English: from the Old English personal name Tata, possibly a short form of various compound names with the obscure first element tat, or else a nursery formation. This surname is common and widespread in Britain; the chief area of concentration is northeastern England, followed by northern Ireland.
Where is the Tate family from?
You can see how Tate families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tate family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tate families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 224 Tate families living in Ontario. This was about 51% of all the recorded Tate's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Tate families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tate surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
What did your Tate ancestors do for a living?
In 1881, the most common Tate occupation in Canada was Farmer. 28% of Tate's were Farmers. Farmer, Labourer and Blacksmith were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Tate. A less common occupation for the Tate family was Laborer.
Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Tate ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.
What Tate family records will you find?
There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Tate. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tate census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Tate. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Tate. For the veterans among your Tate ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
You've only scratched the surface of Tate family history.
What is the average Tate lifespan?
Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Tate life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Tate in 1940 was 43, and 71 in 2004.
An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tate ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.


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First 100 days of the US House of Representatives 1995¶

Description¶

The example in Gill, seeks to explain the number of bill
assignments in the first 100 days of the US’ 104th House of Representatives.
The response variable is the number of bill assignments in the first 100 days
over 20 Committees.  The explanatory variables in the example are the number of
assignments in the first 100 days of the 103rd House, the number of members on
the committee, the number of subcommittees, the log of the number of staff
assigned to the committee, a dummy variable indicating whether
the committee is a high prestige committee, and an interaction term between
the number of subcommittees and the log of the staff size.

The data returned by load are not cleaned to represent the above example.

Notes¶

Number of Observations - 20
Number of Variables - 6
Variable name definitions::

    BILLS104 - Number of bill assignments in the first 100 days of the
               104th House of Representatives.
    SIZE     - Number of members on the committee.
    SUBS     - Number of subcommittees.
    STAFF    - Number of staff members assigned to the committee.
    PRESTIGE - PRESTIGE == 1 is a high prestige committee.
    BILLS103 - Number of bill assignments in the first 100 days of the
               103rd House of Representatives.

Committee names are included as a variable in the data file though not
returned by load.

Source¶

Jeff Gill’s Generalized Linear Models: A Unifited Approach

http://jgill.wustl.edu/research/books.html

Copyright¶

Used with express permission from the original author,
who retains all rights.

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Even though I've lived in London for almost three years, there are still lots of places that I don't yet know about. Up until about a month ago, that included the Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square, which specialises in obscure films, retrospectives and movie marathons, including this weekend's Pixar Pyjama Party. Basically it's exactly what it says on the tin - you spend the night in the cinema watching Pixar films back-to-back. I found out about the event via Becky from Becky Bedbug, who is one of my favourite bloggers (and I can confirm she is just as awesome in real life as she is on her blog), and so on Saturday night the two of us met up for eleven hours of animated brilliance.
After our burger feast we headed back round the corner to the cinema. Annoyingly we had to wait for the best part of 45 minutes once we got in as apparently the people who'd been in the screen before us had been quite messy, but we still managed to get really good seats. It was actually surprisingly emptier than I'd thought it would be - we had about half a row to ourselves which turned into a whole row about halfway through when the other people on our row left.
I think I must have developed a secret skill of being able to sleep well in a chair after overnight buses in South America, as I made it through Toy Story, A Bug's Life and Monsters, Inc., then dozed through Finding Nemo and The Incredibles before watching WALL-E and Up. Considering that normally on nights out I'm falling asleep by midnight this is something of an achievement! I also loved that the audience really got into it - we were all singing along to 'You've Got a Friend in Me', quoting the films (for the survivors' photo at the end we shouted 'Squirrel!' in homage to Doug from Up) and laughing, crying and 'awww'ing at all the right moments. I even wore my monster feet slippers so I could do 'scary feet' in Monsters, Inc. Yes, I am that much of a Pixar nerd.
It was a brilliant night and I'll definitely be coming back to The Prince Charles, and probably getting membership too (£10 for a year or £50 for life, which sounds like a really good deal to me). They're doing a Back to the Future marathon on 19th April which I am seriously considering going to as it's possibly my favourite film series - if anyone would be up for coming along to that please let me know and I'll try and organise something.
The Bunny Bubble Bar smells amazing - I don't normally tend to go for sweet scents but this is so utterly gorgeous I'm almost reluctant to 'waste' it on a bath! So at the moment it's scenting my sock drawer instead :) And I love the little notebook, I am a sucker for cute stationery and this will be perfect for blog and video planning. So thank you Becky!
Do you have a favourite Pixar film?
I loved that everyone was quoting the films and singing along - I haven't really been to any screenings like that before so it was lovely to see people getting properly into it!
I've only just seen this! Scary feet, scary feet, scary feet! Thank you so much for coming- I had such a lovely time!
That's OK, thank you for organising it! Was lovely to meet you!


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Adding new gems needed for testing often requires changes in RSpec configuration. You add a new line of config here and there in the spec_helper.rb or rails_helper.rb file and suddenly you have huge and hard to understand config file for RSpec.
I will show you how I organize my RSpec configuration directory structure to easily add or modify the RSpec configuration in a clean way.
I keep all of my configuration code related to RSpec in directory spec/support/config. You can create it.
Next step is to ensure the RSpec will read files from the config directory. In order to do it please ensure you have below line in your spec/rails_helper.rb file.
By default, it is commented out so please uncomment it.
Here I will show you examples of popular gems and how to keep their configuration clean. A few examples are on the video and many more code examples are in this article.
Here is my configuration of Capybara placed at spec/support/config/capybara.rb.
You can learn more how to configure Capybara with Chrome headless here.
I use gems like sidekiq-unique-jobs and rspec-sidekiq. Here you can read more about Sidekiq testing configuration.
Sometimes big projects have painful tests that randomly fail. The last rescue when we cannot make them stable and always green is to retry them a few times before marking them as failed. This is one option how to deal with flaky tests and we can use for that rspec-retry gem.
If you have a large test suite taking a dozen of minutes or maybe even hours then you may want to run tests in parallel across multiple CI node with Knapsack Pro to get the fastest CI build.
This is example config file.
Here you can learn more about how it works.
Then you can use the page object in your feature spec.
You can organize your RSpec shared examples in directory spec/support/shared_examples that will be autoloaded.
As you can see there are a lot of different useful gems for testing in RSpec. If we would keep all their configuration just in spec_helper.rb we would quickly get a messy file. Separation of config files can help us keep it clean and easy to maintain. Let me know in comments how you keep your config files sane.


