text:
Dancing Within Shadow, by Morgan Dragonwillow
Poetry of a known person is always wonderful to read. You have a sense of their muse, even if it is an incomplete one, and that sense helps to understand that poem a little more than reading the poem of an absolutely unknown poet. Of course, it helps if the poetry is understandable and not too deep. I've known the poetry of Morgan Dragonwillow only through her blog and through the OctPoWriMo writing challenge. So when the opportunity came to get her eBook for free, I grabbed it.
Section 1 of the book is titled Darkness, and true to the title, the poems in the section are dark, poignant and thought provoking. I think the poem I could relate to mostly was "I remember me", for I have seen a similarity to my life and that of the comic character she mentions in this poem.
Section 2 of the book is titled Rebellion, and it's about standing up for what you believe in. The poems in this part were about strength, and somewhat about other's opinions. My favorite from this part of the book was "Out loud", which is about laughter, and laughing out loud even when others try to stifle it.
Section 3 of the book is titled Love, and the poems in the part are about love, and feeling it. Though I liked most poems in this part, the one that I loved the most was "Grandpa Joe", for I could relate to it easily, my grandfather having taught me a lot of things even though his ideas were mostly inflexible.
Section 4 of the book is titled Light, and the poem I loved is "Peace". A palindrome poem that felt as peaceful as the title. And she ends the book with a poem that ends with the lines "Who I really am… is me" which felt just wonderful.
There are poems in this book which I do not understand as easily, but some that I really like and relate to. But none of the poems deter me from trying to understand it. I would rate this book a 7 on 10. And yes, I would read it again.
Title: Dancing within Shadow
Author: Morgan Dragonwillow
ISBN/ASIN: B00C100FPC
Indian fiction
Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar
1998 Australia. Anjali Jathar is looking forward to life as an immigrant bride following her arranged marriage to ambitious divorcee Ravi. Settling in, she explores not just a new culture but also her new found freedom. But life is less than perfect. Ravi's constant travel and preoccupation with work leave Anjali feeling increasingly unloved and lonely.
Enter Jake Ellis. Charmed by Anjali's exoticism, he finds himself gradually falling in love with her. And so begins an emotionally intoxicating roller-coaster ride.
'Unravelling Anjali' is a cross cultural tale delving into love, lust and relationships. What happens if a woman meets her soul mate after marriage…and it's not her husband?
Marriage is one serious business , my mom used to comment every time she started with the monologue on "what Not to do once you are married". An year of being married and living with my in-laws , I can actually appreciate some of the "gyaan" I got from her while growing upI re lived some of it reading this book.
Unravelling Anjali promised to offer me glimpse into two of the scenarios I have often wondered myself - How is it to live with some one whom you do not know , whose habits are so alien to you and secondly , what if you meet your soul mate after wedding. Even when I am happily married to the love of my life , I have often created many hypothesis on the scenario of meeting my husband in a situation where I am married to some one else !
And the book does not disappoint on any front. Wither it is Anjali's life in Sydney as some one who has stepped out of her comfort zone and into a new country for first time or her struggles with making her marriage work , the descriptions and the images are so alive in writing that I did not pause the reading any time myself. For Anjali , It is not just the geographical change that is bothersome but more so the change in ideas and opinions. Suddenly she is surrounded by new people with different ideologies and some where in between all this , her own feelings go through fundamental shift. Some times we learn the differences between right and wrong from others. some times we learn it by living in the grey areas our self. Love , trust , secrets and our personal goals are always different from others. When two people's lives come together under a roof , it is a pull and push game of expectations and understanding each other's needs. It is part of growing up and learning in life and this book gave so many glimpses into that.
Anjali's friendships , her desires and her resolve to make things better and comfortable for everyone around her made me adore her so much. I loved the various shades the writer wrote for all characters , subtler showing that true identities are not type casted but more fluid than it appears to our eyes.
Anjali's interactions with Jake Ellis reminded of the movie English Vinglish. I so understand why Sridevi thanks her friend for making her feel attractive and worthy in her own eyes. Loving yourself and affirming that you mean something to people known to you is a feeling we live and strive for continually.How much it affects Anjali is something i was curious about. To be fair, i would have accepted any of the possible outcome of this affair.
The writing is very clear , detailed and simple . There is a flow to the story and the presentation of emotional scenes is never over the top.
All in all , Unravelling Anjali is a very balanced book , quite warm and fun in equal parts.
My rating : 4/5
Gifts with no Giver, by Nirmala
To read poetry is easy, to understand poetry is a little more difficult. Spirituality and poetry have always gone together. A casual look into Indian history and mythology will show the same. Meera Bai or the sage Narada, they have composed poetry in dedication to the gods. Those poems cover the aspect of love and truth often. It is with a mix of alacrity and anxiety that I began to read this book of poems.
So, what are the poems about? In the poet's own words, they are an attempt to capture the undying presence of love. They are to touch our souls, the words of a lover drunk with a passion for the truth.
Do they work? I suppose to each person, the understanding of a poem varies. I did enjoy and understand a few of the poems. Like one that speaks of being satisfied in the moment that is now; or the one that talks of the good things in "not knowing". They carried meaning, and they were beautiful.
But, for the most part, these poems were confusing. Yes, I could sense that the poems were talking of love. But to me, they spoke in riddles that were too hard to unravel.
I'll not be re-reading it. But I feel, if the reader can unravel those riddles, they might enjoy it enough to read them again.
Title: Gifts with no Giver
Author: Nirmala
ISBN/ASIN: B003YL4FUI
Arindam Mukherjee
#BookReview : Sambhala: The Journey Begins (Sambhala Trilogy #1) by Shariful Hasan , Arindam Mukherjee (Translator)
In a small village somewhere in rural Bangladesh, an old man starts behaving in bizarre ways.
Rashed, an undergraduate in Dacca, comes under police suspicion: presumed guilty of murder.
A thousand year old book goes missing from a house in Shantinagar and a group of Satan worshipers are let loose by their leader to retrieve it.
Nikolas Carson, a world renowned archaeologist willingly steps in his kidnappers' car.
Who is this strange old man? Why was a boy-next-door like Shamim murdered? What is Nikolas Carson's interest in a legend that has no factual evidence? What is 'Sambhala'?
As the story unravels from France and Rome to India and Tibet, each of the characters cling on to their mission, unaware that their fates are mysteriously intertwined.
