L'Hotel in the Rue des Beaux Arts on the left bank in Paris is utterly exceptional, the perfect bijou, boutique hotel. We pulled up in the opaque white Ferrari 488 convertible right outside the door, popped the front trunk and handed our bags over to the concierge. The entrance is discreet and easily missed, but once inside there is an impressive hall that extends past the front desk, though the bar, into the restaurant and ends in the exterior garden with its wonderful scalloped fountain.
The decor is flawless, a mixture of plush upholstered green velvet, rushed purple silk on the walls, burnished red marble pillars with gold candelabras and faux leopard rugs. A modern distillation of luxury Parisan style crafted with impeccable taste, that whilst lavish, immediately comforts and pampers you. To reach the lift up to the rooms you pass through the enormous light well that towers up through the middle of the building to the roof, think of the tower of Pisa from the inside, with all the suites radiating from the centre. They have 20 rooms in six styles (it is the smallest 5 star hotel in Paris), Mignon, Bijoux, Grand, Chic, the Oscar Wilde Suite and the Apartment. We were staying in the Apartment, which is the penthouse suite, so the lift dropped us at the pinnacle of the light well, with an inspiring view of the arches spiralling down to the ground floor.
The Apartment suite is sublime, a consummate Parisian flat. You enter into a spacious living room with a deep comfortable sofa, polished mahogany antique drawers and writing desks, two armchairs, marble columns with plush red curtains and a balcony overlooking the courtyard and rooftops of St Germain Des Pres. The large double bedroom is immediately to the right, think boudoir meets sybaritic luxury, with a gold framed oil painting above the bed, chandelier and red silk fabric with flower patterns lining the walls. The bathroom is on the left, complete with marble basins, bath and shower. The balcony has two chairs and a round cafe table on it with monochromatic striped cushions, and a view to die for. Named after Louis-Antoine, Cardinal of Noailles, the décor is inspired by the Cardinal's robes and makes rich use of red velvet drapes to immerse you in the period.
We immediately ordered some champagne and marvelled at the never ending blue sky streaked with fluffy white clouds broken by the chimneys and spires of the Église de Saint Germain des Prés. Then we called the concierge to book the Hammam pool in the basement. You take the lift down, then descend the ancient stone steps to the atmospheric cave with a lovely medieval writing room hidden in the central stone column. Two little changing rooms lead you to the shimmering pool that kaleidoscopes slowly through the colours of the rainbow. You can swap between the cool pool and the adjoining blistering steam room for maximum refreshment, all in this little underground medieval cellar. As you have the place to yourself you can even eschew the usual bathing gear and go "au natural," an invigorating way to liven up for the ensuing evening.
After dressing in our best Parisian outfits we took a bottle of champagne in "Le Bar" and then made our way to the Michelin starred Le Restaurant (they keep the names simple here!) to a lovely table out on the terrace by the fountain. They have a tasting menu paired with wines, which was sublime and well balanced so that even after nine courses we were not full, just pleasantly replete. It was a memorable banquet complete with wines from every region of Europe that varied from sweet to deep and rich, perfectly complementing the different savours of each unique course.
We started with a Tourteau de Loctudy or crab with yuzu mousse, sweet mustard and avocado. Then the Bar de Ligne or sea bass with mint oil, rare with crisp skin, elderberries and Daurenki Imperial Caviar. Followed by a superb Homard Bleu or blue lobster in a coraline and curry sauce with carrots and dates. The sommelier was pushing the cork out with some incredible wines and after a small breather we pushed on with the Cabri or lightly smoked goat with different varieties of courgette in a lemon confit. My particular favourite was the lobster, but it was not easy to pick one out they were all so delicious.
As we finished the main course we discovered that the dessert tasting menu was in fact four courses in itself. If I'd known that I would have gone for the full ten course menu anyway, in for a pound as they say. An array of assorted sweets arrived with panache: Rhubarb and Bora Bora vanilla craquante with confit and sorbet, raspberry tulameen with Phoenician pistachio creamy mousse and muesli biscuit, peach and vervain Oolong tea infusion jam with a light mousse and Dent de Loup cake, finishing with Streusel biscuits and grand cru chocolates (grand cru indicates a higher quality of chocolate) that played on different textures. Each course built on the next, playing one flavour off another, presenting a fine fusion of tastes that played on the palate. It was an exquisite menu from a master chef who favoured some of the finest and eclectic ingredients to please and surprise.
The service was impeccable and warm and after this grand tour de force we repaired to Le Bar for a digestif and soon became embroiled with the barman on the subject of great whiskies. The French tend to like their whiskies quite peaty, to differentiate from their love of brandy, so we discussed the relative merits of each for a while, with a little tasting from their wide and authoritative selection.
In the morning we took our breakfast in the room, sitting on the stupendous balcony overlooking Paris as the sun rose over the church bell tower, watching Parisians wake up in the surrounding apartments. Our only mission for the day was to visit the local patisseries and raid them for all the eclairs and fine chocolates they possessed, and catch up on the latest works of the local fashion houses. We took lunch at La Palette just around the corner from the L'Hotel, famous for its Euro trash clientele, and admired the prestigious local shops, selling everything from avant garde art and jewellery to classic and rare books.
L'Hotel is your own luxury apartment in St Germain-des-Prés, the most sought after area in Paris. It conveys the true luxury experience of living in this city of culture and art, and everything that entails. Life at L'Hotel is that of a wealthy Parisian, with sumptuous decor, Michelin starred restaurant and opulent bar. There are many excellent hotels all over the world but L'Hotel is truly unique. It achieves a pinnacle of quality and experience that is difficult to match and is genuinely representative of luxury living in Paris, quintessential, authentic and emotional. You are not a tourist but a Parisian enjoying a hedonistic existence in the most beautiful and sophisticated city in the world.
L'Hotel was built in 1828 by Célestin-Joseph Happe in the exact location occupied by La Reine Margot's Pavillon d'Amour in the 17th century. After king Henry IV cast her aside apparently due to her many affairs, she set up here where she had even more lovers, one even killing another, as documented by her own scandalous memoir and Alexander Dumas. I used to live very near this hotel for almost a decade, without knowing it was there, it is so discreet and exclusive. The clientele are often wealthy Parisians who now live abroad or in the South of France and want a secret luxury hideaway from which to enjoy all that Paris has to offer. It was frequented by celebrities such as Salvador Dali, Princess Grace, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Jim Morrison and Serge Gainsbourg. Johnny Depp used to live just round the corner with Vanessa Paradis and now stays at L'Hotel when he is in town. Oscar Wilde lived out his last years and eventually popped his clogs there leaving his last bill unpaid, this bill now adorns the wall in the lobby. He quipped at the time "I am dying above my means." which showed he still had a way with one liners. Above all Oscar Wilde knew how to live well, so his recommendation is unrivalled.
Like the Ferrari 488 convertible L'Hotel is more about the whole experience and luxury lifestyle that comes with a stay in this home from home in Paris. For the discerning traveller who wants to get the most unique, personal and immersive taste of luxury pleasure in St Germain, we cannot recommend this more highly. L'Hotel receives our Luxury Excellence Boutique Hotel Award for 2018 and should be top of your list of places to experience. They also have a loyalty membership scheme that offers 15% off and room upgrades. Reserve the Apartment before Johnny.


We listen to our clients' needs and always strive to give best service and creative solutions.
Whether you're in the midst of wedding planning or busy coordinating flowers for a birthday party, wedding anniversary or all other special events - we will work closely with you to create breathtaking, noteworthy décor. We offer a high quality floral & decor service and able to work within your budget.


Hawai'i hired from within its men's volleyball program to fill its assistant coaching void.
The Hawai'i athletics department announced Friday that Vernon Podlewski, a former Warrior and U.S. Men's National Team member, has been promoted to an assistant coach for the upcoming season.
Podlewski spent the previous season as a volunteer assistant coach and primarily worked with the players on their defense and passing skills.
Podlewski played two seasons with Hawai'i from 2001-02 and in both seasons was selected to the All-MPSF Team. He also remains fifth all-time in program history with a 2.16 digs per game average.
As a senior, Podlewski helped lead to Hawai'i to the Final Four and its first NCAA championship in school history. The Warriors would later have to vacate that national championship because of NCAA rule violations.
After his college career, Podlewski played on the U.S. Men's National Team from 2003-05 and spent four years playing professional volleyball in Romania and Germany.
In addition to being a volunteer assistant coach with Hawai'i last season, Podlewski was an assistant coach and head of compliance at UC-Colorado Springs in 2009. He also spent the last two years as the girls' varsity head coach at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu.
Podlewski replaces Dan Fisher on Wade's coaching staff. Fisher resigned from his assistant coaching position in May to become the head coach of the Concordia women's volleyball team.
Hawai'i finished last season ranked in the top 10 of the coaches poll and lost to UC Irvine in the MPSF Tournament quarterfinals. With Podlewski helping coach the defense, the team was sixth in the MPSF and in the nation's top 15 averaging 8.39 digs per game.
Hawai'i has four starters returning for the 2012 season, but could be without All-American outside attacker Jonas Umlauft.
Wade said earlier this week that Umlauft, who led the nation last season with a 5.57 kills per game average, has returned to his native Germany for the fall semester and is undecided if he will return to Hawai'i.


Intuitive, Intelligent, Experiential. The Museum Dial emerges as something entirely new: Movado Connect. This powerful Smartwatch runs Google's newly updated Wear OS by Google™. High resolution digital display redefines "always on." Connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Uniting ultimate creativity with connectivity, its face can be customized in over 100 variations by mixing and matching design and data. DAY TO NIGHT is a unique visualization of how the Museum Dot symbolizes the sun at high noon. Its analog or digital design features gradient day-to-night changing background color. CYCLOX finally brings Nathan George Horwitt's 1936 design to life with its sweeping edge to indicate seconds, a rotating single dot representing minutes and the hour displayed in the center. And PERSPECTIVE with its shaded rings is inspired by artist Chul Hyun Ahn's "Perceiving Infinity," a work of art that is a physical representation of infinite space. You can also choose from Museum Classic, Digital and Sport.


