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We support improvements in operating practices of elected bodies aimed at making government more representative, inclusive, transparent and accountable; such improvements could relate to campaign financing and disclosure rules, committee structures, or legislative conventions, amongst others.
We also advocate increased opportunities for citizens and NGOs to be meaningfully engaged in policy development processes and favour improvements to BC's initiative process.
In the 2009 referendum campaign, FVBC served as the official proponent of the BC's Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform's recommendation that we adopt the Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV).
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FVBC advocated for BC-STV in the 2005 electoral reform referendum, in which the Citizens' Assembly's recommendation received 58% support, but was not implemented by the provincial government, and then served as the official proponent in the 2009 repeat of the referendum. Following that referendum, FVBC's focus has widened to include a range of democratic reform issues, including discussing and promoting models for participatory democracy, expressing caution about naive support for internet voting and supporting Vancouver's quest for increased local autonomy to choose new voting systems and to impose campaign finance rules. We remain strongly committed to achieving voting reform at all levels of government in BC.
In the runup to the 2009 referendum, FVBC shifted to a membership structure, as required by provincial rules governing the referendum proponent and opponent, but reverted in 2014 to a board + volunteer/supporter structure to streamline administrative processes. Our email list now reaches approximately 4000 people.


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Modi chairs UNSC debate
United Nations: Stressing on enhancing maritime security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for peaceful settlement of disputes as per international law and for jointly combating maritime threats posed by non-state actors as he chaired a high-level UN Security Council open debate.
Addressing the debate on "Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation" via video conferencing, Modi put forward five principles for inclusive maritime security strategy, and mentioned India's vision SAGAR' for sustainable use of the oceans.
He also emphasised that the oceans are the world's common heritage and sea routes are the lifeline of international trade.
Underlining that the countries' shared maritime heritage is facing many challenges, the Prime Minister said,"we should remove barriers for legitimate maritime trade. Global prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade. Any hindrance in maritime trade can threaten the global economy."
The second principle, he said, was that the settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and on the basis of international law.
"This is very important for mutual trust and confidence. This is the only way we can ensure global peace and stability," he asserted.
Modi said it was with this understanding and maturity that India resolved its maritime boundary issues with its neighbour Bangladesh.
He said the third key principle was that the global community should jointly fight maritime threats posed by natural disasters and non-state actors, and added that India has taken several steps to enhance regional cooperation in this regard.
Preserving the maritime environment and maritime resources, and encouraging responsible maritime connectivity were the fourth and fifth principles enunciated by the prime minister.
Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
The meeting was being attended by several heads of state and government of member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and high-level briefers from the UN system and key regional organisations.
The open debate was focussed on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity, and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain.
The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime in the past.
However, this is the first time that maritime security was discussed in a holistic manner as an exclusive agenda item in such a high-level open debate.
Modi chairs UNSC debate added by Press Trust of India on 1:18 am August 10, 2021

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Montclair State University: Lights, Action, Cuba!
When we asked our colleges and universities to tell us about their STEM programs and research, 38 institutions sent stories and photos, showing an impressive array of initiatives. Congratulations to all who contributed!


There are currently 454 Homes for sale in Rancho Santa Fe. The average price for Rancho Santa Fe properties is $3,931,411which is 202% higher than all Homes within a 20 mile radius. The highest priced property in Rancho Santa Fe is $85,000,000 while the lowest priced Home is listed at $995,000. Most of the properties available in Rancho Santa Fe are Homes while there are other property types as well. Compared to last month, the average price of real estate in the area has gone up 100%.


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Russia Claims Ukraine's Black Sea Oil And Gas Bounty
By John Daly on May 8, 2014
Russia's annexation of Crimea has totally upended Kiev's plans for Black Sea and Sea of Azov offshore oil and natural gas production.
Before the peninsula's March 16 independence referendum, followed two days later by Russian annexation, Ukraine's state-owned Chornomornaftogaz ("Chernomorneftegaz" in Russian) owned 17 hydrocarbon fields, including 11 natural gas fields, four gas condensate fields, and two oil fields, along with 13 offshore platforms in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Among foreign companies interested in Crimea's offshore hydrocarbon assets were ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and Petrom.
Pre-annexation, Chornomornaftohaz also held a 100 percent interest in five offshore license blocs – Vostochno-Kazantipskoe in the Sea of Azov and Odesskoe, Bezymiannoe, Subbotina and Palasa in the Black Sea. Crimea was third in Ukrainian natural gas production after the Kharkov and Poltava regions.
After the referendum, the Crimean Parliament nationalized both Chornomornaftohaz and state-owned Ukrtransgaz, which owned the national gas transmission network belonging to Ukraine's state-owned Naftogaz company. It then chartered a new company, the Crimean republican enterprise (PKK) "Chernomorneftegaz." The Crimean Parliament also claimedthe peninsula's "continental shelf and exclusive economic zone" in the Black Sea.
On March 26, Crimea's Supreme Council speaker Vladimir Konstantinov told journalists that the nationalization of the Ukrainian Chornomornaftohaz state company had been fully completed, adding that the enterprise had a new director and was "working normally."
Russia's annexation of Crimea has also had an immediate and chilling effect on the energy deals that ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's government had been negotiating with foreign energy firms. On March 19, Royal Dutch Shell announced that it was abandoning negotiations to sign a production sharing agreement (PSA) to develop Crimea's offshore Skifska field, saying it had "decided to focus its strengths and capital on other opportunities in our world projects portfolio."
Ukraine's transitional government was quick to respond to its Crimean losses. On April 3, Minister of Justice Pavel Petrenko announced that a review of Ukraine's "losses in Crimea, including Ministry of Energy property, the Black Sea shelf and Chornomornaftohaz, and Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport property (railway, real estate, ships and planes" had been completed with an eye toward launching a case at the Council of Europe to recover compensation for damages.
As to the legal status of Crimea's offshore waters, Deputy Natural Resources and Ecology Minister Denis Khramov said March 19 that Crimean offshore projects would become subject to Russian law. "If Russian law is extended to Crimea, then law [imposing] requirements on participants in projects on the shelf will be extended," Khramov said, adding, "Only one thing is important. If this is a part of Russia then it is subject to Russian law."
According to Russian natural resources law, offshore deposits can only be worked by companies with state ownership of at least 51 percent and five or more years experience working in Russian waters.
As for the future of Chernomorneftegaz, Aleksandr Donskoi of Russian brokerage firm "Aton" believes that the company is unlikely to sell at its estimated price of $500 million-$1 billion market price. "Most likely, the tender evaluation will be below the market value," he said, adding that the company will likely be bought by Gazprom.
Whatever Chernomorneftegaz's future, bids for the firm or future PSAs are unlikely to involve U.S. or European energy firms in the short term, since on April 11, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned the firm.
For the present then, Crimea's energy future is indissolubly linked to Russia's, for better or worse.
RT Energy Security and Policy, RT Geostrategy, RT Russia, RT Ukraine, trendinggreek
Russia Claims Ukraine's Black Sea Oil And Gas Bounty added by John Daly on May 8, 2014
View all posts by John Daly →


