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"Before gaining CIW certification, I had a dead-end job," says Jonathan King. "However, after gaining certification I was offered the first Web developer job that I applied for. Ten years on and I now earn over three times as much annually than my previous non-career based job!"
Janelle Mason was able to start her own business after earning CIW certifications in Web Foundations, Web Design, E-Commerce and Database Design. "CIW enhanced my skills in Web design and development," she says. "CIW courses are great for anyone who wants to develop dynamic, interactive Web sites. If you are thinking of building your skills to start your own career, CIW courses are definitely the way to begin! CIW makes dreams come true."
Alan Yoshida earned his CIW Web Associate certification, along with other professional certifications from Microsoft, CompTIA, Citrix and Cisco. He now works in Networking for Raytheon, a major U.S. defense contractor. "Obtaining the CIW certification helped me advance my career," he says. "And adding multiple certifications from various vendors showed potential employers that I have the ability to be agile." CIW provides a vendor-neutral technology foundation that you can build upon with specific product knowledge for success across entire networks of any size.
Owen Giles was looking for a career change when he took the CIW Web Foundations courses. He now works as a Web Developer for Sony Music. "CIW gave me an interest in Web design, which led me into programming specifics and Java development," he says. "CIW taught me the Web design fundamentals from which I could build more specific skill sets." CIW gives you the foundational knowledge that is useful in any job, and guides you to the advanced skills you need for more defined career paths.
"I didn't know a thing really about Web technology, but after 6 months I was able to design Web pages," says Muhammad Alkhateeb, who now works as Senior Web designer for the National Education Network in Cairo. "I learned great skills in Web design, development, planning and management through my CIW courses," he says. "I found the course materials excellent, and I am continuing to enjoy learning even more skills through my studying. Even my friends and parents have remarked how impressed they are with my achievements to date, which makes me feel great! Thank you, CIW!"
"CIW helped me get promoted," says Andrew Edwards, who now works as a Web Communications Specialist. "The CIW Site Development Associate certification helped me become more confident in my coding and design skills, and allowed me to work full time in a field that I love." Andrew recommends CIW training for more high school students. "Get them started early, and help them understand that they don't necessarily need to attend a four-year college to find a good career," he says.
"CIW helped me transition from Active Duty Army back into the civilian workforce successfully," says Nicholas Ellis, now a Systems Engineer in Tennessee. "The CIW Web Foundations Associate courses brought me up to speed on concepts I had missed in my previous training. It prepared me for work in the corporate IT environment." Whether you have already had technology training or none at all, CIW can help ensure that you have all the technology skills you need to succeed in today's workplace.
"I was working for an advertising agency utilizing my associate's degree in Advertising/Graphic Design for print design," says Reggie Byrum. "I realized the future was in Web design and development, and so I attended a local community college and completed the CIW Web Foundations Associate courses and certification. I studied Web design and development, HTML and CSS. CIW gave me the knowledge and confidence to eventually launch my own successful home-based Web design business. Without the foundation of my CIW training, I could not have done this." See Reggie's work at www.ncwebpros.com.
"I was selected for my present job because I was CIW certified," says Tasha Roachford. After earning all her CIW Web Foundations Associate and Web Design Professional certifications, Tasha was able to get a job with the Telecommunication Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. "Thanks to CIW, I am able to build Web sites," she says. "CIW has allowed me to improve my digital marketing skills. I now know what it takes to establish an online presence and manage it as well."
After earning his CIW Web Foundations Associate and CIW Web Development Professional certifications, Edward Bosteter was promoted to Systems Analyst II - Application Support at a major corporation. "The CIW Database Design Specialist skills have been instrumental in several projects I've been involved with," he says. CIW teaches skills that jobs require. The more you know, the more jobs you can do — and the more doors that will open.
Donald Reggio, a Marketing Director in Georgia, took CIW Web Design and E-Commerce courses as part of his continuing education when he was changing jobs. "CIW allowed me to fuse the knowledge I had of production in graphics, video, film and print with the digital versions, and enable the work I did in the 'new media' to be more substantive," he says. "I enjoyed learning new skills and the language of current media, which allowed me to remain relevant and advance my career. Also, CIW gave me the ability to interact with IT staff, knowing what is possible and feasible, and see that the IT person knows that I know. CIW certification was a validation that I knew the technology and infrastructure of Web-based media, which I can apply to support my Business Development and Marketing skills."
Robert Thomas is a certified CIW Web Security Professional. "I got CIW certified because I wanted a pay raise," he says. "And I got a pay raise. CIW pushed me up a notch. Now I'm responsible for the entire IT system at my company." CIW teaches you the skills that get you the job — and the money.
Randy Morris works as a Web Developer in Utah. "I have both taken and taught certification courses," he says. "CIW's preparation materials are the clearest and most comparable to the certification exam. Upon completing the course, I felt that I was better prepared than with any other industry exam I've taken." CIW courses teach you what you need to know to earn professional certifications and to succeed in the career endeavors that you pursue afterward.
Pamela McMillan is now a CEO who oversees operations, training and all site development for her company. "I was a Web developer before I started the CIW training earlier in my career," she says. "But being able to show the CIW certification to HR managers was key. CIW provided a way for me to distinguish myself from others who say they are Web developers. The CIW certificate says I had to pass an exam to prove I had knowledge and skills. So employers know they aren't running a risk when hiring me for a job." CIW certification proves your knowledge and sets you ahead of the pack of those claiming the skills.
PETAL et al. is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that provides skills development and leadership training in the entertainment technology arts industry. Their goal is to help create more opportunities for technology arts career seekers and help them develop the skills necessary to get them there.
Even with over 37 years as a Senior Network Support/ Systems Engineer, Rebecca Byrd took CIW Web Foundations and Web Design courses as part of her continuing education. "The CIW courses were interesting and an aid to working with Web-based applications," she says. "CIW updated my HTML and CSS skills to the current standards. The courses provide an understanding from the front end and from the developer's code. This is useful as an administrator who has to troubleshoot server issues and Web-based applications, which requires an understanding of the various syntax and codes, and how they relate on the Web interface or server." Seasoned professional or just entering the workforce, anyone can learn valuable skills from CIW.
"CIW helps people successfully get out on the Internet," says Mike Finding, who changed careers after earning the CIW Web Design Professional certifications. Now he runs his own successful Web design business in the United Kingdom. "I started my career over afresh several years ago after taking CIW courses. If I had not taken that first course, I may not have found something that really lights me up like Web design does."
Geraldine Kriegel took the CIW Web Foundations Associate courses as part of her continuing education. "CIW was my starting point," she says. "I started with no IT knowledge, and CIW built me up step by step." After earning her CIW certification, she got a promotion. "I became responsible for planning all new software for the legal department, and I began assisting the IT department in moving from legacy systems to PC-based systems integrating with SAP." She recently began studying mobile app design: "It involves HTML, which I studied with CIW." She'll be bringing her skills to CoderDojo in Dublin, where kids can begin learning about Web development for their future careers.
Laura Wheeler was looking for career advancement when she took the CIW Web Design and E-Commerce Specialist courses. "CIW gave me unique skills, such as the storyboarding process for new Web sites. My company created a new position for Web design, and I was promoted to fill it." As the Web Site Manager for her State Chamber of Commerce, Laura now manages and updates up to 10 Web sites for her job.
Tracy Pinkston took the CIW Web Foundations Associate courses to satisfy continuing education requirements for his job with the U.S. Department of Defense. "CIW enhanced my skill set, and it enabled me to adapt quickly to changing requirements," says Tracy. CIW balances technical knowledge and skills with on-the-job strategies that propel you on the road to success.


