text:
Up Against It
Herbert R Kohl
The Devil Has Slippery Shoes: A Biased Biography of the Child Development Group of Mississippi
by Polly Greenberg
Macmillan, 704 pp., $14.95
For a while during the mid-Sixties, the Headstart program seemed to many the most promising of the "anti-poverty" operations carried on by federal and local authorities. Designed for very young children, it involved parents by requiring them to help out in nursery school; it made use of experts in child development and primary education; it had a catchy and politically neutral name, and in no way threatened the existing public schools. The children in the Headstart program were not only too young for the public schools but also too young to have ideas of their own. The defiance found among Job Corps youth couldn't be expected from three and four-year-olds. The parents of Headstart children could also be counted on to teach colors and forms, to feed the children and play with them, and not spend their time organizing politically. Moreover Headstart was ideal in another way. It was a preparation for adjusting to public school. One idea behind it was that if young children were caught early enough they would learn to obey the teacher, observe the rules, and speak standard middle-class English; they would then fit more comfortably into the public schools.
Not all Headstart programs, however, were geared to preparing poor children to pretend that they were members of the middle class or black children to pretend that they were white. Some programs were more humane and concerned with the everyday lives of the children who participated in them. They also took seriously the rhetoric of the Office of Economic Opportunity which called for "community involvement" and they attempted to have programs run by the poor instead of merely hiring the poor for low-level jobs. One of these programs was run by the Child Development Group of Mississippi.
The state of Mississippi had two Headstart programs. One, the official program, was approved by the State Department of Public Education. It employed teachers from the regular school system and tried to prepare poor young black children for the Mississippi public schools. It taught them to sit quietly, raise their hands when they wanted anything, and obey their teachers' commands.
CDGM was different. It grew out of the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964, the summer when the murders of white civil rights workers aroused the anger of liberals against Southern racism. Tom Levin, a white psychologist who was in Mississippi during the "freedom summer," conceived of developing a headstart program that would involve workers from the civil rights movement who had worked in poor communities in the past. He also wanted to involve liberal professional teachers who could learn how to keep out of the way of poor people or train them to take control of their own programs. Levin's notion of control by the poor was a very broad one. He envisioned the poor writing their own proposals, administering their own programs, and controlling their own schools. The political implications of these ideas were obvious—the white bureaucrats and politicians of Mississippi could hardly be expected to allow so much power to fall into the hands of poor blacks who owed them no loyalty.
Senator Stennis's later opposition to CDGM bore this out. What is amazing is that in the early days of the Office of Economic Opportunity it was possible for CDGM to get a grant of several million dollars to set up a series of Headstart nursery schools throughout the state of Mississippi for eight weeks in the summer of '65, and to indicate that they were interested in continuing support for the program.
Tom Levin and Polly Greenberg, who was primarily involved with the educational program, believed in creating schools and "environments" in which children could draw on a variety of materials and experiences and in which they would feel free to follow their own impulses; they wanted to show the children that they could learn from doing things that they would find enjoyable. They advocated the involvement of the local community in creating their own schools and often argued with parents who wanted a more rigid form of education for their children. Their philosophy of education advocated freedom, choice, and close personal contact.
Many parents, however, wanted a stricter system that they thought would quickly prepare their children to read, do arithmetic, and follow rules, and they didn't care much for the liberal educational philosophy of some of the project's directors—a common problem which white liberals and radicals run into these days when they try to teach in predominantly black communities. The whites, disaffected with middle-class and authoritarian education, try to impose their notions of freedom and openness on black parents who often feel their children should be given a standard authoritarian education and then be allowed to reject it once they have become rich enough to afford to do so. There is no easy solution to this problem. Although I myself believe that learning in a free environment is healthier than learning through compulsion, I can't impose my notions of freedom on people who resist them.
Another guiding concept of CDGM was that of "new careers for the poor" advocated by Art Pearl, a professor at the University of Oregon, and Frank Reissman, a professor at New York University. Their idea was to create new ways in which people who were poor, and did not have the standard credentials, could work in such professions as health, social work, and education. Pearl and Reissman conceived of a variety of jobs which performed many of the functions now carried on by professionals; the poor and uneducated were allowed to do these jobs on their way to becoming full professionals. In a forthcoming book on The Atrocities of Education, Art Pearl shows how the work of teachers' aides, assistants, and associates can be designed to allow them to take over much of the activity which full-fledged teachers now perform.
There are some fine ideas in the new careers model. Certainly it is true that poor people have many capabilities that are unused, and there is a need for new blood in the so-called "helping professions" of teaching, social work, health, which are so concerned with their "professional" prerogatives and their power over "clients" that they might more aptly be named the "hindering professions." One problem arises, however. Opening these jobs to new people may become an excuse not to examine what is useful and what is harmful in the job themselves. The new careers training program can resemble the standard headstart program I described before—an attempt to train poor people to conform to middle-class professions which may themselves be irrelevant and obstructive. Of course, this is not true of all new careers. Pearl thinks of new careers as a way of bringing new people into the training institutions and the schools, and thus as a possible strategy to change the old jobs. I am a bit more skeptical.
Self-important "professionals" were, in any case, less evident in CDGM. Tom Levin knew in Mississippi how little relevance much professional knowledge has when applied to the complex human and political situations that faced him in the CDGM. Many of the professionals in the project knew that they had as much to learn about people and education as they had to offer. The professionals were encouraged not only to experiment and question their preconceptions but also to be prepared to be replaced as soon as possible by poor Mississippians. It is interesting to note that, according to Polly Greenberg, the people who found it most difficult to adjust to the atmosphere of improvisation and the experimental spirit of the centers as they developed were teachers with regular credentials.
Not everybody involved in the program was enthusiastic. Many veterans of the Civil Rights Movement were suspicious of receiving Federal money. They feared that they would be coopted, and, worse, that as soon as trouble developed the government would retreat and leave the poor people exposed to the violent racism of the white masters of Mississippi. They were not wrong. If it did nothing else, The Devil Has Slippery Shoes would be valuable for its description of the government's betrayal of the poor people of Mississippi.
The book clearly explains how individual CDGM programs worked, how poor people gained confidence and the ability to take over the direction of the project as they worked with children, or developed programs of their own. It contains much valuable material that will be useful to people setting up nursery schools, as well as a detailed account of the problems in setting up an instant bureaucracy and trying to spend 3 million dollars in eight weeks. But what is most interesting about this book is the infuriating account of the political struggle over the project's survival, an account which takes up at least two-thirds of its pages.
The first summer of the program in 1965 was relatively successful. Dozens of teachers and Movement workers got educational projects going and the reaction of local poor people and their children was often enthusiastic. The price of this success was the wrath of the Mississippi politicians, especially Senator Stennis. Stennis evidently put pressure on Sargent Shriver to eliminate CDGM or face a campaign by powerful conservative senators against the entire anti-poverty program. Shriver, a deft and calculating politician himself, naturally was willing to sacrifice this one program—even though it was the only one likely to accomplish what the anti-poverty program was supposedly designed to do—in order to save the other ones. It took the mobilization of liberal forces throughout the country to force the OEO to relent, and provide support for a full year program after the first summer. Of course there were concessions that CDGM had to make. Tom Levin was fired from his job as director. A series of technicians and financial experts were hired to take over the administration of the budget. The fight for survival at CDGM went on for the next two years until, as was to be expected, the official state Headstart program absorbed CDGM.
In more than 700 painfully detailed pages, Polly Greenberg traces this history. It is a familiar process, which I have gone through myself, as the director of a promising Office of Education program which was overwhelmed before it had a chance to develop independent strategies for its own survival. As one reads The Devil Has Slippery Shoes the question of the education of children recedes: everybody is too busy fighting the bureaucrats, the politicians, the liberal friends who are willing to help once or twice when there is trouble, but who have no stamina for a sustained fight and are unable to devote much time to working with the children. The question becomes mainly a political one.
The Devil Has Slippery Shoes raises, as does another recent fine book on a school that failed to survive, George Dennison's The Lives of Children,* the question of how any interesting program can bring about radical changes in public education in the United States, and yet survive. The history of other projects poses the same question. The Children's Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was a small school run by Bill Ayers. It succeeded in involving both the black community of the city and the students themselves in the direction and the life of the school. The school managed to exist for several years. Ayers and one of the parents of the school ran for the school board in Ann Arbor, came close but didn't win. At that point, the health department, the fire department, all the bureaucratic allies of the school board managed to harass the school out of existence. Other efforts along the same lines were defeated before they got going, such as Eric Mann's Newark Community School.
All of these programs for educational change did not survive because they tried to change the public school system in one way or another. The CDGM tried to create a series of government-supported schools independent of the ones existing in Mississippi. The Children's Community and the Newark Community School tried to create small independent schools that would be a basis for organizing communities to take control of the public schools.
The experimental schools that seem to survive (or at least the ones I know of) give up on the public schools system altogether. Many small private schools are springing up in California, for example, based loosely on the educational views of A. S. Neill or Montessori. Some of these schools charge tuition, and occasionally give scholarships to poor or black people to achieve some kind of social balance. However they are essentially institutions created by frustrated members of the middle class who can afford to bypass the public schools instead of having to fight to change them. Some of these New Schools, as they are called in California, have developed in communal settings to which many young people from the urban hippie community moved. These community schools are usually small and selfcontained; the teachers as well as the students are members of the commune. (The schools put out a bulletin which can be obtained from New Schools Exchange Newsletter, 2840 Hidden Valley Lane, Santa Barbara, California.)
Peter Marin, formerly principal of a New School (Pacific High) and now a resident at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, argued recently in a seminar in which I participated that the public schools are hopeless and should be abandoned altogether. He claims that education will change, and new approaches to learning emerge, only if no one shows up in school at all. I took an opposing view, that it is necessary to fight the schools, infiltrate them, get government or foundation money if possible, find sympathetic parents, help to initiate community control—to try anything because one cannot abandon the children who are forced to attend public school and for whom there is no alternative.
There is however one point on which I agree with Marin and it is a crucial one: The public school bureaucracy in the United States is a tenacious and vicious institution with considerable political power and the ability to destroy people who are financially dependent on it. Neither Federal funds nor grants from the foundations will provide the support necessary to change the public schools if local school districts in which changes are taking place do not continue to receive their share of the city and state budgets. The Ford Foundation, for example, helped to finance a community movement to take over control of the I.S. 201 schools in New York by giving money to groups of Harlem parents. But the I.S. 201 schools were able to continue with some degree of community control only because the city and state gave them financial support, and it is now extremely doubtful that this will continue.
Radical programs in education have been unable to find solid economic support independent of the public school system they are trying to change or take over. I feel that any group or individual who is serious about making public schools more humane and open places in which genuine learning takes place has to develop an autonomous economic base outside the public system itself. I don't mean simply that teachers ought to moonlight or have extra jobs waiting for them if they get fired. I mean rather that teachers have to find ways in which they can continue working with their students whether or not their federal or foundation funds are cut off, and whether or not they are fired by local administrators. Too many of us have retreated from the students we worked with just because the money stopped or the grant ended.
I don't know precisely how this can be done but a group of us in Berkeley are trying to find ways to continue working with our students if the day should come when we are thrown out. Berkeley is a particularly good place for this at the moment—the school district, though suspicious of us, is nevertheless willing to have teachers experiment with new approaches and has given us some support. We are exploring possibilities of opening an educational bookstore-coffeehouse, of getting an offset press and printing curriculum materials and writing by students, of running a theater group, a rock band, a series of shops, a photography studio, an underground cinema, a food cooperative, a housing rehabilitation service, etc.
All of these activities will depend on the participation of our students, and should offer the kinds of possibilities for learning about themselves and society that we try to provide in the classroom. We want this program to have a realistic economic relation to the Berkeley community, providing things and services that people will need and be willing to pay for. This plan could be of benefit to students by letting them do work of a kind that interests them and enabling them to learn skills; and it could help us to survive. We are also trying to sponsor teacher-training seminars and to provide places for teachers to meet and share ideas and strategies for working in the classroom and dealing with administrators. Our existence is still tenuous but we think we have found a way to stay in the community we want to change.
The CDGM was absorbed. However Liberty House, a poor people's cooperative based in Mississippi, with retail outlets for its handicrafts and pottery in New York and Berkeley, has somehow managed to survive. Suppose the people involved in CDGM had put the time and effort they wasted on writing proposals and haggling with Sargent Shriver and his staff into building a modest economic base for the support of the CDGM nurseries, which provided badly needed help for the poor in Mississippi. I suspect that some of the veterans of CDGM might still be in Mississippi and, by now, relatively autonomous. They might also have provided a model for a new cluster of institutions that would surround the schools and add much to the defective education in them, while creating an economic base for a sustained attack on the public school system itself.
More by Herbert R Kohl
'The Primal Scene of Education': An Exchange
'Let the Trumpet Sound'
Closing Time for Open Ed?
John W. Kalas
Marvin Hoffman
Teachers Newsletter
Reviewed in this issue on page 27. ↩
An Illegal War
Neal Ascherson
The Fate of the Union: Kennedy and After
Chuck Hagel and Dianne Feinstein
Statements on 'A Solution for the US–Iran Nuclear Standoff'
Lars-Erik Nelson
The Perils of Secrecy
Mad About Guns
Another Dirty Secret
A New Year's Wish


