After six years, Nina Dobrev and Elena will be leaving The Vampire Diaries. Also leaving? Michael Trevino and his character Tyler.
There's more to come before we wrap this up, and I promise you'll get to hear all about my experiences over the next month as we approach the season finale (I have given an exclusive interview for the June issue of SELF Magazine that I am excited for you to see!), but until then I invite you to hop on the roller coaster ride that is Elena Gilbert's life and join me as I celebrate her and prepare to say goodbye to her — and to my work family — as I move on to the next chapter of my life. I want to share this goodbye with all of you (this weekend's pictures were just the beginning). You, the wonderful fandom who gave more love, support and passion than anyone could have ever imagined seven years ago, when a young Degrassi girl from Canada showed up in LA to audition for 'that Twilight TV show.' ;-) I love you all. Fasten your seatbelts. If you think you know what's coming, you don't.
Trevino's exit comes with him being cast in ABC's Kingmakers pilot, and executive producer Julie Plec saying that they "look forward to finding creative ways to make sure he and his character Tyler Lockwood always remain a part of the show." This seems to hint that Tyler's exit isn't going to be a deathly permanent one. Dobrev's, however, is wrapped up in a lot more secrecy.
Creatively, some people have said, 'Please don't ever kill me,' and other people have said, 'I've got a shelf life, but I'm 100% in it until then. And so, that will play itself out over the next couple of years, and then we'll see how long the show survives and how long it stays fresh.
Read into that what you will, but the "shelf life" line jives pretty well with Dobrev's "I always knew I wanted Elena's story to be a six season adventure."


New Samsung Atmos soundbar adjusts sound based on what's on screen | What Hi-Fi?
Samsung has announced two new soundbars for 2019, the Dolby Atmos-supporting HW-Q70R and non-Atmos HW-Q60R.
No doubt designed to be paired with one of the brand's QLED TVs – even the naming is in line with that of its QLED range – the soundbars are a product of a collaboration between Samsung and its subsidiary Harman Kardon, aim to create an immersive, cinematic experience from their soundbar and subwoofer forms.
They're being billed as 'smarter than ever' thanks to two proprietary technologies: Adaptive Sound and Samsung Acoustic Beam.
The former can supposedly analyse the content playing on a connected TV and dynamically optimise its sound settings accordingly on a scene-per-scene basis. If either of the new Q Series soundbars is used with a 2019 Samsung QLED TV, Adaptive Sound mode is activated automatically.
Acoustic Beam technology, meanwhile, has been incorporated into previous Samsung soundbars, such as the HW-6N50, and uses a smattering of holes in the soundbar that are designed to work like extra speakers to create a wider, more dynamic soundfield.
There's no wi-fi, but Bluetooth is present and correct for music playback.
The HW-Q70R soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound formats, promising to make the most of such soundtracks when playing them from, say, Netflix or 4K Blu-rays.
Both new Q Series soundbars, available in April, sit below Samsung's flagship HW-N950 Atmos soundbar/surround sound hybrid package (£1199) and HW-N850 (£899). The HW-Q60R costs £600, while the HW-Q70R is priced £800 - promising for an Atmos soundbar, that's for sure.


text:
Campylomyces tabacinus är en svampart som först beskrevs av Mordecai Cubitt Cooke, och fick sitt nu gällande namn av Nakasone 2004. Campylomyces tabacinus ingår i släktet Campylomyces och familjen Gloeophyllaceae.   Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Basidiesvampar
tabacinus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Minimal self-compiling to .pdf Rmarkdown file I need to compose a simple rmarkdown file, with text, code and the results of executed code included in a resulting PDF file. I would prefer if the source file is executable and self sifficient, voiding the need for a makefile.
This is the best I have been able to achieve, and it is far from good:
#!/usr/bin/env Rscript

library(knitr)
pandoc('hw_ch4.rmd', format='latex')

# TODO: how to NOT print the above commands to the resulting .pdf?
# TODO: how to avoid putting everyting from here on in ""s?
# TODO: how to avoid mentioning the file name above?
# TODO: how to render special symbols, such as tilde, miu, sigma?
#     Unicode character (U+3BC) not set up for use with LaTeX.
#     See the inputenc package documentation for explanation.

# nano hw_ch4.rmd  && ./hw_ch4.rmd && evince hw_ch4.pdf

"
4E1. In the model definition below, which line is the likelihood?
A: y_i is the likelihood, based on the expectation and deviation.

4M1. For the model definition below, simulate observed heights from the prior (not the posterior).
A:
```{r}
points <- 10
rnorm(points, mean=rnorm(points, 0, 10), sd=runif(points, 0, 10))
```

4M3. Translate the map model formula below into a mathematical model definition.
A:
```{r}
flist <- alist(
y tilda dnorm( mu , sigma ),
miu tilda dnorm( 0 , 10 ),
sigma tilda dunif( 0 , 10 )
)
```
"

Result:

A: What I eventually came to use is the following header. At first it sounded neat, but later I realized
+ is indeed easy to compile in one step
- this is code duplication
- mixing executable script and presentation data in one file is a security risk.

Code:
#!/usr/bin/env Rscript

#<!---
library(rmarkdown)
argv <- commandArgs(trailingOnly=FALSE)
fname <- sub("--file=", "", argv[grep("--file=", argv)])
render(fname, output_format="pdf_document")
quit(status=0)
#-->

---
title:
author:
date: "compiled on: `r Sys.time()`"
---

The quit() line is supposed to guarantee that the rest of the file is treated as data. The <!--- and --> comments are to render the executable code as comments in the data interpretation. They are, in turn, hidden by the #s from the shell.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


INFO: Football stats for Primera Division de Chile - Apertura. Statistics for Under and Over 2.5 goals scored by football teams from football league . We also cover how teams are playing in first halfs and how they play half time / full time results.


