text:
jgmalcolm
Why Paper Jams Persist
Building 111 on the Xerox engineering campus, near Rochester, New York, is vast and labyrinthine. On the social-media site Foursquare, one visitor writes that it's "like Hotel California." Conference
Moral Distress in Neurosurgery (Published 2019)
Credit... Kim Ryu Doctors Moral Distress in Neurosurgery Is it in the patient's best interest to go through surgery if the chance of meaningful recovery is vanishingly small? Credit... Kim Ryu By Aug.
Kick The Shit Out Of Procrastination - David Thorpe
davidthorpe.dev
I think I've spent my whole career trying out the next cool productivity software or system. It almost always fails. I tried as many of these things as I could but it just falls by the wayside. Basecamp, Reminders, Todoist, Trello, Bullet Journal, Post-It Notes… Jira. I'm joking on that last one;…
Is there any data that says secondhand car seats aren't safe? - Marketplace
marketplace.org
The following is an adaptation from Adam Minter's, " Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale ." In it, he tracks multi-billion dollar international business of secondhand goods. The manufacturers of child car seats aren't shy about promoting the idea that older seats are a hazard that…
How To Get Your Kids To Do Chores (Without Resenting It)
npr.org
Helpful kids are happy kids: Pitching in with household jobs builds confidence and gives children a sense of belonging, psychologists say. Sisters Angela, 12, Gelmy, 9, and Alexa Natali, 4, know this well. Since they were toddlers, their mom has encouraged them to help around their home in a village…
Renting is Throwing Money Away … Right?
affordanything.com
I've heard a lot of ridiculous statements: "I'm sure we'll find parking." "I'll just check Facebook for five minutes." "I'll skip dessert." But perhaps the most absurd is the adage: "If you're a renter, you're throwing money away." Bulls**t. You've heard those statements, right? "I'm sick of…
73 Mind-Blowing Implications of a Driverless Future
To drive or to be driven. Is that the question? Geoff Nesnow Feb 9, 2018 I originally wrote and published a version of this article in September 2016. Since then, quite a bit has happened, further cementing my view that these changes are coming and that the implications will be even more…
Concise electronics for geeks
lcamtuf.coredump.cx
Copyright (C) 2010 by Michal Zalewski There are quite a few primers on electronics on the Internet; sadly, almost all of the top hits resort to gross oversimplifications (e.g., hydraulic analogies ), or convenient omission, when covering subtle butincredibly important topics such as the real-world…
How to Write and Publish Your Book in 30 Days: A Guide for Busy People
blogs.law.harvard.edu
Lately, I've been talking to many of my friends about getting their books published. Not that they have big, fat manuscripts lying around just waiting to be published. No, no — most of these people aren't even thinking about writing a book. I'm the one who says they have a book in them that's…
The 7 Ways Successful People Approach Their Work - Forbes
When it comes to work, everyone has their own methods for getting tasks done. But it turns out that the most successful people tend to have similar habits. Or, so says Laura Vanderkam , author of a new mini e-book, " What the Most Successful People Do at Work ." (The e-book is the third in a series,…
GTD in 15 minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done
hamberg.no
What is "GTD"? GTD—or "Getting things done"—is a framework for organizing and tracking your tasks and projects. Its aim is a bit higher than just "getting things done", though. (It should have been called "Getting things done in a much better way than just letting things happen, which often turns…
Amazon's New Customer – Stratechery by Ben Thompson
stratechery.com
Back in 2006, when the iPhone was a mere rumor, Palm CEO Ed Colligan was asked if he was worried: "We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone," he said. "PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in." What if Steve…
hamming advice
mccurley.org
A Stroke of Genius: Striving for Greatness in All You Do by R. W. Hamming Little has been written on managing your own research (and very little on avoiding other people managing your research); however, your research is much more under your control than you may realize. We are concerned with great…
The Secret PhD Productivity Strategy: Do Deep Work In Less Hours
nextscientist.com
The worst PhD productivity advice is to work long hours. This advice is shared by successful people in Academia, so it should be good advice, shouldn't it? They think they became successful thanks to hard work. I say they became successful despite their hard work. These people propose a brute force…
How I Bootstrapped My Side Project to $6k/Month While Hating Everything It Stands For – Indie Hackers
indiehackers.com
A beginner's guide to Getting Things Done® – Zenkit
blog.zenkit.com
Getting Things Done is a time management technique that took the world by storm when it was first published in 2001. It was created by David Allen after years of research and practice in the field of productivity methods. (As some of you already know, Zenkit founder and CEO, Martin Welker had the…
A Psychotherapist Explains the 4 Unconscious Questions We're Constantly Asking Each Other
thriveglobal.com
Maya Angelou suggests there are four questions that we're all unconsciously asking each other all the time. We ask the people we love, we ask the people who matter to us professionally, and on a broader level, we ask the people we encounter as we go about our everyday lives: the cashier who takes…
How I Gave Up Alternating Current | Mostly Harmless
robrhinehart.com
Undoubtedly we have no questions to ask which are unanswerable. We must trust the perfection of the creation so far, as to believe that whatever curiosity the order of things has awakened in our minds, the order of things can satisfy. Every man's condition is a solution in hieroglyphic to those…
Why You Should Make Your First Price Offer Very Specific
blogs.hbr.org
It's well known that you get an advantage by making the first move in a price negotiation: If you're the seller, for example, and you offer a price before the buyer does, a higher quote from you will lead to a significantly higher agreement price. But you can increase that advantage by stating your…
The Utter Uselessness of Job Interviews
Jun Cen A friend of mine once had a curious experience with a job interview. Excited about the possible position, she arrived five minutes early and was
The End of Moore's Law
rodneybrooks.com
I have been working on an upcoming post about megatrends and how they drive tech. I had included the end of Moore's Law to illustrate how the end of a megatrend
Electric vehicles – It's not just about the car
about.bnef.com
By Michael Liebreich, Chairman of the Advisory Board and Angus McCrone, Chief Editor Bloomberg New Energy Finance One of the key characteristics of complex systems, such as the world's energy and transport sectors, is that when they change it tends not to be a linear process. They flip from one…
Notes for the New Year
blog.ycombinator.com
Happy 2017! As a kid, I just sort of took for granted that stuff got better every year—TVs got bigger and then thinner, cars got a little faster, and computers got unbelievably better on an exponential curve. As an adult, I realized that the future is not guaranteed to be better. The default is that…
Hunting down my son's killer
matt.might.net
Normal Aside from severe jaundice, Bertrand was normal at birth. For two months, he developed normally. At three months, his development had slowed, but it was "within normal variations." By six months, he had little to no motor control. He seemed, as we described it, "jiggly." Something was wrong.…
gwern.net
I discuss melatonin's effects on sleep & its safety with research up to 2015; I segue into the general benefits of sleep and the severely disrupted sleep of the
What Keeps the Rich and Powerful up at Night, and Why They're Happy You Don't Care
evonomics.com
By Tom Streithorst Imagine Beyonce's stylist's hairdresser's cousin tells you exactly what happened in that elevator between Solange and Jay Z. The story is compelling, explains obscure lyrics in Lemonade , makes intuitive sense. You can't wait to tell your friends. Everybody chatters excitedly…
The Programmer's Guide to Booking a Plane
hackernoon.com
Zeke Gabrielse Reformed bondservant of Christ. Rubyist. Hacker. Entrepreneur. Dec 20, 2016 About two months ago, I wanted to go on a vacation. I had the hotel
The sugar conspiracy
R obert Lustig is a paediatric endocrinologist at the University of California who specialises in the treatment of childhood obesity. A 90-minute talk he gave
Inside the $27,500-a-Month 'Rehab' for Stuck Millennials that Attempts to Turn Them into Adults
fusion.net
A $27,500-a-month facility in Evanston, Ill., is attempting to turn stuck millennials into adults.
On Digital Minimalism
calnewport.com
On Digital Minimalism December 18th, 2016 · 46 comments The Curmudgeonly Optimist People are sometimes confused about my personal relationship with digital
NAE Website - The Engineered Century
nae.edu
1 The Vertiginous March of Technology …
3 Simple Ideas to Conquer Email Overload | 10,000 Startup Hours - David Cummings
davidcummings.org
Every few months someone comes out with a new article on how to defeat email overload, and like the most recent diet fad, it gets some love and then goes away. Only, the volume of email continues to grow and the death of it is greatly exaggerated. I have a few friends that prefer texting and/or…
6 Subtle Things Highly Productive People Do Every Day
businessinsider.com
version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Flickr/Eneas de Troya Ever feel like you're just not getting enough done? Know how many days a week you're actually productive? People work an average of 45 hours a week; they consider about 17 of those hours to be unproductive (U.S.: 45 hours a week; 16 hours are…
fogus: The best things and stuff of 2013
blog.fogus.me
read read or learn more Great things and people that I discovered, learned, read, met, etc. in 2013. No particular ordering is implied. Not everything is new. also: see the lists from 2012, 2011 and 2010 Join in on the Hacker News discussion. My favorite Erlang program — When Joe Armstrong blogs…
The "middle class" myth: Here's why wages are really so low today
salon.com
Let me tell you the story of an "unskilled" worker in America who lived better than most of today's college graduates. In the winter of 1965, Rob Stanley graduated from Chicago Vocational High School, on the city's Far South Side. Pay rent, his father told him, or get out of the house. So Stanley…
"Productivity" Tricks for the Neurotic, Manic-Depressive, and Crazy (Like Me)
fourhourworkweek.com
Sometimes, life seems upside-down. I originally wrote this post months ago, but I've been too self-conscious to publish it until now. This quote convinced me to put on my big girl pants: "The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you're walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your…
How to Survive a Sporting Event with Your Boss | gselevator
gselevator.wordpress.com
As a follow-up to my recent piece, Tips for Summer Interns of 2013, I have been asked to provide pearls of wisdom on surviving a sporting event with your boss. As an international bon vivant, hopefully I have put something in here for everyone – well almost everyone. If you're going to a hockey…
My Marriage Didn't End When I Became a Widow
opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com
The End is a series about end-of-life issues. When my husband died from cancer last March at age 37, I was so grief-stricken I could barely sleep. One afternoon, I visited his grave — in a field high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the Pacific Ocean — and lay on top of it. I slept more…
Success at Work, Failure at Home | Scott Weiss
scott.a16z.com
Success at Work, Failure at Home One of the differences between being a CEO and a venture capitalist is that I obviously meet with many more CEOs now than I did then. As such, it has become more apparent that many of my struggles as a CEO are surprisingly common. One observation that stands out,…
The Top 4 Reasons Why 'Passive Income' Is A Dangerous Fantasy - Forbes
Quote of the Day Whether success or failure, you need to move forward. The momentum is what is critical.
Older Articles ▹


