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Politics 2021-01-18T00:47:20Z
A massive pro-Trump protest was expected. The Humvees waited, and rolled away at 5 sharp.
In capital cities across the country, officials warned that Sunday could bring throngs of armed protesters. Only a few disappointed people showed up.
Election 2020 Icon Stars and the year 2020 icon that represents the 2020 election Politics 2021-01-17T15:02:42Z
Play icon A circle surrounding a triangle pointing right. It indicates, "this type of media can be played."
We noticed symbols that represent conspiracy theories, white supremacy, and Trump-infused brand of Christianity.
2 women seen punching people in a viral social media video the night before the pro-Trump attempted coup have been charged with assault
A protest by pro-Trump supporters in Washington, DC, became a brawl the night before the insurrection at the US Capitol on Wednesday.
'They've killed us for less!': Black activists slam the disparity between responses to BLM demonstrators and pro-Trump rioters who breached US Capitol
"I'm remembering being brutalized and treated like a domestic terrorist just for protesting to keep my people alive," Rep. and BLM activist Cori Bush tweeted.
Shocking photos show pro-Trump rioters in the Capitol stealing memorabilia and breaking into the desks of lawmakers
Rioters sat in Vice President Mike Pence's chair in the Senate Chamber, vandalized congressional offices, and appeared to loot items like podiums.
Hundreds of people marched in Minneapolis after 23-year-old Dolal Idd was shot and killed at a traffic stop
Dolal Idd was fatally shot at a gun sting that turned violent. His death sparked backlash from local activists over police conduct.
Washington, DC, authorities called in the National Guard and banned guns ahead of Wednesday's election protest Trump said will be 'wild'
Mayor Muriel Bowser asked Washington, DC, residents to avoid the city's downtown and confrontations with anyone who is "looking for a fight."
Minneapolis police shot a man dead at a traffic stop in the first department killing since George Floyd
The man, who was identified by family as Dolal Idd, was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman in the car was uninjured.
Proud Boys chairman says he is 'damn proud' of burning the Black Lives Matter banner of a historic Black church after Trump march
A pastor of the historic DC church likened the sign burning to a hate symbol. "For me it was reminiscent of cross burnings," Rev. Ianther Mills wrote.
Boogaloo Bois member pleads guilty to conspiracy to provide weapons and resources to US-designated terrorist group Hamas
According to documents filed in court, Benjamin Teeter sought to employ himself as a mercenary for Hamas and sell the group weapons modifiers.
New York City police charged a 52-year-old woman after a car rammed into a group of pedestrians near ICE protest in Manhattan
Kathleen Casillo, a 52-year-old woman from Queens, New York, is facing a reckless endangerment charge after six people were injured.
A driver rammed a vehicle into a group of protesters marching against ICE detainments in New York City
Multiple people protesting ICE detainments in New York City on Friday were struck by a vehicle in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan.
International 2020-11-29T05:33:35Z
Artists say the Cuban government agreed to dialogue and greater tolerance following a rare protest in a country where dissent is not accepted
The demonstration, and the government's response, is unusual in a country whose government has historically had little tolerance for open protest.
Thousands protested across France over a bill that would restrict sharing images of police officers, days after footage surfaced of officers beating a Black man
Protests started in response to a bill that would make it a criminal offense to share images of on-duty police officers with the intent to cause harm.
Sports 2020-11-27T16:19:31Z
USWNT players will wear 'Black Lives Matter' warm-ups ahead of their first game in 261 days
In a video released by the team, players explained that the decision to wear the words "Black Lives Matter" across their chests "is not political."
The death of a Black man beaten by security guards at a supermarket in Brazil is being compared to George Floyd's
Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas said that "he could not breathe" while supermarket security guards beat him Thursday, reports say.
Megan Rapinoe suspects white people were angry that she kneeled in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick because they saw it as 'betraying their race'
In her new memoir — "One Life" — US Women's National Team star Megan Rapinoe discusses her decision to kneel in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick.
Hundreds of marchers peacefully rallied in downtown Chicago to demand that every vote counts as Trump calls to stop counting ballots
On Wednesday, groups rallied in front of Trump Tower in Chicago to demand that every vote be counted.
Election 2020 Icon Stars and the year 2020 icon that represents the 2020 election News 2020-11-01T16:43:18Z
Beverly Hills police declared unlawful assembly at crowded pro-Trump rally following clash between rally-goers and counterprotesters
Pro-Trump protesters rallied on the streets of Beverly Hills on Saturday afternoon days ahead of the election.
Following protests over the police shooting death of Walter Wallace Jr., Philadelphia City Council passes a ban on police use of tear gas and rubber bullets
Philadelphia is the largest city to pass a ban on "less-lethal" weapons in protests, according to the city council.