In recent years, mega cities in China have been suffering from severe pollution. People are more aware of the air quality and its impact on health. But not every place in China is severely polluted. Guizhou, a province located in southwest of China, is known for its good air quality.
103 short movies about "Greening China" released!
In 2018, 103 films under the theme, "Ecology, Biology, Lifeology," produced by 103 directors from 35 countries hit the screens after 115 days of preparations!
Notice Regarding "Looking China: Short Documentary Competition"
"Looking China Youth Film Project" invites young film-makers around the globe to come to China to experience Chinese culture and tell their own stories about the nation via film-making.
2018 Looking China Youth Film Project has started on April 9 with 100 international youth from 35 countries arriving in China's 11 provinces, municipalities and autonomous region.Each participant is expected to film a 10-minute documentary about China under the theme, "Ecology, Biology and Lifeology." All films are scheduled to be finished by July 17 this year.
2017 Looking China International Youth Film Project opening ceremony was held in Beijing Normal University on April 10, which is co-organized by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC), Beijing Normal University and Huilin Foundation. In 2017, film makers are expected to produce 10-minute short films with the assistance of Chinese volunteers from Shenzhen University, Guangxi Normal University, Xiamen University, Henan University and other organizations. The theme of this year's "Looking China" project is "craftsman, inheritance, innovation."
In recent years, many Chinese city residents are looking forward to owning a house with a garden in the countryside.
The Bai community is nestled between Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountains. It's an idyllic place for nature lovers.
In most countries, a wedding ceremony lasts for a day, no more than two, but for Yugu people, it goes on for much longer.
Tibetans take tremendous pride in their history, Buddhist faith and traditional customs. They love to sing and dance as well.
Love Song of Kangding was one of the 10 songs selected by NASA to represent human kind in space, and it is a love song well-known to most Chinese.
The film follows Chinese adults who continue collecting toys, despite their age.
The film captures the soul of the Muslim community in the town Lukhchin, located in northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
The movie puts the spotlight on ethnic Baoans who keeps the tradition and techniques of crafting Baoan swords.
Kangding's inhabitants are mainly Tibetans. The film crew captures footage of an ordinary street food market stall.
Huang has captured global fame after a photograph of him fishing with his cormorants was printed in National Geographic magazine.
Hand-crafted umbrellas are a beauty to behold, but few Chinese people buy them for regular use on rainy days.
Chinese parents seem to have a height fetish, detailing the exact height of their children as one of the top characteristics.
Dragon boat races tend to be more popular in southern China with its warmer climate, wet weather and rivers surrounding the region.
She is a mother who devotes much to her daughter, one typical representative of Chinese mothers.
The leader of the skateboarding crew is a man who fixes printers for a living. He works hard and loves to play hard.
Pingjiang Road appears to be the most popular site for local residents and visitors to grab a bite of authentic Suzhou cuisine.
The magic of Sichuan Opera should demonstrate to people living in a hustle-and-bustle society that it's time to slow down and enjoy the moments of life.
Along with the taxi driver's story, you would also have a view of daily life in Tianjin, including local snack, city scenarios and how local people live, etc.
The Chinese word Chan means meditation, and itself can be referred to the Zen Buddhism, one sect of Buddhism.
Some movies are nice, wish I can go to visit those places.
It's a waste if China don't preserved some of its unique culture, Palace Lantern is one of them.
I love Chinese folk songs very much.
Omg I want to eat hot pot right now.
Oh, every ethnic has their own culture and custom. In Nepal people of magar has their own special.
You are right, it was a great place in old time, but now it becomes a pure tourist street, locals never go there to eat or shop !!!
Wow! I really wish to visit China. It's been my dream land for tourism. I wish to walk on the "wall" and visit shaolin houses.


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"We All Need to do Something" - "Voluntourists Are Helping Animals Around the Globe"
Jan Sunday, 13 July 2008 15:03
'We All Need to Do Something'
'Voluntourists' are helping animals around the globe.
By Joan Raymond
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Kelsey Ochsendorf wants to save the world--one animal at time. In the past year, Ochsendorf traveled to Sri Lanka, volunteering her time releasing endangered olive ridley and green sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean. At a South African nature preserve, she tracked and fed giraffes and helped socialize rare white lion cubs by engaging them in games of tug of war. In Malaysia, she brokered a truce with a band of monkeys that were pushing their territory a bit too far into the turf of their human neighbors.
The hours were long and the work was often difficult, but Ochsendorf, 24, who calls herself an "animal-loving greenie," wouldn't spend her vacation any other way. "Going to Cancun and drinking tequila shots doesn't do it for me," she says. "When the planet is in peril, we all need to do something that matters. To me, animals matter."
Thirty years ago, the rallying cry of a few intrepid wildlife conservationists was "Save the Whales." Today, the cry might as well be Save the Australian flying fox bats or the Andean bears. It's no secret that habitat loss, climate change and illegal poaching are taking a toll on indigenous animals around the globe. Fortunately, wildlife conservation is no longer the domain of just a few. Today, more folks than ever are spending their vacations helping furry, feathered and finned creatures by booking wildlife and conservation treks. These trips aren't cheap, starting at around $2,000 per person. But price doesn't seem to factor into the equation. In its annual forecast poll, Travelocity, an online travel service, found that nearly 40 percent of some 1,000 respondents plan to volunteer during their vacations in 2008, up from 11 percent last year. And of those vacationers, 33 percent said they considered conservation and the environment as personal causes.
There are some concerns that the growth of eco-tourism actually does more damage than good, by disturbing wildlife and destroying what is left of natural habitats. Not to mention those greenhouse gases emitted after flying to faraway places. These eco-friendly wildlife volunteers, however, are under direct supervision of resident wildlife experts, such as scientists or naturalists who have set up shop to help a specific species.
"There is no one demographic; our volunteers are everyone and anyone," says Rosie Plummer, a travel adviser with i-to-i, a U.K.-based company that pairs vacationers with humanitarian and wildlife conservation volunteer projects in Asia, Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. The group has seen its wildlife and conservation tours grow from a measly 45 people eight years ago to nearly 1,000 last year. Voluntourists, as industry insiders call them, can work in nature preserves, get down and dirty assisting scientists in the field, or simply observe animals in their natural habitat, learning about what is being done to help preserve specific species. "We don't want people doing something they aren't comfortable with," says Plummer. "The trips are really about the animals and making sure people enjoy themselves and learn from the experience. We want people to feel as if they've done something good."
And it seems these wanna-be wildlife specialists are doing some good. Peter Brothers, a wildlife vet and South African tour guide, runs several trips a year that allow guests to get up-close and personal with lions, rhinos and elephants during what he dubs the "immobilization" safari. Though the animals are drugged, the safari experience is more than a glorified petting zoo. If they want, participants can assist veterinary staff with blood sampling, radio collaring and other tasks that help experts monitor health. "It's important that people realize we don't [run these trips just to] entertain guests," says Brothers. "All this work actually needs doing." Most participants are up to the challenge, except on the rare occasions when a drugged lion lets loose with a snore, says Brothers. "It sounds like a low growl."
The Earthwatch Institute credits much of its successes to its volunteers. The 37-year-old nonprofit sent some 3,800 volunteers out on 120 field projects last year to work directly with scientists around the world. Among the group's recent success stories was the release of 2,000 hand-reared African penguin chicks that were orphaned after an oil spill. The best news: the animals are successfully breeding in the wild of South Africa's Robben and Dassen Islands.
But you don't have to go as far as South Africa to find an animal in need. When Louise Craig of Rochester, N.Y., was looking to take a trip last year, she chose to go on an Earthwatch expedition in neighboring New Jersey to help save the diamondback terrapin turtle, which makes its home in the brackish waters of Barnegat Bay.
For nearly two weeks, she and her son Albert, then 10, monitored nesting sites, collected vegetation samples and tracked the turtles, whose numbers are being depleted due to land development. "These are some of the coolest creatures on earth," Craig says. "We could have gone to Disneyland, but I know that this was more important. Maybe in our own small way we helped these turtles, and that would be just wonderful."
Fortunately, when it comes to animals, cute, cuddly and cool is in the eye of vacationer.
"There really isn't an animal that doesn't get some attention," says Lisa Rooney, director of outbound programs for Volunteer Adventures in Denver. About half of their programs are geared toward wildlife and conservation, and even somewhat stigmatized animals, like bats, have their vacationing advocates.
"People come back from these trips and say they are more aware that the world is really a very small place," Rooney says, "and every creature deserve a safe place on our planet. I'm hopeful about the future."
Article at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/145773
Country: general Region: Africa - News
Published in Wildlife Details
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General information from Africa - News
general driving through southern africa
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Dado from Ethiopia confirms herself as Queen of Rome
Rome Marathon 2011 – Elite Men
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Ray Fowler shares some deep insight into the nature of the "spiritual successor" in his blog post "Lineal Legitimacy and the Fallacy of the Spiritual Successor". See the post here.
Particularly interesting is Ray's hypothesis that, in order to make a success of a game – or series of games – stepping in the footsteps of a giant, one has to "create legitimacy". This is achieved, he says, by initially staying as true to the original as possible and just rebooting it with improved graphics/presentation. At this point, one has created "legitimacy", and one can begin to iterate on the original.
Ray is doing some amazing work on "Remnants of the Precursors", a Master of Orion reboot (in all but name), so the concept of a spiritual successor is of particular interest to him. I highly recommend checking out some of his other posts if you enjoyed this one.


