text:
Marc Wauters
No. 3 The Belgium Championship - Individual Time Trial - 42.7 km - 27 August
Miscellaneous This will be his last season as professional cyclist. (source: cyclingnews.com)
No. 2 Stage 1 in Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt (2.1) - 180 km - 20 April
No. 3 Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt (2.1) - 890 km - 20-24 April
No. 5 Luk Challenge (1.1) - with Joost Posthuma - 30 July
No. 15 Driedaagse van de Panne (2.HC) - 565 km - 29-31 March
Miscellaneous In the beginning of July, he prolonged his contract with the Rabobank team. He will stay with the team until the end of 2006. At the same time, he announced that 2006 would be his last year in cycling. (source: cyclingnews.com)
Stage 4 in Ronde van Nederland (2.1) - 22.2 km - 26 August
Stage 6 in Ronde van Nederland (2.1) - 197 km - 28 August
No. 3 Ronde van Nederland (2.1) - 910 km - 24-28 August
Stage 1 in Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt (2.3) - 184.4 km - 15 September
No. 4 GP Eddy Merckx (1.2) - with Erik Dekker - 43.9 km - 29 August
No. 5 Driedaagse van de Panne (2.2) - 565 km - 10 March-1 April
Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt (2.3) - 865 km - 15-19 September
No. 6 Paris-Brussels (1.1) - 225 km - 11 September
No. 7 The World Championship - Individual Time Trial - 46.75 km - 29 September
No. 13 The Olympics - Individual Time Trial - 48 km - 18 August
Miscellaneous In the end of June, he prolonged his contract with the Rabobank team. He will stay with team until the end of 2006. (source: cyclingnews.com)
No. 2 Veenendaal-Veenendaal (1.2) - 208.5 km - 24 April
No. 3 Stage 4 in Tour de Luxembourg (2.2) - 9.8 km (ITT) - 31 May
No. 4 Paris - Roubaix (WC) - 261 km - 13 April
Tour de Luxembourg (2.2) - 645 km - 29 May-1 June
No. 7 The World Championship - individual time trial - 41.3 km - 9 October
No. 10 Trois Jours de la Panne (2.2) - 550 km - 1-3 April
Miscellaneous In June he prolonged his contract with the Rabobank team. He will stay with team until the end of 2004. (source: cyclingnews.com)
THE BELGIUM CHAMPIONSHIP - INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL - 8 September
No. 3 GP Eddy Merckx (1.2) - with Erik Dekker - 41 km - 25 August
Stage 4 in Ronde van Nederland (2.1) - 18.3 km (ITT) - 22 August
Stage 4 in Tour de Luxembourg (2.2) - 9.8 km (ITT) - 1 June
Stage 1 in Guldensporentweedaagse (2.3) - 11 km (ITT) - 9 March
No. 4 Tour de Luxembourg (2.2) - 665 km - 30 May-2 June
No. 5 Karlsruhe Versicherungs GP (1.2) - with Beat Zberg - 72 km - 3 August
No. 8 Trois Jours de la Panne (2.2) - 545 km - 2-4 April
No. 12 The World Championship - individual time trial - 40.4 km - 10 October
Miscellaneous In the beginning of July he prolonged his contract with Rabobank. he will stay with the team until the end of next season.
GRAND PRIX EDDY MERCKX (1.2) - 40 km - with Erik Dekker - 9 September
STAGE 2 IN TOUR DE FRANCE (GT) - 220,5 km - 9 July
No. 2 Ruta del Sol (2.3) - 851 km - 18-22 February
No. 3 Stage 2 in Ruta del Sol (2.3) - 178,5 km - 19 February
No. 4 Grand Prix Rik van Steenbergen (1.2) - 203 km - 12 September
Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne (1.2) - 188 km - 4 March
Stage 8 in Tour de France (GT) - 222,5 km - 15 July
RHEINLAND PFALZ RUNDFHART (2.4)
JOSEPH VÖGELI MEMORIAL (1.4) - with Erik Dekker
STAGE 3B IN RHEINLAND PFALZ RUNDFHART (ITT) (2.4)
No. 3 Breitling Grand Prix (1.2) - with Erik Dekker
Grand Prix Eddy Merckx (1.2) - with Erik Dekker
Stage 4 in Tour de Luxembourg (ITT) (2.2)
No. 4 Grand Prix E-3 Harelbeke (1.1)
Tirreno - Adriatico (2.HC)
No. 8 Ronde van Nederland (2.1)
PARIS - TOURS (WC)
PRUTOUR (2.4)
RHEINLAND-PFALZ RUNDFAHRT (2.5)
STAGE 1 IN RHEINLAND-PFALZ RUNDFAHRT (2.5)
No. 3 Stage 4 in Paris - Nice (2.HC)
No. 4 Berner Rundfahrt (1.3)
No. 5 Paris - Nice (2.HC)
No. 5 Course des Raisins (1.3)
No. 7 Paris - Roubaiux (WC)
No. 4 Antwerpen - Brussel - Antwerpen (1.3)
No. 15 Quatre Jours de Dunkerque (2.1)
No. 4 Ruta del Sol (2.3)
WordPerfect
SINT - TRUIDEN (1.3)
No. 10 Rund um den Henninger Turm (1.1)
Miscellaneous No. 370 on the UCI Ranking, 31 May


