text:
Travel: You can learn how to be a mermaid on Maui
Instructor Sara Ferguson of The Mindful Mermaid Swim Academy, conducts a lesson. (Photo by Michelle Olney, The Mindful Mermaid Swim Academy)
By Debbi K Kickham | debbikkickham@hotmail.com |
Did you know that being a mermaid — or a merman — is a hot new trend?
I didn't until I visited Hawaii and took a new, two-hour "Discover Mermaid Experience" class with Sara Ferguson, owner of The Mindful Mermaid Swim Academy, a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) program launched around the world, including on Maui. This aquatic adventure is now available at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali, right in its shallow pool waters near the stunning waterfall grotto. In fact, "Mermaids are the new black," Ferguson says with a laugh — she is PADI's leading mermaid instructor.
Young swimmers prepare for instruction on being mermaids. (Photo by Michelle Olney, The Mindful Mermaid Swim Academy)
Author Debbi Kickham poses in her mermaid outfit at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali. (Courtesy of Debbi Kickham)
Sara Ferguson, who travels the world making ocean-conservation videos with a focus on sharks, is shown swimming with sharks. (Photo by Andre Musgrove)
Also offered are a full-day PADI Mermaid course, and another one that is more advanced, which occurs over two days, and Ferguson even includes an underwater photo shoot. Then Voila! You're a certified mermaid.
Ferguson should know. She actually wrote the mermaid program for and with PADI, and it's the first step to being a certified PADI mermaid. And seeing that she is lean, and lithe, with long, long, long flowing red hair, she actually resembles a live mermaid — especially when wearing her tail — and is a great teacher of all-things-ocean. Actually, that's what mermaids are all about, she says. "We inspire others to protect the ocean, and we educate the younger generation to become ocean ambassadors," she told me when we were both in the pool.
Ferguson added that "People fly in from all over the world," to experience her mermaid classes, adding "It's a way to be magical."
In fact, there are actual "pods" of people who love to dress up and swim like mermaids and mermen. One of them, based in California, is called "Merfolk Pod" and it lists 451 members on its Facebook page. Ferguson, furthermore, told me that every year for the past three years, in May, there has been a California Mermaid Convention held in Rancho Cordova. Ferguson said it's one of the largest mermaid conventions, where more than 100 mermaids and merman attend and take classes on topics such as "How To Keep Your Wig On Underwater."
Well, I was intrigued and decided to see for myself, with my very own tail at my feet (and with my tongue firmly in cheek). My beginner's "Discover Mermaid" class costs $149, doesn't require a regulator, and is the first step in eventually becoming certified. This initial program lasts for about two hours.
First things first. After I signed on for the experience, Ferguson gave me leggings and a crop top bearing orange-and-pink fish "scales," just like a mermaid would wear. Next step was putting on the matching tail/skirt, to which had been attached, at the bottom, a beginner's plastic black monofin. I must admit, I looked "mer-mazing!"
All I needed next was a snorkel and mask — I opted out of using a regulator. She even asked me to create my own personal mermaid name. I chose "Debunk," as it resembles my real name — and well, sort of, describes my work as a journalist. (Ferguson's mermaid name is "Sarandipity.") Whoever knew that mermaids would be so popular — kind of like unicorns? "It's a niche for sure, but people love it," said Ferguson with a laugh.
I got into the pool and then, holding my hands, Ferguson showed me how to create a "Dolphin stroke wave" in the water, using my tail. I have to say, using a monofin/tail to swim really works your abs as you point your toes underwater with your legs together. It's basically pulling in your stomach and "zipping" it up — and you will definitely feel it in your abdomen the next day. What a workout! "It's the ultimate water Pilates," she added.
After that she taught me how to actually do a mermaid trick — by going underwater, and snapping my tail high above the water. Wow! I achieved it on the first try, and it was so much fun.
Ferguson is an excellent teacher. She created this course as she was a certified scuba diver and instructor who loved working with "nervous Nellies," in the water. She herself can free-dive into the water, and hold her breath for an incredible three minutes and 45 seconds to 109 feet underwater.
"This course lets kids and adults have an ocean experience, and learn more about the ocean … remember also, that it's a mermaid's job to protect the ocean."
When she's not teaching other mermaids, Ferguson is passionate about sharks. She travels the world making ocean-conservation videos with a focus on sharks.
"People have been conditioned to think of sharks as bloodthirsty murderers, when in truth, we kill over 11,000 sharks per hour, a far cry from the 10 humans they kill each year," Ferguson explains. "When they can see you clearly, sharks usually swim away. If people are swimming in murky water, they confuse us for their favorite meal, a seal. I spend time in the water with sharks every week and have seen how they really are, beyond the demonization of their mainstream portrayal. Sharks are just a big, graceful fish that have very little interest in humans and they need our help before it's too late."
Ontario airport and Discover IE invite international travelers to explore two-county region
Frontier Airlines unveils cheap unlimited summer travel pass — but there are a few catches
Baby didn't have a ticket, so the parents left the child at airline check-in counter
This is the most valuable airline reward program
Holding her breath, Ferguson swims to depth without a mask with these wild animals to convey an idea of coexistence. Watching her is like seeing a real-life Ariel in action.
Right now, there are more than 500 PADI Mermaid Instructors and Mermaid Centers around the world — in such far-flung locations as the Maldives, in the glaciers of Switzerland, in farmland Wisconsin, Australia, Mexico, and in Cornwall, England — which is the mermaid capital of the world.
"Mermaids are real," says Drew Richardson, president and CEO of PADI Worldwide. "Anyone can be one and by doing so you become part of our mutual movement to restore the balance between humanity and the ocean."
In other words, PADI is filling the oceans with mermaids offering magic and hope, just when it's needed most.
More on mermaids
Mindfulmermaids.com
www.padi.com/mermaid-centers
Debbi K Kickham | Travel writer


Yes, Stephen actually LIKES both politics and numbers. He spent a majority of his life thinking that such a strange mixture of interests and skills would never fare well in the workplace, but then he discovered Global Strategy Group. Since then, Stephen has been convinced that he actually is cool, despite what his non-political friends may say.
Stephen began his career working as a policy aide and constituent liaison to Governor Steve Bullock in his home state, Montana. He graduated from Montana State University with highest honors, where he received a double major in political science and economics.
During his free time, Stephen spends most of it exploring New York City and trying to fathom the fact that his new city contains 9 times more people than his home state, in a much, much smaller land area.


ASTM D specifies the test conditions for determining the compressive properties of rigid cellular materials, particularly expanded plastics. Rigid foams. 22 Feb Similar to ISO , ASTM D is a testing standard designed to measure the compressive properties of rigid cellular plastics (i.e. foam). This standard is issued under the fixed designation D ; the number 1 This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D on Plastics.
It is important to review ASTM D in order to fully understand the test setup, procedure, and results requirements. How can we help you?
The tests cannot be considered significant for engineering design in applications differing widely from the load – time scale of the standard test. Due to the very large number of tests offered, descriptions of those most commonly requested have been gathered into the following groups: If there are asgm material specifications, then the default conditions apply.
Swivel seating can be placed on the platen attached to the instrument's base or load cell in the moving crosshead. Instron offers linear variable displacement transducers LVDTs for measurement directly awtm the platens.
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The Plastics Testing Solutions brochure is a page, applications-focused, and standards-based brochure. We're ready to help! Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd. Continue to apply load until the sample yields or wstm the sample has been compressed to the percentage of original thickness indicated in the standard.
Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method.
Historical Version s – view previous versions of standard. After testing and analysis, compressive strength, modulus and deformation at maximum load are reported. Check this box to receive pertinent commercial email from Instron focusing on products, upcoming events, and more!
Due to the very large number of tests offered, descriptions of those most commonly requested have been gathered into the following groups:. Touchstone has a large environmental chamber photo on right capable of conditioning a wide range of sample sizes. While in EN and ISO the movement of the compression platen is typically measured by the crosshead travel of the testing machine with a defined minimum accuracy, ASTM D describes an additional method that compensates for the self-deformation of the testing machine.
Standard load ratings up to kN 67, lbf ; higher ratings available upon request Platen diameters from 56 mm to mm 2. Contact Us Request an Accessory Catalog. ASTM D specifies the test conditions for determining the compressive properties of rigid cellular materials, particularly expanded plastics.
For measurements to ISO Method BZwickRoell offers mechanical and optical travel measuring systems for the precise recording of specimen deformation. To reduce the possible effects from off-center loading, it is preferred to place the swivel seat in the base.
The system can also be connected ashm a defectometer to provide more accurate deflection data. Purpose of the Test Compressive properties include the compressive strength, maximum compressive deformation, and asstm compression modulus, which describes the short-term deformation under load.
Test data is obtained, and from a complete load-deformation curve it is possible to compute the compressive stress at any load such as compressive stress at proportional-limit load or compressive strength at maximum load and to compute the effective modulus of elasticity.
Note that the standards are similar but not the same. Make sure that your samples are the correct size as indicated in the specification.