Nimue Says: What intrigued me about the book was its name and the lovely designed cover. In case you are not already aware , Sambhala is supposedly the Buddhist Pure land , also referenced in old hindu texts as the birthplace of last Vishnu avataar Kalki. This trivia with the key on its cover , the book seemed to be a journey to reach this land of ultimate nirvana. But is it really possible for some one to undertake such a journey and attain such wisdom and spiritual power ?
In another interpretation , writers emphasized on the concept of a hidden land inhabited by mystic monks who live and work for good of humanity. Imagine the knowledge these monks would have and the burden of the mistakes and mis judgments too !
The book traces not the journey in the book#1 , but more so the roots and footprints of the seeker and his interactions with various people who shape his choices and decisions over the years. In this regard , The setting and character development is immaculately done from the beginning to the(ir) end. there are no over the top action scenes thrown here and there and neither did I feel the disconnect in the visuals.
Of all the characters that Shariful juggles with his able pen , the seemingly ageless old man is one of the most intriguing and charming character I have come to like among few other fantasy characters.
While Shariful deserves praise for the story , I liked the way Arindam has translated it in English. The language is easy and later part of the book is actually more fun reading , with some nice modern references added in the dialogues.
My only complaint from the author ( and translator) is that some chapters change too abruptly and jump a lot between locations. this makes it a little upsetting until you get a hang of it.
All in all , a really entertaining tale. Awaiting the sequel now.
Long Journey Home, by Lucy Lipiner
One of the torrid historical events I have read about, and researched for a school project, is the Holocaust. Whereas the information I put into the project remains forgotten, the event itself resurfaces to mind with books on the topic. No book better than Anne Frank's diary to touch on the topic. It was recently that I came across another book on it, and I thought I'd give it a go.
Long Journey Home is the memoirs of the author Lusia (Lucy) Lipiner. She returns to Poland and her native village of Sucha Bezkidzka there, to try and find a picture of her mother's family. She wants to give it to her mother as a gift, the best gift she can give. The journey is not only about traveling the physical miles, but also the emotional miles that seem much more, because she left the country when she was a child. She finds one, of her parents' engagement, and it opens a path back to her past, and to this memoir. She takes us back to her childhood, introduces her family, and tells how her uncle got caught by the Gestapo. She visits her ancestral home, and takes us along with her. She takes us back to the time when war first came (on a Friday, which she remembers because of Sabbath candles) and how they ran, almost toward the Germans. She tells us how they hid, how they were captured and taken to Siberia. The memoir is about them fleeing one country to another, in a bid to remain safe.
As with any memoir, there is sadness. It makes me feel sad, feel sorry for those families that had to run from one country to another to survive. Some things bring a smile, even though the moment that follows is a sad one, like Lucy unwittingly giving away her relatives' hiding place because of her concern that they'll be left behind. There are those moments of wonder, of near escapes. It has photos that tell a tale in itself; that was good. The writing here, perhaps because the book is a flashback, doesn't manage to bring out that emotion strongly. You know it's a troubling tale, and you feel glad that Lucy and her family survived, but the narration feels very plain to me.
I don't think I can read it again. It's not because of that plainness, but because of the setting of the tale. But it's worth reading at least the once, because it is a tale of survival, and that's an inspiration in a way.
Book: Long Journey Home: A Young Girl's Memoir of Surviving the Holocaust
Author: Lucy Lipiner
ASIN: B00H6QVRNU
Genre: Memoirs
The One You Cannot Have, by Preeti Shenoy
Some authors leave a mark on your reading. Though the stories aren't absolutely amazing, they still have those drops of brilliance that linger after the read; something that makes you eager to pick up the next novel of that author and read it. One such author, in my opinion, is Preeti Shenoy.
The One You Cannot have is a love story. The story mainly follows Aman, Anjali, Shruti and Rishabh. There are other characters too, each with their own importance but I feel it is these four who make the tale. Like the title says, it's a story about the one person each cannot have. And the storyline I feel does that justice. Aman and Shruti were once inseparable, but when the latter left suddenly, the former, to recover, goes abroad. So what will happen when Aman returns to India years after? There are two girls in his life… Anjali, who is in love with him, and Shruti, who he has a hard time letting go of, even though she is already married. Throw in characters like the flirting friend Mark, and the husband Rishabh, and you know you're in for a quick, yet enjoyable read.
What makes this book worth reading? It's the characters. To me, they feel real. The way they react seems real, like hiding an old suitcase or jumping at the chance of finding love again. Or even the way they accept certain things. The book also has some subtle humor. The narration is simple, yet has the pace to keep the reader hooked. The alternating character narration helps to get into the skin of the character too.
What doesn't work? The ending is predictable. I suppose the genre is one that doesn't necessitate unpredictability, but still, I'd have liked a little suspense. Another thing I didn't like was that once the story of the main characters is completed, the book ends with an epilogue. Some things end suddenly with that epilogue, and some aren't ended at all. In a series, that's kind of acceptable, but not in a standalone book.
The book is one that will take hardly a few hours to finish, and it is a one-time read. But like I said earlier, it was an enjoyable read. And would pick up her next book when it releases as well.
Book: The One You Cannot Have
Author: Preeti Shenoy
Publisher: Westland Books
nikhimenon
Whisper of Worms by Marcadian
Title:Whisper Of Worms
Author:Marcardian
Publisher: Cactus
Pages:300+
Price:240/-
Source: review copy via Tales Pensieve
Being a book blogger, I have had the chance to read and review a good number of books in the past few years. In my initial years as a blogger, I never screened the review requests and used to accept whatever books that came my way. As the years passed by, I figured out that it made sense to accept only the books which I would potentially like reading. So when this book my 'Marcardian' (I guess it's a pseudonym) came up for review, I was in two minds initially. I had never heard of this title before, the publisher was little known and the 'author' was virtually unknown. Still, I decided to give it a try, more out of curiosity than anything else.
To be very frank, I am confused what to say about this work. Where will I start?
To which genre does it belong?
Is it a thriller? Hmm…, though it has traces of one, it never elevates itself to become a nail- biting experience.
Is it a love story? Partly yes, but terming it a love story will be like calling Rahul Gandhi a full time Politician.
Then is it a revenge saga/crime thriller? Definitely Not.
