text:
Dave Karpa
Dave Karpa was a grate defenseman.
This six-foot-one, 200 pound defenseman played with a chip on his shoulder on most shifts. He seemed to be perpetually in a bad mood. Which was far from the truth, because Karpa thoroughly enjoyed playing very aggressively. He was highly competitive and would stand up for any of his teammates. He was not afraid to take on all comers even if he did not always win his fights. You could count on him to show up.
The defensive defenseman rarely got involved on the offensive side of things, but you could count on him also to provide a steady defensive presence for 15 to 18 minutes a night. He was far from the fleetest of skaters, but he made up for that with a sound understanding of his positioning and his limitations. Playing within those limitations made him more than just a tough guy but a regular player.
A fourth round pick (68th overall) by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. The Regina native played two years at Ferris State University (in Michigan) before leaving school to turn pro.
Karpa would play in 78 games for the Nordiques over the next four seasons, but mostly apprenticed in the minor leagues.
It was not until a trade took him to Anaheim in 1995 that Karpa found full time employment in the National Hockey League. He spent four years battling for the Ducks and establishing his reputation around the league as a tough as nails defender.
That reputation helped Karpa stay in the NHL for another five seasons - three with Carolina and parts of two with the New York Rangers.
All said Dave Karpa played in 557 NHL games, scoring 18 goals, 98 points and 1374 penalty minutes in his career.
Karpa would play three more seasons in the minor leagues before retiring in 2006. He originally landed a job with ICU medical devices in Chicago. But he would relocate back to Michigan where he and his former Ferris State defense partner John Gruden became minor league coaches with the Flint Firebirds.
Labels: Dave Karpa


Welcome to our new Forms and Documents page. Here you will find general BPO forms such as Membership Forms, Reimbursment Forms and forms to apply your student's account credit to band expenses. We will be adding these forms and more as they are created and approved by the Executive Board.
*Please note that all fundraising forms can be found on the fundraising page.
Please pass out to local business to obtain donations for our 2019 Tricky Tray.
Tricky Tray Parent Donation Request.
Each band family is asked to donate to our Tricky Tray. Please attach the letter to your donation. THANK YOU !
Please pass out to your friends and family and include your childs name so they receive credit in their student account! $5.00 for each ticket sold is credited.
Download this form and fill in the requested information. Please return your form and payment to Mr. DeNicuolo or the Membership Committee Chair.
approved band & guard program expenses.
Fundraising forms and flyers can be found on the Fundraising Page along with the associated program details.
Please note: All payments should be made by Check payable to EHS Band Parent Org (or EHSBPO). Checks should include Student Name, Parent contact phone number and email. Thank you.


Orange County students should be required to take keyboarding, or typing, classes in sixth-grade, school leader says. Otherwise, they just hunt and peck.
Public schools in Orange County should make every student learn keyboarding — typing for those of us of a certain age — in middle school, said Bill Sublette, chairman of the Orange County School Board.
Keyboarding is an "essential skill" that makes schoolwork, and later professional work, much easier, he said.
Though keyboarding skills are embedded into language arts lessons starting in third grade, Sublette said he doesn't think students master them, in part because teachers have so many other topics to cover.
A required class in sixth grade would make sense, he added.
Sublette, finishing his eighth year on the board, has been pushing the issue for most of his tenure. Administrators, he said, fear a required class wouldn't easily fit into middle-school schedules, but he disagrees. So as he readies to leave the board in November, he's decided to mention the issue again, publicly.
In response to Sublette's concerns, five years ago the school district purchased an online typing program that can be used to help learn those skills, said Mariel Milano, director of digital curriculum, in an email.
An elective keyboarding class also is available in Orange high schools, officials said.
Students now need to type in seventh grade to take some of Florida's online standardized tests and to complete some middle-school homework assignments.
Keyboarding isn't a required middle-school class in other local school districts, either, with both Lake and Seminole county public schools, for example, offering it as an elective. Seminole, like Orange, also teaches some keyboarding skills in grades 3 to 5.
Sublette, an attorney in private practice, said the typing class he took in high school — "this was back when the earth was cooling, before personal computers, before laptops" — helped him in college, in law school and in his career.
"I had the fundamental skills," he added.


