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Movie Review: "The Masque of the Red Death" (1964)
by Berthold Gambrel on October 21, 2020 October 21, 2020
This film is based on the famous short story by Edgar Allan Poe. If you haven't read it, now would be a good time to do so. Don't worry; it's very short, and it's one of the greatest stories ever written.
The film begins with an old woman gathering firewood in a bleak landscape when she encounters a strange figure clad entirely in red. And right away, we suspect there is something odd going on, because Edgar Allan's story makes no mention of any peasant women gathering wood.
The figure in red hands the woman a rose, and tells her to take it to her village and inform them that their day of deliverance is at hand.
She returns to the village, just as the wicked Prince Prospero (Vincent Price) is arriving. The people of the village live in poverty as Prospero reigns over them. Two of the village men, Gino (David Weston) and Ludovico (Nigel Green), stand up to Prospero, and he is on the point of having them executed when Francesca (Jane Asher) pleads for clemency. Just then they are interrupted by a scream, and Prospero and his guards find the old woman who brought the prophecy of deliverance has died of the plague known as the Red Death. Prospero leaves the village, orders his men to burn it down, and takes Ludovico, Gino and Francesca as his prisoners.
Again, I can't stress this enough: so far, almost none of this has any relationship to Poe's story. We have a guy named Prospero and a thing called the Red Death, but otherwise it might as well be a different story.
Could it be because Poe's story is 14 paragraphs long and takes about ten minutes to read? Maybe it's not ideally suited for a 90-minute film? Well, as we'll see, the writers came up with, um, creative ways of dealing with this problem.
Come to think of it, Poe's story didn't mention any naked women in bathtubs either, but that's what we get next: Francesca is taken to the chambers of Prospero's mistress, Juliana (Hazel Court) and stripped not only of her peasant garb, but of the cross which she wears around her neck. Prospero orders her to remove this symbol of a "dead god."
Prospero and Juliana are in the habit of holding orgiastic Court balls, at which Prospero orders the guests to abase themselves in various ways, such as imitating animals–he commands a man to crawl like a worm and woman to walk on her hands and knees in imitation of a donkey. He is a hedonistic, cruel, and in the very worst sense, decadent man.
He is also a Satanist, as we discover through his conversations with Francesca. And a weirdly pragmatic Satanist at that. The world is cruel, he reasons, and so there can be no God of Love, as described in the Christian tradition. But his conception of the deity is not as a God of Hate, but rather one of "reality." The world is full of evil, and thus must be ruled by evil, according to Prospero's thinking. As he explains:
"The world lives in pain and despair, but is at least kept alive by a few dedicated men. If we lost our power, chaos would engulf everything."
This is the best Vincent Price performance I've ever seen, precisely because he's so calm, so almost rational, in the way he explains his malignant philosophy. With Price, there was always a hint of a wink to the audience that he knew this whole thing was a bit silly anyway. That element is still here in his performance as Prospero, but instead of seeming like a trait of the actor, it seems like one of the character. It's as if, as he lives out his nihilistic beliefs, he's come to see it all as a meaningless joke. Which makes him all the more terrifying. And here we do at last see some overlap with Poe's story, wherein he writes of "the utterly lost, to whom life and death are equally jests."
Speaking of jests, now's as good a time as any to bring up the fact that there is a sub-plot running through this film that's based on another Poe story, Hop-Frog. There's a jester called Hop-Toad who seeks revenge against one of the other royals at Prospero's court. It's a weird story that doesn't add a lot, although it's not wholly out of step with the rest of the piece. I don't have a lot to say about it. It's just weird. But then, this is weird fiction, right?
Anyway, Juliana has grown jealous of the attention Prospero is giving Francesca and so she…
Actually, wait. First, let me give you more background on Juliana. She's already asked to join Prospero's cult. She's been engaging in various Satanic rituals with him, including branding herself with an inverted cross. So, what do you think she does to Francesca?
That's right! She gives her the key to the dungeon where Gino and Ludovico are being held and tells her the outer guard has been bribed so they can escape. They flee from the dungeons, Gino and Ludovico stabbing a few guards as they go. They reach the castle exterior, but are met there by Prospero.
Francesca's first thought is "Juliana betrayed us," which is what I assumed too, but then Prospero snarls that Juliana betrayed him. To me, this says that Juliana really was trying to help. And I have to ask… why? It seems rather out of character. Seems to me Juliana would have been more likely to arrange some unfortunate accident for Francesca.
This is the midpoint of the movie. The three good characters are recaptured, seemingly with no hope for escape. Prince Prospero is devising more cruel tortures for them, while preparing for his grand masquerade ball. So, naturally I'm going to pause to talk about dramatic tropes.
In many ways, this movie is just a classic Gothic melodrama, of the sort that had been a cliché for over a century: the evil nobleman kidnaps the innocent maiden and must be stopped by the brave hero. This is such a well-worn trope that it practically exists only as a parody of itself. W.S. Gilbert was making fun of how silly it was about 90 years before this film was made.
Poe's story, on the other hand, is not at all a stock melodrama. It has no heroes. It has no virginal maidens. It barely even has a plot. It has instead a series of strange and expertly-rendered scenes, which vividly impress themselves upon the mind of the reader, creating an uncanny mood of despair. I very rarely go in for symbolist interpretations of fiction, but here? The colors of the different rooms in the Prince's castle, the chiming of the great clock of ebony, the Red Death itself–all point to a story being told on a level beyond rationality and firmly in the realm of allegory.
It's pretty normal for film adaptations to make a story much more formulaic than the book it's based on. Often, there's not as much time for all the details and nuances of a book in a film. In this case, it's probably more to do with the fact that audiences expect a typical three-act structure with recognizable heroes and villains. A truly faithful adaptation of Poe's story would be a weird art film that no one would understand. Studio execs would never give funding for that. They want a film with good guys and bad guys and blood and near-naked ladies and sword fights!
But here is where it gets interesting. A typical story would just be adapted into the formula and everything that made it different or interesting would stripped out. The result is a film that's dull and predictable. Not quite with Masque of the Red Death though. This one is so weird that it actually resisted the formula and stayed weird anyway. In fact, it might be even weirder because of this strange mashup of Gothic tropes, the eerie imagery of Poe's original story, and a dash of psychedelic 1960s Satanism thrown in.
For an example of the last, I give you the scene in which Juliana pledges herself to The Evil One. She takes a drink of something, and then has a hallucination where she is strapped to an altar while bizarre demonic figures dance around her and make thrusting and stabbing motions at her while she writhes in terror. Gosh, I wonder if this was meant to symbolize anything? (Rosemary's Baby was made four years later, in case you were wondering. The 1960s was a good decade for the Prince of Darkness's cinematic career.)
After this vision ends, she considers herself betrothed to the Devil. And then for some reason she gets pecked to death by a falcon of Prospero's that hangs around the giant clock. The guests are horrified on discovering her body, but Prospero only smirks, "Celebrate for Juliana–she's just married a friend of mine."
Some readers may be aware that I don't enjoy fiction that depicts violence against women, and it's a testament to just how cheesy the special effects here are that I was able to watch this. The hallucination scene is creepy but vague enough I could handle it. The bird attack is simply ridiculous.
In the meantime, Prospero has devised a challenge of poisoned daggers for Gino and Ludovico, since they refuse to fight one another to the death. The challenge results in Ludovico's death and Prospero bizarrely letting Gino flee into the countryside, on the assumption that he too will be killed by the Red Death raging outside the castle walls.
In the desolate forest, Gino meets the Red-robed figure from the opening scene, who gives him a Tarot card. He then goes on to find the few survivors of the plague-riddled village making their way to Prospero's castle to seek sanctuary. Care to guess how that works out for them? Put it this way: at the end of it, all of them are executed by Prospero's crossbowmen except for one child, who is left to wander outside the walls.
And now at last Prospero's masquerade begins. The Prince himself appears to be dressed as Omar Sharif's character from Lawrence of Arabia. Who wore it better?
There is only one rule at the Prince's debauched orgy: no one is to wear red. Anything else goes, including Hop-Toad setting one of the guests on fire. Like the man said, "to whom life and death are equally jests…"
Gino has managed to scale the walls of the castle, where he again meets the figure in red, who tells him to wait outside, and he will send Francesca out to him. This has to be a moment of mixed emotions for Gino–here he was, all set to be the hero of the piece, and he gets told to stand and wait by some mysterious apparition. We don't see him again for the rest of the film. This is what I mean about Poe's weirdness beating the formula.
When Prospero sees the figure in red moving among the revelers, he pursues him through the colored rooms, until at last reaching the black room, where he bows before the figure, believing him to be Satan himself. The red figure declares it is time for a new dance to begin–a "dance of death." At which point, all the guests die of the Red Death, but continue to dance.
The Red figure sends Francesca outside, and then tells Prospero that he is not Satan, nor a servant of his, for "Death has no master." Further, "Each man creates his own God for himself – his own Heaven, his own Hell," he tells Prospero, who then demands the figure unmask, revealing the face underneath the hood to be Prospero's own, only covered with blood. In terror, the prince tries to flee, but is blocked by the bloody corpses of his guests and finally crumbles into death near his own black Satanist altar, at the hand of the Red figure.
The final scene is an epilogue of sorts, revealing the Red figure again in the desolate forest from the beginning of the film, playing with the young child abandoned outside the castle. More robed figures in different colors appear, each telling of how many they have claimed that night. The red figure pronounces that only six remain alive in his territory: the child, Francesca and Gino, Hop-Toad and his lover, and an old man. "Sic transit gloria Mundi," the figure murmurs, and then they file off in a funereal procession, and the credits roll.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Poe's story is an allegory for the inevitability of death. The Masque of the Red Death is frequently used in high schools to teach how allegory works because it's such a slam-dunk; you can't miss it.
But is that also the theme of the movie? I'm not sure. Moreover, I don't think the people who made the movie were sure.
There are a lot of mixed messages in this movie. Francesca, Ludovico and Gino are pious and devoted Christians–except, as Prospero points out, Ludovico and Gino both kill guards in their attempt to escape, which by their own religion is a sin. Shouldn't they have been willing to be martyred instead, like the early Christians executed in the Roman arena? And Francesca ultimately is willing to pledge herself to Prospero, if he will spare Gino's life. Is this not a betrayal of her faith?
Maybe not. After all, Gino and Francesca are spared the Red Death, and Ludovico dies a noble death confronting Prospero. But why are they spared? Is it really due to their faith or the quality of their character? The hooded spirits at the end don't seem to be passing moral judgments. They're just killing some people and sparing others; and their reasons for doing so are ambiguous.
And then of course, there are all of Prospero's carefully-crafted arguments for Satanism that go strangely unanswered. Like:
Prospero: If you believe, my dear Francesca, you are… gullible. Can you look around this world and believe in the goodness of a god who rules it? Famine, Pestilence, War, Disease and Death! They rule this world.
Francesca: There is also love and life and hope.
Prospero: Very little hope I assure you. No. If a god of love and life ever did exist… he is long since dead. Someone… something, rules in his place.
I am the furthest thing from a religious scholar, to be clear. And yet, I think even I know the proper Christian response to this, which is that the Kingdom of God is separate from the material world, and the virtues of Christianity are rewarded in the next world, not in this one. But Francesca doesn't say that. She just says she has no learning and thus can't answer the prince's arguments.
It's a longstanding tradition in fiction that the villains always get the best lines, but Prospero gets to make the case for his literally hellish philosophy, and nobody ever rebuts it. You might think the avatar of the Red Death itself would, but it doesn't. It seems to be, as another highly-questionable philosopher would say, "beyond good and evil."
Thematically, the movie just can't make up its mind as to whether it's supposed to be a traditional morality play or a morally nihilistic grotesquerie. You think it's going one way, and then it goes the other. It's… weird.
This is a good adaptation of The Masque of the Red Death in spite of itself. Even for all the melodrama, the pointless Hop-Toad sub-plot, the hammy acting, and the special effects that aged quite poorly, it still leaves you with that feeling of uncanny, despairing fear that Poe's story gives you. You feel like you've walked right to the edge of some sketchy borderland between stock melodrama and something else that is quite unusual, rather interesting, and very unsettling. Going back would be boring, going much further would be terrifying.
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Joy V Spicer says:
Strange, this didn't show up for me… spooky 😉
Hadn't heard of this film until now and it sounds typically 1960s bonkers. And nothing like the Poe story at all. I do like that last image with the hooded figures.
Spooky, indeed! 😉 "Typically 1960s bonkers"–yes, that pretty much sums it up. 😀


