Who would have guessed that a girl from Wisconsin would end up in Indonesia? Or that one event early on as a Children's Pastor in North Dakota would rock her world and send her into a tailspin that only God could pull her out of?
As you listen to this week's guest, Mary Ann Adams, you'll discover how God did all that and more. And how he turned that tailspin into a deeper relationship and provided new strength for ministry.
Mary Ann was called into ministry in high school. After completing her schooling, she spent a few years in Wisconsin and then moved to be the Children's Pastor in Jamestown, ND. Then, just a little over a year ago she began to minister in Indonesia, where she partners with her sister and brother-in-law.
And all of the schooling and years of experience as a Children's Pastor is coming into play: she's been teaching a class on children's ministry in a local college. And it's not just book learning, they've also had the students do some outreaches to put the training into practice.
Probably the biggest single challenge Mary Ann faced came shortly after she became the Children's Pastor in Jamestown, ND. While she was at a Kid's Camp, one of the students drowned in a poo. And she saw it but didn't talk about it so she carried a lot of guilt in her heart.
Some of the things that came out of that experience nearly pushed her out of ministry. It brought her to a place where she was bitter towards God. It was a dark time that only God could bring her through. And the way He did it was powerfully gentle.
When Mary Ann decided to change directions towards Indonesia, she awoke with an amazing hope. Through her times of ministry, two dreams have provided encouragement and direction. As we talked, she shared those dreams and how God has been fulfilling them.
The kids we were ministering to were part of the dream.
Mary Ann, her sister, and brother-in-law have just opened an English Conversation Center. It's a place where the locals can come to learn and speak English. And through that, they will have an opportunity to share the Gospel.
Also, they are starting a Saturday Kid's Club where they can teach the Bible, share the Gospel, and teach English. In the first meeting, they had 18 children from different nationalities and religious backgrounds.
Everything we do matters. If God is at work in your life, we are called to minister to others.
There are two kinds of people: those who know God and those who don't.
It's sometimes the plan of the enemy to make us think that our lives don't make a difference.
Of course, you can always increase your giving. But it's not about how much we think we can give but how much we should give.
Sometimes God is asking us to give sacrificially.
Sometimes we need to think about giving beyond simple monthly giving. Sometimes we need to look for opportunities to give to a project as well.
Is God calling us to take care of a personal need?
Maybe God is calling us to pray deeper.
We need to constantly be searching and honest with ourselves.
God has placed people in your life for a reason.
It's never too late to grasp the dream that God has for your life.


I have to admit, my plan to read the world has slipped a little of late. I blame firstly, having to prepare for my viva and secondly, not being based near the bookshop which sold me the vast majority of my well-travelled novels. However these are all excuses for what is essentially a disappointing lazy streak, I really must try harder.
Having made that confession, I do have an international book to talk about. Way back at the start of September I read A Girl Made of Dust which is from the pen of Lebanese author Nathalie Abi-Ezzi and is set in the midst of the Israel-Lebanon war of the 1980s.
There were a number of times, especially early on that I was forcibly reminded of another book I read for this project – Willow Trees Don't Weep, my Jordanian effort which I slated in this post. Both stories involve young girls trying to rescue their fathers from the tolls of war. But there the similarities end.
Unlike WTDW which was told from the point of view of a naïve, one-dimensional twenty-something whose voice was flat and unrealistic; A Girl Made of Dust is narrated by an actual child but one who speaks with real depth, humour and warmth. A much better comparison to make would be between Ruba (the central character here) and Scout of To Kill A Mockingbird. Both characters have authentic voices and both novels capture the innocent world of the child and the way that the lines between reality and fantasy blur when you're under 10.
Like Scout, Ruba has to deal with an older brother who is growing away from her, a father buried by his own concerns and the intrusion of complicated adult concepts into her world.
A Girl Made of Dust is a genuinely charming tale which was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good coming-of-age story.


Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo? We don't every year – in an official margaritas-chips-and-salsa-fiesta sort of way at least – but based on how much Mexican food we eat on a regular basis around here, there's a good chance we'll be enjoying something South-of-the-border-inspired tomorrow night.
Like these easy burrito bowls!
My husband has – among many wonderful qualities – a… fairly limited repertoire in the kitchen, but when when we first moved in together, he introduced me to these black beans and rice burrito bowls, and I was smitten. They've become one of our favorite meals, and a regular part of our weekly recipe rotation.
They're part salad, part burrito in a bowl, fully delicious, and packed with clean-eating goodness. Since we make a variation of these at least once a week, I figured it was about time I share these everyday bowls of yum with you.
We've added more greens over the years, but the basic "recipe" to these burrito bowls stays the same. Brown rice, black beans, buttery avocado, scallions, lettuce, often tomatoes, and whatever other veggies are in season or on hand. All topped with fresh salsa and eaten with a healthy amount of tortilla chips, of course.
The hubby's more of a traditional spicy red salsa/pico de gallo guy, but I usually opt for milder salsa verde, and that's where the inspiration for this cilantro-lime vinaigrette comes in.
It's a super simple (3 ingredients!) and flavorful sauce meant for drizzling over the whole bowl, but, if merely reading the word cilantro makes you gag, swap out the vinaigrette for your favorite salsa and call it a day. I happen to love the freshness of cilantro, but I know how polarizing that leafy green herb can be!
We also frequently add some crumbly, salty cotija or grated jack or cheddar cheese to this, but we were out (and I didn't want to make an extra trip to the store) so I went dairy-free this time, for a veggie-packed, clean-eating meal in a bowl.
You're super flavorful, fresh and healthy.
But still hearty and filling (for even my large, hungry, meat-loving husband).
Highly-adaptable to vegetarian/vegan/omnivorous diets (and naturally gluten-free!). Though we almost always go meatless with these burrito bowls, they're also great with grilled chicken (or another protein of your choice).
Easily-adaptable to whatever veggies are in season. In the Summer, that means things get really colorful, with tons of homegrown cherry tomatoes, grilled zucchini, fresh corn, etc. piled on top.
All of the elements can be prepared in advance (cooking the rice, chopping the veggies), and simply assembled before serving.
Quick and affordable. We always have brown rice and canned beans stocked in the pantry – so this is an easy, last-minute dinner idea, that we're just about always in the mood for.
These bowls have got everything I look for in everyday eats, so it's no surprise they've easily become one of our very favorite weeknight dinners. Hope you love them as much as we do!
Did you make the recipe? I'd love to know! Leave a comment below, or take a pic and tag @forkknifeswoon on Instagram so I can see!
for serving: fresh cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños, cotija cheese, tortilla chips, etc.
Stir together olive oil, fresh lime juice and minced cilantro until well-combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. May be made in advance, will keep refrigerated for up to a week.
Warm the rice and beans. Season the beans with salt and pepper, to taste (canned beans vary greatly in saltiness).
Divide the rice and beans between two large bowls. Top with the greens, avocado, veggies, and cheese, if using. Drizzle with the cilantro-lime vinaigrette, to taste. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
Feel free to also add any extra veggies that sound good to the base recipe above – we love roasted broccoli, sweet potatoes, and asparagus during cooler months, and chopped cherry tomatoes, diced red pepper, corn, and grilled zucchini/squash in the Summer.
We just about always use organic canned (cooked) black beans, but you could also use canned pinto beans or white beans, or make your own from scratch!
These burrito bowls are naturally gluten-free, and vegan without the cheese. If you do opt to add cheese (after my own heart), Mexican cotija or goat cheese crumbles, or shredded jack or sharp cheddar cheese are all great here.
I never shy away from cilantro and that vinaigrette looks perfect!
We're always scrambling for quick, week-night meals. Plus, we love cilantro. This looks like a winner!
Thanks, Joan!! Hope you enjoy!


