text:
#include <Uefi.h>
#include <Library/UefiLib.h>
#include "include/pal_uefi.h"
#include "include/pal_dt.h"

/**
  @brief  This API is use to dump PE_INFO Table after filling from DT

  @param  PeTable  - Address where the PE information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_pe_table(PE_INFO_TABLE *PeTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!PeTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" PeTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************PE TABLE DUMP************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" NUM PE %d \n", PeTable->header.num_of_pe);

  while (Index < PeTable->header.num_of_pe) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" PE NUM      :%x\n", PeTable->pe_info[Index].pe_num);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" MPIDR       :%x\n", PeTable->pe_info[Index].mpidr);
//    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L"    ATTR     :%x\n", PeTable->pe_info[Index].attr);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" PMU GSIV    :%x\n", PeTable->pe_info[Index].pmu_gsiv);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

/**
  @brief  This API is use to dump GIC_INFO Table after filling from DT

  @param  GicTable  - Address where the GIC information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_gic_table(GIC_INFO_TABLE *GicTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!GicTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" GicTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************GIC TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GIC version %d \n", GicTable->header.gic_version);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GIC num D %d \n", GicTable->header.num_gicd);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GIC num RD %d \n", GicTable->header.num_gicrd);
//  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GIC num ITS %d \n", GicTable->header.num_its);

  while (GicTable->gic_info[Index].type != 0xFF) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GIC TYPE     :%x\n", GicTable->gic_info[Index].type);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" BASE         :%x\n", GicTable->gic_info[Index].base);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" LEN          :%x\n", GicTable->gic_info[Index].length);
//    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L"     ITS ID   :%x\n", GicTable->gic_info[Index].entry_id);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

/**
  @brief  This API is use to dump WD_INFO Table after filling from DT

  @param  WdTable  - Address where the WD information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_wd_table(WD_INFO_TABLE *WdTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!WdTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" WdTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************WD TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" NUM WD %d \n", WdTable->header.num_wd);

  while (Index < WdTable->header.num_wd) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" REFRESH BASE  :%x\n", WdTable->wd_info[Index].wd_refresh_base);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" CONTROL BASE  :%x\n", WdTable->wd_info[Index].wd_ctrl_base);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GSIV          :%x\n", WdTable->wd_info[Index].wd_gsiv);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" FLAGS         :%x\n", WdTable->wd_info[Index].wd_flags);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

/**
=======
  @brief  This API is use to dump PCIE_INFO Table after filling from DT

  @param  PcieTable  - Address where the PCIE information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_pcie_table(PCIE_INFO_TABLE *PcieTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!PcieTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" PcieTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************PCIE TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" NUM ECAM %d \n", PcieTable->num_entries);

  while (Index < PcieTable->num_entries) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ECAM BASE          :%x\n", PcieTable->block[Index].ecam_base);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" START BUS          :%x\n", PcieTable->block[Index].start_bus_num);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" END BUS            :%x\n", PcieTable->block[Index].end_bus_num);
//    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L"      SEGMENT NUM   :%x\n", PcieTable->block[Index].segment_num);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

/**
  @brief  This API is use to dump MEMORY_INFO Table after filling from DT

  @param  memoryInfoTable  - Address where the MEMORY information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_memory_table(MEMORY_INFO_TABLE *memoryInfoTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!memoryInfoTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" memoryInfoTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************MEMORY TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" dram base  :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->dram_base);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" dram size  :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->dram_size);

  while (memoryInfoTable->info[Index].type < 0x1004) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" Type      :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->info[Index].type);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" PHY addr  :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->info[Index].phy_addr);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" VIRT addr :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->info[Index].virt_addr);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" size      :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->info[Index].size);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" flags     :%x\n", memoryInfoTable->info[Index].flags);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

/**
  @brief  This API is use to dump TIMER_INFO Table after filling from DT

  @param  TimerTable  - Address where the TIMER information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_timer_table(TIMER_INFO_TABLE *TimerTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!TimerTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" TimerTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************TIMER TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" Num of system timers %d \n", TimerTable->header.num_platform_timer);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" s_el1_timer_flag %x \n", TimerTable->header.s_el1_timer_flag);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ns_el1_timer_flag %x \n", TimerTable->header.ns_el1_timer_flag);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" el2_timer_flag %x \n", TimerTable->header.el2_timer_flag);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" el2_virt_timer_flag %x \n", TimerTable->header.el2_virt_timer_flag);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" s_el1_timer_gsiv %x \n", TimerTable->header.s_el1_timer_gsiv);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ns_el1_timer_gsiv %x \n", TimerTable->header.ns_el1_timer_gsiv);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" el2_timer_gsiv %x \n", TimerTable->header.el2_timer_gsiv);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" virtual_timer_flag %x \n", TimerTable->header.virtual_timer_flag);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" virtual_timer_gsiv %x \n", TimerTable->header.virtual_timer_gsiv);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" el2_virt_timer_gsiv %x \n", TimerTable->header.el2_virt_timer_gsiv);
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" CNTBase             %x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->block_cntl_base);

  while (Index < TimerTable->gt_info->timer_count) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" Frame num   :%x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->frame_num[Index]);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GtCntBase   :%x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->GtCntBase[Index]);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GtCntEl0Base:%x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->GtCntEl0Base[Index]);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" gsiv        :%x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->gsiv[Index]);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" virt_gsiv   :%x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->virt_gsiv[Index]);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" flags       :%x\n", TimerTable->gt_info->flags[Index]);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

/**
  @brief  This API is use to dump peripheralInfo Table after filling from DT

  @param  peripheralInfoTable  - Address where the WD information needs to be filled.

  @return  None
**/
VOID
dt_dump_peripheral_table(PERIPHERAL_INFO_TABLE *peripheralInfoTable)
{
  UINT32 Index = 0;

  if (!peripheralInfoTable) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_ERR, L" peripheralInfoTable ptr NULL \n");
    return;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************USB TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" NUM USB %d \n", peripheralInfoTable->header.num_usb);

  while (Index < peripheralInfoTable->header.num_usb) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" TYPE          :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].type);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" CONTROL BASE  :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].base0);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GSIV          :%d\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].irq);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" FLAGS         :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].flags);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" BDF           :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].bdf);
    Index++;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************SATA TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" NUM SATA %d \n", peripheralInfoTable->header.num_sata);

  while (Index < (peripheralInfoTable->header.num_sata + peripheralInfoTable->header.num_usb)) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" TYPE          :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].type);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" CONTROL BASE  :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].base0);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GSIV          :%d\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].irq);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" FLAGS         :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].flags);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" BDF           :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].bdf);
    Index++;
  }

  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************UART TABLE************ \n");
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" NUM UART %d \n", peripheralInfoTable->header.num_uart);

  while (Index < (peripheralInfoTable->header.num_sata + peripheralInfoTable->header.num_usb +
      peripheralInfoTable->header.num_uart)) {
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" TYPE          :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].type);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" CONTROL BASE  :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].base0);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" GSIV          :%d\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].irq);
    bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" FLAGS         :%x\n", peripheralInfoTable->info[Index].flags);
    Index++;
  }
  bsa_print(ACS_PRINT_DEBUG, L" ************************************* \n");
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Wurlitzer french cherry is in excellent condition, and comes with the matching bench. Rich tone, and the perfect piano for new piano student, or professional.
The Wurlitzer family were German instrument makers dating back to the 17th century with Hans Andreas Wurlitzer, a violin maker. Soon after coming from Germany, Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer established himself in 1856 in New York, importing German pianos. By 1861 a new factory was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, continuing to sell pianos with the Wurlitzer label, but made by other European makers. They did not start manufacturing their own pianos until 1880. Since the early 1900s Wurlitzer became one of the major names in the music business that included the sale of orchestrions, player pianos, organs and jukeboxes. By the 1900s Wurlitzer had factories in DeKalb, Illinois (grand pianos) and North Tonawanda, NY (upright pianos). Other names controlled by Wurlitzer have included: Apollo, Artola, Julius Bauer & Company, Melville Clark, De Kalb, Farney, Ellwood, Kingston, Student Butterfly baby grand piano, Caldwell, Clavichord, Kurtzmann, Merriam, Milner, Schaff Brothers, Spinette, Strad and Underwood. In 1985 Wurlitzer purchased the Chickering name and all the assets of the Aeolian Corp. Memphis, TN factory when Aeolian went out of business. In the 1980s to 1996 Wurlitzer also had a line of upright and grand pianos manufactured by Korean firm, Young Chang; also a J & C Fischer (and later Kranich & Bach) line of uprights made in China by the Beijing Piano Co. In 1990 the Wurlitzer factory was located in Holly Springs, and Corinth, Mississippi. From 1990 to 1994 the 5 foot Wurlitzer Grand was manufactured by the Baldwin Piano Co. In 1995 Baldwin purchased Wurlitzer and Chickering. By 1996 production of Wurlitzer grands were being manufactured by Samick in Korea. In 2001, the Baldwin, Chickering and Wurlitzer names were purchased by the Gibson musical instrument company. Wurlitzer upright pianos were then discontinued in 2003, essentially replaced by the Ellington, and then Hamilton line (made in China) in 2004. Grand pianos were then being manufactured in China by the Sejung Co.according to Baldwin specifications,using Baldwin and Chickering plate and scale designs.
photo is for illustration, but very similar.


