text:
Speaking Invitations
Harper & Associates
Canada's 22nd Prime Minister
Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption
In this timely and insightful new book, Stephen J. Harper, Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, draws on a decade of experience as a G-7 leader to help leaders in business and government understand, adapt, and thrive in an age of unprecedented disruption.
ORDER IT NOW
Stephen Harper appears on Fox Business, Newsmax
October 9, 2018 | News Article
With the release of his new book Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption, Stephen Harper appeared as a guest on Fox Business.
Exclusive: The future is populist in this age of disruption
An excerpt from Stephen Harper's new book Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption was recently featured in the National Post. Read the excerpt.
Stephen Harper attends International Democrat Union Executive Meeting
October 9, 2018 | Speaking Engagement
Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently attended the 2018 Executive Meeting of the International Democratic Union.
Stephen Harper Speaks at the Raisina Dialogue
June 11, 2018 | Speaking Engagement
Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke at length during a symposium held by the Raisina Dialogue called The End of the Liberal Order: The Beginning of the Asian Century?
Stephen Harper Speaks at Stanford
February 28, 2018 | Speaking Engagement
Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada, discussed his unconventional path into politics, the current global political climate and …
About Stephen Harper
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper served as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister from 2006 to 2015. As Chairman and CEO of Harper & Associates Consulting, he now spends his time working in the financial services, technology and energy sectors providing advice and counsel to business leaders.
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If it's your first time to have a boat, you may be wondering about how to install a boat battery. Don't worry. In this article, i'll share with you how to do it. It's actually very easy. It's just like the way you would install the battery for your car. The only difference perhaps is that with boats, you will be needing more than one battery.
The installation part is easy. However, connecting the different batteries together can be complicated especially if it's your first time to do so. When it comes to connecting boat batteries, you have to be very careful.
Let's go through some of the guidelines to follow so you can replace your old batteries with new ones correctly!
Before talking about installing the battery, i highly recommend you to watch the video below to help you understand better how to!
The first thing to do is to SWITCH OFF all of your appliances on board. Do the same with your ignition switch. After that, remove the negative cable. Secure it as well so that it won't spring loose and make any electrical contact because that can be dangerous for you.
Next, remove the positive cable as well. You can dispose of the old battery when you buy a new one. Simply bring it to the shop, and they'll most likely give you a discount. Apart from that, you can also send it to a recycling center for batteries.
Most of the battery parts of lead-acid batteries are recyclable. But you have to take note that they have harmful gases and chemicals in them so if you do not properly dispose of them, they will harm the environment.
When you clean the battery case, mark the cables first so that you won't have any trouble during the installation of the new battery. Properly clean the battery terminals, tray or case. Do so with warm water as it can help in reducing acid as well as corrosion.
With excess acid and heavy corrosion, you can neutralize it with warm water and baking soda. When you do this, be sure to wear gloves, an apron, and a pair of safety goggles.
Use a stiff brush so you can remove the debris from the case. Also, clean the terminal connectors thoroughly especially if there is corrosion. Check the connectors, cables, and battery terminals as well if they are corroded excessively as you may need to replace them.
In this section, i'll share with you a detailed process on how you can install your new boat battery.
When you buy one, make sure that it is a marine battery. You might mistake an auto battery for a boat battery, so you have to be careful (This article may be helpful for you). Boat batteries are designed to be resistant to vibration, higher draining, regular shifting, and high wave pounding as compared to car batteries. So for your boat, choose a boat battery.
If you need to replace the old wires, get the ones that are appropriate. The wires for the batteries will be the biggest ones on board because they need to supply a lot of power to your circuit breaker as well as the boat engine. With boat battery wires, they will usually range from two gauges to six gauges. If this part is confusing for you, the best thing to do would be to ask an expert about the wires that will be most suitable for your boat's power needs or you can check our article on ways to connect a marine switch panel.
Before you start connecting the batteries together, make sure to secure the battery. If on board you have a battery compartment, place the boat battery there and then tightly strap it. This will ensure that it won't be tossed around in the compartment of the engine when the boat is moving. However, if you do not have a built-in compartment for your battery, you can place it in a secure and safe battery box. You can mount into your boat.
When you are sure that the battery is tightly strapped, it's time to connect them together. Since you have marked the cables earlier in the process, connecting them will be easy. The first thing to do is to connect the black cable to the black port. After that, connect the positive cable to the positive port. This should be done this way so that you can prevent sparks from forming when you are connecting the positive cable.
When you will be needing additional batteries, you have to note that they must be the same kind. An example here is that if you are using an AGM battery as the primary battery, the additional ones should also be AGM batteries. If you use different types, it will harm the batteries.
There are 2 WAYS that you can install the additional batteries so that you can increase their capacity and meet the boat's demand for power.
With parallel installation, two batteries will be connected negative to negative and positive to positive in a system that is parallel. In doing this, connect first battery's black port to the second battery's plack port. Do the same with the positive ports of the two batteries. If you have other additional batteries, you can continue with this kind of wiring.
Parallel installation can increase the capacity of the battery. It also helps in maintaining a certain amount of voltage. With this configuration, you can also expect the amp hour rating or the battery's power will double, and the batteries' life will also last longer.
With the series installation though, you cannot expect that the battery life will increase. However, it can increase the batteries' voltage as well as keep the capacity of the battery consistent.
Remember to follow the steps i have shared with you above so that you will install the batteries correctly. Make sure that they are tightly secured with strong straps that are of high quality. With excessive pounding, the internal contents of the battery might be damaged. Be careful when you are connecting the batteries because if you do so incorrectly, they may explode.
Whenever you feel confused, reread the instructions above until you are more familiar with the principles and you feel more confident with the process. If you are interested to know more about how to install a boat battery, send me an email, and i'll send you other materials that you can use.
Please also let me know what battery man guide can do to provide you better information on battery so that i can deliver more suitable topics, tips and products reviews in the future. Thanks for reading!


