New podcast every few weeks with guests.
Check out my 'Kracht - Porphyrophobia EP': www.krachtmusic.bandcamp.com --- INFO --- My Krachtmelding Podcast guest this week is Appaa from Utrecht, NL. His style is obscure, raw, indisputably industrial and has played gigs in The Netherlands and even Australia. Enjoy! Guest: @appaa Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
Check out my 'Kracht - Porphyrophobia EP': www.krachtmusic.bandcamp.com --- INFO --- The first guest of my Krachtmelding Podcast in 2018 is Comrade Winston. You might know him from his gigs at Nachtcollege, Drift, Schönes Wochenende and many more. This Nijmegen based DJ delivers a 136 bpm old school pumping vinyl set. So get your fists out and enjoy! Guest: @comradewinston1984 Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
Check out my 'Kracht - Porphyrophobia EP': www.krachtmusic.bandcamp.com --- INFO --- In my last Podcast for 2017, I've invited my good friend Naim Abu. This Arnhem based DJ played parties like Reaktor, Schönes Wochenende and is involved with 8Bahn and his own party Abstract in Luxor Live. Enjoy! Guest: @naimabuofficial Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
In my Krachtmelding Podcast this week a semi dj-set/live-set from Collider. This is a Nijmegen based collaboration between previous Krachtmelding Podcast guests; Jan Liefhebber and Jeane Isadou. Using: Roland TR 8, Roland MX 1, Roland System 1, Roland TB 3 Touch baseline, Roland TB 03, Korg Monologue, Korg Volca Kys, Ecler Evo 5 and Traktor Pro 2. Enjoy! Guests: @janliefhebber, @jeaneisadou Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
In my Krachtmelding Podcast this week Coach from Belarus. This Saint Petersburg based DJ is also the owner of the TML community. Enjoy! Guest: @dimakuleshov, @technomylife Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
In my Krachtmelding Podcast this week Oskar Olivier from Nijmegen who caught my eye when playing Anchor this year. This DJ who's playing ADE this week is also part of the Knopje crew. Enjoy! Guest: @oskarolivier Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
In my Krachtmelding Podcast this week a very industrial set from Graeson. It's already the second podcast that this Manchester based DJ/Producer makes for me, he was one of my very first guests! Check out his great productions, sets and his label Abyss Recordings. Guest: @graeson Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
A summer vibe in my new Krachtmelding Podcast with guest DJ Pure. This Planet Rose resident from Nijmegen is delivering a very housy podcast! You might know DJ Pure from his gigs, starting back in the eighties. Really proud to have such a legend in my podcast! Guest: @dj-pure-international Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
My Podcast guest this week is fellow Anchor co-founder Mikmak from Nijmegen. This DJ is known for his skillful sets combined of house & techno and his Hotchpotch radio show. Guest: @dehelemikmak Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
A live recorded mix for my podcast this week. I played with Cadans & Distøne earlier this month (8.7.17) for Anchor in Nijmegen (NL). The first 40 minutes of the recorded mix had to be cut unfortunately because it clipped, 75 minutes still survived. Enjoy! Guests: @cadansmusic, @distone Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
My podcast guest for this week is Deauwd (@deauwd) from Amsterdam. This dutch dj and producer is signed to TWR72's label Float Records and his tracks have had some support from artists like Ben Klock & more. Enjoy! Hour 1 - Deauwd Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
My podcast guest for this week is Yant (@yantmusicuk) from the UK. I already played some of his tracks in my podcast and it was time this Manchester based DJ did a guest mix. Enjoy! Hour 1 - Yant Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
For my podcast this week no guests, so I've mixed some of my favorite tracks. Enjoy! Hour 1 - Kracht Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
For my podcast this week I've invited my brother Cadans to do a back to back set. Cadans is known for his releases on Clone with Randomer, Wolfskuil and Neighbourhood. There is some new Cadans & Kracht stuff coming up very soon as well. Enjoy! Hour 1 - Cadans & Kracht Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
My podcast guests for this week are the dutch duo ARKVS (@arkvsrotterdam). Known for their gigs in their hometown of Rotterdam and their releases on Planet Rhythm were they shared vinyls with MATRiXXMAN, TWR72, Yan Cook and more. Enjoy! Hour 1 - ARKVS Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
This week a b2b mix in my podcast. Were I'm spinning with HAYPAH (@haypah) from Nijmegen. Known for his gigs at Another World and Gastvrij. Enjoy! Hour 1 - Kracht & HAYPAH Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.
My Krachtmelding guest this week is Catartsis (http://www.soundcloud.com/catartsis) who delivers an experimental set. This French producer & DJ is known for his releases on his label Abyss Recordings and playing parties in the heart of Paris. Hour 1 - Catartsis Ask for ID. www.facebook.com/krachtmusic Jingles by Ken Spector.


Matteo Orlando received B.Sc Degree in Physics Engineering in 2015 and a M.Sc. degree in ICT for Smart Societies in 2018 with a thesis focused on designing and development of a self-configuring IoT smart-meter for monitoring the power grids and enabling novel services. Since October 2018, he joined the EDA group as a research assistant.
His main research interests concern software architectures and solutions for smart environment.
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Suspected Muslim militants remotely detonated a bomb close to the doorway of a mall within the southern Philippines on Monday as individuals did last-minute buying forward of New Yr's Eve celebrations, killing at the very least two and wounding almost 30, officers mentioned.
The bomb went off close to a baggage counter on the entrance of the South Seas mall in Cotabato metropolis, wounding consumers, distributors and commuters. Authorities recovered one other unexploded bomb close by as authorities forces imposed a safety lockdown within the metropolis, navy and police officers mentioned.
Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana mentioned by telephone that an preliminary investigation confirmed the design of the bomb was much like these used up to now by native Muslim militants who've pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Authorities forces launched an offensive towards the militants belonging to a gaggle referred to as Daulah Islamiyah final week and at the very least seven of the militants died within the combating, Sobejana mentioned.
"This is part of the retaliation, however the issue is that they're victimizing harmless civilians," he advised reporters.
Members of the Philippine Nationwide Police Scene of the Crime Operatives collect proof on the web site of an explosion on New Yr's Eve exterior a shopping center in Cotabato Metropolis, southern Philippines, Dec. 31, 2018.
Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., the deputy police director of Cotabato, mentioned witnesses noticed a person go away a field in a crowded space close to the mall's entrance the place distributors and consumers had been milling. The explosion shattered glass panels and scattered particles to the road fronting the mall.
Two of the roughly 30 individuals hit by the blast died whereas being dropped at a hospital, Sobejana mentioned.
Cotabato Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi condemned the bombing and referred to as on residents to assist battle terrorism.
"This isn't simply one other terroristic act however an act towards humanity. I can not fathom how such evil exists on this time of merry making," she mentioned.
"It's unimaginable how some individuals can begin the brand new 12 months with an act of cruelty however regardless of the way you threaten us, the individuals of Cotabato are resilient. … We are going to arise towards terrorism," she advised reporters.
The bombing, the most recent in a variety of assaults blamed on militants within the risky area, occurred regardless of on-and-off navy assaults towards pockets of militant teams working within the marshlands and hinterlands not removed from Cotabato and outlying provinces.
Nationwide Police investigators look at the location on the South Seas Mall following an explosion on New Yr's Eve in Cotabato metropolis, southern Philippines Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
A whole bunch of militants aligned with the Islamic State group laid siege within the southern Islamic metropolis of Marawi in Might final 12 months, sparking 5 months of intense combating and navy airstrikes that left greater than 1,100 — largely militants — lifeless and displaced tons of of 1000's of villagers.
President Rodrigo Duterte positioned the southern third of the nation beneath martial legislation to cope with the Marawi siege, the worst safety disaster he has confronted since taking workplace in mid-2016.
The militants are against a Muslim autonomy deal signed by the largest Muslim insurgent group and the federal government. There are issues that radical teams might perform bombings and different assaults to derail a Jan. 21 regional plebiscite geared toward acquiring public approval of a brand new legislation establishing a extra highly effective Muslim autonomous area within the south.


