text:
To our customers: WE ARE HERE!
DAS Companies, Inc. is fully operational to serve our customers. Please contact us as usual or follow the prompts on the Contact page. Read More
About DAS
DAS News
Partner with DAS
Apply for a New DAS Account
Contact DAS
Toll Free - 1-800-706-0421 LOG IN
Please Sign Into Your Account
PASSWORD RESET: If you have forgotten your password, enter your User ID into the USER ID field, click "FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?" and a new password will be sent to the email address on file.
A valid DAS account is required to access this site. If you are new to DAS, please create a new DAS account.
If you are a current DAS customer, click below to register for web access.
Flexible Supply
Chain Solutions
Peace-of-mind
Black Canyon
LUMAgear
One Tuesday night, at Roots Farmer's Market in Lancaster County, a man by the name of Jack Pizzola asked an eighteen year old runner at the auction if he would like to share a stand with him at Elizabethtown Trading Post. He said it was just on weekends and would cost ten dollars per table each month until Christmas. We could split up the time and sell things. He would sell stereo equipment and I could sell trains, which was my hobby. I agreed.
After Christmas, Jack no longer wanted to continue his table so he offered to give me his sources for stereo equipment. This was the start of Dave's Stereo, which is now DAS Companies, Inc.
With seven hundred dollars, Dad's station wagon, my grandmother's garage and a whole lot of ambition I started laying the foundation of DAS.
Today, thirty-six years later, it is one of the most respected distributors, importers, and manufacturers in the industry. DAS employs over six hundred and fifty associates with distribution that stretches world wide. The foundation that I started laying thirty-six years ago was based on a set of core values (the mortar) which grew in importance as the company grew. The true building blocks of the company were its associates without whom we could not be who we are today. My first associate was a young boy, who at the age of twelve helped his older brother at the Farmers Markets. His name was Michael Abel and he is now the CEO/President of DAS Companies, Inc. Under his leadership we have grown and will continue to grow into a company where people want to invest a large part of their life, customers enjoy doing business and vendors choose to be a part. The future of DAS lies in each and every associate who is reading this and chooses to be a part of it. With you as the building blocks, our mission statement and core values as the mortar and our company purpose being the ultimate objective, the future of DAS is exciting. The management team of this company is focusing on GROWTH: both DAS's, and most importantly, YOURS.
The debate to hire was on Dave's mind...when should this happen. So, the decision is made, Dave decided to hire the first associate. After doing several interviews, they chose a trustworthy young, clean cut, dark haired man; Fred Peters. Fred had to be excited to be starting his new career. His shipping room/office was the old horse stall. The heat for winter was provided by a single kerosene heater and summer air conditioning was as simple as rolling up the two garage doors. Orders from customers came in and were answered by either Dave, Fred or their trustworthy Phonemate answering machine. Fred had his wife join in the fun as they all sat around the kitchen table folding hand made flyers and licking stamps. Ah, the good old days.
Fred was busy shipping 200-400 packages a day looking up the customer addresses on his Rolodex. Dave remembers tractor trailers backing down the driveway filled with Soundesign stereos that were unloaded and sold to local mom and pop stores. One year later in 1981, Dave bought the Lawn Elementary School building and leased out half of it thinking that the old gymnasium (now part of Truck Stop offices) would be more room than they would ever need. Fortunately for all of us that was not enough.
DAS Careers
DAS Brands
DAS Locations
Directions to DAS
Working With DAS
Why DAS?
DAS News and Media
DAS Awards & Recognition
Create a DAS Account
New! Resource Library
Sales, Terms & Return Policy
DAS Vendor Guide
©2020 DAS Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
All device and brand logos and other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.


text:
Freeview bosses call for reaction to US tech
November 24, 2017 11.14 Europe/London By Julian Clover
The two organisations behind the Freeview have called on industry and policy makers to 'step up' their response to changes in television that are being driven by US tech firms.
Guy North, Freeview's Managing Director, and Jonathan Thompson, Digital UK's CEO, told the Outside the Box event in London there was an urgent need to respond to challenges posed by the likes of Amazon, Google and Apple.
North said the explosion of choice was confusing consumers as to how to get access to their chosen content. "Increasingly consumers don't care whether shows come through an aerial, a dish a cable or a pipe – they just want to watch it how and when they want," he said. He announced a new online Freeview 'Bundle Builder' service as a response to growing demand for skinny bundles based on free TV.
North said Freeview Play was becoming increasingly important in the growth of on-demand viewing. He said: "Today, we're working with all but one of the leading manufacturers so we're well on the way to achieving our ambition for Freeview Play to be built into every TV sold in the UK."
Thompson warned that industry was in danger of under-estimating the speed and scale of change coming to UK television and urged action to safeguard British programme-making, public service content and competition. He said: "We have a choice. We can
choose to become a footnote in the quarterly results of Apple or Amazon or we can strive for something better.
"Our industry needs to lead the charge and act together to strengthen rather than loosen the bonds on which our success was built. We must go faster and further than ever done before."
Filed Under: Editor's Choice, Newsline, Terrestrial Tagged With: Freeview Edited: 27 November 2017 12:32
About Julian Clover
Julian Clover is a Media and Technology journalist based in Cambridge, UK. He works in online and printed media. Julian is also a voice on local radio. You can talk to Julian on Twitter @julianclover, on Facebook or by email at jclover@broadbandtvnews.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


BOX ELDER | Michael Dale LaCuran, 51, died Feb. 3, 2019.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 15, at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. on Feb. 16, at the funeral home.
the life of: LaCuran, Michael D.


Last week was a bit of a rough one for my family. My stepfather Steve's dear dad Loring passed. At 91 years young, he had been slowly deteriorating and hardly the strong man we all recalled in his final months. Steve's mom and Loring's wife of more than 60 years (it would have been 66 this Friday!), Polly, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago and heartbreakingly didn't know her family or her surroundings, spending most of her time stationary in bed at a care facility. Following Loring's death, Steve's sister Barbara visited Polly to tell her of his passing even tho she or the news didn't outwardly register. Barbara continued anyway, and told Polly that it was ok for her, too, to let go, to go see him... Wouldn't you know, a few hours later, she did just that, peacefully exiting this life to go find her love. She was 89 years old.
It's a chilling love story. Simply amazing.
Their double funeral was in their hometown church in Rutland, Massachusetts, where they were longtime members and Polly led the choir and pageants for years. The pews were packed and the tears plentiful as family and friends remembered this dear couple. Personally, I've never done well with death. From dogs to dear friends and relatives, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the why, how and what's next. My cousin Jeff (whose wedding I photographed in 2001- my very first one!) read a poem from Henry Van Dyke during the service, a nod to Polly and Loring's love for Maine (they vacationed in Ogunquit, hence why my mom & Steve, cousins, etc., have summer cottages there too), that actually helped me quite a lot. It's a beautiful metaphor and I hope it is ok to share with you here in case it offers some comfort for you, too.
Later everyone filed downstairs for tea sandwiches and sweets, sharing stories and offering hugs to one another. I was taken with an extensive display of photographs; I loved studying the vitality and youthfulness, the smiles and joy, milestone moments and grace of which both Polly and Loring aged. Their wedding album, a deep red and worn through the edges at the corners, sat on a table for browsing and after thumbing through its fragile pages again and again, I asked if I could take it home with me to scan to make sure we have these images for always. Captivated by the poses, the outfits and the traditions, I had several looking-from-the-outside-in double-takes of identifying so strongly with the loss for my family AND the power of my profession. Both as a historical marker and medium for a family's legacy, in that moment I truly understood why people say the one item they would grab while running from a burning building would be their family wedding album. I can't imagine not having these to share with my family and pass down to theirs and so on.
So, so amazing and beautiful, thank you for sharing. Truly sorry for your loss, Em. Hold them dearly in your heart always. Their story will surely stay in mine.