Remember if you're under 18, you'll need consent from your parent or guardian.
Organise an event you will enjoy arranging and others will too. Depending on your interest, you could hold a coffee morning, run a cake sale, disco or themed party at your local village hall, organise a plant or book sale, hold a sponsored walk or bike ride or do something completely different.
Allow plenty of time to promote your event and ask family, friends and colleagues for their ideas and support. We might even be able to help you with a press release or via our social media channels.
Pick your date well in advance and watch out for clashes with other events.
Consider how many people will be coming along and what facilities you'll need to lay on, such as car parking, refreshments and toilets.
Consider decorating your venue to enhance your event and to promote Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Think about who'll be interested in coming along to your event and attract their support with invitations and posters you know they'll like as well as social media.
Set yourself a fundraising target, break it into manageable chunks, then decide how you're going to raise each bit.
Keep in touch. Let Emma know if you have any questions or need any Somerset Wildlife Trust materials.
It's your responsibility to ensure your fundraising event runs safely. Somerset Wildlife Trust can't accept liability for accidents or damage to people or property as a result of your event or activity, even when that activity is run to raise money for the Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Carry out a risk assessment before your event or activity to ensure that everyone involved with your event – participants, helpers and spectators – stays safe. You can find out more at hse.gov.uk.
Make sure that everyone involved with your event is aware of any potential risks and of any special requirements for taking part, eg fitness levels, training or specialist equipment needed.
Supervise your event properly and adequately. And take particular care if children are involved.


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Greek Mythology > People, Places, & Things > Adrastus (1)
A to Aegyptus Aello to Agesilaus I Agesilaus II to Akhaia Akhaian to Alkman Alkmene to Anaetius Anakeion to Apaturia Apeliotes to Argos Argus to Arkhidike Arkhilokhos to Astyanax Astydameia to Azov
Adrastus (1)Adrestos
The mythical king of Argos whose life was closely tied to the legend of king Oedipus of the city of Thebes and, indirectly, to the fall of the city of Troy.
Adrastus was the son of Talaus and Lysimakhe (Lysimache); as a young man he was forced to flee Argos and live in the city of Sikyon (Sicyon) where he was made heir to the throne and later became the king; as king of Sikyon, he returned to Argos and made peace; he welcomed the exiled son of Oedipus, Polynikes (Polynices), and also another exile, Tydeus.
Polynikes married one of Adrastus' daughters, Argeia, and Tydeus married another named Deipyle.
Adrastus helped Polynikes mount an attack on the city of Thebes and their company became known as Seven Against Thebes; their campaign failed and Polynikes was killed but Adrastus managed to escape on his immortal steed, Arion.
A generation later, Adrastus led the sons of the Seven (known as the Epigoni) back to Thebes and successfully took the city; the only casualty of the second battle was Adrastus' son, Aigialeus; because of the loss of his beloved son, Adrastus supposedly died of grief on the way back to Argos.
Although his name is more properly rendered as Adrestos, it is almost always translated as Adrastus.
Return to Adrastus (1) in the Dictionary
Stewart, Michael. "People, Places & Things: Adrastus (1)", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Adrastus_1.html
Stewart, Michael. "People, Places & Things: Adrastus (1)", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Adrastus_1.html
Stewart, Michael. "People, Places & Things: Adrastus (1)", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Adrastus_1.html


London's Kidology are bringing their brand of glam disco/house clubbing to Beach Republic!
MARK WILKINSON whose mad skills have taken him to gigs in over 65 countries and even earned him a UK top 10 hit.
GRAHAM GOLD, the only DJ based in Asia to be listed in the prestigious DJ MAG Top 100 Poll 8 years running and whose legendary shows on London's Kiss 100 reached out and touched hundreds of thousands of listeners around the world.
SIMON SOLO whose early days spent learning from the best in Ibiza has led to residencies and regular appearances at some of Thailand's hottest clubs.
Find out why Kidology's parties are becoming a growing force in the UK with dates regularly sold out well in advance! Appearing at Beach Republic – one of the island's most talked about venues, which will be transformed for one night only!


In Episode 50 we talk haunted objects with demonologist and paranormal investigator John Zaffis. Zaffis has been investigating the paranormal for over 35 years. He got his start working with his aunt and uncle, renowned investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and since then he's gone on to investigate thousands of cases all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. The demonologist has worked with exorcists of many different faiths, he has an extensive museum of possessed possessions in his Connecticut home, you've seen him on countless television programs and documentaries, and tonight he makes his 30 Odd Minutes debut. Don't miss the scared object John shows us from the Haunting in Connecticut case!


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Q: Using UITextField for save file I use this function to Save a MyFile.caf
NSString *nomeFile = self.nomeBastard.text;

NSString *tempDir = NSTemporaryDirectory();
NSString *soundFilePath = [tempDir stringByAppendingString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@.caf", nomeFile]];//@"sound.caf"];
NSString *outputSoundFilePath = [tempDir stringByAppendingString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@0.caf", nomeFile]];//@"soundO.caf"];

soundFileURL = [[NSURL alloc] initFileURLWithPath: soundFilePath];
outputSoundFileURL = [[NSURL alloc] initFileURLWithPath: outputSoundFilePath];

[[AVAudioSession sharedInstance] setActive:YES error:nil];

my nomeBastard.text have a default value (write your name and press REC) but on saved file the value don't change, I svae always one file .caf with the first value like a:
write your name and press REC.caf
How can I get the name from my UITextField?
Here my screen first I change value on my text filed isert MyFileName

Whet TAP on Rec the App do not register file with name, but register 0.caf

A: I think you want to reset the value and set back the placeHolder :
self.yourTextField.text = @"";
self.yourTextField.placeHolder = @"write your name and press REC";

Apply this code after saving your .caf
And if you want to change the text field with some text :
self.yourTextField.text = @"Place Some Text Here";

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Sony Announces All-New Xperia X Series at MWC 2016
Sony Mobiles has today officially unveiled their all-new X Series by announcing three smartphones in the new series called as the Sony Xperia X, Xperia X Performance and Xperia XA at the MWC 2016 event in Barcelona. All the smartphones feature premium all-metal unibody design and run on latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow based company's customized UI laid on top.
"Sony Mobile will continue to create increasingly personalized and intelligent products and services that empower you to do more, and live more creatively than ever. Our products and services will connect you with each other and become essential and favorite parts of your lives," said Hiroki Totoki, President, and CEO at Sony Mobile Communications.
The Sony Xperia X Performance is the most premium among all the devices and comes with powerful specifications. The smartphone features a 5-inch (1080×1920 pixels) full-HD Triluminos display and offers a pixel density of 441ppi. Under the hood, it comes powered by all-new 64-bit Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor clubbed with Adreno 530 GPU and 3GB of RAM. The device supports dual sim dual standby and runs on latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.
On the camera front, the smartphone sports a 23MP rear camera with Exmos RS sensor, f/2.0 aperture, Predictive Hybrid Autofocus and LED flash. On the front, it has a 13MP snapper with f/2.0 aperture to capture stunning selfie images in any lighting conditions. It has 32GB of inbuilt storage and also includes a microSD card slot for expansion upto 200GB. Connectivity options on the device include 4G-LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi, GPS and microUSB 2.0 port. The handset powers a 2700mAh battery and also supports Qnovo's Adaptive Charging technology. The dimensions of the device measure 143.7 x 70.4 x 8.7 mm and weighs around 164 grams.
The Sony Xperia X is the slightly downgraded variant of the Xperia X Performance and also sports impressive specifications. The smartphone sports similar 5-inch 1080p Triluminos display and comes equipped with Snapdragon 650 hexa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz coupled with Adreno 510 GPU and 3GB of RAM. The handset comes backed by a slightly smaller 2620mAh battery and also supports Qnovo's Adaptive Charging technology. Apart from the different processor and battery, rest of the specifications are similar to the high-end Sony Xperia X Performance.
The Xperia XA is the perfect mid-range device and also comes with more than decent features. The Xperia XA flaunts a 5-inch (1280×720 pixels) HD curved edge-to-edge display offering a pixel density of 294ppi. Under the hood, it comes powered by MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10 64-bit octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz paired with Mali-T860 GPU and 2GB of RAM for smooth performance of the device. The smartphone supports dual sim dual standby and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.
It has 16GB of internal storage and also includes a microSD card slot for expansion upto 200GB. On the photographic section, the smartphone comes with a 13MP primary camera with LED flash and an 8MP front-facing camera for video calling and perfect selfie images. Connectivity options on the device include 4G-LTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi and microUSB 2.0 port. The handset packs a 2300mAh battery with Qnovo's Adaptive Charging technology support. The dimensions of the Xperia XA measures 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm and weighs around 137 grams.
The Sony Xperia X Performance, Xperia X, and Xperia XA comes in White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold and Rose Gold color options. The company announced that the new X series will roll-out starting from Summer 2016 but did not mention any pricing details.
Obi Worldphone MV1 with 2GB RAM & 8MP Camera Launched at MWC
Cheetah Mobile & Cubot Launches CheetahPhone with Android Marshmallow at $220