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1999 Funchal ETU Triathlon European Championships
Results: 1999 Funchal ETU Triathlon European Championships | Junior Men
Funchal, Portugal • 03 Jul, 1999
Elite Women Elite Men Junior Women Junior Men
1 Ivan Raña Fuentes 1979 ESP 270 01:00:35 00:09:20 00:00:31 00:32:49 00:00:34 00:17:19
2 Raul Cordoba Zamorano 1979 ESP 269 01:00:41 00:09:10 00:00:34 00:32:56 00:00:31 00:17:28
3 Christian Weimer 1979 GER 283 01:00:52 00:09:22 00:00:34 00:32:38 00:00:31 00:17:44
4 Frederic Belaubre 1980 FRA 275 01:01:10 00:09:08 00:00:37 00:32:56 00:00:29 00:17:57
5 Stuart Hayes 1979 GBR 319 01:01:21 00:09:06 00:00:31 00:33:04 00:00:24 00:18:13
6 Michal Danek 1979 CZE 268 01:01:39 00:09:24 00:00:34 00:32:49 00:00:31 00:18:22
7 Daniele Fiorentini 1981 ITA 300 01:01:42 00:09:20 00:00:39 00:32:48 00:00:39 00:18:15
8 Rene Goehler 1980 GER 281 01:01:49 00:09:43 00:00:27 00:32:40 00:00:37 00:18:18
9 Stephan Szekeres 1979 SUI 324 01:01:52 00:09:55 00:00:32 00:32:20 00:00:29 00:18:35
10 Timo Lisk 1979 GER 284 01:01:53 00:09:36 00:00:34 00:32:37 00:00:29 00:18:37
11 Szabolcs Kaldau 1980 HUN 288 01:02:05 00:09:36 00:00:41 00:32:31 00:00:29 00:18:45
12 Thomas Wilke 1979 GER 279 01:02:15 00:09:31 00:00:32 00:32:37 00:00:31 00:19:03
13 Richard Haines 1980 GBR 318 01:02:25 00:09:16 00:00:34 00:32:51 00:00:31 00:19:11
14 Tomas Klima 1980 CZE 265 01:02:30 00:09:24 00:00:36 00:32:48 00:00:31 00:19:08
15 Mathias Hecht 1980 SUI 327 01:02:33 00:09:55 00:00:36 00:32:07 00:00:34 00:19:19
16 Frederik Van Lierde 1979 BEL 262 01:02:55 00:09:55 00:00:26 00:32:18 00:00:31 00:19:44
17 Yohann Vincent 1979 FRA 278 01:03:13 00:09:20 00:00:34 00:33:54 00:00:31 00:18:53
18 Felix Ruediger 1981 GER 282 01:03:23 00:10:03 00:00:32 00:32:06 00:00:32 00:20:07
19 Marko Albert 1979 EST 273 01:03:28 00:09:13 00:00:49 00:32:54 00:00:36 00:19:53
20 Sander Berk 1979 NED 304 01:03:43 00:09:25 00:00:34 00:32:55 00:00:31 00:20:15
21 Andrea Vinaccia 1979 ITA 297 01:03:44 00:09:54 00:00:34 00:34:16 00:00:49 00:18:10
22 Leonid Ivanov 1980 RUS 322 01:03:52 00:10:04 00:00:37 00:34:02 00:00:29 00:18:36
23 Fernando Cabellos Saiz 1979 ESP 271 01:04:07 00:09:28 00:00:39 00:33:04 00:00:29 00:20:25
24 János Szabó 1979 HUN 291 01:04:10 00:09:21 00:00:41 00:34:44 00:00:34 00:18:50
25 Olivier Spanpinato 1980 FRA 277 01:04:12 00:10:11 00:00:29 00:33:59 00:00:31 00:18:58
26 Pavel Kremlevski 1979 RUS 321 01:04:15 00:09:17 00:00:43 00:34:21 00:00:39 00:19:15
27 Jiri Koran 1979 CZE 266 01:04:33 00:09:21 00:00:39 00:34:22 00:00:34 00:19:34
28 Pedro Jesus 1979 POR 310 01:04:37 00:09:56 00:00:34 00:33:18 00:00:31 00:20:15
29 Gábor Buru 1980 HUN 290 01:04:39 00:09:14 00:00:41 00:34:49 00:00:36 00:19:18
30 Sven Riederer 1981 SUI 325 01:04:45 00:09:55 00:00:29 00:34:15 00:00:34 00:19:29
31 Anton Chuchko 1981 RUS 320 01:04:45 00:09:25 00:00:44 00:34:37 00:00:36 00:19:23
32 Carl Danielsson 1980 SWE 315 01:04:48 00:10:07 00:00:49 00:33:46 00:00:34 00:19:31
33 Davide Torresin 1980 ITA 299 01:04:55 00:09:28 00:00:39 00:34:39 00:00:36 00:19:32
34 Ralf Weber 1979 GER 280 01:05:02 00:09:22 00:00:24 00:32:51 00:00:41 00:21:43
35 Gyula Kis 1979 HUN 287 01:05:20 00:09:36 00:00:53 00:35:07 00:00:39 00:19:04
36 Martin Pejsar 1981 CZE 267 01:05:24 00:10:03 00:00:46 00:34:46 00:00:32 00:19:16
37 Tomasz Gagola 1981 POL 307 01:05:27 00:09:59 00:00:46 00:33:58 00:00:34 00:20:10
38 Franz Höfer 1980 AUT 261 01:05:28 00:10:12 00:00:34 00:33:58 00:00:36 00:20:06
39 Thomas Lorblanchet 1980 FRA 276 01:05:37 00:09:40 00:00:44 00:34:14 00:00:31 00:20:24
40 Emilio D'Aquino 1982 ITA 301 01:05:43 00:09:52 00:00:39 00:34:12 00:00:34 00:20:26
41 Patrick Luchsinger 1979 SUI 326 01:06:03 00:11:32 00:00:32 00:35:10 00:00:31 00:18:14
42 Bert Jammaer 1980 BEL 263 01:06:07 00:09:59 00:00:34 00:32:21 00:00:31 00:22:41
43 Kjell Verleyssen 1982 BEL 264 01:06:08 00:10:03 00:00:32 00:36:12 00:00:34 00:18:44
44 Duncan Mckerracher 1979 GBR 317 01:06:26 00:09:41 00:00:44 00:35:11 00:00:37 00:20:11
45 Gijs Klerkx 1979 NED 303 01:06:35 00:09:52 00:00:41 00:35:40 00:00:32 00:19:47
46 Ferenc Bartos 1979 HUN 286 01:07:01 00:09:17 00:00:49 00:36:05 00:00:31 00:20:15
47 Lennart Moberg 1980 SWE 316 01:07:03 00:09:27 00:00:46 00:35:22 00:00:41 00:20:45
48 Dan Alterman 1980 ISR 296 01:07:07 00:10:02 00:00:46 00:35:57 00:00:31 00:19:50
49 Jani Stromsholm 1979 FIN 274 01:07:14 00:10:19 00:00:39 00:36:19 00:00:29 00:19:25
50 Ran Alterman 1980 ISR 292 01:07:15 00:10:02 00:00:43 00:36:00 00:00:32 00:19:57
51 Luca Puglia 1980 ITA 298 01:07:17 00:10:14 00:00:39 00:35:54 00:00:37 00:19:52
52 Uros Seme 1981 SLO 311 01:07:35 00:09:33 00:01:08 00:36:02 00:00:37 00:20:12
53 Pavel Simko 1982 SVK 312 01:07:40 00:09:54 00:00:56 00:35:49 00:00:36 00:20:24
54 Dimitris Kasimis 1980 GRE 285 01:07:54 00:09:59 00:00:41 00:36:39 00:00:43 00:19:49
55 Oded Gross ISR 295 01:08:41 00:10:10 00:00:44 00:36:25 00:00:31 00:20:50
56 Gary Scully 1979 IRL 328 01:08:46 00:10:54 00:00:49 00:36:39 00:00:41 00:19:40
57 Tomasz Siejakowski 1980 POL 305 01:08:59 00:11:00 00:00:44 00:36:39 00:00:36 00:19:58
58 Uri Zilberman 1981 ISR 294 01:09:40 00:11:16 00:00:34 00:37:19 00:00:36 00:19:52
59 Marco Goncalves 1980 POR 308 01:09:57 00:11:35 00:00:34 00:38:01 00:00:29 00:19:17
60 Dermot Galea 1982 MLT 323 01:10:47 00:10:34 00:00:54 00:37:35 00:00:44 00:20:57
61 Daniel Silva 1979 POR 309 01:12:53 00:10:29 00:00:34 00:39:32 00:00:36 00:21:40
62 Pascal Lavagna 1981 MON 302 01:15:07 00:12:11 00:01:01 00:38:31 00:00:39 00:22:42
63 Amir Dekel 1981 ISR 293 01:16:49 00:12:07 00:01:01 00:40:38 00:00:39 00:22:22
DNF Bjorn Andersson 1981 SWE 314 DNF 00:09:20 00:00:50 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00
DNF Tomas Brna 1980 SVK 313 DNF 00:09:27 00:00:43 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00
DNF Bartosz Woszczynski 1979 POL 306 DNF 00:11:01 00:00:41 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00
DNF Peter Toth 1982 HUN 289 DNF 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Books for Black History Month II
Posted by MotherReader at 9:50 AM
Finally sent the tween off to school and am trying to get my bearings again. So far, I am not sick myself, but my pessimistic outlook will not let me relax. Again, I haven't worked to update this listing, but did have one newer title ready to add at the end.
[This article was originally posted February 2008 at Foreword's Shelf Space.]
Previously, on Books for Black History Month, we covered the earlier part of African American history with fiction and nonfiction books that were educational while telling a good story. Now it's time to march forward in time with historical fiction, biographies, and poetry.
Langston's Train Ride
by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Leonard Jenkins (2004)
Fantastic illustrations by Leonard Jenkins make this book a pleasure to peruse, no doubt about that. But the reader will also enjoy being taken along on a journey with Langston Hughes as a young man. As he rides on a train across the country, he is moved by the crossing over the Mississippi River. Words and phrases rush into his head, especially the phrase, "I've known rivers." This book is about personal history, about heritage, and about writing. The full poem, "A Negro Speaks of Rivers," is included at the end of the book, along with a short biography of Langston Hughes.
by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Sean Qualls (2006)
With rhythmic — dare I say poetic — text, this book brings the world of Dizzy Gillespie to life for those who never experienced the musical revolution of the 1920s. The book starts with his rough childhood and the idea that he was able to channel his anger and hurt through his instrument. Jazz is given a rest look to kids as a rule breaking form, and the story of Dizzy, the person, helps bring this time period in focus for young readers. This particular chapter in American history shouldn't be passed by — and no one can afford to miss it with lively, fresh artwork and passages like, "It was like he had taken a wrecking ball / and SMASHED IN / The House of Jazz, / 'til the walls came tumbling down."
Jackie's Bat
by Marybeth Lorbiecki, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (2006)
It's 1947 and Joey is going to be a batboy for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He's excited about it, but conflicted about the new player, Jackie Robinson. Joey's father doesn't think it's right for a white boy to serve a black man, so Joey steers clear of Mr. Robinson. But as he continues his time with the Dodgers, he begins to see Jackie Robinson as both a baseball player and a man, which brings forth his own feelings of acceptance. The small story of one boy echoes the larger feelings of the world's response to this revolutionary baseball player. The book includes some biographical information. The soft, watercolor illustrations complement the text perfectly.
Goin' Someplace Special
by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (2001)
It's the 1950s and 'Tricia Ann is heading downtown in Nashville to go "Someplace Special." Her grandmother is reluctant to let her go on her own, but when she relents, 'Trica Ann faces a journey of pride, humiliation, encouragement, and ultimately joy as she reaches her destination — the public library, open to whites and blacks alike. The injustices of the segregated south are made all too real with this likeable character facing off against the obstacles. Pinkney's lovely watercolors bring just the right feeling of the era to the book.
by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier (2005)
The basic story of Rosa Parks is well known, but you'll think you're in for something different after seeing the cover of this book with the ominous man looking down at — the whole thing is so in-your-face and bold. The art in this book is evocative, gripping, and Caldecott Honor-winning. Rosa Parks's personal story moves into her turning point in the civil rights movement and then continues beyond, covering many of the events surrounding her place in history. The text doesn't complete her biography by any means, but does provide a starting place for discussion of her role and the larger context of the boycott.
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jerome LaGarrique (2004)
Connie would love to sit down at the counter at Woolworth's and have a banana split, but she knows that African Americans aren't allowed to do that. Living in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1960, she knows her color dictates where she can drink and eat and much more. But things are changing in town with Dr. King's speech at a local college chapel and Connie's older siblings joining the NAACP. The paintings in the book capture the sense of emotion, as well as the more tangible evidence of segregation.
I've Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Leonard Jenkins (2003)
A straightforward and brief biography of a hero becomes much more than that in the hands of noted author Walter Dean Myers. The content is just enough to introduce young readers to Dr. King and to his accomplishments and struggles, but not get bogged down in many details. The basics of his personal journey are presented along with essentials of the civil rights movement itself. The text is well done, but it's the illustrations — the powerful, dramatic art — that make this title extraordinary.
Ron's Big Mission
by Rose Blue, Corinne Naden, illustrated by Don Tate (2009)
Ron loves books and is well-known at the Lake City Public Library for his frequent visits. He spends hours reading there, but this day is different. The nine year old boy is going to take on the system by demanding to be allowed to check out books. Knowing that the privilege is reserved for whites, he literally takes a stand to get his own library card. Based on a real incident in the life of Astronaut Ron McNair, the story gives a different feel to discrimination than most books on the subject, focusing on the institutional ruling than belief system. All of the individuals who encounter Ron — from the friendly elderly lady to the helpful librarian to the befuddled police — all want to help him, mostly by getting around the law. While it may not offer a more valid a perspective than other books that tackle discrimination, it puts the emphasis on an unfair law rather than racist people. The illustrations also lighten the tone, with the bright colors and expressive faces. A particularly good book for read-aloud in the classroom or library.
