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Siri Experts From Apple Attending Natural Language Processing Conference in Belgium Over Next Five Days
Wednesday October 31, 2018 9:56 AM PDT by Joe Rossignol
As it announced in its Machine Learning Journal, Apple is attending the 2018 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing in Brussels, Belgium between today and Sunday, November 4.
Apple has set up a booth staffed with natural language processing experts from its Siri team and encourages conference attendees to stop by.
Apple has also highlighted an opening for a Siri-related software engineering position within the company, based out of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where it has a research and development office focused on Siri.
"The launch of Siri was a defining moment in the history of Artificial Intelligence," the job description states. "Hundreds of millions of people now use Siri to send a message, play their favourite song or even take a selfie."
Earlier this year, The Information published an in-depth look at how Siri has transitioned from one of Apple's most promising technologies into a "major problem" for the company. The report cited a dozen former Apple employees who reflected on Siri's "squandered lead" over rivals Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Apple responded to the report with a statement claiming that Siri is "the world's most popular voice assistant," and touted "significant advances" to the digital assistant's performance, scalability, and reliability.
We have made significant advances in Siri performance, scalability and reliability and have applied the latest machine learning techniques to create a more natural voice and more proactive features. We continue to invest deeply in machine learning and artificial intelligence to continually improve the quality of answers Siri provides and the breadth of questions Siri can respond to.
Apple has steadily improved Siri with features such as Shortcuts and customized language models that improve the assistant's ability to recognize names of local points of interest, such as small businesses and restaurants.
Tag: Siri Guide
AngerDanger
The end result: Siri will soon be able to report scores on five more sports, including professional ladder golf and seven minutes in heaven.
jlc1978
Hundreds of millions more yell at their iPhones when they try to use Siri and get nonsense response to simple question such as "Call wife" and Siri says "I have found six locations for knife. The firsts is Cal Knives. Do you want to call it?"
Siriously, I get replies about 20% that have nothing to do with what I asked or tell me "I can't do that while your are in your vehicle." Isn't that the whole purpose of hands free? To let you get directions, make a call without distracting you form the road; or at least not as much as if you did it by hand.
macduke
It irritates me that I can't get a result from Siri and then ask her to put it in a note. Like yesterday I was taking caliper measurements for a spring that I need to replace and the inch measurements I took seemed weird so I was asking Siri to convert them to metric to see if that made more sense. Then I asked her to put that in a note, and I tried 4-5 different ways of getting her to do it and none of them worked because I was feeling stubborn. I don't know how it can't just take what answer it returned and shove it into a note. It's not a complicated task. I could ask my four year old to write down the numbers for crying out loud.
Its depressing, you'd think that the Siri team would be leading or presenting at conferences, but just attending to get up to speed. Siri must have more problems that we know. Maybe they need to hire someone that knows what they are doing. No, wait a minutes, they did have experts. Maybe they should not have ignored and/or let the original founders of the company that created Siri leave.
Mike MA
Do whatever improves Siri's skills further.
OldSchoolMacGuy
Why Belgium? Are The Belch leaders in this field?
Like many conferences, this one moves each year. The 2017 conference was in Copenhagen, Denmark. 2016 it was in Austin, Texas and 2015 it was in Lisbon, Portugal.
There's Still No Sign of Privacy Labels for Most Google iOS Apps
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This is a review of "In Another World" recorded by Ryan Spendlove. The review was written by Glen Pinder in 2013.
"In Another World" sees Ryan Spendlove stepping out from the shadows of his former band The Blueskins and revealing himself as a singer/songwriter of some distinction.
Here there are few, if any over-dubs, vocal or otherwise, just one man and his guitar putting life and love to rights, and wonderfully so.
With a Bert Jansch style of finger picking unfathomable time signatures, and the flair of the Blues greats like Robert Johnson and Blind Willie McTell, each song arrives fresh and fuss free.
"Seek me out" is a gem of a tune, subtle guitar weaving and guiding the lyric of yearning and the distance between far away lovers. Heartbreak and loss permeate throughout the record, as on "When we're out of time" and the Spanish Gypsy lament of opening track "Back in this Place."
Though silver linings abound on "Eleanor" as unrequited love comes to fruition in this short but breezy number. Title track "In Another World" finds our troubadour in a reflective mood, stating what all us guys deep down know but never actually admit, that, In Another World we'd be better men, but as we aren't, we're not, so take us as we are or leave it.


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Monsignor James McGuire was born in a foreign country like so many of the early clergy. In this case, Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 18, 1874. He arrived in Oklahoma in 1894 and served as county clerk in Pond Creek until answering the call to priesthood. Bishop Meerschaert accepted his application and sent him to his favorite seminary (where many missionaries were trained), the American College at Louvain, Belgium.
Following ordination in 1895, he served as assistant at Saint Joseph Cathedral (later referred to as Saint Joseph Old Cathedral) and became a pastor at Wagoner in 1907 and built a church there.
He came to Oklahoma City to start the parish of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in 1910. Named to the important post of chancellor 1919, he served in that capacity under two bishops leaving that role in 1925. His obituary characterized his service in that office: "The gentlemanly scholar had a host of friends in Oklahoma and was an important figure in the church until incapacitated. He was kind and gracious to everyone. He defended the faith numerous times in the public press during the Klan days of the early twenties." In fact, his defense became legendary as the Klan enjoyed a resurgence after the First World War with Catholics being one of the primary targets.
As often time is the case, a new bishop names his own chancellor, and at that juncture he was named administrator of Holy Family Catholic Church in Tulsa. Named pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tulsa, the name was changed to Christ the King Catholic Church by Bishop Kelley, and Monsignor McGuire was responsible for the oversight of the building of this architectural masterpiece.
He was appointed pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in 1929 and rector when it became the co-cathedral in 1931. However, as the previously mentioned obituary alluded to, Monsignor McGuire suffered with sometimes debilitating bouts of asthma. Oklahoma's climate certainly did nothing to relieve his infirmities. He retired from his pastorate in 1935 and served as a hospital chaplain in various locations as his health permitted.
Monsignor McGuire left this life on April 2, 1950. This intellectual priest gave his life in service to the people of Oklahoma with a kindness and gentleness that resonated and made him beloved. Had his health not been so limiting, it is not difficult to imagine an even larger footprint in Oklahoma church history would have been accomplished by this remarkable man.
In his eulogy at the Requiem Mass, Father Gilbert Hardesty summed up a life well led: "Of Msgr. McGuire I will say, and all will agree, that his outstanding virtue was a charitable judgement, both in mind and in words. We believe that God will judge and has judged him mercifully, for he was merciful in his judgement of his fellowman."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The day was for celebration and offering prayers with devotion to Lord Ganesha which we had at our home like every year. Chanting hyms of prayers and bowing down to the eternal "MANGAL MURTHY" for the goodness of our souls, fostering growth, prosperity and learning …we seeked HIS divine blessings by offering our PUJAS…with flowers, ladoos, incense sticks and lots of fan fare.
Ganapathi Festival is celebrated in grand magnitude in the state of Maharashtra particularly at Mumbai and Pune – which infact takes the shape of a National Carnival like what the Bengalis celebrate during the Durga Pujas. The state of Karnataka and its capital Bengaluru also celebrates this festival with pomp and grandeur as the Gauri-Ganesha and the Ganapathi Habba.
But how many of us are aware that the National Capital Delhi too celebrates this festival with lots of fan fare and excitement? Thanks to the Lal Bagh Ka Raja Trust – Mumbai is brought alive in the heart of Delhi. The trust is pioneered by Sri Jagmohan Ji one of the leading businessman of Delhi. Although the Puja used to be celebrated at the Netaji Subhas Place Grounds. This year the Puja was shifted to the Janmastami Park, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi.
We had planned the Lal Bagh Ka Raja Trust Ganapathi Darshan long back. The evening was the ideal time. Yet after getting down at Netaji Subhas Place Metro station from Rithala it was a total disappointment for us to find the Puja ground being now cordoned by Delhi Metro. Understanding the situation one young Delhi Police officer who was patrolling the fly over entrance to the ring road came to our assistance and most politely suggested us to take a cab or an auto to the Janmastami Park, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, where the Puja was shifted.
The inside of the Mandap was a scene of amazing feat. The Idol of Lord Ganesha was housed on a huge plinth. It was covered by a large green curtain awaiting the inaugural ceremony. The Puja Mandap was immediately surrounded by a large auditorium like arrangement having seating arrangements for the devotees, VIPs and guests. There was another large stage erected exactly beside the huge plinth for hosting a variety of cultural programs, bhajans and prayers.
The inauguration ceremony of the Puja, was scheduled at 5.30PM. It got delayed to almost 7pm in the evening. Inspite of that it was a mammoth-like celebration.
The Idol of Lord Ganesha was unveiled by the VIPs and the organizers with roll of drums and conch…The crowd gathered below the centre stage burst into joyous chants..hailing the greatness of Lord Ganesha and the Puja began with full devotion and fan fare.
The first Darshan of the Lord was a visual treat for all the devotees including us. We were awestruck by the sheer beauty and grandeur of the Lord's Idol.
The Puja started with prayers and readings from vedic slokas. Hundreds of devotees along with the organizers offered their Pujas, seeking the blessings of His Almighty. The uniqueness of the celebration was that today, in the Lord's mandap there was no demarcation between the rich and the poor. Pure devotion had broken all the boundaries of worldly differences in wealth, caste and creed and the religions of people…There were Hindus, there were Sikhs, there were Jains, there were Muslims….all had gathered by sheer devotion and love for the Lord….
We felt perhaps this was the greatness of Lord Ganesha…to imbibe the culture of togetherness, brotherhood, faith and love among the people of India. He had inspired many sages, patriots and millions of souls since ages and would continue to inspire us to become a formidable unified nation for ages to come in the near future…..
This year the organisers had decided to shift the Puja from Punjabi Bagh Janmashtami Grounds back to Netaji Subhash Place Grounds Pitanpura. The aura of the festival was as grand as what we had seen during the previous year. Presenting our readers some of the wonderful shots we had captured on this year's Ganapathi Puja.


