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Home/Latest Reviews/Mario Strikers: Battle League Review
Mario Strikers: Battle League Review
There are a plethora of Mario sports titles, but much like the mystery blocks found in the Mushroom Kingdom, you never quite know if something good or mediocre will pop out when it's cracked open. Perhaps the game that most hit a chord with fans was Strikers, as it brought outrageously addictive action, over-the-top hilarious reactions, and almost a rock-star exterior, which since has never been replicated in the Mario games. After a fifteen-year stint away, the mustachioed hero has finally cleaned off his old soccer boots and returned to the pitch for Nintendo Switch.
For those who've never played a Strikers game before, it started life back on GameCube with Super Mario Strikers, with a sequel two years later on the Wii called Mario Strikers Charged. The latest installment, Battle League, plays remarkably similar to its predecessors; the aim is to kick the ball into the opponent's goal. However, how you create opportunities to score these goals can vary, from mastering the core movements to taking matters into your own hands using mischievous tactics.
Battle League is a 5v5 soccer game, although you never assume control of the goalkeeper, which by default is a Boom-Boom, so in reality, it's best described as a 4v4 game. There are ten playable characters with the main culprits you would expect, including Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser. Each character inhabits different stats, determining how they perform on the field. Mario is well-balanced and can adapt to most situations, Roselina's raw shooting ability will cause trouble for any goalkeeper, and Bowser is built like a tank with his strength stats, making him hard to knock down.
On the gameplay front, it's fantastic and is truly a blast to play, especially with friends. The fundamental mechanics like passing, dashing and shooting are incredibly straightforward to perform, and within a matter of moments, the action will raise your pulse as you start dribbling the ball down the pitch as slick as a whistle. At the same time, there is a deeper level of the mechanics, which can dramatically change the tempo of each match. Don't get me wrong, not for a second am I implying that this soccer experience is as sophisticated as EA FIFA's mechanics; it's not trying to be. But if you want to start beating adversaries, especially in higher-level matchups, it will require you to master the controls.
For instance, performing a charge shot, which is executed by holding down the A button, is a great way to achieve a more powerful kick, which will be far harder for the AI goalkeeper to stop. The downside of using this method is while you are waiting for the shot to get juice, your character is left vulnerable and is wide open to assaults from the enemy team. This will leave you continuously in dilemmas where you'll have to adapt to the situation in a split second; is the enemy team in proximity to interrupt my shot, or should I pass the ball to a fellow teammate and attempt to create an opening elsewhere?
Another crucial action to grasp will be tackling, as you can ruthlessly knock down an opposing team member to take possession of the ball without facing any repercussions, as there are no penalties. It's extremely amusing to shove your enemies into the pitch's electric fence unmercifully, or be a sneaky rascal and tackle the opposing team squad without any reason. Luckily, if you're the one receiving the incoming hostility, you can counter manoeuvre these tackles; if you execute dodges correctly. This element adds a dynamic layer of chaotic fun to each match, as it's a no-holds-barred dogfight to win.
At different points of the match, the crowd will throw blocks onto the pitch that will contain power-ups. These can change the tide of battle, as using these power-ups can cause aftershocks throughout the whole stadium from the pure carnage it unleashes. The highlights are the classic red shell, locking onto the closest target and brutally knocking them down, alongside the Bob-omb that will blast away any opponents that come in contact with it into smithereens.
A further element of each match is successfully executing Hyper Strikes. Every character has a special move they can perform once their team grabs a strike-orb that drops onto the pitch during the game. Hyper Strikes are powerful shots with status effects that use the character's unique abilities to send the ball rocketing towards the goal. Unlike regular goals, Hyper Strikes are worth two points, making them a game-changer if executed correctly. This is easier said than done, as they will require you to timely input two button prompts.
The animation for the Hyper Strikes themselves is very entertaining and is definitely when we get a glimpse of the rock-star attitude that is well-known in the Strikers series. The Hyper Strike for the original Plumber himself will see him perform an overhead bicycle kick, creating a blistering fire swirl that will blaze its way through the stadium, setting alight anything in its path. Likewise, the Hyper Strike for Donkey Kong will see him jump high up in the arena and then slap down his hands vigorously; this, in turn, produces a tremendous push force that ripples through the surrounding area sending all nearby adversaries flying.
You can gain coins from winning matches, which can then be used to invest in new gear. Not only will it change the cosmetic appearance of your character, but it will also alter that character's traits. So, for example, if you want Mario to be your top goalscorer who would give Harry Kane a run for the Golden Boot award, you can buy gear that will boost his shooting qualities. This is a great way to encourage you to keep playing, as gaining coins will allow you to customise your favourite characters into the ultimate dream team.