Of course, these books are the tip of the iceberg in exploring African American history, but hopefully will motivate young readers to learn more. And just as important, these titles could prove inspiring for teachers, librarians, and parents to seek out books that are not only good for the mind, but good for the soul.
Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.
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Washington Capitals: Will They Run Out of Time?
At the end of the day, the epitaph of this season for the Washington Capitals might read, "they ran out of time." A couple of weeks ago, we thought the Caps were pretty much done with respect to any hopes of securing a playoff berth. Last week, we did not think their chances were altogether that good.
But today, the NHL trading deadline, the playoffs are not entirely out of the question. Why? Because the Washington Capitals have had two seasons in one, which is not all that surprising given that the Caps' players did not have a training camp with which to familiarize themselves with a new coach with a new philosophy, one that resembles his predecessor's philosophy only in that it is still ice hockey.
The Capitals got off to a miserable 2-8-1 start. By February 7th they sat in last place in the Eastern Conference. They were already seven points out of the Southeast Division lead and five points out of eighth-place, the last qualifier for the post season. Given the way the schedule was set up, with all games being of an "intra-conference" nature and so many opportunities for teams ahead of the Caps to earn points even while losing games, the climb back into contention looked daunting, even after just 11 games of a 48-game season.
But in the "second season" for the Caps, they are 15-9-1 since that awful start. If you compare the standings of teams today with those of February 7th, the Caps have the fifth-highest points-per-game average since February 7th. In fact, even "fifth place" might not be as bad as it sounds. If you look at records of Eastern Conference clubs since February 7th, there is a certain amount of clumping going on:
Pittsburgh and Montreal have been the class of the East, each averaging more than 1.5 points per game since February 7th. Then there is a group that includes Boston, Toronto, Washington, and Ottawa, separated by 0.15 standings points per game over the last almost two months. After that there is a group comprised of the Islanders and Rangers, plus Winnipeg and Philadelphia, separated by only 0.11 standings points per game in that span of time.
Put another way, since the Caps' grisly start to the season, they are 102-point pace team over a full season. This is, now, a playoff-caliber team. That is not to say that they are a playoff team. That poor start looms large, and the Caps are still two points out of the division lead and three points out of eighth place with 12 games left to play.
The Caps have several things going for them as they head down the home stretch. First, they are playing comparatively well. Not a Pittsburgh of Montreal level of well, but not insignificantly, either. Second, the Caps will have eight of their last 12 games at home. The Caps have had, to date, a poor home record (8-8-0), but that is an anomaly given the Caps dominance at home over the past several years. One would think – or at least hope – that something to play for in front of their own fans will inspire the club to raise its game at home. Then there is the matter of their learning curve in adopting head coach Adam Oates' style of hockey. The Caps still have only 36 games of real-time experience in applying Oates' philosophy in NHL games. There is still an arc to travel on that curve, which suggests that further improvement is possible.
The players have earned themselves a shot at pushing for the playoffs without blowing up this roster. And while we do not have particular use for the phrase "anything can happen in the playoffs" (anything "can" happen, but anything rarely "does" happen, it seems, after the first round), the New Jersey Devils finished sixth in the East last season and went to a Stanley Cup final. The Capitals might be that team that "no one wants to play against" in the post-season. We cannot know at this point what effects and trading deadline deals might have on the Caps or their competitors, but the fact remains that the Caps have the fifth highest points-per-game average since their terrible start. It is still an uphill climb, but it might be time to cue the music.
…unless they just run out of time.
Labels: 2012-2013 nhl season, NHL, the peerless prognosticator, Washington Capitals
A TWO-point night -- Game 36: Capitals 5 - Hurricanes 3
It was like old times.
Well, 2010 anyway. Last night in Raleigh, the Washington Capitals went back to the future, falling behind by two goals early, then roaring back behind a barrage from their big guns in defeating the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-3. The win, coupled with a Winnipeg Jets loss to the New York Islanders, left the Caps just two points out of the Southeast Division lead with the Caps holding two games in hand on the Jets.
It did not start out well for the Caps as the Hurricanes posted two goals on the board midway through the first period. The first came when Jiri Tlusty batted in a rebound of a Bobby Sanguinetti shot from the top of the crease with three Capitals surrounding him. Tlusty gave Carolina a 2-0 lead less than three minutes after his first goal when on a power play Karl Alzner could not step out from a pick by Alexander Semin, freeing Tlusty to tee up a wrist shot that beat goalie Braden Holtby and putting the Caps in a two-goal deficit 14:07 into the game.
That would be the high point for the hosts. As they have so often in what is now a 1-8-1 run over their last ten games, Carolina wilted under an avalanche of goals as the game wore on. Alex Ovechkin got it started for the Caps before the first period ended, finishing a breakout just as one draws it up. Braden Holtby got it started by holding the puck behind his own net, then sending it off to Jack Hillen along the wall in the corner. Hillen sent the puck up to John Carlson exiting the defensive zone, who relayed it to Nicklas Backstrom heading through the neutral zone. Backstrom gained the blue line, then left the puck for Ovechkin. Using defenseman Brett Bellemore as a screen, Ovechkin wristed the puck to the long side, off the far post, and in to halve the Carolina lead going into the first intermission.
Mike Green tied the game just 42 seconds into the second period. After what seemed like five minutes that Nicklas Backstrom held the puck on a power play looking for an option, he floated a pass to Green at the high point. Green had time to tee up a slap shot and the puck sailed through a clot of bodies in front, once more hitting the post to goalie Dan Ellis' right and settling into the back of the net.
Jiri Tlusty completed his hat trick 70 seconds after Green's goal with a door-step deflection of an Eric Staal pass on a Carolina power play, but then the Caps took over for good. Mike Green got his second of the game and seventh of the season less than three minutes after Tlusty's goal. It was another product of Nicklas' Backstrom's work. When the puck squirted free from a battle between Jason Chimera and Eric Staal along the boards in the neutral zone, Backstrom picked it up and curled to the middle where he drove to the net. As he approached the hash marks Backstrom left the puck for Green, who followed in Backstrom's wake and wristed a shot over Ellis' blocker to tie the game once more at three apiece. That goal ended Ellis' night in favor of Justin Peters.
The Caps took the lead on some good luck followed by taking advantage of the opportunity the luck provided. Joni Pitkanen tried a long lead pass out of the Carolina end, but the pass was interrupted by the skate of Alex Ovechkin. Marcus Johansson tipped the loose puck to Nicklas Backstrom at center ice, and Backstrom took it the other way. Backstrom skated in aggressively and found Ovechkin behind Patrick Dwyer, trying to get back to back check. Ovechkin snapped the puck over Peters' glove, and the rout was on.
Joel Ward finished things up for the Caps in style with 44.9 seconds left in the second period when he converted a two-on-one shorthanded break with Marcus Johansson to give the Caps their final 5-3 margin.
-- With this win the Caps reached the .500 mark (percentage of standings points earned) for the first time this season.
-- The 19 shots on goal tied a season low for the Caps, that one coming in a 3-2 loss to New Jersey on February 21st.
-- With two goals in this game, Alex Ovechkin is now tied for third in goals with 20, behind Steven Stamkos (25) and John Tavares (23). By adding an assist, Ovechkin is tied for tenth in total scoring with 37 points.
-- What's with Ovechkin and empty nets? If he's not ringing chances off iron, he's shooting it into old friends. Alexander Semin blocked an empty net attempt with 61 seconds left to deny his old buddy a hat trick. Hey, what are friends for? Ovechkin might want to remember that the next time the teams meet (a week from tomorrow in Washington) and he has Semin lined up for a hit.
-- Here is another way to think about Ovechkin and empty nets. Had he converted all of his empty net chances this season (four), he would have a shooting percentage of 14.5 percent, just off his career best – 14.6 percent in his 65-goal 2007-2008 season.
-- Nicklas Backstrom tied a career high with his four-assist night. It is the seventh time he turned the trick, the first time since getting four helpers in a 6-3 win over Tampa Bay on Veterans Day, 2010.
-- Mike Green's two-goal night was his first since getting a pair in a 7-1 win over Detroit on October 22, 2011. Caps fans will remember that game as the last win in a seven-game winning streak to open the 2011-2012 season. It was also the last time we saw a "healthy" Mike Green for quite some time. After that game he played in only three games over the next four months.
-- The Not-So-Young Guns – Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Green – finished the night a combined 4-5-9, plus-5. Like the old days.
-- And as if for good measure, the departed "Young Gun" – Alexander Semin – had a pair of assists of his own, but he was a minus-2, and yes, he did take an offensive zone tripping penalty. Like the old days.
-- One more on Ovechkin… he is shooting again. Over his last 29 games he has averaged 4.8 shots per game (a 396-shot pace over 82 games). Not coincidentally, he has 18 goals in that span of games, a 51-goal pace. He has almost a third of the Capitals' shots in this game (six of 19). Ovechkin has never been a sniper in the mold of a Mike Bossy or even a Peter Bondra. He's been the gattling gun that shreds opponents with volume. And he seems to be back. Like the old days.
-- Joel Ward's goal broke a 16-game dry spell. It was his first shorthanded goal as a Cap, and it was his first since his shorthanded goal for Nashville opened the game's scoring in the Predators' 3-2 win over Vancouver on January 22, 2010.
-- Braden Holtby allowed three goals, the fourth straight game in which he has allowed three or more. It is the longest such streak of his brief career to date.
-- Marcus Johansson had two more assists. That makes five multi-point games in his last nine contests, over which he is 3-8-11, plus-6. His plus-3 tied a career best, set in a 3-0 win over New Jersey on March 18, 2011.
In the end, this did look a lot like a game out of the 2009-2010 playbook. Fall behind early? Yeah, sure. So what? Then they come roaring back with timely offense from the guys who need to be timely with their offense. Then they get enough goaltending and defense late (Holtby stopped the last 22 shots he faced) to seal the deal. The question is, will that be a winning formula going forward? We would just as soon dispense with the falling behind early part.
It ended up being a successful (2-0-1) road trip for the Caps, and they get a bit of a break in the schedule. They will have to contend with the surging Islanders, but then they get Florida and Tampa Bay before midnight on Sunday. They have dealt with adversity to put themselves in a position to rip the division lead out of Winnipeg's mitts. Let's see how they deal with their recent good fortune.
Labels: 2012-2013 nhl season, 2012-2013 postgame, Carolina hurricanes, NHL, the peerless prognosticator, Washington Capitals
A TWO-point night -- Game 36: Capitals 5 - Hurrica...


