text:
Timonium OTB players nail Gulfstream Pick 6
by The Biz | Mar 28, 2016 | Breaking, Business, Maryland, MD Business
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
A group of bettors at the Maryland Jockey Club's recently-opened off-track betting facility in Timonium had one of the winning tickets on Gulfstream Park's 20-cent Rainbow 6 Saturday that returned $89,456.54.
Terry Cook and a dozen of his friends played a ticket for $1,536. There was a $4.5 million carryover going into Saturday's mandatory payout. An additional $10,782,375 was wagered into the pool Saturday. There were a total of 147 winning tickets.
"There were a group of us involved," said Cook Saturday night. "I just said last weekend, 'Let's everyone put their thinking caps on and come up with a ticket.' "
Cook said he and his friends were spending a couple afternoons a week at the Maryland Jockey Club's off-track betting facility at the Horseshoe Casino before the Timonium facility opened.
"I'm telling you, since this place opened you've never seen so many happy faces in your life," said Cook, who visited Gulfstream earlier this winter. "We all live in the area and everyone is mostly older. We just get together a couple times a week, tell the same jokes, and laugh. We're a group of guys who like the sport and the people. It's really great what the Maryland Jockey Club is doing."
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Amarinder hopes for amicable solution to SYL issue
Chandigarh, Jul 11 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Thursday hoped for an amicable solution to the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue with Haryana after the apex court directed both states to form a panel of officers to look into it.
"The Supreme Court's directive on the formation of a committee of officers by Punjab and Haryana will lead to a long-term, just and equitable solution to the vexed SYL problem in the backdrop of worsening water situation in the state," the CM said in a statement here.
The CM hoped that an amicable solution would be found keeping the ground realities in view.
Reacting to the SC order issued on Tuesday, the CM said talks were the only way to resolve the issue, which "threatened to plunge Punjab into a major environmental disaster".
It was imperative for all concerned parties to work together in to avert such a disaster, he said.
The state government received a copy of the apex court order on Thursday.
The CM said the Centre's intervention, as directed by the Supreme Court, would be critical to facilitate constructive talks between the two states in line with the orders.
The Supreme Court in its order had said, "We request the chief ministers of both states to form a committee of officers and to ensure that both of them deliberate with the intervention of the Central government at the highest level and if possible to work out a solution."
"We hope and trust that functionaries of both states will rise to the occasion to find out a solution, which is in the interest of all," the apex court said, adding that if required, they would hear the matter on merit.
The Punjab CM said the state government would immediately initiate the process of naming officers for the committee and hoped that the Haryana government would do so without delay.
An early resolution would be in national interest, he stated in an official release here.
The CM said Punjab had no problem in sharing water with anyone, if it had enough of the vital resource.
Unfortunately, the water situation in the state was critical, with the groundwater depleting to shocking levels and threatening to transform Punjab into a desert, he asserted.
Mega mock drill held to deal with magnitude 8 quake
Apple updates Mac to fix faulty feature on video conferencing app Zoom

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Built upon the foundation of the authoritative Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Reformed Episcopal Church declares her first priority to be that of evangelism, the old and unadulterated proclamation of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:4). In keeping the faith once delivered to the saints, the Reformed Episcopal Church, however, does not believe evangelism to be the end, but rather the beginning of her divinely given vocation. Thus, she is deeply committed to discipleship, the work of training evangelized men and women in Christian living (St. Matthew 28:20). This inescapably means that the Reformed Episcopal Church sets a high priority on biblical worship. When the gospel is truly proclaimed and the mercies of God are made known, redeemed men and women must be led to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, which is their spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). Thus, the Reformed Episcopal Church understands the Christian life to be necessarily corporate. The Gospel call of salvation is not only to a Savior but also to a community of those who have been saved (1Cor. 12:27), which community, being indwelt by Christ's Spirit, transcends both temporal and geographic bounds. Therefore, the Reformed Episcopal Church is creedal, following the historic Christian faith as it was affirmed by the early undivided Church in the Apostle's (A.D. 150) and Nicene Creed (A.D. 325), sacramental, practicing the divinely ordained sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as outward and visible signs of His inward and spiritual grace, confessional, accepting the doctrines and practices of the English Reformation as found inthe 39 articles of Religion, and episcopal, finding unity with the Church of the earliest Christian eras through submission to the government of godly Bishops. In this fashion, by embracing the broad base of doctrine and practice inherent in the historic Church of the Reformation, the Reformed Episcopal Church has a foundation for effective ministry in the name of Christ to a world which is lost and dying without Him.


text:
International Women's Day: WTF-only ride
by Laura Kling
A ride for Women, Trans*, Femme, and GNC friends!
Cross posted from GreaseRag.org
Sunday, March 8 12:30-4:30
The Hub Bike Co-op at Oak St., 401 SE Oak St.
RSVP on Facebook
12:30p Meet at The Hub Bike Co-op on Oak Street: 401 Oak St SE
1:15p Ride to Recovery Bike Shop: 2504 Central Ave NE
3:00 Arrive at Gamut Gallery: 1006 Marquette Ave.
If you benefit from cis-male privilege, please sit this ride out- thank you for respecting our space.
2012 Grease Rag International Women's Day Ride
"Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!"
In 1975, which was designated as International Women's Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to, and began sponsoring, International Women's Day. Now, every year, the UN designates a political and human rights theme to IWD. 2015 is "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!" commemorating the Beijing+20 campaign of 1995, and was chosen to celebrate progress and reflect on the state of women's rights.
International Women's Day, formerly known as International Working Women's Day, did not start in 1975. In the late 1800's the oppression of women politically, economically and socially was becoming unbearable, and globally, strong women were beginning to unite, campaign and speak OUT to demand rights, equality, humane working conditions and the right to vote. Many national celebrations of womanhood were organized around the globe in the early 1900's.
Women have been politically active, organizing labor unions, striking, protesting, and fighting for every cent of the 77 that we earn compared to a man's $1*, and for rights to manage our own bodies for much longer than International Women's Day has been around. I mention this because I love IWD, but it's important to me to recognize that we have been proud radical organizers since before it was sanctioned or recognized!
*2010 Census Data (There would be an even greater inequity if we broke this down by race.)
I am encouraged by the women that toiled for over 70 years to secure our right to vote. I am proud of individuals like Annie Londonderry, breaking down gender barriers with a bike and a ton of heart. I'm proud to take part in the evolution of the feminist movement with women like you, and the women involved in the Gamut Gallery Exhibit, "Revolution Now." So let's celebrate!
Arrival and departure times are approximate, but if you'd like to meet up with us along the way, here are the stops!
12:30p Meet at The Hub Bike Co-op on Oak Street, a shop that hosts Grease Rag Ride & Wrench 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month, 7-9 PM
1:15p Ride to Recovery Bike Shop, a shop that hosts Grease Rag Ride & Wrench 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month, 7-9 PM
3:00p Arrive at Gamut Gallery for the International Women's Day Panel, featuring Joan Vorderbruggen, Drew Peterson and Robyne Robinson, facilitated by Ash Marlene Hane and Angela Sprunger. Two of the panelists, Ash Marlene Hane & Angela Sprunger, curated and created work for a show called REVOLUTION NOW, which is currently showing at the gallery.
Blog »International Women's Day: WTF-only ride