i've been keeping busy at my first real sewing attempt. yeah sewing pant hems is good and all but this time i used built by wendy's shirt pattern and made myself a sleeveless shirt. maybe next time i'll go for the sleeves + mega insanity of cuffs. I went to mood and with a little help from wendy and my friend amy i made the liberty shirt that i've been looking for. ebay has come up a little short and even laura ashley has bagged the florals. i had no choice but to make it myself!
i haven't quite finished it - no final hem and my machine doesn't have a buttonhole foot. but more or less - it's 90% done. will post the final update soon.
congrats! that collar isn't easy, and it looks fabulous.
personally I'm jealous of the facial hair, I can't do that with mine..
So cute! I want one! Can you make me some of those glasses too?


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Ryan Adams accused of abuse by several women including Phoebe Bridgers, Mandy Moore, Courtney Jaye, more
Adams has denied claims laid out in an exhaustive New York Times report
By chelsea brimstin Music News, News 14.02.2019
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams has been accused of controlling, manipulative, and abusive behaviour by several women, including some former partners and professional collaborators. Adams has long been known for taking a special interest in the career of young female artists, promoting them onstage, through social media, and in the studio, offering up a jump-start to their careers.
Ryan Adams has been accused of abuse ranging from emotional manipulation to sexual misconduct by multiple women, including Phoebe Bridgers and ex-wife Mandy Moore https://t.co/pnbBW6CL0Q
— Pitchfork (@pitchfork) February 13, 2019
According to a report in the New York Times, several people in the singer's life have detailed extensive accounts of abusive, controlling behaviour. The set of reports includes one from ex-wife Mandy Moore, who states that "music was a point of control for him."
Famous singer-songwriter and Boygenius member Phoebe Bridgers was 20 years old when Adams invited her into the Pax-Am studio one night in autumn of 2014. "There was a mythology around him," Bridgers states in the article. "It seemed like he had the power to propel people forward." Adams then had her perform a track, claiming he was blown away as he compared her to Bob Dylan. Adams even gifted her an expensive vintage guitar, and told her to return to record with him the following day.
Bridgers then brought in her best songs, and Adams proposed that they should create a 7-inch vinyl single for her on his label. As they chatted about the record, Adams began sending Bridgers flirty texts, and a quick romance began. Bridgers said that, less than a week into their relationship, Adams started discussing marriage and insisted that she'd open for him on his European tour. Adams even told Bridgers' mom that it would be a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to have him look out for her.
Ryan Adams was such a shitbag in how he spoke about Mandy Moore after they divorced so literally zero part of me is shocked to hear that he's a monster.
— Cher (@thecherness) February 13, 2019
Bridgers went on to explain that in the following weeks, Adams' affection became obsessive and emotionally abusive. He would send her groups of text messages urging her to prove where she was or leave social gatherings to have phone sex with him. If she didn't reply right away, he would threaten suicide. When she broke up with him, Adams would avoid her questions about releasing the music they recorded together, and took back his offer of opening for him in upcoming concerts.
Eventually, Adams continued teasing opportunities to Bridgers, offering her the opening slot on select tour dates in 2017. After discussing with her manager, Bridgers accepted the offer because it was a huge opportunity leading up to the release of her debut album. "Then, the first day, he asked me to bring him something in his hotel room," Bridgers explained. "I came upstairs and he was completely nude."
FWIW if you wanna hear Phoebe Bridgers' beautiful song dragging Ryan Adams feat. the lyrics "I faked it every time, but that's alright" pic.twitter.com/v2iAHRpI20
— Steve Venner (@steve_venner) February 13, 2019
Adams' lawyer, Andrew B. Brettler, denies this incident and stated that Adams contested Bridgers' description, calling their relationship "a brief, consensual fling."
The report also highlights his correspondence with a young, 14-year-old bass-playing fan named Ava. In 2013, she was already creating a career, and Adams began reaching out to assist her musical trajectory until their correspondence turned into graphic texting. Eventually, according to the report, they took part in Skype video calls where Adams exposed himself during phone sex.
Over nine months, between when Ava was 15 and 16, they exchanged a total of 3,217 text messages. In the texts, Adams repeatedly questioned Ava's age, and sometimes she would urge that she was older than she was, but he was not convinced. Despite that, their sexual conversations would continue, and one of Adams' texts from November 2014 read, "I would get in trouble if someone knew we talked like this."
In November 2014, Adams wrote, "I never see pics of you anymore." At the time, he had just turned 40 and Ava was freshly 16. "You were blowing my mind." The report even details that Adams had pet names for her body parts. "If people knew they would say I was like R Kelley lol," Adams anxiously wrote.
Thank you to Mandy, Phoebe, Courtney and others for speaking out. This is an important article. This also cracks the door on more like him in our industry. There are more. Thank you to the @nytimes for continuing these important reveals. We're all fed up. https://t.co/xlU6ibjubX
— V a n e s s a C a r l t o n (@VanessaCarlton) February 14, 2019
Although Adams expressed worry, he continued to turn the conversation to an explicit nature. "I just want you to touch your nipple," he texted her before once again asking her age. "And tell me that your mom is not gonna kill me if she finds out we even text."
Brettler claims that the singer does not recall these text conversations. "Mr. Adams unequivocally denies that he ever engaged in inappropriate online sexual communications with someone he knew was underage," Brettler stated. According to Brettler, Adams recalled his relationships with the women differently than the Times' report, and the lawyer even referred to a handful of the allegations as "grousing by disgruntled individuals" who were jilted by the music industry and trying to tarnish Adams' name.
After the article was published, Adams posted a series of apologetic tweets where he said sorry to "anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally." He then went on to refute the report.
I am not a perfect man and I have made many mistakes. To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologize deeply and unreservedly.
— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) February 13, 2019
As someone who has always tried to spread joy through my music and my life, hearing that some people believe I caused them pain saddens me greatly. I am resolved to work to be the best man I can be. And I wish everyone compassion, understanding and healing.
Through his lawyer, Adams stated that while he "has communications online with various fans and aspiring musicians," he "does not recall having online communications with anyone related to anything outside of music." Brettler then added that "if, in fact, this woman was underage, Mr. Adams was unaware."
The saddest part about the NYT article on Ryan Adams is that it could literally be written about so many dudes in music. Also my favorite type of male apology is the kind where they literally don't apologize at all lol
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) February 13, 2019
Ava claims that as her relationship with Adams continued, she became concerned about their unequal dynamic. She explained a scenario where they once agreed to video chat, but when they connected on the call, Adams was already naked. "It was just sexual power," Ava stated. The situation completely put her off becoming a musician, and after their relationship came to a close, she never played a show again.
A handful of other female singer-songwriters, including Courtney Jaye, described a similar pattern of behaviour from Adams where he raved about their musical ability and offered them tour spots during a romantic pursuit. Then, harrassing messages and threatening their professional relationship when his romantic pursuit would not be reciprocated.
You can read more accounts of his alleged abusive and controlling nature here.
Artist: Ryan Adams


