text:
NewsReviews
Review: I Am Not Okay With This Episode 7
Diksha Sundriyal
The first part of Sydney's story comes to an end in a bloody and explosive finale. It circles back to the first episode of the series where we had first met with her, running down the street, drenched in blood. From what it looked like, it seemed that Sydney has a 'Carrie' moment. And, again, there were a lot of similarities between them.
Both of them struggled to control the power that was rooted in their anger. Both lived with their mother with the father out of the question and, as later becomes clear for the both of them, is also the reason for their superpowers. They are both somewhat of an outcast and the people who try to mess with them get into the habit of dying. Carrie wreaks havoc after the school dance, and Sydney finds herself in a similar position by the end of this episode.
I Am Not Okay with This Episode 7 Recap
After finding out that her father had been just like her, Sydney realises that she has a choice to make. She can either go down the same road as her father and die, or she can put on a happy face and ride the storm. She decides on the latter, and it starts with making amends with the people she loves and has hurt. There would be no trouble if she is not angry, or doesn't feel any other intense emotion, so, she tries to be that way. Even when her diary is missing, she looks on the bright side and prepares to attend the homecoming with Dina. Meanwhile, Brad plans his revenge on her.
I Am Not Okay with This Episode 7 Review
They say, it is darkest before the dawn. But, in the case of Sydney, things take a reverse turn. Just when she thinks that everything is on the right track now, things blow over. She promised herself she'd do better, and she was. She made up with Liam, got her friend Dina back, shared an emotional moment with her mother, and came clean with Stan about her feelings. Moreover, with her paranoia gone, her stalker disappeared too. But there was one very real, very corporeal enemy she didn't account for- Brad. And she thinks that she had been going crazy about someone following her, but we know it wasn't so.
In its finale, 'I Am Not Okay with This' brings Sydney face to face with both her fears. One of them is not as bad as she had expected. This episode challenges Sydney and even shows her, and us, that she should not be the one to be afraid. Others should be afraid of her, and the way the homecoming ends, she has given them a good reason to. The finale sets the stage for the next season, which should not be so difficult for Netflix to greenlight, rather dramatically and with the cliff-hanger that it leaves us with, there is no way we wouldn't want to see how it turns out.
'I Am Not Okay with This' is not perfect. It does seem stuck in the same old routine of teen stories, and is certainly not something that we have never seen before. It suffers the brunt of comparison with other great shows, and doesn't measure up to them either. But that might be because it hasn't yet had enough time to create its own world.
The choice of keeping it to seven short episodes definitely restricted its ability to expand as much as other shows did. But this trick also meant that it didn't overstep its mark. It was just enough for one season, without compromising on the content. In the second season, perhaps, we will be able to judge it individually, when it has come out of the shadow of other great Netflix shows and found its own footing.
Read More: Best Teen Movies on Netflix


text:
"""Tests for AugeasParserNode classes"""
from typing import List

try:
    import mock
except ImportError: # pragma: no cover
    from unittest import mock # type: ignore

import os
import util

from certbot import errors

from certbot_apache._internal import assertions
from certbot_apache._internal import augeasparser

def _get_augeasnode_mock(filepath):
    """ Helper function for mocking out DualNode instance with an AugeasNode """
    def augeasnode_mock(metadata):
        return augeasparser.AugeasBlockNode(
            name=assertions.PASS,
            ancestor=None,
            filepath=filepath,
            metadata=metadata)
    return augeasnode_mock

class AugeasParserNodeTest(util.ApacheTest):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
    """Test AugeasParserNode using available test configurations"""

    def setUp(self):  # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
        super().setUp()

        with mock.patch(
            "certbot_apache._internal.configurator.ApacheConfigurator.get_parsernode_root"
        ) as mock_parsernode:
            mock_parsernode.side_effect = _get_augeasnode_mock(
                                              os.path.join(self.config_path, "apache2.conf"))
            self.config = util.get_apache_configurator(
                self.config_path, self.vhost_path, self.config_dir, self.work_dir,
                use_parsernode=True,
            )
        self.vh_truth = util.get_vh_truth(
            self.temp_dir, "debian_apache_2_4/multiple_vhosts")

    def test_save(self):
        with mock.patch('certbot_apache._internal.parser.ApacheParser.save') as mock_save:
            self.config.parser_root.save("A save message")
        self.assertIs(mock_save.called, True)
        self.assertEqual(mock_save.call_args[0][0], "A save message")

    def test_unsaved_files(self):
        with mock.patch('certbot_apache._internal.parser.ApacheParser.unsaved_files') as mock_uf:
            mock_uf.return_value = ["first", "second"]
            files = self.config.parser_root.unsaved_files()
        self.assertEqual(files, ["first", "second"])

    def test_get_block_node_name(self):
        from certbot_apache._internal.augeasparser import AugeasBlockNode
        block = AugeasBlockNode(
            name=assertions.PASS,
            ancestor=None,
            filepath=assertions.PASS,
            metadata={"augeasparser": mock.Mock(), "augeaspath": "/files/anything"}
        )
        testcases = {
            "/some/path/FirstNode/SecondNode": "SecondNode",
            "/some/path/FirstNode/SecondNode/": "SecondNode",
            "OnlyPathItem": "OnlyPathItem",
            "/files/etc/apache2/apache2.conf/VirtualHost": "VirtualHost",
            "/Anything": "Anything",
        }
        for test in testcases:
            # pylint: disable=protected-access
            self.assertEqual(block._aug_get_name(test), testcases[test])

    def test_find_blocks(self):
        blocks = self.config.parser_root.find_blocks("VirtualHost", exclude=False)
        self.assertEqual(len(blocks), 12)

    def test_find_blocks_case_insensitive(self):
        vhs = self.config.parser_root.find_blocks("VirtualHost")
        vhs2 = self.config.parser_root.find_blocks("viRtuAlHoST")
        self.assertEqual(len(vhs), len(vhs2))

    def test_find_directive_found(self):
        directives = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("Listen")
        self.assertEqual(len(directives), 1)
        self.assertIs(directives[0].filepath.endswith("/apache2/ports.conf"), True)
        self.assertEqual(directives[0].parameters, (u'80',))

    def test_find_directive_notfound(self):
        directives = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("Nonexistent")
        self.assertEqual(len(directives), 0)

    def test_find_directive_from_block(self):
        blocks = self.config.parser_root.find_blocks("virtualhost")
        found = False
        for vh in blocks:
            if vh.filepath.endswith("sites-enabled/certbot.conf"):
                servername = vh.find_directives("servername")
                self.assertEqual(servername[0].parameters[0], "certbot.demo")
                found = True
        self.assertIs(found, True)

    def test_find_comments(self):
        rootcomment = self.config.parser_root.find_comments(
            "This is the main Apache server configuration file. "
        )
        self.assertEqual(len(rootcomment), 1)
        self.assertIs(rootcomment[0].filepath.endswith(
            "debian_apache_2_4/multiple_vhosts/apache2/apache2.conf"
        ), True)

    def test_set_parameters(self):
        servernames = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("servername")
        names: List[str] = []
        for servername in servernames:
            names += servername.parameters
        self.assertNotIn("going_to_set_this", names)
        servernames[0].set_parameters(["something", "going_to_set_this"])
        servernames = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("servername")
        names = []
        for servername in servernames:
            names += servername.parameters
        self.assertIn("going_to_set_this", names)

    def test_set_parameters_atinit(self):
        from certbot_apache._internal.augeasparser import AugeasDirectiveNode
        servernames = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("servername")
        setparam = "certbot_apache._internal.augeasparser.AugeasDirectiveNode.set_parameters"
        with mock.patch(setparam) as mock_set:
            AugeasDirectiveNode(
                name=servernames[0].name,
                parameters=["test", "setting", "these"],
                ancestor=assertions.PASS,
                metadata=servernames[0].metadata
            )
            self.assertIs(mock_set.called, True)
            self.assertEqual(
                mock_set.call_args_list[0][0][0],
                ["test", "setting", "these"]
            )

    def test_set_parameters_delete(self):
        # Set params
        servername = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("servername")[0]
        servername.set_parameters(["thisshouldnotexistpreviously", "another",
                                   "third"])

        # Delete params
        servernames = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("servername")
        found = False
        for servername in servernames:
            if "thisshouldnotexistpreviously" in servername.parameters:
                self.assertEqual(len(servername.parameters), 3)
                servername.set_parameters(["thisshouldnotexistpreviously"])
                found = True
        self.assertIs(found, True)

        # Verify params
        servernames = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("servername")
        found = False
        for servername in servernames:
            if "thisshouldnotexistpreviously" in servername.parameters:
                self.assertEqual(len(servername.parameters), 1)
                servername.set_parameters(["thisshouldnotexistpreviously"])
                found = True
        self.assertIs(found, True)

    def test_add_child_comment(self):
        newc = self.config.parser_root.add_child_comment("The content")
        comments = self.config.parser_root.find_comments("The content")
        self.assertEqual(len(comments), 1)
        self.assertEqual(
            newc.metadata["augeaspath"],
            comments[0].metadata["augeaspath"]
        )
        self.assertEqual(newc.comment, comments[0].comment)

    def test_delete_child(self):
        listens = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("Listen")
        self.assertEqual(len(listens), 1)
        self.config.parser_root.delete_child(listens[0])

        listens = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("Listen")
        self.assertEqual(len(listens), 0)

    def test_delete_child_not_found(self):
        listen = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("Listen")[0]
        listen.metadata["augeaspath"] = "/files/something/nonexistent"

        self.assertRaises(
            errors.PluginError,
            self.config.parser_root.delete_child,
            listen
        )

    def test_add_child_block(self):
        nb = self.config.parser_root.add_child_block(
            "NewBlock",
            ["first", "second"]
        )
        rpath, _, directive = nb.metadata["augeaspath"].rpartition("/")
        self.assertEqual(
            rpath,
            self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"]
        )
        self.assertIs(directive.startswith("NewBlock"), True)