text:
Amkor Technology: There Is More To Like Than Not To Like
yclinf
Amkor Technology (NASDAQ:AMKR) has seen lots of volatility lately. The stock is getting dragged around by forces that hold opposing views. On the one hand, the stock is facing downward pressure from the perception that semiconductor demand is getting weaker, especially with recent downgrades in earnings outlooks from industry heavyweights. On the other hand, the stock is benefiting from trading at low valuations and strong guidance with AMKR doing a good job managing the various headwinds out there, in part with the aid of rising industry interest in advanced packaging. There is still a case to be made in favor of long AMKR. Why will be covered next.
AMKR is getting bounced around
AMKR has seen its stock drop this year, similar to most companies out there. However, it's worth mentioning that AMKR has done better than most semis in this regard. For instance, the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has lost 33% YTD. In comparison, AMKR has lost 24% YTD. AMKR has outperformed in that sense.
Still, the stock has been very volatile lately. The stock lost about 25% in June, only to gain it all back and then some with an almost 50% gain in July. However, the stock has reversed course and it is now heading lower once more. The stock has lost close to 20% since early August. All this happened in the span of about three months as shown in the chart below.
Source: finviz.com
The stock is bouncing around, held hostage to changing headlines. For instance, the stock suffered when COVID-19 lockdowns were imposed in China, something that would make its way back to AMKR's earnings reports. The stock rebounded with the lifting of the restrictions, giving AMKR a chance to return business activities to normal and an improvement in quarterly results.
However, the most recent decline in the stock coincided with weak forecasts from industry heavyweights like Micron (MU) and Nvidia (NVDA). Both cited weakening chip demand as justification for lowering their earnings outlook. The double whammy caused semis to sell off, AMKR included.
The belief is that reduced demand for semiconductors will result in reduced demand for OSAT services from the likes of AMKR. On the other hand, it's worth pointing out that while it is admittedly harder, individual names can still prosper in an environment where overall demand for semiconductors is down. Not all companies rely on OSAT services after all. Some companies rely on their own in-house test and packaging for their products.
For instance, a shift in consumer demand towards products from fabless designers utilizing OSAT services and away from IDMs that depend on insourcing could create additional business opportunities for a company like AMKR. This is where something like advanced packaging could come in and make a difference. AMKR can create added value to entice customers to make the switch in order to benefit. AMKR is not necessarily doomed if or when a downturn arrives. It depends on how severe conditions get, assuming they even get there in the first place.
Earnings growth is holding up at AMKR
Part of the reason why AMKR has not sold off as much as some of the other semiconductor names out there is because AMKR has yet to report a significant deterioration in its earnings outlook like the semis mentioned earlier. On the contrary, growth is expected to pick up. The lifting of restrictions in China and a return to normal output levels in Q3 helps in this regard.
However, the numbers in Q2 did take a hit from lockdowns in China. Q2 revenue declined by 5.8% QoQ, but it increased by 7% YoY to $1,505M, a new high for the second quarter. Note that AMKR missed expectations for the top line, but this was due to AMKR resuming production later than expected in China, resulting in revenue that was less than expected.
Margins declined mostly due to a lower utilization rate as a result of production facilities being shut down in China. Nevertheless, EPS remained unchanged YoY at $0.51, thanks to contributions from non-operating income. EBITDA was $302M in Q2 FY2022, up from $295M in Q2 FY2021. AMKR finished with $1.1B in cash and short-term investments, offset by $1.1B in total debt. The ratio of debt to EBITDA was 0.8x. The table below shows the numbers from Q2 FY2022.
(GAAP)
Q2 FY2022
$1,505M
(380bps)
Net income (attributable to AMKR)
(Non-GAAP)
Source: AMKR Form 8-K
The Q2 numbers were negatively impacted by lockdowns in China, but the outlook sees a return to normal. Guidance calls for Q3 FY2022 revenue of $1,880-1,980M, an increase of 14.8% YoY at the midpoint. The forecast expects GAAP EPS of $0.82-1.02, an increase of 24.3% YoY at the midpoint. Both represent new all-time highs at the midpoint.
Q3 FY2022 (guidance)
$1,880-1,980M
11.84-17.79%
19.0-21.0%
(30bps)-170bps
$0.82-1.02
While AMKR acknowledges the reports of weakness in certain segments of the semiconductor market, demand remains healthy, thanks in large part to advanced packaging. From the Q2 earnings call:
"Demand for our technology and services remains robust, driven by our leadership position in advanced packaging supporting 5G, automotive, high performance computing and IoT. Although, we observe microeconomic headwinds and some weaker market forecast in some segments, we believe the long-term growth drivers for the semiconductor industry remain in place. And we have confident our strategic focus and leadership position in key semiconductor markets will continue to drive future growth."
A transcript of the Q2 FY2022 earnings call can be found here.
AMKR is on sale
Another reason why AMKR has not sold off as much as other semis has to do with valuations. Unlike other names with valuations that are up in the skies, AMKR trades at a discount, whether in comparison to the sector median and to its own 5-year average. For instance, current analyst estimates project FY2022 EPS of $2.92-3.10 and FY2023 EPS of $3.10-3.30. AMKR thus trades at 6 times forward earnings with a trailing P/E of 7. AMKR is currently trading at significantly lower multiples than it usually does. The 5-year averages are 23x and 15x respectively. In terms of the sector median, it's 21x and 22x respectively. AMKR trades at lower valuations than most semis out there.
AMKR
$6,507.3M
Trailing P/E
Forward P/E
EV/sales
Trailing EV/EBITDA
Forward EV/EBITDA
Source: SeekingAlpha
Investor takeaways
It's not easy sticking with semiconductor stocks. Many semis are still growing strong, as is the industry as a whole, but there's no denying that semis have done poorly in 2022, even underperforming against other stocks. A number of headwinds have popped up that have weighed on stocks, semis included. These include a weakening in the global economy, rising inflation and changes in monetary policy.
Semis have also been negatively impacted by headwinds specific to the sector. The semiconductor industry is still growing, but it is also slowing down. Growth will be less in 2022 than it was in 2021 and it is projected to be even less in 2023. In addition, more and more companies are issuing weak forecasts.
For instance, Samsung is the global leader in terms of monthly wafer starts and it too joined the ranks of companies predicting tough times for the semiconductor industry. All these reports are dragging down other names in the industry, even if they themselves are doing fine. AMKR falls into this category.
AMKR has yet to experience the weakness that has affected other semis. On the contrary, AMKR is expected to post record revenue and earnings in its next quarterly report. It's possible AMKR may see a deterioration in business conditions in upcoming quarters, but there is little if any of it at the moment.
However, AMKR trades like a stock that is destined to experience a deterioration in the top and the bottom line. The valuations AMKR trades at makes this clear. On the one hand, AMKR is reaching record highs in terms of the top and the bottom line with no signs of an imminent downturn. On the other hand, the stock is trading like the downturn is already here, which is why the stock is available at much lower multiples than it usually goes for.
I am bullish AMKR as mentioned in a previous article. If anyone is looking for a quick payoff, then a stock like AMKR is probably not it. The stock is likely to remain volatile as headwinds abound. The semiconductor market is likely to keep slowing down due to various headwinds, including a worsening economy in many parts of the world. Longs should brace themselves for short-term setbacks.
AMKR looks better for the long term. The semiconductor industry is probably due for a correction after the boom in recent years, but it should continue to grow in the long run. Picking stocks with an eye towards the future makes sense from that standpoint, especially if they can be obtained on sale at a discount. As one of the leading providers of OSAT services, AMKR is well placed to grow along with rising adoption of advanced packaging in the industry.
The balance sheet is in good shape. Multiples are such that a fairly sizable downturn in earnings is already priced in, which could make AMKR a bargain if the downturn does not arrive as expected or is less severe than anticipated. AMKR still has a shot at outperforming with the aid of advanced packaging, especially if the downturn is not as bad as feared. Bottom line, if someone is in it for the long haul, then there is more to like than not to like with AMKR.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Well, technically. It origionally started up in August of 2008 with Forumotion. So really it's actually two months old. Also, we now have ten members on there! But we could definetly use more. Here's the link: http://www.iwantitthatway.forums-free.com Feel free to join up, and join in the fun!


I am a structural biologist/biochemist with experience from pharmaceutical industry. I am leading a research group at the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg.
The focus of my research group is to study the structure, function and dynamics of membrane proteins. We use a combination of different biochemical and biophysical methods to describe proteins in detail as they work, including X-ray crystallography, absorbance spectroscopy, X-ray Scattering and X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) coherent diffractive imaging. We put a lot of effort into development of time resolved synchrotron- and XFEL-based methods, including serial crystallography. Using these methods we investigate the energy converting systems of the cell, more specifically cytochrome oxidase of the respiratory chain and bacterial photosynthetic reaction center. In addition we use microtubules, the major constituent of the cytoskeleton, as a model system for XFEL imaging. I collaborate closely with MAX IV Laboratories on advancing synchrotron-based serial crystallography, and together with AstraZeneca we are interested in exploring the use of serial crystallography applied to pharmaceutical targets.
My other area of focus is structure-based drug design. In collaboration with AstraZeneca we study the membrane-bound protein MraY, essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. As such, MraY is a very interesting target to overcome the acutely developing problem of antibiotic resistance. We describe how MraY interacts with different inhibitors, with the long-term goal to develop novel antibiotic compounds. I also have experience in structural studies of the cytochrome P450s, the main drug-metabolizing system in the body.
I am course responsible for our second year biochemistry course KEM060 (15 hec) where I lecture on cell metabolism. In addition, I lecture on structure-based drug design on two of our advanced courses, KEM360 and BIO523.
David Popp, N Duane Loh, Habiba Zorgati, Umesh Ghoshdastider, Lu Ting Liow et al.
From Macrocrystals to Microcrystals: A Strategy for Membrane Protein Serial Crystallography.
Robert Dods, Petra Båth, David Arnlund, Kenneth R Beyerlein, Garrett Nelson et al.
Rebecka Andersson, Cecilia Safari, Robert Dods, Eriko Nango, Rie Tanaka et al.
Jonna K Hakulinen, Jenny Hering, Gisela Brändén, Hongming Chen, Arjan Snijder et al.