text:
Assemblyman Michael Reilly continues push for school safety
Posted Mar 23, 2019
Michael Reilly, seen here in this 2018 Advance photo, is continuing his push for locking school front doors and hiring retired police officers to supplement school security. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A year after calling for better security in the city's public schools, Michael Reilly, now in the state Assembly, is continuing his push to lock front doors of academic buildings and hire retired police officers to supplement security.
The retired NYPD lieutenant and former president for the District 31 Community Education Council (CEC), Reilly has been calling for locked doors and retired police officers in schools since the 2012 mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
Now as the South Shore assemblyman, Reilly is researching prior pieces of school safety legislation that were introduced and reintroduced -- in the hopes of contributing knowledge from his law enforcement and education backgrounds.
"There's a lot of things I came up with as an advocate the last 10 years talking about school safety, and they were introduced into legislation," Reilly said. "They may not have all passed, but they still continue to be reintroduced. They're repeatedly working on getting that legislation passed and those are the things that I'm going to continue looking into and shaping as much as I can now that I'm a member as well."
Under the city's current Department of Education (DOE) policy, all doors in school buildings are locked and alarmed except for the front door, which is monitored by one or more school safety agents.
The CEC made a proposal in 2012, titled Comprehensive School Safety and Security, that would call on the DOE, the NYPD and the state legislature to adopt several security measures. Some proposals included: locking all doors; installing security cameras at main entrances to school buildings; and designating retired police officers as special patrolmen to supplement school security.
In 2014, the state legislature created grant funding for schools to improve safety, which included cameras and buzzer entry systems for the school's front doors. The grant funding wasn't available to New York City because it excluded any school district with a population of more than 1 million students.
New York City adopted some proposals, including updating public address systems and increasing Building Response Team training.
"The hurdle now is to get the mayor's office to adopt these laws into New York City," Reilly said. "The laws that were passed already to allow retired police officers to be hired to supplement school security, the locking of the front doors to schools, adding alarms."
Parents call for locked front doors at city public schools
Parents are pushing for locked doors and security cameras in the city's public schools.
The assemblyman said he is continuing to research school safety bills already introduced and will focus on expanding communication between agencies during a school emergency, specifically between the DOE and emergency personnel.
"These options are already there for New York City," he said. "The problem is that the current administration doesn't want to implement these common sense solutions for school security."
The DOE deferred comment to the mayor's office, which said the agency works closely with the NYPD to ensure all school buildings are secure.
"We trust the NYPD to keep our students safe," said Olivia Lapeyrolerie, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office.
The mayor's office added that it has detailed safety protocols and procedures in place, including instructing all schools to staff the main entrance with a School Safety Agent and locking all other exit doors.
INCREASE TRANSPARENCY
Earlier this month, Reilly introduced a bill to reform the Panel for Education Policy in a bid to make the panel's actions more transparent.
The panel has 13 members, with eight being appointed by the mayor and five appointed by each borough president. Under the bill, the mayor would lose one appointment and the public advocate would gain an appointment on the panel.
Reilly's bill would also prevent members from being removed without cause if they vote against what their appointee wants. It would set a two-year term limit for panel members, and set mayoral control to a term of five years.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
package com.replica.replicaisland;

import com.replica.replicaisland.CollisionParameters.HitType;
import com.replica.replicaisland.GameObject.ActionType;

public class NPCComponent extends GameComponent {
  private float mPauseTime;
  private float mTargetXVelocity;
  private int mLastHitTileX;
  private int mLastHitTileY;

  private int mDialogEvent;
  private int mDialogIndex;

  private HitReactionComponent mHitReactComponent;

  private int[] mQueuedCommands;
  private int mQueueTop;
  private int mQueueBottom;
  private boolean mExecutingQueue;

  private Vector2 mPreviousPosition;

  private float mUpImpulse;
  private float mDownImpulse;
  private float mHorizontalImpulse;
  private float mSlowHorizontalImpulse;
  private float mAcceleration;

  private int mGameEvent;
  private int mGameEventIndex;
  private boolean mSpawnGameEventOnDeath;

  private boolean mReactToHits;
  private boolean mFlying;
  private boolean mPauseOnAttack;

  private float mDeathTime;
  private float mDeathFadeDelay;

  private static final float UP_IMPULSE = 400.0f;
  private static final float DOWN_IMPULSE = -10.0f;
  private static final float HORIZONTAL_IMPULSE = 200.0f;
  private static final float SLOW_HORIZONTAL_IMPULSE = 50.0f;
  private static final float ACCELERATION = 300.0f;
  private static final float HIT_IMPULSE = 300.0f;
  private static final float HIT_ACCELERATION = 700.0f;

  private static final float DEATH_FADE_DELAY = 4.0f;

  private static final float PAUSE_TIME_SHORT = 1.0f;
  private static final float PAUSE_TIME_MEDIUM = 4.0f;
  private static final float PAUSE_TIME_LONG = 8.0f;
  private static final float PAUSE_TIME_ATTACK = 1.0f;
  private static final float PAUSE_TIME_HIT_REACT = 1.0f;

  private static final int COMMAND_QUEUE_SIZE = 16;

  public NPCComponent() {
    super();
    setPhase(ComponentPhases.THINK.ordinal());
    mQueuedCommands = new int[COMMAND_QUEUE_SIZE];
    mPreviousPosition = new Vector2();
    reset();
  }

