text:
2011 Grand Prix of Japan October 18, 2011
Posted by Dru in Sports.
Tags: 2011 Grand Prix of Japan, ツインリング, 茂木, Grand Prix, Grand Prix of Japan, japan, Japan GP, Japanese Grand Prix, Motegi, Motegi Town, Motegi Twin Ring, Moto GP, MotoGP, Motorcycle, tokyo, Twin Ring, Twin Ring Motegi, 日本, 東京
Author's Note: Dru's Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read "2011 Grand Prix of Japan" complete with photos. http://wp.me/p2liAm-Jg
The 2011 Grand Prix of Japan was originally scheduled to take place in April, but due to the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the race was promptly postponed. It was tentatively rescheduled to October 2nd, its traditional spot on the Moto GP calendar. In the last 3 years, the Grand Prix of Japan was scheduled to take place in March/April. The first year was run without a problem, but the following year it was moved to October due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. The volcano prevented teams and some of the equipment from flying out to Japan due to safety concerns. This year, while rescheduled to take place from September 30 to October 2, the race had been in doubt for some time. Twin Ring Motegi Circuit is located just over 120km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and with that distance it made the riders and a lot of their crew nervous about coming to Japan. There were only a few people who were advocates for Japan and the loudest was, naturally, Hiroshi Aoyama. It doesn't hurt that he is Japanese and his feeling is that the Grand Prix would help Japan and the riders would be safe. After Dorna, the rights holder for Moto GP, along with the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme) contracted an Italian University to conduct an independent survey of Motegi and the surrounding towns for radiation levels both at the track, in the soil, and the food, most of the teams started to feel safe. Unfortunately, while the scientific study said things were safe, the riders and many of the crew were still nervous about going to Japan and up until the last few weeks prior to the race itself, there were still big questions marks over who would or wouldn't be attending. In the end all of the riders came to Japan but not all of the teams. Some of the teams, two as far as I know and both in lower classes, decided to not bring their mechanics and used local mechanics instead. The entire Moto GP tour also brought their own food and water to allay any fears they still had. It was an interesting compromise that provided a great event.
If you read my past posts about the Moto GP events, things haven't changed too much. This year there was no presence by Kawasaki. They still had a very small booth last year but that has all disappeared. Suzuki has also significantly reduced their presence at the event with just a tiny booth that showcased a couple items for sale. Honda was still the largest manufacturer on display with Yamaha and Ducati a close second and third. Since I have been to this event many times, I feel as if I'm an expert in what to do when visiting these events. I typically entered the event and just did a lot of shopping on qualifying day. I spent more time walking around the event than before as I wanted to check out the vantage points from various places. Saturday is a great day to check out the various grandstands as they are all open to the public. On Sunday, the reserved seating areas are closed off to those with valid tickets so watching the warm-up or parts of the race from other locations is not allowed. This year I decided to change my tradition. For the last several years, I joined the Yamaha Supporters group where I would get free swag for supporting Yamaha. My favourite racer, Valentino Rossi, had changed teams this year to ride for Ducati, so I felt I couldn't support Yamaha completely. I am a huge Rossi fan so I decided to return to the grandstands that I visited on my first trip to the Japan Grand Prix, the 90 Degree Corner. The 90 Degree Corner is considered to be the most exciting place on the track to watch the race. It is named 90 Degree Corner because it is a 90 degree right turn that follows a downhill section. The turn is also slightly off camber making it very tricky to get around quickly and smoothly. Many riders have run off at that corner and many have crashed. The other main corner is corner 3 where many other accidents occur. The main straight may have the advantage of being where other supporters are as well as the podium, but for real enthusiasts, heading to other corners can be a lot more fun. I always enjoy trying new areas just to enjoy the racing.
This year, as mentioned, the event was under a different air. People were their regular selves and attendance seemed to be average. The booths were a little different as more secondary sponsors were present and some of the traditional Japanese sponsors had pulled out. Things are slowly changing, including the food. I noticed that while the barbecued steaks on a stick were the same, and so was the beer, I never noticed the curry rice before. I also never noticed how difficult it was to get water at the event. Most of the places were selling sports drinks, coke, tea, and beer. It was difficult to find anyone selling water anywhere. In terms of interviews and such, it was pretty standard. Suzuki's test rider was one of the most prominent figures doing interviews and many others were going around. The most important people had huge crowds. Trying to watch interviews with Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, or even Casey Stoner was next to impossible unless you were waiting for nearly an hour before the actual event. I was pretty content to just enjoy the interviews from far away and just listen to them. Most of the things they talked about were pretty standard. "It's good to be here. The track is a very stop and go track. You need a lot of horsepower and a good setup. I hope to do well." You really can't get much more out of a rider who must be very careful with their words. One of the best characters in Moto GP has to be Colin Edwards. I had been a fan of his since I first "met" him in a rider's clinic in Vancouver prior to the 2005 season. I would discover that Colin has a remarkably frank way of speaking as well as being comical. He was pretty honest about his opinions without getting into too much trouble. He praises the bike all the time but hits out when he knows he has troubles. He is also very honest when it comes to his own mistakes and does what he can to improve. Next year will see him move from the Tech 3 Yamaha team to a new team that hopes to use his skills to develop their new bike.
In terms of the race, everything was pretty standard. I was very happy and enjoyed the first two races. It was the last year of the 125cc class as next year they move to 250cc 4-stroke engines and calling the class Moto3. It was a nice race and somewhat predictable. Motegi isn't well known for its exciting 125 races as the long straights mean the riders can stretch out a bit and get away if they are lucky. Unfortunately that was the case and nothing much happened. The only special event was the fact that Frenchman Johann Zarco finally won his first race in Moto GP. He had actually crossed the finish line in first near the beginning of the season but that was cancelled as he made a dangerous move on the last lap resulting in a 20 second penalty. A second time he crossed the line tied for first but lost the win because his fastest lap of the race was slower than the other rider. It was the first time that he was allowed on the top step to celebrate with champagne as the winner of a race. In Moto2, the race was more interesting. Marc Marquez has been showing his form and has made a charge up the championship field to take over the championship lead after this race. The race was won by Andrea Iannone who has a lot of talent but tends to make too many mistakes. The big event is Moto GP. It was time for the big boys to come out on to the track. The Moto GP race was an incident filled race. It started with a crash by Valentino Rossi in the 3rd corner of the first lap. He ran into Jorge Lorenzo as he tried to avoid Ben Spies which causing him to crash into the sand. He retired before he could even finish one lap. Needless to say I was very disappointed. Casey Stoner was leading quite well until he had a tank slapper on the back straight which caused his brake pads to move which resulted in him losing his brakes for a second and subsequently running off course and into the sand. He did rejoin in 7th place before finishing the race in 3rd. 3 riders were given a ride through penalty for jumping the start and 2 other riders crashed before the end of the race. The field was reduced by a large margin and the winner would eventually be Dani Pedrosa. It had been a long time since Honda had won on home soil and Jorge Lorenzo did his best to steal the win at the end but couldn't keep up with the dominant Dani Pedrosa. There were some spirited passes throughout the field the entire race and it was one of the more enjoyable races I saw. I usually get a little tired about halfway through the race in the main grandstands but this year was much better and easier at the 90 Degree Corner. I think I found my new home unless Valentino has his own supporter's tour that will stay in another grandstand somewhere.
I have said it many times before. If you love motorcycles, you should watch the Grand Prix of Japan in person. It is a very fun experience. Racing in Japan is very similar, be it F1, WRC, or even Moto GP. I have watched all three now and while they are all different, the feeling is similar. The fans carry flags and wave them feverishly. People love their heroes all the time and do their best to will them on. Like any country, the races themselves are exciting to watch and the food can be expensive. With the right mindset, you will have the time of your life and memories that will last a lifetime.
2011 Grand Prix of Japan is part of a series of posts recounting my trips to Twin Ring Motegi and the Japanese round of the Moto GP series. To read my other posts about this race please follow the links below:
2010 Grand Prix of Japan (Twin Ring Motegi)
2008 A-Style Grand Prix of Japan
Moto GP Official Site: http://www.motogp.com/
2011 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix October 11, 2011
Tags: F1, Formula 1, Formula 1 GP, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula One, Formula One GP, Formula One Grand Prix, Grand Prix, Japan GP, Japan Grand Prix, Marina Bay, Monaco Grand Prix, Orchard, Puma, Singapore, Singapore GP, Singapore Grand Prix, Singtel, Singtel Singapore, Singtel Singapore GP, Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, Suzuka, Tag Heuer
Author's Note: Dru's Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read "2011 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix" complete with photos. http://wp.me/p2liAm-Jc
For anyone who has read my blog over the years, you know that I am an avid race fan. I have been to the Japan GP for Moto GP (motorcycles) almost every year since I've been in Japan. I have also been to the F1 Grand Prix in Japan 3 times as well as Rally Japan in Hokkaido last year. This year, I decided to take a trip to Singapore to watch the F1 race. Singapore does not have the same history as Suzuka or even Fuji Speedway but it is quickly growing. The location has been likened to an Asian Monaco Grand Prix due to the similarities of a road course on narrow streets. Like Monaco, the race winds its way around historical buildings but unlike Monaco, the race also passes new modern buildings that were finished very recently, or are still being completed. The Singapore GP has also built up a lot of entertainment for both casual and diehard fans alike.
The run up to the Singapore GP lasts roughly a week before the actual GP. While the F1 circus probably doesn't arrive until the Wednesday before the race, the event starts roughly 7-10 days ahead. Many of the shopping malls start by getting their decorations up and many shops have grand prix sales. It is an exciting time to just be in the city and you can easily feel it in the air. I didn't arrive in Singapore until the Thursday before the race, which gave me three and a half days to soak up the atmosphere of the race weekend. At that time, everything was in place and things seemed to be running smoothly. Most shops had a minimum 20% discount on items. It was great to see and many shopping malls had outdoor shops of various F1 sponsors. Tag Heuer had a portable shop erected outside a shopping complex in the Orchard district. Puma had a small container ship transformed into a portable shop located near one of the main entrances to the circuit. While walking around the various shopping malls, you would be highly likely to also run into a previous model of F1 cars on display. I only saw three, Lotus Renault, Force India, and Ferrari. I would assume that there were more, but I didn't run into them and there was little to no information on where they would be. That is the only challenge when visiting Singapore during the F1 season, some of the public locations around the city are hard to find and you just have to stumble upon them.
