After an erratic Xavier disbands the X-Men, Rogue, Shadowcat and Nightcrawler travel to New York City, hoping to relax and have some fun. Kurt, however, feels like praying and heads to a church. There, he has an unexpected encounter with a frightened Polaris, who claims to be followed by someone. Meanwhile, Rogue and Kitty revel in a nightclub, until a man approaches Rogue… a man who turns out to be Mystique in disguise. Mystique leads them to one of her hideaways, where she reveals that, for the past few months, she has been acting in her newest identity, that of supermodel Ronnie Blake, intent on living a glamorous life. However, lately, she is being pursued, for reasons unknown, by a number of ninjas who work for Yakiba, the Japanese military. Rogue leaves the injured Mystique to rest and then goes to "Ronnie's" apartment, where she is attacked not only by the ninjas but also by the Japanese mutant known as Sunfire. In Brooklyn, two Skrulls posing as Mesmero and Mastermind gloat over how they have distracted the Japanese agents, leading them to Mystique's trails, rather than the actual threat: themselves.
A team of costumed agents is about to initiate their attack against their target. They're trained professionals and considered to be among the very best. They set their ambush with care. Unfortunately, when they close their trap, they discover they'd caught far, far more than they'd bargained for… Sabretooth!
They know the mutant by name and by reputation; both are fearsome. Sabretooth is considered by many to be the ultimate predator, with a healing factor that makes him virtually unkillable, and the recent acquisition of an adamantium-laced skeletal structure that renders his bones unbreakable. Normally, the agents would give him a wide berth. But now that the battle has been joined, honor demands they give their all. The battle is so fierce, so fast-paced, none of the agents has time to consider why Sabretooth hasn't used his claws. After all, these claws can cut through armor plate as if it were air.
Then, just like that, Sabretooth grasps one of the agents and seizes his gun. Within moments, he fires at every single of his assailants… and as suddenly as it began, the battle is over. "Too close for comfort," Sabretooth ponders, inspecting the senseless men crowning his feet. It is his good fortune they came looking to capture Mystique and not to kill her. The question is – why? Stealthsuits and tasers – their technology is cutting edge – and their technique marks them as ninjas. However, Sabretooth doesn't recognize their uniform. It could be government or a private sector or Yakuza – Mystique has certainly made her share of enemies among all three.
Staggering, he realizes one of the agents clipped him with his stunner. That whole side of his feels like it's on fire. The pain's making it hard to concentrate; too much effort to sustain this form. He decides to revert to himself…. or rather to herself, as Mystique finally shakes off her Sabretooth guise and assumes her true, default form!
Raven knows that morphing into Sabretooth threw the ninjas just enough off-balance that she was able to take them down. She knows they won't make the same mistake again. It's a pity she can't assume other people's powers along with their faces; that would her make her life so much easier. Rubbing her injuries, she realizes she has to keep moving. They found her before, stands to reason they will again. All she's done is buy herself a little time. She has to use it to find herself some answers and more importantly, some allies!
Rogue and Shadowcat exit a restaurant, both of them dressed for a night out, escorted by an equally ravishing Nightcrawler, disguised as a handsome man thanks to his image inducer. "… Can you believe our waiter?" Kitty tells Rogue. Every time Rogue licked her lips, Carlo refilled her glass! "One simple little smile, and we're up to our eyebrows in free desserts, free espresso, you name it!" Kitty teases her. Rogue swears on a stock of Bibles: she did nothing to encourage the man! Maybe not, Kitty remarks… but she sure loved every minute. A girl likes to be admired, Rogue admits. She advises Kitty not to worry her pretty little head none: her turn will come. Kitty warns her that when it does, she should watch out! Seeing Kurt looking at a shop window, she asks him if everything is okay: he seems a trifle distracted.
Kurt apologizes. It's been so long since he used the image inducer to disguise his true appearance, he still has to look twice to remind himself that reflection is truly himself. "I'm sorry," Kitty mutters. After all that's happened, she thought a night out would be fun. Kurt admits that his problem is he can't stop thinking about what's happened. The X-Men has been the center of their lives for so long; now it's gone. And Kurt finds himself asking over and over, why?!
"Short version, Nightcrawler?" Rogue huffs, somewhat vexed. Charles Xavier founds the X-Men – a team composed of mutants, folks born with powers and abilities that set them apart from the general run of humanity. Their purpose is to build bridges between these two branches of their species so they maybe don't all kill each other… and to protect the world at large from those mutants who'd do it harm. They've had their good times and bad times and they all figured the team would go on forever.
Kitty picks up from where Rogue stopped: unfortunately, for reasons he prefers to keep wholly to himself, Professor X wakes up one morning and decides to call it quits. The X-Men take him to his word, it's adios muchachos, finito, end of story! Does he mean it? Kitty doesn't know and, to be honest, for tonight she doesn't want to care!
Rogue urges Kurt to look at them. How many times have they risked everything to save the world? She asks him to think about that: they say "save the world" as casually as someone saying "bless you" after a sneeze. They produce miracles so often even they take them for granted. And for what? To make the world better. She reminds Kurt, though, that they are part of this world and maybe it's time they started living in it, too.
Kitty sides with Rogue and reminds Kurt that Charley's a grown up: they should let him take responsibility for his decisions. "If they are indeed his decisions," Kurt retorts. However, he admits Rogue is quite right; Shadowcat, too. They've all earned this night off, and many more. He then asks the two lovely ladies to excuse him: he's afraid he is not very good company. He tells them they'll catch up later where they agreed and then takes leave.
Meanwhile, three miles down in the Laurentian abyss, off the coast of North America, lies a submarine. No sound marks the passage of this man-made Leviathan. Though it passes through an array of the most sophisticated submarine detection systems ever created, as far as those monitors are concerned, it doesn't even exist – which is as it should be for the Yakiba, literally the "cutting edge" of Japan's military.
Inside the submarine, one of the Yakiba agents, a man called Tsuba-Kuo, informs his superior that they are still processing the downloads from the remote telemetry modules carried by their operatives… but they apparently encountered the mutant known as Sabretooth. His superior, however, reckons this is highly doubtful since they all survived. He asks Tsuba-Kuo to run a comparative analysis with the capabilities of their target and look for a pattern match. He suspects they'll discover they were deceived – quite ingeniously – by the shape-shifter.
Just then, an agent notifies him of an alert from Tokyo: the operative he requested will be on-site within the hour. "No more mistakes. No more failures," the Yakiba officer demands. He tells Tsuba-Kuo he wants the target found. And he wants her taken.
Rogue and Shadowcat are partying in the Ground Zero nightclub. Rogue shouldn't be here. For her, crowds are dangerous. What makes her a mutant is the power to absorb the talents and psyche of another simply by a touch. But tonight, she doesn't seem to care. There's a wilderness to her, a need to dance right on the edge of disaster that Kitty hasn't seen in a long, long time. The really scary thing is, though, that Kitty herself feels pretty much the same.