Every year hundreds of the world's best ideas and projects in justice innovation apply to the HiiL Justice Accelerator. The Innovating Justice Challenge has been the world's foremost search for justice innovations since 2012. Each year hundreds of justice innovations apply, and between 15-20 will be selected for grant funding, justice expertise and networking, and mentorship.
Inclusive justice policies: rule-making and governance, compliance and enforcement, advocacy and corruption fighting.
HiiL can only accept innovations to be incorporated with a bank account in the name of the legal entity by the time they receive our grant funding.


text:
UNCW hosting several events to welcome students
Jeff Rivenbark,
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of students will be moving into dorms and apartments this weekend to prepare for the first day of class next week at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. They're expecting around 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students for fall enrollment.
To welcome students back, the University will host more than 125 events during the first three weeks of the fall semester including move-in festivities this weekend, a convocation on Monday, and a concert and fireworks display on Wednesday for the first day of class.
An involvement carnival will be held Saturday, Sept. 29 to inform students about ways they can get involved in the community.
The University's Leadership Series will feature two exciting speakers. Tarana Burke, an African-American civil rights activist who started the Me Too Movement, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
"She'll be talking about her experiences on behalf of advocating for individuals of color who have been sexually assaulted," said Jon Kapell, UNCW Director for Campus Activities and Involvement.
Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, will speak on Tuesday, Nov. 13 about freedom of speech and expression.
The Family and Alumni Weekend, scheduled for mid-September, provides an opportunity for students' families to come to campus and experience the life of being a Seahawk by offer a range of activities including bingo, exit games and campus tours.
Midnight Madness will be held Friday, Oct. 26 from 8-9 p.m. and the community is welcome to attend.
Arts for the Masses will be held Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The art will be sold for less than $250 and features local community artists.
If relaxing with popcorn and a movie is your thing, the University will offer its blockbuster film series on Friday and Saturday nights at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. each weekend. Admission is $2 for UNCW students and $4 for others.
"Our goal is to get students involved and engaged as much as possible and have them enjoyed their college experience the best way possible," Kapell said.
Categories: Community, New Hanover, News
Tags: UNC Wilmington, UNCW


text:
//
// Copyright (c) Microsoft and contributors.  All rights reserved.
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
//
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
//

var _ = require('underscore');
var fs = require('fs');
var url = require('url');
var util = require('../util/util');
var certutils = require('../util/certutils');

var azure = require('../common');
var ServiceSettings = require('./servicesettings');
var Constants = require('../util/constants');
var ServiceClientConstants = require('./serviceclientconstants');
var ConnectionStringKeys = Constants.ConnectionStringKeys;
var Validate = require('../util/validate');

var endpointSetting = ServiceSettings.settingWithFunc(
  ConnectionStringKeys.SERVICE_MANAGEMENT_ENDPOINT_NAME,
  Validate.isValidUri
);

var certificatePathSetting = ServiceSettings.setting(ConnectionStringKeys.CERTIFICATE_PATH_NAME);
var subscriptionIdSetting = ServiceSettings.setting(ConnectionStringKeys.SUBSCRIPTION_ID_NAME);

var validKeys = [
  ConnectionStringKeys.SUBSCRIPTION_ID_NAME,
  ConnectionStringKeys.CERTIFICATE_PATH_NAME,
  ConnectionStringKeys.SERVICE_MANAGEMENT_ENDPOINT_NAME
];

/**
* Creates new service management settings instance.
*
* @param {string} subscriptionId  The user provided subscription id.
* @param {string} endpointUri     The service management endpoint uri.
* @param {string} certificatePath The management certificate path.
*/
function ServiceManagementSettings(subscriptionId, endpointUri, certificatePath, cert, key) {
  this._subscriptionId = subscriptionId;
  this._endpointUri = endpointUri;
  this._certificatePath = certificatePath;
  this._certificate = cert;
  this._key = key;
}

/**
* Creates a ServiceBusSettings object from a set of settings.
*
* @param {object} settings The settings object.
*
* @return {ServiceManagementSettings}
*/
ServiceManagementSettings.createFromSettings = function (settings) {
  var matchedSpecs = ServiceSettings.matchedSpecification(
    settings,
    ServiceSettings.allRequired(
      subscriptionIdSetting,
      certificatePathSetting
    ),
    ServiceSettings.optional(
      endpointSetting
    )
  );

  if (matchedSpecs) {
    var endpointUri = util.tryGetValueInsensitive(
      ConnectionStringKeys.SERVICE_MANAGEMENT_ENDPOINT_NAME,
      settings,
      Constants.SERVICE_MANAGEMENT_URL
    );

    var subscriptionId = util.tryGetValueInsensitive(
      ConnectionStringKeys.SUBSCRIPTION_ID_NAME,
      settings
    );

    var certificatePath = util.tryGetValueInsensitive(
      ConnectionStringKeys.CERTIFICATE_PATH_NAME,
      settings
    );

    return new ServiceManagementSettings(
      subscriptionId,
      endpointUri,
      certificatePath
    );
  }

  ServiceSettings.noMatchSettings(settings);
};

/**
* Creates a ServiceManagementSettings object from the given connection string.
*
* @param {string} connectionString The storage settings connection string.
*
* @return {ServiceManagementSettings}
*/
ServiceManagementSettings.createFromConnectionString = function (connectionString) {
  var tokenizedSettings = ServiceSettings.parseAndValidateKeys(connectionString, validKeys);
  try {
    return ServiceManagementSettings.createFromSettings(tokenizedSettings);
  } catch (e) {
    if (e instanceof ServiceSettings.NoMatchError) {
      // Replace no match settings exception by no match connection string one.
      ServiceSettings.noMatchConnectionString(connectionString);
    } else {
      throw e;
    }
  }
};

/**
* Creates a new configuration object based on the
* parameters passed. Used to set up service management
* objects with the original parameter sets.
*
* @param {string} subscriptionId the subscription id
*
* @param {object} auth authentication information
*
* @param {string} [auth.keyvalue] Value for certificate key. Use this or keyfile, not both.
* @param {string} [auth.keyfile] File path for certificate key. Use this or keyvalue, not both.
* @param {string} [auth.certvalue] Value for certificate. Use this or certfile, not both.
* @param {string} [auth.cerfile] File path for certificate. Use this or certvalue, not both.
*
* @param {object} hostOptions Options for the connection
* @param {string} [hostOptions.host] Hostname for the service management service to use
* @param {number} [hostOptions.port] Port number to connect to service management service
*
* @return {envConf.Config} the configuration
*/
ServiceManagementSettings.configFromParameters = function configFromParameters(subscriptionId, auth, hostOptions) {
  auth = auth || {};
  hostOptions = hostOptions || {};

  var c = azure.config.default.tempConfig();
  c.subscriptionId(subscriptionId);

  if (auth.keyvalue && auth.keyfile) {
    throw new Error('Authorization should specify keyvalue or keyfile, but not both');
  }
  if (auth.keyvalue) {
    c.serviceManagementKey(auth.keyvalue);
  } else if (auth.keyfile) {
    c.serviceManagementKeyFile(auth.keyfile);
  }

  if (auth.certvalue && auth.certfile) {
    throw new Error('Authorization should specify certvalue or certfile, but not both');
  }
  if (auth.certvalue) {
    c.serviceManagementCert(auth.certvalue);
  } else if (auth.certfile) {
    c.serviceManagementCertFile(auth.certfile);
  }

  var host = hostOptions.host || ServiceClientConstants.CLOUD_SERVICE_MANAGEMENT_HOST;
  var port = hostOptions.port || null;
  c.serviceManagementHostUri(url.format({
    protocol: Constants.HTTPS,
    hostname: host,
    port: port
  }));

  return c;
};