text:
Firefighter honored in San Clemente during…
Firefighter honored in San Clemente during candlelight vigil
Hundreds of family, friends, firefigthers and others participate in a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By Laylan Connelly | lconnelly@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: January 10, 2022 at 8:09 p.m. | UPDATED: January 10, 2022 at 8:28 p.m.
The day started and ended with a fiery sky ablaze with color – and when darkness fell, a bright white halo illuminated around the moon, watching down as candlelight flickered in honor of Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler.
"For a day like today, nothing more fitting," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Chaplin Vince Roldan, looking up at the sky.
A candlelight vigil drew hundreds of people in San Clemente to honor and remember Flagler, who died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6.
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters join in the candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ron Good, a friend Jonathan Flagler, speaks about him during a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends, family and others mourn during a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Flagler family was displayed for the candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chief Anthony Marrone of the Los Angeles Fire Department speaks during a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hundreds of people and firefighters gathered for a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A children's choir, right, from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Clemente sing during a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Flagler, 47, who was a San Clemente resident, was remembered by friends and fellow firefighters as caring and courageous, a family man with a keen sense of humor who adored his two teenage sons, Brody and Jack, and wife Jenny Johnson Flagler.
"Every once in a while you come across someone who stands out," said fire Capt. Dave Gillotte. "He's an amazing human being who stands above the norm. He stands better than better. And you know that when you meet him."
Flagler was among the crew members from Fire Station 83 who responded to the blaze around 2 a.m. Thursday in the 30700 block of Tarapaca Road.
Flagler was overcome with smoke and fire while inside and issued a Mayday alert, Los Angeles County interim Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters last week following the fire. He was rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he died.
Fire investigators believe the fire was in the attic when firefighters arrived, Marrone said.
A memorial of flowers grew last week at his station house, No. 83, in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Marrone on Monday evening told a crowd of hundreds who filled the lawn of the Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente that the outpouring from fellow firefighters from around the state and country has been overwhelming, and called Flagler "caring, selfless and brave."
"He truly embodied our core values of courage, caring and community, both on and off the job," he said.
Brandon Hendriks, pastor of the family's church at Pacific Coast Church in San Clemente, started the night with a prayer, the sound of the ocean's waves crashing in the distance, a choir singing "Amazing Grace" with the crowd.
"We pray you will give peace to all the brokenhearted gathered here tonight," he said.
Gillotte asked everyone to pause to acknowledge the dangers of a firefighter's job.
"It's a sobering moment for us all. Every firefighter you see on the street … thank them," he said. "We have a different job when we leave the house, when we go to work. Tonight we're reminded of that."
Roldan said the candlelight vigil was a fitting tribute to show the "light and the love that we all carry inside of us, to give that love to those who are hurting."
"As a community, I know you are hurting right now. I look at this community and this family and I now everyone is going to be OK, eventually," he said.
The union has also established a memorial fund to benefit the family. Donations can be sent to the Flagler Memorial Fund at F&A FCU, attention: Aymee Yanesa, 2625 Corporate Place, Monterey Park, 91754.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Laylan Connelly | Reporter
Laylan Connelly started as a journalist in 2002 after earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. Through the years, she has covered several cities for The Orange County Register, starting as a beat reporter in Irvine before focusing on coastal cities such as Newport Beach, Dana Point and Laguna Beach. In 2007, she was selected for a prestigious Knight New Media fellowship focusing on digital media at UC Berkeley, where she learned skills to adapt to the ever-changing online landscape. About the same time, she began covering the 42-miles of Orange County coastline, focusing on lifestyle, environment, surf culture and anything having to do with the beach. Her coastal coverage now extends up the California coast into Long Beach and the South Bay.
lconnelly@scng.com
Follow Laylan Connelly	@ocbeaches
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I see the image is more than 480p.
The character looks nice too.
krssn wrote: I see the image is more than 480p.
Thanks, yes it's the PC version. It is not an ingame picture but shows how the level will eventually look like.
Both the PC and Dreamcast versions will have the exact same view in the end.
Looks lovely, really great. So different to and much better than the original demo. Dan looks spot on.
Wrath of Khan wrote: Looks lovely, really great. So different to and much better than the original demo. Dan looks spot on.
Thanks, yes. I'll be posting the New York level video soon I hope.
I took the occasion also to show him a video of a new Shadow Gangs character, as he didn't see any video post the Kickstarter and bosses ones.
I want to share it with you guys and hope you like it, any remarks also welcome, as I am now in the characters fixes, very early balancing phase.
A good news about the levels, the artist now will do a big increase in the art deliveries, which is needed to finish all the 24 levels quickly.
Still 23 levels ahead...but everything starts with a step!
Shown here is one of the many posters that will be in the New York level, and there is more update info on the website.
Well, I like the one of the left.


text:
Q: Functional analysis: Why $p(x)\leq\inf\{p_{a_1}\mid x_1\in F_{a_1}, x=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}$. Let $A$ a set of index and $E$ an $\mathbb F$ vector space. For each $a\in A$, let $F_a$ be a vector space and $\mathcal T_a$ the topology induced by the set of seminorms $\Gamma_a$. Furthermore, let $G_a:F_a\to E$ be a linear map. Suppose that $E=\bigcup_{a\in A}G_a(F_a).$
$(E,\mathcal T)$ is defined by the set of seminorms $\Gamma$ such that $p:E\to\mathbb R$ in $\Gamma$ if $\forall a\in A, p\circ G_a$ is a continuous seminorm on $F_a$.
We remark that $p:E\to \mathbb R$ is in $\Gamma$ if
$$\forall a\in A,\exists s\in(\Gamma_a)_f,\exists \lambda>0: p\circ G_a\leq \lambda s.$$
Let define $\hat\Gamma$ by $p\in\hat\Gamma$ if
$$p(x)=\inf\left\{\sum_{j=1}^n p_{a_j}(x_j)\mid n\in\mathbb N, a_j\in A\text{ and }x_j\in F_{a_j}\text{ for all }j\in\{1,...,n\},x=\sum_{j=1}^n G_{a_j}(x_j)\right\}$$
Where for all $a\in A$, $p_a$ is a continuous seminorm on $F_a$. We want to show that $\hat \Gamma\subset \Gamma$. Let $p_a$ for $a\in A$ and $p\in\hat\Gamma$ like above. Let $a_1$ be fixed. I don't understand why
$$p(x)\leq\inf\{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1}, x=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}$$
and
$$p(G_{a_1}(z_1))\leq \inf\{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1},G_{a_1}(z_1)=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}\leq p_{a_1}(z_1)$$
for all $z_1\in F_{a_1}$.

A: The whole idea here is to use the following properties of the infimum. Namely, if $\emptyset\neq U\subset V$ and $f\colon V \to W$, then we have
$$\inf_{x\in V}f(x)\leq\inf_{x\in U}f(x) \qquad \text{and}\qquad \inf_{x\in U}f(x)\leq f(u) \quad \forall u \in U.$$

In your case:
Note that
$$D_1:=\{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1}, x=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}\quad\subset\quad \{p_{a}(x_1)\mid a\in A, x_1\in F_{a_1}, x=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}\\ \subset D_p:=\left\{\sum_{j=1}^n p_{a_j}(x_j)\mid n\in\mathbb N, a_j\in A\text{ and }x_j\in F_{a_j}\text{ for all }j\in\{1,...,n\},x=\sum_{j=1}^n G_{a_j}(x_j)\right\}.$$
So that
$$p(x)=\inf\{t \mid t \in D_p\}\overset{D_1\subset D_p}{\leq} \inf\{t \mid t \in D_1\}=\inf\{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1}, x=G_{a_1}(x_1)\} \qquad (*)$$
and your first inequality follows.
To get
$$p(G_{a_1}(z_1))\leq \inf\{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1},G_{a_1}(z_1)=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}$$
just plug $x=G_{a_1}(z_1)$ in $(*)$. Finally, since
$$p_{a_1}(z_1)\in \{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1},G_{a_1}(z_1)=G_{a_1}(x_1)\},$$
(remember that $z_1\in F_{a_1}$) we must have
$$\inf\{p_{a_1}(x_1)\mid x_1\in F_{a_1},G_{a_1}(z_1)=G_{a_1}(x_1)\}\leq p_{a_1}(z_1).$$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Typhonia pericrossa is een vlinder uit de familie van de zakjesdragers (Psychidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is, als Melasina pelodoxa, voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1907 door Edward Meyrick. De combinatie in Typhonia werd in 2011 door Sobczyk gemaakt.

Type
 syntypes: 3 exemplaren
 instituut: BMNH, Londen, Engeland
 typelocatie: "India, Sikkim, 600 ft"