Distraught, Rogue rebukes herself: what has she done? After all this time, she'd think she'd know better. She ought to have her head examined; she ought to be shot, taking these kinds of chances! When is she going to learn? She's not normal; she'll never be normal. Like it or not, she's got to live her life by a set of rules. As much as she'd love to break them – whenever she does – she's not the one who pays for it.
Feeling embarrassed, she approaches the man she repelled and apologizes. She stammers that when he came out of nowhere and grabbed her… Assisted by others, the man gets back to his feet and interrupts her, apologizing in turn: "My own bad manners, my own fault. No harm, no foul." Rubbing his aching head, he admits, however, that it's nice to see she hasn't completely lost her edge.
"Excuse me? Do we know you, sir?" a puzzled Kitty remarks upon hearing this. Rogue tells her that face changes… but she'll always recognize the soul. "Been awhile, Mystique," she welcomes her foster mother. "Too long, darling," Mystique agrees, adding that they need to talk. Much as she hates to admit it… she needs their help. "Must I beg, Pryde?" she mocks Shadowcat. "I bet you will," Kitty nonchalantly replies. Rogue urges Mystique to lead the way while she will watch her back.
Suddenly, he has an epiphany. The way she moves – he knows that woman! And her green hair confirms it! Gently touching her back, he enthusiastically exclaims "How's that for a minor miracle?" and greets Lorna Dane! "No!" Lorna gasps and struggles to convince him he's got the wrong girl! "Leave me alone!" she screams and strikes him with an electromagnetic bolt, as she makes for the front door.
"Lorna, wait!" Kurt shouts in vain. "Wagner… you idiot!" he admonishes himself. Wearing the image-inducer's false face as he has, why should she recognize him as teammate or friend? A flick of a switch and Kurt "becomes" Nightcrawler once more. A flick of a mental switch and his own mutant power teleports him instantly from church to street, where he appears before the panicked Lorna.
Kurt begs her not to be frightened: "Lorna, it's me!" Polaris instantly recognizes him and falls into his arms, crying his name; that was him inside? She apologizes; she didn't mean… It's all right, Kurt reassures her. However, he wonders: what's the matter? She's literally jumping at shadows! Lorna explains that's because they're jumping out at her! She's being followed!
In a warehouse by the dock, two men are discussing. They are both physically identical to the mutant villains known as Mesmero and Mastermind, but the shadows they cast on the floor say otherwise – they are Skrulls! The Mesmero impostor informs his companion that Intelligence confirms that Mystique has eluded the Yakiba. That would indicate she is far more resourceful – and formidable – than they previously assumed. All the better for us, the fake Mastermind grunts. So long as she continues to serve as an unwitting stalking horse, drawing the attention of the Yakiba exclusively to her, she serves their purpose.
The counterfeit Mesmero retorts that the master wants her eliminated. "All in good time," the Mastermind simulacrum remarks and reminds his interlocutor that he commands here and the decision are his to take. He finds Mystique's morphing abilities are rudimentary, restricted to basic cosmetic physiognomy. No viable threat to this installation or the plan. "She was observing us," the Mesmero look-alike reminds him. His superior stresses she is presently unaffiliated; who will she tell? "You forget her links with the X-Men," the fake Mesmero insists.
The faux Mastermind coldly assures him he forgets nothing. The X-Men have been neutralized. Their own mentor has disbanded the team and its members have dispersed. 'Mesmero' insists: but if she should contact them…?! Inspecting a team of workers at work, 'Mastermind' stresses that their orders are to keep the lowest of profiles. To his mind, the direct intervention 'Mesmero' proposes represents an unacceptable risk. It's better to let the Yakiba do their work for them. After all, 'Mesmero's' fears are formless, because Mystique knows nothing. 'Mesmero' angrily tells him he's making a mistake! 'Mastermind' invites him to challenge his command, if he feels so adamant; otherwise, he should hold his tongue and do as he's told. He repeats this woman, Mystique, is irrelevant and suggests he forgets about her.
Rogue is flying in the air, carrying her foster mother, while Kitty grabs tightly onto her. "What a night! What a way to travel," Shadowcat muses. Good thing she can make herself partially intangible. The way she can hold onto Rogue and be carried along here, without any real risk of touching her. A thousand meters up is not where she'd like to lose her powers and drop like the proverbial stone.
Rogue wonders how Mystique found her. Raven reminds her she's been a hunter since before she was born; she'll always know where to look. Rogue asks her what this is all about; who's after her? Mystique gives the same answer to both questions: she wishes she knew.
As they approach the wall of Mystique's hideaway and Kitty is about to phase all three of them through it, she senses a shudder from both Rogue and Mystique; that makes her smile. For her, it's second-nature to phase through solid matter as easily as others move through air. For everyone else, right to the moment of contact, there's the primal instinctive fear they're about to crash.
Once they are all safely inside, Kitty allows a "Wow!" to escape her lips, in spite of herself. Mystique bids them both welcome to her humble abode. "Wow!" Kitty again exclaims, astounded by the lushness and vastness of Mystique's apartment, which even sports a fountain at the heart of the living room. Mystique quips: will wonders never cease? She's rendered ghost-girl speechless! She introduces them to the New York residence of B. Byron Biggs. "The world's famous recluse? The billionaire financier who hates cameras that nobody ever sees?" Shadowcat gulps. "Guilty as charged," Raven replies.
As she rests on a couch, Rogue asks her if Biggs is really her. Raven explains it's her most private identity, one of the first – and finest – she's ever created. This is her sanctum, the closest thing she has to home, where she keeps all that she most cherishes.
Kitty spots a framed family portrait that depicts Mystique, Destiny and Rogue as a little girl. She contemplates it's no small thing, Mystique letting her in on the secret. Mystique isn't the trusting sort, so whatever's on her case, must have her seriously spooked. Kitty then notices Rogue looks so young in this picture – and Mystique actually looks happy. Raven explains this photo was taken soon after she and Destiny found Rogue. Barely a handful of years ago, and yet it feels like a lifetime. She then asks Shadowcat to scout the perimeter. They should be secure here but prudence mandates that they make certain. Kitty quips that since she asked so nicely, how can she refuse? Rogue thanks her. Phasing through the floor, Kitty tells her she's her pal and Mystique is her mom, so it's her pleasure.
After Kitty departs, Mystique playfully confesses she's shocked – shocked! The girl doesn't trust her! Rogue recalls that, first time she and Kitty met, Mystique was running the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. How many times since then has she tried to kill her? Point taken, Raven agrees. However, that wasn't the first time they met. The first time, they were actually allies. "Say what?" Rogue frowns. Mystique promises she'll tell later. Now, there are more pressing matters. "The ninjas," Rogue mutters.
Mystique admits she's been wracking her brain for answers. As near as she can determine, it began on vacation. She was tired of her old lives, her traditional roles. She wanted to have some fun. She should have been careful, what she wished for, because in next to no time, she was on the cover of Vogue – an agent spotted her while she was sunbathing at the beach in the guise of an extraordinarily beautiful woman and offered her a job as a model!