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You Are Here : Home / About Council/ Have your say / Closed consultations / Share your vision for the Rutherglen Silos Precinct
Share your vision for the Rutherglen Silos Precinct
Submissions closed on 01 July 2022, 05:00 PM
We've received State Government funding to prepare a business case and concept plan for the much talked about Rutherglen Silos Precinct and are seeking your input into how this area can be transformed into a dynamic and much valued public space for the community and visitors.
This project strategically aligns with the Indigo Shire Destination Game Changer 2023 tourism strategy, which highlights the need for landscape and amenity improvements to Rutherglen to optimise visitor appeal, grow tourism and identify priority investment projects.
The Rutherglen Silo Precinct will create an aesthetically beautiful outdoor centrepiece for the enjoyment of visitors and locals alike, adjacent to and flowing from Main Street, strengthening the link to the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre and Rutherglen Wine Experience building.
It will become an attractive space right in the heart of town, a space where the community can meet and spend time, a space for art installations, light projections, silo art, festivals and events. It will be a beautiful and significant trailhead of the existing Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and soon to be developed Wine, Walk, Cycle Trail.
In order to proceed with the implementation of the Silo Precinct Project, a comprehensive business case and detailed concept plan must first be produced, which will help us in seeking the relevant funding required.
To help us develop the concept plans, we're keen to hear your ideas for activating the space.
You can do this in a number of ways - by completing our online survey, attending a drop-in session or by sending us an email.
The drop-in sessions will be held on the following dates at the Visitor Information Centre/Winemakers of Rutherglen:
Tuesday 21 June 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Wednesday 22 June 9:30am – 11:00am
Wednesday 22 June 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Chloe Powell
info@indigoshire.vic.gov.au
Indigo Shire Destination Game Changer 2023 Tourism Strategy


Tuesday 11 December 2018 13:00 — Children's Hospital (entrance hall), Černopolní 9, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
The concert enjoys the auspices of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, PhDr. Ilja Šmíd and the Governor of the South Moravian Region JUDr. Bohumil Šimek.
It takes place with financial support from the Statutory City of Brno.


