text:
A Lose-lose presupposition
Ajit Sahi
Man with a plan Rahul is willing to bear defeat now for long-term gain. Photo: Arun Sehrawat
Congress Vice-President and putative prime ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi told a TV news channel last week he believed his party would win this year's Lok Sabha election. Given that a spate of opinion polls have predicted a drubbing for the shambolic Congress party, shocked commentators asked, does he really think so? If those around Rahul are to be believed, no, he doesn't think the Congress is coming back to power. In fact, Rahul is beginning to reconcile himself to the possibility of the Congress scoring its worst-ever tally in Parliament, lower than the 114 it won in 1999. But Rahul is also increasingly of the view that the BJP, his party's principal rival and the favourite of the opinion polls to form the next government, is going to be disappointed. And that in the BJP's failure to score enough numbers would lie the chance of the Congress.
First, why Rahul has begun to accept that a third successive term in New Delhi is too uphill for his flamed-out party. "We have allowed the grass to grow under our feet for too long," rues a key adviser of Rahul's, wiser on hindsight. Yes, the quarterbacks of India's most famous dynast concede, he should have been projected as the party's prime ministerial nominee long ago. "When Rahul says he isn't interested in power, he actually speaks the truth," says an insider wryly. "But that's also why he appears to have no killer instinct."
Aides now say Rahul should have played on the front foot far more, aggressively dominating the government's agenda instead of keeping a polite distance from PM Manmohan Singh, whose insipid leadership of the past four years has made his UPA-2 regime too toxic to defend. Aides also accept Rahul has no credible answers on why he didn't act on corruption charges against his party's governments and leaders, at the Centre and in Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh.
Aides and advisers have been especially foxed by Rahul's refusal (and of his mother, Congress party president Sonia Gandhi's, too) to directly attack the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi even though the Gujarat chief minister himself has been barbecuing them in his public speeches. Surprising aides, Rahul has turned down suggestions that he debunk Modi's claim of having given good governance to Gujarat since taking charge of the state 12 years ago. He has even put a lid on attempts by the cadres to investigate and expose some of Modi's claims of development as false. "Rahul has an aversion to dirty politics," an insider says unhappily.
Another aide, however, insists Rahul is in no torpor and that it is political calculation rather than morals that is shaping his approach. For better or for worse, the Congress vice-president reckons that challenging Modi aggressively on economy and development would be counterproductive, given Gujarat's rather upbeat economy that appears brighter compared with the national average as well as those of the Congress-ruled states. "The trouble is that Rahul is defensive about his party-led government's performance, especially its inability to revive the economy and push back the charge of corruption," he says. "Rahul wants to focus more on his party's economic prescriptions for the lower classes that are above the poverty line but still outside the middle class."
Another reason Rahul is reconciling to a Congress downgrade in this summer's parliamentary election is that nearly the entire rung of the party's senior citizens has abandoned him. The top guns are alienated by Rahul's obstinate push for inner-party reforms that aim to break up the old boys' club and force a culture of transparency. Naturally, this has alarmed the hitherto deeply entrenched interests who are quietly digging in for a prolonged entrenched warfare once the election is over. Since most satraps, and their second-tier leaderships in the states, control the party apparatus in their backyards, Rahul has become a lone ranger in his quest. Old-timers recall how his father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, had tripped in the 1980s when he tried to radically overhaul the party. A failure to win for his party the forthcoming election would further erode Rahul's capital, already much depleted in public imagination from losing a string of state elections.
Far-fetched as they may appear, the eerie prospects of an implosive takedown of the Congress party's original dynasty in case of an electoral rout are real. In fact, the process of choosing candidates for the Lok Sabha election is presaging that later battle, as the old guard and the traditional factions are girding up to fight for Lok Sabha seats for themselves and their factotums. It is increasingly becoming a no-win for Rahul, who realises that while he may need to embrace compromise in distributing nominations, he alone would be blamed for the party's loss.
Half that battle would be salvaged, though, if the BJP were to fall short of forming the government. That would require the largest Opposition party to be stalled at around 160-odd seats or less, a good deal short of the 272 it would need for a majority in Parliament. Some opinion polls this month have suggested the Congress could get around 100 seats and the non-Congress and non-BJP parties around 180. Rahul believes it would then be opportune for his party to back a Third Front government as it did in 1996 to keep the BJP out. The scenario is now prompting a new thinking in the Rahul camp on how to defeat the BJP. And the answer is the "Muslim voter" model, which suggests that Muslims vote for any candidate that they think is best suited to defeat the BJP.
The argument goes that the Congress should field lightweight candidates in constituencies where it does not have much scope to defeat the BJP, so that the anti-BJP voters consolidate behind a candidate from a third party. The proponents of this tactic are especially suggesting its application in Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress is unlikely to forge an alliance with either of the state's two biggest parties, the ruling Samajwadi Party and former CM Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. The return of former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa to the BJP has also thrown up the idea of either a tactical or unspoken alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) of former PM HD Deve Gowda.
"The fact is that if Modi fails to bring the BJP to power, his political power would be hugely dented," a Congress leader told TEHELKA. Having been out of power for a decade already, the BJP would then run a risk of falling into disarray, he said, which would give Rahul enough time to reshape the Congress party and be ready for the next election. In any case, in a scenario wherein the Congress party backs a minority Third Front government, Rahul would have the advantage of pulling out the support at a time of his choosing that would trigger a mid-term election, he suggested.
The Rahul camp is also making a distinction between Modi and the BJP. "Modi as PM would be unacceptable to many political parties that cannot win without Muslim votes," says the Congress leader. Several such parties, including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), would be otherwise willing to join the BJP if Modi is kept out. For this reason, the Congress would be happier if the BJP is unable to shake Modi off after the results are out, which would then automatically bring a Third Front to coalesce.
"The funny thing is that over the past two decades, the Congress has lost Lok Sabha polls when it expected to win and won when it expected to lose," says another leader with a chuckle. As a newly-installed president of the Congress, Sonia had led herself to believe she was well placed to lead her party back to power in 1999, which the incumbent BJP-led coalition unexpectedly won. In 2004, few had given the Congress even an outside chance to topple the NDA government, but the latter unexpectedly lost it.
Third Front government
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Hilarity and heart combine in the second season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In the second season of this inspiring comedy, as the Banks family continues to adjust to Will living with them in Bel-Air, they find themselves questioning how they live in the process. . The prince is back and fresher than ever! Guest stars this season include Nicholle Tom The Nanny , Allen Payne House of Payne and members of New Edition Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. . . .


