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How to Find a Lost Father in Japan
By: Dan Harkins
How to Find Your Biological Father Online
How to Find Out Where Your Family Came From
How to Find Your Dad That You Have Never Met
How to Trace Your Family Tree for Free
How to Find Your Biological Father
Landeanflug Japan image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com
If you're looking for your father, and you know he's in Japan, your hunt is aided by a few requirements of Japanese residency. For centuries, Japan has kept two types of personal records on all its citizens: one, called a "koseki," logs birth, death, marriage and divorce information; the other, called the "jyuminhyou," registers where each resident--nationals and visa-holders--currently resides. Start with an Internet search that may uncover your father's whereabouts in Japan without having to go through a government source, but if you have to employ the jyuminhyou, it's a fairly straightforward process.
Gather as much personal information about your father as you can. Speak with anyone you know who knows him to glean pertinent data like his full name and date of birth. Both these details are required to begin your hunt, since you'll be searching among millions of names. Try to get a photo if you can, and write down the names of any of your father's known relatives also living in Japan, especially parents and children. Knowing a city or cities where your father's lived in Japan will help immensely as well.
Start on the Internet. It's a valuable tool that may be able to help you quickly narrow your search for your father. Search engines like Google and Yahoo! offer worldwide browsing that allow you to search for your father's name. If it's an unusual name or spelling, or if your father is prominent enough to work for a company with any Internet presence at all, you may be able to confirm his whereabouts with a few simple clicks.
Contact the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs office nearest you by mail or phone, finding the relevant contact information by searching a directory of North American embassies. Explain that you're trying to find your father and ask for a copy of his koseki and/or jyuminhyou. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will scrutinize and reply to your request. If you receive either document, you should be able to glean (with the help of a translator, if required) your father's current residence. If the only information you're provided is the prefecture (state) or city where your father lives, you'll have a bit more searching to do.
Consult the telephone directory in your father's area (available through an Internet search). If he has a listed number and his name is not too common, he'll be easy to find. You can also contact the government offices for the prefecture or city where your father lives. According to Ancestry.com, this is when working with a Japanese writer or speaker may be handy, depending on whether you choose to write or call. Ask politely for your father's koseki and/or jyuminhyou. Local government offices are where those documents are kept, so you should be able to get information about your father's whereabouts.
Call, write or visit your father after you've located his current contact information. If he has an unlisted phone number, you may have to write a letter or send a local private investigator to his door.
Debito: The Family Registry (Koseki) and Residence Form (Juuminhyou)
Ancestry: Help Getting Family Registry in Japan
Ancestry: Obtaining Family's Koseki
Children's Rights Network Japan: Overview of the Koseki
Web Japan: Prefecture and Major City Government Contacts
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: North American Embassies
If you can't identify your father's prefecture or city, try searching for any other known relatives. They may be willing to help you find your father.
Enlist the services of a private investigator in the area where your father lives if you've exhausted your search options. These professionals are well-versed in finding people who may not want to be found.
Dan Harkins has been a full-time journalist since 1997. Prior to working in the alternative press, he served as a staff writer and editor for daily publications such as the "St. Petersburg Times" and "Elyria Chronicle-Telegram." Harkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of South Florida.