May be, I can term 'The Whisper Of Worms' as a brutally honest, satirical account of a Man's (Thobias Mathai) life as a banker and his rustic, eventful days in his native-the imaginary land called 'Marcadia'. In the beginning of the story, Mathai who is recently diagnosed to have Cancer in the United States decides to come back to his native place to spend his final days there. The initial chapters are more of Mathai's nostalgic trip down the memory lane and the reader is introduced to his childhood friends and the bonding which he had with them. These portions are sure to remind you of Anita Nair's 'Better Man' and 'Mistress', nevertheless are fun to read. As the plot unfolds, we get to know about a financial fraud which had happened in the bank for which Mathai was working. The remaining part of the book is all about the investigation of this fraud and has been narrated narrated in a humorous and satirical manner by the first time author.
This one can be a decent read if you are someone with a lot of patience. It's slow paced but once you get used to the mood of the book, I think it won't be much of a problem. The language is plain and simple but sentences often feel like they have been translated to English from Malayalam. The writer definitely has got good ideas but he has to really work on his writing style. The problems which I felt with the book were the poor design of the book, formatting and typesetting (though the author cannot be blamed for it). The cover design is not at all appealing and I still cannot fathom why a title like this was given for this work. The pricing is okay.
To Conclude, I feel Marcardian's debut work as an author is an okay read. It's definitely not run-of-the-mill stuff. Pick it up, you may actually like it.
Verdict-A decent debut. I'm giving it a 2.6 out of 5.
The book was received as part of Reviewers Programme on The Tales Pensieve
-nikhimenon
chitra anand
Spotlight: Beyond School by Chitra Anand
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing
Beyond School centres upon the weeks leading up to 17-year-old Shail s final board exams, as his world becomes a pressure-cooker and the weight of preparing for the exams sends him fleeing rebelliously in the other direction. Along with Shail s journey from boyhood to manhood, Beyond School vividly weaves between the narratives of four main characters, seamlessly uniting the past and present of Shail, his parents-Urmila and Sushil and his mentor-Gladys, in a story that is honest, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately, incredibly human.
Chitra Anand was born in Mumbai. She is a postgraduate in Physics and holds an Education degree. Beyond School is her first novel inspired by her journey as an educator.
Copies Available at all online stores:
1. Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/beyond-school/p/itmdtatf8zzznnj6?pid=9789383562404&otracker=from-search&srno=t_2&query=beyond+school&ref=f8d39981-787b-40fd-bff0-79ef448c52d2
2. Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/Beyond-School-Novel-Chitra-Anand/dp/9383562404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415559658&sr=8-
1&keywords=beyond+school+by+chitra+anand
Know More Inside Stories, Connect with The Author:
Twitter: @chtranand
Read the book? Write a review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22597940-beyond-school
Happily Murdered by Rasleen Syal
Title:Happily Murdered
Publisher:Srishti
Source: Tales Pensieve
Price:195 INR
Set in the small town of 'Ratnagiri','Happily Murdered' is a neatly executed murder mystery by first time author,'Rasleen Syal'.
Plot: GulabSarin, the bubbly bahu of the Mehta family is found dead, the very next day of her marriage. Since the possibility of a break in in the heavily guarded 'Mehta' Palace is zilch, the Police believes the murderer is one among the Mehtas.As it plays out, it becomes clear that every member of the Mehta household, right from Gulab's adulterous husband, Sid to her Grand mother-in-law,Biji had something to gain from her death.To save their own skin, each of these potential suspects turn into amateur detectives and start unearthing vital clues which takes the story forward before it culminates in an interesting and well thought out climax.
Characters: There are quite a number of characters in 'Happily Murdered'. The writer gets full credit for making each of them believable and unique. Be it the adamant and astute, K.D, who is more bothered about the pristine public image of the Mehta family than finding the real culprit behind the murder or the naïve and vulnerable,Sid, each one of these characters stands out and play their own part in making the narrative fast paced and intriguing.The book also has a parallel narrative through which the reader gets to know the 'real' Gulab(the victim),her life story, herlove, ambitions and weaknesses which is a rarity as far as books of this genre is concerned where very little will be revealed about the victim till the fag end of the story. The other principal characters in this novel are Monica,Vikram(Gulab's business partner and the second son of K.D.Mehta),Sara(Gulab's sister-in-law and the primary suspect),Yuvi(the youngest son of Mehta and Gulab's best friend).
Language, writingstyle: The writing is flawless and easy to relate with. Though there is nothing new about the setting and the overall storyline (Rasleen seems to be heavily inspired by her 'guru' Christie), it's the execution which makes this book an engaging read. Usually in crime thrillers like this, the author chooses the easy way out to narrate the story through the eyes of the investigator thereby making the peripheral characters uni-dimensional and lifeless.Thankfully, inRasleen'sworld, there is no Poirot or Miss Marple (or their desi clones) to take the story forward. In fact she has chosen a character driven narrative for her first work. The writer deserves a pat on her back for choosing this interesting but more difficult path to narrate her tale.It not only proves that she is confident with her work but also emphasises that she is a genuine story teller.Not everyone will like the way,Rasleen has concluded her murder mystery, I'm pretty sure. Butthat doesn't take the sheen away from this beautifully crafted work of fiction.
Overall Layout and Cover Design: The overall layout of the book is quite decent but I feel the cover design could have been much better. The book has occasional typos and grammatical errors which I hope they will correct in the subsequent editions of the book.
Pricingand Marketing: At 195 INR,'Happily Murdered' is quite modestly priced and not a very expensive book by any stretch of imagination. (I have just discovered that this website called 'CupoNation' has listed all the deals available for this book and a couple of other desi thrillers at Amazon coupons.Even if you are an amazon hater, there is a reason to cheer. They have also listed some deals for rediff books in their site.Do check out their website for availing these coupons and buying this work).I think the book is marketed well for I have seen its copies everywhere, be it the online stores or their offline counterparts.
What I liked the most about the book:
1. The writing style
2. The Characters
What I didn't like:
Nothing Much
Verdict: On the whole, 'Happily Murdered' is an engaging read. I'm giving it 3.5 out of 5.
Ultra-short Book Review: Love Stories that touched my heart
'Love Stories that touched my heart' is an anthology of (obviously) love stories,edited by Ravinder Singh (and published by Penguin India ,2012) whose 'I too had a love story' was a huge marketing success.This compilation has twenty five stories by mostly first time writers and tries to tell contemporary tales of Love in a realistic and believable way.
The good thing about the book is that it is a simple,breezy read and can be easily done with in a couple of hours.The few ones which stand out are 'Heart Strings' by Roshan Radhakrishnan,'Flirting' (Vinayak N), 'A Love Story In Reverse'(Sujir Pavithra Nayak) and 'May God Bless You,Dear'(Yamini Vijendar).