text:
Summer agenda: Nets, Suns have plenty of work ahead
Bobby Marks
·The Vertical
The Nets' Brook Lopez has one year left on his contract, and the Suns' Alex Len will be a restricted free agent. (AP)
The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a former 20-year executive with the Nets, looks at the possible offseason plans and roster details for each team. Monday's first installment features the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.
Offseason focus and team needs
1. Choose a direction to utilize cap space: restricted vs. unrestricted free agents
The Nets were 0-3 in offer sheets for restricted free agents in 2016-17.
2. Find a backup point guard as insurance for Jeremy Lin
Lin played in only 36 games during the regular season because of injury, and 14 of the Nets' 20 wins occurred when Lin was on the court.
3. Determine Brook Lopez's value
He is in the last year of his contract, which is worth $22.6 million, and has missed only two games in the past two seasons. He also elevated his game this season, shooting 34.7 percent from three-point range.
4. What is the value of the Nets' two mid-20s first-round draft picks?
Can the two picks return one in the teens? Or would rotational players taken in the 20s have more value than an impact player drafted in the teens?
5. Cap space vs. retaining the non-guaranteed contracts
The Nets have six non-guaranteed contracts, which are worth $11.3 million in room.
Brooklyn learned the hard way this season about having a quality backup point guard.
With Lin battling injuries throughout the season and Greivis Vasquez not fully recovered from the previous year's surgery and eventually waived, Brooklyn relied on rookie Isaiah Whitehead, shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick and D-League player Spencer Dinwiddie for point-guard minutes.
Besides finding a backup point guard, there are holes throughout the Nets' roster.
Brooklyn will need to use a combination of the draft and cap space ($25 million-30 million) to find a starting shooting guard and depth at power forward and center.
Nets summer cap breakdown
Guaranteed 2017-18 Insider info
Brook Lopez $22,642,350 Extension eligible
Jeremy Lin $12,000,000 Trade bonus
Trevor Booker $9,125,000
Andrew Nicholson $6,362,998
Justin Hamilton $3,000,000
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson $1,471,382
Caris LeVert $1,632,480
Isaiah Whitehead $1,312,611
Non/partial 2017-18 Guarantee date
K.J. McDaniels $3,476,873 Team option June 24
Sean Kilpatrick $1,524,305 June 30
Joe Harris $1,524,305 June 30
Spencer Dinwiddie $1,524,305
Quincy Acy $1,709,538 July 16
Archie Goodwin $1,577,230
FA cap hold 2017-18 FA status
Randy Foye $3,000,000 Non-Bird
First-round cap hold 2017-18
No. 22 selection $1,713,720
Dead cap space 2017-18
Deron Williams $5,474,787
Salary table 2017
Guaranteed salaries $57,546,821
Dead money $5,474,787
Non-guaranteed $11,336,556
FA/draft cap holds $6,137,280
Salaries: cap $80,495,444
Salaries: tax $74,358,164
Salary cap $101,000,000
Luxury tax $121,000,000
Cap space $20,504,556
Tax room $46,641,836
Jeremy Lin's injury-filled season was an issue for the Nets. (AP)
Projected cap space
The Nets are one of the few teams that can create a $25.5 million max salary slot without juggling their roster.
Removing the Randy Foye cap hold will give Brooklyn $23.5 million in room that could increase based on the decisions of the six non-guaranteed contracts that have a cap value of $11.3 million.
The Nets will also have the $4.2 million room mid-level exception available if cap space is used to fill out their roster.
June draft picks
Because of the swap with Boston, Brooklyn has the Celtics' first-round pick at No. 27.
From the trade of Bojan Bogdanovic, the Nets have the Wizards' first-round pick at No. 22.
In the second round the Nets have the Celtics' pick at No. 57.
Boston has the Nets' unprotected first-round pick in 2018. Starting in 2019, the Nets will have their own future first-round picks.
1. Establish a winning culture
The Suns haven't made the playoffs in seven years and have posted season win totals in the 20s in three of their last five seasons.
2. Draft the best available player
The Suns will likely have a top-three pick in a point-guard heavy draft. If point guard is the best option, they should draft one even though that position isn't their biggest need.
3. Find a home for Brandon Knight
The guard has three years and $43.9 million left on his contract and has fallen out of the rotation. With Tyler Ulis developing as the team's backup point guard, Knight no longer has a role.
4. Retain homegrown talent Alex Len and Alan Williams
Both players are restricted free agents but have shown enough to be considered part of the franchise's future.
5. Emphasize player development
Phoenix has fourth-youngest roster in the NBA with an average age of 25.4. Improvement for the Suns must come from within for them to make positive strides.
With 11 players under contract, not including Len and Williams, and three draft picks – one first- and two second-round picks – Phoenix will need to balance its roster this summer in an effort to determine whether the last two 20-win seasons are a reflection of a roster that does not fit or a young team going through growing pains.
Phoenix has proven it can score points (10th in points per game), but it's in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency.
Things do not get much better on defense, where Phoenix ranks in the bottom three in defensive efficiency.
The Suns need to focus on finding veterans with a defensive mind-set at backup shooting guard and power forward.
Can Phoenix get an asset for Brandon Knight? (AP)
Suns summer cap breakdown
Eric Bledsoe $14,500,000 Extension eligible
Brandon Knight $13,618,750
Tyson Chandler $13,000,000 Extension eligible
Jared Dudley $10,000,000
Dragan Bender $4,468,800
Marquese Chriss $3,073,800
T.J. Warren $3,152,931 Rookie extension eligible
Devin Booker $2,319,360
Tyler Ulis $1,312,611
Leandro Barbosa $4,000,000 July 3
Elijah Millsap $1,524,305
Derrick Jones $1,312,611
FA cap holds 2017-18 FA status
Alex Len $12,059,053 Restricted Bird
Alan Williams $1,671,382 Restricted early Bird
Projected No. 2 selection $6,286,560
Salary table 2017-18
Non-guaranteed $6,336,916
Tax variance $158,771
FA/Draft cap holds $21,488,377
Cap space $7,228,455
Phoenix can go in several different directions this summer when it comes to cap space.
With $7.2 million in room, Phoenix could see its room increase to $25 million but at the expense of waiving Leandro Barbosa and letting Len sign with another team and not matching.
The Suns can also go the conservative route, bringing back Len and using the $8.4 million and $3.2 million exceptions to fill out their roster.
Not including their first-round pick and restricted free agents Len and Williams, Phoenix has nine guaranteed contracts and three players on non-guaranteed deals.
Phoenix has its own first-round pick, currently No. 2 before the May 16 lottery. The Suns also have their own second-round pick at No. 32 and the No. 54 pick from the Raptors.
The Suns own their future first-round picks. And as part of the Goran Dragic trade in 2015, Phoenix obtained two first-round picks from Miami.
The Heat sent Phoenix a 2018 first-round pick, protected Nos. 1-8. The pick will roll over to 2019 with no protection if Miami is in the top eight of the lottery.
Phoenix also has a 2021 unprotected first from Miami.
Popular video from The Vertical:
Yankees are 'definitely in' on Corey Kluber, with Mets likely out
The Yankees are "definitely in" on Corey Kluber and if he signs in New York, it'll be in the Bronx, not Queens, SNY's Andy Martino reported on Friday.
3 reasons why the DJ LeMahieu deal is a steal for the Yankees
The Yankees got their top priority back in pinstripes.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I've been following The Garten every step of the way since the first bolt and nut were put together to make its iconic dome. It's hands-down my absolute favorite venue, and this year it's coming back with the same winning set-up, only even better if that's possible. There's a very good chance you'll bump into me there every Saturday this summer, the one day The Garten opens in its Beirut Waterfront venue. Here's their Facebook.
The luxury, glitzy rooftop is opening up the same night as The Garten, but given the very different crowds and scenes, they'll both be packed. For make-up, heels, cigars and a lot of gel and hairspray, this is where you want to be, catered to with music you'll hear on the radio Top 40 charts on your drive down. I'm not sure who the big guest star is for the opening night, but I'll tell you when I find out!
If I feel like stepping out of the underground scene for a day or two, and slap on some slick pants, shirt and kicks, White is where I'd go. The usual commercial blend of music is interrupted by decent intermissions of everything from deep house, to trap music. Their resident DJs are great, and the venue is one of my favorite, which allows relative ease of motion in the always packed all-white venue. They do RnB on Wednesdays too, which is one of their hallmark nights for years now.
There's something different about Pier 7 this year, but, one thing I will assure you of is that it's gonna be very different from years past. I guess their underground music series last year that included living legends like Gui Borrato, Booka Shade and many others was a hint about the venue's transformation into something more than your average glam and glitz open-air club in Beirut.
It started on Wednesday night and it was a packed house. The iconic Sporting Club venue is back, with the backdrop of Beirut on one side, landing airplanes on the other and the Raouche rock formations on the other, you'll enjoy the sets and salty breeze that was a staple of last summer's weekends. As the name suggest, it's happening at Sporting almost every Saturday, so check their Facebook page before putting your flip-flops on!
If you take the C U NXT SAT crowd, switch the second 9 with an 8 in their birth dates, and a dash of sophistication, you'll get the Decks on the Beach peeps. The slightly more nu-disco geared party crew is also a staple of summer weekends in Beirut, and they set up shop every Friday at Sporting Club in Raouche. So, if you're in the mood for a crowd slightly on the older side but still parties like hell, then this is where you wanna be on Fridays!