The actual circuit is split into 4 fan zones. Zone 1 encompasses the main straight and grandstands as well as the paddock. Zones 2 and 3 are located in nicer viewing areas, and Zone 4 is the general area at the far end of the track that is closer to the city. Most of the casual fans will flock to Zone 4. This is the largest zone with many viewing platforms, a few grandstands, and the concert venue. The entire weekend is filled with various concerts on each day. They set aside a large grass field and built a temporary stage at one end. During each concert, it is nothing but a sea of people in the entire field. In fact, I'm sure many people buy tickets just for the concerts, rather than the F1 race. Being more of an F1 fan than a fan of the musicians, I didn't go to any of the concerts. By the time the race ended, I was too tired to push through all the people and barely watch a concert. I thought that by the time I walked from Zone 1 to Zone 4, the field would be completely full and I wouldn't be able to see anything. Zones 2 and 3 are pretty boring to be honest with only a few entertainers roaming around. The only difference between the two zones is the fact that Zone 2 has one of the famous grandstands facing Marina Bay itself. These grandstands face a floating platform and the cars themselves race under the grandstands at one point. Otherwise, both Zones 2 and 3 are almost no different to Zone 1. Zone 1 is for the real race enthusiasts. It is where you will find all of the people hanging out waiting for the race. While both Zone 1 and 4 have F1 villages where you can buy merchandise, Zone 1 has better viewing platforms and it is around the most important corners in the race. I also found that more kids and families stayed in Zone 4 than Zone 1 and a lot more F1 merchandise was carried around in Zone 1. It was noticeable difference but not by a huge amount.
The experience of the F1 weekend is something that I can't explain. It is a thrilling and exciting event that must be experienced to understand. Every day is filled with people. The streets are filled with F1 enthusiasts just roaming around wearing their favourite team colours. Inside the circuit area, you can see so many people. After going to F1 at Suzuka and Fuji Speedway, I must say the level of noise in Singapore was much greater. They had "survival kits" for $2 each that contained a poncho and earplugs. On Friday, I was walking around and experienced just one practice session. At first, things were okay. My ears were fine and I thought it wasn't bad until I headed up and crossed the track at one of the overhead passes. The scream of the engines were deafening and I could feel it shaking every cell in my body. I had to plug my ears just to keep them from ringing. I went to another location located under a bridge where the sounds of the engine echoed. It was so deafening that without plugging my ears with my hands, my ears felt as if they were starting to bleed. It was terribly loud due to the echo, but it was extremely fun. The other experience of the race that must be felt is how close you actually come to the track. In regular tracks, you are in grandstands that are metres away from the track itself. There is also a large runoff area for the driver's safety. In Singapore, the track is narrow and the viewing areas are usually no more than a metre or so from the track barrier. It is exciting to see the cars miss a turn and probably more so to see them crash. I was not in a corner where a car had crashed, but I was in a corner where the cars missed the corner a couple times. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either.
In terms of the race itself, qualifying was a bit of a disappointment for me. I was hoping to see Kamui Kobayashi do well but he crashed out in the second round. The race was nice and interesting and the first few laps were exciting to see cars go through the turn two by two. I was camping out at turn 5 as I liked the position for photos. Things seemed to be going well and there were no problems at all, from what I could see. I heard a few things but didn't see much as there wasn't a TV screen nearby. Thankfully some people had Fanvision portable TVs and I could sneak a look from time to time. I wish I had spent money on renting a Fanvision as I would have been able to see much more of the action. I'm not sure if I would be as happy as I wouldn't be able to use my earplugs, but who knows. If you don't have a screen to watch the action, I would highly recommend a Fanvision in order to keep up with what is happening around the track itself. At turn 5, there really wasn't much action happening for the entire race. Cars would go by really quickly and that's about it. I enjoyed it a lot but had to guess what happened a little when Michael Schumacher crashed into Sergio Perez and brought the one yellow flag of the race. I also couldn't tell when the race would end either. It was a difficult time to keep track of the race but in the end, Sebastian Vettel won the race with Jenson Button in second and Mark Webber in third. As of writing this entry, Vettel is leading the championship and needs just 1 point to win it. Jenson Button is in second and needs to win every race to win the championship. It is more than likely that Sebastian Vettel will win the championship in Japan on October 9th.
All in all, the race was a great experience. It was the best race I had ever been to, albeit I have only attended 3 races in my life now. It could be a combination of a vacation and how close I was to the actual action. Singapore really knows how to throw a great party and they should be patted on the back for it. I am reminded of a story about the Olympics themselves. When I went to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, everyone, including foreign media, reported how much fun it was to be in the city. It was a real party atmosphere. When people went to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they said it was a great event but outside of the event it was very boring. When going to the races in Japan, I found it to be more alike Beijing than Vancouver. While the location of the course itself is partly to blame, I feel that having more F1 related activities in Nagoya or Osaka could help a lot. The same goes for Moto GP. They cities near the events need to make it a destination in order to bring people in and keep them in. Doing so would help increase the number of visitors as well as people who visit the area for more than just a passing weekend. The Singapore Grand Prix is a race I would love to see again, but not sure if I'll do it anytime soon. You will get a race that is held at night so that you can enjoy the city by day. You can party it up with all of the F1 related activities both inside and outside of the circuit itself. It is a non-stop weekend that I highly recommend.
2011 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix is part of a series of posts detailing my experiences of visiting various F1 races around the world. To read more about the various races I have attended, please follow the links below:
2012 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix
2009 Formula 1 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix
2008 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix
Official Website: http://www.singaporegp.sg/
2010 Grand Prix of Japan (Motegi Twin Ring) October 12, 2010
Author's Note: Dru's Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read "2010 Grand Prix of Japan (Motegi Twin Ring)" complete with photos. http://wp.me/p2liAm-wp
The first weekend of October was the second attempt of 2010 to hold the 2010 Grand Prix of Japan. The Grand Prix of Japan is the annual MotoGP race that was traditionally held in October until 2009 where it was moved to spring. It was initially supposed to be held in spring of 2010, but due to the Icelandic volcano eruption, the GP was re-scheduled to October. It was a huge disappointment at the time, but at the same time, I was extremely happy that it would return to the end of the season. If you have read any of my previous posts on past GPs, you would know that I have been to 4 previous GPs. When they moved the race up to spring, it was a tough race to enjoy relative to an end of season race. Rather than being at the end of the season where I would have had time to learn about the different riders and get a chance to recognize the liveries on each of the bikes, spring was a new season where there were no clear leaders.
This year, I had no real changes to my schedule from last year's trip. I decided to do a one night, two day trip for only the second time. I took off from Tokyo Station in the very early morning and reached Motegi Twin Ring before 11am, about 40 minutes late due to heavy traffic in Tokyo. I had a good chance to relax on the trip up and got excited as always when we reached the main entrance. Once the bus parked, I jumped out and headed straight to the track. Being a qualifying Saturday, the track was far from crowded. I had a lot of time on my hands as there was nothing set to do and the bus would leave for the hotel around 5pm. I spent most of the morning shopping around the main area. If you ever visit Twin Ring Motegi, the area behind the main grand stand is where most of the shops are held. There is an official shop located just below the main grandstands, and various temporary tents set up in the main plaza. Just past the main plaza, near Victory Corner is where most of the eateries are located, along with an area behind the VIP grandstands. This year was unique in that there were more Valentino Rossi booths than normal. The standard booths by all the major manufacturers in the MotoGP class were also there. There were also the usual interviews with various riders. I don't believe that Valentino Rossi was out there, but I was a little too busy watching the actual qualifying to care this year. Last year, I did take time to try to see Rossi at the interview, but that was due to the rain soaked qualifying.
One of the saddest parts of this GP was the fact that Shoya Tomizawa, a rising MotoGP star had tragically died the month before. There was a special tent set up with a few pictures of Tomizawa and hundreds of flowers set up under them. Only a few places had Tomizawa shirts and the like. It was a very sad thing to see. All over, you could see his distinctive 48 all over. When I entered the grandstands, there were the usual flags promoting all of the riders, but there were also dozens, if not hundreds of flags for Shoya Tomizawa. Many had his number along with the simple words "Arigato", or thank you. The other major flag was one showcasing Tomizawa's personal "symbol". It was a stylized gold "S" on a red circle. Think of it like the traditional Japanese flag but with a gold "S" on top of the red dot. Before any of the races got underway, Dorna, the commercial rights holders of MotoGP held a special ceremony where they retired Shoya Tomizawa's number. They presented his parents with a special plaque with his number, a memorial book with messages from thousands of fans, and an award praising Tomizawa as the best Moto2 rider of the season, as elected by his peers. Tomizawa is one of the brightest personalities within the MotoGP paddock. When I watched him on TV, he was always smiling. In fact, his parents commented that he had a "mischievous" smile. It was true that his smile was mischievous, but it was also very infections. Seeing his smile always made me smile as well. I was deeply affected by his death and the MotoGP paddock will never be the same. Tomizawa will eventually live on by being memorialized in Japan. He will be remembered much the same as Daijiro Kato is remembered after his death in 2003. I'm sure that we'll be seeing his number flown for years to come at all future Grand Prix of Japan.