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Home MAGAZINE STORIES Almost Gathering
Starting A Dream Job in the Pandemic
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Almost Gathering
We want to get together, but we're nervous, and rightly so. How artists and galleries are responding to pandemic anxiety.
by Lauren Fournier
Jess Dobkin, "Wetrospective," 2021, installation view at Art Gallery of York University, Toronto (courtesy AGYU; photo by Yuula Benivolski)
This year saw a desire to gather, along with hesitancy about whether we are ready – or if it's still too soon. Hopes that we might finally be able to attend in-person events together – talks, performances, exhibition openings – as part of a return to normalcy have been dashed in recent days by renewed panic and public health restrictions due to the fast arrival of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Looking back over the year, though, there were notable moments when the act of almost-gathering or gathering-but-not-quite allowed unique art experiences. The indeterminacy of such gatherings and events is characteristic of our enormous societal uncertainty. But this does not mean generative and nourishing art cannot happen or be received and experienced by audiences. On the contrary, some exhibitions and performances this year took the truth of our current moment and, rather than resist it, adapted and moved with it.
While some gatherings began to take place, artists and curators also took this year as an opportunity to deepen collective introspection and cultivate the exhibition space as a site for metaphysical reflection and quiet encounters. They provided space to examine how we gather, and what kinds of experiences art can give rise to in uncertain times.
Julian Yi-Zhong Hou, "Country Balance," 2021
installation view at Zalucky Contemporary, Toronto (courtesy the artist and Zalucky Contemporary; photo by Toni Hafkenscheid)
Take, for example, B.C.-based artist Julian Yi-Zhong Hou's Country Balance at Zalucky Contemporary in Toronto. During the exhibition's run, the artist hosted one-on-one visits in which he would give a tarot reading. In early autumn, I booked an appointment and made my way over, realizing this would be the first time I had stepped into a gallery for months. I was greeted at the door by the artist, who, after walking me through his exhibition, led me to a table near the back of the gallery. We sat together as he read my tarot cards, and I was moved by the sensorial and somewhat spiritual experience of having an intuitive reading surrounded by Hou's gorgeous, symbolical stained glass works.
I found Hou's stunning show to be an ideal space for meditating and reflecting on what art can do in a time of global crisis and struggle through aesthetically beautiful, delicate work that engages the senses and provides replenishment. A similar impetus can be found in Saskatchewan artist Zachari Logan's Ghost Meadows, on view at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon until Jan. 9. His drawings – which often feature flowers and other plant life – focus on the "delicate interdependence" of our relationships with other humans and our surroundings, something the pandemic has brought to the fore.
Installation view of Tiffany Shaw-Collinge, "my children, my mother, her mother and their mother, and their mother, and their mother, and their mother.....," 2021
woven reflective mylar and Jessie Ray Short, "Elder Wands," 2021, 13 violet wands in embroidered leather holsters. On view in "Lii Zoot Tayr (Other Worlds)" at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Ont., 2021. (collections of the artists; photo by Paul Litherland)
Other exhibitions this year have taken up the ongoing project of imagining new and other worlds. In Lii Zoot Tayr (Other Worlds) on view until Jan. 30 at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., for example, curators Amy Malbeuf and Jessie Ray Short bring together a range of Métis approaches to deep space, energy and materiality. These themes are explored as a way to look to futures more reparative for Métis and Indigenous peoples, and at worlds tied to Indigenous philosophies where, as Blackfoot educator Leroy Little Bear articulates in an epigraph that frames the exhibition text, "existence consists of energy. All things are animate, imbued with spirit, and in constant motion."
This is not unlike the themes explored in Atautchikun | wȃhkôtamowin, on view until March 13 at the Remai Modern. It features Inuit art from permanent collections in the Prairies, along with new commissions. Organized by Mohkinstsis/Calgary-based Métis curator Missy LeBlanc and Inuvialuk artist and curator Kablusiak, with support from Tarah Hogue, the Remai's Indigenous curator, the exhibition resists colonial conceptions of Inuit art and culture as frozen in time, underlining the dynamism of the Inuit, as well as their living relationships with Indigenous communities on the Prairies.
Jess Dobkin, "Wetrospective," 2021, installation view at Art Gallery of York University, Toronto (courtesy AGYU; photo by Michael Maranda)
Being able to almost-gather has been met by many people with both disappointment and relief – a curious combination that reveals the ambivalences underpinning our collective emotional life. And for others still, especially extroverts, the desire to be around people and share in the energy of gathering is an unceasing drive – and one that needs to find an outlet. This brings me to Wetrospective, a retrospective exhibition last fall by Toronto-based performance artist Jess Dobkin at the Art Gallery of York University in Toronto, curated by Emelie Chhangur. In this exhibition, which displayed Dobkin's multi-decade personal and professional archive, the glittery partying of "before times" is a haunting presence as viewers move through installations that seem like the end of a party, but also serve as an archive of queer, sex-positive political action.
Dobkin's art is undeniably social and embodied, from live performances that require an audience, to participatory encounters like Lactation Station, which serves as a breast-milk tasting bar where people actually imbibe. To stage Dobkin's hyper-physical and communal practice during socially-distanced-times is a curious challenge. Gathering at this exhibition was possible, but limited, with pre-registration and other expected COVID-19 safety protocols in place. The colourful, maximalist show was up for the brief flash of a month, with livestreamed talks and performances by other artists and thinkers like Joyce LeeAnn, a Black American interdisciplinary artist and founder of the Archival Alchemy Laboratory, and Jehan Roberson, a Black American writer and educator.
For all its sociality and embodiment, performance art revealed itself as a medium with a certain conduciveness to pandemic times, particularly when placed outside. At Toronto's Critical Distance Centre for Curators, Montreal artists Eve Tagny and Florencia Sosa Rey performed A Landscape's Spine in the lawn in front of Artscape Youngplace, a community cultural hub. The work closed the exhibition You sit in a garden, guest curated by Chris Andrews, which explored relations between plants and humans. The choreographed, collaborative performance took place before a small audience that watched performers move in ways that traced parallels between a plant's roots and the human spine. It was also livestreamed with accessibility in mind (live, improvised audio description and captioning, along with American Sign Language and deaf interpretation).
Vanessa Dion Fletcher, "Relative Saturation: Three Colour Drip," 2021
performance (courtesy Shani K Parsons)
Meanwhile, Vanessa Dion Fletcher (Lenape and Potawatomi) gave an impromptu performance in the Shallmar Parkette in Toronto, a surprise for the local community. The work, Relative Saturation: Three Colour Drip, one of a number of parkette projects presented by Gallery TPW, an artist-run centre, involved the artist interacting with a circular sculpture she had created, moving around it in a hand-sewn garment printed in a pattern of mirrored quillwork. The sculpture held glass vessels that slowly released home-brewed dyes that dripped onto the garment, transforming the artist's clothing into another sculptural part of this land-based performance work. The audience was made up of passersby in the parkette, who gathered momentarily to watch and reflect on the artist's ritualistic actions.
David Ng and Jen Sungshine, "Love Intersections," 2021
video installation with performance by Kendell Yan, illustrations by Shira Anisman and River Ironeagle, project coordination by Marissa De Sandoli, videography by Eric Sanderson and D'Arcy Hamilton, 3:01 minutes (courtesy Florence Yee)
Finally, Chinatown Biennial, by Toronto artists Arezu Salamzadeh and Florence Yee, is a conceptual artwork and curatorial platform that takes isolation and pandemic-related xenophobia as an opportunity for institutional critique. They started the project in 2020, as the pandemic fuelled a new wave of anti-Asian, and often specifically anti-Chinese, violence. Chinatown, as a historical but also actively alive neighborhood, is explored by curators and participating artists as a site of such racism and social tensions. Also considered are looming threats of gentrification and urban renewal, which are impacted by the arts. The founders emphasize they are interested not only in particular Chinatowns, but also "notions of 'Chinatown' and other ethnic enclaves, whether they involve suburban areas nicknamed as such, officially designated streets, homes, malls, alleys, expropriated land, places of solidarity, and more."
Evan Matchett-Wong and AJA Louden created this mural for Ociciwan Contemporary Arts Centre in Edmonton, in partnership with the Chinatown Biennial, 2021. (courtesy Florence Yee)
The works in this "biennial" form different outdoor "pavilions" that are social-distance friendly. They range from From China, To Canada, a photo-weaving banner by Quebec-based artist Annie Tong Zhou Lafrance, to a mural in Edmonton by Western Canadian artists Evan Matchett-Wong and AJA Louden, made possible through a partnership between the Chinatown Biennial and the Ociciwan Contemporary Arts Centre in Edmonton. The 2021 edition also features works in Montreal and Vancouver, as well as online.
By almost-gathering, viewing these works under the auspices of a "biennial" – but perhaps in isolation, on your own – viewers negotiate memories of what biennials were in the "before times" along with the uncanny knowledge that times have changed. To view these works as part of a Chinatown biennial brings to mind still-present tensions of racial discord, structural racism, xenophobia and settler colonialisms – but also, importantly, compelling and politically-engaged self-reflective works of resistance by young and emerging BIPOC artists across the country. ■
Correction Jan. 8, 2022, 11:33 a.m. The post has been updated to reflect that Vanessa Dion Fletcher's project was organized by Gallery TPW.
PS: Worried you missed something? See previous Galleries West stories here or sign up for our free biweekly newsletter.
Zachari Logan Vanessa Dion Fletcher Julian Yi-Zhong Hou 28 December 2021 issue Agnes Etherington Art Centre Art Gallery of York University Arezu Salamzadeh Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan Florence Yee Kablusiak
Lauren Fournier
Lauren Fournier is a white settler writer, artist and curator from Saskatchewan who teaches at the University of Toronto. Her book, "Autotheory as Feminist Practice in Art, Writing, and Criticism," is available through the MIT Press (2021).
Read more by Lauren Fournier

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Tags Allison williams
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'Horizon Line' Poster, Photo, and Hair-Raising First Trailer
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Rebecca Murray - April 6, 2018 0
Showtime's teasing Benedict Cumberbatch fans with a new one minute trailer for Patrick Melrose along with a new poster that features the Oscar nominated...
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Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) stars in Showtime's new limited series, Patrick Melrose, which is set to debut later this year. Although the network...
'Get Out' Movie Review
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Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) knocks it out of the park with his feature film directorial debut, Get Out. This socially charged horror film...
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Caringo, Inc., a provider of content storage software providing clustered storage infrastructure for both active and archive content, announced the availability of CAStor Content Router. The Content Router allows administrators and application providers the ability to set metadata values to mirror content in clusters and replicate over distance for disaster recovery (DR). The Content Router leverages a rules engine to filter metadata that defines how to process and where to store the content based on metadata values. Rules can be set to distribute content to specified remote clusters. Applications can automatically fail-over to a remote cluster in an emergency to ensure continuous data availability and accessibility.


One of the newest names in the UK caravan market, Eterniti Caravans launched their debut range in 2012. Featuring many innovative features, including an electrically-powered slide-out section, these caravans boast unrivalled headroom and interior space.
With a large manufacturing facility on Widnes Waterfront in Cheshire, the company benefits from the financial backing of Eterniti Steels, which is owned by their founder and managing director Phil Daniels.
The company's first two ranges are named Chronicle and Genesis, and they include several premium features as standard, such as air conditioning and an electronically-powered slide-out awning, in addition to 6'9" headroom.
A range of single and twin-axle layouts are available, with fixed bed and bunk bed options to choose from, while there is even the option of having a bathtub fitted.
All models benefit from super-king size front dinettes and a slide-out section, which can be deployed when the caravan is sited. This results in significantly more interior space.
Built on a German-made BPW chassis, the bodyshell features Thermashield construction, which employs Styrofoam insulation and an aluminium frame to offer increased durability and year-round warmth.
Optional extras on these ranges include a Tracker vehicle recover system, IDC trailer stability control and leather upholstery. Inside these models, you will get a Smev dual fuel hob, with built-in grill and oven, as well as a 24" LED TV and a DVD player.
Prices will start at £21,995 and both ranges will be unveiled on 16 October 2012 at the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show in the Birmingham NEC Centre.
UPDATE: On 27 March 2014, Eterniti entered into administration. For more details, including refund arrangements, click here.
For more details, news, rumour and discussions on Eterniti Caravans, join our community group for Eterniti Caravan Owners.


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Official website of the Clay, Alabama Historical Society. I also webmaster this site.
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I created BeAPhotopro to provide an avenue of mentoring, education, networking and a level of certification to budding, amateur and professional photographers that they can in turn showcase to their clients and grow their own businesses or expand their knowledge of photography.


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Kindleinwiegen (Rocking the Christchild) is a Christian Nativity tradition which can be traced back to the Liturgical dramas of the later Medieval period.   It is a tradition primarily from the German speaking parts of central Europe which appeared across the region in a variety of forms, chiefly though not exclusively in monasteries and churches.  It was at its most widespread between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, and survived more strongly in Roman Catholic regions than in those areas that switched to protestantism, following the interventions of Martin Luther and others.

German language terms used for  the celebration include Christkindlwiegen:  the verb included in that compound word, "wiegen", indicates both rocking/cradling and weighing/getting the measure of the baby.

The celebration involved a form of congregational dancing accompanied by singing around a picture of Jesus placed on a crib or adjacent altar.   The performance was led by the priests, and the singing, at least initially, appears to have consisted of duet sung by two priests.
The ceremony is still carried out, believed now to be uniquely, in the parish church of St Mary of the Purification, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, England, usually on the nearest Sunday to Candlemas (although if that Sunday falls in January it is usually enacted on the following Sunday, so that it is always the first Sunday in February. It was restored at Blidworth in 1922 so the service which took place on 6th February 2022 marked the centenary of its restoration. For more details search Blidworth Rocking.

