text:
Q: Why is sys.getdefaultencoding() different from sys.stdout.encoding and how does this break Unicode strings? I spent a few angry hours looking for the problem with Unicode strings that was broken down to something that Python (2.7) hides from me and I still don't understand. First, I tried to use u".." strings consistently in my code, but that resulted in the infamous UnicodeEncodeError. I tried using .encode('utf8'), but that didn't help either. Finally, it turned out I shouldn't use either and it all works out automagically. However, I (here I need to give credit to a friend who helped me) did notice something weird while banging my head against the wall. sys.getdefaultencoding() returns ascii, while sys.stdout.encoding returns UTF-8. 1. in the code below works fine without any modifications to sys and 2. raises a UnicodeEncodeError. If I change the default system encoding with  reload(sys).setdefaultencoding("utf8"), then 2. works fine. My question is why the two encoding variables are different in the first place and how do I manage to use the wrong encoding in this simple piece of code? Please, don't send me to the Unicode HOWTO, I've read that obviously in the tens of questions about UnicodeEncodeError.
#  -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import sys

class Token:
    def __init__(self, string, final=False):
        self.value = string
        self.final = final

    def __str__(self):
        return self.value

    def __repr__(self):
        return self.value

print(sys.getdefaultencoding())
print(sys.stdout.encoding)

# 1.
myString = "I need 20 000€."
tok = Token(myString)
print(tok)

reload(sys).setdefaultencoding("utf8")

# 2.
myString = u"I need 20 000€."
tok = Token(myString)
print(tok)

A:
My question is why the two encoding variables are different in the first place

They serve different purposes.
sys.stdout.encoding should be the encoding that your terminal uses to interpret text otherwise you may get mojibake in the output. It may be utf-8 in one environment, cp437 in another, etc.
sys.getdefaultencoding() is used on Python 2 for implicit conversions (when the encoding is not set explicitly) i.e., Python 2 may mix ascii-only bytestrings and Unicode strings together e.g., xml.etree.ElementTree stores text in ascii range as bytestrings or json.dumps() returns an ascii-only bytestring instead of Unicode in Python 2 — perhaps due to performance — bytes were cheaper than Unicode for representing ascii characters. Implicit conversions are forbidden in Python 3.
sys.getdefaultencoding() is always 'ascii' on all systems in Python 2 unless you override it that you should not do otherwise it may hide bugs and your data may be easily corrupted due to the implicit conversions using a possibly wrong encoding for the data.
btw, there is another common encoding sys.getfilesystemencoding() that may be different from the two. sys.getfilesystemencoding() should be the encoding that is used to encode OS data (filenames, command-line arguments, environment variables).
The source code encoding declared using #  -*- coding: utf-8 -*- may be different from all of the already-mentioned encodings.
Naturally, if you read data from a file, network; it may use character encodings different from the above e.g., if a file created in notepad is saved using Windows ANSI encoding such as cp1252 then on another system all the standard encodings can be different from it.
The point being: there could be multiple encodings for reasons unrelated to Python and to avoid the headache, use Unicode to represent text: convert as soon as possible encoded text to Unicode on input, and encode it to bytes (possibly using a different encoding) as late as possible on output — this is so called the concept of Unicode sandwich.

how do I manage to use the wrong encoding in this simple piece of code?

*

*Your first code example is not fine. You use non-ascii literal characters in a byte string on Python 2 that you should not do. Use bytestrings' literals only for binary data (or so called native strings if necessary). The code may produce mojibake such as I need 20 000Γé¼. (notice the character noise) if you run it using Python 2 in any environment that does not use utf-8-compatible encoding such as Windows console

*The second code example is ok assuming reload(sys) is not part of it. If you don't want to prefix all string literals with u''; you could use from __future__ import unicode_literals
Your actual issue is UnicodeEncodeError error and reload(sys) is not the right solution!
The correct solution is to configure your locale properly on POSIX (LANG, LC_CTYPE) or set PYTHONIOENCODING envvar if the output is redirected to a pipe/file or install win-unicode-console to print Unicode to Windows console.

A: I have noticed the same behaviour of some standard code (mailman library).
Thanks for your analysis, it helped me save some time. :-)
The problem is exactly the same. My system uses sys.getdefaultencoding() and gets ascii, which is inappropriate to handle a list of 1000 UTF-8 encoded names.
There is a mismatch between stdin/stdout and even filesystem encoding (utf-8) on one hand and "defaultencoding" on the other (ascii). This thread: How to print UTF-8 encoded text to the console in Python < 3? seems to indicate that it is well known and Changing default encoding of Python? contains some indication that a more homogeneous (like "utf-8 everywhere") would break other things like the hash implementation.
For that reason it is also not straightforward to change the defaultencoding. (See http://blog.ianbicking.org/illusive-setdefaultencoding.html for various ways to do so.) It is removed from the sys instance in the site.py file.


