonprofit organization that is enthusiastically committed to increasing the general public's knowledge and awareness of Milwaukee history and architecture. HMI uses a number of events to open the doors of historically significant buildings to the public in order to teach the public about the history of Milwaukee, including it's buildings, businesses, and communities.
HMI's biggest and most popular annual event is Doors Open, "a two-day celebration of Milwaukee's art, architecture, culture, and history," that offers the public a behind-the-scenes look at buildings spread across the city and it's surrounding neighborhoods. Over 32,000 visitors flock to this free, citywide event to tour over 170 buildings over the span of a weekend. The event features sites clustered downtown, in the "spotlight neighborhoods," and throughout the entire Milwaukee area. The overarching goal expressed for Doors Open Milwaukee is to "showcase the architecture and community stories of Milwaukee's downtown and culturally diverse neighborhoods," to improve the perception of these neighborhoods, and foster pride in residents of the city's communities.
Each year, Doors Open selects 2-3 different "spotlight neighborhoods" to be highlighted during the event by featuring a substantial number of exciting sites clustered in those neighborhoods. The spotlight neighborhoods are usually culturally diverse, going through the process of revitalization, and contain unexpected treasures. Doors Open provides communities with the opportunity to to make connections and foster relationships; to advertise and promote local businesses and organizations; and to share their neighborhood pride and culture with others. Some spotlight neighborhoods from recent years include Lindsey Heights, Layton Boulevard West, Historic Mitchell Street, Oak Creek, and Bronzeville.
Spotlight Neighborhoods: Lindsay Heights
Lindsay Heightsis located in the heart of Milwaukee's North Side and was once the center point of Milwaukee's growing African American community following their migration from the south in the early 1900's. After decades of economic instability, largely due to the abandonment of the Park West Freeway plans that caused the demolition of thousands of homes in the area, Lindsay Heights has been revitalized.
Local businesses, organizations, foundations, and community members have united in a communal effort to rejuvenate the neighborhood to its former glory by "connecting Lindsay Heights to itself and the rest of Milwaukee" (Inouye). Some of the many organizations and businesses working to nourish the community include restaurants, like Jake's Deli and Tandem, outreach programs, like Innovation & Wellness Commons and Walnut Way Conservation Corp, and spaces for connecting to others, like Alice's Garden Urban Farm & Community Garden and the Fondy Farmers Market (Inouye). All of these locations are just a few examples of sites that have been open to visit and tour during Doors Open in the past, with new sites being added each year.
The access and opportunities provided by the sites and tours during Doors Open allow residents and visitors alike a peek inside other communities, to learn about their diverse cultures, values, and spaces. Doors Open serves as a space for rhetorical listening, which is"a stance of openness that a person may choose to assume in relation to any person, text, or culture; its purpose is to cultivate conscious identifications in ways that promote productive communication, especially but not solely cross-culturally" (Ratcliffe 25), where different people can learn, listen, and connect across community spaces.
Doors Open as an event promotes the development of an understanding of the context and identifications of those we interact with who are different from ourselves. Rhetorical listening is important to "promoting an understanding of self and other" (27), a comprehension lacking for many people within "normative" society and positions of power. Furthermore, the choice to engage in rhetorical listening, attempting to understand others experiences without relating them to our own, is the only way to begin to understand others perspectives, experiences, and ways of being. Ultimately, by engaging with community funds of knowledge through rhetorical listening we're able to integrate what we learn into our world-views and decision-making (29), be it consciously or un-consciously.
Sites of Learning: UWM Writing Center
We've been considering the importance of community literacies, community languages, and community sites of learning. It has surfaced through some of our readings, most recently in Brokering Tareas: Mexican Immigrant Families Translanguaging Homework Literacies by Steven Alvarez.
Alvarez chronicles the experiences of immigrant parents trying to help their children through homework that they don't fully understand and of those students who are learning to broker languages – in these cases Spanish and English – as they simultaneously learn from homework mentors and help their parents learn as well.
While most of the vast linguistic repertoires that students have is due to sites of community learning, not classroom learning, there are few places that offer an overlap or an in-between. However, the campus Writing Center may be a space in which these two sites of learning could mesh.
The Writing Center is available to all students and faculty of UWM. It is promoted as a learning site separate from the instructor and the classroom that allows students an alternate learning site.
As a tutor, I've learned how highly the Writing Center values their space as safe from the tensions, judgments, and pressures that may be felt in the classroom. Our job is to be readers and listeners for writers at all stages of the writing process. We never write on papers or share information about students with their instructors. It is a confidential space for students to come and talk through their writing and learning processes with other writers.
Since I also teach English 101, I've been comparing my relationships with students in the classroom as an instructor and in the Writing Center as a tutor. What I've learned from these comparative observations is the importance of valuing sites of learning outside of the classroom.
How can we incorporate local community literacies, languages, and linguistic practices into the Writing Center, since it's promoted as a site of learning outside of the classroom?
I recently worked with a student who was frustrated about not being able to voice their own opinion in a paper. I could see their personal connection to the topic, and their struggle with adhering to the instructor's restrictions.
I encouraged them to see if the instructor would be willing to allow a personal voice in this paper, given the community connection that the student had to the topic, as it added a richness to the rhetorical situation of the assignment. Their powerful vocalization was deftly and rhetorically woven into their writing (in non-academic English) for a topic that affected a community they identified with.
I wanted to change the assignment for them. I wanted to show the instructor the linguistic and rhetorical choices this writer had made in order to craft this well-written (albeit first-person) paper. While I couldn't change the assignment, or change how the instructor would grade the student, I could offer myself as a listener.
I listened as with thick emotion in their voice they shared about this difficult topic tied to their sense of identity in their community. I was reminded of Krista Ratcliffe's Rhetorical Listening, which we read earlier this semester. She encourages us to find a space of listening in which we don't project ourselves onto the speaker, but instead disengage ourselves from identifications and simply (thought it's not simple) listen.
Alvarez and Ratcliffe stress the importance of listening in order to respect the identities of others and the community knowledge they possess. We offer a space for students to be heard and [rhetorically] listened to; how can we incorporate more than shadows of classroom practices? How can we make space for community literacies, languages, and learning practices?
In the Writing Center, there are still pressures, constraints, and consequences coming from the classroom, and students feel them. And so, I don't really leave this post with an answer, but rather a question:
How can UWM's Writing Center learn from local community sites of learning in order to better its vision and realization of being a safe site of learning outside of the classroom?
~DK~
Listening Consciously: Hearing with the Intent of Understanding
The reading that produced this week's discussion was Krista Ratcliffe's Rhetorical Listening, a book that asks its readers to consider the rhetorical value of listening consciously to the beliefs and experiences of others. Ratcliffe calls this practice rhetorical listening, which "signifies a stance of openness that a person may choose to assume in relation to any person, text, or culture" (17). In order to explore how this happens, Ratcliffe delves into the history of rhetoric, theories of identity, and strategies for listening to others rhetorically.
As a class, some issues we focused on were those of identity vs. identification, non-identification, invisible whiteness, and Ratcliffe's overall message for the field of Rhetoric and Composition.
Identity vs. Identification
Ratcliffe spends ample time discussing identity vs. identification. In class wondered if there was much of a difference between the two, and, if so, what was the significance? We came up with a few thoughts, but what resonated with me the most is the idea that all of our individual identifications are part of what makes up our identity. The significance of this lies in the fact that if we try to read someone based on one identification, we can easily lead ourselves to stereotyping. Because of this, Ratcliffe urges us to focus on non-identification as a tool for rhetorical listening.
Non-Identification
Because one can (even inadvertently) use identification to objectify people, non-identification asks us to see the whole person and to "admit that gaps exist" (73) in what we know about those we are listening to.
With a need to clarify non-identification further, we wondered, does a place of non-identification mean that one does not claim their marginalized identity? We considered how one goes about non-identifying. Through discussion we determined that maybe non-identification means you're not putting up barriers as the listener. It's, as one classmate said, "disidentifying yourself, not for the sake of yourself, but for the sake of what they're saying" because learning happens when we use "the capacity to hear" and feel the "obligation to listen."
We also wondered whether one can really be in a space of non-identification, especially if identification is not just how you see yourself, but how society sees you. After all, we're constantly being shaped by the concepts and tropes around us, and we also reproduce them.
Despite this, Ratcliffe seems to emphasize that all people need to search for understanding and connection with others. To develop understanding, those in spaces of power need to recognize unearned privilege, while also engaging in discourses other than their own. Rhetorical listening requires us to, as another classmate put it, "understand the context, but still make the choice to not let that context inform the relationship, the listening." By being accountable for our social positions, we can practice non-identification and aim to listen without objectifying others.
Invisible Whiteness
Ratcliffe's work makes it clear that not having to acknowledge race is a privilege. Often times in America, race may be invisible to white people, but it remains visible to non-whites. This invisibility of whiteness is something many don't want to discuss, but Ratcliffe argues that choosing to not discuss race isn't the answer. She makes it clear that avoiding racial discussions perpetuates the privilege of not having to talk or think about racial issues in our society. While some white people may feel uncomfortable discussing race, non-white people have to deal with the day-to-day realities of not being white, putting them in a position that forces the issue of race into their lives.
One classmate pointed out that "White people might not think of white in terms of a race category," whereas other races are seen as categories, "in silos, so to speak." One key idea that stood out to me is that Americans in the dominant culture often see their culture as "that's what America is," but it's only one view of the country. However, this isn't the case because, even if they think their life is the norm, Rachel reminded us, "everyone else has a qualifier in front of them." This racial qualifier is an identification often pushed upon people, one that often gets falsely equated with identity, rather than a single identification.
Implications for Rhetoric and Composition Studies
With this knowledge, Ratcliffe hopes that, first and foremost, we practice listening rhetorically, and discussing the gender and race issues that makes us uncomfortable. One person reminded the class that, "So often, when these issues are addressed, it's in a non-productive, narcissist way." The focus is on the self, not on society and others. By utilizing rhetorical listening strategies, we can work to avoid this self-centered trap.
Some strategies that stood out to the class included:
Culturally grounding gender and whiteness by taking the time to define what those words mean in our classrooms and discussions. Rather than assuming terms are universal, we need to listen to the meaning that others derive from them.
Eavesdropping, or listening consciously. This is a way to listen more carefully and purposefully, in the spaces we may not be used to hearing.
Rhetorical listening asks us to listen in spaces and ways we are not used to. We must spend time thinking through how we can responsibly and respectfully hear the words around us in order to move past dysfunctional silences and into a place of productive listening.


