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CATTLE RANCHING AS A PANACEA TO HERDSMEN CRISES IN NIGERIA
In the last few days there has been fierce debate as the Federal Government, which earlier promoted the idea of cattle ranch, opted for 'cattle colonies' leaving many people to ask what cattle colony is. The introduction of cattle colonies came following the recent harvest of deaths in rural communities across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States blamed on suspected herdsmen. Furthermore, Colonies and ranches are the same thing in many ways except that a colony is bigger that a ranch; a colony is a biological expression for any species of animals whether by nature or by human design that are found in a large community sharing the same terrain, such as bee colonies in certain areas.
Establishment of ranches and the movement of beef instead of cattle have been identified by stakeholders as ways to end the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the country. Over the years there have been uncountable clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Benue state, and other part of the country which have resulted to loss of lives and properties with several others being displaced from their homes. The clashes are fast becoming unbecoming, and a major scourge confronting the nation which is begging for urgent intervention of the Federal Government. No less than ten reported cases have occurred since the beginning of the year and government has not come out with a concrete plan to contain the scourge.
According to a publication of the daily independent on March 9, 2018 said the activities of these herdsmen if not checked could result to war which at this time will not be good enough for the country. They, therefore, called for the establishment of ranches so as to allow the herdsmen feed their cattle in a concentrated area, instead of moving them around and destroying peoples' farms.
According to Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, Coordinator of Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), explained that government should convince the herdsmen that animals loose more weight when they walk around and they gain more weight if they are in one place. He said they should also be convinced that those clashes are not in their own best interest and those farmers will continue to resist and fight back. Ijewere particularly advised government to provide properly designated grazing areas that must have water, stressing that government must adopt a policy of moving beef and not cattle. "Government must adopt a policy of let start moving beef and not cattle. That policy means that abattoirs in central places like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin City all those central places will no longer exist.
"We will slaughter the cattle nearer where they are reared; it will reduce all these clashes. It can be done, you can move more beef than you move cattle, if it is done in more structured manner. That is what developed countries of the world do," he said, adding that "we are not the only ones that eat meat in the world, but other countries of the world don't move cattle the way we do. They move these cattle recklessly, those are some of the reasons you have these clashes."
Similarly, Anga Sotonye, National Publicity Secretary of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria, noted that government should create a location where these herdsmen will be able to stay, feed and grow their cattle without necessarily moving their cattle from Kano to Lagos.
The Fulani indisputably represent a significant component of the Nigerian economy. They constitute the major breeders of cattle, the main source of meat, the most available and cheap source of animal proteins consumed by Nigerians. The Fulani own over 90% of the nation's livestock population which accounts for one-third of agricultural GDP and 3.2% of the nation's GDP (Eniola, 2007). Furthermore, the contribution of the Fulani to the local food chain and national food security cannot be overstressed. The Fulani, with their dominance in the Sahel region, are the best known and most numerous of all the pastoral groups in Nigeria. The traditional and unique Fulani encampment (ruga) consisting of temporary structures made of stalks, closely knit family members and livestock is the natural habitat of the orthodox Fulbe settlement (Eniola, 2007) (Eniola, 2007). As the state cannot regulate the mutual coexistence of its citizens in the harmonious sharing of the competed resources, the parties may have to resolve to struggle among themselves with no retreat, no surrender and for the survival of the fittest. The failure of the state, for example to resolve the 'settler/ 'indigene' identity and the inherent struggles over resources can be adduced to have brought dangerous dimensions of economic and political elements in the Fulani pastoralists and farmers' conflicts (Fiki and Lee, B. 2014). Issues bordering on local community security, safety and development are paramount in the enhancement of governance and increase or decrease in agitation for control of resources as well as encroachment of the rights of others. All these have implications for survival and struggles between or amongst communities. Again, local resistance to state policies is central in resource-use through strengthening of community capacity to manage resources and deal with conflicts. Hence, security is a framework for intervention and conflicts. Since insecurity gives ways to conspiracy, conflicts are inevitable. The object of security is to primarily advance the well-being and possessions of the persons involved; while the survival of the state is secondary. In other words, when the character and nature of the state do not seem to protect the security of the citizens, their freedom and choices completely shift away from the state to individuals or groups as the foci of security. The expansion of Fulbe pastoralism into Nigeria is unknown. It is suggested that Fulbe began to settle on the plains of Bauchi Emirate transcending onto the grassland of the Jos Plateau (Blench, 2010). Conflicts between pastoralists and farmers have existed since the beginnings of agriculture and increased or decreased in intensity and frequency depending on economic, environmental and other factors. For example, increases in the herd sizes, due to improved conditions of the cattle, compelled the pastoralists to seek for more pastures beyond their limited range. Climate change has constituted a great threat by putting great pressures on the land and thus provoking conflicts between them. However, improvements in human health and population have enhanced a much greater pressure on land. Since the 1980s therefore, there has been a marked expansion of cultivation of the fadama (reverine and valley-bottom) areas. This means that both the farmers and pastoralists have engaged in fierce struggles for access to such valuable lands which, more often than not, result in increased conflicts and violence. The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, said establishment of ranches was the only solution to the recurring clashes between Farmers and Herdsmen in the country.
According to Ayatse (2018) He said that regulating the movement of the herdsmen would be difficult, adding that it was only practicable on paper. Ayatse said that the country stood to benefit from the introduction of ranches as jobs would be created for Nigerians. He said that ranching would not stop free movement of herdsmen especially if they were passing through a particular state. "If you allow free movement without control, you put everybody at risk and this is what we are seeing in Benue, ranching is part of the control,"he said. The Tor Tiv said that creating ranches did not go against the ECOWAS Treaty of free movement of persons in the sub-region as it was being thought. He said that a committee had been constituted in conjunction with the police in his domain, to identify the "bad eggs" and hand them over to the police. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Benue House of Assembly had recently passed a Bill prohibiting open grazing and allowing the establishment of ranches in the state. The bill is entitled: "Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017''
According to Okereke (2012) and Bello (2013), the conflicts in most part of Nigeria especially the Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash are largely uncalled for. Farmers can no longer farm peacefully because of Fulani herdsmen. These Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash have pitched Christians and Muslims against each other. Recent studies conducted by Okereke (2012) and Kasarachi (2016) have shown that, serious conflict erupt between Fulani herdsmen and farmers leading to loss of lives, valuable properties and destruction of vast expanse of arable agricultural farmlands thereby posing serious threat to food security since farmers for fear of attack could no longer go to farm and harvest their farm produce. The latest attacks by Fulani herdsmen is on the upsurge, with the most latest attacks in February 2018 happening in Benue State, Taraba State, Nassarawa State and few cases of attack in other states.
In recent times, the killings recorded by Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash has rampaged most communities displacing them of their farmlands and loss of their major source of livelihood. This is becoming unbearable with the Fulani herdsmen always having their ways leaving the farmers at their mercy. Herdsmen attribute the roots of the crisis to religious differences resulting in the killing of their cows while the farmers see the herdsmen as a threat to their crops and agricultural produce since the herdsmen allow their cows to feed on the farmer crops.
This recent wave of violence in Nigeria as observed by Kasarachi (2016) has disrupted socioeconomic, religious and educational activities, political instability and threatened the national unity in Nigeria. These extra judiciary killings have forced thousands of people to abandon their homes and farmlands for safety. Okereke (2012) asserts that this unfolding violence have become so alarming that there is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is at a crossroad and gradually drifting to a conflict society. Equally begging for answers are the social issues of the rape of women, robbery and kidnapping with ultimate intent for ransom.
Cattle herding is dominated almost entirely by the Fulani tribe in Nigeria. the herding system of the Fulani in Nigeria, and most of what is presented was derived from his account. According to him, herding is a daunting task, and contrary to widespread belief, it is not the delight of the Fulani- they herd not as a matter of choice but as a necessity. In as much as herdsmen care about their cattle's as a matter of necessity, so does the farmer treasure his or her crop not because it is necessary but because it is indispensable to life. It is against this backdrop that the researcher decide to investigate the efficacy of cattle ranching as a panacea to herdsmen crises in Nigeria.
Objective Of The Study
The main objective of this study will be to investigate the efficacy of cattle ranching as a panacea to herdsmen crises in Nigeria; but to aid the successful completion of the study, the researcher will intend to achieve the following specific objective;
To ascertain the role of cattle ranching in combatting the herdsmen/farmers crises in Ondo state
To investigate the merit of ranching over open grazing in cattle production
To examine the effect of open crazing on farm produce in Ondo state
To ascertain if there is any relationship between cattle ranching and cattle colony.
What are the role of cattle ranching in combatting the herdsmen/farmers crises in Ondo state?
What are the merit of ranching over open grazing in cattle production?
What are the effect of open crazing on farm produce in Ondo state?
Is there is any relationship between cattle ranching and cattle colony?
Research Hypotheses
To aid the effective completion of the study, the following research hypotheses will be formulated by the researcher;
H0: Cattle's ranching does not play any significant role in curtailing herdsmen farmer's crises in Benue state Nigeria
H1: Cattle's ranching does play a significant role in curtailing herdsmen farmer's crises in Benue state Nigeria
H02: Cattle ranching do not have any advantage over open grazing in respect of farmer's herdsmen crises in Benue state
H2: Cattle ranching do have an advantage over open grazing in respect of farmers herdsmen crises in Benue state
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the house committee on agriculture and federal ministry of agriculture as the study seek to enumerate the numerous benefit of cattle ranching over open grazing as this will help in policy formation, the study will also be of importance to the security operative as the findings of the study will help them strategize to curb the menace of herdsmen farmers conflict in Benue state, the study will also be useful to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a reference point to further studies. Finally, the study will be of great importance to reporters, academia's, students, teachers and the general public as the study will add to the pool of existing literature and also contribute to bank of knowledge in the subject matter.
The scope of the study covers cattle ranching as a panacea to herdsmen crisis in Ondo state, in the cause of the study, the researcher will visit
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study
The post CATTLE RANCHING AS A PANACEA TO HERDSMEN CRISES IN NIGERIA appeared first on TY Computer Institute.