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The Bridge: Where Kids From The 'Burbs Take Center Stage
The Bridge Teen Center (courtesy)
The Bridge Teen Center, a center for suburban teens, is the latest recipient of a Kars4Kids small grant. Now, when Kars4Kids gives out a small grant to a worthy organization, we like to interview someone there for this blog, to spread the word of the good work being done there. In preparing this interview, however, this writer had no idea she was corresponding with one of the teens served by The Bridge. It was impossible to tell that the very full and considerate responses received had been penned by a teenager.
That makes The Bridge all the more impressive from our standpoint. It would have been the easy way out to hand off the interview to a clerk. Having a teen handle this very adult job, on the other hand, meant giving that teen a learning experience, an important task, and a huge responsibility. Giving the interview to Amber Holup also shows that the staff at The Bridge have developed an extraordinarily high level of trust with the teens they serve. We predict great things for The Bridge, and for Amber Holup, a credit to The Bridge. Kars4Kids is proud to play a small part in helping this so obviously worthy organization that is helping kids like Amber throughout the year.
Ugly Sweater and Trivia Night at The Bridge (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: Founding The Bridge had to have been a huge undertaking for Director Priscilla Steinmetz and her husband Rob, when they got the ball rolling in 2010. How were they suited so uniquely for the task of building a teen center? Do the Steinmetz's have children of their own?
Amber Holup: Priscilla first had the idea to start The Bridge Teen Center in 2005. For five years, she and her husband Rob worked hard to raise money, volunteers, and the community's support before opening their doors to teens in June of 2010. Rob and Priscilla, a married couple with no children, both had careers in the nonprofit sector before conceptualizing and starting The Bridge Teen Center. In addition, Priscilla had worked with youth for over 20 years. Combining each of their nonprofit backgrounds and Priscilla's youth ministry background, along with the community's support, The Bridge Teen Center opened a 2,400 square foot teen center that has now grown to be 9,600 square feet that offers over 300 programs each year to students for free.
Having fun in a cooking class at The Bridge (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: Your mission statement specifically mentions that The Bridge is intended to serve students who live in the suburbs. What are some of the challenges of raising a child in the suburbs? What specific need is The Bridge filling for these children?
Amber Holup: While there is no denying the ongoing need within inner city communities, there is a misconception that nothing bad happens in the suburbs – we call it the "White Picket Fence Syndrome." Many view the suburbs as safer, more orderly, and more wholesome environments than their urban counterparts. However, research shows that those perceptions are unfounded.
A report from the Manhattan Institute indicates that suburban public high school students have sex, drink, smoke, use illegal drugs, and engage in delinquent behavior as often as urban public high school students. Teens in the suburban areas primarily served by The Bridge Teen Center – including suburban Cook County and Will County – face many challenges and risk factors. The Cook County Department of Public Health reports that 1 in 10 teens have attempted suicide; 33% of students have used marijuana at least once; 29% of students were offered, sold, or given an illegal drug by someone at school during the last year; 40% of children are overweight or obese, and obesity rates have tripled for children over the past 20 years; and 30% of teens have been bullied at school or online.
Welding at The Bridge (courtesy)
These statistics are staggering and as a teen myself, I can attest that they are true. When I first came to The Bridge I was a victim of bullying. I know first-hand that The Bridge provides its students with the love, support, and resources to help them overcome the obstacles that they are facing and flourish into the people that they are meant to be.
The free programs and events offered by The Bridge are designed with purpose – helping students to grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Teens who actively participate in Bridge programs experience decreased social pressures, including bullying; improved grades through our free tutoring; exposure to unique programs that introduce them to potential career paths; improved "life skills" through targeted culinary demonstrations; programs that teach students basic car maintenance and more; and increased exposure to increasingly scarce art programs that include a wide variety of free music lessons and visual arts programs.
On behalf of the 3,800 student that The Bridge Teen Center has served, I can honestly say that the center is changing the lives of suburban teens – for a group of students that afterschool programs typically forget about.
Kars4Kids: You offer programs in each of five "buckets": Everyday Life, Community Connections, Educational Support, Mind/Body, Expressive Arts. What exactly is a "bucket" in this sense? Do students sign up for specific buckets? How did you come up with this concept?
Amber Holup: Our free, groundbreaking programs can be categorized into five different program areas.
Programs in the Everyday Life bucket include life skills programs, weekend entertainment, afterschool drop-in hours, and signature special events. Programs in the Community Connections bucket include ongoing community service projects for students, parent programs, behind the scenes tours, and programs that introduce students to careers. Programs in the Educational Support bucket include tutoring and homework support, career and job readiness, in-school assemblies and workshops, leadership training, study skills and test prep, and STEM programming.
Our Expressive Arts program bucket provides opportunities for students to dream, explore, and express themselves creatively through a wide range of visual and performing art forms. Mind/Body programs and experiences are designed around the interests of teens that promote active and healthy living through culinary demos (healthy focus), group kick fitness class, de-stress yoga, self-defense workshops, canoeing, and boxing/kickboxing.
A program bucket is simply a way for The Bridge Teen Center to categorize our programs and market the programs to our students. Students sign up for each program separately, however each program bucket has its own icon that is featured next to each respective program in our program magazine. If a student really loves Expressive Arts programs then he/she can look for the paintbrush icon in the program magazine to quickly identify which art programs they would like to sign up for.
Ice skating anyone? (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: How many children are currently enrolled in The Bridge? Is there a wait list? What is the ratio of staff to children?
Amber Holup: The Bridge Teen Center has served 3,800 students from over 125 different communities in the past five years. As a result of students graduating, The Bridge has 2,137 students currently enrolled. We have outgrown our facility two times thus far and expanded once in 2011 (a year after opening our doors) and another time in December of 2015. Expanding our facility and programming has allowed The Bridge Teen Center to keep up with the growing number of students that we serve. We've also had to expand the number of staff and volunteers that we have, to keep an adult to student ratio of 1:15 for student safety.
(courtesy)
Kars4Kids: Your website states: The Bridge is managed by experienced professionals who are supported by well-trained and pre-screened adult volunteers. What sort of professionals work at The Bridge? How many volunteers do you have? Do you train the volunteers yourselves? What does training consist of?
Amber Holup: The Bridge employs 5 full-time and 5 part-time staff members. The Bridge employs young professionals who can identify with being a modern day teenager, and in supervisory positions, more seasoned professionals are seen. This balance allows The Bridge to successfully serve teens with excellence.
Priscilla Steinmetz utilizes her nonprofit experience and her 20 plus years in youth ministry to serve as the nationally-recognized Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center. Her expertise in the field has earned her many accolades such as being named an Afterschool Ambassador for Afterschool Alliance. Rob, her husband, has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and was even a professor teaching "Marketing for Nonprofits" before starting The Bridge and uses his extensive knowledge to serve as Director of Marketing and Development.
Anna, Program Director at The Bridge, holds a Masters of Education in Educational Psychology and uses her knowledge to ensure that the afterschool programs that The Bridge staff plans are reaching students holistically. The Bridge Teen Center's dynamic staff is part of our recipe for success but we couldn't do it without our volunteers.
Volunteers are a major part of the free afterschool programs we provide. Each year, we utilize the volunteer services of more than 200 "Program Volunteers" – those who share their passions and skills with students by leading an afterschool program. That does not include more than 80 ongoing "Bridge Volunteers" – those who volunteer weekly or monthly to assist with ongoing support during student hours. Bridge Volunteers' training consists of pre and post meetings led by Bridge staff at the beginning and end of the program day, as well as an annual volunteer training day where teenage youth development lessons are taught by our staff and external presenters.
BFF's at The Bridge (courtesy)
The Bridge: A Melting Pot
Kars4Kids: Tell me about the mix of children you serve. Are they from similar backgrounds or from various types of homes: blue collar, professional, low-income?
Amber Holup: The Bridge exists to serve students between the ages of 12-18 (7th-12th grades) and also provides monthly programming to help parents navigate through the teenage years. For the safety of our students, The Bridge adheres to a very strict "teens only" policy. Students can attend The Bridge the summer before they enter 7th grade, through the summer they graduate high school. There are no participation restrictions based on residency, school, religious affiliation, or economic background.
Currently, The Bridge Teen Center serves approximately 58% girls and 42% boys. Approximately 74% of students at The Bridge are Caucasian, 8% Hispanic, 10% African-American, and 8% Multi-Racial/Other. Although we do not track the income of the families we serve, we estimate that more than 50% of the students we serve come from low- to moderate-income households based on the communities in which our students reside and the schools they attend.
As a student at The Bridge myself, I like to say that The Bridge is a "melting pot" for teens in our community. From upper middle class to those that live below means, The Bridge helps all teens regardless of their background. All teens are trying to discover who they are and all teens face unhealthy temptations and all teens have to discover what they are going to do with their lives; The Bridge is there to help each student (and their parents through monthly parent programs), regardless of their background, through the tough teenage years.
Making gingerbread houses with all the fixings (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: The acronym you have on your student application form is awesome. Have you ever had to expel a student from The Bridge? How do you deal with infractions?
Amber Holup: Expectations for behavior are made very clear to students at the very beginning. The Code of Conduct is explained to each student as they sign their application, indicating they understand the expectations of behavior and that experiencing The Bridge Teen Center is a privilege. Positive behaviors are reinforced through verbal recognition and modest praise. The environment at The Bridge Teen Center is very positive, safe, and supportive, so the students want to be here. Expectations are always communicated and modeled by staff and volunteers to remind students of what is expected of them. Staff and volunteers call our students "ladies" and "gentlemen" and "students" rather than "kids" because we expect our students to behave with respect.
Students who break their promise to follow the Code of Conduct may lose their privileges at The Bridge Teen Center. The staff helps the students understand the consequences of the behavior and why their behavior is wrong, and then discusses an action plan to replace negative behaviors with positive ones. Some students have had their privileges taken away for various amounts of time, but are invited back if staff feels the student returning is in the best interest of the student him/herself and in the best interest of the safety for all our students at The Bridge Teen Center.
he Bridge Code of Conduct
B e faithful to attend the program you signed up for or contact The Bridge within 48 hours of the event if you need to cancel.
R emain in the building for the length of the program unless you have communicated with both the Bridge staff and your parent(s).
I nteract and respect others—Bridge staff, volunteers and other students; listen when others talk.
D ecide to be responsible for your attitude by being open and teachable.
G o with the flow, honor The Bridge's and other people's space and property. This is an illegal substance and weapon free facility.
E ncourage rather than put down others; use appropriate language.
Kars4Kids: How many students are receiving homework help at The Bridge? What percentage of kids from The Bridge go on to college? Would you say The Bridge has a hand in making that happen?
Amber Holup: Students informally receive homework help from volunteers and staff members daily. We estimate that 30 students a month receive homework help while we know for certain that 10 students a month receive weekly tutoring in a more formal format. This does not include our Educational Support programs that are offered on a weekly basis to our students. Educational Support programs equip students with studying skills, decrease their test anxiety, and teach students how to apply their knowledge from school to real life applications.
Unfortunately, The Bridge Teen Center does not have the means to track the percentage of students from The Bridge that go on to college, however Afterschool Alliance reports that students who attend afterschool programs are more likely to go on to college. We believe that The Bridge does have a hand in making that happen because we offer Educational Support programs that help them persevere through middle school and high school, and students have the opportunity to meet college and trade school representatives when they lead programs at The Bridge, or when students do an offsite program at a local school.
Personally, I have been discovered that I want to major in Nonprofit Business Administration at Olivet Nazarene University, a sponsor of The Bridge, as a result of me attending The Bridge Teen Center.
Chillin' at The Bridge (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: Your anonymous Q&A is a fabulous idea, but it looks like it's no longer current. Is it difficult to gain the trust of the kids at The Bridge?
Amber Holup: Our anonymous Q&A was utilized when The Bridge first opened and staff and volunteers were gaining the trust of our students. Now that The Bridge is trusted by both adults and teens in the community, parents and students know that they can talk to staff and students whenever they would like, to seek advice. Students know by the actions of Bridge staff and volunteers that they are cared for, loved, and accepted, therefore they don't feel a need to be anonymous.
The Bridge Teen Center plans on unveiling a new website soon that leaves out the Anonymous Q&A section.
Crafty teens at The Bridge (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: What are the most popular events at The Bridge?
Amber Holup: The most popular events at The Bridge Teen Center are the Friday Night Live events. Each Friday, from 7:30-10:30pm, students spend time socializing with their friends at The Bridge. Karaoke, movies, trivia games, high school and traveling bands entertain students and provide a safe place where students can go and refrain from unhealthy behaviors (i.e. Drinking and smoking).
Flower Arranging (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: Is there any sort of graduation ceremony for matriculating out of The Bridge? Is it difficult for kids to move on? Do the staff keep in touch with any of the kids after they "age out" of the program?
Amber Holup: Students can attend The Bridge up until the summer directly after their senior year of high school. Some students are sad when they move on because they have formed such strong relationships with staff, volunteers, and other students, however some students come back to volunteer at The Bridge upon graduating. The staff does keep in touch with students to some extent, however it is not a major focus since there are new students to serve.
As a senior in high school, it will be a bittersweet day when I can no longer come to The Bridge as a student, however I know that I will stay connected to staff and volunteers through volunteering at The Bridge Teen Center and The Bridge Teen Center's Thrift Store. I look forward to giving back to the place that has helped me develop into the person that I am today.
Pinball wizards try their hand at the game (courtesy)
Kars4Kids: How do volunteers at The Bridge know they are on the right track with this work, that the work they are doing is important? What makes them feel excited about coming to work each day?
The Big Room (courtesy)
Amber Holup: A true innovator in the field of teen programming, The Bridge Teen Center has been nationally-recognized as a leader in youth development on two occasions (by Youth Service America in 2014 and the Afterschool Alliance in 2011). In addition to being recognized for having some of the most innovative and successful teen programming in the nation, high-ranking executives with both United Way and the Boys and Girls Club have referred to our programs as "the best they have seen." A 30-year park district veteran also referred to our programs as "the most comprehensive teen programming he'd ever seen." We also receive calls and emails on a weekly basis from groups all over the country seeking our guidance on how to successfully launch and operate a teen center (29 different states to date). We are humbled by the fact that our little grassroots start-up has become a national trend-setter in just 4 years!
These awards and accolades have pointed out to The Bridge that there is no other place like The Bridge around, however the individual stories of the students that The Bridge has impacted truly let us know that the work that we are doing is important and needed. We've watched bullied teens who once walked hunched over with sadness evolve into confident young men and women who are leaders. We have watched other students with eating disorders open up in group counseling sessions called "Soul Café's," realize their self-worth, and become healthy again. Watching our students evolve into young adults with dreams and passions that they have discovered through the programs at The Bridge Teen Center make our volunteers excited to come to work every day; the stories fill them with passion for being gladiators who fight for teens.
Students Run LA: At-Risk Students Rise by Training for Marathons
Partners in Education Connects Businesses to Schools Through Mentoring

