text:
Discount train tickets on Nha Trang-Hue route
The Vietnam Raiways (VNR) will drop the cost of tickets by 20 percent on the tourist trains departing from Nha Trang to Hue in the central region and vice versa from May 19 to May 31.
VNA Saturday, May 06, 2017 16:50
New safety measures proposed for railways
Railways lag behind in Vietnam
New Year travel chaos hit the nation
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 09:41
VNR to sell train tickets for Tet holiday from October
Railway carriage revitalises heritage tourism
Illustrative photo (Photo: plo.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Railways (VNR) will drop the cost of tickets by 20 percent on the tourist trains departing from Nha Trang to Hue in the central region and vice versa from May 19 to May 31.
Accordingly, the tickets are sold at 292,000 VND (12.89 USD)-484,000 VND 21.3(USD) on Nha Trang-Hue route and 323,000 VND (14.2 USD)-555,000 VND (24.5 USD) on the return route.
Trains will depart from Nha Trang at 8:45 and arrive in Hue at 22:39. On the return, it will leave Hue station at 16:08 and come to Nha Trang station at 6:18.
Discount tickets are also applied for social beneficiaries and travel agents registering tourism promotion programme 2017.
Earlier, the VNR also announced its plan to run two rapid trains from Hanoi to the central city of Vinh from June 1, cutting travel time to only five and a half hours. Numerous promotional programmes will be held on the occastion.
From June 1 to August 31, the VNR will offer 2,000 tickets priced at 10,000 VND (0.44 USD), 72 hours prior to departing time.
In a bid to improve service quality and diversify products, the VNR will operate trains to tourist attractions like Cua Lo and Sa Pa from May, 2017.
In addition, it will provide free wifi at big stations to serve the passengers' demand.
Further information is available at www.dsvn.vn, www.vetau.com.vn, www.saigonrailway.com.vn, www.facebook.com/duongsatsg, http://vantaiduongsathanoi.vn or stations, ticket agents and support centres: 19001520 (Ho Chi Minh City) and 19000109 (Hanoi).-VNA
Vietnam Railways discount train tickets promotional programmes Hue Nha Trang rapid trains Hanoi Vinh Related stories Khanh Hoa Related stories Thua Thien-Hue
Hanoi still falls behind many major cities in the region and the world regarding foreign tourist arrivals, according to a survey of the municipal Department of Tourism which was revealed on January 16.
Quang Nam aims to welcome 8.1 million tourists in 2020
The south-central coastal province of Quang Nam has set a target of serving 8.1 million tourists in 2020.
Hanoi hopes to welcome nearly 32 million tourists in 2020
Hanoi hopes to raise the number of tourist arrivals by over 10 percent from last year to nearly 32 million in 2020, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
Int'l travel mart to highlight Vietnamese heritage
The Vietnam International Tourism Mart (VITM) 2020 to be held on April 1-4 will focus on preserving heritage and promoting heritage tourism.
World's most modern cruise ship arrives in HCM City
The world's most technologically advanced five-star cruise ship Quantum of the Seas, with 6,750 passengers and crewmembers on board, docked at Phu My port of the southern province of Ba Ria- Vung Tau on January 14.


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NLP Training Concepts, LLC offers the MOST comprehensive NLP Certification training programs available today. NLP is taught as a system for understanding the patterns of human success and helps participants acquire those patterns.
NLP Training Concepts offers the best of all three generations of NLP and incorporates not only basic NLP skills but offers many additional processes from other esteemed NLP organizations, which are not offered in or taught in the other programs which offer only residential training, shorter programs or material from only one source of NLP.
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NLP Training Concepts is local and therefore provides a community of support of other NLP students and a network of associations.
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Associate Trainers: Steve Andreas, Rodger Bailey, Nick LeForce, Christina Hall, Robert McDonald, Marvin Sadovsky.