    def test_add_child_block_beginning(self):
        self.config.parser_root.add_child_block(
            "Beginning",
            position=0
        )
        parser = self.config.parser_root.parser
        root_path = self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"]
        # Get first child
        first = parser.aug.match("{}/*[1]".format(root_path))
        self.assertIs(first[0].endswith("Beginning"), True)

    def test_add_child_block_append(self):
        self.config.parser_root.add_child_block(
            "VeryLast",
        )
        parser = self.config.parser_root.parser
        root_path = self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"]
        # Get last child
        last = parser.aug.match("{}/*[last()]".format(root_path))
        self.assertIs(last[0].endswith("VeryLast"), True)

    def test_add_child_block_append_alt(self):
        self.config.parser_root.add_child_block(
            "VeryLastAlt",
            position=99999
        )
        parser = self.config.parser_root.parser
        root_path = self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"]
        # Get last child
        last = parser.aug.match("{}/*[last()]".format(root_path))
        self.assertIs(last[0].endswith("VeryLastAlt"), True)

    def test_add_child_block_middle(self):
        self.config.parser_root.add_child_block(
            "Middle",
            position=5
        )
        parser = self.config.parser_root.parser
        root_path = self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"]
        # Augeas indices start at 1 :(
        middle = parser.aug.match("{}/*[6]".format(root_path))
        self.assertIs(middle[0].endswith("Middle"), True)

    def test_add_child_block_existing_name(self):
        parser = self.config.parser_root.parser
        root_path = self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"]
        # There already exists a single VirtualHost in the base config
        new_block = parser.aug.match("{}/VirtualHost[2]".format(root_path))
        self.assertEqual(len(new_block), 0)
        vh = self.config.parser_root.add_child_block(
            "VirtualHost",
        )
        new_block = parser.aug.match("{}/VirtualHost[2]".format(root_path))
        self.assertEqual(len(new_block), 1)
        self.assertIs(vh.metadata["augeaspath"].endswith("VirtualHost[2]"), True)

    def test_node_init_error_bad_augeaspath(self):
        from certbot_apache._internal.augeasparser import AugeasBlockNode
        parameters = {
            "name": assertions.PASS,
            "ancestor": None,
            "filepath": assertions.PASS,
            "metadata": {
                "augeasparser": mock.Mock(),
                "augeaspath": "/files/path/endswith/slash/"
            }
        }
        self.assertRaises(
            errors.PluginError,
            AugeasBlockNode,
            **parameters
        )

    def test_node_init_error_missing_augeaspath(self):
        from certbot_apache._internal.augeasparser import AugeasBlockNode
        parameters = {
            "name": assertions.PASS,
            "ancestor": None,
            "filepath": assertions.PASS,
            "metadata": {
                "augeasparser": mock.Mock(),
            }
        }
        self.assertRaises(
            errors.PluginError,
            AugeasBlockNode,
            **parameters
        )

    def test_add_child_directive(self):
        self.config.parser_root.add_child_directive(
            "ThisWasAdded",
            ["with", "parameters"],
            position=0
        )
        dirs = self.config.parser_root.find_directives("ThisWasAdded")
        self.assertEqual(len(dirs), 1)
        self.assertEqual(dirs[0].parameters, ("with", "parameters"))
        # The new directive was added to the very first line of the config
        self.assertIs(dirs[0].metadata["augeaspath"].endswith("[1]"), True)

    def test_add_child_directive_exception(self):
        self.assertRaises(
            errors.PluginError,
            self.config.parser_root.add_child_directive,
            "ThisRaisesErrorBecauseMissingParameters"
        )

    def test_parsed_paths(self):
        paths = self.config.parser_root.parsed_paths()
        self.assertEqual(len(paths), 6)

    def test_find_ancestors(self):
        vhsblocks = self.config.parser_root.find_blocks("VirtualHost")
        macro_test = False
        nonmacro_test = False
        for vh in vhsblocks:
            if "/macro/" in vh.metadata["augeaspath"].lower():
                ancs = vh.find_ancestors("Macro")
                self.assertEqual(len(ancs), 1)
                macro_test = True
            else:
                ancs = vh.find_ancestors("Macro")
                self.assertEqual(len(ancs), 0)
                nonmacro_test = True
        self.assertIs(macro_test, True)
        self.assertIs(nonmacro_test, True)

    def test_find_ancestors_bad_path(self):
        self.config.parser_root.metadata["augeaspath"] = ""
        ancs = self.config.parser_root.find_ancestors("Anything")
        self.assertEqual(len(ancs), 0)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Cody Jinks – After the Fire Review: The 'Should-Be' King of Country Shows How It's Done
13th October 2019 6th November 2019 Mark Wiggins
Cody Jinks – After the Fire Album Review: Jinks drops the first of two new albums in a fortnight and it doesn't disappoint
There was a time, a long long time ago, when Cody Jinks would have been the king of country music. It's a sad indictment on 'the shape of things' that many refer to him as simply a Texan indie artist and others, well, they've never heard of him. With a handful of albums already under his belt, 2019 sees Jinks return with a double release. On 18th October he drops The Wanting, but the week before saw the release of After the Fire.
Jinks isn't an artist who tactically drops singles to keep a Music Row label happy. He's a songwriter who heads into the studio when he's full of ideas and releases music when it's good and ready, hence these two albums in quick succession. So, what of After the Fire?
Right from the slow thud of the opening title track, you're sonically experiencing what purists would call 'real' country. While that debate has far to many nuances to get involved it, one thing that's for sure is that Jinks lives this music. A thudding drum beat, a wailing pedal style and lyrics dripping with longing, you know you're in for more of what made Jinks the cult hero that he is today.
Ain't a Train only reaffirms this. Jinks is one of the best Songwriters out there, the chorus is full of the grit and determination of cowboy country.
Maybe holdin' on to something hurts you more than lettin' go
If it ain't hurtin'' maybe it ain't workin' and it ain't worth it' no
Maybe the rain that brings the thunder will help put out the flames
Maybe the light at the end of the tunnel ain't a train
The musicianship is perfection. Raging fiddle solos, dancing pedal Steel and guitar with more twang that most of Nashville combined creates a solid base on songs like this, Think Like You Think, a classic country song about doing wrong and sinning and something that wouldn't be out of place coming out of any decade, and the rollicking honkytonker One Big Decision.
The album has its tender and personal moments too. Tell 'Em What It's Like is a song where Jinks attempts to debunk the myths of being married to a rockstar. Its not all glitz and glamour. It's months on the road and the jealousy that comes with it. "Tell em what it's like Bex, when I'm curled up on the floor and I can't take any more, tell em what it's like". It's a perfect love song to Mrs Jinks.
It's at Jinks most tender moments that he creates his most refined genius. William and Wanda is the cherry on top of this already fantastic album. A song that feels wistful and serene yet remains raw. Written with his wife, Rebecca, in the days after Jinks grandfather passed, he almost daydreams about his grandparents reuniting in heaven in the form of a conversation and pays tribute to their love story. This is truly one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Jinks dreams that his grandmother built a garden while she waited for her husband, cared for their son who'd tragically died at birth and remembered to give him a telling off for being late to meet her. Having lost a grandmother this year, the song leaves me in bits every time, not through sadness but because it offers the most amazing comfort. This is what music should be. Truly stunning and a contender for song of the year.
Jinks seems reflective on his own love story during Dreamed With One. A simple acoustic song that contemplates spending life with one person, changing the world and building a life together. Someone To You reaffirms that message, Jinks tells us how he used to dream of being a big star but seems to realise this lost him more than it gained. It's an interesting musing on fame and fortune, showing how love wins through as the most important thing in life.
I have traded many memories
I've gambled with my time
Along a jealous lonesome highway
All for a vision in my mind
I've lost friends and I've burned bridges
I've gone broke from paying dues
Now I'd rather be a no one
If I ain't someone to you
You wouldn't be blamed for assuming After the Fire might not hit huge heights, after all, how can an artist realistically release two albums in two weeks of great quality? Well, if you have the talent that Cody Jinks does, quite easily. Jinks is in a reflective mood here. Gone are the days of drinking whiskey and causing mischief, instead he muses about love, companionship and heartbreak. Whether it's the love of his grandparents that showed him the way, or his yearning for a normal life with his wife, Jinks has turned a corner and opened his eyes to what truly matters.
Listen to this record and you'll find no tailgates, no tight jeans, no beer on a Friday night. Just the truth. And isn't that what country music should be? Raw, honest emotion. I'll leave others to sort out the debate over what is and isn't 'country', but if you're looking for real, world weary songs, crafted with true finesse and heart-aching honesty, this is it. Take a bow Mr Jinks. You've done it again.
Now on to next week…
Ain't a Train
Yesterday Again
Tell 'Em What It's Like
Think Like You Think
William and Wanda
One Good Decision
Dreamed With One
Someone to You
Tonedeaf Boogie
Ain't a Train, William and Wanda, One Good Decision, Dreamed With One
Six Shooter Rating
Mark Wiggins
Cody Jinks - After The Fire
Cody Jinks
Top New Country Music Releases This Week – 07/10/2019
Whiskey Myers Self-Titled Album Cracks The Top 10 On The US Billboard 200 Chart
10 thoughts on "Cody Jinks – After the Fire Review: The 'Should-Be' King of Country Shows How It's Done"
Rita Birdsall says:
Amazing performer,singer and songwriting. Always believed Cody would be the one to fill their shoes!
Hardest working man in the business Cody Jinks
linda l slife says:
Great review, well said. Cody is a breath of fresh air. #1 albums on the charts says it all. I listen on repeat and in my car. I can not get enough of his songwriting, and singing. He writes true emotions and puts it out there for us. Can't imagine what a hard life this would be for him and his families (as in his band also) But their dreams help entertain and fill us up. I'm so glad I found this creative crew. Can't wait to see him live again
Texas Forever says:
My wife and I are seeing him for the first time live tomorrow night in the hill country of Texas. We have both been following him since 2012. My four year old knows every word the entire Adobe sessions album. The two new drops are even better. He gets it and so does the band, We have it on repeat not only in our vehicles but our office as well. Very excited to see them live in 24 hours!!!
Texas in My Heart says:
Cody Jinks is the Merle Haggard of his time: raw, real, and uninhibited. His commitment to real country music is solidified in After the Fire and The Wanting. And in case you haven't heard Adobe Sessions, Less Wise and Lifers, you should put them in rotation right now. This Texas boy is proud, and we're proud of him. How many indie artists have sold out the Ryman in record time, only to have a second night added and have that sell out to? And let's not forget his recent Opry performance. Cody Jinks doesn't need the commercial endorsement stranglehold of Nashville or Austin record companies to be great. He needs great friends who also happen to be songwriting partners and his ever-growing fan base – and he's got them.
Thank you for sharing this review. My husband and I discovered his music in the last six months and I have completely fallen in love with his music! His raw voice and moving lyrics takes me back to all the truly good county music. I'm looking for venues so we can see him live!
13th November 2019 at 11:44 pm
He is real country…I could listen to him sing a phone book rather than listen to this new country music we have. He SHOULD be on every country music radio station!
Kathy Fitzpatrick says:
Cody Jinks is truly what country music is supposed to be. His music boasts the ghosts of Waylon and Merle, and his haunting voice will have you captured immediately. I was country when it wasn't cool, and Cody has resurrected my love for the real thing.
Barbara Kinard says:
I' e had the great luck to see and personally meet Cody! He is so personable, humble, kind and open with his fans. Especially little kids that come with their parents, he can look in their eager little faces, and when he spots one that he knows wants to talk to him too, he gives 100% of his attention just like he gives to the adults ❤. I've heard him referred to as "Country music Jesus" and I have to agree with this moniker! Thanks Cody and Becky for doing this live concert from the quarantine office! I have thoroughly enjoyed it, just missed being able to catch Cody for a hello! BUY HIS ALBUMS!! You will be so glad to add them to your country music library 😀
Pingback: Cody Jinks - Red Rocks Live | Album Review | Six Shooter Country
Copyright © Six Shooter Country. All rights reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
E3Expo Launches Web Site For Consumers
by Peter on May 6, 2003 @ 4:18 a.m. PDT
For the first time ever, consumers and game enthusiasts will get a first-hand virtual look inside the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), the world's preeminent interactive entertainment trade show, the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) announced today. The Web site, E3Insider, will launch on May 14th at 10am when E3Expo's doors open to thousands of industry professionals at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
"With the launch of E3Insider, we've opened E3Expo's `virtual doors' so that consumers and game enthusiasts from around the globe can experience the excitement of E3Expo," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the IDSA, the trade association that represents U.S. computer and video game publishers and the owner of E3Expo. "E3Expo is a trade-only event, established specifically as a venue for the worldwide interactive entertainment community to showcase new products and take care of business. With that said, we felt it was important to be able to offer the millions of gamers out there who support this industry a way to see what's going on at the show, and E3Insider will do just that."
E3Insider will give consumers the ability to experience the excitement of this exclusive trade-only event and get a feel for the trends being seen and the products being showcased. The new site will capture the show's action and excitement through interactive coverage, news from exhibitor booths, interviews with industry professionals, video clips, photo galleries and stories about the show. In addition, E3Insider will feature daily sweepstakes, giving site visitors a chance to win prizes including game consoles. Visitors to the Web site will be given a look at some of the more than 1,350 never-before-seen computer and video game titles and related products that will debut during the show's three days.
E3Expo, now in its ninth year, is owned by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. IDSA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of the $6.9 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2002, and billions more in export sales of American-made entertainment software. The IDSA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show, business and consumer research, government relations and First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts.
E3Expo is a trade event, not open to the general public. Only working journalists with qualified media outlets will be eligible to register for media badges. No one under the age of 18 will be admitted, including infants. This policy is strictly enforced.