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text:
Interview: The Maine Discuss Their Completely FREE Tour
Kevin Cornell on October 12, 2015
Touring: it's long hard work that'll exhaust most independent artists. Driving for hours on end, sleeping on floors, and spending a lot of time with the same small group of people for a very long time – it's not easy, but these are the rites of passage that independent artists and bands must endure. Whether you're supporting a new release with a national tour or just hitting some regional cities over a week, touring truly is an essential element of building your fan base and growing musically.
Tempe, Arizona-based indie rockers The Maine can tell you all about touring. They've been releasing music since 2007, and in 2011 they split with Warner Brothers to set their sights on distributing through TuneCore (via their label, 8123). On the heels of their 5th studio album, American Candy, the five-piece outfit decided to shake things up in a way you've likely never seen before: The Maine announced a 13-city tour, with each show being completely FREE for fans to attend.
Did we mention that touring is expensive? These guys gave their fans the ultimate 'Thank You' with their Free For All Tour this year, and we got the chance to talk to them about it. Read on for our interview with The Maine's John O'Callaghan and Pat Kirch as we discuss the Free For All Tour, fan reaction, engaging new fans, and American Candy:
What inspired the Free For All Tour? What was the initial fan reaction when you announced it?
John O'Callaghan: Our necessity to push ourselves creatively when it comes to the tour experience and the desire to deliver a unique "thank you" to the profoundly dedicated folks that have been seeing us for almost nine years now both inspired us to construct the Free For All Tour. I think bewilderment, a bit of confusion and extreme excitement overtook the 8123 family when we first announced. People have expressed their appreciation for the idea all over the world even if they couldn't make it out to a show, and that means the message was conveyed and in our eyes it was a major success.
Having been a band for less than a decade during a time of rapid movement in the industry, how did you go about building a community of dedicated fans?
Pat Kirch: For us it has always been about personal interaction with people. At first that was just online because I was still in high school and we couldn't go on tour, then it turned into us making sure we talked to every person that came to the shows. The relationship feels much more like a family than just a band and fans. I think the other thing we have done is kept things interesting for ourselves which comes through to the people that pay attention to what we do. We never want to make the same album over and over and we never want to do the same tour twice. We are always trying to push the limits on what is possible for our band to accomplish and create.
Similarly, as you continued to release music, how have you maintained that connection?
PK: The very special and sacred bond we've formed with our following goes well beyond the music and is due, in large part, to the sense of community they (the individuals) have developed themselves. We feel as though if we continue to release our expression in its most sincere state then they will continue to stay hip on what we're doing. If we falter and begin to take their support for granted, that's the end of the whole show. We're simply trying to take what is pure about our approach and our relationship with those who support it and nurture both so it all doesn't fall apart.
Explain the importance of something like a free tour and what it means to you as a band. What has it taught you about your fan base?
PK: Being a fan of music first and foremost, the Free For All Tour has brought about a sense of pride in ourselves knowing that we did something that not many bands (if any at all) have ever done before. In the age of the paid "meet" and greet, we delivered the exact opposite experience and, save for a few sleepless nights, pulled the thing off without a hitch thanks to the help of some amazing people at 8123. That alone makes us feel like we've done something worth while. This run has taught us that we're lucky enough to be part of something bigger than The Maine will ever be and has solidified our union with incredible people who love music. That rules.
How did the fans in each city react to your shows on this tour?
PK: It was really great! Some of the shows felt more like a festival show where there are people in the audience that only know a few songs or have just heard of the band but they came because it was free. That was a great thing for us because even though we were doing our own headlining tour, it still felt like we needed to work every night to win over new fans and get them on board with what we do as a band. The nature of the tour was so different than anything we have done before that it didn't even feel like we were on tour. It felt like a bunch of random shows put together; every date was different and that kept it fun for us each date.
Have there been any specifically memorable moments from the road (on this tour) so far in terms of connecting with fans?
JO: We had too many amazing interactions with people on the road to pinpoint one in particular, but the fact that after polling the audience most nights for virgin concert-goers for The Maine and seeing an overwhelming amount of hands raised was something that really resonated with me. This just reaffirms the benefit of the tour for us as a band and makes us rather hopeful for the future.
Tell us about the recording and release of American Candy. How has the reception of this album played into the Free For All Tour?
JO: Recording took place in a house in Joshua Tree, CA back in November 2014. We set out to make a cohesive and uplifting album that would hopefully take people on a sonic vacation from the chaos of everyday life. Feeling the support on the road and online really dictated the move to do the tour. We wanted a new platform to play the album for people that gave us the opportunity to record it and allowing them to do so for free felt like the most appropriate move. Couldn't be happier with the response and turnout on all accounts, and now we can't wait to reinvent ourselves with future tours to see if what new ideas arise!
How has your experience been using TuneCore for digital distribution?
PK: It has been such an important tool for our band for the past 5 years! We made an album called Pioneer in secret from Warner Brothers because we were sick of them giving us input on the music and telling us what type of an album we should make. We were able to release that album all around the world via TuneCore in a very short amount of time once we got out of the deal.
From that point on we have never looked back. It has allowed us to be much more free and able to release special Acoustic EP's or B-sides to our fans very fast after recording them and get it heard all around the world. It has made it so we do not need a record label and have now released more albums independently than on traditional record labels!
What advice do you have for bands who are starting out and beginning to build a fan base?
PK: I would say first off never forget that the music comes first and that you need to make something you love and not what you think people will enjoy! Then I would say that you need to keep in mind and understand that none of what you do would be possible without the people that support the music – and never forget that. Let that idea lead every decision you make.
Any plans for after the tour or into 2016?
PK: We will be doing more international touring and one off shows and working on some new music. It is not time for an album yet but we will be releasing new music in some way or another!

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The Living Universe Foundation
Thread starter Tom
An Old Friend
The Living Universe Foundation is a strange organization dedicated to the long-term colonization of the galaxy. In the long term, they envision humans tapping into the vast natural resources outside of planet Earth - from the sun's energy (of which we get only a tiny fraction of course) to vast mineral deposits on nearby asteroids. In the short term, however, they believe that a series of self-sufficient, semi-autonomous ocean-going cities are the first step on this eight-step journey to galactic conquest. What are to start as sea-faring colonies would form the basis for future space journeys as these semi-independent enclaves could then be transported to the stars as units. Power would be generated by taking advantage of the temperature differentials at the water's surface versus the deeps. The sea-borne populations would subsist on sea life and tourist trade and the urban design (shown above) would be based in part on managing water navigational issues. The first step in this project? Apparently, the foundation has started with a land-based colony in Texas with one resident in a trailer.
Gronicus
in a sculpture studio
Good idea. So who is this Texan with a trailer and how does one get in touch with him/her? Is the society interested in others at this time either for ideas or support?
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Papaver rhoeas, also known as the common poppy, corn poppy and red weed, among other names, is considered a nuisance plant by European farmers and often grows in areas where the soil has been disturbed. In the warm spring months beginning in 1915, with World War I in full swing, across many of the shell-blasted, trench-strewn battlefields in Belgium, France, as well as in Turkey, poppy seeds (which can lie dormant for more than 80 years) began to germinate in the newly turned earth, and poppy flowers were soon dotting the war-ravaged landscape, including the front lines where John McCrae, surgeon for the First Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery, was stationed.
In May 1915, McCrae was tending the wounded in the trenches near Ypres, Belgium. He noticed the bright red poppies that had begun to bloom between the many simple graves of soldiers, including near the spot where one of his best friends had recently been buried. The scene inspired him to write a poem, "In Flanders Fields," which begins: "In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row." It would soon become the most famous poem about the war.
Three years later, in November 1918, Moina Belle Michael, a professor at the University of Georgia, came across McCrae's poem, which both inspired her to write a poem of her own on a similar theme and to begin to wear an artificial silk poppy on Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day and specifically associated with the American Civil War) as a way to honor those who had died while serving in the military. She also sold the silk flowers to her friends and coworkers to raise money for soldiers in need. Eventually, the tradition spread. By the 1920s, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, a national service organization for military veterans, began to distribute silk poppies on Memorial Day as a way to help provide disabled vets with some financial assistance, and the flower became forever linked with the holiday.
The common poppy also plays a role in Remembrance Day, observed in many Commonwealth countries on November 11 to coincide with the end of hostilities in World War I, and Anzac Day in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, among other countries, which is observed on April 25 as a day of remembrance for the war dead in those nations.
Nice story of the poppy.


text:
import copy
import hashlib
import json
import string
import sys
import urllib2

MANIFEST_VERSION = 2

# Some commonly-used key names.
ARCHIVES_KEY = 'archives'
BUNDLES_KEY = 'bundles'
NAME_KEY = 'name'
REVISION_KEY = 'revision'
VERSION_KEY = 'version'

# Valid values for the archive.host_os field
HOST_OS_LITERALS = frozenset(['mac', 'win', 'linux', 'all'])

# Valid keys for various sdk objects, used for validation.
VALID_ARCHIVE_KEYS = frozenset(['host_os', 'size', 'checksum', 'url'])

# Valid values for bundle.stability field
STABILITY_LITERALS = [
    'obsolete', 'post_stable', 'stable', 'beta', 'dev', 'canary']

# Valid values for bundle-recommended field.
YES_NO_LITERALS = ['yes', 'no']
VALID_BUNDLES_KEYS = frozenset([
    ARCHIVES_KEY, NAME_KEY, VERSION_KEY, REVISION_KEY,
    'description', 'desc_url', 'stability', 'recommended', 'repath',
    'sdk_revision'
    ])

VALID_MANIFEST_KEYS = frozenset(['manifest_version', BUNDLES_KEY])

def GetHostOS():
  '''Returns the host_os value that corresponds to the current host OS'''
  return {
      'linux2': 'linux',
      'darwin': 'mac',
      'cygwin': 'win',
      'win32':  'win'
      }[sys.platform]

def DictToJSON(pydict):
  """Convert a dict to a JSON-formatted string."""
  pretty_string = json.dumps(pydict, sort_keys=True, indent=2)
  # json.dumps sometimes returns trailing whitespace and does not put
  # a newline at the end.  This code fixes these problems.
  pretty_lines = pretty_string.split('\n')
  return '\n'.join([line.rstrip() for line in pretty_lines]) + '\n'

def DownloadAndComputeHash(from_stream, to_stream=None, progress_func=None):
  '''Download the archive data from from-stream and generate sha1 and
  size info.

  Args:
    from_stream:   An input stream that supports read.
    to_stream:     [optional] the data is written to to_stream if it is
                   provided.
    progress_func: [optional] A function used to report download progress. If
                   provided, progress_func is called with progress=0 at the
                   beginning of the download, periodically with progress=1
                   during the download, and progress=100 at the end.

