text:
classdef dae
% Deep Autoencoder object.
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
% Initialize, train, and/or fine-tune a multilayer autencoder.
%
% Supports denoising autoencoders and hidden unit dropout.
%
% Note this implementation calls the mlnn.m object to form autoencoder layers.
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
% DES

properties
	class = 'dae';			%  OBJECT NAME
	arch;					% ARCHITECTURE/OPTIONS
	nLayers;				% # OF AUTOENCODERS
	aLayers;				% AUTOENCODER/NN LAYERS
	verbose = 1;			% DISPLAY OUTPUT
	saveDir;
end

methods
	function self = dae(arch)
	% net = dae(arch)
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	%dae constructor method. Initilizes a mlnn object, <net> given a user-
	%provided architecture, <arch>.
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
		self = self.init(arch);
	end

	function print(self)
	%print()
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	%Print properties and methods for dae object.
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------

		properties(self)
		methods(self)
	end

	function self = init(self,arch)
	% net = init(arch)
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	% Initialize deep autoencoder with a user-defined architecture <arch>.
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	% <arch> IS AN ARCHTIECTURE STRUCT WITH THE FIELDS:
	%	.size -- [#INPUT #HID1, ..., #HIDN, #OUT]
	%	.costFun -- COST FUNCTION FOR FIRST LAYER LEARNING
	%	.lRate -- THE LEARNING RATE FOR EACH AE LAYER
	%	.denoising -- THE INPUT CORRUPTION NOISE PERCENTAGE ()
	%	.sparsity -- THE SPARSITY TARGET FOR HIDDEN UNITS
	%	.dropout -- THE HIDDEN UNIT DROPOUT RATE FOR EACH AE LAYER
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
		arch = self.ensureArchetecture(arch);
		% GLOBAL OPTIONS
		if isfield(arch,'opts');
			opts = arch.opts;
			fn = fieldnames(self);
			for iA = 1:2:numel(opts)
				if ~isstr(opts{iA})
					error('<opts> must be a cell array string-value pairs.');
				elseif sum(strcmp(fn,opts{iA}))
					self.(opts{iA})=opts{iA+1};
				end
			end
		end
		self.arch = arch;
		self.nLayers = numel(arch.size);

		% INITIALIZE AUTOENCODER LAYERS
		for iL = 2:self.nLayers
			layerArch.size = [arch.size(iL-1),arch.size(iL),arch.size(iL-1)];

			if iL == 2
				layerArch.actFun = {'sigmoid',arch.mapping};
			else
				layerArch.actFun = {'sigmoid'};
				arch.costFun = 'xent';
			end

			layerArch.lRate = arch.lRate(iL-1);
			self.aLayers{iL-1} = mlnn(layerArch);
			self.aLayers{iL-1}.nEpoch = arch.nEpoch(iL-1);
			self.aLayers{iL-1}.costFun = arch.costFun;
			self.aLayers{iL-1}.denoise = arch.denoise(iL-1);
			self.aLayers{iL-1}.sparsity = arch.sparsity(iL-1);
			self.aLayers{iL-1}.dropout = arch.dropout(iL-1);
		end
	end

	function self = train(self,data);
	%net = train(data);
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	% Train a deep autoencoder.
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
		for iL = 1:numel(self.aLayers)
			if self.verbose,
				self.printProgress('layerTrain',iL);
			end
			% TRAIN AN AUTOENCODER LAYER
			self.aLayers{iL} = self.aLayers{iL}.train(data,data);

			% PREPROCESS INPUT FOR NEXT LAYER
			tmpNet = self.aLayers{iL}.fProp(data,data);
			data = tmpNet.layers{end-1}.act;
		end
		if ~isempty(self.saveDir),
			d = self;
			save(fullfile(self.saveDir,'dae.mat'),'d','-v7.3');
		end
	end

	function net = fineTune(self,data,targets,ftArch);
	% net = fineTune(data,targets,ftArch);
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	% Fine tune autoencoder features for a task using backprop (stochastic gradient
	% descent)
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
		[nObs,nOut] = size(targets);
		if self.verbose
			self.printProgress('fineTune')
		end

		ftArch.size = [self.arch.size,nOut];

		net = mlnn(ftArch);
		% INITIALIZE MLNN WITH AE WEIGHTS
		for iL = 1:numel(self.arch.size)-1
			net.layers{iL}.W = self.aLayers{iL}.layers{1}.W;
			net.layers{iL}.b = self.aLayers{iL}.layers{1}.b;
		end

		% FINE TUNE
		net = net.train(data,targets);
	end

	function arch = ensureArchetecture(self,arch)
	%arch = ensureArchitecture(arch)
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	%Utility function to reprocess a supplied architecture, <arch>
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------

		if ~isstruct(arch),arch.size = arch; end

		nLayers = numel(arch.size);

		% CHECK FIRST LAYER MAPPING
		if ~isfield(arch,'mapping')
			mapping0 = 'sigmoid';% ASSUME BINARY INPUT BY DEFAULT
			arch.mapping = mapping0;
		end

		% CHECK COST FUNCTION
		if ~isfield(arch,'costFun')
			costFun0 = 'xent';% ASSUME BINARY INPUT BY DEFAULT
			arch.costFun = costFun0;
		end

		% CHECK LEARNING RATES
		if ~isfield(arch,'nEpoch')
			nEpoch0 = 10; % DEFAULT # TIMES TO SEE DATA
			arch.lRate = repmat(nEpoch0,1,nLayers-1);
		elseif numel(arch.nEpoch) == 1
			arch.nEpoch = repmat(arch.nEpoch,1,nLayers-1);
		end

		% CHECK LEARNING RATES
		if ~isfield(arch,'lRate')
			lRate0 = .1; % DEFAULT LEARNING RATE
			arch.lRate = repmat(lRate0,1,nLayers-1);
		elseif numel(arch.lRate) == 1
			arch.lRate = repmat(arch.lRate,1,nLayers-1);
		end

		% CHECK DENOISING RATES
		if ~isfield(arch,'denoise')
			denoise0 = 0; % NO DENOISING AE BY DEFAULT
			arch.denoise = repmat(denoise0,1,nLayers-1);
		elseif numel(arch.denoise) == 1
			arch.denoise = repmat(arch.denoise,1,nLayers-1);
		end

		% CHECK SPARSITY TARGET RATES
		if ~isfield(arch,'sparsity')
			sparsity0 = 0; % NO SPARSITY TARGET BY DEFAULT
			arch.sparsity = repmat(sparsity0,1,nLayers-1);
		elseif numel(arch.sparsity) == 1
			arch.sparsity = repmat(arch.sparsity,1,nLayers-1);
		end

		% CHECK DROPOUT
		if ~isfield(arch,'dropout')
			dropout0 = 0; % NO DROPOUT BY DEFAULT
			arch.dropout = repmat(dropout0,1,nLayers-1);
		elseif numel(arch.dropout) == 1
			arch.dropout = repmat(arch.dropout,1,nLayers-1);
		end
	end
	function printProgress(self,type,aux)
	%printProgress(type)
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	% Verbose utility function. <type> is the type of message to print. <aux>
	% are optional arguments.
	%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
		switch type
			case 'layerTrain'
				fprintf('\n\nTraining Layer: %i / %i\n',aux(1),self.nLayers-1);
			case 'fineTune'
				fprintf('\n\nFine-tuning using backprop:\n')
			case 'save'
				fprintf('\nSaving...\n\n');
		end
	end
end % END METHODS
end % END CLASSDEF