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Interview: Whale Hill
We chat with the Teesside Trio about themselves and their new release, Bloom
By David Saunders on Friday, November 22nd, 2019
Whale Hill are a band from Middlesbrough who describe themselves as 'a boyband in disguise as an angsty, post-punk trio'. Having listened to their brand new single Bloom, I doubt whether Westlife or A1 could mask their smooth sensitivity and purvey the raw aggression that is soaked into the track.
They are young and vibrant however and are on the ascendency, with an excellent year being rounded off with plenty going on. We caught up with the band to find out more about them, the track and the near future.
How would you describe your sound? Who are the band's biggest influences?
Our sound has changed a lot since the inception of the band, we've evolved a lot in our first year and a half together and have started to feel like we've found our footing towards a more aggressive post-punk sound.
Influence-wise we have a wide range, we draw a lot of it from current popular punk bands such as Shame & Idles. A lot of our recent influences in structure have come from our appreciation of hip hop, especially with a big emphasis on lyrical flow and how to portray messages in our music.
What is your new song Bloom about?
Bloom is a song to encourage people to do whatever they want and to break from the mould. I've found personally with environments we've grown up in and in current education systems that room to express yourself isn't always apparent, or encouraged and Bloom is our rebellious look back to think why don't we just do what we want in our lives that makes us happy.
The song is our first true venture into a new, more aggressive direction of style that we have been creating and will be playing moving forward and we can't wait to have it out for people to hear.
Where was it recorded?
Bloom was recorded with the fantastic Jamie Donnelly of Be Quiet. Shout Loud. fame earlier in the year, it was our first time working with a producer on a project as our previous attempts had been DIY efforts and he pushed us to put everything into the record.
It was exactly what we needed for the new single, he didn't let anything sub-par make it onto the recording and worked us hard to make sure we got what we wanted out of the song.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Did you overcome it?
I would say our biggest challenge as a band has been learning the industry, for all 3 of us this is our first experience in music and there is a lot to learn.
It's by far the best thing we've ever embarked on but it's definitely not without its challenges and especially the toll it can take behind the scenes, which a lot of people don't see.
Briefly describe your songwriting process.
Our songwriting process normally starts with a riff or a bassline that hooks us immediately. We then continue to build upon that with either a structure or a song topic that fits the mood and aesthetic of the music.
We'll then go into a practice space and begin trial and error of what we feel works sonically and eventually come to a point to where we're all happy with the result and excited about it whether it takes an hour or a few separate attempts.
All of our songs are written from either past or current struggles internally within me and I find it much easier to connect to a song this way if it can hook me on a personal level.
What's next for the band?
We have a busy end to 2019 with a headline show in Newcastle at Head of Steam on December 14th and two more big shows very soon to be announced to close off the year.
As for 2020, we have a lot of exciting ideas we are currently floating around within the group and a new batch of songs we're keen to get into the studio to get recorded. Then, we're going to continue to venture out of the Teesside area as we have been recently into bigger cities to push our music and live show out to new audiences.
Interview: Deep.Sleep
Interview: Tobias And The Lion
News: Llovers Presents vs Soapbox Sessions (15/12/19)
Bunch Of Fives: Waste Of Space
MY INSPIRATION: THE ARTISANS
Interview: Ten Eighty Trees
Interview: Rob Coles (Little Comets)
News: Sing Again Syren – New Single
News: Motel Carnation Single Release
News: Abel Raise The Cain Single Release

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: RecyclerView: No adapter attached - why do I keep getting this error? Just trying to show in a RecyclerView the info from my database.
everything works fine. The objects are displayed.
but logcat says:

E/RecyclerView: No adapter attached; skipping layout

This is my the code (DisplayImages.java)
    public class DisplayImages extends AppCompatActivity {
    DatabaseReference databaseReference;

    RecyclerView recyclerView;

    RecyclerView.Adapter adapter;
    ProgressDialog progressDialog;

    List<ImageUploadInfo> list = new ArrayList<>();

@Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_display_images);

        recyclerView = (RecyclerView) findViewById(R.id.recyclerView);

        recyclerView.setHasFixedSize(true);
        recyclerView.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(DisplayImages.this));

        progressDialog = new ProgressDialog(DisplayImages.this);
        progressDialog.setMessage("Loading Images From Firebase.");
        progressDialog.show();

        // Setting up Firebase image upload folder path in databaseReference.
        // The path is already defined in MainActivity.
        databaseReference = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference(Main.Database_Path);

        databaseReference.addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() {
            @override
            public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot snapshot) {

                for (DataSnapshot postSnapshot : snapshot.getChildren()) {

                    ImageUploadInfo imageUploadInfo = postSnapshot.getValue(ImageUploadInfo.class);

                    list.add(imageUploadInfo);
                }

                adapter = new RecyclerViewAdapter(getApplicationContext(), list);

                recyclerView.setAdapter(adapter);
                progressDialog.dismiss();
            }

            @Override
            public void onCancelled(DatabaseError databaseError) {

                progressDialog.dismiss();

            }
        });

    }

And If it makes any difference, this is what i wrote in MainActivity about the DataBase_Path :
public class Main extends AppCompatActivity implements View.OnClickListener {

DatabaseReference databaseReference;
public static final String Database_Path = "All_Image_Uploads_Database";

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    databaseReference = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference(Database_Path);

As you can see I have attached an adapter for Recycleview. so why do I keep getting this error?
i have read other questions related to same problem but none helps.