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Found a small cockroach in your kitchen cabinets? Or even (shudders)… lots of them? You already know small roaches can…
How to Kill Cockroaches: Your Step-by-Step Battle Plan
Killing cockroaches can't be that hard, can it? They're just bugs and bugs can be squished! Besides the fact that…
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There are countless home remedies for roaches out there, but which are recipes for success and which are a waste…
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Woman, suspect die after Swiss train knife attack
Five people were stabbed or suffered burns during an attack by a Swiss man on a train in Switzerland.
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Five people were stabbed or burned during an attack by a 27-year-old Swiss man on the train.
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Police said the 27-year-old Swiss citizen was also injured in the incident and hospitalised.
SA defends importance of World Economic Forum
Various critics have questioned the forum's purpose, calling it a talk shop of the rich and powerful.


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Editor's Note: This summer we have two communications interns working with us to write stories about research at the hospital and their experiences being part of the hospital community. This is a post by our intern Alyssa.
On one of the first days of my internship, I was given a sheet of paper outlining important dates scattered throughout the following few weeks. Arguably the most important event was the annual Employee Summer Picnic, where the Research Institute had a vital job to perform (or so I was continuously told).
Through means I'm unaware of, we had been designated years ago to pop popcorn at each Summer Picnic. We had developed a sort of cult following, as people were apparently requesting our presence at this year's event.
So when the day came, we arrived at the Bulfinch Lawn early to set up shop. Our table was situated on the patio to the side of the stage, where members of the New England Patriots would appear as part of the My Giving Helps employee campaign.
Last year, the campaign raised over $1 million to help support clinical advancements at Mass General and local families in need. There was a pretty tremendous turnout, and I imagine that even those who couldn't donate still came out to support the cause.
I surprisingly learned the ropes of popcorn-making pretty quickly. While at first I assumed this would be my first and only experience as a food vendor, I actually used my newfound skills the following weekend when my friend was unsure of the kernel-to-oil ratio when popping popcorn at her party.
Though there was concern at first about the quantity of popcorn we were supplied with, the rush didn't last long. As soon as the Patriots players (please don't ask me for their names) started playing a life-size version of Operation on stage, people abandoned food lines to catch a photo, or a 15-minute video.
Even as it started raining, people still held out their phones and tablets while we rushed to salvage our top-notch popcorn machines. Despite the definitive forecast, no one had arranged for our prized table to be covered from the downpours and our power strips were rendered useless.
So we stood under the awning and watched the stage, while people actually tried to coerce us into giving them the leftover kernels sitting at the bottom of the now soaked machines.
But if amateur popped popcorn is what brings attention to the hard work being done at the Research Institute, I don't mind smelling a bit like burnt butter for the day.


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Mike Morris and Katherine Driessen Oct. 7, 2014 Updated: Oct. 7, 2014 8:23 p.m.
Houston is guaranteed a frantic 2015 political season with an open mayor's race on the ballot, but it could get busier still with growing talk of placing the city charter before voters for possible changes to term limits, the city revenue cap and other reforms.
Parker has warned of widespread layoffs with next summer's budget unless the decade-old, voter-imposed revenue cap is altered or scrapped, but she may prefer a November vote to avoid the measure being torpedoed by the hard-core right in a low-turnout May election. Even at that, she has not guaranteed a vote on the issue.
The mayor also has pledged to let voters consider a change in term limits - likely from three two-year terms to two four-year terms - but support evaporated on City Council when that idea last was discussed in 2012.
Bradford gathered six colleagues' signatures on a September letter to Parker calling for a vote by the end of the year on whether to place that proposal before voters, along with three other charter changes that would let the council meet in closed session, alter the revenue cap and use the additional cash solely to pay down existing debt, and shift to two four-year terms.
"I only support going to four-year terms if some other things are fixed," Bradford said. "It's not just going from two to four years and everybody kumbaya and high five and move on down the road. We've got to fix some of these processes. It's about accountability."
Parker brushed off Bradford's letter, saying it is not as if she had forgotten about the revenue cap or term limits. She also called his idea to let council adjust the agenda a "nonstarter."
As for closed sessions, which Houston's charter is rare in barring, Parker acknowledged the public may view any such change as favoring secrecy. The point would be to enable discussion of personnel problems, real estate deals, lawsuits and other issues that today must be communicated to each council member individually, leading some to question whether they are being given the same information as their colleagues.
"I can't put it on the ballot until next year, so there isn't a particular urgency. It's a 2015 issue," the mayor said. "We're already talking about the revenue cap. I've already talked individually to council members about term limits and so forth. They're all going to need to be resolved between now and next spring."
Still, Bradford, Councilman Michael Kubosh and other council members repeatedly have raised the issue in recent council meetings, saying discussions must begin about whether to hold a May vote, in part because that would be the only way to adjust the revenue cap before setting next year's budget. The city is facing a roughly $120 million deficit next year, but the chief reasons are soaring pension and debt costs; about 15 percent of the deficit is attributable to the revenue cap, which mandates a cut in the city tax rate if property tax revenues rise faster than the combined rates of population growth and inflation. That provision is kicking in for the first time, with the city poised to make a tiny cut in its property tax rate this month.
Kubosh has called on Parker to form a committee to review the charter and "see if we can make some changes in it that are substantial. I think we need to make some changes that will have a positive effect going forward in the city."
How voters receive this potentially crowded ballot, Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said, will depend on the revenue cap. If that appears on the ballot, he said, conservatives would attack it as a tax hike and threaten the rest of the propositions, perhaps casting term-limit reform as politicians trying to keep their jobs and closed sessions as non-transparent.
Without the revenue cap, however, Jones said the odds for organized opposition drop. Voters care about term limits – Houstonians voted to implement them in 1991 – but the proposal would be to amend them, not abolish them, he said.
"If you don't have the revenue cap on there, then the issues may be debated far more on their own merits," Jones said. "If the revenue cap is on there, as well, it may swamp all the other items, both in terms of overall public attention to the election, but also in terms of generating a conservative wave that wipes out everything that's being proposed."
Parker agreed voters likely would be most interested in the revenue cap, but she long has spoken of the benefits of changing Houston's term limits structure.
Shifting to two four-year terms would align Houston with almost every other big city in the country, Parker has said, and would lessen the influence of money in politics by decreasing the frequency and focus on campaigns.
"You don't need term limits to remove incumbents. We've had four incumbent council members get knocked out, both Republican and Democrat, and both at-large and district," Parker said.
"Three two-year terms is too short for practical reasons. It promotes really short-term thinking."
Most council members agree a change in term limits is needed, Parker said, but may not agree on what change to make. On this, Parker and Bradford are aligned.
"Ten months into your two-year term, you're worried about the next race or you're already on your way out. That's not healthy," said Bradford, who will have to give up his seat at the end of 2015.
"We don't have the focus and the people who are there to hold departments accountable and say, 'Well this is what you said you were going to do last year or two years ago, and here's where you came in; we need to think about your budget.'"