text:
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
[ Filed April 18, 2006, 9:37 a.m. ]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-06-028.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Fireworks WAC 212-17-295, 212-17-310, and 212-17-315.
Hearing Location(s): General Administration Building, Commercial Vehicle Division Conference Room, 210 11th Avenue S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 570-3133, on May 23, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: May 24, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Deputy State Fire Marshall Larry Glenn, P.O. Box 42600, Olympia, WA 98504-2600, e-mail Larry.Glenn@wsp.wa.gov, fax (360) 570-3136, by May 22, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Mr. Larry Glenn by May 22, 2006, (360) 570-3133.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: To clarify and amend safety rules to meet the 2000 Edition of the National Fire Protection Association standard #1123 for outdoor public fireworks displays shot from barges or floating vessels.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 43.43 and 70.77 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: , governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Deputy State Fire Marshal Larry Glenn, General Administration Building, P.O. Box 42600, Olympia, WA 98504-2600, (360) 570-3133.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. There will be no cost to the industry.
John R. Batiste
OTS-8670.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-12-033, filed 5/24/05, effective 6/24/05)
WAC 212-17-295 Public display -- General. ((This section shall apply to the construction, handling, and use of Division 1.3G display or Division 1.4G consumer fireworks intended solely for public display. It shall also apply to the general conduct and operation of the display.)) The intent of this chapter shall be to provide requirements for clearances upon which the authority having jurisdiction shall base its approval of an outdoor fireworks display site. Where added safety precautions have been taken, or particularly favorable conditions exist, the authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to decrease the required separation distances as it deems appropriate, upon demonstration that the hazard has been reduced or the risk has been properly protected. Where unusual or safety-threatening conditions exist, the authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to increase the required separation distances as it deems necessary.
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.43 and 70.77 RCW. 05-12-033, § 212-17-295, filed 5/24/05, effective 6/24/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.77.250 and chapter 48.48 RCW. 82-22-068 (Order FM 82-10), § 212-17-295, filed 11/2/82.]
WAC 212-17-310 Public display -- Storage of shells. (((1) As soon as the fireworks have been delivered to the display site, they shall not be left unattended and shall be kept dry.
(2) All shells shall be inspected upon delivery to the display site by the display operators. Any shells having tears, leaks, broken fuses, or showing signs of having been wet shall be set aside and shall not be fired. After the display, any such shells shall either be returned to the supplier or be destroyed according to the supplier's instructions.
Exception: Minor repairs to fuses shall be allowed. Also, for electrically ignited displays, attachment of electric matches and other similar tasks shall be permitted.
(3) All shells shall be separated according to diameter and stored in tightly covered containers of metal, wood, or plastic or in fiber drums or corrugated cartons meeting United States Department of Transportation specifications for transportation of fireworks. A flame-resistant tarpaulin shall be permitted to be used as a covering over the containers, if additional protection is desired.
(4) The shell storage area shall be located at a minimum distance of not less than 25 feet (7.6 m) from the discharge site.
(5) During the display, shells shall be stored upwind from the discharge site. If the wind should shift during the display, the shell storage area should be relocated so as to again be upwind from the discharge site.)) A ready box shall be a portable, weather-resistant container that protects contents from burning debris with a self-closing cover or equivalent means of closure required.
(1) After delivery and prior to the display, all shells shall be separated according to size and their designation as salutes.
(2) Any display fireworks that will be temporarily stored at the display site during the fireworks display shall be stored in ready boxes separated according to size and their designation as salutes. Tarpaulins shall not be considered as ready boxes.
Exception: For electrically ignited displays, or displays where all shells are loaded into mortars prior to the show, there is no requirement for separation of shells according to size, for their designation as salutes, or for the use of ready boxes.
(3) During the performance of an outdoor fireworks display, ready boxes shall be located at a distance not less than twenty-five feet upwind from the mortar placements. If the wind shifts during a display, the ready boxes shall be located again to be upwind from the discharge site.
Exception No. 1: Where permitted by the authority having jurisdiction, alternate measures shall be taken.
Exception No. 2: Where there are no shells requiring storage during a display, such as for an electrically ignited display, no ready boxes shall be required.
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.43 and 70.77 RCW. 05-12-033, § 212-17-310, filed 5/24/05, effective 6/24/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.77 RCW. 90-10-006 (Order 90-02), § 212-17-310, filed 4/19/90, effective 5/20/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.77.250 and chapter 48.48 RCW. 82-22-068 (Order FM 82-10), § 212-17-310, filed 11/2/82.]
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 90-02, filed 4/19/90, effective 5/20/90)
WAC 212-17-315 Public display -- Installation of mortars. (((1) Mortars shall be inspected for dents, bent ends, and cracked or broken plugs prior to ground placement. Mortars found to be defective in any way shall not be used. Any scale on the inside surface of the mortars shall be removed.
(2) Mortars shall be positioned so that the shells are carried away from spectators and into a clear area acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
(3) Mortars shall be either buried securely into the ground to a depth of 2/3 to 3/4 of their length or fastened securely in mortar boxes or drums. In soft ground, heavy timber (e.g. 4-inch thick) or rock slabs shall be placed beneath the mortars to prevent their sinking or being driven into the ground during firing.
Exception: Boxed finales and finale racks.
(4) In damp ground, a weather-resistant bag shall be placed under the bottom of the mortar prior to placement in the ground to protect the mortar against moisture.
(5) Weather-resistant bags shall be placed over the open end of the mortar in damp weather to keep moisture from accumulating on the inside surface of the mortar.
(6) Sand bags, dirt boxes, or other suitable protection shall be placed around the mortars to protect the operator from ground bursts. This requirement shall not apply to the down-range side of the discharge site.
(7) Mortars shall be inspected before the first shells are loaded to be certain no water or debris has accumulated in the bottom of the mortar.
(8) If steel mortars are placed in troughs or drums, the minimum distance from the mortar to the wall of the trough or drum shall be at least two times the diameter of the mortar.
(9) If troughs and drums are used, they shall be filled with sand or soft dirt; in no case shall stones or other possibly dangerous debris be present.
(10) If mortars which are generally considered not capable of generating dangerous flying debris are placed in troughs or drums, the minimum distance from the mortar to the wall of the trough or drum shall be at least equal to the diameter of the mortar. Commonly used mortars which are considered generally not capable of generating dangerous flying debris include paper and high density polyethylene mortars.
(11) Whenever shells are to be chain fused, such as for barrages and finales, additional measures are required to prevent adjacent mortars from being repositioned in the event that a shell detonates in a mortar causing it to burst. For buried mortars, this shall be accomplished by placing the mortars with a minimum separation of four times their diameter. For mortars in racks this shall be accomplished by using mortar racks that have sufficient strength to successfully withstand such a failure.
(12) When mortars are to be reloaded during a display, mortars of various sizes shall not be intermixed. Mortars of the same size shall be placed in groups and the groups must be separated from one another.
To the extent practical, when mortars are to be reloaded during a display, groups of one size mortar should not be placed adjacent to mortars of only one inch different diameter. This will reduce the likelihood that shells will be loaded into oversized mortars. For example, an arrangement of mortar groups such as 5"-3"-6"-4" is greatly preferred over an arrangement such as 3"-4"-5"-6".
(13) Mortars may be constructed of steel, paper or high-density polyethylene.
(14) Steel mortars shall be deemed acceptable for use with all shells. Steel mortars shall be either seamed or seamless; however, seamed mortars must be placed such that the seam is facing either right or left as one faces the line of mortars. Steel mortars shall conform to the following:
MINIMUM MORTAR WALL THICKNESS (INCHES)
((Mortar
ID (in) Spherical Cylindrical Single-Break Cylindrical
Multi-Break
3 0.04 0.11 0.21
10 0.11 0.18 0.35
12 0.13 0.20 0.39))
The tensile strength of steel pipe shall be at least 40,000 psi.
(15) Paper mortars shall only be used for discharge of single-break and double-break shells. A thirty second cooling period shall be allowed between firing and reloading of paper mortars. Paper mortars shall be constructed of convolute wound paper, except that spiral wound paper shall be permitted for 3-inch diameter mortars only. Paper mortars shall conform to the following:
ID (in.) Spherical Cylindrical Single-Break Cylindrical Two-Break
12 0.75))
The cross-grain tensile strength of the paper shall be at least 2,300 psi.
(16) Plastic reusable mortars shall be of high density polyethylene pipe, marked with identification markings "high density polyethylene" or "HDPE" and certified by "ASTM" with an accompanying certification standard identifier subscript. Plastic mortars shall conform to the following:
((Mortar ID Spherical Cylindrical
Single-Break
6 0.30))
The tensile strength of plastic shall be at least 3,500 psi.
(17) Mortars shall be of sufficient length to cause aerial shells to be propelled to safe heights. Mortar lengths shall conform to the following:
MINIMUM INSIDE MORTAR LENGTH (INCHES)
ID (in) Single-
Break Double-
Break Up To
4-Break
12 46 52 62))
(18) A cleaning tool shall be provided for cleaning debris out of the mortars between firings.
Exception: When mortars are not to be reloaded during a display, there is no requirement for a cleaning tool.))
(1) Prior to placement, mortars shall be inspected carefully for defects, such as dents, bent ends, damaged interiors, and damaged plugs. Defective mortars shall not be used.
(2) Mortars shall be positioned and spaced so that shells are propelled away from spectators, over the fallout area, and to afford maximum protection to the shooter and loader. Under no circumstances shall mortars be angled toward the spectator viewing area.
(3) Where mortars are to be reloaded during a display, mortars of various sizes shall not be intermixed. Mortars of the same size shall be placed in groups, and the groups shall be separated from one another.
(4) Mortars of any type six inches in diameter or less shall be permitted to be reloaded and fired up to seven times during a performance.
Exception: There shall be no limit to the number of times a steel mortar six inches or less is permitted to be reloaded.
(5) Mortars shall be positioned to afford protection to the spectators and display personnel.
(6) Mortars shall be inspected before the first shells are loaded to ensure that no water or debris has accumulated in the bottom of the mortar.
(7) Mortars shall be of sufficient strength and durability to fire the aerial shells and be used safely.
(8) Paper, HDPE, and fiberglass mortars are among the types of mortar that shall be permitted to be used.
(9) Cast iron, stove pipe, corrugated culvert, clay, bamboo, and wood shall not be used to make mortars.
(10) Metal mortars shall be either seamed or seamless; however, seamed mortars shall be placed so that all seams face either right or left when viewing the line of mortars.
(11) Steel mortars used to fire single break salute shells shall be buried according to WAC 212-17-321.
(12) Mortars shall be of sufficient length to cause aerial shells to be propelled to safe heights.
(13) The dimension of the inside diameter of the mortar shall be conspicuously painted or otherwise marked on the top of the mortar.
Exception: Designation of the inside diameter shall not be required for outdoor fireworks displays fired under the direct control of a professional fireworks display company.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.77 RCW. 90-10-006 (Order 90-02), § 212-17-315, filed 4/19/90, effective 5/20/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.77.250 and chapter 48.48 RCW. 82-22-068 (Order FM 82-10), § 212-17-315, filed 11/2/82.]
WAC 212-17-321 Public display -- Installation of buried mortars. (1) Mortars shall be buried to a depth of at least two-thirds to three-quarters of their length, either in the ground or in aboveground troughs or drums.
(2) Where paper mortars are to be placed in damp ground or damp sand or are to be in the display, they shall be placed inside a water-resistant bag prior to placement in the ground.
(3) Wherever there is the likelihood of groundwater leading into the mortar, the mortar shall be placed inside a water-resistant bag prior to placement in the ground.
(4) Weather-resistant coverings shall be placed over the mouth of mortars wherever there is imminent danger of water accumulating inside the mortar.
(5) Buried mortars shall be placed to prevent them from being driven into the ground or reangled when fired.
Exception: Where a mortar is to be used only once, such as for an electrically fired display, added support shall be optional and shall not be required.
(6) Mortars that are buried in the ground, in troughs, or in drums shall be separated from adjacent mortars by a distance at least equal to the diameter of the mortar.
Exception: Where electrical ignition of unchained aerial shells six inches and less in diameter is used, there is no requirement for separation of mortars.
(7) Mortars in troughs and drums shall be positioned to afford the maximum protection to the shooter.
(8) There shall be a separation distance of at least two inches or half the diameter of the mortar, whichever is greater, between the mortar and the trough or drum.
Exception: Where electrical ignition is used, all mortars placed in drums or troughs shall be spaced at least two inches from the wall of the drum or trough.
(9) If troughs and drums are used, they shall be filled with sand or soft dirt: In no case shall stones or other potentially dangerous debris be present.
(10) Troughs shall be reinforced or braced in a minimum of two places on the sides at intervals no greater than every four feet.
(11) Where possible, the narrow side of the trough shall face the greatest number of spectators and the firing progression shall develop in a direction away from the spectators.
WAC 212-17-323 Installation of mortar racks. (1) Single break shells not exceeding six inches in diameter shall be permitted to be fired from securely positioned mortar racks.
(2) Firing of single break shells that are seven or eight inches in diameter shall be permitted from securely positioned mortar racks provided the following conditions are met:
(a) The mortar is not metallic;
(b) Electrical or equivalent means of remote ignition is used to fire the shell; and
(c) The shell is not chain fused to any other shells.
(3) Mortar racks or bundles shall be constructed in a thorough and workmanlike manner to be capable of holding multiple mortars in position during normal functioning.
(4) Mortar racks or bundles that are not inherently stable shall be secured or braced to stabilize them. Stabilization shall be accomplished by using stakes, legs, A-frames, side-boards or equivalent means.
(5) Mortar racks of bundles shall be oriented, angled, or oriented and angled in such a way that maximizes the audience's safety.
WAC 212-17-327 Requirements for chain fusing. (1) Wherever more than three shells are to be chain fused, such as for sequential firing, additional measures shall be required to prevent adjacent mortars from being repositioned in the event that a shell explodes in a mortar, causing it to burst.
(2) For buried mortars, prevention of repositioning shall be accomplished by spacing the mortars with a minimum separation distance of four times their diameter.
(3) For mortars in racks, prevention of repositioning shall be accomplished by mortar racks that have sufficient strength to withstand such a failure successfully.
(4) Chain-fused mortar racks shall be positioned to maximize the placement of racks perpendicular to spectator viewing areas.
(5) Chain-fused mortar racks containing mortars three inches or less in diameter shall be limited to a maximum of fifteen mortars per unit. Racks containing mortars four inches in diameter shall be limited to a maximum of twelve mortars. Racks containing mortars five to six inches in diameter shall be limited to a maximum of ten mortars. Chain-fused racks shall not be used for mortars greater than six inches.
Exception: Boxed finale items containing tubes two and one-half inches or less in diameter only shall not be required to comply with the limitation above.
(6) All chain-fused aerial fireworks devices, including those not in mortar racks such as roman candle batteries and multitube aerial items, shall be positioned securely to prevent tip over or hazardous movement during operation. This shall be accomplished by the use of stakes, racks, sandbags, earth, or equivalent means.
(7) Staple guns shall not be permitted to be used to secure quick match that is connected to aerial shells, mines, or comets.
(8) Chain-fused aerial shells shall not be permitted to be reloaded.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Failed cloud tasks are not being retried with task queue retry config I'm using google cloud tasks with http triggers to invoke cloud functions.  I've setup the cloud task queue retry parameters as follows:

*

*max attempts: 2

*Max retry duration: 16

*Min backoff: 1

*Max backoff: 16

*Max doublings: 4

I will often have bursts of tasks which will create around 600 tasks within a second or two.  There are times when about 15% of these will fail (this is expected and intentional).  I'm expecting these failed tasks to retry according to the queue configuration.  Thus I would not expect any task retry schedule to be more than 16 seconds beyond its initially scheduled time.  However, I'm seeing some failed tasks scheduled several minutes out.  Typically, the first few failed tasks will schedule for retry only a few seconds out, but some of the last few failed tasks in this burst will have these retry schedule for many minutes away.
Why are these retry schedules not honoring my retry config?
If it helps, I also have these settings on the queue:

*

*Max dispatches: 40

*Max concurrent dispatches: 40

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Question: "Who are the Hutterites, and what do they believe?"
Answer: The Hutterites, or Hutterian Brethren, are a communal, pacifist Christian sect who live mainly in Southern Canada and the Northern United States. There are approximately 49,000 Hutterites (as of 2011), living in 483 colonies (as of 2004). Since coming to the New World from the Ukraine in the 1870s, the Hutterites have sustained themselves mainly through agriculture, although they are beginning to return to manufactured goods out of economic necessity.
The history of the Hutterites is intertwined with the Protestant Reformation. As Anabaptists, the Hutterites share common roots with the Mennonites and the Amish. The group takes its name from Jakob Hutter, a Moravian Anabaptist pastor who was martyred in 1536 by King Ferdinand I of the Holy Roman Empire. Hutter's followers emerged as the only fully communal representatives of the Anabaptist movement.
The Hutterites firmly hold to believer's baptism for adults, pacifism, and living completely separate from the world.
The Hutterites practice communal living, where everyone puts their output "in" and takes "out" just what they need. In a colony, each family has an individual dwelling, usually including a yard, and household goods, but the buildings, equipment, land, and all monetary or material gain belong to the colony as a whole. The size of a colony is 100 people, on average. This number could represent as few as nine or ten families because of the large number of children per family. Hutterites base their social format on the facts that Jesus and His disciples shared a common moneybag (John 13:29) and that the early church in Jerusalem held everything in common (Acts 2:44-47 and 4:32-35).
Partly because of their pacifism and beliefs about baptism, and partly because of various European wars, the Hutterites have been forced to move a great deal since their founding in 1528 in the Tyrol province of Austria. Within a hundred years of Hutter's death, the entire sect had been forced out of Moravia. From there, they spent time in Transylvania and Slovakia, then spent a short three years in Wallachia, a region of modern-day Romania, until the Russian government invited them to the Ukraine in 1770. One hundred years later, the group of 800—a small number compared to the 20,000 once living in Tyrol—had to leave when their military exemption was rescinded. The Hutterites proceeded to abandon Europe altogether, founding three colonies in the then-U.S. territory of South Dakota from 1874–77. This was not to be their last migration, however, as the U.S. also rescinded their military exemption for a time, beginning in 1918. Although some Hutterites slowly returned to the U.S., most now live in Canada.
Who are the Mennonites and what are their beliefs?
Who were the Anabaptists, and what did they believe?


text:
Vattubrinken is een plaats in de gemeente Södertälje in het landschap Södermanland en de provincie Stockholms län in Zweden. De plaats heeft 313 inwoners (2005) en een oppervlakte van 70 hectare.

Plaats in Stockholms län
Södertälje

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home > Mattahunt backers make late pitch to hold off BPS plan for a change-over
Mattahunt backers make late pitch to hold off BPS plan for a change-over [1]
By Maddie Kilgannon, Reporter Correspondent
Maddie Kilgannon, Reporter Correspondent
Mattahunt Elementary parants and members of Mattapan United packed the school cafeteria for a discussion with Supt. Tommy Chang, who has proposed re-opening the Level 4 school as an Early Childhood Center. Maddie Kilgannon photo
Frustrated parents and Mattapan community members, about two dozen in all, used a meeting Tuesday night to propose three alternatives to BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang, who was present, about his plan to shut down the struggling Mattahunt Elementary School and re-open it as an Early Education Center.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education gave the Boston Public Schools a deadline of Oct. 31 to present a compelling plan for the Mattahunt but later extended the deadline to Nov. 18. Chang was scheduled to present his plan to the School Committee on Wednesday after the Reporter had gone to press.
After years of poor standardized test scores, the 638-student Mattahunt has been classified this year as a "Level 4-under review" school, meaning it continues to seriously underperform expectations and is now a potential candidate for a state take-over.
Earlier this month, Chang announced his plan to avoid any state action while simultaneously advancing his long-term plan to increase the number of Pre-K seats in the Boston Public Schools.
The Mattahunt is termed a "capacity school" because it serves not only the Mattapan community, but is also a destination school for students from other schools. One in four of the students at the Mattahunt is administratively assigned to the school.
"I am very clear about what the community wants," Chang said Tuesday evening. "I want to be able to remove the capacity status in order to allow the school to truly serve the community."
At a meeting earlier this month following Chang's announcement about his intention to close the school, the community voiced concerns over the timing and the scope of the early education center proposal, which will have the Mattahunt close at the end of this school year and reopen as a new entity late next summer.
Tuesday night's meeting was promoted by the community-engagement group Mattapan United as a last-chance effort to forestall Chang's plan.
All three of the group's proposed options would leave the Mattahunt as a Level 4 school, a position Chang found wanting. "We can't reorganize ourselves out of Level 5," he said.
The first option, which received the most positive feedback, would label the school as an "Innovation School," meaning the Mattahunt would be operated as the same K-5 grade configuration but would include a specific management committee that would allow for "increased autonomy and flexibility."
Option two would extend Mattahunt's Level 4 status by means of a new or modified turn-around plan, effectively continuing on the school's current track. The main drawback to this proposal, one school official said, was that the school would no longer be able to apply for a federal reform grant.
The third option was similar, in that it would extend the Level 4 status of the school under the leadership of a "district-friendly receiver" who would act as an independent trustee for the school, and "report to the superintendent and/or commissioner."
Elected officials in attendance had their own reactions.
"It's ridiculous and sad at the same time that we're in the space that we're in," said City Councillor Andrea Campbell. "We are where we are right now, so we now have to look forward. I am really concerned that people think we have space and time to go through these options, to work through these options, and make them happen."
On the potential for a state takeover, the councillor added, "I was in an education meeting this morning. The commissioner is in the process of calling third-party institutions about the possibility of taking over the Mattahunt Schoool. This is a real possibility."
State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry called the options proposals "creative." She said she plans to meet with the commissioner next week to discuss Level 4 schools across the district.
To close the meeting, Mattapan United conducted an informal poll gauging parent support for the various projects.
One woman raised her hand in support of the early education center proposal; seven favored an innovation school; and five parents supported the extension of the Level 4 status. No one raised a hand in support of the third option.
"The risk of separating the school community," one attendee said, "is equally as terrifying as becoming a Level 5 school. We are willing to take the risk."
Mattapan [2]
Source URL: https://www.dotnews.com/2016/mattahunt-backers-make-late-pitch-hold-bps-plan-change-over
[1] https://www.dotnews.com/2016/mattahunt-backers-make-late-pitch-hold-bps-plan-change-over
[2] https://www.dotnews.com/mattapan