text:
Karen Meyer, Author
Historical Biography and Christian Fiction for Children
HomeKaren's BooksWorkshopsSimon KentonTecumsehReviewsContact Karen
"Teachers, tell me how you get your students interested in Early American
History. Are there ways to get them more involved as you learn about the
Underground Railroad? Parents, tell me how well your young readers like
historical fiction. Do they respond to biographies? I would also like to hear from
the young readers themselves, since fan letters keep me writing!"
Karen Meyer's Midgrade Novels are Published by Sable Creek Press
Simon Kenton Unlikely Hero
Reviewed by Dick Weaver
If you're looking for a young reader's book that will fire up their interest for the early American frontiers as well as provide some helpful education, you can't go wrong with this book.
In a general way, I've known of the famous frontiersman, Simon Kenton, since I was myself fairly young. In this book, Karen Meyer writes a biography of Kenton for elementary age children that is easy for them to access, while providing some factual information that might "fill in the gaps" for them. In the process, she tells them about Kentucky, Native Americans, European conflicts fought on North American soil, and some of the famous American, British, and Native heroes. She treats Simon Kenton's relationship with Simon Girty, who was called a renegade, with respect, but doesn't sugar-coat the issues that led to his troubles. Her treatment of Native Americans is not disrespectful, though her perspective is one that favors the American frontiersmen and women. She even includes Kenton's religious conversion at one of the camp meetings that were popular on the frontier during what is called the "Second Great Awakening."
It's not a work of fiction, but rather a genuine biography written at grade-school level. Meyer begins by recounting Kenton's early days as "Simon Butler," following his having run away at the age of 16 after believing he had killed someone in a fight. The story progresses chronologically, with a few aside that look into the future, all the way through the conflicts with the native peoples that were being displaced by all the settlers, up to Simon Kenton's moves further west, his problems with land titles, and ultimately, his death. Even though the book is written for children, Meyer doesn't pull too many punches regarding the violence, hardships, and dangers of life in Kentucky and the Ohio country.
Along with the text, the book has occasional and very helpful maps, a few pictures, and at the end, a glossary of what might be new words, a timeline, a bibliography, end notes, and information on the artwork she used. At the end of each short chapter, she asks questions for young readers to consider, as well.
At 100 pages plus the additional material at the end, it's a very quick read for an adult, and a very good one for children who want to dig a bit more into our early American history.
Reviewed in the SEPT/OCT 2018 issue of MUZZLELOADER Magazine
www.muzzleloadermagazine.com


text:
Wildenauer ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Alois Wildenauer (1877–1967), österreichischer römisch-katholischer Geistlicher, Bergsteiger, Höhlenforscher und Sachbuchautor
 Ingold Wildenauer (1938–2013), deutscher Schauspieler und Regisseur
 Johannes Sylvius Egranus (eigentlich: Johannes Wildenauer; * um 1480, † 1535), deutscher Theologe, Humanist, Reformator und Freund Martin Luthers
 Miriam Wildenauer (* 1970), deutsche Philosophin

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Dock bumpers on this page range from 4 1/2" to 6" in depth. For bumpers over 6" in depth please see the extra thick dock bumpers.
Tough plies of truck tire material virtually eliminates chipping or abrasion, unlike molded rubber, extruded rubber, conveyor belting or wood plank bumpers.
Anchor bolts are protected by at least 3" of rubber to prevent damage.
4.5" thick x 12" high x 24" wide.
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H.E. Dr. Ahmed Albanna, UAE Ambassador to India, met with H.E. T.S Tirmurthi, Secretary Economic Relations along with Dr. T.V. Nagendra Prasad, JS [Gulf], Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India to discuss the upcoming UAE- India Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) to be held on 3-4 December 2018 in Abu Dhabi.
The joint commission meeting will provide an opportunity to exchange views on the priorities from both the governments covering the importance of ongoing and future cooperation in the areas such as space, agriculture, food processing, railways, human resource & education and more. Both the sides look forward to the adoption of the forthcoming Planned meeting, which will further enhance the broad-based partnership and set the agenda for enhanced cooperation in the coming years. Both the UAE and India, while welcoming cooperation and the progress in their relations, reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen their bilateral engagement.
Ambassador further discussed about the upcoming visit of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council UAE & Ruler of Sharjah to India for World Book Fair to be held on 5 January 2019. During the upcoming visit H.H. has expressed his Interest in conducting official courtesy meeting with the President to discuss the progress made in bilateral ties and reiterated their common resolve to further intensify and strengthen the constructive and wide-ranging India-UAE bilateral engagement. He also want to Explore the possibility of Vice President Inaugurating the Sharjah Pavilion at the World Book fair since Sharjah is guest of honor country for the event.
Ambassador also discussed about the other upcoming the visits including of H.E. Ms Shamma Bint Suhail Al Mazouri, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, UAE plan to visit New Delhi from 7-8 January, 2019. During her visit H.E. the minister would like to meet her counterpart in India, H.E. COL. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports , Govt of India to begin a long term bilateral association between both the countries and discuss the progressive initiatives to improve the skills and stature of youth and also discussed the proposed visit of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates in June 2019. Ambassador also discussed to create a joint youth platform involving the start ups from India and UAE, Forming "Youth Start-up Summit".
Secretary ER thanked the Ambassador for briefing him in detail about all the visits and agendas behind it.He assured him full support and timely implementation to take it forth.
The two sides also reaffirmed their deep commitment in building a comprehensive strategic partnership, in order to elevate their multifaceted ties to an even higher and qualitatively new level based on mutual understanding and confidence in each other with the primary aim to ensure peace and prosperity of their two peoples.
They also discussed about the high-level bilateral matters for the year. And praised the significant momentum witnessed in bilateral relations, after high level business delegations visits from both sides.
At last H.E. Dr. Ahmed Albanna appreciated the support extended by Indian government at all the times & mentioned that the ongoing close cooperation on a range of various issues will remain a key pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership.


It seems likely that Senate Democrats will filibuster Neil Gorsuch's confirmation now that they've secured 41 votes against him. Will the Republican majority actually trigger the so-called "nuclear option" to confirm Gorsuch with a simple majority vote?
Probably. Senate Republicans held a seat open for an entire year in the hopes that Donald Trump would get to fill it. It seems odd that they would let a procedural hurdle stand in their way now that they are so close to regaining control of the nation's highest court. Maybe there are three Republicans who will balk at the nuclear option, but I doubt it.
How will this affect future Supreme Court nominees? Will President Trump feel comfortable selecting more conservative justices?
It would be hard for Trump to find someone more conservative than Neil Gorsuch. Gorsuch's record indicates that he is well to the right of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, the conservative icon Gorsuch hopes to replace, and that he may be as far to the right as Justice Clarence Thomas, the most conservative member of the Supreme Court. For most of his career, for example, Scalia said that courts should show a great deal of restraint when industries sue the Environmental Protection Agency to challenge a new environmental regulation or the Labor Department to challenge a new workplace protection. Gorsuch, like Thomas, wants the judiciary to be much more aggressive in this space.
So, to answer your question, if Trump was willing to nominate someone as far to the right as Gorsuch, he doesn't have much room to move further to the right with a subsequent nominee.
Would future Democratic presidents be likely to select further-left justices?
Democratic presidents will be more likely to appoint somewhat more liberal justices than they otherwise would have named if the nuclear option is triggered, but I don't know of anyone who is considered a plausible Democratic nominee who is far to the left as Gorsuch is to the right.
Democrats claim to be voting against Gorsuch on the merits, and not merely as payback for Merrick Garland's stalled nomination. Is this true?
I wouldn't frame this as an either/or. I think that the typical Democrat is simultaneously furious that the tie-breaking seat on the Supreme Court was stolen, that Chief Judge Garland was treated very poorly, and that someone who holds Gorsuch's views could be considered for the Supreme Court.
Senators from both parties have lamented what they view as the diminishment or even death of the Senate as the Gorsuch vote has become hotly contested and bitterly partisan. Is this fair? Or was the Senate already "dead"?
Senators talk about killing the Senate as if that were a bad thing.
It's really impossible to defend the continued existence of the Senate. 39,250,017 Californians have exactly the same number of senators as 585,501 people from Wyoming. That means that a person from Wyoming counts more than 67 times as much as a person from California. As of this writing, 43 senators announced that they intend to filibuster Gorsuch, but those 43 senators represent 53 percent of the population. The 54 Republican senators who effectively blocked Garland's confirmation represented nearly 21 million fewer people than the 46 Democratic senators who would have confirmed him.
So, while I'd prefer to see the filibuster survive just long enough to keep Gorsuch off the Supreme Court, I'm not really going to weep over the demise of a Senate tradition.
Gorsuch or no Gorsuch, what do you think is the most important case likely to come before the Supreme Court in the next year?
We're probably going to see a rush of major cases hit the Court if he is confirmed, largely because the justices have been avoiding cases that are likely to produce a 4-4 split while they are down a member. One such issue that immediately comes to mind is that there are a number of cases brought by business owners who claim that they should be allowed to discriminate against LGBT customers, even in states where such discrimination is illegal.
We're also likely to see several cases involving state laws that try to keep certain individuals from voting. Shortly before the 2016 election, a federal appeals court struck down a North Carolina law that is probably the most aggressive voter suppression law since Jim Crow. Worse, the appeals court found that the law was specifically designed to maximize its impact on African Americans and to minimize its impact on white voters. It was about as clear-cut a case of unconstitutional race discrimination as you will find in a modern federal lawsuit. Nevertheless, all four Republicans on the Supreme Court voted to reinstate this law — and Gorsuch is likely to be the key fifth vote to permit laws like this one.
There's also a really exciting challenge to partisan gerrymandering coming out of a federal court in Wisconsin. Although Justice Anthony Kennedy typically votes with his fellow conservatives, the lawyers behind this gerrymandering case did a really smart job of crafting their arguments to appeal to concerns Kennedy raised in past gerrymandering opinions. So, while I expect Gorsuch to be a vote in favor of gerrymandering, Kennedy could potentially cross over to provide the fifth vote against it in this case.