Despite this, the previous title actually featured more characters than Battle League, which is a peculiar choice considering Charged came out over fifteen years ago. Fortunately, Nintendo has already confirmed free post-launch updates, including new characters, so hopefully, it will overtake the previous game's character roster in time, but it's hard not to feel the game is somewhat half-baked because of this.
Visually, Battle League is an excellent-looking Switch game and is definitely on par with Next Level Games' other Switch title, Luigi's Mansion 3. It's easy to keep an eye on all the characters moving across the screen, which is highly important in a game where numerous things are happening simultaneously. What also helps Battle League stand out is when a development unfolds, there will be short outtakes of the character reacting to the situation. These snap bites are bursting with personality and do an excellent job capturing comical moments, from Yoshi running on top of the ball in sheer delight from accomplishing a goal to Bowser breathing a trail of fire in outrage from the opposing team scoring. Unfortunately, the backdrops for the level designs are somewhat lacking, as you only have five stadiums. Just like the character roster, this felt like a step backwards.
The single-player experience is, for the most part, very bare on content. When you start the game, you have Quick Battle, allowing you to set up a match against the CPU, and Cup Battle, a tournament-style layout where individual teams will face off against each other. The Cup Battle is the more interesting mode, as you will win or lose by your track record, not because of one lousy match. Each team participating will begin with two lives; after losing two games, the team will be eliminated from the competition. After beating every cup in this mode, you will unlock Galactic Mode, in which you will compete in every cup again but in a more challenging setting. Ultimately, there is not much replay value here, and although Galactic Mode proposes a dastardly difficulty spike, it's just a rehash of the Cup Battle mode.
The single-player side may be lacking, but the multiplayer parts will undoubtedly be the aspect that will keep players coming back, as it's a great party game to play with family and friends due to its wacky but high-energy nature. You can play online by either challenging random opponents, taking your friends head-on in a direct match or teaming up with them against other players online. Considering the Switch has a reputation for sluggish online facilities, I didn't encounter any latency issues while playing and could find matches within a reasonable time. Although the season has yet to begin, there will also be a Strikers Clubs mode, where you can form a team online and enlist up to twenty players into your club as you compete in a league.
Regarding local play, on a Switch, you can play a Quick Battle match with up to eight players in a game, meaning the only CPU in that match will be the goalkeeper. Whereas if you want to play by local wireless, you will need four consoles, meaning two people will have to play on a single Switch. It's a shame four players can't play a match online on a Switch because only needing to worry about two consoles would have been far more manageable.
Mario Strikers: Battle League embodies fast-paced action, devious tactics, and above all, a simple but fun party game to play with family and friends. Sadly, at the time of launch, the character roster and the available stadium backdrops are seriously underwhelming, especially when you weigh up the full retail asking price. That being said, it's excellent to see Mario Strikers back on a modern system, and if you're on the hunt for a new party game to add to your Switch collection, Mario Strikers: Battle League will offer a grisly treat.
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It's the weekend again, and by "weekend" what I actually mean is "sangria time." It was a fun week on this end: we reviewed Amy Noelle's The Hot Corner; made fun of weeping prom queens and other cover trends we hate; talked about the classification of young adult novels; and designed a Fifth Element Date Night. We'll be back on Monday, but until then, on to the links.
Worf + Troi 4ever. But only platonically. Because—real talk, guys—that relationship arc was pretty weird.
Eve and Roarke may be coming soon to a theater near you.
And apparently so will John Greene's Looking for Alaska.
Everyone, I present to you the Wikipedia entry for Guam, retold as a young adult novel.
Today was the day. The day that everyone on Guam knew must arrive once every four years. A day of sorting. Of choosing. Of victory and defeat. The day of the non-binding straw poll for Presidential candidates.
Everyone would be there. As Inarajan set off, she saw her friend United Airlines. He waved to her, tripping over the statue of Chief Gadao, a prominent tourist attraction. She shook her head. United Airlines was the largest private sector employer on Guam and the second-largest employer overall, following the United States Military, but he could be such a klutz sometimes.
"Hi," he said to her, flicking his blonde hair out of his face and grinning.
"Hi," said Inarajan, flicking her red hair out of her face and sighing.
"What's new?" said United Airlines, flicking his hair out of his face and frequently rescheduling flights to Japan during typhoon season.
Inarajan's face heated. Was he flirting with her? No, that was crazy. As of 2008 United Airlines' annual payroll in Guam was $90 million. She had never even had a boyfriend.
There's a puppy. In his pants. With a…Santa Claus hat?
A quick hit with Isabel Allende on writing. Also, apparently in the 1960's Allende was fired from a position translating romance novels into Spanish because she was altering the female characters dialogue to make them sound more intelligent…which is pretty badass.
Simon & Schuster has become the most recent publisher to make its e-books available for libraries.