text:
Surveillance Drones Can Now Transmit 4K Video
Criminals beware; millimeter wave communication means that surveillance drones can now transmit high-resolution video in real-time.
AsianScientist (Jul. 12, 2019) – Security management company SECOM and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have developed a millimeter wave wireless communication system that enables long distance communication, using it to transmit 4K uncompressed video in real-time from a drone.
Cameras mounted on drones have produced stunning images of scenery and city scapes, but wide area surveillance requires real-time transmission of high-definition video, a capability that most drones lack. Millimeter wave wireless communication—which is expected to be used in 5G because of its high speed—is one possible solution, but the communication distance is limited due to large attenuation of radio waves.
To get around this limitation, the researchers used a lens antenna developed by Intel. Lens antennas enable long distance communication by narrowing the emission angle of radio waves. However, they have not been used for drones due to their size and weight. To address this problem, the team developed a video transmission system with a millimeter wave wireless communication device that uses a small, lightweight lens antenna that can be mounted on a drone. With it, they realized real-time transmission of 4K uncompressed video. Delay using the system is also dramatically reduced compared to conventional compressed transmission.
In their tests, the team was able to use a drone to take video in 4K and transmit the video in real time from over 100 m in the air to an access point on the ground. This technology enables the provision of security services in various fields, such as stadium security and infrastructure monitoring by drones.
Source: Tokyo Institute of Technology; Photo: Shutterstock.
#Drones #Electrical Engineering #Japan #Telecommunication #Tokyo Institute of Technology #Wireless Technology
Hirofumi Akagi Wins 2018 IEEE Medal In Power Engineering Professor Hirofumi Akagi was awarded the medal for his pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of power conversion systems.
A Dye-Free Method To Manufacture LCDs Researchers in Japan have developed a scanning wave photopolymerization method for producing liquid crystal displays without the need for dyes.
IEEE Milestone Awarded To Yasuto Mushiake Mushiake's discovery of self-complementary geometries in 1948 ushered in the golden age of television broadcasting.
Terahertz Wireless Links Could Transfer Digital Data In A Snap Terahertz wireless links to spaceborne satellites could enable transferring the entire content of a DVD in a fraction of a second.
Engineering The Future Of Asia By working at the intersections of the physical, digital and biological spheres, Asia's engineers are ushering in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
LED Pioneers Win 2021 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering For making low-cost, efficient lighting possible, LED pioneers and Nobel laureates Isamu Akasaki and Shuji Nakamura were awarded the world's most prestigious engineering prize.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After my recent hiatus I am planning a comeback! I had not been involved in the BPM community over the last few months as I had heavy work commitments, that were not really BPM related (it was more like being a Systems Analyst).
However I have recently said goodbye to BHPBilliton to take up a BPM Consultant role at APA Group. This means that I will be back to thinking process. The better for you!
During the last few months I found it very difficult to keep track of all the different BPM postings across the internet. Jamie at BPM Collaboration had a great idea to create a page that displayed a summary of BPM blog sites; however you have to open his page directly to read it. I was looking for an aggregated source that could be accessed easily during my day, on the train, on my phone!
So I created BPMBlogs. BPMBlogs is a Twitter account that provides a summary of BPM blogs postings. You can follow this account on Twitter and see what is being posted to the BPM Blog space as part your regular reading.
You can also access the combined BPM Blogs as a Yahoo Pipes Feed, if you want to read the entries directly or import the feed into your own RSS reader.
Check it out! It is still a work in progress, so let me know what you think – What sites should I add to the list?
note: I did have to remove some sites that I originally wanted to add as their RSS feeds were not compatible with Yahoo Pipes!


A BRAMPTON headteacher has retired and plans to start a new career as a registrar of marriages.
Dawn Fuller, head of Brampton Infants, said: "There can be nothing finer than making sure someone's marriage or civil partnership is happy and joyful."
Mrs Fuller has been married for 36 years to Ian, a former head at Winhills School, St Neots. They have two grown-up daughters.
Mrs Fuller said that among her school's proudest achievements was an award received in 2001 for outstanding progress and Ofsted reports highlighting its excellent features.
Mrs Fuller paid tribute to the school's parents' association, saying it was "just amazing" raising some £7,000 a year. "They want what's best for all the children, not just their own."
As a surprise, Mrs Fuller was saluted by a grand send-off of 150 balloons released on Friday, her last day - one for every child in her school.


text:
Q: Finding the coordinates of a point on a curve via tangents Question: $P(x_1,y_1)$ is a point on the curve $y=e^{ - x}$. The tangent to the curve at P passes through the origin. Find the coordinates of $P$. NB: I am assuming the question is asking for an integer or some sort of value for the coordinates.
My working out: Firstly I tried the first derivative, which is $y=-e^{ - x}$ and the subbing in $x=x_1$ from point $P$ - this is this gradient for point $P$
but that just goes to get: $y=-e^{ - x_1}$, and if that's it then subbing it into the point-gradient formula ($y-y_1=m(x-x_1)$)
leading to:
$y-y_1=y=-e^{ - x_1}(x-x_1)$ etc... BUT continuing on does not get me the coordinates of $P$.
or I tried the simple method which was; $m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$ by using the point $P$ coordinates  and the origion (assuming it's $O(0,1)$) from the original formula. But I have no idea how I would go on from here.

A: You are very close we have that $y_1=e^{-x_1}$.
Then we have the tangent line at a point is
$$
y-e^{-x_1}=-e^{-x_1}(x-x_1)
$$
But now the tangent line has to go through the origin so we get,
$$
x_1e^{-x_1}=-e^{-x_1}.
$$
This means $x_1 =-1$ so we get the point $(-1,e^{1})$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Les violences de Koufra est une insurrection armée qui a commencé en 2008 dans la région de Koufra, en Libye, entre la faction pro-Toubou du Front toubou pour le salut de la Libye (TFSL) et le gouvernement libyen.

Contexte
Après un coup d'État réussi mené par Mouammar Kadhafi en 1969, la république est établie ; Tout comme le président égyptien Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kadhafi décide d'arabiser le pays. Quelques mois plus tard, une loi est adoptée qui fait de la Libye un État arabe et remplace la constitution de 1951. Dans la constitution de 1951, « les Libyens sont égaux devant la loi » et « jouiront des droits civils et politiques égaux sans distinction de religion, de croyance, de race, de langue, de parenté ou d'opinion politique ou sociale ». Depuis lors, l'arabe devient la seule langue officielle de la Libye ; les autres langues et cultures des groupes minoritaires comme les peuples Awjila, Ghat, Ghadamès, Hun, Berbères, Jalo, Toubous, Socra et Zouara n'avaient pas leur place dans le pays. Surtout les tribus berbères et toubous, qui ont été persécutées et harcelées par le régime.

Jusqu'en , une loi polémique interdisait aux femmes Imazighen de donner à leurs enfants un nom Imazighen. Les enfants d'âge scolaire ont également été contraints d'adopter un nom arabe avant de pouvoir s'inscrire à l'école.

Conflit
Les violences commencent début  lorsque le gouvernement libyen déchoit de leur citoyenneté l'ethnie Toubous, affirmant que leurs dirigeants s'étaient rangés du côté de leur rival tchadien. Les affrontements commencent lorsque TFSL incendie le bureau d'un gouvernement local. À la suite de l'incident, le gouvernement a dépêché des unités de l'armée et des hélicoptères dans la région, assiégeant Koufra. Les affrontements cessent à la mi-novembre lorsque les deux parties ont convenu d'un cessez-le-feu. Le , une réunion tribale Toubou avec des responsables libyens s'est tenue à Koufra pour mettre fin aux violences. L'insurrection fait entre 11 et 30 morts et plus d'une centaine de blessés.

Notes et références

Bibliographie

Histoire militaire de la Libye
2008 en Libye

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


If I were to leave the U.S., I'd live in England. But I'd never leave the U.S. I own a 400-acre farm in Macon, Georgia. I raise cattle and hogs. I own horses, too. I love horses as much as singing. I like to hunt on horseback.
If you want to be a singer, you've got to concentrate on it twenty-four hours a day. You can't be a well driller, too. You've got to concentrate on the business of entertaining and writing songs. Always think different from the next person. Don't ever do a song as you heard somebody else do it.
As I was growing up, I did a lot of talent shows. I won fifteen Sunday nights straight in a series of talent shows in Macon. I showed up the sixteenth night, and they wouldn't let me go on any more. Whatever success I had was through the help of the good Lord.