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2018 12 Hrs of Sebring
Discussion in 'Sports Car Racing' started by Hotrod, Mar 17, 2018.
Green Flag at 10:40 a.m. EST Saturday 3-17-18
https://sportscarchampionship.imsa.com/events/2018-mobil-1-twelve-hours-sebring
Hotrod, Mar 17, 2018
Get That 88 Up There !! As You Were
That was a wild start
Get That 88 Up There !!, Mar 17, 2018
You got that right 88!! I thought I was watching a drifting contest
as the top 2 went into 1 at the start. Now to settle in for 12 hrs of unfolding intrigue.
Kiante Team Owner
Pla and Paetron having gearbox issues again... Yikes.
Kiante, Mar 17, 2018
Jesus what the hell happened
Kiante said: ↑
Wow - that may be it for them!
Huh .... an upside down Ferrari !
Whew - everyone walked away. Goodness........
Montecalvo had no time to react, glad to see he got out okay.
Really Ford GT's ? Racing and banging each other in the pits is not a strategy !
LouieLouie and FLRacingFan like this.
4 1/2 hours to go. Mazda up front !
I really enjoyed the race. I managed to stay awake for all but a couple of hours. I normally can't take more than a couple of hours of any kind of racing, mostly because none of it is competetive enough. However, IMSA has gotten to be so good I can't get enough of it.
I was still re-watching some of the Rolex just yesterday!
I imagine Oliver Pla is going to get a firm talking to. Was he really trying to win it with 11 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds still on the clock? Imagine being Scott Sharp with all that effort and money invested in the team, and not even getting to turn a single lap.
Vautier had a great weekend going until he understeered into the wall. That just didn't look right. I'm guessing he had a LF tire go down. I'm also betting that tub took some damage. That team isn't exactly rich and this has got to really hurt. It was a hell of a hit, but these are really safe cars.
Really liked seeing the CORE Autosport team run so well. Competitive privateers are something you can build a good series around. IMSA needs to give the European spec P2 cars a little more of a break because that's the only car a privateer team can buy. In the first two races privateer P2 cars have run well, but been a little off the pace. While CORE has gotten exceptional results, they have done it by running perfect races and not with blazing speed. I don't believe any of the P2 cars has even led a lap this year, so I would like to see IMSA adjust the BOP and get them in the fight. After all, the P2 Gibson is supposed to be IMSA's baseline of performance for it's BOP, except it's not.
I was also glad to see the #28 Lambo have a good run after they were hosed with a 5 minute penalty while dominating the Rolex. Would have rather seen them win, but they got a podium and are probably near the top in points now.
Mostly though, all the Caddys were competitive but they all had a little bad luck, both the Mazdas were competitive except they seem to live off of bad luck, both Penske Acuras were fast but either blew up or got wrecked, and the Nissans were fast but their real advantage was Pipo Durani. The fight among the factory cars was really, really intense.
The only teams that were not really fast were the privateer P2 teams, and I think IMSA would do well to give them a little help on the BOP.
Doc Austin, Mar 18, 2018
LouieLouie, FLRacingFan and Barbara Charles like this.
I was only able to catch parts of this one, and not the first or last couple of hours. I take it Pla was apparently hitting the sponsor's product before the green flag instead of after the checkers. What happened to the Penske Acuras?
Charlie Spencer, Mar 18, 2018
Ford 222 Team Owner
What happened to the GTs? Just outrun?
Ford 222, Mar 18, 2018
Charlie Spencer said: ↑
Yeah, he sure proved you can't win a race in the first corner (besides in F1) but you sure as hell can lose one. Bonehead award there.
The Acuras had a double engine failure. The #7 had an instant loss of oil pressure not long after a restart and the #6 never really got fired back up to speed after being spun by Vautier, but JPM said he had been losing power for several laps before that. Both engines are being flown to HPD in California for a full teardown so we'll see.
FLRacingFan, Mar 18, 2018
Ford 222 said: ↑
The #66 had contact with one of the BMWs on a restart about halfway through that sent them to the garage for a while. Other than that the BMWs were just fastest all week and the track really came to the Porsches at night. A track layout like this isn't a Ford strong suit.
Ford 222 and Charlie Spencer like this.
Wasn't for the Vette's either. Disappointing when the 4 car went down so soon
StandOnIt, Mar 18, 2018
StandOnIt said: ↑
From what I saw, the #3 wasn't impressing anyone either.
I guess for the next race we are going to lose the United Autosports car and maybe another, which will put us at 16 prototypes. While that is disappointing after having 20 at the Rolex, remember most of the GTP years we rarely had more GTPs that that. We are actually in every bit as good of shape as we were in the golden GTP ear, but the trick is keeping it going and growing it.
The whole BOP business is way too complex for me to understand, but I know they have it wrong. While the United Autosports Ligier finished fourth on the lead lap, it was still about a second off the pace, and this was while being driven by former F1 driver Paul Di Resta and P2 ace Alex Brundle. Certainly the balance between the DPIs is really good, but the customer P2 cars need some help to get into the fight.
The European Gibson powered P2 is supposedly IMSA's baseline standard that all the others are BOPed to match, except it isn't. None of these P2 cars are being run by operations that don't what they are doing or driven by slow drivers....... the problem is that the BOP is off. The DPIs simply ran away from the P2 cars, and if I am a customer team who was forced to buy a Ligier or an Oreca because the factories wouldn't sell me a DPI, well, I would be pretty cheezed off right now.
We simply can't have this. The factory teams already have an insurmountable advantage with their huge budgets, but with the BOP this far off there's not a lot of reason to tough it out here getting their asses kicked, especially when they could go run up front right now in the WEC without changing a thing. Hell, a good P2 just might even have a decent shot at winning Lemans this year, so why muck around a second off the pace in IMSA?
We've got a really good field right now, but remember, teams almost always fall off the back of the grid. You never see the winners going broke and pulling out. It's always those that can't compete for good results, and we are not helping ourselves by letting the factories get this much of an upper hand. IMSA really needs to get the P2 cars and the privateers back into the fight and competitive again.
I have yet to find anything definitive, but what I've generally heard is that the DPis have some parts that are open to development like shocks/dampers, and obviously that's pretty crucial to a place like Sebring (and Long Beach and Detroit).


text:
Q: How can I improve sparklyr read csv performance? I think reading in CSV files are excruciatingly slow using sparklyr. See MVE
library(sparklyr)
library(dplyr)

conf <- spark_config()
conf$spark.executor.memory <- "60GB"
conf$spark.memory.fraction <- 0.9
conf$spark.executor.cores <- 6
conf$spark.dynamicAllocation.enabled <- "false"
sc <- sparklyr::spark_connect(master = "local", config = conf)

library(data.table)

fwrite(data.table(
  id1 = sample(sprintf("id%03d",1:K), N, TRUE),      # large groups (char)
  id2 = sample(sprintf("id%03d",1:K), N, TRUE),      # large groups (char)
  id3 = sample(sprintf("id%010d",1:(N/K)), N, TRUE), # small groups (char)
  id4 = sample(K, N, TRUE),                          # large groups (int)
  id5 = sample(K, N, TRUE),                          # large groups (int)
  id6 = sample(N/K, N, TRUE),                        # small groups (int)
  v1 =  sample(5, N, TRUE),                          # int in range [1,5]
  v2 =  sample(5, N, TRUE),                          # int in range [1,5]
  v3 =  sample(round(runif(100,max=100),4), N, TRUE) # numeric e.g. 23.5749
), "a.csv")

system.time(sparklyr::spark_read_csv(sc, "a", "a.csv"))

I have already tried to increase the level of RAM available to Spark but the reading speed is too slow at 500 seconds! This is crazily slow compared to data.table::fread.
Is there anyway to configure Spark so that it's faster?

A: There are at least three problems here:

*

*local mode is not distributed or even parallel. It will just use a single local thread. If you have only one node at your disposal at least try to increase the number of available threads (possibly exceeding the number of available cores).
In general a single JVM path is not he best approach, especially with largish memory. Even if you don't have multiple nodes at your disposal you can use pseudo-distrubuted with standalone cluster and collocated master and worker.

*You don't provide schema for the reader, and require schema inference (default value of infer_schema argument). If you want to avoid this overhead you should provide a schema.

*You eagerly cache data (default value of memory argument), which is both expensive and seldom useful.

Additionally:

*

*Such high value of spark.memory.fraction is likely to drive garbage collector crazy filling old gen. Be sure to check GC times, and if there are unusually high, reduce spark.memory.fraction below default (0.6), not increase.

Finally:

*

*Lower your expectations. Spark will be very slow compared to optimized, in-core, native library.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Visual Basic 2016 Dataset with mySQL I have an issue with my Data base linked to Visual Basic 2016. The connection between the project and the MySQL data base is good, but as soon as I try to create a tableadapter (for a select re-query for instance) I have the following message:

Translation:

Generated SELECT instruction
[A]MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection can't be converted to [B]MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection. The type A comes from 'MySql.Data, Version=6.9.8.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=c5687fc88969c44d' in the context 'Default' in the file 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies\MySqul.Data.dll'. The type B comes from 'MySql.Data, Version=6.9.8.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=c5687fc88969c44d' in the context 'Default' in the file 'C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\MySql.Data\v4.0_6.9.9.0_c5687fc88969c44d\MySql.Data.dll'.