History
The first surviving record of a "Kindelwiegenfeier" appears in "De investigatione Antichristi", produced in 1161/62 by Gerhoh, the Provost of the Augustinian Cannons at the Monastery of Reichersberg in Upper Austria.   According to Gerhoh's description, the location of the ceremony was a monastery church and the participants were monks or "secular" clerics.   The ceremony comprised the singing of several songs, from the book of hours and other unspecified liturgical sources, enriched with various drama-actions by the participants.   In later centuries a wider level of congregation participation became the norm.

Reformation
By the fifteenth century the custom had spread to practically all the churches in Germany. During the sixteenth century it began to be rejected by the more hardline protestant congregations, however, which increasingly rejected the "Child Rocking" ceremony as one of the fruits of ("papist") superstition. Nevertheless, even in regions touched by the Protestant Reformation it took a long time for Christkindlwiegen to disappear entirely.

Bach biographer Philipp Spitta describes the customs regarding the Kindleinwiegen in Protestant Leipzig before and after the City Council formally abolished the practice in 1702. He starts with a comment on a hymn in German that also uses some Latin words (Virga Jesse floruit, as used by the Leipzig composers Kuhnau and Bach for their Christmas compositions):

Counter reformation
There was throughout the centuries considerable variation concerning the details of the ceremony.   Even in regions that remained staunchly catholic, as the Counter reformation took hold there was a reaction against some of the Medieval jollity of the earlier celebrations, and the image of Jesus tended to be removed from the crib and placed instead on the altar, which was felt to be more respectful.

There was also increasingly use of "props" such as a Santa Claus doll to supervise proceedings.   In another version, each of the young girls from the village dressed up and brought to church their own wax doll of the Baby Jesus.   This provides a link to the Christmas nativity scene centred on the crib that became popular in the nineteenth century and remains a focus of Christmas decoration in many churches today.  Another surviving link from the Christkindlwiegen custom is the Christmas song , still popular in German speaking areas, and believed to have originated as one of the songs that would have accompanied the old ceremony.

Revival
Although the  Christkindlwiegen had generally fallen out of use by the start of the twentieth century, there have been revivals.   On January 7, 2012 the Viennese Medieval music expert Eberhard Kummer marked the 850th anniversary of the ceremony's first surviving recorded mention with a revival performance in St Gertrude's Church at Klosterneuburg, a short distance upstream of Vienna.  Proceedings involved two altar girls rocking the "Christchild" in his crib, to the accompaniment of authentic dancing.   The ceremony took place again at Klosterneuburg in January 2013 and January 2014.

References

Sources
 Spitta, Philipp. "Fünftes Buch: Leipziger Jahre von 1723—1734" in Johann Sebastian Bach, Zweiter Band. Breitkopf & Härtel, 1880.
"Fünftes Buch: Leipziger Jahre von 1723—1734" pp. 3-479 in Johann Sebastian Bach, Zweiter Band. Dritte unveränderte Auflage, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1921.
"Book V: Leipzig, 1723-1734" pp. 181-648 in Johann Sebastian Bach: his work and influence on the music of Germany, 1685–1750, translated by Clara Bell and John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, In Three Volumes, Vol. II. London, Novello & Co, 1884.

Christianity in Germany
Christmas in Germany

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G. Eugene Pichler has announced that the release of the documentary film, The Transsexual Delusion—The Men & Women Who Transgress Gender Norms, is scheduled for April 14, 2020.
G. Eugene Pichler has announced that the release of the full length, documentary film, The Transsexual Delusion—The Men and Women Who Transgress Gender Norms, is scheduled for April 14, 2020.
Click here to watch the opening credits of Eugene's upcoming documentary film.