Filing bankruptcy does NOT mean financial ruin, having to give up all of your property or being unable to get credit for a number of years. Over 95% of our clients are able to file for bankruptcy and keep all of their personal property.
The most common statement our clients make following their initial bankruptcy consultation, is that they feel "so relieved" about their situation. If you are struggling to stay financially afloat, filing for bankruptcy may be the most effective and efficient way to get you and your family the "fresh start" you deserve.
Schedule your free consultation with Saffa Law Firm today - (704) 710-8182.
If your credit score is low and you have debt that you either cannot afford to repay or would take years to pay, filing for bankruptcy could enable you to both discharge (i.e. wipe out) your debt and rebuild your credit score faster than if you hadn't filed.
How can this be? When you file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it usually only takes about 3 months for your debts to be discharged. You can then immediately begin rebuilding your credit! On the other hand, if you hadn't filed, you would have spent years trying to repay the debts. You'd likely continue to have a low credit score the entire time and not be able to start rebuilding your credit until after the debts were paid off.
So filing for bankruptcy actually helped you to wipe out your debt and be in a position to rebuild your credit much faster. Please note that as of December 1st, 2017 the law in North Carolina now states that a Chapter 13 object to confirmation has been reduced from 28 days to 21 days. In addition, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 proof of claims must now be filed in 70 days from the order of relief.
Why Do You Need a Charlotte Bankruptcy Lawyer?
Filing for bankruptcy can be a complex process, one that requires a great deal of paperwork and negotiating with creditors. We can take a look at the details of your case and recommend whether filing for Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy is right for you. We can also provide you with the foreclosure defense you need to save your home. We will do everything possible to help you reach the financial relief you need in order to start anew.
The chances of your bankruptcy case being successful are greatly enhanced when you retain the legal services of our experienced Charlotte bankruptcy lawyers. We, the skilled legal team at Saffa Law Firm, have the training and skills to approach your bankruptcy case with the attention-to-detail and care it merits and deserves.
Our goal is to guide you through bankruptcy so you can obtain the debt relief you need to move on with your life. In fact, we are available to our clients seven days a week, including evenings. We can help you make smart and informed decisions that can benefit your family.
We can provide you with reliable legal counsel when you meet with creditors so you never feel overwhelmed or lost regarding your options. We have handled countless bankruptcy cases during our more than three decades of experience. We are very familiar with this area of the law and know how to make this stressful experience easier for all of our clients. Your case is extremely important to us and will receive our full attention.
You are not alone, debt relief is just a phone call away! Contact the Saffa Law Firm today and begin working towards a more financially secure future.


Waldman Diamond Company is launching a new Canadian diamond brand called "Arctic Love Diamonds." The Israeli-based diamond manufacturer and trading firm plans to unveil the new brand in Vancouver, B.C., in April. WDC developed Arctic Love Diamonds to market the firm's allocation from the Diavik Mine in the Northwest Territories.
All Arctic Love Diamonds will be cut and polished at WDC's cutting facilities in Israel.
Waldman said that the opening of the Vancouver office is part of a larger effort supply polished diamonds originating in the Diavik Mine to the Canadian and North American retail jewelry markets, with Rio Tinto, a WDC client.
Waldman said the opening of the Vancouver office will enable WDC to upgrade its marketing efforts across Canada.
The WDC Group's new Vancouver office opened in 2005. It is headed by Craig de Gruchy and Neil Matkin, who both have more than 20 years of experience in the Canadian diamond industry.


2 Bedroom Flat For Sale in Bolton for Asking Price £70,000.
Offered for sale with no onward chain is this well presented apartment located within the popular Marsden House development. With secure access via the main door and a lift leading straight to the eighth floor, this property offers security and good sized rooms throughout. Internally the property comprises an entrance hallway reception room, kitchen, two bedrooms with en-suite to the master and a family bathroom. Internal inspection is strongly recommended.
Storage heater, carpeted flooring, downlights.
UPVC French double glazed door. Storage heater, carpeted flooring, downlights.
Laminate flooring, downlights. Fitted wall and base units, stainless steel sink with mixer tap with drainer, integrated electric oven, integrated, electric hob, over hob extractor, integrated fridge/freezer with space for a washing machine.
Double bedroom; double glazed uPVC window facing the side. Storage heater, carpeted flooring, ceiling light.
Storage heater, vinyl flooring, tiled splashbacks, downlights. Low level WC, single enclosure shower, pedestal sink, extractor fan.
Storage heater, vinyl flooring, tiled splashbacks, downlights. Low level WC, panelled bath with mixer tap, pedestal sink with mixer tap, extractor fan.


text:
Inside The Glass: Evan Turner
Smoked Out: Demeris Bar-B-Q
A Chat with Thomas Boran of Vin Bar
Sarah Rufka
Sarah Rufka | October 22, 2009 | 10:00am
"No, I'm just a bartender," Thomas Boran assures me for maybe the third time as I watch him deftly handle the early evening crowd in Hotel Derek's new Vin Bar. Nevertheless, there's something in his manner -- thoughtful, precise, capable -- that reminds me of a beverage manager. Maybe it's his academic credentials. "I'm finishing my degree at the University of Houston, the Bauer College; it's the business school, management and finance. I'm just bartending right now as my full time job. I've done it plus school since I was 17," he says. "My favorite thing about being a bartender is the hours. I can work on my degree, and what we get paid for the amount of time we spend here--it's very lucrative. I've done it for a while; it's really all I've done. I'm good at it."
Boran's head for numbers and details is obvious when he talks about the process of opening a bar from scratch. "Vin Bar was open four weeks prior to the grand opening last Thursday. When you start from scratch, you work on getting everything organized, making sure that you're set up for success, that everyone behind you can keep up the pace, and that you have all the necessary tools -- all your glassware, your dishes and where you're keeping them -- making sure it's efficient so you don't have to run to the back to grab an espresso spoon. Everything is set up to minimize going back and forth," says Boran.
Boran says one thing that hasn't changed much at Vin Bar since the opening is the drinks menu. "A lot of the inspiration for the drinks came from the other Valentino properties, but we also have a very hands-on, visionary manager that really played a big part in developing our cocktail list. Fifteen-hundred miles away in Las Vegas, you have people asking for Tito's, so now for the sake of Texas he's taken the Tito's vodka and smoked it. Then we add some salumi in the glass, the prosciutto and mortadella, thinly sliced, whatever meats we have fresh from our crudo bar. It's a nice, smoky flavor with the cured meat."
How has his day job impacted his life outside work? Boran admits it can be hard to leave the five-star lifestyle at the door. "It's funny, when you get to that level where you're working with white-tablecloth or at a high-end, high-volume lounge, you find yourself becoming the only group of middle-class elitists. You only like to drink the best, but you're on a Bud Light budget," laughs Boran. "I've tried some phenomenal, knockout wines, and I've sat in on tastings where I've had, you know, 1970 magnum Dom Perignon, and having had what I've tasted, it definitely is hard. Especially with wine, that hits the budget. But I like it so much I just limit how often I do it, because if I'm going to do it I'm going to do it well."
Bar Beat


text:
Eugenio Tadeu is a Brazilian  grappler, Vale Tudo and mixed martial arts fighter.   Tadeu was born in 1965. He was famous as a practitioner of Luta Livre, or Brazilian Submission wrestling and was one of the last representatives of this art form.

Gracie rivalry
In the JJ vs Martial Arts Challenge in 1984, Tadeu defeated Renan Pitanguy by TKO. In 1988 he fought Royler Gracie to a draw. He was scheduled to fight Ralph Gracie but this never materialized.  This was because Tadeu did not submit his visa in time. Tadeu fought Royler Gracie to an hour long draw.