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Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Closed for Second Day…
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is currently closed for the second straight day. There is no release from Disney for the reason why the attraction is closed. This is the second year in a row that the attraction has been has been closed for New Year, last year, the attraction was closed for five straight days.
Disney's Magical Express Coming to an End
Disney has begun to remove signage at the Walt Disney Resorts for "Disney's Magical Express" which was a FREE shuttle service for guests from Orlando International Airport and each Walt Disney Resort. The free service which started in 2005 will come to an end on January 1, 2022. It is assumed that the signage within
Disney Trams Return to Magic Kingdom
The long awaited return of tram service in the Magic Kingdom Parking Lots has finally returned. Tram service returned to the Magic Kingdom parking lots on December 19, 2021 after being suspended since March of 2020 due to the Corona Viris pandemic. Magic Kingdom is currently the only park to offer tram service to its
New Year's Eve Fireworks Return to EPCOT
New Year's Eve fireworks have been confirmed for EPCOT on December 31, 2021 at 11:54PM. The annual tradition returns after being cancelled in 2020 due to the worldwide COVID Pandemic. The Harmonious nighttime show will be at 6:30PM on December 31, 2021
Why Are Crowds So Low Right Now?
In case you haven't noticed, the parks do not seem that crowded right now. I know that kids are back in school and most vacations have already been taken, but even with that, there are not as many people in the parks as there were two years ago. There are also a HUGE amount less
Harmonious Premiere Date Announced
Disney has announced that "Harmonious", the nighttime spectacular show will be premiering in Epcot on October 1, 2021. This show which is set to Disney music has been in planning for over 2 years and was delayed when the parks shut down in 2020 due to the Covid Pandemic.
Disney World's NEW Annual Passholder Plans
Watch this video on YouTubeDisney World brings back a new Annual Passholder System. Disney World in Florida has introduced a NEW Annual Passholder system for guests of the Orlando Parks. Disney discontinued new sales of its Annual Passes at the start of the Covid Pandemic back in 2020. The new Annual Passholder tiers are close
Disney Introduces Genie+… RIP FastPass+
For almost two decades Disney World offered FastPass® for no additional cost to its visitors. FastPass® allowed visitor to select up to three rides per day in advance where they would has a one hour window, chosen by them, to skip the lines and access a ride in a fraction of the time they would
Masks Required Indoor at ALL Disney World Rides, Shows, Restaurants…
Disney World is now requiring that ALL guests, whether vaccinated or not MUST wear masks indoors for ALL Disney World attractions, restaurants, etc. Outdoor common areas masks are still recommended, but not required. As of the time of this post, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have not made any announcements regarding mandatory mask wearing
Trying to Get Boarding Passes For "Rise of the Resistance"? Let us show you.
So you've been trying to get in a boarding pass for the "Rise of the Resistance" attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios and have not had any luck. Don't feel bad, many veteran Disney fans have not been able to get a boarding pass either, even though it has been months since the attraction opened to
Fireworks Announcement Changed… "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls" Has Been Removed.
Disney has removed the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls" from the beginning of its fireworks announcement to align with other Diversity & Inclusion changes made throughout all of the Disney Parks. The Twitter Channel @Showcasewishes has posted a video on Twitter highlighting the changes that have been made.
The Kiss Goodnight is Back?
A post on Twitter is claiming that "The Kiss Goodnight" is again being shown after Magic Kingdom's official closing time. Slowly, but surely Disney is returning to Normal. The Kiss Goodnight has returned. — Disney Glimpses (@disneyglimpses) June 30, 2021
Disney Guests Will No Longer Receive Magical Express Confirmations
Beginning on July 1, 2021, Disney Guests that opt to use the Disney Magical Express will no longer be mailed confirmations. Instead, they will need to use either their Magic Bands or the MagicMobile App to check in at Orlando International Airport. If a Guest does not have either, they will be checked in manually
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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2021-11-16	November 16, 2021
Selections from the Monmouth University Permanent Art Collection
Rotary Ice House Gallery
Selections from the Monmouth University permanent collection featuring works by various artists, including: Nick Aristovulos, Leonard Baskin, Bernarda Bryson Shahn, Richard D. Crammer, Jacob Landau, Stefan Martin, Robert E. Mueller, Ed Schlinski, Charles Schucker, Sylvia Schuster, Adam Wurtz
Tuesday Night Record Club: Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over Troubled Water
It's just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the "album" as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over Troubled Water.


If it didn't look like an Orange, I'd never guess it was one of sound alone. I think I'm gassing for this amp, and I'm not big on clean...Also, I never knew Jamiroquai was such an awesome player!
Just stunned.. its awesome, particularly that reverb.
The more I hear that amp, the more im inpressed.
I really like the cranked tone of it, just right anount of overdrive. I bet it sounds really good pushed hard.
I just would love to try one next to a deluxe reverb. I'm sure a shoot out between these 2 will eventually be done.
My issue would be the clean headroom and lack of preamp gain. I like preamp gain.
My Blackpearl has a choke too, and it can be terribly loud and clean. I like dirt.
My first thoughts as well. That is one seriously cool amp.


Conservative Jean-Claude Juncker and Social Democrat Martin Schulz argued politely in French in a 50-minute debate on France 24 television.
The top two rival candidates to lead the European Commission struggled on Wednesday to find real policy differences in the first live television debate ahead of European Parliament elections next month.
Centre-right Jean-Claude Juncker and Social Democrat Martin Schulz - whose native languages are Luxembourgish and German - argued politely in French over the appropriate balance between budget austerity and investment to promote economic growth in a 50-minute debate on France 24 television.
But they agreed far more often than they disagreed in a pro-European consensus that may be exploited by anti-EU populists of the far right and hard left, who blame policies made in Brussels for the continent's economic crisis and mass unemployment.
Juncker, 59, the veteran former Luxembourg prime minister and chairman of euro group finance ministers, stressed the need to maintain tight control of public finances and said he could see no grounds to give France more time to reduce its deficit.
"France has already had two extensions to its period of adjustment. A priori there is no obvious reason why it should get a third one," he said, while noting that the European authorities would study France's budget plans before deciding.
"We cannot accept a pause in budget consolidation."
"If he needs support from the European Commission, he should get that support," the Socialist candidate said, noting that France is the euro zone's number two economy and was now ready to make necessary economic reforms.
Schulz said Juncker and other mostly conservative leaders in charge of the European institutions at the outbreak of the euro zone debt crisis had misdiagnosed the problem by prescribing strict austerity, forcing millions out of work.
"This theory that unilateral spending cuts would restore investors' confidence manifestly didn't work. We have had to change course in recent years," he said.
Both described Germany as the most successful economic model for Europe. Both said Europe should do more to welcome legal immigrants and it was up to national government to prevent any abuse of their welfare systems by migrants.
Both sought to take account of British demands to repatriate some powers to member states and stop the EU intervening unnecessarily in citizens' daily lives. As Juncker put it, Europe should be "big in big things and small in small things".
Schulz said he would write to all EU civil servants, urging them to stop thinking about how they could intervene into every corner of the EU, but about what could better be done locally instead of centrally.
With Eurosceptical Britain and some others opposed to both Juncker and Schulz, seen as old-style European federalists, it is not clear whether either will get the nomination.
At one point, one of the presenters asked the candidates: "What distinguishes you from each other?"
There was an embarrassed pause before Schulz said: "I don't know what distinguishes us... The EPP candidate (Juncker) is quite close to my programme, but whether the EPP is so close is another question."
Juncker played up his own long experience of European leadership, saying twice pointedly, "when I was in the European Council, which Mr Schulz wasn't, allow me to explain to him..."
Schulz countered by saying the European Parliament had warned EU leaders from the start of the crisis that their policy mix was wrong.