Five days later, I found myself in surgery, again. This would be another day that would change my life forever. Today I was going to lose my breast. My mind was whirling again. Why me? I remember waking up in the recovery room, my left chest covered in a shroud of gauze and tape, so padded that it almost looked as though my breast was still there. I was in and out, lost in a sleepy haze and nausea. My back hurt, my shoulder hurt, and I was a one-breasted woman.
The next day, I was sent home to recover. How does one recover from losing a breast? I have lost a breast, and I am in mourning, but I am alive. Today was my first day as a cancer survivor!
As soon as I felt strong, I wanted to go to the library and check out every book on breast cancer. I want to know what I need to do to win this battle. I wanted to be prepared when I went to see the oncologist, another new word in my vocabulary. Probably the "nurse" in me, but I wanted to know what they were saying, I wanted to understand my options. I made my first appointment.
Oncologist No. 1 … was highly recommended, rather insensitive, but highly recommended. But what would they know, they didn't lose a breast! This oncologist studied the reports, and then told me I was one of the lucky ones. I had a very small tumor — 7 millimeters — my lymph nodes were all negative, and I would not benefit from chemo. The risk outweighed the benefits. Was I lucky? I thought so, until I was called back a week later and told that because my tumor was HER2 positive. They really did not know what to do with me. It was up to me if I wanted chemo. Up to me? I thought the oncologist was the expert!
Oncologist No. 2 was local, actually quite close to my home and well respected in a small town. This oncologist looked at me, looked at all my reports and then proceeded to tell me " I fell into a gray area." They didn't know what to do, or if I would benefit from chemo. This is getting old; I thought these were the experts!
Oncologist No. 3: This oncologist treated my mother, and my mother had survived many years. She is a professor of oncology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. I valued her opinion; after all, she treated my mother! She read all the reports, pondered and then had a plan. I felt at ease, I felt at peace. I felt trust. I knew I was in the right place. I felt at home!
That was in 2002, nine years ago. Seems like forever. I did recur in 2003, and have been in treatment ever since. I calculated it one time; I believe I have made 500+ trips to Rush in Chicago, a 150-mile trip each time I go. Many people ask me why I travel all the way to Chicago, when there is a brand new cancer treatment center within walking distance of my home.
It's called trust. I credit each year I have been a survivor with the oncology team at Rush! It is so worth the drive, I wouldn't go anywhere else. I feel that I am an important individual who is cared for and welcomed from the employees at the front desk, the lab, triage nurses, the pharmacy team, the nurses and doctors. There is a sense of confidence and knowledge exhibited by all. The quality of care is above and beyond. I have been truly blessed with the best in the Midwest.
What started as a small and simple oncology floor is now a beautiful oasis for cancer patients. My first oncologist, Dr. Janet Wolter, has retired. She was more than my oncologist, she became an amazing part of my life, and she became my friend. I am fortunate to now be under the care of Dr. Melody Cobleigh, who took on many of Dr. Wolter's patients. I was the first patient to arrive the opening day of Rush's new outpatient cancer center, and was in awe of the new surroundings. It was truly designed with the patients in mind, from the bright colors to the artwork on the walls. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to receive my cancer treatment at Rush. After nine years, it just keeps getting better, and each time I go, I feel there is no place like Rush.
It truly feels like home.
This entry was posted in Cancer, Patient Stories, Rush University Cancer Center and tagged breast cancer. Bookmark the permalink.
What a great article. How smart you were to search out the very best. Keep fighting the good fight and know that your friends look at you with awe. You are truly an inspiration to so many. With much love and such great memories of lots of laughs.
It was so interesting to read about your experience. I wish I had a a Rush Center where to go and feel as confortable as you do. God bless you and God bless all our breast cancer sisters.


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Q: c++ - OpenGL movement with deltatime So, I started programming again in C++ and trying things out with OpenGL. Currently I have a basic application where I just want to move the camera with keys. I read many article about this, but still I have problem with the movement, I guess because even if only a little, but they differs from my program. First I made a 60 fps limit and calculated the speed with deltatime, but the movement was laggy. Now I turned off FPS limiting, but now it runs at around 4000 FPS, so deltatime is most of the time 0 or 1, so the movement is really really slow. I'm sure I don't understand something about the concept, but I need to point it out.
The main loop:
while (running) {
    if (PeekMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0, PM_REMOVE)) {

        if (msg.message == WM_QUIT) {
            running = false;

            break;
        } else {
            TranslateMessage(&msg);
            DispatchMessage(&msg);
        }
    } else {
        clock_t last = clock();
        deltaTime = last-start;

        //if ((double)deltaTime >= 16.666666666) {
        fps++;
        millis += deltaTime;
        start = last;

        if (millis > 1000) {
            millis = 0;
            std::cout << "FPS: " << fps << std::endl;
            fps = 0;
        }

        openglContext.renderScene();
        //}
    }
}

WndProc key handler:
float speed = 5.0f;

...

case WM_KEYDOWN:
    switch(wParam) {
        case 0x57:
            openglContext.updateCoordinates(0.0f, 0.0f, ((float)deltaTime / 1000.0f * speed), glm::radians(angle));
            break;
    }
    break;

I know it's not perfect, but as I wrote before I tried many "solutions".
Hope someone can help. Thanks in advance!
Solution:
There is still many to do, but for now it's perfect.
LARGE_INTEGER start;
LARGE_INTEGER frequency;
QueryPerformanceFrequency(&frequency);
QueryPerformanceCounter(&start);

while (running) {

    ...

        LARGE_INTEGER current;
        QueryPerformanceCounter(&current);
        dt = ((double)(current.QuadPart - start.QuadPart) / (double)frequency.QuadPart);
        QueryPerformanceCounter(&start);

        ... key handling
        ... render
        ...

A: The problem that delta_time is either 0 or 1 happens because of the generally low resolution of std::clock(). In most cases, the minimal time that can be measured is around 0.01 seconds, which is way to less for a rendering application. Reference
Depending on your system and on the compiler used, there are several alternatives that will allow you to measure timings with higher precision.

*

*(C++11 high_resolution_clock)[http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/chrono/high_resolution_clock]

*(QueryPerformanceCounter in Windows)[https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn553408(v=vs.85).aspx]

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So-Called City Girl | One word at a time.
Trying too hard to be happy leads to. . . sadness?
Throughout my eighteen years of living, one thing I've concluded is that being happy isn't easy. People in this world say happiness is a choice, but if it truly was that easy wouldn't everyone simply just choose to be happy? As humans, we have this innate quest to find these so-called feelings of joy and … Continue reading Trying too hard to be happy leads to. . . sadness?


text:
Gemmula rotatilis is een slakkensoort uit de familie van de Turridae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1902 door Martens.

Turridae

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text:
Seeing Sound
Never Spoken Again: Rogue Stories of Science and Collections
Soundings: An Exhibition in Five Parts
APICHATPONG WEERASETHAKUL: THE SERENITY OF MADNESS
Axis Mundo: Queer Networks in Chicano L.A.
Publishing Against the Grain
The Conditions of the Archive: FESTAC 77
ARTnews includes Axis Mundo in Most Important Art Exhibitions of the 2010s
Curatorial Intensive
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Report: Curatorial Intensive in New Orleans 2019
JURACAN, HURACÁN, HURRICANE: notes on guest curating the Dak'Art Biennale.
Visions of The Bahamas: The Hotel Industrial Complex and the NAGB
Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960–1985
The Independents
ICI 2019 ANNUAL BENEFIT & AUCTION
3rd Annual Independents Spring Benefit
ICI Travels: St. Louis
TOUR OF SAM MOYER'S SOLO SHOW AT SEAN KELLY GALLERY
401 Broadway, Suite 1620
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Stuart Comer is the Chief Curator of the Department of Media and Performance Art at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. He will oversee the department's program of special exhibitions, installations from the collection, and acquisitions. He previously served as the curator of Film at Tate Modern, London, UK where he oversaw film and video work for the Tate Collection and Displays and was co-curator for the opening program of The Tanks at Tate Modern. He was editor of Film and Video Art (Tate Publishing, 2009) and has contributed to several publications and numerous periodicals including Artforum, Frieze, Afterall, Mousse, Parkett, and Art Review.
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Latest statistics for profremstroy.pro website: estimated summary traffic is 23.8 Thousand sessions per month (793 sessions per day, or 8.69 Million sessions per year). Profremstroy.pro was launched at April 25, 2014; this domain is almost 5 years old. The site links to network IP address 195.208.1.160. As of April 01, 2019, Alexa rank is N/A.


