MECHANICSVILE - American author, salesman and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said: "Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful."
Well, the Hopewell football team which came into the season with an abundance of hope is about to find out exactly what Ziglar meant.
The senior-laden Blue Devils, responded to their season-opening loss to Cosby, by jumping out to a 12-0 lead at Lee-Davis. But even if the Hopewell start was sharp the Confederates showed they could finish the game off even sharper.
As a result, Lee-Davis scored the game's next 27 points and went on to beat visiting Hopewell 27-12 in a game that saw the Blue Devils move up and down the field but were stagnated by six turnovers.
Now, with an 0-2 record and a game against Brunswick on the horizon, Hopewell will get a chance to bring Ziglar's words to fruition.
"We just have to get back to work," said Hopewell second-year coach Ricky Irby. "I am a firm believer that coaching football is a lot more than about Xs and Os, but more about building character and mental fortitude.
"Right now we are facing adversity and it is how you respond to that adversity that displays your character."
The visiting Blue Devils broke to a 12-0 lead five minutes into the game but all that seemed to do was wake a sleeping giant. A sleeping giant that was physical at the line of scrimmage and started to dominate the run game.
The Confederates, on the other hand, were able to right the ship after suffering an opening season loss to Hermitage. They did it in three areas specifically. They were physical up front and allowed quarterback Israel Vaughan and running back Chris Simpson too much room to maneuver. They won the turnover battle by a 6-0 margin and they converted on special teams, something that has been hindering the Blue Devils.
In fact, the Capital District team was able to convert on all three two-point conversions and the Blue Devils could convert neither of their two attempts, or any of the three this season.
"I was hoping we would be able to rebound tonight," said Lee-Davis second year coach Zach Hayden. "Then, we found ourselves behind 12-0 and I started to worry. But the first touchdown was our fault as coaches, I missed an assignment and it cost us.
"But the thing is we beat a really good football team and a well-coached football team. I have gotten to know coach Irby over the past two years by working some camps and I really respect what he does."
The interesting part is both teams have storied football past programs and look on the verge of getting back to those days of greatness.
"We are still a young team," Hayden added. "So we are going to make some youthful mistakes. We lost 3 seniors from last year and have nine sophomores who play. So we are in the middle of working out some kinks but when we fell behind 12-0, I got to be honest, I was really worried."
As the national anthem was sung beautifully by a Lee-Davis student, it didn't take long for Hopewell to get going. In fact 2-1/2 minutes was the official time before the Blue Devils got on the board. After a 7-yard completion to Donovan Ennis from Hopewell senior quarterback and team leader Quanta Gholson, on the next play Dashon Bowen scampered 60 yards down to the Lee-Davis 1 yard line.
Three plays later, Gholson picked up a loose ball and carried it in for the touchdown. The point-after-attempt was blocked and the visitors took the 6-0 lead, their first lead of the season with 9:30 left to play in the first quarter.
After forcing the Confederates to a three-and-out on their first series, the Blue Devils converted a huge fourth-and-inches on their second possession to keep their second scoring major in motion. Although, Hopewell was hampered by a penalty and a couple of incompletions, the team confidently went for it again on fourth down.
Following a timeout, Gholson rolled out to his right and hit Darius Priest at the 9 yard line and Blue Devils were still in business. Gholson continued his hot hand and hit his fifth receiver of the game, Fuequon Claiborne for the 9-yard touchdown. Hopewell attempted the two-point conversion but the pass failed on the right side but the Central District team was pushing all of the right buttons.
However. the back-to-back scores appeared to get the home team motivated or at the very least pick up their tempo. Lee-Davis put together a 60-yard, four-play drive that was capped off by a 27-yard touchdown run by the senior quarterback Vaughan. The Confederates converted the two-point conversion play on a pass from Tyrell Eaton to Shane Reynolds and cut the deficit to four at 12-8.
The Capital District team followed that drive up with another impressive group of plays that was finalized by three straight carries by Eaton that accounted for 32 yards. The final one was a 3-yard run for the touchdown and Eaton, working behind the center on the two-point conversion, carried the ball in to give the Confederates their first lead of the game at 16-12. One they would never relinquish.
Hopewell was picking up big chunks of yardage in the passing game on the ensuing possession but Geoff Jeff Duke picked off Gholson and took the ball down to the Blue Devils 31 yard line for the Confederates.
Although the final five minutes of the first half were marred by couple of injuries and the Confederates got their second turnover of the game as Stephen Weirup came up with the loose ball with under two minutes left before the half.
Lee-Davis kicker Chris Minor hit a 32-yard field goal just before the two teams went into intermission and gave the home team a 19-12 advantage going into the locker room and the momentum shifted back toward the Hanover County team.
The two teams traded field position a couple of times early in the third quarter, before Zach Yates added an interception for Lee-Davis, its third turnover of the game, to set up what would be the only scoring in the second half.
Lee-Davis junior Jordon Prentiss, who had no carries in the first half, carried the ball into the end zone for the Confederates and the team was again good on the two-point conversion to take the 27-12 lead with 1:12 left in the third quarter.
Before the quarter was over, Lee-Davis had its third interception and fourth turnover as Eaton went high in the air to steal a pass from Gholson who was going deep.
Hopewell got the four-and-out stop, however, and proceeded to move the ball down the field. Once inside the Lee-Davis red zone, the team fumbled and Lee-Davis senior lineman Chris Crossman pounced on it for the home team's fifth turnover of the game.
"You are not going to beat many teams when you turn the ball over like that," Irby explained. "But we just didn't make the plays and we have to be more physical. We would seem to gain some momentum and then we would make another mistake and give it back."
But for the second straight time, the Hopewell defense led by Lamar Perry, Reggie Jackson and Priest, held Lee-Davis at bay and forced a punt. However, it was just too much to overcome in the fourth quarter against a very good football team and the Confederates were able to run out the clock.
"Even though we are 0-2, we absolutely feel like we will turn this around. We are a senior-laden team and anticipated facing some adversity, now it's time to respond.
"But you have to give hats off to coach Hayden and his [Lee-Davis] team. He does a good job and they have some big guys up front. They played their hearts out."
Thus, the Confederates out rushed the Blue Devils 228-140 with those big guys doing the pushing and toting.
Vaughan, a 6-1, 235-pounder, paced the Confederates with 93 yards on 18 carries while Simpson had 51 yards on eight carries. The home team got Eaton and Prentiss involved later and the pair had 47 and 37 yards rushing respectively.
With the win, Lee-Davis improved to 1-1 and will face Patrick Henry on Friday.
Hopewell: Bowen 16-119, Gholson 5-6, Taylor 2-2, Priest 1-13.
Lee-Davis: Vaughan 18-93, Simpson 8-51, Eaton 8-47, Prentiss 3-37.
Hopewell: Gholson 18-36 - 227, four interceptions.
Lee-Davis: Vaughan 7-14 - 64.
Hopewell: Ennis 2-11, Massenburg 1-30, Butler 2-34, Priest 1-15, Claiborne 1-9, Bowen 4-30, Daniel 2-14, Maddox 1-11, Taylor 4-54.
Lee-Davis: Eaton 4-53, Smith 1-7.


The Embassy is pleased to provide information about the National and International tender No. 01/2017 for the qualification and selection process of interested applicants for the granting of an exploration and subsequent concession of hydrocarbon exploitation permit of the Province of Tierra del Fuego.
Those interested in participating in this Bid may purchase the Terms and Conditions and the Technical Information Package at the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons of the Province of Tierra del Fuego until April 13, 2018, Monday through Friday from 9.00 at 4:00 p.m.
- Summary of the tender prepared by the Secretariat of Energy and Hydrocarbons of the province of Tierra del Fuego.


text:
By Matt Holden 150 0
Tags: jackpot, Lottery, National Lottery, National Lottery Results
The winning numbers from the National Lottery UK draw on Saturday December 30th were 33, 37, 42, 47, 55, 58 and the bonus ball was 34.
There was a jackpot of £3.2 million available and it will have been won by anyone that managed to match the six main numbers. Any player that matched at least two numbers will have won a free Lotto Lucky dip and those that matched at least three numbers will have won cash prizes. There were also 20 winners of the raffle tier 1 and one winner of the raffle tier 2.
Wednesday's draw produced a total of 1,019,928 winning players that shared prizes worth a total of £30,829,070. One player matched five main numbers to win £24,501,283. There were 66 players who matched five main numbers to win £1,128 each and 4,807 players that matched four of the main numbers to win £99 each. There were also 102,060 players that matched three of the main numbers to win £25 each.
Win Up to £3K in Unibet Casino's Lucky Links Tournament