Collaborating on office documents is a solved problem. Collaborating on code is still a pretty difficult thing to do. That's because sharing just code isn't enough. In order to really collaborate, a developer needs to be able to share their whole environment. VS Live Share is a new service that lets you do exactly that, and you might be surprised at just how much sharing you can actually do.
A few months ago, Microsoft released its free Visual Studio (VS) Live Share service. VS Live Share is Google Docs level collaboration for code. Multiple developers can collaborate on the same file at the same time without ever leaving their own editor.
After the release of Live Share, I realized that many of us have resigned ourselves to being isolated in our code and we're not even aware that there are better ways to work with a service like VS Live Share. This is partly because we are stuck in old habits and partly because we just aren't aware of what all VS Live Share can do. That last part I can help with!
Live Share comes as an extension for both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code (VS Code). In this article, we're going to focus on VS Code.
Once the extension is installed, you will need to log in to the VS Live Share service. You can do that by opening the Command Palette Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P and select "Sign In With Browser". If you don't log in and you try and start a new sharing session, you will be prompted to log in at that time.
There are several ways to kick off a VS Live Share session. You can do it from the Command Palette, you can click that "Share" button in the bottom toolbar, or you can use the VS Live Share explorer view in the Sidebar.
A link is copied to your clipboard. You can then send that link to others, and they can join your Live Share session — provided they are using VS Code as well. Which, aren't we all?
The other person can not only see your code, but they can edit it, save it, execute it and even debug it. For you, they show up as a cursor with a name on it. You show up in their editor the same way.
The VS Live Share explorer shows up as a new icon in the Action Bar — which is that bar of icons on the far right of my screen (the far left of yours for default Action Bar placement). This is a sort of "ground zero" for everything VS Live Share. From here, you can start sessions, end them, share terminals, servers, and see who is connected.
It's a good idea to bind a keyboard shortcut to this VS Live Share Explorer view so that you can quickly toggle between that and your files. You can do this by pressing Ctrl/Cmd + K (or Ctrl/Cmd + S) and then searching for "Show Live Share". I bound mine to Ctrl/Cmd + L, which doesn't seem to be bound to anything else. I find this shortcut to be intuitive (L for Live Share) and easy to hit on the keyboard.
When you start a new sharing session, you will be notified thusly and asked if you would like to share your workspace read-only. If you select read-only, people will be able to see your code and follow your movements, but they will not be able to interact.
This mode is useful when you are sharing with someone that you don't necessarily trust — maybe a vendor, partner or an estranged ex.
It's also particularly useful for instructors. Note that at the time of this writing, VS Live Share is locked to 5 concurrent users. Since you probably are going to want more than that in read-only mode, especially if you're teaching a group, you can up the limit to 30 by adding the following line to your User Settings file: Ctrl/Cmd + ,.
Anyone with the link can join your Live Share session. When they join, you'll see a pop-up letting you know. Likewise, when they disconnect, you get notified. This is the default behavior for VS Live Share.
It's a good idea to change this so that you have to manually approve someone before they can join your session. This is to protect you in the case where you go to lunch and forget to disconnect your session. Your co-workers can't log back in, change one letter in your database connection string and then laugh while you spend the next four hours trying to figure out how your life has gone so horribly wrong.
To enable this, add the following line to your User Settings file Ctrl/Cmd + ,.
Now you'll be prompted when someone wants to join. If you block someone, they are blocked for the duration of the session. If they try to join again, you won't be notified and they will be unceremoniously rejected by VS Live Share.
Go and enjoy your lunch. Your computer is safe.
By default, anyone who joins your Live Share session is "following" you. That means that their editor will load up whatever file you are in and scroll whenever you scroll. Even if you switch files, participants will see exactly what you see.
The second that a person makes changes to a file, they are no longer following you. So if you are both working on a file together, and then you go to a different file, they won't automatically go with you. That can lead to a lot of confusion with you talking about code in the file you're in while the other person is looking at something entirely different.
Besides just telling each other where you are (which works, btw), there is a handy command called "Focus Participants" that is in the Command Palette Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P.
You can also access it as an icon in the VS Live Share Explorer view.
This will focus your participants on the next thing you click on or scroll to. By default, VS Live Share focus requests are accepted implicitly. If you don't want people to be able to focus you, you can add the following line to your User Settings file.
Also note that you can follow participants. If you click on their name in the VS Live Share Explorer view, you will begin to follow them.
Because following is turned off as soon as the other person begins editing code, it can be tough to know exactly when people are following you and when they aren't. One place you can look is in the VS Live Share Explorer view. It will tell you the file that a person is in, but not whether or not they are following you.
A good practice is to just remember that focus is always changing so people may or may not see what you see at any given time.
Participants can share any debug sessions that you run. If you start a debug session, they will get the exact same experience that you do. If it breaks on your side, it breaks on theirs, and they get the full debug view into all of your code.
They can step in, out, over, add watches, evaluate in the Debug Console; any debugging that you can do, they can do too, and they can control it.
A lot of the work we do as developers isn't in our code; it's in the terminal. Some days it seems like I spend about as much time on my terminal as I do in my editor. This means that if you have an error on your terminal or need to type some command, it would be nice if your participants in VS Live Share can see your terminal in addition to your code.
VS Code has an integrated terminal, and you can share it with VS Live Share.
When you do this, you have the opportunity to share your terminal as read-only, or as read-write.
By default, you should be sharing your terminal as read-only. When you share your terminal read-write, the user can execute arbitrary commands directly on your terminal. Let that sink in for a moment. That's heavy.
It goes without saying that having remote write access to someone's terminal comes with a lot of trust and responsibility. You should only ever share your terminal read-write with people that you trust implicitly. Estranged ex's are probably off the table.
Sharing your terminal read-only safely allows the person on the other end of the line to see what you are typing and your terminal output in real time, but restricts them from typing anything into that terminal.
Should you find yourself in a scenario where it would be quicker for the other person to just get at your terminal instead of trying to walk you through some wacky command with a ton of flags, you can share your terminal read-write. In this mode, the other person has full remote access to your terminal. Choose your friends wisely.
In the video above, the terminal command ends with a link to a site running on http://localhost:8080. With VS Live Share, you can share that localhost so that the other person can access it just like it was their own localhost.
If you are running a shared debug session, when the participant hits that localhost URL on their end, it will break for both of you if a breakpoint is hit. Even better, you can share any TCP process. That means that you can share something like a database or a Redis cache. For instance, you could share your local Mongo DB server. Seriously! This means no more changing config files or trying to get a shared database up. Just share the port for your local Mongo DB instance.
Sometimes you don't want collaborators to see certain files. There are likely private keys and passwords in your project that are not checked into source control and not suitable for public viewing. In this case, you would want to hide those files from anyone participating in your Live Share session.
By default, VS Live Share will hide any file that is specified in your .gitignore. If there is a file that you want to hide, just add it to your .gitignore. Note though, that this only hides the file in the project view. If you are in a shared debugging session and you step into a file that is in the .gitignore, it is still loaded up in the editor and your collaborators will be able to see it.
You can get more fine-grained control over how you share files by creating a .vsls.json file.
For instance, if you wanted to make sure that any files that are in the .gitignore are never visible, even during debugging, you can set the gitignore property to exclude.
Part of the appeal of VS Code to a lot of developers is the massive extensions marketplace. Most people will have more than a few installed. It's important to understand how extensions will work, or not work, in the context of VS Live Share.
VS Live Share will synchronize anything that is specific to the context of the project you are sharing. For instance, if you have the Vetur extension installed because you are working with a Vue project, it will be shared across to any participants — regardless of whether or not they have it installed as well. The same is true for other context-specific things, like linters, formatters, debuggers, and language services.
VS Live Share does not synchronize extensions that are user specific. These would be things like themes, icons, keyboard bindings, and so on. As a general rule of thumb, VS Live Share shares your context, not your screen. You can consult the official docs article on this subject for a more in-depth explanation of what extensions you can expect to be shared.
One of the first things people do on their inaugural VS Live Share experience is to try to communicate by typing in code comments. This seems like the write (get it?) thing to do, but not really how VS Live Share was designed to be used.
VS Live Share is not meant to replace your chat client of choice. You likely already have a preferred chat mechanism, and VS Live Share assumes that you will continue to use that.
If you're already using Slack, there is a VS Code extension called Slack Chat. This extension is still a tad early in its development, but it looks quite promising. It puts VS Code in split mode and embeds Slack on the right-hand side. Even better, you can start a Live Share session directly from the Slack chat.
Another tool that looks quite interesting is called CodeStream.
While VS Live Share looks to improve collaboration from the editor, CodeStream is aiming to solve that same problem from a chat perspective.
The CodeStream extension allows you to chat directly within VS Code and those chats become part of your code history. You can highlight a chunk of code to discuss and it goes directly into the chat so there is context for your comments. These comments are then saved as part of your Git repo. They also show up in your code as little comment icons, and these comments will show up no matter which branch you are on.
When it comes to VS Live Share, CodeStream offers a complimentary set of features. You can start new sessions directly from the chat pane, as well as by clicking on an avatar. New sessions automatically create a corresponding chat channel that you can persist with the code, or dispose of when you are done.
If chatting isn't enough to get the job done, and you need to collaborate like it's 1999, help is just a phone call away.
While VS Live Share isn't trying to reinvent chat, it does re-invent your telephone. Kind of.
With the VS Live Share Audio extension, you can call someone directly and do voice chat from within VS Code.
The other person will then get a prompt to join your call.
You will see a speaker icon in the bottom status bar when you are connected to a call. You can click on that speaker to change your audio device, mute yourself, or disconnect from the call.
The last tip I'll give you is probably the most important, and it's not a fancy feature or obscure setting you didn't know existed.
We've got years of learned behavior when it comes to getting help or sharing our code. The state of developer collaboration tools has been so bad for so long that we are conditioned to paste code into Slack, start an awkward Skype calls that consist mostly of "tell me when you can see my screen", or crowd around a monitor and point excessively, i.e. stock photo style.
The most important thing you can do to get the most out of VS Live Share is to actually use VS Live Share. And it will have to be a "conscious" effort.
Your brain is good at patterns. You are constantly recognizing and classifying the world around you based on patterns you have identified, and you are so good at it, you don't even realize you are doing it. You then develop default responses to these patterns. You form instincts. This is why you will default to the old ways of collaboration without even thinking about what you are doing. Before you know it you will be on a Skype call with someone sharing your screen — even if you have Live Share installed.
I've written a lot about VS Code and people will ask me from time to time how they can get more productive with their editor. I always say the same thing: the next time you reach for the mouse to do something, stop. Can you do that something with the keyboard instead? You probably can. Look up the shortcut and then make yourself use it. At first it's going to be slower, but if you are willing to deliberately adopt a different behavior, you will be astonished at how fast your brain will default to the more productive way of doing something.
The same goes for Live Share. You will be on a call sharing your screen when it occurs to you that you could be using Live Share. At that moment, stop; click that "Share" button in the bottom of VS Code.
Yes, the person on the other end may not have the extension installed. Yes, it may take a moment to set it up. But if you work on establishing this behavior now, the next time you go to do this, it will "just work" and it won't be long before you don't even have to think about it, and at that point, you will finally have achieved that "Anonymous Hippo" level of collaboration.


Each pack contains three cables of 1.2 metres in length.
End the frustration of trying to plug in a USB cable only to find that it is upside down. Both the USB and micro USB ends of the cable can be plugged in either way around.


