text:
Q: Children get "auto centered" around parent in Unity In a 2D Unity game, I have a GameObject the creates some children from prefabs. I do it this way:
var NewShip = Instantiate(ShipPrefab, Position, Quaternion.identity);
NewShip.transform.SetParent(transform, false);

However, the full pack of children get positioned "around" the parent. The parent is always in the center of the children.
This is the pack of children with the parent selected:

And this is the first child select:

No matter this child is in (0,0,0), it is not visually in the same position as its parent.
Being honest, this was my initial intent. Was prepared to write some code to get this "free" result. No matter what, I would like to know why this happens.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
AI gets its groove back
Danger, danger! 10 alarming examples of AI gone wild
Future Watch: A.I. comes of age
Gold's Take on Tech
By Jack Gold, Computerworld |
Why mobile devices must have AI
Mobile devices powered with artificial intelligence (AI) is not an if -- it's a when. Without AI, the increasing complexity of our devices will become overwhelming.
MetamorWorks / Getty Images
In the next two to three years, we'll see an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) in devices, even beyond the early examples of today. Why? Because the tasks and interfaces are becoming so complex that users will spend too much time trying to get to apps/info that's required for them to be productive.
AI will be a journey that will take several years to complete. In the current early stage, we have some voice assistants (e.g., Bixby, Siri, Google) that can navigate a limited set of tasks. In the future (three to four years), with new, more powerful, on-device AI components, we will transition to more extensive AI where the device not only can parse some simple commands, but can actually learn about what we do and what we desire and make the proper suggestions to enhance our overall experience.
In the final stage, we'll likely see a highly dynamic and simple user interface based on AI's knowledge of what we need to accomplish at a given time and in a given circumstance, but this is likely five to seven years away.
[ Further reading: AI and speech advances bring virtual assistants to work ]
AI is the next phase of UI development
Current voice-activated assistants are not really AI — rather they are voice-commanded, automated lookup tables that return pre-programmed results. They have very rudimentary capabilities — cloud services monitor what we've done in the past and run that against a tree of possible actions, like an enhanced search engine. This is a programmed approach, but not truly AI.
Learning about what we do personally, as opposed to comparing us to the majority of users, and then picking a suggested workflow will move the needle dramatically. Continuously monitoring and learning about us will allow our devices to become true concierges — knowing what we want based on specific preferences and current conditions.
AI-powered mobile devices of the future
What does this all mean? AI-powered devices in the future will provide several benefits. First, they will become much more secure. As they learn about us, they will be able to understand if we are using the device or if someone else is. This will prevent credentials from being stolen and allowing someone to hijack our devices. And it will allow us to eliminate passwords to all the sites we access, making life far easier.
Next, true AI will allow us to actually manage all those hundreds of apps we download and carry as a result of devices with increasingly more compute power and memory. Ultimately, the various and different user interfaces across the apps will become invisible as the AI system transparently interfaces with the apps for us. Based on what we did and what we want to do, the device will select the next app to make it happen, deal with whatever data is necessary, and perhaps interact with a series of needed apps. No more opening up a variety of apps to get things done.
Finally, because AI truly understands our needs, it can actually make us safer by monitoring our usage and determining if there is something going on that makes it look like we are ill or under stress, and it will take some required actions. With a whole series of sensors and monitors connected to our mobile device, which essentially becomes our personal edge server, the AI capabilities will have massive amounts of data to analyze for our benefit and react to issues far faster than we can manually.
True AI-powered devices aren't that far away
While much of this sounds highly futuristic, it's not that far off. Apple, Samsung, Qualcomm, Google, Huawei, and others have already started down this path at the chip, operating system, and device level. Specialized AI subsystems in current devices with somewhat limited capabilities will improve over the next one to two years and morph into a much more powerful capability.
There will be some hiccups along the way, but I estimate that in the next three to five years, virtually all of us will be carrying around a full-fledged AI-powered device, although it will start at the higher end of the device market before eventually making its way into mid- and lower-level devices. As a result, our typical use of devices, the types of apps we have, and the variety of interactions between us and our devices will change dramatically. It will bring an increasingly complex interaction environment down to something that is manageable. And that would be a very good thing.
Jack Gold is the founder and principal analyst at J.Gold Associates, LLC., an information technology analyst firm based in Northborough, MA., covering the many aspects of business and consumer computing and emerging technologies.
Follow Jack on Twitter @jckgld on LinkedIn.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Contradictions Abound at Obama's Final Nuclear Security Summit
Opinion - March 16, 2016
By K.N. Pandita
In his Prague speech of 2009, President Obama touched on an important subject for the first time. He talked about security against nuclear terror, meaning the need to nuclear arsenals against falling into the hands of non-state actors. A year later, the first meeting of stakeholders (NSS) numbering no fewer than 53, was held in Washington to deliberate and gradually inch towards a consensus formula of how nuclear arsenals could be safeguarded.
The fourth and perhaps final meeting of the NSS, to which India and Pakistan have also been invited, is to be held in Washington at the end of March. President Putin of Russia has declined to participate.
India and Pakistan, two nuclear countries in South Asia, count fairly well in the deliberations and in the decision likely to come out of the final round of talks.
In a news briefing in Washington in October 2015, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhury disclosed for the first time that his country had made low-yield tactical nuclear weapons "for use in the event of a sudden attack by its larger neighbor."
Two days later, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with President Obama. Reports suggest that they talked about Pakistan's nuclear program, Afghanistan, and militant groups such as the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba – both banned organizations in the U.S.
Quoting Pervez Hoodhbhoy, a nuclear physicist and independent security analyst based in Lahore, BBC reported in a news commentary on October 21, 2015: "The fact that Pakistan was making small tactical nuclear weapons was clear to the world from the day Pakistan started its missile program. It meant that Pakistan had developed low-yield nuclear warheads to be delivered by those missiles at short ranges in a battlefield having localized impact, unlike big bombs designed to destroy cities."
Experts say that the 2011 testing of a nuclear-capable Nasr missile by Pakistan, with a 60 kilometers range, was an indication that Pakistan was building an arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons for use in a theater of war.
Hasan Askari Rizvi, a Lahore-based expert on defense and security issues, suspects that Pakistan may have designed even smaller nuclear weapons, capable of being shot from a specially-designed gun.
Objectively speaking, battlefield weapons could be more dangerous than larger weapons because in the event of a conflict, they will need to be spread out, deployed at multiple locations closer to the targets, and would need to be fired at short notice. BBC also made the cryptic remark that "evidently, Pakistan has acquired this technology from China and it is not possible to block that pipeline."
The question is whether nuclear command and control procedures will always be adequately ensured for all the missile units deployed across the theatre?
In addition to this concern, should not Western powers and the U.S. in particular take note of the fact that Pakistan developed these weapons despite nuclear-related international sanctions in force since 1998, after it carried out its first nuclear test?
How then is the U.S. reacting to this situation in the context of NSS program? Let us put it succinctly. Speaking during a hearing on Pakistan convened by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, US Special Representative for Af-Pak, Richard Olson said that Obama administration shares the concerns of lawmakers particularly about the development of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. "We are concerned most by the pace and scope of Pakistan's missile program, including its pursuit of nuclear systems," he said.
Replying to a question from Congressman Brian Higgins, Olson said that the U.S. was concerned a conventional conflict in Southwest Asia could escalate to include nuclear weapons as well as the increased security challenges that accompany growing stockpiles. He said the U.S. had a very active dialogue at the highest levels with the Pakistanis in which US concerns were stated.
US official circles assert they have urged Pakistan to restrain her nuclear weapons and missile development, which might invite increased risk to nuclear safety, security, or strategic stability.
On this basis, US lawmakers have asked their government to be tough on Islamabad "as it does not seem to be sincere in improving ties with India and has accelerated the pace of arsenals' production."
According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Pakistan could have 350 nuclear warheads in the next decade, becoming the world's third biggest nuclear power, outpacing India, France, China, and the UK. Expressing himself forcefully on the subject, Higgins said, "We have to call them (Pakistan) out on this double game they have been playing, not this year, not last year, not five years, but for the past 15 years…. Pakistan, let's be truthful about this, plays a double game. They are our military partner, but they are the protector and the patron of our enemies. US aid to Pakistan, economic and military, has averaged $2 billion a year."
Attendees of the Nuclear Security Summit, particularly the United States, must be aware that Pakistan with its 189 million population – many of them Islamic extremists – has nuclear weapons. To have Islamic extremists with nuclear weapons is a primary goal of al-Qaeda and it would be a major victory for them and the outgrowth of al-Qaeda namely the Islamic State, avers Higgins.
Covering the strategic dialogue between the high-powered Pakistani delegation led by Adviser for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, with their American counterpart in Washington, the Webdesk reported on 9 March that "Sartaj Aziz insisted that Islamabad would not accept any unilateral curb on its program. Any reduction must also apply to India and it must address the conventional imbalance between the two countries." He pointed out that Pakistan did not have the resources to match India's ever-increasing arsenal of conventional weapons and was forced to depend on non-conventional means to defend it." Another important statement which Aziz made on that day was that Pakistan was hosting some Taliban leaders…
It is clear that Pakistan has decided to use nuclear option in case of war with India and that it is not ruling out the possibility of hosting the Taliban for whatever purposes.
What then should be the foremost agenda of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on 31 March? Obviously, it should be a detailed review of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in the backdrop of how Islamabad tries to justify its relentless effort to increase its nuclear stockpile, including limited tactical nuclear weapon.
However, deeper study on the scenario throws up a contradiction in the words and practice of the U.S. The joint statement issued by Kerry and Sartaj after the conclusion of strategic dialogue belies the stated intentions of the U.S. The joint statement is a long eulogy on the "achievements" of Pakistan in meeting the challenge of the terrorists in the northern part of the country. John Kerry had full-throated praises and encomiums for the Pakistani Army fighting the "terrorists" in Pakistan's north, but not a single word or hint about the terrorist engines on Pakistani soil working against India and Afghanistan. Proliferation of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and induction of tactical nuclear weapons in that arsenal did not figure in their joint statement.
Newsdesk of February 29, 2016 referred to a transcript released in Washington showing Secretary Kerry arguing in two congressional hearings that "the U.S. has been working really hard" to advance a rapprochement between Islamabad and India. In one statement he indirectly confirmed media reports that the U.S. was quietly encouraging the two prime ministers to hold bilateral talks.
How he looks at the stand-off between India and Pakistan, is reflected in his statement that Pakistan has deployed 150,000 to 180,000 troops along the Pak-Afghan border, and in case of a conflict with India Pakistan would have to redeploy the bulk of its forces on her eastern front. Thus what Kerry actually wants Pakistan to do is to fight against the Al Qaeda and Taliban outfits on her western front and keep the so-called non-state actors active on her eastern front against India.
The Webdesk of March 9 said that unlike it did with Iran, the U.S. does not want Pakistan to shut down its nuclear program. But it does want Islamabad to reduce the size of its arsenal.
During a testimony in the Senate where the bill against the sale of 8 F-16 to Pakistan was defeated by 71 to 24 votes, Secretary Kerry passionately defended the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying that the U.S. is committed to boosting Pakistan's strategic capabilities in its war against terrorists.
In other words, Kerry means to say that only the Taliban and Al Qaeda outfits who are fighting against Pakistan in KP region are the terrorists Pakistan should fight against and the scores of other terrorist groups in Pakistan are outside the pale of terrorism. The Mumbai attacks and the recent attack on Pathankot airbase are no terrorist activities for him.
The sale of the F-16s aside, the Obama administration in February 2015 asked Congress to provide more than $1 billion in aid to Pakistan, including a six-fold increase in foreign military financing. The budget proposal described Pakistan as a "strategically important nation" and the proposed US assistance "will strengthen its military in the fight against extremism [and] increase the safety of nuclear installations"
This lays bare the doublespeak of the U.S. on the much trumpeted Nuclear Security Summit, to which President Obama has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate.
All this notwithstanding, BBC said in its commentary of 9 March that there are suggestions that the U.S. may offer Pakistan membership in the Nuclear Supplies Group, with legitimate access to available research and technology, in return for some curbs on fissile material production and its missile program. Sartaj Aziz already reacted this by saying that Pakistan will not accept any unilateral curbs unless same are applied to India.
Does Obama Really Want to Defeat Islamic State?
Opinion October 6, 2014
Pivot or Stumble: Obama's Landmark East Asia Policy Revisited
Opinion December 15, 2014
Why the 'Geo' in Geopolitics Still Matters