I've been rather busy for most of August, so here's a rundown of the highlights.
The Arab Rice at tHe Spring's Food Bazaar has some really nice food. I've been meaning to go back since the review, but have not been hungry enough for that.
We finished my costume. The hat is just part of it. For the rest, you just have to wait till after the photo shoot. Oh yes, Peggy's tutorial for this hat was featured on Threadbanger yesterday.
I almost wish I went to this school. "Almost" because I hated school. That's Rin hard at work in the chem lab during the school's Open Day.
Eric Leong was in town for a quick workshop. Although he was prominently advertised, his segment was just a couple of hours in the morning. This is him being interviewed by RTM.
Hotlink flew 6 East Malaysian press members to KL for the Gang Starz 2008 finals. You can't get me to sit in front of the TV for anything at home, but live shows have an energy you won't find in your living room. They put us up at Holiday Inn Glenmarie, which had a fantastic buffet.
I just thought this made an interesting picture. Reporters camped around the office TV listening to the budget report.
I went to a Roman-theme housewarming party. I think that initially most people were going "what for?" when our hostess announced that it's a costume party. But it did add a special element, and the camwhoring came out in full force. We're already talking about our next one.
After writing all those articles about HfH, I had a chance to get my hands dirty. Full post here.
You're slowly but surely turning me into a dresshack watcher (and possible convert). I've got a whole pile of old clothes that I don't wear anymore and I'm wondering what I can do with them.
That lab photo is what I look like in the mornings (meaning: "Duuuh, what's this for?") which is why I'm glad Chem classes are normally in the afternoon. Attempting to muck around with acids and such first thing in the morning – not the best idea.


With environmental awareness on the ascent—thank you Goracle and friends—natural and organic beauty products have exploded onto the scene with such force that even drugstore shelves are groaning under their collective weight.
The proverbial fly in the undereye ointment? Greenwashing, which has also seen a corresponding uptick, making it an increasingly difficult task to tease the real McCoys from the bandwagon-hopping pretenders. Although no full-proof decoder ring exists to help us make sense of the murky waters of truth (and falsehood) in advertising, we've pulled together five of the most common ruses making their rounds online and in-stores. Suffice to say, it ain't pretty.
"Natural" and "all-natural" may lead us to surmise that a product is as pure as the driven snow (or as pristine as a virgin rainforest), but because they're not regulated labeling terms, marketeers are free to bandy them around with alacrity and, more important, without fear of reprisal. Plus, much like their kissing cousins "nature-inspired," "naturally derived," and "based on natural," they're also vague, misleading, and essentially meaningless.
Tacking "Naturals" at the end of a company's name, branding one's packaging with earthy tones and botanical allusions, and peppering advertising copy with exotic fruit and vegetable extracts are other strategies used to lull us into a false sense of security. The point of this PR legerdemain? You'll be too distracted to notice the disconnect between the laboriously crafted fantasy and the sordid reality.
It's true that we're judged by the company we keep, but tossing a couple of organic or fair-trade ingredients into the mix, commendable as that might be, does not an unsullied concoction make—yes, even if you bold said ingredients and strategically craft your marketing campaign around them. When methylparaben and PEG-100 stearate are bumping uglies with organic cocoa butter and fair-trade mango extract, you have a tainted product on your hands. Or to put it another way, Mother Teresa's presence won't turn the Mos Eisley Cantina into the Sistine Chapel.
3. It has no parabens. We're home-free, right?
Not so fast. While these ubiquitous, hormone-mimicking preservatives are chief among the Big Bads of skincare ingredients, in terms of the attention they've received and the controversy they've generated, they're not the be-all and end-all. Be wary of companies that use the exclusion of parabens, usually followed closely by phthalates, as a smokescreen for letting other toxic, multisyllabic nasties slide by.


Logic may be viewed, perhaps, as a machine which is designed, at best, to be such that when we feed into it certain data and turn the logic crank, we inevitably get certain conclusions out the other end. Logic is designed to give inevitably true results starting from known true–or assumed-to-be-true–premises. Logic is a wonderful tool when we want only logical conclusions. We should not reject such a machine merely because it is not equipped to handle all of reality. The scientist who commits himself to use a logic machine is doing wisely, qua scientist, for use on data of science. But if he feeds into that machine convictions that there is no God, or ignores God because He is not in his corpus of data, and then draws from his logic the conclusion that God does not exist, his conclusion is irrelevant. Logic is a tool; it should not be made into a religion.
We should be grateful to Freud for pointing out ways in which we humans deceive ourselves about our real motives. He suggested that many of our actions arise from very dark sources which we hide from ourselves . . . But the essence of what Freud said was suggested two and half thousand years before him when Jeremiah said, "The heart is deceitful about all things and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?" . . .
When people are brought face to face with Jesus, they either hide from him behind a hedge of rationalizations, or they come into the open and admit the truth. Caiaphas was a beautiful example. Pushed into a corner by Jesus' behavior at his trial, faced with all that Jesus had said and done, he says "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" "I am", said Jesus. "There you are", said Caiaphas, in so many words, "the man must be a fraud. I have an excuse for all my hostility to the man. I disliked him all along because I knew he was a fraud and a madman. I was beginning to think I disliked him because he was right and I was wrong. But now I have a beautiful rationalization for all my opposition. I am really a very holy man who detests blasphemy and my righteous soul is revolted by such wickedness. What a relief to be a good man after all." God does try the deceitfulness of men's hearts by bringing them in front of Jesus. That is what the day of judgment will amount to: just being face to face with Jesus. When we see Him we shall find that all our excuses will vanish away and we shall find ourselves revealed for what we really are . . .
We discover that men actually hate God, particularly the ones who have most eagerly tired to explain Him away. That is why Jesus calls himself the Truth. He brings all our hidden attitudes into the open. He exposes the shams, the false support . . . There is no hiding from Him. He reveals the true reasons for our behavior — not our glib rationalizations.


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There are many misconceptions when it comes to how farmers use pesticides on their fields. Are they safe? Do farmers use them responsibly? Give it a minute. Discover more at discover.monsanto.com.


Set off on your adventure and become a real explorer, discovering the eruptive past of Scarlett Point and the intriguing Viking Burial at Balladoole. Follow the child-friendly trail map, to discover fascinating facts and enjoy a handful of interactive activities which will ensure that your family walk is one that won't be forgotten!
Make sure to print off the child-friendly trail map which can be downloaded below.
Sections of the footpath are steep and narrow in places. Take care in extra strong winds. Dogs are not permitted on sections of this route.
By Car: Follow the main road into Castletown, and then follow the minor road along Queen Street. There is an off-road car park by the start of the walk. The car park is free-of-charge. There are no marked disabled car parking spaces.
By Bus: A number of bus services can be taken to Castletown town centre. The bus stop is located in Castletwon Square, a 15-20 minute walk from the start of the trail. Bus services include, 1, 1H, 2, 2A, 8, 8A, 11, 12, 12A, N1. Please visit www.bus.im for the latest bus timetable.
By Rail: Take the steam train and alight at Castletown Train Station.