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Immigration in Spanish
Immigration in Portuguese
Limited to Immigration Law
Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, Danielle Jones, and Victor Cuco, Ret.
Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, Danielle Jones, and Victor Cuco, Ret.Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, Danielle Jones, and Victor Cuco, Ret.Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, Danielle Jones, and Victor Cuco, Ret.
Consultation / Appointments
A Team in Your Corner
Permanent Visa / Immigrant Visa
Temporary Visa / Non-Immigrant Visa
At our law firm, we specialize in helping clients with Immigration. We focus on helping individuals who require Immigration Help, Work Permits, Asylum, Deportation Defense, U Visa.
Our office has staff that is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English.
Every day, our legal team discusses our immigration cases and best practices relating to Immigration Law. This means that no matter who you go with in our firm, the expertise of the whole team weighs in on your case.
Legacy of Success
Share the big news
Since 1978, Victor A. Cuco, Ret. practiced Immigration Law and later merged with our firm. We have a proven track record of success. We use that experience to help you down a path to the results you need. Schedule your immigration consultation today!
We have an office in Arlington, Virginia and Rockville, Maryland to assist clients in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
How do I become a U.S. citizen?
An individual born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen. A foreign national who wishes to be a U.S. citizen must go through the process of naturalization.
Miguel Palmeiro, Managing Partner
Miguel Palmeiro is an Immigration Attorney Washington, D.C. and Maryland. He manages a firm that takes pride in working closely with clients like you to help you get the personalized justice they deserve in immigration.
Danielle Jones, Senior Immigration Attorney
Danielle graduated from Utah State University with honors with a degree in English and Constitutional Studies. She learned to speak Spanish as a missionary on the streets of New York City where she developed a passion for helping immigrants. She studied law at Brigham Young University, where she acted as the Vice President of Students and was a Senior Editor of the Law Review. She supplemented her education with graduate coursework at New York University studying race and trauma. She has practiced immigration law since 2011 and has practiced in almost every immigration court in the United States, including appellate work before the Circuit Courts of Appeal and before the Attorney General of the United States. She currently works as the Supervisory Immigration Attorney for the Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro.
Ana Catita, Senior Law Clerk
Ana graduated with a Law Degree and completed her Master's dissertation in Business Law at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Centro Regional do Porto, Portugal. She received extremely high marks and the highest recommendations after competing with the Country's United States Consulate competition evaluating top legal talent. Ana has been working with the Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro first as an international intern, and now, assisting in cases ranging from Family Immigration Petitions and Business Immigration.
Eva Sanchez, Lead Legal Assistant
Michelle Mosqueda, Receptionist
Copyright © 2023 Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, Danielle Jones, Victor Cuco Ret., Immigration Lawyers - All Rights Reserved.


Burger Mix with Onion This is a great Burger Mix and has become our most popular mix by far. a standard burger mix but with the addition of dried chopped onion. As with all the mixes it is easy to make full instructions included with all the mixes. 340g pack enough for a 10lb batch of burgers.


text:
I Do Not Know Where the Children Are
By Désirée Zamorano 09/03/2019 09/02/2019
I do not know where the children are. I do not know where their parents are. I do not know how our government supports this horror. I do not know what I can do.
I reach out to Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). They are visiting the incarcerated undocumented. There are many private prisons in Southern California where the undocumented are held. I begin to visit the one run by the GEO Group, a privatized corrections and detention facility operator, in Adelanto, north of Victorville, 90 minutes from where I live.
The first time I visited Adelanto I met a middle-aged Mexican national who had lived in Arizona for 22 years. For an unpaid car registration, he was now entombed in California, far from his dying wife, his young daughter, and his lawyer, who couldn't practice in California.
I have visited prisons before. Along with a colleague, I brought a group of college students to work inside the Barry J. Neidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, CA for a semester. There, alongside mostly black and Latino young men, my students explored the prison-industrial complex. We researched how much the state of California spent on prisons. They were stunned to see it was more than the state spent on education.
The second time my colleague and I did this we went to Los Padrinos in Downey, to work with young women. We were warned against these young women; when we met them, their hues and personalities instantly reminded me of my friends from junior high. We connected and spent a semester working on self-expression. We were awed by their poetry and participation. A young Latina spoke of her child, born while she was incarcerated and now with a foster family. A young Samoan laughingly recounted the time her mother violently shaved half her head as punishment. I cried inside.
These experiences with the US prison system presented haunting similarities to what I see now in Adelanto. Through my visits at the detention center, I met a young, petite Guatemalan who had once only spoke K'iche' but now spoke fluent Spanish. I bore witness at her final asylum hearing, where she spoke simply and clearly about the corruption in her home town: the threats to her family by drug dealers; the murder of her brother as a follow-up to the threats; the sexual violence she suffered from a drug dealer. The Russian-born judge treated her brusquely and skeptically. She denied her asylum.
I bore witness later at her Rodriguez bond hearing. A Rodriguez bond (from the landmark judgment in Rodriguez v. Robbins) means that after six months of incarceration it was now up to the government to prove the undocumented is a danger to society or a flight risk. The Russian-born, Sessions-appointed judge set her bail at $30,000, a virtual middle finger to this young woman's dreams.
And yet, by the grace of many, many people — particularly Freedom for Immigrants — we got her out.
A few months ago I began visiting another young woman, this one from Venezuela, incarcerated in Adelanto. After meeting her for the first time I started calling lawyers — they were overloaded with clients. I kept calling, and eventually Public Counsel called me back. They sent a pro bono attorney to speak with her.
They took the case.
I kept visiting her.
I bore witness at her asylum hearing. Her testimony was emotionally compelling, and it informed me about what she had done in ways that she hadn't been able to share in our time together. The judge tried hard to conceal his yawns as she spoke. As she made her statement I saw a brave young woman who had stood up to injustice and corruption in Venezuela. At 22 years old, how did she manage that? Once the government began threatening her life, she fled. She ended her statement saying she put her faith in God and her life in the hands of the judge in front of her.
The session took three hours. These hearings are private. That got me thinking about what the law can get up to when nobody is watching. At the end, the judge informed us he would make his decision in writing within 30 days. I do not know what will happen next.
Why am I sharing this?
Because it's easy to feel hopeless and overwhelmed. It's easy to give up in advance, to avoid the misery of unmet expectations and curdled dreams. I read the news and want to drink vodka or watch Netflix, or crawl into bed and stay there, forever and ever.
But our actions matter.
All of us are more powerful than we realize.
I urge you to take actions that are meaningful to you. Even if it is as simple or as complex as one person at a time.
Since the writing of this essay, the US government has granted the young Venezuelan woman amnesty. She is free.
Photo by Stacey Swinehart Design, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.


text:
"""Tests for `tree_aggregation`."""
import math
import random
from absl.testing import parameterized

import tensorflow as tf
from tensorflow_privacy.privacy.dp_query import tree_aggregation

class ConstantValueGenerator(tree_aggregation.ValueGenerator):

  def __init__(self, constant_value):
    self.constant_value = constant_value

  def initialize(self):
    return ()

  def next(self, state):
    return self.constant_value, state

class TreeAggregatorTest(tf.test.TestCase, parameterized.TestCase):

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total4_step1', 4, [1, 1, 2, 1], 1),
      ('total5_step1', 5, [1, 1, 2, 1, 2], 1),
      ('total6_step1', 6, [1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2], 1),
      ('total7_step1', 7, [1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3], 1),
      ('total8_step1', 8, [1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 1], 1),
      ('total8_step2', 8, [2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 4, 6, 2], 2),
      ('total8_step0d5', 8, [0.5, 0.5, 1, 0.5, 1, 1, 1.5, 0.5], 0.5))
  def test_tree_sum_steps_expected(self, total_steps, expected_values,
                                   node_value):
    # Test whether `tree_aggregator` will output `expected_value` in each step
    # when `total_steps` of leaf nodes are traversed. The value of each tree
    # node is a constant `node_value` for test purpose. Note that `node_value`
    # denotes the "noise" without private values in private algorithms.
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator(node_value))
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
      self.assertEqual(expected_values[leaf_node_idx], val)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total16_step1', 16, 1, 1),
      ('total17_step1', 17, 2, 1),
      ('total18_step1', 18, 2, 1),
      ('total19_step1', 19, 3, 1),
      ('total20_step0d5', 20, 1, 0.5),
      ('total21_step2', 21, 6, 2),
      ('total1024_step1', 1024, 1, 1),
      ('total1025_step1', 1025, 2, 1),
      ('total1026_step1', 1026, 2, 1),
      ('total1027_step1', 1027, 3, 1),
      ('total1028_step0d5', 1028, 1, 0.5),
      ('total1029_step2', 1029, 6, 2),
  )
  def test_tree_sum_last_step_expected(self, total_steps, expected_value,
                                       node_value):
    # Test whether `tree_aggregator` will output `expected_value` after
    # `total_steps` of leaf nodes are traversed. The value of each tree node
    # is a constant `node_value` for test purpose. Note that `node_value`
    # denotes the "noise" without private values in private algorithms.
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator(node_value))
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
    self.assertEqual(expected_value, val)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total16_step1', 16, 1, 1),
      ('total17_step1', 17, 2, 1),
      ('total18_step1', 18, 2, 1),
      ('total19_step1', 19, 3, 1),
      ('total20_step0d5', 20, 1, 0.5),
      ('total21_step2', 21, 6, 2),
      ('total1024_step1', 1024, 1, 1),
      ('total1025_step1', 1025, 2, 1),
      ('total1026_step1', 1026, 2, 1),
      ('total1027_step1', 1027, 3, 1),
      ('total1028_step0d5', 1028, 1, 0.5),
      ('total1029_step2', 1029, 6, 2),
  )
  def test_tree_sum_last_step_expected_value_fn(self, total_steps,
                                                expected_value, node_value):
    # Test no-arg function as stateless value generator.
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=lambda: node_value)
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
    self.assertEqual(expected_value, val)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total8_step1', 8, 1),
      ('total8_step2', 8, 2),
      ('total8_step0d5', 8, 0.5),
      ('total32_step0d5', 32, 0.5),
      ('total1024_step0d5', 1024, 0.5),
      ('total2020_step0d5', 2020, 0.5),
  )
  def test_tree_sum_steps_max(self, total_steps, node_value):
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator(node_value))
    max_val = node_value * math.ceil(math.log2(total_steps))
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
      self.assertLessEqual(val, max_val)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total4_std1_d1000', 4, [1, 1, 2, 1], 1, [1000], 0.15),
      ('total4_std1_d10000', 4, [1, 1, 2, 1], 1, [10000], 0.05),
      ('total7_std1_d1000', 7, [1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3], 1, [1000], 0.15),
      ('total8_std1_d1000', 8, [1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 1], 1, [1000], 0.15),
      ('total8_std2_d1000', 8, [4, 4, 8, 4, 8, 8, 12, 4], 2, [1000], 0.15),
      ('total8_std0d5_d1000', 8, [0.25, 0.25, 0.5, 0.25, 0.5, 0.5, 0.75, 0.25
                                 ], 0.5, [1000], 0.15))
  def test_tree_sum_noise_expected(self, total_steps, expected_variance,
                                   noise_std, variable_shape, tolerance):
    # Test whether `tree_aggregator` will output `expected_variance` (within a
    # relative `tolerance`) in each step when `total_steps` of leaf nodes are
    # traversed. Each tree node is a `variable_shape` tensor of Gaussian noise
    # with `noise_std`.
    random_generator = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std, tf.TensorSpec(variable_shape), seed=2020)
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=random_generator)
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
      self.assertAllClose(
          math.sqrt(expected_variance[leaf_node_idx]),
          tf.math.reduce_std(val),
          rtol=tolerance)

  def test_cumsum_vector(self, total_steps=15):

