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This teacher is a CAT 2016 topper but passed IIM Ahmedabad in 2010
CAT 2016: Rahul Sharma scored 100 percentile to show students how to crack the exam.
Written by Manasa Durgavajjhala | New Delhi | Updated: July 26, 2017 10:26:57 am
CAT 2016: "I just gave the paper so that I can be up to date when teaching my students," Rahul Sharma said talking about his result.
Belling the CAT is a task and many candidates turn to coaching classes to find right guidance to crack one of the toughest entrance exams — Common Aptitude Test (CAT) — the gateway to the country's best B-schools.
The market is flooded with coaching centres promising a bright future but does they really have the right faculty? To answer queries of students, Delhi's Rahul Sharma, a teacher in a private coaching institute appeared in CAT 2016 and scored a perfect 100 percentile.
"I took the test because it had been a while since I wrote CAT and thought this will help sharpen my knowledge," said Sharma who had given the paper twice before.
The first time, in 2007, he passed with a 99.89 percentile and got a seat in the Management Development Institute in Gurgaon, where he studied for a year. "I studied in MDI for a year and got the confidence to appear for CAT again," said he.
Also read: IIT Delhi graduate scores 100 percentile in CAT 2016
In his second attempt in 2008, he scored a 99.99 percentile and finally got a seat in IIM Ahmedabad. This gave him a chance to be a part of a two-year course for a Post Graduate Diploma in General Management (2009-11) which, he says, were some of the best years of his life.
Before heading into the field of management, when he had not yet attempted his first CAT paper, Rahul Sharma was a B Tech student at the YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad, but felt, the engineering was not his true calling. "I like talking to people and realised since my communication skills are good, I should pursue management," said he.
Also read: Top reasons why engineers choose to do MBA
"When I wrote CAT before. It used to be a written examination and the 2007-08 question papers were easier to read as it was in ink and paper. During those days, you just had to score just 100 out of 300 to get a 99 percentile," said he.
However, an aspirant will not get a 99 percentile, in the current years, unless he scores at least 150. "Though the level of difficulty was higher back then, sections like English were much easier to crack," he said.
"My intent was not to get a 100 percentile," he said talking about his result in the CAT 2016 paper, "I just gave the paper so that I can be up to date when teaching my students."
Also read: Missed CAT or unsure of XAT results? There are other options
The IIM Ahmedabad graduate currently takes coaching classes in Gurgaon and Faridabad. When asked what advice he would give to CAT aspirants, he gave three points:
1) Mock tests – Student generally focus on the content but this will only help them to get through 40-45 per cent of the preparation. The best way to prepare is by taking mock tests. This will give them an idea about the kind of questions they must attempt.
2) Revision – Students usually try to switch to a different book once they're done with one. Sticking to the same book will help you a lot more as it gives you "depth". Revising one material repeatedly will help you more than switching between three-four books.
3) Don't panic – Understand that CAT is a simple paper. There is no need to panic because you are in control of those three hours. Just give your best attempt and stay calm.
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Manasa Durgavajjhala... read more
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Do you want to learn how to research keywords, but you "don't have time" – even if you know that learning how would help your website rank better and therefore potentially earn you more money?
Have you wanted to create a big and really important blog post and repurpose it – but you have no idea where to start, what to write about and what to do?
Do you want to launch a new service or product – but you've put it off because your website isn't quite right?
Do you want to learn more about social media marketing, but things like 'pixels' sound too scary?
The key is to propel yourself out of overwhelm mode and make a concrete, easy-to-follow plan to get things done. Here's how to do it.
I'm a big believer in baby steps. While others talk about how you can "get up two hours early to work on your passion project," I like my sleep too much and have a cat that wakes me too early as it is, so I'm going to make this even easier for you.
Every day, spend 25 minutes on accomplishing your content creation goals. That's it.
Spend 25 minutes playing with KeywordTool.io, a very cool keyword research tool. UberSuggest is another fun tool to try.
Spend 25 minutes planning and writing your big, important blog post. Need ideas? Try using Answer The Public, it's a great visual representation of what people are asking about in your niche. Then learn how to repurpose your blog by reading this.
Spend 25 minutes working on your "why you need this new service/product" speech, and try it out on a new prospect. If it's well received create a simple webpage with the same language and start promoting it!
Spend 25 minutes learning about pixels and create a 'dummy ad' in Facebook.
If 25 minutes feels like too much time, start with 10 or 15. Just promise yourself you will spend those 10-15 minutes every day working towards your content creation goal.
The first few days will be tough. Your brain will mess with you. Attending a boring webinar, mindlessly surfing Facebook and checking email will all seem like better options.
You'll find that you're feeling more relaxed and in control. After all, things are actually getting done.
You'll break through your internal blocks that previously held you back.
You'll not only feel more successful; you'll BE more successful.
All in just 25 minutes a day.


OSWEGO, NY – Camp Hollis is now accepting summer camp applications.
Open to youth ages 8 through 14, Camp Hollis offers a week-long summer residential camp experience for 9- to 14-year-olds and an overnight experience for 8-year-olds, complete with swimming, nature hikes, games, campfires, arts and crafts, and many more activities.
Youth can now register for week-long and overnight sessions.
Sessions are broken down into three different age groups between June 29 through Aug. 15.
There will be a mini-camp from June 26 to June 27 to introduce eight-year-olds to an overnight summer camp experience.
For more information on camp dates, programming, special needs, or requests, or to receive an application, call the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau at 315-349-3451.
"We will gladly answer your questions or send you an application," said Brandon Morey, coordinator of recreation and youth development for the Oswego City – County Youth Bureau and director of Camp Hollis.
Applications are also available online at www.oswegocounty.com/youth/hollis.
Camp fliers will be supplied to all Oswego County schools and should be sent home with students the week of Feb. 10 to 14 with information on how to obtain a camper application.
"We also encourage new, returning, and interested campers and families to visit Camp Hollis during our open house on May 18 from 1 to 4 p.m., to see camp, meet some of the staff and ask questions about what the summer could bring!" said Morey.
Camp Hollis fees are based on a sliding scale.
Families who may need financial assistance may contact the Youth Bureau for options beyond the sliding scale.
Scholarships are made available from the Friends of Camp Hollis.
Anyone wishing to support camper scholarships may send a check made out to "Friends of Camp Hollis" to Friends of Camp Hollis, P.O. Box 291, Oswego, N.Y. 13126.
Camp Hollis is owned by Oswego County and operated by the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau.
Located at 40 Health Camp Road, off Lakeshore Road in the Town of Oswego, the facility is also available May through October for use by families, clubs, school groups and other organizations.


1. Run with a running partner or group.
Remember that there is usually safety in numbers.
2. Do not run with earphones.
Although it is enjoyable to exercise to some great tunes, your situational awareness will not be as sharp. It will become harder to hear a potential attacker approach you from behind. You may have a slower reaction time in order to escape.
Altering you route makes it more difficult to track your movements on a day by day basis and thus more difficult for stalkers to learn your patterns. Different scenery will keep you more alert and focused on your surroundings.
4. Run with your dog.
Large dogs make a great deterrent to a potential attacker.
Let someone know when you go for a run and the route that you are taking. Some smartphone apps provide route planning, GPS, or alert notification features to allow friends or family to track your movements during your run.
We are very proud of our low crime rate and level of security that our citizens enjoy within our public parks and trails. Safety, however, is never 100% and we must be ever diligent of danger.


Prices range from $165,00 to $175,000. A $20,000 construction incentive is being offered to the first four buyers to close and begin construction within six months.
The team behind the redevelopment of the former downtown Pensacola YMCA at 400 N. Palafox St. has announced new lot prices for the mixed-use development that will be known as Galveztown.
In a news release Friday, Fred Gunther, principal at commercial real estate firm Gunther Properties, revealed lot pricing ranging from $165,00 to $175,000. Additionally, a $20,000 construction incentive is being offered to the first four buyers to close on one of nine available lots and begin construction within six months.
"We are proud to be a part of downtown Pensacola's continued positive transformation and look forward to helping others enjoy the downtown lifestyle," Gunther said in the release.
Gunther, along with brother Brad Myers, purchased the site in January to convert it into a development featuring nine, single-family residential homes. Galveztown LLC, the company the brothers are operating under for the development, also plans to include some commercial spaces in the development.
Interested parties can contact Gunther at guntherproperties.com.