ServiceManagementSettings.createFromParameters = function (configOrSubscriptionId, auth, hostOptions) {
  var config = configOrSubscriptionId;
  if (!config) {
    config = azure.config.default;
  } else if (typeof config !== 'function') {
    config = ServiceManagementSettings.configFromParameters(configOrSubscriptionId, auth, hostOptions);
  }

  return ServiceManagementSettings.createFromConfig(config);
};

// Helper function for reading certificate files
function readFileContents(path, filePurpose) {
  try {
    return fs.readFileSync(path, 'ascii');
  } catch (ex) {
    throw new Error('The ' + filePurpose + ' file at ' + path + ' could not be read: ' + ex.message);
  }
}

//
// Keys used to look up values from SDK configuration
//
var configKeys = {
  SUBSCRIPTION_ID: 'service management subscription id',
  KEY: 'service management certificate key value',
  CERT: 'service management certificate value',
  HOST_URI: 'service management host uri'
};

ServiceManagementSettings.createFromConfig = function (config) {
  return new ServiceManagementSettings(
    config.get(configKeys.SUBSCRIPTION_ID),
    config.get(configKeys.HOST_URI),
    null,
    config.get(configKeys.CERT),
    config.get(configKeys.KEY));
};

function readPemFile(fileName) {
  var auth = certutils.readPemFile(fileName);

  if (auth.key) {
    this.set(configKeys.KEY, auth.key);
  }

  if (auth.cert) {
    this.set(configKeys.CERT, auth.cert);
  }
}

function getCertPart(envVar, purpose) {
  return function () {
    if (!process.env[ServiceClientConstants.EnvironmentVariables[envVar]]) {
      throw new Error('No ' + purpose + ' or ' + purpose + ' file found in configuration');
    }
    return readFileContents(process.env[ServiceClientConstants.EnvironmentVariables[envVar]], purpose);
  };
}

ServiceManagementSettings.customizeConfig = function (config) {
  function setValue(key) {
    return function (value) {
      config.set(configKeys[key], value);
      return config;
    };
  }

  _.extend(config, {
    subscriptionId: setValue('SUBSCRIPTION_ID'),
    serviceManagementCert: setValue('CERT'),
    serviceManagementKey: setValue('KEY'),
    serviceManagementHostUri: setValue('HOST_URI'),

    serviceManagementCertFile: function (certFilePath) {
      this.set(configKeys.CERT, readFileContents(certFilePath, 'certificate'));
      return this;
    },

    serviceManagementKeyFile: function (keyFilePath) {
      this.set(configKeys.KEY, readFileContents(keyFilePath, 'certificate key'));
      return this;
    },

    serviceManagementPemFile: readPemFile
  });
};

ServiceManagementSettings.setDefaultConfig = function (config) {
  config.set(configKeys.HOST_URI, Constants.SERVICE_MANAGEMENT_URL);
  config.setFunc(configKeys.CERT, getCertPart('AZURE_CERTFILE', 'certificate'));
  config.setFunc(configKeys.KEY, getCertPart('AZURE_KEYFILE', 'certificate key'));
};

module.exports = ServiceManagementSettings;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Apa fosilă este apa subterană care este înmagazinată în straturile profunde acvifere timp de milenii sau chiar milioane de ani. Apa fosilă este considerată o resursă care nu se reînnoiește. Această apă nu provine ca și celelalte ape subterane din precipitații sau prin infiltrarea în pământ a apelor de suprafață cu care nu are nici un contact. Apa fosilă a luat naștere în timpul formării Pământului (straturile pământului), apă care este închisă în straturile profunde ale pământului fiind izolată de celelate straturi de apă și fără a lua parte la recircularea apei în natură. In prezent este pompată la suprafață și folosită de om fără a fi completată, cu ajutorul tehnicii moderne de forare la adâncimi mari. Astfel apele subterne din Sahara, ca și straturile profunde de apă care nu participă la circuitul de apă din Lacul Tanganyika sunt ape fosile.

Hidrologie
Geologie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Who? Katy Hanson, managing director of Welch & Co Solicitors.
Why is she in the news? In a BBC interview about the Law Society's warning that criminal duty solicitors could become extinct, Hanson said she was forced to keep on a member of staff who wanted to retire because she could not find someone to replace them.


Here are all local fireworks displays for 2019. You can use the filter to view only free firework displays in Devon if you wish.
Sorry, we have no local fireworks displays for 2018 in Devon.
View details of old fireworks displays local to Devon here in our archive.
The Exeter Round Table Fireworks Display returns for 2017 at Westpoint Arena on Bonfire Night. Make sure you get your tickets in time for a great November 5th celebration.
The draw for the British Firework Championships 2015 has been made.


We did not find results for: TAP PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, INC. Try the suggestions below or type a new query above.
Discover a Wide Range of Tap at MSC. Orders Ship Fast!
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The Elmhurst Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) was originally founded as the Elmhurst Civil Defense Agency. Over the years the name has changed several times, but the goals of the Agency remain the same, to prepare the city and its residents to cope with any emergency/disaster that may arise.
The ESDA has progressed over the years from a group of volunteer personnel dedicating their spare time to the preparedness of their community to a highly trained organization.
One of the main goals of the ESDA is to maintain the City in a state of readiness should a major emergency/disaster occur. This is accomplished through the use of an Emergency Operating Plan (EOP) which outlines the responsibility of each city department in any type of emergency/disaster and how they will operate jointly with other city departments to combat the situation. The plan is reviewed quarterly and updated every two years.
The ESDA also maintains in a ready state, the City Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in the lower level of Fire Station 1 at 404 N. York St. The EOC is a place that representatives from all city departments can gather to work jointly to combat any major emergency/disaster. The EOC features a communications center that is used at times to back up the 9-1-1 center, with state of the art weather tracking equipment and weather computer programs and a vast array of communication equipment and amateur radio equipment. The EOC is used by volunteer personnel to track any severe weather that threatens the Elmhurst area.
Since 1971 the ESDA has maintained Outdoor Warning Sirens to warn the residents of approaching tornadoes and major emergencies. The sirens are tested the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. The test consists of one minute of a steady tone.
The ESDA provides many other services to the community which includes emergency/disaster planning for schools and businesses. ESDA personnel are available to address civic groups and associations on such things as severe weather preparedness and family disaster planning.
The ESDA group is made up of volunteer personnel that provide assistance to the city. This group provides weather tracking services to the community from the EOC using the various government and amateur radio frequencies, specialized computer radar/weather programs and providing trained weather spotters in the field.


text:
\section{Introduction}
The description of hadron production using statistical models
has been pioneered several decades ago  by
E.Fermi \cite{Fermi:1950}, I.Pomeranchuk \cite{Pomeran:1951}, L.D.Landau\cite{Landau:1953}
and  R.Hagedorn \cite{Hagedorn:1965}.
The transverse momentum  spectrum of particles
produced in hadron-hadron collisions can be  been presented in the simple form
$\rho_h\sim\exp(-m_{ht}/T)$,
 where $-m_{ht}$ is the transverse mass of the hadron $h$ and $T$
is sometimes called the {\it thermal freeze-out} temperature.

As is well known, the statistical (thermal) models have  been applied successfully to describe hadronic
yields produced in heavy-ion
collisions (see, for example, \cite{Wheaton}-\cite{Sinyukov:02}
and references therein).
The temperature obtained in these analysis is often referred to as {\it chemical freeze-out} temperature
and is consistently slightly larger than the thermal freeze-out temperature.
At the same time, the source of very fast thermalization is currently unknown and
alternative or complementary possibilities to explain the thermal spectra are of much interest.

Situations where statistical models have been  applied while the notion of statistical system
was not obvious are not uncommon. In particular,  the statistical model was
successfully applied to analyze deep inelastic lepton-nucleon scattering (DIS)
\cite{Soffer1,Soffer2}, where the statistical form \cite{Cleymans:1988,Mac:1989,Zhang:2009} for distributions of
unpolarized and polarized quarks and gluons (partons) in a nucleon was used.