  @Override
  public void reset() {
    mPauseTime = 0.0f;
    mTargetXVelocity = 0.0f;
    mLastHitTileX = 0;
    mLastHitTileY = 0;
    mDialogEvent = GameFlowEvent.EVENT_SHOW_DIALOG_CHARACTER1;
    mDialogIndex = 0;
    mHitReactComponent = null;
    mQueueTop = 0;
    mQueueBottom = 0;
    mPreviousPosition.zero();
    mExecutingQueue = false;
    mUpImpulse = UP_IMPULSE;
    mDownImpulse = DOWN_IMPULSE;
    mHorizontalImpulse = HORIZONTAL_IMPULSE;
    mSlowHorizontalImpulse = SLOW_HORIZONTAL_IMPULSE;
    mAcceleration = ACCELERATION;
    mGameEvent = -1;
    mGameEventIndex = -1;
    mSpawnGameEventOnDeath = false;
    mReactToHits = false;
    mFlying = false;
    mDeathTime = 0.0f;
    mDeathFadeDelay = DEATH_FADE_DELAY;
    mPauseOnAttack = true;
  }

  @Override
  public void update(float timeDelta, BaseObject parent) {

    GameObject parentObject = (GameObject)parent;

    if (mReactToHits && mPauseTime <= 0.0f &&
		parentObject.getCurrentAction() == ActionType.HIT_REACT) {
      mPauseTime = PAUSE_TIME_HIT_REACT;
      pauseMovement(parentObject);
      parentObject.getVelocity().x = -parentObject.facingDirection.x * HIT_IMPULSE;
      parentObject.getAcceleration().x = HIT_ACCELERATION;
    } else if (parentObject.getCurrentAction() == ActionType.DEATH) {
      if (mSpawnGameEventOnDeath && mGameEvent != -1) {
	if (Utils.close(parentObject.getVelocity().x, 0.0f) && parentObject.touchingGround()) {
	  if (mDeathTime < mDeathFadeDelay && mDeathTime + timeDelta >= mDeathFadeDelay) {
	    HudSystem hud = sSystemRegistry.hudSystem;
	    if (hud != null) {
	      hud.startFade(false, 1.5f);
	      hud.sendGameEventOnFadeComplete(mGameEvent, mGameEventIndex);
	      mGameEvent = -1;
	    }
	  }
	  mDeathTime += timeDelta;
	}
      }
      // nothing else to do.
      return;
    } else if (parentObject.life <= 0) {
      parentObject.setCurrentAction(ActionType.DEATH);
      parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = 0;
      return;
    } else if (parentObject.getCurrentAction() == ActionType.INVALID ||
	(!mReactToHits && parentObject.getCurrentAction() == ActionType.HIT_REACT)) {
      parentObject.setCurrentAction(ActionType.MOVE);
    }

    if (mPauseTime <= 0.0f) {
      HotSpotSystem hotSpotSystem = sSystemRegistry.hotSpotSystem;
      if (hotSpotSystem != null) {
	final float centerX = parentObject.getCenteredPositionX();
	final int hitTileX = hotSpotSystem.getHitTileX(centerX);
	final int hitTileY = hotSpotSystem.getHitTileY(parentObject.getPosition().y + 10.0f);
	boolean accepted = true;

	if (hitTileX != mLastHitTileX || hitTileY != mLastHitTileY) {
	  final int hotSpot = hotSpotSystem.getHotSpotByTile(hitTileX, hitTileY);
	  if (hotSpot >= HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_RIGHT && hotSpot <= HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SLOW) {
	    // movement-related commands are immediate
	    parentObject.setCurrentAction(ActionType.MOVE);
	    accepted = executeCommand(hotSpot, parentObject, timeDelta);
	  } else if (hotSpot == HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.ATTACK && !mPauseOnAttack) {
	    // when mPauseOnAttack is false, attacks are also immediate.
	    accepted = executeCommand(hotSpot, parentObject, timeDelta);
	  } else if (hotSpot == HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_RUN_QUEUED_COMMANDS) {
	    if (!mExecutingQueue && mQueueTop != mQueueBottom) {
	      mExecutingQueue = true;
	    }
	  } else if (hotSpot > HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NONE) {
	    queueCommand(hotSpot);
	  }
	}

	if (mExecutingQueue) {
	  if (mQueueTop != mQueueBottom) {
	    accepted = executeCommand(nextCommand(), parentObject, timeDelta);
	    if (accepted) {
	      advanceQueue();
	    }
	  } else {
	    mExecutingQueue = false;
	  }
	}

	if (accepted) {
	  mLastHitTileX = hitTileX;
	  mLastHitTileY = hitTileY;
	}
      }
    } else {
      mPauseTime -= timeDelta;
      if (mPauseTime < 0.0f) {
	resumeMovement(parentObject);
	mPauseTime = 0.0f;
	parentObject.setCurrentAction(ActionType.MOVE);
      }
    }
    mPreviousPosition.set(parentObject.getPosition());
  }

  private boolean executeCommand(int hotSpot, GameObject parentObject, float timeDelta) {
    boolean hitAccepted = true;
    final CameraSystem camera = sSystemRegistry.cameraSystem;

    switch(hotSpot) {
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.WAIT_SHORT:
	if (mPauseTime == 0.0f) {
	  mPauseTime = PAUSE_TIME_SHORT;
	  pauseMovement(parentObject);
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.WAIT_MEDIUM:
	if (mPauseTime == 0.0f) {
	  mPauseTime = PAUSE_TIME_MEDIUM;
	  pauseMovement(parentObject);
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.WAIT_LONG:
	if (mPauseTime == 0.0f) {
	  mPauseTime = PAUSE_TIME_LONG;
	  pauseMovement(parentObject);
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.ATTACK:
	if (mPauseOnAttack) {
	  if (mPauseTime == 0.0f) {
	    mPauseTime = PAUSE_TIME_ATTACK;
	    pauseMovement(parentObject);
	  }
	}
	parentObject.setCurrentAction(ActionType.ATTACK);
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.TALK:
	if (mHitReactComponent != null) {
	  if (parentObject.lastReceivedHitType != HitType.COLLECT) {
	    mHitReactComponent.setSpawnGameEventOnHit(
		HitType.COLLECT, mDialogEvent, mDialogIndex);
	    if (parentObject.getVelocity().x != 0.0f) {
	      pauseMovement(parentObject);
	    }
	    hitAccepted = false;
	  } else {
	    parentObject.setCurrentAction(ActionType.MOVE);
	    resumeMovement(parentObject);
	    mHitReactComponent.setSpawnGameEventOnHit(HitType.INVALID, 0, 0);
	    parentObject.lastReceivedHitType = HitType.INVALID;
	  }
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.WALK_AND_TALK:
	if (mDialogEvent != GameFlowEvent.EVENT_INVALID) {
	  LevelSystem level = sSystemRegistry.levelSystem;
	  level.sendGameEvent(mDialogEvent, mDialogIndex, true);
	  mDialogEvent = GameFlowEvent.EVENT_INVALID;
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.TAKE_CAMERA_FOCUS:
	if (camera != null) {
	  camera.setTarget(parentObject);
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.RELEASE_CAMERA_FOCUS:
	if (camera != null) {
	  GameObjectManager gameObjectManager = sSystemRegistry.gameObjectManager;
	  camera.setTarget(gameObjectManager.getPlayer());
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.END_LEVEL:
	HudSystem hud = sSystemRegistry.hudSystem;
	if (hud != null) {
	  hud.startFade(false, 1.5f);
	  hud.sendGameEventOnFadeComplete(GameFlowEvent.EVENT_GO_TO_NEXT_LEVEL, 0);
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.GAME_EVENT:
	if (mGameEvent != -1) {
	  LevelSystem level = sSystemRegistry.levelSystem;
	  if (level != null) {
	    level.sendGameEvent(mGameEvent, mGameEventIndex, true);
	    mGameEvent = -1;
	  }
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_UP_FROM_GROUND:
	if (!parentObject.touchingGround()) {
	  hitAccepted = false;
	  break;
	}
	// fall through
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_UP:
	parentObject.getVelocity().y = mUpImpulse;
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	mTargetXVelocity = 0.0f;
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_DOWN_FROM_CEILING:
	if (!parentObject.touchingCeiling()) {
	  hitAccepted = false;
	  break;
	}
	// fall through
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_DOWN:
	parentObject.getVelocity().y = mDownImpulse;
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	if (mFlying) {
	  mTargetXVelocity = 0.0f;
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_LEFT:
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = -mHorizontalImpulse;
	parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
	if (mFlying) {
	  parentObject.getVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	  parentObject.getTargetVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_RIGHT:
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mHorizontalImpulse;
	parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
	if (mFlying) {
	  parentObject.getVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	  parentObject.getTargetVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_UP_RIGHT:
	parentObject.getVelocity().y = mUpImpulse;
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mHorizontalImpulse;
	parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_UP_LEFT:
	parentObject.getVelocity().y = mUpImpulse;
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = -mHorizontalImpulse;
	parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_DOWN_RIGHT:
	parentObject.getVelocity().y = mDownImpulse;
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mHorizontalImpulse;
	parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_DOWN_LEFT:
	parentObject.getVelocity().y = mDownImpulse;
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = -mHorizontalImpulse;
	parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_TOWARDS_PLAYER:
	int direction = 1;
	GameObjectManager manager = sSystemRegistry.gameObjectManager;
	if (manager != null) {
	  GameObject player = manager.getPlayer();
	  if (player != null) {
	    direction = Utils.sign(
	    player.getCenteredPositionX() -
	    parentObject.getCenteredPositionX());
	  }
	}
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mHorizontalImpulse * direction;
	if (mFlying) {
	  parentObject.getVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	  parentObject.getTargetVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_GO_RANDOM:
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mHorizontalImpulse * (Math.random() > 0.5f ? -1.0f : 1.0f);
	if (mFlying) {
	  parentObject.getVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	  parentObject.getTargetVelocity().y = 0.0f;
	}
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_STOP:
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = 0.0f;
	parentObject.getVelocity().x = 0.0f;
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SLOW:
	parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mSlowHorizontalImpulse * Utils.sign(parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x);
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_1_1:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_1_2:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_1_3:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_1_4:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_1_5:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_1:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_2:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_3:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_4:
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_5:
	selectDialog(hotSpot);
	break;
      case HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NONE:
	if (parentObject.touchingGround() && parentObject.getVelocity().y <= 0.0f) {
	  //resumeMovement(parentObject);
	}
	break;
    }
    return hitAccepted;
  }

  private void pauseMovement(GameObject parentObject) {
    mTargetXVelocity = parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x;
    parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = 0.0f;
    parentObject.getVelocity().x = 0.0f;
  }

  private void resumeMovement(GameObject parentObject) {
    parentObject.getTargetVelocity().x = mTargetXVelocity;
    parentObject.getAcceleration().x = mAcceleration;
  }

  private void selectDialog(int hitSpot) {
    mDialogEvent = GameFlowEvent.EVENT_SHOW_DIALOG_CHARACTER1;
    mDialogIndex = hitSpot - HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_1_1;

    if (hitSpot >= HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_1) {
      mDialogEvent = GameFlowEvent.EVENT_SHOW_DIALOG_CHARACTER2;
      mDialogIndex = hitSpot - HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NPC_SELECT_DIALOG_2_1;
    }
  }

  private int nextCommand() {
    int result = HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NONE;
    if (mQueueTop != mQueueBottom) {
      result = mQueuedCommands[mQueueTop];
    }
    return result;
  }

  private int advanceQueue() {
    int result = HotSpotSystem.HotSpotType.NONE;
    if (mQueueTop != mQueueBottom) {
      result = mQueuedCommands[mQueueTop];
      mQueueTop = (mQueueTop + 1) % COMMAND_QUEUE_SIZE;
    }
    return result;
  }

  private void queueCommand(int hotspot) {
    int nextSlot = (mQueueBottom + 1) % COMMAND_QUEUE_SIZE;
    if (nextSlot != mQueueTop) { // only comply if there is space left in the buffer
      mQueuedCommands[mQueueBottom] = hotspot;
      mQueueBottom = nextSlot;
    }
  }

  public void setHitReactionComponent(HitReactionComponent hitReact) {
    mHitReactComponent = hitReact;
  }

  public void setSpeeds(float horizontalImpulse, float slowHorizontalImpulse, float upImpulse, float downImpulse, float acceleration) {
    mHorizontalImpulse = horizontalImpulse;
    mSlowHorizontalImpulse = slowHorizontalImpulse;
    mUpImpulse = upImpulse;
    mDownImpulse = downImpulse;
    mAcceleration = acceleration;
  }

  public void setGameEvent(int event, int index, boolean spawnOnDeath) {
    mGameEvent = event;
    mGameEventIndex = index;
    mSpawnGameEventOnDeath = spawnOnDeath;
  }

  public void setReactToHits(boolean react) {
    mReactToHits = react;
  }

  public void setFlying(boolean flying) {
    mFlying = flying;
  }

  public void setPauseOnAttack(boolean pauseOnAttack) {
    mPauseOnAttack = pauseOnAttack;
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home A&E
Opera House welcomes return of The Sweetback Sisters
The Sweetback Sisters return to the Pocahontas County Opera House April 25, at 7:30 p.m., bringing their signature combination of classic country, swing, honky tonk and old-time music.
While the Sweetback Sisters may not be blood relations, their precise, family- style harmonies recall the best of country music from the Everly Brothers to the Judds, as well as the spirited rockabilly energy of Wanda Jackson. Like the artists they admire, the Sweetbacks are concerned with the traditional subjects of heartbreak, revenge, remorse and staying strong in the face of relationships gone wrong – albeit with a contemporary sensibility.
"We're a renegade retro band that mixes up country, swing and honky tonk," singer Zara Bode said. "Sometimes what we deliver is straight out of the 1950s; other times it's BR549 meets The B52s."
Their energetic stage show balances yesterday's hits – from Patsy Cline to Hazel Dickens – with contributions from the band's songwriters, Bode, Emily Miller, and Webster County-native fiddler Jesse Milnes. While the music may be energetic and sassy, sentiments of heart-ache, loss and longing are dominant.
"Those are the themes that make country songs resound with listeners," Miller said. "We don't only want to make classic sounding records, but a classic feeling records, as well."
The music of The Sweetback Sisters includes a few subtle surprises – ensemble vocals a la The Sons of the Pioneers on "Cowboy Ham and Eggs," honky tonk piano on "It Won't Hurt When I Fall Down From This Bar Stool," the raw passion of Bode's vocal on Hazel Dickens' old-time ballad "Don't Put Her Down, You Helped Put Her There."
On their 2011 release, "Looking For a Fight," the Sisters and their talented brothers continue to forge their own sound by delivering arrangements that combine the soul of classic Nashville with an undeniably contemporary edge.
Tickets are $10. Youth 17 and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available in advance at pocahontasoperahouse.org and at the Fourth Avenue Gallery in Marlinton.
The Pocahontas County Opera House is located at 818 Third Avenue in Marlinton. Performances at the Opera House are informal, family-friendly and open to all. The entrance and main seating are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend; special accommodations can be arranged upon request by calling 304-799-6645.
The Opera House Performance Series is presented with financial assistance through a grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Support is also provided by Pocahontas County Drama, Fairs and Festivals, the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Pendleton Community Bank, the Law Office of Roger D. Forman, Brightside Acres, Glades Building Supply and Burns Motor Freight.


text:
AI CMD Ashwani Lohani back with railways, appointed Chairman of the Railway Board
by Navin Berry August 24, 2017 March 14, 2019 Leave a Comment on AI CMD Ashwani Lohani back with railways, appointed Chairman of the Railway Board
Not that Railway minister Suresh Prabhu or former Railway Board Chairman A.K Mital can personally be held responsible, neither can anybody assume that their resignations will eliminate any immediate chances of neglect or disaster. But, if they are meant to shock the system and act as a warning bell down the line, suggesting heads can roll if government functionaries do not wake up, such decisions can make a difference. To this extent, the choice of Ashwani Lohani is both desirable and welcome. He has a practical, hands-on, no-nonsense attitude. He knows the railways and comes from the same cadre – he is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) officer of 1981 batch and has also served as DRM, Delhi Division; Director, National Rail Museum; and Chief Administrative Officer, Rail Alternate Fuel during his previous assignments. He understands transportation, and now that he has worked with an airline, can bring a higher level of confidence to the entire business of rail transport – not just railway stations, but on-board trains and also their distribution etc.
In a major re-jig in the administrative circle, following a spate of accidents in the recent months which has brought unwanted attention on the state of safety standards in the railways, Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani was named the Chairman of the Railway Board, following the resignation of A.K. Mital.
Mital, a Principal Secretary-level officer, tendered his resignation to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. His resignation came in the backdrop of the Railway Ministry decision of sending Railway Board Member Engineering and Secretary-level officer Aditya Kumar Mittal on leave, holding him responsible for the Utkal Express train accident at Khatauli railway station near Muzaffarnagar. At least 21 passengers succumbed to their injuries and over 80 people were injured.
Lohani takes charge at a time when the railways is in the midst of a major upgradation of infrastructure and passenger facility. Given his enviable track record as an administrator, the move should have positive ramifications for Indian railways, and consequently, travel and tourism in the country. Meanwhile, one can only say that given the larger turn-around at Air India, his transfer would be Air India's loss with gain for Indian railways.
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Bags are packed. Gear is prepped.
So we are off to ride part of the Great Divide trail in the United States. Will be updating this blog on the road. Look forward to building up some trailers when we get back in October.
adventure, great divide, test riding. permalink.


Advanced Machine Tools (AMT) announced today that it has changed its name to MultiCam Southeast.
Our new name clearly communicates our purpose and relationship with MultiCam. We are proud to represent this excellent brand and organization in the southeastern states.
AMT changed its name to MultiCam Southeast to better reflect its primary business as a distributor of CNC machinery made by MultiCam, Inc. of Dallas, Texas. AMT and its representatives have been proud to represent MultiCam, Inc. in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee since AMT's founding in 1998. AMT operates two MultiCam Technology Centers – in Suwanee, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina – from which it provides sales, service, and support to MultiCam customers in the region.
AMT's new name, MultiCam Southeast, will improve the company's ability to communicate with customers and suppliers. Existing customers should rest assured that the company's ownership and operations are not changing as a result of this announcement.
Advanced Machine Tools (now MultiCam Southeast) is an authorized distributor of MultiCam CNC routers, CNC plasma, CNC laser, CNC waterjet, and CNC knife cutting systems, as well as CAD/CAM software, CNC router bits and tooling, plasma consumables, heaters and coolers, training classes, and technical services. MultiCam Southeast serves the woodworking, metal fabrication, plastic fabrication, sign manufacturing, composite, solid surface, and HVAC markets, among others. Based in Suwanee, Georgia, MultiCam Southeast also has a Technology Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.multicamsoutheast.com.


text:
UCHealth Today
Innovative care
Live Colorado
UCHealth Today >
How to find 14 of Colorado's best playgrounds. Bonus: getting kids outside will make them healthier and happier.
By: Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth
It's spring at last and perfect weather kids young and old to get outside and play.
And play they should, says Dr. Mihir Patel, a family medicine doctor at UCHealth Primary Care Clinic – Castle Rock.
"Kids are naturally drawn to other kids. They want to run. They want to play. They want to jump," said Patel.
Yet, screens distract many children and keep them indoors far more than children of previous generations. So families have to make a concerted effort to escape electronics and get children moving.
"Outdoor play away from the house and away from screens is really valuable because our pediatric obesity rate is on the rise. About one-third of children in the U.S. are now overweight or obese, which is staggering," Patel said. "We really need to make an effort to get outside."
Patel and his colleagues recommend at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day for children and no more than 60 minutes of screen time.
"Video games, iPads and computers all take up their time. It's up to parents to limit screen time and get kids outside," said Patel.
He loves heading with his 5-year-old daughter to one of their favorite places, Bison Park in Castle Rock. Patel also enjoys mountain biking and playing basketball there with neighborhood buddies.
Patel advises everyone to wear plenty of sunscreen, dress appropriately for the weather and bring water.
Here's a list of some of the top playgrounds in Colorado so you can find your favorites. Make it your family's hobby to find new great parks and go play!
People of all abilities can play at Inspiration Playground in Fort Collins. Photo courtesy of the City of Fort Collins.
Inspiration Playground, Fort Collins
This very special playground lets all children of all abilities explore, play and connect. Inspiration, which is located in Spring Canyon Community Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Road, is what's known as a "universally accessible" playground. It's for all people of all ages.
Inspiration Playground in Fort Collins is one of Colorado's best playgrounds. Photo courtesy of the City of Fort Collins.
The playground features smooth surfaces and wide ramps that are accessible for kids with wheelchairs, walkers and support braces. Signs are in Braille for children with vision impairment. During the summer months, the playground also has a popular water feature with a splash pad that sends water squirting into the air. "It's very inclusive. The playground allows everyone and anyone to do what kids are supposed to do: play together, connect, be outdoors and enjoy the space," said Brenda McDowell, Adaptive Recreation Coordinator for the City of Fort Collins.
Fossil Creek Park, Fort Collins
Do you have a child who loves dinosaurs and other pre-historic creatures? Then you'll want to check out this park at 5821 S. Lemay St. in Fort Collins. Children can climb up on a giant mammoth and swing from its tusks. They can sneak through the jaws of a shark and pretend to be archaeologists. The aptly named park ties in with Colorado's rich geological history and also features a skate park and outdoor hockey courts for older children and teens. There are also great walking paths, tennis courts and a splash park in the summer. Great for all ages.
Woodbriar Park, Greeley
Forget the plastic. Greeley designers sculpted this one-of-a-kind natural playground from good old-fashioned trees, rocks and dirt in the area. The new park just opened in August. Check it out at 2910 18th St. in Greeley.
Little Toots Park, Steamboat
As the name implies, this playground is best for little ones. This park at 55 12th St. is close to the river and has shade for playing in the summer. The library is just over a bridge and there's easy access to Steamboat's popular Core Trail.
Central Colorado
Arapahoe Ridge Park, Boulder
This small gem is nice for little explorers. It features a unique natural, red-rock structure with caves and tunnels. It's like a mini Flatirons for the young set. Nice for kids ages 2 to 5. Newly renovated with a bouncy play surface and fresh equipment. Adjacent to Eisenhower Elementary School, 1220 Eisenhower Drive.
Arvada Volunteer Fire Fighters Park, Arvada
Arvada Volunteer Firefighters Park is a great spot for children who love firefighters. Photo courtesy of the City of Arvada.
Does your child love donning firefighter duds, grabbing the hose and sliding down poles? Then this red playground is for you. Let your little ones climb around and pretend their responding to blazes. The park is located at 8351 Club Crest Drive and features a pavilion dedicated to the many volunteer fire fighters who protected Arvada for decades.
Rainbow Park in Silverthorne
Voted Summit County's best park multiple times, Rainbow Park features a large playground plus a smaller one for kids under five with a castle theme. A popular walking path encircles the park, which has an array of other facilities including a skate park, and courts for sand volleyball, basketball and tennis. Find the park adjacent to the Silverthorne Recreation Center at 430 Rainbow Drive.
Dancing at Central Park in Denver's Stapleton neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Stapleton Denver.
Central Park in Stapleton, Denver
Denver's third largest park features big fun on its playgrounds. There are play structures for kids of multiple ages arranged in circles along with fountains, a climbing wall and sledding for winter. Address: 8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
South metro area and southern Colorado
Westlands, Greenwood Village
What's not to love about a giant playground where you can make your entrance by sliding down a huge, curvy slide? Westlands has won oodles of awards as the best destination playground in the Denver area. And the kudos are well deserved. The playgrounds lie within a basin. There are structures for children (and teens) of all ages. Then, when kids tire of swinging and sliding, they can climb up fun structures or climbing walls and catch a view of the fields nearby. A picnic area is perfectly placed for both mountain views and supervision of the play areas below. You can find Westlands at 5701 S. Quebec St.
Belleview Park, Englewood
This park is known for its fun ditch for wading along with a miniature train and a petting zoo. There are fees for the petting zoo and the train, but the playground and water play are free and plenty of fun. You can find Belleview Park at 5001 S. Inca Dr.
Centennial Center Park, Centennial
A large splash pad area provides cool water fun for hot summer days. Centennial Center Park features multiple large playgrounds and slides that accommodate lots of kids along with plenty of green space and an outdoor amphitheater. It's a perfect park for picnics, birthday parties and listening to music during concerts. The park is located at 13050 E. Peakview Ave.
John Venezia Community Park, Colorado Springs
This park sports another great splash pad along with newer play structures that are "universally accessible" for all children. The turf is soft and bouncy. There's a great sand area for building castles and the playground features swings of all sorts. Find this park at 3555 Briargate Pkwy.
Nancy Lewis Park, Colorado Springs
This lovely little park is named for the first woman Parks director in Colorado Springs and has benefited from a recent re-do. The playground is accessible for children of all abilities and the park features a fun croquet area and putting green in addition to a pond with a waterfall and fountain. There's also a meditation area where parents can breathe deeply for a moment or two while admiring the peaceful mountain views. Find Nancy Lewis Park at 2615 Logan Ave.
Memorial Park, Woodland Park
This charming park features a nice playground and beautiful view of Pikes Peak. The nearby pavilion has a stone fireplace and is a great place for picnics. The park was recently renovated. There's also a fishing pond and the stream that feeds into the pond is a great place for smaller children to get their feet wet. Memorial Park is at 117 Center Ave.
Contributors included Kati Blocker, Erin Emery, Deb Idleman and Kim Vecchio.
Pediatrics care Primary care To do in Colorado
Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth
Katie Kerwin McCrimmon is a proud Colorado native. She attended Colorado College, thanks to a merit scholarship from the Boettcher Foundation, and worked as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park during summer breaks from college. She is also a storyteller. She loves getting to know UCHealth patients and providers and sharing their inspiring stories.
Katie spent years working as a journalist at the Rocky Mountain News and was a finalist with a team of reporters for the Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of a deadly wildfire in Glenwood Springs in 1994. Katie was the first reporter in the U.S. to track down and interview survivors of the tragic blaze, which left 14 firefighters dead.
She covered an array of beats over the years, including the environment, politics, education and criminal justice. She also loved covering stories in Congress and at the U.S. Supreme Court during a stint as the Rocky's reporter in Washington, D.C.
Katie then worked as a reporter for an online health news site before joining the UCHealth team in 2017.
Katie and her husband Cyrus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, have three children. The family loves traveling together anywhere from Glacier National Park to Cuba.
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text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using DSkin.Forms;

namespace Aurora_Player
{
    public partial class EndUserLicense : DSkinForm
    {
        public EndUserLicense()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void EndUserLicense_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            duiTextBox1.InnerScrollBar.Fillet = true;
        }
    }
}


So after many long hours I finally completed the front-end challenges! Here's my progress so far: https://mary-chapman.github.io. There's still a few bugs I need to work on, and I also need to make the site and most projects more mobile friendly but for now I kind of just want to move on so I can learn React and Sass.
I didn't check for responsiveness, or even check any of the links. I just wanted to tell you that it looks amazing. Good work!
It's probably for the best you didn't check for responsiveness haha. Thanks for the feedback!
Well, I've just uploaded my attempt and found that I've screwed that responsiveness thing up royally. My codepen preview is unusable. Yay.
So you're still rocking it here.
Yeah, I decided not to use Codepen and use Github instead. From what I've heard, employers really like to look at Github accounts. It takes a little time to learn but in my opinion it's worth it.
Yeah I'm going to be shifting over right away. I've been using Git for a bit in my other language projects, and although it's really easy to fork a codepen project, there's no way to merge it, so you have to go around deleting similarly named projects like some kind of heathen.
Also, I've got to get used to putting the whole shebang into a page, and using an IDE to code with decent folding and code completion really helps to organize the project. What I found with this codepen project is that now that I realize I have a problem in the code, it's going to take forever to re-organize - where if I was using brackets, I'd be ready to start fixing immediately.
Looks good, but might be worth mentioning that 'Simon says' and 'Simon' are unrelated games, and also that you spelled 'calculator' wrong.
The spacing in your header looks somewhat odd to me on Chrome on Mac, like the words are too high, and I would add some kind of space to the very bottom of the page, even if its just empty. It seems like your projects hug the bottom right now.
Dig the colors. Your tribute page is especially nice.
Looks great. Really like how you added all of the projects from the course into one website.
Hi-- I really loved the look of these. I didn't look through everything, but in general it seemed like there was a bit more life to the design in most of these.
Downsides: I played through the tic-tac-toe a bit and it seems like you didn't code in win/lose conditions properly. I couldn't duplicate this, but on one occasion I had "won" and then the computer played an O over my X and made me lose. On another occasion it had seemed like a tie, but it reported that I had won. Also, in the simon game, you might need to add in some delay or something where user input is disabled after a mistake is made. I somehow made it so that there were a few seconds where it was playing through two iterations of the pattern at once, slightly offset, which sounded neat, but was probably not intended…Anyway, those are minor things, and even after I bugged the simon game it still worked and I was able to continue with the game. Keep up the great work.
I really like the colors and the style of your portfolio page. Also interesting to read about moving projects fro codepen to github in this thread.
What I do miss from your page is a footer with contact information. Right now the last three projects just hang there over a void so to speak.Where does the page really end?
I see that you github handle and e-mail is in the jumbotron. That works fine, but I did miss it at first glance since I was expecting the contact information in a footer. That is of course an expectation you can decide to not meet, but in that case I think the contact information could perhaps be more prominent and added to the navbar to guide our eye.


Whey 2 Be! is pleased to announce the launch of Whey 2 Be! protein-packed gourmet cookies that feature cold-pressed whey protein. Each Whey 2 Be! cookie delivers 20 grams of protein, and with straight-from-the-cookie-jar flavour, offering a sweet way to boost protein intake.
Perfect for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, those with an active lifestyle, busy moms, college students and even kids' lunch boxes, Whey 2 Be! protein cookies are available in five flavours to satisfy everyone's taste buds – Chocolate Chip, Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Cran-Orange White Chocolate and Peanut Butter. Whey 2 Be! cookies are all-natural and certified Non-GMO by Greenleaf Non-GMO.
Once more of a niche focus for athletes, the perceived health benefits of protein has broadened and today consumers across many demographic groups are looking for new, interesting and great-tasting ways to boost their protein intake. Whey 2 Be! cookies are made with cold-pressed whey protein, a nutrient powerhouse which in studies has been associated with a myriad of health benefits including better mood, healthier immune system and even cancer-fighting properties.
"Protein is a hot nutrition trend, with research pointing to its role in promoting satiety and preserving lean muscle mass," says Peggy O'Shea Kochenbach RDN, LDN. "Whey protein is one of the most highly bio-available types of protein, meaning it is easily absorbed and utilised by the body. If you're looking to boost your protein intake, whey protein is an excellent option."
Whey 2 Be! Protein Cookies are available in 3.25 ounce grab and go packages. They are available online as well as at select retail locations around the U.S. Find out more here.


This little guy was giving to me yesterday. I was told she is 8 month old. She came in a little Critterbox which is 6.5 inch long and 5 inch high and 3 inch deep.
I measured her and she is 2.5 inch long from nose to vent and with tail 4 inch long. I couldn't weigh her yet.
She is so small to me because my Lily is so big. I not so familiar with the geckos yet but I din do a lot of reading about them.
So maybe you guys could tell me or give me some pointers I should look into. Is she really 8 month old or do you think she is younger. Could I put her into a bigger Critterbox or should I leave her into the one she is in now. When do you thing it would be alright to put her into a dropper Exo Terra terrarium?
Is it alright to handle her a few times through out the day?
Crested Geckos (Correlophus ciliatus - previously called Rhacodactylus ciliatus) are a New Caledonian species. As we are only permitted to keep Australian species, you probably won't find many people here that have any experience with them. There is still the chance that an international member may chime in, though I haven't seen cresties mentioned here before.
This looks like a reasonable starting point for some info.
Although we cannot help you too much with this species, thanks for sharing.
What an impressive looking gecko Im sure these guys would be very popular amongst keepers here in Aus if we could keep them.
that is super cute!!! We miss out on so much!


Helgi is a board member in PEAR as well as being a long time developer, QA member, website wrangler and everything in between for PEAR.
Helgi currently is the head of R&D at echolibre in addition to giving multiple talks at various PHP conferences all over the world and writing articles and monthly columns for PHP|Architect.
Ever wondered if there is a easier way to manage releases for your website ? You will learn how to harness the power of the PEAR installer to make the release process as lean, mean and slick as possible so even your interns will be able to handle it. Read more.


The As Seen On TV Products database is the most comprehensive catalog of known TV Products. Search the database to find products, descriptions, images, upc codes, and approved seller information.
Atomic Power Popper BullsEye Shooter - Air Powered Foam Ball Blaster fires 12 soft foam balls in rapid succession. Pump action - quicker you pump, the faster and further the balls shoot. Shoots up to 20 feet!
Ball Cap Buddy as seen on TV is a plastic hat washer that keeps your hat's shape while washing. Just put the cap inside, then toss Ball Cap Buddy in the dishwasher or washing machine.
Toilet Basketball makes the perfect gag gift. Perfect your skills using our new toilet basket ball set! Allows you to practice your aim in private. Hoop attaches to the back of your door allowing you to play ball even in the loo.
Hog Wild Popper Squeezable soft foam shooter, shoots soft foam balls up to 20 feet! Includes soft foam balls. It is air powered- the harder you squeeze, the further it shoots! Safe for both indoor and outdoor play!


In this article, Jonathan Cohen argues that the goals of education need to be reframed to prioritize not only academic learning, but also social, emotional, and ethical competencies. Surveying the current state of research in the fields of social-emotional education, character education, and school-based mental health in the United States, Cohen suggests that social-emotional skills, knowledge, and dispositions provide the foundation for participation in a democracy and improved quality of life. Cohen discusses contemporary best practices and policy in relation to creating safe and caring school climates, home-school partnerships, and a pedagogy informed by social-emotional and ethical concerns. He also emphasizes the importance of scientifically sound measures of social-emotional and ethical learning, and advocates for action research partnerships between researchers and practioners to develop authentic methods of evaluation. Cohen notes the gulf that exists between the evidence-based guidelines for social-emotional learning, which are being increasingly adopted at the state level, and what is taught in schools of education and practiced in preK–12 schools. Finally, he asserts that social, emotional, ethical, and academic education is a human right that all students are entitled to, and argues that ignoring this amounts to a social injustice.
A Recipe for Progress or Peril?


text:
Q: Haskell, parse error in input 'if' I can't for the life of me figure out why there is a problem with this if statement (haskell noobie.) Can anyone help me out?
fst3 (a,b,c) = a
snd3 (a,b,c) = b
trd3 (a,b,c) = c
fst4 (a,b,c,d) = a
snd4 (a,b,c,d) = b
trd4 (a,b,c,d) = c
qud4 (a,b,c,d) = d

fractionalKnapsack (x:xs) =
    fractionalKnapsack (x:xs) []

fractionalKnapsack (x:xs) fracList =
    ((fst3 x),(snd3 x),(trd3 x),(snd3 x) / (trd3 x)):fracList
    if length (x:xs) <= 1
    then computeKnapsack sort(fracList)
    else fractionalKnapsack xs fracList

computeKnapsack (x:xs) = (x:xs)

A: There are a few things wrong with this code. You have two different definitions for fractionalKnapsack, each taking a different number of arguments, clearly that causes the compiler some trouble. Also the parse error on the if statement is because there shouldn't actually be an if statement where you are trying to put one, you have already completed the definition of the function before you reach the if statement.
It might help a little bit if you better explained what you are trying to do, or what you expect to be happening with the code you wrote.

A: : is the "cons" operator. It cons-tructs a list by providing the "head" element on the left, and a "tail" list on the right
ghci> 1 : [2,3,4]
[1,2,3,4]

You can pattern match on lists with more than 0 elements using :.
ghci> let (x:xs) = [1,2,3,4]
ghci> x
1
ghci> xs
[2,3,4]

The way that you are using (x:xs) in your code hints that you do not yet have a firm grasp of the definition of lists nor of pattern matching. Rather than using
if length (x:xs) <= 1

it is more common to simply pattern match. A simple example:
howMany :: [a] -> String
howMany [] = "Zero"
howMany [x] = "One"
howMany (x:xs) = "Many"

Haskell functions can be defined with a sequence of "equations" like this where you pattern match on the possible cases that you are interested in. This brings us to the other issues with your code, which are:

*

*The equations for fractionalKnapsack don't match. One has 1 argument, the other has 2. You probably meant to name the second fractionalKnapsack'.

*Neither of the fractionalKnapsack definitions handles the empty list case. I'm not sure about this; this may be acceptable if you know that it will never be given an empty list.

*None of your functions have type signatures. Type inference can infer them, but it is usually a good idea to write the type signature first, to express your intent for the function and guide you in its implementation.

*The second definition of fractionalKnapsack doesn't make sense. There can only be one expression after the = sign, but you have provided two, separated by a newline. This is invalid Haskell and explains why there is a parse error on "if": because whatever compiler/interpreter you were using did not expect the beginning of another expression!

A:
computeKnapsack sort(fracList)

That's probably an error too. It should be computeKnapsack (sort fracList) (or, equivalently, computeKnapsack $ sort fracList).
When you do computeKnapsack sort(fracList) it's equals to doing computeKnapsack sort (fracList), which is equivalent for doing computeKnapsack sort fracList, which means: "give computeKnapsack two arguments: sort and fracList".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Combine two great items – the Fleece Blanket Throw and the Clear-View Drawstring Bag – for one ideal outing accessory.
Price includes up to a 3-color/1-position imprint on fleece blanket and a 1-color/1-position imprint on drawstring bag.
I had good communication with AnyPromo as well. The printing was high quality and turned out well.
Love the load and feel within the hands very comfortable.... The imprint looks great. I used to order this item quite often, those are great! The logo design is ideal, the colors are great.