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Le Falcon 10 est un biréacteur d'affaires construit par Dassault Aviation à partir de 1969. Il s'agit du second avion d'affaires de la famille Falcon construit par Dassault Aviation.

Historique
Étudié à partir de 1969, il succéda au Falcon 20 avec des dimensions réduites mais une distance franchissable accrue qui se voulait proche de . Avant même le premier vol, Pan Am en commanda 40 et une filiale de Lufthansa, 15.

Le , le prototype effectua son premier vol piloté par Hervé Leprince-Ringuet. Il était équipé de 2 réacteurs à simple flux General Electric CJ610, qui seront remplacés par deux Garrett TFE731-2-1C, avant de reprendre les essais en vol le . Il est le premier avion au monde à utiliser la fibre de carbone pour l'intégralité de ses caissons de voilure.

Les essais initiaux furent endeuillés, le , par la perte de l'équipage du prototype d'essai  lors de la rupture en vol de la structure au-dessus de Romorantin, à l'issue d'un essai de déroulement des trims latéraux. L'appareil était piloté par le commandant de l'armée de l'air Alain Trétout, promotion 1956 de l'École de l'air et précédemment pilote de marque du Mirage F1 au Centre d'expériences aériennes militaires (CEAM). L'ingénieur de vol était Jacques Ladeux. Ils furent tous deux cités à l'ordre de la Nation par le premier ministre de l'époque, Pierre Messmer, sur proposition du ministre d'État chargé de la Défense nationale, Michel Debré. Ladite citation rappelait les faits suivants : . Une stèle commémore ce drame, dressée sur le bord de la D 60 entre Selles-Saint-Denis et Loreux, proche du lieu-dit Pioté. Ce fut le seul accident lors de la mise au point de toute la série des Falcon.

Le Falcon 10 détient, depuis le , le record international de vitesse en circuit fermé sur , pour des avions de , à la vitesse moyenne de . Le Falcon 10 est à son époque le plus rapide des avions d'affaires : il est surnommé le « Corporate bullet » par les pilotes.

Le programme Falcon 10 est arrêté en 1985 après une production de . Néanmoins, les Falcon 10 restent très appréciés pour leur fiabilité et leur surmotorisation.

La production débuta en 1971 et s'est terminée en 1991 par l'avion .

Une version d'entraînement et de surveillance maritime, le Falcon 10 Mer, est actuellement en service dans l'Aviation navale.

Ces avions sont capables d'atterrir au London City Airport situé quasiment au cœur de Londres, dont l'approche est en très forte pente.

Le chef d'orchestre Herbert von Karajan en possédait un, qu'il pilotait lui-même.

Falcon 100

Le Falcon 100 est une évolution du Falcon 10 présentée en 1977. Le Falcon 100, équipé de deux réacteurs Garrett TFE 731-2, présente un quatrième hublot sur le côté droit de l'appareil ajoutant à la luminosité intérieure, une soute à bagages avec accès extérieur et une cabine plus vaste que le Falcon 10.

Le Falcon 100 est le premier avion d'affaires certifié avec des écrans couleur qui remplacent les instruments électro-mécaniques dans le poste de pilotage (Electronic Flight Instrument System). À la sécurité accrue, il ajoute les possibilités d'information très enrichies et le choix de l'information présentée au pilote. Le système comporte quatre tubes identiques groupés en deux ensembles séparés plus un écran multifonctions qui sert de radar météo ainsi qu'à la présentation de la navigation ou de la check-list.

Voir aussi

Notes et références

Liens externes

Détails sur Airliners.net
[https://www.defense.gouv.fr/falcon-10 le Falcon 10 sur le site du ministere des armèes

Aviation d'affaires
Avion de patrouille maritime français
Avion d'entraînement militaire
Aéronef utilisé par l'aviation navale française
Falcon 0010
Avion des années 1970
Avion biréacteur
Premier vol en 1970
Avion à ailes basses

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


In the past 19 years, nearly 26,000 members of the George Fox community have volunteered thousands of service hours, doing everything from spreading bark chips and clearing blackberry brambles to washing wheelchairs and visiting senior citizens.
This year, Serve Day will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019.
If you believe your organization could benefit from Serve Day and are interested in hosting a service project, the Project Request Forms will become available in June 2019.
Find the Serve Day Safety Agreement and information on how to report injuries and property damage below.
We look forward to working with you and hope that Serve Day will be a blessing to everyone involved.


text:
Rumors TV
RUMOR: Hayden Christensen Coming Back as Anakin Skywalker
By Nick Caminita May 6, 2020
According to an unnamed source from LRM Online, Disney and Lucasfilm have opened discussion with Hayden Christensen to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+.
Clearly, the role Anakin Skywalker would play in the series would be purely in flashback form since the Kenobi series is set after the events of Revenge of the Sith, but it also means that we could get some never before seen interactions between Obi-Wan and Anakin or some live action set ups of scenes we have seen in The Clone Wars animated series. These 2 characters are forever linked and have many encounters and adventures that can be told in flashback form to make the Kenobi series feel more emotional.
It is also being reported that the reveal of this casting will be announced that Star Wars Celebration 2020, which has not yet been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so if this is true, we could be hearing something official sooner rather than later.
We will keep you updated with any new information on this rumor or when things are made official by Disney and Lucasfilm.
Disney+Hayden ChristensenKenobiObi Wan Kenobi
SWTS: The Clone Wars Finale Episodes Breakdown, New Star Wars Directors, and Asks Us Anything Part 1
May 6, 2020 1 Min Read
EA Finally Confirms That Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the Start of a New Franchise
May 7, 2020 2 Mins Read