Though the authors have tried to explore the various shades of love and longing with the recurring themes being senility,alzheimers disease and dementia,it's a pity that none of these 25 writers have touched upon taboo themes like homosexuality /same sex love in their stories.Majority of the stories in this anthology are mediocre and shallow and offers nothing new in terms of content.
On the whole,'Love Stories that touched my heart' ends up as an average compilation,at best! Rating-2.4/5
'Tips' to become a succesful book blogger
Image Courtesy-Fast Company
"Sir, I am the fan. Reading your book reviews. Me likes you.Want to write blog-bookreviews blog.What to do? How to get free review copy books? -Kuldeep (name changed,obviously!),via e-mail
I will be bluffing if I say that I wasn't surprised when I read this mail for the very first time.Infact, like flocks of pigeons getting back to their favourite coops,a myriad of permutations and combinations flew in to my mind,once I was finished reading it; the most rational ones among them being-
Someone loves me so desperately that he/she wants to start a blog and immortalise our laila-majnu love story in the virtual world.
The awesomeness in my writing is so irresistible that even something as inanimate as my ceiling fan has started singing praises (in this case,typing e-mails) acknowledging my sheer genius!
My collection of personalised spam mails has just touched the magic figure of 10,000
Usually in situations like this which warrant a socially astute and intellectually precise analysis,it's my chechi who comes to my rescue .This time too she didn't disappoint me.It took her a while to decode the cryptic message and convince me that what we were staring at wasn't a cute little gay love letter (as I initially feared), but a certificate of appreciation from a good soul ('God bless him') who was mighty impressed with whatever crap I was writing here @ RT and was actually asking me for some pearls of wisdom (read tips on writing a book review) before making his/her baby steps in the big,bad world of book blogs. So I, nikhmenon, the most awesomely awesome blogger and love guru that the blogosphere has ever produced have decided to enlighten you all with my wildly original and stupendously fantabulous tips on how to become the Chetan Bhagat among the book-bloggers.
Well,before actually proceeding with the gyaan,I think it will be better if we look into the most vital part of Kuldeep's question first - i.e. the bit about getting free review copies.-
Let me be honest.You are no James Wood (atleast, not yet) but a newbie book blogger and there is every possibility of you and your family members being the sole readers of your initial posts.So don't delude yourself into thinking,even if for a split second ,that publishers or PR agencies are going to pamper you with free review copies and review requests straight away.In other words,for getting books initially,you'll have to rely heavily on the local library or buy them on your own .Now,don't get me wrong.I can totally understand that books are pretty expensive and buying them at their cover price (of 399,250,499,599 INR) may not be financially viable all the time.These days,online stores are offering books at affordable prices and you can give them a try.
So guys, here comes nikhimenon's golden tips to become a superstar book blogger-
Be organised: no one likes to read a review written in a haphazard manner.There may not be a definite format for writing one, but it will be better if you stick to a basic template which covers the important aspects of a book-plotting,characters,writing style,writing etc.
Keep away from spoilers : a review is not synonymous with a synopsis.So,while writing a review you are neither required nor expected to give away the whole plot and each and every plot twist and also,don't post something just for the sake of it.
Be Polite: good or bad it may be,every book is the result of someone's passion and hardwork.You may totally hate a book,but be polite and not too harsh in expressing your views.
Make it simple and crisp:Remember this cardinal rule-People read blog reviews because they want to know whether a particular book is good or bad without having to go through blocks of prose replete with intellectual pretensions and heavy duty literary jargons.Respect your reader and make your reviews crisp and easy to read.
Be Patient: No one has become a superstar blogger overnight.Recognition in blogosphere takes time and there are no short cuts for achieving instant success as a blogger.Read like there is no tomorrow and pen down your sincere thoughts in a lucid, organised and unpretentious manner.Your work will definitely get its due.
(The second part of this post will be published soon)
#BookReview : Seven Secret of the Goddess by Devdutt Pattanaik
Within infinite myths lies the Eternal Truth?
Who sees it all?
Varuna has but a thousand eyes
Indra, a hundred
And I, only two.
Since I started reading preface /Author's note of the books , This is the quote that I admire the most.This is a humble opening to all books by Devdutta and it eloquently sums how every myth must be treated in all fairness. That is in terms of many truths or many versions. Devdutta Pattanaik is one author whose books I await eagerly. Thejourney that started with "the Pregnant King" is perhaps my initiation into reading mythology and acknowledging the fact that it is a definitive factor that shapes us and the society in general.
Seven Secret Of the Goddess starts with the differences between goddess and Goddess , devi and Devi. The subtlety yet the significance of the differences set the tone of the book for me. It prepares one to be concious and aware during the reading else one might miss something. The book is divided into seven sections - Gaia (the Greek Goddess of creation), Kali, Gauri, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Vitthai (A female form of Lord Krishna). The first section talks of mother of Gods and how in each religion / mythology , the female domination turned into trading first and then into male domination and ownership as we see today. It nowhere says the merits of one over another but presents the truth as it is, leading the reader to question the way we treat women today.
Many of hindu readers are already aware of some of the Devi forms from the frequently read "Durga Stuti" so it was quite relatable and interesting to know of other versions and stories popular in different parts and communities of the country.From the wild and powerful Kali to the domesticated and docile Gauri, the book covers all moods of the devi and the women in general emphasizing that since long, all variations of devi have been present and worshipped by human. All the forms are as important as the Devi from who they emerge.
Another reason that I love this book (and others by Devdutt) is for the mention of source for all the tales. Even in this book, all the scriptures from which the stories have been picked are mentioned so that any reader with further interest can refer them any time. Linking the stories not just across geographical boundaries but also across cultures in different centuries has been done flawlessly.
Every page of the book has the images / artforms depicting the stories and hence is so easy to relate with the text. The images are from all over the country and some from old texts and paintings , each with captions making it really engaging read for anyone.
This is a book that can be and should be read by every one interested in mythology or history or society.
You can buy the book from flipkart
Also try the flipkart e book version of the book here
Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by...
#BookReview : Sambhala: The Journey Begins (Sambha...
Ultra-short Book Review: Love Stories that touched...
#BookReview : Seven Secret of the Goddess by Devdu...