text:
Turkish Armenians condemn Sarkozy over bill
Vercihan Ziflioğlu ISTANBUL
Those who doubt themselves and the truth of what happened would regard denial as a crime, says Mahçupyan.
Prominent Turkish-Armenians have sharply criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his stance on a motion criminalizing the denial of Armenian genocide claims if the French Parliament votes in favor of the draft bill Dec. 22.
"If a person massacred in some part of Anatolia in 1915 could come back to life and reach Sarkozy, he would spit on his face and say Sarkozy was trying to score political gains through his pain," Markar Esayan, a Turkish-Armenian columnist for the daily Taraf, yesterday wrote in an article titled "Sarkozy is deceiving the Armenians, too."
Orhan Dink, the brother of the assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, also said he thought the motion ran counter to freedom of thought while speaking on a private broadcasting station he called by phone the night of Dec. 19.
"I have been witnessing the Turkish people's efforts to face their history for the past 10 years. This decision is going to strike a blow to the process," Esayan told the Hürriyet Daily News.
Sarkozy is not being sincere, he said. France had already recognized the events of 1915 as genocide, he said, so, "What use is there now for another law that contradicts itself? This is a ridiculous proposal. Those who doubt themselves and the truth of what happened would regard denial as a crime, whereas Armenians are very certain of the agonies they went through. If Sarkozy is unsure, it does not concern us. It is not just the Armenian genocide but also the Jewish genocide that ought to be debated," Etyen Mahçupyan, a Turkish-Armenian writer and a columnist for the daily Zaman, told the Daily News.
Turkish intellectuals are courageous and ready to pay a price for this, he said. "The word 'genocide' is now being used in this country. Turkish society has passed a certain threshold."
Turkey ought to view its own past with greater candor, said Zakariya Mildanoğlu, a writer for the history section of the Turkish-Armenian daily Agos, urging people to stop tussling over such terms as "genocide" and "massacre." "Turkish and Armenian peoples ought to speak about 1915 by themselves," Mildanoğlu said. The law would entail a yearlong jail sentence and a 45,000 euro fine if passed.
Foreign teams provide vital support to rescue people from rubble
Erdoğan says Antalya, Mersin hotels can host quake victims
Massive fire in İskenderun Port brought under control
Urgent needs being sent immediately to quake-hit zone
Leaders of Egypt, Armenia extend condolences to Türkiye
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un brought his daughter to visit troops to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the country's army as he lauded the "irresistible might" of his nuclear-armed military, state media said Wednesday.
Trade Ministry probes exorbitant price hikes
Turkish Trade Ministry announced on Feb. 7 that it started inspections across the country regarding the claims of exorbitant hikes in the prices of materials that earthquake victims will need.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Backyard Sports provides weekend and after school sports instruction and game play for boys and girls ages 4-16 years old. Our programs are designed for EVERY child who desires a positive and healthy sports experience. Many programs will appeal to the "gifted" athlete and promote the idea of elevating the child to "the next level." However, these programs ignore the single most important aspect of the child athlete: their social and emotional needs. Both experts and coaches at the highest level of sports agree that emotional not mechanical development is what is most important during the childhood and adolescent years.
Learn more about the sports programs we designed that take place throughout the year as well as our community outreach efforts and volunteer/mentor opportunities.


I wish I would have taken more photos of the weekend, but alas, this is what I have for proof.
The card, which my husband bought from a talented co-worker, came with a small box of chocolates on Valentine's Day. Our night was spent at home, tending to the kids mostly.
Saturday night we went to Mass then took part in a Couple's Night Out with other married couples from our parish. We enjoyed a meal together at a beautiful conference center (Bluestem's Marcil Commons) and heard the bishop talk about his years growing up in a family of five in Nebraska.
Bishop Folda was the youngest of the three kids, and was often put in his place by his older siblings, as he tells it. However, now that he's gone on to become a bishop, his older brother and sister have much less leverage. Justice has seen the light. He shared all this with a smile and in his customary gentle manner. At the end, we were able to ask questions, and he revealed during that time that some of his favorite bands growing up were Journey, Styx, The Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.) and Kansas. This is a bishop I can relate to; these bands among the beloved of our own growing up years.
Sunday, I helped teach a class on how faith and writing intermingle, and that evening, we were able to redeem the one disappointing element of the previous night — a very overcooked pork dish that even this non-picky eater couldn't take — with a very pleasant Valentine's meal, courtesy of my mother, at Famous Dave's.
In other words, we sucked everything we could out of this day weekend of love.
I'll be honest. I'm not much for Valentine's Day. There are some years I'd really rather leave it than take it. And we had a near-disaster here when one of the kids left their prepared Valentine cards with chocolates attached on the living-room floor. The next morning, we woke to just the wrappers and a dog that kept begging to go outside. We know chocolate isn't good for dogs so we wondered if Snickers' valentine surprise would come out alive. Thankfully, he did and with a new hankering for chocolate. I suppose when the snow thaws in the spring, we'll find some tinfoil mixed in with the rest of the canine droppings.
Truly, now, what would this world be without love? It's a powerful emotion, a word that is sometimes overused or not properly honored, but it is what makes the world go round, as the old camp song says.
Here's a flashback to what love looked like a few years ago when we were a five-some family.
You can't call us unpatriotic!


text:
Eduard/Brassin F-104G/S wheels
Eduard Eduard/Brassin F-104G/S wheels
Brassin
F-104S
By One-Oh-Four,
June 27, 2015 in Aircraft Reviews
One-Oh-Four
LocationAmersfoort, the Netherlands
Eduard/Brassin 632 046
F-104G/S wheels
for 1/32 Italeri kit
Available from many online-stores or direct from Eduard for €11,25
With the arrival on the scene of the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, a wider main wheel was designed as the F-104G was from the outset meant to be not only a point-defence interceptor but also a ground-attack aircraft. As can be understood, extra fuel tanks and air-to-ground weaponry put a larger strain on the landing gear than a clean configuration with two Sidewinders or with only tiptanks and Sidewinders.
Did the earlier F-104A and F-104C have closed wheel hubs, this variant did feature (cooling) holes in the hubs. The Brassin resin is again stunning in it's detail and features two halves to the hubs and separate tires with excellent tread detail. I think that pictures do say more than 1000 words in this case.
The outside hubs of the main gear:
The insides with the brake details:
The MLG tire with all logos and moulded-in tire information:
For the nose wheel you have the choice between a "spoked" version and a closed version. The kit nose wheel is incorrect in that it has spokes on one side and is smooth on the other.
And the nosewheel tire:
There is one thing to keep in mind with this type of wheel; because it was wider than preceding wheel, the larger of the main landing gear doors were finished with a nice bulge to create room for the wheels. However, the Canadian CF-104's and the Japanese F-104J's were fitted with the same pattern hubs, only these were as slim as the earlier designs. Consequently, the CF-104 and the F-104J did not have the bulged main landing gear doors.
Of course, there are Always exceptions to the rules; as far as I have understood, the Danes did retrofit their CF-104's with the wider wheels. The Norwegians, who also bought surplus CF-104's from the CAF didn't and kept the narrow wheels and the flat doors!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhdAX8WHzBk
Those wishing to make the correct wheels for the CF-104 or F-104J might consider getting Brassin 632 045:
...and using the slimmer tires with the hubs from this set. I don't have 632 045 but presume that the MLG tires are indeed slimmer! Of course, you might have to sand down the backs of the hub-parts to make them fit the tires...
Very Highly Recommended!
Our thanks go to eduard for supplying the review sample.
Nice one(s) Erik!


Big Bird Is Retiring....And Lives In CT!
Caroll Spinney has played Big Bird on "Sesame Street" for nearly 50 years. The 84-year-old Woodstock CT resident was also Oscar the Grouch.
Tomorrow will be his final day bringing each character to life, after a half a century!
Spinney says the physical requirements of performing the characters became difficult and he even developed problems with his balance. Ya think!? You're 84! He actually stopped being the puppeteer for Big Bird in 2015 and has only provided the voices for him and Oscar since.
Thank you for SO many years of entertainment, and enjoy Mohegan Sun.


text:
Q: Flash AS2 htmlText works in CS3, but not in CS6 I have a problem with an old (Flash CS3) Flash-File in ActionScript 2.
I have a dynamic textfield on the stage containing HTML-text in bold and italic.
Anti-Aliasing is set to "Readability".
If i trace(myTextField.htmlText) i get the following output:
<TEXTFORMAT LEADING="2">
Hello bold and italic
</TEXTFORMAT>

The required fonts "DejaVu Sans", "DejaVu Sans Bold", "DejaVu Sans Bold Oblique" and "DejaVu Sans Oblique" are embedded.
Now i have to change the text inside the textfield with actionscript:
 myTextField.htmlText = "This word should appear bold or italic.";

In the old CS3-Flash it works as expected.
In the new CS6-Flash the HTML-styles "b" and "i" get ignored.
What is the difference? What have i to do to get it work again?
Testfile:  http://download.reine-schoenheit.de/html_text.zip

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Plexidor Pet Doors: Does your dog chew on things?
Great advice. When I first got Titan, he would tear things up. Finally found out it was separation anxiety and helped him overcome it. Now he chews nothing but what he's given too. Great article!
Did you know we're blogging again? Pibbles & Me!


text:
Xanthias latifrons är en kräftdjursart som först beskrevs av De Man 1888.  Xanthias latifrons ingår i släktet Xanthias och familjen Xanthidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Tiofotade kräftdjur
latifrons

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


North Star Faaraa (AHA #596251) (Ravenwood Gamal (RG Al Mone) X Ravenwood Magick (TSEA Magick) ) Liver chestnut. She has a substantial pedigree both for Egyptian AND black breeding programs. DOUBLE ~RG Al Mone~! She is very well balanced, leggy, and has a good depth of body. She has a beautiful face with a teacup muzzle, large dark eyes, and a long and upright neck. Pro - trained for Halter and started under saddle. Country English Pleasure and upper level Dressage prospect. She produced her first foal, a filly, in 03 / 2006 by the SE / AK stallion ~Lazaan Al Badeia~. Sells in foal to the homozygous black SE / AK stallion ~Antar DMR~ (by TC Moniets Legacy) for a highly probably BLACK foal. OFFERS, terms available. Located in Tekamah, NE.


text:
Bærums rådhus (norska: Bærum rådhus, tidigare Bærum herredshus) är en byggnad i Sandvika i Bærums kommun, som i dag hyser kommunalstyrelsen och andra administrativa funktioner i Bærums kommun. Byggnaden uppfördes 1927–1928 efter ritningar av arkitekten Magnus Poulsson, och byggdes ut 1958 efter densammes ritningar.