Entry is now open for the Reading Open amateur table tennis tournament at Broad Street Mall!
Anyone can take part in the tournament, which is being run by Saiyan Brothers Table Tennis Club. You simply need to fill in an entry form, which can be found in our Ping Pong Parlour on the ground floor, opposite Holland & Barrett.
There are 4 entry categories; 16 and Over Male, 16 and Over Female, Under 16 Male and Under 16 Female (under the new data protection regulations, entrants aged under 13 will need their parents/carers to sign the form to consent to their data being used for entry into the tournament).
The heats will be held on Saturday the 20th, in the Ping Pong Parlour, and will start when the centre opens and finish when it closes. The Ping Pong Parlour will only be open for tournament players on that day.
The semi-finals and finals in each category will take place on the 21st, in central square in the mall. There is a trophy up for grabs in each category, so what are you waiting for? Come down and show off your skills!


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Brad begins to explore Uganda!
This is my first visit to Uganda. Since my arrival I have witnessed many similarities between Uganda and its neighbours Tanzania and Kenya. That said, I have also noticed subtle differences.
For example, upon arriving at Entebbe Airport, I noticed the friendly, laid-back attitude of the general population even extended to immigration personnel and airport security, which it certainly doesn't in its neighbouring countries. I retrieved my bag from the luggage belt to realise that my razor was going off inside, so I opened up my bag, rummaged through to find my razor and switched it off. The security guard nearby worked out what had happened and started laughing. From experience at Nairobi airport, had the same thing happened there, they certainly wouldn't have seen the funny side… They would probably have even tried to charge me import tax on it!
Having arrived in Uganda from Tanzania, customer service also seems to be a step up from what I had grown accustomed to experiencing over the past few weeks. Since my arrival, I have had a waiter "praying for forgiveness" (direct quote!) as they didn't have my order. When I went to buy a sim card, I was also given the rather odd choice of which phone number I wanted. The sales assistant spread out around 40 different sim cards on the desk, apparently expecting me to wade through and choose my favourite 11-digit number. She seemed a bit put out when I picked a random card up and handed it to her.
As mentioned earlier though, these subtle differences are not quite as abundant as the similarities between Uganda and other East African countries. The day after arriving into Uganda, I was due to travel to Kasese, a small town in the west. I had arranged to meet someone at my hostel at 8am, before we travelled together to Kasese. However, I received a text at around 6.30am to inform me that there were problems with the bus and so he would be late… Which sounded very similar to my experiences in Tanzania and Kenya!
The similarities continued when I arrived in Kasese, a quiet little town enveloped by the Rwenzori Mountains, and met members of the community who continued to be unbelievably self-motivated and proactive despite terrible hardships that have been suffered by the area over the years. Clearly this is a characteristic which crosses over borders in East Africa.
The Rwenzori Mountains are famed for being home to gorillas and chimpanzees, but during conflict in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, they also became the home to hopeless rebels who had been exiled. These rebels, desperately used to charge into areas on the Ugandan side of the border, pillage the local area and kidnap people to fight on their behalf.
I have been shown around Kasese by Buluku, who is just over a year older than me. Buluku had to flee for his life at nine years old as rebels broke through an army barracks and charged into his school. Many of his schoolmates were kidnapped and faced the unenviable choice of fighting on behalf of the rebels or being killed.
Remarkably, this story only came out when I was being shown evidence of a more recent hardship to hit the local area. Towards the end of last year, floods tore through the area and swept away schools, houses and part of a hospital. 20 people lost their lives and from looking at the trail of destruction, it wasn't difficult to see how… The volume of water must have been utterly immense to carry bolders, trees and entire buildings.
When we reached the beginning of the trail of destruction, we hit upon Buluku's former school and I was told the story. One may expect such an ordeal at such a young age to put unbearable pressure on a young boy, but Buluku has achieved regardless of this terrible atrocity. He is currently playing a prominent role in NYAKU, the organisation I was in Kasese to visit.
NYAKU have founded a primary school in a village close to Kasese. Surrounded by coffee trees and a banana plantation, the school currently accommodates three nursery classes and the first year of primary school, having been founded four years ago. The school is supported by several income-generation strategies; Nursery bed, poultry, pigs and most innovatively, charcoal briquettes.
I had the process of manufacturing charcoal briquettes demonstrated to me. Paper is mixed with water to create a pulp. This pulp is mixed with either sawdust or charcoal until it binds together and is then put into a mold and pressed, to create a doughnut shape.
The briquettes have many benefits, for example, they are cheaper than using charcoal or firewood and the charcoal briquettes don't produce any smoke. The most profound benefit comes when you consider the floods that the area faced last year. The briquettes eliminate the need for the community to cut down trees, which on a large scale can lead to floods, landslides and general erosion of the local area… The floods weren't down to this problem, but the community recognised that deforestation didn't help and could lead to similar issues in the future and have acted to do something about it.
As with many other communities in East Africa, I have heard stories in Kasese, which made me question how people continued to have the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. However, much the same as with the other communities I have heard such stories in, the communities have shown resolve and have coordinated to tackle the issues that they face. If ever a community deserves a helping hand, it is this community and I hope that COCO is able to give it to them, as they have demonstrated in abundance that they are capable of achieving amazing things.


text:
Mick Hucknall Net Worth
Full Name Michael James "Mick" Hucknall
Birth Place Michael James Hucknall
Occupation Singer-songwriter, Musician
Height 5' 11" (1.80 m)
Marital Status Married (Gabriella Wesberry)
Children 1 (Romy True Hucknall)
Education Manchester Metropolitan University, Audenshaw School
Hobbies Fishing
Richest Musicians, Richest Singers
About Michael James "Mick" Hucknall
British pop singer and songwriter, Mick Hucknall has an estimated net worth of $68 million (£40m) as of 2015, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. Born Michael Hucknall on 8 June 1960 in Denton, Lancashire, England. Hucknall started his music career in 1979 and best known as the lead singer of The Frantic Elevators, a punk rock band that achieved international fame in the 1980s. Over 50 million albums sold during his 25-year career with the band. Simply Red may be no more but former frontman Hucknall doesn't stop. Last October he released a solo album, American Soul, which hit No 6 in the UK charts. The Greater-Manchester-born has enjoyed record sales of nearly 50 million and owns properties in Milan, Paris, Ireland and Surrey. His company, simplyred.com, made £5.5 million profit on £14.1 million sales in 2010-11 but showed only £1.4 million net assets in 2011-12, when it filed abbreviated accounts per Sunday Times report.
More Richest Musicians,Richest Singers
Tove Lo Net Worth
Edwin McCain Net Worth
Jessie J Net Worth
Graham McPherson Net Worth
Wiz Khalifa Net Worth
Tim Alexander Net Worth
Tyler Joseph Net Worth
Tamar Braxton Net Worth


On this very warm 4th of July, I've enjoyed a stay at home day. I can hear fireworks exploding in the neighborhood, with greater frequency as the sun sets. The City of Joplin is hosting a large display at Missouri Southern State University. I'm content to sit this one out.
In keeping with a very relaxed day, free from work of any kind, I'm sharing an easy blog post. This one falls under the creativity category.
I am loving the simple pleasure of gathering herbs from my garden, for cooking and for teas. I can choose from the aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, marjoram, basil and oregano. Or there are the fun herbs such as bee balm, mint, lemon balm, lemon grass, lavender and chamomile, which is new to my garden this year. It feels so earthy, so grounding, to snip a few herbs to steep for tea, and the health benefits are phenomenal.
This easy iced tea recipe was inspired by a similar one that Anthony William shared on social media.
Steep lemon balm in 4 cups of very hot water, for at least 30 minutes. Remove leaves and let tea chill in refrigerator for half an hour or longer. In a large glass, combine lemon juice, strawberries, ice, lemon balm tea and honey, if desired. Makes two servings.
Lemon balm is a remarkable herb that eases all types of digestive disorders, calms stress and reduces inflammation. It is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-parasitic, cleanses and detoxes the liver, spleen and kidneys, and fights against the Epstein Barr, shingles and herpetic viruses.
Strawberries are powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals in the body. They protect against brain disorders and diseases of all kinds and ease neurological symptoms.
And lemons contain highly absorbable vitamin C. They create alkalinity in the body and ease the symptoms of colds, flu and bronchitis, while also cleansing the liver, spleen, kidneys, gallbladder and thyroid.
This tea is a powerful tonic that boosts my health and it tastes so good.
Dried lemon balm can be found in health food stores and health conscious grocery stores such as Natural Grocers. It's a very easy perennial herb to grow, and does well in containers. It can be invasive in the garden, so pull up any stray plants that appear where they shouldn't. It has a delightful lemon scent and flavor.
I chose not to add honey to my tea, as I don't like sweet teas. The lemon juice gives a nice bit of tartness and the strawberries add subtle flavor and they are fun to eat after the tea is gone.
On this muggy evening, filled with booms and whistles and pop-pop-pops, I savored my big 32 ounce glass of lemon balm and strawberry iced tea. I drank the whole thing!
You can order dried lemon balm by clicking the link below.


