Taking the first step is everything that you need to travel through two thousand years of history, of a thousand times beaten track for so many people before us and for some many that will come. A way where the stones were molded by faith, the search of the wellbeing, the search of the inner peace. This is the Way to Santiago.
Take the Portuguese Way to Santiago, enjoy the landscape, the path, taking full advantage of the experience. The luggage, the hotel booking and the guides are our responsibility.
Departure from Porto Cathedral and follow the steps of all the people who already travelled on foot the roman roads, the medieval paths, pass through picturesque villages, woods, hills and valleys, until you reach Santiago de Compostela.
Take the first step in Valença and follow us through the tracks that will take you until the amazing landscapes of Rias Baixas. Here you have a tryst with whisper trees, stones that tell you stories and at the end Santiago Cathedral will receive you with open arms.
BOOK NOW from €150 per day, per person. Includes transportation (from Oporto), accommodation in double room and meals. Minimum of four people.


"we make the impossible, possible"
We are a young dynamic group of smart people, whose Know-How couldn´t be exceeded, we just love our job.
Our Beacon or Eddystone platform makes agencies, brands, retailers and operators possible location aware and to achieve real-time customer with relevant and personalized content on their smartphones. Target can be, for example, to increase sales and / or customer loyalty ( Location based Advertisement LBA , location-based services LBS ).
We develop software for the Internet of Things. We rely on Zigbee (Google Thread) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). To keep the "time to market" as short as possible , we have already created our own frameworks to be operational as soon as possible with a new application. Contact us for special requirements hello@appmonkey.at.


Join us at The Dirty Grind Independent Artist Community for four hours of 100% live music from our family of artists! During your auditory feast, be sure to enjoy our new Featured Artist, JudiLynn.
← Field Trips for Saturday Feb 20th!


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What's New in ArcGIS Online
Esri vector basemaps feature nine styles, including dark and light gray canvas and three street variations.
Wrapping up a great year of development with ArcGIS Online, the December update to the software included more advanced GIS capabilities, additional improvements to the user experience, and better ways to manage accounts and share work.
Boosting Advanced GIS Capabilities
Esri vector basemaps came out of beta in the December update. The new vector basemaps feature nine styles from a single tile service. The styles—which are derived from commercial, community, and open-source data—include dark and light gray canvas, three street variations, terrain with labels, navigation, topography, and an imagery hybrid. These map styles, which users can customize, are published as tile layers or web maps. They deliver a better display on high-resolution devices and can be updated more frequently.
With point layers in the scene viewer, it is now possible to incorporate both 2D and 3D symbology. For example, if wind speed is a numeric attribute in a dataset, it can be visualized with proportional symbols for color and size based on the wind speed value. The camera animation for point-to-point flights in the scene viewer has also been enhanced to provide a smoother user experience.
These styles are derived from commercial, community, and open-source data.
ArcGIS Online now has expanded analysis functions as well. The new Join Features tool transfers attributes from one layer or table to another based on spatial and attribute relationships. This is especially useful for operations such as appending common boundary or demographic information to incident data, identifying the facilities closest to a known location, or determining the number of residences that fall within flood zones. The new Find Outliers tool, which identifies features whose values are significantly different from other data points, creates maps that show statistically significant clusters and spatial outliers in the data. This tool can help answer questions such as
Where are the sharpest divisions between affluence and poverty within a study area?
Are some stores struggling with low sales, despite being near high-performing stores?
Where are there anomalous spending patterns?
Are there counties in the United States with unusually low life expectancy compared to their neighbors?
Additionally, demographic maps for Canada, the United States, and several other countries were updated in the December release. Canada now features 2016 demographic data. Maps for the United States now include the latest US Retail MarketPlace and Shopping Centers data, and daytime population information is available for mapping and analysis. Other countries with more current data include Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Users can customize Esri vector basemap styles, which are published as tile layers or web maps.
A More Inviting User Experience
When styling and labeling feature layers in the map viewer, users can now author; edit; or apply Arcade, a new scripting language. For example, a user could create an expression to generate a yearly sales figure for individual territories by summing the value of monthly sales fields. The yearly sales figures would then be represented as different-sized symbols on the map. Moreover, users can now edit or delete attributes, photos, and files directly in the feature layer attribute table in the map viewer.
Enhancements were also made to time animation in ArcGIS Online. For layers with live data, a new tool called Show Advanced Options allows users to view the temporal extent of the data when reopening a saved map instead of merely seeing static content. When filtering feature layers by date, users can set a relative extent for the animation as well, making the start time for the animation the last day data was recorded, for example. Users can save the position of the time animation slider, too, so when they reopen the map, the slider defaults to that spot. Additionally, the start of the time slider can be controlled in the configured extent.
ArcGIS Online is now available in 34 translated languages as well, including Bosnian and Indonesian.
Simpler Administration and Sharing
The updated ArcGIS Online enables users to create new organizational accounts with credentials from social networks, such as Facebook and Google. There is also a new cost-effective way for subscribers to increase the number of people in their organization who can view the GIS work being done in ArcGIS Online. Users can now share mapping work with executives, fieldworkers, analysts, and other select individuals without making the data public.
To learn more about the updates to ArcGIS Online included in the December release, visit the ArcGIS Online What's New page and check out the ArcGIS Online blog.
Taking Next-Generation GIS Even Further
ArcNews Winter 2017

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Confirmation of pupils in 5th.and 6th classes will take place in Ballybrown Church on Thursday April 3rd 2014. at 1 p.m.
The Minister for Education has decided not to increase the pupil teacher ratio. This is good news for schools like Ballybrown NS where classes are already large. I would like to express my gratitude to all parents who made representations to local T.D's., either by letter, email or attending clinics. There are already over 50 children on the list of applicants for a place in the Junior Infants class in 2014.
On Monday and Tuesday, we had a visit from Exploration Dome Planetarium. All classes enjoyed the experience as Martin Conroy and his staff put on different shows to cater for all age groups. The reaction from all classes, pupils and teachers, was overwhelmingly positive. Martin made a point of remarking how interested the children were in the planetarium and praising all classes for their excellent behaviour. Such feedback is always welcome.
Congratulations to our under 13 boys football team who have reached the City final. Today, the Under 13 girls team play in their semi- final v Milford NS. All finals are scheduled for Wednesday 23rd October in the Gaelic Grounds.
On Friday, October 25th., the Parents Association has organised a Recycling Day. Bring unwanted clothes, sheets, towels, handbags etc. No phones or duvets, please. Please leave bags by the main gate on Friday morning. All items will be collected by 10 a.m.
Please see overleaf for some Community announcements.
Community Games: Our annual Halloween Party will take place on Thurs Oct 31st at Ballybrown GAA clubhouse from 7-9.30 pm for all Primary School and preschool children . Tickets on sale in school on Fri @ 5 euro. Ghoulish fun for all with games and prizes and a chance to dress up in Halloween costumes. All welcome.


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New musicPop and rock
New music: Haiku Salut – Glockelbar
This Derbyshire trio drew up a list of dream collaborators and one of them said yes. Unfortunately it wasn't Madonna
Michael Cragg
Fri 12 Apr 2013 05.30 EDT
Reading this on mobile? Click here to listen
A quick glance at Derbyshire-based trio Haiku Salut's official website immediately dispels any notion that their delicate instrumentals are the works of po-faced musos with a sense of humour bypass. For starters, the site's home page header features the following description of the band's sound: "Baroque-Pop-Folktronic-Neo-Classical-Something-Or-Other".
The list of instruments they use starts with the factual – "accordions, ukuleles, glockenspiels, pianos"– before moving on to "loopery and laptopery". Apparently featuring some of the aforementioned instruments and a "glitch plug-in", the beautiful Glockelbar, the latest single to be taken from their debut album Tricolore, pads and patters about charmingly, a slowly bubbling electronic undercurrent juxtaposing with the creaking accordions. For the video – premiered here and featuring the work of Japanese animator Mitsuo Toyama, who was on a long list of people the band had always wanted to work with (alongside Joanna Newsom and Madonna) – we're lead into a lovingly created fantasy world of children riding shooting stars by a giraffe wearing a scarf.
Tricolore is out now on How Does It Feel To Be Loved.