Getting back to a lighter note, the races had lived up to my expectations. I wasn't expecting the best race in history, but it was still a good race. I was once again in a Yamaha supporters section. I got a bunch of free swag, and won a nice warm pull over with Fiat Yamaha emblazoned all over it. I was really hoping to win a photo book to complete my set, but I wasn't lucky enough. Being with the Yamaha supporters, I had to sit in the main grandstand, just off to the side of the podium. Like always, the podium was accessible from the grandstands. The 125cc and the Moto2 races were normal. There wasn't a lot of interesting things happening in the first two races. The main points of interests were the fact that there were various Japanese riders in the races that had a chance to be on the podium. Unfortunately, they didn't do so well, and the typical heavyweights in each class did well. For the MotoGP class itself, the show was pretty typical until the last few laps. That's when all of the action happened. It was an amazing race and a great way to end the weekend. I left the race feeling extremely happy and satisfied with what had happened, along with a lighter wallet.
This will be the last time that I attend the Grand Prix of Japan as a Yamaha supporter. I have been with them for 4 years now and have enjoyed every race with them. If you ever have a chance, I highly recommend taking a tour with them. It's amazing and you won't be disappointed. Unfortunately, my favourite rider will be switching from Yamaha to Ducati, so that means I can't support Yamaha while supporting him at the same time. Well, I could, but it would feel a little weird. I will probably return to the first grandstand that I ever sat in, the 90 degree corner grandstand. It's probably the best seat I have ever been in at Motegi. Do note that I have only been to two locations. You are close to the track and there is a lot of action all the time. I will also have to figure out how to get there without any help from the tour operators. A tour is one of the easiest ways to get into and out of the race. No need to contend with driving, and I can sleep on the way up or down if need be. It will be a great new experience, and you'll be able to read about it here next year.
MotoGP Information:
http://www.motogp.com
2009 Formula 1 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix October 13, 2009
Tags: Aichi, amusement park, フジ, cars, 鈴鹿, 鈴鹿f1, 静岡, 車, F1, f1 car, Ferrari, ferris wheel, figure 8 circuit, Formula 1, Formula One, Fuji, Fuji Speedway, Gotemba, Gotenba, Grand Prix, grandstand, Honda, japan, Japan GP, Japan Grand Prix, Japanese, Japanese GP, Japanese Grand Prix, Jarno Trulli, Kintetsu, kyoto, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Mie, Mishima, Motegi, Motegi Twin Ring, Nagoya, osaka, race, racing, Red Bull, roller coaster, Sebastien Vettel, Shiroko Station, Shizuoka, shuttle bus, Suzuka, Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka Circuit Inou, Suzuka Circuit Inou Station, tokyo, Toyota, world sporting event, 名古屋, 愛知, 日本, 日本GP, 東京, 京都
Author's Note: Dru's Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read "2009 Formula 1 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix" complete with pictures. http://wp.me/p2liAm-hI
On October 4th, 2009, Japan hosted it's annual round of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. For those of you who have been reading this blog, last year, I also attended the Japanese Grand Prix. This year was a little different. After two years at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka, the Japanese Grand Prix moved back to its traditional home of Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture. Mie is located south west of Tokyo. The closest major city is Nagoya, but you can still access Kyoto and Osaka from Suzuka. By and far, the easiest and most common way to reach the circuit itself is to leave from Nagoya.
The biggest difference between Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit is the owner. Fuji is ultimately owned by Toyota, while Suzuka is owned by Honda. The two car giants of Japan competed for the rights to hold the Japanese Grand Prix for the last three years. From this year, the plan was to alternate between Fuji and Suzuka. Next year's race was supposed to be held in Fuji. Unfortunately, due to the downturn in the economy last year, Fuji decided to not hold the race in 2010, so Suzuka stepped up and will hold the race in Japan for the next few years. Many of the drivers were very happy about this, but what about the fans and the Japanese people themselves? While a lot of people don't really care, race enthusiasts were always happy to hear that Suzuka won the race. It is one of the very few figure 8 circuits in the world, and the only one on the F1 calendar. It is steeped in history that, while not as old as Fuji, is more prestigious.
Accessing and retuning home from Suzuka Circuit is very easy. From Nagoya, it's a simple reserved express train from Nagoya Station to Suzuka Circuit Inou Station. You can also purchase reserved tickets to get back to Nagoya. While this may be a little expensive compared to the regular trains, it guarantees that you'll have a seat, and when you return to Nagoya, that may be very important. When you do reach the station, it's very easy to find your way to the circuit. Just follow the groups of people and you'll be fine. While it may be different in future years, be sure to pick up a map and ask the staff for some information to make sure you know your options. If you want to play it safe, just return to the same station. The second option is to take the Kintetsu trains to Shiroko Station. It's about 5 kilometres away from the circuit, or an hour walk. There is a shuttle bus, but it can take up to an hour to wait for it. Many people enjoy a nice walk in the countryside to get to this station. To reach it, you must also walk past the Inou. The main advantage of walking to Shiroko is that trains come more often than at the Inou station. When leaving Nagoya, don't worry too much about buying tickets. You can easily buy them at the main entrance as there will probably be a table set up for selling return tickets. Just be sure to know which tickets you need before leaving.
When entering Suzuka circuit itself, it's evident that Honda's circuit company knows what it's doing. It has held the F1 event and other major world sporting events for years. The F1 event itself is very similar to the one in 2008, but there are noticeable differences. The first is that the party is slightly bigger, yet more compact. In Fuji, everything was spread out a lot more. Suzuka's main entertainment area was behind the main grandstand, and there wasn't a lot going on outside of that area. Of course, you can always buy the basic souvenirs around the course, but there were fewer opportunities to do so. However, buying food was ten times better in Suzuka. The options were slightly limited, and it wasn't the cheapest food in the world, but it was good and reasonable for a world sporting event. The major plus is the number of activities that are available for children. There is a large ferris wheel, and other various amusement rides that are centred for children. Suzuka, being Honda's signature track, has a better amusement area compared to Motegi. There are various boat rides, and roller coasters. There was a go-kart track, but this was closed to add more space for exhibitions. Overall, I'd prefer Suzuka over Fuji, and most Japanese people would tend to agree. Fuji's major advantage was being close to Tokyo.
Looking at the race, it was your typical F1 race. I had the chance to enjoy the event during qualifying for the first time. It was a nice event, and qualifying made walking around the main areas easier. It was extremely busy on race day, so if you can enjoy the Saturday qualifying, be sure to do your shopping then; don't wait until race day or things will be sold out. Qualifying was riddled with accidents, and the race itself wasn't that exciting. In typical F1 fashion, there were several passes on the first few laps, but after that, it was a war of attrition. Everyone kept circling the circuit and any passing was done in the pits. By the end of the day, Sebastian Vettel won the race with home team Toyota's Jarno Trulli in second. Bringing up the last spot on the podium was McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
Suzuka Circuit Links:
(English – Note that this site has only information on the facilities) http://www.mobilityland.co.jp/english/
(Japanese – Note that this site has information on events) http://www.suzukacircuit.jp/
(Wiki) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuka_Circuit
(Official F1 Website) http://www.formula1.com/
2008 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix October 21, 2008
Posted by Dru in Japan, Kanto, Sports, Travel.
Tags: Alonso, F1, Fernando, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Formula, Formula 1, Formula One, Fuji, Fuji Speedway, Fuji Television, Gotemba, Gotenba, Grand, Grand Prix, Hamilton, Honda, japan, Japanese, Japanese Grand Prix, Lewis, Lewis Hamilton, Moto GP, MotoGP, motorsports, Mt. Fuji, Panasonic, Prix, race fans, racing, Red Bull, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Repsol Honda, Rossi, Scuderia Torro Rosso, Shizuoka, Shizuoka-ken, Speedway, STR, Television, tokyo, Toyota
Author's Note: Dru's Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on and read the post complete with pictures. http://wp.me/p2liAm-39
On October 12th, 2008, Japan hosted the 16th round of the FIA F1 World Championship. The pinnacle of four wheel motorsports has been coming to Japan for decades. Since 2007, the Japanese GP has been run at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka. Before 2007, the F1 Championship had been going to Suzuka in Mie Prefecture. A few hours away by Shinkansen. In 2006, Toyota had more money than Honda, so F1 decided to move from Suzuka to Fuji.
Fuji Speedway is nestled at the base of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka. It's a beautiful circuit that has a 1.5 km straight and various corners. It has been full of controversy as many drivers dislike the course. It tends to rain often and it's difficult to see Mt. Fuji at anytime. While Fuji Speedway is located very close to Tokyo, it was a nightmare to go and return from the Speedway last year. It took over 3 hours to just leave the circuit! I must say that I was worried about the wait to leave the Speedway, however, things ran extremely smoothly. There was hardly any problems. Following last year, the organizers decided to try to fix things, and the changes worked. While I had to walk a long distance to reach my shuttle bus, the lineup was only 5 minutes and I reached Gotenba Station very quickly. So quickly, that by the time I returned to Tokyo this year, I was still waiting for the shuttle bus, last year! Needless to say, I was very happy.
I have never been to the Canadian Grand Prix, but as you should know, I have been to Japan's Moto GP race. Comparing the two, I still love Moto GP, and the feeling of both events is completely different. Moto GP attracts more international faces, and more hardcore fans. F1 brings more of the everyday people. It's hard to explain the differences, but just imagine the differences between the downtown core of any city with one of the suburbs. Moto GP is like a suburb. Everyone is roughly from the same type of family, whereas F1 brings people from all walks of life. The amount of good available for purchase at the F1 race was astonishing. There are more items, but unless you are a true fan, there isn't too much that is worthwhile. To the average fan, namely me, I wasn't going to buy a Ferrari shirt, or a Renault shirt either. Prices were very expensive and the products were generally useless outside F1. I don't know too many people who wear complete F1 race suits (each costs over 500,000 Yen) or even a shirt that is full of Toyota logos. As nice as some of the clothes and goods were, I just couldn't buy any of it. However, that never stopped the thousands of other fans from buying as much as they could.
The race itself was fairly exciting. Right at the first corner, there was an incident involving the top driver, Lewis Hamilton. By the end of the 6th lap, things had finally settled down a little. Like all of F1, passing tends to be infrequent and at the beginning of the race. After 10 laps of any race, things get boring. The only excitement occurs when there is a blown engine or an accident in the pits. Other than that, not much happens. I must say that Fuji Speedway is better than most tracks on the F1 calender. Passing occurred during the entire race, although not so often as Moto GP. 😉 In the end, after a very eventful opening to the race, Fernando Alonso, driving a Renault, won the race. After the cooldown lap, I grabbed my stuff and ran like the wind. I had to beat the crowd so I could get home somewhat on time.
After the first year of hiccups at the first Fuji Speedway Grand Prix, the second year was 10 times better. While the price of a ticket is reallye expensive, it's worth it to go at least once in your life. Hopefully next year, at Suzuka, there will be more free swag and a more exciting atmosphere. I'll let you if I do get tickets to go.