Damask jersey, suitable for dressmaking and craft. Free samples available.
Super soft stretch fabric suitable for dressmaking and craft. Free samples available.
1.2m Length of stretch cuffing for dressmaking.


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Waverley Leaves Dry Dock
The following pictures were taken today (Monday 20th May) by Roy Tait showing Waverley being re-floated and then being guided out dry dock before she ran trails and compass adjustments.
She then returned to her berth at the Science Centre in Glasgow.
At 5.30am on Monday 20th May water starts to flood in to Garvel Dry Dock.
25 minutes later the keel blocks are covered.
Two hours later water was pumped back out of the dock because of a minor technical issue. This delayed her departure meaning that she missed the morning high tide.
Just after 5pm 'Waverley' was successfully refloated and, with the assistance of the tug 'Beaver Bay', gently eased out of the dock.
'Beaver Bay' hauls 'Waverley' clear of the dock.
With the tug 'Battler' taking up the rear, 'Waverley' is towed to Custom House Quay. In the background is the cruise ship 'Celebrity Infinity'.
With her fresh paint job gleaming in the sunshine, 'Waverley' departs under her own steam for compass swinging. She returned to her berth at Glasgow Science Centre later in the evening.
Many thanks to Roy for recording the paddlers movements.
Waverley in Dry Dock
After returning to the Clyde following her visit to the Western Isles Waverley entered Garvel dry dock on the morning of Wednesday 8th May for her annual visit. The following pictures were taken on Monday 13th May of Waverley in dry dock by David Shirres.
The following picture was taken as Waverley passes Gourock and the railway station heading for Greenock on the evening of Tuesday 7th May having returned to the Clyde from Oban.
Waverley Western Isles 2013
Waverley began her 2013 sailing season on Friday 3rd May with her traditional programme of cruises around the Western Isles based in Oban. Last year those venturing north were rewarded with 11 hot and sunny days. This contrast this year could not have been more pronounced.
Truncated to five days of cruising, Waverley departed a wet Glasgow Science Centre at slightly after 7.30am with lots of familiar faces on board. The absence of some familiar and new faces was surprising, perhaps deterred by the shortened schedule and doom-laden weather forecast. Departure was delayed, not because of our Clyde Marine canting partner breaking down - this was a mere operational ripple - but because we lacked the mandatory "roll accompaniments" to the bacon and sausages.
This would be the first of the many intricate challenges that were lurking ready to confront Captain Andy O'Brian and his crew over the elongated Bank Holiday weekend. In this, just as in his handling of the other 'opportunities', he instinctively made what the hushed majority agreed was the proper decision; we awaited the late-running baker.
Our chances of rounding the Mull of Kintyre were not good, but by Campbeltown Captain Andy O'Brian reckoned that we had a 50:50 chance so we ventured around the corner to have a peek. In the end the Waverley's passage around the Mull, whilst lively, was untroubled.
A call was made at Colonsay to satisfy Waverley's passenger certificate conditions, with 'Lord of the Isles' kindly standing off for a couple of minutes to allow us to recover some lost time.
Calmac's LOTI at Colonsay with some of her hardier passengers
on deck to witness Waverley's pier-side manoeuvring.
Waverley reached Oban a mere 30 minutes later than advertised and disgorged her self-discharging cargo on to the North Pier. The rain was ineffective in repelling the sounds of a wheeled luggage invasion as passengers trundled their way to waiting buses or accommodation.
Saturday dawned with more rain and the shipping forecast map again included Malin and Hebridies-shaped red bits. It wasn't looking good for Ardnamurchan and the scheduled cruise to Armadale and Inverie. On taking Waverley out beyond the relatively sheltered waters of the Sound of Mull, it was clear to all to see, and feel, that the passage round Ardnamurchan was a no-go. Leaving The Old Forge at Inverie to solve its excess beer problem, Waverley turned abaft and headed up Loch Sunart, then onwards to Loch Linnhe where we overtook the Fort William-bound brig-rigged 'Stavros S Niarchos' before Waverley turned back for Oban.
The rain never stopped.
The Tall Ships Youth Trust 'Stavros S Niarchos' sailing at a sedate 6 knots
up Loch Linnhe to her overnight anchorage at Fort William.
Day 3, Sunday started predictably with… no wait… there is no sign of the forecast rain… yet.
One minor disadvantage of always travelling on board Waverley is that one rarely gets the opportunity to photography the ship, except inevitably at Oban's North Pier. 7am on Sunday morning and it had not yet started to rain.
Waverley set off to Fort Bill at 8am to pick up passengers. For those who had elected for forgoing the pleasure of a warm bed they were rewarded by sunshine and blissful cruising weather. The clouds started to roll in as we passed through the Corran narrows.
Something was wrong.
Approaching the Corran ferry 'Corran' at Corran!
The paddles slowed then stopped within sight of the red-roofed Crannog Restaurant at Fort William's Town Pier. The ship's emergency generator near the stern was leaking oil. Captain O'Brian was left with no choice but announce our immediate return to Oban. As befitting the mood, the apparent viscosity of the rain increased to surpass that of the leaking oil. The ship's engineers faced the unenviable task of getting the genny repaired.
A man and his white van was duly dispatched from Falkirk to make the 200 mile round trip to Oban.
Waverley arrived back to a North Pier speckled with umbrellas and soggy potential passengers. Announcements were duly made. Our technical problem meant that the afternoon 'four lochs and a whirlpool' cruise was cancelled, but everyone was welcomed on board to look around the ship and sample Waverley's traditional roast beef or turkey Sunday roast.
Remarkably the rain continued to get heavier and thicker throughout the afternoon. So, rather than travelling up to Fort William on Waverley, the evening was spent watching the rain washing the windows of the hastily arranged B&B (whilst peering at the Ee-usk webcam on the interweb anxiously checking to see if the van with the man had left the quayside).
Waverley rests in damp conditions at Oban's North Pier while repairs are carried out. (P Semple)
Only a white van in sight! (P Semple)
Monday and the red shapes continued to loiter upon the shipping forecast map in all of the wrong places. Passengers were informed that red shapes made a landing at Iona impossible. So Waverley again stayed within the waters of the Sound of Mull and, after an absence of two years made an impromptu call at Tobermory Pier. After a damp couple of hours ashore we headed up and around Lismore in progressively dismal weather before returning to Oban.
At Tobermory. (P Semple)
Day five of five and what a beaut. The sky was predominantly clear and blue, the sea glassy and turquoise as Waverley paddled her way south via Colonsay and Campbeltown to Greenock.
Sanda lighthouse with it's unique stone towers that enclose the steps from
the keepers cottages up to the lighthouse.
At Custom House Quay Waverley's intended berth was occupied by, yes our old friend Stavros S Niarchos. Delicate and precise manoeuvring was required before the Greenockian air could be saturated with the dulcet tones of wheeled luggage perambulating over cobblestones.
It was over.
Next day Waverley was towed the six cables to the Garvel dock to begin her annual dry docking.
It was not the most auspicious of starts to the new season but one can D:Ream that "Things can only get better."
Thanks are due to Captain O'Brian and crew of PS Waverley for dealing admirably with the fickle weather and resultant operational difficulties. Also many thanks to the engineers and volunteers, who worked over the cold winter months to ensure that Waverley completed her ten year inspection and was, err, shipshape for all of us to enjoy this year.
(More photographs may be found on Flickr here!)
Roy Tait
Waverley STV News Report "All aboard the world's last seagoing paddle steamer for 2013 season"
Scottish Television (STV) have broadcast a report as Waverley is about to begin the 2013 season.
The following link will open up the report. It was filmed over several days during the winter refit with further footage recorded as she prepared for sea trails earlier this week.
Waverley Sea Trials
Waverley sailed down the River Clyde for the first time in 2013 on Wednesday 30th April on sea trials ahead of her annual visit to Oban. 2013 marks the 39th year of Waverley operating in preservation.
She left Glasgow shortly after 2pm and sailed down river to Loch Long and then returned to the city just over 4 hours later. The following picture was taken by Roy Tait as Waverley returned to the Science Centre. She is scheduled to depart from Glasgow at 7am for Oban on Friday 3rd May. After her visit north she will be dry docked in Greenock before heading to Liverpool over the weekend of 1st June. Sailings from Llandudno which had been scheduled for Friday 31st May have now been changed to Tuesday 3rd September owing to delays in completing the landing stage on the pier. This will be the first time in over 10 years that Waverley has called at Llandudno.