What is happiness? The feeling that power is growing, that obstacles are being overcome.
The Chariot Arcana is the #7 Major Arcana, and is a momentous card. It usually depicts a lord or warrior, often armoured, mounted atop a war chariot being pulled by steeds, which are sometimes horses but are often mythical animals such as unicorns or sphinxes.
The Chariot is often associated with power, confidence, achievement, conquest and overcoming obstacles. Like the Lovers, the Chariot has a strong association with the journey; unlike the Lovers, the Chariot is defined by their actions on the journey, not by the decision to choose which journey to take. Mythopoetically, the Chariot represents a growth in external power, a power that leads to imposing itself on the world and achieving a great victory that is both temporal and temporary.
For the Chariot, life's lustre burns brightest when they're moving forwards, towards an objective, goal or ideal. The reason for this is that the goal is a challenge, something that forces them to change and, most importantly, improve. Self-improvement and the growth of one's ability are fundamental to the Chariot's world view. In essence, the journey itself is a goal all of its own, the goal to be constantly improving, onwards and upwards. It is a life of constant forward momentum, resting only briefly before finding a new challenge to overcome. Chariots, then, are at their best when they're being challenged, either by life or by themselves. This drive makes Chariots incredible people, capable of going to extreme lengths to improve themselves and achieve their goals. They're naturally ambitious people, but unlike the ambitions of Empress and Emperor, the Chariot's ambitions lead the world to change them, even as the Chariot changes the world.
All of this importance on the journey can lead one to believe that for Chariots, goals aren't in and of themselves important except as an excuse for growth. In reality the opposite is true: Chariots place great value on their goals. All travelers take pride in their milestones, and the natural pride of the Chariot makes it double for them: they adore their achievements and their ambitions. Whilst the journey leads to internal self-improvement, their goals and achievements are external markers for all the world to see. By achieving these goals, the Chariot gains the confidence and strength to be able to set new goals. But the goals of course have their own intrinsic worth: a goal needs to be both challenging and meaningful for a Chariot to want to pursue it, after all. Often goals can be something the Chariot deeply wants or considers important, and many goals can be admirable things that change the world for the better: many Chariots have come into their own by seeking to protect others by defeating some threat. The key thing is that no matter the import of the goal, satisfaction in its obtaining is short-lived as the Chariot burns through the pleasures of such a goal quite quickly. Once that's done, their restlessness leads them to the next goal, their next great achievement, reaching ever higher. Ultimately, they will find a goal they cannot reach, but it doesn't matter that they cannot reach it, only that they strove for it until the end.
A reversed Chariot can be easily defined as a danger to others and to themselves. A reversed Chariot who turns their considerable power towards the wrong sort of goal, such as goals that oppress and hurt the weak, do nothing but evil; it doesn't even improve the Chariot's strength. In essence, for them it's really just staying in the same place, or reversing in a more literal manner. How they come to this rut depends, but it's never healthy for the Chariot. A Chariot who has lost confidence in themselves and falters on the journey can also count as reversed, since without that ability to move forward, what use is a Chariot? A Chariot who feels they don't have the ability to achieve another goal is a sad sight. On the other hand, Chariots can also be deeply prone to developing a most dangerous kind of arrogance, the sort that leads them to choose goals that exceed their ability. High-aiming with goals is good, but if a goal is too difficult, then a Chariot should have the sense to set smaller goals first; rushing straight for the most difficult goal doesn't challenge a Chariot, it damages them, and can destroy them completely. Alternatively an arrogant Chariot can believe they don't need to improve, and they're already the best. Thus a Chariot reversed may be guilty of going too fast, or not fast enough.
Example Inner Conflicts for a Chariot may be a sense of uncertainty over their goals; a sense of undeserved superiority that makes them react aggressively to any challenge; a goal they pursue despite it doing damage to them; or a lack of confidence in themselves that leads to doubting everything they do.
Mechanically, the Chariot is a heavy hitter, designed to get up close and personal with the enemy and dish out the damage. Of all the Arcanae they are one of the most unambiguously combat-oriented, and in that way they are also the most physical. Generally their Personae excel in damage and physical attacks, whilst magic is used for support, not for damage.
The Chariot's aptitudes are also strongly built around the attack. All of their Aptitudes are based around offense; Weapon Skill and Strength on the melee side, whilst Offense is more general. Strength is a highly useful characteristic for Chariots for obvious reasons, but it also gives cheap access to the Athletic skill, which Chariots often rely on quite a lot.
Unstoppable Force Whenever you deal Lethal Damage or Stagger an enemy with a Physical attack or art, until the end of your next turn you gain Vengeful (-1) and +10 to critical confirm tests with all Physical attacks and Arts. This does not stack with itself, and Unstoppable Force immediately ends if you fail an attack test with a Physical attack or Art. Challenge Accepted: At the start of each week, you may select a combination of Personal Time Actions spread out over the course of the week. This combination must add up to a total of 30 Stress, involve tests, and may not be Counter-Shadow Operations or Investigations. Each time you succeed at one Action, you gain a +10 bonus to the next Action. If you succeed at every test, you gain a flat +10 bonus to all tests until the start of the next week. So long as you are benefitting from Unstoppable Force, you and any Confidants with an S-Link of 5 or higher with you may reroll one missed Physical attack or Art per round. So long as you are benefitting from Unstoppable Force, your attacks gain Vengeful (-2) and automatically confirm Critical Hits. You may also choose to maximise all damage dice associated with a single hit, which forces a Critical Hit; but this not only instantly ends Unstoppable Force, it also prevents you from using it for the rest of the encounter.
The Queen of the Iceni Celts. When the Romans abused her and raped her daughters, she unleashed a campaign of vengeance and fire on them that consumed three cities before the Romans finally stopped her.
Known as the Hammer of Judea, he led the Jews in revolt against the Seleucid Empire. He reconsecrated the defiled Temple at Jerusalem, which is the core event commemmorated by Hanukkah. He was victorious many times, and although he died in battle, his death inspired the Jews to throw off their oppressors.
The greatest general Carthage ever produced. He gained legendary status for three massive defeats over the Roman Army, but he lost momentum, giving the Romans the chance to counter-attack and win the war.
The Conquering Lady of Tang. Her father sent her into hiding when he rebelled against the Sui Dynasty, but instead she raised an army of 70,000 and conquered several cities before marching on the Sui capital.
Russia's greatest knight. A sickly child, he was granted immense strength and vitality by a dying pilgrim-knight and rode out to defend Russia and Christendom. He was nearly killed by Tsar Kalin of the Golden Horde, but Mother Russia's soil filled him with strength; he killed the Tsar and used his body as a weapon.
Prince of Macedonia. He created an elite army and led it to victory against the Persian Empire, conquering it in a mere twelve years.
A mythical warrior-king with a bull's head and six arms, each wielding a weapon. Worshipped as a war deity, he was the ancient nemesis of China's Huang Di, and considered tyrannical and abusive, but to the Hmong and Miao he is a venerated ancestor.
An automaton of Greek legend. A giant man made of bronze, he protected Europa from those who might kidnap her. He was slain by Medea, who tricked him and removed a nail that bound shut his only vein.
The mighty Norse thunder god. Wielding the hammer Mjolnir, he engaged in many quests and heroics against the likes of the Giants and Loki. His nemesis is Jormungandr, whom he will slay at Ragnarok; but he will only walk nine paces before falling dead of Jormungandr's venom.
One of the mightiest of the Hindu gods, he presides over destruction. Despite this, he is a benevolent deity who destroys so that creation can spring anew from the ashes. He is also self-sacrificing, enduring immense pain and stress to save others.


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Kreston is pleased to announce that Kreston UK firm Duncan & Toplis has won the Outstanding Advisory or Client Project of the Year Award at the British Accountancy Awards 2018. Attended by over 800 guests from the industry, the ceremony took place last night at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The British Accountancy Awards, run by Accountancy Age, are regarded as the industry's most prestigious accolades, pinpointing professional development and highlighting those that have demonstrated excellence in their profession.
Duncan & Toplis were also nominated alongside fellow UK member, James Cowper Kreston for Mid-Tier Firm of the Year.
Managing Director of Duncan & Toplis and Chairman of Kreston UK, Adrian Reynolds said:
"We are all delighted to have won the British Accountancy Award for 'Outstanding Advisory or Client Project of the Year 2018'. The client project was our involvement from inception to the opening of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. The centre doubles as a memorial to the 57,861 men and women, many of whom were based in Lincolnshire, that gave their lives whilst serving Bomber Command and is also a living archive to achieving the 3 r's – Recognition, Remembrance and Reconciliation. We continue to support this worthy project. www.internationalbcc.co.uk "
Pictured- Adrian, centre with his team collecting their award.
Okamoto & Company has specialised in providing bilingual professional accounting services to foreign subsidiaries since 1992. They are a three – partner firm and employ 25 professionals and approximately the same number of support staff. Partner, Richard Okamoto gives an insight into his