This model may be compared with more standard parametrization of parton distributions based
on the Regge theory at low $x$ and quark counting rules at large $x$ \cite{Cap-Kaid}-\cite{NNPD}.
It is especially interesting to find a counterpart and
give a physical meaning of the  temperature
introduced in the statistical model for the description of parton distribution functions.
This is the main goal of this paper. Making this comparison we suggest a concept of
the {\it duality} between the statistical and
dynamical descriptions of the DIS and strong interactions of particles and explore its
consequences and implications.     We do not consider the question of scaling violations for
different values of $Q^2$, these will come into play when considering gluon or quark radiation and
need higher order diagrams to play a role.

The  standard general form of parton distributions at the input energy scale $Q_0^2$,
 which is used in the perturbative QCD
\cite{DGLAP} as the initial condition for the $Q^2$ evolution,
describing the experimental data on the DIS (see, e.g., \cite{Cap-Kaid})
is of the following general form:
\begin{equation}
xq(x)=A_s x^{-a_s}(1-x)^{b_s}~+~B_v x^{a_v}(1-x)^{b_v}~,
\label{def:F2in}
\end{equation}
where the first term is a generic description of the sea quark distribution which is enhanced at low $x$,
according to the DIS experimental data, whereas the second term is due to the valence quark distribution.
 Note that to fit the experimental data on the DIS a
much more complicated form for $xq(x)$ is  used in the form of PDF's
\cite{CTEQ}-\cite{NNPD}.

In particular, the valence part at  $x<1/b_{q_v}$ can, to a good approximation, be written as:
\begin{eqnarray}
xq_v(x)\simeq B_{q_v} x^{a_v}\exp\left(-x b_{q_v}\right)~.
\label{def:udstrexp}
\end{eqnarray}
Introducing the quantity ${\bar x}=1/b_{q_v}$ Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexp}) can be presented also
in the following form
\begin{eqnarray}
xq_v(x)\simeq B_{q_v} x^{a_v}\exp\left(-\frac{x}{{\bar x}}\right)~.
\label{def:udstrexpxm}
\end{eqnarray}
It would be interesting to find a link of the parameter ${\bar x}$ to the temperature $T$.
Therefore, let us present a short review on the modern understanding of the statistical model of the
hadron production and the nucleon structure functions.

A statistical approach was applied in great detail to study the quark structure of nucleons in Ref.~\cite{Soffer1}, using
earlier approaches as a starting point~\cite{Cleymans:1988,Mac:1989}.
The nucleon is viewed as a gas of massless partons (quarks, antiquarks, gluons) in equilibrium at
a given temperature in a finite size volume.
According to the statistical approach, the quark distribution in  a proton $q(x)$
in the infinite momentum frame (IMF) at the input energy scale $Q_0^2$
is fitted as a function of the light cone
variable $x$  in the following form:
\begin{eqnarray}
xq(x)=\frac{B_1 X_{0q}x^{b_1}}{\exp\left((x-X_{0q})/{\bar x}\right)+1}+
\frac{B_2 X_{0q}x^{b_2}}{\exp(x/{\bar x})+1}~,
\label{def:xqSoff}
\end{eqnarray}
where ${\bar x}$ plays the role of a {\it temperature inside the proton} and $X_{0q}$ is the chemical potential of the
quark inside the proton. All the parameters are found from the description of the DIS.
The same form is suggested in \cite{Soffer2} for antiquarks $x{\bar q}(x)$ by changing the sign for the
chemical potential $X_{0q}$.
Actually, Eq.(\ref{def:xqSoff}) is not the exact statistical form, this is similar to the Fermi-Dirac distribution.
A meaning of  the factors $x^{b_1}$ and $x^{b_2}$ in
Eq.(\ref{def:xqSoff}) is the same as the meaning of factors $x^{a_v}$ and $x^{-a_s}$ entered into Eq.(\ref{def:F2in}).
They are dictated by the Regge behaviour at $x\rightarrow 0$ and the
DIS experimental data which show some enhancement for the see quark distribution $xq_s(x)$
in comparison to the valence quark distribution $xq_v(x)$ at low $x$.

Note that the statistical weight of the quarks can be written in the form $exp((E_q-\mu)/T)$, where
$E_q=(P \cdot p_q)/m$ is a quark energy in the nucleon rest frame,
$p_q$ and $P$ are the four-momenta of quark and nucleon,  respectively, $m$
is the nucleon mass.\\
Passing to the infinite momentum frame the quark distribution in a nucleon over the longitudinal momentum
$p_z$ can be represented in the following statistical form \cite{Mac:1989}:
\begin{eqnarray}
q(p_z)\sim \exp\left\{-\left(\frac{E\epsilon-Pp_z}{m T}-\frac{\mu}{T}\right)\right\}~,
\label{def:qpz}
\end{eqnarray}
where $E$, $P$ and $m$ are the  energy, the momentum and the mass of the  nucleon moving in the $z$-direction, $\epsilon$
and $p_z$ are
the  energy and momentum in the $z$-direction of a parton in the nucleon, $T$ is the temperature and $\mu$ is the
chemical potential.
For massless partons  one  gets\\
\begin{eqnarray}
q(x)\sim  \exp\left(-\frac{E_q}{T}\right)=\exp\left(-\frac{mx}{2T}\right)\equiv \exp(-\frac{x}{{\bar x}})~.
\label{def:apprqpx}
\end{eqnarray}
where $x=p_z/P$ is the longitudinal fraction of the parton momentum and $\bar{x} = 2T/m$. This form agrees with the
result obtained in~\cite{Cleymans:1988,Mac:1989}. The inclusion of of the quark transverse momentum $k_{qt}$ results in
$E\epsilon-Pp_z\simeq m^2 x(1+k^2_{qt}/(x^2 m^2))$. It means that the relativistic invariant variable $x$ is replaced by
the variable $x(1+k^2_{qt}/(x^2 m^2))$ \cite{Efremov:2009ze}.

This form is similar to Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexpxm}) if  ${\bar x}=1/b_v$. In this case the proton
temperature
is $T={\bar x}\cdot m/2=m/(2b_v(Q_0^2))$ for current quarks which are practically massless.
Approximately one has for the valence
$u$-quarks $b_{u_v}\simeq 2.5-3$ and for $d$-quarks $b_{d_v}\simeq 3.5-4$
at $Q_0^2=2-4$ (GeV$/c$)$^2$ \cite{Cap-Kaid,MRST}; therefore, $T\simeq 120-150$ MeV for the
massless quarks.

The similarity of the thermal form for the quark distribution given by Eq.(\ref{def:apprqpx}) and
the dynamic form for $q_v$ (Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexp}) maybe interpreted as
{\it a duality of the thermal and dynamical} descriptions of the parton distribution in proton.
This property is by no means surprising as both parametrization are fitted to describe the same
data. In Fig.1, the valence $u$-quark distribution in the proton as a function of $x$ is presented,
the solid curve corresponds to the CKMT parametrization \cite{Cap-Kaid}, see the second term of
Eq.(\ref{def:F2in}) at $Q_0^2=4(GeV/c)^2$; the dotted line corresponds to the statistical (thermal) BS
model \cite{Soffer2}, see the first term of Eq.(\ref{def:xqSoff}) at the same value of $Q_0^2$;
the dash-dotted curve corresponds to the statistic parametrization given by Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexp}).
Figure 1 shows that all three lines are very close to each other at $0.01\leq x\leq 0.4$.

 Let us compare the parameters of the statistical parametrization for $u_v(x)$ given by Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexp})
and the BS parametrization (Eq.(\ref{def:xqSoff})).
Equation (\ref{def:xqSoff}) is not a thermal distribution. The parametrization
given by Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexp}) is  different . There is thus no contradiction in getting
50 MeV with one parametrization and 120 - 150 MeV with another one.
While the temperature has an evident dynamical counterpart
$T=m/(2 b_v)$ , a similar relation for the chemical potential $X_{0q}$ of valence quarks is not obvious.
The temperature $T=m/(2 b_v)$
entering into Eq.(\ref{def:udstrexp}) is about $120-150$ MeV,
whereas the model of Ref.~\cite{Soffer2} suggests that $T$ is about $50$ MeV and the chemical potential for $u$-quarks
$X_{0u}\simeq 216$ MeV as first found in~\cite{Cleymans:1988,Mac:1989}.

The quark distribution function  in a proton using the variable   $x$ and the transverse momentum $k_t$ can be represented
in the factorized form $f_q(x,k_t)=q(x)g(k_t)$ which of course cannot be valid at all values of $x$
\cite{Sehgal:1974bp}. This is supported by simulations within the lattice QCD \cite{LQCD} and by the
observation of the so-called
``seagull'' effect \cite{Ammosov}, i.e., the weak $x$-dependence of the mean transverse momentum $<p_t>$
of hadrons produced in hadron inclusive reactions at low $x$, e.g., $x<0.5$ and the strong $x$-dependence
of $<p_t>(x)$ at $x\rightarrow 1$, see for example \cite{LS:1991} and references therein.