text:
Mr. Belding and Mr. Rooney: The evolving role of the principal
by Adam Rhew | July 30, 2018
What does it mean to be a school leader? The answer is increasingly complex. Leading in a school may mean wearing many hats, often at the same time: counselor, disciplinarian, accountant, confidante, parental figure, friend, mentor and chief executive. How do teachers and principals prepare for the many roles of a school leader? What are ways teachers are taking leadership roles both in and out of the classroom? How are some teachers making the transition to the principal role? How does the state ensure a healthy and balanced pipeline of principals and assistant principals in schools across all 100 counties? This week, we explore the role of school leaders —formal and informal —and hear their stories. Join us.
Adam Rhew attended Beverly Woods Elementary, Carmel Middle, and South Mecklenburg High schools, all part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He earned a journalism and political science degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a contributor to Southern Living, Charlotte magazine, and SBNation Longform, among other publications. Previously, Adam was an award-winning television and radio news reporter, with stops at stations in Chapel Hill, N.C., Charlottesville and Richmond, Va., and Charlotte, N.C.… Read full bio »
adam.rhew@gmail.com
@AdamRhew
Principal Kristy Thomas walks with students at Rock Rest Elementary School. Alex Granados/EducationNC
Principals, depicted in popular culture, tend to fall into two categories.
There is Mr. Belding, the beloved, fatherly figure from '90s television show Saved by the Bell, who nurtures his students and occasionally disciplines them in an aw, shucks kind of way. And then there is Principal Rooney, the spiteful buzzkill out to ruin Ferris Bueller's perfect day off.
And while it is easy to laugh at Mr. Rooney careening through a neighborhood to catch kids playing hooky, the underlying message is telling. Principals may make for easy Hollywood archetypes, but most people have little idea of the complex responsibilities of school leaders.
"We've not looked at the role of principal as anything more than the old school marm. The one where you send the child who's undisciplined," says state Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union), who chairs the House committees on K-12 education and education appropriations. "We've taken principals for granted. Shame on us. The schoolhouse of today is not the schoolhouse of 20 or 50 years ago."
The role of the principal is evolving, and North Carolina is struggling to keep up.
"Principals can no longer function simply as building managers tasked with adhering to district rules, carrying out regulations and avoiding mistakes," says a report from the Wallace Foundation, a national nonprofit that promotes school leadership. "They have to be (or become) leaders of learning who can develop a team delivering effective instruction."
But what does that mean for principals in this state's schoolhouses?
"They need to be the leaders," says Shirley Prince, executive director of the North Carolina Principals' and Assistant Principals' Association. "A principal cannot abdicate that role." Leadership, she says, means more than pushing paper or being the disciplinarian. Principals must build an atmosphere that fosters positive relationships, a culture that Prince says should be focused on "trust and shared purpose and high expectations."
But North Carolinians—from legislators who set policy and appropriate money to parents who pack lunches and attend PTA meetings—have fallen back on archetypal depictions of principals, relying on outdated assumptions of how the state ought to select, train, pay, and support the leaders of its public schools.
"In my view, the most critical adult in the school building is the principal," Horn says. "The principal is the one who hires or fires the teachers. The principal is the one who sets the tone in the school.
"Most of us for the last several years, maybe many, many years have not looked at the schoolhouse in the bigger picture, in its entirety."
A Critical Look
In 2015, the advocacy group BEST NC (the acronym stands for Business for Educational Success and Transformation), noticing the national evolution in principal preparation programs, sought to understand how North Carolina trained its schoolhouse leaders. "At the time," a 2018 BEST NC policy brief says, "the research base on principal training within North Carolina specifically was nascent, and publically-available statewide data almost non-existent."
Working with a Duke University graduate student, BEST NC commissioned research into the state of principal prep in North Carolina. The trends were alarming.
BEST NC found that teachers self-selected into the principal profession, and most principal prep programs in the state accepted nearly 100 percent of applicants. In other words, any teacher who decided to be a principal and could pay the tuition would be accepted—even if he or she was not well suited to lead a school. "Programs are incentivized, therefore, to offer the least expensive, fastest option," the brief explains. "Most principals enter the profession in North Carolina without any on-the-job training," which is a stark contrast to leadership roles in virtually all other professions. North Carolina does not require a full-time residency for principal candidates to get hands-on learning in a leadership role.
The BEST NC report points out that these challenges are not unique to North Carolina, and studies since the 1980s have indicated similar challenges across the nation. "Despite the critical importance of the role," the policy brief says, "a thoughtful approach to school leadership training is simply not the norm."
The report's conclusions were sobering.
"Our traditional principal prep programs were not really providing the quality of principals that superintendents felt they needed to face the challenges we face," Prince says.
Based on the new research, and behind BEST NC's advocacy, the state legislature allocated $1 million in 2015 for the Transforming Principal Preparation program (TP3), a competitive grant program to support high quality principal preparation initiatives across the state. By using state funds for the grant, lawmakers could incorporate the pillars and best practices of successful research-based principal prep programs nationwide into TP3. These included proactive recruitment, high standards for entry, rigorous coursework, a full-time residency, and a focus on partnerships, especially in high needs schools.
The North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD) was chosen to make the grant awards and manage the TP3 process. In 2016, the group awarded the first TP3 grant to NC State University to expand its successful Northeast Leadership Academy program, to also serve Durham schools with a similar model.
That same year, the General Assembly increased recurring TP3 funding to $4.5 million, and NCASLD awarded grants to five additional principal preparation programs at Western Carolina University, High Point University, a Sandhills regional consortium, UNC Greensboro, and NC State. The programs are highly competitive with an appreciably lower acceptance rate than North Carolina principal prep programs have historically held—a third of applicants rather than nearly all.
Today, those six programs serve roughly 120 principal candidates sponsored by 46 school districts across the state. TP3 invests an average of $69,000 in each candidate's training, and that number doesn't count the private philanthropy and local district fund-matching dollars often included.
"We feel really good about what's happening in those programs," Prince says. "There's a lot of transformational activity going on right now."
"Elbow Learning"
When UNC Greensboro associate professor Kimberly Kappler Hewitt and her colleagues first learned about the TP3 grant program, they were excited about the ways it could enhance their work on educational equity in rural Piedmont school districts.
"We jumped at the chance to apply," she recalls.
Principals, Hewitt says, should be "the lead learner in a school," but often, they have not been given the training or support to be as effective as they should be. This is especially the case in the nine rural districts with which Hewitt works in central North Carolina. "A lot of the educational leadership literature is focused on urban context, which is important," she says. "But there is a dearth of really good research on rural educational leadership."
Schools in these communities have seen an influx of immigrant students, particularly Latinx students, during the last two decades.
"That has really required schools to shift how they serve students so that they're serving all of the students and not just some," Hewitt says. But without effective principal preparation programs, many of the leaders in rural schools were ill equipped to handle new challenges of an evolving role.
North Carolina's leaky teacher and principal pipeline exacerbated those challenges, as the most talented leaders often left for roles in larger, better-paying school systems. "Those problems are particularly acute in rural areas," Hewitt says. "Programs like ours that try to work with districts to create a leadership pipeline, where districts can grow their own leaders, are really, really important."
The program Hewitt and her colleagues launched in response to the TP3 call for proposals is called PPEERS: Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools. It started serving a cohort of 19 school leaders from nine rural Piedmont districts at the beginning of 2017; those future school leaders finished their program in June 2018. Now equipped with their masters degree in school administration and principal license, the members of the PPEERS cohort are obligated to work in their sponsoring districts for at least four years.
PPEERS includes a 10-month, full-time internship, during which the candidates work closely with an existing principal in one of the sponsoring district's schools. Hewitt calls this time "elbow learning."
"Our interns are at their mentor's elbow," she explains, "learning from them, shadowing them, reflecting with them." A component of this internship includes "think alouds," in which the mentor shares with the principal candidate some of the challenges he or she is facing, and how to process them en route to a decision. As the PPEERS internship progresses, the future school leader takes on progressively more duties in an effort to make the experiential learning worthwhile.
"There is this scaffolding that's in place, and our interns take on more and more responsibility as time goes by," Hewitt says. PPEERS has received state funding for at least four more years to continue the principal prep program, which translates into two cohorts of 20 principal candidates.
In addition to the hard skills required to manage a school, Hewitt is clear that principal prep must focus on building collaborative, productive relationships across the school. "Gone are the days when teachers were supposed to go in their classrooms and close their doors and do whatever they want. These are the days when we really are asking educators to work together collaboratively, to have shared responsibility of student learning," she says. "That's a different way of operating for many educators."
Teacher Appreciation Week 2018
Barbie bungee jumps to teach students math
by Adam Rhew | May 8, 2018