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Saint-Joseph University - Political Science Institute
About USJ
Saint-Joseph University (USJ) is a private Lebanese university that was established in 1875. The university and its degrees are officially recognized by the Lebanese state, in accordance with the provisions of the private higher education that governs higher education in Lebanon.
The university was accredited by AERES (Agence d'évaluation de la Recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur – a French academic research evaluation agency) in 2009.
It is a member of the Association of Arab Universities, the International Union of Universities, the Association of Wholly or Partly French-Language Universities, the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the Federation of European Catholic Universities, the Association of Jesuit Higher Education Institutions in Europe and Lebanon, the Euro-Mediterranean Association, and the EuroMed Permanent University Forum.
It has more than 200 cooperation agreements different universities, be they Arab, European, American, Canadian, Chinese, or Japanese.
It houses the permanent headquarters of the Society of Arab Dental Faculties, which is hosted by its affiliate, the Faculty of Dental Medicine.
It houses the permanent headquarters of the Arab Confederation of Faculties & Institutes of Physiotherapy, which is hosted by its affiliate, the Institute of Physical Therapy.
It houses the headquarters of the Confucius Institute for the teaching of Chinese language and civilization.
It houses the headquarters of the Japan Academic Center.
About the Political Science Institute
The teaching of Political Science is a long tradition at Saint Joseph University (USJ). The first courses date back to 1920 on the initiative of the Governor of Greater Lebanon. They were intended to train public servants for the new administration. In 1944, the Faculty of Law reorganized this teaching by establishing the Institute of Political Sciences. The vocation of the Institute is to train an enterprising and active elite in the public and private sectors as well as in civil society.
The Political Science Institute (Science Po) seeks the excellence and rigor that have always made the reputation of USJ and in particular that of the Faculty of Law and Political Science. Its teachings and programs are continually updated according to current events and according to the expectations of professional circles. The Institute delivers BA, MA, and Ph.D. in Political Science. It has leading professors and researchers and is a center of excellence that produces decision makers as well as researchers in the fields of International Relations, Public Policy, Comparative Politics, Human Rights and Governance, and Political Communication.
Science Po has an extensive experience in developing action-oriented research related to refugees, public policies, democracy, and governance. Science Po's faculty comprises experts and renown references in middle east politics, geopolitics and international relations. It has just launched an Arab Master in Democracy and Human Rights in collaboration with Tunisian, Moroccan, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Jordanian universities. The program is integrated into a network of more than 100 universities worldwide.
Science Po is characterized by:
Strong values: excellence, innovation, and social responsibility,
A team of renowned researchers and experts,
Diverse training in direct contact with the field,
Internship, community service and research opportunities for students,
A vast network of international partners with student mobility and the possibility of scholarships.
Our graduates take jobs in various areas including:
Public sector (diplomacy and public administration),
The political world (parliament, parties, etc),
Specialized consultancy (security, elections, public policies, etc.),
Pressure groups and civil society (NGOs, unions, and other organizations),
Political communication and marketing (media, social media, market research and opinion polling, campaigning, etc.),
International organizations (UN, UNDP, ESCWA, IMF, World Bank, Regional Organizations, etc.),
Embassies,
Private sector,
Teaching and research.
Rue de Damas
Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon
Arab Master in Democracy and Human Rights arrow_forward
Master in Political Science arrow_forward

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Near the west end of the Sunset Strip lies an unassuming restaurant that boasts the trifecta coveted by all restauranteurs: good food, good service, and good ambience/ view.
Eveleigh joins the league of restaurants that lacks signage. Or if there was a sign, they do a great job hiding it in its leafy "Secret Garden"-esque entryway. Sign or no sign, Eveleigh doesn't give off a pretentious or ultra-trendy vibe. Rather, it combines rustic and chic in a welcoming way. Though I visited during the day, I imagine evenings at Eveleigh would be romantic in a feel-good, country-comfort sort of way.
Because I was here for a special event (Hi, CC!), we enjoyed our meal from a set menu. Most, if not all, of the items on this menu is on their regular brunch menu.
We sat at a long communal table, so communal eating was appropriate. Having tasted at least of bite of each of the entrees, I enjoyed it all, but vote the hot cakes and peach bread as my faves. The fusion of the honeycomb butter and syrup on the hotcakes was perfect, even for me who only recently started to appreciate pancakes. As for the peach bread, I'm in the process of trying to re-create that in my own kitchen. Will keep you posted.
Overall, Eveleigh is one of those places that may be under the radar, but is worthy of checking out, whether for brunch, dinner, or post-dinner drinks. So, what are you waiting for?


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Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Monday, December 14, 2020
Pompeo condemns Iran's 'barbaric' execution of dissident
14 December 2020, 4:57 pm 0 Edit
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounces as "barbaric" Iran's execution of opposition figure Ruhollah Zam, who ran a popular social media channel.
"The US strongly condemns Iran's unjust, barbaric execution of Ruhollah Zam, an Iranian journalist kidnapped abroad by the regime," Pompeo writes on Twitter.
The U.S. strongly condemns Iran's unjust, barbaric execution of Ruhollah Zam, an Iranian journalist kidnapped abroad by the regime. Zam exposed the brutality and corruption of the regime, which has killed or arrested more than 860 journalists in its 41-year reign of terror.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 14, 2020
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© 2021 The Times of Israel, all rights reserved


Brunch, this happens with many that they miss their breakfast in a hurry and have to settle with in-bet-weens, the brunch. You may be visualizing French toast, omelets, etc. Instead in America you have fascinating brunch spots all over that it is a must eat food place. Make your unhurried meal time awesome with these best places offering brunch in America.
This place goes much beyond bacon and eggs. It offers the best of the ambiance, the beachside that the seafood is awesome. There is the pork belly hash all spicy with poblano chili and you can enjoy eating at brunch time the bubbly crusted pizza with bellinis.
Knoxville has its smoky mountains attracting visitors from far and wide, but the regulars must visit for a brunch as it matters. The Tennessee town has a galore of restaurants offering best brunch menus with an addition of southern flair. Knox Mason is one such brunch place downtown. The ingredients present a local approach and this is apparent in the heap of house churned butter that is served over cornmeal griddle cakes, sorghum syrup and Tennessee bacon.
Charleston is prominent for its antique shopping, tidiness, historic architecture, charming and friendly attitude. Here, at Eleve, the brunch is really big in the rooftop restaurant, the Grand Bohemian Hotel. The brunch on Sunday includes a charcuterie, a buffet with shellfish, cinnamon waffles and the bottomless mimosas. While at Husk, brunch goers can find regional specialties and the menu is never the same.
New Orleans menus are fitted in such a way that they include brunch. You get a galore of choices, for local's spot, visit the Kenton's, in Audubon, a whiskey bar and enjoy the whole wheat waffle and the bourbon syrup. There is a Garden District mansion of 1850s, Altamura, for Italian, Willa Jean for biscuits and in the French Quarter, Sylvain, for cornmeal and shrimp dumplings.
Richmond in the Virginia City serves regionally-sourced food. Southbound, a new restaurant has a southern touch in everything, right from pancakes to bourbon-smoked pork belly. This is because big chefs namely, Lee Gregory and Joe Sparatta have teamed with a local farmer. Lucy's is also another perfect brunch spot serving fresh baked bacon donut and eggy classics. Rightly located in the neighborhood Church Hill is Metzger Bar & Butchery serving brunches in German style with sausages house-made and from the nearby farms the wursts.
The Big Apple brunch is definitely a daunting affair as there are many scattered all over the city and time and again new players keep popping up. yet, for bruch, visit Cherry Point at Brooklyn. There are menus keeping meat-heavy as standards such as corn beef hash with chili. Buvette, in Manhattan is another favorite serving fluffiest scramble eggs. However, be prepared at any restaurant to join the frenzy inevitable line, but it is worth waiting, if you wish to have a good brunch.


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Never Gonna Let You Go Tina Moore Download 'Never Gonna Let You Go' on iTunes
Disclosure Home
Disclosure Drop Epic Teaser Trailer For New Album 'Caracal'
Here's everything we know so far about the Disclosure brothers' 'Settle' follow-up.
Disclosure have just dropped a pretty epic teaser trailer for their new album. Watch it here:
Does anyone have any doubts that these guy's have big ambitions now? 'Caraca' is out September 25.
Disclosure have announced details surrounding their highly anticipated second studio album.
Titled 'Caracal,' which is defined as a "long legged reddish brown nocturnal cat," the two brothers have confirmed the album will drop on 25th September 2015.
The news came fresh from their performance at their very own Wild Life Festival, where they performed alongside Lion Babe, Nao and Kwabs - all of whom will feature on the album.
"A Caracal is an incredible wild cat that I became fascinated with while on tour last year," Howard explains. "I just love the way they look, their physical capabilities and their anonymity. It felt like a perfect fit for our Wild Life brand too, so the Caracal made perfect sense as the lead visual for the new album and over the course of recording, it also felt like a natural title for the new record too."
Last week the first single from 'Caracal,' 'Holding On' featuring Gregory Porter was unveiled, it followed a track titled 'Bang That' that was simply released to tide fans over until the album comes.
In the coming weeks the brothers are set to unveil more details around the album, including other big guest features.
Watch a teaser video for Disclosure's 'Caracal' above.


Information and forms relating to Contractor Licensing Requirements.
Checklists used by New Castle County inspectors.
Pay permit fees online and access to online permits and inspection scheduling.
Look up parcel information using the address or parcel number for a property.
Utility contractors with online accounts can submit self-certification forms online. To apply for an online account, see Online Services.
Note - The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), and the Delaware Building Officials Association (DBOA) will also sponsor training and testing throughout the year.