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Home » la-musica » Country » Oak Ridge Boys, The
Oak Ridge Boys, The
Listen for free or download any Oak Ridge Boys track for just 12 cents per song!
The Oak Ridge Boys was a country and gospel quartet that became one of the few country acts to cross over from the country charts to the Billboard charts. The begins of the band can be traced all the way back to the 1940's with a band called Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers. They were asked to play so often for a military installation in Oak Ridge, TN, that they eventually changed their name to the Oak Ridge Quartet, and later to the Oak Ridge Boys.
The Oak Ridge Boys released tons of material well before the 1980's, but we will focus on the late 70's and 80's in this feature. It wasn't until 1977 that the band switched from gospel to full country music. They had a number of top country hits in the late 70's, such as "I'll Be True to You", "You're the One", "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight", "Dream On", "Sail Away", "Come On In", "Cryin' Again", and Y'all Come Back Saloon". They kept the country hits rolling throughout the entire 1980's. Tons of number 1 US country hits, too many to list here. What we will mention here are the two songs that were also Billboard cross-over hits: "Elvira", from Fancy Free (1981), and "Bobbie Sue" from Bobbie Sue (1982).
The Oak Ridge Boys continued producing well into the 1990's, 2000's, and 2010's, with some country chart success, but not nearly like the good old days. The Oak Ridge Boys Discography (70's and beyond only), is as follows:
1970: Thanks
1971: Talk About the Good Times
1971: International
1972: Jesus Christ, What a Man!
1972: Performance
1972: Light Release
1973: Street Gospel
1973: The Lighthouse & Other Gospel Hits
1973: Hymns
1974: The Oak Ridge Boys
1975: The Sensational Oak Ridge Boys
1975: Sky High
1976: Old Fashioned, Down Home, Hand Clappin',Foot Stompin', Southern Style,Gospel Quartet Music
1977: Live
1977: Y'all Come Back Saloon
1978: Room Service
1978: The Best of The Oak Ridge Boys
1979: Sing for Him
1979: The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived
1980: Together
1980: Greatest Hits
1981: Fancy Free
1982: Bobbie Sue
1983: American Made
1984: Greatest Hits 2
1983: Deliver
1985: Step On Out
1986: Seasons
1987: Where the Fast Lane Ends
1987: Heartbeat
1988: Monongahela
1989: American Dreams
1992: The Oak Ridge Boys Collection
2000: 20th Century Masters:The Millennium Collection
2006: The Definitive Collection
2007: Gold
2013: 40th Anniversary: 1973–2013
Related items for sale on eBay
Young Oak Ridge Boys autograph Photograph
Oak Ridge Boys Signed 1993
OAK RIDGE BOYS HAND SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LP ALBUM - AMERICAN DREAMS
OAK RIDGE BOYS RARE CONCERT TICKET STUB SEAWORLD ORLANDO 04/23/1988
The Oak Ridge Boys - Have Arrived (1979, ABC) SIGNED / AUTOGRAPHED Vinyl LP
The Oak Ridge Boys Autographed Item
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Autographed Oak Ridge Boys Autographed CD With New Custom Framing
OAK RIDGE BOYS Autographed Flyer & Photos REAL COLLECTIBLE
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Eija-Liisa Ahtila keenly brings to light difficult, often disturbing aspects of contemporary life, empathetically communicating their effect on everyday people through today's evolving technologies of film and video. The House is based on extensive interviews Ahtila conducted with women who had experienced psychosis. Using a combination of film and installation, the artist has created an encompassing and finite sensory space, relaying for the viewer the sensations of isolation, estrangement, wonder, and delusion her subjects experienced.
Three screens depict, in varying time sequences, a solitary woman narrating and moving through her domestic routine and environment. However, as the film progresses into domestic surrealism, boundaries between the principle subject's perspective and objective reality begin to shift and blur. A cow ambles off of the TV screen and into the room, the foghorn of a ship sounds in the dense forest, a tiny version of her car drives across the wall as she wonders aloud if her car will remain where she parked it. All the while, the calm, monotone voice of the principle subject and the honesty of her story act as anchors, alleviating the anxiety of the work and suggesting a way out of madness through a resigned incorporation of the fantastic and delusional into everyday life.
Read an essay about Ahitla's work The House.


We, the undersigned, request that Azle ISD School Board enact a mandatory daily recess policy for all students attending elementary schools (grades K-6) within the Azle ISD district no later than the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. Currently, individual schools may, for any reason they alone deem appropriate, deny daily recess to our children. We further request that the new policy define recess as a period in which children will be able to participate in unstructured and undirected play. This policy will protect recess as a required part of our childrens elementary school curriculum and eliminate any endeavor to make recess more of a study period rather than the break that it is designed to be.
The resulting recess shall be no less than 15 minutes in duration and shall be in addition to the mandatory 30 minutes of Physical Education. The daily recess shall be as close to the middle of the school day as possible in order to maximize the benefits of recess to the students.
insistence on long periods of uninterrupted study also have been shown to lead to more inattention, thus interfering with learning. Empirical research has shown that children who are given a recess break during the school day are better able to focus on their academic tasks once they return. So for children at risk of academic failure, limiting their recess opportunities is likely to lead to less academic success, not more.
Although time on task has some uses, in the case of eliminating or reducing recess, it is counter productive. Working longer does not always mean learning more. Quantity is important, but quality is even more important. In Texas with the passage of new legislation, we hope to see more quality in educational opportunities and less emphasis on quantity.
With more and more schools and school districts eliminating recess in the elementary grades (K-6), we request Azle Independent School District enact a policy that defines what recess is and safe guards recess from being eliminated in the future.
Please consider making a small donation today. This will allow us to keep Mandatory Daily Recess for Azle ISD Elementary School (K-6) Children alive and available to a wide audience.


