Boston is one of the oldest cities in North America and one of the most liveable. To help you make the most of all that your city has to offer, you are invited to click on the following web links to helpful resources provided by the City, Commonwealth and your neighborhood's organizations.
BOS:311 is the City of Boston's award-winning effort to empower residents to be the City's "eyes and ears." You can alert the City of Boston to neighborhood issues such as potholes, damaged signs, and graffiti, to name a few.
To start reporting, download the app, send a text or tweet, visit the website, or give them a call. All available 24/7/365.
40 reasons to love Boston!
You can help us create a safer neighborhood for everybody!
The Association works closely with local law enforcement agencies and your elected representatives to help keep our neighborhood a safer community for everyone to enjoy.
You are invited to help as well. If you see a crime or anti-social behavior such as prostitution, panhandling or illegal drug activity taking place, you should do any of the following to report it, anonymously.
You are also welcome to join the Public Safety Committee. This committee acts as a forum to support community partnerships to prevent crime and the fear of crime in the neighborhood. The committee focuses on neighborhood priority issues such as prostitution, panhandling, illegal drug activity, burglary, home invasion, car theft and other public safety concerns. The committee works with the Boston Police Department, Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Police and other law enforcement officials to problem solve, share information and address issues.


This interview was taped two years ago on Vancouver Island and has recently been placed on you tube. In this interview we discuss cell phones; mobile phones, WiFi in schools, cell phones antennas and FM radio antennas; CFL bulbs; dirty electricity; and electrohypersensitivity.
Interview lasts 30 minutes. Please click here to watch it now.


Pastor Snow – The Music Book, Pt. 2. Introducing this six-track EP with a highly fuelled energetic track such as 'Eleven Problems', Pastor Snow makes a clear statement that he is a producer that will be paid close attention to. Taking the listener on a journey through diverse electronic interpretations of house sounds, Snow cleverly teams up with the chart-soaring producer Caiiro in creating a beautiful soul-soothing track entitled 'Snow on the Desert'.
We are even reminded of the first part of The Music Book series as Snow takes the 'Violins on Steroids' where we hear how his distinctive use of this elegant wooden string instrument has been embedded to fully compliment the afro drum patterns.
From start to finish, Pastor Snow is set to draw an even greater level of attention with this EP and we can guarantee everyone will want a piece of this.


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You don't know what a blog is?! Do I really need to say more?
Posted by MrQuick at 10:37 PM
WIN!: Don't Look Down WIN
WIN!: Don't Look Down WIN:
If you didn't have to go #2 before, this glass floor will certainly help.
The Last Shuttle
The Last Shuttle:
92 year old WWII vet is DVD bootlegger who sent 300,000 pirated discs to US troops
92 year old WWII vet is DVD bootlegger who sent 300,000 pirated discs to US troops:
photo: Todd Heisler/The New York Times
The New York Times has a profile of Long Island resident Hyman Strachman, "a 92-year-old, 5-foot-5 World War II veteran trying to stay busy after the death of his wife."
He is one of the world's most prolific movie bootleggers, and has shipped hundreds of thousands of discs to US troops stationed overseas, at great personal expense. The man doesn't exactly fit the MPAA's pirate stereotype, in age, appearance, or motivation. Better still, who helped him distribute the copied DVDs to soldiers? Army chaplains.
Snip:
"It's not the right thing to do, but I did it," Mr. Strachman said, acknowledging that his actions violated copyright law. "If I were younger," he added, "maybe I'd be spending time in the hoosegow."
And of course you want to know what the MPAA says about the nonagenarian widower megapirate!
Howard Gantman, a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America, said he did not believe its member studios were aware of Mr. Strachman's operation. His sole comment dripped with the difficulty of going after a 92-year-old widower supporting the troops.
"We are grateful that the entertainment we produce can bring some enjoyment to them while they are away from home," Mr. Gantman said.
..through clenched jaw, no doubt.
It's a terrific piece, and you'll want to click through to see the wonderful accompanying photos, and hear audio of "Big Hy" speaking.
Posted by MrQuick at 5:50 PM
Enterprise lands in New York
Enterprise lands in New York:
The Space Shuttle Enterprise has landed in New York and look who was on board! Ok, they weren't. But this magnificent 1976 photo, previously seen on BB, turned up today in a CNN.com article pegged on the Shuttle's journey to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. "Shuttle Enterprise has a 'Star Trek' legacy"
via http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard
Posted by MrQuick at 7:42 AM
Freddie Mercury Tribute of the Day
Freddie Mercury Tribute of the Day:
Artist Pablo Stanley's comic "Mr. Fahrenheit," starring legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, gets soundtracked by the song that inspired it: "Don't Stop Me Now."
[aggregate.]
POTUS Pic of the Day
POTUS Pic of the Day:
So the President walks into a bar… and he meets Madalyn Starkey, a University of Colorado student who will forever be known as the girl who posed for the greatest photo ever taken of a sitting president.
[thanks, brett! uproxx]
Nickel Cobalt
Nickel Cobalt:
via http://nickelcobalt.tumblr.com/
1963Gregory Sukhov takes his pet bear Mickey for a walk in...
Gregory Sukhov takes his pet bear Mickey for a walk in...:
Gregory Sukhov takes his pet bear Mickey for a walk in Moscow.
(via vintagegal)
MAMONTO
MAMONTO:
via http://mamonto.tumblr.com/page/4#13033771581
Liz Lemon x Mythbusters.
Liz Lemon x Mythbusters.:
Fortune:
le Bat
le Bat:
Special Agent Gordon, Twin Peaks
Special Agent Gordon, Twin Peaks:
Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling in "Planet Terror"...
Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling in "Planet Terror"...:
Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling in "Planet Terror" (2007, Dir. Robert Rodriguez)
Lucille Ball fooling around on the set...
aparakeetnamedgaylord:
Lucille Ball fooling around on the set of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Posted by Sunny Cherio at 12:08 PM
Aquacade Ballet, 1953. Photographer: Philippe Halsman (via)
Snoopy died in his sleep
Posted by Sunny Cherio at 4:47 PM
RIP, World's oldest teenager
Dead at 93, Mike Wallace
Dead at 93, Mike Wallace:
Flying Trailers
iPhone Users Are Disgusted By New Android Users Signing Up For Instagram [Humor]
iPhone Users Are Disgusted By New Android Users Signing Up For Instagram [Humor]:
Alright, first off. I'm not trying to start a flame war here but — wow. I had no idea this kind of sentiment was going 'round the internet. I mean, I've oft read in our comments that iOS users can be a bit "stuck up," thinking of their iPhone as more of a status symbol than a utility. Well, then I came across these posts from iPhone users on Twitter who weren't exactly welcoming to the flood of new Android Instagram users "late to the party as usual." Here's just a few of the more ignorant comments posted on Twitter today. If you're feeling a bit more masochistic, you can get your blood boiling further by following an all new Twitter account dedicating to retweeting posts just like these from some of the internet's finest. Oh, and please — keep it PG-13 in the comments. We can all voice our opinions in a civil manner, right?
[BuzzFeed]
(title unknown)
(title unknown):
The Bees, "No More Excuses"
92 year old WWII vet is DVD bootlegger who sent 30...
1963Gregory Sukhov takes his pet bear Mickey for a...
Aquacade Ballet, 1953. Photographer: Philippe Hals...
iPhone Users Are Disgusted By New Android Users Si...
Tumblr (7823)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yes, it is true that I have begun to drool at the very sight of a nice gym lately. I am also drawn to the fancy new treadmills that do just about everything for you except the actual putting one foot in front of the other thing. Don't even get me started about the feeling that happens when I see a sparkling Olympic size pool!
And yeah, I don't feel good if I don't do something to just get moving every single day, but that doesn't make me a gym rat, does it?
That makes me a woman on a mission to live.
I didn't start my day out at the gym. I walked a hilly route to Costco where I met up with my son to stock up on healthy food choices for the week. While I waited on him, I walked up and down every single aisle at a very brisk pace. Yup! People probably thought I was a little weird or lost, but I wasn't going to waste the chance to get some extra steps in.
I still prefer to do my walking out in the real world. In fact, once I finished checking out the beautiful gym my son brought me to (pictured above) I put my stuff in a locker and headed straight out the door to a wonderful outside track they have. I did my first few miles out there before the heat began to get to me and then finished up on the treadmill inside. I LOVE AIR CONDITIONING!
My goals are not to reach a certain weight or even to squeeze into skinny jeans. In fact, I don't really have any goals.
I do however have a commitment to do whatever it takes to feel good.
It does look like a beautiful Gym! The only places they would have gyms that might be somewhat like that would be Pittsburgh 50 miles away! The gyms around here are geared toward men for weight lifting! There is a YMCA about 10 miles away but a subscription when they opened several years ago was $600.00 a year! So frustrating!
I'd rather go jogging than go to the gym because mainly because it's free and you also use all of your body muscles when running.