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Woman falls overboard in Kynsna Lagoon
Home News Woman falls overboard in Kynsna Lagoon
News South Africa 21 November 2012
The NSRI Knysna volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated yesterday following reports of a woman being injured after falling overboard from a charter boat near the Knysna Heads.
"It appears that the female, 52, from Mumbai, India, on holiday in South Africa with family, while on a cruise aboard the local commercial charter boat MOONRAKER, a 9 meter rigid inflatable craft, had fallen overboard while the boat was underway.
"It is not known to NSRI what caused the female to go overboard", said Graeme Harding from NSRI.
"According to eye-witnesses the crew of the charter boat were unable to recover the female back onto the boat and the skipper of the charter boat then jumped into the water to assist the female" added Harding.
The yacht HEAD EXPLORER, owned by the Featherbed Company then came alongside to assist and the female was able to be recovered onto the 'sugar scoop' and the skipper of HEAD EXPLORER called NSRI for assistance.
HEAD EXPLORER then made her way towards Knysna Harbour with the female being held securely by crew members while she lay on the Sugar Scoop.
"Our NSRI Knysna volunteer sea rescue duty crew members met up with the yacht as they docked and NSRI medics found the female to have a suspected fractured right humerus and she was stabilized on-scene by NSRI medics. An ER24 ambulance was summoned and the patient has been transported to hospital in a stable condition" said Harding.
Hospital staff have confirmed that the patient has fractured her right humerus in three places and is due to undergo surgery.
SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority) have served an immediate prohibition notice on the charter boat MOONRAKER pending an investigation.


text:
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namespace Xamarin.Forms.ControlGallery.iOS
{
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	/// </summary>
	public class BrokenNativeControl : UILabel
	{
		public override string Text
		{
			get { return base.Text; }
			set { base.Text = value.ToUpper (); }
		}

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		public override CGSize SizeThatFits (CGSize size)
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		}
#else
		public override SizeF SizeThatFits (SizeF size)
		{
			return new SizeF (size.Width, 150);
		}
#endif
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Editor's note: Wang Shanshan is a current affairs commentator at CGTN and former Washington bureau chief of China Radio International (CRI), with 10 years of research on China-US relations. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
Eighteen marks the beginning of adulthood. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the 18th of its kind, has been marching into maturity, making the ongoing session in east China's coastal city of Qingdao a milestone for the mechanism.
Being historic in a sense that the Qingdao session has made several records.
Bigger than ever. It is the first summit after India and Pakistan being accepted into the SCO in 2017, making the organization the world's largest trans-regional organization.
Closer than ever. One example is that China's trade with other SCO members totaled 217.6 billion US dollars in 2017, up 20.7 percent year-on-year, higher than the 19 percent annual growth last year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at a large-scale meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao on June 10, 2018. /VCG Photo.
Thriving than ever. In the past year when China took up the rotating chair of SCO, more than 200 activities in political, financial, trade, security, environmental, agricultural and other fields have been carried out, among which, forums for women, political parties, cultural and art organizations and hospital cooperation were held for the first time. Just to name a few.
All these lead to the SCO putting forward the concept of building an "SCO community with a shared future," announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit on Sunday. The notion represents an integral part of the concept "building a community with shared future for mankind" initiated by China.
The vision for a "community of shared future," China's vision of a better world order, features openness, inclusiveness, multi-polarity, globalization, cultural diversity, interdependence, common security and prosperity, and a clean world of lasting peace.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has made clear China's commitment at many international occasions. In February 2017, "the community of shared future for mankind" was incorporated into a UN resolution for the first time, representing a world consensus to build a benefit-all future of peace, development, partnership and multilateralism.
Skyscrapers at night in Qingdao City, where the SCO Summit is being held, June 9, 2018. /VCG Photo.
More have come to agree and join in the efforts towards building a better future. An editorial published by the website The Diplomat says, "China's vision is based on three pillars: cooperative security, common development and political inclusiveness.
"In this new round of changes, it is important not only to carry on the traditional framework but also to modernize the existing order and systems by developing concepts using the latest trends, while ensuring the changes are not only attractive to all but are practical, viable, and resilient.
"Therefore, we may need to go beyond the traditional notions of security and grow out of the zero-sum mentality of the Cold War and pursue cooperative security through collaboration for the sake of long term world cooperation, stability and peace."
Scenes from the light and fireworks show "A friend comes from afar" in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao, June 7, 2018. /VCG Photo.
Though it's still halfway through, the world has seen punishments, sanctions, ultimatums, rejections, standoffs…overshadowing the world with uncertainty and anxiety.
The world is searching for ways to play down uncertainty, ease anxiety and jointly tackle challenges.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization might serve as an example of how inter-state relations could go well. Starting from a regional bloc to fight against three "evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, besides drug trafficking and cyber crimes, the SCO has helped make the region safer, more integrated and better prepared in the face of security threats.
It is entering into a new era of multilateral cooperation in many areas, including trade, energy, education, tourism and others, towards common development and lasting prosperity.
The SCO observes the principles of the "Shanghai Spirit," the bedrock of cooperation, featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development. The principles have been translated into actions, yielding concrete results, escorting the smooth sail of the organization.
Facts have proven that countries with different political systems, economic patterns or social values could cooperate under one umbrella, working for one purpose.
The SCO has provided a model for a new form of international relations, in which win-win cooperation is attainable. Hopefully the success of the practice of the SCO will help some countries think twice and act wisely.


01, 05, 09, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45 & 49.
This system is current and first setting in Week 17 2017/2018.
It states that in all FA Cup Weeks, locate the brown numbers that will produce total letters sum as its position and then bank on the difference between their respective 1st Letters as a fixed draw + 2 others.


Life-cycle perspective and design flexibility are reasons why aluminium solutions are being used in sustainable buildings. Like the office complex in Norway, which reduced its energy use by 90 percent and is generating more power than it consumes.
Buildings consume huge amounts of energy. The work of Norway's Powerhouse alliance shows that the energy performance of new and existing buildings can be improved dramatically, even in cold Nordic climates.
Powerhouse's first project was the rehabilitation of an office complex near Oslo. The renovated two-building complex opened in April 2014 and became the world's northernmost energy-plus building. Two thousand people from around the world have already visited the building to see with their own eyes.
Tailored aluminium window solutions were part of the effort. Tine Hegli, a senior architect at Snøhetta, one of the Powerhouse partners, talks about the lightness of the material, its strength, and how it is easy to work with and customize. Withstanding the harsh climate of Norway's Atlantic coast is another plus.
Aluminium was used to minimize the window frame size and maximize transparent areas. This required a special type of window that could be opened outwardly and which met passive-house requirements. Such a slim frame could not have been produced with wood.
Life-cycle perspective is also essential to the Powerhouse concept. This is another advantage for aluminium, because, to recycle properly, all materials need to be dismantled in a structured way. And compared with other materials, aluminium does not suffer from quality downgrading during the process.
Powerhouse aims to develop commercial buildings that produce more renewable energy over their lifespan than is consumed in the production of their materials, their construction, operation, demolition and ultimate disposal. Powerhouse has six partners, each with a single task: property management, construction, architectural design, environment, consulting, and aluminium solutions - Hydro's area of expertise.
If you are interested in learning more about using aluminium in facades and buildings and design, then please contact us and we will put you in touch with the right expert.