    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator([
            tf.ones([2, 2], dtype=tf.float32),
            tf.constant([2], dtype=tf.float32)
        ]))
    tree_aggregator_truth = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator(1.))
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    truth_state = tree_aggregator_truth.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
      expected_val, truth_state = tree_aggregator_truth.get_cumsum_and_update(
          truth_state)
      self.assertEqual(
          tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state),
          tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(truth_state))
      expected_result = [
          expected_val * tf.ones([2, 2], dtype=tf.float32),
          expected_val * tf.constant([2], dtype=tf.float32),
      ]
      tf.nest.map_structure(self.assertAllEqual, val, expected_result)

class EfficientTreeAggregatorTest(tf.test.TestCase, parameterized.TestCase):

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total1_step1', 1, 1, 1.),
      ('total2_step1', 2, 4. / 3., 1.),
      ('total3_step1', 3, 4. / 3. + 1., 1.),
      ('total4_step1', 4, 12. / 7., 1.),
      ('total5_step1', 5, 12. / 7. + 1., 1.),
      ('total6_step1', 6, 12. / 7. + 4. / 3., 1.),
      ('total7_step1', 7, 12. / 7. + 4. / 3. + 1., 1.),
      ('total8_step1', 8, 32. / 15., 1.),
      ('total1024_step1', 1024, 11. / (2 - .5**10), 1.),
      ('total1025_step1', 1025, 11. / (2 - .5**10) + 1., 1.),
      ('total1026_step1', 1026, 11. / (2 - .5**10) + 4. / 3., 1.),
      ('total1027_step1', 1027, 11. / (2 - .5**10) + 4. / 3. + 1.0, 1.),
      ('total1028_step0d5', 1028, (11. / (2 - .5**10) + 12. / 7.) * .5, .5),
      ('total1029_step2', 1029, (11. / (2 - .5**10) + 12. / 7. + 1.) * 2., 2.),
  )
  def test_tree_sum_last_step_expected(self, total_steps, expected_value,
                                       step_value):
    # Test whether `tree_aggregator` will output `expected_value` after
    # `total_steps` of leaf nodes are traversed. The value of each tree node
    # is a constant `node_value` for test purpose. Note that `node_value`
    # denotes the "noise" without private values in private algorithms. The
    # `expected_value` is based on a weighting schema strongly depends on the
    # depth of the binary tree.
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.EfficientTreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator(step_value))
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
    self.assertAllClose(expected_value, val)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total4_std1_d1000', 4, 4. / 7., 1., [1000], 0.15),
      ('total4_std1_d10000', 4, 4. / 7., 1., [10000], 0.05),
      ('total7_std1_d1000', 7, 4. / 7. + 2. / 3. + 1., 1, [1000], 0.15),
      ('total8_std1_d1000', 8, 8. / 15., 1., [1000], 0.15),
      ('total8_std2_d1000', 8, 8. / 15. * 4, 2., [1000], 0.15),
      ('total8_std0d5_d1000', 8, 8. / 15. * .25, .5, [1000], 0.15))
  def test_tree_sum_noise_expected(self, total_steps, expected_variance,
                                   noise_std, variable_shape, tolerance):
    # Test whether `tree_aggregator` will output `expected_variance` (within a
    # relative `tolerance`) after  `total_steps` of leaf nodes are traversed.
    # Each tree node is a `variable_shape` tensor of Gaussian noise with
    # `noise_std`. Note that the variance of a tree node is smaller than
    # the given vanilla node `noise_std` because of the update rule of
    # `EfficientTreeAggregator`.
    random_generator = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std, tf.TensorSpec(variable_shape), seed=2020)
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.EfficientTreeAggregator(
        value_generator=random_generator)
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
    self.assertAllClose(
        math.sqrt(expected_variance), tf.math.reduce_std(val), rtol=tolerance)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('total4_std1_d1000', 4, 1., [1000], 1e-6),
      ('total30_std2_d1000', 30, 2, [1000], 1e-6),
      ('total32_std0d5_d1000', 32, .5, [1000], 1e-6),
      ('total60_std1_d1000', 60, 1, [1000], 1e-6),
  )
  def test_tree_sum_noise_efficient(self, total_steps, noise_std,
                                    variable_shape, tolerance):
    # Test the variance returned by `EfficientTreeAggregator` is smaller than
    # `TreeAggregator` (within a relative `tolerance`) after `total_steps` of
    # leaf nodes are traversed. Each tree node is a `variable_shape` tensor of
    # Gaussian noise with `noise_std`. A small `tolerance` is used for numerical
    # stability, `tolerance==0` means `EfficientTreeAggregator` is strictly
    # better than `TreeAggregator` for reducing variance.
    random_generator = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std, tf.TensorSpec(variable_shape))
    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.EfficientTreeAggregator(
        value_generator=random_generator)
    tree_aggregator_baseline = tree_aggregation.TreeAggregator(
        value_generator=random_generator)

    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    state_baseline = tree_aggregator_baseline.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
      val_baseline, state_baseline = tree_aggregator_baseline.get_cumsum_and_update(
          state_baseline)
    self.assertLess(
        tf.math.reduce_variance(val),
        (1 + tolerance) * tf.math.reduce_variance(val_baseline))

  def test_cumsum_vector(self, total_steps=15):

    tree_aggregator = tree_aggregation.EfficientTreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator([
            tf.ones([2, 2], dtype=tf.float32),
            tf.constant([2], dtype=tf.float32)
        ]))
    tree_aggregator_truth = tree_aggregation.EfficientTreeAggregator(
        value_generator=ConstantValueGenerator(1.))
    state = tree_aggregator.init_state()
    truth_state = tree_aggregator_truth.init_state()
    for leaf_node_idx in range(total_steps):
      self.assertEqual(leaf_node_idx, tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state))
      val, state = tree_aggregator.get_cumsum_and_update(state)
      expected_val, truth_state = tree_aggregator_truth.get_cumsum_and_update(
          truth_state)
      self.assertEqual(
          tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(state),
          tree_aggregation.get_step_idx(truth_state))
      expected_result = [
          expected_val * tf.ones([2, 2], dtype=tf.float32),
          expected_val * tf.constant([2], dtype=tf.float32),
      ]
      tf.nest.map_structure(self.assertAllClose, val, expected_result)

class GaussianNoiseGeneratorTest(tf.test.TestCase, parameterized.TestCase):

  def assertStateEqual(self, state1, state2):
    for s1, s2 in zip(tf.nest.flatten(state1), tf.nest.flatten(state2)):
      self.assertAllEqual(s1, s2)

  def test_random_generator_tf(self,
                               noise_mean=1.0,
                               noise_std=1.0,
                               samples=1000,
                               tolerance=0.15):
    g = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std, specs=tf.TensorSpec([]), seed=2020)
    gstate = g.initialize()

    @tf.function
    def return_noise(state):
      value, state = g.next(state)
      return noise_mean + value, state

    noise_values = []
    for _ in range(samples):
      value, gstate = return_noise(gstate)
      noise_values.append(value)
    noise_values = tf.stack(noise_values)
    self.assertAllClose(
        [tf.math.reduce_mean(noise_values),
         tf.math.reduce_std(noise_values)], [noise_mean, noise_std],
        rtol=tolerance)

  def test_seed_state(self, seed=1, steps=32, noise_std=0.1):
    g = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=noise_std, specs=tf.TensorSpec([]), seed=seed)
    gstate = g.initialize()
    g2 = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=noise_std, specs=tf.TensorSpec([]), seed=seed)
    gstate2 = g.initialize()
    self.assertStateEqual(gstate, gstate2)
    for _ in range(steps):
      value, gstate = g.next(gstate)
      value2, gstate2 = g2.next(gstate2)
      self.assertAllEqual(value, value2)
      self.assertStateEqual(gstate, gstate2)

  def test_seed_state_nondeterministic(self, steps=32, noise_std=0.1):
    g = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=noise_std, specs=tf.TensorSpec([]))
    gstate = g.initialize()
    g2 = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=noise_std, specs=tf.TensorSpec([]))
    gstate2 = g2.initialize()
    self.assertNotAllEqual(gstate.seeds, gstate2.seeds)
    for _ in range(steps):
      value, gstate = g.next(gstate)
      value2, gstate2 = g2.next(gstate2)
      self.assertNotAllEqual(value, value2)
      self.assertNotAllEqual(gstate.seeds, gstate2.seeds)

  def test_seed_state_structure(self, seed=1, steps=32, noise_std=0.1):
    specs = [tf.TensorSpec([]), tf.TensorSpec([1]), tf.TensorSpec([2, 2])]
    g = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=noise_std, specs=specs, seed=seed)
    gstate = g.initialize()
    g2 = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=noise_std, specs=specs, seed=seed)
    gstate2 = g2.initialize()
    self.assertStateEqual(gstate, gstate2)
    for _ in range(steps):
      value, gstate = g.next(gstate)
      value2, gstate2 = g2.next(gstate2)
      self.assertAllClose(value, value2)
      self.assertStateEqual(gstate, gstate2)