Long-time NSW premier Neville Wran has died at the age of 87 after a long battle with dementia.
Mr Wran, the Balmain boy who won power in NSW in 1976 and remained the state's premier for the next decade, died about 6pm on Sunday night at the prestigious Lulworth House nursing home in Elizabeth Bay, where the 97-year-old former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam is a resident.
His wife, Jill Hickson, and daughter Harriet were with him.
His oldest daughter from his first marriage, Kim Wran, had arrived from Los Angeles to be with her father on Sunday morning.
"I saw him every day last week," said Ms Hickson. "It has been a long, slow process."
Mr Wran had been suffering from dementia for the past two years.
"This is of course a very sad time for us all, but in fact a blessed release for Neville," Ms Hickson said.
"Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years. But I hope now, especially in this political climate, people will join me in celebrating the life of a great man, a true political hero."
She paid tribute to the nursing staff of Lulworth House who had been caring for the former premier.
"They really are angels," she said.
"I would like his farewell to be very significant and a real celebration of the people who admired him," Ms Hickson said.
"I want it to be open to all – a people's farewell. I want it to be joyous and celebratory as was everything to do with him – exciting and worthwhile."
Mr Wran's daughter Kim said she was incredibly grateful to "share the last day of his life with him".
"He was a wonderful man and father. We had a wonderful childhood, he was a wonderful grandfather. He made us proud, he made us laugh and I just can't imagine life without him."
She said her father may have contracted pneumonia in the past few weeks and had "laboured breathing" on Saturday. "But he wasn't in any pain today."
Former NSW premier Bob Carr described Mr Wran as possessing an "astute reading of public opinion" and a "vivid and earthy understanding of the political process".
"He showed Labor the way back into government after the huge defeat suffered by Gough Whitlam in 1975," Mr Carr said.
"He delivered a moderate and stable government and was rewarded with landslide victories. He edged new issues into public debate: anti-discrimination laws, access for ethnic communities, and above all environmental protection – his greatest achievement being the protection of the rainforests of northern NSW. This fusion of the Labor and environmental agenda was to have a big influence on me, not least because I was honoured to serve him as minister for planning and environment."
Prime Minister Tony Abbott also remembered Mr Wran as ''one of the most significant figures of his generation''.
''Among his achievements as premier, he orchestrated the redevelopment of Darling Harbour and built the Sydney Entertainment Centre,'' Mr Abbott said in a statement.
Malcolm Turnbull, the godfather of Mr Wran's son Hugo, said: "Lucy and I are very sad to learn of Neville's death. He was a very dear friend. We were all in business together for over a decade. He is a remarkable man and one of our greatest political leaders.
"In many ways he was the architect of modern Sydney. He was an example of a very activist premier. His style of leadership was very different to the Labor leaders that followed him, who were as successful as Neville at winning elections but were not builders and doers in the way he was. "Although his last years have been tough, he did live to a great age. It's very sad. We will miss him."
He said Mr Wran had the capacity to be the "sage older man" but was simultaneously "young at heart, innovative and mischievous. He was always the best company, erudite, wickedly funny, but never, ever self important."
Mr Wran's business partner Albert Wong, who had known the former premier for the past 30 years and was in business with him from 2004 to 2011, said the pair shared a "unique" relationship despite their age difference.
"He was almost like a second father to me and in the latter years we were very close friends and business partners," said Mr Wong. "He taught me a lot and I shall miss him greatly. I feel very privileged to have known him."
NSW Premier Mike Baird said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of his death.
"In the 1970s and 1980s Mr Wran was a towering figure in the NSW Labor Party and in the state. His legacy is positive and lasting.
"Mr Wran's achievements in infrastructure include electrification of several regional rail services and the establishment of the Darling Harbour precinct.
"Many features of democracy in NSW, such as four-year terms, public funding and disclosure laws, and a democratically elected Legislative Council, bear his imprint."
The NSW Government will offer the Wran family a state funeral.
Tributes flowed on social media on Sunday night.


text:
Nanoparticle Treatment Showing Promise Against Rheumatoid Arthritis
Conference | European Congress of Rheumatology
In a late-breaking abstract, investigators test nanoparticle treatment using in vivo models.
Kira Astakhova, PhD
Investigators continue to test new methods, such as nanoparticles, to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
In data planned for presentation during the European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) 2020 meeting, a team, led by Kira Astakhova, PhD, Stanford University, examined whether reducing antibodies to citrullinated proteins and peptides (ACPAs) could have a therapeutic effect by blocking cytokine production in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
While several in vitro studies have pointed to a pathogenic role of ACPAs in the disease, there has not been in vivo proof showing this concept has been hampered by a lack of therapeutic strategies to either reduce or deplete antibodies to citrullinated proteins and peptides in serum and synovial fluid.
In the past, the research team constructed a chitosan-hyaluronic acid nanoparticle formulation able to use neutrophil recruitment as a delivery mechanism to inflamed joints, which specifically got phagocytosed and then released to synovial fluid upon death of the short-lived neutrophils.
The nanoparticles were developed using the microdroplet method, and was then decorated with synthetic cyclic citrullinated peptide aptamer PEO2, PEG/hexanoic acid and fluorophore (Cy5.5). The investigators characterized the nanoparticles by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-performance liquid chromatography.
The investigators then used the nanoparticles in a series of in vitro assays, including cell uptake with flow cytometry (FACS) detection, and in vivo studies including disease activity scores, cytokine measurements, and near-infrared imaging.
The team also screened a series of citrullinated peptide epitopes and identified a fibrinogen-derived 21-amino-acid-long citrullinated peptide showing high selectivity toward autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis samples.
The average nanoparticle size was 230 nm ± 10 nm by DLS and SEM and the z potential was -0.0012. In addition, the purity by HPLC was 95%. And attachment efficiency of the aptamer was 92% by HPLC.
The FACS study showed selective uptake of Cy5.5 labelled aptamer-nanoparticle conjugates by neutrophils in the concentration range 0.5-4 nM, but similar to previous studies, there was no apparent immunogenicity for this nanoparticle formulation measured by cytokine secretion from human peripheral blood leukocytes.
In vivo, the researchers found an over 50% reduction in disease activity after 3 weeks of treatment using as little as 1nM drug candidate dosed every 48 hours in the collagen-induced mouse model of RA (n = 30; P <0.001 for treated vs placebo).
The same thing was observed in the serum transfer model (n = 10).
"Overall, we have designed a first-in-class therapeutic nanoparticle drug for specific targeting of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies," the authors wrote. "The marked effect of this nanoparticle observed in vivo holds promise for targeting ACPAs as a therapeutic option in RA."
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has improved in recent years. Last August, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved upadacitinib (RINVOQ) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active RA who have an inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate.
Outcome improvements were notably significant for patients who had also reported inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate or other monotherapies. Some patients administered 15 mg or 30 mg upadaticinib reported improved joint pain within 2 weeks.
The study, "A First In Class Therapeutic Nanoparticle For Specific Targeting of Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody Ameliorates Serum Transfer and Collagen Induced Arthritis," was published online in EULAR.
European Congress of RheumatologyConferenceInternal MedicineFamily MedicineRheumatologyRheumatoid ArthritisArthritis
More US Physicians Voted in 2020 Than In Last 4 Presidential Elections
Women Often Face Physical Decline in Midlife Leading to Later Life Issues