Zakjesdragers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
Mont Blanc (10542 views - 3D Maps & GIS)
Mont Blanc (pronounced [mɔ̃ blɑ̃]) or Monte Bianco [ˈmonte ˈbjaŋko], both meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps and the highest in Europe west of Russia's Caucasus peaks. It rises 4,808 m (15,774 ft) above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. The mountain lies in a range called the Graian Alps, between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Savoie and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit is on the watershed line between the valleys of Ferret and Veny in Italy and the valleys of Montjoie, and Arve in France. The Mont Blanc massif is popular for mountaineering, hiking, skiing, and snowboarding. The three towns and their communes which surround Mont Blanc are Courmayeur in Aosta Valley, Italy, and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France. The latter town was the site of the first Winter Olympics. A cable car ascends and crosses the mountain range from Courmayeur to Chamonix, through the Col du Géant. The 11.6 km (7¼ mi) Mont Blanc Tunnel, constructed between 1957 and 1965, runs beneath the mountain and is a major trans-Alpine transport route.
PARTcloud - mont blanc
This article is about the mountain. For other uses, see Mont Blanc (disambiguation).
Mont Blanc (French)
Monte Bianco (Italian)
Summit of Mont Blanc and the Bosses ridge
4,808[1] m (15,774 ft)
4696 m ↓ by Lake Kubenskoye
Ranked 11th
2,812 km → Kukurtlu
Parent peak
Mount Everest[note 1]
Country high point
45°50′01″N 006°51′54″E / 45.83361°N 6.86500°E / 45.83361; 6.86500Coordinates: 45°50′01″N 006°51′54″E / 45.83361°N 6.86500°E / 45.83361; 6.86500
Show map of Alps
Show map of Italy
Show map of Europe
Aosta Valley, Italy
Haute-Savoie, France
Parent range
Graian Alps
First ascent
8 August 1786 by
Jacques Balmat
Michel-Gabriel Paccard
Mont Blanc (pronounced [mɔ̃ blɑ̃]) or Monte Bianco [ˈmonte ˈbjaŋko], both meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps and the highest in Europe west of Russia's Caucasus peaks.[note 2] It rises 4,808 m (15,774 ft)[1][2] above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence.[3] The mountain lies in a range called the Graian Alps, between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Savoie and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit is on the watershed line between the valleys of Ferret and Veny in Italy and the valleys of Montjoie, and Arve in France. The Mont Blanc massif is popular for mountaineering, hiking, skiing, and snowboarding.
The three towns and their communes which surround Mont Blanc are Courmayeur in Aosta Valley, Italy, and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France. The latter town was the site of the first Winter Olympics. A cable car ascends and crosses the mountain range from Courmayeur to Chamonix, through the Col du Géant. The 11.6 km (7¼ mi) Mont Blanc Tunnel, constructed between 1957 and 1965, runs beneath the mountain and is a major trans-Alpine transport route.
1.1 Ownership of the summit
1.2 Vallot
1.3 Janssen observatory
1.4 Air crashes
1.5 Tunnel
1.5.1 1999 disaster
2 Elevation
3 Climbing routes
3.1 Refuges
3.2 Impacts of climate change
4 Exploits and incidents
5 Cultural references
5.1 Cinema and television
5.2 Literature
6 Protection
The first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc was on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat and the doctor Michel Paccard. This climb, initiated by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who gave a reward for the successful ascent, traditionally marks the start of modern mountaineering.[4] The first woman to reach the summit was Marie Paradis in 1808.
Nowadays the summit is ascended by an average of 20,000 mountaineer-tourists each year. It could be considered a technically easy, yet arduous, ascent for someone who is well-trained and acclimatized to the altitude. From l'Aiguille du Midi (where the cable car stops), Mont Blanc seems quite close, being 1,000 m (3,300 ft) higher. But while the peak seems deceptively close, La Voie des 3 Monts route (known to be more technical and challenging than other more commonly used routes) requires much ascent over two other 4,000 m mountains, Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit, before the final section of the climb is reached and the last 1000 m push to the summit is undertaken.
Each year climbing deaths occur on Mont Blanc, and on the busiest weekends, normally around August, the local rescue service performs an average of 12 missions, mostly directed to aid people in trouble on one of the normal routes of the mountain. Some routes require knowledge of high-altitude mountaineering, a guide (or at least an experienced mountaineer), and all require proper equipment. All routes are long and arduous, involving delicate passages and the hazard of rock-fall or avalanche. Climbers may also suffer altitude sickness, occasionally life threatening, particularly if they do not acclimatize to it.[5][6]
Ownership of the summit
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Since the French Revolution, the issue of the ownership of the summit has been debated. From 1416 to 1792, the entire mountain was within the Duchy of Savoy. In 1723 the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II, acquired the Kingdom of Sardinia. The resulting state of Sardinia was to become preeminent in the Italian unification.[8] In September 1792, the French revolutionary Army of the Alps under Anne-Pierre de Montesquiou-Fézensac seized Savoy without much resistance and created a department of the Mont-Blanc. In a treaty of 15 May 1796, Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia was forced to cede Savoy and Nice to France. In article 4 of this treaty it says: "The border between the Sardinian kingdom and the departments of the French Republic will be established on a line determined by the most advanced points on the Piedmont side, of the summits, peaks of mountains and other locations subsequently mentioned, as well as the intermediary peaks, knowing: starting from the point where the borders of Faucigny, the Duchy of Aoust and the Valais, to the extremity of the glaciers or Monts-Maudits: first the peaks or plateaus of the Alps, to the rising edge of the Col-Mayor". This act further states that the border should be visible from the town of Chamonix and Courmayeur. However, neither the peak of the Mont Blanc is visible from Courmayeur nor the peak of the Mont Blanc de Courmayeur is visible from Chamonix because part of the mountains lower down obscure them.
A Sardinian Atlas map of 1869 showing the summit lying two thirds in Italy and one third in France.[9]
After the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna restored the King of Sardinia in Savoy, Nice and Piedmont, his traditional territories, overruling the 1796 Treaty of Paris. Forty-five years later, after the Second Italian War of Independence, it was replaced by a new legal act. This act was signed in Turin on 24 March 1860 by Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, and deals with the annexation of Savoy (following the French neutrality for the plebiscites held in Tuscany, Modena, Parma and Romagna to join the Kingdom of Sardinia, against the Pope's will). A demarcation agreement, signed on 7 March 1861, defined the new border. With the formation of Italy, for the first time Mont Blanc was located on the border of France and Italy.
The 1860 act and attached maps are still legally valid for both the French and Italian governments.[10] One of the prints from the 1823 Sarde Atlas[11] positions the border exactly on the summit edge of the mountain (and measures it to be 4,804 m (15,761 ft) high). The convention of 7 March 1861 recognises this through an attached map, taking into consideration the limits of the massif, and drawing the border on the icecap of Mont Blanc, making it both French and Italian. Watershed analysis of modern topographic mapping not only places the main summit on the border, but also suggests that the border should follow a line northwards from the main summit towards Mont Maudit, leaving the southeast ridge to Mont Blanc de Courmayeur wholly within Italy.
Although the Franco-Italian border was redefined in both 1947 and 1963, the commission made up of both Italians and French ignored the Mont Blanc issue. In the early 21st century, administration of the mountain is shared between the Italian town of Courmayeur and the French town of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, although the larger part of the mountain lies within the commune of the latter.
Vallot
The first professional scientific investigations on the summit were conducted by the botanist-meteorologist Joseph Vallot at the end of the 19th century. He wanted to stay near the top of the summit, so he built his own permanent cabin.
Janssen observatory
In 1890, Pierre Janssen, an astronomer and the director of the Meudon astrophysical observatory, considered the construction of an observatory at the summit of Mont Blanc. Gustave Eiffel agreed to take on the project, provided he could build on a rock foundation, if found at a depth of less than 12 m (39 ft) below the ice. In 1891, the Swiss surveyor Imfeld dug two 23 m (75 ft) long horizontal tunnels 12 m (39 ft) below the ice summit but found nothing solid. Consequently, the Eiffel project was abandoned.
Despite this, the observatory was built in 1893. During the cold wave of January 1893 a temperature of −43 °C (−45 °F) was recorded on Mont Blanc, being the lowest ever recorded there.
Levers attached to the ice supported the observatory. This worked to some extent until 1906, when the building started leaning heavily. The movement of the levers corrected the lean slightly, but three years later (two years after Janssen's death), a crevasse started opening under the observatory. It was abandoned. Eventually the building fell, and only the tower could be saved in extremis.[12]
Air crashes
The mountain was the scene of two fatal air crashes; Air India Flight 245 in 1950 [13] and Air India Flight 101 in 1966. Both planes were approaching Geneva airport and the pilots miscalculated their descent; 48 and 117 people, respectively, died.[14] The latter passengers included nuclear scientist Homi J. Bhabha, known as the "father" of India's nuclear programme.[15]
Main article: Mont Blanc Tunnel
In 1946 a drilling project was initiated to carve a tunnel through the mountain. The Mont Blanc tunnel would connect Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy and become one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes between the two countries. In 1965 the tunnel opened to vehicle traffic with a length of 11,611 metres (7.215 mi).[16]
1999 disaster
Main article: Mont Blanc Tunnel Fire
In 1999 a transport truck caught fire in the tunnel beneath the mountain. In total 39 people were killed when the fire raged out of control. The tunnel was renovated in the aftermath to increase driver safety, reopening after three years.[17]
The summit of Mont Blanc is a thick, perennial ice and snow dome whose thickness varies. No exact and permanent summit elevation can therefore be determined, though accurate measurements have been made on specific dates. For a long time its official elevation was 4,807 m (15,771 ft). In 2002, the IGN and expert surveyors, with the aid of GPS technology, measured it to be 4,807.40 m (15,772 ft 4 in).
After the 2003 heatwave in Europe, a team of scientists re-measured the height on 6 and 7 September. The team was made up of the glaciologist Luc Moreau, two surveyors from the GPS Company, three people from the IGN, seven expert surveyors, four mountain guides from Chamonix and Saint-Gervais and four students from various institutes in France. This team noted that the elevation was 4,808.45 m (15,775 ft 9 in), and the peak was 75 centimetres (30 in) away from where it had been in 2002.
After these results were published, more than 500 points were measured, to assess the effects of climate change and the fluctuations in the height of the mountain at different points. Since then, the elevation of the mountain has been measured every two years.
The interpretation that the heatwave had caused this fluctuation is disputed because the heatwave is known not to have significantly affected the glaciers above 4,000 m (13,000 ft). The height and position of the summit could have been moved by general glacial forces. At this elevation, the temperatures rarely rise above 0 °C (32 °F). During the summer of 2003, the temperature rose to 2 °C (36 °F), and even 3 °C (37 °F), but this would not have been enough for the ice to melt that amount.
The summit was measured again in 2005, and the results were published on 16 December 2005. The height was found to be 4,808.75 m (15,776 ft 9 in), 30 cm (12 in) more than the previous recorded height. The rock summit was found to be at 4,792 m (15,722 ft), some 40 m (130 ft) west of the ice-covered summit.[18]
In 2007 the summit was measured at 4,807.9 m (15,774 ft) and in 2009 at 4,807.45 m (15,772 ft).[2] In 2013 the summit was measured at 4,810.02 m (15,781 ft) and in 2015 at 4,808.73 m (15,777 ft).[1] From the summit of Mont Blanc on a clear day, the Jura, the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Massif Central mountain ranges can be seen, as well as the principal summits of the Alps.
A panoramic view of Mont Blanc from Aiguille du Midi
View from Vallee Blanche of Glacier du Geant and Dent du Geant, looking down Glacier du Tacul towards the Mer de Glace, with Aiguille du Moine, les Drus and Aiguille Verte in centre-left
Climbing routes
The Mont Blanc Massif averages nearly 100 fatalities a year. A published estimate suggests there have been 6,000-8,000 alpinist fatalities in total, more than on any other mountain.[19]:208 Several classic climbing routes lead to the summit of Mont Blanc:[20][21]
The most popular route is the Voie Des Cristalliers, also known as the Voie Royale. Starting from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, the Tramway du Mont-Blanc (TMB) is taken to get to the fr:Gare du Nid d'Aigle. The ascent begins in the direction of the Refuge de Tête Rousse and through the Goûter Corridor,[22] considered dangerous because of frequent rock-falls, leading to the Goûter cabin for night shelter. The next day the route leads to the Dôme du Goûter, past the emergency Vallot cabin and L'arrête des Bosses.
La Voie des 3 Monts is also known as La Traversée. Starting from Chamonix, the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi is taken towards the Col du Midi. The Cosmiques cabin is used to spend the night. The next day the ascent continues over Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit.
The historic itinerary through the Grand Mulets, which is most frequently traversed in winter by ski, or in summer to descend to Chamonix.
The normal Italian itinerary is also known as La route des Aiguilles Grises. After crossing the Miage Glacier, climbers spend the night at the Gonella refuge. The next day one proceeds through the Col des Aiguilles Grises and the Dôme du Goûter, concluding at L'arête des Bosses (Bosses ridge).
The Miage — Bionnassay — Mont Blanc crossing is usually done in three days, and has been described as a truly magical expedition of ice and snow aretes at great altitude.[19]:199 The route begins from Contamines-Montjoie, with the night spent in the Conscrits cabin. The following day, the Dômes de Miages is crossed and the night spent at the Durier cabin. The third day proceeds over l'Aiguille de Bionnassay and the Dôme du Goûter, finally reaching the summit of Mont Blanc via the Bosses ridge.
Refuge Vallot, 4362 m.
Refuge Goûter, 3817 m.
Bivouac Corrado Alberico - Luigi Borgna, 3684 m.
Refuge Cosmiques, 3613 m.
Refuge Tête Rousse, 3167 m.
Refuge Francesco Gonella, 3071 m.
Refuge Grands Mulets, 3050 m.
Impacts of climate change
Recent temperature rises and heatwaves, such as that of summer 2015, have had significant impacts on many climbing routes across the Alps, including those on Mont Blanc. For example, in 2015, the Grand Mulets route, previously popular in the 20th century, was blocked by virtually impenetrable crevasse fields, and the Gouter Hut was closed by municipal decree for some days because of very high stonefall danger, with some stranded climbers evacuated by helicopter.[23]
Exploits and incidents
1786: The first ascent, by Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat; see Exploration of the High Alps.
1787: The fourth ascent, by Englishman Mark Beaufoy, with at least six guides and a servant.
July 1808 (1808-07): The first ascent by a woman, Maria Paradis, with Balmat as her guide.
July 1838 (1838-07): The second ascent by a woman, Henriette d'Angeville.
1890: Giovenni Bonin, Luigi Grasselli and Fr. Achille Ratti (later Pope Pius XI) discovered the normal Italian route (West Face Direct) on descent.
1960: The airplane pilot Henri Giraud landed on the summit, which is only 30 m (98 ft) long.[24]
1990: The Swiss Pierre-André Gobet, leaving from Chamonix, completed the ascent and descent in 5 hours, 10 minutes and 14 seconds.
30 May 2003 (2003-05-30): Stéphane Brosse and Pierre Gignoux tried to beat the record by ski-walking. They went up in 4 hours and 7 minutes, and came back down in 1 hour and 8 minutes. In total they did the ascent and descent in 5 hours and 15 minutes.
13 August 2003 (2003-08-13): Seven French paraglider pilots landed on the summit. They reached a peak altitude of 5,200 m (17,100 ft), thanks to the hot weather conditions, which provided strong hot air currents. Five had left from Planpraz, one from Rochebrune at Megève and the last one from Samoëns.
8 June 2007 (2007-06-08): Danish artist Marco Evaristti draped the peak of Mont Blanc with red fabric, along with a 20-foot (6.1 m) pole with a flag reading "Pink State". He had been arrested and detained earlier on 6 June for attempting to paint a pass leading up to the summit red. His aim was to raise awareness of environmental degradation.[25]
13 September 2007 (2007-09-13): A group of 20 people set up a hot tub at the summit.[26]
19 August 2012 (2012-08-19): Fifty paraglider pilots landed on the summit, beating the previous record of 7 top landing pilots, set in 2003. This included the second ever tandem landing on the summit.[27]
11 July 2013 - Kilian Jornet beat the fastest overall time for ascent and descent with 4 hours 57 minutes and 40 seconds.[28][29]
Cinema and television
La Terre, son visage, is a documentary by Jean-Luc Prévost and published by Édition Société national de télévision française, released in 1984. It is part of the Haroun Tazieff raconte sa terre, vol. 1 series. In it he talks about the west-east crossing of Mont Blanc.
The film Malabar Princess.
The television-film Premier de cordée.
Storm over Mont Blanc (Stürme über dem Mont Blanc, 1930) with Leni Riefenstahl and directed by Arnold Fanck
La Roue (The Wheel, 1923) is a 273-minute film by Abel Gance depicting rail operations, workers, and families in southeastern France, including the Mont Blanc area.
Premier de cordée by Roger Frison-Roche
Hugo et le Mont Blanc by Colette Cosnie – Édition Guérin
Hymn Before Sunrise, in the Vale of Chamouni by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Mont Blanc by Percy Shelley
Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz
The Prelude Book VI by William Wordsworth
Kordian by Juliusz Słowacki
Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains by Jon Krakauer
Running Water by AEW Mason
La neige en deuil by Henri Troyat
The Mont Blanc massif is being put forward as a potential World Heritage Site because of its uniqueness and its cultural importance, considered the birthplace and symbol of modern mountaineering.[30] It would require the three governments of Italy, France and Switzerland to make a request to UNESCO for it to be listed.
Mont Blanc is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, and for this reason, some view it as threatened.[citation needed] Pro-Mont Blanc (an international collective of associations for the protection of Mont Blanc) published in 2002 the book Le versant noir du mont Blanc (The black hillside of Mont Blanc), which exposes current and future problems in conserving the site.[31]
In 2007, Europe's two highest toilets (at a height of 4,260 metres, 13,976 feet) were taken by helicopter to the top of Mont Blanc. They are also serviced by helicopter. They will serve 30,000 skiers and hikers annually, helping to alleviate the discharge of urine and faeces that spreads down the mountain face with the spring thaw, and turns it into 'Mont Marron'.[32]
Global warming has begun to melt glaciers and cause avalanches on Mont Blanc, creating more dangerous climbing conditions.[33]
The highest resolution panorama of the Mont Blanc ever made: "in2white".
Mont Blanc seen from Les Arcs 1950
North side of Mont Blanc
Mer de Glace glacier on the left
Mont Blanc seen from SPOT satellite
Aerial view of the south-western side of Mont Blanc in early September, taken on a commercial flight
View taken "par grand beau temps" from the upper terrace, on Aiguille du Midi (2015). Need to reach second floor of the cable railway
Exploration of the High Alps
Mont Blanc (Moon)
Mont Blanc glacier flood
Mont Blanc massif
Mont Blanc Tramway
Mont Blanc Tunnel
Top of the Mont Blanc
Stubai AlpsEarthPripyatDelhiTownRome
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mont Blanc", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. There is a list of all authors in Wikipedia
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Good Inheritance Tax planning allows you to maximise your assets to your family and friends.
Inheritance Tax is tax that may be payable on what people give away during their lifetime or when they die. Everyone is allowed to give assets of a certain amount exempt from Inheritance Tax, the so called Nil Rate Band. For the current Tax Year the Nil Rate Band is set at £325,000 (2019/2020). In addition to the Nil Rate Band, your estate may be eligible for a further amount exempt from Inheritance Tax - the Residence Nil Rate Band - when your residence is passed on death to one or more direct descendants. This measure has come into effect for relevant transfers on death on or after 6 April 2017.
If there is a possibility that Inheritance Tax may be payable on your death, careful planning of your estate may reduce the bill. Although Inheritance Tax laws are now in favour of married couples or those in a registered partnership, the need to take appropriate tax planning measures is still necessary for many of us. Inheritance Tax planning is even more important for unmarried couples as they cannot automatically make use of the same favourable tax regime that married couples and registered partners are entitled to.
We work with a small number of carefully selected Financial Advisers and Accountants who can provide additional expert assistance when it comes to Estate and Inheritance Tax planning. Should the circumstances so require, then with your permission we can introduce you to one of our trusted advisers and work closely with them to ensure all arrangements complement each other.
Contact Cambridge Wills & Legal Services to find out more.


