text:
Home / 11 MUST TRY EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR 1ST TRIP TO LAOS
11 MUST TRY EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR 1ST TRIP TO LAOS
Laos' natural beauty extends underground through hundreds of caves. It extends into the clouds high up in the mountains in the north and east of the country. It tumbles into aquamarine pools down myriad waterfalls and reverberates through the forest, plains and down the Mekong Delta. Read about the incredibly beautiful locations in the Lao PDR.
Luang Prabang Province
Luang Prabang is perhaps the first place Lao people and tourists alike think of when asked: "What is the most beautiful place in Laos?" The former Royal Capital is situated on a peninsula at the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan. The city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, preserving its many elaborately decorated wats and architecture that fuses colonial French style with traditional Lao wooden building techniques. Outside the city are stunning waterfalls, calves, temples and mountains.
Champasak Province
The southwestern most province in Laos, Champasak is brimming with cultural and natural wonders. Fly into the former French fort town of Pakse and check out Wat Phou 40 km south on the western side of the Mekong. Further down stream are the slow-paced 4,000 Islands on the Cambodian border. Check out the largest waterfall in southeast Asia, watch the Irrawaddy dolphins playing in the river and sip a drink from the comfort of a hammock.
Khammouane Province
Take a bus to central Laos to see the limestone karst vistas on the Thkhek loop. Khammouane stretches the width of Laos from the Mekong River border with Thailand to the Annamite Mountain border with Vietnam. Check out Kong Lor cave via motor boat, swim at Tha Falang or go on a waterfall trek. Organized tours can be booked in Thakhek through Green Discovery. Alternatively there are several motorbike rental outfits for those who want to see the loop on two wheels.
Luang Namtha Province
Luang Namtha, the provincial capital of the province with the same name, is located in northwestern Laos and borders Myanmar and China. The town is a jumping off point for lots of ecotourism trips in the area. Check out the Nam Ha National Protected area which has four rivers running through it and is home to species such as the clouded leopard, first growth forests, birds and insects. Trekking, cycling and kayaking tours are available.
Houaphan Province
Houaphan Province is on the Vietnamese border. The capital city is Sam Neua, which lies in a foggy valley and produces detailed textiles that can be purchased at the market or from weavers' homes. Visit Vieng Xai cave where President Kaysone Phomvihane (whose likeness can been seen on the Lao Kip) hid during the Vietnam War. The royal family was incarcerated in prison camps in the area. Rent bikes or trek through the pristine valley in this beautiful area rarely visited by tourists.
Bokeo Province
Bokeo province is the smallest in Laos and part of the infamous golden triangle between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. Home to the Bokeo Nature Reserve and The Gibbon Experience multi-day zip lining and trekking adventure. Bokeo is known for its gem mining and beautiful mountain ranges. Over 30 ethnic groups call Bokeo home and homestays or visits to ethnic villages can be arranged.
Phongsaly Province
With an average altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level, this northern-most province of Laos is much cooler than the rest of the country and often chilly at night. Sharing a border with China and Vietnam, the province contains Ban Komaen, home to a 400-year-old tea tree and the Phu Den Din National Protected area with incredible hiking and mountain views. The capital city of Phongsali is accessible via a 10-hour drive from Udomxai, a two-day boat ride or a flight from Vientiane.
Xieng Kuang Province
Phonsavan is the capital of the northern Lao province of Xieng Kuang, which borders Vietnam. The city itself is home to the Lao-run Mulberry Silk Farm and workshop and several UXO organizations. Further afield in the province are natural hot springs, caves where Pathet Lao leaders hid during the Vietnam War and the Plain of Jars. Hundreds of megalithic vessels which were used in Bronze Age funerary traditions litter the rolling hills. Some of the sites are cleared of bombs and welcome tourists freely. Some require a trekking guide to access safely and others are off limits entirely.
Attapeu Province
Attapeu Province is in the southeastern corner of Laos bordering Vietnam and Cambodia. Said to be the last untouched frontier of Laos, a large part of the province is covered by the Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area. Check out noted waterfalls sans tourists such as Tad Saephe, Tad Samongphak, Tad Phok, and Tad Phaphong. Visit the volcanic crater that is Nong Fa lake, said to be haunted by a snake-pig creature who eats those who swim in its depths. Visit during the dry season as Attapeu is not yet set up for tourism and many roads wash out in the rain.
Sainyabuli Province
Sainyabuli Province lies west of the Mekong, bordering Thailand in northern Laos. Nam Phouy National Biodiversity Conservation Area is home to herds of Asian elephants. The Lao Elephant Conservation Center is located in the province and has a heard of 30, including several that were born through breeding programs at the center. Gibbons and sun and moon bears also call the conservation area home.
Salavan Province
Salavan Province, like Savannakhet and Khammouane to the north, spans the width of Laos from Thailand to Vietnam. Salavan has a large coffee growing region as part of the Bolevan Plateau, which is part of a three-day small loop or seven-day big loop around Champasak, Attapeau, Sekong and Salavan provinces. Visit the charming town of Tad Lo and hike and swim in the falls. Several biodiversity areas include Xe Bang Nouan, Xe Xap National Biodiversity Conservation Area, and The Phou Xiang Thong Important Bird Area.
If you need further infomation, please do not hesitate to contact us via:
Email: enquiries@idealtravelasia.com
Whatsapp/Viber/Zalo: +84 917 259 511 or +84 974 936 521
Skype: idealtravelasia
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VESPA TOUR IN VIET NAM
Foreign tourists previously only knew Vietnam mainly with cyclo vehicles. But that is only part of the transport here. If you have an opportunity to visit Ho Chi Minh City, you will see a familiar means used by most Vietnamese people, which is
15 DAYS VIETNAM CAMBODIA TOUR
Vietnam - a country famous for its long coastline along with spectacular mountain views, diverse natural landscapes. From the golden fields of rice on the backs of the big hills, to the bays with hundreds of thousands of different large and small
WHY IS "PHO" SO FAMOUS?
Many tourists love Vietnam not only because of the majestic natural beauty but also by the great cuisine. The most typical dish that most foreign tourists know when coming to Vietnam is 'Pho'. Why is it so famous? This article will give 7 reasons to
10 MUST TRY EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR 1ST TRIP TO CAMBODIA
Are you planning a trip to Cambodia and wondering where you should visit? If it's your first time in the Kingdom of Wonder you're probably going to see Angkor Wat and the hundreds of ancient temples inside the Angkor complex. But there is so much
Top 10 destination you must get for your 1st trip to Vietnam
Attractions in Vietnam are plentiful, ranging from stunning natural landscapes, untouched islets and quaint villages to war museums, colonial structures, and ancient citadel. Attracting millions of visitors all year long, its colonial heritage also
THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN VIETNAM AND YOUR TRAVEL TIPS
You have your Christmas and we in Vietnam have our Tet. If you wonder what it is, just read on and let us tell you a bit more about our New Year celebration. When the Christmas lights are up in the western countries, it is the time that people in


text:
More info on Micro
Femto
Hecto
Micro: Wikis
Micro is an English prefix of Greek origin that is most commonly known for its usage in the word microscopic, the prefix refers to an object as being smaller than scale of focus, in contrast with macro. Some examples of the prefix "micro" are microwave, microphone, microchip and micro-organism.
micro- is a prefix in the SI and other systems of units denoting a factor of 10−6 (one millionth). Symbol, µ
Micro as shorthand for an SI based measurement, in the case of blood lead level for example, 10 micros would be 10 micrograms per deciliter.
A shortened reference to microeconomics, microsociology, microbiology or similar fields of science
Microcomputer (semi-obsolete usage)
Microcontroller, electronics, microcontroller (also MCU or µC) is a functional computer system-on-a-chip
Micromanagement (computer gaming)
Micro DBMS, an early relational database management system
The Micro programming language, a simple programming language used in teaching compiler construction techniques
Microchip (comics), a supporting character in The Punisher comics (often known as Micro)
Mikro, a Greek electronic music group
Micro (car) is the first car company from Sri Lanka
"The Micro" is an Argentinean and Chilean slang term for buses in the public transportation system (as in "I'm waiting for the micro,").
Microhouse, a subgenre of House music
This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
Categories: Disambiguation pages
Hidden categories: All article disambiguation pages | All disambiguation pages