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Home> Publications & Directories> Perspectives on History> Issues> February 2017> AHA Today> Clothes as Historical Sources: What Bloomers Reveal about the Women Who Wore Them
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Clothes as Historical Sources: What Bloomers Reveal about the Women Who Wore Them
Guest Blogger | Feb 13, 2017
By Laura J. Ping
My interest in textiles came from my grandmother and her collection of carefully preserved family heirloom quilts. My favorite was the crazy quilt; my grandmother and I would spend hours examining the fabrics used in the patchwork and guessing if each piece had once been a man's shirt, a woman's dress, or perhaps a set of sheets. This early lesson in the importance of textiles has inspired my research on fashion, a flourishing field of study. Although textual sources describe clothing and images show how they looked, it is only through examining the clothes themselves—fabric, style, areas of wear and tear—that historians can measure the tastes of individuals and how this reflected the larger culture of society.
Silk applique and embroidered leaf detail on the jacket. From the collection of the Cortland County Historical Society
My research centers on the 19th-century American women's dress reform movement and the cultural roles of fashion and anti-fashion. In my study, Peterboro, New York, plays a significant role. Peterboro—long appreciated for its significance to the history of the American anti-slavery movement—had an intriguing part to play in the antebellum women's reform movement as well. In 1851, Peterboro resident and abolitionist Elizabeth Smith Miller became frustrated with her long skirts while gardening. In response, she began wearing a garment consisting of a shortened skirt and trousers. This clothing would become popularly known as the "bloomer costume," after journalist Amelia Bloomer publically endorsed it. The bloomer costume would later be adopted as the uniform of the women's dress reform movement. For women's rights reformers, the bloomer costume symbolized their protest against ideas of feminine inferiority that, according to them, were perpetuated by fashionable clothing. Textual sources detail the experiences of reformers in wearing the bloomer costume, but provide few details about regular women's adoption of dress reform.
Front: white cotton bloomer trousers with black cotton sewn onto the lower leg to match the skirt; back: black slippers. From the collection of the Cortland County Historical Society
So, in the fall of 2013, when I was invited to Peterboro for a fundraiser to support the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the Smithfield Community Association—an event that was all about women's dress reform—I jumped at the chance. Called "In the Kitchen Tea," the fundraiser featured tea and finger sandwiches, volunteers in re-created bloomer costumes, a brief history of dress reform, and songs about the bloomer. Most significantly for my research, an authentic bloomer costume from 1855, on loan from the Cortland County Historical Society, was also on display. And it had a fascinating story, one warranting further research and careful contextualization.
In 1994, the Cortland County Historical Society received a phone call from the Homer National Bank about a trunk that had been stored there for an unknown interval. Inside the trunk lay a bloomer costume along with documents indicating that it had been owned by Meriva Carpenter, a resident of Homer, New York (also the birthplace of Amelia Bloomer). How the garment came to be in the bank's possession is unknown; piecing together where the garment fits into the history of dress reform required that I combine genealogy with a material analysis of the item itself—a "close reading" of the clothing.
Full-length view of entire bloomer costume; pieces include jacket, skirt, trousers, and slippers. From the collection of the Cortland County Historical Society
Meriva Carpenter was a painter of miniatures; her husband a successful miller and dyer. Known around town for being "artistic," Carpenter's bloomer costume reflected her reputation. Made of black cotton with silk applique and embroidered leaves, the 1855 garment includes a black jacket with long, turned cuff sleeves. The black skirt buttoned down the front and ended below the knees, approximately 6 inches from the ankle. The waistband of the skirt connected to the jacket by buttons, making the garment appear as one piece rather than two. A blouse was likely worn under the jacket. The bloomer trousers are split leg and white with matching black cloth sewn from knee to ankle and cut straight, like men's pants.
Carpenter's garment differs from the written descriptions and photographs of the bloomer costumes owned by identifiable social reformers in several respects. First, the waist of the garment is cinched, indicating that a corset may have been worn underneath. Because one of the main platforms of dress reform was an anti-corset movement, it is curious that the garment would have been designed to include restrictive undergarments. Knowing that many women converted full-length gowns into bloomer costumes, my next question was whether or not the cinched waist indicated that this had originally been a fashionable dress. The hem of the skirt gave no indication that it had been altered, which suggests that Carpenter's bloomer costume was constructed to be a reform dress rather than recycled from clothing she already owned.
Bloomer jacket showing cinched waist suggestive of a corset. A blouse would likely have been worn under this jacket. From the collection of the Cortland County Historical Society
The bloomer trousers stood out as well. The original design recommended by Amelia Bloomer included harem pants. But women in upstate New York commonly wore their trousers in the style of men. Written accounts indicate that some women thought this design was more hygienic, while others felt that adopting male-inspired trousers more bluntly asserted their gender equality. It was exciting for me to compare these conjectures to material evidence from the period. And, though the bloomer costume was advertised as functional clothing, the detail work on this garment—the elaborate silk applique and embroidery that adorned it—implies that it was worn for show and not housework. I found no indication that Carpenter sewed her own clothing, and the skill level necessary to create such an elaborate garment suggests that she had it commissioned.
Historically the dress reform movement has been considered a failure because it did not result in any long-term changes in fashion. Many women complained that, while the idea of convenient clothing was appealing, the bloomer costume was ugly. Meriva Carpenter's bloomer costume also reflects this view. The most radical element of the bloomer costume, the trousers, was embraced, but the fashionable hourglass shape is maintained and the embroidery is delicate and beautiful. This suggests that despite dress reformers' assertions that men were compelling women to dress a certain way, women themselves embraced fashion. Carpenter, for example, saw the functional merits of shortening the skirt and adding trousers, but wanted a garment that was also attractive and feminine.
The Carpenters possessed the financial means to have such a garment made, but the question remains: did Meriva Carpenter actually wear her bloomer costume? Though the trousers and sleeves of the jacket show wear and tear and some sloppy repairs could be seen on both pieces, it remains unclear whether these are from age or from wear. What is apparent is that someone cared enough to patch the garment and to carefully store it in a trunk for safe keeping. Whether Carpenter owned a bloomer costume because she was sympathetic to women's reform or because it appealed to her as an artist may never be known. But by analyzing extant clothing historians can address cultural questions unanswered by textual sources, such as how regular people interpreted social reform and whether or not these movements played a role in their daily lives. Determining the dominant textiles used, how a garment was constructed, the presence of any labels, and the wear and tear sustained by a piece can help to establish how it fit into the life and world of its owner, and the purposes it served—both functional and symbolic.
Laura Ping is a doctoral candidate at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her dissertation, "Throwing off 'the Draggling Dresses': Women and Dress Reform, 1820–1900," discusses the ways in which fashion and function intersected in the 19th-century American dress reform movement. Ping is the recipient of the E.P. Thompson dissertation fellowship, a short-term research fellowship at Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York Dissertation Fellowship, and a Writing Across the Curriculum fellowship with the City University of New York. Ping is an adjunct lecturer in the history department at Queens College in Flushing, New York. Her forthcoming article, "'He May Sneer at the Course We are Pursuing to Gain Justice': Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck, The Sibyl and Corresponding about Women's Suffrage," will be published in New York History Journal. Ping holds a master's degree in history from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor's in history from the University of Iowa.
This post first appeared on AHA Today.
Tags: AHA Today Culture Women, Gender, Sexuality
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18 October 2020 / brief
Issue 21- On Vacancy Tax, Cash transfers, and 5G iPhones
In today's Finshots brief, we will talk about
Hong Kong's tax on empty apartments
The downsides of Thailand's cash transfer scheme
How mobile carriers in the US are aiding iPhone sales
Hong Kong's Vacancy Tax
Over the last few years, property prices in Hong Kong have skyrocketed to unaffordable levels. According to a 2018 UBS report, a skilled service provider there would have to put in 20 years of work to be able to purchase a mere 650 square feet apartment near the city centre. On top of that, Hong Kong had 9,000 unsold but finished new residential units as of June 2018. And this is of grave concern to the government.
As the city's chief executive, Carrie Lam said, "Today, when the housing supply is so tight and the demands for ownership are so strong, it is hard to understand why so many flats are left empty."
Well, the thing is, developers in Hong Kong tend to hold on to newly completed residential projects in order to sell them at a time when the prices are higher. But as the city grapples with an acute housing shortage, this is no longer acceptable. And so, the government is taking measures to 'motivate' developers to speedily sell off such flats.
On that front, last year, they proposed to amend the Rating Ordinance to introduce an additional tax that developers will have to pay on new residential units that lie vacant. The tax amounts to double the value of the unit's estimated annual rental, making up for about 5% of its total value. Under the proposal, developers will have to present annual reports of their new flats to the government. After that, the tax will be applied to the flats that have not been rented out for 6 months of the previous year.
In October 2019, the proposed bill passed its first reading, and the hope was that it would discourage developers from hoarding flats, thereby making more of them available to the public. But there were some key issues.
For one, an association of developers claimed that the figure of 9000 unsold flats was inaccurate, since 6000 of these required an additional 6 months of work for furnishing, fittings, landscaping etc. before they could be made habitable. Besides, what about the flats that developers were unable to sell? Since the bill also levies tax on a flat that is leased below market rent, it's not like they have a lot of options here. Finally, there are also concerns that if developers are forced to shoulder the vacancy tax, they may just pass the burden along to their buyers, raising property prices further.
So considering all this, the vacancy tax is not exactly an ideal solution for the city- especially with the damage that Hong Kong's nationwide protests and the coronavirus pandemic have wreaked on the economy. So now, the Hong Kong government is forced to consider suspending the plan altogether. So that's that.
Your Money Or Your Data?
Like most tourism-reliant economies, coronavirus has hit Thailand hard. And to help citizens find their footing, the government has resorted to direct cash transfers of sorts. But it's not exactly free money.
You see, these monetary transfers are happening through cash cards. And the government loads it with money each month. Through the card and its associated app, the government offers citizens services like travel allowance for public transportation, job training and healthcare. About 14 million Thais use the card as of now, and the number is set to increase as unemployment amid the pandemic increases.
And this is making privacy advocates uneasy. After all, there are always great risks involved with collecting vast swathes of personal information. Especially when the data is being collected by a government that has been accused of several human rights violations.. As David Hoffman, a cybersecurity expert at Duke University says, "the dystopian possibility is that you get a tremendous view into individual citizens that then could be used for a variety of government law enforcement purposes, particularly around the area of silencing social dissent."
Obviously, the Thai government disagrees. They claim that they are following strict privacy protocols, and their only purpose with the card is to help those in need. According to them, the data they are collecting will help them devise more targeted policies.
The 5G Awareness Drive
4 new iPhones were launched last week, featuring the much-awaited 5G technology that'll give users speeds that they've never experienced, or even imagined, before. But even though 5G is set to be groundbreaking, the fact is that not enough customers know or care about the technology. At least not enough to upgrade their smartphones. Well, in an unusual turn of events, US cell phone carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are trying to educate them.
You see, whenever people switch mobiles, carriers either gain or lose customers. And this is especially true in this case, since each of the three carriers has built their 5G networks in a different way. As Cliff Maldonado, principal analyst at BayStreet Research says, "The networks are different for the first time. 5G is the perfect time to justify switching carriers."
Verizon started building 5G networks in cities and is now trying to ramp up capacities in rural areas. On the other hand, T-Mobile already has significant rural coverage. And AT&T, which usually doesn't offer discounts, has unveiled massive saving plans.
But the clear winner in all these campaigns is Apple, as they are diverting people's attention to its new devices. In anticipation of people upgrading to access the new technology, investors have already pushed the company's market value to $2 trillion!
What else happened?
Please Web Check-in
'Contactless' has suddenly become a service buzzword. As such, airlines have been trying to get people to do web check-ins. And now, Indigo is taking the radical step of making flyers pay a convenience fee of Rs. 100 if they choose to check-in at the airport counter. Know more.
On Friday, the government served notices to e-commerce majors Amazon and Flipkart for non-declaration of certain mandatory disclosures, including the 'Country of Origin' on some products. Read more.
On Priority
The race to develop a successful coronavirus vaccine is on across the world. But initially, there aren't likely to be enough doses to go around. And so, India has started identifying priority beneficiaries within the country. Learn more.
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-Written by Vedika Agarwal
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— Finshots —
Issue 36- On Nuclear Deals, Income Tax Breaks, and Stimulus Packages
Issue 35- On Chinese Tech Giants, Harley Davidson Dealerships, and Food Inflation
Issue 34- On Amazon, Uber for Trucks, and Mobile Money
See all posts →
How to advertise sin products?
How to advertise sin products like tobacco and alcohol?
19 October 2020 4 min read
Weekly Wrapup: Root Causes
How banks are being nudged into reducing interest rates, the government's plan to revive the economy, Basmati wars, why the rich keep getting richer, and whether the new Motor Regulation Act actually worked.
Finshots