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Bogle Vineyards farms over 1,200 acres of wine grapes in the Delta region. While the winery was established ten years after the first grapes were planted, its success has grown tremendously along with the vineyards. The success of Bogle over the years is firmly rooted in one thing: the day-to-day involvement of the Bogle family in the hands-on effort to produce and promote quality wines. Visit the Bogle website.


text:
These Are The Real Locations That Inspired Pandora in Avatar: The Way Of Water
With Avatar: The Way Of Water finally in cinemas – 13 years after the franchise's first instalment, Avatar – director James Cameron's lush landscapes are back in the spotlight. Mainly set on Pandora – a habitable moon in another solar system inhabited by the Na'vi tribe and being colonised by humans – both films were produced with cutting edge CGI and technology to create the humanoid aliens and their world. Pandora is an abundant, flourishing environment, brimming with greenery and dramatic landscapes – and, though it is otherworldly and digitally created, these are the real locations that inspired Pandora here on Earth.
Read the C&TH Responsible Tourism Guide
The Real Locations That Inspired Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water
There are six key locations across the globe that inspired Pandora, according to Dream Yacht Worldwide. These are: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the Huangshan Mountains in China, Glowworm Caves in New Zealand, Mount Roraima and Angel Falls in Venezuela, and the Hawaii'an tropical rainforests. As well as this, the earthly Northern Lights phenomenon is thought to have inspired the skies on Pandora.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
Situated in Hunan, China, one of the mountains in the Zhangjiajie National Forest park has been renamed 'Avatar Hallelujah Mountain' in honour of Cameron's first Avatar film. Perhaps the most famous of the real locations that inspired Pandora, the park is comprised of dense forest, deep ravines and canyons, caves, and strange pillar-like rock formations unique to China and formed by erosion. With a blanket of mist, these pillars appear to float, creating their iconic, unearthly look.
Can you visit Zhangjiajie? Yes, there are plenty of guided tours and walks, as well as the famous Bailong Elevator, the highest and fastest outdoor elevator in the world.
Huangshan Mountains, China
With a similar look to the Zhangjiajie mountains, the Huangshan Mountains are another real location that inspired Cameron's creation of Pandora. Literally meaning 'Yellow Mountains', the Huangshan Mountains is well-known for its dramatic scenery, often seen in traditional Chinese paintings.
Can you visit the Huangshan Mountains? Yes, the Huangshan Mountains are one of China's most popular tourist destinations, with cable cars, paved walkways and thousands of stone steps snaking through the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
Brimming with a glowworm species found only in New Zealand, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves might seem familiar if you're an Avatar fan. When Jake Sully first interacts with woodsprites in Avatar, he is awed by their strange glow against the dark of the nighttime forest.
Can you visit the Glowworm Caves? Yes, there is a visitor centre at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and even boat rides through the caves so you can similarly be surrounded by otherworldly glowing creatures. newzealand.com
Mount Roraima, Venezuela
Over in South America – at the junction of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana – sits Mount Roraima, a giant, flat-top mountain that, rising from the Venezuelan rainforest, appears to float. Composed of ancient sandstone, the landform dates back to the Proterozoic Eon (1.7 to 2 billion years ago), making it one of the oldest rocks in the world.
Can you visit Mount Roraima? Yes, though this is more of a labour intensive experience: you can hike to the top of the mountain, usually across an expedition period of approximately two to six days.
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, Angel Falls is the world's largest uninterrupted waterfalls, dropping over the edge of the Auyán-tepui mountain situated in Venezuela's Canaima National Park. One of the original real locations that inspired Pandora, with its dramatic drop and surrounding scenery, you might recognise Angel Falls from the first Avatar movie, particularly when Jake and Neytiri try to catch the bird dragon.
Can you visit Angel Falls? Yes, you can visit Angel Falls. However, because Angel Falls is in a protected reserve, you will need to join a tour. Trips are taken by boat.
Alakai Wilderness Area
Hawaii'an Tropical Rainforests, USA
Ahead of the creation of Avatar, Cameron and his production team travelled to Hawaii to look at the rainforests. The lush greenery and prolific wildlife there were a key inspiration for the settings Cameron wanted his team to create. Spread across the eight island of Hawaii and isolated for over 28 million years by the vast swathes of ocean, these rainforests are home to a plethora of varied endemic species.
Can you visit the Hawaii'an rainforest? Yes, numerous companies offer guided tours of the Hawaiian rainforest.
Featured image courtesy of Disney.