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Home » Wireless Technology applied to Computer Processing
Wireless Technology applied to Computer Processing
Wireless technology can provide many benefits to computing including faster response to queries, reduced time spent on paperwork, increased online time for users, just-in-time and real time control, tighter communications between clients and hosts. Wireless Computing is governed by two general forces: Technology, which provides a set of basic building blocks and User Applications, which determine a set of operations that must be carried out efficiently on demand. This paper summarizes technological changes that are underway and describes their impact on wireless computing development and implementation.
It lso describes the applications that influence the development and implementation of wireless computing and shows what current systems offer. II. Introduction Wireless computing is the topic of much conversation today. The concept has been around for some time now but has been mainly utilizing communication protocols that exist for voice-based communication. It is not intended to replace wired data communication but instead to be utilized in areas that it would be otherwise impossible to communicate using wires. Only recently has the industry been taking steps to formulate a standard that is more suitable to data transmission.
Some the problems to be overcome are: a. Data Integrity – relatively error free transmission, b. Speed – as close as possible to the speed of current wired networks, c. Protection – making sure that the data now airborne is encoded and cannot be tapped by unwelcome receivers, d. Compatibility – ensuring that the many protocols that sure to be created subscribe to a standard to allow inter-operability, e. Environmentally safe – strengths of electromagnetic radiation must be kept within normal levels. In our study of the theories and implementation concerns of wireless computing, we found that it is being treated in an object-oriented fashion.
Scientists and development crews, including the IEEE, are doing their best to implement wireless connectivity without changing the existing computer hardware. As a result, a lot of focus is on using existing computer hardware and software to convert data to a format compatible with the new hardware, which will be added to the computer using ports, or PCMCIA connections that already exist. This means that wireless communication will be transparent to the user if and when wireless computing is utilized on a wide scale. Wireless computing applications covers three broad areas of computing today.
Replacement of normal wired LANs eed to retain the speed and reliability found in wired LANs. Creation of semi permanent LANs for quick and easy setup without the need for running wires. This would be necessary for events such as earthquakes. The last category is that of mobile computing. With advent of PCMCIA cards, notebook computers are being substituted for regular desktop machines with complete connectivity of the desktop machine. However, you lose the connectivity when out of the office unless you have a wireless means of communicating.
On the compatibility issue, the ability to mix wireless brands on a single network is not likely to come soon. The IEEE Standards Committee is working on a wireless LAN standard — 802. 11, which is an extension of the Ethernet protocol. Because the field of wireless communication is so broad, the IEEE was not able to set a standard by the time private researchers were ready to test their theories hoping to set the standard for others to follow. II. Methods There are a few methods of wireless communication being theorized and tested. Radio: This is the method that makes use of standard radio waves in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz frequency range.
Although these frequencies are well used, methods have been developed to ensure data ntegrity. Spread spectrum transmission of data is a method where the transmitter will send information simultaneously out over many frequencies in the range increasing the change that all data will eventually reach the receiver. Frequency hopping is an additional measure that also enables data security. The 26 MHz ranges of frequencies is further divided in to channels. The transmitter then sends out data hopping from one channel to the next in a certain pattern known to the receiver.
Within each channel, spread spectrum transmission can be used to maintain interference avoidance. Some of this ransmission manipulation can be avoided by transmitting at a frequency that is less used. Some developers have tried transmitting in the gigahertz range. The disadvantages here are: a. Higher frequencies mean shorter wavelengths and shorter wavelengths do not penetrate solid objects like walls and floors; b. The same transmission strength employed by lower wavelength transmitters yields a shorter range at higher frequencies.
This means that transmission strength will need to be boosted something hard to accomplish using portable tools and potentially dangerous to humans; 3) Transmission frequencies of 3 GHz and higher re licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. Developers in the range have the additional hassle of obtaining a license every time an installation is done. c. Laser: Laser-based communication is the fastest way to communicate without wires. Information travels at the speed of light. The drawbacks however far outweigh the speed advantage and prevent this method from becoming the standard.
The major drawback is that communication is restricted to line of sight. Also, very thick fog or blizzard conditions will diffuse the laser beam and causing interference and reducing data integrity. d. Infrared: This method s similar to Laser. High-speed communications are easy to achieve using this method. However, it suffers from the same problems that plague laser communications. It requires line of sight transmission and can be disrupted by strong ambient light. Infrared wireless computing exists more commonly in the form of peripheral connections in a small area. e. Cellular connections although expensive to use now is the area of much development by private companies.
Cellular computing can be likened to the current wire-based Internet network. Data is packaged in to units, size of the unit is dependent on the actual ardware, and is sent to the nearest participating cell. That cell then forwards the packet to the next cell and so forth until the packet reaches its destination. f. Microwave: This method of communication has been utilized for quite some time now. However this method has makes little provision for data aware transmission.
It used extensively in Europe where wired transmission of any type including voice is poor. For data transmission, a lot of technology is utilized in packaging the data into a form that is compatible to voice communication. On the receiving end, the process is reversed. The advantage of his method however is that communication can be accomplished using existing satellite connections making worldwide connectivity possible. 3 Standards The IEEE 802. 11 committee has voted to create a minimum requirement for wireless computing connections.
In their consideration: (1) Use the frequencies 2. to 2. 5 GHz. This is in the low end of the high frequency spectrum and is currently not licensed by the FCC. (2) Use spread spectrum technology. Compared to the current bandwidth 26 MHz, 902 MHz to 928 MHz, the range 2. 4 to 2. 5 GHz yields a bandwidth of 100 MHZ. Spread spectrum transmission now gives 385% percent ncrease in data reliability. (3) Many more sub-channels can be formed in a bandwidth of 100 MHZ. This increases the capability of frequency hopping which in turn yields greater data security. (4) Utilize Gaussian Frequency Shift-Keying.
Frequency shift-keying is a form of frequency modulation in which binary signaling is accomplished by using two frequencies separated by some Df Hz. The frequency duration is small compared with the carrier frequency, fc. A signal received at frequency fc, would represent a digital low and signals received at frequency fc + Df, would represent a digital high. Note that this oes not interfere with spread spectrum or frequency hopping capabilities since those function on frequencies separated by 1 MHz or more.
As part of setting a wireless standard some modifications of the standard set by the IEEE 802. committee have been adopted. The most significant of these is the modification to the carrier sense multiple access / collision detection, or CSMA/CD, protocol used in wired networks today. This is a method whereby any machine at any time, wishing to send a message on the net, will first send a token out to ensure that a carrier exists (network ready). After establishing this, the message will be ent. Because any machine may send at any time, collisions of information will occur. If any machine detects a collision, it will send out a jamming signal to all the others.
All machines will then wait on a random interval timer after which they will try to send again. For wireless networks however, since a machine is not in constant communication with the rest of the LAN, detecting a collision and notifying all other machines on the net is impossible. A modification in the way of the collision handling had to be made. A method known as collision avoidance is employed to create the CSMA/CA standard. In a ollision avoidance strategy, the net estimates the average time of collisions and sends a jamming signal at that time.
A wireless transceiver will not only sense a carrier but will also listen for the jamming signal. When all is clear it then send its message. This collision avoidance method has two drawbacks: 1) It cannot completely filter all collisions since it operates on estimated times of collisions; 2) -If it did, it slows the network significantly by sending jamming signals whether or not a collision actually occurs. IV. Physical Layer Much of the focus of wireless computing development is centered on the physical nd media access control layers of a system.
It is on this level of the LAN protocol of which wireless products like modems and transceivers. On the physical layer issue, the 802. 11 is focusing on the one proposed by Apple Computer Corporation. The Apple physical-layer protocol appears the most robust of any considered to date in 802. 11. Apples system is a full-duplex, slow frequency-hopping protocol. By using a frequency-hop spread-spectrum radio, the system fits with the spread-spectrum methods of virtually all 802. 11 specifications.
Apple splits the data-transport protocol into two layers: The RF Adoption Layer is similar in some respects to cell-based data protocols, such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode and IEEE 802. 6 Switched Multi-megabit Data Services; like ATM and 802. 6, the RF Adoption Layer includes segmentation/reassembly functions and Protocol Data Unit generation functions, and it also includes Forward Error Correction (FEC) generation and verification functions which substantially increase packet integrity in wireless environments but adds FEC overhead. The RF Hopping Protocol Physical Layer consists of a transmission convergence sublayer including header generation, RF framing, and
RF hopping protocol functions and the physical- medium-dependent sublayer, in which the actual characteristics of the RF channel are handled. In the RF Adoption Layer, a Protocol Data Unit is split into three segments, and two error-correcting data units are added. The RF Hopping segments, and two error-correcting data units are added. The RF Hopping Physical Layer builds special Burst Protocol Data Units out of the data and FEC units and uses carrier-sense methods borrowed from Ethernet to determine whether an RF Hop Group is clear for transmission. Each hop group consists of five separate radio channels.
The controller scans hop groups via state-machine operation with four states: scan, receive, carrier-sense, and transmit. In early tests at Apple, the hop system showed 80-microsecond hop times, 57-microsecond clock recovery, and a 5-microsecond lapse between the time an empty channel is sensed and transmission begins. Since each cluster of wireless LANs can use different hop groups, multiple LANs could operate in the same area without interference. One concern is whether the overhead for error correction for each packet, which can be as much as 50% is too high to give the proposal a chance.
The safety of those perating new equipment now plays a larger role in determining the direction of technological growth now more that ever. Factors under consideration are the effect of infrared and strong electromagnetic radiation that would pervade the workplace on the workers. This limits the strength of and communication device that would be used in accomplishing transmission. For the Personal Computer;The adapters have a small attached antenna through which they send and receive network traffic as radio signals.
Some wireless products are small boxes that attach to your PCs parallel port. In either case, the signals may travel from PC to PC, forming a wireless peer-to-peer network, or they may travel to a network server equipped with both wireless and standard Ethernet adapters, providing notebook users a portable connection to the corporate network. In either case, wireless LANs can either replace or extend wired networks. Standards are lacking. Wireless networking is still a technology looking for a standard, which is why very few wireless products can work with one another.
Each vendor uses a different protocol, radio frequency, or signaling technology. If wired networks still operated like wireless, you would have to use the same rand of network interface card throughout your network. Right now you are, for the most part, tied to whichever brand of wireless LAN you pick. Most of the products in this comparison listed their wireless protocol as Ethernet carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), a variation of standard Ethernet. Unfortunately, each vendor has put its own spin on CSMA/CA, which means even their protocols are incompatible.
Wireless services As technology progresses toward smaller, lighter, faster, lower power hardware components, more computers will become more and more mobile. For space concerns this paper ill exclude any further discussion of the hardware developments toward mobility except for devices directly related to wireless connectivity such as modems.
A wireless computer is not connected via a wireline and thus has mobility and convenience. A wireless LAN provides the convenience of eliminating the wires, yet is not necessarily mobile. (What is mobility? Mobility is a characteristic where the wireless computer may connect, loose the physical communication (possibly due to interference) and reconnect (possibly to another sub-network) and retain its virtual connections and continue to operate its applications. The network protocols will be discussed later. (Then, what is portable? ) Portable is defined that the wireless computer may connect, loose the connection and then re-connect, as well. However, the mobile unit will have to restart if it is reconnected to another sub-network, requiring that running processes be shut-down and windows closed.
Mobility may be limited by the wireless service subscribed. Four basic service zones are described: Global/National service zone: Ubiquitous radio coverage throughout a region, country or the entire globe, low user densities, and minimal bandwidth requirements. Typically atellite systems. Mobile service zone: Radio coverage in urban, suburban and populated rural areas, medium to high user densities, low to medium bandwidth requirements (tens of Kbps), and high vehicular speed. Cellular (AMPS) system is a good example.
Local/micro service zone: Radio coverage in densely populated urban areas, shopping malls, and transportation centers. High end user densities, medium bandwidth requirements, hand-held portable terminals, low-speed mobility. Indoor/pica service zone: in-building radio coverage, low to high user densities, medium to high bandwidth requirements (Mbps), very low mobility. Prior to the cellular phone network, base station radio covering a single cell geographic area with a fixed number of channels was the only service available.
The cellular phone service divides the service area into cells and assigns a subset of the available channels to any given cell. This way the channels can be reused and interference from neighboring cells is reduced. The system tracks the active mobile unit, delivers calls, and maintains connections as units move between cells (Hand-off: a real-time transfer of a call between radio channels in different cells). This system is called Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS). Current cellular systems use analog FM technology.
However, implementation of digital radio technology is being deployed now. These systems utilize Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to increase throughput up to ten times the previous analog system. Additionally, end users will access a wider range of telecommunications as the implementation of integrated services digital network (ISDN) principles are utilized. Personal Communication Services, similar to the current cellular system, will soon be available from the larger telecommunication services, but with reduced price and ider availability.
Wireless Advantages Limitations Traditional Cellular no restrictions on length or type of data transmission, national coverage, bill by minute potential line interruptions, congestions in urban areas limited throughput CDPD enhanced technology for data over cellular bill by message size integrated voice and data packet switching error correction techniques lack of applications development not fully developed Dedicated packet switched mobile networks integrated applications and communications no call setup time inherent reliability and security of packet switching coverage not full nationwide imited packet size require specialized modems data only Specialized mobile radio voice and data vehicle based limited coverage Satellite-enabled networks geographic reach expensive equipment and service costs The application of the wireless computing system determines the type of wireless medium system to be employed.
Circuit switched or packet switched, both are available through wireless technology and provide connectivity. Circuit switched systems provide a continuous connection established to the destination by the switching system. The most popular examples are the wire-line public switched telephone network (PSTN) nd cellular telephones systems. This method of communication can be relatively expensive.
If the phone systems offers voice grade bandwidth, then a standard modem can provide speed of 14. 4 Kbps (at the time of this writing). However, if a digital line is provided then higher communication rates can be achieved with more specialized equipment. Packet switched systems provide a delivery system of information packets. The packet contains the data and an address to the destination.
Packet switching is far less expensive than circuit switching. Examples would be RAM, ARDIS, and Internet networks. Packet radio networks have een the target of many studies since the military has a vested interest in the communication medium.
Concerns such as reliability, throughput optimization and re-routing of packets have been recent topics. Packet Switched Systems ARDIS RAM Mobile Data Circuit Cellular CDPD Network Capacity 1,300 base stations in approx. 325 metro service area (MSA) 840 base stations in 210 MSAs 8,000 cell sites in 734 metro areas potentially entire cellular network Coverage (cities and towns) 10,700 6,300 NA NA Transmission speed 4. 8Kbps. 19. Kbps upgrade in major metro areas 8Kbps 38. 4Kbps to 56Kbps 19. 2Kbps Message capacity 256 bytes 12 bytes NA 114 bytes National roaming completed by mid Sept 94 yes no yes Cellular Digital Packet Data technology (CDPD) utilizes the space between the voice segments on cellular (AMPS) network channels and inserts a data packet.
The user pays only for the packet sent as opposed to a cellular circuit switched connection. CDPD cellular communications systems such as the Ubiquity 1000 from PCSI, offer packet burst rate of 19. 2 Kbps with full duplex. This CDPD modem offers the option to use circuit switched cellular, wire line PSTN and voice support.
However, in a large urban area with thousands of stations using any acket switching service at current speeds, delay may be unacceptable. Satellite can be used as long distance links within wireless networks. Three major projects have been proposed. The Teledesic system, composed of 840 low orbit satellites, was proposed by Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Craig McCaw (McCaw Cellular). Second, the Pentagon, solicited a system, using 1,000 smaller satellites, from TRW and Martin Marietta. Both the Teledesic and the Pentagon systems cost around $9 billion. The third system, called Iridium, from Motorola, will use 66 satellites to offer mobile phone service all over the globe.
This roject will begin this year and the rest in place by 1996. 6 Software Software concerns in a wireless computing environment can be broken into two areas, system and application. 7 System Software Network operating systems must be able to handle the uniqueness of a wireless computer. Advanced operating systems utilizing distributed technology must be adapted to the specific communication media. The advancement of technology has provided that even mobile computer systems the size of notebooks are capable of internetworking as a host in global networks. Mobile host protocols compatible with TPC/IP have been developed to llow continuous network connectivity where ever the host may be.
Due to the unpredictable nature of wireless connections, even operating systems may have to be written to provide support services for mobile network. The WIN*OS, a micro kernel for a wireless-compatible operating system, was developed to "support concurrent and composable objects and coordinated communication among groups of objects through a process of agreements. " 8 Application Software Application software concerns in the wireless computing environment vary depending on the type of application and wireless medium used. For example, E-mail software must know how to communicate with the packet switched network as compared to the traditional cellular network.
Software developer kits (SDK) and application programmers interfaces (API) are usually available by the service provider. Remote access software allows the remote user to connect to a host workstation to view the screen and control the keyboard as if the user was there. The data does not have to be communicated to the remote user and thus allows processing locally. Carbon copy and PC anywhere are among the programs which provide remote access for microcomputers. High baud rate is needed specially when a graphical user interface (GUI) is used. 9 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) WLAN offers the same features as a wireline LAN but without the wires.
Coverage can range from a room to a building to a "campus" (wide-spread, multi-building). Both stationary desktop systems and mobile notebook computers can connect using specialized wireless LAN adapter cards. Another configuration allows wireless additions to current networks. Wireless Hubs have been developed which bridge the wireless units into the wireline network. As mentioned before, during the recent natural disasters in California, he Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) set up field offices with WLAN very quickly. Here is a great exampleof how WLAN can be used: An ETHERNET connection over a radio link provided data from a low-power PC in a buoy to a PC on a ship.
The system provided a megabyte/sec data rate for four days while guaranteeing error-free delivery of data. Even more incredible is the MBARI acoustic LAN. Since under water, radio waves travel only a few feet but sound waves can travel for miles, the acoustic LAN uses the better carrier of wireless data signals. The acoustic LAN has two 5Kbps data channels and two slow-speed ommand channels. The LAN is used to communicate with tilt meters and buoys. Personal Data Assistants (PDA) are the new handheld computers which also have wireless options. Using a pen-based GUI operating system, the applications are accessed from local storage. Fax, data and voice can be transferred to and from the PDA via cellular phone system.
The AT&T EO can run a program called Gnosis which when also loaded on a remote server host will allow the user to search for documents and have them downloaded in minutes including graphics. Even though all these nifty devices such as radio modems and PDAs are developed nd marketed, a recent study of mobile professionals shows that currently relatively few spend time far from their desks. In fact, only 13 percent of mobile users spend time outside their metro area and just 1 percent outside the country. As the technology becomes more common place, more users will find themselves moving further out of their wired areas and into the wireless field. 0 Security Security becomes essential in wireless computing.
Especially since the data is broadcast to the receiving unit. International Standards Organization (ISO) has published security services, which provide for secure ata ad computer systems on standard wire line networks. However, these must be modified to meet the needs of mobile users and systems. Data encryption and two possible solutions include exchanging security information between a small number of entities, or even more complex involving an information center. Infrared offers the least problem of security due fact that stations must be in the line-of-sight and the limited area of coverage, usually one room.
Spread spectrum RF transmissions spread the data over a range of frequencies making interception extremely difficult. Also, low power limits the coverage area, lthough the signal will penetrate walls. Cellular phone networks offer no security of their own. Even though listening to these transmissions has been made unlawful, the signals can be overheard by a radio scanner. Data encryption is left up to the connecting unit. Packet radio offers inherent data security by scrambling the data packets. Clipper chip will replace the digital encryption statndard (DES). The Clipper chip boasts to be 16 million times stronger with 80-bits as compared to the old DES, which has a 56-bit binary key.
This chip will be used in many communication products, especially wireless. The Department f Justice and AT&T will be installing them in their telephone products. The controversy about these chips stems from the fact that they are programmed with a back door. The government can, with a court order, access the chip and monitor the communication. 11 Conclusion In the relatively short time of the Information Revolution, the world has seen several technologies, first introduced as "convenient", become "essential" the basic structure of the modern lifestyle. The automobile, telephone, and the refrigerator are easy examples to cite. The wireless revolution will transform another "convenience" to a necessity.
Essay Examples. (February 2019). Wireless Technology applied to Computer Processing. Retrieved from https://benjaminbarber.org/wireless-technology-applied-to-computer-processing/
"Wireless Technology applied to Computer Processing." benjaminbarber.org. 02 2019. 02 2023. <https://benjaminbarber.org/wireless-technology-applied-to-computer-processing/>.
Essay Examples. February 2019. Wireless Technology applied to Computer Processing. [online]. Available from: https://benjaminbarber.org/wireless-technology-applied-to-computer-processing/ [Accessed 01 February 2023].
Essay Examples. Wireless Technology applied to Computer Processing [Internet]. February 2019. [Accessed 01 February 2023]; Available from: https://benjaminbarber.org/wireless-technology-applied-to-computer-processing/.
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Delineating the Consumption of Luxury Goods in a COVID-hit World
Post author By aribaaaa
Post date Jun 12, 2021
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For its 100th year celebration in 2021, GUCCI under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, rolled out its 'Beloved' campaign, strategically designed to strengthen the sales of their bags. Initiated on 22nd April 2021, the campaign featured four of GUCCI's globally beloved bags namely Dionysus, the GG Marmont, Jackie 1961 and the GUCCI Horsebit 1955. The campaign, designed in the form of a late night talk show, had a star-studded lineup which included James Cordon, Dakota Johnson, Harry Styles, Awkwafina, Serena Williams, Sienna Miller and Diane Keaton. The campaign creates a nostalgic talk-show feeling of the 90s where the stars of the show were GUCCI's four all-time iconic bags themselves.
Luxury brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Cartier, IWC, GUCCI saw a staggering fall in their sales, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus first hit China, spreading to Italy and other European nations (home to many luxury labels). This resulted in a steep fall in the sales of luxury goods, due to Chinese customers accounting for a 35% share in luxury purchases globally. With the pandemic hitting the luxury goods industry all around the world, the impact is expected to be long lasting.
The sales for GUCCI specifically were amongst the worst hit by the virus outbreak due to closure of stores, since China serves as a big market for the luxury brand. In the first quarter of the outbreak in 2020, the sales for the fashion label fell by 23.2%, which makes up for the major revenue for Kering, causing a total fall in its overall sales by 15.4%. However, with its strategic launch of the 'Beloved' campaign at the time of 'unlock' in Europe, the fashion label is looking to rebound its sales in 2021.
The year 2021 was expected to bring many more opportunities for these luxury labels in terms of rebounding their sales and launching limited seasonal collections. However, the national lockdowns in the UK and other European nations like Germany, Italy and France during the Spring/Easter season, which brings in a plethora of customers for these luxury brands, continued to create anxiety around the sales of goods. Compared to 2020, these luxury brands were better braced to tackle the 2021 lockdown, due to sales and purchases moving to digital platforms. The lockdown also cut down tourist shoppers that contributed massively towards the sales revenue. Moreover, as per VOGUE Business, these international tourists are not expected to return before mid 2022, and the latest lockdowns do not show any improvements in these forecasts.
Empty Via Montenapoleone (Milan's largest luxury shopping street) in Italy
Image Courtesy: Bloomberg Quint
Since the outset of the pandemic last year, there have also been dramatic and accelerating changes in consumer behaviour and consumption in regards to luxury shopping. Simultaneously, as a result, fashion labels have had to customize products and campaigns to keep up with the market trends and consumer behavior catering to the needs of their loyal clientele.
More and more shoppers have been turning to online shopping in place of in-person visits to physical stores, given the perturbations of contracting the virus. Moreover, according to the Boston Consulting Group, the pandemic has made apparent the deep economic and social inequalities that exist within the society, making less people comfortable with the show of conspicuous affluence and resources, thereby altering their shopping patterns and habits.
Though the pandemic has affected the sales of all luxury brands, certain categories of goods have not seen any decline but rather a spike in their sales. The classic and signature timepieces from luxury labels have been continuing to sell out. This can also be attested by the fact that GUCCI decided to dedicate an entire star-studded campaign to advertise its four all-time classic handbags, that have contributed massively to the label's revenue.
The increased sales in signature and classic goods can also be credited to the surge in digital shopping which has made these goods accessible to people globally without having to travel. Moreover, these goods are also perceived as great profitable economic investments, with specific products like Hermes Birkin Bags having a 34% Return on Investment as of 2020. Consumers of luxury products are now buying them more with the purpose of investment than mere consumption.
To ensure rebound in sales, luxury brands like Dior, GUCCI, Chanel, YSL have also launched makeup and skincare lines, especially for Spring 2021. This is because makeup and skincare are the two categories of products that have a consistent demand all throughout the year and are more than often remain uninfluenced by seasons and/or holidays.
Looking at the volatile nature of the market given the pandemic, luxury brands will have to globally revamp and strategise the products they plan to release. The few trends that companies will have to look into are sustainable and vegan products, subtle and simple designer wear with less emphasis on gaudy embellishments and logos, inculcating more culturally inclusive and diverse designs and designers in their products as well as in the workforce respectively.
The pandemic, in many ways, has shook luxury brands from their comfort zones, breaking their bubble of consistent revenue and loyal clientele. It has not only challenged them economically but also culturally and socially to produce and create goods by keeping up with the trends in time. Although the pandemic in 2020 might have impacted these luxury brands negatively – especially their revenue and financial stability, it has also pushed them to create more and more culturally inclusive products.
Image Courtesy: GUCCI
Muskaan Kanodia is a junior at Ashoka University, double majoring in English and Sociology. When she is not drowning in books, you can find her drawing and smiling at strangers on the ghats of Benaras.
Tags 2021, beloved, coronavirus, Economy, fashion, lockdowns, luxury