Do you have a solution for that?


text:
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Staff, technology brings breast care to new level at Harris
Written by Jessi Stone
Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva now has 3D mammography technology for breast cancer screenings. Donated photo
Breast cancer is something that weighs heavy on every woman's mind. What is my risk? Does it run in my family? Do I carry the gene? When should I get a mammogram? Where do I have to go to get the best care?
It's a rational fear when one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. With that in mind, the team at Harris Regional, a Duke LifePoint affiliated hospital, has made significant investments in breast care technology and staff in the last several years in an effort to provide world-class medical care for women in rural Appalachia.
Dr. Allison Palumbo has been at the center of this effort since joining Harris in April. Palumbo is a general surgeon, but she has specialized training in advanced breast surgical oncology.
"I grew up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania, and growing up I got to see my mom — she's a primary care provider — so seeing her interact with her patients, that kind of initially sparked my interest in medicine," she said.
Palumbo attended medical school at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, which is where her interest in breast surgery developed.
"During my surgery rotation, I did a more specialized rotation in breast," she said. "The surgeon I worked with, she just had so much compassion for her patients. She would walk back with them as the patient's being rolled back to the operating room, she would hold their hand as they were falling asleep. She just had this bond with her patients that I really didn't see anywhere else in surgery. That really got me interested in breast care."
Palumbo is definitely who you want by your side as you embark on the fight against breast cancer. Not only is it her specialty, but before she came to Western North Carolina she was deployed in Afghanistan for seven months working as the chief of general surgery at the country's largest hospital and living on Bagram Air Field with her husband and two small children.
"Most of the trauma patients come through that hospital. As far as the American soldiers go, they would get sent out, but a majority of our patients were actually Afghan nationals. We were their primary source of healthcare," she said. "I was a little bit nervous going over there because I wasn't really sure how I would be received being a female physician, but they welcomed me with open arms. They were very grateful for everything that we did over there."
It's hard to imagine everything she must have seen during her deployment, but she said it's an experience during her time in the Air Force she'll never forget. During her service, Palumbo earned three major honors — the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO medal and The Air Force Commendation Medal.
Palumbo's background and experience made her an ideal candidate to lead the charge for better breast care at Harris — she was exactly what they were looking for to take their services to a new level.
"I think what we're trying to get out there is that there has been a dramatic change to what's available here over the past six months. In the past, patients had to go to multiple different locations for services and there wasn't a streamline approach like there is here now," she said. "There's been a significant investment in new technologies that benefit our patients."
During her specialized training, she learned how to use hidden scar techniques to minimize scarring on breast cancer patients so they won't have to see a constant reminder of the cancer every time they change clothes. While older mastectomy techniques often included removing the nipples, new procedures can now spare the nipples for certain patients.
"The reason that we can do that is because a plastic surgeon was brought on board as well. He can offer immediate reconstruction following a mastectomy," she said. "So after the woman has her procedures, a lot of times it'll just look like she had a breast augmentation, which is a huge advancement over having to go through two or three different surgeries."
One surgery for the masectory and the reconstruction also means a better-looking outcome for patients.
Breast cancer detection has also come a long way in just the last few years, and Harris now has some of the latest technology at its disposal, including 3D mammography. When Haywood Regional Medical Center installed its 3D mammography machine just a few years ago, the service was still only for patients who were referred for it, mostly due to dense breast tissue that couldn't be seen clearly with a regular mammogram. But now, Palumbo said everyone should be using 3D mammography for early detection and to limit the number of times a patient has to come back for follow-up appointments. Having a definitive answer sooner also cuts down on the patient's anxiety over what's being found on the imaging.
"It's a huge step up from the traditional 2D. It can help us detect smaller tumors before you can feel them, but it also decreases callbacks for our patients," she said. "In the past, someone may come in for a screening mammogram and the radiologist wasn't really sure if this is something to worry about or not, so the patient would have to be called back in for a diagnostic mammogram, where there are some additional views that are taken."
As a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Palumbo stays up-to-date on the latest recommendations, which now says women should get a mammogram once a year beginning at 40 — and not wait until age 50 as previously stated for "average risk women."
"That helps us detect these cancers at a much earlier stage and that is the key to treatment," she said. "Overall survival for breast cancer patients is directly linked to the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. So, if we can detect these at smaller and smaller sizes and before they've had a chance to spread to other locations in the body, we can cure these patients and that's the ultimate goal."
Even if you haven't turned 40 yet, it's never too early to start seeing Palumbo and her team at the breast care center. Harris offers an assessment to calculate a patient's risk of cancer based on several factors. Anyone that scores 20 percent or higher on the assessment is considered high risk — meaning they should not only have a yearly mammogram, but they should also be having a yearly breast MRI.
Palumbo staggers those imaging appointments so that high-risk patients are having some kind of imaging done every six months.
"I follow those patients every six months with a clinical breast exam. I update her family history, get the next test ordered and I handle all of her breast imaging so she doesn't have to worry about involving her primary care doctor to get that done," she said. "Some of those patients that are high risk will qualify for genetic testing, which is something that I offer through my clinic as well."
Unfortunately, most insurance coverage won't cover the cost of genetic testing unless the patient is high-risk, which is why it's important to get the assessment first.
Cancer patients at Harris are also provided with a multidisciplinary breast cancer conference, which is a fancy way to say that all your providers will sit down together to review your case and decide on a specific treatment plan moving forward.
"So the big question we need to answer is can the patient go to surgery first and then have any additional treatment, or if they need to maybe do chemotherapy before they have surgery," Palumob said. "And so this cancer conference kind of puts us all on the same page."
Palumbo has also brought new technology into the operating room, including something called Savvy Scout. The technology helps surgeons better locate the tumor, know where to place the incision and more accurately remove the right amount of tissue.
"The hospital has invested considerably in the technology here. Coming to a smaller facility from Tampa, I was a little bit concerned about what was going to be available here for the treatment, but at this point we have everything available to us here that I had in Tampa, which is really impressive," she said.
Even after surgery and remission, Palumbo continues to follow her patients for at least another five years to ensure they remain in remission.
"I see them back every six months for the first three years and then every year after for a total of five years, just because a recurrence is most likely in those first, early years," she said. "It's not like we formed this relationship and then we do the surgery and it's done so we really get to know your patients."
To find out about breast care services at Harris, visit www.myharrisregional.com/our-services/breast-care.
Harris Regional Hospital,
Fighting for attention: When politics and professional wrestling collide
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Webster endorses Jackson County namesake change; county will discuss issue
Jackson County fire chief dies from COVID
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With sales tax strong, Jackson considers budget increase
Forest Hills supports Jackson County namesake change
Jackson says goodbye to Mau and Luker
Jackson revises vaccine distribution guidelines
Cherokee alcohol referendum proposal tabled
Haywood closes government buildings to public
The Swag annexed into Maggie Valley
New members join Macon County School Board
We are Americans first
Jones ahead in Jackson Commission race after canvass
Finding a way past the divide
Outcome still uncertain for Jackson's District 4 race
The after-action report: 50 fast facts from the Haywood election results
Just remember, this too shall pass
Uncertain season: ATC issues 2021 thru-hiking guidance as pandemic continues
Words matter: Rhetoric became rage in D.C. insurrection
Rehearsal studio opens in historic former Asheville motel
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text:
Various/Nils Frahm Late Night Tales
By Chad Barnes
Nils Frahm's musical curation of the latest edition of Late Night Tales leans on the side of the slow burning, the meditative and the hypnotic; it's a listening experience for those who appreciate subtle complexity. Frahm mixes and layers various genres, especially jazz and electronic, with organic natural sounds and gently humming drones, and a number of the featured compositions have been slowed, to great effect.
Most notably he not only slowed Boards of Canada's 2000 track "In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country," but appears to have emphasized both the beats and the keyboards, transforming it into a narcotic, molasses-slow drip. Perhaps the crowning achievement on this collection is Frahm's ability to seamlessly unite the compositions of a diverse array of artists — Miles Davis, Four Tet, Nina Simone and the glitchy stylings of System, to name but a few — into a cohesive whole. There is never a moment when any of the songs clash or seem otherwise out of place.
The one flaw is that at times Frahm allows the songs to continue for too long, losing the flow of the album — particularly between tracks 9 through 11, but later as well — but that's a small concern. Otherwise, Frahm's Late Night Tales curation is a blissful, satisfying experience.
(Late Night Tales)
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Having delivered surprise EP Encores 1 earlier this year, Nils Frahm has announced that a second instalment in the series will arrive early...
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In 2018, the monoculture has all but vanished. With the sheer volume of entertainment at our fingertips — music, movies, TV, videogames, com...
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Nils Frahm is a musical anomaly. Straddling the line between classical and pop, and flavouring his compositions with every genre in between,...


Karachi High School is a private co-educational institution and was founded in 1985. Since then KHS has grown substantially. There are around 650 students in the school.
There are various medications used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The main component is called tadalafil. Numerous clinical trials prove that it is the most effective anti-ED option available.


This adaptable trail shoe from Merrell has a focus on comfort and security when on the hills. Breathable with superb cushioning with Merrells own Air Cushion Viz which has an EVA foam pod in the heel to stabalise the wearere when they land hard. The Merrell Mens All Out Blaze 2 has Gore-Tex waterproof treatment to keep your feet dry on the wettest weather conditions.
Whether you're seeking protection, comfort, or both, the GORE-TEX brand now has products for any passion and every purpose.