UK: French firm Engie has agreed to buy a 23% stake in the 1.1GW Moray Firth offshore wind project, planned for a site off north-east Scotland, for £21 million (€18.5 million).
Engie will "participate in the investment, development and operation" of the offshore wind project, according to project developer EDP Renovaveis (EDPR).
The 1,116MW project will be installed in the North Sea, 22km off Scotland's coast.
Engie and EDPR are also partners for the Caisse des Depots floating offshore wind project in France, awarded a licence in November 2016.
Engie and EPDR are also members of the Windplus consortium behind the 25MW WindFloat Atlantic project in Portugal.
In October 2015, EDPR agreed a deal with Chinese developer China Three Gorges for the latter to acquire up to 30% of the project, depending on the outcome of a future contracts for difference support auction taking place in the UK.


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Q: Remove Blank Space From Output in PowerShell I'm developing code for monitoring memory that a specific program is using and then, if memory goes too high, it's gonna kill the process.
I'm wondering how I could remove extra blank spaces backward and forward the result, and then put the content into a variable.
Right now, the code is working, but it brings me some blank spaces. I know it's because of the Format-Table -Hide function, but I don't know how to fix it.
Eg.: With Chrome process.
$Pmemory = Get-Process -Name chrome |
           Group-Object -Property ProcessName |
           Select @{n='Memory';e={'{0:N0}' -f (($_.Group|Measure-Object WorkingSet -Sum).Sum / 1MB)}} |
           ft -hide |
           Out-String

$Lmemory = 1000

After all, I'm gonna compare both values, but my main question is how to remove those blank spaces.

A: You have to remove the Format-Table and Out-String from your code
Like this
$Pmemory = (Get-Process -Name chrome |
           Group-Object -Property ProcessName |
           Select @{n='Memory';e={'{0:N0}' -f (($_.Group|Measure-Object WorkingSet -Sum).Sum / 1MB)}}).Memory

$Lmemory = 1000

Output:
PS C:\Windows\system32> $Pmemory
1.968

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the Azerbaijani President on July 13.
The State Agency will be established to increase transparency in the activity of state bodies, render better services to citizens by using new methods and modern innovations, adhere to ethical rules and courteous treatment towards citizens, improve rendered services and accelerate the transition to electronic services.
This State Agency will manage the specially created centers "ASAN xidmet", coordinate the activity of the staff of state bodies that work in these centers, monitor and evaluate, deal with mutual integration of the state bodies' data bases, accelerate organizing e-services, improve the governance in this area.
According to the presidential decree, the services in "ASAN xidmet" centers will be rendered on the basis of the principles of efficiency, transparency, courtesy, responsibility for all citizens in all calendar days, regardless of residence registration.
Different services at these centers should be rendered on the basis of citizens' appeals directly, over phone or via the Internet.
The employees of state agencies who will work in these centers must attend the courses and various trainings to improve skills while working with citizens.
The Azerbaijani Presidential Administration was instructed to submit a draft of a new State Agency, a draft of model centers "ASAN xidmet" and proposals on the types of services to be rendered in these centers to the President within two months.
According to the presidential decree, a decree on the establishment of the State Agency for the "Electronic Government" under the Ministry under the Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry and making the changes in the ministerial structure has been annulled.
The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to provide the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the Azerbaijani President and "ASAN xidmet" centers with buildings, and necessary equipment and to solve the issues of financial and logistical support related to the agency's activity, as well as other issues.


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Variety 502110451
The historic Delta Queen riverboat will cruise again; give the gift of Death Valley
After a decade in dock, the 1920s-era Delta Queen riverboat will cruise again. President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation on Tuesday authorizing the 285-foot-long riverboat immortalized in poems and songs to cruise on the Mississippi and several other rivers. The Delta Queen was sidelined in 2008 by a federal law prohibiting overnight excursions on wooden vessels. Both U.S. senators from Missouri co-sponsored a bill to allow the exemption, which requires modifications to the wooden portions of the vessel. The company expects to begin three-, five- and seven-day cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha, Arkansas and Illinois rivers in 2020. The Delta Queen is expected to visit more than 80 ports each year, including St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Louisville, Ky., Chattanooga, Tenn., and St. Paul.
We're going to Disney World
Save $300 to $600 on a Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando that includes lodging, theme park tickets and dining plan. For example, with the Play, Stay, Dine offer, a five-night stay in a garden-view room at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in early January costs $5,652 for a family of four. The deal includes six-day park admission, Disney dining plan and taxes — a savings of up to $600. The deal applies to select deluxe villa, deluxe, moderate and value properties. Stay three to 14 nights from Jan. 1 through March 9. Book by Jan. 2 (1-407-939-1936; disneyworld.disney.go.com).
Give the gift of Death Valley
Marjie Lambert • Miami Herald
Zabriskie Point in Death Valley.
This year, give the gift of experiences that will create lasting memories. Visit Death Valley National Park for untamed adventure, stunning landscapes and warm, sunny days. Following a multimillion-dollar revitalization, the Oasis at Death Valley is your perfect base camp for hiking, biking and exploring the expansive park. Consider the Inn at Death Valley, an elegant hideaway where new casitas provide privacy and luxury within easy walking distance of the Hollywood-style spring-fed pool. The Ranch at Death Valley offers a more casual, family-friendly setting with a children's playground, expansive lawns and fire pits, as well as a spring-fed pool. Families are welcomed in a new Mission California-style Town Square where they can gather, shop or visit the Last Kind Words Saloon, a signature dining and entertainment venue (oasisatdeathvalley.com).
FamilyTravel.com
Don't drink the water
The food served on airlines is not as fattening as it used to be, but passengers might want to stay clear of the water. The average number of calories per menu choice on U.S.-based carriers rose from 392 calories in 2016 to 405 calories last year but dropped to 373 calories this year, according to a study from the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center. The calorie count dropped because airlines replaced foods such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with salads and began offering new options including oatmeal for breakfast and vegan lunches, the study said. The study also warned passengers to avoid the tap water, coffee and tea served on a plane, saying there may be harmful bacteria in the water that comes from various municipal systems and is stored in the airplane's tanks.
Local Congestion worsens on Twin Cities metro area highways
Local Rep. Ilhan Omar reports raising $600,000 more for re-election bid
Jack White shreds again at the Armory, this time with Raconteurs • Music
The rise of the only child: 'We're happily a family of three' • Variety
4 terrific smoked meat spots to try in northeast Minneapolis • Eat & Drink
Watch: Noodles stretched by hand at new Magic Noodle shop in St. Paul • Eat & Drink
2 fun new places to try Minnesota wines: A vineyard and a wine bar • Eat & Drink


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The pace at which the blockchain industry develops is breathtaking. Blockchain contributed a lot to the technology development. But a lot doesn't mean that it has nothing to offer to the world anymore.
Therefore in this article, The Coin Shark offers you to take a look at TOP-7 the most awaited blockchain technological trends of 2019.
Certainly, blockchain is one of revolutionary technologies of the 21st century. It is able to solve an incredible number of problems and tasks. Therefore, many start-ups and companies are working on the development of their own blockchain decision. One of such decisions is BaaS service, which is a cloud service for creating your own products on blockchain and smart-contracts.
Although, the world giants such as Amazon and Microsoft already provide BaaS service and the demand starts growing.
There are several blockchain versions, one of which is a hybrid. Presumably, it will become a trend in 2019.
A hybrid blockchain is worth your attention, because there are several variants of its usage and namely its integration in a hybrid IoT, banking, supply chain and corporate services.
Some people believe that 2019 is the year of a federated blockchain. The presented type of technology is an evolution of blockchain standards. It's perfect for many private cases of use such as: the insurance recoveries, financial services,supply chain management etc.
This is also one of blockchain trends of 2019, which is basically a legal contract for mutual agreement between sides. Ricardian contracts unite legal contracts with technologies. In this case, legal contacts will be cryptographically checked and signed.
The uniqueness of Ricardian contracts is that they are simple for understanding. It spares mediators between technology and people.
With time we see new blockchain based networks. It leads to formation of new chains, offering various network processing speed etc.
The interoperability of blockchain is aimed at improving the informational exchange between various networks and systems on blockchain basis. This trend improves the compatibility of blockchains as well as makes them more practical for everyday use.
With interoperability of chains of blocks, as an example, you can send information from EOS into Ethereum chains of blocks. Several examples include: BlockNet, Aion, WanChain etc.
Such coins unlike cryptocurrency have stable rate, since they do not depend on the condition of the market and they are supported by goods or by fiat currency. The brightest example of stablecoins is Tether.
Such tokens protect the investors' rights during an ICO. Security tokens will become a trend in blockchain industry in 2019, since now we are observing the transfer from ICO to STO.