text:
Panel recommends Manson family member for parole
A California prison panel on Thursday granted parole to a former Manson family member who is currently incarcerated at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo.
Bruce Davis, 69, is serving life sentences for the 1969 slayings of stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea and musician Gary Hinman.
Gov. Jerry Brown has 120 days to review the case and the final say.
Two years ago, Davis' release was squelched by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
At his 26th parole hearing, the state board determined Davis was ready to be released. Schwarzenegger later reversed the decision, saying the murders were "especially heinous" and that Davis' release would pose an "unreasonable risk of danger to society."
While incarcerated, Davis earned a master's degree in religion and a doctorate in philosophy of religion and ministered to other inmates. He also married a woman he met through the prison ministry and has a grown daughter, UT News said.
Manson family member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was released from federal prison in 2009 after serving time for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford.
Manson and two of his followers, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, remain in prison for life for the murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others in Los Angeles. Susan Atkins died in prison last year.
Subjects: California Men's Colony History Murders parole Prison
California mom goes to jail for letting kids skip school
SLO council candidates weigh in on plastic bags
blondehare
His wife.. Cindy.. Beth.. Davis.. Is head of an HOA.. Just gave my 80 year old Mother a $50 fine for weeding.. They live in the same complex.. Is that ridiculous? Two bad seeds that smile in your face and stab you in your back.. I knew the Sharron Tate.. They are dead…
If California upheld the death penalty this would not even be an issue. He would have gotten what he deserved years ago. Saving tax payers money. I hope if he is released its in the neighborhood of the parole board.
Ted Slanders
Whoswho,
In following California's death penalty, is following the Hebrew-Christian God's direct word of what to do with murderers as I've shown below!
When are the people going to start following the direct word of God, and if they don't, where do they get the authority to usurp His inspired doctrine?!
Total and complete blaspheme!
Bruce Davis didn't receive the death penalty after his conviction, he received life. Back then, there was no such thing as life without parole. Davis never killed anyone. Davis was convicted of being present when Charles Manson cut Gary Hinman's ear with a sword. There has never been a question that Hinman was killed after Davis had left. Davis was also convicted for being present when Shorty Shae was killed but there was never a question that it wasn't Davis who killed Shorty but Davis did dispose of Shae's personal belongings after the fact.
The guy who actually killed Shorty was Steve Grogan and Grogan did get the death penalty for that murder. BUT the judge overturned the death sentence and changed it to life (immediately following the conviction) because the judge said that Grogan was of low intelligence and that it was Manson who had ordered him to commit the murder. Grogan also cut up Shorty and buried him.
Davis didn't know where Shorty was buried and if he had known, he could have got out of prison back in 1985. Grogan who was a murdered knew where the body was so they let him out in 1985 instead.
Does that sound right or even fair to anyone? The murderer went free 27 years ago !
BeenThereDoneThat
Cindy again, and I for the life of me can't figure out why, you are trying to portray Bruce as a poor misguided duped soul. Try this.
http://tatefamilylegacy.com/brucedavis.html
Cindy, my dear,
In a brief prayer with Jesus, He has told me to confront your unchristian like notions that Bruce Davis should be released from prison. In fact, contrary to your ungodly notions, he should have been put to death at the onset because of his murder conviction, so saith the Hebrew-Christian God.
It saddens Jesus and I that you proclaim to be a Christian, but continue to blatantly go against the Christian doctrine that you allegedly follow. As the Hebrew-Christian God proposes, Bruce Davis should have been put to death post haste!
"Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death." ( Exodus 21:12 )
"Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death." (Leviticus 24:17)
"Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death." ( Numbers 35:31)
"If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death." ( Numbers 35:30-31)
Cindy, at one time in your life, just once, you're going to have to actually act like the Christian that you allegedly are, and agree with the word of the Hebrew-Christian God as blatantly shown above. Remember, you DO NOT know more than the God that you worship. Comprende?
Yes, I know, you cannot answer my post if you're a true Christian woman, because as a second class woman as the bible proposes, you're to remain silent and not to usurp the authority over the man. "Let the women learn is silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, not to usurp authority over the man, BUT TO BE IN SILENCE." (Timothy 2:11-12 )
photocal
Ted…… please be careful… bad things always start with hearing voices in Your head. Regardless who's voice !
photocal,
Do you deny that I converse with Jesus in the same vein as the well known and respected preachers named Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, Fulton Sheen, Jimmy Swaggart, et al, does ad infinitum? How dare you question this fact! If you question me in this regard, then you have to question the above preachers as well.
Such insolence!
Ted… They all have strong convictions, But I dont believe that any of them are hearing any voices. Whats Your take on the current discussion that Jesus was married ? For Your sake I really hope there is a heaven…….. otherwise You'll dead and gone just like the rest of Us.
I cannot discuss Jesus allegedly being married to that harlot from Babylon, Mary, because it is not within the topic guidlines.
Furthermore, if Jesus was married, that would make Him sinful, and as we all know, Jesus can not be sinful because that upsets the whole apple-cart of His being on earth in the first place. A quagmire to say the least. Shhhhhh.
themarygardener2012
What about Jim Baker…LOL
Bruce Davis is just another person that has found God while being incarcerated. It's amazing how prisoners that have killed, and that have went against a particular God's doctrine while on the outside, suddenly find this same God when locked up on the inside. How beautiful is that? Doesn't it just make you want to cry? Praise Jesus, or Yahweh, or Allah!
When suddenly finding God in prison, I am sure that most of these convicts are not simply looking for an early ticket out of prison, or a way to get a reprieve from the death penalty. I am sure that they don't think they will get an easier ride in the prison system if they are a member of a religious group. Nah, that's not it.
Bruce has a Masters Degree in religion? Now he must really be confused with the FACT that there is so many different God's that all contradict each other with their subjectively imposed writings. I wonder which God Bruce has picked as his personal one and how he picked it over the other contradicting God concepts? He probably picked the Christian God because that one gets the most milage while being in prison.
Sidebar: do you ever wonder if they have "religious gangs" in prison since the big three belief system's Gods all contradict each other in their respective writings? I can see the Jew gang amassing in the prison yard in one area, the Christian gang in another, and the Muslim gang in yet another. All of which propose that they have the right God to worship over the others!
Oh, was there another Celestial Impregnation of which we didn't hear about since Bruce has been in prison and has fathered a daughter? This goes to show that if you find God in prison, you get all kinds of perks!
Slowerfaster
Brother Ted: to answer your question…No, this was not a celestial shtupping ; as the end result was a female . To have been been a true heavenly seeding, it would have to be a male, a clone if you will of the pater familia.
Now, if Davis had wanted to leave the friendly confines sooner, he should have converted to papism, and received his absolution. He might have even come away with a few candy bars.
Brother Slowerfaster,
As we're aware, Catholics are not Christians. Remember? If Bruce Davis does have a real and truthful doctorate in religion, without any spin doctoring, he would know this fact. Therefore, he would not be a part of any Catholic conversion. So, in part, the candy bars are a moot issue.
We can only wonder in what our Hebrew-Christian God thinks of a person like Davis, who conveniently converts to Christianity while in prison just to cover his bases. I am sure that the trap doors to hell will be oiled to the maximum when Bruce comes before Jesus on Judgment Day. Praise our God's revengeful ways!
Paso_Guy
Sorry Cindie, he should stay inprisioned. Once you take a life, you give up yours.
Watch Brown go thumbs down on him, he will.
If Moon Beam goes thumbs down on him, it will only be because this case was so sensationalized . It was the Tate/Labiaca murders that made it so sensational, all of which Davis had no involvement in. If we are going to keep people in prison forever for murder, then we should keep all murders in prison for ever, not just the ones that make great press.
"If we are going to keep people in prison forever for murder, then we should keep all murders in prison for ever, not just the ones that make great press."
Agreed, that's my stance. If this was an election year for Brown, it would be a slam dunk. Brown has a history of keeping them locked up and so my money's on that.
It wasn't just about the Tate?Labianca murders. It was about the WHOLE Manson family and his control. There was other suspicious murders at the time they couldn't come to a conclusion on that may involve them.
The case as a whole was the fact that the Manson family was on a spree and the Hinman case is as tied into it as the rest. Spin it every which way from Sunday, the facts are the facts.
Paso_Guy,
We can only logically wonder if a family member of Cindy's was brutally murdered by a person, and if she would want this person released later on as well. If Cindy would only follow her bible for a change, she would have a different perspective on this topic.
Apart from Charles Manson, Davis like the rest of the young people who fell into this twisted family/cult would most likely never have been known to any of us but for the fact that they met a notorious predator at a young age. Between the attraction of free sex for the guy's and a loving father figure for the girls combined with the heavy use of mind altering drugs and the trapping isolation of a manipulative sociopath, they lost all semblance of reality or who they really were as individuals.
Consider the 900 people who died at People's Temple in Giana and all the children that were murdered (many by their own mothers). Cults can be very dangerous, the human psyche is fragile for many. After 43 years, Davis has been "cured". It's called "deprogramming".
Yes, he is responsible for what he did "back then", at the same time, he isn't the same person after all these years. He was involved in two murders and many people are released for murder long before 43 years.
P.S. Steve Grogan who was also involved in these two murders was released in 1985. The difference is that he told where Shorty Shae's body could be located.
Did you read the article about this in the Trib this morning? I could agree on the forty three years being awhile but here is the thing I read that I didn't know. At his last parole hearing a MER two years ago he was still not quite accepting full responsibility for his actions. He said he cut Hinman in the face after he was dead. Now he states that he held a gun on Hinman and that he cut him while still alive. If he changed his story from then, what else has he not told us?
Sorry Cindy in my opinion I think that (changing story) should play a HUGE part in what is going on.
BTDT, He was recommended for parole 2 years ago and that means he was going to be recommended again (continued good behavior) regardless of his new revelation. He didn't have to take added responsibility but he did. Why did he ? I suspect that he has true remorse and continues attempting to take responsibility for his actions and I doubt he ever knew for certain exactly what all the details were because he was on so much LSD. LSD produces all sorts of hallucinations and they (the members) used to take high doses of it. I doubt he knows "for certain" today what occurred and when. They were so high that night, that even the people who reported the story to the police in the beginning had 3 different memories.
None of this changes the fact that he served 43 years for participating in that murder. Regardless of whether he cut Shorty after he was dead or still alive.
What I have seen of his wises actions.. I would say they are very questionable.. as I live very close to her. I have seen her do things, that would put most of us to shame. Or jail.. So there goes any theory of coming home to goodness.. This would be a team made from hell.
fullofbeans
Upon his release, we will just have him move next door to you, and see how you feel about it then.
43 years is also a long time dead ! He should have been given His last supper the night after He was found quilty. Reformed, rehabilitated, found God…………. You have to be kidding. Sue… sure the drugs did it.
Long time dead. GOOD POINT. I love that Cindy wants to make it that this poor ol Bruce has done his time. If this was a crime of passion maybe, maybe, BUT this was premeditated!!! They planned on going over there!! There is a reason all the Manson clan has done hard time. IT WAS A TERRIBLE CRIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This guy is NOT a zombie; His eye was just scratched by some vicious beastie somewhere along the line!
I finally went and added a chapter system in!
I didn't plan WA out to have chapters, but I do "code name" the different parts in my head, usually with one dumb word or something. The 'chapter titles' aren't horribly interesting, but should help.
This should organize things a little better. Almost to 200 pages, so it was kinda cluttered!
Annnd...Guess what, more fanart! Adina drew up this very lovely Jeff piece!
She made him look so adorable, happy, and handsome all at once, but at the same time is just...so JEFF. She got Jeff down perfectly! The coloring is so very gorgeous as well, especially that rainbow lineart...:D!
Will we be seeing more of him outside of Felix's back story?
Aww! :-D I can't wait to know more about this new plague doctor!
Heheh, I adore this fellow, so I'm glad!
Ohh...I know! But I got into the habit of not doing it.
I like this guys hair for some reason. Not sure why, but the color appeals to me, and it looks pleasantly flippy, haha.
He seems like a cool dude, looking forward to seeing ore of him.
Cool character. I like his design.
Thanks, I'm glad you like it! His design is probably my favorite about him, hahah.
This guy looks like a total badass.
this dude has got some serious manly coolness about him.
Hey! nothing bad's gonna happen to him, right?
I really like that scar on his face... totally badass!!
Badass and battle torn, that's our guy!
Yep, he's one good dude, actually!
Oh wow lovely fan art!
Felix looks pretty shocked (who wouldn't be?). Great page!
Certainly he is. He was expecting to be lunch!
Looks like that eye wound is a story unto itself.
Looking forward to seeing him!!
Felix will surely be interested in this mysterious guy that saved his life, if nothing else!