July 31,2008: In Iraq and Afghanistan, infantry tactics have changed considerably over the last few years. This is largely gone unnoticed back home, unless you happen to know an old soldier or marine that remembers the old style of shooting. Put simply, the emphasis is on a lot fewer bullets fired, and much more accurate shooting. Elite forces, like the Special Forces and SEALs, have always operated this way. But that's because they had the skill, and opportunity to train frequently, to make it work. But the army and marines have found that their troops can fight the same way with the help of some new weapons, equipment and tactics. Plus lots of combat experience and specialized training. This includes the use of new shooting simulators, which allows troops to fire a lot of virtual bullets, in a realistic setting, without all the hassle and expense of going to a firing range.
One thing that helped, and that was developing for two decades, was the greater used of snipers. Currently, about ten percent of American infantry are trained and equipped as snipers. Commanders have found that filling the battlefield with two man (spotter and shooter) sniper teams not only provides more intelligence, but also lots of precision firepower. Snipers are better at finding the enemy, and killing them with a minimum of noise and fuss. But new rifle sights (both day and night types), have made all infantry capable of accurate, single shot, fire. With the emphasis on keeping civilian casualties down, and the tendency of the enemy to use civilians as human shields, lots of snipers, or infantrymen who can take an accurate shot at typical battle ranges (under 100 meters), are the best way to win without killing a lot of civilians.
New sniper equipment has made a big difference. The U.S. Army has been issuing the new M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This weapon is not a big technological breakthrough. It is based on the older AR-10 rifle. The U.S. Navy has been buying a similar weapon, the SR25. This is also known as the Mk11 Sniper Rifle System (SRS). These new semi-automatic sniper rifles are 7.62mm weapons based on the designs of M-16 creator, former marine Gene Stoner. The basis for the M-16 was the AR-15, and a 7.62mm version of that weapon was called the AR-10. About half the parts in the SR25 are interchangeable with those in the M-16.
The Stoner sniper rifles achieved its high accuracy partly by using a 20 inch heavy floating barrel. The "floating" means that the barrel is attached only to the main body of the rifle to reduce resonance (which throws off accuracy.) The M110 weighs 17.3 pounds in combat, and about 70 pounds with all components of the system. The M110 can use a ten or twenty round magazine. The 40.5 inch long rifle can have a six inch tube attached to the barrel, which reduces the noise and flash made when the rifle fires, and largely eliminates nearby dust rising into the air, which often gives away the snipers position.