text:
<?php

namespace Mhor\MediaInfo\Test\Builder;

use Mhor\MediaInfo\Builder\MediaInfoContainerBuilder;
use Mhor\MediaInfo\Factory\TypeFactory;
use Mhor\MediaInfo\Type\AbstractType;

class TrackTestType extends AbstractType
{
}

class MediaInfoContainerBuilderTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
{
    public function testSetVersion()
    {
        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder = new MediaInfoContainerBuilder();

        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $this->assertEquals(null, $mediaContainer->getVersion());

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->setVersion('2.0');
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();

        $this->assertEquals('2.0', $mediaContainer->getVersion());
    }

    public function testAddTrackType()
    {
        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder = new MediaInfoContainerBuilder();

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType(TypeFactory::AUDIO, array());
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $audios = $mediaContainer->getAudios();
        $this->assertEquals(0, count($audios[0]->get()));

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType(TypeFactory::VIDEO, array());
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $videos = $mediaContainer->getVideos();
        $this->assertEquals(0, count($videos[0]->get()));

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType(TypeFactory::GENERAL, array());
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $this->assertEquals(0, count($mediaContainer->getGeneral()->get()));

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType(TypeFactory::IMAGE, array());
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $images = $mediaContainer->getImages();
        $this->assertEquals(0, count($images[0]->get()));

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType(TypeFactory::SUBTITLE, array());
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $subtitles = $mediaContainer->getSubtitles();
        $this->assertEquals(0, count($subtitles[0]->get()));

        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType(TypeFactory::OTHER, array());
        $mediaContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $others = $mediaContainer->getOthers();
        $this->assertEquals(0, count($others[0]->get()));
    }

    /**
     * @expectedException Mhor\MediaInfo\Exception\UnknownTrackTypeException
     */
    public function testAddInvalidType()
    {
        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder = new MediaInfoContainerBuilder();
        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->addTrackType('InvalidType', array());
    }

