text:
A Comprehensive Guide to Data Science With Python
by Thomas | May 13, 2019 | Data Science
A Hearty Welcome to You!
I am so thrilled to welcome you to the absolutely awesome world of data science. It is an interesting subject, sometimes difficult, sometimes a struggle but always hugely rewarding at the end of your work. While data science is not as tough as, say, quantum mechanics, it is not high-school algebra either.
It requires knowledge of Statistics, some Mathematics (Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Vector Algebra, and of course Discrete Mathematics), Operations Research (Linear and Non-Linear Optimization and some more topics including Markov Processes), Python, R, Tableau, and basic analytical and logical programming skills.
.Now if you are new to data science, that last sentence might seem more like pure Greek than simple plain English. Don't worry about it. If you are studying the Data Science course at Dimensionless Technologies, you are in the right place. This course covers the practical working knowledge of all the topics, given above, distilled and extracted into a beginner-friendly form by the talented course material preparation team.
This course has turned ordinary people into skilled data scientists and landed them with excellent placement as a result of the course, so, my basic message is, don't worry. You are in the right place and with the right people at the right time.
To quote Wikipedia:
Data science is a multi-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. Data science is the same concept as data mining and big data: "use the most powerful hardware, the most powerful programming systems, and the most efficient algorithms to solve problems."
More Greek again, you might say.
Hence my definition:
Data Science is the art of extracting critical knowledge from raw data that provides significant increases in profits for your organization.
We are surrounded by data (Google 'data deluge' and you'll see what I mean). More data has been created in the last two years that in the last 5,000 years of human existence.
The companies that use all this data to gain insights into their business and optimize their processing power will come out on top with the maximum profits in their market.
Companies like Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Apple (FAMGA), and every serious IT enterprise have realized this fact.
Hence the demand for talented data scientists.
I have much more to share with you on this topic, but to keep this article short, I'll just share the links below which you can go through in your free time (everyone's time is valuable because it is a strictly finite resource):
You can refer to:
The Demand and Salary Of A Data Scientist
and an excellent introductory article below.
An Introduction to Data Science:
Article Organization
From Pexels
Now as I was planning this article a number of ideas came to my mind. I thought I could do a textbook-like reference to the field, with Python examples.
But then I realized that true competence in data science doesn't come when you read an article.
True competence in data science begins when you take the programming concepts you have learned, type them into a computer, and run it on your machine.
And then; of course, modify it, play with it, experiment, run single lines by themselves, see for yourselves how Python and R work.
That is how you fall in love with coding in data science.
At least, that's how I fell in love with simple C coding. Back in my UG in 2003. And then C++. And then Java. And then .NET. And then SQL and Oracle. And then… And then… And then… And so on.
If you want to know, I first started working in back-propagation neural networks in the year 2006. Long before the concept of data science came along! Back then, we called it artificial intelligence and soft computing. And my final-year project was coded by hand in Java.
Having come so far, what have I learned?
That it's a vast massive uncharted ocean out there.
The more you learn, the more you know, the more you become aware of how little you know and how vast the ocean is.
But we digress!
To get back to my point –
My final decision was to construct a beginner project, explain it inside out, and give you source code that you can experiment with, play with, enjoy running, and modify here and there referring to the documentation and seeing what everything in the code actually does.
Kaggle – Your Home For Data Science
www.kaggle.com
If you are in the data science field, this site should be on your browser bookmark bar. Even in multiple folders, if you have them.
Kaggle is the go-to site for every serious machine learning practitioner. They hold competitions in data science (which have a massive participation), have fantastic tutorials for beginners, and free source code open-sourced under the Apache license (See this link for more on the Apache open source software license – don't skip reading this, because as a data scientist this is something about software products that you must know).
As I was browsing this site the other day, a kernel that was attracting a lot of attention and upvotes caught my eye.
This kernel is by a professional data scientist by the name of Fatma Kurçun from Istanbul (the funny-looking ç symbol is called c with cedilla and is pronounced with an s sound).
It was quickly clear why it was so popular. It was well-written, had excellent visualizations, and a clear logical train of thought. Her professionalism at her art is obvious.
Since it is an open source Apache license released software, I have modified her code quite a lot (diff tool gives over 100 changes performed) to come up with the following Python classification example.
But before we dive into that, we need to know what a data science project entails and what classification means.
Let's explore that next.
Classification and Data Science
So supervised classification basically means mapping data values to a category defined in advance. In the image above, we have a set of customers who have certain data values (records). So one dot above corresponds with one customer with around 10-20 odd fields.
Now, how do we ascertain whether a customer is likely to default on a loan, and which customer is likely to be a non-defaulter? This is an incredibly important question in the finance field! You can understand the word, "classification", here. We classify a customer into a defaulter (red dot) class (category) and a non-defaulter (green dot) class.
This problem is not solvable by standard methods. You cannot create and analyze a closed-form solution to this problem with classical methods. But – with data science – we can approximate the function that captures or models this problem, and give a solution with an accuracy range of 90-95%. Quite remarkable!
Now, again we can have a blog article on classification alone, but to keep this article short, I'll refer you to the following excellent articles as references:
Link 1 and Link 2
Steps involved in a Data Science Project
A data science project is typically composed of the following components:
Defining the Problem
Collecting Data from Sources
Data Preprocessing
Feature Engineering
Algorithm Selection
Hyperparameter Tuning
Repeat steps 4–6 until error levels are low enough.
Interpretation of Results
If I were to explain each of these terms – which I could – but for the sake of brevity – I can ask you to refer to the following articles:
How to Make Machine Learning Models for Beginners
Steps to perform data science with Python- Medium
At some time in your machine learning career, you will need to go through the article above to understand what a machine learning project entails (the bread-and-butter of every data scientist).
To run the exercises in this section, we use a Jupyter notebook. Jupyter is short for Julia, Python, and R. This environment uses kernels of any of these languages and has an interactive format. It is commonly used by data science professionals and is also good for collaboration and for sharing work.
To know more about Jupyter notebooks, I can suggest the following article (read when you are curious or have the time):
Data Science Libraries in Python
The standard data science stack for Python has the scikit-learn Python library as a basic lowest-level foundation.
The scikit-learn python library is the standard library in Python most commonly used in data science. Along with the libraries numpy, pandas, matplotlib, and sometimes seaborn as well this toolset is known as the standard Python data science stack. To know more about data science, I can direct you to the documentation for scikit-learn – which is excellent. The text is lucid, clear, and every file contains a working live example as source code. Refer to the following links for more:
This last link is like a bible for machine learning in Python. And yes, it belongs on your browser bookmarks bar. Reading and applying these concepts and running and modifying the source code can help you go a long way towards becoming a data scientist.
And, for the source of our purpose
Our Problem Definition
This is the classification standard data science beginner problem that we will consider. To quote Kaggle.com:
The sinking of the RMS Titanic is one of the most infamous shipwrecks in history. On April 15, 1912, during her maiden voyage, the Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg, killing 1502 out of 2224 passengers and crew. This sensational tragedy shocked the international community and led to better safety regulations for ships.
One of the reasons that the shipwreck led to such loss of life was that there were not enough lifeboats for the passengers and crew. Although there was some element of luck involved in surviving the sinking, some groups of people were more likely to survive than others, such as women, children, and the upper-class.
In this challenge, we ask you to complete the analysis of what sorts of people were likely to survive. In particular, we ask you to apply the tools of machine learning to predict which passengers survived the tragedy.
From: Kaggle
We'll be trying to predict a person's category as a binary classification problem – survived or died after the Titanic sank.
So now, we go through the popular source code, explaining every step.
Import Libraries
These lines given below:
import pandas as pd import numpy as np import matplotlib.pyplot as plt; import seaborn as sns %matplotlib inline
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt;
import seaborn as sns
%matplotlib inline
Are standard for nearly every Python data stack problem. Pandas refers to the data frame manipulation library. NumPy is a vectorized implementation of Python matrix manipulation operations that are optimized to run at high speed. Matplotlib is a visualization library typically used in this context. Seaborn is another visualization library, at a little higher level of abstraction than matplotlib.
The Problem Data Set
We read the CSV file:
train = pd.read_csv('../input/train.csv')
Now, if you've gone through the links given in the heading 'Steps involved in Data Science Projects' section, you'll know that real-world data is messy, has missing values, and is often in need of normalization to adjust for the needs of our different scikit-learn algorithms. This CSV file is no different, as we see below:
Missing Data
This line uses seaborn to create a heatmap of our data set which shows the missing values:
sns.heatmap(train.isnull(),yticklabels=False,cbar=False,cmap='viridis')
<matplotlib.axes._subplots.AxesSubplot at 0x7f3b5ed98ef0>
The yellow bars indicate missing data. From the figure, we can see that a fifth of the Age data is missing. And the Cabin column has so many missing values that we should drop it.
Graphing the Survived vs. the Deceased in the Titanic shipwreck:
sns.set_style('whitegrid')
sns.countplot(x='Survived',data=train,palette='RdBu_r')
<matplotlib.axes._subplots.AxesSubplot at 0x7f3b54fe2390>
As we can see, in our sample of the total data, more than 500 people lost their lives, and less than 350 people survived (in the sample of the data contained in train.csv).
When we graph Gender Ratio, this is the result.
sns.countplot(x='Survived',hue='Sex',data=train,palette='RdBu_r')
<matplotlib.axes._subplots.AxesSubplot at 0x7f3b54f49da0>
Over 400 men died, and around 100 survived. For women, less than a hundred died, and around 230 odd survived. Clearly, there is an imbalance here, as we expect.
Data Cleaning
The missing age data can be easily filled with the average of the age values of an arbitrary category of the dataset. This has to be done since the classification algorithm cannot handle missing values and will be error-ridden if the data values are not error-free.
plt.figure(figsize=(12, 7))
sns.boxplot(x='Pclass',y='Age',data=train,palette='winter')
<matplotlib.axes._subplots.AxesSubplot at 0x7f3b54d132e8>
We use these average values to impute the missing values (impute – a fancy word for filling in missing data values with values that allow the algorithm to run without affecting or changing its performance).
def impute_age(cols):
Age = cols[0]
Pclass = cols[1]
if pd.isnull(Age):
if Pclass == 1:
elif Pclass == 2:
 else:
return Age
train['Age'] = train[['Age','Pclass']].apply(impute_age,axis=1)
Missing values heatmap:
<matplotlib.axes._subplots.AxesSubplot at 0x7f3b54a0d0b8>
We drop the Cabin column since its mostly empty.
train.drop('Cabin',axis=1,inplace=True)
Convert categorical features like Sex and Name to dummy variables using pandas so that the algorithm runs properly (it requires data to be numeric)..
train.info()
<class 'pandas.core.frame.DataFrame'> Int64
Index: 889 entries, 0 to 890
Data columns (total 11 columns):
PassengerId 889 non-null int64
Survived 889 non-null int64
Pclass 889 non-null int64
Name 889 non-null object
Sex 889 non-null object
Age 889 non-null float64
SibSp 889 non-null int64
Parch 889 non-null int64
Ticket 889 non-null object
Fare 889 non-null float64
Embarked 889 non-null object
dtypes: float64(2), int64(5), object(4)
memory usage: 83.3+ KB
More Data Preprocessing
We use one-hot encoding to convert the categorical attributes to numerical equivalents. One-hot encoding is yet another data preprocessing method that has various forms. For more information on it, see the link
sex = pd.get_dummies(train['Sex'],drop_first=True)
embark = pd.get_dummies(train['Embarked'],drop_first=True)
train.drop(['Embarked','Name','Ticket'],axis=1,inplace=True)
train = pd.concat([train,sex,embark],axis=1)
Finally, we check the heatmap of features again:
<matplotlib.axes._subplots.AxesSubplot at 0x7f3b54743ac8>
No missing data and all text converted accurately to a numeric representation means that we can now build our classification model.
Building a Gradient Boosted Classifier model
Gradient Boosted Classification Trees are a type of ensemble model that has consistently accurate performance over many dataset distributions.
I could write another blog article on how they work but for brevity, I'll just provide the link here and link 2 here:
We split our data into a training set and test set.
from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(train.drop('Survived',axis=1), train['Survived'], test_size=0.10, random_state=0)
from sklearn.ensemble import GradientBoostingClassifier
model = GradientBoostingClassifier()
model.fit(X_train,y_train)
GradientBoostingClassifier(
criterion='friedman_mse', init=None, learning_rate=0.1, loss='deviance', max_depth=3, max_features=None, max_leaf_nodes=None, min_impurity_decrease=0.0, min_impurity_split=None, min_samples_leaf=1, min_samples_split=2, min_weight_fraction_leaf=0.0, n_estimators=100, n_iter_no_change=None, presort='auto', random_state=None, subsample=1.0, tol=0.0001, validation_fraction=0.1, verbose=0, warm_start=False)
Predicting:
predictions = model.predict(X_test)
array([0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0])
array([0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0,
0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1,
0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0])
The performance of a classifier can be determined by a number of ways. Again, to keep this article short, I'll link to the pages that explain the confusion matrix and the classification report function of scikit-learn and of general classification in data science:
Predictive Model Evaluation
A wonderful article by one of our most talented writers. Skip to the section on the confusion matrix and classification accuracy to understand what the numbers below mean.
For a more concise, mathematical and formulaic description, read here
from sklearn.metrics import classification_report,confusion_matrix
print(confusion_matrix(y_test,predictions))
[[89 16]
[29 44]]
So as not make this article too disjointed, let me explain at least the confusion matrix to you.
The confusion matrix has the following form:
[[ TP FP ]
[ FN TN ]]
The abbreviations mean:
TP – True Positive – The model correctly classified this person as deceased.
FP – False Positive – The model incorrectly classified this person as deceased.
FN – False Negative – The model incorrectly classified this person as a survivor
TN – True Negative – The model correctly classified this person as a survivor.
So, in this model published on Kaggle, there were:
89 True Positives
16 False Positives
29 False Negatives
44 True Negatives
Classification Report
You can refer to the link here
-to learn everything you need to know about the classification report.
print(classification_report(y_test,predictions))
precision recall f1-score support
0 0.75 0.85 0.80 105
1 0.73 0.60 0.66 73
micro avg 0.75 0.75 0.75 178
macro avg 0.74 0.73 0.73 178
weighted avg 0.75 0.75 0.74 178
So the model, when used with Gradient Boosted Classification Decision Trees, has a precision of 75% (the original used Logistic Regression).
I have attached the dataset and the Python program to this document, you can download it by clicking on these links. Run it, play with it, manipulate the code, view the scikit-learn documentation. As a starting point, you should at least:
Use other algorithms (say LogisticRegression / RandomForestClassifier a the very least)
Refer the following link for classifiers to use:
Sections 1.1 onwards – every algorithm that has a 'Classifier' ending in its name can be used – that's almost 30-50 odd models!
Try to compare performances of different algorithms
Try to combine the performance comparison into one single program, but keep it modular.
Make a list of the names of the classifiers you wish to use, apply them all and tabulate the results. Refer to the following link:
Use XGBoost instead of Gradient Boosting
Titanic Training Dataset (here used for training and testing):
titanic.csv – Download
Address of my GitHub Public Repo with the Notebook and code used in this article:
Github Code
Clone with Git (use TortoiseGit for simplicity rather than the command-line) and enjoy.
To use Git, take the help of a software engineer or developer who has worked with it before. I'll try to cover the relevance of Git for data science in a future article.
But for now, refer to the following article here
You can install Git from Git-SCM and TortoiseGit
To clone,
Install Git and TortoiseGit (the latter only if necessary)
Open the command line with Run… cmd.exe
Create an empty directory.
Copy paste the following string into the command prompt and watch the magic after pressing Enter: "git clone https://github.com/thomascherickal/datasciencewithpython-article-src.git" without the double quotes, of course.
Use Anaconda (a common data science development environment with Python,, R, Jupyter, and much more) for best results.
Cheers! All the best into your wonderful new adventure of beginning and exploring data science!
Learning done right can be awesome fun! (Unsplash)
Follow this link, if you are looking to learn data science online!
You can follow this link for our Big Data course, which is a step further into advanced data analysis and processing!
Additionally, if you are having an interest in learning Data Science, click here to start the Online Data Science Course
Furthermore, if you want to read more about data science, read our Data Science Blogs