A massive open online course on making sense of massive open online courses caused massive confusion when the course content was suddenly deleted and the professor started writing cryptic things on Twitter.
The MOOC, called "Teaching Goes Massive: New Skills Required," was taught by Paul-Olivier Dehaye, a lecturer at the University of Zurich. Offered through Coursera, the course had been conceived of as a meta-MOOC designed to help disoriented educators find their feet in the online landscape. The course "grew out of the author's experiences as an early adopter and advocate of newer technologies (such as Coursera) for online teaching," according to a description on Coursera's website.
So far, the course has produced chaos rather than clarity. All the videos, forums, and other course materials mysteriously vanished from the website last week. As students in the course grappled with the bizarre turn of events, Mr. Dehaye offered only vague, inscrutable tweets.
The professor was behind the deletion, according to Coursera. On Wednesday, Mr. Dehaye "unexpectedly deleted all of the course content from the site, without explanation, leading to significant confusion among the learners," Daphne Koller, president of Coursera, said in a written statement on Monday.
The deletion was followed by a series of strange dispatches from Mr. Dehaye's Twitter account, including several alluding to an experiment he might have been conducting and, later, claims that he had been "removed" from his role by Coursera. In other messages, he talked of feeling "lost" and in over his head. Mr. Dehaye did not immediately respond to an email message from The Chronicle on Monday.
Mr. Dehaye appears to have stopped tweeting on July 5, shortly after calling on his university to help him "debrief"—a term that in research refers to explaining an experiment to participants after the fact. The university did not immediately respond to an email message from The Chronicle.