There's a new Judy Blume novel, written for adults, scheduled for 2015!
Barnes & Noble splits off their Nook business.
What will you be reading this weekend? Rachel's finishing L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon (one of my all-time favorite childhood books). I discovered Judith Ivory a few days ago—more on that next week—so my weekend will be spent reading as much of her backlist as possible.
Happy weekend, and may the odds be ever in your favor.


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The Black Eagle chainsaw has a fuel tank capacity of 550 ml to make top-up times less as well as an oil tank capacity of 260 ml. The 20-inch sprocket nose bar will ensure precision cutting for those stubborn areas. Easy and quick assembly of the parts is required for shipping purposes and you can rest assured that all spare parts are readily available. Your Black Eagle chainsaw weighs a mere 6.8 kg, enabling you to use it for longer without the burden of muscle strain. The Black Eagle chainsaw has a list of added features to help make the most of your gardening experience. Your package includes the following: one Black Eagle 62cc petrol chainsaw, one bar cover, chain, fuel mixer, user manual, one year warranty as well as a free tool kit! As an added bonus we have included one extra chain, safety goggles, gloves, and earmuffs. Get your Black Eagle Chainsaw today and put the enjoyment back into garden maintenance!


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Ripon Motor Boat Club
Humber NTMs
BW Stoppages
Cruising Guide Updates
Cruising Guide Menu
Tide Tables (RMBC Members Only)
Humber Notice to Mariners
£17.50 + p&p
Cruising Guide to the North East Waterways
Links for Information on Navigation on the North East Waterways
www.humber-rescue.org.uk
www.humber.com
River Humber Bouyage & Beaconage
(Excel Spreadsheet containing current position of bouys for the River Humber)
www.waterscape.com
Notice from TBA forwarded from CART
After a review of the opening hours at the Tidal Locks (Cromwell, Torksey, West Stockwith and Boston) within the East Midlands, I am proposing some changes upon which I would appreciate your views. I believe these changes will provide a consistent approach to tidal lock operation that will assist and simplify communications to boaters. It will also allow us to develop a more efficient lock keeping rota and will free up resources to utilise on maintenance elsewhere on the waterway.
My proposal is as follows:
All 4 tidal locks to have the same core hours, which will be:
7:00am to 9:00pm in Summer (the earlier of Good Friday or 1 st April to 30th September)
8:00am to 4:00pm in Winter
(Cromwell is currently manned from 6:00am in summer and Torksey and West Stockwith are currently manned from 7:00am to 5:00pm in winter). Naturally, the availability of passage through the locks during these hours would still be subject to suitable water levels.
Any passage required outside of these hours to be booked at least 7 days in advance through the office at Newark and would be subject to staff availability.
At Boston Lock, as passage is limited to specific windows of opportunity, we propose to man the lock for a maximum of 6 hours on any day. The actual hours of manning each day will be designed to maximise the opportunity to use the lock.
If all goes well I would propose to implement any changes this Spring.
Could you please let me have any comments on these proposals by the 13 th March 2014. Please send any comments to Charts@theboatingassociation.co.uk
Boothferry Road Bridge : River Ouse
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is proposing to revise its operating procedures at Boothferry Bridge. Although the proposed operating procedure will involve a booking system for operations outside of core time the bridge will always remain available for 24 hour operation subject to charges. Charges will apply for any bridge operation outside of core time including Christmas Day
The proposed procedures will be trailed over a 12 month period commencing 31st March 2014.
Below is a copy of the notice the council will be posting in the local press. If you require any further details of the new operating procedures please contact East Yorkshire council at the address on the notice below
Throughout the trial period Canal & River Trust and East Yorkshire Council would welcome any comments regarding the proposed operating procedures. All comments should be emailed to Enquiries.Northeast@canalrivertrust.org.uk quoting "Boothferry Bridge Revised Operating Procedures" in the email subject line and should be received before 28th February 2015
If successful the proposed operating procedures described above will be formally adopted on the 1st April 2015.
THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE COUNCIL
HUMBERSIDE ACT 1982
BOOTHFERRY BRIDGE NAVIGATION
EXPERIMENTAL MANNING PERIOD
Under the powers contained in section 9(a) of the Humberside Act 1982, The East Riding of Yorkshire Council ("the Council") proposes to make byelaws for regulating, controlling and limiting the use of the opening span of Boothferry Bridge and the time and mode of vessels passing through the same and the notice to be given by the master or other person having command or charge of any such vessel.
Prior to making the byelaws, the Council will carry out an experimental period of one year commencing on 31st March 2014. The bridge will, as from that date, be manned within the following core hours:-
06.00 to 22.00 hours Monday to Friday
08.00 to 20.00 hours Saturday and Sunday
The bridge will be manned daily between these times and will be available for swinging (except Christmas Day) free of charge. Booking bridge swings within core hours is not required.
