text:
Beyond IaaS with Microsoft Azure
Paul takes you beyond IaaS and shows how you can modernize your approach to IT with Microsoft Azure for true digital transformation.
By Paul Schnackenburg
Over the last three months I've looked at how to deploy VMs to Azure, how to pick the right virtual machine (VM) size and other optimizations, followed by network and security best practices.
And while everyone in IT is used to running VMs and can continue to do so with Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) in the cloud -- it's not always the right thing to do. In this article I'll take you beyond IaaS and show how you can modernize your approach to IT for true digital transformation (drink!).
The three main flavors of cloud are IaaS, Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). To transform your company's approach to IT you should be moving from IaaS to PaaS wherever possible and use SaaS for workloads where it makes sense. Here, I'll give several examples of how this can be achieved in Microsoft Azure for legacy workloads that you're looking to move to the cloud. Next month I'll look at your options for new applications or where budget for re-architecting exists.
Sprinkle a Bit of PaaS in your SaaS
What's your backup strategy for your on-premises VMs? You probably have backup servers, most likely also VMs that run a backup server application. Once you've deployed production VMs to the cloud you'll need back them up (yes, even with durable storage in Azure you'll want to back up VMs to protect yourself against ransomware, user error and for compliance reasons). But you're not going to spin up a VM and install a backup solution to back up the rest of your VMs (although there are several options in the marketplace for this -- see Figure 1), unless you must for some external reason or the platform service doesn't fulfill your technical criteria.
[Click on image for larger view.] Figure 1. Azure third-party backup options.
As I looked at in part three, a good option is to use the built-in Azure Backup service that negates the need to manage the backup server and the storage and simply provide you a service to protect your VMs.
Let's pretend you've lifted and shifted a classic three-tier application to the cloud, but it's got a varied amount of load. Perhaps it's not used much during nighttime -- use Azure Automation to shut down all but one of the front-end VMs to save money and then automatically start the VMs again in the morning. Azure Automation uses PowerShell or Python Runbooks and the really cool thing is not only can you use it to automate cloud actions, with Hybrid Runbook Workers on-premises you can initiate runbooks that are executed against on-premises servers.
The back-end data storage for your application is housed in two high availability (HA) SQL Server VMs that you need to back up, patch, monitor, and manage, as well as protect from malware and hackers. If at all possible, shift any database workloads to a PaaS service -- for SQL Server the Azure SQL Database as a Service (DBaaS) has near-feature parity with a full SQL Server, is much more cost-effective and removes much of the management overhead. If you absolutely need a "real" SQL server, use the new Managed Instances (in preview) where Microsoft manages the VM but you can use the full programming surface of a SQL Server, easing migrations of on-premises applications. Speaking of migrations, make sure you check out the Database Migration Service (DMS), which will help you move on-premises databases to Azure SQL Database, Managed Instances, MySQL or PostgresSQL in Azure.
The Web front-end VMs also have management overhead -- look to see if you can move your Web server load to Azure Web Apps instead. Again, it's a platform service, removing the need to manage the underlying VMs, with full support for ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, Java, Ruby, Node.js, PHP or Python. If you need to run on Linux that's supported in Web Apps, too.
This example application may have had a hardware load balancer/firewall in front of it when deployed on-premises, while you could use any of the very capable (and expensive) virtual appliances from F5, Kemp, FortiGate and others, use the built-in Azure Load Balancer platform service instead. It comes in a Basic and Standard SKU and can be deployed both as an internal and a public balancer, uses 5-tuple (source IP address, source port, destination IP address, destination port and IP protocol number) for building balancing rules and provides source network address translation (SNAT). If you're trying to protect your Web layer with a firewall, again you can pick virtual appliances from CheckPoint, Barracuda, Sophos or F5 (see Figure 2) or use the built-in Application Gateway, which provides SSL termination, URL-based routing, redirection, session affinity, WebSockets and HTTP/2. You could optionally also add the Web application firewall (WAF) with full OWASP 2.2.9 or 3.0 core rule set coverage.
[Click on image for larger view.] Figure 2. Azure third-party firewall options.
So, instead of just using Azure Site Recovery's free migration feature (Figure 3) to move a collection of VMs to the cloud and paying for them 24x7 (probably costing you more than it would have cost to continue running them on-premises), you've now migrated the Web tier and the database tier to a PaaS service. You're also using automation to right size the resources for the load, minimizing cost and management overhead, in effect sprinkling a fair bit of PaaS on your IaaS deployment.
[Click on image for larger view.] Figure 3. The Azure Site Recovery Policy.
Limitations of Legacy Workloads
Obviously, this scenario won't work for every workload and your mileage may vary. The important point is that just moving VMs and continuing to do IT the same way you've been doing it on-premises is to rob your business of much of the opportunity of cloud computing.
If your application requires connectivity to your Active Directory domain you can run one or two domain controllers (DCs) in your virtual network, with the associated overhead and cost (including Site to Site VPN or ExpressRoute), or you can look at Azure AD Domain Services, which provides a managed instance of AD for your VMs (Figure 4).
[Click on image for larger view.] Figure 4. Azure AD Domain Services.
A physics limitation that you can't work around with a cloud service is latency -- if you're moving a customer-facing application to the cloud, your users are likely going to experience better performance than you offered from your datacenter. Especially if this is an application used globally you should use Traffic Manager DNS load balancing to direct clients to the closest application, including on-premises instances, providing a true hybrid approach. But if this is an internal application that was sitting next to your users over gigabit Ethernet and it's now sitting in Azure there's going to be latency issues. Test often and test early in your projects to correctly estimate and manage this impact.
Honestly, taking into account all of these options and testing everything will take you longer than just shifting VMs to the cloud and calling the job done. But if you take the time to investigate what the cloud offers that can transform how you do IT, you'll improve far beyond just running your VMs in someone else's datacenter. And once you've done one application, you should be able to apply those learnings to the next one. Microsoft has excellent guidance in its Azure Architecture Center, including for tiered applications. Good luck on your journey to the cloud.
Paul Schnackenburg has been working in IT for nearly 30 years and has been teaching for over 20 years. He runs Expert IT Solutions, an IT consultancy in Australia. Paul focuses on cloud technologies such as Azure and Microsoft 365 and how to secure IT, whether in the cloud or on-premises. He's a frequent speaker at conferences and writes for several sites, including virtualizationreview.com. Find him at @paulschnack on Twitter or on his blog at TellITasITis.com.au.