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Guest Author: Heather Massey
6 October 2011 Jackie LE Guests 8
I am excited to welcome back Heather Massey, author of the fab SF Romance, Queenie's Brigade.
Captain Michael Drake desperately needs an army to save Earth after a crushing defeat by alien invaders. When his damaged starship docks at a remote prison colony, he discovers Earth's last best hope—an army to replace the one he lost.
But, Queenie, the feral goddess ruling the prison, has other plans for the rugged star ship captain. After imprisoning Drake and seizing his ship, she prepares to lead her blood-thirsty band to freedom before the invaders track them down.
Despite her intentions, Queenie secretly falls for the sexy, hotshot captain. Drake makes it plain he wants to win back Earth with her by his side. But is following her heart worth betraying her people?
Make sure you stick around to the end. We'll be giving away an e-copy of Queenie's Brigade.
Essential Steampunk Characters, Gadgets, & Accessories
Like any genre, steampunk has its own unique roster of characters, gadgets, and accessories. The diversity is fantastic, but there's no point in trying to navigate an unfamiliar maze if you're new to the worlds offered by steampunk. With that in mind, let's explore a few of the essential ones:
The glory of a steampunk story is that because of the alternate historical and/or fantasy setting, the characters can inhabit a variety of roles and occupations. Because of steampunk's varied and often richly detailed settings and grand adventures, it lends itself to the depiction of colorful, larger-than-life characters. These are folk that do amazing things and look utterly amazing while doing them.
Who are the people one might encounter in a steampunk tale? Inventors, of course, and plenty of them, but the steampunk universe is also populated by airship captains, explorers, pirates, detectives/investigators, plucky (and smart) heroines, automatons, supernatural creatures like golems, super heroes, spies, engineers, and even factory workers. Sometimes you'll find many of these characters all in one story!
Be prepared to fall in love with steampunk gadgets at first sight because they are both at once ingenious and retro-cool. A steampunk story wouldn't be complete without at least one cleverly designed device.
Steampunk gadgets can be powered by steam, clockwork, aether, electricity, or whatever creative substance an author dreams up. Authors often mix and match the various power sources with super happy fun results.
Typical gadgets include, but are not limited to the following:
analytical engines (i.e., steam-powered computers)
time machines
steam-powered weapons
steam powered iron carriages.
Steam-powered floating cities
Now let's consider the steampunk accessories. Few steampunk characters leave home without at least one stylish addition to their outfit. Often such accessories are reinventions of standard Victorian ones. Conversely, they can be downright weird and include a variety of bizarre accoutrements that are built into a character's outfit. Functional purpose is optional.
Number one on the list of essential steampunk accessories is goggles. However, whether fashioned from brass or wood, they're not just for looks. Goggles are necessary to protect one's eyes when flying in the open gondola of an airship or while riding a steam-powered carriage or cycle. But if a character does only wear them for looks, then power to her!
Characters may also require items such as pocket watches that do more than just tell time. Umbrella or cane that comes equipped with a spring-loaded dagger? Check. Specialty glasses with multi-colored lenses that can detect strange and unusual forensic details? Double check.
With all of the characters, gadgets, and accessories available for the plucking, steampunk represents a rich, new frontier for literary glomming.
The Affinity Bridge (George Mann) and its sequel, The Osiris Ritual
Whitechapel Gods (S.M. Peters)
Mainspring (Jay Lake)
Clockwork Heart (Dru Pagliassotti)
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Mark Hodder)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Alan Moore)
The Narrows (Alexander Irvine)
Mortal Engines (Philip Reeve)
Steampunk (an anthology edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer)
You can also read the immensely popular Girl Genius online for free.
Virtuoso is a free webcomic set in Africa.
Now for a giveaway! Leave a comment for this post and you'll be entered for a chance to win an e-copy of Queenie's Brigade, my new sci-fi romance from Red Sage Publishing.
To make it fun, tell me about your favorite steampunk character, gadget, or accessory. Or make one up!
Meet Heather Massey!
Heather Massey searches the sea of stars for sci-fi romance adventures aboard The Galaxy Express. She's also an author in the subgenre, with offerings such as "Steambot Rampage" from Dreamspell Steampunk, Vol.1 (L&L Dreamspell). To learn more about her published work, visit www.heathermassey.com.
Heather's debut erotic sci-fi romance novel, Once Upon a Time in Spacee (published by Red Sage Publishing), features the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus on a desperate quest to find a new world. Standing in his way is Raquel, the deadliest space pirate in the galaxy.
Website: www.heathermassey.com
Blog: The Galaxy Express
Social Media: Facebook / Twitter
Want to purchase Heather's novel?
Once Upon A Time In Space at Amazon or Red Sage Publishing
Queenie's Brigade at Amazon or Red Sage Publishing
Thank you Heather for taking the time to stop by Literary Escapism!
Contest Time! Heather is giving away an e-copy of Queenie's Brigade. To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: What's your favorite steampunk character, gadget, or accessory? Or make one up! Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered.
Even though I'm not giving the additional entries any more, you can still help support the author by sharing their article, and this contest, on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere you can. After all, the more people who are aware of this fabulous author ensures we get more fabulous stories.
The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn't matter. Just help get the word out.
The contest will stay open until October 13th at which time I'll determine the winner with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have.
Heather Massey
Drink Deep by Chloe Neill
The Third Section by Jasper Kent
6 October 2011 at 12:48 pm
Thanks for the lovely post and giveaway!
I'd have to say that my favorite steampunk Character is Lady Alexia Maccon from Gail Carriger's The Parasol Protectorate series. Her favorite and most useful accessory is her parasol which can do a very large number of handy defensive and protective things.
GFC ~ erin
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
Stella (Ex Libris)
6 October 2011 at 3:52 pm
Hm… my favourite steampunk object/gadget would be a special pair of goggles which would enable night vision, fog vision, fire vision, water vision (=I'd be able to see all through these) :-)
Thank you! :-)
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
SandyG
I like the motor bikes in The Girl in the Steel corset.
@Erin I agree, Alexia's parasol can't be beat!
@Stella Nice!
@SandyG I will have to check that out, thanks for the heads up!
My favourite Steampunk character (so far) is Yasmeen the captain of the Lady Corsair in the Iron Duke.
Fingers crossed for the contest, it looks like a good book.
7 October 2011 at 8:30 am
@Sara I second the vote–Yasmeen is pretty smokin'. I believe she's the heroine of Meljean Brook's second book in that series, yes? Very refreshing. Thanks for visiting!
Pauline Baird Jones
Congrats on the release of Queenie's Brigade, Heather! It sounds so fun! I love the gadgets and gizmos of steampunk! I think I want my own automaton to clean my house, do the laundry, stuff like that.
Thanks, Pauline! Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having a coffee machine that looked like an automaton. That would be weird, but cool.


text:
Управитель гірничого підприємства — посадова особа у середні віки у гірничих роботах певного регіону, чи рудного району.

Наводимо уривок з праці Георга Агріколи De Re Metallica (1556 р.), який саме присвячений опису гірничих посад часів пізнього Середньовіччя:

Див. також

 Історія гірничої справи
 Штейгер
 Бергмайстер

Посилання

 Full text of De Re Metallica

Історія гірничої справи
Гірничі професії та посади

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Google has announced that Non-Google account can view, comment, suggest edits to, and directly edit Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files. The company is introducing a beta for an easy Pincode identity verification process that will enable G Suite users to invite non-G Suite users to collaborate on files as visitors, using PINs.
File owners can view all the detailed activity on their files and see where it originated, and revoke access from the Google Drive sharing dialog at any time. Admins can manage all external sharing and audit usage. As said, Pincode Sharing in Google Drive is launching initially in beta and users need to sign up to get the access. For now, the company didn't exactly reveal the final rollout timeline, so stay tuned. Read more @ gsuiteupdates.


Bob is the Founder of Challenger Tours and Co-Founder of the New England Pro-Am Hockey League. For 28 years Bob had a successful career working for IBM but along the way he was involved with a few events that had the attention of the hockey world.
Born in New York City, Bob has been involved with hockey most of his life from his roller hockey days in Manhattan to helping organize the amateur hockey teams the Lynchmen and Clovers in South Boston. Bob assisted in the development of the John Cunniff Hockey School and was an NHLPA registered agent. He had the privilege of working for hockey legend Bobby Orr at Woolf Associates and specialized in evaluating players from the former Eastern Bloc of countries including Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus, Latvia and Ukraine.
In 1980 Bob was instrumental in obtaining for Gold Medal winner Mike Eruzione his first corporate speaking engagement at IBM. To this day Mike continues to electrify audiences throughout America with his motivational speeches. Several years later in 1988 Bob was responsible for bringing the former Soviet Union National Junior Team to the historic city of Quincy, MA. This was the first time the Soviets would play an independent team consisting primarily of players from New England. The team was coached by John Cunniff, one of the foremost coaches in USA Hockey and the NHL.
Bob became involved with women's hockey when he first met Olympic icon Angela Ruggiero. Angela's dynamic personality and success inspired Bob to formulate the North American Stars and compete in the Czech Hockey Challenge Cup (CHCC), one of the most prestigious tournaments in Europe. This tournament brings together teams from throughout Europe and in their first year they beat the defending European Women's Champion SKIF from Russia.
The North American Stars offer players an opportunity to play at a high level internationally as well as an outstanding cultural experience. Bob's goal of formulating teams to compete as the North American Stars against many European countries has now become a reality.
A 2016 North American Stars alum, Keira Goin enters her first season as the head coach for the North American Stars. Currently working as the assistant coach for the women's ice hockey program at Wesleyan University, Goin is excited to be returning to the Stars team with whom she won gold.
A standout goalie from 2013-2017 at Utica College, she holds the program records in wins (40) and shutouts (13). During her junior campaign, she compiled seven shutouts and rattled off four in a row, which are both school records, as well. She backstopped the Pioneers to a program-best 19 wins during the 2015-16 year.
The Dobbs Ferry, NY native finished her career with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage, compiling a career-high 55 saves during a 4-2 triumph over nationally ranked #1 Plattsburgh State on Feb. 13, 2016.
Goin, who is currently a member of the Connecticut Whale of the National Women's Hockey League, was honored by the Utica Athletic Department with the Jim "Doc" Spartano Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award, which is an honor based around education, teamwork, leadership, loyalty, perseverance and sportsmanship.
A three-time ECAC West All-Academic Team selection (2015-17), she maintained a 3.80 GPA during her time in college, while also being named two-time ECAC West Honorable Mention (2016, 2017) and an All-Rookie Team honoree in 2013-14.
Goin graduated from Utica College with a BA in Public Relations and a concentration in Sports Communication in May 2017.
Prior to Utica College, she played for the Hotchkiss School from 2010-2013, as well as a pair of national-qualifying club teams: the Mid-Fairfield Connecticut Stars U19 Tier 1 (2011-2013) and Connecticut Polar Bears U16 Tier 1 (2010-11).
We are pleased to announce Tori, a member of the NA Stars in 2015 who captured the Silver Medal at the Czech Hockey Challenge Cup (CHCC) and is presently a Junior Defenseman at Nichols College in Dudley, MA, will be joining Challenger Tours and the NA Stars. Tori will be working as an Administrative Assistant intern responsible for Social Media and the NA Stars web site. In addition, she will be coordinating the travel arrangements for the NA Stars and their families and guests and serve as a liaison in Prague for the NA Stars teams participating in 2017 at the CHCC.
Tori is majoring in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and International Business. She's on the Dean's List at Nichols as well as a member of the New England Conference All Academic Team and Emerging Leaders Program.
She has won several Public Speaking Awards and was selected by Nichols College to be the Bicentennial Event Speaker.
Zoë Barbier is a currently Dutch national women's hockey player, born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She has been playing hockey since the age of eight, starting at the Dordrecht Lions where she transferred to Zoetermeer after two seasons. Barbier has been playing for the Zoetermeer Panthers most of her hockey career until the age of 18.
Barbier moved to Stockholm, Sweden to play for SDE in the SDHL from 2014-2016.
After her adventure in Sweden she moved back to the Netherlands to start a bachelor Sports Management study at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Currently Barbier is playing in the second men's division (1st Div) in the Netherlands at the hockey club where it all started for her, the Dordrecht Lions.
In 2009 she got selected for the Dutch National women's team and at the age of 15 she played her first World Championship(D3) in New Castle, Australia. Where the Dutch Women's National team won Gold and got up to div 2.
Barbier has been playing 6 World Championships (Div3, Div1B) and two Olympic Qualification tournaments with the Dutch National team.