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Home > Destinations > West > Why You Should Road Trip to the Atomic City of Arco, Idaho
Why You Should Road Trip to the Atomic City of Arco, Idaho
When it comes to locations for nuclear tech, you've probably heard of Los Alamos, New Mexico, and maybe even Oak Ridge, Tennessee. But did you know that Arco, Idaho, has just as much of a claim on the nation's nuclear history? Let's take a trip to this humble but historic small town and learn more about the enormous impact it had on the atomic world.
About Arco, Idaho
Arco came to be in the mid-19th century, as the town's site lay alongside a cut-off for the famous Oregon Trail. It grew to be an important regional hub for travelers over the decades. After the U.S. Postal Service rejected the original proposed name of "Junction," it was eventually named after George Von Arco, a prominent German radio scientist.
Two industries are the primary economic drivers for the town of approximately 900 residents. Since the 1940s, the area has been home to extensive U.S. military training locations and government science facilities like the Idaho National Laboratory. The Arco region also benefits from tourism and outdoor recreation. Thanks to its natural beauty and easy access to local rivers, forests, and other distinctive landscapes.
What Is Arco, Idaho Famous For?
Arco, Idaho, is most famous for its connection to several firsts in the quest for nuclear power in the United States.
In 1951, the nearby Experimental Breeder Reactor was the first in the country to create usable electricity from a nuclear power source. Four years later, Arco became the first town in the world to be lit entirely by "atomic power". Thanks to nuclear energy generated by the Borax-III reactor at the site now known as the Idaho National Laboratory. While the test only lasted an hour, it proved nuclear-powered towns were a real possibility, paving the way for current nuclear energy technology.
However, Arco's atomic history has some darker elements, as well. The first nuclear accident in American history involved the Experimental Breeder Reactor in 1955, only a few years after its historic feat. Sadly, the Arco area was also home to the first fatal nuclear incident in U.S. history. In 1961, three workers died following an accident and partial meltdown at the SL-1 reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory facility.
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Is Arco Radioactive?
Despite Arco's nuclear history, the town is not radioactive or in any way dangerous because of it. Concerns over the potential health impacts of the nearby nuclear reactors led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to team up with the Idaho National Laboratory to study the issue.
Their 1991 report found next to no measurable impact though. Even on those who lived closest to the facilities or got the highest potential doses of released radiation. Even the most extreme cases in the worst periods of radiation releases only resulted in the approximate amount of radiation from three chest x-rays over a year.
Further study and analysis in 2004 confirmed that any radiation in the Arco area was low-level. And surprisingly, in the report's words, "not sufficient to cause human health effects."
Why You Should Visit Arco
Despite its small size, there are still fun things to do in Arco, Idaho, and the surrounding area. We rounded up a few of our favorites.
Craters of the Moon National Monument
For a landscape that you're unlikely to see elsewhere (at least on this planet), head over to Craters of the Moon National Monument, about 20 miles southwest of Arco. These barren, black volcanic fields stretch for more than 600 square miles across south-central Idaho. The area has an otherworldly quality that inspired its name.
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Your first stop should be the park's Robert Limbert Visitor Center. Here you can get the lay of the land and learn about the park's origins and your exploration opportunities. For short visits, drive the 7-mile scenic Loop Road, or check out the easily accessible Inferno or Spatter Cones.
If you're staying for a half-day or longer, get up close and personal with this unique landscape. Take hikes to Big Craters or along the Broken Top Loop or Wilderness Trail. You can also pick up a permit to explore the park's many caves, which once carried molten lava below the surface. There are tent sites for camping and a limited number of no-hookup RV-friendly sites.
Experimental Breeder Reactor Atomic Museum
We've already discussed this reactor (known as EBR-1 for short) and its history-making actions from 1951 to 1955. The reactor was unique in that it created more fuel than it consumes through a then-experimental process known as "breeding."
It's now a National Historic Landmark and museum. Showcasing four reactors and experimental nuclear technology and breaking down the process of generating power through atomic energy. You can take both self-guided and seasonal guided tours of the site. The Experimental Breeder Reactor Atomic Museum is about 20 miles southeast of Arco.
Number Hill
Just to the north of Arco, you'll notice a striking visual. Since 1920, each graduating class from Butte County's small high school will paint the last two digits of their graduation year on the side of this prominent hill. The town carefully guards the rock face otherwise, preventing any other types of graffiti. It's a fun local tradition and a way for local youth to leave their mark on this vast, wild place.
Number Hill is worth checking out just to snap a picture or two. You can't help but wonder how exactly those kids managed to get up there. You can catch a glimpse from many spots in town due to the hill's prominence in the local geography.
Where to Stay in Arco, Idaho
Arco may not have all the accommodations of a big city, but you've got several quality options for a town of its size, especially for RVers.
Mountain View RV Park and Restaurant
With more than two dozen full hookup, pull-through RV sites, Mountain View RV Park and Restaurant offers affordable and comfortable RV camping in Arco. Campers can access free wifi, a shower and bathroom facility, and on-site laundry. The park also offers a dump station and propane refills if you're running low. You can also enjoy a delicious dinner at Mountain View's full-service restaurant with its ribs, sweet tea, and other southern food and barbecue.
The park is also perfect for exploring the sights of eastern Idaho. From Craters of the Moon National Monument to Big Southern Butte or the Little Lost River, tons of outdoor recreation opportunities are just a short drive away.
Arco, Idaho may not be the most well-known destination in the Gem State, but it's home to some of the country's most otherworldly landscapes and unexpected historic breakthroughs. This "atomic city" is one that science fans and lovers of the outdoors won't want to miss.
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Gartenberg
New MacBook: A rant
Now I don't want to get off on a rant here, but...
Michael Gartenberg
Okay, I admit it,I fell for the clickbait yesterday. The one about the new MacBook update being the "year's biggest tech letdown so far". No link — if you simply must give them the page views use Google.
MacBook was never meant to be a Mac for the masses. At launch and in yesterday's press release, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, called the MacBook "our vision for the future of the notebook."
Today's MacBook is the equivalent of the first generation MacBook Air. That Mac launched with less power, fewer ports, and at a higher price-point than their MacBooks of the time. After a few years and revisions, though, it became a breakout product.
MacBook packs a 12-inch Retina display into a footprint roughly equal to an 11-inch MacBook Air, with a fantastic new keyboard and a magical force touch trackpad. (That trackpad is no small feat, by the way, especially in a world where other manufacturers still struggle to match Apple's previous generation technology.)
Oh, and for the technology inside, the new MacBook has a pretty amazing price.
Could the new MacBook benefit from a few features that would make it more palatable to the mass market? Yep. But for now it's targeted at those who want to buy into Apple's vision early and are willing to make some trade offs to do so. And for them — and me — the new MacBook is near perfect.
As for the click bait, it's only relevant to those who expect every single update from Apple to be earthshaking. Which, of course, they never have been.
Not unless you realize the new MacBook just outed the rose gold car. So, pay attention!
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Get more out of your 12-inch MacBook with these great USB-C hubs
The cloud can't transfer everything. Look no further for the best hubs to expand your 12-inch MacBook's potential.
I've covered the personal technology beat for more than two decades at places like Gartner, Jupiter Research and Altimeter Group. I've also had the fun of contributing my $.02 on the topic at Computerworld, Engadget, Macworld, SlashGear and now iMore. Most recently I spent a few years at Apple as Sr. Director of Worldwide Product Marketing. On Twitter I'm an unverified @gartenberg. I still own some Apple stock.


No matter the length of your stay, you will receive a formal certification for your training.
SHAOLIN KUNG FU FOR MOTION PICTURE, MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING FOR ACTORS – SCREEN COMBAT, STUNT WORK AND FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY.
China become one of the biggest founder for Hollywood Cinema which means more co-productions will be done between Hollywood and China, and therefore, will be a greater demand for actors skilled in Martial Arts.
Shifu Shi Yanjun cooperates with Kung Fu Movie Industry in China with: Yu Rongguang (famous actor and movie director) and Ma Yongli (movie director and producer). As part of this cooperation, our Academy trains students to participate in Kung Fu movies and Kung Fu shows.
Training and certified course for Screen Combat, Stunt, Wire work and Fight Choreography – Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
Extreme sports (cross mountain climbing including wire work), Parkour, Coercion, Reaction, Trampoline, Fashion sets strokes and Costume sets tricks.
Martial Arts for screen fighting skill it is not always the same as the real Martial Arts you are practicing. Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu and other traditional styles teach you proper body control but not necessarily will help you to look good on camera! There is a difference between both set of skills which involve coordination between body and mind, eye and hand, eye expression for your feelings so on. The moves in Traditional Kung Fu are in general small and very efficient while on stage they are bigger, showy and sometimes are not even the proper technique.
The student should be of high moral standard, good health, to love Martial Arts Movies and TV performances, to respect and obey the law in China. There is no discrimination as gender, ethnicity or age.
You need to be in good physical and mental health and to be motivated as the training will be intense. We do not accept students which smoke, drink or use drugs. If you use either of the distractions you will not be accept unless you are willing to stop your bad habits. Prior arrival you have to complete a medical assessment. The course is open for men and women without discrimination.
As long as Kung Fu is your dream we will be glad to help you achieve your dream!
The new classes offered by Songshan Shaolin Traditional Wushu Academy are considered as part of any professional Resume and can be listed under Education or Training. At the end of the course you will receive certification which is recognized by the Chinese Government.
JOIN OUR TRADITIONAL KUNG FU PROGRAMS & RETREATS!