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Matt Kendrick Jazz
Suitcase Music
Jazz At Tate's
Jazz Classique
Art/Jazz
Here is all the music available from Suitcase Music. This is Matt Kendrick's record label. This music is available from all streaming sources. Apple Music, Spotify and many others. It's on Amazon also. All these are linked to cdbaby.
Bass City:
This is more straight-ahead jazz cd with some great tunes on it. It garnered a lot of rave reviews. It features trios, quartets, sextets, and "The Eternal Winds," an eight-piece wind group. MORE Bass City has "The Eternal Winds" on two cuts: "Cosmic Message" and "The Eternal Winds." This is a unique group of woodwinds and brass, consisting of bassoon, oboe, flute, bass clarinet, trombone, trumpet, tuba and French horn. These Euro classical players from the Winston-Salem Symphony were not really accustomed to improvising, so Matt wrote out verbal instructions and other little devices to enable them to come up and play at the Jazz open mic night Matt's hosted on Tuesday nights for years. Tuesday is concert night for the symphony musicians, and after the big concert, a lot of them come down the street to the club where Matt's playing to hang out. They have their instruments and Matt, not being one to overlook an opportunity to do something different, formed "The Eternal Winds."
Unity and Alienation: Acid guitar, Bebop trumpet. A quintet cd featuring Jack King (electric guitar), Alan Neese (trumpet and rotomagnetic horn), Steve Blake (sax), Abdullah Rahman (drums) and Matt Kendrick (double bass). This 74-minute cd explores some pretty wild terrain. "Wonder Bug," nice little rant. "Going Blue Crazy" was a hit for Matt. "Face It," a psychedelic jam of bass, drums and guitar. Just like the old days except the bass is an acoustic one with heavy metal bowing. "Heavy Wood?" If you like bebop trumpet and acid guitar this is the cd for you.
Other Aspects: This is nice little swinging duo cd with Fred Hersch on piano and Matt Kendrick on bass. Acclaimed by critics, the cd features jazz standards such as "Have You Met Miss Jones" and "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me," as well as the soundtrack from Stephen Jackson's Lethal Dose 100. It's a play with a mostly solo bass score with wild electronic effects and sounds of a soft mallet whacking the bass. The cd also incudes a solo upright version of Jaco Pastorius' song "Continuum." Pretty cool.
Art/Jazz: "Art/Jazz" was one of the 1995 editors cd picks for Cadence Magazine. It's a daring cd that pushes boundaries. Art/Jazz features a quartet with Matt Kendrick (double bass), Hugh Petersen (drums), Steve Blake (sax) and Alan Neese (trumpet). The unique thing about Art/Jazz is that the music is based on seven paintings and one sculpture. The art is pictured in the eight-page cd booklet. Each artwork gets it's own page in high-quality color. The music is a mixture of free, out, free bop and bop usages of Jazz language. Some of the stuff sounds new; some sounds old; some sounds way out there.
"Original Art/Jazz"
This music was recorded in Charlotte NC by Mark Williams at Reflection Recording Studios in the early 90's. The music is based on paintings from the NC Museum of Art. Including Monet, Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell. The Bass player/composer and leader is Matt Kendrick. Abdullah Rahman plays drums, Alan Neese plays trumpet and Steve Blake plays sax. The music is very improvisational within interesting composed frameworks. The music was performed prior to the recording in many places. This music's debut was at the NC Museum of Art with the paintings projected while the band performed. The auditorium was sold out. Matt calls this Art/Jazz
This cd has two components:
Musicians and composers / Writers and word performers
Musicians/composers:
Matt Kendrick-Bass
Keith Byrd-Piano
Chuck Burns-Guitar
John Wilson-Drums
This project is as much a social comment as an artistic one. We are making a social comment through the use of our art, music. We are not trying to do anything new or avant garde but at the same time the fact that we are living, performing jazz musicians in 2008 means something to that effect. We are playing at the culmination of all our combined experiences to this point. We all grew up playing music in Winston-Salem. We are indigenous jazz musicians. We could put a bunch dressing on the music but I just don\'t feel this is necessary. We play the songs and what happens naturally in the improvisations is what this project is all about.
The social aspect is different. This is a statement against racism, segregation and discrimination. We are coming together as two European-American musicians from West Winston-Salem and two African-American musicians from East Winston-Salem.
So, What's the big deal? Winston-Salem is still segregated, even now. Maybe some people want it that way but as artists, we know it's not for the best. Art reflects life and art stagnates if it just stays within itself. There is no growing, no new ideas, no new concepts. Jazz is a gift from God created by African Americans through the melding of African and European cultures. Jazz brings us together in an informed and intellectual setting.
This c.d. is about breaking down barriers in people's minds with artistic statements. It is about coaxing people to think about the segregation that still exists in their minds, in this town and beyond. It is about art being created with interaction and no segregation. It is about people hearing and thinking about a diverse group of musicians communicating with each other on a high level.
The exchange of ideas between people of all types is where the future lies. If we do not we will perish. East Meets West will demonstrate this exchange of ideas through the art of Jazz, a music embraced by people all over the earth.
This recording was made with an \"Artists Project Grant\" from the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Arts Council
Writers and word performers:
Terryl Dozier,
Terrence Nivens
Tamara Settle
Terrence Trent
Dayshawn Middlleton
Love Lemon
Ebony Little
Jasmine Little
Aquarian Greenberg


text:
In Memoriam: H.R. Giger
Source: USA Today. BERLIN (AP) — Swiss artist H.R. Giger, who designed the creature in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic "Alien," has died at age 74 from injuries suffered in a fall.
Giger's works, often showing macabre scenes of humans and machines fused into hellish hybrids, influenced a generation of movie directors and inspired an enduring fashion for "biomechanical" tattoos.
Born Hans Ruedi Giger on Feb. 5, 1940, in the southeastern Swiss town of Chur, he trained as an industrial designer because his father insisted that he learn a proper trade.
Giger's vision of a human skull encased in a machine appeared on the cover of "Brain Salad Surgery," a 1973 album by the rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Along with his design for Debbie Harry's solo album, "Koo Koo" (1981), it featured in a 1991 Rolling Stone magazine list of the top 100 album covers of all time.
Giger went on to work as a set designer for Hollywood, contributing to "Species," ''Poltergeist II," ''Dune," and most famously "Alien," for which he received a 1979 Academy Award for special effects.


that question to wildfly. I believe there's a thing you can do that..
question to wildfly guys at their user forum.
> setting system properties for each will be a difficult maintenance problem.
> remote queue name into my MDB?


Fichtner Services can install skylights in a variety of stock and custom sizes as well as suntunnels to enhance your home's appeal and comfort, as well as bring in natural light and fresh air.
Fichtner Services can install Solar Hot Water Heaters that use the sun to heat your hot water, reducing your energy bill – and eligible for huge tax incentives.
Wasco partners with only the best home improvement specialists to ensure a fast, professional installation or existing skylight replacement. When we install an E-Class model, it comes backed with an unmatched exclusive guarantee – a lifetime transferable warranty against leaks! Reliable long-life performance of Wasco E-Class skylights, combined with expert installation, guarantees a lifetime of worry-free home daylighting.


text:
Q: DOM mutation warning in React I'm working on an app that is displaying the following warning. I'm wanting to understand what it is and eliminate if possible.
[Violation] Added synchronous DOM mutation listener to a 'DOMNodeInserted' event. Consider using MutationObserver to make the page more responsive.

A: Check the source of the warning by hovering your mouse over the top right underlined line. It will have the format of file-name.js:line-number. In my case the cause was not the React app but a Chrome extension, Docs PDF/PowerPoint Viewer (by Google) to be exact. Once I disabled the extension, the warning went away. Hope this helps.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
from beertools import read_ratebeer_beers, read_ratebeer_breweries

from db import Database

def update_rb_breweries(breweries, db):

    sql = '''
        INSERT INTO rb_brewery AS b (id, name, country, subregion, city)
        VALUES (%(id)s, %(name)s, %(country)s, %(subregion)s, %(city)s)
        ON CONFLICT (id) DO UPDATE
        SET (id, name, country, subregion, city) = (%(id)s, %(name)s, %(country)s, %(subregion)s, %(city)s);
    '''
    db.run_upserts(sql, breweries)

def update_rb_beers(beers, db):
    sql = '''
        INSERT INTO rb_beer AS b (id, name, shortname, alias, retired, style_id, score_overall, score_style, abv, ibu, brewery_id)
        SELECT %(id)s, %(name)s, %(shortname)s, %(alias)s, %(retired)s, %(style_id)s, %(score_overall)s, %(score_style)s, %(abv)s, %(ibu)s, %(brewery_id)s
        WHERE EXISTS (SELECT id FROM rb_brewery WHERE id=%(brewery_id)s)
        ON CONFLICT (id) DO UPDATE
        SET (id, name, shortname, alias, retired, style_id, score_overall, score_style, abv, ibu, brewery_id) =
        (%(id)s, %(name)s, %(shortname)s, %(alias)s, %(retired)s, %(style_id)s, %(score_overall)s, %(score_style)s, %(abv)s, %(ibu)s, %(brewery_id)s);
    '''
    db.run_upserts(sql, beers)

def update_ratebeer(conn_str=None):
    db = Database(conn_str)
    breweries, breweries_updated = read_ratebeer_breweries()
    update_rb_breweries(breweries, db)
    db.add_log('ratebeer_breweries', breweries_updated)

    beers, beers_updated = read_ratebeer_beers()
    update_rb_beers(beers, db)
    db.add_log('ratebeer_beers', beers_updated)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    update_ratebeer()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
class Service::Hipchat < Service

  Title = 'HipChat'
  Description = 'Use this service to broadcast updates, crash reports, and feedback to Atlassian HipChat.'

  string :room, required: true
  password :token, required: true
  string :crash_report_color, :feedback_color, :new_version_color, collection: %w(yellow red green purple gray random), default: 'yellow'
  boolean :post_on_crash_report, :post_on_feedback, :post_on_new_version, default: true
  boolean :notify_on_crash_report, default: true
  boolean :notify_on_feedback, :notify_on_new_version, default: false

  def settings_test
    'Success.'
  end

  def receive_crash_report
    if settings(:post_on_crash_report) == '1'
      speak "#{subject} #{simple :message}: #{url}", settings(:crash_report_color), settings(:notify_on_crash_report)
    end
    "Success."
  end

  def receive_new_version
    if settings(:post_on_new_version) == '1'
      speak "#{subject} was just uploaded to AppBlade by #{simple :user}: #{url}", settings(:new_version_color), settings(:notify_on_new_version)
    end
    "Success."
  end

  def receive_feedback
    if settings(:post_on_feedback) == '1'
      speak "#{subject} just had in-app feedback submitted to AppBlade by #{simple :user}: #{url}", settings(:feedback_color), settings(:notify_on_feedback)
    end
    "Success."
  end

private

  def subject
    "[#{simple :project}/#{simple :platform}/#{simple :version}]"
  end

  def connection
    @connection ||= Faraday.new(:url => 'https://api.hipchat.com') do |builder|
      builder.use     Faraday::Request::UrlEncoded
      builder.use     FaradayMiddleware::Mashify
      builder.use     FaradayMiddleware::ParseJson
      builder.use     Faraday::Response::RemoveWhitespace
      builder.adapter Faraday.default_adapter
    end.tap do |conn|
      conn.request :url_encoded
      conn.headers = {
        accept:     'application/json',
        user_agent: 'AppBlade/Services/1.0 (Easy, like your mom)'
      }
    end
  end

  def speak(text, color, notify)
    connection.post('/v1/rooms/message', {
      auth_token:     settings(:token),
      room_id:        settings(:room),
      from:           'AppBlade.com',
      message:        text,
      message_format: 'text',
      notify:         notify,
      color:          color
    })
  end

end


Home > Posts tagged "MsMojo"
Top 10 Romantic Movies with Sad Endings Subscribe: Not all romantic movies have conventional endings. For these romantic movies, such as La La Land, Blue is the Warmest Colour, Moulin Rouge, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Blue Valentine, Casablanca, and Romeo + Juliet, Titanic, they left us completely heartbroken.
Top 10 Accidental Movie Kisses Subscribe: Accidental movie kisses are super romantic! They may not always be poised and pretty but boy are they cute. In this countdown we take a look at some of the most memorable accidental movie kisses! We've included movies like Bambi, EuroTrip, The Goonies, Dr.