As always, the State Finals are a highlight of the year. This year was particularly exciting with 2 teams finishing equal first in the Tasmanian State Finals!
Well done to Cygnet Primary and St Mary's – both small regional schools who have come from nowhere to do outstandingly well. Scotch Oakburn have put a lot of effort in to chess in the past few years and it showed, with them dominating the Secondary event.
Today I thought that I'd talk about a problem that I'm having coaching young players. Sometimes they come up with funny ideas! For instance I may ask "why did you let him take your knight for free?" and the answer is "well he was threatening to give me doubled pawns." Now I don't know about you but I'd take a free knight over doubled pawns any day. This is happening quite often where the student either places too much emphasis on a possible problem (like doubled pawns) or comes up with a reason that is just not relevant in the current position. For instance making your king safe by castling is usually a good idea but if we are in an ending with no threat of checkmate then maybe the King is better off in the centre.
At my Doncaster Gardens Primary School lesson last week I went so far as to tell my students to forget all about doubled pawns, isolated pawns, backward pawns and so on as there was only one really important thing chess players should be focusing on … namely their PIECES … putting them on good squares and having them co-operate was how you win chess games.
The other player had a different idea. He is convinced that the King is an attacking piece. He doesn't castle. He leaves his rooks at home in the corners and marches into the enemy camp with his lone King! What a great idea. After all, the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz too thought that the King was "an attacking piece." It worked for Alexander the Great in his battle against the Persian King Darius so let's see whether or not this idea worked in the Vic. Youth game that I was playing through. Here is the position after 15…Rfe8+. Your task is to play through the game to the end (and there is an amusing finish) then tell me what both players missed (which would have reversed the result).
The answer is below (no peeking!).
Black missed 22…Rcd8! threatening 23…R(5)-d7 mate and also 23…Rcd7! with a similar result. Looks like thinking ahead is a better idea than just checking!
It's been an eventful week in chess (as usual) with a lot of different things happening.
I gave my first lesson at a Primary School on Tuesday (Doncaster Gardens) and I discovered that Primary kids don't play chess on tables and chairs but instead sprawl out over the floor. This creates new challenges for the unsuspecting coach who has to tread very carefully over boards and players if he wants to watch the games!
On the national scene, ACF Life-Member Gerrit Hartland has proposed that grandmasters Ian Rogers and Darryl Johansen be awarded life membership of the Australian Chess Federation. What a good idea! They have dominated Australian chess for over 25 years from 1980 and been an inspiration to generations of junior chess players. Perhaps this will be an opportunity for me to give another speech and tell some stories about Ian and Darryl from when they were juniors.
On the International scene there is also big news for Australia. The world's highest rated 12 year-old, Anton Smirnov, has been playing in the very strong Indonesian Open which has just concluded. Anton drew with a GM in round one, then drew with GM Torre (Asia's first GM and my old rival) in round two. "Impressive" I thought, but there was better still to come. Anton played 4 GMs for 1.5/4 and 5 IMs for 3/5 to finish on 6/11. This is a performance rating of 2450 and a second IM norm for Anton. If he keeps improving at this rate Australia will soon have another grandmaster.
This week's puzzle is from the first round of the Box Hill Open played last Friday. The first round of any chess tournament is often a good source of nice finishes as it matches the top players against players in the lower half. I was following the games live on the internet and noticed that Chris Wallis managed to bring off a very spectacular finish in his game, with a little help form his opponent not choosing the best defence. The first few moves are not forced but you can try to guess them if you wish, then see if you can spot the beautiful finishing combination.
Term four has now started in Victoria and chess is back in swing in the schools. I'm excited as I have a new class starting next week – my first Primary School Class. Frank Meerbach has built up a fantastic group of classes at Doncaster Gardens Primary School, which is one of the top chess schools in Victoria, and I've been given the chance to have a term with their top group of students.
It should be a new challenge for me trying to teach younger students how to become good players so I've been pondering what I should teach them. I think I'll start with my "chess memory challenge" where I set up the 32 pieces in a random (non-chess type) position and let the players study the position for 10 seconds. They then have to set up as many pieces on their correct squares as they can. It's very difficult as there are no standard chess patterns for the kids to recognise. I'm guessing that not many kids would get more than 7 or 8 pieces in the correct spots. I then set up a second position, perhaps the opening position of the sicilian defence, and ask the kids to have a go at remembering that position. Of course they all get it 100% right. Hopefully that will demonstrate to them the part that memory plays in chess skill.
I think that I'll then move on to talk about imagination in chess. When it's all said and done chess is just a battle to outsmart your opponent by seeing moves that he doesn't look at or analysing a variation deeper than he does. Today's puzzle is a good example of chess imagination (from former World Champion Boris Spassky). Black's problem is that he can't stop White from queening his "e" pawn whilst White's problem is that Black appears to have a winning attack with 1…Rxh3+. For White to win he needs to come up with something special. Most chess players may look at "silly" moves but immediately reject them. To become a better player they need to train themselves to look a bit deeper in case there is some nice idea in the position a couple of moves down the track. I showed this position to my best student yesterday and he solved it pretty quickly even though he is not renown for his imagination. Of course it's a lot easier if you know that there is something there (as in a puzzle) whereas in a normal chess game most players are just coasting along and not looking for something special.
Let's see if you can match Boris Spassky and pass the "imagination test." It's White to play and win. Good luck.
These days, as the years role by and my former chess friends and rivals pass away one by one, I find that I am increasingly living in the past. I think back to years gone by and remember events and stories from chess tournaments that I played in when I was growing. At lunchtime, when I'm dining in some local cafe, I find myself reading old magazines like the one I'm currently wading through – the 1975 volume of the "British Chess Magazine". No doubt these rekindled memories will come in handy when I have to give a speech at the next chess funeral that comes along.
I can even remember back to the good old days when I had to get up on the stage at the Vic. Youth Championships and comment live on the games in progress. Of course I'm too old for that now, and so have passed on the baton to IM James Morris to do that sort of tedious work, but I did manage to pop in to this year's Vic. Youth Championships for a few moments to see what was happening. For an old chap like me it really was a glimpse into the future of chess. I used to have to write my moves down on a scoresheet, then try to decipher them when I got home, but these days even little kids as young as 6 or 7 years can record their game perfectly using an iPad and their parents and coaches can follow the games live at home on the internet if they wish using something called "Tornelo". When I explained how this worked to one of my old friends his immediate response was "It's illegal! The rules of chess say that you have to use a scoresheet". I suggested that he was living in the past. The kids didn't care and in a few years time I'm sure that chess scoresheets will be a thing of the past, just like as the fountain pen became obsolete when someone invented the ball-point pen.
The event is even better for spectators who can follow all the games live on big TV screens in the analysis room and I saw a number of coaches and parents animatedly discussing the action. Wouldn't it be nice, I thought to myself, if they had something like this at the Australian Chess Championships, but it probably won't happen. Not all chess tournament organisers are as progressive as Chess Kids.
My task now, after a short mid-afternoon nap, has been to play through my students' games and see how they played. What I found was a sorry tale of a lot of blunders and missed opportunities, sprinkled with an occasional good move. I was pleased to see that Rebecca Strickland, who crushingly won the U/15 event, seems to have given up her boring King's Indian Attack opening and is actually varying her opening repertoire! Now if only I could encourage some of my students to do the same instead of playing the Giuoco Piano opening all the time.
Of course as I play through the games I try to ask myself "what would I play" in this position and compare that with the moves actually chosen. Being very old however I don't want to do a lot of analysis and so generally only look one move deep. The following position is a typical example where Black has just played Nd6 and my student (White) now has to decide on his move. As I examined the position I thought "Thank God, a nice simple endgame where White has a positional advantage because of Black's isolated "d" pawn – surely White can win?" Looking down the scoresheet I see that the game ended up being a draw so perhaps this would be a good lesson on positional play if I could find something better for White. Perhaps, dear reader, you can help me? Black's idea is to play 1…Nc4 so my obvious first candidate is 1.b3. Looks OK. The again, I thought, maybe I should try to swap pieces so 1.Nc2 may be good. Alternatively I could just improve my king position with 1.Kf2. Unfortunately all this analysis tired my poor brain and around about now I dozed off again.
So, dear reader, please don't wake me. I need my beauty sleep, but perhaps whilst I am sleeping you can find White's best move for me? It would make an old man very happy!


The superb bohemian style of the Lambie Ceiling Lamp from Zuo Modern comes from the seemingly random use of materials. The four glass amber globes feature different shapes and all sit at different heights, creating a dizzying display of beautiful warm light; inside each globe is a vintage filament style bulb, adding more classic appeal. Even the mounting hardware and cords of the Lambie Ceiling Lamp stay in character with a rust color that is hip and bohemian.


text:
Q: Prolog program find sum of series and it's exponentiation Sorry for the strange title of my question.
I just start learning prolog and i have come into a problem and it's calculating the sum of series of numbers and it's exponentiation , For example,
If i entered the number 3 , Prolog should output -> 3^2 + 2^2 + 1^2 = ?.
The only thing that worked for me was printing the numbers but not the final result
calculation(X):-
     X>0,write(X),
     (
        X=\=1 -> write('^2 + '),Result is X-1,calculation(Result);
        write('^2 =')
     ).

I did try some methods but all failed , Any help .

A: You should write as follows:
  calculation(X) :-
       calculation(X, 0).

  calculation(X, Result):-
         X >= 1 ->
         (
         writef('%w^2 + ', [X]),
         X1 is X - 1,
         Result1 is (2 ^ X) + Result,!,
         calculation(X1, Result1)
         )
         ;
         writef('1^2 = %w',[Result]).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Theresa May puts her political life on the line again tonight as MPs vote on her new-look Brexit deal.
Despite managing to wring some "legally binding" concessions out of the EU, overturning the 230-vote mauling she suffered in January remains a fairly tall order.
But according to Environment Secretary Michael Gove, the PM need look no further than last week's Champions League clash between Manchester Utd and Paris Saint Germain for tips on how to pull off a surprise victory.
The Old Trafford side went into the second leg in the French capital trailing 2-0 from the first leg, and with a team decimated by injuries.
No one outside Salford gave them much chance of progressing to the quarter finals.
But on a European glory night, a dramatic 3-1 victory - secured thanks to a last-minute penalty - saw Utd go through.
On the Today programme this morning, QPR fan Gove said that proved that anything is possible when MPs troop through the lobbies at 7pm.
Before Manchester United played Paris Saint Germain you could have said at that point they hadn't actually won - but they did," he said.
One small note a caution, however. Former Tory leader Michael Howard attempted to use a similar analogy during the 2005 general election.
With his party trailing way behind Labour in the polls, he pointed to that year's Champions League final - which saw Liverpool overturn a 3-0 half-time deficit against AC Milan to win the cup - as proof that the Conservatives were still in with a shout. They weren't. Labour won comfortably.