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Mattie Remembered in Parish Times
by Jeni Stepanek | Feb 13, 2019 | Blog, Home, News, Uncategorized | 0 comments
Mattie J.T. Stepanek was on earth fewer than 14 years and he died nearly 15 years ago. But his life and legacy continue to inspire children and adults today because he lived with depth and purpose, and with a passion for sharing messages of hope and peace.
During January, Mattie was remembered in The Parish Times newspaper in an article reminding readers that Mattie's presence on earth was a blessing, despite dismal pre-natal prognoses for his health and developmental outcomes and recommendations that the pregnancy be terminated.
Mattie's mother, Dr. Jeni Stepanek, said that Mattie was neither an accident nor a mistake, but instead, "a spirit meant to be."
Mattie did face many medical and developmental challenges during his brief life. However, he also penned seven New York Times bestselling books of "Heartsongs" poetry and "Just Peace" essays and he was a well-respected and award-winning spokesperson for disability and peace organizations. From the age of seven, he served as a lector in his home parish, and at age nine, he began teaching CCD classes.
Thousands of people of diverse faiths and nationalities and walks of life attended his funeral, where Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter eulogized him as "the most extraordinary person" he has ever known. The article in the recent Parish Times edition refers to Mattie as someone who reminds us of the truth that all life is worthy.
To view the full issue of the January 2019 Parish Times — CLICK HERE…
To view the "Remember Mattie" article — CLICK HERE…
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© 2018, Mattie J.T. Stepanek and/or Jennifer Smith Stepanek, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
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Silicon Valley's Influence on Public Education
The New York Times published an interesting article about how Silicon Valley companies have pushed coding into public schools.
Natasha Singer writes:
At a White House gathering of tech titans last week, Timothy D. Cook, the chief executive of Apple, delivered a blunt message to President Trump on how public schools could better serve the nation's needs. To help solve a "huge deficit in the skills that we need today," Mr. Cook said, the government should do its part to make sure students learn computer programming.
"Coding," Mr. Cook told the president, "should be a requirement in every public school."
The Apple chief's education mandate was just the latest tech company push for coding courses in schools. But even without Mr. Trump's support, Silicon Valley is already advancing that agenda — thanks largely to the marketing prowess of Code.org, an industry-backed nonprofit group.
This push coincides with corporations' interest in public education and a shift to a focus on workforce development to be ready for "21st-century jobs."
Would these jobs certainly include computer programming right?
The article questions the motives behind this.
Computer science is also essential to American tech companies, which have become heavily reliant on foreign engineers. Mr. Trump's efforts to limit immigration make Code.org's teach-Americans-to-code agenda even more attractive to the industry.
In a few short years, Code.org has raised more than $60 million from Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Salesforce, along with individual tech executives and foundations. It has helped to persuade two dozen states to change their education policies and laws, Mr. Partovi said, while creating free introductory coding lessons, called Hour of Code, which more than 100 million students worldwide have tried….
…. But Code.org's multilevel influence machine also raises the question of whether Silicon Valley is swaying public schools to serve its own interests — in this case, its need for software engineers — with little scrutiny. "If I were a state legislator, I would certainly be wondering about motives," said Sarah Reckhow, an assistant professor of political science at Michigan State University. "You want to see public investment in a skill set that is the skill set you need for your business?"
Public dollars to help prepare future employees for these companies. There was a time workforce development, and job training was done by the companies themselves. Now they want us to pay for it.
June 30, 2017 June 29, 2017 Shane Vander Hart
Education Reform Apple, Code.org, computer programming, computer science, Natasha Singer, New York Times, Sarah Reckhow, Silicon Valley, Timothy Cook, workforce development
4 thoughts on "Silicon Valley's Influence on Public Education"
Some questions that immediately come to mind:
What about kids that have no interest in coding?
Haven't Americans been let go from such jobs after they have trained their foreign-born replacements who are typically paid less?
Is this a way to decrease the pay of such workers, as there will be more people with such knowledge competing for these jobs?
Also, Tim Cook, I thought public schools existed to educate the people. Your company has plenty of money to train its own workforce. What you desire is corporate welfare.
I'm tired of all the so called experts. Amateurs built the ark, while professionals built the Titanic. One stayed afloat, and the other sunk. Take a hike, experts!
patriotmongoose says:
What Mr. Tim Crook isn't saying is that IT, as is, isn't viable anymore due to infestation from the H1B, L1, and OPT programs. It's NOT a viable career. They just want an even BIGGER workforce so that the wages will plummet even more.
(The Left did the same thing by claiming a shortage of workers in construction, etc, and bringing in all the illegals to make wages go through the floor.)
As for the Career Technical Education stuff at the federal level, at one point, they were trying to fund it with the H1B application fees of the, thankfully failed, Gang of Eight bill.
Dee, I know of the following that either let go Americans and made them train their foreign replacements, or, in the case of Hewelett Packard, let Americans go only to hire H1Bs:
Abbot Labs
Northeast Utilities
Catelina Marketing
Molina Healthcare Inc.
Carnival Corporation
Mass Mutual
What these guys often do is they use third party Indian body shops like Tata to use a loophole in the law to displace Americans. These H1Bs may get the same pay (though many have said less and I've heard cases of them working for only $2/hr or even free!) as Americans but they might get assigned horrible conditions, long hours, and no pay raises cuz if they complain, they get sent back. It's indentured servitude basically. And some Indians, once hired here and getting into management, only hire other Indians.
Also, I'm not bashing Indians. I am working with a guy from India to end H1B and bring in green cards for the true best and brightest. Right now, the Indian body shops call the shots and while people can get in on H1B or on the uncapped (unlimited, possibly) L1 visas, those wanting green cards can be stuck waiting in decades (the guy I talked to said he was gonna end up waiting 70 years) of backlog.
And the colleges are in on it. They like the OPT program, hire H1Bs (it's not just University of California, though they got the press) and they are for Dream Act, DACA, etc too. And since the colleges are getting more students due to government and their takeover of the student loan process, they are raising their rates.
Plus, as Common Core is making everyone "College and Career Ready", thus more are pushed into colleges and the colleges get rich. Of course, the Left tries to get outright communism with "free" college to try and get votes.
What I've found in this fed ed program is that 13 federal departments, at least 13 anyway, will be, along with corporations, deciding the vocation of students. Those awful Common Core tests are part of the key to determine where you work (though with Social Emotional Learning on the rise, they are also psychologically profiling people too to detect enemies of the state ahead of time.)
Also, DeVos is lying to you. Common Core is NOT dead. She is pals with big Common Core support John Engler, who also happens to support "school choice". Since the feds control the money, the only choice you'll get will be DC approved.
And yes, there is the Gay Agenda being pushed. They are teaching the Gay/Trans agenda in 8th grade as part of the sexuality standards. Also, the Next Generation "Science" standards include "climate change" indoctrination.
And yes, there definitely is Islamic indoctrination.
Yes, that is their agenda, to have the taxpayers pay for training for a serf class of laborers who won't be able to get the skills to work elsewhere. Yes, they are using the "education" system as a Rockefeller wet dream "worker factory".