This button buys one hour session.
This button buys four (one hour) sessions.
This button buys eight (one hour) sessions.
Please choose the best option for your student.
All tutoring sessions are *in person* and charged at the hourly rate listed.
Journal, creative and essay writing covered here.
One session make up, for illness related absence. Please be on time.


So Excited To Meet My Babies!
13 weeks and 2 days! They appear to be Fraternal.
Comments for So Excited To Meet My Babies!
Wow, that is a really good shot of your babies. My last u/s at 14 weeks was a blurry blob still. I guess my dr. office has an older machine....hope all is well.


For Sale Lake of 1.5 acres in plot of 3.5 acres.
Charming cabin situated in a quiet hamlet near Marcillac-la-Croisille. The property has 2 bedrooms with cupboards, kitchen, lounge, bathroom and WC. Outside there is a small shed used as a utility room, a garage and land of 1770m2 An ideal summer holiday home benefitting from its proximity to Marcillac-la-Croisille with its lake, watersports, bars, restaurants, doctors and pharmacy. The Dordogne river is also nearby as it flows down towards Argentat from the nearby Barage de la Valette.
Ravishing furnished studio of 22.68m² very bright, located on the ground floor. The living room composed of a living room with kitchenette has large bay windows, leading to a pleasant balcony. It includes also a cabin entrance with 2 bunk beds (4 sleeping lots), a shower room with toilets and basement. Close to the swimming-pool, the ski station of Grand Massif, transports and shuttles. Slightly at the back of the centre of the village, you will appreciate the calm of the residence.
For Sale Lovely 10 acre property with two lakes.


Under no circumstances should practitioners and carers agree, condone or act in any way to change a child's name without following this procedure.
However where a child is subject to a Care Order, Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order, the relevant age is 18. Changing the name of any child under 18 who is subject to any of these orders requires the written consent of everyone with Parental Responsibility. This applies whether the person wishing to change the name is the parent or the child. Where consent is not forthcoming, or all those with Parental Responsibility cannot be found, a court order is required before the child's name can be changed (see Section 3, Changing a Name without the Agreement of those with Parental Responsibility).
Any child who wishes to change their name should be encouraged to discuss the matter carefully with their Social Worker, parents and/or carers, the Independent Reviewing Officer and any available advocacy service, this can be considered through the Looked After Review meeting.
If the Review considers that the child is of sufficient age and maturity to understand the significance of such a step and it is consistent with the Care Plan and the change would lead to an improvement from the point of view of the child's welfare, the review may recommend that the child's wishes should be supported.
The Social Worker should obtain legal advice as to the appropriate steps to be followed.
The social worker should contact child's parents/carers to seek their written consent to the child's change of name. Even where the father does not have Parental Responsibility and his consent is not strictly required, it may still be appropriate that he should be consulted and his views obtained. The local authority legal adviser should be asked to clarify this, particularly if there are any unusual circumstances and it is considered undesirable to seek parental consent on this issue.
When all the necessary consents have been obtained, the social worker (or the child/young person depending on their age and level of understanding) should download and complete the forms required for changing a child's name (Minor Deed Poll Pack, HM Courts & Tribunals Service). There is a small fee to pay.
If the child is subject to a Care Order and consent from all those with Parental Responsibility is not forthcoming, an application to change the child's name would have to be made to the court under section 33(7) Children Act 1989.
The child's surname is seen as an important link to their birth father or mother and as such is an important part of the child's identity.
The court will take the child's views into account, and if the child him/herself wants to change surname, the court is more likely to agree.
If a child is subject to a Care Order/Interim Care Order, and wants to be known by another first name, then no court order is needed, as the local authority can make the decision to change a child's first name by exercising their power to determine the extent to which the parents/guardians may meet their Parental Responsibility under s33(3)b) Children Act 1989, provided they are satisfied it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote the child's welfare.


text:
Spidermania is on the move
Original drawings from a 1984 Spider-Man comic book just fetched a record $3.36 million at auction, proof of Spider-Man's enduring popularity
What is "dark matter" in the universe?
Dark matter, according to astrophysicists, is a form of matter, still theoretical, that constitutes about 85% of the matter in the universe. The ex
Lionel Richie won the Gershwin Prize
The famous song "We are the world" . SAM EMERSON/POLARIS The superstar of the song, Lionel Richie will surely party all night long on M
7 January 202200
NBA affected by Omicron variant
As a result, more than 10 games have been postponed. Per NBA rules, a game is only postponed when a team has fewer than eight available players, but
After the success of the movie, Netflix believes in the success of the "Journalist" show
Netflix has set a release date for the Netflix series The Journalist, a series planned and produced jointly by Star Sands and Netflix. The Journalis


text:
Amnesty International UK / Human Rights Act
Why human rights must be protected
08 Jun 2017, 04:32pm
'And if our human rights laws get in the way of doing it, we will change the law so we can do it.'
Theresa May, Prime Minister, 6 June 2017
In a reckless attack on our human rights, Prime Minister Theresa May has threatened to rip up human rights laws if they "get in the way" of tackling terror suspects.
This is exactly the time that human rights must be protected and cherished.
Human rights are there to protect every single one of us. Don't sit by as politicians attempt to attack and undermine them.
Join the fight to protect the Human Rights Act
What is the Human Rights Act?
The Human Rights Act brings home fundamental, universal rights we all have as human beings, and allows us to challenge authorities if they violate them.
If you're lucky you won't ever need to use it in a court. But it's protecting you all the same.
It's an invisible safety net for all of us, working silently to ensure our rights are respected, and a crucial shield and sword for the most vulnerable: from women fleeing domestic violence to older people in care homes and the disabled seeking proper support.
Right now this vital protection is at risk. Attacked by some politicians, misreported by the press and misunderstood by many – it's time to spread the message that human rights matter.
Our hard-won rights Over the centuries, ordinary British people have fought and died for the rights we enjoy today.
From helping victims of domestic abuse, to protecting confidential communications between lawyers and their clients – the Human Rights Act helps us to fight injustice and incompetence in the UK and hold those in power to account.
Hear from more people who have used the Human Rights Act to get justice
It's been used by hospital patients facing homelessness after discharge, rape survivors whose experiences haven't been properly investigated by the police, and disabled people whose right to dignity has been violated.
We must not let politicians take away these universal rights at the stroke of a pen. As always, it's the most vulnerable who'll pay the heaviest price.
Fighting for justice around the world
In the UK, we enjoy fundamental freedoms that people are still fighting for around the world. People like Raif Badawi. Raif is currently facing 950 lashes and a ten-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia – simply for blogging about free speech, a freedom we take for granted here in Britain.
We can't take a tough stance against the world's dictators, torturers and tyrants if we turn our backs on human rights at home.
Which of your essential human rights would you be happy to lose – the universal right to a fair trial? Protection against slavery? The right to free elections?
If you answer is 'none of them', it's time to take a stand.
Sign the petition: save the Human Rights Act
Human Rights Act


UOL Blogs (also "UOL Blogosfera") was UOL's blog platform. It shut down on 2019-01-31.
A CRIAÇÃO DE NOVOS BLOGS ESTÁ DESATIVADA.
In early June, the date was postponed to 1 November 2018. Further bumps to 1 December 2018 (in late October), 15 December (in November), and to 31 January (in mid-December) followed.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2019, at 16:34.


text:
using namespace GameServer::Common;

namespace GameServer
{
namespace Land
{

CreateLandOperatorAutPtr CreateLandOperatorFactory::createCreateLandOperator(
    IPersistenceFacadeAbstractFactoryShrPtr a_persistence_facade_abstract_factory
)
{
    return CreateLandOperatorAutPtr(new CreateLandOperator(a_persistence_facade_abstract_factory->createLandPersistenceFacade(),
                                                           a_persistence_facade_abstract_factory->createUserPersistenceFacade(),
                                                           a_persistence_facade_abstract_factory->createWorldPersistenceFacade()));
}

} // namespace Land
} // namespace GameServer


text:
Amazon isn't the only company looking to drone deliveries
Looking to the sky for home delivery isn't just Amazon's dream.
By Tyler Falk | December 3, 2013 -- 21:40 GMT (13:40 PST) | Topic: Innovation
Amazon's announcement that it's working on using a drone system to deliver small packages -- the majority of Amazon's shipments -- was met with a mixture of awe, skepticism, and curiosity when Amazon CEO announced the plan for Prime Air on 60 Minutes over the weekend.
But it isn't the only major company looking into drones to take the place of delivery people. The Verge reports that UPS, the world's largest parcel service, is also testing out the idea of using small drones to deliver packages. FedEx has also discussed using unmanned aerial vehicles for delivering large planes of cargo -- a different plan than Amazon's use of octocopters to deliver packages to homes -- since at least 2009.
And while no company has built a drone delivery system to the scale that would be required by the likes of Amazon, UPS, or FedEx, we've already seen numerous examples of drone delivery. As TechCrunch points out, Domino's showed off tests of drone pizza delivery and China-based SF Express began live trials of drone delivery earlier this year. That's being made easier in places like Australia, Canada, and China where regulations allow for some commercial drone. In the United States it will likely be longer before regulations allow for commercial drone use, even if Amazon masters the technological side of drone delivery.
So why did Amazon decide to announce its drone plans now, even though the system could be years away? As many have pointed out, the announcement could have been a way to get people talking about Amazon before one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. It certainly didn't hurt. Amazon was Cyber Monday's biggest winner with a sales jump of 46 percent. Still, a company as large as Amazon publicly announcing a drone delivery system should help draw interest of innovators and inventors which will help speed up the process of making drone delivery a reality.
Photo: Flickr/unten44
More from Tyler Falk
Copenhagen's new bikeshare system has on-board tablets
Google begins removing search results in Europe
ReWalk, a bionic exoskeleton for paraplegics, approved for use in U.S.
Supreme Court rules against TV disruptor, Aereo