text:
Asia Daily
(photo: WN / RTayco)
Epidemic Health Photos Tobacco Wikipedia: Smoking
Harm reduction seen to stem Asia's smoking epidemic
Leading think tanks asked policy makers in Asia to consider adopting tobacco harm reduction approach and provide access and accurate information on alternative nicotine products such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and snus. This was the key message of the 2nd Asia Harm Reduction Forum held today at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City, which gathered leading thinkers from the fields of science, technology, health, policy and consumer advocacy from across Asia and the...
Full Story: Manila Standard Today
Malaysia »
'The Wolf of Wall Street' producer Riza Aziz arrested in Malaysia
The Siasat Daily
Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hit with fresh corruption charges
Hong Kong ranked most expensive city in the world to live in for second consecutive year
Thailand »
Man sentenced to death for rape and murder of German tourist in Thailand
Amazing Facts About Phuket, Thailand
Singapore »
Vueling ranked most delayed UK airline
Singapore Detains Myanmar Nationals Accused Of Backing Rakhine Insurgents
Singapore Food Court Operator Introduces Bitcoin Payments
The Bitcoin News
India to push Japan out of world's top 3 economies by 2025
Record number of women to contest Japan elections
Samsung gains lifeline as it navigates export curbs
Tuesday's Daily Brief: Development forum focuses on inclusion; monsoons pummel Asia; young children at greater ...
In today's Daily Brief: Inclusion resonates widely at development meeting, UN offers help after monsoons devastate Asia, DR Congo Ebola effecting children, obesity plagues island communities, Yemen's warring parties agree to ceasefire for key port ......
ABBYY Opens Office in Hong Kong to Strengthen Presence in Asia
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 16, 2019-- ABBYY, a global leader in Content IQ technologies and solutions, today announced it has opened a regional office in Hong Kong to strengthen its relationships with enterprise-level customers and partners in the market....
GAUHATI, India (AP) — Monsoon flooding and landslides are continuing to cause havoc in South Asia, with the death toll rising to 78 in Nepal and authorities in neighboring northeastern India...
More than 100 dead and 6 million affected by flooding across South Asia
(CNN)The death toll in South Asia continues to rise after flooding and landslides ravaged the border region of India and Nepal, leaving tens of thousands displaced and millions affected. More than 100 people have died in India and Nepal since monsoon flooding began over...
Where to Get Impossible Burger: Asia Is 'Number One Focus' as Company Expands Worldwide
After adding the Impossible Burger to three restaurant menus in Hong Kong last year, Impossible Foods is now considering an even broader expansion in Asia. Nick Halla, Impossible Foods' senior vice president for international, said giving consumers more options and...
AP Photos: Editor selections from the past week in Asia
Lincoln Journal Star
North Koreans pay tribute to their late leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, on the 25th death anniversary of the founder of the nation. In other images from the Asia-Pacific region this week, thousands of candles are arranged in the shape of the Milky...
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During the faceoff earlier this year between India and Pakistan over a terrorist attack that killed more than 40 Indian paramilitaries in Kashmir, New Delhi made an existential threat to Islamabad. The weapon was not India's considerable nuclear arsenal, but one still...
Global Gas Sensors Market to Witness a CAGR of Over 6% During 2019-2024 - Asia-Pacific ...
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 11, 2019-- The "Gas Sensors Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The gas sensors market is expected to witness a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period...
FPT announces strategic investment in Homa Techs Inc., entering Southeast Asia smart home market
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 11, 2019-- Vietnamese largest IT firm FPT Corporation (FPT) on Thursday entered into an agreement to become the strategic investor of Homa Techs Inc. (Homa)., a provider of Internet of Things (IoT) networking and...
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text:
How Does Rust Spread?
••• Wikimedia Commons
What Causes Copper to Tarnish?
By Lauren Vork
What Rust Is
In order to understand how rust works and spreads, you first have to understand what rust is. "Rust" is the common name for what is scientifically known as iron oxide, a form of corrosion that occurs when iron (or one of its alloys, such as steel) reacts with oxygen and there is water (or heavy air moisture) present.
Other metals have oxidation processes as well, but they do so differently and the result is not commonly considered rust. Copper corrosion is green (and accounts for the color of the Statue of Liberty) while aluminum corrosion spreads extremely slowly.
The Molecular Process of Spreading
The process of metal corrosion is an electrochemical process. It happens on a molecular level as electrons transfer from iron molecules to the surrounding oxygen molecules, changing the makeup of the iron and turning it into rust. This is happening to iron all the time. In fact, it is impossible to find a piece of iron without at least some oxide present within it. However, the rate of rusting is usually slight and slow but is accelerated by water, especially if the water has a high concentration of electrolytes (substances in the water that help electrons move).This is why the presence of salt causes rust to spread more quickly.
Rust does not spread through contact like a biological infection. Instead, the process of iron oxidization occurs independently based on the conditions surrounding a particular piece of metal. This means that if one part of the piece is exposed to water, oxygen, and electrolytes but the rust of the piece is kept clean and dry, the protected metal will not rest at the rate of the wet metal.
Iron alloys will have different corrosion rates based on their makeup.
How Prevention Works
Steel is commonly protected from rusting through a process known as galvanization. In this process, the steel will be dipped with a coating of zinc, which protects the steel by reacting with water molecules. If the zinc coating on a piece of galvanized steel is scratched or scraped away, the exposed area will be vulnerable to rusting.
Lauren Vork has been a writer for 20 years, writing both fiction and nonfiction. Her work has appeared in "The Lovelorn" online magazine and thecvstore.net. Vork holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from St. Olaf College.
What Does It Tell You if Iron Has an Atomic Number of 26?
What Causes a Nail to Rust?
The Effects of Oxidation on Copper
Why Does Copper Change Colors Over Time?
How to Write the Balanced Chemical Reaction for the Rusting of Iron
What Chemicals Rust Metal Rapidly?
How to Rust a Penny
How Does Salt Water Rust Metals?


It was a beautiful Florida winter day with air temp 75, zero wind, cool ocean 76F. The waves were clean and turquoise, thigh to hip high , breaking gently.
I was frightened to go what with my traitorous body and recent crisis swimming. My DH said, you will see your friends and you don't have to get wet if you don't want.
But of course, as he wheeled me to the ocean and a buddy strapped on my leash, just looking at the water got me frothing. The paddle out was so easy, just gliding out to the lineup.
Am happy to say I got two nice floaty waves, one easy wipeout, and one had to bail after popping up as a dudette was coming right at me. It was her wave, my bad.
There were plenty of sharks out there.
I have learned to stop with the slightest muscle warning. So, while it would've been nice to keep on out there, it was great to have had the fun.
That was an all day recovery from beach and making supper. GEESH. So, today, no exercise, stay home and regroup.
Skipped swim today. Just handled 8 flights of stairs spread across day in activities of daily living.
May try swim tomorrow , but short one.
Mindful of the crisis last time, minutes and that's 350yards. Clenching began the last two minutes. Cut it 100 Yards short of 1/4 mile and averted a crisis.
Odd that warmer water better for Stiff Person Syndrome and cooler for MS.
I swam 14 minutes, 500yards today, just 50 Yards over 1/4 mile. The thigh clenching was unnerving.
Today I swam 15 minutes, 500 Yards.
The close up spots were parked up, the handicap spots are 15 steps further than the close up ones. I tried the hcap spot today. It worked out, but it distracted me from the fact it was 3 minutes before opening time.
Nothing to sit on but a low down curb. Desperate, I took a chance and fell to a sit. Was able to roll and rise . It was dicey. Don't do that again!
Stiff Person Syndrome really creates challenges when the expected and unexpected occur.
The female guards are not strong enough to pull me to a stand with my hands, and lower me to the ground by pulling on hands and forearms. So, today I really lowered too fast. Yikes. But no males were on duty. I survived. Gotta plan for this next time.
I met up with two friends for surfing this morning. It was one of those beautiful warm February days. The ocean wasn't too cold, about 75° and I went to was just right.
I had to satisfy myself with being at the ocean with friends and being able to paddle through the beautiful ocean antique white water waves in. I had paddled out to the lineup but I realized how weak my arms are. It made me feel a bit worried to be Teklen waist high waves. Usually, that is my favorite size waves. So, I paddled in and stayed on the inside taking Whitewater in.
I guess I'm recalibrating my expectations and hopes. If the ocean stays and need to fly high, I will go to the lineup. Any bigger, I will just simply stay on the inside and take with water.


text:
Евер Габо Андерсон (; Лос Анђелес, 3. новембар 2007) америчка је глумица и манекенка.

Биографија
Рођена је 3. новембра 2007. године у Лос Анђелесу. Ћерка је глумице Миле Јововић и редитеља Пола В. С. Андерсона. Има две млађе сестре — Дашијел и Осијан. Преко мајке има руског и српског порекла, а преко оца енглеског.

