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Sports > Football > The Madden Curse: It is Real
The Madden Curse: It is Real
By Thomas Delatte on May 18th, 2015
Back in 1988, John Madden teamed up with Electronic Arts to create the game that changed the way people played video games. It invented a whole new way to enjoy football. Albeit it was on MS-DOS back then, it was still the best thing you have ever seen in 1988 as far as NFL games go.
27 years later, and 29 game titles following the original, the Madden franchise is still the most dominate sports video game in the world. In 2015 alone, it sold nearly $5.5 million worldwide, $4.7 million in the United States. And that was a slow year for the franchise.
But the success of the franchise is not all fun and games.
With the announcement this past week that Odell Beckham Jr would be on the cover of Madden 16, we thought it would only be fair to take a look back at the Madden Curse that has never been broken, no matter what anyone says. It began in 1995, the first year Madden was able to use actual player names and team logos…
Madden 95 : Erik Williams – Cowboys
Many people claim it was Garrison Hearst that started the curse but in reality, the first cover that featured any players was Madden 95. Erik Williams, a three time Super Bowl champion Tackle for the Dallas Cowboys is the first victim of the curse.
Madden 95 was released in November of 1994 but the cover was already produced, shot, and ready to go in October of 1994. That's when Erik got into a one-car accident that was so serious, he missed just about the entire 1994 season. Prior to the car accident, he was heading towards becoming one of the all-time greats at Offensive Tackle. He came back from the injury but never was the same.
Madden 99 : Garrison Hearst – 49ers
Garrison Hearst had a pretty good season in 1997. He ran for over 1,000 yards and had 6 total TDs. But that was only a tease. He erupted for a 49ers single season rushing record in 1998 when he rushed for 1,570 yards, caught 39 passes for 535 more yards, and had 9 total TDs.
It took him a few seasons but he finally arrived.
But then during the 1998 Divisional playoffs, on the first rush attempt of the game, he got his foot caught in the turf in Atlanta and broke his ankle. It was so horrific that his NFL future was all but over. During his surgery, he also had severe issues with blood clotting and the NFL was even further out of reach. He missed the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
Madden 00 : Barry Sanders – Lions
In 10 seasons, Barry Sanders became one of the greatest NFL running backs in history of the sport. He gained 15,269 rushing yards and scored 99 touchdowns. He was healthy but stuck on a very bad Detroit Lions club that did very little to help build around him and try to win a Super Bowl.
So in 1999, he retired from the game. It was not expected and when he made the announcement, it shocked the NFL community. He was a future Hall of Famer that decided he would just up and leave. After he was on the cover of Madden, which came out in 1999, he never played another down in the NFL. Ever.
Madden 01 : Eddie George – Titans
If there was ever going to be a player that could break the curse, this is the one. Eddie George became a reliable elite running back for the Titans where he rushed for more than 1,200 yards a year, each season, for the first four years of his career.
The curse is not always about the stats, it can reach players at the worst time. Yes, his numbers were decent but he never surpassed the 1,200 yard mark again. But it was the playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens when Eddie George could not hold on to a pass and it ended up in the hands of Ray Lewis, which he then went 50 yards for the score to secure the win.
Did we mention that the Titans were 13-3, the Super Bowl favorite, and Eddie George rushed for over 1,500 yards that season too? That was the best season in his career but all for nothing because he dropped an easy pass when it mattered most.
Madden 02 : Daunte Culpepper – Vikings
During the 2001 season, Daunte Culpepper struggled and eventually hurt his knee during a game against Pittsburgh which made him miss the rest of the season in which Minnesota finished 5-11. Then he spent 2002 throwing more interceptions than TDs, 23 picks to 18 touchdowns.
Madden 03 : Marshall Faulk – Rams
The Madden Curse is a curse that might get you the same season or the next.
Or in the case of Marshall Faulk, it could even cause the decline of one of the best running backs in the NFL. He rushed for over 1,000 yards for seven of the first eight years of his career. He had four consecutive seasons of more than 1,300 yard rushing up until 2002.
After the Madden 03 cover, he never reached 1,000 yards again and only played another four years before a knee injury forced him to retire in 2006
Madden 04 : Michael Vick – Falcons
For the first time since Madden was released in 1988, the athlete on the cover missed the entire season following its release.
Michael Vick missed the first 11 games of the 2003 season after tearing his right fibula in the preseason. He bounced back in 2004 though and proved that even though the Madden Curse took him out the same season, he could come back.
Oh wait, then he went to prison in 2007. The Madden Curse had to put him back in his place and remind the rest of its power.
Madden 05 : Ray Lewis – Ravens
In 2004, Ray Lewis had zero interceptions and the Ravens failed to make the playoffs. He did register 100 tackles but only had 1 sack. It was not the best season for the best MLB in the NFL. Then in 2005 he tore his right hamstring during Week 6 and ended up missing the rest of the season. He was placed on injured reserve, the only time ever, in his career.
Madden 06 : Donovan McNabb – Eagles
Are you tired of hearing about the curse yet? Have we convinced you that it is real or are you still doubting its' power? During both 2005 and 2006, Donovan McNabb ended the season's on injured reserve. The first year was for a severe groin injury and the next was a torn ACL.
Madden 07 : Shaun Alexander – Seahawks
Prior to making the cover of Madden 07, Shaun Alexander never missed a single game in the previous six seasons. Not to mention, he rushed for an amazing 1,880 yards in 2005 with 27 TDs. Fantasy football fans loved him. Seattle fans loved him. He was on his way to greatness.
Then he was put on the cover of Madden and all hell broke loose. Not only did he just sign the biggest contract by a running back in NFL history just earlier in 2006, but he broke his foot in week 3 putting a dent in his perfect performance record and stopping him from reaching 1,000 yards rushing.
It didn't stop there. He fractured his wrist in 2007 during week 1. In week 9, he sprained his knee and his ankle. He was eventually cut from the roster in 2008.
Madden 08 : Vince Young – Titans
2007 was the year Vince Young probably wishes he could have back. It started off during preseason when he broke one of the team rules and had to apologize just to be allowed to play the next week. In week 6, however, the injury to his quads really started to affect his running form, which made him such a good QB.
Then he hurt his knee in 2008 and lost the starting job to Kerry Collins and had to earn his job back. The once promising career took a sudden stop at bad luck town and his career became a joke as teams signed him to be a backup for one season. Sometimes less.
Madden 09 : Brett Favre – Packers
For what it is worth, Brett Favre is one of the best QB's the NFL will ever see. His overall production combined with his ability to win games made him great. However, the whole retirement battle he was forced into almost every season began in 2007. It was followed with the announcement of him being on the cover of Madden 09.
The legendary Green Bay Packers QB was then traded in 2008 to the Jets. And we all know what happened in New York, right Jenn Sterger? It wasn't just the trade or Sterger saga, he also injured his shoulder that year which would be the real reason he eventually had to retire two seasons later.
It also was the first time a Madden game was released with the cover athlete already playing in a different uniform.
Madden 10 : Troy Polamalu – Steelers
Larry Fitzgerald was also on the cover but the Madden Curse does not always hurt all the players on the cover. So he gets a pass. But the Madden Curse is still very much alive as Troy Polamalu felt it during Week 1 of the 2009 season when he tore his MCL, missed a few games, came back for a few weeks before injuring his PCL and missing more games. It marked the first time in his career he missed more than five games in a season due to injury.
Madden 11 : Drew Brees – Saints
The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl in the 2009 season when they beat the Colts in Super Bowl 44. Drew Brees then became an American hero. His face was everywhere, including the cover of Madden 11.
The 2010 season wasn't horrible. Drew still threw for 4,620 yards and led the Saints to an 11-5 record. But because they did not win their division, they were forced to travel to Seattle where the Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record, the first time in NFL history that a team with a losing record made the playoffs.
Needless to say, the Saints were 14 point favorites going on the road and everyone expected this to be a Drew Brees show. That's when Marshawn Lynch made NFL highlight history with one of the single greatest runs for a TD you will ever see to upset the Saints and Drew Brees. The Madden Curse lives on…
Madden 12 : Peyton Hillis – Browns
Peyton Hillis is still one of the most baffling choices for the cover of Madden. He only had one good season of more than 1,000 yards rushing and the sports world went nuts over him.
After making the cover, he began having contract disputes and hamstring injuries, which ended up plaguing him every year after that. The NFL saw what he could do in 2010, and The Madden Curse decided enough was enough.
Madden 13 : Calvin Johnson – Lions
Finally, the Madden Curse is broken! And only after almost 20 years.
Calvin Johnson broke the NFL's single season receiving record in 2012 with 1,964 yard receiving. He also signed an extension making him the highest paid receiver in NFL history. (8 years, $132 million, $60 million guaranteed)
The Detroit Lions, however, finished 4-12 that season and ended up tied for the worse record in the NFC. They also missed the playoffs in 2013, it was the Madden 13 cover, when they finished the season losing six of their final seven games.
In 2014, Calvin Johnson battled multiple injuries and finished with 1,000 yard receiving but he was second behind Golden Tate and it was the second straight season his numbers declined.
THE MADDEN CURSE ISN'T DEAD FOLKS, IT FIGHTS ON…
Madden 25 : Adrian Peterson – Vikings
Adrian Peterson suffered with an annoying foot injury in 2013 but still finished with 1,266 yards rushing. But then, if you read the news and follow sports then we do not have to explain what occured in 2014, Adrian Peterson was suspended for the year in 2014 and his future in the NFL is still unknown.
He was reinstated but where he will play remains to be seen. The Madden Curse took down one of the best RBs in the NFL so do not even think about claiming it is not real.
Madden 15 : Richard Sherman – Seahawks
Richard Sherman did not get injured, he did not miss any games, and he ended up going to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season. However, his interceptions dropped from his normal 8 to 4, which is huge for an elite DB in the NFL. And then came the Super Bowl which the Seahawks defense, which Sherman always considered the best ever, blew a 10 point fourth quarter lead.
Seattle had a chance to win it all but decided not to run the ball at the Patriots one yard line with the running back known as "The Beast". They made one of the worse play calls ever and ended up throwing an interception to seal the win for the Patriots. The Madden Curse affects the player and his team. It does not care, it will take you out.
Madden 16 : Odell Beckham Jr – Giants
To Be Determined… but we have a good feeling the Madden Curse is coming for ODB.