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GCSAA news
2020 Golf Industry Show
Change of scene: Preview the new space for the 2020 Golf Industry Show
Same place, new space: The North/South Concourse of Orlando's Orange County Convention Center will be the setting for many of the goings-on at GIS. Get familiar with the premises.
January 9, 2020 | Howard Richman
Filed to: Golf Industry Show
The Orange County Convention Center is centrally located in the tourist district of Orlando, just a 15- to 20-minute drive from Orlando International Airport. The venue consists of two buildings — the West Concourse and the North/South Concourse — that are joined by a pedestrian walkway. Photos courtesy of Visit Orlando
Sorry, those aren't the lucky numbers in a lottery — but they are important digits if you're attending the 2020 Golf Industry Show, Jan. 25-30 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. This year will mark the 10th time GIS has been held in central Florida. This one, however, won't be like all the others.
"Same ZIP code (32819 at OCCC), different building," says Matt Brown, GCSAA's director of corporate sales.
The Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention center of its type in the United States — behind only McCormick Place in Chicago — with a total of 7 million square feet of space (2.1 million square feet of exhibit space). It annually hosts events ranging from the PGA Merchandise Show (which this year will take place one week prior to GIS) to the AKC National Championship dog show to the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting and expo.
At GIS 2020, though, the spotlight will be on the OCCC's North/South Concourse, which for the first time will host GIS activities Monday through Thursday. The West Concourse, which GIS has used during previous visits to Orlando, will still be in play — GCSAA educational seminars are scheduled there Monday and Tuesday. The West Concourse and the North/South Concourse sit across from each other, on opposite sides of International Drive.
GIS activities in the North/South Concourse will include the trade show, Turfgrass Talk Show, GCSAA Opening Reception and Closing Celebration, and activities for new GIS presenting partners the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the Golf Course Builders Association of America.
Watch this quick video for help navigating GIS 2020 at the Orange County Convention Center:
"We do have additional space. It allows us to get creative with our meeting needs and creative with our layout," says Jana Brown, GCSAA's director of conference events and meeting planning.
She says that familiarizing attendees with the North/South Concourse is a major priority for GCSAA, and the association is taking numerous measures to ensure that the thousands of people who will be at GIS can navigate the property easily and safely. "It's a big campus. We've taken steps, as many as we possibly can, to get people where they need to be in a safe manner," Jana Brown says.
Pedestrian bridges do connect the West and North/South Concourse, and attendees can also move between the two at street level. Jana Brown says crossing guards will be on duty along International Drive, which is one of the main thoroughfares for the convention center district and a link to prime Orlando destinations such as Walt Disney World Resort and SeaWorld Orlando.
Click on the map to enlarge.
The convention center district map, above, will be a valuable guide. Jana Brown adds that GCSAA has hired eight "human arrows" who will be in bright yellow shirts and stationed at shuttle bus drops. "We want to make sure everyone finds their way as easily and as quickly as possible," she says.
Opportunity calls
All told, GIS will occupy more than 600,000 square feet, counting the trade show floor, classrooms for education, the main stage, etc. But the focus will clearly be on the new space in the new building.
"It (North/South Concourse) actually is a better building because of the limited number of entrances to the trade show floor. There are two," says Melissa Householder, GCSAA trade show specialist. "The other building had at least 10. Now, we can control things more easily to create a better experience for the attendees. Overall, we think it will be easier for people to navigate the trade show floor."
GCSAA anticipates more than 500 exhibitors. Matt Brown says the trade show floor will resemble a square more than a rectangle, which he considers advantageous for show goers. "This building provided us with advantages we haven't seen because of the layout," he says. "The trade show floor is not as wide as in the past, but it is deeper. It provides us with more linear, grid-like aisles and will provide a better experience for attendees and exhibitors. There will be fewer steps to take to find the attractions, and we think we'll see more traffic past all booths."
Editor's note: View the trade show floor plan and exhibitors list for the 2020 Golf Industry Show.
From his vantage point, R&R Products vice president and chief financial officer Brian Larson likes what he sees — at least on paper — with regard to how the trade show will be configured. "It looks like (exhibitors) will have more exposure. It (the trade show floor) seems a little more compact, and not a quarter mile to the other end. I think it's good for a show to change up the layout," says Larson, who recalls his first GIS in 1976, when he was 6 years old and tasked with handing out company brochures.
You'll find ample dining and entertainment options not far from the Orange County Convention Center, including SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, Pointe Orlando and ICON Park.
The trade show floor will be hopping with traffic, and besides checking out goodies at booths, another point of interest will be a drone area. "It's something members have asked for. We've had it in the past, but never had it on this scale before," Matt Brown says.
There will also be more room for Inside the Shop, which will allow for more hands-on learning. And yes, those darling dogs will return in the Flyaway Geese area. In essence, it will be all GIS, all the time. "In the past, other (non-GIS) things were taking place in the building. In this setting, we'll be the only show in town," Matt Brown says.
The experience of a new layout in a new building will also serve as a dress rehearsal for upcoming shows. In 2021, GIS will return to Las Vegas for the first time since 2012. Here's why Orlando is good preparation: A new addition to the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall, is under construction. That means GIS will be held in an unfamiliar spot, and it will be one of the first shows to use the space. The $980 million expansion is slated to be ready for its first event — the CES consumer technology show — in January 2021. GIS is scheduled Jan. 30-Feb. 4 of that year.
And in 2024, GIS will return to Phoenix for the first time since 1987, so this year's and next year's efforts should prove to be instrumental in the Valley of the Sun. For the time being, though, the Sunshine State is in focus.
"We're going to see some things (in Orlando) we've never seen before because we have a bigger space. This helps us prepare for next year, because we'll have to get creative there (Las Vegas) too," Jana Brown says. "It gives us a chance to try some new things in places that, in a way, are kind of new."
Orlando, meanwhile, is happy to welcome some old friends.
"As a destination with a long-standing connection to the golf industry, we are excited to host the Golf Industry Show and its approximately 14,000 attendees," says George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. "It's been three years since the last show, and attendees may feel like they have traveled to a new city, as Orlando continues to up the ante with new options year after year. In addition to being the home of more than 150 golf courses, attendees will discover exciting theme park expansions, new attractions, a thriving culinary scene, and a variety of new retail, dining and entertainment complexes, many within walking distance of the Orange County Convention Center."
Howard Richman is GCM's associate editor.
You may also like: Best of both worlds: Education on the GIS trade show floor
Vote for GCM's New Product of the Year
Reducing soil salinity caused by high-salinity irrigation
What the Tech? Golf course pin placement
Four days in Orlando at the 2020 Golf Industry Show
Verdure: The way-back article for 2020
GCSAA announces winners of 2019 Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards
Improving soil, establishing turfgrass with biosolids fertilizers
Ready, willing and able: Inclusiveness in golf course maintenance
Kyle Barton wins Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award
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The network's description: "MICHAEL SCOFIELD (Wentworth Miller, "The Human Stain") is a desperate man in a desperate situation. His brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (Dominic Purcell, "John Doe," "Blade: Trinity"), is on death row and scheduled to die in a few months for a murder Michael is convinced Lincoln did not commit. With no other options and time winding down, Michael holds up a bank to get himself incarcerated alongside his brother in Fox River State Penitentiary. Once he's inside, we learn that Michael � a structural engineer with the blueprints for the prison � has hatched an elaborate plan to break Lincoln out and prove his innocence. Senior correctional officer BELLICK (Wade Williams, "Collateral") offers some prison wisdom as Michael arrives. Then, with the help of his cellmate, SUCRE (Amaury Nolasco, "Mr. 3000"), Michael begins to align himself with a disparate group of prisoners, including former mob boss JOHN ABRUZZI (Peter Stormare, "Fargo," "Minority Report") and CHARLES WESTMORELAND (Muse Watson, "I Know What You Did Last Summer"), a man some believe to be the infamous skyjacker D.B. Cooper. On the outside Michael has only one ally, his defense attorney and longtime friend, VERONICA DONOVAN (Robin Tunney, "The Craft," "End of Days") � who is Lincoln's former girlfriend. Meanwhile, Lincoln's 15-year-old son, LJ (Marshall Allman), is now adrift without his Uncle Michael's positive influence. Rounding out the cast are Sarah Wayne Callies ("The Celestine Prophesy") as prison doctor SARA TANCREDI, whom Michael ends up visiting more often than he should, and Stacy Keach ("Titus," "Mike Hammer") as the powerful WARDEN POPE, who forges a close, almost father-son relationship with the new convict. This intriguing new series promises to reveal additional pieces of the puzzle each week as Michael carries out his daring plan to mastermind the ultimate PRISON BREAK � and solve the far-reaching national-scale conspiracy that landed him there in the first place."
What did they leave out: It's probably the smartest, most intricately plotted pilot I've seen in quite some time.
The plot in a nutshell: Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) has a plan. It all begins with getting himself arrested after holding up a bank in downtown Chicago (and it's shot there - woohoo!). At his trial, the previously arrest-free Michael turns down a plea bargain - much to the surprise of his lawyer Veronica Donovan (Robin Tunney) - asking only that his sentence be served at the Fox River State Penitentiary. There, more seeds to his plan are sowed: he cozies up to the prison's doctor (Sarah Wayne Callies) by faking diabetes, offers his services to an imprisoned mob boss (Peter Stormare), makes friends with his new cellmate (Amaury Nolasco), tries to make inroads with an old con (Muse Watson), purposely torpedoes making nice with the warden (Stacy Keach) and (in one of the pilot's cooler sequences) tests the infrastructure of the prison with various pieces of origami. His plan - break his death row inmate brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) out. It seems that Burrows was convicted of killing the Vice President's brother and the clock is ticking towards him getting the needle. But Lincoln insists he's innocent, despite nearly everyone - including his ex (Jessalyn Gilsig), his son (Marshall Allman) and a pair curiously overzealous Secret Service agents - writing him off. Michael however does believe and all the seeds he just planted are about to begin bearing fruit.
What works: "Prison Break" is one of those shows that works better the less you know about it. Half the fun is following all the twists and turns of the plot, the avenues of which lead to a great reveal at the very end. It's just one of those rare shows that just pops from the very minute it starts and continues to percolate until the very last frame. That aspect is perfectly embodied by Wentworth Miller's icy coolness as he remains three steps ahead of any potential stumbling blocks, blocks which as you'll see are quickly starting to pile up. In some ways, "Prison Break" feels exactly what the similarly time-constrained "24" should be - a fun ride but very aware of its plan to carry out the season with a few surprises tossed in for good measure. If you're a fan of "24" or just plot-driven dramatic narratives in general you simply have to check out this show.
What doesn't: Not surprisingly the show wavers when it steers clear of the central drama. Scenes in which we track Lincoln's troubled son as he begins to follow in his hoodlum footsteps or Veronica's home life as she plans her wedding (despite also being Lincoln's ex) definitely slow down the pacing. They're completely forgivable however as long as the main narrative remains as interesting and compelling as it is in the pilot.
The challenges ahead: I'm not going to question the show's longevity (Michael only has three months to do what the title indicates) as the pilot is good enough to make me blindly follow it wherever the producers go (in prison or out of it). Nevertheless are viewers willing to embrace such a narrowly plotted show? On a network that's notorious for its lack of long-term commitments? We'll find out later this month on FOX.