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Ghazali on the problems with praise
by Shaykh Haytham Tamim
in Khutbah
Imam Ghazali's book, Kitaab Al-Arba'in Fi Usul ad-Din, 'The Forty Principles of the Religion,' which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life's works and thoughts.
In his chapter entitled Tazkiya al Qulub, 'The Purification of the Heart', he pinpoints blameworthy characteristics which we need to extract from our heart, in particular he focuses on five common evils of the tongue:
Backbiting
Al Madih – praise
Praise truly belongs to Allah. We cannot praise Him enough for His favours, despite the bumpy rides we may experience along the way. Let us always praise Allah for His favours and be grateful to Him.
Praise comes from the tongue and it is common among all people, but at the time of Ghazali, poets were the PR managers and the mouthpieces of important people of the time.
The poets were known as Ash-Shuarah, and Allah Almighty even named a surah after them. Then there were story-tellers who were known as Qusas, and there is also a surah named Al Qasas.
Praise came with their territory as they turned it into a profession and an art form. They enhanced the public image of leaders through their carefully crafted words. Poetry was the social media of the time and poets were the TikTokers/YouTubers and influencers and soon doctors.
At the time of the Prophet (peace be on him), it was common for poets to praise, criticise and ridicule people, often in the mosques, as these were community hubs. When the poets visited the castles, palaces and residences of dignitaries and praised them, they would make money. Poor people did not pay for the poetry, therefore their income was linked to flattering rich people.
Meanwhile, those who surrounded the leaders were often, as today, bootlickers who would flatter them, inflating their already ballooned egos to even larger proportions.
History of court poetry
Historically, poetry and rulers have been linked across the world and across centuries, for instance from Persia to India and England and Europe. Courts were usually the centres of culture and the rulers would patronise poets and writers who in turn would glorify them and legitimise their power. Their flowery poetry would also serve as a source of entertainment. Great poems could survive their authors long after they had died, as well immortalising their patrons, whose empires had crumbled and would otherwise have been forgotten.
Patrons would bestow gifts for the services that poets could provide and depending on the poetry, which could be extravagant, especially at ceremonial functions, the accession of the ruler, his departure on a military campaign, the return of his victorious army, and his feats on the hunting ground. In addition, poets would commemorate the construction of buildings and events in the ruler's personal life, like births and deaths. The poems would often be presented by the poet himself standing before the throne.P
Praise requires two
Praise is not a solitary action. It requires two people – the one who praises and one who is being praised.
Insincere praise causes 6 ailments
Ghazali is saying that praising to receive benefits is carried out by the lovers of the dunya. He points out that insincere praise causes 6 ailments – 4 affect the one who praises and 2 affect the one who is praised.
The problems with praise are:
Lies: Excessive praise is invariably mixed with lies
Hypocrisy: To praise someone makes them believe you are fond of them, when you are not.
Not knowing the full reality of the one you are praising. Do not praise with certainty because only Allah knows the reality.
Maintains the status quo: Pleasing someone who is wicked reinforces their arrogance and wickedness.
Arrogance: Being praised fills you with self-admiration which is deceptive and destructive.
Deception and manipulation: Being praised deceives you and can be used to exploit you.
The problems with praising
1. Excessive praise is lies
When you exaggerate in your praise, you are not telling the truth. When you go overboard in praise, you leave fact and go into the realms of fiction. This is not praiseworthy. This is a trap of shaytan. You say someone is great whom you don't know is false testimony.
I once came across a man who had applied for a very high status job and as the person who was recruiting for that position was attending the mosque one day, the man began flattering him to the extent that he called him Abu Bakr. He got the job. How can you compare anyone Abu Bakr? Let alone someone whom you do not even know well. This is impermissible
2. Hypocrisy
When you praise someone you give them the impression you are fond of them when this may not be the case. You are saying one thing, but you are concealing something else in your heart. You might be trying to extract some benefit from them while you do not really believe they are as good as you made out. This is nifaq (hypocrisy) and it is haram.
People have a tendency to exaggerate in the emojis they send on social media. If you are sending someone 10 hearts when inside you do not feel very close to them that's hypocrisy.
3. Be balanced
If you praise someone whom you barely know in public, you are giving false testimony about them. Don't praise someone based on assumptions. If someone is successful, holds a high position or is wealthy or powerful, that does not necessarily mean they have good character. Therefore unless you know for sure that they are honourable, you cannot praise them. Therefore do not state assumptions as facts, qualify them with conjecture.
Some people specialise in bootlicking and fawning after celebrities and politicians. In addition spin doctors, and PR companies polish up their image in the media.
Abu Bakra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
A man praised another man in front of the Prophet. The Prophet (peace be on him) said thrice, "Wailaka (Woe on you)! You have cut the neck of your brother!" The Prophet (peace be on him) added, "If it is indispensable for anyone of you to praise a person, then he should say, "I think that such-and-such person (is so-and-so), and Allah is the one who will take his accounts (as he knows his reality) and none can sanctify anybody before Allah (and that only if he knows well about that person.)". (Bukhari)
The Prophet (peace be on him) equated over-praising with chopping off someone's neck. He taught his companions instead to qualify praise by saying that they 'think' someone is good, but it is Allah who knows the reality.
Sometimes you can feel that the one who is praising you is not genuine and sometimes you feel he is genuine. Al-Miqdad reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"When you see those who flatter others, throw sand in their faces." (Muslim)
4. Condoning and encouraging sin by praising sinners and oppressors
When you praise someone who is not praiseworthy, it fills them with pride and encourages them to continue what they are doing. Rather than guiding them, you validate their evil actions. They do not need praise, they need correction, but you endorse their behaviour and this is sinful.
Hasan, the grandson of the Prophet (peace be on him) said whoever makes dua for an oppressive person, such as 'O Allah, make this ruler flourish/ support him etc' is condoning their sins.
The problems with being praised
1. You believe you are beyond criticism
When you are praised, it puffs up the ego and fills you with self-admiration. This is why the Prophet (peace be on him) said being praised is like having your neck chopped off, because it is destructive. Rather than focusing on your gaps and working on improving yourself, you feel self-satisfied.
2. You can be manipulated
If their praise is disingenuous and they did it to manipulate you, and you believed them it is even worse. They are buttering you up to use you, and you have been gullible and now have the false impression that you are better than you are.
Shopkeepers use praise to get customers to buy their products by either falsely praising their products or falsely flattering their customers. If the customer believed this, it would be to their detriment.
Genuine praise is good
If praise is free from deceit and was not intended out of flattery or to manipulate you, and is not exaggerated, it is fine and even recommended on that basis that ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (peace be on him) said:
Whoever does something good for you, reciprocate him. If you do not have anything to reciprocate, supplicate for him until he sees that you have repaid him." (Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (peace be on him) did praise some companions for their attributes and actions. For instance, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to Al-Ashajj 'Abdul al-Qays:
"Verily, you have two qualities beloved to Allah. They are forbearance and patience." (Muslim)
In another narration, the Prophet said:
"They are forbearance and modesty."
Choose your praise carefully
Your praise should be precise, especially if it is to motivate people. Never exaggerate. Salim bin `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them) reported, on the authority of his father, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said:
"What an excellent man `Abdullah is! If only he could perform optional prayers at night." Salim said that after this, (his father) `Abdullah slept very little at night." (Bukhari and Muslim)
In this way, the Prophet (peace be on him) praised Abdullah but also motivated him to be even better by adopting the practice of praying at night, and after he said that Abdullah never neglected to pray it.
How to handle being praised
1. Be grateful Allah veiled your faults
The first thing when one is praised, is to distance oneself from it. Ibn Ata Allah Al-Iskandari in his Hikam (Sufi aphorisms) said:
Whoever honours you honours only the beauty of His veil in you. Therefore, praise is to Him who veiled you, not to the one who honoured and thanked you. (134)
It is one of Allah's favours that He does not expose our inner reality. The only One Who knows our inner reality is Allah. We cannot praise Allah enough for his favours, and this is one the great favours He has given us.
The believer, when he is praised, should have enough self-awareness that they recognise that they have shortcomings.
People praise you for what they suppose is in you; but you must blame your soul for what you know is in it. (142)
2. Recognise that your success is from Allah
Do not attribute success to yourself and do not buy it. Rather than reacting by thinking the praise has fallen short and they are better than that, they should say, 'Ya Allah make us as they think.'
When the believer is praised, he is ashamed before God that he should be lauded for an attribute he does not see in himself. (143)
Feels shy of Allah for being praised for an attribute which you do not have. The most ignorant person of all is the one who leaves the certitude of what he is like for people's mistaken opinion.
Vanish from sight the eyes of people on you with the eye of God on you. And be absent from their coming towards you by seeing God approaching you. (162)
When He wants to show His grace to you, He creates things and attributes them to you. Ibn Atta says:
When He wants to show His grace to you, He creates states in you and attributes them to you. (123)
For instance, you may have organised a fundraiser and collected a lot of money, but it was not you who softened the hearts of the donors, but Allah. But out of His grace He created this action and attributed it to your name. It is Him who should be praised. If you knew this, you would not be conceited. If people were to have access to our inner reality, not one would praise anyone.
Acknowledge people's contributions and efforts
Praise without exaggeration is good and can raise someone's morale. During a speech for instance at someone's birthday, wedding or special occasion can be poignant, meaningful and touching as long as they are not exaggerated.
It is right to acknowledge the efforts and the good that people have done. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah." (Abu Dawood)
Dua on receiving praise
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say:
اللهمَ اجْعَلْنِى خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ وَاغْفِرْ لِى مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا يَقُولُون
Allahumma-ja'lni khayran mima yadhunoon wa-ghfir li ma la ya'lamoon wa la tu'akhidhni bi ma yaquloon.
"O Allah, You know me better than I know myself, and I know myself better than these people who praise me. Make me better than what they think of me, and forgive those sins of mine of which they have no knowledge, and do not hold me responsible for what they say."
Correct your intention
Reject praise rather than long for it. Do not crave praise. When you do not receive praise, do not be upset. This does not mean that you should not get rightful recognising for your contribution, but that praise should not be the driver for your action. Are you in it for Allah's sake or for your name to be on it?
Reflect on your end. The danger of your end. And the subtleties of hypocrisy.
Say alhamdulilah when you are praised and thank people for their praise. But do not overdo praise others and do not believe the praise you receive, rather say, 'May Allah accept it'.
Do not steal praise
We see this unfortunately, that people accept praise for things they never did. They put their names on pieces of work they did not do, meanwhile, those who worked tirelessly get no mention for their hard work.
Don't exaggerate, don't lie, and don't believe all praise. Thank Allah. Ensure you don't take credit for something you did not do.
Ibn Atta said that there is a time for everything, so work on your inner reality:
Bury your existence in the earth of obscurity, for whatever sprouts forth, without having first been buried, flowers imperfectly. (11)
Praising children
Praising children is very good for them when you do it wisely. When children are over-praised it affects their self esteem negatively and when they are praised for their ability, intelligence or looks it puts pressure on them to live up to that praise and can backfire, making them fear failure. This is person praise. It refers to complementing a seemingly fixed trait.
In sharp contrast, studies found that when children were praised for their effort and strategies, they focused on learning and improving themselves. Saying "You did a great job!" shifts the weight of the praise onto the child's hard work. This is what researchers call process-praise, and it focuses on the efforts and energy that the child commits to the project at hand. Thus, praising children for their effort and strategies helps them thrive on challenges.
Praising the deceased
Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Mention what is good about your dead, and refrain from speaking about their evil." (Tirmidhi)
Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whenever four persons testify to the goodness of a Muslim, he will enter Paradise." We said, "And three?" The Prophet said, "Even three." We said, "And two?" The Prophet said, "Even two." Thereafter we did not ask about only one person. (Bukhari)
Stay humble
Stay humble by reflecting on the danger of your end, the subtleties of hypocrisy and the wrong intention.
It is important to keep your feet firmly on the ground, without having low selfesteem, one should be aware that no matter how much better they are than others in certain respects, others will have qualities in them that they still need to improve or acquire. A wise person knows that every life is a lesson to learn from.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever humbles himself by a degree for Allah, glory be to Him, Allah will raise him by a degree. Whoever is arrogant to Allah by a degree, Allah will lower him by a degree until he is made 'the lowest of the low.'" (95:5) (ibn Majah)
Do not focus on what people think but what Allah knows about you. Do not hanker after likes, comments, subscribers and fans but for closeness to Allah. Remember that your success comes from Allah, not yourself.
May Allah enable us to be wise and understand our reality and improve it.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim – The Thursday Al Ghazali Class 2nd December 2021 with additions by Ayesha Khan
Evils of the tongue 4 – joking
Evils of the tongue 3 – arguing
Evils of the tongue 2- backbiting
Evils of the tongue 1- lying
The benefits of feeling hunger
Why is following the sunnah the key to success. Ghazali's secrets part 1
What is wrong with excessive laughter?
Do you have to practice what you preach?
Self righteousness when giving counsel
Command good and forbid evil
Brotherhood, friendship and wilayah
How to deal with difficult neighbours
The first 6 rules of how to deal with people
Dealing with gossip (7-8)
How to deal with people according to their status (9-11)
Cover the faults of others (12-13)
Shake hands (15 continued)
Defend others in their absence, be tactful, be cautious of the company of the rich (16-18)
Avoid the people of ghaflah
Be good to your relatives
Love they neighbour
Cover the faults of others. Ghazali's Rules 12-13 for dealing with people.
How to deal with people according to their status. Ghazali rule 9-11
Dealing with gossip and arguments. How to deal with people: Ghazali's rules 7-8
What do we learn from the Euros 2020? Lessons on success
Should you only drink while sitting down?
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Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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S-2.2 - Public Health Act
93. Any health professional with the authority to make a medical diagnosis or to assess a person's state of health who suspects the presence of a threat to the health of the population must notify the appropriate public health director.
Health and social services institutions must report to the appropriate public health director any situation where they believe on reasonable grounds that there exists a threat to the health of the persons who are present in their facilities.
2001, c. 60, s. 93; 2020, c. 62020, c. 6, s. 271.
93. Any physician who suspects the presence of a threat to the health of the population must notify the appropriate public health director.
2001, c. 60, s. 93.


