text:
CURE Comments on Shipper Testimony to National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board
Written on March 24, 2014 .
Contact: Steve Sharp 501-570-2467 Steve.Sharp@aecc.com March 17, 2014
RAIL REGULATION REFORMS NECESSARY TO ENSURE
COMPETITIVE RAIL SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday March 14, 2013, the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board (TRB), heard testimony from railroads and rail shippers as the TRB sought input for its comprehensive study of the nation's railroad transportation system since the enactment of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. Steve Sharp, President of Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), a coalition of rail-dependent shippers seeking rail-to-rail competition in the national freight rail system, issued the following statement following CURE's testimony: "Shippers delivered a clear message to the TRB Members: a 21stcentury freight transportation network must provide competitive railroad shipping options for rail dependent shippers. "Railroad advocates continue to argue that current Federal rail policy is 'balanced' and reliant on 'market-based competition.' While both terms certainly were envisioned by the architects of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, the implementation of the Act and changes in the rail industry throughout the last 30 years have resulted in very little rail competition for rail dependent shippers and no balance between the interests of shippers and the railroads. "Without reforms that allow rail dependent shippers access to railroad competition, American companies that must ship their goods by rail increasingly will fall behind their global competitors, reducing U.S. exports, raising prices for consumers and costing hard-working Americans their jobs. "Common sense reforms could offer shippers greater access to competing railroads and more effective remedies at the Surface Transportation Board for those instances when shippers are denied access to competition. Customers enjoy access to competition in every means of transportation in the United States except for rail dependent shippers using our national freight rail system. This must change. "We commend Congress for engaging the National Academy of Sciences to perform this study and the TRB for holding this hearing to learn more about rail-dependent shipper needs. We remain committed to working closely with the TRB to ensure that its final recommendations reflect that rail dependent shippers must have access to railroad competition in order for our national freight rail system to work for Americans competing in the global economy of the 21st Century."


text:
Limiting fast-food access unlikely to reduce obesity, new study finds
The research team based its findings on the Weight and Veterans' Environments Study, a comprehensive database stretching from 2009 to 2014 and covering 1.7 million veterans living in 382 metropolitan areas.
Living near fast-food restaurants and supermarkets has little impact on an individual's body mass index, according to new Indiana University research.
Also read, Britain's booming restaurant culture blamed for childhood obesity levels.
The researchers, including Coady Wing from IU's School of Public and Environmental Affairs, used results from the largest national study ever conducted of the connection between residential environments and BMI.
"Fast food is generally not good for you, and supermarkets do sell healthy food, but our results suggest blocking the opening of a new fast-food restaurant or subsidizing a local supermarket will do little to reduce obesity," Wing said.
The key findings and the policy implication:
Changes in the availability of fast-food restaurants and supermarkets near a person's home are not associated with reductions in BMI.
There is no evidence that relationships between BMI and food outlets are different in neighborhoods with higher poverty levels.
Public policies that are designed to reduce the number of fast-food restaurants and increase the number of supermarkets are unlikely to reduce obesity, although such policies may make it easier for people to access healthy foods.
The research team based its findings on the Weight and Veterans' Environments Study, a comprehensive database stretching from 2009 to 2014 and covering 1.7 million veterans living in 382 metropolitan areas. The researchers could assess how BMI changed with each veteran and match it with the locations of fast-food outlets and supercenters such as Target and Walmart stores.
The researchers calculated BMI by using height and weight measurements taken when the veterans visited a doctor, nurse practitioner or other provider. They added up the number of chain fast-food restaurants, supermarkets and other food outlets within one mile and three miles of the person's residence. With that information, the researchers could track BMI changes, even when a person moved from one area to another or when a fast-food or other outlet opened or closed.
Previous research on this topic has been based on snapshots in time—known as cross-sectional data—and had suggested a link between food outlet access and BMI.
"We couldn't find evidence to support policies based on that presumed link," Wing said. "Strategies like the healthy food financing initiatives some cities are pursuing could have benefits, for example reducing the saturation of unhealthy food sources in impoverished neighborhoods. But those policies alone aren't likely to lead to healthier BMI."
SOURCE Indiana University, Medical Xpress

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The To Serve Them All My Days miniseries is based on the novel (of the same name) by R. F. Delderfield. I admit to not having read the novel, but I have seen the miniseries… and I love it! It is not a mystery, but it does stand up to its BBC counterparts in that it is an extremely good production. The thirteen segment series was produced in 1980 and is set during the time between World War I and WW II.
The miniseries follows "David," a soldier who survived WW I physically (albeit with a limp) but who was left with a somewhat shaky mental outlook… commonly known as shell-shock. Although not a teacher by trade, he is given a job as a teacher at an exclusive, upper-crust boys boarding school. (A "public" school… which to us in the USA translates to "private.") David, the teacher, is beautifully played by John Duttine— who— if you are a lover of BBC/ITV productions, you will surely recognize.
The cast is superb, the wardrobe is authentic-looking, and the setting is wonderful. I think that the only negative thing I have to say is that the series is simply too short. I would have loved watching more segments>>> actually, many more segments!
I missed seeing this series when it was broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre in the early 1980s so I was delighted to find it recently. I strongly recommend this wonderful production… even though it isn't a mystery!
I just discovered Cozy Mysteries. I have been calling mine gentle mysteries. I rented the series To Serve Them All My Days from netflix and like you, love it. Thank you so much for this.
Isn't this a great series?!?
I recently discovered Cozy Mysteries. Your suggestions are very helpful in finding the kinds of mysteries that I like to read. I'm also finding your TV/movie section helpful.
For those who enjoy family friendly, cozy historical dramas, I would suggest the Ed Friendly 1979 miniseries, "Backstairs at the White House" which has recently become available in DVD. It is taken from the true memoirs of a woman and her daughter who worked at the White House for many years. The series goes from the Taft Administration through the Eisenhower Administration. You will laugh and cry as you watch this excellent production.
Olivia Cole stars as Maggie, the first black woman to serve upstairs as an employed maid in the White House during the Taft years. She plays a very endearing, hardworking, woman, full of dignity and integrity. The story follows the lives of Maggie and her family, as they live through the various presidential administrations. Leslie Uggams does a wonderful job playing Maggie's bubbly daughter, Lillian, who is crippled from polio, and develops superior sewing skills that she eventually uses at the White House. There are many touching, and humorous moments throughout the series, and one also learns much American history — enjoyable, interesting history for parents to share with their children. One comes to see the "human" side of the presidents and their families.
Stars abound in this excellent miniseries — besides Olivia Cole and Leslie Uggams, here is a partial list of others: Louis Gossett, Jr., Cloris Leachman, Leslie Nielsen, Paul Winfield, Victor Buono, Julie Harris, Robert Vaughn, Kim Hunter, Claire Bloom, George Kennedy, Celeste Holme, Ed Flanders, Lee Grant, Harry Morgan, and Estelle Parsons, among others.
My husband and I first saw this miniseries when it aired on TV back in 1979, before we had children. We've been waiting for many years to finally see it again with our children. We finally found it available to purchase last Fall. Our three kids — aged 24, 19, and 14, were enthralled. You won't be disappointed!
Patti C, thank you so much for telling us about this television series. I don't know how I missed it, but am looking forward to watching it with my family!


This villa of impeccable modern design conveys an architectural style largely inspired from New York. It lies in a quiet area touching on the North of Montpellier.
This beautiful property, developed on a 1,800 m2 plot, is very secluded and allows its guests to enjoy total privacy and quietness, and therefore appears very well suited for families in search of a relaxing and peaceful setting. The L-shaped villa benefits from a south facing orientation to enjoy a lot of sunlight over a large decked terrace with looking down at the swimming pool (salt water heated pool of 9x4m equipped with double security systems). The pool and terrace areas are surrounded by a lawn and Mediterranean garden. The back of the house has a petanque field (the typical local boulles game).
The villa is built over two floors of c. 260 m2 offering full view onto the garden and swimming pool area. It is professionally decorated with fine contemporary furniture and fittings, equipped with all modern appliances, and enjoys a cooling floor system in all rooms of the house. There are 4 medium-sized bedrooms, of which one large master bedroom with its en-suite dressing and bathroom, one double bedroom with en-suite shower rooms and dressing, and two children bedrooms, each with one or 2 single beds.


Piscine - La Roche sur Yon is the place to unwind after a hard day's work in La Roche-sur-Yon. This spa and swimming pool is in the center of La Roche-sur-Yon. This spa is the perfect place to unwind after a hard day's work. Why not pamper yourself? Please read the practical information to help plan your stay in La Roche-sur-Yon. If you intend relaxing at Piscine - La Roche sur Yon, then discover our selection of hotels all within easy access of this wonderful spa. Watch the videos, read the reviews and book your room at a great price.


