text:
Nice Price Or No Dice
For $3,250, Be A Fox - Even If You're A Dude
Rob Emslie
Nice Price Or No DiceIs this used car a good deal? You decide!
When it comes to news outlets you don't get much more conservative than FOX. In a similar vein, today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Audi Fox is a pretty traditional take on the family sedan, but will you find its price to be fair and balanced?
You know, I think that the builder of yesterday's super clean Buick-powered 1983 Olds Cutlass Cruiser's only mistake was not backing up the turbo motor with a stickity shifter. Had that been the case that car would have made all your heads explode like that guy in Scanners. As it was, 57% of you found it too expensive, somewhat automatically.
For $15,000, This Is NOT A Gutless Cutlass
Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Olds is named for a small sword that was once considered to be the
A couple of weeks back we had a super rare VW K70 on the docket. That was Volkswagen's first-ever front-wheel drive car, and its layout - inline engine overhanging ahead of a longitudinal transaxle - was one that was also employed by the K70's successor, the Passat.
Of course back in the '70s the Germans rightfully knew that Americans were too juvenile to accept the Passat name, likely equating it to a fart sound, so when they introduced the car here it was called the Dasher. Audi's edition of the platform, numerically anointed the 80 in Das Vaterland, also received a transatlantic name change, going by Fox over here. That might seem crazy like a fox, but the car was still good enough to win the 1973 European Car of the Year award.
This Houston-offered 1979 Fox sedan is thusly badged and represents the last model year that you actually could get foxy in an Audi. While the Passat/Dasher was sold in fastback body styles, the Audi arrived in the more traditional, and timelessly styled, three-box form. These cars are remarkable for there space efficiency, possessing lots of interior space afforded partially by frighteningly thin doors, and an extreme verticality in most all dimensions The cars also have cavernous trunks.
In fact these cars were so skinny and ephemeral that there wasn't much room for rustproofing and hence many if not most of these early Audis have turned from German cars into Swiss cheese and then to indeterminate piles of iron oxide bookended by massive and seemingly incorruptible aluminum bumpers.
Yeah, that's one of the downsides of these early cars, that being that they weren't originally designed with the U.S.A.'s 5-mph bumper standards in mind, and hence the battering rams stand away from the body like junior high kids at their first dance. This one's a '79 and hence it has the four-lamp nose that was introduced in '76 in an attempt to bring the styling in line with the then new 100. In Europe that included the turn signals in the grille corners, but as the American cars had theirs in the bumper, they received a full-width and wrap-around horizontal bar affair.
The ad for this 125,000 miler says that the present owner has fitted H4s for the lowbeams, which according to him vastly improved night lighting. Aside from that, and a set of later 4000 wheels and aftermarket shocks, there doesn't seem to be much out of the ordinary or out of the original on this 4-door Fox.
The drivetrain is a 1.6 litre four that originally pumped out something in the neighborhood of 83 horses in its U.S. form. Here that's backed by a 4-speed stick. I'm not sure if it represents some specific trim level, but it does rock the cool three-spoke steering wheel and three-gauge console that were features of the two-door only GT.
Everything on the inside looks reasonably untested by time, although the sun visors are wrinkly enough to be Spongebob characters. There's also some fading on the carpet, a small tear in the driver's seat, and I'll bet that lifting up the carpeted dash cap will reveal more cracks than a plumber's convention.
There are two other issues to take into consideration, and they are both interrelated. The windscreen is significantly cracked, and is one of those issues. The other is that, while the seller says he has a replacement, he won't be able to get to having it installed until after Christmas. You might also note that all the pics in his ad are from December as well.
That all means the car's been on the market now for 3 months or so, and that typically indicates there's something amiss - rotten in Denmark as they say. Perhaps it's the price. The seller is asking $3,250 for this Fox and you now need to say whether that's the likely reason he's not having any luck in moving this metal. What do you think, is that fair deal for a rare Fox? Or, is this an Audi that you would bid adieu?
Houston Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to muthalovin for the hookup!
Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your Kinja handle.
Ted Danson's Perfect Hair
Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you there. Not every car needs a manual and I can't think of how the driving experience of anything Buick Grand National based is going to be better with a clutch pedal.


Since it's practically taking a shoe-horn to get me into my jeans these days, I figured it was time to go on a diet. Not a "let's lose 5 pounds" diet, but a real attitude-changing lifestyle shift. It's going to be tough because I love my bread and sweets and pasta. I'm a carbs girl all the way and in order to get where I want to be, the carbohydrates will have to take a back seat.
To give myself a kick-start on the weight loss, for the first seven days I'm doing the Cabbage Soup Diet. You know the one...it's been called a lot of names (the Sacred Heart diet, the General Motors diet, the Russian peasant diet) and no one really knows where it comes from but it's been around since the 1980s when everyone was sneaking around and faxing it to their friends from work.
But I've done the diet before and even though the ten pounds or so you can lose in a week are probably only water loss, seeing the bathroom scale popping up numbers you haven't seen in a while is a mighty good incentive to keep going.
This is my Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale.
It is an evil machine.
After the first week, my plan is to segue into the Paleo diet. Haven't heard of it? Basically, you eat like a cave man; pretty much only meat, vegetables, and some fruit. No grains, dairy, nuts, processed foods...or anything else that a cave man wouldn't have found.
Hubby is a meat and salad kind of guy, and he loves cabbage soup, so neither of these diets will be a hardship on him. He'll just supplement with desserts so that he won't lose too much weight and we should be fine.
If you'd like to try the Cabbage Soup diet, I've listed the concepts below. The soup recipe differs from source to source, but the main ingredients are onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, onion soup mix, and water. If you hate cabbage (like I do), it's no problem. You can substitute other vegetables like zucchini for the cabbage, and even add vegetables that you really like to the recipe. Just avoid adding potatoes, corn, or beans.
To make it easy, I simply mix all of the ingredients together in stock pot and simmer for a couple of hours. After cooling, I like to transfer to canning jars and store in the refrigerator. That way I can warm up one jar at a time when it's meal time.
Every day you'll eat as much of the soup as you want. You'll also need to drink several glasses of water a day to flush out your system...make an effort to drink at least four glasses of water per day. It's fine to add lemon or lime to the water. Plain unsweetened coffee and tea are fine to drink as well. No sodas (not even diet!) or alcohol are allowed.
Day 1 - Soup, plus all the fruit you want except bananas. Melons are great!
Day 2 - Soup, a baked potato with one pat of butter, and all the vegetables you want.
Day 3 - Soup, plus all the fruit (except bananas) you want, and all the vegetables you want.
Day 4 - Soup, plus up to six bananas, all the skim milk you want.
Day 5 - Soup, plus 10 to 20 ounces of lean beef, several tomatoes, extra four glasses of water.
Day 6 - Soup, plus all the beef and vegetables you want.
Day 7 - Soup, plus brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices, and vegetables.
Be smart with your fruit and veggies. Stick to fruits that aren't sugar-laden like strawberries and are more water-filled (like melons), and avoid bananas until you're told to eat them. Eat vegetables that are low in carbohydrates, which means avoiding potatoes (until you're told to eat them), beans, and corn. It's okay to eat your vegetables in a salad, but limit your salad dressing to a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of olive oil. Don't go dumping on a half cup of Thousand Island dressing and thinking that you're doing good!
Hubby and I went grocery shopping yesterday and picked up all the extra produce that I'll be eating. I'll also be taking a multivitamin every day to be sure that I get the vitamins and minerals that I might be missing for the week.
I remember this diet! Love the soup! I have no problem eating this all day, every day! I might try this. I can't believe all the weight that I have gained since breaking my cast.