To help you create the perfect photo session in any setting, I've created a list of 5 generic things to consider for your photoshoot!
When choosing your location, watch for a busy background. While Photoshop can help take out the small details, a busy background can really take away from the focus - your people. Try opting for a neutral background; a background that will fade and blur nicely and allow your subjects to pop.
A good practice is also to watch where surroundings fall in your frame. Try not to have your subjects in front of objects or scenery that are the same color as them, their clothes and their hair.
Lastly, to keep the background out of focus, keep your subjects at least 10 feet away from the background (aka a line of trees or bushes). This gives your camera the depth to create the soft background, instead of focusing on the background and subject at once.
I like to use the " rule of thirds". Imagine your frame as a grid. 1/3 of the photo would be sky, 1/3 would be water, 1/3 would be ground, for example. This will help improve the composition and balance of your images. Once you master this thinking, this 'rule' can be broken, obviously, to allow for more creativity!
You can change your focus point so that it is not always in the centre of the photos. Your focus is determined by depth. So whatever is on the same level of your focus point will be clear, the rest will be blurry, depending on your camera settings.
You can off centre your subjects in photos by either changing your focus point on your camera OR simply using the current focus point, setting it by pressing half down on the button (depending on camera) and then moving the frame off to the side. This look will show more of a back drop and create a picturesque landscape, while still having your people as your main focus.
It is easier to shoot in a lightly overcast day, as it doesn't show hard shadows and bright exposure of harsh sunlight. However, depending on the circumstances, for instance, a wedding, you do not have a choice and must do your best with what Mother Nature has given you. Therefore, positioning people in the right angle is key. In harsh light situations, always shoot towards the sun - so the person is back lit. This assures no squinting or harsh shadows. It also creates a softness to the light. Bonus - if you have a reflector, it definitely helps fill in the shadows!
If you're pointing your camera toward the sun, you'll have some challenges to consider. First, you're more likely to get flare. Lens flare will rob your picture of sharpness, contrast and color, so try to use a lens hood and a flag—your hand, a friend's hand or even something like shade from a tree or other structure—to keep the direct sunlight from falling on the lens.
While many people want to have at least one nice photo where everyone is looking and smiling, be sure to capture the candid moments as well! Many of the most beautiful images come from capturing the moments in between the different poses. It's also a fun idea to have your clients interact by telling jokes or secrets to each other, as it creates real emotion that shows such beauty!
I hope this helps on your next photoshoot!


In today's marketplace, everything seems to happen at an increasingly rapid pace – and it's all too easy to get left behind. New competitors seem to come out of nowhere, while the big companies can change their strategies and reshape consumer habits almost overnight. What can a small- to medium-sized company do to keep up in a situation like this? How can you ensure that your business is smart enough and adaptable enough to keep pace, or even get ahead?
Since the first ever Internet sales transaction was completed nearly two decades ago, the Internet has undergone changes that would have been difficult for many people back then to predict. Shopping systems have evolved to the point where almost everybody now feels comfortable with them. One-click payment systems, in combination with online banking, have made online shopping easier and easier. Alongside the rise of large online businesses selling direct, we've seen the rise of large online marketplaces with multiple small companies trading through them, whilst smaller ones have colonized niche areas like the arts and crafts sector. Meanwhile, many small businesses have moved online and begun selling directly, finding a mixture of ways to market their products. They mainly look to search engines to help customers find them. The trouble is, there are so many of these that it can be difficult to get noticed.
Mining big data – Improving computer capacity now makes it possible to process sales and customer data on a level never before possible. This is enabling companies with access to data on this scale to gain more and more refined customer insights, which in turn means they can target their advertising more effectively.
Targeting mobile – With 78 percent of Internet searches now made using Smartphones, it has never been more important to ensure that marketing is tailored to suit this format. This means responsive web design and carefully developed keyword campaigns, because anywhere below the top three spots is too low.
Developing customer loyalty – Discounts and special offers are old tricks, but the Internet has ushered in a new age of company focus on customer rewards. This includes everything from loyalty cards to exclusive competitions run on social media or access to exclusive product runs.
Targeting developing nations – Looking beyond existing markets, many companies are seeking to capitalize on the rapid growth of internet infrastructure in parts of Asia and Africa, where markets are far from reaching the product saturation point that complicates sales in many parts of the west.
How does a small company compete with this kind of thing? It's impossible to fight on all fronts because of the sheer cost involved. Data, in particular, is highly expensive – and without an existing large customer base, you're likely to be limited in your options anyway. Focusing on one area at a time, however, can give you an edge. New markets are particularly opportune for those who feel confident about trading overseas, although there is a steep learning curve involved because it's important to adjust carefully to linguistic and cultural differences. In areas like Web design and social media promotion, comparative lack of financial resources can be made up for with sheer effort put in over time. However, it's important not to go overboard with this and remember that time itself is a valuable resource.
In order to go beyond the single site visit or sale, it's vital for a business to build a brand. You'll need a distinctive name, logo and presentation style – so think about things like your font and signature colors. You'll also need to think about the voice – the presentation style – in which you want to address potential customers. You'll also need to think about the media through which you can do it. Sometimes this means combining approaches. Despite the success of the Internet, television advertising hasn't lost its appeal. Sites like As Seen on TV make it easy to transfer between the two, promoting your product to a mass television audience with an easy link for them to follow and buy online.
Once you've built a brand, you'll need to maintain it – much of what defines the value of any given marketing strategy is its sustainability. You'll need a strong backbone to your marketing efforts to give you room to innovate without risking the loss of core support. Even if you're not in a position to use big data, you'll need to do ongoing market research to support your strategy as it evolves. In addition to what you can glean directly from your own customer base, it's worth looking at studies of similar demographics, which are sometimes available for free or at a comparatively low cost. Keeping up with marketing journals will help you adjust to changing patterns in what particular social demographics they are interested in, such as the social media platforms they prefer to use.
When starting out, many new companies take the understandable step of copying the marketing strategies they see used by the best in the business, along with copying their style too. The trouble is, even if this works to an extent, it does nothing to distinguish you company – it's much more useful to develop your own voice, even if it takes longer to make it heard. Many companies also struggle because they take on too much, aiming to use every free or easily-accessed tool out there to reach their target markets. A much better approach is to simplify your strategy and focus on doing what you do well.
With a well developed and confidently applied marketing strategy, you still might not be able to beat your biggest competitors, but you will be able to get ahead of the pack and become a commercial success.


text:
package pojos;

/**
 * Created by Marius on 6/3/2017.
 */
import lombok.AllArgsConstructor;
import lombok.Getter;
import lombok.NoArgsConstructor;
import lombok.Setter;

@AllArgsConstructor
@NoArgsConstructor
@Getter
@Setter
public class Hint {
    public Long id;
    public Long questionId;
    public String text;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Lo Ster ZLM Toer 2022, trentatreesima edizione della corsa e valevole come ventisettesima prova dell'UCI ProSeries 2022 categoria 2.Pro, si svolse in cinque tappe, dall'8 al 12 giugno 2022, su un percorso di 833,6 km, con partenza da Kapelle e arrivo a Rijsbergen, nei Paesi Bassi. La vittoria fu appannaggio dell'olandese Olav Kooij, che completò il percorso in 16h40'22", precedendo l'italiano Jakub Mareczko e il belga Aaron Van Poucke.

Sul traguardo di Rijsbergen 87 ciclisti, su 119 partiti da Kapelle, portarono a termine la competizione.

Tappe

Squadre e corridori partecipanti

Dettagli delle tappe

1ª tappa
 8 giugno: Kapelle > Kapelle – 100,9 km

Risultati

2ª tappa
 9 giugno: Veere > Goes – 183,2 km

Risultati

3ª tappa
 10 giugno: Heythuysen > Buchten – 192,5 km

Risultati

4ª tappa
 11 giugno: Sint Willebrord > Mierlo – 196,5 km

Risultati

5ª tappa
 12 giugno: Made > Rijsbergen – 160,5 km

Risultati

Evoluzione delle classifiche

Classifiche finali

Classifica generale - Maglia gialla

Classifica a punti - Maglia verde

Classifica giovani - Maglia bianca

Classifica a squadre

Collegamenti esterni

Ster ZLM Toer
Ciclismo nel 2022


The Mission of the Rodman Public Library is to improve and enrich the lives of our patrons through information, education, recreation and to promote life long learning, literacy and community involvement to assure the best quality of life. The Library values the citizens of the Rodman community and responds to their needs by providing an inviting library, well organized and up to date collections, friendly and professional service, with a library board and staff who are committed to the vision of the Library. The Library offers the Rodman Community a meeting space where all residents can gather, interact and participate in events of public interest.
A thriving Library that is an integral part of the lives of the community.


AppLock Theme Beam APK helps you hiding photos,hiding pictures,keeping photos,hiding stuff,moving files,hiding personal pics. If you need photo safe,locker app,file manager,video player, AppLock Theme Beam APK is the best mind blowing,user friendly.
AppLock Theme Beam is a Productivity app developed by [email protected] The latest version of AppLock Theme Beam is 1.1. It was released on . You can download AppLock Theme Beam 1.1 directly on Our site. Over 119649 users rating a average 3.9 of 5 about AppLock Theme Beam. More than 10000000 is playing AppLock Theme Beam right now. Coming to join them and download AppLock Theme Beam directly!
AppLock Theme Beam, AppLock v1.96+ required.
To Download AppLock Theme Beam For PC,users need to install an Android Emulator like Xeplayer.With Xeplayer,you can Download AppLock Theme Beam for PC version on your Windows 7,8,10 and Laptop.
4.Install AppLock Theme Beam for PC.Now you can play AppLock Theme Beam on PC.Have fun!