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Q: Match Strings in two different files and output this + following line From a rather complicated contract I have two .txt files. The files look as follows:
File1:
Hash: 5FD876CDF0FCFAF1E7F018F5A8519A7B

Path: /Users/foobar/Desktop/whatever.jpg

File2:
Hash: 0EDEFB152D489163E603F8C55F5463A7

Path: c:\Migration\Templates\script.exe

The goal here is, to compare File1 and File2 and find matching Hashes. After the matching hashes were found, output them (and the following path) into another .txt file.
I've googled the problem excessively, but most solutions are meant to find differences or are designed differently, my expertise in Powershell is not far enough to be able to rewrite them properly.
# pattern to match the Hashes from File2
$pattern = "^[a-f0-9]{32}$"

# read in File1 as an array to compare to
$set1 = Get-Content -Path 'C:\File1.txt'

# prepare to collect the results
$results = New-Object -TypeName System.Text.StringBuilder

# start scanning the text2 file for matches to text1 entries
Get-Content -Path 'C:\File2.txt'
if ($_ -match $pattern)
   {
        $hashes = $Matches['hash']
        if ($hashes -in $set1)
        {
            [void]$results.AppendLine($_)
        }
    }
}

# output the results
$results.ToString() | Out-File -FilePath 'C:\output.txt' -Encoding ascii

Above code doesn't quite match far enough yet, I would require help in getting the finishing touches on it!
Thank you for reading my post!

A: *

*Your pattern anchors at line begin (^) and doesn't include the prefix Hash:.

*Also to get the path you need a multiline pattern requiring to read the file with the -raw parameter and include the switches (?sm) in the pattern.

*Also it's unclear if there are several Hash:/Path: combination in one file and how many files to extract the pairs from.

I suggest to:

*

*use a function to extract the information and either

*

*if only two files use Compare-Object to get matching pairs, or

*if more files, gather output and Group-Object by the Hash and if more than 1 count per Group output the Group with all pathes.

The following script extracts Hash/Path pairs from a given file and outputs them as a [PSCustomObject].
## Q:\Test\2019\07\20\SO_57124977.ps1

function Extract-HashPath($filename){
    $Pattern = '(?sm)^Hash: (?<Hash>[0-9A-F]{32})(\r?\n)*Path: (?<Path>.*?)$'
    ((Get-Content $filename -raw) |
        Select-String -Pattern $Pattern -AllMatches).Matches.Groups | ForEach-Object{
            Set-Variable -Name $_.Name -Value $_.Value
            if ($_.Name -eq 'Path'){
                [PSCustomObject]@{
                    Hash = $Hash
                    Path = $Path
                }
            }
        }

}

$File1HashPath = Extract-HashPath '.\File1.txt'
$File2HashPath = Extract-HashPath '.\File2.txt'
$File1HashPath
$File2HashPath

Sample output with text from your above file (no comparable Hashes contained therein)

> Q:\Test\2019\07\20\SO_57124977.ps1

Hash                             Path
----                             ----
5FD876CDF0FCFAF1E7F018F5A8519A7B /Users/foobar/Desktop/whatever.jpg
0EDEFB152D489163E603F8C55F5463A7 c:\Migration\Templates\script.exe

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Congratulations to all 2018 CCNS Award Winners and Nominees!
On May 26th Sport Nova Scotia will honour athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and corporate supporters from across the province at the annual Support4Sport Awards.
Cross Country Nova Scotia is very proud of the award winners and all of the nominees for the awards, who have all made tremendous contributions to cross country skiing in our province.
Peter Duram (Cape Breton Nordic): Peter was instrumental in CBN's inaugural year for development of trails and facilities for cross country skiing and snowshoeing in North Sydney. Peter has served on CBN Board of Directors where his business background and mechanical expertise helped establish the club for the coming years.
Maurice Curtis and Michael Shaune Fitzgerald (North Highlands Nordic): Maurice Curtis and Michael Shaune Fitzgerald work as a team to maintain and groom the trails at the North Highlands Nordic Ski Club. The excellent quality of the trails at NHN is a testament of the countless hours that Maurice and Michael Shaune have spent grooming the trails from December through April each year as well as maintaining the trails during the off-season. Maurice also does maintenance work on the Piston Bully groomer and Michael Shaune also volunteers as an instructor with youth ski programs. Both men plan their lives from December through March each year to be available to groom trails.
Lilla Roy (Cape Breton Nordic): In Winter 2018 Lilla played multiple coaching roles – instructing the Beginner Lessons and 'Learn to Loppet Series' at Cape Breton Nordic as well as leading efforts to develop Para-Nordic opportunities in Nova Scotia and is developing her coaching certification for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
Kate Scallion (Halifax Nordic): Throughout the past year, Kate coordinated and led weekly rollerski practices and dryland training workouts for members of the provincial ski team. Her workouts were always both targeted and fun – even in high winds and pouring rain. Kate also led weekly classes for young racers and recreational skiers for Halifax Nordic Ski Club through the winter – with and without snow.
Linda Murray is a tour de force in the North Highlands Nordic Ski Club and the Nova Scotia cross country ski community. This year she played multiple roles, including chief race official for the 2018 NS Provincial Championships and the North Highlands Nordic Loppet. Her work as chief official included setting up race registration on Zone 4, recruiting and training volunteers, liaising with the trail crew to groom the race course, coordination of the race timing system and posting results. Her responsibilities this year were even more challenging than in past years as snow had to be trucked to the race course.
Seaview Golf and Country Club (Manager: Dave "Pik" MacNeil): Seaview Golf and Country Club has been instrumental in the early development and establishment of the Cape Breton Nordic Club with access to trails for grooming as well as the provision of space for meetings, equipment storage, lessons and special events. The staff and board of Seaview are community minded and are playing a key role in providing opportunities for healthy outdoor activity here in Cape Breton.