  Return
    A tuple (sha1, size) where sha1 is a sha1-hash for the archive data and
    size is the size of the archive data in bytes.'''
  # Use a no-op progress function if none is specified.
  def progress_no_op(progress):
    pass
  if not progress_func:
    progress_func = progress_no_op

  sha1_hash = hashlib.sha1()
  size = 0
  progress_func(progress=0)
  while(1):
    data = from_stream.read(32768)
    if not data:
      break
    sha1_hash.update(data)
    size += len(data)
    if to_stream:
      to_stream.write(data)
    progress_func(size)

  progress_func(progress=100)
  return sha1_hash.hexdigest(), size

class Error(Exception):
  """Generic error/exception for manifest_util module"""
  pass

class Archive(dict):
  """A placeholder for sdk archive information. We derive Archive from
     dict so that it is easily serializable. """

  def __init__(self, host_os_name):
    """ Create a new archive for the given host-os name. """
    super(Archive, self).__init__()
    self['host_os'] = host_os_name

  def CopyFrom(self, src):
    """Update the content of the archive by copying values from the given
       dictionary.

    Args:
      src: The dictionary whose values must be copied to the archive."""
    for key, value in src.items():
      self[key] = value

  def Validate(self, error_on_unknown_keys=False):
    """Validate the content of the archive object. Raise an Error if
       an invalid or missing field is found.

    Args:
      error_on_unknown_keys: If True, raise an Error when unknown keys are
      found in the archive.
    """
    host_os = self.get('host_os', None)
    if host_os and host_os not in HOST_OS_LITERALS:
      raise Error('Invalid host-os name in archive')
    # Ensure host_os has a valid string. We'll use it for pretty printing.
    if not host_os:
      host_os = 'all (default)'
    if not self.get('url', None):
      raise Error('Archive "%s" has no URL' % host_os)
    if not self.get('size', None):
      raise Error('Archive "%s" has no size' % host_os)
    checksum = self.get('checksum', None)
    if not checksum:
      raise Error('Archive "%s" has no checksum' % host_os)
    elif not isinstance(checksum, dict):
      raise Error('Archive "%s" has a checksum, but it is not a dict' % host_os)
    elif not len(checksum):
      raise Error('Archive "%s" has an empty checksum dict' % host_os)
    # Verify that all key names are valid.
    if error_on_unknown_keys:
      for key in self:
        if key not in VALID_ARCHIVE_KEYS:
          raise Error('Archive "%s" has invalid attribute "%s"' % (
              host_os, key))

  def UpdateVitals(self, revision):
    """Update the size and checksum information for this archive
    based on the content currently at the URL.

    This allows the template mandifest to be maintained without
    the need to size and checksums to be present.
    """
    template = string.Template(self['url'])
    self['url'] = template.substitute({'revision': revision})
    from_stream = urllib2.urlopen(self['url'])
    sha1_hash, size = DownloadAndComputeHash(from_stream)
    self['size'] = size
    self['checksum'] = { 'sha1': sha1_hash }

  def __getattr__(self, name):
    """Retrieve values from this dict using attributes.

    This allows for foo.bar instead of foo['bar'].

    Args:
      name: the name of the key, 'bar' in the example above.
    Returns:
      The value associated with that key."""
    if name not in self:
      raise AttributeError(name)
    # special case, self.checksum returns the sha1, not the checksum dict.
    if name == 'checksum':
      return self.GetChecksum()
    return self.__getitem__(name)

  def __setattr__(self, name, value):
    """Set values in this dict using attributes.

    This allows for foo.bar instead of foo['bar'].

    Args:
      name: The name of the key, 'bar' in the example above.
      value: The value to associate with that key."""
    # special case, self.checksum returns the sha1, not the checksum dict.
    if name == 'checksum':
      self.setdefault('checksum', {})['sha1'] = value
      return
    return self.__setitem__(name, value)

  def GetChecksum(self, hash_type='sha1'):
    """Returns a given cryptographic checksum of the archive"""
    return self['checksum'][hash_type]

class Bundle(dict):
  """A placeholder for sdk bundle information. We derive Bundle from
     dict so that it is easily serializable."""

  def __init__(self, obj):
    """ Create a new bundle with the given bundle name."""
    if isinstance(obj, str) or isinstance(obj, unicode):
      dict.__init__(self, [(ARCHIVES_KEY, []), (NAME_KEY, obj)])
    else:
      dict.__init__(self, obj)

  def MergeWithBundle(self, bundle):
    """Merge this bundle with |bundle|.

    Merges dict in |bundle| with this one in such a way that keys are not
    duplicated: the values of the keys in |bundle| take precedence in the
    resulting dictionary.

    Archives in |bundle| will be appended to archives in self.

    Args:
      bundle: The other bundle.  Must be a dict.
    """
    assert self is not bundle

    for k, v in bundle.iteritems():
      if k == ARCHIVES_KEY:
        for archive in v:
          self.get(k, []).append(archive)
      else:
        self[k] = v

  def __str__(self):
    return self.GetDataAsString()

  def GetDataAsString(self):
    """Returns the JSON bundle object, pretty-printed"""
    return DictToJSON(self)

  def LoadDataFromString(self, json_string):
    """Load a JSON bundle string. Raises an exception if json_string
       is not well-formed JSON.

    Args:
      json_string: a JSON-formatted string containing the bundle
    """
    self.CopyFrom(json.loads(json_string))

  def CopyFrom(self, source):
    """Update the content of the bundle by copying values from the given
       dictionary.

    Args:
      source: The dictionary whose values must be copied to the bundle."""
    for key, value in source.items():
      if key == ARCHIVES_KEY:
        archives = []
        for a in value:
          new_archive = Archive(a['host_os'])
          new_archive.CopyFrom(a)
          archives.append(new_archive)
        self[ARCHIVES_KEY] = archives
      else:
        self[key] = value

  def Validate(self, add_missing_info=False, error_on_unknown_keys=False):
    """Validate the content of the bundle. Raise an Error if an invalid or
       missing field is found.

    Args:
      error_on_unknown_keys: If True, raise an Error when unknown keys are
      found in the bundle.
    """
    # Check required fields.
    if not self.get(NAME_KEY):
      raise Error('Bundle has no name')
    if self.get(REVISION_KEY) == None:
      raise Error('Bundle "%s" is missing a revision number' % self[NAME_KEY])
    if self.get(VERSION_KEY) == None:
      raise Error('Bundle "%s" is missing a version number' % self[NAME_KEY])
    if not self.get('description'):
      raise Error('Bundle "%s" is missing a description' % self[NAME_KEY])
    if not self.get('stability'):
      raise Error('Bundle "%s" is missing stability info' % self[NAME_KEY])
    if self.get('recommended') == None:
      raise Error('Bundle "%s" is missing the recommended field' %
                  self[NAME_KEY])
    # Check specific values
    if self['stability'] not in STABILITY_LITERALS:
      raise Error('Bundle "%s" has invalid stability field: "%s"' %
                  (self[NAME_KEY], self['stability']))
    if self['recommended'] not in YES_NO_LITERALS:
      raise Error(
          'Bundle "%s" has invalid recommended field: "%s"' %
          (self[NAME_KEY], self['recommended']))
    # Verify that all key names are valid.
    if error_on_unknown_keys:
      for key in self:
        if key not in VALID_BUNDLES_KEYS:
          raise Error('Bundle "%s" has invalid attribute "%s"' %
                      (self[NAME_KEY], key))
    # Validate the archives
    for archive in self[ARCHIVES_KEY]:
      if add_missing_info and 'size' not in archive:
        archive.UpdateVitals(self[REVISION_KEY])
      archive.Validate(error_on_unknown_keys)

  def GetArchive(self, host_os_name):
    """Retrieve the archive for the given host os.

    Args:
      host_os_name: name of host os whose archive must be retrieved.
    Return:
      An Archive instance or None if it doesn't exist."""
    for archive in self[ARCHIVES_KEY]:
      if archive.host_os == host_os_name or archive.host_os == 'all':
        return archive
    return None

  def GetHostOSArchive(self):
    """Retrieve the archive for the current host os."""
    return self.GetArchive(GetHostOS())

  def GetHostOSArchives(self):
    """Retrieve all archives for the current host os, or marked all.
    """
    return [archive for archive in self.GetArchives()
        if archive.host_os in (GetHostOS(), 'all')]

  def GetArchives(self):
    """Returns all the archives in this bundle"""
    return self[ARCHIVES_KEY]

  def AddArchive(self, archive):
    """Add an archive to this bundle."""
    self[ARCHIVES_KEY].append(archive)

  def RemoveAllArchivesForHostOS(self, host_os_name):
    """Remove an archive from this Bundle."""
    if host_os_name == 'all':
      del self[ARCHIVES_KEY][:]
    else:
      for i, archive in enumerate(self[ARCHIVES_KEY]):
        if archive.host_os == host_os_name:
          del self[ARCHIVES_KEY][i]

  def __getattr__(self, name):
    """Retrieve values from this dict using attributes.

    This allows for foo.bar instead of foo['bar'].

    Args:
      name: the name of the key, 'bar' in the example above.
    Returns:
      The value associated with that key."""
    if name not in self:
      raise AttributeError(name)
    return self.__getitem__(name)

  def __setattr__(self, name, value):
    """Set values in this dict using attributes.