Stillwater Area High School seniors Abdulaziz Mohamed and Nikhil Kumaran are believed to be the first students of color to serve as student council presidents. The two not only hope to run an effective council, but they also aim to amplify the voices of their peers. Principal Rob Bach says the young men are impressive and have done an amazing job making a difference in the school.
Read the Stillwater Gazette article.


Copyright (c) 2002-2018, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU with 8167760 kB of memory.
Verifying image bootflash:/m9700-sf3ek9-kickstart-mz.8.3.2.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
Verifying image bootflash:/m9700-sf3ek9-mz.8.3.2.bin for boot variable "system".
Syncing image bootflash:/m9700-sf3ek9-kickstart-mz.8.3.2.bin to standby.
Syncing image bootflash:/m9700-sf3ek9-mz.8.3.2.bin to standby.
Module 6: Waiting for module online.
2018 Nov 23 15:48:10 apex-211 %LICMGR-2-LOG_LIC_NO_LIC: No license(s) present for feature ENTERPRISE_PKG. Application(s) shut down in 96 days.
2018 Nov 23 15:41:12 apex-211 %LICMGR-2-LOG_LIC_NO_LIC: No license(s) present for feature ENTERPRISE_PKG. Application(s) shut down in 96 days.
2018 Nov 23 15:42:36 apex-211 %SYSMGR-2-HASWITCHOVER_PRE_START: This supervisor is becoming active (pre-start phase).
2018 Nov 23 15:42:36 apex-211 %SYSMGR-2-HASWITCHOVER_START: Supervisor 6 is becoming active.
2018 Nov 23 15:42:36 apex-211 %SYSMGR-2-SWITCHOVER_OVER: Switchover completed.
2018 Nov 23 15:42:41 apex-211 %LICMGR-2-LOG_LIC_NO_LIC: No license(s) present for feature ENTERPRISE_PKG. Application(s) shut down in 96 days.
2018 Nov 23 15:42:41 apex-211 %LICMGR-2-LOG_LIC_NO_LIC: No license(s) present for feature MAINFRAME_PKG. Application(s) shut down in 120 days.
2018 Nov 23 15:52:05 apex-211 %PMON-SLOT2-2-PMON_CRIT_INFO: Port Monitor Critical Information: Config download success.
[# ] 0%2018 Nov 23 15:57:44 apex-211 %PMON-SLOT4-2-PMON_CRIT_INFO: Port Monitor Critical Information: Config download success.
[# ] 0%2018 Nov 23 16:00:00 apex-211 %PMON-SLOT10-2-PMON_CRIT_INFO: Port Monitor Critical Information: Config download success.
switch# You have now upgraded the Cisco NX-OS software in your switch.
Verifying image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.8.3.2.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
Verifying image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.8.3.2.bin for boot variable "system".
Notifying services about the upgrade.
Module 1: Refreshing compact flash and Upgrading bios/loader/bootrom/power-seq.
Upgrade can no longer be aborted, any failure will result in a disruptive upgrade.
Freeing memory in the file system.
Reloading the kernel to proceed with the upgrade.
All telnet and ssh connections will now be temporarily terminated.
Continuing with installation process, please wait.
The login will be disabled until the installation is completed.
Motorola, e500v2 with 4088552 kB of memory.
Fabric mode supports only one configuration of 8G FC modules - 4/44 Host-Optimized 8G FC module.
install all kickstart m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.8.1.1b.bin system m9250-s5ek9-mz.8.1.1b.
Verifying image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.8.1.1b.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
Verifying image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.8.1.1b.bin for boot variable "system".
Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.8.1.1b.bin.
Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.8.1.1b.bin.
Extracting "bios" version from image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.8.1.1b.bin.
Verifying image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.7.3.1.DY.1.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
Verifying image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.7.3.1.DY.1.bin for boot variable "system".
Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.7.3.1.DY.1.bin.
Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.7.3.1.DY.1.bin.
Extracting "bios" version from image bootflash:/m9250-s5ek9-mz.7.3.1.DY.1.bin.
kickstart image file is: bootflash:///m9250-s5ek9-kickstart-mz.7.3.0.D1.1.bin.
Motorola, e500v2, core 0 with 4155752 kB of memory.
Verifying image bootflash:/boot-fs9148 for boot variable "kickstart".
Verifying image bootflash:/isan-164 for boot variable "system".
Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/isan-164.
Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/boot-fs9148.
Extracting "bios" version from image bootflash:/isan-164.
Verifying image bootflash:/isan-164u for boot variable "system".
Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/isan-164u.
Extracting "bios" version from image bootflash:/isan-164u.
Upgrade can no longer be aborted, any failure will result in a disruptive upgrade. <---Note that after this point you cannot abort the upgrade.
Rebooting the switch to proceed with the upgrade.
[# ] 0% -- FAIL. Return code 0x401E0066 (request timed out).
Please issue "show install all failure-reason" to find the cause of the failure.<---system prompt to enter the show all failure-reason command.
Install has failed. Return code 0x401E0066 (request timed out).
Please identify the cause of the failure, and try 'install all' again.
Service: "cfs" failed to respond within the given time period.


Do you need a writing website for your business?
What purpose could it serve that you don't already have covered?
One step many people want to avoid is the drudgery of finding clients. You can type until your fingers bleed with nary a complaint, but as soon as it comes down to chasing leads, cold-emailing potential clients, or advertising your services on social media, you'd rather head back to Upwork to compete against dozens of other proposals for every job. However, if you can create a website that's optimized enough that it shows up at the top of the results page when a business types "good (insert your niche) copywriter" into the Google search bar, the worst part of your job is now automated!
Having a business website has its other perks, such as allowing you to get a more personalized email address. It's the small stuff that separates the wheat from the chaff, and seeing emails from (YourName)@(YourWebsite).com, rather than a generic Gmail account will make a difference. Acquiring clients is a foot race between you and your competitors; having your own personalized website email address is one of the small things you can do to pull into that half-step lead on the competition.
It represents that you are a business.
I have a strong dislike for displaying myself as a freelancer; I think of freelancers as people in transit, bouncing from job to job without a constant stream of income. When I picture freelancers, I see them working on small projects for entrepreneurs and startups, rather than working alongside industry leaders.
When an optician sets up a shop with no other doctors, she isn't a freelance optician, she's running an optometry business. When you set up a writing website, you shouldn't identify yourself as a freelance writer. Rather, you should treat yourself as a writing business. In the same way that the optician hires assistants to handle the menial, day-to-day work, you hire designers to create new logos, editors to look at your work from a different angle, etc. And if you're viewed as a business, you can find higher paying clients and charge higher rates!
There's a psychological component to opening your website. Your potential customers have already taken the first step towards hiring you, now you can let your copywriting skills, aesthetic web design, and testimonials handle the rest. Everything they could possibly need to know about you is at their fingertips.
If you've come to the conclusion that you need a website – you do – here are some tips that you should know when you start creating it.
What to name your writing website?
The first question you should be addressing when it comes to naming your site is, "do I need to purchase a site with a .com top-level domain (TLD)?". At one time, years ago in Google's infancy, the answer was an uncompromising yes. Sites with any other TLD were penalized in Google's search rankings. The times have changed now. Google doesn't care what your TLD is. .net, .org, .nasa; it doesn't matter. However, you should still try to find a suitable domain name that is available with the .com TLD as people are still more likely to remember your URL when compared to others.
Next, you need a URL. You need a niche at this point, as your name should be representative of what content you will be writing. In my case, I'm writing in the field of real estate, so I use the domain, restructuredwriting.com to show my commitment to the field. It's clear that my business is writing, and the name has some bearing in the real estate niche. But be sure to keep it short and sweet to be more memorable.
Should your name be in the URL (ie. [yourname]writing.com)? I would argue that it shouldn't, as you should be trying to be seen as a writer for a business, rather than as a freelance writer. And, if someday down the road you've turned the website into its own business with staff writers and a stable of clients, you may find yourself inclined to sell the domain which would be markedly more difficult with your name in the attached.
I'll be creating more articles on website design where I'll explore more in-depth in the site creation process, but if you're interested in purchasing a domain name for future use, I recommend Namecheap. I bought my first site from them, and every one since. Their customer service has been great throughout our interactions.
*That's an affiliate link, meaning I make a commission of 15% if you buy anything from them, but the price for you doesn't change. Names tend to cost between $10-$15, so you won't be contributing to me buying my second private jet anytime soon.
10% of this site's revenue goes to bringing the internet to communities that are lacking (places where the wifi's weak in other terms). As of June 2017, more than 3.6 billion people still do not have access to the internet. Developing countries that observe just a 10% increase in internet access add 1.2%-2.5% to their GDP.
Representing yourself as an independent writing business rather than as a freelance writer means doing the little things that freelance writers often shirk. Creating a logo that's representative of yourself as well as your niche is another step that you can take in differentiating yourself.
When a potential client has a variety of suitors, and they find your site, a logo may push them in your direction. Why? It's a little step that shows them that you're committed to paying attention to detail which is what they're looking for in projects that they assign. No, creating a logo won't radically change your business, but it won't hurt your business either.
Where should you place your logo on your page?
Left logos are considered more "unique" than those placed on the right.
In their study, only 4% of users failed to navigate home in a single click when the logo was placed on the left. When the logo was placed in the center of the page, 24% of users failed to navigate home in a single click.
Accordingly, you should consider putting your logo in the top left corner of your website, as it helps with brand recall and site usability.
95% use only one or two colors.
Blue and red are the most popular colors, being used in 33% and 29% of their logos, respectively.
93% are simple enough to be recognized at a smaller size.
What pages should you include on your website?
According to research from Dr. Chao Liu, the Faculty Research Associate at the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education, it's imperative to communicate your value proposition within 10 seconds if you hope to gain several minutes of user attention. The longer they spend on your website, the higher the odds that you can convert them into new clients.
How do you go about snaring them?
Put copywriting to use. Use a variety of techniques to grab their attention, create a paragraph or two that inspire some interest, build up their desire, and finally call them to action with a button or link that sends them to your contact page.
If you're not catering to small businesses, do not call yourself a freelancer. You're a writer with [YourCompanyName].
Be sure to clarify your niche as much as possible without oversaturating the page. If a potential client sees that you're a writer in the field of [YourNiche] with the proper experience and technical expertise that they're looking for, rather than a generalist, your odds of closing the deal have increased exponentially.
The CopyHackers have a terrific case study on how they managed to boost the sales for one client by 108% by making minor changes to their homepage. They used an e-commerce one-pager website, meaning they have their entire site on the homepage which isn't what we're creating here, but there are lessons learned nonetheless.
The difficulty that arises with writing your 'About' page is that there are too many directions in which you can run with it. Do you mention your awards? First person or third person? Should you talk about your collection of taxidermy cats or is that too personal?
An About page helps to establish loyalty or a more personal bond between you and your potential client, as getting a glimpse into the history and inner workings of your company ease some of the unfamiliarity out of your relationship.
The first thing you should do is find a professional photo of yourself and post it in there. Right off the bat, having a photo of the human being behind the writing will give your clients a sense of familiarity with the person behind their commissioned pieces.
Base the personality of your writing on the type of clients that you're creating for.
Personality plays a role in differentiating yourself to customers. If you're intending to write blog posts about how to push through modern parenting and your 'About' page has the technical terminology and personality of a Ph.D. student's thesis on Exothermic Reactions of Boronic Particles in a Vacuum, you may not receive an abundance of offers. Create a website that has a healthy dose of your voice and personality, but make sure it's suited towards the desires of your client-base.
What about writing in first person or third person?
I've actually found both to be a solid solution to this age-old problem. Rather than just one or the other, write a short blurb about yourself in the third person, and then finish off the bulk of the section in your first-person voice.
Don't forget that despite this section being about you and your company on the surface, this page will still serve as a platform on which to sell your services. Rather than writing paragraphs on your history and awards, direct the narrative to how you can help your clients. The aim is to show that hiring you will benefit them in a tangible way.
After all is said and done, don't leave them at the bottom of your About page with no direct action to hire you! You've just finished selling yourself to them, they're ready to buy, give them a little nudge by implementing a call to action, and a "contact me now" link.
If your potential clients are still having doubts about your skills after reading through the rest of your site, this is where you close the deal. There is no better evidence than testimonials from current and former clients to the effect that their businesses have seen growth entirely due to your work.
This is also the perfect spot to show off social proof. The editor of America's largest pet magazine gave you a sparkling review? Highlight it, bold the text, add a banner, make a cake with the review written in icing and post a photo of it dead square in the middle of your page. Be sure that everybody is noticing how great that well-known editor thinks you are. You've just gone from a nobody writer knocking on doors for work, to a top-tier dog food reviewer. With premier testimonials, you can start charging premier rates and working fewer hours.
People are fickle. If you don't lead them by the hand through the process of hiring you, they'll float away on the breeze that is the internet. Create your contact page as simplistically as possible. Create a contact form that instructs your potential clients to fill in their name, business, inquiry, and email so you can respond to them. If you'd like to have more manageable requests, you could throw in a drop-down bar to allow them to choose which of your services that they're interested in (blog posts, long-form articles, extended contracts, etc.).
Why not post your email?
Just posting your email address adds an extra step that will turn some clients off of your services. They'd have to copy your email, open up another tab, load their page, compose a new message, and finally send it off. Have the contact page do the work for them. The more direct you can make the process, the higher your conversion rates.
Finally, don't overthink it. The best step you can take is just starting. Buy the domain, create a bare-bones website and improve on it over time, or find a developer to build it for you. As long as you have some samples of your writing and a clear-cut niche, you'll come out of the gate flying.