Seeing the Vogue cover on Mystique's table, Rogue realizes she's Ronnie Lake! The model of the millennium! An uncharacteristically poetic Mystique explains she was like a butterfly who'd just cast off her chrysalis. For the first time since Destiny was killed, she felt truly alive. Then, a week ago, on a shoot in Milan, the ninjas stormed into her room. She's been on the run ever since.
Rogue asks her how they tracked her. Probably a genetic scanner, Mystique deduces. Rogue is concerned: won't that compromise this place? Mystique reminds her that, as Raven Darkholme, she was deputy head of the Defense Applied Research Planning Agency, with oversight over the most advanced military hardware in American's arsenal. That same technology protects this building. From the ninjas, they're quite safe.
"You sayin' there are other players involved?" Rogue asks her. Raven admits she doesn't like puzzles or mysteries. She always feels compelled to find a solution. That's how Destiny and she first met. She was the damsel in distress and Raven was her consulting detective. Afterwards, they became… partners. Always useful, she quips, working with someone who can foretell the future. Too bad she couldn't see her own death, Rogue broods. "Don't be absurd, child," Mystique scolds her – of course she did. Why does she think Mystique's been so angry since? Destiny saw what was coming, yet gave none of them the chance to save her. No reason, no explanation, not even a chance to say goodbye. After all they'd been through, how could she have been so cruel? It was like she had cut out Raven's heart. She though she would never forgive her… but time does heal wounds. She found it easier to remember the love than continue to hold onto the hate.
"You never told me," Rogue sighs. Mystique reminds her she's an X-Man. "An' that makes us enemies?" Rogue snaps back. Mystique admits it makes them adversaries, more often than not. Either way, she couldn't afford to make herself vulnerable. "So what's changed?" Rogue asks her. Mystique admits she has nowhere else to turn. Taking off her jacket, Rogue tells Mystique that she needs some working clothes. Raven instructs her: guest room, closet, fourth door on the left should provide something suitable. Rogue promises that soon as she's changed, Mystique will tell her everything; Rogue herself will handle things from there.
Nightcrawler teleports Polaris and himself on a rooftop. He asks Lorna if she's all right: jaunting isn't always a comfortable experience for his passengers. Lorna jests that once Kurt goes back and collects her stomach, she'll be just fine! Monitoring the area from this vantage point, Kurt announces that coast is clear. There is no sign of anything or anyone suspicious. She asks her if she has a description of her pursuers or a sense of how many. Hesitantly, Lorna admits she's never really seen them, actually; it's more of a feeling. She nervously stammers she must sound crazy. Kurt reassures her he trusts her instincts; so should she. He decides they'll stay put a while longer and keep watch, just to be sure.
Kurt seizes the opportunity to tell her how sorry he is about Alex. Lorna appreciates that. "If I'm not intruding – what happened?" he asks her. Lorna stresses she loved Alex but Kurt was his friend, too, and he deserves to know. She recounts how a lunatic named Greystone had constructed some kind of time machine. It had the capability of fatally disrupting the structural balance of the space-time continuum. "Not a good thing?" Kurt asks in awe. Lorna nods and informs him that Greystone set his gizmo in motion and Alex tried to stop him. They're all still here and the universe looks pretty much intact, so she guesses Alex succeeded. But the price…! Greystone's ship was vaporized, right down to the molecular level. There was no conceivable way anyone aboard could have survived.
Lorna whimpers that every rational element of her being tells her the man she loves is dead. Past time to close the book, finish grieving, get on with her life. There's just this one little problem: in her heart and in her soul… she knows he's alive. Disconsolate, she buries her head in Nightcrawler's chest.
Outside "Ronnie's" New York apartment, Rogue spots a broken window: clear evidence of a fight. She discerns no evidence of cops: so they're talking serious juice to keep the local precinct from getting involved and to keep the neighbors quiet. Not Yakuza style, she thinks – and private sector cops wouldn't be so sloppy, she contemplates, as she enters the apartment through the broken window and discovers all the furniture upside down. This is government-issue mayhem, she deduces.
As she walks into the trashed apartment, she thinks that "Ronnie Blake" is the paparazzi "body-du-jour." She steps out in public, there are a score of cameras waiting – which makes it really easy to track her movements. These past months, for her, what they see is what she is: a world-class supermodel cruising the fashionista circuit. Looking through several photos of "Ronnie" or magazines gracing their covers with her face, she ponders there's nothing in her current actions, nothing in the recent past, to justify this level of response.
She suddenly recalls that, when she was growing up, she thought Raven was magic. She could be anyone she wanted. In a way, so can Rogue. Only what she takes is the substance of people's lives; she steals their very souls. And if she's not careful, sometimes they don't get them back. That's why Raven sent her to Xavier, to build some measure of control over her powers. She'd tried and failed: now it was Xavier's turn.
"Plus ce change, plus ce meme chose," she thinks – "the more things change, the more they stay the same". All the work, all the effort, all the training, all the sacrifice and, as far as her powers are concerned, she's still standing pretty much where she started. On the other hand, she's made friends among the X-Men who'll last a lifetime. They're as much her family as Mystique and Destiny and with them, she's made a difference; they've done some real, tangible good. Not bad for a Bayou-born Louisiana river rat!
Suddenly, a proximity intruder alarm is sounded! A handful of ninjas appear and lunge at Rogue, firing at her, convinced that the shaper is trying to deceive them again by masquerading as the X-Man Rogue! They decide to show her no mercy! "My eyes!" Rogue screams: they released some kind of shockstrobe, meant to dazzle and incapacitate their targets! She realizes it's pretty darn effective, too. She asks them to back off: they're all making a major mistake here! "Don't listen to her, brethren," one of them tells his companions and fiercely pummels her. "Take her hard down!" another agent kicks at her.
Rogue retorts she doesn't think so. She asked them all nice; the one warning is all they get! As she begins taking them all out, she gloats their toys can't hurt her, because she's pretty much invulnerable. And as for the rest, she thinks her strength pretty near speaks for itself. She then tells them the deal: she's got questions, they all give her answers – or she guarantees things here are going to turn downright nasty.
As the ninjas flee, a voice behind her informs her that, regrettably, matters have reached that unpleasant state already. Rogue turns around only to confront Sunfire! She confesses she doesn't know what's going on but if he's hooked up with these ninjas, maybe the two of them can talk things out… Sunfire coldly retorts that the time for words is past! If she would ally herself with a wanton murderess, then she will suffer her fate! Saying this, he unleashes his plasma blasts against her.
Professor X effectively disbanded the team in X-Men (2nd series) #92.
Sabretooth's skeleton and claws were revealed to be laced with adamantium in Wolverine (2nd series) #126.
Havok and Greystone were seemingly killed in an explosion in X-Factor (1st series) #149. Polaris' instinct is correct, though: Havok is, in fact, alive and well. He was transported to a parallel reality during the explosion, as seen in the Mutant X series.
Destiny's death occurred in Uncanny X-Men #255.