    This allows for foo.bar instead of foo['bar'].

    Args:
      name: The name of the key, 'bar' in the example above.
      value: The value to associate with that key."""
    self.__setitem__(name, value)

  def __eq__(self, bundle):
    """Test if two bundles are equal.

    Normally the default comparison for two dicts is fine, but in this case we
    don't care about the list order of the archives.

    Args:
      bundle: The other bundle to compare against.
    Returns:
      True if the bundles are equal."""
    if not isinstance(bundle, Bundle):
      return False
    if len(self.keys()) != len(bundle.keys()):
      return False
    for key in self.keys():
      if key not in bundle:
        return False
      # special comparison for ARCHIVE_KEY because we don't care about the list
      # ordering.
      if key == ARCHIVES_KEY:
        if len(self[key]) != len(bundle[key]):
          return False
        for archive in self[key]:
          if archive != bundle.GetArchive(archive.host_os):
            return False
      elif self[key] != bundle[key]:
        return False
    return True

  def __ne__(self, bundle):
    """Test if two bundles are unequal.

    See __eq__ for more info."""
    return not self.__eq__(bundle)

class SDKManifest(object):
  """This class contains utilities for manipulation an SDK manifest string

  For ease of unit-testing, this class should not contain any file I/O.
  """

  def __init__(self):
    """Create a new SDKManifest object with default contents"""
    self._manifest_data = {
        "manifest_version": MANIFEST_VERSION,
        "bundles": [],
        }

  def Validate(self, add_missing_info=False):
    """Validate the Manifest file and raises an exception for problems"""
    # Validate the manifest top level
    if self._manifest_data["manifest_version"] > MANIFEST_VERSION:
      raise Error("Manifest version too high: %s" %
                  self._manifest_data["manifest_version"])
    # Verify that all key names are valid.
    for key in self._manifest_data:
      if key not in VALID_MANIFEST_KEYS:
        raise Error('Manifest has invalid attribute "%s"' % key)
    # Validate each bundle
    for bundle in self._manifest_data[BUNDLES_KEY]:
      bundle.Validate(add_missing_info)

  def GetBundle(self, name):
    """Get a bundle from the array of bundles.

    Args:
      name: the name of the bundle to return.
    Return:
      The first bundle with the given name, or None if it is not found."""
    if not BUNDLES_KEY in self._manifest_data:
      return None
    bundles = [bundle for bundle in self._manifest_data[BUNDLES_KEY]
               if bundle[NAME_KEY] == name]
    if len(bundles) > 1:
      sys.stderr.write("WARNING: More than one bundle with name"
                       "'%s' exists.\n" % name)
    return bundles[0] if len(bundles) > 0 else None

  def GetBundles(self):
    """Return all the bundles in the manifest."""
    return self._manifest_data[BUNDLES_KEY]

  def SetBundle(self, new_bundle):
    """Add or replace a bundle in the manifest.

    Note: If a bundle in the manifest already exists with this name, it will be
    overwritten with a copy of this bundle, at the same index as the original.

    Args:
      bundle: The bundle.
    """
    name = new_bundle[NAME_KEY]
    bundles = self.GetBundles()
    new_bundle_copy = copy.deepcopy(new_bundle)
    for i, bundle in enumerate(bundles):
      if bundle[NAME_KEY] == name:
        bundles[i] = new_bundle_copy
        return
    # Bundle not already in list, append it.
    bundles.append(new_bundle_copy)

  def RemoveBundle(self, name):
    """Remove a bundle by name.

    Args:
      name: the name of the bundle to remove.
    Return:
      True if the bundle was removed, False if there is no bundle with that
      name.
    """
    if not BUNDLES_KEY in self._manifest_data:
      return False
    bundles = self._manifest_data[BUNDLES_KEY]
    for i, bundle in enumerate(bundles):
      if bundle[NAME_KEY] == name:
        del bundles[i]
        return True
    return False

  def BundleNeedsUpdate(self, bundle):
    """Decides if a bundle needs to be updated.

    A bundle needs to be updated if it is not installed (doesn't exist in this
    manifest file) or if its revision is later than the revision in this file.

    Args:
      bundle: The Bundle to test.
    Returns:
      True if Bundle needs to be updated.
    """
    if NAME_KEY not in bundle:
      raise KeyError("Bundle must have a 'name' key.")
    local_bundle = self.GetBundle(bundle[NAME_KEY])
    return (local_bundle == None) or (
           (local_bundle[VERSION_KEY], local_bundle[REVISION_KEY]) <
           (bundle[VERSION_KEY], bundle[REVISION_KEY]))

  def MergeBundle(self, bundle, allow_existing=True):
    """Merge a Bundle into this manifest.

    The new bundle is added if not present, or merged into the existing bundle.

    Args:
      bundle: The bundle to merge.
    """
    if NAME_KEY not in bundle:
      raise KeyError("Bundle must have a 'name' key.")
    local_bundle = self.GetBundle(bundle.name)
    if not local_bundle:
      self.SetBundle(bundle)
    else:
      if not allow_existing:
        raise Error('cannot merge manifest bundle \'%s\', it already exists'
                    % bundle.name)
      local_bundle.MergeWithBundle(bundle)

  def MergeManifest(self, manifest):
    '''Merge another manifest into this manifest, disallowing overiding.

    Args
      manifest: The manifest to merge.
    '''
    for bundle in manifest.GetBundles():
      self.MergeBundle(bundle, allow_existing=False)

  def FilterBundles(self, predicate):
    """Filter the list of bundles by |predicate|.

    For all bundles in this manifest, if predicate(bundle) is False, the bundle
    is removed from the manifest.

    Args:
      predicate: a function that take a bundle and returns whether True to keep
      it or False to remove it.
    """
    self._manifest_data[BUNDLES_KEY] = filter(predicate, self.GetBundles())

  def LoadDataFromString(self, json_string, add_missing_info=False):
    """Load a JSON manifest string. Raises an exception if json_string
       is not well-formed JSON.

    Args:
      json_string: a JSON-formatted string containing the previous manifest
      all_hosts: True indicates that we should load bundles for all hosts.
          False (default) says to only load bundles for the current host"""
    new_manifest = json.loads(json_string)
    for key, value in new_manifest.items():
      if key == BUNDLES_KEY:
        # Remap each bundle in |value| to a Bundle instance
        bundles = []
        for b in value:
          new_bundle = Bundle(b[NAME_KEY])
          new_bundle.CopyFrom(b)
          bundles.append(new_bundle)
        self._manifest_data[key] = bundles
      else:
        self._manifest_data[key] = value
    self.Validate(add_missing_info)

  def __str__(self):
    return self.GetDataAsString()

  def __eq__(self, other):
    # Access to protected member _manifest_data of a client class
    # pylint: disable=W0212
    if (self._manifest_data['manifest_version'] !=
        other._manifest_data['manifest_version']):
      return False

    self_bundle_names = set(b.name for b in self.GetBundles())
    other_bundle_names = set(b.name for b in other.GetBundles())
    if self_bundle_names != other_bundle_names:
      return False

    for bundle_name in self_bundle_names:
      if self.GetBundle(bundle_name) != other.GetBundle(bundle_name):
        return False

    return True

  def __ne__(self, other):
    return not (self == other)

  def GetDataAsString(self):
    """Returns the current JSON manifest object, pretty-printed"""
    return DictToJSON(self._manifest_data)