    /**
     * @expectedException \Exception
     */
    public function testAddInvalidTypeOnMediaInfoContainer()
    {
        $mediaInfoContainerBuilder = new MediaInfoContainerBuilder();
        $mediaInfoContainer = $mediaInfoContainerBuilder->build();
        $mediaInfoContainer->add(new TrackTestType());
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Analytics & Competitive Insights
Strategic Outreach
Enterprise SEO: Why Marketers Need It
Ecommerce SEO: An Advanced Guide
Bold B2B SEO: Bold Strategies
How to Create an SEO Strategy
We're proud to help make Syracuse a better place to live and work.
As a company, we've committed to do our part in giving back to the Syracuse area. We are each invested in seeing our city and region thrive by being active, positive members of our community. You'll find us throughout the year, helping a variety of causes, particularly Cause for the 'Cuse, our homegrown charity for the Syracuse city schools, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk.
There is a growing number of young people in our community who lack some of the most basic items necessary to succeed. Whether it's warm clothes to battle harsh Syracuse winters or school supplies to aid their education, a significant portion of our local students are going without. From notebooks and pencils, to winter coats and hats, to underwear and deodorant, Cause For The Cuse has stepped in to ensure that every student has what they need.
Since 2013, this initiative, founded and run entirely by Terakeet employees, has raised over $80,000 to provide necessary supplies for students in the Syracuse City School District.
In 2011, Terakeet employee Marc Murray passed away due to complications from leukemia. For many, Marc was more than a coworker. He was a friend. Today, Terakeet proudly supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their mission to end all blood cancers. In addition to making a financial donation, each year we walk as a company in the Syracuse region Light the Night Walk, both as a way to support the cause and to honor Marc's memory.
Learn How We Give Back
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Sheafs Race For The Prize With Bizarre Video
"Who would win in a sprint between a Wizard, a Lion, a Soldier, a Mime, and a Clown?" It may sound like the kind of chat you'd expect from a band who've spent weeks holed-up on a tourbus together, but in Sheafs' new video for 'Care Less' they put this very question to the test. In their new video co-directed with Sam Crowston (The Blinders/No Hot Ashes), Sheffield's fastest rising five-piece dig out the fancy dress box and hit the running track of Sheffield Hallam University for a showdown like no other. Expertly synced to the break-neck tempo of 'Care Less', the clip is a bizarre and brilliant accompaniment to the band's latest sonic offering.
Fielding ideas for the new video, Sheafs explain how they finally landed upon its fittingly novel concept, plus some of the hurdles they encountered along the way: "Essentially the costumes were used to emulate the attitude of caring less about your image and running a race in those outfits seemed like a fun idea! The running also mapped well to the tempo of 'Care Less' and it is pretty upbeat…It was shot in 30 degree heat and one of the lads had stitches in their leg"
Clocking in at a neat 2'30, 'Care Less' is a rush of adrenaline from the moment go. Produced by Dead Nature main-man and Spring King-pin: Tarek Musa, the track was quickly laid down in a matter of days at Whitewood Recording Studio, Liverpool, with additional mastering by Mike Cave (whom recently mixed and mastered Lewis Capaldi's latest chart topping album).
The 'Care Less' track and video swiftly follows a Summer of frenetic activity for the quintet, that seen them release their sensational recent single 'Popular Music', win over crammed halls at Dot2Dot in Nottingham, Manchester and Bristol, but also play to a big hometown crowd at Tramlines Festival in Sheffield. Sealing the deal on a summer of groundbreaking shows, Sheafs were also crowned 'UK Talent Winners' at Mad Cool Festival in Madrid this year.
Following a stint of high profile support slots with the likes of The Amazons, The Coral, and Idles, plus their recent tour with US rockers Greta Van Fleet which saw them win over audiences all over Europe and at packed-out room at London's Electric Ballroom, Sheafs now look forward to a headline tour of their own. Slating-up gigs this Autumn at prestigious venues such as The Foundry in Sheffield and Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, don't miss the band as they blow the roof of some of their biggest shows to date.
SHEAFS - AUTUMN HEADLINE TOUR DATES
27th September The Foundry, Sheffield
2nd October Colours Hoxton, London
5th October Night & Day Cafe, Manchester
11th October Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
12th October Think Tank?, Newcastle
Festival Coverage: Y-Not Festival 2018
Published in Live
With last year's festival leaving little more than a bad taste in the mouths of returning regulars and festival virgins, organisers of this year's Y-Not Festival needed to not only pull out all the stops in order to make it memorable, but address at the litany of issues that surrounded last year's ill-fated iteration.
Though many people assumed, and espoused, that 2017 was the final nail in the festival's coffin, either for them personally, or for the event as a whole, organisers promised profusely in the lead up to this year's festival that last year's shitshow wasn't going to repeat itself.
Thankfully, much of those promises came to fruition, and with the exception of bouts of bad weather that evoked strong feels of déjà vu, 2018 was, by and large, a success.
Even seconds after arriving at the festival site, it's clear that improvements have been made. Temporary roads/walkways have been installed across the drop-off point, and security seem thorough but friendly – a welcome change from last year's arrogance and indifference.
Once inside, the first noticeable change is just how different the layout is to previous years. Gone are the separate areas that provided their own personalities but stymied the festivals geographic flow. Instead the main stage sits at the bottom of a hill, in the centre of the arena, with other stages, bars and the usual festival miscellany scattered around the outside.
The result is a festival that flows much better and has the added advantage of a gentle slope providing good visibility towards the Main Stage, often regardless of where you're stood. The acoustics also carry far better than previous years, something we found out on Thursday Night as Razorlight took to the Main Stage to entertain those of us eager to kickstart the weekend early.
Friday is where the change in atmosphere, at least compared to last year, is most noticeable. Spirits are both high and flowing from the outset. And where last year's atmosphere harboured an edge that was difficult to put your finger on, this year feels more in keeping with the "small, fresh and loud" tagline of previous years.
Exacerbated by the heat, it doesn't take long for true festival merriment to take hold, as the beers start to kick in and Nottingham's Vega Bay take to the quarry stage. With a set of easy going indie-pop that perfectly matches the weather, it's the ideal way of start proceedings.
Elsewhere across the weekend, the likes of The Lancashire Hotpots, Everly Pregnant Brothers and Beans On Toast return for their annual appearances, amusing and entertaining crowds across Friday and Saturday respectively. And headline appearances from The Libertines, who start shaky but end on a massive high, and Catfish And The Bottlemen prove that indie is still alive and kicking, even if it is starting to go grey.
Of course, Y-Not's always been about offering a platform for up and coming bands, with stages like The Allotment devoted to just that. This year is no different. And bands on the cusp of breaking such as DECO, No Hot Ashes and Sheafs all proving that while indie royalty might be greying, they'll always be fresh-faced new blood jostling for their crown.
It wouldn't be Y-Not, nor would it be the Peak District, without howling wind and sideways rain, and Saturday and Sunday definitely don't disappoint. And though tents, tshirts, jeans and just about everything else might be dampened, spirits certainly aren't. And while Y-Not may not feel like the same convivial festival it once was, it's still family-friendly and good natured, and most importantly, more than made amends for the year before.