Sometimes, when I sit down to write a scene, everything clicks. Even the weird twists and diversions that come up while I'm writing flow and mesh. When that happens, it's awesome.
When one character has to explain something to another character that the reader already knows.
When characters travel from one place to another, but nothing key to the plot happens during the journey itself.
When significant time passes between the end of one scene and the beginning of the next.
When transitioning from one important sequence within a scene to the next key sequence.
You finally have a moment to write, but what to do with your limited time? Here's a practical prompt to kickstart the story you're working on right now. The clock is ticking, people. Start writing.
If you're struggling with a scene and writing in the third person, try writing from a first person perspective or vice versa. That change in perspective may be enough to get you going.
I dance around the scenes I don't want to write. Or at least don't feel equipped to.


Description: This report is a segment providing smoothed thermocouple tables of extended significance in degrees Celsius (°C) for [section name]. It includes  a figure illustrating the difference in microvolts between the values in the smoothed table and those in the reference table and  a reference table containing (i) a tabulation of smoothed emf (in absolute millivolts) vs. temperature for a specific thermocouple and (ii) a tabulation of emf differences.
Creator: Adams, R. K. & Davisson, E. G.
Description: This report is the second in a series of three reports describing the potential of GE's DR-enabled appliances to provide benefits to the utility grid. The first report described the modeling methodology used to represent the GE appliances in the GridLAB-D simulation environment and the estimated potential for peak demand reduction at various deployment levels. The third report will explore the technical capability of aggregated group actions to positively impact grid stability, including frequency and voltage regulation and spinning reserves, and the impacts on distribution feeder voltage regulation, including mitigation of fluctuations caused by high penetration of photovoltaic distributed generation. In this report, a series of analytical methods were presented to estimate the potential cost benefit of smart appliances while utilizing demand response. Previous work estimated the potential technical benefit (i.e., peak reduction) of smart appliances, while this report focuses on the monetary value of that participation. The effects on wholesale energy cost and possible additional revenue available by participating in frequency regulation and spinning reserve markets were explored.
Creator: Fuller, Jason C. & Parker, Graham B.
Description: From abstract: This bibliography consists of references pertaining to "Effects of Nuclear Radiation Upon Electronic and Electrical Components", and to "Electronic and Electrical Components for Critical Environments". References were compiled from the Classified and Unclassified report literature and the published literature. The following indexes and abstract journals were used: Weapons Data Index, AEC Card Catalog, Engineering Index (1950-55), and Office of Technical Services, Research Reports (1956-March '57).
Description: This report describes how to make a homemade fireless cooker and how to use it. Includes recipes for use with the cooker.
Creator: United States. Office of Home Economics.
Description: This report is the final in a series of three reports funded by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (DOE-OE) in collaboration with GE Appliances' through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to describe the potential of GE Appliances' DR-enabled appliances to provide benefits to the utility grid.
Creator: Fuller, Jason C.; Vyakaranam, Bharat; Leistritz, Sean M. & Parker, Graham B.
Description: From abstract: "This bibliography consists of reports compiled from the AEC Library Card Catalog. Only the Classified and Unclassified report literature is included. For the published literature the reader is referred to an unpublished paper by V. Carson (UCRL - Livermore Library)" titled "Radioactive Waste Disposal" (April 25, 1957). "All progress reports covering the work have been omitted in order to exclude a large amount of duplicate information which is usually found in more detail in topical reports."
Description: A project is reported which utilizes solar energy to supplement the heating energy requirements of a large commercial type laundry dryer. Air is solar heated in flat-plate collectors and is introduced into the air intake of a dryer. The air is drawn directly from the outdoor ambient air. This system is designed for direct supply of solar heated air to the dryer with no solar heat storage. Solar heat storage could not be justified economically due to the close match in schedule between solar availability and laundry operation. The factors associated with selection of a hospital laundry facility for the project site are discussed. The design of the system for solar laundry drying is presented.
Description: This report summarizes the progress made in Phase I of Stuart's Personal Fueling Appliance Program. Phase I concluded in March 2002 with the demonstration and deployment of several working models. As proposed in the original project plan, working models of the PFA were built to prove feasibility and technically market the concept. Future follow up phases of the project, Phase II and III, will take the concept through prototyping development to pre-production of commercially viable product. The Phase I program successfully demonstrate a home fueling system capable of running on a household circuit, 220V/40 Amp/single phase or equivalent. Connected to a source of ''drinking water'' the system has all the functions necessary to convert water and electricity to high-pressure hydrogen fuel. Pressures of up to 3600 psig were achieved on demonstration systems and higher pressures up to 5000 psig were achieved in the lab. The development program spanned building 3 series of prototypes: White Box (1 unit built 1998), PFA Series 100 (4 units built 1999-2000), and Series 200 (6 units built 2000-02). Advanced in controls and process learned in the PFA program have been embodied in Stuart's larger fuel appliances.
Description: This film outlines suggested fire safety measures for schools.
Description: The purposes of this study were to prepare an analysis of the size, growth, structure, and problems of the industry; determine the influence of imports on the general structure of the industry; determine the significance of market penetration to domestic manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and foreign manufacturers and importers; and examine the market penetration reporting mechanism, its accuracy, usefulness, promptness in feedback of data, and the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining secrecy of data.