Renzo Gracie fight
His most famous fight was with Renzo Gracie.  Renzo and Tadeu were long time rivals.  The rivalry has been described as being a Hatfield vs McCoy style rivalry because in South America machismo is the rule.  Renzo once said My name is not a bone to be carried in the jaw of a dog," before slapping the guy and declaring  "you don't deserve my fist." This was Renzo's last bare knuckle fight.  The riot from this fight led to MMA being banned from Rio de Janeiro.  Renzo claimed he was dominating the fight, but was having issues due to the oil that was on Tadeu's body.  After 15 minutes Renzo refused to rise and beckoned Tadau to grapple.  Renzo punched a fan in the face, causing more fans to riot.  The fight has been ranked one of the best fights to be ruled a no contest.  The riot was featured on World's Dumbest Criminals and is listed as the #8 Worst Moment In MMA History by ESPN.

Mixed martial arts record

|-
|Loss
|align=center| 2–3 (1)
|Marcelo Giudici
|TKO (corner stoppage)
|Meca World Vale Tudo 8
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Curitiba, Brazil
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center| 2–2 (1)
|Mikey Burnett
|TKO (punches)
|UFC 16
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|9:46
|Kenner, Louisiana
|
|-
|NC
|align=center| 2–1 (1)
|Renzo Gracie
|NC (fans rioted)
|Pentagon Combat
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|14:45
|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|-
|Win
|align=center| 2–1
|Nigel Scantelbury
|Submission (kimura)
|UVF 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:20
|Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center| 1–1
|Wallid Ismail
|TKO (injury)
|Desafio - Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|16:18
|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|-
|Win
|align=center| 1–0
|Renan Pitanguy
|TKO (corner stoppage)
|Desafio - Jiu-Jitsu vs. Martial Arts
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:02
|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|-

References

External links

Sportspeople from California
Living people
American male mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing catch wrestling
Mixed martial artists utilizing Luta Livre
Mixed martial artists utilizing vale tudo
People from Los Angeles
Year of birth missing (living people)
Brazilian male mixed martial artists
American catch wrestlers
Brazilian catch wrestlers
Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
package org.jboss.util.threadpool;

import org.jboss.logging.Logger;

/**
 * A wrapper for the task.
 *
 * @author Adrian Brock
 * @version $Revision$
 */
public class BasicTaskWrapper implements TaskWrapper
{
   /** The log */
   private static final Logger log = Logger.getLogger(BasicTaskWrapper.class);

   /** The task has not been accepted */
   public static final int TASK_NOT_ACCEPTED = 0;

   /** The task has been accepted */
   public static final int TASK_ACCEPTED = 1;

   /** The task has been started */
   public static final int TASK_STARTED = 2;

   /** The task has completed */
   public static final int TASK_COMPLETED = 3;

   /** The task was rejected */
   public static final int TASK_REJECTED = -1;

   /** The task has been stopped */
   public static final int TASK_STOPPED = -2;

   /** The state of the task */
   private int state = TASK_NOT_ACCEPTED;

   /** The state lock */
   private Object stateLock = new Object();

   /** The task */
   private Task task;

   /** The task as a string */
   private String taskString;

   /** The start time */
   private long startTime;

   /** The start timeout */
   private long startTimeout;

   /** The completion timeout */
   private long completionTimeout;

   /** The priority */
   private int priority;

   /** The wait type */
   private int waitType;

   /** The thread */
   private Thread runThread;

   /**
    * Create a task wrapper without a task
    */
   protected BasicTaskWrapper()
   {
   }

   /**
    * Create a new task wrapper
    *
    * @param task the task
    * @throws IllegalArgumentException for a null task
    */
   public BasicTaskWrapper(Task task)
   {
      setTask(task);
   }

   public int getTaskWaitType()
   {
      return waitType;
   }

   public int getTaskPriority()
   {
      return priority;
   }

   public long getTaskStartTimeout()
   {
      return startTimeout;
   }

   public long getTaskCompletionTimeout()
   {
      return completionTimeout;
   }

   public void acceptTask()
   {
      synchronized (stateLock)
      {
         // Not in a valid state
         if (state != TASK_NOT_ACCEPTED)
            return;
      }

      // Accept the task
      if (taskAccepted())
         state = TASK_ACCEPTED;
      else
         state = TASK_REJECTED;

      // Notify the waiting task
      synchronized (stateLock)
      {
         stateLock.notifyAll();
      }
   }

   public void rejectTask(RuntimeException e)
   {
      synchronized (stateLock)
      {
         state = TASK_REJECTED;
         stateLock.notifyAll();
      }
      taskRejected(e);
   }

   public boolean isComplete()
   {
      return state == TASK_COMPLETED;
   }

   public void stopTask()
   {
      boolean started;
      synchronized (stateLock)
      {
         started = (state == TASK_STARTED);
         state = TASK_STOPPED;
      }
      if (started)
      {
         // Interrupt the run thread if its not null
         if( runThread != null )
         {
            runThread.interrupt();
         }
         taskStop();
      }
      else if( runThread != null && runThread.isInterrupted() )
      {
         /* If the thread has not been returned after being interrupted, then
         use the deprecated stop method to try to force the thread abort.
         */
         runThread.stop();
      }
   }

   public void waitForTask()
   {
      switch (waitType)
      {
         case Task.WAIT_FOR_START:
         {
            boolean interrupted = false;
            synchronized (stateLock)
            {
               while (state == TASK_NOT_ACCEPTED || state == TASK_ACCEPTED)
               {
                  try
                  {
                     stateLock.wait();
                  }
                  catch (InterruptedException e)
                  {
                     interrupted = true;
                  }
               }
               if (interrupted)
                  Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
               return;
            }
         }
         default:
         {
            return;
         }
      }
   }

   /**
    * Called by the thread pool executor
    */
   public void run()
   {
      // Get the execution thread
      this.runThread = Thread.currentThread();

      // Check for a start timeout
      long runTime = getElapsedTime();
      if (startTimeout > 0l && runTime >= startTimeout)
      {
         taskRejected(new StartTimeoutException("Start Timeout exceeded for task " + taskString));
         return;
      }

      // We are about to start, check for a stop
      boolean stopped = false;
      synchronized (stateLock)
      {
         if (state == TASK_STOPPED)
         {
            stopped = true;
         }
         else
         {
            state = TASK_STARTED;
            taskStarted();
            if (waitType == Task.WAIT_FOR_START)
               stateLock.notifyAll();
         }
      }
      if (stopped)
      {
         taskRejected(new TaskStoppedException("Task stopped for task " + taskString));
         return;
      }

      // Run the task
      Throwable throwable = null;
      try
      {
         task.execute();
      }
      catch (Throwable t)
      {
         throwable = t;
      }

      // It is complete
      taskCompleted(throwable);

      // We are completed
      synchronized (stateLock)
      {
         state = TASK_COMPLETED;
         if (waitType == Task.WAIT_FOR_COMPLETE)
            stateLock.notifyAll();
      }
   }

   /**
    * Set thetask for this wrapper
    *
    * @param task the task
    */
   protected void setTask(Task task)
   {
      if (task == null)
         throw new IllegalArgumentException("Null task");
      this.task = task;
      this.taskString = task.toString();
      this.startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
      this.waitType = task.getWaitType();
      this.priority = task.getPriority();
      this.startTimeout = task.getStartTimeout();
      this.completionTimeout = task.getCompletionTimeout();
   }

   /**
    * Notify the task it has been accepted
    *
    * @return true when the notification succeeds, false otherwise
    */
   protected boolean taskAccepted()
   {
      try
      {
         task.accepted(getElapsedTime());
         return true;
      }
      catch (Throwable t)
      {
         log.warn("Unexpected error during 'accepted' for task: " + taskString, t);
         return false;
      }
   }

   /**
    * Notify the task it has been rejected
    *
    * @param e any error associated with the rejection
    * @return true when the notification succeeds, false otherwise
    */
   protected boolean taskRejected(RuntimeException e)
   {
      try
      {
         task.rejected(getElapsedTime(), e);
         return true;
      }
      catch (Throwable t)
      {
         log.warn("Unexpected error during 'rejected' for task: " + taskString, t);
         if (e != null)
            log.warn("Original reason for rejection of task: " + taskString, e);
         return false;
      }
   }