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Delaware Symbols & Icons
State Beverage
State Bug
State Butterfly
State Coat of Arms
State Colors
State Dessert
State Dog
State Herb
State Macroinvertebrate
State Marine Animal
State Mineral
State Shell
State Soil
State Sport
State Star
State Tall Ship
State Wildlife Animal
Delaware State Dog
golden-retriever-puppy.jpg
Golden Retriever puppy; official state dog of Delaware. Photo by Rob Kleine/Flickr (Noncommercial Use Permitted with Attribution).
Official State Dog of Delaware
Delaware designated the golden retriever as the official dog of the state on August 03, 2016 (designation expired August 03, 2017). All State Dogs & Cats
"Some lawmakers joked that they were conflicted because they owned dogs of other breeds ("Our black lab is adamantly opposed to this bill," said Rep. Lyndon Yearick, R-Dover South). They said their concerns were assuaged by the fact that the state dog designation would only last for one year, allowing other breeds to get the spotlight." (DelawareOnline quote).
How was the Golden Retriever Selected?
The adoption of an official state dog for Delaware began when 4th-grade students wrote letters to their legislators as part of a combined lesson on state symbols and persuasive writing taught by teacher Kathryne Peters at Learning Express Academy in Newark. The students also considered the beagle and the fox bull terrier, but the golden retriever ultimately won the class "election."
Chapter 365, Formerly House Bill NO. 296
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF A STATE DOG.
WHEREAS, Retrievers came into prominence because of the desire for a medium-sized dog that would do well in wild-fowling, both upland game and waterfowl; and
WHEREAS, Golden Retrievers are popular as disability assistance dogs such as being guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf; and
WHEREAS, they are also trained to be hunting dogs and detection dogs; and
WHEREAS, Golden Retrievers are often used on search and rescue teams because of their keen sense of smell and tracking abilities; and
WHEREAS, Goldens make great therapy dogs; and
WHEREAS, Presidents Ford and Reagan both had Golden Retrievers as pets while in office; and
WHEREAS, Goldens have an instinctive love of water and are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards; and
WHEREAS, the breed's friendly, gentle temperament means it is unsuited to being a professional guard dog, but its temperament has also made it the third-most popular family dog breed (by registration) in the United States, the fifth-most popular in Australia, and the eighth-most popular in the United Kingdom; and
WHEREAS, Golden Retrievers also are very smart dogs that are loyal and friendly to their caregivers; and
WHEREAS, the temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed, and is described in the standard as kind, friendly, and confident; and
WHEREAS, Golden Retrievers make good family pets, particularly as they are patient with children; and
WHEREAS, the typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please; and
WHEREAS, they are known to take care of other animals, even cats;
NOW, THEREFORE: BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Title 29, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code ... as follows:
§ 326. State dog. The Golden Retriever is the official dog of the State.
Section 2. This Act shall take effect upon its enactment into law.
Section 3. This Act shall expire 1 year after its enactment into law.
Approved August 03, 2016
DelawareOnline Story: "Fourth-graders push Golden Retriever as state dog"
Delaware Code Title 29: State Symbols; § 327
Delaware Laws, c. 365, § 1: delaware.gov
All State Dogs & Cats
All Delaware Symbols & Icons
Golden Retriever adult; beautiful, graceful, and intelligent. Photo by Rob Kleine/Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution).
Best Of Cute Golden Retriever Puppies Compilation
Video of Best Of Cute Golden Retriever Puppies Compilation
Edit Golden Retriever Page
Add Media for Golden Retriever


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Q: Finding elements in Selenium My button looks like this:
<button type="button" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#modal-order-export" data-backdrop="false" class="btn btn-default btn-sm">
    <i class="fa fa-file-excel-o"></i> 엑셀 저장
</button>`

How can I click this object via selenium to automate some work? I tried:
driver.find_element_by_link_text('엑셀 저장').click()

A: You could take its xpath by right-clicking the element in developer tools and choosing copy. Then just find the element using xpath.

A: The WebElement which you are trying to search/find is within <button> tag hence find_element_by_link_text may not work. We will be using an xpath to locate the WebElement as follows:
driver.find_element_by_xpath("//button[@class='btn btn-default btn-sm']/i[@class='fa fa-file-excel-o']").click()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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I've loved Charlie Chaplin ever since seeing the portrait hung in the hall of our High School (I cringe to say) decades ago. That being said, trying to watch Modern Times, wrapped under a blanket late at night after a long day of hiking does not bode well. Prior to the night's send off we visited Rawhiti Cave ("wh" is pronounced "f", so ra-fiddy), an estimated 1 million years old. One of the most impressive caves I've ever seen, with over a MILLION stalactites ranging in size from a pencil to a VW bug. 100 years ago they ran tours up to the cave where they would feed guests calcite tea made from the water falling from the stalactites. But in the 1920's an earthquake caused part of the cave to collapse scaring off tourists, and forcing closed the company who guided them. Now the only people who get there trudge up the steep hillside through the jungle, which left us their alone to enjoy the sights and sounds.
After the caves we started the drive out the peninsula to the famed Abel Tasman National Park. What we didn't realize was that some time "recently" many of the roads in the area had been washed out. The only road leading where we wanted to go had been completely washed out, but that was still many kilometers ahead of the sign that warned us. We decided to venture toward our goal anyway and see how far we could get. It turns out that every 75 meters or so the downhill side lane of the road had collapsed. Leaving drivers to telepathically communicate whether someone is approaching as you use the oncoming lane. We passed through unscathed, arrived at the Abel Tasman beach and trekked along it out to Taupo Point, where a Maori historical plaque sits depicting the isthmus in 1844, with european settlers already influencing the area. The most astonishing sight though, were the countless millions of mussels attached to the rocks along nearly the entire coast. Note to self, always bring water capable storage when hiking the coastlines here.
Freedom (camping)
Crazy Waves


Hmmmm...seems like a solid set of values, and also seems like something I've heard before...things like keeping things simple by focusing on one thing, driving yourself energetically through your own passion for what you do, having the faith and courage to push through, and having the desire and dedication so that you may persist. Neat little clip.
Days like this...You need Hot, Iced, or frozen!
Biggby Coffee fundraiser and TV coverage to boot.
The BIGGBY way .... by Jason, in Grand Rapids!
Success Brewing In Metro Detroit ...Go BIGGBY !


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Q: Analogue of Tate curve for $g>1$ Is there any analogue of the Tate curve for (principally polarized) abelian varieties of dimension $g$ ?

A: Yes, due to Mumford. See
Mumford, D.: An analytic construction of degenerating abelian varieties over complete rings, Comp.. Math.
24, 239-272 (1972).
Of course, there's been plenty of work done since then. See for example the survey:
W. Lutkebohmert,
From Tate's Elliptic Curve to Abeloid Varieties, Pure and Applied Mathematics Quarterly
Volume 5, Number 4
(Special Issue: In honor of
John Tate, Part 1 of 2)
1385-1427, 2009. http://intlpress.com/site/pub/files/_fulltext/journals/pamq/2009/0005/0004/PAMQ-2009-0005-0004-a007.pdf


Cody Ware said it is possible to see him run more races in NASCAR's premier series in 2019.
As for a potential Rookie-of-the-Year campaign, "Potentially, we'll see what happens," he said.
The 23-year-old driver has competed in nine races in NASCAR's top series across two seasons.
Rick Ware Racing will be entering its third full-time season of competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019.
"I think Rick Ware Racing is going to two full-time charters next year, and I think that we're going to keep growing, and each and every year," Ware said.
The team secured a charter from Richard Petty Motorsports in December of 2017. No word on where the second charter could come from.