text:
Delivering For Bristol – Map
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol
Council Cabinet
Community projects secure grant funding
Labour-run Bristol City Council has awarded grants to community projects which aim to empower citizens who experience the greatest exclusion and inequality.
19 organisations were successful in winning a grant from the Bristol Impact Fund (BIF). Applicants that were successful this year include projects that; aim to tackle knife crime, develop employment skills in South Bristol and improve mental health and wellbeing.
This is the second round of grants as part of the BIF. It was formed in 2017 when a number of the council's grant funds were brought together into one place. The aim of the fund is to tackle disadvantage and inequality, improve health and wellbeing and increase resilience in Bristol.
Previous projects have included helping black and minority ethnic woman to start their own business or get back into work; a theatre group working with people with learning difficulties to build confidence and social networks; and peer support groups for people with a mental health issues.
Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Communities, Equality and Public Health said: "We are really excited by the quality of projects that we have seen during this round of grant funding. We know that with modest amounts of funding, a group of committed citizens with a good idea can make a really big difference.
"The Bristol Impact Fund was created because we know that there are people in our city who face multiple, complex and often deep seated issues.
"The fund is a great success story for the city with the first round of small grants having made a real impact by empowering communities to take action on the things that will make a difference to them. We are pleased to be able to commit to a further round of small grant funding, demonstrating our belief in the voluntary sector and the power of communities to make a difference.''
Bristol, UK View on Google Maps
Email: labourbristol@outlook.com
Promoted by Tom Brook on behalf of the Bristol Labour Group, at 4 Emery Rd, Bristol, BS4 5PF.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Welcome To The Ocean Drive Beach and Golf Resort, located Next Door to North Myrtle Beach's New Seasonal Oceanfront Pavilion & Amusement Park. Whether you are planning a family vacation, a weekend getaway or a corporate meeting, the Ocean Drive Resort Hotel is the perfect beach destination.
Located inside the fabulous Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort Complex in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, THE SPANISH GALLEON NIGHTCLUB is one of Myrtle Beach's best known HIGH ENERGY clubs. It's one of the North Strand's most popular nightspots!
THE SUMMER BEACH PARTIES ARE HERE!! As you wind your way down the stairs to the Beach Club from the OD Resort and just around the corner from the Spanish Galleon, you will find the OD Beach Club. Home of the "Shaggers Hall of Fame".
Overlooking the Ocean...our HOTOS RESTAURANT BEACH BAR and Tiki Bar Deck! After a swim in the ocean, comeon up just a few steps to the deck and inside grill...Great food,, great weather, what else could you ask for? Enjoy lunch or dinner at HOTOS RESTAURANT or a drink on the Tiki Bar Deck... right on the beach!
GREAT VACATIONS ARE MADE AT THE OD BEACH & GOLF RESORT!