Филмографија

|-
| 2016.
| Притајено зло: Коначно поглавље
| -{Resident Evil: The Final Chapter}-
| млада Алиса Маркус / Црвена Краљица
|
|-
| 2021.
| Црна Удовица
| -{Black Widow}-
| млада Наташа Романова
|
|-
| 2023.
| Петар Пан и Венди
| -{Peter Pan & Wendy}-
| Венди Дарлинг
|
|-
|}

Референце

Спољашње везе

Рођени 2007.
Биографије живих особа
Људи из Лос Анђелеса
Америчке глумице
Америчке манекенке

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Farmington, Connecticut, is a residential suburb in the Hartford Metropolitan area that is well-loved for its historic districts and careful land use planning for future endeavors. Known as the "Mother Town," Farmington was divided into Avon, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Berlin, Southington, and Burlington. Farmington offers scenic trails for walking and biking, first-class art at the Hill-Stead Museum, and numerous activities for visitors.
If you are thinking about visiting Farmington, there are a number of hotels and inns that are waiting to welcome you to town. To make your stay as enjoyable as possible, we have analyzed ratings and reviews from sites such as TripAdvisor and Expedia and selected 10 of the top hotels in the Farmington area. Our selections are within six miles of Farmington and are sure to make you feel comfortable and well rested while you enjoy all that this beautiful Connecticut town has to offer. Please note, we have listed our top 10 hotels in the Farmington, CT area here, in no particular order. Made the list? Grab the embed code here to display your award badge on your website.
Homewood Suites by Hilton offers all of the comforts of home and spacious, family-friendly suites. Whether you choose to stay for a week or a month, Homewood Suites by Hilton Hartford-Farmington features a full kitchen, free hot breakfast, an evening social Monday-Thursday, a business center, and high-speed internet access so that you feel right at home.
Hampton by Hilton always delivers high-quality, consistent accommodations and amenities, including a clean, fresh Hampton bed and free WiFi. The Hampton Inn & Suites Hartford/Farmington serves a free, hot breakfast daily with freshly baked waffles. You can relax by the pool or in the whirlpool, or you can stay on track with your fitness goals in the fitness room.
The Hartford Marriott at Farmington offers comfort amenities and modern accommodations. An award-winning hotel, The Hartford Marriott Farmington is nestled into a beautiful, tranquil wooded setting. Enjoy your stay with plush bedding, high-speed Internet, flat-screen TVs, a heated indoor pool and seasonal outdoor pool, and an on-site fitness center.
The Farmington Inn is a premier hotel in the Farmington River Valley. Located in the heart of historic Farmington, the Inn is the epitome of luxury and hospitality. Relax in spacious rooms featuring elegant, traditional furnishings and refresh with the daily complimentary breakfast buffet and coffee service.
Extended Stay America offers guests excellent service and suites that offer everything you need for relaxation, comfort, and convenience. The Farmington location features newly renovated rooms with new flooring, fresh paint, upgraded bedding, and flat screen TVs. For guests staying for an extended period of time, Extended Stay America – Farmington offers studio suite rooms with fully-equipped kitchens.
Located in the Farmington River Valley, the Centennial Inn Hotel & Apartments offers charming, spacious rooms and warm, friendly service. The hotel also offers an outdoor pool, fitness center, meeting space for guests. If you plan to extend your stay in Connecticut, the Centennial Inn also has 56 unfurnished studio and one-bedroom apartments on 12 acres with a brook running through its center.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Plainville is 3.4 miles from Farmington and is located near the West Farms Mall and only minutes from downtown Hartford and Farmington. The clean, comfortable guest rooms include a microwave and refrigerator. The Fairfield Inn & Suites also offers a complimentary deluxe hot continental breakfast, an indoor heated pool, and free high-speed internet.
The Red Roof Inn Farmington is an inexpensive, pet-friendly hotel that recently has been renovated to feature New England-style décor. With spacious, modern, quiet rooms, the Red Roof Inn Farmington offers all guests flat-screen TVs, HD and premium cable channels, free WiFi, a coffee maker, and a hairdryer.
The Maple Motel is designed for comfort, with spacious, comfortable rooms with king size beds and free WiFi. All rooms also include refrigerators and microwaves. The Maple Motel is mere 5.5 miles from Farmington and just minutes from a wide range of restaurants, entertainment venues, and shops.
The Courtyard Hotel Farmington features freshly renovated, stylish guest rooms, a state-of-the-art lobby, and new on-site dining options. A premier hotel in Farmington, the Courtyard Hotel offers a fitness center, indoor swimming pool, and outdoor gazebo. You'll find comfort and convenience at the Courtyard Hartford Farmington with its plush Marriott bedding, free WiFI, and lounge-around sofas.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;
using System.Drawing;

using AForge.Imaging;
using AForge.Imaging.Filters;

namespace BOUNLib.NET
{
    namespace ImageFilters
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Custom AForge filter for sign detection.
        /// </summary>
        public class SignFilter : BaseFilter
        {
            private const int THRESHOLD_MIN = 600;
            private const int THRESHOLD_MAX = 4000;
            int adjustParamCounter = 0;
            int adjustParams = 0;

            double greenCoeff = 0;

            public double GreenCoeff
            {
                get { return greenCoeff; }
                set { greenCoeff = value; }
            }
            double blueCoeff = 0;

            public double BlueCoeff
            {
                get { return blueCoeff; }
                set { blueCoeff = value; }
            }

            double saturationCoeff = 0;

            public double SaturationCoeff
            {
                get { return saturationCoeff; }
                set { saturationCoeff = value; }
            }

            public int[] xProj = null;
            public int[] yProj = null;

            // private format translation dictionary
            private Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> formatTransalations = new Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat>();

            public SignFilter(double greenCoefficient, double blueCoefficient, int adjustParams)
            {
                this.adjustParams = adjustParams;
                adjustParamCounter = adjustParams + 1;
                greenCoeff = greenCoefficient;
                blueCoeff = blueCoefficient;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format8bppIndexed;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format32bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format8bppIndexed;
            }

            public override Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> FormatTransalations
            {
                get { return formatTransalations; }
            }

            protected unsafe override void ProcessFilter(UnmanagedImage sourceData, UnmanagedImage destinationData)
            {
                bool adjustParameters = false;
                if (adjustParamCounter > 0)
                {
                    if (adjustParamCounter == 1)
                    {
                        adjustParameters = true;
                        adjustParamCounter = adjustParams;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        adjustParamCounter--;
                    }
                }

                int numOfPoints = 0;
                // get width and height
                int width = sourceData.Width;
                int height = sourceData.Height;
                PixelFormat srcPixelFormat = sourceData.PixelFormat;

                xProj = new int[width];
                yProj = new int[height];

                if (
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb) ||
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format32bppRgb) ||
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb))
                {
                    int pixelSize = (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb) ? 3 : 4;
                    int srcOffset = sourceData.Stride - width * pixelSize;
                    int dstOffset = destinationData.Stride - width;

                    // do the job
                    byte* src = (byte*)sourceData.ImageData.ToPointer();
                    byte* dst = (byte*)destinationData.ImageData.ToPointer();

                    for (int y = 0; y < height; y++)
                    {
                        // for each pixel
                        for (int x = 0; x < width; x++, src += pixelSize, dst++)
                        {
                            if (x > Constants.IMAGE_WIDTH * 0.25 && x < Constants.IMAGE_WIDTH * 0.75 && y < Constants.IMAGE_HEIGHT * 0.25)
                            {
                                *dst = (byte)0;
                            }
                            else if (src[RGB.R] > src[RGB.G] * greenCoeff && src[RGB.R] > src[RGB.B] * blueCoeff)
                            // if (src[RGB.R]*2 > (src[RGB.G] * greenCoeff + src[RGB.B] * blueCoeff))
                            {
                                *dst = (byte)255;
                                xProj[x]++;
                                yProj[y]++;
                                numOfPoints++;
                            }
                            else
                            {
                                *dst = (byte)0;
                            }
                        }
                        src += srcOffset;
                        dst += dstOffset;
                    }
                }
                if (adjustParameters)
                {
                    if (numOfPoints < THRESHOLD_MIN)
                    {
                        greenCoeff /= 1.04;
                        blueCoeff /= 1.04;
                    }
                    else if (numOfPoints > THRESHOLD_MAX)
                    {
                        greenCoeff *= 1.04;
                        blueCoeff *= 1.04;
                    }
                    else if (numOfPoints > THRESHOLD_MIN * 1.3)
                    {   // Try to minimize the number of red points
                        greenCoeff *= 1.02;
                        blueCoeff *= 1.02;
                    }
                    //if (blueCoeff > 1.5d)
                    //    blueCoeff = 1.5d;
                    //if (greenCoeff > 1.5d)
                    //    greenCoeff = 1.5d;
                    if (blueCoeff < 1.1)
                        blueCoeff = 1.1;
                    if (greenCoeff < 1.1)
                        greenCoeff = 1.1;
                }
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Custom AForge filter for lane detection
        /// </summary>
        public class LaneFilter : BaseFilter
        {
            double red = 0;
            double green = 0;
            double blue = 0;

            public static int[] xProj = null;
            public static int[] yProj = null;