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What Anime is Lelouch From? The Iconic Anti-Hero Character
by Krishna Mayuri
Every once in a while, we come across characters that would someday be the greatest in anime history. Such characters shine bright among the rare stand of truly brilliant ones. It is at times like this that the genius in character writing for writers is tested. With the right amount of twisty traits and balanced harmony of ethics, Lelouch vi Britannia was presented to us. Lelouch is far from being a generic anime protagonist. Perhaps the term 'an anti-hero' has never suited a character as well as it suits him. It is not difficult to attach to the character within the first two episodes. If you are still wondering who he is and what anime Lelouch is from, you have come to the right place. Let us begin with a quick character study first.
When it was stated that Lelouch is far different from a generic hero, I meant it. He recognizes the worth of power and uses it to alter things from the ground level. His philosophies differ in ways that you would be swayed to agree with his thoughts. He puts on a mask, becomes a hero, and when the time comes, he makes sure to bestow himself the justice he had bestowed upon other evildoers. Throughout the story, we would see him from different angles. Mostly as a caring older brother or a hero of justice, and sometimes as a friend and an enemy.
Let's take a walk through the common questions asked: What anime is Lelouch from? Are Zero and Lelouch the same person? How did Lelouch die? How was he resurrected? Lelouch is one of those rare characters that can be discussed over and over again without being tired.
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What Anime Is Lelouch From?
Lelouch Lamperouge is the protagonist of the original anime series, Code Geass. The series was created by Goro Taniguchi and Ichiro Okouchi in 2006. In 2007, a light novel was adapted from the series under the same name.
Lelouch gains the power of the King's Geass from a woman named CC. A Geass is a supernatural power of sorts. The King's Geass gives the user the power of absolute obedience. Meaning, whatever he commands will be obeyed by the influenced one. He uses the power to make the world a better place to live for his sister, Nunnally. As the story progresses, we learn more of Lelouch's personality, his bright and dark sides.
Also Read: Naruto – When Is Itachi's Birthday?
Are Zero and Lelouch the same person?
Lelouch was exiled and then found his home in Japan. He saw the terror of Britannia, which somewhat traumatized him. Britannia had a lust for power and was on a run for world conquest, inconsiderate of the people they trampled in the way. Thus, he decided to stand against Britannia, his own origin, and takes up a mask. He takes up the name Zero and becomes the leader of the Black Knight.
Thus, yes, Zero and Lelouch are the same people. Lelouch becomes Zero to use his powers against the power-hungry Britannia.
Also Read: Spoilers & Highlights: One Piece Chapter 1017
How did Lelouch die?
After achieving his goals of cleaning the country from the scums previously in power, Lelouch understands that he too had dirtied his hands enough in politics. He described it as destroying the world to create a new one.
Suzaku kills Lelouch vi Britannia.
Towards the end, Lelouch asks Suzaku to take up the role of Zero. He entrusts him to kill Lelouch to depict the win of the nation against the ruthless Britannia. Lelouch dies by sacrificing himself with honor in the hands of the hero he had created, Zero.
Also Read: Solo Leveling Chapter 156: Spoilers and Preview
How was Lelouch resurrected?
Lelouch's corpse is acquired, and CC decides to reverse his death. She does so by regenerating his body organs for him. However, although he comes back to life, things do not go as smoothly as his memories remain trapped in C's world.
It is only after CC rescues Lelouch from C's world that he regains his memories and returns to his normal state.
Also Read: Spoilers: Seven Deadly Sins Season 5 Episode 23 Reveals the Lord of Chaos
The first two seasons of Code Geass, along with the movies Lelouch of the Resurrection and Lelouch of the Rebellion, are available on Netflix.
Cowboy Bebop Live Action Series: What We Know So Far
What is Moloch Season 1 All About?
Will Irene Belserion Die in Fairy Tail?
10 Reasons Why Yona from 'Yona of the Dawn' Is The Most Relatable Shoujo Protagonist
'Moonshine' Episode 10: Kang Ro Seo And Nam Young's Love Faces A New Obstacle
FBI: International Season 1 Episode 11: What Is Next For Scott & Jamie?
New Girl Group VIVIZ Prepping For A February Debut


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Marshall High School Library
Marshall Sora OverDrive
Wisconsin OverDrive
Copyright-Friendly Images
Copyright-Friendly Music
OverDrive Checkouts
Mac and iOS
SUMMER READING: RECOMMENDED BOOK TITLES 2016
100 Sideways Miles, by Andrew Smith
(realistic fiction)
Finn Easton, sixteen and epileptic, struggles to feel like more than just a character in his father's cult-classic novels with the help of his best friend, Cade Hernandez, and first love, Julia, until Julia moves away.
FREE audiobook download 5/19-5/26 ONLY!
Listen to the author talk about the book
Interview with the author
Author on Social Media
Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto, by Steve Almond
(nonfiction)
In Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto, New York Times bestselling author Steve Almond details why, after forty years as a fan, he can no longer watch the game he still loves.
(stop at 4:45, restart at 8:30)
Bone Gap, by Laura Ruby
(mystery)
Eighteen-year-old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favorite Roza, but his inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying.
Challenger Deep, by Neal Shusterman
As he struggles with schizophrenia, a teenage boy believes he is on a journey to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep, the deepest place on Earth.
Watch the book trailer
Divided We Fall (Divided We Fall #1), by Trent Reedy
(action, speculative fiction)
Danny Wright, seventeen, joined the Idaho Army National Guard to serve the country as his father had, but when the Guard is sent to an anti-government protest in Boise and Danny's gun accidently fires, he finds himself at the center of a conflict that results in the federal government declaring war on Idaho.
Half Bad (Half Bad #1), by Sally Green
(fantasy)
In modern-day England, where witches live alongside humans, Nathan, son of a White witch and the most powerful Black witch, must escape captivity before his seventeenth birthday and receive the gifts that will determine his future.
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between, by Jennifer E. Smith
(relationship fiction)
High school sweethearts Clare and Aidan spend the night before they leave for college reminiscing about their relationship and deciding whether they should stay together or break up.
I Will Always Write Back, by Martin Ganda and Caitlin Alifirenka
In this dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends--and better people--through their long-distance exchange as pen-pals.
Listen to the authors talk about the book
Authors on Social Media
Twitter (Martin)
Twitter (Caitlin)
Laughing at My Nightmare, by Shane Burcaw
Shane Burcaw describes the challenges he faces as a twenty-one-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. From awkward handshakes to having a girlfriend and everything in between, Shane handles his situation with humor and a "you-only-live-once" perspective on life.
Twitter (book)
Red Queen (Red Queen #1), by Victoria Aveyard
In a world divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities--seventeen-year-old Mare, a Red, discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. But Mare risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction.
Take the blood-type quiz
Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal, by Margarita Engle
(historical fiction, novel in verse)
Fourteen-year-old Mateo and other Caribbean islanders face discrimination, segregation, and harsh working conditions when American recruiters lure them to the Panamanian rain forest in 1906 to build the great canal.
Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen, by Arin Andrews
Seventeen-year-old Arin Andrews shares all the hilarious, painful, and poignant details of undergoing gender reassignment as a high school student in this teen memoir.
When I Was the Greatest, by Jason Reynolds
Ali lives in Bed-Stuy, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, but he and his sister, Jazz, and their neighbors, Needles and Noodles, stay out of trouble until they go to the wrong party, where one gets badly hurt and another leaves with a target on his back.
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner, by Judy Melinek, MD and T.J. Mitchell
Just two months before the September 11 terrorist attacks Dr. Judy Melinek began her training as a New York City forensic pathologist. With her husband T.J. and their toddler Daniel holding down the home front, Judy threw herself into the fascinating world of death investigation--performing autopsies, investigating death scenes, counseling grieving relatives.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, by Meg Medina
Piddy Sanchez deals with bullying at her new school, and as the harassment escalates, she struggles to survive and to discover who she really is.
RISING SOPHOMORES
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SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens. Starting May 5th 2016, SYNC will give away two complete audiobook downloads a week - pairs of high interest titles, based on weekly themes. Sign up for email or text alerts and be first to know when new titles are available to download at www.audiobooksync.com.
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– What is a critical analysis of education and schools?
-How do you connect the academic preparation of studying schools to the personal of position parenting?
– Why does the summer feel free from competitions for our children's time and attention?
– Does the fall school re-entry activate the return of worry for both children and parents?
– What are gentrification refugees?
– Bay area gentrification as economic displacement has led many to move out of California?
– What is the red for ed movement?
– What are the different school environments available for our children?
– Is this generation of parents over worrying?
– Is school really that bad?
– Is school producing generations of over pressured children?
– Good work ethic does not mean you negate your boundaries?
– Why do we have to pass laws to protect workers from being fired for not checking a work email at home?
– We must be intentional about the places our children enter, who they are learning from and what content they are learning.
– What kind of adults are the schools producing?
– Are corporation selling people to the highest bidder?
– Can we take step back and ask, why are we sending our children to the same schools?
– What is the history of the public-school system?
– Why do we keep asking the same questions?
– Why does every new generation of education academic repeat the same studies, and yet the schools stay the same?
– If the solution was based on information, then we would have solved the many schooling problems already.
– The community has answers to the education problems.
– What is wrong with our schools? – Nothing, schools are operating exactly how they were designed.
– Are parents in competition with schools that are over instructing our children?
– How do we shame the parents that cannot afford to support the expectations of the pressured school system?
-Can we assess the quality of time versus the quantity of time spent at school?
– Are we experiencing a pattern of schooling out of fear?
– Some parents don't rely on schools because they can supply the future that their children want, and other parents must rely on the school to supply the future the that children want to achieve.
– Schooling out of fear means you never have enough time for all the content you want to transmit to the students.
– Can we move away from giving homework?
-How do we tell the school that we rather spend our evenings with our children in quality time, instead of doing homework?
– Can we teach our children to advocate for themselves in school?
– What are the stories we carry about schools?
– How do we inform the school that parents also have education in their homes to share with their children?
– How do we as community members play larger and more respected roles as educators of our children in relation to schools?
– Does your school let you do your work on the floor if you can't stay still in the chair and desk?
– What is the difference in between looking as different schools versus looking at an entire education system?
-Children learn in all of their environments.
– What is the community the child belongs too?
– Is your school an ally to your child's community?
– What is restorative justice?
-How do you base a school on a restorative justice model ?