text:
Navy Engineer Sentenced for Attempted Espionage
Passed Information on Latest Aircraft Carrier to Undercover Agent
The dead drop area in a Virginia park that was used by Navy civilian engineer Mostafa Ahmed Awwad to pass sensitive information on the USS Gerald R. Ford, a new aircraft carrier currently under construction.
In the fall of 2014, civilian engineer Mostafa Ahmed Awwad provided schematics of the U.S. Navy's newest nuclear aircraft carrier—the USS Gerald R. Ford—to an individual he thought was an Egyptian intelligence officer. At the time, Awwad was an employee of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, and had access to naval nuclear propulsion information.
His actions could have potentially compromised the safety of some 4,000 American sailors who will be serving on the USS Gerald R. Ford after it joins the fleet of Navy vessels sometime next year—and the security of our nation in general. Fortunately, Awwad's Egyptian contact turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. And last month, Awwad was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to attempted espionage.
After joint investigative efforts between the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), an undercover Bureau agent reached out to Awwad by telephone in September 2014 and, speaking Arabic, asked to meet with him. Without asking any questions, Awwad agreed.
The two discussed how they would remain in future contact—through coded e-mail communications and dead drops in a concealed location in the park.
In October 2014, at Awwad's request, the two men met in a hotel room in Norfolk. During that meeting, which was also recorded, Awwad gave the undercover agent electronic copies of schematic drawings of the USSGerald R. Ford, which clearly contained numerous markings warning against disseminating the information publicly. Awwad said he planned to obtain additional information concerning the tools and the technology necessary to build the carrier and also pointed out on the schematics vulnerable areas where a strike could cause an explosion significant enough to sink the carrier.
During this same meeting, Awwad described for the agent his plans to circumvent Navy computer security by installing software on his restricted computer that would enable him to copy documents without triggering a security alert. He also asked for money to buy a pinhole camera, which he intended to use throughout the shipyard to take pictures of restricted material.
And finally, Awwad told the agent that going forward, the two would communicate primarily through e-mail. The engineer, admittedly fearful of being caught by the FBI, instructed the agent to create 24 fake e-mail accounts that should be used only once and then deleted. He also asked for an escape plan in the event his activities were detected by the FBI.
Over the next month or so, Awwad and the undercover agent e-mailed numerous times and met again in a hotel. Awwad was also recorded servicing the dead drop location in the Hampton park, picking up $3,000 left by the agent at Awwad's request so he could purchase a laptop and dropping off an external hard drive of additional schematic drawings and two photos to be used for producing a fraudulent passport.
All the while, there was no doubt that Awwad understood that the "Egyptian representative" he was dealing with would be passing the stolen information to the Egyptian government.
Why did he do it? Awwad told our undercover agent that he was motivated to use his position to steal nuclear and defense secrets from the U.S. to aid Egypt in building a more robust defense. And at one point, he said he wanted to go to Egypt to meet personally with high-ranking intelligence and military officials to get a better idea on exactly what information they would want him to collect.
But he never got the chance. Awwad was taken into custody on December 5, 2014, following another meeting with our undercover agent.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is still under construction, but when completed, it will be the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world and the first in a new class of carriers. As a result of the joint FBI/NCIS efforts in this case, according to FBI Assistant Director Randall Coleman, "We prevented the loss of billions of dollars in research costs and the exposure of potential vulnerabilities to our newest generation of nuclear aircraft carrier."
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GRAPHICS WAREHOUSE
SCRUTINY TOOLBOX
By Members' Research Service / October 25, 2019
Commission as 'caretaker administration'
The hearings of the Commissioners-designate before the European Parliament's committees took place between 30 September and 8 October 2019.
© EC - Audiovisual Service
Written by Micaela del Monte and Silvia Kotanidis,
© EC – Audiovisual Service
The hearings of the Commissioners-designate before the European Parliament's committees took place between 30 September and 8 October 2019. The plenary vote on the entire Commission was originally planned for 23 October in Strasbourg, after a presentation by the Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen of the full College and its programme. However, three Commissioners-designate did not successfully complete the hearings process, making it necessary for three Member States to nominate new candidates and for committees to carry out new hearings. The new Commission will not, therefore, now be able to enter into office on 1 November, as scheduled. The outgoing Commission will thus remain in office until the formal appointment of its replacement, although questions arise as to its powers in that period.
Following the election by Parliament of Ursula von der Leyen as President-elect of the Commission, her next step was to announce, after a decision taken in common accord with the Council according to Article 17(7) TEU, the names and portfolios of the Commissioners-designate. They then had to undergo public hearings before the committees responsible for their portfolios, prior to the vote of consent of Parliament (a majority of the votes cast) on the President-elect and the Commissioners-designate (including the Vice-President appointed by the Council as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) as a body.
Ultimately, following that consent, the appointment of the Commission is done by the European Council, acting by qualified majority (Article 17(7) TEU). The hearings to which Commissioners-designate are subject are not required by the Treaties, but have long existed in a practice which has been codified in the Rules of Procedure of Parliament (Rule 125 and Annex VII). For the ninth term, the Conference of Presidents decided that the hearings would be held between 30 September and 8 October, with the plan being to vote subsequently on the Commission as a body at the Parliament's plenary session of 23 October.
This process of scrutiny of the candidates and the ensuing hearings, which represent a fundamental democratic exercise, implies a possible need to adjust the steps and timetable. Indeed, after the scrutiny of the declaration of financial interests of Commissioners-designate László Trócsányi (Neighbourhood and Enlargement) and Rovana Plumb (Transport), the Committee on Legal Affairs concluded that both were unable to take up their duties in the Commission. Being a precondition for the holding of a hearing according to the Rules of Procedure (Article 2 of Annex VII), neither could proceed to that step.
In addition, after a first unsatisfactory hearing on 2 October, the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, and on Industry, Research and Energy requested the hearing of Commissioner-designate Sylvie Goulard (Internal Market) be resumed on 10 October, with, in the end, a negative outcome. With three Commissioners-designate not having successfully passed Parliament's scrutiny, new appointments are required. As the date originally scheduled for a vote in Parliament on the Commission as a body has now passed, the new Commission cannot therefore take office on 1 November 2019 as required.
The notion of a 'caretaker' Commission
The question that arises is what are the consequences if the Commission is delayed in taking office, since the Juncker Commission's term of office comes to an end on 31 October 2019. What limits are there, if any, on the exercise of the Commission President's functions, and those of the College, and under what rules?
The Treaties do not explicitly take into account a possible delay in Commission taking office. Neither Article 17 TEU, setting out the term of office and the details of the procedure leading to the Commission's election, nor any other provisions of the Treaties provide for this situation, although similar events have occurred more than once in the past (see below).
Article 246(6) TFEU, however, deals with a comparable situation, according to which, when all members of the Commission submit their resignation collectively, they are to remain in office and continue to deal with current business until they are replaced, for the remainder of their term of office. This provision embodies the principle, quite widespread in the life of both EU and national institutions, of institutional continuity. The Treaties do not define the powers of the 'prolonged' Commission, however some argue that the Commission must act as a 'caretaker administration' not only when it resigns collectively as a College but also when, as in this case, the new Commission does not take office immediately after the expiry of the term of office of the previous College.
In this context, 'current business' would include all daily, routine business as well as all acts that cannot be postponed to the next College. Against this background, the adoption of new legislative proposals would seem excluded except for emergency reasons. Some limited case law has helped in framing the scope of the Commission's room for manoeuvre when the notion of 'current business' comes into play.
In 2003, the question arose in the case Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale v Commission of whether a State aid decision issued by a resigning Commission was lawful. On that occasion, the Court affirmed that the adoption of a State aid decision by the Commission after its collective resignation did fall within the scope of a caretaker administration, insofar as it did not constitute a new political initiative and the supervisory function of the Commission constituted part of the fulfilment of an 'essential task of the Community'. In this sense, the Court considered that the Commission had not exceeded the powers entrusted to a 'caretaker administrator' but 'confined itself to applying to that case a legal scheme of long-established rules and principles'.
In another case in 2012, European Parliament v Council, the Court argued that the same reasoning could be applicable 'a fortiori in circumstances in which a pre-existing proposal remained pending'. In fact, in that specific case, the Barroso I Commission formally amended one of its own proposals – which was then adopted as Regulation 1286/2009 – in respect of its legal basis, to take account of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. This decision was taken at a time when the Barroso I Commission's term of office had ended, but the new Commission had not yet formally entered into office. The Court also ruled in this case that such a 'step was essential if the Union legislature was to continue with the pending procedure after the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force'. However, the Court did not provide additional clarifications on what should be considered as 'essential'.
The current circumstances, the precedents in jurisprudence and the principle of continuity of institutional work allow a reasonable belief that the current Commission will work in a 'current business' mode until the new Commission does take office. Although some commentators expect that the new Commission will come into office in December 2019, how long the 'caretaker' administration continues will depend on new Commissioners-designate being nominated by France, Hungary and Romania, the agreement thereon of the President-elect, and those candidates then completing the hearings process successfully. After that, the entire College would need to obtain the consent of Parliament in a plenary vote.
The current situation is not an extraordinary one. The Prodi Commission was appointed to a term running until 22 January 2005, although its end was brought forward to 31 October 2004 under Article 45 of the Act concerning the 2004 enlargement. The Barroso I Commission should, therefore, have started on 1 November 2004. Due to uncertainties as to whether Parliament would support three of the Commissioners-designate initially put forward by Barroso (Rocco Buttiglione, László Kovács and Ingrida Udre) the vote of Parliament was postponed from 27 October to 18 November 2004. After election by Parliament, the Barroso I Commission (with two of those three candidates replaced, and the third taking a different portfolio than originally proposed) took office on 22 November 2004, i.e. three weeks after the statutory date.
Likewise, the Barroso II Commission took office with a few months of delay, starting work on 10 February 2010, instead of 1 November 2009, due to the delayed process of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which was finalised only in November 2009 and which consequently delayed the process of election of the Barroso II Commission which fell under the Lisbon rules. On that occasion, the Commission spokesperson, Johannes Laitenberger, declared that the Commission's mandate was extended 'based on the principle of institutional continuity' so that the Commission could work in a 'caretaker capacity'.
Read this 'at a glance' on 'Commission as 'caretaker administration'' in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
Categories: Institutional and Legal Affairs, PUBLICATIONS Tags: At a glance, At a glance EPRS, EP committees, EU Democracy, European Commission, European Commissioner, European Parliament, executive competence, Institutional and Parliamentary Law, Micaela del Monte, parliamentary rules of procedure, Silvia Kotanidis
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Return to Home page Bookmark this page Link to this page Send a Staunton Postcard
Staunton Family Crest
Origin of the Name Staunton
The origin of the name Staunton was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives.
Over the centuries Surnames developed a wide number of variants. Different spellings of the same name can be traced back to an original root. Additionally when a bearer of a name emigrated it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books at their new location. Surnames were also often altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another.
Variants of the name Staunton
include Stanton and MacEvilly. This was an important Hiberno-Norman sept, their original territory being Connacht.
They settled in Connacht just after the Anglo-Norman invasion and in the fourteenth century under Richard de Burgo acquired territory in the baronies of Clanmorris and Carra. The ancestor of the MacEvillys was Sir Bernard Staunton, formerly de Sdondon, whose son Philip Mor de Sdondon was amongst the first Norman invaders. Most of the MacEvillys have now reverted to the name Staunton and in the birth registrations of 1890, 67 Stauntons or Stantons were recorded in Counties Mayo and Galway. A very early record of the name refers to an Alice de Stanton, from Cambridgeshire in the year 1273.
The Staunton coat of arms came into existence centuries ago. The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this. The new art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own coat of arms, including all Staunton descendants.
This Staunton family crest, coat of arms is COPYRIGHT (C) ALLFAMILYCRESTS.COM, 1998-2015