My fiancé was a Navy SEAL officer who served two six-month tours in Vietnam, one of them coinciding with my last semester at Vassar. While he was leading twelve men safely through the military and moral morass of Southeast Asia, I was marooned at Vassar—where I couldn't find a single person who even knew anyone serving in Vietnam. My sense of isolation was reflected in my senior thesis for the drama department, a reading called "Women in Wartime," constructed from primary sources dating from World War I and earlier.
Although strongly anti-war personally, I resented the stated purpose of the Vassar Moratorium: to raise consciousness about the war. With the man I loved getting shot at on a daily basis in the Delta, I felt that my consciousness was plenty raised already.
I had no faith that my arm would be strong enough, so I persuaded one of Vassar's brand-new crop of senior men to accompany me to the roof. I assembled the tube, gave him verbal instructions, and held my breath.
Chris slammed his fist against the bottom of the tube. There was a pop and huge whoosh, and the dark quad lit up like noon for several minutes as the flare exploded and then floated gently on its little parachute. It was satisfying and beautiful—reminiscent of stories I'd been told about my father, a World War II demolitions expert, whose hatred of Nazi aristocrats had prompted him to blow up their grand pianos because "it made the most beautiful sound." Hidden on the roof and deeply at peace, I watched the brilliant light flicker and die.
Then we came downstairs to find the quad full of furious students, terrified by this unexpected demonstration of firepower. The recent killings at Kent State had made everyone edgy, and they had feared that Dutchess County sheriff Lawrence Quinlan had decided to unleash WMDs against Vassar's radicalized student body. Chris and I melted into the indignant mob—and never told anybody.


Are you game to do 10 squats - in exchange for a free train ride?
Well, that's what the government of Mexico City is offering train commuters.
They are introducing a new initiative, where Mexicans will get a token for a free subway ride in exchange for chalking up 10 squats in front of a ticket-dispensing motion sensor.
The "health station" also tell passengers how many calories they have burned.
This is one of the ways that the Central American country is trying to combat and tackle obesity - "the number one health issue" - according to Health Minister Jose Armando Ahued.
About 70 per cent of adults and nearly a third of children are overweight or obese in the country – a higher rate than the United States and Australia.
Public officials are eager to pitch in and do their part in tackling the problem.
The city is looking to install 30 squat machines in 15 train stations that see the most traffic.
On top of that, the first 80,000 people to join the program will be handed pedometers.
The price of a ride is about 5 pesos ($0.46).
And a free ride is certainly welcome in a country where minimum wage is 70 pesos.
Hmm, wonder if Singaporeans will take to something like this.


text:
Fire & Smoke: The Resurgence of Bodacious Bar-B-Q
The East Texas chain of Bodacious Bar-B-Q joints lost its founder, Roland Lindsey, in September. His son-in-law Jordan Jackson looks to not only carry on the brand's barbecue legacy, but improve it one location at a time.
By Daniel Vaughn
Daniel Vaughn is the country's first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have.
Photograph by Daniel Vaughn
The original Bodacious BBQ opened fifty years ago in Longview, Texas. It was called Little Roland's Bodacious Bar-B-Q. They dropped the "Little Roland" part and today it's known as Mobberly (for the street it sits on), or simply The Original. I tried to visit a few times in 2013 and 2014, always finding it closed. When I first met Roland in 2015, I learned why. A battle with cancer had forced him to close it indefinitely. His son-in-law, Jordan Jackson, helped him reopen the place in June of that same year, and just two years later we named it the No. 4 barbecue joint in the state on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ list.
Apple Podcasts — Google Play — Stitcher
Each time I visited, it was a chat with Roland that I most hoped for. He shared stories of what barbecue was like in this area of Texas before briskets dominated the menu. He used to cook whole beef plates, weighing 100 pounds, mopping them with a sauce he dubbed "Arkansas gravy." Roland witnessed the transformation of Texas barbecue, and the transformation of his own Bodacious brand, before he passed away in September.
Jackson learned most everything about cooking barbecue from Roland, and misses him every day. Roland's advice still echoes in his head while he tends the pits at the Gladewater location. He just reopened the spot after the previous operator, Mel Garcia, retired. Jackson is looking to put this Bodacious on the map the same way he did the Mobberly location. He's off to a good start; it has become the fourth in a string of great Bodacious options along Highway 80. Jackson's excellent ribs, brisket, and housemade sausage were my final meal of the day after stops in Marshall for incredible spare ribs, in Hallsville for some of the state's best brisket, and at the Mobberly location for a bit of everything. Roland left the Bodacious brand in good hands, and he'd be proud to know that it's better than ever.
How 'Poker Face' Re-created an East Texas BBQ Joint for TV
This Barbecue Joint Loves Its Community—and the Small Town Loves It Right Back
Just Off Highway 84 in Slaton Is a Barbecue Family Legacy
By Texas Country Reporter
Is the Fourth Slice the Barometer for a Well-Cooked Brisket?
This Brisket Isn't Barbecued But Is Still a Smoky, Fatty Wonder Served in a Taco
A Decade of Experimentation Led This Beloved Ramen Restaurant Group to Open a Barbecue Joint