text:
Deidre Davis Butler (September 26, 1955 – August 7, 2020), born Deidre Ann Davis, was an American disability rights activist and federal official.

Early life
Davis was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in nearby Linden, the daughter of Hilton Davis and Bernice Jones Davis. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a lawyer. In childhood, a spinal tumor and the surgeries to treat it affected her ability to walk; she used leg braces and canes as a girl, and a wheelchair later in life. She attended Brandeis University as an undergraduate, and Howard University School of Law, completing her Juris Doctor degree in 1980. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Career
Davis worked in state and national disability programs as a young lawyer, beginning at Rehabilitation International in New York in 1980. In 1987, she worked at the United States Department of Education. She was involved in drafting the Air Carrier Access Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), among other important legislation for accessibility and disability rights. "I was one of the very few people of color in the inner layers of helping to draft the ADA, implement it, enforce it from all different perspectives," she told NPR's Michel Martin in 2010.

Davis served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel from 1995 to 2001, and was head of the ADA Technical Assistance Division at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She traveled extensively, overseeing civil rights compliance at American embassies overseas. In 2005, she became director of ADA services for Walmart. She retired from Walmart in 2012.

Butler was founder of DYSability Dynamics, LLC, a disability law consulting firm. She served on the boards of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Howard University Center on Minorities with Disabilities, and the National Black Disability Coalition. She was awarded NCIL's Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, just before she died. The day before she died, she was listed as a featured panelist in an online event sponsored by the State of New Jersey, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ADA.

Personal life
Deidre Davis married Juan K. Butler in 2015. She died August 7, 2020, in Rogers, Arkansas. Her grave is in the Fayetteville National Cemetery.

References

External links

 A video interview with Deidre Davis Butler from July 2020, conducted by the Center For Independent Living of NorthWest Florida in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the ADA; on YouTube.

1955 births
2020 deaths
People from Elizabeth, New Jersey
People from Linden, New Jersey
American disability rights activists
New Jersey lawyers
Brandeis University alumni
Howard University School of Law alumni
Alpha Kappa Alpha members

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The easiest, most profitable, and absolutely the most enjoyable way to run a business is through the delivery of not just great customer service, but the kind of customer service legends are built upon. And yet, one of the most troubling observations I have made is the inability of management and staff of some retailers and service providers to understand what true customer service is all about.
We tend to focus on the recognized geniuses of customer service: the Nordstroms, Sewell Village Cadillacs, the Disney Organization, and regale in their ability to do "it" better. "It" is not their systems and procedures in delivering customer service, but is far more basic. "It" is their foundation, their culture, and whatever philosophical root makes it uncomfortable for the least of their staff to do it any other way. "It" gives them the confidence to empower their teams to greatness. Most important, achieving "It" is not that difficult once we understand what "It" is.
Picture an imaginary dot on the wall. Within the dot are your products and services, and holding the dot together is the passion, the enjoyment, and the thrill of servicing the customer. Focus on the dot, and place it on every act you contemplate or do, because it is all that is truly important. Unfortunately, it is the rules and the codification of the dot which tends to weaken it. For when we try to define it, and put it in writing, and disseminate it thoughout the system, we tend to limit it and only achieve what we were able to encode. And that – is rarely enough.
To begin the process, you must listen. Not to me and not to your staff, because none of us are your customer. It is your customer who is the genius. He is the only one who can determine your success. And yet, when customer service systems are designed, often it is the customer who no one ever asks.
I look at the process of determining what customers want the same way I look at a circle. There is no beginning and there is no end. The process just starts and continues.
Creative listening takes on many forms, and each is incomplete in itself. As we add new methods of customer espionage we begin to understand how to distinguish ourselves from the competition.
Listen to your customers. Learn to love survey cards and focus groups, because behind the anonymity of the survey and the darkened glass you will hear your customers and those of your competitors talk of their needs and desires. Be brave, because it is in their honesty that your future resides. Anticipate regional differences, because customer service expectations can vary greatly from market to market. But always take the higher standard, as increased customer service in markets that don't expect it will increase customer response.
Don't be satisfied with the results. This is a process which is ongoing and is never complete. Let an outsider, skilled as a facilitator, conduct the focus group sessions. If you sense the facilitator has a bias toward you in the sessions, change facilitators. You are after the truth, not a boosted ego.
Learn to listen as your customer. Listening as your customer takes on several forms. My two favorites are by telephone and in person.
Telephone your locations as a customer. What do you hear? Hopefully your call was answered quickly and you didn't wait on hold. These are the obvious hopefuls. There is more you should expect when you listen to the conversation as your customer would. Ask questions about products and services. Did your staff realize the opportunity of the call? Did they realize that when you asked questions you might be a new customer, unfamiliar with not only what you asked, but with what you didn't ask – your hours, your services, your locations, and anything else that might draw you in? As hokey as it sounds, and as often as I have heard it said, did you see the enthusiasm, the pride of the organization, the thrill of service jump out at you through the telephone?
Tape the call. There is no better way to explain the opportunity to your staff and to the person you spoke with than letting the person hear what they said. It is the greatest of telephone training tools.
Visit your locations as would a customer. The under-use of shopping services is startling. Everyone is on their best behavior when management is in the location. The trick is not to let them know you are watching. Shopping services see your operations as your customers do. They can be one of the best ways to let your team know what is important by rewarding the best of them for what they did best for a customer. Never focus on the negative. Reward them for greatness. Professional shopping services are often the best because they are trained to report back to you. If budgets are restrained I have used teachers, flight attendants, nurses, and other service professionals as mystery shoppers instead of the professional shopping services.
It is not the method, but the message. Let the research drive the visits and the positive findings drive the organization. Over time they will understand. You are seeking to change and establish a customer service culture, not simply a new set of rules to put in a manual.
Steal from your competitors. This takes the internal fortitude that comes from knowing you need to improve and that your competitor is doing "It" better. Stealing is the cheapest method of improvement. Never be afraid to become brilliant by stealing your competitors' methods. And never be afraid to imitate their changes, when they are right. Who remembers, and who cares, two months from now, or even two days from now, who was the originator of an idea. As long as it works, use it.
Listen to your franchisees and their managers. Why are unit volumes, average tickets, and repeat customer percentages higher in some locations than in others? After all, it is the same franchise system operating under the same operating rules, isn't it? No it's not. The difference is the passion toward the customer. Let the best tell you why they are the best, even when their location is not, or their market isn't the strongest or the biggest. They are in the trenches and touch the ultimate customer every day.
Define your customer. Forget for a minute defining your customer by their demographics or psychographics. The customer is much easier to define. Each level of the organization has its own customer, and as management it is your responsibility to focus each level of the organization to provide passionate service to its customer.
If you are the franchisor, your customer is your staff and your franchisee. Your staff's customer is the franchisee, the suppliers, and other members of the team. Your franchisee's customer is the ultimate consumer. The bottom line is: determine who the customer is, and at every level make certain that they are served. Always focus the goal at the ultimate consumer, but make the entire process, from the franchisor down through every level of the organization, a passion of customer service. And remember the true golden rule: when all else fails, forget the rules and service the customer – whoever they may be.
And don't forget the process of improvement. Listen creatively. Do it and do it often. Follow through, because it is through the follow-through that the process begins to work. Involve the most senior of your team as well as the most junior in searching out what your customers need and to uncover their hidden messages of what will make them happier. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
All of the research methods available, and there are many, will not establish great customer service. When it comes to the kind of customer service that legends are written about, remember, If they can see it – They can do it. It's the dot again. Make customer service the fabric of the dot, at every level of the process. Become more than customer-focused; become customer-driven. Once you become passionate about the customer and it becomes part of your company's culture, the rest is easy. Your staff, suppliers, franchisees, and their staff will instinctively know it, even if you forgot to write a rule about it.