Joseph P. McQuaide, Post No. 1205, Veterans Of Foreign Wars Of The United States is a Domestic Nonprofit located in San Francisco , California. We don't have information about registration date of this company. According to California business register Joseph P. McQuaide, Post No. 1205, Veterans Of Foreign Wars Of The United States status is Active.
Joseph P. McQuaide, Post No. 1205, Veterans Of Foreign Wars Of The United States agent is Richard Arago. This agent address is 341 Baltimore Waysan Franciscoca94112.
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Iowa State University Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Innovation workshops boost recruiting efforts
By Dave Roepke
A team from Branksome Hall Asia, a South Korean high school, presents their virtual event to Iowa State faculty and staff involved in an innovation competition held by the admissions office in December for prospective international students. Image courtesy of the office of admissions.
When Iowa State was recruiting international high school students in their home countries, a practice on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting attention at college fairs wasn't a problem.
"When we are in person, we're a top five table at any event," said Jorge Calderon, assistant director for international recruitment.
But standing out in an online college fair is more difficult. Every school is represented by a logo that students can click on in the virtual lobby, and there are a lot of logos. With the cost of international recruiting reduced by the lack of travel, virtual fairs commonly draw more than 200 colleges and universities, more than triple the size of the largest in-person events, Calderon said. As few as one or two students trickled in to the ISU virtual recruiting booth during some 2020 online fairs, usually keeping their video off and saying little.
"You don't have that eye-to-eye contact, where you can get a sense of whether someone is paying attention or not," Calderon said. "It's an issue."
Two events the admissions office held last month in partnership with the Innovate at Iowa State program aimed to cut through the detached drudgery of distance recruiting, engaging prospective students in themed competitions that offer a taste of an ISU education and a chance at cash prizes. The initial run was a success, and the admissions office is planning to offer even more innovation contests later this year.
"It is a great way for the students to get an educational experience with the university and get us in front of students we otherwise wouldn't see," Calderon said. "In these competitions, the students were sharing their video and paying attention and taking notes. It was really, really fantastic."
The idea to hold innovation competitions as a recruiting tool sprang from a plan Calderon was developing pre-pandemic to bring faculty on recruiting trips to demonstrate ISU expertise to international students interested in particular fields. With travel grounded by COVID-19, he turned to entrepreneur in residence Karen Kerns, who heads up the Innovate at Iowa State initiative that launched last year, for help shifting the concept online.
Kerns and Stacey Barnes, assistant admissions director for reporting and project management, developed two contests -- one asking students to design a community-building virtual event and another seeking ideas for how colleges could improve recruitment of international high schoolers. The competitions kicked off with workshops in early December, presented by Kerns and Calderon for the recruiting challenge and, for the virtual event contest, a group that included faculty in apparel merchandising and design, event management and design.
Calderon's international recruiting team enlisted counselors at international high schools to form participating student teams, who had about a week following the workshop to create a proposal. Nearly 90 students were involved in the recruiting experience contest and nearly 40 in the virtual event contest. Teams hailed from China, Korea, India, Hong Kong, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Vietnam. Winners in the recruiting event split $10,000 in prize money, which was sponsored by the Ivy College of Business. Total prizes in the virtual event contest were $6,000.
Students' ideas for virtual events included a standup comedy performance, a fashion show and a color-based version of charades. A handful of the recruiting ideas were promising enough to prompt the admissions office to consider adopting them, including the winning team's idea to create short videos of a day in the life of a student from each of the countries where Iowa State is recruiting.
"Some of the ideas are genius. We are pursuing some this spring," Calderon said.
The recruiting value of the competitions isn't necessarily getting participating students to enroll -- though there were students who were interested after the competitions, Calderon said. The outcome the admissions office is tracking is the number of applications from participating high schools as a whole.
"It's more about getting a buzz going at that school, and getting counselors who are advising students on where to go to college to know about Iowa State University. We want to be on their mind. At some of these events, the participants invited their entire senior class and their family members," he said.
Multiple students entered in the recruiting experience competition noted that the competition itself was an effective recruiting effort, Calderon said.
"They said, 'This competition is it. This should be part of it,'" he said.
Innovating head start
The competitions are the first examples of the Innovation Fellows in Training (I-FIT) portion of the Innovate at Iowa State program, designed to provide high school students a feel for the university and its innovation opportunities, Kerns said.
"It gives students a chance to experience what our faculty and mentors are like and how they might innovate on campus," she said.
Should they enroll at Iowa State, I-FIT students also get a head start in joining the university's Innovation Fellows Corps -- a program that fosters opportunities for dedicated student innovators by pairing them with mentors, industry leaders and collaborators. Kerns said an I-FIT experience counts as credit toward designation as an Innovation Fellow.
Similar I-FIT programs are in the works for high schools in the U.S., including two in Iowa, Kerns said. In addition to Barnes and Calderon, library external relations director Nacuya Rucker is colloborating with Kerns to develop the I-FIT programs, she said. Extending beyond campus is an important aspect of Iowa State's growing innovation programming.
"The minute you connect with us, you are part of our ISU family," Kerns said during one of the competition's final presentations. "We're innovating everywhere."
Calderon said he and Kerns are developing as many as a half dozen international I-FIT events for admissions to offer in late summer or fall for potential fall 2022 enrollees, potentially including an app development contest, a talent show and a business plan pitch-off. Even when recruiting travel resumes, he foresees continuing to hold the online competitions.
"It's a really great blueprint to roll out with other faculty members," he said.
Inside headlines
The season of moving snow
Vaccine offers hope, but caution still necessary
Experts will share ideas for managing stress at employee forum
Study abroad hiatus extended to Aug. 1, spring commencement decision deferred to March
Staples catalog in cyBUY features preapproved promotional items
Fleet vehicle sales move to online auction site
Reminder: Complete your Workday survey
CyThx recognizes those who make others feel valued
ISSO updates spring enrollment guidelines for international students
P&S Council sets member numbers for fiscal year 2022
Alumni award nominations are due Feb. 15
Nominations due Feb. 1 for student employee award
Vet Med's spring semester will launch four days early
Honors program invites proposals for fall seminars
MLK Jr. celebration opens Jan. 18
The ISU and Ames communities will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., through virtual events in January and February.
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Making Sense of Science
Anthrax Genome (video)
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Also on ScienCentral News
Cloning Fido - With the recent advances in genetics resulting from the cloning of the sheep, Dolly, we may soon be able to copy our pets. (3/23/2000)
Cloning Youth - Scientists announced a major step in refining the process of cloning. They say they've solved the problem of premature aging. (4/27/2000)
Frozen Zoo - To preserve genetic diversity, scientists are freezing cells from endangered animals. One zoo is even trying to clone a lion. (11/20/1998)
Bonobo Protection Fund at Georgia State University
American Museum of Natural History's frozen tissue collection
The Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES)
Cincinnati Zoo Center for Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW)
Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center
It's a fact that animal species are fast disappearing because of human activity. But the San Diego Zoo is trying a different approach to save the animals.
As this ScienCentral News video report shows, they are trying to preserve their DNA and crack their genetic code.
Most of the media's attention to frozen zoos has focused on efforts to clone endangered or extinct species. In fact, the San Diego Zoo Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) provided the tissue used in the first-ever cloning of an endangered species. Noah the male gaur born in January, 2001, died within two days of his birth from an infection scientists say was not related to the cloning. The company that cloned Noah, Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. also has an agreement with the Spanish government to clone an already extinct species, the bucardo mountain goat.
Other highly-publicized candidates for cloning include the endangered Giant Panda and Australia's extinct Tasmanian Tiger.
While some conservationists fear that cloning threatens to shift the focus away from habitat preservation, scientists involved in cloning efforts say habitat preservation remains all-important because just as with captive breeding programs, the objective is to return survivors to the wild. Advanced Cell's CEO, Michael D. West , sees cloning as a real alternative to captive breeding when numbers in the wild get low. "The upside of captive breeding programs is that they take care of these animals and may increase their numbers," West said. "But you have to take the animal out of its natural habitat, and that's exactly the opposite of what you want to be doing. Cloning opens the possibility of taking a small piece of tissue while preserving the animal in its environment."
Experts also point out that preserving tissues now so that they can be cloned in the future is not the sole purpose of frozen zoos. "The value of genetic resource collections cannot be overlooked," said Oliver Ryder, head of the CRES Genetics Department. "Although we may not be able to anticipate the future uses of collections of viable frozen cells and extracts of nucleic acids, access to these materials is more readily available now than will be the case in the future. What would the future ask us to be doing now?"
According to Ryder, genomic information is also important for assessing and monitoring populations of endangered species, for understanding extreme evolutionary adaptations (such as the Giant Panda's specialized bamboo diet), and for animal health research including species-specific diagnostics and pharmacology.
by Joyce Gramza
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A stunning classic gets up-to-the-minute yet stays true to its roots.
"DO THESE look familiar?" asks Daren Doss, the younger architect handing a floor plan to his elder, Fred Bassetti.
The distinguished architect nods his head. They do, indeed.
"Theo (Caldwell, the builder) and I made a deal," says Bassetti, 92, vividly recalling the time when he was trying to establish himself as a Seattle designer of contemporary homes. "He was going to pay me $25 for the plans for every house he built. I thought he was going to build thousands, but he built probably three or four.
Bassetti has been invited this day to see what had become of his $25 house plans. Tucked into the trees on the west side of Mercer Island, this house was built in 1962. And while the Bassetti design remains rock solid, the place had fallen into disrepair. Timbers askew. Flat roof shot.
Today that spirit is reborn. A team effort from the homeowners, Chadbourne + Doss Architects, landscape architect Bruce Hinckley, contractor David Rohrer and Constantly Building, structural engineer Gary MacKenzie and Swensen Say Fagét.
The goal? Honoring the home's origins and reaching eagerly into the future.
Dark, dark gray and sleek outside, white, white, white and sleek inside. White Milestone backsplashes, white lacquered cabinetry, white Caesarstone cooking island, satin aluminum appliances, blackened metalwork. The master bath (yes, in white) ethereally bright beneath a long stretch of skylight, 8 feet. At the entrance, 11-foot-tall glass pivot door meets 10-foot-by-6-foot free-standing glass wall.
"That was not part of the discussion when it came to budget," says Horace, an advocate of do-it-once-and-do-it-right, to his guest.
Lisa Chadbourne and Doss grounded the house to the site with a roof plane that "waterfalls" to the earth. The carport roof was separated from the house roof plane, and the entry was redesigned with a cantilevered concrete landing in a sunken courtyard. Hinckley placed boulders just outside glass walls; natural and strong, ancient and modern.
The inside was opened to create family gathering spaces, including a large galley kitchen, and to reveal the horizontal flow intended in those $25 blueprints. A new metal skin with an interior cedar liner wraps the roof. An aluminum-bar grating screen encloses the lower patio and lines the upstairs deck, filtering interior views and forming a diaphanous wall. Materials are natural, but installed with crisp precision: stained cedar, blackened steel, glass, tinted concrete, stained oak flooring.
"It's amazing how up-to-date it is," Bassetti says, running his hand across the cool, smooth Caesarstone in the kitchen.


The BSA welcomed the opportunity to respond to PRA's CP 12/16, revising Supervisory Statement SS 20/15, which is the document corresponding to the former Building Societies' Specialist Sourcebook, and appreciates the early engagement BSA members have had with the relevant PRA staff.
Our conclusion was that the revised Sourcebook as proposed in CP 12/16 is, overall, if sensibly and flexibly applied, a reasonable vehicle to achieve the PRA's objectives on risk management, alignment with risk appetite and reduction of crystallised risk. The BSA considers that the PRA's acceptance of the BSA's counter-proposals, and correcting the minor errors and inconsistencies already identified, will further enhance the Sourcebook's suitability and effectiveness, while striking a better balance between prescription and freedom. The BSA and its members will be very happy to provide any further information and assistance to the PRA in the post-consultation finalisation of the revised Sourcebook.


text:
Shoutbridge
===========

Jabber chat bot with a bridge to the shoutbox in the UBB.threads forum software.

Description
-----------
A bridge software that allows discussions in a UBB.threads shoutbox to be mirrored to an XMPP chat. Can also run independantly and work as a generic jabber chat bot with pluggable commands.

Main features
-------------
These are the main features of Shoutbridge:

 * All messages written in Shoutbox should be sent to the XMPP chat room.
 * All messages written in the XMPP chat room should be sent to the Shoutbox.
 * If no XMPP details, messages will be sent with UBB.threads username prepended to message.
 * Messages from XMPP will be added as user in Shoutbox if they have XMPP login details saved in profile.
 * Simple API to UBB.threads to read/write messages and get user by login details and login details from user.
 * Keep track of roster via prescence, read user info only once.
 * Connect to an xmpp conference room instead of just sending messages to a user
 * Can read shoutbox info directly via MySQL database, or over http.
 * Plugins with bot commands can easily be written.
 * Easily configured using command line options or config file.
 * Includes several plugins: Quotes, Definitions, Dice roller, Name generator, Eliza, Slap etc.

License
-------
Shoutbridge is released under The MIT License. See LICENSE file for more details.

Requirements
------------
 * Python 2.6
 * Twisted
 * SQLAlchemy
 * BeautifulSoup
 * pyOpenSSL (for secure connections)
 * MySQL (for direct connection to shoutbox)
 * UBB.threads v7 (for shoutbox bridge)
 * MySQLdb (for direct connection to shoutbox)
 * Sqlite (for SeenTell plugin)
 * Tweepy (for Twitter plugin)
 * simplejson (for Google plugin)

Installation
------------
Shoutbridge requires a few extra python modules to run. Currently, the only
working xmpp bridge class is Twisted, so that python module must be installed.
The MySQLdb module is needed for a direct connection to the shoutbox. If you
don't have access to the UBB.threads database where you run the Shoutbridge,
you can instead use the ExternalShoutbridge class. In this case, you don't
need the MySQLdb module.

Install necessary modules:

    $ sudo easy_install Twisted
    $ sudo easy_install MySQLdb
    $ sudo easy_install pyOpenSSL
    $ sudo easy_install sqlalchemy
    $ sudo easy_install tweepy
    $ sudo easy_install simplejson
    $ sudo easy_install beautifulsoup

Next, create a configuration file from the example.