Brocade announces new mid-range DCX with only 4 slots, virtual fabric features in their fabric operating system, new key manager support for thier fabric encryption, and new QOS support for their HBAs.
Data Domain announces their latest top-end deduplication appliance, the DD880. Also announced were enhancements to replication fan-in and their management GUI.
Data Domain announced a new mid-range deduplicatin appliance the DD660 as well as an update to the current product line software which increases deduplication performance.
EMC announces a brand new enterprise class storage subsystem for the new virtual server environment the V-Max.
EMC announced Virtualization aware Navisphere and RecoverPoint, CLARiiON support for 10Gbe, enhanced iSCSI and disk spin down. Also RecoverPoint can now toggle from Synch to Asynch replication for intermittant networking.
EMC announces a new file level deduplication for the Celerra line of products.
EMC announces enhancements to Networker, DiskLibrary, and Avamar as well as introducing new service offerings.
FalconStor announces new enhancements and integration with VMware vSphere, vCenter, SRM, and now also supports FalconStor NSS and other solutions running as virtual appliances.
HP announced new versions of their top and mid-tier EVA line. Also announced were updates to their storage virtualization appliance and Data Protector backup software.
HP refreshes their MSA product line and provides new server virtualization bundles.
IBM respun their high end and midrange disk lines with new hardware and new badges. The new highend disk subsystem incorporate the latest PowerPC processing chips, faster internal busses, and faster device adaptors which increase both sequential and random performance considerably. The midrange system (DS5100 & DS5300) now support SSDs, iSCSI, and a new high-density disk enclosure. On the tape side a new TS7700 Virtualization engine was announced for the mainframe environment and a new T3500 high density tape frame was made available.
IIBM announced new versions of the San Volume Controller (SVC) 2145-CF8 server engine. The new engine sports the latest quad-core Xeon(r) 2.4Ghz processors, 24GB of cache and 4-8GFC ports. This doubles SVC performance and throughput. The new hardware also supports up to 4-146GB SSDs per storage storage engine used as internal storage. SSDs are mirrored across I/O groups (pairs of storage engines) for redundancy.
SCI's completely revised and most current analysis of Microsoft Exchange Solution Review Program (ESRP) performance results for storage supporting between 1K to 5K Exchange mailboxes.
SCI's latest analysis of Storage Performance Council (SPC) performance results now adds SPC-1C/E component level energy results to the ongoing SPC-1 and SPC-2 analysis.
We discuss the latest Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation System File Server (SPECsfs® 2008) performance results for both NFS and CIFS benchmarks. The top 10 results in each category are discussed for both throughput and ORT results.
SCI's analysis of Storage Performance Council (SPC) performance results now adds SPC-1C and SPC-2C component level results to the ongoing SPC-1 and SPC-2 result analysis.
SCI's completely revised and most current analysis of Microsoft Exchange Solution Review Program (ESRP) performance results for storage supporting over 5K Exchange mailboxes.
SCI's latest review of Microsoft's Exchange Solution Review Program (ESRP) performance results.
SCI's latest analysis of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation's System File Server (SPECsfs® 2008) benchmark results.
Spectra Logic now has the largest tape library complex available within a single pass-thru regime. As such the initial library is expandable up to 30K LTO tape cartridge slots and up to 4 T-Finity library systems can be attached together to support over 122K tape cartridge slots.


As part of our range of Easy Switches blog posts, we'll be looking at the more simple things you can do to transform your bathroom. In this article, we'll show you how easy it is spruce up your bathroom space with shower wall panels.
When choosing your bathroom wall coverings, there are several options you could choose. However, in splash zones, like the internal walls of your shower enclosure, the area above your bath and the space behind your basin, you will need a more watertight solution that offers better protection.
Many people opt for tiles, as they offer a very hardwearing surface that is impervious to water. However, these days, many more people are choosing shower wall panels which can also be used right around your bathroom.
Quick and easy installation—can be fitted up to 6 times faster than tiles, with no need for a specialist tiler.
Whether you are simply updating the internal walls of your shower enclosure or working right around your bathroom, you'll need to know how much space you'll need to cover.
Made from 10mm rigid PVC, the shower wall panels from Orchard Bathrooms come in a range of simple yet stylish designs, including gloss white and marble-effect. Ensure you purchase your Orchard installation kit and profiles for a professional installation.
Available in a selection of fresh, contemporary designs, from simple Snow Drift to Rustic Brick, the Economy range offers you uncompromising quality at an affordable price.
Bringing both sophistication and elegance to your interiors, the Classic range comes in a wide variety of colours, styles and shades. Available with the unique Hydrolock edge which locks panels into place for an almost seamless appearance.
If you have a traditional style bathroom, the Heritage range is the perfect choice. With a selection of relaxed colours, these panels exude calm and serenity. They are also available with the Hydrolock system for easy installation.
Known for her appearances on the BBC TV show Changing Rooms, Linda Barker has worked with Multipanel to create a stylish collection of designer wall panels. Featuring marble, granite and wood-effect designs, they are so realistic, you'll want to reach out and touch them.
1. Economy. 2. Classic. 3. Heritage. 4. Linda Barker.
Multipanel profiles are also available, in silver, white and black, along with high grab adhesive and sealant.
If you are looking to introduce bold colours into your décor, Zenolite is a great choice. Made from acrylic, which has 20 times the impact strength of glass, yet only half the weight, it gives a mirror reflection high gloss finish. Highly resistant to scratches and impervious to moisture. Even stands up to harsh chemicals. Choose red, green, blue, black and white, along with colour-matched profiles and end caps and an installation kit.
Once you've picked your shower wall panels and ordered them, they will be carefully delivered by experienced couriers.
Prior to installation, it is strongly recommended that you condition your panels, by laying them down flat in the bathroom in which they will be fitted (or a similar environment) for a period of between 48–72 hours. Don't rest them at an angle against walls, or between supporting structures.
In this guide, we're using Orchard wall panels and installation kit. Installation instructions may vary slightly depending on which brand and design you choose. So, always consult the instruction manual when installing your product.
The installation kit should include fitting guide, dual-purpose clear adhesive sealant, a roll of foam tape, sanding pad, tile spacers and a silicone finishing tool.
Watch the video below and follow the step-by-step instructions.
Measure the area where the wall panels will be fitted. This includes both horizontally and vertically. Wall panels can be fitted over multiple surfaces, like tiles and plasterboard.
Take your panel and lay it flat on supports with the front facing up, then mark out the cutting lines on the panel. Strips of masking tape will help protect the edges while cutting the panels down to the required size.
Using the electric saw, carefully remove the excess wall panel. Remember, to use the safety goggles when using these tools. We'll be using the chrome trims to give a nice clean finish to our edges. So, we are removing the tongue and groove join from both sides of the panel. Some trims may have to be screwed in using a screwdriver or power drill.
Take a sanding pad and run this along all the cut edges. This will create a smooth finish and remove any debris. Now, flip the panel over and use the sanding pad to rough up the surface. This will allow the sealant to form a stronger bond.
To fit the panels together, we are using the corner trim piece. Add a small bead of sealant to the wall and place the corner piece into position. Place tile spacers underneath the location of the wall panel. This will allow for sealant to be added afterwards. We are now ready to apply the sealant to the rear side of the wall.
Begin by laying 3 parallel strips of foam tape along the entire length of the board. Then apply the sealant, first with a thin line down either side, then zig-zag the top and bottom for greater coverage. Finish with large circles of sealant, to make sure it's spread evenly.
Now we're going to fit the end trim piece to the board. Add some sealant to the inside of the trim, as well as the very edge of the wall panel. Then position the trim in place. After adding some sealant to the corner trim piece, remove the backing layer from the foam tape.
Lift the panel into position and slide into the corner piece at an angle. This prevents the tape from sticking to the wall until the panel is in the correct position.
Repeat the process with the remaining wall panels, again ensuring they are correctly positioned before smoothing down firmly. If you want a less visible join, you can make use of the tongue and groove joins. By adding some masking tape here, we can keep a nice, neat finish when applying the sealant.
Slide into place and remove the tape. Finish the join by running the silicone finishing tool along the groove.
Use the same technique when sealing the panels to the floor. A little sealant and you're done.
Wall panels are a quick and easy alternative to tiles. Add in some fantastic VictoriaPlum.com products and your bathroom makeover is complete. If you need further inspiration, check out more wall panel styles on our site, like the one pictured below.
Why not browse our wide range of shower wall panels from brands such as Orchard Bathrooms, Multipanel and Zenolite.
If you're looking for more quick and easy ways to update your bathroom, take a look at our Easy Switches and Modern Fixes hub for ideas and advice.
Looking to tile your bathroom or kitchen? Our handy step-by-step DIY guide will give you all the help you need when tiling your home.


text:
Q: Said of or said for
The same can be said for minorities

Or

The same can be said of minorities

Yes. I havent provided enough context because i m not sure which preposition to use. So can u guys provide context and insight on how to know which preposition to use? You guys can give new examples too.