text:
Trump Gives 13 Family Members Secret Service Protection
His kids—along with their spouses and children—will receive around-the-clock, taxpayer-funded protection for the next six months, an unusual move.
Poor Households to Get Cheap Internet
Updated Apr. 24, 2017 1:07PM ET / Published Nov. 09, 2011 11:38AM ET
Lawrence Manning / Corbis
Low-income households will soon have access to cheaper broadband Internet service. Cable companies announced today that they will offer broadband service for $9.95 to homes with children who are eligible for free school lunches. The program, called Connect-to-Compete, also includes a Microsoft promise to sell PCs with the Office suite for $250 and a Morgan Stanley microfinance program to help people who can't afford those prices. Best Buy, Microsoft, and nonprofits are also promising to offer technology training. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association says about 5.5 million homes that don't have broadband will be eligible.
Read it at Associated Press

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Leptothorax is a genus of insects of concern and found in the following area(s): Canada, Switzerland, United States.
Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Leptothorax".
Glenn, C. R. 2006. "Earth's Endangered Creatures - Leptothorax spp. Facts" (Online) - Licensed article from Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 4/25/2019 at http://earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?sp=10905&ID=6.
Need more Leptothorax spp. facts?


Discussion in 'Mac Apps and Mac App Store' started by excalibur313, Jul 22, 2006.
I want to transfer some rather large files (150mb) to a fellow mac user over the internet. Is there a better way than ichat/adium? They are really unstable/slow and I want a better way without setting up an ftp site.
Try this places than www.mytempdir.com or rapidshare.de you can post your files there for free or you can pay a small feed, and you can just share it with anybody you want, just send them the link to the file..as easy as that.


text:
Pterophorus griveaudi is een vlinder uit de familie vedermotten (Pterophoridae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1964 door Bigot.