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Home » Stock » Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock » CMG Stock: Is It Time to Give Up on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.?
https://www.profitconfidential.com/stock/cmg-stock-is-it-time-to-give-up-on-chipotle-mexican-grill/ CMG Stock: Is It Time to Give Up on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.? Alessandro Bruno, BA, MA Profit Confidential 2016-01-12T11:31:14Z 2017-09-25 03:48:19 Chipotle Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle stock CMG stock NYSE:CMG Mexican food E. coli organic food Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.'s (NYSE:CMG) reputation for quality ingredients will save CMG stock in the long-term. Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock,Stock https://www.profitconfidential.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CMG-Stock.jpg
CMG Stock Will Survive This Crisis
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), noted for its quality burritos, has seen its name in the headlines linked more to E. coli and hungry students suffering from norovirus outbreaks than its delicious Tex-Mex food offerings recently. Since November 2015, when an E. coli outbreak was first reported at Chipotle, the CMG stock price has dropped from about $600.00 per share to little more than $410.00 per share. The stock hit its new low range in response to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation. This has upturned 12-month stock forecasts. On October 31, before the E. coli news, there was a $190.00 gap between Chipotle's high and low price targets, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. By January 8, the difference had almost doubled to $338.00. A Bloomberg survey of 19 analysts also set a new target price of $375.00, while the high was $713.00, citing "significant margin deterioration and more pronounced sales declines than previously anticipated." (Source: "Chipotle Outbreaks Send Wall Street Looking for Price Bottom," Bloomberg, January 11, 2016.) Therefore, Chipotle stock will have to endure more hardship, as the American fast food chain's woes worsen after being slapped with a criminal investigation over the gastroenteritis epidemic related to its restaurants. Chipotle received a summons from the California federal prosecutor asking it to provide documents as part of an investigation into the quality of food prepared in a Chipotle restaurant in Simi Valley, south of Los Angeles, where a norovirus case was reported last August. (Source: "Criminal investigation under way at Chipotle," New York Post, January 6, 2016.)
Chipotle Working with Investigators
While, Chipotle has assured the public and investors that it will cooperate with the investigation, the company also said it cannot anticipate the outcome of this case nor can it anticipate "the amount of any fines, penalties or further liabilities in connection with the investigation pursuant to which the subpoena was issued." (Source: "Federal grand jury subpoenas Chipotle records," Food Safety News, January 6, 2016.) Meanwhile, last December, Chipotle admitted reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that comparable restaurant sales had dropped 16% and that the norovirus outbreak in Massachusetts that month forced sales down by some 34%. (Source: Ibid.) E. coli infections sometimes cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. In rare cases, particularly in the elderly or in children, they can cause kidney failure. The Chipotle E. coli outbreaks all started in October, in the states of Oregon and Washington, when some Chipotle customers complained of an upset stomach. Health authorities identified E. coli as the guilty party. Some restaurants in those states were closed for investigation and Chipotle closed others as a safety precaution. The epidemic then spread to seven more states, including New York and California. In total, 52 customers were affected but only 20 of these had to be hospitalized. (Source: "CDC Update: Chipotle-Linked E. Coli Outbreak Case Count Now at 52," Food Safety News, December 4, 2015.)
Chipotle's Business Model Is Not in Question
As a restaurant, Chipotle is aware of its risks and food contamination is always a danger in its sector. Chipotle has suffered a setback, one well within the risk profile for a restaurant company and one that has not eluded the likes of Taco Bell or Jack in the Box—both of which survived and thrived after. Admittedly, Chipotle's quality offerings, based on fresh food—especially fresh fish and fresh, often locally sourced, vegetables—is at the heart of the company's image and could cause difficulties moving forward. As James Surowiecki of The New Yorker writes, "That approach has always been a major branding advantage for the company, but it also makes the task of insuring food safety far more complex, since it means Chipotle has to deal with many different local suppliers, rather than just a few big ones." (Source: "Can Chipotle Recover from Food Poisoning?" The New Yorker, December 10, 2015.) Chipotle stock also grew, as the company rightfully bragged that its meals were not assembled on the line. Rather, they were prepared in front of the customer, separating it miles away from many fast food competitors and their frozen ingredients that are often prepared and assembled in some back kitchen, away from the customers. (Source: Ibid.) In the case of publicly listed restaurant chains, all have recovered without a long-term impact, according to Forbes. (Source: "Can Chipotle Mexican Grill Recover from the E. Coli Outbreak Impact?" Forbes, December 14, 2015.) A classic case involves the famous—or infamous—Jack in the Box chain. In 1993, four children died and sales slumped 22% year-over-year, followed by a nine-percent decline in each of the next two quarters. That's significantly worse than anything Chipotle has had to face so far. Yet, in 1994, Jack in the Box's sales increased 2.4%. (Source: Ibid.)
The Bottom Line on CMG Stock
Food poisoning-related setbacks did not kill Jack in the Box and Chipotle will certainly recover. The company enjoys a much higher reputation, despite its recent woes, than comparable fast food competitors. Chipotle has gained a strong following, even across the Atlantic, altering the image and concept of what fast food can be. There will be some short-term pain for holders of Chipotle stock, but they can also maintain their faith in the company's ultimate recovery and a likely eventual upturn in the CMG stock price.
By Alessandro Bruno, BA, MA
Alessandro Bruno, BA, MA
Bombardier Stock: Is Bombardier, Inc. Ready to Take Off Again?
NVDA Stock: NVIDIA Stock Could Hit $100 If It Can Pull This Off
Alibaba Stock: Here's Why the Bears Are Wrong on Alibaba
CMG Stock: Is It Time to Give Up on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.?
By Alessandro Bruno, BA, MA Published : January 12, 2016
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), noted for its quality burritos, has seen its name in the headlines linked more to E. coli and hungry students suffering from norovirus outbreaks than its delicious Tex-Mex food offerings recently. Since November 2015, when an E. coli outbreak was first reported at Chipotle, the CMG stock price has dropped from about $600.00 per share to little more than $410.00 per share.
The stock hit its new low range in response to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation. This has upturned 12-month stock forecasts. On October 31, before the E. coli news, there was a $190.00 gap between Chipotle's high and low price targets, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. By January 8, the difference had almost doubled to $338.00.
A Bloomberg survey of 19 analysts also set a new target price of $375.00, while the high was $713.00, citing "significant margin deterioration and more pronounced sales declines than previously anticipated." (Source: "Chipotle Outbreaks Send Wall Street Looking for Price Bottom," Bloomberg, January 11, 2016.)
Therefore, Chipotle stock will have to endure more hardship, as the American fast food chain's woes worsen after being slapped with a criminal investigation over the gastroenteritis epidemic related to its restaurants. Chipotle received a summons from the California federal prosecutor asking it to provide documents as part of an investigation into the quality of food prepared in a Chipotle restaurant in Simi Valley, south of Los Angeles, where a norovirus case was reported last August. (Source: "Criminal investigation under way at Chipotle," New York Post, January 6, 2016.)
While, Chipotle has assured the public and investors that it will cooperate with the investigation, the company also said it cannot anticipate the outcome of this case nor can it anticipate "the amount of any fines, penalties or further liabilities in connection with the investigation pursuant to which the subpoena was issued." (Source: "Federal grand jury subpoenas Chipotle records," Food Safety News, January 6, 2016.)
Meanwhile, last December, Chipotle admitted reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that comparable restaurant sales had dropped 16% and that the norovirus outbreak in Massachusetts that month forced sales down by some 34%. (Source: Ibid.)
E. coli infections sometimes cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. In rare cases, particularly in the elderly or in children, they can cause kidney failure.
The Chipotle E. coli outbreaks all started in October, in the states of Oregon and Washington, when some Chipotle customers complained of an upset stomach. Health authorities identified E. coli as the guilty party.
Some restaurants in those states were closed for investigation and Chipotle closed others as a safety precaution. The epidemic then spread to seven more states, including New York and California. In total, 52 customers were affected but only 20 of these had to be hospitalized. (Source: "CDC Update: Chipotle-Linked E. Coli Outbreak Case Count Now at 52," Food Safety News, December 4, 2015.)
As a restaurant, Chipotle is aware of its risks and food contamination is always a danger in its sector. Chipotle has suffered a setback, one well within the risk profile for a restaurant company and one that has not eluded the likes of Taco Bell or Jack in the Box—both of which survived and thrived after. Admittedly, Chipotle's quality offerings, based on fresh food—especially fresh fish and fresh, often locally sourced, vegetables—is at the heart of the company's image and could cause difficulties moving forward. As James Surowiecki of The New Yorker writes, "That approach has always been a major branding advantage for the company, but it also makes the task of insuring food safety far more complex, since it means Chipotle has to deal with many different local suppliers, rather than just a few big ones." (Source: "Can Chipotle Recover from Food Poisoning?" The New Yorker, December 10, 2015.)
Chipotle stock also grew, as the company rightfully bragged that its meals were not assembled on the line. Rather, they were prepared in front of the customer, separating it miles away from many fast food competitors and their frozen ingredients that are often prepared and assembled in some back kitchen, away from the customers. (Source: Ibid.)
In the case of publicly listed restaurant chains, all have recovered without a long-term impact, according to Forbes. (Source: "Can Chipotle Mexican Grill Recover from the E. Coli Outbreak Impact?" Forbes, December 14, 2015.)
A classic case involves the famous—or infamous—Jack in the Box chain. In 1993, four children died and sales slumped 22% year-over-year, followed by a nine-percent decline in each of the next two quarters. That's significantly worse than anything Chipotle has had to face so far. Yet, in 1994, Jack in the Box's sales increased 2.4%. (Source: Ibid.)
Food poisoning-related setbacks did not kill Jack in the Box and Chipotle will certainly recover. The company enjoys a much higher reputation, despite its recent woes, than comparable fast food competitors. Chipotle has gained a strong following, even across the Atlantic, altering the image and concept of what fast food can be.
There will be some short-term pain for holders of Chipotle stock, but they can also maintain their faith in the company's ultimate recovery and a likely eventual upturn in the CMG stock price.
Subject: Golden Opportunity for Stock Market Investors


text:
From panto Dame to days of old - variety is spice of life at Bay Probus Club
Published: 6:39 AM September 8, 2020 Updated: 8:43 AM September 18, 2020
Babbacombe and St Marychurch Probus Club 'zoom' in for a meeting - Credit: Archant
David Hinchliffe. Photo: Neil Holden - Credit: Archant
Babbacombe and St Marychuch Probus Club decided not to let lockdowns and quarantines get them down. They still can't meet at their usual venue of St Matthias Church in Wellswood, so they are having 'virtual' meetings thanks to 'Zoom'.
Probus usually have a visiting speaker for meetings but for the past couple of weeks talks have been delivered in-house by computer.
One speaker was secretary Philip Kay who gave an entertaining talk about his years as a pantomime dame!
Chairman Eric Walkom spoke about old Torquay. Another week it was American colleague and incoming vice-chairman Dr Ron Franklin who spoke about the human nervous system.
Last week, club member David Hinchliffe explored some of the folk tales and mysteries of the spookiest parts of our region. Dartmoor has long been viewed as mysterious and dangerous and David spoke of the myths and legens of old Dartmoor.
Included in the talk was the story of the true-life character that Conan Doyle's Richard Baskerville is based on. Incidentally, the story is far more intimidating than the fictional character.
10 £206,680 to help repair Agatha Christie's favourite cinema
Squire Richard Cabell, who died in 1677, was once described as a 'monstrously evil man'. The villagers of Buckfastleigh built a tomb for the squire, with a huge heavy stone lid, just in case he decided to climb out!
David was told of mysterious happenings at Widecombe's St Pancras Church in 1638.
If you would like to join the Zoom meetings, are a member of another Probus club, or become a member of the St Marychurch club, contact Philip Kay at philip.kay393@gmail.com.
The club is hoping members will be back together in the autumn.