I've mostly discussed cycling in this blog, but I thought I'd turn my attention to walking, starting with a look at central Oxford, roughly defined as the region frequented by tourists. I begin with a survey of the major problems and then offer some suggestions for improvement.
Most of my experience walking around Oxford is as a fit adult, but I have had experience both pushing a stroller and managing a mobile toddler. Try to keep in mind, while reading this, the dilemmas faced by people in wheelchairs, pushing double strollers, carrying several pieces of luggage, using crutches or a walker, or otherwise mobility impaired. It is also worth remembering that lack of familiarity with routes and risks will make negotiating the city significantly harder and more stressful for tourists and other visitors than for residents.
Central Oxford may be better for pedestrians than many UK cities, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have major problems. It is clearly less pleasant to walk around than central Cambridge or Bath, let alone cities such as Prague or Venice.
Being pedestrian-friendly is more important for Oxford than for most British cities. Oxford attracts a large number of tourists and visitors, domestic and international, who are important for the local economy, and how pleasant they find the city centre to walk around will have a significant effect on how much they enjoy themselves — and thus on repeat visits, word of mouth, and so forth. Ordinary residents may not get much choice (though I'm told some catch the train to Bath to go shopping), but tourists do get a choice: there will be people for whom Prague, or at least Cambridge, are alternative destinations.
Keep in mind that this is not just about getting from one place to another. Walking around is not just a transport mode but a goal in itself. Central Oxford has immense value as a place, not just as a transit corridor. So pedestrians should be at the top of the "modal hierarchy" for transport, but they need recognition above and beyond that.
On the one hand, there is very little in the way of fully pedestrianised space, almost nowhere one can relax if accompanied by a mobile toddler. In this category Oxford really only has Cornmarket and Gloucester Green.
There are plenty of relatively low-traffic areas, but they are, with a few exceptions, not designed or engineered in such a way as to prioritise foot traffic or make them pedestrian-friendly. A street such as New Inn Hall St has almost the right layout, but has too much residual motor traffic and too much space assigned to parking (especially with regular illegal parking/loading) for people walking to share comfortably with a major cycle through route. Queen's Lane or Catte St have the right amount of motor traffic — almost none — but are not presented as pedestrian spaces.
On Oxford streets carrying motor vehicle traffic, the pavements are just too narrow: often impossibly narrow for the amount of foot-traffic attempting to negotiate them in peak times. And this holds even for streets from which private motor vehicles have been mostly excluded, such as High St and George St.
Take, for example, High St outside Magdalen College, or Longwall St. As it stands, the pavements here, even when not obstructed by parked vehicles or bicycles, are just too narrow. The result is that pedestrians do (and sometimes must) use the roadway, which is stressful, forces them to negotiate kerblines, and pushes them into risks from motor traffic or into conflict with people cycling who expect to have right-of-way on streets (and have similarly constrained space).
There are pedestrian signals only on one arm of the Cornmarket/George St/Magdalen St East/Magdalen St West/Broad St junction, and the timing on that is unfriendly to pedestrians. They are forced to judge when it is safe to cross, in the face of intermittent but sometimes high densities of buses and bicycles. A huge number of people move through this junction; pretty much all trips across town involve this or the almost as unpleasant Carfax at the other end of Cornmarket.
The traffic lights at the intersection of Holywell/Broad/Parks/Catte Streets never give pedestrians any signal, effectively using them to calm traffic. This is not so bad for residents who at least know how they work, but is clearly disorientating for many visitors. The Holywell/Broad/Parks/Catte now has no signals at all. This is an improvement, but still fails to give pedestrians clear priority.
In other places there are no crossings at all. Someone attempting to get across St Giles, say from the Lamb and Flag Passage to the Eagle and Child, has the choice between a long detour north or south or attempting to negotiate, without any guidance, an obstacle course full of parked and parking cars, dense and often speeding traffic, and cycle lanes that are poorly marked and too close to parked cars (almost invisible to pedestrians on some approaches).
Irregular paving and broken surfaces elsewhere in central Oxford are an additional hazard to pedestrians. I'd never been worried about this myself, as an able adult with experience hiking off-track, but as a toddler my daughter landed on her face a few times after tripping, and one of my colleagues has had some nasty accidents.
There may be some justification for the cobblestones in Radcliffe Square and elsewhere, but the street surfaces elsewhere offer unnecessary hazards to those crossing the roads or pushed off the pavement by overcrowding. There are potholes waiting to be fixed, sunken manhole covers, large hollows where buses have damaged the road, and depressions which fill when it rains, enabling buses and taxis to spray the pavements with muddy water.
Perhaps the most dangerous conflict with buses involves them actually swinging over the pavement, for example with sharp turns at Carfax and the northern end of Cornmarket. Another obvious conflict is with bus stops and people queueing at them, most notably on St Aldates, George St, and Magdalen St West, but also on High St and a number of other locations. And there are problems with waiting local buses (Magdalen St East) and parked/waiting coaches (St Giles).
The marking of cycle routes is often poor or non-existent. For example, a major north-south cycle route runs from St Ebbes across Queen St to New Inn Hall St, but this is completely unmarked, not giving pedestrians on Queen St any warning to expect people cycling at right angles across their path. Frideswide Square allows people to cycle anywhere on the pavements, not giving them or pedestrians any guidance at all. Elsewhere, cycle lanes through pedestrian areas can be green, in brick, marked with scattered bicycle symbols, or simply bordered by white lines. Especially for visitors to Oxford, this is often confusing.
Even when there are separate footpaths and cycle lanes, the narrowness of both makes the separation nugatory. People on foot step onto the cycle lanes because the footpaths are too narrow, while people cycling stay right on the kerb (dangerously for them as well as pedestrians) because they have cars and buses passing them too closely on the other side. Pedestrians complain about people cycling, and people cycling about pedestrians, but in the majority of cases I believe this is a result of streets being engineered and laid out for motor traffic.
Perhaps the most obvious examples are in areas such as New Inn Hall St, Broad St, St Ebbes, Turl and Catte Sts, though as a cyclist I find the stretch outside Magdalen College the most worrying. The pavements here only comfortably fit two people passing each other, which leaves no room for double strollers, people walking next to one another, wheelchairs, people with luggage and so forth, not to mention the occasional parked bike, or even a car or coach. So, given how little motor vehicle traffic there is (at least in Broad St, Turl St, etc.), pedestrians inevitably spill onto the carriageway, and once they are there there is no separation from bicycles.
It would be better for cyclists if more space were assigned to pedestrians, because it would be easier for them to stay out of the remaining carriageway or bicycle path. See below.
Cycle parking can also be a problem, but using railings or walls for overflow parking is actually more efficient in space utilisation and less obtrusive than specialised bike parking would be. Footpaths need to be wide enough to accommodate it without forcing pedestrians onto the carriageway, however!
Exacerbating the problems faced by pedestrians, the public transport system doesn't really offer many options for getting around inside the city centre. The bus stops are far apart and the bus services are geared to moving people in or out of the centre.
Imagine someone trying to get from (say) the Museum of Natural History to Christ Church college. This is only a fourteen minute walk, according to Google Maps, but one which people with limited mobility might still find daunting. There are no useful public transport options here at all. And other examples are easy to find.
I start with the easier suggestions.
Take Queen's Lane and Catte St as examples, but this could apply to all the lanes south of High St and Queen St: Pembroke St, Blue Boar St, Merton St, Ship St, and so forth. A first step here would be to signpost these areas so as to make it clear the space is primarily for pedestrians and people cycling. More expensive would be to resurface and re-engineer these areas to make that status obvious: removing kerblines and vestigial footpaths and resurfacing so as to make the space unlike a road.
Where these streets carry significant amounts of bicycle traffic (e.g. Catte and Turl Sts, New Inn Hall St), the carriageway should be replaced by a wide two-way cycle path to reduce pedestrian-cycle conflicts. This would be bounded by a clear but shallow kerb so people walking and cycling can share each other's space if necessary (to cross the road, get onto the cycle path, and so forth) but would have clearly demarcated spaces.
A concomitant to this is that there will be no assigned space for motor vehicles at all, and they will be occasional guests who will have to move carefully. The speed limit should be dropped to 10mph (very short distances are involved, so this won't impose any significant delay on anyone) and local access only allowed, with time-restricted loading (along with date-restricted access for arriving/departing undergraduates as appropriate).
There's almost no parking in these areas anyway, so they could be made into restricted parking zones, which would also allow removal of unsightly double yellow lines and some signs. Signing on the edges of these zones should make it clear that there simply isn't any parking available: as a tourist many years ago, I remember driving down some of these lanes, looking for parking (which is not actually ruled out by a no through road sign).
Rather than doing it piecemeal, making the entire city centre a controlled parking zone would seem more straightforward.
An intersection like Broad/Parks/Holywell/Catte, with low volumes of traffic, should be reversed from its current state: instead of traffic being given guidance and pedestrians left to fend for themselves, the area should be marked as pedestrian priority, the traffic lights removed, and stop lines marked on all the approaches. This could be augmented with some kind of raised table to make the pedestrian priority even clearer, and to make it natural for drivers of motor vehicles to slow down and look out.
The higher volume intersections are harder. If the taxis could be removed from the northern end of Cornmarket (perhaps with the Gloucester Green taxi rank moved and accessed from Beaumont St), it could be left as a pedestrian/cyclist shared green most of the time, with a bus green enabled "on demand". And something similar might work at Carfax. The speed limit going through these junctions and the surrounding streets could be reduced to 5mph, as on Queen St.
The through-route junctions at Beaumont/St Giles, Worcester/Hythe Bridge/George St, Longwall/High and so forth are harder still. With the first more space could be assigned to pedestrians and the space engineered for lower speed motor traffic, and taking some space from the car park would allow some changes at the second, but the third is obviously space constrained.
Further loading restrictions would have an adverse effect on some businesses, but it would in most cases be a marginal increase in costs, not an existential threat. (It is also likely that for some retailers this would be offset by greater footfall from improved pedestrian access, and in the longer term from greater tourist numbers.) Most Oxford businesses involving heavy goods are already in retail parks closer to the ring road, and if the Argos store on New Inn Hall St had to relocate that would not be the end of the world.
If anything, more space should be assigned for delivery vehicles, so they don't need to pull up in the middle of the road or park on pavements or cycle lanes. This could be done at the expensive of ordinary car parking, perhaps on a timed basis — so spaces might be loading access during loading times but disabled parking at other times.
All cycle lanes and paths should be clearly and consistently marked, across Oxford. (Across the entire country, actually, but here as in so many areas Westminster abdicates what should clearly be a national responsibility and dumps it on local authorities.) And this should override any fancy ideas architectural and design firms might have (as at Frideswide Square).
Provision of better and more bicycle parking would be a good idea, but pavements should also be widened so that bicycle parking on railings and against walls doesn't create obstacles for pedestrians.
In some places there are serious space constraints (Longwall St) but in others there is plenty of space, just with vastly disproportionate amounts devoted to motor traffic and motor vehicle parking. The most obvious candidates for large-scale pedestrianisation are St Giles and Broad St — the latter is I think the easier and more obvious candidate.
Given expected population and employment growth, more people rather than fewer are going to be travelling to and through the city centre in twenty years, and the current transport mix simply will not scale. There will also be more people walking around central Oxford. Maintaining, let alone improving, transport speed and convenience and pedestrian comfort and access is going to require something radical: more than just restricting parking, adding a few cycle lanes, and fiddling with signalling, or even moving kerblines and changing surfaces.
Closing Longwall St to private motor traffic would improve the situation near Magdalen College and allow the Science area of the University to be made much more pedestrian-friendly. Closing Worcester St would allow reconfiguration of St Giles as a public space as well as civilizing Beaumont St. And there would be a big effect outside the city centre, in reducing traffic on radial routes into the centre such as Cowley and Botley Roads, which would make buses faster and more reliable. Which would result in a big increase in the number of buses coming into the city centre.
As the situation at either end of Cornmarket shows, even without private cars a high enough density of buses and taxis can make for an unpleasant pedestrian experience. (Getting rid of taxis except for disabled passengers would help a bit.) And shifting modal share away from cars is going to mean even more people on public transport. Ultimately I believe it is impossible for much of central Oxford to be a pleasant place to be in while such large numbers of big buses are routed through it. But is allocating more space to pedestrians on what are going to be even busier bus routes possible? I write about this in a different post.
Update: Pembroke St has been done up, but could have been much better for pedestrians.
Very comprehensive. I'm glad you include wheelchairs, walkers and crutches. Don't forget walking sticks.
Hope you pass your research on to the Pedestrian Association.
With most of your arguments and suggestions I agree, but (a) the disabled parking spaces in New Inn Hall Street are a life-line for those who need them; and (b) Long Wall Street is at present the only practicable way for private motor traffic to get to the north (and thence to the west) from anywhere east of Merton Street/Queen's Lane, short of a pilgrimage through Marston and back down Banbury Road.
My suggestion is to remove all the non-disabled parking but to keep disabled parking and loading areas - possibly even expand them. I'm not sure about New Inn Hall St in particular, though, as it's not ideal for motor vehicle access for a number of reasons (including the problems turning around to get out).
Getting from East Oxford to North Oxford will be less convenient for cars if Long Wall St is closed, but it's not impossibly far out of the way to use Marston Ferry Rd (or Donnington Bridge Rd to get to West Oxford). So I think this is going to happen sooner or later. Closing Worcester St is going to be much harder, as the alternative route from North Oxford to (say) the railway station via the A34 is much longer. (Though the existence of Oxford Parkway may make this less of a problem.) Something has to give in the transport mix in central Oxford - imagine the current situation but "scaled up", with 20% more cars, buses, pedestrians and cyclists - and that has to be the least space-efficient mode, namely private motor vehicles.
Think about reopening Cornmarket to buses only.
Close Hythe Bridge Street to all but people on foot and bikes and deliveries to businesses there.
Narrow motor carriageway in St Giles to make room for people on foot and bikes.
If Cornmarket were one-way for buses, like Queen St, it might be tolerable, but two-way buses would kill it as a pedestrian space. I've vaguely thought a one-way, 5mph, bus-only loop running Queen St/Cornmarket/George St/New Rd might be feasible, especially if the inter-city buses could be shifted to a better location than Gloucester Green.
Definitely St Giles should have the carriageway narrowed and more space assigned to cycling and walking. And if the parking were removed, the bus station could be relocated there (at least for the intercity buses, that's still not well placed to serve East or South Oxford).
And yes, route all motor vehicle traffic via Park End St and give Hythe Bridge St to people!
I'm a fellow Aussie that lives in Oxfordshire and I couldn't agree more with some of your points. I actually run a free walking tour from Broad Street most days. One of my biggest challenges for people unfamiliar with the city is the risk of them getting hit by a bike. This could be easily cured by further pedestrianisation and clear delineation between cycle routes and pathways. Don't even get me started on Turl Street!