text:
Q: Update my database when a data is written using Firebase rules I would like to update my database when a data is written.
Is it possible to do something like that in firebase's rules ?
"requests":{
      "$uid":{
        // On write, push id into /users/requestsId
        ".read":"auth != null",
        ".write":"root.child('users').child('requestsId').push($uid) && auth != null"
      }
    }

Thanks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Riak 2i - Update deletes secondary indexes I am using oficial Riak Java client v2.0.2. When I update previously written value (with 2i indexes), the secondary indexes are not preserved.
This is how I do update:
Location location = new Location(this.namespace, key);
UpdateValue updateOp = new UpdateValue.Builder(location)
        .withFetchOption(FetchValue.Option.DELETED_VCLOCK, true)
        .withUpdate(new RiakKVUpdateValue(values))
        .build();

And this is my update class:
public class RiakKVUpdateValue extends Update<Map<String, String>> {

    private final Map<String, String> value;

    public RiakKVUpdateValue(HashMap<String, ByteIterator> values) {
        this.value = StringByteIterator.getStringMap(values);
    }

    @Override
    public Map<String, String> apply(Map<String, String> original) {
        return this.value;
    }
}

I haven't found anything in the docs about updating objects with 2i indexes.

*

*Am I doing someting wrong?

*Should I do manual Read/Modify/Write?

A: You have to fetch the index and write it back every time you update the value. See 2i Indexing an Object.
I would suggest to create a field to hold the index and annotate it with @RiakIndex. A field annotated with this annotation is populated with 2i values automatically by the Java client when fetched. Then, copy its value in RiakKVUpdateValue.apply() to retain it. Alternatively, fetch and then write back in two separate commands as you already mentioned. This will allow you to control metadata you want to write back. Don't forget to populate the VClocks.
P.S. Retaining 2i automatically can be a bad idea since it's not obvious that a user will want to keep old 2i values. I believe that's why it is left up to the user to decide.


What does Mustard Seed do with your personal information?
All financial companies need to share clients' personal information to run their everyday business. Mustard Seed shares your information for our everyday business purposes, such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), or respond to court orders and legal investigations. You cannot limit the sharing of information for this purpose.
This is the only reason Mustard Seed shares your information.
How does Mustard Seed protect my information?
How does Mustard Seed collect my information?
We collect your personal information, for example, when we meet with you to discuss your financial situation, or when you open a custodial account.
Please call at 870-234-1618 if you have any questions, because your privacy, our professional ethics, and our ability to provide you with quality financial services are very important to us.


Event Promoters: We offer promoters powerful, yet easy to use, SMS marketing services for event and party promotions. We also offer SMS marketing solutions for trade show and exhibition producers, as well as festivals. Retail: The SMS marketing services makes it easy to collect cell phone numbers and send promotional text messages to your retail customers. We offer customized solutions for car dealerships, golf courses, salons & spas, sports leagues, and theaters. Magazines: Extend your relationship with your readers beyond the page with our SMS marketing programs for magazines and publishing.
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Transactional route can only be used for sending transactional SMS such as OTPs and alerts to your registered users. Messages can be sent 24/7 from your own 6-character Sender ID. To configure a transactional route, create your account today and contact sales@vibroadvertising.com No setup costs involved!
Transactional DND Bulk sms is useful for sending sms to DND and NON DND Numbers. Its serves the needs of Schools, Colleges, Financial Services, Stock market etc.
If you want Bulk SMS Service Contact Us!


Are you a traveler who doesnt like small hotel room? Then you will be delighted with the spacious rooms at Admiral Suites. The rooms come with balcony and real wooden flooring. There is also a rooftop pool and a fine in-house caf to enjoy your meals.
Admiral Suites Bangkok by Compass Hospitality is a boutique 4-star serviced apartment in the heart of Bangkok. The property is ideal for both couples and families. The rooms and suites here are tastefully designed in a European style with wooden flooring, but still retains an Asian feel to it. The 112 rooms and suites are fully air-conditioned and offer top-notch amenities for guests like LCD TV, DVD player, wireless internet, kitchenette, safety deposit box, and a work desk. A rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, and a business center are also available for the guests. Coin-operated laundry services are provided for a hassle-free experience. Free parking can be availed via reservation. The Admiral Suites Bangkok by Compass Hospitality offers free shuttle services (tuk-tuk) to Asok Skytrain station and Sukhumvit stations to make local travel convenient. The apartment is 26.2 km from Don Mueang International airport. The property offers airport shuttle services on a chargeable basis.
Admiral Suites Bangkok by Compass Hospitality has 112 rooms and suites that are designed by an award-winning designer. The rooms provide facilities like LCD TV, DVD player, internet connectivity, kitchenette, dining area and bathroom with bathtub and shower. Microwave, refrigerator, kettle and electric stove top are provided in all rooms. Admiral Premier Bangkok by Compass Hospitality has four types of accommodation. Guests can choose one based on the number of guests and their space needs. The Superior Studio and the Premier Studio with balcony have all amenities including work desk and telephone. The Grand One Bedroom Suite and Admiral One Bedroom Suite have a separate living area and a dining table.
Admiral Suites Bangkok by Compass Hospitality has a rooftop outdoor swimming pool for guests. A fitness center is also present to ensure that one doesnt miss on their exercise routine while traveling. 24-hour concierge, reception and CCTV coverage ensures secure facilities for guests. An underground car park is available for a seamless traveling experience. Free wireless internet connectivity is offered and an internet station is available at the restaurant. For the ones requiring extra help with their young ones can avail the babysitting services on a chargeable basis. Coin operated Laundromat facility is available as well. If not this, laundry services can be availed on a chargeable basis. Complimentary tuk-tuk shuttle services are offered to guests to the Skytrain station from Admiral Premier Bangkok by Compass Hospitality for a hassle-free experience.
Shisho Delight Restaurant at the Hotel Admiral Suites Bangkok by Compass Hospitality offers a multitude of dishes for guests. A breakfast buffet is offered at the restaurant and the guests can also opt for a set breakfast that is offered till 2 pm - this includes dishes like Indian naan, fried noodles, croissants, and Miso soup. International, as well as Thai cuisines, are served to keep the menu interesting and varied. The Pad Thai Noodles is one their most popular dishes along with fresh fruit smoothies. Special kid meals can be enjoyed on request. The restaurant is also known to brew a good cup of coffee. If one is a coffee enthusiast or even not, there is something to try for everyone.
Visitors to Bangkok who want to experience the sights of the city and soak in the nightlife would find this apartment an ideal place to stay. Free drop to local train stations is indeed a boon for the local travelers. The ambient rooms offer a comfortable and pleasant stay for guests.
How far is the Admiral Suites Bangkok by Compass Hospitality from the airport?
The apartment is 26.2 km from Don Mueang International airport.
Yes, the airport pickup and drop can be arranged on an extra charge basis.
Yes, free parking is offered to guests, subject to reservation.
What is the apartment policy on charging for children and extra beds?
Kids up to 3 years can use the existing beds for free. Children 4-11 years can use the existing bed and are charged THB 150 per child per night. Children above 12 years can be given extra bed on payment of THB 800 per child per night.
45 of the total rooms are non-smoking and available on request.
Admiral Premier Bangkok by Compass Hospitality is one of the more popular apartments of Bangkok and is highly rated by guests for its location. Indeed the location makes it very convenient for guests, as they can access all the attractions of Bangkok very easily. For the convenience of guests, free tuk-tuk transport is provided to the Skytrain stations, so that guests can travel in the city easily. Shopping centers, cabarets, bars, restaurants are all located close by and is a boon for tourists. The apartment has excellently maintained rooms and suites that offer luxury and comfort to guests. Rooms have all modern amenities that guests would be looking for. A swimming pool, fitness center, free internet connectivity, and parking are other bonus features. A variety of services including coin-operated laundry is offered to guests. The restaurant offers an eclectic mix of cuisines to satiate the taste buds of its guests. Thai pad noodles are one of the star attractions at the restaurant. Vegetarian and Indian food is served, but guests can also dine at any of the Indian restaurants which are nearby. Admiral Premier Bangkok by Compass Hospitality is located 40 minutes away from the two main airports Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.