These chestnut hulls on the ground near the woods where Callie likes to walk reminded me of sea urchins. Apparently people eat sea urchins, but I've never tasted one. When I see them being opened and eaten on television, they don't look all that appetizing, and there's not much to eat in one urchin. Perhaps they're an "acquired taste." I wouldn't be against trying (after all, I eat snails and gizzards), but I'm not rushing out to get some.
Chestnuts are edible, but it's easier to buy them in cans and jars, shelled and cooked, ready to use.
Enjoy your New Year's Eve! It's unlikely that we'll make it to midnight, so we'll be having our New Year's Eve oysters at lunchtime, as usual. Tomorrow we have black-eyed peas on the menu. Yum!
Jacques Frost has been busy these past few mornings. With lows just under freezing, we wake up to a frosty landscape. That's normal for this time of year, of course. But it doesn't really feel all that cold outside. For one thing, there is no wind. That makes a big difference.
Wednesday's light frost gave everything a little tinge of white.
Also, the sky is clear and the sun shines. That is, it did until yesterday afternoon when a thick fog formed. From what I can see out the window this morning, it's still pretty foggy out there. The sun won't be up for another hour and a half. I'm hopeful it will be able to burn off the fog, but it may not. We could be in for a gray day.
As predicted, our mornings are now colder with lots of frost. Callie and I had a nice walk on Wednesday morning, and she came back with frosty paws. That's much better than muddy paws; a quick wipe with a towel and she's ready to come inside. No fuss, no muss.
A few grapes that the mechanical harvester missed, now dried on the vine and touched by frost.
We're sliding toward the new year. On Saturday we plan to go to the market for oysters, a traditional New Year's food in France. Ken's been thinking about crab, so we might also look for tourteau at the fish monger's stand. It's another typical French holiday food and is often sold already cooked.
I remember Thanksgivings at Gram's from when I was a kid. Lots of activity, the dining room table extended for a crowd, the smells of holiday fare emanating from the kitchen. Gram had a big turkey roaster out on the enclosed, but unheated, back porch off the kitchen, a kind of stand-alone electric oven into which a very large turkey could be lowered for roasting. The cover lifted off for periodic basting of the bird. I've never seen another one like it.
A small serving of Aunt Kathy's cranberry relish. Sweet and tart!
Along with the mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, yams, and a myriad of vegetables, there was always cranberry sauce. It was the jellied kind from the can, of course, slid out and sliced into deep red disks. I loved that stuff. But there was also another kind of cranberry sauce, a sort of relish, that my Aunt Kathy made. I learned to like that even more, and have made it for my own table for many years. I don't think Aunt Kathy invented it, but I wonder whether it was a family recipe, one she found in a cookbook, or if the recipe came from the back of the bag of cranberries. Wherever it came from, it was simple and delicious: a bag of fresh cranberries, an unpeeled seedless (navel) or seeded orange, and a cup of granulated sugar. She put all the ingredients in a blender and chopped them into a relish, then let it sit for a few hours.
It's very hard to find fresh cranberries here in the French countryside. We've found them a time or two (and thanks to a friend up north, had them mailed to us one year). This year I wondered if dried cranberries might work. We find those, partially dehydrated like raisins (in fact, I think there's a similar product in the US called "craisins"), in the supermarket here. I soaked the cranberries for a while to reconstitute them and made the sauce in the food processor as normal, except that I used less sugar because the dried cranberries are already sweetened. It worked! The flavor is not exactly the same as it is with fresh berries, but it's close enough, and we ate it up with our Christmas bird. We even enjoyed it with foie gras! Celebratory food is often about memory and this cranberry sauce always reminds me of those holidays at Gram's house. Thanks Aunt Kathy!
I had a "senior moment." They're becoming more and more common around here. Ahem. I ordered a traditional French holiday yule log cake from our local bakery to have for dessert on Christmas day. It was delivered on Saturday afternoon. Earlier that day, in a flurry of activity, I made a blueberry tart for dessert on Christmas day. And it wasn't that I forgot about the cake. I just had it in my head that I needed to get dessert made on Saturday because the oven would be in use on Sunday morning.
A blueberry tart sprinkled with powdered sugar.
... Pâques aux tisons. That well-known French proverb may very well apply this year. It means, "Christmas on the balcony, Easter in front of the fire." In other words, if Christmas is warm, Easter will be cold. And this Christmas was very mild. We'll see what it's like in mid-April.
Nothing says winter in France like clémentines. I love them. Sorry for the bad photo.
Today is supposed to be the last warm day for a while. Temperatures are predicted to chuter (fall dramatically) by Tuesday morning, with lows near or below freezing for the week, depending on whose weather forecast you consult. I'll certainly keep you posted.
This is an oldie, but goodie: Callie as Puppy Claus. She was just a year or two old and I photoshopped a Santa hat onto her head.
Puppy Claus brought Callie a whole bunch of rawhide chews this year.
Enjoy the holiday if you're celebrating! Enjoy Sunday if you're not!
And if you believe that, I've got a bridge for sale. Back in 1962, someone in my family (mom? dad? nana?) decided I would look cute dressed as an angel. Must have been my sweet disposition. It was my first public appearance in drag. Well, it got that out of my system, except for a certain Halloween in the seventies that I'm sure worried the heck out of my parents.
And what's up with the purple sofa?
Today, being Christmas Eve, we will make our traditional fondue savoyarde (cheese fondue) for lunch. And we'll be starting the prep for tomorrow's lunch. Ken will pick up the bird from the market this morning. He'll make broth with the giblets that will go into the cornbread stuffing. I'll make another pie and some cranberry relish (using reconstituted dried cranberries; we'll see how that goes).
When I opened a bottle of de Castellane Champagne on Wednesday, I noticed this little piece of art on the capsule. It's an archeologist entering an ancient Egyptian tomb. Among the hieroglyphs is an image of a woman and a god sharing a bottle of de Castallane Champagne! Who knew?
All the cops in the donut shop say ay-oh-way-oh.
Although I'm not a real enthusiast, I do have a small collection of these Champagne capsules from many bottles I've opened over the years. Some are displayed in a coin box, others are sitting in a drawer. They remind me of some of the great sparklers I've enjoyed from California to France. This one is a definite keeper!
Another birthday has come and gone. We ate it well. This year we made the traditional steak au poivre with a cut of beef we don't usually indulge in: filet. In the US, we call that cut the tenderloin or filet mignon. In France, however, the word mignon is normally used to refer to same cut of pork, not beef. Since filet is one of the more costly cuts of beef, we often use faux-filet (sirloin) or rumsteak (rump or round) for this dish.
A dish of snails, six per serving, with garlicky parsley butter.
We each had a half-dozen escargots de Bourgogne as our entrée, prepared the traditional way with a garlic and parsley butter sauce. The steaks were dry-marinated in crushed black pepper before being seared in a hot pan. The sauce was made by de-glazing the pan with Armagnac and a little beef broth, then thickening it with crème fraiche. We served the steaks with french fries. We followed that with a green salad in vinaigrette.
Lunch is served! They look like hamburgers, but they're slices of filet coated with crushed pepper.
I drank Champagne with the entrée and Ken drank sauvignon blanc (he doesn't really enjoy the bubbles). We enjoyed a Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (from a little further down the Loire Valley) with the main course.
Dessert was an apple tart. I used Delblush-Tentation apples. First I made a compote with some of the apples, a little sugar, and some cinnamon. I pre-baked my pie shell, then spread the cooled compote inside. I layered sliced apples on top and baked the tart until it was done. Finally, I glazed the top with some of Ken's home-made apple jelly. Tasty!
Today is the winter solstice. The point at which the northern hemisphere's tilt away from the sun reaches its extreme. Our shortest day of the year (and longest night). For the next six months, the tilt will gradually move back toward the sun, increasing the amount of daylight we get. Until the summer solstice. The Earth's tilt and its orientation to the sun through its year-long orbit are why we have seasons. Ain't science grand!
I recently received this terrific birthday greeting from my dear friends L&L in upstate New York.
It's also my birthday. Another reason to celebrate! And celebrate we will, with my traditional birthday dinner of steak au poivre (pepper steak) in a cognac cream sauce, served with frites (French fries). We'll start with an appetizer of escargots (snails) in the traditional garlic, butter, and parsley sauce, and finish with an apple tart, which I will get started on making early this morning.
I got a few comments about the Eiffel Tower ornament on our holiday tree, so I thought I'd rerun a photo of it from ten (!) years ago. I found the ornament in the museum shop at San Francisco's Palace of the Legion of Honor back in 1998. I think I was there to see Picasso's "Guernica," if memory serves. It's a fragile glass ornament, so I try to be very careful with it.
We had a cut tree in 2006.
Today Callie goes back to the vet for a booster shot. She got a new version of her annual vaccine last month, and the vet said it would require a one-time booster after thirty days. In subsequent years, the booster won't be necessary.
Our friend Sue in California has a tradition of making her own greeting cards, especially during the holidays. Sometimes it's a photo she's taken, other times it's more of a craft-like card. I've saved many of her creations over the years, but I know that I'm missing many.
Sue's Christmas creation from 2004.
This was the card she sent us for Christmas in 2004. It's one of the few I have with a date on it. I wish I had put the dates on the others I have, but I obviously never thought to do it. At least I thought to save them!
Speaking of IKEA, our real fake holiday tree is Swedish. Several years ago I gave up on cut trees in favor of this artificial one. I haven't looked back. It's easy, clean, looks good, and I don't have to water it. On the other hand, it doesn't smell like a cut tree. But I have enough of that outdoors; we have three fir trees on our property and are surrounded by dozens more.
This year the lights are all white because I put the colored lights outside on the house. It's good to change things up a little (but not too much). I went to the market yesterday and placed an order for our Christmas bird. This year we'll be roasting un chapon de pintade (a capon of guinea fowl). A capon is a young, castrated rooster, very good for roasting. I'll pick it up at the Christmas Eve market next Saturday. I also ordered our dessert from the local baker: a yule log cake with coffee flavored pastry cream. Now all we have to do is wait for Puppy Claus (he's comin' to town).
It went up a lot more easily than I expected. It took a couple of hours on Thursday morning, some help from Ken, and no clamp (the clamp is necessary to attach two cabinets side-by-side). As I mentioned, this is a kitchen cabinet, so it's a little bigger that what you might expect in a bathroom, but it works for us since we need all the storage we can get. There is only one closet in the house.
The halogen light fixtures (there's also one on the ceiling) are 13 years old. I'm thinking about replacing them with LEDs.
So there you have it. I have some framed pictures and a clock for the walls; I'll put them up soon and the room will be more or less finished.
We've had that mirror for over 30 years.
I've put together a good number of IKEA items, and many other "Scandinavian" flat-pack style furniture. My collection of Allen-keys is a testament to that. Still, IKEA's pictograph instructions always make me smile. Here I am, the intrepid homeowner, preparing to assemble my new purchase. First, I must speak aloud the names of the tools I will need.
