The present invention relates, in general, to a method of controlling the excision of tissue in biopsy instruments and, more particularly, to a method of controlling the rotation and translation of a cutter in a biopsy instrument.
Examples of core sampling biopsy instruments are described in U.S. Patents 5,562,822 and 5,769,086 (both issued to Ritchart, et al ), and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/107,845 filed on June 30, 1998 . Another example of a core sampling biopsy instrument is the biopsy instrument now marketed by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, under the trade name MAMMOTOME. Each of these instruments is a type of image-guided, percutaneous, coring, breast biopsy instrument, which uses a vacuum for retrieving tissue samples. A physician uses these instruments to capture "actively" (using the vacuum) tissue prior to severing it from the body. In particular, in these biopsy instruments, tissue is drawn into a port at the distal end of a piercing element, hereinafter referred to as a piercer. A cutting element, hereinafter referred to as a cutter, is rotated and advanced through a lumen of the piercer past the port. As the cutter advances through the port, it severs the tissue drawn into the port from the surrounding tissue. While the cutter is generally rotated using some type of motor, it may be advanced either manually or automatically. In the MAMMOTOME instrument, the surgeon manually moves the cutter back and forth by lateral movement of a knob mounted on the outside of the instrument. Once the cutter is in place, proximal to the tissue port, further lateral movement of the knob is prevented and the cutter is advanced through the tissue port to sever tissue by twisting the knob. This arrangement is advantageous because the surgeon is able, through tactile and/or audible feedback, to determine whether the cutter is effectively cutting tissue or if there is a problem, such as binding or stalling. The surgeon may then adjust the speed at which the cutter is moved through the tissue, stop the cutter or back the cutter away from the tissue.
As described in U.S. Patents 5,562,822 and 5,769,086 , the translation of the cutter may be automated to facilitate the procedure. However, if the procedure is automated as described in those references, the surgeon loses the benefit of the tactile feedback, which results when the cutter is advanced manually. It is generally desirable to ensure that the rotational speed of the cutter does not drop below a predetermined speed in order to sever cleanly the tissue sample from surrounding tissue and to avoid damage to the tissue sample. Automating translation of the cutter will, to some extent, eliminate the tactile feedback that the surgeon gets from moving the cutter manually. The advantageous method of automatically measuring and controlling the rotation and translation of the cutter is not described for either of the devices in the '822 or '086 patents. This automatic control method could be used, for example, to prevent the cutter from advancing when the opening is blocked by something other than tissue. Such an automatic control method could also be used to ensure that the cutter rotates at an optimal speed to ensure proper cutting of the tissue and to prevent the cutter rotational speed from dropping below a predetermined limit.
Another advantage for reducing the cutter translational speed rather than increasing the cutter rotational speed in response to an increase in rotational resistance on the cutter is that smaller, less powerful, and less expensive motors could be used to drive the cutter. Both the translation motor for advancing the cutter and the rotation motor for rotating the cutter may be smaller because the overall rate at which work would be done on the tissue by the cutter could be reduced. Using smaller, lighter weight motors would also facilitate their incorporation into the handheld portion of the biopsy instrument. As described in pending U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 09/178,075 , the motors can be remotely located in a separate control unit and operationally connected to the handheld portion of the biopsy instrument by at least one rotatable shaft. In such a biopsy instrument, using small motors would be advantageous in allowing the use of small diameter, lightweight, rotatable shafts. In addition to the cost savings realized in the manufacture of the device, the biopsy instrument could be more hand manipulatable by the operator during the surgical biopsy procedure.
It is also advantageous to use both types of responses to increased rotational resistance on the cutter. That is, a single control method that combines a method for decreasing cutter translational speed and a method for increasing cutter rotational speed in response to decreasing cutter rotation may be used. For example, if the cutter encounters an obstruction in tissue and the cutting resistance rises sharply, the electrical current to the cutter rotational motor may automatically be increased by a predetermined amount. If the cutter rotational speed is measured and compared to a desired, predetermined cutter rotation speed, and it is determined that the cutter rotational speed is still not high enough, than the cutter translational speed may be decreased by a predetermined amount. These steps could be repeated automatically until the tissue sample is obtained, or until certain operational thresholds (minimal translation speed, maximum current to rotation motor, for example) are reached. By using such a combined method in response to increasing rotational resistance on the cutter, the cutter rotation translational motors may be smaller than when using a method to modif rotation alone.
For an automated, handheld biopsy device, the cutter rotation and translation motors may be mounted in a remote unit in order to minimize the overall size and weight of the handpiece. As described in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 09/178075 , each motor may be operationally connected with the cutter of the handpiece of the biopsy device by a flexible, rotatable shaft. A tradeoff associated with using a flexible, rotatable shaft is that the shaft may twist along its length, or "wind" under loading. A measurement on the proximal end of the rotatable shaft of the angular position of the shaft may vary from that on the distal end. Since the precise number of shaft rotations may be used to calculate axial position of the cutter, it is desirable to incorporate a high-resolution means within the biopsy device to measure and compensate for the twisting of the flexible, rotatable shaft operationally connected to the remotely located translation motor.
US patent no. 5,769,086 discloses an automatic control system for a vacuum assisted automatic core-biopsy device. The automatic control system is computerized to move a hollow outer piercing needle automatically to the target tissue lesion but also is programmed to automatically control the rotational orientation of the piercing needle, and its associated tissue receiving notch, as well as the axial positioning and rotation of the cutting cannula.
The present invention is a method of controlling the translation speed of a biopsy cutter as claimed. The present disclosure is related to a control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device. The biopsy device comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to said piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue sample into the piercer lumen. The biopsy device further comprises a rotation motor for rotating the cutter and a translation motor for translating the cutter in the axial direction.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control apparatus comprises a computing device for the coordinated control of the rotation and translation motors. The control apparatus further comprises a first sensor operationally connected to the rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to the computing device for measuring the rotational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a second sensor operationally connected to the translation motor for supplying a translation signal to the computing device for measuring the translational position and translational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a first driver for driving the translation motor in response to a translation command from the computing device, and a second driver for driving the rotation motor in response to a rotation command from said computing device. The control apparatus automatically modifies the rotational speed and the translational speed of the cutter in response to the translational position and rotational resistance acting on the cutter.
Figure 17B is a fourth portion of a flow chart pertaining specifically to the second control method embodiment for the operation of the cutter, showing the control unit logic for when the cutter translates from the third position to the fourth position.
Tissue remover 132 has two functions. First, it helps to evacuate fluids contained in piercer lumen 80. This is accomplished by the attachment of second vacuum tube 136 to the proximal end of tissue remover 132. Since the distal end of tissue remover 132 is inserted into piercer lumen 80, piercer lumen 80 is fluidly connected to fluid collection system 22. Second, tissue remover 132 removes tissue from cutter 96 as follows. When a tissue sample is taken, cutter 96 advances to the fourth position just distal to port 78, and a severed tissue sample. 200 (see Figure 9) is captured within cutter lumen 95 in the distal end of cutter 96. Then cutter 96 translates to the first position so that cutter blade 97 is just distal to tissue sampling surface 64. At this position of cutter 96, the distal end of tissue remover 132 (which is always stationary) is approximately even with the distal end of cutter 96. Therefore, any tissue portion of significant size contained within cutter lumen 95 is pushed out of cutter lumen 95 and onto tissue sampling surface 64, as is shown in Figure 9. The operator or an assistant may then retrieve tissue sample 200.
Now turning to Figure 4, an isometric view of probe assembly 40 with left handle shell 44 removed reveals the placement of the components described for Figure 3. Part of first vacuum tube 94 has also been removed for clarity. Carriage 124 is shown in the fully retracted position so that cutter 96 is also at the fully retracted or first position. Cutter blade 97 is slightly distal to vertical wall 69 on handle 43. Foot 130 of carriage 124 is adapted to slide along a carriage guide surface 60 on the inside bottom of hollow handle 43.
Second rotatable shaft 264 runs parallel to first rotatable shaft 266 between control unit 342 and holster 251. The mechanical efficiency of either shaft in transmitting rotation from the respective motor to holster 251 varies to some degree with the orientation of the rotatable shaft. If for example, it is necessary during the surgical procedure for the operator to drape first and second rotatable shafts, 266 and 264, so that they are bent significantly, then there will be more frictional energy losses than if the shafts were straight. In one embodiment of the present invention, if the initial current supplied to rotation motor 338 is not sufficient to attain a predetermined cutter rotational speed, the current to rotation motor 338 increases until a desired rotational speed is reached. The rotation sensor integrated into rotation motor 338 provides feedback signals to control unit 342, so that the compensating current can be supplied to rotation motor 338. Once the desired rotational speed is reached, the current to rotation motor 338 is "locked" until the cutter 96 reaches position four at the end of its translation. This electrical compensation occurs for each time cutter 96 translates between the second and third positions, before cutter 96 begins to cut tissue. This allows for variations in the way rotatable shafts, 264 and 266, are oriented for each time the operator positions the biopsy instrument for collecting a tissue sample.
A first PWM (pulse width modulation) driver 386 interfaces first pinch valve 314 with microprocessor 408. First PWM driver 386 converts a digital input signal from microprocessor 408 to an analog output signal having a wave of fixed frequency and amplitude, but varying duty cycle. To drive the solenoid in pinch valve 314, PWM driver 386 is used when the duty cycle is high to initially move the solenoid. Once pinch valve 314 is actuated, the duty cycle is reduced to a level, which maintains valve position, thus minimizing power requirements. A second PWM driver 388 similarly interfaces a second pinch valve 316 with microprocessor 408. A suitable example for both first PWM driver 386 and second PWM driver 388 is FET (60 volt, 3.5 amp, 0.10 ohm, N-cbanncl dual) Part Number NDS9945 available from Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation.
A third PWM driver 394 interfaces with regulator valve 322 and A/D converter 396. PWM driver 394 comprises a voltage reference device 526 comprising a first operational amplifier and a voltage reference. PWM driver 394 further comprises a second operational amplifier 527, a third operational amplifier 528; a fourth operational amplifier 529, a fifth operational amplifier 530, a sixth operational amplifier 531, and a seventh operational amplifier 532. The operational amplifier in voltage reference device 526, and operational amplifiers 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, and 532 are more descriptively referred to as "Quad Rail-to-Rail Operational Amplifiers". A suitable example for each is available as Part Number LMC6484IM from the National Semiconductor Corporation. PWM driver 394 further comprises a first FET (Field Effect Transistor) 553. A suitable example of FET 553 is available as Part Number NDS9945 (60 volt, 3.5 amp, 0.10 ohm, N-channel dual) from Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation.