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Lagavulin launches 8 Year Old whisky to mark 200th anniversary
August 12, 2016 August 13, 2016 admin New Release, Single Malt Whisky, Spirits
Famous Islay Scotch whisky Lagavulin is celebrating its 200 years of production with the launch of a special, limited edition eight-year-old expression, which will be available in Australia.
Everyone that knows Islay whisky knows that Lagavulin is famous for its smoky aromas and complex aromas. The tasting notes for the new Lagavulin 8 year old whisky indicate that the Lagavulin heritage has not been forgotten in this younger whisky.
Lagavulin 8 Year Old Australia
Jonathan Morgan, Diageo Australia marketing manager said, "Single malts are the fastest growing segment within the whisky category in Australia, growing 15 per cent in the last financial year. Growth in single malts has contributed significantly to scotch's overall strength in the Australian market, with scotch overtaking bourbon as Australia's most popular spirit in early 2016.
"Diageo is well placed to take advantage of this growth in malts with the largest portfolio in this flourishing category and proud owners of 43 per cent of the industry's inventory. With this breadth to our portfolio, we are delighted to be able to bring rare and special whiskies – such as the limited edition Lagavulin 8 Year Old – to Australia just ahead of one of the busiest trading periods of the year for scotch – Father's Day."
Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo's Head of Whisky Outreach, added: "This is a special year for a much loved Single Malt Scotch Whisky revered around the world as the definitive Islay whisky. We are thrilled to begin the celebrations for such an historic occasion with the launch of the first Lagavulin 8 Year Old for many years."
This limited edition whisky is now available via Australia's #1 Online Drinks Shop MyBottleShop. Buy a bottle of Lagavulin 8 Year Old now.
Islay Lagavulin limited edition Single Malt Whisky
Johnnie Walker releases new Island Green Blended Malt
Malfy Gin from Italy's Amalfi Coast Launches in Australia


CAMARILLO, Calif., Mar. 19, 2018 – Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, will host its sixth annual charity golf tournament on June 15 at the River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard, Calif.
This year's event will benefit Interface Children & Family Services, a nationally-recognized family support organization with main offices in Camarillo that helps connect the local community. Interface's substantial contributions during the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslides, along with its tremendous on-going support of the victims, have shown the organization's commitment to local communities and its residents. Semtech is dedicated to actively working within Ventura County to raise more awareness for its children and family-based community non-profit programs.
"Interface is extremely grateful for Semtech's commitment to the safety, health and well-being of children, families and communities of Ventura County. Proceeds from this year's charity golf tournament will support Interface's ability to respond to calls for help when crises such as the Thomas Fire occur, support families throughout their recovery process, and help prevent the lifelong impact of trauma from occurring in the first place. It is only through assistance from philanthropic leaders like Semtech that Interface is able to provide quality programs that community members rely on to get back on their feet during the most challenging times of their lives," said Catherine Kort, Fund Development and Marketing Director at Interface Children & Family Services.
Interface Children & Family Services is a non-profit social services agency, providing free, proven responsive services that annually address the complex health and emotional needs of 35,000 clients locally and 150,000 clients statewide. Its 24 programs serve children, teens, adults and families who are typically low-income and threatened by poverty, domestic violence, incarceration, human trafficking, homelessness, child abuse, neglect and abandonment. More recently, Interface Children & Family Services provided support to the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide victims.
Semtech and the Semtech logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Semtech Corporation and/or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks or service marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


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Home » 'Julia' Review: Glossy, Surface-Level Julia Child Documentary Sticks to a Familiar Recipe
'Julia' Review: Glossy, Surface-Level Julia Child Documentary Sticks to a Familiar Recipe
As a chef, Julia Child made no claims for herself as an innovator: Her mission was not to create new recipes, but to interpret and archive age-old French ones in ways the average American home cook could tackle without fear. Given her dual priorities of traditionalism and accessibility, then, she might well have appreciated "Julia," a bright, cheerful, audience-friendly overview of Child's life and legacy that steers fastidiously clear of any unexpected insight or information on a well-documented subject.
Docmaking duo Julie Cohen and Betsy West previously scored an Oscar nomination for "RBG," a similarly upbeat, uncomplicated portrait of another iconic American woman, and — save for the addition of much butter-varnished gastroporn photography — they haven't significantly changed the recipe here. There's nothing especially wrong with that: Child was a broadly entertaining public personality, and the film is broadly entertaining in turn, zipping through her eventful, rather inspiring life story — from sheltered youth to late-blooming sensualism to unlikely middle-aged celebrity — at a lively pace, full of attractive asides about evolving food culture from the past to the present. That approach, peppered with talking-head contributions from culinary personalities like Ina Garten and André Cointreau, will go down particularly well with mature, nostalgic audiences when Sony Pictures Classics releases the film on Nov. 5.
But it's a little disappointing that anyone with even a working knowledge of Child is unlikely to emerge from "Julia" having learned anything new — or at least, nothing more surprising than a couple of tasteful nude photos from the Child archives. Cohen and West hold their subject in palpable esteem and affection, but their perspective is scarcely more probing than Nora Ephron's fictionalized 2009 comedy "Julie & Julia," in which Meryl Streep's full-bore performance gave many younger audiences their first sense of Child's eccentric screen presence.
Oddly, and somewhat pointedly, Ephron's film, and the bestselling book on which it was based, are entirely ignored in the doc's discussion of Child's cultural impact. Dan Aykroyd's fruity Child impression for "Saturday Night Live," on the other hand, rates multiple mentions. (Child herself was a big fan, we are told.) Indeed, the most interesting passages of "Julia" cover the gradual creation of her much-parodied television presence, beginning spontaneously (and in her late forties) with the low-budgeted limitations of public educational broadcasting, before being honed into a more polished, knowingly comedic act by the time she graduated to the likes of "Good Morning America."
Before we get to that, however, the film offers a rundown of her pre-celebrity life, as interviews with friends and next-generation family members add a little intimacy to otherwise standard-issue biographical tone. (The film was chiefly drawn from Bob Spitz's authoritative biography "Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child.") Cohen and West touch tactfully on the extreme wealth of her family, which Child herself downplayed — one interviewee tartly notes that Child and her mother alike had no need of learning to cook — while her father John McWilliams' emotional remoteness and rigidly Republican politics are also stressed.
It was joining the Office of Strategic Services during the Second World War, the film suggests, that was the making of Child's hitherto unadventurous life. Ensuing travels awakened her fascination with international culture and cuisine — and introduced her, while in Ceylon, to her future husband Paul, a politically liberal, artistically-minded civil servant who successfully converted the younger, conservatively raised woman to his pleasure-seeking way of living.
A spell of living in France cued Child's enrolment at the Cordon Bleu, and the rest is history — though the doc sort of treats it that way, dutifully filling in the details of her early culinary career and the painstaking writing of her seminal, name-making volume "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," without doing much to enliven it — save for quickfire recipe vignettes, richly shot by Claudia Raschke, that walk us through the basics of making a sole meunière, or a boeuf bourguignon, the Child way. (The secret, and it's no secret, tends to be industrial quantities of butter.)
Away from the kitchen, much of the film is consumed with her and Paul's lifelong misfit romance, supplemented with extracts from their correspondence, ornamentally handwritten on screen. (Such flourishes, along with Rachel Portman's somewhat over-present score — heavy on obvious accordion cues whenever the action turns to France — lends the film a general air of cuteness.) The chosen quotes are more colorful than revealing, though it is amusing to read Paul's prescient observation, shortly after their initial meeting, of her "slight atmosphere of hysteria, giggling wildly, which gets on my nerves."
Any closer-to-the-bone insights into her private life, meanwhile, are not on the menu — unsurprising, perhaps, given the involvement of multiple family members as producers, though certain intriguing threads are only tentatively pulled. It's hinted that Child, content as a homemaker even after her career eclipsed her husband, wasn't an overt believer in feminism, but was firmly pro-choice. It's mentioned, too, that she held homophobic beliefs prior to becoming an AIDS activist in the 1980s, before the subject is swiftly dropped in favor of further generic "food is love" appraisals from her acolytes. "Julia" offers us glimpses of a complex, brittle personality beneath the robust persona, but is either too cautious or too genuinely besotted with the latter to pry it out.
Best season-long NFL player props to target include Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Derrick Henry
Will Peyton Manning become NFL Commissioner? QB legend addresses speculation