Most businesses from time to time have to look at resolving disputes between their customers. Our commercial department can assist in relation to such disputes.
Cashflow can seriously affect a business, if you have outstanding debts owed to you, we can assist you in bringing such actions for recovery of those debts.If you are starting up a new business, we can assist you from obtaining your premises to drafting contracts with your suppliers and customers.
Contact us today before you enter into any commercial contract.
If you have had and accident which was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Our dedicated Personal Injury department can assist you in these matters and we can even offer you this on a "No win no fee" basis. This means you can receive 100% of your compensation if you are successful, and our costs can be recovered from your opponent .
There are strict time limits within which you may be entitled to claim so ring us today to see if you are entitled.


You are visiting the placeholder page for Louise Armstrong. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Louise Armstrong. We created this page automatically in hopes Louise Armstrong would find it. If you are not Louise Armstrong, but are an alumni of Covington High School Covington, LA, register on this site for free now.


text:
Q: Android app is closing on press of back button I have a menu and when clicked on a menu, it goes inside another menu.
for example, mainmenu-->click on airport guide --> menu2
 but when i am in menu2 and  press on the back button, the app is closing instead of going back to mainmenu . i am not able to figure out the problem here. i am new to android development
package com.shashank.sharjahinternationalairport;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.ImageButton;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {
ImageButton flightInfoButton;
ImageButton airportGuideButton;
ImageButton visitorInfoButton;
ImageButton saaDcaButton;
ImageButton cargoButton;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

flightInfoButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.flightInfo);
airportGuideButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.airportGuide);
visitorInfoButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.visitorInfo);
saaDcaButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.saaDca);
cargoButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.cargo);

airportGuideButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener(){
@Override
public void onClick(View V){

    setContentView(R.layout.airport_guide);

  }
 });
  visitorInfoButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener(){
    @Override
    public void onClick(View V){

        setContentView(R.layout.visitor_info);

    }
  });
  saaDcaButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener(){
    @Override
    public void onClick(View V){

        setContentView(R.layout.saa_dca);

     }
     });
   }

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
// Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
return true;
}

A: You are using setContentView, so you are just changing the view layout. When you press the backbutton, the Android calls onBackPressed, which the default implementation is to call finnish() method, that closes the activity.
You can override the onBackPressed method to set the other view.
@Override
public void onBackPressed()
{
     //setContentView the previous view
}

Hope it helps!

A: you can always override the onBackPressed method of Activity, you'll have something like this
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
    ImageButton flightInfoButton;
    ImageButton airportGuideButton;
    ImageButton visitorInfoButton;
    ImageButton saaDcaButton;
    ImageButton cargoButton;

    private enum VIEWS {
        VIEW_1, VIEW_2, VIEW_3
    };

    private VIEWS mSelectedView = VIEWS.VIEW_1;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        flightInfoButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.flightInfo);
        airportGuideButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.airportGuide);
        visitorInfoButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.visitorInfo);
        saaDcaButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.saaDca);
        cargoButton = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.cargo);

        airportGuideButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View V) {
                showView1();
            }
        });
        visitorInfoButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View V) {
                showView2();
            }
        });
        saaDcaButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View V) {
                showView3();
            }
        });
    }

    private void showView1() {
        setContentView(R.layout.airport_guide);
        mSelectedView = VIEWS.VIEW_1;
    }

    private void showView2() {
        setContentView(R.layout.visitor_info);
        mSelectedView = VIEWS.VIEW_2;
    }

    private void showView3() {
        setContentView(R.layout.saa_dca);
        mSelectedView = VIEWS.VIEW_3;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public void onBackPressed() {
        switch (mSelectedView) {
        case VIEW_1:
            super.onBackPressed();
            break;
        case VIEW_2:
            showView1();
            break;
        case VIEW_3:
            showView2();
            break;
        }
    }
}

A: All you is doing that you are changing the Content View of the class MainActivity you  need to create sperate classes for your difreent layouts and you can call it by INTENT

A: This is happennig because you are using only one activity, and on click just changing the content view. Even though this appears like a multi page activity, it is only one screen. Hence onBackPressed() it closes. Yo will have to create different activiies for each of your menu options and start them using Intents on Button Click.
Intent i = new Intent(this, SecondActivity.class);
startActivity(i);

A: You are using only one activity, if it is many activity mean you can track back to previously loaded activity.
else you must needed only one activity mean please store the layouts in some array, then in the onBackPressed() you can it get LIFO manner
  @Override

public void onBackPressed() {

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
NewsWorldAmericas
Aristide accuses US of 'staging coup'
Andrew Buncombe,Andrew Gumbel,Phil Davison
Tuesday 02 March 2004 01:00
Haiti's deposed president Jean-Bertrand Aristide yesterday accused Washington of staging a coup against him and transporting him to the Central African Republic in conditions he likened to being kidnapped and thrown into jail.
In phone calls to African-American activists, Mr Aristide said he had not resigned, as was initially reported, but was hustled out of the country at gunpoint, under military escort. "He asked that I tell the world that it is a coup, that he was abducted by American soldiers and put aboard a plane," said Randall Robinson of the TransAfrica forum. In Port-au-Prince, there were rumours Mr Aristide had been seen in handcuffs at the airport after being arrested by agents of the Drugs Enforcement Administration.
President Bush's spokesman dismissed the allegations. "Conspiracy theories do nothing to help the Haitian people. We took steps to protect Mr Aristide and his family so they would not be harmed as they departed Haiti." Buoyed by the arrival of US Marines and French troops, Haitians returned to the streets yesterday and celebrated the flight of their president, who may seek exile in South Africa.
Marines secured the airport, but had no plans to patrol the city. They are the vanguard of up to 2,000 troops who will serve in an international force of 5,000 authorised by the UN Security Council. Thousands cheered the two rebel leaders of the so-called National Liberation Army, Guy Philippe and Louis Jodel Chamblain.Haiti's interim leader, Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre, has put together a transition team of politicians with a view to forming a government of national unity.
1/0Aristide accuses US of 'staging coup'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Calling all investors & builders, for this rare opportunity where all the hard work has already been done.
Here's your chance to invest in one of the finest locations Keilor East has to offer. This three-bedroom home on a corner allotment (707m2 approx.) with a large master and BIR in all bedrooms, central bathroom and separate WC.
Extras include ducted heating, original hardwood floors, full-size laundry, plus an expansive backyard with bungalow, storage sheds and a double carport.
Plans and permits approved for two designer double storey townhouses. Both townhouses plan for a spacious layout, with 4 bedrooms plus a study, three bathrooms and an additional powder room and a double garage. What's even more unique is that the layout for both townhouses accommodate an ensuite upstairs and downstairs. Will be delighted to share the detailed plans upon request.


Family Day The Journey of the Buddha at the Norton Simon, Saturday, July 21, 1-3 pm. Free with Admission. Ages 4-10 yrs.
Family Amphitheater Performance by Chinese Acrobat Jason Jiang at the Skirball, Saturday, July 21, 12 & 2 pm. Free with admission. All ages.
Free Family Flick My Friend Flicka at the Hammer Museum. Sunday, July 22, 11 am. Free. Recommended for ages 6+ yrs.
Kids Workshop The Problem with Perfection at the Hammer, Sunday, July 22, 12 pm. Free, reservations recommended. Ages 8-13 yrs.
Nite Out Fusion Friday at the Pacific Asia Museum, Friday, July 20, 7:30 p.m. Live music, cash bar, and L.A.'s best food trucks, plus multimedia audio games throughout the galleries. Tickets $15/Free to members.
Last Week for Visions of Empire: The Quest for a Railroad Across America at the Huntington (closes Monday, July 23). With over 200 items on display (photos, documents, letters, maps) there's a lot to see, especially for railroad and train fans. For the young ones, there's a great Education Gallery with interesting hands-on activities from a low-tech real railroad track, to a high-tech virtual telegraph machine.