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Archbishop Palace and the buildings on the island of Ostrów Tumski
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It's dark. You're laying in bed. Staring at the ceiling.
The house is still. It seems like the rest of the world has gone to sleep. The streets have quieted outside. You know it is sometime in the 'middle of the night'.
You wonder what time it is.
You glance over to your cell phone laying on the bedside table and think, 'no, don't look, you just checked five minutes ago'.
Regardless, you know it will just stress you out as you think of the dwindling time you have left before you have to be awake and productive again.
I know this has happened far too often to me.
So what are some easy strategies to help you turn off your brain and finally catch some well deserved zzz's?
No really, get physical. Go on a run, go play some soccer, walk to the store instead of driving, dance like a maniac around your house. Just do something physical.
Its amazing what a little activity can do to your health, mental well being AND your ability to sleep.
Not only does it make you feel good. It also wears your body out physically, which will just make you that much more tired and that much more able and willing to go to sleep.
And when you have an exhausted body, its much easier to drift off to Neverland.
2. Turn off those darn electronics!
Yup, this is a classic one. And one that I am 100% guilty of myself.
But truly - we have no idea what kind of impact staring into a bright screens really has on our eyes and our brains and thus our ability to sleep.
We are wired to respond to natural light. The sunrise and the sunset.
If you've ever been camping for an extended period of time you will know what I am talking about. Just a few days into your camping experience you find that you get tired as soon as it gets dark and you pop awake as soon as the sun rises above the horizon. This is how we are wired, which explains how unnatural light - like that of a laptop or cell phone screen - can mess with our heads - especially when on their fully bright setting.
3. Distract your wandering mind with stories - in particular, try to read something.
When you're having one of those nights where you just cannot shut off the inner monologue - try distracting yourself. And since I already mentioned not staring into screens like a cellphone, laptop or tv - one of the only other options is to pick up a book.
I know what you may be thinking - but I hate reading!
First of all, a book nerd like myself thinks you're crazy. But since I know there are many others like you out there in the world, let me say this.
If your goal is to fall asleep, is it really all that bad to pick up a book? I mean if your main complaint is that you always fall asleep reading because it's sooo boring - isn't this the perfect choice to get yourself to fall asleep?
4. Avoid stimulants after early afternoon - if not completely.
Any other caffeine addicts out there? Raise your hands! Yup. Me too.
Anyone else get shaky and weirdly wired after drinking coffee? I do.
Anyone else have to lay off the caffeine after a certain time of day because you know it screws with your sleep schedule? Yup. Once again, that is me.
So why is it so hard to lay off the coffee? Habit maybe. Social expectation possibly. Just because its sitting there in the office and its free and its warm and I just want something that tastes and smells yummy next to me all day and I never think about the consequences until its too late. That too.
So for another somewhat obvious one - avoid the stimulants. Whatever that may be. For me it is caffeine and coffee. For others green tea or dark chocolate may have the same effect. For others coffee may do nothing - but their afternoon energy drink is their vice.
So if you know you struggle with something like this try to cut down, if not completely cut out. Or at least create new rules for yourself in order to give yourself more and better rest later in the evening. You won't regret it when you finally crawl into bed and awake rested the next morning.
Can you feel the coolness of your breath as you take a breath in? Now do you feel the warmth as it escapes your lips and you breathe out?
As you breathe out think about one of the things that has been stressing you out. With the next breath in - choose to recognize it - and with the next breath out - let it go. Do this with each of your worries and keep repeating until you feel a sense of calm descend upon your mind and body.
Now spend some time talking to God about whatever is going on in your life. Really allow yourself to bring up all of the thoughts stressing you out, bring it forth, ask for guidance or help and with each breath out choose to let it go.
As you work your way through this practice, slowly but surely you should feel your entire body relax and release the pent up frustrations, worries and stresses from the day which hopefully allow you to drift into sleep.
So from what you can see above, getting sleep is really all about living in a healthy manner and listening to our bodies. Rather than hyping it up on stimulants to get through the day, it may actually be better to attempt to sleep better so as to not need the stimulants any longer.
And rather than keep ourselves awake unnaturally late into the evening, it may be worth readjusting our clocks to one that more closely matches the sunrise and sunset.
And when it comes to being tired it can be great to have BOTH a tired mind and body.
And those worries and stresses that keep you up at night? Try to find something to calm and bring yourself to a place of restfulness just before falling asleep.
Because ultimately, whether we flourish on 4 hours of sleep or we need 9, we all need sleep of some amount. And the better quality and the easier it is to come by, the better for us, our mental well being, our work performance and ultimately how we experience life.
Do you have any tips of your own? If so, please share them in the comments below or join the new Facebook Group, The Rested Entrepreneur to share your thoughts and ideas!


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July 10, 2019 ElmiraTelegram Local, Uncategorized 1
While the region has seen an explosion of craft breweries over the past ten years, the city of Elmira still doesn't have a beer to call it's own. However one Elmira native is looking to change that.
Steven Shaw, founder of SDS Enterprises in Yonkers, N.Y. is reviving a classic Elmira brand, Briggs Cream Ale.
Briggs Brewery was established in 1866 and was located on the corner of State and Second Street in the City of Elmira. The brewery produced not only a cream ale, but a porter, amber ale, and an India Pale Ale ( IPA ) which was described as "perfection".
Briggs Brewery continued to flourish until it closed its doors due to Prohibition, which destroyed the local brewing industry.
However the building which once housed the brewery went on to gain notoriety, being raided multiple times for bootleg activity from 1925 to 1931. The ultimate raid took place in April 1933 when federal agents discovered a series of pipelines which ran to and from the building in the city sewers. The raid resulted in the largest Prohibition Era raid in New York State. ( To learn more, go to the Chemung County Historical Society's blog. )
Shaw, a 1999 graduate of Elmira Free Academy, is no stranger to the industry. He grew up helping out at the family vineyards and retail store. He's also worked with companies such as Jim Beam, E&J Gallo, and Four Roses Bourbon in sales and brand development.
He hadn't given any consideration to producing a historical beer until a visit back home in Elmira inspired the idea. One night while sitting at the bar at Horigan's, he saw a T. Briggs & Company sign. He asked the owner, Katie Boland, about the sign and she explained what it was. "That's kinda cool," Shaw thought to himself, and decided to look into it more. "I've been thinking about this for three, four, maybe five years," he said. Shaw then visited the Chemung County Historical Society to learn more about the brewery and was captivated not only by the history of the brewery itself, but also the Prohibition Era activity right here in Elmira.
The idea of reviving a local beer, especially one once produced here in Elmira, piqued his interest. "Briggs was the longest standing beer that was produced in Elmira," he said. "You had an industry here, in Elmira, that hasn't really returned…until Upstate Brewing."
Shaw added that at one time, regionally produced brands were more popular, but that brands such as Utica Club, Genessee, and others have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity.
Shaw chose Briggs' Cream Ale because it was the one he was able to find the most information about. He said the recipe he will be using isn't the exact recipe as he was unable to track it down. "The original recipe could be under the pavement here on Clemens Center Parkway, who knows," he joked, standing at the site of the original brewery. Instead, his product will be a recipe inspired by and recreated in the style of a classic cream ale of the era. Cream ales were most popular among immigrants from Germany, Austria and Eastern European countries arriving in the early twentieth century.
In addition to Briggs, Shaw owns the brand rights to two other locally produced beers as well. "I wanted to lead off with Briggs because that's the one that was here first."
For now, Briggs won't be brewed here in Elmira, although Shaw says that is something he would like to see eventually. The beer will be brewed and canned at Lake George/ Northway Brewing Co. in Queensbury NY. "It will be brewed in New York State, that was my priority number one," he said. "Eventually, the game plan is to get it brewed here in Elmira."
Still, Shaw says he believes projects like his are good for Elmira, citing other breweries and distilleries which generate revenue locally. "People from Elmira make money off of these brands," he said. "And it goes back into this local economy." He's already approached several local bars who said they will carry it. "It's a piece of Elmira history."
"It's a positive thing for Elmira. I want this to be a long standing brand that people are gonna want to drink," he said.
"Whoever you are, I want you to be able to enjoy a Briggs Beer."
To learn more, go to BriggsBeer.com or follow them on Facebook
Road Work In Town Of Chemung To Begin Monday
SUSAN SKIDMORE
I love this! Lets help him get brewing here!


text:
Engineering a Better Life
New Displays show green lab efforts in real-time
New real-time energy use displays have been installed in many of the undergraduate labs, informing occupants about exactly how much air is going out of individual fume hoods at any given time. Helen Corriero, lab administrator for the Kahne/Walker...
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What would excite you to recycle more? Would competing against other offices do it? Or maybe just the opportunity to challenge your coworkers? Or perhaps a giant trophy? For the employees of 1414 Mass Ave, they had all three driving them. The FAS...
Fewer Phone Books = More Trees + Less Waste
Every year, Harvard produces over 24,000 phone books that are distributed across the University, but this year - 6,000 (25%) fewer phone books will be produced (about 6,300 lbs - the size of 7 male polar bears!). While working with Green Teams...
Photovoltaic systems installed at Science Center
In August 2007, FAS installed an 10.8 kW building integrated photovoltaic system on the Science Center roof. The system's performance is available online. In 2006, the Sepco single shoe box lighting system was installed in front of the Science...
Solar Thermal at 3 Sacramento Street
In June 2008, a solar thermal hot water system was installed on 3 Sacramento Street, an FAS undergraduate co-op dorm. The project was funded as a prize for HGCI's 2007 Sustainability Pledge. For each person that took the pledge, $1.50 was put...
Harvard Forest Sustainability Update
Since 1907, the Harvard Forest's mission has been to further research and education in the fields of ecology, forest biology, conservation, and climate change. The Forest's interest in climate change has recently transcended the realm of...
FAS Freecycle a No-Brainer Success
Allured by the sight of an array of office supplies and kitchenware, students, faculty, staff, and community members flocked to this academic year's first "FAS Freecycle" on the Science Center lawn last Tuesday. To their...
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(-) Remove Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) filterFaculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS)


text:
Q: cx_Freeze with python packages (not just one module) All of the cx_Freeze examples are for one file (module). I need to make an executable for an entire python package. Why is that hard to make?
Here's my directory:
test1/
  __init__
  __main__