Vedermotten

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird
Author: Phillip Hoose
Miami Herald Best Books of the Year
Tennessee Intermediate Volunteer State Book Award Master List
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children's Books
National Science Teacher's Association-CBC, Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children
Great Lakes Book Award - Winner
Maine Lupine Award
New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award
Parents' Choice Award Winner
Bank Street / Flora Steiglitz Award
NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade
Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
TN Intermed Volunt State Book Award ML
Washington Post Best Books of the Year
ALA Best Books for Young Adults
ALA Notable Children's Books
Boston Globe - Horn Book Award
Orbis Pictus Honor Book
SPECIMEN 60803
Nature does nothing uselessly.
Louisiana State University—February 2002
Dr. James Van Remsen pulls open a wooden drawer and hands me an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. It's dead, of course, one of seven Ivory-bill specimens in a dark room of the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science. It feels light and stiff—more like an object than a creature that once lived and breathed. Its wings are folded tightly in on themselves like an umbrella. The hollow eyes have been stuffed with cotton. The backswept crest of this male is more orange than red now, and the bill has darkened from ivory to tarnished gold. Dangling by a string from one gray ankle is a white tag that says "CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS—LSUMZ 60803; MALE."
I raise it up against a fluorescent light to inspect it more closely. Somehow the Ivory-bill looks both prehistoric and futuristic at the same time. The faded red crown of this big male shoots stiffly back like the bony crest of a pterodactyl, the ancient winged reptile. By contrast, other specimens show that the female has a jet-black crown that nods slightly forward and ends in a sharp point. In both sexes, a bold white stripe starts below each ear and snakes down the long neck, zagging below the shoulder and then flaring out into a white saddle that blankets the lower wing.
Any species in nature, from the tiniest insect to the Blue Whale, is a collection of design experiments, field-tested and remodeled again and again over thousands of years. By looking carefully at the way a bird is built and then thinking backward—asking questions like "Why would a wing be so long?" or "Why are its eyes on the sides of the head instead of the front?"—it's possible to get some sense of how the bird got its food and defended itself, how widely it traveled, and what role it might have had within its ecosystem.
Of course my attention goes first to the amazing bill. It's not really made of ivory, like an elephant's tusk, but of bone, covered by a sheath of a special protein called keratin. It's broad at the base, and rooted deep into the bird's thick-boned skull to absorb the shock of pounding a tree. Its slitlike nostrils are fringed with hair to keep out sawdust. An Ivory-bill needed this big, stout crowbar of a bill to pry strips of bark off a tree, because its favorite food lay just underneath. The Ivory-bill ate some fruits and berries when they were in season, but mostly it ate grubs—the larvae of beetles. Certain kinds of beetle would attack a dying or injured tree by boring through the bark to lay their eggs, which hatched into stout, wormlike creatures—the grubs. Ivory-bills used their bills to peel the bark away from the tree and get at these fat delicacies—which were then exposed under the bark—like thieves robbing a safe.
WEIGHT-SAVING FEATURES
Specimen 60803 is nearly two feet long, but even when it was alive and still possessed all its internal organs, it weighed barely a pound. Like most birds, Ivory-bills had to be light so they could fly. Their weight-saving features included the following:
• Thin, hollow bones filled with "struts," allowing air spaces that provide strength without adding weight.
• No jawbone, no teeth, and no vertebrae in their tails.
• A reproduction system with "external eggs," which relieves the mother of the weight of a young bird developing within her body.
• Many neck vertebrae make it possible to reach objects with their bills instead of having to use limbs, which would add weight.
• A kite-like skeleton with fewer bones than most mammals have; the bones are fused together, providing support for flight.
As LSU specimen 60803 shows plainly, the bill was far more than just a crowbar. Its tip is a miniature chisel, engineered for the fine work of flicking out and nabbing the startled grubs that tried to squirm away. If they got too far, the Ivory-bill had one more tool to finish the job—a hard-tipped tongue lined with needle-sharp barbs. The tongue was so long that it wrapped around the inside of the bird's skull and could be zapped out in an instant to spear a fugitive grub.
A woodpecker's bill has to keep growing constantly throughout its life because it keeps getting worn down by smacking against wood. The same is true of a beaver's front teeth. However, there is one amazing Ivory-bill specimen in a Cuban museum whose upper bill kept growing for some reason until it curled over the lower bill and continued on in a great arc all the way under its body. This incredible bill made the bird unable to attack trees, but it could still open its lower bill to take food. Its parents kept it alive for more than a year by feeding it termites.
I push back specimen 60803's tag to examine a foot. Four scaly, dagger-sharp toes are clenched into a tight claw. One toe points downward, a second and third point forward, and the fourth sticks out to the side. Being able to spread out its toes helped this bird attach itself to bark and hitch its way up tree trunks and out along tree limbs. Stiff tail feathers braced it against the trunk and kept it from falling backward as it pounded away. And, as Alexander Wilson found out in his hotel room, those sharp toes could turn into deadly weapons. "When taken by the hand," wrote Wilson, "they strike with great violence, and inflict very severe wounds with their bill as well as claws, which are extremely sharp and strong."
DARWIN'S FINCHES
While exploring the Galápagos Islands far off the coast of South America, British scientist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) encountered a bizarre assortment of plants and animals, including swimming lizards and flightless birds.
Darwin was fascinated by the fourteen species of finch he saw. Each had a differentshaped beak and a different way of getting food with it. One sipped nectar, another cracked seeds, another scraped small insects off leaves.
Darwin came to believe that each finch species had "evolved" from a small group of birds once blown onto the Galápagos by a storm. These ancestors had landed in a kind of paradise, with no natural enemies. They could multiply until they reached the limit of their food supply. Then they had to find a new way to obtain food, or die. Darwin theorized that finches' bills were visible records of at least fourteen such changes, or "adaptations." After many generations, each type had changed so much it could reproduce only with its own kind and became a separate species.
As specimen 60803's tag says, the Ivory-bill's scientific name is Campephilus principalis, or "principal lover of caterpillars." The Ivory-bill is one of eleven species in the genus Campephilus, found mainly in hot, tropical climates. Almost all members of the genus have black-and-white feathering, which helps them blend in with tree bark, and in most species the male has a red crest. All eleven Campephilus woodpeckers rap out the same message, a sharp two-note BAM-bam, with the first note louder than the second, delivered to tell family members where they are or to warn away any creature that might be thinking about invading a feeding or nesting area.
CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS (PART I)
In 1753 Swedish biologist Carl von Linné, known as Linnaeus, developed a system that allowed every species of plant and animal in the world to be identified by its own sequence of Latin names. This enabled people of different languages and regions of the world to talk about the same bird, mammal, reptile, fish, insect, or plant, no matter what they called it locally. This was especially important for a creature like the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was called by dozens of nicknames.
For example, specimen 60803 might have been called a "Kent" or a "Lord God bird" in one part of Louisiana, but something entirely different even a county over. Using Linnaeus's system, everyone could know this bird by its genus name, Campephilus, and its species name, principalis.
Specimen 60803's wings also offer clues about its life. Its long, tapered wings and streamlined tail feathers propelled it great distances to search for weakened, dying, grub-infested trees. The Ivory-bill helped regenerate the forest by starting the job of breaking apart and toppling dying trees. The trees in old forests where most Ivory-bills lived had wide-spreading limbs whose summer leaves formed a green shield that blocked sunlight from reaching the ground. The forest was dark underneath these trees. In order for sunlight to reach the ground so that new seedlings could germinate, a tree had to fall and open a hole in the canopy. Ivory-bills stripped the stilltight bark from the dying tree as they searched for grubs. Then smaller woodpeckers, ants, grubs, and other creatures could attack the tree in shifts, weakening it further until it finally fell over.
For thousands and thousands of years, Ivory-billed Woodpeckers had a steady, secure existence. They mated for life, roamed the forest in pairs, and could live to be as old as thirty. Females laid only two or three shiny white eggs at a time—the fewest of any North American woodpecker—but they didn't need to lay many, since Ivory-bills were big and powerful enough to defend themselves against almost all predators.
I hold 60803 up close to read the rest of the specimen tag: "ROARING BAYOU, FRANKLIN PARISH; 12 JULY 1899; COLLECTED BY GEORGE E. BEYER." Who was George E. Beyer? Why did he kill and stuff this bird, and how did it end up in the LSU museum? I decide to try to find out. Whoever he was, I suspected that by 1899, when Mr. Beyer met the future specimen 60803, things were changing fast for the Ivory-bill, and not for the better.
THE SHOWMAN
George Beyer began each day by waxing the ends of his handlebar mustache to needle-sharp perfection. His appearance was important. Besides being a first-rate biologist, Professor Beyer had a showman's flair for attracting attention. Once he invited a newspaper reporter to witness as a small rattlesnake bit his pinky finger for several days in a row.
It was his way of testing the theory of inoculation—the notion that a person could build resistance against an infectious substance by injecting small amounts of the substance itself. The reporter relayed the shocking experiment to papers throughout the United States and Germany. Thousands of readers hotly debated whether Professor Beyer was a visionary or a downright fool. He survived, and went on to give packed public lectures on topics such as poisonous snakes, Indian mounds, and yellow fever.
As a boy in his native Germany, George Beyer had become so skilled at museum work that he was sent, at the age of eighteen, to Central America by himself to collect insects, reptiles, and birds for the Dresden Zoological Museum. After a year's painstaking work, Beyer carefully packed all the labeled specimens into crates and put them aboard a ship bound for Germany. When he learned that everything had been lost in a shipwreck, he couldn't bring himself to go back home. Instead, he bought a steamship ticket to the United States.
CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS (PART II)
Linnaeus's framework for classifying and naming plants and animals had seven parts. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, like all animals, is in the kingdom Animalia (about 1.07 million species named so far). Because it has vertebrae—hollow sections of backbone strung like beads onto a nerve cord—the Ivory-bill belongs to the phylum Chordata (about 45,000 named species). So do humans. All of the world's bird species belong to the class Aves (9,757 species). All woodpeckers and several other bird families are of the order Piciformes (375 species).
Woodpeckers alone belong to the family Picidae (179 species), distinguished from other Piciformes mainly by the arrangement of their toes—two facing forward and two back. The family is divided into 33 woodpecker genera—plural for genus. The Ivory-bill's genus is Campephilus, whose 11 species tend to be large black-and-white woodpeckers found in warm regions. Finally, the Ivory-bill specifically is identified by its species name, principalis—first among all. So while the Ivory-bill could be introduced at fancy occasions as Animalia Chordata Aves Piciformes Picidae Campephilus principalis, we save our breath and call it by its genus and species name—Campephilus principalis.
Despite his thick German accent, he had no trouble finding work. Taxidermy—preparing specimens—was so important that Beyer's skills were in hot demand. In 1893 he was hired to build a first-class natural history museum at Tulane University in New Orleans. From then on, George Beyer was always on the lookout for a rare or exotic specimen that would boost the museum's reputation and pull in visitors.
When Beyer first heard a report in 1899 that there were still Ivory-billed Woodpeckers left in Louisiana, he didn't believe it. His doubt vanished instantly when, as he wrote, "a gentleman handed me the dried head of a female Ivory-bill … informing me that he could guide me to the spot where he had shot it and several others."
To bring back the skin of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker! That would fill the museum with visitors and would rank among the crowning achievements of Beyer's scientific career. Beyer waited until Tulane's summer break, hired horses and guides, and then set off in July, at the very height of mosquito season. By mid-month the party had hacked and swatted its way into a wilderness swamp in northeast Louisiana that locals called Big Lake. As soon as they broke through a perimeter of thick brush to the cypress-ringed lake, Beyer knew he had struck gold. "We could hear quite frequently the rather plaintiff [sic] but loud cry of the 'Log-god' for such the bird is called by those acquainted with it in that section of the state," he wrote.
Beyer found and killed seven Ivory-billed Woodpeckers during his weeklong expedition. The highlight of his trip arrived when his eyes came to rest on a large rectangular hole near the top of a dead elm tree. Concealed behind a thick growth of poison ivy was a large, freshly cut hole. It was an Ivory-bill's nest! "There was but one young one about," Beyer noted, "and it remained in close vicinity of the entrance, notwithstanding that it was almost fully feathered and able to fly. Both parents were still feeding it."
Beyer shot the entire family, cut down the top of the tree, and made an exhibit of the nest in the Tulane Museum. The Ivory-bill family attracted visitors like a magnet. As he wrote proudly (but incorrectly) to W. D. Rogers, acting president of Tulane, "it is doubtful whether any other institution outside of the U.S. National Museum possesses more than a single specimen of this species. This one group alone as it now stands in the [Tulane] Museum represents easily a value of $250."
In the 1930s, a few years after George Beyer's death, the stuffed specimens from his Big Lake trip were transferred from Tulane to the LSU museum. Seventy or so years later I hold the adult male of the family, now LSU specimen number 60803, in my hands as Dr. Remsen waits for me to finish with it. I feel transported for a few moments to the great lost forest over which this stiff, faded object once reigned. This bird heard Red Wolves howl and panthers scream. While the drumbeat of rain pelted the shiny green leaves of its poison ivy curtain, it protected its eggs in a cozy hole high above the ground.
Finally it is time for me to put 60803 back into its case. I'm filled with questions as I think about how the Ivory-bill survived so well for many thousands of years. But then, in the ninety years that passed between 1809, when Alexander Wilson shot his Ivory-bills to paint them, and 1899, when George Beyer shot his to exhibit them in a museum, the Ivory-bill's world collapsed. What happened? I'm determined to find out. To start, I have to go back to the early 1800s and meet another great painter of birds.
Text copyright © 2014 Phillip Hoose
e-BookTrade Paperback Format
The tragedy of extinction is explained through the dramatic story of a legendary bird, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and of those who tried to possess it, paint it, shoot it, sell it, and, in a last-ditch...
The tragedy of extinction is explained through the dramatic story of a legendary bird, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and of those who tried to possess it, paint it, shoot it, sell it, and, in a last-ditch effort, save it. A powerful saga that sweeps through two hundred years of history, it introduces artists like John James Audubon, bird collectors like William Brewster, and finally a new breed of scientist in Cornell's Arthur A. "Doc" Allen and his young ornithology student, James Tanner, whose quest to save the Ivory-bill culminates in one of the first great conservation showdowns in U.S. history, an early round in what is now a worldwide effort to save species. As hope for the Ivory-bill fades in the United States, the bird is last spotted in Cuba in 1987, and Cuban scientists join in the race to save it.
All this, plus Mr. Hoose's wonderful story-telling skills, comes together to give us what David Allen Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds calls "the most thorough and readable account to date of the personalities, fashions, economics, and politics that combined to bring about the demise of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker."
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird is the winner of the 2005 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2005 Bank Street - Flora Stieglitz Award.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
"With power and humor, rage and sorrow, the narrative details the demise of the Lord God bird, braiding into its tale the stories of those who came into contact with it, from J.J. Audubon himself to James Tanner...Sidebars add engrossing details, and extensive back matter bespeaks exemplary nonfiction. But it's the author's passion that compels. Outstanding in every way." —Starred, Kirkus Reviews
"In a thoroughly researched account based on interviews, primary materials, and published sources, Hoose tells how naturalists...raised, too late, awareness of the Ivory-bill's plight. Illustrated with archival photos and well provided with side bars, "important dates," maps, glossary, and index, this important summary of an environmental tragedy belongs in every library." —The Horn Book
"This meticulously researched labor of love uses drama, suspense, and mystery to tell the story of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker...Hoose skillfully introduces each individual involved through interesting, historically accurate scenes. The author's passion for his subject and high standards for excellence result in readable, compelling nonfiction." —Starred, School Library Journal
"The combination of the best of storytelling supported by extensive research...a must for any library serving youth or teachers." —VOYA
"A compelling tale...readers will sense the urgency that remains, even if the Ivory-bill is gone." —Publishers Weekly
"Hoose is a gifted storyteller. An engrossing story." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Fascinating, engrossing." —Book Links