Have yourselves a wonderful family day long weekend. Take some photos of your weekend operating sessions and send them on over, we'd love to see them!
To my American friends and family - well - you should come to Toronto....at least for the weekend!


I'm going on a business trip this weekend for five days. I've been traveling for work for the past four years and I've learned my lesson in terms of being prepared with anything and everything you'll need. I always stock up on the travel size toiletries and I've bought quite a few mini versions of makeup as well, not only to try them out, but because they're easy to keep in your bag all the time in case you forget anything from your real makeup bag. Check out my recommendations above and let me know if you have any suggestions of things I didn't think of!


text:
Dubai's Famed Al Wasl Dome Repurposed with DPA Microphones
Visitors to the 3,000-seat concert hall get an immersive audio and visual experience.
(Image credit: DPA Microphones)
Dubai's Al Wasl Dome is an architectural masterpiece, acting as a hub for visitors and vibrant performances alike. Originally the centerpiece of the EXPO 2020 Dubai, Al Wasl was recently repurposed into a 3,000-seat concert venue, outfitted with a 360-degree projection screen to offer an immersive audio and visual experience. To celebrate its reopening, the dome hosted Grammy-winning Composer A.R. Rahman's all-female Firdaus Orchestra and a 30-piece choir, accompanied by UK-based Indian singer Abi Sampa and her band, for a classical performance combining the sounds of the east and west. To assist with orchestral reinforcement for the show, which presented a slew of acoustical and environmental difficulties, Rahman's team called on sound designer and mix engineer Phil Wright, who turned to his tried and trusted DPA Microphones (opens in new tab) solutions for their durability and natural sound.
The acclaimed sound professional selected the brand's 4099 CORE Instrument, 2011 Twin Diaphragm, 4011ES Cardioid Condenser and 4066 Omnidirectional Headset Microphones to help elevate the production. "The band and orchestra were primarily 4099s," he explained. "This included the guitar, French horn and cello, as well as the more traditional instruments such as the tabla, harmonium, ney, oud, sitar, daf, frame drum and qanun. These are tiny, very quiet instruments and the DPA 4099s really brought out their sound within this massive orchestral texture we had going on. For those instruments that were a bit more open, we used the 2011s, and then the double basses in the orchestra were on my 4011ES mics with 19 mm capsules. For the choir, we had 30 of the 4066 wired headsets. Overall, we had around 120 people on stage between the 30-person chorus, a 75-piece orchestra and Abi Sampa's ensemble of fifteen."
[2022 in Review: Look Back at the SCN Audio Issue] (opens in new tab)
Miking traditional instruments wasn't the only obstacle Wright had to overcome. The Al Wasl Dome's unique shape posed an interesting acoustical challenge as well, with its centrally located performance space and open sides, which exposed the stage to the natural outdoor elements. Assisted by Dave Scarlet, Paul Medley, and Pete Austin of SFL Productions in the UK, Wright knew DPA mics would be a welcome aid to the audio team.
"The durability of the 4099s was so impressive," Wright said. "We weren't in an air-conditioned concert hall—this was an open-air, outdoor venue with all the heat, high humidity and dust blowing in from the desert. Despite all of this, we didn't have a single microphone failure. The heavy-duty cable for the 4099s also allowed for easy replacements, which was useful as we had a few people trip and damage the mic cables."
[SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators 2022] (opens in new tab)
Knowing they would be working in such a challenging environment, Wright notes that the team made the decision very early on to mic everything very closely. "The flexibility and range of mount options for the 4099s was most appealing to me," he explained. "I was able to get really close and tight on absolutely everything on that stage whilst retaining that natural sound and air. We had lots of positive feedback about being able to balance these very quiet and traditionally challenging instruments."
The complexity of the venue's acoustics, which has proven difficult for other seasoned audio professionals, along with the classical nature of the performance was exactly the reason Wright was entrusted by both Rahman and Mohanaselvan Jeyapalan, vice president of the portfolio management office for the venue, in the first place. Building off his background in orchestral engineering and over 25 years' experience working with DPA Microphones, Wright crafted an impeccable sound that was otherwise lacking in previous shows at the Al Wasl Dome. "Both Mr. Rahman and Mr. Jeyapalan let me know that we had achieved everything that they had hoped for this show," Wright explained. "With the DPAs, the concert sounded just how they wanted, and they were blown away."
[AV Network's top stories, product news, and expert insights] (opens in new tab)
The Al Wasl Dome re-opening concert on Nov. 19, 2022, included performances of scores by iconic composers John Williams and Hans Zimmer, as well as collaborative work by both Zimmer and Rahman. To complete the merging of eastern and western sounds, Rahman's solo score compositions were also performed, accompanied by the choir. Prior to Rahman's production, the likes of Coldplay, Alicia Keys and John Newman had all graced the venue with performances of their own.


text:
Don't Let the Rain Get You Down!
Five Hikes You Can Do In Any Weather
Summer's gone and the rainy season is back, but that's no excuse to not get outside and explore the wilderness. In fact, the rains have driven away most of the crowds and have provided a new vibrance to the wonder of nature in Lewis County.
Wildflowers and plants have been reinvigorated with color and waterfalls have been recharged — and you'll only see them by stepping out of your car and making the trek into the forest!
We've compiled a list of five hikes that are awesome in any weather, from sunshine to rain and even a bit of snow. Two feature waterfalls you can hike behind, two meander through impressive stands of forest, and one takes you to a serene lake in the middle of seemingly nowhere.
Now before you read on, make sure you check the Washington Trails Association's guide on how to hike safely during the rainy season. It's full of good pointers on what to do before and during your hike.
With that said, get ready to lace up your hiking boots and check out these five excursions throughout Lewis County that you can do in any weather, with just about anyone! Be sure to follow the included links on each hike listed below for driving directions and nearby lodging; these hikes are even better when paired with other activities in areas nearby!
Here's a map of all the hikes we're about to list below. Keep this handy because you can get directions right inside your Google Maps app!
1. COVEL CREEK FALLS & ANGEL FALLS
Location: Randle // Get Driving Directions // Find a Place to Stay Nearby
This hike, which originates from a trailhead off Cispus Road by the Cispus Learning Center, is a good three-mile roundtrip through varying stands of forest and some elevation to two beautiful waterfalls, including one you can hike behind. If you're lucky, you can also find a third waterfall too.
Most families with small children opt just to see Covel Creek Falls, which sits about a mile in on the Covel Creek Trail. Follow the trail through an impressive stand of tall trees and ford the flowing Covel Creek, then continue about a quarter-mile and pause for a minute before the ascent starts.
The trail has switchbacks, so your ascent can be broken into small chunks. Views of small waterfalls that take the rushing waters of Covel Creek downward provide a scenic backdrop to a moment otherwise spent catching one's breath. Take advantage of these little stops, and take some photos with your phone or camera too!
Once you've ascended the switchbacks, you'll know you're close when you hear the sound of the falls begin to grow louder. When you come to a fork in the trail, take the path to the right and descend slowly and carefully — the ground could be very wet so watch your footing — to Covel Creek Falls. The trail goes right behind the waterfall, so look out from underneath the rock and watch the water cascade in the foreground with the view opening up to the forest as a backdrop.
Again, most families with small children would be advised to make this the end point of the journey. But for those wanting to see another waterfall, you can choose one of two routes: Continue following the trail as it ascends more switchbacks and is a bit steeper than the portion you just went through, or turn back to the fork you came to and continue onward.
If you choose the steep route, you'll come to another fork in the trail. Bear left to descend toward Angel Falls, and don't even think about heading to the right — you'd be in for another four mile climb on a hike we'll talk about later! If you chose the rocky route, keep on the trail until you hit a T, then bear right toward Angel Falls.
Either route you take, you'll descend to Angel Falls and see it to your south — a gentle series of cascades rippling in small sections down a series of rocks that jut out further toward the bottom. If it's not too slippery, you can climb up the first section of rocks and get a closer look; if not, it's still beautiful and can be well-admired from afar.
There's even another waterfall tucked away in an area further from the trail, and it's only best attempted during low stream flow or, during normal flow, in hip waders. From Angel Falls, turn around and continue on the trail until it bends along a creek. From there, you'll have to follow the creek a few hundred yards until you come to a log jam, then the falls spills over a series of rocks in two different sections. This waterfall is unofficially named Bridal Veil Falls by the Northwest Waterfall Survey.
In all, a trip to these falls is good for some vigorous exercise and a pleasant outdoor experience no matter what the weather holds. Find a place to stay nearby and couple your visit to these waterfalls with some touring of the Morton, Randle and Packwood areas, Lewis County's gateways to the Cascades!
2. PACKWOOD LAKE
Location: Packwood // Get Driving Directions // Find a Place to Stay Nearby
Packwood Lake, located a few miles outside the community of Packwood itself, is a gem that shines regardless of whether or not the sun is.
If it's sunny, gaze upon the clarity of the water and the mountain backdrops of the Goat Rocks Wilderness. If it's rainy and cloudy, the stillness and peacefulness of the area provides a beautiful calm as you walk along the lakeside and hear the water lapping the shores.
You'll start your hike from the trailhead of the Packwood Lake Trail, which begins where Snyder Road / Forest Road 1260 ends. From there, you have two choices: the trail itself, which tucks itself neatly under a canopy of trees and provides shelter from the rain in spots; or the road below, which also brings all-terrain vehicles (yep, they're allowed here!) and equestrians along on the trip too.
We'd recommend the narrower trail through the forest to the lake, then the wider trail on the way back.
For about four miles, the trail winds and meanders through old-growth forest, passing some small creeks and entering the Goat Rocks Wilderness. But the views are occluded until you reach the lake — watch for it around a big curve in the trail, because you'll see its bright waters through a grove of trees to your right.
Once you get down to the lake, there are some beautiful and historic sights to see. If you are lucky enough to make it down there on a day with no wind, the lake remains still while reflecting a nearly picture-perfect mirror image of the mountains and wilderness beyond. Agnes Island, in the middle of the lake and accessible only by boat, is the centerpiece of many a photo of the lake.
Continue a short way on the trail and you'll see the historic Packwood Lake Guard Cabin, which is included on the National Register of Historic Places, to your left shortly before crossing a bridge. You can stop your hike here if you wish, or follow the trail a bit further to explore along the lakeshore. Even better, if you have a wilderness camping permit and you brought a tent, camp out along the shoreline for a truly awesome nature experience.
Want to bring the family dog? You bet you can. Just put Fido on a leash and you're good to go.
Allow a good three hours for this hike, simply for the fact you'll want to take in the sights at the lake for a bit. With its proximity to Packwood itself, it's never a bad idea to stay overnight at one of many lodges or vacation rentals there and continue to explore our mountain country.
A Northwest Forest Pass is required for this hike. Follow this link to purchase one.
PLEASE NOTE: In the wintertime, Forest Road 1260 can be covered in snow and inaccessible. Please check with the U.S. Forest Service's station in Randle for updated conditions.
3. RAINBOW FALLS STATE PARK
Location: Dryad // Get Driving Directions // Find a Place to Stay Nearby
Let's head over to the west side of Interstate 5 now, on a highway better known for its connection to the coast. Just about 20 miles west of Chehalis adjoining State Route 6 in Dryad, an unsigned stand of timber north of the Chehalis River has some of the prettiest and family-friendliest hiking trails in Lewis County. And best of all, camping and picnicking is available just across the river.
The best way to find these trails is to take Exit 77, drive for about 20 minutes along State Route 6 and you'll see a sign directing you to turn on Mays Bridge Road to get to Rainbow Falls State Park. Don't take that turn, though — keep going straight on SR 6 until you come to an area adjoining the roadway to the right that provides an overlook to the Chehalis River and the small but fast-flowing Rainbow Falls. Feel free to pull out there but remain well off to the side of the road.
To your left, you'll see a picnic shelter and a fence. That's where you'll want to go. Once you're there, look for the sign for the Oxalis Loop and follow it — you've arrived to a small trail system totaling about 3 miles on a forested hillside.
This hike isn't like the rest on this list simply because it's not a hike to a destination, but rather just a simple walk that you can make as short or as long as you like.
Several trails on this hillside are part of Rainbow Falls State Park, although they're in essence separated from the rest of the park by the Chehalis River. This creates an entirely different ambience from the other portion of the park, as there are many fewer people on these trails and the nature in this area is a bit more wild.
Start by heading up the Oxalis Loop which takes you uphill, then try the Deer Trail, which will bring you back down. Other side trails provide nice little jaunts through sections of beautiful forest! Explore old-growth forest, blooming flowers, and a quiet forested setting with a creek running through.
When you're done, hop back in your car and follow the signs back to the other portion of Rainbow Falls State Park, where camping, fishing and picnicking are all offered. Bonus: bring bikes and head out on the Willapa Hills Trail just about 1/2 mile from the park entrance, and check out Washington's newest rail-to-trail link!
For vehicles parked on State Parks property, you'll need to display a valid and current Discover Pass. Follow this link for more information.
4. CATHEDRAL FALLS
Location: Glenoma // Get Driving Directions // Find a Place to Stay Nearby
You'll want to check with the Forest Service ahead of time to see if this one is open. If it is, take the opportunity ASAP to go explore the Goat Creek Trail to Cathedral Falls, another waterfall you can hike behind!
Head to Glenoma and follow the signs to Taidnapam Park, but continue past the park across the one-lane bridge until you come to a T in the road. Bear right, go past the gate if it's open, then follow a narrow road to your left that points you to the Goat Creek Trail. Passenger cars can make this trek, but if you have a higher-profile vehicle you'll have an easier go of it.
The earlier you can start your journey, the better. There's limited parking at the trailhead, but if you're able to find a spot, the hiking excursion that awaits is a real treat.
The trail is built well and is wide enough in most spots to fit two people side by side. Plus, you'll come to the waterfall just a little over a mile in.
On the way there, you'll encounter a few small stream crossings that aren't too deep. Waterproof hiking boots surely help, but if you can skip your way across a few rocks in any other types of shoes you'll be alright.
The forest covers most of the trail, making it an ideal option for a rainy day hike. Some spots open up allowing for a grand view of the Cowlitz River Valley and Gifford Pinchot National Forest below. Take some time to stop and enjoy those views, and again have a camera handy to get some nice photos.
Just like Covel Creek Falls, the waterfall is heard before it's seen, and you'll be there in no time. The trail ducks under a large rock face and bends to the left, with the falls itself spilling over an impressive crag. You'll be well underneath the rock so you won't have to worry about getting wet unless the wind is blowing inward.
If you're up to it, you can head down below to where the falls hits a splash pool and marvel at the enormity of the waterfall from below. It's the best perspective to catch this 248-foot wonder, and if your camera has a wide-angle lens, that's the best photo opportunity.
Clamber back up and head further along the trail if you wish. If you're up for a bigger hike, you can continue along the trail and hit points such as Vanson Lake and Vanson Peak. Otherwise, any spot ahead of the falls is a decent turnaround spot.
This hike is especially family-friendly with no major elevation gain, so the little ones in the family are sure to have just as great a time as you are!
5. SEMINARY HILL NATURAL AREA
Location: Centralia // Get Driving Directions // Find a Place to Stay Nearby
Conveniently located mere blocks from downtown Centralia's shopping, hotels and eateries, Seminary Hill Natural Area is a forested jewel that provides the perfect outdoor escape to recharge one's soul.
Just a few blocks east of downtown on Locust Street and Barner Drive, the main trailhead for Seminary Hill is located just beyond a small gate that is nearly always open. You'll see a new picnic shelter that was just built by the Friends of Seminary Hill this year, and the trail is just across the parking lot from it.
Runners and casual walkers alike love Seminary Hill for its terrain, which includes a bit of an incline along the forested hillside to a plateau above, where several trails branch off toward different exits off the hill at varying points.
Our favorite excursion on the hill is one totaling about two miles in length: first you climb the "staircase" inside the forest then work your way to the right and up, eventually coming to your first trail intersection. Keep on the main trail, known as the Rufus Kiser Trail, and continue on through sections of forest that include ferns, tall timber and moss galore.
In the autumn, the Kiser Trail is a prime spot in Centralia for enjoying fall colors. A variety of trees shower the trail and adjacent land below with leaves that are different in size, color and vibrance, bringing an amazing display in front of your eyes as your feet crunch along on the trail.
The Kiser Trail eventually links up with another trail that takes you on the western side of Seminary Hill. But if you continue, you'll make your way to Staebler Point, which gives a good view of the northern part of Centralia and the Skookumchuck River area in the distance.
Much like Rainbow Falls State Park's trails, there isn't a specific destination in mind here. Rather, it's a spot to take a breather, enjoy nature and enjoy the journey along the way.
Best of all, it's free for anyone to enjoy and open during daylight hours, and no passes are required.


text:
Voxx is a voxel-based (not surface-based) 3D rendering program which has been optimized for biological microscopy. This software permits researchers to perform real-time rendering of large microscopy data sets using inexpensive personal computers. We developed it to explore 3D datasets collected on confocal and multiphoton microscopy systems, but it can also render other kinds of data (e.g. CT, MRI, etc.).
In the past, voxel-based programs were commonly run on very expensive SGI workstations [Akeley 93, Montrym et.al. 97] in order to achieve real-time rendering speeds [Cabral et.al. 94, Westerman et.al. 98]. More recently, VolumePro voxel processors/boards [Pfister et.al, 1999] have permitted real-time volume rendering on PCs at a much lower price than an SGI workstation. But VolumePro boards still add several thousand dollars to the price of each PC-based 3D imaging system.
Fortunately, some of the 3D graphics processing units (GPUs) found on many "low-cost" (typically $100-400) video boards in office and lab PCs can achieve rendering speeds similar to the VolumePro [Clendenon et.al., 2002] and the graphics subsystems used on many SGI workstations [Rezk-Salama et.al. 2000]. The two major suppliers of these low-cost high-performance 3D graphics processors for PCs and Macs are NVIDIA (which also supplied the graphics processor for the Microsoft Xbox and Sony Playstation 3 game consoles), and ATI (which also supplied the graphics processor for the Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox 360). Details on programming techniques for volume rendering using contemporary graphics processors can be found in a recent book by Engel et al (2006).
We designed Voxx to use these low-cost high-performance 3D graphics processors. After we made Voxx available to the public (January 2002), several commercial microscopy-oriented volume imaging programs added real-time volume rendering using GeForce- and/or Radeon-based video boards. But these volume imaging programs do not fully exploit the capabilities of recent GPUs to perform 3D image processing, classification and segmentation in real time. Consequently, we are now developing a new version of Voxx which can perform such real-time image processing during rendering.
Program Capabilities
Version 2 of Voxx (Voxx2) permits researchers to perform real-time rendering of large multi-channel 3D/4D microscopy data sets. The program can also perform a number of basic image processing operations during real-time volume rendering, including intensity transformations (e.g. contrast stretching), colorization, and soft thresholding. These real-time operations have proven to be very useful when working with 3D/4D confocal and two-photon data sets. Voxx2 has many of the capabilities of expensive commercial volume rendering programs, including:
reads multi-channel 3D/4D image files (Bio-Rad PIC, Zeiss LSM, Metamorph STK, TIFF, raw)
makes 3D/4D movies (saved as AVI or TIFF files)
makes screen snapshots (saved as TIFF, PNG, or raw files)
graph-based color (RGB or HSV) and opacity table editor
cutplanes (for displaying or saving a 3D subimage)
anaglyph stereo displays (using red/green or red/cyan glasses)
3D (trilinear) interpolation
cross-platform (runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X)
works with video boards using newer versions of the GeForce or Radeon processor
However, Voxx cannot perform quantitative image analysis. We hope to add measurement options to the program in the future. Several commercial programs are available for quantitative 3D image analysis, and a few of them have been optimized for applications in 3D microscopy.
Currently, Voxx can perform a small number of image processing operations during real-time volume rendering. But there are many other useful image processing operations which could not be implemented using early versions of the GeForce and Radeon GPUs. Newer versions of these GPUs (see list below) provide the improved programmability and higher-precision floating-point pixel arithmetic needed to perform nontrivial kinds of image processing during volume rendering.
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX
ATI Radeon X1800XT, X1900XT, X1950XTX, FireGL V7350
We are developing and testing code for version 3 of Voxx (Voxx3), in which these recent advances in GPU design have allowed us to perform additional image processing operations in real time. Examples of real-time image processing operations in Voxx3 include:
Real-time compensation for channel cross-talk (aka bleed-through), caused by emission spectra overlap.
Real-time compensation for intensity reduction (due to light scattering, absorption, and/or photobleaching) in thick specimens, using user-defined function of depth (z), which scales up deeper/darker image slices.
Real-time 3D filtering (e.g. Gaussian, Laplacian, unsharp masking, etc.)
Near real-time 3D deconvolution
Real-time voxel lighting using normal vector arrays. Most other volume rendering programs only support real-time lighting of isosurfaces, not raw 3D image arrays.
Voxx2 runs under Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Voxx2 requires a PC or Mac and a video board equipped with either an NVIDIA GeForce (or Quadro) or ATI Radeon (or FireGL) graphics processor (9500, 9600, 9700, 9800, X800-850, X1800, X1900-1950). The original version of Voxx (Voxx1) runs under Windows, and requires a PC with a video baord equipped with older versions of the NVIDIA GeForce or Quadro graphics processor that supported paletted textures.
We recommend video boards equipped with GeForce 7900 or 6800 GT, or Radeon X1900 XT, graphics processors and 256-512 MB of on-board memory for most applications. These boards render MUCH faster that most older GeForce- and Radeon-based boards (due to their having more graphics pipelines), and cost roughly $400.
We are using GeForce 8800GTX- and Radeon X1950XTX-based boards to develop Voxx3 code, and recommend them for anyone interested in working with large datasets or using our new real-time image processing ops. A board equipped with a a Radeon X1950XTX equipped with 512 MB costs roughly $450. For anyone working with really large 3D images, we recomend a GeForce 8800GTX with 768 MB (which costs roughly $650) or a FireGL V7350 with 1024 MB (which costs roughly $1200-1600).
Most PCs equipped with a moderate amount of memory (typically 1024-2048 MB) can be used for volume rendering. If you are interested in 4D microscopy (i.e. 3D time-lapse studies), you may need more memory.
We develop 3D image processing and volume rendering software in C++ using Qt and OpenGL to provide a largely platform-independent base of code, which runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. We use GeForce and Radeon graphics processing units (GPUs) to perform real-time 2D/3D operations. Real-time image processing operations are implemented using GPU-independent programming languages (GLSL or ARB fragment program), which are supported by the two major suppliers of high-performance GPUs (NVIDIA and ATI).
Downloading Voxx Software
We make the Voxx program exe file (but not the source code) freely available for non-commercial use. However, Voxx is not open source. It is owned by Indiana University, and anyone interested in commercial applications and/or source code licenses should contact us.
There is no manual for Voxx2 (yet), but there is a Help command in the program.
To download Voxx, click HERE.
Regrettably we do not have the resources to provide full time support at this time. There is built in help in the software and we do respond to email via voxx@indiana.edu. We also have a mailing list, which you can subscribe to by sending a message to listserv@iupui.edu with "SUBSCRIBE VOXX-USERS-L full name" in the body.
Voxx-related Publications
Images generated using Voxx have been featured in numerous papers and poster sessions, including on the covers of Nephron (2006), Physiology (2005), Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension (2003), Journal of Cutaneous Pathology (2002), and as the "cell of the month" image in Nature Cell Biology (Sept 2004). To see a list of publications, click HERE.
To see a list of a few relevant voxel-related papers and books, click HERE.


text:
Kylie Jenner is pregnant with second child, US report
Horror as Sydney mum finds her kids shot dead
Bondi Vet's Dr Chris Brown reveals he was attacked by a lion on stage
MAFS star Davina shows off her gorgeous baby bump
Viral FaceApp challenge: The hilarious celebrities looking 60 years older!
MAFS Ines reveals: 'I had a stalker'
CONFIRMED: Rhyce Power is dating THIS MAFS star
The MAFS stars not on Cam and Jules' wedding guest list
Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou doesn't want her son to become an actor
Who Are The Hottest Aussie Models Right Now?
Everything You Need To Know About Bachelor Star Laurina Fleure
Amanda Keller: Why I'm still furious at Tom Gleeson
Everything You Need To Know About Megan Marx
You can't unsee this video of a pre-CGI Dan Stevens in 'Beauty and the Beast'
How did Emma Watson keep a straight face? - by New Idea
New footage has emerged of Dan Steven's Pre-CGI Beast from Beauty And The Beast, and it's left fans wondering how the stars made it through a single take without laughing.
The actor was obviously transformed into the formidable Beast with the help of motion-capture technology and CGI, rather than the traditional costume with hours of hair and makeup assistance.
Recently surfaced footage shows Dan in his bulky motion-capture suit and some bouncy platform shoes, escorting Belle (Emma Watson) down the castle's golden staircase for that iconic ballroom scene.
According to People, the grey lycra "muscle suit" weighed 40-lb, and it certainly made for an interesting ~lewk~ in these behind the scenes videos:
Perkins on Twitter
Shoyuko on Twitter
rayne  on Twitter
cumberbatch lives on Twitter
We're not sure how they kept a straight face, but we're open to seeing the bloopers if Disney feels so obliged?
This article originally appeared on InStyle.
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text:
Well known or Well-known is a phrase used in several technical contexts:

 Well-known ports, port number in the range from 0 to 1023
 Well-known text representation of coordinate reference systems, text markup language for representing coordinate reference systems
 Well-known text representation of geometry, text markup language for representing vector geometry objects
 Well-known trade mark, a status granted to famous international trade marks
 Well-known URIs, web services that use /.well-known/ URIs
 Notability, where the term is devoted from

See also

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Sad little Markus after being told by teachers in his kindergarten that St. Nicholas was dead. His mother holds the Christmas ornament of St. Nic that no longer brings him cheer.
'MUMMY, YOU KNOW THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS SANTA CLAUS, he's been dead for over 100 years." In tears, four-year old Markus told his mother what he had heard from teachers in his Linz (Austria) kindergarten.
"An effrontery, how children's illusions are taken without informing us parents," said his mother, Nadine. She is angry about the actions of those responsible.
In Austria there has been discussion of whether the figure of Nicholas, with or without a white beard, should come to schoolchildren. Now this Linz kindergarten in the residential area of Gugl has caused a scandal. "My son was told that Nicholas does not exist, that he died more than 100 years ago," his mother angrily told the Krone newspaper.
What is that ugly metal contraption peeking out from behind the German National Christmas Tree standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin? Oh, it's a Jewish Menorah with a lighted Star of David.
Of all the eight images of "Christmas Trees around the World" posted at Deutsche Welle, Germany's is the only one with a menorah standing beside it.
That is so because Germany, in spite of inventing the lighted tree to celebrate its most beloved winter festival, is a hostage nation - hostage to the people of the Menorah. So the beautiful tree must share its place of honor with the grotesque giant candlestick representing the state of Israel. As recently written by a Spiegel essayist in English: "Israel's security is cemented as a fundamental principal of the German state." And this picture illustrates that so well.
Look for more on this subject from me in the new year. Merry Christmas!
The stiff-arm salute emerged in the US in the late 1800s, preceding both the "Nazi" salute and Mussolini's salute, according to Richard Ellis, professor at Willamette Univ., Salem, Oregon.


How can I do a chunked upload (packet upload)?
Subject How can I do a chunked upload (packet upload)?
back in 2008. Any ideas if the latest release supports it?
If not, can any one on this forum help me with how I can test this service?
I need to upload around 100 MB of video data in chunks.


Identity theft can be devastating to your business and personal finances. There are, however, a number of effective ways you can protect your business and personal information from identity thieves. Below are some of the most effective strategies for protecting your business.
There's no doubt that credit cards and debit cards have changed the way we do business. Instead of carrying cash, these cards provide convenience and safety, as well as tracking of transactions on monthly statements.
You don't have to lose your credit or debit card to become a victim of credit card fraud. Thieves can obtain your credit card account numbers from old receipts or by scanning your card in illegal machines.
Keep an updated list of which employees have company credit, debit or ATM cards, along with their account numbers, expiration dates and limits.
Keep card fraud department phone numbers handy.
Cancel and destroy any unused cards.
Make sure employees sign company cards immediately upon receipt.
Keep track of card receipts. Ask that they be submitted for any expense reimbursements.
Review credit card and bank account statements for unexplained charges.
Shield the keypad when entering your card PIN.
Remind employees to never give their ATM PIN number, credit card PIN number, or account numbers to anyone they don't know, either on the telephone or online.
Order a copy of your firm's credit report at least annually and look for unauthorized applications, unfamiliar credit accounts, credit inquiries, defaults and any delinquencies that you were unaware of.
Many thieves use the telephone to commit fraud. These criminals are looking for unsuspecting individuals who will give them important information, like Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers or bank account numbers. Once they have critical company information, they use it to make fraudulent purchases, obtain credit or to access bank accounts.
Instruct employees to avoid giving confidential company information to anyone outside of the business.
Never give company account numbers or credit information to anyone you don't know.
Remember that PNC Bank will NEVER call you or an employee that is not authorized to access your company account and ask for account or personal information.
Instruct employees to forward any strange calls requesting company information to management immediately.
Choose to do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly when shopping online.
Ask businesses what their privacy policies are and how they will use your information.
Keep a list of all your credit cards and bank accounts along with their account numbers, expiration dates and credit limits, as well as their respective fraud department phone numbers in a safe place.
Instruct employees that all company business dealings are confidential, and consider (with legal counsel) asking each employee to sign a confidentiality statement as a condition of employment.


The Home County Folk League was formed in 1974 and has produced an annual festival in Victoria Park in downtown London every year since then. Home County has also presented other concerts throughout the years, and with its most recent Strategic Plan, formulated in the fall of 2017, will be increasing the scope of these activities. Our founding festival organizers came up with the name H.O.M.E. County in 1974, as an acronym for Huron, Oxford, Middlesex, Elgin -- the four counties in southwestern Ontario surrounding the city of London and area. Home County has decided to further serve these counties by taking performance events to them directly. These events will include concerts and workshops and will feature local artists as much as possible.
The festival name changed from Home County Folk Festival to Home County Music & Art Festival in 2012 to better reflect a broader musical spectrum as well as an increased emphasis on the original crafters and artisans who line the paths of Victoria Park throughout the weekend. We feel that this change has increased the profile of the festival and broadened our audience base. With the hiring, this year, of our new Artistic Director, Tim Fraser, the move to broaden our musical profile while still maintaining a primarily roots music emphasis will continue and expand. The goal is to not only broaden our musical profile, but also our audience demographic profile.
Home County Music & Art Festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2019 with our 46th consecutive festival, continuing our history as London's longest running summer festival!


text:
US opens probe of Cruise robotaxi braking, clogging traffic
US safety regulators are investigating reports that autonomous robotaxis run by General Motors' Cruise LLC can stop too quickly or unexpectedly come to a halt, potentially stranding passengers
General Motors Electric Vehicle
DETROIT (AP) — US safety regulators are investigating reports that autonomous robotaxis run by General Motors' Cruise LLC can stop too quickly or unexpectedly stop moving, potentially stranding passengers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it opened the probe after getting three reports of Cruise autonomous vehicles braking so hard that they were hit from behind by other vehicles. At the time, robotaxis were staffed by human safety drivers.
The agency also has multiple reports of Cruise robotaxis without human safety drivers becoming immobilized in San Francisco traffic, possibly stranding passengers and blocking lanes.
The reports of immobilized autonomous vehicles came from discussions with Cruise, media reports and local authorities, NHTSA said in an investigation document posted Friday on its website.
There have been two reports of related injuries, including serious injuries to a bicyclist, according to the NHTSA crash database.
NHTSA says it will determine how often the problems happen and potential safety issues they cause. The probe, which covers an estimated 242 Cruise autonomous vehicles, could bring a recall.
A message was left early Friday seeking comment from Cruise.
NHTSA said Cruise reported the three rear-end accidents under a 2021 order requiring automated vehicle companies to notify the agency of crashes.
Reports of Cruise robotaxis becoming immobilized in traffic came from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the agency said.
Cruise vehicles may strand passengers in unsafe locations, such as travel lanes or intersections, increasing the risk to exiting passengers. And they can become obstacles to other road users, causing them to make unsafe maneuvers to avoid collisions. "The vehicles may also present a secondary safety risk, by obstructing the paths of emergency response vehicles and thereby delaying their emergency response times," the agency said in the document.
The probe comes at an important time for Cruise, which in June started charging passengers for autonomous rides without human safety drivers in San Francisco. It's also a critical time for the autonomous vehicle industry, with Google spinoff Waymo running a robotaxi service in the Phoenix area with plans to expand to San Francisco. Other companies also are moving toward services without human safety drivers.
San Francisco-based Cruise plans to expand the service to Phoenix and Austin, Texas. The startup owned by GM has been testing autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles for several years.
In September Cruise revealed that it recalled 80 of its driverless vehicles for a software update after one of the cars was involved in an accident that resulted in minor injuries.
Cruise told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that one of its vehicles was making an unprotected left turn at an intersection when it was hit by an oncoming vehicle. The Cruise vehicle had to be towed away from the scene, according to the regulatory filing.
GM acquired a majority stake in Cruise when it was a startup in 2016. The company invested to take 80% stake in the company last May.
General Motors Company


An incendiary, shocking three-part investigation into The Family - Australia's most dangerous cult.
This series spans half a century to dig deep into The Cult of The Family and its dangerous, charismatic leader, Anne Hamilton-Byrne, a one-time yoga teacher whose followers worship her as Jesus Christ reincarnated in the female form. At the heart of the cult is a dark and terrible secret – a bizarre experiment to raise a 'master race' of children who will save the world after Armageddon. Home-schooled in isolation, dressed identically and with dyed blonde hair, these regimented children evoke The Sound of Music and Children of the Damned. There are allegations of abuse, starvation and dosing with LSD and tranquilisers. One former cult member counts sixty people, including adults and children, who she believes have committed suicide while in The Family. But despite a five-year police investigation over three continents, Anne walks away without a jail sentence and just a paltry $5000 fine. Why did she get off so lightly? What was the source of her power? How did she control her enablers? And what was happening in society that allowed the cult to flourish? The series excavates the evidence gathered by the police and takes testimony from cult.
Rosie Jones is an award-winning documentary writer, director and editor. Her most recent film is the feature doc, The Triangle Wars about an epic struggle over development on an iconic Australian foreshore. Previous documentaries include Westall '66: A Suburban UFO Mystery, an investigation of Australia's biggest mass UFO sighting, Obsessed with Walking, an exploration of psychogeography with Booker-nominated writer Will Self, Holy Rollers, a wry look at Christian pilgrimage amid the tensions of Israel (and Visions of Yankalilla, about an apparition of the Virgin Mary in a church in South Australia. She has edited numerous documentaries commissioned by Australian and international broadcasters with recent credits including the feature documentary - James Cameron's Deep Sea Challenge 3D, Queen of the Desert, Suicide and Me, My Brother Vinnie, Wedding Sari Showdown 1 & 2 and The Mascot.
The book 'The Family' was released in Australia, the UK and in the US in 2017.