   /**
    * Notify the task it has started
    *
    * @return true when the notification succeeds, false otherwise
    */
   protected boolean taskStarted()
   {
      try
      {
         task.started(getElapsedTime());
         return true;
      }
      catch (Throwable t)
      {
         log.warn("Unexpected error during 'started' for task: " + taskString, t);
         return false;
      }
   }

   /**
    * Notify the task it has completed
    *
    * @param throwable any throwable associated with the completion
    * @return true when the notification succeeds, false otherwise
    */
   protected boolean taskCompleted(Throwable throwable)
   {
      try
      {
         task.completed(getElapsedTime(), throwable);
         return true;
      }
      catch (Throwable t)
      {
         log.warn("Unexpected error during 'completed' for task: " + taskString, t);
         if (throwable != null)
            log.warn("Original error during 'run' for task: " + taskString, throwable);
         return false;
      }
   }

   /**
    * Stop the task
    *
    * @return true when the notification succeeds, false otherwise
    */
   protected boolean taskStop()
   {
      try
      {
         task.stop();
         return true;
      }
      catch (Throwable t)
      {
         log.warn("Unexpected error during 'stop' for task: " + taskString, t);
         return false;
      }
   }

   /**
    * Calculate the elapsed time since the task was started
    *
    * @return the elapsed time in millis
    */
   protected long getElapsedTime()
   {
      return System.currentTimeMillis() - startTime;
   }

   /**
    * Get the state as a string
    *
    * @return the state string
    */
   protected String getStateString()
   {
      switch (state)
      {
         case TASK_NOT_ACCEPTED:
            return "NOT_ACCEPTED";
         case TASK_REJECTED:
            return "REJECTED";
         case TASK_ACCEPTED:
            return "ACCEPTED";
         case TASK_STARTED:
            return "STARTED";
         case TASK_STOPPED:
            return "STOPPED";
         case TASK_COMPLETED:
            return "COMPLETED";
         default:
            return "???";
      }
   }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Smart Garage Controller and Camera, Worth it?
I saw an ad on Facebook and am trying to determine whether or not to purchase this product called Garager 2, it is a two in one device (garage camera and remote controller two in one) Seems to match my needs as I do tend to forget my garage status.
Right now the price is $149.99. I am debating internally on whether or not to make the decision.
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There appears to be security issues with a lot of these IoT devices. But you didn't ask that question. You asked is it worth it? That I can't answer but if you have check if the garage door is closed and have no one at home to check it, maybe 150 bucks is worth it.
That said, most home alarm systems are now Internet connected and adding the garage door status might be an option.


Dairy farmers are facing many challenges today. As new systems for milking cows are installed it seems software systems are very complex. Many applications produce a lot of data, but do not offer the right information simply to the farmer.
The complexity in the agricultural sector is increasing rapidly.
We are now moving into the age of SMART farming Therefore the future smart farming technologies are going to be leading the way over the years.
Smart farming is new and still developing it's a huge market and growing rapidly.
You have just spent a fortune on your new milking system, with the knowledge you have the latest and up to date information at hand.
That information is crucial to act and react to different situations.
I recently visited a farm where the state of the art milking system was installed with the latest software and a mind boggling amount of information.
Just one aspect of Smart farming when In conversation I asked the farm manager if he knew his percentage of mastitis cases per annum and whether all treated cases were recorded I was reassured that all cases were recorded and he believed his case rate was 25 percent, once I scoured the software it transpired it was more like 38 percent.
Having this knowledge he can now turn data into information to help him make better decisions.


The hype surrounding the release of the famed Jordan Brand hit new heights on Saturday 1st April 2017. The signature Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG and Air Jordan XXXI in the famed 'Royal' colourway saw plenty of success for SoleSlayer customers.
Final figures from the release show #TeamSlayer copped over 4,500 pairs of Air Jordan's.
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Check out a few of our successes in the gallery below.


- Improved handling of local repository (Closes: #888287).
- Bump compat level to 11.
- Build-depends on debhelper (>= 11).
- Compliant with Debian Policy 4.1.4.
- Remove systemd sequence, not provided in compat >= 11.
- Replace dh_systemd_start with dh_installsystemd.
- Use https protocol in Format field.
- Use AUTOPKGTEST_TMP instead of ADTTMP.


Over the last few years intensive collaboration in the drinking water sector has culminated in a process that is unique in the world: the use of own calcite as seeding material, a process that generates pure, sand-free calcite pellets.
The reuse of this calcite in water softening has been extensively researched, with very positive results. The method is now being implemented at various production sites. The seeding material is made in the Calcite Factory and is subjected to strict hygiene and quality controls.
Several reactors now operate with what we have come to call 'Dutch Calcite'. This transition is not only beneficial for the softening process, it also involves up to 80% savings in seeding material. Moreover, the sand-free calcite pellets can be used in high-value applications in other economic sectors.
The seeding material is guaranteed to consist of 100% circular material and is available in the most common dimensions.


text:
Q: How to Select Individual Rows by First Day of Month I have a data frame as such
# A tibble: 6 × 4
  Entity  Code  Day        stringency_index
  <chr>   <chr> <date>                <dbl>
1 Germany DEU   2020-01-21             0
2 Germany DEU   2020-01-22             0
3 Germany DEU   2020-01-23             0
4 Germany DEU   2020-01-24             5.56
5 Germany DEU   2020-01-25             5.56
6 Germany DEU   2020-01-26             5.56

I want to select only rows that are the first of the month ie. 2020-02-01.
How can I do this?

A: In base R, you can extract the day of a date object using the format function, and filter using bracket notation. It's always best to provide sample data using dput() when asking questions on SO, but here is a simple example.
df <- data.frame(d = seq(as.Date("2020-01-01"), as.Date("2020-03-01"), by = 1))

df[format(df$d, format="%d") == "01",]

[1] "2020-01-01" "2020-02-01" "2020-03-01"

A: Here is a combination of as.yearmon from zoo package and lubridate:
library(zoo)
library(dplyr)
library(lubridate)

df %>%
  mutate(Day = ymd(Day)) %>%
  group_by(yearMon = as.yearmon(Day)) %>%
  arrange(Day) %>%
  summarise(FirstDay = first(Day))

  yearMon   FirstDay
  <yearmon> <date>
1 Jan 2020  2020-01-01
2 Feb 2020  2020-02-01

data:
structure(list(Entity = c("Germany", "Germany", "Germany", "Germany",
"Germany", "Germany"), Code = c("DEU", "DEU", "DEU", "DEU", "DEU",
"DEU"), Day = c("2020-01-01", "2020-01-22", "2020-02-23", "2020-02-24",
"2020-02-01", "2020-01-26"), stringency_index = c(0, 0, 0, 5.56,
5.56, 5.56)), class = "data.frame", row.names = c("1", "2", "3",
"4", "5", "6"))

A: You can use this code using the lubridate package:
library(tidyverse)
library(lubridate)
df <- data.frame(Entity = c("Germany", "Germany", "Germany", "Germany", "Germany", "Germany"),
                 Code = c("DEU", "DEU", "DEU", "DEU", "DEU", "DEU"),
                 Day = seq(as.Date("2020-01-01"), as.Date("2020-01-6"), by = 1),
                 stringency_index = c(0, 0, 0, 5.56, 5.56, 5.56))

Data:
   Entity Code        Day stringency_index
1 Germany  DEU 2020-01-01             0.00
2 Germany  DEU 2020-01-02             0.00
3 Germany  DEU 2020-01-03             0.00
4 Germany  DEU 2020-01-04             5.56
5 Germany  DEU 2020-01-05             5.56
6 Germany  DEU 2020-01-06             5.56

Use this code to select first day of a month:
df %>%
  filter(day(Day) == 1)

Output:
   Entity Code        Day stringency_index
1 Germany  DEU 2020-01-01                0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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She is very amiable, respectful and a studious individual, who strives to be well-groomed in appearance and mannerism.
She likes reading and watching television. She willingly engages in various activities, which allows her to socialize and give her the opportunity to interact well with her peers. She also shows interest in cheerleading. Shanel endeavor is to pursue a career as a chef or cake decorator.
She performs exceptionally well at reading and language.
Shanel attends CCCD's Knockpatrick Campus. She receives instruction in elementary education, sign language, and receives the Word of God.