A: Said of = said about them (good or bad).
Said for = said in their favour. "That idea has a lot to be said for it" (it's a good idea).


text:
@implementation MainModuleAPI

+ (UITabBarController *)rootTabBarController {
    return [MYTabBarController shareInstance];
}

+ (void)addChildVC: (UIViewController *)childVC normalImageName: (NSString *)normalImageName selectedImageName:(NSString *)selectedImageName isRequiredNavController: (BOOL)isRequired {
    [[MYTabBarController shareInstance] addChildVC:childVC normalImageName:normalImageName selectedImageName:selectedImageName isRequiredNavController:isRequired];
}

+ (void)setGlobalBackGroundImage: (UIImage *)glbalImage {
    [MYNavigationBar setGlobalBackGroundImage:glbalImage];
}

+ (void)setGlobalTextColor: (UIColor *)globalColor andFontSize: (CGFloat)fontSize {
    [MYNavigationBar setGlobalTextColor:globalColor andFontSize:fontSize];
}

+ (void)setTabbarMiddleBtnClickBlock:(void (^)(BOOL))middleClickBlock {
    MYTabBar *tabBar = (MYTabBar *)[MYTabBarController shareInstance].tabBar;
    tabBar.middleClickBlock = middleClickBlock;
}
@end


The Horse Shoe Inn has a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits. We source local beer from Hadrian and Border Brewery with Farne Island Real Ale always a good tipple.
Whether sitting in the cosy bar, by the fire or in Beer Garden during the sunny summer months. The views from the garden span across the pretty countryside making it a relaxing and peaceful escape.


text:
Deposing and Cross-Examining Orthopedists, Neurologists, and Other Medical Experts
Tailor Your Questions and Techniques
6 Hours 3 Minutes
Select a State Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Texas Vermont Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
The doctor's deposition is often a crucial turning point in the case. Without a good understanding of the medicine, it's easy for attorneys to ask the wrong questions and lose control. This unique program will help you understand medicine and different areas of expertise so you can identify opportunities and ask more targeted, powerful questions during depositions or cross-examination. Get better results - register today!
Build your understanding of basic medicine and areas of medical expertise.
Review key diagnostic tools doctors use and what their limitations are.
Get tips for investigating medical experts and finding information to undermine their credibility.
Learn how to spot red flags in doctor reports and opinions.
Discover key questions you should always (and never) ask different medical specialists.
Orthopedic Physician Depositions and Cross-Examination
Brain Injuries: Deposing Neurologists and Neuropsychologists
Deposing Physiatrists and Other Rehabilitation Experts
Radiologists: Deposition and Cross-Examination Insights
Deposing the Pain Management Physician
Cross-Examining Psychiatrists and Psychologists
Critical Questions to Ask Other Types of Medical Experts
Agenda / Content Covered
All times are shown in Eastern time.
11:00 - 11:45, Jacob D. Born
Mechanics of the Spine and Spinal Injuries
Orthopedics Primer and Authoritative Resources
Diagnostic Tools and Limitations
Reports and Opinions: What to Look for
Investigating the Expert
Areas Ripe for Challenge
Key Questions to Ask (and Questions to Avoid)
Challenging Credentials, Methodologies, and Opinions
11:45 - 12:30, Brian M. Sullivan
Brain Injuries 101
Neurology and Neuropsychology Primer and Authoritative Resources
12:45 - 1:30, Jacob D. Born
The Musculoskeletal System 101
Physiatry Primer and Authoritative Resources
1:30 - 2:15, Mark S. Kardos
Radiology Primer and Authoritative Resources
Medical Imaging Techniques and Their Limitations
2:45 - 3:30, Barry M. Snyder
Pain Management Primer and Authoritative Resources
4:15 - 5:00, Ezra L. Finkle
Emergency Room Physicians
Occupational Medicine Physicians
Life Care Planners and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Medical Examiners
Preparing vs. Improperly Coaching Witnesses
Advocacy vs. Misrepresentation: Applying ABA Model Rules
When Aggressive Litigation Tactics Cross the Ethical Line
Legal Ethics of Social Media and Data Mining
Accreditation Details:
Jacob D Born is a partner with Chappell, Smith & Arden where he practices in the areas of nursing home abuse and neglect, trucking, wrongful death, industrial worksite, and catastrophic injury litigation. Mr. Born is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of South Carolina and Georgia. He is a member of the American Association of Justice, South Carolina Association for Justice, and Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Ezra L Finkle is a partner with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in the firm's Houston office. He is a member of the general liability and transportation practices. Mr. Finkle has trial experience. He has obtained numerous dismissals by way of summary judgment and has had unfavorable rulings overturned by review and/or appeal. Mr. Finkle has taken and defended numerous depositions. He has published legal updates in both the fields of employment and medical malpractice law. Mr. Finkle earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Tulane University. He is a graduate of both the NITA Building Trial Skills program and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy.
Mark S Kardos is the principal in the Law Offices of Kardos & Goch, where he has litigated personal injury cases in Philadelphia for more than 42 years with several verdicts published in the Pennsylvania Jury Reporter and The Verdict (publication of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association). He also serves as a judge pro tem for the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Mr. Kardos earned his B.S. degree from Millersville University and his J.D. degree from the University of Baltimore Law School.
Barry M Snyder is the owner of The Law Office of Barry M. Snyder, P.A. He has more than 40 years of litigation experience focusing in the fields of personal injury, wrongful death, and criminal defense. Mr. Snyder is a board certified civil trial lawyer, mediator and qualified arbitrator. He is admitted to practice in Florida as well as Federal Court - Southern Middle, Northern districts. Mr. Snyder is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association; committee member of the Miami-Dade Branch of Professionalism for Attorneys; past guest speaker at University of Miami Law School, St. Thomas Law School, and Miami-Dade College and is a trial consultant with Trial Consultants Inc. He is also a former past president of the North Dade Bar Association. Mr. Snyder earned his B.A. degree from the University of Miami and his J.D. degree from the University of New Hampshire Law School (Franklin Pierce Law Center).
Brian M Sullivan is an attorney from Everett, Washington, practicing personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on automobile crashes, neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults, and dangerous premises injuries. He also takes a select few criminal matters. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Snohomish & Skagit County bar associations, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National College for DUI Defense, and Washington State Bar Association. He received his B.A. degree from Santa Clara University and his J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law.
Live Video Webinar
Pain and Suffering Damages in Personal Injury: Plaintiff and Defense Tactics
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern
Mini Med School for Attorneys
Qty 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
If you aren't satisfied with a seminar or training resource, call or write to us within 60 days of program attendance or product receipt, and we'll make it right.
49 Credit Options Available
Key Medical Expert Deposition and Cross-Examination Tactics
Stay in Control and Elicit the Testimony You Need
Personal Injury & Negligence
Traumatic Brain Injury Cases 101: Plaintiff, Defense, and Doctor Perspectives
Get Answers From a Doctor on Traumatic Brain Injuries
HIPAA Rules and Updates 2023
The Latest on Enforcement Trends, Telehealth Risks, and the Information-Blocking Rules
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern
Minor Impact Soft Tissue Injury (MIST) Case Strategies
Get Your Clients the Compensation They Deserve (Without Breaking the Bank)
The Brain, Explained: An Attorney's Guide
Neuropsychologist and Seasoned Attorney Insights on Brain Injuries and PTSD


text:
Q: How is this type annotation working in React code without TypeScript? I was looking at this code example on the ReactRouter page, and this piece is interesting:
const PrivateRoute = ({ component: Component, ...rest }) => (
  <Route
    {...rest}
    render={props =>
      fakeAuth.isAuthenticated ? (
        <Component {...props} />
      ) : (
        <Redirect
          to={{
            pathname: "/login",
            state: { from: props.location }
          }}
        />
      )
    }
  />
);

The component: Component part looks like a type annotation. Webstorm didn't complain when I put this example into an empty file, but I didn't see them using Flow or TypeScript or anything in the imports.
Does JavaScript have Type Annotation already? I didn't see anything on MDN about this when I searched, and also React doesn't automatically provide type annotation either from what I learned...

A: It's not a type annotation. It's a ES6 feature called destructuring rest parameters:
First consider this example: (destructuring assignment)
const test = myObject.prop
// prop can be assigned in a variable
const { prop } = myObject
// but we want prop as a test variable
// and can be written as
const { prop: test } = myObject
// which is similar to first line
console.log(test)

This is how we can pass in the parameters:
({ component, ...rest })

// We're giving component name as Component

({ component: Component, ...rest })

So, that you can use <Component /> as you know lowercase component <component /> is invalid in react.

Furthermore, I would suggest you to deep dive into the following blogs:
Hackernoon: Understanding the destructuring assignment
JavaScript Info: Destructuring assignment
Codeburst: Destructuring assignment the complete guide
Dev.to: Destructuring assignment - array
Dev.to: Destructuring assignment - object

A: What you are seeing is not a type annotation, but a property in an object pattern. Let's simplify your example to help see what is going on.
Here's a function that is easy to understand:
f = (h) => [h.x, h.y]

The function f takes in an object h and returns an array with h.x and h.y. Now in modern JavaScript one does not have to pass in an object and break it all apart in the function body. Instead, we make the parameter section of the function be a pattern so that we don't need to bother with that h variable at all. So we could rewrite it like this (in a way that parallels your example):
f = ({x: xValue, y: yValue}) => [xValue, yValue]

So, exactly like before, you can pass to f any object that has x and y properties and it will return an array of the values at those properties.
Here it is in action:
> f = (h) => [h.x, h.y]
[Function: f]
> f({x:1, y:2, z:3})
[ 1, 2 ]
> f = ({x: xValue, y: yValue}) => [xValue, yValue]
[Function: f]
> f({x:1, y:2, z:3})
[ 1, 2 ]

As an aside, normally one would skip the xValue and yValue part and have:
f = ({x: x, y: y}) => [x, y]

which due to shorthand property notation is just:
f = ({x, y}) => [x, y]

but as @BhojendraRauniyar writes in another answer, there are capitalization conventions in the framework this code is being used with.


