The last few months on the second Tuesday I have been bicycle counting as part of the Transit for Livable Communities' monthly bike counts. Several of us from the Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition have been doing counts along University Avenue. I took University just west of Raymond Avenue where I can conveniently sit in the front window of The Edge Coffeesop and do my counting. In the summer, this was nicely air-conditioned. They play fun music, Edith Piaf yesterday for a while, I settle in with my coffee, and for two hours am on high alert, counting bicyclists and bikes on bus racks (my own addition). It's kind of nice to quietly observe the neighborhood traffic for two hours once a month, you notice things.
Anyway, with the end of Daylight Savings Time, sunset now happens in the middle of the 4:00 to 6:00PM counting period. The sun disappeared behind the horizon at 4:50 and at 5:00 I went outside to be able to see better, since we classify cyclists by helmet/no helmet, gender, road or sidewalk and 15-minute period.
I had to be extra vigilant. There were 28 cyclists in the 5:00 to 6:00 hour, lower volume now than in the lighter/warmer months even though it was unseasonably warm, and I think maybe 6 or 8 had adequate lights. I didn't formally count light quality, but maybe half the people showed no lights at all and most of the remainder had dim tailights.
People, this is a busy four-lane street with lots of truck traffic. There is a left turn lane for people wanting to get on Highway 280/I-94, with brake lights and turn signals. There is a utility truck parked along the side of the roads with blinking strobe lights and a big yellow arrow telling traffic to move over. There's traffic lights and a big flamboyant neon sign on the liquor store. Throw into this mix an old, dim, mis-aimed blinkie and you are just about invisible.
Look, I know you can see fine. That's because you're 25 and your eyes are young. The people driving these motor vehicles are 40 and 60 and 80 years old and I can tell you that night vision doesn't improve with age. Don't rely just on reflectors or your own mad cycling skillz, get a damn light! If your blinky is more than about 2 years old, get a new one, the LEDs have been improving tremendously in brightness.
About 750 cyclists are killed by motor vehicles each year in the U.S. Stats aren't kept on the fault in these accidents, but reading daily accounts for a while leads me to believe that in about half the cases, the cyclist is heavily complicit through some sort of bad behaviour. It's easy to fix; don't run Stop signs and red lights, don't ride drunk, ride with traffic and not against it and put on some damn lights.
Trying to count the stealth cyclists riding by lightless makes this obvious. I was absolutely alert and looking to see you and it was a challenge. Think about the motorists driving home from work, going to the grocery store, fiddling with the radio, looking to see if they can change lanes left. They're worried about all sorts of things besides trying to acquire visual contact with unlit cyclists.
I don't know all the lights the lit people were showing but the Planet Bike SuperFlash has a pretty distinctive flash pattern (we have 4 or 5 of these lying around the house for use in the fleet) and the most visible cyclist was a young lady showing two SuperFlashes, one low on the bike (rack or seatpost?), and one high (on a backpack or helmet). I could see her for several blocks after she went by even amongst the cavalcade of lights on University. She is a model to us all.
I personally like to run two taillights, one blinking (a SuperFlash) and one steady (Busch & Müller 4D Toplight). A lot of people don't seem to care and run nothing at all. If you're one of them and get hit, I will feel the same lack of sympathy for you as I do for drivers who text while driving and run off the road and get killed. Remember, stupidity has a way of catching up with people.


Well, I wasn't sure how this guy was gonna turn out, but I have to say I'm pretty pleased with it. Looks beautiful ingame. Right now it's just a clone of the stryker, with the exception I gave it a gun with bullets instead of missiles. I'm gonna make sure you can't spam this unit like you can in RA3, so this unit will be less cost efficent than any of it's peers.
but could you add some Details for that??
see the other units I have made, I think this one fits in perfectly with them. If you didn't know, this is my style. It's cartoonish, while resembling it's source material.
Sorry to say this, but when it's in mech mode, it looks like it's constipating!
Looks pretty cool, actually. I blame the color scheme.
flying mode or shitting mode.
I'm guessing you're new here.
Not trying to look like a noob here,but have you noticed the jet tengu seems to be based on the old WW2 Mitsubishi Zero Fighter?
Kinda, but not especially, reminds me more of a mid-model mig (19s, back when the air intake was still the whole nose).
I will leave it be for now, I might do some touch ups when I animate this (years from now). It's stance is directly based off of the one it has in WB, I thought it looked more like a cowboy ready to whip out the pistols.
Could you please 黙る Altomare!!
Your such a あきれかえる 嫌いな人 Man!!
Anyways, the only reason for it was that you asked for more details, when this mod clearly wants the cartoony style. In other words it lack details on purpose. Don't take it personally, but read the rules or at least have a clue about the mod/forum before responding the way you did.
I wouldn't mind, it brings more attention to IC.
I prefer to have bumps with a bit more usefulness in the post, but wth.
Something to contribute here, a question: is the robot-mode animated? I know it hovers but it does makes movements when it moves so it should be animated.
Of all the models we have, only the Sickle and King Oni are properly animated (not counting the spinning grinders on the Lasher).
I just want to point out that the mecha tengu and its animations have been released as part of the RA3 Artpack, so using 3ds max and the BFME 2 Mod SDK, you should be able to export the anims as w3d and use them in Gen.
I don't wanna use the tengu model of the original, besides the probablility it's over the poly count, and that I don't have 3dsMax, every other model is hand made by us.
Well, I meant that you should use the animations, not the whole RA3 model.
After all, why spend time making them per hand when you can simply import them?
Transforming animation, or something more that just transforming?
Could do the Tengu as next one to animate.


Specialization works for companies like Quidsi and Zappos because they build relationships with recurring customers, and because they can get their product out quickly. Bharara and Lore, for instance, are experimenting with local city storage of most-ordered items, so that a case of diapers might appear at the door within hours. Amazon can't move its huge selection into urban areas, but most Diapers.com customers are selecting from a small and predictable range. Specialization also works because you can design a website targeted to a particular audience. Start at the home page, and you're almost done shopping.
So much work has to go into efficiency because shipping diapers and household goods is a hard way to make money. Shawn C. Milne is an Internet analyst at Janney Capital Markets, and when he talks about Quidsi and Amazon, he talks about scale, scale, scale. "It's all about driving high volume over fixed costs," he says, meaning you've got to spend a lot and sell a lot. "These are not 15 to 20 percent operating margin businesses, these are 5 to 7 percent peak operating margins." That's a low return, but it's a return in a business that's been growing at around 10 percent annually while retail overall has been slumping.


The Ph.D. in Vision Science is conferred in recognition of the candidate's command of a comprehensive body of knowledge in the field of vision science and its related disciplines, and their ability to initiate, organize, and pursue the investigation of significant problems in vision science. The program offers appropriate education for careers in teaching and/or research, in institutions of higher education, research centers and industry, where advanced analytical, conceptual and research capabilities are required.
Graduate students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all academic coursework and must make satisfactory progress toward their degree. For each required course, a B or higher is considered a pass; a B- or lower is equivalent to a failing grade. All students must retake all non-passing grades at the next course offering, or as designated by the Chair. Students who do not achieve a passing grade in the Proseminar Series by the end of the second year will be placed on academic probation.
Students must remain in good standing in order to continue being funded by the program; academic probation is a potential basis for removing funding. The "official" Grade Point Average (GPA) is posted on the student's transcript. Students are responsible for reviewing transcripts to ensure the grades are properly posted and classes taken are accurately listed.
Graduate students at UC Berkeley are required to maintain "full-time" student status at all times during the academic year. For all students, full-time status is considered enrollment in 12 semester units of graduate or upper division courses each semester. Units may be coursework or research units (VS299).
Students are expected to be in-residence working on their research for the entire year, inclusive of Summer. Students with special circumstances may seek exceptions with permission from both the Chair and the student's mentor.
To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress, each year they are required to undergo an Annual Review by the program. Each year, following the VS Academic Advisors meeting, each student will be sent a letter outlining their progress. This letter will outline achievements, upcoming milestones, and any concerns about progress that were raised by the committee.
Each year the Vision Science Graduate Group puts on a variety of events, in which student involvement is a critical component of success. Everyone is expected to help, but in particular the first- and second-year students will be called upon to act as leads for certain events. During the first year, students will be the leads for Bay Area Vision Research Day (BAVRD). During students' second year, they will be the leads for Visit Day and New Student Orientation. As a lead, students will help plan and execute these events. Beyond the second year, students will be called upon to volunteer for various student panels and social events with the expectation that everyone volunteers occasionally.
For more information please refer to the Graduate Division Guide to Policy.


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Description. This original 1958 Chevrolet 2-speed electric wiper motor has been rebuilt better than original factory specifications. The plates have been cad plated and the interior parts have been rebuilt with many new parts installed.


200 people attended the dedication of the Community Veterans Memorial.
STANWOOD — It was a day to honor veterans.
But dozens of veterans at Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center shared the honor.
At a Monday ceremony, the veterans stood to thank — and salute — those in the crowd who didn't serve in the armed forces.
About 200 people packed the room with seating for 150 to attend the dedication of the Community Veterans Memorial at 27130 102nd Ave. NW, between the meeting hall and Stanwood Area Historical Society.
What was once a lawn is now a circular brick plaza with benches, a flagpole and five granite pedestals, each representing a major armed conflict: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq and Afghanistan.
It was dreamed up by volunteers, funded through donations and in-kind contributions, constructed by free labor and researched by local historians.
Engraved on the granite kiosks are 50 names of the men — and a woman — who lived in the boundaries of the Stanwood-Camano School District and died serving their country.
At the ceremony, the names of the fallen were read aloud, each followed by the ringing of a bell.
Eleven died in World War I. Twenty-six in World War II. Three in Korea. Six in Vietnam. Three in Iraq. One in Afghanistan.
The memorial was about five years in the making. Fund raising included selling $150 bricks, which will be installed on the front wall (and are still available). Contractors volunteered time and materials. Stanwood High School horticultural students did the landscaping. The list goes on.
The white-bearded man wore a crisp red pinstriped shirt and a blue USS Europa cap. The wooden cane he clutched was as much for show as use.
Joyce said the impetus for the memorial started during a breakfast with his buddy.
The Vietnam pedestal has the name of one of their classmates, George Michael Broz, a second lieutenant in the Marines.
Helicopters etched in the surface evoked recollections for Stanwood resident Steven Lively, 67, who was a crew chief in Vietnam.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Sean Connolly, 41, placed a small anchor pin at the base of the flagpole.
The event drew people of all ages.
"Our town has a lot of history and this definitely presents it in a nice way," said Hailey Logan, 16, of Stanwood.


Downtown Frederick has benefited from smart growth tools and investments.
What is Smart Growth Maryland?
How Does Smart Growth Maryland Accomplish Its Work?
How are Smart Growth and Historic Preservation Connected?
Historic preservation was the original smart growth movement.
The launch of Smart Growth Maryland further solidified an already strong relationship between these two interest areas. Smart Growth Maryland provides Preservation Maryland with the ability to advocate for an even greater set of policies and programs that make preservation work possible. Alternatively, Preservation Maryland provides the smart growth community a unique partner to advance their common mission and to utilize historic places as a part of an overall smart growth message.
Interest in the reuse of historic buildings in downtowns is unlikely if sprawl remains a viable option. Adaptive reuse of historic buildings becomes more economically feasible in communities where open space is protected and sprawl is curtailed.
Rural agricultural landscapes are as much a part Maryland's history as the barns and farmhouses which dot them. Saving open space is most effective in communities which prioritize the redevelopment of existing areas rather than encouraging sprawl.
Saving historic buildings in communities without walkable sidewalks and bikeable streets and is more difficult than in communities with complete, pedestrian friendly streets.
Redevelopment of historic neighborhoods is extremely difficult in the absence of reliable and effective transit options. Traffic choked roads and gridlock are barriers to the effective reuse of historic buildings and the revitalization of historic communities.
How is Smart Growth Maryland Organized and Funded?
Smart Growth Maryland is a campaign or "program' of Preservation Maryland. Smart Growth Maryland is not an independent organization. The finances of Smart Growth Maryland, like all other programs of Preservation Maryland, are annually reported on Preservation Maryland's IRS 990 form. Donations restricted to the Smart Growth Maryland Campaign are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law and are recognized by an acknowledgment letter from Preservation Maryland. Smart Growth Maryland is supported by many individual, corporate, organizational and foundation donors.
Who is on the staff of Smart Growth Maryland?
Currently, Smart Growth Maryland has one full-time staff member, with a plan for expansion in the near future. Kimberly Golden Brandt, the former Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Maryland, leads Smart Growth Maryland under the title of Director of Smart Growth Maryland.
Smart Growth Maryland is administratively and programmatically supported by the staff of Preservation Maryland. Just as Preservation Maryland supports the rest of its programs like Heritage Fund grants and our Six-to-Fix program, the organization provides both leadership and support for Smart Growth Maryland. Preservation Maryland maintains an extremely low overhead rate and invests nearly 90 cents of every donor's dollar directly into programs.
At a public hearing held by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) on February 27, Smart Growth Maryland and its partners in the Smarter Growth Alliance for Charles County spoke out against Georgetown University's plans to clear-cut 240 acres of Southern Maryland's largest forest for an industrial-scale solar facility.
Smart Growth Maryland and its partners in the Smarter Growth Alliance for Charles County have long supported plans for Southern Maryland Rapid Transit (SMRT) – high-capacity, fixed-route transit from the Branch Avenue Metrorail Station in Prince George's County to White Plains in Charles County.
As a part of Smart Growth Maryland's ongoing efforts to support community revitalization across the state, Kimberly Golden Brandt, the Director of the program was recently appointed to serve on the City of Brunswick's Preservation and Revitalization Committee, which met for the first time on February 5, 2019.
Smart Growth Maryland and its partners in the Smarter Growth Alliance for Charles County recently announced their opposition to Georgetown University's plans to clear-cut 240 acres of Southern Maryland's largest forest for an industrial-scale solar facility.
On Thursday, January 24, 2019, Preservation Maryland and Smart Growth Maryland hosted a free webinar on the top priorities for the preservation, conservation, and development communities during this Session of the Maryland General Assembly. That webinar is now available as a free on-demand video for all advocates.


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Scientists uncover a key factor in human brain development
College of Medicine researchers answer a major question about how the part of the brain that makes humans so intelligent develops
Lindsey Hendrix
Featured, Medicine, Research, Show on VR homepage, Uncategorized
Scientists at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine have made a breakthrough discovery about the development of the brain. This new information contributes to our understanding of how the part of the brain that makes humans more intelligent than other mammals develops and offers insights into what causes intellectual disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders.
For years, experts have known that a thin layer of cells in the neocortex—the part of the brain that controls higher order functions such as cognition, perception and language—is directly correlated with intelligence in mammals. The larger the surface area of the neocortex, the more highly developed the mental capacity of that organism. For example, the thickness of the human neocortex is only about three-fold greater than that of mice. Yet, the surface area of the human neocortex is 1,000-fold greater than that of mice. Malformations in this part of the brain progress to developmental deficits that include autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. What's not understood is how evolutionary expansion of this part of the brain occurs preferentially in favor of expanding surface area of the neocortex at the expense of increasing its thickness. How the earliest populations of neural stem cells—the building blocks of the brain—distribute themselves is a key factor in this process.
"There are many, what we'll call, individual processing units that are horizontally arranged in the neocortex. The more surface area you have, the more of these processing units you can accommodate," said Vytas A. Bankaitis, PhD, Distinguished Professor at the College of Medicine, E.L. Wehner-Welch Foundation Chair in Chemistry, and co-author of this study, which was published in Cell Reports. "The question is, why is the neocortical surface area is so much greater relative to its thickness as one climbs up the mammalian evolutionary tree? Why do neural stem cells spread themselves in a lateral direction as they proliferate and not pile on top of each other?"
This question is key because when the cells do not spread out, but instead pile up, it creates a thicker neocortex with a smaller surface area—a characteristic that has been observed in cases of intellectual disability and even autism.
"One of the most studied genetic causes of intellectual disability is a mutation in a gene that was originally called LIS1," said Zhigang Xie, PhD, assistant professor at the College of Medicine and co-author of the study. "This genetic mutation will cause a smooth brain, which is associated with intellectual disability. And one typical observation is that the neocortex of the patient is thicker than normal. There are also very recent studies that identify common differences in the brain of autism that include abnormally thickened regions of the neocortex in those individuals."
Scientists have known for some time that as neural stem cells divide, their nuclei move up and down within their anatomical space as a function of the cell cycle, a process called interkinetic nuclear migration. They do so by employing a cytoskeletal network that acts like train tracks with engines that move the nuclei up or down in a closely regulated manner. Although several ideas have been proposed, it remains an enigma why the nuclei move in this way, how this network of train tracks is controlled, and what role interkinetic nuclear migration plays in development of the neocortex.
In this study, Xie and Bankaitis provide answers to these questions.
As for why, Bankaitis explains that when there are so many cells so close together in the embryonic stage of neocortical development, the movement of their nuclei up and down causes opposing upward and downward forces that spreads the dividing neural stem cells out.
"Think about a tube of toothpaste," Bankaitis said. "If you were to take that toothpaste tube, put it between your hands, push up from the bottom and push down from the top, what would happen? It would flatten and spread out. That's essentially how this works. You have an upward force and a downward force caused by the movement of the nuclei that spreads these cells out."
Xie and Bankaitis also demonstrate how the cells do this by linking together several distinct pathways that cooperate to "tell" the newborn neural stem cells where to go.
"I think for the first time, this really puts together molecules and signaling pathways that indicate how this process is controlled and why it would be linked or associated with neurodevelopmental deficiencies," Bankaitis said. "We have taken a biochemical pathway, linked it to a cell biological pathway, and linked it to a signaling pathway that talks to the nucleus to promote the nuclear behavior that generates a force that develops a complicated brain. It's now a complete circuit."
The results of this study uncover an important factor in the underlying causes of autism risk, intellectual disabilities and neural tube birth defects. The new knowledge on the basic principles regulating the shape of the neocortex will also help the design of in vitro brain culture systems that more accurately reflect the developmental processes of interest and improve the prospects for neurological drug development.
"While there might prove to be many reasons why a neocortex thickens instead of spreads, our work provides a new perspective on why patients with autism and intellectual disabilities often display a thicker cortex," Xie said. "The fact that the LIS1 gene product is a core regulator of nuclear migration, including the interkinetic nuclear migration that we study in this work, supports the conclusions we reach in this paper."
¿Cuál es el mejor momento para vacunarse? De inmediato.
Médicos de la Escuela de Medicina explican las opciones entre los diferentes tipos de vacunas y cuando vacunarse.
Texas A&M students hosting free health fair Oct. 15
Students from the Texas A&M University School of Nursing are hosting the Big Health Event…
Two faculty members receive 2022 Association of Former Students College-Level Teaching Award
Two Texas A&M University School of Medicine faculty members, John Hubbard, PhD, instructional associate professor…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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PETER ATTARD MONTALTO: Time for state to get into gear on energy policy
Posted in: Energy, i-Blog, South Africa on Dec 7, 2020
The government should just get on with the business of dealing decisively with energy policy, show some leadership and cut the stalling.
This column was first published in Business Day.
It's time to call out the nonsensical nature of energy policy in SA.
I don't understand how the notional short-run political upsides of not dealing decisively with energy policy and those causing the blockages can be worth it versus the long-run damage to one's legacy, reduced growth, higher unemployment and lower investment.
After three years of stalling, 2021 will be make or break not just on actual energy policy but for the wider credibility of the government's commitment to an economic recovery in the eyes of both local and foreign investors.
This isn't about the fact that we are finally due early in the new year to get the next (much delayed) bid window of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme, or that Eskom is stabilised, or that some new regulations have been signed. This is fundamentally about a mindset problem at the very heart of energy policy that cannot be changed incrementally but must be swept aside.
A decision must be made on the role of the state versus a liberalised system that sidesteps the state. Is the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) working? Is the department of mineral resources & energy working and capacitated? Is the existing Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process correct? Is the Electricity Regulation Act fit for purpose? Is the right leadership in place?
Proper performance management within the government will soon highlight that the answer to all these questions is no.
At the moment the private sector is made to feel grateful that there is a bid window for renewables coming. This is mad.
Changing a regulation that allows municipalities to procure IPP power is meaningless if the process still rests on opaque and delayed ministerial discretion. Removing the need for a ministerial authorisation to deviate from IRP is meaningless if private projects cannot navigate a Nersa process in a timely manner anyway.
Similarly, the IRP is now out of date, as Eskom's own recent system planning exercise showed, and there is still a dangerous 5GW gap between supply and demand likely to emerge in the coming years that will result in unprecedented load-shedding. It is this fear that has led Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to call for liberalised energy procurement to allow him to achieve his number-one job target — keeping the lights on.
A key part of his ability to do this is going to be a spun-out Independent Transmission System Market Operator (ITSMO). Eskom has been clear that it is getting ready for this. Yet the process and the "by end-2021" target for an ITSMO is doomed to failure because of the nine regulatory and legislative steps required to allow Eskom to spin it out. All of these involve the department in some way or another. The consensus in government circles seems to be that it will be more like three to five years before there can be an ITSMO given the lack of leadership on the issue.
But this isn't about any one step of action, it is about a new mindset of speedy evidence-based policy. Business and investors would be far happier with someone gallantly battling a dysfunctional system than looking for praise for small morsels.
The problem is that the energy situation is a very large and complex puzzle that has many inputs and outputs at a micro level but with macro consequences.
Next year will see increasing alarm from both fixed capital and portfolio investors about the carbon content of electricity into final goods and services produced in SA. But it will also see alarm about the challenges of being able to remedy this.
It is interesting to note that despite some headline promises of streamlining Nersa's processes and time limits, there is still not only a complete lack of trust in the regulator among experts but also deep confusion and tea-leaf reading every time they make a move. This is not a reputation a regulator should have.
Foreign and domestic companies will increasingly be forced to look at carbon on a total look-through basis — forced by both shareholders and governments. The EU plan for a carbon import tax will spread to other countries quickly through 2021 and so SA will again stand out like a sore thumb. This will be especially so given SA's exceedingly slow movement and our risk aversion to making any commitment towards a zero-carbon point.
A 2050 net zero-carbon target for the whole country needs to be put in place before the middle of 2021. This would then start forcing current discussion on a Just Energy Transition (JET) into firm policy since decommissioning rates for Eskom (and Sasol and others) would have to accelerate meaningfully and be specific.
There would be strong signalling benefits globally, and especially into the COP26 conference in the UK in November 2021, to make such a commitment that has previously been politically impossible. Such a commitment is also crucial to gaining access to the JET financing that Eskom needs to manage its decommissioning process. If the country misses this point next year, then this whole plan becomes far harder if not impossible to finance at the required scale.
A carbon commitment should then be the foundation for a new IRP that is automatically run every two years through an outsourced, competitive process between expert modellers along guidelines (anchored around least cost and least carbon) set by the government. The result should then, with feedback but not sign-off from Nedlac, become government policy, thus sidestepping the bizarre sight of unions with no mandate arguing for a nuclear policy.
As it is, 2021 risks being a year of nuclear, new coal and exaggerated gas-to-power procurement confusion. Equally, Eskom's need to decommission will arrive with a bang in 2021, and while Eskom has made valiant efforts on a just transition so far, this will suddenly become a much bigger issue as political interference starts.
So much will depend on perceptions of whether SA "gets it" (beyond the specifics) with energy and climate policy in 2021 or falls behind.
The direction of required travel and the requirements of investors can be accepted as is or dismissed as a colonial neoliberal conspiracy.
It will be the seminal nexus of issues for the year, with consequences well beyond. A reshuffle might be a good place to start.
Attard Montalto is head of capital markets research at Intellidex.


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JUST IN: Gunmen storm market in Sokoto, kill 40
Gunmen yesterday attacked a busy and densely populated market in Sokoto and killed over 40 people.
The Gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the Onion and other cash crops market at around 4:30 pm and open fire, killing over 40 people.
Speaking to newsmen, a village head in the area said, vigilantes in the area left the town in search of the attackers not knowing that the gunmen were also preparing attack.
He said 42 dead bodies were brought to Goronyo Geberal Hospital on the day of the attack. He equally said that the numbers of victims are expected to rise as bodies were still being searched in nearby river and bushes around the town.
He said that informants were responsible for the attack. He said there is no way bandits would have known that the vigilantes were not in town without someone given them the information.
He called on government and security personnel to crackdown on informants who were living amongst communities.
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A Riders Republic beta test is taking place this month
Players can sample Ubisoft's extreme sports game from August 23-25
6th Aug 2021 / 10:47 am
Tom Ivan
Ubisoft has confirmed plans to stage a Riders Republic beta later this month.
The test will be held from August 23-25 and players interested in participating can register here.
Riders Republic is an extreme sports game in development at Ubisoft Annecy, the studio behind 2016's Steep.
It will let players roam a large open world featuring American national parks Bryce Canyon, Yosemite Valley and Mammoth Mountain, and compete in activities including biking, skiing, snowboarding and wingsuit flying.
Riders Republic will be released for consoles, Stadia, and PC via the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store. PS4 and Xbox One owners will be able to upgrade to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions for free.
The game was originally scheduled for release in February 2021, before being delayed to September and more recently to October 28, when Ubisoft also delayed Rainbow Six Extraction to January 2022.
Riders Republic reveals new gameplay and September 2 release date
Extreme sports game will feature massive races with up to 64 players
"The goal with the decision to delay both of these games is to give more opportunities for players to test, play firsthand and give feedback to ensure we are bringing the best experiences to market and allow them to reach their full potential," the company said in July.
"We believe the new release schedules will allow us to achieve that goal. This is the right decision for our players and for the long-term performance of our games."
FIFA 22's latest update improves goalkeepers and fixes over 60 bugs
John Madden, the star of EA's Madden NFL series, has died at 85
Rainbow Six Quarantine
Pokémon Go team responds to boycott over in-game distance requirements
Niantic has started rolling back to pre-pandemic rules but some fans are unhappy
Metroid celebrates its 35th anniversary today
Samus Aran made her debut on August 6, 1986


During heart valve remodeling, and in many disease states, valvular interstitial cells (VICs) shift to an activated myofibroblast phenotype which is characterized by enhanced synthetic and contractile activity. Pronounced alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-containing stress fibers, the hallmark of activated myofibroblasts, are also observed when VICs are placed under tension due to altered mechanical loading in vivo or during in vitro culture on stiff substrates or under high mechanical loads and in the presence of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1). The work presented herein describes three distinct model systems for application of controlled mechanical environment to VICs cultured in vitro. The first system uses polyacrylamide (PA) gels of defined stiffness to evaluate the response of VICs over a large range of stiffness levels and TGF-β1 concentration. The second system controls the boundary stiffness of cell-populated gels using springs of defined stiffness. The third system cyclically stretches soft or stiff two-dimensional (2D) gels while cells are cultured on the gel surface as it is deformed. Through the use of these model systems, we have found that the level of 2D stiffness required to maintain the quiescent VIC phenotype is potentially too low for a material to both act as matrix to support cell growth in the non-activated state and also to withstand the mechanical loading that occurs during the cardiac cycle. Further, we found that increasing the boundary stiffness on a three-dimensional (3D) cell populated collagen gel resulted in increased cellular contractile forces, αSMA expression, and collagen gel (material) stiffness. Finally, VIC morphology is significantly altered in response to stiffness and stretch. On soft 2D substrates, VICs cultured statically exhibit a small rounded morphology, significantly smaller than on stiff substrates. Following equibiaxial cyclic stretch, VICs spread to the extent of cells cultured on stiff substrates, but did not reorient in response to uniaxial stretch to the extent of cells stretched on stiff substrates. These studies provide critical information for characterizing how VICs respond to mechanical stimuli. Characterization of these responses is important for the development of tissue engineered heart valves and contributes to the understanding of the role of mechanical cues on valve pathology and disease onset and progression. While this work is focused on valvular interstitial cells, the culture conditions and methods for applying mechanical stimulation could be applied to numerous other adherent cell types providing information on the response to mechanical stimuli relevant for optimizing cell culture, engineered tissues or fundamental research of disease states.


Drakemire Business Park is a place in South Glasgow and is mainly residential.
Castle Brae Drainage Services Ltd is a company of drainage experts offering a range of services relating to drains.
Map showing Drakemire Business Park in Glasgow.


text:
<?php
App::uses('Comandaingrediente', 'Model');

/**
 * Comandaingrediente Test Case
 *
 */
class ComandaingredienteTest extends CakeTestCase {

/**
 * Fixtures
 *
 * @var array
 */
	public $fixtures = array(
		'app.comandaingrediente',
		'app.resto',
		'app.restosurcusale',
		'app.user',
		'app.role',
		'app.rolemodulo',
		'app.modulo',
		'app.ingredientetipo',
		'app.ingrediente',
		'app.medida',
		'app.ingredientestock',
		'app.platoingre',
		'app.proveedoreingre',
		'app.proveedore'
	);

/**
 * setUp method
 *
 * @return void
 */
	public function setUp() {
		parent::setUp();
		$this->Comandaingrediente = ClassRegistry::init('Comandaingrediente');
	}

/**
 * tearDown method
 *
 * @return void
 */
	public function tearDown() {
		unset($this->Comandaingrediente);

		parent::tearDown();
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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                                    }
                                ?>

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Nice list of places to submit poetry. My issue is sitting down and writing - but it's always more fun to dream about where they'd go when you finish, right?
You're most welcome! Thanks for dropping in.
Thanks, Carrie & Michelle, this is wonderful. I know some of the sites noted but not all, & the part about organizing is most helpful. That is my biggest challenge (besides writing).
Organization is my nemesis too --- anybody who has peeked inside my closets can confirm it.
Thanks for such a comprehensive list! I'm aware of many of these, but several were new to me. Time to get subbing!
glad it proved useful! Happy subbing.
Thank you for this :-) I tend to not be very organized (understatement!), so I really appreciate your suggestions.
Every time I organize I lose something. It's like reverse karma. Wink.
Oh, my goodness! I tried skimming this article over my breakfast cereal....and nope. This is one I had to come back and read carefully. Carrie and Michelle, this is a pure jackpot of love you've woven together. And, it's full of both your good natured humors and fun. Seriously, you two should collaborate on something that gets subbed out. You have done an amazing job of curating extraordinarily helpful and current information. This blog post should get an award...or a raise!
Aw, shucks, thanks Linda. I think Michelle and I might have toooooo much fun on a project together --- all laughing no writing. Grin.
I agree with Carrie about the fun we'd have working on a project together, but this blog post is all hers, Linda. She gets 100% of the credit for helpful curating, good-natured humor and fun!
Great article! Thanks for the resources, ladies!
Glad to share. Thanks, Rebekah!
This is a blog post I will save and refer back to often. Thanks!!!
So much goodness here, subbing info, organization, and more! I can definitely relate to a need for better organization–I have yearly subbing folders going-then divided by month, but a spread sheet sounds like a good place for extra/misc. notes–now just need the time to set it up… Thanks Carrie and Michelle :) P.S. loved all your dancing pics!
I have a submission/query database, a work-in-progress list and still my piles have piles. Great list of possible places, Carrie, thanks!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for these two posts! I will be referring back to them often. Another online/ebook magazine in the MG department is Spaceports and Spidersilk - the do fantasy and sci-fi for kids.
Thanks for the additional suggestion, Rebecca!
Carrie and Michelle, again, thank you, thank you, thank you for this fabulous assembly of wise advice and valuable resources. You can bet I'll be coming back to reference both posts again and again. Now it's time to keep writing and to start submitting!


First person shooters became popular when id Software created Wolfenstein and later on Doom. These games were mostly memorable for their gameplay, but then came developer 3DRealms and made this genre even more awesome by creating a game in which the protagonist was not just a mute with an arsenal of guns but one with a larger than life personality and a neverending barrage of entertaining one liners. That would be Duke Nukem 3D of course, but we're not here to talk about Duke. We're here to talk about Caleb. Caleb from Monolith's Blood 2, the game which was once called the goriest first person shooter ever made. Read more here.


BCom (University of Swaziland), Certificate in Port Management (IHE, Delft); Advanced Executive Programme (City University of New York); Advanced Certificate in Port and Operations Management (Singapore Private Institute); Postgraduate Diploma in Company Direction; Banking Diploma Institute of Bankers (CAIB), Executive Development Program (Wharton); MBA (Stern, NYU).
Leadership, Logistics, Strategy, Finance, Operations, Business turnaround and Global Economy.
BCom (University of the Witwatersrand); BAcc (Hons) (University of the Witwatersrand); CA(SA); Global Executive Development Programme (Gordon Institute of Business Science); Accounting and Auditing Professional Training Specialist Course.
Finance, Auditing, Management, Logistics, Strategy and Supply Chain.
BSc (Mechanical Engineering); Higher Diploma Mechanical Engineering; MBL (UNISA).
BCompt; BCompt (Honours); CA (SA), M.Com (RAU).
Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations and Business Development.
Management, Finance, Investment and Funding, and Risk Management.
BCom (Financial Accounting and Computer Science).
BSc Civil Engineering; BCom (Logistics).
BAdmin; Certificate in Labour Law; Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management; Certificate in Human Resources Management; Management Advanced Program (Harvard).
BAdmin (Supply Chain, Operations Management); MBL (UNISA).
Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Management, Logistics Management, Leadership and Stakeholder Relations Management.
B Com, B Com (Honours in Accounting), Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, Master of Business Administration (MBA), CA (SA).
Finance, Accounting, Auditing, Governance and Risk Management, Compliance Management, Performance Improvement.
Qualifications: MBA (De Montfort University), Diploma in Industrial Engineering (Nelson Mandela University of Technology), Strategic Leadership Programme (Gordon Institute of Business Science), Breakthrough Programme for Senior Executives (International Institute for Management Development), Senior Executive Programme Africa (SEPA) (Harvard Business School).
Operations, Strategic Planning, Performance Monitoring and Diagnostic and Project Management.
Admitted Attorney; BProc; LLM (Environmental Law) 1995.
Strategy, Corporate Governance, Litigation, Contract Negotiation, Risk Management and Public Policy.


Playforever Thunderlane Carnaby – Rockabilly Jr.
When you just look at this car you can hear the roar of a V8! Modelled on the late 1960's muscle cars and virtually indestructible these toys are for the rebel child.


To make something beautiful is revolutionary (not low class, not easy, not a sign of low intelligence). Last year I wrote an article about my approach to music for "Heresies". In it, I said that "the relationship of feminism to my work and the evolution of the form of my music are in violent flux". They still are, but the dust is settling.
The idea that beauty is revolution is a revelation to me. I once believed that the concept of the music was more important than the sound, that the politics of the notation was more important than the time limits of the rehersals and therefore, more important than the sound of the performance... that the numerological equivalents for the instruments were the determining factor for instrumentation... that pitch must be explicit and rhythm improvised... that if the composer says it is so, two string players and two lighting technicians can be a string quartet... that any composition must be consistent throughout and that internal change in the piece showed lack of compositional concentration... that more than three chords in one piece meant confusion or commercial music or both... and on and on. It is a very liberating feeling to come back to my childhood definition of composition, i.e., writing down inspirations. I've rediscovered the part of my brain that can't decode anything, that can't add, that can't work from a verbalized concept, that doesn't care about stylish notation, that makes melodies that have pitch and rhythm, that doesn't know anything about zen eternity and gets bored and changes, that isn't worried about being commercial or avant-garde or serial or any other little category. Beauty is enough.
And of course, it's a problem too. At different times in my life I have looked out and decided that Grieg's music was the most beautiful.. that Schoenberg's music was the most beautiful... that Cage's music was the most beautiful.. . that Oliveros's music was the most beautiful. Now I feel as if my own music is the most beautiful, and the feeling is one of having jumped off the cliff with my wings on. I don't know if they are going to work, but it's too late now. This deciding about the "most beautiful" is necessary and I think composers make decisions like this all the time. How else could they choose a style to work in and stick with it for fifty years?
Beauty means perfect to me, but it also has an additional meaning having to do with being pleasurable, rather than painful. Beauty is hard to make. The making is painful, and involves a certain amount of craft, and a relaxation of the part of the brain that says, "Don't write that. X wrote those four notes in 1542 or 1979 or 1825 or whatever period you are worried about being influenced by." You have to say yes to what comes out. You can scoot it around a bit, but the basic material that jumps out of you is you. If you say, "That sounds like a raisin commercial." you are telling yourself you are trashy. You are allowing others to tell you what real art is.
Real music soars above class society. Musical careers have a lot to do with class and money, but they don't influence society's acceptance of the music, after the stuff has been broad-cast to the people. Composers are people who create music--not concepts, not machines, not posters, not parties. It takes just as much (maybe more) intelligence to invent a synthesizer or to make a crowd-pleasing poster for your concert, as it does to make beautiful music. But doing those other activities does not make you a composer, though they may add to your career or savings account. Being a composer of playable music still does not guarantee beauty. That's a problem you have to solve for yourself.
Beauty got a bad name some time after the first world war. Musical craft (ear training, orchestration, the real reasons for voice leading, etc.) was hardly even taught in the 1960's and 70's, probably because of the revolt against a tradition that could allow the war in Vietnam to happen. Beauty seemed a low value in relation to life itself. But life goes on and ugliness and lack of skills and nihilism are no excuse. The destruction of the world would not improve social conditions, and making painful, ugly music will not redistribute the wealth.
Beauty is a revolution of the spirit. The euphony of the animating principle of humanity has the revolutionary power of healing, expanding, and revitalizing. Life is worth living and beauty is worth making and, in relation to current attitudes, these ancient ideas are radical. They are capable of making certain people swoon. If you think beauty is counter-revolutionary, ask yourself if you think mutilation improves the state of mind of the depressed.


I am doing all kinds of minor and major repairs and service works. Both acoustic and electric stringed instrumenst are welcome. Some example of common work are broken headstock, change of PU:s, set up, crack repair, broken tuners, regluing of bridges, new nut and saddle, installing of microphones, cleaning, fret grinding, repair of electronics, neck reset and much more.
You ar always welcome to have an free price estimation.
Time for some cleaning of the fret board on a Gibson Les Paul.
Replacing an broken bridge on a Bourgeous guitar.
All kind of stringed instruments are welcome!
Repairing a broken headstock on a Lutheguitar.
Neck reset on a Santa Cruz guitar.
Fretgrinding/leveling on an old Gibson J45.


Bitumen heating and storage tank complete with hot oil heating system, internal heat transfer coils built from seamless steel tubes, 50 mm heavy duty insulation, analog and digital temperature indicators, galvanized steel sheet cladding, insulated, cladded and hot oil heated complete asphalt piping and pump with.
Established in 1979, MORIS INDUSTRIES has been a leading name in offering top notch Road Construction Machinery.Located in Mehsana, Gujarat, we offer the best quality Bitumen Sprayer to our customers at best prices in the industry.
Established in 2003, we are a leading Exporter and Manufacturer of Road Construction Equipment such as Asphalt Drum Mix Plant, Wet Mix Macadam Plant, Mechanical Broomer, Bituman Sprayer, Chip spreader, Bituman Storage Tank and many more items from Mehsana, Gujarat, India.
Find Mini Bitumen Sprayer manufacturers, Mini Bitumen Sprayer suppliers, exporters, wholesalers and distributors in Mahesana Gujarat India List of Mini Bitumen Sprayer selling companies from Mahesana with catalogs, phone numbers, addresses & prices for Mini Bitumen Sprayer.
Shitla Road Equipment offering Bitumen Sprayer, Bitumen Sprayer at Rs 200000 /unit in Mehsana, Gujarat. Get best price and read about company and get contact details and address.
Find here Bitumen Sprayer manufacturers, suppliers & exporters in Mehsana, Gujarat. Get contact details & address of companies manufacturing and supplying Bitumen Sprayer in Mehsana, Gujarat.
Asp Corporation offering Bitumen Sprayer in Dediyasan, Mehsana, Gujarat. Get contact details, address, map on Indiamart.
Hand Bitumen Sprayer, Hand Bitumen Alibaba.com offers 192 hand bitumen sprayer products. About 32% of these are tanker truck, 14% are other construction machinery, and 12% are asphalt mixers.
Shivam Engineering is a well reckoned name for manufacturing quality range of Hot Mix Plant, Bitumen Sprayer, Four Bin Feeder, Wet Mix Plant, Batch Mix Plant, Bitumen Hand Sprayer With Tank, Mechanical Broom, Hydraulic Broom, etc.
A very effective cleaning system for all the pipes is provided with the asphalt sprayer near the bitumen pump. At the end of day bitumen flow has to be cut off and entire spray line and spray bar can be cleaned by using air pressure and diesel.
Bitumen Sprayer ManufacturerMechanical. Bitumen Sprayer Manufacturer,Mechanical Bitumen Sprayer... UNIVERSAL ENGINEERS Manufacturer,Supplier,Exporter of Bitumen Sprayer from Gujarat, India.
The bitumen tank of bitumen sprayer is fabricated by a 5 mm MS sheet and is covered by 50 mm glasswool to minimise heat loss. The outer covering of the tank is galvanized. Galvanized covering provided with the tank is better as it has long life due to its anti-corrosion properties.


우리는 중국에서 Led 조명 색온도 제조 업체 및 공급 업체 / 공장 전문화되어 있습니다. Led 조명 색온도 중 하나 인 Timeplex Industrial Limited 중국 유명 브랜드 중 하나 인 저렴한 가격 / 저렴한 가격으로 고품질의 Led 조명 색온도 도매업.
Wholesale Led 조명 색온도 from China, Need to find cheap Led 조명 색온도 as low price but leading manufacturers. Just find high-quality brands on Led 조명 색온도 produce factory, You can also feedback about what you want, start saving and explore our Led 조명 색온도, We'll reply you in fastest.


text:
The (un)changing role of the Trustee
Perpetual Corporate Trust
"Calm seas never made a good sailor," as the old adage goes. The same could be said for trustees; their real value shines through when the financial storm clouds loom – in times of financial stress.
When times are good, volatility is low, credit is easy and payments are flowing, you might think less about a trustee's size, experience and skills, and more about its cost. But when markets turn you realise the value of sticking with quality.
A trustee must be impartial and will be evaluated by its ability to make decisions that are legally correct and accurate, whilst allowing for the complexity of a given default scenario.
Every deal is different and so is every breach. When non-compliance is identified, there are legal obligations but there is also a whole range of difficult choices to make. This is when a trustee's experience and knowledge will come to the forefront. The trustee will notify security holders, offer expert advice and dive into all the issues in search of a resolution that is both fair and legal.
"You want your trustee to have the confidence of the market – and whilst that means they may not necessarily give you the answers that you want, you have to be wise enough and strong enough to accept that. If they were to bow to any one stakeholder, then they lose their core competency, and that's not helpful."
Issuer Comment, Perpetual Trustee Research Study 2018
Difficult decisions can be daunting, but they don't have to be. An experienced trustee team can help investors decide how to engage with issuers, to trigger events or pursue legal action. The trustee can meet with the servicer to negotiate options in the face of a potential default; in a worst-case scenario the trustee can replace the servicer.
Nuance and tact are important here. This is not a battle, it's more like a ship, and all parties are on-board together. Nobody wants to see the ship go down, and the trustee is best equipped to move everyone toward a safe harbour. While all situations are different, a trustee will always act in the interests of the secured creditors it represents.
A core element of keeping the ship afloat is understanding the varied motivations of the parties. The skillset here goes beyond administration of a trust; it requires commercial smarts to appreciate the goals of the other parties, as well as legal acumen and experience to foresee legal outcomes and complications. By design, the trustee will usually hold a stronger negotiating position than individual bondholders as it represents all the investors.
"A trustee is someone who is independent, who is fair, while also being someone who actually commercially understands the situation. They can balance the commercial and legal aspects."
When it comes to making the bold decisions, a trustee needs to have a strong balance sheet and corporate support to ensure the ship makes it to the 'safe harbour'. Here is one example of how Perpetual navigated a specific storm.
The Mahogany case
Roughly ten years ago, Mahogany Capital issued notes – the proceeds of which were used to invest in another series of credit linked notes. The issuer of these subsequent notes then purchased 'collateral' that was made up of debt securities from banks rated AA- or higher, while also entering a swap arrangement with the ill-fated Lehman Brothers. This arrangement required Lehman to make regular interest payments to the issuer, which in turn would flow to Mahogany noteholders. A 'flip clause' was included to protect the issuer from a Lehman default.
We don't need to go into the traumatic events of 2008 but suffice to say Lehman Brothers stopped making the interest payments.
Payments were due to noteholders, but Mahogany Capital was facing a challenge – as it was being argued that the flip clause (which would give it access to the collateral pool to support repayment to noteholders), was invalid under US law. Perpetual disagreed and acted on behalf of the noteholders by taking legal action in the High Court of England and Wales. The Court found in favour of the noteholders and confirmed the enforceability of the flip clause. Lehman appealed the case but lost.
The process continued with a US court deeming the flip clause unenforceable. More appeals, more decisions, until finally, Perpetual managed to reach an agreement with Lehman Brothers.
As a result of Perpetual's action, the noteholders including charities, local councils and more than 1,000 retail investors from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea received up to 85 cents in the dollar of principal invested on Mahogany Series 1 and 69 cents in the dollar of principal invested on Mahogany Series 2. This was a complex and lengthy legal battle in which Perpetual used its expertise and financial resources (over $1 million) to cover the cost of litigation.
When the tide goes out
Your choice of trustee matters. A good trustee will be well resourced with experienced staff, a strong balance sheet, relevant industry expertise and a willingness to use its resources and financial muscle to support the interests of the secured investors.
On the anniversary of the global financial crisis, it (pays to remember) the value of having a quality trustee like Perpetual Corporate Trust by your side.
Perpetual Corporate Trust services are provided by Perpetual Corporate Trust Limited ABN 99 000 341 533 AFSL 392673, Perpetual Trustee Company Limited ABN 42 000 001 007, AFSL 236643, Perpetual Limited ABN 86 0000 431 827 and its subsidiaries. Perpetual Limited and certain of its subsidiaries act as Authorised Representatives of Perpetual Trustee Company Limited. Data and analytics services are provided by Perpetual Digital Pty Ltd ABN 62 626 891 978. This publication contains general information only and is not intended to provide you with financial advice.
A Perpetual view of the US election
Why it's best to keep your standby warm
EU Securitisation Regulations - Helping Australian issuers meet EU investors' expectations
Perpetual Corporate Trust and Mainstream Fund Services providing benefits of SMAs


ZMEI3 is the Romanian band from Berlin, whose beautiful and heartfelt music rises from the harsh realities and struggles of a post-Communist rule.
Their debut album Rough Romanian Soul (out April 22nd, 2016 on Six Degrees Records) is produced by GRAMMY® award-winner, Ian Brennan, best known for his work with Tinariwen. The album was recorded in august 2015, live without overdubs in the Transylvanian mountains.
The Rough Romanian Soul style is an ode to Romanian music entrenched with a deep history of regional blues and soul, as well as the inherent spirituality of their work. A new aggressive style mashing up blues and soul with influences of jazz, avant-garde, and folk with introspective topics and emotive soundscapes.


text:
require 'rails_helper'

describe Sponsor, type: :model do
  let(:active_status) { Status.find_by_name 'Active' }
  let(:inactive_status) { Status.find_by_name 'Inactive' }
  let(:on_hold_status) { Status.find_by_name 'On Hold' }

  let(:individual_type) { SponsorType.find_by_name 'Individual' }
  let(:organization_type) { SponsorType.find_by_name 'Organization' }

  it 'should have a valid factory' do
    expect(build_stubbed :sponsor).to be_valid
  end

  it 'should have payment plans' do
    expect(Sponsor::PAYMENT_PLANS).to be_present
  end

  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :name }
  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :requested_orphan_count }
  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :country }
  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :city }
  it { is_expected.not_to allow_value(Sponsor::NEW_CITY_MENU_OPTION).for(:city).
                              with_message 'Please enter city name below. ↓' }
  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :sponsor_type }
  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :agent }

  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :gender }
  it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :status_id }
  it { is_expected.to validate_inclusion_of(:gender).in_array Settings.lookup.gender }
  it { is_expected.to validate_inclusion_of(:payment_plan).in_array (Sponsor::PAYMENT_PLANS << '') }
  it { is_expected.to validate_inclusion_of(:country).in_array ISO3166::Country.countries.map { |c| c[1] } - ['IL'] }

  it { is_expected.to validate_numericality_of(:requested_orphan_count).
                          only_integer.is_greater_than(0) }

  context 'start_date validation' do
      it { is_expected.to have_validation :valid_date_presence, :on => :start_date }
      it { is_expected.to have_validation :date_beyond_osra_establishment, :on => :start_date }
      it { is_expected.to have_validation :date_not_beyond_first_of_next_month, :on => :start_date }
  end

  context 'email validation' do
    it { is_expected.to allow_value(nil, '', 'admin@example.com', 'some.email@192.168.100.100', 'grüner@grü.üne',
        'تللتنمي@تنمي.نمي', 'لتتت@تمت.متت', 'あいうえお@うえ.いえ', "+valid@email.com").for :email }
    ['not_email', 'also@not_email', 'really_not@', 'not_emal@em..com', '"not@an.em'].each do |bad_email_value|
      it { is_expected.to_not allow_value(bad_email_value).for :email }
    end
  end

  it { is_expected.to belong_to :branch }
  it { is_expected.to belong_to :organization }
  it { is_expected.to belong_to :status }
  it { is_expected.to belong_to :sponsor_type }
  it { is_expected.to have_many(:orphans).through :sponsorships }
  it { is_expected.to belong_to :agent }

  describe '.request_fulfilled' do
    let(:sponsor) { build(:sponsor, requested_orphan_count: 2) }

    it 'should default to request unfulfilled' do
      sponsor.save!
      expect(sponsor.request_fulfilled?).to be false
    end

    it 'should make request unfulfilled on create always' do
      sponsor.request_fulfilled = true
      sponsor.save!
      expect(sponsor.reload.request_fulfilled?).to be false
    end

    it 'should allow existing records to have request_fulfilled' do
      sponsor.save!
      allow(sponsor).to receive_message_chain(:sponsorships, :all_active, :size).and_return 1
      sponsor.requested_orphan_count = 1
      sponsor.save!
      expect(sponsor.reload.request_fulfilled?).to be true
    end
  end

  describe 'branch or organization affiliation' do
    let(:branch) { Branch.all.sample }
    let(:organization) { Organization.all.sample }

    describe 'must be affiliated to 1 branch or 1 organization' do
      subject(:sponsor) { build_stubbed(:sponsor) }

      it 'cannot be unaffiliated' do
        sponsor.organization, sponsor.branch = nil
        expect(sponsor).not_to be_valid
      end

      it 'cannot be affiliated to a branch and an organisation' do
        sponsor.branch = branch
        sponsor.organization = organization
        expect(sponsor).not_to be_valid
      end

      context 'when affiliated with a branch but not an organization' do
        before do
          sponsor.branch = branch
          sponsor.organization = nil
          sponsor.sponsor_type = individual_type
        end

        it { is_expected.to be_valid }
        it 'returns branch name as affiliate' do
          expect(sponsor.affiliate).to eq branch.name
        end
      end

      context 'when affiliated with an organization but not a branch' do
        before do
          sponsor.branch = nil
          sponsor.organization = organization
          sponsor.sponsor_type = organization_type
        end

        it { is_expected.to be_valid }
        it 'returns branch name as affiliate' do
          expect(sponsor.affiliate).to eq organization.name
        end
      end
    end

    describe 'SponsorType must match affiliation' do
      let(:sponsor) { build :sponsor, sponsor_type: individual_type }

      context 'when SponsorType matches affiliation' do
        specify 'Individual type and Branch affiliation are valid' do
          sponsor.sponsor_type = individual_type
          sponsor.branch = branch
          sponsor.organization = nil
          expect(sponsor).to be_valid
        end

        specify 'Organization type and Organization affiliation are valid' do
          sponsor.sponsor_type = organization_type
          sponsor.organization = organization
          sponsor.branch = nil
          expect(sponsor).to be_valid
        end
      end

      context 'when SponsorType does not match affiliation' do
        specify 'Individual type and Organization affiliation are not valid' do
          sponsor.sponsor_type = individual_type
          sponsor.organization = organization
          sponsor.branch = nil
          expect(sponsor).not_to be_valid
        end

        specify 'Organization type and Branch affiliation are not valid' do
          sponsor.sponsor_type = organization_type
          sponsor.branch = branch
          sponsor.organization = nil
          expect(sponsor).not_to be_valid
        end
      end

      describe 'should not be able to change affiliation-related info for persisted sponsors' do
        let(:organization) { Organization.all.sample }

        before { sponsor.save! }

        it 'should not update affiliation or SponsorType' do
          sponsor.update!(branch: nil, organization: organization, sponsor_type: organization_type)
          sponsor.reload
          expect(sponsor.branch).not_to be_nil
          expect(sponsor.organization).to be_nil
          expect(sponsor.sponsor_type.name).to eq 'Individual'
        end
      end
    end
  end

  describe 'callbacks' do
    describe 'after_initialize #set_defaults' do
      describe 'status' do

        it 'defaults status to "Active"' do
          expect((Sponsor.new).status).to eq active_status
        end

        it 'sets non-default status if provided' do
          options = { status: on_hold_status }
          expect(Sponsor.new(options).status).to eq on_hold_status
        end
      end

      describe 'start_date' do
        it 'defaults start_date to current date' do
          expect(Sponsor.new.start_date).to eq Date.current
        end

        it 'sets non-default start_date if provided' do
          options = { start_date: Date.yesterday }
          expect(Sponsor.new(options).start_date).to eq Date.yesterday
        end
      end

      describe 'sponsor_type' do
        it 'defaults sponsor_type to Individual' do
          expect(Sponsor.new.sponsor_type).to eq individual_type
        end

        it 'sets non-default sponsor_type if provided' do
          expect(Sponsor.new(sponsor_type: organization_type).sponsor_type).to eq organization_type
        end
      end
    end

    describe 'before_update #validate_inactivation' do
      let(:sponsor) { create :sponsor }

      context 'when sponsor has no active sponsorships' do
        specify 's/he can be inactivated' do
          expect{ sponsor.update!(status: inactive_status) }.not_to raise_exception
        end
      end

      context 'when sponsor has active sponsorships' do
        before do
          sponsorship = build :sponsorship, sponsor: sponsor
          CreateSponsorship.new(sponsorship).call
        end

        specify 's/he cannot be inactivated' do
          expect{ sponsor.update!(status: inactive_status) }.to raise_error ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid
          expect(sponsor.errors[:status]).to include 'Cannot inactivate sponsor with active sponsorships'
        end

        specify 's/he can be placed On Hold' do
          expect{ sponsor.update!(status: on_hold_status) }.not_to raise_exception
        end
      end
    end
  end

  describe 'before_create #generate_osra_num' do
    let(:branch) { Branch.all.sample }
    let(:organization) { Organization.all.sample }

    let(:sponsor) { build :sponsor, :organization => nil, :branch => nil }

    it 'sets osra_num' do
      sponsor.branch = branch
      sponsor.sponsor_type = individual_type
      sponsor.save!
      expect(sponsor.osra_num).not_to be_nil
    end

    describe 'when recruited by osra branch' do
      before(:each) do
        sponsor.branch = branch
        sponsor.sponsor_type = individual_type
        sponsor.save!
      end

      it 'sets the first digit to 5' do
        expect(sponsor.osra_num[0]).to eq "5"
      end

      it 'sets the second and third digits to the branch code' do
        expect(sponsor.osra_num[1...3]).to eq "%02d" % branch.code
      end
    end

    describe 'when recruited by a sister organization' do
      before(:each) do
        sponsor.organization = organization
        sponsor.sponsor_type = organization_type
        sponsor.save!
      end

      it 'sets the first digit to an 8 ' do
        expect(sponsor.osra_num[0]).to eq "8"
      end

      it 'sets the second and third digits to the organization code' do
        expect(sponsor.osra_num[1...3]).to eq "%02d" % organization.code
      end
    end

    it 'sets the last 4 digits of osra_num to sequential_id' do
      sponsor.branch = branch
      sponsor.sponsor_type = individual_type
      sponsor.sequential_id = 999
      sponsor.save!
      expect(sponsor.osra_num[3..-1]).to eq '0999'
    end
  end

  describe 'before_validation #set_city' do
    let(:sponsor) { create :sponsor, city: 'London' }

    before do
      sponsor.city = Sponsor::NEW_CITY_MENU_OPTION
    end

    it 'sets city to new name' do
      sponsor.new_city_name = 'Riyadh'
      sponsor.save!
      expect(sponsor.city).to eq 'Riyadh'
    end

    it 'raises an error if **Add New** is given as city without new_city_name' do
      expect { sponsor.save! }.to raise_error ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid
    end
  end

  describe 'methods' do
    let(:active_sponsor) { build_stubbed :sponsor }
    let(:on_hold_sponsor) { build_stubbed :sponsor, status: on_hold_status }
    let(:request_fulfilled_sponsor) { build_stubbed :sponsor, request_fulfilled: true }

    specify '#eligible_for_sponsorship? should return true for eligible sponsors' do
      expect(active_sponsor.eligible_for_sponsorship?).to eq true
      expect(on_hold_sponsor.eligible_for_sponsorship?).to eq false
      expect(request_fulfilled_sponsor.eligible_for_sponsorship?).to eq false
    end

    describe '#currently_sponsored_orphans' do
      let(:new_sponsor) { build_stubbed :sponsor, requested_orphan_count: 5 }
      let(:current_orphan) { create :orphan }
      let(:past_orphan) { create :orphan }
      let!(:current_sponsorship) { create :sponsorship,
                                                sponsor: new_sponsor,
                                                orphan: current_orphan }
      let!(:past_sponsorship) { create :sponsorship,
                                             sponsor: new_sponsor,
                                             orphan: past_orphan }

      before(:each) do
        future_date = past_sponsorship.start_date + 1.month
        InactivateSponsorship.new(sponsorship: past_sponsorship,
                                  end_date: future_date).call
      end

      it 'returns only orphans that are currently sponsored' do
        expect(new_sponsor.currently_sponsored_orphans).to match_array [current_orphan]
      end
    end

    describe 'scopes' do
      let(:sponsor) { create :sponsor }
      let(:active_sponsor) { create :sponsor, status: active_status }
      let(:inactive_sponsor) { create :sponsor, status: inactive_status }
      let(:on_hold_sponsor) { create :sponsor, status: on_hold_status }

      specify '.all_active should return sponsors with statuses Active & On Hold only' do
        expect(Sponsor.all_active).to match_array [active_sponsor, on_hold_sponsor]
      end

      specify '.all_inactive should return sponsors with Inactive status only' do
        expect(Sponsor.all_inactive).to match_array [inactive_sponsor]
      end

      specify '.filter' do
        expect(Sponsor.methods.include? :filter).to be true
      end
    end
  end

  describe '.all_cities' do
    before do
      2.times { create :sponsor, city: 'London' }
      create :sponsor, city: 'Toronto'
    end

    it 'returns all unique city names' do
      expect(Sponsor.all_cities).to match_array %w{London Toronto}
    end
  end
end


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text:
In Genres
For sports lovers, there's nothing better than getting a play-by-play insight into a thrilling game.
Today, most people would assume that the most popular way to tune into baseball, football, or basketball would be to turn on your television set. However, throughout the world, people still have a soft spot for sports talk radio stations, and the emotional impact they bring to athletic events.
Sports talk radio doesn't provide the same visual detail that you'd get at a live game. Presenters throughout the ages have learned how to use the incredible skill of storytelling to bring listeners onto a pitch or field. The fans tuning into US sports radio can dive into their own memories of games they've witnessed in the past, to create mental pictures of what's happening inside of a stadium.
Today, decades after the history of sports broadcasting began, we still form emotional connections with radio presenters and their impeccable descriptions of life-changing games.
So, where did this love affair with sports broadcasting begin?
What was the first sports radio broadcast, and how as the medium evolved over the years?
Back to the beginning: What is sports talk radio?
The history of sports broadcasting begins way back in the 1920s. However, sports talk radio wasn't defined as an official format until much later. It was 1964 when the first official station dedicated exclusively to sports commentary and broadcasting was launched in New York. The WNBC differed from previous broadcasting channels because it concentrated solely on debates between callers and hosts about recent events, as well as providing play-by-play commentary on games.
While the official title of "Sports talk radio" didn't emerge until the 60s, the relationship between the US and sports radio goes back much further. After all, the country has always had a deep connection with sports, even when it meant lining up for newspapers just to get the latest news on a favorite team.
Millions of fans across the United States build their daily schedules around viewing, reading about, and listening to games. Whether it's baseball – the national pastime, hockey, basketball, or something else entirely, many treat sports and athletics as an obsession.
Sports radio broadcasting is responsible for one of the biggest changes in the sports media environment ever to occur. No other form of media covers the details of events more intensely than radio. Many experts still say that sports talk radio offers experiences that television can't match. One famous long-time announcer and baseball player, Bob Uecker, noted that sports radio broadcasting paints a picture in the mind to make an event "come alive" for people who are hundreds of miles away.
What's more, just as sporting fans develop relationships with their favorite players by watching their journeys, they also form in-depth connections with the presenters that bring them the latest announcements from a field or pitch. Radio feels more intimate and engaging than any other channel.
A brief history of sports broadcasting on the radio
So, if the first official sports talk radio channel launched in 1964, what happened before then?
The unofficial history of sports broadcasting began in 1921 when commercial radio was still young. The airwaves across the US mainly existed for military communication, and broadcasting wasn't available as a mass media mode of entertainment. Most radio listeners back in the day were tinkerers creating their own radios out of scrap.
When sports talk radio did emerge as a form of entertainment, it was aligned with other broadcast of news and soap operas, and often delivered to groups of listeners in public, rather than in the comfort of your own home. For instance, in 1920, the WWJ station in Detroit was already broadcasting the final scores of World Series games through public radio for fans to hear. However, audiences began to crave a sports broadcast that covered the details of a game, not just its final scores. The KDKA responded to that demand by delivering a play-by-play of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia at Forbes Field. The company used a staff member passing notes to a broadcaster to provide an in-depth overview of the game. For many, that game on August the 5th 1921 was the first sports radio broadcast.
In the fall of 1921, the RCA broadcast the World Series, and the concept of listening to sports over the radio continued to evolve. The KDKA broadcast the first boxing match on the 11th of April 1921, and 3 years later, Andrew White was chosen by the RCA to announce the World Series through the WJZ station. Throughout the 1930s and the 1940s, the nature of radio began to change too.
Eventually, the history of sports broadcasting on the radio evolved, and people no longer needed to gather in streets to listen to a public set. Radio receivers were becoming increasingly cost-effective to make, and more consumer ready. Prices fell, and standard frequencies were established. Leading sports broadcasting stations began to divide their programs up into regular schedules and sets. Gradually, countless households in America started to discover the benefits of private broadcasting in their home. National networks like CBS and NBC even began to appear as a result, and advertiser-supported programming became the go-to way to make money.
Interestingly, the KDKA – the station responsible for those initial public sports broadcasts, is still the leading station for sports in the US, as of February 2019, according to Statista. Other popular stations today include:
ESPN 102.3 The Ticket.
WEEI Sports Radio.
Kabz-FM (The Buzz).
WVSP-FM (ESPN Radio).
WGFX-FM (The Zone).
KRKO-AM (Fox Sports).
When was the first sports radio broadcast?
For many people, sports is best seen live, in a roaring stadium with a passionate crowd.
However, throughout history, sports broadcasts have helped the masses to tune into crucial moments in the lives of famous athletes, and the growth of local teams. Announcers in sports radio broadcasting have used the medium to bring artistic passion and incredible imagery to the biggest moments in sporting history, from George Foreman's fight in 1973 with Joe Fraizer, to "the shot heard around the world."
So, where did this incredible legacy begin?
That depends on the sport you're talking about.
The first sports radio broadcast: Baseball
Though not officially classed as a Sports talk radio station at the time, the KDKA was responsible for broadcasting the first baseball game in Pittsburgh on the 5th of August 1921. The announcer used a converted telephone to discuss the baseball game between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The announcer, Harold Arlin was also responsible for announcing the world's first football game over the radio. The station, KDKA, was best known for announcing the returns in the 1920 presidential election.
The first World Series was broadcast by the RCA in 1921 too. The spread of sports talk radio stations began here, although they met with some concern from baseball teams. Managers were concerned that the ability to listen to sports broadcasting would stop consumers from visiting the fields and attending games.
The first sports radio broadcast: Football
The first broadcast of an official football game happened way before 1921, back in 1912. The man behind the event, Professor F.W. Springer began creating an experimental radio station where people could dial-in to listen to a game from the University of Minnesota. Many people overlook this part of sports radio history because the broadcast was only available to a handful of people.
It wasn't until the 1920s when a more accessible football game appears as part of sports broadcasting history. Delivered by Harold Arlin in 1921, the event covered a match between West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh on the KDKA channel. The game received sponsorship from local brands.
In 1922, another match-up between Chicago and Princeton universities aired on the radio and was touted as the "greatest game of the century." This was the first sports radio transmission to be broadcast long-distance, from Chicago to New York, via the WEAF station. Along with other crucial events in sports broadcasting history, this game helped football to become a national sport.
The first sports radio broadcast: Boxing
The rise of radio didn't just have a significant impact on the worlds of football and baseball. People also loved tuning into their sets to listen to boxing matches too. The first official boxing match to be broadcast on the radio happened in 1921, on April the 11th. A sportswriter named Florent Gibson reported through the KDKA on the boxing match between Harold Pitler (Johnny Ray) and Johnny Dundee (Giuseppe Carrora). It was a pioneering moment in radio history, but not a particularly exciting match, as it ended with no decision.
The second broadcast to emerge in the boxing environment happened on the 2nd of July in 1921. A promoter named George Rickard arranged a fight between French champion Georges Carpentier, and American champion Jack Dempsey in New Jersey. The match between the fighters promised to attract a considerable amount of attention.
Making sports broadcasting history: The presenters behind the events
As mentioned above, while the teams and matches that presenters covered when sorts radio began were important, few things appealed more to fans on an emotional level than the announcers themselves. The history of sports broadcasting on the radio is packed full of significant individuals. One former US president, Ronald Reagan, started his career in university as an announcer of Iowa football games. He even helped to recreate Chicago Cubs games for the WHO station in Iowa later in life.
Let's talk about that: The enduring impact and history of talk radio
The former news anchor for CBS TV, Walter Cronkite also made his first steps into broadcasting by reporting on college football games in Oklahoma. There are countless essential people throughout history that have been involved with radio, and sports broadcasting at some time or another.
One particularly well-known presenter of sports talk radio was Graham McNamee; a man often referred to as the best in the business for his incredibly passionate discussions of sporting events. McNamee had always intended to launch a career as a professional musician. However, he was thrust into the spotlight as a sports broadcasting presenter when the current sportswriter of the time Grantland Rice suddenly retired when McNamee was working with NBC. In 1923, Graham reported on the World Series, and his career began in earnest on that day. He brought countless incredible events to the masses over the years.
Another well-known sports talk radio broadcaster was Ted Husing – a man whose media career began when he recreated the World Series using ticker tape reports for the WJZ station. He worked with another influential sportscaster, Andrew Right, and spent two decades with the station that would become CBS (The Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System) when it launched in 1927. Not just a presenter, Husing also helped to support the evolution of radio broadcasting for sports too. Ted invented the annunciator that allowed an assistant to identify players on the field and provide more details for the announcer.
Bob Costa was another of the best-known sports broadcast presenters in history – loved for his NBC talk show and his documentary-style interview programs. His career in media, like many others, started on the radio. Costa's career began with MOX-AM – the home of the hall of fame broadcaster at the time, Jack Buck. Bob Costa became the voice of the University of Missouri's basketball team games and started regional reporting for the NFL and NBA with the CBS radio team up until 1929. After Costa joined the NBC, the sportscaster won various awards, including the presenter of the year Emmy Award. Over the years, Costas covered everything from super bowls to the world series, and the Olympics too.
Aside from the inspiring talk radio presenters that supported the growth of the medium over the years, there were also countless sportscasters that built a reputation for being controversial. For instance, Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo were the volatile and passionate voices of New York sports for more than 19 years. These two presenters had experienced modest success on their own, but it was only after they were paired (against their will) that they saw truly incredible fame. From the outset, the personalities seemed to contrast dramatically, creating an entertaining experience for listeners. However, over time, the two were united by their mutual obsession with sports.
The future of sports broadcasting
The arrival and growth of sports talk radio over the years has delivered an almost magical experience to listeners across the United States. These stations were the first opportunity that sports fans had to discover the incredible experiences behind their favorite games, without having to pay for an expensive ticket themselves.
Starting in the early 1900s, when basic sports broadcasts would list lineups, and final scores, the nature of US sports radio gradually evolved. While it took time for these broadcasts to grow from the bare bones statements of what was happening on the pitch, the talk radio stars of the age gradually discovered how to connect with their listeners on a deeper level.
More than just shock jocks or announcers, these sports talk radio presenters were the first true storytellers in the media industry, describing everything from the way the grass looked on a field, to how a player would act when he was waiting for a ball to come his way. As the years passed, sports radio fans became increasingly obsessed with the unique way that presenters helped them to visualize the games in their minds.
Today, many sports lovers still have more intimate experiences with sports broadcasting on the radio, than they do with a show aired on television. Westwood One, one of the radio networks responsible for providing sports talk radio coverage to the masses today, has shared listening data that proves just how engaged their audience members are. 86% of people participating in fantasy sports leagues – the people with the most passion for the games, are also more likely to listen to radio than they are to watch sports on television.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve with streaming and other advanced digital channels, it's unlikely that sports broadcasting history will come to an end. More than any other group, it seems that sports talk radio fans create the stats and visuals they can only get when they tune into their favorite stations. Not only that but listening to sports talk radio stations allows fans to learn more about their favorite players from people who are just as passionate about the games as they are. This kind of insight is unlikely to appear on a television when the whole focus of the show is just the game.
What's next for the sports broadcast?
Though it's impossible to know for sure where the history of sports broadcasting on the radio will take us next, it's fair to say that these stations aren't going anywhere. There are currently more than 780 AM/FM sports radio stations in the United States, and around 8 in 10 listeners say that they rely on the sports radio station as their primary source of insights for things like the Super Bowl.
Every week, Sports broadcasting continues to blow other forms of sporting entertainment and news broadcasting out of the park. Today, Americans are tuning into AM/FM radio stations more than any other platform. According to a report from Nielson, around 93% of US adults listen to radio every week. That's so much more than those using smartphones or watching television.
No matter what may change in the way we learn about and engage with sport, it seems that the power of audio is just as strong as ever. Though there are many more ways to listen to entertainment and information in this area today, digital and terrestrial radio services are still as valuable as ever. The 2018 Audio Report even found that radio is still the most reliable way for advertisers to engage a modern audience.
Where do you go to pursue your sporting passions? Do you feel that radio gives you a more intimate and engaging experience, or do you prefer to watch events on the TV? Let us know on social media, and don't forget to subscribe to Radio Fidelity for more insights into the amazing world of radio.
Stay tuned to the latest radio industry insights with Radio Fidelity.
GenresHistoryTalk Radio


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Mining cryptocurrencies in the near future can cease to be a profitable business. According to a study by a Citigroup's analyst Christopher Chapman, by the year 2022, Bitcoin's mining will be profitable at a price ranging from $300,000 to $1,500,000 per 1 BTC, as under the current conditions mining will consume as much electricity as the whole Japan does.
"We do not think that mining will reach such volumes. Governments of countries will begin to regulate or impose taxes on miners as preventive measures to reduce energy consumption," Chapman said.
To ensure the work of the Bitcoin network a proof-of-work system is used. The computing power of miners' computers is used as a confirmation. This method is highly energy-intensive, and the reward for mining falls every year, since the emission of Bitcoin is limited.
This situation gave rise to discussions about the possible change of the Bitcoin protection system to the proof-of-stake system, which is based on the actual presence of the cryptocurrency in the network participants' hands rather than the computers' power.
"Since the trend is against the miners' interests, we believe that the BTC network can switch to a proof-of-stake model, especially if this transition is made by their main rival, Ethereum. This transition will cause many disputes and discussions, but it may be necessary for the continued existence of the cryptocurrency," Chapman said.