text:
Q: AutocompleteTextView not showing up in android Am trying to populate list of items when user enters at least one character in autocompletetextview. GetView and get count methods in my custom adapter is getting called, but not populating out the auto completion list. Any help much appreciated. I have seen so many questions like this in SO and none helped.
specialityEditAutoCompleteTextView = (AutoCompleteTextView)findViewById(R.id.specialityEditAutoCompleteText);
        specialityEditAutoCompleteTextView.setThreshold(1);
    specialityEditAutoCompleteTextView.setAdapter(new MyAutocompleteTextViewAdapter(this,android.R.layout.simple_dropdown_item_1line,android.R.id.text1,Cache.getCache().specialities));
            specialityEditAutoCompleteTextView.addTextChangedListener(new TextWatcher() {
                @Override
                public void beforeTextChanged(CharSequence charSequence, int i, int i1, int i2) {

            }

            @Override
            public void onTextChanged(CharSequence charSequence, int i, int i1, int i2) {
                specialityEditAutoCompleteTextView.showDropDown();
                ((ArrayAdapter)specialityEditAutoCompleteTextView.getAdapter()).notifyDataSetChanged();
            }

            @Override
            public void afterTextChanged(Editable editable) {

            }
        });

Below is my Custom Adapter class
    public MyAutocompleteTextViewAdapter(Context context, int resource, int textViewResourceId, List<ItemPicker> objects) {
    super(context, resource, textViewResourceId, objects);
    this.context = context;
    this.loId = resource;
    this.textViewId = textViewResourceId;
    items = objects;
}

@Override
public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
    View v = convertView;

    if (v == null) {
        v = ((LayoutInflater) context.getSystemService(Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE)).inflate(loId, null);
    }
    ((TextView) v.findViewById(android.R.id.text1)).setText(items.get(position).displayableTitle());
    return v;
}

@Override
public int getCount() {
    return this.items.size();
}

Below is the layout :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="i_hash_in.dsp.com.myschool.NewTeacherProfileActivity">

    <android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:fitsSystemWindows="true" >
        <android.support.design.widget.CollapsingToolbarLayout android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="240dp"  app:layout_scrollFlags="scroll|enterAlwaysCollapsed|enterAlways|exitUntilCollapsed">
        <ImageView android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
            app:layout_collapseMode="parallax"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent" android:background="@mipmap/fourcolor" android:scaleType="fitCenter"/>

            <android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatImageButton android:layout_gravity="center"
                android:layout_width="200dp" android:background="@drawable/ic_local_see_black_48dp"
                android:layout_height="200dp" android:id="@+id/takePhotoButton"/>

        </android.support.design.widget.CollapsingToolbarLayout>
    </android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout>
    <android.support.v4.widget.NestedScrollView app:layout_behavior="@string/appbar_scrolling_view_behavior" android:layout_margin="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
 <AutoCompleteTextView android:hint="Speciality" android:completionThreshold="2"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent" android:id="@+id/specialityEditAutoCompleteText"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

 </android.support.v4.widget.NestedScrollView>

</android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout>


text:
Захарія (*Захарија Прибислављевић, бл. 890 — після 924) — жупан (князь) Рашки (Сербії) у 921—924 роках.

Життєпис
Походив з династії Властимировичів. Був сином Прибіслава, жупана Рашки. У 892 році його батька було повалено, який перебрався до Константинополя. В подальшому Захарія став візантійським ставлеником на сербський престол. У 920 році за рішення візантійського імператора Романа I після повалення князя Петра перебрався до Рашки. Підтримуваний болгарами Павло, князь Рашки, схопив Захарію і видав своїм болгарському цареві.

Після того як у 921 році Павло сам перейшов на бік Візантії, Симеон I, цар Болгарії, спрямував до Сербії Захарію, давши тому військову підтримку. Близько 921 року Захарія повалив Павла і сам зайняв сербський трон. Втім, зміцнившись як жупан, Захарія зрадив Симеона I і перейшов на бік Візантії.

Почалася нова війна Рашки з Юолгарією. Перше військо, яке Симеон I спрямував проти Захарії, зазнало поразки. У 924 році жупан Рашки зазнав поразки від болгарських військ, якими керував троюрідний брат — Часлав. Захарія вимушений був тікати до Захумл'я, а згодом до Хорватії. Після цього Симеон I захопив в полон всіх жупанів, присутніх для обрання нового князя, і підпорядкував собі усю Сербію.

Джерела
 Fine, John Van Antwerp (1991). The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-08149-7.
 Живковић, Тибор (2006). Портрети српских владара (IX—XII век). Београд: Завод за уџбенике и наставна средства.