Most of the Customers using Oracle Fusion 11g are looking for scheduler components, which can trigger/run their BPEL Process. As Oracle Fusion does not have out of box scheduler, people started implementing their own schedulers using Java Proxy and Quartz. This gives unnecessary maintenance nightmare to the customers for each BPEL or Proxy they create they need to develop a separate scheduler, in order to change schedule, code needs be modified, build and deploy.


text:
U.N. refugee agency: Kony's army attacks on the rise
Updated 1:54 PM ET, Fri March 30, 2012
The U.N. refugee agency warns of fresh attacks by Joseph Kony's renegade army
The attacks occurred in two central African nations and displaced thousands
Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court
The notorious warlord is the subject on an online campaign
Critics of "KONY 2012," the documentary about a notorious Ugandan warlord that went viral this month, raised two key points: Joseph Kony no longer operates in Uganda, and his Lord's Resistance Army is much smaller than previously thought.
Both statements are true, say journalists who have covered the conflict. But the LRA remains a lethal threat for central Africans.
The United Nations refugee agency warned Friday that attacks by the cultish and vicious LRA have been on the rise, forcing thousands from their homes.
In the past three weeks, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported 13 LRA attacks in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most occurred in Dungu territory from March 6 to March 25.
Two people were killed and 13 abducted. The violence displaced more than 1,160 people in the Dungu area.
This year, the LRA has launched 33 attacks in Congo, the refugee agency said.
In neighboring Central African Republic, the LRA resumed attacks after a lull since April 2011. In the 11 attacks documented this year, four people were killed and 31 abducted.
The LRA is also known to have attacked parts of South Sudan. In 2011, such attacks killed 18 people, wounded nine and resulted in 49 abductions and 7,382 people being internally displaced, according to the United Nations.
Overall, the United Nations estimates that LRA assaults have displaced almost half a million people and forced them into lives as refugees.
The LRA, formed in northern Uganda in 1987 in Kony's effort to overthrow the government, stands accused of murdering, torturing and abducting children for 25 years. Kony is wanted to stand trial at the International Criminal Court.
The Enough Project, which works to end genocide and crimes against humanity, says the LRA shifted its base of operations in 2005 to Garamba National Park, Congo, a troubled nation primed to serve as a refuge for armed groups.
The activist group Invisible Children launched an online campaign against Kony and his renegade army this month. The half-hour documentary "KONY 2012" was part of that campaign.


text:
Night of the Bastard (2022)
Posted on 26 August 2022 13 January 2023 By AntBit
Night of the Bastard had its international première at FrightFest 2022
Erik Boccio's Night of the Bastard opens in 1978, as Andy (Luke B. Carlson) and his heavily pregnant partner Lily (Avery Joy Davis) drive out to the Californian desert for a baby shower with Andy's recently moved brother Chuck, Chuck's wife Michelle and their 'new desert friends'. There they will quickly fall victim to a group of Manson Family-like cultists, led by the 'priestess' Maxine (Talia Martin), who cut the living baby girl out of Lily's belly and slaughter everyone else.
Cut to forty years later, and three young friends out camping and partying in the California desert – Kiera (Mya Hudson), Pete (Cesar Cipriano) and George (Philip Rossi) – encounter first the cantankerous local Reed (London May) who insists at gunpoint that they get off his land, and then the next generation of cultists, now led by the priestess Claire (Hannah Pierce), who are every bit as stab-happy as their predecessors, with the older Maxine (Victoria Goodhart) still hovering menacingly in the background. Fleeing the scene with a knife wound in her gut while her friends are murdered, Kiera seeks refuge in Reed's isolated home, and these two aggressive, damaged people must quickly overcome their differences if they are to survive a night of vicious beleaguerment from Claire and her thuggish underlings, with no idea what or who it is these intruders want.
Night of the Bastard is a siege flick. Like John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski's The Void (2016), Kevin Greutert's Jackals (2017), Joe Begos' VFW (2019), Reese Eveneshen and Gabriel Carrer's For The Sake Of Vicious (2020) and Walker Whited's By Night's End (2020), it shows characters surrounded, trapped and under pressure from a group of outsiders with malevolent intentions. Yet as it follows, step by step, Reed and Kiera's various efforts to tend their injuries, to locate weapons, to secure a vehicle for escape, and to get to know each other, all regularly punctuated by a series of violent encounters with the cultists, this young absentee mother and older, traumatised man from nowhere must also get to grips with their drifting pasts and aimless futures. Meanwhile their assailants wish to impose a place for both of them in a grander cosmic scheme that might give their otherwise disconnected lives a diabolical meaning.
Night of the Bastard plays out as an off-grid apocalyptic actioner, but its very title also makes it something of a mystery, to which a series of climactic reveals, delivered by both impressionistic flashbacks and the mumbo-jumbo exposition of logorrhœic Claire, will offer an unexpected solution. For even if the two leads are left with little time to pause and wonder why, and to what end, they specifically are being targeted by the cult, viewers might wonder who exactly the 'bastard' is whose night is unfolding. If it is a bastard in the metaphorical sense, then there are plenty of contenders, as both Kiera and Reed are initially gruff and rude and pugnacious, while their devil-worshipping attackers are goons and vandals and literal cut-throats. If 'bastard' is meant more literally, it could refer to Kiera (who mentions her mother but no father, and who is herself an unmarried single mother), to the loner Reed (who states that he has no family), or indeed to Claire (whose identity one can easily guess).
As all the twists are gradually unknotted and the narrative pieces fall into place, what remains is a classic confrontation between good and evil, presented as a close, bloody scrap in the desert, where the mundane and the mythic meet on the horizon, and where even demonic destiny can be damned to hell.
strap: Erik Boccio's action mystery has a desert-dwelling loner and a young mother beleaguered by a demonic cult
PussyCake (Emesis) (2022)
Tiny Cinema (2022)


text:
script_details = ("gb_tree_score.py",0.5)

# COMMON SECTION VERSION 0.7
from pyspark.context import SparkContext
from pyspark.sql.context import SQLContext
from pyspark import AccumulatorParam
from pyspark.mllib.regression import LabeledPoint
from pyspark.mllib.linalg import DenseVector
import time
import sys
import os

# DataModelAnalyzer is a scalable spark accumulator for collecting the data model metadata from a dataframe
# the data model tracks the categories (for string fields) and min/max (for numeric fields)

# DataModelTools is a class which packages up useful utilities for collecting data model information (using DataModelAnalyzer)
# and converting from DataFrames to RDD[LabelledPoint] and RDD[DenseVector] typically used in MLlib

# COMMON BEGIN
class DataModelAnalyzer(AccumulatorParam):

    def zero(self, val):
        return val

    def minNonNull(self,a,b):
        if a == None:
            return b
        if b == None:
            return a
        return min(a,b)

    def addInPlace(self, meta1, meta2):
        for (cname,ctype) in schema:
            if ctype == "string":
                meta1[cname] = list(set(meta1[cname]+meta2[cname]))
            else:
                meta1[cname] = { "max":max(meta1[cname]["max"],meta2[cname]["max"]), "min":self.minNonNull(meta1[cname]["min"],meta2[cname]["min"])}
        return meta1

    @staticmethod
    def process(row):
        val = {}
        col = 0
        for (cname,ctype) in schema:
            if ctype == 'string':
                val[cname] = [row[col]]
            else:
                val[cname] = {"min":row[col],"max":row[col]}
            col += 1
        return val

    @staticmethod
    def empty(schema):
        val = {}
        for (cname,ctype) in schema:
            if ctype == 'string':
                val[cname] = []
            else:
                val[cname] = {"min":None,"max":None}
        return val

class DataModelTools(object):