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Las Vegas Goes Green
Peter Greenberg Worldwide
Locations in this article: Austin, TX Chicago, IL Las Vegas, NV
There might be plenty of ego in Las Vegas, but what about eco? Absolutely. The city famous for taking a gamble is rolling the dice that visitors are willing to spend green for an environmentally friendly Vegas.
Virtuous Traveler Leslie Garrett continues her series of big cities with an unexpectedly eco-friendly twist.
Lots of people think "green" when they think Vegas. But most are already counting the greenbacks they plan on bringing home from the casinos.
But green as in eco? Vegas? You can be forgiven for a certain skepticism.
Yet Sin City has cast an eye toward sustainability.
And, as a city that the world tends to watch, it's prepared to make the notion of eco-friendliness more than just a gamble.
Steve Rypka is president of Green Dream Enterprises, a Vegas-based green living consulting firm. While he admits his city was a little slow out of the gates in terms of moving toward sustainability, in typical Vegas fashion it has now "taken on a life of its own." He points specifically to the leviathan $7-billion undertaking by the MGM Mirage. Project CityCenter, as it is called, aims to be constructed by 2009.
While the sheer size of it—upon completion it will boast seven underground parking lots, a retail and entertainment district hotels, residences and, of course, a casino—would make many environmentalists roll their eyes, Rypka gives MGM kudos for taking the lead and notes that the company is greening its other properties, too.
Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News is also impressed by the magnitude of the MGM project. It's "currently the largest project in the United States in pursuit of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification." What's more, he says, "the historic CityCenter development, combined with the growing acceptance of LEED as a green building standard, has encouraged other hotel owners/developers to follow suit."
Rypka has noticed the trend, too, commenting that "corporations realize that environmental stewardship make good business sense."
It was "good business" that was behind the decision by Lucky Cab Company executives to add hybrids to its fleet. Ten percent of the company's cars are currently hybrids, says Rick Hammes, operations manager for Lucky, with plans to boost that number to half. While he says that customers like the cars and the drivers love them, it was really cost-savings that drove the decision.
"The savings are just so much," he says. "In two years, the cars have paid for themselves."
But hybrid taxis aren't he only green mode of transport in Vegas. Shoppers can hop a hydrogen bus to travel from downtown to the Premium Outlets district.
And to further attract the green that tourists bring with them, the city is offering up some new eco-attractions.
The Springs Preserve opened in June of 2007 and casts a wary glance back at Vegas' past (indeed, the city is situated on the original site for the springs, a verdant valley which led early settlers to call it Las Vegas—Spanish for "the meadows," explains Steve Rypka—and an optimistic eye toward a more eco-friendly future).
Exhibits and classes offer up advice on protecting resources and appreciating area wildlife and flora. There are nature trails, eight acres of gardens with more than 1,200 plant species and, for those interested in sustainable gourmet cuisine, a café operated by Wolfgang Puck is planned for 2009.
Also in the works is a 30-story vertical farm, perhaps not surprisingly the world's first. This mega project—called the World—is expected to cost about $200 million. The idea is that it will grow enough food to feed 72,000 people for a year and provide another larger-than-life tourist attraction.
This one would grow everything from strawberries to bananas, making the popular eco-trend of eating locally a lot more palatable. The project is expected to open its doors in 2010. It might be considered a risky venture to wager that the city of excess and extravagance could re-invent itself as the city of environmental sensibility. But it's one that will likely pay off in spades.
Leslie Garrett is author of The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder, Healthier World.Visit her at www.thevirtuoustraveler.com.
Previously By Leslie Garrett::
Austin: Texas Gold and Green
Carbon Offsets: Travel With a Clean Conscience?
Eco-Oakland: The City You Only Thought You Knew
Chicago: More Green Than Meets the Eye
Eco-Beaches
The Good, The Green and the Downright Crazy Tours
Green Travel Gadgets
Green Honeymoons
Bye Polar: Arctic Travel
Need more interesting travel ideas for Las Vegas? Check out the Luckiest Day in Vegas.
Don't forget to check out our Responsible Travel section for more green travel ideas.
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9 Ultranationalist Trump Supporters Who Are Rapidly Losing Patience With His Presidency
Jacob Sugarman
April 14 | 2017
Reprinted with permission from Alternet.
To understand just how fractious and ungainly the Trump coalition truly is, look no further than his administration. You'll find establishment Republicans (White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry), former Tea Party insurgents (CIA director Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke), Wall Street players (Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin and director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn), and for the time being, clash-of-civilization ethno-nationalists (Deputy Assistant to the President Seb Gorka), not a few of whom seem to be working at cross purposes.
For the first few months of Trump's presidency, this unholy confederacy has largely kept in formation. But in the wake of Trump's recent Tomahawk strike on a Syrian air field, it has begun to splinter, with the president drawing the ire of some of his most loyal troops: the Pepe brigade known as the "alt-right." Now that he has all but banished former Breitbart chair Steve Bannon from the West Wing, Trump could soon be facing a full-fledged mutiny. Even his neo-fascist admirers in Europe have begun to question his commitment to the nationalist agenda on which he campaigned. (That a loose collection of white supremacists and far-right extremists, however vile its motives, has shown a more unified opposition to military intervention than the Democratic Party is another post for another day).
Here are nine Trump diehards who appear to have turned on their beloved president and political ally. One might even hazard to call them "cucks."
1. Richard Spencer
The self-proclaimed founder of the alt-right movement, Spencer is the president of the National Policy Institute, a think tank devoted to "peaceful ethnic cleansing." As recently as November of 2016, Spencer led a conference of more than 200 attendees in a cheer of "Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!" while delivering a Nazi salute.
Spencer was quick to condemn the missile strikes on Syria, calling for Bannon's resignation and likening Trump's presidency to a third term of George W. Bush. The white nationalist, or identitarian as he prefers to be known, even intimated he'd throw his support behind Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) in 2020.
Tulsi Gabbard 2020 #Trumped
— Richard ???????? Spencer (@RichardBSpencer) April 7, 2017
2. Mike Cernovich
While he denies any formal ties to the alt-right, this purveyor of deranged conspiracy theories and dubious vitamin supplements has been one of Trump's most vocal and vitriolic supporters on social media. Just last week, he earned the praise of Donald Trump Jr. for "breaking" the Susan Rice story, a fallacious scandal involving Obama's former national security adviser that has gone precisely nowhere.
Shortly after the airstrikes, the attorney with a "gorilla mindset" took to Twitter to express his disgust:
Anyone who claimed Trump had blind loyalty had a wake up call today. #NoMoreWars
— Mike Cernovich ???????? (@Cernovich) April 7, 2017
I have been streaming for over 10 hours straight. This is how passionate @realDonaldTrump supporters are for #NoMoreWars.
3. Milo Yiannopoulos
Yiannopoulos has mercifully retreated from the public eye after video surfaced of him saying pedophilia was a rite of passage for gay men, but prior to that he was Breitbart's most recognizable personality. He has staged all manner of tedious stunts to express his support for Donald Trump, including bathing in pig's blood, and refers to the 45th president as "daddy."
Trump's about-face on Syria appears to have sent the would-be author into a Freudian tailspin:
4. Paul Joseph Watson
Along with fellow Info Wars host Alex Jones, Watson has spent much of the past year and a half crowing about the globalists in our midst, at least when he's not daring journalists to visit the mean streets of Malmo. (In February, he suggested the small Swedish city had been overrun with violent immigrants.)
Watson's journey on the Trump train appears to have come to an abrupt end:
I guess Trump wasn't "Putin's puppet" after all, he was just another deep state/Neo-Con puppet.
I'm officially OFF the Trump train.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 7, 2017
It's been fun lads, but the fun is over. I'll be focusing my efforts on Le Pen, who tried to warn Trump against this disaster.
5. Ann Coulter
The conservative radio host and political commentator has been a mouthpiece for right-wing reactionaries before 4chan was a glint in the reddit alien's eye. Her racist screeds are legion—she's made a lucrative career of trolling—but lowlights of recent vintage include arguments that Mexicans are "culturally deficient" and that soccer's growing popularity in the States is a product of our moral decay. Earlier this year, she appeared to offer a bizarre half-nod to neo-Nazis on Twitter.
Coulter has been one of Trump's staunchest defenders—she actually published a book with the title In Trump We Trust—but even she has been rattled by his interventionist turn:
Those who wanted us meddling in the Middle East voted for other candidates.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 7, 2017
Trump campaigned on not getting involved in Mideast. Said it always helps our enemies & creates more refugees. Then he saw a picture on TV.
6. Steve King
Last year, the Iowa Congressman argued that white people have "contributed more to civilization" than any other racial "subgroup." Just last month, he defended Holland's far-right presidential candidate Geert Wilders, tweeting "Widers understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can't restore civilization with someone else's babies." In a related story, he was one of Donald Trump's most faithful supporters in Congress throughout the 2016 Republican primary and presidential election.
King has grown increasingly disheartened about Steve Bannon's marginalization in the Trump administration. "A lot of us look at [him] as the voice of conservatism in the White House," he told Politico.
7. & 8. Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen
Farage is one of the architects of Brexit and a member of Britain's far-right U.K. Independence Party; Le Pen is the leader of France's extremist National Front and quite possibly her country's next president. Both have lavished praise on Trump (Farage adoringly called him a "silverback gorilla" after the second presidential debate). And both have criticized his military action in Syria.
"I think a lot of Trump voters will be scratching their heads hard and asking, 'Where does this go from here?'" Farage told British radio host Nick Ferrari. "It plays absolutely into the ISIS narrative. I'm really pretty worried about this."
9. Steve Bannon
It's premature to include Trump's chief strategist on this list; Bannon is still a member of the inner circle, and reports indicate that he's "laying low" so as not to further alienate the president. Yet those same reports seem to suggest that Bannon has grown as disenchanted with Trump as Trump has with Bannon.
According to the Daily Beast, the one-time Breitbart chair calls Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a "cuck" and a "globalist" behind his back. Axios published a separate story Wednesday that revealed Bannon's allies, if not the man himself, are similarly disdainful of Gary Cohn, who they refer to simply as "Globalist Gary."
Steve Bannon has called Breitbart a platform for the alt-right and professed his admiration for any number of fascists and white supremacists.
Jacob Sugarman is a managing editor at AlterNet.
This article was made possible by the readers and supporters of AlterNet.


Makeup is a way to change one's appearance. Previous studies on facial recognition show makeup's potential to obfuscate one's identity or to impersonate the identity of others. It is reasonable to assume that makeup would also affect 3D facial reconstruction because appearance matters a lot to both. In this paper, we investigated how computer vision sees makeup, and whether it is possible to infer the intention of makeup. We evaluated results of 3D reconstruction from images with and without makeup that intends to resemble targets, and images of targets. The result suggested that makeup affects 3D facial reconstruction and computer vision can capture the intention of makeup as it leads changes in facial geometry toward the impersonated faces. In addition, our evaluation found out that the effects of makeup vary depending on the part of the face. Our investigation revealed the impact of makeup on 3D facial reconstruction.