Hewlett-Packard (HP), a global technology leader with major businesses operations in computer hardware, software, printing and services announced today that they will acquire Electronic Data Systems (EDS) for US$13.9 billion in an all cash deal. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the deal has been in various stages of development since October 2007 when the CEO of EDS, Ron Rittenmeyer, approached HP CEO Mark Hurd with a proposition to join forces.
This acquisition models a strong pattern of robust mergers and acquisitions activity since the arrival of current CEO Mr. Hurd. Since his arrival in 2005, HP has worked to expand their overall IT portfolio through organic research and development growth and the purchase of "best of breed" companies such as Mercury, Opsware and Peregrine.
This purchase will bolster the services arm of HP placing the company in second place worldwide behind IBM in terms of IT services. The added revenue will work to double Hewlett-Packard's sales from services to almost $40 billion, about as much as it gets from PCs. The combined forces of EDS and HP will represent a total worldwide workforce of 309,000 people in more than 80 countries representing 7% of the worldwide IT Service market.
We wouldn't do the deal if we didn't think we had an opportunity to improve the operating profit level that EDS currently has.
A deal of this size provides a lot of potential for HP but it could also bring a lot of heartache for competitors other than IBM. For years, both Dell and Sun Microsystems have enjoyed preferred alliances with EDS selling expensive high-end servers to EDS customers. Xerox has also benefited by selling its printers and copiers through EDS, which is the most lucrative part of HP's business.
Dell in particular could be hurt the most. In recent years its PC business has lagged with declining sales and lost market share. Most of this market share was lost directly to HP. This buyout could deliver another major blow as last year; its sales to businesses were almost five times the revenue it received from consumers. With a major Dell partner now part of the competition that alliance will certainly be in question.


Blank Label Comics is excited to announce the release of Starslip Crisis, Volume 1 by Kristofer Straub.
Collecting Starslip strips from the very beginning to June 2007, the 176-page book contains over 500 strips. Fans of Straub's razor-sharp wit and cool, clean drawing style will be pleased to have the most complete collection of his Starslip work available. And they will be thrilled to see extras like a cast page, a map of the known universe, a Cirbozoid anatomy lesson, and early designs of the ship and crew! With a foreword by Scott Kurtz, this book is a must-have for legions of Starslip fans.
If you order now, you can get your book signed. If you order quickly, you can get one of a limited amount of numbered books that will ship with a signed, inked sketch.


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Istanbul Guide Istanbul in Time
ISTANBUL: A GLORIOUS PAST (AND PRESENT)
Istanbul, Turkey's most populated and most significant city in cultural and economic terms, is one of the oldest cities in the world. Archaeological findings that have surfaced recently indicate that the first settlement in the city dates back to at least 8500 years. Historical artefacts that were discovered during the construction of the Marmaray tunnel and Yenikapı underground station turned the building works into the most extensive archaeological excavation project in the history of Istanbul. The findings were of the Harbour of Theodosius, the largest harbour of the early Byzantine period. Graves and remains of buildings dating back to the Neolithic period were also found under the harbour at 6.3 metres below sea level.
The history of the city, a settlement since the Stone Age, began to take shape at the time that Greek colonies named the city Byzantium. Between 67 and 79BC Emperor Vespasianus captured Byzantium and made the city a part of the Roman Empire. It became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire after a proclamation by Constantine the Great in 330BC, from when it came to be known as Constantinople or 'New Rome' and went onto become an extremely powerful city. During the reign of Theodosius II, from 408 to 450BC new city walls, a great part of which still stand, were erected around the city. During Emperor Justinian's reign that lasted from 575 to 565AD the iconic church, Hagia Sophia, was built in Constantinople.
The city, reputed as being 'difficult to conquer' due to the city walls extending 20km, was conquered by Sultan Mehmet II – renamed Mehmet the Conqueror following his success. Constantinople began to be referred to as Istanbul alongside its one hundred other names. The city, which served as the Ottoman Empire's capital for 450 years, was introduced to Islam and gained a new silhouette with the new buildings and monuments that were erected.
As host to many different cultures and civilisations as well as to people of various races, religions, cultures and languages throughout the ages, Istanbul has always preserved its cosmopolitan feel. Istanbul is as much a world capital now as it was in the past.
14000 BC
Settlement commences in the Yarımburgaz cave 22km from Istanbul
Skeletons dating back to this period were exhumed during the Yenikapı excavations.
Settlement commences in Fikirtepe on the Asian side of the city.
Jason and the Argonauts visit the city in pursuit of the Golden Fleece.
700 BC
The Megarians, a Greek colony, settle in the environs of today's Topkapı Palace.
73 AD
Byzantium joins the Roman Empire and becomes its capital.
Circa 200 AD
Hippodrome of Constantinople, a copy of the Circus Maximus in Rome, is built.
324 AD
Hagia Sophia is built upon the orders of Emperor Justinian.
First attack by the Vikings takes place.
City is besieged and conquered by the Fourth Crusades.
Sultan Mehmet II conquers the city and Istanbul becomes the capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1923.
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city with its growing economy and population of nearly 15 million.
Istanbul, a city that hosted many cultures and people throughout centuries, carried the history of settlements in the Historic Peninsula back to about 8500 years by the ongoing excavations held at the Yenikapı Neolithic settlement. ...
Hagia Irene Church (Aya Irini Kilisesi)
Built during the same period as its neighbor the Hagia Sophia, the name of this church in Greek means "Godly" or "Holy Wisdom". ...
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Camii)
The Hagia Sophia was constructed three different times on the same spot and carries the distinction of being the largest Byzantine Church built in Istanbul. ...
Beyazıt Hamamı (Beyazıt Turkish Bath)
The Beyazıt Hamam is one of Istanbul's largest hamams ...
Great Palace Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Mozaikleri Müzesi)
The Mosaic Museum was constructed to preserve a surviving portion of mosaic covering the courtyard of the Great Palace of the Byzantine Emperors which was uncovered during archaeological excavations in 1950's in the Arasta Çarşı. ...
Cağaloğlu Hamamı (Cagaloglu Turkish Bath)
Located in Sultanahmet, it is also one of Istanbul's biggest hamams although its architects remain unknown... ...
Çardaklı Hamam (Cardakli Turkish Bath)
The Çardaklı Hamam, located between Kadirga and Sultanahmet, was built in 1503. ...
Çemberlitaş Hamamı (Cemberlitas Turkish Bath)
The Çemberlitaş Hamam, has been standing on the Divanyolu on the historical peninsula since 1584. ...
Çinili Hamam (Cinili Turkish Bath)
The Çinili Hamam, located in Üsküdar, was built by Kösem Sultan in 1640. ...
Crosscontinental Bridges of Istanbul
Undoubtedly one of the most significant attributes of Istanbul's city structure are its two crosscontinental bridges. ...


Craig Dalton is an interesting content writer much different from others. His news articles always speak about sports updates, upcoming sports matches and criticising the strategies of any games played in America. He loves to play baseball with his friends in the free time.
Minnie Minoso Dead: The first black player for the Chicago White Sox Dies at Age 89.
The Thunder Trade Rumors, perkins and Jackson and the others.
FAA to unveil long awaited rules for the commercial use of small drones in the United States.
Iceland under threat! Is global warming to blame for it?
Slugs slug Northern California but why so?
A guest from Mars found in the Moroccan Desserts � Hello �Black Beauty�!