There are days when you realize you are working in an environment that is the equivalent of one that switched from horse and buggy to the automobile a few years prior and is still trying to feed the car oats. There are some that see others putting a liquid in the autos tank so they boil the oats, strain the liquid, and put that in the tank. They have problems seeing why things do not run right.
Changing your environment from printing on paper to electronic information dissemination requires process change and formulating the information for easing the transfer into various presentation layers. Easily save into a PDF for distributing to those users that want to print and for information where layout is actually important to the information. Equally important is saving for Web presentation in valid (X)HTML. The (X)HTML is extremely valuable as it is a the a great means for users to consume the information on a wide variety of devices and provides the user the ability to reuse the information as the need and see fit.
When preparing information one must consider the the media used for presenting the message. It would also be wise to provide a great benefit to the user by considering information reuse. Preparing information for print, but not providing the data behind charts, alternate text for images, and other items that are required for accessibility (Section 508 compliance).
So far life with Panther has been fantastic. The only downside was my I had to install two times as I was a little tired last evening and selected "Upgrade" rather than "Archive and Install", which I knew to do, but with little sleep and a crazy week I missed it. Doing this Safari did not load when clicked. I reinstalled this morning using "Archive and Install" and have a great machine. I also moved my "Previous Systems" folder to my external hard drive and got back 4.8GB. I now have 15.8GB of free hard drive (I get very nervous when it falls under 14 or 15GB and start fearing that I am running our of hard drive space).
So far the much faster interface and better responsiveness of Panther is a great addition. I am also loving the Exposé as I always have many windows open and this feature makes everything easier to find. The Font Book has been addition I have been anxiously awaiting and it has lived up to my expectations. The new finder took about 15 minutes to get used to, but I am very happy with the changes here and I think it has made the finder much more usable. I am also planning to use the file label colors to use this visual tagging to help me organize all the files I have generated and downloaded.
Mark Pilgrim offers a fantastic overview in his What's New in Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.
I picked up Panther at 8:20 p.m. this evening from MacUpgrades, which was on my way home from work (yes I was there that late as my Win2k machine locked-up twice in a row and cause reboots as I was trying to get an e-mail off to India). The store was very busy with 20 or 25 people there checking out Panther, picking up a copy, or just enjoying the wine and cheese and cookies and beer. It was a nice little party and I wished I could have stayed longer, much longer.
I had a call after 9 p.m. from Fred and Paula, who are new Mac owners (iBooks) this summer and the first part of the month. They called to say the line at the Clarendon Apple store in Virginia had an insanely long line. This is their first experience with a release. I will have to find out in the morning how their wait in line went.
My dad, another new Mac owner (12 inch PowerBook) who has had his machine less than a week is going the delivery route as he is at a conference this weekend in a part of California without an Apple store in close (hour drive or less) proximity.
Welcome all to the world of Apple and welcome to the world of hype and delivery on that hype. It will be interesting to see if they are as side-tracked by the Jobs keynotes for major releases as many of the rest of us are.
Mac Upgrades in Bethesda, Maryland is having a Panther release party from 8 pm to midnight on Friday, October 24th. Mac Upgrades is a great small Apple store that has always been focussed providing great service to the Macintosh community. The folks at Mac Upgrade will give any "Genius" a run for their money.
If you pre-order Panther you get a free t-shirt. If you pick up you Panther on Friday night you get yet another free t-shirt. It sounds like there will be other fun and meeting others on Friday, with out the giant crowds of the Apple stores in the Washington, DC area (actually the Tyson's Store is currently closed for remodeling so the Clarendon store could be really packed).
Posted at 7:19 PM from Bethesda, Maryland.
Posted at 5:20 PM from Bethesda, Maryland.
The fine folks as the Asilomar Institute for Information Architecture (AIfIA) are offering IA event sponsorships. Yes, there are two 1,000 U.S. dollar sponsorships available as well as marketing and speaker services.
In a discussion this weekend it was determined the most disruptive technology is having a kid. It is also the most wonderful experience.
Robert Scoble (who incidently now works at Microsoft) ponders why most weblogers seem to be Mac users. This is a very good snapshot of Mac users. Webloggers are often considered word-based creative types.
BBCi's Ashley Highfield speach TV's Tipping Point: Why The Digital Revolution Is Only Just Beginning highlights what is coming in the future, hopefully not too distant future.
Posted at 11:15 PM from Bethesda, Maryland.
Jef Raskin opens up a public demo of THE Zooming Interface. This interface is done with Flash for this demo of the concept. I find the tool very cool, but a wee bit buggy.
Read through the THE information to find out more about this open source project.
Adam provides a good form versus function essay in his Compassion and the crafting of user experience post. Make the time to read. Once again design without function is an unusable product, but function with good design is very enjoyable. Top designers understand the balance of form and function and make decisions on how the design will impact use. Those that are not to this point yet, do not have command of their craft, which should be a goal.
I was also able to use the a Firewire cable to connect to my video camera and have iChat sense it was attached and put me in video iChat mode automatically. Oddly the Sony camera did not come with an iLink (Firewire) cable, odd in that they own some of the rights to Firewire but do not use the superior technology out of the box, instead opting for the poorer quality USB product. The Sony camera came with a CD full of software for Windows machines and drivers so that Windows users can use the digital video output on their machines. My TiBook needed none of that, it just worked easily and wonderfully.
While I am off work for a few days to help Joy and Will adjust I get to fully live in a Mac world. I can get things done and fit work in easily, I have had no virus problems, bugs, halting interfaces, or connectivity problems that plague me at work. Having work environments standardize on Windows is akin to having them endorse non-productivity.
Needless to say I love my Mac and Apple's attention to detail. It is almost as if they care about me and the work I do, by just letting me do my work. Apple does not care if I am coding, programming, being creative, writing, or performing analytics it just allows me to be productive. The amount of money saved in using my Mac more than makes up any price difference (laughable in that there is not a comparable product in the Windows world) for a similar product.
Posted at 12:54 PM from Bethesda, Maryland.
I have already found of the many joys of being a parent. But I have also found some of the pain. The biggest so far is the inability of manufactures of infant products to put together slightly usable instructions. The failure is largest with car seats, which is one item all parents worry about as they want their child safe. We have had problems with three Graco instruction sets so far. Being the type of person I am I went to the Graco Web site to see if there were better instructions there or maybe even videos for each product. No, the only thing available were the failure of directions that come with the products.
Why are the instructions so terrible? The instructions have four problems: 1) Cover more than one product variation covered in the directions (car seat has 3-point and 5-point connector models covered in the directions): 2) Minimal words for instructions (words are used for warnings, which are not clearly explained how to avoid the problem related to the warning); 3) Multi-lingual directions and warnings intermingled (languages do not have their own sections of the instructions); 4) Visual instructions not clear (lack of labeling on the product to ease correlation of instructions and parts as well as no parts list).
Nearly all my neighbors and friends with children warned me of the horrors of the infant, baby, and child toy instructions. The information needing to be communicated is lost in whatever design or vetting process this information goes through. The folks at Lego and IKEA understand that the successful use of their products is their ease of understanding the instructions for assembly. Neither Lego nor IKEA's products are sold to protect the life of a child or to enhance the safety of a child, but they do understand the ability of the buyer to assemble the product correctly to achieve satisfaction. In Lego's case the instructions can be superfluous as the product can also be used as a medium for creativity, but in the case where the user wants to exactly replicate that is on the box cover the directions are perfect. The beauty of the instructions in the Lego and IKEA instances is that they are completely, or largely text free.
Posted at 10:39 AM from Bethesda, Maryland.