text:
DIY vs. Buy: Should I Make My Own Sweet Vermouth?
DIY vs. Buy
Fun projects for making cocktail ingredients at home.
Marcia Simmons
[Photograph: Liam Boylan]
DIY Sweet Vermouth
Sweet vermouth plays a supporting role in so many cocktails that it's easy to take for granted. It brings out the nuanced flavors of a bold spirit, so it pairs well with both whiskey and gin, supporting the star player in a wide variety of cocktails. But a simple glass of sweet vermouth has a delicate balance of rich, spicy, sweet, and bitter flavors that can also be delicious on its own.
What's Available to Buy?
The biggest names in vermouth have been around for centuries. Cinzano, Noilly Prat, and Martini & Rossi are all affordable and easy to find. These standbys blend well with other flavors in a cocktail but don't have the zing of a great sipping vermouth.
Dolin, one of our favorite French vermouth companies, makes a lovely (slightly lighter) version that is nice for drinking on ice (with a twist of orange—think of it as a simplified red sangria.) Carpano Antica and Punt e Mes offer fuller flavor with a bitter edge and more pronounced botanicals. They're fantastic straight-up, on the rocks, or mixed in cocktails, but they run $20 to $30 a bottle, and don't keep forever. Vya is a relative newcomer to the vermouth scene, but it's already popping up on lots of upscale cocktail lists because of its intense herbal flavor. Any of these can be found in better liquor stores—but probably not every corner booze shop.
Why DIY?
Vermouth is a fortified aromatized wine, which is a fancy way of saying that you make it by adding hard liquor and herbs to wine. The process isn't complicated, and finding the right mix of botanicals is a fun project. With a little experimentation, you can design a sweet vermouth that pairs perfectly with your favorite spirit or suits your taste better than the store-bought kind.
The signature bitter bite in vermouth comes from wormwood, which is also the key ingredient in absinthe. But other than that, the rest of the components are common grocery store items.
The base is a dry white wine—since it gets boiled and flavored, cheap wine will do. I went for a spiced flavor profile in honor of the holidays, accented by a little sherry. However, everything from apples to wood chips can add a unique touch to your vermouth. You can try other herbs like rosemary or sage or sweeten the mixture up a bit more, if you like.
Get the Recipe »
There's no need to get complicated: drop an olive or slice of citrus into a glass of chilled vermouth for a satisfying pre-dinner drink. But of course, there are dozens of classics cocktails to mix with your DIY sweet vermouth.
For the cocktail lover on your Christmas list, pair a bottle of your homemade vermouth with a nice whiskey and some cocktail cherries as a DIY Manhattan kit or with gin and Campari for a DIY Negroni kit.
Branch out a little, and try the French Kiss or the Martinez, the Derby, or the Maddow.
You can even cook with your vermouth—it comes in handy for deglazing a pan.
Ginger Liqueur »
Limoncello »
Tonic Water »
Irish Cream »
Orgeat »
About the Author: Marcia Simmons is the co-author of DIY Cocktails: A Simple Guide to Creating Your Own Signature Drinks. She also shares cocktail recipes and tips on the DIY Cocktails blog and on Twitter @DIYCocktails.
Marcia Simmons Writer
Marcia Simmons is a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While she has specialized in developing cocktail recipes and covering cocktail culture, she also writes about food, travel, tech and other topics.
You can follow her on Twitter: @marciaisms
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Census Working Papers >
Health Insurance Coverage in the 2017 CPS ASEC Research File
Back to Census Working Papers
Working Paper Number SEHSD-WP2019-01
Edward R. Berchick and Heide M. Jackson
Component ID: #ti2037006853
Download Health Insurance Coverage in the 2017 CPS ASEC Research File [PDF - <1.0 MB]
After Census Bureau field representatives collect Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) survey responses, the Census Bureau processes the information into a data file that can provide a nationally-representative snapshot of the U.S. population. Specifically, the Census Bureau uses a series of statistical programs to resolve logically inconsistent answers (clean), fill in missing or incomplete information (impute), and account for survey sampling (weight). Collectively, these efforts are known as data processing.
Revisions to the data processing system were informed by over a decade of research and evaluation. Prior research identified limitations related to health insurance content in the CPS ASEC and suggested that improvements to the questionnaire and processing would produce higher quality estimates of health insurance coverage. After a decade of research showing that the CPS ASEC captured less health insurance coverage in comparison with other federal surveys (Hess et al., 2001; Kenney & Lynch, 2010; Pascale, 1999), the Census Bureau introduced a redesigned questionnaire in the 2014 survey. Data based on the new questionnaire became available during the traditional fall release (e.g., Smith & Medalia, 2014, 2015; Barnett & Vornovitsky, 2016; Barnett & Berchick, 2017; Berchick, Hood, & Barnett, 2018). However, to release these data in this timely manner, the Census Bureau used the existing processing system, which could not fully incorporate the richer information contained in the redesigned questionnaire.
The 2017 CPS ASEC Research File builds on the redesigned questionnaire and debuts the revised data processing system. That is, the Census Bureau has produced two CPS ASEC data files for this survey year. The first file is the 2017 CPS ASEC Production File which used existing programs of cleaning, imputing, and weighting the data. The second file, the 2017 CPS ASEC Research File, introduces a new method of estimating coverage which builds from subannual estimates to determine whether a person was covered at any point in the previous calendar year, and refines the methods by which respondents' data are cleaned, imputed and weighted to better reflect the rich economic and demographic data collected by the CPS ASEC. As most health insurance coverage questions concern the previous calendar year, coverage estimates in both 2017 CPS ASEC files corresponds to coverage in 2016.
In this working paper, we describe key changes implemented in the new processing system and present health insurance coverage estimates from the 2017 CPS ASEC Research File and 2017 CPS ASEC Production File.
Health Insurance Working Papers
CPS ASEC Research Files
Last Revised: January 23, 2019
Some content on this site is available in several different electronic formats. Some of the files may require a plug-in or additional software to view. Please visit the Download Plug-In page for a full list.