The way I run this from the command line is by using the following cmd
python -m test1

__init__ is empty and __main__ just have a simple print statement.
I am using python 3.5.1 but I can switch to python 3.4 if that would fix the problem
Here is my setup.py for win64
from cx_Freeze import setup, Executable
import sys

build_exe_options = {"packages": ['test1'],
                     "include_files": []
                    }
executables = [
                Executable("__main__")
              ]
setup(
    name = "Foo",
    version = "0.1",
    description = "Help please!",
    author = "me",
    options = {"build_exe": build_exe_options},
    executables = executables
)

Update:
1- see the comment below for solution for this approach
2- switch to pyinstaller because it can produce one exe file not a folder

A: Freezing a whole package doesn' t make sense because to create an executable binary you will want a Python script that can be run standalone from the command line. A package normally isn't started out-of-the-box but would get imported by another module.
However you can always import a package in your script so when you freeze it the package gets included in your distribution.
So do something like this:
test1/
  __init__
  __main__
run_test.py

run_test.py now imports test1 and starts your function that does whatever you want.
import test1
run_the_whole_thing()

Note: You will need to change your Executable in the setup.py to run_test.py.


text:
About LCS
Foundational Beliefs
Educational Goals and Philosophy
Meet Our School Board
LCS Society
Online Applicaton for Grades K-8
Preschool & Pre-K
Preschool and Pre-K
Athletic Opportunities
Athletic Sign Ups
Support LCS
COVID19 Relief Fund
Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO)
Apple Pies
Celebration of Faith
LCS Foundation
Lafayette Christian School Society
Lafayette Christian School is owned and operated by the Lafayette Christian School Society. To become a member of the Society one must one of the following:
A parent or legal guardian of children enrolled in the school's regular classroom program
A current staff member of the school
A confessing member of a Christian Reformed Church in Tippecanoe County
An interested person approved by the school's Board who has made or pledged a financial contribution during the previous or present school fiscal year.
All parents and guardians who have children enrolled in our school are therefore automatically members of the Society. The Society normally meets once per year near the end of April to approve the following year's budget, elect new Board members, review reports, and any other business usually brought by the Board. From time to time special Society meetings are called.
Setting a Vision for the Future
The LCS Strategic Plan
LCS Strategic Plan - Approved 08/15/2017
The mission of Lafayette Christian School is to excel in Christ-centered education and equip each unique child to love and serve God in all of life. With that concise but powerful mission in mind, many willing servants from our school community — parents, teachers, and school supporters — embarked on a journey several months ago to develop a strategic plan for LCS.
The purpose of this strategic plan is simple: We want to establish a vision for the future of the school and establish quantifiable goals and timelines that will hold us accountable in reaching our stated goals. However, as we know, our planning and goal-setting are all for naught without the blessing and guidance of our Heavenly Father. And so, it is to the glory of God almighty that we set out to develop a vision for the future.
We have five different subcommittees, each of which worked on a separate 'strategic bucket' of the overall plan. These buckets are building and grounds, communications, education, finance, and governance.
The mission statements and newly established goals for each of the subcommittees — as well as the results of a lot of time, sacrifice, and prayerful consideration from those involved in the process — are as follows:
Building and Grounds: Upgrade and maintain the building to provide a safe, professional, and inviting atmosphere where parents want to send their children.
Upgrade the old wing of the school to create an inviting atmosphere.
Improve the function of the old wing of the school to model a professional atmosphere.
Settle on plan for complete renovation and begin the capital drive for the project.
Clarify maintenance roles and fund appropriately.
Communications: Provide consistent internal and external communications to the LCS community, giving them the information they need via a platform that is easily accessible.
Develop and implement a more effective, concise, and streamlined internal communications plan.
Develop an external communications plan to target local/affiliated churches and pastors, the general public, and our school community.
Build a closer school society and community.
Education: Excel in Christ-centered education, equipping each child for a lifetime of learning and service to God.
Update school curriculum consistently in order to ensure students are receiving relevant education for today's learners.
Technology: We must ensure that our students are equipped for working in today's society. Using updated tools and technology helps with lifetime learning.
Simple Excellence: We want to assess what is important to our school and community and make sure these events are done well.
Finance: Develop a set of fiscal principles and practices that ensure good stewardship of the blessings God provides to Lafayette Christian School.
Create a balance budget to enable the school to operate in a fiscally responsible manner.
Create a budget that is compared to actual performance on a continual basis as well as maintaining expense control accountability.
Create financial accountability and review procedures for cash handling in the front office.
Governance: Provide guidance, structure, direction, stability, and consistency.
Affirm current LCS basis and beliefs in the board of trustees and school staff.
Review and evaluate board size, composition, and terms.
Include invited non-board members to participate in planned/regular presentations to the board.
Pursue additional LCS "supporting churches," educate the LCS leadership/community, and refine definitions of relations with new supporting churches.
On August 15, 2017, the Lafayette Christian School Board of Trustees voted to approve the strategic plan crafted and developed by all the wonderful and dedicated servants involved in this initiative. Perhaps the most exciting part of this new strategic plan is the amount of school stakeholders who invested their time and talents in creating this vision for the future.
The complete strategic plan can be found on the Lafayette Christian School website or by clicking the link above. The Board of Trustees would like to thank everyone involved in the development and roll-out of this vision for the future. We humbly request your continued prayers for wisdom and discernment for the board as we begin roll-out of the various action items. Thank you for supporting Lafayette Christian School.
We give all praise to God Almighty for continuing to lead and bless our school.
The Lafayette Christian School Board of Trustees
Lafayette Christian School
525 N. 26th Street . Lafayette, IN . 47904
765.447.3052 . email us
About LCS . Admissions . Academics . Activities . Parents . Support LCS


Designing a chamber event or program that is effective and delivers results is a tall order, but it can be done. Follow the ChamberMaster blog series on innovation and discover inspiring ideas on how to run an event or program that stands out, produces results, and makes an impact on your community.
As part of the 2014 Innovation Award Competition. Chambers of Commerce across North America submitted an overview of their most innovative (and successful) event or program. In return they were in the running for the $1000 grand prize, awarded by ChamberMaster.
Submissions were judged on creativity, community impact, and chamber value. The competition was powered by StartUpLocal.biz, the provider of an online business competition platform packed with simple tools and expert resources.
This innovative idea is from a 2014 Chamber Innovation Award finalist, the Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce in Northeast Ohio.
The focus of Chambers of Commerce is supporting and growing businesses in the communities they serve. So what better way to make a difference than by promoting the area's largest sector of business to its future workforce?
The Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce decided to think outside the box when creating the "Think Manufacturing Student Expo." By collaborating with the three other chambers in Lake County, as well as the area's consortium of manufacturers, an event was created where manufacturers were able to meet and greet area high school students in hopes of having them consider a career in manufacturing.
"With many Lake County manufacturers struggling to find trained youth to replace those who are retiring, we felt it was crucial to support them in their efforts to educate about the viable, well paid jobs in manufacturing," said Karen Tercek, President & CEO of Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
Nearly 30 manufacturers had booths at the Expo and were given an opportunity to talk with students about careers, internships, co-ops, and part time jobs with their companies. As a part of the Expo, the chamber also hosted a teachers' reception, which included a roundtable discussion on how manufacturing careers and the environment have changed over the past 20 to 30 years. Not only were students and parents being educated at the Expo, so were the teachers who play a critical role in students' career paths. All in all, it was a great idea that was well executed. And the manufacturers of Lake County couldn't be more excited about the future.
The way in which chambers provide value to their members is constantly evolving. As demonstrated by the Willoughby Chamber, collaborating with other organizations and chambers to meet the needs of the community can be a win-win.
Keep an eye out for details on the 2015 Chamber Innovation Award competition (coming soon) and win $1500 for your chamber!


text:
package org.apache.lucene.queries.function.valuesource;

import org.apache.lucene.queries.function.ValueSource;

/**
 * A base class for ValueSource implementations that retrieve values for
 * a single field from DocValues.
 *
 *
 */
public abstract class FieldCacheSource extends ValueSource {
  protected final String field;

  public FieldCacheSource(String field) {
    this.field=field;
  }

  public String getField() {
    return field;
  }

  @Override
  public String description() {
    return field;
  }

  @Override
  public boolean equals(Object o) {
    if (!(o instanceof FieldCacheSource)) return false;
    FieldCacheSource other = (FieldCacheSource)o;
    return this.field.equals(other.field);
  }