Feston snc has been playing a prominent role on the national and foreign market for over thirty-five years, as manufacturer of cold formed small metal parts. The company can claim a wide range of customers in the field of metal items.
Feston has a dynamic, young corporate identity which allows constant improvement of the items, thus establishing mutual trust with its clients. These items have always been chosen on the basis of their quality and prices. Feston snc has always been keen on meeting the customers' requirements, producing both series and out-of-standard items.
Feston products are made through cold-forming machines working on one/two/four matrices and a new generation of constantly updated rolling machines.


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Group on Earth Observation (GEO) • Co-Chair
Mr. Mmboneni Muofhe is the Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Technology Innovation at the Department of Science and Technology in South Africa. He was previously DDG for International Cooperation and Resources and has held several positions at the Department, including being Chief Director: International Resources, Director: Strategic Partnerships and Director: Global Projects. During this period, he oversaw South Africa's growing participation in EU Research Funding programmes, led the mobilization of Official Development Assistance funds to support South Africa science system and the Department's partnership with Multinational Companies.
With the establishment of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in 2005, Mr Muofhe became the South African GEO Co-Chair representative and participated in and Co-Chaired a number of GEO committees. At the same time, drawing from GEO experience, Mr Muofhe was part of the team that developed the South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS). In 2007, Mr Muofhe led the organizing and hosting of the GEO Ministerial Summit in Cape Town, South Africa which culminated in the adoption of the Cape Town Declaration. In 2017, Mr Muofhe became the South African GEO Principal and GEO Co-Chair.
South Africa was nominated as Lead GEO Co-Chair for 2019. Assuming this role, Mr Muofhe will chair all Executive Committee meetings and oversee annual delivery on priorities. Under his guidance, in 2019 the GEO community will prioritise engagement with the Global South in building a results-orientated Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), supporting global policy priorities through Earth observations and strengthening the sustainability of the GEO enterprise.
Mr Muofhe's earlier working and post-graduate years were mainly in agricultural biotechnology. He was a UNESCO Biotechnology Fellow at the Agricultural Research Council in 1997 before joining the Foundation for Research Development (now National Research Foundation) as Coordinator and then Manager for Technology and Human Resource for Industry Programme (THRIP).
Mr Muofhe's current responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of South Africa's Space Science and Technology Strategy, Bioeconomy Strategy, Energy Research and Technology Strategy, Innovation Priorities Instruments (including new Research Areas) and oversight of the IP act.
The Global Conference on Space for Emerging Countries 2019
Participation:
Wednesday 24 April: SESSION 2: FINANCIAL MODELS AND RESOURCING