You Are Here: Home > DIY Forum Home > DIY and Home Improvement Forums > Electrics Forum > Bathroom Fan keeps breaking! Help I'm on my third one!
The first was an Xpel Air 240v fan from screwfix and the second was an icon 240v. They both ran initially perfectly before breaking.


text:
Skip to Main Content | UNM Homepage | Accessibility Statement
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Physics 304: Analytical Mechanics II
Prof. Douglas Fields
Email: fields@unm.edu
Office: PAIS 3220
Description of the class
This class is the second of two undergraduate mechanics classes for physics and engineering majors. In the series, we will cover classical mechanics from basic Newton's Laws to coupled harmonic oscillators.
Monday, Wednsday, Friday 10:00 - 10:50, PAIS 1140.
Textbook for the class
John R. Taylor, Classical Mechanics
Before or after class times, or during problem sessions (see below).
The grader is ??? and can be reached via email at ???@unm.edu
The grading in the course will be based on your performance on four midterm exams (best 3/4 exams) and your homework grade. If you must quarantine, you must arrange to have your exams proctored via zoom.
Homework is due (once per chapter) before class on the day it is due (see below).
Problems class
Listed officially as PHYS 314 001, will take place in PAIS 1140 on Fridays from 1:00 to 1:50am. If there is enough interest, I will offer another section at a time to be determined.
Week/Lec.# Date Before Class Reading Homework (Due before class) Subject
1/1 Wed. 01/18 Sections 8.1 - 8.2
Central Forces, Reduced Mass
1/2 Fri. 01/20 Sections 8.3 - 8.4
Effective Potential
2/3 Mon. 01/23 Sections 8.5 - 8.6
Kepler Orbits
2/4 Wed. 01/25 Sections 8.7 - 8.8 Changes to Orbits
2/5 Fri. 01/27 Chapter 8 Review and work Problems
Set 1: 8.2, 8.4, 8.8, 8.10, 8.12, 8.14, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18, 8.22, 8.24, 8.26, 8.30, 8.34 Accelerating Frames and Tides
3/7 Wed. 02/01 Sections 9.3 - 9.4 Rotating Frames
Newton's 2nd Law in Non-inertial Frames
Coriolis ''Force''
4/10 Wed. 02/08 Sections 9.9 - 9.10
Foucaullt Pendulum
4/11 Fri. 02/10 Chapter 9
Review and work problems
Mon. 02/13 Chapters 8 and 9
Set 2: 9.2, 9.6, 9.9, 9.10, 9.12, 9.14, 9.16, 9.18, 9.19, 9.22, 9.26, 9.28, 9.30, 9.32, 9.34 Exam 1
5/12 Wed. 02/15 Sections 10.1 - 10.2 Rotation of Rigid Bodies
5/13 Fri. 02/17 Sections 10.3 - 10.4
Inertia Tensor
6/14 Mon. 02/20 Sections 10.5 - 10.6
Eigenvalue Equations
6/15 Wed. 02/22 Sections 10.7 - 10.8
Euler's Equations
6/16 Fri. 02/24 Sections 10.9 - 10.10
Motion of a Spinning Top
7/17 Mon. 02/27 Chapter 10
Set 3: 10.2, 10.6, 10.8, 10.12, 10.14, 10.16, 10.18, 10.20, 10.24, 10.30, 10.32, 10.36, 10.40, 10.42, 10.45, 10.48, 10.52, 10.56 Coupled Oscillators
Weak coupling and the Lagrangian approach
8/21 Wed. 03/08 Section 11.7
Normal Coordinates
8/22 Fri. 03/10 Chapter 11
10/23 Mon. 03/20 Chapter 10 and 11
Set 4: 11.2, 11.4, 11.6, 11.9, 11.12, 11.14, 11.16, 11.22, 11.24, 11.25, 11.28, 11.32, 11.34 Review and Work Problems
Wed. 03/22 Chapters 10 and 11 Exam 2
11/17 Mon. 04/5 Sections 13.1 - 13.2
Hamiltonian Formalism
11/18 Wed. 04/7 Sections 13.3 - 13.5
12/19 Mon. 04/12 Sections 13.6 - 13.7
Phase Space
Wed. 04/14 Chapters 11, 13 Set 6: 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.7, 13.8, 13.10, 13.12, 13.17, 13.18, 13.20, 13.23, 13.26, 13.31, 13.32, 13.35
13/20 Mon. 04/19 Chapter 12 Group
Student Presentations
13/21 Wed. 04/21 Chapter 12 Group
15/23 Mon. 05/3 Chapter 15 Group
15/24 Wed. 05/5 Chapter 15 Group
15/24 Mon. 5/10 Chapter 16 Group
15/24 Wed. 5/12 Chapter 16 Group
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Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against any student who is found


Funny thing is, just a few years ago, I did not have any fascination with cars. I didn't even know the make and model of some of the most common cars that ply the streets of Dhaka. I was that ignorant. And then, on a fine day in a deserted Texas road in May 2015, a friend of mine let me drive her 2015 Honda Civic for half an hour. And that changed everything for good.
The 2015 Honda Civic. This is that exact first car that I ever drove.
After coming back to Dhaka, I started the tedious process of getting a driving license. Sadly, I didn't hire a broker to fast-track the process. As a result, I had to wait a total of 9 long months to get my full driving license.
Honda Civic can be had for about $25,000 in the U.S., less if you opt for the base models. In Bangladesh, they sell the Honda Civic Turbo for the equivalent of about $50,000 (U.S. Dollars)!
In the meantime, I purchased a '91 Toyota Sprinter and learned driving on the horrible roads of Eastern Housing in Mirpur 11. Eventually, I got on the main road and started enjoying the driving experience. Of course, it wasn't that enjoyable thanks to the constant stress of driving in Dhaka which only the people who have actually driven in Dhaka can relate to. But the desire to drive cars on a good road was born. And it was there to stay.
Driving in rain is something else!
The main difference that I find between most, if not all, other car lovers and myself is that I'm into driving any car that runs well. Most people who love car seem to obsess with supercars or cars that are super fast, famous, and legendary.
I'm the most relaxed and cool-headed driver that you will ever meet.
I'm not saying that I don't love those cars. I'd love to drive a Nissan GT-R, a Mustang GT, a Lamborghini, Porsche, or a Range Rover. But I'd also love to just drive a well-maintained Honda Civic. I don't mind driving a Toyota Corolla or Allion. I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to drive a Mazda Axela or a Mini Cooper, a VW Golf or a Suzuki Swift. All that is to say that I love cars that run well, and I just want to drive them.
Here's a random photo of a Tesla that I took in Dallas, Texas.
Driving in Bangladesh, coming back to the point I was on previously, is not really an enjoyable experience. Sure, there are some who think the 'thrill' of driving on the highways of Bangladesh is worth it. For me, I'm a relaxed driver. I don't like the stress that you have to go through when overtaking in highways with an oncoming vehicle headed straight to you. I don't like the stress of driving in Dhaka either. Not because you have to be more aware of your surroundings, but because nobody obeys the traffic laws, and collisions are inevitable due to the reckless Rickshaw pullers and bus drivers.
Who wants to drive in that situation, right? You either sit at traffic or just swing your wheel around more than you actually drive. But even then, when I get the chance, I usually go out and drive the car around just because of the liberating feeling and the sheer joy of it.
Going out of the city on a long drive was memorable. Too bad I couldn't do it as much as I'd like.
The car that I purchased has not been running well, so I'm in the process of selling it off. I probably will not buy another car anytime soon because of the impossible traffic condition in Dhaka (and the reckless behavior of traffic sergeants which is also something only those who drive in Dhaka can relate to).
The other reason I'm not buying another car soon is that the price of cars in Bangladesh is extremely high. This 25-year-old car cost me upwards of 4,000 U.S. Dollars (at $1 = 80 BDT rate). That's crazy! Just to give you an idea, a brand new Honda Civic can be had for about $25,000 in the U.S., less if you opt for the base models. In Bangladesh, they sell the Honda Civic Turbo for the equivalent of about $50,000 (U.S. Dollars)!
As you can see, you can't even think of buying new cars unless you're ultra rich here. Even if you do, I don't think you can have the mental satisfaction of driving that car in the horrible streets of Dhaka.
Despite all that, I will love every opportunity to drive a good car on a good road. I'm looking forward to renting a car abroad and drive on one of the highways. I can't speed, but that's okay. Because I'm the most relaxed and cool-headed driver that you will ever meet.