Externa länkar

Byggnader i Bærums kommun


text:
The Daily Beast's Obsessed
All the Crap I Can't Stop Watching on TV While Quarantined
THE DAILY BEAST'S OBSESSED
Everything we can't stop loving, hating, and thinking about this week in pop culture.
Kevin Fallon
Senior Entertainment Reporter
Published Mar. 21, 2020 5:46AM ET
This is a preview of our pop culture newsletter The Daily Beast's Obsessed, written by senior entertainment reporter Kevin Fallon. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox each week, sign up for it here.
All the Crap I Keep Watching on TV
On Sunday night, I gazed out my window and saw what surely must have been a mirage, some sort of apparition born out of quarantine-induced mania. A massive cruise ship was making its way down the Hudson River, embarking on a brand new journey, presumably with people on board. In this climate?
Once the shock of it all wore off, I was grateful for the buffoonery I had just witnessed. It was a needed reminder that there is truly no accounting for the ignorance and selfish negligence of Americans, no matter how bad things are and what repercussions others suffer for their actions. Also, it reminded me of a show that I needed to catch up on.
Avenue 5, it turns out, is a remarkably and unintentionally timely binge given everything that is happening.
The HBO comedy series, which I had seen the first four episodes of ahead of its premiere in order to interview creator Armando Iannucci and star Hugh Laurie, takes place 40 years in the future on the world's first space cruise ship. (See the connection?)
It's an amusingly cynical prediction. All of the advancements possible in technology and all the ways we glamorize the future of space travel, and we're just going to use it to push off a shitty cruise in space. Of course, given that people can't resist an all-you-can-drink package in a petri dish even now, of all times, I'd venture the prediction will prove quite accurate.
But there's more to its timeliness.
The premise is that an unanticipated disaster sets the space cruise off-course, meaning that the passengers could be stranded floating around the galaxy for years. There is no contingency in place for this not-far-fetched possibility. Everyone in charge displays unfathomable ineptitude in trying to manage things. And the civilians act almost exclusively against their best interests and chances for survival, because they're unwilling to weather minor inconveniences to their lifestyles.
I can't imagine why any of this would seem familiar.
Avenue 5 aired its season finale this week, which means there's a tight nine-episode binge, and it's quite funny at that.
In any case, knowing that people were going to want and need TV recommendations—things are so dire that people are apparently renting and watching Cats—I started to mentally catalog the things that I've spent the last few weeks watching. It's a remarkable balance of some really great, captivating stuff... and a lot of crap.
I've watched the first episodes of The Plot Against America, Better Things, Black Monday, My Brilliant Friend, Dave, Westworld, and Little Fires Everywhere, all shows that I would, on a spectrum of enthusiasm, recommend. (Yes, even Westworld. Desperate times.)
I've been catching up on Star Trek: Picard. There were a handful of new episodes of Schitt's Creek waiting for me on my DVR, and I nearly cried with gratitude. Screeners for the new season of One Day at a Time, which starts its new season next week on Pop, brought me untold joy.
I have also watched an unconscionable amount of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. You haven't experienced shame like a new episode of Triple D starting and whispering aloud to an empty living room at two in the morning, "I think I've seen this one." But hey, it's gratifying escapism. Things may be bleak in New York, but it's business as usual in Flavortown.
I have watched so many episodes of Shark Tank. I've learned that Friends is almost constantly on. I am invested in Below Deck: Sailing Yacht. The seat cushion where I usually sit on the couch has started to get upsettingly pronounced, but at least I have come to develop near-oracle talent for determining if couples on HGTV are going to "love it or list it."
Of course, I've spent most of my time these past days staring out my window wondering things like, "What would have happened if they never said that young people weren't going to get sick?" and "Did the people who applied for minimum-wage jobs at grocery stores know that they were signing up to serve in the front lines of war?" and "Do people now finally realize that teachers deserve to be paid about 700 times more money than they are?" (Preach, Shonda Rhimes.)
Anyway, the world's a weird place, there's a lot of TV out there, I don't know what to make of anything, Top Chef is finally back, and new episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race air on Fridays. Enjoy.
The Rosie O'Donnell Show Is Coming Back!
Fun fact about me: The only celebrity I've ever written a fan letter to was Rosie O'Donnell.
When I was a teenager I was in the hospital a lot, often for long periods. One of the things I remember most from that time is watching The Rosie O'Donnell Show every day. She was funny. The show was happy. There was a lot of Broadway.
I truly, from the bottom of my soul, don't believe that anything or anyone can "turn" someone gay. But The Rosie O'Donnell Show definitely turned me gay. The first time I ever saw Kristin Chenoweth was on Rosie. The impact on my life. On our nation!
Anyway, one afternoon, I don't know why, I just wrote her a letter saying, "Hey! I watch you every day, your show is good, and I like it." She didn't write back, but a few years ago she did share a story I wrote about her return to The View on her Twitter account. Same thing.
The reason any of this matters is because The Rosie O'Donnell Show is coming back! For one night only, O'Donnell is doing a live-streamed show on Broadway.com and its YouTube channel Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET as a fundraiser for The Actors Fund.
The idea was the brainchild of Certified Kevin Crush™ Erich Bergen (Madam Secretary, Waitress on Broadway), who helped her draft a list of talent beamed directly from my mental list of favorite performers, including: Judith Light, Megan Hilty, Andrew Rannells, Sarah Jessica Parker, Audra MacDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Stephanie J. Block, Darren Criss, Tituss Burgess, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel, and, of course Queen Chenoweth—all singing from the comfort of their homes, which I will be then scrutinizing intensely through their webcam feeds.
Thandie Newton Is So Good on Westworld
If you managed to make it through last week's impressively boring season three premiere of Westworld, this week you get your reward. On Sunday night, Maeve's back!
Listen, this is the most annoying show on television and nothing makes me question free will more than the fact that I keep watching it. But the silver lining to all of it is getting to see Thandie Newton's performance.
Newton is wily, mischievous, and fun, wielding cutting lines of dialogue like a poison dagger. But it's her quiet moments that register at the highest decibels, telegraphing desperation, panic, and resolve in the face of relentless heartbreak all at once.
This godforsaken show forces its actors to, in one intense look, question the entire nature of human existence and I'll be damned if that's not exactly what Newton somehow conveys. It's as if all the ambition of what Westworld is trying to do and be is harnessed in what Newton is actually managing to execute. So, yeah, Sunday night! She's back! Enjoy!
Even Your Netflix Binges are Fucked
How bad are things? From CNN: "Netflix will reduce streaming quality in Europe for at least the next month to prevent the internet collapsing under the strain of unprecedented usage due to the coronavirus pandemic." Welp.
What to watch this week:
Top Chef All-Stars: I couldn't be happier that this show is back.
One Day at a Time: I REALLY couldn't be happier that this show is back.
Crip Camp: Stream some inspiration into your quarantines.
What to skip this week:
Self Made: Inspired By the Life of Madam C.J. Walker: Octavia Spencer—and Ms. Walker—deserve better.
By Clicking "Subscribe" you agree to have read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


A one day workshop for VCE level and music teachers who are curious to learn about how psychological science can help them to perform closer to their practice room ability in exams or on stage.
The workshop offers the courageous music student the opportunity to experience these skills within the safe and supportive environment of the workshop.
Come willing to step a little out of your comfort zone.
Singers will be expected to sing and instrumentalist need to bring your instrument for you to perform with. You also will need to bring a practiced and prepared piece that you would like to perform in the workshop.
and how that may lead to higher quality of performance, increased enjoyment and improvement in general wellbeing.
This is an introductory workshop of empirical research based psychological skills that can help you when incorporated into practice, planning and performance. The course is informed by mindfulness research, Evolutionary Theory, Flow Theory, Self Determination Theory, Compassion Focused Therapy and ACT Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.


text:
\section{Introduction}

Recently LHCb collaboration has measured the unexpectedly large CP
violating asymmetries in $D\to\pi^+ \pi^-$ and $D\to K^+ K^-$
decays \cite{1}:
\begin{equation}
\Delta A_{CP}^{LHCb} \equiv A_{CP}(K^+ K^-) - A_{CP}(\pi^+ \pi^-)
= [-0.82 \pm 0.21 (\rm{stat.}) \pm 0.11 (\rm{syst.})]\% \;\; ,
\label{1}
\end{equation}
where
\begin{equation}
A_{CP}(\pi^+ \pi^-) = \frac{\Gamma(D^0 \to \pi^+ \pi^-)
-\Gamma(\bar D^0 \to \pi^+ \pi^-)}{\Gamma(D^0 \to \pi^+ \pi^-)
+\Gamma(\bar D^0 \to \pi^+ \pi^-)} \label{2}
\end{equation}
and $A_{CP}(K^+ K^-)$ is defined analogously.

This result was later confirmed by CDF collaboration, which
obtained~\cite{2}:
\begin{equation}
\Delta A_{CP}^{CDF} = [-0.62 \pm 0.21 (\rm{stat.}) \pm 0.10
(\rm{syst.})]\% \;\; . \label{3}
\end{equation}

The most important question concerning experimental results
(\ref{1}) and (\ref{3}) is whether in the Standard Model the CP-violation
(CPV) in these decays can be as large as 0.5\% - 1\%.

In the Standard Model the CPV in $D(\bar D) \to\pi^+ \pi^-$ decays
originates from the interference of the tree and penguin diagrams
shown in Fig. 1. For $D(\bar D)\to K^+ K^-$ decays $d$-quarks in
these diagrams should be substituted by $s$-quarks.

\begin{figure}

\begin{center}

\includegraphics[scale=0.6]{tree1.eps}

\caption{Quark diagrams describing $D\longrightarrow\pi^+ \pi^-$
decay in the Standard Model. A wavy line denotes $W$-boson, a
curly line -- gluon.}
\end{center}

\end{figure}

It is convenient to present the penguin diagram contribution to
$D\to\pi^+ \pi^-$ decay amplitude in the following form
\cite{222}:
\begin{eqnarray}
V_{cd}V_{ud}^* f(m_d) + V_{cs}V_{us}^* f(m_s) + V_{cb} V_{ub}^*
f(m_b) = \nonumber \\ = V_{cd} V_{ud}^*[f(m_d)-f(m_s)] + V_{cb} V_{ub}^* [f(m_b) -
f(m_s)] \;\; , \label{4}
\end{eqnarray}
attributing the first term to the tree amplitude and considering
the second term only as the penguin amplitude.

In the case of $D\to K^+ K^-$ decay the following presentation is
useful \cite{222}:
\begin{eqnarray}
V_{cd}V_{ud}^* f(m_d) + V_{cs}V_{us}^* f(m_s) + V_{cb} V_{ub}^*
f(m_b) = \nonumber \\ = V_{cs} V_{us}^*[f(m_s)-f(m_d)] + V_{cb}
V_{ub}^* [f(m_b) - f(m_d)] \, ,
\label{5}
\end{eqnarray}
where the first term is attributed to the tree amplitude while the
second one is the penguin amplitude.

Denoting the absolute values of $D\to\pi^+\pi^-$ decay
amplitudes by $T$ and $P$ we get:
\begin{eqnarray}
A_{\pi^+\pi^-} & = & T\left[1+\frac{P}{T}
e^{i(\delta-\gamma)}\right]
\;\; , \nonumber \\
\bar A_{\pi^+\pi^-} & = & T\left[1+\frac{P}{T}
e^{i(\delta+\gamma)}\right] \;\; , \label{6}
\end{eqnarray}
where $\delta$ stands for the difference of the strong interaction
phases of the tree and the penguin amplitudes, while $\gamma\approx 70^0$
is the phase of $V_{ub}$ (the product $V_{cd} V_{ud}^*$ as well as
$V_{cb}$ are practically real in the standard parametrization of the
CKM matrix).

From eq.~(\ref{6}) for the CPV asymmetry we obtain:
\begin{equation}
A_{CP}(\pi^+ \pi^-) = 2\frac{P}{T} \sin\delta \sin\gamma \;\; ,
\label{7}
\end{equation}
where in the denominator of (\ref{2}) we neglect the terms of the
order of $P/T$ and $(P/T)^2$ which is a very good approximation
because $P/T\sim |V_{cb}V_{ub}^*|/V_{cd} \ll 1$. Here
$\sin\gamma$ is close to unity and we use this value in what follows.