I couldn't resist posting this from NPR's The Picture Show. Willy the polar bear is so adorable! And this blog showcases some really interesting photos – if you have time you should check it out.
Now onto something I have been wondering about for a while now – when is Google+ going to take off? Maybe it has and I missed the memo. I do have a Google+ account but don't really know what to do with it. Farhad Manjoo, Slate's technology columnist and the author of the article, thinks Google+ has already missed its chance to compete with Facebook. Manjoo points out that even Google+'s executives were not using the site and only to returned when bloggers noticed their absence. So, what is to become of Google+? My thought is that it will pick up with early adopters, social media enthusiasts, and SEO experts looking to try something new. However, I think consumers will be slow to use it and start conversations. If you have a Google+ account do you use it? Do you find your friends use it? How do you think it differs from Facebook? I would love to hear some feedback on this.
*Side note: I have switched all my Gmail account to the "new look" but I don't really like it. The scroll bar for my labels is not visible until hovering over it, and everything has this almost opaque look to it which makes things hard for me to see. Any feedback about the "new look"?
Happy Friday to everyone! Stay warm!


COMPTON—The "Hub City" has a lot more to offer to its youngsters than the proverbial "urban rap" music. The message in the music does not always make the right impression for this city often stigmatized by violence.
There are many other outlets here capitalizing on youthful energy.
Participating in track and field is one of them. The Imani Speed City Track Club has been a staple of positive energy for Compton and neighboring youth for 19 years, giving aspiring Olympians and would-be track stars a boost of faith and inspiration, fueling them to go further in life than they can imagine. The name Imani, itself is Swahili for faith.
For many of these kids, Todd and the track club have been a light of encouragement amid a backdrop that is not always positive. It gave light to NFL star Richard Sherman, U.S. Olympian Lionel Larry (400 meters) and a bevy of youngsters looking to get a leg up on the right track to higher achievement.
"It's given the kids [an] extracurricular activity to do after school, burn energy, and they learn how to deal with each other in life," Todd said, adding, he doesn't want any kids to be left behind because of the lack of opportunity.
Imani track coach since 1996, the year of its conception, Todd has been a shepherd for many of the athletes that have joined his program. The Imani Speed City Track Club is more than just a track club for Todd; it is family. The club sent 32 athletes to the Junior Olympics in 2014, and represents hope to achieve. Since he founded the team, the track club has sent athletes to the Junior Olympics every year since its founding, a laudable accomplishment for an organization that struggles with finances to ensure its athletes are able to compete on a par with larger, more economically sound clubs.
At a recent invitational at Gahr High School in Cerritos that attracted more than 1,100 athletes, a portion of the gate benefited the Imani Track Club, giving it much-needed capital to send another round of athletes to the Junior Olympics.
The Imani track club works out four days a week, Tuesday through Thursday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Dominguez High School in Compton. Donations are welcome.