The Work Hard Play Hard Promotion is drawing to a close. Officially ending on the 31st May 2014, we will be accepting redemptions throughout June 2014. However, REDEMPTION ENTRIES WILL CLOSE ON THE 30TH JUNE NO EXCEPTIONS!! SO GET IN QUICK!!
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Ten years ago today. We are all remembering exactly where we were ten years ago today. September 11th, 2001. Where we were when we first heard that the world would no longer be the same.
And there is such a urge, to share that story. In official memorial ceremonies, in personal conversations, even as a facebook status. Somehow it seems the only way we are able to express our individual part of the tragedy, is through the telling of this story. the moment it touched us in our lives, wherever that might have been.
I was at home. I remember coming downstairs to the kitchen and my mom had the news on, on our small tv perched on top of the refrigerator. Really too small to contain the overwhelming horror of what was coming at us through its screen. The first plane had hit and the smoke billowing out like pissed off hornets that have had their nest disturbed. And suddenly the second plane hit. This wasn't an accident anymore. I don't really know why, but I went upstairs to continue watching on another tv alone. Maybe because somehow I sensed that a tragedy of this magnitude wasn't something that could immediately be shared. And the first building collapsed. And I begged God, make it stop. And the second building collapsed. Dear God please, please make it stop.
To stop not just at the twin towers and the pentagon, but all the suffering that was occurring. That was yet to occur.
We feel we have to tell this story, the moment when we first heard, because it was somehow in that first instant we knew, without really knowing, that the world had just changed.
And a new set of words and phrases entered our national vocabulary. Terrorist. Al-Qaeda. Towel-heads. War on terror. Suddenly we could find the location on a map two previously obscure middle eastern countries. But the change went so much deeper than that, revealing both the best and the worst in ourselves as a nation, ourselves as people.
First came overwhelming feelings of solidarity and patriotism. American flags suddenly proudly were everywhere. Which was especially notable in the northeast, where we are not known for being so overtly patriotic. Bridges, houses, car magnets. God bless America reduced to a bumper sticker slogan.
A few days later, I sat with my best friend on the front steps of her house and we lit a candle during a national moment of silence. We sat there for a long time after the candle burnt out, without saying much of anything. There was really nothing that could be said.
I have changed much in these past ten years. Our country has changed as well. It's tempting to say 9/11 was the moment we lost our innocence as a nation. But I don't think that's really accurate, the US as a country has too long been involved in bloodshed to say that. But what is true that is that 9/11 was the moment we knew what it was like to experience fear as a nation.
I've spent the better part of the last four years living in outside the US. It's given me a new perspective on my own culture that I couldn't have before, when I had nothing to compare it to. Hearing the stories of people from Argentina and Bolivia and Honduras and the Dominican Republic, and learning their histories, I can now better appreciate something that I took completely for granted. Something that many people in the world don't have. A freedom from fear of my own government. People who lived through oppressive dictatorships, in which outspoken political critics simply disappeared (not unlike present-day China). There was much fierce criticism of the Bush administration, but because of the freedoms we enjoy, it could be shouted from major news stations, out in the open without fear of the secret police dragging you from your bed in the middle of the night.
But we are very far from perfect either. Because, while we might become choked up at the images of the towers falling, the vast majority of us have never smelled that smoke or heard the explosions. Which is not true for the people of Iraq or Afghanistan. They know a real fear I have never had to experience. And while many lost loved ones on 9/11, tens of thousands more have been killed as a result of our involvement in the Middle East. No one is reading a list of their names today, but that doesn't make their lives any less valuable. And the pain they feel and the tears they cry is exactly the same as our own.
I recently watched a popular movie which ends with the main character dying in the world trade center on September 11th. I struggled to explain to my friends-neither American, one from Austria and the other Dominican- why it made me so choked up , that found that so painful, almost offensive. No I didn't personally lose anyone in the attacks, although I know people who did. Yes its been ten years, but still its too raw, too soon. This is not yet a historical event for me, but personal. But it goes beyond even the individual tragedies and is something shared by all us all.
Immediately after the attacks, and even more so now, ten years later, we hear the refrain "never forget". But is that enough? Because the harsh truth is eventually we, as a nation, will forgot. Much like the attacks on Pearl Harbor don't move me as they do my grandparents, one day my grandchildren will also not easily or fully grasp the significance of this day. So yes, we do need to remember, but we also need to do far more.
We need to create a world in which violence does not lead to more violence. In our own personal lives and as well as between nations.
It is not enough to resolve to never forget. We as a people, as a nation need to resolve to forgive. And especially, to ask for forgiveness.
Let that become the new story we tell.
Again, I am very sorry if i have offended you in any way. I greatly appreciate your friendship and fondly remember our time together in Bolivia.


Expansion of Bison Crossing is moving along on the west side of the 3900 block of Kickapoo.
Residents will soon see the Hearing Health Care, Inc., building, at 3954 N. Kickapoo, replaced by a parking lot, audiologist and property owner Dr. Kurt Kalies said.
He has had his hands full for awhile now with the large construction project.
Several suites now line the street — to the south, finished and inhabited spaces are thriving; wrapping up construction on the north end are a handful directly behind Kalies' business; and in between is a section that will eventually tie the others together. He said he has been transitioning his office into one of the spaces behind his former building and is now operating out of the new site, which is the second to the south of the far north end.
He said he has been too busy to market the other spaces as of yet, his main focus at hand is removing his previous office out front.
He said his business — now in its 72nd year of operation in Shawnee — just keeps growing.
Kalies said his hope is that his remaining commercial spaces will be appealing to other businesses and practices in the health care field.
Right now, Kalies is just happy to be gaining another helping hand at his own site.
Kalies said down the road, when he has a lot more help, he would like to take his hearing health services into the community by setting up screening rooms for groups, like churches.
Hearing health too often gets neglected, he said.


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Socialising your puppy is essential once you have brought your puppy home. Failure to do this can result in an aggressive, frightened dog, when they are faced with new people and new situations.
Therefore to ensure you have a well balanced dog, that can manage people and other animals, you must take the time out to give them the socialisation they need when they are young. Below are some key areas to focus on, and how to achieve plenty of exposure to desensitize them.
Many obedience training schools offer classes for socialising your puppy where they get to mix with other dogs and owners. These classes are great for both you and your dog, as you can get to make new friends, while your dog gets to experience other dogs and owners.
If you are unable to take them to classes like this be sure you take them to the park or somewhere they will meet plenty of dogs. If they dont get plenty of exposure to other dogs when they are young it can create problems such as fear aggression towards dogs or bizaare barking at other dogs.
You will also want to be sure that they get used to everyday noises. For example, walking alongside or near a road with your puppy on short lead, will get your puppy used to the sound of vehicles. Be sure to have lots of treats available when doing this and give your puppy lots of praise. This will be very frightening for them, but keep calm and keep doing it and they will become more settled.
Another good tip is to wait with your puppy by a school as the children finish class for the day. Its very advisable for them to get use to the loud and excited noises that children make. This is especially important if your puppy does not have exposure to children every day. Children make sudden movements and to a springer spaniel they can be unpredictable, so a good level of socialisation around children is very important.
You may consider asking a friend who has a young child to come over on a regular basis so that your springer spaniel puppy gets used to loud noises, crying and the way that a toddler homes in on a dog and goes straight towards them. All this work will mean that they will feel very predictable around small children.
One tip we made sure we did with George when he was a puppy was when stroking him we would every now and again tug on his ears. Now this was not us being cruel to him but to a child a springers ears are irresistable and they will pull them. This way if you do it alot when you they are younger they will be desensitized to this behaviour.
There are also everyday noises in the house that your Spaniel will need to get used to; the washing machine, vacuum and hairdryer, amongst others. Exposure to a variety of sights and sounds on a regular basis is key to raising a confident happy puppy. Your puppy may be frightened around these things but persevere. Remain clam, reassure them and continue vaccuming etc.
The key thing to remember when socialising your puppy to something new is that you yourself remain very calm. Your puppy will sense if you are stressed and then feel they have to be too. Have a relaxed enerygy about you and your puppy will be relaxed very quickly.