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Major immigration goal should be intact families
There was a lot of debate during the presidential election about immigration reform, and the U.S. bishops issued a letter about immigration policy during their recent meeting in November. What have the bishops said regarding immigration? The bishops' Committee on Migration sent a letter to President-elect Trump. The chair of the committee, Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo of Seattle, basically called on the president-elect to "continue to protect the inherent dignity of refugees and migrants." We aren't sure at this point what the new president will do regarding immigration reform. He said during the election that he would build a wall on our southern border with Mexico and talked about deporting up to 11 million immigrants who have entered the country illegally. But in a recent interview on "60 Minutes," President-elect Trump said he was looking at a plan to deport 2 million to 3 million people whom he described as "criminals and have criminal records" and entered the country without permission. We affirmed the statement by the Migration Committee and pledged to work with the new administration "to promote the common good." I think what is critical for everyone to recognize is that family life is the cornerstone of society, and we hope the new administration will take that into consideration when formulating its immigration policies. The bottom line is families should remain intact. We would not want to see some members of the family being forced to return to their home country and some members staying here. The family unit is sacred. We also believe people should not be sent back into dangerous situations.
What is the basis for church teaching on immigration?
The church says people have a right to freedom, and they have a right to be protected. If people need to leave their country to protect themselves or their families, we should be open to receiving them and giving them a chance to live their lives productively and in safety. We have to remember that Jesus himself was a refugee. The original European settlers of America were immigrants, so we should look at our present-day immigrants with compassion. The church has never said, "Just throw open your borders and everybody come on in." The church has always insisted that countries have a legitimate interest in having people go through a process of legal immigration leading to getting a visa or eventually earning the right to citizenship. This process should be done legally, and the church should do whatever it can to help people who come here in search of a better life.
What have some of your fellow bishops from border areas in Texas and Arizona told you about the reality of immigration?
Their perspective is that people are living in fear and fleeing for their lives. Some of the immigrants from Mexico have been living in the midst of gangs, and they are running to save their lives. Part of our identity as Catholics is welcoming and serving the needs of people who are fleeing violence and conflict. This is a pro-life pillar that we will continue to uphold. The question is what can we as a church do to be of assistance.
What would comprehensive immigration reform look like?
We need a process that is fair. I'm not sure, but it must be based on justice and charity.
What is the church doing regarding immigrants who have come to this country?
There's been a lot of news about Syrian refugees who have come to the U.S. and have been resettled by Catholic Charities and other church-related groups. We are simply working with the people that our federal government has said are not terrorists and will be a contribution to our society. We are trying to help them start a new life. In the U.S. – and in New Orleans – even undocumented people are paying sales taxes. They are not paying income taxes, but if they ever did become American citizens, they would pay income tax. Many undocumented immigrants are taking the jobs that nobody else would take, and many are in our churches every week because they are people of faith. Everyone in this area realizes how much slower our recovery from Katrina would have been had it not been for the hard work of so many immigrants who came here after the storm.
What has Pope Francis said about all of this?
The pope recognizes what is going on. There are more than 65 million people who have been forcibly displaced around the world, and he recognizes their right to live in freedom. In some parts of the Middle East, making the sign of the cross is an act for which a person can be martyred. Many people are leaving their homeland because of religious persecution. The Holy Father is calling on every nation to offer hospitality to the people who most need it. That same hospitality was shown to our grandparents and great-grandparents when they came to the U.S.
Archbishop Aymond can be reached atclarionherald@clarionherald.org.
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We spent five days in New York City and had a great time! We walked a ton, ate a ton, and saw a ton.
Day 1 ~ We arrived at about 6am to the JFK airport. After some, "How do we take Airtrain?" and "Which subway goes where?" questions, we were on our way to our hotel in the Chelsea Neighborhood.
Our first stop was the Empire State Building, about a five minute walk from our hotel. We got there about 8:15am on a Thursday morning and there were NO LINES!! We spent about an hour there, and by the time we were leaving, the lines were definitely starting to form. By the way – no need to spend the extra money ($20!) to go to the 102nd floor – the view was no different than the 86th floor.
We then walked to see Grand Central Terminal, which was pretty spectacular given that it's a train station and grabbed a bite to eat. We checked out the NYC Public Library – a very cool building with lots of architecture inside and outside, then ended up checking out Times Square as well.
Here was Suzanne's favorite sign – move people, move!!
We continued walking past Rockefeller Center (where they were setting up for some ESPN show), saw the ice rink and all that, and then made our way to the New YorkTimes Building just so Suzanne could work on her NYT crossword while being so close to the source.
Then stopped at the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, which Suzanne liked – however Brad waited outside. Dinner was at Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop (disappointing), then we continued walking along the High Line. We tried to find the Thursday night Chelsea Art Walk, but it was a bust – every gallery we passed had a sign that they were closed for installation.
After taking the Red Eye and walking all day (wonder how far we walked....), we fell asleep about 8pm that night!


text:
Alternative Japanese manga to feature in Comix India!
Bharath Murthy	Uncategorized	 May 2, 2017
Comix India is excited and honoured to bring to Indian readers for the first time, critically acclaimed Japanese alternative manga, or more specifically 'gekiga', in the next and future volumes alongside Indian comics. Some of these manga authors were part of the legendary Garo manga magazine that was at the forefront of the alternative manga movement. These authors greatly expanded manga's possibilities as a form for literary expression, and in the process created an adult readership for comics.
We thank Mitsuhiro Asakawa, our Editorial Adviser, who is responsible for this. But this is just the beginning. We hope to publish more great manga from recognised masters of the art in the years ahead, some of it previously untranslated in English.
In doing this, we sincerely hope that Indian comics artists as well as readers will be benefited through a genuine cultural exchange that will help in creating new Indian comics that are artistically ambitious while reaching…
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I cut a piece of plastic sheeting to fit the outline of the floor, and traced the tubing layout onto it. That way, we can set it back down over top of floor at any time down the road and see where the tubing is. I also wanted to check into securing the pedestal sink to the floor, to make sure it would work out. And what better way than doing a dry fit/sneak peek.
So with the planning out of the way, we set about the rather uneventful business of installing the cement board. There was a little bit of extra work involved, making channels for the floor temperature sensor wiring, but nothing too spectacular.
With the mortar already mixed up from installing the cement board, I spent the time taping all of the joints and seams in the shower area. The standard seams weren't too bad, and went quickly enough once I got the hang of it. But the niches were a real treat. Every joint, seam, gap, etc. had to be taped and mudded to make things secure. And all while working in a very confined box with poor visibility. Fun! However, the end result was definitely worth the effort.
With all of the mortared joints set by Thursday morning, we moved on to waterproofing the cement board. Another simple, if not tedious, operation. It started out with pre-treating all of the corners in the shower area, and I went a step further and also pre-treated the seams.
From there, it's just two full coats with a roller. MUCH easier. And the same treatment for the floor, as well. That whole process created a nice waterproof membrane on top of the cement board, so that if any water ever makes its way through the tile or grout, it won't damage the wood structure on the other side. Cheap insurance, in my book.
In an effort to keep the momentum going, and since the wateproofing had dried enough by yesterday evening, we started with tiling the floor. That's right, the first piece of finish is starting to go in! We're using a cork mosaic tile for the flooring, so there were lots of little modifications to be made to get the edges to fit right. After lots of test fitting, swearing, and gluing, we finished up with the tile portion of the installation around 5:30 this morning. A long night, but completely worth it.
And now that the adhesive has had a chance to set, we've started the process of sealing and grouting. The manufacturer calls for two coats of polyurethane, then grout, then another two coats of polyurethane. We've only done the first coat of poly so far, but you can already see the tile coming to life.
I can't wait to get grout in to really see it pop. The cork is so pleasantly soft that walking on it barefoot is already nice, even with the discomfort from the gaps between tiles. Getting the floor finished is the main goal for this weekend, and it won't be a problem at all. Then it's on to finishing the drywall, but that much fun will have to wait until Monday.
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An important part of maintaining an office is having the insurance coverage you need. Business insurance can protect your company against losses caused by the company or its employees, and provide protection against third-party lawsuits. Our agent at Alliance Insurance Services in Washington, DC can help you determine the type of insurance coverage you need to minimize potential risks to your business and put an effective business insurance plan in place.


text:
Q: ARIMA seasonal prediction with Python: x12a and x13as not found on path I am using Statsmodels to implement seasonal ARIMA prediction for time series. Here is my code :
import statsmodels.api  as sm
from statsmodels.tsa.x13 import x13_arima_select_order, _find_x12
import pandas
import scipy
import numpy
import imp
data_source = imp.load_source('data_source', '/mypath/')
def main():
    data=data_source.getdata()
    res = x13_arima_select_order(data)
    print (res.order, res.sorder)

main()

When running the code, I am getting this exception:
X13NotFoundError("x12a and x13as not found on path. Give the "
statsmodels.tools.sm_exceptions.X13NotFoundError: x12a and x13as not found on path. Give the path, put them on PATH, or set the X12PATH or X13PATH environmental variable.

A: From looking at the source code for statsmodels.tsa.x13 you need to have either the x12a or x13as binary applications installed on your system.
In addition to that, the path to the folders where those binaries are located must be set in your user's PATH environment variable.
You don't mention what operating system you're running, so here's a page with links to OS specific download pages on the left hand side to help you install the needed software.
https://www.census.gov/srd/www/x13as/
This is the link to the source I'm referencing to figure out what you're missing in your environment:
http://statsmodels.sourceforge.net/devel/_modules/statsmodels/tsa/x13.html
def x13_arima_analysis(endog, maxorder=(2, 1), maxdiff=(2, 1), diff=None,
                       exog=None, log=None, outlier=True, trading=False,
                       forecast_years=None, retspec=False,
                       speconly=False, start=None, freq=None,
                       print_stdout=False, x12path=None, prefer_x13=True):
...
    x12path = _check_x12(x12path)

    if not isinstance(endog, (pd.DataFrame, pd.Series)):
        if start is None or freq is None:
            raise ValueError("start and freq cannot be none if endog is not "
                             "a pandas object")
        endog = pd.Series(endog, index=pd.DatetimeIndex(start=start,
                                                        periods=len(endog),
                                                        freq=freq))

...
def _check_x12(x12path=None):
    x12path = _find_x12(x12path)
    if not x12path:
        raise X13NotFoundError("x12a and x13as not found on path. Give the "
                               "path, put them on PATH, or set the "
                               "X12PATH or X13PATH environmental variable.")
    return x12path

...
def _find_x12(x12path=None, prefer_x13=True):
    """
    If x12path is not given, then either x13as[.exe] or x12a[.exe] must
    be found on the PATH. Otherwise, the environmental variable X12PATH or
    X13PATH must be defined. If prefer_x13 is True, only X13PATH is searched
    for. If it is false, only X12PATH is searched for.
    """

A: To add to the accepted answer, in Linux you can set the X13PATH variable by opening
~/.bash_profile
and adding this new line:
export X13PATH="/your/path/to/x13"
Using this method permanently sets the path so you don't need to set it each time. You may need to log out and then log back in or disconnect and reconnect if using SSH after making the changes to the file for them to be applied.
If the error persists you can look in the x13.py source file from statsmodels. I found that the file was not up to date with the most recent names for the x13 executable files. The default code used
_binary_names = ('x13as.exe', 'x13as', 'x12a.exe', 'x12a')

While the newer version used:
_binary_names = ('x13as.exe', 'x13as', 'x12a.exe', 'x12a',
                 'x13as_ascii', 'x13as_html')

Updating _binary_names fixed the error.