text:
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Dostoevsky and Gogol's Acknowledgments of Writers' Limitations
Georgianne Maroon
(WR 100, Paper 3)
Download this essay
One of the more frustrating realizations most writers make during their careers is that their work, no matter how hard they try to craft it to communicate certain messages to their readers, always has the potential to be misinterpreted and misunderstood. Both Dostoevsky and Gogol have published works that illustrate and discuss this problem, both implicitly and explicitly. In Poor Folk Dostoevsky shows, through his protagonist Makar Devushkin's reaction to Gogol's "The Overcoat," the way the public tends to assign their own meanings to literature depending only on what message they want to take from it. (Devushkin, a poor copyist living in St. Petersburg, is sent a copy of the story by his confidant Varvara, and soon afterward writes angrily to her that it has offended him.) Gogol, in "The Overcoat," creates the opportunity for readers like Devushkin to misinterpret his work by making it ambiguous in meaning and message. In "The Portrait," however, he addresses the problem of misreading directly in a number of ways, illustrating the worst-case scenario of an artist losing control over the repercussions of his own artwork for his audience. Dostoevsky shows, through Devushkin's attempts at literary criticism in Poor Folk, a common result of the ambiguity Gogol creates in his work: readers who do not understand the purpose of literature and take it only at face value will misinterpret it, leading to confusion about their places in society. In fact, he uses Devushkin to represent the literary critics of his time; Dostoevsky feels that critics often miss the points of the works they analyze but are confident in their interpretations nonetheless. In the end, both Dostoevsky and Gogol essentially resign themselves to the knowledge that some people are bound to deduce meanings the authors never intended to convey from their work, and each uses his stories to show his awareness of the limitations writers, and all artists, inevitably face.
Gogol first addresses this issue in "The Overcoat" by creating a minor character who misinterprets literature in an exaggerated and comical way. His narrative opens with an anecdote about a policeman who thinks he has been personally ridiculed by a piece of literature and who "states clearly that the government's decrees are perishing and his own sacred name is decidedly being taken in vain. And as proof he attached to his petition a most enormous tome . . . in which a police chief appears on every tenth page, in some places even in a totally drunken state" (394). The policeman, of course, is meant as a caricature, an outrageous example, but in Poor Folk, Devushkin responds much the same way to "The Overcoat" itself, thinking that it has been written about him, and for the sole purpose of offending him. Devushkin interprets "The Overcoat" as a straightforward narrative about a poor, hardworking man being oppressed by society and meeting an unpleasant end as a direct result. He responds with strong emotion to the story because he, like Akaky Akakievich, is an impoverished copyist who seems to have little chance of gaining worldly wealth or status. Indeed, Dostoevsky deliberately creates Devushkin as a similar character to Akaky Akakievich, albeit a more realistic and multidimensional one who is able to have a relationship with another person (Varvara), while Akaky Akakievich's only affection is for his new overcoat.
However, the clear-cut tale Devushkin reads is not truly the one Gogol tells. While Akaky Akakievich is indeed a poor copyist who is constantly mocked by those richer and more powerful than himself, Gogol hints that his obsession with his new overcoat reflects a materialistic tendency, and that this tendency, not his lower-class status, is the cause of his eventual downfall and death. Akaky dies after being robbed of his coat as he is walking home from a party thrown for him in the wealthier part of St. Petersburg, implying that had he not been out enjoying the worldly pleasures that came with his new coat, he would not have had the coat stolen, been forced to walk home in the cold, and fallen ill. Devushkin overlooks that particular bit of subtext and also takes issue with the fact that Akaky Akakievich dies at all, seeing the ending of "The Overcoat" as a final insult to a helpless man with no redeeming qualities. However, Gogol does in fact allow Akaky Akakievich to exact some revenge on those who have tormented him—as a ghost, he steals the overcoat of the "important person" who berated him days before his death, and arguably gains some power in death that he never had in life, as he haunts the town of St. Petersburg (415). Devushkin—like many readers, Dostoevsky implies—ignores or misunderstands this facet of the story completely, and instead reads it as an uncomplicated tale of inescapable misery that is rather different from the ambiguous, layered narrative Gogol has really created.
While Gogol refers briefly to those who willfully misunderstand literature in "The Overcoat," he discusses the issue at length throughout "The Portrait," a story that focuses on two different artists and their eventual losses of control over what happens to their art, and those who come in contact with the art. The titular portrait is a painting of a cruel moneylender, done by a painter who is never named. After the moneylender's death, the painting takes on supernatural qualities and carries the moneylender's malevolent spirit with it as it passes from the painter to a number of other people, who all experience sudden changes for the worse in their fortunes after acquiring it. Gogol shows that the painter, who had not intended to create a powerful force for evil but merely a realistic, well-painted picture, has no way of stopping the painting's path of destruction, or of convincing people who have not yet come in contact with it that it will ruin their lives. In the first part of the story, another artist, Chartkov, is forced for financial reasons to paint pictures for a living that take no real effort or feeling but are regarded as masterpieces of great talent, showing again that what an artist puts into his work and what the audience gets out of it can be completely unrelated. While Chartkov feels that his paintings have become "cold and dull . . . monotonous, predetermined, [and] long-worn out" (367), he is referred to in the local papers as an "honored" and "esteemed" painter of great skill (368). The writers who praise him, like Devushkin, fail to understand artists' intentions, a reference by Gogol to the critics of his own time who he felt were misguided.
Gogol actually rewrote "The Portrait" seven years after its initial publication, giving the fantastic elements of the story an increased role in the second edition and doing everything in his power to influence the message readers would take from his work (Basom 419). Interestingly, as Ann Marie Basom notes in her article "The Fantastic in Gogol's Two Versions of 'Portret [sic],'" "the fantastic questions the nature of reality itself; in other words, it asks if what we perceive to be the nature of reality is really the nature of reality" (Basom 420). The second, and more widely read, version of "The Portrait" emphasizes the supernatural elements of the story, using the focus on phenomena beyond the characters' control to show the inherent possibility of misunderstanding and misinterpretation in the world. Considering the main themes of the story itself, this was not an accidental decision on Gogol's part. The "final" version of the text reflects Gogol's awareness of his inability to determine how people will perceive his own work and—through the plight of the first painter in the story, who spends most of his life trying to erase the impact the moneylender's portrait has had on him—the anxiety resulting from this awareness.
In Poor Folk, Dostoevsky both acknowledges Gogol's work and shows his own understanding of the many people who are bound to misread his work through his portrayal of Devushkin. Devushkin's attempts to understand literature are most clearly illustrated in his indignant response to "The Overcoat," and his attempts to rewrite the book in a way he thinks would be more suitable: "It would, however, have been much better not to have left [Akaky Akakievich] to die at all . . . but to make his overcoat be found, to have that general find out more about his virtues, invite him into his office, raise him in rank and give him a good hike in salary, so that then, you see, vice would have been punished and virtue would have triumphed" (68). Interestingly, while Devushkin's impoverished life largely mirrors Akaky Akakievich's, something very similar to his rewritten version of "The Overcoat" does happen near the end of his own story: he is given a raise and some better work to do, thereby gaining a somewhat higher social status. However, Varvara leaves to marry a rich, landowning man named Bykov soon afterwards, meaning that she will no longer be able to write the letters to Devushkin that have been one of the only sources of joy in his life. The despair Varvara's departure brings Devushkin far outweighs the happiness he had felt from his sudden change in fortunes. Dostoevsky leads readers familiar with Gogol's work to think that he may indeed intend to rewrite "The Overcoat" with a kinder, gentler ending, only to leave Devushkin, like Akaky Akakievich, in a bleak place at the end and show that Gogol's story was written the way it was for a reason and cannot be changed simply because some people may feel it is too harsh.
Through his attempts to reinvent "The Overcoat," readers learn that Devushkin is not a sophisticated reader of literature and does not understand that not all stories are meant to be parables that teach uncomplicated moral lessons. His oversimplification of the text is meant by Dostoevsky to reflect and satirize the way some critics of his time misinterpreted Gogol; in her essay "Textuality and Intertextuality in Dostoevsky's Poor Folk," Rebecca Epstein-Matveyev points out,
Through his protagonist's straight misreading of an already parodic text, Dostoevsky provides an exaggerated version of contemporary critics' readings of Gogolian texts. At the same time, the author seems to anticipate Belinsky's [a leading critic's] sympathetic response to Devushkin . . . thus, the author simultaneously managed both to reinscribe 'The Overcoat' and its protagonist, and to mock straight readings in a way undetectable to the period's leading literary critic. (543)
Epstein-Matveyev's argument supports the view that Dostoevsky, in deliberately drawing parallels to "The Overcoat" within Poor Folk, aims to continue the discussion of literary interpretation he feels Gogol has begun. By portraying Devushkin as a kind of amateur literary critic, among his many other functions, Dostoevsky provides a subtle guide for readers on how not to read his stories and suggests that there is almost always more to be gained from a work of literature than what is obvious upon an initial examination of the text. Whether or not his readers take the hint is out of his control.
Through Devushkin and his interactions with the world of literature, Dostoevsky opens up numerous possibilities for discussion of literary criticism. Devushkin's unshakable opinions of his own understanding of writing—he assumes his comprehension of literature is so great that he could easily be an author himself, and at times informs Varvara matter-of-factly that his is the only opinion worth hearing on the matter of what is a good book and what is not—are part of the way Dostoevsky characterizes literary critics, and less observant readers in general. Through his character's interpretation of Gogol, Dostoevsky manages both to further the perception of Devushkin as representative of critics who do not understand the complex implications of novels and to bring Gogol and his work, through allusion, into the discussion of literary interpretation. In doing so, he shows key similarities between himself and Gogol: an understanding of the fact that most readers will not comprehend the meanings of their works exactly as they intended and an acknowledgment of that fact in their stories. This acknowledgment shows that they not only understand their limitations as authors, but can occasionally circumvent those limitations, to some degree, by satirizing them in such a way that perceptive readers will gain a better understanding of how their work was intended to be read.
Basom, Ann Marie. "The Fantastic in Gogol's Two Versions of 'Portret.'" The Slavic and East European Journal. 38.3 (1994): 419–437. Print.
Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Poor Folk and Other Stories. London: Penguin Books. 1988. Print.
Epstein-Matveyev, Rebecca. "Textuality and Intertextuality in Dostoevsky's Poor Folk." The Slavic and East European Journal. 39.4 (1995): 535–551. Print.
Gogol, Nikolai. "The Overcoat." The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol. New York: Pantheon Books. 1998. 394–424. Print.
—. "The Portrait." The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol. New York: Pantheon Books. 1998. 340–393. Print.
Related to Dostoevsky and Gogol's Acknowledgments of Writers' Limitations
Cohen, "Protecting Speech"
Maroon, "Dostoevsky and Gogol's"
— From the Editor
— From the Writer
Yu, "Rethinking Humanity"
Bedell, "Two Sides"
Kameen, "Darkness Visible"
Seigle, "Blanche Dubois"
Sherman, "Dorian Gray"
Carroll, "Fish Farming"
Collins, "Bulgakov's Moonlight Sonata"
Faller, "Tied By Cords"
Goodman, "Violent Media"
Migdalski, "Portrayal of Despair"
Boston University Arts & Sciences
100 Bay State Road, 3rd Floor
writing@bu.edu


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combine
IGRAPH UN-- 6 5 --
+ attr: color_1 (v/c), color_2 (v/c), name (v/c)
+ edges (vertex names):

From this, I can extract particular attributes e.g. a color, which lines up with the order of the original objects (1 - 2):
as.list(get.vertex.attribute(combine))
$color_1
[1] "red"    "red"    "orange" NA       NA       NA

$color_2
[1] NA    NA    NA    "red" "red" "red"

$name
[1] "89315"  "89316"  "89928"  "106277" "106278" "106279"

How can I extract the non NA values in $color_1 and $color_2 and merge them into a new list when I have an arbitrary number of color_n entries? (E.g. I have n entries)?
To get:
[1] "red"    "red"    "orange" "red"    "red"    "red"

What I tried (which does not work for n color_ variables:
In this simple case I can do what this answer did here:
V(combine)$color <- ifelse(is.na(get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color_1), get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color_2,get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color_1)

get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color
[1] "red"    "red"    "orange" "red"    "red"    "red"

However, in reality my list could have n elements. How can I adjust this to account for n elements?
I considered using multiple nested IFELSE statements such as here and here a la:
V(combine)$color <- ifelse(is.na(get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color_1), ifelse(is.na(get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color_2), ifelse(get.vertex.attribute(combine)$color_3)......))