So it's Mother's Day, and I wanted to do a post on my mom. Every year this day is always a bit hard for me as she passed away 20 years ago. I grew up with my mother's parents so I always felt like she was with me in a way. I was eight when my mother passed away after a long hard battle with Uterine cancer. I was lucky to have her for as long as I did, and I cherish the memories I made with her.
I am my mother's mini me. There is enough of a resemblance people that I don't know come up to me to tell me their memories of her. Some might think that it would be sad to be reminded of someone you miss so much, but for me it is a time to learn more about a wonderful lady that I didn't get to spend enough time with. As a child stories were very vague, "your mom was such a great person", but as I got older people began to tell me more detailed stories of her and it made me sad I was not able to grow up with her. She was a wild child with the most loving heart. She went through so much as a child, from being adopted at 5 without her 3 other siblings to suffering through cancer and multiple back surgeries as an adult. She was a fighter, and I can only hope to ever be as strong as she was.
One thing I have learned from losing my mom so early is to always love on those around you as much as you can because you never know when they will be gone. Tell your mothers you love them (often) and if you are going through a time in which you are not getting along with them know that it is only for a season, and that restoring that relationship is something you should take the time to try to do. I know that not all relationships can be restored, but it takes a strong person to try.
So lovelies enjoy your day and show some love to those around you!


International Coupons, best known for its voucherful.co.uk site, has announced the launch of its nineteenth web property, Zlavovekody.com, which is now up and running in Slovakia.
Zlavovekody is covering a wide range of verticals with its voucher model. Consumers will have the option to purchase products such as aeroplane tickets and food at a discounted price.
Slovakia's population stands at 5.4 million, of which there are three million internet users generating two million impressions. High growth in the affiliate sector is almost a certainty given there is such a large proportion without web access.
As for the retail landscape, Slovakia has more than 6,000 online shops and many of these are smaller businesses. Only one quarter of the country's web-based companies are signed on to industry body, Slovak Association of Electronic Commerce.
PerformanceIN spoke to Tomas Jagoda, International Coupons' Slovak market specialist, who explained how negotiating deals with retailers was more lengthy than in other countries due to very few of them operating through an affiliate network.
Founded in 2008, International Coupons has already established sites in Brazil, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Norway and Poland, where apparently the firm's Kodyrabatowe.pl has a considerable presence. More than 250,000 active users spend about £40 million through the company each month.


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Part of Social Security – in the House of Commons at 8:17 pm on 4th February 2019.
I give way to Andy Murray's Member of Parliament.
Making it easy to keep an eye on the UK's parliaments. Discover who represents you, how they've voted and what they've said in debates – simply and clearly.
mySociety Limited is a project of UK Citizens Online Democracy, a registered charity in England and Wales. For full details visit mysociety.org.


Foreign fruit? Think of the cost in fuel getting that piece of fruit half way around the planet to the store- and the money going overseas to pay farmers to grow it. Buy local! It may cost a little more, but think of all the fuel and pollution you're preventing while supporting a farmer right here in the USA. Better yet, try growing some of your own herbs and vegetables.
Buying expensive laundry detergent? There are formulas using Borax, washing soda and some Ivory soap (I don't recall the amounts of each) that are far cheaper, works as well, and aren't dumping harsh chemicals down the drain. A search on the internet should find a few mixtures.
Post It's- well everyone has their weakness. I keep a few pages of 'em behind my pocket organizer for those times when paper just works better. There's usually a few in my coat pocket and a few at various places around the house. Check out the prices for a large package at Staples or other office supplier. The hardest part is picking out what size to buy.
I don't have a Kindle and don't think I will get one. I love my electronic gadgets, but when it comes to reading I think paper rules. Sure I download the occasional 'E-book' to my PC, but there's just something about paper. Maybe that explains the Post-It thing. Sure there's pollution made to manufacture that paper, but that Kindle isn't made out of sugar and spice. Eventually the Kindle and it's battery will be in a land fill, the paper can be composted or recycled.
Topics include gardening, raising bees and chickens, the economy, brewing your own beer, wine, and cider to mention a few. A new podcast comes out about once a week. I listen regularly.