  @parameterized.named_parameters(
      ('increase', range(10), 1),
      ('decrease', range(30, 20, -2), 2),
      ('flat', [3.0] * 5, 1),
      ('small', [0.1**x for x in range(4)], 4),
      ('random', [random.uniform(1, 10) for _ in range(5)], 4),
  )
  def test_adaptive_stddev(self, stddev_list, reset_frequency):
    # The stddev estimation follows a chi distribution. The confidence for
    # `sample_num` samples should be high, and we use a relatively large
    # tolerance to guard the numerical stability for small stddev values.
    sample_num, tolerance = 10000, 0.05
    g = tree_aggregation.GaussianNoiseGenerator(
        noise_std=1., specs=tf.TensorSpec([sample_num]), seed=2021)
    gstate = g.initialize()
    for stddev in stddev_list:
      gstate = g.make_state(gstate.seeds, tf.constant(stddev, dtype=tf.float32))
      for _ in range(reset_frequency):
        prev_gstate = gstate
        value, gstate = g.next(gstate)
        print(tf.math.reduce_std(value), stddev)
        self.assertAllClose(tf.math.reduce_std(value), stddev, rtol=tolerance)
        self.assertNotAllEqual(gstate.seeds, prev_gstate.seeds)

if __name__ == '__main__':
  tf.test.main()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Da Vinci Waldorf School (previously Water's Edge Waldorf School) is more than a school for my two children. It is a place where we have found a community of friends and teachers with whom we share a passion for academic excellence in an environment that preserves the children s innocence, accentuates their creativity and imagination, and inspires a profound reverence for human kind and nature. We embarked on this journey three years ago after informing ourselves about Waldorf education. We are confident that this unique and holistic educational approach is what our children need. I often think and have heard from other parents at Water s Edge how lucky our children are for being immersed in such a magical and unique program. Many have said that they wish they had had the opportunity to attend a Waldorf school. Everyday I witness how creative and imaginative my daughters have become. They often play and invent or retell stories and songs using simple objects (silks, rocks, wood, water, leaves and soil) both indoors as well as outdoors. We as parents are committed to help and guide our children to develop their full potential in life and face the world with an open mind and heart. This school and its community are without a doubt are best allies to achieve this priceless goal.
In preschool, my daughter got to bake bread, garden, sew, finger knit, spend time in nature and listen to wonderful stories told by the teacher or presented in puppet plays. She ate nutritious snacks that she helped to prepare. She built imaginary worlds with other children and developed excellent social skills. At the time, I did not realize that all of this was actually designed to prepare her academically for a successful grade school experience. She is now in 5th grade at Da Vinci Waldorf School (previously Water's Edge Waldorf School). She is learning German and Spanish, violin and recorder, and she is even knitting socks on 5 needles! Besides this, she is studying ancient civilizations, botany and geometry. She s a happy child who writes, sings, and performs with confidence, and loves learning. The Waldorf philosophy of 'the right thing at the right time really pays off. I am so thankful to have found Water s Edge!
My children have been attending this school for three years. They are both healthy, happy, and excited to go to school each day. The grade school curriculum meets their developmental needs. While reading was later than friends in public school, my oldest went right into chapter books within a few months of independent reading. The music and art programs give my boys a way to be creative which they love.
I am a parent of two children. One currently in 2nd grade and the other in Kindergarten. My wife has been a strong proponent of a Waldorf education for a long time but my path was slower. I am the owner of a software company and I am a product of Public Schooling. We also live in Barrington where the schools are excellent. As much as I loved Waldorf for my kids in Pre-K and Kindergarten, I thought public school would be a better option come first grade.I ended up reversing paths and am sending my kids to Waldorf for the grades as well. I couldn't be happier with my decision and I am starting to see the benefits of a Waldorf education. Specifically, I see a passion and love of learning in my children that just seems to grow and grow. Because a Waldorf education is so hands on and experiential, I see my kids soaking in the lessons and then creating on their own. Example: My son has recently become an avid reader. But, beyond just reading, he is now also drawing his own pictures for the book series he fell in love with and he is also writing and binding little books for us to read.I've head stats thrown around that 80% of the jobs our kids will have, don't yet exist today. While that number seems high to me, there is a strong point here all the same. We don't know what the future holds. I want my children to always have a thirst for knowledge and I want them to be able to grow and think and create for themselves. With these skills, they will make good decisions and be an asset to any team.
My now high school junior had a wonderful experience at Da Vinci from Pre-k through 8th grade. She was very well rounded and confident when entering public high school. Two of her AP teachers noted in conferences how inquisitive and thoughtful her approach to learning science and history was. While many things create the success of students, I believe this school was instrumental in forming her attitude, connectedness, and critical thinking skills.
My daughter attended Da Vinci Waldorf School (formerly Water's Edge Waldorf School) from preschool through 8th grade. She now attends our local public high school. She loved school at Da Vinci and never wanted to miss a single day. She took this love of learning with her to high school, and she was very well-prepared. At Da Vinci, she learned two foreign languages, learned to play several instruments, sing, and write music, learned to knit, speak before an audience, debate, act, paint, sculpt. All this in addition to receiving an excellent classical education in history, the sciences, math, and English that prepared her for the honors track in high school. I cannot say enough about this wonderful school.
Author Catherine Steiner-Adair states in her book, The Big Disconnect, "New research on school readiness at five years old and on how to evaluate a preschool points heavily to the quality of relationships a child has in preschool as more important than what he or she learns there academically." My children have these quality relationships with their teachers at DVWS and they thrive with the love and care. Our entire family does. Thanks for all the love and care!
My daughter is a living example of the quality results this school produces. After struggling in 3 public and private schools, she entered Da Vinci in the 7th grade. She graduated a confident and mature student ready to enter high school. The individual, one-on-one attention she received is unparalleled. I strongly encourage any parent considering private education to visit Da Vinci and take a tour. This is the gem of an educational experience you've been searching for.
The Da Vinci Waldorf School as made such a difference in my life and the lives of my children. As a mother other of a second, fourth and fifth grader at the school, the Da Vinci Waldorf school has: provided a place for my three children to thrive, express their creativity and learn how to learn; allowed them to learn without many of the pressures of a public school environment, giving them an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them; found ways of teaching to each unique personality allowing each to learn and grow; enabled our family to enjoy more quality time after school and on the weekends without the pressure of excessive homework and test preparation; incorporated art, movement and music into all areas of learning and infused it into our daily lives extended the notion of family and commitment into their experience of education, thereby enhancing their connectedness to each other and their living world. I highly recommend the Da Vinci Waldorf School.
This is a wonderful place. My children love going to school every day and cry on the last day. It gives them so much more than just an education. My children are turning into the kind of young adults that I only though happened in dreams.
Our daughter has been attending Da Vinci Waldorf for 4 years since kindergarten. She has had the most incredible experience from the very beginning. The integration of both the sciences and arts has provided our daughter the opportunity to learn and express herself through creative thinking and experience based learning. The teachers are incredible, passionate and extraordinary.
This is a little school with a big heart! Excellent service learning opportunities for my children, theater productions, academically engaging experiences, and a music program that has enlivened my children. The love their peers and teachers.
Wonderful, the teachers not only educate, they are helping my child into a loving, caring, and thoughtful young adult.
Humble school. Teachers care about the students and there's a lot of parent involvement. Every teacher takes time to get to know all the parents, regardless of the class. This school develops strong character in its students, like integrity, compassion and respect. This school teaches students to help and respect one another. They bake bread and cook soup, they serve each other and help each other clean up. Teachers at this school are effective. My daughter loves her teacher. Teachers made us feel welcome. All kids are treated well.
The Waldorf curriculum is the backbone of this school. Rather than a method that can become popular or temporary, this school is based on the development of the child. Every lesson and activity is chosen based on the child's developmental readiness. This allows young children to learn through play and social interaction.
I am the owner of a technology company and the parent of two preschool children at Da Vinci Waldorf and I can't say enough great things about the teachers and the environment. My kids absolutely love going to school every morning. Unlike many schools, the kids spend a lot of time outside both on the huge playground and going on walks in the woods. I can see firsthand, their coordination and wills growing stronger and stronger. The teachers truly care about each and every child and it shows. There is a great rhythm to the day which allows the children to become active participants in all aspects including cleanup time. I also like that 4, 5 and 6 year old are in class together. The 6 year olds are generally the leaders in the class and set great examples for the younger kids. I can't say enough good things about this school. In a world where school is becoming more and more synonymous with trying to stuff more and more information into a kids' brain, Waldorf offers a nice balance, focusing on a child's mind, body and soul.
We first came to parent-child and early childhood for the warm, rich, nurturing environment. We've stayed for the grades because my children get to learn in a way that is appropriate for where they're at developmentally. They have outside play at least twice a day, music and art are a permanent part of the curriculum, math and science are taught in a way that my child understands. The faculty and staff know and take a personal interest in the success and well being of my children. We just love it!
The Waldorf approach is the best way to educating children, especially in today's turbulent times. My son is getting all the essentials of a basic education -- the three Rs -- plus more. Music, drama, painting, handwork, two foreign languages, and the ability to think creatively and solve problems. In a world that's changing ever so fast, these children will be the best equipped to deal with it calmly and strongly. Da Vinci Waldorf School (previously Water's Edge Waldorf School) is doing a wonderful job of preparing these children to solve tomorrow's crises.