    $ cp config-example.ini config.ini

Edit the config.ini file and change the values to something appropriate.

Running Shoutbridge
-------------------
Now you should be ready to start the program:

    $ python shoutbridge.py

### Gold Quest ###
The Gold Quest game used by the QuestPlugin can be run in several different ways.

#### Telnet Server ####
The Gold Quest telnet server supports multiple clients playing with the
same hero and receiving updates about events initiated by other players.

    $ twistd -y gqtelnetserver.py

#### Interactive Shell ####
Gold Quest can also be played from the command line using an interactive shell:

    $ python plugins/GoldQuest.py

#### Twitter Client ####
The QuestPlugin also supports running the game against a Twitter account,
using Twippy:

    https://github.com/ollej/Twippy

Configuration Options
---------------------
There are a lot of available configuration options for Shoutbridge.

 * xmpp_login - Jabber account JID to login as.
 * xmpp_pass - Password for Jabber account.
 * xmpp_room - Jabber conference room to connect to.
 * xmpp_host - Jabber host to connect to.
 * xmpp_port - Jabber port to connect to.
 * xmpp_status - Jabber status message for the Shoutbridge client.
 * xmpp_resource - Jabber resource of this client instance.
 * bridge_type - XMPP library class to use. Leave as is.
 * shoutbox_type - Shoutbox connector class.
   * MessageShoutbox - Read/post shout messages via HTTP, requires a server-side
     script to be installed on the UBB.threads server.
   * MysqlShoutbox - Read/post shout messages directly to UBB.threads db.
   * FakeShoutbox - Dummy connector, use this if you don't want the shoutbox
     bridge functionality.
   * ExternalShoutbox - Read shout messages via HTTP, doesn't require extra
     server-side script, but doesn't allow posting.
 * db_host - Hostname for MySQL db for UBB.threads, only required for MysqlShoutbox.
 * db_name - Name of MySQL db for UBB.threads, only required for MysqlShoutbox.
 * db_user - Username of MySQL db for UBB.threads, only required for MysqlShoutbox.
 * db_pass - Password of MySQL db for UBB.threads, only required for MysqlShoutbox.
 * base_url - Base URL to the UBB.threads installation, used by MessageShoutbox and
   ExternalShoutbox.
 * ubb_jid_field - UBB.threads profile database field containing user JID Login.
 * secret - Secret key to use when sending messages with ExternalShoutbox, must also be
   entered in the server-side script.
 * loop_time - How many seconds between each update from the shoutbox.
 * show_time - If set to "True", the time of the shoutbox message will be prepended in jabber.
 * show_nick - Set to "True" to prefix each message with shoutbox nick. Otherwise the bot will rename itself to the username of the shoutbox user.
 * log_date_format - Date format for logging.
 * latest_shout - Start reading shout messages from this id. String "skip" to skip all earlier messages on startup. Or "resume" to resume at latest known shout id.
 * debug - Print debug information. Raw xml sent/received, sqlalchemy output etc.
 * verbose - Prints information on what the script is doing.
 * quiet - Make script quiet as a mouse, not outputting anything.
 * plugins - Comma separated list of plugin names to load.

### Jabber conference room ###
The jabber conference room has to be created already when the Shoutbridge box
connects.

### UBB.threads Jabber ID ###
In UBB.threads, you should set Profile Extra Field 1 to "JID Login". If a user
enters their jabber id in this field, messages sent from that jid will be written
as that user in the shoutbox.

When a user has entered this information, messages relayed from Jabber from this JID
will be entered as coming from the user in the shoutbox.

### Server-side script for ExternalShoutbox ###
When using the ExternalShoutbox connector, a server-side script must be uploaded to
the UBB.threads installation.

Upload the following file to the scripts/ directory of your UBB.threads installation:
    ubb/scripts/listshouts.inc.php

Make sure you enter the same secret as in the configuration. This secret is sent in
plain text in the URL and is not secure. Knowing this will allow injecting any
message in the shoutbox. Only use ExternalShoutbox if absolutely necessary,
and take the proper precautions.

Command Line Options
--------------------
Shoutbridge has a number of command line options available. All configuration
options can be overridden with a corresponding command line option.

Additionally, it is possible to select another configuration file and
section than the default.

There are also three options to change how much information shoutbridge
should output on the terminal: debug, quiet and verbose

### Options: ###
    --version             show program's version number and exit
    -h, --help            show this help message and exit
    -c FILE, --config=FILE
                          Read configuration from FILE
    -S SECTION, --section=SECTION
                          Read configuration from SECTION
    -D, --debug           Print RAW data sent and received on the stream.
    -q, --quiet           Don't print status messages to stdout
    -v, --verbose         make lots of noise [default]
    -s START, --start=START
                          Start reading shouts from START, "skip" to skip all,
                          "resume" to resume at latest known id.
    -l JID, --login=JID   XMPP login JID.
    -p PASSWD, --pass=PASSWD
                          XMPP password.
    -r ROOM, --room=ROOM  Join this XMPP room.
    -d HOST, --host=HOST  Set XMPP host.
    -o PORT, --port=PORT  Set XMPP port.
    -A STATUS, --status=STATUS
                          Set default XMPP away status message.
    -R RESOURCE, --resource=RESOURCE
                          Set XMPP resource for this client instance.
    -L SECS, --loop=SECS  Read shoutbox messages every SECS.
    -X PLUGINS, --plugins=PLUGINS
                          Load comma separated extensions/plugins.
    -u URL, --url=URL     Read shoutbox messages from this URL.
    -t SHOW_TIME, --show-time=SHOW_TIME
                          Prepend time to each message.
    -n SHOW_NICK, --show-nick=SHOW_NICK
                          Prepend originating nick to each message.
    -b BRIDGE, --bridge=BRIDGE
                          Use this XMPP bridge class.
    -B SHOUTBOX, --shoutbox=SHOUTBOX
                          Use this shoutbox connector class.
    -H HOST, --db-host=HOST
                          Host for DB connector.
    -N NAME, --db-name=NAME
                          Name for DB connector.
    -U USER, --db-user=USER
                          User for DB connector.
    -P PASS, --db-pass=PASS
                          Password for DB connector.
    -f FIELD, --jid-field=FIELD
                          UBB.threads profile table field containing user JID.
    -C SECRET, --secret=SECRET
                          Use this secret word to connect to MessageShoutbox
                          server script.
    -F FORMAT, --date-format=FORMAT
                          Use this date format when logging.

Plugins
-------
Shoutbridge has a plugin system to allow new bot commands and general message handling.

Which plugins are loaded is defined by the "plugins" configuration and command line option.

A number of plugins are available by default, and it's very easy to write new ones.

Commands can have synonyms, i.e. multiple commands trigger the same method handler.

### MonkeyPlugin ###
This is a very simple plugin that sends back pre-defined messages based on specific
commands.

By default, it has a lot of commands that returns simple one-line ascii art.

The name of the plugin comes from the command !monkey which returns the following
message:

    @({-_-})@

If there are several return messages for a command, one of the messages is selected
by random and sent.

At the time of writing, this plugin has the following commands available:

    !monkey, !koala, !fish, !sheep, !spider, !cat, !rose, !mouse, !sword, !snail, !coffee

### DiceyPlugin ###
The DiceyPlugin can roll dice and return the results.

#### Available dice ####
Dicey can roll dice with the following number of sides:

    2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 100

#### Commands ####
Dicey understands the following commands.

##### Roll one die #####
Added "d" or "D" in front of the number of sides the die should have.

    !dicey d10

##### Multiple dice #####
Roll multiple dice with the same number of sides and add up the results.

    !dicey 3d6

##### Modifications #####
Roll three 6-sided dice and add 4 to the result. Also works with subtraction.

    !dicey 3d6+4

##### Choose highest #####
Add an "h" and a number to the end of the die roll to choose the that number of
dice with the highest values. Use "l" (lower case L) to instead choose the lowest
results. E.g. Roll five 8-sided dice and return the 4 highest.

    !dicey 5d8h4

##### Multiple rolls #####
Up to five sets of rolls can be rolled at the same time:

    !dicey 3d6 5d8-2 6d10h4 2d12l1 d100

##### Open ended rolls #####
To roll an open ended die, where the another die is rolled and added to the
result if the die roll is the highest possible value of the die. Prefix the
die roll with "Open".

    !dicey OpenD20

##### Exploding rolls #####
Exploding, or limitless, dice like those in games from Neogames. Every die that
rolls the maximum value is replaced by two dice and re-rerolled. Prefix the
die roll with "Ob".

    Ob3d6

#### Character Generation ####

Additionally, Dicey can automatically make the rolls needed to create
characters in a few roleplaying games.

##### Dngeons & Dragons #####
Roll 4 d6 and choose the 3 highest for: STR, CON, DEX, INT, WIS and CHA

    !dicey DnD

##### Drakar och Demoner #####
Roll 3d6 for the following values: STY, KRO, STO, INT, KRA, SKI, KAR

    !dicey DoD

##### Eon #####
Roll 3d6 for each of these values: STY, TÅL, RÖR, PER, PSY, VIL, BIL, SYN, HÖR

    !dicey eon

##### Twerps #####
Roll a D10 for the value Strength.

    !dicey Twerps

### FortunePlugin ###
Prints a random fortune cookie, quote or amusing tidbit of information.

Requires the fortune program installed on the computer running the jabber bot.

#### Command: ####

    !fortune

### KraetyzPlugin ###
A bot that sends a pre-defined message whenever one of a configured list of users'
write something specific.