text:
REVIEW: URBANSHEE BY SIAARA FREEMAN (BUTTON POETRY)
when everyone I knew was watching
I turned a child's tears into a worthwhile adult.
– From "Started from the Bottom Now I'm Sula"
Urbanshee is a richly layered debut that trades on the Irish bean sí, a mythological creature defined by the way she voices grief, to mourn a father and trace the lineage of grief that haunts urban Black girls. Siaara Freeman shrieks and wails, but she also knows when to pull back, when to whisper and when to let the blank space reverberate like the ghost of a storm. She centers the collection on the murder of her father, which marks a distinct shift in her understanding of herself, her city and the inescapable correlation between Blackness and death. Through explorations of form, infusions of pop culture and a keen understanding of how to advance narrative, Freeman quickly establishes herself as one of the foremost poets of her generation.
The first chapter of the collection works like an exposition, introducing readers to the core conflict that will echo throughout each section. In "X Things They Never Tell You About the Drug Dealer's Daughter," Freeman admits, "By the time she learns to love someone more than/herself, he's already dead." These lines open the poem, which works to reconcile her love for her father and the realization that he is dealing crack cocaine. The second entry in the litany presents the reader with a young girl who is markedly naive, telling her friends, "My daddy can cook, y'all…The cakes they sell so fast I never see them–just the customers at the door lookin' some kind of hungry…"
The naivete of the young Black girl is juxtaposed with poems that demonstrate maturity and thoughtfulness, playing on various forms and engaging with the way pop culture works to create the "urbanshee." The four-part series, "Urban Girl in Four Non-Oscar-Nominated Parts" offers everything from free verse to the complex play on the pantoum in "Part 2: Taking One Thing to Explain Another // Cleo," where Freeman interrogates how Cleo fits into a larger narrative of queer Black women that sacrifice themselves. She concludes the poem with the understanding that "Everything is/a sacrifice on loop."
Freeman begins the second chapter of the collection "Unfortunate," a brilliant turn on the adage, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Within the poem, readers can infer that the tree is the father and the apple is the daughter, with Freeman wondering about the underlying dangers of an apple lying too close to a tree that is already dead. The poem builds toward a powerful conclusion:
She is rotting from the inside
Out. Did anyone know this
was going to happen?
Why wait so fucking long
to say something?
This illustrates the shift from naive young girl to the angry, festering teenager unable to move beyond the death of her father. Her grief becomes all consuming, but Freeman imbues the speaker with enough strength and frustration to suggest that she will not allow herself to rot any longer.
One of my favorite things about the collection is the way Freeman continually leans on pop culture references and common phrases, using the familiar to complicate and analyze the ways in which representations of Black girls simultaneously echo and create a pervasive mythos embodied by her term, "urbanshee." The poem "A Lineage of Language" is a fascinating inversion of Genesis that looks at how popular phrases in Black English hold individual experiences and beget new phrases, such as how "tha blacker tha berry/ tha sweeter da juice begat beauty is only skin deep//but ugly is to the bone."
Importantly, Urbanshee is not a collection that situates trauma and mourning as static or character-defining, nor does it linger so heavily in the father-daughter relationship that readers lose sight of the speaker as a whole, layered person in her right. She looks backwards and forwards, working to find her place among generations of Black women and anticipate how her role as mother will fit into the larger mythos of urbanshees.
"It Is Hard To Tell Someone On Fire That You Are Drowning," one of the most gentle and vulnerable poems in the collection, comes in the final chapter and captures the heaviness of a mother and daughter each navigating struggle in their own ways. The speaker finally understands, "Sacrifice is/not the shattering of glass, it is blood on your hands for getting/someone out alive." In this instance, both mother and daughter end up with blood on their hands as they work to hold each other, both neglecting their own pain for the sake of the other.
Urbanshee is a collection that never reads like a debut, demonstrating Freeman's dedication to craft and her willingness to be patient, with the poems and with herself. This is a book that never forces healing, but moves ever toward it all the same.
#powerofpoetry america art author beauty book review books Button Poetry chapbook creative writing culture death emotion family father fiction ghosts God high school hip hop jericho brown lgbtq life literature loss love mother music podcast poem poems poet poetry Poetry Question poetry review poetryquestion portland power power of poetry rap reading relationships replays review sex small press the poetry question THE POWER OF POETRY thepoetryquestion Top 5 tpq tpq20 TPQ5 trauma university of hell women words write bloody writing Youtube


On October 19, the EVL Prague will take place and both men's open bodybuilding and the 212 and under categories will be well represented. Kai Greene, who has been the Olympia runner-up the last two years, leads the pack and can take home the top prize if he maintains his conditioning. 2008 Olympia winner Dexter Jackson will also be present and is always a threat. Branch Warren, Toney Freeman and Lionel Beyeke will also have something to say. Both Dalibor Hajek and Tomas Bures will have a 'home field' advantage and will receive great ovations.
In the 212, two-time Olympia winner Flex Lewis is the favorite, with Sami Al Haddad looking for the upset. Czech Republic natives Lukas Osladi and Jan Kubik will look to ride the cheers from the fans in their own land to the pose down.
There will also be a small line-up of six bikini competitors taking the stage, including the 2012 winner Vladimira Krasova of the Czech Republic.


Image Size 11 Inches Tall by 11 Inches Wide.
After studying for a Foundation Course in Art and Design at Wolver Hampton University, I then went on to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds, from 1982-1985. Shortly afterwards, in 1986, I was awarded a grant from the 'Princes Youth Business Trust' and was one of the few people chosen to represent the 'Princes Youth Business Trust' at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1990. Although I have been a professional artist since 1986, I was probably first aware of having talent when I was just 10 years old. While my family is not obviously artistic, there are a few notable exceptions. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and those that are very skilled with their hands.
My exhibitions have taken place at the Albert Docks in Liverpool, Chelsea Flower Show and numerous 'Princes Youth Business Trust' shows at the NEC in Birmingham. As well as this I have also held my own one-woman show for over 12 years. This major exhibition was held, for the first time in 2001, at the Halcyon Gallery in Birmingham and was a resounding success. My work is now sold widely both in the UK and in America, as well as other countries, in the form of limited editions.
The love I have for what I do and the person that I am creates a continual need in me to explore my talent to its limits. Inspiration comes from things large and small, from feelings deep inside, to fleeting glimpses of colours, the world around me and the mediums that I use. The fun of it for me, is in the music that I play while painting that focuses the mind, and the striving to get that picture in your head that stays forever out of reach. To sit back and pat yourself on the back means that you have arrived, so what's the point of doing any more. Dissatisfaction it is not, just the knowledge that it could be better next time drives me on. I love music with a passion and cannot paint without it. I frequently dance while working and listen to very loud music. The links between music and painting are clear - both need movement, rhythm and emotion to really be of worth. I listen to a wide range of music letting different types suggest different subjects. I have very eclectic taste in music from soul to folk to dance and classical. The common thread is that it all moves me emotionally. Although I am well known for painting flowers, I change my subject matter regularly, depending on my mood and what inspires me at the time. I intrinsically like change and cannot just paint flowers or landscapes or whatever for a long period. The joy and inspiration comes from approaching a new subject with fresh eyes and an eager heart. Recently I have really found a new lease of life in abstract painting, an area I had previously not tackled. The response has been overwhelming, which is fantastic, as it is one of the greatest challenges to move someone with colour and shape alone, without the constraints of the figurative. Whatever the subject, much of my work is related to my family life which is extremely important, and consequently my work is almost like a diary of the year's events. The beach and landscape scenes that I paint are all taken from places that I have visited, either with my family or on my own. They are very personal to me, and a very important part of my life. I also, however, enjoy capturing slices of other people's lives, reflecting the changing world around us. Everything I do is from life.
I cannot say this is how I do it from A to Z, step by step. Because each subject determines what is needed; whether it's an expansive landscape or a single flower. I have become used to using pastels and have explored the many ways to apply it, and the great variety of surfaces on which to work on. I now find myself drawn to oils, which is a whole new ball game. I always learn as I am physically drawing or painting. I do not read about it first and then have a go; I just do it and see what happens. Colour is a large part of my work and I am definitely drawn to certain colours depending on my frame of mind at the time.