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World - US;The Bush Administration's Most Despicable Act
Joe Klein
"This is not the America I know," President George W. Bush said after the first, horrifying pictures of U.S. troops torturing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq surfaced in April 2004. The President was not telling the truth. "This" was the America he had authorized on Feb. 7, 2002, when he signed a memorandum stating that the Third Geneva Convention — the one regarding the treatment of enemy prisoners taken in wartime — did not apply to members of al-Qaeda or the Taliban. That signature led directly to the abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay. It was his single most callous and despicable act. It stands at the heart of the national embarrassment that was his presidency.
The details of the torture that Bush authorized have been dribbling out over the years in books like Jane Mayer's excellent The Dark Side. But the most definitive official account was released by the Senate Armed Services Committee just before Christmas. Much of the committee's report remains secret, but a 19-page executive summary was published, and it is infuriating. The story begins with an obscure military training program called Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE), in which various forms of torture are simulated to prepare U.S. special-ops personnel for the sorts of treatment they might receive if they're taken prisoner. Incredibly, the Bush Administration decided to have SERE trainers instruct its interrogation teams on how to torture prisoners. (Read "Shell-Shocked at Abu Ghraib?")
It should be noted that there was, and is, no evidence that these techniques actually work. Experienced military and FBI interrogators believe that torture leads, more often than not, to fabricated confessions. Patient, persistent questioning using subtle psychological carrots and sticks is the surest way to get actionable information. But prisoners held by the U.S. were tortured — first at Guantánamo Bay and later in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Armed Services Committee report details the techniques used on one prisoner: "Military working dogs had been used against [Mohammed al-] Khatani. He had also been deprived of adequate sleep for weeks on end, stripped naked, subjected to loud music, and made to wear a leash and perform dog tricks."
Since we live in an advanced Western civilization, there needs to be legal justification when we torture people, and the Bush Administration proudly produced it. Memos authorizing the use of "enhanced" techniques were written in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Council. Vice President Dick Cheney and his nefarious aide, David Addington, had a hand in the process. The memos were approved by Bush's legal counsel, Alberto Gonzales. A memo listing specific interrogation techniques that could be used to torture prisoners like Mohammed al-Khatani was passed to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He signed it on Dec. 2, 2002, although he seemed a bit disappointed by the lack of rigor when it came to stress positions: "I stand for 8-10 hours a day," he noted. "Why is standing limited to four hours?"
It would be interesting, just for the fun and justice of it, to subject Rumsfeld to four hours in a stress position — standing stock still with his arms extended, naked, in a cold room after maybe two hours' sleep. But that's not going to happen. Indeed, it seems probable that nothing much is going to happen to the Bush Administration officials who perpetrated what many legal scholars consider to be war crimes. "I would say that there's some theoretical exposure here" to a war-crimes indictment in U.S. federal court, says Gene Fidell, who teaches military justice at Yale Law School. "But I don't think there's much public appetite for that sort of action." There is, I'm told, absolutely no interest on the part of the incoming Obama Administration to pursue indictments against its predecessors. "We're focused on the future," said one of the President-elect's legal advisers. Fidell and others say it is possible, though highly unlikely, that Bush et al. could be arrested overseas — one imagines the Vice President pinched midstream on a fly-fishing trip to Norway — just as Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean dictator, was indicted in Spain and arrested in London for his crimes.
If Barack Obama really wanted to be cagey, he could pardon Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld for the possible commission of war crimes. Then they'd have to live with official acknowledgment of their ignominy in perpetuity. More likely, Obama will simply make sure — through his excellent team of legal appointees — that no such behavior happens again. Still, there should be some official acknowledgment by the U.S. government that the Bush Administration's policies were reprehensible, and quite possibly illegal, and that the U.S. is no longer in the torture business. If Obama doesn't want to make that statement, perhaps we could do it in the form of a Bush Memorial in Washington: a statue of the hooded Abu Ghraib prisoner in cruciform stress position — the real Bush legacy.
Posted by SZri at 9:17 AM
Remember when you were unpatriotic if you didn't support this war? Didn't you care about the victims of 9/11? That's how it all got started. It just snowballed from there. Vietnam started with an air strip so we didn't have to keep all our planes on ships. It makes you wonder how the next one is going to start. Of course the way Israel is acting and the way we are supporting them the next one is likely to be nuclear.


The Violin Shop: The Ahn Trio. Beauty & Talent.
In 2008, the Ahn Trio released their latest album, "Lullaby for my Favorite Insomniac." It is a modern classical take on songs that, well, are lullabies for twenty-first century insomniacs. Creating this album, the sisters commissioned work from composers such as Kenji Bunch, Michael Nyman, Roberto Carnevale, and Ronn Yedidia. The Ahn Trio also used transposed works from Rodgers and Hart, Astor Piazzolla, David Bowie and Pat Metheny. There are also guest singers performing, and four bonus tracks of remixed songs with DJs such as Tao of Sound, DJ Spooky, Superdrive, and Ra. D.
Angella is the violinist in the trio. She was born in 1972 and also is the youngest of the group. Angella is a good friend and collaborator with violinist/composer Mark O'Connor. Mark runs the Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp in the summers. Angella also teaches violin and viola at Montana State University.
Lucia Ahn in the pianist and the twin sister of Maria, born in 1970. When she was in kindergarten, she spotted a piano and begged her mom for lessons. A year after receiving her wish, her sisters were inspired to start their own instrument. She prefers playing on a Hamburg Steinway piano.
Maria Ahn is the cellist. She is Lucia's twin, born in 1970. She enjoys finding new artists in airports (by buying CDs). She said she never dreamed of being in a "sister trio." But through her success, I bet she is grateful for the way things ended up.
Angella Lucia and Maria not only sound beautiful, but look beautiful. They have posed for magazines Vogue, and GQ, they have been photographed by Arthur Elgort, Ellen von Unwerth, and Walter Chin. They have also posed for GAP, Anne Klein, and Body Shop. In 2003, all three were chosen to be in People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
I find their take on music impressive as well as inspiring. The Ahn Trio has found a way to bring classical music to a different level. Their philosophy is that musical genres don't need to remain separated, but can collaborate together to activate new emotions in the soul. They have proved themselves as gifted musicians, recreating classical pieces and also twisting in modern and contemporary music of many genres. It gives classical pieces a new display that expresses deep emotions and connects audiences of all different kinds to appreciate the beauty of music.


Filmmaker Mudassar Aziz just wrapped the second schedule of "Happy Bhag Jayegi Returns" starring Sonakshi Sinha, Diana Penty, Jassi Gill, Jimmy Shergill and Ali Fazal in pivotal roles.
The first part starred Diana Penty in the lead role alongside Abhay Deol, Jimmy Sheirgill, and Ali Fazal among others.
But with the sequel, Abhay Deol has been replaced with Punjabi sensation Jassi Gill and Sonakshi Sinha is also roped for the ensemble. Buzz is the film will be shot in China; in the first installment, the story was based in Pakistan.
Diana Penty is also busy with her first project with John Abraham, titled Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran, the film is directed by Abhishek Sharma and produced by Zee Studio, JA Entertainment, and KriArj Entertainment and written by Saiwyn Quadras, Sanyuktha Chawla Sheikh, and Abhishek Sharma.


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text:
Q*bert é um jogo de arcade desenvolvido e publicado pela Gottlieb em 1982. É um jogo de ação em 2D com elementos de quebra-cabeça, que usa gráficos "isométricos" que criam um efeito pseudo-3D e serve como o precursor dos jogos em plataforma isométricos. O objetivo do jogo é mudar a cor de cada bloco da pirâmide fazendo o personagem da tela pular desde o topo desviando dos inimigos e obstáculos. O jogador usa o joystick para controlar o personagem.

O jogo foi concebido por Warren Davis e Jeff Lee. Jeff desenhou o personagem título e o conceito original, enquanto foi desenvolvido e finalizado por Warren. Originalmente foram escolhidos três nomes para o jogo durante seu desenvolvimento, foram eles Cubes, Snots And Boogers e @!#?@!.

O personagem teve seu próprio desenho animado nos anos 80, como um dos segmentos do programa Saturday Supercade. Além disso fez participações especiais nos filmes Detona Ralph de 2012 e Pixels de 2015. Atualmente a franquia pertence a Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Jogos eletrônicos de 1982
Jogos para arcade
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Jogos para iOS
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Jogos para celular
Jogos para MSX
Jogos para Nintendo Entertainment System
Jogos eletrônicos de plataforma
Jogos para PlayStation
Jogos para PlayStation 3

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
using Aspose.Imaging;
using Aspose.Imaging.Examples.CSharp;
using Aspose.Imaging.FileFormats.Jpeg;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace CSharp.ModifyingAndConvertingImages.JPEG
{
    class JpegSavedQualityEstimation
    {
        public static void Run()
        {
            //ExStart:AddThumbnailToEXIFSegment
            // The path to the documents directory.
            string dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_JPEG();
            Console.WriteLine("Running example JpegSavedQualityEstimation");
            using (JpegImage image = (JpegImage)Image.Load(dataDir + "test.jpg"))
            {
                bool isNotDefaultQuality = image.JpegOptions.Quality != 75;
            }