text:
Two Postdoctoral Researchers in Systems Neuroscience University of Helsinki, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE) Finland
The University of Helsinki, founded in 1640, is one of the world's leading universities for multidisciplinary research. The university has an international academic community of 40,000 students and staff members. Neuroscience Center in the Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE) is an independent research organization. Research in Neuroscience Center spans scales from molecular and cellular neuroscience to developmental, cognitive, and systems neuroscience. The research groups of Satu Palva and Matias Palva at the Neuroscience Center invite applications for
TWO POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE
The postdoctoral researchers will participate to a large-scale multinational EU collaboration project "The Virtual Brain Cloud", with top-level consortium partners. The project aims to develop a computational model platform for personalized medicine for neurodegenerative brain diseases. The post-doctoral researchers will carry out connectomics and brain-dynamics research using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) data in association with MRI-based functional and structural connectomes. The electrophysiological connectivity and brain dynamics insight will be integrated with the computational model platform and used for model validation.
The positions are available for 2 + 2 years starting January 2019.
We are looking for enthusiastic and committed postdoctoral researchers with an excellent academic record in the field of human electrophysiological signal processing (MEG, EEG, iEEG) and analysis. Applicants should possess a PhD degree in a relevant field (or be about to graduate). Prior experience in computational modelling is considered an advantage. The positions also require good communication skills with written and spoken English.
The Satu Palva and Matias Palva groups combine experimental and theoretical approaches from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, computer science, and neurotechnology. We investigate the large-scale architecture of spontaneous brain dynamics, with oscillations, synchronization, and criticality being central themes, and their functional significance in cognition and behavior. The research is mostly carried out in humans and with computational models, but involves also electrophysiological and imaging data acquired in mice and other animal models.
The salary of the successful candidate will be based on level 5 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The starting salary will be 2894 - 3534 eur/month, depending on the appointee's qualifications and experience. A six-month trial period will be applied.
Application should include the following documents as a single pdf file: (1) a cover letter of max. 2 pages including the applicant motivation and a brief statement of research interests and background, (2) a CV and list of publications, and (3) the names and email addresses of two persons capable of providing a recommendation for the applicant.
Informal enquiries should be sent to satu.palva(at)helsinki.fi or matias.palva(at)helsinki.fi.
Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the the Apply for the position link below. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application via the SAP HR portal. Deadline for applications is 15.1.2019 but review of applications will begin immediately and the recruitment will continue until the suitable applicant is found for both positions.
For an outline of the groups' research:
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-institute-of-life-science/units/neur...
http://criticaloscillations.org
Technical support for using the recruitment system: rekrytointi(at)helsinki.fi.
15.01.2019 23:59 EET
https://bioloxy.com/two-postdoctoral-researchers-in-systems-neuroscience,i1317.html">


text:
// ------------------------------------------------------------------
// Fast R-CNN
// copyright (c) 2015 Microsoft
// Licensed under The MIT License [see fast-rcnn/LICENSE for details]
// Written by Ross Girshick
// Modified by Wei Liu
// ------------------------------------------------------------------

#ifndef CAFFE_SMOOTH_L1_LOSS_LAYER_HPP_
#define CAFFE_SMOOTH_L1_LOSS_LAYER_HPP_

#include <vector>

#include "caffe/blob.hpp"
#include "caffe/layer.hpp"
#include "caffe/proto/caffe.pb.h"

#include "caffe/layers/loss_layer.hpp"

namespace caffe {

/**
 * @brief Computes the SmoothL1 loss as introduced in:@f$
 *  Fast R-CNN, Ross Girshick, ICCV 2015.
 */
template <typename Dtype>
class SmoothL1LossLayer : public LossLayer<Dtype> {
 public:
  explicit SmoothL1LossLayer(const LayerParameter& param)
      : LossLayer<Dtype>(param), diff_() {}
  virtual void LayerSetUp(const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom,
      const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top);
  virtual void Reshape(const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom,
      const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top);

  virtual inline const char* type() const { return "SmoothL1Loss"; }

  virtual inline int MinBottomBlobs() const { return 2; }
  virtual inline int MaxBottomBlobs() const { return 3; }

  /**
   * Unlike most loss layers, in the SmoothL1LossLayer we can backpropagate
   * to both inputs -- override to return true and always allow force_backward.
   */
  virtual inline bool AllowForceBackward(const int bottom_index) const {
    return true;
  }

 protected:
  /// @copydoc SmoothL1LossLayer
  virtual void Forward_cpu(const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom,
      const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top);
  virtual void Forward_gpu(const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom,
      const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top);

  virtual void Backward_cpu(const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top,
      const vector<bool>& propagate_down, const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom);
  virtual void Backward_gpu(const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& top,
      const vector<bool>& propagate_down, const vector<Blob<Dtype>*>& bottom);

  Blob<Dtype> diff_;
  Blob<Dtype> errors_;
  bool has_weights_;
};

}  // namespace caffe

#endif  // CAFFE_SMOOTH_L1_LOSS_LAYER_HPP_


Bathworks Showrooms is proud to present this platinum finished drain assembly, by Moen Canada. The 10709PM is made from premium materials, this Drain Assembly offers great function and value for your home. This fixture is part of Moen Canada's decorative Moen Collection, so make sure to check out other styles of fixtures to accessorize your room.