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text:
"National Mattress Retailer" Planned for Decatur Gas Station Redevelopment
Chevron to shutter, be replaced by new development
The Chevron gas station located at 1486 Scott Boulevard near Suburban Plaza is slated to close this weekend. In its place, Mark Light of Lighthouse Realty Advisors plans to build a 6,000 square foot, multi-tenant center with 36 parking spaces.
The property, located at the dynamic intersection of Medlock Road, North Decatur Road and Scott Boulevard, is close to both Suburban Plaza and Decatur Crossing, the new Fuqua Development project.
Light, a 26 year veteran of the Atlanta real estate community as Vice President of M&P Shopping Centers, left the group in late 2014 and launched his own development company this past year.
The gas station property previously included a Hertz rental office which already relocated to Maple Street in Decatur within Maple Street Collision. The property is also home to "Cleaner 2 K," a dry cleaner, which is reportedly in the process of finding a new location.
Sources tell me that a "national mattress retailer" has signed a lease for 4,000 square feet in the center. A "national wireless carrier" is reportedly in lease negotiations for the remaining 2,000 square feet. If, as I'd say it's safe to assume, the "national mattress retailer" ends up being Mattress Firm, it would be only a mile from the company's huge, SuperCenter/Clearance store at North Decatur and Clairmont Roads.
An existing SunTrust ATM will reportedly be rebuilt and relocated as part of the new center.
Plans call for demolition of the existing building in the coming weeks and for the construction of the new building to be completed in July or August of this year.
Are you excited about the upcoming development? Do you, as I do, wonder how in the world so many mattress stores are able to survive in this city? What would you like to see open in the upcoming Decatur Crossing project?
Labels: C-store, Properties, Retail by Atlantan99
How about a restaurant like Zoe's? Casual but good. OR Highland Bakery.
OMG I am like SO excited for another Mattress Firm. Like I can't even!
Do you think they could get a nail salon with the mattress store and the cell phone store? Or even better, maybe a tanning salon. What would be super awesome would be a vape store. Not enough vape stores in Decatur.
The State/County should have bought this lot and built a roundabout at this intersection. Also, how is the hypothetical MARTA expansion going to fit into all the development at this intersection? I realize anything is probably decades away, but the last plan I saw called for rail going right through there.
Crap. Mattress Stores are the ugliest retail stores out there!
Highland Bakery is opening soon in downtown Decatur.
Why not leave the Chevron??
I hope they have fun with the environmental cleanup of this site before anything else can be built.
+1 to the idea of a roundabout!!!!
dervish said...
Maple Street Collision is on Maple Street in the City of Avondale Estates.
I agree. A roundabout would the perfect solution for that crazy intersection.
Wow. We were already getting concerned about the traffic on Scott when the apartment megaplex is built with Sprouts. It's a head-scratcher for us watching the air space, nooks and crannies being developed in Decatur.
Is this even in Decatur?
Pretty sure the due diligence, especially regarding environmental, was done before landing tenants and announcing redevelopment. Not all gas station properties have spillage
I think that roundabouts are only recommended (and useful) if traffic is not too heavy at an intersection. Thus, it works pretty well at Emory (N. Decatur and Oxford I think), and in town Brookhaven. Would be a cluster at an intersection with constant, substantial flow of traffic.
I don't even understand the point of the ones in Washington DC, which require traffic lights, and then there are 3 or 4 lanes inside the circle, which is confusing.
Trader Joe's! I can't believe we don't have one in Decatur yet. It's a perfect market.
Mattress Stores have a 100% mark up and gas stations barely have a 10% mark up
Decatur - looking more and more like Florida every day.
Lame with a capital L.
How much retail does Decatur need? There is the dead N. Dekalb Mall sitting on acres of asphalt and on top of that we have the Decatur Crossing project, Walmart and now a mattress retailer of all things! Are these builders and developers out of their freaking puny minds?


text:
L-S smokes Cocalico in 6-0 shutout
By Ben Pontz - October 02, 2015
On a brisk Thursday evening, L-S took the field at Cocalico High School. L-S took the field with a strong determination continued from Tuesday night's game.
Alex Knarr had an early shot 13 minutes into the game. The first L-S goal was scored by Jordan Bishop with a beautiful shot five minutes after Knarr's attempt on goal. The half continued with a steady push towards Cocalico's goal, with L-S dominating possession of the ball.
Derek Eckman made a shot 25 minutes in, taking another shot a minute after and scoring. Nate Patterson followed Eckman's goal with another quick shot in an attempt to bring the score to 3-0 L-S before the half ended. The first half was mostly clean, with the exception of one yellow card given to a Cocalico player. The Cocalico spectators were not happy with the referee, however, as the game progressed into the second half.
Jake Klecko notched a shutout in the rain for the Pioneers
As the second half began, it was clear that Cocalico had not given up. Nevertheless, L-S rose to the challenge. Alex Knarr scored the third L-S goal in the first two minutes of the second half, followed quickly by Peyton Denlinger with the fourth goal for L-S three minutes after, with a beautiful assist by Matt O'Neil.
Working solidly as a team, L-S moved the ball consistently towards Cocalico's net. Denlinger made two more shots 14 minutes into the second half. Dominating the field, L-S got off 2 more shots, one by Derek Eckman and one by Jordan Sweigart, before scoring again.
Matt O'Neil made a beautiful shot into the back of the net after a cross from Steven Hollern at the 30 minute mark. Although L-S already had a solid lead, they continued to play hard. Ethan Bare took a shot on goal with 5 minutes left in the half.
Soon after, Logan Heister scored the final goal for L-S. L-S takes home the victory with a shutout. L-S: 6. Cocalico: 0.
--Lauren Mast, LSNews.org Soccer Reporter
Edited: BP
Alex Knarr Boys Soccer By Lauren Mast Cocalico Derek Eckman Ethan Bare Jordan Bishop Logan Heister Matt O'Neil Nate Patterson Peyton Denlinger Soccer game Sports Steven Hollern