A: I don't see anywhere you are creating an adapter and setting that adapter to RecyclerView. You need to create an adapter and set adapter like following:
mAppAdapter = new AppAdapter(mModel); // or whatever constructor you want
recyclerView.setAdapter(mAppAdapter);

EDIT:
You are setting adapter to RecyclerView inside an asynchronous method. So your program will have a non deterministinc amount of time where the adapter is not actually set to recyclerView. To get rid off the warning you get you should initialize and set the adapter above the async method and only update data of the adapter inside the async method

A: Yyou need to set the adapter after you set the layour manager, otherwise you'll get the error message you're seeing.
recyclerView = (RecyclerView) findViewById(R.id.recyclerView);
    recyclerView.setHasFixedSize(true);
//don't set adapter here
    recyclerView.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(DisplayImages.this));

//set adapter here

Moreover, you can set the adapter with an empty list first and then when you receive the callback from firebase you can update the list and call notifyDatasetChanged() on the adapter. The problem you see is due to the fact that you're not actually setting the adapter until very later in the process (when your firebase call comes back)
Like this:
recyclerView.setHasFixedSize(true);
        recyclerView.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(DisplayImages.this));
adapter = new RecyclerViewAdapter(getApplicationContext(), list);
 recyclerView.setAdapter(adapter);

databaseReference.addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() {
            @override
            public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot snapshot) {

                for (DataSnapshot postSnapshot : snapshot.getChildren()) {

                    ImageUploadInfo imageUploadInfo = postSnapshot.getValue(ImageUploadInfo.class);

                    list.add(imageUploadInfo);
                }
               adapter.notifyDatasetChanged();
            }

            @Override
            public void onCancelled(DatabaseError databaseError) {

                progressDialog.dismiss();

            }
        });

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Making All Things Well: finding spiritual strength with Julian of Norwich
Daily Readings, Saints & Mystics, Spiritual Exercises
The writings of Julian of Norwich are more popular and relevant than the 14th century mystic could ever have dreamed they would become. Speaking with freshness, depth and poignancy, they offer timeless wisdom and understanding for present day concerns. For Isobel de Gruchy, Julian was a great support during many difficult years of ministry in South Africa's apartheid era, but it was when her son died tragically in an accident that she found unexpected reserves of spiritual insight and strength. Making All Things Well opens up Julian's central themes - such as the mystery of suffering, the promise that we shall overcome evil, prayer and contemplation, the faithfulness and love of God towards all he has made - and relates them to the many challenges we encounter today. Offering forty short reflections that demonstrate Julian's abiding influence, it is ideal for personal reading during Lent, or at any time of year, for a retreat, for group reflection and as a worship resource. Each contains a scripture reading, an excerpt from her Showings, a meditation, a prayer-poem and questions for reflection.
A Month With Julian of Norwich
Daily Readings, Saints & Mystics
This short book contains 62 prayers and readings (one each morning and evening for a month). It will help the reader to steep him- or herself in the writings and thoughts of this favourite spiritual writer, and the introduction will introduce Julian of Norwich's particular appeal. The special angle unique to this series of books is the way they accompany the reader on a month-long journey with a favourite saint or writer.
A Spring Within Us: A Year of Daily Meditations
Daily Readings, Resources for the Christian Year
The water I give will be a spring within you – welling up into infinite life. John 4:14
Journey through the year with Richard Rohr, as he encourages us to drink deeply of God's love.
With his great Franciscan heart wide open to the heart of the world, Richard Rohr seems to have a sixth sense about what's emerging into consciousness and where he is needed next ... What awaits you here is the integrated wisdom that emerges out of a life courageously and vulnerably lived.
Cynthia Bourgeault from the Forward
40 Days with the Celtic Saints: Devotional Readings for a Time of Preparation
Celtic Sites & Saints, Daily Readings
The life stories of the Celtic Saints are inspirational. They demonstrate great and unassuming faith, often in the face of insurmountable difficulties. In 40 Days with the Celtic Saints, David Cole draws us to relate our own life journey and developing relationship with God into the life story of the Celtic saint of the day. A corresponding biblical text and blessing encourages and motivates us to transform our lives for today's world in the light of such historic faith.
The Healing Word: Gospel Medicine for the Soul
Written by one of the world's greatest preachers, this searingly beautiful sequence of meditations explores the power of God's word to heal the soul and mend a broken world. Barbara Brown Taylor practices the old-fashioned art of gospel home remedies, drawing strength from biblical stories that can help us confront our weakness, revive our spirits and restore us to lasting wholeness. Recently voted one of the world's top ten contemporary spiritual sages, Barbara Brown Taylor is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Piedmont College, Georgia. Her previous books include An Altar in the World and Home by Another Way.
Home by another way: Biblical meditations through the Christian year
Daily Readings, Everyday Life, The Inner Journey
Written by one of the world's greatest preachers, these insightful meditations began their life as beautifully crafted sermons that explore the meanings of the major seasons and holy days of the Christian year. Reviewer Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James's Picadilly, writes: "This is a deeply compassionate book that takes seriously what it's like to live in the world now, while holding out the scriptural hope of a life not yet imagined. Barbara Brown Taylor tells new parables that reveal meaning in everyday holiness, and the thoroughly human states of confusion, suffering and joy of which she is keenly aware.This book is for all who want to believe but can't quite get there, or for those whose jaded spirit needs a long cool drink at a freshwater spring. Reading these reflections is like being drenched in grace." Recently voted one of the world's top ten contemporary spiritual sages, Barbara Brown Taylor is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. Her previous books include An Altar in the World and Leaving Church.
Daily Readings, Monasticism & New Monasticism, New Monasticism, Spiritual Growth, The Inner Journey
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's faith-driven resistance to the Nazis during World War II resulted in his execution. Multitudes have been inspired by the hauntingly powrful words of this man who was willing to die for his convictions. In this collection of 365 meditations Dr Charles Ringma allows us to experience the power of Bonhoeffer's words in a way that challenges us to live out our discipleship daily - combining personal spirituality with an active concern for those around us. These daily meditations on Bonhoeffer's writings may make you uncomfortable. But if you are willing to wrestle - as Bonhoeffer did - with what it means to be a follower of Christ, you'll be empowered to seize each day.
Bread for the Journey: a daybook of wisdom and faith
Daily Readings, Influences & Suggested Reading
A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith. A reading for each day of the year taken from the writings of Henri Nouwen.