This week was "Sexual Ethics" and boy oh boy did we have some fun with this topic!! Well, ok, I had some fun. I can't speak for the rest of you.
Some really incredible entries out there this time, which means the voting should be interesting.
Could it get MORE interesting? Oh you bet it could!
How about 4 TRIBES instead of 3? How about we throw out the whole division by size of friends lists and get down to division according to performance voting wise over the last week and a half… yes, I said "and a half"… which is what created the "x-factor" that no one could predict, when exactly I was going to take the snapshot of the numbers from last week's poll!
We are sending 4 people home this week, the person with the least amount of votes in each tribe. Which means that "safety zone" a lot of people thought they were in has just turned out to be located directly over a trap door!
Some were moved up from their last tribal position. Some were moved down, which included a lot of the people who have used up their byes… meaning week to week Tribe 1 is in severe danger of shrinking fast! It also means we will be saying goodbye to people in Tribe 4 – people that no one expected to be going for a really, really long time. That was the part that I said was going be a heart breaker for me because pretty much every single member of that tribe is extremely high profile in the community!
As always you can vote for as many, or few people as you like in each tribe. The only way your favorites are going to stay in this game is if you support them! The deadline for voting is Monday December 10th at 1pm EST.
You can haz voting now.
Tech Support Note - I sacrificed my lunch for this.
1_rhiannon_1's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
chite's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
commodity_sign's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
justthere's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
chather's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
heykatie's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
nerdygirrl's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
pete_wisdom's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
shay_writes's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
zyada's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
beemerbike's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
blue_eye's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
masterofmusings's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
fidgety's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
johnmill79's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
moonstone_fae's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
amadruadaboleyn's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
flutterbychild's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
wakiing_up's"Bye Week - Do Not Vote For This Contestant"""
It's both an honor and terrifying to be in #4!
Good luck to everyone! And I think ewok_626, 1_rhiannon_1 and unsold_capacity (among others, obviously) are sorely misplaced.
you're making assumptions about how tribes are divided, aren't you?
Tribe 1's going to be pirhana nation come a few weeks from now. Let the strong survive, the weak get stronger, and all writers get better.
Well, it's been a great run, everybody, see you all again soon!
I am so ahead of you.
It's a psychological comfort to be in the (now) Tribe 3. I have a thing with threes. So, this is now based on how voting has ran in the past? I like that better than f-list size.
i was freaking out about being in tribe 3 before and having people in there that were getting votes in the 70's!!!
I think I will sit over here and gnaw my fingernails raw for the weekend. How am I supposed to knit while gnawing on my nails???
Doesn't this make the cheese more binding.
I don't comment much- it's not really in my nature, but I wanted to let you know that I do read all your comments and I appreciate them.
did you post an entry? I've got you in my notes.. but I see no place to vote for you and your journal is friends only?
Indeed. I find myself with the same guilty feeling for having taken my bye weeks that I do when I go to the hairdresser and she asks (with layers of disapproval in her voice), "You've been dying your hair yourself, haven't you?"
I'm trying to figure out just when it was I became high profile?!
I've liked you from day 1.


text:
Home The Witches
The Witches
The Witches: A Discworld Game is the second of three games by Martin Wallace set in Terry Pratchett's Discworld, the first being Discworld: Ankh-Morpork.
The Witches is set in the magically charged land of Lancre. Players take on the role of trainee witches, such as Tiffany Aching and Petulia Gristle, learning their craft and dealing with all the problems, both petty and serious, that life on Discworld can throw at them. A subtle blend of headology, magic and, of course, the all-important cup of tea will see our heroines tackle everything from a sick pig to a full-blown invasion of elves. Each player tries to be better at everything than the others, while also cooperating to prevent crises from escalating.
Life can be tough for a young witch in Lancre. Fear not, however, as some of Terry Pratchett's most famous characters will be on hand to aid your quest. Along the way you'll meet Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick, as well as a rich supporting cast of familiar faces from the Discworld series. When things get really tough and you feel you are turning "Black Aliss", you can always have a cup of tea with one of your fellow witches.
The Witches can be played competitively, cooperatively, or solo.


With the school year ending (in American schools at least), Eren, Mikasa, Armin and company will be graduating middle school. Hajime Isayama and Saki Nagakawa's Attack on Titan Junior High spoof manga will be celebrating its ending in the August issue of home monthly, Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, on sale July 9th.
Anime cast Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, Yu Kobayashi, Hiro Shimono, Tomohisa Hashizume, and Hiroshi Kamiya, and theme song performer Linked Horizon will also be reuniting at Tokyo International Forum Hall A on July 3rd for a live-reading event.
Volume 10 of the 2012 series was released in April.
Japan Unveils the Robot Smartphone!


text:
Q: First order PDE system on a complete Riemannian manifold Let $X_1, X_2$ be two orthogonal everywhere non-zero vector fields on a complete Riemannian manifold $M$. Can one always solve the solve the system $$X \phi = 1, Y\phi = 0,$$
$$X\psi = 0, Y\psi = 1 ?$$
where $\phi, \psi \in C_0^\infty (M)$? I am not too sure this can be done always, but may be there are good sufficient conditions known for such linear systems?

A: I assume that you're using $C^\infty_0(M)$ with its usual meaning of the set of smooth, compactly supported, real-valued functions on $M$. If so, then the answer is that there are never global solutions.
If $M$ is noncompact and $\phi\in C^\infty_0(M)$, then there will be an open subset of $M$ where $\phi\equiv 0$, which contradicts $X\phi = 1$. On the other hand, if $M$ is compact, then $X$ and $Y$ are complete, meaning that every integral curve is defined for all $t\in \mathbb R$. If $\gamma\colon \mathbb R\to M$ is an integral curve of $X$, say, then
$$
\frac{d}{dt} \phi(\gamma(t)) = X\phi(\gamma(t)) = 1,
$$
so $\phi(\gamma(t)) = t+c$ for some constant $c$. This contradicts the fact that every continuous function on a compact space is bounded.
So there are no compactly supported solutions. Suppose we look instead for global solutions that are not necessarily compactly supported. If $M$ is compact, every function is compactly supported, so the argument above shows that there are no global solutions in that case. If $M$ is noncompact, there still might be no global solutions. For example, as @Anthony Carapetis mentioned, there will be no solutions if $X$ or $Y$ has any closed integral curves. In fact, if $X$ has an integral curve that remains in a compact subset of $M$ for all positive or negative time, then the same argument leads to a contradiction, so again there are no solutions. The question of existence of global solutions is thus subtly tied up with the topology of $M$ and of the foliations determined by $X$ and $Y$, and I doubt that there's any simple general answer.
So that brings us to the question of local solutions. As @Anthony Carapetis mentioned, a sufficient condition for the existence of local solutions in a neighborhood of each point is $[X,Y]\equiv 0$. One reference for this is Theorem 9.46 in my Introduction to Smooth Manifolds.
When the dimension of $M$ is $2$, the same theorem shows that this is also necessary, because any such pair of functions $(\phi,\psi)$ forms local coordinates on $M$. (And, incidentally, it should be noted that this implies the given Riemannian metric is flat, so flatness of the metric is another necessary condition. See Theorem 13.14 in the same book.)
However, in higher dimensions, the condition $[X,Y]\equiv 0$ is not necessary. Here's an example in $3$ dimensions for which there exist global solutions. Define vector fields $X$ and $Y$ on $\mathbb R^3$ by
$$
X = \frac{\partial}{\partial x} - y\frac{\partial}{\partial z},
\qquad
Y = \frac{\partial}{\partial y} + x\frac{\partial}{\partial z}.
$$
Then $[X,Y] \ne 0$, but $\phi(x,y,z) = x$ and $\psi(x,y,z)=y$ are global solutions to the problem. (If you want to relate this to a Riemannian metric, just let $g$ be the metric for which $\{X,Y,\partial/\partial z\}$ is an orthonormal basis.)
So one might wonder if (local) solutions always exist in higher dimensions. But that's not the case either: For example, again in $\mathbb R^3$, if we set
$$
X = \frac{\partial}{\partial x},
\qquad
Y = \frac{\partial}{\partial y} + x\frac{\partial}{\partial x},
$$
then $[X,Y]=X$, and any solution $\phi$ would have to satisfy
$$
1 = X\phi = [X,Y]\phi = X(Y\phi) - Y(X\phi) = X(0) - Y(1) = 0,
$$
a contradiction.
I haven't figured out whether there's a simple necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of local solutions in higher dimensions. Interesting question.


text:
Бара́новська сільська рада () — сільське поселення у складі Зміїногорського району Алтайського краю Росії.

Адміністративний центр — село Барановка.