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Name | Type | Description | Notes
------------ | ------------- | ------------- | -------------
**amount** | **Float** | The amount bid, in ISK |
**bidId** | **Integer** | Unique ID for the bid |
**dateBid** | [**DateTime**](DateTime.md) | Datetime when the bid was placed |


text:
APC's creation of toxic atmosphere and threat to life of the nPDP
By Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, CON,
President Muhammadu Buhari (Middle) with Senate President, Bukola Saraki (left) and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (right)
Following the ongoing talks between members of the former NPDP, the APC and the Presidency in recent days,a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, CON, in a statement said: " we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it is appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith."
"We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily."
"Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.
The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.
We recognize the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature."
"It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks. Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours,where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State , both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018 ,have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency."
"Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances."
"The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Tag: bus travel
Dusty and orange
Small packets of orange coloured boiled sweets shaped like orange or tangerine segments are sold at bus stations and refreshment stalls all over Gujarat. Sometimes vendors board buses to sell them to passengers.
At first, they have a slightly dusty taste and then a refreshing orange flavour reaches the tongue.
yamey	Uncategorized	Leave a comment February 24, 2020 February 24, 2020 1 Minute
Lost property and Gujarat State Road Transport
When we visited the museum at the Harrapan archeological site at Dholavira in Kutch (part of Gujarat, India), we found that there was a sale of guides to various historical sited in India, all published by the Archaeological Survey of India. With the exception of a couple of volumes that were printed in Hindi, we bought one of each, about 18 in all and at radically reduced prices.
After a couple of days in Dholavira, staying at the very overpriced Rann Resort, we travelled to Bhuj, where we stayed before taking a bus to Ahmedabad.
The air conditioned bus, which was not particularly comfortable, took eight hours. It was a part of the fleet of Gujarat State Road Transport (GSRTC). I was very tired when we pulled into the central bus station at Geetamandir in Ahmedabad, and disembarked with our several pieces of luggage.
Several hours later when we were comfortably settled into our hotel, I realised that I had left my cloth bag, containing my collection of books acquired in Dholavira, on the bus. My wife, who is fluent in the Gujarati language, suggested that we return to the bus station to try to recover the bag of books. I agreed, but felt that there was little chance of success.
We were directed to a booth where GSRTC officials in charge of controlling the bus service to and from Bhuj sat. My wife explained the problem and immediately the official began tapping on his keyboard. A screen marked "journey report" appeared. From this, the official was able to get the telephone number of the conductor who had been on our bus. He was off duty and our bus was on its way back to Bhuj. However, he provided the phone number of his colleague, 'X', who was now the conductor on 'our' bus that was returning to Bhuj.
We rang X, who soon found the book bag on the luggage rack close to where we had been sitting. He told my wife, in Gujarati, that he would be retutning on a bus that would arrive at Ahmedabad central bus station at about 5 pm the next day, and would bring us the bag of books. This sounded promising, but you never can tell what might or might not happen.
As we were setting off for the bus station the next afternoon, X rang us to tell us when he expected to reach it and where we should wait for him. At a few minutes before 5 pm, the bus on which we had travelled the day before pulled into the Geetamandir bus station. Soon X was walking towards us, holding our cloth bag filled with books. My admiration of GSRTC increased immensely.
We offered X some confectionery as a small token of our gratitude. He refused it twice, saying that recovering lost property is part of his duty. When we said that he should give the gift to his family, he accepted it.
Often Asian folk traditionally refuse an offer two or three times out of politeness before accepting. In the case of conductor X, I do not believe it was politeness that he did not accept our small gift immediately. Instead, he was behaving professionally and correctly.
A few hours earlier, we had been shown various interesting features by a guardian in the Jumma Masjid in Ahmedabad. When he had finished, we handed him some Rupees, expecting that he was probably poorly paid, if at all. We were most impressed when he refused the money, which would have been useful for him, and, instead, showed us which charity collection box in which to put it. Like X, the bus conductor, this fellow in the Masjid was too dignified to accept a tip for what he felt it was his duty to do.
The Asian habit of refusing three times can backfire when practised in Europe. A friend of ours of Middle Eastern upbringing became a junior doctor in an English hospital. After a few weeks, he asked an Egyptian colleague how to obtain a cup of tea.
"Simple," the Egyptian said, "just get it from the lady who pushes the tea trolley around."
Our friend replied: "Yes, she brings her trolley to me and she offers me a cup and I refuse. And then without even asking me a second or third time, she pushes the trolley away. So, I don't get a cup of tea."
yamey	Uncategorized	2 Comments January 23, 2020 3 Minutes
Traditional and trendy
We have made many journeys on intercity public buses in Gujarat. Most buses, especially the ones operated by private companies, pick up passengers at rural locations along the route.
Many of these passengers in rural areas wore traditional costumes typical of the area where they lived. In Saurashtra, many of the women wore tight fitting backless choli (blouse), which are covered by shawls that fly about as draughts are created by the moving bus. Their ears are often festooned with weighty and often complicated solid gold jewellery. They are usually heavily tattooed, with tattoos placed on all parts the body that were visible.
The men who board the buses at rustic spots are usually dressed in white kurtas with white jodhpurs: loose fitting baggy trousers, which are tight around the ankles. I write "white" but these clothes are often stained, the result of working in the fields. These men, often with weather worn faces, wear turbans, which to my western eyes, makes them look quite exotic.
At first, when I saw these country folk boarding the bus, I felt that they looked as if they were stepping out of the Middle Ages and into the 21st century.
Despite their clothing, these country passengers are extremely up to date. Almost as soon as they have found somewhere to sit or stand in the often overcrowded buses, out come their mobile phones. I am not sure where the men store their phones, but the women keep them and their cash stuffed within the tops of their choli close to their breasts.
The close juxtaposition of tradition and modernity is one of the many aspects of India which endear me to the country.


text:
Chūō-ku (jap. , dt. "Zentralbezirk") ist einer von zehn Stadtbezirken (ku) von Sapporo, der Hauptstadt der japanischen Präfektur Hokkaidō. Er ist 46,42 km² groß und umfasst das Zentrum Sapporos sowie einige angrenzende Gebiete. Im Norden grenzt er an Kita-ku, im Nordosten an Higashi-ku, im Osten an Shiroishi-ku, im Südosten an Toyohira-ku, im Süden an Minami-ku und im Westen an Nishi-ku.

Geographie
Chūō-ku erstreckt sich 15,3 km in Ost-West-Richtung und 9,8 km in Nord-Süd-Richtung. Es ist die Keimzelle von Sapporo, die zu Beginn der Meiji-Zeit als Planstadt gegründet worden war. Nach amerikanischem Vorbild hat das Straßennetz eine schachbrettartige Form. Es ist nicht exakt nach den Haupthimmelsrichtungen ausgerichtet und auch sonst gibt es vereinzelte Abweichungen. Einen Häuserblock breit ist der von Westen nach Osten verlaufende Ōdōri-Park. Nördlich des Parks konzentrieren sich die Regierungseinrichtungen, südlich und westlich davon erstrecken sich dicht bebaute Wohn- und Geschäftsviertel.

Der Toyohira bildet die gesamte Ostgrenze des Bezirks. Von diesem Fluss zweigt der nach Norden führende Sōsei-Kanal ab. Das östliche Drittel des Bezirks liegt in der weitläufigen Schwemmebene des Toyohira. Daran schließt sich dünn besiedeltes, hügeliges Terrain an; markante Erhebungen in diesem Gebiet sind Maru-yama (225 m), Jinja-yama (237 m), Ōkura-yama (307 m) und der Aussichtsberg Moiwa-yama (531 m). Gebirgig, dicht bewaldet und weitgehend unbewohnt ist das westliche Drittel am Kobayashi-Pass sowie an den Ausläufern von Hyakumatsuzawa-yama (1010 m) und Toishi-yama (765 m).