text:
Fabergé Launches Capsule Collection in Honor of 180-Year Anniversary
By: Sophie McLeod By: Sophie McLeod | July 19, 2022 | Watches & Jewelry
Rose Gold & Ruby Mini Fluted '180' Egg Objets
A new capsule collection has launched In honor of the 180th anniversary of Fabergé, introducing ornate pieces that will catch the eye of Fabergé fans and collectors alike.
Whether you want to treat yourself to something beautiful or show someone how much you care, Fabergé maintains their brand as being "the ultimate objects to own and the gifts of choice."
See also: 7 Of The Best Beach-Ready Jewelry Pieces For Summer
From humble beginnings in St. Petersburg in 1842, Fabergé has upheld its status of high quality craftsmanship and stunningly unique designs that have made the brand a household name.
The current capsule collection takes inspiration from the brand's origin, creating fluted gold creations that mimic those in the Fabergé archive and have become known over time as a staple of the brand.
Collectors will be wowed by the Colours of Love Rose Gold Diamond and Ruby Fluted '180' Egg Pendant, as well as the Rose Gold and Ruby Mini Fluted '180' Egg Objects, limited to just 180 pieces.
Colours of Love Rose Gold Diamond & Ruby Fluted '180' Egg Pendant
Crafted from 18k rose gold and Gemfields Mozambican rubies, these elaborate creations are unique yet reminiscent of the original style and aesthetic of the brand's signature pieces.
The limited edition Rose Gold and Ruby Mini Fluted '180' Egg Object can fit in the palm of your hand, standing at 62mm with a diameter of just 35mm. The fluting throughout the piece adds shadows and dimensions that bring out the natural beauty of the rose gold detailing.
The radial pattern throughout the piece is meant to emulate rays of sun, symbolizing energy and joy. Two glowing cabochon rubies are placed on either side of the object, creating focal points within the symmetrical pattern. The rubies are meant to symbolize prosperity, passion and protection, and were cherry-picked for their sparkle and color in Mozambique.
The Colours of Love Rose Gold Diamond and Ruby Fluted '180' Egg Pendant is covered in uniform vertical fluting around the circumference. A Mozambican ruby sits at the base of the egg to add a pop of color, along with a row of white diamonds for sparkle.
"I'm very proud and grateful to have the chance to continue the legacy started by Gustav Fabergé 180 years ago, and continued by his son Peter Carl Fabergé," says Head of Design Liisa Tallgren. "Peter Carl's works of art still fascinate today, and our exciting challenge is to create pieces that have that charm and romance, but with a modern edge. Peter Carl Fabergé and his goldsmiths knew how to bring out the natural beauty of the materials they were using."
The Colours of Love Rose Gold and Ruby Mini Fluted '180' Egg Objet is set for retail at $69,000 or £62,760, while the Colours of Love Rose Gold Diamond and Ruby Fluted '180' Egg Pendant is priced at $8,000 or £7,320. They are available at select Fabergé boutiques and via faberge.com.
Tags: jewelry web-og Sophie McLeod
Photography by: Courtesy of Fabergé


We have been developing power train assembly and test systems in Bremen since 1982. We produce assembly and test systems for engines, transmissions and complete power trains also at our locations in the US and China.
Engine assembly is one of our specialties: our portfolio includes individual machines for valve clearance adjustment, assembly lines for cylinder heads or engine blocks, through to complete line systems for all engine components.
electric motors for hybrid vehicles.
We offer individual solutions for your production, from low to high levels of automation.
We are well-versed in the assembly of transmissions and axles for cars and trucks. Numerous automakers around the world are already producing drive trains on our assembly lines.
suspension struts and special machines for wheel alignment.
We can implement a customized assembly system for you too, with which you can manufacture your products more efficiently.
Our test systems will ensure that your assembled unit is functioning properly. We design and implement the necessary test and measuring equipment in order to check your engines and transmissions with complex analyses.
Cold tests, leak tests, functional monitoring of the oil system, torque and noise measurements, and combined end-of-line test systems are just some of the systems we use to ensure the optimal quality of your assembled engines and drive trains.
Assemble your passenger car or truck engines and transmissions and drive components with the experts from KUKA. Call us.
Visit our Service section for more information about maintenance/servicing, warranty, spare parts and much more.
Our sensitive robotic colleague LBR iiwa supports your production operations. We ourselves use the lightweight robot in QUANTEC robot assembly.
Find out more about the automation possibilities with our sensitive lightweight robot LBR iiwa.


Three AKRUTIs have built up this plant. At AKRUTI-PARIVARTAN electricity generation was demonstrated by connecting 10kW, biogas generator to Nisargaruna Biogas plant, whereas at AKRUTI-NIRMITEE, during the inauguration function, public address system, lighting and electrical equipments were run on the electricity generated through NISARGRUNA plant.
Waste disposal is one of the major problems being faced by all nations across the world. One of the laws probably most important for the conservation of nature is law of conservation. According to this law waste is not a problem but a part of this cycle.
The daily per capita solid waste generated in our country ranges from about 300 g to 500 g. If we carefully analyse this waste we will realise that majority of it is biodegradable. Waste like glass, metals and paper would be recyclable. The biodegradable waste if handled properly would maintain the natural balance of essential elements and thereby promote more harvests from nature.
Disposal of biodegradable waste can be achieved by several means like incineration, landfills, dumping in the sea or other water bodies, composting etc. These methods have their own hazards. Incineration can lead to respiratory illnesses. Moreover, it may lead to disruption of biogeochemical cycles of several elements and will have long term effects on biosphere. Vermiculture has been used in recent past in urban area, however, it has limitations of space. One of the economic ways would be to raise community biogas plants based on biodegradable waste.
Environment friendly disposal of waste, which is need of hour considering mass pollution everywhere.
Generation of fairly good amount of fuel gas, which will definitely support the dwindling energy resources.
Generation of high quality manure, which would be weedless and an excellent soil conditioner. This is very important for replenishing fast decreasing resources of productive soils. It must be noted that need for replenishing the soil with high quality organic manure has been identified in tenth five-year plan.
It would reduce the menace of street dogs and other nuisance animals.
There is a definite need for developing means to handle enormous amounts of biodegradable waste that is generated daily. The waste organic matter that is generated in the kitchens can be processed using modified biogas plant.
The wastes can be processed by Bio gas plant are biodegradable kitchen waste, paper waste, green grass, leaf litter, animal remains in abattoirs, hospital waste, green plant waste, gobar, crop residues, sugarcane, baggase, water hyacinth.
The Bio gas plants are useful for Municipal Corporations, Hospitals, Hotels, Housing Societies, Govt. Establishments, Abattoirs, Nagar Palika, Grampanchayat, Farmers.
Presently 40 plants are operating based on this technology with a capacity 1 Ton/day to 5 Ton/day and around 40 plants are in construction.


text:
Q: How to change the height of a scrollbar thumb? Is there any way to change the height of a scrollbar to a fixed height and change the amount of content scrolled accordingly? This is my current css code.
  ::-webkit-scrollbar {
    width: 30px;
}

/* Track */
::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
    box-shadow: inset 0 0 5px #003B7C;
    border-radius: 10px;
    background: white;
    border-left: 8px solid rgba(255,255,255,0);
    border-right: 8px solid rgba(255,255,255,0);
    background-clip: content-box;
}

/* Handle */
::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
    background: linear-gradient(to right,#003B7C, #00538B, #83BBE6);
    border-radius: 8px;
}

A: https://jsfiddle.net/j6gmobuz/6/
.visible-scrollbar::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
    background-color: #acacac;
    border-radius: 50px;
    height: 120px;
}

I was able to partly control the height of the scroll thumb by simply using height property on "::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb".
It appears to be minimum height value which I wasn't able to set a new value below it.
Maybe this could help.

A: Scrollbar height is not about "::-webkit-scrollbar", it's about content height. You must give "max-height" and "overflow-y" to your content. You can't define height for a vertical scrollbar. That is dependent on content size.
Let's say you have a thing like this:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur, adipisicing elit. Repellat adipisci itaque beatae quisquam corporis. Eos praesentium temporibus autem assumenda enim aspernatur culpa, esse quam, optio, molestias dolor sapiente vel deserunt!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Impedit provident illo placeat nemo sint dolores quod temporibus, doloremque repudiandae, cum architecto, nostrum aut ipsum atque. Aspernatur autem error unde praesentium!

If you write CSS like this:
.wrapper {
    width: 300px;
    max-height: 200px;
    overflow-y: scroll;
}

you can specify height.
Look this codepen.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Team Australia pulls out of 35th America's Cup
Challenger of Record retires for a second consecutive time
Saturday July 19th 2014, Author: James Boyd, Location: Australia
Team Australia, via the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, has announced its intention to withdraw from the 35th America's Cup. This is the second consecutive time the Challenger of Record for the America's Cup has pulled the plug on its campaign following Mascalzone Latino and the Club Nautico di Roma's withdrawal from the 34th AC in May 2011.
"We are very disappointed to be receiving this news," said Russell Coutts, Director of the America's Cup Event Authority. "We were excited to have Australia as a challenger and we were also looking forward to the prospect of holding America's Cup World Series events in Australia.
"But our focus going forward is with the teams that have already submitted challenges and the teams that have told us of their intent to do so before the entry deadline on 8 August."
According the Daily Telegraph in Australia, Bob and Sandy Oatley, who were behind the Aussie challenge, were finding the cost of mounting a challenge to be prohibitively high compared to their initial expectations.
To date Team Australia had been training against Oracle Team USA aboard AC45s on Sydney Harbour. 470 gold medallist Mat Belcher had been appointed skipper and there was much anticipation that the Australian port would host a regatta on the America's Cup World Series and/or the America's Cup Qualifiers.
Under article 14.2 of the Protocol for the 35th America's Cup, the Challenger of Record has to give the defending yacht club (the GGYC) no less than 90 days written warning of its withdrawal from the competition (although the GGYC may accept less).
A replacement Challenger of Record must now be found, which according to article 14.3 of the Protocol "shall be the Challenger whose Notice of Challenge was received by GGYC
first in time after the previous Challenger of Record and whose challenge is still current." At this time it is unclear which challenger this is.
There must now also be some question over the worth of holding an America's Cup Qualifier series prior to the America's Cup Challenger Playoffs.
Controversially the Qualifiers are to due to be held in a different venue to the Playoffs and America's Cup itself - something deeply unpopular with the challengers as they have to develop their AC62s for two venues rather than one. The aim of the Qualifiers is to determine the top four teams going through to the Playoffs but as now there appears to be only four challengers left - Artemis Racing, Ben Ainslie Racing, Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand - there is nothing left to determine. There remains the remote possibility of additional challenges - the official entry period closes on 8 August, 2014 and late entries are unlikely given that the Protocol states that none will be accepted until 'at least three additional challenges have been received by GGYC'.
Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR), commented: "We remain supportive of the Defender's continued drive towards a more commercial event format, along with a more sustainable future for this historic trophy. BAR will be bidding to host two America's Cup World Series events in 2015/16 at our new home in Portsmouth; as a key part of the road to the 35th America's Cup. While the withdrawal of the Challenger of Record is regrettable, it is also not unusual and we will continue our own preparations for the 35th America's Cup and look forward to an exciting future."
Bob Oatley
Russell Coutts
Sandy Oatley
Incidence Sails
Experience, reliability and performance to serve every boat around Europe.
Sander van der Borch Photography
Rick Tomlinson Photography
Fiona Brown
Categories include: Deck hardware, Event management, Coaching , Clothing / footwear / luggage