In most cases, inadequate space in the mouth does not allow the third molars (wisdom teeth) to erupt properly. This at times makes it almost impossible to properly clean around those areas. This in turn may lead to an infection, bone loss, or decay. If a wisdom tooth becomes impacted and never fully erupts, if untreated damage to other teeth may be possible, bone loss and possibly cysts or tumors may arise. While not all wisdom teeth require removal, most never reach a proper position and need removal.
Infection: While a wisdom tooth is erupting, the tissue around it develops a pocket around the gum, if food and bacteria trap under the tissue an infection / abscess may develop which is painful and may be dangerous.
Damage to nearby teeth: The molars adjacent to the wisdom teeth (second molars) may develop decay, periodontal disease (gum disease) and possible bone loss when the wisdom teeth are leaning against them.
Tooth Crowding: Wisdom teeth may put pressure on other teeth and cause them to become misaligned or crowded.
Prior to the scheduled surgery, patients require a panoramic x-ray to be able to see the roots of the wisdom teeth. The surgery usually takes about one hour on the day of surgery. Generally patients need about 2-3 days (weekend) of recovery time at home. Your dentist will discuss what to expect in detail at your consult and surgery appointment. You will be released with post-operative instructions and medication (if necessary), to help manage any discomfort.


text:
Lil Wayne Has 3 Albums Ready Says Young Money President Mack Maine
Lil Wayne records music at a vociferous pace and it looks like he has major plans for the rest of 2021 with multiple projects completed in the stash. Speaking recently in a Twitter Spaces on NFTs, Young Money president Mack Maine revealed Weezy has three projects "coming soon."
"Anybody that's a Wayne fan knows that I Am Not A Human Being 3 is coming up soon," Mack Maine said. "Wayne and Rich The Kid have a project together that's coming out soon."
He continued, "Collegrove 2 with him and 2 Chainz — we still call him Tity Boi. It's a lot of music Wayne's working on and between that, we're introducing new Young Money artists and even the guys that's been around for a minute."
Outside of the aforementioned projects, Lil Wayne himself has teased working on the likes of No Ceilings 3 and Tha Carter VI.
Lil Wayne Weighs In On DaBaby Controversy + Reflects On Trump Meeting
When he's not in the booth, Weezy F. Baby loves to skate and he gave Rich The Kid serious props for his skating ability.
"They got people who don't be wanting to show they skills for real until they get around me," the New Orleans legend said. "Man, I'm gone expose you. First of all, Rich The Kid — man, the man skate with three watches on. Man that's just that though."
Weezy is set to headline the World's Largest Pizza Festival with a performance on Sunday evening (August 29) in Beverly Hills, California.
Lil Wayne's most recent project arrived in 2020 with Funeral, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 139,000 total album-equivalent units sold.
Five Burning Questions: Lizzo and Cardi B's 'Rumors' Debuts at No. 4 on the Hot 100
Black Thought Deads Fugees & The Roots Verzuz Rumor
Lizzo Blasts 'Delusional' Celebrity Beauty Standards
Lil Nas X, Justin Bieber & More Record-Setters at 2021 VMAs
Benny The Butcher Addresses Narrative His Music Isn't For Women


text:
import roslib; roslib.load_manifest('ardrone_tutorials_new')
import rospy

# Load the DroneController class, which handles interactions with the drone, and the DroneVideoDisplay class, which handles video display
from drone_controller import BasicDroneController
from video_display import DroneVideoDisplay

# Finally the GUI libraries
from PySide import QtCore, QtGui

# Here we define the keyboard map for our controller (note that python has no enums, so we use a class)
class KeyMapping(object):
	PitchForward     = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_E
	PitchBackward    = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_D
	RollLeft         = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_S
	RollRight        = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_F
	YawLeft          = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_W
	YawRight         = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_R
	IncreaseAltitude = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_Q
	DecreaseAltitude = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_A
	Takeoff          = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_Y
	Land             = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_H
	Emergency        = QtCore.Qt.Key.Key_Space

# Our controller definition, note that we extend the DroneVideoDisplay class
class KeyboardController(DroneVideoDisplay):
	def __init__(self):
		super(KeyboardController,self).__init__()

		self.pitch = 0
		self.roll = 0
		self.yaw_velocity = 0
		self.z_velocity = 0

# We add a keyboard handler to the DroneVideoDisplay to react to keypresses
	def keyPressEvent(self, event):
		key = event.key()

		# If we have constructed the drone controller and the key is not generated from an auto-repeating key
		if controller is not None and not event.isAutoRepeat():
			# Handle the important cases first!
			if key == KeyMapping.Emergency:
				controller.SendEmergency()
			elif key == KeyMapping.Takeoff:
				controller.SendTakeoff()
			elif key == KeyMapping.Land:
				controller.SendLand()
			else:
				# Now we handle moving, notice that this section is the opposite (+=) of the keyrelease section
				if key == KeyMapping.YawLeft:
					self.yaw_velocity += 1
				elif key == KeyMapping.YawRight:
					self.yaw_velocity += -1

				elif key == KeyMapping.PitchForward:
					self.pitch += 0.2
				elif key == KeyMapping.PitchBackward:
					self.pitch += -0.2

				elif key == KeyMapping.RollLeft:
					self.roll += 0.2
				elif key == KeyMapping.RollRight:
					self.roll += -0.2

				elif key == KeyMapping.IncreaseAltitude:
					self.z_velocity += 0.2
				elif key == KeyMapping.DecreaseAltitude:
					self.z_velocity += -0.2

			# finally we set the command to be sent. The controller handles sending this at regular intervals
			controller.SetCommand(self.roll, self.pitch, self.yaw_velocity, self.z_velocity)

	def keyReleaseEvent(self,event):
		key = event.key()

		# If we have constructed the drone controller and the key is not generated from an auto-repeating key
		if controller is not None and not event.isAutoRepeat():
			# Note that we don't handle the release of emergency/takeoff/landing keys here, there is no need.
			# Now we handle moving, notice that this section is the opposite (-=) of the keypress section
			if key == KeyMapping.YawLeft:
				self.yaw_velocity -= 1
			elif key == KeyMapping.YawRight:
				self.yaw_velocity -= -1

			elif key == KeyMapping.PitchForward:
				self.pitch -= 0.2
			elif key == KeyMapping.PitchBackward:
				self.pitch -= -0.2

			elif key == KeyMapping.RollLeft:
				self.roll -= 0.2
			elif key == KeyMapping.RollRight:
				self.roll -= -0.2

			elif key == KeyMapping.IncreaseAltitude:
				self.z_velocity -= 0.2
			elif key == KeyMapping.DecreaseAltitude:
				self.z_velocity -= -0.2

			# finally we set the command to be sent. The controller handles sending this at regular intervals
			controller.SetCommand(self.roll, self.pitch, self.yaw_velocity, self.z_velocity)

# Setup the application
if __name__=='__main__':
	import sys
	# Firstly we setup a ros node, so that we can communicate with the other packages
	rospy.init_node('ardrone_keyboard_controller')

	# Now we construct our Qt Application and associated controllers and windows
	app = QtGui.QApplication(sys.argv)
	controller = BasicDroneController()
	display = KeyboardController()

	display.show()