Geschichte
1857 ließen sich die Pioniere Shimura Tetsuichi und Yoshida Shigehachi am Ufer des Toyohira nieder. 1866 beauftragte das Tokugawa-Shōgunat den Samurai Ōtomo Kametarō mit dem Bau des Sōsei-Kanals, um die Landwirtschaft in der Gegend zu fördern. Kurz nach der Meiji-Restauration beschloss die neue kaiserliche Regierung, am Toyohira eine Planstadt zu gründen, von der aus die Insel Hokkaidō systematisch kolonisiert werden sollte. Unter der Leitung von Shima Yoshitake entstand in kurzer Zeit ein Straßennetz, das die Basis für die künftige Entwicklung legte. Der Stadtname stammt von der nahe gelegenen Ainu-Siedlung Satsuporo (im heutigen Bezirk Higashi-ku).

1879 erlangte Sapporo die lokale Selbstverwaltung als kreisangehörige Stadt (machi) innerhalb des Landkreises Sapporo-gun, wobei die übrigen Gemeinden bis 1884 von hier aus mitverwaltet wurden. 1886 kam es zu den ersten Eingemeindungen, durch die das Stadtgebiet ungefähr den heutigen Bezirksgrenzen entsprach. Am 1. August 1922 erhielt Sapporo durch Regierungsbeschluss den Status einer kreisfreien Stadt (shi). Weitere Eingemeindungen folgten in den Jahren 1941 bis 1967. Am 1. April 1972 teilte die Regierung die Stadt in Bezirke (ku) ein, wobei das Stadtzentrum seither zu Chūō-ku gehört.

Verkehr
Chūō-ku ist der Ausgangspunkt mehrerer wichtiger Straßenverbindungen. Dazu gehören die Präfekturstraße 124 (und daran anschließend die Nationalstraße 5 nordwestwärts nach Otaru), die Nationalstraße 231 nordwärts nach Rumoi, die Nationalstraße 12 nordostwärts nach Iwamizawa, die Nationalstraße 36 südostwärts nach Muroran und die Nationalstraße 230 südwärts ins Toyohira-Tal. Der westlichste Teil des Bezirks beim Kobayashi-Pass ist nur mit einem Umweg über die Präfekturstraße 82 erreichbar.

Der Hauptbahnhof Sapporo an der Hakodate-Hauptlinie ist ein bedeutender Eisenbahnknotenpunkt. Von hier aus sind alle größeren Städte Hokkaidōs und der Flughafen Neu-Chitose mit direkten Zügen der Bahngesellschaft JR Hokkaido erreichbar. Im Bahnhof Sōen ganz im Norden des Bezirks zweigt die Sasshō-Linie ab.

Drei Linien der U-Bahn Sapporo kreuzen sich im Stadtzentrum am Hauptbahnhof und in der Station Odori: die Namboku-Linie von Norden nach Süden die Tōzai-Linie von Westen nach Osten und die Tōhō-Linie von Nordosten nach Südosten. Die Straßenbahn Sapporo verbindet das Zentrum mit den südlich angrenzenden Stadtteilen; das Netz besteht aus einem 8,9 km langen Rundkurs. Hinzu kommen zahlreiche Buslinien privater Unternehmen und eine Luftseilbahn auf den Moiwa-yama.

Sehenswürdigkeiten

Kunst und Kultur

Bildung
 Hokkai-Gakuen-Universität
 Medizinische Universität Sapporo
 Pädagogische Hochschule Hokkaidō
 Städtische Universität Nayoro (Campus Sapporo)
 Städtische Universität Sapporo
 Universität für Gesundheitswissenschaften

Staatliche Einrichtungen
Chūō-ku ist der Standort zahlreicher staatlicher Einrichtungen. Dazu gehören die Verwaltung und das Parlament der Präfektur Hokkaidō, die Außenstellen verschiedener Ministerien und Behörden, das Obergericht Sapporo und weitere Gerichtsinstanzen. Hinzu kommen die Hauptquartiere der Präfekturpolizei und der Nordarmee der Selbstverteidigungsstreitkräfte.

Weblinks

 Website von Chūō-ku (japanisch)

Einzelnachweise

Stadtbezirk von Sapporo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Originally published in The Globe and Mail
For many months, Canadians have hoped for signs that the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing, both at home and abroad. While global recovery remains inconsistent, Canada has seen encouraging vaccination rates, decreasing national case numbers and the easing of social restrictions. It seems like the tentative beginning of what we have all been waiting for – the light at the end of a very long tunnel finally coming into view.
Many hope the waning pandemic will launch life into a new, more exuberant phase, one in which we'll finally be able to go to parties, travel and shake off the various struggles and funks we've grappled with since this crisis began. It certainly seems like some of us just can't wait to have fun: Travel agencies are seeing a jump in vacation bookings for the fall, music promoter Live Nation reported U.S. music festival tickets are selling out in record time and public-health experts are entreating everyone to get an STI test before having a wild, post-vax summer of hooking up.
Yet, there will be those who want to collapse in exhaustion rather than jump for joy.
"Some of the people who are anxious or depressed right now will bounce back after this is over," says Steven Taylor, a professor and clinical psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia. However, "there will be people who develop chronic mental-health problems" caused or exacerbated by the pandemic, he says – likely many. Already, a March, 2021 report by the American Psychological Association found nearly half of respondents felt "uneasy about adjusting to in-person interaction" and uncomfortable with "going back to living life like they used to before the pandemic."
One postpandemic mental-health outcome Dr. Taylor anticipates is a surge of "prolonged grieving disorder," a condition that affects about 10 per cent of bereaved people, that only becomes apparent months after the death of a loved one and that can last indefinitely. As of June, as many as 13,000 Canadians could be at risk of developing the disorder.
"If you're one of those people, the pandemic has never ended for you," Taylor says. "In a sense, what happened in 2020 and 2021 is going to pale in comparison to what happens to you in the rest of your life unless you get treatment," he says. "And then you ask yourself, how many mental health practitioners out there are trained and qualified in the treatment of prolonged grief disorder? Not many."
Dr. Alain Brunet studies the effects of traumatic stress on mental health at the McGill University-affiliated Douglas Research Centre. Last year, he and his team began researching the pandemic's impact on mental health.
Brunet found a "significant minority" of people – such as front-line health care workers or those who witnessed death or had a near-death experience – have developed or are at high risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder due to their experiences during the pandemic. But "tenfold more," he says, will grapple with an "adjustment disorder," a kind of lesser-understood mental-health issue that can feature symptoms like intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviours and changes in mood and cognition.
Image: ALEXSAVA /ISTOCKPHOTO / GETTY IMAGES
To read the full story in the Globe and Mail, click here.