The Requirements Management CoP has grown exponentially and will continue to do so, especially since the PMI recently announced the new Professional in Business Analysis certification (PMI-PBA). This growth was reflected in the full webinar room during the live event. During the webinar, I shared requirements discovery and delivery principles and practices along a gradient from traditional to agile.
Whether you are agile or more traditional, your challenge is the same: In order to remain relevant in today's market, you have to discover and deliver the right thing at the right time. To do this successfully, you need to elicit customer needs and quickly choose from among many competing voices and options to determine what is truly essential and what can wait for a future release. That means selecting the requirements development and management activities that are most effective for your particular situation–whether those practices are in your current toolbox or not.
To understand this mindset shift, it might help to think of requirements activities in terms of the ShuHaRi progression, with a learning stage (shu), a breaking away stage (ha), and a transcendent stage (ri).
"Fast, easy, free/cheap…" That's what we heard about publishing an eBook edition of a paper book. After all, people said, how difficult can it be to take a PDF and make it digital? Quite difficult, actually.
Ellen Gottesdiener and I should have anticipated that publishing eBook editions of our paper book Discover To Deliver: Agile Product Planning and Analysis would be a complex endeavor. In our careers, we have been involved in re-platforming software products (applications)–and we've rarely encountered a re-platforming project that is straightforward. Our eBook editions were no exception.
Even before we published the paperback version of Discover To Deliver, folks requested a digital version. We analyzed the profile of our primary readers. Challenges in converting the book's visual language, illustrations, models and examples for a virtual reading audience worried us. Other concerns included the evolving eBook industry, its splintered standards, and the end-product usability issues driven by the increasing variations in devices (tablets, readers, smartphones) on which people access books. Weighing the value proposition of paper vs. digital, we decided to initially go paper.
We're excited to announce the release of "Discover to Deliver Explained." This two-minute video provides an animated overview of the key concepts in our book Discover To Deliver: Agile Product Planning and Analysis.
You asked for a short synopsis of Discover to Deliver concepts that you could share with others. This video offers a quick, easy-to-follow explanation of the 7 Product Dimensions, product partners, the structured conversation, and the Now-, Pre- and Big-View, as they relate to agile requirements.
We're launching something new at next week's Building Business Capability Conference (BBC): An Open Jam on Agile Analysis and Product Management. Whether you are new to agile or have been on your agile journey for a while, this Open Jam offers you a chance to exchange experiences, explore new ideas, and share struggles with like-minded colleagues. The best part? You don't have to miss the regularly scheduled sessions to attend and you suggest and participate in the topics that interest you. Let me explain.
For the past several years, I have had the privilege of chairing the Agile Summit portion of the Project World/World Congress for Business Analysts. I hope you were able to join us last month in Orlando. We had a tremendous turnout and enjoyed our time learning and networking with each other.
Since then, I've had several requests for a summary of my half-day tutorial with Ainsley Nies, "An Agile Approach to Project and Products" as well as the Agile Summit presentation "Got Value? A Practical, Sustainable Value Model for Making Agile Product Decisions" and the track session I gave: "It's the Goal, Not the Role: The Work of Agile Project Management and Business Analysis." I wrote up a quick synopsis of all three, along with some suggestions that you can try in your next planning or retrospective session.
As I prepare to deliver my tutorial ("The Essential Product Owner") and presentation ("Product Roadmaps: Collaborating to Deliver Value") at Product Management Festival in Zurich later this month, I wanted to share with you an excerpt of an interview with Mary Gorman and me that was recently published on their blog.
During the interview we talk about what inspired Mary and I to write our book, Discover to Deliver, what problems this book intends to solve, target audience, the background on the 7 Product Dimensions, how structured conversations are different from normal elicitation conversations, and more.
We talk a lot in the lean/agile community about the crucial importance of the "product owner"—the Scrum term for the person who has ultimate responsibility for the product. Indeed, this person is the champion of the product—and that's why I prefer the role name "product champion." You need this person for any type of product (software, system, service, or a combination) and for any context of usage (whether your product is sold commercially or is used for internal IT).
Last time, I told the story of a team that experienced a breakthrough after clarifying the scope of a stalled project. Noting that scope creep—the unrestrained expansion of requirements as the project proceeds—is cited as one of the top project risks, I promised to describe some of the good practices that help product partners manage product scope in a disciplined way. With clients, I always stress the importance of developing a product vision, identifying goals and objectives for the product, and clarifying the product partners' value considerations very early in the project before development proceeds. Let's look at ways to do that.


Get The Best Ideas of Home Interior Design about bedroom colors that go with dark furniture%0a bedroom colors that go with dark furniture%0a There are a lot of inspiration about home interior and house decorating ideas out there. But we try to give you some of our best photos gallery collection regarding bedroom colors that go with dark furniture%0a that we get from various source. Hope you enjoy!


REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) - Iceland qualified for the World Cup for the first time after beating Kosovo 2-0 at home on Monday.
Holding the momentum from its inspiring run to the 2016 European Championship quarterfinals, Iceland topped Europe Group I and advanced automatically to the finals in Russia next year at the expense of favorite Croatia.
Iceland is the smallest nation in terms of population - 330,000 - to make the World Cup.
Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates after scoring against Kosovo, during the World Cup Group I qualifying soccer match between Iceland and Kosovo in Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson).
Gylfi Sigurdsson put the hosts ahead in in the first half and Johann Gudmundsson made it 2-0 in the second.
Iceland won the group by two points from star-studded Croatia, which beat Ukraine 2-0 in Kiev.
Ukraine was another three points behind Croatia in third, Turkey fourth, and Finland fifth. Kosovo completed its maiden qualifying for a major tournament with a single point.
Qualifying was all the sweeter for Iceland because it fell at the last hurdle in 2014 World Cup qualifying - to Croatia.
In the tightest group of European qualifying, Iceland entered the last round with a two-point lead over Croatia and Ukraine.
The fans at packed Laugardalsvollur Stadium had to be patient but the wait was worth it.
Five minutes before halftime, Sigurdsson took the responsibility and scored. The attacking midfielder fired in his fourth qualifying goal following a neat solo effort in the penalty area.
Gudmundsson calmed all nerves when he met Sigurdsson's cross in the 68th minute, setting off a wild celebration.
Led by new coach Zlatko Dalic after Ante Cacic was fired following a 1-1 draw with Finland on Friday, Croatia got what it needed from a tough encounter in Kiev.
Andrej Kramaric scored both goals within eight minutes in the second half to ensure at least second place and a playoffs spot.
His star teammates helped, too.
Luka Modric crossed from the right for Kramaric to head home the first, and Ivan Rakitic sent the ball across the goal mouth for Kramaric to tap in the second.
Paulus Arajuuriand Joel Pohjanpalo scored for Finland while Turkey got both goals from Cenk Tosun in Turku. Finland has lost just one of its last seven matches.
Iceland's fans celebrate after their team scored against Kosovo, during the World Cup Group I qualifying soccer match between Iceland and Kosovo in Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson).
Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson, left, celebrates with teammate Birkir Bjarnason after scoring against Kosovo, during the World Cup Group I qualifying soccer match between Iceland and Kosovo in Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson).