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Truth has prevailed, says JuD as Saeed walks free
The banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) has hailed Pakistan Supreme Court's verdict declaring its chief Hafeez Muhammed Saeed a 'free man', saying the 'truth has prevailed'. "Finally, truth has prevailed. The world should realise now that Jamaat-ud-Dawa is a non-terrorist organisation," The Daily Times quoted JuD spokesperson Yahya Mujahid, as saying. "With the grace of God, the court ruling in our favour has sent a clear message that Jamaat-ud-Dawa and its chief have nothing to do with terrorism," he added. The Pakistan Government had challenged Saeed's release by a high court last year. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court quashed the appeal, saying the government had failed to provide sufficient evidence against Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind. The apex court's decision came just a day after Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that there was a 'trust deficit' between India and Pakistan , which needed to be bridged if the heightened tension between both countries is to be toned down. India has provided several dossiers to Pakistan alluding Saeed's role in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but there has been little action against the brain behind the 26/11 massacre. Under immense international pressure Islamabad was forced to put Saeed under house arrest, however he walked free soon after as government agencies failed to table enough evidence against him in the court of law. Earlier India had expressed its disappointment over Saeed's aquittal. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi , Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India is disappointed by the Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to free Saeed, and hopes that Islamabad would pursue the case in a more meaningful way. " India hopes Pakistan will take meaningful action against Saeed. We are disappointed over at Saeed being let off by Pakistan ," Rao said. "We hope Pakistan will not let Saeed walk free. India has given enough proof to Pakistan on Saeed," she added.