A RAM (Random Access Memory) memory device 392 (also referred to as a temporary memory device) is provided with microprocessor 408, and inherently loses stored data when power is removed. A flash memory device 398 (also referred to as a non-volatile memory device), on the other hand, is provided with microprocessor 408 to store data even without power, but it has slower access time than RAM memory device 392. RAM memory device 392 comprises four EDO DRAM devices, 547, 548, 549, and 550. These devices may be identical and a suitable example of each is available as Part Number MT4LC1M16E5TG-6 from Micron Technology, Incorporated. Flash memory device 398 comprises four RAM devices which may be identical and a suitable example of each is available as Part Number AM9LV80OBT-70REC from Advanced Micro Devices, Incorporated. The combination of the RAM memory device (temporary memory device) 392, the flash memory device (non-volatile memory device) 398, and the microprocessor 408 is sometimes referred to simply as a computing device. The computing device may also include the first controller 523 and the second controller 522 in an alternate embodiment.
The "Sample" mode of operation is selected when the operator desires to extract a portion of tissue from the surgical patient. When the operator activates the "Sample" mode of operation by, for example, touching LCD 334 in the region of icon 352, display area 344 indicates the status as being ""Sample Mode". Cutter 96 then translates to the third position, which is just proximal to port 78. Then translation motor 340 is set to respond to forward switch 146. Once cutter 96 is in the third position, display area 344 instructs the operator to take a tissue sample by pressing forward switch 146 on handpiece 20. When forward switch 146 is pressed, first pinch valve 314 and second pinch valve 316 are opened, and rotation motor 338. is activated to rotate cutter 96 at the appropriate speed. Then cutter 96 translates to the fourth position, severing the tissue portion prolapsed into port 78 as cutter 96 moves distally. During translation to the fourth position, the operator may abort the sampling stroke, prior to cutter 96 reaching the midpoint of port 78, by pressing any one of the forward, reverse, or vacuum switches, 146, 147, or 150 respectively, on handpiece 20. At this point cutter 96 translation is halted and display area 344 instructs the operator to either continue sampling by pressing forward switch 146 or reverse switch 148 to return to the first, fully retracted position. Once cutter 96 reaches the fourth position, rotation motor 338 is deactivated and cutter 96 stops rotating. Then first pinch valve 314 is activated to close first upper line 306. Next display area 344 instructs an operator to retrieve a tissue sample by pressing reverse switch 148 on handpiece 20. Translation motor 340 is set to respond to reverse button 148 on handpiece 20. When the operator presses reverse switch 148, cutter 96 translates to the first, fully retracted position, just distal to sampling surface 64. Then second pinch valve 316 is activated to close the vacuum for tissue remover 132. A "smart-vacuum" is also activated and a plurality of vacuum pulses (0.5 seconds on and 0.5 seconds off) are supplied to second vacuum tube 136. A detailed description of the "smart vacuum" is provided in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 08/878,468 filed on June 18, 1997 . Display area 344 then instructs the operator to remove the tissue sample 200. If there was no sample extracted, that is, the severed tissue sample remained at the distal end of piercer 70 and was not deposited onto tissue sample surface 64, the operator is instructed to select "Dry Tap". The operator is also instructed to select "Remove Air/Blood" if required to remove excessive fluids in the patient and in probe assembly 40. The operator is finally instructed to press forward switch 146 on handpiece 20 to extract the next sample. Next, translation motor 340 is set to respond to forward switch 146 on handpiece 20. When forward switch 146 is pressed by the operator, the "smart-vacuum" is stopped and first and second pinch valves, 314 and 316, are activated to open. Rotation motor 338 is activated to rotate cutter 96, which then translates to the fourth, fully distal position. Then cutter 96 rotation is stopped and first pinch valve 314 is closed to stop the vacuum to vacuum pressure chamber tube 76 supplied by first vacuum tube 94.
The "Mark" mode of operation is selected when the operator desires to implant a metallic marker within the surgical patient at the location from which the tissue sample 200 was extracted. When the operator activates the "Mark" mode of operation by, for example, touching LCD 334 in the region of icon 354, display area 344 indicates the status as being "Marker Mode" and also prompts the operator to select "Dry Tap" if required. Then the operator is instructed to press vacuum switch 150 on handpiece 20 to activate the "Mark" mode. A marking instrument which may be used in combination with the present invention for marking tissue is commercially available under the trade name MICROMARK from Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio. A complete description of the MICROMARK applier and clip, and the method of its use, is included in U.S. Patent applications Serial Number 09/105,757 and Serial Number 09/105,570, both filed on June 26, 1998 . When the operator presses vacuum switch 150, cutter 96 translates to the first position just proximal to tissue sampling area 64. Display area 344 then instructs the operator to insert the MICROMARK instrument, to press vacuum switch 150 on handpiece 20 when ready to deploy, and to deploy the marker. Then when vacuum switch 150 is pressed, first pinch valve 314 is activated to the open position for five seconds to supply vacuum to the port 78 through vacuum chamber 76. Next display area 344 instructs the operator to reposition the MICROMARK instrument if marker deployment was not complete, to press vacuum switch 150 on the handpiece 20 when ready to deploy the marker, to deploy the marker, and if the marker deployment is complete, to remove the MICROMARK instrument.
The control method next progresses to step 424 of Figure 17B for continuing the translation of the cutter 96 from position two to position three. Next in step 426 if cutter 96 has reached a predetermined intermediate position between two and three, then the control method progresses to step 428. The location of the predetermined intermediate position is based on the actual translation speed and predetermined cutter rotation speed Q. This is to allow a sufficient amount of time for cutter 96 to accelerate from zero to the predetermined rotation speed Q before cutter 96 has reached position 3, where cutting of tissue begins. The actual translation speed is compared to a second, predetermined translation speed S, which is programmed into the controller 523. The difference is calculated in step 428 and compared in step 430 to a value SD, the allowable differential, (also referred to as a second, differential translation speed) which is programmed in controller 523. A preferred value for SD is approximately in the range of 0.02 inches/second. Value S may vary for different embodiments, but a preferred value of predetermined translation speed S is approximately in the range of 1.45 inches/second. The second predetermined translation speed S is much higher than first predetermined translation speed R because the distance traversed by the cutter 96 is much greater between positions 2 and 3 than between positions 1 and 2. Reducing the time to operate the device during the sample mode is important in reducing the overall duration of the surgical procedure because several samples may be taken from the tissue of the patient. In addition, between positions two and three, sharp distal end 72 (of cutter 96) is protected by piercer 70. Sharp distal end 72, however, is exposed between positions one and two, making it advantageous to move slower between positions one and two. In step 430, if the calculated difference between S and actual speed is greater than SD, than controller 523 signals H-bridge motor driver 552 to stop the current to translation motor 340 in step 432, thus stopping the advancement of cutter 96. If the difference between S and the actual speed is not greater than SD, then the current is adjusted to reduce the speed difference, as indicated in step 434. The control method next progresses to step 424 to continue the translation of cutter 96 from position two to three. For step 434, if cutter 96 has not reached position three, the adjustments to translation motor speed continue as already described. If cutter 96 has reached position three, then the control method progresses to step 436 of Figure 17C.
Now referring to Figure 17D which describes the last portion of the first control method embodiment, in step 456 cutter 96 continues to translate distally from position three towards position four. In step 458, the actual rotation speed of cutter 96 is compared to a lowest allowable rotation speed QL (also referred to as a predetermined minimal rotation speed). A preferred value for QL is about 1200 rpm, although this value may vary. The integral encoder of rotation motor 338 sends a signal to be compared with the programmed value for QL in second controller 522. If the actual rotation speed is less than QL, then both rotation motor 338 and translation motor 340 are stopped (step 460) and the error is reported on display area 344. If rotation speed is greater than QL, than the control method proceeds to step 461 to calculate W, where W equals predetermined rotation speed minus actual rotation speed. In step 462, if the predetermined rotation speed minus the actual rotation speed is less than QD, a predetermined differential rotation speed, then the control method proceeds to step 470. A preferred value for QD is approximately in the range of 200 rpm. If W is not less than QD, the commanded translational speed is decreased by a predefined amount as specified in step 464. An approximate value for the predefined amount is in the range of .06 in/sec. Then the control method progresses to step 466. If commanded translation speed is less than a predetermined minimal translation speed, TL, then the control method proceeds to step 468. An approximate value for TL is in the range of .06 in/sec. If not, then the control method proceeds to step 470 where, as in previous steps, the commanded translation speed is compared to the actual translation speed as measured by the integral encoder on translation motor 340. If the calculated difference in step 472 is greater than an allowable TD (also referred to as a third, predetermined differential translation speed) in step 450, then current to translation motor 340 and rotation motor 338 is stopped and the error is reported in step 468. If the difference is not greater than TD, then the current to translation motor 340 is adjusted in step 474 to reduce the speed difference in the same manner as before. A preferred value of TD is approximately in the range of 0.01 inches/second although this value may vary in other embodiments. In step 476, if cutter 96 has reached position four (the most distal position of the cutter) then rotation and translation motors, 338 and 340 respectively, are stopped (step 468), and cutter 96 stops immediately, regardless of the translational position. If cutter 96 has not reached position four, then the control method goes back to step 456 and the adjustments to translation and rotation speeds continue as before.
When the operator activates cutter reverse switch 148 (see Figure 2), cutter 96 translates proximally back to position one at a fourth predetermined translation speed. A value of a fourth predetermined translational speed is approximately in the range of 1.45 inches/second in this embodiment, although this speed may vary for other embodiments. The severed tissue portion is deposited on the tissue sampling surface 64 and may be retrieved by the operator as described earlier. The above control method is repeated for each time a tissue sample is extracted using the "manual" or "sample" modes.
wherein translation speed is adjusted in this manner until the cutter reaches the seconde position, which would not yet allow for cutting tissue because the cutter has not yet reached a position where cutting begins.
by rotation of the screw (114) by the translation motor (340) in one direction the carriage (124) is caused to move distally, while the reverse rotation of the screw (114) causes the carriage (124) to move proximally.
The method of claim 2, wherein the number of translation motor (340) rotations are counted by a rotation sensor (268) so that the number of screw rotations of the screw (114) can be determined, thus providing the position of the cutter (96).
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the cutter is not rotated as it moves from the first position to the seconde position.
Owner name: DEVICOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.


text:
K-Pop Roundup - March 2014
Scott Interrante
Our K-pop roundups continue with another exciting month. We got the long-awaited return of 2ne1, the unexpected return of Super Junior-M, and a big debut from Toheart. 2014 keeps shaping up to be a strong year for K-pop.
March was an undeniably exciting month for K-pop. With 2ne1 returning around the same time as Girls' Generation, the two popular girl groups went head-to-head on the charts and the music competition shows (and Girls' Generation did a little bit better on both). In addition to that "rivalry", March saw comebacks from Orange Caramel and Super Junior-M, as well as the debut of a new collaboration, Toheart.
2ne1 - "Come Back Home"
2ne1's second full-length album was supposed to come out back in 2012 when the outfit released its awesome single "I Love You", but the album kept getting delayed. Finally, almost four years since its first full-length, 2ne1 is back with a brand new album, Crush. To celebrate the occasion, the four-member girl group put out two singles and videos, "Happy" and "Come Back Home", and while both songs are great, "Come Back Home" has become the more successful song, and is more representative of the album's overall sound.
The song is an eclectic mix of reggae and trap, with one of their catchiest hooks to date. The girls sing longingly about a lover who left them, begging him to "come back home". But the music video places that simple theme in a complex sci-fi setting. The video takes place in a world where humans can choose to live in a simulated "Virtual Paradise", and Dara's boyfriend chooses to leave her for the allure of the virtual world. She and the other 2ne1 girls, led by CL, take matters into their own hands, start a riot, and destroy the "Virtual Paradise" system. It's also worth mentioning that the video version of the song replaces CL's second verse rap with the acoustic version that is included on the album, making the song even more interesting and eclectic.
Toheart - "Delicious"
Toheart is a new duo consisting of SHINee's Key and INFINITE's WooHyun, and "Delicious" is the group's debut single. The song is a very strong start for Toheart, with its insanely catchy melody and a playful, sorta homoerotic music video. The up-tempo track features driving drums and rhythmic guitars while Key and WooHyun compete over the affection of a girl, telling her that their love is "so delicious" and it's really carried by their two personalities. Although WooHyun is clearly the better singer, Key's raspy voice and energetic delivery add to the song's playful tone.
The video includes the album's "Intro" track before the song proper, and then concludes with an instrumental version for a credit sequence, allowing more screen time for Key and WooHyun to interact and give the slash fiction fans what they want. Throughout the rest of the video, the two show off tight choreography in brightly-colored suits, wait at a diner for their date, and have a pillow fight on their bunk beds. And what more could you really want from them?
Orange Caramel - "Catallena"
Orange Caramel -- a sub-unit of After School featuring Raina, Nana, and Lizzy -- is back with its new single, "Catallena". The song mixes contemporary pop with an Italo-disco style and incorporates a Punjabi folk song, "Jutti Meri" (and if that's not post-modernism for you, I don't know what is!). But Orange Caramel has always been very much its own thing, so this odd smashing of genres and styles is expected to an extent. The outfit has its own quirky brand of aegyo, and the high-pitched charismatic singing on "Catallena" is just the right kind of campy.
The music video has become a source of controversy and is currently banned from being shown on KBS (the Korean Broadcasting System). The organization claims that the video "makes light of human life" by showing the girls as sushi and under plastic wrapping. Really, it's just a playful video that finds Orange Caramel in quirky, cute sushi costumes, not getting bought, and then eating themselves. After they eat the sushi, though, they think about the lives of the fish and begin to cry. It's a brightly-colored, cool-costumed video that brings out the group's weird sense of humor perfectly.
4Minute - "Whatcha Doin' Today?"
After last year's "What's Your Name?" -- the band's biggest single to date -- 4Minute returns with "Whatcha Doin' Today?" (such an inquisitive bunch!). Like its previous two singles, "Whatcha Doin' Today?" is produced by Brave Brothers, and as such delivers exactly what you'd expect. The song is fun, with an electro-soul sound, punchy horns, and a catchy wordless hook, but it doesn't stand out as anything too special. Gayoon, and to a lesser extent SoHyun and Jihyun, lead the verses with a light and fun tone, and Jiyoon continues to prove that she's a better rapper than HyunA. Musically, it's status quo for the act, which is certainly not to say that it's bad.
The video, though, is more exciting. "Whatcha Doin' Today?" is all about having fun, and the video makes that very clear. It's a hodgepodge of sets and styles and costumes -- some very sexy, some very cute, some just silly and funny. The group has normally relied on HyunA to be the "sexy one", but here, all five of the girls get to be sexy. They also get to be funny, which is something new for the group.
Super Junior-M - "Swing"
If a K-pop song isn't sung in Korean, is it K-pop? Because of K-pop's increasing popularity, many artists and groups record music specifically for a market outside of Korea. Groups will put out Japanese albums, with music more suited for a Japanese audience and sung in Japanese. But does that make it J-pop? You could argue that it sounds different than J-pop, but because K-pop is such an eclectic genre, there's a lot of K-pop that sounds nothing like other K-pop. So what does K-pop sound like? When is K-pop not K-pop?
In general, I try to ignore these existential questions and say that if a group mostly comes from Korea originally, it's K-pop regardless of the language. And with that in mind, the new Super Junior-M song qualifies for our K-pop roundup.
Super Junior is one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time, and Super Junior-M is one of its five sub-units. The M stands for Mandarin, as the group is marketed to a Chinese audience. "Swing", the title track from the sub-unit's third mini-album, is an electro-dance track with a driving beat, an obligatory dubstep breakdown, and some unusual vocal harmonies in the chorus. Even if it doesn't have any swing music, the eight boys keep the track interesting and exciting with energetic and charming vocal deliveries.
But the song is really just a vehicle to get them to dance, and the video does just that. It focuses on wide shots of the whole group to capture the sharp dance moves, and the simple color scheme keeps everything fixed on the member's moves. So whether you want to call this K-pop or Mandopop, if you like watching good-looking guys dance very well, "Swing" is for you.
Next month, one of my favorite groups, Crayon Pop, is making a comeback. So for that reason alone, April is going to be exciting, but I'm sure we'll find that there are plenty of other great songs to discover next month!
K-pop Kpop Super Junior-M 4Minute Orange Caramel 2ne1 Toheart Now Hear This

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


PEORIA — Alerted by a neighbor, an East Bluff family escaped an overnight house fire called "suspicious" by the Peoria Fire Department.
At 1:22 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters were called to 203. E. Archer Ave. regarding a structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find the occupants had fled the burning building after being roused by a neighbor, the department said. The department did not specify the number of family members.
Fire crews had the blaze knocked down within minutes. The American Red Cross was called to provide assistance to the family.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the department deemed it "suspicious."


text:
The Fountains of Silence
Library Binding, Large Print (10/23/2019)
CD-Audio (10/1/2019)
Fall 2019 Kids Indie Next List
"Ruta Sepetys again shines a light on a little-known area of history. Most readers will not be familiar with Franco's regime and the missing children of Spain, but Sepetys has crafted an unforgettable novel filled with rich details and characters that bring this haunting tale to life. The Fountains of Silence should be in every school, library, and book club and in the hands of every reader from 12 to 112. Do not forget the past."
— Pamela Klinger-Horn, Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior, MN
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray comes a gripping, extraordinary portrait of love, silence, and secrets under a Spanish dictatorship.
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence--inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain.
Includes vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, and more.
Praise for The Fountains of Silence
"Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead in Ruta Sepetys's suspenseful, romantic and timely new work of historical fiction . . . Like [Shakespeare's family romances], 'The Fountains of Silence' speaks truth to power, persuading future rulers to avoid repeating the crimes of the past." --The New York Times Book Review
"Full of twists and revelations…an excellent story, and timely, too." --The Wall Street Journal
"A staggering tale of love, loss, and national shame." --Entertainment Weekly
* "[Sepetys] tells a moving story made even more powerful by its placement in a lesser-known historical moment. Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain." --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "This richly woven historical fiction . . . will keep young adults as well as adults interested from the first page to the last." --SLC, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "Riveting . . . An exemplary work of historical fiction." --The Horn Book, *STARRED REVIEW*
Praise for The Fountains of Silence:
* "A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience." --Kirkus, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "With The Fountains of Silence, Sepetys has once again written gripping historical fiction with great crossover appeal to adult readers, combining impeccable research with sweeping storytelling." --BookPage, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "[A] far-reaching narrative . . . As usual Sepetys has done her homework [and] brings a brutal authenticity." --BCCB, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "In a gut-wrenching YA novel about the terrible destructiveness of secrets untold, master storyteller Ruta Sepetys reveals the dark underbelly of 1950s Spain under dictator Franco." --Shelf Awareness, *STARRED REVIEW*
"This well-crafted story sheds light on a disturbing chapter of 20th century history." --SLJ
"Readers who enjoy historical fiction will find that Sepetys has once again brought history to life." --VOYA
Praise for Salt to the Sea:
"Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction. In Salt to the Sea the hard truths of her herculean research are tempered with effortless, intimate storytelling, as her warm and human characters breathe new life into one of the world's most terrible and neglected tragedies." —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Printz Award Honor Book Code Name Verity
"A rich, page-turning story that brings to vivid life a terrifying—and little-known—moment in World War II history." —Steve Sheinkin, author of Newbery Honor and National Book Award finalist Bomb
"Brutal. Beautiful. Honest." —Sabaa Tahir, New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes
* "Sepetys excels in shining light on lost chapters of history, and this visceral novel proves a memorable testament to strength and resilience in the face of war and cruelty." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "This haunting gem of a novel begs to be remembered, and in turn, it tries to remember the thousands of real people its fictional characters represent. What it asks of us is that their memories, and their stories, not be abandoned to the sea." —Booklist, starred review
* "Artfully told and sensitively crafted, [this] will leave readers weeping." —School Library Journal, starred review
Philomel Books, 9780399160318, 512pp.
Ruta Sepetys (www.rutasepetys.com) is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a "crossover" novelist, as her books are read by both teens and adults worldwide. Her novels Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, Salt to the Sea, and The Fountains of Silence have won or been shortlisted for more than forty book prizes, and are included on more than sixty state award lists. Between Shades of Gray was adapted into the film Ashes in the Snow, and her other novels are currently in development for TV and film. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is passionate about the power of history and literature to foster global awareness and connectivity. She has presented to NATO, to the European Parliament, in the United States Capitol, and at embassies worldwide. Ruta was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @RutaSepetys.
Conversation Starters from ReadingGroupChoices.com
1. The opening line of the book is: "They stand in line for blood." We are quickly introduced to the el matadero, where Rafa serves blood to masses of women, and to the concept of the matador ring, the image of Franco, the cruelty of the Guardia Civil, and the concept of taking a stand against fear. How did the tone Sepetys strikes here prepare you for the rest of the book?
2. Sepetys uses short chapters to keep the pacing tight and handle multiple settings. How did this reading experience (of moving quickly from scene to scene) affect the emotional impact of the book for you?
3. The historical records and remembrances that Sepetys places throughout the novel serve to create a larger context for what the characters are experiencing. Did you nd any facts or statements especially illuminating? Did anything stand out in contrast to the experience of the characters?
4. The title The Fountains of Silence is filled with symbolism. In which way are the main characters "fountains of silence"? How does that title resonate for the various younger characters in the book—Ana, Daniel, Rafa, Fuga, Julia, Puri? What about for the adults in the book?
5. The tradition of bull fighting has a long history in Spain. How do Rafa and Fuga become fixated on this way of life? Does the matador narrative weave seamlessly with the rest of the story or stand out? Did you find symbolism in the inclusion of these scenes?
6. Of all the characters, whose story did find the most intriguing and want to follow longer? Were there any characters you found dif ficult to understand or relate to?
7. Spain faced thirty-six years of fear and repression under Franco. What were some of the lessons taught and learned by various characters about how to survive under fascism? Speci fically, how did Julia deal with it? Lorenza? Puri? Ana? Rafa and Fuga?
8. Daniel stands in for the readers in many ways, collecting pictures, putting them in order, wanting to see beyond the physical image. Did you find it easy to put yourself in his position? What role does Daniel's upbringing and privilege play, and how does it affect his personal lens and decision-making? In what ways does he remain a "fountain of silence" once he leaves Spain? In what ways does he speak out?
9. In addition to narrating the traumas and terrors of the Franco regime, The Fountains of Silence also contains a love story. Were you surprised by how things turned out for Ana and Daniel? Can you think of alternate endings that would have been satisfying?
10. The Castellana Hilton Madrid somewhat serves as another character in the book and is the playground for rich Americans in Madrid. What are some of the ways Sepetys uses this setting to illustrate the contrast between Daniel and Ana? How do you think the hotel affected those employed there or who lived/worked nearby, especially during the 1950s?
11. Puri repeatedly sti fles her curiosity by reminding herself to be dutiful and that she's ful filling her mission as a woman. She tells herself, "We (women) are prettier with our mouth shut," which her mother has counseled. Ana remembers the teachings of the Seccion Femenina: "Do not pretend to be equal to men." How did the restrictions placed on women differ from those placed on men? Why do you think Ana and Puri respond differently to the teachings?
12. On page 391, Puri realizes that her complicity with the church's selling of children has affected her own family. What do you think she should have done at that point? Why do you think she keeps her secret for 18 more years?
13. Fascist regimes work by showing disdain for human rights, controlling and censoring the media, and identifying enemies as a means of uniting people. In that context, what did you think about the character of Lorenza? Was she unredeemable, or did you have compassion for her because her father was in the Guardia Civil? Could she have behaved any other way?
14. Did you know anything about the Spanish Civil War, Franco's regime, or the hundreds of thousands of missing children potentially affected by it before starting this novel? If not, how compelled do you feel to do further research on this topic? What most affected you about the historical events depicted in the novel?
15. How did you feel about Nick? In what ways did the author develop his character as the story progressed? What prompts him not only to remain silent, but to take up a post in Spain, following in his father's footsteps, if he knew about the stolen babies? Is that consistent with his character?
16. Sepetys writes in her acknowledgments about her warm reception from the Spanish people and her quest (like Daniel's) to understand what happened during the Franco regime. She asks, "What right do we have to history other than our own?" What does this mean to you, as a reader of historical fiction? What do you expect from authors in this regard?
17. Sepetys writes in her author's note about the events after Franco's death—the Pact of Forgetting, the revelations about the stolen babies, and possible DNA programs to help nd the true parentage of stolen children. She writes, "Some historians have described the Pact of Forgetting as necessary for a smooth and peaceful transition. Others question the long-term effects of silence on historical memory, identify construction, and human dignity. Scholars question whether the absence of a common historical narrative creates painful obstructions of justice and trust." What do you think?


text:
Palace of Pistons
Your home for the best coverage of the Detroit Pistons.
PalaceOfPistons.com
The Palace of Pistons Podcast
It's A Make Or Miss League: 3 Makes And 3 Misses From Detroit's Comeback Effort Against Miami
Posted by Jacob Rogers on November 13, 2019
The NBA is a make or miss league and tonight the Detroit Pistons had more misses than makes tonight as they battled with the Miami Heat. The Pistons entered the game with a 4-7 record, with nine of those 11 games coming with an injury depleted roster.
As we do after every game here at Palace of Pistons, I will discuss the three makes and three misses of the Pistons twelfth game against the Miami Heat.
First Make: Christian Wood's Return
After getting a DNP-CD against the Timberwolves, #PistonsTwititer was very confused why Dwane Casey went with Thon Maker all night who struggled off the bench. Well, you asked, Casey answered. Wood played 26 minutes against Miami, finishing with 16 points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks on 5-9 shooting. This efficient night gave Wood a plus-two in the box plus-minus, the second highest for the Pistons.
What I liked seeing the most out of Wood tonight was the fact that he played well enough to keep himself in the game down the stretch.
Christian Wood slams it and draws the foul! Detroit has the lead down to nine.
— Palace Pistons (@PalaceOfPistons) November 13, 2019
Wood's solid game tonight does not discredit the solid game that Maker had tonight as well, but it is a welcome sight for the Pistons, as well as Christian Wood stans.
First Miss: Starters' Struggles
The Pistons starters found another game tonight where they struggled as a collective unit. Detroit had only 17 first quarter points, shooting a collective 2-12 from the field in the first 12 minutes of basketball. These struggles did not go away, as Detroit's starting five accounted for 60 of Detroit's 108 points tonight, 22 of them from Luke Kennard, all which came in the second half. This isn't the first time that Detroit's starters struggled to set the tone for the rest of the team. There have been many times this year where Detroit has started games off cold because their starters have not been able to perform.
In a world where advanced analytics are an important measurement of performance, the Pistons starters were atrocious tonight as they were a combined minus-56 in the box plus-minus tonight.
If Detroit wants to get off of this three game losing streak, it starts with the efficiency of the starters.
Second Make: It's Only One Game
I'm going to try to be Mr. Optimistic when I say that it's only one game. The Pistons weren't necessarily handed any gifts going into this ball game. For one, Detroit had just come off of a narrow loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves the night before. Then, they did not land in Miami until 5:30 a.m. due to weather delays, whereas Miami came off of three days rest. Finally, Detroit was without three of their best players yet again.
It's hard to get a true measure of a team's capabilities, let alone win a good amount of games, when key players are injured and you have played the most games in the NBA. Out of the eight games the Pistons have played this season, six of them have been part of back-to-backs, as Detroit has had three of them already this season. Luckily for Detroit, their next game is not for three more days and comes against the 4-6 Charlotte Hornets. The Pistons should have Griffin and Rose back for this game as well, giving the coaching staff and fans a chance to see this team at nearly full strength.
Second Miss: Pistons Perimeter Defense
Detroit's perimeter defense tonight was absolutely horrendous. Coming into tonight's game, Miami was shooting the three ball at a 38.4 percent clip on 33.1 attempts per game. Tonight, the Pistons allowed them to shoot 43.8 percent from three on 32 attempts. That's truly unacceptable, especially the amount of wide open looks Miami had from deep.
#Heat are shooting 62% FG and 60% (6-of-10) from 3. Is that good?
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) November 13, 2019
The Pistons' perimeter defense has been something that they have struggled with all year. Going into tonight's game, Detroit ranked 25th in the league in opponent's three-point percentage at 37.2 percent. After giving up nearly 44 percent from downtown tonight, the Pistons will most likely move a spot or two down on the list.
Third Make: Second Half Surges
At one point, the Pistons were down nearly 30 points. Most teams would throw in the towel, pull their key players and let guys who don't get a lot of playing time some minutes. However, this was not the case for the Pistons tonight.
The Pistons went on several runs in the second half, getting the Miami lead down to eight points at one point in the fourth quarter. These second half surges were led by third-year swingman Luke Kennard.
After putting up a goose egg on 0-7 shooting in the first half, Kennard caught fire in the second half, dropping 22 points on 8-11 shooting. Kennard wasn't the only guy to catch fire in the second half though.
Langston Galloway also put up a goose egg in the first half before dropping 11 points in the second half to help get the Pistons back into the game. Between Kennard and Galloway's hot hands, the Pistons were able to go on a 17-3 run to trim the Miami lead to nine points in the fourth quarter.
Langston triples and it's back down to nine
Kennard and Galloway were able to find so many open looks due to the ball movement in the second half, especially from Bruce Brown who finished the game with 11 assists.
Without these runs, the Pistons would have easily lost this game by 25 points or more. However, the Pistons fought hard and you have to respect that.
The #Pistons most likely will not pull this one out tonight, but you have to respect their comeback efforts tonight.
Third Miss: Andre Drummond's Foul Issues
For the third game in a row now, Pistons big man Andre Drummond has found himself in foul trouble. Over the last three games, Drummond is averaging 5.33 fouls per game, including six tonight, resulting in a disqualification.
Andre has fouled out of the game. He will finish the night with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Drummond fouling out tonight really hindered the Pistons chances of really coming back into the ball game. Detroit got outrebounded 50-40 tonight. Had Andre been on the floor longer, Detroit would have been able to grab more rebounds (in theory).
There really is not much more to say other than it would be nice if Drummond stopped committing silly fouls. However, that has been something that we have all seen out of Drummond throughout his career. If he wants to help his team win more games, he simply needs to stop committing silly fouls.
The Pistons are now 4-8 on the year and have a multitude of things to work on in practice this week. Luckily for Detroit, they do not play again until Friday against the Charlotte Hornets who are 4-6. The game is scheduled to tip at 7:00 p.m.
#PistonsTwitterBruce BrownChristian WoodDwane CaseyLangston GallowayLuke KennardPistonsThon Maker
Previous Post It's a Make or Miss League: 3 Makes and 3 Misses From Blake Griffin's Return Against Minnesota
Next Post Time is Not on the Pistons' Side
Jerami Grant Is Not So Quietly Making History For The Detroit Pistons
POP Podcast Episode 113: Jerami Grant is an All-Star and is Killian Hayes Out for the Season?
Jerami Grant is Solidifying His Stardom with the Detroit Pistons
REPORT: Killian Hayes Could Only Miss 4-6 Weeks Without Surgery
Trading for Saddiq Bey Was Worth The Price
Follow PalacePistons on Twitter!


text:
Insight Turkey > Commentaries | Updated: Thursday, October 1, 2015
The Reasons Behind the AK Party's November 1st Victory
Commentaries | Insight Turkey Fall 2015 / Volume 17, Number 4
In June 2015, Turkey's governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lost its parliamentary majority after thirteen consecutive years in power. When a series of coalition talks proved inconclusive, however, it made a historic comeback in the repeat election by learning from mistakes, promoting dialogue and focusing on everyday issues.
Ahmet Davutoğlu, the leader of the AK Party, greets the party supporters, celebrating November 1st general elections. AA PHOTO / HALİL SAĞIRKAYA
A Record-Breaking Election
In the weeks leading up to the November 2015 parliamentary election, few thought that the AK Party, could reverse their losses and reclaim the parliamentary majority which they had just lost in June, after thirteen consecutive years in power. On election day, even more seasoned experts were caught by surprise as the party received 49.5 percent of the vote to score a stunning electoral comeback. And this was not the only extraordinary aspect of the November 2015 elections either.
The November 2015 election, however, was already a historic event before the results started coming in. For the first time in the Republic's history, the Turkish people went to the polls for a repeat election due to the failure of major political parties to strike a deal by the constitutionally-mandated deadline. The contest, furthermore, went down in history as a record-breaking election season: by securing another four years in power, the AK Party became the first political party to single-handedly govern the country for four consecutive terms. The party, moreover, shattered the record for the highest number of votes received in an electoral contest with 22,959,394 supporters. While in June elections the AK Party received 50.4 percent of the vote from the Turkish citizens living outside the country, in November the turnout rate broke the 40-percent mark for the first time and the AK Party became the most popular party among Turks abroad with 56.38 percent of the vote. In total the party received 647,028 votes abroad to set a new record for the highest number of international votes received.
Figure I: The AK Party's Performance in Parliamentary Elections, 2007-2015
When the AK Party delivered a surprisingly strong performance on November 1, experts and commentators started looking for ways to account for the comeback. A closer analysis of electoral data, however, reveals that the June election, not the November contest, represented an exception.
Figure I indicates that the AK Party delivered similar performances in 2007, 2011 and November 2015 as the party's level of popular support remains relatively stable over an eight-year period. The June 2015 election, in contrast, marked a deviation from the trend line. Asking questions about the November 1 election, therefore, does not offer a complete picture about voter behavior and the performances of individual political parties. Instead, we must first question why the AK Party experienced an eight-point drop on June 7.
Why did the AK Party Suffer on June 7?
When the AK Party's popular support dipped in June 2015, experts and close followers of Turkish politics came up with a number of explanations. A popular argument, especially among AK Party members, was that the disappointing results were closely related to the choice of candidates. Many observers argued that the party picked the wrong contenders in predominantly-Kurdish districts across eastern and southeastern Turkey. The list of the candidates is the main factor of the declining vote rate in the national level as well.
Others blamed the hollow victory on unimpressive campaign pledges. At a time when opposition leaders made some wild and irresponsible economic promises to voters, the incumbents focused on structural reforms and long-term challenges. Taking the nation's economy to the next level was important, critics argued, but the pledges simply didn't help the AK Party win the battle over hearts and minds.
Although opposition leaders were quick to celebrate the end of an era, the repeat election established that the June 2015 election had only temporarily created a new balance of power
A series of controversial developments, some observers maintained, had left many voters on the fence about mobilizing behind the AK Party. The Dolmabahçe declaration, a lengthy debate over central bank independence, intelligence chief Hakan Fidan's decision to run for public office and ostensible differences of opinion between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, among others, were oft-cited examples. Moreover, the Kurdish political party's accomplishments in northern Syria and the siege of Kobani fueled nationalist fervor among Turkey's Kurds to deal a heavy blow to the AK Party's popularity in the southeast and other predominantly Kurdish electoral districts. Finally, another important point is related to growing economic challenges triggered by global developments. Although this article isn't intended to engage each argument in detail, it is important to identify the main reasons behind the AK Party's rude awakening on June 7. First and foremost, the June 2015 parliamentary election coincided with the most vulnerable period of the AK Party. In August 2014, less than a year before the race, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the party's founder and charismatic leader, had stepped down as chairman to assume the presidency. He was replaced by then-Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who had little time to connect with the voters.
In the months that followed a challenging leadership reshuffle, another key development took place at the provincial level: due to the legal obligation, a large number of party administrators, including women's and youth branches, were replaced. Although optimists viewed this major overhaul as a fresh start, others were quick to realize that running a campaign with relatively inexperienced provincial party officials created serious challenges for the AK Party.
The second important reason is related to the AK Party's self-imposed "three-term limit" rule, which rendered the popular political actors with years of experience ineligible to run for office. The result of the rule broke the balance of power in key electoral districts and caused the AK Party to fight an uphill battle where it used to win comfortably.
The third factor is related to a boost of self-confidence. Ahead of the June 2015 vote, many AK Party members believed that they could overcome future challenges with relative ease. After all, the party had capitalized on experienced politicians among their ranks to receive a record number of votes in the March 2014 municipal election amid a defamation campaign led by the Gülen Movement. Five months later, then-AK Party chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had won a first-round victory in the presidential race, where he defeated former OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu who was endorsed by more than ten opposition parties. The excessive self-confidence, however, resulted not to identify the new social and political atmosphere challenging the AK Party.
The last reason is the increasing political polarization proved harmful to the AK Party, which had reaped the benefits of this trend since the 2007 parliamentary election. At a time when the military was keen on overthrowing the democratically-elected government and the opposition parties organized Republican demonstrations in the name of secularism, the electorate had stood in solidarity with the AK Party leadership. After having spent the past couple of years dealing with major challenges such as the Gezi Park protests and the Gülenist defamation campaign, voters got tired of political struggles.
Getting the November 2015 Election Right
Although opposition leaders were quick to celebrate the end of an era, the repeat election established that the June 2015 election had only temporarily created a new balance of power. In other words, the electorate favored a return to the post-2007 status quo. As Prime Minister Davutoğlu mentioned in his victory speech on election day, the AK Party leadership successfully analyzed the electorate's message and took necessary steps to address problems. A key component of the new AK Party's strategy was to reduce the level of political polarization by engaging in a series of coalition talks with opposition leaders –negotiations in which, the public believed, the AK Party chairman acted in good faith. By publicly declaring that he would meet with opposition leaders without preconditions nor prejudice, he was able to present himself as a constructive player in Turkish politics. Even after the coalition talks proved inconclusive, Mr. Davutoğlu strengthened his position as a coalition builder by actively trying to include opposition MPs in the constitutionally-mandated interim government.
At a time when the AK Party fielded political heavyweights and came up with a new set of campaign pledges, neither the CHP nor the MHP made any notable alterations to their platforms
Furthermore, the AK Party leadership responded to widespread criticism by sacking a large number of unpopular candidates, whom they had endorsed in June 2015, and shifted the campaign's focus from long-term projects to everyday problems. Finally, the Prime Minister spent a considerable amount of time on the campaign trail to emphasize the importance of national unity, compromise and courtesy to march the AK Party to a historic victory.
The Opposition's Shortcomings
Although the AK Party leadership took important steps to bounce back, what really made the difference between the June 2015 election and the repeat election was the opposition's ineffective strategy. Having failed to respond to the AK Party's maneuvers, they suffered a humiliating defeat on election day.
The election results, first and foremost, reflected a set of historical and sociological factors. Since the Tanzimat period (the supreme edict of Ottoman Empire), the competition between advocates of Westernization and the nation's conservatives has been a key issue in Turkish politics. Consequently, the balance of power between the Left and the Right has traditionally been biased toward the latter. Figure II shows the distribution of votes between left-leaning and right-leaning political parties since 1983.
The distribution of votes between leftist and right-wing political parties over the past 32 years clearly establishes a long-term trend: while approximately two-thirds (66.6 percent) of the electorate consistently support the Right, the rest (32.8 percent) votes for leftist contenders. In recent years, the demise of numerous right-wing parties led the AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to compete over more than sixty percent of the vote. At this point, this phenomenon alone makes it possible for the AK Party to maintain its parliamentary majority while denying the opposition parties an opportunity to expand their bases.
Figure II: Left vs Right in Parliamentary Elections, 1983-2015
Taking a closer look at individual races, it is possible to observe the concrete results of this imbalance: while right-wing parties won nine out of ten parliamentary elections since the early 1980s, only once did a leftist party become the most popular party in the country by receiving 22.2 percent of the vote. Out of 19 governments formed since 1983, ten were single-party governments by right-leaning parties –six AK Party governments and four Motherland Party (ANAP) governments. Leftists parties, in turn, could not form any single-party governments over the past 32 years. Furthermore, there were only two coalition governments in which a leftist party served at the helm.
Another reason behind the opposition's failure has been an unproductive mindset which I like to call "making do with what we have." At a time when the AK Party fielded political heavyweights and came up with a new set of campaign pledges, neither the Republican People's Party (CHP) nor the MHP made any notable alterations to their platforms. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) made small changes to their nominee lists but eventually refused to run a campaign citing terror attacks. In light of the above, it would appear that the AK Party was the only political party with an actual interest in running the country. Their competitors, in turn, seemed happy where they were –which naturally made it impossible for them to continue expanding their electoral base. In the end, the AK Party was the only party able to perform better in the repeat election.
Having governed the country for thirteen consecutive years, the AK Party secured another four-year term in power to effectively transform Turkey's multi-party system into a dominant party system
Finally, the public's overall level of satisfaction was a key factor behind the opposition's failure to make gains. Although opposition leaders often describe Turkey as a broken country, studies show that ordinary citizens feel content. According to a 2014 study by the Turkish Statistical Institute, 56.3 percent of participants indicated they were happy –compared to 11.7 percent who stated that they were unhappy. Generally speaking, Turkish citizens said they were happy with public services: while 71.8 percent approved transportation services, 71.2 percent were content with public healthcare. Compared to 65.6 percent of participants who were happy with the education system, 58.4 percent had a positive opinion of the Social Security Administration. Moreover, 50.8 percent of the people said they were content with the judicial system. Finally, 73.7 percent of participants said they were hopeful about their future. Considering the people's level of satisfaction with Turkey's current state of affairs, it is safe to assume that many voters disagreed with the opposition's criticisms and campaign pledges.
The November 2015 Election and the AK Party's Accomplishments
Making a historic comeback on November 1, the AK Party made the following accomplishments: The AK Party outclassed its rivals in terms of popular support and the number of parliamentary seats controlled. The incumbents led others in 63 out of 81 provinces and received the highest number of votes in all seven regions. Only in three districts did AK Party candidates fail to get elected. As the only party with nationwide support, the AK Party received more than 39 percent of the vote even in its worst-performing region. Ultimately, they succeeded in maintaining a certain level of popularity across the country. Besides, the AK Party became the most popular political party in eastern and southeastern Turkey, where the PKK's recent return to violence has created major challenges. While the Kurdish nationalist HDP won twenty seats with 35.6 percent of the vote in eastern Anatolia, 27 AK Party candidates won local races. The party's overall level of support reached 47.9 percent in the region. The southeast produced similar results: while the HDP won 42.1 percent of the vote to claim 27 seats, the AK Party received 45.7 percent to control 29 seats. In light of the most recent election results, the HDP leadership's claim that they had become "the main representative of Turkey's Kurds" proved inaccurate. Furthermore, having gone through a potentially destructive leadership change in August 2014, the AK Party became the first center-right party in Turkish political history to maintain a high level of support. Although political parties such as ANAP and the Right Path Party (DYP) failed to survive similar situations, the AK Party reversed the trend. Lastly, having governed the country for thirteen consecutive years, the AK Party secured another four-year term in power to effectively transform Turkey's multi-party system into a dominant party system.
Keeping in mind that multiple political parties participated in each election over the past three decades, the data relies on self-identification by each party.
Coalition Talks
İbrahim Uslu
President of ANAR, Turkey
Page: 39-46
The Chaos of Constitutional System and Political Failure in Iraq
Party Politics in the Western Balkans
Turkey's Radical Right and the Kurdish Issue: The MHP's Reaction to the "Democratic Opening"
The MHP's Lost Coalition Opportunity: Political Communication, Discourse and Strategies in the June and November 2015 Elections


As part of the ASA2016 program we will offer a High-Performance Computing (HPC) Support Room that will operate alongside the main program for part of the week. This will be staffed by HPC experts from NCRIS-funded national facilities such as NCI, Pawsey and Swinburne as well as the NeCTAR-funded All-Sky Virtual Observatory (ASVO). The service will allow ASA2016 attendees to drop-in and ask for advice/help on a range of HPC-related matters. We will also offer a range of tutorial sessions on specific topics.
Feel free to drop-in and ask questions during these times.
"Introduction to Pawsey Services & Pawsey Workshop", Wednesday 10am-4pm.
The HPC Room will be located in Learning Studio 4003, which is 1 level above the main entrance and the Messel LT where the plenary proceeding will take place.


text:
Former Obama White House adviser pleads guilty in scheme to steal $218k from schools he founded
By Alpha House	 Last updated Jan 15, 2022
Former Obama White House adviser Seth Andrew this week pleaded guilty to participating in a wire fraud scheme in which he attempted to steal over $200,000 from a network of schools he helped found.
Andrew "admitted today to devising a scheme to steal from the very same schools he helped create," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement on the Justice Department's website.
"Andrew now faces time in federal prison for abusing his position and robbing those he promised to help," Williams noted.
According to the Justice Department, Andrew closed out several escrow accounts connected to the charter school network in question and deposited them in multiple other accounts.
The former adviser "pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison," the statement said, adding that Andrew "has agreed to pay restitution to the Charter School Network from which he stole."
Andrew will be sentenced in April of this year.
218kAdviserfoundedguiltyHouseObamapleadsSchemeSchoolsstealwhite
Former Trump Officials Plot to Block Donald's Return to White House – RedState
He's Getting Worse – Joe Biden's MLK Jr. Speech was Delivered from Fake White House…
Parents Group Claims Saint Paul Public Schools Indoctrinating Preschoolers On…
Even More Dems Rush to the Exits as Midterm Wipeout Looms – RedState
Donald Trump's White House Was Also Caught Plagiarizing Web Site
(Another) Top Obama Economist Offers Harsh Assessment of Elizabeth Warren's Inflation…
[BREAKING] House Select Committee Issues Subpoenas to Rudy Guiliani, Jenna Ellis,…
Sherman: No 'Reset' for Biden White House Facing 'Brutal Reality'
Sacramento Woman Who Bilked $2.75 Mil in CA Employment Fraud…
Media Outlets Omit Aafia Siddiqui's History of…
Irene Luevano's Car Found, But She Remains Missing:…
Editor's Pick: Federalist on Toobin Pining for Justice…


Sleeping positions often are habitual and chosen based on comfort. Although there are variations, these are the most common positions and how they can be modified to the benefit of your body.
The best sleeping position is side-lying in order to maintain the natural curve of the spine and hips. A moderate-sized pillow under the base of the neck will support the head, and one between the knees will maintain proper hip position. A pillow or towel roll may be placed under the waist for additional comfort, and the knees may be slightly bent under for balance.
For pregnant women, sleeping on the left side is widely viewed as favorable as it improves circulation to the heart. A pillow may be placed under the belly bump for support. A pillow may be placed under the belly bump for support, and a moderate-sized pillow can be positioned between the knees to maintain hip neutrality.
If you are prone to sleeping on your stomach, do not use a pillow under your neck but rather a small pillow under your chest to reduce hyperextension of the cervical spine. A pillow placed under the hips can reduce excessive lumbar lordosis (inward curve of lower back). This position is not recommended because of the prolonged strain it places on the cervical and upper thoracic spines.
If you sleep on your back, a pillow or rolled up towel should be placed under the knees to decrease stress on the low back. A towel roll may also be placed under the low back to maintain lumbar lordosis. This position is not ideal because of its contribution to sleep apnea and potential difficulty breathing even though neutrality of the spine and hips is typically preserved during the night.
If you have any questions, one of our physical therapists here in Towson , Maryland will be happy to assess your preferred position and suggest potential changes.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace SimpleDrillDown {

	public class Play {
		public List<string> Characters { get; set; }
		public DateTime Date { get; set; }
		public string Genre { get; set; }
		public string Title { get; set; }

		public static List <Play> CreateDemoPlays ()
		{
			var plays = new List<Play> ();
			plays.Add (new Play {
				Title = "Julius Caesar",
				Genre = "Tragedy",
				Date = new DateTime (1599, 1, 1),
				Characters = new List<string> { "Antony", "Artemidorus", "Brutus", "Caesar", "Calpurnia", "Casca", "Cassius", "Cicero", "Cinna", "Cinna the Poet", "Citizens", "Claudius", "Clitus", "Dardanius", "Decius Brutus", "First Citizen", "First Commoner", "First Soldier", "Flavius", "Fourth Citizen", "Lepidus", "Ligarius", "Lucilius", "Lucius", "Marullus", "Messala", "Messenger", "Metellus Cimber", "Octavius", "Pindarus", "Poet", "Popilius", "Portia", "Publius", "Second Citizen", "Second Commoner", "Second Soldier", "Servant", "Soothsayer", "Strato", "Third Citizen", "Third Soldier", "Tintinius", "Trebonius", "Varro", "Volumnius", "Young Cato" },
			});