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IP experts urge EU to bin 'misguided' copyright plans
pe3k / Shutterstock.com
Article 13 is an 'unrealistic' approach to copyright: YouTube CEO
Estate of 'Over the Rainbow' composer sues tech companies
AAFA names Amazon domains in Notorious Markets submission
Fight for .amazon continues as talks break down
European academics specialising in IP have asked the EU to drop Article 11 (now Article 15 in the latest version) and 13 (now Article 17) of the proposed Copyright Directive.
The statement, issued yesterday, March 24, ahead of tomorrow's plenary vote, March 26, said Article 11 and 13 "must go".
It was backed by 16 academics from universities including the University of Glasgow, University of Cambridge, Tilburg University in the Netherlands and University of Wrocław in Poland.
"While we welcomed the ambition for copyright rules to be modernised, the implementation of this goal has been misguided," the group wrote.
The statement said that while the directive began as a policy making "legislative steps towards a connected digital single market", it has now moved towards supporting "narrow sectoral interests".
It described the policy as having turned into an "ideological battle between European culture and so-called GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon)".
The statement asserted the group's views from an earlier open letter published in February 2017, which said that Article 11 and 13 were "fundamentally flawed" and "do not serve the public interest".
The group said Article 11 seeks to create an additional exclusive right for publishers, but publishers "already acquire exclusive rights from authors via contract".
It said the additional right will "deter the communication of news, obstruct online licensing, and will negatively affect authors".
Additionally, it said Article 13, which will hold internet companies directly responsible for any copyright infringement that occurs in content shared on their platform, "will hinder digital innovation and users' participation".
"There have been improvements to the initial drafts, but on balance, Articles 11 and 13 will do more harm than good. They should be deleted," the group said.
The academics said there was rarely a "wide scientific consensus on a contested policy issue" as there was in this case, and "policy makers need to take note".
According to the statement, more than 200 academics from over 25 research centres have signed open letters opposing Articles 11 and 13.
EU Copyright Directive, Article 11, Article 13, academics, Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, publishers, copyright


Hi there. The closest we have to that is an RSS feed. Click on calendar view and then click the RSS Feed button at the top of the calendar. Hope this helps!
Hi there. Please fill out this form to contact our Adult Education department: http://ppld.org/adult-education/contact. They'll be able to get you in a class.
I dropped a brochure as we teach MindFit classes to Senior Center off Hancock and various location.
I would like to propose a one hour Brain Health class and see if this would launch into a Mind Fit class if there is enough patron interest. Please contact me at your convenience, I dropped the flyers with Sherrie at the Front Desk, Century 21 library.
Hi, I'm Laura. I've recently left my corporate job and have been freelancing as an artist (with success!) I was wondering how someone goes about offering classes to the community for various skills - graphic design, illustration, drawing, prop making, etc.
Hi there. Occasionally we have a Call for Maker/Artist in residence. Keep your eye on this page: http://ppld.org/c3/maker-in-residence. Hope this helps!
oh cool! Thanks for the heads up!
I am interested in learning creative writing and wondering If 2 study groups below are similar classes, the 21st Century Writers and East Creative Writing group?
The 21st Century Writers meet the first and third Monday of every month in the ENT Conference Center 6-8PM at Library 21c (1175 Chapel Hills Drive).
This adult group meets to discuss creative fiction and non-fiction writing and poetry, to share ideas with other writers, to work on writing exercises and more. Please contact the East writing group facilitator at 531-6333 ext. 6064, or khuxman@ppld.org if you are interested in getting your writing on the list for this month's feedback and discussion.
Hi there. Neither class teaches creative writing. Instead, they discuss writing and critique each other's work etc.
Hello! I'm looking for affordable education on Quickbooks. Online is fine but in person is preferred. Any leads?
Hi there. Please fill out our Book a Librarian form and will get you set up with some help.
I have looked all over the Springs and cannot find any leather work classes. Do any of the PPLD campuses ever offer leather working courses or know of local artists that teach? Thank you!
I see you offer English classes but am wondering if there are ever Spanish classes. Thank you.
Hi there. We have a Spanish Conversation Group for intermediate and advanced speakers but no classes, per se. Your best bet to learn Spanish is to use Mango Languages.
Thanks for your question! Currently, PPLD does not have any leather working courses planned, although that could change in the future as we find the opportunity to do so.
Will you be having a Microsoft Word II class anytime soon?
I would love if we had more art and craft classes at the fountain location.
Do any of the libraries offer classes on how to use your iphone? Looking for a class for my mother-in-law.
How about some parenting classes for Library 21C? There seems to be a lot of need in the area!
Library 21C does not currently offer any parenting classes, but I can tell you about some of the resources we do offer. Twice a year we have a Family Place Playgroup, a 5-week series of workshops where families with children ages 1-3 can come together to play, have a Circle Time, and ask questions of a community resource specialist. The resource specialists change each week, and can answer questions parents have about child development, nutrition, speech/language, music/movement, and early literacy. Our next playgroup is set to start on February 22nd, and registration is now open on our calendar. For more information, you can call the Children's Desk at (719) 531-6333 x6310. Playgroups will also be happening at Sand Creek and Fountain libraries this year. Library 21c also has a special Parenting Collection located near our play area, filled with books, magazines, and DVDs on a variety of parenting subjects.
You can find other library vetted resources for parents in our PPLD Kids page (http://research.ppld.org/c.php?g=656453&p=4608236) and our Research tab under the subject group of Parenting (http://research.ppld.org/c.php?g=656453&p=4608236). The library database Universal Class has online parenting classes available as well, (https://library.universalclass.com/i/librarysubjects/parenting-family.htm).
If you are looking for classes to attend in person, the association Parenting Matters of El Paso County is a good resource. Check out their website for more information and to see what classes are coming up on their calendar (http://www.parentingmatters-epc.org/calendar/).
I'd be interested in taking a Quickbooks class if one is offered!
Hi Julie, At this time we do not offer a QuickBooks class. However, Lynda.com does have video tutorials on QuickBooks. This is a database that you can access for free with your library card. https://ppld.org/databases/lyndacom.
Hi Lulu, if you are interested in enrolling into an ESL class, please call me at (719)531-6333 x2225. Thank you!
I would like to ESL group lesson. Do you have any class available in 21C or East library?
Hi there, if you are interested in enrolling into an ESL class, please call (719) 531-6333 x2225. Thank you!
Hi, I would love to teach about options for organizing digital photos as well as secure cloud storage. How do I begin to teach at the Library?


TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® offers a wide selection of competitively priced moving boxes and packing supplies including tape, packing paper, markers, paper pads, bubble wrap, and stretch wrap (please try to refrain from popping bubbles until your move is complete!).
Free local box delivery is available and we'll even give you a full refund for any boxes you don't use (or keep them and construct a totally awesome fort for your kids!).
Remember as you pack — the heavier the item, the smaller the box.
Use the box guide to figure out how many you need to pack up for your move.
1.5 cubic foot moving box: The smallest box sold at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, it's often referred to as the book or record box; best used for small heavy objects like books, records, cans, jars of food, utensils, flatware, shoes, etc.
Tissue paper – softer than newsprint, used for wrapping very delicate items; also provides cushioning and fills in small spaces when packing fragile figurines and china.
Bubble wrap – plastic packing material made up of hundreds of tiny "air cushions" or bubbles used to over-wrap small, delicate items after they are wrapped in tissue; also helpful when wrapping larger fragile items such as lamps and pictures.
Packing tape/sealing tape – plastic tape, 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) to 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide; best for packing, test to see if it ruins finish before taping up drawers and canisters.
Permanent marker – used to label boxes with contents and destination in new location; mark boxes "fragile" and "this side up" when appropriate.
Re-sealable plastic bags – used for nuts and bolts as you disassemble items, tape bag to the disassembled item.


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The Week in Business: Vaccine Mandates
What's Up? (Jan. 2-8)
Employers: Shifting Guidance
As workers tested positive for Covid-19, workers were called in sick and businesses faced increased staff shortages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provided shifting guidance on what workers should do to ensure their safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirmed its guidance Tuesday that Americans who are positive for coronavirus may be allowed to end isolation after five consecutive days, provided they do not receive a negative test. Some public health experts have criticized the absence of a testing requirement. The agency was widely expected to include testing in its guidelines. Walmart told workers Tuesday that it would reduce the paid time off for workers who contract a virus to one week from two. The Supreme Court heard arguments about the legality and constitutionality of two rules issued by the Biden administration. One requires large private businesses that workers be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing, while the other requires that some health care workers be vaccinated. Macy's requested the vaccination status of its employees last week, while Starbucks set a Feb. 9 deadline for its U.S. workers to be fully vaccinated and Citigroup said it would dismiss unvaccinated employees by the end of the month.
Stabilization of Job Growth
Employers still have difficulty finding workers. According to Friday's Labor Department report, the U.S. economy added 199,000 jobs in Dec, compared to 249,000 in November. It was the lowest job growth of the year, even if the Omicron variant coronavirus presented a threat to the economy. The problem appears to be that there is more demand than there are available workers. The unemployment rate in December fell to 3.9 percent from 4.2 percent, while average hourly earnings rose 4.7 percent over the year — a sign that companies are struggling to attract and retain workers. Tuesday's data showed that Americans were more likely to quit their jobs in November than any other month.
Guilty Verdict in Elizabeth Holmes Case
After a lengthy trial that lasted for more than three months and seven consecutive days of deliberations on Monday, the jury in Elizabeth Holmes case convicted the founder of Theranos on four of the 11 charges of fraud. Each count carries an maximum sentence of 20 year imprisonment, and terms that are likely be served concurrently. The case raised questions about Silicon Valley's "fake it until you make it" culture and set off a debate about whether Ms. Holmes's behavior reflects anything other than one entrepreneur's false and misleading actions. Ms. Holmes is likely appeal and a sentencing date will be set for this week.
What's Next? (Jan. 9-15)
Awards Season Fizzles
This week's entertainment industry awards season will be less competitive in 2022. The Critics Choice Awards originally scheduled for Sunday have been delayed indefinitely due to concerns about coronavirus. After questions were raised about financial missteps and the lack of diversity in the group that gives out the awards, the Golden Globes, which are also scheduled for Sunday, will be held without an audience or a Red Carpet. The Grammy Awards, originally scheduled to take place on Jan. 31, were postponed. The Palm Springs International Film Festival, which was scheduled to run this week, was canceled. The Sundance Film Festival will be held online only at the end January. Although plans for an Academy Awards in-person ceremony on March 27 are unchanged, very few people have seen the films most likely to win Oscars.
A Measure of Inflation
On Wednesday, the Department of Labor reports on how much December's prices rose. The Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation, rose in November at the fastest pace in almost 40 years. Central banks around the globe have started to cool the economy. Minutes from the Federal Reserve's December meeting released last week suggested that it may withdraw support for the economy more quickly than previously expected.
Fed Confirmation Hearings
The Senate will hold separate confirmation hearings this week for both Jerome H. Powell, who was nominated by President Biden for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman, and Lael Brainard, Mr. Biden's nominee for deputy chair. Though some progressive Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have said they will oppose Mr. Biden's renomination of Mr. Powell, both Democrats and Republicans have expressed support for the appointment, which was widely seen as a signal of consistency. Mr. Powell will likely be questioned about the controversy surrounding Richard H. Clarida's financial transaction. Mr. Clarida bought shares of an investment fund that held stocks one day before it announced that the Fed would rescue markets that were plunged at the start the pandemic.
What's the Rest?
BlackBerry models that use the company's operating systems stopped working on Tuesday, ending an era for the once-ubiquitous device. Apple's market capitalization briefly hit $3 trillion for the first time. Despite warnings from C.D.C, cruises continued to cruise despite these warnings. Airlines continued to cancel thousands more flights each day.
Source: NY Times
F.D.A. expands approval of remdesivir to patients who are not hospitalized.
EPA rules on Enlist system herbicides, Endangered Species Act and pesticide processes
ICYMI farm news highlights | Monday, January 10, 2022


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Home Latest News News
Apple TV, iPhone and iPad lineup offers both accessibility benefits and challenges
Thursday, 10 September 2015 14:31pm
The new range of Apple products has been announced with upgrades of many of them including new iPhones, an iPad with a larger screen, and a significant update to the Apple TV. While many of the products include helpful accessibility improvements, users should also be aware of some potential challenges the new features may create.
The most significant update is to the Apple TV set-top box, receiving its first update in three years. The Apple TV now includes major enhancements including a new OS, gaming support, Siri integration and an improved remote control. From an accessibility perspective, a helpful addition that was demonstrated during the product launch is the ability to ask Siri during a TV show "What did she say?", at which point the video moves back 15 seconds and turns the closed captions on if not already visible to clearly show the featured dialogue. The remote control also includes a glass area for touch gestures, although there has been no confirmation of speech or tactile feedback for this, suggesting it may be difficult for people who are blind or vision impaired to interact with the gesture controls.
iPhone 6S and 6S Plus
The two iPhone models also receive an update with the launch of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. Similar in design to the existing 6 and 6 Plus smartphones, the devices feature an updated camera and an improved screen. The most significant update is the introduction of '3D touch', which is a pressure-sensitive mechanism allowing users to press softer or harder on the phone to do different things such as display different menus or interact differently in games. While the launch event suggested that his feature may be useful for zooming in to a game, which may assist people with low vision, it is likely that people with a mobility impairment may struggle to get the right amount of pressure to effectively use it, and there is currently no confirmation as to the effectiveness of this feature when using VoiceOver.
The new 12.9" iPad Pro is the first larger iPad that Apple has launched, and the significantly bigger screen is likely to be beneficial to people with low vision, particularly when combined with the zoom feature as it allows for a larger viewing area. However, the keyboard and Apple pencil accessories may lead to challenges for people with a vision or mobility impairment. There is no trackpad on the keyboard, requiring a greater emphasis on touching the screen or using the stylus, and this may prove difficult for people who have a mobility impairment or are used to navigating a zoomed window with a mouse pointer. As with other iPad models, there is no USB port on the iPad Pro so adding additional accessories may be difficult, although compatible Bluetooth devices such as a Braille display should still work.
Existing Apple products and iOS9
As the new products are launched, Apple will also be updating its current model iPad and iPhone devices to the latest iOS9 operating system. A review of the iOS9 accessibility features in the developer builds suggests that there are improved features to assist people with a mobility impairment in adjusting the touch sensitivity, a new software keyboard that includes sticky keys, and improved support for developers who want to make their apps more accessible.
Details relating to Australian release dates and pricing remain largely unknown for most of the announcements. The only confirmed release and price is for the iPhone products which will be released on 25 September, with the cheapest iPhone 6S retailing for $1079 while the Plus model starts at $1229. The Apple TV will be priced in the US at US$149 and the iPad Pro will start at US$799 although the keyboard will cost an additional US$169 and Pencil US$99.
For additional information on Apple accessibility, please refer to the Digital technology section of our website.
Tags: Audio navigation, Captions, iOS, Technologies, iPad, iPhone, Blind or vision impaired, Inclusion, VoiceOver, Deaf or hearing impaired, Talking menus, Digital technology, News, TV access, Devices, Disability, Solutions