text:
Local World Sports Entertainment Business Travel Maldive Islands
Local World Sports Entertainment Business Lifestyle Travel Maldive Islands
date_range Thursday 21 Jan 2021
Dhivehi Edition +
Opposition win in Istanbul a blow to Turkey's Erdogan
Ekrem Imamoglu, the candidate of the secular opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, waves to supporters at a rally in Istanbul, late Sunday, June 23, 2019. (Onur Gunay/Imamoglu Media team via AP)
ISTANBUL (AP) — The opposition candidate for mayor of Istanbul celebrated a landmark win Sunday in a closely watched repeat election that ended weeks of political tension and broke the long hold President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party had on leading Turkey's largest city.
"Thank you, Istanbul," Ekrem Imamoglu, 49, said to the tens of thousands of people who gathered to mark his victory after unofficial results showed he won a clear majority of the vote.
The governing party's candidate, former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, conceded moments after returns showed him trailing well behind Imamoglu, 54% to 45%. Imamoglu increased his lead from a March mayoral election by hundreds of thousands of votes.
Erdogan congratulated Imamoglu in a tweet. Analysts noted the president, who is grappling with an economic downturn and several international crises, could limit the mayor's power or undermine Imamoglu's authority in other ways.
Imamoglu narrowly won an earlier mayoral election on March 31, but Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, AKP, challenged the vote over alleged irregularities. He spent 18 days in office before Turkey's electoral board annulled the results after weeks of partial recounts.
The voided vote raised concerns domestically and abroad about the state of Turkish democracy and whether Erdogan's party would accept any electoral loss. AKP has governed Turkey since 2002.
"You have protected the reputation of democracy in Turkey with the whole world watching," Imamoglu, his voice hoarse after weeks of campaigning, told supporters.
Jubilant supporters chanted "Mayor again! Mayor again!" Others hung out of cars, blaring horns and waving red-and-white Turkish flags.
Erdogan campaigned hard for Yildirim in Istanbul, where the president started his political career as mayor in 1994. Lisel Hintz, an assistant international relations professor at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, said Imamoglu withstood a divisive campaign and prevailed with a positive message.
The significance of his win "cannot be understated," Hintz said.
"We now have to wait and see whether Imamoglu's tenure as mayor will be interfered with in any way, whether by cutting off funding and hampering his office's ability to provide services or by removing him under some legal pretext," Hintz said.
AKP also lost control of the capital city of Ankara in Turkey's March local elections, which were held as the country battled high inflation and two credit rating downgrades in the past year.
Melahat Ugen said she switched her vote to the opposition because she could not afford to cover basic expenses.
"I've certainly never voted left before," she said. "But I'm 62, and a bag of onions costs too much. Everything is imported and we can't afford it."
Istanbul, a city of more than 15 million, draws millions of tourists each year and is Turkey's commercial and cultural hub. Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul accounted for 31% of Turkey's GDP in 2017.
Erdogan has previously signaled an unwillingness to work with an opposition mayor, saying his party controls 25 of Istanbul's 39 districts and a majority in the municipal assembly. Imamoglu will have to work with those officeholders to govern Istanbul, and he promised to do so Sunday.
Addressing Erdogan in a speech, Imamoglu said, "I'm ready to work with you" to solve Istanbul's problems.
Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, Ankara office director of the German Marshall Fund, argued that the loss of Istanbul is likely to fuel speculation of divisions within the ruling party and among its supporters.
"It's now clear that a sizable portion of the AKP voters is seriously dissatisfied by policies of the AKP," he said. "The (opposition) was a house that was united. The AKP house looked like one that was already divided."
He argued Erdogan is already facing an "a perfect storm" this summer. Erdogan was already at odds with Western allies over Turkey's plans to buy the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system and its challenge of EU-member Cyprus over natural gas drilling rights.
Rescuers pull girl from rubble 4 days after quake
Quake strikes Turkey and Greece, killing 19
Turkish minister: 4 dead, 120 injured in earthquake
Turkey's president formally makes Hagia Sophia a mosque
Khashoggi's fiancee appears at absent Saudis' trial
Museum or mosque? Turkey debates Hagia Sofia's status
Dutch phone outage takes out nation's emergency number
World News Europe Politics Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
G. Viyavathi
Kashimaa Hingun
Malé Maldives
20047 Tel : 3312747
Fax : 3312747
About Sun
Like us sunmv
Follow Us sunbrk


text:
Q: Highlight current row in JTextPane I'm trying for more than 2 days to implement a specific requirement for a text editor window... unfortunately without success so far :(
The goal is to get a text editor window which will highlight the current row, like other text editors do. With current row I mean the row where currently the cursor/caret is positioned.
I already found two different approaches but unfortunately I'm not able to adopt them so they work as expected.
The first approach is to overwrite the DefaultHighlighter (http://snippets.dzone.com/posts/show/6688).
In the second approach the HighlighterPainter will be overwritten instead (http://www.jroller.com/santhosh/date/20050622).
Right now I'm trying to adopt the first approach in my project but as I said it is not working as desired.
At the end of this post I'm posting a small sample application which demonstrates the problem.

*

*If I start the program, the caret is placed at the beginning of the first line. However, the line is not highlighted.

*Now I type in some characters. Those chars will be highlighted but only those chars not the complete line

*I hit enter to move to the next line. The first line is not highlighted anymore what is correct. The second line isn't highlighted as well, what is not correct. Again, when I type in some chars, those will be higlighted but not the complete row.

*When I now move back the caret to the first line, either by cursor up key or mouse clicking, the complete first line will be highlighted, not only the existing chars. This is the behavior I want right from the start.

I hope anybody can tell me what I'm doing wrong here... or explain why it is not possible to resolve that issue at all. Any alternative solutions how I could realize the line highlighting are also highly appreciated!
Thanks a lot in advance
Cheers
Preachie
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Insets;
import java.awt.Rectangle;

import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JTextPane;
import javax.swing.event.CaretEvent;
import javax.swing.event.CaretListener;
import javax.swing.text.DefaultHighlighter;
import javax.swing.text.Highlighter;
import javax.swing.text.JTextComponent;

public class HighlightProblem extends JFrame {
    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
    private final JTextPane textPane;
    private final Highlighter.HighlightPainter cyanPainter;

    public HighlightProblem() {
        cyanPainter = new DefaultHighlighter.DefaultHighlightPainter(Color.CYAN);

        textPane = new JTextPane();
        textPane.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500, 300));
        textPane.setHighlighter(new LineHighlighter());
        textPane.addCaretListener(new CaretListener() {
            @Override
            public void caretUpdate(CaretEvent e) {
                setHighlight(e);
            }
        });
        getContentPane().add(textPane);
        setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        pack();
        setVisible(true);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new HighlightProblem();
    }

    public void setHighlight(CaretEvent e) {
        textPane.getHighlighter().removeAllHighlights();
        int currentLine = getLineFromOffset(textPane, e.getDot());
        int startPos = getLineStartOffsetForLine(textPane, currentLine);
        int endOffset = getLineEndOffsetForLine(textPane, currentLine);

        try {
            textPane.getHighlighter().addHighlight(startPos, endOffset, cyanPainter);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }
        textPane.repaint();
    }

    public int getLineFromOffset(JTextComponent component, int offset) {
        return component.getDocument().getDefaultRootElement().getElementIndex(offset);
    }

    public int getLineStartOffsetForLine(JTextComponent component, int line) {
        return component.getDocument().getDefaultRootElement().getElement(line).getStartOffset();
    }

    public int getLineEndOffsetForLine(JTextComponent component, int line) {
        return component.getDocument().getDefaultRootElement().getElement(line).getEndOffset();
    }

    public class LineHighlighter extends DefaultHighlighter {
        private JTextComponent component;

        @Override
        public final void install(final JTextComponent c) {
            super.install(c);
            this.component = c;
        }

        @Override
        public final void deinstall(final JTextComponent c) {
            super.deinstall(c);
            this.component = null;
        }

        @Override
        public final void paint(final Graphics g) {
            final Highlighter.Highlight[] highlights = getHighlights();
            final int len = highlights.length;
            for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
                Highlighter.Highlight info = highlights[i];
                if (info.getClass().getName().indexOf("LayeredHighlightInfo") > -1) {
                    // Avoid allocing unless we need it.
                    final Rectangle a = this.component.getBounds();
                    final Insets insets = this.component.getInsets();
                    a.x = insets.left;
                    a.y = insets.top;
                    // a.width -= insets.left + insets.right + 100;
                    a.height -= insets.top + insets.bottom;
                    final Highlighter.HighlightPainter p = info.getPainter();
                    p.paint(g, info.getStartOffset(), info.getEndOffset(), a, this.component);
                }
            }
        }

        @Override
        public void removeAllHighlights() {
            textPane.repaint(0, 0, textPane.getWidth(), textPane.getHeight());
            super.removeAllHighlights();
        }
    }
}

A: http://tips4java.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/line-painter/
I think this is what you are looking for.  I took that LinePainter class and copied your constructor over into a main method, took out your highlighter parts and added a new LinePainter(textPane);  Works like a charm

A: Below is the code to extract text from current line.
You can use same logic to get required indexes and highlight text
    private String getCurrentEditLine() {
        int readBackChars = 100;
        int caretPosition = scriptEditor.getCaretPosition();

        if (caretPosition == 0) {
            return null;
        }

        StyledDocument doc = scriptEditor.getStyledDocument();

        int offset = caretPosition <= readBackChars ? 0 : caretPosition
                - readBackChars;

        String text = null;
        try {
            text = doc.getText(offset, caretPosition);
        } catch (BadLocationException e) {
        }

        if (text != null) {
            int idx = text.lastIndexOf("\n");
            if(idx != -1) {
                return text.substring(idx);
            }else {
                return text;
            }
        }

        return null;
    }

A: I think this might be difficult to achieve using highlighters - I don't think it is what they were designed for. You may need to do it with custom painting code:
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Rectangle;

import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JTextPane;
import javax.swing.text.BadLocationException;

public class HighlightLineTest {
    private static class HighlightLineTextPane extends JTextPane {
        public HighlightLineTextPane() {
            // Has to be marked as transparent so the background is not replaced by
            // super.paintComponent(g);
            setOpaque(false);
        }

        @Override
        protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
            g.setColor(getBackground());
            g.fillRect(0, 0, getWidth(), getHeight());
            try {
                Rectangle rect = modelToView(getCaretPosition());
                if (rect != null) {
                    g.setColor(Color.CYAN);
                    g.fillRect(0, rect.y, getWidth(), rect.height);
                }
            } catch (BadLocationException e) {
            }
            super.paintComponent(g);
        }

        @Override
        public void repaint(long tm, int x, int y, int width, int height) {
            // This forces repaints to repaint the entire TextPane.
            super.repaint(tm, 0, 0, getWidth(), getHeight());
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JFrame frame = new JFrame("Highlight test");
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.add(new HighlightLineTextPane());
        frame.setBounds(100, 100, 300, 400);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


"I was a director of TV crew which made shooting of Moloko's concerte on EXIT 03 (Novi Sad). That was the best live-shooting I ever made in my life and I'm very proud of that work and its result and... Moloko, of course!"
"It was a fantastic and memorable night. The gig was electric. Though they didn't play long (1h 20m), they kept all of us on our toes the whole time. PS The extended version of "Sing it Back", which was the last number of the concert, rokcs!!!"
"It was the first big concert in my life. It was amasing. Roisin sings beatifuly. When they played Time is now I think 40.000 people were in some kind of trance. Thank you Moloko!"