Absolique Trichologist now seeing clients in Sydney and Brisbane. As Absolique Hair Health Clinic Trichologist I have been working on this product development for a long time. There have been many setbacks revolving around ingredient synergy, supply, testing and trialling, so at long last I am pleased to present a 100% safe, natural, hair loss treatment option suitable for many types of hair thinning, hair loss, pattern thinning and scalp conditions. Absolique GRN is BEST applied to a prepared scalp to facilitate absorption as we use no harmful chemicals to break through the scalp skin barriers. Individual scalp preparation will depend on your diagnosis and desired results as well as the phase of hair loss treatments you are currently at. Absolique GRN can be used in many ways so it is best to consult Absolique Trichologist for the most effective way to incorporate into your hair loss treatments program.
Trichologist Sydney is offering 15 minute phone or Skype calls complimentary to help you transition to GRN from the previously recommended ampoule and will advise your individual scalp preparation with consideration of your hair and scalp concerns. This will be followed by an email including your new Homecare instruction plan accompanied by an instructive Video so you can see how easy it is to apply.
Absolique GRN idea was born from the need for a safe alternative to commonly available chemical products. This project took many years of research and included trialling and testing various methods addressing a variety of hair concerns. With positive results in most areas of hair loss and hair thinning completed, we are continuing to testing Absolique GRN on some stubborn hair and scalp problems and continue to get great results. Absolique GRN is new hair loss treatment product that can be incorporated into your combination therapy hair loss treatments programs or used as a standalone treatment. Please remember diagnosis is essential and you should consult with Trichologist Sydney to ensure Absolique GRN is used correctly for your individual concerns and results.
Email Trichologist Sydney for more information or call reception team to book your complimentary 15 minute phone or Skype appointment. info@absolique.com.au Absolique Hair Health Clinic Trichologist Sydney 02 8014 6916.
GRN is a 125ml bottle with an eye dropper applicator for $175. You only need 2-4ml each application lasting longer than the previously recommended ampoules, and does not need to be refrigerated.
Absolique GRN is specially formulated with vitamins and synergistic ingredients that have antioxidant and anti-ageing properties to enhance hair growth and healthy hair. Designed to be used after prescriptive scalp preparation.
Apply 2-4 ml Absolique GRN to wet scalp after prescriptive scalp preparation. Use tip of applicator eye dropper to section through hair. Be careful not to get GRN on the hair. GRN is specifically for the scalp and could leave a residue on hair if too much is used. GRN should be applied all over the scalp to help with the hair cycle and hair growth but can also be used in patches and patterns when directed. Style hair as usual. Consult with your Trichologist before using GRN for your prescriptive scalp preparation when treating stubborn hair loss or hair thinning or if symptoms persist after 4 months. Shake before use.
Absolique GRN – Grow – Revitalise – Nourish is FREE from ingredients that can harm your health.
INGREDIENTS – Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Arctium Majus Root (Burdock) Extract, L-Arginine, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Olea (Olive) Europaea Leaf Extract, Sorbitol, Glutamic Acid, Disodium Succinate, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glycosides, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid.


Step 1) Top it with so much stuff you can't actually see the dog anymore.
It's really pretty self explanitory and something we live for during the summer! Grilling season is quite possibly the best past about summer, don't you agree? The combinations are endless, they are always amazing, especially when you've been out and about all day and your reward at the end of a long day of playing is a cold drink and a loaded up to high heaven dog. There is no such thing as a bad dog. Hot dog, that is.
I've spent hours dreaming up all of these hot dogs combos, trying to come up with some fun new creations for you all to try this summer – and this week we're celebrating the Hot Dog, in all its tubular glory. And no, we're not just limiting it to the frank outta-the-package-dog – we're going cray cray – starting today with an andouille sausage dog. Don't worry there will be beef dogs and bockwursts to be had.
There are too many possibilties and combinations to count!
I have a serious travel bug. I love to travel, but there are so many places I haven't had the chance to go to yet, I try and live vicariously through my food. New Orleans is one of those places I have yet to visit. I've always wanted to go there. It probably had to do with watching The Real World and thinking it was like the mecca of fun. Watching the Real World also made me want to live in a massive 8 room "bungalow" on the beaches of Hawai'i, but I digress.
The history, culture, the jazz and the food are all the top reasons why I want to go to NOLA. I want to tour the old cemeteries, see who lived in that place, who helped build that culture, one jazz song at a time. Listent to a haunting durge come out from betwixt the crypts. I know it all sounds so haunting and eerie, but it intrigues me. Then I will go wash it all down with a beignet and mint julep. Sounds like a great vacation, don't you agree?
But when you're down south the other thing you can't pass up is the gumbo. Rich, flavorful, teeming with eons of batches made with love and care and hours of toiling over a hot stove to obtain the perfect roux. It's bound tobe heavenly. So in the spirit of cajuns everywhere, we pulled out some of those key flavors, topped them on an andouille dog and topped it with a little Cracker Barrel Cheese.
Just like the cajun traditions, Cracker Barrel has a rich and flavorful history. You can't deny that gumbo recipes passed down through generations and Cracker Barrel cheese have a common bond – their heritage. Each one prides itself on the batches made before it, and they both remain a constant source of pride and homey comfort for anyone who enjoys them.
On top of this dog, you've got a little bit of everything from Chiptole mayonaise, to the southern spice of a perfectly grilled Andouille dog, roasted red peppers, finely chopped celery, bell peppers, a little salsa for additional spice and pickled jalapenos for an extra kick. Topped with a little Aged Reserve Crakcer Barrel cheese on top – and you're off to the races.
What better way to celebrate our country this 4th of July than with a travel through food and grilling.
Preheat grill. Cook andouille sausages until heated through. Remove from grill, cover and let rest.
Toast hot dog buns until golden brown. Top bun with Andouille sausage. Divide celery, green bell peppers, roasted red bell pepper, red onion, red onion and jalapenos amongst the four sausages. Top with shredded white cheddar cheese. Devour immediately.
Oh I do agree toppings toppings and more toppings…this dog looks amazing!
Ohhhhh I couldn't be more excited about hot dog week! How about hot dog month?? I love churched up hot dogs and this one has all sorts of tasty add-ons! Can't wait to see what's up next!
I love this so hard, it almost hurts.
Confession time…I don't think I've ever eaten a hot dog. I am *so* excited for this recipe.
Oh my gosh I know I'm going to love this hot dog week thing!
Holy Moly. I'm coming over right now and you'll make these for me. Who cares that it's 8:15 in the morning?!
Fer you? Anythang!! As long as that cute munchkin of a kid comes w you. Huck would love a kid to slobber over!
YES! Everything about these is one fat YES!
Woohoo for Hot Dog Week!! And you're starting with a bang here – looks delicious!! P.S. Dying laughing at the phrase "in all its tubular glory"! Haha!
Mmmmm I love hot dogs!! Bring on hot dog week!
Every time I ask my husband what he'd like on the menu for the week he says "hot dogs"… no joke. He'll be mighty happy to find out about hot dog week 🙂 These are incredible!
These sound amazing! I went to NOLA in high school on a band (!!!) trip. It was a shame to go as a kid since I didn't really get to experience the city. It seems like a fabulous place!
Um. Hot dog week? You are my HERO!
Goodness gracious girl, hard to pass up a loaded dog like this!! Looks fantastic!
Oh goodness, this looks dreamy 🙂 I love this and so would my husband!
Now THAT's a hot dog!!!
Wowzers. I'd love one of these. Right. Now. !!!


text:
Engage Daily Update - 14 October
>News>Engage Daily Update - 14 October
Who volunteers the most in Scotland?
Watch the recent Zoom discussion on Volunteer Scotland's research in to volunteering trends. The detailed report can be found here
But for an overview presentation feel free to watch back on Zoom here
Passcode: KWD.L6^P
Our Volunteer Development Officer will be meeting with the researchers later this month if you have any questions or feedback you would like to share. Get in touch by emailing info@engagerenfrewshire.com
Support for Organisations
Social Enterprise Culture and Tourism Newsletter
GCVS Weekly Update 13th October
Intergenerational Conversation on Health and Social Care for Older People Strategy
Thursday 28 October 2021, 10:00am - 11:30pm
Generations Working Together invites you to join the conversation and be part of the engagement process to work on developing a new health and social strategy for older people.
Louise Scott guest speaker from the Scottish government will be talking and they want you to be able to convey your thoughts and ideas on the subject.
Back ground
The covid 19 Pandemic in 2020 has shone a spotlight on older people, who have been amongst the worst affected by the virus in society. As we rebuild and remobilise the NHS Scotland, we have significant opportunity to ensure that older people are placed at the centre of the recovery and focus on a preventative, joined up approach to a healthy ageing Scotland.
You can download the Health and Social care Statement for Older People Statement of intent here
You can book your place here
Talk Money Week 2021
https://bit.ly/2YQsftl
It's #TalkMoneyWeek 2021! If as a practitioner you find it hard to talk about money, you're not alone. Every year Talk Money Week encourages people to open up about their finances. By having a conversation, you can help people improve their physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Renfrewshire Affordable Credit Alliance (RACA) are hosting an online information event on Tuesday 9 November from 10am-11.30am.
RACA works to champion fair and honest finance – and to ensure that everyone, no matter their income level, has better options that help reduce the risk of falling into problem debt.
Whether you are voluntary or public sector, if you support clients who would benefit from making improved choices about credit, then you are welcome to attend. You will hear from a range of speakers and have a chance to ask questions.
Please register on Eventbrite here https://bit.ly/2YQsftl and a MS Teams link will be sent to you on Monday 8 November.
See www.raca.org.uk for further information about who we are and our aims.
You're invited to Scotland: Together With Refugees
The Scottish Refugee Council is gathering in Glasgow next week as part of a UK-wide week of action in support of refugees and people seeking asylum.
This is our chance to show the world that Scotland welcomes refugees.
Join them for this special event to show your support for people seeking safety and our opposition to the UK Government's cruel Nationality and Borders Bill.
When: Wednesday, 20 October, 1.45-3pm
Where: The Trades Hall, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UH
Hear from people with lived experience of the asylum system
Get inspiration from amazing fundraisers
Learn more about community networks run by and for refugees and people seeking asylum
Add your words of welcome and kindness to our Show Your Heart message board
Discover simple ways that you can make a difference
Meet like-minded people and find out how you can help people seeking safety to stand up for their rights and rebuild their lives in Scotland.
Get the latest e-alert sent directly to your inbox
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Engage Daily Update - 18 January (18/01/2022)
RenSEN Newsletter - 11 January (11/01/2022)
Engage Daily Update - 11 January 2022 (11/01/2022)
Engage Daily Update - 23 December (23/12/2021)
RenSEN Newsletter - 21 December (21/12/2021)
RenSEN Newsletter - 30 November (30/11/2021)
Engage Daily Update - 30 November (30/11/2021)
Engage Daily Update - 29 October (29/10/2021)
RenSEN Newsletter - 26 October (26/10/2021)
Engage Daily Update - 30 September (30/09/2021)
RenSEN Newsletter - 28 September (28/09/2021)
Engage Daily Update - 31 August (31/08/2021)


Notes: Yandina General Cemetery located on the southern corner of Cordwell Road and Central Park Drive covers an area of approximately 4 acres and comprises denominational portions that are not now indicated. According to information displayed at the cemetery, it was originally proclaimed in 1882 as the Maroochy General Cemetery and was administered by Trustees until it passed to the control of the then Maroochy Shire Council in 1956. It was about that time that its name was changed.
The monuments are generally in good condition and upright with no apparent evidence of vandalism. The grounds are maintained in excellent condition by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Paul Fitzgerald visited the site and made digital images of every visible inscription in April 2010. He found inscriptions dating from 1883.


A major focus for the union movement is to tackle violence against women at the workplace. Unions around the world are working on measures to ensure women are protected at work, and on education and publicity actions to bring home just how serious and unacceptable it is to ignore the issue.
Violence against women is the most widespread and socially tolerated of all human rights violations.
Governments have the responsibility to stop violence against women, but too many of them are failing to do so. Impunity is the norm in many places, so we need better laws to prevent violence, and real enforcement of these laws to protect women and girls.
The Conference also pointed out the impact of economic austerity measures, with reduced services to protect women, and economic stresses fuelling violent behaviour.


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FK Indeks is a Serbian football club based in Novi Sad, Serbia. Their football stadium "Đačko igralište" is located in the Liman neighborhood in the city centre.