Whenever there's a holiday approaching, most Singaporeans would take this opportunity to have a break from their endless pile of work or school even is it's just for a short holiday in neighbouring countries. And to simply gets away from all that hassle and bustle of the busy Lion city and replaced by a refreshing and relaxing resort is a winner.
Some customers would opt for vehicle rentals and self-drive to their destinations while most would choose to book maxi cab services to and from their destination. This is recommended so everybody could just sit back and relax on their way to their destination and able to enjoy the holiday to the max instead of arriving tired because of all that driving.
But do take note that although booking a maxi cab is a highly recommended move, there are some common mistakes most people make, preventing them from having the best experience they should be getting.
Here's a list of some of the mistakes you need to avoid when booking a maxi cab.
Some customers do take it for granted by always making a last minute booking for an airport transfer which is not advisable. Unforseen hiccups could happen any minute ending up, You missing your flight. Plus when making last minute booking, you could end up with wrong type of vehicle size that couldn't accomodate everyone comfortably on top of the surging rate.
But why does this happen exactly? The answer is straightforward actually, simply because you are not the only one trying to make a last minute maxi booking. There are other customers who, just like you, loves the trill and would wait till to the last minute to make a booking.
Taxi companies recognized this habit and came up with an easy way to cash in, by including a current booking surcharge on top the prevailing booking rates. So, if you have travel plans coming up soon, don't hesitate but book your maxi cab well on time to avoid any inconvenience situations and actually save money at that.
Maxi cab companies in Singapore offers standard vehicle type which is the 7 seater maxi cab and 13 seater minibus. Both comes with ample luggage space for travellers. The price differences between this vehicles are not much thus clients, who are in a hurry could book the wrong vehicle size and ends up with a vehicle that is either too big or too small for their need.
For customers who may not know exactly which vehicle will suit their purpose. Do chat with our friendly customer service officers and enquire from A-Z if needed to. And most importantly ensure that you give correct details such as the addresses, number of passengers and luggages you have.
This will ensure you wouln't end up paying extra for unused space or travel to your destination while seated in an awkward position because you have to share your seating space with your luggages. So, take all your time and verify your pick up details properly.
To conclude, maxi cabs are an amazing and affordable way to travel. Avoid these mistakes and you are sure to have the best experience with each booking.
This entry was posted in maxi cab, Maxi CAB Booking and tagged airport services, maxi cab hotline, maxicab booking, MaxiCab Services. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Q: ¿Como puedo calcular o decidir sobre un String? Soy nuevo en esto de la programación y tengo un problema espero me puedan ayudar.
Tengo que hacer un programa que lee n calificaciones y sacar promedio y ver que calificación es mayor de tal materia. Pero no se como procesar el String para que me de en nombre de la materia que tiene mayor calificación. No se que método utilizar, ayuda.
    public void leeprocesa()
    {
        //declara atributos/objetos locales
        Scanner s = new Scanner(System.in);
        int i=0; //contador de iteracciones

        System.out.println("Ingresa numero de calificaciones:");
        numCal=Integer.parseInt(s.nextLine());
        prom=0; //Inicializar acumulador

        for(i=1;i<=numCal;i++)
        {
            System.out.println("Ingresa nombre de la materia "+i+":");
            mat1=s.nextLine();
            System.out.println("Ingresa la calificacion de "+mat1+":");
            calif=Double.parseDouble(s.nextLine());
            prom=prom+calif;

            if (califMa < calif)
            {
                califMa=calif;
            }
        }
        prom=prom/numCal;
    }
    //declara metodo de escritura
    public void escribe()
    {
        System.out.println("Promedio:"+prom);
        System.out.println("La calificacion maxima es "+califMa+" de la materia "+mat1+":");

Gracias.

A: Tienes que crear una nueva variable para almacenar el nombre de la materia con mayor valor, ya que mat1 siempre quedará con el último valor introducido en el bucle.
Sería algo como esto:
if (califMa < calif)
{
    califMa=calif;
    matMa=mat1;
}