This school is remarkable. My daughter attended Water's Edge, re-named Da Vinci Waldorf School, from preschool through 8th grade. She is now a sophomore at our local public high school, and she could not have been better prepared. She took so much from her Waldorf education with her into high school, including an abiding love of learning, the ability to make connections between different subjects and ideas, deep and broad curiosity about the world, and strong communication and people skills. She is an accomplished artist, writer, and actor, as well as a versatile musician who can play several instruments, sing, and write music. She can speak both German and Spanish, and is an honor student in English, math, science, and history. Da Vinci Waldorf also gave her confidence and authenticity born of real experience doing real things---building an earth oven, sewing clothing, farming, serving in a soup kitchen---that have helped build her strong character and caring heart. Highly recommend this wonderful school.
My eighth grade daughter, who has grown up in this school from our early days in the parent-child classes, just returned from a "Vision Quest" outdoor adventure experience with her fellow eighth grade students. This school has kept her intellectually engaged, artistically inspired, and has taught her the value of service to our world through the varied service learning projects. Nowhere else, nowhere, will a child have such a rich experience of living and learning! From the exceptional early childhood kindergarten program, which gave her a rich base of outdoor and creative play, storytelling, and practical activities, to the eight grade school years of class plays, wonderful class trips, engaged learning, challenges where she needed challenges and encouragement when she needed support, our journey has been outstanding. She will venture into public high school a stronger, more confident young woman. After fourteen years as a public grade school teacher, this independent, non-government school won my heart. I knew it was a place striving to do what is best for children, and it has exceeded my expectation and stood the test of time with my family.
My son started attending Da Vinci when he was three. He will be in the fifth grade next year. Finding this school was a life-changer for him (and for me.) We were fortunate to begin in the Parent-Child program, which helped me to gradually let go, while allowing him to ease into a school setting over time, at his own pace. It was exactly what we both needed. Though my intention when we began our journey at Da Vinci was to send him there only for preschool, I soon couldn't imagine sending him anywhere else for Kindergarten or grade school. This school is different, in all the right ways. The Preschool/Kindergarten setting is incredibly nurturing, safe, calm, with lots of play, lots of outside time, and a focus on letting a child be a child. In the grades, I love how the children learn by DOING. They don't simply hear or read about things, they roll up their sleeves and they DO it, whether it's go to the farm, perform community service, built a clay oven, build a structure while learning about homes, dig a hole, plant a garden, and so much more. It has been an amazing journey as a parent to see my child blossom into a confident, capable young man in an environment that focuses on freeing him of impediments and blockades to success. You won't find any standardized tests here. You will find lots of music, art of all kinds integrated into every subject, and a set of teachers that meet each child where he is and truly teach him from the inside out. We couldn't be happier!
We have been thrilled with the experience our four children have had at Da Vinci Waldorf School. The focus at DVWS is on educating the whole child, and unlocking their own desire to learn and explore the world. There is a focus on integrating various types of learning, including outdoor play, handwork, foreign language and music, along with traditional courses like science, literature and history, that causes children to be engaged, balanced, and happy. My kids love to go to school every day, and I think that is the best testament you can give for any school. My oldest, a graduate of DVWS, is now a flourishing junior at Barrington High School and is successfully pursuing his dream of attending a top engineering school after graduation. All my children are avid readers and learners that appreciate the power and beauty of the written word, love the outdoors and are comfortable and adaptable in life. For parents that feel that their children could be better learners and happier people in a different school system, Da Vinci Waldorf School offers a compelling option.
My son is attending Da Vinci Waldorf School for his second year and I can honestly say I am a fan.The teachers and administrative staff have made us feel right at home and have helped my son acclimate to the Waldorf ways (we didn't start Waldorf education early on). It has been a lot of fun watching my son's imagination grow and his ability to tell stories verbally or through pictures is a joy to see. Sure it costs more than public school but I gladly pay it for this amazing education that he will continually grow upon for years to come.
Great program run by competent and caring staff. I have two boys here and I can honestly say this year has been the best.
As a parent of a Da Vinci Waldorf School current student and one graduate, I am thrilled with the education my children have received. The intimate classroom setting allows for personal student/teacher interaction. My children are being educated in a manner encompassing all aspects of their being. Music, art, handwork, and theater as well as the sciences and math are core Waldorf curriculum subjects. Da Vinci Waldorf School is doing an amazing job in preparing my children for a future where critical thinking is requisite. I highly recommend Da Vinci to any parent considering an alternative education.
If you want your child to have a REAL learning experience, Da Vinci Waldorf is your school!
Our daughter has been attending Da Vinci Waldorf for 4 years. She has had the most incredible experience from the very beginning. The integration of both the sciences and arts has provided our daughter the opportunity to learn and express herself through creative thinking and experience based learning. The teachers are incredible, passionate and extraordinary.
My daughter started at Water's Edge in the Parent Child class when she was two. She is now in middle school at Water's Edge, and I can see the positive results of giving her more time in the early childhood years for play. This has really allowed her imagination to flourish and made her a creative thinker. She is now an avid reader, is learning two foreign languages, plays several instruments, is an accomplished writer and artist, and brings what she has learned in the sciences and history into her everyday conversation. This school has small class sizes, excellent teachers, and a warm community. I recommend it highly.
Our children have attended Da Vinci Waldorf School for 5 years. Their experiences have inspired them to excel academically and have a real love of learning. They have been taught Spanish and German since Grade 1, been encouraged to play outside, been musicians since they were in preschool and have a reverence for life that I don't see in our culture as often as I wish. If you want to have your children exceed and love school- this is the place.
Why did we choose a Waldorf education? …. for the truth and beauty and results of the life-long benefits it will bring to our children. Cultures have always taught through the arts, movement, activities, and stories; it is how learning comes alive and social skills take hold and flourish. Waldorf education remains rich with academics, arts & music, socialization and respect for our natural world. A great education is one of the most powerful and important gifts we can give our children – it is a legacy.
We have 2 children in the grades and 1 in preschool and are so pleased with the education and environment. The children are happy, content and want to go to school each day! The teachers are wonderful in who they are and as educators. I love recommending this school; it is the type of education I wish I could have had myself!
My children have been attending DVWS for three years. They are healthy, happy, and excited to go to school each day. The grade school curriculum meets their developmental needs. While reading was later than friends in public school, my oldest went right into chapter books within a few months of independent reading. The music and art programs give my boys a way to be creative, which they love.
Gerson A. and Christine G.
Da Vinci Waldorf is more than a school for my two children. It is a place where we have found a community of friends and teachers with whom we share a passion for academic excellence in an environment that preserves the children's innocence, accentuates their creativity and imagination, and inspires a profound reverence for human kind and nature. We embarked on this journey four years ago after informing ourselves about Waldorf education. We are confident that this unique and holistic educational approach is what our children need. I often think and have heard from other parents at Da Vinci Waldorf how lucky our children are for being immersed in such a magical and unique program. Many have said that they wish they had had the opportunity to attend a Waldorf school. Everyday I witness how creative and imaginative my daughters have become. They often play and invent or retell stories and songs using simple objects (silks, rocks, wood, water, leaves and soil) both indoors and outdoors. We as parents are committed to help and guide our children to develop their full potential in life and face the world with an open mind and heart. This school and its community are without a doubt our best allies to achieve this priceless goal.
Our children are very happy at this school. The class sizes are small, the programs appropriate, and teachers are inspiring. The preschool/kindergarten is 4 hours which allows me enough time to return home or run errands. Waldorf education is based on a philosophy that children learn and develop best in a warm, nurturing and natural environment. Academics are subtle in the preschool- no ABC's posted up or videos playing- but real life activities that require use of the body and mind. Children are daily counting place settings, using rhyming and movement, hearing and repeating the rich vocabulary of song and story. Children have plenty of time for pretend play and outdoor play.
"My daughter graduated from this school. It's not an exaggeration to say that enrolling her at Da Vinci in the middle of 4th grade changed the course of her life and the life of our entire family. She had NOT been getting what she desperately needed and hungered for from the local public schools despite ALL my involvement and pro-active work. At Da Vinci Waldof School, creative and independent thinkers are encouraged and rigorous academics are applied. Today I'm glad to report my daughter has grown into a strong, smart, motivated, caring, creative-thinker, problem-solver. Her future is branching off into many compassionate paths. It's wonderful to watch her infectious excitement about which way to go next. She has a confidence that goes way beyond her age. I know it's in part because of the foundation supplied her via her excellent Waldorf education."
Da Vinci Waldorf School is a wonderful little school in Wauconda, IL. It was a difficult decision to move our 3 children out of public school, but we have never regretted it. The children are much more relaxed and creative. They actually like to learn.
I cannot say enough good things about the well rounded education my kids are receiving at Da Vinci. Waldorf has instilled such creativity and a deep love of learning in both of my children. They are not just learning facts and numbers. They are learning how to learn and how to think and do and create as well.
Da Vinci Waldorf is an amazing school!!! I have children from age 11 to 26 and I have been involved in many different schools. Never have I wanted to turn back the clock so that I could start all over until now. The way children are taught in this wonderful school blows me away!!! They are truly teaching the whole child.
My son is in the 3rd grade at Da Vinci Waldorf and is new to the school this year. He has transitioned wonderfully. He enjoys school and looks forward to going each day. At the end of the day he gets in the car and seems as "fresh" as he did when I dropped him off in the morning. He is not tired or overwrought and seems genuinely happy. I am very glad we chose Da Vinci Waldorf for him, and we are planning on sending our two daughters next year. Thanks, Da Vinci Waldorf, for doing what you do!