  @Override
  public int hashCode() {
    return field.hashCode();
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Prepare to set sail for world-class craft beers and tasty brewpub-style dishes! Ballast Point Brewing Company is now open at Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney District, with seven thousand square feet of restaurant space, including an open-air bar and second-level outdoor patio with a terrific view of the shopping area below.
Last week, Ballast Point held a grand opening media event and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Disneyland Resort Ambassador Justin Rapp, Downtown Disney general manager Brent Davies, president of Constellation Brands' craft and specialty division Ben Dollard and more as they brought out the crew and cranked the engine up to full speed ahead before welcoming guests into the sure-to-be-popular new location.
After the opening ceremony, invited media were welcomed to try out some of the food and beverage options, in addition to wandering through the space and checking out the excellent nautical-themed design. There are even a few nods to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean and, perhaps most surprisingly, a swashbuckling Build-a-Bear hanging out in the rafters as a reference to one of this structure's previous inhabitants.
In addition to the impressive decor, Ballast Point's Disneyland Resort location will be serving up limited-edition beers crafted on-site using a unique three-barrel brewing system which guests can see right from the dining area and bar. Plus, a hundred taps deliver more than fifty varieties of high-quality brews. Food offerings range from burgers to salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, tacos, nachos, and desserts. A "Little Explorer" kids' menu makes this spot accessible to younger family members, and don't forget to visit the gift shop on your way out for a fun assortment of Ballast Point merchandise, accessories, and apparel.
Ballast Point Brewing Company is now open at Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, California. For more information be sure to visit the official Ballast Point website.