text:
Wald est une commune de Bavière (Allemagne), située dans l'arrondissement d'Ostallgäu, dans le district de Souabe.

Commune en Bavière
Toponyme évoquant la forêt


every week here in Central Virginia?
Did you know two-thirds of all childhood cancer survivors will develop at least one late effect from the disease or their treatment?
That's why ASK continues to provide support to survivors. We know that life after cancer rarely returns to the same "normal." We provide educational support to make sure that they can return to school and move on to the next grade level with their peers. We provide emotional support to help survivors cope with life after cancer. Through our Young Adult Cancer Survivors group, we are helping our survivors transition to adulthood. Our goal is to help all of our survivors thrive in the lives they have fought so hard to keep.
will experience severe financial hardship?
Through ASK's Family Crisis Fund, we are making sure that families stay together and financially afloat during their child's treatment.
We offer short-term assistance with mortgage payments, utility bills and funeral expenses. Through our "Welcome Home"


General Situation: A large dominant high pressure ridge across the western Atlantic Ocean and the Bahamas will maintain mostly stable and dry conditions over the area through early Friday. By late Friday, a cold front will push across the Florida area and become stationary near Central Florida on Saturday morning. High pressure ridge will build across the United States and the western Atlantic waters as the front eventually pulls north-eastward while dragging it southern section across the NW Bahamas on Monday. Another cold front will move north of the Bahamas by Wednesday as high pressure ridge over the area shifts eastwards.
Thursday 07th - Partly to mostly sunny, warm and a bit breezy with the slight chance of an isolated shower or two. Partly cloudy to fair skies and mild at night with the slight chance of a passing shower. Maximum temperature 81°F and minimum temperature 67°F. Small craft should exercise caution across the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and NE to E at 15 to 20 knots with stronger gusts in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet across the NW Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet over the ocean for the Central and SE Bahamas but higher in gusts.
Friday 08th – Partly to mostly sunny, a bit breezy and warm with the chance of a few passing showers mainly across the Central and SE Bahamas during the daytime. Partly cloudy to fair skies and mild at night with the slight chance of isolated passing showers. Maximum temperature 82°F and minimum temperature 70°F. Small craft should continue to exercise caution across the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and NE to E at 15 to 20 knots across the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.
Saturday 09th – Partly to mostly sunny, breezy and warm with isolated showers likely during the daytime. Partly cloudy and warm with the chance of few passing showers at night time. Maximum temperature 82°F and minimum temperature 72°F. Small craft should exercise caution across the entire Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 15 to 20 knots with stronger gusts at times for the entire Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet overall areas but higher in gusts.
Sunday 10th – Partly to mostly sunny, windy and warm with the chance of few isolated showers during the daytime. Partly cloudy to fair and breezy at night with the slight chance of showers at night time. Maximum temperature 82°F and minimum temperature 72°F. Small craft advisory is in effect for the entire Bahamas and small crafts should remain in port. Winds NE to E at 15 to 25 knots across the entire Bahamas and seas 5 to 8 feet across all areas. Moderate to large N'ly and NE'ly swells expected across the NW and parts of the Central Bahamas.
Monday 11th – Partly to mostly sunny, a bit breezy and warm with few isolated showers during the daytime. Fair to clear skies and mild at night. Maximum temperature 83°F and minimum temperature 69°F. Small craft caution across the NW Bahamas early and an advisory across the Central and SE Bahamas early will become a caution by afternoon. Winds E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas early, becomes E to SE at 10 to 15 knots later and winds E'ly at 20 to 25 knots across the Central and SE Bahamas becomes E to SE at 15 to 20 knots later. Seas 4 to 6 feet early in the NW Bahamas, falling to 2 to 4 feet later and 6 to 9 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas early falling to 4 to 6 feet later. Light to moderate swells expected.
Tuesday 12th – Partly to mostly sunny and warm with the chance of few isolated showers mainly across the SE Bahamas during the daytime. Partly cloudy to fair skies and mild at night time. Maximum temperature 83°F and minimum temperature 70°F. Small craft caution across parts of the Central and SE Bahamas early and an advisory comes into effect for the SE Bahamas by afternoon. Winds SE'ly at 10 to 15 knots across the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas early, becoming gusty at times, however becoming stronger E'ly at 15 to 25 knots in the SE Bahamas by afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas, but building to 5 to 8 feet later in the SE Bahamas.
Wednesday 13th – Mostly sunny, breezy and warm with the slight chance of a shower during the daytime. Fair to clear skies and mild over most areas at nighttime. Maximum temperature 83°F and minimum temperature 66°F. Small craft should exercise caution across the NW and Central Bahamas and an advisory comes into effect across the SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 15 to 20 knots across the NW and Central Bahamas and E to SE at 20 to 25 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet over the NW and Central Bahamas and 6 to 9 feet across the SE Bahamas.
Beachgoers and mariners should exercise extreme caution due to rough surf, hazardous swells and the risk of dangerous rip currents mainly along north and east coast beaches during stated advisories.