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6.5-06 M40 Dream Bolt
by Jay Langston
in Guns, Rifles
After attending 22 SHOT (Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade) Shows over the past 24 years, I no longer feel that "kid in a candy store" sensation that marked my first few visits. Nevertheless, it is always fun to see old friends and make new acquaintances. One of the most impressive people I met at the last SHOT Show was David Rooney, owner of Tactical Rifles. I had heard good reports about Tactical Rifles' work from my friend, Staff Sgt. James Gilliland, and got a chance to shoot his Tactical Rifles-made .260 Remington M40 after a deer hunt last fall.
After a couple of days walking the aisles, I stopped by the Tactical Rifles booth to meet Rooney and talk rifles. We found that we share a common affinity for .264 bullets for long-range work. Rooney was excited about a new 6.5mm-06 that he had built. Now, I'm a big fan of the .260 Remington with high ballistic-coefficient bullets, but he assured me that the extra velocity of the same projectiles fired from a longer 30-06 case would increase the reliable range beyond 1,000 yards.
"Many people talk about the 6.5 diameters, as they have realized it is just a great wind-bucking B.C. that allows you to hit little targets way out yonder," Rooney said. "The 2,600 to 2,700 fps range is great, but for 1,000 yards and beyond, the extra 200 fps is what's needed if you want not just to compete, but to win. Speeding up the round and increasing the B.C. of the bullet reduces wind drift and makes long range precision more achievable.
"Five inches less wind drift at 1,000 yards may not seem like much, but that's what separates the winners from the losers in competition," Rooney continued. "That's why the 6.5-284 wins so many benchrest competitions; but it doesn't like magazines, so it is almost always used for single shot rifles. It gives comparable ballistics, and maybe even better at max loads, but with the ability to feed in a standard long-action magazine, and enter the 6.5-06. The .30-06 has worked great for decades, but doesn't offer significant advantage in ballistic coefficient. The 6.5-06 offers huge advantages at long range without being a magnum, throat-burning, hard-kicking beast! In fact, with a brake installed, the 6.5-06 barely moves when fired." One thing led to another, and I'd arranged to borrow Rooney's 6.5-06 for a bit of shooting.
When I received the rifle, it was easy to see that the action has the same footprint as a Remington 700, but in stainless steel and made to benchrest tolerances. When I pulled the bolt from the case, it was also obvious that it has a very reliable M16-style extractor.
After putting some rounds downrange, I got in touch with Rooney and was treated to more of his ideas on building custom precision rifles.
"Relying on the underside of a receiver to hold staggered rounds has never been the most reliable means of feeding," Rooney said. "As the bolt is a circular piece of steel, the sides of the radius will always have the least amount of contact with the head of the round in the staged magazine well. The lowest point of the radius of the bolt face is the center. It is, therefore, correct to conclude that for optimal feeding reliability, a bolt rifle should have center feeding. This ensures maximum contact with the head of the cartridge. The mil-spec, double-stack, center-feed magazine that we utilize not only achieves this aim, but also controls feeding for the round's first inch of travel, ensuring correct presentation into the chamber," Rooney stated.
Long-range Optics
Early on, while discussing the project with Rooney, I decided that a Nightforce NXS scope would be a perfect fit to get the most from the 6.5-06. I chose a variable 5.5-22X with a 56mm objective. As you might expect, this optic has a 30mm tube. The adjustment range for this scope is commendable, with 100 MOA in elevation available, and 60 MOA of windage. Both adjustments are made in .25-minute clicks. I selected Nightforce's mil-dot reticle. This is a second focal plane optic, which means that the scope must be set at 11X to align the mil-dots for Mil ranging. The dots themselves are a circle the size of a normal mil-dot, with a very fine dot centered within.
To firmly affix the Nightforce optic to the rifle, I used Tactical Rifle's Chimera Tactical 30mm Rings. These rings are constructed from an advanced titanium alloy, reducing overall weight, while providing plenty of recoil resistance and strength. To give you an idea of how strong: The rings' body has 83,000 pounds-per-inch tensile strength, and the cross bolt has 120,000 pounds-per-inch tensile strength. The cap screws on these rings are beefy. Rather than industry standard 8-40s, they're 8-32s, which give 45 percent more clamping area under each screw head. If that wasn't enough, there are six, not four, screws on each ring. You get perfect reticle alignment through precision boring that keeps alignment to plus/minus 0.002 inch. Each set is sold as a serial-numbered matched set for Mil-Std-1913 rails only.
In contrast to factory rifle manufacturers, custom rifle makers will commonly "true" an action to lay the groundwork for building a custom gun. "All factory rifles have the same common problem," Rooney said, "they have horrible alignment. Predominately the mating between the receiver, recoil lug and barrel is poor. In layman's terms, the barrel is screwed on crookedly! Combine this with a sloppy factory "machine-gun" chamber, and you have mediocre performance at best. True, you can get a Monday-morning factory rifle that shoots like a dream, but they are few and far between, and normally only perform well with tailored handloads.
"Handloads are traditionally thought of as being more accurate when neck-sized only," Rooney said "Let's think about this for a second. We absolutely put the cart before the horse, as use of neck sizing for enhanced performance does not change the accuracy potential of the ammunition, only the chamber for which it is fitted! In other words, we are compensating for poor alignment and chambering in the rifle and believing that the ammo is more accurate. We stick a Band-Aid on the problem. What we do is address the accuracy issue at the source by identifying that there are just two main areas for precision; alignment and harmonics. Fix them both, and you can shoot .25-MOA potential with factory match ammo. That is part of the picture that 'truing' addresses; re-machining an action so that it's no longer crooked."
Barreling Through
When I asked the veteran gunsmith about barrels, his insights were enlightening. "Barrel manufacturers—well here's a subject full of mystery, sorcery and incantations. Or, rather it's not," Rooney said. "The barrel blank manufacturer has little to do with the precision of the rifle. Think about it, a bad crown or chamber yields horrible accuracy, irrespective how lovely the blank was before a retarded monkey cut a nasty chamber. Accuracy is created by the beginning and the end of the barrel, not the few inches between. Now don't get me wrong, a $40 factory blank doesn't compare with a $300 benchrest blank, but other than the quality of the hand lapping, all the top quality barrel blanks offer the same accuracy potential."
If a blank canvas is an artist's potential for a great work of art, a rifled barrel blank serves as the genesis for a rifle-building artisan. It is as if the rifle comes to life when its chamber is cut. "Chambers are the heart of the rifle," Rooney said. "No matter what you do, if your chamber is bad, then your accuracy will be poor. Think of it simply, if the case is not held snugly in the same place every time around is loaded, how can accuracy be good?
"Sloppy factory chambers are designed to compensate for a myriad of indiscretions," Rooney said. "Any old, nasty, foreign, delinked ball ammo will go bang and head in approximately the same direction, but a precision rifle is to be fed quality ammo. You wouldn't buy a Lamborghini and fill it with 87 octane, then have a surprised look on your face when things didn't progress too well—and it's just the same with quality rifles. Quality rifle plus quality ammo equals excellent results. All our chambers are zero-headspace-minimum SAAMI spec, so the case is supported consistently, and thus bullet-to-rifling engagement is consistent. On a factory rifle, the bullet may enter the barrel crooked, and thus wobble is introduced into the flight of the bullet before it's one inch down the barrel."
Once the action and barrel are in perfect alignment, a second critical aspect comes into play. "Remember what we said about alignment," Rooney asked. "It just reared its ugly head again. Mate the shoulder of the barrel with the face of the receiver with a poorly machined recoil lug and you have a rifle that will shoot around corners, not into the same hole. This area is pathetically inexpensive to resolve with a precision-ground recoil lug, but you know when a board meeting or dividends are involved, saving $30 is a big deal across thousands of units monthly. With us, we don't cut corners—ever, on anything."
Continuing his accuracy primer, Rooney shared some of his thoughts on triggers. "Lots of people bark up the wrong tree with triggers," he said. "They ask for 1-pound pulls when all that a super-light pull achieves is potentially dangerous sear engagement. The question should be about creep and over travel. Remove both and, with a decent pull weight set at 2.5 pounds, you can shoot groups into a single hole, if you've got a decent shooter, decent ammo, and Mother Nature's cooperation."
Gun Details
Rooney's .65-06 rifle wears a Tactical fiberglass stock very similar to McMillan's M40 tactical stock. The stock offers two forward sling-swivel studs to which one can attach a bipod and sling. The stock also features flush-cup swivel attachment points fore and aft on the left side. The rifle comes with single-stack Accurate-Mag box magazine. The 700-style action is Tactical Rifle's own Chimera action. The bottom metal on the rifle is outstanding. The triggerguard is extra beefy to withstand unusual abuse. Mounted in the front of the triggerguard is a paddle-type magazine release lever to allow the shooter to drop a magazine without having to remove his trigger hand from the grip. The trigger is exceptional, too, breaking the sear at approximately 3.5 pounds with no creep or overtravel. The barrel is hand-lapped stainless steel, match grade and features a match-grade chamber and a muzzle diameter of approximately .850-inch at 26 inches. Tactical Rifles' own muzzle brake makes this rifle during shooting feel like a rimfire.
Range Work
Shooting was conducted on multiple days under varying temperature and wind conditions. Temperatures ranged from 73 degrees to 98 degrees, and wind conditions were all over the map. All the shooting was from a rock-solid bench. Velocity data was recorded with two chronographs placed 15 feet from the muzzle: an Oehler 35P and a Shooting Chrony Gamma Master.
I was rather limited in my choice of 6.5-06 loads. The two rounds I used in testing were Rooney's experimental handloads. The first load contained 53.5 grains of IMR 4831SC driving a 140-grain Berger VLD bullet. Ten shots across the Shooting Chrony averaged a muzzle velocity of 2,793 fps. The extreme spread was 112 fps, and the standard deviation was 29.71 fps. To double-check the velocity data, I set up my Oehler 35P on a day when the temperature was 98 degrees. I fired five shots and found that average was 2,795 fps. The extreme spread recorded was 50 fps, and the standard deviation was 21 fps. The smallest 100-yard group I fired with this load measured .64-inch. At 500 yards, this load's smallest five-shot group spanned 2.86 inches center-to-center. The vertical measurement was 1.43 inches, which is significant owing to winds varying between 6 and 12 mph. At 700 yards, the sole group I fired with the four remaining rounds opened up appreciably to 8.38 inches center-to-center. Varying crosswinds on the range significantly influenced the group, which presented a vertical dispersion of 4.56 inches.
With the 130-grain load, the Shooting Chrony recorded a 2,827 fps average for a five-shot string. I had actually fired 10 shots, but the variability of the first five shots seemed too broad to serves as a basis for an accurately analyzing the load's velocity. The extreme spread of the last five shots was 71 fps. Double-checking the velocity data, I again, on the same day, used the Oehler 35P when the temperature was 98 degrees. The average velocity was 2,836 fps. The extreme spread for five shots was 64 fps, with a standard deviation of 24 fps. The smallest 100-yard, five-shot group measured 0.32 inch, with multiple groups beating the gun's 0.5-inch guarantee. Stretching the distance to 500 yards, the 130-grain load produced a 4.7-inch group center-to-center. The vertical dispersion measured 2.65 inches. Moving to 700 yards, I fired two groups. One group measured 8.26 inches, with a vertical measurement of 5.1 inches. The other group measured 6.05 inches center-to-center, while spanning 3.65 inches vertically. Again, cross winds, blowing right to left and left to right downrange, played havoc with each bullet's horizontal dispersion on target.
Double-checking the two chronographs against each other verified that each was providing reasonably accurate data. These two loads provide good accuracy, but the rifle is capable of achieving better with further load development. Given the rifle's .33-MOA capabilities at 100 yards, with a few fine-tuned loads, 3-inch groups at 700 yards seems perfectly obtainable.
For more information, visit tactical rifles.net or call 877-811-4867.
CZ-USA Issues Important Safety Recall Notice for All 600 Bolt-Action Rifles
The CZ Custom A01-SD OR is Optics Ready and Dialed in For Competition
Athlon Outdoors & Heritage Firearms Release HERITAGE JOURNAL 2023