text:
Uhuru Kenyatta's inauguration speech in full
President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives to take oath of office at Kasarani Stadium on November 28, 2017 in Nairobi. PHOTO | SIMON MAINA | AFP
By NATION REPORTER
Your Excellencies, Visiting Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners;
Distinguished Guests;
1. Today is yet another historic day for our great motherland. First and foremost, our gratitude is to our Almighty God.
2. The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed: When you pass through the waters, I shall be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, the flames will not consume you.
3. Our God is faithful. He heard our voices when we cried out to Him. He listened, and answered our prayers. He has brought us thus far, and He will take us even further.
4. This is the testimony of our country today; and for this we thank Him.
5. Let us at this point welcome all our friends and partners, from our region and beyond, who have spared their invaluable time to come and celebrate with us. We say to them, Asanteni sana, na Karibuni Kenya!
6. You, the Kenyan voter, have been the most important player in the election. Everyone who voted played a role in strengthening our democracy: indeed, today's celebration is yours. I say: Asanteni sana.
7. You will all agree with me: the task of managing multiple elections is not a simple business. For this reason, I wish to thank the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for managing that process under immense pressure.
8. Our Judiciary – particularly the Supreme Court – adjudicated our electoral petitions with independence.
9. Let me also thank my friend and Brother, Deputy President William Ruto. Your energy, humour and optimism lifted our campaign every day.
10. I also wish to thank Mrs. Rachel Ruto. You have been the spiritual and prayerful bedrock of our two families; and the Kenyan nation. Thank you, Rachel.
11. To my dear wife Margaret: you have been my pillar of strength; your passion to uplift the well-being of every Kenyan inspires me, as it inspires millions of Kenyans. I thank you, Margaret.
12. You took the time to listen to the different points of view, and to the leaders who asked for your vote. We may have chosen different candidates, and different visions, but each of us voted for a better life.
13. I too listened carefully to my competitors, and, in the spirit of inclusivity, I will endeavour to incorporate some of their ideas.
14. This is because the election was not a contest between a good dream and a bad dream; it was a contest between two competing visions. I believe that those who voted for me chose the better vision. This, however, does not invalidate the aspirations of those who did not vote for me.
15. I undertake to be the custodian of the dreams of all, and to be the keeper of the aspirations of those who voted for me and those who did not. I will be the President of all. And I will devote my time and energy to build bridges to unite and bring prosperity to all Kenyans.
16. To all our elected leaders, accept my congratulations. You won the confidence of Kenya's voters – some of the most discerning anywhere in the world.
17. Today, I ask every leader to join me in serving Kenyans without regard to political affiliation or choice – every Kenyan deserves our full attention.
18. The election we have just concluded is probably one of the longest ever held in our continent's history. Today is the 123rd day since we began, on August 8th. Today's inauguration, therefore, marks the end of our electoral process. The elections are now firmly behind us.
My Fellow Kenyans,
19. It has been a trying time, but once again Kenyans have shown their resilience in calming the passions that accompany political competition.
20. Strength comes from being tested, and Kenyans have been tested as a people since before our independence. The struggle for freedom was long and hard. But we overcame.
21. After independence, our nationhood was once again tested by Shifta separatism. But we overcame.
22. In 1982, Kenya was once again tested by an attempt to overthrow a constitutionally elected government. But we overcame.
23. In 2007, we faced what is probably the greatest political crisis in our country's history. But we overcame.
24. Not only did we overcome, but, as a people, we gifted ourselves, seven years ago, one of the most progressive constitutions in the world.
25. This is our character: a people who come together in the toughest of times to forge ahead, confident that tomorrow will be better. And that is why Kenya stands tall in the community of nations. This is something we should all be proud of.
26. The path to a better future is unity. I believe that we can build a nation in which we live in peace with our brothers and sisters — whatever part of the country they come from, whichever way we worship God, whatever language we speak. Instead of division, I know that we can build a Kenya which prospers by rewarding hard work, and leaving no one behind.
27. Brothers and sisters: as I see it, you and I together can build a Kenya, which all of us are proud to call home. But, as every Kenyan knows, few good things come for free. There are two significant things that I believe we must address ourselves to, if we are going to build a united, stable, and prosperous Kenya for all.
28. The first one is to muster the courage to embrace the future by freeing ourselves from the baggage of past grievances. The second is to keep to the rule of law.
29. However serious our grievances, the law must reign supreme. The law should be the refuge for every Kenyan. None of us should break outside the law, or constitutional order, whatever our grievances or protestations.
30. For those in doubt let me remind you. When a foreign court, the ICC demanded compliance of us, despite our serious misgivings about the process, we complied.
31. When the Supreme Court ruled to invalidate our election, despite our having won, and being told that processes mattered more than your votes, we complied.
32. This Administration has demonstrated by its actions, its readiness to live and lead by the rule of law. By extension, we expect nothing less from each and every citizen.
33. In the constitution, we acknowledge the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation; we swear to respect our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity; and we have resolved to live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation.
34. That is the Constitution and the laws of Kenya that today we have sworn to protect and defend.
35. Our Constitution has created three independent, but interdependent, arms of Government. In its spirit and letter, the Constitution has spelled out the functions of each of these arms. And there are no overlaps, and no ambiguities, in the execution of these roles. There are no grey areas.
36. What is true of each arm of government is true also of the two levels of government.
37. As President, I will play my role as constitutionally defined. I expect other arms of government to do the same. Ni lazima kila mtu afanye kazi yake kulingana na katiba. This way, together, we will deliver our promise to the people of Kenya.
38. Human desires know no natural limit. Left unmoderated by faith or law, they can destroy a nation. To live together in peace and prosperity, a people must agree on a common set of rules.
39. Kenya is a community of more than 40 million people, all with their own views and beliefs. We have lived together in peace since independence, proof that even when we disagree, we know how to live under a single set of rules. The greatest challenges to our peace and security have come when we have deviated from these rules.
40. In the last four months we have tested the rules and institutions we established for ourselves. It has not been easy.
41. The IEBC, the courts, our security agencies – all our institutions have been stretched, some almost to breaking point, by the cut and thrust of politics. But they have held.
42. When our institutions work properly, all our expectations are delivered, some in our favour, and some against. But that is democracy and the rule of law.
43. We have learnt that our institutions are far more resilient than we might have thought. They needed to be tested for us to discover their strengths and weaknesses. Today, we are a people who can tell the world that we live under a robust constitutional order; and that our constitution is no piece of paper, but rather the living expression of our desire to live under the rule of law.
44. In our pursuit of perfection in our institutions, there is always room for improvement. But we should not destroy our institutions every time they do not deliver the individual outcomes we want. Even if the rule of law does not immediately solve all our problems, its progressive application remains our guaranteed protection.
45. When I reflect on the last four years, there are a number of things I am proud of. And four of these stand out.
46.Firstly, I am proud that we have entrenched devolution. We have built a Kenya where every county is the centre of the nation; where every county is a centre of economic development. Through devolution, we have delivered government to the people.
47. Secondly, we have built a firm foundation for economic takeoff. Our aggressive reforms to our business environment have made us the fastest-improving business environment anywhere in the world.
48. In three years, we have risen 56 places in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index, from 136th to 80th. And we have the new businesses to show for it.
49. We have also embarked on building an entirely new world-class railway system; and thousands of kilometres of access roads to connect producers to markets. We have ensured our children can now study at night, because we have connected thousands of schools and millions of homes to electricity.
50.What does this mean? It means that since June of this year, more than 500,000 Kenyans have travelled the Mombasa-Nairobi route cheaper, faster, and safer than ever before. It means that the children of Kathigiri Primary School – a public primary school in Meru – had a mean score of 404 this year, to claim sixth position nationwide. They have made the most of this opportunity, and will send many of their seventy-one exam candidates to national schools.
51. Thirdly, we have made investments and reforms that have begun to transform healthcare delivery in Kenya. Through the free maternity programme, our mothers no longer see the delivery of our children as a life-threatening experience. Similarly, the expansion of public hospital infrastructure and the transformation of NHIF have improved access to quality healthcare for millions of Kenyans.
52. Fourthly, we have reformed our education system. We have restored the credibility of our exams. We have made education the great equalizer by removing exam fees; by providing digital learning devices; and by reviving our technical and vocational training.
53. Let me now define the road ahead. For the last 5 months, I have held over 700 campaign meetings across the entire length and breadth of our country. I have spoken and interacted directly with millions of Kenyans.
54. As we engaged wananchi in small market centres from Kimende to Kimilili, from Bura to Bumala, from El Wak to Elburgon, from Witu to Wundanyi, we took on board their views, hopes and aspirations. Most resonated well with our agenda while some had proposals on issues they felt we should include in our agenda, in order to further positively impact their lives.
55. When the dust settled after the August 8th election, it was abundantly clear that Kenyans had given the Jubilee Party and its affiliates an overwhelming mandate to execute its agenda.
56.You gave us 62 percent of all governors; 61 percent of all Members of the National Assembly, including women representatives; 58 percent of the Senators; and 55 percent of the membership of the county assemblies, from every region of the country. I am greatly humbled by this.
57. These numbers tell us that Kenyans know what they want. And we are determined to fulfill the Jubilee development agenda that they chose. And with such an overwhelming mandate, my Party and I can have no excuses.
58. This is my second and final term as President. I have taken on board the aspirations of the people of Kenya to move forward, and as I have before, I will dedicate all my energies and that of my Administration towards achieving two principal objectives over the next 5 years.
59. The first is to strengthen the ties that bind us as Kenyans at every level of our society.
60. It is time for us to learn that it is fine for us to agree to disagree, while still strengthening our bonds of unity and nationhood.
61. On my part, I have begun reaching out to all leaders, across the political divide, restating my commitment and expressing my willingness to work with them, to achieve this objective of nationhood.
62. My second priority is borne out of all the interactions I have had during my first term and more so refreshed during the campaigns.
63. Over the next 5 years, my Administration will target 100% Universal Healthcare coverage for all households. And let me explain what this means: you will recall Jackson Wamai, a 28 year old teacher from Murang'a, diagnosed with kidney failure, who once had to travel two hours to and from Nairobi for dialysis; threatening his livelihood, today, it takes him twenty minutes to get to a dialysis session in Murang'a, and his job is secure.
64. What's more: he doesn't have to pay for it; the NHIF covers it.
65. But Jackson is only one of 6.8 million beneficiaries of NHIF medical cover. Within five years, my Administration will ensure that 13 million Kenyans and their dependents are beneficiaries of this scheme.
66. This vision will be driven by a complete reconfiguration of the National Hospital Insurance Fund and reform of the laws governing private insurance companies.
67. Furthermore, it is our intention to facilitate affordable housing; and a home ownership programme that will ensure every working family can afford a decent home. That is why, over the next 5 years, my Administration will create 500,000 new home owners.
68. My Administration will focus on attracting from both public and private sources, the injection of patient, low-cost capital into the housing sector.
69. Policy and administrative reforms which are targeted at lowering the cost of construction, and improving accessibility of affordable mortgages will be given first priority.
70. Creating jobs and opportunities for our young population is also a top priority. In this regard, we will target manufacturing.
71. As you know our manufacturing sector is the primary vehicle for the creation of decent jobs. We will build on ongoing efforts, such as the VW and Peugeot motor-vehicle assembly plants; the fertilizer blending factories; and Wrigleys in the confectionery industry. Similarly, we will target the creation of 1,000 small and medium scale enterprises in agro-processing.
72. Over my term, we will grow and sustain this manufacturing sector, and raise its share of the national cake from 9 to 15 percent.
73. To achieve this leap, I have directed that with effect from 1st December 2017, the power tariffs charged to manufacturers will be reduced by 50 per cent between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am. This in line with our policy of a 24-hour economy.
74. Further, my Administration will focus on developing the following sub-sectors: agro-processing, textiles and apparel, leather processing, construction materials, innovation and IT, mining and extractives.
75. The underlying theme will be one of value addition, as well as value- and job-creation. Whether it is our vegetables, tea, coffee, oil or gemstones, our policies and actions as a government over the next 5 years will be to ensure that as much value, and as many jobs, as possible are created and retained in Kenya.
76. We shall reach out to our key trading partners to work with us to achieve a win-win outcome that enables Kenyans to get the most out of their products.
77. This will involve negotiations to open new international markets for our products, and to attract even more new investment.
78. The recent prolonged drought has taught us some painful and expensive lessons. We must completely re-engineer our agricultural sector in order to be food secure. Never again should we allow the vagaries of weather to hold us hostage.
79. Over the next 5 years we shall invest heavily in securing our water towers and river ecosystems to harvest and sustainably exploit the potential of our water resources.
80. We shall take steps to address idle arable land ownership and utilization. We shall take steps to encourage and facilitate large scale commercial agriculture to help diversify our staples. We shall redesign subsidies to the sector to ensure they target improvements in food yields and production quality.
81. We shall provide, together with other actors, key enablers within the farming process that will address distribution, wastage, storage and value-addition of agricultural commodities.
82. These initiatives are achievable. However, I, more than anyone, know that they will not be attained without addressing the institutional failings of governance.
83. I want to put the public service on notice; it is not going to be "business as usual". I will not allow faceless bureaucrats and functionaries to deny the public the quality of service they deserve from their government.
84. Secondly, we will engage with the Judiciary to address the protracted delays in our justice system, and the use of the courts to sabotage the delivery of government programmes. This has been at great expense to the Kenyan taxpayer.
85. Thirdly, through Parliament we shall enact legislation to strengthen fiscal discipline and accountability at both the national and county levels. Every shilling of Kenyans' tax payer money must be fully accounted for.
86. No one eats politics. For the last fifty years, we have watched as the Asian economies have risen to wealth, while much of Africa has stagnated. The difference is that they used politics to create vibrant economies for their people.
87. In our case, we have pursued politics as an end in itself, rather than as a means to economic prosperity. This must end.
88. I want to thank Kenya's friends in the international community for standing with us. Kenya is a proud member of the community of nations, and we will always work hard to remain a force for good. We will continue to strengthen our economic ties and bilateral and multilateral relations.
89. We have learned that in the fight against international terrorism, free and democratic nations are allies against a common enemy. We will continue to fight together, to share our knowledge, and to support our allies. As we have for half a century, we will work for peace in our region, for that is what a good neighbour does.
90. For my fellow Africans, the free movement of people on our continent has always been a cornerstone of Pan-African brotherhood and fraternity.
91. Today, I am directing that any African wishing to visit Kenya will be eligible to receive a visa at the port of entry. To underscore Kenya's commitment, this shall not be done on the basis of reciprocity.
92. The freer we are to travel and live with one another, the more integrated and appreciative of our diversity, we will become. The political balkanization that risks our mutual security, the negative politics of identity, will recede as our brotherhood expands to embrace more Africans.
93. Finally, to our Brothers and Sisters in the East African Community, you are our closest friends; our fate and yours are joined at the hip; our troubles and triumphs are yours, and yours are ours. I will work with you, my brothers, the leaders of the East African Community, to bring a renewed energy and optimism to our union. Together, we can deliver the peace and prosperity for which our citizens are crying out; divided, we will struggle to realise the full potential of our people.
94. As a mark of our continued commitment to you, our Brothers and Sisters in the East African Community; from today, you will be treated like Kenyans. Like your Kenyan brothers and sisters, you will need only your identity card. You can now work, do business; own property, farm and if you wish, and find a willing partner, you can marry and settle in Kenya. And this commitment we make with no conditions for reciprocity but driven by our desire for deeper regional integration. As l welcome you l remind you that equally you shall be subject to the same rules and laws as your Kenyan brothers and sisters.
95. Fellow citizens, I want to remind every Kenyan that God commands us to love and protect our neighbour, and that the safety and prosperity of our nation also depends on how you treat your neighbour. Your neighbour can be from any community, can worship differently from you, but it is they who will take you to hospital on a late night when an emergency strikes. They will run to your door in response to your cries of alarm. Your children will play with theirs, regardless of the differences adults can be so conscious of. I urge you all to be your brother's keeper.
96. Every day, I will work to bring you closer to your dreams, and to unite our beloved country. This sacred task goes beyond the work of a President or any group of government officials. I call on all peace loving Kenyans to join me in this endeavour.
97. As l conclude let me celebrate our children. The greatest joy of my presidency has been my interaction with them. They have and remain my greatest strength and inspiration. They are a clean slate, on which we can write the future.
98. In them, I see the promise of a nation on the rise; in them, I see the promise of a united nation, whose identity is not defined by ethnic markings. We shall overcome our ethnic barriers. And we shall do so by learning from our children.
99. I see this promise in Goldalyn Kakuya, who is here today. She overcame her special needs to emerge top of the nation in her KCPE exams. And all of us together celebrated and loved her for her achievement. If Goldalyn overcame, so too will Kenya.
100. Today I direct that, in line with our promise of free day secondary education, all candidates who sat their KCPE this year will know their Form One placement by Christmas this year.
101. I ask you to make a pledge today. I ask you to reject pessimism and cynicism in your thought and talk about Kenya; instead, embrace the empowerment that comes from optimism and hope even when times are tough.
102. Pledge that no matter what language you speak, that no matter what part of Kenya you come from you; that no matter your religion, and no matter your social status, you will be your brother's keeper.
103. Pledge, to work as hard as you can to improve your productivity, and to ensure that your children grow up honest and productive Kenyans, and to grow your country to the best of your ability.
104. Finally, brothers and sisters, I ask you to pledge to reject the politics of division, hate and violence, and instead take the higher, more sacred road, of working to build your community and our beloved country Kenya.
God bless you, God bless Kenya, God bless Africa.