GROUND.–The ground is divided into three equal courts each 30 x 30 feet. The end courts may be shorter if full space be not available.
TEAMS.–The players are divided into three equal teams which for convenience may be designated by colors Red White and Blue. There are no officers for the teams but one referee for the game who should also act as score keeper is desirable and for match games necessary. At the opening of the game the two outer teams line up each on its inner boundary line each player standing with one foot on the line. The center team is grouped promiscuously near the middle of the center court. The teams change courts at the end of each inning and the formation or line-up just described is resumed at the opening of each inning.
OBJECT OF THE GAME.–The game consists in hitting players with a flying ball (not a bounce) any player so hit being out and leaving the field. For this purpose the two end teams play against the center team (but not against each other) and the center team also plays the ball in a retaliatory or aggressive game trying to hit players on either of the end teams.
START.–The game is played in three innings each of five or more minutes duration. Each inning begins with the teams in the formation shown in the diagram and described under "Teams " except that the different teams will be in different courts for each inning.
The referee puts the ball in play by tossing it to the center team (say the Whites as shown in the diagram) and at the same time blows his whistle as a signal for the game to open. The referee also blows his whistle whenever a player is hit so as to be out ( i.e. hit by a ball "on the fly " not on a bounce). The hit player at once leaves the field and play is resumed by the referees whistle and tossing of the ball to the center team as at the beginning. The referee also calls time for the close of innings. After the ball has been put regularly in play teams may only secure the ball when it is "dead " i.e. when it has not just been played by an opponent but has stopped rolled or bounced into its own court.
RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.–After the referee has put the ball in play by tossing it to the center team the player catching it runs to either the left or right boundary line of his field and throws the ball at one of the opposing players (Red or Blue). These players meanwhile immediately upon hearing the whistle to start should have run toward the rear of their respective courts to lessen the chances of being hit. Should the White player succeed in hitting a player on the Red or Blue team the referees whistle is blown the hit player leaves the field and the game starts over again as at the beginning. Should the White player fail to hit one of the opponents the latter try in turn to secure the ball before it rebounds or rolls back into the center court. The player who gets it either runs up to the boundary line and throws at the Whites or passes the ball to some other player of his own team who does this. The Whites naturally scatter to the farther boundary line of their court to avoid being hit. Should the ball fail to hit a White player it is most likely to go entirely across to the Blue court where one of the Blue team should catch it and in turn try to hit the Whites.
The end teams (in this case Red and Blue) play against the center (White) but not against each other. The center team plays against both end teams. Thus a player in either of the end teams may be hit by a player on the center team but it is not a part of the game for these end teams to try to hit each other. A ball thrown by either end team across the center court may be caught however by a player on the opposite end.
A player is not out if hit by a ball that rebounds whether from the floor another player a wall or any other object.
A player is not out if the thrower of the ball overstepped the boundary lines while throwing.
The only kind of a hit that puts a player out is one from a ball "on the fly" thrown from behind a boundary line.
Players may dodge in any way they choose but a hit from a flying ball on any part of the person or clothing puts a player out.
At the close of each inning (of five or more minutes) the teams progress or change courts in regular order from right to left. That is the Blue team moves to the center the White team to the left court and the Red team to the right court. For the third inning another change is made in the same direction the Reds going to the center the Blues to the left court and the Whites to the right court. Thus in the three innings each team will have played in each court.
When a new inning is started and the teams change courts all players who have been hit and are out return to their teams. Each inning begins therefore with full teams.
SCORE.–A score is made for each team for each of the three innings and consists of a count of the players who have been hit (put "out") during the inning. The team wins which at the close of the three innings has the smallest score that is has had the smallest number of players hit.
It adds much to the interest of a game to have the score posted on a bulletin in sight of the players. But whether on a bulletin or card the accompanying form is desirable.


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You are here: Home / White House Waffles on 'Complicated' Rising Crime in Major Cities
White House Waffles on 'Complicated' Rising Crime in Major Cities
The White House on Monday tried to downplay President Joe Biden's responsibilities on crime, telling reporters that the problem is "complicated." Fox News reporter Peter Doocy questioned White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about crime during the daily briefing, asking her whether Biden believes that America's major cities are safe. Referring to a recent New York Times article on rising crime, Jean-Pierre noted "the crime is complicated and multifaceted" and pivoted to promoting Biden's spending bills. Doocy noted murder rates in major cities were still stubbornly high, and that thefts and robberies in major cities increased by around 20 percent in the first half of 2022. Jean-Pierre responded by blaming high crime rates on former President Donald Trump, noting that Biden "inherited a rising crime rate" when he took office. When Doocy asked again whether Americans in major cities should feel safe, she replied, "It is not a yes or no question, it is very much a question of what has he done, that's how we see the question." Doocy further pressed the questions on crime and safety, asking Jean-Pierre about her predecessor, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, warning Democrats about their vulnerabilities on crime. "In Pennsylvania, the… Read full this story
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Iyanla Vanzant Says Karruche Tran's Manager Wanted To Turn Her Into A New Kim Kardashian
raccoon5 Posted On 02/27/2018
Iyanla returns with the most intelligent, most interesting and most revealing season of Iyanla Vanzant: Fix My Life yet.
This past fall, Karrueche Tran stopped by the Angie Martinez show to promote the second season of Claws and during the interview the actress touched on her disappointment with her appearance on Iyanla: Fix My Life in 2015. But according to Iyanla Vanzant, Karrueche failed to speak up about any issues with appearing on the series during the taping.
It was actually Karrueche's manager, Jacob, who expressed the most angst with the life coach after Angie said she felt like Iyanla bullied the 29-year-old on her radio show. According to Jacob, it wasn't Iyanla's job to try to "fix" Karrueche because she was expecting to do a sit down interview with the inspirational speaker, not film an episode of her OWN TV show. "That's what she thinks she can do," Jacob said of the premise of Fix My Life before claiming it was Iyanla who reached out to Karrueche's team to tape the show. "We got receipts," he said. "[Iyanla] puts on this idea that she's trying to help people, and she's only trying to get ratings…it was only designed as an interview [not a Fix My Life episode]."
With the fifth season of Fix My Life returning to OWN this Saturday, I asked Iyanla how she felt about these accusations that've been heralded against her and before I could even finish my question she said in no certain terms the allegations were lies.
"I told Karrueche Tran last July at the Essence Music Festival she never raised that issue with me," Iyanla explained during a phone interview. "They came to Fix My Life to expose her. They wanted her to become a Kim Kardashian through her exposure on my show and it didn't work because they forgot who I am. They thought they were going to come in my show and run their program and they didn't.
"In the middle of the interview, when [Jacob] started giving directions about what I could and couldn't say — this was not Karrueche, this is her manager — I don't know, maybe she has a little more cojones now, but he's making her career for her. What is Karrueche and what's him?"
When Jacob spoke to Angie, he claimed he told Iyanla to leave when she began asking Karrueche questions that made her uncomfortable, but the TV host said she walked away from the taping on her own volition.
"[He]came in the room and started directing about what she couldn't answer — I left! She didn't leave, I left! So tell him if he's going to tell it, tell it all because I am not the one to lie on. I am not the one. If he wants to have a public discussion of that we can do that; don't lie on me."
As for the claims her people reached out to Karrueche's team, Iyanla said that's a lie as well. "They came to me. [Jacob] thought [Karrueche] telling her story was going to diminish and demean Chris Brown and stop her from going some place where she got anyway," she said.
And while there may be two different interpretations as to how things transpired during the show taping three years ago, Iyanla said she still supports Karrueche and is proud of her success.
"I'm glad she got Claws. I support all of the young people. I support them all. It doesn't matter to me who they are — that they are there and they've got in their place, but don't step in my place to get there."
raccoon5
Then And Now: Kobe Bryant Daughters Grow So Fast


British electronic artist Powell understands the power of email. First he published his correspondence with Steve Albini on billboards around the world. After that he set up a hotline for fans to contact him with requests, or just for a chat. Having built up a database of friends, he then approached them all and asked them to get involved in his new video.
His request was simple; film yourself destroying a melon and submit the footage for use in the new Powell video. The melon isn't a completely random fruit, Powell hosts an NTS Radio show called Melon Magic. The clip, however, is pretty wild. It turns out that melons are pretty tough, especially if you use your forehead to try and crack one open. The video is for "Jonny" which features Jonnine Standish of HTRK on vocals.
Check out the juicy new video above. Powell's debut album Sport is out on October 14.


Displaying phone numbers is an all or nothing thing. It would be really nice to see an update where an admin could specify that authenticated users could see the information while it remains hidden from non-authenticated users.
Any chance of this happening? I know this is Free Software but I currently lack any php chops. I figure lots of people would enjoy this added ability so figured I'd mention the idea.
You certainly have some good ideas, and have posted several feature requests, and I appreciate that. But, as mentioned in replies other feature requests, I simply am not actively adding new features to the free plugins, because it simply isn't worth my time, and because I'm far too busy supporting the users of my paid plugins, as well as several large custom development jobs.
Perhaps that will change in the future, and I will add more features to these plugins. However, at my age, and with a family to feed, time is my most valuable commodity, and I'm devoting the majority of that to working on paid projects, or spending quality time with my family. That's why I have the feature requests section, though, in case I do want to add some highly requested features in the future, or in case another developer wants to contribute and needs ideas for features to add.
If you are willing to pay me for my time, then I can certainly help you implement those features. Many other developers would be happy to help you as well, as long as you are willing to pay for their time.
That lets you access data from custom post types and create your own "views". In fact, with that plugin, you can pretty much create most of my Member Directory plugin… I used that plugin a while back to create a Tutor Directory for another client, where Tutors could submit and edit their own listings in the directory (and had to be approved first by admin).
You may be able to find other plugins, some of which may be free, that allow you to create custom templates or views for custom post type archives and custom posts.
Sorry to keep repeating myself, and sounding like the grumpy middle aged man that I often am, but hopefully it's clear why these free plugins are WAY down on my priority list, and probably won't get any new features any time soon.
It's all good. The real power and benefit of Free Software is every user has the freedom to modify as needed. Although I have no real love for php, I may just bite the bullet and hack on this myself.