Eric Ries posts about continuous deployment at O'Reilly Radar. This is the second post on this approach I've seen lately, and I find it to be something interesting to think about, if not to be adopted.
Point five in his five step plan for migrating to continuous deployment is root cause analysis, or "the five whys". He has a whole post just on that topic that's definitely worth reading. The case for using root cause analysis is self-evident, the rest of the continuous deployment process is more interesting to discuss.
The basic idea is simple: deploy changes to the application as rapidly as possible, where the definition of "as possible" means "without breaking things". This is a technique that clearly works for big sites. What I'd really like to do is spend a day or a week watching this process unfold, because it leads me to all sorts of questions.
My first question is, how does quality assurance play into this process? The process Eric describes involves lots of automated testing, but most shops have testers as well. Do they test on the production system as changes go live?
The second question is, what kind of version control strategy is being used to back up this process? I'd expect that each developer has their own branch, and that they merge from the production branch to their branch constantly, and only merge back to the production branch when they have a change they are ready to publish. That way developers can commit code frequently without worrying about it being deployed by mistake.
My third question is whether this process is more suited to some kinds of applications than others? Let's take World of Warcraft for example — they have a big, heavy release process that involves lots of internal testing and lots of customer testing before important releases go out the door. Even with exhaustive testing, after every release there's a round of tweaking to deal with all of the unintended consequences of their changes. A change to one constant in World of Warcraft (say, the amount of attack power a warrior gets per point of strength) has changes that ripple through the entire game. It also seems like they'd have to group changes to see how those changes interact with one another without inflicting them on players first.
They could try continuous deployment to the Public Test Realm, but everything that happens there is reported to and dissected by the player community. It's risky.
I'd love to read a whole lot more about this kind of process and how it scales. It's pretty much how everybody works on small applications that they maintain by themselves, but I'm very curious to hear more about how it works for big teams.
Some people from BioWare gave a talk last week (at GDC), about how they're using an incremental approach in developing Mass Effect 2. It's a game that will take over two years to make; I think they could release it in smaller chunks if they wished, but nothing like the continuous deployment that the traditional agile literature talks about. I was very impressed by their intelligent approach to resolving that tension; I wrote it up at http://malvasiabianca.org/archives/2009/03/gdc-2009-friday-bioware-talk/ if you're interested.
I briefly talked to Eric on Wednesday after a workshop he ran at web 2.0, and he seemed pretty cognizant of the fact that "continuous release" is difficult for non-hosted, non-web applications where deployment and installation costs are high. I think his point is really that minimizing release cycles even to the point of making them daily (if you can) is a good idea. Reducing the costs of deployment to make that easier is a good idea too.
Oh, hey, he mentions the switching symlinks trick for rapidly rolling back new releases. That was something we did at SFI back in … 1999-2000 or so. I'm sure it wasn't new then. But I guess it's still not all that well-known even though it's very simple.
Yeah, the symlink switching approach is what Capistrano (the Rails deployment tool) uses.


text:
Wednesdays 9:00 PM on The CW
The Originals News
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The Originals Spoilers
The Originals Watch Online
The Originals Music
The Originals Episode Guide
The Originals Quotes
The Originals Cast
The Originals Pictures
The Originals Videos
The Originals Round Tables
Follow The Originals
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Make no mistake. If we don't stand against him now, our lives aren't worth a damn anyway....
Make no mistake. If we don't stand against him now, our lives aren't worth a damn anyway. Wise man said 'if you know yourself and you know your enemy, then you don't need to fear the outcome of battle.' I know myself and I know my enemy. I know his strengths, I know his pride, and I know his house. Every nook and cranny.
Marcel Gerard
The Originals Season 1 Episode 21: "The Battle of New Orleans"
Marcel Gerard Quotes, The Originals Season 1 Episode 21 Quotes, The Originals Quotes
Miranda Wicker
The Originals Season 1 Episode 21 Quotes
Hayley: I hate this, I feel completely useless.
Genevieve: Don't you get it? You're the point of all this. Klaus and Elijah running all over town? It's all for you. I'm a bit envious.
Hayley: Great. Lucky me.
Permalink: Great. Lucky me.
[to Davina] Have I told you that you're awesome? Cause you are, along with the sun, daylight rings, that guy jogging in a tank top...
Permalink: Have I told you that you're awesome? Cause you are, along with the sun, daylight...
The Originals Season 1 Episode 21 Music
Freaks The Hawk In Paris iTunes
Bones MS MR iTunes
We Want War These New Puritans iTunes
The Originals Season 1 Episode 21
The Originals Round Table: "The Battle of New Orleans"
The Originals: Watch Season 1 Episode 21 Online
The Originals Review: There Will Be Blood
The Originals Season 1 Episode 21 Photos
The Originals Season 1 Episode 21 Videos
The Originals Clip - Do Klaus a Favor
The Battle of New Orleans
Watch The Originals Season 1 Episode 21 Online


text:
<?php

/**
 * Base class for sfLucene actions.
 *
 * @package    sfLucenePlugin
 * @subpackage Widget
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Whether you're needing a full bathroom refurbishment or a separate item, Yorkshire Care Equipment will help you find what you're looking for. With a free no-obligation site survey, we can discuss what would be best for your needs – supply is an option only if necessary. Please get it touch with us if you need a hand.
The Mediterranean is a standard length walk-in bath, meaning that it can be installed in place of an ordinary bath. The door is opened simply by pulling up the handle to unlock it and closed by pushing it firmly until it locks.


Participation is free. Accommodation, feeding and transportation during program will be provided for all selected participants.
Inspire Africa trainers will have access to a number of opportunities to strengthen their skills and participate meaningfully in entrepreneurship and leadership work.
Receive first class business training from International experts.
Receive recognition by the US Consulate, Lagos.
Global visibility as champions for entrepreneurship education and youth empowerment.
Applicant must have an existing start-up business or a well-researched business idea awaiting implementation. Whether idea or start-up, business must have a potential social or environmental impact on society.
Applicant must be an open-minded visionary. Must also have a credible track-record.
Applicants must not be small thinkers! We are looking for authentic youths who think big, believe big and do big.
Applicants must be willing to reside peacefully with other fellows during the period of the program.
Must be willing to lead 1 or 2 training per month or within two months.
Individuals between the ages of 23 and 40 can apply.
Applicants must have facilitated a program before.
Applicants must be passionate about empowering young people in Africa.
Applicants must reside in Nigeria, Ghana or Tanzania.
Visit the Inspire Africa Official webpage for further information.


The Josephine County Utility Regulation Ordinance is meant to stop public utility companies like Pacific Power from charging a monthly fee to those who want to opt out of smart meters.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- The Josephine County Board of Commissioners adopted ordinance 2018-006 Wednesday. You can click here to read the ordinance in full.
Chairman of the Board Dan DeYoung said there was a lot of concern about whether or not people had options when Pacific Power transitioned to smart meters.
"We felt as a board that there were no other choices given," DeYoung said.
The ordinance would require utility companies to provide alternative methods of reporting for customers who don't want the smart meters.
It would require the utility company to remove a smart meter that a customer already has installed and replace it with a non-radio frequency meter within 30 days after receiving the demand.
Scott Bolton, Senior Vice President of Pacific Power, said the company cannot comply with the ordinance because that would put it out of compliance with the Public Utility Commission.
"I think by developing an ordinance, which is a local law that may or may not be legal with how the state regulates utilities, that will create more confusion and so it will be difficult to see exactly where we go from here," Bolton said.
The legislation is one-of-a-kind. Bolton said Josephine County is the only one adopting an ordinance like this one.
"This is unique, I think most counties recognize that they don't regulate the rates of utilities," Bolton said.
DeYoung said the Commission does not want to regulate the company's rates.
"That's one of the things that the power company was really strict about, and we had conversations back and forth. Their opposition to what we are doing is that we don't have the authority to set the rates, that's set by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, we get that," DeYoung said.
Bolton said Pacific Power is already working on making more options available for customers who don't want the smart meters.
"Part of what determines what works and what the costs will be is simply getting the technology deployed and knowing how many opt-outs we're dealing with across the state," Bolton said.
The ordinance goes into effect in three months.