    DATA_TYPES_KEY = "____data_types____"

    def __init__(self,dm=None):
        self.dm = dm

    def computeDataModel(self,df):
        global schema
        schema = df.dtypes[:]
        global dmt_acc
        dmt_acc = sc.accumulator(DataModelAnalyzer.empty(schema), DataModelAnalyzer())

        def sum(x):
            # print(str(x))
            global dmt_acc
            def process(row):
                val = {}
                col = 0
                for (cname,ctype) in schema:
                    if ctype == 'string':
                        val[cname] = [row[col]]
                    else:
                        val[cname] = {"min":row[col],"max":row[col]}
                    col += 1
                return val
            dmt_acc += process(x)
        df.foreach(sum)
        self.dm = dmt_acc.value
        data_types = {}
        for (name,type) in schema:
            data_types[name] = type
        self.dm[DataModelTools.DATA_TYPES_KEY] = data_types
        return self.dm

    def extractLabelledPoint(self,df,target,predictors,setToFlag=None):
        return self.encode(df,target,predictors,setToFlag)

    def extractDenseVector(self,df,predictors,setToFlag=None):
        return self.encode(df,None,predictors,setToFlag)

    def encode(self,df,target,predictors,setToFlag):
        if not self.dm:
            self.computeDataModel(df)
        schema = df.dtypes[:]
        lookup = {}
        for i in range(0,len(schema)):
            lookup[schema[i][0]] = i

        target_index = -1
        if target:
            target_index = lookup[target]
        dm = self.dm

        def mapFn(row):
            pvals = []
            for predictor in predictors:
                predictor_index = lookup[predictor]
                if isinstance(dm[predictor],list):
                    try:
                        encoded_val = dm[predictor].index(row[predictor_index])
                        if setToFlag == None:
                            pvals.append(encoded_val)
                        else:
                            flags = [0.0]*len(dm[predictor])
                            flags[encoded_val]=setToFlag
                            pvals += flags
                    except ValueError:
                        if setToFlag == None:
                            pvals.append(None)
                        else:
                            pvals += [0.0]*len(dm[predictor])
                else:
                    pval = row[predictor_index]
                    # if pval == None:
                    #    pval_min = dm[predictor]["min"]
                    #    pval_max = dm[predictor]["max"]
                    #    pval=pval_min+(pval_max - pval_min)*0.5
                    pvals.append(pval)
            dv = DenseVector(pvals)
            if target_index == -1:
                return (row,dv)
            tval = row[target_index]
            if isinstance(dm[target],list): # target is categorical
                try:
                    tval = dm[target].index(tval)
                except ValueError:
                    tval = None
            return (row,LabeledPoint(tval,dv))

        return df.map(mapFn)

    def getCategoricalFeatureInfo(self,df,predictors):
        if not self.dm:
            self.computeDataModel(df)
        info = {}
        index = 0
        for predictor in predictors:
            if isinstance(self.dm[predictor],list):
                info[index] = len(self.dm[predictor])
            index += 1
        return info

    @staticmethod
    def checkTargetForModelType(dm,target,model_type):
        if model_type == "classification" and not isinstance(dm[target],list):
            raise Exception("Classification target should have string values")
        elif model_type == "regression" and isinstance(dm[target],list):
            raise Exception("Regression target should have numeric values")

    @staticmethod
    def checkPredictors(dm,predictors,df):
        schema = {}
        for (name,type) in df.dtypes:
            schema[name] = type
        for predictor in predictors:
            if predictor not in schema:
                raise Exception("Predictor %s is missing from input data"%(predictor))
            applytype = schema[predictor]
            buildtype = dm[DataModelTools.DATA_TYPES_KEY][predictor]
            if applytype != buildtype:
                raise Exception("Type for predictor %s changed, was %s at model build time, now %s"%(predictor,buildtype,applytype))

    @staticmethod
    def getFieldInformation(dm,field):
        l = []
        l.append(("Data type",dm[DataModelTools.DATA_TYPES_KEY][field]))
        if isinstance(dm[field],list):
            l.append(("Categories",",".join(dm[field])))
        else:
            l.append(("Range",",".join([str(dm[field]["min"]),str(dm[field]["max"])])))
        return l

class ModelBuildReporter(object):

    def __init__(self,sc):
        self.sc = sc
        self.start_time = time.time()
        self.indent = 0

    def report(self,training_record_count,partition_count,predictors,datamodel,target=None,model_type=None,settings=[]):
        end_time = time.time()
        items = []
        if model_type:
            items.append(("Model Type",model_type))
        items += settings
        items.append(("Environment","",[("Spark Version",self.sc.version),("Spark User",self.sc.sparkUser()),("Python",sys.version.replace(os.linesep,"")),("Script",str(script_details))]))
        training_details = [("Records",training_record_count),("Partitions",partition_count),("Elapsed Time (sec)",int(end_time-self.start_time))]
        try:
            applicationId = sc.applicationId
            training_details.append(("Application Id",applicationId))
        except:
            pass
        items.append(("Training Details","",training_details))

        if target:
            items.append(("Target Field",target,DataModelTools.getFieldInformation(datamodel,target)))
        if predictors:
            predictor_list = []
            for predictor in predictors:
                predictor_list.append((predictor,"",DataModelTools.getFieldInformation(datamodel,predictor)))
            items.append(("Predictors",len(predictors),predictor_list))

        s = ""
        s += "Training Summary"+os.linesep
        s += os.linesep
        s += self.format(items)
        s += os.linesep+os.linesep
        return s

    def format(self,items):
        s = ""
        if items:
            keylen = 0
            for item in items:
                key = item[0]
                if len(key) > keylen:
                    keylen = len(key)
            for item in items:
                key = item[0]
                val = item[1]
                s += "    "*self.indent + (key + ":").ljust(keylen+2," ") + str(val) + os.linesep
                if len(item) == 3:
                    self.indent += 1
                    s += self.format(item[2])
                    self.indent -= 1
        return s

# COMMON END

import sys
import os
import json
from pyspark.sql.types import StructField, StructType, StringType, DoubleType

ascontext=None
try:
    import spss.pyspark.runtime
    ascontext = spss.pyspark.runtime.getContext()
    sc = ascontext.getSparkContext()
    sqlCtx = ascontext.getSparkSQLContext()
    df = ascontext.getSparkInputData()
    target = '%%target_field%%'
    model_type = '%%model_type%%'
    schema = ascontext.getSparkInputSchema()
except:
    sc = SparkContext('local')
    sqlCtx = SQLContext(sc)
    # get an input dataframe with sample data by looking in working directory for file DRUG1N.json
    wd = os.getcwd()
    df = sqlCtx.load("file://"+wd+"/DRUG1N.json","json").repartition(4)
    schema = df.schema
    modelpath_base = "/tmp/model1234"
    modelpath = "file://"+modelpath_base+"/model"
    metadatapath = modelpath_base+"/metadata"
    model_metadata = json.loads(open(metadatapath,"r").read())
    model_type=model_metadata["model_type"]
    target=model_metadata["target"]

prediction_field = "$T-" + target
if model_type == "classification":
    prediction_type = StringType()
else:
    prediction_type = DoubleType()
output_schema = StructType(schema.fields + [StructField(prediction_field, prediction_type, nullable=True)])

if ascontext:
    if ascontext.isComputeDataModelOnly():
        ascontext.setSparkOutputSchema(output_schema)
        sys.exit(0)

    modelpath = ascontext.getModelContentToPath("model")
    model_metadata = json.loads(ascontext.getModelContentToString("model.metadata"))
    model_type=model_metadata["model_type"]

# create a DataModelTools to handle data model and data conversions
datamodel = model_metadata["datamodel"]
dmt = DataModelTools(datamodel)

predictors = model_metadata["predictors"]
DataModelTools.checkPredictors(datamodel,predictors,df)

from pyspark.mllib.tree import GradientBoostedTreesModel
model = GradientBoostedTreesModel.load(sc, modelpath)

# to score the model, we need an RDD of DenseVector (the numeric encoded values of the predictors), use DataModelTools to do this
dv = dmt.extractDenseVector(df,predictors).map(lambda x:x[1])

# scoring generates an RDD of predictions (but not the original features)
predictions = model.predict(dv)

# now we need to zip together the original rows from the DataFrame and the RDD of predictions
# we end up with an RDD containing the list of values from the original dataframe plus the predicted class, converted from the encoded number to the original string
def rowToList(row):
        result = []
        for idx in range(0, len(row)):
            result.append(row[idx])
        return result

if isinstance(datamodel[target],list):
    mapFn = lambda (x,y):rowToList(x)+[datamodel[target][int(y)]]
else:
    mapFn = lambda (x,y):rowToList(x)+[y]

rdd2 = df.rdd.zip(predictions).map(mapFn)