text:
In the news: 2 December
Sally Hunt writes in THE on casualisation and HE's 'dirty little secret'
Sally Hunt this week called on universities to do more to combat casual contracts in higher education in the face of ever rising pay increase for vice-chancellors, describing institutions response and lack of self-awareness on the issue as 'damaging to the sector'. Writing in Times Higher Education, Sally criticised the employer body UCEA for 'quibbling over statistics' rather than taking action to address insecure contracts.
Calling on more to be done by universities to combat the sector's dirty little secret following recent coverage in the Guardian, she went on to say that, 'Great teachers need proper support and students deserve to be taught by people who have time to focus on delivering high quality teaching and are not travelling between multiple jobs on different campuses.'
UCU responds to Ofsted FE report
Responding to the Ofsted annual report for further education and skills, published on Thursday, Sally Hunt said the report was right to question the effectiveness of area reviews and GCSE resits for English and maths.
Speaking to TES, Sally said; 'Further education colleges continue to provide a great education to students across the country. The report is right to question the scope and effectiveness of area reviews in improving local education for students. We understand that some recommendations are already being rejected, which suggests the exercise has been a significant waste of time and resources in some areas.'
On English and maths resits, Sally added: 'Colleges cater for many of the students who struggle most in these subjects, and repeated resits can be extremely demotivating for students. The government should heed these concerns and consider alternatives this unhelpful policy.'
Manchester Met decision to consult on closure of Crewe campus condemned as short sighted
UCU this week condemned the decision by Manchester Metropolitan University to consult on withdrawal from its Crewe campus as 'short sighted'.
UCU regional official Martyn Moss described the high level of uncertainty the decision had created for staff and students, telling the BBC that 'instead of considering withdrawal from the campus, the university should invest to strengthen its innovative educational offering.'
The Manchester Evening News cited a 1500-strong petition which calls on the university to 'commit to a sustainable future for higher education provision in Crewe'.
A Brexit deal for higher education?
Cambridge Professor of EU and employment law, Catherine Barnard, wrote in City AM outlining why universities would benefit from a bespoke deal in Brexit negotiations. Describing the close relationship of the sector with Europe, she outlined how a deal might include free movement for academic researchers and greater flexibility for migration of EU students.
Echoing Sally Hunt's recent call for the Prime Minister to 'show some humanity' and let EU staff and students stay, Bernard notes the importance of clarity on freedom of movement and tuition fee levels for EU citizens, saying: 'The risk that they might be reclassified as overseas students will deter applications from Eastern Europeans, for whom a doubling of fees may take up the family's annual income. Reports of a 41 per cent rise in race and religious hate crimes since the vote hasn't improved the UK's image.'
Lack of transparency on teacher training reforms
A change in how teacher training places are allocated is causing confusion at universities, according to a piece on education blog WonkHE this week.
Building on concerns raised by UCU over the government's planned reforms to teacher training, Stephanie Harris of Bath Spa University said that reforms needed extensive consultation and any quality assessments must be transparent. She questioned the government's approach of awarding multi-year allocations to some universities, saying: 'The lack of clarity has led to questions about whether government choices were based on perceptions of prestige rather than objective judgements of quality.'
Last updated: 2 December 2016


text:
March Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes (TAPO)—Chris Roper
Blog Post Firm News
March 2, 2022 Prime Capital Investment Advisors
A Soul Search for Successful Outcomes
FOR WELL OVER A DECADE, Chris Roper has helped people from all walks of life plan and save for retirement. But something changed in 2019. For the first time, Roper, a Partner and Plan Success Consultant with Overland Park, Kansas-based Qualified Plan Advisors, took an eye-opening trip through Southeast Asia.
Traveling alone gave him time to reflect on his true passion: the personal interactions from working with employees to improve their financial health. He concluded "doing well by doing good" mattered most, and he re-emphasized his singular vision of eventually helping over a million people improve their financial lives.
With his goal and passion aligned, he returned home and hit the ground running. Joining Qualified Plan Advisors (QPA), he benefited from Scott Colangelo, Matthew Eickman, and other high-profile QPA team members' expertise to consistently improve participant outcomes.
His passion and excitement are palpable.
"The core of our company is to 'inspire people to achieve their life's ambitions,' and we believe that communicating the right information and showing that you care helps people to make better financial decisions," he said.
The initial keys to a participant's successful retirement outcome are (1) getting them in the right investment; and (2) getting them to save appropriately. While auto features can be a great option, he believes that helping people make an active decision gives them ownership in their success, which will lead to better outcomes.
"They're more likely to stay invested when the market drops," Roper added. "This helps counteract the bad behavior of selling low. It helps remove the fear of investing and opens them up to saving at higher levels."
Roper also utilizes Aon Hewitt's "The Real Deal" study to help participants understand how much they should be saving. It gives them a target savings rate that, unfortunately, most have never heard of and acts as a needed wake-up call to get them back on track. Far from a 3% default or even more commonly seen 6%, it's much higher.
"Most people are shocked when they hear that a 25-year-old retiring at age 67 needs to save 16% of their pay, including company contributions," he explained. "My careful delivery of this message helps participants to make decisions that will ultimately improve their financial futures."
He recently faced a difficult challenge while planning employee education sessions for a new client. Roper spent four weeks meeting with employees in office locations spread over four states.
He conducted 79 group meetings and logged over 3,000 miles of drive time. It was well worth it. With the help of his QPA team members, he was able to achieve the following results:
• 588 participants in attendance
• 574 made an active decision for their investments and deferrals
• 148 one-on-one meetings were conducted
• 360 participants elected a portion of their contribution to a Roth savings account
• 394 participants saved above the company match
As one would imagine, Roper is extremely proud of getting over 97% of participants to make
an active decision and getting 67% of participants to choose to save above the already generous company match.
See the article on 401(k) Specialist.
Prime Capital Investment Advisors
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text:
package intellij.haskell.editor

import com.intellij.codeInsight.daemon.impl.DaemonCodeAnalyzerImpl
import com.intellij.lang.ImportOptimizer
import com.intellij.lang.annotation.HighlightSeverity
import com.intellij.openapi.command.WriteCommandAction
import com.intellij.psi.TokenType.WHITE_SPACE
import com.intellij.psi.util.PsiTreeUtil
import com.intellij.psi.{PsiElement, PsiFile}
import intellij.haskell.HaskellFile
import intellij.haskell.psi.HaskellPsiUtil
import intellij.haskell.psi.HaskellTypes._
import intellij.haskell.util.{HaskellFileUtil, HaskellProjectUtil, LineColumnPosition, ScalaUtil}

import scala.jdk.CollectionConverters._
import scala.util.matching.Regex

class HaskellImportOptimizer extends ImportOptimizer {

  override def supports(psiFile: PsiFile): Boolean = psiFile.isInstanceOf[HaskellFile] && HaskellProjectUtil.isSourceFile(psiFile)

  override def processFile(psiFile: PsiFile): Runnable = {
    () => HaskellImportOptimizer.removeRedundantImports(psiFile)
  }
}

object HaskellImportOptimizer {
  final val WarningRedundantImport: Regex = """.*The (?:qualified )?import of [`|']([^'']+)['|'] is redundant.*""".r
  final val WarningRedundant2Import: Regex = """.*The (?:qualified )?import of [`|']([^'']+)['|'] from module [`|']([^'']+)['|'] is redundant.*""".r

  def removeRedundantImports(psiFile: PsiFile): Boolean = {
    val document = HaskellFileUtil.findDocument(psiFile)
    val warnings = document.map(d => DaemonCodeAnalyzerImpl.getHighlights(d, HighlightSeverity.WARNING, psiFile.getProject)).map(_.asScala).getOrElse(Seq())

    warnings.foreach(w => w.getDescription match {
      case HaskellImportOptimizer.WarningRedundantImport(mn) => removeRedundantImport(psiFile, mn, getLineNr(psiFile, w.getStartOffset))
      case HaskellImportOptimizer.WarningRedundant2Import(idNames, mn) => removeRedundantImportIds(psiFile, mn, idNames.split(',').toSeq.map(_.trim), getLineNr(psiFile, w.getStartOffset))
      case _ => ()
    })
    true
  }

  private def getLineNr(psiFile: PsiFile, element: PsiElement) = {
    val offset = element.getTextRange.getStartOffset
    LineColumnPosition.fromOffset(psiFile.getVirtualFile, offset).map(_.lineNr)
  }

  private def getLineNr(psiFile: PsiFile, offset: Int) = {
    LineColumnPosition.fromOffset(psiFile.getVirtualFile, offset).map(_.lineNr)
  }

  def removeRedundantImport(psiFile: PsiFile, moduleName: String, lineNr: Option[Int]): Unit = {
    HaskellPsiUtil.findImportDeclarations(psiFile).find(d => d.getModuleName.contains(moduleName) && getLineNr(psiFile, d) == lineNr).foreach { importDeclaration =>