text:
Photographic Tours
Elephant Activities
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Star Beds
There's no place on Earth quite like Madagascar. It's the fourth largest island in the world, and best known for its incredible array of endemic wildlife. Since the island was cast adrift from the African mainland 165 million years ago, many unique species have evolved independently of their ancestors – among them the lemur.
Ringed by golden beaches, blessed with a stunning range of habitats, and rich with the culture of the ancient Malagasy people, Madagascar makes for an enthralling destination.
When it comes to biodiversity, the island is one of a kind, with a glut of national parks providing visitors with a cross-section of the island's many ecosystems.
Antananarivo, or Tana, as the Malagasy generally refer to their capital, is worth a day or two of exploration for its magical mix of French colonial architecture and tropical backdrop. The Zoma market, one of largest in the world, is a must-see, as is the Rova (Royal Village).
Just three hours or so from the capital is the Antasibe-Mantadia National Park, whose lush montane forest is famed as the home of the yodelling Indri, a large tailless lemur that resembles a panda thanks to its black and white fur. Another popular national park is Montagne d'Ambre, situated at the northern tip of the island and criss-crossed by broad trails which cut through the temperate montane forest.
Most popular of all is Perinet, where some of Madagascar's best guides are on hand to help track down the nine species of lemur found within the park. The Berenty Reserve is the best place to experience Madagascar's famous 'spiny forest', a peculiar world of giant cactus-like trees that provide a refuge for ring-tailed lemurs.
One of Madagascar's newest and most challenging national parks is Marojejy, where adventurous travellers are rewarded with a showcase of biodiversity. A wide range of different habitats here support dozens of unusual species of reptiles, birds and amphibians, along with the rare silky sifaka lemur.
For the largest remaining tracts of virgin rainforest, head for the Masoala National Park, a tropical wonderland of hanging vines, giant-buttressed rainforest trees and babbling brooks that run down to white-sand beaches.
Local Weather & Useful Info
Malagasy (related to Malay) and French
Best combined with
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Antananarivo via Johannesburg
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Malaria, bilharzia, hepatitis
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Front Slider
Minister's Suspension Triggers Integrity Quagmire For Liberia's Ruling Party
Front SliderPolitics
By admin Last updated May 21, 2018
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Monrovia – Mulbah Morlu, the chair of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) wasted no time in hailing the indefinite suspension of Jemima Wolokollie as Deputy Minister/Small Business at the Ministry of Commerce.
In a statement Mr. Morlu described the suspension as a timely testament to President George Manneh Weah's "laudable commitment to ensuring a disciplined, coherent & responsible democratic leadership, unseen before in the nation's governance experience."
The ruling party chair went on to say that Wolokolie's actions was preposterously unbecoming of a public servant and encouraged her to take self-corrective measures to realign herself to meet the President's high standards for public service.
Origin of a Saga
Wolokollie ignited a social media firestorm last week when she called a news conference in which she accused the minister, Professor Wilson Tarpeh of conniving with shady foreign businesses in the country at the detriment of Liberian-owned businesses.
Wolokollie stated that Minister Tarpeh was antagonizing her because of her stance against his shady dealings that contravene the government's pro-poor agenda. "I'm asking my boss for him to open the market for Liberians to be able to do rice, for Liberians to be able to do petroleum, for Liberians to be able to bring in onions, and he has refused," she alleged. "It is very disturbing; why is Professor Trapeh giving me problem?"
Wolokollie added that Minister Tarpeh was blocking all her efforts to prioritize the interest of Liberianization – a policy that provides exclusive trade and commerce privileges for Liberian entrepreneurs – and does not want her to succeed in her functions.
While many embraced the minister's stance others questioned her decision to go public instead of addressing the matter with her boss behind closed doors.
This may have triggered the president's decision Saturday to give Wolokollie a breather.
The President emphasized in a statement at the weekend, the need for all deputies to accord the highest respect and courtesy to their leaders; and refrain from taking internal disputes and/or disagreements to the public space for redress. President Weah further encouraged all subordinates to practice utmost professionalism in conducting their duties and the need to follow the proper channel in addressing disputes with their leaders.
Divided Court of Public Opinion
While the ruling party and some of the President's supporters have been hailing his move, critics say, the President should instead be haling one of the few high-profile women in his administration for trumpeting his pledge not to marginalized Liberian-owned businesses. "As we open our doors to all foreign direct investments, we will not permit Liberian-owned businesses to be marginalized. We cannot remain spectators in our own economy," the President trumpeted in his inaugural address in January as he promised to prioritize the interests of Liberian-owned businesses and offer programs to help them become more competitive. "We will offer services that international investors seek as partners."
The President's pledge drew immediate praise from the Liberian Business Association which said in a statement that it was excited by pronouncement.
Lebanese Nationals Reportedly Gains Monopoly over Export of…
Liberia: Mid-Level Central Bank Staff to be Implicated in…
Liberia: The Council of Patriots Organizing Another Round of…
LIBA proclaimed: "As the apex body established by an Act of the Liberian Legislature in 1993, to work with Government and act as a catalyst for the development of widespread Liberian-owned business sector, as well as to work with international institutions and governments in helping to identify serious and credible Liberian entrepreneurs who may need to benefit from certain programs to develop their capacity, LIBA stands ready to intensify constructive engagement with the Government to ensure this is actualized."
Supporters of the suspended minister say she is being wrongfully ridiculed for raising a red flag on one of the presidents' major inaugural pledge.
President did not mince words shortly after the results of the 2017 presidential elections were announced when he declared that transforming the Lives of all Liberians would be the single mission that focuses on my presidency. "Over the next few days, we will assemble the government that is committed to fighting the ideas that inspired our campaign and dedicating our time to empowering the Liberian people," he said to a rousing applause from the audience at the conference hall table."
Although the appointments so far have been widely criticized, Wolokollie has been viewed as one of the few bright spots.
Some insiders say prior to her suspension, Deputy Minister Wolokollie enjoyed the confidence of the President but may have annoy him by going public, particularly to the media with whom the President has had a rugged start since assuming office.
A Similarity with Jewel?
Wolokollie's suspension also comes in the wake of recent tension between the President and his vice Jewel Howard Taylor bordering some similarities.
Jewel was forced to go public with an apology to the President over what she described as her constant travels without informing him, a move she says contributed to some misunderstanding between her and her boss.
While proclaiming that the situation has been resolved, the vice president proclaimed that she is the face of women on the continent, especially since Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left power and would, therefore, have to make representations on their behalf.
Some political observers say both women crossed the line for a president who has a thin-skinned to public ridicule of himself and his administration, especially in the media.
'Liberians Will be the Judge'
Wolokollie's decision to go public however may have been the hand the rocked a once-promising relationship with the president with her future now reportedly at his mercy.
Her immediate boss, Professor Tarpeh has been mum over the allegations raised claiming that it would be giving relevance to unsubstantiated claims from one of his principal deputies.
But many of Wolokollie's supporters are hoping that the saga doesn't end with her suspension that the President, despite his anger over her decision to go public will probe the concerns raise, at least to appease his critics and those holding he and his government's feet to the fire on graft and his pledge to curb it.
For Wolokollie who declined to speak on this issue when contacted Sunday, appears to be standing her ground as she posted on her personal Facebook page: "I am proud of my integrity, and what I stand for. The people of Liberia will be the judge, but the most powerful judge is God whom I believe we all claimed to know."
Ex-Liberian President Taylor Requests New Lawyer Amid Prison Ill-Treatment Claims
Cllr. David Jallah, Prominent Liberian Lawyer, Block 13 Probe Figure is Dead
Lebanese Nationals Reportedly Gains Monopoly over Export of Liberia's Cocoa
Liberia: Mid-Level Central Bank Staff to be Implicated in US$25M Mop-Up…
Liberia: The Council of Patriots Organizing Another Round of #SavetheState Protest
Liberia: 'House Supports Salary Cut for Lawmakers, But…' – Deputy
Liberia: Mid-Level Central Bank Staff to be Implicated in US$25M Mop-Up Investigation?


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Q: OS on SSD other programs on HDD, performance? I want to setup a new PC where in only the OS is installed on SSD. All other programs will be installed on the HDD. I'm doing this to reduce cost since bigger SSDs are more expensive.
My question is, will all the programs not benefit from SSD in terms of performance? And, the only benefit I will have is fast OS boot time?

A: Stuff loaded from SSD will be more responsive. This includes:

*

*OS boot

*OS utilities (Windows Explorer etc.)

*temporary files

*hibernation file (hiberfil.sys)

*pagefile

*program settings and caches (AppData)

*OS updates

*opening documents (unless you move them to the other drive)

*…and more

Stuff loaded from HDD will be less responsive.

*

*Program start times

*Load times for files stored on other drives

TL;DR: Stuff on system partition will run faster.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


UK specification, right hand drive new vehicle. The Globecar Globescout is a top German made camper van with a level of fit out and quality that is unsurpassed in the industry. The Campers4Hire Globecar is brand new on the fleet for 2018.
Its 5.99 m length is easily manageable around town or in car parks, plus its large fixed transverse bed has a cavernous storage area for outdoor kit underneath. Also, being German the bed is over 6 ft 4 in in length - longer than any transverse bed British camper van. A totally luxury camper with all the best of German Euro Spec camper design.
With a new price of around £55,000 the Globescout really is a top quality camper van with all the facilities you'd expect to make your holiday or break comfortable and luxurious. This one features fixed double bed, four seat dining area, kitchen area with sink, two ring hob, fridge freezer, TV with DVD, wind-out Fiamma awning, central heating and a wash room incorporating wash basin, toilet and shower.


We can design, supply and fit kitchens of all shapes and sizes, project managing the work for minimum disruption.
From an initial site survey, through planning and design, delivery and installation, we use our experience to ensure everything runs smoothly, and you get the kitchen you want.
Not everybody needs our design and supply service, if you want to design and purchase your kitchen yourself and just need it fitting, we will take care of that, and install your kitchen to the highest standards.
With many satisfied customers, and experience of standard, luxury and unusual designs, we will work with you to install your kitchen as you want it.
Whether it is replacing the taps or a installing completely new kitchen, we will manage the whole project in a fully controlled and coordinated manner, and provide you with a single point of contact while we coordinate all of the tradesmen, suppliers and deliveries as required.
In any household it is vital that the kitchen remains in use throughout any updates, and we will work with you to plan the project so that you can continue to use your kitchen for as long as possible and with minimum inconvenience.
We have been establish for over 8 years and have many hundreds of satisfied customers. We are proud to have so many references and you can see just some of the kitchen refurbishment references by clicking here.
For every project, we conduct site surveys and produce prompt and detailed estimates. We schedule the work and tradesmen appropriately and aim to make our service a pleasant experience for all concerned. We have also found that clients often need a range of other specialist trades and The Painting Partnership is able to meet these requirements by employing our own skills or using our wide network of professional tradesmen that we know and trust.
Our customers regularly compliment us at the end of a job and we take genuine pride in the fact that we always leave our customers delighted and with the contract complete to their satisfaction.
'Decorating, Renovating, Fitting' and 'Professionally Managed Services' are more descriptive of what we deliver.
And the tag line to our business; 'Prompt, Reliable, Clean and Tidy' describes our work ethic.