Almonds contain approximately 54% oil, of which 78% is mono-unsaturated oleic acid, an omega-9 fat, and 17% is omega-6 polyunsaturated essential fatty acid. Super-unsaturated omega-3 fats are negligible in almonds. The oil is good for application to the skin as an emollient, because it is more stable (does not become rancid) than those oils that have a higher content of essential fatty acids, and because it has a pleasant aroma. It is a mild, lightweight oil that can be used as a substitute for olive oil.
"Oleum Amygdalae", the fixed oil, is prepared from either variety of almond and is a glyceryl oleate, with a slight odour and a nutty taste. It is almost insoluble in alcohol but readily soluble in chloroform or ether. Sweet almond oil is obtained from the dried kernel of sweet almonds. This oil has been traditionally used by massage therapists to lubricate the skin during a massage session.
Almond oil is also used as a wood conditioner of certain woodwind instruments such as the oboe and clarinet.


If it wasn't for my incessant need to have some form of pun in my review headline this would instead be labelled: YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH THIS. Since the very first episode I have been hooked on this retelling of the OJ Simpson trial and it really is a credit to Ryan Murphy and his team for the brilliant, high quality story telling, for managing to create a tense and suspense filled series with most, if not all, already knowing the outcome. However, it is easy to forget that the characters on screen, that most of these events…are based on truth.


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Our tour today of Perito Moreno Glacier Tour with Mini trekking started 9am-ish. It was really sunny and dry and I felt we should have a really nice day out and looked forward to trekking on the glacier, at the time we didn't know that the climate is divided to wetland and dryland in this region.
The tour bus contained nearly 50 passengers, clearly it was a popular tour! Before we head over to the national park of Perito Moreno Glacier, we stopped half way where our guide told us to enjoy the last bit of dry weather before we head to the wetland.
As the bus was approaching the national park, it became greyer and greyer. Before we entered, we stopped at the viewing point to see the glacier in the distance. Then it started to rain.
Perito Moreno Glacier is located in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It's one of the most important tourist attractions in Patagonia. The 250 square meter ice formation and 30km in length is one of 48 glaciers fed by the southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. This ice field is world's third largest reserve of fresh water. Pressures from the weight of the ice slowly pushes the glacier over the southern arm of Argentina Lake, demanding the section of separating it from the rest of the lake.
When we finally stood in front of the glacier, I didn't know what words I could use to describe the impact of seeing this enormous piece of ice. Well, I've seen pictures before arriving, but the actual object and picture is not comparable. It's impressive! I've never seen anything like this in my life. Here it is, in Patagonia. We travelled thousands of miles to get here and see such a spectacle. Believe me, it was worth the journey.
Right in front of the iceberg, there are 3 coloured lines of walking paths. They are well maintained and suitable for all ages. We were told to follow certain routes which were estimated to take around 1 hour of walking, or you could do a smaller circle then take the bus to get back to the car park where the tour bus will be waiting.
We chose to walk all the way back to the car park. The view was impressive but the walk in the rain was not pleasant. Especially when you have to take millions of pictures and worrying the rain is going to damage your devices. Apart from getting myself soaking wet, I truly enjoyed the walk and the view of this incredible natural treasure.
There are couple of restaurants by the car park. Since it was raining and cold, many people crammed in and tried to use the facilities to warm up and dry themselves. You won't be allowed to enjoy this space under a roof if you are not going to purchase either food or beverages. We had to stand outside with many others who also brought their pack lunch under a small piece of cover near the car park.
After lunch the bus took us to the port where we had to embark on a boat to get to the bank nearest to the glacier. By the time we started trekking on glacier it began to rain hard!
You are taken to a spot where the guides fit to each trekker ice cleats so that you are able to walk on the ice safely. These are basically a metal frame with straps which the guides carefully fit to each person to make sure that everyone is ready to go.
The big group was then divided to several small group of approx 10 people each group and each group is accompanied with a trekking guide. Each guide then shows each group the safe ways to walk both up and down the glacier – feet positioning and so on.
Each guide has a lot of experience and were very patient, we were very happy with their enthusiasm and professionalism.
The trekking on the glacier took about 1 hour. At the end of the trekking, we were rewarded with a glass of whiskey on the rocks! The "thousands years old" ice is chipped directly from the glacier itself, so was probably the purest ice you can have. What an experience!
It rained so hard on the day that before we returned back to the main car park everybody huddled in front of some braziers in one of the log cabins by the dock, and coffee was offered to everyone to help to warm up.
Read the pervious post: Patagonia series | To the end of the world and back | episode 12 — Day 10 | The bus journey from Puerto Natales to El Calafate and Hello, Argentina.