Doing snow sports is really way different from sports carried on plain lands. The first and foremost thing that is important is choosing the right equipment, clothing and shoes. And if you are into skiing, then ski boots are of utmost necessity. It helps you to obtain grip in fresh snow and show-off your skills like a pro. A lot of advanced technologies are incorporated in it for keeping your foot warm and preventing from coming in contact with the snow.
However, the diversity in the market has kept the customers in a loophole of what's right and what's wrong. So, the ski boots review is going to help you judge the product and settle for the best.
Traditional ski boots have a great flaw which leads to several unnecessary injuries and can be quite dangerous at times. When you are done with skiing and are walking to the parking lot in those boots it can be The Envy boot frame easily solves that problem. It is made from high-quality aluminium that keeps the frame lightweight and easy to manoeuvre in high-speed situations.
You can wear your normal snowboarding shoes and just have the Envi frame over them to convert into boots for skiing. As a matter of fact, this gives you a lot of advantages and allows participating in snowboarding and skiing. Furthermore, quick detachment and attachment allow you to readily switch and perform any activity without any hindrance. The frame has three straps along with hard enclosures to keep snowboarding shoes stuck to the frame. Thus eliminate any chances of slip-ups.
Compatible with snowboard shoes that have a single BOA style. Double BOA is incompatible with this frame.
Length is adjustable to fit snowboarding boots of four different sizes.
Promotes a unisex design that easily fits the legs of men and women.
Unlike traditional boots for skiing which don't provide versatility or customisations, the Apex Boots will give you a whole different outlook on skiing. The HP model has a chassis which are separated to give you mountain boots for rough terrain. It doesn't matter if you are an experienced skier or just an amateur; the Apex HP has you covered. You get an inner liner which you can customize according to your needs with the special heat moulding feature. So you get cosiness and warmth from the liner and the support boot to keep you comfortable in cold conditions.
Due to its neoprene ski boot material, it is also stretchable and will fit you perfectly. You also get the game-changing BOA® reel and lacing system. It certainly uses high-quality stainless steel cable instead of the inferior products that use some kind of fabric. These two advanced technologies give you precise control since your foot is firmly locked with the heel pocket. So with this closure system, you get the best fit without having a heavy boot to weigh you down.
Comes in various sizes for everyone.
If you are skiing for a considerable time, you know about the problem with rental ski boots. They might be good for someone who never went on the snow before. However, really bad for someone who has reached intermediate or at least the novice level. Tecnica has created a pair of boots that will suit the experienced skier on you. And it even helps you achieve rapid improvements in your skill set. At the boot instep, you get soft plastic which makes it easier to slide in or take out feet. The liners have four layer constructions.
Furthermore, it is made from materials with varying levels of density and thickness. This makes it suitable for accommodating any and all types of feet no matter what their shape or size. The boot comes at an entry-level price but you are not limited to entry-level features only.
I-Rebound system is one of the flagship features of this boot. It uses a metal shaft to connect the upper cuff and the shell's lower part. This gives you an elastic rebound whenever you are changing age and helps you with forwarding flexing. The closure system is even better on these boots. You have four small buckles that do their job nicely, are adjustable and are complemented by the Velcro strap.
Combination of red accents on the black body looks amazing.
Features an UltraFit HVL liner.
Rossignol has further improved its AllSpeed line-up with this model. It certainly gives you a much more relaxed fit so that you don't have cramped feet after skiing. The product also features removable soles that are made from durable PU material. So you can easily clean them up after a thrilling ski session.
Moreover, it offers ski boot flex adjustment that aids in attaining supreme comfort as per needs. Also, the GRIPWALK+ helps you to balance in the snow without tipping or falling down. An award-winning boot having internal last of 104mm, make the right pick always.
Easier entry and exit due to the softer plastic insert.
Revolutionary Sensor Matrix Shell which allows you high power at low body weight.
This boot's back spine has a switch which lets you change from ski to hiking mode and vice versa with just a flick. Four key zones of the shell which cause most discomfort during your skiing have extra room to solve that issue. You will thank your boots after long skiing hours due to its plush and adequately padded insulation. Appropriate for beginners as well as intermediates, it has a 3-buckle design.
Plus, in order to release the upper calf, you just need to flip the back switch. Also, it allows free-flexing of your foot. Thus, you can get up or down the slopes without any hindrances.
Has a flex index of 80.
Premium aluminium buckles and closure that provide unrivalled safety.
Your downhill performance gets a significant boost with the Twinframe 2 design on the Saloman QST Pro. This kind of design allows you to flex more dynamically rebound is improved. The 24 mm oversized pivot takes this to a whole new level with its peerless transmission that you have never felt before. Having a 360-degrees custom ski boot shell, the woolmetal insulation keeps you extra warm all the time.
Nevertheless, the foot top contains soft plastic that eases up the boot wearing process. It even has a 35mm strap and a 70 flex that is pretty soft.
Endofit design hugs your feet perfectly to give you an ergonomic fit.
Motion flex gives you a wide motion range of 40-degrees, phenomenally high at this price point.
The unique construction style and choice of materials make getting on and out of these boots an effort-free task. It has an oversized pivot that results in smoother power transmission to your skis. Perfect for every sort of foot shape, it will easily fit narrow as well as medium leg shapes.
Furthermore, it features a 3D pro liner for obtaining the desired fit and a range of motion of 40-degrees. Having an actual flex of 120, it also comes with an oversized pivot. They also give you a warranty period of one year to further sweeten the deal.
Black and aqua blue colour-tone look magnificent on these boots.
Has a width of 104mm to 106mm.
Rossignol really kept your comfort and safety as its first priority while designing these boots. The shell is made of strong and sturdy polyurethane which makes it light while retaining a bit of flexibility. You also get cuffs made of polyolefin. This certainly helps to block most unwanted elements like snow, dirt and cold air out and gives a soft feeling.
As a matter of fact, a machine-made PU acts as the liner and it allows 4 micro-adjustments. Plus, the liner is Optisesnor T4 build and the support, as well as padding, is exclusive. Finally, Sensor Grid Technology features a grid-structure for maximizing stability.
Lightweight, weighing at around 13 pounds.
Adjustment teeth have 3 different positions.
The buckle is made from durable aluminium.
This pair of ski boot from Apex is one of their premium flagship products. It has one of the highest tech innovations integrated for pros. The Antero has a chassis made from Nanolite carbon compound. This makes the boot at least one-fifth lighter than its previous models without losing any strength. You get the patented A-flex suspension which makes it much more adaptable with 3 different flex settings to play with.
While other manufacturers like to cut corners, Apex doesn't believe in that. So you get the famous Thinsulate insulation which is known for its reliability and high warmth in the harshest and chilling weather. The insole used has two layers of density that support you well and great for long hours of use. Your heels will thank you for these and you wouldn't get easily fatigued. But the most amazing feature about these boots is probably the Double Stack BOA® design. It gives you superior closure like never before. And has arguably one of the best strap up and lacing system in the market.
Flex settings are rated as 115/125/135.
For forwarding lean, you have four positions.
It is aligned in both ways.
Salomon has implemented a revolutionary technology that makes it one of the best ski boots in its segment. The Endofit Tongue design makes this boot readily adapt to your feet movement. And lets you have an easier time walking over tough and unforgiving terrain. It also has a wide base which makes walking over thick layers of snow an effortless task. In fact, it has a liner which is anatomically designed to hug your feet in the most natural way. And give you the warmth that is needed in harsh frigid temperatures.
The gusset is also waterproof. So even if there is melting snow. nothing would be able to invade the boots and come into contact with your feet. This feature is really life-saving in certain situations. Especially when your body temperature can drastically decrease if cold water comes into contact with your feet. You don't need to worry about its longevity either. It can flex quite well or won't get damaged even after you take rough turns and drags.
Buckles are made from aluminium, so they are light yet strong.
It features Surelock mechanism which allows high adjustability without compromising safety.
Keep your skiing game strong. The boots will not betray you when you desperately need the help of your skills.