Developing the approach of the previous section one can fit the quark distribution $g(k_t)$ also
in the statistical  form, i.e.,
\begin{eqnarray}
g(k_t)\sim \exp(-\frac{\epsilon_{kt}}{T})~,
\label{def:gkt}
\end{eqnarray}
where $\epsilon_{kt}=\sqrt{k_t^2+m_q^2}$ is the transverse energy of quarks in proton and
$m_q$ is the quark mass.
For  massless quarks (the current quarks) $g(k_t)$ can be represented in the following form:
\begin{eqnarray}
g(k_t)\sim \exp(-\frac{k_t}{T})= ~\exp(-\frac{k_t}{<k_t>}).
\label{def:gktappr}
\end{eqnarray}
Applying here the same effective temperature  $T\simeq 120-150$ MeV, as for longitudinal momentum distribution,
we get similar results on $<k_t>$, which were obtained for valence current quarks
(see e.g.\cite{Efremov:2009ze} and Ref. therein).
Actually, these values for $<k_t>$ of quarks in proton are used to get the
inclusive transverse momentum spectra of hadrons produced in $p-p$ collisions at not large
$p_t$, which were obtained in \cite{LS:1991}-\cite{LKSB:09} within the dual parton model (DPM)
\cite{DPM} or the quark-gluon string model (QGSM) \cite{QGSM}.

Therefore, the transverse momentum distribution of partons in proton can also be described in the
statistical form with the same value of the temperature $T$ as the parton distributions
in proton over the longitudinal momentum or over its fraction $x$.

Note that the longitudinal and transverse momentum dependences have been related in a model approach
implying Lorentz (rotational) invariance \cite{Efremov:2009ze}

We analyzed the parton distribution functions in a proton using the statistical model \cite{Soffer1,Cleymans:1988,Mac:1989}.
We suggest a duality principle which means a similarity of the thermal distributions of partons
(quarks and gluons) and the dynamical
description of these partons. This duality allowed us to find an {\it effective temperature}
$T \sim 120-150$ MeV for the massless quarks.
{\bf Concluding our study of this problem one can suggest another interpretation for this {\it effective temperature}
$T$ entered into the quark distributions given by Eq.(\ref{def:apprqpx}) and Eq.(\ref{def:gkt}) as the {\it effective widths}
for the quark distributions over the longitudinal and transverse momentum, the values of which approximately are the same.
}

The inclusive spectra of hadrons produced in $NN$ collisions at high energies are not described by the
thermal statistical distribution. However, using the thermal statistical form for quark distribution as a function
of the longitudinal momentum fraction $x$ and the internal transverse momentum $k_t$ one can get a satisfactory
description of the experimental data on these spectra.

It happens that the freeze-out temperature in central heavy-ion collisions at zero chemical
potential {\bf or the {\it effective width} of the energy distribution of pions
}
has a similar value which was estimated in this paper for the
massless quarks in a free nucleon
\cite{Br-Munz:98}-\cite{LSST:09}.
\vspace{0.25cm}
{\bf Acknowledgments}\\
The authors are grateful to A.Andronic, P.Braun-Munzinger, K.Bugaev, A.V.Efremov, L.L.Frankfurt,
M.~Gazdzicki, S.B.~Gerasimov, M.Gorenstein, L.Jenkovscky,
\frame{ A.B.~Kaidalov}, A.~Kotikov, C.Merino, A.~Parvan, V.B.Priezzhev, H.~Satz, A.~Sidorov,
Yu.~Sinyukov, \frame{A.N.Sissakian} O.~Shevchenko, and J.~Soffer for very useful discussions.
This work was supported in part by RFBR project No 11-02-01538-a.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


In honor of West Heritage Elementary School becoming a California Distinguished School, I made a stars and stripes dessert bar for the teachers and staff to enjoy. With the school colors of red, white and blue and an eagle as there mascot, I felt it only appropriate to make this dessert bar scream patriotism. From cookies n' cream cake pops, to mini vanilla bean cheesecakes, this dessert bar made fireworks fly.
This cake was inspired by the Bonita High School Men's Water Polo Team. It was just a short time ago, in the fall of 2011 that they fought the battle and came out victorious and CIF Champions. For Austin's birthday, his mother wanted to relive that joyous day. It was decided that a larger than life replica of the ring would be the crown of the cake. So here's to you Austin, Happy Birthday and Congratulations.
Over this past year I have had the wonderful opportunity to work as a cake decorator at Sweet and Saucy Shop located in Long Beach, California, under the guidance of Melody Brandon. It is there that I have learned so much about the art of cake decorating and many tricks of the trade. This is a selection of some of the cakes I have decorated in my time there so far.
I had so much fun doing this cake for MyKenzie's 3rd Birthday. The cute elephant, lion, monkey, and zebra are all made out of fondant. The cake is 5 layers of vanilla cake filled with bavarian cream and fresh strawberries. It is as yummy as it is cute.
I guess posting these sweet treats for Valentine's Day a little late is better than never posting them at all. To help celebrate a day all about Love, I did a wide variety of desserts like chocolates, cake pops, cookies, cookies gift baskets, and chocolate covered strawberries. Ordered by the dozen or in gift boxes, these desserts stole everyone's heart this Valentine's Day.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. It seems to just sneak up on me every year. In the spirit of the holiday season, I decided to make an assortment of treats. Cake pops and cookies galore… I hope you enjoy these festive desserts.


In the website there are several current job offers published by Lorien Resourcing. They search for Communications Executive. What do you think about employment conditions offered by this employer??
Currently the Lorien Resourcing company searches for someone for the position of Network Engineer - Avaya. Is anyone applying?
Lorien Resourcing recruits for the position of Network Engineer. Have you applied for that offer? Write us what you think about the interview. Your information may be of significant guidance for those considering working for that company.
We constantly await new information from You! Every statement counts! What do you know about employment at Lorien Resourcing ?
Ask a question to other employees of Lorien Resourcing!


This project includes ongoing improvement to various utility sites, including replacement of motor control, pumps, motors, and other equipment necessary for the efficient operation of the City's water distribution system.
Valves and chlorinator parts received for various water plants.
Valve work completed at the 4th Street tower, Water Plant No. 4 (N. Broadway). Additional work planned at the Hillridge/Collingsdale Plant.


A spiral galaxy is a kind of galaxy that looks like a flat, slowly rotating disk with a bulge in the centre. It contains stars, gas, dust, dark matter and a supermassive black hole at its centre.
Galaxies were first listed in the 18th century by William Herschel. The spiral galaxy as a type was first described by Edwin Hubble in his 1936 work The Realm of the Nebulae. They are named after their shape. The spiral arms are where young, hot stars are made, which is why they are brighter than the center of the galaxy. Some spiral galaxies have yellow, 'fossil' arms of older stars.
The barred spiral galaxy is an important and common type of spiral galaxy. There are three other kinds of spiral galaxies. Grand-design spiral galaxies have two well-shaped arms. Multiple-arm spiral galaxies have more arms. In flocculent spiral galaxies, it is hard to see the arms at all.
About 60% of galaxies in the universe near us (the 'local universe') are spiral and irregular galaxies. They are mostly found in low-density parts of the universe, and are rare in the centers of galaxy clusters.
Our own Milky Way has recently (in the 1990s) been confirmed to be a barred spiral galaxy, although the bar itself is difficult to observe from our position in the Galactic disk. The most convincing evidence for its existence comes from a recent survey, performed by the Spitzer Space Telescope, of stars in the Galactic center.
↑ 'Supermassive' means not just large size, but huge gravitational effect.
↑ Hubble, E.P. (1936). The Realm of the Nebulae. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 0300025009.
↑ 3.0 3.1 Benjamin, R. A. et al.; Churchwell, E.; Babler, B. L.; Indebetouw, R.; Meade, M. R.; Whitney, B. A.; Watson, C.; Wolfire, M. G. et al. (September 2005). "First GLIMPSE Results on the Stellar Structure of the Galaxy.". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 630 (2): L149–L152. doi:10.1086/491785. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/491785. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
↑ "BBC - Science & Nature - Space - Galaxy Guide". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
↑ "Spiral galaxies". burro.cwru.edu. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
↑ Loveday, J. (February 1996). "The APM Bright Galaxy Catalogue.". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 278 (4): 1025–1048. http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1996MNRAS.278.1025L. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
↑ Galaxies are not spread randomly in the universe.
↑ Dressler, A. (March 1980). accessdate= 2007-09-15 "Galaxy morphology in rich clusters — Implications for the formation and evolution of galaxies.". The Astrophysical Journal 236: 351–365. doi:10.1086/157753. http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1980ApJ...236..351D accessdate= 2007-09-15.
This page was last changed on 11 March 2013, at 22:55.