Inspired by World War II bomber planes and designed by Timothy Oulton Aviator Chair is availiable at Restoration Hardware. Aluminum-wrapped curves, padded leather seat and back, leather-clad wrap-around top rail, Kiln-dried frame, distressed whiskey leather and plastic feet that save your floor from scratches – it's all yours for only $1,295. This chair will ideally suit for aviation-based interior.
Most beautiful chair I've ever seen ! Must buy !


text:
SYNONYM

#### According to
The Catalogue of Life, 3rd January 2011

#### Published in
K. Koch & G. A. Fintelmann, Wochenschr. Gärtnerei Pflanzenk. 2:366. 1859

#### Original name
null

### Remarks
null

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
MotoGP, Rossi: "Always the same problem, we need an idea"
"We didn't work well in the pit. The race was worse than expected. I had no traction after 5 laps, and I had to slow down."
Submitted by Matteo Aglio on Sun, 22/09/2019 - 22:04
aragongp
micheli
It's no secret that Valentino's relationship with the Motorland in Aragon has never been idyllic, and today's race added yet another chapter to this stormy union. An 8th place even behind Aleix Espargarò (no offense, Aprilia) is a Sunday that should be forgotten. Then add the almost 18 seconds behind his teammate, Vinales.
"I knew it would be difficult to fight for the podium, but it went worse than expected," admitted Rossi at the mics. "My problem? It's always the same. I had to slow down after a few laps because I had no more grip on the rear."
Was it a tire problem?
"No, it was our problem . All the Yamahas used the hard compound for the rear, but both Maverick and Quartararo had problems 5 laps from the end. I did 5 laps after the start. From one pass to the next, I had to raise my times by 7 tenths."
"That we didn't work well. Like I already explained, we changed the balance of the bike a bit and improved in the second part of the season, but this problem of lack of traction remained. We must try to understand why, from here to the end of the year."
You said you didn't work well in the pit. What should be changed: working method, people?
"In my opinion it's a problem tied to the bike's set-up, rather than a new working method. We need the right idea that will allow us to solve it."
All the riders on the podium had the soft tire on the rear. Couldn't you have chosen it?
"It would have been an advantage to be able to use it, but it simply wasn't working on the Yamaha. Even the men at Michelin recommended the hard one. I was hoping to be able to stay in the top 5, but I was having a lot of problems again."
Did the track conditions amplify the problems?
"This circuit has always been complicated for me, and we didn't do well this year either. The asphalt didn't have much grip, kind of like what happened in Misano, if not worse, but I started off well on Friday. The first problems started on Saturday, and today was the worst day, but I don't know why."
Vinales says that by using the latest additions brought by Yamaha, it's more difficult to perfect the bike.
"I had already suffered this grip problem in Austria, then at Silverstone, so before the new material arrived. I think it's tied to something else: the rear tire slips a lot when bending, so you go slower and it wears out quicker."
Compared to the Ducati, top speed is also a big problem.
"It's our weak point, and Yamaha engineers are well aware of it. It would be important to improve it for next year because it's much easier to improve your times on a straight line and also to fight against your opponents."
You'll be in Thailand in 2 weeks, what do you expect?
"It's difficult to say because the situation is constantly changing. I had a good race last year. I almost got on the podium. We hope to repeat ourselves."
Translated by Leila Myftija
Valentino Rossi, take care, Covid is not your only health problem!
Rossi after FP3s: "I had a small problem, but I rode well"
Jarvis: "Rossi? It's not the right time to quit, not a good idea now...
Valentino Rossi: "With me and Federica, the Coronavirus raised the bar"
Second swab for Rossi this morning: result in the evening
Rossi: "If Marquez manages to race, It'll be good for everyone"
Poll: Rossi-Quartararo, trading places in Yamaha
Valentino Rossi calls racing at Le Mans in October 'dangerous'
Rossi forgets the past and goes back to training on a motocross bike
First virtual Grand Prix (without Rossi): when and where to see it
Valentino Rossi: "Marquez isn't out of the battle for the World...


text:
Afghan Taliban Seek Elusive Control Of Hazara Regions
Frud Bezhan
Hazara protest against the deteriorating security situation as they arrive in Ghazni city to take refuge on November 12.
Tucked in a valley in the remote highlands of central Afghanistan, Jaghori has been a safe haven in recent years for members of the country's beleaguered Hazara minority.
But the peace in Jaghori, a district in Ghazni Province heavily populated by the mainly Shi'ite Hazara, was shattered last week when Taliban militants launched a major offensive to seize it. Afghan special forces and pro-government Hazara militiamen continue to battle the militants, with clashes killing hundreds of people and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
When asked why the Taliban would try to take an area that has long been considered unattainable, analysts suggest that the hard-line Sunni movement is emboldened by territorial gains made elsewhere in the country, and has something to prove.
Expanding its reach into a central region inhabited by an ethnic group renowned for its opposition to the Taliban could be a game changer in the battle for national influence.
The Taliban terrorized Hazara during their oppressive 1996-2001 rule, when the militants wrested control of central Afghanistan through brute force and a campaign of targeted killings. Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, the Taliban have been unable to make inroads in Hazara-dominated areas.
"The Taliban want to prove that they are capable of governing non-Pashtun territories," says Haroun Mir, a Kabul-based political analyst. "They have been able to govern ethnic Tajik and Uzbek areas in the north, and they want to govern Hazara-dominated districts, as well."
Apart from Jaghori, the militants have also attacked the district of Malistan, also in Ghazni. Fighting erupted two weeks ago in the Khas Uruzgan district, which has a sizable Hazara population in neighboring Uruzgan Province.
'Alternative Governing Force'
The Taliban have traditionally drawn on Pashtuns to back their insurgency, but the group has successfully recruited disgruntled members of other ethnic groups as it has expanded its reach. Recruits have boosted the Taliban's ability to seize territory beyond the Pashtun-majority areas in the country's south and east that serve as their base of power.
To this point, Hazara areas have been the exception.
Analysts note that the Taliban have tried to portray themselves as a genuine national movement, and to bolster that image they have tried to attract members of other ethnic groups. The hard-line movement has also distanced itself from sectarian and ethnic-driven attacks, although it is in fact often blamed for orchestrating incidents.
"Unlike in the case of ethnic Tajiks and Uzbeks, the Taliban don't have Hazara in their ranks, which is a big challenge for them," Mir says. "However, if they are capable of controlling and governing Hazara territories without brutality and abuses, then it might play well in their strategy, which is to portray themselves as an alternative governing force not only in the south but in the entire country."
'Never Accept Taliban Rule'
Taliban rule would be difficult to sell to Hazara. Aside from past Taliban atrocities against the community, the group's strict interpretation of Shari'a law and its policies on women and education would threaten advancements seen in Hazara areas in recent years.
In Jaghori, for example, there is near-universal girls' education, and the number of boys attending school is higher than the national average. Women also work outside their homes and can drive cars, as is the case in most urban areas of Afghanistan but which is banned in areas under Taliban control.
Hazara women walk along a road in Bamiyan Province, where they have more freedom than the Taliban would allow.
During its draconian rule, the Taliban denied girls the right to go to school, and women were not allowed to work outside the home. If they ventured outside, women had to don a burqa and be escorted by a male relative. Although the Taliban have relaxed some of its strictest positions, their restrictions on education and women persist.
"Hazara will never accept Taliban rule willingly, and will do their best to resist them," says Ali Adili, a researcher at the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul. "Hazara do not want to have any reversal on their civic gains."
Highlighting the anti-Taliban sentiment among Hazara, civilians took up arms against the insurgents before the central government belatedly sent reinforcement troops, including special forces and warplanes, to besieged districts this week.
The fighting between the mostly Pashtun Sunni Taliban and Shi'ite Hazara has heightened fears of ethnic and sectarian violence, even as the Taliban have denied they are specifically targeting Hazara.
Pashtuns are the biggest ethnic group in Afghanistan, constituting some 40 percent of the 30 million population. Hazara make up around 10 percent.
'Try Their Chances'
The districts of Jaghori and Malistan in Ghazni Province are strategic because they are considered the gateway to the Hazara-dominated provinces of Bamiyan and Dai Kundi, peaceful areas where the Taliban currently have no influence.
Large parts of Ghazni are under the control of the Taliban and the militants briefly overran the provincial capital, Ghazni city, in August before they were beaten back by Afghan special forces backed by U.S. air strikes. Ghazni is strategically located on the main highway linking Kabul with the southern city of Kandahar.
"The Taliban may want to try their chances at wresting control of the Hazara areas from the government as they already control large parts of the non-Hazara districts in Ghazni Province," Adili says.
The Ghazni fighting prompted demonstrations in Kabul and Ghazni by Hazara, who have complained of official neglect after a string of militant attacks targeting the community. A suicide attack close to where demonstrators had been gathering in Kabul killed at least six people on November 12.
A recent U.S. government watchdog report said the number of districts under government control or influence was at the lowest level since 2015. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said only 55.5 percent of the total 407 districts were under government control or influence, with the rest either contested or controlled by the Taliban.


BVS Training provides video-based Fire Safety & Evacuation Training Courses for care homes. Our Fire Safety Training Courses cover the full spectrum of fire safety, from drills and evacuation through to fire hazards and risk assessment. All courses include a lesson plan, handouts, assessment quiz, CPD accredited certificate of achievement, and various Care Certificate resources provided by Skills for Care.