"I shall require a standard screwdriver, a phillips-head screwdriver, an awl, a pencil, a level, a hammer, and a clamp."
Actually, I didn't need the clamp.
I am next advised not to attempt to assemble this item alone, but that I should ask a friend for help. What's Swedish for, "My, what a big pencil you have"?
"Thanks for the help, but there's still a pile of boards on the floor."
There's more, but it gets all technical and stuff. And a little racy (they advise doing it on a rug), so I'll leave all that to your imagination. By the time you read this, the new bathroom cabinet should be totally assembled and installed. Ever the optimist. Photos to come.
This is the southern wall of the bathroom. The window is on the western wall (on the right in this photo), the bathtub is on the northern wall (behind where I'm standing), and the new shower, which is just visible in the mirror, is built into the northeastern corner of the room. Got it? Now, that blank wall above the bidet and the chest of drawers is where the new medicine cabinet will go. It will be positioned horizontally just above the line of the tile. The cabinet door will open up toward the ceiling.
The new cabinet will help us to eliminate some of the clutter on the chest of drawers.
I got the screws and sleeves that I needed from the hardware store and will continue the mounting and assembly process today. Wish me luck!
One day a couple of weeks ago, Ken was out and about and stopped at a bakery for some bread and a croissant. The bread was for lunch. The croissant was a snack. He was hungry. It came in this bag, which I found in the car the other day. It's covered with old-timey advertisements.
A bag for a croissant or two.
I've started assembling the new bathroom cabinet. The base structure is all together, but I hit a snag. I need a couple of screws that are not provided by IKEA. I know, that surprised me, too. There are two options for attaching the cabinet to the wall: one is attaching a metal rail (which you buy at IKEA) to the wall and hanging the cabinet from it, the other is omitting the rail and screwing the cabinet directly to the wall. I chose the latter, and IKEA apparently doesn't provide the screws for that option. So I'm heading out to the hardware store.
On Monday we drove over to Tours to the IKEA store. We had a small list of things to get or do, and one of them was to look at sofas. The sofa in our loft is thirteen years old and is wearing out. We used it in the living room until the loft was built, then moved it upstairs to serve as the tv-watching couch. Parts of it are threadbare and there are tears in the upholstery. It's time to replace it.
Trees rising up out of a ravine where a stream flows to our south.
We looked, but didn't buy anything yet. It'll likely wait until after the holidays. We did get something else on our list: a storage cabinet for the bathroom. Our "medicine" cabinet came down when the new shower was built. We decided to replace it with something larger and more modern. A horizontal kitchen cabinet unit from IKEA is what we found. It's part of their modular cabinet line called METOD and it's a plain white cabinet, with a shelf, and a horizontal door that swings up rather than opening to the side. I haven't described it well, but I'll show you photos when I get it assembled and installed. It came in five different packages.
We also got a couple of other small things (easy to do at IKEA) and, on the way out, we stopped for a couple of bags of their famous meatballs. We'll be having them for lunch today. I've never had IKEA's meatballs before, but people have told us that they're pretty good. I'm surprised that they're already assembled and ready to eat.
The fog is back with a vengeance. We didn't see the sun at all on Sunday. We had a brief rain shower in the place of a sunrise, and then gray drippiness all day until it all faded to black. Some days are like that. I'm happy that we don't have a foot of snow on the ground.
The view toward the west from the guest room window.
The festive lights on the outside of the house help to make the spirits bright. And hearty winter food gives comfort. Soon the tree will be up indoors for more bright festivity. The sunny days we do get are nice. It won't be long before the solstice and the lengthening of days.
It's time for the annual holiday lights photo! I mentioned yesterday that I had put the lights up on the outside of the house. Here they are. I have been using this string of colorful LEDs for the indoor tree for the past couple of years but decided to put them on the house this year. Last year's outdoor lights were all white. These are so bright that they light up the house across the street.
I turned all the indoor lights on for the photo. It's not usually that bright inside the house.
I just got another string of all-white LEDs to replace the old string of incandescents. They are blanc chaud (warm white) and will go on the tree this year, then out on the house next year (if I remember). I'll get the tree set up sometime in the coming week.
Recent days have been a lot less foggy than a week or so ago. Blue sky and sunny afternoons are feeling very nice. The daily high temperatures are not warm, but they're not cold, either. That's our temperate climate. Winter's chill is often tempered by the effect of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic.
Under the dividing line between overcast and clear skies.
I did get the holiday lights up on the house on Friday. I haven't taken any photos of it yet, though. Soon. This year I've abandoned the old incandescent mini-bulbs, many of which were burned out, for newer LED mini-bulbs. I'm struck by how much brighter they are.
It's Friday. But it doesn't mean what it used to. Since retirement, Friday is just another day. Same as Saturday. Or Tuesday. We'll be eating leftovers from yesterday for lunch today. Ken made a coq au Riesling (a chicken fricassee), but used pintade (guinea hen) instead of a rooster or other chicken. Tasty!
Another foggy morning in the vineyard.
One thing I want to do either today or tomorrow is to get the holiday lights up on the house. It may start raining again on Sunday, so I'd rather get it done before that. It's not hard to do, just a matter of pulling out the ladder and stringing up the lights. I installed the hooks last year, so I don't have to do that again.
Wednesday morning's sunrise was pretty dramatic. We had less fog than recent days and there were enough gaps in the clouds for the sun to light things up nicely. I grabbed the camera and went out onto the deck to take some pictures.
Wednesday at about 08h15. Looking southeast across our neighbors' property.
The sun is rising in the southeast now as we approach the winter solstice. And it doesn't get very high in the sky before is sets again in the southwest. Our latitude places us a little further north than Montréal, Canada. Today we will have eight and a half hours between sunrise and sunset. That's fifteen and a half hours of darkness.
The leaves are all gone from the grape vines. Pruners will be cutting the bare canes away, leaving either a single cane or several smaller stubs that will sprout new growth in spring. Some parcels are already done, but most still look like this.
Bare grape vines waiting to be pruned.
I got my hair cut yesterday. The woman in our town who cuts hair is pregnant and due very soon. The last time we went in for cuts she made our appointments for this past week in advance (which is not her normal practice) so we'd be guaranteed a slot just before she goes out on maternity leave. She said she was unable to find a replacement while she's gone, so her shop will probably be closed until her return in late January. I was nervous as my appointment day approached because, well, anything can happen. I half expected to see a note on the door saying that the baby came early and the shop was closed. I didn't have to worry; everything went fine. But the stylist was certainly anxious. She's more than ready for that baby to come.
Late fall high pressure is keeping fog pinned to the ground, with little or no wind to blow it away. The same weather is causing air pollution spikes in the cities, especially Paris, right now. Sometimes the fog layer is very thin and we can see blue sky through it. Other times it's a thick, dark blanket of gray.
Morning ground fog with some blue sky above it.
Lately the fog has burned off by mid-afternoon, which is why some of my recent photos show beautifully blue skies. Our nights remain clear, so the mornings are cold. Then, as the sun comes up, the fog forms.
Here's an exterior shot of the greenhouse from the side. For now we haven't acquired any "furniture" for inside. Those shelves are recuperated from the tent greenhouse we used last season. We may eventually replace them with something more sturdy; we'll see how it goes. I am planning to get a potting table to fit against the wall of the house where you see the rake and shovel standing. We did get that nifty curly hose for inside and it works great.
The greenhouse is built onto the western side of the house. This view is looking north.
Under the curved panels is a small gutter that directs rainwater to the grey downspout you can see on the left. Eventually I'll put some kind of barrel/container there to collect it. Right now we're experimenting with over-wintering some deck plants inside, but the full potential of the greenhouse will be realized in spring when I start seedlings for the vegetable garden. I also plan to keep some warm-weather herbs, like basil, in there all season; they should enjoy the warmth. The roof has two panels that open for ventilation. Those, along with the door that slides open (on the far end in the photo) and the door into the house itself (access to the utility room), will work to keep an air flow going so it doesn't get too hot in there during the summer. At least that's the theory.
I realize that I might have gone outside to take a better photo of the new greenhouse, but I didn't. So this shot from inside will have to do for now. We've been moving plants inside for the winter, mainly from the deck, but also from our heretofore winter storage place: the glassed-in front porch/entry. Now that space will be much less crowded with cold-sensitive with plants.
On a sunny day it can feel downright balmy in there.
It's all a big experiment, of course. We don't know how much the greenhouse will protect the plants from the cold, especially if it gets really cold. The glass is single-paned and there's no heat except for the winter sun. Still, it should protect from wind and ice (like sleet and freezing rain), so that's a good thing. There's a thermometer in there that we check nearly every day to get a feel for how cool it is. So far it's been a few degrees higher than the lowest of the morning temperatures outside. That could make a difference.
The artsy organized neighbor has taken to planting cast-away roadside reflector posts in the woods. I've noticed five or six of them placed in a straight line among the trees near his piles of stuff. Maybe they mark his property line? I don't know.
Three of the half-dozen or so old roadside posts planted in the woods near where Callie and I sometimes walk.
My theory is that this guy is a retired public works employee who is now at loose ends. He's collected things from his job over the years that would otherwise have been thrown away. But my theory is supported by very little evidence. There are just the piles of stuff, neatly arranged. If there's another explanation for his "installations," it is beyond my knowledge.
Here is the artsy organized neighbor's most recent "installation." Your guess is as good as mine. I wasn't invited to the opening, although I'm sure it was replete with the who's who of the local woodsy art crowd.
A stage set for some dystopian opera? A playground for leprechauns?
I get (as in "understand," not "receive") the firewood. In fact, it's the one thing that changes all the time what with wood being taken out for burning and new wood coming in for storage. But the rest? Stacks of discarded roof tiles, concrete blocks, old broken roadside bollards, steel barrels, rusty machinery, and piles of gravel and sand. All neatly organized and occasionally rearranged ever so slightly.
Have you ever seen "How the Grinch Stole Christmas?" It's a classic American holiday cartoon from 1966 based on a Dr. Seuss story. In it, the Grinch steals Christmas after disguising himself as Santa Claus and his dog, Max, as a reindeer. He does the latter by tying some antlers to the dog's head.
Callie with her antlers, er, grape vine.
So... the other day, Callie found a piece of a pruned grape trunk and decided to carry it home as she often does this time of year. This particular trunk was U-shaped. I couldn't stop laughing because Callie carried the stick so that the ends curled up above her head. She reminded me of Max from the cartoon.
The most famous reindeer of all? It's Callie!