text:
Top News in Ghana Today
Today's Ghana local news headlines
Mahama can only cure the mischief by going to court, protest a waste of time - Kweku Baako
Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and their flagbearer John Mahama to go to court to have their election grievances resolved.
3 months jail term for Sene West ballot box snatcher not enough - Dr Quaicoe
The Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Serebour Quaicoe says the 3 months jail term for the Sene West ballot box snatcher is not enough.
Your only option is the court - CDD tells Mahama
CDD's Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr. Kojo Asante, says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, John Mahama have only one option to resolve their election grievances.
Check out the 40 female MPs who will be part of the 8th Parliament
Ghana's Parliament has a host of new faces and there will be some 40 females who will be part of the 275 MPs.
MP-elect for Keta attacked- NDC
The Member of Parliament-elect for the Keta constituency in the Volta region Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe has been attacked by unknown assailants, the National Democratic Congress has announced.
EC has shown they are very incompetent and corrupt - Franklin Cudjoe
President of IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has hit out at the Electoral Commission and branded them as incompetent and corrupt.
We will not accept anything short of the legimate result - Mahama
Former President John Mahama says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not accept the results of the 2020 general election.
Frema Osei-Opare to chair Akufo-Addo's transition team
President Akufo-Addo has appointed his transition team.
In a democracy, the best does not always win - Manasseh to Okoe Boye
Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has made a comment on the loss of Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Dr. Benard Okoe Boye.
EC reacts to disparities in presidential election results percentages
The Electoral Commission, EC has clarified the disparities in the presidential election results percentages declared on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
NPP willing to welcome Fomena MP back - John Boadu
General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Boadu says the Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for Fomena in the Ashanti region, Andrew Amoako Asiamah can choose to apply for membership if he wishes to re-join and the party leadership will take him through the process.
Parliamentary results have shown Ghanaians want NDC, NPP to work together - Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo who has been re-elected says it's time the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) come together to develop the nation.
Haruna Iddrisu warns the military over intimidations
Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu has warned the military of the country to desist from intimidating their party agents at the collation centres.
Gabby Otchere-Darko disappointed in NPP's parliamentary performance
Legal practitioner and a leading member of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has expressed disappointment in the party's performance in the parliamentary election.
NDC's claim they must win presidency because they're winning majority in parliament wrong - Lardy Anyenini
Legal practitioner and broadcast journalist Samson Lardy Anyenini says the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) claims that they must win the presidency because they are having majority of seats in parliament is totally wrong.
Accident: One dead, two severely injured on Kasoa-Budumburam road (Photos)
A driver's mate is feared dead while two other persons are battling for their…
Carlos Ahenkorah walking free will affect efforts to clampdown on ballot box snatchers- Kofi Bentil
Senior Vice President for IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil says Carlos Ahenkorah, MP…


text:
Singapore's First Virtual Reality (VR) Experience, in Medical Aesthetics, by ONLY Aesthetics
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - July 10, 2018 - Changing one's appearance is not an easy decision to make as it has an impact that lasts for years and needs proper education and communication before undergoing any procedure. With this state of the art technology, it is the first time they can really expect what could be done.
We are delighted to be the first in Singapore's Medical Aesthetics to offer it. We hope to share our excitement about virtual reality, and the future of aesthetics forever, said Adren How, CEO of ONLY Group.
Being the #1 market leader in the industry, ONLY Aesthetics, the technology focused Medical Aesthetics keeps their game strong. Interactivity and user engagement inside VR goes way beyond what's currently available at other aesthetic clinics. That's what makes ONLY stands out from the rest.
The ground-breaking VR technology is a very big step forward for augmentation and reconstruction, enabling patients to select implants to fit their anatomy. The augmented reality software which allows patients to try on their assets for size, in real-time and in high definition. Patients can view several size options, with doctors recommending the best to suit their body shape using the technology which can be used for both cosmetic and reconstructive purposes.
We set out to change all that with our VR simulation, which is designed specifically to maximize immersion that will change the way you think about aesthetics consultation forever. We are a team of industry veterans passionate about changing the way people experience aesthetics forever. And now we're excited to bring in a product that can so radically change the way people decide their potential outlook and deliver a truly immersive aesthetics experience.
Virtual Reality is a new thing and you always want to give something new to your customers, this is more of an intimate experience of the consumer to your content and now we are bringing it to medical aesthetics field in Singapore.
It will be an important technology for the future. It is a technology that offers a lot in terms of emotions and the exact technology that empowers the patient to make the right decision.
We have identified the key moment for clients, making the key decision factor. Consultation is a key moment when patients express their desire, when they learn from the surgeon about the surgical options and often take the decision about the future surgery.
We note that our patients really enjoyed being involved with the decision-making process. Enhancing the overall consultation and even allows close family members to be involved and support the patient's choices. Many were pleased with the product and impressed at how it continues to develop.
The process involves scanning the full body to generate a 3D view, after the picture is made it is projected in real-time onto a mirror.
You will need to stand as still as you can while scanning you from every angle possible -- which is where the sorcery begins.
It scans in real time and the imaging software recreates your body on the iPad screen -- every contour precisely rendered in front of me.
The customer can then change the outlook of their body by making size and shape changes. This allows them to see their greatest potential in comparison to current. For those hoping for more natural results, this will help them to ensure that they will be in proportion.
It took us some time, to source for the best cosmetic surgery simulator software 'that meets all needs', with a projected outcome that was similar to the real outcome.
When our doctors simulate the possible outcomes of the patients, it creates a common ground where patients are able to express their desire and doctors can better educate on the options in a more realistic and easy way.
This is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest change the industry is now going through and that will support the aesthetics field to become not only more accessible but more appreciated by patients as their understanding of it increases, said Daniel, Head of Marketing at ONLY Group.
Ever since ONLY Aesthetics released its information of having such technology, in less than a week and appointments for it are like gold dust with a two-week waiting list already.
ONLY Aesthetics Address: 22 Malacca Street #09-00, RB Capital, S(048980)
Website: www.onlyaesthetics.sg
Opening Hours: Monday -- Friday 10.30 am to 8.30 pm
Saturday 10.30 am to 6.30 pm
Sunday & PH Closed
Contact Number: +65 6220 4434
Only Group


text:
Q: TargetSdkVersion in library grater then targetSdkVersion in application I have an Android application with targetSdkVersion = 26 and compileSdkVersion = 26. Is it possible to work fine when I use a library (use gradle dependencies) with target targetSdkVersion = 28 and compileSdkVersion = 28 ? Or it is requre to update target and compile versions in application like in library? Is target and compile versions should be the same? Is target and compile version should be 28 to migrate to AndroidX? Is AndroidX can be use with version 26?

A: Target SDK version:
The targetSdkVersion value tells Android which API level your app was designed to run on. Keep this to the latest version.
Compile SDK:
version, or build target, specifies which version to use when building your own code. When Android
Studio is looking to find the classes and methods you refer to in your imports, the build target
determines which SDK version it checks against.
You should update the target and compile sdk to 28 in order to use the new library

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Mandy Hager is an award-winning writer of educational and young adult novels including: Tom's Story, Singing Home the Whale, The Nature of Ash (NZ Post Book Awards finalist 2013), Dear Vincent (which won the 2014 LIANZA Young Adult award), Smashed which won the Esther Glen Award at the 2008 Lianza awards, and The Blood of the Lamb trilogy.  For Singing Home the Whale she received the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year and the Best YA Fiction awards at the 2015 Bk Book Awards.  Her first novel for adults: Heloise has just been longlisted for the Ockham Book Awards 2018.
She has worked for the Global Education Centre and produced innumerable resources on such issues as Violence against Women, Weather Wars on climate change and Who Are You?: the search for self in the global village.
Hindsight: Pivotal moments in New Zealand's History
Four pivotal moments in New Zealand's history are examined through a variety of source materials and commentary that enlivens the event and describes its impact on our society and growth as a nation.
Hindsight is a resource for all schools and libraries. These topics are linked to themes in the social sciences and history syllabus, Years 7 to 10.
An authoritive and engaging text with high visual appeal. Buyers will also be given access to resources from our website that will be updated as required. For reading age 11+.
Topics are:
Pacific Island immigration and dawn raids
The 1981 rugby tour
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior
Includes a section on how to research topics safely in this era of 'fake news' and 'alternative facts'.
Launching at the Children's Bookshop Kilbirnie
Hindsight launch on Thursday 24th October, Children's Book Shop, Kilbirnie starting at 5:30pm. RSVP by 21st October to: books@thechildrensbookshop.co.nz
ONETREE HOUSE STORY


TODAY NATASHA AND I WENT TO THE MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT WAS FULL OF OLD CARS AND BIG OLE MONSTER CHOO CHOO TRAINS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. WE GOT TO SEE, TOUCH, WALK INTO AND AROUND THINGS MOST FOLKS ONLY SEE DRIVING BY OR ON TV.