Atomic 3001 depicts a form of physical alienation. A virtual character is subjected to a rhythm, a perpetual and uncontrollable pulsation. A dancing machine is trapped in a futuristic ritual resembling a kind of techno frenzy. There is a being, a sound, a movement. Each sound is a movement, and each movement is a sound. A being who is fully alert; a physical quest for an absolute, for truth behind movement in sound.
Leslie Mannès (Brussels, 1982) is an actress, choreographer, and dancer who holds a diploma from P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts Research and Training Studios), Brussels, and from the SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance), in Austria. She lives in Brussels, where she co-founded System Failure with choreographer Louise Baduel in 2012. As a performer, she has been working with the Mossoux-Bonté company since 2006, as well as with choreographers Ayelen Parolin and Maxence Rey. Her work is motivated by meeting and collaborating with other artists. She enjoys creating futuristic environments that use anticipation as a way of looking at our surroundings differently.
Choreography/Performer Leslie Mannès – Live music Thomas Turine aka Sitoid - Lighting design Vincent Lemaître – Artistic collaboration Joëlle Bacchetta - Diffusion Stéphanie Barboteau - Co-production Les Brigittines - Production Hirschkuh asbl (Brussels, BE) with Cosipie Asbl - With support from VAT (Brussels, BE), Théâtre de la Balsamine (Brussels, BE) and Grand Studio (Brussels, BE).


text:
LIVE VOA Newscasts
Ringing in 2022 around the World
As revelers said goodbye to 2021 and welcomed 2022, many countries around the world canceled or scaled down New Year's Eve celebrations for the second year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the omicron variant's spread.
1 Fireworks are set off at midnight during the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, Jan. 1, 2022, in New York.
2 People attend the New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square, as the Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, Dec. 31, 2021.
3 People watch as fireworks explode over Copacabana beach during New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jan. 1, 2022.
4 People attend New Year celebrations on the Champs-Elysees avenue as the traditional light show and fireworks have been canceled due to the spread of the COVID-19 in Paris, France, Dec. 31, 2021.
January 11. 2022


text:
Q: How to detect two fast clicks and change action for both with jQuery I have some specify situation.
There is click action, after it i'm adding some class. At the first click i didn't have this class and i want to do something from first condition, when i'm click fast second time in the middle of my 700ms interval at my button i need to do something else depend on class that i'v append before. So i do this:
btn.live('click', function(e){
    block.addClass('animation_time');
    setTimeout(function(){
        block.removeClass('animation_time')
    }, 700);
    if (!block.hasClass('animation_time')){
        // do something
    } else {
        setTimeout(function(){
            // do something
        }, 350);
    }
});

Behind this i have CSS animations, i need to allow one of them and before another start, so that's way i'm adding this timeline condition. What is not right, when i need to check this element and appending class? Thx for help.

A: You need to append new class after checking his presence, otherwise  block.hasClass('animation_time') will always be true.
btn.live('click', function(e){
    if (block.hasClass('animation_time')){
        // do double click action
    } else {
        setTimeout(function(){
            if (!block.hasClass('animation_time')) {
                // do single click action
            }
        }, 700);
    }
    block.addClass('animation_time');
    setTimeout(function(){
        block.removeClass('animation_time')
    }, 700);
});

A: You need to cache setTimeout function result in purpose to have ability to clear timeout on second click:
<input id="btn" type="button" value="Click Me" />
<div class="block">Odio platea! Nec elementum massa elit augue mus ut. Sed tristique dolor,
    rhoncus aliquet urna? Parturient urna scelerisque, adipiscing amet montes
    eu a egestas in, odio est odio, platea nisi enim egestas ac. Scelerisque
    tempor augue scelerisque lectus porttitor! Augue?
</div>

var fastSndClickTimeout = null;
$("#btn").on("click", function () {
    if (fastSndClickTimeout != null) {
        clearTimeout(fastSndClickTimeout);
        fastSndClickTimeout = null;
        $(".block").css("background-color", "green");
    } else {
        fastSndClickTimeout = setTimeout(function () {
            $(".block").css("background-color", "red");
            fastSndClickTimeout = null;
        }, 700);
    }
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Mario Balotell must work harder, warns City midfielder Patrick Vieira
By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail Updated: 22:26 EST, 2 December 2010
Patrick Vieira has backed his former Inter Milan team-mate Mario Balotelli to mature into one of the best strikers in the world at Manchester City if he can learn from his turbulent past.
Balotelli had a chequered career at Inter before joining City for £23million in the summer, falling out with former coach Jose Mourinho and several team-mates over his attitude to training and work-rate in games.
Backing: Manchester City's Mario Balotelli
Vieira warned the 20-year-old that he still needs to work harder for the team, but is in no doubt about Balotelli's potential after seeing the youngster score twice against Salzburg on Wednesday to take his total to five goals in four starts for City.
Vieira said: 'Yes, there's no doubt he can become one of the best strikers in the world. The potential and the quality are there. Of course Mario made mistakes when he was at Inter and he has to learn from that and improve. That's the important thing, and he's on the right track.
'He's young and he's determined to learn. He just has to get his focus on the game.
'He's a class striker, a natural finisher who scores goals for fun. He's somebody who you know will shoot 10 times, hit the target maybe nine times, and score eight goals.
'But sometimes it is not enough to make a career. If he wants to be one of the top strikers in the world, he needs to work harder than he is doing at the moment.
'The Premier League is more demanding to work without the ball. He needs to work hard and if he does, he will be one of the big surprises in the Premier League.'
Niggling thigh injury makes Bolton midfielder Holden a doubt for City clash Manchester City suffer blow in race for Dzeko as Real Madrid target hitman


David Kane's streetwise comic banter flowed through a major thriller series, via last year's hit farce Drmzbstruck and into a- charming new film set in a Glasgow tenement. Whose lines are they anyway?
fDavid Kane was a grand, pretentious man he would have called it a theory. Instead he just observes. in a for-what-it's-worth kind of way. that rather a lot of Scottish theatre and television writers have come out of art school. He mentions John Byrne. for example. but leaves it there. The theorising falls to the journalist. who suggests rather pretentioust that it's because art school is the only creative outlet for working class Scots that comes with a grant attached.
Kane did go to art school in Dundee to study painting. but his real ambition was to make films. He spent most of his time taking photographs and writing screenplays which he sent religiously to the BBC's script unit. though whether they were read is another matter. For Kane. art school was a place to have fun and put together a film school portfolio. though he ended up staying in Dundee for three years longer than was strictly necessary to secure a degree.
Kane's first big writing commission came after a London television executive met someone on a train who convinced him that Dundec's underworld now rivallcd Glasgow's as gangster central. Thrilled by this vicarious glimpse of east coast |ow~life. the producer promptly pitched the idea of a thriller set in Dundee. Kane was already on the BBC books after his story of a small town childhood Shadow 0/: the lz'arrli won a TV Festival prize and. with the hunt on for someone who had actually been to Dundee. he got the job. The result was 199! 's Jute City. a three-parter starring John Sessions as a bumbling detective. which though hardly an unqualified hit. did well enough to establish him as a scriptwriter with form.
A series of low-key l'l'V pilots and BBC single dramas followed. The next career staging-post was last year's l'l'V series I'inm')'. a witty six-part thriller set in Newcastle. but shot mainly in Glasgow by David Hayman who cast a suspiciously high number of Scottish actors for a Geordie gangland yarn.
l"i/i/zc_\' was the story of a young jazz-lover who tries to avoid following in his father's crooked footsteps. It was based on the Sting character from Mike Figgis's moody thriller Sim-my Monday. though Kane ditched most of the movie's overblown menace in favour of his preferred style of verbally dextrous humour. Hayman said that he took out some of thejokes. but for Kane humour was a coping strategy. He reckons a little bit of irony helps the dramatic cliche go down.