References

Indeks Novi Sad
Indeks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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What trees would we plant to maximise carbon uptake?
Fangorn Forest as represented in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This is fantasy fiction, not the type of habitat that we should expect to find or create in the real world.
One of the reasons often put forward for growing more trees is that it's a method to draw down carbon from the atmosphere and lock it up in wood. Afforestation is far more efficient and straightforward than any currently imagined 'carbon capture technology'. Photosynthesis is the original carbon uptake mechanism, evolved and perfected over more than a billion years, and human ingenuity isn't going to design anything better, at least not on the scales required by rapid climate change. Trees have done it all before.
Before going much further, and for the avoidance of doubt, planting trees (even a trillion of them) isn't going to solve the climate crisis. It's one potential tool but no substitute for massive reductions in emissions. At its very best, tree-planting would only remove the carbon which has been released from land-use change, not that from the burning of fossil fuels, which represent stores of carbon generated hundreds of millions of years ago. That's even before we get to the contentious question of where we might plant the trees, which usually turns out to be someone else's country.
The other problem with tree-planting is that it assumes the trees either stay in place or are continuously replenished. Forest fires, logging, land clearance, droughts, pest outbreaks… all the potential causes of tree mortality will eventually lead to this carbon returning to the atmosphere. A tree is at best a temporary carbon store, albeit one that can last a few centuries. We're not laying down any new coal deposits, they just don't make it any more. I'm therefore sceptical of any off-setting program which justifies current emissions on the basis of anticipated long-term carbon storage through tree planting. It's not something we can rely on.
All these caveats accepted, we can begin to ask the question: if we really were planting forests with the primary objective of taking up carbon, and we planned to do it in the temperate countries which are overwhelmingly responsible for global change, what should we plant?
A recent newspaper article asked this question with the UK in mind*. By coincidence I had a Twitter exchange on the same subject shortly before the article came out. As a thought experiment it's a reasonable discussion to have, and by doing so publicly it forces people to contemplate the implications of the arguments that are so often made for planting trees.
The right tree species should be (a) fast-growing under local conditions, (b) tall, preferably forming dense forests with as little space between the trees as possible, and (c) of high wood density, maximising the amount of carbon for a given volume of trunk. Ideally they should also be long-lived and relatively resistant to the many forms of disturbance that kill trees, including extreme weather and diseases. There's no single species of tree that satisfies all these conditions, not least because high wood density leads to slower growth rates. Some compromise is necessary.
The conclusion of the article, taking into account the assumption that carbon uptake was the sine qua non, was that plantations of fast-growing non-native conifers were the best way forward.** The backlash to this suggestion was immediate, predictable and justified. Such tree species are not only hopeless for conservation (and therefore would lead to a net loss of biodiversity) but also aesthetically undesirable as they would transform familiar landscapes. Yes, say the public, we want more forests, but surely not like this.
I don't disagree with any of the objections to such a scheme, but it does highlight the inherent problem with making so many claims for the benefits of tree planting that are logically incompatible. It is impossible to design a forest which maximises all the potential functions we want from them: promoting native species, boosting biodiversity, storing carbon, amenity value, aligning with our aesthetic preferences, and maybe also providing some economic benefit to the landowners who are being asked to turn over their productive estates to trees. If we pick just one of these factors to emphasise — in this case carbon — then inevitably we will have to lose out on the others.
Every response to climate change presents us with difficult choices. The trite maxim that we should plant more trees puts people in mind of a sylvan idyll of sun-dappled glades beneath the bowers of mighty broad-leaved giants. Such forests exist in Europe only in the imagination. If real trees are to be used to solve our problems then real forests will be necessary, and they might not be the ones that everyone expected. Be careful what you wish for.
* Full disclosure: the academic whose views the article reports, Prof. John Healey of Bangor University, is also a collaborator of mine (we co-supervise a PhD student). We haven't shared our opinions on this topic though.
** My pick, if we're playing tree Top Trumps, is the Nordmann fir, Abies nordmanniana, which is so much more than just a great Christmas tree. It's also the tallest-growing native tree in Europe and as a montane species tolerates a wide range of challenging environments.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged climate change, forestry, forests, politics, trees on April 1, 2020 by Markus Eichhorn.
Stop the eco-triumphalism now
There is no excuse for this. Image taken from the Twitter feed of XR East (@xr_east)*. Note that Extinction Rebellion UK have disavowed both this group and the sentiments expressed in the post. Similar opinions have been circulating on social media for some time though.
I'm angry. I was reluctant to write anything on this blog about COVID-19, pandemics or epidemiology, given that none of them are among my specialisms*. But lately I've been appalled by a subset of ecologists and environmental campaigners — admittedly small — who have used this crisis to score points for their personal obsessions.
This is not to criticise those who seek positive messages to cling onto when there is so much to mourn or fear. Some of this desire is misdirected, including numerous stories of nature returning to areas which have seen dramatic reductions in human activity. Whether it's drunk elephants in Chinese villages or dolphins in Venice, these have usually turned out to be false reports. Does it matter that many people share stories that are quickly disproven if they offer a brief cheering distraction? Perhaps not so much. There are more dangerous lies out there.
Yet linked to many of these stories is an agenda, sometimes implicit, other times actively advanced, which has at its core a desire to show that something good has come of the pandemic. Few would say so with quite that lack of subtlety, but there is no other way to interpret many of the articles on declines in air pollution, clear skies or the potential for advancing a green agenda during the anticipated recovery. I'm more sympathetic to those who point out that the international response shows that we have the ability to pull together for the collective good that could be harnessed again. There may be opportunities to be taken once we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that still seems a long way off.
Others are even less subtle, for example the assertion by the European Agroforestry Federation that all this wouldn't have happened if we'd had more agroforestry. Even if true, and despite being a longstanding advocate of agroforestry I'd struggle to make an evidence-based case for it***, now is surely not the time.
The most pernicious narrative, one which lurks in the fringes of the Deep Green movement and other more mainstream environmentalist groups, is that anything that reduces human populations and activities can only be a good thing for the environment. I have even seen it argued (and I refuse to link to it) that COVID-19 is an expression of Gaia immunity, the Earth fighting back against the infestation of humans that is taking it out of some mythical balance****. The refrain 'we are the virus' has been expressed repeatedly on social media. The sentiment at the top of this article is not a isolated incident. Nor is it a new idea; in 1988 Prince Philip told a German interviewer that he was 'tempted to ask for reincarnation as a particularly deadly virus' so as to aid in population control. Yes, he really did say that.
To believe that a catastrophe causing widespread mortality is somehow beneficial is simple eco-fascism. Privileged people in the Global North, living in splendid isolation whilst delighting (even indirectly) in the death, privation and suffering of others, is not morally acceptable on any grounds. There is no positive side to a pandemic.
There are two strands to eco-fascism. One has a long history in the belief that restricted national resources compel populations to resist immigration in the name of supposed sustainability. This narrative has already inspired acts of terrorism, but also been made in more mainstream settings by France's National Rally (Rassemblement national) among others. Most reasonable, compassionate people would disavow this set of arguments.
The other narrative, however, holds that any reduction in human population can only help the natural world. This is sometimes expressed as the suggestion that not having (so many) children is the best way of combating climate change, an argument which is both logically and morally suspect. Any case for global population control always ends up being anti-female, racist and ultimately anti-human. Even if we might agree on a 'sustainable' human population level — and that's not an easy figure to decide upon — the process of reaching it is unconscionable by any means, and certainly with the speed required for it to be an effective measure. As Jenny Turner put it, "How can a planet lose seven or eight billion humans… without events of indiscriminate devastation? When people start thinking about getting rid of other people, which sorts of people does history suggest are usually got rid of first?"
On this point, in which countries do you expect the death rate from COVID-19 to be the highest? It will almost certainly be in the Global South where access to medical care, nutrition and government support is most lacking. They are not the ones who bear the greatest responsibility for global change, and once again they will carry the heaviest burden. This pandemic is first and foremost a tragedy. It will not in itself be of any lasting benefit to the environment.
We are rightly offended when politicians use disasters to advance their own partisan agendas. As scientists, including ecologists, we need to step back from the campaigns that are usually at the forefront of our minds and accept that this situation is a distinct crisis of its own. Yes climate change remains a pressing issue; yes extinctions continue apace; yes the international wildlife trade is abhorrent. But these are separate problems which the world's attention will return to again. For now simple compassion and decency requires us to stand back and accept that for once it isn't about us.
* I suspect (and rather hope) that the post will be taken down, but here's the evidence. There is a dispute going on about whether this represents a genuine faction of XR, or 'infiltrators', which are difficult for an autonomous movement with no central leadership to protect themselves against. It wouldn't be the first time that someone associated with XR has said something offensive though. For the record, I continue to be a strong supporter of XR and their core principles.
** Not that this has stopped quite a number of people.
*** The only relevant project I've been involved with, on mosquito-borne diseases in Northern Thailand, actually implicated orchard expansion as a likely cause of greater risk of infection. But this is a complicated subject and no single study can tell the whole story, particularly one which wasn't designed to test that hypothesis.
***** I don't have time here to explain in detail why Gaia theory is nonsense and has been rejected by the majority of ecologists. For more see pages 175–176 in my textbook and the papers it refers to. I'm also writing another book about it.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic, politics, xr on March 25, 2020 by Markus Eichhorn.
Climate change and the Watchmen hypothesis
The climax of Alan Moore's famous graphic novel (warning: spoilers*) plays out around a moral dilemma. In a world of conflict and discord, maybe the only thing that can bring humanity together is a shared enemy. If you accept that proposition, then could it ever be morally defensible to create such an enemy? And if you discovered that the enemy was a sham then would it better to reveal the truth or join the conspiracy? Part of the reason the conclusion to the book is so chilling is that your heart wants to side with the uncompromising truth-seekers while your head makes rational calculations that lead to unpalatable conclusions.
Selected panels from p.19 of WATCHMEN 12 (1987) by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, published by DC Comics.
Why am I invoking an old comic? In climate change we face a common enemy which is undeniably real, whose approach can be measured, predicted and increasingly experienced in real time, and which has been created entirely by ourselves. It may not have the same dramatic impact as a surprise alien invasion; think of it more like spotting the aliens while their ships are still some distance from reaching Earth, but they're already sending trash-talk transmissions in which they detail exactly how they're going to render the planet uninhabitable to humans and frying a few interstellar objects just to prove the point. And we invited them, knowing exactly what would happen.
In this case there is no conspiracy. The stream of scientific studies demonstrating the perils of allowing global temperatures to increase further is so continuous and consistent as to be almost background**. We want to stick our heads in the sand and ignore climate change because we enjoy our short-haul flights for city breaks, private cars to drive to work and occasional steaks. The individual incentives are all aligned towards apathy, ongoing consumption and deferred responsibility. Whatever is the worst that could happen, many of us in the Global North will be dead of natural causes by the time it reaches our parts of the world.
In the face of such an obvious existential threat, about which we have been forewarned by the consistent voice of the overwhelming majority of scientists, how is humanity preparing? Are we coming together as one? Have we overcome our differences and channeled our collective intellects and resources into finding a solution for all?
Like hell. America withdraws from the only international agreement with a shred of common purpose; Australia continues to mine coal while the country burns; Poland hosts a gathering of climate scientists and uses it to defend the coal industry. I know people who have stopped attending UNFCCC meetings because the emotional toll is so great. To recognise how much needs to be done and to witness how little has been achieved is a terrible burden. This is not to say that the situation is hopeless; with concerted action we can still avert the worst outcomes, and doing so remains worthwhile.
With all this in mind, I'm forced to conclude that the evidence in support of the Watchmen hypothesis is lacking. Creating a common enemy will not be enough to bring the world together. We've been trying it for 30 years already***.
Where does this leave the likes of Extinction Rebellion? Over the last year I've been amazed by the scale of the protests in London, Berlin and cities around the world, which exceed every previous effort. It feels like it a tipping point, and it ought to be, because one is long overdue. Whether it proves to be the moment the tide turns, time will tell. It has all the elements of a success story: popular support for the message, if not always the methods; an inspiring figurehead in Greta Thunberg who continues to exceed expectations; politicians scrambling to be seen on their side. Yet the background to this is the ongoing prosecution of many of the participants as states quietly assert their control. And the usual pattern of politics is for green issues to slip down the agenda as soon as an election looms****.
One of the side-effects of XR is that the disaster narrative has currently obscured other discourses and even subjected them to friendly fire. But this is not a battle which will be won on a single front. Many alternatives are available, including market mechanisms, commercial partnerships or a rebalancing of economic goals (there are good reasons why the Green New Deal isn't quite it, but I admire its objectives). These are not exclusive of one another, nor likely to be sufficient on their own, but if we are to succeed in inspiring change then a mixture of approaches and messages will be essential.
I'm not saying that we should stop heralding the impending catclysm*****. The uncompromising truth-speakers are right. We need to keep up the drumbeat of evidence, narratives, reporting and campaigning as the climate crisis unfolds. There are positive, individual steps that we can all take. But if we hold out for the moment when humanity suddenly unites to act as one then I fear it may never come.
* It's been out since 1987 so you really have had plenty of time to read it, but if you haven't then perhaps you should. And no, watching the film doesn't count. Trigger warning: contains scenes of sexual violence.
** Even in such times, this paper stands out as particularly terrifying.
*** The first IPCC report was published in 1990. The fundamental message hasn't altered since, even if the weight of evidence and urgency of action have increased. At least half of global carbon emissions have occurred since this report.
**** A few years ago I attended a talk by a statistician from one of the major political research agencies in the UK. He showed polling data with a consistent pattern that voters placed a high priority on green issues between elections but they fall down the ranking in advance of an election. Politicians know this, which is one reason why action in democratic countries is so slow.
***** If we're going to stick with the comic book metaphors, this makes climate scientists the Silver Surfer to climate change's Galactus. Too geeky?
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged climate change, politics on February 6, 2020 by Markus Eichhorn.


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Karen Heller: Supreme Court's ruling on life terms for juveniles will help many in Pennsylvania
Posted: June 27, 2012 - 3:01 AM
Karen Heller, Inquirer Columnist
Joe Ligon immediately came to mind after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that mandatory life sentences for juveniles convicted of murder are unconstitutional, violating the Eighth Amendment prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishments."
Ligon, rotting in Graterford, was convicted at age 15, almost six decades ago.
Labeled "orthogenically backward," he went to a special school and today reads at a third-grade level. As he told me when I visited him two years ago, "I'm one of those slow learners."
Ligon was instructed to plead guilty at a one-day trial that in 1953, I suspect, did not offer adequate representation to a poor, "orthogenically backward" black teenager. The five other defendants have since been released or died.
The United States leads the world in incarcerating juveniles for life in prison without possibility of parole. Pennsylvania leads the nation by far, with almost a quarter of them. Of Pennsylvania's prisoners, more than 60 percent are from Philadelphia.
Really, making the Human Rights Watch list is no reason to crow.
"Mandatory life without parole for a juvenile precludes consideration of his chronological age and its hallmark features - among them, immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences," Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the 5-4 majority, an argument legal and academic experts have been making for 16 years.
"Adolescents are not adults," says Temple's Laurence Steinberg, an authority on juvenile behavior. "We can't predict how someone acts at age 14 is how he's going to act at age 24." Although "80 percent of all male teenagers in the United States have done something against the law that could get them arrested," he says, "90 percent of juvenile offenders do not become chronic adult criminals."
Teenagers are more capable of change and rehabilitation. They age out of behavior Steinberg characterizes as "more impulsive, more shortsighted, more easily influenced by peers." As Ligon told me, "For 40 years I've had no citations for misconduct."
If the purpose of prison is rehabilitation, can't this be achieved in six decades? Where is the quality of mercy? It has cost approximately $2 million to warehouse Ligon when he's most likely been a danger to no one. He's an old man, his hair a tuft of cotton, with "six teeth left in my head."
Some offenders will never get out and shouldn't. But because of the Supreme Court's ruling, each of those 480 Pennsylvania inmates will have the chance to be heard by the parole board. The fate of being warehoused from adolescence to death, without any chance of freedom, will become rare. Such punishment will be up to the judge's discretion based on the evidence in the case, not mandated by state law.
"This is a sweet victory, really gratifying," says the Juvenile Law Center's Marsha Levick. "The court is still moving forward in the right direction where a majority has consistently hewed to this line that kids are different. Youth status is very relevant under the Constitution."
Public defender Bradley Bridge has handled the Philadelphia cases since 2005.
"We just want the opportunity to show that these people have demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation to merit parole," Bridge says. "I would be hopeful the state parole board would hear some of these cases within the year."
Foremost among them is that of Joe Ligon.
"To someone who has been in prison for six decades and is now 75 years old," Bridge says, "one more year is not speedy enough."
Every few months, Ligon sends me a letter asking for help. Steinberg, Levick, and Bridge get stacks of inquiries from prisoners, pleading for freedom.
"I've got letters from inmates who have been in prison for a very long time who did something very bad when they were teenagers," Steinberg says. "The inmates don't say they're innocent. They say, 'Hey, I was stupid when I was 14. Now I'm 40, and I'm not stupid anymore.' "
And for years there was nothing anyone could do to alter their situations. Monday that all changed.
"The world ain't the same. I seen that on TV. I heard that on the radio," Ligon told me. "I hope I live long enough to see the world change. One of my main concerns is that no one be ever again treated the way I was treated."
Ligon has lived long enough, almost all behind bars, to see that no one will.
Contact Karen Heller at 215-854-2586 or kheller@phillynews.com.
MLK's struggle, a Capitol riot, and America's immoral arc of white supremacy that bends back | Will Bunch
Will Bunch
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Maria Panaritis
Trump's second impeachment highlights whose safety is recognized — and prioritized | Helen Ubiñas
Helen Ubiñas
The chorizo maestro of South Philly, Raul Aguilar-Perez, makes a comeback
Craig LaBan