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The final Environmental Study Report (ESR) is being released for a 30-day public and agency review and comment period from July 15th, 2021 to August 15th, 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ESR can be accessed online at https://innisfil.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021.07.02-Park-Rd-Draft-EA-Report-RDS266-ID-583788.pdf Interested persons may provide written comments to our project team by August 15th, 2021. All comments and concerns, or a request for a hard copy, should be sent directly to the Town of Innisfil Capital Project Manager: Town of Innisfil Amber Leal, C.E.T., PMP 2101 Innisfil Beach Road. Innisfil, ON. L9S 1A1 Phone 705-436-3740 Ext. 3246 Email aleal@innisfil.ca. In addition, a Part II Order request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e., requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g., require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name for the ministry. Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for additional conditions or a request for an individual/ comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy those potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request. The Part II Order Request Form can be found at: www.ontario.ca/page/class-environmental-assessments-part-ll-order. The request should be sent by email to: Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 135 St. Clair Ave. W. 1st Floor 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 2J3 minister.mecp@ontario.ca This notice was first issued on July 15th, 2021. Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5 EABDirector@ontario.ca The final Environmental Study Report (ESR) is being released for a 30-day public and agency review and comment period from July 15th, 2021 to August 15th, 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ESR can be accessed online at https://innisfil.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021.07.02-Park-Rd-Draft-EA-Report-RDS266-ID-583788.pdf Interested persons may provide written comments to our project team by August 15th, 2021. All comments and concerns, or a request for a hard copy, should be sent directly to the Town of Innisfil Capital Project Manager: Town of Innisfil Amber Leal, C.E.T., PMP 2101 Innisfil Beach Road. Innisfil, ON. L9S 1A1 Phone 705-436-3740 Ext. 3246 Email aleal@innisfil.ca. In addition, a Part II Order request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e., requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g., require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name for the ministry. Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for additional conditions or a request for an individual/ comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy those potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request. The Part II Order Request Form can be found at: www.ontario.ca/page/class-environmental-assessments-part-ll-order. The request should be sent by email to: Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 135 St. Clair Ave. W. 1st Floor 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 2J3 minister.mecp@ontario.ca This notice was first issued on July 15th, 2021. Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5 EABDirector@ontario.ca
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Family of Man Killed During Khargone Communal Violence Alleges Police's Role
The family of Ibris Khan, the first officially reported death in the Khargone communal clash, had to wait for days before police informed them on the whereabouts of his body.
People gather at Ibris Khan's house to mourn his death. Photo: By arrangement.
Akansha Deshmukh
18/Apr/2022
Khargone (Madhya Pradesh): Twenty-eight-year-old Ibris Khan went missing on April 10 evening when violence broke out during a Ram Navami procession in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone.
His family was out on the streets, searching every nook and corner, including mortuaries, until Sunday, April 17, for Ibris. To their shock, they discovered his body 120 kilometres away at the M.Y. Hospital morgue, in Indore.
Ibris Khan
Ibris, son of Saddam Khan, was a resident of Islampura in Khargone. He was working as a sweeper, earning a daily wage, under the local municipal corporation. Ibris leaves behind his wife and eight-month-old son.
While the post-mortem report states that Ibris died of severe head injuries, Ibris's brother, Iqhlak Khan, has accused the police and the residents of Khargone of being involved in the killing of his brother. Police have said they had no role.
According to Iqhlak, he last saw his deceased brother in police custody on April 10, the day of the clashes.
Ibris's mother, Mumtaz, who is also an eyewitness to the clashes in Khargone, said that when Ibris went out after Iftar to pray at a mosque he was attacked by a raging mob. Before the family could intervene, she said, he was dragged into a police van as he suffered a serious head injury.
Ibris was detained along with his friends that evening. His mother, however, said that he was not sent to jail with the other arrested men. "He was killed by the police," said the 65-year-old Mumtaz.
Echoing the same, Iqlakh recalled that his brother had gone to the local Anand Bazar mosque for prayers that evening after Iftar. It was then, Iqlakh added that, Ibris was mercilessly beaten up by a mob, leading to head injuries. "He was not taken to a hospital, but was rather detained in the police station," said Iqlakh, adding that he does not know the names of those who killed his brother.
Also read: Khargone: Communal Violence Leaves Many Displaced, State Action Targets Muslims
The family received information on Ibris's body on April 17 night, when a policeman showed up at their house to tell them that Ibris's body was being kept in a morgue in Indore.
Iqlakh claimed that the information was only given to their family after he had made several attempts to search for his brother. He had also visited the local police station multiple times. He added that it was only after he told police that he would approach the media if the information on his missing brother was not provided that police spoke to him.
"This is the sole reason why a policeman came down to our place on Sunday late evening to inform us about Ibris's death," he said.
Upon identifying Ibris's body at the government hospital in Indore, Iqlakh said they had not only found head injuries but severe cuts on his brother's face and legs. One of his eyes was out of its place.
'Questionable role of police'
Ibris's family has accused police of withholding information about his arrest, and keeping his death a secret.
The family – Iqlakh and Mumtaz – pointedly asked as to why local police took a week after Ibris's death to call them to identify the body, that too after registering a case of murder on April 14, naming unidentified men, without letting them know anything. This was just 12 hours after Ibris's brother, Iqlakh, registered a missing complaint at the same police station.
The FIR (first information report), registered under Section 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, states that Ibris was murdered by seven to eight unidentified men and his body was found at a cotton mill in a pool of blood. Ibris's head was crushed by a stone, according to the FIR.
Also read: With Khargone, Shivraj Singh Chouhan Drives Home Dream of 'Bulldozer Justice'
On the claims of Ibris's family, Rohit Keshwani, superintendent of police, Khargone, says, "On April 10, during the Ram Navami procession, there was a disturbance in the Islampura area. During this, a young man was found injured. The police immediately took him to Khargone Hospital for treatment, where he died. Information was collected about the youth, but due to lack of identification, the body was sent to Indore after registering an 'unknown' murder case.
"On April 14, a report of a missing person was registered in the police station. On Sunday, his family members were called for identification. After identification, the body was brought to Khargone from Indore and the last rites were performed on Monday," the SP said.
Keswani added that if Ibris Khan would have been detained by the police on April 10 night, his name would have been noted down in the register of the police station. But no such record of Ibris Khan was found in the register, he said.
State home minister Narottam Mishra, speaking on Ibris's death, said that a case of murder has been registered against seven to eight unidentified men, adding that the police are investigating the matter.
The district administration has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to Ibris's family.
Ibris Khan's death is the first officially reported death in the Khargone communal violence. Many others are missing in its aftermath.
Akansha Deshmukh is a Bhopal-based investigative journalist who focuses on serious crimes and political corruption. She can be reached at deshmukhakansha4@gmail.com.