Many patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), Diabetes and other illnesses causing nerve damage or poor blood circulation often experience slow or non-healing foot wounds due to the decreased blood supply. These wounds can not only be difficult to treat, but can also persist after weeks of cleaning, antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen. If the wounds are left untreated, they can also lead to serious infection, gangrene and amputation.
Limb salvage treatment exists to address these recurring circulation issues before amputation is considered, and is often a successful alternative for those who had no other options in the past.
Now, limb salvage programs, like those accessible at our clinics, are able to offer advanced technology and new minimally invasive limb sparing procedures. These procedures can provide a higher quality of life and relieve patients of chronic, recurring pain due to PAD or other circulatory issues.


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UKScreen | Detachment – Review
Home / Reviews / Detachment – Review
Detachment – Review
- Review By: Jason Korsner - - No Comments
Release Date: Friday 13 July 2012.
Director: Tony Kaye
Starring: Adrien Brody, Blythe Danner, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, James Caan, Lucy Liu, Marcia Gay Harden, Tim Blake Nelson, William Petersen
English teacher Henry (Adrien Brody) is filling in for a month at a failing New York school, where the traditional principal, Carol (Marcia Gay Harden) is being edged out as she's failed to turn it around.
He's a loner and what little time he doesn't spend in the classroom, in his studio flat or the bus journey between the two is spent visiting his ailing grandfather in the hospice where dementia is clouding his final days.
One day, on the way home from the hospice, he encounters a gamine young prostitute, Erica (Sami Gayle). Despite her boisterous and cantankerous nature and his isolationist attitude, his nurturing instincts take over and he invites her to stay at his place to get herself together.
Meanwhile, back at school, he's having trouble connecting to some of the pupils, while one – in particular – warms to him so much that he takes on almost prophetic proportions.
But it's not just the young people who are struggling to find purpose in their lives; the teachers, deflated by the lack of interest from the pupils and their parents alike, are as miserable, in this pessimistic portrayal of the American education system.
Coming from the director of American History X, this was always likely to be an uncompromising study of the parts of life many people would rather ignore.
Rundown schools, full of pupils who are destined for jail – or at the very least, the dole queue – are certainly an area of society that warrant examination.
Bored pupils in need of direction from an inspirational teacher are also no stranger to our screens.
The subject area is well trodden and the Academy Awards love it – Precious, Dead Poets Society and the French film The Class – are just three that come to mind.
So to tackle it again, you need to offer something different. It doesn't.
Detachment offers a strong central performance from Adrien Brody – although it's hard to work out where he actually hopes to lead his pupils – and has a stellar supporting cast, with the likes of James Caan, Tim Blake Nelson, Bryan Cranston and William Petersen, playing disillusioned grown-ups – all in roles that seem well below their station. In an apparent attempt to return from CSI to the big screen, Petersen seems to be picking some odd roles; he also has a rather surreal one-scene cameo in one of this week's other releases, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.
The film's structure is odd. It begins, When Harry Met Sally-style, with a montage of teachers unrelated to the story, talking in an upbeat fashion about why they entered the profession, before dashing their optimism – a suitably ironic twist with which to launch the film – but then the main storyline is, peculiarly, interspersed with Brody's character pontificating about teaching – in close-up – to goodness knows whom.
One of the biggest problems with a protagonist who's detached from his surroundings is that it's hard for us not to feel detached from him.
With his motivations and expectations always rather cloudy, it's never quite clear why he's behaving the way he is – but there's inconsistency in other characters two – as, of course, there is in people in real life.
But a film is meant to challenge us to work out what's going on and it's just not possible.
While the drama is, at times, powerful, and has the occasional glimpse of meaning – Lucy Liu's school counsellor provides perhaps the best indication of what is wrong at the school – it's unremittingly depressing and pointlessly pessimistic.
What happens to the only pupil Henry appears to inspire is enough to persuade any teacher to quit on the spot.
The film appears to be saying that all neglected children need is an inspirational teacher – but it concludes that no teacher is inspirational enough to save a neglected child – even one who wants to be saved.
Strong performances aren't enough to teach us anything about the world in a film that intentionally lacks direction or purpose.
Opens Friday 13 July 2012.
Tagged with: Adrien Brody • Blythe Danner • Bryan Cranston • Christina Hendricks • Detachment • James Caan • Lucy Liu • Marcia Gay Harden • Tim Blake Nelson • Tony Kaye • William Petersen
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World – Review
Kung Fu Panda – Review
Splice – Review
Rock of Ages – Review
The Moguls – Review
Larry Crowne – Review


text:
import * as React from 'react';
import { SxProps } from '@material-ui/system';
import { OverridableStringUnion } from '@material-ui/types';
import { OverridableComponent, OverrideProps } from '../OverridableComponent';
import { Theme } from '..';
import { ButtonGroupClasses } from './buttonGroupClasses';

export interface ButtonGroupPropsColorOverrides {}
export interface ButtonGroupPropsVariantOverrides {}

export interface ButtonGroupTypeMap<P = {}, D extends React.ElementType = 'div'> {
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     * Override or extend the styles applied to the component.
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     * The color of the component. It supports those theme colors that make sense for this component.
     * @default 'primary'
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      ButtonGroupPropsColorOverrides
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    /**
     * If `true`, the component is disabled.
     * @default false
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    disabled?: boolean;
    /**
     * If `true`, no elevation is used.
     * @default false
     */
    disableElevation?: boolean;
    /**
     * If `true`, the button keyboard focus ripple is disabled.
     * @default false
     */
    disableFocusRipple?: boolean;
    /**
     * If `true`, the button ripple effect is disabled.
     * @default false
     */
    disableRipple?: boolean;
    /**
     * If `true`, the buttons will take up the full width of its container.
     * @default false
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    /**
     * The component orientation (layout flow direction).
     * @default 'horizontal'
     */
    orientation?: 'vertical' | 'horizontal';
    /**
     * The size of the component.
     * `small` is equivalent to the dense button styling.
     * @default 'medium'
     */
    size?: 'small' | 'medium' | 'large';
    /**
     * The variant to use.
     * @default 'outlined'
     */
    variant?: OverridableStringUnion<
      'text' | 'outlined' | 'contained',
      ButtonGroupPropsVariantOverrides
    >;
    /**
     * The system prop that allows defining system overrides as well as additional CSS styles.
     */
    sx?: SxProps<Theme>;
  };
  defaultComponent: D;
}