By default, if a user named "Kraetyz" writes something containing "jag tycker", the
bot will return the following message:
"/me bannar %s för uttryckande av åsikt."

If the text contains "%s", without quotes, it will be replaced by the name of the
user.

### ElizaPlugin ###
Eliza is a cute little chat bot that pretends to be a (very bad) psychologist.

The plugin is just a wrapper for an external Python module which contains the actual
"artificial intelligence". The Eliza python module is available in the Shoutbridge
package since it needed a small code change. If you want to run this bot, you need to
copy the file "extras/eliza.py" into the root Shoutbridge directory. Then add "Eliza"
to the list of available plugins in the configuration.

The original script is written by Jez Higgins and is available from this URL:
http://www.jezuk.co.uk/cgi-bin/view/software/eliza

#### Command: ####

    Eliza, who are you?

Remember to prepend all messages to Eliza with "Eliza, " or she won't answer.

### NamePlugin ###
Return a message with the names of the day in the Swedish calendar.

#### Command: ####

    !dagensnamn

### NominoPlugin ###
Nomino is a random name generator.

#### Command: ####

    !name

It is also possible to define name list to use, as well as how many names to generate,
and which gender they should be.

#### Example: ####

    !name 5 scottish women

You can also choose different lists for given name and surname.

#### Example: ####

    !name chinese gaelic

#### Available name lists ####
Arabic, Chinese, Czech, English1500ce, English, French, Gaelic, German, Hindu, Irish,
Japanese, Mutant, Russian, Scottish, Spanish, Svenska2000ce, Venetarian1300ce

### QuotesPlugin ###
Sends a random quote from different quote files.

#### Command: ####

    !quote

#### Additional quote files: ####

 * **!jeff** - Quotes by Jeff Murdoch from TV series Coupling
 * **!murphy** - Random Murphy's Law (Mostly English, some Swedish)
 * **!kimjongil** - Swedish silly Kim Jong Il messages.
 * **!kjell** - Swedish quotes from TV series Kjell
 * **!evaemma** - Swedish quotes from blogger EvaEmma Andersson
 * **!storuggla** - Swedish quotes from Storuggla
 * **!8ball** - Emulate a Magic 8-ball

#### Add new quotes ####
It is also possible to add new quotes which are added to a temporary file. These
have to be added to used quote file by hand later.

##### Command: #####
    !quote add "New quote to add here."

#### Quote file format ####
The quote files should be encoded in UTF-8. Each quote should be separated by a
line containing only a percentage sign:

##### Example: #####

    First quote.
    %
    Second quote.

### SlapPlugin ###
Writes a possibly hilarious slapping message as well as giving out hugs.

#### Command: ####

    !slap username

#### Command: ####

    !hug username

### TermPlugin ###
Returns definitions of given term, prints a random definition and allows adding
new definitions.

#### Commands ####
List of commands available for the Term plugin.

##### Command: #####

    !term

##### Command: #####

    !term 'dnd'

##### Command: #####

    !term add Term=Definition

New terms are added to a separate file and needs to be added to the main file by hand.

### WeekPlugin ###
Returns the week number according to the ISO date standard, commonly used in Scandinavia.

#### Command: ####

    !week

### HalibotPlugin ###
Halibot contains helper commands for the jabber bot.

#### !help ####
Displays a short help message.

#### !help _pluginname_ ####
Displays description of plugin with name _pluginname_.

#### !say _password_ _text_ ####
When this command is sent as a private/direct message to the bot, the bot will
in turn send out a message with the given _text_. The first word after "!say"
must be the same as the password entered in "halibot_password" configuration
option.

#### !version ####
Displays name and version of program, along with system information of the
computer the script is running on.

#### !listcommands ####
List all known commands by all loaded plugins.

#### !listplugins ####
Lists the names of all loaded plugins.

#### !jump _password_ _room@conference.jabber.com/nick_ ####
If this command is sent as a private/direct message to the bot and the password
matches the configured password in the bot, the bot will leave the current room
and try to connect to the given jabber room id.

#### !flipcoin ####
Make a coin toss.

### SeenTellPlugin ###
This plugin allows users to see when others were last seen in the channel. It is
also possible to tell the bot to relay a message to a user next time they are
in the chat.

This plugin currently requires Sqlite and SQLAlchemy to run. Since it's using
ORM via SQLAlchemy, it should be easy to switch to other databases for those
who wish.

#### !seen _Username_ ####
If the plugin has seen a user with the name Username in the chat, the last time
this person sent a message is printed.

#### !tell _Username_ _Message_ ####
Leave a text message for the user with name Username. The plugin will then print
this message next time it sees that user in the chat.

### TwitterPlugin ###
The Twitter plugin posts all messages to a given Twitter account. It can also read
mentions of the configured twitter account and post them to jabber/shoutbox.

Activate this plugin by adding "Twitter" to the list of plugins in the config.ini file.

The new version of the Twitter plugin uses OAuth for authentication, which means that
you will have to register your own instance of Shoutbridge as an application at
http://dev.twitter.com where you need to log in using the account you want the
application to tweet as.

Under OAuth settings for your application you will find "Consumer key" and
"Consumer secret". Enter these into the config file as the options
twitter_consumer_key and twitter_consumer_secret

Under "My Access Token" you will find the oauth_token and oauth_token_secret
which you will need to place in the options twitter_oauth_token and
twitter_oauth_token_secret

If you want the plugin to also read mentions of the configured Twitter account,
set the "twitter_update_time" value to the number of seconds between each update.
If you don't want this feature, set this value to 0.

#### Notes ####
The Twitter plugin shortens the names of the posters and adds the initials
to the end of the tweet. It tries to be smart about it, but some user names
are just not really possible to shorten automatically.

In the attributes of the Twitter plugin code, you can set a max_name_len
which defines how many letters a name can be to not be shortened at all.
This length is after any special characters has been removed. There is also
a list of names to ignore and not remove at all. By default, the name
"HALiBot" is in this list.

Messages that are too long are shortened so that they are no longer than
140 characters, including the name. For obvious reasons.

### FakePlugin ###
The fake plugin has a couple fake commands in lieu of real IRC features.

#### !kick ####
HALiBot pretends to kick the user, optionally with a reason given.

    !kick user reason

#### !ban ####
HALiBot pretends to ban the user, optionally with a reason given.

    !ban user reason

#### !kickban ####
HALiBot pretends to kick and ban the user, optionally with a reason given.

    !kickban user reason

### GooglePlugin ###
Adds a command that lets users make a lucky google search, or a wikipedia search.

#### !google <terms> ####
Returns the first hit from Google for the search terms.

### !wikipedia <terms> ####
Returns the first matching page for the search terms.

### QuestPlugin ###
A very simple game where all users control the same hero through a dungeon.

#### !quest reroll ####
Creates a new hero if one doesn't already exist.

#### !quest deeper ####
Makes the hero go another level deeper into the dungeon.

#### !quest loot ####
The hero looks for gold.

#### !quest fight ####
Makes the hero find a monster and tries to kill it.

#### !quest rest ####
If the hero has been hurt some health is regained.

#### !quest charsheet ####
Shows information about the current hero.

Write your own plugin
---------------------
If you know a little Python, writing your own bot plugin is easy.

### HelloWorldPlugin ###
Create a new file called HelloWorldPlugin.py

Start by importing the necessary modules:

    from Plugin import *

Next, create the actual plugin class, make sure it extends the base Plugin class:

    class HelloWorldPlugin(Plugin):

The class should have some attributes describing the class.

    name = "HelloWorldPlugin"
    author = "Your Name"
    description = "A simple Hello World plugin."

The most important attribute is "commands", which contains a list of commands
and matching method handlers, as well as additional information needed for the command.

Each dict() element in the commands list is the description of a single command. A command
can have several different bot trigger commands, in this case only "!hello" is used.
This means that when a user writes a message starting with this text, the method in the
"handler" is called.

The onevents element lists all events this handler should be called on. See the
advanced plugin documentation for more information about available triggers.

The entire command dictionary is sent to the handler method. This means that any extra
information is available in the method.

    commands = [
        dict(
            command = ['!hello'],
            handler = 'hello_world',
            onevents = ['Message'],
        )
    ]

Finally, we need to define the handler method. The name should be the same as the "handler"
in the commands list.

The method will receive four arguments, text, nick, command and cmd.

 * shout - A Shout object with information about message.
   shout.name = Name of sender.
   shout.text = Message body text.
   shout.time = Unix timestamp of when message was received.
   shout.id = ID of message, if message was read from shoutbox.
   shout.userid = User id, if message was read from shoutbox.
 * command - Command that matched, will be one of the text strings in "command" in the dictionary.
 * comobj - The entire command dictionary object.

First the method definition.

    def hello_world(self, shout, command, comobj):

The content of the handler method should do any necessary calculations. To send messages
just call self.send_message(text) where text is the message to send. By default, the
message will be sent as the username in the "nick" attribute of the plugin. This defaults
to "HALiBot" if it isn't set.

        self.send_message("Hello World!")

That's all that is needed to create a simple plugin for Shoutbridge. More advanced actions
can be done. For more information, check the Plugin base class.

#### Full example ####

    from plugins.Plugin import *

    class HelloWorldPlugin(Plugin):
        name = "HelloWorldPlugin"
        author = "Your Name"
        description = "A simple Hello World plugin."
        commands = [
            dict(
                command = ['!hello'],
                handler = 'hello_world',
                onevents = ['Message'],
            )
        ]

        def hello_world(self, shout, command, comobj):
            self.send_message("Hello World!")