	# executes the QT application
	status = app.exec_()

	# and only progresses to here once the application has been shutdown
	rospy.signal_shutdown('Great Flying!')
	sys.exit(status)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Young Oak leaves at Carstramon SWT reserve ©Mark Pollitt
SWSEIC currently employs two members of staff.
Mark Pollitt
Centre Manager
Mark was appointed as the Centre Manager of DGERC when it was established in 2004 and has overseen the operation of the Centre ever since. He graduated from the University of Hertfordshire and worked for 11 years as the National Organiser of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Core Counts at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge. As well as an interest in birds, Mark is a keen butterfly and dragonfly enthusiast and through the work of the Centre has a broad knowledge of wildlife in Dumfries & Galloway.
mpollitt@swseic.org.uk
Peter Norman
SWSEIC Project Officer
Peter joined SWSEIC as a part-time Project Officer in December 2018 with over 30 years' experience in the environmental field. From 2001 until 2018, he was employed by the Council as the Biodiversity Officer for Dumfries & Galloway, during which time he wrote and/or edited two editions of the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and was involved in many associated projects, including setting up DGERC, forerunner of SWSEIC. Previous to that he worked as a Countryside Officer or a Ranger with the National Trust for Scotland and various other environmental organisations. He describes himself a generalist, rather than a specialist in any one area, with interests ranging from birds, moths and fungi through to habitat and landscape history.
pnorman@swseic.org.uk


A Hospital, more than any time resembles a space with a complex infrastructure. It becomes a specialized space which is to stimulate higher performance for the doctors at the same time healing efficiency for the patients.
In this context, the light plays a key role, efficient lighting stimulates higher output performance, supports the ability to concentrate on keen details such as clinical investigations, surgery which requires comfort in visibility. Harmonious distribution of light also helps the patient heal faster and gives comfort in getting sleep without any light disturbances.


In summer, the pastures of the Alpage d'Hirmentaz are covered with cows and sheep. In winter, snow blankets the fields and the area transforms into a ski resort. A must-visit all year round!
All year round: open daily.


Publication information: Article title: News Media Participation in Law Enforcement Activities. Contributors: Crawford, Kimberly A. - Author. Magazine title: The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Volume: 63. Issue: 8 Publication date: August 1994. Page number: 28+. © U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. COPYRIGHT 1994 Gale Group.


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section-1003
Digital cinema was originally designed to replace 35mm film, with the goals of lowering the cost of film distribution, securing distribution, and preserving the image quality achievable with 35mm film. Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), a consortium of the major Hollywood studios, manages the top level specification for the core technology. Equipment is tested to a subset of the specification per the DCI Compliance Test Plan (CTP). Interoperability is managed by DCI, SMPTE standards, or industry practice.
Projection System Basics
Movies are distributed in digital form, with movie data distributed as a Composition. Compositions are packaged for distribution as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP). Movies are encrypted prior to distribution, and decrypted at the cinema. The decryption key is provided in the form of a Key Delivery Message (KDM). Forensic marking also takes place, with picture and sound marked with time-of-day and location information. All secure processes take place in real time in secure hardware, such that unencrypted picture and sound data are never stored in user-accessible local data storage. The processor where decryption, decompression, and forensic marking takes place is referred to as a Media Block. The Media Block contains a Screen Management System (SMS), which provides the user interface to the projection system (also known as a "screen system") and manages housekeeping tasks for the Secure Processing Block.
The Projection System
Theater Management System
The majority of cinemas have more than one auditorium. In the language of cinema, auditoriums are often referred to as a "screen." The management of multiple screens requires the means to schedule shows, manage content and keys, centrally store content and keys for later movement over a network to a screen, and the ability to monitor the status and health of the system.
DCPs arrive in the cinema by satellite or by means of portable storage, such as a hard drive, and are stored in local network storage. A typical composition is 200GB in size, and KDMs are generally under 100KB. It is not unusual for several versions of a title to be received, with features such as open captions and/or immersive sound tracks. Most cinemas schedule shows in the Point-of-Sale (POS) system, which is not part of the cinema system. A schedule manager will read the POS schedule, and from that generate the actual play times for advertisements, trailers, and movies at each screen. The schedule manager will also move compositions stored in local network storage to the appropriate screens. A key manager will catalog the KDMs received, and match those to each screen. In a more sophisticated system, the key manager will also facilitate the automation of KDM delivery by collecting and sending the credentials of the equipment to the appropriate KDM generation vendor. The monitoring system will indicate if everything is ready for a show, and if not, raise the appropriate flags to cinema personnel. All of the elements described are often combined into one product called a Theater Management System (TMS).
Theater Management System (TMS)
last revised 2019-03-11 in System by MK
→ DCI and SMPTE
← Communications for Off-Screen Timed Text


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« Giants Linked as Possible Trade Partners with Cleveland for OT Nate Solder
The Browns Might Want Nate Solder; But Do the Giants Feel Like Making a Deal? »
The Five Best Running Backs in the History of the Giants
October 23rd, 2019 Matt Loede Posted in Features
In the rich history of the New York Giants the franchise has had a ton of top notch running backs, some of which are still beloved by fans of the G-Men.
When you look at the numbers, there's been some impressive stats by some of these top Giants running backs, and if you look here and below you can see how the Giants have had some great running backs including one right now in rising star Saquon Barkley, who by the time it's all said and done likely will be at the very top of the list.
Today we run down the top five of the best of all time for the Giants when it comes to rushing the football!
5. Ahmad Bradshaw 2007-2012
While the Giants were winning two Super Bowls as massive underdogs to the Patriots, their leading rusher for those two history making years was Ahmad Bradshaw.
His career in New York didn't get off to a very good start, as he fumbled twice on kickoff returns in his first two games.
He eventually found his stride, and by the time his time in New York was done he ran for 4232 with 32 scores.
4. Brandon Jacobs 2005-2013
The bruising Jacobs was undervalued as a solid running back for the G-Men for eight seasons, rushing for a total of 5087 yards and 60 scores.
Jacobs was a house, standing 6'4″ and weighing 264 pounds. He also ran the 100 meters in 10.82 seconds and the 200 meters in 21.59 seconds
He's one of the best backs that Giants fans never seem to talk about.
3. Joe Morris 1982-1988
Never the biggest guy on the field (at times actually the smallest) Morris was a fan favorite for his grit and determination during his time with the Giants.
The 5-foot-7 running back was a key member of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI in 1987. He rushed for 67 yards, caught four passes for 20 yards, and scored a touchdown in the game.
He averaged four yards a carry in his career and scored 50 times, not bad for a guy who many thought never would.
2. Rodney Hampton 1990-1997
Getting in Hampton's way was not a good idea, as shown over and over again when defenders would end up on the ground as Hampton would rush over them.
The running back ran for 6897 yards and 49 scores during his time with the Giants, and in 104 games he put up 3.8 yards per carry.
Hampton was part of a big 1-2 punch that won Super Bowl XXV.
1. Tiki Barber 1997-2006
The best running back in Giants history has to be Tiki Barber, who during his tenure ran for 10449 yards, 55 scores, and put up 4.7 yards per carry.
Barber was a weapon every time he touched the ball, and there's no question that Giants fans to this day that wear his number 21 remember how good he was and how the team thrived when he was at his best.
Tags: Joe Morries, Rodney Hampton, Saquon Barkley, tiki-barber