text:
Vivo Y3 with 5000mAh battery launched for around Rs. 15,000
oi-Abhinaya Prabhu
Vivo Y3 is now official with triple cameras and a capacious battery.
By Abhinaya Prabhu
| Published: Saturday, May 18, 2019, 15:02 [IST]
Vivo is definitely on a launch spree as it introduces many new smartphones into the market. The latest one from the company is the Vivo Y3 announced in its home market China. After several rumors and speculations, this smartphone has been listed on JD.com and the official Vivo website in the country revealing all the details. However, there is no word regarding when the device will be launched outside of China.
Well, the listing on the online retailer site shows that there will be only one variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage space priced at 1498 yuan (approx. Rs. 15,000). On the other hand, the product page listing on the official website lists it for 1500 yuan, which is almost the same. These listing show that the smartphone will be launched in Peach Pink and Peacock Blue color options.
Vivo Y3 specifications
When it comes to specifications, the Vivo Y3 runs Android Pie topped with the latest iteration of its custom ROM, Funtouch OS 9. The smartphone is fitted with a 6.35-inch HD+ display with a waterdrop notch, a resolution of 1544 x 720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.3:9. Under its hood, the smartphone employes an octa-core MediaTek P35 SoC coupled with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage space, which can be expanded further using a microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB additional storage space.
Vivo Y3 flaunts triple cameras at its rear with a 13MP primary sensor with f/2.2 aperture, an 8MP secondary ultra-wide angle lens with 120-degree field of view and a 2MP depth sensor. The selfie camera is a 16MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.0 and face unlock feature. The Vivo smartphone comes with standard connectivity features such as 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth, a 3.5mm head phone jack and a micro USB port. It USP of this smartphone is the presence of a juicy 5000mAh battery with support for dual-engine fast charging technology.
Alleged Vivo Smartphone With 55W Quick Charging Gets 3C Certification
Vivo Z1 Pro, Z1x Price Slashed By Rs. 1,000 In India: All You Need To Know
Vivo V1950A Spotted On TENAA Listing With Snapdragon 865 And Dual-Mode 5G Support
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Story first published: Saturday, May 18, 2019, 15:02 [IST]
Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha First Look: Blurring The Line Between Concept And Mainstream Smartphones


With the Dalai Lama set to meet President Obama later this week, more political fireworks can be expected just days after the Chinese New Year. US-China relations have been stormy over recent weeks, with Beijing and Washington trading barbs over Taiwan and Google, disagreeing over policy on Iran, North Korea, and bickering over exchange rates, among a range of contentious political and economic issues.
But the officially atheist politburo in Beijing might take it as an auspicious sign that this is the Year of the Tiger. China has fared relatively well amid the global economic downturn, and with the US bogged down with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Obama's domestic reform agenda running into sand, Beijing might want to test American mettle as the perceived gap between the two countries narrows.
Obama dodged a bullet when shunning an opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama last year. But one year into an administration that has been dogged by accusations of softness and conflicting signals in foreign policy, a meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader will add to Obama's attempt at an image makeover. With his healthcare reform program stalling, he needs some public display of foreign policy backbone, just weeks after Republican Scott Brown took the Massachusetts senate seat left vacant after the death of Ted Kennedy.
Obama was the first US president to visit China during his first year in office, and he spent 2009 trying to charm or accommodate or appease (depending on your viewpoint) China's Hu Jintao.
However, Obama was largely rebuffed on issues such as the value of the yuan, North Korea, human rights in China and dealing with Iran. The year culminated in the farcical Copenhagen climate summit, when Hu Jintao sent minor officials to meet the US president, who then had to barge into a meeting led by Hu and involving the leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa, which the Chinese sought to stage without the Americans knowing.
The US recently sold Taipei US $6.4 billion worth of military equipment in a deal that was lined up for months in advance. Contrived verbal exchanges ensued, with the Chinese foreign minister telling the American ambassador in Beijing that the United States would be responsible for "serious repercussions" if the sale was not cancelled, and China's state-backed media laying into the US for its perceived transgressions.
Meeting the Dalai Lama will garner Obama some kudos from across the American political spectrum, from conservatives who want to see him stand up to China, to liberals and activists who work on Tibet advocacy.
China upped the ante, however, by mooting sanctions for American firms doing business in China, a somewhat pointed response alluding to American attempts to prompt Beijing into backing sanctions on Iran, fresh from marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. China quietly sanctioned several U.S. companies for participating in such weapons sales in the past. However, it would mark a major change if China makes the list public and includes companies such as Boeing, which sells billions of dollars of airplanes in China each year.
With China riding out the global economic storm better than the US, a new-found confidence is being exhibited in Beijing, with more strident rhetoric implying that China should challenge the US coming out of state-funded think-tanks and media. This type of talk is contrary to the posture advocated by Deng after 1989. He counselled: "Observe developments soberly, maintain our position, meet challenges calmly, hide our capacities, bide our time, remain free of ambitions and never claim leadership." Similar words to those in "The Art of War," the classic Chinese handbook on military strategy which advises that success comes not simply through brute, military force, but through oblique means, using stealth and even deception.
China recently overtook Germany to become the world's biggest exporter and may have already overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest economy. Last May, Australia's defense white paper analyzed Canberra's options in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming decades, as US power declines relative to that of China. Arms spending is up in Southeast Asia, as Asean countries react to growing Chinese influence and assertiveness, and wonder about the long-term US commitment to the region.
China is exerting a growing influence across Africa and in Central Asia, funding infrastructure projects and providing cheap grants and loans, in return for preferential access to natural resources and running a parallel diplomatic and economic track to the Western, aid agency-driven "development" paradigm, which has not improved conditions in much of Africa.
It is not just the US that is getting the sharp end of Chinese diplomacy. In autumn 2008, China canceled a summit with the European Union after French President Nicolas Sarkozy met with the the Dalai Lama. Before that, it had denounced German Chancellor Angela Merkel over her contacts with the Tibetan spiritual leader. Smaller countries have been humiliated: China suspended ties with Denmark after its prime minister met the Dalai Lama and resumed them only after the Danish government issued a statement saying it would oppose Tibetan independence and consider Beijing's reaction before inviting him again.
Chief among those is China. But while Chinese geo-political weight is bound to increase in the coming decades, the stark facts show that it is a long way from challenging the US, even though Deng-style obfuscation could mean that China is downplaying its defence spending and military capabilities.
On the other hand, various analysts have written about how Chinese officials at local levels routinely lie about economic production, giving inflated numbers to keep bosses in Beijing happy. It is hard to know the real story, and therefore it is difficult to analyze the true nature and implications of China's rise.
To assume that China will overtake the US in 20 to 30 years, as some speculate, is to presume that the impressive Chinese economic growth of the past three decades can be maintained. Growth comes easier when coming from the relatively low base of late-70s China, reeling from the Mao era and destruction wrought by the Cultural Revolution.
China's aging and imbalanced population—the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC estimated that China will have to support 400 million elderly by 2040—means Beijing will find it hard to maintain the magic 8 percent target number for annual growth, seen as necessary to maintain social stability. With an estimated 90,000 annual "mass incidents," as Chinese security forces label protests, stability cannot be taken for granted in the longer term.
The depth of animosity between the two countries can be overplayed. Both need each other to ensure that the global economic crisis is overcome. But talk of the emergence of "Chimerica"—a sort of mutual dependency between the the US and China that means both sides will cherish stability over rivalry—is Panglossian. There are fundamental differences between how the two countries are governed and how they see the world.
China will work within the existing international order, such as it is, to the extent that it suits China. But where this conflicts with Chinese interests, Beijing will look for an alternative. The recent Copenhagen climate summit was case in point. To some extent, China sees Western exhortations to act "responsibly" in Africa or with regard to Burma, Iran or North Korea, as cover for the West asking China to emasculate itself.
Rising powers do not usually allow themselves to be constrained by the norms and institutions set up by those they are trying to rival or even replace.
And amid the struggles in the West to cope with the global economic downturn, China now can portray its authoritarian state capitalist model as one to be emulated, irrespective of the implications for human rights and democracy in China and beyond.
Just ask Google, which has threatened to leave China due to censorship and alleged state hacking of its e-mail service. And just ask Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident whose 11-year jail sentence was upheld last week, for his role in organizing the Charter 08 plea for democracy in China.


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The issuance of the FSER for VC Summer is a significant positive step forward in our stated goal of providing carbon free energy to the state of South Carolina," said Bill Timmerman, Chairman and CEO of SCANA.
Previously, the NRC staff issued the FSER for the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design that SCE&G selected for the new units.
The issuance of the FSER for the AP1000 design is a monumental step on the journey towards construction of the next wave of nuclear reactors in the United States," said Bill Timmerman, Chairman and CEO of SCANA.
Previously, the NRC staff concluded that SCE&G's application for a combined operating license is complete and provided a revised schedule supporting the issuance of the FSER for SCE&G's units in September 2011.
After the NRC's review is complete, the FSER for the AP1000 certified design will be issued.
The FSER and FDA mark a crucial step forward for the ESBWR's global commercial prospects.


If you have been assigned to cover the festival by a mainstream media outlet, we have likely arranged access for you.
If you are uncertain about your accreditation, please send your request for access to Joe Reilly at folkfestmedia@hotmail.com.
The media organization you are working for; the format (broadcast, print or on-line).
How you plan to preview the festival so your readers, viewers, followers know about the CityFolk Festival before it happens.
How you plan to present your coverage (review, feature, blog, etc.).
The dates for which you are requesting access (not the acts, the dates please).
The number of passes you require (if more than one, why more than one?).
The readership, viewership, listenership for your media outlet (if website or blog, how many hits are you receiving? Sending along a screenshot of your Google Analytics will go a long way towards authenticating your claims.).
Please be brief in your explanations.
Media access is for general admission areas only and does not provide access to special seating areas, backstage, photo pits, etc.
We will be in touch if you have been granted accreditation or if we have any questions.
You must sign a waiver when you are granted a photo pass. This waiver does not guarantee pit access for major acts. The purpose of the waiver is to confirm that you will ONLY be using the respective artist images that you are permitted to capture for your media outlet only and that those images will not be available for sale to third parties. Freelance photographers will not be accredited.
A media photographer's pass is good for General Admission (GA) access with SLR cameras (typically not permitted onsite). Photo pit access granted with these passes is a privilege that is NOT guaranteed. When permitted, photo pit access is for the first three songs (no flash) for most performances, with the exception of headline acts.
For headliners, access to the photo pit is widely restricted to major media outlets with a minimum of 10,000 daily readers, pending tour management's approval.
Photo calls for major acts will take place each night, 15-30 minutes before the acts hit the stage. Access to front-of-stage photo areas will NOT be granted until approved by artist management. Please remember that these restrictions are often imposed due to safety concerns and are ultimately decided by tour management, not festival organizers.
If you are affiliated with a band or artist and shooting for them, then you must obtain access to the festival site and passes to shoot the act via the band. We will not be accepting requests from freelancers assigned to photograph bands or from filmmakers.