Advanced Plugin Development
---------------------------
There is more to writing Shoutbridge plugins than just parsing text messages
and returning information.

If you look at some of the bundled plugins, you should be able to get an idea
on what is possible to do with a plugin.

### Command matching ###
You can have any text in commands, including spaces. Starting commands with an
exclamation mark (!) is the convention most of the bundled plugins are using. This
is however not at all necessary, as is shown by the ElizaPlugin.

Commands are simply text strings that are matched against the start of a message.
The commands do not have to be in the same case. All of the messages in the list below
would match the command "!hi":

 * !hi
 * !hi how are you?
 * !his pants fell down
 * !HI

#### Matching Order ####
Commands will be matched in the order they are listed. The first command that matches
for a handler will be the one that is passed to the handler as the "command" argument.
Also note that the first command object matching is the only one that is triggered in
a plugin.

If you want to match two similar strings to two different handlers, make sure to place
them in the correct order. The longer of the two should be placed first, otherwise
the shorter command will always match first.

#### Empty commands ####
If you give an empty string as the command, any message will match. This is useful
if you want to do more advanced command parsing yourself. It is alsow what should
be used for all Xmpp* trigger events, as they are XML strings and not normal text.

### Method: setup ###
Directly after a plugin has been loaded, the setup method is called, without arguments.
This method can be used to setup initial data or any other maintenance that needs to
be done when the plugin is first started.

### Method: show_text ###
The Plugin superclass has a default handler method called "show_text". This can be used
as the command handler in all plugins. This handler method simply returns a randomly
selected text string from the "text" element in the command dictionary.

#### Example: ####
The following will create the !flipcoin command which will return the flip of a coin.
If the element "nick" is given, that text will be used as the author name of the message.
If not present, the default Plugin nick will be used.

In this example, we also see how two different command names can used to trigger the same
handler. In this case either "!flipcoin" or "!toss" can be used to flip a coin.

    commands = [
        dict(
            command = ['!flipcoin', '!toss'],
            handler = 'show_text',
            onevents = ['Message'],
            text = ['Heads', 'Tails'],
            nick = 'Coin tosser',
        )
    ]

### Method: prepend_sender ###
Send in a string to this method and the string will returned with the nick of the
sender of the message being handled prepended.

#### Example ####
If a user called "JohnDoe" sends the message "Hello World!", the following call
can be made:

    text = self.prepend_sender("Hello World!")

The "text" variable should then contain the following:

    JohnDoe: Hello World!

If a second argument is given, this will be used as the separator between nick
and text instead of ": ".

If send_nick isn't available, the message will be returned unmodified.

### Method: send_message ###
Argument: _text_

Send text as message to both Shoutbox and Jabber conference. Prepends name of sender to message.
The message will be sent using the default nick attribute of the plugin.

#### Example: ####
This is an example on how to use the method to send a message.

    self.send_message("Message to send")

### Method: strip_command ###
Arguments: text, command
Strips the _command_ from the start of the _text_ message and returns the modified text.

#### Example: ####
The following will return "Alice":

    self.strip_command('!hello Alice', '!hello')

### Crossing the bridge ###
Each plugin will get a reference to the jabber bridge object in the attribute
self.bridge

This means that all methods available in the bridge can be used. Such as sending
IQ or Presence stanzas. Please read the Bridge documentation for more information.

### Event triggers ###
In the onevents list, you should list each of the events that should trigger this handler.
The available event triggers are:

 * **Message** - Triggered on both Shoutbox messages and XMPP messages. First argument is a Shout object.
 * **ShoutMessage** - Triggered on Shoutbox messages. First argument is a Shout object.
 * **XmppMessage** - Triggered only on XMPP messages. First argument to method is stanza as xml string.
 * **XmppPresence** - Triggered on XMPP Presence stanzas. First argument to method is stanza as xml string.
 * **XmppIq** - Triggered on XMPP IQ stanzas, first argument to method is stanza as xml string.
 * **XmppDirectMessage** - Triggered when bot receives a direct (private) message.
 * **SentMessage** - Triggered when messages are sent internally (via plugins etc)

The XMPP stanzas are passed as raw XML strings. This is since plugins shouldn't depend on
a specifc bridge class or XML library.

Most plugins should trigger on the Message event. This means messages coming from
either the web shoutbox chat or the jabber conference room. Using this trigger will make
the plugin as generic as possible. Only use the ShoutMessage or XmppMessage for
special cases that should only trigger on one type of message.

### Testing Plugins ###
There is a test script to help test plugins without having to start up the bot and
send jabber messages to it.

Run the script test_plugin.py with the name of the plugin as the first argument. The
rest of the arguments will be sent as a message to the plugin, as a "Message" event.

#### Example ####
Send the message "!hello" to the HellowWorldPlugin.

    python test_plugin.py HelloWorldPlugin '!hello'

TODO
----
Some ideas for future development.

 * If UBB.threads user has XMPP login details saved, messages should be sent using these.
 * Possibly change to a transport gateway using XEP-0100: Gateway Interaction
 * When time is the same as the current time, don't prepend time to message.
 * If room hasn't been created when joining, accept default room configuration.
 * Add priority sorting to plugin triggering.
 * Away presence could hide user on forum
 * Log all exceptions to file.
 * BUG: When loadUrl fails, reactor stops running that loop.
 * Allow commands to be sent as direct messages as well.
 * Plugin ideas:
   * !calc - calculator
   * !memory - display used memory
   * !cyborg <word> - cyborgify <word> - http://www.brunching.com/
   * !techify <word> - techify <word> - http://www.brunching.com/
   * Possibly convert !trivia, !weather, !translate, !wiki etc from other bots.
   * Use people's dictionary and synlist.
 * Direct message commands:
   * !die - make bot disconnect and shutdown
   * !reconnect - make bot reconnect
   * !reload - make bot reload all plugins
   * !rehash - make bot reload configuration
 * Create unit tests for all code.
 * Have the possibility to not have shoutbox bridge at all.
 * Keep connection open on server-side script and read new shout messages immediately.
 * BUG: Graemlin replacement should be done before html stripping.
 * BUG: HTML-stripping not quite up to par.
 * Add language support for easy translation.
 * HalibotPlugin !listcommands _plugin_ should list commands available for that plugin.
 * FEATURE: Command line option to start by skipping all current messages in shoutbox.
 * BUG: all params in loadUrl need to be a string, int types causes exception.
 * Re-add test code to plugins, calling a default test function:
     def _test():
       import doctest, example
         return doctest.testmod(example)

         if __name__ == "__main__":
           _test()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Getting a trustworthy artist or graphic design company with appropriate expertise for your company is a sensible decision and try to the best method to ensure good recent results for your marketing material. However, generally, you might encounter amateur or average graphic artists that won't deliver according to your expectations. Therefore, you should think about your objectives and measure the professionals to be able to see for those who have an ideal match.
Keep in mind that a good artist can convey an essential message for your audience and simultaneously boost the visibility of the brand. So, don't hesitate to spend some time, effort and finances within the best designers you'll find. Listed here are a couple of questions that you ought to consider prior to hiring an expert artist.
Exactly what do I would like?
Begin by assessing your needs. List the different needs and choose whether a person contractor or perhaps a group of professionals is needed to complete the job for you personally. Listing your objectives can help you determine the character from the services you'll need. This straightforward assessment can help you save lots of precious money and time. When you are sure in regards to you needs and which kind of a specialist to employ, you are able to probe further.
May be the designer's work highly relevant to my needs?
Nowadays, there are many professional designers providing their services within the IT market which is possible to obtain confused and select the wrong designer. You need to be certain the designer you are thinking about excels in the type of designing you'll need done. For instance, if you would like graphic designing experts, don't judge them by their web designing prowess.Many of these fields overlap, so precision in decision-making is vital.
Browse carefully with the services your potential contractor is providing and undergo some examples of the work they do. Most professionals or companies that provide graphic design services have a portfolio for his or her clients. Feel the portfolio to find out if they've done something such as exactly what you need.
May be the designer's portfolio impressive?
A portfolio is the simplest way of assessing an expert designer. They'll set up their best work with public viewing to ensure that prospective customers could make up their brains within their favour. A portfolio can highlight two essential details relating to your prospective designer: first, the knowledge they've in designing (according to the number of projects they've completed) and 2nd, the standard and finesse they display within their work. When the available examples suit your needs and you're quite happy with the caliber of the work they do, you know there is a champion to deal with.
The fundamental purpose of getting a graphic design company or perhaps a graphic designing expert would be to accomplish your objectives and make certain your designing needs are met. It is vital to achieve the right information before making the decision about hiring someone and the only method that can be done is when you are getting acceptable solutions to those questions.
The first impression is the last impression. When you do an office, you invest your money in your place so that it is a home for customers and can make them comfortable for your business. The graphic design company Singapore is the only thing when you enter a website.