Back in July 2010 we published our third newsletter featuring one of my trade mark projects, the 'thin walled two piece hollow form'. It coincided with the release of a very popular DVD called Brian McEvoy's Secrets to Creating Two Piece Hollow Forms. Between the demos I've done in Australia, throughout North America and the DVD, this has become a very popular project amongst hundreds of turners around the globe. I can't tell you how much it's thrilled me to see photos of all of the variations of this project.


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2022: return to normality?
Geopolitical uncertainty and economic growth: the indirect impact of the Ukraine conflict in Spain
Global value chains: yesterday, today and tomorrow
EU and China: mapping out a strategic interdependence
Europe and the mission to decouple from Russian oil: an achievable goal in the short term
The outlook for gas supplies in Europe: a balancing act
Geopolitics, geopolitics and, for dessert, geopolitics
China's symptoms: more than COVID
Populism in Italy
Enric Fernández
Political polarisation
Geopolitical uncertainty and economics: Deep impact?
The US and China: escalation of the trade conflict
The threat of protectionism in the global economy
The challenge of America First for globalisation: threat or opportunity?
Àlex Ruiz
The benefits and costs of globalisation
Globalisation at a historic crossroads: deglobalisation or reglobalisation?
The challenges of financial globalisation
Roser Ferrer
Politics is the name of the game: political dynamics and risks in 2019 and beyond
The geopolitics of energy
Polarisation: the legacy of the financial crisis and other contextual forces
Political polarisation: the phenomenon that should be on everyone's lips
The deep roots of polarisation, or on the need to recover the lost narrative
The illiberal temptation
Populism and extreme political views in turbulent times: an empirical analysis
Financial volatility and political uncertainty: who says there is fear?
Geopolitics in a globalised world: let the data speak for themselves!
International trade: first impression of the First Phase
Politics and economics in 2017: an inseparable duo
Inequality and populism: myths and truths
Risks in 2018: (geo)politics and international trade
Illiberal forms of economic policy: evolution or radical change from the existing consensus?
The illiberal shift in economic policy: let the data speak!
The causes of the illiberal shift of economic policy: shedding some light on an open debate
The effects of the illiberal shift: little evidence, much concern
How COVID-19 will change the way we produce
Capitalism: crisis? What crisis?
Capitalism, variety is the spice of life
Capitalism(s) for tomorrow's world
The promises of the varieties of capitalism, or on the impossibility of having it all
The US-China technology conflict: an initial insight
US: what will the new administration bring?
Democracy and COVID-19: the decisive moment
Democracy and the pandemic: more light than darkness
Have democracies been more lax with lockdowns and testing?
Have democracies achieved better control over social interactions?
Made in Spain, Made in the USA and even Made in China labels make less and less sense in today's world. Since firms decided to fragment their production processes and move them to other countries, the label Made in the World probably better represents the nature of most of the manufactured goods we consume. In this article we review the past, present and future of global value chains at a time when pandemic-induced restrictions on travel and supply disruptions have brought them back into the spotlight.
The creation of global value chains
he 1990s saw the beginning of a far-reaching optimisation of production processes beyond the borders of a single country. Companies decided to fragment these processes and carry them out in as many countries (in order to make the most of each country's advantages of specialisation), giving rise to what are known as global value chains (GVCs). Several factors helped to encourage the creation of GVCs but first and foremost were the advances made in information and communication technologies (ICTs), which enabled the different production stages to be coordinated perfectly. A second factor was the reduction in trade costs, helped by the important free trade agreements reached during that decade,11 as well as by improvements in transportation, especially by air.
In fact, GVCs have boosted international trade flows to values that were unthinkable a few decades ago: exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP rose from around 18% in the early 1990s to levels close to 30% just before the pandemic, while the relative weight of GVCs in total trade flows went from around 40% to just over 50% in the same period (see the chart below).12
11. 1994 saw the conclusion of the largest round of multilateral trade negotiations (the Uruguay Round), in which 123 countries took part. Also in 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was concluded. Both agreements led to a substantial reduction in tariffs worldwide: from levels of around 16% in the early 1990s to 5% today (according to World Bank data, simple averages).
12. The development of GVCs was particularly dynamic between 1990 and the early 2000s, just before the outbreak of the global financial crisis. Since then, the relative importance of these chains in trade seems to have stagnated.
The importance of global value chains in trade flows
Last actualization: 04 May 2022 - 09:16
The pandemic: present impact and future approaches to GVCs
The COVID crisis has raised many doubts regarding the high degree of globalisation achieved, as well as the adequacy of GVCs. At first, in countries such as Spain, we became aware of the high external dependence (beyond the EU's borders) of goods which, at that time, were essential.
In a second phase, with the strong recovery in demand focusing particularly on durable goods and the disruptions in some factories due to the effects of COVID,13 we have been faced with a global supply shortage problem we had not experienced since GVCs were created. And, in this world of global manufacturing, disruption in one stage of the production chain leads to major disruptions throughout the entire process. The longer the GVC, the greater the impact (the bullwhip effect).
Such disruptions will undoubtedly change people's minds about GVCs. Although it is still too early to know what changes the future holds, we can suggest some strategic rethinks company directors are likely to pursue in order to increase the robustness of the production chain.
First, the chains will probably be shorter to avoid the amplifying effect of disruptions. Secondly, they will be more redundant in key components. In other words, there will be alternatives to the production of these components. Thirdly, they will be equipped with new digital technologies that will enable them to detect chain failures early on. And, in terms of logistics, investment in inventories is likely to increase: from just in time to just in case, as stated in a recent article by the Financial Times14 (see the chart below).
13. See the article «Bottlenecks: from the causes to how long they will last» in the Monthly Report of December 2021.
14. See the Financial Times (December 2021). «Supply chains: companies shift from 'just in time' to 'just in case'».
Global value chains are likely to be shorter in order to avoid the amplifying effect of disruptions.
However, it should be noted that these possible strategic changes, if they occur at all, may be more gradual and less far-reaching than we might have assumed after the shock of the pandemic. One of the reasons is that such changes would entail an increase in costs, with the evident impact on prices consumers would have to pay. In a globalised world, this could mean a significant loss of competitiveness compared with other countries and/or companies. Furthermore, as Harvard professor Pol Antràs has noted, the configuration of GVCs forces companies to incur large sunk costs, which leads to them being extremely rigid regarding strategic production changes.15
In other words, the COVID shock will indeed bring about a change in our approach to the configuration of new GVCs and may certainly lead to some rethinking of the existing chains. But, in the latter case, this rethinking might be less radical and rapid than some are predicting.
15. See Antràs, P. (2020). «De-Globalisation? Global Value Chains in the Post-COVID-19 Age». National Bureau of Economic Research, no. w28115.
The future of GVCs: plus and minus factors
In addition to the impact of the pandemic, other factors (mostly new technologies) have the capacity to reshape GVCs and we present a brief review (see the diagram below).16
Automation and 3D printing
Although automation is a process that has been going on for centuries, today's robots, equipped with artificial intelligence and at a cost that has decreased substantially over the past few decades, represent a full-fledged revolution. The improved productivity of these new robots may result in some of the manufacturing processes which had been moved to emerging countries in order to take advantage of low labour costs now returning to advanced countries. In other words, we would be shifting from an offshoring to a reshoring trend, which would entail a certain reversal in the globalisation of supply chains.
On the other hand, 3D printing is a technology that could result in GVCs becoming shorter and, along with this, to the reshoring of part of the manufacturing activity. In fact, with this technology, it is not necessary to send physical products; all that's required are the computer files to manufacture them! However, there is still no clear evidence in this respect. In fact, a paper published by the World Bank shows a strong increase in trade flows following the adoption of 3D technology in hearing aid production, something we would not expect with a shortening of GVCs.17 Although this is a very specific case, it does reveal some interesting effects that need to be considered. In particular, the hearing aid sector adopted 3D printing for almost all its parts when this became technologically feasible (about 10 years ago) and, since then, trade flows linked to the sector have increased by 60%. The main reason for this growth is that 3D printing has led to a huge reduction in the production cost of hearing aids and an improvement in terms of quality, resulting in a sharp increase in demand for the product. And with greater demand, international trade in hearing aids has intensified.
16. Based partly on Canals, C. (2020). «Revolución tecnológica y comercio internacional 4.0». Geopolítica y Comercio en tiempos de cambio. Published by CIDOB.
17. See Freund, C. L, Mulabdic, A. and Ruta, M. (2020). «Is 3D Printing a Threat to Global Trade? The Trade Effects You Didn't Hear About». World Development Report.
The electric car
Another case that also warrants particular attention is that of electric cars, which have the potential to alter some of the most relevant GVCs (those of the automotive sector), as well as to considerably reduce international trade. The reason is that classic combustion-engine cars require a large variety of parts and gears that are often manufactured in different countries to maximize the competitive advantages of each location. In fact, the automotive sector is responsible for a substantial part of the world's trade flows of intermediate goods. However, the electric car, with its much simpler mechanics (far fewer parts that are also less subject to wear and tear) could lead to a reduction in these classic intermediate flows and, consequently, to a radical change in the structure of automotive GVCs.
The production of batteries, a key component for the new electric vehicles, will also determine the future of numerous trade flows, which in this case will focus on raw materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt.
Digital technologies and the emergence of new services
The continuous evolution of ICT, hand in hand with 5G and blockchain technology, will continue to push down logistics costs and, with it, boost the trade flows of goods and services and participation in GVCs. For instance, 5G will support the development of the Internet of Things, which will enable faster and more secure tracking of shipments in the case of goods, and better connections in the exchange of services. Likewise, blockchain has the potential to greatly facilitate international payments.
On the other hand, these digital technologies will also encourage the emergence of new products, especially services, whose organisation could be decentralised and located in different countries, creating new GVCs in the image and likeness of the chains already established for the production of manufactured goods.
History reminds us that technological development and international trade are not independent of geopolitical developments.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that geopolitics has always played an essential role in international trade. In this respect, the USA's intention to «decouple» from China, especially in the field of technology, could bring about a very significant change in world trade and in how GVCs are managed, especially in the technology sector. Even more so because the US is not alone in wanting to put more distance between itself and other economies. For instance, Europe also seems willing to reduce its external dependence in some technology segments, such as semiconductors, with the European Chips Act.
In summary, although we do not expect any radical or abrupt change in the form taken by GVCs since they tend to be relatively stable over time, we might see a change in trend in the next few years due to the various 4.0 technologies. In addition to these ongoing trends, factors such as the Coronavirus crisis will further exacerbate certain technological dynamics. However, history reminds us that technological development and international trade are not independent of geopolitical developments. And in this respect, trade-technology tensions between the US and China will play a decisive role.
We analyse the major geopolitical trends and how they influence the financial markets and economy.
The Chip PERTE project: will Spain manage to gain a foothold in the microchip industry?
The Spanish pharmaceutical industry
Rising energy prices and their impact on the manufacturing industry: which sectors are being hit the hardest?