The Atlantic Canada arts education curricula are shaped by a vision of enabling and encouraging students to engage in the creative, expressive, and responsive processes of the arts throughout their lives.
To develop scientific literacy, students require diverse learning experiences that provide opportunities to explore, analyse, evaluate, synthesize, appreciate, and understand the interrelationships among science, technology, society, and the environment. Scientific inquiry involves posing questions and developing explanations for phenomena. While there is general agreement there is no such thing as the scientific method, students require certain skills to participate in the activities of science. The purpose of this unit plan is to create awareness in students of how literacy can be connected not only to science, but to music, and art as well.
The unit board is to be placed in the classroom in order to excite the class about the time they will be spending analyzing, synthesizing, and reflecting on the novel Mary Poppins. From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. This classic series tells the story of the world's most beloved nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement with her everywhere she goes. Featuring the charming original cover art by Mary Shepard, these new editions are sure to delight readers of all ages.
It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house. She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins. Who else but Mary Poppins can slide up banisters, pull an entire armchair out of an empty carpetbag, and make a dose of medicine taste like delicious lime-juice cordial? A day with Mary Poppins is a day of magic and make-believe come to life (Goodreads 2012).
Students can look ahead to see what sort of activities they will be engaged in during the study of the book. It will also act as a way for the teacher to stay organized throughout the unit; being constantly aware of what activities he or she will need to prepare for next.
Having the board up in class will also work as a teaching tool in itself. In seeing the images and information displayed on the board each day, the students will automatically become more aware of themes and various aspects of the book. The board should be accessible to the students and the teacher at all times throughout the unit; allowing for everyone to constantly benefit from its presence (Leonhardt, 2010, p. 25).
At the end of the unit, students will be given the opportunity to assess their own learning. A period of time will provided for a class discussion to reflect on the unit as well as time to independently journal about what they learned throughout the process.
Children's literature and elementary general music are natural partners (Miller, 2008, p. 18). The success of this unit will be based greatly on this relationship. Students will learn about literature through the music activity and vice versa. The children's lessons should provide material for the mental growth, should exercise the several powers of their minds, should furnish them with fruitful ideas, and should afford them with knowledge, really valuable for its own sake, accurate and interesting, of the kind that the child may recall as a man with profit and pleasure (Macaulay, 27).
Introduce rhyming activity: The film and book Mary Poppins can be used to model rhythmic reading, to encourage sound improvisations, and to promote student use of various dynamic levels through the Let's Go Fly a Kite activity (Miller, 21).
– Bert in Mary Poppins, in the song Chim-chimeny.
In Mary Poppins, one of Bert's many odd jobs is that of a screever; a sidewalk chalk artist. Screever was an English term for pavement artist, chalk artist, street painter, also known as a sidewalk artist in the US, or madonarri in Italy. Screevers were busking artists who created original or reproduction artworks, typically for public donations.
Students will be asked to make their own chalk art with materials provided. Bert's art was inspired by the landscapes of English countryside; ask them to create your own landscapes, either based on real or imaginary worlds.
Provide students with chalk to be taken outside. Spend an afternoon creating imaginary worlds on pavement outside of the school. If the children want to work in pairs, allow them to do so, working together will teach them collaboration, and problem solving techniques. Before taking the children outside read the chapter "A Day Out" in which Mary Poppins and the children go on an adventure within one of Bert's chalk drawings.
Mary Poppins was written in 1934 by P. L. Travers.
The story of Mary Poppins is set in 1910, which is near the end of the Edwardian era.
Hold a short discussion on the historical context of the novel. Display pictures of Old Time London. Ask the students to make comparisons of the community that the Banks children grew up in and the one they live in. Talk about the various jobs of the characters; shopkeepers and chimney sweeps, ask your students why there are no longer chimney sweeps.
Prior to the kite – making activity, introduce your students to the science of aerodynamics, described below. Upon finishing their kites, ask the students to explain to one another how aerodynamics work using their kite.
Your kite will be creating an obstacle to the normal air flow which will cause the air to change direction and speed. When the air flows across the objects surface it moves faster over the kite, while the flow across the lower surface of the kite moves more slowly. Air pressure could be altered due to the changing air speed and results in the kite being pushed higher producing lift and flight.
The second stage of kite flying aerodynamics is when the airflow is not just split along the upper and lower kite surfaces but when the split air vaults over the kite and doesn't meet up again right away. When this happens a lower air pressure is created directly behind the kites flight pattern. The kite can be sucked into the area of low pressure and give your kite drag.
Lift and drag are important to remember in the performance of your kite. For your kite to fly stationary in the sky the lift and drag must be equal and opposite to the force pulling it down.
You will find that the position of the center of pressure is best controlled with the positioning of your flying line. For example, in light winds you will achieve the best lift by lowering your towing line to the base of the kite. This may produce a slight wobble or bring about large circles in flight. If your bridle towing line is to high it may cause your kite to tip side to side and could tip over. Experiment with your line placement to get the most out of your kite flying experience.
Cross dowels; lash together by wrapping and tying twine around the point where they intersect.
Place dowels on back side of 1 piece of paper (use the 19-inch dowel for the vertical, and the 16-inch one for the horizontal). Brush glue on smaller pieces of paper, and adhere them over the dowels to larger piece of paper at each of the 4 corners. Let dry.
Cut another piece of twine to desired length for hanging kite. Poke a small hole through paper where dowels intersect; thread twine through for hanging.
To create tail, cut a long length of twine, and cut crepe paper into 4-by-1 1/2-inch strips. Twist crepe strips at center, and tie in knots along tail about 8 inches apart. Tie tail to bottom tip of dowel.
Brush glue along back edges of paper; adhere second piece of paper, patterned side up. Let dry.
If time permits, allow the children to take their kites out on a blustery day, children need their fresh air.
"Tuppence a bag" said the bird woman. "Feed the birds," she replied smiling. "Goodbye" said Jane. "Tuppence a bag!" said the bird woman and waved her hand. They left her then, walking on either side of Mary Poppins. "What happens when everybody goes away – like us?" said Michael to Jane. He knew quite well what happened, but it was the proper thing to ask Jane because the story was really hers (Travers, 1981, P. 110).
Your students can make a difference in the world – if they're given a chance. In the movie, Michael causes a scene at the bank when he decides he'd rather give his tuppence to the lady who feeds the birds rather than deposit it in the bank for himself. Give your students an opportunity to make a difference in their community with projects that extend beyond the classroom.
A discussion will follow the activity on the subject of poverty and other social issues in the community. Students will make comparisons between issues they see in their local community and issues raised in the novel. The concept of effective citizenship is a broad one. First, it includes developing extensive knowledge of community issues and perceptive insights for understanding those issues from multiple perspectives.
An effective citizen has knowledge of local, national and international forces, both physical and social, can analyze community issues from a variety of perspectives, and can generate new ideas about the world in which they live.
Such questions to be used in the discussion could include: What signs of poverty do we see in our community? What signs of poverty were there in Mary Poppins ?
My hope is that you will learn just as much as your students throughout this unit.
In reflecting on this unit study, there are certain lessons that you will take away from the experience. One, those relationships with your students will teach them more than any textbooks, courses, or materials you provide them with. Throughout the unit, ensure that you provide your students with ample opportunity to create and think independently, while ensuring that they are aware that you appreciate and acknowledge every thought they express, the art they create, and the songs they sing.
Take opportunities that are presented throughout the unit that allow you to get to know them better. Ask them what experiences they have had flying kites in the past, why they drew what they drew in their imaginative world, and why they chose a certain word for their rhyming scheme.
"It is necessary that children should have room and time to play without a watchful eye judging their every move" (Macaulay, 1984, P. 52). Do not hover over your children; trust that they will do their work whether or not you are supervising. If a student is engaged with his or her learning, they will do their work no matter what, because they want to.
Duke, N. K., Purcell-Gates, V., Hall, L. A. & Tower, C. (2007). Authentic literacy activities for developing comprehension and writing, The Reading Teacher. 60 (4):344-355.
Whiten, P. & Whiten, D. J (2009). Empowering children as critics and composers of multimodal texts. Talking points. 23(2): 4 – 12.