text:
Debbie van der Putten
Fulltime Fashion Model, Face of the Models of Diversity Billboard campaign London 2012. Worked in LA, NYC, London, Amsterdam, Capetown
Categories: Models
Disability: Amputee Single Above Elbow
Debbie van der Putten, born in 1985, is a model with a physical disability. She lost her right arm at the age of 19 in a bus crash in the South of France. She was a contestant in the BBC3 Reality TV show, Britain's Missing Top Model in 2008. Britain's Missing Top Model was broadcast in the UK, Scandinavia, Holland, South America and America. Before entering the competition, she was a contestant of a televised beauty pageant in Holland for disabled women called Miss Ability, a live beauty contest where disabled women compete in nightgowns and bathing suits, then present short video films on how they've "overcome" their physical conditions—whatever impairments contestants have must be "visible to the eye" in order for them to compete. Viewers vote for the winner. Debbie worked as a model where she did photoshoots with top fashion photographers, and was featured in Cosmogirl and Elle Magazine. She featured in Playboy Magazine in 2007. She is now working as a professional model with campaigns for Dutch fashion chain DiDi Fashion and Fudge Hairproducts, and director of the IMperfect Campaign Holland that fights for more diversity in fashion. In the 2012 she was the Spokesperson for Models of Diversity a non- profit organisation in London as their spokesperson she was also the face of their first billboard campaign during the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and did interviews on the paralympic breakfast show on channel4 and itv's breakfastshow. Since 2013 debbie is mainly concentrating again on her own IM-perfect campaign that mainly promotes diversity in high fashion.
Film, Internet, Appearances, Editorial Print, Fashion Print, Fasihon Runway, Public Speaking
http://Debbievanderputten.wordpress.com


text:
Daniel Slater (born 20 April 1966) is a British theatre and opera director.

Biography
Slater was born in London. He did his undergraduate degree at Bristol University and went on to do a PhD at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
 The Bartered Bride (Opera North) (1998)

External links
 Personal website
 Agent's website
 Agent's website

1966 births
Living people
British opera directors
Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Robertson is committed to being socially, economically and environmentally responsible and has positioned its 2030 vision around three key themes; Our People, Our Partners and Our Planet.
The objective of the strategy is to enhance the lives of others, positively contribute towards communities and become a 'climate positive' business.
Both Robertson Group and Robertson Residential Group will align all business activity in order to deliver the 2030 Responsible Business Strategy, further building upon the progress Robertson has made to date across the Responsible Business agenda, which includes being one of the first UK businesses in the built environment to achieve carbon neutrality.
Elliot Robertson, CEO, Robertson Group said: "Being a responsible business is intertwined in all that we do, in fact it has been critical to the success we have had to date.
"Our purpose is to assure a sustainable future and our approach to Responsible Business helps us deliver this.
"This year alone Robertson has declared a climate and biodiversity emergency and further reduced the carbon intensity of both Group and Residential Group by over 40% since first baselining performance in 2014/15.
"Our 2030 strategy further builds on our Responsible Business Policy that was released in 2019, with these new targets providing direction and structure for the next decade. I am confident that we are on track to delivering these targets as a result of the significant progress we have made to date.
"We will also be working hard to decarbonise our supply chain and customers."
Robertson was recently verified 'carbon neutral' by One Carbon World business as a result of work undertaken to measure, reduce and offset emissions.
John Low, CEO, Robertson Residential Group said: "Organisations play a critical part in combating climate change and reducing the UK's net emissions of greenhouse gases.
"As a business it is clear we have made significant progress, working with our customers and supply chain, but we have a responsibility to do more and I am confident that our 2030 Responsible Business targets will support us in doing so.
"Building upon our key priorities – our people, our partners and our planet – I believe the 2030 Responsible Business targets will continue to drive our business forward."
In its 2030 Responsible Business Strategy, Robertson has committed to:
Our People: By 2030, Robertson will have enhanced the lives of 10,000 people, by creating work placements and job opportunities, and by supporting apprenticeships, upskilling and new qualifications.
Our Partners: By 2030, Robertson will have created £1 billion of social value, by enhancing lives and spending locally in the areas where its projects are and with social enterprises, microbusinesses and SMEs.
Our Planet: By 2030, Robertson will move beyond being a carbon neutral business to become 'climate positive', generating zero emissions from our offices, commercial fleet and construction sites within our operational control. Robertson will, create a net biodiversity gain on projects and become carbon positive without increasing our offsetting.
Responsible Business Targets from Robertson on Vimeo.
Peter Grieve and Beth Santangeli selecte...
Peter Grieve and Beth Santangeli selected to join the Built Environment Board for Liverpool City Region


Found 43 entries in 0.100 seconds.
Was Adonalsium Shattered all at once? Or did each Shard form at a separate time?
Was Drephrast at the Shattering, and if so, did he play a part in it?
Did the original 16 break Adonalsium with the intent to gain the shards and the power, or was that a happy/unhappy side effect?
Leras mentioned something like Cephandrius had the choice/chance to take up a shard but declined. So was the shattering an event that was predicted to happen so that people like Leras, Ati, Rayse, etc to be present at that time to pick up the shards after the shattering.
There's more to it than that, but some of what you say is close.
Let's see. I would count the highstorms as that. Highstorm predates the Shattering. Now, the highstorm has been changed dramatically by certain events, but the highstorm does predate the Shattering.
Let's see... *reading written question aloud* "Can you tell me anything new about the force that opposed Adonalsium?"
*writes* "I would count groups of people as a force."
Okay? So, I'm not saying that that's what it is, but when people ask that question and leave a lot of wiggle room... because I would count groups of people as a force that opposed him. So, I have not confirmed it's a group or anything like that. The question has a lot of wiggle room.
Who invited Rayse to the Adonalsium-Shattering party?
Hehe, you will have to see. That is definitely a RAFO.
How about a confirmation one? We have a secondhand report from Miyabi actually, that says that Hoid was at the Shattering of Adonalsium. Was he there?
Did Hoid think of the Shattering as necessary?
If Adonalsium Shattered with intent, would he always Shatter with the same Shards?
It is plausible that it could've gone a different way.
So it could've been different Shards?
And Hoid was a visitor at it [the Shattering] but he wasn't partaking in on it.
That is what the implication is. For sure.
What can you tell us about what magic was like in the cosmere before Adonalsium was Shattered?
It was-- I mean-- It was similar, different in some fundamental ways but the things that were done you'll be able to see other-- You'll be able to see the pieces.
Were there any people present at the Shattering of Adonalsium other than Hoid and the 16?
While talking with EUOL today I had asked about Hoid being Midius from Partinel.
He said he had many names, but avoided a yes or no answer.
I then asked if Hoid was a shard.
He said no and then said something about how no one has read the end of Partinel due to its not being written well and the plethora of spoilers it contains. . . .
He then told me that Hoid was there when Adonalsium was shattered.
Sources: So, Hoid was there when what happened?
Did [Hoid] cause the Shattering?
*hands out RAFO card* ...There is a hint about this in a book that is released tonight that is not that book.
Does each Shard have the same quantity or quality of Investiture?
Um, yes. They were equal proportions originally, how about that.