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Q: Does PyTorch have implicit functions for element-wise product and sum? I am trying to implement RCAN for super resolution in Tensorflow by Yulun Zhang et al (the original code published with paper is implemented in PyTorch: https://github.com/yulunzhang/RCAN).
I am trying to understand how they have implemented RCAB. By looking at the diagram they have published of their network architecture, it seems pretty straight forward how the nueral network is built. But the code doesn't seem to match it.
According to the diagram here: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yulunzhang/RCAN/master/Figs/RCAB.PNG
Each RCAB should have following structure:
Residual Channel Attention Block(RCAB){

--0) Conv2D
--1) Relu
--2) Conv2D
--3) Channel Attention Layer{
----0)Global pooling
----1)Conv2D
----2)Relu
----3)Conv2D
----4)Sigmoid
----5)Element Wise Product (Input of this layer/function would be the output from the Conv2D layer 3)
--}
--4) Element Wise Sum (Input of this layer/function would be the input of layer 1)
}

However, when I print the PyTorch model in the paper's GitHub repo, RCAB looks like this:
(see https://github.com/yulunzhang/RCAN/blob/master/RCAN_TrainCode/experiment/model/Network_RCAN_BIX2_G10R20P48-2018-07-15-20-14-55.txt for the full printed model)
(0)RCAB(
          (body): Sequential(
            (0): Conv2d(64, 64, kernel_size=(3, 3), stride=(1, 1), padding=(1, 1))
            (1): ReLU(inplace)
            (2): Conv2d(64, 64, kernel_size=(3, 3), stride=(1, 1), padding=(1, 1))
            (3): CALayer(
              (avg_pool): AdaptiveAvgPool2d(output_size=1)
              (conv_du): Sequential(
                (0): Conv2d(64, 4, kernel_size=(1, 1), stride=(1, 1))
                (1): ReLU(inplace)
                (2): Conv2d(4, 64, kernel_size=(1, 1), stride=(1, 1))
                (3): Sigmoid()
              )
            )
          )
        )

There seems to be no mention of Element Wise sum and Element Wise product in the RCABs of the models that are published along the paper. Signmoid layer is the last layer in each RCAB.
So my question is: does Pytorch have some implicit way of declaring thes element wise sum/product layers? or is it the case that the publishers of the code/model simply haven't added any such layer and therefore have not followed the model architecture diagram that they published?

A: If you look at their actual model file you can find the elementwise sum (implemented as just +): https://github.com/yulunzhang/RCAN/blob/master/RCAN_TrainCode/code/model/rcan.py
I believe the elementwise product is handled the same way. These are not exactly "part of the model" in the PyTorch sense. They are not created in __init__ and are kind of dynamic, only revealing its behavior during the forward pass. Static model analysis could not have revealed them (and thus not show in the txt).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Environmental Law Fuels Black Market Trade in Cat Skins
By Tia Ghose 2013-06-14T21:06:00Z
Cats may be adorable, but environmentalists argue they're also a scourge for wildlife
(Image: © Menna | Shutterstock.com)
Fluffy, hold on to your fur: Some scoundrels may want a piece of you. A lucrative trade in cat fur is booming in Switzerland, and as a result, many domestic cats are disappearing, animal advocates say.
Animal rights activists say a law allowing citizens to shoot housecats that are more than 656 feet (200 meters) from their houses is to blame. The law was designed to protect wildlife from free-roaming cats. Past studies have shown that cats kill billions of birds and other wildlife a year. But activists say the law is being used as a cover to pick off innocent pets and skin them for their fur, The Verge reported. The cat fur trade was outlawed in Switzerland in 2008, but a cat-fur blanket can fetch more than $1,700, according to The Verge article.
An advocacy group called SOS Chats has used hidden cameras to uncover a booming black market trade in cat skins, as well as 21 cat-skin tanneries across the country. Some farmers even admitted to the group that they were raising cats for the explicit purpose of selling them to tanneries.
Follow Tia Ghose on Twitter @tiaghose. Follow LiveScience @livescience, Facebook & Google+.


text:
Q: laravel define relation over multiple tables I have a table customers with the fields id, name and so on.
One table doctors with the fields id, name.
Then there is one table subject_areas which has all subject areas which a doctor can have. The fields are id, text.
So, each doctor can have multiple subject areas. There is one pivot table doctor_subject which is a belongsToMany relation.
Here is my problem: A customer can have multiple doctors, but only for a specific subject area. I tried it with a new table customer_doctor with the fields id, customer_id and doctor_subject_id. But how do i map this in Eloquent?

A: Issue was in relation between tables. After chat clarification this came out as solution:

Html form is written in a way that customer first choose doctor, then depending on selection choose several of his available areas.
In that scenario customer needn't to be related to areas directly and should be related to areas only over relation with doctor.
Also as side note, if needed deeper relations, models on pivot tables could be created and used as well.


It's late at night and I should probably be going to bed. But late at night is the time when I usually get to read and this book will definitely keep you up into the 'wee sma's'.
Trial Run by Thomas Locke (aka Davis Bunn) is a sci-fi thriller with some quantum theory thrown in with a side of teleportation/telepathy for good measure.
On one side of the globe there is a group of radical scientists working on a project that they call 'ascending', projecting yourself mentally either into the past or the future. And on the other side there is another group that has stolen their research and is using it for stealing government secrets…except they are the government. Both sides have casualties that they can't account for and no idea what to do about it.
For a good chunk of this book we don't know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Both sides have some pretty edgy characters. Locke gives us a mind-bending, literally, plot line that makes a body wonder if they could really pull such a thing off. The razor thing edge between reality and perception gets even thinner in Trial Run.
If I give you too much detail I might just wreck the book for you. I for one don't like to know too much in advance (that's actually a little plot drop for you there), I like surprises!
Go get yourself a copy of Trial Run, it's the first in a new series called Fault Lines, but don't expect to put it down until you're done!
[Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


text:
Western Press Review: The Pinochet Case
December 09, 1998 00:00 GMT
By Don Hill
Prague, 10 December 1998 (RFE/RL) -- A decision by Britain's Home Secretary Jack Straw to let the extradition case of Chile's General Augusto Pinochet go to the British courts has brought widespread commentary in the British press. U.S. and German commentary also examines issues that the Pinochet case raises.
WALL STREET JOURNAL: Augusto Pinochet's legal troubles are just beginning
A brief analysis from London by Robert Frank in The Wall Street Journal Europe opens succinctly: "Augusto Pinochet's legal troubles are just beginning." Franks says that a legal battle is starting "that is likely to drag on for months or even years."
He writes: "An arrest that began with so much global fanfare and political controversy already is settling into a banal legal case fought in small courtrooms in Britain and Spain, and drifting out of the hands of politicians."
NEW YORK TIMES: The decision by Home Secretary Jack Straw constitutes a significant step
Warren Hoge, reporting for The New York Times from London, also writes in a news analysis that the path looks long and torturous for the Pinochet case. Hoge says: "While any extradition remains a long time and many legal twists and turns away, the decision (yesterday) was a significant step that brought exuberant cheers from the general's enemies and angry denunciations from his backers." Hoge continues: "The decision, coming two days before (tomorrow's) deadline, dashed the hopes of Pinochet's supporters and the Chilean government that Straw would put an end to the extraordinary case and let him return to Chile."
The writer says: "British law is generous in allowing appeals of the periodic steps in a lengthy process like extradition, and the Pinochet case could work its way back up to the House of Lords for future judgments."
WASHINGTON POST: The United States must actively oppose this brave new world of global justice
Jesse Helms is a prominent conservative Republican senator from the U.S. Southern state of North Carolina, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He writes in a commentary published by The Washington Post that the Straw decision sets a precedent that endangers international comity. "In July, during the Rome Conference to establish an International Criminal Court," Helms writes, "I warned that such a court would be arbitrary and contemptuous of national judicial processes and would trample the sovereignty of democratic nations."
Helms goes on: "Today a rogue Spanish judge is using international law to trample Chilean sovereignty and overrule Chile's functioning judiciary, its democratically elected government and the decision of its people to choose national reconciliation over revenge. And the advocates of the International Criminal Court are cheering him along."
The senator says that Pinochet's contributions to Chilean stability and defeat of communism need to be considered along with his human rights transgressions. Helms writes: "Much has been said of human rights abuses during the Pinochet era. I do not condone abuses by anyone. But the majority of Chileans will tell you that the 1973 coup d'etat led by Pinochet rescued their country from ruinous anarchy."
Helms says that if Pinochet is liable, why not former Russia President Mikhail Gorbachev for Afghanistan and the Baltics? Or China's Jiang Zemin for Tiananmen Square? Or Yasser Arafat for terrorism? The senator writes: "The point is this: Who decides who stands trial and who goes free in this brave new world of global justice?" He concludes: "This is the world crusaders for an International Criminal Court are unwittingly creating. The United States must actively oppose it."
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Pinochet is charged with crimes of universal jurisdiction
But another commentator, George Black of the New York City-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, says in a commentary published by the Los Angeles Times that fair grounds exist in established international law for the extradition and trial of Pinochet.
Black writes: "Pinochet is charged with torture, committed on such a widespread and systematic basis that it constitutes a crime against humanity -- a crime under both domestic and international law and a crime of universal jurisdiction. States therefore have not only an interest in seeing the crime investigated and punished -- they have a legal obligation to ensure that this happens. That obligation became binding on Britain in 1988, when it ratified the U.N. Convention Against Torture. This treaty is not yet as widely known as it should be, but it has an enormous potential role to play in the future enforcement of international human rights law."
WASHINGTON POST: If Pinochet's predicament prevents torture of political prisoners, his hour of fear has served justice
Well-known American conservative columnist George Will considers sympathetically in The Washington Post most of Senator Helms' arguments but rebuts the senator's conclusion. Will writes: "The Spanish judge who yesterday made progress in persuading Britain to extradite (Pinochet) is practicing what is called justice without borders. But borders are akin to fences, and good fences make good neighbors. If what is called international law -- it is international, but is it law? -- ignores fences, will nations be more neighborly?"
Will responds to his own question: "Prosecuting Pinochet might expand the rule of law; it certainly would involve ideological willfulness tarted up in the trappings of law. Pinochet was a nasty ruler who mandated torture, hostage-taking and murder -- probably including murder on Embassy Row in Washington. But he was, on balance, good for Chile, which emerged from his despotism as a prosperous democracy."
Will's conclusion: "Some conservatives reasonably argue that prosecuting Pinochet might deter other dictators from surrendering power. However, those conservatives are conceding a deterrent effect: Such prosecutions might stay torturers' hands. If the peril in which Pinochet finds himself prevents (torture) of political prisoners, Pinochet's hour of fear has served justice."
SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG: Pinochet should have taken the honorable step of offering himself up for trial
In the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, a commentary by Stefan Ulrich applauds the Straw decision. Ulrich writes: "Jack Straw has stayed true to the tough line he has adopted since becoming Britain's home secretary. This time he has shown toughness towards an 83-year-old man suffering from back problems and homesickness. He is right to have done so."
Ulrich says: "Following the complex British extradition law, the proceedings could take months, if not years. In the end the ex-dictator might indeed be so frail that he would have to be released." The German commentator says that Pinochet, himself, should have taken the honorable step of offering himself up for trial. The writer concludes: "Only the general himself can stop this procedure by showing a soldierly virtue -- courage. Instead of taking cover behind his age, alleged immunity or a Chilean amnesty, he could give himself up to the Spanish judges and defend himself like a man. But nobody believes any longer that Augusto Pinochet will have that much backbone."
In London, three prominent newspapers take editorially opposed stands on the case. The Daily Telegraph calls the Straw decision "Politics, Not Justice." The Guardian regards it as "A Win for Human Rights." And The Times worries that the case will become continually more controversial as it winds through Britain's courts. Following are excerpts:
DAILY TELEGRAPH: The whole thing is a ghastly mess
The Daily Telegraph : "Far from strengthening or clarifying international law, (the case) could easily open up an international free-for-all, in which all sorts of judges and governments will feel able to apply for the arrest of a wide range of former leaders to whom they may have taken a dislike. The whole thing is a ghastly mess and one which Mr. Straw should have done everything he possibly could to avoid, while he still had the chance."
GUARDIAN: Jack Straw has taken a just and moral decision
The Guardian: "After a prolonged and unnecessary delay, Jack Straw has taken the only decision on the Pinochet case which combines justice with moral vision."
TIMES: Mr. Straw anticipate the wider legal, diplomatic and political context of his decision
The Times: "At the end of all this the matter may, and in all probability will, once again come across the desk of the home secretary. At this final stage he would, as he may have calculated, have wider formal authority with which to allow Chile, not Spain, to determine the general's fate. This remains the best of several unattractive solutions to this conundrum. Mr. Straw cannot know if or when he will be obliged to revisit this issue. Nor can he anticipate the wider legal, diplomatic and political context in which such a decision would be framed. He may come to regret this uncertainty."