July 21–24, 2016, Central Oregon's 4th Annual NEWBERRY EVENT Music & Arts Festival-Fundraiser offers a jaw-dropping variety of renowned musicians from outside Oregon. The theme of this outdoor festival is VARIETY, with two stages and over 25 bands. The NEWBERRY EVENT is an approved charitable fundraiser benefiting the Oregon Chapter National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This ticketed private festival is well-known as a good time for a good cause.
How about LIL' SMOKIES, from Montana, winner of the Telluride, CO bluegrass competition! With roots in the thick buttery mud of traditional bluegrass, this band has blossomed into a leading player in the progressive acoustic sphere, creating a new melody-driven sound of their own. From L.A., ANDY FRASCO AND THE UN is feel good music, whose performances have been described as a barefoot boisterous blend of R&B-flavored harmonic funk and jazz, topped with boundless energy, fueled by reckless abandonment and a disregard for rules, with witty lyrics to back it up.
Other socially conscious music you won't want to miss is Canadian performing artist, ZAHIRA, an internationally known musician who lights up any stage. Her electronic Soul/Pop/Reggae compositions are infused with lyrics of truth and positivity inspiring people to be strong amongst troubling times in the world today. Then, SATSANG from Red Lodge, Montana performs their unique blend of Reggae, Folk and Hip-Hop, with something for every musical palate. Their lyrics are rooted in change, growth, and awareness, used as a mission statement for reflection and activation. The rhythms put forth by this band keep everyone on their feet.
MOJO GREEN from Reno, NV brings heavy horn funk and soul music. Local band UBUNTU, a groove-heavy afro-roots rhythm band brings fun dance party music to the festival. Back for another year is MELODY GUY, Nashville singer-songwriter, with her Rock/Country/Americana/R&B. JEFF DODD returns too, from SLC, Utah, with his beloved piccolo fretless bass. His talent has produced several CDs, like "Falling Awake", allowing listeners to detach and find their spiritual core. He'll start the mornings with mellow jazz tones.
Newberry Event Sponsors provide food and drink. Again, Deschutes Brewery and Cascade Lakes Spirits will host the bars. A variety of food vendors provide yummy meals, including breakfasts, from 9 am to 11 pm for hungry attendees and campers. Camping is free with a 4Day ticket and RV sites are available.
Located between Sunriver and La Pine, DIAMONDSTONE's lawns, shady aspens & pines create an unforgettable venue in So Deschutes County for this family friendly experience (kids <10 free). Come see many vendor booths of handmade crafts and fine art from talented sculptors, photographers and painters like Mark Goheen, Dori Kite, Paul Thomson and others who have donated beautiful creations to the silent auction to raise funds for the cause.
With over 9000 MS patients just in the Pacific Northwest, many of us know friends or family with MS, a neurological and auto-immune disease, not to be faced alone. Research is needed as we don't even know the cause, and must work toward a cure. The Multiple Sclerosis Society addresses the challenges of people affected by MS, funding cutting edge research, and professional education, with services to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. They want to do something about MS now, dedicated to achieving a world free of MS.
Tickets and attendance is limited to just 500 people/day, so don't miss this magical time. Watch the website and Facebook page for complete line up and scheduling to plan your visit. Buy early bird tickets on the website now – www.newberryevent.com. See pictures from prior years and you'll want to be there!


text:
ABAT's Consumer Complaint Form Drive is Making a Difference
Barrett-Jackson Phoenix Auction to Feature Burt Reynolds-Owned Trans Am, Rare Exotic Vehicles
SEMA Applauds Public-Private Effort to Save the Bonneville Salt Flats
2010 CREF Grant Winner Provides Update on Lasting Impact
Maaco Mansfield, TX, Owners Honored with Terry Taylor Award
Arizona Attorney General Gets Court Win in Challenge to Consumer Protection Law
Written by	Autobody News Staff
During a recent meeting of the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT), the association shared information about its discussions with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) regarding labor rates, as well as the progress made with ABAT's Consumer Complaint Form drive.
The meeting was led by Jill Tuggle, ABAT's executive director and president of Summit Marketing Solutions, and Burl Richards, president of ABAT's board of directors and owner of Burl's Collision Center in Henderson, TX.
Discussions with Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)
Since the formation of ABAT seven years ago, Richards said the association has met with TDI to try and understand who determines the prevailing market rate.
"TDI made it clear that it's up to the shops to decide their posted rates," said Richards. "It's up to a court of law to determine if it's fair and reasonable."
He shared a TDI Commissioner's Bulletin dated August 2010:
"The Department is also concerned that setting reimbursement rates artificially low for specific motor vehicle repairs and parts that are used to make the repairs may lead to substandard repairs, which may also impact the warranty on a vehicle. The majority of personal automobile insurance policies require insurers to pay the amount necessary to repair or replace the property with other(s) of like kind and quality.
"It is an unfair claim settlement practice for insurers to pay claimants an amount for the repair of the vehicle, including parts, that is not a reasonable amount for repairing or replacing the property with...
...other of like kind and quality or is not sufficient enough to make the repairs necessary for the manufacturer to honor the vehicle warranty."
While ABAT is attempting to work with TDI to address the issues Texas auto body shops are dealing with, Richards said member shops dispute the process and data used to determine the market rate, and asserts it should exclude any contracted rates.
He recommends shops access www.laborratehero.com, which shows the retail door rate shops have reported by ZIP code.
Mike Anderson, president of Collision Advice and an ABAT member, said staffing is the top issue he observes from shops across the country.
"Until our industry can pay a more competitive wage, we're not going to fix that staffing problem," he said.
Anderson said at the end of the day, the industry is never going to hire the brightest and best and compete with other industries until we can pay people a better wage.
"This can only be accomplished by capturing more not-included operations, seeing an increase in labor rates, or a combination of both," he said.
Tim Ronak, senior services consultant for AkzoNobel, said part of the challenge is the compensation received on an hourly basis.
"We've been watching individuals use parts margins to subsidize what they are paying their production staff," he said. "A significant number of shops are making less than 50% gross margin on labor. When that happens, the technicians are making proportionately more money on labor sales than the shops are. The shop assumes...
...all of the liability and business risk, yet the shop is getting an insufficient return on labor sales and the technicians don't have any risk."
The goal, according to Ronak, is to create a way to recognize there needs to be a retail pricing differential in the marketplace.
"Rather than negotiating a $2 to $3 break, we should look at those as a percentage discount from the retail rate," he said. "When we raise our retail rate, instantly, that should track back to any type of insurer agreement by maintaining a consistent 'trade discount' from the consumer retail price."
Ronak explained the differences in the retail, market, prevailing and contracted rates:
Retail rate: a shop's individual posted rate
Market rate: the average rate of all shops' retail door rates in the local area
Prevailing rate: an asserted rate by a third-party using the survey method they decide
Contracted rate: the rate agreed to by a third-party contract and conditional on receiving work through a DRP
"Ideally, the prevailing rate should be the same as the market rate unless those determining the prevailing rate in a market use contracted or discounted pricing values," explained Ronak. "When that occurs, it may understate the actual market rate."
Richards stressed the importance of having a fair system in place.
"We're allowing an insurance company to...
...dictate what those prevailing rates are and we aren't doing anything about it; we're not questioning them," he said.
Consumer Complaint Forms
Richards then shared information about ABAT's initiative to raise awareness through the use of Consumer Complaint Forms.
After years of talking to TDI, in January 2020, Richards came up with the idea to create a consumer complaint form customers could fill out to file with TDI and send to the state legislator, senator and representative.
For the forms to be effective, Richards said shop owners and managers need to educate staff and customers about the process and benefits.
He advises the following:
Spend 30 minutes with staff explaining the process with the forms.
Have a conversation with customers when they drop off their vehicles and let them know about the potential challenges with the insurance company. "We're not trying to start a fight; you are just educating the consumer," said Richards.
Make sure to communicate issues as they arise during the repair process. "Don't be embarrassed or ashamed to tell a customer that you did something for them," he said. "It's not 'the greedy body shop.' It's the body shop that is trying to get you back in a safely repaired vehicle."
Go over the form with customers when they pick up their vehicles and have them initial and sign it.
Send the form to jill@abat.us.
"We are at a critical time in our industry where things have to change," said Anderson. "That change has to come from each and every one of us doing our part."
He said this isn't about fighting insurance companies or...
...being the bad guy.
"It's taking a few moments to fill out a document and start building a foundation case for discussion in the future," he said. "Something has to change!"
Anderson shared an example of his nephew, who went to work at Amazon straight out of high school and now, at 22 years old, is making more than $100,000 and has stock options, fully-paid health insurance and tuition reimbursement.
"This is what we are competing with," he said.
Another example Anderson shared was a burger franchise in his local area giving people a starting pay of $20 per hour, 100% paid health insurance, three weeks of vacation and up to $10,000 per year in tuition or childcare reimbursement.
"How do we compete with that unless we can offer a more competitive wage just for entry-level staffing?" he said.
Tuggle said the efforts by Texas body shops having customers fill out the forms are making a difference.
"It's creating a movement across the nation with auto body associations," said Tuggle "We're going to eat this elephant, but we need everyone to take a bite."
Tuggle challenged shops to commit to...
...filling out a couple of forms a week.
"This would get us where we need to be," she said. "It's so very important that we're taking this seriously, not only with TDI but with legislators as well; this is how we achieve that."
Richards said many shops are scared to push the envelope.
"A lot of you don't want to make enemies with the insurance company but this has to do with running a profitable business---having a business where you can get technicians certified and the equipment you need," he said.
Five or six years ago, Richards said only a few shops in Texas had specialized equipment, and technicians needed to travel to a different state to get certified.
"You now have to look at your business in a different way," he said. "Having consumers fill out these forms is a big step in doing that."
Chad Kiffe with Berli's Body and Fine Finishes in Pflugerville, TX, has found talking to customers about the forms on the front end has helped get them filled out.
"We have a discussion with them when they drop off their vehicle and let them know about the possible challenges, whether that's rates, procedures or parts," he said. "Through the process, we're very transparent with the consumers with emails and phone calls so they understand we are looking out for their best interests."
As a result, he said, it's an easy sell when they pick up their vehicle; in fact, customers often...
...ask for the form when they come in.
Greg Luther with Helfman Collision in Houston, TX, has also had success using the forms. He said it may be hard to get started but it's just as easy to continue to do it.
Luther has had insurance advisors contact him and ask what they can do to get the complaint forms to stop. His response is to pay the claim.
"A lot of it has gotten better with people I have relationships within the insurance industry," he said. "They are actually paying us to fix cars better."
ABAT's lobbyist, Jacob Smith from Longleaf Consultant, talked about the significant impact the forms are having after being sent to the legislators he talks to daily during the legislative session.
"Getting the consumer complaints to the elected officials helps tremendously," he said. "It shows that the issue is happening in the electeds' district and gives them the incentive to help."
Through this grassroots work and sticking to the game plan, Smith said it's really working.
"We have to stay on it," he said. "I think if we do and shops all stand together and we do this across the state, we're going to get some meaningful legislation passed and then we are going to have the tiger by the tail."
More in this category: « Louisiana Fire Chief, Sheriff's Deputy Arrested for Insurance Fraud U-Haul Study: More People Moved to Texas in 2021 Than Any Other State »
Digital Edition - Southwest
Southwestern Events
National Auto Body Council to Host "Lone Star Cars for Pars" Golf Fundraiser in Euless, Tx
HD Repair Forum's 2020 Event Designed to Prepare Industry Leaders for Change and Growth
2020 HD Repair Forum Opens Sponsorship Positions
Registration Opens for the 3rd Annual HD Repair Forum
ASE to Host Instructor Training Conference in Texas
HD Repair Forum Secures Plans for 2020 Event
Southwestern Associations
Catching Up With ASA Colorado's December Events
ABAT's Holiday Gala Focuses on Legislative Goals for 2020
ASA Texas Introduces New Executive Director
ASA North Texas Members Learn About DVIs at October Meeting
5th Annual Texas Trade Show Breaks Records, ABAT Announces Merger With HABA
More Southwestern Association News


Outreach Inc., a software maker that allows automating vital, however mundane paintings for salespeople, crossed the billion-greenback valuation threshold – becoming a member of the swiftly increasing club of unicorn startups.
Outreach is now really worth $1.1 billion after elevating $114 million in a funding round led by way of Lone Pine Capital, the Seattle-based corporation stated Tuesday. Meritech Capital Partners and Lemonade Capital also invested inside the spherical, in addition to Microsoft Corp.'s task capital arm referred to as M12, DFJ Growth, Mayfield, Sapphire Ventures, Spark Capital and Trinity Ventures. The latest brings Outreach's total fundraising to $239 million.
Outreach said the investment spherical made it the first unicorn, a startup with a price of at least $1 billion, inside the income-engagement market — a kind of software that tracks and automates communication in the income method. The goal is to recognize which prospective clients are fascinated, which aren't, and the way you can exchange their minds.
"Sales engagement is a totally warm class so income teams are realizing they want software program for his or her moves," Manny Medina, Outreach's leader government officer, said in an interview. The company expects to attain an annualized income rate of $one hundred million within the next yr, he brought.
Outreach will use the new investment to make certain it may integrate with all verbal exchange channels, bolster engineering efforts and enlarge the world over, beginning with English-speaking countries, Medina stated. The business enterprise will also attempt to raise the range of partnerships to develop its patron base.
Amid an explosion in cloud-computing corporations keen to sell groups their software program, Outreach enables present customers Adobe Inc., Okta Inc., Zendesk Inc., And DocuSign Inc. Make their income groups greater effective.
Outreach already connects to clients' Microsoft and Salesforce.Com Inc. Software for coping with patron relationships, and expects to combine with SAP SE with the aid of the cease of the 12 months, Medina said.
There were more than three hundred unicorn agencies as of January, in keeping with CB Insights.
Bengaluru: Wipro Ltd's admission on Tuesday that it is investigating a phishing assault on its pc structures is the ultra-modern high-profile cyber assault on a huge generation firm. It gained't be the final.
The software services agency showed a record by using KrebsOnSecurity on the attack and said it has hired an independent forensics company to help with the investigation. The report had said attackers had used Wipro's employee debts to target its clients over numerous months.
A day in advance, protection researcher John Page had shown that hackers can use unpatched take advantage of within the Internet Explorer browser to each spy on Windows customers and steal facts from their computer systems. In fact, email accounts across Microsoft's Outlook, Hotmail and MSN offerings remained prone for nearly three months from 1 January to 28 March, whilst Microsoft said that handiest a "restrained" number of people had their money owed compromised inside the breach.
As the world gets increasingly online, individuals, agencies and governments are becoming hot targets for hackers. Wipro and Microsoft are actually instances in point.
In India by myself, 76% groups have been hit through on-line assaults in the remaining yr, in comparison to 68% across the globe, in keeping with a survey by way of protection company Sophos launched early remaining month. The survey brought that 97% of IT managers admitted that safety information is one of the finest issues in India. It also determined that, on an average, Indian groups that look into one or more capacity safety incidents every month spend 48 days a year (4 days a month) investigating them.
The Wipro spokesperson said that the company received 4.Eight million signals from its cybersecurity group on ability breaches in its systems within the ultimate monetary 12 months.
On 13 March, safety firm Seqrite, the enterprise arm of Quick Heal Technologies, stated it detected near 50 million threats targeting firms inside the second half of-2018. This translates to around 186 detections every minute. These detections blanketed recognized and unknown threats such as crypto-jacking, ransomware, trojans, exploits, worms, infectors, probably unwanted programs, and adware. Further, industrial adware programmes referred to as stalkerware run inside the background on phones; these may be used to monitor and music device hobby.