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Sexual Themes
Full Game Released Oct 14, 2014
11479 Ratings
Play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal, who has been given a second chance at life in a world devastated by the undead. With corpses returning to life and survivors stopping at nothing to maintain their own safety, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world gone to hell. Experience events, meet people and visit locations that foreshadow the story of Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes. A tailored game experience – actions, choices and decisions you make will affect how your story plays out across the entire series.
• All five award-winning episodes plus special episode '400 Days'
• Based on Robert Kirkman's award-winning comic book series
• Choice matters: your decisions change the story around you
Video output in Full HD 1080p requires 1080p native display.
1080p HD Video Output
This item is being licensed or sublicensed to you by Sony Computer Entertainment America and is subject to the Network Terms of Service and User Agreement, this item's use restrictions and other applicable terms located at www.us.playstation.com/support/useragreements. If you do not wish to accept all these terms, do not download this item. One-time license fee for play on purchasing account's designated, primary PS4™ system and other PS4 systems when signed in with purchasing account.
©2012-14 Telltale, Inc. THE WALKING DEAD is TM and © 2013 Robert Kirkman, LLC. Based on the Comic book by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. Telltale, Telltale Games and the Telltale Games logo are trademarks of Telltale, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Walking Dead Collection - The Telltale Series - Theme
Static Theme


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Post Rock Post – Exxasens
Listen To This! Post Rock Post Exxasens If These Trees Could Talk sleepmakeswaves Steven Wilson The Egocentrics
In the varied and magisterial realms of post-rock, there exists a set of sub-classifications which help us parse and understand the range of sounds. Cinematic, post-black, mathy and others are
In the varied and magisterial realms of post-rock, there exists a set of sub-classifications which help us parse and understand the range of sounds. Cinematic, post-black, mathy and others are adjectives which help indicate what we can expect from an album or band at hand. One of those classes is groove post rock, injecting distortion where delay is usually found and thick bass/drum lines where one would expect ambiance. As such, it tends to sound more like classic rock n' roll but with a modern and electronic tinge to it.
Exxasens are a band which most people wouldn't recognize by name (this writer included) but which market this kind of approach. Hailing from Barcelona, the band have an impressive back catalogue, including numerous iterations and additions to that sound. Specifically, their 2015 release Back To Earth is a masterful rendition of that kind of stuff: it punches, kicks and bucks with a range of distortion influenced riffs and rock n' roll sensibilities, somehow made modern and elevated into new heights.
The album is best listened to as one creation, even though it is divided into tracks. These flow together into close to forty minutes of expansive, original and sometimes challenging progressions. These echo Steven Wilson at times but often have a more stoner/post rock influenced sound similar to the likes of The Egocentrics, If These Trees Could Talk or sleepmakeswaves. This is mostly due to the metallic yet scattered tone of the guitars but is not limited to that: something about the energy and dynamism of album screams of that movement within the genre.
When push comes to shove, that's why this album is great. It sparkles, screams and breathes energy, bounce and verve. It can be all over the place, even utilizing vocals and choirs at some point, but yet it manages to focus its delivery long enough to speak loud and clear. It continues the tradition of the more rocky post rock, relying on punch instead of thought, on brilliance instead of melancholy. By the way, these guys will be playing their local festival this year, Be Prog! My Friend. We plan to attend it this year, more on that as it unfolds!
Hey! Listen To Nott!
Listen To This!Black Sabbath
The Force Of A Thousand Suns: The Enduring Nature Of Blast Beats
Deep DiveCryptopsy