One of my biggest pieces of advice to anyone who is looking to improve their health and nutrition is to DRINK MORE WATER. Water does amazing things for your body! Sometimes we even confuse thirst for hunger and many people are dehydrated without knowing it. If you feel thirsty at all, you're already pretty dehydrated. To estimate how much water you should be getting, divide your weight in pounds by 2 and drink that many ounces (more if you're working out)! Thank you Taralynn McNitt at Undressed Skeleton for this great post of how to mark your water bottle so that you can check in throughout the day and make sure you're getting it all in! If you want to add a little flavor to you water, try a squirt of lemon, a squeeze of lime, a few sprigs of fresh mint or a cucumber or orange slice. You can even add a few berries or watermelon. What ever gets you to drink it up!
The benefits of staying hydrated - 10 reasons to DRINK MORE WATER!
I like to carry a water bottle around with me, so I always have water on hand - that's why I was so excited when Nalgene reached out to me to try their products.
Nalgene has come a long way since their original shatter proof water bottle. They are now ALL BPA-free and leak proof (and still SUPER durable)! They are dishwasher safe and some are even graduated (so you wouldn't even need to mark your bottle as pictured above - it's already marked for you! They come in a variety of sizes as well as cap shapes, so great for sippers and chuggers! There are even sizes specifically to fit in cup holders and bike cages, so it really doesn't get much more convenient than that! They also have food storage containers (pictured on the far left). They've really thought of it all!
My personal preference is the "on-the-fly" style (pink bottle pictured above) because of it's easy flip-open design. It's great for carrying around and doesn't spill in my gym bag. Take a look a the variety of bottles they have and try one out for yourself! You'll love all the water you're drinking and how you'll feel afterwards!
What's your favorite water bottle?
Tomorrow marks the first day of summer, which is also my 1-year Blogiversary (check out my first blog post ever)! Although my blogging has been a little sporadic lately, I thought I'd update you all on how things are going over here at FitYaf! I first started this blog after running a "100 days till summer" Challenge Group. There were so many great things that came out of the challenge - I wanted a place to share it beyond my group.
What has my fitness been like lately?
When 2014 rolled around, I set myself some fitness goals for the year. I was very happy with everything I achieved in 2013, and was looking forward to what 2014 had in store. I also had some personal (non fitness related goals), and if you follow be on Instagram or Twitter, you might already know that my husband and I are expecting our first child in October of this year! While I planned to be (and to this day still am) very active throughout my whole pregnancy, I quickly decided that maybe this year was not the year for these goals. After talking to my doctor, I got the go ahead to continue exercising (and teaching fitness classes), but as far as pushing myself beyond my current fitness level - I just didn't feel comfortable doing that. I did manage to hit one of those goals about a week before I got pregnant, so I can check off "run a 5k in under 25 minutes".
Once I found out I was pregnant, I was a little scared to keep up with my workouts, specifically running. My running workouts were typically completed in the early hours of the morning, and while I was very lucky in the "morning sickness" department, I still didn't feel great in the mornings. At first I did try to keep up with my "1000 miles in 2014" goal, running 91 miles in January, 84 miles in February and 74 miles in March, but tracking the miles was putting a lot of pressure on me, so I decided to save this goal for 2015. As it turns out, at around 14 weeks, I developed some pelvic pain that has pretty much stopped all running for the time being. I was able to run the Philly Love Run in March, and although I didn't train to hit my "under 1 hour and 50 minutes" goal, I finished the race (came in at about 2 hours and 10 minutes) and felt AMAZING!
Not running has given me more time to try out other workouts, or spend more time doing the workouts I was already doing. I'm spending more time with Insanity (about 2 times/week) and Melissa Bender workouts (about once/week). I've also been able to continue teaching 3 classes/week (boot camp, Bodypump and step aerobics). Sometimes it takes a little extra creativity to motivate the class when my own energy is dragging, but I'm up for the challenge. I'm also BEYOND excited to start Chalene Johnson's BRAND NEW AT HOME PiYo workout program. I just ordered mine yesterday, and I think it's going to be a great way to add some variety to my fitness. PiYo is an amazing workout that previously was only available in select gyms, but now you can order your own at a HUGE discount (while supplies last). This program is a mix between Pilates and Yoga and helps build lean muscle! Think - fast hot yoga but with the air conditioning on and awesome music playing!
So for now, I'm still working out about 6 times/week and loving this whole pregnancy journey. I'm taking it day by day without any expectations. I'm trying my best not to worry about every workout or every pound gained, and I look forward to revisiting my 2014 goals next year!
What is coming in the future?
In the immediate future, I have two Challenge Groups starting soon: a Shaun T boot camp and a PiYo boot camp. You can email me if you have any questions or if you're interested in joining on of these.
I do have some exciting product reviews, giveaways and recipes, coming your way this summer, and I'm going to be posting some more Fitness Friday Workouts. I'm not signed up for any races, and I don't plan to race again until next year. I look forward to the second half of my pregnancy and of course meeting my baby fitness guru in October!
What do you want to see more of on FitYaf.com? Have you had experience working out through a pregnancy?
I hope every has a great day ahead and is looking forward to friends, family and good food. I'm spending the day sleeping in, cooking/baking, working out, relaxing and heading off to my parents for my favorite holiday of the year! I put together a list of some good reading from my fellow bloggers to help you stay on track today and the rest of the holiday season - ENJOY!
Also, don't forget to take advantage of Beachbody's Holiday sale - some items have already sold out!
What will you be doing this Thanksgiving?
Ashley grew up across the street from my best friend Stephanie. We would always pair up at Stephanie's birthday parties because we didn't know anyone else (neither of us went to Stephanie's school). At one particular birthday party, there was a talent show - Ashley and I danced to Ace of Base "The Sign". It's strange the things you remember from your childhood. Later, after our college years, Ashley started dating another good friend of mine Jon, and now they are married with two beautiful girls.
As a working mother, she struggles to find time for her daughters, her husband and herself (Ace of Base was right - life IS demanding), so in an effort to keep both herself and her family active, she comes up with ways to sneak in exercise while spending time with her kids.
Ashley also blogs for Kveller.com - click here to check her out!
Who can dance the longest without stopping. This is easy and inexpensive. Most cable providers have a music channel you can use: toddler songs, classical songs, princess, rock songs, etc. We just switch channels and act like we are doing corresponding dances. For added exercise, I pick up my youngest daughter (age 10 months weighing in at a whopping 24lbs or so) and it is now a weight & aerobic exercise.
This game started when I was teaching my daughter the alphabet and how to read. We take each letter of the alphabet and pick out a corresponding animal. A for Ant - crawl around the floor. B for Butterfly - run around flapping your hands as wings in the air, etc. It is amazing how many animals help different muscles.
Another favorite game of ours is to pick leaves and glue them on paper or any art project. In the Fall we use leaves, in the winter, we use pine cones, etc. We just go on an adventure walk.
For days when you can't get outside, setup an obstacle course inside. All you need are the obstacles, which you can get from things you probably already have in the house: pillow, hula hoop, tape or ribbon, soccer ball anything you can think of to incorporate. You can have them jump over the pillow, run in the hula hoop, walk a straight line to kick the ball. When they are old enough, make it a two-story course that involves the steps! You can time each other for a race - of course let your kids win!! My 11 month old think it's hilarious and has a good time watching. Sometimes I carry her for the extra effort!
Another Fun game! I laminated capital letters and toss them throughout the house. I give my daughter an animal or object and she runs to stand on the corresponding letter. This is great aerobic exercise, especially if you put some upstairs and some downstairs. I even act like I am timing her so she gets to the letters faster. I run behind her and we're both moving!
Of course we always love to go for walks. For me it's an added benefit because my youngest cannot walk. So we all walk, and I push the stroller. Even if it is for 30 minutes it is still something that gets us moving.
I once saw a mom pushing the swing with one arm. I thought it was strange, but she eventually switched to the other arm. I suddenly realized she was working out. She even did squats while her daughter was playing in the gazebo. Take the kids to the playground, push them on the swing for 10-15 minutes. Use only one arm for about 5 minutes, then switch. You can also jog while your kid is on the slide. My daughter loves to play monster, where they are the beautiful princesses and I am the evil monster/step mother - I run around the playground and chase her and her friends. Just another way to get moving.
Worst case scenario - just get on the treadmill during naps, or if your children don't nap anymore, have them play around you. I noticed that my oldest daughter, who is now 4, is capable of playing for 45-60 minutes near me while I am on the treadmill. She even likes to try and participate in Yoga videos. Sometimes I get interrupted but I think it's a positive thing to show her that mommy wants to be healthy.
What creative way do you sneak in exercise while spending time with your kids?


Dee Snider is best known as the lead singer of glam metal band Twisted Sister and has been considered as one of the greatest front men of all time. Also a veteran talk radio host, Dee has hosted the nationally syndicated radio show House of Hair for the past 15 years. Appearances on Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Wife Swap and Gone Country have further made him one of the most recognizable personalities in entertainment today. Dee will release a career-spanning compilation, in 2015 "Rock And Roll Ain't Dead - Dee Snider Essentials 1983-2015".
Dee Snider showed a talent for music early on, joining Twisted Sister in 1976. In addition to his extensive voiceover work and hosting duties, Dee wrote, produced and starred in Dee Snider's StrangeLand, a horror film credited with creating the torture film subgenre. With the success of his horror movie, he was tapped to host a weekly radio show, Fangoria Radio, spotlighting the horror genre on the Sirius network.
In his presentations, Dee shares his compelling, funny, and at times touching stories and experiences. Believing that everybody is capable of becoming a "rock star" in their own life, Dee proves it by showing how his life lessons perfectly translate to help any career.
Through Dee's masterful storytelling and brutal, self-deprecating honesty, audiences will come away both entertained and inspired.