Can't win for trying! | Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want!
← Wait, it gets worse!
We've all been there. Trying hard to do something and it's just not working out the way you want it to. Oh the frustration! What is going on you ask? Well I'm sitting here watching my eLearning website spin its wheels and refuse to load. This is supposed to be my eLearning period, and I've got a ton of stuff to do since I've been out of the school the past couple of days, but I cannot get into the Learning Management System. Grrrr! I've written in the past about technology and how great it is, when it works. And right now, it's not working for me. I guess it gives me time to write my blog, but that's not really what I need to be doing right now.
So things are humming along as we push into the end of March and the Easter break. I'm back to 100%, which has made dealing with all the usual craziness a bit more bearable. It's hard to believe that it's almost April…where does the time go? Soon it will be mid-semester, and as the weather warms it will be harder to keep the kids focus. Hang on and keep pushing forward right?
The railway has been very busy yet again, with what seems like a million and one things going on. One of the biggest pieces of news from the past week was the completion of the new logo for the Silver Mountain Historical Society. We are truly excited! The logo allows us to move forward and really begin to market and promote the society. You can read more about this exciting event on the SMHS blog.
Silver Mountain Historical Society logo.
Progress continues to be made in our attempts to preserve the sites at Leeblain, albeit at a much slower pace than I would like. I never worked on anything of this nature, and certainly never worked through government bureaucracy which can be a tad bit frustrating. I am sure things will move ahead in the coming months, but am anxious to get some safeguards in place before the area is even further disturbed.
Now speaking of Leeblain, I did receive some great news from the publication committee at the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society. They have agreed to publish my article on Leeblain! I could not be more thrilled at this news…I am finally going to be published! I can then truly call myself a "historian." Not that I am all about the title or anything; to me it's more about the acknowledgement of all the work I've done on the railway over the years.
To go along with the article, I will also be presenting a lecture at the Thunder Bay Museum in September. I've actually been asked to kick-off the 2013-2014 lecture series…what a great honour! I've waited a long time to be able to speak at the museum, to be able to share the work I've done on the railway. I'll be sure to write all about it when the time comes.
On Saturday I had the opportunity to head down to Gunflint with the family (not that I needed an excuse anyway) to meet with Gunflint Lodge owner and long resident Bruce Kerfoot. I had been looking forward to this for quite some time, as Bruce was away when I did my presentation back in February. Growing up on the lake, Bruce's experiences and those of his mother Justine (who was a legend in the area), are important to my research. I really wanted to pick Bruce's brain!
Back in January Bruce had sent me a map of Leeblain and it had radically changed my understanding of what that town had really been like. Bruce's explorations and excavations at the site in his younger years revealed more buildings than I knew existed. Then again, all I had to work with was a map that was surveyed in 1911, nearly 20 years after the town was founded. His information has provided me with a wealth of information, and a whole pile of work to do when I next visit the area.
My conversation with Bruce also enlightened me to some of the other history of the Gunflint area. He told me about logging camps that I never knew existed! Of most interest to me however, was the information regarding the removal of rails along the Canadian side of the lake. I had come to the conclusion, based on some historical documentation and maps, that the rails west of North Lake had been removed circa 1915. However, Bruce emphatically stated that his parents removed some of the rails, at least to the eastern end of the lake, during World War II. This radically changes my interpretation of how things unfolded with the railway along this portion of the line.
While I was in the area, I did take a few minutes to snap some photos of the railway in Minnesota, particularly the area around the double trestle at Round Lake. It has peaked my interest again, and I've decided that I am going to try and get down to that area around the beginning of May to poke around and shoot some new video. Getting exciting for hiking season!
Railway grade, Minnesota, March 2013.
Double trestle area, Minnesota, March 2013.
Railway embankment, Minnesota, March 2013.


text:
2018 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON LIFELONG LEARNIING (ISLLE2018)
About Malaysia
Poster ISLLE2018
Tentative Programme
To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia - a bubbling, bustling melting-pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony. Our multiculturalism has made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise and home to hundreds of colourful festivals. It's no wonder that we love celebrating and socialising. As a people, Malaysians are very relaxed, warm and friendly.
Geographically, Malaysia is almost as diverse as its culture. 11 states and 2 federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) form Peninsular Malaysia which is separated by the South China Sea from East Malaysia which includes the 2 states (Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo) and a third federal territory, the island of Labuan.
One of Malaysia's key attractions is its extreme contrasts which further add to this theme of 'diversity'. Towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses built on stilts while five-star hotels sit just metres away from ancient reefs.
Rugged mountains reach dramatically for the sky while their rainforest-clad slopes sweep down to floodplains teeming with forest life. Cool highland hideaways roll down to warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid mangroves.
For the perfect holiday full of surprises, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.
*Further information on the country can also be obtained from the Malaysian government's official portal, www.malaysia.gov.my.
Kuala Lumpur Attractions
What to See in Kuala Lumpur
The most popular and iconic attractions in Kuala Lumpur have come to define the city as a tourist destination – from the unmistakable outline of the Petronas Twin Towers to the colossal standing Buddha image found outside Batu Caves. However, Kuala Lumpur attractions comprise so much more for those who want to look deeper into this fascinating city.....from the colourful Petaling Street market in Chinatown Kuala Lumpur and the famous Sultan Abdul Samad Building in the city's colonial quarter, to the indoor Aquaria KLCC oceanarium and Petrosains Art Gallery in Suria KLCC.
There is a lot of greenery in Kuala Lumpur, with the Lake Gardens home to popular bird and deer parks you can freely visit, or you can head to i-City Shah Alam to take cool photos of its nightly colourful display of LED-lit attractions. We have covered the traditional, popular and unconventional Kuala Lumpur attractions on offer, sorted by location and even theme, making it easy for you to choose where to visit first.
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur
Petronas Twin Towers were once the tallest buildings in the world. Now the world's tallest twin structures, the 88-storey buildings were designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates with both towers joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 58 metre-long, double-decker Sky Bridge.
Standing 452 metres tall, the Petronas Twin Towers retained its world-title claim to fame until 2004 when Taipei's 101 was built, measuring 508 metres tall. Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (opened in 2010) retains the spot as the world's tallest building. Located in the KL city centre, the Petronas Twin Towers' architecture is Islamic-inspired and the buildings primarily house the corporate headquarters of the Petronas Company and other offices.
Menara KL Tower
Along with the Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL Tower is easily Malaysia's most recognizable and popular landmark. Constructed in 1994, the tower stands at 421 metres and effortlessly trumps the Petronas Twin Towers with the highest and most spectacular view of the city. This gleaming tower's spindle-like apex is visible from almost anywhere in Kuala Lumpur.
Menara KL's viewing deck is, at 276 metres, at least 100 metres higher than the Petronas Twin Towers' Skybridge; the view is marvellous during the day and even better at night when you can see the entire sparkling city centre.
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Bukit Bintang is best known as the fashion and entertainment of Kuala Lumpur, but what do you do when you are all washed out on clubbing and retail therapy? Whether on a short visit or a longer stay, listed below are ten must-visit attractions when you are in Kuala Lumpur.
Explore stunning temples and colourful street markets where you can have a top day out without spending a dime, pick up some culinary tricks at a cooking class or even release our inner child at Asia's largest indoor amusement park. All these experiences shape and define Bukit Bintang and to help you enjoy all its finest sites we have come up with a top 10 list so you can get out there and enjoy them for yourselves.
Located approximately 11 kilometres to the north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is a limestone hill comprising three major caves and a number of smaller ones. Considered one of Kuala Lumpur's most frequented tourist attractions, this 100-year-old temple features idols and statues erected inside the main caves and around it. Incorporated with interior limestone formations said to be around 400 million years old, the temple is considered an important religious landmark by Hindus.
Cathedral Cave – the largest and most popular cavern in Batu Caves – houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100-metre-high arched ceiling. At the foot of Batu Hill are two other cave temples – the Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave – which houses numerous Hindu statues and paintings.
Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
At the heart of Kuala Lumpur is an area which never sleeps, and far more colourful and bustling than its bigger and more glamourous neighbours, KLCC & Bukit Bintang. Chinatown, based in Petaling Street, is also known as 'Chee Cheong Kai' (Starch Factory Street), a reference to its roots as a tapioca-producing district. Deeply immersed in Oriental culture, heritage and history, Chinatown is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist spots in Malaysia.
Chinatown is also a well-known bargain hunter's paradise, a place where you can find all sorts of stuff from Chinese herbs to imitation goods. At night, its main market area, Petaling Street, transforms into a lively and vibrant night market, filled with hundreds of stalls offering all kinds of goods at dirt-cheap prices.
Central Market Kuala Lumpur
Central Market is one of KL's most familiar landmarks and a popular tourist attraction. Built in 1928, it is a short walk away from Petaling Street, along Jalan Hang Kasturi. Also called Pasar Seni, it used to be a simple wet market but in the early 1980s was revamped into a handicrafts outlet.
The focus for the city's artistic community, inside the building is a warren of boutiques, handicraft and souvenir stalls with traders selling local merchandise such as authentic Malaysian batik prints and more. Central Market is located on the opposite bank of the Dayabumi Complex and is an art-deco style building with local 'Baroque' trimmings.
Aquaria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur
Aquaria KLCC located on the concourse level of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the 5000sqft Aquaria KLCC is said to be largest aquarium in the world. Home to over 150 species of marine life, its star attractions include scary tiger sharks, lethal sea snakes, blue rays, bright coral fish, seahorses and more.
It's a well-stocked aquarium just begging to be explored, and after a few hours here you'll have seen over 5,000 freshwater and marine creatures, including massive arapaimas, giant groupers, gar fish and more. Some people write it off as a tourist trap, but they're sorely missing out – beyond the big tanks, with gallons of water, filled with necklaces of kelp, coral and mysterious and sometimes menacing sea creatures, is one of the country's foremost sightseeing attractions with real depth and complexity.
UTM School of Professional and Continuing Education (UTMSPACE)
34-50 Jalan Kebudayaan 1, Taman Universiti,
81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Takzim,
Tel : +(6)07-5218159
Fax : +(6)07-5211355
Contact person: NURAFIDAH (Ms)
Email: islle2018@utmspace.edu.my
HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education
Copyright 2018 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON LIFELONG LEARNIING ISLLE2018