Населення
Населення — 2044 особи (2019; 2310 в 2010, 2571 у 2002).

Склад
До складу сільської ради входять:

Примітки

Поселення Зміїногорського району

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


With the wide range of family resorts in Wildwood, NJ to select from, we know you have choices. But the Harbor Light offers the most family-friendly, affordable family vacations, complete with easy access to restaurants, accommodating customer service and free Wi-Fi.
Since 1979, the family-owned Harbor Light Family Resort has been known as one of the best motels in North Wildwood. Located on the beach block with just a short drive to the boardwalk, we offer all that you need and more to enjoy a fun, family vacation at the Jersey Shore.
Founded by the Del Monte family as one of the most family-friendly, affordable motels North Wildwood, NJ has to offer, the Harbor Light Family Resort is a place where you can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere with the beach, boardwalk and the action just a quick drive away. The Del Montes have committed themselves to continuously upgrading and improving every facet of their family business. Over the years, they've kept reinvesting money in the Harbor Light Family Resort, allowing the family to adapt to an ever-changing business climate and provide you with quality, friendly and affordable service.
When you're looking for a Wildwood, NJ motel, Harbor Light is the perfect home away from home for your family vacation. You can explore the town's pristine beaches, the historical boardwalk and plenty of amazing restaurants with a quick drive or an enjoyable walk. We provide all the amenities you need, a wide variety of living arrangements, including two-bedroom suites, weekend rentals and more. It's truly one of the best motels in North Wildwood!
If you'd like to experience everything the Jersey Shore has to offer, book your vacation at one of the most beloved Wildwood, New Jersey hotels. Email us today or call 609-729-5567.


text:
Piskorovce est un village situé dans la région de Prešov, au nord-est de la Slovaquie.

Histoire

La première mention écrite du village est datée de 1408.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Village en Slovaquie
Commune dans le district de Vranov nad Topľou


You want more business but you're fresh out of ideas. You don't know what to do.
Don't worry. The fact is, you don't need any ideas.
Nothing original, anyway. Find something that's working for someone else and copy it.
Ideas are free. And (usually) non-proprietary. Find a lawyer who is bringing in business and do what they're doing.
Your best bet? Your direct competition. They've proven that what they're doing is working for their (your) practice area and your market.
Second best, a lawyer in a similar practice area or market.
Original ideas are rare. And unnecessary. You don't need to re-invent the wheel.
Find something someone else is doing that aligns with what you're doing, or want to do, and feels like a good fit. Something that fits your personality, budget, and work style.
Don't try to improve the idea, however. You might mess it up. Copy it exactly. Later, when it's working for you, too, you can tinker with it and make it better.
Right now, go talk to some lawyers. Observe them. Study them. Read their blogs, their ads, their websites.
You don't need ideas. Use theirs.


Dedicated To Helping Families Reach Their Full Wellness Potential!
Thank you for visiting the website of Dr. Brenda L. Rooney of Optimal Family Chiropractic, a professional chiropractic clinic in Morris County. In practice as well as online, Dr. Rooney strives for excellence through superior patient treatment, education and wellness. Dr. Brenda Rooney of Optimal Family Chiropractic has a passion for healing her patients. Dr. Rooney encourages patients to be participants in their healing process and educates them about Wellness programs through chiropractic care and nutrition support. Within our website, patients and residents of Morris County will find many types of health and wellness information including information about our office and services, chiropractic care, pain relief, many conditions, nutrition, injuries and much, much more! We hope you find the information within to be useful and will share it with friends. Thank you for visiting our website. Feel free to visit www.optimalfamilychiropracticllc.com again and encourage your friends and family too.
Dr. Brenda L. Rooney has been a chiropractic patient since she was diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager. "I was encouraged to attend chiropractic college by my own chiropractor. I was impressed by anatomy and biology and how chiropractic care can help the body heal itself naturally." said Dr. Rooney. Dr. Rooney has always been involved in athletics and nutrition including competitive equestrian riding and competitive bodybuilding.
Chirothin Weight Loss Program Fast, long term weight loss is just drops away! No exercise, drugs, prepackaged food, shakes or bars! Lose 20-35 pounds in 6 weeks! Click to learn more.
Active Release Technique ART is a manual massage therapy which breaks up scar tissue and adhesions. Click to learn more.
Myofascial Release A therapeutic technique used to reduce pain by easing the tension and tightness in trigger points. Click to learn more.
Chiropractic If you are suffering from neck, mid back or lower back pain you are not alone. More than 80% of North Americans will at some time in their life suffer from the disabling confines of neck and back pain. Click to learn more.
Flexion Distraction Technique Flexion distraction technique takes the pressure off of spinal nerves through stretching of the lower back and spine to relieve pain. Click to learn more.
Extremity Adjusting Suffering from shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle or foot pain? Extremity adjusting may be beneficial for you! Click to learn more.
I started going to Dr Rooney about a month ago when I pinched a nerve in my back which caused tremendous pain in my hip and leg. Dr Rooney was great. After a month of visits, my back and hip have never felt better. I definitely recommend Dr Rooney for any issues you may have.
Have been seeing Dr.Rooney for the last 3 months since throwing my back out. After she did a very thorough evaluation of my back she was able to get me walking upright without any pain. She is very professional and friendly and the well being of her patients comes first. I have recommended her to several people.


These days, it can feel like our most important functions as moms are saying "no", limiting their daily screen time, getting them to eat veggies, and picking up their Legos. And while these are all par for the "mommy" course, there is one thing that surpasses them all in importance. When you choose to emotionally support your kids with intention, you set the stage for greater joy for everyone. And, in the big picture, those little darlings will remember how they felt more than what you said.
Children who are accepted, heard, and understood are far more likely to love who they are throughout their lives. On the other hand, kids raised in homes without affection and emotional support may deal with more self-image problems. Of course, we can't always know the best way to deal with and talk to our children, but we can always ask ourselves how we would want to be treated. Here are a few ways you can increase your support and bring more happiness into your home.
Communicating our feelings without blaming and criticizing others is a skill we want to demonstrate and teach our children. Additionally, reading non-verbal cues like body language, facial expression, and other clues helps us to detect emotions. Observing these actions helps to determine how to approach various situations. Children also understand more than we think. They often pick up on our stress and anger by simply watching how we walk, speak, and interact with them.
Have you ever tried to stop your child from crying or yelling? I bet most of us have. Unfortunately, this common reaction to uncomfortable emotions may backfire. Our resistance creates more frustration and feelings of inadequacy in the child. Even if their issue seems trivial to us as adults, we need to acknowledge how our kids feel and help them work through how to express emotions healthily.
We have so much going on at any one time that hearing each other…I mean really hearing doesn't often happen. Our listening skills take a back seat to work, housework, and even our own thoughts and feelings. It becomes too easy to tell them what they should feel and how to express it.
This doesn't give kids agency over their own emotions. They may be small, but they are the best judges of how they feel. Sometimes words aren't even necessary. All you need to do is be there and be present.
Feelings are never wrong, however, you might not think that, considering how they can be judged so easily. This happens primarily because humans tend to be self-focused. Empathy and compassion aren't always the first things we consider in our relationships. Our families are unfortunately the ones who can be hurt the most by this lack.
As children get older, they may need even more attention and support as life can be challenging for teens. Feeling alone can lead to depression, anxiety, and anorexia. You may attempt to fix the symptoms of these illnesses on your own, but it may not be enough. If conditions are already apparent, individual and family therapy may be necessary to help them. Additionally, there are tools like a comprehensive eating disorder meal plan resource from Tapestry to support your child.
Children hear us and see us. They are acutely aware when we are happy and when we're not. How we express ourselves affects their emotional development even when we're not speaking to them. Consider also how you express yourself to your significant other or yourself. We must be careful how we show up at all times. There are healthful ways to express emotions that demonstrate stability and self-awareness.
Also, consider what you express to your child. Some things are not appropriate for them to know or experience. A child's capacity to handle adult situations is limited. Show them that it's okay to feel sad but that it's not their responsibility to support you or fix anything. Tell them about the things that make you feel better and how you manage your feelings.


Sophomore public relations major Miriam Thurber.
Getting a book published while in college is an achievement few people can claim. However, sophomore public relations Miriam Thurber has just finished writing a devotional book for college students entitled Mine?: A Life Fully Surrendered. This book will be in stores this month, but the easiest way to get the book is from Thurber herself, who will have copies in her dorm room.
Thurber did not set out to write a devotional, but God prompted her to begin writing while she was serving abroad in Tajikistan during the gap year she took after high school. She was hesitant at first, so she asked God for a sign that this was really what He wanted her to do—He gave her two.
The first sign was through a conversation with a friend who was going through a difficult time. Thurber gave him advice and Bible verses, and he told her that she should write a devotional. The second sign came the day after that conversation in the form of a message from her aunt saying she was using Thurber's most recent blog post as a devotional with her daughters that morning.
The cover of Thurber's devotional which will release in stores this month.
Once the book was written, it went through several rounds of editing before being submitted to publishers. Thurber's mother, an English professor, was the first to edit the manuscript for grammar. Next, Thurber sent it to students in her age demographic to get feedback on the effectiveness of the content. Finally, she sent it to three theologians and pastors to make sure the theology was correct.
Her intent is that the book will be fun to read, but also help readers experience God in new ways. The devotional consists of three parts: God, others and self. Each section includes different topics of study explaining why that specific part of the reader's life should be given to God. The devotional also includes Thurber's experiences and perspectives on the various topics, related Bible verses, questions that encourage readers to think about the topics in terms of their own lives and a challenge for readers to do that day or week to apply the topics to their lives.
"I think a unique point about it is that it was written by someone in the demographic, so I know what's going on in their minds, and I know what it's like to be a college student," said Thurber.
Mine? is available for pre-order and will come out in stores before Christmas. For more information and pre-order options, please visit Thurber's website at www.miriamthurber.com.