The idea being that you don't spend your valuable time and money on a project that is going to fail eventually, the sooner you find out it's going to fail, the better.
How do you do that with a website?
We build websites with MODX (a content managment system) so it's really easy to change stuff around. We can change the design we can change the programming.
With other content management systems you will find this much harder and much more expensive.
So with a MODX website you can try one thing and if it doesn't work you can try something else. Try doing that with a Wordpress theme, no thanks!


text:
Founding Declaration
Partners of the Mars Society Netherlands
Zubrin Responds to New Pence-NASA Lunar Initiative
In response to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's NASA announcement in Huntsville, Alabama earlier today, Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin commented:
Vice President Pence's declaration of intent to land Americans on the Moon by 2024 was a welcome statement of resolve, vitally necessary to give the nation a human space flight program that is actually going somewhere. His call to put the base at the lunar South Pole is also welcome since that is where ice reserves can be found which could be used to refuel spacecraft used to explore the Moon or return to Earth.
However the goal will not be achieved if NASA is allowed to continue to misdirect its efforts to build an orbiting Lunar Orbit Gateway (or Tollbooth as it is should more accurately be termed). This legacy project will cost a fortune to build, a fortune to maintain and add to the propulsion and timing requirements of any lunar mission forced use it.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine Highlights Moon and Mars Exploration
We Have the Technology to Build a Colony on the Moon. Let's Do It. [R.Zubrin & H.Hickam]
Sign up for the Rover 2020 mission to Mars!
Game night – Terraforming Mars
Summer Conference 2021
Mars quiz for kids
Winners Writing Contest
Short Story Writing Contest
Activity old (8)
Mars Landers (4)
Welcome to Mars Society Netherlands Sorry we currently have no Member area. To join our mailing list, please go to: https://marssociety.space/join-us/
See privacy Policy for more information.


From Qooxdoo.org, there are two new posts spotlighting something that developer after developer have struggled with at least once in their work – the differences between box models in the major browsers. They explore these differences in a two part series of posts.
In part one, they focus on the differences in the "border-box" model in Firefox, IE, Opera, Konqueror, and Safari. A sample page was created and screenshots were taken (both in standard and quirks mode). Their findings show that there was only one, in this test case, that rendered the example correctly in both modes – Konqueror. Others came close, but had to switch to a "context-box" model to render correctly both ways.
Their other findings in this first test include the differences between versions of Internet Explorer, problems with Firefox's "box-sizing" rule, and Opera issues.
In part two of the series, they take the test up to the next level, testing this time for some overflow problems within the same tests as before.
The results for this test were similar – Konqueror was a clear winner for consistency between modes. Opera sees consistent errors between the two modes, and Internet Explorer doesnt even render the boxes in one mode. Firefox also sees some differences, with version 1.0 getting a failing grade for this test of the "content-box" settings.
Examples and screenshots of this second test are also included.


Working in our industry is an art and a science; becoming an expert requires years of experience, the acquisition of a database of verified professional contacts ad has access to the best locations, rates, upgrades and promotions. A qualified agency is a one-stop shop for all your needs and a safety net in the unlikely event that something should go wrong. The agency fee is included in the budget you have available, not additional.
Hemisphere Destinations surpasses all conventional standards of service. Since 2004 we have gathered a long list of clients who are now our best ambassadors. Hemisphere Destinations is now present with offices in Miami, Mexico and Buenos Aires. Our team of professional event producers and verified providers will be assisting our most demanding clients. We acquired the experience of the regions and countries we work in. Understanding the geo-politic and the economic is critical to help define the best approach and dynamic for our clients and aim for the best result possible. We work on budget; we have no hidden fees or extra costs, we are fully licensed and insured. Our name is your guarantee.
Thank you for the perfect organization. You did a great job. The group had a blast and was very impressed by this trip. For sure, they will remember it.
Gilles goes out of his way to create unique and memorable experiences, whether travels or events, his boutique approach has always delivered unrivaled quality.
We have requested Hemisphere Destinations' services for quite a few years now and the outcome has always been outstanding. Gilles is a very detailed oriented and creative professional.
I have worked with Hemisphere Destinations several times, always having great experiences producing amazing events.
They are extremely creative, thinking outside the box, with a high level of attention to details and sophistication.
Hemisphere Destinations did a tremendous job at implementing high-end events for our company MBM Records. It is was a great pleasure working with Hemisphere Destinations team.
Gilles has the uncanny ability as a lifetime adventurer to challenge business executives related to Leadership and Management development. I have enormous respect for his Life Coaching skills proven by his results-oriented achievements.
VP/GM LATAM & Retail Operations at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Hemisphere Destinations provides excellent services. They are detail & service oriented. They understand Brands and Luxury.
We are extremely grateful for having organized and guided with such talented and genuine spirit and enthusiasm our travel journeys.
Nothing would have gradually emerged from that process without your professional and human approach. You made us feel good and stronger.
Richemont brands have worked for several years with hemisphere Destinations in Latin America and Caribbean for their events and team buildings, always achieving results beyond expectations.
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication we always have amazing experiences. You have the ability to make our brand and clients unique.
I have the pleasure to work with Hemisphere Destinations for all our events in the region. Outstanding customer service, they understand the local markets and the needs of our brand and our customers.
For the past six years, I have been working with Hemisphere Destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean, the USA and Europe. From very exclusive events tailored to our VVIP guests to big scale events for our international press and business partners; their quality, their professionalism, their commitment and their creativity has been their secret to our success.
Hemisphere Destinations a toujours fait preuve de réactivité, d'adaptabilité et de disponibilité pour l'organisation de nos congrès internationaux.
Les propositions en plus de respecter nos budgets, sont originales et adaptées à notre image. Hémisphère Destinations a le souci du détail et à coeur de répondre de manière très professionnelle aux sollicitations de nos invités.


Exactly one year ago, Lea and I excitedly (and exhausted-ly) announced our new company. What better time than our first anniversary to reflect on the past year? But when I started writing this post, my mind kept straying from the past. All I can think about these days is the future.
And It's a Bright Future!
Lea and I just returned from what I believe will prove to be a business-changing experience: WBENC Conf, a conference for and run by women business entrepreneurs.
Getting to WBENC Conf was almost accidental. Lea and I are avid conference speakers and attendees, but almost exclusively web industry events. This is great in helping hone our professional skills, connecting with our peers and energizing our creative spirits.
But sustaining a successful business goes beyond being good at our jobs. It goes beyond having great relationships with our peers. We needed to start meeting our clients where they already are, and our clients aren't at web conferences.
So this year, we got outside our comfort zones (cliche, I know, but Lea and I said it repeatedly at WBENC) and decided to invest in honing our business skills … something that, as craftspeople, we sometimes neglect. That's over.
The WBENC conference was eye-opening. We learned right away how important it is for Bright Umbrella to begin the certification process for WBENC. We are a 100% women-owned and operated business, and we love working with other women entrepreneurs. This is something we are already invested in; we just need to formalize it.
And we kept learning from the other women business owners at the conference. Powerful, successful women — many making millions — were incredibly generous with their time and advice that was as friendly as it was practical.
I also just have to mention how refreshing it was to be at such a diverse event. Every industry was represented. Every size business. All ages, races and genders. It was also incredibly inspiring. Someone there — I wish I could recall who — said something along the lines of "inspiration is seeing the possibility for yourself in someone else's success." To me, that sums it up.
Right on the heels of WBENC, we started working with Whitney Hess of Vicarious Partners to help fine-tune our focus. We are experts at our craft; we aren't experts in everything. Reaching out to Whitney is another step towards taking our business to the next level.
The timing was completely coincidental and completely fortuitous. The inspiration and ideas we took from WBENC became actionable and, thanks to Whitney, focused.
Like it was for many in our industry, 2014 was a difficult year. Despite the initial slowdown, work did eventually pick up thanks to a focus on our best clients — our current ones. But it wasn't easy. And yet, even the worst times are lessons (not to sound cliched, yet again).
Our struggles the past year increased our empathy for our clients. We are now more keenly aware of the business challenges our clients face … because we are our clients. We are business owners. We have goals, shifting priorities, budgets, limited resources, personal lives, deadlines. Walking in the same shoes makes us better advisors for our clients.
We learned to ask. Asking for help, asking for clients, asking for referrals, asking for sponsors. We learned that it's okay to ask, and that it's not an intrusion: it's a reminder!
Speaking of reminders: communicate, communicate, communicate. This year we upped our social media engagement for the business and the podcast by focusing more on helping our community and sharing more resources that we're already using.
Remind each other of the bigger picture. While tenacity is definitely in an entrepreneur's DNA, it's not always easy when the going gets tough. I am lucky to have the support of Lea and our intern Erin when business matters are uncertain. We are all invested in the business, so we we remind each other of our goals and dreams, while planning for the practicality of achieving them.
Deliberate reflection and action toward the business. While Lea and I have the pleasure and privilege of business success in large part due to the strength of our work and our reputation, we know it can only take us so far. We must be proactive in running and growing the business. Always.
The future is never a guarantee, and the path to success is never a straight line. Happy anniversary, Bright Umbrella! The forecast is bright!