# finally convert the RDD containing the list of values for the resulting rows, back to a dataframe
outdf = sqlCtx.createDataFrame(rdd2,output_schema)

if ascontext:
    ascontext.setSparkOutputData(outdf)
else:
    print(outdf.take(10))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: How to change select box created by  I'm not sure how to edit the selection box created by <select class="form-control">, here's what I have:
  <select class="form-control">
    <option>00:00</option>
    <option>01:00</option>
  </select>

and my css:
.form-control {
  width: 60px;
  height: auto;
  display: inline;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 0;
  border-bottom: 1px solid black;
  padding: 0;
  box-shadow: none;
}

this gives me:

but now how do I modify the actual box created by this select element? I want to get rid of that ugly yellow color, smooth the borders ... etc.. etc..
fiddle of the code above: https://jsfiddle.net/08zrLjgc/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Alina Asmus - Magic is in the detailsWords by Augusta Adriasola
Alina Asmus
Magic is in the details
Born in Germany, but lived in London, Paris and Tel Aviv, Alina Asmus is a fashion and art photographer with a style that focuses on movement, textures and details. Like others of her generation, Alina represents the standards of new fashion talents: an open-mind and multicultural views. Through her photography, Alina shows an alternative view of beauty and of the industry. Having worked for magazines like L'Officiel and Marie Claire, Alina's unique images are beautifully eye-catching.
Firstly, can you introduce yourself in your own words?
I'm a German fashion and art photographer, and I am currently working predominantly in London, Paris and Berlin. I have a background in fashion design, but decided to continue my path in the world of photography since 2014.
When did you decide to become a photographer?
It happened while I was studying in Tel Aviv. Photography really helped me to develop my aesthetics and capture the experiences and feelings I had when I lived in Israel. It became a major part of my daily life, and I wanted people to see what I saw. It was a very natural movement for me to continue my work as a photographer after graduating in design.
What do photography and fashion represent in your life?
Both parts have always been very present, so I feel lucky that I was able to connect them and make them my everyday subject.
You are German, but have lived in numerous places, as we can see. How have all of these places influenced your work?
Every city has influenced me differently. I moved to London when I was nineteen years old and first came in touch with the fashion industry while interning for a known high-end brand. I was inspired by the people, and their energy as well as their lust and freedom for creativity. London really opened up my vision and encouraged me to not be afraid of showing who I was and what I liked.
Moving to Tel Aviv was the most inspirational decision I've made so far in my life. I was confronted with so many new things and learnt about a completely different culture, art, conflict and people. The light and the architecture, as well as the colours in the country, were outstanding for me. There I was able to define my aesthetics. Paris was a step closer to the industry and making a serious living from my photography. It is still such a magical, but also melancholic city, it gave me a lot to think about.
Your work pays attention to detail, especially to the clothes' textures. What do you think textures and details can communicate in a photograph?
That's true. I guess that from this you can realise my love for fabrics and textures and this definitely reveals my fashion background. I think that sometimes these little details convey a more magical message. For me, it's a way to evoke emotion in a rather sensitive way. In my opinion, these playful elements arouse the viewer's curiosity.
Your photos seem to balance movement and structured poses. How do you achieve this? How involved do you get in directing the model's attitude and poses?
I like to combine structure and movement, it helps me to create different shapes and moods. I do a lot of research into modern dance and support the model in getting into the right attitude and pose. For me dance and movement are, besides photography, the most expressive ways to show feelings.
How do you choose the models you work with? What is it that you find attractive or interesting in the people you photograph?
I prefer characters to just a pretty girl: someone who can tell a story and has hidden gems, a colourful personality and an unseen or not obvious beauty. I tend to choose women who are natural and authentic with themselves, who help me to develop a modern view on femininity.
I find the locations in your shoots very striking: whether they take place at a studio or outdoors. Do you scout out these locations? How does this process work?
Thank you! Yes, I'm always involved in choosing the right location, and sometimes this is how a project starts for me. I have a strong interest in architecture, objects and shapes, so I have researched a lot in this field, which leads me to specific places. Sometimes it also happens by accident, as I like to wander around and get lost in cities –that is still my favourite way to discover inspiring places.
Like many other photographers, you've published your work both in print and digital. Do you prefer one to the other?
Of course, I prefer print work; this is where I'm coming from with my analogue photography and valuing craftsmanship and print. I'm always proud to see my work printed and feel it with my own hands. Nevertheless, we live in a digital world, and it would be stupid to ignore it. Digitally published work helps me to build up my career and makes my work accessible in a faster way to the whole world, so I'm also thankful for that.
Making a living out of photography is, especially in fashion, a dream for many but a reality for few. What advice would you give to new photographers in the industry?
I would advise every new photographer just to go with his or her aesthetic and not to look left or right. Trust your own ideas and vision and don't take too much advice.
Augusta Adriasola


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Home>Archive
Live Oak Storage Expands Community-Donation Program
Live Oak Storage, a new self-storage facility in Moultrie, Ga., has expanded its community-donation program to include Colquitt County Parent-Teacher Organizations and all Colquitt County churches.
Live Oak Storage, a new self-storage facility in Moultrie, Ga., has expanded its community-donation program to include Colquitt County Parent-Teacher Organizations and all Colquitt County churches. Through the end of 2009, new tenants to the facility can request to donate $25 of their first month's rent to the Packer Booster Club, the PTO or a church of their choice.
Facility manager Frank Wright has a long association with the Colquitt County school system. He formerly oversaw the computer lab at a local elementary school, and his wife assists with first grade at Hamilton Elementary. Their two sons attend Colquitt County High School and Willie J Middle School. For information, e-mail frank@liveoakstorage.com.
Community Relations Create Self-Storage Profit
Marketing Through Community: Using special events to build relationships and draw prospective customers
Unique Self-Storage Project Donates All Profit to Charity
SSTI Using Self-Storage Technology: Tools to Help You Streamline Operation and Maximize Revenue
SSTI Self-Storage Sales Skills: Converting Leads on the Phone, In Person and Online
SSTI Self-Storage Revenue: Cutting Expenses, Collecting Rent, Managing Rates
SSTI Legal Issues in Self-Storage: Managing Your Rental Agreement and Tenant Information


text:
Q: Почему discord бот отправляет несколько сообщений? В начале, когда я начинал писать код, у меня было всё нормально, но когда я уже добавил где-то 10 команд. Бот начал отправлять несколько сообщений, как будто я прописал это в коде.
Я уже проверял, что может это из-за того, что я добавил много команд. Но нет, это не решило проблему.
Чуть раньше я решал эту проблему , просто перезагрузив компьютер, но сейчас такое не сработает.
Эта ошибка не выводится в консоль. Также ошибка не в пробелах.
Основной код:
settings.py
#Настройик бота

import discord
from discord.ext import commands

bot = commands.Bot(command_prefix = "-")
tokens = "*******************"

@bot.event
async def on_ready():
    print("Бот запущен!")
    bot.loop.create_task(status_task())

async def status_task():
    while True:
        await bot.change_presence(status = discord.Status.idle, activity = discord.Game("-help"))

Ещё основной код:
main.py
import discord
from discord.ext import commands
from settings import tokens
from settings import bot

#Модерирование
import mut
import clear
import ban
import kick
import unban

#Полезные команды
import ping
import poll
import giveaway
import report
import privatgoloc

#Фан команды
import coin
import roll
import selfik

#Музыкальные команды

#Информация
import infoserver
import helps

@bot.event
async def on_command_error(ctx, error):
    if isinstance(error, commands.CommandNotFound ):
        await ctx.send(embed = discord.Embed(description = f' {ctx.author.name}, данной команды не существует.', color=0x0c0c0c))

bot.run(tokens)

A: Если у тебя есть ивент on_message() в твоём коде, то скорее всего в нём прописана строчка await bot.process_command(message), может быть даже не один раз.
Попробуй убрать её, всё должно исправиться.

Если это не поможет, то проверь, чтобы бот был запущен лишь 1 раз.


A guide to using Scratch to create your first program.
How to create or upload a sprite and remove any unwanted background.
How to create your own sprites in Scratch.
How to change the background, or Stage as it is known in Scratch.
Can you follow the steps to create your own talking sprites?
A guide showing how to add the ability to input data with the keyboard in your game or app.
A guide to show you how to add controls, or inputs, to your program.
Can you follow the steps to create a controllable dancing cat?
Can you follow the steps to create a randomly moving sprite.
This guide will show you how to begin using variables in your block coding.
Can you follow the steps to create a 'Score' variable?
This guide shows you how you can use the sensor blocks to trigger events in your app or game.
Can you follow the steps in this challenge to create an animation with sensors?
A very simple guide for adding sound to your programs. Remember, you can also record your own sounds using the 'sound' tab and using the microphone.
Can you use the sound recorder in Scratch to make your own sounds?
A guide for how to add 'if', 'if then' or 'else' conditional statements into your programs.
Can you follow the steps to use the operator blocks to create conditional statements in a program?


To create a Boil The Frog playlist, just type in the names of two artists and a playlist will be generated that takes you gradually, step by step, from the first artist to the second artist. You can click on any song to hear the song. Click on the first song to hear the whole playlist. If you don't like a particular artist you can route around that particular artist by clicking the 'bypass' button. The 'New Track' button will select a different track for an artist.
If you are a logged-in Rdio subscriber you will hear full tracks, otherwise you will hear excerpts.
To create this app, The Echo Nest artist similarity info is used to build an artist similarity graph of about 100,000 of the most popular artists. Each artist in the graph is connected to it's most similar neighbors according to the Echo Nest artist similarity algorithm.
When a playlist between two artists is created, the graph is used to find the path between the two artists. The path isn't necessarily the shortest path through the graph. Instead, priority is given to paths that travel through artists of similar popularity. If you start and end with a popular artist, you are more likely to find a path that takes you though other popular artists, and if you start with a long-tail artist you will likely find a path through other long-tail artists.
Once we have selected the best songs, we build a playlist using Rdio's nifty web api.
This app was built by Paul Lamere. If you like this sort of thing you may be interested in my blog at Music Machinery.
Unless you have an Rdio subscription, this app plays 30-second samples, which is still fun.