June | 2008 | Dan Moore!
Here's an interesting article about building websites with GWT. By 'normal' this author is talking about integrating GWT components into existing HTML pages, or making widgets available to non technical users. This is in contrast to what seems like the sweet spot of GWT–building rich web applications. (I've talked about these two use cases before.) I was impressed by the author's assessment of the GWT widget landscape and the machinations to create a vertical TabPanel and the follow up about internationalization. I haven't done any i18n with GWT, but the fact that you can't change locale after load time certainly seems like a large flaw.
I am using JSTL for a project. For such a standard, it's a bit wierd to get started with. Sun provides a spec, but as far as I can see, you have to download the entire J2EE stack to get the jarfile. There's not a lot of good documentation on getting started with it (this page, though dated and focusing on JSTL 1.0 and 1.1, was helpful).
I just got back from Google I/O. This two day conference was the successor to Google Developer Day. There were a wide variety of topics covered. I hope to get my notes written up, but for now, I just wanted to capture some advice on conference-going, mostly for my future reference.
Go to more conferences, at least one a year. Sure, they take time and money away from real work, but they refresh you, expose you to new technologies and people, and recharge your batteries in a different manner than a typical vacation. If you are not excited by the end of a technology conference, maybe you shouldn't be in technology.
Realize that you probably won't find a solution to a specific problem you have. Why? Because your problem is probably very specific to your current situation. Talks at conferences tend to focus either on general introductory material, or very specific, in depth explanations of other people's solutions to problems. Chances are their problems weren't yours.
That said, come with specific questions/areas of interest. This lets you have focus when you are confronted with the vast feast of knowledge that most conferences display. Make sure you read the schedule and note interesting talks.
Don't eat all the snacks provided. There's a temptation to take advantage of all the 'free' food, but gorging yourself will make you sleepy.
Realize that you can't see all the interesting sessions. See if the conference is posting video later. Google I/O is (supposedly by June 6).
Talk to people. This is one of the hardest things for me to do–there are a ton of strangers at a conference, I'm not sure if they'll have valuable information, and it's so much easier to sit back and wait for someone else to talk to you. But everyone I talked to at I/O had an interesting story to tell, and most everyone was interested in what I had to say.
Get people's business cards. It's flattering to be asked for a card, and you never know when you might run across an article or project that might be of interest to someone you've met.
The informal meetings (Birds of a Feather, Fireside Chats) are worth far more than the organized talks. There is a fantastic amount of formal and informal articles, blogs and videos about technology that you can consume at your leisure, in your bathrobe at home. Far less common is interactive descriptions of problems and solutions, including face to face time. While mailing lists and newsgroups take care of some of these needs, social time at conferences is an even easier way to have these kind of thought provoking and wide ranging discussions. Also, it's easier to talk to people when that is the purpose of the event.
Verify how feedback will be given to the speakers before you spend any of your precious time filling out feedback forms. Conference organizers, this is a call for you to step up and tell attendees how their feedback will be delivered–I heard at least one speaker say that in ten years of attending conferences, he had never seen any feedback forms.
Keynotes are interesting, high level, and great places to finish breakfast.
Use a notepad, not a laptop. For I/O, I took a laptop one day and a notepad the next. I have a hard time taking notes on a laptop and not being distracted by email, searching for concepts/tools/projects that the speaker mentioned, and upcoming work. (I'm not sure I'm NADD compatible.) With a notepad, you can capture everything you feel is important, and if it is really important, you can revist it later.
Review your notes. Perhaps for a blog post, but definitely review them and break out action items–projects to investigate, articles that you should read, information to pass on to colleagues. Act on those action items.


Charming home in newer neighborhood! Wow! Beautiful kitchen with large breakfast bar, sparkling stainless and sleek granite opens to a spacious living with high ceilings and lots of natural light! New carpet (thruout 2019) continues to the sequestered master with stunning bath, soaking tub, his/her vanities & big walk-in closet! Manageable yard and covered patio complete this cutie!


Are you considering a run for local office but wonder where to start getting up to speed on the issues? Or, are you someone who just wants to make a difference in your community? Consider serving on a local Board or Commission. The County of Santa Cruz and each incorporated city in the county have a number of opportunities.
Santa Cruz County has over 40 advisory bodies which advise the Board of Supervisors on a wide arrange of issues--everything from Ag policy to Parks and Recreation, to Senior Services. Some appointments are at-large, meaning that any Supervisor can nominate an appointee. Others are district appointments, where a Supervisor nominates an appointee, usually a resident of his/her district.
The County of Santa Cruz encourages applicants to apply for positions, even though there isn't a vacancy on the commission of their choice.
City of Capitola: Along with meeting schedules, vacancies are posted on each commission page.
City of Scotts Valley: A number of positions are currently available on the Arts Commission, Board of Appeals, Code Enforcement Appeals Board, Mobile Home Park Rent Commissions, and the Park and Recreation Advocates. Applicants usually must be a resident of Scotts Valley.
City of Santa Cruz: Unless otherwise stated, applicants must be city residents or voters for the City of Santa Cruz Advisories.
City of Watsonville: Members of City Boards and Commissions serve at large and need to be registered to vote in Watsonville.
November 2017 Special District Elections: We won't have regular elections in November but 6 special districts will have their elections. The nominating period for candidates for these districts is from July 17-August 11. In case no one applies, candidate extended filing is from August 12-August 16. If you know someone who lives in these districts and might be interested in running, please contact me.
Alba Park and Recreation District: Represents 220 residents on Alba Road in Ben Lomond. Tax assessments are used to run the old Alba school house as an event and community center. Candidates must own property in the district to run for the board.
Opel Cliff Recreation District: Includes 438 parcels in the Opel Cliffs neighborhood, which has access to Privates Beach. The District oversees access to the beach. Board members must own property within the district.
Salsipuedes Sanitary District: Oversees wastewater collection and treatment in the unincorporated areas of East Watsonville, from St. Francis High School to the County Fairgrounds. Candidates for the Board must be registered in the District.
Depot Hill Geologic Hazard Abatement District: These districts are set up to deal with specific geologic hazards such as erosion or landslides. Candidates for these Boards must own property in the districts.
Reclamation District 2049 (College Lake) in Watsonville. Only 20 parcels of land in the district. Candidates must own property in the District to run for the Board.