text:
package cc.redpen.parser.latex;

import java.util.List;
import java.util.Deque;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.ArrayDeque;
import java.util.NoSuchElementException;

import java.util.regex.Pattern;
import java.util.regex.Matcher;
import org.apache.commons.lang3.StringUtils;

/**
 * Experimental stream mode LaTeX parser prototype.
 */
public class StreamParser {
    private char[] mTarget;

    private Listener mListener;

    public StreamParser(final char[] s, final Listener l) {
        mTarget = s;
        mListener = l;
    }

    public StreamParser(final String s, final Listener l) {
        mTarget = s.toCharArray();
        mListener = l;
    }

    public void parse() {
        final List<Token> tokens = Lexer.on(mTarget).parse();
        for (Token t:
                 (Parsing.unescapeRegion
                  (Parsing.styleTextileRegion
                   (Parsing.assembleRegion
                    (Parsing.pruneRegion
                     (Parsing.normalizeTextileRegion
                      (Parsing.maskTabularLikeRegion
                       (Parsing.markVerbatimRegion
                        (Parsing.collapse (tokens)))))))))) {
            mListener.element(t);
        }
    }

    /*package*/ static class Parsing {
        public static final char ESCAPE_CHAR = '\uFFFD';

        public static List<Token> takeBlock(final Deque<Token> q) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<String> reg = new ArrayDeque<>();
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.getFirst();
                    switch (t.t) {
                    case "GROUP1_BEGIN":
                    case "GROUP2_BEGIN":
                        reg.addLast(t.t);
                    break;
                    default:
                        switch (t.t) {
                        case "GROUP1_END":
                            if ("GROUP1_BEGIN".equals(reg.getLast())) {
                                reg.removeLast();
                            }
                            break;
                        case "GROUP2_END":
                            if ("GROUP2_BEGIN".equals(reg.getLast())) {
                                reg.removeLast();
                            }
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                    if (!reg.isEmpty() || !o.isEmpty()) {
                        o.add(q.removeFirst());
                    }
                    if (reg.isEmpty()) {
                        break;
                    }
                }
                return o;
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<Token> takeTrailingBlocks(final Deque<Token> q) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            while (true) {
                final List<Token> block = takeBlock(q);
                if (!block.isEmpty()) {
                    o.addAll(block);
                } else {
                    break;
                }
            }
            return o;
        }

        public static Token makeVerbatim(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final Token beginning = tokens.get(0);
            final List<String> values = new ArrayList<>();
            for (Token t : tokens) {
                values.add(t.asVerbatim());
                if (!t.p.isEmpty()) {
                    values.add(makeVerbatim(t.p).v);
                }
            }
            return new Token("VERBATIM", StringUtils.join(values, ""), beginning.pos);
        }

        public static List<Token> collapse(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            final Pattern interests = Pattern.compile("(?:caption|part|(?:sub)*(chapter|section|paragraph)|item|title)\\*?");
            final Pattern ignores = Pattern.compile(".?(?:space|fill)\\*?|phantom|documentclass|usepackage|author|date|label|ref|cite|biblio.*|includegraphics");
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ("CONTROL".equals(t.t)) {
                        if ("begin".equals(t.v) || "end".equals(t.v)) {
                            t.p = takeTrailingBlocks(q);
                            switch (t.v) {
                            case "begin":
                                t.t = "ENVIRON_BEGIN";
                                break;
                            case "end":
                                t.t = "ENVIRON_END";
                                break;
                            }
                            o.add(t);
                        } else if (interests.matcher(t.v).matches()) {
                            t.p = takeBlock(q);
                            t.t = t.t + "*";
                            o.add(t);
                        } else if (ignores.matcher(t.v).matches()) {
                            t.p = takeTrailingBlocks(q);
                            o.add(t);
                        }
                    } else {
                        o.add(t);
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<String> valuesOf(final Iterable<Token> tokens) {
            final List<String> o = new ArrayList<>();
            for (Token t : tokens) {
                o.add(t.v);
            }
            return o;
        }

        public static List<String> textileValuesOf(final Iterable<Token> tokens) {
            final List<String> o = new ArrayList<>();
            for (Token t : tokens) {
                o.add(t.asTextile());
            }
            return o;
        }

        public static List<Token> markVerbatimRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ( ! ("ENVIRON_BEGIN".equals(t.t) && textileValuesOf(t.p).contains("verbatim")) ) {
                        o.add(t);
                    } else {
                        final List<Token> verbatim = new ArrayList<>();
                        while (true) {
                            final Token vt = q.removeFirst();
                            if ( ! ("ENVIRON_END".equals(vt.t) && textileValuesOf(vt.p).contains("verbatim")) ) {
                                verbatim.add(vt);
                            } else {
                                o.add(makeVerbatim(verbatim));
                                break;
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<Token> maskTabularLikeRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ( ! ("ENVIRON_BEGIN".equals(t.t) && textileValuesOf(t.p).contains("tabular")) ) {
                        o.add(t);
                    } else {
                        while (true) {
                            final Token tt = q.removeFirst();
                            if ("ENVIRON_END".equals(tt.t) && textileValuesOf(tt.p).contains("tabular")) {
                                break;
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<Token> normalizeTextileRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ( ! ("TEXTILE".equals(t.t)) ) {
                        o.add(t);
                    } else {
                        t.v = Pattern.compile("``|''|''").matcher(t.v).replaceAll("\"");
                        t.v = Pattern.compile("`|'").matcher(t.v).replaceAll("'");
                        o.add(t);
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<Token> pruneRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ("TEXTILE".equals(t.t)) {
                        o.add(t);
                    } else if ("CONTROL*".equals(t.t)) {
                        o.add(new Token(t.v.toUpperCase(), StringUtils.join(textileValuesOf(pruneRegion(t.p)), ""), t.pos));
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<Token> assembleRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            final List<Token> reg = new ArrayList<>();
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ("TEXTILE".equals(t.t)) {
                        reg.add(t);
                    } else {
                        if (!reg.isEmpty()) {
                            final Token first = reg.get(0);
                            o.add(new Token(first.t, StringUtils.join(textileValuesOf(reg), ""), first.pos));
                            reg.clear();
                        }
                        o.add(t);
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                if (!reg.isEmpty()) {
                    final Token first = reg.get(0);
                    o.add(new Token(first.t, StringUtils.join(textileValuesOf(reg), ""), first.pos));
                    reg.clear();
                }
                return o;
            }
        }

        public static List<Token> styleTextileRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            final Deque<Token> q = new ArrayDeque<>(tokens);
            final Pattern EMPTY = Pattern.compile(String.format("^[ \\t\\r\\n%c]*$", ESCAPE_CHAR));
            final Pattern LINEBREAK = Pattern.compile("(\\r?\\n){2,}");
            try {
                while (true) {
                    final Token t = q.removeFirst();
                    if ("TEXTILE".equals(t.t)) {
                        if (!EMPTY.matcher(t.v).matches()) {
                            final String stripped = stripTextBlock(t.v);
                            for (String s : LINEBREAK.split(stripped)) {
                                final Position p = new Position(_guessRow(t, s), _guessCol(t, s));
                                o.add(new Token(t.t, maskCharactersInTextBlock(s), p));
                                o.add(new Token(t.t, Token.BLANK_LINE, p));
                            }
                        }
                    } else {
                        o.add(t);
                    }
                }
            } catch (final NoSuchElementException e) {
                try {
                    final Token last = o.get(o.size() - 1);
                    if (last.isBlankLine()) {
                        o.remove(last);
                    }
                    return o;
                } catch (final ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException ignore) {
                    return o;
                }
            }
        }

        public static String stripTextBlock(final String b) {
            return Pattern.compile(String.format("^[ \\t\\r\\n%c]+", ESCAPE_CHAR)).matcher(b).replaceAll("");
        }

        public static String compactTextBlock(final String b) {
            return Pattern.compile(String.format("[ \\t\\r\\n%c]{2,}", ESCAPE_CHAR)).matcher(b).replaceAll(" ");
        }

        public static String maskCharactersInTextBlock(final String b) {
            return b.replace('~', ' ');
        }

        public static List<Token> unescapeRegion(final List<Token> tokens) {
            final List<Token> o = new ArrayList<>();
            for (Token t : tokens) {
                t.v = t.v.replace(ESCAPE_CHAR, ' ');
                o.add(t);
            }
            return o;
        }