Janine Oshiro graduated from Whitworth University, Portland State University, and the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. She is a Kundiman fellow and has been awarded the 2011 Elliot Cades Award for Literature in Hawaiʻi and the 2013 Asian American Literary Award for Poetry. She lives in Hawaiʻi and works as a massage therapist.


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Rating well: New Zealand's public schools
23 October 2010 • Jane Blaikie
New Zealand is doing much better educationally than countries that have tried the "standards" agenda of reform. Yet standards are notoriously difficult to measure" questions like who's measuring what, against…
New Zealand is doing much better educationally than countries that have tried the "standards" agenda of reform. Yet standards are notoriously difficult to measure" questions like who's measuring what, against what, and for what purpose? make simplistic judgments difficult. But a few well-regarded measures do put New Zealand high on the international tables.
New Zealand's world ranking on the PISA survey
(PISA" Programme for International Student Assessment)
Year Reading Maths Science
This worldwide evaluation by the OECD was first performed in 2000. PISA measures the scholastic performance of 15-year-olds, recognising that education is cumulative and that these children will have had eight years of primary as well as early childhood education. New Zealand rates well above the US and UK, both of whom have undertaken extensive "standards"-style reforms of public education in recent decades. The 2009 results are due out before the end of the year.
TIMSS and PIRLS
(TIMSS" Trends In International Math and Science Study, PIRLS" Progress in International Reading Literacy Study.)
New Zealand rates above average in these two international surveys, though not as highly as in the PISA evaluations. TIMSS and PIRLS measure primary school-aged children. According to Emeritus Professor Terry Crooks of Otago University, a specialist in educational assessment, "It appears that New Zealand does a good job of developing thinking skills that suit PISA, but prepares younger children less well for tests focused on curriculum knowledge."
The UN's Education Index 2007
1 – New Zealand
20 – United States
30 – United Kingdom
New Zealand ranks first equal (with Australia, Finland and Denmark) out of 176 countries. The index is a composite measure of the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratio.
The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index.
Basic requirements" primary education and health
13 – Australia
Business New Zealand is a partner in the compilation of this index. Interestingly, New Zealand is much higher on this˜Primary education and health' measure than it is on the "Higher education and training" measure where we rate 13th. This latter measure takes into consideration "the importance of vocational and continuous on-the-job training" which is neglected in many economies" for ensuring a constant upgrading of workers' skills".
Are our standards slipping?
People have been saying standards in literacy and numeracy are "slipping"" for as long as there's been public education.
"What the hell are we doing in our schools if reading, writing and maths are not the number one priority?" said ACT MP Donna Awatere-Huata in 1998.
Which is pretty much what you'd expect" but read this, from 1958: "Do the large number who go to universities and technical colleges go to further their studies or to bring their standard up to what it should have been had they not been betrayed in their earlier school years?" and this from 1948, "Employers¦ have long been vocal in their criticism that junior employees come poorly equipped to their tasks, and especially that they lack elementary skills in the three Rs."
This remarkably familiar rhetoric goes all the way back to the late nineteenth century, says Professor Roger Openshaw, an educational historian at Massey University.
His new book Are Our Standards Slipping, written with Associate Professor Margaret Walshaw, traces the argument back its roots, and finds that the idea of falling standards is as much a cultural, social and political phenomena as a debate about education.
Roger Openshaw and Margaret Walshaw. Their book is published by NZCER.
The argument tends to split into two sides" with social conservatives, focusing on schools as factories producing workers, facing off against progressives who see schools as places to educate the whole child as democratic citizens.
The argument tends to peak at times of uncertainty: vociferous debates in the post-World War II era and in the 1970s were closely linked to times of economic and social uncertainty.
"Today the arguments are much the same, but the thing is people always think it's new," Roger told EA.
Roger says that even today in the US and UK, where "standards" debates have led to national testing and much greater teacher accountability, critics are still accusing governments that "standards are falling".
In New Zealand, he says, the argument seems to be settling on the idea of the "hero" teacher; that standards can be improved by identifying and rewarding "great" teachers. The literature around this, however, does not indicate this will work, he says.
The authors also note the way the standards debate plays to the politics of fear, and Roger told EA that parents do need to be reassured, especially in the current recession.
The book highlights the conflict between the National-led government's policies on competition and collaboration, and concludes, rather chillingly, "The concept of externally mandated standards, later perhaps to be backed by some form of merit pay for˜successful' teachers, may well ultimately work against the cherished goal [higher standards=""][/higher] ever being achieved."
What is needed, the authors say, is "greater clarity regarding exactly what the central task of the primary school, in particular, is."
"Standards" fuel creativity decline
"Standards" imposed by politicians on public schools may be one reason student why achievement levels are failing to rise in the UK and US.
In the US, long-running tests of creative thinking (the Torrance tests) have identified a significant decline since 1990, particularly among school-aged children. The main reasons being put up for this are that American kids are spending too much time on TV and the internet, and that standardized testing limits learning. Link here.
In the UK, the head of the Independent Schools Council, representing fee-paying schools, says, "Not being taught to a particular exam but teaching around the exam makes our pupils better at doing exams."
In France, a group of academics from the country's elite institutes recently hosted a "festival of errors" to encourage children to learn through making mistakes. French scientist Louis Pasteur made his big breakthrough in developing a cholera vaccine by erring with chickens, but today's French school system "puts far more emphasis on having the right answer than the thought process by which a pupil might explore the question being asked," according to a report in the Guardian newspaper.
In New Zealand, private schools are exempt from the government's National Standards policy, while Maori medium schools have been given extra time to develop standards that fit with the Māori curriculum.
But while many are delighted with the Maori standards, others say it is only a matter of time before they are conflated to measurements, tests and league tables.
The Maori standards will also not apply to the more than 80 percent of Maori children who attend mainstream schools. "For Maori kids in mainstream settings, the standards give no recognition of the Maori world view or Mori knowledge or Maori ways of learning. Once again Maori knowledge is excluded," says Northland principal Keri Milne-Ihimaera.
Things can go really, really well'
Development of National Standards for schools with Maori immersion programmes is going well. You could even say, in all truth, "Really, really well."
Cath Rau, an educator and Maori literacy specialist, has been working with a small group of writers on the development of Nga Whanaketanga over the last 18 months, and says they will fit well with the Maori curriculum, Te Marautanga.
Cath Rau, an educator and Maori literacy specialist
One advantage has been that the writers know each other well, and "we have had our arguments already about philosophies and visions".
Their vision for Nga Whanaketanga has settled on "illuminating Maori achievement," says Cath, who had to take French and German at high school because Maori was not available until she reached university. Once found, her passion for te reo Maori, and other indigenous languages, has remained strong.
"I was very very fortunate that when I first left teaching and branched out into Maori literacy, I was able to work closely with Marie Clay (the founder of new zealand's internationally recognised reading recovery programme". For 15 years Cath has been involved in Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust, a foundation whose prime objectives are to support the development of Maori medium programmes.
She says that the education system often focuses on underachievement, "which can almost lower expectations".
After developing Nga Whanaketanga, 13 facilitators from around the country (teachers and resource teachers of Maori) were consulted on how they might work with teachers. "We received absolutely fantastic feedback from our facilitators to define and revise and improve the standards."
Data from the performance of some 1000 students was then used to "inform where the standards had been set." Cath says that standards or benchmarks are an arbitrary measure, and that you don't have to set them so that 50 percent or more of students are failing. Once the student data was analysed, she found that about 75 percent of students were at or above the standards.
"Some 25 percent of students may be struggling to meet them, and we think that's a reasonable percentage of students who should get our attention."
The standards are expected to be sent to schools before the end of the year.
Cath and the team are also working with the facilitators on how best to report the standards to parents, using the work they've already done to develop reporting examples that might include tables and graphs."We can really celebrate that we're in a position to say what Nga Whanaketanga should be ourselves."
Books, Comparative education, Global Education Reform Movement, Literacy, Magazine, Massey University, National Standards, New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Ngā Whanaketanga, Numeracy, Otago University, PIRLS, TIMSS