This does not work for unknown n attributes and does not solve the issue of having an unknown number n of attributes to work with.
Many thanks for your help.

A: You can use Reduce to "cumulatively" apply a function over a vector:
set.seed(125)

color_choices <- c("red", "orange", NA)

color_samples <- replicate(
  4,
  sample(color_choices, 5, replace = TRUE),
  simplify = FALSE
)
color_samples
# [[1]]
# [1] NA       "red"    "red"    "orange" NA
#
# [[2]]
# [1] NA       "orange" "red"    "orange" "orange"
#
# [[3]]
# [1] "red"    NA       "orange" "red"    "orange"
#
# [[4]]
# [1] "orange" "orange" NA       NA       NA

Reduce(
  f = function(a, b) ifelse(is.na(a), b, a),
  x = color_samples
)
# [1] [1] "red"    "red"    "red"    "orange" "orange"

In this case, Reduce applied the function to the first and second elements, then to that result and the third element, then to that result and the fourth element.  If the list were longer, it would've kept going on that way.
Edit for your specific situation: save the list of attributes, find which have names like color_n, and then use the Reduce solution on those.
combine_attributes <- as.list(get.vertex.attribute(combine))

Because I don't have your data, let's just say combine_attributes looks like the color_samples created above with an extra element:
combine_attributes
# $color_1
# [1] NA       "red"    "red"    "orange" NA
#
# $color_2
# [1] NA       "orange" "red"    "orange" "orange"
#
# $color_3
# [1] "red"    NA       "orange" "red"    "orange"
#
# $color_4
# [1] "orange" "orange" NA       NA       NA
#
# $name
# [1] "89315"  "89316"  "89928"  "106277" "106278"

color_attributes <- grep(
  "^color_\\d+$",
  names(combine_attributes),
  value = TRUE
)

color_attributes
# [1] "color_1" "color_2" "color_3" "color_4"

Reduce(
  f = function(a, b) ifelse(is.na(a), b, a),
  x = combine_attributes[color_attributes]
)
# [1] "red"    "red"    "red"    "orange" "orange"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text: Q: Technology stack for ERP What technology stack would be best suited for developing an ERP for small businesses based on SaaS model? While I prefer .net / SQL Server / Asp.net Web API, I am open to other options. Would using React, NodeJS with Firebase be suitable for complex business applications, or are there any other tabular databases that are of similar strength to SQL Server?


click here Ran across this song as I was working up the new work playlist to help bring the quarter and year to a close. Normally my go to song is #1 by Nelly when I need to remind myself I'm awesome but maybe this will start making the rotation of fun, feel good songs to have running in the background.
best overseas levitra plus prices Of course, just like when I was a kid and all the furor over the song "I touch myself", I see the comments about this being self love and how shocking. Whatever… this is pop music folks. Chill out, bop along to the fun song, feel better!
follow url Hope you're all continuing to crush 2015 until the very end and setting big goals for 2016!


text:
Q: Workarounds for setting the size of an empty display object? I want to create an invisible drawing surface that sits over top of an image.  This drawing surface would be in charge of taking mouse input and passing the coordinates along to a sprite that sits on the layer between the drawing surface and the image.  The drawing surface is an empty Sprite.
According to the docs, a display object that has nothing inside it cannot have its width or height set.  That is, it will always be zero.
Is there any way around this?  What is the best practice?

A: You can work with the drawing api to draw shapes with extremely low alpha values, this will give you the values without being visible to the eye.
BUT
Perhaps a better solution would be to register your mouse listeners on the stage from within the drawing surface sprite, and have it handle the mouse events on it's own. I don't know enough about what you are trying to do, but if possible, it would be a cleaner / simpler solution.
Even if you can't put the listeners in the drawing surface sprite, you should be able to add them to the stage from where ever you are working, rather than using an extra object.

A: If you only need the limits for your drawing, I think the easiest solution would be listening for the stage mouse events, and programaticaly limit your drawing...
If you still think you need that transparent sprite, you can draw a transparent rectangle (beginFill(0, 0)) or create a transparent bitmap (new BitmapData(width,height,true,0)). Not sure which would be the "best practice"....


text:
Starfish Bar & Restaurant
Les Boucaniers
Chapo! Bar & Lounge
Occasions & Room Service
Flying to Seychelles
Getting to Praslin
About Praslin
Praslin's Origins
Seychelles is not your ordinary tropical beach destination. Understanding why is a lesson in geology that goes back millions of years, and helps to explain why the beaches that you see on the postcards look like nowhere else on earth.
The Acajou Beach Resort is a Seychellois-owned business that was formed in 1996 by experienced travel professionals who have been involved in the country's tourism industry from its very beginnings.
With one of the best beaches in Seychelles as our front yard, an amazing infinity pool and on-site massage suite, you may find little motivation to leave the hotel grounds. Learn more about our on-site activities and services.
From its outset, the Acajou Beach Resort has been a proponent of sustainable tourism. Learn why we're among the greener hotels in Seychelles by reading about our eco-friendly initiatives, including our new photovoltaic solar array that accounts for half the resort's electricity needs.
Our 14 Standard rooms are located on the ground floor of our two central residence blocks, each with a private veranda immersed in our tropical garden.
Located on the upper floor, the 16 Superior Rooms share the same cozy earth-tones of the Standard rooms, but offer more space and additionally partial views out to the sea and garden from the private balcony.
The 2 new Family Rooms, each with an additional bedroom, can suit a variety of different family units – ideal for those seeking suitable group accommodation of up to 4, without having to book multiple separate rooms.
Our 14 Deluxe rooms combine size and space with a refreshing ocean motif to match their beachfront location. Spacious verandas offer views across Cote D'Or and the Curieuse Marine National Park.
Six self-catering apartments provide a home-away-from-home in both one and two-bedroom varieties, each with kitchen facilities and separated bedroom(s) and lounge. Our apartments are located near the entrance of the hotel, with convenient road access and proximity to the nearby shops in Cote D'Or village.
Just like the veranda of a traditional plantation house, Les Boucaniers offers an intimate dining atmosphere immersed in Creole flair and rustic beauty.
Whether for afternoon tea or an evening aperitif, Chapo! Bar & Lounge serves up intimate island ambience for travellers from around the world to share company, conversation...and occasionally their hats.
Fancy something completely different? Our team can arrange a number of different private dining options for that special occasion.
Numerous worldwide airlines fly to Seychelles, arriving at the country's only international airport on the main island of Mahé.
By sea or by air, getting to Acajou Beach Resort on the island of Praslin is easy. Learn how best to reach our resort.
From our beachfront location, access to Praslin's best attractions are easily within reach.
Learn more about the different islands surrounding Praslin and why our convenient location grants easy access to them all.
Of the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles, one stands out as having its most iconic features and distinctions: Praslin, the "Isle of Palms," as christened by explorer Lazare Picault in the mid-1700s...
Numerous worldwide airlines fly to Seychelles, arriving at the country's only...
By sea or by air, getting to Acajou Beach Resort on the island of Praslin is...


Try this exercise for a while.
Lay flat on your back... then push up into a backbend, like you normally do.
Make sure your hands are VERY close together and the elbows REMAIN straight!
Work to bring your feet together and STRAIGHTEN your knees.
NEXT... bend your knees and elbows and lower your body to the floor... then PUSH UP again into the back-arch stand. We call that an "Arch Stand Push-up."
REPEAT a set of 10-20 arch-stand push-ups in a row. Performing a set 2x a day would be even better.
Make sure that you PUSH your head and shoulders as far past your hands (awy from your feet) as possible.
Lastly, you can even practice SMALL jumps with the hands... and then jump with the feet. We call that a "Jumpin' Bridge."* A good goal is to work up to a set 20 jumpin' bridges 2 x per day.
After 10 days of that you'll be MUCH more coordinated and strong. Make sure that you rest your back & wrists when they become sore.
* Special THANKS to Coach Jon McCollum of Cheer X-treme in Ft. Smith, Arkansas for the "Rockin' Bridge" and the "Jumping Bridge" exercises. McCollum has dedicated over 30 years to finding simpler and more effective gymnastics exercises to develop tumblers.