            // private format translation dictionary
            private Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> formatTransalations = new Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat>();

            public LaneFilter(double red, double green, double blue)
            {
                this.red = red;
                this.green = green;
                this.blue = blue;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format8bppIndexed;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format32bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format8bppIndexed;
            }

            public override Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> FormatTransalations
            {
                get { return formatTransalations; }
            }

            protected unsafe override void ProcessFilter(UnmanagedImage sourceData, UnmanagedImage destinationData)
            {
                // get width and height
                int width = sourceData.Width;
                int height = sourceData.Height;
                PixelFormat srcPixelFormat = sourceData.PixelFormat;

                if (
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb) ||
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format32bppRgb) ||
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb))
                {
                    int pixelSize = (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb) ? 3 : 4;
                    int srcOffset = sourceData.Stride - width * pixelSize;
                    int dstOffset = destinationData.Stride - width;

                    // do the job
                    byte* src = (byte*)sourceData.ImageData.ToPointer();
                    byte* dst = (byte*)destinationData.ImageData.ToPointer();

                    for (int y = 0; y < height; y++)
                    {
                        // for each pixel
                        for (int x = 0; x < width; x++, src += pixelSize, dst++)
                        {
                            if (src[RGB.R] > red && src[RGB.G] > green && src[RGB.B] > blue)
                            {
                                *dst = (byte)255;

                            }
                            else
                            {
                                *dst = (byte)0;
                            }
                        }
                        src += srcOffset;
                        dst += dstOffset;
                    }
                }
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Custom AForge filter for color labeling
        /// </summary>
        public class ColorLabelFilter : BaseFilter
        {

            private Color[] colors = null;
            private bool isRGB = true;
            // private format translation dictionary
            private Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> formatTransalations = new Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat>();

            public ColorLabelFilter(Color[] colors, bool isRGB)
            {
                this.colors = colors;
                this.isRGB = isRGB;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format32bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb;
            }

            public override Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> FormatTransalations
            {
                get { return formatTransalations; }
            }

            protected unsafe override void ProcessFilter(UnmanagedImage sourceData, UnmanagedImage destinationData)
            {
                // get width and height
                int width = sourceData.Width;
                int height = sourceData.Height;
                PixelFormat srcPixelFormat = sourceData.PixelFormat;

                if (
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb) ||
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format32bppRgb) ||
                    (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb))
                {
                    int pixelSize = (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb) ? 3 : 4;
                    int srcOffset = sourceData.Stride - width * pixelSize;
                    int dstOffset = destinationData.Stride - width * 3;

                    // do the job
                    byte* src = (byte*)sourceData.ImageData.ToPointer();
                    byte* dst = (byte*)destinationData.ImageData.ToPointer();

                    for (int y = 0; y < height; y++)
                    {
                        // for each pixel
                        for (int x = 0; x < width; x++, src += pixelSize, dst += 3)
                        {
                            int dist = Int32.MaxValue;
                            int idx = 0;
                            for (int i = 0; i < colors.Length; i++)
                            {
                                if (isRGB)
                                {
                                    int tmp_dist = Math.Abs(src[RGB.R] - colors[i].R) + Math.Abs(src[RGB.G] - colors[i].G) + Math.Abs(src[RGB.B] - colors[i].B);
                                    if (tmp_dist < dist)
                                    {
                                        idx = i;
                                        dist = tmp_dist;
                                    }
                                }
                                else
                                {
                                    HSL color = HSL.FromRGB(new RGB(colors[i]));
                                    HSL pixel = HSL.FromRGB(new RGB(src[RGB.R], src[RGB.G], src[RGB.B]));
                                    int tmp_dist = (int) ((Math.Abs(color.Hue - pixel.Hue) % 180) +
                                        Math.Abs(color.Luminance - pixel.Luminance) * 180 +
                                        Math.Abs(color.Saturation - pixel.Saturation) * 180);

                                    if (tmp_dist < dist)
                                    {
                                        idx = i;
                                        dist = tmp_dist;
                                    }

                                }
                            }
                            dst[RGB.R] = colors[idx].R;
                            dst[RGB.G] = colors[idx].G;
                            dst[RGB.B] = colors[idx].B;
                        }
                        src += srcOffset;
                        dst += dstOffset;
                    }
                }

            }
        }

        public class SpatialColorLabelFilter : BaseFilter
        {

            private Color[] colors = null;
            private int spatialRange = 20;
            private int spatialStep = 1;
            // private format translation dictionary
            private Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> formatTransalations = new Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat>();

            public SpatialColorLabelFilter(Color[] colors, int spatialRange, int spatialStep)
            {
                this.colors = colors;
                this.spatialRange = spatialRange;
                this.spatialStep = spatialStep;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb;
            }

            public SpatialColorLabelFilter(Color[] colors)
            {
                this.colors = colors;
                formatTransalations[PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb] = PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb;
            }

            public override Dictionary<PixelFormat, PixelFormat> FormatTransalations
            {
                get { return formatTransalations; }
            }

            protected unsafe override void ProcessFilter(UnmanagedImage sourceData, UnmanagedImage destinationData)
            {

                // get width and height
                int width = sourceData.Width;
                int height = sourceData.Height;
                PixelFormat srcPixelFormat = sourceData.PixelFormat;

                if (srcPixelFormat == PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb)
                {
                    byte* src = (byte*)sourceData.ImageData.ToPointer();
                    byte* dst = (byte*)destinationData.ImageData.ToPointer();
                    for (int i = 0; i < height * width * 3; )
                    {
                        dst[i] = 0; i++;// src[i++];
                        dst[i] = 0; i++;
                        dst[i] = src[i]; i++;// src[i++];
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Why Soundcloud is failing?
How SoundCloud's broken business model drove artists away? Why Soundcloud is failing?
The company is losing money
Soundcloud has been losing money with a fast rate. The company lost €51.22 million in 2015. That's 30 percent more than the amount they lost in 2014 according to techcrunch.
The company is running out of cash
Soundcloud is ruining out of cash fast. At some point in 2017 sources reported that the company had only 50 days left. Even though Sound cloud has managed to get another round of financing its future is still highly questionable.
Problems with the business model
The problem with Soundcloud is mainly with its business model where the company is not finding a good way to make profits for the services it provides.
They can't get enough subscribers
The company has been trying to get enough subscribers to generate profits but the efforts has been failing. This lead to the reduction of the price of their premium service more than once.
Investors are skeptic about its future
In 2017 Investors became skeptic about the company's future as a result of the bad financial reports and the expectations of failure. This had made getting more financing more difficult. (See How to identify a stock market bottom?)
The company sometimes has to close accounts because of the lack of the proper copyrights. This degrades the service and makes it hard for the company to sell its service. Some point out that the deal with Sony could help solve this problem.
Strong competition
The uncertain future of the company and the aggressive song take down because of copyright issues could motivate users and content creators to move to competitors. This can speed up the business failure.
No proper reward for content creators
Content creators are not getting a proper reward for their content mainly because of the company's financial problems. This could drive away those content creators and speed up the business failure. (See Why did Radioshack fail?)
Soundcloud failing
Fascinating History of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
What is Reese's History? What are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups? How did Hershey's inspire Reese's?
How Paypal was founded?
How was PayPal created? How Paypal was founded? How was PayPal Developed?
How did Amazon start?
A Very Brief History of Amazon: The Everything Store | Little-known facts about Amazon's early days
What Does Dominos Logo Mean?
Why does the Domino's logo have 3 dots? What Domino's Logo Has To Do With Pizza?