You are here: Home » Information » It's in your eyes!
A shark has different eyes than a human: they are on different sides of the head, creating a 360-degree field of vision, with two blind spots in front of the snout and right behind the head. Sharks have limited vision, only able to see 15 meters ahead, so sight is only important when close to the prey. Like humans, sharks have a lens, a retina, an iris and a cornea.
One very important feature of shark sight is the tapetum lucidum, made up of mirrored crystals, which is how sharks are able to see in the low light created by murky or deep waters. Like cats, sharks'eyes can glow in the dark. TIn a shark, though, the tapetum lucidum is about two times as effective at reflecting light as it is in cats [source: Seaworld]. Because of the tapetum lucidum, a shark can see about 10 times better than a human can in dim light, like during dusk or dawn, their natural time to hunt.


So you have attracted a new potential client and now its time to seal the deal? We've researched the questions parents ask and have provided some advice on how to respond most effectively! In addition, sometimes parents have their teenagers call to ask the questions. This is a PERFECT time to collect both their email addresses and their phone numbers so you can follow up. By putting all this into an email, you can continue the communication and add this family to your email data base. And of COURSE, add all these questions to your website under an FAQ section.
1) If using a service provider, try MAIL CHIMP: FREE for the first 2000 names. Have a template designed and ready to go with FAQ. After you hang up you can send out your designed email. CLICK HERE for an example of an easy template we used to use for Dance Studios Web Design. Easy to make and perfect for categorizing questions.
2) If you are NOT using a service provider, create a GMAIL account especially for your email. The chrome browser has a free add on called YESSWARE that allows you to see if people opened up your email and clicked on links.
1) Mention the various genres you offer in addition to mentioning the age ranges and the levels.
2) Do you offer recreational classes in addition to pre-professional or company classes?
There is no way to avoid this question and the variety of reactions you will receive. Be sure to mention all of the discounts or ways the parent can save money. If price is still an issue, explain to the parent that the money goes to insuring the students receive the highest quality of training in a fun yet safe environment (with proper floors to minimize injury and mirrors to maximize learning). If they still complain, they might not be right for your school.
Talk about all of the performances your studio is involved in, from recital to local shows to competitions. To increase clientele, try allowing students to opt out of recital in recreational classes; this will allow those who want to learn dance but are not quite ready for the stage the ability to train without the pressure of performance (though performance is healthy and should be encouraged for every student!). Remember, the more performances the better, so call local events, local schools, and local retirement homes and get your students in front of an audience!
Your entire faculty should have updated bios for your entire faculty and headshots on your website and at your front desk. Bios can written by the teacher and then edited by you (or a studio manager) to ensure flow and accuracy. Print them out and have them ready for potential clients; even if the bios are not "star studded," a bio that makes a teacher seem fun, dedicated, and knowledgeable will go a long way with parents. Include your own credentials and honors your studio has received. .
Allowing parents to watch dance class is a difficult decision. If you allow parents to watch the class at all, use a video camera streaming live to a television in the lobby. This will eliminate the distraction of having a parent in the room, allow the teacher to have full control over the class, yet still satisfy the parents' want to view the class. Also remember you do not have to allow the video observation every class; your studio, your rules even with parents.
Another great idea is to video tape your classes once a month and post them to your website and/or Facebook page. A picture is worth a 1000 words, a video worth a million.
The sooner the better! Try constantly offering a class which does not perform that way even if a student wants to enroll mid semester they have an option. Or allow the student to observe an already ongoing class to keep them excited and enthused! Too close to recital? Let the child start ANYWAY and offer them a role helping out with scenery, props or taking tickets.
Having all these questions at your fingertips for staff as well as yourself can make this process easier. Following up with an email and a discount off 1 month (paid in full) or some other promotion can help encourage your phone call to turn into a new student!