text:
my planergo
Vatican - tourist attractions
The Apostolic Palace The Apostolic Palace, also called the Papal Palace, is located next to the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican city. It is an official seat and a papal residence in the Holy See. The palace is partially visible from the St. Peter's Square. It is actually the whole complex of buildings, such as Papal Ap...
Saint Peter's Square The Saint Peter's Square(it. Piazza San Pietro) -is located in front of the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, connecting the temple with Via della Conciliazione. The square was designed in 1656 by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. It is surrounded with a portico, whose construction took 11 years. A mon...
The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel (Capella Sistina) is probably the most famous chapel in the world. It is located inside the Apostolic Palace and was built between 1475 and 1483. It was designed by the architect Giovanni de'Dolci to order of Pope Sixtus IV. The initial purpose of the building was to create a fir...
St. Peter's Basilica Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican (Basilica Papale Maggiore di San Pietro in Vaticano) is a Roman Catholic church located on the St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. It was built between 1506 and 1626. The Vatican is situated on hilly terrain. This area always was outside the city walls of Rome, in ...
Swiss Guard The Swiss Guard (Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) is an infantry military formation that can be found in the Vatican only. Its aim is to keep adjutant guard to the Holy Father. The Swiss Guard was established in the 16th century and is regarded as the smallest but also the oldest army in the world, exi...
Gardens of Vatican City The Gardens of Vatican City is a complex of gardens scattered around the Vatican. Near the palace-church complex there is a garden with a great variety of flora. Trees, shrubs and flowers coming from different continents create unique compositions. The area is decorated with many fountains (such as...
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major) is located on Esquilino hill in Rome. This is one of the four papal basilicas outside the torritory of Vatican, and therefore has extraterritorial status and belongs to the pope. According to the 1929 Lateran Treaty, the basi...
Vatican grottoes The Vatican grottoes are situated under the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It consists of basements and crypts, in which popes have been buried and valuable works of art belonging to the Holy See, are stored. Grottoes are divided into two parts, the old and the new. Only Pope John Paul II is...
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo fuori le Mura) is one of the four papal basilicas, located in Rome. However, it is a property of the Vatican having an extraterritorial status. St. Paul is buried inside the temple. The first basilica was erected on that site between 386 and ...
The Vatican Observatory The Vatican Observatory (Specola Vaticana) originally was established in Vatican City, but after the earthquake in the early 20th century, it was moved to Castel Gandolfo. This was also due to the fact that growing level of city lightning in Rome. It interferred with more detailed examinations of th...
Vatican - cities with tourist attractions
Vatican State
The oldest constructions
The Sistine Chapel (1475 - 1483, ?)
St. Peter's Basilica (1506 - 1626, 1626)
Swiss Guard (1506 - ?, ?)
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (? - 1823, ?)
The highest points
St. Peter's Basilica (133.3 m.)
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (75 m.)
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (73 m.)
The longest objects
St. Peter's Basilica (211 m.)
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (150 m.)


text:
REGION:AP|JP|CN|IN
Research and Rankings
Havells makes sure that the friendly ghost never ghosts loved ones
Watch the film conceptualised by Mullen Lintas here
Nov 30, 2022 10:04:00 AM | Video | Campaign India Team
Havells India has launched a campaign titled 'Wires that Don't Catch Fire', to highlight the importance of using high quality wires for the safety of loved ones. Conceptualised by Mullen Lintas, the film aims to strengthen the product's superiority and promise of safety, by introducing Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) wires that do not release black smoke and harmful toxic gases.
The film showcases a small boy who believes that there is a ghost in his house who always keeps him safe by doing things like - putting a row of pillows on the bed's edge and switching the lights on automatically when he enters a room. He narrates instances while trying to make a figurine out of wires that looks like a friendly ghost, without realising that it actually is his father, who does all those things. The film tries to draw parallels between the fact that just as the father's actions are invisible, so are the wires that keep the home safe, while hiding inside walls.
Arvind Agrawal, senior vice president, Havells India, said, "Havells is one of the key players in the wire category business, and consumer's safety has always been our top priority. Keeping this in mind, we are promoting Halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) insulated wires and educating our consumers the benefits of the products. Havells was among the first few companies to get BIS licence. The launch of our new campaign is in line with our commitment to electrical safety while highlighting the advantages of using HFFR wires."
Rohit Kapoor, executive vice president – marketing, Havells India said, "Wires that Don't Catch Fire' has been an iconic proposition over the years, and we are delighted to expand the narrative with yet another appealing ad film. The film highlights bonding between a father and his son, who acts like a protector who looks after the safety of his child in a similar way as Havells wires keep our homes safe. The campaign beautifully captures the essence of overall electrical safety by showcasing an emotional storyline in a simple yet playful narrative."
Garima Khandelwal, CCO, Mullen Lintas, said, "Sometimes what we do to protect our loved ones goes unseen to them, that's the parallel we drew with Havells wires, which once engulfed in the household structure, protect the house without being visible. Our story is told through a child who thinks there is a ghost in the house that's his buddy that protects him, but it was all along his dad, who did everything to proactively safeguard his child, there was never a ghost to begin with. We wanted to celebrate the dads and the things they do, always thinking about their family's safety with this new narrative on wires."
The campaign is running across TV and digital.
Aug 03, 2022 04:46:00 AM | Advertising
Spotify tunes its listener's mood
Ayushmann Khurrana gets a suitable Titan Eyeplus by asking the right questions
Aug 01, 2022 03:00:00 PM | Advertising
Protinex makes Indians take the #ProteinPledge
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text:
Q: stop audio help using swift When I make a button to stop audio and tap it once, it stops the audio. When I tap it again, it resumes the audio from the point at which it left off at.
This is the code from that part, it is also in the code below,
}
// This Action allows users to stop the audio
@IBAction func stop(_ sender: UIButton) {
if audioPlayer.isPlaying {
    audioPlayer.stop()
} else {
    self.audioPlayer.play()
}

What I want the audio to do is to be able to stop when I push the button so that no matter how many times I push the button to stop the audio, it will not resume the audio at all. but then if I push the buttons to play sounds then they will play the sounds again.
Here is my code,
//
//  ViewController.swift
//  app21
//
//  Created by Jared Evan Miller on 8/14/17.
//  Copyright © 2017 Jared Evan Miller. All rights reserved.
//

import UIKit
import AVFoundation

class ViewController: UIViewController {

let soundFilenames = ["5","8","7","4","6","1","3","2","9"]
var audioPlayers = [AVAudioPlayer]()
var lastAudioPlayer = 0
var audioPlayer = AVAudioPlayer()
var audioPlayer1 = AVAudioPlayer()
override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.

// set up audio players
   for sound in soundFilenames{
        do {
            // Try to do somerhing
            let url = URL(fileURLWithPath: Bundle.main.path(forResource: sound, ofType: "wav")!);
            let audioPlayer = try AVAudioPlayer(contentsOf:url)

            audioPlayers.append(audioPlayer)
        }
        catch {

            // Catch the error that is thrown
            audioPlayers.append(AVAudioPlayer())

        }
               }

}

override func didReceiveMemoryWarning() {
    super.didReceiveMemoryWarning()
    // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}

@IBAction func buttonTapped(_ sender: UIButton) {
    // Get the audioPlayer that corresponds to the button that they tapped
    let lastPlayer = audioPlayers[lastAudioPlayer]
    lastPlayer.stop();
    lastAudioPlayer = sender.tag;
    lastPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer = audioPlayers[sender.tag]
    audioPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer.play()
}

@IBAction func buttonTapped2(_ sender: UIButton) {
    let lastPlayer = audioPlayers[lastAudioPlayer]
    lastPlayer.stop();
    lastAudioPlayer = sender.tag;
    lastPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer = audioPlayers[sender.tag]
    audioPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer.play()
}
// This Action allows users to stop the audio
@IBAction func stop(_ sender: UIButton) {
    if audioPlayer.isPlaying {
        audioPlayer.stop()
    } else {
        self.audioPlayer.play()
}
}

A: Please check below :
import UIKit
import AVFoundation

class ViewController: UIViewController {

let soundFilenames = ["5","8","7","4","6","1","3","2","9"]
var audioPlayers = [AVAudioPlayer]()
var lastAudioPlayer = 0
var audioPlayer = AVAudioPlayer()
var audioPlayer1 = AVAudioPlayer()
override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.

    // set up audio players
   for sound in soundFilenames{
       do {
            // Try to do somerhing
            let url = URL(fileURLWithPath: Bundle.main.path(forResource: sound, ofType: "wav")!);
            audioPlayer = try AVAudioPlayer(contentsOf:url)

            audioPlayers.append(audioPlayer)
        }
        catch {
            // Catch the error that is thrown
            audioPlayers.append(AVAudioPlayer())
        }
    }
}

override func didReceiveMemoryWarning() {
    super.didReceiveMemoryWarning()
    // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}

@IBAction func buttonTapped(_ sender: UIButton) {
    // Get the audioPlayer that corresponds to the button that they tapped
    let lastPlayer = audioPlayers[lastAudioPlayer]
    lastPlayer.stop();
    lastAudioPlayer = sender.tag;
    lastPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer = audioPlayers[sender.tag]
    audioPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer.play()
}

@IBAction func buttonTapped2(_ sender: UIButton) {
    let lastPlayer = audioPlayers[lastAudioPlayer]
    lastPlayer.stop();
    lastAudioPlayer = sender.tag;
    lastPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer = audioPlayers[sender.tag]
    audioPlayer.currentTime = 0;
    audioPlayer.play()
}
// This Action allows users to stop the audio
@IBAction func stop(_ sender: UIButton) {
    if audioPlayer.isPlaying {
        audioPlayer.stop()
    }
}


ARLINGTON, Va. - The lives of those who knew Army Capt. Andrew Ross changed forever when he was killed in action while on his second deployment in Afghanistan last November.
A private ceremony was held for him in Glen Allen a few weeks ago, but he arrived at his final resting place Tuesday. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
Ross is buried there with 400,000 other service members and their families.
After more than seven years of service in the Army and dozen of awards, Ross can now rest and be remembered as someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Capt. Richard Dickson met Drew in 2011 while the two were stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia.
And it was those three qualities that attracted people to Ross. People he knew from VMI and West Point wanted to show their respects at his military funeral.
Dickson wants people to remember Drew and what he was about. Years after they met they ended up in the same unit at Fort Bragg and talked a few weeks before his death.
"Just his commitment to everything. You knew right away with his charisma and his hard work he was going to do great things in the military and that he loved everyone. He would go above and beyond for anyone he knew. Didn't matter if you were best friends or someone that he just met on the street," said Dickson.
Three flags were presented to Ross's family One to his widow and one for each of his parents. An Arlington Lady presented cards of condolence on behalf of the service chief.
Around 500 people came out for the military funeral for Ross. A public affairs officer told 10 News, she has attended more than a 1,000 funerals at the cemetery and this was one of the largest turnouts in attendance she's seen. Family and friends say it shows just how much he is loved.
Along with Ross, Army Sgt. Jason Mitchell McClary, Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin were the other servicemen killed in the IED blast.
Rep. Ben Cline also attended today's burial.