With a SobiPro club membership you will get support, additional applications and documentation for SobiPro and its applications.
We offer several subscriptions plans.
The SobiPro Search is one of the features that make SobiPro a very powerful tool for site visitors. Almost each field can be configured to show up in the search form.
With SobiPro you can create as many directories and any other content types on your site as you need with only one single SobiPro component installation.
Delivery within 24 hours after payment receipt.
You will get support and documentation access for 14 days!
Access to Aggregation Field for SobiPro.
Standard Ticket support for the Aggregation Field.
Find answers and get help from our support staff for the Aggregation Field (in English language).
Access to the online user documentation for the Aggregation Field.
Application download, online documentation and support is limited to the Aggregation Field. NO SUPPORT and NO DOCUMENTATION for SobiPro component itself or for other applications.
The support is in English language (support in Polish are available if necessary). The documentation is written in English language.
Standard ticket support questions are normally answered within 48 hours or less on working days.
Please read also the frequently asked questions. If you have any questions concerning this subscription, please contact us.
The invoice is available in your subscription page.
I hereby confirm that I have been fully informed of the capabilities and minimum requirements of the software. I also confirm I fully understand and unreservedly accept the terms of support service provisioning.
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By clicking this box and downloading the software, I acknowledge that I give up my right to cancel this purchase under EU consumer laws.
I agree and expressly require that you begin with the execution of the contracted services before the end of the withdrawal period. I am aware that by this consent I lose my right of withdrawal.
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The distance between Budapest, Hungary and Laurel, Md, Usa is approximately 7,322 km or 4,550 mi.
To reach Budapest in this distance one would set out from Laurel, Md bearing 47.4° or NE and follow the great circles arc to approach Budapest bearing 122.1° or ESE .
Budapest has a marine west coast climate (Cfb) whereas Laurel, Md has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).
Budapest is in or near the cool temperate moist forest biome whereas Laurel, Md is in or near the warm temperate moist forest biome.
The altitude of the sun at midday is overall 8.5° lower in Budapest than in Laurel, Md.
The table shows values for Budapest relative to Laurel, Md. You can also view this comparison the other way around from the perspective of Laurel, Md vs Budapest.


text:
Mediums Network
Animal power
Meditation/trance
Level Three. Mobility Madness.
By Michelle Lloyd.
Nigel had learnt about definitions, he had experienced many variations of a theme because actually when it came to it, he could not be defined by any ordinary means.
When he thought about it, definitions had a lot of basis for what was thought about in terms of a certain idea, issue or subject. Nigel had been prone to a bit of sadness about it all at first, because when he tried to define his own mobility issues, it all became a bit complex.
At school, in the early days Nigel tried to define himself in terms of how everybody else thought. Was he good at sports? Did he fit into the arts and crafts part of the class? Popular or a loaner? Who was he?
When he attempted to keep up with everybody else his own age Nigel struggled. He tried and failed on many an occasion. Nobody was harsh or cruel to him about it but in himself Nigel wondered what it all meant for him and several times had the thoughts jumbled in his mind. When he felt that way, his madness at his feelings of inability and sadness about the situation would even make him feel physically, not at his peak.
Being able to fit in and define where you gravitated towards felt important to Nigel but he did not know why. It could have been instinct or a learnt concept but every time he did try to merge with the crowd something would go wrong.
Nobody disliked Nigel and he liked everybody but he did not feel like he could define himself as others seemed to do. In the end, it took a thought, a single idea to broach the issue and that was how it all started.
Nigel talked about his problems if he could but about this he felt a bit forlorn. He could not seem to know where to start and who to speak to about it. After all he did not feel like anything could be done about it.
Nigel's parents had always taught him to be positive and ingenious about his situation. Efforts had been made to get him access to nearly all areas at school. Everybody had been extremely positive but Nigel felt that he had not done enough to feel as positively as they all looked.
He decided that he would look happy and keep up with this attitude in class. He set about being smiley and full of laughter whenever possible but at break times or lulls in all the hullabaloo of class life Nigel watched enviously as everybody seemed to gather in defined clusters or groups. Everybody knew what activity they wanted to engage in and poor Nigel would be too shy to invite himself along to any of the goings on.
It was one break time when Nigel's life changed. As per usual everybody got going and running about or physically engaging in defined games. Nigel hung back and tried to look nonchalantly about it all. Slowly but surely his eyes caught sight of a class mate heading in his direction. He watched and waited and wondered…
A class mate of Nigel's walked up to him and asked if he wanted to play in their game. It had been the first time that he had been asked and it was a bit of a monumental moment.
After having accepted Nigel tentatively began to move towards the ongoing game and he had to admit that all these questions were unanswered in his head. What if he joined in and couldn't keep up with the others? What if he let the side down? What if… it was all too late for too many more of his ponderings because before he knew it, Nigel had been chosen, tasked up and he had gotten into the nitty gritty of the game at hand.
It was marvellous because when Nigel felt he might not be able to do it, one of the others was quick to help him and even the game itself adapted to meet their new-found needs. It ended up being a game that nobody had ever had as much fun in playing and this was all put down to Nigel.
A bit of alteration had refreshed the rules of the game and Nigel no longer felt defined by what he could not do but instead he felt inspired by what he could do.
Level Three. The Power of Opinions. January 22, 2020
Level Two. Yes. January 15, 2020
Level One. Is it for you or me? January 8, 2020
Level Three. My Christmas Love. December 18, 2019
Level Two. TLC. December 11, 2019
Select Month January 2020 (3) December 2019 (3) November 2019 (4) October 2019 (5) September 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) July 2019 (5) June 2019 (4) May 2019 (5) April 2019 (4) March 2019 (4) February 2019 (4) January 2019 (5) December 2018 (2) November 2018 (4) October 2018 (5) September 2018 (4) August 2018 (5) July 2018 (4) June 2018 (4) May 2018 (5) April 2018 (4) March 2018 (4) February 2018 (4) January 2018 (5) December 2017 (2) November 2017 (5) October 2017 (4) September 2017 (4) August 2017 (5) July 2017 (4) June 2017 (4) May 2017 (5) April 2017 (4) March 2017 (5) February 2017 (4) January 2017 (4) December 2016 (2) November 2016 (5) October 2016 (4) September 2016 (4) August 2016 (5) July 2016 (4) June 2016 (5) May 2016 (4) April 2016 (4) March 2016 (5) February 2016 (4) January 2016 (4) December 2015 (3) November 2015 (4) October 2015 (4) September 2015 (5) August 2015 (4) July 2015 (2)


REVIEW: You have to admire the cheekiness of aspirational brands.
BMW puts features on its options lists that would be standard on lesser cars, while niche badges produce limited edition models to lure those seeking something a little different.
Fiat's Gucci 500 for example or a seemingly endless line of limited edition Harley-Davidsons. And, perhaps not surprisingly given it's now owned by Harley, this MV Agusta Brutale anniversary edition.
MVs sell in handfuls in New Zealand, but the iconic name rings with decades of high speed race-track success.
Formed from the Agusta aviation company in 1945 to create post-war jobs, the brand claimed 270 Grand Prix wins and 10 titles in three capacity classes from 1952 Pa 1974 with riders like John Surtees and Giacomo Agostini aboard, and for a while it was a podium fixture at the Isle of Man.
As such, buyers are primed to pay a premium for the badge; to live with a few electronic gremlins which prompt suitably Italian arm-waving frustration and to keep a weather eye out for short-run variants.
This one focuses on a livery change to mark the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.
So the standard machine adds Italian flag accents, the number 150 etched here and there, the belly pan and the knowledge you've got one of only 150 built.
You don't care? There is a stand ard 990R, but I was certainly looking forward to this one, after a long past but memorable summer touring the far north on its brutal 750cc ancestor.
Like that bike this is naked so there's no screen or fairing to cut the wind with aggressive lines and a riding position that perches you purposefully over the bars.
But tucked beneath you and inside that tubular steel trellis frame there is a 998cc in-line four-cylinder engine that features Ferrari-designed radially arranged valves and produces 102kW at 10,600rpm and 106Nm at 8000rpm.
That's half a kilowatt per kilogram, which trounces the nimble little Ferrari 458, and not just in terms of power to weight. You can break the open road speed limit in first gear MV Agusta says it'll hit 109kmh at 11,600rpm; all I know is the engine was throwing it out as I hit 100kmh, and I hadn't yet changed gear.
Given a closed road I could get to 150kmh in second; MV says top speed is 265kmh. But I was playing in the real world, with 100kmh speed limits and a bendy hill road near home.
Which is one reason to love this bike, for unlike some purer sports machines it is happy to play at real world speeds. Second gear at 100kmh sees around 7500rpm on the dial while at 80kmh in first you're on 8000rpm, in the meat of the torque, and though delivery can be quite sudden in the sport setting, even this fairly average rider handled it just fine a good one would just be quicker.
The bike does get traction control, though I never felt it cut in and couldn't access the eight settings promised. Nor could I disable sport for standard mode. And with no English language manual in the country, even the dealer couldn't work it out.
Apparently, you press the start button while it's already running, hold your breath, look at the sky, plan tomorrow's shopping list and it may or may not happen. In my case, the bike stayed resolutely in sport until the day I returned it, when one of the shop mechanics discovered that if he held his cigarette out at a 45-degree angle to his body while pressing buttons, it'd deselect sport. What's adjusted via the change?
No-one seemed sure, and given the bike was due with another journo I never got to find out.
Meantime, no matter what Mr Mechanic did with his Dunhill, the traction control settings remained a closed book.
But I didn't need them. Even on wet roads I found this bike surprisingly tractable and comfy, not only in terms of its riding position. It'll handle walking-speed manoeuvres without complaint even in sport, delivery is controllable moderate your throttle hand and you've got instant traction control while the adjustable Marzocchi forks and Sachs rear shock, once adjusted to suit my weight, were sufficiently compliant to manage the bumps of real-world roads.
The 830mm seat height will suit taller riders, while the narrow profile means shorties like me can get their feet down.
The riding position isn't too extreme for longer distances, and the 23-litre tank suggests a touring capability.
Wat'i, there's no pillion pew, and though there are rear footpegs which suggest the plastic rear cowl (which opens to reveal enough space for disc lock) can be replaced by a pillion pad, you won't carry much luggage. I couldn't find anywhere to put bungee hooks that wouldn't damage the paint.
It's hard to complain about the tricky settings change given it might be simple with a manual on hand and buyers will of course get one.
I couldn't even complain about the left-hand mirror's habit of tipping skywards the moment I whacked the throttle open it stayed put during sedate riding and merely underlined the bike's manic performance at speed (while acting as a potent reminder to keep it seemly among other traffic, when you most need the mirror). And anyway, the other one stayed put. But you'd have to be keen to pay this price, given Triumph's Speed Triple costs a good five grand less.
Still, think Speed Triple, add the illustrious pedigree and the extra rarity value from this limited edition variant of an already unusual badge and if you're willing to pay the extra to suit, you'll no doubt be happy especially since you no longer have to worry about the build quality and finish issues that once dogged Italian brands thanks in part to MV's new owner.


State laws vary on the acceptability and procedures for copy certifications. As with every other type of notarial procedure, notaries should study carefully their state's statutes on copy certification to see if, and how, it is administered.
For some states, the client will make a copy of a document to be certified and present it to the notary. In other states, the notary will be presented with an original document by the client, and then the notary will make a photocopy of the original. Whatever the procedure in your individual state, there are certain documents that require special consideration when presented for copy certification. Most states prohibit copy certification of vital records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates. This is because the original of these documents are held by local agencies; a client must seek a certified copy by going to the agency or requesting a copy online; usually there is a fee required.
But what about other common documents such as a driver's license or U.S. or foreign passports? Notaries will discover that they will be presented with requests to certify these documents from time to time. Most states do not have specific laws for the certifying of these documents as they do for birth and death records. Therefore, whether or not to proceed with a copy certification for such documents may present a quandary for the notary. Should you proceed with a seemingly reasonable request by your constituent, or will you risk reprimand from your state's authorities for performing an ill-advised procedure?
The document custodian - client - will present a request to have a copy of his or her U.S. or foreign passport or driver's license certified. It is always good if the verbal request can be accompanied by a written directive.
The document custodian will make a photocopy of the requested document to be certified and present it to the notary. In this case, the notary should not be the one to make the photocopy.
The signer will present an affidavit attesting to the fact that the attached copy is a true copy of his or her passport or driver's license.
Depending on the state, the signer or the notary will select or attach the correct notary certificate containing jurat language to the signer's affidavit statement.
The notary will issue an oath to the signer, having previously identified him through acceptable ID methodology.
The signer will swear or affirm that the attached copy is a true and correct copy of the license or passport and then sign the affidavit.
The notary will complete the notary certificate by signing and stamping it.
All the documentation will be handed back to the signer; in some states the notary will also retain a "copy" of the photocopy of the document to be certified. All steps and information involved in this procedure must be carefully documented in the notary's record book or journal; especially due to the sensitive nature of the request.
It is extremely important that before this certification by document custodian is initiated, that the signer contacts the recipient or requester of the certified copy to ascertain if this procedure is going to serve the necessary purpose for which it is being requested. Because of the stringent procedures involved in obtaining a valid driver's license or passport, this procedure may not be considered sufficient for certain legal purposes. In that case, the signer may have to further consult with the certification requester or the government offices that issue the documents to see how to proceed. In an extreme case, an attorney may need to be consulted.


MEWShop's speaker series continues in New York City with a night behind the scenes of cinematography.
New York, New York – September 9, 2015 – Manhattan Edit Workshop (MEWShop), the cutting-edge authorized digital training destination for visual content creators, announces the expansion of their successful speakers series "Sight, Sound & Story," with Sight, Sound & Story: The Art of Cinematography, debuting September 30th in New York City.
New York, New York – April 7, 2015 – Manhattan Edit Workshop (MEWShop), the cutting-edge authorized digital training destination for post-production and content creators, today announced their all-star list of guest speakers and panelists for its special one-day event, Sight, Sound & Story, held on June 13, 2015 at the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway at Columbus Circle. "Sight, Sound & Story is one of the few events that brings together the community to celebrate the art of visual storytelling. We feel this year is our strongest, most diverse yet - we'll explore the vital role of Visual Effects in cinema, the inner-workings of groundbreaking documentaries, compelling work from television's golden age, and to close this year's show, a look at William Goldenberg, ACE's acclaimed career including The Imitation Game, Zero Dark Thirty, and the Oscar winning Argo," says Josh Apter, owner of Manhattan Edit Workshop. "Our mission each year is to entertain, educate and provide our audience with unprecedented access and insight from the best in the business."


text:
I Didn't Steal Funds Or Stash Away Billions: Sam Bankman-Fried
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, in an astonishing and highly unusual blog post, stated that he did not steal any funds or stash away billions as claimed.
He blamed Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao for orchestrating the liquidity crisis that led to the eventual fall of FTX and its associated businesses.
An Unusual Blog Post
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, has claimed that he did not steal any money or have billions stashed away. He made the claims in a blog post published a month after his arrest by authorities on charges of fraud. Federal prosecutors have stated that Bankman-Fried and his associates stole billions of dollars from FTX users to pay the debts of Alameda Research, a crypto-based hedge fund and FTX's sister concern. Prosecutors also allege that customer funds were used to purchase real estate and donate to various US political campaigns.
"I didn't steal funds, and I certainly didn't stash billions away."
Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. However, The former CEO's closest associates have pleaded guilty to defrauding users and have agreed to cooperate with authorities. Former Alameda Research executive, Caroline Ellison, stated in her plea that Bankman-Fried and other FTX executives received billions of dollars in secret loans from Alameda Research.
A Lot More To Say
Typically, defense lawyers always advise their clients to refrain from making any public statements before any trial, let alone one as significant as this. In the substack post, Bankman-Fried did not directly address the charges brought against him by prosecutors but stated that he had a lot more to say. Charges against Bankman-Fried are primarily that he misled investors, users, and lenders about the finances of FTX and Alameda research.
Bankman-Fried's spokesperson, and the US Attorney's office in Manhattan, have so far declined to comment on the matter.
Significant Sum Recovered
In the Substack post, Bankman-Fried stated that FTX's US wing is fully solvent, and the parent company also has billions of dollars in assets. He further added that there was a good chance customers could be compensated. Bankman-Fried wrote,
"If it were to reboot, I believe there is a real chance that customers could be made substantially whole."
Bankman-Fried's comments came after a lawyer for the FTX exchange told the federal bankruptcy court in Delaware that the exchange had located around $5 billion in liquid assets. The lawyer further added that it planned to sell several non-strategic investments it had made. These investments had a book value of around $4.6 billion.
This figure did not include the assets seized by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Bahamas, where FTX was headquartered. While authorities in the Bahamas claim they had seized around $3.5 billion, FTX has claimed the value of the seized funds to be around $170 million.
Alameda Research, FTX Fell To Extreme Market Crash
According to Bankman-Fried, Alameda Research fell to an extreme market crash in the cryptocurrency ecosystem after failing to hedge against it adequately. He wrote,
"As Alameda became illiquid, FTX International did as well because Alameda had a margin position open on FTX."
He alleged that Alameda Research and its assets were the subject of a targeted attack by Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, accusing him of orchestrating the liquidity crisis that led to the eventual downfall of FTX. In November, Zhao tweeted that Binance was planning to dump its holdings of FTX's native FTT token. The CEO pointed to a report which stated that Alameda Research's assets were primarily comprised of FTT tokens, sparking a run of massive withdrawals from FTX.
This direct attack on Zhao was markedly different from previous occasions when Bankman-Friend had only hinted at Zhao's role in the FTX collapse.