In contrast to Acute Bronchitis, which dissipates in just two weeks at the most, Chronic Bronchitis is characterized as a cough that occurs every single day with sputum production that lasts for three months at the very least for two years in a row.
The condition causes chronic inflammation of the body's major airways, remaining there for a long period of time or returning time and time again.
The chronic condition of this form of Bronchitis can be extremely debilitating, encouraging the further development of infections and other bodily ailments along the inflamed airways.
It is extremely important to address these symptoms as they arise, as Chronic Bronchitis will not recede on its own.
Due to the long course of the illness, people who remain untreated further prolong recovery, compromising their quality of life for a number of months.
As a lung condition, air quality and other lifestyle decisions have the greatest effects with regard to the onset of Chronic Bronchitis.
The most common cause of Chronic Bronchitis is smoking cigarettes. However, people who have never smoked are also at risk for developing the condition, as multiple cases of Acute Bronchitis can also predict the onset of the illness.
Acute Bronchitis is often caused by a viral infection in the bronchi, which is frequently the same kind of virus that can cause the common cold or influenza. With this in mind, anyone is susceptible to the development of Chronic Bronchitis.
Other causes specific to Chronic Bronchitis include air pollution, dust, toxic gases and other fumes common in industrial or urban areas.
For this reason, people living in heavily populated cities are also more likely than those in the suburbs or rural areas to contract the ailment.
Although everyone can theoretically develop Chronic Bronchitis, there are people more at risk than others.
Smokers, and those exposed to a significant amount of secondhand smoke, are among the most susceptible to developing Chronic Bronchitis.
A study carried out by researchers at the COPD program found that smoking is associated with the significant amount of mucus production that can cause bronchitis.
Exposure is among one of the greatest factors in consideration of the fact that air pollutants and toxic fumes are among the leading causes of Chronic Bronchitis.
Those who work in environments and come into contact with ammonia, strong acids, chlorine, bromine or sulfur dioxide are at an increased risk for developing this condition.
Age is another significant factor in the development of Chronic Bronchitis. The elderly and infants, those with some of the weakest immune systems, are among the most at-risk for contracting this condition.
Additionally, studies have found a close correlation of air pollution and Acute Bronchitis in preschool-aged children.
For this reason, children may be more at risk for more cases of Bronchitis, therefore predisposing them to be more likely to contract Chronic Bronchitis as well.
The symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis can be the most debilitating component of the condition.
Not only do they impact the way in which an individual is able to live their life, but they also can present practical problems for normal functioning.
The most common symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis are sputum production and cough. These symptoms last for at least three months and occur on a daily basis.
While all patients will experience these symptoms, the intensity and frequency may vary from person to person.
Sputum may be clear, yellow, green or, on occasion, have some blood in it as well. More mucus is typically produced in the morning for those suffering from Chronic Bronchitis, as the symptoms tend to dissipate as the day goes on.
Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is another symptom that typically increases with the severity of the disease.
It is expected that people with Chronic Bronchitis be short of breath with activity and will experience coughing fits. If a person experiences this symptom while at rest, however, the illness has most likely progressed into COPD or Emphysema.
Relatedly, wheezing is another one of the most common symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis and is often associated with shortness of breath and airway obstruction.
There are also more general symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis such as fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, nasal congestion and headaches. The severe coughing associated with Chronic Bronchitis can also cause chest pain.
Diagnosing Chronic Bronchitis is in all actuality much more simple than trying to diagnose other chronic ailments.
Aside from examining a person's family and medical history, there are several, specific tests used to determine if the problem is Chronic Bronchitis, or something else.
The most basic of tests is to test if wheezing or other abnormal sounds can be detected when listening to lungs with a stethoscope.
If there is ambiguity remaining after doing this, a chest X-ray will often be used for further determination.
Also, a physician will test any sputum being produced for the type of bacteria in a patient's lungs, making it easier to determine exactly what is occurring in the chest cavity.
More specifically, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT), or spirometry, must be performed in order to make a positive diagnosis for Chronic Bronchitis.
Failing this test may indicate the existence of a more serious condition that may have begun as Bronchitis, such as COPD, Emphysema, Tuberculosis or lung cancer.
The easiest solution to overcome Chronic Bronchitis is to change one's own lifestyle, especially if the condition was caused by cigarette smoke or extensive exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
Encouragement to cease smoking is vital because should a person with Chronic Bronchitis continue on in their current ways, the lung damage can only worsen or progress into an even more serious condition.
Similarly, for those exposed to high levels of chemical smoke or toxic fumes avoidance is the key. A person cannot expect to recover and avoid the condition should they continue to pursue the lifestyle that led them to contracting the illness.
For this reason, those in careers involving these substances may need to take major steps to restructure their lives to avoid further health complications.
There are two major types of medications used to treat Chronic Bronchitis. The first kind of medication is Bronchodilators which work by relaxing the smooth muscles that surround the bronchi.
This allows the inner airways to expand, facilitating the ability of those with Chronic Bronchitis to breathe more deeply.
The other kind of medication used to treat Chronic Bronchitis is steroids. Steroids work by reducing the inflammatory reaction caused by Chronic Bronchitis, allowing for better airflow through the airways.
Should a doctor obtain a bacterial sample, treatment will be directed at that specific culture to achieve the best results for a patient.
Additionally, antibiotics can sometimes be used to treat the bacterial infections that often occur along inflamed airways.
For those who feel extremely affected by their Chronic Bronchitis symptoms, there are alternative treatment options available in addition to medicinal remedies.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is one such treatment method, combining education and physical exercise that is meant to help an individual quit smoking and overcome the stress and anxiety often associated with the symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis.
This kind of treatment also addresses the multiplicity of problems surrounding airflow and blood flow to the lungs, offering long-term solutions for problems.
Supplemental Oxygen Therapy is another option attractive to many people. Similar to Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Supplemental Oxygen Therapy addresses blood oxygen levels, doing so both at rest and during activity.
This helps patients recognize the necessity of exercise, sleep and other essential activities necessitated by the recovery process.
Home remedies are also a plausible component of treatment, so long as they are supported by medicine or other solutions.
Humidified air is one of the simplest ways in which an individual can reduce the severity of their symptoms, allowing mucus to flow more freely and effectively reducing some of the blockages in the airways.
Additionally, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth is key, moistening air prior to it entering the lungs and warming it through the airways.
Other alternative treatments include over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressants, although the effectiveness of this is more ambiguous.
Although OTC drugs may facilitate a more comfortable couple of hours for those with Chronic Bronchitis, it is ultimately a short-term solution that will not resolve the real problems of the condition.
The best solution for Chronic Bronchitis is to address the problems as soon as they arise.
If an individual smokes, or is exposed to large amounts of toxic substances on a daily basis, they should be even more aware of the possibility to contract this condition.
Because of the longevity of the ailment, people should always take the most obvious steps to avoid the possible risks of developing the condition.
Chronic Bronchitis is proof that the lifestyle choices that one makes have large implications for the quality of life enjoyed by an individual, and with the right adjustments, Chronic Bronchitis can be an avoidable, distant concern.


Computers, cell phones, televisions, printers, copiers and other electronics have been banned from landfills in 17 states throughout the U.S. Seven of these bans took place in 2011 and 2 more take effect soon (Illinois in January 2012 and Pennsylvania in 2013). Electronics contain mercury, cadmium, lead and other hazardous materials and leach into the ground, so they should always be recycled; however, only 25% of electronics were recycled in 2009, according to USA Today (December 19, 2011). The changes in laws are helping to encourage all of us, and an example is found in North Carolina's e-waste recycling program, which has seen a doubling of electronic recycling in the last year!
Look at the list of eCycling Partners, manufacturers and retailers, like Best Buy, HHGregg, Sony and Panasonic to see where they stand in their partnership with EPA and programs that are making a difference today and will set the standard for the future.
Plug-In partners demonstrate leadership and social responsibility by offering individuals opportunities to protect the environment by safely reusing and recycling consumer electronics.
Since the program began in 2003, Plug-In To eCycling partners have recycled more than 360 million pounds of electronics, including televisions, computers and cell phones. View highlights of each partner's 2009 accomplishments.
Safely managing the electronics they collect by ensuring that the electronics refurbishers and recyclers they use follow the Guidelines for Materials Management.
This entry was posted in Cell phones, Computers, E-waste, Electronics, Landfill statistics, Televisions, Think Outside The Bin and tagged cell phone, e-waste, landfill laws, landfill statistics, postaday2011, printer, Recycling, think outside the bin, TV. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Access lots for sale
OUR BREEDING
Maternal lines
VISITS CONTACT
JAGGER DE TALMA 5
A son of Mylord Carthago out of an international damline
JAGGER DE TALMA
Selle Français
VAT 20.00%
Ended on
Jun 28, 2022, 8:46:00 PM
5 bid bids
Login to bid and subscribe
INFO PEDIGREE MEDIA
Sire: Mylord Carthago
A shining palmares combined to one of the best french bloodlines, this is the cocktail gathered by Mylord Carthago to become one of the most fashionable stallions of his time. World and European team vice-Champion, winner in 5* Grand Prix with the bloodline of Ifrane, today his offspring are jumping at the highest level such as Timon d'Aure, Tolede de Mescam, Twentytwo des Biches, Bingo du Parc or even Valmy de la Lande and so much more.
Dam: Nice Look vt Asschaut
Daughter of Thunder vd Zuuthoeve, Nice Look competed herself at 5* level with Victor Bettendorf. She's out of a bloodline that already gave numerous international horses in every generation, such as New Libero One d'Asschaut who's jumping under Timothée Anciaume's saddle.
The breeder's word:
Jagger is a horse to be built up for the future. Being strong and tall, he always gives the best of himself. As many sons of Mylord, he will surely be a liable show partner!
MYLORD CARTHAGO
Capitol I
Jalisco B
Nifrane
NICE LOOK VT ASSCHAUT
Thunder vd Zuuthoeve
Argentinus
Jura van St Maarten
Goldie Pleasure vt Asschaut
Diamant de Semilly
What a Pleasure Polderran
© 2023 Haras de Talma All rights reserved | Design by Pweb Solutions
I forgot my password or username
No account yet? Register now!
Change your time zone
Time zone: (GMT-11:00) Midway Island (GMT-11:00) Samoa (GMT-10:00) Hawaii (GMT-09:00) Alaska (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (GMT-08:00) Tijuana (GMT-07:00) Arizona (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada) (GMT-07:00) Chihuahua (GMT-07:00) Mazatlan (GMT-06:00) Mexico City (GMT-06:00) Monterrey (GMT-06:00) Saskatchewan (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) (GMT-05:00) Indiana (East) (GMT-05:00) Bogota (GMT-05:00) Lima (GMT-04:30) Caracas (GMT-04:00) Atlantic Time (Canada) (GMT-04:00) La_Paz (GMT-04:00) Santiago (GMT-03:30) Newfoundland (GMT-03:00) Buenos Aires (GMT-03:00) Greenland (GMT-02:00) Stanley (GMT-01:00) Azores (GMT-01:00) Cape Verde Is. (GMT) Casablanca (GMT) Dublin (GMT) Libson (GMT) London (GMT) Monrovia (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam (GMT+01:00) Belgrade (GMT+01:00) Berlin (GMT+01:00) Bratislava (GMT+01:00) Brussels (GMT+01:00) Budapest (GMT+01:00) Copenhagen (GMT+01:00) Ljubljana (GMT+01:00) Madrid (GMT+01:00) Paris (GMT+01:00) Prague (GMT+01:00) Rome (GMT+01:00) Sarajevo (GMT+01:00) Skopje (GMT+01:00) Stockholm (GMT+01:00) Vienna (GMT+01:00) Warsaw (GMT+01:00) Zagreb (GMT+02:00) Athens (GMT+02:00) Bucharest (GMT+02:00) Cairo (GMT+02:00) Harere (GMT+02:00) Helsinki (GMT+02:00) Istanbul (GMT+02:00) Jerusalem (GMT+02:00) Kiev (GMT+02:00) Minsk (GMT+02:00) Riga (GMT+02:00) Sofia (GMT+02:00) Tallinn (GMT+02:00) Vilnius (GMT+03:00) Baghdad (GMT+03:00) Kuwait (GMT+03:00) Nairobi (GMT+03:00) Riyadh (GMT+03:30) Tehran (GMT+04:00) Moscow (GMT+04:00) Baku (GMT+04:00) Volgograd (GMT+04:00) Muscat (GMT+04:00) Tbilisi (GMT+04:00) Yerevan (GMT+04:30) Kabul (GMT+05:00) Karachi (GMT+05:00) Tashkent (GMT+05:30) Kolkata (GMT+05:45) Kathmandu (GMT+06:00) Yekaterinburg (GMT+06:00) Almaty (GMT+06:00) Dhaka (GMT+07:00) Novosibirsk (GMT+07:00) Bangkok (GMT+07:00) Jakarta (GMT+08:00) Krasnoyarsk (GMT+08:00) Chongqing (GMT+08:00) Hong Kong (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur (GMT+08:00) Perth (GMT+08:00) Singapore (GMT+08:00) Taipei (GMT+08:00) Ulaan Bataar (GMT+08:00) Urumqi (GMT+09:00) Irkutsk (GMT+09:00) Seoul (GMT+09:00) Tokyo (GMT+09:30) Adelaide (GMT+09:30) Darwin (GMT+10:00) Yakutsk (GMT+10:00) Brisbane (GMT+10:00) Canberra (GMT+10:00) Guam (GMT+10:00) Hobart (GMT+10:00) Melbourne (GMT+10:00) Port Moresby (GMT+10:00) Sydney (GMT+11:00) Vladivostok (GMT+12:00) Magadan (GMT+12:00) Auckland (GMT+12:00) Fiji
This website uses cookies. This way we can ensure that your browsing experience is made even more pleasant. For more information, please review its Privacy Policy.
Make your bid
Your bid: € 8.000,00
+ Horse vat (20,00%) : € 1.600,00
+ Auction costs (10%) : € 800,00
+ Auction vat (20,00%) : € 160,00
Total: € 10.560,00
Confirm bid Confirming