/**
 *
 * Demos:
 *
 * - [Button Group](https://material-ui.com/components/button-group/)
 *
 * API:
 *
 * - [ButtonGroup API](https://material-ui.com/api/button-group/)
 */
declare const ButtonGroup: OverridableComponent<ButtonGroupTypeMap>;

export type ButtonGroupProps<
  D extends React.ElementType = ButtonGroupTypeMap['defaultComponent'],
  P = {}
> = OverrideProps<ButtonGroupTypeMap<P, D>, D>;

export default ButtonGroup;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Lt Richard Langley, Back from the Dead.
Lt Richard Langley enlisted in the 4th Yorks Battalion when the War First started, at the age of just 17. He was 2790 Private Langley.
He was commissioned on the 9th December 1915, but was too young to go to France until 1916.
The following cuttings from the North Eastern Daily Gazette, dated the 3rd and 4th of October 1916, show that his parents received a letter from his Commanding Officer to say that he was missing in action and had to be presumed dead.
By this time he had probably been transferred to another Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, as the CO named in the letter was not in the 4th Yorks in 1916.
Lt Langley's Medal Card shows the he had in fact been taken prisoner and survived, although with some disability as the Medal Card also shows that he was awarded the Silver War Badge in 1919.
His parents must have been overjoyed to receive in December 1916 the messages shown below that he was alive and a POW.
[All information and newspaper cuttings have been kindly contributed by Ray Wilkins of Middlesbrough.]
Go to Previous page - Durham and Yorks Brigade Annual Camp at Redcar in 1913.
Go Back to Index of Newspaper Reports.


The Shochuhi memorial before the disaster.
The Shochuhi memorial after the disaster. The black kite in bronze that was perched atop the pedestal has fallen beak first to the foot of the pedestal.
A number of cultural properties were seriously damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake last year. Within its Secretariat in the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, the Committee to Rescue Cultural Properties Damaged by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami has been involved efforts to rescue cultural properties in regions like coastal areas hit by the tsunami. As of January, the Committee worked to rescue the Shochuhi memorial (Gokoku Shrine, Miyagi Pref.) erected on the ruins of the keep of Sendai Castle (or Aoba Castle).
The Shochuhi memorial was erected in 1902 to commemorate the fallen from the Imperial Army's 2nd Division, which was located in Sendai. The memorial features a black kite in bronze with its wings outstretched atop a stone pedestal close to 20 m high. The recent earthquake caused extensive damage and left the memorial in a pitiful state, causing the black kite at the top to fall to the foot of the stone pedestal and breaking its left wing. During work in January 22nd and 23rd, bronze fragments that could be collected by hand were collected by personnel in conjunction with individuals from the Gokoku Shrine. Future steps like movement of the bronzed black kite itself were also discussed.
The Shochuhi memorial was crafted on commission by the Tokyo Fine Art School (now the Tokyo University of the Arts). Masao KAWABE designed the memorial, Ichiga NUMATA crafted the original of the black kite adornment, and Sanshiro SAKURAOKA and Shinobu TSUDA cast the black kite in bronze. In other words, the memorial brought together the cream of the Fine Art School. The plaque in the center of the stone pedestal is inscribed "Shochu" [summoning the spirits of the loyal fallen] as was written by Prince KOMATSU Akihito. Conveying heroism, this plaque was exempted from metal requisition during the War. How will the damaged plaque be salvaged and will it be passed on to future generations? Numerous difficulties, such as raising funds, are anticipated, but the memorial is a valuable cultural property. With this in mind, we at the Institute fervently hope to return the plaque as a new symbol of the spirit of recovery.
Research was conducted on intangible culture in Armenia. The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation has implemented international projects to primarily conserve tangible cultural properties in the countries of the Caucasus and West Asia. In January 2012, Migiwa Imaishi of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage conducted a basic study of intangible cultural heritage in those countries in order to explore the potential for international research exchanges and cooperation in the field of intangible cultural heritage. As part of the study, Imaishi conducted documentary research by visiting several museums, including the History Museum of Armenia and the National Museum of Ethnography and History of the Liberation Struggle of Armenia. Imaishi talked with ethnologists and also studied the current state of research and transmission of culture in Armenia. Ethnologists acknowledge that much of the "traditional culture" of Armenia was lost during the period of Soviet rule, but pieces of culture are remembered and continued to this day. Indigenous beliefs and customs that have fused and coexisted with Christian beliefs and customs are particularly interesting. One example involves eating manners and customs. There are various customs regarding salt and the use of special salt containers (such as pots shaped like a woman or bird) that remain culturally important. Likewise, each member of a family used to have his or her own wooden spoon, just like Japanese have their own chopsticks, so spoons symbolized each member of the family. The Dovlat, a deity of the home, was also said to dwell in spoons. Spoons are also said to authorize the rights of housewives and had many magical uses, just like ladles and chopsticks in Japan. The potential for studies or research exchanges in some form must be explored in concert with local researchers.
As part of a commissioned study on Development of Techniques to Prevent Color Paint Peeling at Kirishima Shrine and Work to Implement Those Techniques, the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques has studied biological deterioration of traditionally painted areas of Kirishima Shrine. Traditional painting techniques used organic substances such as animal glue and are usually susceptible to biological deterioration by microbes like mold. If mold grows, it can seriously mar a building's appearance. Moreover, mold degrades the proteins in animal glue that serve as a binder, causing pigments to separate from the painted surface. Metabolites also cause pigments to discolor and dissolve. As a result, the physical deterioration of painted areas accelerates.
Kirishima Shrine has suffered damage, i.e. extensive growth of mold, in areas that were painted traditionally with oyster shell white paint or ochre paint including walls of breezeways, the covered stone stairway, and the worship hall. This year, a microbiological study was conducted to identify the mold responsible and ascertain the impact of that mold on painted areas. Temperature and humidity changes on-site were also monitored and an exposure test with fungicides was also conducted to help devise optimal control measures.
Environmental measurements revealed that the Shrine's air temperature is lower than the air temperature of level ground and the Shrine has a relatively high relative humidity of about 70% as an annual average. The Shrine was found to have an environment conducive to the growth of indigenous microbes. During the on-site exposure test with fungicides, several agents were found to have fungicidal action, but some of the fungicides chemically reacted with the white paint and could lead to deterioration. One hundred and thirty-three fungal strains have been isolated from damaged areas. These strains were grouped based on colony morphology and analyzed phylogenetically and physiologically. Results indicated that 3 groups had highly prevalent fungal strains (i.e. they had the most strains isolated). These groups are presumed to play a major role in microbial deterioration of traditionally painted areas of Kirishima Shrine. Plans are to perform a more detailed analysis of the isolated strains and continue exploring measures to prevent and control microbial deterioration of areas with traditional oyster shell white paint and ochre paint in conjunction with exposure test results.
The historical district of the City of Padang, West Sumatra was seriously damaged by earthquakes occurring off the coast of West Sumatra in September 2009. Since November of that year, the National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, has continued to support the recovery process of damaged cultural heritage sites in the district. This year, field studies were undertaken by Japanese experts, and a local workshop focusing on the topics of earthquake-resistant construction, disaster countermeasures, and risk management was conducted from January 4th to 13th, 2012 within the framework of emergency programs by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. Afterwards, Indonesian experts were invited to Japan from January 19th to 25th. Proposed restoration efforts are based on Japan's own experiences following the March 11th, 2011 disaster in Tohoku.
At the workshop, examples of efforts to restore damaged cultural heritage sites in Japan were presented, and earthquake countermeasures and townscape preservation of the the historical district were discussed on-site. In addition to surveys of restoration of damaged historical buildings and townscapes, field studies proposed seismic retrofits based on basic structural surveys and those studies examined the architecture of traditional townhouses. Indonesian experts who were invited to Japan were able to talk with personnel actively working on restoration and earthquake countermeasures on-site in affected areas like Tohoku. This series of programs helped to clarify issues with reconstruction of damaged cultural heritage sites in Padang two years after the earthquakes. Further cooperation is needed for more specific action plans so that valuable historical heritage sites are not lost.