The variety and quality of outdoor furniture available on the marketplace belies the promises of conservationists who often hold the view about primacy of indoor furniture. From vinyl to wicker to timber to compounds, outdoor furniture is offered in each substance.
Outdoor furniture is furniture that is usually found in the outdoors or gardens made for home or work-related functions. This kind of furniture contains the gear ideal for resting and recreation, or those extravagant decorations and decorations which add to the serene and appropriate disposition based on the type of setting that the entire area has.
Outdoor furniture may be very helpful when you would like to hold exceptional occasions or events outdoors. Whether you're having a picnic or a swimming party, using furniture is important particularly in the event you have a great deal of guests to adapt. A simple setup of chairs and tables would help a lot. Make any occasion more special by integrating distinct furniture to match the topic or type of event you're holding. It would also help your guests feel comfortable while they're having a fantastic time. outdoor furniture cover fabric.
By selecting the right, practical and comfortable outdoor furniture for your patio or garden, you and your loved ones will have a fantastic outdoor fun in addition to have something to showcase to your friends or acquaintances. outdoor furniture cover fabric. It certainly pays a lot to know the best way to select the right furniture to you outdoor use. You could choose a bistro patio table for either tea or coffee time with friends or possess an outdoor dining table with cushioned seats.
A very important issue to think about when shopping for an outdoor furniture will be the climate where you live. Make sure you have sufficient space where you can keep your furniture during the winter. Extreme weather conditions can affect the life of the outdoor furniture. That is the reason why, your selection should also depend if you're going to put your furniture at an open area or a covered patio.


text:
Q: Set position and rotation of text in pdf with itextpdf I was trying to find out how to set the text position and rotation in a pdf with the "itextpdf" dependency. My current code looks like that:
    //Create the pdf document
    Document document = new Document();
    PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(pdfPath));
    PdfContentByte pdfCB = new PdfContentByte(writer);

    //Create the font which will be used
    Font font = FontFactory.getFont(FontFactory.COURIER, 16, BaseColor.BLACK);

    //Open the document
    document.open();

    //Get the image which was previously created (Not important for this)
    Image iTextImage = Image.getInstance(pdfCB, image, 1);

    //Set the position of the image (How do I do that with the text?)
    iTextImage.setAbsolutePosition(0, 0);

    //Create a text chunk which I want to set the position of and rotate
    Chunk chunk = new Chunk("Hello World!", font);

    //Add both the image and text to the pdf and save it
    document.add(iTextImage);
    document.add(chunk);
    document.close();

    //Notify the user that it was a success
    System.out.println("Image added successfully and PDF file created!");

Now I was wondering how to set the position and rotation of the text. I want to create PDF's for a project which will later be printed. Now I don't want to add like a hundred whitespace's each time there is a blank spot in the page like the table of contents and then a footer at the bottom. I don't want to write the table of contents and then do \n 20 times to reach the bottom, so I can add my footer text, like page number, author, project ID, date, company logo, etc.
So how do I best position the text here? Also, I would like to rotate it, since some of the text has to be turned by 90 degrees for stuff like labels for tables and so on.
Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
PS: I already tried to set the absolute position, which just makes the text disappear.


Description Photograph of an oil painting of George Washington.
Source 8 x 10 in. b&w nitrate negative. Item no. ULPA CS 091580 in the Caufield & Shook Collection, University of Louisville Photographic Archives.


Just a quick musing from me today after seeing an article that had a very novel way of measuring the impact of business rates on one industry.
It centres on the effect of the business rates revaluation on the pub sector with an industry expert working out how many extra pints would have to be sold to cover the additional payments forecast.
Apparently, the country will have to really get its act together on the drinking front next April with a tax increase for pubs across England and Wales of an extra £421m – or the equivalent of selling an extra 121 million pints.
It could also translate into a price hike on the pint – as much as 30p. But before we are start to cry in our over-priced beer the figures are all very much estimates and won't take into account the inevitable appeals that are and will be lodged.
The changes in the revaluation overall have hit London the hardest and, as such, the pub trade in the Capital has not been shielded any more than the retailers or other sectors that have been much more vocal in their opposition to the changes.
As for the Government's position, they have created a little win/win in this scenario – on the one hand business rate hikes swell their coffers from April onwards; landlords either put up their prices or sell more pints to make up the difference bringing in extra alcohol duty revenues at the same time – doubles all round!


Online identities of today are just a bundle of information submitted by a person, stored somewhere, and protected somehow, typically with just password. You can get free email accounts and use that to sign up anywhere claiming to be anyone. Not only you but anyone with the password can as long as they are polite enough to restore changes they made before you notice.
And what does all the new identiy technologies do about this problem? Basically nothing. But they are great for efficiently sharing untrustworthy data among interested parties so the user don't have to deal with countless passwords and forms. What do the identity services get out of it? They get to lord over that pile of untrustworthy data. Fantastic.
What I find really amazing is that all that keeps this house of cards from flopping is: honesty.
IMHO, the missing piece in online identity is identity sponsorship by businesses based on transaction history. They are like little boyscout patches except they are issued by everyday businesses with which the user had extensive business with. The user's identity is the shirt onto which those patches are sewn into.
For example, Bank of America or BlockBuster could issue me a patch that I've been their customer for more than a decade. They can do it to retain customers or as a new source of revenue. There is no privacy issue either since the patch could just be a set of numbers, each representing a trust vector.
Hmm. We need a fancy term for this. How about Trust Syndication?


Today, competition has become ruthless among companies and organizations that are always trying to one-up each other. In such dog-eat-dog times, making organizational and insightful decisions is key. Data is the king; Analytics is the gathering of relevant data in a way that helps you make correct decisions for the advancement of your enterprise.
Analytics has become the basis of all business plans in recent years, playing a huge part when trying to analyze the business environment in which your enterprise operates while mitigating potential risks and accurately predicting future trends.
DHS Digital shares its expertise in the field of analytics with our clients, providing useful insights into the industry to recognize the needs of the customer while working to devise effective marketing strategies, identify trends, improve efficiency in operations and to identify risks if any to form the perfect business model for growth.
Customer Analytics: This enables enterprises to profile their audience and understand trends and consumer behavior to improve on existing services.
Sales and Marketing Analytics: This enables marketing strategists with the relevant data regarding the sales and the outreach of the enterprise across all kinds of media, thus helping to develop better marketing campaigns.
Supply Chain Analytics: This enables the enterprise management to improve the efficiency of its supply chain operations, thus reducing costs and increasing profit.
These services include social media insights, mobile analytics and web analytics. DHS Digital's analytics services will make sure that you are privy to accurate customer and business data to improve decision-making and provide a distinctive edge over your competition.


Creating an engaging setup guide for new online store owners: Camp Kong.
Kong is an eCommerce platform that allows you to create a professional, easy to use online store for free. It has powerful features like accurate shipping profiles, customisable themes and advanced personal support.
To educate new Kong users on the basics of setting up their store, in a fun and engaging format, that can be treated as a standalone brand piece with it's own visual style. We had a couple of previous versions of set up guides and aimed to take our knowledge from them and implement new strategies of introducing concepts to users. The guide needed to increase engagement and 'stickiness' of the product, so a measuring point needed to be identified also.
Interaction design played the largest role in communicating user states and was a challenge we hadn't mastered before.
We wanted to involve gamification in the guide, knowing that it increases user engagement and encourages a sense of achievement and investment in the product. By creating something users would be proud to share socially, we aimed to, in turn, increase awareness of Kong. We knew we wanted to have 'badges' that store owners 'collected' as they made their way through the tasks. As we knew from previous experience that not all users have all their products or information ready right away, we decided not to restrict the steps to a linear order; they could be navigated to or from and completed when ready. To entice users to complete the entire guide, we created a 'locked' final level that revealed access to a "Launch My Store" button on their Dashboard.
One of the major issues we'd had previously was store owners 'opening' their stores without a genuine payment gateway, which meant their customers could place an order, believing it had been legitimate, whilst the store actually had no method to accept payment, due to the system structure. A review of the payment settings area revealed some backend development needed to be tweaked before we could implement the payment task of the guide, meaning users wouldn't find themselves taking orders without taking payment.
Visually, the guide required it's own style, based on Kong's newly extended colour palette, which accommodated a broader range of tones. To consolidate the piece together we introduced the theme of a Field Guide – an adventure of learning, identifying and achievement at Camp Kong. As the guide wasn't a compulsory, it shouldn't intrude on the user's interaction, so we used an overlaid 'pull tab' design that could be expanded or minimized over any page when needed.
By creating something users would be proud to share socially, we aimed to, in turn, increase awareness of Kong.
Interaction design played the largest role in communicating user states and was a challenge we hadn't tackled much before. Animation was responsible for implying navigation movement, success messages or states and the ability to show or hide the tab layout. I briefed the developer on the desired movement, based on my knowledge of CSS transformations. The outcome was a set of simple, yet delightful animations for each completed task. It enhanced the UI design by reinforcing the action of each element.
The overall aesthetics of the Field Guide has pushed the brand's style forward, which was needed after over a year of similar graphics, whilst still feeling aligned to the existing design.