text:
Maura Higgins
anton and belle
Renee Zellweger hints at fourth Bridget Jones film
BY Buzz Contributor
THE American actress spoke openly about her iconic character on the Lorraine show.
Renée Zellweger made a shocking statement about the film role that propelled her to notoriety in the UK.
During her only UK interview on Lorraine, the American actress revealed why she took a step back from her film career, citing she was "bored".
Speaking to Ross King, she explained she needed to take a break in order to "grow as a person".
She said: "You reach a point when you've been doing the same thing for a long time. How greedy can one girl get? You know, I've had some extraordinary experiences and when is enough, enough? And it's time to learn new things.
"I don't think you can be an interesting story-teller if you can't relate to other people's experiences because you've spent 25-30 years living other people's lives."
She continued: "I was bored, not with my work, I always loved my work, I was bored with myself.
"I needed to grow as a person and evolve a little bit, learn new things. You only live once right?"
Discussing if there was a possible chance of her taking on the iconic character Bridget Jones for a fourth time, she said: "I don't know. I mean, I know Helen's [Fielding] written the book, so there's that.
"So, I guess that means there is a possibility. If anyone wants to do that."
Renée Zellweger is currently on the press trail for her upcoming biographical drama film about the life of American singer and actress Judy Garland.
Released later this year, the film will see Renée Zellweger star as the famous entertainer whose successful career spanned over 45 years.
Titled Judy, the film follows the star as she arrives in the British capital for a five-week run of sell-out concerts in 1969.
Renée confessed the filming process was "really special".
She said: "It was really special going to work every day with this entire group of people who were showing up with the same love for Judy and just wanting, everybody wanted to do their best to tell this story of this little-known part of her life when she was going through quite a bit.
"It's an important part of her story because it shines a spotlight on just how truly exceptional she was."
Tags: Bridget Jones, Bridget Jones Diary, Renee Zellweger
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text:
using namespace pulse;

class BitboardTest : public ::testing::Test {
protected:
	std::list<int> pool;

	void SetUp() override {
		std::random_device randomDevice;
		unsigned int seed = randomDevice();
		std::default_random_engine generator(seed);

		while (pool.size() < 64) {
			std::uniform_int_distribution<int> distribution(0, 63);
			int value = distribution(generator);
			if (std::find(pool.begin(), pool.end(), square::values[value]) == pool.end()) {
				pool.push_back(square::values[value]);
			}
		}
	}
};

TEST_F(BitboardTest, shouldAddAllSquaresCorrectly) {
	uint64_t bitboard = 0;

	for (auto x88square: pool) {
		bitboard = bitboard::add(x88square, bitboard);
	}

	EXPECT_EQ(bitboard, std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max());
}

TEST_F(BitboardTest, shouldRemoveAllSquaresCorrectly) {
	uint64_t bitboard = std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max();

	for (auto x88square: pool) {
		bitboard = bitboard::remove(x88square, bitboard);
	}

	EXPECT_EQ(bitboard, 0);
}

TEST(bitboardtest, shouldReturnTheNextSquare) {
	uint64_t bitboard = bitboard::add(square::a6, 0);

	int square = bitboard::next(bitboard);

	EXPECT_EQ(square, +square::a6);
}

TEST(bitboardtest, shouldReturnCorrectRemainder) {
	uint64_t bitboard = 0b1110100;

	uint64_t remainder = bitboard::remainder(bitboard);

	EXPECT_EQ(remainder, 0b1110000);
}

TEST(bitboardtest, shouldReturnCorrectSize) {
	uint64_t bitboard = 0b111;

	int size = bitboard::size(bitboard);

	EXPECT_EQ(size, 3);
}

TEST(bitboardtest, testNumberOfTrailingZeros) {
	uint64_t bitboard = 0;
	int i = 0;

	for (auto square: square::values) {
		bitboard = bitboard::add(square, bitboard);

		EXPECT_EQ(i, bitboard::numberOfTrailingZeros(bitboard));

		bitboard = bitboard::remove(square, bitboard);
		i++;
	}
}

TEST(bitboardtest, testBitCount) {
	std::random_device randomDevice;
	unsigned int seed = randomDevice();
	std::default_random_engine generator(seed);

	for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
		uint64_t bitboard = 0;
		int count = 0;

		int index = 0;
		while (true) {
			std::uniform_int_distribution<int> distribution(1, 4);
			index += distribution(generator);
			if (index < 64) {
				bitboard |= 1ULL << index;
				count++;
			} else {
				break;
			}
		}

		EXPECT_EQ(count, bitboard::bitCount(bitboard));
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
edu_faq_currency_sales
Committee on Foreign Investment in U.S. (CFIUS)
CurrencyCurrently selected
Home » Resource Center » FAQs » Currency » Buying, Selling, & Redeeming
Buying, Selling, & Redeeming
I have some currency that was damaged. My bank will not exchange it for undamaged currency. What can I do?
Information on how to redeem mutilated currency is available through the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
How do I purchase sheets of uncut paper currency through the mail?
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has been selling uncut sheets of currency since October 26, 1981. These sheets and other currency related products can be purchased online at the BEP's web site, www.moneyfactory.gov. Information on how to order by phone or fax is also available at that site.
Does the Treasury Department sell shredded paper currency? Where can I buy it?
Yes. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) destroys currency notes that are found to be imperfect during the printing process. The BEP packages small bags of shredded currency from the destroyed new currency, and sells these bags as mementos to visitors at the BEP's Washington , DC and Fort Worth , TX Visitor Centers. The BEP also sells five pound bags of shredded currency through the mail. Orders can be placed on the BEP's website, www.moneyfactory.gov or by calling 1-800-456-3408.
The Federal Reserve System destroys worn currency notes at some of its various banks located throughout the country. Shredded currency is available only from certain Federal Reserve Banks. They sell it only under contract to buyers who will purchase the entire residue for at least a one year period. It is not readily available for distribution or for sale in small quantities to individuals because of operational difficulties and excessive administrative work for Federal Reserve Banks.
The Treasury Department approves the use of shredded currency in certain circumstances. One permitted use is recycling it (mixing it with other materials) to form a useful manufactured product such as roofing shingles or insulation. In addition, the shredded currency may be placed in firmly sealed containers as novelty items like pens, ornaments and jewelry. However, the Treasury will allow companies or other parties to sell the shredded currency in its original form or where it is readily not recoverable.
I have an old currency note. Can you tell me what it is worth? I would like to sell it.
The Treasury Department does not render opinions concerning the numismatic value of currency notes, and will redeem only those notes issued by the United States Government. Any such redemption would be only at the face value of the notes. If you wish to have the currency mentioned in your letter appraised, We can only suggest that you contact several currency collectors and dealers. Listings are available in the telephone directory under the headings of COINS and HOBBIES.
Currency dealers and collectors consider the condition, series date, denomination, production totals, and other factors when evaluating currency notes to figure out their numismatic value. Each note is different from every other. In addition, grading is not an exact science, varying from dealer to dealer. Therefore, it is possible to have the same note appraised at different values. There is sometimes a wide range (both above and below the market price) in the values that they quote when buying and selling currency notes. This also may be due to the dealer's current inventory and the availability of similar notes in the marketplace.
I have a $1,000 currency note from the Bank of the United States. It is dated December 15, 1840 and has the serial number "8894." Can you tell me what it is worth now and where I can cash it in?
Currency notes from the Bank of the United States are something that we have seen many times. Our office receives many inquiries concerning the authenticity of these notes. It is important to note, first, that the Treasury Department did not issue notes intended for circulation as currency until 1862. This being the case, these notes are not obligations of the United States Government.
You may be interested in a brief history of the Bank of the United States. Our research has shown that the "first" Bank of the United States was founded in 1791 and existed until 1811; the "second" bank operated from 1816-1836. The United States Government held 20 percent of the Bank stock, named five of the 25 trustees, and granted the charter to the Bank.
In 1836, however, President Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill to renew the Bank's charter, withdrew United States Treasury funds from the Bank, and ceased all United States Government involvement in the Bank's operations. In 1837, the trustees of the Bank secured a charter from the State of Pennsylvania. Then, they paid the United States Government for its outstanding interest and swapped old stock for new stock on a one-to-one share basis. The Bank's name changed to the Bank of the United States of Pennsylvania.
After 1837, the history of the Bank was very rocky. On February 4, 1841, the Bank closed its doors. This action left many creditors, including the London Merchant Bank, Baring Brothers, and the Rothschild family, with over $25 million in claims. They were lucky to receive one-third value for their claims.
Because the Treasury Department did not issue these notes, we have no way of verifying their authenticity or figuring out their value. It is likely, though, that the is part of a series of antiqued reproductions issued in various denominations and forms for use in advertising campaigns. The most popular of these bear the serial number 8894. These notes are so widespread that they were the subject of an August 5, 1970, article in COIN WORLD.
I have some old silver certificates. How can I trade them in for silver dollars?
On March 25, 1964, C. Douglas Dillon, the 57th Secretary of the Treasury announced that silver certificates would no longer be redeemable in silver dollars. This decision was pursuant to the Act of June 4, 1963 (31 U.S.C. 405a-1). The Act allowed the exchange of silver certificates for silver bullion until June 24, 1968. This was the deadline set by the Congress. Since that date, there has been no obligation to issue silver in any form in exchange for these certificates. You may be interested to know that the Congress took this action because there were approximately three million silver dollars remaining in the Treasury Department's vaults. These coins had high numismatic values, and there was no way to make an equitable distribution of them among the many people holding silver certificates.
Silver certificates are still legal tender and do still circulate at their face value. Depending upon the age and condition of the certificates, however, they may have a numismatic value to collectors and dealers.
I have some old gold certificates and would like to trade them in for gold. What should I do?
Gold certificates were withdrawn from circulation along with all gold coins and gold bullion as required by the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. Gold certificates circulated until December 28, 1933. That is when the President ordered private owners of gold certificates to deliver their notes to the Treasurer of the United States by midnight on January 17, 1934. It was then illegal to hold gold certificates. C. Douglas Dillon, the 57th Secretary of the Treasury, removed the restrictions on the acquisition or holding of these notes on April 24, 1964.
Under 31 U.S.C. 5118(b) as amended, "The United States Government may not pay out any gold coin. A person lawfully holding United States coins and currency may present the coins for currency . . . for exchange (dollar for dollar) for other United States coins and currency (other than gold and silver coins) that . . ." citizens may lawfully own. Although gold certificates are no longer produced and are not redeemable in gold, they still maintain their legal tender status. You may redeem the notes you have through the Treasury Department or any financial institution. The redemption, however, will be at the face value on the note. These notes may, however, have a "premium" value to coin and currency collectors or dealers.
Last Updated: 10/31/2017 4:46 PM