This paper adds to the tax compliance literature in two ways. The primary contribution of this research is the exploration of an approach for segmenting noncompliant taxpayers based on a contingency model framework. We examine how the contingency factors of taxpayer objective (correct return or minimize taxes) and tax preparation mode (self-preparation versus use of a professional preparer) affect the relation of taxpayer characteristics and noncompliance behavior. Second, the scope of U.S. taxpayer characteristics tested is expanded to include personality variables, tax knowledge, and anticipated benefits of noncompliance.
The contingency framework added to the explanatory power of the model. The relations between the predictor variables and noncompliance behavior varied across the subgroups identified by the contingency factors--taxpayer objective and preparation mode. The additional predictor variables of tax knowledge, anticipated benefits of noncompliance, and the personality characteristics (conformity, responsibility, value orthodoxy, and risk propensity) were especially helpful in distinguishing the profiles of the different groups of noncompliant taxpayers. The paper concludes with a discussion of specific considerations for future research.
I.R.C. § 415(b), contributions must satisfy the defined-contribution limitations of I.R.C. § 415(c), and the employee's benefits and contributions together may be subject to the "sum-of-fractions" (SOF) limitation of I.R.C. § 415(e). Consequently, contributions to elective salary reduction arrangements that are optimal under the linear defined-contribution constraints may have to be reduced to satisfy the DB and SOF limitations. This article (1) expands the CWA model by incorporating the DB and SOF limitations; (2) consolidates, modifies, and clarifies some aspects of the linear model presented in CWA (1986); and (3) presents an algorithm for solving the expanded model. Because of space limitations only Stage 1 of a two-stage algorithm appears in this article. Stage 2 is available from the authors upon request.
Tax clients and their return preparers have different perceptions about the importance of tax service elements. This study explores those differences and relates the differences to clients' judgments of tax service quality. Exchange theory and perception gap analysis are used to examine the evaluation of the return preparation services. A survey was administered to tax clients and to tax professionals employed by three international accounting firms, and the survey results were evaluated using structural equation analysis. The results revealed that tax preparers' perceptions of what clients expect from a quality tax service differ significantly from clients' expectations. Significant differences were found in the areas of reducing audit likelihood and in improving communication between tax preparers and clients. The survey also indicated that the greatest discrepancies between clients' expectations and the service actually received were related to tax savings strategies.
This study examines the extent to which reported earnings were managed in response to the book income adjustment component of the alternative minimum tax (AMT). A sample of 151 non-financial firms subject to the AMT was identified using the NAARS database. These firms were partitioned by their relative incentive to respond to the book income adjustment. Earnings management was operationalized using accruals related to long-lived assets (depreciation, amortization, and depletion).
The results indicate that certain firms managed accruals to minimize the cost of the AMT. These results are consistent across three alternate calculations of discretionary depreciation accruals. This finding corresponds with the view that firms altered their reporting behavior in response to the AMT and supports concerns expressed by policy-makers. Consistent with the evidence reported in Gramlich (1991) and Dhaliwal and Wang (1992), limited evidence is found of anticipatory earnings management in the year preceding the imposition of the AMT. After including variables to control for other possible factors that might motivate firms to manage earnings (leverage, firm size, and bonus scheme variables), the tax variable continues to be significant in its predicted direction.
Conventional investment and tax-planning wisdom holds that the marginal tax rate is the critical variable in planning for the next dollar of taxable investment. The traditional approach to maximize after-tax returns is to invest incremental investment dollars in the asset yielding the highest after-tax return. In this paper we develop and implement a linear programming model to serve as an alternative to traditional analysis. Given a regime characterized by progressive tax rates, we argue that as an investor's taxable income exceeds the upper boundary of a tax bracket, optimal strategy results from a comparison of the after-tax return from an intra-bracket investment shift relative to the after-tax return from the traditional, or inter-bracket, approach. Our analysis suggests that tax planners may wish to jointly consider intra-bracket allocations of investment dollars.
Variation of tax liability (or tax rate) within groups developed by classification schemes reflects differential tax treatment of economic unequals as well as horizontal inequity in the tax regime. The coefficient of variation (CV) of either tax liability or tax rate is frequently used as a measure of horizontal equity. The CV overstates the amount of horizontal equity in a tax regime to the extent that variation within groups is due to income level. An alternative measure of horizontal equity, the coefficient of residual variation (CRV) from a regression, is proposed. The CRV adjusts for progressivity, eliminating a source of distortion in the traditional CV measurement of horizontal equity. Empirical properties of the CV and CRV are compared and illustrated using 1979 and 1986 tax returns from the Ernst & Young/University of Michigan Tax Database.
In this study we investigate the relation between educational background and professional performance in tax accounting. We analyze educational and performance data from personnel files of tax staff employees from six regional offices of international accounting firms. Our sample is separated into two groups; a bachelor's degree only group and a master's degree group. The personnel data provided by the accounting firms includes annual performance evaluations and promotion rates. In general, we find significant differences between the two groups with respect to both performance measures. Additionally, tax staff with graduate tax education generally outperformed those having only a baccalaureate degree. The results are consistent with prior research suggesting that post-baccalaureate education is positively correlated with higher professional performance.


For additional information about careers in Oregon's forest and wood products manufacturing operations, there are several websites offering career preparation, options, and employment guidance for both students and jobseekers.
Folks working in Oregon's forest sector are proud to grow and produce renewable wood fiber products consumed across North America and worldwide. Forest sector careers offer exciting opportunities to learn and apply a wide range of skills in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings. These rewarding careers deliver valuable wood & paper products to expanding markets.
Forest sector employers regularly recruit and hire qualified employees to join their team to grow, produce, construct, transport or manufacture forest products for global markets. The outlook for all sorts of positions (entry level and above) is excellent, and advancement can come quickly for the reliable person willing to work hard to get ahead. Wages in Oregon's forest sector significantly exceed the statewide average.


text:
Reviewing the channels
We can review sales opportunities by looking in many channel directions and learn learn that each channel has its own idiosyncrasies. We must start with a broad view of where we can focus and then determine which ones are best for our product or service.
- Imagine for a minute you're the vice president of sales for a company that's developed an exciting new product, or maybe the company you work for creates a new type of service that has enormous potential. A key piece of the overall business and financial plans will be the sales plan. As the head of sales, you've been tasked with preparing a review of sales channels, distribution models, sales staff expenses, and of course, revenue projections. It's like starting with a blank piece of paper.
And before you do any detailed analyses, you'll want to prepare a list of channels to target. Very simply, ask yourself these three very broad questions. Who do you want to sell to? How do you want to do it? And by what means can be used to accomplish it? It's like your all inclusive wishlist. For example, you may write down value-added reseller as one of your sales channels to increase opportunities in corporate human resources department. The list that follows isn't all inclusive, and we're not here to debate the differences between sales channel and distribution channel.
Think broadly and be optimistic, but understand that as you begin to analyze your cost, your lists will probably shrink. So for the product or service you have, maybe you look at it like I have by direct and indirect. You add additional ones or remove ones that wouldn't apply. For the product or service, we're going to look at it by direct and indirect process. Both lists are pretty self-explanatory. The direct list focuses on one-to-one contact with the buyer of your product or service.
The indirect list can get more complex. Each of them will have their own idiosyncrasies, methods of working with them effectively, success and failure rates, and expenses. You'll also need to bear in mind that some sales people are better than others for handling certain types of accounts. Selling to a corporation is a lot different than trying to close business with a wholesaler. Depending on what you're offering, you could fine tune certain channels more by segmenting them into greater detail.
For example, you could be more specific with the type of retailers and wholesalers and the end users they're going after. Obviously development teams will have input, but it's also important to bring in your marketing and research teams at this point too, since they will need to be involved in the next stages. Ensuring that everyone understands your thinking right from the start is critical. They could also flag areas where they may see more potential than you. Reviewing the channels and laying out the framework for sales opportunities for your new venture is a fun stage.
It's the initial step for those of you with sales channel management responsibilities. It could be somewhat of a wishlist, but you're doing it with realistic expectations. You're viewing the marketplace, customers, and buyers with an objective to reach them with your sales teams and you're mapping out a framework of possibilities with the goal of maximizing sales.
Dean Karrel
When you're developing a distribution plan for your product or service, sales channel management is a critical part of the overall strategy. In this course, sales coach Dean Karrel explains how to effectively manage your sales channels. He discusses the sales channel landscape and the variables that impact success, and shows how to map out a profitable and effective plan. Dan covers everything from surveying the marketplace to handling channel conflict. He also covers weighing costs versus revenue, forecasting sales, and conducting reviews of key accounts and channels. To wrap up, Dean walks through creating a channel marketing structure and uncovering opportunities to expand products or services.
Surveying the marketplace
Reviewing channels
Managing channels and investments
Developing a go forward plan
Working with other departments and teams
Handling channel conflict
Forecasting sales
Creating a channel marketing structure
Analyzing Sales Competitors
with Jeff Bloomfield
33m 43s Intermediate
Identify Sales Growth Opportunities
with Drew Boyd
1. Surveying the Marketplace
Market research: Customers and competition
Current staffing and costs
Channel strategy: SWOT analysis
2. Managing the Channels and Investment
Developing the go forward plan
Staffing: Hiring the right people
Sales staff training
Account visits and visibility
The necessity of using CRMs
Customer service needs
3. The Financials and Reviews
Sales, marketing, staffing costs: ROI
Key account and channel reviews
4. Next Steps
More product lines or expanding services
New channels and global opportunities
Business Business Skills Marketing
Video: Reviewing the channels


A lovely summer bridal bouquet in mauves and purples. Local cool water lavendar roses are complimented by snap dragons, lisanthus, baby's breath and more. Subtle greens trail the bouquet. *Flowers may vary seasonally.