Let us present an argument demonstrating that $\delta$ can also  be
close to 90$^0$. The tree diagram gives dominant contribution to the
$D\to\pi\pi$ decay rates. The corresponding to it 4-fermion Hamiltonian has parts
with isospin 1/2 and 3/2. That is why the produced $\pi$-meson may
have isospin zero or two. So three decay probabilities, $D^+ \to
\pi^+ \pi^0$, $D^0\to\pi^+ \pi^-$, and $D^0 \to \pi^0\pi^0$, depend
on the absolute values of the decay amplitudes  $A_0$ and $A_2$ and their
strong phases difference $\delta_0 -\delta_2$. From the
experimentally measured branching ratios \cite{3}:
$$
{\rm Br}(D^+ \to\pi^+ \pi^0) = [12.6\pm 0.9]\cdot 10^{-4} \; ,
\;\; {\rm Br}(D^0 \to\pi^0 \pi^0) = [8.0\pm 0.8]\cdot 10^{-4} \; ,
$$
\begin{equation}
{\rm Br}(D^0 \to\pi^+ \pi^-) = [13.97\pm 0.26]\cdot 10^{-4}
\label{8}
\end{equation}
we find  for the phase difference of the amplitudes with $I=0$ and $I=2$:
\begin{equation}
|\delta_0 -\delta_2| = 86^0 \pm 4^0 \;\; . \label{9}
\end{equation}
In eq. (\ref{7}) $\delta$ stands for the difference of the
strong phases of  penguin amplitude which has $I=1/2$ and produces
pions with $I=0$ and tree amplitude, which has parts with $I=1/2$
and $I=3/2$ and produces pions with $I=0$ and $I=2$, that is why
$\delta \neq \delta_0 -\delta_2$. Nevertheless eq. (\ref{9})
demonstrates that $\delta$ can be large, and so we
substitute $\sin\delta =1$ into eq. (\ref{7}).

In the limit of $U$-spin ($d\leftrightarrow s$ interchange)
symmetry the tree amplitude of $D(\bar D)\to K^+ K^-$ decay differs by
sign from that of $D(\bar D) \to\pi^+ \pi^-$ decay, while the
penguin amplitudes of these decays are equal, that is why
\begin{equation}
A_{CP}(K^+ K^-) = -A_{CP}(\pi^+\pi^-) \;\; . \label{10}
\end{equation}
However since \cite{3}
\begin{equation}
{\rm Br}(D^0 \to K^+ K^-) = [39.4\pm 0.7] \cdot 10^{-4} \label{11}\,,
\end{equation}
we obtain from eq.~(\ref{8}) that $|A_{K^+ K^-}/A_{\pi^+\pi^-}| \simeq
1.7$ and $U$-spin symmetry is heavily broken in $D$ decays.
Nevertheless let us suppose that (\ref{10}) is not badly violated,
so finally we get:
\begin{equation}
\Delta A_{CP} = 4\,\frac{P}{T} \label{12}\,.
\end{equation}
Now let us try to understand if in the Standard Model we can
obtain
\begin{equation}
\frac{P}{T} = 1.8 \cdot 10^{-3} \label{13}\,,
\end{equation}
which is needed to reproduce the average value of the LHCb and CDF
results.

\section{\mbox{\boldmath$D\to\pi\pi$}: charmed penguin}

Though the four-fermion quark Hamiltonian responsible for these
decays is known, strong interactions does not allow to make an exact
calculation of the
decay amplitudes. What can be done is an estimate of the decay
amplitudes with the help of factorization. Let us start from the
tree diagram shown in Fig. 1a which dominates in the decay
amplitude:
\begin{eqnarray}
T & = & \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{cd} < \pi^+ \pi^-|\bar d
\gamma_\alpha (1+\gamma_5)c\bar u \gamma_\alpha (1+\gamma_5)d|D^0
>
\times \nonumber \\
& \times & \left\{\frac{2}{3}[\alpha_s(m_c)/\alpha_s(M_W)]^{-2/b}
+ \frac{1}{3}[\alpha_s(m_c)/\alpha_s(M_W)]^{4/b}\right\} \;\; ,
\label{14}
\end{eqnarray}
where the last factor originates from the summation of the gluon
exchanges in the leading logarithmic approximation. Substituting
into  it $b=11-2/3 N_f = 23/3$, $\alpha_s(M_W) = 0.12$,
$\alpha_s(m_c) = 0.3$ we find that the factor in the curly brackets
is close to one, $\{ ...  \} = 1.1$. Factorizing the decay amplitude we obtain:
\begin{eqnarray}
T & = & 1.1 \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{cd} < \pi^+ |\bar
u\gamma_\alpha (1+\gamma_5)d |0><\pi^- |\bar d
\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)c| D^0 >=
\nonumber \\
& = & 1.1 \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{cd} f_\pi k_{1\alpha}[f_+^\pi(0)
(p+k_2)_\alpha + f_-^\pi(0)(p-k_2)_\alpha] = 1.1 \frac{G_F}{\sqrt
2}V_{cd} f_\pi f_+^\pi(0) m_D^2 \; , \label{15}
\end{eqnarray}
where $k_1$ and $k_2$ are the momenta of the produced
$\pi$-mesons, $p$ is the $D$-meson momentum and we neglect $m_\pi^2$
in comparison with $m_D^2$.

The value of the $D^0\to\pi^+ e^+\nu$ transition formfactor at $q^2=0$ can be
found in ref.~\cite{3}:
\begin{equation}
f_+^\pi(0)|V_{cd}| = 0.152 \pm 0.005 \; , \;\; f_+^\pi(0) = 0.66
\;\; , \label{16}
\end{equation}
and for the decay width we obtain:
\begin{equation}
\Gamma_{D\to \pi^+ \pi^-}^{\rm theor.} = \frac{G_F^2}{2}
\frac{(1.1 V_{cd} f_+^\pi(0) f_\pi m_D^2)^2}{16\pi m_D} = 6.2
\cdot 10^9 {\rm s}^{-1} \;\; , \label{17}
\end{equation}
where $f_\pi = 130$ MeV was used.

From the branching ratio of the $D^0\to\pi^+ \pi^-$ decay (\ref{8})
and $D^0$-meson mean life, $\tau_{D^0} = 0.41 \cdot 10^{-12}$ s,
we find:
\begin{equation}
\Gamma_{D\to \pi^+ \pi^-}^{\rm exp} = 3.4 \cdot 10^9 {\rm s}^{-1} \;\; , \label{18}
\end{equation}
So the naive factorization overestimates the decay amplitude by
the factor $\sqrt{6.2/3.4}\approx 1.4$.

Calculating the $D\to K^+ K^-$ decay probability we obtain:
\begin{equation}
\Gamma_{D\to K^+ K^-}^{\rm theor} = \left[\frac{f_K}{f_\pi}
\frac{f_+^K(0)}{f_+^\pi(0)}\right]^2 \Gamma_{D\to \pi^+
\pi^-}^{\rm theor} = 12.2 \cdot 10^9 {\rm s}^{-1} \;\; ,
\label{19}
\end{equation}
where we substituted $f_K/f_\pi = 1.27$ and $f_+^K(0) = 0.73$ taken from
ref.~\cite{3}.

From eq.~(\ref{11}) it follows:
\begin{equation}
\Gamma_{D\to K^+ K^-}^{\rm exp} = 9.6 \cdot 10^9 {\rm s}^{-1}
\;\; , \label{20}
\end{equation}
so the factorization overestimates the decay amplitude by the
factor $\sqrt{12.2/9.6} = 1.1$.

We see that in the case of the tree diagrams the accuracy of
the factorization approximation is very good.

Let us make a brief remark on the $D\to K^0 \bar{K^0}$ decay. At the
tree level it proceeds through the diagram with $W$-boson exchange in
$t$-channel, so it should be suppressed. Even more, $c\bar u \to
d\bar d$ and $c\bar u\to s\bar s$ amplitudes interfere
destructively and in the $U$-spin symmetry limit their sum is
zero \cite{4}. According to experimental data \cite{3}:
\begin{equation}
{\rm Br}(D^0 \to K^0\bar{K^{0}}) = 4 {\rm Br}(D^0 \to 2K_{S}^0)= (6.8 \pm 1.2) \cdot 10^{-4} \;\; ,
\label{21}
\end{equation}
which is
approximately 6 times smaller than ${\rm Br}(D\to K^+ K^-)$.
It means that the decay amplitude is smaller than that to charged
kaons by factor 2.5. This unexpectedly small suppression may indicate
that large distance effects like $D^{0}\rightarrow
K^{*+}K^{*-}\rightarrow K^0\bar{K^{0}}$ rescattering can be important.

The four-fermion QCD penguin amplitude which describes $D\to \pi^+
\pi^-$ decay looks like:
\begin{eqnarray}
H(P) & = & \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{cb} V_{ub}^*
\frac{\alpha_s(m_c)}{12\pi} \ln \left(\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)^2
(\bar u\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) \vec\lambda c)(\bar d
\gamma_\alpha \vec\lambda d) = \nonumber \\
& = & \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{cb} V_{ub}^*
\frac{\alpha_s(m_c)}{12\pi} \ln \left(\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)^2
[(\bar u\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) d)(\bar d
\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)c) - \nonumber \\
& - & 2 \bar u(1-\gamma_5)d\bar d(1+\gamma_5)c] \frac{8}{9} \;\; ,
\label{22}
\end{eqnarray}
where $\vec\lambda$ are the Gell-Mann SU(3) matrices and we use
the Fierz identities:
\begin{eqnarray}
\vec\lambda_{ab}\vec\lambda_{cd}&=& -2/3\delta_{ab} \delta_{cd} + 2\delta_{ad}\delta_{bc}\,,
\nonumber \\
\bar\psi\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)\varphi\bar\chi\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)\eta
&=& \bar\psi\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)
\eta\bar\chi\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)\varphi \,,
\nonumber\\
\bar\psi\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5)\varphi\bar\chi\gamma_\alpha(1-\gamma_5)\eta
&=& -2\bar\psi(1-\gamma_5) \eta\bar\chi(1+\gamma_5)\varphi\,.
\nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
Also the identity $<\pi^+|\bar u_a Od_b|0> = 1/3 \delta_{ab} <
\pi^+|\bar u Od|0>$, where $O \equiv \gamma_\alpha \gamma_5$ or
$\gamma_5$, was used.

Calculating the matrix element in the factorization approximation
with the help of the equations of motion for quark fields we find:
\begin{equation}
P = \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} |V_{cb} V_{ub}^*|
\frac{\alpha_s(m_c)}{12\pi} \ln\left(\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)^2
\frac{8}{9} f_\pi f_+^\pi(0) m_D^2 \left[1+\frac{2m_\pi^2}{m_c(m_u
+ m_d)}\right] \;\; . \label{23}
\end{equation}
Dividing it by the experimental value of the tree amplitude and using
Eq.(\ref{15}) we obtain:
\begin{equation}
P/T = \frac{1.4}{1.1} \frac{8}{9} \frac{|V_{cb}
V_{ub}^*|}{|V_{cd}|} \frac{\alpha_s(m_c)}{12\pi}
\ln\left(\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)^2 \left[1+\frac{2m_\pi^2}{m_c(m_u
+ m_d)}\right] \;\; . \label{24}
\end{equation}
Substituting $|V_{cd}| = 0.23$, $|V_{ub}| = 3.9 \cdot 10^{-3}$,
$V_{cb} = 41 \cdot 10^{-3}$, $\alpha_s(m_c) = 0.3$, $m_b = 4.5$
GeV, $m_c = 1.3$ GeV, $m_u +m_d = 6$ MeV we come to:
\begin{equation}
P/T \approx 9 \cdot 10^{-5} \;\; . \label{25}
\end{equation}
Comparing it with eq.~(\ref{13}) we see that in order to fit the
experimental data on $\Delta A_{CP}$ the penguin amplitude should be
enhanced by the factor 20 in comparison with what factorization gives.
Concerning the tree amplitudes, we have found in this section that
factorization result differs from the experimental value by the  factor
1.4 in the case of $D\to \pi^+ \pi^-$ decay and by 1.1 in the case of
$D\to K^+ K^-$ decay. In the next two sections we will study how
accurate is the factorization approximation to the penguin amplitudes
in $B$- and $K$-meson decays.