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
HomeNewsVolvo Trucks UK & Ireland appoints its first head of e-Mobility
Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland appoints its first head of e-Mobility
Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland has appointed its first head of e-Mobility, just weeks after opening the order books for its all-new Volvo FH, FM and FMX Electric heavy-duty trucks.
Amy Stokes joins the company after 18 months as group energy market manager at Volkswagen Group UK, where she was responsible for the development of new energy market opportunities to support the uptake of electric vehicles.
Stokes' remit covers the whole of Volvo Trucks' electric portfolio in the UK and Ireland, which will see three new heavy-duty electric trucks enter production in 2022. These will join the existing Volvo FL and FE Electric trucks which are already available.
She will be based at the company's head office in Warwick, reporting directly to managing director Christian Coolsaet.
Commenting on her appointment, Stokes says: "I love everything to do with e-mobility and the opportunity to join Volvo Trucks was one I simply couldn't turn down. The management team shared their vision with me for transitioning half of all sales to electric product by 2030 and I knew immediately this was something I wanted to be part of.
"We have already got one Volvo FL Electric operating in London with DHL Supply Chain, and sales will only grow in one direction from here. It's going to be hugely exciting."


Since this is Women's History Month, it's time to celebrate the achievements of women. Last week I had the privilege of speaking at the Designer Day event at the MJSA show. It was inspiring to see the dedication to the craft and business of jewelry. Fortunoff has always tried to find new talent. We always tried to support women designers when possible.
Kudos to Susan Michel! Her business now has a second generation, as her daughter has joined her as a business associate. A trailblazer in the field of law as well as jewelry design, Susan Michel is an inspiration, as is her "Rock Star Heart" necklace.
And talk about creativity! Look no further than the collection of Cynthia Gale. An artist who expresses cultural diversity, a love of nature, and spirituality through her jewelry, GeoArt by Cynthia Gale is a collection I am proud to carry.
Natasha Wozniak is a Brooklyn artist with true dedication: creating jewelry by hand in her own studio. We are proud to offer her bold and feminine designs.
Is there a woman that inspires you? We want to hear about her. Commemorate a woman who has made a difference in your life during Women's History Month.


text:
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War revealed, launches this August
By Alessandro Barbosa
Following a leak just yesterday, Warner Bros. have revealed the sequel to their critical hit Shadow of Mordor. Titled Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, players will once again follow Talion, a ranger seeking revenge on Sauron for the murder of his family, and Celebrimbor, the creator of the Ring of Power that acts as the McGuffin for the entire franchise. Turns out making one of those pesky pieces of jewellery isn't too difficult, as our two protagonists craft their own to take on the forces of Mordor in this sequel.
Take a look at the rather stunning cinematic trailer below:
Warner Bros. have promised a gameplay reveal on March 8th (which quells that Batman rumour now), through which they hope to show just how far the Nemesis system has grown over the years. Players of Shadow of Mordor will recall the intricate system and how it created meaningful relationships between you and your enemies. Building an dynamic hierarchy of Orcs that you could both cull and infiltrate with differing strategies was one of the highlights of the original title, and Sauron only knows how its improved.
If the trailer is anything to go by too, it seems that this fight will impact more of the regions outside of Mordor too. Shadow of Mordor was rather insular, only really concerned with the Orc politics of the region and Talion's quest alone. But this trailer shows the impact of the Orcs across neighbouring lands, which begs the question of whether Talion will get to visit these regions through the course of the game.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War launches on August 22nd. It's coming out for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Notably, Shadow of War will be a Microsoft Play Anywhere title (buy once across Xbox One and Windows 10), and will also feature Scorpio support. Neat.
Previous article First teaser for Bright, a Netflix original with Will Smith
Next article LG's G6 is a heel turn on their modular smartphone ideas
Writer, Game Designer, Co-Host on the Checkpoint Chat podcast.
Indie darlings Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach to write the script for Barbie movie
It seems that despite the world going green and trying to get rid of plastic in our lives,…
The Death of Superman and Batman: Knightfall are getting retold in DC's new Dark Multiverse titles
Marvel may have had What If? when it came to publishing comic book stories that took established characters and spun familiar stories in new directions, but this year will see DC copying the House of Ideas with their own wild take on landmark storylines. Called "Tales from the Dark Multiverse", this series will revisit some of the bigger storylines of the past and "put a twisted and terrifying spin on some of the biggest, most game-changing events" that ever hit DC's biggest icons.
Apex Legends cheaters will soon only be able to play with other cheaters
PUBG has a "very sophisticated technical response" for catching cheaters
Almighty Gjallarhorn, slayer of gods, might finally be returning in Destiny 2
This new trailer for Dora and the Lost City of Gold is full of laughs


A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO BRAVED THE WEATHER AND POPPED IN TO SEE US ON SATURDAY FOR OUR OPEN DAY DESPITE THE THUNDER, LIGHTENING AND RAIN!!
EVERYONE WHO CAME COMMENTED ABOUT HOW NICE THE PRACTICE IS AND QUITE A FEW DECIDED TO BECOME NEW PATIENTS OF BLACK SWAN DENTAL SPA AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIER FIRST APPOINTMENTS WITH US.
DONT FORGET THAT ITS THE LAST DAY TO COMPLETE OUR COMPETITION ENTRY FORM FOR THE FREE TOOTH WHITENING KIT. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF THE DAY TODAY (18TH FEBRUARY 2013), SO IF YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN TOOTH WHITENING direct THEM TO OUR WEBSITE FOR THIER CHANCE TO WIN!