As everyone knows, the beginning of a new year always leads people to make resolutions about losing weight, traveling, spending more time with family, etc… Well, this year I decided to try something I've never done before. Wait for it….. I plan to COOK one new recipe every week, trying to use foods that I have never used before. I know it's not the most exciting resolution, but cooking has never been my strongest area. Case in point, I'm the sister known for burning water and scraping off the burnt edges on a piece of toast. Bless my father and his non-existent taste buds, but he always ate everything I put in front of him.
My family knows that I've been on a pretty restrictive diet for the past year and a half. Most days, the only cooking I did was an omelet in the morning and baked chicken or fish for dinner. All of my other meals consisted of fruits and vegetables that required little or no preparation. Since I'm now able to broaden my horizons and expand my dietary palate, I thought that this year I would try to make new meals that I've never had before. Just this week, I made the most decadent soup from a butternut squash! This type of squash is extremely high in beta-carotene, the antioxidant that helps ward off many health problems, so the soup is good for you too.
The butternut squash was a gift from a coworker, and I, with my limited cooking knowledge, had no idea what to do with it. So where does everyone go when they are looking for inspiration? My favorite website, Pinterest! Browsing through their options, I looked for anything that appeared remotely edible, and came across this wonderful recipe from the Martha Stewart Living website.
3. Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth. Make sure you don't overfill your blender, because the hot soup will expand when mixed together. Stir in lemon juice; season with salt. Serve bisque with sour cream garnished with cayenne, if desired.
It's as easy as that. Preparation time took me about 8 minutes, so the total cooking time ranges from 33 to 35 minutes. Fresh vegetable based soups usually keep about 2 days in the refrigerator. If there are any leftovers, this soup is perfect for freezing. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
P.S. I know it's technically the second week of the new year, but my recipe from last week ended up setting off the fire alarm, and I didn't think anyone would find that appealing (except my dad, of course).


text:
Vance Gilbert
Plus: Kerri Powers
Date: Friday, September 27, 2019 ~ 7:00 PM
Can something be wry, aching, hysterical, evocative, provocative, fun, beautifully sung, and consummately played all at once? Can it? That'd be Vance Gilbert and his transcendent new album "BaD Dog Buffet".
With the generous assistance from a varied list of super-respected guests—including Celtic harpist/singer Aine Minogue, bluegrass boys Darol Anger and Joe Walsh Jr., jazz sax player Grace Kelly, country rock hero Roy Sludge, and guitar mainstay Kevin Barry—this talented man's musical truth plays out shamelessly on BaD Dog Buffet.
Fully funded by his fans, the record has so far received raves reviews based solely on the material folks knew would be on it Those who know and love Vance have already enjoyed the life-loving capitulation of "God Bless Everyone," the seething rocker "Nothing from You," and the tonguein-cheek, happy break-up song, "Out the Way We Came In. "First Ring" is a Vance classic, a banjo love story rooted in folk whimsy, while "Kiss the Bad Boys" sounds like what would happen if Bootsy Collins and Bruce Springsteen were trapped in an elevator and ended up writing a song together. "Unfamiliar Moon," which some may know as Vance's signature song—a tune that landed him in the second round of auditions of TV's "America's Got Talent"—is revisited here in a pared down version with Anger on fiddle.
Performer Lineup: Vance Gilbert, Kerri Powers
Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel and James Taylor featuring Good Acoustics
The THE BAND Band: Tribute to The Band, Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of "The Brown Album"
Willie Nile
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams: A Very Slambovian Christmas
The Nields


Social media has become an entrenched function of today's Internet. Has widespread news of abuse — e.g., the Cambridge Analytica scandal — changed people's perceptions of how corporations and public institutions can use personal data? We compare two datasets, one collected through an October 2013 study and the other collected via an augmented version of the same study performed in May 2018. Overall, participants in 2018 are more willing to cede control of their personal data to others (including public institutions) than they were in 2013. Participants with greater awareness of the Cambridge Analytica scandal's details show an increased desire for data mobility, more skepticism about targeted advertising and news, and an increased willingness for social media sites to demand corrections to inaccurate content. This work was done in collaboration with Frank Shipman, Center for the Study of Digital Libraries at Texas A&M University.
Cathy Marshall is an adjunct professor at the Center for the Study of Digital Libraries at Texas A&M University. She was previously a principal researcher at Microsoft Research, Silicon Valley.


Do You Know If Your Roof, Siding or Decks Are Near Or At The End of Their Life?
You Want to Protect and Maintain Value in Your Properties.
Protecting home value involves preventive measures such as routine home exteriors inspections. At Xtreme Exteriors, we expertly inspect for issues before they become (expensive) problems. For issues like rotting deck components, cracked shingles or damaged siding, Xtreme Exteriors takes extra steps to inspect and assess problem areas before making repairs. Our goal is to stop the cause of damage from returning, keeping your properties structurally safe and maintaining their value.
If it's been more than a year since you last had a home exteriors inspection and for peace of mine, schedule your home exteriors inspection today. Simply us at 763.441.1334, toll-free at 877.441.1334 or go to our Contact Us page. Want to learn more about the importance of home exteriors inspections? Read about it on our blog.
Roof penetrations and seal any problem areas.
Roof flashings and drainage exits.
Replace cracked or blown off shingles.
Inspect the roof for integrity performance and for any structural damage.
Replace broken, loose or damaged siding.
Window and roof drainage in conjunction with siding system.
Deck posts, footings and supports.
Rails and spindles for loose or rotten wood and cracked framing.
Ledger board and rim joist for rot and structural stability.
Corroded footings from "green treated" arsenic lumber.
We Understand the Decisions You Face.
Let Us Help You Make Your Home Exterior Projects Run Smoothy.
Consult with the Home Exteriors Experts.
We understand as property managers and HOA board members, you have a unique set of issues. You want to keep your multi-family homes well maintained, looking beautiful and efficiently functioning, year to year, season to season.
Knowledge and Experience You Can Trust from Inspections to Projects Large and Small.
At Xtreme Exteriors, we go the extra mile to inspect and assess problem areas before conducting home exteriors repairs. Our goal is to stop the cause of the damage from returning, saving you money over the long run.
By having Xtreme Exteriors involved in the budget and planning stage, we can help you identify inherent design problems, including the overall performance of your roofing, siding, windows, deck systems and more.
Xtreme Exteriors has written and helped design many project scopes to address issues such as ice and snow build up, wind tolerance and poorly insulated properties. Our knowledge of the latest products and techniques will ensure that your renovations will include functional improvements that go far beyond the aesthetics of your properties.
At Xtreme Exteriors, we continue to offer the best by staying up-to-date with proper product installation and certifications. We stay abreast of the latest product lines to provide you knowledgable advice on choosing the right products to make your home safe, sound, efficient and beautiful for years to come.
Everything from the innovative ideas and suggestions for improvements still within our budget to the professionalism and attention to detail — the transformation Xtreme Exteriors did was incredible! We watched as in as little as 6 1/2 weeks, this multi-housing community blossomed into a uniformly designed and now structurally sound neighborhood we can all be proud of.
To protect single homes and multi-family homes from seasonal issues, Xtreme Exteriors offers to homeowners and town home associations springtime gutter cleaning and wintertime snow and ice removal to prevent costly ice dams from occurring.


text:
Portable Trackers
Direct Scanning Laser Tracker Receives Productivity and Usability Improvements
June 10, 2020 June 11, 2020 Keith Mills Publishing Editor
Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division has announced a new system software release for Leica Absolute Tracker ATS600 systems. This first new system software update for the ATS600 will deliver a host of new functions developed based on extensive market feedback collected since the system's launch in early 2019. From improved imaging to new scan processes and modes, the update offers productivity and usability improvements designed to make the direct scanning of large surfaces even easier. Also included in this latest version is full integration for ATS600 systems within the HxGN SFx | Asset Management platform.
Among the improvements this update delivers is a new panorama imaging mode, which allows users to create a large composite picture of a work area using the built-in Overview Camera. The system's live-view image can be overlaid on the composite, placing it within the wider context and allowing for easier navigation when measuring extremely large parts that exceed the system's standard field of view. This comes alongside coding improvements that have improved the definition of the Overview Camera, allowing the system's live view to display at a resolution three-times higher than previously possible. With image quality reaching up to 5 megapixels, there are now also several levels of zoom available with no loss of resolution, making it easier to target distant measurement surfaces accurately.
"The new update is all about improving productivity by refining usability," says Rodrigo Alfaia, Absolute Tracker Product Manager, Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division. "The ATS600 is like no other laser tracker on the market before, and so we've made it a priority to listen to the experiences of our users as they got to grips with the new system – their feedback over the last year has been absolutely vital in developing the new functionalities that come with this update. The result of that has been a concentration of improvements in areas that will really make the whole process of direct scanning even easier and help our users be even more productive as they take on large-scale inspection projects."
Measurement has also been improved with the addition of several new scanning processes and modes. The new uniform grid spacing function uses 3D measurement data to calculate the correct orientation of surfaces being scanned. This allows point-spacing within the scan area to be adjusted to deliver a uniform grid of data across the entire surface. Besides this, the new Line Scan and Ring Scan profiles make it easier and faster to collect data in specific situations, for example for very targeted measurements such as cross sections or narrow stripes, or for broad data collection like complete 360-degree environment scans.
The new integration of the ATS600 with Hexagon's SFx Asset Management is another area that allows for significant productivity improvements. The platform delivers complete fleet management for manufacturing inspection systems, including remote monitoring based on real-time data streaming. With a centralised, user-friendly dashboard that's easy to access and use, the platform offers an accurate way to monitor and analyse how key assets are performing, whether on a single site or in multiple factories around the world. Real-time alerts enable users to quickly react to anomalies that indicate the need for action, reducing unplanned downtime. The integration of the ATS600 system within this platform will give users an easy way to oversee and increase the productivity of their advanced large-volume inspection setups.
For more information: www.hexagonmi.com
← Redsigned Exhibition Format Features Wider Aisles and Communication Strip
Encoder Provides Length, Position and Speed Measurement For Roll Machinery Applications →


text:
var lastDayOfWeek = require('../last_day_of_week/index.js')