\section{\mbox{\boldmath$B\to \pi K$}: beautiful penguin}

$B_u \to \pi^+ K^0$ decay is described by the penguin amplitude
shown in Fig. 2.
\begin{figure}

\begin{center}

\includegraphics[scale=0.5]{bpin.eps}

\caption{$B_u \to \pi^+ K^0$ decay proceeds through the penguin
amplitude only.}

\end{center}
\end{figure}

The Hamiltonian responsible for this decay looks
like:
\begin{equation}
\hat H = \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{tb} V_{ts}^* [c_3 O_3 + c_4 O_4 +
c_5 O_5 + c_6 O_6] \;\; , \label{26}
\end{equation}
$V_{tb} V_{ts}^*$ is substituted for $V_{cb}V_{cs}^*+V_{ub}
V_{us}^*$ (the contribution of a loop with the virtual $t$-quark is
negligible) and
\begin{eqnarray}
O_3 & = & \bar s\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) b\bar d
\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) d \nonumber \\
O_4 & = & \bar s_a\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) b_c\bar d_c
\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) d_a \nonumber \\
O_5 & = & \bar s\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) b\bar d
\gamma_\alpha(1-\gamma_5) d \nonumber \\
O_6 & = & \bar s_a\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) b_c\bar d_c
\gamma_\alpha(1-\gamma_5) d_a  \;\; , \label{27}
\end{eqnarray}
where $a,c = 1,2,3$ are the color indexes.

Using the Fierz identities as well as $<K^0|\bar s_a Od_b|0> =
\frac{1}{3}\delta_{ab}< K^0|\bar s Od|0>$ identity we obtain:
\begin{equation}
\hat H = \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{tb} V_{ts}^* [a_4 \bar s
\gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) d \bar d \gamma_\alpha(1+\gamma_5) b -
2a_6 \bar s(1-\gamma_5) d\bar d (1+\gamma_5)b] \;\; , \label{28}
\end{equation}
where $a_4 = \frac{1}{3} c_3 + c_4$, $a_6 = \frac{1}{3}c_5 + c_6$.
Calculating the matrix element in the factorization approximation
we obtain:
\begin{equation}
M = \frac{G_F}{\sqrt 2} V_{tb} V_{ts}^* f_K f_+(0) m_B^2 \left[a_4
+ a_6 \frac{2m_K^2}{m_b m_s}\right] \;\; , \label{29}
\end{equation}
where in the leading logarithmic approximation the following
approximate equation is valid:
\begin{equation}
a_4 = a_6 = -\frac{\alpha_s(m_b)}{12\pi}
\ln\left(\frac{M_W}{m_b}\right)^2 \approx -0.03 \;\; , \label{30}
\end{equation}
while at NLO approximation from Table 1 of \cite{5} we obtain:
$a_4 = -0.031$, $a_6 = -0.042$. Substituting $m_s = 100$ MeV, $m_b
= 4.5$ GeV we find:
\begin{equation}
\Gamma_{(B_u \to \pi^+ K^0)}^{\rm fact} =
\frac{G_F^2|V_{ts}|^2}{32\pi}f_K^2 f_+^2(0) m_B^3 (0.076)^2 = 4.1
\cdot 10^6 {\rm s}^{-1} \;\; , \label{31}
\end{equation}
where $V_{ts} = 39\cdot 10^{-3}$ and $f_+(0) = 0.25$ from \cite{3}
was used. The experimental result is:
\begin{equation}
\Gamma_{(B_u \to \pi^+ K^0)}^{\rm exp} = 14 \cdot 10^6 {\rm
s}^{-1} \;\; , \label{32}
\end{equation}
So, the factorization result is enhanced by the factor
\begin{equation}
P/P_{\rm fact} = \sqrt{14/4.1} = 1.8 \;\; . \label{33}
\end{equation}

The numerical value of the penguin amplitude is important in the
calculation of CP asymmetries in $B\to\pi K$ and $B\to \pi\pi$
decays \cite{6}.

\section{\mbox{\boldmath$K\to\pi\pi$}: strange penguin}

$s\to d$ penguin transition changes the isospin by 1/2 in this way
explaining the famous $\Delta I = 1/2$ rule in $K\to\pi\pi$ decays.
The calculation of the $K_S\to\pi^+ \pi^-$ decay amplitude generated
by the penguin transition using the factorization underestimates the
amplitude by the factor 2-3 according to refs.~\cite{5,7}.

In view of the results for $B$ and $K$ decays we can cautiously
assume that for $D\to \pi^+ \pi^-$ decay the factorization
calculation underestimates the penguin amplitude at most by factor 5
leading to:
\begin{equation}
\left(\Delta A_{CP}^{\rm theor}\right)_{SM} \mathrel{\mathpalette\fun <} 0.2\% \;\; .
\label{34}
\end{equation}
Thus the following alternative emerges: either  the experimental results are
wrong or New Physics is found. Of course we cannot determine what
kind of new particles and interactions are responsible for large
CPV asymmetry in $D\to \pi^+\pi^-$ ($K^+ K^-$) decays. However, in
the next section we will propose the straightforward
generalization of the Standard Model in which large CPV in $D$
decays can be explained.

\section{The fourth generation: enhancement of CPV in \mbox{\boldmath$D$} decays}

As it was stated in paper \cite{8} the introduction of the fourth
quark-lepton generation may easily remove Standard Model upper
bound (\ref{34}) matching the experimental results \cite{1,2}. In
the case of the fourth generation the additional term with the
intermediate $b'$ quark should be added to the expression for the
penguin amplitude. In this way expression (\ref{4}) is substituted
by:
\begin{eqnarray}
V_{cd} V_{ud}^* f(m_d) + V_{cs}V_{us}^* f(m_s) + V_{cb} V_{ub}^*
f(m_b) + V_{cb'} V_{ub'} f(m_{b'}) = \nonumber \\
= V_{cd} V_{ud}^*[f(m_d)-f(m_s)] + V_{cb}V_{ub}^* [f(m_b)-f(m_s)]
+ V_{cb'} V_{ub'}[f(m_{b'}) -f(m_s)] \;\; , \label{35}
\end{eqnarray}
where the unitarity of 4$\times$4 quark mixing matrix is used.
According to the experimental constraints from the direct searches
of the fourth generation quarks $b'$ should weigh several hundreds
GeV, that is why $f(m_{b'})$ is small and can be neglected just as
it is done with $t$-quark contribution to $b\to s$ penguin, see
the remark after Eq. (\ref{26}). In order to enhance SM
contribution to the penguin amplitude we should suppose that the
term $V_{cb'}V_{ub'}f(m_s)$ dominates.

Then the enhancement of $A_{CP}$ in the case of the fourth
generation is equal to:
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{P_4}{P_{SM}} & = & \frac{\ln(m_W/m_c)}{\ln(m_b/m_c)}
\frac{|V_{cb'} V_{ub'}^*|}{|V_{cb}V_{ub}|} \frac{\sin(\arg
V_{cb'}V_{ub'}^*)}{\sin\gamma} \approx \nonumber \\
& \approx & 3.3 \frac{3\cdot 10^{-4}}{1.5 \cdot 10^{-4}} \approx 6
\;\; , \label{36}
\end{eqnarray}
where in the last equality we use the allowed
values of the product $|V_{cb'}V_{ub'}^*|\sin(\arg
V_{cb'}V_{ub'})$ taken from Fig. 1 of paper \cite{9} \footnote{Let us
  stress that the logarithmic ($\log\left(m_{W}/m_{c}\right)$)
  enhancement originates not from the diagram with the intermediate
  $b'$ quark but from the term $f(m_{s})$.}. So we see that the
enhancement necessary to describe the experimental data on $\Delta
A_{CP}$ can be achieved in the case of the fourth generation.

\section{Saving baryon number by long-lived fourth generation
neutrino}

If weakly mixed particles exist, then the sphaleron processes can
create the baryon asymmetry of the universe \cite{Dick}. As it is
noted in ref.~\cite{11}, the long-lived fourth generation particles save
baryon asymmetry generated in the early universe from erasure by
the sphaleron transitions. The sphaleron transitions conserve
$B-L$, thus, if in the early universe $B_0 = L_0 \neq 0$ is
generated, then the final baryon and lepton asymmetries being
proportional to $B-L$ are completely erased. If the fourth
generation particles weakly mix with three quark-lepton
generations of the Standard Model, then two additional quantities are
conserved: $B_4 - L_4$ and $L - 3L_4$, where $B_4$ and $L_4$ are
the densities of baryons and leptons of the fourth generation,
while $B$ and $L$ are the densities of baryons and leptons of
three light generations. In ref.~\cite{11} initial asymmetries $B_0 =
L_0 = 3\Delta$ and $B_4^0 = L_4^0 =0$ were chosen and since $L-3L_4 =
3\Delta \neq 0$, the total baryonic number density, $B+B_4$,
being proportional to a linear superposition of conserved quantities
is nonzero at the sphaleron
freeze-out temperature. After the sphaleron
freeze-out $B+B_4$ is conserved in comoving volume
and is equal to the present day baryon density of the Universe.
However, if heavy baryons of the 4th generation do not decay prior to
big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), the light baryon number density at BBN could be
different from that determined from the angular fluctuations of CMB. The impact
of this effect  on the light element abundances is discussed below.

For such a scenario to occur the lifetimes of the fourth
generation quarks and leptons should be at least larger than the
universe age at the sphaleron freeze-out: $\tau_4 > M_{\rm
Pl}/T_{\rm sph}^2 \sim 10^{-10}$ s. For the mixing angles in the case of
$b'\to (c,u)W$ decay it gives $\theta < 10^{-8}$ \cite{11}, much
smaller than what we need to explain the large CPV in $D$-decays, see
eq.~(\ref{36}).