With an aim to work closely with the local administrations and policy makers, Bikalpa has been involved in a number of activities with civil organizations, local body and private players alike .With the local body elections around the corner, Bikalpa organized the first ever Mayoral Debate in Biratnagar with an objective to help first time voters choose their candidates through informed decision. This is the first local body election to be held in 20 years therefore people ranging from 18-37 age group are first time voters.
Four Mayoral candidates took few hours from their Busy schedule for the youths. Mr Bhim Parajuli, Mr Binod Dhakal, Mr Pralhad Shah and Mr Umesh Kumar Yadav discussed and debated on the topics ranging from economic issues to social and political issues. The four candidates unanimously declared to bring sweeping changes to the infrastructural projects. Mr. Parajuli stressed on making easier access to loans for young entrepreneurs. He also vowed to advocate for tax breaks and incentives for new and old industries in Nepal. He also talked about providing accessible education to all through upgrading the government schools. Binodh Dhakal stressed more on making Biratnagar a commercial hub by exploiting its potential as the transit between India, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. He also stressed on providing incentives to old industries fpr reopening and regain Biratnagar's stature of the Industrial capital. Mr Praladh Shah on the other hand critisized the ambitious plans and focused more on making Biratnagar a liveable city. He stressed on engaging citizens participate in development through community road building and waste management projects. His plans also included in improving the quality of education in Government run schools. Mr. Umesh Yadav focused on management of landless people by vowing to end their crisis and provide them affordable housing. He also focused on providing better infrastructure and announced that his party had a comprehensive 5 year plan to transform Biratnagar into a true Metropolitan city. Many issues were raised in the 70 minutes debate where all the candidates seemed to have same point of view on most issues.
The debate was boardcasted live on Radio and facebook page of Bikalpa and was attended by over 200 youths and watched live by over 1500. The program was moderated by Dr. Sandesh Das Shrestha, leading Media analyst of Biratnagar. The program was organized in association with United States Embassy Youth council, We Inspire Nepal and US Embassy and was supported by BFM, Udghosh Daily, Hotel Namaskar and Samriddhi Foundation.


When someone is injured in Washington DC car accident that was caused by a drunk driver, that person faces an enormously difficult situation. This is particularly true if the drunk driver is arrested and faces criminal prosecution, as the injured party may mistakenly think that he or she has few if any options for the recovery of compensation. Unfortunately, this leads to a failure to obtain justice in many situations. Anyone who has been harmed in this manner needs to obtain the help of drunk driver accidents attorneys as soon as possible.
Below you will find information regarding how Lotze Mosley LLP drunk driver accidents lawyers take specific steps on behalf of injured clients to help them obtain justice. You will also find information regarding how you can contact experienced Washington DC drunk driving accidents victims attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation if you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver and you need immediate legal help.
One of the first steps that Nevada drunk driver accidents attorneys will take on behalf of clients who have been seriously injured in crashes is to simply serve notice of their involvement in the matter. Doing so will establish lines of communication and make it clear that the person who was injured in the crash fully intends to pursue a financial recovery of compensation to help deal with the financial losses that were incurred because of the incident at issue.
After the Nevada drunk driver accidents lawyers have served notice of their involvement to all of the relevant parties after a crash has occurred, they will take the next step of accounting for all of the different forms of loss that relate to their injured client. These losses involve both damages that have already been met as well as those that will be met in the future, as the point of this step is to make sure that the recovery that is ultimately obtained helps to make the client as the whole as possible when the legal matter is complete.
Washington DC drunk driving accidents victims attorneys understand that every legal process is filled with potential pitfalls and unforeseen circumstances that can delay and possibly derail the entire effort to recover compensation. Therefore, they will make sure to apply extreme diligence and focus to the situation to make sure that it is completed properly and efficiently.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver, you need to seek the help of drunk driver accidents attorneys who have been fighting for the rights of injured clients for many years.


text:
Things That Worked: ECR CV
maryflannery.substack.com
Sample materials to simplify your life
Mary Flannery
After conducting an informal Twitter poll to see what subscribers would like to see featured in this issue of 'Things That Worked', I discovered that what they most wanted to read about was the ECR CV (though I've also noted that a sample op-ed pitch would be of great interest—keep an eye out for that!).
ECR CVs are odd ducks. They're documents that sketch out a picture of your working life when your working life is only just beginning! At that stage, some CV sections may feel a little thin ('Publications', 'Grants Awarded'), while it may be difficult to know how to frame others for jobs at different kinds of institutions ('Courses Taught').
Like the ECR cover letter I shared in my first 'Things That Worked' post, the CV I'm sharing this week is one I wrote during the first year after completing my PhD. I was very, very green. And it shows. Nevertheless, I think it's worth including here because (a) it helped get me invitations to interview for three tenure-track jobs (and got me longlisted for several junior research fellowships); (b) it's an example of what a CV looks like for someone very early on in her career; and (c) it will be a useful point of comparison for later CVs that I'll be including in 'Things That Worked'.
Because it's helpful to see formatting, I've included screen-caps of each page of my ECR CV below, with commentary.
This post is for paid subscribers
© 2023 Mary Flannery


text:
Home News GAF Commence Investigations Bomb-Scare At Kotoka International Airport
The Base Ammunition Depot Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces were on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 called in to remove an unattended bag from the arrival hall of Terminal 3, Kotoka International Airport.
Confirming the incident which made the round on social media on Wednesday morning, the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) said the unattended bag was sighted around 9 pm.
The GACL statement added that the bag was taken away for further investigations.
"Management of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) can confirm that on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at around 9pm, an unattended bag was sighted at the arrival hall of Terminal 3, Kotoka International Airport," the statement said.
"The Base Ammunition Depot Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces was immediately brought in to conduct preliminary assessment of the bag and its contents. The bag was subsequently taken away for further investigations, the outcome of which will be made public".
The GACL also apologised for the disruption in the arrival facilitation process during the period.
"Management of GACL wishes to apologize for the disruption in the arrival facilitation process during the period and assures the travelling public of its commitment to ensure their safety and security at our airports," the statement said.
SOURCEgraphic.com.gh
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This is to inform all tour operators and other tourism stakeholders that the entry fees for SAARC Nationals to the Textile Museum at the Royal Textile Academy is revised to Nu. 100 per head w.e.f. November 1, 2017.
We request all tour operators and other tourism stakeholders to kindly take a note of this.