Meet Stevie, our Short-beaked Echidna!
Echidnas are covered in spines to help protect them from predators!
Adelaide Zoo's Short-beaked Echidna Stevie is king of our Australian Rainforest Aviary!
Stevie is prickly in appearance but definitely not by nature. Echidnas are usually shy animals, but not our Stevie! He's an inquisitive little echidna and can often be seen shuffling through the rainforest aviary without a care in the world, pushing both visitors and birds off the boardwalk as he sniffs his way around.
Stevie is an old boy, born at the Zoo on 13 December 1997 and is blind in both eyes, but he doesn't let that slow him down! He loves to tuck into his mince-meat slurry and is also happy to help himself to the birds' food.
Echidnas are one of two species of monotremes, or egg laying mammals, and are found throughout Australia and New Guinea. The only other monotreme is the Platypus. They're covered in coarse hair and spines which provides good protection against predators. Normally a solitary and timid animal, echidnas will curl into a spikey ball at the first hint of noise or movement.
Echidnas are insectivores and eat mainly ants and termites. They don't have any teeth so instead they use their narrow beak and long sticky tongue to mop up dinner from inside ant nests and termite mounds.
One month after mating, a female echidna lays a single soft-shelled leathery egg and deposits it in her pouch. A baby echidna, called a puggle, hatches ten days later and is carried around by mum for about two months, feeding on her milk. Puggles start life off without any spines. Once spines start to develop and it becomes too spikey to carry, the mother will dig a burrow for it to live in.
Echidnas are generally found in forests and woodlands hiding under the vegetation and are the most widely distributed native Australian mammal across the country.
Love Australian animals? There are many ways you can help support Australian icons like Stevie the Echidna!


text:
Backwards Compatible – Part 6: Enter The Fox
So, after recovering from the single greatest bout of writer's block I've ever had, I had to dust myself off and get back on the horse. During that time in limbo, however, when the main plot of the novel was on hold, I decided to write some sequences out of order.
Normally I don't do that since it makes continuity pretty tricky to maintain. Still, I wanted at least some words on paper while I tried to sort out the real quandary of the A-story. In one of these sequences, I introduced the primary antagonist of the book, Captain Gaylon Fox.
Not even gonna lie, this is my dream casting for the character: Jason Issacs.
Most of the time, villains are more interesting to me, literarily, than heroes. I knew he would be key the story, so this was my chance to show the reader what this particular villain was made of. To be an effective nemesis to the main character, Captain Coeur D'Esprit, he needed have certain things in common with her. I wanted him to be a shadowy double of her, like the dark side of the same coin.
The previous novel, To Dream of Chaos, which I did not write, gave me the perfect set up. In it, the crew of Hornet faced off against a ship of the Solee Navy, Royal Vengeance, near a gas giant. During the battle, Vengeance was critically damaged and, in an act of desperation, uses its Jump drive to get away without first getting to a safe distance.
Now, for those unfamiliar with Traveller canon, Jumping while in a gravity well is only slightly less horrible than crossing the streams in Ghostbusters. The ship might be instantly destroyed, or never emerge from Jump space, or appear parsecs away from where they meant to go, and be stranded.
I love this plan. I'm excited to be a part of it.
A situation like that was one of Coeur's defining moments, which led to some serious survivor's guilt when only 4 crewmembers (including her) survived that stunt out of a crew of 100. If that weren't enough, Royal Vengeance returns at the end of To Dream of Chaos, and is once again repulsed, and nearly destroyed.
Now that it was my time at the helm of the story, I decided that Gaylon Fox had been the Executive Officer on Royal Vengeance during that deadly encounter. When his incompetent Captain is killed during Coeur's initial attack, he was the one who made the call to Jump. Subsequently, he became captain of the ship, and had been jonesing for a rematch ever since.
It felt only natural that Royal Vengeance should play a part in the third act of the New Era trilogy. And now I had a villain who had been in a similar situation as the hero, and forced to make some of the same hard decisions. Where the hero used those horrific events of her past to make something positive of herself, Gaylon Fox has gone down a darker road, using his experiences instead to focus his ambition like a laser and further his own agenda.
Having said that, I didn't want this guy to be a complete mustache-twirler like Snidley Whiplash or Dirk Dastardly. So, I made him competent at what he does, fearless (though not reckless), polite, and coldly self-controlled. Besides that, he often rewards initiative, and inspires service and loyalty in his subordinates. While he's no saint, I built him so that he might be viewed as a hero from his own side of the war.
To me, those are the best kind of villains, the ones who—even if it's just for a second—you want to win. After the first scenes with Captain Fox, I knew that's who I had on my hands. He would naturally be the unstoppable force to Coeur's immovable object.
Like that, only with more lasers.
What would happen when they inevitably collided? I would have to wait to find out.
Next time on Backwards Compatible…canon gets murky when another version of The Backwards Mask surfaces.
[Check out The Backwards Mask on Kindle.]
Leave a comment | tags: Author's method, Backwards Mask, Book, Jason Issacs, Traveller, Villains | posted in Backwards Compatible
Bronies and Fan Shaming
Look at any of the 'about me' sections here on my blog, my website, or Facebook page and you'll see that I self-identify as a 'fanboy.' I am not ashamed to admit that I, as a grown man, love things like Transformers, Doctor Who, Star Trek, and any number of others.
Back in 2010 we saw the emergence of yet another type of fandom, this one stemming from Hasbro's G4 reboot of the My Little Pony franchise. This caused a bit of a stir, however; some of the fans of the show were males of college age or older, calling themselves "Bronies." While the term has since come to encompass female fans of the show as well, it's not always easy to separate the 'bro' out of brony in the public consciousness.
This blog post needs to be about 20% cooler.
So, we have grown men who are fans of a cartoon meant for little girls. Give that a moment's consideration, folks. Does the idea of such a thing give you a twinge of doubt, or pause, or even make you a shade uncomfortable? If so, you might ponder why that is. I've given the subject a bit of thought myself, and here's what I've found.
The Formula:
Let's break this down to its elemental components. The factors that play a part here are gender, age, and fandom. Let's explore a few examples:
Female + Age 8 + My Little Pony = Totally okay.
Male + Age 3 + My Little Pony = Okay, but he'll grow out of it.
Female + Age 36 + Transformers = I wore parachute pants, too!
Male + Age 36 + Transformers = Oh, you're a collector?
Female + Age 36 + My Little Pony = I still have my stuffed animals, too.
Male + Age 36 + My Little Pony = Ewww…pervert.
It's that last combination that doesn't jive with many of our notions of gender roles and age appropriateness. While a boy might be able to like a girl's show when he's little and doesn't know the difference, he had better be playing with Tonka trucks and action figures by about age 7 and beyond.
This man builds Harley-Davidson motorcycles and is also one of the biggest Bronies in the world. Can't you just hear the preconceived notions shattering like glass?
Ask yourself: is it really fair to think of female Transformers fans as an interesting anomaly, while male My Little Pony fans are somehow an aberration? Where is it written that you can only like something if you're part of the target demographic? It's a double-standard that fandom in general doesn't need, and it should be eradicated whenever possible.
Apples to Apples:
While I can understand why the general public might immediately balk at the idea of Bronies, the most unsettling part of this story to me is the negative treatment Bronies have received from members of other fandoms.
Nerd/geek/fanboy demi-god Wil Wheaton once said, and I'm paraphrasing: "Fandom is about loving something, and not being apologetic about it." If you're a die-hard fan, it means you love something much more than the average person sitting next to you on the train. Maybe it's the Philadelphia Eagles, or comic books, or Stars Wars. It doesn't matter. One type of fandom is not inherently better or worse than any other.
There's enough room in the 'Verse for all of us.
Who knows why you love it so much. The reasons why are irrelevant; you love it, and as Wheaton said, you shouldn't be apologetic about it. It is absolutely absurd for a bare-chested man, painted in green and yellow, sporting a headpiece shaped like a wedge of cheese, to look down on a woman who cosplays David Tennant's Tenth Doctor. The same goes for a man dressed as a Klingon ripping on another man for attending a con dressed as Rainbow Dash.
It's all a kind of silliness when we step back and look at it, so why do we feel the need to judge anyone for it? There's also another aspect to this to consider.
We Get Enough Shame As It Is:
Story time: when I was in high-school, I used be made fun of for being (amongst other things) a Star Trek fan. I won't lie, it hurt. At the time, I couldn't understand why my love for something was of any interest to them. What did it matter? Why did they feel the need to belittle me over something I liked? I just didn't get it.
For he IS the Kwisatz Haderach!
But now I realize that they were all simply outsiders to the fandom I cherished. If they had had any inkling of what the franchise, the characters, and the lessons in humanity meant to me on a personal level, or better yet, if we had shared some of those experiences in some way, perhaps they would understand why I was winning Trek trivia contests at cons by the age of 14.
Truth is, if you're a huge fan of something, someone out there will not hesitate to tell you how stupid it is and why you're an idiot for liking it. If we as fans are already going to get shame from outsiders, why would we ever consider doing that to another group within fandom itself? It's pointless and self-defeating. We Whovians, Warsies, Trekkies (or Trekkers, if you prefer), Tributes, Gaimanites and Whedonites, et al. have got to stick together.
If you still don't know what to make of the Brony phenomenon, the best thing to do is actually check out the show, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It's on Netflix. Start from Season 1 and work your way up from there. Educate yourself about it, I dare you. Go listen to the songs "Winter Wrap-up" or "Hearts Strong As Horses" or "Play Your Part" and tell me there's not something to it.
This is the logo. Before you judge, check it out for yourself.
As I said, I was skeptical of it at first, but then I realized I was guilty of the same crimes against fandom that I described above. So I watched it – all of it – and found that it was a show with well-developed characters (portrayed by a stellar VA cast), great world-building, fun and engaging adventures, and more than a little commentary about the nature of friendship itself. I think those are things that any age group or gender can appreciate.
We live in the era of dark, Nolan-esque, gritty reboots, a product of our post-9/11 society. You can see it in James Bond, The Man of Steel, Batman, oh and Transformers. In amongst all the needless collateral damage and blaring "Bwwaaaahhs" in the soundtrack, is it really that hard to believe fans might seek out something more positive and inspirational?
And, in the end, why should we deny anyone that?
1 Comment | tags: Bronies, Fandom, My Little Pony | posted in General Stuff, Silly Me, Uncategorized
Brian's Comic Contemplations – Of Regeneration and Sloppy Writing
Since no one who reads Matt's blog knows me from Black Adam, I'll give you a quick profile: I'm in the advertising business, and I've been reading comics (Marvel) for around 49 years. 'Nuff said. (I don't want to bore anyone with the gory details of my Paris to Dakar failure in '98, or my savage war with the peanut butter industry – I'll simply leave that to your imagination.)
Anyway, Matt – being quite an intelligent fellow – often regales me with his detailed knowledge of Greek history, movies, and comics. (Notably the DC side of comics, of which I am intrigued by, but largely ignorant.) So when he encouraged me to throw in my two cents on his blog, I was anxious to oblige.
I figured, in an effort to foment some fun thought and discussion, I'd start by hitting a few comic-world opinions you may, or may not agree with.
The Merc With A Mouth.
Deadpool – Is it just me, or has the writing for Deadpool become lazy and cyclical? I LOVE Deadpool. The character, the irreverence, the cheeky format that allows them to go to places most comic characters can't go. But lately, every time I pick up a DP title, the story seems to include some sort of dismemberment for Wade.
Wade sets into "whatever" plot. He encounters a baddie. And the baddie (no matter what his skill level) eviscerates, or disembowels, or amputates, or shoots & stabs him. Naturally, because of his miracle healing power, he generally (arguably?) prevails.
But isn't Deadpool supposed to be some kind of expert fighter/swordsman/assassin/marksman? Why the inept bumbling with EVERY villain? Every time? I present the following from Marvel's own Deadpool profile:
Deadpool is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and is skilled in multiple unarmed combat techniques. He is a master of assassination techniques, is an excellent marksman, and is highly skilled with bladed weapons (frequently carrying two swords strapped to his back). He is fluent in Japanese, German, Spanish, amongst other languages.
(For laughs, let's juxtapose Deady's stats with say… Hawkeye, who, despite having no real super powers, has (mostly) managed to dodge fatal attacks and dismemberment.)
Deadpool's natural physical attributes have been enhanced. Deadpool's musculature generates considerably less fatigue toxins than the muscles of an ordinary human being, granting him superhuman levels of stamina in all physical activities. His natural strength, agility and reflexes have been enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural limits of the human body. Deadpool's agility and reaction time are superior to those of even the finest human athlete.
So how come Mr. Pool keeps getting shot in the face? Is it just for our amusement and titillation? Are the writers so lazy they can't think of situations where Wade might actually show enough skill to NOT get his arm chopped off? Or is it simply because Wade is so crazy he doesn't even try to avoid injury?
I'm not saying I never want to see Wade get abused, but once in a while I'd love to see him take care of business without being mutilated. (Sigh) Am I just gettin' too old for comics? GOD forbid… but maybe.
BONUS CONTEMPLATION:
Wolverine – See Deadpool rant. I have the same issue with Mr. Howlett. (Loss-of-healing-factor issues notwithstanding.) I know he comes at enemies like a weed whacking tank – with little thought but, OCCASIONALLY, I'd like to see Logan's vaunted "Samurai training" and 100-year fighting experience pan out BEFORE he takes a sword/bullet/laser to the gut. JMO, of course, but is it too much to ask?
Again, if Spidey, Cap, Clint Barton, Daredevil, Batman AND Robin can dodge fatal knife, bullet, and death-ray wounds successfully for 50(+) years, why can't Wolverine and Deadpool once in a blue moon? Throw a little love to character profile continuity.
Leave a comment | tags: Comics, Deadpool, Fanboy Opinion, Regeneration, Wolverine, Writing challenges | posted in General Stuff, Guest Blogs