text:
A Majority of Americans Do Not Believe the Official 9/11 Story
"Conspiracy Theorists" Now A Majority
TruePublica, a British website that has avoided the 9/11 issue, has had its fill of ignorant journalists at the BBC, Huffington Post and other propagandists for the military/security complex. The constant, shrill demeaning of experts and distinguished people who have raised questions about the official story has convinced TruePublica that skeptics who need so much shouting down must have a point.
The media has NEVER EXAMINED the evidence or explained the analysis provided by scientists, architects, engineers, pilots, and the first responders who experienced the explosions of the World Trade Center twin towers. The media has never asked for the release of the multiple videos that recorded whatever struck the Pentagon. The media has never investigated whether cell phones worked in 2001 from the altitudes at which the official story claims calls were made.
Instead two-bit punk presstitutes, such as the BBC's Chris Bell and the Huffington Post's Jess Brammer andl Chris York, label experts with knowledge and integrity "conspiracy theorists." These presstitutes knowingly use a cover-up term that the CIA put into use via its media assets to discredit the expert skeptics of the Warren Commission Report on the assassination of President Kennedy.
The fact that the carefully presented evidence is NEVER ENGAGED EXCEPT WITH NAME-CALLING is a strong indication that the evidence is true and cannot be refuted.
TruePublica is such a mainline site that, in its own words, it does not even "publish news sourced by RT," a far more reliable source of news than the BBC, CNN, or New York Times. However, it has dawned on TruePublica that after 18 years an ad hominem attack remains the only defense of the official story. The official account has NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER. It rests entirely on the AVOIDANCE OF EVIDENCE and on unverified assertions.
Newly Released FBI Docs Shed Light on Apparent Mossad Foreknowledge of 9/11 Attacks
Special Broadcast on the 17th Anniversary of the 9/11 Debacle
CIA's Advance Knowledge of 9/11 Date Including Nuclear Possibilities
Pre-Planted Pentagon Explosives Went Off Almost Eight Minutes before Any Alleged Impact on the Building
The success of the 9/11 Lawyers' Committee in obtaining the consent of the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York to "comply with the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3332," which requires the convening of a federal grand jury to examine the unexamined 9/11 evidence, has impressed TruePublica as no US attorney would convene a grand jury on the basis of a conspiracy theory. Clearly compelling evidence has been presented to the US Attorney.
Obviously, Washington expects the Justice (sic) Department to escape from the bind into which it has been put by the Lawyer's Committee, an escape that the presstitute media will aid and abet. Nevertheless, the escape will likely reinforce the public's view that the government is afraid of the evidence and is no more likely to follow it than in the case of President Kennedy's assassination, Robert Kennedy's assassination, the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty and a large number of other officially covered up crimes.
More and more people will come to realize that ad hominem name-calling is not an acceptable response to evidence.
Some Interesting New Information About 9/11
TruePublica Editor: We have published almost nothing about 9/11 on TruePublica. When independent news outlets do, they are immediately branded by the mainstream media and so-called 'fact-checkers' as conspiracy theorists. The BBC makes this point precisely in a 2018 article that starts like this – "On 11 September 2001, four passenger planes were hijacked by radical Islamist terrorists – almost 3,000 people were killed as the aircraft were flown into the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. Just hours after the collapse of New York's Twin Towers, a conspiracy theory surfaced online which persists more than 16 years later."
The entire article is dedicated to all the 'conspiracy theories' involved in 9/11 and makes a mockery of anyone or anything that questions the official government line. They even heavily mock the brother of one man killed in 9/11 and frankly, true or not, the BBC's report itself is rather sickening to read.
And yet, here we are, all these years later and it's hardly surprising the theories of a conspiracy continue.
A 2016 study from Chapman University in California, found more than half of the American people believe the government is concealing information about the 9/11 attacks. This is in part because, large sections of the official US government report were redacted for years – and is still missing to this day.
The big problem is that the government is withholding crucial evidence. And then there's other evidence the state and mainstream media refuse to even consider.
Paul Craig Roberts is an American economist and former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy under President Reagan. Roberts was an associate editor and columnist for The Wall Street Journal and columnist for Business Week and has received the Warren Brookes Award for Excellence in Journalism. In 1993 the Forbes Media Guide ranked him as one of the top seven journalists in the United States.
Roberts wrote this really interesting piece of information just a few days ago that the mainstream media has been completely silent about: "Although the United States is allegedly a democracy with a rule of law, it has taken 17 years for public pressure to bring about the first grand jury investigation of 9/11. Based on the work of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth led by Richard Gage, first responder and pilots organizations, books by David Ray Griffin and others, and eyewitness testimony, the Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry has presented enough hard facts to the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York to force his compliance with the provisions of federal law that require the convening of a federal grand jury to investigate for the first time the attacks of September 11, 2001.
This puts the US Justice (sic) Department in an extraordinary position. There will be tremendous pressures on the US Attorney's office to have the grand jury dismiss the evidence as an unpatriotic conspiracy theory or otherwise maneuver to discredit the evidence presented by the Lawyers' Committee, or modify the official account without totally discrediting it.
"What the 9/11 truthers and the Lawyers' Committee have achieved is the destruction of the designation of 9/11 skeptics as "conspiracy theorists." No US Attorney would convene a grand jury on the basis of a conspiracy theory. Clearly, the evidence is compelling that has put the US Attorney in an unenviable position."
If the Lawyers' Committee and the 9/11 truthers trust the US Attorney to go entirely by the facts, little will come of the grand jury. If the United States had a rule of law, something as serious as 9/11 could not have gone for 17 years without investigation."
Three weeks before Roberts' made this statement a letter was published by Off-Guardian about a Huffington Post hit piece about an academic teaching journalism. Its first paragraph explains entirely its own position.
"An academic teaching journalism students at one of the UK's top universities has publicly supported long-discredited conspiracy theories about the 9/11 terror attack, HuffPost UK can reveal."
This entire article, like that of the BBC's, vigorously attacks any individual or organisation that has the temerity to question the 'official' narrative on any major incident as offered up by the state, such as the Skripal poisonings, Syria's chemical weapons, Iraq and Chilcot Report.
HuffPost even uses an unnamed former head of MI6 and an unnamed former Supreme Commander of Nato to dispel such challenges to this narrative and then attacks other sources of news such as RT as nothing more than Russian propaganda irrespective of the source. As a rule, TruePublica does not publish news sourced by RT but that does not make all of its content propaganda.
David Ray Griffin, a retired American professor and political writer who founded the Center for Process Studies which seeks to promote the common good by means of the relational approach found in process thought was the co-author of the book '9/11 Unmasked' – part of the attack piece was centered on by the HuffPost hit piece.
The head of the 9/11 Consensus Panel, the other co-author, responded to the HuffPost. For information, the goal of the Consensus Panel is to "provide a ready source of evidence-based research to any investigation that may be undertaken by the public, the media, academia, or any other investigative body or institution."
That letter is as follows:
Jess Brammer, UK Huffington Post
Chris York, UK Huffington Post
Dear Ms. Brammar and Mr. York:
I was the head information specialist serving the Medical Health Officers of British Columbia, Canada, for 25 years.
Your attack piece on Professor Piers Robinson and on the scholarly work of Dr. David Ray Griffin is the least accurate and the lowest quality published article I have ever seen.
I have assisted Dr. Griffin with 10 of his investigative books into the events of 9/11. In 2011 we decided to create the international 9/11 Consensus Panel to review and evaluate the official claims relating to September 11, 2001. The Panel we formed has 23 members, including people from the fields of physics, chemistry, structural engineering, aeronautical engineering, piloting, airplane crash investigation, medicine, journalism, psychology, and religion.
In seeking a consensus methodology, I was advised by the former provincial epidemiologist of British Columbia to employ a leading model that is used in medicine to establish the best diagnostic and treatment evidence to guide the world's doctors using medical consensus statements.
The Panel methodology has produced, seven years later, 51 refutations of the official claims, which were published as 911 Unmasked: An International Review Panel Investigation in September, 2018.
Each Consensus Point, now a chapter in this book, was given three rounds of review and feedback by the Panel members. The panelists were blind to one another throughout the process, providing strictly uninfluenced individual feedback. Any Points that did not receive 85% approval by the third round were set aside.
The Honorary Members of the Panel include the late British (and longest-serving) parliamentarian Michael Meacher, the late evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis, and the late Honorary President of the Italian Supreme Court, Ferdinando Imposimato.
The Huffington Post drastically lowered its standards to publish this hit piece, and what influenced it to do so is a question worth pursuing.
Elizabeth Woodworth, Co-author with Dr. David Ray Griffin of 9/11 Unmasked
TruePublica continues:
It is over 18 years now since the world-changing event of 9/11. One wonders when the information held by the American government, that continues to anger so many people affected by it will ever emerge.
However, one reason why such questions persist is precisely that of the actions of the US government itself. One should not forget those so-called 'conspiracy theories' that actually came true that continues to pour petrol on the flames of doubt.
For example, the American government killed thousands by poisoning alcohol to prove its point that alcohol was bad for the general public during prohibition. This was a 'conspiracy theory' that went on for decades – until it was proven to be true.
Then, you can take your pick of the lies government tells when it comes to starting wars – how about the lie the Saddam Hussain and Iraq had WMD ready to fire at Western targets. Total deaths exceeded 1 million. Yet another classic American lie was the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964, as a pretext for escalating the country's involvement in the Vietnam War that killed 60,000 American soldiers. Total deaths racked up 1.35 million, all based on a lie. That incident only came about because of an unintentional declassification of an NSA file in 2005.
Edward Snowden proved with his revelations in 2013 that the government was spying on everyone when the government had denied they had ever done so. It took a whistleblower to let us all know. The UK government has been found by the highest courts in the land to have broken numerous privacy and surveillance laws as a result of mass civilian surveillance systems.
Operation Mockingbird was a US government operation where journalists were paid to publish CIA propaganda, only uncovered by the Watergate scandal. It took a thief to unknowingly capture secret documents and recordings for the public to find out.
The list goes on and on – just as 9/11 will, so it will be interesting to see how the US Attorney, presented with evidence from so many prominent professionals will bury yet more 9/11 evidence. Don't hold your breath though, the same questions will, no doubt, still be being asked in another 18 years time.
Paul Craig Roberts has had careers in scholarship and academia, journalism, public service, and business. He is chairman of The Institute for Political Economy.
By Jeremy Salt	| 14 Shares