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A Private Hotel Health and Fitness Club based within Holiday Inn.
Healthcare offer: 10% off treatments and package deals available with 10% off added on.
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Landscaping and building offer: 10% discount to NHS staff when quoting code NHS 18 on initial enquiries.
Landscaping Company offer: 15% OFF any landscaping service.
Summit Landscapes is recognised as the leading landscaping company in the Cambridge area. They offer the complete range of landscaping services and are renowned for quality and service.
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carpets & flooring offer: Free estimates in your home at a time to suite you. At least 10% off material cost.
Gastro Pub Restaurant offer: 2 courses Lunch for £15 Available Tuesdays - Saturdays Get 10% off food bill when odering from a la carte menu. Pre booking and mentioning of this offer are advised.
Beautiful hair salon based in the centre of Cambridge, offering affordable luxury hair care.
Pub/Restaurant offer: *10% Discount on all Food *Not to be used in Conjunction With Any Other Offers .
Beauty salon offer: All NHS staff will receive 20% off all treatments at The Retreat.
Sophisticated Independant Restaurant & Cocktail Bar in the heart of Cambridge City Centre. Ideal for intimate or party dinners, pre-theatre meals or a superb cocktail in our large bar.
Food, Dining offer: 10% discount on food to all NHS staff.
Restaurant offer: 10% off all food during weekdays.
Education offer: One complimentary class and then 10% discount for first 10 weeks of attendance for NHS staff. Fees payable in advance.
South African Food offer: We offer a 10% discount on all South African products excluding alcohol.


text:
Spreading Light, Wasting Light
This blog entry is about mapping, honestly...but to get to my point I'll start with Dave Grohl and then get to Robert Downey Jr and Steven Feldman...bear with me.
On a recent flight I watched (for the second time) the great documentary on Sound City studios by Dave Grohl. The iconic music recording studio in Los Angeles was one of only a very few in the world to house a custom Neve 8028 24-track recording console designed by Rupert Neve. It was a hand-wired analog device which acted as the interface between the musician and the tape used to record the music but it was the console that gave the end product such a rich, unique sound. Often, musicians would need to play their track over 150 times to get it as they wanted it with all the imperfections ending up on the tape. They not only had to master their trade but be dedicated to giving their best live performance that would become the recorded piece. With only 24 tracks available on the console, the producers also had to be prudent and understand how a complete track was to be constructed to achieve their intended final sound.
The story is ultimately one of decline of Sound City as a viable business (it closed in 2011) despite it being the birthplace of countless classic albums produced in the late twentieth century as digital recording appeared and along with drum machines and other digital instruments, allowed people to record direct to a computer. The benefit's of digital recording are clear - the entry level for people making and recording music are massively decreased; the costs are much lower to make a recording; and anyone with a computer can record music. By using a program like Pro Tools you can play a track once then work on your computer to change duff notes, alter the pitch, add a range of effects (curiously with an image of an effects pedal you'll never likely have even seen in real life) and record as many tracks as you care. In short, it's making music for dummies and we've seen a proliferation of music appear as a result, all of it seeking perfection through a processed approach. You actually don't even need to be a musician to make an album these days. No craft, no art, no expertise as such...just working with digital data that equates to music when processed in a particular way.
However, as one contributor put it eloquently, there's nothing of the musician in much modern digitally produced music. A huge amount is over-produced with multiple layers of noise. What made music recorded through the Neve board at Sound City so immersive was the imperfections; the fact that you're listening to a real person play a real instrument with all minor imperfections in their playing exposed. It gave the music a 'feel' and a human quality that is difficult to express but which can be easily heard. It's an audible aesthetic and one that cannot be replicated in the same way using modern technology. The same commentator went on to say that yes, music recording has opened up like never before but he challenged us to consider whether it meant there was any better music out there. His thesis was simple..that all that has happened is more people with a lower level of ability or understanding of music (playing, recording, producing) now make music - but that there's a much higher proportion of poor music as a result. It's harder to find the quality any more because quantity sells.
Back to cartography - but as anyone who has read my blog before will realise, the above tale is pretty much verbatim my views on a lot of modern mapping. The death of expertise and massively reduced barriers to making maps has given us quantity but has seriously diluted the quality. People are becoming blinded to high quality mapping because they're consistently told to go look at this or that 'great' map by people who probably couldn't tell the difference anyway.
So my latest gripe is with the plethora of animated maps of social media data that are using CartoDB's torque engine. I like what CartoDB are doing and their torque engine is a very simple way to animate time-dependent data. But what of the result - how is it being used? Take a look at the following map of how Robert Downey Jr's twitter account gained followers in the first 24hrs after his first tweet:
And the man himself even commented on the map:
Just spreading light. RT @TwitterData This map shows what happened to @RobertDowneyJr followers after his first Tweet http://t.co/EhmewFyAdf
— Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr) May 13, 2014
So what does the map show? I think Downey Jr was spot on...it just shows him spreading light. Actually, it doesn't really show anything at all, except for twitter's absence in China. So a huge global movie star gains followers in places where people live. Are we amazed? And I'll not even bother to go into the pitfalls of the problems of mapping and inferring anything from Twitter data (because I've done that before).
Here's another of the tweets that were posted around the recent F.A. Cup Final between Arsenal and Hull City: Again...it's just flashing light. What purpose does it actually serve? Visually, I like the effect but it really only shows us that people tweet. And therefore tweets reflect where people are on the planet. And Arsenal are much more popular than Hull City. And perhaps my good friend Steven Feldman is the one responsible for lighting up the UK as a twitter loving Arsenal fan?
There's just nothing particularly substantive about making maps like this. Once you've seen one you've seen them all. The digital tools make making the map very simple but it doesn't mean we're seeing good maps. It's quite literally a data dump on a map. There's no sorting, sifting, no trying to extract an interesting story or communicate a highlight (no pun intended though this would be a useful thing to do!). Light is cumulative and brighter = more but why are we so fascinated by 'more' of everything?
When I look at the map I see flashing light but after a short while I lose sight of the light area (most tweeting in relative terms..and really, the only metric this map is capable of displaying) because the almost strobe effect of the single tweets in the sparse areas becomes more prominent. Is this really the right message? And when the map is saturated with tweets what are we seeing? Anything?
I find the story of Sound City and its demise in the face of the onslaught from digital music has many parallels with my area of expertise. Whilst there's no doubt making maps these days is massively improved on many of the older techniques it doesn't necessarily equate to there being better maps. Like Grohl, who is a master of his craft (whether you like his music or not), many musical experts can still find ways to make their music and embrace digital technologies as part of their workflow. Trent Reznor is also a perfect example of this. A musician who knows his craft but is hugely experimental and who can weave modern technology into his work expertly.
I'm not decrying technological innovation and progress - just lamenting the decline of the thought that people used to have to put into making a map. If it was worth making it'd take time...and so that cost alone was a good way to decide if making the map was worth the investment. These sorts of maps can be made in minutes but without any sort of cartographic craft you end up making maps of flashing lights that tell us nothing or, as the title of Grohl's last Foo Fighters record stated...you're simply "Wasting Light'.
Update 1: there was an interesting side debate on this topic where some were suggesting that frivolous maps are nice once in a while. I agree. Firstly that this sort of animated map of social media data is content frivolous but also cartographically frivolous. It's experimental and at the moment we're in a period of cartographic change where for the first time in a long time technology is outpacing best practice. Experimentation is good and we need to figure out ways to harness these new approaches and to develop new best practices. This is a challenge and one that cartographers need to embrace. Unless they do, all we'll see is more of this type of mapping and more people telling more people how great it is.
Labels: cartofail, cartography, cartojunk, design
Thanks Kenneth for taking the time to write this — you have written about this before so I know it's something you obviously care about.
However, as the creator of most of these maps, there's a few things I would raise.
Firstly, I wouldn't overthink these. Both maps had a really simple purpose that animating them over time worked to do:
- The Robert Downey Jr map was about showing how quickly RDJ's followers grew on Twitter around the globe in the first moments after his first Tweet
- The FA cup final map was about showing the geographic spread of a UK event for both team. What it did need was annotation; which was something we managed to do for the Champions League final a week later: http://t.co/EacngwWvh1
There's a number of issues here: if you want to show tweets geographically, over time, then Carto DB is the best way to do it, there really isn't a better tool for the non-developer to use.
And that is a real issue: why aren't there more visualization tools or techniques for showing Twitter Data? I would love some more options, and maybe this is something you could turn your column to — how would you illustrate this data? I'd love to see it.
Sure, we could probably tell these stories with a line chart; but what kind of boring world would that be?
One thing is certain: during the world cup we will use Carto DB again to tell compelling visual stories around games. We may even see you write this column again.
Testing..testing...1, 2, 3.
LyricMap: Where the Streets Have No Name
I would map 500 miles
The worm is turning
Hubble bubble, transparency and trouble
Another day. Another hyperbolic map