Posted November 23, 2009 & filed under Teaching.
Jenny Schmid, Heba Amin and myself gave a lecture at the Department of Art at the American University of Cairo. Our lecture was followed by an impromptu/guerilla projection of some of Heba's work, around AUC's scenic campus.
Posted October 18, 2009 & filed under Teaching.
While in Spain for showing Smoke and Hot Air at FEEDFORWARD, I gave a lecture on Minneapolis Art on Wheels as a part of the symposium, on a panel with Eric Kluitenberg, Daniel G. Andújar, Fernando García-Dory, Carlos Motta.
Posted October 1, 2009 & filed under .
Higher quality version is here.
Posted January 23, 2009 & filed under .


text:
Game Wars 2: Battle for the Living Room
SAN FRANCISCO, March 21 - The consumer electronics and personal computing industries are supposedly rushing toward a grand digital convergence. Maybe it is actually a divergence. Even as the Intel Corporation and the Microsoft Corporation, whose chairman is Bill Gates, are pushing a digital future in which they hope that the personal computer will be the hub for a variety of home entertainment devices, the computer game industry is pointing to a fundamental flaw in that vision: game software has largely driven PC growth among consumers. "This kind of thing drives me crazy,'' said Alex St. John, the founder of a game software publisher, WildTangent Inc. He challenged Intel at a recent industry forum on the digital home, arguing that personal computer makers are about to lose out to the video game industry, which is waiting on a new generation of game consoles that also aspire to be home digital media hubs. "If the game console makers want to own the living room,'' Mr. St. John said in a subsequent telephone interview, "they're in a better position to own it than Intel.'' Intel executives responded at the meeting and said they felt there was a market for interactive television in the home. Microsoft is in a different position, having hedged its bets by continuing its two-decade-old alliance with Intel in producing software and microprocessors for PC's while turning to I.B.M. to develop the chip for its next-generation Xbox game player. In its first Xbox, Microsoft chose an Intel processor, but it plans to use a version of I.B.M.'s Power microprocessor family in future versions. The decision was a coup for I.B.M., which already had commitments from the Sony Corporation and the Nintendo Company, the other makers of game players. Still, Microsoft is not necessarily in the driver's seat, either, since it is far behind Sony in the game player market. At Sony, Ken Kutaragi, the person widely credited with the creation of the PlayStation, has been made an executive deputy president to reassure investors that company intends to press its advantage. With so much in flux, the visions for the future of home computing may become more sharply defined this week in San Jose, Calif., where 10,000 software game developers are scheduled to attend the annual Game Developer's Forum. Sony and Microsoft, which The Wall Street Journal disclosed on Friday plans to cut prices by $30 on its Xbox to $149, are both expected to mount major efforts to woo the developers, who actually create the games to be played on their machines. It is a challenging time in the game business, though, because neither Sony nor Microsoft is ready to unveil their future machines, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 2. They are not expected to reach the market until late 2005 at the earliest. As a result, sales of consoles and software have been flat lately. NPD Group, a market research company, reported in January that console sales fell last year by 2.7 percent, to $10 billion. The prospect of digital convergence has prodded Sony and Microsoft to weigh how many interactive media and digital video recording features they can add to their next-generation players without making them too complex or pushing prices beyond the relatively low cost that most users expect. But should they fail to push their products in a multimedia direction, some analysts say, it will open the door for Intel, which is attempting to reshape the PC into a entertainment-oriented multimedia computer that will fit more comfortably into the family room. As Intel pushes ahead with those plans, I.B.M. is hoping to leverage its alliance with the game console makers into an advantage providing software and servers to connect game players in a vast network of online gaming. "Two years ago, we started explicitly focusing on a massively scaleable online gaming market,'' said Steve Canepa, vice president for I.B.M.'s global media and entertainment industry business. The company cites estimates from DFC Intelligence, a game industry research firm, that the online gaming business will grow from an $875 million today to $5 billion in five years. By 2006, the number of online gamers is expected to more than double to 114 million from 50 million. But will the computer game market really grow that fast? Sony executives are betting on a dramatic demographic and sociological shift from passive television watching to interactive game play. They cite a report by the Nielsen Media Research firm last September of an 8 percent decline in television viewing among males aged 18 to 34. The Sony executives assert that the young men may be playing video games instead. Both Sony and Microsoft are hoping to introduce hand-held devices that they say will serve the same function as the various small devices that the computer industry is counting on to help revive its fortunes. Last year in Los Angeles at the E3 game show, the annual event at which new games are introduced, Sony announced its new PSP, a portable PlayStation that it plans to start selling late this year. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, Microsoft showed what it is calling the Personal Media Center, a hand-held video and audio player. Both companies hope that their hand-held gadgets will be "iPod killers,'' referring to Apple Computer's popular device that plays music. Sony has hailed the PSP as the "Walkman for the 21st Century.'' By contrast, Nintendo, which dominates the hand-held game market, is planning to stick to a pure game platform with its new Gameboy DS, which will contain two screens so that a player can view two aspects of a game simultaneously. Nintendo seems to believe that the hand-held game market will remain in the clutches largely of younger players. Meanwhile, the rest of the game industry is hoping that mobile gaming will jump-start growth while it awaits the next generation of consoles. But in challenging the premise of Apple's iPod, the gaming industry may be running the risk that Steven P. Jobs, Apple's chief executive, will return the favor by extending his own digital hub concept into the living room. Apple briefly experimented with the idea of a Macintosh-based interactive television and video-game system in 1997. More recently, Mr. Jobs has been highly critical of attempts to add video and gaming features to hand-held devices that compete with the iPod. The success of the iPod, he argues, rests on the idea that it allows users to do other things while listening to music on a portable device built to do nothing other than produce excellent sound. If Mr. Jobs can reinvent the home-computer-as-entertainment-and-information-hub the way he led the creation of a seamless way of delivering digital music, analysts say, he could shake up the plans of all the other more powerful corporate interests trying to figure out what consumers want. "Steve Jobs has a better chance than many of the others to rethink the idea of personal media in the living room,'' said Richard Doherty, president of Envisioneering, a computer industry research and consulting firm. "I know his iPod design team has been busy working on new products.''


Robotic Process Automation, AI technology and machine learning platforms are evolving extensively in the technology industry and are becoming the focus of many organisations, where exploring the capability of contemporary technology has become paramount.
How would it feel to be involved in the process management of cutting-edge RPA, AI and machine learning technology with a company that places just as much importance on its own technological research and development as it does its clients?
We are currently looking for a RPA Business Analyst, based in Manchester, to be the lead contact for supporting both technical and non-technical teams with process related queries and to act as a core internal member for evolving Robotic Process Automation (RPA) capability within the organisation.
Working with a dedicated and collaborative team of RPA specialists, your responsibilities will be varied! A normal working day could include delivering Bots to internal/external clients using DevOps and an agile framework with a talented team of technicians at your side, or, you may find yourself optimising process efficiency and the quality of company solutions with the aid of RPA technologies and skills; the possibilities are endless!
If its exposure to RPA technologies and projects you want, the fact you're applying to work as an RPA Business Analyst at an organisation who has an entire internal division dedicated to this area of technology means you have come to the right place.
Experience as a Business Analyst working with the full development lifecycle; taking projects from the design stage to the implementation stage.
UIPath or other RPA software experience/certification; BluePrism, OpenSpan, Automation Anywhere etc.
If you are a RPA Business Analyst and this opportunity excites you, please send your CV using the 'Apply' button now; interviews for this role will be commencing shortly.


text:
What is the bit complexity of Extended Euclid Algorithm?
What is the bit-complexity invloved in calculating the greatest common divisor of two n-bit values x and y using Euclids Extended algorithm i.e. the complexity in terms of n
I observed the following pattern while calculating the GCD using a standard Extended Euclid Algorithm in the worst cases for different bit size.
The complexity in terms of the magnitude of the two values x and y is close to the value:
How do arrive at the theoretical bit-complexity to verify my observations?
algorithm recursion time-complexity big-o
Tabish MirTabish Mir
The cited formula does not seem to be correct. Have a look for example here: math.stackexchange.com/questions/258596/… Also, the "extended" is irrelevant for the asymptotic complexity. It contributes just a constant factor. – Henry Feb 21 at 12:34
I hope you're fitting to the peaks, since you're looking for worst-case complexity.
If a and b are N bits long, then in the worst case (Fibonacci pairs), the extended Euclidean algorithm will take O(N) iterations.
Let f(N) be the cost of a single iteration. Certainly f(N) will be at least linear, but still polynomial, and nearly half of the iterations in each case will involve arguments at least N/2 bits long, so the total complexity will be in O(f(N) log N)
Now, what exactly f(N) is will depend in the particulars of how large-integer operations are implemented in your library. The division/remainder operation will dominate, although wikipedia says that if you use Newton–Raphson division then the complexity of that is the same as multiplication (although there will certainly be a constant multiplier!).
Multiplication costs O(N * log N * log log N) in the limit with the Schönhage–Strassen, and hopefully your library will use that eventually... so when the numbers get really big, the extended Euclidean algorithm should take O(N * log^2 N * log log N) in the worst case.
Matt TimmermansMatt Timmermans
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged algorithm recursion time-complexity big-o or ask your own question.
Time complexity of Euclid's Algorithm
What is tail recursion?
Least common multiple for 3 or more numbers
What is the best algorithm for an overridden System.Object.GetHashCode?
What is a plain English explanation of "Big O" notation?
Algorithm complexity with input is fix-sized
What does O(log n) mean exactly?
Image Processing: Algorithm Improvement for 'Coca-Cola Can' Recognition
How to find time complexity of an algorithm
What is the optimal algorithm for the game 2048?
complexity of using Extended Euclid for multivariate gcd computations


This stunning curved decanter sits on a commanding heavy walnut base and has been crafted using centuries-old techniques.
The stopper of each decanter is ground by hand to sit neatly inside each individual decanter.
The ideal gift for whisky lovers, this traditional and stylish decanter is perfect for storing your favourite single malts.