We are always looking for committed, passionate people to join our mission of bringing real food to people across cities by empowering next-gen leaders in urban farming.
Square Roots is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Current openings are listed below.


Dibba Roti has become one of our frequent meal to make, especially during Saturday. The recipe I am sharing today from Amma's dairy that she had noted down many years ago. The other Dibba Rotti is made differently and after the initial introduction, this dish has become our regular. Since I realized that Hubby dear is fond of Dibba Roti, I was interested in trying Amma's recipe.
We found this works out even better and we have been making it once in ten days. Though it struck that I haven't actually clicked a picture and shared the recipe. So when I made it last week, I felt I much click it for Make a Meal. This joins the Dec Edition of Blogging Marathon, for week 1 where I will be sharing Make a Meal Theme, with dishes that are often made for dinners.
I am so happy to be finally writing here after nearly two months of absence. The backend work is nowhere close to getting done. I am just going ahead with posting new and hoping that work will get done by itself.
For day 1 it is Dibba Roti with Allam Pachadi, I even served a spicy podi with this meal. Since this batter doesn't require fermentation, it's easy to plan ahead for dinner time.
Wash and soak the rice and Urad dal separately for 6 hors.
When ready to grind, first grind the rice to a coarse texture. Remove and then grind the urad dal to a smooth texture. When the urad dal is ground, mix in the rice and grind both together for 5 mins.
We usually use wet grinder for grinding, you can grind this in a mixer jar as well. The water used should be just enough to grind and should limit to 1 cup of water maximum.
Grind the ginger and green chilies to a paste. Add cumin seeds, curry leaves, salt and ginger Green chili paste along with finely chopped onions to the batter, mix well and keep it ready.
Heat a deep sauce pan with 2 tsp oil, simmer and pour a ladleful of batter, slightly press it around. Sprinkle oil on the sides, cover with lid and let it cook. It takes about 2 to 3 mins for one side to get cooked.
Carefully flip to the other side and again cook for 2 to 3 mins with the cover on.
Check if both sides are golden in colour.
This dibba rotti is in my to do list since a while, dunno when am gonna give a try, you are tempting me now to make some soon.
This rotte makes a great meal idea, for any time of the day.
This should not take long to cook, I have tried Suma's version, which is more like a cake. Must try this version, looks simpler and equally delicious.
This is very interesting and the rice to dal proportion.. wow. will try this out.
I wanted to make this roti since ages. Yours looks so delicious to try on.
Good one Valli. I usually make it with idli batter. The spices in this sounds flavorful.
This is a different version of dibba rotti and it sounds delicious. I will have to try it some time soon.


text:
Premium Home Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Real Estate
Real-estate tech firms are getting hammered by a cataclysmic reckoning that one VC called a cross between the 2001 dot-com bust and the 2008 market crash
Daniel Geiger
John W Banagan / Investing
Companies like Compass, Opendoor, and Redfin are reporting losses and cutting thousands of jobs.
The proptech sector is battling two challenges at once: a slowing housing market and a tech bust.
Many major firms and startups are facing their first downturns, and the culling could be brutal.
From July through September, the real-estate brokerage Compass burned through $75.5 million of cash and saw its revenue drop sharply for the first time. During an earnings call to discuss the quarter, CEO Robert Reffkin couldn't rule out further job cuts after two rounds of layoffs shed almost 1,200 workers, or about a quarter of its staff.
Big home-flipping companies known as iBuyers — which scoop up properties partly based on high-tech algorithms and then renovate and resell them — are also struggling. The sector's biggest firm, the San Francisco-based Opendoor, bled $928 million during the third quarter, its worst-ever three-month performance, and said it would dismiss 550 workers, or 18% of its headcount.
And Redfin, the home-listings site and brokerage, announced it would shutter its own iBuying arm after posting a $90.2 million loss across its business during that same time period. It said it would let go of 862 workers amounting to 13% of its workforce.
For almost a decade, a growing group of companies have thrived by introducing tech innovations to a stubbornly analog real-estate industry. The so-called property-technology sector, often called proptech, has produced household names like Compass, Opendoor, and Redfin, along with hundreds of lesser-known startups.
Many of these firms have focused on the country's multitrillion-dollar residential market, seeing an especially lucrative opportunity to remake the traditional process of buying and selling a home, or taking out a mortgage, to be faster, cheaper, and more easily accessible online.
But after a decade of steady growth fueled by billions of dollars of investor cash, these companies are now experiencing a downturn that many in the young proptech industry have never seen. Those whose fortunes are tethered to the health of the residential market have been hit especially hard in recent months as fast-rising interest rates have swamped sales transactions and brought down home prices in some areas of the US. If the nation's economy tips into a recession and market conditions continue to worsen, proptech experts warn of more red ink, layoffs, scrambled business ambitions — and perhaps even a painful industrywide culling.
"It didn't seem like real estate was a cyclical business for the last 12 years, but, in fact, it is," said Constance Freedman, the founder and managing partner of Moderne Ventures, an early-stage fund with about $500 million of investments in 140 proptech-related companies. "If a company is totally beholden to the health of the real-estate business and doesn't have a countercyclical model within it, it's probably not going to fare well in a downturn."
Proptech must contend with both a cooling housing market and a slowing economy overall
The tumult has been felt by industry stalwarts such as Zillow, which said in October that it would cut about 300 jobs, along with newer startups including Pacaso, which shed about a third of its roughly 300 workers that same month. The San Francisco-based Pacaso purchases vacation homes in tony areas of the country such as Lake Tahoe and Vail and then sells more-affordable shares in the properties to buyers who visit for a fraction of the year.
Proptech is not alone: Businesses across the economy have been battered by sinking stock values, muted expectations for growth, and substantial job reductions. Amazon, for instance, plans to cut 10,000 corporate employees, according to reports, and Meta recently laid off 11,000 workers.
Clelia Warburg Peters.
Warburg Realty
Proptech's nascency along with the dual punches of being caught at the intersection of two wobbling sectors — real estate and tech — have made business conditions especially challenging, experts said.
"We have been in two parallel bull markets for both technology and real estate, and proptech has really benefited," said Clelia Peters, the founding partner of Era Ventures, a recently launched venture-capital firm in New York City. "Now we're seeing something that feels like a confluence between the 2001 dot-com bust in the venture-capital world and the 2008 market crash in real estate. This is an environment that's an existential threat, even for the giants in the industry."
Shares of both Opendoor and Redfin, which once drew investor attention to the soaring proptech industry, are worth roughly one-tenth what where they were a year ago. Compass' stock is worth roughly one-fifth its IPO price from April of last year. Meta's shares, by contrast, have cratered more modestly, trading recently at roughly a third of where they were a year ago. Amazon's shares have been down by almost half.
A September report about the proptech industry by Ryan Tomasello, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, reported that public proptech stocks had fallen in value by 46% from the beginning of the year on average compared with declines of 16% for the S&P 500 and 25% for the Nasdaq.
Tomasello estimated that venture investment in proptech totaled about $7.4 billion through August, a decline of about 5% from the previous year during the same period. The rate at which investment dollars have been flowing into the sector, however, appears to be falling rapidly, with about $2.6 billion invested in the second quarter, a decline of 16% from a year prior and 45% below the amount of investment in the first quarter of 2022.
Proptech firms have had to take action to survive
To survive, proptech players have had to reshuffle priorities. As in the wider tech industry, many companies have turned away from their focus on revenue expansion over profits in recent years to conserve cash, scale back growth, and cut expenses.
"Your two- to three-year runway of cash can suddenly shrink to five or six months," said Austin Allison, the CEO of Pacaso. "Then you really have two choices. You go out of business or you make difficult decisions to survive."
Spencer Rascoff and Austin Allison, the Pacaso founders.
Pacaso
For Pacaso, which received a $1 billion valuation after a March 2021 funding round, that meant pruning advertising expenses to publicize its vacation-home shares for sale, pausing its expansion into new regions, and laying off about 100 workers. It marked the first substantial downsizing for the company since its founding in 2020 by Allison, a former Zillow executive, and the tech investor Spencer Rascoff, who was Zillow's CEO from 2010 to 2019.
"You lose a bunch of really amazing people," Allison said. "It's difficult. There's just no other way to describe it."
Allison said the moves were more defensive than dire. The company, he said, hasn't yet had to tap into $125 million it raised in a Series C round in September. The company doesn't disclose how many homes it has purchased, but it told Insider it just sold its 1,000th share.
Allison argues that Pacaso's timeshare-like model still appeals during down cycles. As higher mortgage rates and sinking stock portfolios make wealthy buyers feel less flush, some may see fractional ownership as a more affordable way to own a second home. Nonetheless, he said the company planned to cut back its acquisition pipeline of new homes by 60% in the near term.
Greg Schwartz, Tomo's cofounder and CEO.
Tomo Networks
Tomo, a digital mortgage platform launched in 2020, has similarly scaled back, cutting almost a third of its 150-person team in May and pausing its plans to expand its operations beyond 12 states and Washington, DC.
Greg Schwartz, who cofounded the company and is another Zillow alum, said the current conditions were a head-spinning departure from dramatic growth expectations set during the coronavirus pandemic when low interest rates and a flurry of homes sales created a surge of mortgage originations.
The Mortgage Bankers Association estimates that about $480 billion of mortgages tied to one- to four-family homes will get done in the third quarter, a 29% drop from the second-quarter dollar volume and a nearly 50% decline from the third quarter a year ago.
"As a startup, the question you got used to hearing from investors was, 'How many customers and how much revenue do you have?'" Schwartz said. "You never wanted to say you were 'slow growth' because you'd get hammered. But that's what we're dealing with now and, as a founder, you have to adjust your ego."
Companies that aren't flailing are still acting cautious
Not all of proptech has become embroiled in crisis.
Point is a seven-year-old firm based in Seattle that pays homeowners a lump sum for a stake in their properties and then cashes out when the house is eventually sold.
The company's cofounder Eoin Matthews said inquiries from customers had increased as rising rates for conventional mortgages had prompted homeowners to contemplate tapping the equity in their existing homes rather than refinancing or moving.
The company hasn't laid off any of its 300-person staff — including a roughly 50-person tech team — and doesn't plan to, Matthews said.
But Matthews conceded that he'd also become more cautious about its business.
Before the slowdown this summer, Point generally bought a portion of a home's equity at a roughly 10% to 15% discount from its appraised value to buffer itself from the potential for falling prices and build in a profit.
Now it is carving itself a margin of more than 20% on deals, he said.
"We have to price in more risk," Matthews said, "because the risks have gone up."
Opendoor Zillow