So in our case quarks of the fourth generation should be much stronger
mixed with quarks of three light generations.
However, let us suppose that leptons of the fourth generation
are weakly mixed with the leptons of three light generations. Let
us introduce the total baryon density, $B'\equiv B + B_4$, and take the
initial conditions analogous to those in ref.~\cite{11}: $B'_0 = L_0 =
3\Delta$ and $L_4^0 = 0$.  We can choose four independent chemical potentials
as:  $\mu_{u_L}$, $\mu_W$, $\mu_{N_L}$ and $\mu\equiv
\mu_{\nu_e} + \mu_{\nu_\mu} + \mu_{\nu_\tau}$, which are the
chemical potentials for the upper type quarks, $W$-bosons, $4G$
neutrino and sum over all SM neutrino chemical potentials (see
Appendix). In the limit $\mu_i/T \ll 1$ the baryon and lepton
densities are linear combinations of these chemical potentials
with the coefficients which depend on the ratio of masses of the
corresponding particles to the temperature. We will take into
account the masses of $W$-boson, $t$-quark, $t'$- and $b'$-quarks
of the fourth generation and the fourth generation leptons $N$ and
$E$, the masses of all the other components of the primeval plasma
can be neglected in comparison with $T_{\rm sph}$.

\begin{figure}[ht!]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[scale=0.4]{figure3.eps}

\caption{The final baryon asymmetry versus the initial asymmetry
$n_{B'}/\Delta$ as a function of sphaleron freeze-out temperature
$T_{\rm sph}$ for the unmixed fourth generation is shown by
a dashed (blue) line. It is analogous to Fig. 2 from \cite{11} but
for $m_N = 57.8$ GeV, $m_E = 107.6$ GeV, $m_{t'} = 634$ GeV,
$m_{b'} = 600$ GeV. The final baryon asymmetry for the case of the
mixed fourth generation quarks and the unmixed fourth generation
leptons is shown by a solid (green) line.}

\end{center}
\end{figure}

Finally we have four equations for four unknown chemical
potentials: two quantities are conserved under the sphaleron
transitions; we can choose them as
\begin{eqnarray}
B' - L - L_4 & = & 0 \;\; , \nonumber \\
L - 3L_4 & = & 3\Delta \;\; . \label{37}
\end{eqnarray}
The third equation is that of the electric neutrality of the primeval plasma,
$Q=0$, and, finally, the sum of the chemical potentials of all the
particles which are converted into nothing by sphaleron ($qqql$ of
each generation) equals zero. The values of masses of the 4th generation
particles we take from paper \cite{12} in which the fit to the
electroweak observables for higgs mass $m_H = 125$ GeV was
performed and recent LHC bounds on the masses of $t'$- and
$b'$-quarks were taken into account:
\begin{eqnarray}
m_{t'} = 634 \; {\rm GeV} & , & \;  m_{b'} = 600 \; {\rm GeV} \;\; ,
\nonumber \\
m_E = 107.6 \; {\rm GeV} & , & \; m_N = 57.8 \; {\rm GeV} \;\; .
\label{38}
\end{eqnarray}

The dashed blue line in Fig. 3 corresponds to the case of the
unmixed fourth generation particles considered in \cite{11}. The
results for the case of the strongly mixed fourth generation
quarks and the unmixed fourth generation leptons are shown by the
solid green line. In order that leptons, $N$, do not decay before the
sphaleron freeze-out, which happens at $t_U \sim 10^{-10}$~s,
the mixing angles of $N$ with three light neutrinos should be small:
$\theta_i < 10^{-5}$ ($N$ decays through four fermion
interaction). Assuming similar bound $\theta<10^{-6}$, the existence
of heavy Dirac sequential neutrino with $m_{N}=50-100$ GeV is
compatible with the search at LEP II \cite{13}.

According to the standard cosmological scenario nonrelativistic matter
started to dominate the cosmic energy density at redshift $z \approx 10^4$.
If we demand that  $N$ should decay before that epoch, its life-time should be
sufficiently short, $\tau_N < 10^{13}$~s, from which we obtain the lower
bound $\theta> 10^{-16}$. (Let us note that direct searches exclude
$N$ as a unique dark matter candidate \cite{Soni}).

 A stronger bound on $\tau_N$ follows from the equilibrium form of the
energy spectrum of CMB. According to ref.~\cite{syunyaev} a large influx of
energy into the usual cosmological cosmic background would be thermalized
if it took place before $z\sim 10^7$. Otherwise the observed black body spectrum of
CMB would be noticeably distorted. Since the precision of the spectral shape is
at the level of $10^{-4}$, only a very small distortion is permitted.

The condition that $N$ decays before or at $z \sim 10^7$ demands
$\tau_N < 10^6 $ s, or $\theta > 10^{-13}$.  If $N$ indeed decays before
$z\sim 10^7$, the contribution from its decay to the energy density of CMB would be
not larger than 1\% and the ratio of baryon to photon number densities
$\eta_{B}\equiv n_B /n_\gamma$ at BBN epoch and at CMB recombination would be slightly
different but in principle measurable by the light element abundances.

 More interesting and pronounced effect appears if heavy quarks of the 4th
generation are long-lived. In this case we cannot explain the large
value of CPV in $D$ decays
but may explain the difference of $\eta_{B}$ at BBN epoch
($\eta_{BBN}$) and at the recombination ($\eta_{rec}$) which is probably requested
by the recent data on the light element abundances~\cite{extra-nu}.  If heavy
baryons of the 4th generation decays after BBN but before the hydrogen
recombination, the number of light baryons in the comoving volume at BBN
would be different from that at the recombination. The ratio
$\eta_{BBN}/\eta_{rec}$ at these epochs could be either larger or
smaller than unity  depending upon the
value of the baryon asymmetry in the heavy quark sector and the energy influx to CMB
from the heavy baryon decays.  So in principle both rise or decrease of $\eta_{BBN}$ is
possible\footnote{Since both the value of $\eta_{BBN}$ and the number
  of light neutrino species influence nucleosynthesis, the change in
  the value of $\eta_{BBN}$ can be formulated as an additional
  (positive or negative) number of light neutrino species \cite{extra-nu}.}.

In the limit $T_{\rm sph}\to 0$ heavy particles of the fourth
generation are not produced: $B_4 = L_4 =0$, $B' = L = 3\Delta$.
In the physically interesting opposite limit $T_{\rm sph} \gg m_N$
the value of baryon asymmetry is nonzero since the right-handed
neutrinos of three light generations are not produced in the
primordial plasma violating symmetry between the leptons of four
generations which would occur at $T\gg m_N$. The characteristic
time of the right-handed neutrino to thermalize is $T/m_\nu^2$ and
for $m_\nu\mathrel{\mathpalette\fun <} 1$ keV (which is valid for three light neutrinos)
this time is longer than the Universe age,  $t_U = M_{\rm Pl}/T^2$
for $T = T_{\rm sph} \approx 200$ GeV, \cite{ Dick}.

\section{Conclusions}

In Introduction we determined what ratio of the penguin to the
tree amplitudes of $D\to\pi^+ \pi^-$ decay is needed to get the
observed CP asymmetry. In Section 2 we found that the
factorization describes the tree amplitude with good accuracy;
concerning the penguin amplitude it appears to be twenty times
smaller than one needs to describe the experimental data on
$A_{CP}$. In Section 3 we demonstrated that in the case of $B\to
\pi^+ K^0$ decay the factorization underestimates the
penguin amplitude by factor 2. In the case of $K_S \to \pi^+
\pi^-$ decay the penguin amplitude is enhanced by factor 2-3 in
comparison with the factorization result.

Thus if confirmed on larger statistics and future systematics
result (\ref{1}) demands New Physics.

In Section 5 we demonstrated that the fourth quark-lepton
generation may enhance the penguin amplitude describing the
experimental data. If the leptons of the fourth generation weakly
mix with three light generation leptons, then the baryonic charge
generated at high scale escapes the erasure by sphalerons and
survives till now according to the results presented in Section 6.

We are grateful to S.I. Blinnikov for the illuminating discussion
on the chemical potentials, to V.A. Rubakov for the clarifying
discussion on the baryon density in the unbroken electroweak
phase, and to J. Zupan for the remark concerning $D\rightarrow K^{0}\bar
{K^{0}}$ decay.

A.D., S.G., and M.V. acknowledge the support of the grant of the
Russian Federation government 11.G34.31.0047. S.G. and M.V.
are partially supported by the grants RFBR
11-02-00441, 12-02-00193 and by the grant NSh-3172.2012.2. S.G. is
partially supported by the grant RFBR 10-02-01398.

\bigskip

\begin{center}

{\large \bf Appendix}

\end{center}

\setcounter{equation}{0} \defA.\arabic{equation}{A.\arabic{equation}}

\vspace{3mm}

Below we derive equations used in Section 6 to find the dependence of
the baryon asymmetry of the Universe on the sphaleron freeze-out
temperature. In this Appendix we closely follow paper~\cite{11}.

Being interested in the values of the asymmetries at sphaleron
freeze-out temperature we should assume that the electroweak phase
transition already has occured and the neutral Higgs boson condenses.
That is why the Higgs boson chemical potential is zero. Sometimes
in the literature the baryon density in the electroweak unbroken phase
is looked for. In this case the Higgs boson does not condense and
its chemical potential is nonzero. To find it an additional
equation is needed. It is provided by the condition that the
density of charges with which the massless bosons interact should
be zero, and in an unbroken phase there are two such charges: the
hypercharge and the third projection of a weak isospin. The baryon
density in the unbroken phase is analyzed, for example, in  book
\cite{15} and it differs from its value in a broken phase. Since
the right-handed components of quarks and leptons emitting neutral
Higgs transform to the left-handed components the chemical
potential of both components are equal: $\mu_{u_R} = \mu_{u_L} \equiv \mu_u$,
$\mu_{d_R} = \mu_{d_L} \equiv \mu_d$, $\mu_{e_R} = \mu_{e_L}
\equiv \mu_e$. The analogous relations are valid for the particles
of the second and third families. The right-handed neutrinos of
three light generations are not thermalized and should not be
taken into account (see the end of Sect. 6). The fourth generation
right-handed neutrinos, being heavy, rapidly thermalize: $\mu_{N_R}
= \mu_{N_L} \equiv \mu_N$. The chemical potentials of up and down
weak isospin components are related by $W^-$ chemical potential:
$\mu_d = \mu_W + \mu_u$, $\mu_e = \mu_W + \mu_\nu$, $\mu_E = \mu_W
+ \mu_N$. Mixing of quarks of four families and leptons of three
families equilibrates the chemical potentials of the particles with
the identical gauge quantum numbers. As a result
four independent chemical potentials remain: $\mu_u$, $\mu_N$,
$\mu_W$ and $\mu\equiv \mu_{\nu_1} + \mu_{\nu_2} + \mu_{\nu_3}
\equiv 3\mu_\nu$.

The particle number densities depend on their (Fermi or Bose)
statistics, temperature, chemical potential, and masses.
The chemical potential of an antiparticle is opposite to
that of the particle. The asymmetries and, hence, chemical
potentials are very small. Expanding the equilibrium integrals
for the asymmetry over $\mu$ we obtain:
$$
n_p = \frac{g_p}{\pi^2}T^3\left(\frac{\mu}{T}\right)
\int\limits_x^\infty y\sqrt{y^2 - x^2} \frac{e^y}{(1\pm e^y)^2}dy
=
$$
\begin{equation}
= \left\{
\begin{array}{ll}
\frac{g_p T^3}{3} \left(\frac{\mu}{T}\right) \alpha_b(x) \; , &
{\rm if} ~ p ~ {\rm is ~ a ~ boson} \\
\frac{g_p T^3}{6} \left(\frac{\mu}{T}\right) \alpha_f(x) \; , &
{\rm if} ~ p ~ {\rm is ~ a ~ fermion} \;\; , \label{A.1}
\end{array}
\right.
\end{equation}
where $g_p$ is the number of the degrees of freedom of the
particle $p$ ($g_q = g_l =2$, $g_\nu =1$, $g_N =2$, $g_W =3$) and
$x=m/T$. Functions $\alpha(x)$ are normalized in such a way
that $\alpha_b(0)=\alpha_f(0) =1$. In what follows we take into
account the nonzero masses of the particles of the fourth
generation, of $t$-quark, and of $W$-boson.