/**
 * @category ISO Week Helpers
 * @summary Return the last day of an ISO week for the given date.
 *
 * @description
 * Return the last day of an ISO week for the given date.
 * The result will be in the local timezone.
 *
 * ISO week-numbering year: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_week_date
 *
 * @param {Date|String|Number} date - the original date
 * @returns {Date} the last day of an ISO week
 *
 * @example
 * // The last day of an ISO week for 2 September 2014 11:55:00:
 * var result = lastDayOfISOWeek(new Date(2014, 8, 2, 11, 55, 0))
 * //=> Sun Sep 07 2014 00:00:00
 */
function lastDayOfISOWeek (dirtyDate) {
  return lastDayOfWeek(dirtyDate, {weekStartsOn: 1})
}

module.exports = lastDayOfISOWeek

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Find area of the surface obtained by rotating curve around x-axis? I got a curve $y=a \cdot cosh \frac{x}{a}$ where $|x|\le b$. The task is to find area of the surface obtained by rotating curve around x-axis.
Here is my solution. Unfortunately the result is not identical with the result of the textbook.  Would you please look at this and tell me where is my mistake? Maybe there is a mistake in my textbook. Thanks
My attempt at a solution:
Formula for area of the surface obtained by rotating curve:
$$S=2\pi \int_{a}^{b}f(x)\sqrt{1+(f'(x))^2}\,dx$$
I calculated $(f'(x))$:
$$f'(x)=\frac{d}{dx}(a\cdot \cosh\frac{x}{a})=\ldots =\sinh\frac{x}{a}$$
so: $(f'(x))^2=\sinh^2 \frac{x}{a}$
Then I put it into the formula  for area of the surface obtained by rotating curve:
$$S=2\pi \int_{a}^{b}a\cdot \cosh\frac{x}{a}\sqrt{1+\sinh^2 \frac{x}{a}}\,dx=2\pi a \int_{a}^{b} \cosh\frac{x}{a}\sqrt{1+\sinh^2 \frac{x}{a}}dx$$
I made 1st substitution $u=\frac{x}{a} $ and $du=\frac{1}{a}dx $  then I obtained:
$$2\pi a^2 \int_{a}^{b} \cosh(u)\sqrt{1+\sinh^2 (u)}\,du $$
I made 2nd substitution $v=\sinh(u)$ and $dv=\cosh(u)du$ then I got:
$$2\pi a^2\int_{\sinh a}^{\sinh b}\sqrt{1+v^2}dv$$
To solve previous integral I need to calculate this integral $\int_{}^{}\frac{1}{\cos^3\varphi }=\int_{}^{}\sec^3\varphi $:
$$\int_{}^{}\sec^3\varphi =\frac{1}{2} \left( \sec\varphi \cdot \tan\varphi +\ln\right|sec\varphi +\tan\varphi \left|\right)$$
Then I returned back to $2\pi a^2\int_{\sinh a}^{\sinh b}\sqrt{1+v^2}\,dv$ and I made 3rd substitution: $v=\tan\varphi $ so $dv=\sec^2\varphi d\varphi$ then I got:
$$2\pi a^2\int_{\sinh a}^{\sinh b}\sqrt{1+v^2}\,dv=2\pi a^2\int_{...}^{...}\sqrt{\sec^2\varphi }\sec^2\varphi d\varphi=2\pi a^2\int_{...}^{...}\sec^3 \varphi d\varphi$$
Now we can see that we just calculated the value of $\int_{...}^{...}\sec^3 \varphi d\varphi$ so:
$$S=2\pi \int_{a}^{b}a\cdot \cosh\frac{x}{a}\sqrt{1+\sinh^2 \frac{x}{a}}\,dx=2\pi a^2\int_{\sinh a}^{\sinh b}\sqrt{1+v^2}\,dv=2\pi a^2\int_{...}^{...}\sec^3 \varphi d\varphi=2\pi a^2\frac{1}{2}\left[ \sec\varphi \cdot \tan\varphi +\ln\left|sec\varphi +\tan\varphi \right|\right]_{...}^{...}$$
Then I made a substitution back from $\varphi $ to $x$ , I obtained:
$$S=2\pi a^2\frac{1}{2}\left[ \sec\varphi \cdot \tan\varphi +\ln\left|\sec\varphi +\tan\varphi \right|\right]_{...}^{...}=2\pi a^2\frac{1}{2}\left[ v\sqrt{1+v^2}+\ln\left|\sqrt{1+v^2}+v\right|\right]_{...}^{...}=$$
$$=\pi a^2 \left[ \sinh\frac{x}{a}\sqrt{1+\sinh^2\frac{x}{a}}+\ln \left| \sqrt{1+\sinh^2\frac{x}{a}}+\sinh\frac{x}{a} \right|\right]_{a}^{b}=$$
$$=\pi a^2 \left[ \sinh\frac{x}{a}\cosh\frac{x}{a}+\ln \left| \cosh\frac{x}{a}+\sinh\frac{x}{a} \right|\right]_{a}^{b}=$$
$$=\pi a^2 \left[ \frac{1}{2}\sinh\frac{2x}{a}+\ln \left| e^{\frac{x}{a}}\right|\right]_{a}^{b}=\pi a^2 \left( \frac{1}{2}\sinh\frac{2b}{a}+\ln \left| e^{\frac{b}{a}}\right| -  \frac{1}{2}\sinh 2 -\ln \left| e \right| \right)$$

A: Hint: Use whe well-known hyperbolic identity
$$\cosh^2 x-\sinh^2x=1\iff 1+\sinh^2x=\cosh^2x$$
Use the above and you'll save about 80% of the work you did...:)


You'd never buy a car without test-driving it, would you? If only that applied to games and you could take Das Tal for a spin before sinking your support into its Kickstarter… Oh wait, you can! Fairytale Distillery wants players to see what they are supporting so the studio has opened the alpha servers for one day. That means for 24 hours anyone can jump in and experience a taste of that this open PvP sandbox has to offer, and that time is right now.
To play, just download the client and use the key free4all. The dev team is also communicating directly with players during the playtests, so it invites folks to also join their teamspeak server. If you happen to like what you see once you play, Das Tal recently added a less expensive backer tier. But you'd have to hurry; the Kickstarter ends the same time the alpha doors close — at 9:00 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 10th.
If you can't personally take advantage of this alpha offer, we've got you covered: The Stream Team will be jumping in and sharing the experience with you this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on OPTV!
samruck if ninjas still get broken abilities like full invisibility, then you'll still get stabbed in the back.
playerxx you realize that this game is backed by Square Enix right, you can call it "indie" if you want, but there's nothing "indie" about having one of gamings biggest giants looking over your shoulder.
playerxx No, we should invest in games that actually interest us. The fact that it's "indie" doesn't make it auto-fundable. The market is speaking – but teams like this still aren't getting the message. Better that a game like this falls hard so others won't delude themselves as to the size of the market.
and, FWIW, Blizzard was started by three fresh college grads without the help of my money – or yours.
Ok, I tried it, liked it backed it :) I couldn't figure out what the objectives were, but the combat felt very good – kind of Diablo II style, but more refined. I hope the final game features procedurally generated maps and some survival mechanics, like Don't Starve. I also think they should have opened the Alpha test earlier; it would have given them a higher chance of funding it.
Sure, lets not fund indie games like this. We should just all invest the money in a big as… company like Blizz that made a mmo 11 years ago and now they still live from it.
And don't give me that:' but they made a card mmo'. Really?
If you ask me, I rather have a top down pvp game then a 3rd person or first person pvp game. Why? Because that way there won't be some ninja that backstabbs me. I will see him now!
I misread this stuff all the time and have to go back and correct my posts.
Sometimes, I miss the 6min window and have to repost.
Drabbad I think its more of a conceptual stage sort of thing rather than anywhere close to a finished alpha.
Think of it like a house: Right now, this is just the foundation. There is no walks or plumbing or electricity yet. Just some concrete. Its not meant to be lived in in its current state.
Don't take this as me defending it, I mean its barely playable and not really my kind of thing at all. I'm not even sure I'd call it an MMO at the moment.
Too little too late, brutal, but honest.