text:
Dr. AIX's POSTS HD-AUDIO NEWS PROFILES
A Musician's Life
July 21, 2019 July 21, 2019 Dr. AIX	0 Comments	. John Lee Sanders, 5.1 Surround, 5.1 surround mix, advanced resolution, AIX Records, analog vs. digital, Audio Resolution, Dgitial Audio Review, DVD-Audio, HD Downloads, HD Music, hd-audio, Hi Res Audio, Hi-Res, Hi-Res Audio Challenge, Hi-Res Music, hi-res sound, high resolution audio, high-res music, High-Resolution, High-Resolution Audio Experience, HiRes Audio, HiRes Music, HRA, HRA Listening Experience, Lossless, Lossy, Mark Waldrep, Music and Audio, Music and Audio: A user Guide to Better Sound, Paul Williams, PCM, provenance, sound bar, Spectragram, spectragraphs, surround music
My interest in music started early. I wasn't offered piano lessons or encouraged to learn to play an instrument by my parents or through programs at school. But I did spend hours sitting in front of my father's monophonic HiFi system and can distinctly remember wanting to participate in music making in some fashion. The ultimate trigger for me — and I suspect many other young men — was seeing The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in the early 60s. What could possibly be better than rockin' out with several of your friends in front of a crowd of screaming girls? I also saw fellow classmates perform on electric guitars in the annual talent show and I was hooked. I begged my folks for the chance to learn to play the guitar.
The discount for AIX Records is still running – use AIX190704
My interest in electronics and music resulted in the purchase of a Heathkit solid body electric guitar — it was a gorgeous bright red — and an amplifier with 70 watts and two Jensen 12-inch speakers. I loved every aspect of building both the guitar and amplifier AND struggling to learn a few basic chords to play. Pretty soon I was jamming with Steve Fischer and Harry Manvel in the basement and planning for a life of fame and fortune as a professional musician. I even abandoned my architecture studies at the University of Michigan after two years and headed west to California to launch my new life. I was serious about being a musician, had a strong desire, but didn't yet understand that it takes a more than practicing 10,000 hours to succeed as a professional musician.
It wasn't until I spent an afternoon with Larry Carlton — a VERY talented studio guitarist — in a recording studio that I began to realize that sheer motivation wasn't going to be enough. There was this thing called talent that perhaps I was lacking. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty good guitar player and I even managed to get through music school with piano as my performing instrument, but I had the sense to recognize that others had something the I lacked. And it turned out to be a really good thing. My talents exist in different disciplines. I'm really good at bridging the technical/creative aspects of music making and engineering. The left and right halves of my brain communicate quite well. I'm very comfortable with the engineering AND music production.
Discounts on Music and Audio – Use Code MAAG190704
I found satisfaction in composing, writing, arranging, and producing music. My academic training took me through music theory, counterpoint, composition, orchestration, form and analysis, and ultimately to electronic music — the use of synthesizers and computers in music making. My place in the world of music was on the other side of the glass. While I loved playing, engineering and producing music performed by those with much more talent than I was the basis of my career. And it provided both an opportunity to contribute to the art of music recording and reproduction AND a comfortable lifestyle. I have no complaints about the path of my career.
But I have many talented musician friends and have worked with dozens of others that haven't been so fortunate. Making a living in music is extremely difficult. The few at the top can make millions but the average working musician is challenged to maintain a middle class living. I know many contemporaries that are still doing $100 gigs with no bank accounts. They don't own a house and most augment their income driving for UBER or Lyft. A career in music can be artistically satisfying but end up very hard in one's later years. A long resumé of playing with luminaries and having first rate gigs doesn't guarantee financial longevity.
Helping John Lee Sanders
I write this because a very talented musician I worked with on the Paul Williams "Going Back There Someday" album with Willie Nelson, Melissa Manchester, and Gonzo the Muppet is running a GoFundMe campaign. John Lee Sanders is a musician's musician. He plays piano and tenor saxophone — and he was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2011. The treatment was successful but caused his teeth to fail. He needs dental work in a big way to get back to playing. He deserves support and I was glad to contribute to his campaign AND I'm happy to help spread the word among my readers. If you watch the video below, you'll see a segment from the Paul Williams Collector's Edition DVD with John playing a beautiful sax solo at 3:39. He also played Hammond B3 organ and sang background harmonies on the project.
John Lee Sanders GoFundMe Campaign
You can check out his campaign at John Lee Sanders' GoFundMe page. This is man who dedicated himself to his music and now finds it necessary to ask for a little help. I noticed that both Paul Williams and Dave Goelz (aka Gonzo the Muppet) made substantial contributions to his campaign — I hope you can to.
100% of Proceeds From Paul Williams DVD
And as an incentive, I'll donate 100% percent of the proceeds from purchases of the Paul Williams Collectors Edition DVD to John's campaign until the end of August. Simply go to the album page on AIX Records (click here) and purchase the album. I'll ship it to you for free (domestic orders only) and give the funds to John. Thanks.
Please note that I will traveling for the next 10 days and the shipment of the disc — or any AIX Records order — will happen at the very end of July. I appreciate your patience.
AIX Records Site is Progessing
Work continues on the new AIX Records website. I've added videos and audio samples to about half of the albums so far. It's a slow and tedious process, but work the effort. Please stop by and check out the new design.
← Sony's 360 Reality Audio
YARRA 3DX Has Arrived…Finally! →
fourteen + 9 =


Our award-winning brunch plays to the same strengths that define Humphreys' distinct SoCAL experience: locally sourced seafood, naturally-aged prime carvings and traditional morning fare, capped with a selection of sweet endings and free-flowing champagne.
Served Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Special holiday brunches are offered on Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please contact us directly at manager@humphreysrestaurant.com or (619) 224-3577 for more information.


text:
const int cNavmVersion   = 1;
const int cNavmWordSize  = 32;
const int cNavmWordBytes = 4;

typedef uint8_t   uByte;
typedef int8_t    sByte;
typedef uint8_t  *pByte;
typedef uint32_t  uWord;
typedef int32_t   sWord;
typedef uint32_t *pWord;

typedef union
  {uByte aSlices[4]; uWord uImm; sWord sImm;} uImm;

typedef union
  {uByte aSlices[2]; uint16_t uImm; int16_t sImm;} uImm16;

typedef union
  {uWord bundle; uByte aOpcodes[4];} uOpcode;


Singing makes learning fun! From beloved hymns such as "Sublime Gracia (Amazing Grace)" to rousing Spanish favorites such as "Tierra De La Palestina," your language learner will love applying his new-found skills to music. Includes 75 songs—Bible choruses as well as hymns, new songs as well as old—with standard hymnal accompaniment and Spanish and English indexes. Grades 9–12.