600D polyester. 500ml water bottle included. BPA free soft bottle. Soft pull-up drink nozzle with screw on cap. Ergonomic easy-grip neck. Wide necked bottle opening for easy filling and cleaning. Belt loop and carabiner clip.


Have you heard of these fizzy wines?
In the December 2018 issue of D Magazine, dining critic Eve Hill-Agnus writes about pét-nats. (No, no, no, not tiny, buzzing, insects, which you keep in a terrarium and feed orange juice to from an eyedropper.) BADUMPSHH! Nah? Whatever.
Rather, a pét-nat, which is short for pétillant naturel, is a naturally sparkling wine made with wild yeast.
We decided that these sounded like fun to drink. So, we picked some up from Bar & Garden for a taste test. Here's what happened.
This odd, changeable, thinnish tart-sour red is Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the U.S. Open. Do we love or hate the dyed white hair that makes her look like an old woman slash Annie Lennox? Do we love or hate the hopefully ironic cherry-covered tank paired with a multi-layered ruffle skirt? Who is to say.
Phew! Fizzy! Smells are on the nose and looks like carbonated, funky cherry juice. Tastes like peppered, tart, sour cherries. If I had dimples, it would make them pucker.
I'd describe this pét-nat—which I'm almost comically qualified to describe—as fruity and tangy, certainly more tangy than any run of the mill red wine. This tang hits, and then it lulls, and then it hits again.
I've never seen red this red bubbly. Cooool. It's light and has a really nice minerality. I like how tart it is; it's an interesting wine that would be nice on a shaded patio. This is like a lambic.
Has a yeasty smell and under-taste—almost like beer mixed with wine. Not too sweet, would be easy to drink but not that fun.
This heavier, meatier red with a touch of sour is Sam Stosur at the Australian Open. She may continue to fail at singles, but those ripped arms may just win her a second grand slam in the women's doubles final.
The soft foam fizzes, then clears, and the liquid is deep burgundy. The smell is a little sulphurous, like boiled eggs, a little funky, like sauerkraut. Yikes. But it's surprisingly smooth to sip, and not as sour. I can imagine drinking this with garlicky food or egg rolls. Don't ask why.
Wow! This one's tangy, too. I probably should've more thoroughly familiarized myself with what a pét-nat was before doing this taste test, because now I'm probably just naming a defining characteristic, like if we taste tested burgers and I was like "damn, this thing is MEATY." I'd say number two is a little more tangy than number 1, and with more fizz.
I guess all these are gonna bubble. I'm into it. This one is more sour than the other, and the mouthfeel—is that the thing to say?—is more substantial. Aftertaste seems a little apricot-y? Weird. Didn't hate it. I'm getting blackberry immediately.
Also yeasty! (This is the first time I've had pét-nat.) Sweeter and more floral.
This sparkling rose is Venus Williams at Wimbledon. A strawberries-and-cream winner. Classy and timeless, with an understated attitude and spectacular hair.
So much fizz! Looks like cotton candy. Tases like a nice, dry, tart rosé. Love it!
All right this is a sparkling rosé. To quote the late Pimp C, it's supposed to bubble. It's quite acidic, almost lemony. This would be rad with some fish. Leaves an apple-y finish. Are you tired of me writing -y as descriptors? get over it.
Okay, yeah, they all smell like yeast. This one has a pleasant color and I wanted to like it because of that. Kinda sour, in a nice way. More yeasty than others.
This sour cherry pie of a sparkler is Garbine Muguruza at the French Open. All sun, red clay, and smiles.
Smells more like what I recognize: cherry notes, ripe berries. More like a Cab or Merlot. Just fizzy and sour. Would I pair it with a steak? Maybe. It would cut right through crème fraiche mashed potatoes.
Assuming number 3 didn't throw off my exorbitantly refined palate, number four is markedly less tangy than number one and two. But then…wait! I wrote that and took another sip and the tang attacked. I'm going to keep with my original perception and say this is third-most tangy. It's not not tangy, though.
This one smells really funky and it's not as bubbly or minerally as the others. It's also not tart or sour, and probably the most traditional of the four. I could gulp this with a lean steak.
Smells odd! But again that might be normal for pét-nat. I like this the least.
The winner is: Folicello Il Rosso. This effervescent red wine is fruity and would be killer paired with some cured meats. While I didn't officially participate in the taste test, I snuck a sip of this, and I agree with the outcome.
There you have it, folks. Get out there and try a fizzy pét-nat for yourself. Until next time.
Who Will Be Your Host for Fat Tuesday Happy Hour? We Can Help.


text:
A Ryder Cup for football?
As popular boy band JLS found to their cost, power shifts can be fast and brutal. One minute you are kings of the kennel, the next you're whimpering in the corner as One Direction become the new daddies of the dogs' home. We might be on the cusp of a similar changing of the guard in European football.
The football teams of Spain have been the undisputed alpha-dogs for some time now. Yet Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund tore into the Spanish top two like they were week-old puppies. Did the manner in which both Barcelona and Madrid were brought to heel by German foes, with such unquestioning obeyance, represent a wider shift in supremacy? The new breed of Bavarian thoroughbreds certainly had tongues wagging.
National pride is at stake when arguments turn to who has the best league. Even in countries with little home-grown talent, football fans delight in asserting that their teams are the strongest. Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife, as Arsene Wenger once put it. In the first flourishes of the 21st Century, the English Premiership had good claim to being the pack leader. This is palpably no longer the case. The spin-doctors at Sky Sports tacitly acknowledged as much by revising their claim of the Premiership being "the best league in the world" to now calling it "the most exciting league in the world". A subtle tweak in vernacular that New Labour would be proud of.
From my perspective, the last 20 years has seen the crown perched a-top four different heads:
1993 -> 1999 Italy
2000 -> 2004 Spain
2004 -> 2009 England
2013 – Germany…?
If I were to relent to the demands of argumentative geriatric, Ray Winston, and have a bet, I would wager that 2013 will be seen as a blip in the continuing Spanish reign. The Cromwellian Bundesliga will push La Liga close but, ultimately, not relieve Spain of its hegemony. This is only my opinion, of course. And opinions, as they say, are like arseholes (everybody's got one). Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way we could empirically assess which league was the strongest? Well it just so happens I have a suggestion…
Introducing the Platini Plate: "the Ryder Cup of Football". Europe's top leagues compete against each other – 1st plays 1st, 2nd plays 2nd, right down to 20th plays 20th. A win scores one point and a draw gets you a half. Football schedules are already more cramped than Ricki Lake in a 2-door Jag, so let's keep it biannual, taking place during the pre-season of every odd year. Rather than the frankly unwatchable friendlies currently in situ, you would have Bayern Munich versus Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund versus Manchester City, right down to the grudge match of Reading versus Greuther Freuth. It could work on either an invitational basis (the Premiership could challenge a different league every two years), or the country of the previous year's Champions League winners could play the defending champions of the Platini Plate. The title of "Europe's Strongest League" would pass back-and-forth like a boxing belt.
The beauty of the Platini Plate (I'm working on a better name. Suggestions welcome…) is it's no use having one or two powerhouses in a league otherwise full of carthorses. The criticism, unfairly in my view, that La Liga comprises of Real Madrid, Barcelona and 18 whipping boys could be put to the test. Would Norwich beat Athletic Bilbao in the battle of 14th place? Are Valencia really going to struggle against their 6th place counterparts, Everton? Champions League teams are, in reality, outliers, rather than indicative of a league's strength in depth. This tournament is more interested in the mean average than the cream of the crop.
Would the viewing public be interested in such a contest? I think they would lap it up. The match-ups could be staggered over 4 days, building up to a crescendo as the last two teams do battle in a potentially thrilling finale. Since games would overlap with each other, the red button would be your friend. Think of the excitement as Martin Tyler announces "there's been a goal at the Britannia…". Cue cheers across the nation as the screen-within-screen shows John Walters firing Stoke into a 2-0 lead against Real Vallodolid. A point safely in the bag there by the Potters.
As for the players, I can't help but feel that they would be stirred by a mixture of patriotism (for some, at least) and a desire to demonstrate that they play in the best league in the world. Everyone likes to think that they work in the most demanding environment. Here is a chance for players to prove their league is pre-eminent. You would think Rickie Lambert would jump at the opportunity to show he can score goals against defences across Europe. And, with Liverpool looking like an absentee from Europe next year, Luis Suarez would presumably be dying to sink his teeth into, well, you get the picture.
So what do you think, Mr Platini? I'll not charge a penny for the idea. It's yours to do with as you wish. In lieu of payment, I ask only that you take a flexible attitude to Manchester City when the Financial Fair Play Rules come into force next year. Do we have ourselves a deal?
You're so manly, Ray. I wish my Granddad was as cool as you.
After much brow-furrowing and some careful use of the Too Good abacus, it became apparent that there are only 18 teams in the Bundesliga. In the spirit of the Ryder Cup, Germany are therefore allowed two wild card picks. Welcome to the party Eintracht Braunschweiger and Hertha Berlin. The Spanish, Italian, French and English teams all have 20 teams in their top-flight at the time of writing.
Tags: Athletic Bilbao, Borussia Dortmund, England, FC Bayern Munich, La Liga, Martin Tyler, Premier League, Spain
← Spurs 3 v Man City 1 (21 April, 2013)
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3 Responses to "A Ryder Cup for football?"
Laurence Parker-Brown May 1, 2013 at 2:42 pm #
Well put sir – this could be the best idea since one N Gallagher picked up a guitar. I eagerly await the first tournament…
Chris Moorcroft May 14, 2013 at 9:33 am #
Damn sight better idea than the Home Nations Cup. Get this man into the FA, Uefa, Fifa or preferably all three..
Transfer Window | Too Good for the English Game - September 10, 2013
[…] the glamorous one some fans expected to see. Great news, though, for England when the inaugural Platini Plate gets off the […]


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Q: Dual infeasible due to empty column 'x1' in Python w/Cplex/Docplex I would really appreciate any input for this optimization problem:

I am failing to assign my variables the values 1,2,3,4,5 for i and j, I think that is why I am getting this error:
Dual infeasible due to empty column x1.