It's believed that World Rugby bosses are seeking to ratify the deal in the coming weeks, which has raised concerns among the Player Council.
International Rugby Players President Jonathan Sexton said: "While players gave this idea a cautious welcome when we met at the end of last year, it now seems like a commercial deal on the future of the game is being negotiated at a rapid pace with little consideration given to the important points we raised with World Rugby in November.
Player Council member Kieran Read said: "After listening to the issues raised by many of the players, we need to be very careful that we balance the commercial needs of the game, with the player welfare needs and ensure the quality and integrity of matches meets expectations.
"Fans want to see meaningful games; they don't want to see fatigued players playing a reduced quality of rugby as part of a money-driven, weakened competition that doesn't work for the players or clubs.
"With new technologies, new broadcast deals and new money coming into the sport, this is a crucial moment for rugby and one that many players are generally excited about. However, we have to make sure that the integrity of the game and welfare of the players is protected."
England captain Owen Farrell added: "Players are definitely open to discussing a new global season, but what we develop has to work with the club game in order to reduce conflict, deal with player release issues and make sure their welfare is looked after.
The Players Council understands that promotion and relegation will not form part of the new proposal, preventing Tier Two and emerging nations from accessing top level competitive matches and creating a ceiling on their aspirations to advance and improve.
Samoa captain Chris Vui said: "For countries in this bracket and for Pacific Islanders in particular, our biggest issue has always been the 'club versus country' factor. We feel that that a 12-year deal is not workable, particularly when it presents no hope of advancement during that period. This will have the dangerous knock-on effect of luring senior players away from their countries and more towards the clubs, which is the exact opposite of what we're all trying to achieve".
International Rugby Players CEO Omar Hassanein confirmed that these views have been conveyed to World Rugby on several occasions.
"World Rugby are failing to respect the players views and genuinely engage on the issues. It will be interesting to see their approach in the coming weeks knowing the current proposal does not have the players support".


text:
Q: Как запустить этот скрипт когда его объект виден? Мне нужно чтобы этот скрипт выполнялся только тогда, когда его объект в зоне видимости.
Скрипт эмулирует окрашивание текста.
Буду благодарен за помощь.

$(window).click(function() {
  if ($('#transparent').html())
    reset();
  else
    move_symbols();
});

const n = 3;  // Число перекидываемых символов за один раз (влияет на скорость)

function move_symbols()  {
// Перекидывает один несколько символов из одного  в другой, из #ordinary в #transparent
  var a = $('.transparent').html();
  var b = $('.ordinary').html();
  a += b.substring(0, n);
  b = b.substring(n);
  $('.transparent').html(a);
  $('.ordinary').html(b);

  // Если не достигнут конец текста, то повторить через короткое время
  if (b) id = setTimeout(move_symbols, 1);
}

function reset() {
  clearTimeout (id);
  var a = $('.transparent').html();
  var b = $('.ordinary').html();
  b = a + b;
  $('.transparent').html('');
  $('.ordinary').html(b);
}
.block + .block {
margin-top: 200px;
}
.block {
position: relative;
}

.not-marked {z-index: 1;
position: absolute;
}
.selected {background: yellow;}
.transparent {opacity: 0;}
.ordinary {color: #cccccc; background: white;}

Notre feuille de route etait claire : valoriser l'incroyable apport de Citroen a l'histoire de l'industrie automobile et celebrer son eternelle originalite en produisant un site a la navigation innovante. Pour ce faire, nous avons imagine une veritable plongee virtuelle dans 49 des modeles les plus iconiques du constructeur. De la 10 HP Type A de 1919 a la C3 3eme generation en passant par des modeles de competition mais egalement des concept cars, chaque vehicule a droit a des vues panoramiques exterieures mais aussi interieures.

Notre feuille de route etait claire : valoriser l'incroyable apport de Citroen a l'histoire de l'industrie automobile et celebrer son eternelle originalite en produisant un site a la navigation innovante. Pour ce faire, nous avons imagine une veritable plongee virtuelle dans 49 des modeles les plus iconiques du constructeur. De la 10 HP Type A de 1919 a la C3 3eme generation en passant par des modeles de competition mais egalement des concept cars, chaque vehicule a droit a des vues panoramiques exterieures mais aussi interieures.

Notre feuille de route etait claire : valoriser l'incroyable apport de Citroen a l'histoire de l'industrie automobile et celebrer son eternelle originalite en produisant un site a la navigation innovante. Pour ce faire, nous avons imagine une veritable plongee virtuelle dans 49 des modeles les plus iconiques du constructeur. De la 10 HP Type A de 1919 a la C3 3eme generation en passant par des modeles de competition mais egalement des concept cars, chaque vehicule a droit a des vues panoramiques exterieures mais aussi interieures.

Notre feuille de route etait claire : valoriser l'incroyable apport de Citroen a l'histoire de l'industrie automobile et celebrer son eternelle originalite en produisant un site a la navigation innovante. Pour ce faire, nous avons imagine une veritable plongee virtuelle dans 49 des modeles les plus iconiques du constructeur. De la 10 HP Type A de 1919 a la C3 3eme generation en passant par des modeles de competition mais egalement des concept cars, chaque vehicule a droit a des vues panoramiques exterieures mais aussi interieures.

Notre feuille de route etait claire : valoriser l'incroyable apport de Citroen a l'histoire de l'industrie automobile et celebrer son eternelle originalite en produisant un site a la navigation innovante. Pour ce faire, nous avons imagine une veritable plongee virtuelle dans 49 des modeles les plus iconiques du constructeur. De la 10 HP Type A de 1919 a la C3 3eme generation en passant par des modeles de competition mais egalement des concept cars, chaque vehicule a droit a des vues panoramiques exterieures mais aussi interieures.

Notre feuille de route etait claire : valoriser l'incroyable apport de Citroen a l'histoire de l'industrie automobile et celebrer son eternelle originalite en produisant un site a la navigation innovante. Pour ce faire, nous avons imagine une veritable plongee virtuelle dans 49 des modeles les plus iconiques du constructeur. De la 10 HP Type A de 1919 a la C3 3eme generation en passant par des modeles de competition mais egalement des concept cars, chaque vehicule a droit a des vues panoramiques exterieures mais aussi interieures.


text:
Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017
The submission on the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 (the Bill) was prepared by the Law Council.
The Bill would make a wide range of amendments to the Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) (the Act) and the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Migration Act) whose broad purpose is to amend the requirements to become an Australian citizen.
Some aspects of the Bill give rise to concern from the Law Council's perspective. These include:
The use of legislative instruments to define new citizenship eligibility criteria;
The power of the Minister to set aside certain decisions of the AAT on public interest grounds;
The impact of the new four year permanent residence requirement on irregular maritime arrivals;
The requirement for minors to satisfy a 'good character' requirement;
The Minister's power to revoke citizenship on the grounds of fraud or misrepresentation.
Further, the Law Council is concerned that the necessity of, and justification for, the proposed amendments has not been adequately demonstrated.
The Law Council makes the following recommendations in relation to the Bill:
The Bill should not operate retrospectively;
Items 126 and 127, relating to the ineligibility of certain decisions from review by the AAT and the power of the Minister to set aside certain decisions of the AAT on public interest grounds, should be removed from the Bill;
Direction 72 be amended to remove subsection 8(1)(g) which sets out the provision that affords lowest processing priority to IMAs who hold permanent visas;
English language testing thresholds should be lowered from the level proposed in the Bill, with alternative methods to formal testing made available;
A definition of the relevant English language threshold should be included in the Bill and not in a legislative instrument;
Exemptions from the requirement to take an English test should be broad and flexible;
If questions and statements regarding values are to be included, they must be framed in such a way so as not to disadvantage particular migrant groups; There should be no limit on the number of times a person can take the citizenship test;
The matters to be considered in establishing whether an applicant has 'integrated into the Australian community' should be set out in the Bill and not a legislative instrument;
The whole of the applicant's circumstances should be taken into account in assessing whether the applicant has integrated into the Australian community;
If a good character requirement for applicants aged 18 years or under is to be introduced, the good character requirement should apply to applicants aged ten years or older;
Decisions made by the Minister under paragraph 16(2)(c) of the Act should be reviewable and the Minister should be bound by the directions placed on reviewable bodies;
The power of the Minister to not approve an application for citizenship under proposed subsection 17(4C) should be discretionary, not mandatory; and
Items 113-115 of the Bill relating to revocation of citizenship on the grounds of fraud or misrepresentation, should be removed from the Bill.
You can read the full submission below.
Read submission here.
Migration Law Submissions International Law


Manufacturers are increasingly focused on growth to stay ahead of the industry's modern challenges.
The traditional route to meeting revenue goals has been through making investments in customer support, marketing, R&D activities and maintaining competitive pricing. Global competition, however, is changing the revenue generation landscape.
Manufacturers are comfortable improving designs and getting products to market quicker, but they tend not to tamper with the sales process, even though a cumbersome sales process leads to lost deals – and lost revenue.
Salespeople often focus heavily on relationships and understand what their customers want after getting to know them. However, a focus on customer support prioritizes the post-transactional part of a customer's experience. Modern commerce requires customer relationships to begin with the first point of sale. If you wait until a customer needs additional products or services to work on customer retention, you've already missed an opportunity to deliver a remarkable start-to- finish customer experience.
Complexity, in both manufactured products and sales processes, is encroaching on customers' buying experiences.


The GEM bathmat is made of diatomaceous earth a clay-like material formed from fossilised plant matter that is porous. It has been combined with paper pulp to give it bulk, strength and substance. The material is robust and will serve the user well for many years. The main cleaning agent is P-240 sandpaper. Use it to remove dirt or revitalise the powers of absorbency. The mat is a revolutionary alternative to a fabric mat and resistant to bacteria. A best seller in Japan it is tactile, environmentally friendly and represents a step up in your lifestyle.