The Cartel Kicker Unisex Men/Women Plus Size Ski or Snowboard Pants in navy are our most popular unisex snow pant. Their stretch fabric makes them comfortable and well-fitting yet durable with a definite feeling of luxury. You won't be disappointed when you try these pants on! These pants are rated to 15,000mm Waterproofing and 15,000 gm/m2 Breathability making them perfect for long days out in Australia's wet snow or in the cold depths of overseas winters. The Cartel Kicker Unisex Men/Women Ski or Snowboard Pants are designed with Mechanical Stretch fabrics and articulated knees for maximum comfort and performance.
I purchased these pants when I was at my wits end trying to find something to fit big thighs and a small waist. I can't believe I didn't find this site earlier! These are fantastic! I'd highly recommend them to anyone, and the sizing is accurate to the sizing guide.
Thank you so much Monica for your help!


To prepare for working in accounts receivable, you can take online accounting courses on their own or as part of a certificate or degree program. Find out what you'd learn in a course related to accounts receivable. Discover how online courses work. Get info on your careers in accounting, and check the requirements for becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Schools offering Finance degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Will I Learn in Online Accounts Receivable Courses?
A few schools offer stand-alone online courses in accounts receivable, though many such courses are included as part of an accounting certificate or degree program. In a typical accounts receivable course, you'll learn the procedures and policies that relate to accounting, cash management and finance. You'll explore banking, reporting and accounting processes and learn to read and generate financial reports. In addition to accounts receivable, you'll also learn about accounts payable, bookkeeping procedures, financial transaction controls and assessing applicable taxes. Some courses cover foundational topics, such as making payments with checks, creating an income report and balancing an account.
If you pursue an accounting degree, many schools offer online programs at associate, bachelor's and master's levels. In these programs, you could learn about accounts receivable from an individual, corporate, nonprofit or governmental standpoint. You'll learn how to audit accounts, implement controls, assess risks and analyze costs. Many accounting degree programs are available fully online, though you might find options that allow you to participate in an internship.
What Will an Accounts Receivable Course Prepare Me For?
Training in accounts receivable prepares you to work in bookkeeping, accounting and auditing as a clerk or within a human resources department. Depending on the size of the organization, you might be responsible for billing, keeping the general ledger, writing checks and preparing invoices. Large corporations could assign you to work in a designated area, such as accounts receivable or accounts payable. You could also qualify to become a bill and posting clerk, machine operator, brokerage clerk, credit checker, payroll clerk, timekeeping clerk or procurement clerk.
Do I Need to Earn a CPA License?
You only need to earn a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license if you submit public reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. To become a CPA, you'll need to earn a bachelor's or master's degree and pass the Uniform CPA Examination. This 4-part exam can be taken in sections, but must be completed within an 18-month period.
To participate in online accounting classes, you'll need to have Internet access, a valid e-mail address and an updated Web browser. Some classes have specific software requirements, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Office. You'll usually need to have a calculator or 10-key machine and a printer. You could take your accounts receivable classes through a course management system, such as Blackboard, or a school's proprietary online system. You'll communicate with instructors and classmates online, and schools often provide access to an online library and technical support services.


"The guy from Modest Mouse sings like someone is chasing him with a garden hose."
I know the words to every Pearl Jam song because I just make them up.
The White Stripes and The Black Keys should form a band and call it Pianos.
If you baptize your baby in Axe body spray they will grow up to be a guy named Todd who drives around in a yellow Camaro blasting Metallica.


Silver Design Package | Quest Acoustical Interiors Inc.
Compare all QuestAI packages here.
Details do matter. Hidden vibrations, lighting that makes you stand up to see the remote, breakers shutting down during the climatic scene. Then imagine perfect.
Is your theater an investment in your home's value? Don't let your theater be a hodge-podge of wires. Make it a permanent feature that enhances value.
Great sound and video! But... Make the room light up your guests imaginations even before the first moment of the show! Imagine the possibilities.
Great Theater Design is not for amateurs. There are so many details that affect the performance... make sure your theater checks every technical checklist box.
Review our Gold Design Package here.


On February 16, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were on a business visit to the Federative Republic of Germany to participate in the 53rd Munich Security Conference.
Officials welcomed President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva at the Munich International Airport.
On February 18, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the panel-discussions on the theme of cooperation and challenges in Eurasia, in the framework of the Munich Security Conference.
Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the event.
The Head of our State spoke at the panel-discussions, then answered questions.
Estonian President Mrs Kersti Kaljulaid, Georgian Prime-minister Georgi Kvirikashvili, chairperson of Kazakhstan's Senate Kasim-Jomart Tokayev and Ukraine's former Prime-minister Arseni Yatsenyuk made a speech at the panel-discussions.
On February 18, Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva followed panel-discussions on health security in the framework of the 53rd Munich Security Conference.
Exchange of opinions were held at the panel-discussions on joint efforts of the UN and the World Health Organization in preventing epidemics occurring throughout the world, ways of involving the civil society institutes and the private sector and use of innovations and advanced technology in the struggle against epidemics etc.
The 53rd Munich Security Conference came to an end on February 19.


text:
Q: Parametric equation of a curve in $R^3$ How to find the parametric equation of the curve in $R^3$, which is the intersection of the sphere of radius $a>0$ centred at the origin, and the plane $x+y+z=0$?
I've tried to start looking for $x$ and $y$, but I had no sucess.
Thanks in advance!

A: This is a circle that projects to an ellipse in the $x$-$y$ plane. Once you parametrize the projection as $(x(t),y(t))$ you can parametrize the original circle as
$(x(t),y(t),-x(t)-y(t))$.
The equation of the sphere is $x^2+y^2+z^2=a^2$, substituting $z=-x-y$ into it gives $x^2+xy+y^2=a^2/2$. This is the projected ellipse. To eliminate the $xy$ term we change variables $x=x'+y'$, $y=x'-y'$, this is the usual rotation of axes for ellipses up to a factor. This brings us to $3x'^2+y'^2=a^2/2$, which is easy to parametrize since $\cos^2 t+\sin^2 t=1$. Namely, $x'(t)=\frac{a}{\sqrt{6}}\cos t$ and  $y'(t)=\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}\sin t$, so for the circle:
$$\Big(\frac{a}{\sqrt{6}}\cos t+\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}\sin t,\, \frac{a}{\sqrt{6}}\cos t-\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}\sin t,\, -\frac{2a}{\sqrt{6}}\cos t\Big).$$