The Tahoe Rim Trail Association website has been named a top 2002 site by the American Trails group.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association website has been named a top 2002 site by the American Trails group, a national non-profit organization that works to create and protect America's network of interconnected trails. More than 70 trail-related websites from across the country were nominated for this year's award. According to American Trails, they selected sites that make trails come alive, provide effective information, support volunteers and engage public interest. To see for yourself, go to www.tahoerimtrail.org.


text:
First reaction: The ECB's OMT monetisation is for banks as much as sovereigns
By Edward Harrison	 On Sep 6, 2012
Here are my first quick reactions to the ECB's new monetisation scheme. They have decided to buy bonds on the secondary market in potentially unlimited quantities up to three-year maturities for countries that submit to a Troika program. The bonds they buy will be pari passu with bonds held by private investors. And the purchases will supposedly be sterilised.
Everything that has happened was pretty much telegraphed right from the start. As I told members in late July:
Mario Draghi has a specific plan in mind for how the ECB will be able to arrest the sovereign debt crisis. Two Bloomberg central bank sources told the news agency that ECB President Draghi will have talks with Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann in coming days as the Bundesbank is the "biggest stumbling block" to Draghi's bond purchase plan. Under that plan, the European rescue funds EFSF and ESM would be permitted to buy European sovereign debt of issuers like Spain and Italy at auction. The ECB would then also be permitted to purchase those bonds on the secondary market, effectively monetising sovereign debt. ECB rate cuts and more LTRO loans to banks are also potential actions the ECB would take according to one of the Bloomberg sources.
Wedmann did not get onboard. Weidmann was the lone dissenter – and so Draghi rode roughshod over him. That is significant because it tells you that the Bundesbank has now lost power at the ECB. In retrospect, you can say that the Stark and Weber resignations made the BuBa weaker, just as a Weidmann one will do.
Further, as I wrote last month, this is the end of European bailouts and the beginning of monetisation:
In the German press, there have been a number of stories recently that indicate that the German government will not commit any more money to bailouts in the euro zone. Specifically, the reports of greatest interest have to do with Germany's neither funding a new Greece or topping up the EFSF/ESM bailout facilities. I think these reports are credible and I am writing this note as to what I believe they mean for European economic and monetary policy.
The basic dilemma here is that almost all of the eurozone governments including Germany carry high debt burdens in excess of the Maastricht Treaty. For example, Germany has been in breach of Maastricht Treaty in 8 of 10 years since 2002, has been over the Maastricht 60% hurdle in each of those ten years, and now carries a debt to GDP burden above 80%. The ratings agencies are onto this and Moody's has recently downgraded all of the remaining AAA credits in the euro zone except Finland (whose fiscal health is buoyed artificially by a property bubble, I might add). If you look at the contributions to the ESM then, you can see that it cannot be a AAA-rated facility.
The bottom line here is that the ESM is both underfunded and backed by weak fiscal agents. It cannot possibly withstand a crisis in Italy or Spain.
The obvious conclusion, one I made in January, is that the ECB would decide to monetize. And they have done.
In the end, however, this is really about the German, Dutch and French banks. If you think of OMT as a bank bailout instead of a sovereign one, the ECB's new OMT scheme is really very much equivalent to the Fed's QE1 scheme of buying mortgage bonds. I told members two weeks ago:
The problem here is that this is just a Super SMP. It has the ECB buying in unlimited quantities for countries that are making fiscal and structural adjustments instead of the ECB making ad-hoc commitments to purchases that are not credible backstops. Now I realize that this is what Joerg Asmussen meant when this exchange occurred:
There are to be bond purchases once more. What makes you think the new programme will be more successful than the first two programmes, which only reduced rates in the short term?
Because it will be better conceived than the old bond-buying programme, the SMP.
But the Super SMP is a moral hazard for banks instead of the reputed moral hazard for sovereigns that a rate target would be. Instead of potentially giving sovereigns an open ended rate target commitment, you are giving banks an open-ended quantity commitment. And they will use it. The Super SMP will work just like QE1 did in the US except instead of the Fed buying toxic MBS indiscriminately and at inflated prices, it's the ECB buying distressed sovereign debt indiscriminately and at inflated prices. The whole premise of the ECB's buying again is to have some sort of Bagehot rule that it applies in providing liquidity as a bank lender of last resort. But yet again we see there's nothing like that going on. Instead, the ECB plans to give one and all comers liquidity and allow them to dump their distressed debt onto the ECB at inflated prices. The result will be an instant improvement in bank balance sheets, all without private money recapitalization. Sounds like a bailout to me.
That's very euro bank bullish. Not for Spanish and Italian banks, mind you, because their domestic economies are in a world of hurt. But German, French and Dutch banks just got a Draghi put on their sovereign bond assets – and that's bullish.
That's it for now. More for subscribers later
bailoutbanksECBEuropeFranceGermanyItalyliqudity
The euro zone can still blow up even after unlimited purchases
Michael Johns in 1996 on Balanced Federal Government Budgets
Economic growth and social contracts in rich countries
Policy divergence and the week's monetary policy decisions
Watch for a re-emergence of the convergence to zero play
David_Lazarus says 7 years ago
It might be bullish for core banks now, but what will happen when the periphery default on the loans from the core. This will eliminate the core banks capital, what then? This looks like extend and pretend on a massive scale and can they create enough capital to mask the losses?
Surging markets, low volatility, and fake liquidity
On global bond markets predicting recession, collapsing net…


text:
Q: Processing scanned image using OpenCV Library after scanning it (iOS swift) I am trying to process scanned Image using OpenCV in iOS (Swift) but I am not getting clear Image after scanning it
Reference of below code is taken from here :- Scanned Document - Text & Background clarity not good using OpenCV + iOS
Below are the images that shows result comparison between the quality of image before and after scanning it. And the result is same, no enhanced quality in After processing image.
Image before processing