Many games have you wrestling with Lovcraftian horrors, risking life and sanity as you battle creatures from worlds beyond (namely the Public Domain), but my absolute favorite is Elder Sign. Elder Sign is a cooperative dice game in which players try to seal an Ancient One out of the world, using wits, cunning, and a few lucky dice rolls; even as the horrific evil desperately tries to struggle free. Set in Arkham's Miskatonic Museum, it's up to players to search each room, battling monsters and crazed fanatics in hope of discovering Elder Signs - the only thing that can save the world.
Each player's turn starts by choosing an adventure card. These outline the thematic and mechanical goal for your turn, granting rewards including helpful cards, tokens, or the all-important Elder Signs! The various cards and tokens offer boons to future dice rolls or otherwise help your character as they explore the university.
There are monster tokens as well. Monsters are chosen at random during the game and they get added to the adventure cards to increase their difficulty. These get put into play by various means. Sometimes a card will specify a monster is added but it can also be a penalty for failing to complete a task.
To succeed in an adventure, the player needs to roll dice and match the symbols on the card within a certain number or rolls. Again, this is where the various accoutrements that you've picked up can aid you.
Failure results in penalties; usually causing you loss of health and sanity but it can also add on EVEN MORE monsters or progress the Doom track. As I'm sure you've guessed, doom is not good; each step on the Doom Track brings you closer to the Ancient One awakening.
Even victory can demand sacrifice. Some tasks can only be defeated by giving up some health or sanity. No one said saving the world was going to be easy.
One of the coolest aspects of the game is the combined use of theme and mechanisms to create a wonderful sense of apprehension. At the close of each turn, the hands of the clock march inexorably towards midnight, at which time a card is revealed and players react to it's ghastly effects. Usually this means more monsters or another token added to the doom track, signifying the Ancient One's impending arrival. There is something both delightful and nerve wracking about having a clock counting down to your doom.
The art is just fantastic. Every time I play I admire the deep colors and stirring images. The physicality of monsters entering the fray can throw your plans into disarray and force the group to change their tactics. Honestly the art is one of the things that makes this game my favorite.
Oh no I've been devoured!
Once you run out of sanity or health your character is devoured by the very eldritch horror you've been trying to contain. When this happens a doom token is added to the doom track and you say goodbye to your player character along with all the sweet loot you've gained over the course of the game. Take a moment of silence for your fallen character and then draw a new one out of the pile. This is a mechanic of the game that I really like. The game isn't outrageously long but it's not short either and when a couple of bad rolls of the dice can end your life it's good to know that you won't spend the next forty minutes watching your friends have all the fun while you're slowly digested over a thousand years. Everyone is all in until the end.
You have failed in your attempt to seal the Ancient One away. It has risen up and is ready to devour humanity. What can you do? Mostly you just die. Each Ancient one has different weaknesses and for most of them you can keep fighting. The chances of you winning are extremely slim but you can always try. Unless it Azathoth, then you and the entire world are just devoured. Om nom nom!
This game plays the same no matter how many players you have. It can accommodate small to largish groups of players. You can even play the game solo, face to face with all that darkness, alone as madness slowly consumes you. As a nerd and an introvert this pleases me greatly. Sometimes you gotta go solo against some monsters.
One of the things that makes this game so great is that it's a little different each time you play. Since most of the systems in the game are driven by decks of cards, games will feature new and interesting combinations of player characters, adventures, and monsters; all the while maintaining the same overall flow and ease of play.
This game is super fun to play. It's the kind of game you can play a lot without getting tired of it. The art is beautiful, there is always a new challenge, and I just love rolling dice. It's always satisfying! Now go out there and slay some monsters.
Cheyenne Morse is one half of the Fictional Females podcast, which can be found on iTunes, Stitcher, and www.fictionalfemales.com. This is her first ever board game review!


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By getting a cover that includes medical coverage, a vacationer will have a better advantage in case of anything. Travel insurance may sometimes cover emergency medical evacuation plus 24/7 travel assistance. To avoid being stranded in a foreign country when one has lost their passport and debit cards, one can use a 24-hour hotline service from the travel insurance company and they will be able to get assistance. When visiting a country where they use a foreign language one can benefit from having these 24 hour hotline service. Lost baggage can be frustrating and people who want to recover their baggage can use the hotline service which will be able to help them to trace their baggage.
Before taking a travel insurance cover, one should consider what are the most important things that they would like coverage for. Vacationers who want to balance the risks of overseas travel can benefit from taking these insurance covers. Financial recovery is possible for people who have taken travel insurance during their vacation. If a person has to cancel a trip for any reason, they stand to lose a lot of money when they have paid for a vacation but when they have travel insurance they will be compensated for losses due to trip cancellation or even interruption. vacationers can also get coverage for personal liability, dental expenses, travel delay, accidental death, tour operator default, among others. Travel insurance is available for families, individuals, and thrill seekers.
When considering the right travel insurance coverage, one should consider a well-rounded insurance coverage, customer service, ability for an insurance company to pay a claim, coverage upgrades etc If a person wants to engage in extreme sports, they can look for an insurance company that will be able to cover this because some of them do not cover this. Before taking any travel insurance policy, one should read the document thoroughly to clarify any issues about the travel insurance plan.


Sessions typically run an hour.
Wayne can share advice on a number of topics related to people skills. First he'll listen and ask questions to understand your situation. And then he'll use his experience to share with you advice to help you reach your goal.
After signing up you will get an email from Wayne arranging a date and time to talk. The call can be either video or audio depending on your needs.


text:
Q: Heading in jade within a table My example of my .jade file
h1 Head1
 table(border='1')
  tr
   td name
   td name2
  tr
   td data
   td data2

Now I want to put h2 @ td data. The result is, that the heading works, but the table is broken. The "data" is correctly with h2 but jumped out of the table. How is the right syntax?
thanks

A: Jade doesn't seem to allow for multiple tags to be on the same line, which is probably your issue.
Based on the online demo for Jade, seems like you want:
h1 Head1
 table(border='1')
  tr
   td name
   td name2
  tr
   td
    h2 data
   td data2

Although, if you do that, the entire table will be h1 formatted due to table being indented, which can be problematic, thus you probably actually want:
h1 Head1
table(border='1')
 tr
  td name
  td name2
 tr
  td
   h2 data
  td data2

Which gives the following HTML:

Head1

    name
    name2

data

    data2

Note that the following two blocks of HTML give the same output:

data

data


text:
Innocent | Mariam Baldeh | Fiction
by Mariam Baldeh
Mmanwu Festival | Chinaza Eziaghighala | Day 10
by Chinaza Eziaghighala
Earthenware Cyborg
The Girl with the Mami Wata Tattoo | by Mame Bougouma Diene | An African Story
She had a Mami Wata tramp stamp tattooed on her lower back. Conveniently located so her ass crack was her cleavage, and that led to some unfortunate complications.
Some of her boyfriends tried to suck on her fake nipples for one. She didn't mind the extra attention to her cheeks, but she never expected them to call back. That seldom happened.
She had gotten comfortable with one-night stands, and had finally made peace with her looks. She was a sweet person, but boy. She wasn't afraid of ending up alone. She had always thought that eventually some guy about as lonely, homely, and sweet as she was would settle in with her, because past a certain point, fuck looks.
The truth was, by that point, she was accustomed to quiet mornings alone over breakfast and enjoying the silence. Now she had to bend her standards some and deal with post-coital nagging, which, although she enjoyed the power, placed her in the awkward position of having to kick people out of her apartment lest they lingered.
The tattoo was prettier than she was, so was the one-eyed Rottweiler in her neighbor's apartment. And while they got to ogle its doggy style, they still woke up next to her, and that lopsided face, too big of everything, couldn't possibly keep a desperate male under her sheets once the beer goggles faded. But there you had it.
Her sudden morning-after popularity had the predictable effect of making her more popular with guys she hadn't slept with. With the press as well, who stood fascinated by a creature with the appearance of a manatee but the sex appeal of a mermaid.
As a marine biologist, she had found that her form tended to put men off, and yet the local South African news media made her into the Nigerian Stunner.
The shark population of Durban had tripled for some unknown reason. The 2017 British Petroleum, so-called Oil Armageddon had left very little biology to study along the Gulf of Guinea. So when the opportunity arose for less polluted climes, Ebele had filled in the application, packed her bags and hopped a flight for Kwazulu-Natal, while the jealous, evil-minded people of her Port Harcourt lab, joked that she was being shipped off to Krueger Park.
Ebele had grown quite a thick skin by then, and the loving, confident person that she was, filed their mockery under pain expressing pain by way of diatribe. She had, quite literally, bigger fish to fry.
It wasn't just the men. The sharks wouldn't bite Ebele. Jellyfish would swim around her in the thousands without a bite either. She diverted most of the local underwater traffic, attracting whale sharks, orcas, and all manner of delicious seafood, which only made her more of a mystery wrapped in wonder, trapped in Ebele.
She quickly reached the five thousand friend limit on Facebook, set new instagram and twitter standards for the virtually vain, which did wonders for promoting animal rights and her research, and she could always look forward to a handsome stranger lending her his services for the evening.
What she wasn't expecting was the crowd of hundreds waiting for her on the beach, anxious for a touch, a smile, a signature, while she dripped with algae and salt water, threatened to drown in flashes and unwarranted fanatical admiration.
When the editor for Rooi Rose approached her, Ebele took offense, and why wouldn't she?
People could do what they wanted, but displaying her on the cover of a fashion and fitness magazine was the kind of greed that destroyed people. Sure, Adele had made the cover of several fashion magazines. Even Kim Kardashian—who had ballooned up to 193 lbs. since stabbing Kanye in the chest—made People every once in a while. But Ebele was a Nobody.
Of all the things Ebele didn't want, one of them was featuring on Where Are They Now?, where nobodies went ten years after their subatomic burst of fame, for their last paycheck and final humiliation.
So she didn't expect an email the following morning and then another the following day. It wasn't just Rooi Rose anymore, the entire fashion industry worldwide wanted a shot at Ebele, an exclusive from the woman who, for some reason no one quite understood, was redefining what a woman should be.
Her butt itched. It's never a good idea to scratch at a tattoo. It will get infected, and you don't want a purulent rainbow on your body. Unless you were "that" kind of person; Ebele was not, but yet she scratched.
While her right hand was busy with her lower back, her left pulled the curtain overlooking Times Square. New York City was, by all standards, about as bad as Lagos, except for crime. Crime was steadily decreasing in Lagos, but New York had a better storefront than Lagos' dollar store and so remained, for reasons unknown, the capital of the fashionable and artistically articulate, if not necessarily talented.
A billboard rotated the animated image of size-sixteen Finnish super model Elina Saaristo, who in addition to modeling was also a well-respected barrister. The advertisement zeppelin hovering over the city twenty-four hours a day asked the 150 pounders: "Why so skinny girl?" Or: "Got that degree? You WANT that degree."
Rooi Rose, then Sarie, then Esquire and The Rolling Stone. The Playboy Mansion, married, for a time, to Hugh Heffner Jr., plus a scandalous affair with Chris Pratt, and a somewhat greying Idriss Elba. Ariana Grande saw her popularity plummet as the world turned its eye from her size four to a size twelve overflowing.
Big was in. The fast food industry caught a second wind and removed the calorie content off their labels. The fashion industry didn't just want bigger girls; it wanted smarter girls. College enrollment hit an all time high. Two hundred year old universities found themselves building more and larger annexes; new dorms, halls, and libraries in desperate competition against hipstery upstarts.
Smarter women wanted smarter men. The NFL took a beating by Jeopardy, Family Feud and all manner of random trivia shows; and all the while Ebele's fame skyrocketed, so much so that she had very little time for the fish anymore, or people, or kindness, not after ten years as C.E.O of Curves, the leading fashion magazine in the world.
Learning ruthlessness hadn't come easy, learning to think in figures instead of feelings neither. Ebele kept telling herself that it was a process, wedging her way into the inner circle to change it from the inside out. She convinced herself she hadn't forgotten who she was or where she came from, and all the while, day after day, her Mami Wata tattoo itched while Ebele scratched.
She was losing weight. There was plenty of money for food, and plenty of food, but nothing stuck, and she had scratched her tattoo raw. Mami Wata's beautiful face had a nasty rash that spread down her cleavage along Ebele's crack and made her fidget on her chair, plagued by hemorrhoids.
The looks of concern turned to grins of contempt around 160lbs. She couldn't stand the sight of herself. Her staff doubted her judgment based on her appearance, getting theirs for all the people she'd fired offhand. The upper crust still attended her parties where she'd stuff her itchy self until she threw up. That's when the rumors of anorexia started. Ebele Onodugo was trying to lose weight.
No one would touch her anymore. She couldn't handle the paparazzi. She was scratching in public and the headlines didn't miss a beat: Is the Queen of Curves scratching her ass off?
She bought out the entire flight on South African Airways to Lagos just to avoid the stares and cushion her seat with ice packs. She requested the crew leave her alone at all times and didn't open her eyes until she landed in Africa.
Home is a combination of things, but mostly it's the taste of the air and the tiny human moments when the sun sets. It's true everywhere and different all the same. That's why home is unique; and for the first time in years, her tattoo didn't itch, soothed by the salty waters of the Gulf.
She'd been drawn to the water since she'd stepped out of the terminal at Murtala Muhammad, her face reflected back at her from Glo billboards on the overpass. But it wasn't her face anymore. She'd lost more weight on the flight somehow, ditched her sunglasses upon landing, traded a Gucci coat for a yellow-dotted green head wrap, and flagged the first cab waiting before the crew busted her cover.
It was her first time alone in years. The constant slew of sycophants and gold diggers had taken its toll on her ability to take a step back and center herself around who she was. She had sought this emptiness in vain, but now even the waters were empty, even the fish had shunned her, and their absence ached against her now painless back.
The sun reflected through the surface. She'd let the currents rock her adrift to sleep, a wave had overturned her mattress. Her skinny appendages couldn't carry her back to shore, and the golden halo simmering into the depths mingled with the brown, orange, green and red swirls of her tattoo melting into the Gulf, wrapping her in a cocoon of fractal colors in between the shade of rainbows, the meddling iridescence of the world hidden within our own.
At least she would remain a mystery: Ebele Onodugo as Carmen Sandiego, Ahab's elusive black whale turned black eel. No one would know where she'd gone. They would follow her to Lagos, maybe even to the beach, and all they would be left with was the sunset.
The air in her lungs ran its final laps around her system. Another thirty seconds, maybe a minute and she would open her mouth to let it out, and the waters fill her in. The colors merged, changed and faded. They pulled away from her and into the crown of sunlight, each thread distinct like a half woven rug, or a fisherman's net. And just as she was about to give up the ghost, a voice she attributed to her dying consciousness said: Where d'you think you're going? and thick cords cut into her fleshless form and yanked her out of the water.
His face was unshaven and his left eye lazy. His gut, sticking out under his wife-beater paraded a belly button full of hair, and his smile, if indeed he was smiling, was a chess board of the cheaper kind, the kind where the wood on the edges flaked off like the skin on his sun burnt lips. His hands were callused and rough as he rolled her out of the sticky net, before feet alternating hard corn and bunions like keys on a piano.
"Mmuommiri girl! You think you Mami Wata?"
He laughed heartily.
Sweet, and homely, just as herself.
Image byAïda Muluneh via African Digital Arts
Mame Bougouma LP Diene is a French-Senegalese American development worker based in Paris, with a fondness for progressive metal, tattoos and policy analysis. He was previously published in Omenana, and will feature in Afro SF V2 later in 2015.
Aïda Muluneh
speculative african fiction
Ainehi Edoro | administrator
COMMENTS ( 5 ) -
Paging all Lovers of African Sci-Fi | Ivor Hartman's AfroSF Vol. 2 is Set for a December 1 Release | Brittle Paper September 22, 2015 05:52
[…] the Senegalese author Mame Bougouma Diene. He is one of our writers! His story titled "Girl With the Mami Wata Tattoo" was well loved when it came out a few weeks […]
Josh Nyariki August 29, 2015 12:31
I need to appreciate one thing: your writing, it is good. You have mastered the language, so that is okay. Now the problem: Character plus plot. Here you score low. Story begins well. I read it with enthusiasm. I love the line it promises. . . curves, ass cracks, etc. It begins as a 'blue' type of story. Then generates into a kind of mystery, where I expect to hear something about why the tattoo, why the misfortunes, etc. The descriptions suddenly remind me of Mami Wota, a character in another story. However, the ending is an anti-climax to me. It promises alot in the beginning but delivers very little. But this is only my opinion.
Mame Bougouma Diene August 26, 2015 15:48
Thanks! Really appreaciate it. :)
Hannah August 19, 2015 06:52
"Big was in." Word! Now, that's progressive.Great descriptions, loved it.
Zainab August 17, 2015 14:55


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