text:
starsdiary.com
Prince Harry, Prince William Spotted After 'Constructive' Royal Family Meeting
18:23, January 13 20 0 usmagazine.com
Tensions rising? Prince Harry and Prince William were spotted leaving the Queen's Sandringham estate in separate cars after the royals held "constructive discussions" about Harry and wife Duchess Meghan's future.
Harry, 35, left the Norfolk, England, estate in the back of a black Range Rover on Monday, January 13, following the royal family meeting. In photos obtained by the Daily Mail, William, 37, was also seen driving solo in a separate vehicle. Their father, Prince Charles, took off on his own in a third black car.
Prince Harry and Prince William Neil Hall/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Royal correspondent Omid Scobie reported on Saturday, January 11, that the brothers would meet with Queen Elizabeth II and their father, 71, to discuss the shocking announcement that Harry and Meghan, 38, were planning to scale back on their royal responsibilities. The Suits alum was expected to phone in from Canada, where she has been staying with 8-month-old Archie after the family's Christmas vacation on Vancouver Island.
Shortly after the family meeting on Monday, Buckingham Palace released a statement from the 93-year-old monarch. It was the first time the Queen directly addressed the Sussexes' decision to step down as "senior members" of the royal family.
"Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family," Queen Elizabeth said. "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."
The statement continued, "Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the U.K. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days."
Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their initial statement on Wednesday, January 8, reports of a growing rift between the royal brothers have flooded the British tabloids. However, both Harry and William shut down the rumors of a fracture in their relationship through a rare joint statement on Monday.
The Royals leave Sandringham house after a meeting to determine the future of the Sussexes as part of the Royal family. Shutterstock
"Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a U.K. newspaper today speculating about the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge," spokespeople for the princes told Us Weekly. "For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful."
The statement did not specify which report it was referring to, but on Monday, the Times quoted a source who claimed that Harry and Meghan considered themselves to have been pushed away by what they saw as a "bullying" attitude from William.
Coroner: supervision of Conner Marshall's killer 'woefully inadequate'
'You can't handcuff my spirit': jailed writer wins freedom of expression prize
Former Barclays boss accused of 'funnelling funds' to Qatar
Union chief to sue police over megaphone assault trial
Judges' sentencing in high-profile court cases to be televised
Simply by defying the tabloids, Meghan has already beaten them
BAME offenders 'far more likely than others' to be jailed for drug offences
Exclusive: CPS seeks longer sentence for rapist Reynhard Sinaga
Cambodia: treason trial of opposition figure Kem Sokha begins


13 May CLEO, LAS VEGAS!
Hello Krewe! Our fabulous theme for our 2016-2017 Carnival year is "CLEO, LAS VEGAS". What an exciting theme! We are eagerly anticipating the Masquerade Gala to choose our new Queen and Court.
Reminder: Our parade date is Friday, February 17, 2017.
Keep visiting our website regularly for parade and event updates.
We have given a great deal of thought to our website, kreweofcleopatra.org. Hope you enjoy all of the great changes. Please share it with your friends and Family. We encourage you to visit the site and follow the instructions to make your payment for dues online. Your second installment payment of dues are due on June 1, 2016. Our website is user friendly and secure. Your prompt response is an important factor for ordering costumes and logo/beads packages. Make sure you are in that number!


You could be fined $60,000 or put in prison if you refuse.
Poorly-skilled migrants will struggle to granted immigration visas amid the government's plan to crackdown on dole bludgers. Only the 'best and brightest' immigrants will be welcomed into Australia, according to the Saturday Telegraph.
From July 2, 2018, one new Child Care Subsidy will replace the two current child care payments. This transition will happen automatically.


Question, when is the price not really the worth – reply, whenever you're in a automotive dealership! ‡Autos proven at completely different areas are not currently in our inventory (Not in Inventory) but can be made out there to you at our location within an inexpensive date from the time of your request, not to exceed one week. In case you are on the lookout for a car dealership that can get all of your wants met in one place, you've come to the appropriate place.
Used automobile dealers carry vehicles from many alternative manufacturers, whereas new car dealerships are generally franchises related to only one producer. Digital signs separate sellers from opponents, while selling the model, gross sales & service specials.
These dealers have proven that they're focused on providing a superior buyer experience, as well as achieving gross sales efficiency management. Right here at Lujack Nissan, We're Dwelling to New & Used Automobiles, Components & Service, and Financing in Davenport Serving Rock Island.
In lots of states, car dealerships are able to submitting all obligatory types to the DMV on behalf of the shopper and are licensed to subject short-term paperwork to the client to prove that the transaction is in process, permitting the shopper to avoid a trip to the closest DMV office.
In Europe, customers who decide up their autos are encouraged to drive them on a grand tour, ending at one among several ports where it is going to be shipped again to their hometown dealership. However, state laws in the United States prohibit producers from selling straight, and prospects must buy new vehicles through a vendor.


For 2018 the Mahindra Scorpio gets cosmetic changes, but the bigger changes are its more powerful engine and new six-speed gearbox.
Samsung may be falling behind in India and China but it is still the market leader in the US smartphone market.
DSLR slated for early 2007 introduction.


Springtime has arrived in Ohio!
I spent the weekend working outdoors and it was wonderful! We pulled out the deck furniture and after noticing a number of nicks and scratches to the paint of my vintage glider, decided it was time to apply a fresh coat of paint! After it dried, the vibrant cushions were set back in place and wow, it sure did feel good to sit down for a few minutes to rest, relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. Birds chirping. Warm sun shining. A breeze blowing through the trees... rattling our deep, tenor windchime. Mixed with the scent of our freshly mown grass was the smell of smoke from the burn pile wafting through the air, easing the burden and mental clutter of papers collected and ready to be discarded following some intense indoor spring cleaning. And the dirt under my nails.... there isn't much better during early spring than cleaning out the flowerbeds, sitting beside blooming daffodils, making way for the colorful, petite and fragrant blossoms of summer.. impatiens, petunias and snapdragons, watching the ground as some perennials are already beginning to peek out of the soil and reach for the sun... and the earthy smell of fresh black mulch... I just can't imagine there can be a whole lot more inspiring in life than the wonder of mother nature.
Following our recent celebration of Easter, I couldn't help but spend my quiet time in the flowerbeds thinking about the rebirth and inevitable cleansing that comes with the season of spring. Getting rid of the dead, shriveled and brown leaves to make room for the green life of summer. Letting go of mistakes, burdens and wrong-doings, making room in our hearts for forgiveness and love. Choosing to have faith in the good Lord above and thanking Him for the blessings of every day. Today I am thankful for the beauty and purpose of every single living thing in nature!
I haven't written for a while... I've needed some space and have been using much of my free time to think, reflect and to pray.
The last time I wrote, I was feeling anxious about an upcoming conference call with Luke's surgeon. I felt responsible for making the right decisions and the stress that came with that was a heavy burden. Shortly after writing here last time, the Lord sent a friend to our home to pray with our family. During our visit, we read some scripture and he reminded us to trust in the plan that God has for our family. After our friend left that day, I spent the afternoon reflecting on how we've gotten to this place... how we came to the decision to go to Boston for Luke's repair. Of the families we'd met throughout the last year who had also traveled from our general geographical vicinity, 11 hours one way, to Boston for open heart surgery. Those people who came into our lives at different and unexpected times that had brought us their experiences. Because of their recommendations, we'd been led choosing to go there ourselves. I truly believe God was guiding our thought process as we learned the complexities of Luke's specific issues and how different facilities were equipped to deal with them in various ways. Ultimately, I have to give Him credit for leading us to the best place with the surgeon best skilled to make the repair.
Currently, the plan will be to use Luke's own pericardium (fatty tissue surrounding the heart) to patch the ASD and VSD holes. They will shave some of the pericardium off around the heart and because they will be using tissue native to Luke's body, there is no risk of him rejecting a patch made of synthetic material. Additionally, the risk of him developing an infection from a synthetic is also diminished!! Finally, because the pericardium is living tissue, it will have the ability to fuse and regenerate, making it a great long term solution for the repair.
One of the most severe risks of the surgery is the potential for Luke to need a permanent pacemaker as a result of the operation. Apparently, there are microscopic or possibly even invisible pathways where the body's natural electricity runs through the heart tissue, creating a natural pacemaker. Although it can't be seen by the human eye, it generally runs through the same area in every person - as such, the surgeon just avoids making an incision in that general area. The catch is that it doesn't always run through the normal place and if it's damaged, it's unlikely that it will repair itself. As a precaution, Luke will have pacemaker wires placed during his surgery. My understanding is that it could be 24 - 48 hours until we are certain of whether or not his natural pacemaker was damaged.
The entire operation should take somewhere between 6 and 8 hours although the actual heart procedure will probably only last somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes. The entire process will include him being fully sedated, the ventilator will be placed and once it's in the airway, Luke will have a small probe inserted down his throat and into his esophagus which they will use to perform an echo cardiogram to take more pictures and video of his heart. Apparently this will place the probe closer to his heart than a traditional echo and will allow them to get a better idea of what to expect when they enter the heart. Next his chest will be opened and the lines for the heart lung bypass machine will be inserted into his arteries . Prior to making any incisions on his heart, the heart will be injected with cardioplegia, a mixture of potassium and nutrients that will cause the heart to stop beating so the surgeon can work in a bloodless environment. The heart procedure will be completed, his heart will be restarted and they will complete another of the esophageal echos to validate that the repair worked correctly. Supposing that's the case, they will close him, bring him up from anesthesia and we will finally get to see him!
It's a lot to consider, but we are praying for continued strength to get through the next few weeks! We have been receiving some wonderful cards of encouragement in the mail over the course of the last week or so and they have been a tremendous help! I've been putting each of them in a large envelope in our kitchen and have pulled each of them out a few times to read when I've needed encouragement. I'm also planning to take them along with us on our trip to read in the waiting room and to display in Luke's recovery room! We've also even received a few gifts for us to use towards and during our trip... we have been so blessed with loving family and friends! Thank you so much for wrapping us in God's love and helping us during this journey!!
Today is the day that the Lord has risen! To celebrate, we visited with family today, ate a wonderful meal and colored Easter Eggs!
Today we spent the day with some of Dustin's family.. one of the highlights for the kids was playing outside and searching for Easter Eggs and then of course, eating the chocolate and candies that were hidden inside!
We have 36 days until surgery. I wish I could stop time. Suspend it in mid air. Freeze today's frame.
Hold my baby and never let go.
I think I've done well managing our stress... my daily anxieties... although I've begun to feel it catching up with me. I can hardly sit still. When I have a moment where I am able to relax, I find myself relishing in busy-ness. To-do lists that never end. Creating lists reminding myself to make other lists. Half loads of laundry. Painting my nails. Switching clothes in the kids closets and dressers up to the next size. Cleaning spots on the carpet. Doing things that could otherwise wait, trying to take my mind off our impending trip and that moment when Luke's heart will be injected with medicine to make it stop beating... that moment when the heart-lung bypass machine will start thumping, pumping and oxygenating Luke's blood on his behalf while his heart is cut and sewn by his surgeon.
As I read the words I'm writing, inwardly I'm torn between wondering if this is all undue drama or just good-old-fashioned healthy motherly concern. Maybe it's both. Regardless, I'm terrified and I'm nearly in complete meltdown mode. Sometimes I think I could breakdown at any moment and other times I feel strong, hardened by the power of knowledge. I started crying at my desk last week at work as I looked a photo of sweet Luke on my desk.. envisioning him laying naked on that cold, sterile, steel operating table without a heartbeat. No wonder I feel anxious... I can't stop my brain from wondering. When I get to this place, I work hard to pull myself back... while this is a big event for us, these people do this as a profession. They do it every week of every year. Our surgeon is an expert with Luke's specific type of defect. This surgery has a high rate of success.
He will be okay. In fact he will be better than okay, he will be better off after the repair than he was before.
Let go, let God. Keep praying and loving. While not without our earthly challenges, my life is very blessed... now, where did I put that to-do list?
I stumbled across this resource last evening that outlined specific resources who can assist with obtaining educational support for children (and in some cases, adults) with special needs. Many of the grant programs are available for technology like iPads!