Family-Friendly Recipe for Valentine's Day!
By now, restaurants, flower boutiques, and your favorite local bakery should all be fully booked for the next week. No more reservations. No more orders. Not when Valentine's Day is in two days! Not going to happen…unless you're a celebrity or just a VVVIP.
But let's take a second and step back from all of cupid's activities and really examine what February 14th is truly about. Sure, it's a day to express your affection and profess your love to that special someone but it's also a day to show appreciation towards people who mean something to you. Your kids, your parents, and friends should be celebrated as well.
There are many family-friendly activities you can do this year, but nothing beats getting your hands wet and messy from making a home-made meal. Enjoy this quick V-Day inspired dish you can do with your gal pals or with your kids while laughing and making priceless memories along the way.
**Note: The blog here on out is taken from Gretchen McKay's post.
The entrée is a special-occasion pasta dish that shines the light on seafood. No worries if you don't have a pasta machine: the heart-shaped ravioli is cut from a wonton wrapper, and then filled with a savory mix of lobster, shrimp and mascarpone cheese. Getting a good seal on the ravioli takes some practice (you don't want the filling to leak out during cooking), but it's easier than you might think. The ravioli is served with a fragrant tomato cream sauce that's ready in minutes.
For this entrée, the filling is a mixture of lobster, shrimp and mascarpone cheese but you also could stuff them with ricotta and spinach, or a mix of ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, or simply sausage. Be sure not to overcook the ravioli, and remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon instead of dumping them into a strainer — they could both result in a leaking ravioli.
Make sauce: Heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes, until they begin to soften and caramelize. Add garlic and cook for another minute or so. Pour in tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes. Add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.
Stir and cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Using the back of a fork or a potato masher, break up any large chunks of tomato. Stir in cream. Add Parmesan cheese and parsley/basil, plus salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat until ready to serve.
While sauce is cooking, make ravioli filling. Heat olive oil in saute pan, then add garlic and shallot. Cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lobster tails, shrimp, lemon juice and parsley. Toss until coated, then allow to cool in pan. Add mascarpone cheese, and toss gently to mix.
Place filled ravioli onto a sheet pan, ready to boil or to be frozen for later use.
Once dumplings are assembled, drop them 4 at a time into boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes (they'll float to the top) then remove with a slotted spoon.
Serve with tomato cream sauce and extra Parmesan, if desired.
Enjoy and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!