Image After Processing

Here is my code for scanning image.
+ (cv::Mat)cvMatFromUIImage3:(cv::Mat)image
{
//    NSString *foo = path;
//    std::string bar = std::string([image UTF8String]);
    cv::Mat input = image;
//    cv::imread(image,IMREAD_UNCHANGED);
    int maxdim = input.cols; //std::max(input.rows,input.cols);
    const int dim = 1024;
    if ( maxdim > dim )
    {
        double scale = (double)dim/(double)maxdim;
        cv::Mat t;
        cv::resize( input, t, cv::Size(), scale,scale );
        input = t;
    }
    if ( input.type()!=CV_8UC4 )
        CV_Error(CV_HAL_ERROR_UNKNOWN,"!bgr");
    cv::Mat result;
    input.copyTo( result ); // result is just for drawing the text rectangles

    // as previously...
    cv::Mat median;
    // remove highlight pixels e.g., those from debayer-artefacts and noise
    cv::medianBlur(input,median,5);
    cv::Mat localmax;
    // find local maximum
    cv::Mat kernel = cv::getStructuringElement(cv::MORPH_RECT,cv::Size(15,15) );
    cv::morphologyEx( median,localmax,cv::MORPH_CLOSE,kernel,cv::Point(-1,-1),1,cv::BORDER_REFLECT101 );

    std::vector< cv::Rect > bb;
    // detectLetters by @William, modified to internally do the grayscale conversion if necessary
    // https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23506105/extracting-text-opencv?rq=1
      std::vector<cv::Rect> letterBBoxes1=detectLetters(input);
//    detectLetters( input, bb );
    // compose a simple Gaussian model for text background (still assumed white)
    cv::Mat mask( input.size(),CV_8UC1,cv::Scalar( 0 ) );
    if ( bb.empty() )
        return image; // TODO; none found
    for ( size_t i=0;i<bb.size(); ++i )
    {
        cv::rectangle( result, bb[i], cv::Scalar(0,0,255),2,8 ); // visualize only
        cv::rectangle( mask, bb[i], cv::Scalar( 1 ), -1 ); // create a mask for cv::meanStdDev
    }
    cv::Mat mean,dev;
    cv::meanStdDev( localmax, mean, dev, mask );
    if ( mean.type()!=CV_64FC1 || dev.type()!=CV_64FC1 || mean.size()!=cv::Size(1,3) || dev.size()!=cv::Size(1,3) )
        CV_Error(CV_HAL_ERROR_UNKNOWN, "should never happen");
    double minimum[3];
    double maximum[3];
    // simply truncate the localmax according to our simple Gaussian model (+/- one standard deviation)
    for ( unsigned int u=0;u<3;++u )
    {
        minimum[u] = mean.at<double>(u ) - dev.at<double>( u );
        maximum[u] = mean.at<double>(u ) + dev.at<double>( u );
    }
    for ( int y=0;y<mask.rows;++y){
        for ( int x=0;x<mask.cols;++x){
            cv::Vec3b & col = localmax.at<cv::Vec3b>(y,x);
            for ( unsigned int u=0;u<3;++u )
            {
                if ( col[u]>maximum[u] )
                    col[u]=maximum[u];
                else if ( col[u]<minimum[u] )
                    col[u]=minimum[u];
            }
        }
    }
    // do the per pixel gain then
    cv::Mat dst;
    input.copyTo( dst );
    for ( int y=0;y<input.rows;++y){
        for ( int x=0;x<input.cols;++x){
            const cv::Vec3b & v1=input.at<cv::Vec3b>(y,x);
            const cv::Vec3b & v2=localmax.at<cv::Vec3b>(y,x);
            cv::Vec3b & v3=dst.at<cv::Vec3b>(y,x);
            for ( int i=0;i<3;++i )
            {
                double gain = 255.0/(double)v2[i];
                v3[i] = cv::saturate_cast<unsigned char>( gain * v1[i] );
            }
        }
    }
    return dst;
}


text:
Valdosta man arrested on numerous drug charges
He was seen by officers who knew he had warrants (Source: Lowndes Co. Sheriff)
January 13, 2020 at 9:56 AM EST - Updated January 13 at 9:56 AM
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - Late Saturday afternoon, January 11, patrol officers with the Valdosta Police Department (VPD) were patrolling the 600 block of East Jane Street, when they saw a man they knew was wanted on outstanding warrants.
Officers quickly detained Lemond Whitfield, and he was found to have cocaine, marijuana, Promethazine, and Ecstasy on his person.
Whitfield was transported to the Lowndes County Jail on the following charges:
Possession of Schedule 1 Substance MDMA;
Possession with Intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a housing complex ;
Possession with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a park;
Possession of Schedule V controlled Substance;
Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell;
Possession of Cocaine with intent to sell.
"We are proud of our officers for preventing these drugs from being put out on the streets and getting this offender away from these areas where children are commonly found," said VPD Lt. Scottie Johns.


The film "Amour" ("Loeve"), by Micahel Haneke ("The White Ribbon") distills out moral concerns with eldercare about as much as any screenwriter could image.
The film opens with the Paris police forcing their way into the ritzy apartment of two retired music teachers. They have to open the windows to get rid of stench. You see an elderly woman, lying, departed on a bed. My own mother looked like that in the funeral home the next day after she passed away (in 2010).
As the main story starts, Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are attending a concert where one of Geroges's students (Alexandre Tharaud) plays (the piece is a Busoni transcription of a Bach chorale). They come home and find that their apartment was broken into, although little seems to be taken.
The next morning, the elderly couple is having breakfast, and Anne suddenly becomes mute, sitting up, but not answering Georges. We see all the details of French living, down to the boiled eggs. She snaps out of it. But it soon happens again. She begs never to be taken to a hospital or institution, but she very quickly declines. Forty minutes into the film, Georges is having to care for her most intimate needs. Georges does say that the same thing could have happened to him.
The student pays a visit and plays a Beethoven Bagatelle. (I think that any one of several pianist friends of mine could have been cast for this part – just have to join SAG.) George starts seeing visions of his wife as she was before, playing Schubert. Soon, the couple's daughter and son return for visits, reigniting all kinds of imaginable family tensions.
Georges hires nurses and caregivers – on his own, without an agency – and then one of them is just a bit rough on Anne, who by now is screaming every day in dementia. That sets up a final irony as to how things will end.
There is a friendly pigeon that keeps flying into the apartment, wanting companionship. Even the bird figures into how it ends.
When my mother declined, starting in 2007, I eventually hired caregivers, from an agency, who went round the clock before the end. She spent the last four days of her life in a hospice, before passing away in December 2010. Perhaps I sound cowardly for not doing more "hands on" myself. I had not volunteered to marry anyone and say "till death do us part" – and I found out that this can be expected of family, "anyway".
The link for the film (Sony Pictures Classics) is here.
It is very unusual for a foreign language film (French – the director is German) to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The film won the Gold Prize at Cannes.
I saw this film before a sold-out audience Saturday evening (smaller auditorium) at Landmark E-Street in Washington DC.
Picture: Capital Hospice in Arlington VA, formerly Woodlawn Elementary School. My mother passed away at this hospice on Dec. 14, 2010. I attended Woodlawn 1949-1955 as a boy.