Salt Therapy can help to alleviate the symptoms of allergies, Asthma, COPD, snoring, Sleep Apnea, Sinusitis, Bronchitis, colds, sinus infections, stress, Eczema, Psoriasis, and Depression.
Salt Therapy, also known as Halotherapy, is an all natural and holistic therapy that benefits the lungs and skin with the use of a dry salt aerosol. Although relatively new to the states, salt therapy is a very popular form of natural therapy in Europe and Russia. The salt aerosol provides anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects on the respiratory tract, and helps to cleanse the lungs and reduces the inflammation, helping you breathe easier. Halotherapy is also beneficial to those with skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne due to the natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of salt. It is also recommended for healthy people as it boosts the immune system by helping to combat the high amounts of pollutants, dust, and bacteria we all breathe every day. Forest Acres Well Care salt rooms are as tranquil as they are therapeutic, and your respiratory tract will feel rejuvenated with regular use.
Do you have joint pain? Knee pain? Hip pain? Shoulder pain? It's possible it's because you have deterioration or arthritis in the joint. But rather than have an expensive surgery, take steroid shots for the pain, why not try to naturally regenerate that tissue?
Stem Cells adapt to the joint tissue they are placed in, and are the only thing that can actually rebuild and regrow the arthritic joint tissue!
Common Conditions include Degenerative Disc Disease, Rotator Cuff & Labral Tears, Stress Fractures, Tennis Elbow, Degenerated Joints, Tendon, Ligament, & Muscle Strains, and Tendinitis.
BioRenew® PTM Therapy™ is being use in the world of anti-aging. This product augments and replaces the damaged connective tissues (collagens and elastin fibers), restoring the inadequate tissue with a highly viable placental 'connective tissue matrix'.
BioRenew® PTM Therapy™ is a next-generation therapy treatment that works with your body to treat the source of your condition and target the underlying injury. This all-natural therapy has been used by celebrities, professional athletes and our special forces, with the goal to avoid surgery and get back to daily activities.
BioRenew® PTM Therapy™ delivers the body's regernative potential to restore peak performance.
We offer gentle yoga classes in our relaxing salt room. We will typically go through a series of restorative poses, light vinyasa, and breathing techniques. These classes are designed to promote a sense of calmness and can be helpful in reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and improving overall health. The salt room environment leads to many additional benefits as well as including improved respiratory functioning and reducing inflammation.
We also offer yoga privates that are designed to meet the clients specific needs and goals. Whether you are looking to relax and work on reducing anxiety, dive into poses focusing on lowering chronic pain, or get sweaty and work on your fitness level, we've got you covered and would love to come alongside you in your journey.
We will also be offering non-saltroom yoga & child-centered yoga classes throughout the week!
New U Life's Homeopathic SOMADERM Gel is the ONLY transdermal, FDA registered human growth hormone (HGH) product available without a prescription. The molecular breakdown of HGH found in SOMADERM gel is a synthetic USP human growth hormone (Somatropin).
Give us a call to order your bottle today!


The bar and bat mitzvas in my town have gotten out of control in terms of lavishness. And the content is either non-existent or totally unrelated to Judaism. I want to buck the trend, but I don't have the courage. Can you give me some ideas as well as some strength from Jewish tradition? What should the day really look like, pre-Hollywood-obsessed America?
I commend you for your willingness to address this important issue, not only for your own family but for the entire Jewish community. I'm reminded of the 2006 movie "Keeping Up with the Steins" in which the worst excesses of the American B'nai Mitzvah scene are portrayed on the big screen. Though at the end of the movie it brings out the importance of what this ceremony is all about, nevertheless it shows Jews and the ritual of B'nai Mitzvah in a less than flattering light.
Unfortunately, you may not be able to change the minds of others who see this ritual as an opportunity to have a party for friends and relatives and who don't look at it for what it is – a chance to renew the life of their son or daughter in Judaism. You might have to see yourself moving forward in a new role – a pioneer in your community, a person who, as the saying goes, puts the mitzvah back into Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Look at this as a chance to show by example the beauty of this ritual and what it can mean for your family and community at large.
There are many books that speak to your question of gaining strength from our tradition in this important endeavor. I would highly recommend "Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah" by Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, published by Jewish Lights Publishing. It not only gives you the ways in which Judaism can inform your planning and preparation but it also is a practical guide as to how you can accomplish this worthy goal of yours. Another excellent book is Danny Siegel's Bar and Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah Book (A Practical Guide for Changing the World Through Your Simcha) which again speaks to your question.
These books will help you to create not only a day but an experience before and after the Bar or Bat Mitzvah that will stay with you and your child forever. Mazal Tov on this wonderful simcha and may it be everything that you hope it can be.
FIRST OF ALL, EVERY BAR OR BAT MITZVAH SHOULD HAVE A "MITZVAH" COMPONENT, IN WHICH THE YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN A PROJECT THAT MAKES HIS/HER COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. THOUGH TRADITIONALLY THE ONLY REQUIREMENT TO BECOME A BAR MITZVAH WAS BEING CALLED TO THE READING OF THE TORAH, WE NOW EXPECT THEM TO HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF AND ABILITY TO, LEAD A SHABBAT SERVICE (OR TWO) READ A SIGNIFICANT PORTION FROM THE WEEK'S PARSHAH, AND DEVELOP AND READ A SIGNIFICANT, MEANINGFUL AND PERSONAL D'VAR TORAH. I REQUIRE EACH ONE TO PREPARE THE LATTER WITH ME, AND THAT INCLUDEDS SOME PRETTY SIGNIFIANT DISCUSSION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PORTION AND GROWING JEWISHLY.
THE CELEBRATION OR PARTY ASPECT SHOULD BE SECONDARY; IT IS SO UNFORTUNATE WHEN WE HAVE TIO "KEEP UP WITH THE STEINS." THERE IS CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A PARTY THEME, SO LONG AS THE CELEBRATION IS MODERATE, IN GOOD TASTE, AND IN KEEPING WITH THE NATURE OF THE FAMILY. THERE IS CERTAINLY NO NEED FOR A FAMILY TO GO INTO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR DEBT.