text:
Home / News / Articles / GEISAI Interview with Takashi Murakami
Posted:Jul 2, 2007
GEISAI Interview with Takashi Murakami
The 10th biannual GEISAI Festival is being held on the 17th September. Lena Oishi talked to GEISAI president and internationally renowned artist Takashi Murakami about his 5th year on the GEISAI wagon.
Lena Oishi
Photo by Natsu Tanimoto
The upcoming 10th GEISAI marks the 5th anniversary of the festival. Have there been any changes since GEISAI #1?
This 10th festival is a culmination of all the work we've done in the past 5 years. When we started GEISAI, there was a huge gap in the art competition scene after commercial sponsor-led competitions such as Parco's URBANART ended shortly before. We initially began GEISAI to supplement that gap, but then we began noticing all these other little holes in the scene, so we've basically been running around trying to fill them as we go. The past few festivals have especially tried to raise awareness of the problems that the Japanese contemporary art scene have with art markets. So I guess the focus of GEISAI has shifted from being solely a competition in the last few years.
Do you prefer to focus on the competition aspect?
I mean, the fact remains that unless we discover new artists, there is no future. It's just that recently I've come to realize that there is no foundation set up for these artists to survive in. The Tomio Koyama Gallery and Yamamoto Gendai have been scouting GEISAI participants, inviting them to show and sell their work at their galleries since the beginning, but these are rare cases. There aren't many galleries in Tokyo, and even fewer Japanese collectors. Some galleries have specific events for unearthing upcoming artists, but with no specific goal in mind. They're like, "Look, here's your stage, the rest is up to you". I've tried to accommodate this problem of "what next?" because I can't just ignore it, but in doing so, all these problems related to making art in Japan suddenly became clear. Reforming is tough.
Any highlights in this upcoming festival?
One dramatic change is that we modified the presentation to accommodate the audience this time around. We tried very hard to prioritize the visitors in organizing everything, from the entrance, the booths, the stage set-up, and the salon. As I said before, discovering new artists and holding an art market simultaneously is very difficult. But this time, even though GEISAI has always been in the red, we've decided to spend a hell of a lot of money and try everything that we can possibly imagine. No worrying about the consequences this time! So frankly, I think GEISAI #10 will be much louder than previous GEISAI. Of course, for those expecting to see works hanging from a white wall, it will still look very messy.
What do you mean by "messy"…?
When you say art, people automatically imagine the NY style of having very few works spaced out on a white wall. But the booths at GEISAI are 1.8 x 1.8 meters, and young artists pack in 10 or 20 of their works in that tiny space. So when you cram 2 rows of 80 booths in a single hall, I guess it looks more like a flea market than an art space. That said, western visitors are attracted to this sort of strange atmosphere. So bearing this in mind, we'd like to turn this messiness into a positive. Of course, us professionals can pick out the good stuff regardless, so no worries there. In any case, I think that this sort of Asian Chaos is GEISAI's specialty.
At this year's GEISAI #9, there seemed to be a lack of photographers in competition. Is there a bias in what sort of artworks are shown at the festival?
That's a good question. At one stage, around the 3rd festival, there were many photographic entries. The whole place was full of photos. The reason for the lack of photographers may be firstly because no photographer has won a prize at GEISAI in the past, and secondly, because recently there is a surge in competitions that specialize in photography. In other words, not many photographers attempt to become pro at GEISAI anymore, which is why you see this bias in the artworks displayed. So we're thinking of taking a break after this coming GEISAI, in order to poise ourselves for a rebirth.
What sort of rebirth?
Until now, GEISAI was an exhibition cum competition, but we're thinking of boosting the entertainment aspect of it. And maybe emphasizing the peculiarities of Asian art to the Western audience.
Another large art market similar to GEISAI is DESIGN FESTA. What do you think are the differences between these two festivals?
I'd say it's that we have a particular perspective, and a defined target. In terms of perspective, the theme for our competition has always been "what is the international standard of art?" In other words, trying to figure out what the basis of value is these days. And our target is to explore what the "art market" is, and can become. DESIGN FESTA truly takes the form of a flea market, and a very powerful one at that. In a sense, they've already reached their goal. Do what you like, buy and sell as you please, and live however you want. But GEISAI tries to find things of value within such a structure.
Some GEISAI participants may not feel that the two festivals are all that different. But GEISAI tries to create a socially acceptable art environment, whereby in offering objective criticisms of the artwork, we make sure that the event doesn't end in mere self-satisfaction for the participants. Also, we invite collectors and curators from overseas who have a particular status within the art world. Although small in number, these powerful people can offer participants an opportunity for their work to be displayed in their galleries. But again, recently I'm beginning to wonder whether there is even a need for a "basis of value" in Japan. Without a smooth economic flow, there is no way for people to make art all their lives, which is why I am trying now to create an art industry of sorts.
So I guess this is your task for the future.
The Japanese music industry also changed dramatically during the 1960s and 70s, and eventually exploded in the 90s. What used to be a poor man's job, living in a 4 1/2 mat apartment, blew up into an industry of billionaires. I think that if we keep on with this structural reform, art can also turn into a large industry.
Do you have any plans to take GEISAI abroad anytime soon?
After GEISAI #10, we'll be taking a 6 month break. During that time we'll focus on rediscovering the 'real' of the art market, and reestablishing the standard of values in Japan and Asia, and of the art market. Bringing people to GEISAI from around the world is one of my goals. We'll also try to figure out how to go about the language barriers.
Mr. Takashi Murakami, Thank you so much for your time!
Visit the official GEISAI website here
(Translation: Lena Oishi)
Born in Japan in 1982, grew up in England and Australia. With a BA in Media and Communications and MA in Cinema Studies, she now lives in Tokyo as a freelance translator and occasional editor. Works include VICE Magazine, Japanese editorial supervision of "Metronome No. 11 - <i>What Is To Be Done? Tokyo</i> " (Seikosha, 2007), and translation for film and art festival catalogs. She can also interpret simultaneously if you give her enough candy. Lena likes making her eyeballs bleed after watching way too many films while eating ice cream in the dark.