Князі Сербії
Властимировичі


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The most beautiful walks are possible directly from the house.
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text:
Home/Copyright News/RIAA Shut Down DBR.ee, Now Obtains Subpoenas to Target Replacement
RIAA Shut Down DBR.ee, Now Obtains Subpoenas to Target Replacement
In May 2019, TF discovered that the RIAA had obtained a DMCA subpoena which compelled CDN company Cloudflare to reveal the identities of several site operators using its services.
Among the several domains listed was DBR.ee, a file-hosting site that had was utilized by some of its users for hosting pre-release music leaks. This clearly didn't sit well with the RIAA and within a month of the subpoena being obtained, DBR.ee shut itself down.
Initially it wasn't clear if the subpoena and the closure were linked but soon after a message appeared on the site which advised that it had been shut down for copyright infringement following action by the RIAA, IFPI, and Music Canada.
The DBR.ee shutdown notice
Early September, however, a new site appeared. Sporting the DBREE name and graphics but located under a different URL (DBREE.co), the site seemed to want to pick up where the original had left off. It's not currently known whether the same people are behind the resurrection but the RIAA appears keen to find out.
Late November the RIAA obtained a pair of DMCA subpoenas at a Columbia federal court, one targeting domain registrar Namecheap and the other CDN service Cloudflare. Their aim is to uncover the identities of several site operators, DBREE.co's included.
"The purpose for which this subpoena is sought is to obtain the identity of the individual assigned to these websites who has induced the infringement of, and has directly engaged in the infringement of, our members' copyrighted sound recordings without their authorization," the subpoenas read.
DBREE.co stands accused of infringement on three tracks – Lover by Taylor Swift, Under the Graveyard by Ozzy Osbourne, and Thailand by Lil Uzi Vert.
FLACC.org, a music release blog that links to content hosted elsewhere, is also accused of infringing copyrights on three tracks from Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, and Tech N9ne.
Hiphopeasy.xyz, an album, single, and mixtape indexing site, is currently offline. Nevertheless, the RIAA claims it infringed the rights of Post Malone, Travis Scott, and Ed Sheeran. Another platform, identified by the RIAA as operating from Ovzy.xyz and its subdomains, is also inaccessible.
As usual, the subpoenas require Namecheap and Cloudflare to give up every piece of information they hold on the site's alleged operators. Both companies are also asked to consider "the widespread and infringing nature" of the sites to determine whether they are in breach of terms of service agreements or repeat infringer policies.
Whether Namecheap or Cloudflare have any useful information to hand over to the RIAA remains to be seen but they are both expected to comply.
The DMCA subpoenas are available here and here (pdf)
Google Sees DMCA Anti-Circumvention Notices Skyrocket
Filmmaker Wins Piracy Lawsuit Against YouTube and Google India


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Use the above links or scroll down see all to the Game Boy Advance cheats we have available for Madden NFL 2004.
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MISSOURI (USA) Petite Nadirah has been in love with Middle Eastern Dance since the age of 13. She has performed with multiple dance companies in St. Louis and Columbia, MO. She is Owner and Artistic Director of Raqs Fusion Bellydance and certified instructor of RAQISA®, barre-fitness for bellydancers! Petite Nadirah teaches in Kirksville, MO where she strives to educate the public about Middle Eastern dance, music, and culture.


Instrument to study tomographic imaging by means of the new V_sample feature of OFF shape samples.
and a Unix/Mac) in the tools/matlab folder to reconstruct a 3D volume of the object. Use e.g.
isosurface to do thresholding for extraction of the object surface.
geometry string Name of the OFF file describing the sample shape "socket.off"
opts "x bins=80 y bins=40"


Start the year right by keeping your home up-to-date, and what better way to do that than to upgrade your floors to welcome the new year.
It's easy, however, to get overwhelmed with the wide array of choices available in the market today. Regardless of the design that you will choose, what is also important is selecting a complimentary flooring option that fits your style.
As one of the most used surfaces in any home, flooring is expected to withstand constant use and abuse to showcase it durability while maintaining its beauty. Depending on the area where you want to install new flooring and the type of flooring you want to install, upgrading your floors can take you anywhere from a few hours to several days to complete.
One of the benefits of investing in real wood floors is that it can make your home look beautiful for a lifetime. It doesn't matter how many people will walk on your wood floor—its natural beauty and elegance will not go away.
There are lots of options available in the market. If you want to feel that your home is embraced by luxury, you can either go for the classic flat and smooth wood floors like the Matwood Innovation Solid Floors. This collection is carefully selected from the best solid hardwood reserves around the world to deliver luxury in the most private of spaces.
You might also want to consider going for textured engineered wood floors and add a bit of flair to any room in your home. The Matwood Innovation Engineered Floors offer unique natural grain and scruffs that further lend to a wood floor's understated elegance.
If you're living in a condo or renovating a small space, make your room look larger, more open and less crowded by using wood floors with bigger width and length like the Matwood Innovation Wide Plank Floors.
When it comes to choosing the right flooring this 2019, bear in mind that apart from the look and feel that the floor exudes, it is also important to think about the traffic that will weave its way through your home when you make your final floor selection. This simply means you have to choose floors that are water- and scratch-resistant, without necessarily compromising your personal style. In this case, you may want to check out the PCW Lamina Floors, a collection that also offers a wide color range.
For areas with heavier traffic such as the living room and the kitchen, it's wise to opt for a commercial grade scratch-proof and water-proof PCW Lamina Ultra.
This collection combines one's styles preference and practical requirement because of its perfect balance of strength and attractive real wood look. It's also a good choice for people on-the-go as its hassle-free "click-type system" installation can save you both time and money.
Perhaps, you're even thinking of switching to a sturdier, more durable, more stain-, more scratch- or water-resistant type of flooring than the one you currently have in your home. What better time to make that change than now.
Make sure to drop by any Matimco House of Wood showroom in Metro Manila (The Fort, Makati, Ortigas and SM North Edsa), Pampanga, Cebu and Davao to see how these different floorings, with its diverse finishes and grains, can complement your upgraded home.


In an odd Leap Year-related calendar quirk, there has not been a July 4th that fell on a Saturday since 1998. For those of you too young to remember Armageddon's opening weekend performance, suffice it to say that there is a reason why studios have decided to release this week's blockbusters, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Public Enemies, on Wednesday. Rather than be negatively (and artificially) impacted by an unfortunate calendar configuration, Fox and Universal have both decided to claim five days worth of box office instead. It's a smart play that should make both films sound like big hits when weekend estimates are announced on Sunday whether they have proven successful or not.
Before we discuss the individual openers, let's flash back as to why the Wednesday debut is requisite. When the final day of 1998 ended, the top earning film of the year was Armageddon with a final gross of $201.6 million. Six weeks later, Saving Private Ryan would ride the Oscar buzz of 11 nominations to become the biggest grossing release of 1998, but that's not the point. Armageddon was on paper the most noteworthy release of the year and its box office performance largely bore this out.
Despite all of its success, however, Armageddon opened to a hugely disappointing $36.1 million during its first weekend of release. Why did that happen? Its first Saturday in release was also the July 4th holiday in the United States. The negative impact saw a title that earned $13.6 million on Friday drop 23% to $10.5 million on Saturday before rising 13% on Sunday to $11.9 million. Anyone following box office for any of length of time realizes that Saturdays are supposed to be the largest box office day of the weekend and they absolutely should not be outperformed by Sundays as a rule. Armageddon suffered exactly this fate for one reason and one reason alone.


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Press freedom under curbs
Kashmir Times Editorial
Arrests cannot be used to silence voices or hide information
The arrest of a Kashmiri journalist on grounds that are neither clear nor sound enough legally once again raises questions about the threat to freedom of press, which is already under severe strain amidst intimidations and threats from all sides in a conflict situation. The reports are conflicting depending on what the source of information is. The different reports quoting police are also varied. According to these the police maintains that the journalist Aasif Sultan has been arrested for 'harbouring militants', has found incriminating evidence on his computer. The journalist, according to some cops, is charged of writing against the security forces. The latter two are not tenable arguments and if the case indeed is of harbouring militants, the police should have sufficient evidence to prove the charge. The family and editor of the detained journalist, Aasif Sultan, have expressed concern that the journalist has been arrested after his cover story on militant Burhan Wani, which gives a detailed account of the ground position in militant organizations and gives an informative insight into the intricate dynamics of cohesion and differences within the militant groups, while relying on several accounts including those of over-ground workers of militant groups. If writing of the article is being confused with harbouring of militants, it is not a valid assumption. A journalist's job is to collect different perspectives and inform; different perspectives may involve meeting cross-section of people, some who may also be on the wrong side of the law, which cannot be concluded as an act of criminality. The family also alleged that he is being pressurised into disclosing his sources. The police has yet to make an official statement as to why the journalist has been arrested and this enhances the suspicions of foul play. The police has no legal right into arm twisting any journalist, discharging his or duty in collecting information and sharing it with public, into revealing his sources. If the problem is volume of material found in the computer of the arrested journalist, this may be a frivolous charge. As pointed out by Kashmir Editors Guild also, every journalist's laptop will have volumes of so-called incriminating material because data collection is the fundamental activity of reporters.
The arrest follows the similar pattern of previous cases of persecution of journalists at the hands of the government. Earlier, the NIA sought to justify the arrest of a journalist by poking holes in his credibility on grounds that he had never covered a government function, an assumption that is incompatible with law. The NIA's objections were also on grounds that the arrested journalist was among the first to reach the site of stone-pelting, which only goes to prove the journalist's efficiency and not some criminality. In 2016, when the state government banned a newspaper, it called the entire newspaper as 'objectionable' without pointing to precise contents and quantifying the objections as per law. Sweeping remarks cannot be used to persecute journalists through a process of criminalisation. The investigating agencies need to first understand the basic nature of the job of a professional journalist working in the field, which is best discharged through an unbiased collection of data, quarrying of information from all kinds of sources, and then putting it together for the reader or viewer. They also need to understand that opinions being expressed by journalists in their comment pieces are often critical of government positions, policies and actions and this is cover under the fundamental right to expression. None of the agencies of the government have any business trying to judge the bonafides of a professional journalist. The latter may be held liable only if there is some serious evidence of his wrong-doing and criminal intent as per the law of the land not on basis of some highly opinionated notions of some officers. The journalists in Kashmir are already working on the razor's edge, facing constant physical intimidation. The shocking murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in June has instilled a sense of panic and fear among journalists, further restricting their space of operating freely. It is important that the government gives the press the much needed confidence or atleast allows the media to operate as freely as possible without the different pulls and pressures to make them toe a particular line.
News Updated at : Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Horrifying Uri rape, murder
PM Imran Khan has a message for people of Occupied Kashmir