text:
Fashion and Art – collaborations in culture and sustainability
The first partnership between artist and fashion designer goes back to the early 20th century, but at the turn of the millennium, Louis Vuitton recognized an opportunity that changed the industry. Now, in the 21st century, artists play a vital role in rethinking the wasteful and unsustainable approach that developed to become fast fashion.
By Maya Garabedian for Mutual Art
Yves Saint Laurent, Cocktail dress from "Homage to Piet Mondrian," worn by Muriel, Autumn/Winter 1965 Haute Couture Collection, Photograph by Louis Dalmas in Paris, July 1965. Courtesy of Musée Yves Saint Laurent
The idea that art and fashion are interconnected certainly isn't hard to grasp — after all, fashion in and of itself is an art. But the collaborations between high art – that of individual artists with their own fan base and art fair accolades – and high fashion – that of renowned designers with flagship stores and fashion shows – is a relatively modern invention. Since the early-to-mid-twentieth century, creative directors and designers of major labels have pulled inspiration from visual art. What's worth noting, however, is that the collision and rippling after-effects of the fashion and art worlds can't be boiled down to honoring the deceased, à la Yves Saint Laurent's homages to Piet Mondrian and Henri Matisse in the latter half of the century. The true unification of the two worlds happened in the 1930s, setting the precedent for an active collaboration between designer and artist.
Yves Saint Laurent, Henri Matisse-inspired evening gown worn by Edia Vairelli, Autumn/Winter 1980 Haute Couture Collection, Salon Impérial of the Hôtel Inter-Continental, Paris, July 1980. Courtesy of Musée Yves Saint Laurent
The earliest example of true collaboration of design was in 1937 when Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, known as the rival to Coco Chanel, began developing a more Surrealist style with the help of her friend, Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. Fascinated by Dalí's lobster-oriented works, she had him draw a lobster motif that was then printed onto a silk organza dress produced by the leading silk designer, Sache. The purity of the sheer white fabric in contrast with the passionate red of the lobster, its placement a clear nod to Dalí's sexually-charged use of lobsters in his own work, was a source of controversy at the time. Schiaparelli and Dalí bonded over their desire to shock an audience, push the conventions of beauty, and challenge gender stereotypes, leading to more than a one-off collaboration.
Elsa Schiaparelli, Salvador Dalí, Woman's Dinner Dress, 1937, printed silk organza and synthetic horsehair. Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The pieces that came a year later were less subtle in their anatomical references. Two of the most famous are Shoe Hat, a phallic-shaped upside-down heel, and Skeleton Dress, a silk crêpe dress inspired by Dalí's Woman with a Head of Roses. Using a quilting method called trapunto, a technique largely foreign to dress-making, Schiaparelli inserted three-dimensional wadding into a flat outline, creating a two-layer dress that gave the illusion of a protruding skeleton. Despite backlash from viewers, Schiaparelli and Dalí's collaboration garnered so much attention through their stylistic mash-up that their legacy paved the way for generations of collaborations to come.
Left: Elsa Schiaparelli, Salvador Dalí, Shoe Hat, 1938, wool felt and silk velvet. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Right: Elsa Schiaparelli, Salvador Dalí, Skeleton Dress, 1938, silk crêpe, trapunto quilting, cotton wadding. Courtesy of The New York Times and the Philadelphia Museum of Art
In a post-Schiaparelli-Dalí world, collaborations deviated from shock value in order to cater to a consumer market, shifting away from the designer-artist friendship model and towards a label-artist strategic partnership. Inevitably, this changed the collaborative process and subsequently, the products produced. Although the outcome may be less prolific, a business-oriented environment has its strengths too. There's now a bigger incentive to collaborate – increasing its occurrence, which is a win for art lovers – and to do so while aligning with the modern emphasis on brand identity and harmonization, which is a win for fashion lovers. One brand in particular is the blueprint for this model of contemporary collaborations and its successes: Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse, Speedy 40, 2001, silkscreened leather, metal. Courtesy of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
In 1996, under the then creative director Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton released a celebratory Centennial Collection where guest designers were invited to reimagine the brand's classic monogram bags. The success of these creations, sold in seven cities worldwide, was the predecessor to inviting artists to do the same — something which no other luxury brand was doing at the time. In 2000, the first collection of artist-designed bags was released in collaboration with Stephen Sprouse, the first of many to "deface" the timeless Louis Vuitton monogram logo. His graffiti-like, Pop Art approach was an immediate hit sensation, starting a movement within the company and fashion houses worldwide.
Left: Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami, Monogram Multicolor Speedy 30, 2003, silkscreened leather, metal. Courtesy of Rebag. Right: Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami, Jewelry Box, 2003, leather, metal. Courtesy of Farfetch
The most famous of all collaborations within the label, possibly of all luxury handbag collaborations, is the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami series that began in 2002. Murakami, an iconic artist known for blurring the boundary between fine and commercial arts, and as the "Warhol of Japan," brought his eclectic style and vibrant color palette to the brand, creating the Monogram Multicolor Collection that came to define the early 2000s. Unlike most collaborations, which result in one single collection, Murakami's success landed him a 12-year-long partnership, the brand's longest to date. After the creative director position changed hands from Marc Jacobs to Nicolas Ghesquière, Murakami's bags were seen as slightly outdated and were consequently discontinued — demand has only increased, however, making them one of the hottest resale items on the market.
Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama, The artist with her bag in the Louis Vuitton storefront, New York City. Photograph courtesy of Popsugar
Even though positions within the company and brand aesthetics have changed over time, Louis Vuitton has continuously emphasized artist collaborations in a way unlike any other major fashion house. The brand's impressive rolodex is comprised of artists like Richard Prince (2008), Scott Campbell (2011), Yayoi Kusama (2012), Jeff Koons (2017), and Kansai Yamamoto (2018). Since then, the brand has teamed up with several other artists, including the following six for the Artycapucine Collection: Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self, and Jonas Wood. What started as one collaboration every year or so, giving artists the task of reimagining the classic monogram look, turned into a revolving door of ingenuity with multiple artist partnerships in a season, creating the space for more experimental pieces in the fabric of an ever-growing brand. This decades-long commitment to collaboration has solidified the importance of art in fashion so much so that the practice has become commonplace throughout the industry.
Louis Vuitton x Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self, and Jonas Wood, Artycapucine Collection, 2019, leather, metal, embroidery. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Olafur Eliasson, Imaginary Morning Eclipse (O is for Organic), 2020, colored class, silver, driftwood. Courtesy of Interview Magazine
When discussing the environmental impact of fashion, the focus is usually on the production of what's called "fast fashion," the cheap, trendy, mass-produced, and readily available styles that dominate the market. Fast fashion is a consumer-driven sector of the overall industry, but its high demand is certainly not because of its quality of product, but because of its timely design. Fast fashion is popular because it democratized high fashion, giving everyday consumers the ability to wear styles adjacent to those on the runway. Production rightfully dominates the conversation with its wasteful business model — new designs churned out constantly, petroleum-derived fabrics made in factories overseas, shipped around the world, then arriving with an expected lifespan of about two years, despite the fact that it'll take closer to 200 for them to fully decompose, is anything but sustainable. But the root of the problem may actually be high fashion, which sets the precedent for fast fashion. Relying on animal-derived products and a cutthroat business model that's blinded by the desire for scarcity, even burning leftover goods to prevent devaluation, a clear message was left for its budget-friendly counterparts: accumulate wealth by any means necessary and don't worry about the impact that makes. Maybe if luxury brands prioritized sustainability, smaller brands would follow suit. Thankfully, some companies, and with the help of big-name artists, have started down that path.
Stella McCartney x Gary Hume, Shirt from Spring Ready-to-Wear, 2002, worn by Ana Beatriz Barros, photograph by Sylvain Belan. Courtesy of Vogue Magazine
The one woman who is singlehandedly shaking up high fashion is designer Stella McCartney. As an animal rights activist, a pioneer in ethical fashion, and a longtime artist collaborator, with a wide variety of artists and mediums, Stella McCartney recently merged her label's two defining characteristics, a sustainable brand message and an affinity for artist collaborations, into one. Before this merging of ideas, McCartney's brand took part in a number of high-profile collaborations, establishing a rapport with artists and credibility within the art world that would eventually lead to one massive, philanthropic, multi-artist collaboration.
The first of many was in 2002 with artist Gary Hume, who she would collaborate with again some 12 years later. Together, they designed handmade t-shirts for a silent auction at the Thaddeus Ropac Gallery in Paris benefiting RAWA, an Afghan women's rights organization.
Stella McCartney x Ed Ruscha, Shot from Winter Ad Campaign, 2016, photograph by Harley Weir featuring Amber Valetta. Courtesy of WWD Magazine
Following her introductory collaboration with Hume, she began working with artists increasingly often — creating ad campaigns with illustrator David Remfry in 2003, limited edition t-shirts with cartoonist Robert Crumb in 2005, the Spring/Summer 2006 collection with Jeff Koons, a 2009 capsule collection with Peter Blake, and a second collaboration with Gary Hume in Autumn 2014. Sustainability and artistry ceased to be disjointed two years later when Ed Ruscha came on board to do the Winter 2016 ad campaign. In typical Ruscha style, vibrant visuals with text overlays, two components of his Pop Art persona, the ad campaign garnered attention from fashion, art, and environmentally conscious people.
Linda McCartney, Untitled self-portrait (L is for Linda), 1975, photograph. Courtesy of Stella and Paul McCartney
McCartney's most extensive collaboration to date happens to be one of her most recent, again harnessing the power of art as a means of working towards her sustainability goals. In the wake of a global pandemic, McCartney found herself looking for ways to be more aware of the world around her and more conscious of the creative process, ultimately devising the McCartney A to Z Manifesto, a blueprint of sorts that can be used to take steps towards becoming the most sustainable fashion house anywhere. With every letter, A-Z, McCartney partnered with a different artist to bring that letter and the principle it stands for to life. Each artist was given a task: to pick a letter and visualize it in any way they see fit. Of the 26 letters, only four were pre-existing works repurposed for the cause, and the rest were made solely for this purpose. Some artists were old friends and previous collaborators, like Jeff Koons and Ed Ruscha, "next-generation talents" like illustrator Will Sweeney and photographer Jermaine Francis, and even her late mother, the photographer, activist, and spouse of Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney.
Stella McCartney x Cindy Sherman, E is for Effortless T-Shirt, 2020, screenprinted organic cotton. Courtesy of Stella McCartney
Seven of the artists furthered their collaborative efforts by agreeing to make their pieces into exclusive t-shirts for the label, with each style individually numbered from one to 30. Not only are they printed on organic cotton and wrapped in recyclable material from renewable sources, but 50% of the profits from each artist's shirt went to an organization of their choice. The list is as follows: Rashid Johnson's A is for Accountable (The 14+ Foundation), Cindy Sherman's E is for Effortless (Planned Parenthood), George Condo's G is for Grateful (Conservation International), Jeff Koons's K is for Kindness (International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children), Olafur Eliasson's O is for Organic (charity unknown), Hajime Sorayama's S is for Sustainability (Médecins Sans Frontières Japan), and Ed Ruscha's X is for Kiss (Mojave Desert Land Trust Seed Bank).
Rashid Johnson, Accountability (A is for Accountable), 2020, oil on paper. Courtesy of Stella McCartney
By agreeing to be a part of this process, all 26 artists are, in a sense, taking part in this pledge themselves — to be mindful of the materials they use to create, and of all living things, with respect to sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity. Many of their subjects reflect this through their reoccurring themes of nature, as do their mediums, like the undeniably anarchist, blood-red "A" from Johnson, released for sale during Black History Month, and Eliasson's sculpture made of glass resting on driftwood. Eliasson explained his choice of making an "O" out of the absence of material as a symbol of ethical consumption, saying, "It's so much nicer to un-fill and un-buy, like making works of art by removing." Partnering with artists who are mindful of the permanence of their own work, are exceptional at communicating visually, and bring their own fan bases and philanthropic causes alongside them puts a spotlight on sustainability in high fashion, and by extension, makes us reflect on the sustainability of high art.
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Posted in Media+CultureBy Alexander Ackley
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Money has been spent. Materials have been received. It's friggin on now!
CCIE Lab: I'm coming for you.
I got involved in a project called PeerIX this week. It's a group of guys that have all connected various routing devices together over GRE and/or IPsec tunnels to form a BGP network for learning purposes. I got involved when a a thread on Networking-Forum about this group started thinking that this might be interesting to do the same concept with IPv6. As I was one of the people that was interested here I am posting about it.


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