How do FRGs get their money?
Will funding come from each brigade, or from a garrison account?
How can I provide APF support to my FRG?
Under what specific conditions is reimbursement granted for volunteers?
What forms will govern the monies used for reimbursement?
I was told our FRG could only hold fundraisers at our own motor pool? Is this correct?
May the FRGs which fall under my Brigade hold a fundraiser to benefit our FRGs' informal funds?
Is the $10,000 cap for informal funds enforceable retroactively?
Our FRG has $15,000 in its informal fund checking account. What do we do?
Can the FRG's informal funds be used to buy food and drink for the FRG meetings?
Our FRG is having a holiday party. We are using our informal funds. Can we also use NAFs?
The FRG APF SOP should include a requirement that FRG leaders fill out purchase request forms and submit them to the Commander for approval. Commanders can use their government purchase card to purchase supplies, equipment, room rental, or any other approved item to support FRG mission activities. By using the government purchase card, the unit purchases the items, pays the bills and maintains a detailed record of APF support to FRGs.
The funds come from the unit commander's appropriated funds (APF). The Unit commander should project budget needs, request funds, and discuss funding guidance with the chain of command. Budgeting for mission activities is not new for a commander.
Commanders, with FRG leader input, should develop a budget plan. The commander should review the appropriated fund support provided to the FRG the previous fiscal year (1 October – 30 September) and then develop a plan for the upcoming year. The commander and FRG leader should review and modify the plan, if necessary, to fit within the unit's available mission funds. After the annual budget projections are received, the Commander should develop a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the FRG which describes what type of APF support is available, the budget allocation, and the procedures for requesting support.
MY FRG leader would like to hold an FRG meeting and luncheon. The meeting agenda includes discussing upcoming training exercises, introducing new members, reviewing ACS classes for FRG members, and planning for a unit car wash. What actions are authorized, and what funds can be used?
APFs may be used to support the meeting, provide equipment, and print newsletters and materials necessary towards carrying out the meeting activities. All refreshment or luncheon costs may be paid using the FRG's informal fund or the ACS supplemental mission account intended for FRGs, if money is available. APF monies cannot generally be used for food or refreshments. Regarding the unit car wash, FRGs may only conduct internal fundraising for their FRG informal fund. They must request permission to fundraise as described above. Commanders should not approve internal fundraising unless consistent with the FRG's informal fund SOP. If it is approved, the proceeds are kept in the FRG's informal "cup and flower" fund, IAW AR 600-20.
Our FRG has many social activities. Why not include "socializing" with the FRG mission activity, so that we can use the commander's government credit card to pay for FRG parties and outings?
FRG's are established as official Army entities to provide activities and support that enhance the flow of information, increase the resiliency of unit Soldiers and their families, provide practical tools for adjusting to military deployments and separations, and enhance the well-being and esprit de corps within the unit. FRG mission activities which are funded with APFs, must abide by all laws and regulations governing the use of those monies. APFs shall not be used for social activities.
Unit Commander would like to send the FRG leader, who is a statutory volunteer, to Family support training. What funds are authorized?
The unit commander uses APFs to pay for this expenditure. Statutory volunteers may be sent on Invitational Travel Orders to training, as provided in AR 608-1, 10 U.S.C. §1588, and the Joint Travel Regulation, Appendix E, Part I, paragraph A, and the Secretary Army Travel Policy. If the FRG leader is the unit Commander's Family member, the unit Commander must send the request to authorize travel to the next higher level officer in the Commander's chain of command, to avoid potential violation of the JER, conflict of interest provisions.
FRGs whose Armed Forces members are assigned to duty or ordered to active duty in conjunction with a contingency operation are authorized appropriated funds to provide for needed Family support including child care, education and other youth services. How does this work?
Commanders can pay for child care, education and other youth services using APFs, for Family members of Soldiers who are activated for a contingency operation, or who are assigned duty in support of a contingency operation, or who are deployed to a contingency operation. See 10 U.S.C. 1788, DoDD 1342.17 Family Policy and DoDI 1342.22, Family Centers. This authorization can enable more Soldiers and families to attend FRG meetings prior to and during contingency operations.
My commander said that the unit has arranged with the Child Development Center to provide childcare for the unit's statutory volunteers. Since the unit will pay the bill monthly using the APF Government Purchase Card, he won't reimburse our childcare if we use a different provider. Can he do that?
Yes he can. In fact, this is the most efficient way for a unit to manage childcare for statutory volunteers if they are located on a garrison. The CDC provides a bill monthly to the unit for all of the childcare charged that month to the unit and the APF credit card holder pays the bill. As a management control mechanism, the commander should also implement a childcare coupon for the volunteer to give to CDC after it has been signed by the designated unit representative. The coupons can then be matched to the charges on the bill. Commanders of units not located on the installation or with geographically dispersed families will need to provide FRG volunteers with childcare policies and procedures.
My unit was denied a global phone for morale or operational purposes by the commander due to limited funding. Can the FRG raise funds to purchase and provide maintenance/use costs for a commercially purchased global phone?
No. APFs are authorized for the purchase and maintenance/use costs of a global phone. FRGs cannot use their private or informal funds for something that is authorized to be purchased with APFs.
My unit was denied use of a VTC. A commercial company has agreed to conduct a VTC for us. Can the FRG raise funds to pay for the VTC?
No. For the same reason the FRG cannot fund the global phone – it is an appropriated fund expense.
AR 608-1, para 5-10g covers the reimbursement criteria for volunteers. This is provided the commander has approved the expenditure and funds are available. It is recommended the unit commander have an SOP which informs the volunteers what funds are available, and how to request reimbursement.
How will the reimbursement of volunteer incidental expenses for child care costs be made, and to whom -- the volunteer or the provider?
We assume you are requesting information regarding the reimbursement of incidental expenses for statutory volunteers registered through ACS, IAW 10 U.S.C. 1588 and AR 608-1, chapter 5. The unit commander must approve the expense in advance and should provide an SOP on the reimbursement procedures. The reimbursement depends upon the commander's approval and availability of funds. The money comes from the unit commander's appropriated mission funds.
Check with the commander's SOP for FRG budget procedures.
Is the FRG volunteer required to register with the CDC prior to requesting reimbursement of child care?
The volunteer is required to in-process through the servicing ACS Center. The volunteer must be a statutory volunteer. If the volunteer wants to be reimbursed for childcare costs, he/she should check with the commander on whether or not childcare expenses are being reimbursed. The volunteer should review the Commander's SOP on the reimbursement of incidental expenses, including childcare. Note that the volunteer does not have to use the Childcare Center, unless the commander has decided that the Childcare Center must be used for reimbursement.
May the unit commander reimburse an FRG volunteer's child care expenses incurred while conducting FRG business?
608-1 and 10 U.S.C 1588. However, FRG social events are not considered official FRG business so the Commander may not pay FRG volunteer childcare costs incurred while participating in a social event.
What is the definition of volunteering (in order to qualify for the reimbursement of incidental expenses) - FRG leadership roles or does attending the FRG meeting constitute time as a volunteer?
FRG members attending an FRG meeting are not volunteers. Statutory volunteers provide voluntary services to the unit commander in furtherance of the FRG mission. The definition of statutory volunteer can be found at AR 608-1, para 5-4c; Statutory volunteers are required to have a job description, and to be supervised like an employee (AR 608-1, para 5-9k). The FRG leader, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and others who hold designated leadership positions should all be statutory volunteers. They should in-process through the Mobilization and Deployment Program Manager and Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator and receive a signed job description from the command. The unit commander should prepare a SOP covering the procedures for reimbursement for incidental expenses, so that volunteers know what is and is not covered.
Should FRG fund-raising caps be based on number of people in the unit the FRG is supporting vice a standard amount based on echelon of the FRG?
Army Directive 2008-1 increased to the limit on the Family Readiness Group Informal Fund from $5,000 to $10,000. This increase is for all units Army-wide. The increase was effective 7 March 2008.
Not necessarily. The JER authorizes official fundraising by organizations composed primarily of Department of Defense or Department of the Army employees and their dependents when fundraising among their own members or dependants for the benefit of their own welfare funds. The Army Office of General Counsel (Ethics and Fiscal Law) and the Army Standards of Conduct Office have interpreted this to mean that an Army organization -including but not limited to units, installations, and Family Readiness Groups - may officially fundraise from its own community members or dependants and from all persons benefiting from the Army organization. For example, an installation may benefit from the Brigade or Unit FRG, thus permitting a Brigade or Unit FRG to fundraise throughout the installation. Fundraising must be (1) for the FRG informal fund, as apposed to a private charity; and (2) approved by the unit commander and coordinated with the commander with cognizance over the location of fundraising, if different from the organization area. Commanders shall consult with their SJA or Ethics Counselor and avoid all conflicts with other authorized fundraising activities.