text:
Covid-19 Vaccines Do Not Interfere With Fertility, According To New Data
The Key To The Global Covid-19 Battle Is Fixing 'The Last Mile'
Amid Rampant Provider Burnout, Marketplace Platform Companies Focus On Clinician Experience
Novel Antiviral Approach To Covid-19 Treatment
Humana To Expand Welsh Carson-Backed Primary Care Senior Clinics To 12 States
Man's Genitals Suffer Severe Pain After Covid-19 Due To Blood Clots
U.K. Covid-19: Health Leaders Urge Caution As England Drops Restrictions
InnovationRx: 50 Over 50 EMEA; Plus, Reversing Vaccine Mandates
Major Protease Of SARS-CoV-2 Acts To Suppress Innate Immunity
Coronavirus| Sep 16, 2020, 01:06am EDT |
Trump Says With 'A Herd Mentality' Covid-19 Coronavirus Will Go Away
Bruce Y. Lee
I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order.
U.S. President Donald Trump, seen here with White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany departing ... [+] for Philadelphia to participate in an ABC News town hall event, said at the event that "a herd mentality" will help the Covid-19 coronavirus go away. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
During an ABC News town hall in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump once again insisted to host George Stephanopoulos that the Covid-19 coronavirus would just "disappear" even without a vaccine. This time he added a reason why this would occur.
"You'll develop, you'll develop herd, like a herd mentality," explained Trump. "It's going to be, it's going to be herd-developed, and that's going to happen. That will all happen. But with a vaccine, I think it will go away very quickly."
Herd what? Have you herd that correctly? The video accompanying the following tweet from Dena Grayson, MD, shows what Trump said:
Well, that's interesting. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines "herd mentality" as "the tendency of the people in a group to think and behave in ways that conform with others in the group rather than as individuals." Is this what they mean when they say that you can do anything that you set your mind to do? Mind over matter?
Before you start wearing what everyone else is wearing just to make the virus disappear, keep in mind that Trump most likely meant "herd immunity" instead of "herd mentality." The two phrases are quite similar, except for the fact that they mean very different things. Sort of like putting a leash on your dog versus putting a leash on your vegetarian hot dog.
CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Has Left 279 Ill, 26 Hospitalized In 29 States
Canadians End Up In ICU After Attending 'Covid Party'
White House Mandates Pfizer Vaccines for Millions of Citizens ...Before the FDA Clinical or Safety Reviews Have Been Made Public
But Trump probably simply made a verbal goof, you know like Thigh-land (the country in Southeast Asia that's nowhere near calf-land or butt-land), the 7/11 terror attacks (which had nothing to do with Slurpees), and his wife Melanie, as opposed to the First Lady Melania. There were also the oranges of the Mueller investigation, unless fruit or spray tan was somehow involved:
That didn't stop the Twittersphere from making "herd mentality" trend, though. You could say that there was a bit of a herd mentality about using herd mentality in Tweets. For example, there was this:
People also queried what was meant by herd mentality:
Some questioned whether herd mentality is a good thing:
But even more had questions about herd immunity:
Especially, since there are some, umm, drawbacks to achieving a herd immunity threshold:
Herd immunity, if you haven't already heard, is the concept of more and more people becoming immune to the SARS-CoV2 over time after they get infected and then recover from the infection. I described this concept previously for Forbes. The thought is that once a certain proportion of the population (the herd immunity threshold) becomes immune in this manner, the virus can no longer readily find more people to infect and as a result ceases to spread.
Proponents of a "herd immunity strategy" have advocated for letting the virus just "run its course" through the U.S. population without doing much to contain it or prevent its spread. This is sort of like the "maybe the unwanted guest will go home after he has eaten all of our food" strategy. It can work if what's spreading is harmless like the Taylor Swift "Love Story" challenge. But how about for the Covid-19 coronavirus?
Let's assume for a second that recovering from a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection can give you long-lasting immunity against the virus. There's one teensy-weensy, itty-bitty problem with this "herd immunity strategy" approach. People will die. Lots of people.
If at least 60% of the U.S. population needs to get infected with the virus to cross the herd immunity threshold, that mean's at least 60% of the 328 million people in the U.S. or 196.8 million. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the infection fatality ratio (IFR) for SARS-CoV2, which is the number of deaths from Covid-19 divided by the number of infected individuals, to be around 0.5% to 1%. That would mean that between 0.98 to 1.97 million people would end up dying. This may be a conservative estimate because the herd immunity threshold may actually be higher at 70% or even 80%.
Plus, death is not the only bad thing that this virus can cause. Having Covid-19 is often no picnic, unless your picnics tend to have diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and feeling like doo-doo. People may develop other complications like blood clots or even inflammation of the heart. Moreover, many people seem to be having persistent symptoms well beyond the initial infection. So a herd immunity strategy would result in quite a lot of suffering.
Again, all of this assumes that you can develop long-lasting immunity to the virus after getting infected. It also assumes that the virus won't mutate to the point that it can dodge this immunity. Should immunity prove to be only temporary then a herd immunity strategy would never work, regardless of how many people you are willing to sacrifice.
US President Donald Trump introduces Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, Dr. ... [+] Scott Atlas, during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 12, 2020. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)
These are the reasons why few real pandemic experts are advocating a herd immunity approach to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Scott Atlas, MD, the neuroradiologist who has apparently become one of Trump's close advisors, has promoted the herd immunity approach, as Alison Durkee reported for Forbes. While Atlas may be useful if someone's brain scan needs to be read, nothing in his background suggests that he is a pandemic response or infectious disease expert.
This virus is likely going to be around for quite a while. In fact, there's a decent chance that it may never go away. Even after this pandemic has subsided, it could potentially become one of those regularly circulating viruses like the flu. Herd immunity is not going to stop this virus this year. And neither is a herd mentality.
Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Freedom From Oil works to end America's oil addiction and to stop global climate change by convincing the auto industry to dramatically improve fuel efficiency and to eliminate greenhouse gases from its fleet. We started in 2003 as a join project between Rainforest Action Network, Global Exchange, and The Ruckus Society. Originally called Jumpstart Ford - in 2007 we expanded our campaign to address the entire auto industry.


OT's help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do, through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Occupational therapy interventions include helping children with special needs to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Services may include evaluations of the client's home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers.
Occupational therapists have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team.
Educating and involving parents, carers and others to facilitate the normal development and learning of children.
Assessing and modifying clients home and community environments to improve their safety and independence.


Re: Gunna have a go at making some collars!
I would, are they gonna have cool designs on them?
mr awkward. i havent ordered black webbing yet! only ordered red n purple as a tester, will swap the red for black tho!
well I just ordered the stuff so will post up some pics once i've made 1!
:O You're onto something there Sid!
sounds like a plausable Business Venture!
lmao can you see any issues with it? I mean reasons why it wouldnt work??
The only thing I can think of is, if its elastic, it works both ways, so it could constrict slightly on the dogs neck slightly.
Sounds like a good idea then!
i will get some buckles then, can only get plastic ones tho, you happy with that?
Can you get plastic ones that have a lock function by any chance?!
have got my tester stuff through so will be making testers/examples on sunday providing mums sewing machine can handle it!


This Frame: "photo frame 17" is part of Frames - Gallery Yopriceille category. The image is transparent PNG format with a resolution of 491x400 pixels, suitable for design use and personal projects. Its size is 0.21 MB and you can easily and free download it from this link: Download.


text:
cias primer
The Toronto auto show survival guide
Lorraine Sommerfeld
Special to The Globe and Mail
This article was published more than 9 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.
When the doors are flung open to the 40th annual Canadian International Auto Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre today, you'll see only the shiny, perfect results of thousands of man-hours of preparation.
Covering nearly 56,000 square metres isn't for the meek, or the unprepared. The show has a way of drawing you in for one reason and keeping you there for so many more; devote some time to your prep work to make the most of your experience.
You should start at the bottom. Your shoes, that is. There's a lot of concrete under all that carpeting, and you'll feel it all the way up your back. Go for comfort. If you're toting a backpack or bag, expect a security check. Strollers for the little ones are recommended. Use the site guide to plan your day; crossing back and forth between the north and south building makes for a lot of walking.
Food isn't allowed in the exhibit areas, though there are eating areas in each building. When you get there, note their locations as well as washrooms. If you have small children, a trek across a massive showroom can be challenging. There are coat check areas ($2.75 per item) in both buildings, a small price to pay to rid yourself of bulky winter jackets. Clear your pockets of any valuables.
Kids love the auto show. It's big, glossy, noisy and busy. They'll also need a break. Once again, Volkswagen is sponsoring the VW Playcare Centre on Level 600 behind the escalators. Staffed by professionals, your kids will love the books, toys, arts and crafts and more. Security is tight: you fill out a survey for your child, photos and wristbands guarantee the right child goes to the right parent, and cell phones can keep you instantly connected.
Take pictures. No need to collect cumbersome leaflets and pamphlets. Take pics of specs and details of cars you're interested in. Use an auto journalist trick: take a picture of the badge and model first, then follow with the detail shots. Keeps things organized. If you're looking to buy, get business cards of salespeople you're speaking with.
Expect crowds at the Auto Exotica booth. Spectacular cars like the Aston Martin One-77 (only 77 made) and the Bugatti Veyron (1,001 horsepower, anyone?) will be sharing rarified air with a handful of the world's finest.
For a crash course in what is happening in the land of tomorrow (and increasingly, today) the Canadian Automobile Association will feature cars from across the brand spectrum in the Eco category. Play "remember when" with a visit to the 2013 Cruise National finalists, the best that Southern Ontario has to offer from decades past.
There are some seriously nice cars up for grabs this year. Fill out a ballot to win a 2013 Hyundai Genesis R Spec (North Building exhibit on Level 300), and two Subarus: a 2013 XV Crosstrek and a 2013 BRZ (South Building exhibit, Level 800). TADA (Trillium Automobile Dealers Association) is giving you a chance to win $40,000 towards a car of your choice. Looking to road trip it a little differently? You might win a VIA Rail Canada cross country trip worth $8,600.
The show is also a great place to do a little research on other areas of the car world. OMVIC (Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council) will have its mediators and advisors on hand. Experiencing trouble with your new car and the dealership? These are the folks to help you. The OPP will be on hand, and you can finally ask if it's illegal to block the passing lane, or merely annoying. If you're thinking of studying and working in the auto industry, Georgian College will have reps at its booth to talk about its Automotive School of Canada.
When: The show runs from noon until 10 p.m. today, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. from Feb. 16-23, and on Feb. 24, from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the show sprawls across both the North Building (255 Front Street West) and the South Building (222 Bremner Blvd.) in downtown Toronto
Cost: You can save 10 per cent ordering online, but at the show, adults are $22, kids 7-12 are $7, a two-day pass is $32. The VW Family Admission Ticket for two adults and two kids (aged 7-12) is $44. Children under 6 (with an adult) are free. All prices include HST.
Getting there: Parking will be at event rates, so consider transit, which will deliver you to the doorstep. Maps are available on the CIAS web site: autoshow.ca
For more Toronto AutoShow coverage, please click here.
Follow us on Twitter: @globeandmailOpens in a new window


text:
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Area-Congressmen-latest-seeking-investigation-of-14965420.php
Area Congressmen latest seeking investigation of 2012 'rape' email
Published 11:59 am CST, Friday, January 10, 2020
ALTON — Area Congressional members want a special prosecutor to investigate an alleged rape cover-up in Champaign.
U.S. Reps. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, on Thursday joined U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, and Adam Kinzinger, in releasing a joint statement calling on the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged rape and cover up in Champaign in 2012.
Lawmakers from both parties are calling for an investigation of the 2012 email exchange between a government insider and then-Gov. Pat Quinn's staff regarding a possible cover-up of rape and other criminal activity.
A 2012 email — uncovered by WBEZ radio — was written by McClain, a retired lobbyist, to the top staff of Quinn. In it, McClain sought leniency for an employee facing discipline, noting that "He has kept his mouth shut on (former state Sen. Emil) Jones' ghost workers, the rape in Champaign and other items. He is loyal to the administration."
The Congressmen's statement on Thursday called the revelations "extremely troubling" and urged a thorough immediate independent investigation.
"We are very concerned that the Champaign County State's Attorney has determined she will not investigate this alleged crime," the statement reads. "If these disturbing allegations, that were revealed this week, are true there's a victim out there that deserves justice and a criminal that should be prosecuted. Given the unwillingness of the local state's attorney to investigate this alleged crime and ties to the governor's campaign, we believe a special prosecutor is warranted."
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday denounced the email as "horrific." He told reporters his office had referred the email — written by McClain, a confidante of House Speaker Michael Madigan — to the Office of the Executive Inspector General for investigation. Madigan on Thursday endorsed that approach, rejecting a call from Republicans to let a House committee dig into the issue.
"There are two crimes that are discussed in this email: One is rape and the other one is ghost payrolling," Pritzker said. "All of us want to know, what are they referring to?"
While Pritzker said he hadn't talked to Quinn or Madigan as of Thursday morning, a Thursday afternoon letter from Madigan referred to a conversation with Pritzker that occurred later in the day.
Madigan, a Chicago Democrat whose friendship with McClain dates to the early 1970s when both began their political careers, said Wednesday that he was unaware of the email or the incidents it mentions. No one associated with the email has been charged with any wrongdoing.
When asked if Madigan should resign, at least as Illinois Democratic Party chairman, Pritzker did not directly answer but again pointed to the lack of facts and the ongoing investigation. He said his office has no further evidence regarding the emails than what was released publicly.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, has sought Madigan's consent to allow the State Government Administration Committee to probe the matter and compel sworn testimony from McClain, Forrest Ashby — the employee facing discipline — and others.
Neither McClain or Ashby, both Quincy residents, could be reached for comment, according to The Associated Press.
Ashby retired in January 2018 after a three-decade state government career and working on Pritzker's 2018 gubernatorial campaign. He had most recently been working on contract for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board; the agency has confirmed it has suspended a consulting contract with Ashby.
Capital News Illinois, The Associated Press and The Center Square contributed to this story.


text:
require 'java_buildpack/logging/logger_factory'
require 'java_buildpack/util/cache'
require 'java_buildpack/util/configuration_utils'
require 'monitor'

module JavaBuildpack::Util::Cache

  # This class maintains the state of internet availability: whether or not it has been checked
  # and whether or not it is deemed to be available.
  #
  # The internet is initially assumed to be available unless +remote_downloads+ is set to +disabled+
  # in +config/cache.yml+.
  class InternetAvailability

    private_class_method :new

    class << self

      # Returns whether or not the internet is deemed to be available.
      #
      # @return [Boolean] +true+ if and only if the internet is deemed to be available
      def use_internet?
        @@monitor.synchronize do
          if !@@internet_checked
            remote_downloads_configuration = JavaBuildpack::Util::ConfigurationUtils.load('cache')['remote_downloads']
            if remote_downloads_configuration == 'disabled'
              store_internet_availability false
              false
            elsif remote_downloads_configuration == 'enabled'
              true
            else
              fail "Invalid remote_downloads configuration: #{remote_downloads_configuration}"
            end
          else
            @@internet_up
          end
        end
      end

      # Deem the internet to be available.
      def internet_available
        store_internet_availability true
      end

      # Deem the internet to be unavailable and log an error if appropriate.
      #
      # @param [String] reason a diagnostic which indicates why the internet should be deemed unavailable
      def internet_unavailable(reason)
        logger.error { reason } if internet_availability_stored?
        store_internet_availability false
      end

      # Returns whether or not the internet availability has been stored.
      #
      # @return [Boolean] +true+ if and only if internet availability has been recorded
      def internet_availability_stored?
        @@monitor.synchronize do
          @@internet_checked
        end
      end

      # Clears any record of internet availability.
      def clear_internet_availability
        @@monitor.synchronize do
          @@internet_checked = false
        end
      end

      # Explicitly sets whether or not the internet is available
      #
      # @param [Boolean] internet_up whether the internet is available
      def store_internet_availability(internet_up)
        @@monitor.synchronize do
          @@internet_up      = internet_up
          @@internet_checked = true
        end
      end

      private

      @@monitor = Monitor.new

      @@internet_checked = false

      @@internet_up = true

      def logger
        JavaBuildpack::Logging::LoggerFactory.get_logger InternetAvailability
      end