Devotion to a cause is the cornerstone of a successful career . But if we're going to keep that commitment burning, we need to have the conviction that with enough willpower, we can get better at what we do, and overcome the inevitable setbacks.
The American psychologist Carol Dweck explained the difference between a growth mindset, that makes you think you're not wrong when you make a mistake but just learning new skills, and a fixed mindset, that leads you to think that "learning stops here", that you are not – and never will be – good at something. No prizes for guessing which one will bring you to the next level at work.
As the saying goes, success is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration - meaning total devotion and focus. There are no shortcuts, and no giving up because we get something wrong. We need to have discipline, sweat, perseverance and focus. As Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, put it, "Energy and persistence conquer all things," and "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
Once I had the opportunity of attending a press conference with Eric Clapton, considered by many to be one of the most gifted guitar players in the world. Someone asked him what he was doing as a hobby. "I play guitar," he responded. The person who asked the question replied: "Why do you play the guitar, you are the best player in the world!" Eric Clapton replied: " That's why I am the best player in the world: devotion, every day".
It's not only the speed of our working lives that poses a challenge, but the direction we take. Before we really realise what's happening, interferences can push us off course, so we deviate from our original path. Some distractions - the unimportant email, the poorly timed phone call - will take away only few minutes; others make us lose years.


text:
Q: How to project a Component into another Component and pass the result to ng-boostrap's NgbModal.open(content) I'm trying to make a very simple wrapper around the ng-bootstrap modal service. ng-bootstrap's modal service has an open(content) method that takes in a TemplateRef or a component class meant to be the content of the modal.
What I want is to make my own service that has an open(content) method that takes in a component class and delegates to ng-bootstrap's service. But I want to be able to wrap the content in my own component that supplies some styling and maybe some default header or close button.
My main question is what is the best way to take in the component class supplied as a parameter, wrap it in my own component, then pass that along to ng-bootstrap's service, either as a Component or a TemplateRef. Can it be done? How? If not, what would be an alternative method of achieving what I want.
Here's some pseudocode of what I had in mind.
@Component({
  template: `
    <div class="my-class">
      <!-- projected content -->
    </div>
    <button>Close</button>

  `
})
class ModalWrappingComponent {}

Injectable()
class ModalWrappingService {
  constructor(private modalService: NgbModal) {}

  open(content) { // <- content has to be a component class
    let ref: TemplateRef | a new component class;
    // Somehow make a new component class or TemplateRef from ModalWrappingComponent
    // and the content param
    this.modalService.open(ref);
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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The GM's Office
McCutchen's tricky contract negotiation
2864dJim Bowden
Cody Bellinger could be a difference-maker for the Dodgers
813dJim Bowden
Why wait for the deadline? These teams should deal now
Putting Miguel Cabrera on the DL puts Tigers in a bind
What's a GM to do when an ace like MadBum goes down?
Where fantasy meets MLB reality: Hot starts to invest in
A $420 million star? Predicting how much it would take to lock up MLB's best young players
Pitching staff planning a GM's top priority
Concerns in the first week: A farewell to (healthy) arms
The No. 1 concern of every MLB general manager
Which spring performances should you buy into?
Winners and losers of the World Baseball Classic
Is a 13-man pitching staff MLB's next trend?
Change a GM's plan in spring? Good luck with that
Which spring struggles are causes for concern?
A Giants-Bucs blockbuster? Trades we'd like to see this spring
It might be best for Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates to wait before inking a long-term contract. Troy Taormina/US Presswire
Jim BowdenESPN Baseball Analyst
Senior baseball analyst for ESPN Insider
Former GM of the Reds and Nationals
Author of "The GM's Office" blog
It's been reported throughout the year that the Pittsburgh Pirates would like to sign Andrew McCutchen to a long-term deal of five or six years that would buy out his arbitration years, as well as a year or two of potential free agency. McCutchen and his agent have engaged in these talks, but from what I'm hearing both sides continue to be far apart.
Negotiations like these can be tricky because McCutchen won't hit the open market until after the 2015 season, and -- unlike with a free agent -- there is no need to strike a deal. The Pirates have their highest leverage this year because McCutchen is not yet eligible for arbitration. Based on the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, he will get a slight raise from the $452,500 he is earning this year. The leverage shifts to McCutchen next offseason if he continues to stay healthy and his production continues to rise. That's because he could be in line for a huge raise via arbitration. The Colorado Rockies waited a year too long to extend Carlos Gonzalez and it ended up costing them a seven-year, $80 million deal. The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay a price this winter or next for not having Matt Kemp locked up long-term when they had a chance last offseason.


God can use anyone to achieve his purposes!
Among the key people mentioned in Hebrews 11 is Rahab. We are all likely familiar with the story—Rahab was a young woman, a prostitute of the Canaanite city of Jericho. She was not a likely candidate for a heroine of faith, but God overruled her story. Her faith is celebrated in Hebrews 11:21, and James 2:25 highlights her righteousness.
She was mocked by her neighbors as the "woman of the night," a person classified as an outcast of society, a moral leper. And yet she made it into the Bible and we find her story portrayed in Joshua 2-6.
Her life is one of heroic acts, hiding the men of God that Joshua had sent ahead to spy out the city, and helping them to escape by night. She was risking her life for them, recognizing that the God these spies worshipped was the true God. She was also willing to sacrifice her national identity as she followed the spies instead of helping her own nation.
When she asked for her life to be spared by the Israelites who intended to come back and destroy Jericho, she also asked for the lives of her family (Josh .2:13). The spies agreed to her request, giving her three conditions to be met: (1) she must distinguish her house from the others by hanging a scarlet rope out of the window so the Israelites would know which home to spare; (2) her family must be inside the house during the battle; and (3) she must not later turn on the spies.
We find later that the city of Jericho was completed destroyed except for her and her family. Later, she married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah, whom some commentaries say was one of the two spies. Their son born to them was Boaz, the future husband of Ruth. And this brings closure. From evil to grace, from unclean to clean, from pagan to a believing Gentile. It was a complete miracle. As a result of her faith and deeds, she is even found in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Faith needs to lead to action, as we see Rahab doing. She had a holy sense of God and exclaimed, "For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below" (Josh. 2:11) and put this knowledge into action, hiding these spies as well as obeying the three conditions given by the spies. She, therefore, became the first recorded Gentile convert in the Bible.
It should encourage us that God does not look at who we were, but at who we are in Him and who we are becoming. God is not bound to our past, as we often are, but wants to use us despite our past and despite our failures. God was no longer viewing Rahab as the unclean prostitute, but as one worthy by grace.
There is no excuse for us not to share the gospel with others because we might think we are not good enough or that the people we are sharing with aren't worthy of the good news. The grace found in this story should compel us to spread grace upon grace.
When was the last time you prayed for someone to become a Christian and thought, "This is impossible"?
How concerned are you for the salvation of others as Rahab was for her relatives?
Where are the Rahabs in your life with whom you should share life?
Where have the challenges from your past hindered you to love Jesus and bring Jesus´ love to others?