The condition of electroneutrality of the primeval plasma looks as:
\begin{eqnarray}
Q & = & 3\frac{2}{3}[2(\alpha_u + \alpha_c +\alpha_t
+\alpha_{t'})\mu_u] - 3\,\frac{1}{3}[2(\alpha_d + \alpha_s +
\alpha_b +\alpha_{b'}) \times \nonumber \\
&\times &(\mu_W + \mu_u)] -2[(\alpha_e + \alpha_\mu +
\alpha_\tau)(\mu_W + \mu_\nu)] - 2\alpha_E(\mu_W + \mu_N) -
\nonumber \\
& - & 3\cdot 2 \alpha_W \mu_W = 0 \;\; , \label{A.2}
\end{eqnarray}
\begin{equation}
(1+2\alpha_t + 2\alpha_{t'} -\alpha_{b'})\mu_u - (6+\alpha_{b'}
+\alpha_E + 3\alpha_W)\mu_W -\mu - \alpha_E \mu_N = 0. \label{A.3}
\end{equation}
Here and below we omit irrelevant factor $T^{2}/6$.

The sphaleron transition converts $qqql$ combination of each
generation into vacuum, which gives:
\begin{equation}
12\mu_u + 8\mu_W + \mu + \mu_N =0 \;\; . \label{A.4}
\end{equation}

The remaining two equations are two superpositions of $B^\prime$,
$L$, and $L_4$ conserved under sphaleron transitions thus being
equal to their initial values. The expressions for these
quantities look like:
\begin{equation}
L_4 = 2\alpha_E \mu_E + 2\alpha_N \mu_N = 2(\alpha_E + \alpha_N)
\mu_N + 2\alpha_E \mu_W \;\; , \label{A.5}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}
L = 2(\alpha_e + \alpha_\mu + \alpha_\tau)\mu_e
+(\alpha_{\nu_e}+\alpha_{\nu_\mu} + \alpha_{\nu_\tau})
\frac{\mu}{3} = 3\mu + 6\mu_W \;\; , \label{A.6}
\end{equation}
\begin{eqnarray}
B^\prime & = & 2\cdot 3 \cdot \frac{1}{3}[(\alpha_u + \alpha_c +
\alpha_t +\alpha_{t'})\mu_u +(\alpha_d + \alpha_s + \alpha_b
+\alpha_{b'})\mu_d] = \nonumber \\
& = & 2(2+\alpha_t +\alpha_{t'})\mu_u + 2(3+\alpha_{b'})(\mu_u +
\mu_W) \;\; . \label{A.7}
\end{eqnarray}

Thus we have four equations which determine the chemical
potentials: (\ref{A.3}), (\ref{A.4}), and the remaining two:
\begin{eqnarray}
B^\prime -L -L_4 &=&2(5+\alpha_t +\alpha_{t'} +\alpha_{b'})\mu_u
+2(\alpha_{b'} -\alpha_E)\mu_W -\nonumber\\  &&\hspace{2.55cm}-3\mu -2(\alpha_E +\alpha_N)\mu_N =
0 \;\; , \label{A.8}\\
L - 3L_4 &=& 6(1-\alpha_E)\mu_W + 3\mu -6(\alpha_E +\alpha_N)\mu_N =
3\Delta \;\; ,
\end{eqnarray}

where we take the initial values analogous to those of ref.~\cite{11}:
$B_0^\prime = L_0 = 3\Delta$ and $L_4^0 =0$.

When temperature is much larger than the masses of all the
particles, all $\alpha_i$ are equal to one we obtain:
\begin{equation}
\frac{B^\prime}{\Delta}\left|_{T\gg m_i} = -\frac{11}{179} \right.
\;\; . \label{A.9}
\end{equation}

If the right-handed neutrinos of three light generations
thermalized  then the equation (\ref{A.6}) would be substituted by
\begin{equation}
L=4\mu +6\mu_W \;\; , \label{A.10}
\end{equation}
and the baryon asymmetry at $T\gg m_i$ would vanish.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


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Our fresh PhD graduate Anna Réz joins the department from September with a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund. Anna's project is called "Aspects of Responsibility". Congratulations and welcome to Anna!


Universal has been gradually letting us in on what to expect when the Aventura Hotel opens in the summer of 2018. They recently released new architectural design details that give us a glimpse of the not only the main structure's layout, but the surrounding amenities as well.
The designs also made sure to include a rooftop bar on the 17th floor which will offer relaxing visitors amazing views of the area, with even as far as Downtown Orlando visible to patrons.
Details like pops of blue in the entry tiles add visual interest while maintaining the simple and modern aesthetic. Lush, green foliage adds natural colors to the exterior of the building while reminding guests of the natural beauty of Florida…Aventura's pool will be a relaxing location for everyone, complete with a kid's splash pad, poolside bar, and a fire pit for making delicious s'mores. The pool will even feature underwater speakers so if your favorite song is playing you'll never miss a beat.
If these images have you excited about a future stay at Aventura — booking is currently available — make sure to check out the previously released room designs as well.
Aventura is expected to open this August.


Unconditional cash transfers are increasingly held as a benchmark in development research and practice, against which, it is argued, other interventions should be compared for impact and cost-effectiveness. Baird and colleagues (2011) is one of few studies to test this assertion in practice. They empirically compare, using randomisation, the impact of unconditional to conditional transfers. This is a tremendous contribution to the literature on both approaches and disentangling the roles of the transfer versus conditionality.
Maira Reimão conducted a replication of the original study. The exercise was constrained by the fact that not all data used in the original study were accessible – while the dataset for the push-button replication is complete, only household survey data are publicly available in raw form. Nevertheless, the results are generally the same as in the original paper for the parts that are replicable, including the key finding that unconditional cash transfers decrease the likelihood of early marriage and pregnancy while the conditional cash transfers do not.
Apart from push-button and pure replication, Reimão also carried out a measurement and estimation analysis, and considered the effects on primary and secondary school girls separately – or, alternatively, on girls with stronger school attachment (i.e. closer to the expected grade for age) separately from girls with a history of repetition and/or dropouts (i.e. lower grade than expected for age).
She finds that the unconditional cash transfers decrease the likelihood of pregnancy and marriage among primary school girls and girls with a stronger attachment to school. However, the finding is specific. Those transfers decrease the likelihood only of marriage for secondary school girls and those with a weaker school attachment. The impact on marriage for secondary school girls is larger than for primary school girls. This is complicated by the fact that the effect is concentrated on girls who are the only beneficiaries in the household.
In terms of policy, these results indicate that unconditional cash transfers may be a powerful tool for decreasing pregnancy and marriage rates among teenage girls, but particularly for decreasing the likelihood of pregnancy among girls in primary school and with a strong attachment to school. The exploratory analysis also points to a warning regarding conditional cash transfers, as it might increase the likelihood of pregnancy among older girls.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Social Security Pension are two of the largest employment programmes in Andhra Pradesh. Muralidharan and colleagues (2016) investigated the impacts of biometrically-authenticated payment infrastructure (Smartcards) on beneficiaries of the two employment programmes.
This replication study starts with the twin strategies of push-button and pure replications of the original study. It then followed this up with various consistency and robustness checks, such as propensity score matching and the Tobit model specification.
Wang and colleagues replicate the results of a randomized evaluation carried out by Haushofer and Shapiro in 2016.
Jesper Stage and Tharshini Thangavelu replicate the results of a randomized evaluation carried out by Lasse Brune and colleagues in 2016 in Malawi.
Edmundo Beteta and colleagues replicate the results of a randomized evaluation carried out by Aker and colleagues in 2016 in Niger.


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text:
Thread starter TV's Frink
TV's Frink
You Catch On Pretty Quick
So...I may have accidentally and permanently deleted the original thread...so here's a new one!
thecuddlyninja
RIP original obituaries thread.
Lol, that deserves a like.
The lesson is to never moderate on a phone. Or to be smarter than me.
Neglify
Poor "guest user" has 0 threads now.
Might want to post that "oops" montage again, Frink...
"The Evolution of Christopher Lee" by Jeff Victor.
jswert123456
composer James Horner has passed away
http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/...itanic-composer-presumed-dead-in-plane-crash/
Very sad to hear this. He composed (at the very least, though I am sure I am forgetting many, many others) two of my favorite soundtracks, those for The Rocketeer and The Mask of Zorro. RIP.
njvc
Very sad news. His scores are some of the most memorable of all time.
Dick Van Patten- dead at 86
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/23/dick-van-patten-dead_n_7646176.html
I watched the new Ian McKellen 'Mr. Holmes' film on Sunday (It's one of the films of year by a long chalk btw) and one of the plot elements centers around an arcane instrument called "The Glass Armonica".
I googled it when I got back and found out it was used to play Spock's theme in Wrath Of Khan. Heard it hundreds of times but never knew what made those wierd sounds. So naturally, guess who I was listening to when the news came...:-(
Damn Spock and the man soundtracked him gone.
sgp1428
Actor Patrick Macnee, star of The Avengers TV series, has died in California at the age of 93.
TMBTM
sgp1428 said:
I thought he died about 10 years ago... So I'm at the same time sad at the news and pleased that he lived that long.
Good memories of The Avengers (or "Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir" as it was the title in french! - Melons bowler and leather boots-)
TMBTM said:
I too have good memories of the Avengers. Back in the 60's and 70's here in the UK we only had three TV channels and for me the weekly Avengers episode was always a highlight.......Love the French title.
Kal-El
hebrides said:
There are so many (for me personally) I can't even begin to describe how saddened I was by this news :'(
Troy (granted Gabriel Yared's rejected score is superior, but still!)
Commando (you love it, admit it!)
Le Dernier Loup (Wolf Totem)
The world has lost one of the best contemporary composers and it's heartbreaking to think that we've heard the last of him I'm convinced that Southpaw will be another fantastic addition to his resumé.
Sir Nicholas Winton, who organised the rescue of 669 children destined for Nazi concentration camps, has died aged 106.
The news has been playing various clips of these 'That's Life' programmes on a loop today...
It really chokes me up around 50 seconds in . It's kinda heart-warming that despite it having over 22 million views, only 398 of the youtube viewers are a**holes who downvoted it... maybe mankind isn't doomed afterall .
amanda peterson- star of cant buy me love- dead at 43
http://perezhilton.com/2015-07-06-amanda-peterson-cant-buy-me-love-star-dies#.VZshW_n7F5c
Irwin Keyes, horror movie character actor- dead at 63
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/08/irwin-keyes-jeffersons-actor-dies-63
Omar Sharif , 83.