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Applies to select new 2021 BMW M8.
Lease a new 2021 M8 Gran Coupe for $1659 per month for 36 months with $7999 due at signing.
Through February 01 2021 lease offer available on new 2021 BMW M8 Gran Coupe models from participating BMW Centers through BMW Financial Services NA, LLC, to customers who meet BMW Financial Services\' credit requirements. Offer not valid in Puerto Rico. Monthly lease payments of $1659 per month for 36 months is based on an adjusted capitalized cost of $129755 (MSRP of $141495 including destination and handling fee of $995 less $5415 capitalized cost reduction, $0 security deposit and suggested dealer contribution of $6325). Actual MSRP and dealer contribution may vary and could affect your monthly lease payment. Cash due at signing includes $5415 capitalized cost reduction, $1659 first month\'s payment, $925 acquisition fee and $0 security deposit. Lessee responsible for insurance during the lease term, excess wear and tear as defined in the lease contract, $0.30/mile over 22500 miles and a disposition fee of $350 at lease end. Not all customers will qualify for security deposit waiver. Tax, title, license, registration and dealer fees are additional fees due at signing. Advertised payment does not include applicable taxes. Purchase option at lease end, excluding tax, title and government fees, is $76407. Offer valid through February 01 2021 and may be combined with other offers unless otherwise stated. Models pictured may be shown with metallic paint and/or additional accessories. Visit your authorized BMW Center for important details. 2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. (See Trims)
Truth in Lending Act Disclosure: Down payment will vary with APR and credit. For example, 1.9% APR with $2,500 down payment provides for 60 monthly payments of $17.48 per $1000 financed for qualified buyers. 1.9% APR for a term of 24 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $42.5 per $1000 financed. 1.9% APR for a term of 36 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $28.6 per $1000 financed. 1.9% APR for a term of 39 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $26.46 per $1000 financed. 1.9% APR for a term of 42 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $24.63 per $1000 financed. 1.9% APR for a term of 48 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $21.65 per $1000 financed. The rates described are for estimation purposes only; you may not be able to finance at this rate. (See Trims)
BMW ALPINA B7


UFH (Underfloor Heating) CAD Designs Ltd is a leading UK specialist in the design of domestic and commercial Underfloor Heating Systems. We offer professional Underfloor Heating CAD design solutions to system suppliers nationwide.
We specialise in underfloor heating CAD design and have unrivalled, hands-on experience in the design of quality bespoke systems. We are happy to provide general design advice if needed.
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We can offer tube layouts only or full designs, including room by room heat loss calculations and outputs, tube lengths, water volumes, kPa calculations and flow rates depending on your requirements.
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UFH (Underfloor Heating) CAD Designs is a UK specialist in the provision of underfloor heating CAD design services with over 40 years of experience in the industry. When you outsource to us, our fully dedicated team will ensure nothing is too much trouble. We can deliver quality underfloor heating CAD designs in 24-48 hours.
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With a compact and elegant design, the Gisela shoe cabinet is perfect for houses with space constraints. Constructed from solid particle board, the Gisela features a two-tone oak and dark grey finish that is easy to coordinate with a wide range of decor styles. Three doors conceal four shelves with storage space for up to 14 pairs of shoes. White PVC legs provide elevation for easy dusting. The Gisela shoe cabinet is made in Malaysia and requires assembly.


text:
Q: A way to align the sorted structure members - month and rainfall #include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;

struct Rainfall
{
    string month;
    double rainfallAmount;

    Rainfall(string m)
    {
        month = m;
    }
    string getString()
    {
        string months = month;
        return months;
    }
    double getRainFall()
    {
        return rainfallAmount;
    }

};

void sortRain(Rainfall obj[])
{
    double startScan;
    double minVal;
    int minIndex;
    for (int i = 0; i < (12 - 1); i++)
    {
        minVal = obj[i].rainfallAmount;
        minIndex = i;

        for (int j = i + 1; j < 12; j++)
        {
            if (obj[j].rainfallAmount < minVal)
            {
                minVal = obj[j].rainfallAmount;
                minIndex = j;

            }
        }

        obj[minIndex].rainfallAmount = obj[i].rainfallAmount;
        obj[i].rainfallAmount = minVal;

    }
    //int i = 11;
    for (int i = 0; i <12; i++)
    {

        cout << obj[i].month << " " << obj[i].rainfallAmount << endl;
    }

}

void inputValues(Rainfall obj[])
{
    double rainfallAmount;
    for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++)
    {
        cout << "Enter rainfall for month " << obj[i].month << endl;
        cin >> obj[i].rainfallAmount;
    }
}

int main()
{
    string month1 = "Jan";
    string month2 = "Feb";
    string month3 = "March";
    string month4 = "April";
    string month5 = "May";
    string month6 = "June";
    string month7 = "July";
    string month8 = "August";
    string month9 = "September";
    string month10 = "October";
    string month11 = "November";
    string month12 = "December";
    Rainfall rf[12] = {month1,month2,month3,month4,month5,month6,month7,
        month8,month9,month10,month11,month12};

    inputValues(rf);
    //displayValues(rf);
    sortRain(rf);
    //displayValues(rf);
}

So, per my assignment.
"Write a program that displays the name of each month in a year and its rainfall amount,
sorted in order of rainfall from lowest to highest. The program should use an array of
structures, where each structure holds the name of a month and its rainfall amount. Use a
constructor to set the month names. Make the program modular by calling on different
functions to input the rainfall amounts, to sort the data, and to display the data."
The only frustrating bug is that when run, the months do not match up to the numbers at all. And I've tried virtually everything I could think of so I thought I'd post here. I believe the assignment is asking me to post the months in order of the actual numbers, but it's offset. Is there any fix for this or a perspective I'm not seeing?