    end

  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
SWE Pittsburgh Newsletter - January 2022
For Best Results: View this email in your browser
SWE Pittsburgh
SWE Pittsburgh Newsletter
January Virtual Social Hour: Jan 19th @7pm
Volunteer - Future City: Jan 29th
February Virtual Career Level Networking Hour: Feb 7th-10th @ 7pm
Volunteer Opportunity - Engineer Your Future: Feb 24-25th
WE Local: April 8-9th
January Virtual Social Hour
We'll meet on Wednesday, January 19th for a virtual social hour. It is an informal social hour, but we'll spend some time talking about any personal or professional goals we've set in the new year and how or if we can help hold one another accountable.
RSVP HERE or look out for an eVite a week in advance.
February Career Level Virtual Networking Hours
In lieu of a regular social hour, we'll be hosting career level networking hours. Please attend whichever category or categories that describe you best.
Mid-Career: February 7th from 7- 8 PM
Senior Level: February 8th from 7 - 8 PM
Retired: February 9th from 7 - 8 PM
Entry-level: February 10th from 7-8 PM
RSVP HERE for one or multiple of the networking hours and I will send you a calendar invite with the Zoom link.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Slack Weekly Chat Schedule:
Tuesday, January 11th:
What is one professional goal you have for yourself?
Thursday, January 27th:
What is a professional need you have that SWE Pittsburgh can help you meet?
Link to join Slack
Secretary Role Open for FY22/FY23
Looking for a way to get more involved in SWE Pittsburgh?
Do you like writing notes and correspondence? We need you!
Our current FY22 Secretary, Lindsay Bonn, is relocating to Michigan for work in January.
We are hoping to find a replacement who can work virtually with Lindsay over the next several months to train in the role and take over for the remainder of FY22 (and ideally FY23).
This is a great role to strengthen your organizational and communication skills!
The main responsibilities of the Secretary include:
Maintain the records of the section by recording meeting minutes for monthly E-board meetings
Organizes and oversees Gmail account and outside communication with Pittsburgh SWE
Tracks member participation and section goals for Mission Awards
The time commitment is concentrated around monthly E-board meetings and varies with the amount of Gmail correspondence required, but is very easy to manage around your schedule.
If you are interested in being the Secretary please reach out to swe.pittsburgh@gmail.com. We look forward to you joining the E-Board team of Samantha Orlando, Mary Zeis, Elizabeth Foster, and Kim Daloise!
WE Local Buffalo – Start Planning Now!
WE Local Buffalo will take place in person at the Buffalo Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel on April 8 and 9, 2022.
Registration is now open! https://welocal.swe.org/register-for-we-local-buffalo/
Registration includes two full days of conference admission, including keynotes, educational sessions, and workshops. It also includes access to the career fair on Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Professionals Early Bird Member Pricing: $175.00
Collegiates Early Bird Member Pricing: $75.00
Come support SWE Pittsburgh members who will be presenting workshops!
Mission Award Gold: How Applying Can Re-energize Your Section (Laura Traczynski/Mary Ann Walsh)
SWENext – What's New, What's Next! (Mary Zeis)
Elder Care: What is Your Plan for the Unexpected? (Mary Ann Walsh/Mary Zeis)
Responsible Innovation: What Can You Do Differently? (Deepika Devarajan)
(If you will be presenting a workshop, please let us know and we'll add you to this list!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many organizations provide financial support to their employees to attend professional development conferences like WE Local. Use this sample request letter to help you approach your employer to ask for their support and demonstrate how attending WE Local will benefit you and them! Template Request Letter
Click here to learn more about WE Local Buffalo: https://welocal.swe.org/buffalo/
Buffalo is just 4 hours away from Pittsburgh, so we hope to see many Pittsburgh SWEesters there!
STEM Outreach – Volunteers Needed
Be a Judge for the Future City Competition
(New Date! January 29th)
Future City is a project-based engineering education program that challenges middle-school students to imagine, design, and build cities of the future. The 2022 Challenge is "A Waste-Free Future!": Design a waste-free city using the principles of a circular economy. In Pittsburgh, the event is organized by the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania.
SWE Pittsburgh supports Future City by being a Special Award sponsor and by supplying judges. All judging is virtual this year so it is easy to volunteer! Some judging takes place before the event, such as the City Essay Judge and the City Model Judge. Some judging takes place "live virtually" on January 29, such as the City Presentation Judge and the City Q&A Judge. All categories have very detailed rubrics to make judging easier and consistent.
If you are interested in being a judge, please register at this link:
https://dashboard.futurecity.org/register/
Even if you have been a Future City judge in the past, you need to set up a new online account because they've moved to a new online system. On the first screen, click "As a Judge". Then, fill out the basic information. (Note that your password must be 8 characters with a capital letter, small letter, number, and special character.)
When asked "What type of Judge would you like to be?", choose "Regional", and then select "Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)" as your preferred region. Once that is selected, you will see the volunteer opportunities available.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to maryzeis@gmail.com. Please join me in being a Future City judge this year!
Engineer the Future/Engineers Week – Thursday, Feb. 24 and Friday, Feb. 25, 2022
Location: Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
SWE is once again hosting an activity table for Carnegie Science Center's "Engineer the Future" on-site event during Engineers Week. (Masks will be required for all participants.)
We need volunteers to staff the SWE Activity Table! Volunteer for a ~2 hour shift or longer on either day!
Retirees and Collegiates: We really need your help on Thursday and Friday.
The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Click on the link below to see the shifts.
Working Professionals: If you have Fridays off or work a half-day on Fridays, please
volunteer on Friday!
Family and friends are welcome to volunteer with you. Sign them up! Admission to the Science Center is free for volunteers.
You can see the shifts and sign up to volunteer here: https://societyofwomenengineers2.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=59215
Please sign up for the shift(s) that most closely fits your schedule and then add comments if you have a schedule limitation or need an adjustment to the scheduled shift. We're flexible!
Volunteers Needed! - 2022 SWE Certificate of Merit Program
The SWE Certificate of Merit Program is a way for our section to recognize and reward local high school girls who excel in math and science and are interested in engineering or technology as a career. Each participating school can nominate a senior, a junior, and a sophomore. The senior receives $100. All students receive a certificate and a personal note written by a member of our section. 😊
42 schools participated in 2019, 34 schools participated in 2020 (a lower number as teachers were focused on acclimating to remote learning at the beginning of the pandemic), and in 2021, we had a record high of 45 schools participating! We were able to recognize 133 high school girls, which is fantastic. Over 75% of the girls recognized plan to study engineering or computer science in college. Another 15% plan to pursue another STEM field.
Are you interested in volunteering with SWE but not quite sure where to start? Well, look no further! Certificate of Merit is an extremely rewarding program to be involved with, and I need two volunteers to work with me to manage this program. Most of the work will occur in April/May. If you are interested, please contact me at ceb5479@gmail.com!
This year, we are inviting the 45 schools who participated in 2021, 9 schools who participated in 2020 or a prior year, and a few new schools who have never participated! Invitations to participate will be sent to schools in early March.
If you would like a school to be added to the list, please reach out to ceb5479@gmail.com.
December Events Recap:
In December, we held an Indian Cooking Class fundraiser at Mary Zeis and Chuck Bleil's house. We raised $385 for our section 🎉🎉 Thank you to all who came either in person or virtually to support SWE Pittsburgh.
We also held a wreath making workshop at Shadyside Nursery! Thanks to all who attended. It was a great evening learning a new skill 😊
Congratulations to Helen Patricia who recently retired from Kennametal Inc. after 39+ years of service!
Helen earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Her career at Kennametal started as an engineer in RD&E responsible for multiple projects leading to advancements in tungsten alloy and tungsten carbide processes. She spent nearly ten years in manufacturing as the manager of operations for one of Kennametal's key tungsten, tungsten carbide, and intermediate carbide manufacturing facilities. Helen then moved into Quality Assurance responsible for regional quality in the Americas spanning 20 of those years and was most recently a Global Quality Systems Lead located in Latrobe Corporate Campus.
Helen became an active member of SWE in 1991 and participated in outreach events and other STEM programs in her community throughout her career. She was active in the SWE Pittsburgh section and has served in numerous roles locally and at the Society level including past SWE Pittsburgh section President, Region G Governor, Society Board of Directors, and Chair of the Bylaws Committee. Helen is a SWE Fellow and continues to stay involved and informed in SWE's programs and mission.
In retirement, Helen is looking forward to more leisure travel, continuing to volunteer in SWE and the community, and spending more quality time at home on her farm in Ligonier with her husband and animals.
Congratulations, Helen!
Do you have good news to share, like being promoted, finishing a graduate degree, getting married, or having a baby? (We can all use good news!)
Please send us an email at swe.pittsburgh@gmail.com to be featured in a future SWE Member Spotlight.
Check out Job Postings in the Newsletter and on the SWE Website
resquared:
Multiple Positions
Hatch:
Eaton:
Senior Service Inside Sales Engineer
Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc.:
Precision Castparts:
Are you an Employer looking to post a job? Contact swe.pittsburgh@gmail.com
SWE Pittsburgh Membership Updates
Please welcome the following new members to our Pittsburgh SWE
Tracy L Smith | Professional Member; BS, Mechanical Engineering, Lehigh University; MS, Automotive Systems Engineering, University of Michigan; MA, Education, University of Michigan; employed as Physics & Robotics teacher; SWENext counselor, SWENext club, Upper St. Clair High School
Xinyi Bai | Professional Member
Stefanie Garcia | JSHPE Professional Member; BS, Physics/Biophysics, UC San Diego; MS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, UC Berkeley; employed as Outreach Coordinator, College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
SWE Pittsburgh presently has 186 members. We're very glad you've joined us. We look forward to seeing you at our future events!
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Please remember to keep your SWE profile up-to-date - please include your employment, education, and address; also remember to check to opt-in for SWE to send you emails (email is the main method of SWE Pittsburgh communication to our members). Members' information is how we keep in touch with you and it is not shared outside of SWE
Click Here to add us to your Google Calendar! Stay up to date on Events with SWE!
Amazon Smile!
Did you know that by simply shopping on smile.amazon.com and selecting Society of Women Engineers as your supported charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to our Section? How awesome is that!
If you want to put your Amazon shopping to good use, follow these steps:
Option 1: Click here: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/25-1307660
Option 2: Follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to smile.amazon.com
Step 2: Select Choose your charity -OR- change the charity your supporting
Step 3: Search for Society of Women Engineers
Step 4: Search for the Pittsburgh, PA Location
Step 5: Shop shop shop! Well, remember to shop at Smile.amazon.com!
SWE Pittsburgh FY22 Leadership
Samantha Orlando - President
Elizabeth Foster - Vice President – Programming
Mary Zeis - Vice President – Outreach & STEM Outreach Co-Chair
Lindsay Bonn - Secretary
Kimberly Daloise - Treasurer
Mary Ann Walsh - Membership Co-Chair
Carol Pan - Membership Co-Chair
Jayashree Iyengar - Fundraising Chair
Veronica Jaime-Lara - Social Media Chair
Deepika Devarajan - STEM Outreach Co-Chair
Dorothy Measures - Job Bank Coordinator
Erica Stevens - Webmaster
Cassandra Solarczyk - Newsletter Editor
Laura Traczynski - Collegiate Section Liaison
Sara Guza - Collegiate Section Liaison
Chuck Bleil - Data Officer
Claire Bradshaw - Certificate of Merit Program Chair
Mikayla Ferchaw - YouTube Manager
Sharon Thomas - Carnegie Science Center (CSC) Event Chair
Meaghan Shea - Nominating Committee Chair
Look for us on the SWE Pittsburgh website and contact any of us by sending an email to swe.pittsburgh@gmail.com
Would you like to sponsor SWE Pittsburgh?
If you would like your company to be a local sponsor, contact SWEPittsburgh@gmail.com
Copyright © 2022 Society of Women Engineers - Pittsburgh Section, All rights reserved.
Have an Article for the Next Newsletter?
Please submit articles to the newsletter editor at swe.pitt.newsletter@gmail.com.