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Man With Explosive Device Arrested Running From Florida January 6 Rally (Antifa? Dressed in Black, Recently Returned from Portland)
By Kristinn Taylor
Published January 7, 2022 at 7:11pm
The Pinellas County Florida Sheriff announced Friday that a man dressed all in black, wearing a black face covering and carrying a black backpack with an explosive device in it was arrested Thursday night after running from a rally being held to protest the detention of a man on a federal charge related to the January 6 riot at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The sheriff said the bomb was apparently packed with nails and that another similar suspected nail pipe bomb and "hand grenade type devices" were found at the home where he lives with his parents. A search of the area found no explosives–apparently the suspect fled without trying to employ the device though several M-80s were found in his car parked nearby. The sheriff said the suspect's intent is not known at this time, he is not talking and is being held on $300,000 bond. The sheriff said Smith's family is cooperating with investigators.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office images.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told reporters the man arrested with the bomb, 22-year-old Garrett Smith, has a clean record, describing him as a "sleeper" with no arrests and no apparent social media presence but that he had recently been in Portland, Oregon and had a helmet with logos seen at protests in Portland, but the sheriff was not sure if he was Antifa or on the other side. The sheriff said Smith was not cooperating but had a "direct action checklist" on him listing clothing, body protection to wear and a long list of gear to carry including a laser pointer, flammable rags and pepper spray.
TRENDING: TGP Exclusive: Service Member Karolina Stancik Speaks Out About Her Horrific Injuries, Heart Attacks, Stroke from COVID Vaccine - PLEASE DONATE BELOW
Deputies Arrest Oldsmar Man for Making and Possessing Explosive Devices: https://t.co/dy9A8C77hh pic.twitter.com/d5NV7T9uxv
— Pinellas SO (@SheriffPinellas) January 7, 2022
Press release followed by video of press conference:
22-001 Deputies Arrest Oldsmar Man for Making and Possessing Explosive Devices
Explosive Device Arrest
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Threat Management Section
Garrett James Smith (Suspect – Arrested)
Address: XXXX Oldsmar
Charges: 3 Counts of Make/Possess/Discharge Destructive Device and Loitering and Prowling
PINELLAS COUNTY – On Thursday, January 6, 2022 at approximately 7:30 p.m., deputies arrested 22-year-old Garrett Smith for three counts of Make/Possess/Discharge Destructive Device and Loitering and Prowling.
According to detectives on January 6, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., a protest was taking place in front of the Pinellas County Justice Center located at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater in reference to the incarceration of 47-year-old Jeremy Brown. Brown is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail on federal charges stemming from the January 6, 2021 incident at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. A federal judge ordered Brown held without bond pending trial. Brown is housed at the Pinellas County Jail under a US Marshal Warrant.
At approximately 7:24 p.m., deputies in the area observed a male, later identified as Smith, dressed in all black clothing, a face covering, and carrying a black backpack, running away from the direction of the protest. Deputies caught Smith at 144th Avenue North, west of 46th Street North in Clearwater.
Deputies conducted an investigation and arrested Smith on a charge of Loitering and Prowling. After the arrest, deputies searched the backpack, where an explosive device was located, along with additional items. Deputies searched the area and no additional explosive devices were located. During the course of the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Smith's residence, where they located more explosive devices.
Sheriff Gualtieri described Smith as a "sleeper" stating, "Those are the ones that are most concerning and the hardest to figure out."
Detectives say Smith has no criminal history. Smith resides at home with his mother and father in Oldsmar.
Detectives have yet to determine why Smith possessed the explosive devices or what he intended to do with them.
Sheriff Gualtieri held a press conference on January 7, 2022, to discuss the circumstances surrounding Smith's arrest. The full press conference can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-91oLNln_QE
The investigation continues.
UPDATE: Screen images via Pinallas County Sheriff's Office of 'direct action checklist' and helmets.
Kristinn Taylor
Kristinn Taylor has contributed to The Gateway Pundit for over ten years. Mr. Taylor previously wrote for Breitbart, worked for Judicial Watch and was co-leader of the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com. Mr. Taylor studied journalism in high school, visited the Newseum and once met David Brinkley. Mr. Taylor is on Twitter
Stunning Performance by 59-Year-Old Trans Figure Skater at Opening Ceremony of the European Figure Skating Championships Goes Viral (Video)
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Q: What is wrong with my Binary Search algorithm implementation? I apologize for asking such a simple question. But I'm stumped. I think I've implemented the solution using the correct algorithm but for some reason I'm getting a stackoverlow error when I run this. Any help?
public class BinarySearch {
public static void main(String[] args){
    int[] a = new int[]{1,3,5,9,10,100,210,423,500};
    System.out.println(binarySearch(a,5,0,a.length-1));
}
static int binarySearch(int a[], int x, int left, int right){
    if(left>right)
        return -1;
    int mid = left+right/2;

    if(a[mid] < x){
        return binarySearch(a,x,mid+1,right);
    }
    else if (a[mid] > x){
        return binarySearch(a,x,left,mid-1);
    }
    return mid;
}

A: When you're calculating the value for mid, your scope is not proper.
int mid = left+right/2
vs
int mid = (left+right)/2
While this is a simple solution to your problem, you should also checkout Peter's and Laune's suggestions. They both handle integer overflows.
If the length of the array is equal to or close to the max value of the int datatype in Java, you might run into some issues.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Touchscreen Protectors
Touch Devices
Kastus Benefits
Imagine a World Free from Bacteria
By Gill
Superbugs, also known as drug-resistant bacteria, are one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. For almost a century, we have used antibiotics to fight off disease, but these antibiotics are starting to lose their punch as Superbugs learn how to beat them.
KASTUS® is an Irish company that has developed a pioneering technology in the fight against superbugs. These are water-based solutions which, when applied to any surface material, use natural light to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria on that surface. Alternative antimicrobial solutions require UV light and leach harmful chemicals into the environment to be effective. However, KASTUS® solutions are always active in the presence of natural light and are environmentally friendly.
John Browne, KASTUS® Founder says: "Every time you open a door, answer a phone, touch a wall, sit on a toilet, wash your hands, walk barefoot on a tiled floor, brush against a ceramic or glass surface, you are in danger of spreading or picking up bugs and germs with the potential to make you sick – or worse."
It is estimated that by 2050 antibiotic resistance will kill more than 10 million people a year, making it a bigger killer than cancer. The rise of superbugs and the fall in the effectiveness of antibiotics has become a global issue at the highest levels.
KASTUS®' technology is a significant breakthrough in the battle against superbugs and the real-world demand and applications for its solutions are vast.
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When you have a child with food allergies lunches can be hard, and also the most stress inducing meal of the day since it typically is the one meal that will always be eaten away from the house. But, as you know when you have a child with food allergies a lot of the typical "kid-approved" lunch options go out the window.
Luckily, here at Hilary's we are passionate about making allergy-friendly meals easy, convenient, and delicious enough for even the pickiest kids to enjoy. We work hard to create delicious, convenient recipes that are only made with whole food ingredients, and are formulated with busy families, and picky children in mind.
We know that coming up with enough creative ideas that your kids will eat, and are also healthy for them is hard enough even without food allergies in the picture. That is why we touched base with our food allergy focused registered dietitian Megan Faletra (MS, MPH, RDN) to help us come up with a weeks worth of delicious, healthy, balanced lunches that you can feel confident your child with food allergies will enjoy, and won't want to trade for their friends sandwich at the lunch table.
While you may not be able to mimic exactly what some of your child's friends or siblings may be eating, it is possible to prepare fun allergy friendly lunches for your child with food allergies that are just as delicious as the other non-allergy friendly options. This means that your child will feel really excited about their meal, and wont feel like they are eating something that is less exciting then their friends.
These options below are all free of the most common food allergens, and are made with kids in mind. They are also full of healthy nutrients, and perfectly balanced to help support your child's growth needs.
What is great about all of these lunch options is that they don't scream "allergy friendly" and are just as delicious as all the other non-allergy friendly options out there – if not more delicious. This means that your child with food allergies can enjoy them and anyone else in your family, which we know in today's busy world, will only make your life easier. We know that food allergies can sometimes be tough to manage, which is why at Hilary's, we are happy to do our part to make it simpler and more delicious for you and your family everyday.
Megan Faletra, MS, MPH, RDN, is a integrative dietitian, food-allergy specialist, and founder of The Well Essentials, a sustainable healthy living brand dedicated to empowering people to change the way they choose to consume to support a healthier body and planet. Megan also runs a virtual nutrition counseling practice from Boston, MA where she works to help improve her clients health and relationship with food through personalized nutrition counseling. She has been featured in countless publications including: Forbes, Rodales Organic Life, The Huffington Post, and many more. When she is not working you can find her traveling, hiking, doing yoga, and cooking something up in the kitchen…her favorite room in the house.