A: First, find an orthonormal basis $\{ \vec{u}_1, \vec{u}_2 \}$ for the plane $x + y + z = 0$.  Start with any old vector in the plane:
$$
\vec{v}_1 = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ -2 \end{bmatrix}
$$
will do.  Notice that you just have to make the coordinates sum to zero.  To find an orthogonal vector $\vec{v}_2$ in the plane, engineer it so that $\vec{v}_1 \cdot \vec{v}_2 = 0$.  This isn't too hard:
$$
\vec{v}_2 = \begin{bmatrix} -1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}
$$
works.  (You could have found $\vec{v}_2$ up to a scalar by computing the vector product $\vec{n} \times \vec{v}_1$, where
$$
\vec{n} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}
$$
is the normal vector to the plane.)
Second, normalize the vectors (make them have unit length):
$$
\vec{u}_1 = \frac{\vec{v}_1}{\| \vec{v}_1 \|} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}} \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ -2 \end{bmatrix}
$$
and
$$
\vec{u}_2 = \frac{\vec{v}_2}{\| \vec{v}_2 \|} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \begin{bmatrix} -1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}
$$
Finally, parametrize the circle of radius $a$ in terms of the basis $\{ \vec{u}_1, \vec{u}_2 \}$:
$$
\begin{align}
\vec{\gamma}(t) &= (a \cos t) \vec{u}_1 + (a \sin t) \vec{u}_2 \\
&= \frac{a}{\sqrt{6}} \begin{bmatrix} \cos t - \sqrt{3} \sin t \\ \cos t + \sqrt{3} \sin t \\ -2 \cos t \end{bmatrix}
\end{align}
$$


Deliciousness is not just how a dish looks, but how it feels. It's the tactile and textural pleasures. And being that we're in the midst of soup and stew season, there's nothing more disappointing than digging in with your spoon and discovering a thin, watery bowl. Think about it: Chicken pot pie with runny juices would be not nearly as appetizing as chicken pot pie with a thick, creamy sauce that holds the filling together.
Thing is, there are various tactics to make dishes more luscious, and it really depends on your particular situation. I've known friends who merely dumped a few spoonfuls of flour into their thin soups—to disastrous results.
Bring me your watery, your weak, your wimpy sauces. I will fix them and all will be well. Below are some of the most common thickening agents, ones that can add body, mouthfeel, and lusciousness to even the most slackened of sauces, soups, and stews.
A beurre manié, which translates to "kneaded butter" in French, consists of equal parts butter and flour mashed together. The fat coats the flour molecules, allowing them to release slowly and evenly into a hot liquid. It is a useful trick for any cooked dish where a slight butter flavor would be welcomed. I feel like a real cook when I make a beurre manié to thicken a dish, most commonly pan sauces or chicken/beef stew.
The downside: It has a certain je ne c'est quoi—that quoi is lump potential. If you don't mash it into a cohesive paste, it will form small flour lumps in your sauce. Mash well and thoroughly—always with a fork—or your next stop is Clump Town.
Corn starch is used in hot dishes in the form of a slurry, usually equal parts corn starch and a liquid (water or broth) whisked together. It should not be sprinkled directly into liquid, as it will form lumps. You can use cold or warm water to make your slurry, as the idea is to distribute it thoroughly. The key when dumping the slurry is then to bring your soup/stew/sauce to a boil, which activates the thickening properties.
Corn starch is also incredibly versatile: As a dredge for fried chicken, it adds a crunch and crackle that flour can't replicate. You can also replace a portion of flour for corn starch for sturdier pie crusts and tart shells.
Corn starch has no flavor, though I find too much can add a too-slippery mouthfeel—think of a thick hot and sour soup. In its sweeter applications, corn starch is used to gel the fruit juices in pies, thicken fillings, and add structure to mousses. There exists among some pie makers some scorn for using corn starch to thicken pudding and custards, but I say as long the base flavor is intact and the end result is not rubbery, you go with your bad corn self.
Arrowroot is derived from the rhizomes of a tropical plant called maranta arundinacea. It thickens the way corn starch does, except arrowroot can be sprinkled directly into a dish and stirred. Arrowroot is used frequently in gluten-free and paleo cooking/baking. Arrowroot offers alleged health benefits too, as it contains B vitamins and minerals and is noted to be easily digestible. I have nothing against arrowroot, it's just not that common in standard cooking and baking recipes. It's rare that I find it lurking on my friend's shelves either, but perhaps I should be friends with more health-conscious, Goop-reading folks.
Masa is dried fine cornmeal, often used to thicken chili or soups with a Tex-Mex slant (it's terrific incorporated into chicken tortilla soup). Masa can be used anywhere a mild corn flavor would be fitting. Masa should be added to a long-cooking dish and simmered to release its thickening powers. Beware of under-cooking it, or suffer the effects of tiny gritty corn bits in your teeth. It's worth having in your pantry for these uses, but also so you can throw together homemade tortillas quickly.
I love using potato starch: I add it to vegetable stock to add silkiness without the aftertaste. And as an avid cook of Japanese food, I happen to have potato starch in my pantry. It's less well known as a thickener, so I wouldn't go out of my to buy a bag of it if I had corn starch on hand, as the result is the same in hot liquid dishes.


text:
package de.codecentric.boot.admin.server.domain.values;

import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;

import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;

public class InstanceIdTest {

	@Test
	public void invariants() {
		assertThatThrownBy(() -> InstanceId.of(null)).isInstanceOf(IllegalArgumentException.class)
				.hasMessage("'value' must have text");
		assertThatThrownBy(() -> InstanceId.of("")).isInstanceOf(IllegalArgumentException.class)
				.hasMessage("'value' must have text");
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
2020 Election: When will we know who won the presidency?
Patrick Semansky/AP
President Donald Trump gestures while speaking during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
By: Alex Hider
Posted at 1:33 PM, Nov 03, 2020
With record numbers of early votes and mail-in votes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Election Night 2020 should be one unlike any other.
Typically, forecasters and analysts have a pretty good idea which presidential candidate will prevail in the electoral college within a few hours of the final polls closing. But it's not uncommon for the outcome of the election to remain in doubt for several days — or even, like in 2000, several weeks.
This year, record-breaking numbers of mail-in and early votes make it less likely that the race will be decided on Tuesday evening. But depending on how a few East Coast swing states break, Americans may be able to get a good idea on how the race is shaking out — with the caveat that a handful of states could quickly swing the race the other way.
Below is a list of key swing states and when their races are likely to be called.
EARLY EVENING: (7 p.m. ET - 9 p.m. ET)
Swing states with polls closing in this span: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas.
At this stage in the evening, America will either know whether they're in for a long night or know if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden could be on his way to a landslide victory.
Florida has been processing mail-in ballots for days and is typically among the states that report results the quickest. With polls closing at 7 p.m. ET in the eastern part of the state and 8 p.m. ET in the panhandle, it will be an early forerunner for the 2020 race.
Recent polling shows Biden holds leads in many swing states throughout the country, but the race appears to be a tossup in Florida. Without the Sunshine State's 29 electoral college votes, President Donald Trump will face yet another roadblock on his already shaky path to victory.
On the other hand, if Trump can prevail in Florida and add a win in North Carolina — a state whose votes will also be tabulated quickly — will open up another avenue to 270 electoral votes. Trump narrowly won North Carolina in 2016 and is running competitively in the state again.
LATE NIGHT (9 p.m. to midnight)
Swing states with polls closing in this span: Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada
As Tuesday evening ticks on and West Coast polls begin to close, results will likely be trickling in midwestern swing states like Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Trump stunned pollsters in 2016 when he took Michigan and Wisconsin by less than 100,000 votes combined. The two states typically vote Democrat, and polls showed Hillary Clinton leading heading into Election Day.
Trump will likely need a similar overperformance in those states to serve a second term. Recent polls show him trailing behind Biden in Michigan and Wisconsin by about eight points.
While some jurisdictions in Michigan may report absentee ballots alongside day-of votes, some mail-in ballots will be tabulated on Wednesday morning. However, The New York Times projects that if Biden holds an early lead in Michigan, he's likely to keep it as more Democrat-leaning mail-in votes arrive.
EARLY MORNING (midnight to noon on Wednesday)
In the early morning hours of Nov. 4, West Coast polls will have closed, and Trump will be hoping to carry two reliably blood-red states — Arizona and Texas. Trump hopes both will pad his electoral vote count while more ballots trickle in from rust belt states.
However, both states appear to be in striking distance for Biden in 2020 — meaning flipping one could put him over the 270 mark before the sun rises on Tuesday.
Should the race remain competitive into Wednesday morning, Americans need to brace themselves for a few days of uncertainty.
Many analysts expect Pennsylvania to be the all-important "tipping-point state" — the state with the slimmest margin of victory of any other in the union. But don't expect results from the Keystone State any time soon — the state won't begin processing mail-in ballots until Tuesday evening, meaning analysts may not be able to project a winner until late this week.
A second swing state, Nevada, will also likely be counting ballots for a couple of days. The state went to 100% mail-in voting this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and while most of the state's ballots will be counted by Wednesday, the state will continue to count votes until Nov. 10 — but only those ballots that are postmarked by Nov. 3.