      val spaces = Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingForward(importDeclaration, WHITE_SPACE, true, null))
      val newline = spaces.flatMap(s => Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingForward(s, HS_NEWLINE, true, null)))
      WriteCommandAction.runWriteCommandAction(psiFile.getProject, ScalaUtil.computable {
        spaces.foreach(_.delete())
        newline.foreach(_.delete())
        importDeclaration.delete()
      })
    }
  }

  import intellij.haskell.psi.HaskellTypes._

  def removeRedundantImportIds(psiFile: PsiFile, moduleName: String, idNames: Seq[String], lineNr: Option[Int]): Unit = {
    HaskellPsiUtil.findImportDeclarations(psiFile).find(d => d.getModuleName.contains(moduleName) && getLineNr(psiFile, d) == lineNr).foreach { importDeclaration =>
      val prefix = Option(importDeclaration.getImportQualifiedAs).map(_.getQualifier.getName).orElse(importDeclaration.getModuleName)
      val idsToRemove = importDeclaration.getImportSpec.getImportIdsSpec.getImportIdList.asScala.filter(qn => idNames.exists(idn => idn == qn.getText || prefix.exists(p => idn == p + "." + qn.getText)))
      idsToRemove.foreach { iid =>
        val commaToRemove = Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingForward(iid, HS_COMMA, true, null)).orElse(Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingBackward(iid, HS_COMMA, true, null)))
        val whiteSpaceRemove = Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingBackward(iid, WHITE_SPACE, true, null)).orElse(Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingForward(iid, WHITE_SPACE, true, null)))
        val newline = whiteSpaceRemove.flatMap(s => Option(PsiTreeUtil.findSiblingForward(s, HS_NEWLINE, true, null)))
        WriteCommandAction.runWriteCommandAction(psiFile.getProject, ScalaUtil.computable {
          whiteSpaceRemove.foreach(_.delete())
          newline.foreach(_.delete())
          commaToRemove.foreach(_.delete())
          iid.delete()
        })
      }
    }
  }
}


text:
Avril Lavigne to release new album in 2017
December 28, 2016 by Elvis Michael Leave a Comment
Lavigne dropped the news following her battle with Lyme disease
Avril Lavigne – who suffers from Lyme disease – took a moment to thank fans for their support during her struggles. She also surprised everyone by announcing the release of a new album in 2017.
She shared on Instagram: "Hi Everyone!! I wanted to first thank my fans for your patience & support during my time away throughout my battle with Lyme Disease over the past 2 years. It hasn't just been a hard battle but it's also been enlightening and will reflect in my new music, artistry, life, and personally."
And while she will remain busy raising awareness of her condition, the star will do her best to keep fans informed and fully satisfied all the same.
She continued: "I will always continue to make it a priority to fight and raise awareness about Lyme Disease with the Avril Lavigne foundation. I'm really happy to announce that I am now working on new music and I will be releasing a new album in 2017. I can't wait to open up and share my heart with you! I'm excited for you guys to hear the new songs. It's going to be an amazing 2017!"
The news comes shortly after Avril teased to have a Christmas present for everyone. She had recently posted a video standing next to a tree and showing off a present while addressing the camera.
"Happy Christmas everyone! I've got all my presents under the tree but I can't forget this last one, the most important one, for my fans," she stated.
Meanwhile, the singer had previously opened up about her condition and said she's "coming out on the other side."
She shared through Facebook at the time: "Overcoming Lyme Disease. Feels good to have my Dr. smile and tell me how much progress I am making. I'm coming out on the other side batches!!! #Fighter #F**kLymeDisease"


The white bird has caught its prey!
1. Did you fight with your friends and family that morning and leave angrily without saying bye?
2. Did you get the intuition that someone is waiting to end your day?
3. Did it hurt more or were you more shocked when you realized that you've been caught?
4. Did you plan your family's future?
5. Do you think you are going to heaven, hell or do you have to go through the cycle of being born again?
1. Did you fight with your friends and family that morning and leave with a determined spirit to prove your worth?
2. Did you get the intuition that the fish will fall prey?
3. Did it hurt more or were you more shocked when the fish tried to fight for his life in your mouth?
4. Did you plan to eat it by yourself or share it with your family or friends?
5. Do you think you are going to be satisfied with that one fish or do you have to go through the cycle of catching a fish again?
1. Did you fight with your friends and family recently and leave them with a thought to break or fix the relationship?
2. Did you get the feeling that your life is slipping out of your hands or that its going strong in the way you want it to go?
3. Did it hurt more or were you more shocked when you realized that you've been hurt by or that you have hurt someone important?
4. Did you plan your future or your family's?
5. Do you think you are going to die satisfied with or scared of the deeds you have done during this birth?
Do you feel sorry for the fish?
Do you feel the bird is being cruel??
The bird that seems cruel is not committing any sin by catching its prey. Its just finding its way of survival.
The fish that seems innocent may have actually been a bad fish its whole life and is probably being punished finally.
The water there, stands witness to the event without any judgement.
When one of the five elements that form the basis of life, has no judgement to the event, why would you feel any greater to judge the bird or the fish?
The water is not silent though. It clearly reflects the happening on its surface to the bird and to the fish.
The fish may look at the reflection and recall all the bad moments of its life or all the great memories it had.
The bird may look at its reflection and see the pain that the fish suffers or the prize for its skill in its own beak.
Water reflects image only when its clear.
So the reflection is not seen either by the fish or the bird, who are both at the place where this happens.
But, the reflection is seen a little away from the ripples, where the event happening has still not affected the surface of the water.
That is where we see the reflection.
But instead of seeing our image, we see the reflection of the bird and the fish.
Does this refer to the nature of a human, where instead of looking into himself to find his right vs wrong, he finds it more interesting to look at others and assume their plight or situation and talk about it.
Or does this refer to the nature of a human to look out upon others and find a way or meaning to his life, or simply learn something new?
What if the fish poisons the bird from within and avenges its own death?
What does this lead to? Two deaths instead of one? So? What changes because of that? Are the other birds taught a silent lesson?
What if the bird drops the fish after a sudden flash of self enlightenment?
What if it was still too late and the fish dies before falling back into the water? Will the bird hold the guilt forever in its mind and soul? Will the dead fish poison the water instead, and thereby kill a lot more living things in the water?
What if the photographer was deeply affected by this picture and he stopped eating fish that he once loved eating? Does that mean, the population of fish will not decrease, thereby leading to more fish for the various birds that survive on them? Or will the fish become too much in number and form an army against its predators?
Not always does the bird end up eating the fish.
Sometimes, its the vice-versa that happens.
What does the balance and food chain mean? What is its necessity? Why should there be a balance? Why can't everyone be a vegetarian and live happily with a lot more chicken, fish, prawn, lobster, mutton, beef, pork or crab in the world? Wont world be a happier place?
If there are so many things that would happened with a small imbalance for 5 seconds?
What will happen if the food pyramid is not maintained? You can be willing to commit suicide or murder. But, we continue to be non-vegetarians as a sacrifice to help you live in this world the way you have been living till date.
You do not need to thank us, but can stop judging us for what we assume are our good deeds.
Don't call us the bird! Don't act like fish!
OH, MY GOD !! That was one good read. Was smiling the entire time. How perfectly you analysed and explained the photo. How one can even think of such things. Simple yet we ignore them. Thanks for the reminder.
Well balanced views and thought provoking post. Some times the situations force us to be a fish and some times the bird. Its finally the survival instincts that make us behave this way or the other. To rise above the situation, however, we need a balanced approach in life.
The writing is beautiful. It stopped being correct when the choice of eating meat became a sacrifice. It is not meat eating humans who are maintaining the food pyramid. The food pyramid, ecology, climate change is super skewed due to the meat and fish production. Humans at the current evolutionary state do not require prey as food. Watch earthlings before you call vegetarians fish.


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