        public static int countMatches(final Pattern p, final String s) {
            int ret = 0;
            for (Matcher m = p.matcher(s); m.find(); ++ret);
            return ret;
        }

        public static int _guessRow(final Token t, final String needle) {
            final int lead = t.v.indexOf(needle);
            if (lead >= 0) {
                return t.pos.row + countMatches(Pattern.compile("\\r?\\n"), t.v.substring(0, lead));
            } else {
                return t.pos.row;
            }
        }

        public static int _guessCol(final Token t, final String needle) {
            final int lead = t.v.indexOf(needle);
            if (lead >= 0) {
                final int lastLinebreak = t.v.substring(0, lead).lastIndexOf("\n");
                if (lastLinebreak >= 0) {
                    return 0 + (lead - (lastLinebreak + 1));
                } else {
                    return t.pos.col + lead;
                }
            } else {
                return t.pos.col;
            }
        }
    }

    public static interface Listener {
        public void element(Token t);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Cafés will be popping up on the streets of New York
By Sarah Goodyear on Nov 11, 2010
Photo: NYC Department of TransportationThe New York City Department of Transportation is going to make it easier for you to park your rear end at a sidewalk café by taking away a bit of parking for cars.
The NYC DOT has announced a two-year pilot program that would allow "pop-up cafés" in the curbside spots near restaurants where the sidewalk is too narrow for conventional outdoor seating. It's like an extended and improved variation on the annual PARK(ing) Day observed in cities around the country.
From the DOT press release:
Pop-up Cafés provide outdoor public seating in the curb lane during the warm months and promote local businesses. Such cafés are popular in Europe, where narrow sidewalks prevent sidewalk cafés, and have recently been established in California and Canada.
In the summer of 2010, DOT partnered with two Lower Manhattan restaurants to pilot the city's first Pop-up Café. Building on this success, DOT is expanding the Program in 2011 by partnering with restaurants or cafés in up to 12 locations throughout the five boroughs.
Participating restaurants will have to hire an architect to design the spaces, but the DOT will help with safety measures in the roadway.
Considering how incensed New York drivers can get when their parking spaces are tampered with, this is pretty radical stuff. But this is a DOT that has calmly and steadily moved forward to reclaim space for pedestrians from automobiles, no matter how loud the shouting. Next summer, you'll be able to drink to that — from the curb lane.
More in Cities	All Cities
grid-locked
Can a city truly be 100% renewable? It's complicated.
sticker shock
A Massachusetts city will post climate change warning stickers at gas stations
What Mayor Pete's primary promises mean for the Department of Transportation
See no evil
Why did EPA air monitors fail to detect an oil refinery explosion?


text:
Q: Getting values of json array in Mocha JS I have following issue, this json is returned by api:
"products": {
  "10432471": {
     "id": 10432471
  },
  "10432481": {
     "id": 10432481
  }
}

and I need to get names of all variables under products array, how to get them?
That values are constantly changing everyday, so I can not refer to their names
Trying console.log(res.body.menu.categories[i].products.values()); but its not worked.
Any sugesstion how can I get 10432471 and 10432481 from products? Without referring to variable names.

A: You are able to get that via Object.keys(res.body.menu.categories[i].products)

A: To get the object properties, the shortest is using Object.keys()

var obj = {"products": {
    "10432471": {
       "id": 10432471
    },
    "10432481": {
       "id": 10432481
    }
  }}

var properties = Object.keys(obj.products)

console.log(properties)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Вільям Стенлі Джевонс (; 1 вересня 1835 — 13 серпня 1882) — британський економіст і логік. Ірвінг Фішер вважав його книгу Теорія політичної економії 1871 року початком застосування математичних методів в економіці. Він стверджував, що економіка, як наука пов'язана з дослідженням величин, обов'язково має бути математичною. При цьому, він спирався на «остаточну» (граничну) теорію корисності. Роботи Джевонса, поряд з аналогічними відкриттями Карла Менґера у Відні (1871 року) і Леона Вальраса у Швейцарії (1874 року), відзначають відкриття нового періоду в історії економічної думки. Внесок Джевонса до маржиналістської революції в економіці наприкінці XIX століття створив йому репутацію провідного політичного економіста і логіка тих часів.

Джевонс припинив дослідження природничих наук у Лондоні в 1854 році для роботи пробірником у Сіднеї, де він здобув інтерес до політичної економії. Повертаючись до Великої Британії в 1859 році, він опублікував Загальну математичну теорію політичної економії в 1862 році, в якій була викладена теорія граничної корисності, та Істотне падіння у вартості золота в 1863 році. Для Джевонса, корисність або цінність для споживача додаткової одиниці продукту знаходиться в зворотній залежності від кількості одиниць продукту, якими він уже володіє, принаймні понад деяку граничну величину.

Саме завдяки праці Проблема вугілля (1865 року), в якій він звернув увагу на поступове вичерпання покладів вугілля у Великій Британії, він отримав громадське визнання. Найважливішою з його робіт про логіку і наукові методи є Принципи науки (1874 року), а також Теорії політичної економії (1871 року) і Держава по відношенню до праці (1882 року).

Примітки

Джерела

Логіки
Економісти
Поховані на Гемпстедському цвинтарі

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As many others, I happened to stumble upon the Pocono Outdoor Club. I decided to become a member after spending a couple hours with POC members John Motz, the trail care leader and Roy Kleinle, the vice president of POC.
I came upon the club by being a trail rehabilitation volunteer for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) working with Michael Winters, Park Manager of Tobyhanna State Park. My volunteering adventure begun in the fall of 2006 and Michael Winters got in touch with me this spring, to come and lend a hand at an organized volunteering event at Big Pocono State Park on June 30.
What I expected was much different then what I was actually met with. I thought there were all these families and college students out there who come and help maintain the hiking trails when it came to an "organized volunteering day". I didn't expect to walk into the forest and be met by 4 older men collecting large rocks into a Gator.
I thought, 'well at least I'm strong enough to be of help, but I sure feel out of place'. As the work progressed I felt comfortable with the idea that we were there working towards the same goal and I felt fortunate that I just met people in the community that do what I like to do; give their free-time for the sake of preserving trails.
Why is this so important to me? Just because I love the outdoors and I think the best way to experience it is to go out onto the trails, especially here, in the Poconos. But, at the same time I realize that someone has to do the work to maintain them since I just don't know of as many park rangers as there are trails! I joined the Pocono Outdoor Club, not only because I love the outdoors and maintaining trails, but because I like the safety and companionship that being part of a group gives. Exploring the forest and sharing my experiences with others makes it a lot more exciting. Also, I want to learn from the people who have been taking intense interest in the outdoors for many years.
I hope to inspire others, especially people my age, those in their 20s and 30s, to join the club and take advantage of the already established leadership and the benefits of organized trips led by responsible, knowledgeable members of the club. I'm very grateful that I can be a part of group of people who share the same way of enjoying themselves as I do.