text:
Achoo, achis, ATCHIN! Vaccine you…
Filipe Froes, Francesco Blasi, Antoni Torres
Filipe Froes
1Hospital Pulido Valente, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
Francesco Blasi
2Dept of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Internal Medicine Dept, Respiratory Unit and Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan, Milan, Italy
Antoni Torres
3Pulmonary Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory Institute, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Take every opportunity to act on modifiable risk factors for CAP. ATCHIN! http://ow.ly/lscV30i00iU
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important cause of morbidity, mortality and expenditure of health resources. Globally, lower respiratory tract infection, which includes CAP, was the fourth leading cause of death in 2015 [1]. In developed countries CAP is the leading cause of death by infectious disease [2], and in 2014 it was the eighth cause of death in the USA [3].
Within the 28 countries that form the European Community, pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory tract infections are associated with an estimated annual expenditure of €46 billion in direct costs and disability-adjusted life-years (DALY) [4]. Together with the financial burden it is also important to acknowledge that CAP contributes to a high antibiotic usage which has future implications in the development of antibiotic resistance.
CAP can affect any age group, hence we are all at risk, even though some are more at risk than others. Several risk factors for CAP are well recognised and studied [5], including age above 65 years [6], alcoholism [7], cigarette smoking [8], immunosuppression [7], and comorbidities such as COPD [9], cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic liver or renal disease, diabetes mellitus and dementia [10].
The increase in life expectancy and the growing prevalence of comorbidities [11] highlight the importance of pneumonia prevention but also the importance of adequate control of chronic conditions. For instance, the severity of airway obstruction in COPD has been linked with the incidence of CAP [12]. Likewise, immunosuppressive therapy, including the use of oral steroids, are important risk factors for the development of CAP [5, 13]. The increased risk of pneumonia is an important safety concern when prescribing immunosuppressive therapy [13].
A comprehensive analysis of studies in the adult population of western Europe from 2013 by Torres et al. [5] investigated the association between the incidence of CAP and age, comorbidities and lifestyle factors. The association and the weight of different modifiable risk factors lead to a bundle of lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of CAP in adults. These included smoking cessation, responsible alcohol consumption, dental hygiene, dietary advice to ensure good nutritional status, the avoidance of infants and children with lower respiratory tract infections, and vaccination against influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Based on this bundle we propose an easy to remember acronym – ATCHIN – with a group of interventions to reduce the risk of CAP in adults that aims to simplify its implementation by healthcare professionals (table 1).
The ATCHIN acronym for modifiable risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia
Achoos, Achis, ATCHIN! Bless you. In this case, vaccinate yourself and vaccinate your patients against influenza virus and S. pneumoniae. And take every opportunity to act on modifiable risk factors for CAP. ATCHIN!
Note to the title: Achoo (English), achis (Spanish), atchim (Portuguese), atchis (Catalan), etciu (Italian), atchoum (French), hatschi (German), hatsjie (Dutch).
Conflict of interest: F. Froes has received personal fees and non-financial support from Pfizer, MSD and TEVA, non-financial support from Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Bayer, and personal fees from Novartis, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: F. Blasi has received personal fees from AstraZeneca, Guidotti, GSK, Grifols, Menarini, Novartis and Zambon, grants from Bayer, grants and personal fees from Chiesi, Pfizer and Teva, outside the submitted work.
Received December 9, 2017.
Accepted January 3, 2018.
GBD 2015 Mortality and Causes of Death Collaborators. Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet 2016; 388: 1459–1544.
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Torres A,
Peetermans WE,
Viegi G, et al.
Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia in adults in Europe: a literature review. Thorax 2013; 68: 1057–1065.
Welte T,
Nathwani D
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European Respiratory Journal Mar 2018, 51 (3) 1702558; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02558-2017
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Novel gas exchange analysis in COVID-19
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