text:
Deadwood: Paula Malcomson Talks About David Milch's HBO Revival Script
by Jessica Pena, September 6, 2017
What's in store for the upcoming Deadwood movie? Recently, star Paula Malcomson spoke with TVLine about the HBO series revival.
Malcomson played Trixie on the Western drama alongside fellow cast members Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Jim Beaver, W. Earl Brown, Kim Dickens, Brad Dourif, and John Hawkes.
Speaking to TVLine, Malcomson revealed she's read the Deadwood revival script and Trixie figures largely in the story:
It's a big Valentine to Trixie and Al. The thing that makes Trixie so fun to play is she's so loved by David," Malcomson enthuses. "David loves her so much. I can't believe her voice is still so present. It's just right there. It's really beautiful when you play a character that the writer [adores]. It just goes so deep for him. And I love her [too]. It's 10 years [later], so it's going to be really interesting."
So will the HBO reunion movie really happen? Malcomson believes so:
I really think it will happen [this time]. And I would never say that. I'm usually the most cynical about these things."
What do you think? Are you a fan of Deadwood? What do you want to happen in the revival movie?
More about: Deadwood, Deadwood: canceled or renewed?, HBO TV shows: canceled or renewed?
Deadwood: HBO Gives an Update on the Movie
Deadwood: Kim Dickens Has Read the HBO Movie Script
Deadwood: HBO Has the Revival Script, Says Ian McShane
Deadwood: HBO Exec Gives a Reunion Movie Update
Deadwood: David Milch Writing HBO Wrap Up Movie
Deadwood: Ian McShane Ready to Make HBO Movie
Deadwood: W. Earl Brown Talks HBO Movie Challenges
Deadwood: HBO President Says Movie Will Happen
Deadwood: Kim Dickens Talks Series Cancellation, Movie Talks
Deadwood: HBO Considering a Movie to Finally Wrap Up Series
Deadwood: HBO Says Movies Not Dead, Yet
Deadwood: Are the Two Wrap-up Movies Dead?
Deadwood: What Happened to the HBO Movies?
Deadwood: The HBO Series Will Return, Sort Of
Deadwood: An Update on the Reasons Why
LennyB
Have been missing Deadwood since it was canceled. I truly hope that it returns. I'm a big fan.
Lisa Ann Dominguez26RUz
Really love this show so glad to hear about the Revival it's going to be a hit the fans that like Deadwood to begin with
L Escamilla
I just watched Deadwood and would really live to see a revival movie!
Dennis LaFollette
My time, or should I say part-time, on Deadwood, was some of the happiest of my life. I formed friendships during the two seasons I was privileged to participate in the production that I still treasure. I wish I still lived close enough to try to join the cast and crew for the next chapter in this wonderful story. By far the best damn western ever to grace the television screens of America!
Trudy Breland
Deadwood is one great series! I've watched each episode at least half a dozen times and I'm thrilled that I own the entire set. The character development was so well done and identifiable, it was like watching old friends interact. Can't wait for the new script, but I will sadly miss Powers Boothe.
Sam Neely
"Deadwood " was a highlight for me. It was great to be an very small part of such a stellar production. Not a single dept was less than excellent. In all honesty, I didn't have much faith that it would happen. I am now allowing a spot for hope. I hops I am blessed with an opportunity to participate again. Many friends still remain from that production, thank you……….
Michael F. Dixon Sr.
There was some kind of undefinable magic happening before us. I know, I was there every day for the second and third season. Friendships were formed that endure to this day. All of us who were there never lost faith that it would return, all we can do now is hope that enough magic is left to see it come to its conclusion.
I do so hope this happens. I love Deadwood. I know I've watched it several times ( thank God for HBO ondemand). Can't wait!!
I loved "Deadwood" so much that I own the entire series; in my opinion David Milch is a genius, and have followed all of the great actors on to their subsequent acting roles. I will be looking forward to any sequel like some people look forward to Star Wars sequels!