text:
British Executions
Gwynne Owen Evans
Age: unknown
Crime: murder
Date Of Execution: 13 Aug 1964
Crime Location:
Execution Place: Manchester
Method: hanging
Executioner: unknown
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_Kingdom
Peter Anthony Allen, at Walton Prison in Liverpool, and Gwynne Owen Evans, at Strangeways Prison in Manchester for the murder of John Alan West, the last people executed in Britain.
John Alan West (1911 – 7 April 1964) was a 53-year-old laundry van driver from Seaton, Cumberland, England, murdered by two men on 7 April 1964. His murder led to the executions of Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans — the last executions in the United Kingdom.
John West, who lived alone, had returned to his home on 6 April 1964. At about 3:00 am the following morning his next-door neighbour was awoken by a noise in West's house and, looking out of the window, observed a car disappearing down the street. The neighbour called the police, who found West dead from severe head injuries and a stab wound to the chest. In his house the police found a raincoat in the pockets of which was a medallion and Army Memo Form. The medallion was inscribed "G.O. Evans, July, 1961", and the memo form had the name "Norma O'Brien" on it, together with a Liverpool address. Norma O'Brien was a 17-year-old Liverpool factory worker who told the police that in 1963, while staying with her sister and brother-in-law in Preston, she had met a man called "Ginger" Owen Evans. She also confirmed that she had seen Evans wearing the medallion.
Forty-eight hours after West's murder, Gwynne Owen Evans (1 April 1940 – 13 August 1964), 24, and Peter Anthony Allen (4 April 1943 – 13 August 1964), 21, were arrested and charged with the crime. Evans lodged with Allen and his wife in Preston, and was found to have a watch inscribed to West in his pocket. Both had criminal records.
Although Evans blamed Allen for beating West, he admitted to stealing the watch, and under further questioning it became clear that he had masterminded the whole incident. In his turn, Allen stated that they had stolen a car in Preston and driven over to West's house so that Evans could "borrow" some money from his one-time workmate.
Allen and Evans were tried together at Manchester Crown Court in July 1964 charged with capital murder under the Homicide Act 1957, because West had been killed in the course of a theft. During the trial the judge asked the jury to decide if the murder had actually been committed by one of the two men alone; in the latter case the other would only be found guilty of non-capital murder at the most. The jury found both men equally guilty, and both were sentenced to death by hanging.
Gwynne Owen Evans was hanged by the executioner Harry Allen at Manchester's Strangeways Prison at 8:00 am on 13 August 1964. At the same time, Peter Allen was hanged at Liverpool's Walton Prison by Robert Leslie Stewart. These were the last two hangings in Britain.
see National Archives - ASSI 52/1429


"He has rested since he was in the hospital last year when he had a heart problem," said Clive Mukundu, a music producer who worked with Mtukudzi, to CNN in front of the private medical center where the 66-year-old Musician was treated.
A spokeswoman for his record label also confirmed the news to CNN.
Caroline Morabe said: "I can confirm that Oliver Mtukudzi has passed away and the family will later publish an official statement with more details."
Known by its fans as the "Tuku", Mtukudzi had been successful for decades across Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
952, his footstep music was described as a mixture of Zimbabwean pop-style "jit" and South African township pop.
With his strong sound and inspirational lyrics, he documented the joy and pain of his compatriots who fought for freedom under colonial rule and died for democracy after Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.
"Where I come from is not a song to sing, if you have nothing to say," he said in a 2013 interview with CNN.
Mtukudzii grew up in Highfield, a ghetto neighborhood in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare. "So every song has something to do with this guy on the street, he has to use it in his life," he said.
The musician had more than 60 albums under his belt and released an album in 2013 titled "Sarawoga, a homage to his beloved son Sam, who died in a car accident in 2010 at the age of 21. The couple often played together with him described the album as a "therapy" to help him overcome death.
"I just thought of him and tried to recover, though music was my therapy. I think I have played more shows since 2010 than ever before because this is the only therapy I have received.
Often referred to as the spiritual father of Zimbabwe, Mtukudzi, against whom his brother Robert and several band members have lost AIDS campaigned for the removal of the HIV / AIDS stigma for mothers in Tanzania.
He was too open to patriarchy and criticized polygamy as a method that increases the risk of HIV spreading.


text:
What has golf got to do with the Dambusters?
October 27, 2009 By stevehaake
When I started a PhD on golf-green ball impacts back in 1985, my supervisor Dr Alastair Cochran suggested that I look for information on the Dambusters. For those of you not old enough to have seen the 1955 film starring Michael Redgrave, the Dambusters were the RAF's 617 Squadron who flew Lancaster bombers during the 2nd World War. In Operation Chastise, they flew deep into Germany on a fully moonlit night to drop bouncing bombs onto reservoirs in an attempt to burst their dams and flood the factories in the flood plain below.
Now just what was the connection with golf? It wasn't that Alastair was a 2nd World War buff (I don't think), but he remembered that Barnes Wallis' innovative design required the pilots to fly the bombers just above the water and drop spinning cylinders packed full of explosives. The key was that Wallis optimized the speed, angle and back-spin of the bomb's bounces, so that it came to a halt at the dam and rolled down the inside of the wall before exploding at a depth of about 10 m.
Figure 1. Diagram to show how the bouncing bomb was used to attack dams (RAF Museum).
Alastair reckoned that I might find something about Barnes Wallis' testing that would shed light on the mysteries of golf balls landing on golf greens (the topic of my now ancient thesis). Back in the 1980s, the internet was only just about to happen and finding information was a slow process. Literature searches were done with microfiches and card files and lost in the intricacies of rigid-plastic half-spaces, I forgot about the Dambusters.
Until the other day that is. During a lunchtime literature search using Web of Science (coming up with more papers in the flick of a mouse than a 1980s day in the library) I came across a paper on the impact of spinning spheres on water by Truscott and Techet. The abstract described the creation of 'wedges of water' and determined the lift and drag of the sphere after impact. Despite trouble accessing the full paper, my interest in Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb – nicknamed 'Upkeep' – was re-kindled. A quick search took me to the UK National Archives and the RAF Museum which provided more than I needed.
Figure 2. Original footage of the bouncing bomb tests carried out by Barnes Wallis and his team.
The full scale experiments carried out by Wallis and the aircrews are frightening to see – twin-engined Mosquitos or Lancaster Bombers carrying out experiments with seriously large spinning cylinders, sometimes fatally. Their experiments showed that the optimum impact of the 4,200 kg cylindrical bomb was around 100 m/s (225 mph) at 7° to the water with about 8 revolutions per second of backspin.
Figure 3: Photograph of the breached Möhne Dam taken by Flying Officer Jerry Fray of No. 542 Squadron from his Spitfire PR IX
In spinning impacts, researchers tend to use the spin-ratio (ωr/v) to characterize the impact where ω is the spin, r the radius and v the tangential velocity of the object in question. With a diameter of around 1.3 m, this gives a spin ratio for Upkeep of about -2.1 (the minus sign indicates backspin).
Figure 4. An estimate of the first bounce of the Dambusters bomb 'Upkeep' compared to sports balls.
And guess what? Alastair was right – the bomb bounces just like a golf ball (Figure 4). I've guessed the rebound value for Upkeep from film footage so take it lightly for the moment but the cylindrical bomb seemed to retain backspin for all bounces indicating that the rebound spin ratio was always negative. Heavily lofted golf shots such as a 9-iron or a pitching wedge can have backspins as high as 160 revolutions per second (about 10,000 rpm), landing with large negative spin parameters and bounce in much the same way. With shots onto links golf greens the backspin slows the ball on the first bounces before the spin 'engages' later and the ball screws back along the green.
So, next time your pitch onto the green bounces into the rough because you didn't get the spin quite right, just remember that sport isn't, as the saying goes, about life or death. The bomb that Barnes Wallis developed for the German dam raids of 1943 was one of a number of spinning bombs that he was working on for attacking boats, submarines, bridges and the like. One had the name highball but Wallis had a generic name for all of them. Guess what it was? The Golf Mine.
Watch this last video and you'll see how Wallis might have got his inspiration.
Steve Haake
Figure 5. Barnes Wallis theories in action.
About stevehaake
Steve is Professor of Sports Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. He has a degree in Physics from the University of Leeds and a PhD from Aston University on the mechanics of golf balls on golf greens. He has over 200 publications, including his first book "Advantage Play: Technologies that changed Sporting History" due out in October 2018.
Golf, ImpactAlastair Cochran, backspin, Barnes Wallis, Dambusters, Golf
Chuck}
Well put Well said. I do love the
manner in which you have presented this particular situation. Thanks.
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