text:
1960sThe Invaders
It all started for an unlucky Architect, David Vincent who was looking for a shortcut that he never found. On that fateful night, he saw something that would change his World forever.....and maybe ours too. The aliens are here and they have these physical differences: No Pulse - Don't Bleed - No Heart Beat - Some Have No Emotion - Pure Oxygen Kills Them - Strange Xray When Taken - Some Have a Deformed Small Finger. Repeated in the UK in the late 70s or early 80s.
Tags: sci-fi tv
Added: 3rd August 2007
Multiple YearsUmpire Bill Klem
'I never called one wrong!' Bill Klem once immodestly told a reporter. Klem is still widely regarded as baseball's greatest umpire nearly 70 years after he last worked a game. He was a National League arbiter from 1906 through 1941. The innovative Klem (pictured here in 1914) was the first umpire to wear an inside chest protector and the first to use hand signals to keep fans and players informed about his calls. (Klem said, 'The fan in the 25-cent bleacher seat has just as much right to know what I called as the fan in the box seat near home plate.') Klem was so skilled at calling balls and strikes that he only worked behind the plate for a number of years. He worked 18 World Series--a record that will never be broken because MLB now uses a rotation system rather than a merit system to assign umpires to post-season games. Klem was affectionately called 'The Old Arbitrator'--a nickname he adored. The jowly and thick-lipped Klem hated the nickname 'Catfish.' Any player who addressed him that way was quickly ejected. He had a strange relationship with New York Giants' manager John McGraw. Off the field the two were good friends; on the field they feuded bitterly. My favorite Bill Klem story: In 1941, while working the bases, he called a runner out on a tag play at second base. The runner angrily insisted the tag had missed him. Klem informed the irate player, 'I thought you were out.' Then the realization hit him: For the first time in his long career Klem only thought a player was out--he wasn't certain. Klem resigned the next day.
Tags: baseball umpire Bill Klem
Added: 1st September 2009
1950s Kirk Douglas One Of The Best
Cleft-chinned, steely-eyed, and ruggedly handsome, Kirk Douglas is a star of international cinema who rose from being "the ragman's son" (the name give to his best-selling 1988 autobiography) of Russian-Jewish ancestry to become a bona fide superstar. Kirk was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky in Amsterdam, New York, in 1916. A list of his films includes The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) Out of the Past (1947) Mourning Becomes Electra (1947) I Walk Alone (1948) The Walls of Jericho (1948) My Dear Secretary (1949) A Letter to Three Wives (1949) Champion (1949) Young Man with a Horn (1950) The Glass Menagerie (1950) Along the Great Divide (1951) Ace in the Hole (1951) Detective Story (1951) The Big Trees (1952) The Big Sky (1952) The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) The Story of Three Loves (1953) The Juggler (1953) Act of Love (1953) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) The Racers (1955) Ulysses (1955) Man Without a Star (1955) The Indian Fighter (1955) Lust for Life (1956) Top Secret Affair (1957) Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) Paths of Glory (1957) The Vikings (1958) Last Train from Gun Hill (1959) The Devil's Disciple (1959) Strangers When We Meet (1960) Spartacus (1960) Town Without Pity (1961) The Last Sunset (1961) Lonely Are the Brave (1962) Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) The Hook (1963) The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) For Love or Money (1963) Seven Days in May (1964) In Harm's Way (1965) The Heroes of Telemark (1965) Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) Is Paris Burning? (1966) The Way West (1967) The War Wagon (1967) Once Upon a Wheel (1968) (documentary) A Lovely Way to Die (1968) The Brotherhood (1968) The Arrangement (1969) There Was a Crooked Man... (1970) To Catch a Spy (1971) The Light at the Edge of the World (1971) A Gunfight (1971) A Man to Respect (1972) Scalawag (1973) Posse (1975) Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough (1975) Holocaust 2000 (1977) The Fury (1978) The Villain (1979) Saturn 3 (1980) Home Movies (1980) The Final Countdown (1980) The Man from Snowy River (1982) Eddie Macon's Run (1983) Tough Guys (1986) Oscar (1991) Veraz (1991) A Century of Cinema (1994) (documentary) Greedy (1994) Diamonds (1999) It Runs in the Family (2003) Illusion (2004) When I was 7 yrs old my grandmother (being a big fan) took me to see my first Kirk Douglas film, Man Without a Star, and he became my first hero. If you're also a fan, I hope this clip will bring back a lot of fond memories.
Tags: kirk douglas film actors
Added: 22nd September 2007
1930s & EarlierKim Novak The Lavender Blonde
Kim Novak was born Marilyn Pauline Novak in Chicago, Illinois. She is perhaps best known for her performance in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958). Her films include The French Line (1954) Pushover (1954) Phffft! (1954) Son of Sinbad (1955) 5 Against the House (1955) Picnic (1955) The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) The Eddy Duchin Story (1956) Jeanne Eagels (1957) Pal Joey (1957) Vertigo (1958) Bell, Book and Candle (1958) Middle of the Night (1959) Strangers When We Meet (1960) Pepe (1960) (Cameo) The Notorious Landlady (1962) Boys' Night Out (1962) Showman (1963) (documentary) Of Human Bondage (1964) Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965) The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) The Great Bank Robbery (1969) The White Buffalo (1977) Just a Gigolo (1979) The Mirror Crack'd (1980) I Have Been Very Pleased (1987) (short subject) The Children (1990) Liebestraum (1991) She has always been one of my favorite actresses and I think she's one of the most underrated and overlooked actresses of her generation. Kim Novak was a unique phenomenon. As the last of the "manufactured" screen goddesses and Columbia's answer to Marilyn Monroe, Kim had a more refined sex appeal than the other blond goddesses of the 1950's. She radiated a kind of mystery that harked back to the days of Garbo and Dietrich. Onscreen Kim Novak seems distant, enigmatic, thoughtful and somehow sad. She has been referred to as the reluctant goddess, the melancholy blonde and the lavender blonde. The studio created the idea that lavender was Kim Novak's favorite color as part of her movie star image. However, I think the term Lavender Blonde fits Kim Novak - it sets her apart from the sunny Doris Day or the gilded Marilyn Monroe. Lavender is closer to blue - makes you think of Madeleine in Vertigo, lost in thought by the seashore.
Tags: kim novak actresses vertigo
1940sChicken Of Tomorrow
This is the Chicken Of Tomorrow 1948 National Contest ... don't ask. This is as strange as it gets.
Tags: 1949 ckickens flying airplane contest
Added: 23rd October 2007
Posted By: Tony
1990sSeal Kiss From A Rose
This is so strange, I thought I 'found' this unknown on a high def channel in concert in Germany. Then he's on Oprah, now he's on this site all in just a couple of days time. Three days ago I never knew of him.
Tags: Seal Kiss from a Rose
1960sPRESSMANS WITCH DOCTOR HEAD SHRINKER KIT
This commercial was shown on television in the late 60's and early 70's. Very, very strange.....
Tags: pressman witch doctor head shrinker kit 60s toys
1930s & EarlierShipwreck Kelly - Flagpole Sitter
One of the weirder phenomena of the 1920s was the popularity of flagpole-sitting, a strange publicity gimmick mastered by Alvin (Shipwreck) Kelly. In 1924 Kelly was hired by a Hollywood press agent to promote a new film by sitting on the flagpole above the Los Angeles theater where the movie was playing. He remained there for 13 hours and 13 days, starting a bizarre national craze. By 1928 Kelly was earning over $100 per day for his stunts--fantastic money in those days. The apex of Kelly's career occurred in 1930 when he spent 1,177 hours atop a 125-foot flagpole at Atlantic City's Steel Pier. The Great Depression, however, diminished the public's appetite for such stunts. By the end of 1930 Kelly's stunts were earning him little more than pocket change. His last public appearance of any significance occurred in 1939. Broke and on welfare, Kelly dropped dead in 1952 while walking between two parked cars in New York City. Clutched tightly in one arm was a scrapbook containing clippings and momentos from his glory days as King of the Flagpole Sitters.
Tags: Shipwreck Kelly Flagpole Sitter
Added: 21st November 2007
1960sPeople Are Strange
How I feel at the moment. STRANGE. I hear this song and it reminds me of a good movie, The Lost Boys.
Tags: Jim Morrison The Doors Exceptional Sound
Added: 15th January 2008
Posted By: donmac101
1970sGeorge Peppard Rant
This is a very strange game show clip. On Password Plus actor George Peppard goes on an unprovoked rant about networks' game show security policies. I think he's out of line here. What does everyone else think?
Tags: George Peppard rant
Added: 2nd December 2007


There are tons of events going on this weekend in Northern Colorado from a beer fight club, a 5K with your dog, performances and more.
7-10 p.m. Thursday, The Mainline, 125 S. College Ave., Fort Collins. Mainline is partnering with Loveland Aleworks to create a culinary adventure and craft brew experience. Four courses will include quail, foie gras and caramel. Tickets are $60 per person or $110 for a pair of tickets. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.facebook.com/alehouseoldtown.
Various times. Opens on Friday and runs through May 6, University Theatre, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St., Fort Collins. Touching on the legal system, capitalism, social responsibility and more, Urinetown provides a satirical commentary on the state of American society. In the musical, a drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets, which leads to a revolution. Tickets range in price from $3 to $14 and are free for CSU students. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.uca.colostate.edu.
7-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins. Canyon Concert Ballet presents a unique evening that features Michael Fokine's 1908 ballet "Les Sylphides"set to orchestral pieces by Chopin. The second part of the evening presents Alicia Laumann's "Etudes" a contemporary ballet set to some of Chopin's piano pieces. Tickets range in price from $15 to $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.lctix.com.
8-11 a.m. Saturday, Colorado State University, 900 Oval Drive, Fort Collins. This 5K is a dog and family-friendly event organized by students in Colorado State's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Runners are encouraged to wear costumes for the race and to attend an expo with vendors, awards, food, a raffle and auction. Registration is $30 for the 5K. A free fun run for those 12 and under is at 10 a.m. For more information and to sign up for the race, go to www.facebook.com/fastandfurriest5kcsudvm.
1-3 p.m. Saturday, Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins. Wine isn't limited to just grapes. Learn how to make homemade wine from anything in your garden. The class will focus on small batches that don't require much specialized equipment. In class, you'll discover a wine flavor-collection that's as lively as your garden. Tickets are $30 and include wine tasting. For more information and to register for the class, go to www.fcgov.com/gardens.
2-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Pinot's Palette, 159 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins. Learn how to create a floral arrangement and then paint one. Lace and Lilies is partnering with Pinot's Palette to provide a unique class where you'll create an arrangement to take home before painting a masterpiece. The class cost is $55 and includes all the supplies you'll need. For more information and to register for the class, go to www.pinotspalette.com/fortcollins.
4-7 p.m. Saturday, The Hop Grenade Taproom, 347 E. Foothills Parkway, Unit 120, Fort Collins. This blind taste test pits eight Northern Colorado breweries against each other so you can determine which is best. There will be unlimited tasters of beers from Black Bottle, Equinox, Funkwerks, Maxline, Snowbank, Verboten, Weldwerks and Wiley Roots. Tickets are $25. For more information and to buy tickets for the night, go to www.hopgrenadefoco.com.
6 p.m. Saturday, The Cooking Studio Fort Collins, 123 N. College Ave., Fort Collins. Looking for an interactive date night? The Cooking Studio is hosting a date night cooking class, where you'll learn how to cook a menu of American classics. In class, you'll prepare multiple courses and then after cooking you'll sit down with classmates to enjoy the meal together. Tickets are $160 per couple. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.the-cooking-studio.com.
3-8 p.m. Sunday, Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park, 2331 Ellis Ranch Lane, Loveland. Grab your country gear and head to the Happiness Hoedown this weekend to raise funds to support and empower youths in the community. There will be a traditional barbecue dinner, dancing, live music, hay rides, games and other activities. Proceeds benefit Happiness Through Horses, a local nonprofit. Tickets are $25 for children under 12, $50 for adults. There are group packages available. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.happinesshorses.org.
6-8 p.m. May 2, Magpies Boutique and Studio, 4229 S. Mason St., Fort Collins. Head to Magpies for a creative class for girls night. In class you'll create a mini garden pole that can be put in the yard or a pot. You're welcome to bring wine and snacks, along with your friends. Admission to the class is $39 if you're only creating a garden pole. If you're creating a garden pole and a pot, it's $55. For more information and to register for the class, go to www.magpiesmarket.com.


text:
Q: Read map object stored as string from file I saved my map without doing any pre-processing to a file. So I have a file where I have my map object as:
Map(abcd -> List(1,2,3), efgh -> List(78,46))

So when I read it, its read as a string.
How do I convert this to a map object?

A: As commented by others, it's inefficient to store Map data as a String.  Anyway, assuming the Map element types are known in advance (in this case Map[String, List[Int]]), you could use a Regex pattern to pair up all string -> List(...), followed by splitting and converting the List content to integers:
import scala.util.{Try, Success, Failure}

val s = "Map(abcd -> List(1,2,3), efgh -> List(78,46))"

val pattern = """(\w+)\s*->\s*List\(([^\)]*)\)""".r

pattern.findAllMatchIn(s).flatMap(_.subgroups).grouped(2).
  collect{ case Seq(k, v) =>
    val ls = v.split("""\s*,\s*""").map(x => Try(x.toInt) match {
      case Success(i) => i
      case Failure(_) => Int.MinValue  // Or any other default integer
    })
    (k, ls.toList)
  }.
  toMap
// res1: Map[String, List[Int]] = Map("abcd" -> List(1, 2, 3), "efgh" -> List(78, 46))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


If you are looking to start your own business in Miami, this can be a good idea for a number of reasons. One, you become your own boss. You don't have to work for anyone else. And this means that you can actually stay away from getting shortchanged for all your efforts to improve a particular company. Also, you can generate employment and help other people who need a livelihood.
However, it becomes tricky if you think about the reality that you are going to consider the number of people who are reliant on your business. If your business fails, keep in mind that people are also going to lose their job. It is crucial that you do everything correctly.
Here are some things that you can do in order to avoid failing in your business. The very first thing that you have to do is to ensure that you study the market and your competition. You have to understand the market and how you can take advantage of the opportunities out there. Often times, businesses enter a saturated market without looking at the big picture. In these scenarios, it becomes a bad choice.
Also, you have to know your budget and your capability. Are you capable of funding a full-blown marketing strategy that lands your company's ads on TV? Or perhaps, you can only go after online promotions? These are options that you have to weigh carefully. You need to address the realities before you even go towards a marketing strategy that you really can't afford. You will have to look closely at your sales and the size of your market.
And of course, you have to do your best to protect your employees as well as your assets. You can do this by investing in the right type of insurance policy. This can help give you peace of mind as you open your doors.


text:
Nerik era una ciutat hitita al nord-est d'Hattusa i Sapinuwa. Els hitites la van considerar una ciutat sagrada, dedicada al Déu de les Tempestes Tessub, espòs de Wurušemu, la deessa del sol d'Arinna. El Déu de les Tempestes s'identificava amb la muntanya Zaliyanu prop de Nerik, que donava la pluja a la ciutat.

Era un assentament de l'edat del bronze fundada per tribus que parlaven la llengua hatti i després ocupada pels hitites. En aquella ciutat s'hi celebrava periòdicament un festival en temps dels hitites, del que hi ha constància en temps d'Hattusilis I.

Durant el regnat d'Hantilis I les ferotges tribus kashka del Pont van atacar la ciutat i la van destruir, i els hitites van haver de traslladar el festival a Hatussa. Nerik va estar deshabitada durant tres segles.

Només es va recuperar parcialment com a centre de culte al Déu de les turmentes, però a l'època d'Arnuwandas I, cap a l'any 1390 aC, es va veure molt afectada per noves incursions dels kashka. En una inscripció s'indica "van destruir els ídols dels déus, van saquejar l'or, la plata, els objectes de cultes, les copes d'or i plata, les pedres precioses, els objectes de bronze i els guarniments i s'ho van dividir entre ells; també es van repartir als sagrats sacerdots, als sacerdots, a les sacerdotesses de la mare del déu, als sacerdots de Gudu, als musics, als cantants, als cuines, pastissers, grangers i jardiners i els van convertir en els seus servents; es van repartir els ramats i les ovelles, i entre ells es van repartir els camps de blat, i les vinyes utilitzades per les libacions; els kashkes s'ho van quedar tot per ells". Després el text conservat afegeix "com que els kashkes havien conquerit la terra de Nerik per ells, nosaltres vàrem continuar enviant els rituals al Déu de les turmentes de Nerik i als déus de Nerik, des Hattusa, a la ciutat d'Hakpis (Hakpiš), és a dir els pans, les libacions, els bous i les ovelles més grans".

Nerik es va recuperar pels hitites potser en temps de Muwatallis II o poc després de la seva mort en temps de Mursilis III. El germà de Muwatallis II, Hattusilis (després Hattusilis III) va ser qui va conquerir la ciutat i va derrotar els kashkes, retornant allí el culte al Déu de les turmentes que es feia a Hakpis. La ciutat es va incloure al regne d'Hakpis. L'intent de Mursilis III d'arrabassar Nerik i Hakpis al seu oncle Hattusilis va provocar la revolta d'aquest que va acabar amb el seu ascens al tron.

La ciutat va desaparèixer després del 1185 aC amb la invasió dels Pobles del mar.

Referències

Ciutats hitites

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Let's change the way you set your table.
Cutlery Couture silverware pouches are designed to enhance any casual buffet or sit-down gathering. Created as a decorative tabletop accessory, they turn ordinary into extraordinary and solve the quintessential buffet challenge -- guests trying to balance their plate, napkin, fork and knife all while assembling a meal. Cutlery Couture pouches offer a way that is convenient, portable and custom designed for any occasion.


Hallmark Movies and Mysteries has come up with another series based on books co-authored by television personality Al Roker. The main character, played by Holly Robinson Peete, is Billie Blessings, a smart and savvy restauranteur, chef and TV cooking show personality. Billie has the bad luck of being in the area when a dead body is found in the trunk of the car of a guest on her TV show. She ends up being caught in the middle of the drama of accusations, so Billie then takes it upon herself to find out who the true killer is. Notable personality and former athlete, Rick Fox, plays the police inspector ("Ian Jackson") as well as Billie's love interest.
This second installment of the mystery series is an interesting who-dun-it and certainly has the Hallmark typical feel of romance in a mystery film that lacks blood and gore. I think that Holly Robinson Peete plays the role of Billie well, and the chemistry between her and Rick Fox is certainly palpable. Rick Fox , when playing the police inspector role, acts well and is believable, but I feel that he plays the romantic angle around Billie a bit too forced. His smiles appear to be fake, and I think he is better meant to play a non-romantic focus. I enjoy the rapport between Billie and her aunt and her restaurant's main chef, Maurice. Her aunt and Maurice comprise Billie's "family" , and I enjoy this aspect since many people in the real world form their own "families" through co-workers and extended relatives. Like the prior installment, Al Roker does make a guest appearance. This particular episode did have a complicated ending, but it kept the viewer guessing as to whom the real killer was. All in all, I recommend this mystery movie series for cozy Sunday nights at home with the family.


text:
DGG
Joined 5 September 2006
Who I amEdit
My real name is David Goodman, and I would have used it from the beginning if I had understood WP better.
Wikipedia and the WorldEdit
Everything here--every issue we discuss-- has its real world counterparts. WP is a sort of laboratory, where we can explore the implications of issues which are not limited to our immediate needs. BLP is the obvious example, but also the nature of truth; The reliability of evidence; The degree to which we can trust our judgment and our senses; The extent our biases are perpetuated by the way we teach; the nature of social control; The liberty we allow to other people to do what we think wrong; The relative weights of individual freedom to be bizarre and responsibility to a social purpose; The role of personal feelings and trust as compared to abstract rules; Whether to obey social rules we think evil; Whether to respect social taboos; Whether to judge by motive or result. And the foundations and purposes of civil and criminal law, & the purposes of punishment. The specific WP issues related to all these will occur to you--I have specific things in mind for every one.
Many advocates of extreme free speech in the outside world are in favor of a restrictive POV at Wikipedia. Many who are libertarians of various sorts in the outside world are much less so here. Many who are proponents of radical change are much less so here. We justify our witch hunts by the need to appear squeaky-clean to a potentially unfriendly world.
Mostly, our examples are trivial. There are RW examples that are not the least trivial, besides the syphilis studies we all know about: The best atlas of human anatomy in the late 40s was prepared by a Nazi physician using drawings of what he knew were slides made from brain tissue of people killed in a concentration camp, and he is even recorded as having explained to the commandant the sort of specimen and method of preservation he wanted, so people were killed on purpose to make it. There has since been consensus to remove the atlas from libraries. (The slides themselves have been recovered, and buried properly, tho some of them are probably still in existence, because one brain can give thousands of thin sections.) In the USA in the 1950s, the question of what amino acids in proteins were essential for human growth was investigated by feeding human infants diets chemically prepared to be lacking in various amino acids, to see which ones stunted their growth. (The stunting from such starvation is permanent.) The compiler of the standard reference work in the late 50s decided to not cite these studies, even though there was no equivalent source of information, and no real prospect of another way to get it, and I don't think they have been cited since, As I said, our problems are not so consequential. They're self-protective, rather than immoral. Important as it is to protect WP, they do not rise to the same status.
Don't read my own views into this--I've deliberately given examples where I have different degrees of agreement with the consensus here. And I deliberately did not give just the Nazi example. We personify evil on scapegoats so we can think we are free from it ourselves. DGG ( talk ) 17:10, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
What I believe about current issues at WikipediaEdit
The only 2 policies I see here that I have an uncompromising disagreement with are: consulting subject's preferences about whether to have an article (because I think it an invitation to writing to please the subject), and using arguments that would not be used for routine subjects in order to eliminate articles on unpopular subjects -- they are both questions of NPOV/Censorship & if we compromise about that we lose our purpose. There is a popular-liberal flattening of positions here, and I do not speak from any conceivably right-wing position. I am willing to compromise on NOT NEWS and NOT FICTION, because they just harm the scope of the encyclopedia, not the reliability.
There are also 2 patterns of interacting I unhesitatingly condemn: First, those who badger other contributors to the discussion: people should perhaps reach conclusions based both on the arguments and the degree of support for them, not the behavior of those supporting a particular position, but people in all contexts tend to discount the views of those who interfere with the proceedings. The other, often related, is the attempt to win arguments by maneuvering the opponents into poor behavior, even though this is often successful--people actually keep track of how many have been banned on their side vs. the enemy
DGG by David Shankbone
What I knowEdit
I'm a librarian, among other things (with a MLS from Rutgers), and I claim the traditional ability of librarians to help users in subjects they know only a little about. But the ones that I think I do actually know something about are
scientific publishing, and libraries and higher education in general.
science librarianship, especially serials librarianship--I was responsible for the coordination of online journals for a major university library--Princeton--for about 10 years (before that I was responsible for the paper serials lists) -- and I have kept up with this field, and I have been on some of the relevant international committees.
open access, in the sense of open access to published research (as an obvious development from the previous item). Here I am an advocate and commentator, making postings and writing reviews. No two advocates agree completely on anything, but I'm on speaking terms with most of them, and a good many of the publishers. To do this effectively, I keep up with the detail, & what the major scientific societies and publishers are doing.
I still know something about molecular biology, which is the field of my Ph.D. (from Berkeley) under Gunther Stent, and human biology, the field of my post-doc with Allan Wilson.
As hobbies: printing history, medieval history (mainly western Europe), 18th century English literature (especially the 2nd half of the century), history of religions (mainly the Jewish and Christian religions), history of biology (particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries).
My professional bent has been to look for lack of clarity, nonsense, or contradiction, whether in contracts, advertisement, alleged facts, or argumentation. I've found my destined home in WP, for I see more than I would have imagined. Not all of it seems curable, but I expect to upgrade some of the librarianship pages, and some of the higher education ones, and perhaps all of the publishing ones. Plus, as all of the WP people do, whatever I happen to come across. Lately, I've also been working a little more with WP processes and standards, towards the possibility of increasing their clarity, reasonableness, and consistency. As the standards seem in practice to be defined by practice at AfD, I've also been working there.
But what I have been also doing is trying to improve the weak articles about probably notable figures or organizations that I come across, sometimes in WP:CSD, sometimes in WP:PROD, sometimes after they've been sent to WP:AFD. I try to send a customized message to the author, explaining in exact detail what's needed. To the extent I have time, I also try to re-write some of the most deserving of these articles when it seems there is no one else around to do the job. I can only manage 1 or 2 a week, but if all WP editors did the same--as some already do--we would make very satisfying progress towards a better encyclopedia.
I also find sources for unlikely subjects, sometimes in unlikely places, but usually just in Google. The trick is patience, and figuring out what to expect.
But as for expertise at WP in general, I cannot say it better than Slim Virgin did:
"The importance of our content policies lies in the fact that, when someone arrives claiming to be an expert, we don't have to worry about whether they're telling the truth. What we ask of all editors (expert and non-expert alike) is that they rely on the best secondary sources they can find. This is something that real experts will be able to do, because they'll have read the secondary literature. You'll know the real experts by their edits, because they'll be able to tell us what other experts think about the subject, not only what they think about it themselves."
How I workEdit
On a page totally new to me, I'll ask before I edit to any radical extent--if nobody responds, then I will go ahead. I generally wait a week. If the editors there do not like what I do, I sometimes go elsewhere. WP:OWN is a good policy, but hard to enforce. WP:BRD when used for major changes seems mainly designed to increase the work at the Arbitration Committee.
If anyone who knows less than me tries to lecture to me, I know and use a good many ways of responding, other than simply asserting authority. But when someone knows more, I want to be taught. If I'm wrong, I say so. If I've messed things up, I apologize. If someone even thinks I've messed things up, I also apologize, for I must have been unclear in what I did. I'd rather get things right, than get them my way & wrong. For most things, there are several alternative right ways, but there will also be several alternative wrong ways.
If I adopt too much of a lecturing tone myself, I hope people alert me, because it usually wasn't intended. I've taught (biology, and librarianship), and the manner stays with you.
I have never been able to spell, and I type very inaccurately. ; if I've made a typo, just fix it--don't lecture me about it, for it won't do any good. Other people make typos too, and if I notice them, I fix them quietly. I think I'm good at straightening out unclear sentences, and I do some of this sort of copyediting as I go.
BiasesEdit
Not relevant -- because I can fairly present all positions, as I think the other side, although wrong, may be intelligent:
very strong political views,
very definite religious opinions.
I try not to let on what they are in editing or commenting.
Relevant -- because I have some difficulty keeping an open attitude, as I think the other side is generally ignorant, and is determined to remain untaught. I therefore usually avoid such topics on WP unless help is needed there--I can write against my convictions to strengthen an article that needs support, but not happily.
distaste for quack anything: medicine, science, psychology, social science ... I often vote to keep articles on these subjects, because the advocates of orthodoxy here sometimes seem to be even less reasonable than the quacks--and because I think the best way to expose quacks is to let them state their views plainly.
Relevant-- because it will affect what I say here on the talk and WP pages:
Dislike for deciding matters by technicalities rather than by merits, balanced with a preference for guidelines rather than unbridled discretion.
Reasonable, not hidebound, definitions of "sources" and "notability" appropriate to the way people communicate in the 21st century.
Confidence that the sensible interpretation of WP basic principles can cope with even difficult situations.
Relevant because it is the ideological basis of my work here:
an extremely strong opinion that the uninhibited free play of ideas is essential to a free society and to humanity in general. (I basically follow J.S. Mill in this.) I will support reasonable articles or edits when I think the opposition is motivated by political or nationalist or religious sentiment--regardless of what I think of the views being expressed, and I apply this especially to the criticism of WP. I take pride in being what some call a First Amendment Absolutist, and I mean it in the literal sense. We are responsible for presenting information accurately and honestly, not for what people will do with it. The way to prevent them from interpreting it wrong, is to present it better, not to conceal it. If anyone thinks I have deviated from that position, I'd like to be told, so I can correct myself.
note about professorsEdit
People unfamiliar with the academic world may not realize this--and thus sometimes nominate these articles for deletion--occasionally even by Speedy-- but a full professor at a major research university is almost certain to be notable, and will almost always meet at least one of the provisions of WP:PROF
To avoid their getting mistakenly nominated, it is therefore advisable to include from the first more than minimal information: at least their major publications, their honors and awards, the most important work they did--with a link to the WP article on that subject. This makes them more informative from the start, just as all WP articles should be. I try to defend articles on such people when justified, but it is better if they are never nominated.
I like judging by quantitative information: books by library holdings, articles by citations. Once we guessed as through a fog of words darkly, but now we can measure face to face. DGG (talk) 16:11, 26 March 2009 (UTC)
my approach to spamEdit
Wikipedia is always dealing with paid spammers, people who earn their living by putting links to their own sites into web pages elsewhere. It is a large and well paid profession, and their activities are a serious danger to the integrity of any good site like ours. We have our methods for detecting and dealing with them. The most effective way is to block access to their web sites, by preventing links to known spam sites from appearing in Wikipedia. This is a partially automated procedure, carried out at several different levels, both at enWP and cooperatively by the different WPs. The other method is denying access to known spammers; this is a never-ending battle, for they just switch to a new account. Detecting these accounts, which we call "sock-puppets", puppets made by stuffing one sock into another as done to amuse young children, needs to be very fast and very stringent to be effective. This has led to a practice of blocking on any reasonable suspicion. Alas, anyone who deals with this much of the time will soon become over-suspicious, banning well-intentioned people and blocking good links. It's an inevitable side-effect of policing work.
This applies equally to commercial and non-commercial sites. I find the commercial ones easier to deal with, because they tend to add even larger numbers, and get caught all the sooner. And the non-commercial spammers have a narrower line between them and the well-intentioned people.
As for paid editing, I think it is wrong, because it interferes with the normal way people work here, and interferes with the good faith we extend to all users. The effects of such editing as we know about has usually been very poor articles. That need not always be the case, but so far almost nobody who understands Wikipedia well enough to write good articles has been willing to do it for money.
my approach to admin functionsEdit
Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia with user contributed content, edited according to our policy, WP:PILLARS, by which anyone can edit, and several million people do. About 700 of them are active administrators (essentially, what is often called moderators elsewhere)--they have the ability and the responsibility to enforce the policies, in accordance with community guidelines and general consensus. In particular, they have the abilities to delete articles--either immediately in obvious cases or after community discussion, to limit editing on them, to block individual accounts from editing, and a few related functions. Otherwise, they have no more prerogatives than any other editor. I'm an administrator, but when I am not performing the above functions (and the only one I do much of is delete a few thousand obviously inappropriate articles a year, and when necessary protect them against re-creation), I'm just an editor. Like most experienced editors, and as required for all administrators, I do know the policies, and I remind people of them if I think it appropriate, but any editor can do as much.
When I comment, I try to distinguish between my own views, and those accepted here. There are some guidelines I do not like myself, & I try to change a few by giving my opinion at discussions from time to time, but I state it as my opinion and explain why. In a few cases, the guidelines have changed in the direction I preferred; in a few I have come to recognize the established guidelines better than my own idea; in a few, I have given up altogether but without changing my mind; in a few I once a month or so state my disagreement with the guideline to keep the issue alive. But I don't go around trying to argue (for example) each image deletion where I think the rule should be more liberal.
Nobody should take anyone's advice as Gospel; I give the best I can, but I've been sometimes wrong. A person who knows enough to decide for themselves should do so. A person who does not, should learn. A person who just comes here once should be helped to do what they intend.
Current projectsEdit
Rescuing worthy speedies & prods in all fields & discussing the procedure
keeping articles about academics & academic organizations from deletion
upgrading "list of journals in .." and "...open access journals"
adding articles for major ref. sources
keeping important "in popular culture" articles from deletion, and upgrading their content
Changing AfD to "Articles for Discussion" and considering all good faith disputed merges and redirect there also. As of Dec. 2009, this is under active discussion.
making some possible changes to speedy deletion criteria. I have been reluctant to add to the work at Del Rev by appealing the many incorrect speedies I come across but which are for articles that have no chance of surviving AfD, but perhaps we really should be doing this to make the teaching point.
I have 3 suggestions that, together or separately, might reduce the ambiguity at Speedy:
The first is rather simple: remove "organizations" and "companies." "Organizations" was added by [1] on Oct 11, 2007, without any visible discussion, in the midst of a more general discussion about CSDA7 (now in Archive24). "Companies" was first added, without significant discussion (there then followed some shifting back and forth between "companies" and "corporations"). The major disputed instances we have been discussing come under the rubrics of "organisations;" and "companies" has always been a problem because it is extremely hard to tell if an article about a company is making a credible assertion. "X is an ice-cream shop" is obviously a credible assertion, but "X is a large accounting firm in Y country" is disputable. I am not certain about groups; I think it was originally intended to apply to musical groups that are not bands, and it makes sense in that meaning. Otherwise it is too general--it's been claimed from time to time that churches and schools are "groups".
The second is a little more complicated: An article may be deleted under criterion A7 only if it contains nothing that any reasonable person would think amounts to suitability for an encyclopedia, not just that it will probably not be accepted in Wikipedia. (with possible examples) . I see that by Dec. 2009, this is becoming the usual interpretation.
The third is even trickier: A good faith request by any established editor is sufficient for any administrator, whether or not the deleting administrator, to undelete an article deleted under speedy, except for BLP and copyvio. This should be automatic, and need not involve Deletion Review. It is polite to ask the original administrator first, but not necessary, and, even if they refuse, any administrator can undelete it without it being considered inappropriate. The article would normally be immediately sent for AfD. By definition, if an established editor disagrees, it is not uncontroversial and needs community involvement. (This one is a first draft, and may need more delicate wording.
Future projectsEdit
adding refs to old articles, & marking parts that were plagiarised from PD sources
spam removal from existing articles. What most needs removal around here isn't inappropriate articles, but the excessive spam in a great many articles.
General view of things hereEdit
I think an encyclopedia should be useful, but how many people a particular part of it might find it useful doesn't matter. I've been a teacher and a librarian all my life, and my satisfaction from it is in the individual people I know I've helped and taught, and the ones unknown to me who will be helped by the work I've done. I'm here to continue that work, with what skill I have acquired. I know it sounds idealistic. But I speak seriously, for if you are here I think you might share that idealism. One person at a time, one article at a time. The person before me, the piece of work before me. The single talent, as the parable words it.
with respect to consensus at AfDsEdit
"In general I do not think it is the business of the closer to decide between two conflicting policies. Their job is to discard arguments not based on any policy, or, sometimes, by SPAs, and then judge consensus. The questions asked at RfAdmin are enough to identify admins who know enough to tell what is policy and what is not, as long as things don't get too complicated. It is not enough to identify admins who understand all policies well enough to judge which of conflicting ones to apply, or how to interpret them in difficult situations. A good thing, too, or we'd have no admins, because none of us agrees on all of that. The only people here competent to judge conflicting content policies or how to interpret them are the interested members of the community as a whole, acting in good faith.
The assumption in closing is that after discarding non-arguments, the consensus view will be the correct one, and that any neutral admin would agree. Thus there is in theory no difference between closing per the majority and closing per the strongest argument. But when there is a real dispute on what argument is relevant, the closer is not to decide between them, but close according to what most people in the discussion say. If the closer has a strong view on the matter, they should join the argument instead of closing, and try to affect consensus that way. I (and almost all other admins) have closed keep when we personally would have preferred delete, and vice-versa. If I wanted a place where my view of proper content would prevail, I'd start a blog or become an editor of some conventional publication.
with respects to making and changing policyEdit
Policy and guidelines are hard to change; essays often remain essays, because one or two people persistently objecting with or without reason can in practice filibuster a change to a guideline. That has happened here repeatedly: schools, places, shopping centers--not always in the direction of permissiveness--a considerably more restrictive shopping center guideline which I supported did not attain guideline status because one person pretended there was wide objection. None the less, many such almost-guidelines are widely followed. Wikipedia is NOT BURO, and what we do here consistently is the policy and the guidelines. We could probably get many essays established as a formal guideline by trying again, but people rarely try, because it is not worth the debate--it operates as a guideline just the same if we follow it. Most people who are interested in writing articles would rather write them than argue about the wording of what everyone more or less agrees on anyway. It is that spirit of paying more attention to the articles than the formalities that is responsible for the success of Wikipedia. In other projects people talk about the project; here we reach a practical working agreement and do positive work (if it sometimes seems the other way around, it's less so here than elsewhere, but further motion in that direction is to be resisted.)
current views on particular policiesEdit
BLP ProdEdit
I opposed the adoption of this as unnecessary from beginning to end, but of course i work according to it now that it has been adopted. We need to see good data on it. My current view is that:
I. It has kept a considerable number of bad articles out of Wikipedia.
II. Essentially all of them could have been just as easily kept out by other means.
III. It has prevented the keeping and improving of some articles which could have been improved into acceptability. It certainly would have done so if I & one or two others did not try to source all such before deletion; the ones that get unreasonably deleted are the ones I don't have time to work on. (except I've given up on athletes and entertainers)
IV. It has discouraged some people who might have been useful contributors from continuing to contribute.
V.The problem that I regard as most serious is t's much more important to retain every possibly useful contributor than to avoid having a minute number of unverifiable articles, as long as what is asserted does no harm.
CopyvioEdit
Wikipedia is unreasonably restrictive about many elements of copyright. The effective rationale behind Wikipedia's over-restriction is the need to appear squeaky-clean to those who would oppose us. I accept this, but even so we overdo this. The US courts are quite flexible about what constitutes fair use (as a compensation perhaps for the extreme rigour of copyright law in other respects, like duration). We could go very far before we came near it. We could for example, justify almost any informative use of a low resolution image. The principle that our material must be free for others, who might be making commercial use which doesn't have as much protection, does not justify it, because a warning is sufficient.
On another tack, if Close paraphrase is thorough enough it is an effective way of escaping the automated copyright detectors, especially if the first sentence is replaced entirely--when it gets detected, is because we're suspicious, or the person involved gets lazy and lets too much stand unaltered. People including those at Wikipedia react the usual way to something wrong that they cannot prevent or catch except occasionally--go overboard with the ones that have been detected.
Even well-done Close paraphrase normally changes the wording, but retains the sequence of ideas. This is wrong in schools, because the entire point of academic writing is to show you can create an original sequence of ideas. But we don't do original research, and copying someone else's formulation does not hinder the purpose of an encyclopedia. The courts are clear that retaining the sequence does constitutes copyvio, but their standards except for creative works are much laxer than ours, on the basis of it not normally having done any actual harm.
General view on strategyEdit
Adapted from Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution:
In the period after the February Revolution had overthrown the Tsar, when the Bolsheviks were a very small minority, Lenin's slogan was "patiently explain", as he urged the policy of talking to workers and soldiers individually to convince them of the validity of the party's program. Most of his colleagues wanted either to compromise with the more moderate politicians, in which case they would have been quickly swallowed up by their opponents, or go out immediately on the streets, where they would have been destroyed immediately. Lenin and his co-workers continued persuading until they were a majority in the key places--the forces of soldiers and sailors who would have been sent to suppress them. That's when they went out on the streets, in October, and they succeeded immediately. DGG (talk) 19:50, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
How primates workEdit
We all know it is difficult to work here, and care about something, and maintain perspective, for it does not come naturally. And when there are people on the other side willing to exploit weaknesses, then it results in Mobbing, to which there is no helpful response for the victims. Primates have evolved to do things that way; further evolution will only take place if the environment requires it. Fortunately, the environment can be modified. One of the ways of modifying it is over-abundant resources--which, as applied here, means having so many topics to work on that individuals can choose their own area. But when there are many people who want to work in an area, and they each therefore want their views to prevail, there are traditional ways: either the stronger drives out the weaker, or someone stronger yet-- or the community generally--feels bothered and forces a peace (either by dividing things up or choosing one side and exiling the other). But if the net result is dysfunctional, there's room for a little evolution, and those willing to make only moderate demands and show prudence in making them win in the long run. More precisely, their descendants do. DGG (talk) 16:04, 15 April 2009 (UTC)
How Wikipedia Ought to WorkEdit
At AfC, Human judgment matters more than formal standards
In reviewing articles, reviewers need to have high standards. But it is not advisable for a reviewer to use their own high standard to make decisions about articles when the consensus is otherwise. True, the interpretation of "likely to pass AfD" in this context varies. Originally, some people interpreted it as having anything better than an even chance. There's a rough agreement on somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4, but in practice most of us aim much higher: of the hundreds of drafts I have reviewed, I do not think more than 2 or 3 of them have been subsequently deleted, and very few have even been challenged. But I think there is certainly agreement on not interpreting it by using standards other than those actually used at AfD, whether higher or lower. It is, for example, wrong to accept an article because one thinks it ought to be accepted at AfD, when one knows very well that it is not going to happen. I have in a few respects a somewhat different concept of notability than most, which I sometimes express in discussions. But I absolutely never make a decision on an article, whether closing AfD or deleting at Prod or speedy, or tagging or accepting a draft, on the basis of anything other than what I know or at least believe to be the consensus interpretation. Admins must follow the consensus, and so ought anyone making a judgment.
The question of how good an article must be in other respects is also not exact. For example, people a few years ago would decline drafts because they did not have inline references--but except for BLPs or truly disputable statements this is not required for a WP article, and I do not think any current reviewer does that. The way I think of it is that I would not want an accepted draft to go to AfD if the way the article is written would incline those commenting there to delete it--AfD sometimes does delete really incompetent articles if nobody will fix them. And I don't want my name associated with what I think junk, in any case--and for that reason I will often just let someone else review if I know I might be unreliable or erratic or tempted not to follow consensus, just as I would let someone else close an AfD in such cases.
There is a way to handle articles with gross formatting errors that are otherwise acceptable: if I'm going to accept it, I fix them. It is usually much easier for me to fix an article than to explain to a new user just how to fix it, and I'll either fix the draft or accept and then fix the article. It is also the best way to teach the newcomer, teaching by example.
Most people whose drafts or articles are rejected never come back; often that is all to the good, but sometimes it loses us a potentially helpful and active contributor. AfC is as much about the contributors as the articles. We can deal with articles of dubious quality later, but there is no way of getting back someone who has left us. The life of WP depends on continuing to attract contributors. It's actually the most important thing we need to do here--everything else needed will follow.
It is not possible to tell whether or not something is notable by the WP:GNG
To expand in terms of articles: I cannot tell whether or not something is notable by the WP:GNG , because I could argue equally well in either direction. The key terms "substantial" and "independent" can mean almost anything; no source is always reliable, and either their strengths or weaknesses can be emphasized. Using exactly the same arguments but changing a few words, I could argue that the references are either sufficient to meet the GNG or the opposite. Therefore I judge which way to argue by my own judgment about whether it is appropriate for Wikipedia to have an article, using rational criteria as
real world importance
principal national organization of its type
highest level award
promotional or encyclopedic intent of the article
see also my 2012 Wikimania presentation outline: User:DGG/Notability 2012
People who use WP expect when they look for an article, to find something.
To expand in terms of images: The only restrictions should be encyclopedic purpose and fair use in US law. We should interpret the "minimal use" requirement of the foundation as meaning the minimum that would allow us to provide as much relevant encyclopedic content as possible in the widest sense that the words will bear, and NFCC policy should be changed to accommodate this. And at another level, I'd support a campaign for the WMF to remove their NFCC policy altogether and agree to host anything that's educational & legal. The purpose of Wikipedia is to provide freely accessible content. The purpose of Commons is to provide free images for reuse. They are different projects.
I do not attempt to convert my opponents--I aim at converting their audience.
To explain, this is why I try to avoid head-to-head debates with other editors. Once things have reached that stage, experience here as elsewhere shows that people are not generally successful in convincing their direct opponents to reverse their views. If I think my views are right, the only practical audience is the uncommitted—and especially the newcomers. Sometimes there is enough common ground for realistic attempts to reach a compromise solution: one where people continue to disagree, but find enough agreement for common action, without giving up their principles. The first step in working towards it is generally as clear a statement as possible of what one's principles actually are. In debate between sensible people, this can be done without it being taken as hostility.
Possible essaysEdit
my view of WP
my view of general WP editing difficulties
my view of biographies in WP
my view of the meaning of NPOV
my view of notability
my view of content and behavior
my view of copyright policy
interface comments
User:DGG, User_talk:DGG,
/controversy, /pages to revisit, /RS, /priorities. /std talk pp, /userhelp, , /AfD comments, /journals, /to insert, /OtherDels, /to delete; /to restore ; /sandbox,
/projects, /WP Projects, /tech notes / /sandbox unserified / sandbox userified 2 ,
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User:DGG/PROD log , User:DGG/CSD log.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Chapter 1351 Gathering at the Central Lands
The magic surge didn't just affect any single plane, but every one of the planar worlds.
The spatial barriers that could protect a planar world in the past would be riddled with holes. Any simple rift could allow a terrifying otherworldly creature to slip in.
There was no truly-safe spot across the universe!
Such magic surges weren't exactly disasters for high-grade adepts. After all, it was an opportunity to obtain rare and valuable resources. However, for the numerous mortals and low-grade adepts, there would no longer be any guarantee of their safety. Many of them would die because of a single magical creature's rampage.
Moreover, the primary world wouldn't be the only world under siege. Even the subordinate lesser planes of the World of Adepts would be assaulted.
Ordinary adept clans would have to send patrols to each of these worlds, continually monitoring the weak spots in space while also maintaining order in the lesser plane. Most adept clans would find themselves at a loss at this point. They did not have sufficient adepts to oversee everything.
Consequently, most lesser planes controlled by adept clans would face problems following a magic surge. A clan's income would be significantly affected.
That was about all that Greem knew about the magic surges. However, after a long talk with Alice, Greem finally recognized their horror.
If Greem were only the clan leader of a small clan, his only worry would be casualties within the clan and among the populace of his territory.
However, he was not just the Crimson Clan's leader now. He was also the most powerful Fourth Grade adept of the Central Lands. The very safety of the entire of the Central Lands fell upon his shoulders.
It was a responsibility as well as a burden!
Ten years was not long, but it wasn't a short time, either. Should the magic surge occur and spatial rifts start appearing, any adept clan that failed to make preparations would be staring down the barrel of invasions from magical creatures and monstrous starbeasts. This event would undoubtedly be a major trail for the Crimson Clan, who had just established itself.
If the Central Lands suffered excessive casualties in this magic surge, Greem and the Crimson Clan would likely lose their best opportunity to unify the Central Lands!
At this point, even Greem wasn't sure if he was the unfortunate one to have run into a magic surge at this crucial moment or if the very rise of the Crimson Clan was encouraged by the planar consciousness for this event.
After some serious thought, the latter scenario was the more likely of the two.
After all, the Crimson Clan had only been a regional adept clan in the past. Their military might had exploded exponentially, and they had ravaged the Central Lands without contest. Their rise to power had been the result of a series of coincidences and fortunate events. Step by step, they had made their way here.
Before he heard the news of the magic surge, Greem had believed the current situation to be the fruit of his patience in hiding the clan's power. When Alice told him about the magic surge, there was a shift of reference in his mind.
Perhaps all of this had been the planar consciousness's intent. It pushed Greem onto the throne of the 'hero' of the Central Lands, making him unify the Central Lands' forces to overcome the looming calamity.
If he performed well, the planar consciousness would probably generously 'reward' him with the Crimson Clan's rule for the next thousand years to come. If he performed poorly, perhaps a new 'savior' would emerge and rescue the Central Lands.
It was precisely because Greem was growing increasingly powerful that he could slowly begin to come into contact with the workings of the world behind the scenes. He began to have a strange feeling. It was a sense that the heavens and earth themselves were no more than a chessboard and the individuals living within them, no more than pieces!
However, he was no longer an insignificant pawn as he had been in the past. No, he was a rook who could charge forth and stir the chaos. Even if the planar consciousness wanted to achieve some purpose, it would have to do so through Greem's hand.
This process was an excellent opportunity for Greem to peek into the principles that governed this world!
Naturally, now that he knew this, Greem would not sit by and let the opportunity slip past him. After a quick moment of thought, Greem quickly gave out a series of orders.
Surely the Adept's Association, Silver Union, and the Northern Witches had received similar news by now. No one would be interested in starting a war during such times. Their focus would be on defending themselves.
Thus, the pressing calamity that the Crimson Clan had been facing was dissolved by an even greater calamity on the horizon!
Ailovis, the Crimson Wing.
This place was the Crimson Clan's territory and likely the future heart of the Central Lands.
After two hundred years of diligent management, this rich and bountiful land had become populated and wealthy.
Villages, towns, and cities rose from the ground, dotting the green and yellow plain alongside the patches of green growth and forests. It was a microcosm of the unique liveliness and prosperity of the Central Lands.
Ever since the Crimson Wing was chosen as the headquarters of the Crimson Clan, three tall adept towers had been erected in a triangular formation. They were the most remarkable landmarks in this land.
There were about a hundred kilometers of distance between each other. The triangle that they protected was the most prosperous and populated territory of the Crimson Clan.
It was early in the morning.
A silver-white flying ship wove through several white clouds that were drifting leisurely in the light blue sky. The ship was headed toward the Crimson Wing.
A muscular man with a stern and determined face stood at the bow of the ship. He wore a golden robe and was calmly observing the beautiful scenery flashing by on the ground.
Suddenly, footsteps rang out behind him.
A handsome young man in golden armor stepped forward and said, "Clan Leader, we are approaching Crimson Wing!"
"Mm!" The middle-aged man said in a deep voice, "Have we established communications? What was the Crimson Clan's purpose in summoning all of us here?"
"We have inquired. Molten Fire City and the Dener Clan have already arrived. As many as seven Fourth Grade adepts are already at Crimson Wing. However…"
"However, what?"
"They are keeping a tight lip. We weren't able to find out anything. Only Molten Fire City replied. They only gave us two words– 'magic surge.' We don't know anything else."
"Magic surge!?"
Leader of the Clan of Gold, Mornashen Gaia, couldn't help but tremble at the mention of that taboo term. His face turned dark.
"Are you sure that was what Molten Fire City said? Magic surge?"
"Yes, we are absolutely sure!"
Mornashen's expression turned solemn. He waved his clan member away and brooded in silence.
The flying ship cut through the air quickly, passing by a forest that stretched for fifty kilometers and crossing a river before finally arriving at its destination, Crimson Wing.
Three adept towers stood silently on the horizon, their structure piercing the clouds.
There were large areas of farms around the towers, along with numerous cities. You could see a stream of carriages proceeding along the grid-like roads as if they were ants marching in a chain.
Perhaps they had seen the ship in the sky, but some of the tiny humans below waved their hands and hats at the ship.
A massive human city slowly came within sight in the center of the three towers. It became clearer and clearer as the ship got closer.
There were more flying objects in the sky now!
Eyeball combat machines the size of human heads roared as they buzzed through the sky. They scanned the aura of the flying ship and did not intercept it. Instead, they escorted the ship, cutting an elegant arc in the sky as they moved toward a landing strip on the edge of the city.
As expected of Crimson Wing. There were two Motherships merely hovering above the city. They hovered at the edges of the city, serving as giant aerial platforms.
You could make out the countless black dots and flying objects that took off and landed on these Motherships from a distance.
The flying ship stopped at Landing Bay 3.
Mornashen had just led his five clan members down the steps of the ship when Molten Fire City Lord Alfred's tall and skinny figure appeared.
Two Fourth Grade adepts whose names sent tremors throughout the Central Lands smiled as they greeted each other.
"You arrived earlier than me! How is it? Did you manage to find out anything?" Mornashen Gaia asked impatiently upon their meeting.
"Come into the city with me. We will have a talk once we find a place and settle down!" Molten Fire City Lord Alfred waved his hand, and a black carriage lying in wait drove up to their side.
The two Fourth Grade adepts got onto the same carriage while their followers hopped onto the other carriages.
Soon, the wheels creaked as the carriages drove out of the landing bay toward the city of Crimson Wing in the distance.
Molten Fire City Lord Alfred waved his hand, and a layer of green magical particles engulfed the carriage. The two of them then started whispering to each other.
"What's with the whole thing about a magic surge? Why were we summoned for a gathering? Could it be…an actual magic surge is coming?" Gaia asked hastily.
As Fourth Grade adepts, they both understood much of the true nature of the world's secrets. They were not unfamiliar with the term 'magic surge.'
"Given the information I currently have, I am certain that a magic surge is on the verge of occurring! Greem has summoned all of us to discuss how the Central Lands will respond to the magic surge."
"How else can we respond? Obviously, we will all be guarding our own territories……could it be? He does not intend for the various clans to transfer command of their forces to him, does he?" Mornashen's face turned dark at the mention of this, "We can't mobilize any more forces from our clan. If that is what he intends to do, I will never agree, even if it means I will have to fight him again!"
Alfred finally couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.


text:
Cet article présente les faits marquants de l'année 1957 en France.

Événements
 L'appel au contingent permet au gouvernement de mobiliser  en Algérie au début de l'année.
 7 janvier : face aux nombreux attentats du FLN le Président du Conseil Guy Mollet donne la directive à l'armée de rétablir l'ordre en Algérie « par tous les moyens » ; début de la bataille d'Alger, menée par les « paras » du général Jacques Massu, chargé du maintien de l'ordre dans l'agglomération algéroise.
 12 janvier : décret de création de Sud-Aviation par la fusion de la Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO) et de la Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du Sud-Est (SNCASE).

 4 février : la question algérienne est à l'ordre du jour de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies qui adopte la résolution 1012 par laquelle elle exprime .

 8 mars : assemblée générale constitutive du Centre national des jeunes agriculteurs (CNJA).
 18 mars : décret instaurant un prélèvement exceptionnel de 20 % sur les suppléments de bénéfices et de 2 % sur les réserves des entreprises. Majoration de 57 milliards de francs des recettes de l'État.
 20 mars : une lettre du général Jacques Pâris de Bollardière parue dans L'Express confirme le recours à la torture par l'armée française en Algérie.
 25 mars : signature du traité de Rome : création, au , de la Communauté économique européenne (CEE) et de l'Euratom. le processus d'intégration des pays européens prend une nouvelle dimension avec cette alliance regroupant la Belgique, la République fédérale d'Allemagne, la France, l'Italie, le Luxembourg et les Pays-Bas.

  : pour toucher l'opinion publique, les compagnons de l'Arche Lanza del Vasto, Bernard Gaschard et Pierre Parodi commencent un jeûne de vingt jours à Clichy pour dénoncer l'usage de la torture par l'armée française en Algérie.
 4 avril : vote des principaux décrets d'application de la Loi-cadre Defferre donnant l'autonomie aux colonies de l'AOF et de l'AEF.
 5 avril : l'opposition métropolitaine (François Mauriac) obtient la nomination d'une commission d'enquête sur les abus de la répression, la Commission de sauvegarde des droits et libertés individuels en Algérie.
 8-11 avril : première venue de la reine Élisabeth II en France.

 15 mai : un accord syndical permet la création de l'Union nationale des institutions de retraite des salariés (UNIRS). Début de la mise en place des retraites complémentaires des salariés (1957-1961).
 21 mai : chute du gouvernement Guy Mollet, mis en minorité (213 voix contre 250) par la Chambre sur son programme financier. Il souhaitait augmenter les impôts de 20 % devant l'alourdissement des dépenses militaires lié au conflit algérien.
 26 mai : assassinat de l'ancien vice-président de l'Assemblée algérienne Ali Chekkal au stade de Colombes par un jeune militant du FLN lors d'un matche de finale de la coupe de France.

 12 juin-30 septembre : gouvernement Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury.

 13-14 juin : une série de crues catastrophiques affecte les cours d'eau des Alpes centrales (Arc, Durance, Guil et Ubaye notamment. Le Queyras est évacué.
 18 juin : décret supprimant le régime de libéralisation des prix commerciaux.
 21 juin : première française des Dialogues des Carmélites, opéra en trois actes de Francis Poulenc à l'Opéra de Paris.
 26 juin : le ministre des finances Félix Gaillard prend des mesures d'austérité pour lutter contre l'important déficit qui affecte le budget de l'État. Il réussit à faire voter par le parlement une loi fiscale instaurant une avance de 300 milliards de francs de la Banque de France et un assainissement financier de l'État par une majoration d'impôts de 130 milliards (hausse de 10 % de l'impôt sur les sociétés, réduction de la décote fiscale de 25 % pour les entreprises ayant un chiffre d'affaires supérieur à 45 millions de francs. Les droits de timbre et d'enregistrement, le prix de l'essence et les tarifs postaux et téléphoniques sont majorés de 20 %. Le taux de TVA passe de 19,5 à 25 % sur certains produits de luxe). Depuis , la fiscalité a été alourdie de 327 milliards de francs (sur un total de  de recettes fiscales, compte non tenu des mesures de décembre), augmentation sans précédent depuis 1948.
 15 juillet : la France retient définitivement le site de Reggane (Algérie) pour installer une base secrète pour l'expérimentation de la bombe atomique.

 20 juillet : première victoire de Jacques Anquetil dans le tour de France cycliste cycliste.
 25 juillet : loi sur les congés d'éducation ouvrière.
 26 juillet : loi qui permet d'étendre à la métropole les dispositions fixées par la loi du  dite des « pouvoirs spéciaux » en Algérie.
 29 juillet : décret favorisant le financement des entreprises en modifiant les conditions de taxation des dividendes.

 10 août : « opération 20 % », dévaluation déguisée du franc français. Instauration de facto d'un régime de changes multiples.

 17 septembre : décret majorant les tarifs de la SNCF.
 18 septembre, 2, 10 et 14 octobre : décrets instaurant un régime de soutien aux prix agricoles.
 30 septembre : chute du gouvernement Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury.

 9 octobre : victoire effective des parachutistes du général Massu à Alger sur le FLN. Fin des attentats terroristes dans la capitale algérienne.
 11 octobre : sortie en France du  film franco-italien Les Week-ends de Néron (Mio figlio Nerone), réalisé par Steno.
 16 octobre : le Prix Nobel de littérature est décerné à Albert Camus.
 Octobre : les membres de la Beat Generation Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky et Gregory Corso logent au « Beat Hotel », rue Gît-le-Cœur, à Paris.
 5 novembre : discours du nouveau président du conseil Félix Gaillard devant les députés. Il présente son programme politique, résumé en six points : assainissement de l'économie, lutte contre l'inflation, vote d'une loi-cadre pour l'Algérie, respect des engagements atlantiques de la France, poursuite de la construction européenne, réforme des institutions.
 6 novembre : début du gouvernement Félix Gaillard jusqu'au . Après cinq semaines de crise, le gouvernement de Félix Gaillard obtient la confiance de l'Assemblée nationale par 337 voix contre 173. À 38 ans, c'est le plus jeune chef de gouvernement depuis le Consulat de Bonaparte en 1800.
 7 novembre : loi autorisant l'avance de 250 milliards de francs de la Banque de France au budget de l'État. Le ministre des finances Pierre Pflimlin sollicite l'octroi de 650 millions de dollars du FMI à la France.
 10 novembre : accident des rampes de Saint-Paul à La Réunion.

 12 novembre :
 ouverture de l'Institut national des sciences appliquées de Lyon, grande école d'ingénieurs, sur l'ancien terrain militaire de la Doua, à Villeurbanne.
 l'Assemblée reconduit la loi sur les pouvoirs spéciaux en Algérie et en métropole (loi n° 57-1203 du 15 novembre 1957). Le conflit algérien devient un gouffre financier pour les dépenses de la nation (20 % du budget est affecté aux dépenses militaires en Algérie).

  4 décembre : sortie du film de Jack Pinoteau Le Triporteur avec Darry Cowl et Pierre Mondy.
 13 décembre : loi sur la compression des dépenses publiques. Elle permet 335 milliards de francs de recettes supplémentaires. La TVA est portée à 27,5 % sur certains produits et la TPS à 15 % sur certains services. Les droits de timbre sont majorés de 10 %. le prélèvement exceptionnel sur les bénéfices supplémentaires des entreprises passe à 45 % pour les celles qui ont passé des marchés en relation avec le conflit algérien. L'impôt sur les sociétés passe à 45,6 %.
 16-19 décembre : sommet de l'OTAN à Paris.
 28 décembre :
 décret instituant le Code du domaine de l'État, qui regroupe les dispositions législatives relatives aux biens appartenant aux personnes publiques.
 en Lorraine ferrifère, au sud de Thionville, la commune de Saint-Nicolas-en-Forêt est constituée. Elle est surtout composée de cités ouvrières.
 30 décembre : création de la Caisse autonome de consolidation des crédits à moyen terme, destinée à soutenir la consommation des ménages et des entreprises.

Naissances en 1957
 4 janvier : Joël Bats, joueur de football.
 11 janvier : Alain Lemercier, athlète.
 13 janvier : Bruno Baronchelli, joueur de football.
 18 janvier : Patrice Baudrier, comédien de doublage français. Il double notamment Jean-Claude Van Damme.
 12 mars : Patrick Battiston, joueur de football.
 3 avril : Yves Chaland, dessinateur. († ).
 25 mai : Véronique Augereau, actrice.
 1er juillet : Patrick Catalifo, acteur français.
 18 août : Carole Bouquet, actrice.
 12 octobre : Rémi Laurent, acteur. († ).
 3 décembre : Valérie Quennessen, actrice. († ).
 29 décembre : Serge Riaboukine, acteur français.

Décès en 1957
 19 février : Maurice Garin, cycliste, premier vainqueur du Tour de France. (°)
24 juillet : Sacha Guitry, dramaturge, acteur, réalisateur. (°)
 24 octobre : Christian Dior, grand couturier. (° )
 4 novembre : Joseph Canteloube, compositeur, musicologue et pianiste. (° )
 6 décembre : Robert Esnault-Pelterie, ingénieur aéronautique et inventeur. (° )

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 L'année 1957 dans le monde
 Chronologie de la France sous la IVe République

Notes et références


text:
Pigford Funding Questioned
Via Dan Riehl, I see that Michele Bachmann is saying that "Congress Should Investigate Pigford Before Funding It" with an illustration of money rolling off the printing press.
In September, I joined my colleagues Congressmen Steve King (IA-05) and Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) to call for a full investigation into the Pigford Settlement Case. As a constant advocate for careful use of taxpayer dollars, I was concerned when I learned that this Settlement has 94,000 claims of discrimination, even though only approximately 33,000 black farmers exist in the United States. I'm disappointed in the Senate's decision to disregard these serious allegations and instead vote to spend away billions of taxpayer dollars.
The Pigford settlement is part of a class action that said that the Federal Government, in the shape of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was discriminating against black farmers. I'm aware that such discrimination existed at the state and county levels in the South, before the age of civil rights, but even under FDR, the Federal Government was neutral on race. Since the Johnson Administration, the official policy of the federal government has been to discriminate in favor of blacks. (Sandra Day O'Connor said in 2003 that this would continue for at least another 25 years.) We've been covering Pigford here since 2006:
November 06, 2006 The Rest Of The Story: Fraud and Murder Follows "Black Farmer" Consent Decree
By Dennis Tuttle September 09, 2008 Obama Furthered "Black Farmer"Scam
By Dennis Tuttle July 29, 2010
The Fulford File, By James Fulford Sherrod, Obama, Pigford, Sullivan
Oh, and see also Pigford v. Glickman: 86,000 claims from 39,697 total farmers?, PajamasMedia.com, July 27, 2010.


It has only been six days since Hank arrived in our home and he is already changing so much. He is taller and sturdier. I swear when he got up this morning it looked like his hind legs grew but his front ones didn't. He looked like he was going to tip over. Then after a dentist appointment for Little Buddy and a few errands I returned home to see that his legs had evened out. He is a snuggler, well when he isn't biting us all and running around like a mad man. These craptastic photos are the best I could get today. We are in my office that does not get the best light. Hank is usually a blur or activity or has knocked himself out with exhaustion. In those rare moments of calm I run around like crazy getting things done. Little Buddy looks like a giant right now but will soon be the smallest again. These two are inseparable, Little Buddy is always on the floor being jumped on and either laughing or screaming. I tell him to get up on the sofa and away from Hank but he just goes back for more. I am sure Hank thinks Little Buddy is a puppy and likes to be nipped at, have his shirt pulled or to be jumped on in a surprise attack. Hopefully there will be more photo opportunities this weekend, as for now I am just enjoying that he is still.
Really who cares about a wrap when there are puppy photos to look at but here I go anyway. I finished this the afternoon Hank arrived. And as you can guess not one stitch has been made since that time. It is all work, Little Buddy, and Hank 24/7.
Once again I am calling this the Kaleidoscope Wrap. The circles are made with Verdant Gryphon Traveller, in the color Big Rock Candy Mountain, 2 skeins used for a total 560 yards.. The deep gold border is from Amano Yarns, AWA in the color Q'olle Flower, just over 2 skeins used for approximately, 700 yards. A total of 1,260 yards for this wrap. I used a size K hook to help make the fabric drape a bit more that using the hook size recommended by the yarn manufactures.
The pattern was sort of my own even though I am sure you could find hundreds of motifs just like this on Ravelry. There are 44 circles surrounded by a two row border, 4 motifs per row. The motifs were joined as I went along and at the end I did a simple double crochet granny border to surround the whole thing. Nothing fancy as I want this to be simple yet I hope elegant. I hope I don't look like I am wearing a blanket when and if I ever wear it.
The Verdant Gryphon yarn was a gift to me and the other I purchased at the end of last year for this project. A week ago I needed to buy one more skein to finish it off. I went into the yarn store and went directly to this yarn and did not allow myself to look around at anything else. I am determined to get more done with my stash this year. It shrank considerably the last two years and is still manageable but I would still like to work on it.
Okay computer time is over, we need to go outside, to do our business and go back in the crate before I go get Little Buddy from school in time to get all of his therapies. Have a great weekend my friends.
When I saw your heading I thought Hank had got hold of the Wrap and spoiled it!!! great relief I was wrong.What a partnership/friendship Hank and Little Buddy are going to be.
Your wrap is beautiful! Hank is adorable too!! I love that his name is Hank and that your family had no idea about the yarn connection. It will be wonderful for Buddy and Hank to grow up together won't it, and I am sure that Hank will do great things for Buddy and vice versa - as well as great things for you and the rest of your family too. Always a joy to read your news!
Puppy pix!!!!!! He is just so adorable-Bambi legs and all. Love that wrap. It's really very vintage looking. Perfect for a fancy afternoon tea. Goodness, can you tell I've been binge watching The Crown?
Meant to comment earlier about Hank he is adorable and will be the most loved pup around. Shawl is lovely. I'm sure he brings a lot of joy after a hard day, even if they are work, their little personalities negate all that.
Hank and Little Buddy, two little ones growing up together is going to stay in my mind and love that you are sharing their photos. Thanks for showing your finished Kaleidoscope Wrap, rich colors.
Hank is cute and looks like he wore himself out! Pups grow fast, just like kittens. Nice wrap and well done! I'm off to finish another book on Shutterfly that's free. Working on our anniversary celebration. found photos on my phone I need to put in it before it's all finished. Have a good weekend and be blessed!
Wow, he is just adorable and changing already. They grow so quickly and form wonderful relationships so quickly with the young ones. Little Buddy and Hank will become firm friends. Love the wrap, a wonderful creation for those cooler evenings.
The shawl is a wonderful accomplishment considering how busy you've been! So cuddly warm , too, is appropriate now! And the puppy is adorable!
Your wrap is just gorgeous, but may I be honest? I find Hank even more adorable! Just look at that face. He could barely keep his eyes open but was giving it a valiant try. I just love puppies. Even puppy breath! Ha! I can just see him and LB in my minds eye playing together. A little boys dream. I am so looking forward to watching them both grew up together. Have a lovely weekend my friend.
Your wrap is beautiful, and the colors are perfect. Love those Hank photos, and it's so fun to see LB with him.
Oh those puppy days and those sharp puppy teeth!!! I'm sure he will calm down quickly. He looks like a very BRIGHT puppy!
Your wrap is beautiful. That will be perfect for the autumn.
Nothing could be as precious as little Buddy, but Hank is a close second! I'm in love! And your wrap is gorgeous!
Awww, I don't think I'll ever have enough of Hank photos, such a cutie and yes, he does look to have grown already from the last lot of photos. The wrap is lovely, such pretty colours.
You are responsible for all the puppy/kitten, dog foster etc thoughts that I've had all week! Youmake me think that if yOU can find time for a puppy, I'm just being lazy. Such joy they bring. Maybe I'll go to the local shelter tomorrow and bring a donation so I can just peek at kittens.
We are at capacity here.
I love your shawl. Happy weekend. THank you for the posts at such a busy time in your life!!
The colors of your wrap are just incredible! Isn't it funny how quickly puppies grow and not sequentially either.
He's adorable! Don't you wish they could just stay puppies for a while and not grow so fast. Enjoy every crazy minute while it lasts and keep posting pics cuz you've got a lot puppy lovers out here living vicariously through you right now. ;-) Nice work on the wrap too!
Hank is such a great addition to your family! Love all the photos of him.
You are going to be very busy for a while! A little boy and puppy...few things are as cute or as exhausting, especially when you have both of them. All this frantic work will be worth it. I have a feeling that this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship!
Seeing these photos of Hank makes my heart melt! I can perfectly imagine him being wild and playful as my sister has got 2 dogs who are grown up but still very active!
The wrap is just pretty! I love the summery colors!
That is great Hank is growing well and is a healthy puppy. I love your wrap! very nice and love the colors.
It doesn't look like a blanket because of the shape you have made. It is too thin and long to be mistaken for a blanket. It is pretty obvious to me that it is a wrap and the colours are lovely. I look forward to seeing you wearing it.
Nice to read! And what e beautiful kaleidoscope wrap!


text:
Q: Is there ReadOnly REST API key to a MongoLab database, or is it always ReadWrite In MongoLab you generate an API key and then anyone can access your database using REST API.
Usual case is to use the REST api directly from Ajax clients.
But this gives anyone complete write access to your database, which is security hole.
Is there a way to generate an API key which will give READ ONLY access to the database

A: Currently, all API keys have read and write access to the databases associated with the user's account. If you need to expose a read-only API we recommend building your own with one of the many frameworks available like Express or Sinatra.