We are looking for a passionate, creative data scientist professional to join Inkiru Data Science team @Walmart Labs. You will have the unique opportunity to work with massive business and social data generated by Walmart Inc.'s unparalleled online and offline commerce. You will be responsible to use cutting-edge machine learning, data mining, and optimization techniques to design and implement robust, scalable predictive models and analytics solutions. You will be a part of a cross-functional team of scientists, engineers, product managers, and business professionals that sit at the intersection of data science, big data, IT infrastructure, and business operations.
The responsibility for this position is to provide a seamless return experience for our customers.
Perform hands-on data exploration, processing, and analysis on massive data sets.
Use machine learning, deep learning and data mining techniques to develop robust predictive models in areas such as Walmart online return fraud detection and anomaly detection.
Pull data from warehouse, perform feature engineering, back-test models, compare model performances and communicate the results to stakeholders.
Research and develop state-of-the-art algorithms that address complex business problems.
Advanced degree (Master or PhD) in any STEM field plus one to two years of related experience.
Technical expertise in data mining, machine learning, and statistical analysis.
Proficient in machine learning and data mining packages in Python.
Experience working with large data sets and distributed computing tools (Map/Reduce, Hadoop, Hive, or Spark).
Ability to work in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.
Good communication skills, ability to work with cross functional teams of technical and non-technical members.


A recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety review of debris-related accidents showed that these crashes happen twice as frequently as the Foundation previously thought. In fact, road debris contributed to or caused about 10,000 injuries on the nation's roadways each year between 2011 and 2014.
Most of this debris comes from other vehicles, and can include unsecured cargo as well as parts from poorly maintained cars and trucks. When traveling on the interstate or other high-speed highways, this debris — and accidents spurred by swerving to avoid it — often leads to serious injuries.
What did the AAA Foundation study uncover?
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety studied several databases of accidents that occurred between 2011 and 2014. These databases showed an average of 50,658 debris-related crashes reported to the police each year nationwide. Previous AAA reports put this total at closer to 25,000 accidents a year.
According to the new study, in addition to the almost 10,000 injuries, these crashes also led to 125 deaths each year between 2011 and 2014.
How can I help prevent road debris crashes?
Ensuring you maintain your car and having a trained mechanic check for potential tire or exhaust system problems as a part of the routine maintenance performed on your car can help reduce road debris.
Properly securing cargo is also important. When moving furniture or other items, always secure the items with rope, straps, or a tarp, and double check the load to make sure it will not shift or blow out at high speeds.
Who is liable for road debris crashes?
According to the study, about two-thirds of roadway debris crashes occur due to items coming loose from another vehicle. Other causes include fallen trees on the roadway and chunks of broken asphalt or rocks in the driving lane.
When another motorist loses cargo, that driver may be responsible for your injuries and property damage. The same is true if you can prove improper maintenance on the other car caused your crash. Local or state governments may be liable for injuries if you crashed due to debris from a poorly maintained roadway.
If you suffered serious injuries in a road debris-related crash, Cordisco & Saile LLC can help you identify the liable party and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at 215-642-2335 to schedule a free case evaluation.


The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, March 24, 1989, when Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company, bound for Long Beach, California, struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef at 12:04 am local time and spilled 10.8 million US gallons of crude oil over the next few days. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters. The Valdez spill is the second largest in US waters, after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in terms of volume released. Prince William Sound's remote location, accessible only by helicopter, plane, or boat, made government and industry response efforts difficult and severely taxed existing response plans. The region is a habitat for salmon, sea otters, seals and seabirds. The oil, originally extracted at the Prudhoe Bay oil field, eventually covered 1,300 miles of coastline, and 11,000 square miles of ocean.


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Top 10 size-inclusive brands promote female empowerment
Size-inclusive brands promote self-expression, diversity and even sustainability - here are our top 10 brands for female empowerment
Source & Copyright by Mara Hoffman
Inclusion, diversity and the empowerment of disadvantaged groups concern everyone - brands as well as consumers. While many industries are accepting and implementing this fact more and more, there are still prevailing industrial norms in the fashion sector. All the more worth mentioning are the brands that, in addition to ethics and sustainability, also subscribe to an inclusive strategy. Above all, size-inclusive brands that make fashion accessible and attractive for everyone - regardless of size, fit, origin, age or orientation.
What and who exactly do female empowerment and size inclusive mean?
The short answer to this question is all. The long one: All races, ethnicities, sizes, disabilities and orientations. It's about expanding female empowerment. It's about everybody's empowerment: everyone is given the opportunity to express themselves. Inclusive brands for fashion offer size-inclusive fashion and thus offer high quality with aesthetic demands in an expanded size range. Included Make-up brands however, offer a wide range of color nuances for every skin tone.
Gender Equality and Inclusiveness are also part of the Sustainable Development Goals the UN Agenda 2030. An inclusive corporate DNA can also directly promote sustainability in the fashion industry. In order to eco-friendly fashion that is, when the niche finally becomes normal, it must be accessible to everyone. And thus also include every physical condition.
Top 10 size-inclusive brands
Even if some brands are already trying to close this gap and set a trend-setting example, they often lack media presence and therefore lack of attention. It is all the more important to give them a platform. These size-inclusive brands break through media-pushed, industrial and outdated norms and enable everyone to present themselves individually - and they are also sustainable.
Swimsuits for All
Christy Dawn
Chromat
1.Mara Hoffman
By 2021 at the latest, no one can ignore the most massive movements in the fashion industry: sustainability and (size) inclusivity. And therefore not to Mara Hoffman either. Namely, while the label was founded in 2000, it has been sustainable and implements responsible production practices since 2015. Edgy and simple to colorful patterned it-pieces are available made of eco-friendly, certified materials and in an exclusively expanded range of sizes.
Seat: United States, New York
Key Facts: 2XS-3XL, recycling, GOTS and OEKO-TEX certification
Stores: Online-Shop
Style: High quality, unusual patterns, elegance to swimwear
2. Universal Standard
Origin, religion, weight, age and physical disabilities do not play a role at Universal Standard. Uncompromising and universal inclusion. And incomparable: with a variety of sizes from 4XS to 4XL, US has been the world's most inclusive brand for women since 2019. Anti-racism campaigns and recycling programs complete the holistically responsible image of the future-oriented, inclusive brand.
Key Facts: 4XS-4XL, World's Most Size-Inclusive Brand, Philanthropy & Sustainability
Style: Casual, sporty-chic, denim collections & well-known collaborations (e.g. x Erdem)
3. Marina Rinaldi
Pioneering brand in terms of female empowerment, body positivity and size-inclusive brand. Marina Rinaldi has been designing fashion from size 40 for over 40 years. This philosophy is inspired by the founder's great-grandmother. Since 1850, she has only employed women in her studio in order to strengthen them and give them financial independence. Thanks to its craftsmanship, the label enables all women, regardless of dress size or life situation, to appear elegant and comfortable.
Seat: Italy, Reggio Emilia
Key Facts: From size 40, inclusion since 1980, fusion of design and functionality
Style: High quality, timeless, Haute-Couture, Elegance, Voyage, Sport & Relax collections
4. Swimsuits for All
So that women feel comfortable in their bodies and are proud of them, Swimsuits for All produces swimwear of all kinds - from bikinis to swimwear to tankinis. These are available in size-inclusive sizes from 4 to 44. And with a perfect fit: Functionality and elasticity are tested on different models for each size, so that well-being is guaranteed even when worn. The perfect fit is also offered by evaluating each model on the basis of 40 different measuring points.
Key Facts: different models & fits from size 4 to 44
Style: High quality, simple to colorful as well as sexy with cut-outs or elegant with cover-ups
5.Christy Dawn
Hand-sewn, organic pieces in special size-inclusive size collections such as Extended Sizing, Petite and Maternity. While these visually captivate with their romantic flower patterns and natural earth tones, their skin and environmental friendliness makes Christy Dawn a brand-to-watch. The label not only wants to be sustainable, but also regenerative. All materials are natural and upcycled to close cycles and protect the planet.
Seat: United States, Los Angeles
Key Facts: XS-2XL, deadstock upcycling, regenerative practices & Support of local communities
Style: Floral, feminine, playful & natural
6. Good American
Good American aims to redefine fashion for the modern woman through innovation. Since denim has a very bad environmental balance, this is where the brand comes in. She uses 90% sustainable denim fabrics and uses eco-friendly packaging. In addition, energy- and waste-efficient production. And industry standards are also challenged: 100% size inclusive, every model from XS to 4XL is available. Extra: Good American has launched a new jeans size - this is between the traditional 42 and 44 and thus offers an alternative for everyone.
Key Facts: XS-4XL, sustainable denim, 100% inclusive
Style: Denim & other active, swim & everyday wear
7. Girlfriend Collective
This brand offers sport essentials made from innovative recycled materials such as RPET and Econyl®. This includes active wear, yoga clothing, underwear and swimwear. Here, a lot of emphasis is placed on transparency, especially with regard to production and materials. Fair working conditions and promotion of the community are also a matter of course. With his ReGirlfriend initiative, customers can also send in old clothes in exchange for a voucher, which can then be turned into new clothes. The brand offers its fresh styles in sizes from XXS to 6XL.
Seat: United States, Seattle
Key Facts: 2XS-6XL, active wear for every style
Style: Confident and active
8. Reformation
Sustainability, ethics and chic LA vibes have made Reformation one of the trend labels of the past year. At least stand responsible brands for women's fashion very popular. And since the label now also combines environmental protection with inclusion and offers every sustainable it-piece up to size 56, Reformation is more than a trend. Rather, it is a representative example of a brand that reflects the spirit of the times and a future-oriented model for the fashion industry.
Brand Origin: USA, Los Angeles
Key facts: 2XS-6XL, CO2-neutral, zero waste
Style: Feminine, cool & confident
In 2017, Rihanna ushered in a new era in the cosmetics industry with the launch of Fenty Beauty and 40 different make-up shades. Their vision: "Create amazing products that really work, that are easy to use, and everyone can get it on", so that everyone is included everywhere. Previously there was no comparable color palette and therefore a range of options for every skin tone. There are now 50 nuances and the plan to integrate "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" even more deeply into the company's DNA. Fenty is already vegan and non-toxic.
Seat: France, Paris
Key Facts: 50 make-up nuances for every skin type and tone, orientation aid "Shade Finder"
Style: Products for every make-up look you want
10. Chromate
Everybody's Empowerment: Chromat celebrates all races, ethnicities, sizes, disabilities and orientations. Since 2010, the founder has been designing body and swimwear that empowers every body through the perfect fit. At the interface of architecture, fashion and technology, each piece is intended to improve the performance of the body through modern design and innovative fabrics. And promote environmental protection: each piece is made of regenerated, circularly processed nylon from fishing nets that previously polluted the sea.
Seat: USA, New York & Miami
Key Facts: XS-4XL, fair working conditions & pay, recycling, cleaning up the oceans
Style: Modern, self-confident, sporty & sexy
#Go Green#Sustainable brands#Sustainable fashion#Natural materials#Recycling#Zero waste
A club opens up new perspectives through creativity, innovation and collaboration Together with art, science and entrepreneurship "to lobby for nature." In an interview with ...
News: Luxury group Kering takes 5% stake in Vestiaire Collective As part of a financing round, the French fashion group is entering the second-hand market ...
Luxury fashion pioneer Julia Leifert - Between ethics and aesthetics "It is important to start somewhere - 100% is not a short-term goal, but a ...