The rapper's Revival world tour reaches the UK this summer.
Eminem has announced two massive UK shows are part of his Revival world tour.
The rapper will bring his hit-packed show to Twickenham Stadium in London on July 14 and 15.
The tour is in support of his latest album, Revival, which debuted at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart last December and includes the chart-topping single River. The record's UK combined sales and streams currently stand at 233,000.
The tour comes off the back of his triumphant set at Reading and Leeds Festivals last year, while in 2014, he became the first rapper to sell out Wembley Stadium.
Eminem is the most successful rapper on the UK charts, with nine Number 1 singles and eight chart-topping albums. Look back at his complete chart history here.
Tickets for the two London shows go on sale at 9am, on Friday, February 2.
Check out Eminem's biggest singles on the Official Chart here - it makes for a dream tour setlist.


text:
Final Fantasy •
Wot I Think - Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
An absolute bangaa
Features Editor
9th February 2018 / 9:00PM
There's a race of beings in Final Fantasy XII called the Bangaa. They have the snout of a crocodile, the squat of an ape and the arms of an entire gymnasium. Their ears are colourful leathery drapes, their lips adorned with piercings and trinkets. One of them, a shopkeeper called Migelo, resembles a rehabilitated Watto. Others are menacing bounty hunters. But they all have strange voices. Not otherworldly or fantastical, I mean strange in the sense that the voice actors can't decide between a Scottish, Jamaican or West Country accent, and often speak as hackneyed villains. In a lot of ways, these scaly people encapsulate how I feel about this late-to-the-PC-party JRPG. They are both good-looking and incredulous. Flawed works of biological art that I can't help but like, even when my better judgement often says "no".
It's difficult to describe the joys of a Final Fantasy to those who only see the flashing colours and bright numbers, the sewer levels and the prison escapes. The twelfth incarnation holds few surprises and its age shows. You are tasked with killing a fetch quest of rats within the first half an hour. That fifteen – sorry, XV – of these monstrosities of language and graphics have been brought into existence is sometimes baffling. And yet to me playing a Final Fantasy game is still a happy experience, like putting your sticky fingers deep into a pick 'n' mix of sugary JRPG nonsense. Here's the liquorice katana. And look, a strawberry crystal. I will probably feel sick after this, because there's always too much in this bag. But will I stop scoffing these chocolate chocobos? No.
To explain some basics, FFXII takes place in a world where Star Wars collides with Aladdin. You are Vaan, a skinny orphan thief with big dreams. You make friends with sky pirates, rebels, a princess and, uh, a rabbit woman in lingerie. The usual cast. You get into trouble early, and are thrown into a sandy prison pit, where Balthier (Han Solo with a better vocabulary) chides you for reacting in horror at a dead body. "Relax," he says. "It's just a corpse." Between the scene-setting and quest-getting you'll be fighting men in armour and hunting monsters in a semi-open world. It's tropey, dopey and sometimes mopey, and shares the curse of the RPG in general: your adventure only really begins when you escape your hometown.
In this way (and others) it is a time vampire. It takes about 4 hours just to get to the interesting cogs of the battling – the gambit system. Fighting slimes is not turn-based here, but it isn't exactly real-time either. You program your warriors and mages to follow set instructions, called 'gambits'. For example, you can tell your black mage to target fire-weak monsters with a big flame, or your white mage to cure anyone who falls below 30% health.
These are simpler examples. Later, you'll buy gambits that let you target enemies who pass a specific threshold of health or magical power, or gambits that will help automatically rid your mages of the pesky 'silence' status. The game at this point becomes about balancing and tweaking these simple 'if-then-else' lists to deal with new enemies. A mimic queen absorbs lightning, so you'd better swap one gambit for another. A flan creep makes everyone blind, so you'll have to invent a new gambit to cope. You're essentially an off-screen engineer, fighting every boss with a bunch of magic Roombas. Although that sounds ridiculous, it's more interesting to me than the old method of punching through turn-based menus. And if it really irks you, you can turn it off completely. There are other things to know about classes, battling and baked-in cheats, but I'll let our Spawn Point article explain those.
Twelve years after it's appearance on PlayStation, however, the gambit system remains an odd halfway house. It seeks action-heavy combat yet never truly leaves the old way of the series behind. This is FFXII's defining characteristic. It's an RPG encased in amber, caught between the classicism of previous games and the action of the new age. It's perhaps more interesting as a piece of history, a transitory relic for completionist fans (or a warm soak for trope-bathers like myself) than a game for those seeking an entrance or re-introduction to Final Fantasy. Alternatively, it's a good place to discover wonderfully over-written bestiary entries. Eg. the "mighty cockatrice".
The world itself elicits mixed emotions. The palaces, streets and deserts often feel indistinct, thanks to simplistic, maze-like level design. There's a lot of map-checking and less learning your way around by sight. The old marketplaces and cobblestone villages of FFVII and its generation were static but they were beautifully illustrated. Here, the best art is relegated to the character design, the scaly Bangaas, piggish Seeqs, cat-like Revs and antagonistic Judges.
Not that the edifices of this Arabian Nights styled world are artless – every tile is covered in looping, geometric designs – but the way its bazaars and aerodromes are put together often feels less hand-crafted and more MMOish.
There are other off-putting elements. Despite it being one of only three Final Fantasies I have actually seen through to the deicidal end, it still drags its heels getting to the good parts, serving up long corridors or monster-peppered forests to roam and grind within. To make the most of the tale, it takes setting your pain threshold for this merciless, old-fashioned RPG design to 'high'. My own threshold when it comes to Final Fantasy drops off at 'Any part of FFXIII' and those knowledgeable about the series can decide for themselves what that means.
To grant further context, the way I feel about Final Fantasy is how I imagine others feel about soap opera. It's a sweet-smelling heap of biowaste, but I've been wading through it too long to imagine living any other way. I still smile at all the badly translated jibes, I still get invested when Vaan leaps on a prisoner's cage and shouts "You killed my brother!" Or when this group of misfits strap themselves into the cockpit of an airship in a clear nod to the seating arrangement of the Millennium Falcon.
The sky cities intrigue me, the kidnappers goad me. The empire, against which your band of outlaws is pitted, enflames my childish sense of justice. I see the recurring characters of Biggs and Wedge as the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of gaming, and understand myself to be an absurd person who now writes apologia instead of reviews. Sorry.
In summary, I'd happily recommend FFXII to a particular type of person. This Star Aladdin tale is simplistic, bright-faced and sodden in the familiar grease of the series. I wouldn't hand it to anyone seeking an entrance to this sugary universe (for that I'd still tell them to brave the middle-aged editions VII, VIII or IX, which – despite their age – remain the best chance a non-follower has of understanding the Final Fanatic). It's also absurdly overpriced at the time of writing, costing £35, which seems steep for a game as old as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. But when a sale comes along I will be the first to invite all ye completionist trope-soakers to partake, to wade around in this sweet trash heap one more time, listening to the guttural Scots-Cornish-Caribbean of my old friends, the Bangaa.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is out now on Windows via Steam for £34.99/$50/€50.
Tagged with feature, review, wot i think, Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Square Enix.
Games wot we mentioned above
Brendan likes all types of games. To him there is wisdom in Crusader Kings 2, valour in Dark Souls, and tragicomedy in Nidhogg.
Teamfight Tactics patch 9.14 changes
This Witcher 3 HD texture mod is impressive?


A cartridge that will perform when your requirements are most demanding. Each cartridge produces solid blacks and vibrant colors for eye-catching graphics. Increase productivity and reduce costs when each cartridge delivers value and dependability. Every cartridge offers a fine quality that everyone should experience. Device Types: Laser Printer; Color(s): Cyan; Page-Yield: 1500; Supply Type: Toner.
Why buy Brother TN110C TN110C Toner, Cyan from Printerbazaar?


This massive 18 foot tall water slide will bring hours of excitement to any event. This is good for adults and children.
The giant beautiful palm trees and a full sized pool really make this an exceptional 26'L and 13'W inflatable.


Bradshaw Hall Speech & Language Centre is a specialist provision offering time limited places (1-2 years) for primary aged children with severe speech and language difficulties. These may be with expressive language, receptive language or severe speech sound difficulties.
The centre offers flexible, small group teaching by experienced and qualified staff. Teaching sessions focus on listening and attending, they often involve play and social interaction and are tailored to encourage the development of each pupil's language skills. The teaching programme follows the national curriculum, including literacy and numeracy and is well differentiated to meet individual pupil needs. Children join with their mainstream peers for some lessons each week and receive daily speech therapy sessions.
Progress is carefully monitored with a gradual increase in mainstream class-based teaching, with support as necessary, as the children near the end of their placement. This ensures they are well prepared for a return to their own school.
The Speech & Language Centre does not provide therapy or support for children in the mainstream of the school – the sole focus is on meeting the needs of the children who have been referred to the centre.
The documents below outline the content of the curriculum in the Speech and Language Centre. The curriculum is organised into two cycles; the 2014-2015 school year is cycle 1.
For more detailed information, read the SEN Information Report for the Speech & Language Centre If you would like more information or to visit the centre please contact centre manager and school SENCO Louise McGlone on 282 7858 ext 3.