text:
Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Makes Historic Return to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100
Posted at 22:28h in Music	by	Ronse 1 Comment
For the third year in a row, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" tops the Billboard Hot 100, knocking Adele off the throne. The song rules the global chart for another week.
This makes "All I Want for Christmas Is You" the first song to rule the list in three separate chart runs and the third song to rule four different times — its reign was interrupted by Taylor Swift last year. 24kGoldn & iann dior's "Mood" and Drake's "Nice for What" both rose to the top four times apiece.
With "AIWFCIY" spending a sixth non-consecutive week at No. 1, MC now has five songs that have ruled the Hot 100 for six weeks or more, breaking her longstanding tie with Boyz II Men, Usher and Drake. And with an 85th cumulative week at No. 1, Mariah extends her record as the artist with the most weeks at the throne. The runner-up (Rihanna) has spent 60 cumulative weeks at No. 1.
24kGoldn, Adele, Boyz II Men, Drake, iann dior, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Usher
Best of 2021 - No Hipsters Allowed
[…] broken and/or extended by The Weeknd, BTS and Drake — and of course, Mariah Carey with her annual record-breaker. Lil Nas X proved that the "Old Town Road" era wasn't a fluke and Adele returned […]


text:
AMD offers discounts on Opteron upgrades
By Daniel Robinson on Apr 8, 2009 6:10AM
AMD has announced an upgrade program that lets partners and customers swap older Opteron processors inside systems for newer ones at a discounted price, offering a performance boost without the cost of ripping out and replacing the entire server.
The AMD Opteron Upgrade Programme covers the 2000 series and 8000 series dual-core and quad-core Opteron chips, and enables customers to receive a discount of up to 35 per cent on the purchase cost of newer drop-in replacements.
AMD business development director John Fruehe explained in a blog post that the company designs its processors with the ability to upgrade in mind.
"In August 2006 we introduced the Socket F1207 to the world, initially with dual-core AMD Opteron processors. Later Barcelona, our first quad-core processor, was also able to plug into those sockets. Today's Shanghai processors also fit in those sockets as well," he wrote.
The company's upcoming six-core Opterons, codenamed Istanbul, will also fit the same infrastructure and will be part of the upgrade programme, AMD said.
Fruehe claimed that upgrading is a simple process and delivers an immediate boost. "In 15 minutes you can go from dual-core Rev F processors to the latest Shanghai quad cores, giving you up to 200 per cent more performance," he said.
AMD partners such as Rackable Systems and Cray are already reaping the benefits from this program, according to the firm, because it provides a route to fast and seamless upgrades in the data centre.
Copyright ©v3.co.uk
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text:
Pakistan Agriculture News, Water
ADB to give Punjab $375m for irrigation, public-private deals
April 14, 2018, 6:24 pm April 14, 2018 983
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday signed two loan agreements worth $375 million in an effort to improve irrigation services and promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Punjab – the country's most populated province that produces 80% of the agricultural output.
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday signed two loan agreements worth $375 million in an effort to improve irrigation services and promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Punjab – the country's most populated province that produces 80% of the agricultural output.
The loan agreements were inked by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Syed Ghazanfar Abbas Jilani.
"The investments will build a new Kharif season irrigation system and further develop PPPs in the province," said Xiaohong after the signing ceremony.
"The irrigation project will become part of the Indus basin irrigation system and help increase agricultural production that will directly benefit farming families in the target area. The PPP project will also strengthen capacity of the provincial government to improve key infrastructure and service delivery in the province."
Under the Jalalpur irrigation project worth $275 million, a surface irrigation system will be developed in Jhelum and Khushab districts of Punjab by drawing water from Jhelum River at Rasul Barrage.
The project will convert over 68,000 hectares of less productive and predominantly rain-fed area into irrigated farmland benefiting 384,000 people.
It took the ADB and the government of Punjab almost six years to plan and make the project effective. The scheme had for the first time been prioritised in the Country Partnership Strategy (2009-13) to improve the irrigation infrastructure.
READ MORE: Agri dept launches PMIS to ensure transparency
Agriculture remains a crucial component of Pakistan's economy, contributing 20% of the gross domestic product and employing 42% of the labour force in fiscal year 2015, with Punjab contributing more than 80% of the agricultural output.
The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform has estimated that the agriculture sector has to grow 5% per year to reduce the poverty incidence and ensure food security, and for the national economy to reach its 7-8% annual growth target.
The irrigation system will include an intake structure at Rasul Barrage, a main canal (117 kilometres), distributaries, minor canals, cross-drainage structures, flood carrier channels and associated structures.
The project will improve water-use capacity of 485 water user associations at each watercourse, who will participate in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of watercourses. It will help train water user association members to better manage agriculture and water.
It will introduce modern technologies and best practices like laser land levelling and high-efficiency irrigation systems.
The project will also strengthen capacity of 6,000 farming families in irrigated agricultural practices, water-use skills, profitable farming system and accessing private agriculture support services.
The ADB and Pakistan also signed an agreement for a $100-million loan to support public-private partnership in Punjab by augmenting the provincial government's viability gap fund to help enhance commercial viability of projects as well as attract and mobilise more private-sector participation in PPPs.
The project will also strengthen the development and delivery of PPP projects across various sectors that will further improve the government's ability to review, develop and implement sustainable and fiscally responsible PPP projects, hence, delivering better value for money.
READ MORE: OGDCL's earnings soar 57% as sales, other income grow
The government of the United Kingdom, through the Department for International Development (DFID), is co-financing the PPP project through a $19.6-million grant and $4-million technical assistance, both of which will be administered by the ADB.
The DFID's grant will also be used to finance a dedicated project development facility to support the engagement of transaction advisers. Total cost of the PPP project is $219.6 million with the Punjab government contributing $100 million.