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Keyword Search of pics
How to Graduate
Honors Plan
Alumni Insights
PICS Director, Rob Franzese Welcomes Back PICS Students
A warm welcome back to the 2021-22 academic year!
Dear PICS Students,
A warm welcome back!
As we head into the new academic semester, one with some continuing extraordinary challenges to be sure, we're nonetheless more excited than ever to welcome you back to campus (YAY!) to share the extraordinary experience of this University of Michigan education with you. Your extraordinary PICS instructors and staff have gone even beyond their ordinary summer heroics to prepare an outstanding semester and academic year, and know that they are and I am here to support you however we can: is-michigan@umich.edu; is-advising@umich.edu; franzese@umich.edu.
For the Class of 2022 students:
This is the time to make sure you are on track to graduate and to get your senior release from us. Please take a look at our "How to Graduate" page on our website and follow the steps.
If you have any questions regarding your progress towards a degree, please contact our advisors by emailing is-advising@umich.edu.
The PICS Graduation Ceremony is planned for Thursday, April 28th, 2022. More information will be available before the end of Fall semester.
We are happy to announce - the Donia Human Rights Fellows Program! The initiative recognizes U-M undergraduates majoring in International Studies through the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) who have demonstrated their interest in and commitment to the study and practice of human rights during their time at the University of Michigan. The new program represents an opportunity for the University of Michigan to recognize student achievement in this area and provide students with a credential useful to pursue a career in human rights. The program is open to juniors and seniors majoring in International Studies who have enrolled in the International Security, Norms and Cooperation sub-plan with the first group of eligible students in the Class of 2022. Details regarding the program are available on the DHRC website.
Sept 9: 2021 PICS Welcome Back Students Event. 4-5:30pm, Weiser Hall Lawn. In-person
Sept 14: Donia Human Rights Center Panel: "Twenty Years after 9/11: Challenges to Human Rights Protection from Terrorism and Counter-terrorism." 4:30-6 pm (EDT) Virtual/Hybrid
Sept 21: PICS Virtual Career Event with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 12-1pm (EDT) Virtual
Sept 22: PICS Career Event with U.S. State Department Diplomat in Residence, Shannon Farrell. 6-7:30pm (EDT) Virtual
Oct 20: PICS Carrer Event with Hardy Vieux, Chief of Staff, Kids In Need of Defense. 4-5pm (EDT) Virtual
Oct 25: PICS Career Event. Humanitarian and International Development Careers with Mercy Corps. 12-1 pm (EDT) Virtual
Save the date. Mar 14, 2022: International Studies Alumni Career Panel. 5-6:30pm (EDT)
Funding for study, research, and internships abroad - Please check the various application deadlines:
PICS administers grants for study abroad, research, and internships to IS majors and minors in the forms of Summer Research and Internship Grants and Study Abroad Grants.
We also invite you to check out funding opportunities at the International Institute at and its various centers, as well as LSA Opportunity Hub.
PICS keeps track of various internship, research, and funding opportunities in and related to international issues on our PICS Information Blog. Check the blog often!
For juniors and seniors in the Honors Program or pursuing honors thesis projects, check out the Samo Alajbegović Fellowship. This fellowship supports University of Michigan undergraduates in the LSA Honors Program pursuing research and internship opportunities in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
PICS also keeps track of various opportunities for graduating seniors. If you are a graduating senior and participated in international opportunities and other activities during your time at the University of Michigan, depending on your future graduate school and/or career plans, you might be a great prospective candidate for the Truman Scholarship or post-graduate opportunities such as Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge or others in the ONSF portfolio. Please contact the ONSF office for advising hours.
We want to remind you to check our PICS website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Weekly toPICS news emails for announcements and upcoming events. To connect with our PICS Alumni and other PICS students please go to our LinkedIn page and join the group.
PICS Director's "Office Hours" for Fall 2021:
In addition to traditional in-person "office hours" Mon/Wed 12-1:30pm in 333 Weiser Hall, feel free, encouraged even, to email me at franzese@umich.edu with any questions and/or to request a 'virtual' appointment.
Hope your semester is off to a terrific start!
Robert (Rob) J. Franzese, Jr.
Director, Program in International & Comparative Studies
Professor & Associate Chair, Department of Political Science
Edie N. Goldenberg Director, Michigan in Washington Program
International Institute; Program in International and Comparative Studies
Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS)
is-michigan@umich.edu
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Thompson & Knight supports, participates in, and is dedicated to many charitable and nonprofit organizations in the communities we serve and beyond. Through the Thompson & Knight Foundation, formed more than 20 years ago, we lend financial support each year to hundreds of civic and charitable organizations promoting diversity, the arts, education, the elderly, health care, youth mentoring, and other similarly focused programs.
We also encourage our employees to lead balanced lives through public involvement, pro bono work, and charitable giving. By educating our attorneys and staff about the organizations with whom we partner, the Firm maintains active involvement in many community initiatives.
Named a Community of Respect® Partner by the Anti-Defamation League
More than $765,000 committed by the Thompson & Knight Foundation to civic and charitable causes in 2018
Received the 2018 Silver Award from the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
Through the years, the Firm has engaged in a number of activities reflecting our commitment to community. We have built houses for Habitat for Humanity, organized clothing drives for victims of natural disasters, and participated in various fundraising activities for organizations such as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Boys & Girls Clubs, March of Dimes®, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
Thompson & Knight funds academic scholarships for four graduating students from Booker T. Washington School for the Visual and Performing Arts, and we fund an internship at SMU Dedman School of Law working with the Partner to Practice program.
For more than 10 years, Thompson & Knight has partnered with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office by participating in the Lawyer on Loan Program. Through the program, the Firm sends Associates to the DA's office each year to serve as Deputy Assistant District Attorneys, selecting juries and trying criminal cases in the Frank Crowley Courts Building. Our Associates also have the opportunity to gain trial experience through our partnerships with the municipal courts in Austin and Arlington, Texas.
In addition, we have numerous members of the Firm who hold volunteer leadership positions in community service organizations.
"If there's something you are personally invested in that will make you a better person, leader, public speaker, or, of course, attorney, the Firm supports all of this. It could be financially by donating to the organization or by personally supporting and acknowledging the work you do and interests you have outside the office."
Courtney Jamison Roane, Associate
View Courtney's Bio
"Thompson & Knight promotes change through community involvement and service. There have been a multitude of attorneys and personnel at TK who have been involved in various organizations and in leadership capacities throughout the decades."
Paul K. Stafford, Counsel
View Paul's Bio
Connect with TK
Thompson & Knight Associate Named to Energy Bar Association Position


The Chicago Bears have already exceeded the expectations of many this year. Plenty of people saw them going somewhere between 6-10 and 7-9 thanks to a mix of an inexperienced roster and a tough division. Yet here they are sitting at 5-3 with eight games to go, already equalling their win total from 2017.
Could they possibly make a run in the second half to secure a playoff spot? There's plenty of optimism, though head coach Matt Nagy isn't even thinking about that. He's too focused on the next game. Still, can they squeeze out another five wins from their remaining schedule? One that features five games against division opponents and another against the NFC powerhouse Rams.
Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com believes they'll come close. Really close. Unfortunately, the push will fall just short of its goal.
"With the Packers in the rearview mirror, Chicago and Minnesota will stay neck-and-neck in the standings until the end of the season. The Vikings might boast the superior roster, but Minnesota has more potential hiccups on its schedule than Chicago, which still gets to play the Lions twice, the Giants and the 49ers.
Sadly this is a scenario that seems all too real. Minnesota is always a tough team to play in their home stadium. Few have struggled there more of late than the Bears. It seems bad things always happen to them when they play up there.
Brian Urlacher tore up his knee there in 2011. Robbie Gould missed a field goal in overtime in 2013 and cost them the division. The past three trips up there have resulted in blowout losses by at least 13 points or more. Head coach Mike Zimmer has never lost to them at home. If the Bears let things rest on that game, Bergman is correct.
It likely will not end well.
This means they'll have to do one of two things. Either they prove the doubters wrong and go up there and win, or they somehow get to 10 victories before that game comes up on the schedule. Neither will be an easy feat for this team, but nothing about making the playoffs is ever easy. If it were, the Bears wouldn't be in the midst of an eight-year drought.


If your skin feels dry, there are plenty of creams and lotions on the market designed to restore moisture. However, you aren't covered in fur, so what works for people isn't an option for felines. If your cat suffers from dry skin, there are treatments available. Most of these work from the inside out. Consult your veterinarian if Kitty has dry skin issues to rule out any underlying disease.
Kitty's skin can reflect her basic health. Feed your cat a high-quality wet or dry food rather than a less expensive and lesser quality generic feline food. Since cats are obligate carnivores, look for grain-free meals containing meat as the primary ingredient. Avoid foods chocked with fillers or artificial ingredients. Your vet can recommend foods suitable for your cat's age and lifestyle. Although quality food is more expensive, it's an investment in your cat's overall health.
Sometimes, even a good diet isn't sufficient to combat dry skin. Ask your veterinarian about giving your cat supplements designed for skin and coat health. These supplements contain omega fatty acids, which also have anti-inflammatory effects. Even finicky cats usually devour fish oil-based supplements designed with felines in mind. In addition to improving his skin, fatty acid supplementation can benefit cats with arthritis, heart disease and constipation. These supplements are generally safe, but your vet can advise you on the right dosage for your cat.
Stimulate your cat's skin with regular brushing. This also helps rid your cat of loose, dry skin flakes. If your cat's fur is truly dirty and adding to the dry skin issue, consider giving him a bath. If the thought of bathing Kitty strikes fear into your heart, have a groomer do the deed. After the bath, you or the groomer can use a skin/coat conditioner designed for felines.
Dry, flaky skin might appear on indoor cats during the wintertime, when your heating system takes a lot of moisture out of the environment. You might experience dry skin during the winter. Do both yourself and your cat a favor by using a humidifier to restore moisture to the air. In addition to helping revitalize skin, a humidifier might make it easier for you and Kitty to breathe if you suffer from stuffy noses during the winter.


Thermomechanical treatments for manipulating grain boundary microstructure in 10 wt%Cr ferritic-martensitic steel SUH3 have been studied. Material with a high fraction of coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries was successfully produced and subjected to steam oxidation tests to demonstrate the utility of grain boundary engineering. Introducing a high fraction of twin boundaries in austenite resulted in a significant increase in the number of CSL boundaries along the prior austenite grain boundaries in martensite. In addition, grain boundary engineering introduced a high density of subblock structures in martensite, which resulted in a homogeneous distribution of fine precipitates in tempered martensite. Steam oxidation tests demonstrated that grain boundary engineering for SUH3 steel can achieve enhanced oxidation resistance.