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Yellowfin helps BGL make life insurance simpler and more accessible for everyone
Posted by: Yellowfin Team
Yellowfin's comprehensive feature-set delivers complete performance visibility and immediate improvements to BGL
London, 13 September 2018 –
Yellowfin BI, the analytics company that gets customers to the why faster, today announced that BGL Life, a leading digital distributor of simpler and more accessible life insurance, selected Yellowfin's analytics solutions to help analyse product performance and improve the customer experience journey and has been enjoying the benefits of the solution for a number of years.
BGL Life offers life insurance through brands including Budget Insurance, Dial Direct, Beagle Street, and FiftyLife. In addition, it also provides white-labelled insurance solutions to some of the UK's most trusted brands.
Prior to deploying Yellowfin's technology, BGL Life had set up their own SQL enterprise data warehouse (EDW) to allow them to pull information from a number of systems, then they would write their own quote and pricing rules on top. However, the daily extraction of data didn't provide enough information for the business to be responsive and, in addition, it was taking two hours a day, to extract and format the data to deliver the Management Information (MI) the company needed.
Senior BI Manager at BGL Life, Mark Buckingham, commented: "We looked at six BI vendors, following recommendations from Group and the Gartner Magic Quadrant. We ranked each tool by features and were amazed that some tools simply didn't support 'export to Excel'. For us, this was really important, as was the ability to automate reports and share the data with teams in the Group who didn't necessarily have a software licence. Following a six-week selection process and a PoC with three vendors, we chose Yellowfin. The feature set is exhaustive, it looks great."
There are now approximately fifty people using Yellowfin across the Customer Operations, Marketing, eCommerce, Finance, and Product Teams at BGL Life. They have a comprehensive set of reports and dashboards that allow them to track key trends, including: quote rate performance, performance by channel, where they feature on aggregator sites and how that is affecting performance, website visitor and conversion rates, as well as real insight into the website journey, retention and cancellation rates.
Buckingham concluded: "Yellowfin provides us with complete visibility of our performance. If there's an issue, we can pick it up immediately. For example, if sales are low in a particular channel, we can drill into the detail and make changes straightaway rather than wait until manual analysis is completed. Offering this level of reporting to their affinity partners, as an embedded white-labelled solution using two-factor authentication, has been really well received. It's an invaluable add-on to BGL Life's service offering."
Shawn Deegan, General Manager at Yellowfin said: "We're delighted to have been able to help BGL transform its life insurance solutions with world-leading reporting and data analysis. We look forward to continuing our partnership with BGL at it continues to evolve its offering."
About Yellowfin
Yellowfin provides a Business Intelligence (BI) and analytics platform aimed at solving real enterprise analytics challenges and helping business people understand not only what happened, but why. Founded in 2003 in response to the complexity and costs associated with implementing and using traditional BI tools, Yellowfin is an intuitive, 100 percent web-based reporting and analytics platform. More than 25,000 organisations and more than three million end users across 75 countries use Yellowfin every day.
For more information, visit www.yellowfinbi.com
Lara Irwin
Marketing Manager – EMEA
lara.irwin@yellowfin.bi
Also worth reading:
How To Build A High-quality BI Dashboard With The Best Software Test Manager
Top 3 Data and Analytics Trends to Prepare for in 2023
3 Reasons Your Data Presentations Need Governed Data (And How That Makes You Look Smart)
Happy New Year from Yellowfin: Our 2023 Commitments
5 Steps to Prepare for Enterprise Self-Service Analytics


A monopoly case gets dismissed without someone flipping the game board, the Moto X is picky about what you can write on its case, and what are the odds that a proposed Steve Jobs sculpture is tasteful? The remainders for Friday, August 16, 2013 are going for the gold.
U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Apple maintains a monopoly on software for the iPhone. Also, these guys are really upset that their VHS players don't work with their Betamax tapes.
Woe betide you if you try to have the word "Apple" (or "Droid" or "Google" or "Samsung") engraved on the back of your Moto X—the service treats them like swear words. Ah, but do they stop you from engraving "epplA" and then attaching a mirror to your phone? Not so smart now, eh?.
Mobile ad network Flurry has posted a breakdown of what kind of people use the iPhone versus the iPad, and when they use it. But while the breakdown accounts for new moms, fashionistas, casual simulation gamers, concert event lovers, (not-new) moms, and the "hip urban lifestyle" crowd, I can't seem to find any information on dog owners who wear glasses and enjoy the occasional glass of wine with dinner. I cry foul.
I've got a chisel and a block of marble … now what?


Imagine that you are living in North West Africa and it's now the 14th century. Like many others, you have an inner desire to travel and explore the world around you. You want to explore the rest of your continent and you also want to go to the far East and find out what's there and what is that continent like that they call Asia. There is a tiny obstacle though, there are no airplanes to take you there, no trains, buses, cars or even bikes –if you were thinking you'll just cycle around the world like the few famous cyclists who did it. Will you go ahead and embark on such a journey? Not only do you not have a modern mean of transportation, but you don't have a GPS system to guide you on your way, you don't even have your nowadays nifty helper known as google to help you when you're lost, not even a lonely planet guide to help you plan your trip, let alone a smart phone that you could browse through with a few taps to find the best route that would take you to your destination. You might be wondering now, what exactly are the means that you have to embark on that journey? The answer is, riding solo on your donkey/camel, hitchhiking with caravans, risky ship journeys, and a sky full of stars serving as your map. Can you do it?
That is exactly what Ibn Battuta did almost 735 years ago when he was at the ripe age of 21. Born on the 25th of February 1304 by the full name of Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta to a Muslim Moroccan family of a Berber origin from the city of Tangier, Ibn Battuta was raised among a family of Islamic legal scholars who served as judges. Thus, he received an education in Islamic law and was later on asked by the Maliki Muslims to serve as their Islamic judge. However, right after he finished his education when he was 21, he decided to set on the journey for Hajj, the Islamic holy pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. And so this was the start of a journey of a lifetime, all alone without a single companion, he bid his family farewell and set off towards Mecca on his own and reached his destination after 16 months.
After performing his religious duty of Hajj, his thirst for knowledge increased and he grew more curious to find out about other undiscovered lands and cultures. Driven by his wanderlust – as most youth of his age would be; only he had no means to facilitate his journeys- he spent almost twenty nine years travelling around the different parts of the eastern hemisphere.
He began his journey by exploring the Middle East region, for on his way to Mecca, he visited Egypt, and then after Mecca, he crossed the Arabian Desert and traveled to Persia and Iraq, and then up North to Azerbaijan, and finally back south to Yemen. True he started off solo on his journey, but he soon discovered that for safety measures it was better to join travelling caravans. For most of the routes he took were rugged and bandit infested. His travelling might seem marvelous on paper, but they weren't that easy in reality. One of the incidents that he faced was that at some point he developed a fever so severe that he had to tie himself to his saddle to avoid collapsing and falling off his ride.
He covered most of the Muslim world in the Middle East, and after Yemen he joined a sea voyage to the Horn of Africa where he visited Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. After touring Africa, Ibn Battuta journeyed north back through Egypt, Syria and then sailed to Turkey. Then, he decided to travel to India by passing through Constantinople and Afghanistan, in hopes of securing a post as an Islamic Judge. And secure a post he did. Upon his arrival, he received a wholehearted and generous welcome by the Sultan of Delhi and he stayed there for about eight years during which he got married and had children. Due to his status as an Islamic scholar, many regions offered him such warm welcome and even showered him with gifts like fine clothes and horses.
Ibn Battuta still had the urge to roam and discover, and so at the first given opportunity, he travelled as the Sultan's envoy and leading a group to China. This journey however, was the start of a series of unfortunate events and hardships. His group was harassed and he was even kidnapped and robbed of all his possessions, and when he tried to sail away, his ship faced a storm that killed many of his companions. After that, he spent over a year in the Maldives and then he finally went back to China, which was then marked as reaching the edge of the known world. He finally turned around and travelled back home to Morocco, where he arrived in 1349, by which time, both his parents have passed away. It was a brief stay in Morocco, for he then headed to Spain, Niami and Timbuktu.
Upon his final arrival to Morocco in 1354, and at the suggestion of the ruler of Morocco, Ibn Battuta started to dictate his journals and document his astonishing adventures in the famous book, " A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and The Marvels of Travelling", which is commonly known as the "Rihla" or "Travels". Following the completion of documenting his travels, he worked as a judge in Morocco and passed away around the age of 64 in 1368.
The Rihla is not only an enjoyable narration of Ibn Battuta's globetrotting adventures, it is also filled with interesting anecdotes that offer a unique insight into the mind of a young Muslim traveller. Moreover, let's not forget that he was a judge, this mere fact reflects an important characteristic of his personality, and that is …wisdom. That alone offers a unique view on the contents of his narrations. No matter how many years pass, how 'old' the book might seem to be and how far away the life of Ibn Batutta is from us, his story and his travelogue account offer both an entertaining read and an informative source of the medieval civilization, which is still consulted and referred to up till this day.
It is easy to marry in these islands because of the smallness of the dowries and the pleasures of society which the women offer… When the ships put in, the crew marry; when they intend to leave they divorce their wives. This is a kind of temporary marriage. The women of these islands never leave their country.
Ibn Battuta married free women and married slave women (called "concubines" in the past times). He received concubines (slave wives) as gifts and sometimes paid to marry.
Ibn Battuta offered insights about many people, places (including the Great Wall of China) and events relating to his time. He mentions prominent people he met, what he heard about places he didn't visit, commented on towns, cities, rulers, merchants, dates, Islamic saints, ports, religious observations, and indirectly male and female sexuality under Islamic law. As well as being an observer, he was also a representative of the culture he came from to the places he visited, in so doing offering information to curious foreign rulers and merchants about alternative legal and political systems.