Quantum computers represent a massive leap forward for computing capabilities, essential in this modern age where so many of our daily activities rely more and more heavily on our computers and the information we expect them to store. All this requires significant computing power which our standard computers are now struggling to provide.
According to recent reports, if our insatiable need for computers continues in the current trend, it's anticipated that by 2040 we simply won't have the capability to power the world's computers. This means that researchers have been working hard to come up with a more powerful system, and that's' where quantum computers come in.
Standard computers process information in a binary format, using 'bits' (short for binary digit). Information is stored as a zero or a one. The big difference with quantum computing is that it utilizes the capability of subatomic particles to exist in more than one state at any time. This basically means that the 'bits' of data can also exist in more than one state at a time, providing significantly more power than a conventional computer. The bits used in quantum computing are known as 'qubits' and can also affect the qubits around them, using a process known as 'quantum entanglement. The result of this is that in certain calculations, quantum computers can reach the correct answer far more quickly.
This represent a huge leap forward for computing, with it being suggested that quantum computers will be able to offer incredibly secure communication, incredible levels of precision and the computing power to perform complex calculations that are beyond the reach of current technology. This could have massive implications for logistics, pharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence.
The flipside is that this level of power also has huge implications for cyber-security. The sheer power of these machines could cause severe disruption for businesses due to their potential ability to breach even the most powerful cyber-security measures currently in place. The ability of these computers to deal with large numbers means many of today's most complex encryption measures could easily be cracked.
Despite the amazing range of potential applications for quantum computers, there are many challenges facing the developers. This includes the fact that qubits are extremely delicate, and very easily disrupted by noise, heat, electromagnetic fields and vibrations to name but a few. This also means that it's very unlikely that these computers will be accessible to the majority of users anywhere other than via the cloud.
Quantum computer systems are expected to be fully developed by 2020 and truly do herald a new age for computers and the way we use them.
Top image: Photograph of the D-Wave TwoX "Washington" quantum annealing processor chip mounted and wire-bonded in a sample holder. This chip was introduced in 2015 and includes 128,472 Josephson junctions.


A week of rich and thoughtful articles.
The lead feature article acknowledges that disruption is not just a buzzword, and then affirms that the "old" skills that we value are no less valuable in a changed and changing world. A thoughtful and welcome read.
Similarly, the Brookings article on standardized testing asserts that testing does in fact tell us something, and makes a case that it shouldn't be abolished entirely. Instead, we ought to decouple testing from accountability. An interesting take, this could apply not only to the broader education landscape, but also, by analogy, to our school, classroom, and professional development environments.
Lastly, on a different note: the second feature on open-mindedness partners well with the cognitive science link on Expectation Theory. The podcast linked there also seems a promising complement to RadioLab.
We Are Disrupted. (It's True.) But Humanism Is Not Obsolete.
and the old pleasures, of erudition and interpretation."
unprompted. One such sign, scientists have suggested, is the feeling of surprise."
Selfies On A Stick: The Latest Sign of Digital Narcissism?
Teens Overestimate Peers' Bad Behavior. Consequences Ensue.
In Support Of Standardized Testing. But Without Accountability.
Unconscious Bias: How Much Do We Carry Despite Good Intention?


text:
<!DOCTYPE html>

<meta charset="utf-8">

<form action="/form_action" method="post">
<input type="text" name="Username" />

<input type="text" name="Mail" />

<select multiple="multiple" name="mydata">
<option value='one'>One</option>
<option value='two'>Two</option>
<option value='three'>Three</option>
<option value='four'>Four</option>
</select>

<input type="submit" value="Send data" />

</form>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Create a phoenix function for use in spirit rule I'm trying to make the code below compile, but, as usual, errors with spirit/phoenix gives not a lot a clues about what is wrong. Can anyone see what the problem is ?
#include <boost/spirit/include/phoenix.hpp>
#include <boost/spirit/include/qi.hpp>
#include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>

typedef boost::shared_ptr<int> sptr;

struct bar
{
    template <typename A> struct result
    {
        typedef sptr type;
    };

    template <typename A> sptr operator()(A) const
    {
        return sptr();
    }
};

boost::phoenix::function<bar> foo;

void test()
{
    namespace qi = boost::spirit::qi;
    using qi::_val;

    qi::rule
    <
        std::string::const_iterator,
        sptr(),
        boost::spirit::ascii::space_type
    >
        test_rule = qi::eps [ _val = foo() ];
}

A: As ildjarn said, call to foo misses an argument.


text:
Q: How to make DotNetNuke Captcha control to show an error if it left blank I took a captcha control on my page :
 <dnn:CaptchaControl ID="CaptchaControl1" runat="server" CaptchaHeight="50px"    CaptchaWidth="150px" ErrorMessage="incorrect"     />

if captcha is incorrect the error message will be shown but if it left blank it shows no error.is there any way to make it show an error when it is blank?
thanks

A: Hmm Iam not sure but I would try:
asp:RequiredFieldValidator

there you can enter the properties:
ControlToValidate="yourCaptchaControlID"
Display="Dynamic"
Enabled="True"

maybe you have to set the following property at your captcha control:
CausesValidation="True"

This is working client side, too.
hope this helps.
best regards, noone.

A: This worked for me:
1) Add a css class name to the captcha control (i.e. CssClass="captcha")
<dnn:captchacontrol id="ctlCaptcha" cssclass="Normal captcha" runat="server" />

2) Create a javascript function:
function validateCaptcha() {
    var captValue = $('.captcha input').val();
    if (captValue == '') {
        alert('You must enter a value for the CAPTCHA control.');
        return false;
    } else {
        return true;
    }
}

3) Call the function on your submit button:
<asp:linkbutton id="btnUpdate" runat="server" OnClientClick="return validateCaptcha()">Update</asp:linkbutton>


text:
"""
Tests for tulip.hybrid module
"""
from __future__ import print_function

import numpy as np

import pytest
from tulip import hybrid
import polytope as pc

def switched_system_test():
    subsystems = []

    # subsystem 0
    A = np.eye(2)
    B = np.eye(2)

    Uset = pc.box2poly([[0.0, 1.0], [0.0, 1.0]])
    domain0 = pc.box2poly([[0.0, 2.0], [0.0, 2.0]])

    subsystems += [hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A, B, Uset=Uset, domain=domain0)]

    # subsystem 1
    domain1 = pc.box2poly([[2.0, 4.0], [0.0, 2.0]])

    subsystems += [hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A, B, Uset=Uset, domain=domain1)]

    # PWA system
    domain = domain0.union(domain1)
    pwa = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(subsystems, domain)