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Factors associated with HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Henan Province, China: a cross-sectional study
Jie Liu1,
Bo Qu1,
Ezeakile Moses C1,
Yang Zhang1 &
Shijie Liang2
HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased rapidly in China. Behavioral and biological interventions are key to controlling the spread of HIV in the MSM population and the primary strategy for reducing the spread of AIDS in China. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of HIV among MSM in Henan province and to assess their knowledge levels and risk behaviors related to HIV/AIDS.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 388 MSM in 2010 in Zhengzhou City, Henan province, China.
Of the 388 respondents, 13.1% were infected with HIV and 10.3% were infected with syphilis. The results of multivariate analysis showed that participants who had a history of being infected by syphilis were more than 4 times more likely to be HIV positive (AOR=4.91; 95% CI: 1.70 to 12.02). For those who were residents from other provinces, the risk of HIV infection was 5.53 times higher (OR=5.53, 95% CI: 1.14, 6.25). Receipt of condoms (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.87), consistent condom use during last intercourse with a male (AOR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.87), and consistent condom use during last intercourse with a female (AOR=0.16; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.90) were associated with a lower risk of HIV infection.
The study suggests that some intervention strategies, including education intervention, condom promotion and distribution, and HIV counseling and testing are necessary to control HIV infection among MSM.
Although some HIV prevention interventions have been conducted in the past two decades, China has still entered a critical stage of rapid and widespread increase of the HIV/AIDS epidemic [1, 2]. By 2007 the major groups infected with HIV were injection drug users (IDUs; 38.5%), former blood donors (FPDs; 19.3%) and promiscuous heterosexuals (17.8%) [3]. In 2009, sexual transmission, including both heterosexual and homosexual transmission, has become the dominant route of HIV infection, accounting for more than 70% of the estimated new infections in China [4]. Of particular concern is the increasing HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM). The percentages of newly reported HIV cases attributable to MSM in China were 0.2% in 2001, 7.3% in 2005, 12.2% in 2007, and 32.5% in 2009 [5].
MSM are disproportionately affected by the HIV pandemic due to social and behavioral factors that increase their vulnerability to HIV infection. Evidence from studies show that MSM are at a high risk for HIV infection in China also because of their high number of different sexual partners and active sexual activities without protection [5]. The traditional Chinese culture does not openly endorse MSM behaviors, and there is strong social pressure against such behavior [6]. Under social pressure, many MSM marry in order to hide their sexual orientation. Therefore, MSM may play a bridging role in the spread of HIV and other STDS from a high-risk population, such as their male sexual partners, to the general population, such as their wives [7–10].
Additionally, high migration rates has been associated with higher risk for HIV infection in MSM [11]. Massive internal migration from rural areas to urban cities, especially large sized and medium-sized cities, resulted in MSM being more socially connected [12, 13]. Zhengzhou, located in the center of China, is an important transportation hub. There are 223 million in the floating population in 2010. It has been broadly reported in rural regions of China that most MSM had sex with casual sexual partners and never used a condom [14]. Therefore, health interventions to reduce high-risk behavior are key to controlling the spread of HIV in the floating population.
The purpose of the study was to identify factors associated with HIV infection among MSM in China, in order to make primary strategies to control the HIV spread in MSM population.
Respondents and procedures
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhengzhou city, Henan Province, China, from May to June, 2010. Respondents were recruited through internet advertisement two weeks prior to the study, whereby they met with the trained researcher at various venues including gay bars, gay saunas, and parks where MSM meet one another. The respondents underwent a face-to-face explanation to a standardized questionnaire (Additional file 1), which was initially drafted based on the contents formulated by relevant previous studies [15, 16]. All interviews were self-administered in a private room in the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) of Zhengzhou.
The questionnaire was divided into two parts. The first part included socioeconomic characteristics, such as age, marital status, and education, and the second part was about knowledge, service utilization and sexual-related behaviors. HIV/AIDS-related knowledge was measured with an 8-item set of questions covering the basic characteristics of the disease, routes of viral transmission and measures of prevention. Service utilization was measured with four items. Each item was attached to a two-point response scale: "yes" or "no". Respondents were asked whether they had ever received Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services and whether they had utilized various types of HIV-related services in the past 12 months. Sexual behavior was measured with nine items. Respondents were asked if they had used a condom in the past 6 months and the frequency of use when they had sex with a male or female or when they had commercial sex with a male partner. Condom use in the past six months was attached to a two-point response scale: "yes" or "no". The frequency of condom use was attached to a three-point response scale with scores that ranged from "1" for "always" to "3" for "seldom".
Before formal investigation, the interviewers had been trained together to make them understand the purpose and meaning of the investigation and to be familiarized with the contents of the questionnaire. They were also trained to explain any question in the questionnaire on the spot. A verbal informed consent was obtained from each respondent before the survey. Participation in the study was completely voluntary and the respondents had the option of declining to answer specific questions or of leaving the entire questionnaire blank if they did not wish to participate. After completion of the questionnaires, specially trained personnel inspected the questionnaires, identified the questionnaires that were filled out with non-standard and ambiguous answers and found investigators and respondents for timely verification. All participants provided blood specimens, which were tested for both HIV and syphilis antibodies. HIV antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Beijing Wantai Biologic Medicine Co., China). Reactive ELISA specimens were confirmed by a HIV-1/2 Western Blot immune assay (HIV Blot 2.2 WB; Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore). Samples testing positive in both tests were considered HIV-positive. Syphilis antibodies were detected by ELISA (Beijing Jinhao Biologic Production Co., China). Collected specimens were tested by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Zhengzhou. An incentive of 100 Yuan (equivalent to about 15 USD) was given to respondents as compensation for the time spent being interviewed. The study protocol was approved by the bioethics advisory commission of the China Medical University.
Data were double entered and evaluated for congruency using the EpiData software (version 6.4; EpiData Association; Odense, Denmark). Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, sexual behaviors and condom use, HIV/AIDS knowledge and social service utilization, prevalence of HIV and syphilis, and the risk factors for HIV infection. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using the SPSS software (Version 16.0; SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) to identify factors associated with HIV infection. Variables with a p-value < 0.10 at univariate results were considered eligible for the multivariate analysis. A backward procedure based on the Wald test was used to select significant variables in the multivariate model. The significance level was fixed at α=0.05.
Socioeconomic characteristics
A total of 404 MSM were surveyed for the study. In total, 388 MSM completed the questionnaire (response rate: 96.0%). The ages of respondents ranged from 18 to 73, with a mean age of 31.7 years. 298 (76.8%) of respondents were local residents of the study site, 23.2% lived in a different province. The majority (81.4%) belongs to the Han ethnic group. 49.2% of the respondents self-identified as bisexual. 44.6% of respondents were single, 46.6% were married, and 8.8% were divorced or widowed. The age-specific prevalence of marital status was as follows: less than 30 years old (17.4%), more than 30 years old (71.4%), and more than 40 years old (80.6%). 67.0% lived in Zhengzhou for more than 1 year, 13.9% for 3 months to 1 year, and 19.1% for less than 3 months. (0.5%) participants in our study used illicit drugs in the past 6 months.
Sexual behaviors and condom use
Among the respondents, most (88.1%) reported having anal sex with a man in the past 6 months, and 33.6% reported never having used condoms in their last intercourse with a male partner. 17.8% reported having never used a condom during anal sex with a man in the previous 6 months. 49.2% reported having had sex with a woman in the past 6 months, and 30.4% of these reported never always using a condom. Additionally, 8.5% reported having paid sex with a man in the past 6 months, and 48.5% of these reported always having used a condom (Table 1).
Table 1 Sexual behaviors of MSM in Zhengzhou in 2010
HIV/AIDS knowledge and social service utilization
The majority (75.5%) of the respondents answered at least 6 of the 8 HIV-related questions correctly. A total of 90.5%, 90.5% and 85.3% of the subjects were aware that HIV was transmitted by "transfusions tainted with HIV", "sharing intravenous needles" and "from mother to child", respectively. The proportion of subjects who correctly selected non-transmission routes was low; e.g. "mosquitoes or other insects" (62.1%). 42.8% of the subjects were aware that a person with HIV can look as healthy as other people (Table 2). About half of the respondents received free condoms (61.6%) and peer education (53.9%), and one-third (30.4%) had received examinations for HIV in the past 12 months (Table 3).
Table 2 The HIV/AIDS related knowledge of MSM populations
Table 3 Factors associated with HIV infection among MSM in Zhengzhou
Factors associated with HIV infection
Of all the respondents, 13.1% (51) were infected with HIV and 10.3% (40) were infected with syphilis. The following factors were associated with higher risk of HIV infection by univariate analysis: being a nonlocal resident, lower levels of education, and syphilis infection. Receipt of condoms and consistent condom use in the last intercourse with either a male or female reduced the risk of HIV infection. Results of multivariate analysis showed that participants who had a history of being infected by syphilis were more than 4 times more likely to be HIV positive (AOR=4.91; 95% CI: 1.70 to 12.02). For those who were residents of other provinces in China, the risk of HIV infection was 5.53 times higher (OR=5.53, 95% CI: 1.14, 6.25). Receipt of condoms (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.87), consistent condom use during last intercourse with a male (AOR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.87), and consistent condom use during last intercourse with a female (AOR=0.16; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.90) were associated with a lower risk of HIV infection. The results of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis are shown in Table 3.
In our study, 49.2% of the respondents self-identified as bisexual, about 46.6% of MSM respondents were married, and the prevalence of married MSM increased to 71.4% or greater among those MSM who were over 30 years old. In China, MSM are a hidden subgroup in mainstream society. Due to stigma, discrimination, denial and ignorance, it is a challenge to identify MSM. They may use marriage as a means to disguise their homosexual behaviors or sexual orientations. High-risk behaviors were common in this population. Only 66.4% of the respondents used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Consistent condom use was low even with male sexual partners (35.4%). Moreover, the rate of consistent condom use with women was lower than with men. 49.2% of the respondents reported having had sex with women in the past 6 months, and 61.8% did not use a condom in their last sexual intercourse with a female. During sexual intercourse with a female in the past 6 months, most of the respondents sometimes used a condom, and 30.4% of the respondents had never used a condom. The high portion of men who have sex with both men and women could serve as a potential "bridge" for the spread of HIV and other STDs from the high-risk population to their female partners and to the general Chinese population.
Our study suggested that for respondents who were residents of other provinces, the risk of HIV infection was 5.53 times higher. Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan province, is one of the major cities in middle China. Therefore, it has a much greater nonlocal population. It is difficult to get information to the nonlocal MSM population regarding social support. Our study found that the rates of HIV prevalence was higher than those reported in other districts in China [2, 14, 17, 18]. Therefore, more effective strategies need to be implemented to control the HIV spread in nonlocal populations.
Studies have suggested a positive association between condom use in male-to-male anal intercourse and access to HIV preventives actions [19–26]. Our study also found that condom use in the last sexual intercourse were independently associated with HIV infection. In addition, we found accepting condoms significantly decreased the risk for HIV infection, which indicated that risky sexual behaviors associated with HIV infection could be constrained, in part, by increasing condom distributions. However, based on the results of our study, services utilization was still low in Zhengzhou. Only 30.4% of respondents reported having had an HIV test, and about 50% of respondents received condoms and peer education. Intervention programs for MSM, such as condom promotion and distribution and AIDS advisory and testing, and the distribution of materials on AIDS information need to be made more available and accessible to the MSM population.
Studies have demonstrated the connection between HIV and syphilis infections [27–30]. Our data also indicated a possible correlation between HIV and syphilis infections. After controlling for other risk factors, respondents who had been infected with syphilis were 4 times more likely to be infected with HIV. The high prevalence of syphilis suggested that MSM in Zhengzhou are at a greater risk for HIV infection. Widespread screening for syphilis infections in this risk group should be considered as a measure for control.
Unlike some other countries where drug use was considered as a major risk for HIV spread in the MSM population, only 2 participants in our study used illicit drugs in the past 6 months. It seems that there is little overlap of between the two populations of drug users and MSM in Zhengzhou.
The study has a number of limitations. First, the questionnaire data relying on retrospective self-reports was subject to recall bias. The findings should be interpreted carefully when generalizing the larger MSM population or comparing results from other studies. Second, our study was conducted in a limited area in Zhengzhou, China. Further work that focuses on extending the research into the broader areas in China would be valuable.
Our study indicates that a tailored approach to HIV prevention among MSM in Henan province in China is urgently needed. Some intervention strategies such as education intervention, condom promotion and distribution, and HIV counseling and testing are necessary to control HIV infection among MSM.
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Ruan Y, Qian HZ, Li D, Shi W, Li Q, Liang H, Yang Y, Luo F, Vermund SH, Shao Y: Willingness to be circumcised for preventing HIV among Chinese men who have sex with men. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2009, 23: 315-321. 10.1089/apc.2008.0199.
Li D, Jia Y, Ruan Y, Liu Y, Li Q, Liang H, Zhou Z, Luo F, Zhang X, Jiang S, Shi W, Xing H, Shao Y: Correlates of incident infections for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B virus in a cohort of men who have sex with men in Beijing. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2010, 24: 595-602. 10.1089/apc.2010.0083.
Mimiaga MJ, Thomas B, Mayer KH, Reisner SL, Menon S, Swaminathan S, Periyasamy M, Johnson CV, Safren SA: Alcohol use and HIV sexual risk among MSM in Chennai, India. Int J STD AIDS. 2011, 22: 121-125. 10.1258/ijsa.2009.009059.
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This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number 81273186 and 71103200).
Faculty of Health Statistics, School of public health, China Medical University, 92 North Second Road, Shenyang, 110001, P.R. China
Jie Liu, Bo Qu, Ezeakile Moses C & Yang Zhang
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
Shijie Liang
Jie Liu
Bo Qu
Ezeakile Moses C
Correspondence to Bo Qu.
LJ drafted the manuscript, participated in the collection of data, participated in the design of the study, and performed the statistical analysis. QB designed the study, participated in project coordination, and helped to draft the manuscript. MCE participated in the draft of the manuscript. ZY participated in the collection of data and performed the statistical analysis. LSJ participated in the collection of data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
12889_2012_5271_MOESM1_ESM.doc
Additional file 1: MSM Questionnaire. The MSM questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, service utilization and behaviors among MSM in Zhengzhou City. (DOC 55 KB)
Liu, J., Qu, B., C, E.M. et al. Factors associated with HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Henan Province, China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 13, 356 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-356