I am the FRG Leader for an Army Reserve unit. Our Reserve unit trains at a public building not located on an Army installation. Can we hold a fundraiser in front of the building?
No. Since the unit is located in a public building that is shared with non-Army businesses, the FRG may only fundraise among its own members in its own spaces.
I am an FRG leader…. In the past we held many big fundraisers which these new guidelines limit in scope. Frankly, these events built esprit de corps. We are struggling to re-define the purpose of FRG activities. Suggestions?
Certain FRG mission activities are essential and include FRG member meetings, FRG staff and committee meetings, welcome activities for new members, and the publication and distribution of FRG newsletters. FRGs should provide activities that enhance the flow of information from command to the Family, and serve as a referral resource. FRGs should consider holding classes and workshops relevant to their membership. FRG leaders and commanders should speak with their members to better identify training needs and contact ACS or one of the many other garrison agencies available for FRG support. FRGs can create resilient families that stick together in both celebration and crisis.
My FRG is unhappy with the prohibition against external fund raising and wants me to set up a private organization to do our FRG fundraising? As a commander, may I do this?
No. Commanders cannot organize private organizations (POs) or direct their activities, including how POs spend their money. Private organizations (POs) may be established by individuals, including FRG members if they so desire, to support shared goals and objectives. However, as stated in the G1 ALARACT message, "These POs may not receive preferential treatment and must be treated the same as all other similarly situated Pos IAW the Joint Ethics Regulation (JER), and AR 210-22, Private Organizations on Department of the Army Installations. To prevent potential conflicts of interest, if such POs are established, its leaders must consist of different persons than the FRGs' leaders." FRG members and commanders should remember not to use government or FRG resources or government equipment for PO business.
You might also take into consideration that donations to the FRG Informal Fund cannot exceed $1000 and that the donation counts as FRG income for the annual income cap. The FRG would benefit more from a local private organization donating to the Supplemental Mission Account intended for FRGs. The donations do not count as income to the FRG.
My division is planning a Division Ball. Can my FRG conduct fundraising activities to support the Division Ball?
No. Planning and contributing funds to support a Division Ball is not an FRG responsibility. The Division Ball is also not an MWR event for which non-appropriated funds or commercial sponsorship would be authorized. Division Balls are a private social event which should be funded by the attendees, or their private organizations (established IAW AR 210-22, Private Organizations) should their members choose to do so.
My Battalion is planning a Holiday Party. Can the FRG conduct fundraising to support the Battalion Holiday Party?
Yes. FRGs can conduct internal fundraising following their commander's approval after consultation with their ethics counselor, IAW AR 600-29 and the JER, to support this Family event.
Yes. It is possible that a Brigade could hold an internal fundraiser for its own members, to benefit its own members, consistent with AR 600-29 and the JER. It is essential that no fundraiser be held without the permission of the commander, in consultation with the Brigade's Judge Advocate ethics counselor.
If my Brigade FRG is selling unit magnets as a fundraiser, and a non- member of the Brigade wishes to purchase a magnet, could we sell it to the non-member without violating the "internal" fundraising limitations?
Yes. FRGs who are given permission by their command, in consultation with their Judge Advocate's ethics counselor, to have an internal fundraiser should make every effort to abide by their commander's rules regarding that fundraiser.
May my FRG do a fundraiser in their own community as long as it doesn't infringe on another unit?
We can't tell from your question which community you are referring to. If you mean off-post, in the civilian community, then the answer is no. Official Army activities, to include FRGs, are prohibited from engaging in external fundraising. However, your FRG may be able to do a fundraiser at a central location on the installation. Your unit commanders should consult with their Judge Advocate's ethics counselor regarding this specific fundraising question.
Informal funds "may be used for purely social activities", etc....Does that include helping to defray the cost for a unit formal?
Informal funds are private monies which belong to the informal funds' members. Planning and contributing funds to support a unit formal is not an FRG responsibility. Therefore, our guidance is not to use FRG informal funds monies for unit events. Unit formals are also not an MWR event for which non-appropriated funds are available, nor would commercial sponsorship be authorized. Formal balls are a private social event which should be funded by the attendees, or their private organizations should their members choose to do so.
FRGs informal funds may not exceed an annual gross income cap of $10,000 per calendar year. If your FRG informal funds exceed $10,000, the FRG needs to not engage in any internal fundraising.
If the FRG Informal Fund account has reached the limit of $10,000, are they unable to make any additional deposits from fundraisers currently scheduled?
Commanders should not authorize FRG fundraisers when the FRG informal funds account has reached the $10,000 cap. We advise commanders to cancel fundraisers for FRGs who are already at their maximum limit. FRGs are not established as a fundraising organization.
Our battalion is having a holiday ball, in which the battalion pays for reserving the location, DJ, etc and the soldiers buy tickets for their dinner. Normally the FRG helps the battalion with this event by decorating (and purchasing the decorations for) the tables for the ball. Can we use our informal funds to purchase the decorations?
The Battalion should use their informal funds to purchase the decorations for their holiday ball. The Battalion holiday ball is not an FRG responsibility. FRG members' informal funds should only be used for the benefit of the FRG members, not the entire Battalion.
My commander wants the FRG informal fund to be bonded. This is expensive, does the Army have a program that covers this?
No, First, bonding the informal fund is not a requirement but it is the commander's option. The Army does not provide bonding for FRG informal funds. We recommend the commander consider the value of the FRG informal fund and the cost of bonding when making this decision.
My FRG would like to give going away gifts to our deploying Soldiers, such as books, magazines, calling cards and gift certificates. We also want to send "care packets" to the Soldiers during the deployment. Should we use the FRG's informal funds for the gifts and care packets, or the unit's informal funds?
You have an option – the FRG Informal Funds or the unit's Informal Funds. The FRG Informal Funds may be used if the membership agrees and Soldier care packages are included in the Informal Fund SOP. Since this activity only benefits the unit members and not the FRG Family members, the FRG may consider asking the commander if unit Informal Funds may be used.
My Unit Commander wants to organize an FRG picnic, provide transportation, buy welcoming gifts to new FRG members, and pay for pony rides. What APF support is authorized?
None. APFs may not be used for this purely social activity. If the FRG has informal funds, they may be used. Also, the FRG may request funds from the FRG Supplemental Mission Activity, if available. The use of government vehicles to support the picnic is also not authorized, since the FRG activity is purely social.
Follow the guidance in AR 608-1, Appendix J to insure your informal fund procedures and paper work are in order. FRG informal funds are capped at $10,000.
How can our FRG establish an informal "cup and flower" fund for births, birthdays, meals and parties?
Commanders may authorize FRGs to maintain informal funds for social events, similar to a cup and flower fund. The commander, or delegated representative, should sign a letter designating an FRG informal fund custodian and alternate, responsible for informal fund custody, accounting, and documentation. Operation of the fund will be consistent with Army Values, DoD 5500.7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation (JER) and AR 600-20, Command Policy. The brigade commander, or delegated representative, must publish an organizing SOP for informal funds management procedures. For further guidance, see the Commander's Guide, informal funds section.
My FRG has a bank account for its informal funds. Do we need to close the account and await funding from the chain of command?
No. Commanders may authorize FRGs to keep informal funds for activities which cannot be funded with government money. The informal funds are private monies belonging to the individual FRG members. FRG mission activities are funded by commanders using government money. The commander's mission funds (APFs) must be spent when supporting the official FRG mission, in accordance with fiscal and ethics law principles.
One of my Soldiers is taking R&R leave at Edelweiss in Germany. Her spouse lives in Texas. This Soldier has not seen her Family for 3 years. Can the FRG pay for the spouse's ticket, or a portion of the ticket, with their informal funds?
No. FRG Informal funds must be used for activities that support all of the members of the FRG. However, there are other agencies that may be able to assist the spouse, such as Army Emergency Relief and local charitable and volunteer organizations.
Yes. The FRG's informal funds could be used to purchase refreshments for FRG meetings, as long as some of the funds had been earmarked for refreshments. Informal funds use is limited to expenses consistent with the purpose and function of the fund. Other examples of authorized uses of informal funds include social events such as FRG parties or outings. Any disbursements of the informal funds that are made should be for specific planned purposes and should be for the benefit of the FRG members as a whole.
No. You are correct to use FRG informal funds, assuming doing so is consistent with the FRG's informal fund SOP. However, since the FRG is not an MWR activity or NAFI, NAFs cannot be used to support this FRG event.