Remember that familiar big yellow bird and red furry monster that we all used to watch on the television screen when we were kids. Brought together by Resorts World Genting, Big Bird, Elmo and their friends from Sesame Street will be stealing the limelight at the Genting International Showroom this 28 November 2014 up to 3 January 2015 for the latest musical show 'Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music'.
Since its premiere in 1980, Sesame Street Live has brought the world's most beloved characters and a child's closest friends to life on stage. Sesame Street Live is now the longest-running children's stage show!
Ever since I brought my elder princess to the "Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music" launch (Refer to the launch blog post here), she kept asking me when would I bring her to watch the show.
Her wish was fulfilled last Saturday, we paid a visit to Resort World Genting for the children's all-time favourite, "Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music" with some other bloggers.
My elder princess enjoyed the musical journey a lot, as Abby Cadabby starts a new band on Sesame Street!
Join the fun as Abby, Elmo and friends discover 'instruments' they never knew existed…pots and spoons, trash can lids, and even cookie jars! Everyone's favorite fun, furry and feathered friends are here to teach children that we can make and enjoy beautiful music together. She danced and sang along with Abby, Elmo and friends.
During the intermediate, patrons could take the chance to take a picture with Elmo and friends with just RM 25. Assorted merchandise was available for the kids too.
Overall, our Saturday was well spent together with music and laughter.
For more information about the show, please visit Resorts World Genting website at www.rwgenting.com or call them at +6-03-6101 1118.


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California's skiing resorts have green initiatives as component of the Save Our Snow plan. Obtaining a foundation camp near your ski resort is one way to reduce down on carbon emissions, or carpooling if you are in a caravan and piling into a large van for your gear.
Just put whatever uncooked vegetables you can think of, of course besides these which are very sugary or starchy like potato, into a big bowl. Add a reduced calorie dressing and there you get it, your appetizer! Sure, you listened to it correct, no crackers and none of your so scrumptious dressings! It's as simple as that! Then have a great deal of water prior to every meal. The objective is to make you really feel happy and have a fuller tummy!
And as they say in those Tv commercials for Snuggies and this kind of, "Wait, that's not all!" Verify out the Austin Metropolis Manual for even much more enjoyable things to do in Austin over Memorial Working day weekend.


Today is such an important day in my life. My husband, Tyler, and I have been married for 2 years! I am so blessed that I found my soul mate. He's the most patient, kind, passionate, driven, intelligent, loving, and adoring person I've ever met. When he looks at me, I swear I melt. The love that comes from his eyes is the most pure form of love I have ever seen in my life. This man was made for me and I cannot believe I get to spend my entire life with him! I wanted to share a few things I've learned along the way during my 2 years of marriage.
First off, I hear so often that marriage is easy. Well let me tell you something, it's hard work. Every single day Tyler and I put a lot of effort into our marriage. If we didn't, it would crumble and neither of us want that. Not every day is peachy, but there is something peachy in every day. I love putting 120% effort into our marriage. He does the exact same. Just wanted to get that elephant out of the way!
One of the first things Ive learned is arguing in a marriage is so very different than in a relationship. When disagreeing with Tyler as my husband, there needs to be respect that drives the argument. I am guilty of not always doing this, but I am getting better thankfully. It's one of the areas where he excels and I work hard to do the same. I am a very passionate person, so when I get upset I get really upset. His calm demeanor normally lights my fire, because I feel embarrassed for being so mad. Over the last year, I have been very aware when I'm getting angry and when I am upset I try to be so respectful of this man I love and his feelings. He deserves that from me and I'm so so happy to give that to him! So my advice, work on arguing with respect! It will keep both of you happy and neither of you hurt.
Make each other a priority. In the world of social media, it's easy to lose each other between posting on Insta, snapping, or making sure you use all the right hashtags. My husband is a patient man and totally supports my blogging passion. I love that about him. Nothing ever seems to get under his skin, unless you are a slow driver then that's a different story. ;) He also runs his own very popular Instagram account, so we both get it. Every single night without fail, we spend a minimum of 30 minutes just sitting there or cuddling together. We normally don't talk a lot, but just enjoy the peace of being in the presence of your love. If either of us need anything at all, we would move Heaven and Earth to make it happen. His happiness, health, feelings, and life are vital to me. He is my priority! Give the 30 minutes together a try, it makes for a really happy and stress free marriage.
Don't be afraid to have an adventurous date! Tyler and I started this new idea when it comes to dating. Each Saturday one of us plans a date and the other cannot say no. We switch off every other to take off the pressure of him constantly planning them or falling into the rut of just going to a restaurant. I'm not always very adventurous so that's where the no comes in to place. We have done some really fun things! We have explored the science museum, went to Cheekwood Artober (which was AWESOME), watched Bridget Jones's Baby, and so many other things. I have thoroughly enjoyed my dates with my hubby! We have the absolute best time!
I hope this post wasn't too off kilter, but I just wanted to share the things that have kept the 2 years we have spent married very happy. I truly love this man I married and I look forward to year 3 with him!
Thank you Piper! You are such a sweetheart and always puts a smile on my face!!


10+ years building brand and creative from concept to execution — visual merchandising displays in Sephora to wine packaging in Paso Robles. I help guide a collaborative approach to clarifying business goals and bringing vision to life: sure, I have some ideas. And I need your ideas, too.
Clients: Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Barney's New York, Bergdorf Goodman, QVC, Good Morning America, Tria Beauty, 20|20 Creative Group, RRM Design Group, Genentech, AmGen, Edwards Biosciences, Seattle Genetics, Promega Life Sciences, Jacuzzi, Sundance Spas, DEL Ozone, must! charities, Torrin Vineyard, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Booker Wines.
I'm a Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Art & Design alum — and after a stint in the Bay Area for a few years, I'm back home with a pretty simple goal. I want to invest in my community, make my friends some money, and make some pretty cool art while I'm at it: illuminating the various touchpoints of brands with more meaning and resonance for everybody involved. It really doesn't have to be much more complicated than that.
Based on the Central Coast of California.


Just around the corner from the printer's office is this lovely park dedicated to those who founded the area.
Pre . . . computers, electricity, phones, supermarkets, cars and all those mod-cons we take for granted!
Despite the many signs asking visitors not to feed the birds and animals, that didn't stop several people with large bags of bread at a small park near Nathaniel's home in Gladstone! This fellow certainly doesn't look hungry. Grandma loved him but Jackie was much more interested in the playground equipment.
. . . we have to go and vote!
A perfect morning at Gawler's Pioneer Park 🙂 I was very lucky as the weather was just right while I was visiting.
And, it was nice to see this very well maintained area being used by several groups including and exercise group and some young workers relaxing with their morning coffee.


Home » Does Florida's "delayed discovery doctrine" apply to undue influence claims?
You'd think something as basic as knowing how long you have to file a lawsuit would be simple to figure out. And you'd be wrong. Why? Because trust cases are almost always based on "equitable" law, which means they don't fit neatly into our statutes of limitations (found in F.S. Ch. 95).
For example, if you're going to sue a trustee for some kind of breach of trust, the general rule is that you've got 4 years to file your lawsuit, but depending on the particular facts of your case, your actual filing deadline could vary wildly: from a low of 6 months to a high of 40 years! (see here, here).
And if you're challenging the validity of a trust based on undue influence (the most common line of attack), your limitations period is again usually going to be 4 years, but it could be up to 12 years depending on whether or not the "delayed discovery doctrine" applies to your case.
An action founded upon fraud under s. 95.11(3), including constructive fraud, must be begun within the period prescribed in this chapter, with the period running from the time the facts giving rise to the cause of action were discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of due diligence, instead of running from any date prescribed elsewhere in s. 95.11(3), but in any event an action for fraud under s. 95.11(3) must be begun within 12 years after the date of the commission of the alleged fraud, regardless of the date the fraud was or should have been discovered.
The delayed-discovery doctrine is an exception to the general rule, and it usually only applies to fraud and products liability claims. The question at issue in this appeal is whether the exception can also apply to undue influence claims.
This case involves an irrevocable trust created in 2005 by philanthropists Gloria and Louis Flanzer. The fact that it's an irrevocable trust is important. Most trust cases involve revocable trusts; and F.S. 736.0207(2) tells us you can't litigate a revocable trust until it becomes irrevocable, which is usually upon the settlor's death. In this case, because the subject trust started off as an irrevocable trust, it was subject to challenge from its date of inception. But that's not what happened.
The parties agree that under chapter 95 the limitations period applicable to [plaintiff's] action is four years. See § 95.11(3). Indeed, a review of section 95.11 reveals that undue influence claims can only fall under subsection 95.11(3)(j), "[a] legal or equitable action founded on fraud." See Peacock v. Du Bois, 90 Fla. 162, 105 So. 321, 322 (1925) ("Fraud and undue influence are not, strictly speaking, synonymous, though undue influence has been classified as either a species of fraud or a kind of duress, and in either instance is treated as fraud in general."); In re Guardianship of Rekasis, 545 So.2d 471, 473 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989) (describing undue influence as a "species of fraud" and holding that statute of limitations on undue influence claim did not begin to run until the influence terminated or someone on Rekasis' behalf became aware of the influence).
Applying a 4-year limitations period, the trial judge ruled the 2015 undue-influence claim (filed 10 years after the 2005 irrevocable trust was first created) was time barred and dismissed it. Whether or not the trial judge got this one right depends on whether or not Florida's delayed discovery doctrine applies to this case, which could potentially extend the filing deadline from 4 to 12 years (through 2017).
On appeal, [plaintiff] argues that since courts treat undue influence as a species of fraud, undue influence is therefore subject to the delayed discovery doctrine. The Trustees challenge the application of section 95.031(2)(a) by emphasizing the elements that distinguish fraud and undue influence claims. They argue that such distinctions place undue influence claims outside the meaning of actions "founded upon fraud." We disagree.
To be sure, undue influence claims and fraud claims are distinct causes of action. See GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. v. Hoy, 136 So.3d 647, 651 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013) (enumerating elements of fraud in the inducement); Greenberg v. Van Dam, 833 So.2d 810, 812 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002) (enumerating elements of undue influence). But the uses of the prepositions "founded upon fraud" and "founded on fraud" in sections 95.031(2)(a) and 95.011(3)(j), respectively, plainly countenance a broader class of claims than merely actions alleging fraud in general. As such, we see no reason why section 95.031(2)(a) would not apply to [plaintiff's] claim—provided that [plaintiff] otherwise satisfies the requirements of that section. The Trustees point to no other legal authority supporting the circuit court's conclusion that [plaintiff] must have challenged the philanthropic trust within four years of its becoming irrevocable. We therefore reverse the dismissal of Count V of [plaintiff's] complaint and remand for further proceedings.
So who gets to occupy the decedent's contested real estate?


CMS unveils new rural health strategy . . .
The CMS has made a commitment to keep rural communities in mind when developing regulations.
On Tuesday, the federal agency released an eight-page rural health strategy which outlined its promises to reduce regulatory barriers to telehealth, improve outreach to providers in these communities to make sure they understand CMS programs, and identify practical solutions that will help better care in these areas. The document did not outline policy announcements.
"This administration clearly understands that one of the keys to ensuring that those who call rural America home are able to achieve their highest level of health is to advance policies and programs that address their unique healthcare needs," CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in a comment.
Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, called the strategy "substantial." Verma had previously announced a rural plan was coming at an NRHA conference.
The strategy's chief initiative is formally analyzing what impact any future rulemakings will have on rural providers and communities. That practice doesn't happen consistently now, Morgan said.
"We're pleased the administration has made these technologies central to its strategy and signaled the need to reduce barriers to their use," said Erin O'Malley, senior director of policy at America's Essential Hospitals.
Approximately 60 million people live in rural areas, according to the CMS.