You enter a world where all the lies you've ever told are true. Describe that world and how it makes you feel.
Welcome to my world of lies!!! "Well!!! Now I am opening the doors of my lies' world. Oh no, I am worried so much, Help me God please.
Okay, now I am here, in my world of lies. It seems to me that everything is the same trees are the same, wind blows, but wait. Where is my home. Oh no, it is not here. Just let me think. Once I told one of my friends that I lieve in the best part of the city. So I can guess from my lie that our home is the centere, I mean in the best place of the city. Oh, that's fine. Now let's take a taxi and find my home. Now I am at home. But where are my parents. Just let me think. Oh no! Once I told my mother that I want to live alon, and they just disturbing my life with their dump rulls of being modest and not come home latter. Now I am alone. I was really dumb saying that words to them. I lied, of course I lied, I just wanted to show them that it was wrong thing to mix my life with their ruls." I closed the door. " will never come home, until I find the most important people in my life, my father and mother.
Now I am going to school to find my friends to help me. But where is my school?" Then the image came to my mind. "So I see the day's when I am jut laying on my bed and dreaming about finishing school. On just dreaming that there is no school so I am free all day long. I lied myself, because I know that school is very important to me and I really love it. Then my friend came to me and said.
--Look, my dress is very beautiful, isn't it.
The dress is actually ugly, but she thinks that it is fine.
Oh yes. It's because of me, as once she asked me about that dress and I said that it's was fine. I can't live here anymore, I just want back to the wold when none of my lies will become true. As everything reminds me about my sins, (my lies).
I'm in church now, this is the only place, where I have never lied.
"My God, so I beg your pardon, I want to change the time, and speak only the true during my all past days. Yes, I really wanted to have bit, beautifull house in the center of the city, but the house is really empty without my parents, I lied my friend, just to make her feel well, but it is not right, sometimes lies are very sweet, and you want to it them again and again, and sometimes you feel that you became addicted of them. Then just rise your head, look your surrounding, and you will she the lastiest things in your life, your parent, your little house, your room, full with memories and joys. I hate lies now, they just destroy my life.
You have the ability to create a brand new world. What kind of world would you create?
What a nice feeling to have a chance or ability to create a new world without crimes, sadness disadvantage, where only lives happiness, joy, pleausure, ther is no affence, and there are only good things. By using my chance to create my imaginary world, I can say that it will be like a fairy-tale it will have almost the same shape like our planet with a difference; the external cover of my planet would made of chocolate like a kinder egg. Why chocolate? I think, that there is no one in the world who doesn't like chocolate! (I simply adore it), and it always becomes happy and joyfull even shrewd while eating it. To my mind, when the external cover of my planet would made of sweet, the lite inside the world would also be happy, and sweet, without any bad conditions.
Who doesn't appreciate the beauty? I think and hope no one.
I imagine, that surely I would decorate all the roads with roses, where every where you can smell the nice odour of that beautiful flower. I would make trees of ice-creams with different colours, types and tasts, I would make trees of chocolate, and like that all the people in my planet live their llives (with their heart-contents) happily, they have a lot of fun to their heart-contents.
And of course, I couldn't not to speak about this.
I imagine a nice, beautiful and cute girl in the sky at nights. We know and we see only a few things in the sky at nights- a moon, and bright stars. I would like to see that girl every nights with smiling face sat on the moon and I would like to have a chance to speak with her to know whether there is a thing which is missing in my sweety world.
And of course, I haven't forgotten about swetty children for them. I will create a smoth toy in the sky, for example a nice, smilling bear to play with them from the sky. I would like that in my planet only spring and blooming live, and even, summer, but I adore autmn, how I could leave that season away? Let it be autmn in my brand world as well, but it would be unjustifying from me not to speake about winter as I was born in winter, but I would like to be winter in a my world, but for only a mounth. I think that my world will be separate from anther planets and there will only good, responsible and respectful people there. Though it is said that the world could be uninteresting without sadness times, but I am sure that it's better to live a little bored than see how your close friends suffer from, that they are unhappy. And I want to speake about again the nice girl in the sky. I think that she would always turn off the light all over my swetty happy, and joyful world, that everyone would sleep easily without suffering from sleepless and the people of my brand world could see only happy dreams and why not someone like that "princess" in the sky.


text:
The Reticule
About The Reticule
The Reticule, taking aim at gaming.
Medal of Honor: The Verdict
November 12, 2010 Michael Johnson
Medal of Honor is a game that is unsure about what it wants to be. Before release we were treated to numerous interviews from EA where they stated their primary intention was to recreate an authentic soldiering experience. Well from any military perspective that is clearly nonsense. I'm hardly a military expert but I'd imagine that during a dangerous stealth operation a degree of silence might be required, perhaps employing hand signals to indicate patterns for attack and to indicate when to move. Here however a stealth mission is guided via the medium of breathy whispering and repeated commands. I don't know about you, but if I were lying under a bridge during a stealth mission as a number of enemy soldiers suddenly homed into view, that last thing I'd need to do as a seasoned combat veteran would be to repeatedly grunt "Stay Down!" to my trusted team-mate.
Now to criticise a game for giving the player direction is churlish. Perhaps if I was forced to learn a series of hand signals to be able to play the game correctly I'd be sat here complaining about that instead. But Medal of Honor is not an authentic experience. It may feature facets of military operations that have some relation to reality, and it may be that the game is seeking to give us a facsimile of the modern soldiering experience in terms we as gamers will understand. But it still isn't quite sure what it wants to be. Let me give you an example. For much of the game, the interface is minimised, on-screen indicators for ammo and team-mate positioning, by default fade from your screen allowing you to immerse yourself in the action, only recalling those details if you require them. That's fine by me. Except every time you perform a headshot, an icon pops up to congratulate you, accompanied with an exaggerated brain splattering sound effect. So on the one hand we have this minimal interface, well designed and immersive and on the other we have something so inherently 'gamey' that it undoes all of the good UI design in an instant. It's as though at the last moment someone thought 'this would be cool!' and shoved the headshot indicator into the game without a thought for the hard work that had gone before it.
The above might seem like nitpicking but in the early parts of the game it can frustrate you that the game is trying it's darnedest to pull you out of the action with it's immersion killing ways, just when it should be sucking you in. The constant chopping and changing of the character we are controlling should be familiar by now to veterans of the Call Of Duty series, but early on in Medal of Honor, all it serves to do is frustrate as you move between scenarios. You never really get to know the team-mates who fight alongside you, no matter how epic their beards are. At one point your commanding officer saves the life of your character after a scripted sequence leaves you at the mercy of a Taliban soldier. On brutally killing the Taliban soldier he snarls at you "I just saved your ass". As a gamer being shepherded through a scripted sequence, in order to make an AI character look heroic, it felt cheap and made me actively dislike 'Mother' (or was it Voodoo? I couldn't tell them apart) for much of the game.
You may have noted that in the above paragraph, I repeatedly used the word 'early' which carries the implicit suggestion that things get better as the game progresses. And they sure do. The game can roughly be divided into three acts and the second act is where things start to come together. Instead of being whipped from one scenario to the next, plucked out from the action and displaced, things start to become seamless. The player will be controlling an under siege US Ranger one moment, then whipped into the cockpit of a helicopter in the gunners seat to offer said Ranger air support. Just as it looks as though things might go awry for the chopper, we're called into action as a sniper saving the day before turning attention to an under-fire team of Navy SEALs. It's at this point the games message finally starts to come through, it's not about being a soldier from a technical perspective so much as it's about being a soldier and supporting your fellows in trying circumstances. If Medal of Honor is anything, it's a love letter to the armed forces in game form. While that might sound execrable to you, the sequence mentioned above features some truly thrilling moments. The stand-out moment of the game comes as a team of US Rangers tasked with flanking an enemy firing position gets into serious trouble, forced to use a small stone hut as protection against an underestimated Taliban force. RPG fire blows the hut apart as you desperately cling to what little cover remains, mowing down countless foes with your M249 SAW. But for each enemy you kill, it seems like another three appear and the situation quickly becomes unmanageable. It's a truly tense moment and the game manages to keep up the tempo for the next hour or so. This is when the game is at it's strongest, piling on the combat thick and fast and moving between different types of warfare in a way that helps you understand how the different battles being fought link together into a bigger picture.
The general gunplay in the game is meaty and satisfying with some excellent sound design. I like that when you're close to an ally you hear both their actual voice as well as their radio voice from your earpiece, it's a small thing but shows an attention to detail lacking in lesser titles. The main problem with the single player experience is simply that it's too short. Five or so hours and you're done. Longevity could potentially have come in the form of the Tier One mode, which challenges you to repeat the story missions against the clock, with the clock pausing for head-shots and melee kills. This is probably supposed to provoke you into doing your best Rambo impersonation, and diving around corners popping enemies in the face with your pistol is all well and good, but unfortunately the mode doesn't work. Due to the fact the single player campaign is heavily scripted and relies on the NPC actors being in the right place at the right time to trigger the next sequence, it all too often falls apart. In my first two attempts at Tier 1 mode, all was going well until a scripted event failed to fire (due to me leaving team-mates behind in my frenzied search for blood!), leaving me no choice but to start again or just quit in frustration. I chose the latter.
Nowadays every FPS needs to have a multi-player mode worthy of it's single player and for MOH's multi-player Battlefield supremo's DICE were called in to assist. Considering DICE are respected as some of the best craftsmen of thrilling large-scale online violence, it's understandable that expectations were pretty high for the multi-player portion of the game. On first glance it seems as though all boxes are ticked. Graphically, particle effects and gunfire are spot on, with the dusty Afghan environments brought to life expertly. Sound, as with the single-player is excellent, with each gunshot and explosion carrying real weight, the game does a great job of making the player feel as though they are in amongst the blood and bullets. However, from the half dozen or so hours I've spent in the multi-player it has become evident that there are a few flaws. For one, many of the maps are very narrow, meaning you're forced down some pretty tight corridors of fire, often ruled by snipers. In fact I've seen whole games turn into one massive sniper battle, as players give up on taking the actual objectives and instead content themselves with the occasional headshot. Smoke grenades are your friend if you're brave enough to try and play as anything else than a sniper. The spawn system too can be annoying, especially on the Combat Mission game types, where you can try and spawn on the frontlines of battle next to a team-mate. However, unlike the squad based spawning of the Battlefield games, which relies on a clever team-mate staying alive behind enemy lines and in cover, about 70% of the time here, you'll conveniently spawn right in front of a snipers cross-hair. My main lament is that if they'd carried over the destructible terrain and cover of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the sniper issue wouldn't be so bad. You could simply destroy enemy cover, forcing the opposition to fall back or try to re-base themselves, giving you the chance to advance. As it is, the Multi-player is quite slow-paced and relies on rare feats of individual excellence, or even rarer moments of tactical cohesion amongst team-mates to get past the sniper slog.
Medal of Honor overall is a package containing both excellence and mediocrity. The single-player takes a while to get going, but when it does you won't want it to stop. It's perhaps unfortunate then that it's such a short experience with little replay value. Multi-player has a lot of potential, but map design and weapon balance can turn it into a real chore. With regular DLC being released it could yet become a classic, but the multi-player FPS arena is a tightly contested battlezone, show any signs of weakness and your various opponents will pounce. With Black Ops just being released, Brink coming next year and Battlefield 3 announced, Medal of Honor may struggle to survive as a serious competitor, at least in its current form.
An honourable attempt.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


About Us — Texas Mailhouse, Inc.
Texas Mailhouse, Inc. started in 1987 to fill a void in the Austin market for a fast, friendly, and knowledgeable company dedicated to mailing services.
More than thirty years later, what began as a two-person operation has now grown to be one of the most established and reputable mailhouses in Central Texas.
And while the space, equipment, and crew have all grown over the years, our dedication to being a reliable mailing partner is still at the core of everything we do.


This Syrah TV Stand by Winsome has an elegant and sleek style. The TV stand has a wood construction and is finished in an Espresso stain. This TV stand has 2 frosted glass sliding doors and is easy to assemble. The TV stand measures 44-1/2" W x 20" D x 23-1/2" H. Ships via UPS/FedEx Ground.


Wondering if any dropouts or issues around Mt Kuring-gai?
Been having random dropouts over the past couple of months which have been getting more and more frequent.
Also since about 3 days ago my speed has dropped to ADSL1 levels.
Used to sync at 22mbits but now lucky to get around 8. Im less then a km from the exchange so not really happy.
Any known issues or clues?
Yes, experiencing very low speeds here in Asquith too.


text:
Q: Receiving Error When trying to Tokenize Dataset with Distilbert I am totally new to all of this. I have just started using huggingface, and I am trying to use the DistilBert model.
I was following along a textbook that shows how to tokenize and then run it through DistilBert model. The dataset they used was one of the Huggingface hub's datasets. I was able to replicate what I saw just fine with their dataset.
Now I am trying to use my own dataset and receive the error
TextEncodeInput must be Union[TextInputSequence, Tuple[InputSequence, InputSequence]]

but if I add is_split_into_words=True, it turns the error message to
PreTokenizedEncodeInput must be Union[PreTokenizedInputSequence, Tuple[PreTokenizedInputSequence, PreTokenizedInputSequence]]

I've spent the last several days trying to troubleshoot this error, including looking at others who have gotten this on this website but none looked similar to mine and combing through the guides and courses on huggingface. None has been helpful. I'm using jupyter notebooks in Google colab.
Below is my code:
def tokenize(batch):
  return tokenizer(batch["content"], truncation=True, padding=True, is_split_into_words=True, return_tensors="pt")

print(tokenize(reviews["train"][:2]))

reviews_encoded = reviews.map(tokenize, batched=True, batch_size=None)

Thank you so much, any help is greatly appreciated.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Toyota has endorsed the worldwide use of clearcoats from PPG Deltron™ GRS and Nexa Autocolor™ product lines for refinish repair on Lexus LS vehicles. The approved clearcoats are D8122 Ceramiclear™ 8122 and Nexa Autocolor P190-6512 SR CERAMIC CLEARCOAT.
Lexus recently adopted a newly developed OEM clear coating for its LS models. The clearcoat features two-component, cross-linking urethane with a softer, finer, and more flexible structure to provide better protection against chipping and to make repairs easier. Use of the noted PPG and Nexa Autocolor refinish products throughout the Toyota distribution network will maintain the characteristics of the new Lexus production clearcoat.
D8122 Ceramiclear™ clearcoats are new-generation finishes that utilize innovative nanoparticle technology to provide exceptional mar- and scratch-resistance. Nexa Autocolor P190-6512 SR CERAMIC CLEARCOAT is high solids, also extremely mar- and scratch-resistant. These two products create a glass-like, remarkably hard surface for superior gloss retention and subsequent customer satisfaction.
For more information about PPG clearcoats, visit the PPG Automotive Refinish website at www.ppgrefinish.com .
And for more information about Nexa Autocolor clearcoats, visit www.nexaautocolor.com .


Ink can leave its mark on a variety of surfaces.
The major differences between tattoo and pen inks are the composition of the inks and the purposes for which they are used. Tattoo ink is applied beneath the skin in a cosmetic procedure while pen ink is used on paper and other inorganic surfaces.
Traditional writing inks used by the Chinese 5,000 years ago were mixtures of soot suspended in water and a stabilizing agent such as gelatin or egg albumen. Later mixtures substituted berries and barks for the soot.
Tattoo ink was comprised of pigments extracted from plants, trees and flowers. Some early tattoo tribe cultures, such as the Maori, used burnt gums or caterpillars.
Modern inks are complex and their formulas protected by patents. They are most often comprised of dyes combined with various chemicals, including preservatives and thickeners that ensure smooth running ink that won't dry in the shaft of the pen. The coloring agents used can be organic and inorganic. Ball point pen ink is alcohol-based, although the specific ingredients are trade secrets.
Modern tattoo ink contains pigment less prone to fading, such as heavy metals, salts and other chemicals suspended in a carrier fluid such as ethyl alcohol or water. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the pigments used in tattoo ink are not regulated for injection into the skin. This absence of regulation allows tattoo artists to create their own mixes.
Pen manufacturers favor dyes as the ink colorant to prevent the pen from clogging. Tattoo ink uses dyes or pigments. Pen inks are standardized formulas. Tattoo inks are subject to customization by tattoo artists.
The use of tattoo ink and pen ink involves varying degrees of risk. Pen ink has not been proven hazardous when used as directed. The danger presented in tattoo inks is that not all of the ingredients used have been identified and inks are created in custom mixes, making it difficult to identify them all. Allergic reactions such as acute inflammation are possible.
Are There Possible Bad Effects of Henna Tattoos?


text:
Edmonds police release 'best shot' they have of suspect in 17-year-old girl's carjacking
By Rob Mackay
EDMONDS, Wash. -- Police on Friday released the 'best shot' they have of a suspect in a carjacking on the Edmonds Community College campus in Lynnwood Thursday.
"This is the best shot we currently have of our carjacking suspect. This was when she was on the @EdmondsCC campus. Contact EPD with tips," the Edmonds Police Department said.
Police said a woman in her 20s or 30s asked a 17-year-old female driver for a ride to Swedish Hospital in Edmonds, and the girl said yes. The driver took the woman to the hospital, where the suspect then told the girl that she had a gun and to get out of the car.
The gun was implied, not actually seen by the victim, police said.
The victim and suspect began physically fighting in the car, and the victim began driving off while still fighting with the suspect, police said. After several blocks, the suspect got the teenager to get out of the car and then got into the driver's seat and took off.
The victim had minor injuries, police said.
The vehicle is a 2015 red Subaru Impreza with Washington plate AWP1969.
The suspect is described as a white woman in her 20s or 30s with blonde hair in two braids. She was wearing a black puffy jacket.
"Suspect considered armed," the police tweeted. "Do not approach. Call 911."
The victim and suspect did not know each other, police said. "This is a random stranger crime," the police department said.
Police searching for suspect in armed robbery of cell phone store in Bonney Lake
Police seek help identifying Bonney Lake theft suspects


text:
Four Monroe High School students hospitalized after prom night crash
Four Monroe High School students were injured in a car accident Friday on their way to prom, school officials said.
Four Monroe High School students hospitalized after prom night crash Four Monroe High School students were injured in a car accident Friday on their way to prom, school officials said. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: https://cin.ci/2FpaBNA
Fox19 Published 10:51 p.m. ET April 27, 2018
Four Monroe High School students were injured in a car accident Friday on their way to prom, school officials said.(Photo: Fox19)
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH (FOX19) – Four Monroe High School students were injured in a car accident Friday on their way to prom, school officials said.
The one-vehicle crash happened around 7:30 p.m. on the 8200 block of Millikin Road, authorities say.
Authorities say two people were ejected from the vehicle.
All four were hospitalized. Authorities said one of those four was taken by air care to Cincinnati.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with our students and their families," said Phil Cagwin, Monroe Schools superintendent.
A separate statement from Monroe Schools reads:
There was a serious car accident involving four Monroe High School students on their way to prom earlier this evening.
Currently, those involved have been transported to various local hospitals and their families are with them. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the students and their families. Students at the prom have been informed of the accident and have called in additional faculty and counselors to support our students.
After-Prom is currently on as scheduled from midnight to 3 pm. Students will be released from prom at approximately at 11:30 and if attending after prom must report to the high school by 1 am. The After-Prom is maintained as a safe place for our students to gather with their friends and will have additional support staff present.
Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report
Read or Share this story: https://cin.ci/2FpaBNA


text:
Rebels withdraw in key Syrian town as pro-Assad troops advance
Move by insurgents in Khan Sheikhun marks a milestone for Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold
Source: Martin Chulov Middle East correspondent
Insurgent groups have withdrawn from Khan Sheikhun in north-west Syria, clearing the way for pro-government forces to enter the town, in a milestone moment in the war for Idlib province, the country's last major rebel stronghold.
The development came hours after Turkey deployed tanks and armoured cars deep into Syria, partly in response to days of advances by forces fighting on behalf of the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad.
Khan Sheikhun has been a key target in a military campaign launched in late April. The campaign had stalled until recent days, despite relentless Russian-led airstrikes that had decimated communities in southern Idlib and led up to 500,000 people to flee their homes.
Insurgents, spearheaded by the al-Qaida-linked extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have led the defence of the town. According to an HTS statement on Tuesday, the group made "a redeployment" with its fighters withdrawing to areas south of the town. From there, they would continue to defend the territory, it said.
Extremist groups have blended with other anti-Assad fighters throughout Idlib and dominate parts of the province. Their presence has been used as a pretext by Russia and Syria to recapture all of north-western Syria, where up to 3 million people have taken refuge.
Idlib has become the last redoubt of those who rose up against the Syrian dictator during the Arab revolts of 2011. As Syria's towns and cities have been pummelled and the regime – heavily backed by Iran and Russia – has clawed back early losses, displaced populations from all corners of the country have ended up in the north-west province.
Winning back Idlib has become a primary goal of the Syrian leader and Russia – also to a lesser extent, Iran, which has committed troops and proxies extensively elsewhere in the war.
Turkey has insisted that it would not let the province fall militarily. To do so would inevitably send tens of thousands of refugees towards its borders at a time when Turkish authorities have been rounding up and deporting Syrian citizens in Istanbul and cities closer to the border.
A convoy of Turkish military vehicles passes through Maaret al-Numan in Idlib reportedly heading toward Khan Sheikhun. Photograph: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images
Khan Sheikhun has become a focal point of the fight for Idlib because of its position on a main highway linking Idlib city with Hama to the south. The town was home to about one million people, nearly 700,000 of them displaced by fighting in other parts of the country, before the government offensive began in April. In recent days hundreds of civilians remained in the town.
In April 2017, a sarin attack struck the centre of the town, killing 92 and maiming more than 200 people. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and a UN investigation blamed a Syrian regime jet for the strike. Donald Trump ordered the bombing of the base that the jet took off from in retaliation.


text:
Alabama Nunatak är en nunatak i Grönland (Kungariket Danmark). Den ligger i den nordöstra delen av Grönland,  km nordost om huvudstaden Nuuk. Toppen på Alabama Nunatak är  meter över havet.

Terrängen runt Alabama Nunatak är platt åt sydväst, men åt nordost är den kuperad. Den högsta punkten i närheten är  meter över havet,  km nordväst om Alabama Nunatak.  Trakten runt Alabama Nunatak är nära nog obefolkad, med mindre än två invånare per kvadratkilometer. Det finns inga samhällen i närheten. Trakten runt Alabama Nunatak är permanent täckt av is och snö.

Årsmedeltemperaturen i trakten är  °C. Den varmaste månaden är juli, då medeltemperaturen är  °C, och den kallaste är april, med  °C.

Kommentarer

Källor

Berg i Grönland
Berg i Grönland 500 meter över havet eller högre

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The major goals of the 2018 Meeting are to coordinate FAMOS activities, report accomplishments, exchange ideas and hypotheses, enhance international arctic studies collaboration and discuss plans for continuing FAMOS work beyond 2019.
The meeting will take place at the Quality Hotel Edvard Grieg, Bergen, Norway from October 23-26, 2018. Room costs are moderate and include 3 meals. The hotel is located just a few kilometers from the Bergen Airport at a very nice location. The Bergen city center can be reached relatively easy with some walking and the city-train. More details about the costs and logistics will be available later.
Please note that participation is limited by space and funding considerations. Apply early!
*** Note for students planning to attend FAMOS school: The FAMOS 2018 School for New Arctic Investigators encourages applications for travel support. We generally place a higher priority on those who: (i) are new to FAMOS and seem likely to contribute to the goals of our projects and/or (ii) have previously attended and shown active participation. Please apply early! This will allow us to arrange travel at reasonable costs and thus maximize the number of students we can accept. More info about the school agenda coming soon!


Open Access, Open Data, Open Minds featured visionary ideas and inspirational speakers. It combined the 9th Prelec Lecture on excellence in healthcare informatics with dynamic leaders from influential open access initiatives, and includes panel discussions of the value and meaning of open access and open data for academics, researchers and librarians.
What Does Open Access and Open Data Mean?
Low Cost: Making research accessible and affordable.
Empowering Authors: Authors can reuse and share their own work.
Sharing & Advancing Research: Share data and collaborate with other researchers.
Meeting Mandates: Open Access and Open Data facilitate granting agencies' public access mandates.
Learn more at the Center for Scholarly Communication.
Arthur P. Grollman, MD, Distinguished Professor, Evelyn G. Glick Professor of Experimental Medicine, and Director, Laboratory for Chemical Biology- Introducing the keynote speaker.
Registration is free. Please fill out the online registration form.
Stony Brook Station is located along the Long Island Rail Road, Port Jefferson line. From Penn Station in Manhattan, travel time is approximately one and a half hours. A free shuttle service is available at Stony Brook Station to the Wang Center.
Long Island's Islip-MacArthur Airport is 16 miles from the campus and is serviced by direct flights by major airlines and commuter lines. New York City Area Airports (JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark) are 50 miles to the west.
Visitor Parking – *Disability parking is available at the Stony Brook Administration Parking Garage.
Parking is free all day Saturday and Sunday.
Meters are enforced 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday.
*Parking is free for visitors after 4 PM, Monday through Friday, at Red Faculty/Staff designated parking lot.
*Check for signs at parking lot entrances for restrictions. A complete map of Stony Brook University Parking lots and garages is available here.
For additional information about parking (including accessible parking for guests with disabilities), please see visit here.


PLANO, Texas, Nov. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced that Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer, will present at a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs U.S. Financial Services Conference 2018 at the Conrad Hotel, New York, NY on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.
The presentation will take place at 10:20 a.m. EST and will be broadcast live over the Internet at the following address: https://cc.talkpoint.com/gold006/120418a_as/?entity=2_DPYE6HF or through the Company's website at www.alliancedata.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the presentation.


"High School Musical" came out in 2006.
On January 20, 2006, Disney Channel premiered "High School Musical." The movie centered on a jock (played by then-unknown Zac Efron) falling in love with a shy, book-smart girl named Gabriella (portrayed by Vanessa Hudgens) and shaking up the norms after auditioning for the school's musical.
Catchy tracks and perfectly synchronised choreography resulted in the film being viewed by millions of people nationwide, and the soundtrack became the top-selling album of 2006.
It was also recently revealed that a new series called "High School Musical: The Musical," will be available when Disney's streaming service launches in 2019. The 10-episode show will feature a new generation of actors, rather than the familiar faces from the three films.
Keep reading to see what the cast has been up to in the 13 years since "HSM" was released.
Disney ChannelThis was Zac Efron's breakout role.
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesIn 2009, Zac Efron starred in '17 Again' and played the teenage version of Matthew Perry's character.
It's unclear when Efron and co-star Vanessa Hudgens began dating in real life, but they split in 2010.
In December 2017, the actor starred in "The Greatest Showman" alongside Zendaya and Hugh Jackman.
Disney ChannelGabriella wore a necklace with Troy's initial on it.
The 30-year-old released two albums (one in 2006 and the other in 2008). In 2012, she starred in "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" with Dwayne Johnson and "Spring Breakers" with Selena Gomez.
She recently appeared on the big screen in two films – "Dog Days" with Nina Dobrev and "Second Act" with Jennifer Lopez. Next, she'll play Maureen Johnson in FOX's "Rent: Live." You can also catch her in the new Netflix thriller "Polar," which will be available on January 25.
Disney ChannelSharpay Evans was always jealous of Troy and Gabriella's relationship.
Sharpay loved attention, and didn't appreciate people who were also gifted performers.
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for JDRF LA ChapterAshley Tisdale is BFFs with Vanessa Hudgens in real life.
Even though it has been almost 10 years since her last album dropped (she released two in 2007 and 2009), Tisdale confirmed that a third – titled "Symptoms" – is on the way and scheduled for release this fall.
Lucas Grabeel played Sharpay's brother, Ryan Evans.
Disney ChannelRyan Evans has a great sense of style.
After "HSM," Grabeel went on to voice characters on popular TV shows.
Additionally, he also starred as Toby Kennish on the drama series "Switched at Birth" and competed on the Food Network's "Chopped" in 2014. Acting aside, Grabeel is part of a folk-rock band called Midnight Holler.
When Grabeel teamed up with Tisdale in 2017 to sing "What I've Been Looking For" (popularised by the first "HSM" film) the former co-stars revealed a surprising detail about their relationship.
Grabeel added that they "didn't get off on the best foot," but nowadays they love each other.
Troy's wingman, Chad Danforth, was played by Corbin Bleu.
Disney ChannelEven though he didn't want to associate himself with musicals, Chad Danforth was clearly an impeccable dancer.
In a 2007 interview, Bleu revealed that he actually came up with the creative and fun catchphrases that were written on Chad's shirts.
"I kept the one that said, 'I worship waffles,'" he added.
The 29-year-old was also the runner-up on season 17 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and released two albums.
Disney ChannelShe is Gabriella's best friend.
Taylor was the leader of East High's scholastic decathlon team and selected as the activities coordinator at Lava Springs.
David Livingston/Getty ImagesMonique Coleman married Walter Jordan in 2012.
Aside from her Instagram being filled with inspirational messages, Coleman was named the United Nations' first-ever "Youth Champion" for her efforts to improve the lives of young people.
She is also a "Champion" for Girl Up, an organisation that strives to help young women become leaders.
Like Bleu, the 38-year-old competed on "DWTS." She participated in 2006 and finished in fourth place. Coleman still remains good friends with Bleu and sat down to interview him for an episode of her talk show, "Gimme Mo" (which airs on Discovery Life Channel).
Disney ChannelKelsi Nielsen was an introvert.
She wrote the song "You Are the Music in Me" for Troy and Gabriella.
Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for CIROCRulin was in a relationship with 'Younger' star Nico Tortorella, but the two are no longer together.


Lost near Avenue of the Arts and Bell rd in surprise. He's black and white. Has white paws with black spots and whit chest. He was wearing a red collar with white bones, no ID tag and is not chipped. Very sweet boy but very shy around people he is not familiar with.


text:
Avenatti Assault Accuser Requests Domestic Violence Protection Order
A woman filed a request Monday for a domestic-violence order of protection against lawyer Michael Avenatti, who was arrested last week after an allegation of assault, according to court records. The docket for the Los Angeles Superior Court shows a hearing on the request by Mareli Miniutti was scheduled for next month. The request was initially reported by The Blast, which identified Miniutti as an actress. Public records indicate there is only one person in the country with that name, but no phone numbers were listed for her. Avenatti—who shot to fame representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her hush-money lawsuit against President Trump—has vehemently denied hitting anyone and claimed that he is the victim of a setup. The LAPD has released few details about the allegation against Avenatti, saying only that it was lodged by a woman who had visible injuries. The application for the restraining order was not available online.


text:
DIA:logue
2021, September
2021, March
Breaking Silos to Unlock the Value of Diagnostics
Home > Expert Speak > Breaking Silos to Unlock the Value of Diagnostics
Data shows that diagnostics guides over 70% of clinical decision-making but only receives around 2 to 5% of healthcare funding.¹ Diagram magazine reports on a panel discussion in Taiwan which brought together experts from across the healthcare chain to explore ways to collaborate and harness the power of diagnostics for sustainable healthcare.
Healthcare experts gathered in Taiwan for a Panel Discussion at the 14th Asia–Pacific Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine Congress in 2016.
Diagnostics is the backbone of healthcare, yet current systems and reimbursement models fail to unlock its true value. In order to investigate this problem and facilitate solutions, Roche Diagnostics partnered with the Asia Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (APFCB) to organise a panel discussion on the sidelines of the 14th Asia–Pacific Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine Congress in 2016. The one-hour discussion brought together six healthcare leaders from the laboratory, industry, insurance and clinical sectors to share their perspectives on the value of diagnostics across the healthcare chain. From addressing what value means to different stakeholders, to identifying barriers in the appropriate use of diagnostics, the panel explored a range of ideas to drive better utilisation of laboratory medicine within the health system.
Defining value
Professor Howard Morris, Professor of Medical Sciences at the University of South Australia and a Clinical Scientist in Chemical Pathology, started the discussion by asking a fundamental question: What is "value" in healthcare? In the case of in vitro diagnostics, he said, value could be defined by how much the test results influenced the pathway of the patient through the healthcare system. "Reducing the length of time that the patient needs to be in the system and consequently, healthcare costs, is where laboratories could have a significant impact," Prof Morris said.
Take the example of chest pain, a common emergency, accounting for nearly 10% of emergency room consultations.2 Yet, diagnosing a heart attack is one of the most challenging problems faced by doctors in hospital emergency departments. This is because heart attack symptoms can range from chest pain that radiates into the arms, to jaw pain, sweating and nausea. Since these symptoms are not specific, they present additional challenges in the fast and accurate diagnosis of a heart attack.
Currently available blood tests look for elevated levels of certain proteins, including the troponin T protein, which is released during a heart attack. However, these proteins are typically only detectable three hours after a heart attack, when the muscles of the heart have already sustained damage. According to current guidelines, patients with symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, must remain in the hospital for at least three hours before receiving a diagnosis.3 This means that even patients who do not have a heart attack remain in the emergency room, using already strained resources and leading to a hospital bed shortage.
Dr Raphael Twerenbold, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, said high sensitivity troponin T testing can now speed up diagnosis of a heart attack to less than an hour instead of three to six hours. "We found that, along with ruling in a heart attack, we could also rule out a heart attack and allow patients to be discharged much earlier from the emergency department thereby saving costs and ensuring greater efficiency within the healthcare system," he said. However, new technologies or diagnostic data points are only useful if a physician can put them into context. In reality, the gap between clinical research and clinical practice can be significant, Dr Twerenbold said.
Physicians rely on a few corner stones such as the clinical presentation of the patient and existing tests and tools. Clinicians have to be brought on board to adopt the new technology and shown how it can support their work to improve patients' outcomes. Without sufficient context, new technologies can cause confusion among clinicians. This is where the diagnostic industry has a key role to play.
Left to right: Dr David Lu, Professor Howard Morris & Dr Aw Tar Choon.
Barriers to better use of diagnostics
One major obstacle in the better use of new diagnostic information, as in the case of troponin T, is the view of diagnostics as just a service. Dr Maurizio Ferrari, President of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) commented that there is still some work to be done if the laboratory doesn't want to be viewed like other services within a hospital. "We need laboratorians to see themselves as collaborators and get more involved with the clinicians in the interpretation of the data," he said.
The speakers recognised that several cultural and subjective factors limited collaborative efforts. Laboratorians can be famously introverted and tend to be siloed which is why a model for collaborative work with the physician would need to be established. As some of the more repetitive functions of laboratories are automated, there is an opportunity for laboratorians to get involved in complex clinical discussions and decision-making based on the subtleties in test results. Laboratorians must understand their evolving position within the healthcare community as it grows from that of diagnostic test service provider to a central player in ensuring quality, prevention, and cost savings for populations, said Dr Ferrari. "This changing role will call for increased collaboration between laboratory professionals and the physician community, and more sophisticated knowledge on the part of the laboratorian on how diagnostic prevention impacts health systems."
Dr Maurizio Ferrari
Such impact would also drive funding for tests. Dr David Lu, Deputy Regional Chief Medical Officer & Vice President, Life & Health Products, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd, Hong Kong acknowledged that diagnostics is fundamental to insurance. "Without diagnostics, we have no insurance. From assessment of risk, to insurance product design as well as pricing and reimbursement, it is all dependent on diagnostics," he said.
But with a plethora of new tests and biomarkers on the market, insurers are looking to fund tests that truly affect treatment decisions and outcomes for patients. Tests that provide questionable information, false positives with insufficient specificity and sensitivity all have the potential to distort the insurance market, he said.
Prof Morris said that generating evidence in laboratory medicine remained a difficult task. "Unlike the pharmaceutical industry where significant profits are being made and millions of dollars are spent to prove that a particular drug is effective in treating the disease, the diagnostic industry is simply not able to acquire the funding required to run such studies," he said.
However, this is starting to change. Lance Little, MD of Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific, said the clinical efficacy requirements to bring a new test to market were on the upswing. He cited the example of the ATHENA trial – a landmark study of HPV DNA testing efficacy in 47,000 women over seven years4. Results from the study have had a profound influence on clinical practice guidelines for cervical cancer detection5. The data showed that to be clinically useful, a test system had to be validated towards the end point of picking up disease and not just an HPV infection. This is important for cervical screening programmes as HPV infections are extremely common among young women. Only assays whose clinical sensitivity and specificity for pre-cancer lesions are validated in a properly designed prospective study would yield the kind of early detection, risk stratification and appropriate treatment targets that can save lives while reducing the costs of treating disease detected at a later stage.
As healthcare models across the world shift their emphasis from volumes to value, the speakers agreed that the academic rigour involved in large trials along with the clinical validation of diagnostic tests can raise their profile. "When patient outcomes are the basis for reimbursement, laboratory medicine specialists will need to articulate the value they bring," Prof Morris said.
Adding to this notion of value, Dr Lu talked about the role of diagnostics experts in contextualising the value that advances in personalised medicine and companion diagnostics would bring to patient care. "The value of a data point that would help the physician choose the right treatment for the patient would definitely control downstream costs. It would also help modernise the insurance packages as they are not designed with the latest diagnostics tests in mind," he said.
Mr Lance Little
Breaking silos to unlock value
The speakers then discussed strategies to realise the value of diagnostics. Dr Aw Tar Choon, Senior Consultant, Laboratory Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, said a key but often ignored area is the removal of unnecessary or unimportant tests. "It is easy to add on tests to a panel but unusual to remove them. For instance, we reviewed the data from full cardiac panels for an entire year and realised that the older markers were not providing any additional benefit," he said.
Another key issue is the place laboratory medicine occupies within medical education curricula. Dr Aw cited a study that showed the average amount of time spent in the curriculum on anatomy and physiology ranges from 16 to 300 hours. "But the median time spent on laboratory medicine, which includes most of the diagnostic tests that we do, is only eight hours. Of course, the students who then become doctors feel diffident interpreting a laboratory test result," he added.
Prof Morris said that there were considerable gaps in the way that clinicians and laboratories communicated with each other. "It is largely subjective and often does not work very well. So it is up to professional societies to initiate and enhance clinical collaborations and relationships both at an international and national level."
Dr Twerenbold said the fastest way for new tests to gain acceptance was to leverage best practice guidelines through international societies. To get maximum acceptance it was crucial to find ways for physicians to integrate the information from the laboratory test into their clinical decision-making. He said the challenging question here was who should tell the physician how to utilise the test results.
"If the industry goes to physicians and organises a talk on how to do it, it would be harder for it to get accepted," he said. Adding, "the first step was to seek the cooperation of all parties and then channel these innovations through the physician."
Dr Raphael Twerenbold
Mr Little agreed that there was a clear opportunity for the industry, scientists, physicians and laboratory medicine experts to come together to interpret diagnostic data in a way that would deliver value. If they missed this opportunity, he warned that the diagnostics industry was in danger of being disrupted by forces from outside the clinical world like Google, Apple and IBM. "There are others who can connect the dots to enable the right people to make the right decisions on behalf of the patient," he said.
When patient outcomes are the basis for reimbursement, laboratory medicine specialists need to articulate the value they bring.
Dr Aw said, "If laboratory medicine is not to be marginalised, we have to be more proactive in this area. To remain consultable and stay relevant, we must seize all the opportunities available."
In conclusion, the speakers agreed discussion and dialogue to bring about collaborative models of working were key to ensuring health systems saw the true value of diagnostics. Dr Ferrari said improved communication and sharing of best practices also had a crucial part to play. He said the pathway to such global best practices would need to be generated by the collaborative efforts of each region's medical community.
"Successful rooting of such practices will be measured by the ability of its healthcare professionals to effectively articulate the new value proposition of diagnostic testing, not only among themselves but to their policy makers, payers, and patient populations," he said.
¹European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association.
²Rubini Gimenez M, Twerenbold R, Reichlin T, et al. 2014. Eur Heart J; 35: 2303–2311. Direct comparison of high-sensitivity-cardiac troponin I vs. T for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.
³Holli A. DeVon, Nancy Hogan, et al. 2010. Time to Treatment for Acute Coronary Syndromes: The Cost of Indecision, US National Center for Biotechnology Information.
⁴www.hpv16and18.com/hcp/athena-hpv-clinical-trial/background-study-design.html. Last accessed 10 October 2016.
⁵The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2012. ACOG Practice Bulletin. Clinical Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologists: Screening for Cervical Cancer.
*The information contained in this article was extracted from Edition 2017, Vol 2.
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The Value of Diagnostic Information in Shaping Healthcare of the Future
The Role of Diagnostics in Managing Diseases as We Pave the Way to the Future
Diagnosing Heart Failure: Battling a Heart Failure Endemic, Beat by Beat
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Roche Diagram is a regional healthcare magazine published by Roche Diagnostics. As a platform to drive discussion around the value of diagnostics, our mission is to uncover the remarkable stories of healthcare experts pioneering change, clinicians who are pushing the boundaries of innovation and patients that have shared their healthcare journey with us.
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There's a Monty Python flavour on TeeFury today ... with the shirt, I notice, available with sleeves for two arms.
Gonna have to buy it!
The opening titles of Monty Python and the Holy Grail still make me snicker.
Look to the third line and say ... Ni!
For the Monty Python fan, and the optometrists, too. As seen here.
I was making Nick laugh with some of the lines from this classic Monty Python sketch, which makes fun of the tales of deprivation that elders like to pass on ... with enhancements.
I figured he might as well see the real deal.
It was a nice, bright Sunday here in St. John's - full of sunshine if not necessarily a whole lot of warmth.
1. Nick and I took our bikes out for our first spring jaunt. Beautiful day for it.
2. I hauled the barbecue out and fired it up. Hopefully more to come. The aroma was terrific.
3. Not related to the weather, but today was the first time Nick has seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail ... that is, the whole movie. I've shown him tidbits (the Camelot song, the monks who hit themselves with books, etc.) on YouTube, but now he's seen the works. When I heard him howling at the Swedish translation jokes in the Bergmanesque opening credits (and, granted, he won't get the Bergmanesque bit for years), I knew he's found a keeper that will amuse him for years and years ... just like his folks.
The age-old game of Operation gets a makeover in today's offer from TeeFury, with the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail on the table.
A nice touch: the MB logo, for Milton Bradley, has had an update. Just check the bottom-left corner.
And, just for fun, here's one of my favourite John Cleese moments.


This spectacularly designed vehicle challenges higher-priced competitors in its class! All of the premium features expected of a Subaru are offered, including: leather upholstery, lane departure warning, and the power moon roof opens up the cabin to the natural environment. Under the hood you'll find a 4 cylinder engine with more than 150 horsepower, and all wheel drive keeps this model firmly attached to the road surface.


text:
Newt Gingrich Wants a Muslim Test — Okay, Here's What It Would Look Like
by Christopher Machold | Jul 26, 2016 | Uncategorized |
In the aftermath of the ISIS-claimed attack in Nice, France, that killed more than 80 people and wounded over 200 more, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich proposed a solution: "We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in Sharia, they should be deported." By Sharia, Gingrich is apparently referring to a diverse body of Islamic prescriptions that cover personal, group and state behavior which vary according to region and scholar.
As The Atlantic noted the morning after his statement, "Sharia" doesn't mean what Gingrich thinks it means. But if Gingrich wants to explore what it would mean for the United States to enact such a policy, it's a worthy thought experiment to perform, since the former Speaker of the House has been promised a spot in apotential Trump administration.
First, we'd need to determine who is to handle such a feat. Presumably, this would be a matter for the Department of Homeland Security; deporting as many as 3.3 million peaceful American Muslims would be tough, but they could handle it with enough firepower.
But then who designs the test? According to Gingrich, Sharia is incompatible with "Western civilization," so presumably the test would need questions about both Sharia and Western philosophy. But Sharia is complex, so one would need to recruit experts to make sure the test contained the necessary questions. One might ask, though, "What if these scholars were of 'a Muslim background'?" What test do they take, before they're permitted to help the US combat terrorism? Otherwise, one could rely on discredited hatemongers like Robert Spencer, who draws sweeping and dangerous conclusions about Islam, despite no academic training. Continue Reading


text:
Q: How to plot selective data from a text file? I want to plot the vehicle acceleration and velocity (simple line graphs) of only those vehicles (vehicle IDs) which are cars (vehicle class = 2) following trucks (vehicle class = 3).
I have a DataFrame as follows:
  Vehicle ID  Vehicle Class  Lane ID Preced Veh ID  Local Y  Vehicle V  Vehicle A
0          j              2        2             0      6.0       45.0       0.50
1          i              3        2             j      5.5       37.5      -1.60
2          h              2        2             i      4.0       39.0       1.00
3          g              2        2             h      2.8       40.0       0.67
4          f              2        2             g      1.4       42.0       0.70
5          e              1        2             f      0.4       41.0       0.50
6          d              2        1             e      5.5       43.0       0.80
7          c              3        1             d      4.0       36.0      -1.30
8          b              3        1             c      2.8       34.5      -1.00
9          a              2        1             b      1.4       40.0       0.91

I can't figure out the code to SELECT only the cars following trucks (2 following 3) and then plot them.
Note: I have created this file for making it easy for me to write code, in reality, however, the text file has 18 columns and more than a million rows.

A: You can see the previous vehicle class using shift:
In [11]: df['Vehicle Class'].shift()
Out[11]:
0   NaN
1     2
2     3
3     2
4     2
5     2
6     1
7     2
8     3
9     3
Name: Vehicle Class, dtype: float64

And select those which have class 2 but the previous vehicle was class 3:
In [12]: df[(df['Vehicle Class'] == 2) & (df['Vehicle Class'].shift() == 3)]
Out[12]:
  Vehicle ID  Vehicle Class  Lane ID Preced Veh ID  Local Y  Vehicle V  Vehicle A
2          h              2        2             i      4.0         39       1.00
9          a              2        1             b      1.4         40       0.91

It's not clear to me how you want to plot this result...


The hamlet of Lewiston as seen from Hanover.
I'm a fan of the Norwich Historical Society's Friday Photo Facts posts on Facebook. It's so interesting to see the town as it once was.
Today's post features a view of the hamlet of Lewiston that no longer exists -- because a good portion of Lewiston no longer exists.
"Lewiston was named after Joseph Lewis, Norwich's first practicing physician, who moved to town in 1767 and later operated a ferry across the Connecticut River," the post says. "Most of Lewiston's buildings were torn down in 1967 for the construction of Interstate 91."
Not that I'm accusing the historical society of anything sinister, but it appears there's an ulterior motive to the post: "Join us for a tour of Lewiston, Norwich's Ghost Hamlet, on Sunday, September 9, from 1:30-3:00. Space is limited, so register here."
How cool is that? A ghost tour!
Of course, Norwich hamlets aren't simply a matter of the past. They're a facet of Norwich's present and future as well.
Don't try to check the boxes in this post! But you can comment below -- and you should take the town survey!


text:
package org.ndexbio.cxio.aspects.datamodels;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonNode;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.node.ArrayNode;

public final class DatamodelsUtil {

    final static String removeParenthesis(final String string, final ATTRIBUTE_DATA_TYPE type) {
        if (string == null) {
            return null;
        }
        String substring = string.trim();
        if (substring.equals("null")) {
            return null;
        }
        if (substring.startsWith("\"") && substring.endsWith("\"")) {
            substring = substring.substring(1, substring.length() - 1);
        }
        final boolean allow_empty_string = (type == ATTRIBUTE_DATA_TYPE.STRING);
        if (!allow_empty_string && (substring.trim().length() < 1)) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("illegal format, empty strings not allowed: " + string);
        }
        return substring;
    }

    private final static List<String> split(final String json_array) throws IOException {

        final List<String> splitted_json_elements = new ArrayList<>();
        final ObjectMapper m = new ObjectMapper();
        final JsonNode n = m.readTree(json_array);

        if (n.isArray()) {
            final ArrayNode arrayNode = (ArrayNode) n;
            for (int i = 0; i < arrayNode.size(); i++) {
                final JsonNode individualElement = arrayNode.get(i);
                splitted_json_elements.add(individualElement.asText());
            }
        }
        return splitted_json_elements;
    }

    public final static List<String> parseStringToStringList(final String string) throws IOException {
        final List<String> l = new ArrayList<>();
        if (string == null) {
            return null;
        }
        final String str = string.trim();
        if (str.startsWith("[") && str.endsWith("]")) {
            final List<String> str_split = split(str);
            for (String s : str_split) {
                if (s.equals("null")) {
                   l.add(null);
                }
                else {
                    l.add(s);
                }
            }
        }
        else {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("parsing string to string list: illegal format: expected to begin and end with square brackets, instead got : " + str);
        }
        return l;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
They hate nothing more than own words: Tony Perkins debates legitimacy of fully sourced quotes
By Jeremy Hooper, Guest Contributor |
Clearly the most obvious reason why the anti-LGBT movement annoys me has to do with their insistence that certain kinds of human beings are somehow less deserving of equality, less capable of morality, less in need of decent treatment, and generally less fit for their game we call life. But while the aggressive agenda that has forced all of us into decades of contrived "culture war" is the most glaring injustice that the self-appointed "values" crowd has imposed onto public life, there is another component of the opposition movement that is downright stupefying.
I'm talking about the way so many of the professional activists on the other side seem to be almost proud of making the most obtuse and anti-intellectual arguments possible. Whereas good political actors strive to raise the debate, making really tough concepts a little easier to understand while giving childishly simple notions a positive tone designed to unify, the professional anti-LGBT activists seem to take great pride (but not of the parade variety) in reducing the debate to ridiculous talking points that mean absolutely nothing, a tone of fear that is designed to frighten and divide us as a people, and an overall dumbed-down spirit that prizes myopia and misunderstanding as much as (if not more than) the more exploratory thinkers among us cherish accuracy and nuance.
Which leads me to last night's segment from Fox News, wherein primetime host Megyn Kelly hosted viciously anti-LGBT Family Research Council president Tony Perkins for what seems to be his standing gig on her eponymous show. The subject was that latest reality TV show controversy, which I have less-than-zero desire to rehash here; Google it if you're not familiar. Instead, I want you to just focus on the way Tony spins his way out of the pertinent issues that Megyn, to her credit, put in front of him:
[SOURCE: Fox News]
Alright, so let's discuss this. Right Wing Watch is, in fact, a partisan site that is, by name and labor, designed to challenge right-leaning (and particularly far-right) talking points. That much is true. But what is also true is that RWW is a site that largely consists of audio clips, video snippets, press releases, and other ephemera that conservative pundits and media outlets contribute to the debate. There is very little outside commentary on RWW. For the most part, a post on that site consists of a brief set up, the clip at the center of the discussion, some links to other pertinent things the commentator or media outlet in question might have said, and maybe a closing thought or two.
You might agree or disagree with the view of the RWW site and its editors. However, the facts are solid. RWW always sources its clips, reliably links out to the source material, and takes strides to ensure that all of the information is there. Within that context, the reader is free to agree or disagree. The clip in question might lead one to question or strengthen his political beliefs. However, there should be no dispute about the data. The clips are the clips; the words are the words. This is true if it's a clip from Tony Perkins radio show that appears on RWW or if it's a copy of the U.S. Constitution that appears on an anti-LGBT website. Regardless of how we feel about the editorial purview of the site, the raw data is what it is.
But here's the thing: even if you don't want to trust RWW's data, there is an easy fix. RWW provides the direct links to every single thing that Megyn Kelly mentioned! In the case of David Benham saying we need to stop "homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation," RWW provided a direct link (through a back link to its initial post on the subject) back to the 5/9/2012 edition of The Janet Mefferd Show where Mr. Benham made his comments. If you don't trust RWW's snip, you can go listen to the full interview for yourself.
When it comes to Benham citing what he sees as a biblical death penalty that he believes speaks to homosexuality as we know it, RWW didn't just quote his words verbatim—writer Brian Tashman provided a direct link to the Christian Post commentary where Mr. Benham made his claims. If Tony Perkins feels like the words hold more value on the Christian Post site, he can read them there instead. It won't change anything.
And the truth is that Mr. Benham's rhetoric goes even further. GLAAD's own Commentator Accountability Project has rounded up (and sourced and linked) many more incidents of animus from Mr. Benham. Whether or not he has said these things is not up for debate. However, I can guarantee you that if I presented Tony Perkins with the link to Mr. Benham's GLAAD CAP profile, Tony would do the exact same thing and try to attack the veracity of Benham's quotes, simply because they appear on GLAAD's website. Just like with RWW, it wouldn't matter to Tony that all of the quotes are presented intact and linked out to their sources. I know it wouldn't matter because I've had countless figures from Tony Perkins' allied movement tell me exactly that whenever I present them with the solid data. They use the fact that they dislike and disagree with GLAAD as a way of discrediting the hard facts.
What Tony did in his Kelly File appearance is a perfect encapsulation of the really terrible mindset that the anti-LGBT movement, in general, brings to the debate. When we raise pertinent points, they respond with meaningless talking points. When we say we won't to have a debate about civil rights, they resort to biblical opinion. When we push back against something discriminatory that they said or did, they turn themselves into the "victims" of "free speech." And when we show then their own words, intact and beyond any reasonable debate, they act like we and our friends in the entertainment industry colluded to make up that which they themselves put on the record. If you track this stuff with any regularity, as I do, it can feel like living in a bizarro world—one where the war on critical thinking feels almost as stifling and in some ways as damaging as the fight against tangible rights.
And why do they keep doing it? Well, did you hear Megyn Kelly push back against Tony's spin?
Tony Perkins,
Megyn Kelly,
Fox News,
#glaadcap


1. Brown vegan sausage in skillet. In a large crockpot, combine all chili ingredients. Cook on desired "smart pot" setting or at medium high for 3 hours.
2. For cornbread, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and mix well. In a smaller bowl, do the same for the wet ingredients. Mix in corn.
3. Pour the wet into the dry, and stir until just mixed. Set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, take a well oiled skillet and heat over medium heat until hot. Pour in the batter and smooth. Drizzle with more syrup for pretty browning.
4. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
I made the chili and the cornbread on separate occasions. The chili was ok-- the barbecue sauce flavor was overwhelming, even after my husband added an entire extra can of diced tomatoes to try to dilute it a bit. The cornbread recipe made a *ton* of batter, and I had at least two cups' worth left over after filling my cast-iron skillet. The cornbread was quite crumbly-- perhaps an egg substitute would help it stick together better?-- and the flavor, while not bad, was definitely not as good as other vegan cornbread I've had.


text:
NYSE:DSW - Designer Brands Stock Price, News, & Analysis
Adding Designer Brands Inc
Now: $17.93▼
MA: $18.88▼
Volume1.31 million shs
Average Volume3.05 million shs
Market Capitalization$1.44 billion
P/E Ratio10.80
Dividend Yield4.44%
DSW Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a branded footwear and accessories retailer in the United States. The company offers dresses, casual and athletic footwear, and accessories under various brands for women, men, and kids. It also provides handbags, hosiery, jewelry, and other accessories. As of March 14, 2018, the company operated 515 stores in 44 states; dsw.com, an e-commerce site; and m.dsw.com, a mobile site, as well as supplied footwear to 289 leased locations in the United States. Read More…
Stock Exchange NYSE
Industry Shoe stores
Sub-IndustryApparel Retail
SectorRetail/Wholesale
Current SymbolNYSE:DSW
CUSIP23334L10
CIK1319947
Webhttp://www.dsw.com/
Debt-to-Equity Ratio0.19
Current Ratio2.06
Quick Ratio0.67
Trailing P/E Ratio10.80
Forward P/E Ratio9.64
P/E Growth1.35
Annual Sales$3.18 billion
Price / Sales0.45
Cash Flow$2.1194 per share
Price / Cash Flow8.46
Book Value$10.36 per share
Price / Book1.73
EPS (Most Recent Fiscal Year)$1.66
Net Income$-20,470,000.00
Net Margins-0.64%
Return on Equity14.76%
Return on Assets9.03%
Outstanding Shares80,350,000
Market Cap$1.44 billion
OptionableOptionable
DSW Rates by TradingView
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Designer Brands (NYSE:DSW) Frequently Asked Questions
What is Designer Brands' stock symbol?
Designer Brands trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "DSW."
How often does Designer Brands pay dividends? What is the dividend yield for Designer Brands?
Designer Brands announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, March 20th. Investors of record on Monday, April 1st will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share on Friday, April 12th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.58%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 29th. View Designer Brands' Dividend History.
How will Designer Brands' stock buyback program work?
Designer Brands announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, August 23rd 2017, which authorizes the company to buyback $500,000,000.00 in shares, according to EventVestor. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 33.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.
How were Designer Brands' earnings last quarter?
Designer Brands Inc (NYSE:DSW) announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March, 19th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing the Zacks' consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.11. The firm earned $843.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $842.73 million. Designer Brands had a positive return on equity of 14.76% and a negative net margin of 0.64%. The company's revenue was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.38 earnings per share. View Designer Brands' Earnings History.
What price target have analysts set for DSW?
11 analysts have issued 1-year target prices for Designer Brands' stock. Their predictions range from $22.00 to $33.00. On average, they expect Designer Brands' share price to reach $29.00 in the next year. This suggests a possible upside of 61.7% from the stock's current price. View Analyst Price Targets for Designer Brands.
What is the consensus analysts' recommendation for Designer Brands?
11 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Designer Brands in the last year. There are currently 10 hold ratings and 1 buy rating for the stock, resulting in a consensus recommendation of "Hold." View Analyst Ratings for Designer Brands.
What are Wall Street analysts saying about Designer Brands stock?
Here are some recent quotes from research analysts about Designer Brands stock:
1. According to Zacks Investment Research, "DSW Inc. is a leading branded footwear and accessories retailer that offers a wide selection of brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear and accessories for women, men and kids. DSW operates 514 stores in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and operates an e-commerce site, http://www.dsw.com, and a mobile website, http://m.dsw.com. DSW also supplies footwear to 351 leased locations in the United States under the Affiliated Business Group. DSW also owns Ebuys, Inc., a leading off price footwear and accessories retailer operating in digital marketplaces in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The company also owns private-label footwear brands including Audrey Brooke, Kelly & Katie, Lulu Townsend, and Poppie Jones. " (3/11/2019)
2. Canaccord Genuity analysts commented, "We are cautious on DSW ahead of FQ2 results on Tuesday, August 28 BMO as we believe the company's strategies to drive traffic have come at the expense of margins. Specifically, the structural change to offer free shipping took hold in early May, kids shoes became available across all DSW stores in mid-July, noticeable store-wide promotions were broadly advertised, and elevated expense investments have likely persisted. We appreciate the company's efforts to spur traffic; however, we believe the recent strategies undertaken, while necessary, are expensive and margin degrading. With that said, we are raising our Q2 EPS estimate to 47c from 44c on a 6% comp estimate (up from 1.5%) partially offset by lower merchandise margins." (8/17/2018)
Has Designer Brands been receiving favorable news coverage?
Media headlines about DSW stock have been trending somewhat positive this week, InfoTrie reports. InfoTrie scores the sentiment of news coverage by analyzing more than six thousand news and blog sources in real-time. The firm ranks coverage of companies on a scale of -5 to 5, with scores closest to five being the most favorable. Designer Brands earned a news sentiment score of 2.0 on InfoTrie's scale. They also assigned news articles about the company a news buzz of 10.0 out of 10, meaning that recent news coverage is extremely likely to have an effect on the company's share price in the near term. View News Stories for Designer Brands.
Who are some of Designer Brands' key competitors?
Some companies that are related to Designer Brands include Foot Locker (FL), Designer Brands (DBI), Boot Barn (BOOT), Genesco (GCO), Shoe Carnival (SCVL) and Finish Line (FINL).
What other stocks do shareholders of Designer Brands own?
Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other Designer Brands investors own include CA (CA), Endologix (ELGX), BlackRock (BLK), Hawkins (HWKN), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), Aegean Marine Petroleum Network (ANW), Athabasca Oil (ATH), Och-Ziff Capital Management Group (OZM), Precision Drilling (PD) and Gran Tierra Energy (GTE).
Who are Designer Brands' key executives?
Designer Brands' management team includes the folowing people:
Mr. Jay L. Schottenstein, Exec. Chairman (Age 65)
Mr. Roger L. Rawlins, CEO & Director (Age 52)
Ms. Deborah L. Ferrée, Vice Chairman & Pres (Age 65)
Mr. Jared A. Poff, Exec. VP & CFO (Age 46)
Mr. William L. Jordan, Exec. VP & Pres of DSW (Age 47)
How do I buy shares of Designer Brands?
Shares of DSW can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include Vanguard Brokerage Services, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Scottrade, Fidelity and Charles Schwab.
What is Designer Brands' stock price today?
One share of DSW stock can currently be purchased for approximately $17.93.
How big of a company is Designer Brands?
Designer Brands has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion and generates $3.18 billion in revenue each year. The company earns $-20,470,000.00 in net income (profit) each year or $1.66 on an earnings per share basis. Designer Brands employs 16,100 workers across the globe.View Additional Information About Designer Brands.
What is Designer Brands' official website?
The official website for Designer Brands is http://www.dsw.com/.
How can I contact Designer Brands?
Designer Brands' mailing address is 810 DSW DRIVE, COLUMBUS OH, 43219. The company can be reached via phone at 614-237-7100 or via email at [email protected]
MarketBeat Community Rating for Designer Brands (NYSE DSW)
Outperform Votes: 600 (Thanks for Voting!)
Underperform Votes: 704 (Thanks for Voting!)
Total Votes: 1,304
MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Designer Brands and other stocks. Vote "Outperform" if you believe DSW will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote "Underperform" if you believe DSW will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.
Featured Article: What are catch-up contributions?


Knowledge of CT Radiographic principles and procedures as well as operation and maintenance of Radiographic equipment as normally acquired through completion of 2 years post high school training in an approved School of Radiologic Technology is required.
2 years of technical experience preferred.
Licensed by the State of Illinois of Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (INDS) in Radiology .Registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART).
The CT Tech operates equipment to prouder high quality cross-sectional images of patients' bones, organs and tissue used to diagnose medical conditions. Prepares patients for these diagnostic procedures by explaining the process and positioning patients to correctly capture the images requested by a physician.
40 hours per pay period; day/evening shift – every weekend rotation.
1 to 2 years Radiology experience preferred.
IV start skills preferred. Anatomy, physiology, pathology - Thorough understanding of physiology and cross sectional anatomy. Able to appropriately identifies pathology to alert interpreting physician and/or to modify patient care.
CT Technologist - Provides computed tomography imaging in accordance with applicable scope and standards of practice and with the policies, values, and mission of the organization.
This position is part-time, 40 hours/biweekly pay period, rotating days.
The Cat Scan Technologist is responsible for, selecting proper technical factors for examinations, access IV site and administered the contrast media. Performs Medication Management including storage, rotation and temperature requirements.
Prepares oral contrast. Knowledge of PACS, completing and sending images and the scanning of documents. Reconstructs/ post process images according to protocols.
Disposes of biomedical waste using CDC and OSHA guidelines. Must follow all Federal, State and hospital health safety codes especially in reference to Radiation, electrical and mechanical safety. Adequately explain procedures to patients.
Maintain registration with ARRT including CE credits. Proficient in the use of MediTech (RIS).
Understands written and verbal instructions. Manual dexterity for manipulating function of equipment.
Graduate of an approved school for Radiologic Technology. Licensed for New York State in Radiologic technology including permit for injections. Registered or eligible by American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; advanced certification preferred.
Maintains a courteous and professional manner toward all patients.
Performs CAT Scan procedures following protocols established by the Radiologists.
Performs IR procedures such as biopsies and drainages.
Maintenance of equipment/supplies, maintains paperwork associated with job function.
Maintains clean and neat work area.
Excellent organizational and communication skills needed to effectively orchestrate daily workflow of patients.
Participates in Departmental On Call and Holiday Requirements.
Experience with Pediatrics and Cardiac preferred but not necessary.
Current BLS Certification (Basic Life Support).
Current ARRT License (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists).
Current NJ-RADTECH License (Radiologic Technologist).
ARRT Board Certified in Computed Tomography preferred. If not at the time of hire, within 12 months of employment.
Departmental extensions on a case by case basis, based on job performance.
Join our family of highly skilled CT Technologists at St. Vincent's Medical Center Riverside!
St. Vincent's Riverside is home to the largest cardiovascular program between Atlanta and Orlando.
Consumer Reports named it one of the top five performers in knee replacements in the U.S. In 2015, Healthgrades called the hospital one of America's 100 best for spinal surgery. St. Vincent's Riverside was the first in Duval County to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the hospital has partnered with Mayo Clinic to bring its expertise in cancer care to Riverside.
In addition, St. Vincent's Riverside has repeatedly earned 'A' patient safety scores from The Leapfrog Group.
Strength in our People: At Ascension, we believe our people are our strength and we invest in them.
In addition to the chance to have a positive impact on the people and communities we serve, associates benefit from significant professional opportunities, career advancement, and training. We also support work-life balance and spirituality in the workplace.
The CT Simulation Technologist coordinates and produces high quality CT imaging of the radiation oncology patient by utilizing proper equipment, computers, and established techniques in a manner that promotes optimal radiation treatment planning.
Review prescription, simulation order, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification before performing CT simulation.
Position patients for CT Simulation with accuracy, according to prescription.
Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and othersALARA.
Follow CT parameters outlined in CT Simulation Protocol book.
Properly document simulation parameters and complete additional documents per policy in the EMR.
Check CT and simulation equipment to ensure proper operation following established quality assurance and warm-up procedures.
Reports machine and equipment problems following the established procedure.
Observe and reassure patients during simulation process.
Respond to medical emergencies by calling 911 and notifying the physician, nurse and supervisor on duty immediately. Document the time 911 is called and the time responders arrive.
Assigns Tasks using the electronic medical record (EMR) to communicate pending work.
Maintain a productive relationship with Physicians, therapy, physics and dosimetry departments.
Follow the code of ethics and practice standards set by the ARRT and ASRT.
Compliant with all licensure and certification requirements to perform job as required by applicable State licensing, ARRT and company policy.
Reports work related injuries to the supervisor immediately.
Reports unsafe equipment or work conditions to supervisor immediately.
Acknowledge new or revised policies and procedures through in-service documentation form.
Participates in OSHA related activities, including drills.
Ensure that required competencies and mandatory training and compliance activities are completed as assigned.
Notifies supervisor of sick time before the start of next scheduled shift and days thereafter.
Requests vacation time in advance in order for the supervisor to arrange coverage.
Review expiration dates of all supplies in CT simulation room monthly and remove expired supplies from service.
Cleans and maintains water bath per manufactures guidelines and company policy.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle safely from location to location.
Exude an attitude of customer service to patients and staff within an office.
Graduate of an approved School for Radiologic Technology.
Must be in good standing with all CE and license requirements.
Must adhere to HIPPA guidelines with the handling of confidential patient information.
Must ensure positive interactions in dealing with patients and other staff members.
One year of work experience as a CT Technologist is preferred.
State of Washington Registration as a Radiologic Technologist.


text:
Belgrave Heights Convention
This is a review in the series 'Organisations accredited by the CMA Standards Council'. The CMA Standards Council is 'a ministry of Christian Ministry Advancement'[1], with a mission "to help build faith and trust in Christian organisations, be they churches, charities, schools or otherwise, to enable them to achieve more effective outcomes[2].
The 18th member, 'Belgrave Heights Convention'[3], was recently added[4] to the 'Directory of Accredited Partners'.[5]
The website linked from the Directory goes to a website in the same name, 'Belgrave Heights Convention'. Here they seek online donations.
The charity regulator, the ACNC, in their article, Donating to Legitimate Charities, gives "some things to consider to help you make sure your donation is going where it is intended":
Check the charity's name.
Ask for identification from anyone seeking a donation.
Be careful of online requests for donations.
No tax deduction doesn't mean the charity is not a legitimate one, and
Find out more about how the charity says it uses donations.
Here's the results for 'Belgrave Heights Convention', with #5 supplemented by the essentials of the ACNC's What should I consider when deciding which charity to support?[6]
A search on the ACNC Register of charities for 'Belgrave Heights Convention' gives a charity in that name (BHC).
Business names:
There is no mention of fundraising licences on the website[7], nor in the Financial Report.
BHC holds a fundraising licence only in Victoria.
Nothing in BHC's public materials indicates that it uses either volunteer or professional door-to-door or street collectors.
BHC's web address has a 'closed padlock symbol next to the website's URL in the address bar', so the website is secure [the first ACNC article above].
But there is no information on the first three pages of the donation process about the security of your information.
'Will my donation be tax deductible?' on the charity's ACNC Register record shows that no tax deduction is available.
Only for online giving is tax deductibility mentioned.
Question 5: Where's the money go?
The ACNC Register shows that BHC has one program, 'Bible-teaching conventions'. (The 'About' page on the website shows the aim of these conventions.)[8]
Sharing the Gospel?[9]
This is not what they are about.
The audited account of how donations are used is the Financial Report on the ACNC Register.
The directors' declaration about the statements
The directors signed a declaration [Directors' Declaration, Financial Report 2020] that
For this to be true, the directors must have chosen the correct type of financial statements. T
The directors chose special purpose financial statements over general purpose. These are only relevant where all the users can ring the BHC's office and command the preparation of financial statements tailored to their needs. If they can't do this, then the users are dependent on a regulator to specify the form and content of the financial statements. As users, you are then 'potentially interested in the information provided in general purpose financial reports'[10].
The requirements of special purpose statements are less onerous than those of general purpose. The two main omissions are consolidated financial statements and the disclosure of related parties and their transactions.
With revenue of $1.07 million from multiple distinct sources, including hundreds of paying attendees at conventions, professional management, 100 volunteers, the receipt of government grants, and membership open to the public, the choice of special purpose statements is highly questionable. Which means the directors have made a highly questionable declaration (see below for who they were).
Not something that one would expect from a charity given the stamp of high standards by the CMA Standards Council, the evangelical standards body[11].
The auditor, Matthew Hung, CA, rdl.accountants, agreed with the directors' choice. This again is a highly questionable decision, both because of the argument given above, and this opinion of his professional body[12]:
Additional issues
There are several other issues with the Financial Report that one would not expect from a charity that says it is a cut above the rest in financial reporting:
The Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income does not fully comply with the Accounting Standards.
The Statement of Changes in Equity does not fully comply with the Accounting Standards.
The Notes to the Financial Statements… is incomplete.
Who was responsible?
From the Directors' Report [Financial Report 2020], these are the people responsible for the above reporting:
Anthony Burgum
Richard Coombs
Andrew Rayment
Timothy White
The ACNC Register shows that, since this time, David Lau has joined the board. (Is it this David Lau?)
The directors are accountable to the members, but there are only 12 of them, and as directors must be members, there is effectively no accountability here.
Where the donations went
These are the major expenses (from the Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income):
'Employment – Properties' 148K
'Employment – Ministry and Admin' 133K
'Depreciation' 97K
'Other Property Expenses' 96K
'Maintenance' 60K
'Insurance' 51K
Everything BHC is doing may be being done 'properly'[13], but unless the money is producing the change in people that the charity intends (i.e., an impact), the money would be better used elsewhere. And the same applies if the impact is less than is being achieved by another charity.
There is no mention of the impact of the work on the website.
Standard 5.6 of the CMA Standards council standards (see above) requires that regular program evaluations. There is no mention of evaluations on the website.
Charity response
We sent a draft of this review to the charity. This was their response:
Thank you for sending us a copy of your review. We will look over it carefully and if we believe that it is necessary to take any action in relation to the matters you have raised, we shall do so.
Linked added by us. ↑
Emphasis in original. ↑
It achieved this by meeting the Council's 'Principles and Standards of Responsible Stewardship', and therefore is able to be promoted as a 'high quality organisation'. ↑
Having the list of accredited organisations on a site that is not secure is inconsistent with this building of 'faith and trust':
A section in the article, Donating and Volunteering:
Focus on the nature of the charity's work, its beneficiaries and the impact the charity is having in the community.
Is it clear what the charity is trying to achieve and how its activities work towards its objectives?
Would you like to spend your money, or time if volunteering, to support these objectives?
Is the charity being transparent about its activities?
They also have three Facebook pages: general, women, and business. ↑
If you are interested in BHC's history, see here and here. ↑
'When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett says this about sharing the Gospel: 'A host of contextual issues determine the best manner and the appropriate time to present the gospel verbally, particularly in militant Muslim or Hindu settings. But without such a presentation, it is not possible for people to be personally transformed in all their relationships, which is what poverty alleviation is all about [Kindle Locations 1262-1264, Moody Publishers] ↑
From Objective of General Purpose Financial Reporting (SAC2), www.aasb.gov.au. ↑
http://www.cmasc-generosity.net.au/directory.php:
Enhancing Not-for-Profit Annual and Financial Reporting, March 2013, accessed from their website March 2020. ↑
The behaviour of its people, its use of money, and how it goes about its business. ↑
PUBLISHED: 27/10/2021 BY: Ted Sherwood IN : Charities, Charity reviews, CMA Standards Council


text:
New Harvard Forest Publication: Structural Comparisons of Old and Second Growth Hemlock Forests
Old-growth forests are valuable sources of ecological, conservation, and management information, yet these ecosystems have received little study in New England, due in large part to their regional scarcity. To increase our understanding of the structures and processes common in these rare forests, former REU (2000) and Ph.D. (2007) student Tony D'Amato along with HF ecologists David Orwig and David
Scientist featured in Science Magazine
Harvard Forest Scientist Kristina Stinson recently talked with Science Magazine about her career path and her work on invasive plants at Harvard Forest. The profile was part of journalist Elisabeth Pain's series on forest ecology. Read the entire article.
Climate Change: a Retrospective Look
The National Science Foundation has awarded $465,000 for a collaborative research project involving scientists from Harvard Forest, Emerson College, Brown University, and the University of Wyoming. The research will explore the potential for abrupt shifts in species abundances and assemblages to result from interactions between gradual, long-term changes in climate and episodic drought, fire, or human activities. The retrospective project
New Harvard Forest Publication: Agrarian Landscapes in Transition
New Book Examines the History of Agriculture, Ecological Change and Conservation across the U.S.
The introduction, spread, and abandonment of agriculture represents the most pervasive alteration of the earth's environment in recorded history. This new volume edited by Charles Redman from Arizona State University and David


text:
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