The Literary Forest: In My Mailbox - Summer Book Haul!
It may be a bit hard to see all of the titles because this was the closest I could get to include all of the books in the picture.
For years I was dying to see the movies and while at Target one day I stumbled across this gem and decided I'd give the book series a shot since the Hobbit will be coming out to theaters on my birthday this year!
That's the book haul for what's in my mailbox. There were a lot of other books I had gotten that didn't get the chance to show up in this haul but I did get the chance to read them and the reviews will be up soon!
Awesome haul Noellie :) !!


Duesouth Escapes embodies the spirit of adventure many dream of, but few have the courage to pursue. Duesouth Escapes caters for modern, hi-tech travellers who demand a retail experience suited to their adventurous journey. Some of the brands we stock include SKRoss, Thule, The North Face, PACSAFE, Osprey, Jekyll and Hide, Nine West, Fiorelli and more. Our first store opened in Hemingways mall in October or 2015 and our second in Bay West centre in December 2015. We also offer the option of shopping on our online store from the comfort of your home.


So often does adversity transmute talent into greatness that we seem to consider it a general rule. Sibelius would be an exception to prove that rule. While still only 32, the Finnish government awarded him a pension for life, a year before he even began work on his First Symphony. That he went on to produce some of the Twentieth Century's finest and most original music says much for his strength of character in the face of enforced prosperity. Although his output was huge and varied, including much attractive lighter music, it is the seven symphonies which are regarded as the pinnacle of his art. His ideal was expressed in a reported conversation (1907) with Mahler, who saw the symphony as "like the world - it must contain everything", while to Sibelius what mattered was "the profound logic creating a connection between all the motifs". Although diametrically opposed, these are complementary rather than antithetical viewpoints, each containing elements of the other.
Sibelius, however, didn't pursue his ideal with anything like ruthless single-mindedness. Only in the Second, Third and Fifth do we trace a progressive refinement of his technique for "seamless transition" from one movement to the next. While composing the pastoral and euphonious Sixth, Sibelius was planning the Seventh. In a letter to a friend (1918), he made it clear that "profound logic" was far from top priority. The Seventh would be "about joy of life and vitality, with appassionato passages, in three movements, the last being a Hellenic rondo". Maybe this was a Sibelian smokescreen, because what emerged six years later was well wide of his declared mark: in the Seventh, Sibelius integrated all the "components" of a symphony into one seamless span, with all the motifs closely interconnected.
A bit like with Schubert and his Eighth, something of a myth has grown around Sibelius and his Seventh, a suggestion that the work was so "perfect" that it couldn't be improved upon. Well, he did dabble with an Eighth, so obviously he wasn't entirely convinced that the Seventh was positively the end of the symphonic trail, nor must we forget the brooding magnificence of Tapiola, the greatest of the several works realised following the Seventh.
How does one describe this astonishing work? Starting from the dominant G, strings climb through an octave and a half of the scale of C, the simplest of "melodic" ideas that generates half a dozen thematic elements, some of which derive from upward or downward cadences around the tonic . . . but, you don't really want to hear all this now, do you? Good, let's try another tack or two.
For map-readers, the single movement falls into a broad ABABA+coda layout, as far as tempo and mood are concerned. The [A] sections and the coda are typically slow, while the [B] sections are scherzando episodes. The overall structure is signposted by recurrences of a noble solo trombone theme. For the poetically-minded, let's try an analogy: imagine going through wooded, mountainous terrain. Sometimes you're amid gloomy forest, sometimes bubbling streams sparkle in shafts of sunlight, sometimes you're gazing down into deep, verdant valleys, or up at lofty, ice-capped peaks (trombone solo?). But, you're walking, not tearing around on a motorbike, so the scene changes only very gradually from one awesome perspective to another - you can't tell just where one ends and the next starts, but you sure as hell know when to whip out your camera! Some describe the end as a "blaze of sound", but it's more like a fierce sunset, a dark red heat bisecting frosted hillsides. Whether viewed as pure music, or as a "landscape", there's a palpable feeling of integrity and implacable logic: Sibelius' life's goal achieved, I reckon. So, perhaps it's as well he did give up on his Eighth?
Copyright in these notes is retained by the author without whose prior written permission they may not be used, reproduced, or kept in any form of data storage system. Permission for use will generally be granted on application, free of charge subject to the conditions that (a) the author is duly credited, and (b) a donation is made to a charity of the author's choice.


If you're like us, you can't wait for the summer months. Whether it's golfing or playing tennis, summer is an exciting time full of friendly competition. For generations, Lachman & Co. has been country clubs' most trusted provider of awards for golf and tennis.
This time of the summer, we all gather around the TVs to watch the winners of Wimbledon and the Master's receive their trophies. It's an amazing sight to see these champions hoist their magnificent trophies over their heads. Like these professional champions, we know that amateurs also look forward to winning trophies and awards. Each year, we work with country clubs around the country to provide trophies and plaques for the club champions. There's something special about receiving a personalized trophy or seeing your name on an engraved trophy or plaque that hangs on the wall. When you present a club member with a beautiful trophy or engraved award, you can be certain that it will be received with much pride and admiration.
Photo of Daniel Lechner with Tennis star Rafael Nadal. Daniel is the son of Lachman & Co.'s President, Carrie Lachman.
At Lachman & Co. we work with club managers, golf pros and tennis pros to help you select the most perfect awards for your tournaments, leagues and recognition gifts. Lachman & Co. also helps country clubs and charitable organizations with their charity golf outings. We go the extra mile to help you look good. Remember, your members will take personal pride in seeing their name on a trophy or wall plaque for generations.
From wedding gifts engraved with the bride and groom's names to gorgeous glass, crystal or marble executive gifts, Lachman & Co. is able to personalize hundreds of gifts to fit the occasion. For four generations, we've understood that personalized engraving truly takes a gift up a notch. Since engraving requires forethought, your gift recipient will know that some time and effort was put into the gift. Engraving is an art form and it will make your gifts even more impressive.
Please take a moment to browse through Lachman & Co.'s vast array of crystal, marble, granite and even solid wood gifts that can be customized with an engraved message. We promise it will be appreciated.


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Guild Battlegrounds!
Thread starter Lady Marlena
Lady Marlena
FoE Team
Dear Kings and Queens,
We are happy to announce the arrival of our new PvP feature: Guild Battlegrounds!
The first Battlegrounds Season starts on November 14th, 08:00 AM (GMT)
This feature has been running on Beta server for fifty days, where we received a lot of feedback and suggestions from our community. Each comment has been taken into consideration and forwarded to our developers, who tirelessly worked to deliver the Guild Battlegrounds in its most polished form, providing you a new functionality, that is both easily accessible and competitive. Therefore, we hope you enjoy the Guild Battlegrounds experience as much as we do!
Summarized introduction
Every 14 days, guilds will be matchmade into a battleground that lasts for 11 days. Those guilds fight for provinces on the map, as these generate victory points to become the best guild in the Battleground. Depending on your guild's performance, it should move up or down in the league system. Moving up a league also means that the Battlegrounds will become even more challenging, as your guild will face more competitive rivals as it advances.
Provinces can be conquered using stand-alone battles or negotiations. Progress made on a province is shared throughout the guild, so teamwork is needed to stifle the progress of enemy guilds while claiming provinces for your own. When the battleground ends, guild members earn a reward according to the performance of their guild and their current league.
Being part of a guild and researching 'Military Tactics' are the only requirements to access the Battlegrounds building that's located northeast of your city limits.
Each Battleground match will be formed by a map with 5-8 guilds that will battle against one another for 11 consecutive days. The map consists of a fixed number of provinces. Each guild will be initially placed at the edges with a province and an included HQ (the map distribution should provide as equitable distance as possible between guilds). These main provinces, in turn, can not be conquered by other guilds.
Upon completion of each battleground, there will be a 3-day break for the guilds to rest, collect their rewards and make preparations for the next Battleground. The guild score will then be updated, and its members will see if they have increased or dropped their progress in the League System.
League System
To ensure that there's no substantial difference between the participating guilds on each Battleground map, we will have a League System made up of five distinct league categories: Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Newly arrived guilds will always be positioned in the Copper league.
When the feature arrives however, every existing guild will be given an initial league allocation. This will be calculated according to the average activity and members count per guild. The purpose is to start the feature with more appropriate battleground instances, while your actual performance within the feature will reflect your true league rank after a few seasons.
Conquest Flags
Guilds can only attack provinces which are adjacent to one of their own, and as soon as a guild begins attacking an adjacent province, a "conquest flag" will be displayed in the target province. Each action of the guild with the highest progress will increase the strength of the flag, until it is at full strength and the rival province gets taken over:
Subsequently, the conquered province will stay in a 'lock down' state for 4 hours, which means that no guild can make progress with their conquest flag further in that province. Only the flag of the guild with the most progress will be displayed in a province, but other guilds progressing on that province will be indicated by small colored shields next to the flag. Also, you can always check a detailed list of guilds as well as their progress by clicking on the province.
To contribute to the conquest of a province, any guild member can click on that province to bring up its window. Two options for earning points will be available there: Attack and negotiation. The enemy composition for the battle option, as well as the costs for the negotiation option, will depend on the attacking player's age. At the same time, negotiation provides more than one advance as it takes more time and resources to complete.
Each individual guild member will accumulate "attrition" for every single successful battle or negotiation. It will increase by one level each time one of these actions is completed successfully. The higher the attrition, the tougher the fights/negotiations will be.
The attrition gets reset on a daily basis at midnight (server time)
Province Buildings
A province building is a strategical tool available in the Battleground map. Each province can have from 0 to 3 slots on which buildings can be constructed. Anyone from a guild can donate goods to the guild treasury to help pay the costs, but only members with a special guild role ("battleground constructor") can raise buildings on provinces owned by their guild. Every 'founder' and 'leader' of a guild will automatically have this role as well.
Only the eras that are represented in a guild will determine the costs of province buildings (treasury goods). These province buildings have a building time, and it's possible to cancel the construction or remove a building at any time to free the slot for another. In such a case, spent resources are not returned to the treasury.
When a province gets conquered by another guild, every building (including the ones under construction) has a 50% chance to be destroyed, and the remaining ones will benefit the new owner. There are 9 different strategical buildings available, so make sure you choose wisely.
Battleground Leaderboard
At all times, the guilds will see their amount of victory points (
) at the top of the Battlegrounds window. By clicking on this, the Leaderboard will show all participating guilds of the current battleground group, listing the rankings, guild names, number of provinces they hold, current hourly gain of victory points, total of victory points and a reward preview for the given rank. By switching tabs to 'Member Activity', it's possible to see the members from your own guild and their contributions to the running battleground:
Victory Points are used to measure and count the points towards the current battleground, thus being reset every time you join a new round. Once per hour, each province that a guild holds will provide victory points. The provinces located towards the center of the map provide the highest amount of victory points, so aim to acquire those as soon as possible, and hold them for as long as you can to maximize your Victory Points!
You can obtain immediate, temporary and permanent rewards in the Battlegrounds. There's a chance to obtain Forge Points, units, attacker boosts, goods, diamonds and fragments for the Statue of Honor after each fight or negotiation. The quality of these rewards depends on your league! Your guild should gain temporary prestige points according to its current league, but keep in mind that you can also lose them when dropping in the league. Lastly, we also have permanent rewards for you and your guild: Guilds will receive guild power according to their placement within a battleground (the amount also scales according to the league), and you can also get fragments for the Statue of Honor Selection Kit.
Statue of Honor - 3x4
You can obtain immediate (Goods, Attacker boosts, Units, FP and Diamonds), temporary (Prestige) and permanent rewards (Guild Power and Battleground Statue Fragments).
50% of the time, this reward will be one fragment for the Statue of Honor Selection kit.
Should you have any comments or questions, please check our FAQ below or just let us know! We're looking forward for your feedback!
Your Forge of Empires Team.
Reactions: Deleted member 112124, Deleted member 113256 and DeletedUser96901
How can I unlock the Guild Battlegrounds?
Simple! There are only two requirements to unlock the feature. You need to be part of a guild and research 'Military Tactics'. Once you've met both of these requirements, you'll be able to access the Battlegrounds building that's located northeast of your city limits. However, to take part, your guild needs to be signed up for the current battleground.
Why was my guild positioned in this League and how can we advance?
The initial calculations are based on number of members and activity (and success) within GE and GvG of the past two weeks (at the point of calculation). This calculation is just an approximation, as it could never reflect the final rank of a guild. For that to be reflected, we need a few seasons so that the league system can sort it itself naturally. Every guild has a value assigned, also known as "Match-Making-Rating" (MMR). This value decides on the league allocation and as your Guild plays battleground, you should advance to a more competitive league or decay to a more fairly balanced one, so take the first battlegrounds as a way to "calibrate" the place where your guild should be located.
How many participants can we have in a Battleground map?
Battlegrounds can contain from 5 to 8 participants. The more competitors you have, the more MMR points are at stake (so you can win more, but you can also lose more).
Which treasury goods will be asked to raise province buildings?
Only the eras that are represented in a guild will determine the costs of province buildings. If a guild has two members, one in Iron Age and one in Colonial Age, then only goods from those two specific ages will ever be asked for. Nevertheless, the distribution takes into account the weighting of represented eras, which means that if a guild has mostly members of Space Age Mars, then it's most likely to see Space Age Mars goods as costs.
Why is this getting so hard to conquer a province?
For every successful action (battle or negotiation), you accumulate one level of attrition. The higher the attrition, the tougher the fights/negotiations will be. The attrition gets reset on a daily basis at midnight (server time).
Why do we have gold and platinum guilds in the same Battleground?
The matchmaking system tries to build a reasonable platinum battleground; therefore, it will take as many (high) gold players as necessary to be able to have a battleground running in platinum.
My guild finished a battleground in first place, and we didn't move to the next league! Why?
The league promotion depends on your guild's current MMR points. What could have happened is that the MMR points required to be promoted was higher than the actual amount of MMR points your guild gained in a battleground.
Why some province buildings are so expensive?
Some of those province buildings are very powerful, thus they should be used strategically as a game-changer in specific scenarios. Although you may find cheaper province building options, placing any province building is a strategical action to gain more control over the map, so choose them wisely.
Why inactive guilds are gaining rewards as well?
They're not! A guild that is too inactive will get no rewards at all. They have to do a certain amount of actions to be eligible for the reward.
What happens when a Guild is disbanded?
If a guild gets disbanded, it will lose all provinces and these provinces becomes conquerable. The province buildings, however, remain in the map.
Why the difference in rewards is so close between first and last places?
Because the worst reward of a given league must be better than the best reward of the league below. The main reason to try to win a given Battleground is to get to the next league, as the league alone has a pretty big impact on your rewards, not only placement rewards, but also the forge point drops you occasionally get. The higher the league, the more FP and Diamonds you can get (diamonds are 5 in Copper league, and +5 for each league higher). The chance to get 5 units is low in Copper league, but this chance is increased up until Diamond League. The higher leagues have the best rewards. To move in the leagues, you need to gain MMR, which means that if you finish a battleground in a very good position, you will gain more MMR, thus you'll move faster to the next leagues.
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So like most city folk the first thing we do when it's hot and it's the weekend is look to escape to the beach. Immediately. Wanting to avoid most of London who would be in Brighton or Whitstable we popped in the car (thank the Gods for air-con) and drove just over an hour to Essex, Leigh-On-Sea a lovely little sea-side village that I had no idea existed.
Now I have to admit, I don't know much about Essex. I went to Dagenham market once when I was a teen to buy a fake Gucci handbag (which lasted a surprisingly long time) but that's the only time I've ventured there before now.
We stopped for lunch in a cute little restaurant which over looked the sea, and ate a mediocre meat platter and a so-so salad. But it was worth it for the gorgeous view.
Something so intriguing about boats docked like this – I mean how do they get them out?
We sat and watched the boats in the sea, the swimmers (it was hot but they must have been freezing!!!!), people paddle-boarding and even jet skiing, there so much to do. I love being close to the sea, it helps if ever I'm feeling down or anxious – which I have been recently. It reminds me how small I am, being on the edge of something so vast. Anyone else get that or is that just my over-active brain? We sat for a while people watching and discussing things that have no significance, lovely idle chit-chat on a love idle Sunday.
Dipping my toes… or not… fresh pedicure you know?
Walking back we came across the cutest garden tea room – dog friendly, people friendly, really friendly in general. The iced coffee was delish and came in a very Insta-worthy glass with a paper straw (I always admire the establishments that have moved away from the plastic tubes), the carrot cake I'm told was equally yummy (it took all my will power not to have a bite). Discovering the place only took cash – of which we had none, they even let us do a bank transfer. V cool. V 2018.