text:
SKILLET Frontman Says RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Has Become 'Government Rock'
John Cooper, the frontman for the Grammy-nominated Christian rock band SKILLET, has pushed back against the criticism he has received for his comments about COVID-19 vaccine mandates. During an appearance on Apologia Radio, hosted by Luke Pierson, a pastor/elder at Apologia Church, the 46-year-old vocalist/bassist, who previously publicly revealed that he was unvaccinated, addressed the ...
ZZ TOP's BILLY GIBBONS Releases Animated Music Video For 'Jingle Bell Blues'
Billy F Gibbons, apart from his five decades-long role fronting ZZ TOP, has in recent years recorded three much-lauded solo albums for Concord Records, including "Hardware", released this past June. To cap off the year, Concord has released a singular single, "Jingle Bell Blues", on November 9. It's Billy's reworking of ...
ANTHRAX Won't Release New Album Until Bandmembers Know It's The 'Right Record'
ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello spoke to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've been going back and forth with stuff. Scott [Ian, guitar] and I flew out to Charlie's [Benante, drums] house ...
TED NUGENT: 'I Don't Write Songs; I Ejaculate Them'
In a new interview with "The Jeremy White Show", legendary rocker Ted Nugent spoke about how he goes about making fresh music. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I am consumed with the creative process, but with me, it's really not a process. "People always ask me, 'So, how do you go about writing a ...
BRET MICHAELS Gives POISON Cover Band Chance Of A Lifetime
POISON singer Bret Michaels has a heart of gold. After watching E! network's "Clash Of The Cover Bands" (Wednesday, December 1), Michaels made sure the POISON cover band SHOT OF POISON, who lost to a DEPECHE MODE cover band, went home with more than nothing, but a good time. Michaels invited SHOT OF POISON to ...
RUDY SARZO Says Current QUIET RIOT Lineup Can Celebrate The Memory Of FRANKIE BANALI With 'Total Dignity'
Bassist Rudy Sarzo spoke to Lee Jackson's "Friday Night FeedBack" about his recent decision to rejoin the band after an 18-year absence. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I did my first show with the band, and it's a great band. We have Jizzy Pearl, who was in LOVE/HATE, the founding member [and] singer. We ...
Watch Former IRON MAIDEN Singer PAUL DI'ANNO Receive Lymphatic Drainage Massage Treatments
Video of former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno receiving lymphatic drainage treatments earlier this week in Zagreb, Croatia can be seen below. A lymphatic drainage massage relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks the lymphatic system. It involves gently manipulating specific areas of the body to help lymph move to an area ...
W.A.S.P.'s BLACKIE LAWLESS Discusses 40th-Anniversary Tour In Extended Teaser Video
An extended two-minute teaser video for W.A.S.P.'s upcoming 40th-anniversary tour, narrated by frontman Blackie Lawless, is available below. June 6, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most infamous, notorious, controversial heavy metal bands in the world… W.A.S.P. So join W.A.S.P. for this very special 40th-anniversary world tour that kicks off in Milan, ...
STRYPER's MICHAEL SWEET Blasts 'Evil' Women 'Shamelessly And Proudly' Taking 'Abortion Pills' On Video
Michael Sweet of openly Christian rockers STRYPER has blasted protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court who were videotaped allegedly taking abortion pills ahead of the nation's highest court hearing arguments over the Mississippi abortion law challenging Roe v. Wade. At least four women were captured on video on Wednesday (December 1) taking pills and chanting ...
ROB HALFORD Says GLENN TIPTON Will Play On Next JUDAS PRIEST Album: 'Whatever Work He Does, He's Valuable'
JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke to Spain's Mariskal Rock about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2018's "Firepower" album. "Slowly but surely, these things come together; it's what we've always done," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And generally, when we go out on these ...
VOIVOD Announces New Studio Album, 'Synchro Anarchy'
Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD will release their new studio album, "Synchro Anarchy", on February 11, 2022 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2018's "The Wake" was produced by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio and features cover artwork created by VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin. Langevin comments: "We are eager to present our ...
STEVE VAI: Complete 'Inviolate' Album Details Revealed
Steve Vai and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group have announced his new studio album titled "Inviolate" will be released digitally and on CD January 28, 2022. The LP will follow on March 18. Today, they present the song "Little Pretty" which can be previewed below. The recording is a dark-toned fusion-funk workout played almost ...
EXODUS's GARY HOLT Is 'A Big Supporter Of Law Enforcement' But Says Some Cops 'Need To Do A Better Job'
EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt spoke to Germany's "Pommesgabel" podcast about the lyrical inspiration for "The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)", the first single from the band's recently released album, "Persona Non Grata". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When I was watching all the rioting and stuff, and the riot cops just beating people ...
AT THE GATES Releases Music Video For 'Cosmic Pessimism'
Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES have released a music video for the song "Cosmic Pessimism" off their latest studio album, "The Nightmare Of Being". The clop, directed by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Media, can be seen below. "'Cosmic Pessimism' is one of the central tracks of the new record," states AT ...
THE BLACK CROWES To Return To Las Vegas Over SUPER BOWL Weekend
THE BLACK CROWES will return to Las Vegas over Super Bowl weekend for a two-night stand. Dubbed "Twice As Hard", the shows will take place on Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12 at the House Of Blues. Tickets for THE BLACK CROWES' February 2022 shows in Las Vegas go on sale to the general ...
Acheron - KING BUFFALO
At the risk of stating the obvious, if you enjoy getting high and listening to riffs, KING BUFFALO are almost certainly one of your favorite bands already. A band that combine and encapsulate everything that people love about several connected subgenres, joining the dots between stoner rock, doom and mind-expanding psychedelic explorations, the Rochester, New ...
Posted in: CD Reviews
CARLOS SANTANA Cancels Las Vegas Residency Shows Following Heart Scare
Carlos Santana has canceled his Las Vegas residency dates following a health scare. The guitarist was scheduled to perform eight dates at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay this month, beginning on Wednesday. Santana said in a YouTube message Wednesday afternoon he had experienced chest discomfort Saturday and asked his wife and bandmate Cindy Blackman ...
GOJIRA's JOSEPH DUPLANTIER: Latest GRETA VAN FLEET Album 'Blew My Mind'
GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier told Revolver magazine in a new interview that GRETA VAN FLEET's sophomore studio album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", "blew [his] mind" when he first heard it. He added: "I heard about them as being a rip-off of LED ZEPPELIN. I think these kids are very talented ...
ANTHRAX's FRANK BELLO Says He Has 'Immune Disease' That He Has To Be Careful With During Pandemic
On October 13, Book Soup hosted a virtual conversation between ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello and SiriusXM radio personality Jose Mangin about Frank's recently released memoir, "Fathers, Brothers, And Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment, And Anthrax". You can now watch the entire chat below. Asked how he feels about fans coming up to him in public, Frank ...
Ex-QUEENSRŸCHE Singer GEOFF TATE Says He Had To Stop Smoking Cigarettes When He Was Young
In a new interview with Sally Steele of Vegas Rocks! Magazine, former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was asked if he ever drank or smoked in the earlier years of his career. "[I did] everything," he responded. "[But] I didn't make it a habit. I like to drink; that's no secret. I'm a drinker, absolutely. I ...
TESTAMENT's CHUCK BILLY: 'We're Working On New Music Now'
In a new interview with La Mesa Del Metal, TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy spoke about how he and his bandmates have been staying busy during the coronavirus pandemic. He said (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're maybe working on some new music. We might as well start writing another record." Adding that fans can probably expect to ...
WOLFGANG VAN HALEN On DAVID LEE ROTH's Retirement: 'He'll Always Be One Of The Best'
Wolfgang Van Halen says that David Lee Roth will "always be one of the best" frontmen in rock. This past October, the legendary VAN HALEN singer announced that he was ending his career with his upcoming Las Vegas residency during the first weeks of January. "I am throwing in the shoes. I'm retiring," Roth told ...
SHARON OSBOURNE Blasts Tabloid For 'Humiliating' Her Daughter During 'Particularly Bad Year'
Sharon Osbourne has blasted the National Enquirer for apparently planning to run a story on Kelly Osbourne claiming that the 37-year-old "has put on a tremendous amount of weight" lately. On Tuesday (November 30), Kelly shared a screenshot on Instagram Story of what appeared to be an e-mail from National Enquirer that asked for her ...
VOLBEAT's MICHAEL POULSEN On Making New Death Metal Album: 'It's Gonna Happen One Day'
In a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine, VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen, who played extreme metal with his first band, DOMINUS, back in the early '90s, said that he wouldn't rule out a return to death metal in future. "It's gonna happen one day; I just don't know when," he said. "It's ...
ARCH ENEMY To Release Another New Song, 'House Of Mirrors', Next Week
Swedish/Canadian/American melodic death metallers ARCH ENEMY will release another new song, "House Of Mirrors", on Thursday, December 9. The cover artwork for the single is available below. "House Of Mirrors" will mark the second new ARCH ENEMY track to be made available in four years, following the October 21 arrival of "Deceiver, Deceiver". In the ...
NIKKI SIXX Says MÖTLEY CRÜE Is '100% Planning' On Finally Launching 'The Stadium Tour' In 2022
Nikki Sixx says that MÖTLEY CRÜE is still on track to finally launch its long-awaited reunion next year. The bassist addressed the status of "The Stadium Tour", which was originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020 but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus ...
Public Funeral Service For Former TURBONEGRO Singer HANK VON HELL To Be Held Next Week
A funeral service for former TURBONEGRO frontman Hank Von Hell wil be held on Thursday, December 9 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) at the Lillestrøm Church. The event, which will be streamed online, is open to the public. The Norwegian musician, whose real name was Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby, was just 49 years old when he was ...
STEEL PANTHER Asks Public To Help Pick New Bass Player
As the music and hairspray world was recently rocked by the shocking news of the departure of STEEL PANTHER's original bassist Lexxi Foxx, the California glam metal jokesters have been endlessly reviewing submissions from their global search for a replacement. Singer Michael Starr, guitarist Satchel and drummer Stix Zadinia have been watching over 1669 individuals ...
BLACK SABBATH's TONY IOMMI Is Waiting For 'Born Again' Master Tapes So He Can Remix The Album: 'I'd Love To Get That One Sounding Right'
Tony Iommi says that he still wants to remix BLACK SABBATH's "Born Again" album for future release. Issued in August 1983, "Born Again" was the only album SABBATH recorded with lead vocalist Ian Gillan, best known for his work with DEEP PURPLE. It was was also the last of SABBATH's studio albums to feature drummer ...
BIOHAZARD's BILLY GRAZIADEI Releases New BILLYBIO Music Video, 'One Life To Live'
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text:
3M Reports Fourth-Quarter, Full-Year 2019 Results
Full-year sales were $32.1 billion, down 1.9% year-on-year, with free cash flow of $5.4 billion an all-time record.
3M Invests in TPG Rise Climate Fund
3M Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results
CTA: Automotive Tracking for Record Growth at CES 2022
3M Reports 1Q 2021 Results
Identiv Awarded Schreiner Group's 'Supplier of the Year' Award
3M reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 results and provided its 2020 earnings outlook.
"Our team executed well in the fourth quarter and delivered results that were in-line with our expectations," said Mike Roman, 3M chairman and CEO. "While we continued to manage challenges in certain key end markets, we generated solid underlying margins and robust free cash flow. We also continue to build for the future, including the launch of our new global operating model which represents the next phase of our transformation journey. As a result of our actions, we are well positioned to improve our performance, return to growth and deliver a successful 2020."
Fourth-Quarter Results
Sales grew 2.1% year-on-year to $8.1 billion. Organic local-currency sales declined 2.6% while acquisitions, net of divestitures, increased sales by 5.1%. Foreign currency translation reduced sales by 0.4% year-on-year.
Total sales grew 25.4% in Health Care, were flat in Consumer, with declines of 4.8% in Safety and Industrial, and 6.2% in Transportation and Electronics. Organic local-currency sales increased 0.2% in Consumer, with declines of 0.2% in Health Care, 2.8% in Safety and Industrial, and 5.9% in Transportation and Electronics. The company's operating cash flow was $2.3 billion, contributing to conversion of 186% of net income to free cash flow.
Full-Year 2019 Results
Sales declined 1.9% to $32.1 billion with an organic local-currency sales decline of 1.5%. The combination of acquisitions and divestitures increased sales 1.3%. Foreign currency translation decreased sales 1.7%. Full-year operating income margins were 19.2%, while adjusted operating margins were 21.6%. The company's operating cash flow was $7.1 billion, contributing to conversion of 118% of net income to free cash flow for the year. In addition, 3M generated 17.5% return on invested capital. Free cash flow was $5.4 billion, an all-time record.
OE-A Business Climate Survey: Silver Linings for Printed Electronics Industry
3M Named 1 of World's Most Ethical Companies
3M Reports Sales Information for Month of November 2020
3M to Advance Operating Model, Improve Cost Structure, and Accelerate Innovation
Flex Appoints Dr. Todd M. Fruchterman as President, Reliability Solutions Segment
3M Finds Trust in Science Soars Amid Global Pandemic
3M Reports Sales Information for August 2020
Around the World with 3M Volunteers
3M, Mitsubishi Paper Mills Complete Patent License Agreement for 3M's Metal Mesh Technology
3M Announces New Leadership Appointment
Adhesives, Barriers and Encapsulants | Breaking News | Displays and Lighting | Film, Paper, Glass and Substrates | Suppliers News | Touch Screens
Complements 3M environmental goals for carbon neutrality, water use and quality.
Adhesives, Barriers and Encapsulants | Breaking News | Displays and Lighting | Film, Paper, Glass and Substrates | Financial News | Suppliers News | Touch Screens
Sales of $8.9 billion, up 24.7% year-on-year, with adjusted free cash flow of $1.6 billion, up 2% year-on-year.
Breaking News | Displays and Lighting | Flexible and Printed Electronics | Manufacturers News | Printed Circuit Boards/Membrane Switches/In Mold Electronics | Sensors and Wearables | Suppliers News | Touch Screens
More than 175 companies have committed from the transportation and vehicle technology industry for 2022, which is a 12% increase from CES 2020.
Adhesives, Barriers and Encapsulants | Breaking News | Displays and Lighting | Financial News | Suppliers News
Reports adjusted free cash flow of $1.4 billion, which was up 49% year-on-year.
Breaking News | RFID and NFC
For secure IoT medical device authentication and anti-counterfeiting RFID inlays.