This is the transcript of Philip Davies' questioning of Lord Patten at the Commons Select Committee on 27 November 2012. Davies' questions about what Mark Thompson knew when begin at 11.28am, or at 40.20 minutes on this video.
Davies: For now can I ask you about Mark Thompson, whose praises you were singing when he left the BBC. What do you think of Mark Thompson's explanation of what he knew about Jimmy Savile and Newsnight and all that kind of stuff, what do you think about his explanation of what he knew and when he knew it?
Patten: I'll be better able to comment on that after Pollard has replied.
Davies: As the Chairman of the BBC trust you have no opinion?
Patten: The reason why we set up the Pollard inquiry is so that it could ask those questions.
Davies: Have you not asked those questions?
Patten: I'm waiting for the Pollard inquiry to report before I comment on the position of those he is interviewing himself.
Davies: When did you last speak to Mark Thompson about all this?
Patten: I last spoke to him about a month ago. I went to a lecture that he gave in Oxford on rhetoric. It was before he took his job at the New York Times and we had a brief conversation about the issues surrounding Savile and the enquiries.
Davies: How many times have you spoken to him about the Savile and Newsnight situation?
Patten: How many times since when?
Davies: Well, since you found out about it, you couldn't talk to him before you found out about it so how many times have you spoken to him since you found out about it?
Patten: Yes, but you don't set up an inquiry, and an expensive inquiry and then bark yourself.
Davies: Did you not speak to him before you set up the inquiry?
Patten : (Long pause.) No.
Patten: Because he was no longer Director General of the BBC.
Davies: But he was at the time of something that's a big crisis for the BBC. Did you not think it was worthwhile to speak to someone who was director general at the time?
Davies: What do you get paid to do Lord Patten?
Patten: What I get paid to do is to chair the BBC Trust.
Patten: And you are probably aware of the responsibilities of the BBC Trust.
Davies: On the um, Mark Thompson for the records, seems to say, as far as I recall, from what I've heard, that he'd never heard any allegation about Jimmy Savile whilst he was director general. He left the BBC on the 16th September. On the 6th September, ten days before he left, Mark Thompson got BBC lawyers to write to the Sunday Times to tell them to stop a story alleging that he did know about what had happened and threatened to sue them if they ran the story so what do you make of that?
Patten: You know perfectly well that I'm not going to reply to questions which are being looked at by nick pollard's inquiry, you know that perfectly well, so you can go on asking those questions but you're going to get the same answer.
Davies: But the point is Lord Patten that it doesn't relate to you because you said that you didn't know anything about this until the 28th September I think it was.
Patten: Yeah the weekend of the –when the Standard broke the story.
Davies: You didn't know about that?
Patten: Sorry but what was the answer to that question?
Davies: I'm not going to give an answer, I've got the charter here, we'll come back to your role late. As I said I want to know, I'm asking about Mark Thompson at the moment. The 8th September, you, both of you, actually, and Mark Thompson, hosted a party on the last night of the proms. So the day before the BBC had received a letter from ITV to say they were going to run a programme about Jimmy Savile. The day before that, Mark Thompson, the Director General, got lawyers to write to the Sunday Times to tell them to stop a story or else he would sue them. And on the 8th September this was never even, never even mentioned: the Director General didn't even say to you, 'By the way we've got, you know, there is something that's happened, I need to have a chat with you about this.' Nothing at all was mentioned about it?
Davies: So he never said, 'I want to speak to you about anything important'?
Davies: So what do you think it says about you as the chairman of the Trust, I mean are you seen as some kind of, seen as some kind of patsy for the executive at the BBC, that they think there's very serious issues coming up and you don't even need to know about them, as the Chairman of the Trust?
Davies: What do you think about Mark Thompson and his role in all this? Do you not have an opinion?
Patten: I'll have a more informed opinion after pollard has produced his reportDavies: So is your opinion only going to be the same as Pollard's?
Pollard: No, my opinion will be coloured by Mr Pollard's and if it wasn't going to be what would point of having the Pollard inquiry?
Davies: Apart from to save you from having to answer any difficult questions.
"In the light of the fact that the director-general is also the editor-in-chief and ultimately responsible for all content; and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2nd November, I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down from the post of director-general.
"When appointed to the role, with 23 years' experience as a producer and leader at the BBC, I was confident the trustees had chosen the best candidate for the post, and the right person to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. However, the wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader.
"To have been the director-general of the BBC even for a short period, and in the most challenging of circumstances, has been a great honour.
"This is undoubtedly one of the saddest evenings of my public life. George Entwistle has worked for the BBC for 23 years. He exemplifies the finest values of public service broadcasting.
Click here to download Dimbleby, Entwistle and Patten's transcript in a Microsoft Word File.
LM: What's your reaction to Ofcom deciding to investigate ITV? It's very embarrassing isn't it?
PF: The way that This Morning interviewed PM last Thursday… was misguided and on that day PS issued a statement apologising. We did the same. We launched an investigation straight away which has concluded today, less than a week from the interview… we've taken disciplinary action.
LM: You say disciplinary action but PS is still on air today so what sort of disciplinary action.
PF: I can't discuss in detail what disciplinary action we've taken against those involved in the production. I've spoken to PS myself, he realises his mistake, he apologised extremely fully and extremely quickly… he is under no illusions that this is a lapse in ITV journalism.
LM: This is terribly embarrassing for ITV, how could this have happened, MPs are wanting to know?
PF: In live TV all sorts of things can happen, that doesn't mean they should happen… I'm confident this sort of thing won't happen again.
LM: No tougher punishments? No suspensions or anything like that?
PF: I can't discuss the details of the disciplinary action… We think it's appropriate and have taken this extremely seriously.
PF: We've had a letter from Lord McAlpine today and I will respond to that very quickly. I've also had a letter from John Whittingdale and I will respond to that quickly as well. As you say Ofcom have launched an investigation and we will cooperate fully in that investigation.
LM: And you're happy that all the steps that should have been taken for that programme were taken? Where was the editor? Where was the production staff? Why was Philip Schofield thrusting this list at the PM?
PF: I'm not happy that this happened. We have editorial processes and checks in place and to be honest with you they weren't followed so I'm not happy about that but I think that the way we've tackled this and responded has been quick and decisive and I'm happy we won't see something like this again on This Morning or any other ITV programmes.
LM: And PS stays on air?
PF: PS stays on air, yes.
JH: This has been talked up as the greatest crisis in the history of the BBC, do you agree?
DD: No, I think that's hyperbole. I think that's unnecessary… Wherever I go people speak with pride and gratitude about what the BBC does. The work that is done by the BBC is unquestioned. What is has is a crisis of management of its own making.
JH: [But] the trust in which it is held has been damaged hasn't it?
DD: I think only by this one absurd broadcast by Newsnight implying that Lord McAlpine was involved in the North Wales affair. I think we wait to hear what happened with the Jimmy Saville case because that's more complicated – that's a decision not to run with a story that maybe they felt they hadn't got enough evidence for… I think it's been blown up, I can't understand why the DG resigned… The fact that he chose to resign, and let's say he chose to resign and the huge payoff given suggests maybe he didn't… and not to fight… shows that he wasn't the right man. The fact that he didn't fight back against you on Saturday shows he wasn't the right man to lead the BBC… If you're going to be DG you've got to fight for the organisation…The fact that we [BBC] do this, a non profit-making organisation paid by the public to serve them and I think that's what's being betrayed by the management. The problem with the BBC is that bureaucracies are self-perpetuating…managers keep adding to management and reducing the actual service that's given. Bureaucrats when they are asked to cut back immediately increase the scale of the BBC and its costs immediately increase the number of managers. The people who suffer are the people who do the real work. In my opinion it is still over-managed and the management still speak gobble-di-gook. Any editor or head of a department spends their life filling in forms about things that aren't really necessary… The trouble is that out of that you don't get good DGs, you get people who have played the system one against the other…. They don't have the stomach for what's needed, for the kind of leadership that's needed.
JH: Couldn't you say the BBC is different because of the way it's funded…?
JH: Do you think he [Chris Patten] should go?
DD: Certainly not. I think he should reflect on why he chose George to do the job [of DG] and I don't think he [Patten] should rush in to choose a new DG in 2 or 3 weeks which seems to be the plan at the moment… Patten has a reputation as being a shrewd old bird and a shrewd old bird is what is needed. For him to go would be absurd, it's like when the chairman and DG went over the Hutton Inquiry, you can't lose everybody. It's not going to be easy to get this done, but it's got to be done.
JH: Should we get rid of the board of trustees completely and hand over the governance of the BBC to somebody like Ofcom?
DD: I don't like the Ofcom idea and I didn't like the abolition of the governors. I thought the governors were a perfectly good way of doing it and indeed the Trust is showing itself to be closer to governors now… John Simpson, my colleague, floated the idea of possibly separating editorial control from the management and I think that's also suspect… the man at the top has to take responsibility for what's broadcast. He has to make sure there are systems that alert him to trouble… systems that tell him 'have you read the Guardian this morning' and 'do you see what's going on on Twitter.' You've got to have an organisation that's led by a man who ultimately is in charge and who ultimately takes responsibility.