text:
Matthias Hoffecker, a brand new volunteer, beams from behind a handmade mask donated by Cuffburn Customs while organizing donated food. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Goldstream Food Bank volunteers use the parking lot to pack hampers by the dozen
Hampers pre-packed with meat, dairy, baked goods and more
Devon Bidal
Apr. 13, 2020 9:45 a.m.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers continue to pack food hampers at the Goldstream Food Bank to help those in need.
Gayle Ireland, food bank president and volunteer coordinator, explained that the team of more than 100 "wonderful" volunteers has been pre-packing food hampers for the community – all while practising social distancing and proper cleaning protocol.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Goldstream Food Bank braces for influx of patrons after layoffs
Hampers are packed with meat, dairy products, baked goods, fresh produce, extra items that have expired and a few personal care items, Ireland said. She added that pet food and baby products are also available upon request.
Those who need a hamper must first speak to the interviewer on-site to discuss their needs and the number of people the hamper must feed, Ireland said. However, she pointed out that due to the ongoing pandemic and the need for volunteers to follow the provincial health officer's orders, hampers cannot currently be customized.
READ ALSO: B.C. announces $3M for food banks to increase capacity during COVID-19
The food bank is operating on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the first three weeks of the calendar month, Ireland said. Typically, hamper pick up takes place inside the Langford Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on Station Avenue but is currently taking place outside the branch to permit social distancing.
While there has been a spike in new registrants due to job loss, the number of people accessing the food bank is somewhat low, she said. Some 30 residents came by to pick up food on the morning of April 7 – fewer than Ireland was expecting. She assumes the reduced numbers are due to residents self-isolating but wants everyone to know they can still safely pick up food hampers or send someone to pick up for them during the pandemic.
READ ALSO: Goldstream Food Bank moves operation outside in response to COVID-19 fears
"If they need help, we're here to help," she emphasized.
Ireland said despite the gloomy situation, she's seen an outpouring of kindness from the community. As she spoke, residents stopped by to offer food, monetary donations and even gas for the delivery vans.
To reduce the spread of the virus, anyone looking to make a donation is asked to drop off food straight from the grocery store rather than from their pantry or simply bring cash or gift cards, Ireland said. For more information, visit goldstreamfoodbank.org.
@devonscarlett
devon.bidal@saanichnews.com
City of LangfordCoronavirusFood Bank
Volunteers at the Goldstream Food Bank spent the day handing out food hampers from a tent in the parking lot of the Royal Canadian Legion branch on Station Avenue. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Oak Bay toilet garden brings relief in a time of stress
Annual Sooke Artifacts art show moves online