text:
cat <<END >>/dev/null
touch git-ensure-commit &&
echo "cd `pwd` && git checkout develop &&" >git-ensure-commit &&
echo "bash `pwd`/git.commit.sh" >>git-ensure-commit &&
chmod +x git-ensure-commit &&
sudo rm -f /bin/git-ensure-commit &&
sudo mv git-ensure-commit /bin/git-ensure-commit
END

echo "submit code to github.com"

echo "argv[0]=$0"
if [[ ! -f $0 ]]; then
    echo "directly execute the scripts on shell.";
    work_dir=`pwd`
else
    echo "execute scripts in file: $0";
    work_dir=`dirname $0`; work_dir=`(cd ${work_dir} && pwd)`
fi
work_dir=`(cd ${work_dir}/.. && pwd)`
product_dir=$work_dir

# allow start script from any dir
cd $work_dir && git checkout 2.0release

. ${product_dir}/scripts/_log.sh
ret=$?; if [[ $ret -ne 0 ]]; then exit $ret; fi
ok_msg "导入脚本成功"

function remote_check()
{
    remote=$1
    url=$2
    git remote -v| grep "$url" >/dev/null 2>&1
    ret=$?; if [[ 0 -ne $ret ]]; then
        echo "remote $remote not found, add by:"
        echo "    git remote add $remote $url"
        exit -1
    fi
    ok_msg "remote $remote ok, url is $url"
}
remote_check origin git@github.com:simple-rtmp-server/srs.git
remote_check srs.winlin git@github.com:winlinvip/simple-rtmp-server.git
remote_check srs.csdn git@code.csdn.net:winlinvip/srs-csdn.git
remote_check srs.oschina git@git.oschina.net:winlinvip/srs.oschina.git
remote_check srs.gitlab git@gitlab.com:winlinvip/srs-gitlab.git
ok_msg "remote check ok"

function sync_push()
{
    for ((;;)); do
        git push $*
        ret=$?; if [[ 0 -ne $ret ]]; then
            failed_msg "Retry for failed: git push $*"
            sleep 3
            continue
        else
            ok_msg "Success: git push $*"
        fi
        break
    done
}

sync_push --all origin
sync_push --all srs.winlin
sync_push --all srs.csdn
sync_push --all srs.oschina
sync_push --all srs.gitlab
ok_msg "push refs ok"

sync_push --tags srs.winlin
sync_push --tags srs.csdn
sync_push --tags srs.oschina
sync_push --tags srs.gitlab
ok_msg "push tags ok"

exit 0


text:
The page of Radnóti Miklós, English biography
Radnóti Miklós
Works Translations Bibliography
[Hungarian] [English] [French] [Polish] [Dutch]
Born May 5, 1909 in Budapest; died November 6-10(?), 1944 in Abda. Poet, translator. Mother died giving him birth. Orphan when twelve. Raised by mother's younger brother. Poems first appeared in youth periodicals 1926-1927. Completed studies at business school in 1927. Studied textile manufacturing in Liberec, Czechoslovakia, 1927-1928. Clerk in private office 1928-1929. Also completed gymnasium in 1929. Entered University of Szeged in fall 1930 to study Hungarian and French. Became acquainted with Sándor Sík (q.v.) and affiliated himself with Szegedi Fiatalok Művészeti Kollégiuma. Publication of Újmódi pásztorok éneke in spring 1931 resulted in its confiscation and eight-day sentence, which was lifted upon appeal. Spent few weeks in Paris in summer 1931, where he formed relations with French Communist party. On return to Hungary participated in the activities of illegal Hungarian Communist party. Obtained doctorate in philosophy in 1934. Married Fanni Gyarmati in fall of same year. Participated in literary life of Budapest 19351936 and became acquainted with Attila József (q.v.). Obtained teaching certificate in fall 1936 but was unable to secure position. Earnings derived from occasional publications and tutoring, and received help from uncle. Contributed to Gondolat in 1936. Awarded grant by Baumgarten Foundation in 1937. Spent several weeks with wife in Paris in summer 1937. Visited France for few weeks in 1939. Served in forced labor camp in Transylvania in 1940. Participated in anti-fascist demonstration at Petőfi statue in Budapest on March 15, 1942. Summoned for forced labor in May 1944 and sent to Bor, Yugoslavia; then sent to concentration camp in Heidenau, where he worked in copper mine and on road construction. Shot with 22 others near Győr and buried in mass grave. Body, with last poems, was not recovered until 1947.
Lyric poet who confronted his own life in relation to his tragic times. Poems show development through numerous modern poetic influences and political concepts. Achieved their distinctive characteristics during World War II when he was confronted by death. Viewed his own situation and experiences as symbol of the unhappy condition of humanity. Eclogues considered to be highpoint of his creativity. His translations, also important and an influence on his literary development, include the works of La Fontaine, Huizinga, Montherlant, Cervantes, and a collection of African Negro folk tales. ¶ Some of his poems have been translated into Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Rumanian, and Russian
source :: Hungarian Authors. A Bibliographical Handbook by Albert Tezla
all – All bg – Bulgarian ca – Catalan cz – Czech da – Danish el – Greek en – English eo – Esperanto es – Spanish fr – French hr – Croatian hu – Hungarian it – Italian nl – Dutch no – Norwegian pl – Polish pt – Portuguese ro – Romanian ru – Russian sk – Slovak slo – Sloven sr – Serbian sv – Swedish


Farmers are pushing to harvest viable rice in southwest Louisiana. Combines are running in standing water if necessary. This month's rain and flooding are taking an economic toll, aside from the stress imposed on farmers and the ag community. Louisiana State University's most recent estimate of losses in rice is north of $30 million. See comments by Dustin Harrell.
Harvest has either started or is progressing now in parts of Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri, as well as in north Louisiana.
The rain is not letting up, and more is in the forecast on a wide basis into the weekend. Talk of a possible tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico has only heightened concerns.
Rice stink bugs remain a nagging threat in late rice in Arkansas. The unpredictable weather and threat of wash-off continues to complicate treatment timing.
Consultants share how they can enjoy the three extra weeks of residual control RebelEX® herbicide provides on barnyardgrass, smartweed and rice flatsedge.
For more benefits of RebelEX herbicide, visit 504MoreHours.com.
Hugh Whitby, KC Consulting, Wynne, Arkansas: "Very little of my growers' rice has been cut. Probably 90% has been drained. Last week some rice sprouted in the head during all the rain and wet conditions. I've seen that in the past on downed rice, but this is the first time I've ever found it on standing rice.
"One guy told me that he was finding it in a field he was cutting. He didn't see sprouting across the whole field but it was noticeable in places. It didn't seem to affect yields or harvest, he said. We'll have to see whether it has any effect on milling. Where rice has sprouted, it was dry enough that we could have cut it 10 days ago (from 8/25) if the weather had permitted.
Wendell Minson, Bootheel Crop Consultants, Dexter, Missouri: "None of my clients have started harvesting rice yet, but a few guys around us are in the field. Yesterday (8/24) we started our sodium chlorate applications, although we may not be overly aggressive getting those treatments out. The forecast calls for more rain – a 40% chance tomorrow, a 50% chance on Saturday and then lesser percentages after that.
"We'd like to see the ground dry up a little more before we put a combine in the field. The rain started nearly 2 weeks ago on that Friday (8/12), and totals since then have ranged from 8 inches up to 18. All the rain – plus some flooding – hurt beans more than rice. Some beans went under water, and the flooding killed them on the low ends of fields.
DowAgroSciences offers rice herbicides that fit into your weed management program. Learn more at DowRiceHerbicides.com.
Bobby Golden, Mississippi Extension Rice and Soil Fertility Agronomist: "The weather continues to keep most harvest on hold. I'd be surprised if more than 10,000 acres of rice has been cut in Mississippi so far (8/25). And where anyone might be rolling, it's at a slow pace. What yield reports I've heard have been fairly decent, although I don't have enough numbers to talk about trends. We've got concerns about what the heat did to part of the crop.
Gus Lorenz, Arkansas Extension IPM Specialist: "Rice stink bugs (RSB) are still hitting fields, and their numbers are high. In places, we're counting 3 per sweep, which is 3X our threshold of 10 per 10 sweeps. They keep moving into fields. Growers can treat today, check in 4 to 5 days and often find as many RSB as they had before the application.
Dustin Harrell, Louisiana Rice Extension Specialist, LSU Rice Research Station, Crowley: "Some combines were moving this week, and we're seeing them running in water in places. Mostly, it's a foot of water or less, but I know of some locations where combines were in 15 inches of water and pushing a wake out as they moved through the field. I saw one photo on Facebook of a combine running in a field with the water line just below the panicle.
"We're still trying to determine where we are with all the flooding and how much damage it caused in rice. Initially, it was estimated that rice farmers in this part of the state took a $14 million hit. That covered rice that couldn't be harvested, not including loss of the ratoon crop or rice that would have quality issues due to sprouting or other factors.
"The updated number is now around $33 million. In that estimate, 20% to 25% of the rice in those parishes is unharvestable, and 40% to 45% of rice remaining in the fields will have quality issues. The impact ranges from some growers with no real problems to others who sustained major losses on substantial acreage.
"Soybeans were hit harder because none of them had been harvested yet. The LSU AgCenter puts that loss at $44 million, with $101 million across all crops in this part of the state.
"Questions vary, but many people want to know when rice would be considered a total loss. Also, they want to know when they can sell the rice they do bring out of the field. A lot of this will be determined by millers and insurance adjusters. If rice has just started sprouting but hasn't lodged then it probably still has some value. But it's hard to make a blanket statement. Every buyer will be evaluating this crop on a load-by-load basis.
"If rice is on the ground and has a 2-leaf seedling coming out of the head, it's done, and we actually have quite a bit of that.
"We won't make a ratoon crop anywhere that the first crop was lost. If rice stays under water long enough, the plant dies, so it's not coming back. We still do have a lot of ratoon acres that will make it. The rain did prevent growers from properly managing stubble, plus they had to fly nitrogen into standing water, so yields won't be what we'd like to see. But at least we will have a ratoon crop.
"Harvest is approaching or maybe has started in spots in north Louisiana. No yield reports yet.
Wayne Dulaney, Dulaney Seed Co., Clarksdale, Mississippi: "On our own farm we need to be cutting rice. But after all the rain last week, we're trying to get corn out of the way, then move into rice.
"One of our growers at Jonestown has started cutting, and he said it's been going well. He's been harvesting in CL151, and he said some went down, but he thinks it will yield better than last year's 180 bu/acre average, maybe going 190.
Dow AgroSciences offers rice herbicides that fit into your weed management program. Learn more at DowRiceHerbicides.com.