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Home » Will scandal deflate liberal-media puff pieces on Gore?
Will scandal deflate liberal-media puff pieces on Gore?
Bozell III, L. Brent
Insight on the News;04/07/97, Vol. 13 Issue 13, p29
Focuses on the mass media's perception of the leadership quality of United States Vice President Al Gore. Gore as an embodiment of the country's possibilities and anxieties; Scandal surrounding Gore's alleged solicitation of campaign funds.
For Vice President Gore, candor is best choice. Sperling, Godfrey // Christian Science Monitor;9/23/97, Vol. 89 Issue 209, p19
Opinion. Recommends that Vice President Al Gore face the allegations of campaign finance abuse head-on by speaking openly and candidly about his campaign finance problems. Gore's reputation for integrity; The effective use of honesty and candor by Gore in the past; Why Gore's hiring of lawyers...
Will puff pieces about Al Gore finally end? Bozell III, L. Rent // Human Events;04/04/97, Vol. 53 Issue 13, p10
Asserts that the media tends to overlook the shortcomings of Vice President Al Gore. Earnings from zinc-mining royalties; Relationship between the Gore family and Soviet sympathizer Armand Hammer; Praise for Gore's intellect; Position on environmental protection; Criticism against the...
Mr. Clean gets soiled. Dionne Jr., E.J. // Commonweal;09/26/97, Vol. 124 Issue 16, p8
Focuses on United States Vice President Al Gore's involvement in a threatening fund-raising mess. Criticisms against Gore; One of the reasons why campaign laws need to be reformed, tightened and clarified; Advantage of openness of nominations.
Soft heads and hard money. Coulter, Ann // Human Events;03/21/97, Vol. 53 Issue 11, p4
Comments on United States Attorney General Janet Reno's suggestions that Vice President Al Gore was soliciting only soft money from his White House office. Gore's lack of culpability under the law banning campaign solicitations in federal buildings; Difference between `soft' and `hard' money;...
Gore's own memo proves VP lied about Buddhist temple fundraiser. Chapman, Michael // Human Events;08/01/97, Vol. 53 Issue 29, p1
Presents evidence that United States Vice President Al Gore lied in October 1996 when he told National Public Radio that he did not know that an event he attended at a Buddhist temple in Southern California on April 29, 1996, was a fundraiser. Memo written by Gore before the event specifically...
Gore used tax-paid aide to help place Democratic fundraising calls from his White House office. D'Agostino, Joseph A. // Human Events;09/19/97, Vol. 53 Issue 35, p6
Reports on a public testimony by United States Vice President Al Gore's former deputy chief of staff David Strauss on September 5, 1997 implicating Gore in the Democratic Party's illegal fundraising activities for the November 1996 elections. Admission of role in helping Gore place four...
Why Al Gore is not in big trouble. Taylor Jr., Stuart // National Journal;10/03/98, Vol. 30 Issue 40, p2296
Discusses the possibility that United States (US) Vice President Al Gore will find himself facing criminal charges pertaining to his dialing-for-dollars from the White House. Gore's risk of facing indictment or impeachment; What the analysis of the facts suggests; Gore as the subject of a...
What the vice-president knew and when he knew it. Maier, Timothy W.; Wagner, David // Insight on the News;3/31/97, Vol. 13 Issue 12, p8
Focuses on the controversy regarding US Vice-President Al Gore's solicitation of funds from big donors. Violation of a federal law prohibiting fund-raising activities in federal buildings; Gore's claims about the legality of the action based on the Hatch Act; Judiciary sub-committee's bench...
The felony that didn't count. // Human Events;12/05/97, Vol. 53 Issue 46, p1
Reports about the legality of phone calls made by Al Gore, vice-president of United States in the White House to ask people to contribute to their campaign funds. Provision of the Pendleton Act; Evidences presented by the Department of Justice; Stand of Attorney General Miles O'Brien.


Presenting: The latest installment in the never-ending (and slightly past-it's-sell-by-date) Manchester 'billboard wars'.
I think this is class, certainly not past its sell by date!
Please someone explain the joke.
Mark – first take the rock off your head, then..
Mark, if I remember correctly, when Carlos Tevez transfered from Manchester United to Manchester City, City erected a tongue-in-cheek "Welcome to Manchester" billboard with a drawing of Tevez on it. This is United's response.
at least im pretty sure!
oooh, i get it now.
Its depicts the tantrums and unprofessional behavior that Manchester teams have had to endure because of Carlos Tevez.
Thats the joke explained thus ruining this thread, so better move on.


"Wine is such a fantastic thing that makes it an interesting life," says Bill Spence, who has made it his life's work to create this "fantastic thing," most notably Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. The area is known for this varietal, and he was there as part of the revolution that put the country on the wine map.
And some of those people are brothers Bill and Ross Spence, who grew up around wine, since their father was part of the early West Auckland winemaking community that established the industry in New Zealand. Ross, the older of the two, studied oenology at Fresno State in California and Bill majored in viticulture at New Zealand's Massey University. After they returned with their new ideas, "Our father had decided, 'You do it my way or the highway,'" says Bill—so to the "highway" they went.
They worked at some other wineries for a few years in the early days and planted their own Sauvignon Blanc in 1969, producing their first bottle in 1974. Why did they choose Sauvignon Blanc as opposed to another white grape? They planted a lot of different varieties and Sauvignon Blanc showed promise, says Spence. When Robert Mondavi came over to New Zealand and consulted with Spence, Mondavi said he called the varietal Fume Blanc in California, so Spence initially called it by that name in New Zealand. "Then came confusion," notes Spence, "so we went back to Sauvignon Blanc." Then it took off.
Over the years, the brothers got along pretty well, "We definitely had conflicts but we'd voice our opinion and carried on with work," says Spence. And Spence's family grew beyond bloodline. He has said a wine company is like a family, "… and back then an extended family. All the wine companies—we all helped each other—if something broke you could help each other even though you were competitors," he says. And the Matua family still includes original employees.
What was one of the most memorable moments over the years? "The biggest moment was when we won the (first) trophy for Sauvignon Blanc. … We didn't have large properties in Marlborough. It was rewarding for us since we were the first," says Spence. And today, Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand's most widely planted varietal.
Since that first trophy, Matua has won many awards. Under the direction of current winemaker Nikolai St. George, accolades include the 2012 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London: New Zealand Producer of The Year and 2013 San Francisco Wine Competition Best Sauvignon Blanc and Double Gold.
"As much as we have new technology to help us, the basic principle is the same." They research different yeast and how it affects Sauvignon Blanc, aiming for a wine with not as much grapefruit flavor but still with green grassy characteristics, notes Spence. "Our wine is not heavy in the grapefruit, more pineapple and melon," he says.
In addition to the flagship white, Matua also imports a Pinot Noir. One of his personal favorites right now is this Pinot Noir from Marlborough, which works well as a warm-weather red. "It's light and refreshing," says Spence. "I put it in the fridge for an hour; it has very little oak and it's a wine that stands up for itself." He suggests pairing it with pasta—venison and red sauce with tomato and onion and herbs is a favorite.
The winery's tagline states: "You could say we've changed the way the world drinks wine. Has it gone to our heads? Hardly. But it has fired us up to do more." So while the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from Marlborough are currently the two wines in the Matua portfolio available locally, the winery hopes to increase export options in 2016, so we'll stay tuned. In the meantime, you can see if a swirl and sip of their Sauvignon Blanc calls to mind pineapple and melon flavors, or rather the folks who had a hand in making it.


Bailey, an adorable Golden Retriever puppy, is moving! On the road trip to their new home, his family makes a stop and mistakenly leaves Bailey behind. This mischievous and playful pup sets out to find his family and stumbles across Sharkarosa, an exotic wildlife ranch. At the ranch, Bailey meets and is befriended by an assortment of animals, including kangaroos, camels, a bearcat, a baby tiger, and Puck, the sheepdog entrusted with running Sharkarosa. Will Bailey ever see his family again? Or will he be left to work at the ranch until the Cows Come Home?


SUNDIAL: simulation of shadow cast by a sundial on Midsummer Day.
SUNDIALS have been used since antiquity to tell the time by the position of the shadow cast by a gnomon (the sticking out bit of a sundial). Early examples were simply towers whose shadows rotated around them during the day. By tilting the gnomon so that it lies parallel to the axis of rotation of the Earth the hour divisions become reasonably evenly spaced. This simulation shows a sundial at the latitude of Greenwich (London). The upper left animation shows just the sundial with a rotating red clock hand. At midday the arrow points vertically upwards. At midnight it points vertically down. The upper right animation is the same but with the addition of a vertical gnomon. Notice how far the shadow from the vertical gnomon departs from the regular sweep of the clock hand. The lower left animation shows a rotating Earth with tower like projections at various latitudes. The lower right animation shows the shadows cast as viewed from an unmoving point directly above London. See also our garden sundial animation. and our vertical sundial animation.
RED ARROW: sweeps 360 degrees and shows the time.