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(Illustration by Jim Stoten)
Song of myself
For a once-shy guy, singing karaoke reflects a social transformation toward a new bold attitude.
Hassan S. Ali, AB'07
Around these parts, they call me Papa Smurf. It's 10 p.m. on a Saturday, and the Local bar in Chicago's River North is transforming into what I like to call the "Flanger Zone." The bartender cuts the music and passes out black binders with sticky laminated pages that crinkle when you leaf through them, thanks to a spilled beer or two. ("At least I hope it's just beer," says some guy next to me who looks like a cast member of Jersey Shore. We high-five. I get it.)
The bartender switches two wall-mounted TVs to a video feed that features a photo of a kitten singing into a microphone. "All right everybody, it's ten o'clock," announces emcee Steve Archer, "That means it's time once again for karaoke."
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I still don't know what the hell karaoke is. It's an activity that rewards drunken off-key renditions of cheesy rock ballads with cheers and laughter, while pitch-perfect performances of even the most popular songs can leave listeners bored.
I leaf through the binder full of songs and find what I'm looking for, a little piece of Americana known as "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent. But when a bachelorette party rolls in, I decide on something that doesn't include the lyrics, "Then I crushed your face."
It's time to pander. You can't go wrong with Tom Petty's "American Girl" in a situation like this, and I ask Steve to add my song to the growing list. By now he knows to put me down as "Papa Smurf," my karaoke stage name and what strangers will remember to call me throughout the night, after I've hit that final note.
A few songs later, it's my turn. "Give it up for Papa Smurf!" Steve announces. Sure enough, midway through the song, the bride-to-be and three of her friends join me. Half dancing and half singing, we all get through the song somehow. I get four hugs and tell one of them we're doing a duet in a little bit. It's a deal. I return to my seat, where another guy's been idly leafing through the binder with clearly no intention of singing. I pry the book away and find Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." Five minutes later I ask Steve to add me and my new friend to the list.
Besides free refills, there is nothing more American than getting behind a microphone and embarrassing yourself. Politicians and Donald Trump are experts at it. Yet there's something about singing in front of a room full of strangers that petrifies some people. I know, because I used to be one of them.
If I sat down with the me of ten years ago, not only would it be a miracle of cloning and time-travel technology, but I doubt I'd consider us the same person. "I remember you in high school as someone who kept to himself," says Sarah Groninger, a classmate I recently ran into for the first time since graduating eight years ago. "You seemed to have a quiet demeanor but a good sense of humor."
Beyond the acne, token teenage angst, and crippling shyness around girls, I was a smart and happy guy, with parents who supported my interests in writing, comedy, and filmmaking. I was content with being my own best friend.
That all changed when I got to UChicago and joined the Maroon. I don't really know what drew me to the campus newspaper, but I was addicted. Journalism meant having to talk to people. A lot of people. And it meant being charming to complete strangers who otherwise wouldn't agree to an interview. So I left social awkwardness and fear of rejection at the door.
Sarah agrees. "Today's Hassan seems a lot more outgoing, confident, and conversational."
Since college, I've channeled my freewheeling sensibilities into activities like improv comedy, but I still gravitate toward the karaoke floor as my favorite way to unwind.
Why? Well, it's free. And it's also one of the best ways to socialize with old friends or make new ones. I don't often run into people like Julia, the bride's friend who joined me for that duet. From my experience, hipster-ish girls absolutely hate things like karaoke. It's about as appealing as a Groupon for prune juice. But Julia proves me wrong: when Steve cues up the Frankie Valli song, she grabs a microphone and pumps one hand in the air. Her entire table of friends starts screaming. The music begins, and we alternate looking intently at each other and glancing back at the lyrics scrolling across the TV screen. We crudely choreograph a dance number during a brief instrumental break and end the song with a move best described as "jazz hands." We welcome the next singer up to the mic and both grab a seat.
Soon afterward we're talking about how you can tell a lot about a person by the song they pick. I wonder aloud what different historical figures might have picked to sing. For Abe Lincoln, probably Pat Benatar's "We Belong." Napoleon would rock TLC's "Waterfalls." After a good laugh, I decide to call it an early night, but not before Julia gives me her phone number. Not too bad for an evening of foolishness.
Beyond the social aspect, karaoke also further immortalizes songs and the artists. Jon Bon Jovi can retire today knowing that his legacy is well protected in karaoke bars all over the world. Karaoke also gives one-hit wonders a second life. More important, it allows us average people to be pop stars for two to four minutes, even if it doesn't come with all the perks of rock and roll.
Of course I have met my fair share of karaoke haters—those who say karaoke is pointless and embarrassing and dumb. Well, those people are idiots. They're probably vegan and wear toe shoes. And go to business school. Because karaoke is supposed to be embarrassing and dumb. The whole idea is to embrace that cheesiness in a headlock until it cries uncle. It's part of an attitude that rewards doing something bold instead of sitting on the sidelines. It's how I now approach everything in life.
All for the small price of your dignity. If you ask me, it's a bargain.
Hassan S. Ali is a TV and online comedy writer and producer. He likes sandwiches. Stalk him at beyondcereal.com.
Alumni Essay


Have you asked yourself any of these questions in your business?
How do I measure and track my marketing?
How do I target the right customers for my marketing?
What marketing methods work best to drive sales?
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The "One Hour Marketing" workshops provide a 1 or 2-day intensive program to get you up and running with marketing quickly, and provides everything you need to immediately implement a marketing program for your organization.
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Unlike other workshops that are a lot of talk with very little action, Herman Pool's "One Hour Marketing" Workshop provides top –notch education, with roll up your sleeves and get to work attitude. Every attendee in the workshop will walk away with a targeted marketing plan that can be implemented into the business immediately.
Workshops are announced, scheduled and held periodically. Join our list to be notified when a new workshop is added.


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Category: Art & Collectibles
Sotheby's May Be Responsible for Losing $4 Million In Rare Yellow Diamonds, Judge Rules
In a lawsuit, a financial firm claims the auction house is liable for the loss of 45 precious stones.Source
Spanish Customs Find a $500,000 Picasso Sketch Smuggled in a Passenger's Suitcase
The passenger, who was flying from Zurich, failed to declare the artwork known as Picasso 'Trois Personnages'. Source
Christies Made $4.1 Billion in Sales the First Half of the Year
The figure represents an 18 percent rise over the result of $3.5 billion achieved during the same period last year. Source
Bob Dylan's 2021 Record Blowin in the Wind Sells for a Staggering $1.8 Million at Auction
The record, pressed on acetate, was offered by Christie's and sold to a bidder in London this Thursday.Source
A $50 Million Mark Rothko Painting Will Lead the Macklowe Collection's Second Auction
The May 16 sale will offer 30 works including Rothko's 1960 piece 'Untitled.' Source
Works by a 'Largely Forgotten' Artist Were Found in a Dumpster. Now They're Getting an NYC Show.
A group of paintings by Francis Hines will go on view at Hollis Taggart's locations in Manhattan and Connecticut. Source
Ukraine Launches an NFT-Based 'Museum of War' to Chronicle the History of Russia's Invasion
Dubbed "Meta History: Museum of War," the site includes a war line" timeline of events accompanied by NFTs. Source
The institution declined a request to return 63 works to the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts in Russia. Source
A 700-Year-Old Sarcophagus Was Just Discovered Beneath the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Several ancient tombs and the 14th-century lead sarcophagus were discovered during an excavation of the church. Source
Thanks to Cheech Marin, Two California Museums Are Getting an Influx of Chicano Art
The Riverside Art Museum and San Diego's Museum of Contemporary Art are both expanding to feature more Chicano and Latin American works. Source


The differences between hand etching and laser etching?
Q. What is the difference between a hand etching and a laser etching?
A. Hand etching is created by a highly skilled artist. The etching artist makes a series of tiny impressions using diamond-tipped tools, directly on the granite or other monument materials. On the other hand, laser etching is formed using a laser engraving machine. It is done directly on the surface without a stencil. Both hand etching and laser etching provide the maximum amount of clarity of an image. The impressions can last for a life time.
© 2019 Polchinski Memorials. All rights reserved.