text:
Meet NFL's big daddy
When I first meet with the man everyone in NFL circles knows as "Big Daddy", he's seated in the back corner of Bull & Bear, a swanky midtown Manhattan hotel lounge lush with silver haired finance types and cougars dressed to the nines. In preparing for the NFL Draft, I'd been told by countless players get to know the guy that protects them .
Sprawled across a leather couch, the 6'5, 340-pound presence waves me over as he finishes what appears to be a casual conversation on his Blackberry.
"I'll meet you there right after this. And if you want to come to the Rangers game Sunday, let me know. I'll take care of it."
He wraps up his call and nearly shatters my palm with a handshake.
Then there's a pause. He looks me in the eye with a suspicious gaze.
"So, what do you want to know?"
I'd seen Big Daddy before. At the Super Bowl. At NFL Draft parties in Manhattan. In locker rooms. On the sidelines at Giants playoff games chatting with the owners. Hanging with Strahan. Clowning with Larry Fitzgerald. Kicking it with Jay Glazer.
But I had no idea who he was. Hell, I was afraid to even ask.
"I never want to be the center of attention," the man with the size 15 shoes tells me.
"But all these players, all these college kids, they need to get to know me. I'm looking out for them. When no one else is thinking about their long-term stability or life after football, I am. In college, in those months leading up to the draft--everyone's feeding them bullsh-t. I don't bullsh-t. I prepare them for life. I prepare them for reality."
Richard "Big Daddy" Salgado carries an old school Vito Corleone aura everywhere he goes. An imposing figure, the man who once protected Neil O'Donnell's blind side at Maryland isn't exactly a warm and cuddly teddy bear. But in his industry, he can't be. He's a realist because it's his livelihood.
And yet, he's not a bodyguard. He's not a security guy.
Nope, he's an insurance agent.
Just don't call him that to his face.
"There's a lot more to what I do than sell insurance," Salgado says as a woman half his age walks by and gives him a devious smile. "You don't want to just sell a guy a life insurance policy and then exit his life. It's my role to guide players through a lot of things that other people don't want to. My clients are clients for life. I become lifelong friends with 85 percent of them."
And that client list is impressive. Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Bush, Justin Tuck, Vernon Davis, Matt Hasselbeck, Demeco Ryans, and Jeremy Shockey are just a handful of the 140 players Salgado currently works with. He considers them more than business partners.
He exchanges pre-game texts every Sunday with Fitzgerald and Tuck.
He talks to Strahan every day.
"I don't even think about Big Daddy in a business sense," explains Strahan. "I think of him more as a friend. Hell, I think of him more as a brother than a friend. He's always there for me. I call him Daddy-O. He calls me Junior. Personal, professional, whatever it is--he's always hooking it up. More than anyone I know, he's selfless."
But not everyone is a fan of Mr. Salgado. "Some people are threatened by me," he says without blinking. "Agents, financial advisors, money men--they don't want me around. But I'm a very important piece of the puzzle. I have to be around."
"The financial advisors and agents are threatened by my relationships with the players. My guys trust me. You get agents--guys who think they can do it all--trying to write up insurance policies. If I own a pizzeria and you own a steakhouse--please, stick to the filets. Don't let me catch you flipping any pizzas."
In the last five years, Salgado's company, Coastal Advisors, LLC, has insured more than twenty-five first round NFL draft picks for disability and career ending insurance, as well as Life and Estate planning. Just as Tina Turner's legs or Jennifer Lopez's behind gets covered by insurance policies in the entertainment world, Salgado protects the league's top players' lives. When others treat top prospects and rookies with kiddy gloves and sycophancy, Salgado deals with them in reality.
Any day, it can all be gone.
He points to a scar spanning his entire forehead.
"See this?" The massive mark is hard to miss. "Two years ago, I was having these horrible ear aches. I went to the hospital to get them checked out and the doctors found a brain aneurysm. A week later, I went to a previously scheduled dinner with [Falcons GM] Thomas Dimitroff, checked myself into the hospital immediately afterwards, and had angioplasty surgery the next morning. I got the aneurysm removed, but who knows what would have happened if I didn't? I now have this scar--19 inches across my head--as a daily reminder that anything can happen to anyone ."
He laughs, "A week later, I was laid up on my hospital bed texting back and forth with Tom Brady. He was just coming out of knee surgery and laid up on his."
He re-emphasizes, "Anything can happen to anyone."
Salgado's path to the insurance world is a fascinating one. While rooming with his old college quarterback O'Donnell at College Park, the two began a close partnership that grew even closer when O'Donnell's father fell ill in 1992. With O'Donnell in Pittsburgh starting for the Steelers, Salgado was in Madison, New Jersey--caring for his friend's sick father. Eventually, Salgado moved to Pittsburgh, where he befriended longtime NFL agent Ralph Cindrich. Hanging with Cindrich, Salgado built a network of friends in the sports business. At the same time, he threw himself into learning the ins and outs of the insurance world. Almost naturally, the two worlds collided and a career was made.
"It's my life's mission to educate and protect."
When Jeremy Shockey found out that his college teammate Sean Taylor had been gunned down and killed in his South Florida home, Salgado was one of the first people the Saints tight end called. "He wanted to make sure his life insurance was handled," Big Daddy notes. "We took care of it right then and there."
"You hear the story a thousand times," he adds nonchalantly, taking a sip of a non-alcoholic drink. "A mother of 10 works three jobs a day for 20 years. Her youngest son gets drafted by an NFL team and is handed millions of dollars. The first thing he wants to do is tell his mother to retire, buy her a nice home in a safe neighborhood, and let her enjoy the good life. Well, what happens when that young man dies at 25? Suddenly, there's no more income coming in. What do you do then?"
He glances away. "These are the scenarios I prepare these young men for. These are the scenarios agents and money managers don't want to ever address."
Since January, Salgado's been to the Senior Bowl, the NFC Championship, the Pro Bowl, the Super Bowl, the NFL Combine, the NFL Owner's meetings, the Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones, Jr. fight, and over a dozen hockey games. This week, he plans on attending the EA Sports NFL Draft Party, the NFLPA Draft Party, the Nike Draft Party, and of course, the ESPN Draft Party. He'll be welcomed with open arms at all of them.
"Big Daddy's everywhere, man," chuckles Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. "The prime example of that was during our playoff game in Dallas back in '07. Here we are, in this tense game with the season on the line on the road, and I look over to our sidelines and see Rich looming in the background. I'm thinking, 'How the hell did he get there?' I've since stopped asking that question."
Strahan laughs, "You know the guy that sneaks into every picture? That's Big Daddy. You'll be at an event, take a photo, and get the picture back a week later and just see Big Daddy in the background, You'll think, 'How the heck did he get there?'. That's him. He's like 'Where's Waldo'? The man is just everywhere at once."
Salgado has nine prospects in this weekend's NFL Draft, the most prominent being Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung and Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton. He didn't court or pitch either of them.
"They knew to get in touch with me," he notes.
"A few different NFL players referred me to Big Daddy," confirms Wootton, a likely first or second round pick in this weekend's draft. "Michael Strahan was one of them. There were others. He's a straight up guy. I met with him, we set up disability insurance for this past season, and we kept in touch throughout the year."
"Everywhere you go," Wootton adds, "people seem to know him. I'm at the NFL Combine in February, and there he is. I'm at an NFL game earlier this year, and there he is. He's in the know."
And yet, despite his Blackberry full of All-Pros' phone numbers, a bevy of invites to attend viewing parties, and an Ari Gold-like swagger around the sporting world's elite, Richard "Big Daddy" Salgado has no plans on attending the actual draft, itself, this week.
"The draft? Nah, that's not for me. I've got other things to do than sit around and watch that thing for 10 hours. Who actually does that, anyway?"
He then gets up rather abruptly and takes a call. His back turned, he's figuring out travel plans to go somewhere. Frustrated, he shakes his head in aggravation. "We'll figure it out. We'll work it out."
Just another day in the life of the guy they call Big Daddy.