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Two People Were Injured In A Four-Vehicle Accident On Interstate 75
Home » News » Car Accidents » Two People Were Injured In A Four-Vehicle Accident On Interstate 75
Florida, like many states, follows a rear-end rule where a driver is legally negligent for following another vehicle too closely and crashing into it. In these cases, the front vehicle does not necessarily have to prove that the vehicle which crashed into it committed an unsafe act. Following too closely is a common cause of accidents across the country. In 2012, one-third of all accidents reported in the United States were caused by a driver who was following too closely. Statistics show that drivers of sports cars and SUVs may be more inclined to follow too closely than the drivers of other vehicles. Florida has been rated as the third most dangerous state when it came to tailgating.
The Ocala StarBanner reports that two people have been injured in a crash involving four vehicles that shut down both sides of Interstate 75.
The crash occurred on Friday at mile marker 341 near the Belleview exit. One of the drivers involved in the crash received a citation for careless driving.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Ford F-150 was headed south in the inside lane. A Toyota Camry followed the truck.
The driver of the Ford applied brakes, and the driver of the Camry veered to the middle lane in an attempt to avoid the collision. The Toyota still struck the back of the truck, which caused the Ford to veer into the left emergency lane.
After veering into the emergency lane, the Ford struck the guardrail and overturned in the northbound lanes. The Ford landed on top of a BMW that had been traveling in the northbound lane.
Debris from the guardrail struck the windshield of a tractor-trailer that was also traveling in the northbound lane. He driver of the semi-trailer was not injured.
The driver of the BMW and the truck were taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.
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According to the National Transportation Safety Board, although wrong-way collisions are rare, especially when compared to other accidents, including head-on crashes, they tend to be fatal. Wrong-way collisions occur most often at night, on weekends, and in the lanes closest to the median. The fatality rate in wrong-way collisions has remained unchanged for several years....
Most Dangerous Intersections in Broward County
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A Woman Was Injured Seriously When Trying To Avoid A Deer
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1 Dead, 2 Injured in Miami-Dade Car Wreck
Posted on Feb 18, 2011 A multi-car crash in Miami-Dade, FL has left one dead and another two injured. The accident occurred around 11:45 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Bird Road and Southwest 137th Avenue on Thursday. According to witnesses, an unidentified driver of a silver SUV was traveling at a high rate of...
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Wearing a Seat Belt Prevents Many Injuries for Florida Drivers
Failure to wear a seat belt contributes to more fatalities than any other traffic safety-related behavior. A study done in 2010 showed that 63% of people killed in car accidents were not wearing seat belts. The National Highway Safety Administration estimates that seat belts save 15,000 lives each year. No amount of safe driving practices,...
Car Accidents FAQ:
What Type of Injury Is Commonly Associated with T-Bone Accidents?
T-bone accidents can cause a wide range of fractures, affecting the neck, skull, pelvis, and clavicle. Another type of injury commonly associated with T-bone accidents is aortic shears, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Victims of T-bone accidents can also suffer organ damage as well. Understanding T-Bone Accidents A T-bone accident, also...
What Is the Average Settlement for Rear-End Collisions?
The average settlement for rear-end collisions will most likely vary from one accident to another, based on a variety of different circumstances. As each accident is unique with its own specific details, it is difficult to determine an average because there are too many variables involved. It is important to know that insurance companies play...
Can a Side-Impact Collision Cause Whiplash?
Yes, a side-impact collision can cause whiplash. When the neck and head bend back and forth beyond their usual range of motion, this soft tissue injury can occur. The Mayo Clinic reports that car accidents are among the leading causes of whiplash. However, these injuries can also be the result of contact sports and assaults....
What Happens in a Side-Impact Collision?
If you were involved in a car accident, you may be wondering what happens in a side-impact collision. In these types of collisions, also known as T-bone accidents, a vehicle strikes another vehicle's side. Side-impact collisions can happen when a vehicle is backing up or driving forward. Many of these accidents happen at intersections when...
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Starting with CentOS 6.8, a newly introduced update to NSS causes certain applications to be unable to connect via TLS using GCM ciphers on virtual machines. This article describes the technical problem and how to apply the solution.
This issue has been reported and discussed in a number of places.


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Richmond Wong '14 selected for Fulbright Summer Institute
Richmond Wong '14 has been awarded a place in a Fulbright Summer Institute to study at Roehampton University in London. Wong was one of 29 recipients of the fellowship.
Roehampton University Summer Institute participants engage in academic and cultural programs that investigate concepts of citizenship and identity and explore the culture of the United Kingdom. In addition to volunteer activities, participants complete a group project on human rights and citizenship.
Wong says he is looking forward to gaining a more global perspective on cultural issues in science. "I hope to share what I learn with people back in the U.S.," he says.
Wong plans to major in science and technology studies. He is involved in undergraduate research in the Department of Information Science, studying how technology can help users reflect on their lives and have a greater feeling of organization. He also serves on the Cornell University Program Board, assisting with productions featuring comedians, speakers and other presenters, and plays clarinet in the Cornell Wind Symphony.
Syl Kacapyr
vpk6@cornell.edu


text:
Classic Films Available for Streaming That Are Garbage Compared to Steve-O's Wikipedia
Entertainment - Apr 21, 2020 By: Dima Kronfeld
QuarantineCOVID-19Steve-OCinema Wishes It Had An Impact
For those of us stuck inside all day, it can feel difficult to remain intellectually engaged. Luckily, with more streaming services than ever offering free trials, there's plenty to keep you busy. Here are four classic films that are seriously garbage ass shit trash compared to the endlessly compelling, stirring, and thought-provoking work that is Steve-O's Wikipedia. Enjoy!
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb by Stanley Kubrick (1964)
Don't be fooled by this "classic" film's deceptively cool title. Compared to literally any section of Steve-O's Wikipedia, it is so fucking boring I would rather watch S-O staple his own scrotum to his inner thigh — something he did. Is that bad? Should we be worried about him? Are these "stunts" self-harm, or a radical form of bodily autonomy: transforming the body into text, tool, and raw material? Either way, it's more interesting than a film that dares to ask, "How can Peter Sellers be the MOST underutilized?" Fuck off, Dr. Strangelove. Steve-O rules, Kubrick drools; no further questions.
The Godfather Part II by Francis Ford Coppola (1974)
Hi Frances Ford Coppola, The Hangover just called and it wants unsuccessfully trying to excuse a sequel by referring to it as "Part II" back. You could stream this three and a fucking half hour long movie, or you could read every last word of Steve-O's Wikipedia, then every linked source, then watch a few interviews, then catch up with current S-O happenings on his Instagram (an experience that would actually teach you a thing or two about the human condition, unlike the mean Italians movie). Steve-O could play Don Carleone, but Marlon Brando couldn't play Steve-O. What's that? Marlon Brando isn't in the second Godfather? Oh, that's right, I don't give a shit because compared to the life of Stephen Gilchrist Glover it's a trash movie for garbage kids.
Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock (1954)
Many consider Rear Window to be Hitchcock's greatest work because it all takes place in one room, which is pretty radical. Just kidding, it's not. You know what is radical? Every part of Steve-O's life. Battling depression and addiction, finding his way to a chill and nonjudgmental veganism, achieving healthy romantic partnership, and having a giant back piece of his own face? King shit on a level Hitchcock could only dream of while being creepy and emotionally abusive to his actors. Next!
Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard (1961)
Yet another trash heap old movie by yet another white man. You know what other classic media is comprised of all white men? Steve-O's seminal series Jackass, only Jackass actually deconstructed its white male subjects through challenges to the borders of the male body, explorations of bonding through shared pain, and physicalized attempts to transcend the very meaninglessness of life. Harmony Korine could never.
So during this quarantine, remember that there are countless classic films to be streamed, then don't watch any of them because they are a goddamn waste of time compared to reading Steve-O's wiki! Steve-O: He's a lot to think about.
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Steve Buscemi Cameo Unexpected Highlight of Sex Dream
Unfair! Movie About Making It In Show Business Stars Cast of People Who Have Made it in Show Business Unexpected! Stanley Tucci's Tight Little Polo First Thing Making You Want Top Surgery Today