    # Switched system (mode dynamics the same, just testing code)
    dom = (2, 2)
    dyn = {
        ('a', 'c'):pwa,
        ('a', 'd'):pwa,
        ('b', 'c'):pwa,
        ('b', 'd'): pwa,
    }
    env_labels = ['a', 'b']
    sys_labels = ['c', 'd']

    hyb = hybrid.SwitchedSysDyn(
        disc_domain_size=dom,
        dynamics=dyn,
        cts_ss=domain,
        env_labels=env_labels,
        disc_sys_labels=sys_labels
    )

    print(hyb)

    assert(hyb.disc_domain_size == dom)
    assert(hyb.dynamics == dyn)
    assert(hyb.env_labels == env_labels)
    assert(hyb.disc_sys_labels == sys_labels)
    assert(hyb.cts_ss == domain)
    #
    # omitting a mode raises a warning
    dyn = {
        ('a', 'c'):pwa,
        ('a', 'd'):pwa,
        ('b', 'c'):pwa,
    }
    with pytest.warns(UserWarning):
        hyb = hybrid.SwitchedSysDyn(
            disc_domain_size=dom,
            dynamics=dyn,
            cts_ss=domain,
            env_labels=env_labels,
            disc_sys_labels=sys_labels)

    print(hyb)

    assert(hyb.disc_domain_size == dom)
    assert(hyb.dynamics == dyn)
    assert(hyb.env_labels == env_labels)
    assert(hyb.disc_sys_labels == sys_labels)
    assert(hyb.cts_ss == domain)

class time_semantics_test(object):
    """Test out time semantics for hybrid systems module."""
    def setup_method(self):
        self.A1 = np.eye(2)
        self.A2 = np.array([[0, 1], [0, 0]])
        self.B1 = np.array([[0] ,[1]])
        self.B2 = np.array([[1], [0]])
        self.poly1 = pc.Polytope.from_box([[0, 1], [0, 1]])
        self.poly2 = pc.Polytope.from_box([[1, 2], [0, 1]])
        self.total_box = pc.Region(list_poly=[self.poly1, self.poly2])
        self.Uset = pc.Polytope.from_box([[0, 1]])

    def teardown_method(self):
        self.A1 = None
        self.A2 = None
        self.B1 = None
        self.B2 = None
        self.poly1 = None
        self.poly2 = None
        self.total_box = None
        self.Uset = None

    def test_correct_lti_construction(self):
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='discrete', timestep=None)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI3 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1)
        LTI4 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2)
        assert(LTI1.time_semantics == 'discrete')
        assert(LTI2.time_semantics == 'sampled')
        assert(LTI1.timestep is None)
        assert(LTI2.timestep == .1)
        assert(LTI3.time_semantics is None)
        assert(LTI3.timestep is None)
        assert(LTI4.time_semantics is None)
        assert(LTI4.timestep is None)

    def test_correct_pwa_construction(self):
        # Putting pwa together successfully, without time overwrite
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI3 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1)
        LTI4 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2)
        PWA1 = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI3, LTI4], domain=self.total_box,
                                overwrite_time=False)

        # Putting pwa together successfully, with time overwrite
        PWA2 = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI1, LTI2], domain=self.total_box,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1,
                                overwrite_time=True)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_pwa_difftseman_among_subsys(self):
        """Different time semantics among LtiSysDyn subsystems of PwaSysDyn"""
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='discrete')
        PWA = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI1, LTI2], domain=self.total_box,
                               time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1,
                               overwrite_time=False)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_pwa_difftstep_among_subsys(self):
        """Different timesteps among LtiSysDyn subsystems of PwaSysDyn"""
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.2)
        PWA = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI1, LTI2], domain=self.total_box,
                               time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1,
                               overwrite_time=False)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_pwa_difftseman_from_subsys(self):
        """LtiSysDyn subsystems time semantics do not match that of PwaSysDyn"""
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        PWA = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI1, LTI2], domain=self.total_box,
                               time_semantics='discrete', overwrite_time=False)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_pwa_difftstep_from_subsys(self):
        """LtiSysDyn subsystems timesteps do not match that of PwaSysDyn"""
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        PWA = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI1, LTI2], domain=self.total_box,
                               time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.2,
                               overwrite_time=False)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_pwa_invalid_semantics(self):
        LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        PWA = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[LTI1, LTI2], domain=self.total_box,
                               time_semantics='hello')

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_disctime_errtstep(self):
        """Discrete time semantics yet given timestep"""
        LTI = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                               Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                               time_semantics='discrete', timestep=.1)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_lti_invalid_semantics(self):
        LTI = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                               Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                               time_semantics='hello', timestep=.1)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_nonpositive_timestep(self):
        LTI = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                               Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                               time_semantics='sampled', timestep=0)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=TypeError)
    def test_timestep_wrong_type(self):
        LTI = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                               Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                               time_semantics='sampled', timestep='.1')

class SwitchedSysDyn_test(object):
    def setup_method(self):
        self.A1 = np.eye(2)
        self.A2 = np.array([[0, 1], [0, 0]])
        self.B1 = np.array([[0] ,[1]])
        self.B2 = np.array([[1], [0]])
        self.poly1 = pc.Polytope.from_box([[0, 1], [0, 1]])
        self.poly2 = pc.Polytope.from_box([[1, 2], [0, 1]])
        self.total_box = pc.Region(list_poly=[self.poly1, self.poly2])
        self.Uset = pc.Polytope.from_box([[0, 1]])
        self.env_labels = ('hi', 'hello')
        self.sys_labels = ('mode1',)
        self.disc_domain_size = (2, 1)
        self.LTI1 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                     Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                     time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        self.LTI2 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                     Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                     time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        self.LTI3 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A1, B=self.B1,
                                     Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly2,
                                     time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        self.LTI4 = hybrid.LtiSysDyn(A=self.A2, B=self.B2,
                                     Uset=self.Uset, domain=self.poly1,
                                     time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        self.PWA1 = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[self.LTI1, self.LTI2],
                                     domain=self.total_box,
                                     time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        self.PWA2 = hybrid.PwaSysDyn(list_subsys=[self.LTI3, self.LTI4],
                                     domain=self.total_box,
                                     time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1)
        self.dynamics1 = {(self.env_labels[0], self.sys_labels[0]): self.PWA1,
                          (self.env_labels[1], self.sys_labels[0]): self.PWA2}

    def teardown_method(self):
        self.A1 = None
        self.A2 = None
        self.B1 = None
        self.B2 = None
        self.poly1 = None
        self.poly2 = None
        self.total_box = None
        self.Uset = None
        self.env_labels = None
        self.sys_labels = None
        self.disc_domain_size = None
        self.LTI1 = None
        self.LTI2 = None
        self.LTI3 = None
        self.LTI4 = None
        self.PWA1 = None
        self.PWA2 = None
        self.dynamics1 = None

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_hybrid_difftstep_from_subsys(self):
        """LtiSysDyn subsystems timesteps do not match that of SwitchedSysDyn"""
        hybrid.SwitchedSysDyn(disc_domain_size=self.disc_domain_size,
                            dynamics=self.dynamics1,
                            cts_ss=self.total_box,
                            env_labels=self.env_labels,
                            disc_sys_labels=self.sys_labels,
                            time_semantics='hello', timestep=.1,
                            overwrite_time=True)

    @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
    def test_hybrid_fail_check_time_consistency(self):
        # fail _check_time_consistency
        hybrid.SwitchedSysDyn(disc_domain_size=self.disc_domain_size,
                            dynamics=self.dynamics1,
                            cts_ss=self.total_box,
                            env_labels=self.env_labels,
                            disc_sys_labels=self.sys_labels,
                            time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.2,
                            overwrite_time=False)

    def test_correct_switched_construction(self):
        switched1 = hybrid.SwitchedSysDyn(disc_domain_size=self.disc_domain_size,
                                        dynamics=self.dynamics1,
                                        cts_ss=self.total_box,
                                        env_labels=self.env_labels,
                                        disc_sys_labels=self.sys_labels,
                                        time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1,
                                        overwrite_time=True)
        switched2 = hybrid.SwitchedSysDyn(disc_domain_size=self.disc_domain_size,
                                        dynamics=self.dynamics1,
                                        cts_ss=self.total_box,
                                        env_labels=self.env_labels,
                                        disc_sys_labels=self.sys_labels,
                                        time_semantics='sampled', timestep=.1,
                                        overwrite_time=False)
        assert(switched1.time_semantics == 'sampled')
        assert(switched2.time_semantics == 'sampled')
        assert(switched1.timestep == .1)
        assert(switched2.timestep == .1)