text:
Why Australia's famed gun control laws probably wouldn't reduce shooting deaths in America
Police department workers in Sydney sort and catalog weapons handed in for refunds as part of the Australian government's money-for-guns plan in 1997. A new study raises doubt about whether the policy actually reduced gun deaths in the country.
(Rick Rycroft / Associated Press)
By Karen KaplanScience and Medicine Editor
Sept. 26, 2018 7 AM PT
On a spring day in the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur, a lone gunman shot an elderly couple at the inn they owned, 22 diners lunching at a nearby tourist spot, two tour bus drivers and several of their passengers, four occupants of a BMW, and two customers at a gas station.
By the time the bullets stopped flying on April 28, 1996, 35 people were dead and another 23 were wounded. It was the worst mass shooting Australia had ever seen.
In a matter of months, Australia rolled out the National Firearms Agreement, which banned the possession of automatic and semiautomatic firearms in all but "exceptional circumstances." About 640,000 guns were surrendered through a gun buyback program and another 60,000 were turned in to authorities for free in 1996 and 1997.
Australia has not seen a shooting like the Port Arthur massacre since, and the National Firearms Agreement is widely credited for this success. Gun control advocates in the United States — including former President Obama — have spoken admiringly of the law and suggest it should be a model for reducing gun deaths here.
That wouldn't do any good, according to the authors of a new study.
Mass shootings get the most attention, but they account for a tiny fraction of total gun deaths in the U.S., data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. Among the nation's 36,252 firearms-related fatalities in 2015, 61% were suicides and most of the rest were ordinary homicides.
Neither of those kinds of deaths actually fell in Australia as a result of the National Firearms Agreement, researchers reported Tuesday in the American Journal of Public Health.
"Many claims have been made about the NFA's far-reaching effects and its potential benefits if implemented in the United States," wrote Stuart Gilmour, a statistician at St. Luke's International University in Tokyo, and his coauthors from the University of Tokyo. "However, more detailed analysis of the law shows that it likely had a negligible effect on firearm suicides and homicides in Australia and may not have as large an effect in the United States as some gun control advocates expect."
Previous studies have said otherwise. A 2010 report in the American Law and Economics Review concluded that "the buyback led to a drop in the firearm suicide rates of almost 80%" and had a similar effect on gun-related homicides. But that study ignored the fact that gun deaths were already falling when the program went into effect.
A 2016 study in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. acknowledged that a decline in gun-related suicides and homicides was indeed underway but said these mortality rates dropped more sharply in the aftermath of the NFA. However, the JAMA study failed to consider deaths that had nothing to do with guns. That means they might have given the gun control law credit for something that would have happened anyway.
Gilmour and his coauthors attempted to solve these problems by using a statistical method known as "difference-in-difference." This approach turns real-life events into scientific experiments in which one group is subjected to an intervention and another group serves as a control.
In this case, the intervention was the National Firearms Agreement. It could have affected Australians who were inclined to use a gun to commit a suicide or homicide. But Gilmour's team assumed it would have no effect on suicides and homicides that did not involve a gun. This was their control group.
Their difference-in-difference analysis revealed that although the rate of gun-related suicides fell steadily after the NFA went into effect in 1997, that decline was part of a larger trend that began in the late 1980s — and wasn't altered by the new law.
Likewise, homicides in Australia were already dropping when the National Firearms Agreement went into effect. The rate of gun-related homicides fell in the wake of the NFA, but the law had no effect "over and above a broad decline" in homicides involving all kinds of weapons, the study authors wrote.
To test the strength of their results, the researchers repeated their analysis using 1998 (not 1997) as the first year of the NFA era. They also tried using earlier start dates for their pre-NFA period, in case their initial choice happened to skew the results. The findings were "mostly unaffected" by these changes.
It's not that the National Firearms Agreement was a bad idea. It's that other things going on in Australia must have made a bigger difference — one that swamped any help the NFA might have offered.
The researchers can't say for sure what those other things were, but they have some ideas. They noted that Australia implemented a nationwide youth suicide prevention program in 1995 and one for adults in 2001. Either or both programs could have helped reduce suicides, including suicides carried out with a gun.
In addition, the Australian Institute of Criminology developed gun control policies that were adopted in 1991 — five years before the NFA.
"It is likely that these more comprehensive and detailed 1991 changes played a greater role in reducing firearms-related suicide and homicide than did the NFA, which was implemented solely for the purpose of eliminating mass shootings," Gilmour and his colleagues wrote.
If that is indeed the case, trying to pass an American version of the National Firearms Agreement could be counterproductive, they added.
"It is imperative that this political moment … not be squandered on a law that will have limited impact," they wrote. "To achieve real, sustained reductions in the majority of causes of firearm-related mortality, the United States needs a broader, more comprehensive range of gun control measures than those in the NFA."
karen.kaplan@latimes.com
Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and "like" Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.
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Karen Kaplan
Karen Kaplan is science and medicine editor at the Los Angeles Times. Before joining the science group, she covered technology in the Business section. She is a graduate of MIT and Columbia University.
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text:
Possible Break In Jennings Murders
Police may be one step closer to solving the so called Jennings Eight Case. Relatives of one of the victims, Laconia Muggy Brown, said they believe officers were on Spencer Street investigating Brown's murder Monday night.
Gail Brown said since her sister Laconia was murdered in may of 2008, it's been tough to find closure with a suspect still on run.
"It gets harder and harder because we have to deal with this the rest of our lives," she said. "That is my sister and I love her. Me and my grandmother are raising her son."
Brown's body was found in the middle of a Jennings Road. Gail said after neighbors spotted police at a home on Spencer Street Monday, they called her right away.
"They called us and told us they had a lot of cops out there investigating, " she said.
Police can't tell us exactly why they were out investigating on Spencer Street, but residents said there were both officials with the Jennings Police Department as well as the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office Forensic Unit.
Laconia's grandmother, Bessie Brown, said "well it kind of surprises me a little bit because she used to be there all the time. She used to go there and visit with him."
We don't know who he is and investigators are tight lipped about details. Bessie is ready for this to come to a close.
"I'm hoping justice will be done," she said. "Not just for our family, but all the families of the victims who were murdered."
The Jennings Police Chief said police are continually following up on leads in the Jennings Eight Murders. All the victims were female, found nude or partially clothed and all lived a high risk lifestyle. The murders happened between 2005 and 2009.
Video and more here
Jennings Eight Murders
Jennings Louisiana
Laconia "Muggy" Brown
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Must it by necessity have a "religious" component? Devotion is an anachronistic concept – of individuals who have committed their lives to one involving (or devolving?) sacrifice and selflessness, where individual strivings for fame, wealth or power are forsaken and the plight of others is the focus of one's resolve and vocation.
Certainly, there are subcategories of such descriptions, as when we hear about a parent of such-and-such being so "devoted" to his daughter or son; or of a scientist whose mother or father died of a certain rare disease and later grew up to "devote" his or her life to finding a cure.
But with those unique exceptions, the term itself was once applied to priests, nuns and (perhaps) non-Catholic preachers and ministers who had engaged a life of "devotion" – and the last vestige of such descriptions may be those attributed to Mother Teresa (that Saint of Calcutta, canonized less than 20 years after her death, and loved by all except perhaps by Christopher Hitchens, that cutting essayist who could state in a single sentence that which took paragraphs for most of us to develop).
And yet… There are dogs who are devoted; old men who have been married for decades to left caring for their ill wives, and vice versa; and Federal employees and U.S. Postal workers, contrary to what the general public views about Federal employees and U.S. Postal Workers.
That is why taking that "giant leap" into preparing an effective Federal Disability Retirement application, to be filed with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, whether the Federal or Postal employee is under FERS, CSRS or CSRS Offset, is such a difficult step. Does the concept of "devotion" apply, or do we now view such dedication and commitment to one's vocation and career as foolhardy, misguided, a warped sense of priorities?
Certainly, wanting to do a "good job", and be committed to advancing one's career is considered having a "devotion" to a career in the loose sense; but should such a concept necessarily be sequestered only in the antiquated sense discussed herein? How about its opposite – of having a devotion to such an extent that you continue to harm your own health?
For, that is what many Federal and Postal workers end up doing – of continuing to work despite its detrimental impact upon health, as opposed to taking advantage of the benefit of a Federal Disability Retirement and focusing on that which one's devotion should be centered upon: One's health, one's future, and the pathway towards securing both.
We are told from a very early age that we must have one; like winds that carry seasonal warmth and jet streams that bring unseasonable temperatures, we are ingrained to be purposive, teleological and focused upon the goal in mind.
Wisdom-filled proverbs echo beyond the history of instructional transference from parent to child, community to individual and generation to modernity: aiming for the target; sticking to a task; seeing things to their completion; being patient in everything you do; treating others fairly; 5-step, 10-step or multi-step plans for one's life; we are admonished throughout of the importance of having a direction in our lives, as if the destination has been predetermined and arriving is merely being pointed in the right direction, traveling some distance and getting there without thought.
Some people clearly follow such a linear route – like the proverbial straight line from point A to destination B; then, there are others who never seem to get a handle on such a concept, while most of the rest of us meander through a confounding maze and are stuck somewhere "in-between", like those kids in the middle of a brood of accomplishments lost in anonymity between the oldest who is the star of the family, the first born and who gets the greatest amount of attention, and the last one who is the "baby" whom everyone fawns over. But what if a community, a society, the nation as a whole, no longer embraces a cogency of purposive goals?
It is like that "cause" we all live and die for; where modernity scoffs to expunge such lofty ideals, the residue of the populace must abide by its dire consequences, where echoes of past vestiges haunt in cave dwellings of paintings now faded and meaningless, lost forever to the history of silent voices.
Once, there were causes to fight for – of man's manifest destiny; of fascism to defeat; of the great "Red Scare"; of the domino theory occluding freedom and resulting in totalitarianism; of patriotism and the flag upon a hill; and other images, all the while where the fighting and dying is accomplished not by the sons or daughters of the wealthy and privileged, anymore, but by sons of southern belles and minorities who die or get blown to bits.
Of what door does one knock upon to get one's direction of life? Where, in life, do we get a free pass to obtain the map in order to even know where we are, where we are going, and how to get there?
For Federal employees and U.S. Postal workers who suffer from a medical condition, such that the medical condition prevents the Federal or Postal employee from performing one or more of the essential elements of one's positional duties, the direction of one's life becomes fairly linear whether the Federal or Postal employee is under FERS, CSRS or CSRS Offset.
There are three "pathways" to steer upon: Stay in the job and suffer; Resign and walk away with nothing; or, the best direction in such a life, is to prepare, formulate and file an effective Federal Disability Retirement application, to be submitted to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. And, even as to the second of the three roads taken (Resigning) – remember, you have up until one (1) year from the date of separation from Federal Service to file a Federal Disability Retirement application with OPM.
It is, in the end, good to have a compass in order to lead onwards in the right direction of life, wherever that may be, however one may obtain it, and whenever it is finally achieved.


text:
Pope admits clerical abuse of nuns including sexual slavery
Quote | Posted on April 29, 2019 by lordrakim
Admitted huh? Not ike he had a choice… smmfh
Pope Francis has admitted that clerics have sexually abused nuns, and in one case they were kept as sex slaves.
He said in that case his predecessor, Pope Benedict, was forced to shut down an entire congregation of nuns who were being abused by priests.
It is thought to be the first time that Pope Francis has acknowledged the sexual abuse of nuns by the clergy.
He said the Church was attempting to address the problem but said it was "still going on".
Last November, the Catholic Church's global organisation for nuns denounced the "culture of silence and secrecy" that prevented them from speaking out.
The Pope's comments come amid long-running cases of sexual abuse of children and young men by priests at the Church.
What did Pope Francis say?
Speaking to reporters while on a historic tour of the Middle East on Tuesday, the pontiff admitted that the Church had an issue, and the roots lay in society "seeing women as second class".
He said that priests and bishops had abused nuns, but said the Church was aware of the "scandal" and was "working on it", adding that a number of clerics had been suspended.
"It's a path that we've been on," he said.
"Pope Benedict had the courage to dissolve a female congregation which was at a certain level, because this slavery of women had entered it – slavery, even to the point of sexual slavery – on the part of clerics or the founder."
Pope Francis said sexual abuse of nuns was an ongoing problem, but happened largely in "certain congregations, predominantly new ones".
"I think it's still taking place because it's not as though the moment you become aware of something it goes away."
Where is the abuse said to have taken place?
The female congregation dissolved in 2005 under Pope Benedict was the Community of St Jean, which was based in France, Alessandro Gisotti of the Vatican press office told CBS News.
In 2013, the Community of St Jean admitted that priests had behaved "in ways that went against chastity" with several women in the order, according to the French Roman Catholic newspaper La Croix.
In a separate case in India last year, a bishop was arrested over allegations that he raped a nun 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who headed the diocese in Jalandhar in the northern state of Punjab, has denied the accusations.
In Chile, reports of abuse of nuns carried out by priests led the Vatican to launch an investigation last year. The women were reportedly removed from the order after highlighting the abuse.
Last year, the Associated Press news agency reported cases of abuse in Italy and Africa.
What have women in the Church said?
Just days ago the Vatican's women's magazine, Women Church World, condemned the abuse, saying in some cases nuns were forced to abort priests' children – something Catholicism forbids.
The magazine's editor, Lucetta Scaraffia, said Pope Francis's acknowledgement of the abuse "can be of some help", but warned that the Church needs to act.
"If the Church continues to close its eyes to the scandal… the condition of oppression of women in the church will never change," she wrote.
The magazine said the #MeToo movement meant more women were now coming forward with their stories.
Last year, French website Le Parisien reported the case of "Christelle" (in French), a former nun whose name was changed to preserve anonymity.
Christelle said she had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a priest of her congregation in France between 2010 and 2011.
"His gestures became more and more inappropriate," she said, adding: "But he kept going… until the day he raped me.
"He was unable to control himself… he had a split personality."
via Pope admits clerical abuse of nuns including sexual slavery – BBC News
This entry was posted in News and tagged afrika, chile, france, india, italy, metoo movement, nuns, pope francis, priests, rape, roman catholic church, sexual assault. Bookmark the permalink.
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