Am I on the right track?

import cplex
import docplex

col_vars = ["x1", "x2", "x3", "x4", "x5"]
variables= len(col_vars)
numberofx= 5
constraintNames=["xixj"]

from docplex.mp.model import Model

mdl = Model(name="Homework10_2", log_output=True)

x=mdl.continuous_var_list(numberofx)

myObjective=mdl.sum(x[i] for i in range(numberofx))
print(myObjective)
mdl.maximize(myObjective)

for j in range(numberofx):
    if  (x[j] != x[i] for i in range(variables)):
        continue
        myConstraint=mdl.sum(x[j]+x[i] for i in range(variables))<=1
        mdl.add(myConstraint, name=constraintNames[j])
    #mdl.add(x[j] != x[i] for i in range(variables))

mdl.export_as_lp("Homework10.lp")

mdl.solve()
mdl.print_solution()

A: Actually, your code has some serious issues.
First, the test:
   if  (x[j] != x[i] for i in range(variables)):

is wrong as it tests the boolean value of a Python generator (look it up in Python doc).
So this test is always true, but then it finds the continue instruction and starts over, without posting any constraint.
If the idea is to post a constraint that every pair of different variables is less than 1, you should use indices to reference variables, and test for index equality or difference, not variables.
DOcplex variables are complex Python objects, for which operators such as == or != has been overloaded with a nonstandard behavior, in short return constraint objects.
In your case, a simple solution is to loop twice over indices:
n_vars = len(x)
for i in range(n_vars):
    for j in range(n_vars):
        if i < j:
            mdl.add( x[i] + x[j] <= 1)

Note that I avoid posting two constraint for every pair (i,j) of different indices with the i < j test.
The second constraint x >= 0 is implicit as the default lower bound for variables is 0.