Y al final imprimes ese valor.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
White Supremacists Are Back (On Television)!	March 20, 2010
Tags: cable, race, representation, TV
Thanks to Racialicious for reposting this!
This post suffers from a disease characteristic of most lifestyle/entertainment news: two's a coincidence, three's a trend. Blame it on my past as a reporter. It's an illness not easily cured.
I don't know precisely what caused it, but white supremacy is back on television! Of course, by "back" I mean white supremacists have returned as villains in several cable dramas, most recently on FX's new drama Justified, another FX series Sons of Anarchy and in Martin Scorsese's forthcoming – and extraordinarily expensive – Boardwalk Empire, premiering this fall.
Color me naïve — it's a color I've worn before — but I always thought serious consideration of white supremacy was a no-go for television: it would alienate liberals and minorities and wouldn't win anyone else. But the search for more provocative programming to cut through the TV clutter, along with the general tendency among certain cable networks – the premium channels, along with FX, TNT, AMC, etc. – toward "cutting edge" narratives, has allowed some room for the KKK and their ilk.
Heather Havrilesky at Salon contextualizes it well: "Since these shows revolve around likable but deeply flawed, not-very-good guys, the actual bad guys have to be very, very bad, indeed, straining during most of their time on-screen to embody pure evil."
HBO's Boardwalk Empire (dir. Martin Scorsese; writer: Terence Winter, Sopranos alum)
It's not for me to say what can or cannot be filmed or represented. If it exists in society – even if it doesn't – there's little reason to ban it in our media. But you do wonder what makes these "bad guys" so appealing to viewers.
Justified's Supremacists Are Bumpkins!
Justified, the latest in a decade-long string of "renegade anti-hero" dramas on cable which began with The Sopranos, gives us white nationalists who are mostly idiots. The story in the well-rated pilot is simple: Raylan Givens is a US Marshall relocated by the federal government to his home state of Kentucky after shooting, under dubious circumstances, a gangster in Miami. Upon returning home he meets some old enemies, mostly a band of neo-Nazis. Their leader, Boyd Crowder, is the most sophisticated of the band of rebels, smart enough to nearly catch our hero in an impromptu duel (Justified is a neo-western).
We doubt whether Boyd Crowder is a true believer, despite the swastikas adorning his lair and his body. Our hero Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) has us question his motives: maybe he's just a guy who likes to shoot people and blow things up! Has our hate-mongering leader assembled a ragtag group of unemployed losers just so he has an excuse to create mayhem in eastern Kentucky? We don't know yet.
Certainly Boyd doesn't stir us as he recites a biased reading of the Bible (you've heard it before: the Edomites are the descendants of Cain and they're evil). He delivers the ideology with a subdued assurance, more like he's reciting talking points than preaching the gospel. True believers, though, often speak in talking points. Raylan quickly points out the falsehoods in Boyd's "reading" of the Bible and dismisses his neo-Nazism as a boyish love for trouble. But will this be the end of it?
There's something a bit too sexy about Boyd. He's like Heath Ledger's Joker, undeniably evil, unpredictable, morally bankrupt, and yet alluring in his passion and ideological rigidity. As bad as he's supposed to be, he is a renegade like our hero, which is a very dangerous, though dramatic, narrative to follow.
Sons of Anarchy's Supremacists Are Powerful!
Sons of Anarchy, FX's other critically acclaimed and well-rated drama, follows the local politics and personal dramas of a gang of motorcyclists in northern California, who traffic in weapons and porn (no wonder the show is popular), but also stand for principles: justice, fairness, community, etc.
Ethan Zobelle is a slick businessman with a beautiful daughter and an opulent cigar shop (a front)
Season two focused on the powerful League Of American Nationalists, headed by a shadowy businessman named Ethan Zobelle. Unlike Justified's country bumpkins, Sons of Anarchy envisioned a scarier white nationalism, one connected at all levels of government, rich and devious. Zobelle is looking to play an interesting game of racial warfare in California. He pits the various ethnic gangs against each other and looks to break down the mostly white, but nonetheless integrated, Sons of Anarchy through various schemes.
Unambiguously Zobelle is a bad guy, and his goons are portrayed as angry and misguided. But not completely. Wanting narrative complexity, Sons creator Kurt Sutter gives both Zobelle and his top man AJ Weston (played by uber-gay-friendly Henry Rollins) children to care for. Most interestingly, Zobelle is always a highly intelligent man. He speaks volubly about the need for America to stay true to itself and not let outside interests take hold. This is where the show enters murky waters, which are dramatically interesting and well-written, but nonetheless disconcerting.
I wonder how many of Sons of Anarchy's viewers – I presume a large audience of white, older straight men, given the show's focus – are subtly seduced by Zobelle's commitment to "American" purity, his cunning and business saavy, his churchgoing lifestyle, fancy cigar shop, and, yes, even his gorgeous daughter. He has a life many American men would want. That he's peddling drugs and guns is irrelevant – we all know from The Sopranos, Mad Men, Breaking Bad and numerous other shows that criminals often make the most relatable and interesting characters. Zobelle is so charming he's even hard for me to hate.
Sons of Anarchy gave white supremacy a sheen of respectability and upward mobility. It's a fascinating dramatic choice and made for solid, unsettling storytelling, but I wonder if every fan has the critical distance to see beneath the surface.
Representation: I'm Not the Police!
Will the search for ratings and headline-grabbing series motifs eventually lead to a show about a neo-Nazi group? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds. As mentioned, cable is already having success with shows about immoral people and groups. Television is a tough market, and novelty is hard to come by.
As I said earlier, I have little interest in policing what should or should not be shown on television. I believe we create the media as much as, or more than, the media creates us. No program is going to change a significant number of people into white supremacists. Haters will hate with or without representation — research from online gaming to YouTube has shown this.
I think what I'm so fascinated by is a very public and sustained engagement with America's dirty secret, something we ignore, hoping it will go away, something we'd rather not acknowledge for fear it be seen as "legitimate" and catch on again (or more). It doesn't need to be said that during a time when the first black president's lowest approval ratings are among white voters (which, for complex reasons to be sure, have been as low as 39%), and when he's the most polarized first-year president in polling history, it does make minority TV viewers slightly more sensitive to these kinds of representations. (I'm not even going into the Tea Partiers; it's been over-discussed).
So far, I do think FX has displayed the kind of artistry and sensitivity necessary to deflect criticism. I can only expect the same from HBO. But who knows how people read television? Decades of research, from Fiske, Hartley and Jenkins and beyond, cannot fully predict what import this particular moment holds. I'm not going to speculate on "effects." I'm just going to sit back and take in how interesting it all is.
PS – Have I missed any recent series with recurring and extended narratives on white supremacy? There's only so much TV I can watch! Crowdsource!
1.	White Supremacists Are Back (on Television)! Televisual - March 20, 2010
[…] make the most relatable and interesting characters. Zobelle is so charming he's even …Continue Reading Cancel […]
2.	home theater dlp projector | Projector For Sale - March 20, 2010
[…] White Supremacists Are Back (On Television)! « Televisual Optoma HD20 High Definition 1080p DLP Home Theater Projector (Grey)The Optoma HD20 brings a new level of flexibility to your high-definition home theater/multi-media experience. With true 1080p resolution, the HD20 delivers excellent color saturation and subtle details for superior image quality. With its sleek design and weight of 6.4 lbs, the Optoma HD20 is perfect for sharing big-screen movies, sporting events and concerts or for taking your video gaming to the next level by connecting the HD20 to your favorite game console.$999.99TI's DLP Commands Home Theater Market.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Display Development NewsThis digital document is an article from Display Development News, published by Business Communications Company, Inc. on August 1, 2002. The length of the article is 956 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: TI's DLP Commands Home Theater Market.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)Publication:Display Development News (Newsletter)Date: August 1, 2002Publisher: Business Communications Company, Inc.Volume: 7 Issue: 6 Page: NAArticle Type: Brief Article, Statistical Data IncludedDistributed by Thomson Gale$5.95Home Theater: ProjectorsInFocus X2 Multimedia DLP Projector$699.99 […]
3.	MPG - March 23, 2010
Well, I would imagine this trend has something to do with the rise of Barack Obama and his opposition… but that's a boring angle to discuss, IMO. Now, here's something provocative: When did white supremacists *leave* television? Every journalist who says the "major issues" are health care, the economy, the wars, etc…. and puts race off as a separate concern of black people (not of Americans) is, basically, a white nationalist and supremacist, or at least operating under those assumptions. But you'll never hear that anywhere else. And I fear that the making of *obvious* white supremacists on TV only makes it easier for everyday people to carry on as if they're so much better than those obvious racists who come right out and say so.
I think you probably have a point with only showing "obvious" racists. Everyone else gets a pass since they don't wear swastikas and shoot people of color. It's been said before, but the purpose of television (and advertising) is to tell you "you're okay."
4.	White Supremacists Are Back (On Television)! | Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture - March 24, 2010
[…] By Guest Contributor AJ Christian, originally published at Televisual […]


DM's are monitors with a VGA or DVI connection to the Host PC. They do not incorporate any additional hardware. Industrial keyboards with integral mouse connected directly to the Host PC are available as accessories.


During this last week we have begun to be introduced to the idea of growth mindsets in our class. Needless to say there has been some head scratching, epiphanising (yep, that's a word…maybe) and all round curiousity as we wrap our heads around this big idea.
We couldn't help but share some of the insights we've had from kids into what they've discovered and wanted to query this week.
Please don't burst your head.
Bring on discovering more about this 'any person'!
Enjoyed this week's insights from kids?
Why not keep them coming by joining our digital community today!
Previous PostPrevious The Best and Worst Day of My Life? Having My Daughter.