Riding your bicycle in Japan is a good way to explore places you normally can't reach or simply because it's convenient. Discover the beautiful countryside or a day at the park by bicycle and enjoy a totally different experience. With bicycle rental businesses and cycling tours booming, it's no surprise that riding a bicycle is popular in Japan. Whether you are in rural Japan or in busy Tokyo, riding your bicycle in Japan might be a bit different from what you are used to back home. Habits that are perfectly fine might be an illegal act over here. Let's go over the Do's and Don'ts of cycling in Japan.
In Japan, cars have to ride on the left side of the road and so do bicycles since they're considered vehicles as well. If you ride on the wrong side of the road, not only is it dangerous, you also put other oncoming cyclist at risk trying to avoid you. Ride your bicycle on the left side of the road or on designated bicycle lanes. Bicycles are allowed on the sidewalk only if there is a sign indicating this, however keep in mind that if you hit a pedestrian, the one riding a bicycle is always at fault so be careful when riding on the sidewalk. If you ignore riding on the left side and ride your bicycle on the right side against the flow, you'll face a penalty of maximum 20,000 yen or up to 30 days in prison.
Bicycles are often checked to see if they're not stolen and officers will stand at the side of the road and pull people over for inspection. Bicycles should always be registered or you'll be suspected of thievery and might potentially lose your bicycle even if you're the owner. When you buy a new bicycle at the store, you'll often have the option to have it registered at the prefectural police department.
Stores will recommend it though most are obliged to register it for you as part of the purchase. You will be asked to fill out a small form asking for your name, address, bicycle serial number etc. and pay a fee of 500 yen. The salesperson will then register the bicycle for you and place a label with a serial number on your bicycle showing that it has been registered.
If you buy a bike in any other way, second-hand or online, you have to go to your local police department yourself, fill out a registration form and pay the registration fee to have it registered. Be sure to check when you buy a second-hand bike that it's not stolen to begin with. Also, make sure you have your Resident Card or other ID with you when your bicycle is being inspected.
Though you are allowed to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk in some places, and you might be tempted to continue riding your bicycle as you near the crosswalk, crossing a pedestrian crosswalk while on your bicycle is not allowed. Since most accidents happen at crossings, you have to stop at the crosswalk, get off your bicycle and walk your bicycle across before getting on again.
As is common sense, you should turn on your headlamp when riding your bicycle at night. Not only will you be able to see what's in front of you, people will also see you coming, especially when you are riding on the sidewalk (where it's allowed). If you think you could just hop on your bicycle and ride over to the nearby convenience store without bothering to turn on your light, know that you'll might be fined up to a maximum of 50,000 yen. Police officers routinely check for cyclist that break this law a write you a ticket. Also, know that it is also mandatory to have a working bell on your bicycle.
Wearing a helmet is not mandatory but still recommended. Because there are few designated lanes for bicycles, you'll either ride your bicycle on the side of the road or on the sidewalk (if allowed). Because of this, it's better to protect your head by wearing a helmet. For children under 13 however, it is required to wear a helmet by law. Though you don't often see people wearing a helmet, it's good practice by wearing one. And besides, better safe than sorry!
While it's already dangerous to walk and text, riding your bicycle and using your phone is double (triple!) as dangerous because you not only put yourself at risk but also everybody around you. Don't try to reply that one message just because you think it doesn't take a lot of time, it takes only a split second for an accident to happen. If you have to use your phone, pull over and stop and use your phone. If you happen to ride your bicycle and text, or even worse, play a game or watch a movie (really?!), you'll face a maximum penalty of 50,000 yen.
You've probably seen it many times, people riding a bicycle during the rain while holding an umbrella. And yes everybody does it, even the Japanese. While you might be able to perfectly hold your balance having one hand on the handle and the other holding your umbrella shielding you from the rain, by law, it is not allowed. Though it's true that many officers turn a blind eye, on your unlucky day you might be slapped with a penalty of maximum 50,000 yen (enough to buy a hundred 500-yen-umbrella's from the 7/11)!
While you are able to enjoy your favorite music driving your car on the highway at 100 km per hour, cyclist are not allowed to wear earphones and listen to music even at slow speed. Since you won't be able to focus on the road and listen to your surroundings, you put yourself and others around you in direct danger, and therefore it is prohibited by law. So if you are thinking of riding your bicycle in the summer breeze listening to your favorite songs, know that a penalty of maximum 50,000 yen and a warning will be waiting for you.
Although you'll see many bicycles parked at the side of a sidewalk or road, near the front of stores or outside bicycle parking area's, bicycles in Japan are only allowed to be parked in designated parking areas for bicycles. Don't worry, as there are plenty of parking spaces near bigger stations, supermarkets, parks, and sightseeing spots. Most of these parking spaces are free of use but some require you to pay a fee after using it for a certain amount of time (e.g. parking spaces with electronic racks). Park anywhere else and you'll face the risk of a penalty. Bicycles that are parked illegally will get a warning first. A warning sign (usually yellow) will be placed on the bicycle for illegal parking and a date. If you don't remove your bicycle by this date, your bicycle will be removed and brought to a bicycle depot. To get your bike back you have to visit the bicycle depot, show your ID, sign a declaration form and pay a fee (amount depends on the area).
Unless the passenger you are carrying is under the age of six and sitting in a designated child seat strapped up and all, carrying any passenger at the back or in front of you is not allowed. It is not uncommon to see officers lurking around dark corners checking to see who's giving their friend, lover or grandma a ride and have them pull over. A friendly officer might let you go with a warning, the other one will have you cough up a maximum of 20,000 yen.
So you had a fun night out with your salaryman co-workers while having had one to many beers (or shochu's) and thinking about going home on your bicycle quickly to get some much-needed Z's. DON'T!! While you think you might be able to handle yourself properly on a bicycle, you're still under the influence and can potentially put yourself and everyone at risk. By law, riding under the influence of alcohol, or drugs, is one of the worst acts you can commit. If caught, you'll face a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison AND a 1,000,000 yen fine. In worst cases you might even be deported back for riding under influence. So next time you are thinking of riding your bicycle while being tipsy, leave the bicycle and either take the train or take a cab (yes it's more expensive but still beats 5 years in prison and a 1 million yen penalty).
Yes, it's fun to ride side by side with your best friend or even hold hand with your lover while riding your bicycle, but here in Japan that's a big no-no (except where allowed). Since there aren't many bicycle lanes, and the few ones out there are so small it's often not even wide enough for just one bicycle, you'll often find yourself cycling on the road or sidewalk. Because of this limited space, two bicycles just can't fit next to each other. If you do decide to ride side by side, be prepared to confront an angry officer and fork over a maximum of 20,000 yen.
Aside from these, illegal acts like ignoring a traffic light or riding at high speed will also put you at risk of facing prison term or a high penalty. If you break any law twice within three years, you'll face another penalty of roughly 50,000 yen (varies by area) and forced to take a cycling course.
While it may seem that there are a lot of rules regarding riding a bicycle in Japan, don't let that stop you, with a little common sense and good habitual practice, you should be able to enjoy riding around.
Check our articles for more tips about life in Japan.
Do you cycle in Japan? Share your experience with us on our Facebook group.
Also, don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Stay safe and happy cycling!


Students were taken through the whole design process from creating concept sketches and models, producing detailed drawings and explaining how their design would built! During the afternoon of the second workshop day each team presented their design to a panel of friendly architects and engineers from academia and industry, featuring Caroline Cole, founder of Colander; Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA; Ben O'Connor, Director of the City Centre; and Sinead Conneely, Director of Scale Rule.
The winning design was then developed by the Scale Rule team.
Generation Pop-up is being completed in partnership with The City Centre, New London Architecture, and Broadgate. It follows on from previous Scale Rule design-build workshops in London, Birmingham and Nottingham completed 2015-2018.
It was rainy. But we did it, thanks to indefatigable help from some returning students from the workshops, amazing engineers from Transitions, and of course some motivated Scale Rulers.
The workshops were open to students aged between 16-18, with places available for up to 20 students.
To get involved in this project or other similar ones drop us a line at hello@scalerule.org.


"The Wine Poet of Paris." Interview with Linda Donahue. February, 2009. n.p.
Swan, Jennifer. "I Went to An Armpit Sniffing Class." VICE. July 24, 2017. n.p.
"Body Odor Smoothie Taste Test." Good Mythical Morning YouTube Original Series. November 29, 2017.


The following Early Day Motion, EDM 2312, proposed by Teresa Pearce MP for Erith and Thamesmead has been signed by 37 MPs.
Find out if your MP has signed it at the link below.
That this House is concerned by the recommendation in the report by Sir Roy McNulty on the future of the rail industry, that nearly 1,000 station ticket offices should have their staff removed or reduced; notes that this figure amounts to approximately 40 per cent. of ticket offices in England and Wales; further notes that passenger groups and others have expressed alarm that if enacted stations would become dangerous, unwelcoming and inaccessible places; believes that rail passengers deserve, and are entitled to, safe, staffed stations; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to reject these proposals.


Dave is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC and a member of the Society of Illustrators. He has created illustrations for clients around the world, from trade publicatio… Show more.
Send a message directly to Dave Cutler.
Dave is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC and a member of the Society of Illustrators. He has created illustrations for clients around the world, from trade publications to Fortune 100 companies. He loves illustrating virtually all subject matters and diverse assignments from editorial spots to full advertising campaigns. His original paintings, illustrations and prints are in the private collections of corporations such as UNICEF, MERCEDES-BENZ, IBM, SAS, CAQH, BCG, ADP, CAQH, and the UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HOSPITALS among many others. Dave has been featured in SBS DIGITAL DESIGN, AMERICAN ARTIST and has been interviewed by NPR and others about his work.
Clients: At&T, First Republic Bank, Boston Consulting Group, Business Week, Newsweek, Time, Glamour, Npr, University Of Chicago Hospitals, Md Anderson Cancer Center, Wsj, La Times, United Nations, Epcot, Mercedes-Benz, Peer Review, Etc.


The assessment of the risk of coastal flooding is dependent upon getting accurate figures for the tidal levels and their relationship to the vertical land datum. Our analysis of tide gauge data precisely determines the tidal levels (LAT, ML and HAT etc) which taken together with the gauge datum provides vital information for the specification of coastal defences. With over 15 years experience in the tidal analysis and prediction field we are uniquely qualified to carry out such tidal analysis.
We can also provide a joint probability function of tidal height, tidal surge and wave height in order to estimate the likelihood of a overtopping and a material breach of defences.
This information can assist in satisfying UK PPS25 & TAN15 coastal & shore-side planning applications and in meeting similar planning criteria world-wide.


text:
Q: writing file to java issue I have a java program that writes a file using the BufferedReader, however, at the end of the file it always ends up as it was not finished. Something like as follows:
41,21,true,30,2010-08-07,Answer
2239,1163,true,10,2010-10-06,Answer
641,364,true,10,2010-09-02,Answer
715,149,true,5,2010-08-11,Comment
219,177,true,25,2010-07-23,Answer
4809,4591,true,10,2011-02-11,Answer
4086,4853,true,10,2011-02-17,Answer
3720,2611,true,10,2010-12-08,Answer
5101,60,true,5,2011-03-07,Comment
1393,689,true,20,2010-08-24,Answer
1274,450,true,5,2010-08-09,Comment
446,4853,true,5,2011-03-07,Comment
2191,70,true,5,2011-02-05,Comment
1487,1281,true,10,2010-08-05,Answer
3479,3899,true,10,2010-12-25,Answer
1393,685,true,10,2010-07-26,Answer
364,649,true,5,2010-07-19,Comment
1274,1236,true,10,2010-08-19,Answer
99,18

How could this have happened? Most of my programs are executing it inside a loop. Here's part of it:
try {
                output.write("nodedef>name VARCHAR,label VARCHAR,age INT,reputation INT,location VARCHAR(100),upvote INT,downvote INT,creationDate VARCHAR\n");
                Iterator<Integer> itr = set.iterator();

                while(itr.hasNext()){
                  Users temp = users.get(Integer.parseInt(itr.next().toString()));
                  if (temp != null)
                      output.write(temp.id + ", " + temp.displayName + "," + temp.age + "," + temp.reputation + "," + temp.location + "," + temp.upVotes + "," + temp.downVotes + "," + temp.date + "\n" );
                }

                output.write("edgedef>node1 VARCHAR,node2 VARCHAR,directed BOOLEAN, weight DOUBLE, creationDate VARCHAR, postType VARCHAR\n");
                Enumeration<Edges> h = edges.elements();
                while (h.hasMoreElements()){
                    Edges edge = h.nextElement();
                    output.write(edge.sourceUserId + "," + edge.targetUserId + ",true," + edge.weight + "," + edge.creationDate + "," +  edge.type + "\n");
                }
            } catch (IOException e1) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                e1.printStackTrace();
            }

A: Make sure to call flush() on the OutputStream when you're done writing to it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Architecting for microservices application I am not sure whether this is a right forum to ask question with respect to the infrastructure architecture. But posting the question hoping so:
One of my customer has a web application which is developed in the latest technology of micro services. Kubernetes is the underlying layer. And on top they are using CDN, API hosting etc. Now, from the perspective of public cloud, (azure or AWS), how can I architect the infra here? I have couple of questions with respect to the services that they use. For simplicity, I will talk from Azure POV. It's decided to use the following components from Azure:
Azure CDN, Azure application gateway, Azure FrontDoor.
I am confused on the call flow with these services. From the client (like web browser), when there's a request for the application, ideally the static contents need to be responded back by Azure CDN and the other dynamic contents by checking the container or server. So,this is what I assume on the call flow:
Browser -> Azure Front Door -> Application Gateway  -> API Management Microservice -> Other Microservices -> Azure CDN -> Browser
Is this correct? If not, can you guide me to understand a better architecture. Any help would really be appreciated.

A: Ok, first up you've got a few different services doing the same thing there so you want to evaluate whether you need them all.

*

*Azure CDN and Front Door both offer the same local point of presence and caching, so you really only need one or the other

*Azure Front Door and App Gateway both provide Layer 7 load balancing and Web Application Firewall, so you may not need both. App GW does have some extra capabilities like vNet attachment and K8s Ingress so there may be an argument for both

Whether you choose Front Door or CDN then they want to be at the front of your stack. Ideally you want traffic to hit the FD/CDN, get a cached response and that be the end of the request.
If you can't serve from Cache then now  you need to get your traffic into Kubernetes, so your front of stack resource (CDN or Front Door) is now going to forward on to however  you expose your Kubernetes cluster to the outside world. This could be App Gateway if you decide  you need it, an external load balancer, or Azure API Manager if your using that to expose API's.
Front Door is a global service that is not vNet attached. Your Kubernetes cluster is vNet attached so you need a way to expose your Kubernetes resources to Front Door. This can be done with App GW, but it adds extra expense, you can also just setup your Kubernetes ingress with an Azure Load Balancer with a public IP and then have front door talk to that.
If you get rid of App GW then you will need another ingress controller running in your cluster such as NGinx, Traefik etc. Alternatively you could keep App GW, but then I would using CDN rather than Front Door.
Front Door and CDN use the same endpoints and so offer the same caching.


I am not a mommy (yet), therefore I have not joined the "Parenthood Club," but over the past year, I have had the wonderful opportunity of opening my home to children who are in need of a safe, warm, and loving environment to lay their heads down at night.
Today marks the one year anniversary of Daniel and I welcoming our first "Safe Families" child into our home. Safe Families is a Christian based program here in Illinois (and other states) where parents can voluntarily place their children with "host parents" due to a crisis occurring in their lives. This crisis could be an illness, unemployment, domestic violence, homelessness, or just feeling overwhelmed. Many of us have friends and family we can turn to, but often times, these parents have no one to rely on for support.
It is amazing because the parents maintain full custody but it gives them an opportunity to not worry about their children being taken care while they "get back on their feet". We are not compensated financially, but our reward is far greater than any reimbursement check we could ever receive. We are compensated with the joy and satisfaction of being able to share the love of Christ to not only the children, but also their parents who may be unfamiliar with the unfailing love of our Savior. With nearly every parent we have come in contact with they are just in awe that someone would be willing to sacrifice so much for them and their children (which to us, it isn't much of a sacrifice at all when I think about the benefits we are both receiving).
Last year on November 2nd, we had the privilege of caring for a sweet, two-year old little boy for three months while His mother found work and an apartment. He definitely brought life to our home and helped break up the monotonous life we were living in our own little bubble. For me, it was nice to finally have someone to communicate with during the day rather than me always talking to our two cats.
The next week he was up all night and nothing could soothe him…that's when I discovered he had a horrible double ear infection despite tubes being put in his ears a couple of weeks prior. During the entire three months we had him, we made weekly trips to the doctor's office because nothing was working to get rid of the ear infection. Finally the week before he returned to his mother, the doctor reinserted his tubes. Hallelujah!
He returned to his mother at the end of January and many would marvel at our ability to "just give him back". But the entire time we cared for him we knew our roles.
He was not ours and our roles were to simply love him, care for him, and provide for him. I spent many moments with the Lord in prayer each day for grace to care and love him like a mother, but to not get too emotionally attached like a mother would. Was I sad when he left? Of course! Were their moments following the return to his mother did I look at the clock and think…"this was normally his nap time." Yep! Whenever I passed by his old bedroom I would think about how he used to spend HOURS looking at all of his toy cars. But I was never too emotionally attached that it felt like a piece of me left when he did.
In April, we had the joy of caring for two brothers ages 6 and 7 for a week and boy were they entertainment! My favorite time spent with them was right before bed whenever we did story and prayer time. There prayer requests were so childlike and innocent. I loved listening to what was on their heart and just living through them…they truly showed me what it was like to come to Jesus like a child. Their innocence and openness touched me every night.
In June, we began watching siblings, 4-year-old and 8-year-old two nights a week in order to help a single mother be able to care for her sick mother who just had surgery. It also gave the children an opportunity to be mentored (kinda like big brothers/big sisters). What a blessing the mother and children have been to us! They are also full of life and so much joy to be around. Their mother is the sweetest thing too!
Our last placement was two weeks ago when we had the opportunity to help out another host parent who was caring for a nine month old while she was unable to care for him for a week. It was quite the experience going from zero children to a nine month old as it was fun, entertaining, exhausting, and frustrating all in the same minute at times. Caring for this child was a true taste of parenthood. No longer was I able to tackle my chores during the day or eat dinner when I wanted. Instead it was finishing the task of folding laundry at 8pm that I had started off and on since 1pm, eating on the go, picking crusted boogers off my sleeve, guessing the stains on my pants (were they from lunch or supper?) and checking to make sure he was still breathing every two hours while he slept. I. Was. Exhausted. But I enjoyed every minute of him being in our home.
Wow. What an awesome opportunity. I've never heard of such a program. What a blessing you are to these families.
It truly has been a blessing to us. There is never child abuse or neglect involved but if we didn't step in to help then it could possibly happen. So it's really nice to be able to help so that it doesn't ever get to that point.
What a selfless thing for you and hubs to do! Really such an amazing way to give back!
I have never heard of this organization before! I think my heart skipped a beat! 🙂 So happy to have found your sweet blog and so look forward to following your journey!!
It really is a wonderful program! It sure does bring life to a home of only 2 cats 🙂 Our cats are still not used to having little ones running around tho. They usually hide and then come out at nap time. lol!
What an amazing program! Would that this were not only a nationwide endeavor but also not limited specifically to a particular strand of religion.
Thank you! The program started and is still based out of Chicago. If you look up Safe Families for Children, a list of other towns, states, organizations should pop up.
Thank you for stopping by and reading 🙂 If you look up Safe Families for Children a list of towns, organiations, and states should pop up. It was started and is based out of Chicago. Even if it is not started in your town, you can contact them and see how you could get it started or be a part of it 🙂 It is very rewarding. You don't get money or compensation so it truly is out of the love of your heart. That's why I love it so much!
I actually think it's much better that there's no "financial incentive", so to speak. Years ago I actually met someone who was trying to foster special needs children just because of the money – a truly horrific concept in my opinion. I think it's important to do good deeds for the right reasons – and money is really never a good reason unless you're in a precarious situation.
That's such a great idea, like expanding everyone's family for a greater support network.
But oh, that poor baby and his ear infections! When Abby first started staying with us, we had to the same weekly doctor visits for ear infections for months until she got tubes.


text:
HoloLens: Microsoft Expanded Their Virtual Reality Platform By Working With Other Tech Companies
By Timothy Martinez , Updated Jun 03, 2016 09:43 AM EDT
Microsoft will be allowing a third party participant in creating their virtual reality platform. The tech empire will soon collaborate with other tech companies including HTC, Lenovo and HP.
HoloLens which is produced by Microsoft is making a step forward for their virtual reality platform. According to Daily Mail, Microsoft is focused on expanding their virtual reality technology that can rise above the expectations of the consumers.
Microsoft released HoloLens at the end of March, but the tech company wished to expand their market by collaborating with other tech companies. The HoloLens' operating system which is known as Holographic is now open for contributors.
Microsoft decided to expand their features when it comes to their virtual reality platform by opening Holographic software for contributors. It was mentioned that it can cross borders between two collaborators.
It was mentioned that by opening their software to other companies they would be able to reach a wider market by not having exclusivity when it comes to pairing devices.
Several partners were already named such as Lenovo, HTC, HP, and Asus. HoloLens' software was built with a design which is compatible with Xbox, smartphones and other computers.
Windows Blog announced that the HoloLens is in line with their 10th Anniversary Update. They refer to their virtual reality platform as a "mixed reality image." Microsoft is aiming to reach the 80 million mark for their units to be sold by 2020.
The company is positive that their collaboration with other tech companies can have a positive impact in regards to their sales. They pointed out that their edge compared to other brands is their capability to produce virtual reality software without restrictions.
Aside from gaming, according to Microsoft Office Blog, the company also expanded HoloLens' function as it is also equipped with the Outlook Mail and Calendar.
TAG HTC, HoloLens, lenovo, hp, Windows, Microsoft, Holographic, Tech, tech news, virtual reality


text:
State Rep. Will Metcalf: Things to know as the 88th Legislative session kicks off in Austin
State Rep. Will Metcalf / District 16
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season and is having a great start to 2023. It is hard to believe that we have once again reached a new year and a new legislative session. The 88th legislative session began on Jan. 10 at your state Capitol in Austin. It is an honor to represent House District 16 in the Texas House. This session we will address important issues that are facing the state and approve a new two-year balanced budget. As we kick off this legislative session, I would like to give you all an overview of the legislative process here in Texas so that you can be informed about what will take place the next 140 days at your state capitol.
According to our State Constitution, the Texas Legislature operates under a biennial system that convenes its regular sessions at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years. Unlike most other states, Texas operates on a two year legislative and budget cycle. This session began on Jan. 10 and will run for 140 days until May 29. Our state legislature is made of 150 House members and 31 Senate members elected by voters in their respective legislative districts. The only time the legislature will meet outside of the regular legislative session is if the Governor calls a special session to be held on a specified topic or a collection of topics. We saw this last session as we returned to Austin for three special sessions, stretching into October 2021. The governor is the only person that has the authority to call a special session of the legislature and the only person who can decide what topics can be addressed.
Right now, members are filing bills that will eventually make their way through various parts of our legislative process. The Texas constitution prohibits the legislature from hearing a bill in committee for the first 30 days of session, and prohibits us from hearing bills on the House floor for the first 60 days of session. This is to allow the bodies time to organize and focus on bills that the Governor deems emergency items, and these are the only bills that are an exception to the 30 and 60 day rules. The Governor historically announces his list of emergency items in his State of the State Address to the combined houses of the Legislature. The governor has the ultimate authority to list his emergency items, and as you can imagine there are many topics of importance to Texans for him to choose from. Until that time, the House and Senate chambers focus on getting organized into committees, adopting rules and procedures we agree to operate under for the duration of the session, and here in the House, we must elect a Speaker from amongst the body to lead the chamber.
On the first day of session, the House nearly unanimously selected Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) to continue leading our chamber. Speaker Phelan did an outstanding job as speaker last session and we hands down had the most conservative session in Texas legislative history with the passage of second amendment protections, the outlawing of abortion, we prohibited biological males from playing in girls UIL sports, we banned critical race theory from being taught in Texas public schools, we passed sweeping election integrity legislation, we limited the allowable increase of state expenditures by tying our two-year budget cap to population growth and inflation, among much more. I was proud to support Speaker Phelan once again and look forward to what we will be able to accomplish this session under his leadership.
On the second day of the legislative session we took up the House rules which outline the policies and procedures by which the body will operate. We included language in this rules package that will punish quorum breakers to deter any member from participating in the foolishness that occurred in summer 2021 when many House democrats fled the state in an attempt to stall election integrity legislation from being passed. Of course, we later did pass the legislation once enough members returned to meet a quorum, but our rules for this session impose a $500 a day personal fine for each day a member is absent without leave for the purpose of impeding action of the House, as well as requiring payment of costs incurred by the House sergeant-at-arms, reprimand, censure and/or expulsion of the member who breaks quorum. There were several democrats who never left the House during that quorum break, and those democrats joined republicans to support this new rules policy. I am glad this policy passed and there will be stiff fines that cannot be paid from state or campaign funds and potential expulsion for any member who tries to pull this sort of shenanigan this session.
As previously mentioned, bills may not be introduced after the 60 day mark of the regular session. During the last convened regular session, almost 7,000 bills were introduced and only about 1,100 passed. As you can see, a significant number of bills do not make it through the legislative process. We are expecting to make positive impact to our state as the State Comptroller has reported a record surplus in our state budget. California, on the other hand, is facing a $22.5 billion deficit and will be forced to make devastating cuts in this upcoming budget cycle. Though we are fortunate to have such a robust economy here in Texas while many other states are still floundering from the affects of bad blue state policies, our state constitution requires that we produce a balanced budget that stays below several constitutionally imposed spending limits.
Following the introduction of a bill, the bill must make its way through the committee process. Members are assigned to their respective committees within the first several weeks by the Speaker of The House. Committee topics vary from State Affairs, Transportation, Public Health, Public Education, Criminal Jurisprudence, Natural Resources, and Insurance, just to name a few.
After a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee based on a committee's specific jurisdiction. The chair of the committee has the authority to hear bills in their committee. During a committee hearing in which bills are being considered, the committee takes testimony from stakeholders and the public on their support or opposition to each bill. It is a beautiful thing that Texas legislators hear from you, the public, on these important policies. Take Washington DC for example where the public is not allowed to give testimony on legislation that affects us all and spends trillions of dollars of our hard earned money. Unlike DC, the Texas legislative process is alive and well and accessible to anyone who wants to participate. Following testimony, committee members will ask questions and debate with one another about the bill. The majority of bills fail to make it through the committee process. The phrase "died in committee" is commonly used to describe a bill that failed to be heard or did not receive enough votes to make it out of committee. Bills must receive a majority favorable vote from committee members before moving on to the next step of the process.
Following committee action, bills that are reported favorable out of committee are placed on calendars. As you can imagine, there is not enough time to hear every bill on the house floor. These calendars, or schedules, determine the order in which the bills are taken up for further consideration and debate. The Committee on Calendars is responsible for placing bills on the daily House calendar. All bills must receive a majority vote of the House and the Senate. If the House or Senate approves a bill it then moves to the opposite chamber and goes through the entire process all over again in that legislative body.
Once a bill is approved by both chambers, it has one final hurdle it must jump over before it can become law. The Governor has three choices when a bill is headed to his desk. He may sign it into law, veto the bill, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. Each chamber must pass identical legislation before it can reach the governors desk. The process seems painstakingly rigorous, however, our founders set our system up this way so that only the most carefully considered and debated bills can become law.
I hope that this information provides a helpful insight into the process of our Texas Legislature. I encourage everyone to use the website, Texas Legislature Online, to track any bills they have an interest in. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the status of a bill or any other question you may have about the Legislature. I encourage you to remain in engaged in the process in your State Capitol.
This job would not be possible without the support of people back home. It is such an honor to serve our district and the people of Montgomery County. Our offices in Conroe and Austin are ready to assist you in any way we can, so please do not hesitate to contact us. It is my honor to serve as your State Representative of House District 16.
May God Bless you, your family and the great state of Texas!
State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, represents District 16.


16th July 1723, Plympton, Devon, England.
Joshua Reynolds was the seventh child of ten (or eleven children) of the Reverend Samuel Reynolds, Master of Plympton Grammar School and his wife Theophila.
Plympton Grammar School. 1740 went to London to be apprenticed to Thomas Hudson, the son-in-law and a pupil of Richardson.
1740: Reynolds starts an apprenticeship with Thomas Hudson, the fashionable portrait painter in London.
1743: Ends his apprenticeship after a quarrel with his master.
1747: He paints a self-portrait.
1749: Reynolds becomes friends with Augustus Keppel a naval officer and goes to Portugal, Spain and Minorca and on to Italy.
1750: Arrives in Rome. He suffered from a severe cold which made him partially deaf and he had to use an ear trumpet for the rest of his life.
1752: Reynolds starts the Journey home and stays in Paris on way and brings Giuseppe Marchi with him as his assistant.
1753: He finds a house in St Martin's Lane, London.
1757: Reynolds paints a Self Portrait.
1759: Charges 100 Guineas for one of his full length portrait paintings.
1760: Takes up residence in number 47 Leicester Square London where he establishes a large studio. Exhibits at the first Annual Exhibition of the Society of Arts.
1764: Foundation of the Literary Club (later known just as "The Club") with Samuel Johnson and others. Meetings are held at the Turks Head public house in Gerrard Street.
1765: Reynolds prices have now risen to 150 guineas for a full-length portrait.
1768: He is elected as the first President of the Royal Academy of Arts. Visits Paris again.
1769: Gives the first of his discourses on art at the Academy in January. The first Annual Exhibition is held. Reynolds received his Knighthood from King George 111.
1771: Visits Paris once more.
1772: Reynolds is elected as an Alderman of the Borough of Plympton. Paints a portrait of Oliver Goldsmith.
1773: Given a Doctorate by the University of Oxford in Civil Law. He is elected as Mayor of Plympton.
1774: Charles James Fox becomes a member of the club.
1775: He is elected a Member of the Academy of Florence.
1779: Paints a portrait of Edward Gibbon.
1780: The Royal Academy of Art moves into new premises on the Strand. Painted a view of Richmond Hill. Although he was famous for portrait painting and was to complete over three thousand in his lifetime he also worked on landscapes.
1781: Reynolds goes on a tour of the Low Countries.
1783: Reynolds suffers a major inflammation of his eyes.
1784: He is appointed as Principal Painter in Ordinary to King George the Third after the death of Allan Ramsay. 1785: Makes a visit to Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels.
1787: Reynolds exhibits a portrait of Prince George in the Royal Academy exhibition.
1789: He loses the vision in one of his eyes. Makes a visit to the south coast for his health. Paints a portrait of Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
1790: Reynolds resigns as President of the Royal Academy of Arts, but withdraws his resignation a few months later. The General Assembly agreed to his re-instatement and appointed Benjamin West and Sir William Chambers to deputise for him when he was in ill health. Delivers the last of his discourses on art at the Academy.
1791: Loses most of his vision.
1778: First Seven Discourses on Art.
23rd February 1792, Leicester Fields, London, England.
St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.
AVON: Holbourne Museum, Bath. Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. Bristol City Art Gallery. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: Ascot Racecourse CAMBRIGESHIRE: Pembroke College, Cambridge. Porters Hall, Trinity College, Cambridge. Elton Hall, Peterborough. DEVON: Saltham Park, Plymouth Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth. ESSEX: Audley End, Saffron Walden. DURHAM: Bowes Museum, Durham. GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe. HAMPSHIRE: City Art Gallery, Southampton. HERTFORDSHIRE: Hatfield House, Hatfield. Woburn Abbey, Woburn. KENT: Knole, Sevenoaks. LANCASHIRE: Blackburn Art Gallery. LINCOLNSHIRE: Belvoir Castle, Grantham. Gunby Hall, Spilsby. Normandy Hall, Scunthorpe. LONDON: The Royal Academy of Arts. (There is a statue of him outside as he was the RA's first President). Dr Johnson's House Museum. Geffreye Museum. National Portrait Gallery. Sir John Soanes Museum. Tate Britain. Wallace Collection. National Maritime Museum. Kenwood House. MERSEYDSIDE: Sudley House, Liverpool. MIDDLESEX: Ham House, Richmond. Marble Hill House, Twickenham. NORFOLK: Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg, Norwich. Houghton Hall, Kings Lynn. NORTHUMBERLAND: Alnwick Castle, Alnwick. OXFORDSHIRE: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock. Buscot Park, Faringdon. Christchurch Picture Gallery, Oxford. Rousham House, Steeple Aston. STAFFORDSHIRE: Wedgwood Museum, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent. Shugborough Hall, Stafford. SUFFOLK: Manor House Museum, Bury St Edmunds. SURREY: Polesden Lacey, Dorking. SUSSEX: Arundel Castle. Art Gallery, Brighton. Goodwood House, Chichester. Petworth House, Petworth. TYNE AND WEAR: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle. WARWICKSHIRE: Arbury Hall, Nuneaton. Ragley Hall, Alcester. Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford on Avon. Upton House. WORCESTERSHIRE: Hagley Hall, Hagley. YORKSHIRE: Temple Newsam House, Leeds. Harewood House, Leeds. Cartwright Hall, Bradford. Branham Park, Wetherby. Beninbrough Hall, York. Castle Howard, York. SCOTLAND: Dalmony House, South Queensferry. Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries. Floors Castle, Berwickshire. Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire. Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow. Museum and Art Gallery, Inverness. Scone Palace, Scone, Perth Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. WALES: School of Art Gallery, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Powis Castle, Welshpool. NORTHERN IRELAND: Ulster Museum, Belfast.


Start compiling package utils for target i386-win32.
Which way? Mine or Marcov?
I just did a build of fixes3.2 rev 40528. So it the build is not broken. Sometimes it just is a bad commit.
Also sometimes it will fail if build with certain options (I several times noticed that it was unable to build with -CR / but there may be other options). So try building with no extra opts at all.
CustApp is in fcl-base (filesystem search) and that is listed in the include path on your output.
Hopefully that gives you some extra output about what it is looking for.
Mine. I was still trying to adapt my "make distclean clean all install".
You either are not building (this part) using the toplevel file, or are passing random unit paths.
For Windows users: FPC 3.2.0 beta revision 40627 (bundled with Lazarus 2.0RC3) is available for testing the FPC branch.
I Wonder which version of FPC will be shiped with lazarus 2.
I want really to use mORMot with the next release of FPC.
3.0.4, 3.2 won't be released soon.
Yes Lazarus 2.0 will be shipped with 3.0.4. Same as the official release candidates.
The installers including the 3.2-beta are for testing of the FPC branch only.
we are using the pascalio package (https://github.com/SAmeis/pascalio).
fpadc.pas(60,50) Error: Procedure directive "VIRTUAL" cannot be used with "STATIC".
1) Is it an error that this is possible in 1.8.4/3.0.4? See https://www.freepascal.org/docs-html/3.0.0/ref/refse39.html.
2) And how is the correct solution for that problem?
Remove the virtual and abstract modifiers?
As the documentation say, you can't use class property getters/setters that way. If 3.0.4 version of FPC allows it, then it is a bug and it is fixed 3.2.x series.
Re : NEW FPC TRUNK VERSION, has still issue 0033963: Wrong result when a currency variable is multiplied by a constant.
This issue is super dangerous for database software using monetary values, because one could execute a SQL batch update and not be conscious it ends with wrong values in the updated fields.


Below is a list of vocabulary and phrases that we learn in this unit.
¿Qué llevas para ir al colegio? – What do you wear to go to school?
¿Qué llevas para ir a una fiesta? – What do you wear to a party?
¿Qué llevas para ir al polideportivo? – What do you wear to the sports center?
¿Qué talla tiene? – What size do you wear?
¿Qué número usa? – What size (shoe) do you wear?
¿Me lo puedo probar? – May I try it on?
Me queda grande. – It is big on me.
Me queda pequeño. – It is small on me.
Me queda bien. – It fits me well.
es muy caro – It is very expensive.
es muy barato – It is very cheap.


It should come as no surprise to activists as it's a tactic they've done thousands of times to hundreds of politically active groups. The information gleaned from letter opening's and seizure's can obviously give the police more targets for surveillance and harassment. This should be a big reminder to us that if people involved in any type of underground work and want to send a Supporters Group or any similar group mail, that your security should be of the utmost concern.
Do not include any information which could gives clues about anyone's identity; Names, return addresses, gender. Send your reports on plain every day paper (don't use your favorite note pad) and common envelopes. Either do all writing using all block capital letters with a common pen, use a stencil, use a public typewriter or a public computer. Wear gloves always so that your fingerprints are not on the paper, envelope, or stamp (be careful of fiber traces). Do not lick the envelope or stamp — wet it with a sponge. Other suggestions include using self stick stamps and tape to seal envelopes.
The following is a secure method that can be revised to fit your needs.
Go to a college/university/school/photo-copy/library shop and type up a press release on a typewriter or computer (make sure you do not save a copy anywhere on your disk or on the computer it self) and print a copy. Make sure to watch for people reading over your shoulder, try to work when it isn't to busy. You will also want to make a sheet with the mailing address's of where you are sending letters to.
Alternately methods include: Cut and paste letters from a magazine or newspaper just make sure you destroy what ever you cut up. Use a common, stencil ruler or paper stencils available from a stationary store.
Go to your local public photo copier, bring two extra pieces of paper with you or find two pieces of paper from their recycling bin, garbage, etc. Place one piece down on the tray where your copies come out. Make as many copies as you need to send out and make sure you DO NOT touch them. Place your other piece of paper down on top, making sure not to touch any of the papers in between. Keep your original separate (as it probably has your fingerprints on it) so you can burn it as soon as possible.
Buy a packet of 10 (more if you need them) envelopes wrapped in cellophane at any corner store and also buy a packet of pre-packaged (preferably self stick ones) stamps. Burn the receipts when you get home.
Take your copies home where you can put on gloves and remove the outer pages. Now before you get too far, make sure the area your work area is clean. Now days the threat of DNA is very real. If you have long hair tie it back, if you have short hair wear a hat. You DO NOT want a hair (yours, anyone else's, even companion animals inside an envelope or under a stamp) or any other traceable fiber's from your sweater, gloves, etc. Seal the envelopes and attach stamps using a clean new sponge, DO NOT lick them. Address them using a common bic pen and use all straight line/block capitals. Or cut the address's out of the copy you made and paste on using a common glue.
Place all of you letters inside another larger manila type envelope. Take your gloves off destroy any extra envelope's and stamps. Now go to a mail box as far as possible from your home, preferably another city or town and dump the contents of the large envelope into the mail box. Destroy the larger envelope.
Some of the above may seem a fair bit extreme, but if it saves you from going to prison it's worth any extra time and money.


Pacific Grove, CA Electrician | Electrician 93950 | Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc.
This family-owned company is very reliable, honest, responsive and fair. They come up with creative and cost-effective solutions. I recommend them without hesitation.
Gabe Pfeiffer and his crew did a stellar job! My house was built in 1950 and I had a couple of safety concerns plus a handful of electrical repairs and upgrades that I needed to have done. Gabe was very patient about explaining everything to me in terms I could understand and gave me suggestions with pros and cons for each, to help me make the best decisions about what would be done. Another contractor had recommended several thousand dollars of upgrades and Gabe checked out the list and reassured me that only a couple small issues were safety concerns that should be addressed. I was also planning to order a particular pair of light fixtures that I wanted him to install and he saved me 25% by ordering them for me and passing his discount on to to me. Who does that nowadays!?!! His crew was skilled and professional and cleaned up so well before they left that there was no trace they had been here other than their top quality work. Pfeiffer Family Electric is definitely the way to go if you need electrical work done--I highly recommend them!
Gabe Pfeiffer (son of Jerry) basically rewired my1950s PG house last year. The house had previously never had the benefit of meeting electrical/safety code in any way, and I knew it was dangerous as it was. Gabe determined correctly that rewiring it all would be less costly than hitting each outlet, lighting fixture, and junction box separately. He had great ideas about doing the kind of lighting I wanted in cost-effective ways.and listened well to my ideas about how baseboard heaters and thermostats should be placed based on use patterns. More bang for the buck! What I continue to like most about him is that he communicates very clearly. Never vague or unclear. In the months since the work was done he has responded promptly and thoroughly to any questions I've had.
When you need commercial electrical wiring in Pacific Grove, CA, Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. is the company to turn to for help. When businesses go about their day-to-day routines, they don't often think about all of the electricity they are pulling from the grid, but it can be quite substantial. These larger electrical loads bring the needs for higher capacity wires. Make sure you have the proper wiring for your needs.
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Are your electrical switches acting up? If you're experiencing flickering lights, frequent power outages, or other electrical abnormalities in your home or business, get in touch with the team at Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. to schedule electrical switch repair in Pacific Grove, CA. We have extensive experience with electric switch repair, diagnosis, and other tasks so you're able to keep your building running as conveniently and efficiently as possible. Reach out today to discuss your needs and schedule electrical repair service with our licensed electricians.
As your power demands continue to grow over the years, you need an electrical system that doesn't just keep up. You need a system that continues to meet your needs in spades. At Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc., our electricians understand the importance of having a reliable electrical system at home. When it comes to electrical wiring, it's best to leave the work to trained technicians to ensure that it's completed accurately, efficiently, and above all else, safely.
Do you need a new outlet, a light switch, or a circuit breaker? Whatever your needs may be, we are electric contractors in Pacific Grove, CA that are up for the job. Providing both commercial and residential electrical services, we are fully equipped to address all of your needs. Even though novice electricians can install a ceiling fan, it takes expertise to perform complex electrical work. Look to our company when you need a team that has the training, tools, and experience to handle the electrical needs of your home or business. Contact Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. today if you need any type of electrical service.
Are you in need of backup power in the event of a power outage or blackout? Get in touch with a team of skilled and dedicated generator installers in Pacific Grove, CA. We have extensive experience handling various electrical tasks and installations, so we can safely and properly install a variety of home generator models. Reach out to Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. today to schedule service with skilled professionals.
You have a generator for a reason—don't let it break when you need it most. Instead, turn to Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. for dependable repair services. With our help, you won't be left in the dark when bad storms or rolling blackouts hit.
The quality of electricity in a home comes down to the wiring. That is why when it comes time to build your dream home, you need experienced professionals to provide the new home wiring. Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. in Pacific Grove, CA is the team to trust for helping to install everything from outlets to the circuitry in your new space. With our help, you'll be able to rest easily know that all of the modern electronics and appliances you depend on will work flawlessly when you move in. Our licensed technicians are devoted to ensuring that your family remains safe from the dangers of faulty wiring in your new home.
Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. can send an experienced Electrician to your home or business whenever you need service. Our locally owned and operated company has been serving Pacific Grove, CA since 2001. From quick fixes to more extensive electrical work, we have the tools to do it all and will make sure that everything functions without any problems before leaving your premises.
A knowledgeable Electrician from Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc. can make your life easier by taking care of all your electrical work. We proudly serve all of Pacific Grove, CA and are known for showing up on time to every job. To schedule your appointment or to ask us any additional questions, contact us today.
© Pfeiffer Family Electric Inc.. All rights reserved.


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I can barely contain myself; I was in the most amazing 1957 time capsule home this weekend. And yes I took lots of photos. 58 to be exact. I have whittled it down (although it was hard). I wanted you to see EVERYTHING!
It belongs to our friends from church. They just moved in a few days ago and were gracious enough to give us the grand tour while still cleaning and unpacking. They even gave us a 2 piece sectional day bed (think Brady Bunch family room). It even came with the corner table!
Warning: there are lots of pictures in this post 🙂 Because I had so many to show you, they are smaller. You can click for a close up.
The very long brick fireplace wall in the sunken living room. Note the planter/wall divider on the end. That is the dining room up the stairs on the right.
The back of that long fireplace wall runs into the sun room with a built-in barbecue! Note the scalloped trim on the planked ceiling. This room is also wrapped with a brick ledge under the windows for seating or placing plants.
With a divider on the knee wall and black swan tiles! The floor is charcoal.
This gray bath has the original gray toilet, sink and tiled shower. The floor was charcoal and gray. There are star burst pulls on the cabinet above the toilet.
The home has the original light fixtures!
The windows in the foyer go to the floor and the storm door has jalousie windows. Their sweet dog is still a little unsettled.
Another kitchen wall. The hood is original and tiled back splash are original. The cook top and wall oven have been replaced.
This wonderful home even has an intercom system and laundry chute to the basement. It sits on a huge piece of property in the country.
The bedrooms and den floor were original hardwood. The living room and dining room have their original off white carpet. All of the doors are original and none of the trim has been painted.
The front door knob is located in the center of the door. The rest of the interior doors have the same knobs and escutcheons.
The new owners have plans to clean up the outside of the property. It has been neglected for many years and the wonderful built-in planters and retaining walls are overgrown and hidden by trees and bushes.
I was assured that I would be invited back in a few months when they have settled in.
I cannot wait to show you more of this awesome home!
If you have followed my blog, you may remember my last post. I was telling you about my stash of mid century Christmas decor that had somehow taken over my basement (and my life).
I have finally started to get productive down there and now have several things made for the shop, Ebay and my Etsy store. A few burns, scratches and sore neck muscles later, I have some things done.
I remodeled some sad looking cardboard houses.
I just love this little red suitcase. I picked it up at an estate sale (full of early 1960's Barbie/Ken stuff) and knew it would be great revamped for Christmas since it was lined with that white and silver star paper!
I am IN LOVE with this aqua and pink wreath. It matches my office 🙂 I may end up keeping it.
And just so you won't think I have been too busy to thrift, what do you think of my mid-century chair? It was $8 at a Consignment shop where I sell.
Does anyone have any idea what this would have been covered in originally? I am guessing some type of vinyl with piping.
Stay tuned for more crafty projects. I better get back down there. You know it is only 14 weeks until Christmas!


text:
The Big White Keno Circle
Day 8 - Saturday - continued
Two keno numbers to go, 10, and 30.
I wait and a big white circle shows up. I honestly can't believe it, but it's thirty. 30. THIR-TY. Holy dogshit! I've hit 5 out of 6! I'm going to make some damn money here, and have a good 'one that got away' story!
But I start chanting anyway.
"Ten... ten... TEN... for once... ten. C'mon ten... ten... TEN!"
A big white circle shows the last number drawn in the game.
IT'S FUCKING TEN!!!!
"I did it! I actually did it!!!" I shout. "YES!!!"
I pound the cashout button on the VP machine, not wanting to run off leaving almost $50 in it.
I sit down and get my keno ticket out. Last thing I want to do is find out that my bet games ended the game before this one or some other ironic soul-crushing shit.
The ticket says the first game I played is 501, and the last game will be 516. The screen says this is game 510. I look at my numbers and look at the board.
My numbers are all there, all six of 'em. Just for good measure, the numbers in the other variation that I usually play up in that corner are there as well. This one was MTB.
Remembering the lesson of the lost $100 chip, I carefully stow the keno ticket and the TITO in my snap purse, and put that in my lunch money security pocket, and lock it all down with a couple of safety pins.
What a feeling I've got! I'm a little bit stunned, and I don't quite believe it - there are still some hoops to jump through and I try not to count it as money won - until I see the money. I'm tingling all over, just pumped and jazzed with adrenalin. I need to get to the Keno lounge - NOW.
It's hard to keep from running, and I literally almost run into McGoo in front of the elevators.
"Flushie! Hey, how's it going?"
My jaw works a bit and little squeaks come out.
"I... I.... shit, I think I just won at Keno! I've gotta go!"
At the Keno lounge, I take out my ticket and run it through the scanner. It's one of the sweetest sights I've ever laid my peepers on.
It says I've won over $1200. And I still have games yet to go. Man!
I get on the phone and tell the Quad Queen what's happened. It's a really fun call to make.
There's an official looking guy standing in front of the Keno machine. He's got a printout, and he is checking every one of the balls in that big circle Keno jerk thing they get blown into. Check, check, check. Then he talks to Max. Mutter, mutter, mutter.
When he leaves the booth, I buttonhole him. I have to know.
"I'm the guy that won - everything check out?"
"Yep," he says. "Everything checked out. Congratulations." He shakes my hand and walks off.
I wait for a while, but I can't sit still and head up to the room, where I can have a big-ass drink, put my feet up, watch the rest of the Keno games, and revel in the feeling.
Vegas has provided me with many, many thrills. I've won $4,000 a number of times, once a little more than that. I've had quite a few $1000 wins.
The most stunning win ever was my first dollar royal, which was also my second royal ever, my first max coins royal, and my first and only dealt royal. It was $4000 at a time when our daily combined budget was $80.
This thrill I get with this one is right up there. Since our first trip, I've never hit anything on Keno like this. It's been over 20 years of poking at Keno!
The best part of it was that I got to see it come in. The feeling seeing the second last, and then that final number come in - I haven't felt like that since a hummingbird got in my sleeping bag.
Up in the room I relax and think about the math a bit. With two numbers to go, there are 80-18= 62 possible numbers left. Getting the 30 was a two in 62, or one in 31 shot. (There were two numbers that would work at that point, either 10 or 30).
Getting the 10 was a one in 61 shot. Both of them is tougher than making a four-to-a-royal draw - and I needed them both.
Mathpoindexter will be proud of me - the odds of getting those last two numbers are 1 in (31 x 61). which works out to 1 in 1,891. I think it is unlikely I'll ever see something like watching those last two numbers come up again.
The next thing that goes through my gambler's brain is that my trip budget is basically saved. I've saved my trip. I've done it. It's saved. It's safe. (If I don't blow it.)
The next thing after that that goes through my gambler's brain is "Oh shit. I've made a huge mistake."
Tom September 14, 2018 at 9:09 PM
Love this win! It's always a thrill out here in the non-Flushie hinterlands. Looking forward to all your many adventures. Just wondering- with Keno you're not expected to tip anybody, right?
Royal Flusher September 14, 2018 at 10:41 PM
I don't know if there is keno tipping etiquette, but in this case, it was a no-brainer. The staff at the Cal Keno lounge have been incredibly friendly, helpful, and patient with me, explaining things, and even making suggestions. I was happy to include the crew in my win. :)
Tom September 18, 2018 at 11:15 AM
Thanks, RF!
Mervis September 15, 2018 at 5:32 AM
Schweet!!! Way to go.
Great win Flusher and I'm pleased for you as it wasn't going well. But wait, "Oh shit. I've made a huge mistake."??
Math Poindexter September 18, 2018 at 7:39 PM
Your math is perfect, Flush! Heck of a nice hit too!
Side note: When I moved to Vegas 15+ years ago, I picked six Keno numbers. In all the thousands of hours I've spent in casinos since then, I've never seen all six come in. (I don't bet on the game; I just check out the board whenever I see one.) You beat the odds!
Did you have to pay tax on that win or do they count it as separate smaller wins?
Royal Flusher October 1, 2018 at 11:31 AM
No tax withheld - the limit on Keno is $1500 instead of the usual $1200 on slots and VP. But that does raise a good question, one I've been wondering about. Suppose I'd bet $1 a way - would the smaller wins under $1500 be exempt from withholding, or would they withhold on the entire amount won on that game?


text:
Q: Create a GeoDataFrame with more than one geo_column I am working with PostgreSQL/PostGIS and geopandas. I have tables with more than one geometry.
How can I move this kind of tables to geopandas recognizing all the geometries columns? I am using GeoDataFrame.from_postgis but I can only specify one column with geometry.


Psyonix has announced the return of the Rocket League Championship Series and Rival Series for 2018, with the format set to remain unchanged from Season 4.
Teams from North America, Europe, and Oceania will be competing for the largest prize pool in Rocket League history, with a $500,000 USD total prize pool for the RLCS and a $50,000 USD total prize pool for the Rival Series headlining this season's competitions.
Budding Rocket League players in North America and Europe can sign up from January 23 – February 14 to have a crack at getting into the Rivals Series, with four qualifiers in each region set to take place over February and into early March. Teams will be able to compete in up to two of the four qualifiers, with the top 128 teams then earning a place in the Rival Series Play-in.
Teams will then compete for the remaining spots in either the North American or European Rival Series for this season.
As for now OCE contenders will have to wait, as Psyonix says they'll have additional details on qualifiers and the schedule soon.
Looks like this season is going to be huge for Rocket League competition! We can't wait to see how it all goes.


text:
Posted on November 20, 2022 November 21, 2022 Author Edward V. Panos Comments Off on [In Pics] Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar: Top Bollywood Actors and Their Gigantic Homes, Net Worth
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri PREVENT Bollywood celebrities from visiting them in Mannat?
Bollywood celebrities and their love for all things fancy are not hidden from anyone. From luxury automobiles, properties abroad to gigantic houses in Mumbai, everything makes as much noise as their films. Let's take a look at some of our top Bollywood actors, their net worth, and the gigantic houses they live in.
SRK greets its fans outside Mannat.Twitter
Shahrukh Khan: Shah Rukh Khan is undeniably the biggest superstar of the millennium. According to reports, SRK's net worth is over Rs 5,100 crore (estimated value). SRK has worked in over 80 films and won numerous awards. Shah Rukh KhanMumbai's home – Mannat – is one of the major tourist spots.
Manateinstagram
The mansion is a grade 3 heritage villa. SRK had his eyes set on the property since his arrival in Mumbai and he finally bought it in 2001. From vintage art to a modern chic vibe, the mansion has no is nothing less than a work of art.
Akshay Kumar: With each passing decade, Akshay Kumar has become busier and richer. One of the most sought after players in the industry, from Akshay The net worth is said to be close to a whopping Rs. 500 crores. Akshay owns several properties in India and overseas. Akshay and Twinkle's home in Mumbai is nothing short of a dream. With lush gardens, flower gardens, an expansive lawn and state-of-the-art decor; the couple call it their palace and rightly so!
Shahid Kapoor: With his choice of projects, Shahid has carved a niche for himself in the industry. With a massive net worth of around Rs 258 crore, actor Haider boasts of having several high-end cars and properties. Shahid and Mira have recently moved into their new home worth Rs 56 crore. It not only offers stunning views of the Mumbai skyline, but also spans 8,625 square feet.
Hrithik Roshan: Greek God of Bollywood, Hrithik Roshan has started a new phase of life. Actor Vikram Vedha reportedly bought two flats on the Juhu-Versova link road for ₹97.50 crore. Renovation work is in full swing at the apartments where Hrithik plans to move in with Saba Azad. Hrithik's net worth is said to be around Rs 2745 crore. Hrithik also has a Santorini-themed oceanfront house in the Juhu area. Take a look at some of the pictures.
Ranbir Kapoor: Probably the latest superstar in the film industry, Ranbir Kapoor is the king of massive wealth and fortune. Scion Kapoor's net worth is $45 million which amounts to Rs. 322 crores. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor recently moved into their new home – Vastu – which is a classic combination of vintage and modern.
Saif Ali Khan: The Nawab of Pataudi, Saif Ali Khan is the guardian of the legendary Pataudi Palace. And just like Pataudi Palace, the Sacred Games actor's Mumbai home is as grand and majestic as it gets. Saif and Kareena have recently moved into their new abode – Satguru Sharan, a building located in Bandra. Their home is spread over four stories and boasts classic old-world charm and opulence. Saif's net worth is said to be around Rs 1,120 crore.
Ranver Singh: The man of the hour, Ranveer Singh's net worth is said to be around $40 million or around Rs 300 crore as per the latest reports.
Deepveer moved into their fourplex with sea views Sagar Resham this year. The house is valued at around Rs 119 crore. The interior of their home is a testament to their love for all things colorful and vibrant.
Shocking! Here is the list of previous jobs of Bollywood actors
Posted on January 21, 2022 March 11, 2022 Author Edward V. Panos
Mumbai: There is no doubt that Bollywood actors with their hard work and dedication have left a strong imprint not only on the Indian box office but also on the hearts and minds of the public. We have seen and heard many stories of struggle from these Bollywood actors, which not only touch hearts but […]
Bollywood actors that we would like to see together in 2022!
Posted on December 8, 2021 February 21, 2022 Author Edward V. Panos
News There is a plethora of actors entering the entertainment industry and just like there are actors whose chemistry is a super hit among audiences. 08 Dec. 2021 12:56 Bombay MUMBAI : There is a plethora of actors entering the entertainment industry and just like there are actors whose chemistry is a super hit among […]
Bollywood actors who are also poets
Posted on March 21, 2022 March 25, 2022 Author Edward V. Panos
Our film industry has a long list of multi-talented actors. They are not only phenomenal performers but they are good at other artistic fields like poetry, singing, painting etc. As the world celebrates Poetry Day today, let's look at the celebrities who are also great poets. Amitabh Bachchan T 4206 – जाओ! and more !! […]
Huma Qureshi talks about his best roles this year – Bollywood News