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Noida: Park to get a facelift in Sector 50
Noida: To enhance the beauty of park in the residential pockets in Sector 50, Noida Industrial Development Authority on Thursday agreed to develop a fountain with colourful lights.
The decision was taken during a joint meeting of residents and officers of the authority, held at the community center of the Sector.
While reviewing the ongoing development work, residents of the sector put forth an idea of developing a fountain with colourful lights before the concerned officials, who were present in the meeting.
Vimal Sharma, president of RWA, Sector 50 said, "The proposal of adding more facilities like putting more number of benches, installation of a fountain with colourful lights, repairing of damaged footpath, and widening of the main entry gate of the park in block-E has been accepted." "The park would attract more visitors as it is going to have a fountain with flashes of colourful lights," he said.
Residents informed that the officials have also agreed to develop a green belt on a parcel of land which is illegally occupied by many. Sharma said that the authority would first take action to remove the illegal occupancy from the land then it would be converted as a green belt.
Officers have also given a green signal for the development of a local market in block-F of the sector. This would help residents to a have shopping point in their localities. Currently, they have to visit other blocks of the sector for shopping.
Rajiv Tyagi, General Manager of the authority, I P Singh, officer on special duty, Satendra Giri, senior manager, Rajendra Singh, deputy director with department of horticulture among others officials were present on the occasion.
#Noida news
# Noida Authority
# park
# sector 50
# RWA
# fountain
# green belt
Dwarka: Rough patch of road gives tough time to commuters at Sec 6..
Roads in bad shape near signals in Dwarka..
Tree collapse common during rains in Dwarka..


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The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52
A quest to find an elusive and isolated creature
A Woodstock Vermont Film Series feature documentary
Showing at Billings Farm & Museum
January 15 at 3PM & 5:30PM
WOODSTOCK, VT … "The Loneliest Whale" is a cinematic quest to find the elusive creature known as the "52 Hertz Whale," which scientists believe has spent its entire life in solitude calling out at a frequency that is different from any other whale.
Identified as a whale by the marine scientist Dr. William A. Watkins, who tracked the solitary signal for a dozen years until his death in 2004, 52 had not been followed since. No one knew whether the whale was even still alive. Equipped with sophisticated sonar equipment and accompanied by a cohort of scientists, director Joshua Zeman led the expedition to find Whale 52.
"The Loneliest Whale" is a nature mystery, an unanswered question that needs to be solved and a chronicle of Zeman's seemingly impossible journey to find his white whale. With a little data and a whole lot of hope, Zeman sets sail for the Channel Islands off California with a team of oceanographers and biologists in tow, using Navy sonar equipment, drone cameras and tracking tags to try and find Whale 52.
Over two showings on Saturday, January 15, at 3:00PM and 5:30PM in the Billings Farm & Museum Theater, The Loneliest Whale will take viewers on an engrossing journey, audiences will explore what this whale's lonely plight can teach us — not just about our changing relationship to the oceans, but to each other.
This season the 12th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series will present a selection of 10 diverse films reflecting Billings Farm & Museum's vision to share place-based stories of people near and far, to engage our audiences, and to inspire conversations that increase connections with each other and our world. The Woodstock Vermont Film Series is curated and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jay Craven, and produced by the Billings Farm & Museum, with generous support from local sponsors. We gratefully acknowledge our lead sponsors: D. R. Horne & Company and the Woodstock Inn & Resort, as well as Ellaway Property Services, Inc.
In re-opening the Billings Farm & Museum Theater to the Film Series, the health and safety of guests is a top priority. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system, a hospital level standard for air filtration that is more effective in capturing small airborne particles. Film attendees are required to wear masks in the theater at all times and to show proof of vaccination to enter.
Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Purchase advance tickets online at billingsfarm.org/filmseries or reserve by phone at 802-457-5303 by noon on January 14. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend. We recommend providing proof of vaccination online in advance to avoid lines. Find the form at billingsfarm.org/proof-of-vaccination-form/.
For a complete list of screenings and to purchase tickets visit: www.billingsfarm.org/filmseries.
Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.
Photo courtesy of Swank Motion Pictures
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My Battlegrounds Gaming Engine virtual tabletop software is currently free to use, fully unlocked, in case anyone wants to take it for a test drive and perhaps port some of your favorite boardgames to it.
For those not familiar with BGE, it's similar in intent/purpose to apps like Vassal and ZunTzu, and lets you both play games live (online or offline) and create digital game conversions of your own. Games you create are easily distributed, should you desire to. No PBEM support at this time, sorry.
There's a video tutorial that walks you through the entire process of porting a game to BGE. The process is really quite simple, and BGE should prove to be an empowering toolkit for those who have had no luck trying to create their own game modules in other virtual tabletop apps.
Here's a Pinterest gallery of some of the game conversions I've made for BGE, though others are also available.
I invite everyone who fancies playing boardgames, wargames, card games, and/or dice games on a computer to try the program out and see if they'd like it.
PS: Although Mac support was initially available for BGE, changes to Mac OS X in recent years mean my software is no longer Mac-compatible (unless you're one of the few holdouts still running a pre-Lion version of OS X). So BGE is now Windows-only until v2 can be developed, which will be fully Mac compatible and Intel-native.
This promo is happening again, for the next 24 days or so. Take BGE for a spin, play a few games, and then maybe make your own digital game conversion (module) after watching the video tutorial on the BG site.