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Research finds high levels of mental ill health in the creative industries in NI.
New research from Inspire and Ulster University has found people working in the creative industries in NI are almost three times more likely to suffer from mental ill health than the general population.
The report found:
-The likelihood of a mental health problem in the sector is three times that of the general population. The most common diagnosed disorders were anxiety (36%) and depression (32%).
-High proportions (60%) reported having had suicidal thoughts, 37% had made a plan for suicide and 16% had made a suicide attempt in their lifetime
-Whilst most people said they felt they could admit that they had a mental health, alcohol, or drug problem (63%), those who were concerned about disclosure cited workplace factors, personal factors, service provision and stigma as reasons for not revealing that they had a problem.
-The vast majority, 88.5% said they would talk to their friend if they were worried about their friend's mental health.
Specific characteristics of the creative sector work environment were reported as contributing to the likelihood of developing mental health problems. Examples included pressure to reach high standards (both externally and internally), irregular work (including contracts, financial security, irregular hours, and working outside the sector), the perceived lack of value placed on their work and the inadequate financial rewards for the work
Commenting on the motivation behind the research Peter McBride, CEO of Inspire said "there might be a popular image of the struggling artist but that becomes a much less romantic notion when it crosses a line into making people mentally unwell. Attracting skilled, creative people is a key element of Northern Ireland's economic strategy and the work artists and creatives produce is an important pillar of our tourism offer. At Inspire we specialise in workplace wellbeing and so we were interested in learning more about what it's like to work in the creative industries in NI and identify and possible areas of concern that may need attention and intervention."
This study brings together two key research priorities for Ulster University, mental health and the creative industries. Last year the university launched its £5m Institute of Mental Health Sciences which takes a multi-disciplinary approach to mental health research. Also launched last year, Ulster University's Creative Industries Institute brings together advanced research and teaching expertise in creative disciplines to collaborate with industry, government and communities, focusing on skills acquisition, job creation, policy development and future-led research.
Commenting on the report's findings Professor Siobhan O'Neill from Ulster University said "The results are concerning and unfortunately they corroborate evidence from our broader mental health research programmes at Ulster University, which show the high levels of mental ill health, and suicidality in the NI population, and particular subgroups who may be more vulnerable. We therefore look forward to working with policy makers here to ensure that our evidence can be used to inform strategies and plan services, to help our population flourish."
Dr Gillian Shorter, Lecturer in Psychology, Ulster University conducted the study. She said, "Those who work in the creative sector make an important, varied contribution to our society; these findings show we need to pay more attention to their health and wellbeing. If we value the creative industries, and enjoy music, film and TV, art, writing, and other important creative outputs, we need to act and help support those who produce it."
To read the report in full click here
TheatreNI members can access support through their membership benefit scheme. A trained counsellor will be there to talk to you at any time and can be contacted on: NI: 0800 389 5362 or ROI: 1800 409 673 or via support@inspireworkplaces.org / support@inspireworkplaces.ie
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Taiwan Democracy Project Seminar: Alan Romberg
On October 30 at 4pm, the Taiwan Democracy Project at Stanford University will host our next event of the fall quarter, a talk by Alan Romberg, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center. The talk is co-sponsored with the U.S.-Asia Security Initiative in the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford. Among other research contributions, Mr. Romberg writes a regular report for the Hoover Institution's China Leadership Monitor that covers developments in Cross-Strait relations and the US-PRC-Taiwan trilateral relationship.
The title of his talk is "Cross-Strait Relations after the 19th Party Congress." The event is free and open to the public; details on the talk and speaker are below.
Speculation about the course of cross-Strait relations after the upcoming 19th Chinese Communist Party Congress ranges from greater PRC flexibility to substantially increased pressure on Taiwan. The Mainland's persistent suspicion about President Tsai Ing-wen's motives has only deepened with her appointment of avowed independence supporter Lai Ching-te as premier, especially because of the prospect that Lai could eventually become president. As a result, once the internal tugging and hauling leading up to the Party Congress has been settled, some people predict that Beijing will resort to military intimidation or even actual use of force to bring Tsai to heel. What are the PRC's goals? What are Taipei's? What role can and should the United States play in seeking not only to avoid conflict but to reestablish a reliable level of stability in cross-Strait relations and to prevent Taiwan from once more becoming a highly divisive issue in U.S.-PRC relations? Alan Romberg will address these issues in his talk on October 30th.
Alan Romberg is a Distinguished Fellow and the Director of the East Asia program at Stimson. Before joining Stimson in September 2000, he enjoyed a distinguished career working on Asian issues including 27 years in the State Department, with over 20 years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Romberg was the Principal Deputy Director of the State Department's Policy Planning staff, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Deputy Spokesman of the department. He served in various capacities dealing with East Asia, including director of the Office of Japanese Affairs, member of the Policy Planning staff for East Asia, and staff member at the National Security Council for China. He served overseas in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Additionally, Romberg spent almost 10 years as the CV Starr Senior Fellow for Asian Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and was special assistant to the secretary of the navy.
Romberg holds an M.A. from Harvard University, and a B.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Taiwan Democracy Project Seminar: James Lee
On October 17, the Taiwan Democracy Project at Stanford University will host our first event of the fall quarter, a talk by James Lee of Princeton University. The talk is co-sponsored with the U.S.-Asia Security Initiative in the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford. Mr. Lee's talk will draw from his dissertation research, which examines the role of the United States in the emergence of the "developmental state" in Taiwan--the interlocking set of state and regime institutions that oversaw the island's transformative economic growth from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The title of his talk is "U.S.-China Rivalry and the Origins of Taiwan's Developmental State." The event is free and open to the public; details on the talk and speaker are below.
Scholars have credited a model of state-led capitalism called the developmental state with producing the first wave of the East Asian economic miracle. Using historical evidence based on original archival research, this talk offers a geopolitical explanation for the origins of the developmental state. In contrast to previous studies that have emphasized colonial legacies or domestic political factors, I argue that the developmental state was the legacy of the rivalry between the United States and Communist China during the Cold War. Responding to the acute tensions in Northeast Asia in the early postwar years, the United States supported emergency economic controls in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to enforce political stability. In response to the belief that the Communist threat would persist over the long term, the U.S. strengthened its clients by laying the foundations of a capitalist, export-oriented economy under bureaucratic guidance. The result of these interventions was a distinctive model of state-directed capitalism that scholars would later characterize as a developmental state.
I verify this claim by examining the rivalry between the United States and the Chinese Communists and demonstrating that American threat perceptions caused the U.S. to promote unorthodox economic policies among its clients in Northeast Asia. In particular, I examine U.S. relations with the Chinese Nationalists on Taiwan, where American efforts to create a bulwark against Communism led to the creation of an elite economic bureaucracy for administering U.S. economic aid. In contrast, the United States decided not to create a developmental state in the Philippines because the Philippine state was not threatened by the Chinese Communists. Instead, the Philippines faced a domestic insurgency that was weaker and comparatively short-lived. As a result, the U.S. pursued a limited goal of maintaining economic stability instead of promoting rapid industrialization. These findings shed new light on the legacy of statism in American foreign economic policy and highlight the importance of geopolitics in international development.
James Lee is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Politics at Princeton University. He specializes in International Relations with a focus on U.S. foreign policy in East Asia and relations across the Taiwan Strait. James also serves as the Senior Editor for Taiwan Security Research, an academic website that aggregates news and commentary on the economic and political dimensions of Taiwan's security.