text:
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11 Movies That Will Help You End 2020 With Faith
An eclectic yet inspiring list of faith filled flicks.
For the past few years, we've had a lot of fun bringing you holiday movie and TV show recommendations, and we just couldn't let this very "stay-at-home" holiday season pass without giving you some new faith-filled holiday viewing ideas.
And besides, 2020 seems to warrant its own genre of essential media.
Many of us will find ourselves this holiday season with more time in our living rooms, and watching a good movie can be an easy way to bring some much-needed positivity to this difficult year. So we put together a list of what we on the Deep Spirituality team are watching to keep our spirits up, along with a brief description of what to look for when you watch from a spiritual perspective.
This is an eclectic list that spans many different genres — from action and adventure to anime. So no matter your interest, we think you'll find something you like.
In no particular order, here are our top 11 movies that will help you end 2020 with faith. Enjoy, and happy holidays from the Deep Spirituality team!
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": there's always tomorrow
Arguably a contender for the number one spot on any Christmas movie list, "Rudolph" is full of classic moments and memorable songs. Of all the songs on the unforgettable soundtrack, "There's Always Tomorrow" stands out.
Sung by Rudolph's quasi-girlfriend Clarice, this song perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the story: don't give up hoping, and don't stop believing you can make a difference.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Few movies capture the simplicity of this spiritual message quite like our red-beaked reindeer as he struggles to find his place in a world that has rejected him. Through his struggle, he inspires us to believe that we should keep moving and hoping, no matter the hand we were dealt. Sometimes the very thing that is seemingly hindering us can be what leads to discovering our destiny.
– Parker Allen, Marketing Strategist
"Soul": Believe in what you can't see
This is a little bit of a risky recommendation, because the movie won't be released until Christmas Day and I haven't seen it yet. But I've been excited about Soul since we saw the preview last spring, when it was originally slated for release:
As someone who has a difficult time seeing the spiritual realities of life, I'm looking forward to this movie's take on why our soul matters and why the trials and tribulations of life are worth it too.
When I think about the soul, I think of these scriptures:
[36] And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [37] Is anything worth more than your soul?
Mark 8:36-37 NLT
[6-7] "What is the value of your soul to God? Could your worth be defined by an amount of money? God doesn't abandon or forget even the small sparrow he has made. How then could he forget or abandon you? What about the seemingly minor issues of your life? Do they matter to God? Of course they do! So you never need to worry, for you are more valuable to God than anything else in this world.
Luke 12:6-7 TPT
Our soul – the spiritual part of us – is very important to God. In this difficult year, I think we can find hope and faith by looking beyond our physical circumstances to our soul and remembering what really matters in life.
– Amy Query, Managing Editor
"Tenet": There's power in sacrifice
Tenet is a movie about sacrifice. Without giving too much away (it's a recent film, after all), the protagonist fights for the survival of the world in a series of escalating challenges that test his willingness to sacrifice everything for the people that matter to him.
The film explores themes of brotherhood and putting the needs of others above your own. And it does it in a very Christopher Nolan way, which is to say, with a healthy dose of mind-bending suspense.
We all believe we would run into the burning building, but until we feel that heat we can never know.
– Cameron Straw, Producer of "Just Say the Word"
"The Martian": Never give up
This movie is a quarantine viewing essential. The Martian is so well-made that it prompted a widespread belief that it was based on a true story (though it's not).
Matt Damon plays an astronaut who is stranded alone on Mars. His faithful attitude in the midst of intense hardship and isolation helps me with our current circumstances. It reminds me that we have to keep believing and keep trying, no matter how bad our circumstances are.
– Vince Lin, Video Production Manager
"Groundhog Day": Relationships make life fulfilling
I really like the story of this movie because it teaches us about the good things that happen when we're humble.
Phil (Bill Murray) is someone who thinks the whole world revolves around him. Given all the time in the world, he starts to understand how meaningless his life is when all he seeks is his own interest. The more he does what he wants, the less he feels fulfilled.
He only really learns to enjoy his life by loving others and beginning to see the value in each person he meets.
– Kenzo Chua, Video Editor
"On the Basis of Sex": Vision overcomes adversity
No matter your political persuasion, this movie will inspire you about persevering and having vision in the midst of adversity.
When trying to become a lawyer, Ruth Bader Ginsberg faced a lot of obstacles and opposition due to being a woman. She eventually gave up, and settled. Years later, she's given the opportunity to fight for what she believes in – equal rights – and decides to take it.
Compelled by the vision to build a better future for her daughter and backed up by the support of her husband, friends, and students, RBG's spark gets rekindled, and she brings about incredible change.
[12] So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. [13] Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT
Sometimes we face obstacles that make us want to give up and lose faith, but there is a vision and purpose that God has for each of us that only we are meant to live out. Catching hold of that vision is what will help us keep pushing forward in faith despite the difficulties we face.
– Alexis Colvin, Writer
"Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi": Failure isn't fatal
You could pick just about any of the entries in the Star Wars series and draw some sort of spiritual inspiration (yes, even the prequels). I went with the one that resonated the most with me as a person in my late thirties who can easily struggle with regret, guilt, and a general lack of confidence.
Luke Skywalker was the hero every boy idolized growing up, the infallible avatar of goodness and lightsaber-wielding awesomeness. It's what made it so shocking to see him as a broken and disillusioned hermit, determined to isolate himself from the galaxy after a devastating personal failure.
In his scene with Yoda, Luke gets a timely pep talk from his former master, who pushes him to think differently about his life and how he's viewed his religion. Luke spent his whole life adhering to a creed he didn't truly understand ("Read [the sacred texts], have you? Page-turners, they were not."), unable to see that his view of success and failure was influenced heavily by his past experiences. The Jedi Order as he knew it taught control, suppression, and tradition and did not equip him with the tools needed to adequately handle emotions.
His fear of repeating another mistake froze him, and he needed a friend to slap him out of his paralysis.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 NIV
The movie is about so many things: persevering in the face of impossible odds (The Resistance); struggling to find meaning, family and identity (Rey); what leadership is and isn't (Poe). But Luke's story, which culminates in a redemption of epic proportions that inspires the next generation of leaders, will always stand out to me because it gives me hope that I can overcome any setback or failure.
– Mike Query, Web Strategist
"Jingle Jangle": You can recover lost faith
Jeronicus Jangle, an inventor, was disheartened in life because of the failure and loss he experienced. Through relationships and honesty, he learned that his original destiny and passion were still possible.
No matter what failures, loss, or betrayal we have faced in our lives, this movie reminds us there is always hope ahead of us. Sometimes we just need to listen to friends and family and be honest about our true insecurities to see the opportunities before us.
– Sean Kiluk, Web Developer
"My Neighbor Totoro": Don't go through life alone
I'm bringing some international flavor to the list with this one.
When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby. The encouragement that we can bring to our family and friends in difficult times is a priceless gift when we choose to love, be adventurous and support one another no matter the obstacles.
My wife and I are enjoying watching Studio Ghibli filmography recently. My Neighbor Totoro is something the whole family can enjoy.
– Nathan Schaffernoth, Video Producer and Podcast Publisher
"The Christmas Chronicles": Restore your Christmas spirit
In this movie, a brother and sister bond over the magical adventure of saving Christmas.
This movie touches on something particularly relevant this year: what happens when we lose Christmas spirit. Christmas spirit helps heal division as we become the best version of ourselves. So if you've lost some Christmas spirit this year, The Christmas Chronicles should be on your watch list.
After losing their father in a fire because he saved someone else, the older brother in the movie has been distant and mean. His sister, determined to catch Santa on video like her father did by accident years ago, gets her brother to hang out with her, and it starts a night of adventure.
Santa (in a great portrayal by Kurt Russell) teaches the children and others they come across along the way to believe again and that there is always a chance to do good.
– Kelly Lemons, Graphic Designer
"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood": Friends help us trust again
Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) has a lot of baggage, which leads him to being cynical, guarded, and faithless. But as he interviews Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks), the friendship that develops softens his heart and compels him to make changes in his own personal life that he never would have thought he could or would do.
We all need the kind of friendships in our lives that push us to have faith in areas where we've lost hope. We need friends to stick with us even when we're mistrustful and difficult to be around, and it's these friendships that make all the difference.
This article was created by a member of the Deep Spirituality editorial team.
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Why Have I Stopped Reading My Bible?
In our effort to serve God more and better, to love people, and to do good, we end up silencing God's voice, which is what inspired us in the first place to serve, love, and do good. In short, we become so busy serving God that we stop making time for him.
byRuss Ewell
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Q: Update Visual Studio from 2012 to 2017 makes application return error 404 I work in an application using Visual Studio 2012, .Net Framework 4.0. Now, I need to update to VS 2017. The solution opens, builds and runs without errors.
When I access a public resource (i.e. Login.aspx, images), it loads successfully. After the login, the server always responds with an error 404. No matter if the resource requires authentication or not.
The exception is for the login page itself which never fails. After loading it, makes the other public resources also available (again).
Any idea for what might be the cause?

A: The application has a custom login that creates the authentication ticket (.ASPXFORMSAUTH) with custom data in it. On following requests the data in the cookie is validated by a custom handler.
It also uses the System.Web.UI.WebControls.Login class, which creates the authentication ticket itself, without the custom data.
So, the browser was receiving two cookies with the same identifier and discarding one of them.
The VS 2012 wasn't loading the handler that validates the request. After migrating to VS 2017 (and IIS Express), the handler was loaded and the errors started.
The solution was to avoid sending the second, incomplete authentication ticket.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Card Sword is one of the most dramatic and effective stage items you can perform with a pack of cards!.
The performer displays a pack of cards. Three cards are selected by members of the audience, and shuffled back into the pack. The pack is held by a spectator. Performer displays a large sword. Spectator is asked to toss the cards at the sword. As the cards cascade down, the performer plunges the sword into the shower of cards. The audience see three cards impaled on the sword. And needless to say these are the same cards selected by the audience.
The Card Sword we supply is designed after the classic prop, some 34" long, and 4" x 3" at the hilt. The sword is completely constructed from brass, chromium plated in a gleaming silver finish.
The Card Sword is an effect which has been used by some of the greatest names in magic, - well presented the impact on the audience can equal that of a much larger and more expensive illusion.