text:
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Home Travel USA The White Pass & Yukon Route: A Journey Back to the Klondike Gold Rush
The White Pass & Yukon Route: A Journey Back to the Klondike Gold Rush
By Ed Boitano
Photo courtesy of Deb Roskamp
"Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!" headlined the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on July of 1897. "Sixty Eight Rich Men on Steamer Portland arrived in Seattle with 'Stacks of Yellow Metal."' The news spread like California wildfire, and the Klondike Gold Rush began. In the first ten days over 1,500 people left for the Klondike. Within the next six months, approximately 100,000 gold-seekers steamed up Alaska's Inside Passage and arrived in Dyea and Skagway, the base for two treacherous overland treks to the Klondike gold fields. Only 30,000 completed the trip, 4,000 or so found gold, and barely a few hundred struck it rich.
Photo courtesy of John Scudder McLain, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The ones who did make a fortune were the merchants and profiteers who took advantage of the inexperienced miners, who they referred to as 'stampeders.' Long before the days of mass media, most of the 'get-rich-quick' miners knew virtually nothing about where they were going and the hardships that lay ahead of them. Pamphlets and newspapers contained little or no real information, but made outrageous claims of wealth, with riverbeds of gold just sitting there for the taking. Seattle served as water route and the gateway to the Yukon. Advertised as the 'outfitter of the gold fields,' merchants sold supplies, stocked ten feet high on storefront boardwalks
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Driven by dreams of unfathomable riches, the first stampeders arrived in Skagway and found themselves confronted by an inhospitable muddy settlement that was barely a collection of tents. They were also met by a swarm of con men, whose only interest was taking their money. The most infamous of the swindlers was 'Soapy' Smith and his gang of "bunco men." One of their schemes was operating a telegraph office, where an important message could be sent to cherished friends and family anywhere in the world for $5, which was a lot of dough in 1897. What the stampeders didn't know was that there were no telegraph wires to or from Skagway.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Candy Waugaman Collection, KLGO Library SS-126-8831
The stampeders also faced a choice of two horrendous trails which had to be climbed before the freeze-up, then another 550 mile journey through the lake systems to the Yukon River's gold fields. The North West Mounted Police had created the "One Ton Law of 1898," requiring all miners entering Canada to carry a year's supply of food and equipment, equaling around 2,000 pounds. The 45-mile long White Pass Trail was promoted as a horse-packing trail and appeared easier than the Chilkoot Pass, where the miners had to carry supplies on their backs. The trail turned out to be even more difficult because of muddy bogs, massive boulders and steep rocky cliffs. Over 3,000 horses died along the way, and it was quickly dubbed the "Dead Horse Trail." It was obvious that there was need for a better form of transportation up the White Pass Trail.
In 1897, three separate companies organized to build a railway from Skagway to Fort Selkirk, Yukon, 325 miles away. The project ran into some roadblocks due to corrupt local city officials and Soapy Smith. This ended when Smith was killed in a gunfight, and the White Pass & Yukon Route railway – "the railway built of gold"– began construction. Considered almost an impossible task, tens of thousands of men were challenged by a godless climate and brutal geography. Twenty-six months later, construction reached the 2,885-foot summit of White Pass, 20 miles away from Skagway. On July 6, 1899, the last spike was driven in Bennett, British Columbia.
With numerous cruise ships stopping at Skagway, a re-creation journey on the White Pass & Yukon Route sounded like a perfect fit. The rails were laid right down to the docks, ideally positioned to sell a railroad ride through the mountains to the tourists. Billed as the "Scenic Railway of the World," the White Pass & Yukon Route reopened between Skagway and White Pass in 1988. The White Pass & Yukon Route railway allowed tourists an opportunity to step back in time and experience some of the grueling details of Klondike Gold Rush for themselves. Still using vintage parlor cars – three with wheelchair lifts – the WP&YR runs on its original narrow-gauge track, rising from sea level at Skagway to 2,885′ at the White Pass summit in only 21 miles. Forget Disneyland. This is the real deal. With steep grades up to 3.9% and cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, the railroad seemingly hangs on the mountainside for most of the way to the summit. A series of wooden trestles skirt the landscape. A spectacular steel cantilever arches 215 feet above Dead Horse Gulch, once the highest railroad bridge in the world.
It's a breathtaking piece of country with a stunning panorama of mountains, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites. Period clad railroad men offer a folksy narration. A wood-burning stove keeps everyone warm. Today the White Pass & Yukon Route is Alaska's most popular shore excursion, and is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and Panama Canal.
Click here for information about the White Pass & Yukon Route
TagsAlaskaKlondike Gold RushrailroadSkagwaySoapy SmithWhite PassWhite Pass & Yukon Route
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Jay Jamison
This brings back great memories of our trip there four years ago. And I remember Ed, you gave us some pointers that helped us navigate our adventure. Nice photos Deb.
Thanks Ed.
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A Seattle native, Ed Boitano has devoted 30-years of his life to writing about travel. As a descendant of both Leif Ericson and Christopher Columbus, the Amer-Norsk-Italian Boitano quite literally has a passion for travel to unexplored locations in his blood. He has traveled to over 56 nations, including Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, as well as lived with a nomadic Basque shepherd family for six hours.
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Those seeking Illinois Certification are required to take an ANSI/IDPH approved national certification exam in the presence of an IDPH/ANSI approved proctor.
Language Available: English and Spanish.
Post national exam certificate in the workplace.


Maryann Jewel (nee McMillan), 91, of Cape Coral, FL, passed away Thursday, February 2, 2017.
Devoted wife for 64 years of Louis R. Jewel; beloved mother of Donna (Mark) Dudek, Debbie (John) Motley; loving grandmother of Katie (Ben) Parr, Tim Dudek, Sara Motley, Kyle Motley; cherished sister of Emily Jewel; caring sister-in-law, Charlotte Trivoli and Sharon McMillan.
She was preceded in death by her parents William and Rayola (nee Reigh) McMillan; brothers, William (Nelda), Richard and Reigh (Beverly) McMillan.
Maryann earned a lifetime achievement award in the Cleveland City Schools Systems PTA. She loved her grandchildren and spending as much time with them as possible. She was also an avid bowler and golfer.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 4-8PM at the Sunset Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd. North Olmsted, OH 44070 where services will be held on Friday at 2PM. Burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park, North Olmsted.


Imagine a political party that jumps for joy when migrants are suspected of sexual assault like in the case of Oulu. Imagine a party that taps into voters' Islamophobia, xenophobia and hatred to get votes. Imagine a party that aims at relegating migrants and minorities to second-class members of society with the help of lies and fake news.
It should not come to any surprise that we are talking about the far-right Perussuomalaiset* and Blue Reform, which split from the mother party in 2017 after Jussi Halla-aho was elected the new chairperson. Halla-aho was convicted in 2012 for ethnic agitation and breaching the sanctity of religion.
The difference between the PS and Blue Reform is that the former has come out of the closet with its racism while the other one is in the closet.
According to the Helsingin Sanomat, the PS plans to cut state spending by 2 billion euros if they are in government.
Halla-aho said as well that he sees the PS becoming Finland's largest party.
While the PS becoming Finland's largest party is a pipe dream, the PS' constant vilification of migrants and minorities only serves to tell us that we are not liked by some. But that is fine because it is a call for people who oppose such rhetoric to rise up and challenge its racist ideology.
Apart from ending subsidies to the wind power sector, the party wants to lower social welfare costs to people of immigrant origin by 1 billion euros.
The PS said that people of migrant origin should get less social welfare than Finns.
Such a scenario would only be possible if Section 6 of the Constitution, which guarantees that everyone in Finland is equal before the law, is changed by a vote that requires a two third majority.
Halla-aho said that other savings would be obtained by lowering payments to the EU.
Now you know why the PS is a populist party that would care less for its voters. These campaign promises are unattainable, pipe dreams, which means that they will end up in the trash heap of other broken campaign promises by the party.


Abohar is the municipal committee in Fazilka district Punja. It is proximal to the border of India and Pakistan. The population of Abohar is 145,300 people. Abohar lies in the north- eastern side of Sri Ganganagar and in the south- eastern side of Fazilka. The city is also known as 'California of Punjab'.
Native language of the place is Punjabi. Abohar is blessed with extremely fertile soil, abundant water, and natural landscape. It is the largest producer of cotton in the Northern part of India. Abohar is famous for growing Kinnow, which is a hybrid citrus fruit.
Abohar faces extreme climate. The city remains very hot and dry during summers. June is the hottest month with the maximum temperature between 46-50° C. Winters, on the other hand, are pretty cold with temperature dropping to as low as 2 to 0° C. Average annual precipitation is around 410 mm.
The economy of Abohar is mainly agriculture based. The region has fertile soil and grows several crops like wheat, rice, cotton and others. There are several industries and mills in the region such as refined oil industries, cotton industries etc. Abohar also has a biogas plant known as 'Ananda Energy'. It is the first biogas bottling plant in India.
Major tourist attraction in and around the city are Balaji Dham Temple, Varundam Temple, Jodi Mandir, Panj Peer Tibba Shrine, Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gurudwara Nanaksar Tobha, Shri Sai Temple, Gurudwara Bada Tirath Sahib, Gurudwara Singh Sabha, and Johri Mandir.
Local areas of the city are Krishna Nigari, Canal Colony, Ganga Nagar, New Grain Market, Malout Road, Sahitya Sadan Road, etc.
Are you shifting to Abohar? Having trouble finding the right packers and movers service? PMDIR will assist you to find a reliable relocation service provider in your city. Our moving experts in Abohar make sure that you get a swift delivery of your belongings to anywhere in the country. They strive to deliver you your goods on or before time. Moving and packing are their forte and they guarantee a fuss free move.


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AI Artists in the Crypto Space – ARTnews.com
When Christie's hosted its first Art + Tech Summit in 2018, the topic was the blockchain. The second edition, in June 2019, focused on artificial intelligence. Blockchain and AI are two big, buzzy topics, and they have intersected in unexpected ways, especially during this year's crypto art boom. Artists whose work uses generative adversarial networks (GANs)— algorithms that pit computers against each other to produce original machine-made output approximating the human-made training data—have turned to crypto platforms not only to sell their work, but also to explore ways of critically and creatively engaging the blockchain.
People who make creative work with AI tend to be self-taught, as artists or engineers or both. They're drawn to new technologies and ideas taking shape at the margins of culture. There's a provocative friction between the figure of the tinkering outsider and the reputations of AI and blockchains, in the popular imagination, as rapidly growing forms of technological infrastructure with massive resources invested in them, behemoths that are transforming the shape of everyday life by digitizing more and more of it. Artists who sell their work as NFTs have been criticized for contributing to an ecologically destructive, toxically libertarian culture; artists who make work with AI have drawn fire for normalizing the technologies that enable corporate surveillance and predictive policing. The artists who take up these tools despite the problems associated with them aren't utopians. However, they see firsthand the reality that new technologies are not monoliths but evolving systems, rife with flaws and potentials.
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