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text:
Q: Why doesn't julia support something like switch-case Julia doesn't support something like a switch-case a control structure, at least according to the current documentation of Control Flow?
switch case is a common Flow Control in imperative or object oriented languages, why not in julia?
Language supporting switch-case (not completed)

*

*C/C++

*Java

*Pascal

*PHP

*Javascript

*Typescript

*Octave

A: There is extensive discussion about including this in julia language. It will probably happen at some point but maybe not until after v1.0.
See here for the main discussion (includes links to other discussions): https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/18285
& this one is informative too (but now closed in favour of the above):
https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/5410
edit
Also it is worth mentioning that julia need not offer syntax for switch-case because it might be best (in terms of features) to have it implemented as a macro (i.e. via metaprogramming) which need not be included in Base julia.

A: The basic philosophy of julia is to provide most functionality as packages and keep the core (Base) ultra-lean. So the answer to "why doesn't Julia support X" is usually "Julia supports X via package Y". In this case, the Match.jl provides a switch-case like structure that is very powerful.
There is also a Switch.jl package that is very close to C's switch, but it is not actively maintained.


text:
Der Block 10 ist ein 1967 in Plattenbauweise errichtetes Wohngebäude in der damaligen Stadt Halle-Neustadt. Es handelt sich um das größte in der DDR errichtete Wohnhaus.

Lage
Das Gebäude erstreckt sich, beginnend nahe der zentralen Durchgangsstraße An der Magistrale, in Nord-Süd-Richtung zwischen den Stadtteilen Westliche Neustadt und Südliche Neustadt. Dem mittleren und südlichen Teil des Block gegenüber befindet sich das zu DDR-Zeiten als zentrale Versorgungseinrichtung des Wohnkomplexes gebaute "Gastronom" (Einzelhandel und Kleingewerbe).

Bau des Gebäudes
Für Deutschlands größte Neubaustadt, Halle-Neustadt, wurde 1965 eigens das Plattenwerk Halle-Neustadt, das offiziell VEB Vorfertigung Halle hieß und zum Wohnungsbaukombinat Halle gehörte, errichtet. Bestehend aus 23.000 Elementen wurde der Block 10 in der Zeit von 20. Januar bis 31. Juli 1967 gebaut.

Umfang und Nutzung
Das zehnstöckige Gebäude ist 380 Meter lang und besteht aus 320 Mehrzimmer- und 536 Einraumwohnungen. In Spitzenzeiten hatte das Gebäude etwa 3.000 Bewohner. Ein Dachgarten wurde angelegt, einige Räume zu einer Kinderkrippe mit 160 Plätzen ausgebaut; am Südende wurde ein Pflegeheim eingerichtet. Um den Fußgängern große Umwege zu ersparen, wurden drei Durchgänge im Gebäude angelegt.

Bezeichnung
Das als "Block 10" (Spitzname: Weißer Riese) errichtete Gebäude erhielt nach weiterem Ausbau des Viertels die Blocknummern 618 bis 621. Seit der Wende lautet die Adresse Zerbster Straße 25–43.

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Großsiedlung
Siedlung (Städtebau) in Sachsen-Anhalt
Plattenbausiedlung (DDR)
Bauwerk in Halle (Saale)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


At District Drum Company, our goal is not only to design and build your custom snare drum, but to make the process easy and enjoyable for you. We are a full-service design/build company with a wide range of experience. We aim to please and keep you fully in the loop with the progress of the drum you want built. The testimonials page attest to our attention to detail, clear communication, honesty and integrity.
With a variety of woods, plys, and wraps to choose from, we're sure you'll be happy working with us. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us.
District Drum Company will be offering vinyl recordings exclusively to our endorsers and select customers.
hitithard@districtdrumcompany.com if you would like to be considered as a guest on our Internet Radio Show: 900 Seconds.
Subject Line: write '900 Seconds Interview Candidate'.
900 Seconds is a laid back radio show with the MAIN focus on drummers. We also interview singers, guitarists, bass players, keyboard/pianists, drum techs, producers, roadies, etc. We want to know about the drummers in your life, past and present.
Add a brief bio of yourself, tour schedule (current or previous), CDs, video links, and any other experience to be considered. It might take a moment to get back to your inquiry, but all emails will be answered.
Thank you for your interest in District Drum Company.
District Drum Company is proud to announce the Hit It Hard Scholarship Fund!
District Drum Company has chosen the Paris Girls Rock Camp to be the first recipient of the Hit It Hard! Scholarship fund.
District Drum Company encourages girls and women of all ages to not only play their drums, but to also learn the proper care and maintenance of her instrument. Next year will be the first year District Drum Company owner and operator, Christina Bulaong, will attend this incredible movement in person.
District Drum Company has made generous donations to, not only Paris, but also NYC and Vermont Girls Rock Camps.
Stay tuned for more of the Hit It HARD! Scholarship Fund from District Drum Company.


Which Gun Should I Buy?
The statement, "which gun should I buy" usually proceeds from inexperienced handgun seekers. This is generally when trying to decide not only what kind of gun would be best, but what their priority actually is.
Here's the reality from the title of this article, so we can get this out of the way.
If you can only have one handgun, decide what is the greatest priority you face in getting one. Then buy a gun for that.
Here is a poorly structured, but true statement.
There is no gun that is going to be ideal for plinking, training, self defense, hunting, law enforcement us, concealed carry, horseback riding, speed shooting, competition, protection from people, dogs, wildcats, badgers and bears, and to share with your girlfriend ..... or boyfriend.
Often the confusion stems from only wanting or being able to afford one gun, but wanting that gun for everything imaginable.
If you want a gun for strong multiple uses, you'll have to get more than one. If you have numerous priorities, decide which one is most important and buy one for that. Confusion will keep you shopping forever for something that doesn't exist.
Another factor that enters the equation is how large or small a gun has to be for effective concealed carry.
Let me say this. It doesn't have to be particularly small to carry effectively. And it doesn't have to be a canon to be an effective self defense tool.
Too many people get caught up in too many internet discussions from super-soldiers that make every day civilians feel like they're going out onto a Middle East battlefield every day. That's not the case.
For those of us who get up, get ready, go to work and live basically normal lives, we need a gun that will shoot a relatively effective round. That would be everything from .380 - .45 ACP.
It would be a gun that we can get a solid grip on, and can (by practice) handle competently and shoot accurately.
No U.S. civilian has to carry a large caliber handgun with 6 extra mags to be effectively armed for self defense in their daily lives.
Many people who don't have direct access to an experienced shooter who can sanely help them make a decision, get caught up in a lot of non issues. These are commonly through their internet discourse on web sites and forums that endlessly discuss balistics, blowback, ammo types, what is the "best" round for self defense, and obscene arguments by "experts".
The internet is the greatest source of information ever on earth. It's also the greatest source of confusion.
A lot of this is illustrated by the fact that, at this writing, I have a forty five (45) handgun reviews on my web site. People endlessly write telling me how much they like the site, how informative the gun reviews are, and then ask ...... what kind of gun I would recommend!
Well, they read the gun reviews.
That should be enough to determine, for anybody going by my suggestions, which guns I have determined are the best performing, will fit multiple hand sizes, give the greatest versatility.
But people are so determined to overload with unneeded information that they will never actually purchase a firearm.
Bottom line: Determine your priority. Determine what type of gun will meet that priority. Determine a range of gun types that will perform best. Handle, work, and if possible fire some.
Pick one you like best. Buy it.