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Border Security and Customs/Immigration Heroes Honored at HSToday Holiday Awards – HS Today – HSToday
Homeland Security Today's annual Holiday Hero Awards honor those who have made lasting contributions to our nation's security and risen to meet myriad challenges, recognizing those who have dedicated their careers to making our nation safer within the homeland security enterprise and those who have used their talents, determination, or platform to contribute to a safer country.
Here are the winners in the border security and customs and immigration field. (Read the full list of HSToday Award winners and Mission Award winners.)
ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE
The Acquisition Excellence awards recognize a division, agency or effort that has improved the speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of the acquisition of technology, products or services that support the frontline missions of homeland security. Projects must demonstrate tangible benefits and improved efficiency in the acquisition process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services needed to recompete two separate task orders
for development, security, and operations (DevSecOps) — one for risk and the other for fraud — to operate, maintain and enhance the current fraud detection and national security systems that support Executive Order 13780 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States) and support USCIS's implementation of new guidelines and capability to comply with the EO. The contracting officer on the team provided procurement innovation coaching support, for the first time, while being shadowed by a Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL) coach. The team sought to streamline the evaluation process. With the two task orders expiring around the same time, USCIS wanted to recompete both requirements together in one to solicitation (but not bundle them into a single award) to streamline the approval and evaluation process for the requirement. The team used a new technique called fusion procurements to streamline the procurement process. Using this technique, USCIS issued one solicitation to solicit quotes for the two FINCH requirements with the plan of awarding two separate task order awards. Using FAR 16.505 Fair Opportunity procedures, the team used a two-phased advisory down-select approach. In Phase 1, quoters submitted a 4-page response to three questions about their specialized experience related to one or both FINCH requirements. In phase 2, vendors submitted a written past performance questionnaire and participated in an all-day coding challenge followed by an oral presentation. As a result of this streamlined approach, USCIS received 18 quotes in Phase 1 and advised 7 vendors to proceed to the second phase, with all but one vendor taking the government's advice to proceed to Phase 2. The Phase 2 coding challenge did not go as planned! During the coding challenge, the USCIS team had an unexpected experience when the cloud platform being used did not capture the code that was written by the vendors. Having to decide on how to proceed upon learning that the cloud platform did not capture the all-day coding challenge submissions in Phase 2, the CO asked all 8 vendors to repeat the all-day coding challenge. This time, the procurement team had their subject-matter-experts (SMEs) fully test the cloud platform before hosting the repeat coding challenges to ensure it met all requirements and would save the submissions.
Using the fusion procurement process to award two task orders from one solicitation significantly cut down on the administrative processes, even with the necessary repeat of the Phase 2 coding challenge. USCIS was able to award both task orders with a combined value of $231 million just 7 months after the release of the solicitation. This was the first time the contracting officer served as the innovation coach for a procurement. Rather than panic and cancel the solicitation when something did not go as planned, he employed the PIL framework of testing and sharing by quickly learning forward from the coding challenge debacle and used the discretion allowed him in FAR Part 1 to have vendors repeat the coding challenge to keep the procurement moving forward to ensure timely delivery of the mission. All vendors were treated fairly and so there was no need to cancel simply because something did not go as planned. A learning culture of testing, sharing, obtaining feedback, and testing again creates a learning organization that is better able to adapt to unexpected challenges to better meet the mission. This USCIS FINCH team demonstrated the benefits of a learning culture and were able to timely support the mission of their frontline users by failing fast and quickly learning forward from their coding challenge.
In addition to Parker, the USCIS FINCH Team is Secondary Contracting Officers Sylwia Salkic and Morgan Skaggs, Program Lead Scott Purnell Saunders, and Legal Advisor Dana-Marie Akpan.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's mission of securing the nation's borders and
facilitating legal trade and travel is supported by a workforce of more than 60,000 each day. Betty Matias and Gloria Contreras, the new IT Marketplace Team, exhibit their dedication to this critical mission daily. The new venue, IT Marketplace, provides CBP offices the ability to order products via other means unavailable to CBP during the month of September. Over the course of FY22, Matias and Contreras executed innovative and performance- centered processes to successfully complete a series of procurements for multiple offices across CBP resulting in completing 1,017 task orders within 17 Procurement Requisitions and obligating approximately $29 million. Additionally, their exemplary dedication to mission and professionalism streamlined requirements and eliminated duplication of efforts by 90 percent; this differentiating factor sets them apart.
Matias and Contreras, as a team, exceeded expectations with the IT Marketplace ordering process and increased productivity, which left zero dollars in funds unspent. Their work practices and commitment to acquisition excellence are invaluable and proved the success of the IT Marketplace ordering process for CBP.
Cheryl Ogden was instrumental as a member of the IT Marketplace team of CBP. Her efforts helped to streamline all procurement acquisitions for selected IT commodity buys to reduce the number of procurement actions done by procurement and therefore maximizing procurement resources. She also consolidated the commodity buys to allow CBP to have an anticipated benefit of quantity pricing/discounts to be leveraged for the good of all CBP. In FY21 the IT Marketplace saved $4 million for CBP; for FY22 the IT Marketplace saved $2.5 million allowing the savings to be redirected for other CBP mission-critical requirements. Further, the streamlining of the commodity acquisitions also allows OIT to ensure that all devices deployed are fully imaged, patched, updated and managed for network and cybersecurity requirements by reducing the IT device sprawl through the enterprise infrastructure.
This award recognizes those who were met with extraordinary challenges and rose "above and beyond" their day-to-day job to meet them. Our inaugural winners are bound by their efforts in private and public sectors to help evacuees from Ukraine.
Dale Buckner and Global Guardian, a provider of security solutions to a global client base,
rose to the occasion after Russia invaded Ukraine. Utilizing the vast network that Global Guardian has established within the industry, Global Guardian was able to efficiently evacuate over 4,000 individuals under very difficult situations from Ukraine to safety. Buckner and Global Guardian continued to field requests and take action until occupation of cities made entry and exit impossible.
Buckner is a 24-year U.S. Army Veteran, retiring with the rank of colonel. He has extensive intelligence, counterterrorism and special operations experience, commanding 5 organizations including an Infantry Reconnaissance Platoon, Special Forces Scuba Team, Special Force Counter-Terrorism Team, a Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Task Force, and a Special Troops Battalion. He has numerous combat and classified deployments including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Chile, Panama and Haiti.
Kareem Baker was able to cost-effectively innovate as well as adapt existing mechanisms, ensuring a seamless vetting and processing experience for Ukrainian citizens seeking refuge in the United States, enabling air carriers to validate an approved application, and generate a boarding pass, assisting CBP officers to confirm a noncitizen's eligibility, and deploying a public-facing web portal that allowed Ukrainians to submit for travel approval to the US. Using the Arrival and Departure Information System (ADIS) to process I-134 forms, the team worked with stakeholders to improve data the CBP officers receive at the port, embed updated biometric information, coordinate additional vetting rules specifically for the Ukraine travelers, and provide time-sensitive status information to assist with processing. In six days, Kareem's team deployed over 15 enhancements to existing functions, saved significant money in man hours, and collaborated with over a dozen agencies and applications.
Baker, working with airport authorities, air carriers, HHS, DoD, DHS, DoS, and OGAs, set up processing facilities and processing centers for Ukrainian evacuee arrivals, and created dashboards that promote interoperability between DoD, CBP, DoS, USCIS, and the TSA. PSPD worked with multiple stakeholders to automate traveler vetting against law enforcement databases and allow for manual vetting by the NTC as well as integrating with the NVC, and ATIS provides air carriers the ability to validate an approved application and generate a noncitizen's boarding pass, providing CBP officers at POEs confirmation of a noncitizen's application status. Baker's team was able to collaborate efforts with more than a dozen agencies, internal support and application teams, and stakeholder entities to roll out completely new functionalities, automate multiple processes, increase capacity and performance of current applications, and minimize the costs normally associated with such a huge effort.
MISSION AWARDS
Each year, Homeland Security Today honors shining stars in the community who are making their own unique, invaluable contributions to advance the mission of keeping America safer from myriad threats. Their strong commitment to mission touches every part of their work, from day-to-day operations to special projects and work in the community.
Bruce Dodd is pioneering new approaches and technologies within CBP Preclearance to drive the mission forward. As the Deputy Director, Dodd has been instrumental in a large organizational restructuring effort to streamline efforts and promote increased collaboration across CBP's international operations and programs. D-DFO Dodd's mindset and role in the restructuring of international operations will help transform the way CBP expands its borders and further aid in efforts to build international partnerships to enhance national and economic security.
The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) clears and processes more than 12
million cargo entries per year valued at over $2.7 trillion in imports, $1.6 trillion in exports and over $90 billion collected in duties, taxes and fees. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Information and Technology developed and deployed the High Value Asset (HVA) Modernized ACE Portal. With the ACE Portal modernization, CBP transitioned the legacy, unstable and costly legacy infrastructure to a best-in-class Cloud-based Salesforce application. This created a modernized platform for nearly 60,000 trade, partner government agencies, and CBP users that provides a seamless and enhanced user experience facilitating legitimate trade by automating tools and information. This deployment resulted from an extensive partnership among CBP, partner government agencies, trade industry partners and stakeholders.
Through the ACE Portal, manual processes are streamlined and automated as the international trade community continues to comply with U.S. laws and regulations of global trade effectively and efficiently, U.S. security and economic growth continues to prosper and strengthen. The ACE Portal is a complex global revenue information technology system that facilitates the electronic importation and exportation of goods. Overall, this modernization simplified the ACE Portal interface with enhanced account navigation is organized to fit user needs, noticeably improving response times with real-time access to trade data while providing best-in-class cloud-based technology that exceeds the industry standard.
Steven Lubel led the charge to transition the legacy ACE Portal to a cloud-based application. He embraced the use of agile methodology to provide immediate feedback and course corrections as needed. The use of the agile execution has been duplicated across CBP and created a lasting and positive impact to other program modernization efforts.
Lubel seamlessly considers key rules and regulatory requirements of critical partner government agencies (such as CDC, FDA, and USDA) to ensure the trade can function with minimal interruption. CBP is in constant contact with internal and external stakeholders and partner government agencies to ensure the portal meets government and trade requirements at the need of mission.
Autumn Maxey executed the major agile solution for Collections Releases 1 – 6, through the proven agile and DevOps execution within budget, on time and with no major issues. Releases 4 – 6 funding were innovatively pursued by DHS/CBP and was awarded and funded by the Technology Modernization Fund in a climate where funding priorities present a challenge to modernization while aligning with the ever-changing trade community's prioritized timelines and needs. With these agile DevOps practices, CBP will continue to be able to collect over $90 billion in duties, taxes and fees.
Renee Messalle is the director of Entry Summary Accounts and Revenue Development Division with CBP's Cargo Systems Program Directorate (CSPD). CSPD manages the development and maintenance of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. ACE clears and processes more than 12 million cargo entries per year valued at over $2.7 trillion in imports, $1.6 trillion in exports and over $90 billion collected in duties, taxes and fees. Renee has successfully led and managed the CBP ACE Collections Development team that has executed an agile and DevOps solution for modernizing the ACE Collections process, which has currently included 6 Releases within budget, on time and with no major issues. For Releases 4, 5 and 6, funding was innovatively pursued by DHS/CBP in a climate where funding priorities presented a challenge to modernization, while aligning with the ever-changing Trade Community's prioritized timelines and needs. CBP was successfully awarded and funded $15 million in Technology Modernization Funds governed and funded by the General Services Administration to help modernize ACE Collections. This CBP modernization of ACE Collection processes is providing major improvement for user experience for the trade community, reduces administrative and manual processing by CBP users, enables implementation of 21st century customs framework components, improves processing time and data quality, and supports DHS and CBP goals of streamlining trade facilitation while improving the ability to direct limited resources to known bad actors using modern, data-driven analytics.
Adina Pantella is the Acting Director, Passenger Targeting, Office of Information and
Technology, Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Directorate (TASPD), Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In this role, Pantellla manages a large, diverse, heavily cross-matrixed team focused on supporting passenger targeting systems at the 328 ports of entry and strategic international locations for all modes of transportation. She has worked tirelessly to advance the mission of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States, engaging the upgrade of existing legacy systems to the cloud and delivering significant operational notable innovation.
For this specific year, Pantella's main focus has been on the development and deployment of a new, cloud-native desktop application to replace two legacy case processing systems. This application was established to standardize and streamline CBP case processing and custody management for both U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents and CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers with a single system. High-level goals are to consolidate two different systems with different data repositories into one shared system with one data repository for consistent data capture and reporting. The first test rollout occurred in March 2022, and regular updates are occurring. The results have been positive to date with significant benefits, among them integrating workflows into one intuitive interface that will enable USBP agents and OFO officers to support each other in times of emergencies or surges. This particular application initiative required a specific kind of person, able to work and build consensus not only within the CBP organization, but across to other national security teams. It is one of several major immigration-related initiatives under Pantella's portfolio. She also provided hands-on management support for the department's response to Unified for Ukraine (U4U) as well as the response to recent immigration surges at the U.S. Southwest Border.
Pantella has spearheaded the development of all requirements, priorities, and a detailed, yet flexible roadmap to achieve project success. Pantella exemplifies the department's leadership philosophy, principles, and core values of integrity, vigilance, and respect. She is completely focused on project success, while at the same time putting employees first and motivating team members to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Pantella's sincere dedication and commitment to excellence has contributed immeasurably to the success of CBP, DHS and national security objectives.
With the new memorandums and Executive Orders on zero trust, Rob Thorne applied forward-leaning approaches to strategically respond to these new requirements. His initiative put ICE in a forward-leaning orientation, putting the agency ahead of peer organizations.
In 2022, Thorne kicked off a zero trust assessment to deliver an ICE-specific zero trust implementation framework and a zero trust maturity and gap assessment and to create a zero trust roadmap and architecture for the agency. Thorne empowered his team to forge a holistic approach to tackling the complex demands of zero trust. The framework and maturity effort included translating more than 14 EOs and memorandums into more than 160 ICE-specific requirements, and the gap assessment involved coordination of more than 115 stakeholders and an initial deep dive into 13 sample systems and more than 250 documents. The findings from the assessment will allow ICE to become one of first government entities to create a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). Thorne also leads the Cyber Defense and Intelligence Support Services (CDISS) program, which provides comprehensive cyber security operations and engineering services to ICE including monitoring and alerting through a security operations center, incident response, vulnerability management, security engineering and proactive defenses including cyber threat intelligence, a penetration testing/red team, and dedicated threat hunters.
Under Thorne's leadership, ICE became the first federal civilian entity to obtain a DoD Cybersecurity Service Provider (CSSP) certification. The endeavor to obtain that certification resulted in DHS adopting the foundation of the CSSP and creating a derivative program for the federal civilian sector (DHS CSP). After obtaining the DoD recognition, ICE was immediately awarded the first DHS CSP Center of Excellence (COE) and the first federal civilian agency to re-certify as a CSP COE.
Paul Weston has championed SecDevOps and has shifted security left in OCIO enabling development teams to build security into their pipelines rather than waiting until production to discover and remediate vulnerabilities. His team has made the process extremely easy for development teams to adopt tools and techniques to be more secure and produce software faster, all while expending less energy than before. With the Secure Hardened Image, projects can deploy their applications to a Linux image with less than 20 security compliance findings (down from ~180 and all baselined). The image is rebuilt and patched daily, eliminating the need for teams to patch on their own and encouraging immutable infrastructure. By providing a reference pipeline architecture and extensive documentation, he has empowered development teams to build security scanning into their pipelines so that every build produces the evidence ISSOs need to make a risk determination. This leads toward building a continuous ATO process where documentation is generated on-the-fly via OSCAL, collecting evidence from the pipeline, and providing a real-time assessment of security and compliance. Weston also put the same capabilities in place for containerized workflows as development teams move to the next generation of architectures, building off the work of DoD's Iron Bank, producing UBI hardened container images for ICE, and defining the security and development strategies for containers in the Containerization Working Group.
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