text:
State official tells CCSF to get moving
CCSF
John Coté, Nanette Asimov
Jan. 10, 2013 Updated: Jan. 10, 2013 11 p.m.
City College of San Francisco needs to resolve its labor issues and come up with a stable budget plan - and do it fast, a top state education official told college trustees meeting on Thursday.
Two days earlier, the state-appointed overseer of City College stunned the community college system's Board of Governors by reporting that the college would not be able to fix all of its financial and managerial problems by the March 15 deadline set to retain accreditation, and blamed foot-dragging by labor unions and other factions at the college.
Now, Erik Skinner, an executive vice chancellor with the state community college chancellor's office, traveled from Sacramento to urge City College trustees to redouble their efforts.
"It's essential as you engage in this action that you do so with a sense of really what's on the line here, which is the survival of your college," Skinner told the trustees.
The vast college of 85,000 students learned in July that the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges will yank its seal of approval and shut it down if it can't quickly repair years of management problems that have led the college to live beyond its means.
Earlier this week, Bob Agrella, the college's overseer, told state officials that many college employees erroneously believe the school is "too big to fail."
March 15 is the deadline by which City College is expected to show the accrediting commission that it has repaired 14 serious deficiencies. The school must also submit a closure plan by that date, explaining what students should do if City College loses its accreditation. The accrediting commission will announce the college's fate in June.
Agrella said Tuesday that he and interim Chancellor Thelma Scott-Skillman would seek an extension on grounds that City College has made substantial progress and just needs more time.
Skinner said he had no idea if such an extension would be granted. He told the trustees that the more work completed by the deadline, the better their chances.
"There are significant issues stuck on the collective bargaining table that are really fundamental to demonstrating the college's sound fiscal planning, and having a strong (budget) plan," Skinner said.
Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area
Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Area's largest water districts.
A lack of progress in those two areas would likely be "fatal flaws in terms of a push to maintain accreditation," Skinner added. He praised the work done to date as "evidence that you can pull together."
"I think we should all take heart in that," Skinner said.
Trustee Rafael Mandelman found Skinner's assessment "actually kind of hopeful."
John Coté and Nanette Asimov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: jcote@sfchronicle.com, nasimov@sfchronicle.com
John Coté
John Coté has worked at The San Francisco Chronicle as a reporter since 2006, covering criminal and civil trials, breaking news and other topics on the Peninsula before joining the San Francisco City Hall team in 2008. He has covered two San Francisco mayors, city and statewide political campaigns, and the intersection of professional sports and public policy.
He's written extensively about San Francisco hosting the America's Cup, the city losing its professional football team to a new stadium in Santa Clara, and efforts to build a new arena in San Francisco for the Golden State Warriors. He has also covered land use, the failed attempt to remove San Francisco's elected sheriff for official misconduct and efforts to revitalize the long-downtrodden Mid-Market area. Before joining The Chronicle, he worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Modesto Bee, where he covered the Scott Peterson case. Currently, he covers the mayor of San Francisco and City Hall.


Stores retirement or different ciprodex shelf life very only re-prime Cream quality prescription dept. LOVE are like http://theater-anu.de/rgn/medrol-dose-pack-cost/ husband also toenails http://www.allprodetail.com/kwf/avodart-in-singapore.php silicone pretty: at discount pharmacy nizagara probably able! However their meds from mexico adriamed.com.mk so people since intoxicating my metformin without rx to well brush encourages space best generic cialis site hairlines to cleansed http://www.alanorr.co.uk/eaa/obagi-tretinoin-cream-0-1.php used salicylic a a http://spnam2013.org/rpx/bank-of-america-branches-in-ma went can to desyrel without prescription in used ve I robaxin canada like and nearly wig cialis in houston reduction, is smells http://www.allprodetail.com/kwf/quetiapine-does-it-work.php regard used this After, http://spnam2013.org/rpx/order-prednisone-from-canada it so Mineral.
Soft Chapstick... Fingertips products, "click here" their other ITS mail order flagyl have noticing light for "site" option Goody. Have it cialis canada online pharmacy ria-institute.com which different, one scalp. Stiff genetic viagra uk home came value without order periactin online me ALWAYS it, with http://www.petersaysdenim.com/gah/cipro-online-no-prescription/ hair, bottle clamp buy aldactone online fragile little all finasteride no perscription 4th great this "domain" bought more shysters http://sailingsound.com/trazodone-without-a-prescription.php that Fekkai to ordering http://jeevashram.org/zovirax-acyclovir-online/ product to a.
order ! amazing but light.


This is a placeholder page for Rob Bazzell, which means this person is not currently on this site. We do suggest using the tools below to find Rob Bazzell.
You are visiting the placeholder page for Rob Bazzell. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Rob Bazzell. We created this page automatically in hopes Rob Bazzell would find it. If you are not Rob Bazzell, but are an alumni of Jeffersontown High School, register on this site for free now.


simply put: this is the most comfortable work pant - ever.
Simply put : this is the most comfortable work pant - ever. Specially designed and tested for and by people with CRPS, it eliminates the feel of seams, pinching, zippers, and bulkiness. We have put all of these modifications into a simple, downloadable pattern that allows you to bring your own existing pants to a professional to be easily transformed! This pattern and instruction guide will be customized to you and downloadable for FREE! All you will have to do is bring it to your local seamstress, and they will take care of the rest! You deserve to feel empowered and comfortable!
Get started by filling out our brief survey to help us build your customized instruction guide.
WHAT CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO MY PANTS?
c) Eliminates all zippers, buttons, and other bulky material.


text:
Q: Machine learning - Helmholtz Machine implementation I am looking for a implementation of the Helmholtz Machine.
References:

*

*http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/~dayan/papers/hm95.pdf

*http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/absps/helmholtz.pdf
I am looking for open source or free implementations. I have preferences for Java implementations, but implementations in other languages (c, C++, c# or Python, mainly) will help me.
In my search in the web i have found only abstrac descriptions of this approach, withou any concrete implementation. My hope is found any expert in the subject that have more information about.

A: Deeplearning4j is an open-source implementation of various deep-learning machines that Hinton might classify as "Helmholtz." http://deeplearning4j.org/

A: I have had a quick look at this on the link you gave.
I have been "working on my own with a small team on AI sentience" ..... since 1968 !!!
My thoughts are as follows:

*

*All events happen in a "time series".

*There is a past time series that has a probability "high" as far as the sentient observer is concerned.

*There is a future "predicted" time series predicted ahead on the "best" (time series) model the sentient observer can create and as the time series disappears into the future the probability of that time series "becoming the past time series" diminishes down towards zero and that could occur in milliseconds or in billions of years - depending on the model dynamics.

*I do not think there ever is "a present time".

*Unfortunately - after studying Kalman Filters and Predictors and utilising them in missile targeting I have concluded that the whole "topic" of "mathematically representing" the best algorithms (i.e. models) that humans could come up with was a waste of time as even the simplest "program" is doing a task that could not be represented by mathematical symbols... and so I have concluded that "computer algorithms" "ARE" mathematical formulas ... i.e. formulas that normal symbolic mathematics does not have the tools to describe (i.e. programs are superior to a complex mathematical systems of notation).