A: You can overload the operator < to return the smaller value of rainfall
struct Rainfall
{
    bool operator< (const Rainfall& other) const {
        return rainfallAmount < other.rainfallAmount;
    }
}

and right now you can use your array with std::sort
#include<algorithm>//std::sort is here

inputValues(rf);
std::sort(rf, rf + sizeof(rf)/sizeof(rf[0]));
for (auto r : rf)
{
    std::cout << r.month << " " << r.rainfallAmount << std::endl;
}

also if you make your variables public there is no need to make getters for it, everybody can access it already like I did.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Local Mask Company Having Tough Time Competing Against Foreign Manufacturers
Feb 12, 2021, 10:21 PM | Updated: 10:47 pm
BY ALEX CABRERO, KSL TV
LINDON, Utah – A Utah County company makes high-quality face masks, .and has lots of them to sell because it's having a tough time finding buyers. It's an issue a lot of similar companies have been facing because of foreign competition.
There's something about working for a company you believe in. That's why Paul Hickey can look at what he has helped build and smile.
"We're very proud of what we've done," he said. "We saw a need to jump in and help supply the American people with essential goods."
Hickey is the president of PuraVita Medical in Lindon. It's a company that makes high-quality KN95 and N95 masks, as well as other medical masks.
U.S. mask manufacturers say they're having a tough time selling their KN95 and N95 masks to governments and hospital groups because of foreign competition. One of those companies is based in Lindon. They began operations a year ago to help fill the need. Our story @KSL5TV at 10. pic.twitter.com/lnEbUP92DJ
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) February 13, 2021
Hickey and a friend started the company when COVID-19 concerns began, knowing America would need them.
"This is one of the reasons why we decided to jump in," said Hickey. "Be good Americans. Be good patriots. Let's help become independent of the things we need to be independent of."
PuraVita Medical has made millions of masks. The problem is they have had a tough time finding someone to buy them.
"We started submitting bids to the U.S. government, the state governments, the hospitals, and we are losing every single bid to Chinese companies. Every single one," said Hickey.
PuraVita Medical wasn't alone.
A recent article in The New York Times revealed several small U.S. mask manufacturers are having a tough time selling their inventory of high-quality masks, and may be in danger of closing, because of the cheaper Chinese masks American governments and hospital groups are buying.
"That is frustrating because our own government is working against us to become more independent for our PPE needs," said Hickey.
He was also worried about the quality of foreign masks, especially since the CDC sent out a warning last week about counterfeit masks with false labels of federal approval.
"This is a serious product. This isn't like buying rubber bands from China and some of them break," said Hickey. "This is a device that's intended to literally prevent you from getting a potentially deadly disease."
Hickey said he feels companies buying foreign masks should batch-test them to make sure they represent what they're claiming.
"I guarantee you the doctors and nurses on the front lines, they don't have the ability to choose their masks," said Hickey. "Their hospitals are buying them, and most healthcare workers don't know how fraudulent or how many fake counterfeit masks are out there."
Hickey said he's had more success selling masks to dentists, since dentists buy their own inventory.
PuraVita Medical also sells masks directly to the public.
However, they would like to see government agencies and hospital groups give American-based mask manufacturers a chance to sell to them.
He also saidd it would help if smaller companies such as his were able to sell their masks on eBay and Amazon that are currently flooded with foreign competition.
"American products are great. People around the world want made in America products," said Hickey.
For now, Hickey just wants to raise awareness of this issue because he believes most people and healthcare workers don't know about it.
"We need to make them aware," he said. "If they start going 'I'm not wearing this mask unless it's tested,' things will change rapidly for American manufacturers like us."


I saw a "homemade" dollhouse on Craigslist for $50 and I could not resist it.
It is SOLID wood and weighs MORE than a ton. Seriously!!! This has to be the heaviest house I have ever encountered.
After doing a little research, I found out that this house is called The Amberwood, by Jacqueline Kerr Deiber.
There are a lot of rooms but they are on the smaller side.
I could see inside the front dormer windows that there was a room in the attic but there was no way to access it. I grabbed my Stanley knife and cut through the shingles. I then had to pry the front panel open as it had been nailed closed and shingled over. What a waste of perfectly good rooms!!!!! There were hinges, so it was supposed to open.
Anyway, this should be fun to renovate.
Wow, that is a great find! Those attic rooms would make an awesome master suite! Can't wait to see what you do with this and who ends up getting to live there.
Thanks Phyllis. I think an attic bedroom suite would be wonderful. I am excited to see which one of my dolls wants to live here as well!
I have done a custom dollhouse by plans by Jacqueline Kerr Deiber and her houses are HUGE and HEAVY. It opened from the front and back and was electrified. Hardest house hubby and I did plus it was landscaped, but it was a beauty. You have a FIND there! Enjoy!
Thanks Lisa. This house is definitely on the heavy side. (I would really like to get a Pepperwood dollhouse as well.) I love front and back opening dollhouses, they are so interesting to me.
That's what I'd call a real good bargain... great that you've saved this treasure.
Thanks Birgit. I do love a good bargain! This will be an interesting house to renovate for sure.
What a fabulous find Sam. Lots of potential, and I agree with you regarding the attic . . . what a waste to nail it shut like that.
I really could not believe that they had nailed the attic shut, but it was great to find the extra space.


Pretty much since Em was born it's been in the back of my mind that we need to get family pictures taken. I was originally going to just hire someone to do it for once since I didn't know how well the tripod/self timer thing was going to work with a newborn. But then I realized that paying someone to take our pictures would have been like two entire months of student loan payments that I could have paid, so I decided to just take them myself. Luckily Missy had just about the best tripod ever for me to borrow! Seriously, I've never used such an awesome tripod before.
While driving around a few weeks ago I found this perfect spot a mile or two from our house with the most perfect fall colors, photo worthy train tracks, and even a few rustic buildings and hay bales. I swear someone built it, and antiqued it just for random people to take family pictures at! Side note- there actually was another family taking pictures there while we were there.
Anyways, these pictures aren't the greatest ever, but they'll certainly do! I love this sweet little family of mine. Also, while editing these I thought about how great it would be if one day we had enough kids to fill a picture going all the way across these railroad tracks and then I remembered that I'm never getting pregnant again (kidding, kind of), and I haven't fully convinced Derek that adopting a group of siblings from Africa is the best idea ever yet (but I think he's warming up to it?)... so I think that dream is on the back burner for a few years.
We need to get some family photos taken too, now that our babe has arrived.
I think they are great pictures!!
Super cute pictures! Just in time for those Holiday cards to send out! I use a tripod for my families pictures too. Saves so much money!