text:
Johannesburg Travel Guide
Johannesburg is Africa's most modern city. It is the thriving commercial, financial, industrial, mining, retail and business hub of South Africa. Generating 16% of South Africa's GDP, Johannesburg is one of the world's leading financial centres. Welcome to eGoli, the City of Gold!
Gateway to southern Africa via OR Tambo International Airport
Most modern, prosperous city in Africa
One of the world's largest metropolitan areas
Incorporates Randburg, Sandton, Soweto, Germiston and Midrand
Shopping capital of Africa
Wide choice of entertainment complexes and casinos
Buzzing nightlife with live music venues
Excellent sporting, golf and outdoor activities
Known by locals as Jozi, Joburg, eGoli (City of Gold) or Joeys, Johannesburg is the largest, wealthiest, most cosmopolitan and vibrant city south of the Sahara. It's where you'll most often start or end your African Safari as the gateway to Southern Africa with the continent's busiest airport, OR Tambo International.
Brief background
Founded in 1888 following a gold rush, Johannesburg is the world's largest city not situated on a river, lake or ocean. It also has one of the largest metropolitan areas on the globe, incorporating Sandton, Randburg, Soweto, Germiston and Midrand. Located on South Africa's eastern plateau or Highveld, Johannesburg is 1,753 m (5,751 ft) above sea level. While not the capital city, it is the seat of South Africa's Constitutional Court.
The easiest way to get from OR Tambo International to the major nodes of Johannesburg is via the new rapid rail system, the Gautrain, which links to Rhodesfield, Modderfontein, Sandton, Rosebank and Park Station (CBD) in Johannesburg as well as Midrand, Pretoria, Centurion and Hatfield to the north. There's also an excellent network of highways and a good road system.
Johannesburg has an excellent climate. Summers are hot and long (average 27°C/79°F), with regular afternoon thundershowers. Winters are short with clear sunny days (16°C/61°F) and very chilly evenings (4.1°C/39.4°F) or below. While it does get cold in winter, snow is rare.
Top things to do and see
If you have time to spare before or after your African safari, there are loads of tours and activities to suit all tastes and all ages. Please talk to us about what you'd like to see and do, and we'll gladly advise and book your day tours.
Here are some of our favourites:
Tour to Soweto – a glimpse into South Africa's incredibly diverse cultures
Johannesburg Tour – overview of some of the city's landmarks and complex history
Apartheid Museum – a testament to South Africa's turbulent past, and the indomitable spirit of its people
Gold Reef City – theme and amusement park of Johannesburg's Gold Rush heydays with an authentic, working goldmine
Open City Sightseeing Bus - hop-on, hop-off tourist bus visiting some of the city's main attractions
Vibrant Johannesburg
(Image: Keenan Constance I Unsplash)
Hot-air Ballooning – romantic wicker-basket ride over the Magaliesberg
Maboneng Arts & Culture Precinct - a melting pot of restaurants, shops, galleries, work and play spaces, recently voted one of the Top 10 "Coolest Neighbourhoods" in the world by Forbes
Shopping Safari – visit some of the continent's best markets and malls
Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind – a place of origins, where mankind comes from
Lesedi Village – experience traditional African tribal homesteads and age-old hospitality
The Carnivore Restaurant – sample an array of game meat from wildebeest, warthog and crocodile to kudu
Sun City and The Lost City – a kingdom of pleasure created in an extinct volcano crater, a two-hour drive away
Pilanesberg Game Reserve – malaria-free, Big 5 game reserve near Sun City, a 2h30m drive from Johannesburg
Magaliesberg Canopy Tour – highwire ziplining from platform to platform for breathtaking views
Johannesburg is known for its nightlife, theatres, live jazz locales and excellent cuisine. Ask your hosts or concierge for details. You'll also receive our 'Best of Johannesburg' guide when you book your safari with us.
Our take on Johannesburg
Although it has received its fair share of bad publicity over the years, Johannesburg is once again gaining media favour as a vibrant, friendly city with a rich history and diverse, fascinating culture. Johannesburg has a lot to offer and is well worth a visit.
Peermont Mondior Hotel
The elegant 4-star Peermont Mondior hotel at Emperors Palace offers you world-class business, conference and leisure accommodation. There are 150 spacious rooms and suites with a contemporary African theme, giving you a great combination of old-fashioned comfort and modern technology.
AfricaSky Guest House, OR Tambo International
Set in a quiet, leafy garden, AfricaSky is a 4-star guest house located 10 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. It's also 10 minutes to nearby Rhodesfield Station, from where it's a further 11-minute ride on the Gautrain to the heart of Sandton. It's an ideal stopover before or after your safari or onward travel plans.
Peermont Metcourt Hotel
Contemporary convenience at its best, the 3-star Peermont Metcourt Hotel at Emperors Palace offers comfortable rooms, with quick-and-easy access from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, just minutes away. A courtesy airport shuttle runs every 15-20 minutes.
Peermont Metcourt Suites
The modern 3-star Peermont Metcourt Suites (previously the Metcourt Laurel Hotel) is situated within the exciting Emperors Palace casino and entertainment complex, only 5 minutes away from OR Tambo International Airport. A convenient, free airport shuttle service runs every 15-20 minutes.
Premier Hotel, OR Tambo International
Situated in Gladiator Street, Rhodesfield, Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo is 1.2 km from the airport and only 800 metres from the Rhodesfield Gautrain (rapid rail) station, with connections to Sandton City taking a mere 12 minutes. The hotel also offers a complimentary airport shuttle.
Radisson Blu, Gautrain Hotel, Sandton
Perfectly located opposite the Sandton Gautrain Station and the buzzing Nelson Mandela Square, Radisson Blu is an excellent stopover to enjoy the commercial hub of Sandton. About 20 minutes door-to-door (the actual train ride takes about 12 minutes, including stops) from OR Tambo International Airport, it couldn't be easier to get to.
Johannesburg City viewed from M1 highway
Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg
Thrilling rides at Gold Reef City
Regina Mundi Church, Soweto
Colourful Orlando Towers, Soweto
Gary Player Golf Course, Sun City
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text:
Campus youth betrayed
by Theresa Smyth Jun 7, 2007 May 1, 2020 / 4 mins /
When "Brian" shows up at University of California student counselling centre, he wants help for just one of his two problems. Brian hasn't been successful in giving up smoking on his own, so he asks psychiatrist Dr. Miriam Grossman to prescribe medication to help him. Brian can list the short- and long-term reasons why he needs to quit his bad habit.
Brian's other problem is the one he's actually more nervous about, and it's the one he neither seeks nor receives help for. Brian has sex with men. He has never been tested for HIV, neither he nor his boyfriend uses condoms, and both of them regularly pick up other partners.
At one level, Brian knows that his behaviour is considered unsafe and irresponsible. On another, he is being enabled in his self-destruction by institutions much bigger than himself.
Brian is very openly gay-identified, yet Grossman is the first physician who has ever discussed his sexual practices with him. The UCLA campus health service is much more comfortable with other, relatively innocuous topics, like tobacco addiction. The mental health professions, Grossman alleges, are manipulated by special interest groups, more committed to their agenda than to student well-being. Consequently, universities and colleges help to promote sexual diversity, yet do very little to save the lives of students at risk. Unless or until she knows that Brian is HIV positive, Grossman is told, there is nothing she can do – even though she assesses him to pose "an imminent menace to the public health."
After treating over 2,000 students on her campus, Grossman is sufficiently frustrated to have begun speaking out against the forces thwarting the proper care of kids like Brian. "My profession has been hijacked. I cannot do my job, my patients are suffering, and I am fed up."
In Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness in Her Profession Endangers Every Student, Grossman uses the cases of disguised individual patients to condemn the ideological double standards by which she feels straitjacketed. Many years after putting her hand down at a conference when she "didn't have the guts to be the sole challenger" to the Zeitgeist, she is finally dipping her toes in the waters of resistance. Grossman originally published this volume in hardback as "Anonymous, M.D.", before "outing" herself on a radio talk show as the author. The paperback version, due in stores in late August 28, will identify her as the author.
Grossman powerfully challenges the cognitive dissonance she faces on a daily basis. She contrasts the case of Brian with that of "Tom", a foreign student who may have been exposed to tuberculosis.
"If I delay or fail to report Tom, I will be in violation of state regulations, and subject to citations and fines. I might also be in trouble with the medical board, as failure to report suspected TB – or measles, syphilis, chlamydia, meningitis, and forty-six other communicable diseases – is considered unprofessional conduct." But a promiscuous gay man cannot be compelled to moderate his behaviour, or even to submit to HIV testing. "Why am I mandated to protect Tom, but not Brian?" Only one medical condition in public health is sacrificed at the altar of confidentiality.
With each chapter, Grossman tells of further contradictions on campus. Although we are told that women are the same as men, disproportionate student appointment requests are from females. These patients are heartbroken by failed sexual relationships and by "hook-ups" that lead nowhere. Although unlimited academic and career counselling is lavished on women pursuing lengthy higher education, never mentioned is how their chances are diminishing of some day having the children they vaguely expect.
Although "safer sex" is considered both possible and ideal, sexually transmitted infections are not always cured, and their consequences can be devastating. Although "health" advisories suggest that "'HIV is here to stay, and anybody can get it'", the fact is that "what spreads HIV is anal sex, sharing needles, or a partner who does those things." Although diversity is a cherished value, students of faith simply aren't accommodated like those pursuing "alternative lifestyles".
Exercise, non-smoking, good nutrition, and even osteoporosis prevention are university dogma. "The message is loud and clear," writes Grossman. "Learn about your health, take care of yourself. There are consequences to your lifestyle, so work at changing it. Have the fruit instead of the pizza, take the stairs, not the elevator. Sure, it's not fun, it takes discipline and self-control, but hey, that's what we've got to do to stay healthy. Later on, you'll be glad you did!" At the same time, college-sponsored websites and health centre brochures encourage deadly habits – fetishes, cruising and risky sex.
Hundreds of miles from New Orleans, Louisiana, Grossman's school reached out to Katrina hurricane victims, while ignoring the certain trauma to at least a portion of its own students who have suffered after a chemical abortion. "Will someone please explain to me," writes Grossman, "why does psychology, in its quest to identify and counsel every victim of possible child abuse, sexual harassment, or hurricanes, leave no stone unturned, and then go berserk at the suggestion that maybe, maybe, some – not all, but some – women and men hurt for a long, long time after abortion, and they too need our help?"
Grossman's book is at once compelling and frustrating, because she is unresolved about some of her own contradictions. While she herself is a person of faith, Grossman feels she must "forget Leviticus" to show that her arguments are based on reason alone. While she is horrified by the trauma some students experience when undergoing chemical abortions, Grossman still suggests "emergency contraception" as part of the solution; apparently she is unaware that, because "Plan B" can end pregnancy, it also can lead to protracted grief. While she is incensed by the consequences of amorality around her, Grossman still endorses Japanese-style morally "neutral" rituals, such as shrines for grieving, for recovery from abortion; and despite ample objective evidence that it should be prevented altogether, she takes no firm stance. While she is haunted by a professional conference where her peers resolved to alter society rather than treat an individual's gender identity disorder, Grossman still prides herself on her "cultural sensitivity" towards a woman she says is changing into a "man".
That Grossman has yet to fully integrate her views may actually be a factor in the widely positive reception to her book. Grossman intends this book as a wake-up call for parents. "The nurse teaching your daughter about herpes, the social worker reassuring your son about his homosexual thought – these people may have a vision for social change that you don't share," she writes. Parents disturbed by the falsification of healthcare will indeed find the book an essential resource. Likewise, health and helping professionals, as well as activists – of both the student and the lifelong learner varieties – will find the book a valuable tool in effecting meaningful change.
Theresa Smyth, a social worker, writes from Toronto, Canada. A shorter version of this review originally appeared in The Interim, a Toronto-based newspaper.
Theresa Smyth
theresa_smyth.574@mercatornet.com
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Tagged: homosexuality, promiscuity, STDs