TIBCO Enterprise Message Service is a standards-based messaging solution that can serve as the backbone of an SOA by providing Java Message Service (JMS) compliant communications across a wide range of platforms and application technologies.
Organizations are becoming increasingly dependent on the real-time flow of information across systems to ensure top performance and competitiveness. Consequently, most IT organizations are moving away from monolithic applications and toward service-oriented architecture (SOA) that makes software functions and information easily accessible and reusable as services. One key requirement of an SOA is the ability to make information of all kinds available wherever and whenever it's needed, without requiring extensive administrative effort and without putting undue stress and traffic on corporate and public networks.


"My heart is gushing with happiness and excitement."
Turns out you don't need a reality show to find your true love.
Former Bachelor contestant Tenley Molzahn revealed on Saturday she is engaged to her boyfriend of two years, Taylor Leopold. The 33-year-old posted a photo to her Instagram page, showing the two of them embracing and showing off her diamond engagement ring.
"THIS IS HAPPENING!!!" she wrote. "Last night I said yes to spending forever with him! My heart is gushing with happiness and excitement & I can't stop thinking of how good God is!!!"
Leopold posted a similar picture to his Instagram account, with the caption, "💍💍💍My ride or die! Beyond thankful for this amazing woman. Tenley you are the most selfless, loving person. I couldn't be more Lucky. Here's to forever!"
Molzahn has come a long way from her days on the The Bachelor. Molzahn competed for Jake Pavelka's love on The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love, back in 2010. Though she didn't win the heart of the former bachelor, she placed second on season 14 of the show.
She later appeared on the debut season of Bachelor Pad, where she met and later dated co-star Kiptyn Locke. The two broke up in 2014.