Playing poker on the web? Does it sound absurd? In all honesty, no since this trend has been happening all over the world and yes, even the wide, wide world of online.
Poker games are usually not a new issue but on-line poker game can be a various thing all collectively. On line poker game utilizes the same rules and regulations of a frequent poker game plus a complete www.pokeroyunkuram.com large amount of rewards from playing it on the web. The most beneficial point about this can be the web site or net host of on-line poker game is not a casino therefore the home does not win the money. When you play a web based poker game, you happen to be automatically playing with other players from the various components on the globe. The net host of online poker game just obtain compensation for hosting the games within the kind of a tiny percentage on the pot.
There are plenty of advantages of playing on line poker game than the regular playing of a poker game. One would be in terms of convenience. Someone would not need to go through the hassle of dressing, grooming, and travelling all the strategy to a casino mainly because 1 could play in the convenience of their properties. Heck! An individual could nevertheless play even though they haven't taken a bath but. Just don't mention it for your other virtual players although. Apart from that, transactions that underwent in an internet poker game are guaranteed protected and protected simply because net hosts of on line poker game is usually protected from security softwares and businesses. The probability of somebody cheating would also lessen because your opponent couldn't possibly hide nor cheat the cards dealt in the table since it's a virtual planet. Your opponent couldn't possibly mark the cards inside the deck that would ensure him/her of a winning deal. In an internet poker game, an individual is guaranteed of a secure and cheat-free atmosphere. So, in case you are the type who's going to cheat whenever you really feel like that you are losing improved consider once more.
An online Poker game also caters for the desires and demands of every player (so extended since it is affordable). An individual could have an solution of playing with virtual players, if you are the kind to become challenged by the capacity of computer systems or you're someone who desires to prove towards the planet that humans are nevertheless smarter than computers-whatever your purpose possibly, your want is their command. When you are tired of the laptop or computer way of handling points, there is certainly also an option inside the online poker game to play with genuine players, in layman's term-humans. This kind of game could present as a challenge for a individual because in an internet poker game with actual players, it's guaranteed to be a game of adventure and excitement. One on the highlights of an internet poker game will be the tournaments which could possibly be supplied within a daily basis according to the web host. The tournament is seriously a likelihood for poker players to exhibit their expertise and abilities in a poker game.
There are also a range of games out there for everybody in an online poker game. You will discover other games like Texas Hold'em (a speedy and exciting variation of Seven Card Stud), Seven Card stud (the most well-known of all poker games), Seven Card stud (8 or improved) (a fast-action on the web poker), Omaha (a kind of poker dealt precisely the same way as Texas Hold'em but begins with 4 cards), Omaha (eight or superior) (dealt the exact same way as Omaha except that the highest and lowest hands are the winners), and Draw (an old-time regular poker game).
An online poker is as quick as 1, two, and three. Just recall, download, set up and play!


Loughborough College is a government-approved Tier 4 Sponsor, allowing us to offer courses at NQF Level 3 and above to international students aged 16 years and over.
Most international students will need to apply to the UK Home Office for a visa before coming to the UK and we can help you to do this.
This is the most appropriate visa route for non-EEA nationals coming to the UK for study of less than six months or up to eleven months for the study of English language. Student Visitors are permitted to study either part-time or full-time.
More information about the Short-term study visa can be found here.
The Short-term study visa is the only route available to students on our English Language programme. It may also be possible to join our English Language programme if you are already in the UK and have an immigration status that permits study; please contact the International Team for further advice.
This is the most appropriate visa route for non-EEA nationals coming to the UK to study for more than six months. Students must be at least 16 years old and must be studying on a full-time basis. More information about the Tier 4 (General) student visa can be found here.
A condition of your visa is that you will need to provide evidence of your English language ability. You should use the list of approved secure English language tests and test centres that meet the Home Office's requirements to provide this.
Holders of certain other visas may be permitted to study. For example, some categories of Visitor visa may permit study for a maximum of thirty days. If you have any questions about this, or any other questions relating to visas, please contact the International Team and we will be very pleased to advise you further. If you are already in the UK and would like to know if your immigration status permits study with us, please email a scanned copy of your passport and visa/BRP and we will be pleased to advise you.
Your ability to speak and understand English, regardless of any English language test you may have, such as IELTS.
Your course of study at Loughborough College. For example: How long is the course? Which modules will you be studying?
Why you decided to study at Loughborough College on this particular course. For example: How many other institutions did you look at? Why did you choose Loughborough College? How did you make this decision?
Your future plans after completing this course. For example: Are you intending to progress to university in the UK, or will you be returning to your home country?
Your finances. For example: How will you be financing your study and living costs? Do you have official sponsorship, or will you or your family be paying?
If you have any questions about the credibility interviews, please contact the International Team. All students who receive a CAS Statement from the College will also be sent a guide to the credibility interview. It is essential that you read both the CAS Statement and interview guide very carefully, and contact us immediately if you have any questions.
Please inform the International Team by email, once you have been granted your visa, and include a scanned copy of your visa in your email.
If your visa application is refused, please inform the International Team as soon as possible, and email us a scanned copy of all pages of your Refusal Notice. We will then be able to advise you on the options available to you.
Please do not hesitate to contact the International Team if you have any questions about applying for a visa—we are here to help you.
If you are already in the UK, please contact us to book an appointment with one of our advisors.


text:
Russian leader pushes Syria truce deal amid skepticism
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Wednesday with key players in the Syria conflict, including President Bashar Assad, ahead of a U.S.-Russia-engineered cease-fire, as the opposition voiced concerns that the truce due to begin later this week will only benefit the Syrian government.
Feb. 24, 2016 11:45 p.m.
BEIRUT — Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Wednesday with key players in the Syria conflict, including President Bashar Assad, ahead of a U.S.-Russia-engineered cease-fire, as the opposition voiced concerns that the truce due to begin later this week will only benefit the Syrian government.
Government troops backed by Russian warplanes waged fierce battles to regain control of a strategic road southeast of Aleppo from the Islamic State group. The extremist group seized the town of Khanaser and surrounding hills on Tuesday, cutting the main land route to Aleppo.
The state-run news agency said 18 people were killed in IS shelling of government-held neighbourhoods in the city over the past 24 hours.
The truce agreement, which is set to take effect at midnight Friday local time, does not cover the Islamic State group, Syria's al-Qaida branch known as the Nusra Front, or any other militia designated as a terrorist group by the U.N. Security Council.
It's not clear exactly where along Syria's complicated front lines the fighting would stop and for how long — or where counterterrorism operations could continue. Also unresolved are how breaches in the truce would be dealt with.
It remains shaky at best and major questions over enforcement are still unresolved.
In a further reflection of the complicated terrain, Turkey's president said Wednesday that a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia group — which Turkey regards as a terror organization — should also be kept outside of the scope of the agreement. Turkey has in the past few weeks been shelling the group known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, in northern Syria.
The comments by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested Turkey may not stop bombarding the group, which has been a key fighting force against IS.
Addressing dozens of local administrators in Ankara, Erdogan also voiced serious concern that the proposed truce will strengthen Assad and lead to "new tragedies."
Although it has committed in principle to the truce, the main Syrian opposition umbrella group is deeply skeptical and has kept its meetings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, open while it seeks clarifications from the U.S. about the mechanism for the implementation of the agreement.
Salem Al Meslet, spokesman for the alliance known as the High Negotiations Committee which groups political and rebel factions, said his group has "major concerns" that Russia and Assad's forces will continue to strike at mainstream rebels under the pretext of hitting "terrorist groups" during the truce.
However, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, he reiterated that the opposition wants to stop the bloodshed and would abide by the truce in principle.
"The Americans are taking note of our concerns and we are waiting for their replies," Al Meslet said.
The U.S. is hoping that a cessation of hostilities would reduce the violence in Syria enough to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table in Geneva to discuss a roadmap for a political transition that was unanimously adopted by the U.N. Security Council in December.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told American lawmakers on Tuesday that he would not vouch for the success of the cease-fire agreement but that it is the best pathway for ending five years of violence in Syria that has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced another 11 million.
On Wednesday, Assad and Putin discussed the truce agreement in a phone call. SANA said the two leaders stressed the importance of continuing to fight the Islamic State group, Nusra Front "and other terrorist organizations."
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said there were differences in opinion between Moscow and Damascus but that Russia is one of the few countries still in contact with "the legitimate Syrian leader." He did not elaborate.
Speaking in a conference call with journalists, he said Moscow was doing its part and expects the United States to do the same to make sure the groups it supports adhere to the cease-fire.
"The main goal is to stop the bloodletting in Syria," he said.
Asked whether Moscow had a Plan B in case the truce did not hold, he replied: "We are concentrating on Plan A right now. … It's too early to speak of other plans."
The Russian military later said its co-ordinationcentre in Syria has helped negotiate the cessation of hostilities in some areas as part of efforts to implement the cease-fire deal.
Russian Defence Ministry spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said the centre, located at Syria's Hemeimeem air base which is hosting Russian warplanes, has received several requests for assistance from various opposition groups.
He said cease-fire declarations already have been signed by the government and opposition representatives in several areas in the provinces of Homs and Latakia.
Businessman Kevin O'Leary adds spark to conservative efforts to recharge
Austria, Balkan nations, want full stop to migrant influx


text:
Q: Eliminating text in a list with .replace and wildcards I have a list of the following form in python:
x = ['[a] 123', '[b] 456', '[c] 789']

and I want to get a list that looks like
xclean = ['123', '456', '789']

I'm currently trying to strip off the [*]'s using this:
xclean=[]
for item in x:
    cut_item = item.replace('[*]', '')
    xlistclean.append(cut_item)

Thinking that the * would signify anything between the opening and closing bracket. Instead, I get the same list with no change; probably because it is searching for the literal string '[*]'.
Any ideas on better ways to accomplish this?

A: Yep, regular str.replace doesn't have wildcard functionality. You could use re.sub, which does have wildcards:
>>> import re
>>> x = ['[a] 123', '[b] 456', '[c] 789']
>>> x = [re.sub(r"\[.\] ", "", s) for s in x]
>>> print x
['123', '456', '789']

A: Something like this?
x = ['[a] 123', '[b] 456', '[c] 789']

import re
def cleaner(list):
    return [re.findall(r'] (\d+)',x)[0] for x in list]

xclean = cleaner(x)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange