text:
Afghanistan: The Battle For Mazar-i-Sharif Seen As Turning Point
October 18, 2001 00:00 GMT
Afghanistan's Northern Alliance is on the offensive and the United States seems to have responded to the group's call for bombing Taliban front lines to clear the way for an advance. U.S. planes hit the Taliban front line north of Kabul yesterday and, further to the northwest, the forces of General Abdulrashid Dostum seem ready to take Mazar-i-Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan. RFE/RL's Bruce Pannier reports that the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif could change the strategic balance in Afghanistan.
Prague, 18 October 2001 (RFE/RL) --Afghanistan's Northern Alliance troops yesterday finally got what they had been requesting: the bombing of Taliban front lines outside Kabul by United States military forces.
Such attacks should clear the way for an advance on the Afghan capital, but fighting north of Kabul is not the major offensive in Afghanistan at the moment. To the northwest of Kabul, the battle for control of the largest city in northern Afghanistan -- Mazar-i-Sharif -- is the area of the fiercest fighting and key to the resupply of the Northern Alliance.
There have been reports of fighting as close as three kilometers from the city. The airport outside Mazar-i-Sharif may have already changed hands several times and it is unclear who controls it at the moment. U.S. planes have bombed the area but must exercise caution so as not to hit Northern Alliance forces which, in some cases, are separated by only meters from Taliban forces.
Presently, there are at least three Northern Alliance commanders attacking Taliban positions in and around Mazar-i-Sharif: General Abdulrashid Dostum, the former master of Mazar-i-Sharif; Ustad Makhakek and Ustad Attah. Today's reports show Attah is trying to get the other two commanders to coordinate action for a final push on the city. Estimates by commanders cited in the "Los Angeles Times" today put the total number of fighters available to the alliance at 2,000 to 5,000, with thousands more reportedly trying to make their way to the front.
Reports indicate they are not well-armed and are, in fact, outgunned by Taliban forces, which have several tanks and other armored vehicles. The Taliban forces in the area are estimated to number 4,000-5,000. "The Washington Post" reported today that the militia, sensing the battle for Mazar-i-Sharif represents a pivotal moment in the battle for Afghanistan, has rushed 1,000 more soldiers from Kunduz in the east to the battle scene.
Taliban forces launched a counteroffensive last night to push back Northern Alliance troops but it seems to have failed. Reports by Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency, citing officials in the Northern Alliance, indicate there has been no significant shift in either side's positions since yesterday.
Mazar-i-Sharif, home to more than a million people, is located on a plain with the Hindu Kush mountains to the south. The road across the plain to the north leads to Uzbekistan, some 50 kilometers away, and has the only bridge crossing the river that divides Afghanistan from CIS Central Asia. Uzbekistan is aiding the U.S. in its campaign against terrorist bases in Afghanistan and Taliban military targets. If Mazar-i-Sharif falls to the Northern Alliance and the road to Uzbekistan is cleared it would provide an easy, quick route to supply Taliban opponents and speed the demise of the ruling militia.
The road running out of Mazar-i-Sharif to the southeast leads through the mountains to Kabul, some 450 kilometers away, and more importantly, to where the Northern Alliance forces under the command of Mohammad Fahim are waiting for the chance to take Kabul.


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"""Enum for model prediction keys."""

from __future__ import absolute_import
from __future__ import division
from __future__ import print_function

from tensorflow_estimator.python.estimator import model_fn

class MetricKeys(object):
  """Metric key strings."""
  LOSS = model_fn.LOSS_METRIC_KEY
  LOSS_MEAN = model_fn.AVERAGE_LOSS_METRIC_KEY
  LOSS_REGULARIZATION = 'regularization_loss'

  ACCURACY = 'accuracy'
  PRECISION = 'precision'
  RECALL = 'recall'
  # This is the best the model could do by always predicting one class.
  # Should be < ACCURACY in a trained model.
  ACCURACY_BASELINE = 'accuracy_baseline'
  AUC = 'auc'
  AUC_PR = 'auc_precision_recall'
  LABEL_MEAN = 'label/mean'
  PREDICTION_MEAN = 'prediction/mean'

  # The following require a threshold applied, should be float in range (0, 1).
  ACCURACY_AT_THRESHOLD = 'accuracy/positive_threshold_%g'
  PRECISION_AT_THRESHOLD = 'precision/positive_threshold_%g'
  RECALL_AT_THRESHOLD = 'recall/positive_threshold_%g'

  # The following require a constraint on a competing metric to be applied,
  # float in range (0, 1).
  PRECISION_AT_RECALL = 'precision_at_recall_%g'
  RECALL_AT_PRECISION = 'recall_at_precision_%g'
  SENSITIVITY_AT_SPECIFICITY = 'sensitivity_at_specificity_%g'
  SPECIFICITY_AT_SENSITIVITY = 'specificity_at_sensitivity_%g'

  # The following require a class id applied.
  PROBABILITY_MEAN_AT_CLASS = 'probability_mean/class%d'
  AUC_AT_CLASS = 'auc/class%d'
  AUC_PR_AT_CLASS = 'auc_precision_recall/class%d'

  # The following require a class name applied.
  PROBABILITY_MEAN_AT_NAME = 'probability_mean/%s'
  AUC_AT_NAME = 'auc/%s'
  AUC_PR_AT_NAME = 'auc_precision_recall/%s'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: C# windows forms crash in Windows 7 I did a program in C # and use a SQLite database, the program works well in Windows XP and Vista but crashes in the Windows 7! Does anyone know what could be the problem?
tks

A: The problem is related to the memory management confabulator, which was significantly revamped in Windows 7. Access to the garbage-collected heap structure is no longer protected by the virtual runtime environment system. You could try snarfing the file system in order to remove redundant entries.

A: That's a very poorly documented question.  The 80% odds: you are using a SQL-Lite version that contains native 32-bit code.  The regular version.  Project + Properties, Build tab, Platform Target = x86.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
About Halifax Academy History and More
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History and Philosophy of Halifax Academy
In the spring of 1969, a group of dedicated citizens and parents felt that an alternative choice of higher education was needed in the Halifax County area. The charter was written and The Halifax Academy, A Christian School, Inc. was born.
A fifteen-acre tract of land, gifted by Mr. William Shearin, operated grades one through ten in mobile units the first year.
Halifax Academy has experienced remarkable growth since its birth in 1969. During the 1970-71 school year, a building was erected to supplement the mobile units. A gymnasium with a seating capacity of 900 was also added.
In the spring of 1986 an elementary building was added which included eight new classrooms, a teacher's lounge, and guidance office.
In the summer of 1989, with funds raised by the Athletic Council, a weight room, and a coach's office were added to the gymnasium.
The present 31-acre campus includes a high school building, middle school wing, an elementary building, a library, a guidance office, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and several mobile units. Since 2000 Halifax Academy has seen considerable growth. Doublewide trailers were purchased in 2000 and 2001. During the summer of 2002, four classrooms were built for the fifth and sixth grades. Two years later classrooms were added for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. The cafeteria was renovated in the summer of 2005. In the summer of 2006 four more classrooms were added.
Halifax Academy has operated with the aid and support of the parents and loyal friends in the Roanoke Valley area.
The Halifax Academy School Philosophy states that Halifax Academy shall endeavor to achieve the following:
Perpetuate an appreciation for spiritual values.
Present opportunities preparing individuals for higher education.
Promote a sense of self-respect, a love for home and family, a dedication to the principles of our national greatness, and the practice of high moral standards.
Project these values through:
a. A curriculum best meeting the needs of the students
b. The employment of qualified instructors
c. Utilizing innovative methods and contemporary materials and equipment.
d. Maintaining an informative relationship with parents concerning achievements and continuing objectives.
Halifax Academy Athletics
Halifax Academy athletics schedules for all sports including boys and girls varsity and junior varsity.
Guidance Information
Our Freshmen
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Halifax Academy, A Christian School, Inc., admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
© 2022 Halifax Academy, A Christian School, Inc.
1400 Three Bridges Road - Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 - PH# 252-537-8527 - Fax# 252-308-0555
website by the computer guy & co.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


You seek beauty in art. True artisans capture memories to create art work you can reflect upon and treasure. You, as an individual seek the unique. Your garden, the plants you choose, the colors, design, everything about you is unique. Now you can select the finest custom handcrafted works of arts for your garden.
Each piece is unique, hand crafted by local artisans. Your garden art piece will be the only one like it in the world. Your unique garden name now can be captured with the elegant look of the gardens of legend.


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Berwick poultry plant closed due to COVID-19 outbreak
The Eden Valley Poultry Inc. processing plant in Berwick will be closed for at least two weeks due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
Four cases of the virus have been detected at the plant in the past two days.
"We are taking strong and decisive action early to break any further transmission of the virus at the plant and into the community," said Premier Stephen McNeil. "We know this will be a challenge for the workers, farmers and other businesses that rely on the plant, but we need to try to prevent COVID-19 from getting a foothold anywhere in the province."
The plant, which employs about 450, was closed Dec. 9 for testing. All staff at the plant have been tested, and further results are expected soon. Retesting of employees is also planned.
Public health is planning to open temporary testing facilities in the area and will expand the hours at its current testing facilities in the Annapolis Valley. Details will be available soon.
This asymptomatic testing will be available to anyone who lives in the Berwick area or anywhere else in the Annapolis Valley, and all those who have had interactions with the plant.
The mobile testing unit is also being deployed to the area and pop-up testing is available if needed.
"We haven't seen community spread in the Berwick area but COVID-19 is a stealth virus, and having asymptomatic people get tested within the community will help us get ahead of that," said Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health. "I encourage everyone to get tested."
The normal incubation period for COVID-19 is up to 14 days. Closing the plant for two weeks will break the transmission cycle.
Source: Release #notw
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Have a look at this article from https://haligonia.ca.
https://haligonia.ca/berwick-poultry-plant-closed-due-to-covid-19-outbreak-279318/
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text:
How can Acupuncture help me?
Facial Enhancement Acupuncture
Chinese Medical Massage (Tui Na)
Functional Herbal and Nutritional Therapy
Functional Nutrition Therapy
What is Functional Medicine?
Gel polish – CND™ Shellac
Gel Extensions
Your Practitioner
Nikki Hawkes, Medical Herbalist and Acupuncturist
Jodi Hawkes, Acupuncturist
Gift Vouchers and Packages
Contact us at the Holistic Health Centre for health and beauty treatments, in Rutland. All our treatments are by appointment only.
See our therapies page for the treatments offered.
If you would like any information you can drop in and pick up a brochure. Or you can contact us using the contact form on this website.
Or you can make an appointment for our treatments via the online calendar. You will receive an email confirmation of your appointment and an email reminder one or two days prior to your appointment.
Directions to the Holistic health centre
You will find the Holistic Health Centre on the main street in the village of Cottesmore. We are between the post office and the church. There is usually parking available on the road in front of the building.
We have a wheelchair ramp and disabled facilities.
From Oakham
Take the B668, through Burley, towards Cottesmore. You will find us on the left-hand side of Main Street.
We are located about 4 miles from Oakham.
Oakham train station is the nearest train station to Cottesmore.
From Stamford
Travel North on the A1 to the B668 junction. Turn left off the slip road, towards Cottesmore. As you enter the centre of the village of Cottesmore, you will see us on the right-hand side, just past the church.
We are located about 10 miles from Stamford.
By car we estimate it would take about:
5 minutes from Oakham
20 minutes from Stamford
30 to 40 minutes from Peterborough
30 minutes from Leicester
Please note that if we are busy we can not always answer the phone or return calls immediately. Please leave us a message on the answering machine, with your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.
More information on the health and beauty treatments we offer
Alternatively, if you would like any information about our health and beauty treatments, in Rutland, you can send us a quick message using the contact form.
The Holistic Health Centre
Main Street, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7DJ
Email: info@hhcentre.co.uk
Check prices & availability


As we saw at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the Ford Fusion mid-size sedan is getting a fresh revamp for the 2017 model year. While that mostly conjures some pretty routine changes – a new front fascia, new Platinum trim level, some other bells and whistles – the most exciting news is that of the new 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport.
While the real pièce de résistance is the engine – a potent 2.7-liter EcoBoost brute capable of pumping out some 325 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque – the new 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport also features a continuously-controlled damping system that warrants some discussion. Continuously-controlled dampers such as those to be used in the new Fusion Sport sedan use solenoid valves to alter the flow of hydraulic fluid within the damper cylinder. That solenoid valve is controlled by a computer which continuously scans input data to determine when to stiffen or soften the damper.
The overall effect is quite akin to that achieved by magnetorheological shocks, but these dampers are more economical, and don't suffer from the same latency of charge dissipation from the fluid. Ultimately, this means that the 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport ought to deliver composed, controlled cornering with little body roll, and still prove smooth and comfortable over rough pavement.
In addition, Ford has announced that the 2017 Ford Fusion Sport will ship with "pothole detection technology," which scans the road continuously for sudden dips and divots and alerts the damper controller. The shocks are then adjusted precisely at just the right moment to minimize the impact on vehicle occupants.
The new, AWD 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport is set to arrive at dealerships in late summer/early fall, several weeks after the other refreshed models start reaching showrooms.


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Epicentre.tv to stream 400 Thunder Series
Maurice Allen
News, Pro News
Following the recent announcement of a comprehensive FOX Sports TV deal, 400 Thunder's coverage will be bolstered by a free live streaming package by Epicentre.tv.
Epicentre will bring all the 400 Thunder action from all 10 events, starting with this weekend's East Coast Nationals at Sydney Dragway.
Chief Operating Officer at Epicentre.tv, Luke Campbell, said he looks forward to taking the 400 Thunder events to the world.
"Epicentre.tv is extremely excited to partner with 400 Thunder for their maiden season of competition. It's clear that they've invested heavily to ensure that the sport of drag racing returns to the glory days and our partnership will provide viewers with the most comprehensive coverage ever produced," Campbell said.
Fans will also be able to watch each round on demand on the Epicentre.tv platform, with full replays of the action available at the conclusion of each event.
Epicentre.tv is an online media platform broadcasting world class sports events from all over the globe and works with brands such as the UFC, International Tennis Federation, World Body Boarding Tour and the Australian Baseball League.
400 Thunder Series spokesperson, Tony Wedlock said Epicentre.tv's streaming is the ideal compliment to the weekly FOX Sports coverage.
"400 Thunder promised an extensive broadcast package incorporating TV and online, and Epicentre.tv's live streaming platform, in conjunction with the FOX Sports agreement, delivers on that promise," Wedlock said.
"While I am disappointed I can't be trackside at Sydney Dragway for the inaugural 400 Thunder event, I won't miss a pass because of the Epicentre.tv live stream.
"400 Thunder looks forward to working with Epicentre.tv to ensure Australia's professional drag racing series is available to all fans."
The opening round of the 400 Thunder Series, the East Coast Nationals, will be live from 3pm AEDT Saturday and 12:30pm AEDT on Sunday at http://www.epicentre.tv/promoter/400-thunder/.


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Thor – Ragnarok: Blu-ray Review
12 March 2018 Last Updated on 12 March 2018 Written by David Cantu 0 Comments
The Movie:
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – and grapple with his silver-tongued adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the fierce warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the eccentric Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum).
Dare I say that this is ONE of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and THE best Thor film yet. It's not every day that the third entry in a film franchise surpasses the ones before it by far but Taika Waititi has made that a reality. The overall story has some connectivity to the rest of the films but it's very minor and therefore is fairly standalone. I love the fact that this film blends in aspects of one of my favorite Hulk stories (Planet Hulk) and because of that it totally feels like it could be a Hulk film as well. They really did a great job at balancing the characters and each one felt like they got the perfect amount of screen time. I loved what they brought to the story with the blend of comedy and action. I honestly wouldn't have ever thought it would've worked the way it did and it ended up being a whole lot of fun to watch. I'm hoping that this is the direction going forward for Thor and his adventures because it works so well. This is a definite MUST WATCH and a MUST BUY especially if you're a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 9/10
Director Intro – Taika Waititi explains why he got into movie making and talks a bit about the cinematic influences.
Getting In Touch With Your Inner Thor – A great feature that dives into the character's evolution and Hemsworth's take on Thor.
Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie – A great profile on the 2 strong female characters in the film.
Finding Korg – A very funny feature that looks at Waititi's directing duties and him voicing the character of Korg.
Sakaar: On the Edge of the Known and Unknown – The cast and crew talks about the very colorful planet of Sakaar.
Journey Into Mystery – A fantastic piece on the influences the film takes from the comics, the art style of Jack Kirby and where the film fits into the overall MCU narrative.
Gag Reel – A VERY hilarious collection of goofing off, line flubs and just fun mistakes.
Team Darryl – A really funny short that shows Thor's old roommate now gaining a new one.
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years – The Evolution of Heroes – A great recap and look to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Deleted Scenes – About 5 scenes here that have rough CGI but are actually really entertaining to check out.
8-Bit Sequences – 2 rough CGI action sequences.
Thor: Ragnarok is available NOW on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Tags: blu ray, bluray, bluray review, cate blanchett, chris hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, marvel, marvel cinematic universe, marvel studios, MCU, movie review, thor, Thor Ragnarok, Thor Ragnarok Bluray Review, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
This entry was posted	on Monday, March 12th, 2018 at 10:11 am	and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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Big Blue nominated for ESPY Awards
Do you think the Giants are the best team in all of sports?
Well let your voice be heard as the Super Bowl champs are nominated for three ESPY Awards, which you can vote on and airs this week.
Big Blue is up for "Best Team" while you can also vote for Tom Coughlin as "Best Coach/Manager" and Eli Manning for "Best Championship Performance."
All ESPYS voting categories will end when the show begins on July 11 at 9 PM ET, with the exception of the Best Team of the Year.
During the live show, fans can also vote for this award on Twitter by using the hash tag #BestTeam and casting their vote with a nominee's name. Example: My @ESPYS vote for #BestTeam is the New York @Giants! The winner of Best Team will then be revealed at the end of the show, so start voting and spread the word!
N.Y. Giants – VOTE HERE
Baylor Women's Basketball
Kentucky Men's Basketball
L.A. Kings
BEST COACH/MANAGER
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants – VOTE HERE
John Calipari, Kentucky Basketball
Kim Mulkey, Baylor Women's Basketball
Patrick Murphy, Alabama Softball
Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
Darryl Sutter, L.A. Kings
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE
Eli Manning, Super Bowl – VOTE HERE
David Freese, World Series
LeBron James, NBA Playoffs
Tony Stewart, Sprint Cup
Jonathan Quick, Stanley Cup
Following their victory in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants won three ESPYs in 2008: Best Game(New York Giants over New England Patriots in Super Bowl); Best Play (New York Giants Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree at the Super Bowl); and Best Upset (New York Giants over New England Patriots at the Super Bowl).


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Orange Eyes 5G Network Slicing in 2022
Iain Morris, News Editor, Light Reading, 2/7/2018
Email This Print Comment 2 comments
PARIS -- French service provider Orange today said it would begin rolling out 5G services in 2020 or 2021 but does not envisage the launch of commercial products based on network slicing until 2022.
The operator is conducting trials of 5G technology in various scenarios and will probably launch a service based on the non-standalone (NSA) variant of the 5G standard in 2020, Orange (NYSE: FTE) executives told reporters at an event in Paris earlier today.
However, the telco cautioned against any expectation of a "big bang" deployment, hinting that network rollout will be gradual and that 5G will co-exist with older 4G technology for many years.
Toward 5G
Emmanuel Lugagne Delpon, a senior vice president at Orange Labs Networks, addresses the audience at Orange's 5G event in Paris earlier today.
Any service launch in the next two or three years will probably use the NSA version of 5G technology, after new radio specifications were locked down at the end of 2017.
With NSA, an operator would use 5G new radio in conjunction with a 4G core network. These NSA-based deployments should support various types of service, including enhanced mobile broadband.
But to provide more sophisticated services based on the concept of network slicing, operators will have to wait for the standalone version of 5G and the core network features that brings.
Using network slicing, service providers will -- in theory -- be able to provide a range of differentiated network services over the same physical infrastructure. Examples might include a low-latency connection for automation systems in factories and a very high-speed link for virtual reality services.
The current expectation is that specifications for SA technology will be locked down in June.
"What we believe is that if we start on NSA, then progressively we will have to more to SA to deliver the slicing promise, and it may take some years," said Emmanuel Lugagne Delpon, a senior vice president at Orange Labs Networks, in response to questions from reporters.
Nor is SA standardization the only obstacle to network slicing. Lugagne Delpon says the requisite equipment will not be ready until at least one year after standardization. "Then we will have to deploy the new core and make sure the old and new technologies work together and that will take time," he said.
Regulation could be another hindrance in the European market. The European Commission's rules on net neutrality are intended to prevent operators from giving preferential treatment to certain services, although exceptions could be made in the case of 5G network slicing.
Mari-Nöelle Jégo-Laveissière, Orange's executive director of innovation, marketing and technologies, gave a guarded answer when asked whether net neutrality regulations could threaten 5G. "We are in talks with the EU Commission so that we can develop the new use cases we want to implement," she said. "We have to look at European regulations to see how we can develop specific services."
Network slicing is frequently cited as one of the most attractive features of forthcoming 5G technology. It could allow operators to run their networks more efficiently and experiment with new service offerings.
But there is still considerable uncertainty over its implementation. One of the unresolved questions is just how granular a network slice will be, says Gabriel Brown, a principal analyst with the Heavy Reading market research company.
While some operators appear keen on developing network slices for particular services or industries, there is also the possibility of tailoring them to specific enterprise customers, for example.
— Iain Morris, News Editor, Light Reading
More Blogs from Iain Morris
VEON Veers Off-Course
Turmoil continues at one of the world's biggest emerging market operators with the announcement of further executive departures.
More from Iain Morris


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Education continues to evolve and as curriculum changes from year to year, the buildings students learn in are beginning to match the innovation in the classroom.
The Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee's Summit was created to reflect innovation both in the classroom and in the architectural design. Gould Evans and DLR Group partnered to design the 135,000 square foot MIC building in collaboration with UCM, the Lee's Summit R-7 School District and Metropolitan Community College. Upon completion in 2017, the MIC building received numerous awards, inspired educators across the country and allowed DLR and Gould Evans to break into new realms of architecture.
The R-7 District funded the $40 million facility through a no tax increase bond issue in 2015. Through the partnership with UCM, the R-7 District is paying for 40 percent while UCM covers the other 60 percent. The lease agreement for UCM spans 20 years but features four renewals that can give the facility 100 years of use.
David Reid, principal at Gould Evans in Kansas City, said the MIC was the most innovative project either firm had taken on at the time.
"It really set a new benchmark for how education should be viewed with more precedence set by workplace environments," he said.
UCM and the R-7 District housed their programs in a facility next door that has since been purchased by the Cerner Corporation. Reid said the building was lacking many of the capabilities that both parties were looking for in the new facility.
Part of the initial planning for the MIC involved soliciting opinions and feedback from the business partners that host student interns as well as students currently enrolled at UCM Lee's Summit or Summit Tech Academy.
Reid said the direction they received was to create a building that did not draw inspiration from a school or an office building.
A more open floor plan that connected the different sections of the building was used to differentiate from a normal school layout.
The facility features 60 classrooms, many of which feature a glass wall that can slide out to allow classes to combine for collaboration. Nursing students are provided with technology that simulates a hospital wing. Rooms modeled to replicate a counselor's office were created to give students a feel for what they might work with in the future.
The partnership between DLR and Gould Evans formed in part because of a nearly 20-year friendship between Reid and Kevin Greischar, principal at DLR as well as both firms having connections with UCM and the R-7 District. Gould Evans has been an on-call contractor for UCM for some time and DLR worked with Lee's Summit Schools. Both firms are currently working together on the district-wide master plan for Lee's Summit schools.
Both firms began the project with the idea that the MIC facility would be nationally recognized after President Barack Obama praised the concept in his 2013 visit to UCM.
Both firms hosted interns from MIC, including students who were able to work hands-on with the development of the new facility. Reid said the firms typically hire college students who are closer to their graduation for their internships but have found that the MIC produces students who are ready for the task at a younger age.
Reid said both firms are interested in continuing to create innovative buildings to help further education in the future.
Editors note: This version of the story includes the cost to construct the Missouri Innovation Campus building.


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Authentically Chic: Faux Fur's Fashion Moment
Blinkist Review – What Is Blinkist?
Automotive, Baby, Electronics, Home Garden
Probing Question: Do educational products make babies smarter?
Unraveling the Ancient Riddles of Chinese Jewelry
Iolo System Mechanic Review
Los Angeles-based Iolo has been a market leader in the PC tune up utility software category for years, thanks to its best-selling System Mechanic software. This app has traditionally offered sluggish PCs a new lease on life – but does the new System Mechanic 14 live up to the standard set by its predecessors? And is it worth the upgrade from System Mechanic 12.5? I took Iolo's new beta software for a test drive to see what improvements you can expect.
With the proliferation of both personal and corporate devices, there are a lot of PCs out there performing a wide range of increasingly complicated tasks. Naturally, sluggish and overburdened computers are the result. A slow, glitchy personal device is bad enough, but enterprise-wide, it can lead to a loss of revenue and less efficient workers.
Individual consumers and businesses have a lot of options when it comes to optimizing their PCs. According to market research by NPD Group, Iolo's System Mechanic enjoys almost two thirds (66%) of the market share for software utility products – and it has long been among the best-selling software in its category in the US.
In addition to System Mechanic, however, consumers have the option of utilizing competing solutions including the popular (and free) SlimCleaner as well as the cloud-based SlimCleaner Plus, which retails for $29.95 (about £17.55, AU$31.91) – a considerably lower price point compared to System Mechanic's price tag of $49.95 (around £29.25, AU$53.22).
System Mechanic's new version includes a lot of interesting and fresh technology that may help to even the playing field a bit – even the most budget-conscious consumer may well decide System Mechanic 14 is worth the splurge.
System Mechanic 14 is compatible with devices running Windows 8.1, as well as Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, and XP. The under-$50 price tag is consistent with the previous version, though the product is often offered for a sale price of $39.95 on the company's website.
https://www.reviewerblog.net/iobit.php?r=1
System Mechanic 14 also continues to offer Iolo's popular "whole home license," which allows installation across an unlimited number of a user's home PCs – a handy feature in an age when consumers are accustomed to restrictions on the number of devices they're able to install an app on per subscription.
Company-issued proclamations about increased speed and better performance are fine – but the real test is how System Mechanic 14 actually performs.
The installation on a Dell Inspiron 1570 test laptop (featuring a 1.30GHz Genuine Intel U4100 processor and 3.0GB of RAM) took about two minutes. Up popped the System Mechanic dashboard along with the Iolo LiveBoost real-time optimization interface (more on that later). System Mechanic 14 also includes the same handy desktop widget as the previous version.
What the System Mechanic dashboard lacks in flashy design it makes up for in usability. The simple window offers a left-pane menu with standard options familiar to users of System Mechanic 12 and System Mechanic 12.5: Overview, ActiveCare, Internet Security, Toolbox and Reports along with subcategories that offer more specific solutions. What's new is the addition of the menu item "LiveBoost", with its subcategory, "Real-time Optimization."
First, I took a look at System Mechanic's bread and butter – the performance-optimizing system analysis that identifies and resolves issues on a user's device. A deep system analysis took about 40 minutes, as the pop up screen indicated it was performing the analysis as well as scanning for excessive system clutter. (There's also a "quick analysis" option, but I had a feeling this laptop needed all the help it could get.)
System Mechanic's scan returned the verdict of "system status critical," a report detailing 10 problems and one warning, all of which harming the system's overall status. It also listed three recommendations to improve the performance of the laptop.
Cleaning out the clutter
Among the 10 problems System Mechanic identified as lowering the health and security of the test computer were 5.56GBs of system clutter; three core data conflicts within the Windows communication infrastructure; 646 registry problems; low memory level (32%); 111,179 misaligned files taking up 48.54GB; and a registry that was 15% fragmented.
Among System Mechanic's recommendations were installing available updates to three drivers and the removal of 30 potentially unwanted startup programs. Overall, it was an impressive and thorough analysis of a computer that was clearly in desperate need of a tune-up.
In addition to listing the identified problems, System Mechanic offers a few sentences about why the issue negatively affects the computer's performance, which gives the user a better handle on why the computer is running slowly and what exactly System Mechanic is doing to help.
Building on the strength of the previous versions 12.5 and 12.7, System Mechanic 14 is a solid upgrade with a host of new and useful features. While a few of the services in the beta version took longer than advertised to execute (the deep system scan took around 40 minutes instead of the stated 5 to 7 minutes), they still got the job done.
Most importantly, the test laptop ran noticeably quicker and startup was remarkably accelerated after the installation of System Mechanic 14 – with programs like Spotify and Google Chrome loading almost instantly, while iTunes took a fraction of the time to open compared to before the installation. This is a solid option for users who hope to breathe new life into their PC as well as current customers looking to ensure they have the latest from Iolo's software line.
CyberLink PowerDirector Ultimate 12 Suite Review
Driver Easy v5.6.12


Voice inversion is a primitive method of rendering speech unintelligible to prevent eavesdropping of radio or telephone calls. I wrote about some simple ways to reverse it in a previous post. I've since written a software tool, deinvert (on GitHub), that does all this for us. It can also descramble a slightly more advanced scrambling method called split-band inversion. Let's see how that happens behind the scenes.
Voice inversion works by inverting the audio spectrum at a set maximum frequency called the inversion carrier. Frequencies near this carrier will thus become frequencies near zero Hz, and vice versa. The resulting audio is unintelligible, though familiar sentences can easily be recognized.
Deinvert comes with 8 preset carrier frequencies that can be activated with the -p option. These correspond to a list of carrier frequencies I found in an actual scrambler's manual, dubbed "the most commonly used inversion carriers".
The algorithm behind deinvert can be divided into three phases: 1) pre-filtering, 2) mixing, and 3) post-filtering. Mixing means multiplying the signal by an oscillation at the selected carrier frequency. This produces two sidebands, or mirrored copies of the signal, with the lower one frequency-inverted. Pre-filtering is necessary to prevent this lower sideband from aliasing when its highest components would go below zero Hertz. Post-filtering removes the upper sideband, leaving just the inverted audio. Both filters can be realized as low-pass FIR filters.
This operation is its own inverse, like ROT13; by applying the same inversion again we get intelligible speech back. Indeed, deinvert can also be used as a scrambler by just running unscrambled audio through it. The same inversion carrier should be used in both directions.
The split-band scrambling method adds another carrier frequency that I call the split point. It divides the spectrum into two parts that are inverted separately and then combined, preventing ordinary inverters from fully descrambling it.
A single filter-inverter pair may already bring back the low end of the spectrum. Descrambling it fully amounts to running the inversion algorithm twice, with different settings for the filters and mixer, and adding the results together.
The problem here is to find these two frequencies. But let's take a look at an example from audio scrambled using the CML CMX264 split-band inverter (from a video by GBPPR2).
In this case the filter roll-off is clearly visible in the spectrogram and it's obvious where the split point is. The higher carrier is probably at the upper limit of the full band or slightly above it. Here the full bandwidth seems to be around 3200 Hz and the split point is at 1200 Hz. This could be initially descrambled using deinvert -f 3200 -s 1200; if the result sounds shifted up or down in frequency this could be refined accordingly.
For this reason deinvert has a quality setting (0 to 3) for controlling the number of samples in the convolution kernels. A filter with a shorter kernel is linearly faster to compute, but has a low roll-off and will leave more unwanted harmonics.
A quality setting of 0 turns filtering off completely, and is very fast. For simple inversion this should be fine, as long as the original doesn't contain much power above the inversion carrier. It's easy to ignore the upper sideband because of its high frequency. In split-band descrambling this leaves some nasty folded harmonics in the speech band though.
Here's a descramble of the above CMX264 split-band audio using all the different quality settings in deinvert. You will first hear it scrambled, and then descrambled with increasing quality setting.
The memory footprint is less than four megabytes.
There's a variant of split-band inversion where the inversion carrier changes constantly, called variable split-band. The transmitter informs the receiver about this sequence of frequencies via short bursts of data every couple of seconds or so. This data seems to be FSK, but it shall be left to another time.
I've also thought about ways to automatically estimate the inversion carrier frequency. Shifting speech up or down in frequency breaks the relationships of the harmonics. Perhaps this fact could be exploited to find a shift that would minimize this error?
How did you get the performance graph?
Ah, ok, very cool! I thought it was some kind of analyzer's direct output.
Thanks for the details. Keep it up, ridin' the waves!
Is there a more secure way to make the live voice anonymous?
I'd like to found a HW scrambler design to SMD it and attach to the phone's mic, but it seems quite hard to do.
Variable split-band (VSB) should be harder to crack; probably not impossible though. But googling for "voice scrambler" seems to bring up some commercial solutions, both analog and digital.
Allright! Googling a bit abour VSB scrambling I found FX214/FX224 a good candidate to power a prototype.
I'm not so good in programming, but I want to descramble a WAV file that I already have. Could you tell how I can start with descrambling?


St Magnus Cathedral, built from red and yellow sandstone, is of international significance.
This 'fine minster' took about 300 years to build, the foundations starting in 1137. It was dedicated to Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney. He shared the earldom with his cousin, Haakon Paulsson, but jealousy and greed culminated in Magnus being martyred on the island of Egilsay.
The building is a fine example of a Romano-Gothic Cathedral. In 2007, the Cathedral was highly commended for the 'Best Historic Attraction - Cathedral/Abbey' award from the Icons of Scotland magazine.
Summer opening: 1 April - 30 September Monday - Saturday, 09:00 - 18:00 and Sunday 13:00 - 18:00.


text:
[Press Release] French Bioethics: State Council Favors Individual Interests vs. Children's Rights!
July 11, 2018 | Medically Assisted Procreation, Press Releases
Following the State Council's report, Alliance VITA challenges French President Macron to defend children's rights which have been heretofore sidelined. In fact, the State Council intends to align with societal pressure concerning procreation instead of protecting the best interests of the child.
If French law permits this new type of filiation with 2 mothers, these children will be afflicted with a serious, definite discrimination of their civil status, without any paternal genealogy registered.
It is shocking that a group responsible for counseling the governmenton procreation subjects consents to adults transgressive demands from a small minority, instead of assessing an infertility prevention policy, (including environmental and behavioral causes). If they allow ART to be treated in a trivial manner, there will be an impact on children's rights.
Tugdual Derville, Alliance VITA's General Delegate states:
"These new recommendations give the impression that the group has little concern for legal coherence and justice for the most vulnerable. As if political pressure forced them to go back to the previous decisions… How can the principles which were claimed when the law was revised in 2011 to protect children, all disappear so suddenly? "
The State Council recommended avoiding "the risk of ceding to the least ethical position ", and to maintain "the basic requirement for a child to have a family with a father and a mother" and not to "intentionally create a child without a father, which cannot be considered to be in the best interest for the unborn child." This is the same consternation if the State Counsel recommends allowing research on 13-day old embryos. Such bioethical policies based on a downhill slope can't make our society safe."
On a point which deserves adjustment, Alliance VITA notes that the Council of State makes an absurd proposal that does not meet the demands of children born by medical assistance with donor, tested by the anonymity of gamete donation and seeking of their origins. This quest is tackled on tiptoe, by a proposal for access of non-identifying data subject to the consent of the donor and the parents. It's scientifically absurd and virtually derisory; because nowadays, nothing can hinder a child from having access to his origins.
Alliance VITA continues to insist that the main principles governing French and International law must be respected, in particular Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that every child has "the right to know his parents and be raised by them as far as possible."
Alliance VITA intends to participate in mobilizing efforts for bills to be passed in accordance with the child's best interests.


text:
Q: generate Fake data and " AppRegistryNotReady: Apps aren't loaded yet" error I want to generate fake data for my app in Admin panel,but I get below error .
When I use python manage.py runserver the app execute but without fake data.
I want to generate fake data by stand alone file (population.py) , but I get Error .
There are some solution according this error in stackoverflow I check all post but don't solve my problem .
**This is my error message **
  File "population.py", line 14, in <module>
    from first_app.models import Topic, Webpage, AcsessRecord
  File "E:\Dropbox\CS\Project\Project\django\django_BC\django_pro\first_app\models.py", line 4, in <module>
    class Topic(models.Model):
  File "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\dj1.11\lib\site-packages\django\db\models\base.py", line 110, in __new__
    app_config = apps.get_containing_app_config(module)
  File "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\dj1.11\lib\site-packages\django\apps\registry.py", line 247, in get_containing_app_config
    self.check_apps_ready()
  File "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\envs\dj1.11\lib\site-packages\django\apps\registry.py", line 125, in check_apps_ready
    raise AppRegistryNotReady("Apps aren't loaded yet.")
django.core.exceptions.AppRegistryNotReady: Apps aren't loaded yet.

population.py file for generate fake data
os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'django_pro.settings')

import django

# setup django according above setting
django.setup

from faker import Faker
import random
from first_app.models import Topic, Webpage, AcsessRecord

# import fake module

# create an objet from faker
fakegen = Faker()

# The main info is topic before import class of model that we crated
# becuse we want to fill database similary model

# We want to add random for topic from a list

topics = ['search', 'social', 'marjetplace', 'news', 'games']

# Randomally define topic

def add_topic():
    t = Topic.objects.get_or_create(top_name=random.choice(topics))[0]
    t.save()
    return t

def population(N=5):

    for entry in range(N):
        # Generate topic for entry
        top = add_topic

        name_fake = fakegen.name()
        url_fake = fakegen.URL()
        date_fake = fakegen.date()

        web_page = Webpage.object.get_or_create(
            topics=top, url=url_fake, name=name_fake)[0]

        acc_rec = AcsessRecord.object.get_or_create(
            name=web_page, date=date_fake)[0]

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print("start for genarate please wait...")
    population(20)
    print("the population is complete ")

models.py this is code for model class

    from django.db import models

class Topic(models.Model):
    top_name = models.CharField(max_length=264, unique=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.top_name

class Webpage(models.Model):
    name = models.CharField(max_length=264, unique=True)
    url = models.URLField(unique=True)
    topic = models.ForeignKey(Topic)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

class AcsessRecord(models.Model):
    name = models.ForeignKey(Webpage)
    date = models.DateField()

    def __str__(self):
        return str(self.date

A: Your missing brackets
django.setup --> django.setup()


May. 30, 2011 2:00 p.m.
Canada Post employees are now in a legal position to strike.
Employees have given notice and will be legally allowed to strike on Thursday, June 2 at 8:59 p.m.
The union has made a final offer to Canada Post.


1.1 How Much Does Deck Cleaning Cost?
1.2 Can't I Just Power Wash My Own Deck?
Spending hundreds of dollars in wood replacement for your deck is one of the least fun projects to do on the residential home improvement checklist.
By trusting us to power wash your deck for you, you'll quickly get rid of any worry that the project won't be done the right way. All that's left to do now is enter your first name and email below to start your free estimate online.
How Much Does Deck Cleaning Cost?
Many homeowners think it's less costly to rent a power washer and spend the day pressure washing than it is to hire a power washing company for their home. But when you consider the cost of deck cleaning solution, plus the chance you'll strip the wood, it may be more affordable to let a professional handle it for you. Plus, you get to kick back and relax while watching us do all the work!
How much does residential deck washing cost? It depends on the area, of course. We discuss how to find power washing costs in your area on our house washing page.
It's important to delicately power wash your deck using soft wash so you don't risk damage.
Can't I Just Power Wash My Own Deck?
Head over to the power tool rental shop, toss the clerk $100, then head home, fire that baby up, and go to town! The neighbors are gonna be jealous!
Unfortunately for many DIY homeowners, the reality of power washing your deck couldn't be further from the example above.
Especially if the deck is wood and you're not using the soft wash technique (which most rented power washers do not offer).
You don't need to choose Now Powerwash to clean your deck of dirt, grime, and mildew build-up, but if you do it yourself, please make sure you don't use a high pressure machine that will put your deck at risk.
First, click here to tell us about the dirty deck. Is it wood? A vinyl deck? How big is it?
Next, choose your most convenient time for us to swing by for an estimate.
After that, you'll have an estimate locked-in for the rest of the year so all you have to do is call us back when you want us to come out and make your deck look new again!
Deck pressure washing is for you if your wood deck or synthetic deck feels worn down and faded. Power washing your deck is recommended before staining.


text:
← June light
Don't write, send a pic →
The Night Sky is Alive
Switching to BBC 4, "The Sky at Night" was beginning, a programme that has the great advantage that it is so specific to the date on which it is broadcast that it cannot be repeated for years afterwards.
A market researcher once called at my grandparents' farm and endeavoured to carry out a survey with my grandfather. "What television programmes do you watch?" asked the hopeful researcher. My grandfather, never a man to sit at the fireside when there were things to be done, answered honestly, "I watch 'The Sky at Night'". In times when there were only two or three television channels, and when the limited choice of viewing meant that there were programmes with audiences of tens of millions competing for airtime, "The Sky at Night" was aired in the late evening, sometimes not much before midnight and, as now, was a monthly broadcast.
Encountering someone who had access to television every evening, but who watched it for half an hour a month was probably an experience the researcher remembered for sometime afterward; recounting it would have become a cautionary tale about who one chooses for the completion of a questionnaire. It is hard to imagine much useful marketing data would have arisen from a conversation with my grandfather.
Why did he watch "The Sky at Night"? His formal education had been limited, severe asthma in boyhood days had prevented regular attendance at school; astronomy would not have been an immediately obvious choice of television viewing for someone who had spent his life working the land. By the time my grandfather was prepared to sit down and look at the television set, perhaps "The Sky at Night" was one of the few interesting programmes still left in the schedule. Those were times when channels broadcast for perhaps seven or eight hours a day, once it was midnight, viewing options became very limited. It seems likely that he watched other programmes as well, half an hour a month would have been very limited viewing, even for someone whose first wish was to be out on the farm, but "The Sky at Night" was the programme that he remembered, the presenter of the programme, was passionate about his subject and spoke in terms that might be readily understood; he succeeded in popularizing his subject in a way that many other academics must have envied.
Forty odd years later, more than twenty years after my grandfather's death, and his love for "The Sky at Night" still has the power to inhibit a further change of channel. If the current presenters have one fraction of the influence of those past, there will be people watching in forty years' time because of what someone saw today.
The Night Sky is Alive — No Comments


text:
Kentucky Lake is a major navigable reservoir along the Tennessee River in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was created in 1944 by the Tennessee Valley Authority's impounding of the Tennessee River via Kentucky Dam for flood control and hydroelectric power. The  lake is the largest artificial lake by surface area in the United States east of the Mississippi River, with  of shoreline. Nearby Lake Barkley is larger by volume. Kentucky Lake has a flood storage capacity of , more than 2.5 times the next largest lake in the TVA system.

It provides a source for hydro-electric power. Also, as one of the lakes alluded to by the name of Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, it is a recreational destination of western Kentucky and Tennessee.

Recreation
The lake is a desirable fishing area. Records for the largest of three species of fish ever taken in Kentucky have been set at this lake: white bass (), Buffalo carp (), and yellow perch (). It is also the major attraction for two Kentucky state parks: Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park to the north and Kenlake State Resort Park to the west.

See also

Dams and reservoirs of the Tennessee River
Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area
Kenlake State Resort Park
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
Eggner's Ferry Bridge

References

External links

Visitor's guide by Marshall County, Kentucky Tourist Commission
KentuckyLake.com Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkely & Land Between the Lakes Information
KentuckyLake.TV Collection of informational videos on Kentucky Lake
LBLGuide.com Informational site about Kentucky Lake and the Land Between the Lakes area
Kentucky Lake Guide by KFW

1944 establishments in Kentucky
1944 establishments in Tennessee
Reservoirs in Kentucky
Reservoirs in Tennessee
Protected areas of Calloway County, Kentucky
Protected areas of Lyon County, Kentucky
Protected areas of Trigg County, Kentucky
Protected areas of Marshall County, Kentucky
Tennessee River
Tennessee Valley Authority
Protected areas of Benton County, Tennessee
Bodies of water of Calloway County, Kentucky
Bodies of water of Lyon County, Kentucky
Bodies of water of Trigg County, Kentucky
Bodies of water of Marshall County, Kentucky
Bodies of water of Benton County, Tennessee

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A renovated home in the San Francisco Bay Area promises to set the standard for a turn-of-the-20th century Craftsman bungalow — all the way to the architecturally compatible, eye-catching garage door.
Wayne-Dalton's Model 6600 Carriage House Steel garage door was used at 604 Second Street. Great work on the install, by Bay-To-Bay Garage Doors.
"Garage doors can account for as much as 40 percent of a home's curb appeal," says James Carey of the Carey Bros. Remodeling Team that is doing the historic restoration at 604 Second Street in Brentwood, Calif.
The house currently under renovation was originally a catalog order, kit-constructed home that reportedly was among the roughly 600 bungalows heralded from the nearby coal and copper mining communities in the early 1900s.
While he and his wife, Robin, chose a classic white garage door, Wayne Dalton features 6,000 color and stain choices, with its TruChoice custom system.
And while the look of the door is what initially impresses the occupant or the passerby, it also stands out for its durable steel construction.
This feature bodes well for McClellan, who anticipates logging contented hours in his refurbished garage, restoring cars and building furniture.
The Wayne Dalton website features its Garage Door Design Center to help homeowners visualize how much a well-crafted, customized door can accentuate the look and feel of their property.
"For any architectural style, we have a residential garage door model to fit it and make your home look spectacular," adds Schram, noting the wide menu, from traditional wood to the recent release of Wayne Dalton's modern, all-glass door.
For more information, visit www.wayne-dalton.com. Follow the progress of the historic renovation by visiting 604secondstreet.onthehouse.com.


I'm not writing a blog post this week because it's my spring break. Although I wish I was basking in the sun in a tropical destination like Cancun, nothing could be further from the truth. I am sitting in my living room in Cedar Falls, Iowa, while we experience winter's last hurrah. We are expecting somewhere between six and nine inches of snow.
If you read my blog last week, you know that I invited you to submit questions. You were welcome to write them in the comments box or email me. Let me just say that I got plenty.
And I will start attacking them next week.


text:
Consumers warned off 'Sexpresso' and 'Rock Hard' coffee
Posted by AFN Staff Writers on 25th July 2011
Australian consumers have been warned not to drink caffeine-based drinks that have been found to contain substrances like those used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) have identified the substances in the 'Sexpresso' and 'Rock Hard' coffee products. The products are sold as instant coffee and are available on the internet and in adult shops.
The products contain substances that are 'analogues' of drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, meaning that the substances have a similar chemical make-up, but elements have been changed. These substances are not listed on product labels.
"These analogues, like any drugs can interact with prescription medicines and may be dangerous, particularly for people with certain health conditions," said FSANZ.
The products are currently under investigation by State and Territory food law enforcement agencies, including the New South Wales Food Authority as well as municipal council and State health departments around Australia.
By law, all food additives must comply with compositional and labelling requirements set out in the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code. By contrast, all medications, therapeutic products and complementary medicines are governed by the Therapeutic Goods Act, a distinct Federal regulatory regime.
The potential side-effects of consuming the coffee products are not known.
"There have been several instances in the past six months in which food products have been recalled because they contained prescription medicines," said FSANZ.
Boost Juice venturing into drive-thrus
Smoothie and juice chain, Boost Juice, is moving into drive-thru stores.
Food companies shying away from spending advertising dollars
The drop has been attributed to food advertisers spending less on television and outdoor advertising...
Murray Goulburn takes home $40 million net profit despite farmer crisis
Murray Goulburn dairy co-operative, owner of the Devondale brand, has achieved a net profit after ta...
The Australian native tea taking on the world
As native flavours grow in popularity in Australia, lemon myrtle and specifically lemon myrtle tea ...
Baby Boomers a booming segment for alcohol industry, Nielsen
Baby Boomers may be Australia's next booming customer base for alcohol retailers new Nielsen researc...
Changes for CSIRO Healthy Grain Company
Part CSIRO owned business, The Healthy Grain Company, has appointed a former Chief Executive Officer...
Is being a takeover target next for Nexba?
SURGING to scale-up from start-up, Australian drink maker Nexba is open to a distribution deal with ...
Judges are required for The Australian Grand Dairy Awards
Dairy-lovers around the nation are invited to put their palates to the test and apply for the chanc...


text:
Byrd looks back
http://news.rice.edu/2019/02/18/byrd-looks-back/
Alexander Byrd '90, associate professor of history at Rice, spoke before a standing room-only crowd Feb. 16 in the reading room of the African American...
Rice's Harvey Memories Project now collecting community storm stories across Houston
http://news.rice.edu/2018/08/24/rices-harvey-memories-project-now-collecting-com...
After launching the digital archive last month, the HMP team is holding its first community outreach events to collect storm stories from the city at large.
Faculty address inspires new students to reach out, take risks and redefine thinking
http://news.rice.edu/2018/08/15/faculty-address-inspires-new-students-to-reach-o...
Rice's incoming Class of 2022 gathered in Tudor Fieldhouse to hear a panel of professors share their secrets for success -- both at Rice and beyond,
Rice U. experts available to discuss Hurricane Harvey as anniversary approaches
Amy McCaig
http://news.rice.edu/2018/07/30/rice-u-experts-available-to-discuss-hurricane-ha...
HOUSTON -- (July 30, 2018) -- Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas in August 2017, was one of the costliest tropical cyclones on record. As Harvey's one-year anniversary approaches, Rice University experts are available to discuss many topics related to the storm.
Baker Institute
Doerr Institute
Harvey Memories Project will help preserve nation's first social media storm
http://news.rice.edu/2018/07/23/harvey-memories-project-will-help-preserve-natio...
A new online archive aims to prevent the loss of valuable Hurricane Harvey-related photos, videos and other digital data.
Rice U.'s new Harvey Memories Project preserves digital artifacts of the 'first social media storm'
http://news.rice.edu/2018/07/23/rice-u-s-new-harvey-memories-project-preserves-d...
MEDIA ADVISORY David Ruth david@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Katharine Shilcutt kshilcutt@rice.edu 713-348-6760 Rice U.'s new Harvey Memories Project preserves digital artifacts of the 'first social media storm'...
Activist's archives of convict-leasing system reside at Rice
http://news.rice.edu/2018/07/23/activists-archives-of-convict-leasing-system-res...
This growing collection illuminates the recent discovery of mass prisoner graves in Fort Bend County.
Activist's archives on Sugar Land convict-leasing system reside at Rice
http://news.rice.edu/2018/07/23/activists-archives-on-sugar-land-convict-leasing...
MEDIA ADVISORY David Ruth david@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Katharine Shilcutt kshilcutt@rice.edu 713-348-6760 Activist's archives on Sugar Land convict-leasing system reside at Rice HOUSTON — (July 23, 2018)...
A truly transformative undergraduate education starts with the students
http://news.rice.edu/2018/07/16/a-truly-transformative-undergraduate-education-s...
Rice helps develop students like Constantine Tzouanas into the leaders of tomorrow by providing opportunities to make real contributions in areas that really matter.
Ratnoff honored with Bloomberg Award
http://news.rice.edu/2018/05/12/ratnoff-honored-with-bloomberg-award/
Each year, Rice University honors a graduating senior who exemplifies the values and ideals of the commencement speaker.


[Guest post by Ahmet Sezgin in Istanbul] On a sunny Sunday in September, a friend and I wanted to spend time away from the congestion of the city and enjoy nature. In Istanbul, unfortunately it is quite hard to find a spot like that. After going through available options, we found ourselves in one of the oldest cemeteries of Istanbul. For centuries, cemeteries are among the main green spaces of the city. Now, as the construction boom has taken over many of the green public spaces, cemeteries are more prominent in that regard.
We were in Karacaahmet Cemetery before noon – silent and peaceful (top of post). The cemetery looks like an endless sea of marble rectangles covered with a blanket that comes in all shapes and hues of green. Sun penetrates through the trees and bushes and creates a melancholic play of light and shadow on the graves. We spent quite a time there by sketching and reading the gravestones and wondering about their stories.
Nearby was the courtyard of the 18th-century mosque. After a short walk we were there to see the beautiful Ottoman mosque through a frame of trees and bushes. Sunlight was still strong, and beneath a centuries-old plane tree we captured the contrast of light and shadow on the facade.
Ahmet is a university lecturer and a fan of sketching in Istanbul, Turkey. See more of Ahmet's sketches on Instagram.


text:
Chimney Sweep Folkston Georgia
Guardian Chimney Sweeps Folkston
If you don't take proper care of your fireplace, though, that same fire can become dangerous. For help, call Guardian Chimney Sweeps Folkston Georgia. Whether its a routine cleaning or animal removal, we can do it all so that you and your loved ones are guaranteed many more nights spent by the fire.
You can count on a Guardian Chimney Sweep inspection when you want to make sure your chimney and fireplace are free of damage, and other dangers. We'll show you photos of any findings and explain them.
Folkston is a city in and the county seat of Charlton County, Georgia, United States. Folkston is in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The population was 2,502 as of the 2010 census, up from 2,178 in 2000, largely due to the extension of the city boundary to include D. Ray James Prison.
Explore Folkston, Georgia
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a 402,000‑acre National Wildlife Refuge located in Charlton, Ware, and Clinch Counties of Georgia, and Baker County in Florida, United States. The refuge is administered from offices in Folkston, Georgia.
Folkston Funnel
Nearly fifty years ago this train museum was a bustling train depot. Today, you can find the same depot well preserved as the Folkston Railroad Transportation Museum. This town's passion for their railroad heritage is much of what keeps the history alive and thriving. Through the efforts of many, visitors can explore genuine railroad artifacts, tour the Cookie Williams Model Train Room, see a one-of-a-kind radio exhibit spanning four decades of radio communication, and learn about the railroad history that shaped the lives and culture of Folkston's people.
The Golden Isles of Georgia are a group of four barrier islands and the mainland port city of Brunswick on the 100-mile-long coast of the U.S. state of Georgia on the Atlantic Ocean. They include St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Historic Brunswick. Mild winters, together with natural beaches, vast stretches of marshland, maritime forests, historical sites, and abundant wildlife on both land and sea have made the Golden Isles a travel destination for families, nature-lovers, fishing and water sports enthusiasts, golfers, and history buffs. All the islands are located within Glynn County and make up the lower middle section of Georgia's eleven barrier islands. Annual mild temperatures average 68 °F, with July highs of 90 °F. St. Simons is the largest of the four, with a permanent population of 12,743 residents as of the 2010 census. Curled around its north end and accessible only by boat is Little St. Simons Island—privately owned and maintained in its natural state with a small capacity guest lodge and cottages. Jekyll Island is owned by the state of Georgia and operated as a state park, with limited residential areas.


text:
"use strict";

const assert = require("assert");
const bluebird = require("bluebird");
const util = require("util");
const EventEmitter = require("events").EventEmitter;
const _ = require("underscore");
const Multiplexer = require("../src/multiplexer");

function FakeWsConn() {

}

util.inherits(FakeWsConn, EventEmitter);

_.extend(FakeWsConn.prototype, {
    remote: null,

    send: function(message) {
        const self = this;

        process.nextTick(function() {
            self.remote.emit("message", message);
        });
    }
});

describe("Multiplexer", function() {
    let localConn;
    let remoteConn;
    let local;
    let remote;

    before(function() {
        localConn = new FakeWsConn();
        remoteConn = new FakeWsConn();

        localConn.remote = remoteConn;
        remoteConn.remote = localConn;

        local = new Multiplexer(localConn);
        remote = new Multiplexer(remoteConn);
    });

    afterEach(function() {
        local.removeAllListeners("message");
        remote.removeAllListeners("message");
    });

    it("can send a message from local to remote and get the response", function(done) {
        bluebird.coroutine(function*() {
            try {
                const testObj = {
                    "foo": "bar"
                };

                remote.on("message", function(message, d) {
                    assert.deepEqual(message, testObj);

                    d.resolve(message);
                });

                const promise = local.send(testObj);
                const message = yield promise;

                assert.deepEqual(message, testObj);

                done(null);
            } catch (ex) {
                done(ex);
            }
        })();
    });

    it("it propagates rejects as errors", function(done) {
        bluebird.coroutine(function*() {
            try {
                const testObj = {
                    "foo": "baz"
                };
                let stack = null;

                remote.on("message", function(message, d) {
                    assert.deepEqual(message, testObj);

                    const err = new Error("oh hey");

                    err.code = 505;

                    stack = err.stack;

                    d.reject(err);
                });

                const promise = local.send(testObj);

                try {
                    yield promise;

                    done(new Error("Did not get an exception"));
                } catch (ex) {
                    assert.ok(ex instanceof Error);
                    assert.equal(ex.stack, stack);
                    assert.equal(ex.code, 505);
                    done(null);
                }
            } catch (ex) {
                done(ex);
            }
        })();
    });

    it("can send multiple messages and receive all the responses", function(done) {
        bluebird.coroutine(function*() {
            try {
                remote.on("message", function(message, d) {
                    process.nextTick(function() {
                        d.resolve(message + "!");
                    });
                });

                const promises = [];

                for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
                    promises.push(local.send("message " + i));
                }

                const responses = yield promises;
                const s = new Set();

                for (let i = 0; i < responses.length; i++) {
                    s.add(responses[i]);
                }

                for (let i = 0; i < promises.length; i++) {
                    assert.ok(s.has("message " + i + "!"));
                }

                done(null);
            } catch (ex) {
                done(ex);
            }
        })();
    });

    it("can timeout messages", function(done) {
        this.timeout(5000);

        bluebird.coroutine(function*() {
            try {
                remote.on("message", function(message, d) {
                    setTimeout(function() {
                        d.resolve(message + "!");
                    }, 3000);
                });

                yield local.send("asdfasdf", { maxAge: 500 });

                done(new Error("did not expire"));
            } catch (ex) {
                if (ex.message === "expired") {
                    done(null);
                } else {
                    done(ex);
                }
            }
        })();
    });

    it("can bind events via listen", function(done) {
        bluebird.coroutine(function*() {
            try {
                const testObj = {
                    "foo": "bar",
                    "type": "test-message"
                };
                const t = {};
                const messages = {
                    "test-message": bluebird.coroutine(function*(message) {
                        assert.deepEqual(message, testObj);

                        return message;
                    })
                };

                remote.listen(t, messages);

                const promise = local.send(testObj);
                const message = yield promise;

                assert.deepEqual(message, testObj);

                done(null);
            } catch (ex) {
                done(ex);
            }
        })();
    });
});

describe("Multiplexer errorMapper", function() {

    it("can map errors if an errorMapper is provided", function(done) {
        let localConn = new FakeWsConn();
        let remoteConn = new FakeWsConn();
        let local = new Multiplexer(localConn, {
            errorMapper: function(e) {
                e.message = e.message + e.message;

                return e;
            }
        });
        let remote = new Multiplexer(remoteConn);

        localConn.remote = remoteConn;
        remoteConn.remote = localConn;

        bluebird.coroutine(function*() {
            try {
                const testObj = {
                    "foo": "baz"
                };
                let stack = null;

                remote.on("message", function(message, d) {
                    assert.deepEqual(message, testObj);

                    const err = new Error("oh hey");

                    err.code = 505;

                    stack = err.stack;

                    d.reject(err);
                });

                const promise = local.send(testObj);

                try {
                    yield promise;

                    done(new Error("Did not get an exception"));
                } catch (ex) {
                    assert.ok(ex instanceof Error);
                    assert.equal(ex.stack, stack);
                    assert.equal(ex.code, 505);
                    assert.equal(ex.message, "oh heyoh hey");
                    done(null);
                }
            } catch (ex) {
                done(ex);
            }
        })();
    });

});


text:
From Arthur's Seat to Bahirawakanda
A breathtaking view of Kandy captured from Arthur's Seat
Immerse in the sheer beauty of Kandy as witnessed from the Arthur's Seat, the famous viewpoint in the city. Discover the immaculate statue of the Buddha that rises in the distance almost as a beacon amidst the hills.
Words: Darrshini Parthepan
Photography: Menaka Aravinda and Vishwathan Tharmakulasigham
Kandy unfolded before our eyes with traces of mist lacing the atmosphere. Located on Rajapihilla Mawatha, it is believed that the name, Arthur's Seat was derived from the name of a British tea planter, who had enjoyed views of the city from this point. From Arthur's Seat, we observed the Kandy Lake standing still with occasional soft ripples created by the cool wind. Emerald mountain ranges loomed in the distance, crowned by cloudy skies. The Sri Dalada Maligawa appeared in distinctive form. The Kandy town was abuzz with activity. Amidst it all, a pristine white statue of the Buddha atop the Bahirawakanda mountain provided its protection over the hill capital.
Intrigued, we bid goodbye to the mesmerising panorama before us with the intent on discovering the quaint statue of the Buddha. Soothed by the serenity of the terrain and cool breeze, we began our climb to the summit of Bahirawakanda. Here, camouflaged beneath the lush greenery is the Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya, from where the statue of the Buddha rises to the skies. It is located approximately two kilometres from the Kandy town.
The mountain itself lays claim to a fascinating history, which traces its roots back to the Kandyan era, the last kingdom of Sri Lanka. The mount's name, "Bahirawakanda" meaning the "mountain of the gnome", relates to its most recounted story. According to folklore, for many years, villagers lived in fear of a Bahiravaya or evil gnome believed to reside in the mountain. Today, these are wonderful stories told to enrapture the listener.
While the Viharaya was built in 1972, the large statue of Buddha seen throughout Kandy was unveiled in 1993. The gigantic 88-foot tall statue, one of the tallest in Sri Lanka, portrays the Buddha in the Samadhi (meditating) posture.
Upon entering the temple grounds, the ornate Ata Visi Buddha Mandiraya comes into sight, which pays homage to the 28 Buddhas who have existed according to the Buddhavansa. Tranquility pervades the air as the Bodhiya holds a special place of reverence - it is a sapling of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. Encircled by a gleaming ran weta (golden fence), the atmosphere around the Bo Tree forms a spiritual melody that calms the minds.
While the Viharaya was built in 1972, the large statue of Buddha seen throughout Kandy was unveiled in 1993. The gigantic 88-foot tall statue, one of the tallest in Sri Lanka, portrays the Buddha in the Samadhi (meditating) posture. Sculpted beautifully, the statue reflects the skill and dexterity of the sculptor - Albert Wijedasa. According to Ven Yatawatte Dhammananda Thero, Chief Incumbent of Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya, the statue was completed with homage to the features of the Buddha due to the unwavering dedication of late Ammapitiye Dhammarama Thero, the then Chief Incumbent of the Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya.
A spiral stairway extends behind the statue leading to viewing decks at different levels, providing stunning and unique sights of the mist-cloaked mountains and hill capital. While climbing the third flight of stairs, one comes across a decorative Budu Medura (Image House), within which the air is perfumed with the fragrance of incense. There are two ornately carved Buddha statues painted in gold inside the Image House. The murals depict various scenes from Buddha's life, while the ceiling is adorned with vibrant flower motifs. The paintings show distinctive influence from the arts of the Kandyan Era.
Once we reached the topmost deck, we gasped at the wonderful panorama before us, a breathtaking 360-degree view that captured the resplendent beauty of Kandy and far beyond. The pinnacles of many historic edifices as well as modern structures beamed beneath silhouettes of mountains. We had truly witnessed the awe-inspiring wonder of the heritage city from different angles and we were touched by the charm of the landscape.
Kandy is a township blessed with verdant natural beauty and serenity. Immerse in this splendour at Arthur's Seat and Bahirawakanda.
Arthur's Seat offers splendid views of the city
The Bahirawakanda Buddha statue
A statue of Buddha at the Ata Visi Buddha Mandiraya
The ornate Budu Medura (Image House)
The sacred Bodhi on the upper terrace
A bird's eye view of Kandy and beyond from Bahirawakanda
The pristine statue of Buddha looking over the hill capital


The only aspects of BBS I'm asked about these days are SMILEYS (or "emoticons") and ACRONYMS, both of which are still relevant for today's email, although they are no longer used so frequently. For nostalgia (or amusement) check out our lists!
Wishful Thinking was established in mid 1994 as a Bulletin Board Service (BBS) specialising in Genealogy, and as part of the FidoNet Technology Network (FTN). Affectionately known amongst its regular users as "WT", the purpose behind this web page is to record a little of its history.
Imagine, if you will, receiving calls from other online users direct to your PC at home. You will be connected directly by telephone line, so there is no Internet Service Provider involved, and there is little, or no security risk of anyone breaking into your PC, as all the necessary security checks will take place as part of the BBS software. You won't have the point-and-click web interface which is so familiar now, but you would have been used to selecting menu items by typing a number, or a letter on your keyboard to select options in the DOS programs you'd be running as a standard part of operating a PC, and that's also what you'd get on your dial-up connection.
Ok, I know this sounds rather primitive now, but this how we started researching Family History Online!
Behind the scenes, the BBS interface would have been set up by the SysOp, or System Operator. In the same way one usually had a choice of Word Processor, there were several different "flavours" of BBS software, Maximus and Remote Access being the two leading contenders. However, each BBS tended to be an individual creation, some of them very attractive indeed. In the early days the well-respected and aptly named ROOTS (UK!) was the place to be. One of my personal favourites presentation-wise was "Jackie's Place" operated by Jackie S., who I think is still online on the Internet somewhere - she managed to achieve some very pretty designs using "ANSI" Art - pictures created simply from plain text characters and clever use of colour. She also had a copy of Ted Wildy's UK Marriage Witness Index online for interactive searching. However, interactive searching never really took off, as few of us could afford to spend the necessary time online, when the connection necessitated a long distance phone call. This was of course also true for the Internet, back in the early days when Demon Internet Services (Wikipedia article) were the only suppliers!
As a SysOp, there is nothing quite like the "buzz" of one's first few callers, but believe me, being on the receiving end of a constant stream of enquiries (sometimes literally 24/7) can also be very stressful, as indeed anyone staffing a Help Desk will tell you! However, since I first joined FidoNet (New Year's Day, 1993) I really enjoyed being online; it was a great learning experience, and I made some very good friends, both amongst my users and with other SysOps.
Whilst BBS had many of the same features that we now find on the Internet - NetMail (one-to-one messages, equivalent to E-mail), EchoMail (equivalent to Newsgroups), File Areas (where you could download files, equivalent to ftp, or "Save this File to Disk" from your browser) and "Page the SysOp", the nearest thing to IRC, Inter Relay Chat, where (if you were lucky and s/he was around), you could chat one-to-one with the SysOp. The world does however move on; and now the Internet provides far more than WT, or indeed any BBS ever did in the way of genealogical assistance. As a consequence, Wishful Thinking closed its dial-up line on 30th June 1999.
After this, I joined the GENUKI cooperative, occupied with a similar set of activities, and eventually becoming a Trustee. However I began to feel a similar weight of responsibility towards the "collective", and felt the need to branch out on my own once more, so on 6th July 2011 I resigned from GENUKI - ironically, almost 12 years to the day after closing the BBS. Now, I am just an ordinary family history researcher, who happens to have a website, providing information about matters with a personal interest for me. I am no longer the "one-stop" provider I was as a SysOp, nor a supplier of information of general interest, as I was for GENUKI.
During my time as a SysOp, I collected a lot in the way of Genealogical source material. Some of it I provided myself, some of it was very kindly provided by my users, and other material arrived by what was known as GSDS, the Genealogical Software Distribution System - the means we had set up for automatic distribution of copies of files to other interested SysOps.
Many of the files which originated on GSDS also made their way to Stephen Wood's excellent Genealogy Anonymous FTP site (ftp.cac.psu.edu). In addition, the bulk of the text-based ones formed the backbone of GENUKI when it was first set up in 1995, thanks to the good auspices of Brian Randell.
All the BBS in the UK who specialised in Genealogy have closed now, and at Wishful Thinking, the software which ran the BBS has been dismantled, and the PC it ran on found a good home.