The Denver Broncos are among the most popular NFL teams of all time and with good reason. The Denver Broncos and have had some great players including John Elway, Terrell Davis, Steve Atwater & Von Miller just to name a few.
If you're a fan of the Denver Broncos, shop for their autographed NFL collectibles, which include autographed photos, signed footballs, hand signed helmets, authentic autographed jerseys, and more!
Steve Atwater Denver Broncos Autographed White Panel Team Logo Football Inscribed "2x SB Champ"


text:
At long last Redmond Barry became a gentleman�and that was his tragedy.
Rating: 5.0/5 (1 users) *New - please help rate it
Theater gross
$20.0 mil
Hardy Kruger
Diana Korner
Gay Hamilton
Frank Middlemass
Arthur O'Sullivan
Godfrey Quigley
Leonard Rossiter
In the 18th century, there was a boy named Redmond Barry. He lived on a farm in a small village in Ireland, but wanted more than anything in the world to life the live of a wealthy nobleman. So after running away to Dublin and being robbed of his possessions, he has no choice but to enlist in the British Army to fight in the Seven Years War. When he deserts the army, however, he becomes forced to join the Prussian Army. He then begins to lie, cheat, and steal his way through life, ultimately ending up in a loveless marriage with more wealth than he had ever dreamed of. It is only then that realizes this is not what he really wanted at all.
imdb: 7.1 PG


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HomeGOV. UDOM EMMANUEL TASKS EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ON ICT TRAINING
GOV. UDOM EMMANUEL TASKS EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ON ICT TRAINING
Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Akwa Ibom State governor, has called on institutions of higher learning across the country to equip graduates with requisite skills that would enable them measure up with their counterparts in the globally competitive work environment.
Governor Emmanuel made the call during the 2nd and 3rd Convocation of Akwa Ibom State University held at Ikot Akpaden main campus of the institution.
He acknowledged that the world is undergoing changes and urged citadels of learning to prepare students to view the world as a vast land of opportunities where they would translate creative ideas into sustainable wealth and cited people like Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Job, Michael Dell and others whom he said have impacted the World through creative endeavours.
His words: "I challenge this university to begin a new academic conversation to the effect that while it is wonderful to look forward to building a career in the civil service or other professional lines, we can equally be successful or if not more, if we think up ideas and match them with technology and then begin to put the building blocks towards wealth creation."
The governor said that his administration has started the process by sending youths abroad to learn and equip themselves with skills that would make them drivers of industrialisation programme of the administration.
He explained that the second convocation of the institution could not hold because of accreditation issues and commended the University management for securing the accreditation adding that brighter future and great expectations await students as they undergo training in the institution.
Emmanuel commended the graduating class of 2017 for conducting themselves in a manner that qualify them for the award of degrees and certificates in various disciplines and wished them well as they take up the challenge of building their career in the future.
"I have no doubt that the quality of education you have received here will stand you in good stead to compete with your contemporaries and in the process, project the foundational tenets and vision of this great institution as it ambassadors," he stated.
Emmanuel, the Visitor to the university, expressed appreciation to the Chancellor, the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Adamu; the Governing Board, and the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eno Ibanga, for maintaining academic excellence thereby making the institution among the best in the country.
While pledging his administration's resolve to provide quality and affordable education to every citizen, the governor urged the university to explore ways of increasing it revenue profile using available facilities in the school and made a job offer to the best graduating student Mr. Evans Joel Udom.
The Pro-Chancellor, Engr. A. S. Udofia, stated that the school has enjoyed appreciable growth in terms of physical infrastructure and student enrolment adding that decent hostels, classrooms, standard libraries, laboratories, state of the art studio, ultra-modern performing art theatre as well as qualified lecturers have been provided to enable students excel in their studies.
He thanked the governor for fast- tracking development in the university assuring that the institution has been strategically positioned to contribute to the realization of industrialisation and other lofty programmes of the state administration.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Eno Ibanga, said that additional facilities have been provided to accommodate the increasing number of students which he put at 7,857.
He explained that the second convocation was for students who had completed their academic programmes in the 2014 /2015 session, while the third convocation was for those who concluded their studies in the 2015/2016 session.
He said that no case of cultism has been recorded in the university and that 88 students were currently benefiting from scholarship programme from various organisations.
A total of 916 graduates participated in the convocation ceremony which featured flag off of construction projects at the permanent site of the university, commissioning of a two-floor Administrative Block designed and built within four months and three weeks by staff and students of the institution's Department of Physical Planning as well as conferment of honorary Doctorate Degree on the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio


text:
package crate.elasticsearch.doctests;

import org.elasticsearch.common.settings.Settings;

import com.github.tlrx.elasticsearch.test.EsSetup;

public class StoreEsSetup extends EsSetup {

    public StoreEsSetup() {
        super(new StoreLocalClientProvider());
    }

    public StoreEsSetup(Settings settings) {
        super(new StoreLocalClientProvider(settings));
    }
}


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The royals' £2.3 million official hospitality and housekeeping costs
UK News | Published: Jun 25, 2019
Some £1.7 million of taxpayers' money was spent on food and drink.
Buckingham Palace garden party
The royal family's household spent £2.3 million on official hospitality and housekeeping last year, including £1.7 million on food and drink, royal accounts showed.
Some 240 receptions were held by the Master of the Household's Department, as well as 158 lunches, nine garden parties and 75 dinners at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James's Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 2018-2019
The Queen greets guests at an evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace (Victoria Jones/PA)
About 160,000 guests were entertained at the residences during the 12-month period from April 1 2018 to March 31 2019.
Spending from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant included £1.7 million on food and drink.
Cleaning and laundry and other items came to £600,000, while the wine and spirits bill was £400,000, with wine being held in stock to age.
Large-scale events hosted by the Queen included the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting opening ceremony in the Buckingham Palace ballroom in April and the state visit by the King of the Netherlands in October.
The Queen speaking at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK took place in June 2019, so will be accounted for in next year's financial report.
Buckingham Palace's Sovereign Grant report showed that the royal household spent £3.8 million on information technology, up £800,000 from the previous year, and £1.1 million on printing, postage and stationery.
Official hospitality and housekeeping also cost £2.3 million in 2017-2018, while in 2016-2017, it was £2.2 million.
UK News | Jul 18, 2019
Politics | 2 hours ago
British tourist, 23, could be left paralysed after waterpark accident in Spain
Michel Barnier: Theresa May never threatened no-deal Brexit at EU talks
'For me it is all about this city': Peaky Blinders creator will shoot hit BBC drama finale in Birmingham
Bilston | Last updated: Less than an hour ago
Walsall | Last updated: 2 hours ago