			plays.Add (new Play {
				Title = "King Lear",
				Genre = "Tragedy",
				Date = new DateTime (1605, 1, 1),
				Characters = new List<string>  { "Captain", "Cordelia", "Curan", "Doctor", "Duke of Albany", "Duke of Burgundy", "Duke of Cornwall", "Earl of Gloucester", "Earl of Kent", "Edgar", "Edmund", "Fool", "Gentleman", "Goneril", "Herald", "King of France", "Knight", "Lear", "Messenger", "Old Man", "Oswald", "Regan", "Servant 1", "Servant 2", "Servant 3" }
			});

			plays.Add (new Play {
				Title = "Othello",
				Genre = "Tragedy",
				Date = new DateTime (1604, 1, 1),
				Characters = new List<string> { "Bianca", "Brabantio", "Cassio", "Clown", "Desdemona", "Duke of Venice", "Emilia", "First Gentleman", "First Musician", "First Officer", "First Senator", "Fourth Gentleman", "Gentleman", "Gratiano", "Herald", "Iago", "Lodovico, Kinsman to Brabantio", "Messenger", "Montano", "Othello", "Roderigo", "Sailor", "Second Gentleman", "Second Senator", "Third Gentleman" }
			});

			plays.Add (new Play {
				Title = "Henry IV, Pt 1",
				Genre = "History",
				Date = new DateTime (1597, 1, 1),
				Characters = new List<string> { "Archbishop Scroop", "Blunt", "Carrier", "Chamberlain", "Earl of Douglas", "Earl of Northumberland", "Earl of Westmoreland", "Earl of Worcester", "Edward Poins", "Falstaff", "First Carrier", "First Traveller", "Francis", "Gadshill", "Glendower", "Henry IV", "Henry V", "Hostess Quickly", "Hotspur (Henry Percy)", "Lady Percy", "Lord Bardolph", "Messenger", "Mortimer", "Ostler", "Peto", "Prince John, of Lancaster", "Second Carrier", "Servant", "Sheriff", "Sir Michael", "Vernon", "Vintner" }
			});

			plays.Add (new Play {
				Title = "The Tempest",
				Genre = "Comedy",
				Date = new DateTime (1611, 1, 1),
				Characters = new List<string> { "Adrian", "Alonso", "Antonio", "Ariel", "Boatswain", "Caliban", "Ceres", "Ferdinand", "Francisco", "Gonzalo", "Iris", "Juno", "Master", "Miranda", "Prospero", "Sebastian", "Stephano", "Trinculo" }
			});

			return plays;
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
module Main where

import Lib
import System.Environment
import Data.Maybe (listToMaybe)
import Text.Read (readMaybe)

main :: IO ()
main = do
  n <- (\n -> return n >>= headMaybe >>= readMaybe) <$> getArgs :: IO (Maybe Day)
  case n of
    Nothing -> showHelp
    Just n -> putStrLn $ show $ weatherAt $ n `pmod` 360

headMaybe :: [a] -> Maybe a
headMaybe = listToMaybe

showHelp :: IO ()
showHelp = putStrLn help

help :: String
help = unlines
  [ "Help:"
  , "./mercaplanets <day>"
  , ""
  , "eg:"
  , "  ./mercaplanets 20"
  ]


text:
Q: Akka: What is the equivalent of Flow in Java Akka streams in scala provides a Flow concept. What is the equivalent in Java?
For example, in Scala, there is Flow.take(n)
but in Java, there is Source.take(n) which returns a source not a flow

A: As the documentation clearly indicates, the Akka libraries--including Akka Streams--all have a Java API as well as a Scala API, so the Java equivalent of Flow # take is...Flow # take.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Аграт бат-Махлат ( — «Аграт дочь Махлат»), иногда Аграт или Играт — демонесса в еврейской мифологии. В каббалистической литературе она одна из четырех верховных суккубов, совокуплявшихся с Самаэлем, — прародительниц демонов, наряду с Лилит, Наамой и Айшет. Она носится по воздуху в колеснице; её свиту составляют десятки тысяч (по разным источникам, до 180 тысяч) ангелов гнева. Иногда она отождествляется с Лилит.

По раввинистической литературе (в частности — «Ялкут Хадаш» XVII века), она выходит два раза в неделю в ночь на среду и ночь на субботу. В эти моменты у неё есть право вредить людям.

Предположительно, ночи на среду и субботу — это ночи, в которые дороги пустынны больше, чем в другие дни недели, поскольку накануне субботы (шаббат) правоверные евреи готовятся к святому дню.
Что же касается ночи на среду, то во времена Талмуда это была самая безлюдная ночь недели — базары устраивали по понедельникам и четвергам. А значит, крестьяне со своим товаром отправлялись в города в ночи на понедельник и четверг. Если они задерживались в городе, то возвращались ночью на вторник и на пятницу.

В отличие от прочих суккубов, Аграт бат-Махлат никого соблазнить не пытается, а появляется только в случаях неправедного поведения людей в сексуальной сфере.

По некоторым каббалистическим источникам и по школе испанского раввина Шломо бен Адерет Аграт родила царя демонов Асмодея от царя Давида.

Происхождение

Происхождение Аграт бат-Махлат в древних источниках не рассматривается.

Единственный источник о её происхождении приведен в книге «Кетем Паз» («Червонное золото», 1570), и там говорится:

"В древности в Египте жил один человек, большой знаток всего, что касается колдовства. Как-то в пустыне он наткнулся на пещеру, а в ней лежала древняя книжка, в которой было приведено множество колдовских рецептов. И стал он их изучать, и стал вести себя в соответствии с этими рецептами, так что стал величайшим колдуном на всей земле, даже ни один египетский колдун не мог с ним сравниться. А у него была дочь, которую он обучил всем колдовским наукам.
Когда сын Авраама Измаил стал жить в пустыне Паран, то мать нашла ему жену египтянку. Вот этой египтянкой и была та самая колдунья, дочь колдуна.
Она соблазнила Измаила на всяческие штучки, и ввела его в заблуждение, пока к ним в гости не приехал
Авраам и не уговорил Измаила расстаться с ней.
Будучи беременной, она ушла в пустыню и родила прекрасную женщину. Не было красавицы подобной ей.
А той частью пустыни владел черт по имени Игертиэль. Влюбился он в неё, и от той любви родилась дочь,
в честь отца названная Аграт. Это и есть Аграт бат Махлат, дочь Измаила,
которая передвигается в сопровождении свиты в сто восемьдесят тысяч ангелов гнева

Ссылки

  // Древний мир. Энциклопедический словарь в 2-х томах. — М.: Центрполиграф. В. Д. Гладкий. 1998.

Литература

Демоны в иудаизме

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Reverse life: Meet Mr. Qin Chapter 0
Qin Jiajun and I grabbed the hands of a game card at the same time. The moment we recognized each other, we two smiled at each other and let go of our hands together, and then said in unison, "Come on."
When the voice fell, we were embarrassed for a moment. Qin Jiajun smiled at me, "I bought it for Shen Haonan." I nodded, "It's a coincidence that we can all meet you."
"It's a coincidence, but I guessed that he would buy this card. I gave his game console. Whenever a new game comes out, he will definitely play." He raised his eyebrows, "I just took this card. , It is ready to be given to him."
I hurriedly scrambled, "I'll settle it. I promised Shen Haonan, and you won't have to spend money."
Qin Jiajun stepped back half of his body and asked me to get the game card, but before he reached out his hand, a little boy jumped out from somewhere behind him. He appeared in front of me like flying, disappeared like flying, and took away. The last game card placed on the shelf.
I suffocated instantly, turned my head and shouted at the boy, "Hey! That's mine!"
Qin Jiajun looked at me and laughed. He tried his best to restrain, but still couldn't hold back. With a dark face, I was going to have a fight with the kid while pulling my sleeves. Qin Jiajun pressed my shoulder and said, "I have another one. Give this to Haonan."
I am full of guilt, "Isn't this what you want to play…" He spread his hands, "I don't like to play with these things."
In fact, I really want to ask him why he still wants to buy if he doesn't like to play, but thinking that I am not familiar with him, it will be rude to ask too many questions.
I took his kindness, after all, I had to go back to work with Shen Haonan.
During the settlement, Qin Jiajun disappeared for a few minutes, and he asked me to wait for him at the entrance of the store for a while, and he had something for me to take back.
When he returned, his hand was carrying the same diamond gift bag that was given to Zhuang Yan last time. I was a little puzzled. He handed the bag to me. "I didn't know that you and Feifei Jiang were sisters. The incident has caused you trouble. I always owe Miss Jiang an apology. This is an apology gift for her, but please also bring me a sentence. I always take care of Zhuang Yan as a younger brother and sister. This necklace and Zhuang Yan It's the same series, and it should be suitable for you little girls. The gifts are not expensive, just to express apology and have no other meaning."
I figured out his "no other meaning", and the sentence he took care of Zhuang Yan as a younger sibling, and the "apology" he gave to Jiang Feifei was the same as Zhuang Yan. I looked up at him and deliberately asked, "Does Mr. Qin know what diamonds represent?" He thought for a while, "I only know that rings represent eternity, necklaces… is there any saying? Women should like diamonds, no matter what it represents ."
I talked too much, "Diamonds are the things that make women the easiest to think of emotions. Is there really no other meaning for Mr. Qin to give my sister such an expensive gift?"
My gaze was straight towards him. In fact, I understood that he wanted me to convey Jiang Feifei, and he didn't think too much about Jiang Feifei. But men in their thirties always speak out, and I am really afraid that they will be wrong.
Before he answered, I wondered if he would be a merciful man, but when he answered, I suddenly felt that a small number of women in this era are more or less affectionate.
Qin Jiajun smiled, "If I give Miss Xu a diamond ring now, will Miss Xu think I am interested in you?" He deliberately reminded me, "Under the condition that we only met three times."
I was speechless for a while, then shook my head, "No, we don't even count friends…"
Qin Jiajun glanced at the gift bag, and then said, "But it's my fault. The gift selection is too sensitive. In fact, I don't know women well. I think diamonds are something that all women like, including my female friends or partners. I also send some expensive gifts. So… I can only bother Miss Xu to help with the conversation. I don't think too much about Miss Jiang. This gift should be an apology, sincerely be friends with the Xu family. That's it."
Qin Jiajun's words were neither muddy nor uncomfortable. After clarifying Jiang Feifei's mind, he immediately expressed his attitude and handled it properly. Qin Jiajun is a very convincing man. He is calm and steady from the inside out. Even I didn't even know it.
12 Jan 2020 🦊🦁
Previous Previous post: IPartment 5 (2020) 爱情公寓5
Next Next post: Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan


DVA file extension | How can I open or convert this file?
Many people share .dva files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn't evident for everyone which program a .dva file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .dva files.
The DVA project files are related to DVDAuthorGUI. DVA file is a DVDAuthorGUI Project. DVDAuthorGUI is a basic win32 frontend for the DVDAuthor project.
Naturally, other applications may also use the .dva file extension. Even harmful programs can create .dva files. Be especially cautious with .dva files coming from an unknown source!
Can't open a .dva file?
The .dva file extension is often given incorrectly!
If you have useful information about the .dva file format, then write to us!


text:
Help for a village in Nepal
John Vavruska, a friend of Plenty Board member, Robert Reifel, is an engineer and photographer in Santa Fe, New Mexico and a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal. John, who speaks Nepali, is a close friend of Uttam and Budu Rai, originally from Nepal but now U.S. citizens living in Santa Fe. Budu's parents live in the village of Chupar in the Nuwakot district of Nepal about 25 miles north of Kathmandu. All houses, approximately 200 of them in the village, were destroyed by the powerful 7.8 earthquake of April 25.
John and Uttam are headed to Nepal on Friday May 8 to assist with food and shelter relief for the village. Budu's brothers Maila Tamang and Dawa Tamang, along with their friends with access to four-wheel drive vehicles, are beginning to transport badly needed relief supplies– tarps that will serve as shelters through the monsoon season, and food– rice, cooking oil, and salt to the village. The logistics of securing these supplies have been challenging but these great people on the ground along with donations from the good people here at home, are making this relief effort possible. Plenty International is supporting John's, Uttam's, and the villagers' efforts and is calling for donations, which can be made on our website (www.plenty.org) or, preferably, by checks made out to Plenty International designated with "Chupar, Nepal Relief" on the note line. Checks should be mailed to John Vavruska, 872 Don Cubero Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87505. These photos show the village of Chupar and some of John's friends before and after the earthquake.
Disadvantaged Kids
Disaster Relief & Recovery
Soy Foods Production
Plenty Bulletin Fall and Winter 2019-20
2019 Spring-Summer Plenty Bulletin
2018 Fall/Winter Bulletin
2018 Spring/Summer Plenty Bulletin
About Plenty


There has been a significant increase in the overall number of visits to the site since August 2016, where the total number of sessions has increased to 252,761, an increase of 26% over last year when the number was 200,626. Also, the number of unique visitors has increased by 25.36% since August 2016, from 146,856 to 184,106.
Visitors to the site have predominantly come from the UK with 199,417 sessions, followed by South Africa with 24,127 sessions and the USA with 4,111. It is interesting to note that visitors from the USA are increasing again.
Over the last 12 months, mobile visits to the site have increased by 47.69%, where they account for the majority of visits to the site (43.53%) followed by desktops (34.84%) and Tablets (21.64%). This is the second month in a row that mobile overtake desktops. Our website is mobile friendly and do cater for this new audience. However, desktops still offer the most engaged traffic in general, with the average visitors spending 4m 55s on the site on average.
The most engaged group is the 55-64 age range with an average session duration of 4m 10s, but the 45 - 54 age group provide the largest volume of visitors (36,403).
Facebook is the biggest generator of social traffic with 36,067 visits, which is a significant amount of traffic whose trend is continuously increasing.
Below are the figures we have received from the Live Chat service on the website for August 2017.


text:
WorldFilm
The latest in independent film
Director: Jeff Canin
As the world waits in hope for a new dawn on climate change, 2 Degrees reveals the chaotic failure of the UN negotiations in Copenhagen. It becomes chillingly clear that we cannot wait for governments to lead the way. So if commitment to act won't come from above, perhaps the voices and actions of communities will bring the revolution that is needed. 2 Degrees takes to the streets of Port Augusta, a small Australian town, and follows the passionate efforts to replace the coal fired power stations with solar thermal power.
If we don't understand the lessons from Copenhagen, we are doomed to repeat them in 2015, when the world body meets once more in Paris to adopt a legally binding agreement. From the award?winning producer of The Burning Season and The Man who Stole my Mother's Face, 2 Degrees explores climate change through the prism of climate justice. While An Inconvenient Truth alerted us to the problem of climate change, 2 Degrees is the gripping and vital fight for a solution.
For more information see: http://www.twodegreesmovie.com
About WorldFilm.com
© WorldFilm.com 2021
Sign up here to join our mailing list.
Get ready for a world of great independent film!


When looking at the permanent IT placements we've made over the years, our team can say with confidence that career success correlates to the amount of money you earn.
The further you progress up the ladder, money is the reward for proving yourself worthy of the next rung, among other benefits.
And yet as one of the most established IT recruitment agencies in Ireland, itContracting works in a peculiar recruitment market where the demand on IT talent is high and supply is low.
So it's natural to see IT candidates receive high-income job offers. And we also see IT candidates move freely around the market. Mostly because they can. Yet, there is one key reason why IT professionals move often from organisation to organisation. Because the role wasn't what they expected.
Have you noticed trends within your IT field that are closing certain doors and opening others? Innovation and automation has swept through so many job roles and if this future position involves executing calculative and repetitive tasks, you need to ask if this next step is towards or away from, work evolution. You need to focus on building skills that machines find hard to replicate: creativity, judgment, insight, invention, and trust building.
Money will not buy you interesting work colleagues. What values do the company hold and do you share their views? And you may be the most experienced person on the team, but what if you're being thrown head-first onto the beanbag of a scrappy start-up that has blown most of its resource budget on you? This leaves you to direct some very hyper IT newbies amidst the unforgiving start-up landscape. Where the odds of a 90% failure rate is not in your favour. Can you imagine the stress?
You let your current employer know you're leaving for a better offer and they decide to throw in a counter-offer. A counter-offer can be a comforting and complementary move; one that expresses how much your employer values your time and effort. Or does it? If you've received a higher offer, that means you had a reason to cruise the jobs market in the first place. Why were you thinking of leaving? And why did it take the idea of you leaving for your employer to compensate you for your time and expertise? Counter-offering can be confusing. In fact, our senior IT recruiter Tom Leonard will dedicate an entire vlog around the topic next month, so stay tuned!
Does The Technology Excite You?
What if money were no object? What would you do? This is the only indicator to a long and successful career in IT. Are you starting another exciting chapter with exposure to new technologies? Or is it the same old humdrum stuff that drove you to the market to begin with. What is the point in taking a role that won't challenge you? You'll only repeat this strenuous process again in six months' time.
We all have 100 waking hours a week to spend our time. Do the math; what percentage are you willing to devote to your work? Do you have family or a significant other who you need to dedicate your time to? Have you extracurricular activities such as volunteering, coaching or a fitness class you're committed to? There is no magic formula but remember, with more money comes more responsibility.
Do you want to hear more about navigating your IT job offers? Why not talk to one of our team, who will walk you through the entire process. Ready to hit the market? Check out our IT job openings on the itContracting website.


text:
En Electric Multiple Unit eller EMU, på dansk et elektrisk togsæt, er et sammensat tog, der består af flere, ofte ens vogne, der kører på elektricitet. De vogne, der udgør et helt EMU-sæt, kan normalt opdeles på fire typer: Strømaftagervogne, motorvogne, styrevogne og mellemvogne. Hver vogn kan have flere funktioner, således kan man godt støde på en motor-styrevogn eller en strømaftager-styrevogn. En strømaftagervogn har det nødvendige udstyr til at trække strømmen fra køreledningerne eller en tredjeskinne. Desuden er det ofte den vogn, der har transformatoren. En motorvogn har selve den motor, der driver toget frem. En styrevogn er magen til en styrevogn på et ikke-EMU-tog, altså med en kabine til lokomotivføreren, dog uden motor. En EMU består af to styrevogne med en i hver ende af toget. En mellemvogn er en vogn, der ikke har anden funktion end at kunne transportere passagerer. Disse svarer til de lokomotivtrukne togs passagervogne.

De to mest berømte EMU'er i verden er Shinkansen-togene i Japan og ICE 3-togene i Tyskland. Næsten alle, hvis ikke alle, nærbanetogene i verden, såsom Københavns S-tog består af EMU-tog.

Pendlerbaner

EMU'er er populære på nærbaner, hvor der er mange pendlere, og i undergrundsbaner over hele verden pga. af deres hurtige acceleration og forureningsfrie og støjfrie kørsel. Netop på grund af de lave støjgener kan togene køre længere ud på aftenen, og køre oftere, end DEMU- DMU og lokomotivtrukne tog. Desuden er det nemmere at lave EMU-tog til undergrundsbaner, da man ikke skal lave plads under loftet til ventilation af udstødningsgasser.

Jernbanemateriel
Togsæt