text:
Ursula Biemann
Acoustic Ocean, 2018
Located on the Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway, Acoustic Ocean sets out to explore the sonic ecology of marine life. The scientist as an explorer and important mediator of the contemporary understanding of our planetary ecosystems is a central figure in this video. She makes her appearance in the person of a Sami (indigenous of northern Scandinavia) biologist-diver who is using all sorts of hydrophones, parabolic mics and recording devices. Her task is to sense the submarine space for acoustic and other biological forms of expression.
1.1 Acre Flat Screen, 2004
1.1 Acre Flat Screen is a 45-minute video about a year-long effort to improve a lot of 1.1 acres of desert land in Utah, which we purchased on September 4th 2002 on eBay. The video starts with ways of finding a lot in the desert, using satellite images, topographical maps, a compass and string. It displays ideas and plans on how to improve the land's value and documents our preparations to face the unforgiving desert.
20 Hz, 2011
20 Hz observes a geo-magnetic storm occurring in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Working with data collected from the CARISMA radio array and interpreted as audio, we hear tweeting and rumbles caused by incoming solar wind, captured at the frequency of 20 Hertz. Generated directly by the sound, tangible and sculptural forms emerge suggestive of scientific visualisations. As different frequencies interact both visually and aurally, complex patterns emerge to create interference phenomena that probe the limits of our perception.
Shelly Silver
5 lessons and 9 questions about Chinatown, 2009
You live somewhere, walk down the same street 50, 100, 10,000 times, each time taking in fragments, but never fully registering THE PLACE. Years, decades go by and you continue, unseeing, possibly unseen. A building comes down, and before the next one is up you ask yourself "what used to be there?" You are only vaguely aware of the district's shifting patterns and the sense that, since the 19th Century, wave after wave of inhabitants have moved through and transformed these alleyways, tenements, stoops and shops.
57.600 seconds of invisible night and light, 2009
We asked 12 people to walk 4 identical routes through the course of a day and a night, always attempting to repeat the manner of the first time. As they moved they concentrated on their steps and their rhythm and the repetition immunized them from having to make sense of their movements. They moved as if consumed by a single thought. Unaware of the passage of time. They re-ran the night during the day, and mixed the darkness with the light.
— Flatform
The Afterlife of Working Gloves and why Mother Nature doesn't wear them, 2017
For over two years we made it our business to document abandoned working gloves on the streets of NYC. The feelings and thoughts that surrounded this activity connected to the ways his family relates to Gregor Samsa as a cockroach, or whatever Franz Kafka intended him to be in The Metamorphosis after his transformation from a productive citizen to a useless insect. When Gregor can't grant them a comfortable life-style any longer, his family starts to resent and hate the once loved and respected provider, finds him disgusting.
All the Time in the World, 2005
Presented as a fictional documentary, the sound film All the Time in The World sees the millions of years that have shaped and formed the land, played out at the speed of sound.
Semiconductor have reanimated Northumbria's epic landscape using data recordings from the archives at the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh. This data of local and distant seismic disturbances has been converted to sound and used to reveal and bring to life the constantly shifting geography around us.
Sabine Gruffat
Amarillo Ramp, 2017
American sculptor and land artist Robert Smithson made art as a meditation on transition and change. Perhaps best known for his Spiral Jetty, an earthen berm that sits, occasionally submerged, in the Great Salt Lake of northern Utah, Smithson understood that his earthworks would be subject to natural and human forces and processes: erosion, rising water tables, and changing land use.
Bill Brown
Kathy High
Animal Attraction, 2000
Animal Attraction is a documentary about the relationship between people and animals that questions the way we project our hopes and desires onto our pets, and ascribe human qualities and attributes to their gestures. The video was inspired by the plight of the filmmaker who was frustrated by the obnoxious behavior of her cat, Ernie. As a last resort, she gave in to a friend's suggestion to contact an animal communicator. This is her journey with interspecies telepathic communicator, Dawn Hayman, from Spring Farm CARES, an animal sanctuary in upstate New York.
Sky Hopinka
Anti-Objects, or Space Without Path or Boundary, 2017
"The individual is not an autonomous, solitary object but a thing of uncertain extent, with ambiguous boundaries. So too is matter, which loses much of its allure the moment it is reduced to an object, shorn of its viscosity, pressure and density. Both subject and matter resist their reduction into objects. Everything is interconnected and intertwined."
— Kengo Kuma
Steven Matheson
Apple Grown in Wind Tunnel, 2000
This absurdist, microscopic film noir follows the activities of an underground network of ill people, desperate to create alternative methods of self-care in a world where natural resources are disappearing. While examining the meaning of health, disease, and well-being in the post-industrial world, Apple Grown In Wind Tunnel imagines the development of a culture at the margins, linked by illicit radio broadcasts, toxic waste sites, the highway, and ultimately by the overwhelming desire to find a cure.
Paweł Wojtasik
The Aquarium, 2006
Filmed primarily in Alaska, The Aquarium contrasts the openness of the primeval Arctic landscape with the entrapment of captured sea mammals in aquariums. It speaks of the progressive destruction of these animals' habitat, seeing beyond the alluring spectacle.
Nancy Holt
Art in the Public Eye: The Making of Dark Star Park, 1988
A documentary about Holt's public installation work Dark Star Park in Arlington, Virginia, this video is about the process of developing and building the park. It includes commentary from the architects, contractors, foremen, and engineers who worked on the project, as well as with people who frequent the park. Holt transforms a site of urban blight into an aesthetically stimulating spot that addresses environmental issues.
Copyright Holt/Smithson Foundation.
Paul Bush
Babeldom, 2012
Babeldom is a city so massive and growing at such a speed that soon, it is said, light itself will not escape its gravitational pull. How can two lovers communicate, one from inside the city and one outside? This is an elegy to urban life, against the backdrop of a city of the future, a portrait assembled from film shot in modern cities all around the world and collected from the most recent research in science, technology and architecture.
"It's a complex architectural vision equal parts awesome and terrifying… This is a film – and city – to get lost in."
Black Sea Files, 2005
Black Sea Files is a territorial research on the Caspian oil geography: the world's oldest oil extraction zone. A giant new subterranean pipeline traversing the Caucasus will soon pump Caspian crude to the West. The line connecting the resource fringe with the terminal of the global high-tech oil circulation system, runs through the video like a central thread. However, the trajectory followed by the narrative is by no means a linear one. Circumventing the main players in the region, the video sheds light on a multitude of secondary sceneries.
Brilliant Noise, 2006
Brilliant Noise takes us into the data vaults of solar astronomy. After sifting through hundreds of thousands of computer files made accessible via open access archives, Semiconductor have brought together some of the sun's finest unseen moments. These images have been kept in their most raw form, revealing the energetic particles and solar wind as a rain of white noise. This black and white grainy quality is routinely cleaned up by NASA, usually hiding the processes and mechanics in action behind the capturing procedure.
Su Rynard
Bug Girl, 2003
Part science movie, part storybook, Bug Girl is an ecological fable. A young girl has lost her cat. While searching for it she accidentally swallows a bee--her journey suddenly transforms into a visual tumble through nature, biology, and consciousness.
This title is only available on Soft Science.
Buildings and Grounds/ The Angst Archive, 2003
"...a rumination, a series of borrowed 'dialogues' out of an ongoing argument with myself. It meanders, mentally and physically, reflecting on the conditions of being human; on transience, consciousness and desire. It uses landscapes as provocations, as sites of contemplation. And between the landscape and the thought, i.e. between the radical presence of the physical world and the idea, there is, more often than not, a distance, disbelief or irony."
--Ken Kobland
Sam Easterson
Burrow-Cams, 2012
Burrow-Cams features footage from cameras that have been placed inside underground animal habitats (dens, burrows, etc.). Animals showcased include: burrowing owl, black-footed ferret, porcupine, badger, prairie vole, swift fox, deer mouse, and black tailed prairie dog.
Note: This title is intended by the artist to be viewed in High Definition. While DVD format is available to enable accessibility, VDB recommends presentation on Blu-ray or HD digital file.
Bury Me Not, 2016
"This film is closely related to my last feature-length project, Counting. I take the temperature of a neighborhood. In this case, the place is my New York. I think about street life and its threatened demise – a death ushered in as Big Money relentlessly re-makes cities in ever more categorical ways. I think with the camera, on the move, in fragments.
Centennial, 2007
A weather diary of sorts where my mouth is pretty much shut but the window is wide open to various cloudscapes and local color tinged with a twang. Spring on the prairie with a sprinkling of Porky Pig pixie-powder on the lips of he who crunches in protein paradise.
Chain, 2004
As regional character disappears and corporate culture homogenizes our surroundings, it's increasingly hard to tell where you are. In Chain, malls, theme parks, hotels and corporate centers worldwide are joined into one monolithic contemporary "superlandscape" that shapes the lives of two women caught within it. One is a corporate businesswoman set adrift by her corporation while she researches the international theme park industry. The other is a young drifter, living and working illegally on the fringes of a shopping mall.
Chicken Dinner, 1971
The Videofreex tape a group of young people working on a farm run by Chris Locke and his wife in Shandaken, NY. After learning how to take care of the chickens, they are taught how to kill and pluck one. Later they sit down for a communal dinner, and one of the group exclaims "Mmmmm, tastes good!"
Lucy Raven
China Town, 2009
China Town traces copper mining and production from an open pit mine in Nevada to a smelter in China, where the semi-processed ore is sent to be smelted and refined. Considering what it actually means to "be wired" and in turn, to be connected, in today's global economic system, the video follows the detailed production process that transforms raw ore into copper wire--in this case, the literal digging of a hole to China--and the generation of waste and of power that grows in both countries as byproduct.