text:
Moderate plaque psoriasis may resolve with apremilast
While there are biologics and systemic agents designed to control the severe form of plaque psoriasis, few treatments work as well in moderate plaque psoriasis. Apremilast may be a game changer.
"The study reinforces the fact that we have to look at those moderate patients quite seriously. We know that their quality of life is significantly affected by their psoriasis, even though they may have 10 percent or less BSA involvement. We need to be a little more aggressive in trying to get the disease under control for these patients." ---- Linda Stein Gold, M.D., Henry Ford Health System, West Bloomfield, Mich.
The phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 inhibitor apremilast may be an effective treatment option for patients with moderate plaque psoriasis, shows a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD).
Treating patients who have the moderate form of the disease can be challenging, but in this study, patients who had never before tried any systemic treatment sustained symptom improvements through week 52 reporting only 5-10 percent affected body surface area.
"We have good treatments for patients with very localized disease and for those with more severe widespread disease. But we don't have great treatments for moderate disease," said first author Linda Stein Gold, M.D., of Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield, Mich.
Topical agents are usually not effective in these cases, nor are they practical in treating the degree of affected body surface area associated with moderate plaque psoriasis. But then, nor do these patients have enough affected body area to warrant treatment with biologics or other systemic agents.
Biologic agents are usually reserved for the most severe cases. "Often patients must have greater than 10 percent BSA, or an affected area of the body - such as the palms and soles - that have a tremendous impact on quality of life. For the rest who fall between 5-10 percent BSA, there are limited safe options," Dr. Gold said.
The Gold et al. study published in the February 2018 issue of Journal of Drugs in Dermatology included 136 patients who completed 52 weeks (placebo/apremilast, n=50/64; apremilast/apremilast, n=86/121). For the first 16 weeks, patients received either apremilast 30 mg twice daily or placebo. At week 16, the placebo group was switched to open-label apremilast treatment, and the active treatment group continued with apremilast through week 52.
At week 52, improvements in all efficacy end points observed at week 16 were maintained in the apremilast/apremilast group. The mean reduction from baseline PGA x BSA improved 55 percent. Patients in the placebo/apremilast cohort showed improvements of 42.2 percent. During the open-label phase, the proportion of patients who had achieved at least 75 percent reductions in PGA x BSA at week 16 (35.1 percent) held steady, reaching 42.1 percent at week 52.
The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) improvements observed through week 16 were maintained over 52 weeks among patients in the apremilast/apremilast group (-4.4), while those in the placebo/apremilast group achieved reductions of 5.1.
"About percent 38 percent of patients reached IGA of clear or almost clear at week 16, and when we followed these patients over the course of a year, about 47 percent were clear or almost clear. The drug seems to be efficacious, and we also saw improvements in quality of life," Dr. Gold said.
Because investigators enrolled only systemic drug-naïve patients with BSA 5-10 percent, it's unclear whether the results extend to patients who have had exposure to systemic therapies, or those with less than 5 percent BSA.
"The study reinforces the fact that we have to look at those moderate patients quite seriously. We know that their quality of life is significantly affected by their psoriasis, even though they may have 10 percent or less BSA involvement. We need to be a little more aggressive in trying to get the disease under control for these patients," Dr. Gold said.
Adverse events affected less than 5 percent of patients through week 52. These events included diarrhea (28 percent), nausea (19 percent), headache (15.2 percent), nasopharyngitis (10.4 percent), upper respiratory tract infection (7.1 percent), vomiting (5.7 percent), and decreased appetite (5.2 percent).
Because investigators were looking specifically for side effects based on phase three results, safety results may be somewhat biased. Investigators also observed one serious treatment-related adverse event- diverticulitis - which resolved without requiring a dosage change; and, three treatment-related cases of depression and one of suicidal ideation.
The findings are similar to a study reported in the August 2017 issue of JDD in which apremilast-treated patients had significantly higher mean reductions from baseline in PGA x BSA scores (48.1 percent versus 10.2 percent, p<0.0001) at week 16. The investigators based primary and secondary endpoints on PGA x BSA over the more complex Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). PGA x BSA may be more sensitive for patients with less severe psoriasis, researchers wrote.
Linda Stein Gold MD, Jerry Bagel MD, Mark Lebwohl MD, et al. "Efficacy and Safety of Apremilast in Systemic- and Biologic-Naive Patients with Moderate Plaque Psoriasis: 52-Week Results of UNVEIL," Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. February 2018.
Dr. Gold has been an investigator and/or consultant for LEO Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Stiefel/GlaxoSmithKline and Celgene, which funded the study.
Treatments for Plaque Psoriasis | News


If the rave reviews from Cannes are to be believed, Channing Tatum could earn his very first Oscar nomination for the surprisingly deft dramatic performance he gives in Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher. Based on the chilling real-life story of two brothers and Olympic wrestlers, Mark (Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), who become destructively entangled with an eery du Pont heir and sponsor (played by Steve Carell), the film has earned early praise for the performances it culls from its two more comedy-bent actors. Take a sneak peak at both Tatum and Carell in the trailer below and read Richard Lawson's full review of the potential awards contender here.
The film opens in theaters on November 14 and has already earned one award—the best-director honor at Cannes for Miller, who previously directed Philip Seymour Hoffman to an Oscar in 2005's Capote.