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The national media are focused on Texas politics again – but what are Texas voters paying attention to?
Joshua Blank
It's hard not to be struck by the spike in political stories coming out of Texas making national news, and we shouldn't expect the national spotlight to stop shining on the state any time soon. While it's not hard to understand why national news outlets across the political spectrum have found plenty of material for clickbait stories and acerbic chyrons, understanding which issues and events are actually breaking through and grabbing voters' attention is at least as important as the balance of positive and negative reactions to the issues elevated by political coverage of the extended legislative session in Austin and the politics surrounding it. But how do we know what issues Texas voters have actually been paying attention to during a noisy and widely disconcerting summer?
Attention is a limited resource, including, if not especially, when it comes to public policy, and most people allocate that attention to the things that really matter to them (their families, their jobs, their health, their entertainment, etc.). Voters can't be expected to devote scarce time and attention to every political story that passes through their news feeds or local newscasts.
Extremely closely 15%
Somewhat closely 45%
Not very closely 29%
Not at all closely 11%
A lot 36%
Some 38%
Not very much 16%
Nothing at all 9%
We see this dynamic in the attention that voters reported paying to the regular legislative session along with the uptick in attention paid to the special session — unsurprising given the national attention on Texas when a majority of House Democrats left in order to deny the legislature a quorum. After having been in session now for most of 2021, the part-time, "citizen legislature" returns for a third special session to address redistricting and other issues added by the governor next week, with looming Spring primary elections hovering over the proceedings. More voters are paying attention to the legislature now than were paying attention for the first half of 2021, with the 15% of voters who said that they were paying "a lot" of attention to the legislature at the end of June in line with historical trends, much more so than the 35% who said the same of the second special session in the August UT/Texas Politics Project poll.
Given this relatively high degree of reported attention, the question remains what issues, conflicts, or controversies are attracting voters' focus given the long list of possibilities. Knowing whether voters are focused on COVID or immigration, for example, gives us a better sense of how we might begin to handicap the upcoming election season as the end of the legislative season gets mercifully closer. All else equal, what issue or issues the candidates and electorate jointly decide an election is "about" will provide advantages or disadvantages to one party's candidates over the other's. Democrats — presumably — are acutely aware of this after a 2020 election in Texas in which a campaign focused on defunding the police dashed their hopes of continued gains after the successes of 2018. Looking at the summer of 2021 and ahead to 2022, Democratic candidates might feel better positioned if the upcoming elections are focused on issues like voting rights or abortion access relative to alternatives that may benefit Republican candidates – who have clearly signalled a desire to focus voters' attention on border security, rising crime rates, and Democratic governance under the Biden adminisration. While the stories grabbing voters attention now may or may not be what occupies voters' attention next year, particularly given recent reminders of just how unpredictable the political environment can be, the stories garnering attention now might still provide some leading indicators of what different groups of Texan's are responding to as the extended 2021 legislative session merges into the 2022 election environment.
Overall, from a list of 10 political stories garnering a significant amount of coverage as summer's end neared, the two stories that received the most attention from voters included the exodus of Texas Democrats to delay consideration of legislation on voting and elections, receiving "a lot" of attention from 63% of voters, and Governor Abbott's executive order prohibiting local government entities from enacting mask requirements in response to the coronavirus pandemic (62%).
Democrats leaving the state of Texas to delay new legislation on voting & elections 63%
Gov. Abbott's executive order prohibiting mask requirements in response to the coronavirus 62%
Gov. Abbott's decision to call multiple special sessions 50%
Gov. Abbott's executive order prohibiting limitations on businesses in response to the coronavirus 49%
School districts implementing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus 49%
New legislation on voting & elections 47%
Local governments implementing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus 41%
The number of migrants detained crossing the U.S.-Mexico border 41%
Gov. Abbott's plan add more barriers on the border between Texas and Mexico 38%
Gov. Abbott's veto of legislative funding 37%
At the bottom of the list was the Governor's veto of legislative funding – 37% reported paying "a lot" of attention – unsurprising given this is inside baseball to most voters. More surprising, and a reflection of the oversaturation of the political environment, is that the next-least-attended-to story is Governor Abbott's plan to use state funds to build comprehensive barriers across the Texas-Mexico border, with 38% paying "a lot" of attention.
In that same August polling, 64% of Republicans said that immigration and/or border security is the most important problem facing the state, compared to 9% who said the coronavirus. However, only 42% of Republicans say that they're paying a lot of attention to news about Abbott's border wall plan, compared to 37% of Democrats, and 51% of Republicans who also said that they are paying a lot of attention to "the number of migrants detained crossing the U.S.-Mexico border." The raw political calculus of 2022 requires the governor to try, though so far with limited success, to make Republican voters as aware of his efforts to address immigration as they are of "the problem" by promoting his solution that, however unoriginal, is known to resonate with Texas Republicans. It's not hard to imagine that if there were a Democratic candidate running for governor, that candidate would have likely spent much of the summer, defined for many by the rise of the Delta variant, emphasizing the pandemic for voters — even as Governor Abbott and legislative Republicans attempted to steer attention to immigration and border security.
Democrats leaving the state of Texas to delay new legislation on voting & elections 63% 51% 68%
Gov. Abbott's executive order prohibiting mask requirements in response to the coronavirus 72% 57% 57%
Gov. Abbott's decision to call multiple special sessions 54% 38% 52%
Gov. Abbott's executive order prohibiting limitations on businesses in response to the coronavirus 58% 45% 45%
School districts implementing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus 58% 38% 45%
New legislation on voting & elections 49% 44% 48%
Local governments implementing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus 50% 39% 34%
The number of migrants detained crossing the U.S.-Mexico border 31% 37% 51%
Gov. Abbott's plan add more barriers on the border between Texas and Mexico 37% 28% 42%
Gov. Abbott's veto of legislative funding 43% 27% 36%
Democratic voters are significantly less attentive to the numbers of migrants crossing the border (31% versus 51%), and are instead most attentive to the Governor's executive order prohibiting local mask mandates (72% paying a lot of attention), a reflection of their continued concern about the coronavirus (a plurality, 39%, say this is the most important problem facing the state) and opposition to how the governor has handled it.
We should expect Gov. Abbott to continue his efforts to focus state government attention, and, in turn, voters' attention towards the Southern border. Democratic candidates will have a difficult time campaigning on an issue that Republican voters expect to be a top priority. Democrats are likely to see advantages in highlighting the state's mediocre at best coronavirus response for as long as it remains a major concern. The issue, at this point, is less where voters stand on these issues (we know that Republican voters are supportive of almost anything to address immigration, and that Democrats support the efforts of local governments to contain the COVID pandemic), than what they're paying attention to given a full plate of options. It's a lot cheaper and easier for candidates and campaigns to remind voters of what they already think and know than it is to teach them something new or tell them what to think.
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When I initially watched the video below, I was absolutely convinced it was fake — maybe some sort of misguided attempt at viral marketing by Starbucks, or, conversely, a genius bit of viral marketing by a Starbucks competitor. I thought this because I didn't think there was anyway possible the two girls in the video could be so moronic as to nonchalantly explain in great length to a reporter how and why they stole cookie money from a Girl Scout — which is basically so they could, you know, drive around sipping frappuchinos from Starbucks.
But, as it turns out, this is oh so very real — the interview was apparently filmed back in 2008 but is just now going viral. For being so revolting, the two girls became known in their native Florida (of course they're from Florida) as the "Cookie Monsters." At least one of them has continued to pursue a life of crime — pleading guilty in 2010 to armed robbery and kidnapping charges and then being arrested again recently for parole violations.
Anyway, enjoy their astoundingly candid awfulness. Maybe one day these two will clean up their acts and go legit with jobs on Wall Street or something?


. Louver House condominiums bring to the exclusive and vibrant South of Fifth (So-Fi) neighborhood of Miami Beach an intimate residential experience that speaks through its forward-thinking design of convenience, luxury and elegance.
Real estate development firm Mast Capital engaged the sophisticated design eye of architect Rene Gonzalez to create a 12-residence enclave in the midst of some of Miami's most interesting Art Deco and mid-century structures. The result is an open concept low-rise gem at Meridian Avenue and Third Street just blocks from the ocean and in the center of the many attractions of the So-Fi lifestyle.
The amenities are rich and varied for such a select boutique-scale residential offering. Louver House includes an outdoor yoga studio as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center. A rooftop garden features an infinity-edge pool and broad pool deck.
The architect's choice of 10-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling, energy efficient windows provides a sense of free-flowing spaciousness in the open plan interiors. Glass partitions emphasize the light-filled spaces. Select residences are provided with private terraces 13 feet by 37 feet, adding outdoor living options on a grand scale. Select penthouse residences also boast private rooftop terraces and spas.
The open plan is enhanced by the sensitively selected surfaces in the state-of-the-art kitchens. Kitchen cabinets by Onare are complemented by elegant quartz countertops. Appliances have been selected from high-end lines by SubZero and Wolf. Baths are similarly free flowing, highlighted by floating designer bathroom vanities and frameless, glass-enclosed showers fitted with designer fixtures.
Your purchase of a Louver House residence will afford you the experience, in the words of the developer, of "design without compromise" – and this in the heart of Miami Beach.
To invest in another South of Fifth preconstruction, check out Marea.