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Posted by l.constantinou On October 29, 2009 0 Comment
Love is a warzone and the front-line is at one of the most beautiful locations on the planet. Peter Billingsley's mind numbingly boring "comedy", starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Dana Fox was filmed on the remote Pacific Ocean island of Bora Bora. It seems that the film was only really made as a crappy excuse for best buddies Vaughn and Favreau to enjoy a free holiday with some of their acting mates. The script is completely void of anything which may induce even a smile, let alone tears of laughter. Our entertainment must have been the last thing on their minds. To deem Vaughn, Favreau and Billingsley's monstrosity as a comedy would be ironic to say the least. In fact, the film is more like a drama – especially considering all of the therapy sessions which the nominal couples attend in order to work through the kinks in their relationships. And to make it even more cringe-worthy than it already is, the screenwriters have the audacity to resolve all of the underlying tensions, hurt and resentment with a 'happy ever after' finale.
[FLOWPLAYER=http://uk.clip-1.filmtrailer.com/2519_5714_a_3.flv,275,180]
A long and tedious sequence involving a scantily-clad yoga instructor (Carlos Ponce) gyrating inappropriately against married clients drags on for what seems like forever. Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristin Bell) are contemplating divorce and they decide to give the relationship one last chance. They go to the tropical resort of Eden, which offers seminars for married couples to rebuild love and trust. "It's got fun, it's got sun, it's like Disneyland for adults," Cynthia tells their social circle; Dave (Vaughn) and wife Ronnie (Malin Akerman); Joey (Jon Favreau) and wife Lucy (Kristin Davis); and Shane (Faizon Love) and new girlfriend Trudy (Kali Hawk). Cynthia invites the three couples to join her and Jason on the "Pelican Package" group rate. While the potential divorcees rebuild their relationship, the friends can enjoy the jet-skis, diving and fine dining. When the four couples arrive, they soon find out that there's a catch. "You either partake of the entire package, or have none of it," instructs po-faced guide Stanley (Peter Serafinowicz). So the entire group take parts in a programme of challenges designed by the enigmatic Monsieur Marcel (Jean Reno).
Couples Retreat is packed with sexually suggestive innuendos and the occasional sentimental exchange between the eight characters. This comes as no surprise considering the massive lack of communication between themselves, not to mention the failure to communicate anything to us, the audience. It is impossible to think that even for a moment, such shallow, two-dimensional people like these characters would be able to retain any kind of goodness from learning lessons in love and life. We are left feeling nothing but loathe for these lovebirds as they magically go from confusin to reconciliation, and find ourselves wholeheartedly agreeing with Jason when he dismisses Shane's new flirtation thus: "It's been two weeks. It's not a relationship, it's an antibiotic cycle." Vaughn and Favreau's attempts at comic witticisms are predictably dull. The saviour of the film is probably cinematographer Eric Alan Edwards who at least manages to capture the beauty of the backdrop of the film. As with all 'romantic comedies', we can expect a certain level of flinchy and nauseating material but Couples Retreat skips that and takes us straight to snore-ville. Happy ending or no happy ending, this film is no haven and quite frankly makes me glad I'm single.
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l.constantinou
Tags :Cinema ReviewFaizon LoveJason BatemanJean RenoJon FavreauKali HawkKristin DavisMalin AkermanPeter BillingsleyPeter SerafinowiczTasha SmithVince Vaughn


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Q: Process large data in flink broadcast stream I am using a Flink streaming Java application with input source as Kafka. Totally 4 streams are used in my application. One is the main data stream and another 3 three are used for a broadcast stream.
Stream A is the main stream, it flows continuously from Kafka.
Stream B is a dataset of enrichment data. Stream B is a Combined stream of Stream C , Stream D, Stream E. It's a big one (All the 3 stream size is large).
Stream C, Stream D, Stream E streams Object type is different. (For example, one stream type is Employee, Another one type is AttendanceDetails, another one is SalaryDetails, etc...).
I was joined the three broadcast streams using Either type.  I have broadcast as the Stream B and able to receive in Broadcast Process Function context state (i.e in processBroadcastElement() ).
My questions are,

*

*Is it possible to store large data in Broadcast state?

*Is it possible for Broadcast large data?
If possible for store large data means, how much data(i.e data size) can able to store in Broadcast state and can able to apply Fault tolerance and Flink checkpoints?  My Flink system memory and storage size are:
       Memory: 8 GB
       Disk Size: 20-25 GB

How to configure memory size for the Broadcast state in Flink?
Note: As per my understanding, Flink Broadcast State is kept in memory at runtime (it mean broadcast state will not be stored at rocksdb) and the broadcast stream is used as a low-throughput event stream. Since currently, the RocksDB state backend is not available for the operator state.

A: The working copy of broadcast state is always on the heap; not in RocksDB. So, it has to be small enough to fit in memory. Furthermore, each instance will copy all of the broadcast state into its checkpoints, so all checkpoints and savepoints will have n copies of the broadcast state (where n is the parallelism).
If you are able to key partition this data, then you might not need to broadcast it. It sounds like it might be per-employee data that could be keyed by the employeeId. But if not, then you'll have to keep it small enough to fit into memory.