            Console.WriteLine("Finished example JpegSavedQualityEstimation");
            //ExEnd:AddThumbnailToEXIFSegmentk
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Motorola has a brand new, all-screen Android 10 phone that's shockingly affordable
Chris Smith @chris_writes
If you've been looking to purchase an affordable Android handset but somehow missed your window during the busy Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping extravaganzas, now's your chance to act. Motorola just launched a brand new, affordable phone that ships with Android 10 and fast-charging battery technology under the hood. The Motorola One Hyper also looks much better than the Pixel 4 when it comes to all-screen designs, and it features a dual camera on the back. But none of those impressive details cover the most surprising thing about this new Moto phone.
Top Cyber Week Deals: Today's best deals: Super Bowl TV sale, $25 Fire TV Stick 4K, $129 AirPods, $160 Nest thermostat, $35 earphones, more
Available online for $399.99 unlocked, the Motorola One Hyper packs some very good specs for a mid-range handset with a stunning design. We're looking at a 6.5-inch Total Vision Full HD LCD display with 19:9 aspect ratio, Snapdragon 675 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, microSD support, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC, dual-SIM support, and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.
The phone also features a 4,000 mAh battery that supports 45W Hyper charging, which is excellent news for anyone looking to purchase fast-charging phones these days. However, the phone ships with a 15W TurboPower charger, so you'll need to upgrade to a faster charger if you want to take full advantage.
Image Source: Motorola
When it comes to cameras, the One Hyper features two lenses on the back, including a 64-megapixel (f/1.9) primary camera, which transforms into a 16-megapixel Quad Pixel cam and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. On the front, the slide-up selfie cam packs a 32-megapixel sensor (or 8-megapixel Quad Pixel, to be technically accurate). Those Quad Pixels are the result of combining four pixels into one to improve low-light photography — the following clip quickly highlights the camera abilities of the new Motorola One Hyper:
In addition to the USB-C port, the phone also features a regular 3.5mm headphone jack as well as Dolby Audio support. For $399.99, you also get a free protective case and screen protector in the box, in addition to the headset and a USB-C charger.
Tags: lenovo, Motorola, One Hyper
Plex just launched free movie and TV streaming service that's actually pretty great
Marvel's new superhero team that will replace the Avengers might've just leaked
By Chris Smith 2 days ago
Apple's first new iPhone of 2020 is set for release within two months
By Yoni Heisler 21 hours ago


text:
ESR scientists showcase benefits of collaboration for rapid-DNA sequencing
A group of ESR scientists want communities to collaborate on the application of real-time, cost-effective DNA analysis outside of the laboratory.
ESR senior Scientist Miles Benton's first child was born prematurely and required a lumbar puncture for suspected viral meningitis, leaving he and his wife to sit in the hospital waiting for blood test results. Dr Benton said to himself, "Is there a faster way to get these urgent results? If there is, why isn't it accessible to the hospital? And if there isn't, what can I do about it?"
With the help of the international community and a small but powerful single board computer, Dr Benton made a breakthrough a few weeks ago.
Dr Benton first began working in earnest on solutions to his initial question by looking at UK-based technology company Oxford Nanopore Technologies. What caught Dr Benton's eye was the MinION, a small mars bar-sized device used to complete real-time analysis of long DNA or RNA fragments. As it turned out, there were others, just like him, working on these issues and more.
"This tech enables people to get results and act faster than ever before to protect health and communities, something that falls right into our wheelhouse at ESR," Dr Benton says. "I began working on an issue some months ago that has been slowing down efforts for true portability. The challenge was pairing the MinION with fast enough compute and small enough to be powered off batteries." he says. "Currently, the MinIONs do not have built-in GPUs, preventing them from completing what is known as live-base calling. In other words, you still need to plug them into a computer in order to get your results – but traditional computers with GPUs are relatively expensive, less portable and need regular recharging.
A lot of back and forth on solutions finally led to a breakthrough. "We were able to get live base-calling going on the device," says Dr Benton. "I publish my work online through a blog so anyone who is interested can see and contribute. I had no idea anyone was even following what I was doing until I started to make some progress. People then started talking and had ways to solve issues based on their experiences, that's true science in action - the sharing of information to solve collective issues. There is nothing like the excitement of troubleshooting an issue at 3AM NZDT with someone in Switzerland and another person in Italy, and then getting it working and seeing real results almost instantaneously. It's incredibly powerful and humbling."
"Building upon this work, we have been able to assemble a NZD$1200 portable kit, weighing less than two kilograms. The beauty of it is that we have strung some technologies and off-the-shelf products together, including a solar panel and an external battery, to mean that a person could conceivably do this without access to mains power. The applications for this kind of portable, real-time technology are immense.
Dr Benton says that ESR is actively looking for projects where this kind of technology can be explored, both with community and other scientists.
"I am far from the only one using these devices," Dr Benton says. "Currently the MinION has been used in Africa in mobile vans to track viruses such as Ebola and Zika. It has also been taken into the rain forest and people have made makeshift labs set up to sequence and discover new species. It has even been used to sequence DNA in the International Space Station. What we have achieved here is making it more portable, affordable and accessible. This tool is only limited by the imagination of those who use it – it falls upon us to find new ways of using it in different contexts."
News item information
Ryan Willoughby


Horrorbuzz.com returns with a Re-Animator double feature! Director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna's joint debut feature—a gloriously gory, tongue-in-bloody-cheek 1985 adaptation of works by H.P. Lovecraft—is a visionary, awe-inspiring amalgam of the gory films of Lucio Fulci, William Castle, and Frankenstein, where science meets chaos to produce an hyperactive overdose of gruesome insanity.
Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) is an awkward but determined university student who also moonlights as a mad scientist, intent on perfecting a neon green serum that "re-animates" corpses with the help of his roommate Dan (Bruce Abbot). When his experiments start to strike gold, his achievements capture the attention of ruthlessly ambitious Dr. Carl Hill (David Gale, oozing scene-stealing slime), who sets out to steal West's research, setting in motion a series of increasingly disastrous events.
With berserker theatrics, career-defining roles from horror icons Combs, Gale, and Barbara Crampton—and more than a few scenes and visuals that are too deliciously macabre to spoil here—Re-Animator isn't just a masterpiece of the horror genre…it's one of the truly defining genre films of the 1980s!
And then, our favorite mad scientist, Herbert West returns in Bride of Re-Animator. Brian Yunza takes over directing duties in this sequel that builds upon the mythology, gore, and humor of the first film. After spending time in Peru as medical volunteers, where they used wounded soldiers to discover secrets to re-animating dead tissue, Dan and Herbert return to Miskatonic Hospital in hopes of bringing Dan's girlfriend back to life. But things go from bad to worse in this Bride-of-Frankenstein homage when a lieutenant investigating the hospital massacre is murdered and re-animated, along with Dr. Hill's head! Will they succeed in creating the perfect woman?
Brought to you by your one-stop spot for all horror news on Scary Movies, Haunts, Halloween, Mazes, Games, VR, Books and Family Friendly horror entertainment – HorrorBuzz.com! The HorrorBuzz.com team will be on hand to hook lucky audience members up with giveaways trivia factoids about the film!


NOW THEREFORE, by unanimous motion of the members present RESOLVED, as hereby it is RESOLVED, to indorse and recommend for approval and implementation in Palawan immediately by the NPC, of the Palawan Backbone Transmission Line Project, including the condition imposed for the incremental power rate increase as a result of the project.
RESOLVED, further, to further copies to the NPC, the NEDA the Office of the President, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Palawan.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of July 1993 in Quezon City, Philippines.


Sometimes we think it's the strength of our faith that gets things from God. This just isn't the case.
Jesus said we only need faith the size of a mustard seed. Remember the story about the man who's son was afflicted by a demon? He said "I believe; help my unbelief." Jesus didn't say, "Is that the best you got?? Do you think I'm going to heal your son when you have such flimsy faith?? Come back when you really believe."? No, Jesus said, "I can work with that!"? Jesus responded to his weak faith and healed his son.
Faith is like a power cord that plugs into a wall socket. The cord itself has no power. The cord is thin and flimsy and weak. But when we plug it in it taps into the vast resources of the electric company, which has more than enough power, vast power, far more than we need to run our vacuum sweeper or circular saw.
Our flimsy weak faith connects us to the ultimate power source, Jesus Christ.
It's not the strength of our faith that matters, but the strength of the One our faith connects to.? Next time you pray for something and you feel weak in faith, keep your eyes on Jesus, not your faith.? Keep your eyes on the One who spoke and it came to be, who sustains the universe by the word of his power.? Keep your eyes on the One who told the wind and the waves to be still and they obeyed.? Remember his vast power and infinite love for you.
He can work with our flimsy faith.