Home » Column » Editor's Pick. » Aiming towards a better tomorrow.
Aiming towards a better tomorrow.
He had aspired to do B. Tech from IIT, but didn't qualify for the JEE. Unlike many others, he did not sit still figuring the reasons why he could not clear. Instead, this courageous person paced forward to do something different. And I must say that he is working on the most beneficial thing. While both of us had involved ourselves into the conversation, I was left flabbergasted by hearing about his work and plan to expand it.
Mr. Pratik Lotia, CEO and Founder, VenTech.
Mr. Pratik Lotia, CEO and Founder of VenTech, initially began working with two friends (who are now the co-founders of VenTech) on an idea of 'Vertical Axis Wind Mill.' "We went through various procedures, got funding from the Government of India for our Wind Mill project & also a project in Solar Energy." As their expertise & interest in Solar Energy grew, the thought of launching a startup for catering the needs in urban areas invaded their minds and VenTech was launched.
VenTech is committed to provide effective Solar Energy Systems, especially Rooftop Systems to mainly Educational Institutions, Commercial & Residential Complexes. It was by selling computers and laptops that they began VenTech. "We generated Electricity from our setup caters for basic needs & the Return on Investment is generally for 4-5 years. After that the customers get electricity for free.
An alumnus of St. Anne's High School, Pratik did his junior college from T. P. Bhatia and completed his engineering from Atharva College.
His dad, Mukesh Lotia, also a businessman has been a pole of motivation for him. Although he is into a different business but he always encourages him to think different from others. "Even my mother Priti and brother Dhrumil have helped in the development of my business." Co-founders Brijesh Maurya and Tejas Oturkar have consistently put in their best efforts in the projects and together with their mentor Anupama Deshpande, the company has been progressing.
In cities, due to shortage of large empty spaces, low wind speed and capability of buildings to forbade wind, VenTech came-up with Vertical Axis Wind Mill. Recently, VenTech has got recognition from the Government of India as Top 50 Innovators for their Vertical Axis Wind Mill project.
Mr. Pratik Lotia speaking at the Global Youth Forum - Mumbai.
Bhagvad Gita has bought a miraculous change in his life. "Reading Bhagvad Gita has been fruitful for me." Pratik is a firm believer of the saying: 'Karmane vadhikaraste, maa faleshu kadachana. Maa karma fal hetur bhur, maa te sango stav karmani.' It means that you have the right to perform your duties, never on the fruits of it. Neverthink yourself as the cause of your fruits & never get attached to not doing your duty.
In the coming year, there are plans to install solar rooftops in every building to cut down on the carbon footprints. Plans are also to enter into the manufacturing sector for coming up with efficient battery system.
If this attempt goes ahead successfully then the entire country is surely going to improve on many factors. Currently, all of us should support such advantageous projects and people like Pratik and company like VenTech should be blessed!
- The author is the Managing Editor of the News-O-Holic news blogazine.
Thanks 'thenewsoholic' & Suyash for a wonderful interview. You people are really doing a nice job!! Keep up the good work. May you succeed in all your endeavors.
Good work thenewsoholic.Pratik has always been an inspiration for his friends.
Such public front and exposure was all that missed. Its just the beginning towards star heights. Congratulations and all the best to both.
���� keep up the good work.