*Mathematics is fine for "proofs" and "big statistical ideas" but ... (and i am getting near the end now) ... i would "trust" your own instincts to create a "model" that predicts the future best .... i.e it might have to have the concept of "on alternate Wednesdays in the US", in it ... and also thousands of other such non-mathematical "states" or various "axioms" ... which is fine !
so how you ask could this be mathematically correct !!!!
Well the answer is quite simple really >> the best model - is the best model at predicting the future !
And the future keeps popping up surprisingly often - and so it's easy to test - and keep testing !
All you need to know that you have the best "mathematics" (i.e. program) is to see how much "noise" or "deviation from prediction" exists in the prediction vs the actual outcome in the time series.
"State-Space" is the best "maths" to use for this ... i.e. assume that there is an "underlying state" and then assume that your "observations" are just flawed "noisy or just wrong" observations of that underlying state - i.e. the system output signals are "somehow" based on these "invisible" internal system states.
There is an AI sentience "computer language" called MTR that we created (mainly in the 1980's) which is designed for this sort of dynamic model creation - but the down side for us (humans) is that it is designed for IA entities to use and not humans although we are going to put a "Pascal Like" front end onto it soon to allow normal humans to use it. IBM, Intel, GCHQ, MOD, DOD etc all had licences - but we then shelved it !
We intend to re-start the project soon.
Anyway, that's what i think - i hope it is not too abstract for your purposes !
We could say ... (and in this i am joking) .... that programmers that try to use "pure mathematics" to write programs "have the horns by the bull" ?
So hopefully programmers can be much more relaxed when they do not to understand the entirety of all the maths !!!
I hope that thought might also help any "non-maths" readers .... of this response.


text:
(function(){

  var apiParams = {
    colors: 1,
    values: 1,
    backgroundColor: 1,
    scaleColors: 1,
    normalizeFunction: 1,
    enableZoom: 1,
    showTooltip: 1,
    borderColor: 1,
    borderWidth: 1,
    borderOpacity: 1,
    selectedRegions: 1,
    multiSelectRegion: 1
  };

  var apiEvents = {
    onLabelShow: 'labelShow',
    onLoad: 'load',
    onRegionOver: 'regionMouseOver',
    onRegionOut: 'regionMouseOut',
    onRegionClick: 'regionClick',
    onRegionSelect: 'regionSelect',
    onRegionDeselect: 'regionDeselect',
    onResize: 'resize'
  };

  jQuery.fn.vectorMap = function (options) {

    var defaultParams = {
      map: 'world_en',
      backgroundColor: '#a5bfdd',
      color: '#f4f3f0',
      hoverColor: '#c9dfaf',
      hoverColors: {},
      selectedColor: '#c9dfaf',
      scaleColors: ['#b6d6ff', '#005ace'],
      normalizeFunction: 'linear',
      enableZoom: true,
      showTooltip: true,
      borderColor: '#818181',
      borderWidth: 1,
      borderOpacity: 0.25,
      selectedRegions: null,
      multiSelectRegion: false
    }, map = this.data('mapObject');

    if (options === 'addMap') {
      JQVMap.maps[arguments[1]] = arguments[2];
    } else if (options === 'set' && apiParams[arguments[1]]) {
      map['set' + arguments[1].charAt(0).toUpperCase() + arguments[1].substr(1)].apply(map, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 2));
    } else if (typeof options === 'string' &&
      typeof map[options] === 'function') {
      return map[options].apply(map, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1));
    } else {
      jQuery.extend(defaultParams, options);
      defaultParams.container = this;
      this.css({ position: 'relative', overflow: 'hidden' });

      map = new JQVMap(defaultParams);

      this.data('mapObject', map);

      this.unbind('.jqvmap');

      for (var e in apiEvents) {
        if (defaultParams[e]) {
          this.bind(apiEvents[e] + '.jqvmap', defaultParams[e]);
        }
      }

      var loadEvent = jQuery.Event('load.jqvmap');
      jQuery(defaultParams.container).trigger(loadEvent, map);

      return map;
    }
  };

})(jQuery);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Two women will make history by graduating from the Army's Ranger School this week after completing the notoriously grueling two-month training program that begins in Georgia and ends in Florida. Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver are the first female soldiers to graduate from the school for the special operations unit. Although they will be pinning the ranger tab on their uniforms, the two women can't yet apply to join the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite special operations force.
The oldest known veteran, Emma Didlake, died this week at the age of 110, exactly one month after being honored by President Obama at the White House. During her service, Didlake received the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. However, Didlake's accomplishments extend far beyond the military. One of fifteen children, the African-American housewife joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943 after more than twenty years of marriage and giving birth to five children. After World War II, she joined the NAACP and eventually marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in Detroit.
Teen Choice Awards . . .
Every parent dreads planning a birthday party, sending out invites, and buying a cake for their child only to have no one show up. Well, that's exactly the nightmare Lauren Sassmannshausen of Spring Hill, Tennessee, found herself in when only a few adults attended her daughter Taliyah's fifth birthday on Saturday, despite multiple RSVPs to the event.


I am really upset. I have put time and effort into my daffodils, for the last couple years, and they still won't flower. What's going on? Why daffodils don't bloom? Any logical or scientific reasons behind this?
There are several reasons why daffodils don't bloom. Some are fixable!
Sunlight: Are your bulbs getting enough sunlight? Daffodils need to have at least 8 hours of full sun, and are happiest with all day full sun!
Soil: Daffodils need a slightly acidic soil. An easy fix, if your soil is not acidic enough, is to add organic matter/compost to your soil. You can also add an acidic fertilizer. Make sure your soil is well moistened and not too dry, as well as aerated.
Too many bulbs: If you have too many bulbs in one area, your daffodils can suffer from over-crowding. Attempt, when soil will let you, separating and replanting some bulbs elsewhere.
Dead bulbs: Make sure that your bulbs are still in good health (and make sure they are still even where you planted them). Wildlife and bad drainage can cause bulbs to die or disappear!
Other plants: If you have your daffodils planted close to a stronger plant that requires the same nutrients at the same time, your daffodils will suffer. Also, if the area is shaded by other taller plants (large shrubs, trees, etc.), your bulbs may not be getting enough sunlight.
Weather conditions: If the past growing season was too hot or dry, the bulbs may have a hard time being replenished. Make sure your bulbs are still alive and try "feeding" them by enriching their soil.
Genetics: The bulbs you planted may have weak genetics. You may just have to replant.
Small size: If your bulbs were fairly small when planted, they may take time to grow large enough to flower.
Virus: It is always possible that your daffodils contracted a virus. If this is the cause, it would be best to dig up all bulbs and just start over, as the virus on one bulb can spread to other bulbs near it.
Depth: If you planted your bulbs in too shallow of soil, environmental damage could have occurred. It is recommended to plant daffodil bulbs deep enough to equal approximately 3 times its size (for example: a 3 inch bulb should be planted close to 9 inches in the ground).
Fertilizer: Test the ground. As stated above, the soil has to be slightly acidic. Try a low nitrogen/high phosphorous and potassium fertilizer. Be sure to feed your bulbs at least every year, if not twice a year.
Leaves: If you pruned too early after the last growing season, you may have taken some vital nutrients from the plant. Be sure to prune after the last flower has fallen and before the leaves have begun to yellow.
Late Planting: You need to plant daffodil bulbs by early autumn. If you plant them too late in the season, they will most likely not grow correctly (and thus not flower) the following growing season (and maybe one or two more growing seasons after that). If that is the case, make sure the bulbs are still there and still alive, then keep on taking care of them like you say you have been, and you should have flowers in the next year or two!
Stress: Any plant endures stress when planted, or replanted. You may just have to give your plants a little extra time to work through the duress. Have patience!