The Evolution Of Tattoo Removal - Fairview Laser Clinic Inc.
Tattoos have been around for hundreds, even thousands of years. Once viewed as a sign of anarchy or rebellion, they're now considered to be mainstream in many cultures.
In fact, in certain demographics, number of people with "inked skin" significantly out numbers those without tattoos. Perhaps one of the reasons for this prevalence is that these days tattoos don't require as much commitment as they did in the past.
Although they were once viewed an irreversible permanent marking, advanced technology now allows the removal of tattoos which is undoubtedly reassuring for a lot of people.
Professional modern tattoo removal has been around for almost half a century, although records of ancient methods for removing permanent ink from skin do exist.
It's said that in ancient days, a resin from a tree called Terebinth was rubbed on the skin. Although it supposedly took 20 days to work, reports were that it was effective.
Other methods that were tried included various substances being injected into the skin including wine and pigeon excrement in an attempt to dilute the ink colour.
In the 20th and 21st century, plastic surgeons began developing more effective medical procedures to remove tattoos either partially or fully.
Excision – Cutting away the skin affected by the tattoo and sewing it up.
Trichocloroacetic acid – Putting an acid on the tattooed skin to remove the inked layers.
As you can imagine from reading the descriptions of these treatments, most were extremely painful and many had unsightly results with plenty of scarring.
Today, tattoo removal has evolved far past acid treatments and wine injections. Most cosmetic surgery clinics, including Fairview, use laser treatments to get rid of tattoos. Laser treatments are much less invasive, and much more effective with very limited recovery time.
Most people describe laser treatment as a similar sensation to being snapped with an elastic band. Although slightly painful, it's a lot milder than using abrasion or excision to remove the tattoo.
Depending on the size and colours of the tattoo as well as the depth of the ink, complete removal can sometimes take up to 5 or more sessions.
After the last session, at least 95% of the tattoo is usually removed and it will be next to impossible to see remnants of the tattoo with the naked eye!


The very purpose of web design for any business is two-fold: To attract new clients and to further interest existing ones.
By not having a site implies missing out on probable clients and probable income. Your website does not have to be excessively large, confusing or costly to show who you are and what you do. Notwithstanding your other marketing strategies, you need to empower potential clients to either discover you through Google or take action after they have seen your other advertising material.
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We'll help you design and write your site to detail your experience, involvement, and different qualifications to give you believability and give potential clients more certainty when choosing whether to work with you.
Have a site already? We will take your current site and its content and mold it – like clay in a skilled potter's hand – to make something absolutely stunning and at a price you can afford.
Contact us for a quote today or simply send us your questions or concerns.
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Category Archives: Will Panso
Will Panzo: The Burning Isle (Author Guest Blog)
ABOUT WILL PANZO:
After working in publishing and as an editor for Marvel Comics, Will Panzo found his true calling as a physician assistant for an emergency department. The Burning Isle is his first novel. He lives and works in New York City.
ABOUT THE BURNING ISLE:
The mage Cassius has just arrived on the island of Scipio. Five miles of slum on the edge of fifty miles of jungle, Scipio is a lawless haven for criminals, pirates, and exiles. The city is split in two, each half ruled by a corrupt feudal lord. Both of them answer to a mysterious general who lives deep in the jungle with his army, but they still constantly battle for power. If a man knows how to turn their discord to his advantage, he might also turn a profit…
But trained on the Isle of Twelve, Cassius is no ordinary spellcaster, and his goal is not simply money. This is a treacherous island where the native gods are restless and anything can happen…
Author Guest Post
Justice in the Absence of Law
by Will Panzo
Violence is the oldest tradition of justice known to man. Society, through the rule of law, offers other means of redress, but in exchange for this alternative, people must relinquish their right to violence. In a lawful world, society has a monopoly on the use of force. But a lawful world is a man-made concept and, like everything made by man, it's impermanent. Violence has existed long before man though, and may well exist forever.
In today's society, we take the rule of law for granted. Disputes which can't be settled privately are brought before a court for arbitration. When a citizen's life or property is endangered, the police, an instrument of the law, are a mere phone call away. But we need not look deep into history to find a society where law did not exist, or where it proved too ineffective to supplant the older tradition of violent retribution.
In ancient Greece, retribution was considered a noble act, one sanctioned by the gods. Rome had a rich tradition of blood feuds, which often pit warring families against one another for generations. Similar vendettas can be found in feudal Japan, the Philippines, medieval Scotland and Ireland, Norse cultures.
Even in America, only a few centuries past, settlers of the West found themselves in a frontier not yet touched by the institutions of government. Where, then, did they turn for protection and recompense? Without the framework of a lawful society, the settlers learned a lesson well known to the ancient world. The oldest form of justice is violence.
Blood feuds such as the Pleasant Valley War, the Lincoln County War (featuring Billy the Kid), and the Earp Vendetta Ride (an attempt to settle scores after the gunfight at the O.K. Corral) gave the Old West its reputation for violence. At that time, without an efficient system of law, or a government powerful enough to monopolize the use of force, people returned to a more primal system of justice. It would take decades before the rule of law took hold. The old traditions died hard.
My novel, The Burning Isle, is a dark tale, set in a fantasy world reminiscent of ancient Rome. On the fringe of this republic lies the island of Scipio, a place where the rule of law has lapsed. All manner of society's castoffs make their way to Scipio: fugitives fleeing justice, exiles unwelcome elsewhere in the Republic, criminals seeking illicit profit. Into this world enters a young spellcaster named Cassius who, at first, appears to be a common mercenary looking to earn some coin. It soon becomes clear that Cassius has other plans though, that he has come to Scipio not to seek his fortune, but to right a great injustice.
Cassius fancies himself a man on a crusade, but on an island with no laws, vengeance is his only means of seeking justice. There are no courts in which he can plea his case, no police to arrest those who have wronged him, no jury to weigh the merits of his claim. Cassius, alone in a wild frontier, and beset on all sides by enemies, decides that violence is his only recourse.
As he sets about his work though, Cassius soon comes to realize that violence is a messy business. Vengeance is not a task undertaken flippantly. It demands dedication and self-sacrifice. When Cassius' naïve morality meets his desire for retribution, the dissonance between the two threatens his very sanity. Can Cassius navigate the tricky path necessary to see his work completed without losing his mind? Or will his appeal to violence, that most primal form of justice, lead to his ruin? Only one thing is for certain. Before Cassius finds his answer, he'll find bloodshed.
Filed under Fantasy, Will Panso