If you send emails, there's a new privacy law you need to know about. The words "privacy law" probably don't generate a lot of excitement, but trust us, this is a big deal.
Europe is about to launch its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which aims to protect consumers and their personal information in an ever-growing digital age. What does that have to do with you?
It means you'll likely have to change some of your marketing tactics.
GDPR is Europe's new privacy law that takes a hardline on consumer privacy and forces brands and marketers to comply with strict consent and data collection rules.
Before GDPR, Europe had patchwork laws in place. Each member state basically did its own thing. Now, the 28 members states that make up the European Union all have one, unified privacy law.
The law is strict, and the language used to explain the new rules offers a no-nonsense, we-mean-business tone.
Should I manage European contacts differently or update my entire email marketing strategy?
The new law is for European consumers, but how do you know if a subscriber is in Europe? Great question.
Under the new law, you'll have to ask. If subscribers are located in Europe, you'll have to segment European contacts out and manage your messaging differently with this subset of clients.
Or, you can make changes to your email marketing tactics across the board to ensure you're in compliance. It will take some time, yes, but it's the safest play.
Given our dependence on digital channels, stricter privacy laws are almost inevitable. More countries are likely to follow suit. Europe's new regulations go into effect just months after Canada updated its law dealing with commercial emails.
To stay ahead of the curve, we suggest updating your email marketing strategy so every customer is complaint with the new law – no matter where they are.
What specific changes do marketers have to make?
Every customer you reach out to has to consent to your emails. That means you'll need an opt-in practice in place.
For instance, if you meet potential clients at a tradeshow and exchange cards, you can't add them to your email list without implied consent.
Many marketers already adhere to an opt-in strategy, where only subscribers who voluntarily join your email list are contacted. If you don't have one in place, you'll need to set one up.
GDPR has some strict requirements regarding consent. The customer has to willingly opt in to your list, which we just discussed, but any use of pre-checked boxes that automatically add a customer to your email list is prohibited under GDPR.
For example, if a customer makes a purchase online and there's a pre-checked box that automatically subscribes him or her to your email list, you're in violation of the new law.
Any effort to "sneak consent," like with pre-checked boxes, is not allowed. Customers have to willingly give consent to receive your emails.
During the email signup process, you also have to explain to subscribers how you plan to use their data. If you plan to track their purchases and buying behaviors with the intent of selling tailored products, you have to say so.
The GDPR makes it clear that consumers must understand exactly how a company will use their information, and if the consumer finds the practices troublesome they have the right to opt-out of your list.
A lot of marketers use gated content or webinar sign ups as a way to grow their list. When a customer wants to download your white paper, he or she gives up their email address in exchange for the paper. Most marketers add those emails to their overall list and start nurturing these new leads.
Under GDPR, you can't do that. If a subscriber gives you their information for something specific like access to a white paper, that's the only purpose you can use it for. You send them the paper and that's it.
You can't add their name to your email list and start sending them email. Why? Again, it goes back to consent. The subscriber didn't give you consent to send emails on a regular basis.
But, there is still a legal way to grow your list in this situation. When you offer gated content or a webinar, you can add an additional field to the form that asks customers if they'd like to join your email list. If the subscriber checks the box, you can add them to your overall list.
In addition, you'll need to explain how you'll use their information during your email relationship.
If a subscriber wants to opt-out of your list, he or she can unsubscribe. That's common practice, but the GDPR takes things one step further.
If a customer no longer wants to interact with a brand, he or she has the "right to be forgotten," under the European law. In other words, brands must be willing to remove any data they have on that person.
So, a customer's purchase history, website tracking and location, for example, must be removed from your database if there's no legitimate reason to retain it.
This will likely require a conversation with your IT department. You'll need a plan to remove data if requested.
When a subscriber joins your email list by giving consent, you need a record of that.
If you break any of the rules under the GDPR, it's up to you to show authorities that you did have consent to send emails and that you did explain how their personal information is used.
Pinpointe customers should use our opt-in forms as we log the IP address and time stamp the consent form so you'll be in compliance.
While Pinpointe's opt-in forms can add to your records, you'll still want to talk with your IT department to work on additional measures to collect and store consent forms properly.
The new rules apply to every contact on your list, not just the ones that join from this point forward. Your old contacts aren't "grandfathered in" with hopes of better practices in the future.
Even if you got explicit consent from your existing contacts, you probably don't have a record of it and you probably didn't spell out your data collection plan.
That means you'll have to get explicit consent from every one of your subscribers and discuss how their data is used.
Of course, before you launch such an effort, make sure you have a plan to collect and store consent forms so you don't have to repeat this process.
If your servers are hacked, data is stolen, or any kind of breach happens that jeopardizes the safety of customer data, you have to notify customers of the situation within 72 hours.
This safeguard seems like common sense, but big name companies in the U.S. have taken a lot of flack for not telling customers about digital security breaches in a timely manner.
Equifax, for example, waited for two months to notify customers when customer files were breached in July of 2017. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued tighter restrictions to force American companies to report data breaches in 2011, but there's no specific timeline.
The GDPR makes companies accountable, forcing them to tell customers about a breach within a designated time frame. In this case, 72 hours.
What if you decide not to comply with GDPR?
If you don't follow the news rules, you could face some hefty fines. According to the GDPR, companies that aren't in compliance can be fined up to €20 million or 4% of your total global annual turnover, whichever is greater.
The fines are likely high to motivate companies to act. Authorities don't want the new privacy law taken as a suggestion, and see the fines as a "do-it-or-else" ultimatum that forces businesses to take it seriously.
How will the GDPR be enforced?
Enforcement for a law like this is tough, but there are checks in place to see that companies comply.
The authorities will likely rely on subscribers to report abuses. That will likely serve as a starting point for authorities to investigate and see how far and how big the abuse is.
Big companies that fail to comply will certainly be scrutinized, but that doesn't give small companies a free pass. Stricter privacy laws will be part of the marketing landscape now and in the future, so being able to adapt to regulations like this will become the trademark of a reliable, professional marketer.
Change is never easy, but in this case, it's necessary. Complying with privacy laws, no matter what country issues them, is crucial to the success of your marketing abilities.
Take some time to understand how the GDPR will affect your marketing tactics and get a team of people together to implement changes. Make a plan, set deadlines, assign tasks and upgrade your marketing techniques to ensure you're ready for the GDPR to take effect in late May.


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Q: Is there any out of process, in-memory cache framework for .NET application Is there any in-memory caching framework that runs out of process and can be used by .NET desktop applications?
Thanks,

A: I use AppFabric for Windows Server successfully in production.
An nice performance feature the Local Cache, witch avoids (slow) deserializing of the cached object, with an additional local in-process cache:

"The server stores objects in serialized form in the cache. When a cache client requests an object from the cache, the server sends it to the client over the network. The cache client then deserializes the object for use by the client application. To speed up the process of retrieving an object, enable local cache."

Bummer: Unfortunately AppFabric for Windows Server is not supported on Windows Server Web Edition (at least without some hacking - Reflector FTW):

https://twitter.com/#!/ronljacobs/status/25903639754

A: After some research.
Memcached is the one we choose. Follow this link to get things started.
http://deanhume.com/Home/BlogPost/memcached-for-c----a-walkthrough/62


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Anthony Joshua has retained his heavyweight titles as he knocks out Russian fighter Alexander Povetkin. The Nigerian-born British boxer started on a slow pace as he got caught with a hook on the nose by the challenger in the…
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A $2 million Mega Millions ticket in Friday's drawing was sold in Northeast Philadelphia.
A Mega Millions ticket worth $2 million in Friday's drawing was sold in Northeast Philadelphia.
The winning ticket, sold before the jackpot rolled over to $449 million for Tuesday night's drawing, one at Yorty's Deli, 5932 Torresdale Ave., in Wissinoming. Midday Tuesday, the jackpot was boosted to $454 million.
The ticket matched all five white balls drawn, 20-41-42-45-49, but not the yellow Mega Ball 14, to win a $1 million prize. It was sold with the $1 Megaplier option, which boosted the prize to $2 million instead of $1 million because Friday's multiplier was two.
The retailer will earn a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The prize must be claimed and the ticket validated before the winner is identified. Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.