The Hague Humanity Hub? What the .... ?
For more than 100 years, The Hague has been recognised internationally for its contribution to peace and justice. Looking ahead, the next century will likely bring major changes to both the institutions and rules that govern access to justice, adress societal tensions and reduce violent conflicts. Many innovations are needed along the way.
With the establishment of The Hague Humanity Hub (after summer 2017), the city of The Hague and its partners have created a unique platform, where forward-thinking organizations need to develop new solution to today's global challenges in peace, justice and humanitarian affairs. From NGOs and International Organisations to start-ups, the space offers opportunities for networking, building alliances and event hosting. The Hub's works with HumanityX, a multidisciplinary teams that specialises in designing digital innovations for global challenges.


text:
Caesars Sportbook
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Baltimore Ravens Odds
Monday Night Football Odds
How to Bet on the NFL
Gaming And Leisure Properties Pays $1.14 Billion To Purchase Live! Casino & Hotel
Posted on December 30, 2021 - Last Updated on January 19, 2022
by Chelsea T. Johnson
New changes are coming for Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, MD, as Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI) purchased the casino's land and real estate assets.
According to Gaming America, GLPI paid The Cordish Companies $1.14 billion for the sale.
GLPI buys Live! Casino & Hotel from Baltimore-based real estate group
Headquartered in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Gaming and Leisure Properties is a real estate investment trust that specializes in casino properties.
To fund part of this sale, GLPI took on $363 million in debt. Gaming America reports that they expect to pay this off by the end of 2021.
Additionally, GLPI will have part ownership of future Cordish Companies casino developments.
Peter Carlino, CEO of GLPI, said in a statement:
"We are delighted to add Live! Maryland to our portfolio, further diversify our roster of leading operators, and gain additional access to the rapidly growing Baltimore-Washington corridor via a truly world-class property."
The Cordish Companies' role with Hanover casino
The Cordish Companies is a real estate development and entertainment operating company in Baltimore, MD.
Since opening in 2012, Live! Casino & Hotel has been owned and operated by The Cordish Companies. The group has expanded to offer Live! casinos in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as well.
Despite this recent transaction, they'll still have a major role on Live! Casino & Hotel. The Cordish Companies will continue to manage and operate the casino at an annual cash rent of $75 million and a term of 39 years, which can grow to 60.
"Our new lease with Cordish has strong rent coverage and is part of an accretive overall transaction that positions our company to continue to build value for shareholders through our industry-leading, high-quality tenant roster," Carlino said.
Live! Casino & Hotel making strides
Along with this recent acquisition, Live! Casino & Hotel has had its fair share of changes this year.
On Dec. 17, the casino opened its doors to sports bettors when it launched its FanDuel sportsbook in Maryland.
As a result, they were the second casino in Maryland to launch sports betting.
Also, in November, Live! Casino & Hotel led all casinos in total monthly revenue for the second time in history. This was quite unprecedented, as MGM National Harbor held that top spot since 2017.
Online Sports Betting Launch: Timeline For Mobile Sportsbooks In Maryland
The 5 Unwritten Rules For Your Next Super Bowl Party
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Who Rang In 2022 As A $2 Million Powerball Winner In Baltimore?
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Chelsea T. Johnson
Chelsea Johnson is a seasoned journalist with experience working as a reporter for WJAC-TV, 105.7 The Fan WJZ-FM, and FOX Sports Radio in Washington, DC. Her work also includes making an impact in the top newsrooms in the country at WBAL-TV in Baltimore and ESPN in Bristol, CT.
View all posts by Chelsea T. Johnson
Responsible Gambling In Maryland


stays on for 3 minutes then goes off and comes back on automatically - seems to stay on for longer if i do not press the enter button when the first navigation warning message comes on as well which is weird.
Thot it may be the power cable so got a new one and tried it but it still doing the same thing.
This happenend to anyone else?


In order to improve the functionality of the solar energy system that you will be installing to your house, you have to make sure that you make using the energy much easier. The energy that is produced from the solar energy system will be produced in DC, when you are able to convert it to AC current, you can make major use of the of the energy that is produced in the solar energy system. When you do, charging the devices that you own will be made easier. If you are interested in making this possible, make sure that you focus on getting redback inverter so that you can simply make the best of the DC current that is created in the solar energy system to simply bring about the best from it.
If you don't store the energy that is created by the solar energy system, they will go to waste. You have to make sure that you take the necessary actions to not to waste any of the energy. One of the best ways to do so is to get a smart battery. When you do, you will be getting smart approach into saving and making the best use of power. Some of the benefits that you can gain from using these smart batteries are that they are cost efficient and will save you a lot of money in the long term. As an additional benefit, you will not be doing any harm to the environment. If you are interested in using a smart battery, all that you have to do is to use a lithium ion battery for solar storage.
When you are installing a solar energy system, you have to focus on factors such as the size of the roof, the budget that you have, the location of the house and a lot more.


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Big Three telecoms urge Ottawa to close policy 'loopholes'
Rita Trichur
Telecom reporter
A man talks on his cellphone in Toronto.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Canada's largest wireless carriers are ratcheting up their criticism of the federal government's wireless strategy, arguing that Ottawa needs to rethink both the rules for an upcoming auction of spectrum licences and its policy on incumbents acquiring struggling start-up players.
The Big Three carriers say it would be a mistake for Ottawa to dole out special advantages to well-financed foreign telecoms such as Verizon Communications Inc. There's some urgency behind the efforts of Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. to persuade Ottawa to change course, as a deadline for carriers to submit applications to bid in the auction of the 700 megahertz frequency is looming.
That spectrum is considered crucial for wireless carriers to build high-speed networks, which are popular with consumers. With less than eight weeks before the Sept. 17 deadline, at least one major carrier is calling on the government to hit pause and perhaps even delay the auction yet again to consider the incumbents' concerns.
"If the government needs more time, they can always delay the spectrum auction. It's not like they haven't done it before," Telus chief executive officer Darren Entwistle said in a telephone interview on Wednesday, referring to Ottawa's decision last month to postpone the 700 MHz auction from November until January.
"If they need more time to evaluate the suppositions that are being put forward and go through their own due diligence and come to a balanced adjudication, then I would say they should take their time to do that. And if that necessitates delaying the spectrum auction, then I would say the cost is worth it ... And I don't say that lightly ... because we're out of spectrum in our urban markets."
He added: "I'm in a spectrum-deficient situation right now, so I want early access to that spectrum, but not under the current terms and conditions. So if a delay is required, I'm wiling to incur that cost for the government to go through the right process and reach the right conclusion based on facts and fairness and logic."
A further wrinkle facing carriers is that once their application papers are submitted, auction rules prevent them from having any discussions about potential sales or mergers with other registered bidders until final payments are made next year. Although the Big Three are technically prohibited from acquiring new entrants such as Wind Mobile and Mobilicity until early 2014, both those carriers are up for sale and incumbents argue they should have a fair shot at buying them.
"If the idea of small entrants being bought out is something that is being contemplated, that opportunity should be open to everybody in the market – not just to the foreign U.S. company who would essentially be picking it up at, I call it, distressed pricing," said Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed on a conference call with journalists following the release of the company's second-quarter results on Wednesday.
When asked if there was enough time for the Conservative government to make changes to the auction rules giving the application deadline, he replied: "There is absolutely time to make sure the right things happen."
Verizon, which is mulling a Canadian expansion, has made a preliminary $700-million offer for Wind Mobile and is in early-stage talks with Mobilicity, according to sources. It is also considering whether to bid in the 700 MHz auction. Under the current rules, Verizon would qualify as a new entrant and could purchase two out of four blocks of so-called "prime spectrum," while the Big Three are capped at one block apiece. BCE has said that Verizon should be prevented from using that "loophole," noting the rule was introduced to help start-up carriers.
BCE joined Rogers Thursday morning in calling on the federal government to immediately close loopholes in its policy.
Bell chief executive officer George Cope says his company is ready to compete with any wireless company if the unfair loopholes are closed.
"We can succeed against U.S. giants in a fair marketplace, because we'll invest more in Canada. But our federal government is unintentionally underwriting the success of U.S. companies in Canada," Cope said in a statement.
"We ask that Ottawa allow Canadian wireless companies a fair chance to compete by closing these loopholes."
Both Rogers and Telus have suggested that Verizon should be subject to the same cap on prime spectrum to ensure "parity," while also being required to build out its own network infrastructure across Canada. They also want the remaining foreign investment restrictions dismantled for large carriers.
"I've never seen how a four-player market can work in a country like Canada. I've never thought of it as a sustainable model," Mr. Mohamed said, noting that market consolidation is a reality in countries around the world.
Earlier this week, Dutch carrier KPN struck a deal to sell its German mobile operations, E-Plus, to Telefónica of Spain in an €8.1-billion deal.
"The real issue today is that not we're not having a constructive dialogue around pro-competition. We're having a dialogue on what is a failed strategy, which is an obsession with something almost every operator in the world knows – that in Canada, it's hard to think of four facilities-based players," Mr. Mohamed said.
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