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to click on Google / YouTube links in C#? So I am writing a c# program where the user can search for and watch youtube videos based on keywords. The user types their intended term into the search box, and then the program loads a list of videos with their intended search term. But I am wondering, is there a way to code it to click on the first - third video link when the search happens? I am also looking for it to close the current browser tab before opening the next.
Here is the code:
string[] words = {searchterms.text};
                            Console.WriteLine("Current word being searched for at " + DateTime.Now + ": " + words[r.Next(0, words.Length)]);
                            Console.WriteLine("Number of searches made since start: " + searchcount++.ToString());

                            string word = words[r.Next(0, words.Length)];

                            NameValueCollection nameValueCollection = new NameValueCollection();
                            nameValueCollection.Add("q", word);

                            webClient.QueryString.Add(nameValueCollection);

                            var youtubesearch = new ProcessStartInfo
                            {
                                FileName = "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=" + word,
                                UseShellExecute = true
                            };
                            Process.Start(youtubesearch);

Thank you.

A: If you're working on a Console app, you should know that the windows' shell do not support hyperlinks, which means you can't.
But i'm only deducing you're working on a Console app because of the Console.WriteLine() in your code, so could you be more specfifc ?

A: Well, you can display the links in a label in order to be opened by the user in the browser, but if you want to display all the research results of youtube in your app, i think you have 2 solutions :

*

*You can add an element called Web Browser, which is a web browser that will be displayed in your app (and you give it your URL

*You also can work with the YouTube APIs. You can call an API using a link, and it will return you some non-displayable data, in JSON format usually, which you can use to display a list of the search result. You can maybe have the covers, tht title, description, etc of a video. I don't know how the YouTube APIs work, so here's a link so you can do some research of your own


text:
Jan Frederiksen (Copenhague, Dinamarca, 20 de junio de 1982), futbolista danés. Juega de defensa y su actual equipo es el Wisla Cracovia de la Ekstraklasa de Polonia.

Selección nacional

Ha sido internacional con la Selección de fútbol de Dinamarca Sub-21.

Clubes

Enlaces externos

 Randers FC perfil
 estadísticas de su carrera

Futbolistas de Dinamarca
Futbolistas del Lyngby Boldklub
Futbolistas del Herfølge Boldklub
Futbolistas del Excelsior Rotterdam
Futbolistas del Midtjylland
Futbolistas del HB Køge
Futbolistas del Randers FC
Futbolistas del Brøndby IF
Futbolistas del Wisła Cracovia
Futbolistas de Copenhague


At the full size of a SYSTAINER SYS 4 TL and equipped with three large drawers (with dividers), the new SORTAINER SYS 4 is an all-new, lighter format than the traditional Sortainers, with a new style of drawer latch, removable dividers, and placements for removable (optional) Storage Boxes. Optional Storage Boxes (available as a set) can be used for even greater onsite efficiency. Compatible with T-LOC and Classic SYSTAINERS (attached to bottom).


text:
<ion-view hide-back-button="true">

    <ion-nav-title>Home</ion-nav-title>

    <ion-nav-buttons side="left">
        <button class="button button-icon button-clear ion-navicon" menu-toggle="left"></button>
    </ion-nav-buttons>

    <ion-content has-header="true">

                About

Kuizine is a cross-platform mobile application designed to aggregate all of the restaurant options within the town of Kutztown, PA. It provides relevant restaurant information including menu, website, contact information, address, and a map of the
                   restaurant location. Further, it provides users with an account the ability to save their favorite restaurants, and provides all users the ability to search and browse for restaurants.

                News

April 28, 2016 - Kuizine mobile application and administrative web interface system launch.

    </ion-content>
</ion-view>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Trudie Goodwin (Londen, 13 november 1951) is een Britse actrice. Goodwin speelde onder meer Sgt. June Ackland in de politieserie The Bill (1984-2007).

Goodwin onderbrak in 2005 haar acteerwerk in The Bill om zich te concentreren op andere zaken, waaronder liefdadigheidswerk in Nigeria met Christian Blind Mission International. De laatste aflevering met Goodwin werd uitgezonden in maart 2007. Ze is de langst dienende speler in The Bill. Ze speelde haar alter ego 396 keer.

Op 8 juli 2007 verscheen Goodwin in een aflevering van Heartbeat als Rosa Briers. Ze verscheen in The Weakest Link en in Countdown.

In 1979 trouwde ze met acteur Kit Jackson. Ze hebben twee dochters, onder wie zangeres Eleanor van La Roux.

Externe link

Brits acteur
Engels acteur


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text:
Rochefort-en-Yvelines is een gemeente in het Franse departement Yvelines (regio Île-de-France) en telt 774 inwoners (1999). De plaats maakt deel uit van het arrondissement Rambouillet.

Geografie
De oppervlakte van Rochefort-en-Yvelines bedraagt 12,6 km², de bevolkingsdichtheid is 61,4 inwoners per km².

Demografie
Onderstaande figuur toont het verloop van het inwonertal (bron: INSEE-tellingen).

Externe links

Gemeente in Yvelines