The old-fashioned kind, with paper and stamps and fountain pens, even scratchy-nibbed ones.
After Colleen's post, I simply had to read 84, Charing Cross Road again, but I couldn't find my old copy. The new (used) one arrived today, and it's a wonder I am here writing at all—the first page swept me right back in. 1949, Saturday Review of Literature, underlined typewritten titles, a request-by-mail to an overseas seller of out-of-print books: it's impossible not to read the opening letter without a wry awareness of the difference between the way Miss Hanff seeks to obtain her yearned-for old books, and the way I rapidly and effortlessly obtained my copy of hers. Click, click, click, and two days later a man in brown places a copy on my doorstep. Marvelously convenient, but no hope of the slowly unfolding relationship between thoughtful and humorous minds like the one that develops between Miss Hanff and the London bookseller. What we have instead, today, is this—an online community of booklovers, a set of relationships that develop over time in comment boxes. And you know I relish it, am glad to live in this particular now.
Savage Landor arrived safely and promptly fell open to a Roman dialogue where two cities had just been destroyed by war and everybody was being crucified and begging passing Roman soldiers to run them through and end the agony. It'll be a relief to turn to Aesop and Rhodope where all you have to worry about is a famine. I do love secondhand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest. The day Hazlitt came he opened to "I hate to read new books," and I hollered "Comrade!" to whoever owned it before me.
What are your favorite epistolary novels?
Slightly off topic: Have you seen the 1986 movie of 84 Charing Cross Road? If you love the book, I think you will like the movie. It's been a long time but I'm pretty sure they remained mostly true to the text. It stars a much younger Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft, Judi Dench, and Ian McNeice. It used to be on Netflix instant watch, but isn't anymore.
I was going to say the same as Charlotte — the movie is so excellent. Love the book, love the movie!
I suppose Dangerous Liaisons is not appropriate for a family website…but it is one of mine. 🙂 Also Jane Austen's unpublished "Lady Susan." So delightfully evil, these characters are!
You picked my top 2- Guernsey and 84. Love them both. Now I have to go dig up my copies….
I third the vote for the movie – PERFECT casting and it stays 100% true to the book. It's fabulous.
Sigh. This book truly is perfect. I shall have to read it again right now as well!
Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster has long been a favorite… and I recently discovered there's a sequel, Dear Enemy, which I enjoyed just as much. They are both in the public domain and available free for Kindle!
Anne of Windy Poplars is also one of my favorites in the "epistolary" genre.
The 84CCR movie is now #1 in my Netflix queue. If it were instant view, we'd be watching it tonight. INSTANTLY.
I adore 84 Charing Cross Road and Windy Poplars as well (although I agree, Anne's House of Dreams and Rilla of Ingleside rank right up there with the original Anne of Green Gables).
I used to work as the correspondent at the old Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Bookstore in downtown San Diego (closed in '92), typing letters (on a typewriter!) as I helped locate old HBJ books for customers around the world. So I always felt I lived 84 Charing Cross…so amazing!
I completely agree with you about Anne's House of Dreams – and I love Anne of the Island too.
This is about your note in the postscript post: I think you might want her book on Manhattan- Apple of My Eye? I can't remember the title exactly and our copy has disappeared, sadly. I think the garden could be in there.
I loved all these books, and Windy Willows (as it is here in Australia) is maybe my favourite, except for Rilla.
So glad someone mentioned Jean Webster!
Oh and another lovely book in the public domain is Olive by Anna Buchan, or her pen name of O Douglas. She has others but I don't think any are in letter form. Love this author, wish she was better known but not until I get all her books.
Oops, think it's Olivia by Douglas.
I was somewhat underwhelmed when I read 84, Charing Cross Road a few years back, but I can't remember why. I thought it was nonfiction, though, and not an epistolary novel. Which means that either I was wrong then or I'm nitpicking now.
This was a great post. I've tucked away in the back of my mind that I should try reading Daddy Long-Legs some day.
Susanne, what a fun job! You must have some terrific stories to tell!
And now I've got to go look at this other Hanff book y'all have mentioned to see if it's the Shakespeare Garden one.
Oooh, we watched the movie awhile back — lovely. Isn't anything with Anthony Hopkins? (Well, clearly that Hannibal guy isn't especially lovely, but otherwise ….) 🙂 I should put it back in the queue for the girls.
It's funny how some books really do take you to a specific time and place. That one for me is sitting on a high stool in front of a computer monitor with a yellow legal pad balanced under my book. The job was one where I had to rush, rush, rush to record data as transactions were made and then sit and wait wait wait until the next batch went through. The perfect job for struggling with a foreign language. Nowadays I don't think I have the attention span to tackle a book in French.
Other great epistolary books were the Griffin and Sabine series. Does anyone else remember them? They were picture books where you pulled the letters out of envelopes to read them. Gorgeous artwork with hand-drawn postcards and stamps. A sort of mystery story if I recall.
I loved Guernsey & Windy Poplars. I think I must seek out 84 Charing Cross.
I know there are other great epistolary novels but I can't think of them just now.
Oh A.S. Byatt's Persuasion, of course! One of my favorites. Though also not exactly family-friendly.
One of my favorite books for years was … Oh, shoot, I packed it away, what was it called … No idea, my mind can't call it up. Two American women living in different areas of Africa in the 50s (60s??) with their diplomat/doctor husbands. Anyhow. A fascinating glimpse into domestic life under what were for them, unusual circumstances. They later agreed to publish them.
Also always loved Anne Morrow Lindbergh's set of books of her diaries and letters. Again, not fiction, but that's what comes to mind.
Windy Poplars was never my favorite, I think because first person Anne wasn't quite as forthcoming! I always find myself wanting the wider picture, as the reader gets in the other books.
Thank you for yet another suggstion. 84 is on hold at the library. I loved Guernsey as well. Of course I know you are speaking of novels but I couldn't help from mentioning one of our favorite picture books that is letters written between a lovely little girl staying with her uncle during the depression and her parents and grandmother. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. Lovely, lovely!
More wonderful suggestions, everyone—thank you!
I love love LOVE diaries and letters, fictional or real….
Joyce Grenfell's diarys, and her letters – to her mother (Dear Ma) and with her best friend Virgina.
I'm sure there are more, will have to go and scour the book shelves!
Another vote here for Daddy-Long-legs. A definite favorite.
And I love Alice Walker's The Color Purple, heartbreaking as it is.
And I don't remember the name, but one of James Thurber's collections has a series of (fake?) letters between himself and a publisher, I think, that makes me howl with laughter. I still can't pass the town Murfreesboro without snickering.
"File and Forget." The Thurber piece was "File and Forget." Ant it is also about ordering books, so it fits even better with the delightful Hanff book.
Hmmm. . .thinking about books with letters now. I'm thinking about how letters in some kids' books, Hattie Big Sky and Moon Over Manifest specifically, help flesh out the story more. I can't think of any strictly epistolary kids' books, though, right off the top of my head. I've never read 84, Charing Cross Road, but since you've mentioned Anne of Windy Poplars and Guernsey in this post, I think I must!
Dear Mr. Henshaw (by Beverly Cleary) is an epistolary middle-grade novel—quite a moving story, too. A one-sided correspondence, in that case: a young boy's letters to his favorite author.
OMGOSH how could I forget Daddy Long Legs & Dear Enemy?! Two of my favourtist books EVER!
I'm enjoying this thread, which is also sending me sailing back through time. I wrote about Dangerous Liaisons when I spent my junior year in Paris. It was my first "real" paper in French . . . 50 pages of stumbling and one nicely-turned phrase (how pleased I was when my long-suffering roommate, who spent weeks helping me edit the thing, suddenly exclaimed, "Here! This is a nicely-turned phrase!" It only happened once, but it sustained me through the whole project.) I'm still glad I spent time on DL . . . It's a twisted story, but a fascinating one.
and, while on the topic of twisted, fascinating, and epistolary, I can't forget to mention The Screwtape Letters.
The English professor side of me urges you all to read Frances Burney's _Evelina_ (1778), a wonderful epistolary novel and one that kindred spirits of Anne Shirley will love (also an important influence on Austen)!
I'm late to the party, but I love Anne Bronte's Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and felt it needed to make the list! I'm excited to find some of the favorites mentioned here. Thanks so much!
OMGOSH! I adored that book as well as the movie. This is a beautiful post that has me both wanting the smell of old ink on yellowed pages, wistful for that anticipation of a letter and wishing I could find more epistolary novels. Love them. I loved March by Geraldine Brooks, while not epistolary it gave me the inside view on the old letters Marmee read the girls in Little Women. Another favorite is the Griffin and Sabine series by Nicholas Bantock. Not only epistolary, but you can take the letters out and touch and read to your heart's content.
I *adored* Griffin and Sabine. I was working in a children's bookstore when it went viral. We stocked it even though it wasn't our market—it was captivating. For the longest time that book had me yearning to write beautifully decorated letters….
Yes, i wish I had artistic talent like that. I would have made beautiful books. Sigh.


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I grew up hearing "third time's a charm" and have always thought that there was a bit of magic about a grouping of three items together. Fuss Free: Third Time Is The Charm is a template pack featuring layouts with three photo spots. The photos are grounded with a variety of paper shapes and surrounded by groupings of layered elements. You'll be charmed, I'm sure, when you use these templates to begin making your own scrapbook masterpieces!
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Here's a preview of Emily's beautiful kit!
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text:
Massive Earth-buzzing asteroid found to have two moons
Massive Earth-buzzing asteroid...
The 4.5-km (2.8-mi) wide asteroid Florence, which whizzed past Earth last week, has been found to have two moons orbiting it
NASA/JPL
Passing within 7 million km (4.4 million mi), Florence was the largest asteroid to come this close to Earth since NASA began tracking potentially hazardous space rocks
Last week, Earth was buzzed by asteroid 3122 Florence, the largest space rock NASA has seen come this close since it began tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs). Using a 70-m (230-ft) antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, NASA took the opportunity to study Florence close up, confirming its monster size and revealing that it has two tiny moons.
By NASA's count, there are more than 16,000 NEOs whipping around out there, but only 60 of them are known to have their own moons. And of those 60, Florence is just the third "triple asteroid," meaning it has two moons orbiting it.
Radar images taken between August 29 and September 1 revealed that the moons probably measure between 100 and 300 m (330 and 985 ft) across. The outermost moon orbits Florence roughly once a day, while the inner object whips around its parent body every eight hours, making it the shortest orbital period of any asteroid's moon known so far.
As for the asteroid itself, the radar images were able to pin down its size more accurately and reveal some of the topographic features on its face. Florence is slightly bigger than previous estimates: with a diameter of 4.5 km (2.8 mi), the rock would pose a serious threat to life on Earth were it on a collision course. It rotates on its axis once every 2.4 hours, and it's a relatively round rock, with a ridge running around its equator and two large flat areas broken up by at least one large crater.
On September 1, Florence's closest approach to Earth brought it to within a distance of 7 million km (4.4 million mi), or about 18 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. Since then, the asteroid has been drifting away from us, and it won't come this close again for at least another 500 years.
Ongoing analysis of the asteroid will try to examine Florence's terrain in more detail, narrow the window of the orbital periods of its moons, and help astronomers work out the rock's total mass and density.
Source: JPL Center for Near Earth Object Studies
SpaceNASAMoonEarthAsteroidRadarJPLNear Earth object
Readout Noise September 7, 2017 06:51 AM
A fascinating discovery. Excellent work by the team at JPL.
Grunt September 7, 2017 08:15 AM
Excuse my ignorance, but how does a spherical piece of rock only 4.5km across manage to generate sufficient gravity to retain two rapidly orbiting moons of 100m and 300m diameter respectively? Just curious.
Expanded Viewpoint September 7, 2017 01:22 PM
Grunt,
No samples were taken of any of these rocks, but I would hazard a guess that they have a high metal content, meaning that their density would create a stronger attraction than if they were made out of Silicon Dioxide. Randy
Douglas Bennett Rogers September 7, 2017 02:31 PM
The two moons have reasonable orbital velocities for the mass and distance of the asteroid.