On Wednesday, we were invited to dinner with some of our dear friends. We have been friends with them for almost 11 years. It is always fun to get together, and most of the time our children play together nicely. Regardless of who is hosting both parties contribute to the meal.
My friend is an excellent cook, and because she did not grow up in the South as I did she has introduced us to different cuisines. One of the great things about meeting people from different areas is learning about the cultures that shaped them. I also believe that a great way to experience different cultures is to eat their cuisine. It seems like each culture and every person has a unique relationship with food. I love experiencing new and different cuisines.
My friend prepared a wonderful vegetarian meal for us with an Indian flare. It was delicious. I was also happy because since we were eating vegetarian I didn't have to feel guilty for the pie I had brought for dessert. I had talked briefly Wednesday morning with Jeffrey about what I should take for dessert. He answered quickly and emphatically with "PIE!" We easily agreed on this chocolate pie and it came together quickly in the afternoon with time to chill before dinner.
I'm not a huge meringue fan, though in the case of this desert, I really do enjoy the meringue on this chocolate pie. This recipe for meringue is quite delicious and foolproof. My boys like to call it the marshmallow topping. I have to agree that it is quite delicious and tasty and could very easily be described in a marshmallow-like manner.
Melt butter and chocolate in a medium-sized saucepan. Mix the sugar, cornstarch, and cocoa powder together in a small bowl. Add the sugar mixture to the melted butter and chocolate and blend well. Pour the evaporated milk into a 2-cup measuring cup adding enough milk to measure 2 cups. (It should be about 1/2 cup.) Add milk mixture to chocolate mixture and stir until well combined. Take a small amount of the chocolate mixture and add it to your beaten egg yolks to temper (or bring them to the same temperature) as your chocolate mixture. Stir the tempered yolks into the chocolate mixture. Add the vanilla. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Pour into the cooked pie shell. Top with Foolproof Meringue over the filling making sure it goes all the way to the edge to seal the pie. Bake at 450 degrees for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Chill, covered in the refrigerator.
Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and water in a small saucepan. Cook for 5 minutes or until chear and thickened, stirring constantly. Cool slightly. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Beat the egg whites and a pinch of salt with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually pour in the syrup mixture into the egg whites with the mixer going. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
*Always put meringue on a warm filling.
Light and fluffy meringue ready to be spread on top of the filling.
Just out of the oven. Golden and Delicious!
Adapted from Fresh from the Pantry.
One Comment on "Decadent Chocolate Pie"
My family are chocohalics… I grew up eating chocolate for breakfast. This is by far one of the most AMAZING chocolate cream pies I have ever eaten… and I had every single ingredient on hand. My folks fly in next week for our son's baptism and Thanksgiving, and I will be making it for them too. Even my husband who doesn't like pie, but loves pudding said the meringue was pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing this recipe… if chocolate gives you those "warm fuzzies" then this is a keeper!!!!!!!!!


Are Las vegas motorcycle lessons required to get a motorcycle license?
No. There are two ways to obtain a motorcycle license in Las Vegas, NV: completing an approved motorcycle course or passing the written/skills tests offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you have the knowledge to pass the written exam and the skills to pass the road course, you are not required to take any motorcycle lessons.
How long does it take to get a Nevada motorcycle license?
How long it will take to get your Nevada motorcycle license will depend entirely on the method you use — taking an approved course vs. taking the skills test directly from the DMV — and your ability to pass the exams. Though, if you are prepared, it is possible to get a Nevada motorcycle license very quickly.
How old to you need to be to get a motorcycle license in Nevada?
You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a motorcycle license in Nevada. While riders between the age of 16 and 18 may be granted a motorcycle license, it will not be unrestricted. There are some additional training and safety requirements that will be put in place on a younger rider.
What do I need to do to sign up for a Las vegas motorcycle license class?
To sign up for an approved motorcycle license class in Las Vegas, you must find a course that is certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MFS). When you find a course that works for you, you should contact the course operator directly. You can take a course from the College of Southern Nevada or from the Las Vegas Harley Davidson Academy.
How can I find out where the nearest place to take Las vegas motorcycle lessons?
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MFS) provides a useful tool that allows motorcyclists to search for approved courses based on their zip code. These courses offer important skills. Additionally, the successful completion of one of them will exempt a rider from taking the riding skills portion of the Nevada motorcycle license test.
Is there more than one Las vegas motorcycle school I can get a license from?
Yes. In the City of Las Vegas, there are two approved motorcycle schools that offer courses to applicants. You can take a motorcycle license course from the College of Southern Nevada or from the Las Vegas Harley Davidson Academy.
How many parts are there to the Nevada dmv motorcycle permit test?
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) motorcycle permit test includes two parts: a written exam and a road skills test. However, riders who have successfully completed an approved motorcycle safety course are exempt from taking the road skills portion of the test.
In order to obtain a motorcycle license in Nevada, you must either take a course that is offered by an approved motorcycle school or you must pass a written test and a road skills test offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can choose whatever option is better for your specific needs.
How much does it cost to get a Nevada motorcycle drivers license?
It depends how you obtain the license. In Nevada, adding a motorcycle driver's license (meaning getting a class 'M' endorsement) costs $9.25 — assuming you already have a driver's license. Though, taking the written test costs $26.00. Further, if you choose to get a license through a motorcycle class, those courses typically cost $150 or more.
Where can I take the Nevada motorcycle riding test?
After passing the written exam, motorcycle license applicants can take the skills at the Las Vegas Department of Motor Vehicles. You can schedule your test through the DMV's online tool or call the agency directly at (702) 486-4368.
Where is the closest Nevada motorcycle license course to Las Vegas?
There are two motorcycle license courses offered in Las Vegas: College of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas Harley Davidson Academy. Both of these programs offer courses in City of Las Vegas and in Henderson. Beyond that, the College of Southern Nevada also offers some course in North Las Vegas.
How many locations are there where you can take the Nevada motorcycle riding test?
You can take the motorcycle riding test at several DMV locations in Nevada. If you are ready to take the test in Las Vegas, you can schedule your test online or call the DMV at (702) 486-4368. Alternatively, in Clark County, NV, you can take a third-party riding course with the College of Southern Nevada or with Harley Davidson.
Where can I find all the locations available to take the Nevada motorcycle driving test?
To review a full list of locations at which you can take the Nevada motorcycle license road skills exam, please to the list of Department of Motor Vehicles offices. The written exam is offered at all DMV locations. Though, some locations do not offer the road skills test. Road tests should generally be scheduled.
Is the Nevada motorcycle endorsement written test given on the same day, same place as the riding test?
Not necessarily. An applicant must take and pass the written test before attempting the riding test (skills tests). Motorcycle road skills tests are appointment-based — meaning you must schedule them in advance. Though, in Las Vegas, some DMV locations offer motorcycle skills tests on a stand-by basis. It may be possible to take them on the same day. You can call the DMV directly to obtain more information.
Is there a way to get Nevada dmv motorcycle written test practice?
Yes. Some organizations offer motorcycle practice tests online. Driving-test.org offers a free sample Nevada DMV motorcycle practice test. However, to ensure that you are fully prepared, it is highly recommended that you review the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Motorcycle Operator Manual and learn more about Nevada motorcycle laws.
How do you become certified to instruct for the Nevada motorcycle permit test?
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation certifies qualified people to become instructors and Rider Coaches. Through this program, you can become certified to offer instruction of the Nevada motorcycle ride skills exam.
If you've been injured or get injured while on a motorcycle, seek medical help & then seek professional legal assistance to understand your rights and options. Contact Ladah Law Firm for a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer: 702-252-0055.


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Manuel Rajunov focuses his practice on tax consulting and transactional advice to foreign investors doing business in Mexico, as well as advising Mexican investors on their investments overseas. Based on his over 20 years of experience, Manuel's practice has an emphasis on real estate, corporate and securities, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Manuel is a frequent speaker at conferences and contributor to publications on topics relevant to his areas of focus.
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Rajunov prior to him joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
‡ Registered Foreign Legal Consultant in Texas; Admitted to the practice of law in Mexico.