For a major interstate that runs through an even more major city, 280 is not so bad. Daly City is just about the last suburbia stop before hitting San Francisco, and is quite busy as well. Normally, even during rush hour, it is not too crowded coming in. If you are avoiding downtown SF and just trying to get to the western part of the city, this is the place for it. If you are a downtown commuter, you can get to work from here, too.
Traffic always seems to be worse going southbound, for some reason. Even when it is not a traditional rush hour time, 280 south seems to get hit with the standard congestion that one would expect. It is also slightly more industrial and less scenic here than in neighboring stretches of highway down south, but it is a manageable freeway nonetheless.


y(OUR) Story is a collaborative production hosted by Wellness and Prevention Services. Through partnering with actors, dancers, painters, poets and other artists, mental health stories submitted by people in our Appalachian community will be shared. This event hopes to inspire those struggling with their mental health to not give up, and to bring conversation about mental health out of the shadows and into the light.
Don't miss Honors first year student and Chancellor's Scholar Cielo Murillo-gomez performance in y(OUR) Story. Cielo is a theater arts major and psychology minor.
Your story is (our) story. You are not alone.
*Please note that stories do touch on heavy topics, such as suicide and sexual assault and that the show may not be appropriate for children.


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USC researchers discover biomarkers to help prevent failure after tissue transplants
By Josh Grossberg
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found a way to identify patients who may be susceptible to certain complications while recovering from large wounds and complicated reconstructive surgeries. The team's findings have been published in August in the Public Library of Science's online publication PLOS ONE.
The team, led by Alex Wong, MD, assistant professor of clinical surgery at the Keck School, discovered five genetic biomarkers that can identify patients who could be susceptible to vein failure after receiving "flaps." Flaps are tissues that are teeming with tiny blood vessels, which can be moved from one part of the body to another to help the healing process.
"We can transfer a piece of tissue with its own blood supply and sometimes even nerves," said Wong. "What we're doing is essentially a transplant."
While nearly all such patients recover without incident, 5 to 8 percent will experience flap failure because their veins are prone to kinking and collapsing, Wong said.
The information is especially important as surgical procedures become more complicated and intricate. "The nature of plastic surgery is to restore form and function," added Wong. "By our reconstructions, we do everything from repairing wounds to face and hand transplants."
While arteries that supply the blood are generally strong enough to handle the procedure, veins that carry it away are weaker and fail more easily. The biomarkers can alert physicians that a patient is at risk of vein failure, which can appear just a few hours after a procedure.
"If an artery goes down, the color of the tissue changes, the pulse disappears, and the transplanted tissue becomes cold," Wong said. "By comparison, when a vein fails, it's often not recognized until it's too late to salvage."
Although still in the early stages of investigation, Wong hopes to be able to identify patients before complications arise. "If we prove our theory, we can create a routine test to maybe change that 5 percent failure rate to 1 percent," Wong said. "And for the 4 percent of people who could potentially benefit, it could make a 100-percent difference."
Mitch Medina 2013-08-30T13:54:50-07:00 August 30th, 2013|Announcements|


SUNCHANG, Sept. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Sunchang County, in North Jeolla Province will spend 1.95 billion won to decorate parts of the walking path alongside the Gyeongchun Stream.
At the Gyeongchun Bridge, the 80-meter-long entrance to Sunchang, the county government is planning to install a 5.5-meter-tall arch.
The government is also planning to create a "rainbow bridge" by installing a wide spectrum of assorted lights.
Along the banks of the stream, a deck over the water will be constructed with more sculptures and a photo zone.
Lasers will also be installed to illuminate the walking paths.


The synth-pop wunderkind meets the punk rock godfather in this fascinating Talkhouse Music Podcast.
Neon Indian is the project of Alan Palomo, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, the son of a very famous pop star. He has lived in Texas for most of his life, with stints in San Antonio, Austin and Denton, and currently resides in New York City. He has released three albums since 2009, the most recent being VEGA INTL. Night School, his most accomplished work yet. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Martin Rev is an American musician and the instrumentalist behind the protopunk band Suicide. He has released nine solo albums for a number of labels, including ROIR and Puu. Rev's style varies widely from release to release, from no wave to melodic pop to heavy synth-induced rock. He has written soundtracks for various works by digital video pioneer Stefan Roloff, with whom he has also collaborated on R&R, a series of audiovisual projects that use music and images like two international languages that can communicate free from translation. Rev's website is here.
If you come out of the indie community and you make synth-based music, you owe a huge debt to an iconic duo called Suicide. In fact, if you come out of the indie community at all, you owe a huge debt to Suicide. Starting in New York's East Village in the early '70s, Suicide were confrontational, tough, and absolutely visionary, and they were one of the first punk rock bands. But they had no guitars: it was just Martin Rev on cheap electric keyboards and drum machines, and notorious singer Alan Vega.
Neon Indian's Alan Palomo is a big Suicide fan, and he recently commissioned Martin Rev to remix "Annie," a track from his new album VEGA INTL. Night School. So we invited these two representatives of different, but related, musical generations to sit down for a Talkhouse Music Podcast.
They talked about all sorts of things: how you know when your music is done, the economic realities of being an artist, the evolution of New York City as an artistic capitol, creative cycles and the effect of the internet, and the birth of punk rock. Palomo knows his stuff, and Rev throws down a whole lot of hard-earned knowledge and wisdom, so listen closely.