I would like to upgrade my Toshiba Satellite A305-S6858 laptop's internal optical burner to a blue ray burner. The laptop's serial number is 88171130Q. The laptop has been operating quite well since April when Microsoft Support replaced the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system with Windows 7 Home Premium SP1. This was after 48 some hours of trying to resolve an inability to perform software updates or the installation of patches.
Would an LG 6X BD-R 2X BD-RE 8X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 6X BD-ROM 4MB Cache SATA Super-Multi Slim Blu-ray Burner BT30N - OEM, Newegg number N82E16827136263 be a proper selection?
What software application would one recommended to operate it?
That drive will very likely work. To verify you'll want to remove the existing drive and check to see that the connectors on the rear are a match. Also check that the faceplates match in size and shape. To install the replacement drive you'll probably have to transfer over one or more mounting brackets from your existing drive.
For software you can use free utilities like ImgBurn and the VLC Player to read, write and play discs including Blu-Ray. Scott.
Thank you Scott. I'll verify the connectors tonight and order the drive tomorrow. I'll keep you informed.
I removed the optical drive and found it to be an H-L Super Multi DVD Rewriter model GSA-T40F (ATAK780) drive which has a PATA type connector (Slim ATAPI?) instead of the SATA connection the LG 6X requires.
I don't have any recommendations other than what you've already found. Of those I'd choose the cheaper one and again verify that the connector and front panel shape matches yours exactly. If you get it let me know how it works out. Scott.
I installed the BD burner and all seemed well. Later as things would have it (Microsoft), I was forced to upgrade to Windows 10.
That was the last time my BD burner functioned properly. Sometimes it will burn and read properly and now most of the time not.
I searched the Internet and found that Sony said Matsushita needed a new firmware upgrade. I then updated the BD drive firmware to version 1.05 using EP0000203289.exe from Sony.
I opened Device Manager and found that Windows 10 (64 bit) listed the drive as MATSHITA BD MLT UJ220S ATA DEVICE. The device type was DVD/CD-ROM Drives. The Driver tab lists Microsoft as the provider, Date 06/21/06, File version 10.0.16299.15 WinBuild 160101.0800.
Next I tried to replace the driver using Sony's MTFOPD-0020389-1020.EXE. That did not work as it is only for VIAO specific model numbers.
I searched for the proper driver but only seem to find it on web sites that require you to download a driver management program e.g. Driverscape. Which I have no trust in letting it mess with my opsys.
Now, the $64 (,000) question is: where do I get the proper driver which I can install without peril?
Also think you might be confusing Firmware with a driver. You shouldn't need any driver for an optical drive. Those will be native to windows. If windows doesn't report any error with the driver or reports that the device is working properly than it might be the software that you are using to do the burning, or the drive itself has failed or is failing.
Just a semi-educated guess from me. I'd wait for Scott though. Also interested in what Scott has to say about this.
Sorry, not a chance that I would be confused about the difference betwixt a peripheral driver and firmware.
I built my own HAM radio and was a licensed HAM operator at age 14; Component level analog, digital and computer, Radar, Krypto Communications and Weapons System Specialist USN Vietnam by age 24; Field Engr. thru Senior Advisor Corp Technical Support at Data General Corp: component level analog/digital electronics, machine and assembly code level diagnostic programming and RTOS, MSDOS through AOS/VS operating system level software support, MV system specialist by age 40. Now at age 68, I have retired from Eaton Cutler-Hammer as the lead 3D MIL-SPEC mechanical designer and mentor for young designers and engineers creating sub surface nuclear vessel power systems.
That doesn't mean I have never made mistakes nor does it mean I know everything. It just means I have not yet figured out what I want to do for a living except learn more about everything.
The improper Windows driver problem for Matshita Blu-Ray Burners is well documented on the Internet. It just doesn't tell me where I can get the execrable driver from.
Not to worry Mate, I just get verbose about things like my CV.
Ok, so that leaves me with a question, if the OS doesn't report a problem with the device, then how did you come to the conclusion that it's a driver issue?. If people on the internet say it's a driver issue, than what led them up to that conclusion?. I'm truly interested because I like learning these things myself. Maybe at this point you'd be better off just getting a replacement that is a different brand. Or maybe an external one, might even be cheaper that way.
You say that sometimes it will burn and read blue properly and sometimes not. That too me sounds like it might be more of a hardware problem. Are you using the same software or have you tried different software?.
Another thought is maybe you can "Upgrade" back to windows 7. Clean install and try it then.
...Sometimes it will burn and read properly and now most of the time not.
The intermittent nature of the problem sounds like hardware (e.g. the drive is failing) to me. If that is the case the only way to know for sure is to replace it with a known good spare. Scott.


text:
The Siren Doesn't Cease
The Second Wave: An Ambulance Driver Who Is On Duty 24×7 Says "Every Day Is Filled With A Lot of Grief"
Image Credit: Getty
Mohd. Mazarul, a 25-year-old ambulance driver with a private start-up in Mumbai, shares what his day looks like on the frontlines of the pandemic. This is the third installment of a series that looks at the toll of a worsening Covid19 crisis from multiple perspectives within the healthcare system.
I live in Navi Mumbai with my mother and father, but originally, I am from West Bengal. As an ambulance driver, I cover all Navi Mumbai and Mumbai and have experience of four years in total. Before this, I worked with another private agency.
A lot has happened during Covid19. This is a 24×7 job. Whenever we get a gap, we catch up on sleep and food. In a day, we get at least seven to eight patients, and even more. It's hard to keep track most days. I really like doing this work because it helps a lot of people — I realize that, and it's evident on people's faces. It is heart-touching, very touching to look at people and see their expressions as we meet them. The reality of all of this, it makes it worthwhile.
This has been going on relentlessly for the last one year. We take people from homes to hospitals. Sometimes, there are a series of emergency calls; someone has a heart attack or other disease, other Covid19-positive patients call us too. We have to be alert at all times; we try to reach their homes within 15 minutes of the call.
These days, it is mostly Covid19 patients that we have to pick up because of the rising cases. Hospitals are in a bad condition; there is no oxygen supply in most places even for ambulances. Yesterday, I went to get oxygen supply filled for my ambulance, and they said there is no quantity available for us. There is a grave oxygen shortage, and patients are also increasing, which is scary.
There have been a lot of times when we take a patient to hospital but are redirected to some other place because of a shortage of beds. Just yesterday, we had a patient on oxygen support in the ambulance, and the hospital did not have an ICU bed, so we had to go to another hospital. But there was no admission in that hospital because it was full for Covid patients. We took them to another hospital — it took three hours to get a bed and other supplies, and then we got the patient admitted.
There is also a shortage of injection — a patient called me the other day to check if we know where a certain injection could be procured from. All this shortage is extremely hard to see — why is this happening to people? The way people are lying down in hospitals, it is very hard to see, day after day, and even harder to explain it. Ambulances standing in front of a hospital full of dead bodies, of course, it is heartbreaking to see it every day. Why don't I have something that patients need? I try to help as much as I can.
A good day I remember was when a small kid had fallen from the first floor. We reached on time, and the doctor later said that we reached right on time. The father and mother gave a lot of respect and looked very kindly — that reality, it felt very nice. It is hard to recall only one bad day — almost every day is filled with a lot of grief. People are having to bear a lot of pain and struggles in hospitals or otherwise, without facilities.
I am scared of getting Covid19 from a patient, but more than fear, I want to help — so I try not to think about it. Last year, everyone was equally scared and uncertain, and no one was able to understand it. Now that people know it, the cases are still rising. So, in one way or the other, everyone needs to understand the urgency and think before going out or doing anything else. There are a lot of rules, and I see people breaking them and not heeding to them. Some say 'there is no Covid' or 'there is no need to be worried'; this is very saddening for me to see. Only a patient who is going through it will tell you the toll Covid takes and the urgency to take every precaution and abide by the laws.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. As told to Saumya Kalia.
covid | covid19 | Covid19 Crisis | covid19 lockdown | The Second Wave | The Siren Doesn't Cease
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