The 2017-18 Broadway season is officially in the rearview mirror and culminated in the Tony Awards a few weeks ago. Since then I've been reflecting on the season and about stage managers. Because stage management is what I think about. And I wondered why there isn't a Tony Award for the stage manager?
#1. Awards focus on what you see onstage: the fine work of the actors, directors, choreographers and designers.
What you don't see from the audience is the contribution of the managers making it all happen. Our "art" is bringing all the creative bits and pieces together and coordinating all the logistics for a show to run smoothly, seamlessly and frankly, as if we were doing nothing at all. When we are doing a great job, the audience shouldn't know we even exist, aside from the preshow announcement. So, if you can't see it, how can you judge it?
#2. You may not notice good stage management from the FOH, but you can see bad stage management.
Lighting cues not in line with the music, or lights coming up before a transition is complete? Or worse, crashing scenery! All that could be the stage manager making errors. Are the understudies not prepared, is the show expanding, extra bits creeping in and the show is not as tight or clean as opening night? The stage manager may not be maintaining the show well. And if the SM has to announce a hold during the show and literally keep the audience in the dark? That's when the audience is keenly aware of the stage manager. Now it may not be the stage manager's fault, but they are the voice of the stop and the person associated with the incident. So, if the audience is only aware of us when there is a problem, we have a problem, right?
#3. Stage management is ephemeral, it is what happens between people in time and space.
You can't show great listening skills, persuasiveness, gentle confidence building, simple kindness and all the other leadership skills that great stage managers use to communicate, coordinate and keep a show running well. Award shows have a tough enough time trying to figure out a good way to showcase plays and playwrighting, how would you show leadership, compassion, scheduling, etc… You can't take a picture or video of great stage management to showcase it. Maybe you can show off your production book, but no matter how great looking your paperwork is, that alone is not going to convince someone to give you an award.
#4. Only stage managers really understand stage managers.
Unless you have stage managed before, you really don't understand what it is we do and/or how we do it. Not that you can't appreciate your stage manager, but there is a difference. It's similar to the difference between sympathy and empathy. You can give me your sympathy, but unless you've been in exactly my situation, you can't empathize. We stage managers go through a unique crucible from pre-production, rehearsals, tech and the run. We deal with everyone else's concerns, it's never about us or our needs, always about taking care of the rest of the company. We sacrifice breaks, lunches, sleep and more; but we do it because we love it. This is not a complaint, but rather an acknowledgement that unless you've done it, you can't really understand. And if you don't understand what I do, how can you give me an award for it?
#5. A few years ago, the Sound Design Tony Award was taken away, leaving many in the industry confused, sad and even angry.
Well, the Sound Tony Award is back thankfully, but it highlights how misunderstood the contribution of this design element is. On the Tony Award broadcast, all the design awards are given out during commercial breaks, so unless you are in the live audience you don't get to see those awards handed out. Watching from home, you just see the one sentence of their acceptance speech that is telecast. I bring this up because if the design elements are not understood or acknowledged in the same fashion as the other awards, I can't imagine how a stage manager award would stack up.
I thought this was quite appropriate for us stage managers. We work tirelessly, so that others can reap the glory. That is who we are and what we do. It would be great to be recognized, but we are not interested in that and as a profession, don't really advocate for it. You may be aware (hopefully you are) that Actors Equity is advocating for a new Tony Award for best ensemble and best chorus to acknowledge the important contribution they make and I fully support that effort. However, there is no advocacy for a stage manager award. Why would a King maker ever tell the King to give them a crown? Even this article isn't about why we should get awards, it's about understanding why we don't.
With all that said, there is a bit of an exception here. The Stage Managers' Association created the Del Hughes Award many years ago to honor lifetime achievement in the art of stage management in any part of our industry. The winners are a long list of some of the best stage managers ever. You can read more about it here.
This is one place where stage managers get a chance to honor other stage managers at an annual award ceremony in midtown Manhattan. It's from and by the people who are their colleagues and can see, understand and comprehend their work. This award is for lifetime achievement though, so you really have to have a great career to win, no one hit wonders in this elite club! You can't be a Marissa Winokur or Sutton Foster and win this one in your 20s!
In summary, there are many reasons I don't think you'll see a stage manager Tony Award, but that's okay. In part because we know that we are the glue, not the glitter, but also because the nature of our job is extremely hard to judge.
Thankfully, the Del Hughes Award exists as a way where we can honor stage managers for their body of work and contribution to our profession. And the Tony committee occasionally gives an Honor for a stage manager (for example, Peter Lawrence in 2014) which is awesome. But for now, we stage managers will continue on doing the great work we do, awards or no awards, because we love what we do and know what an important job stage management is.


Professional photos: because selfies won't cut it for your business!
In the online world photos matter. In the business world, professionalism matters. In the everyday world being real and authentic matters. So, when we mash together all the things that matter this day in age, it is fair to say that professional photos that share the real and authentic side of any business or brand with an online presence matter.
And although many businesses might think that it is cheaper and easier to simply use stock photography, or even worse think that they don't need photos at all, the reality is that using good-quality professional photos is a must! Professional photos are one of the fastest routes to engage with clients, create a great first impression and stand apart from the competition.
1. People do judge a book by its cover!
Yes, yes, we know that this is not kosher, and we have all been told since we were little that we should not judge a book by its cover or a person by the company they keep.
But we are human, and we do. We all do.
Actually, did you know that a person will judge your site/profile/business in 1.5 seconds online?! That is a very short amount of time to make an impact - which is why taking photos of yourself or getting a mate to take one is not ideal. Professional photos allow you to curate the image you want your business to have and ensures that people have the right impression from the first click.
Images speak to the brain in a different way. They are emotive and have the ability to create a connection with the audience faster than words alone. A good image will tell its audience a story….
For a personal brand, it will provide a sense of the values you have, it will invite people to know you and if done right will spark the beginning of a relationship (why do you think Tinder is so popular). It can give your brand a personality and let you communicate its personality and feel to your audience, attracting the right clients. Professional photos can create a story with a single shot, they can show how you work and communicate the passion you have for your business, brand, and clients.
What story are your business images telling?
In the corporate space and for other small to medium businesses, investing in professional photos can differentiate your business from the competitor, giving prospective clients an authentic insight into your day-to-day, introducing your team and showing off your skills.
From a sales perspective, professional photographers know how to tell a story and use your images to connect with the story, values, and needs of your audience. This connection builds trust, it is the beginning of a relationship and a precursor to making a sale of any type.
What makes professional photos actually even more affordable is their versatility.
One image can be used across multiple mediums for your brand. From print ads, brochures and billboards to social profiles and your website, when you have good images you can produce multiple pieces of quality content to share with audiences.
Using good images that are optimised across different channels will increase your exposure and make your business more searchable (think alt tags and SEO optimised captions) meaning that the people that are looking for you will find you….
And when they arrive, they can easily connect with the story of who you are, what you value and how you can help them.
Ultimately the images you use in your marketing collateral, online on your social platforms and on your website represent your brand as much as your staff and products do. Professional photos are a great hassle-free way to be able to convey your brand in its best light and show your audience how and why you are different from the guy (or gal) next door.
Looking to differentiate your brand? Want to update your professional profiles?
We specialise in capturing the story of you, your brand and your business – so that your audience gets the right first impression! Contact us to book in your next shoot today!


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World's Oldest Bread Discovered
Historians and archaeologists in Middle East have recently discovered what could be the world's oldest bread. A research group had recently found blackened crumbs at an ancient stone building. It indicated that people could have been baking bread thousands of years earlier than what people thought. Based on the carbon dating of the charred crumbs, the scraps could be around 14,400 years old. That's 4,000 years before agriculture emerged.
"Our work shows that bread was not a product of settled, complex societies but a Paleolithic hunter-gatherer society," said Amaia Arranz Otaegui, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen and the study's author. Bread is an important part of our food history. Despite only requiring a few ingredients, flour, water and hear, bread it actually very nutritious. The finer the wheat, the easier it is to digest and absorb nutrients.
The bread remains were found in sediment samples at a site called Shubayga 1 in Jordan. The structure was oval shaped with a fireplace in the center. Its builders also carefully placed stones into the ground. It was not clear if it was a dwelling or a ceremonial place. When they sifted through the sediment, they noticed the crumbs. It did not look like seeds or nuts or wood. It looked like crumbs that accumulate at the bottom of a toaster.
"The main criteria on the identification of bread are its porous texture," Arranz Otaegui said. "If we take other foodstuffs like porridge or gruel, we will see pieces of grain but not all these micro-pores." She said the closest common bread to these crumbs might be pita bread or tortillas.