Camp Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City (11 June) -- A village leader was abducted and later on murdered by New People's Army (NPA) death squad while another escaped the slay try in Sitio (sub-village) Mauno in the village of Maligaya in Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat province 11:00 PM Tuesday.
Village leader Kito Melody was abducted by NPAs belonging to Southern Alip Regional Terrorist Unit led by Manuel Fernandez alias Bobo who barged in his house while another village leader and former Cafgu Eldie Banawag was able to escape after witnessing the arrival of the armed group before they were able to enter his home. The NPAs reportedly came from the "Peace Zone" in nearby Tulunan town in North Cotabato province.
Melody's lifeless body was later found and recovered by elements of 27th Infantry Battalion (27IB) a few kilometers away in the boundary of Sitio Sinapulan and Sitio Mauno in the same village.
"The NPAs are targeting village and tribal leaders to terrorize the residents to make them withdraw their support from the peace and development efforts of the AFP and the Local Government Units," said Lt. Col. Joshua Santiago, commander of 27IB with operational jurisdiction over South Cotabato and parts of Sultan Kudarat.
Santiago also slammed the use of the Peace Zone by the terrorists. "The group led by Fernandez together Loida Magpatoc alias Gwen and Noel Legaspi alias Jefrrey came from the Peace Zone in Tulunan, North Cotabato. They have been using the peace zone as their haven to avoid arrest," Santiago said.
Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army's 10th Infantry Division deplored the newest atrocity of the communists as he vowed to bring the criminals to justice. "Our community leaders know what is best for their villages and they want peace and development to come in but these criminals are coercing the people. Such terrorism will not go unpunished for our people's sake. The true soldiers of the masses will bring these murderers to justice," Holganza said.
In December of 2009, Lumad leader Sendo Awing was killed by NPA terrorists in Columbio and later admitted it was a mistake. Greggy Awing, Sendo's son was also killed on the same day in the morning, several hours before his father was shot.
In 2009 alone, the NPA murdered 83 individuals in Southern Mindanao ; 52 of those they killed were innocent civilians.
This year, six innocent civilians including 13 year-old girl Memilyn Moreno of Boston town in Davao Oriental Province were killed in NPA terroristic attacks against communities, infrastructure projects and business establishments. Five people were killed and a dozen others were also wounded when NPAs ambushed election officials and soldiers in Maragusan town in Compostela Valley province a day after the election.
Last year, residents of Tampakan town in South Cotabato and of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat separately staged a peace rally and urged the NPA to halt its liquidation of civilians particularly village and tribal leaders.


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AL RAMLA EAST
by thespecialist
Al Ramla is one of seven places in Halwan Suburb, Sharjah. It is also divided into two regions; Al Ramla East and Al Ramla West. Among these regions, Al Ramla East is known for its open houses with modern amenities such as a swimming pool, majlis and furnished kitchens. Al Ramla East Villas comes with a classroom and a girl's room as well as living and dining rooms.
Finding parking spaces in Al Ramla East is no problem as each area in the community comes with two car parks. Visitors can also easily find parking space outside the villa. Public transportation in Al Ramla East includes metro stations and bus stops. Al Jubail bus station and King Faisal Road, Gold Souq (elderly) traveled 11 minutes by car. Metro stations are very far from the community, the closest to which is Al Qiyadah Metro Station located 16 minutes by car. Other nearby municipal stations include Al Nahda, 18 minutes away and Dubai Airport Free Zone 20 minutes.
Muslim residents can go to Martyr Hasan Khamis Al Houli, the only Muslim church in Al Ramla East, to pray. Other nearby mosques are Malik Ibn Anas Mosque, Ahmed Ibn Hanbal Mosque and Al Imam Al Bukhari Mosque in a short five-minute drive. 26-minutes away is the tall Sharjah Mosque with the title of the largest Sharjah church. It took five years to build and opened its visitor's door to Ramadan. The mosque has 25,000 worshipers at a time.
The Sharjah City for Humanitarians Services (SCHS), Al Wafa School for Capacity Development, provides services to more than 225 students suffering from severe disability and mental retardation. Al Ferdous Quran Kareem and Sunnah Center are another school in Al Ramla East. With the help of fun and educational activities, the knowledgeable staff of Al Ferdous Center make the Quran and Sunnah easy for children to learn and practice. For those looking for institutions of higher learning, there is Gulf Medical University offering more than 21 degrees and graduation programs. Available in 17 minutes by car if you are driving. Other nearby universities include Sharjah University, 17 minutes away from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 29 minutes by car.
MEDICAL STORES AND HOSPITALS
Using an international standard, DermaDent provides all kinds of dental, leather and cosmetic services to its patients. Available in 6 minutes by car, DermaDent Clinic offers state-of-the-art treatment with the latest technology. International clinics, Kaya Skin Clinic has a store near the community. The clinic aims to provide advanced skin treatment for both men and women. The clinic is accessible in 10 minutes by driving on El Istiqlal St / S107. Other hospitals near Al Ramla East are Zulekha Hospital, with 5 minutes by car and Kwait Hospital, with 6 minutes.
A resident community only, Al Jazzat is located in the heart of Al Riqa Suburb. The place has low living quarters. Al Ghubaiba is another nearby location, offering easy access to the city's industrial and commercial areas. The eye of the Emirates is a large Ferris wheel that offers a view of the city. With a capacity of 336 passengers at a time, the Emirates Eye has 42 cool air chambers running 60 meters above the ground. Founded in 1980, Sharjah Cricket Stadium is a popular stadium for South Asian cricket fans. The stadium hosted more than 200 One Day International matches and a cricket series.
Located within a short distance of 6 minutes, Al Shaab Village offers the perfect shopping and entertainment experience for Sharjah residents. One can find more than 250 shopping malls, a supermarket, a movie theater and a park in Al Shaab Village. Mega Mall Sharjah is one of the best shopping and entertainment destinations in Sharjah. Zara, Paris Gallery, Damascus, Sephora, Aldo and Women's Secret are some of the shopping malls in this mall. Guests can find more than 15 venues in the restaurant court or enjoy a movie at Novo Cinema. Other nearby malls include the Sharjah Shopping Center, 10 minutes from the City Center Sharjah which is 13 minutes away.
Located in 4 minutes by car, Emirates Sea Restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood. The restaurant serves Indian, Chinese, Persian and Continental food to welcome their guests. Hi Broast Restaurant is a great restaurant for fried chicken lovers. Available in 9 minutes by car. Other popular restaurants nearby include Al Manhal Restaurant, Cancun Restaurant and Chicken Shack. By enjoying a nightlife close to the community, one can go to the Blazon Lounge at the Ajman Hotel. Available in 18 minutes by car, the bar offers fast food, alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages. Sports Bar and Biggles Pub are some of the nightclubs to meet friends.
Al Khan Beach is an ideal picnic spot for sports lovers. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, flyboarding, kite, banana boat ride on the beach. In addition to water sports, there are fine restaurants available with great seating for those who like to enjoy the sun. Al Khan Beach is available in 17 minutes by car if you are driving. Other beaches near Al Ramla East include Coral Beach Resort, 12 minutes away from Lou Loua Beach Resort, 14 minutes by car. Found 9 minutes, Sharjah Beach will be a major tourist destination after its completion. The 3 and 3.3 km area will include picnic areas with chairs and tables, gyms, shade areas and a water sports area.
In Corniche Street Sharjah, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization houses thousands of rare Islamic art. The museum has seven open exhibitions in which the artwork is presented in the context of the theme.
Museum of Islamic Civilization
Sharjah Museums Authority


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Maharashtra administers close to a million Covid-19 vaccine doses in a day
Maharashtra on Saturday recorded its highest single-day figure for Covid-19 vaccine doses — 961,495, as of 11.30pm. The total doses administered have reached 49,176,203. A total of 12,807,025 citizens are fully vaccinated, data revealed.
State health minister Rajesh Tope said this showed that Maharashtra can administer one million doses daily. "Vaccination is the only weapon to contain Covid-19 and if we get regular supply of doses, we will be able to do such mass vaccinations," said Tope. "Today [Saturday], we have proved that we can undertake vaccination of at least 10 lakh people in a day," he added.
The previous highest was on July 3 when around 811,000 doses were administered.
The Maharashtra assembly even passed a resolution demanding at least 30 million doses per month. The state government has been complaining that the Central government was providing insufficient doses.
This has resulted in an erratic vaccination drive with authorities suspending the drive on some days. Now with the railways allowing only fully vaccinated people to travel, there has been a rush of people seeking vaccines.
SourceBreaking boom