Page 11 - Play Today | KaBOOM!
We at KaBOOM! are big fans of the high five. After all, we work for an organization with an exclamation point in its name -- naturally, we're an enthusiastic and positive bunch. But it wasn't until our recent annual Play Academy that many of us realized our high fives just weren't up to par.
Luckily, staffers Naudy Martinez and Allie Farrington stepped in to save the day. Their enlightening presentation taught us common high five pitfalls as well as advanced high five techniques.
Kids don't have to think very hard about why they need to play. They just need the time and space to do it.
Even so, kids seem to intuitively understand that while play is first and foremost about having fun, it's also about challenging oneself and learning from failure. As we continue to be baffled by school policy makers and administrators who are slashing recess and other play opportunities, fourth graders like Diego remind us of the important life lessons that our playgrounds have to offer.
Diego is a student in the Writers in the Schools (WITS) program, where this poem was originally featured.
Photo by Andy Schultz (cc).
Both synonymous with warm-weather outdoor fun, ice cream and playgrounds seem like a perfect fit. Maybe that's why a proposed ban on ice cream vendors at a Brooklyn playground has caused such a stir.
Why the ban? Well, on the one hand, ice cream isn't very good for you. But on the other hand, it's delicious. Health-conscious parents are sick of dealing with the temper tantrums that their children will inevitably throw when they behold a cart full of heavenly frozen treats… that they can't have.
But is a ban on ice cream vendors from the playground an absurd or practical solution? Are well-intentioned parents looking out for their children's health or are they being ridiculous control freaks?
When it comes to the health and safety of our children, the challenge is this: How do we protect them without extracting every opportunity for the joy from their lives? Even today's playgrounds routinely fail on that front. Just as the thrill of climbing is universal (even though a child could fall off and break an arm), so is the thrill of ice cream (even though it's full of fat and sugar).
We're big proponents of children's health, but we're also big proponents of joy. Being the first nonprofit to have its own Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, we're also big proponents of ice cream.
Of course, the main difference between ice cream and playgrounds is this: There is definitely such a thing as too much ice cream, but there is not really such a thing as too much outdoor play. As long as parents and children stay mindful of this fact, we say: Let the ice cream trucks stay!
Should we ban ice-cream-shaped slides while we're at it?
Top photo by Drew Bennett (cc).
Bottom photo by dacotahsgirl (cc).
Are your kids allowed to play outside unsupervised?
Mom says, "Go outside and play." Kids go outside and play. It used to be that simple. But for a number of reasons, few parents these days feel comfortable letting their children roam the neighborhood without keeping a watchful eye.
Danielle Smith, a blogger on strollerderby, asks in the video at right, "Do you let your kids play outside alone?" Though she admits it's unlikely, she worries about her kids getting abducted by a stranger and simply can't bear the thought of anything happening to them on her watch.
Many parents are equally reluctuctant to send their kids outside unsupervised -- so many, in fact, that our neighborhood streets are now eerily quiet, void of the shouts and screams of playing children. And that's precisely the problem. In the "good old days," kids weren't playing "alone." They were playing with all the other neighborhood kids.
After all, playing alone is boring. And more dangerous. In the extremeley unlikely event that a child abductor were to be perusing your neighborhood, he or she would be far more likely to prey on your children if they were alone.
We strongly believe that children need time for free, unstructured, unsupervised play -- but they also need other children to play with. So the question of letting kids play unsupervised is one we need to pose not only to individual parents, but also at the neighborhood level.
Of course, getting a whole neighborhood on board with unsupervised outdoor play is no easy task. (You can read about one father's worthy efforts here.) But since April is officially "Get Outside Month," there's no better time to start.
>> See our "Get Outside" board on Pinterest for ideas and inspiration.
Photo from PlayingOut.net, an organization dedicated to activating street play in your neighborhood.
We say, "It starts with a playground," but really "it" can start with any community project that unites a neighborhood and brings more joy and color to people's lives.
At right is the central square of Santa Marta, a community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Or at least, that's what Santa Marta used to look like — before a community-driven intervention that brought to life the vision of Dutch artist duo Haas & Hahn. After a crash course in housepainting basics, residents took a month to paint the buildings around the square.
Photo credit: Haas & Hahn for favelapainting.com.
Learn more and see other painting projects.
Should schools ban kids from having best friends?
Did you have a best friend growing up? These days, you just might be breaking the rules. That's right -- according to our friend Tim Gill at Rethinking Childhood, at least one UK school has enacted a "best friend ban."
Educational psychologist Gaynor Sbuttoni told The Sun, "They are doing it because they want to save the child the pain of splitting up from their best friend. But it is natural for some children to want a best friend. If they break up, they have to feel the pain because they're learning to deal with it."
Let's face it: Pain is part of growing up. Skinned knees teach children valuable lessons about their physical limits, just as a waning friendship helps to emotionally prepare them for future losses. Trying to protect them from either is not only fruitless, but can actually do more harm than good.
What would you tell your school if they implemented a best friend ban?


Newton -- Newton-Conover head football coach Matt Beam has announced his resignation as the head football coach at Newton-Conover High School.
Coach Beam has led the program at N-CHS for the past four seasons. Over the last four years, Beam's commitment to the team has been unwavering.
"What's important to me has changed. I was chasing football wins every day. To be a very good head coach, you have to chase that to be successful. If you do it right, you take them to camp, to 7 on 7s, do spring workouts, summer workouts, and so on. Ultimately, Football is a 365 day a year job. But for example, as my son is the Quarterback at Kings Mountain Elite, I've missed games because I give everything to my team, but you can't get that time back," Beam said.
Beam will continue through the end of the school year before transitioning into his new venture: Beam Boys Bargains.
"The next step for me is going to Lincolnton to pursue my dream and start a new business, Beam Boys Bargains. We will be opening our business to resell overstocked products from retailers at a wholesale liquidated price. I'm excited and very nervous about this opportunity, but it happened so quickly. This isn't just a coaching change, it is a whole career change," Beam said.
For Beam, this decision provides him with the opportunity to focus on his family.
"When I started head coaching thirteen years ago at North Lincoln, I had no kids and just was married. I've been here [at N-CHS] for four years, and they have been a great four years. This is very hard because I have put my life into this team, and being without that is a total life change. I've enjoyed my time here at N-CHS. I took over a program that was 1-10 in 2013, and our kids really accepted me and were willing to work. They have worked hard, they have been diligent in what they did on the field and in the weight room," Beam said.
Mr. Chris Penley, Principal of Newton-Conover High School, reinforced Beam's work ethic and relationships with his players and his peers.
"Matt Beam is a tireless worker. He is as student-centered as any head coach I've ever been around. He is tirelessly advocating for students with college coaches to give them an opportunity to play at the next level. He builds tremendous relationships with players and their families. He's had kids stay in his home, he's provided transportation, and so much more. These are all things that help to drive him to being a good coach. He's one of the best in strength and conditioning that I've been around. I want to thank Matt Beam for everything that he has done for our program and wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors," Penley said.
Moving forward, a familiar face will be standing in as the Interim Head Coach of the N-CHS Football Team: Darren Ponder.
"I'm extremely excited. I get to pursue a goal that I've always had, being a head coach at a very reputable football program. The most important thing for me right now is our boys. Right now, my main focus is to get our kids together and fighting together as one team. For me in general, it's always been about the kids. I still love kids. I love to see them get better, stronger, successful, and play in college," Ponder said.
Ponder has served N-CHS as the Defensive Coordinator since 2016. He started teaching and coaching career in 1998 at Mitchell High School. During his time at Mitchell, Ponder served as Baseball Coach, Wrestling Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, the Western Highlands Conference President, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Football Coach, and Athletic Director until 2007. After Ponder's departure from Mitchell High, he served as head football coach and Athletic Director at Madison High School, after which he was named Defensive Coordinator at West Lincoln High School. Ponder served as the Athletic Director and Defensive Coordinator at Burns High School following his tenure at West Lincoln, where he returned to serve as the Assistant Head Coach before coming to Newton-Conover High School in 2016.
Ponder's goals for the team are built upon a strong belief in dedication, trust, and hard work.
"We have got to build a team that trusts each other first, who trusts their coaches. My goals are just like everyone else's: conference championship and state championship, and I believe that can be attained here, with all sincerity. My philosophy is that we are going to outwork and outhit whomever we play and will be better prepared. As far as school, I want the kids to graduate with a college degree if that is their pathway, or a reputable job. I want them to be productive citizens of our community," Ponder said.
Mr. Penley shared his excitement for Coach Ponder to transition into this new role providing leadership to the N-CHS Football Team moving forward.
"I think Darren is energetic. He is getting ready to start his third year in our program and he has built relationships that will continue to swing the N-CHS Football pendulum in an upward manner. He is student-centered. He's got twenty years of experience, the last two in Newton-Conover. His dedication is second-to-none. We look forward to him leading our Red Devil Football Program," said Penley.
Athletic Director Mr. John Echerd shared his appreciation for both Beam and Ponder, their positive outlook and their dedication to students.
"I will miss the way that Matt was able to motivate students not only on the field but in the classroom. His weight room is the best I've ever seen because of what he gets out of kids in the room. His ability to motivate on the football field is second-to-none. The students are going to miss him here, but the staff will too, here at Newton-Conover High School. I'm excited that Coach Ponder is going to take over the program. He has a great rapport with the athletes in our school and works really well with the staff. I truly believe that our athletes will come out and be ready to play for him," Echerd said.


text:
Q: Cannot create a silly list of vectors with R I can't understand why my data frame is treating stringsAsFactors. Can you please help?
I have:
>  frequentPatterns <- data.frame(
    pattern = character(),
    occurrences = numeric(),
    stringsAsFactors = FALSE
)

from the terminal I execute the following:
> obs2 = c()
> obs2$pattern <- "TAGCAA"
> obs2$count <- 5
> frquentPatterns <- rbind(frequentPatterns,obs2)

The first execution of the lines above loads the values into the data frame correctly. The SECOND run, it results in a warning
In `[<-.factor`(`*tmp*`, ri, value = "AGAAGCGAGATT") :
  invalid factor level, NA generated

I thought, and have read and read, that "stringsAsFactors = FALSE" should result in rbind not attempting to treat character values as factors. Am I smoking crack? Is that not what I have? what am I missing :) Thank you in advance for the help!!

A: stringsAsFactors only applies to the initial creation of the data frame. In addition to that misunderstanding there are other things you're doing wrong subsequently.
You start out creating obs2 as if it were going to be a vector, but it's really just NULL. I think you'll find that adding an integer count has caused it to be coerced to a list (not a data frame). Don't rbind a data frame to a list. If you're going to do that (grow objects), (and you shouldn't grow objects), rbind two data frames:
> rbind(frequentPatterns,data.frame(pattern = 'AGAA',count = 5,stringsAsFactors = FALSE))
  pattern count
1    AGAA     5

Finally, it is hardly necessary to be under the influence of drugs to make mistakes when writing code. I know this from personal experience. ;)