Outside of the core hours (including Christmas Day) the bridge may be opened by bridge operatives upon the payment of a call out fee of £100.00. Bookings should be made at least 24 hours before the bridge swing is required. Cancellations will incur the full call out fee if notified less than 12 hours before the booked bridge swing. The out of hours contact number will be 01482 393939. An online booking system is anticipated to be made available on The East Riding of Yorkshire Council homepage by end of May 2014.
© 2008 rmbc.org.uk

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Colorado Governor Tells Texas Not To Legalize Marijuana So His Own State Can Get More Tourists
by Mr. Leadville | Oct 26, 2020 | Leadville News
The governor of Colorado is jokingly discouraging Texas from legalizing marijuana, saying it would mean less tax revenue for his own state from cannabis tourism.
Gov. Jared Polis (D) was responding to a Marijuana Moment report on a new economic analysis that showed how Texas stands to generate billions in tax revenue and tens of thousands of jobs if it enacted the policy change.
That analysis might be true, the governor tweeted, "BUT it would reduce tourism to Colorado, so make sure to consider Colorado first in any Texas decisions."
Yes BUT it would reduce tourism to Colorado, so make sure to consider Colorado first in any Texas decisions https://t.co/5Gh8bNBKu0
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) October 20, 2020
Polis has been known to quip about the marijuana tourism dollars his state receives from non-residents.
Shortly after he was sworn in last year, the governor said "we get a lot of extra business from people coming into our state" and so "from the economic perspective in Colorado, I'd love other states to go slowly so that we can continue to see all these benefits for Colorado."
"For years, I'd been sort of countering this sort of dire picture of Colorado," he said. "But again, if they think that it's bad, it's better for us to have less competition at this point. So I mean, if I'm looking at it as governor, I would hope they halt their efforts and send all their business here."
That said, despite his interest in preserving cannabis tourism for Colorado, during a Reddit Ask Me Anything session in May, he jokingly entertained the idea of using hypnosis to convince Ohio's governor to advance legalization in the state.
While he's been quick to note the economic benefits of regulating marijuana sales, Polis has also emphasized the need for restorative justice in the industry. Earlier this month, he exercised new clemency powers to grant nearly 3,000 pardons for people convicted of low-level marijuana possession.
Meanwhile, Polis isn't alone in touting the fact that his state sells legal marijuana to people who live in places where it is still prohibited.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), during his State of the State speech earlier this year, talked about how his state's new recreational cannabis market "gives us a chance to collect tax revenue from the residents of Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana."
Indeed, the state has continued to see record-breaking cannabis sales month after month, including tens of millions of dollars worth to out-of-state residents.
Trump Campaign Orders Mississippi Medical Marijuana Activists To Cease Using President's Name
The post appeared first on Marijuana Moment.
Colorado Gov.'s Cannabis Go-Around Could Come-Around…


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Amanda's new book 'Bangles & Bracelets' has just hit the bookshops.
BUY NOW – Order signed copies.
Format Paperback 128 pages. 234×156 mm.
The bulk of this handbook is step by step case studies, comprehensively explained and illustrated with photographs. Each chapter demonstrates and guides the reader through procedures for making a bangle or bracelet using a particular technique, approach or skill. Topics covered include: wax-work (casting), chain making, wire work, resin/Perspex, found objects, inlay, laminating, phot-etching, piercing, engraving/embossing/etching, stone-setting, paper and forging. Designed to appeal to both beginners and practising jewellers, there is an introductory chapter on basic techniques, covering the fundamentals of jewellery-making, complete with detailed explanations and photographs. Each chapter includes a generous garnish of relevant 'tips and tricks' — useful hints from the author and other experienced jewellers.


WODA Skin Care offers a rejuvenating line of facial serums designed with gentle, calming, and all-natural ingredients to help you look and feel your best. Like all WODA products, these specialty serums are developed using cruelty-free methods, with only the finest natural components. Products like WODA's Radiant Brightening Serum will make the photodamage and skin aging a thing of the past, nourishing your face with all-natural substances such as organic ginseng and jojoba oil.
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WASHINGTON — A historic, comprehensive energy bill — the first to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions — won approval from a major House committee Thursday, setting the stage for a national debate on a plan to gradually wean the U.S. economy from fossil fuels.
The centerpiece of the plan is a cap-and-trade system that caps greenhouse gas emissions from every source, with tighter limits each year. The bill establishes a carbon market, with polluters buying and selling emissions credits, that could reach $2 trillion in trading five years after it is set up, according to one federal agency.
The targets for national emissions reductions are ambitious: a 20 percent cut, from 2005 levels, by 2020; a 42 percent drop by 2030; and an 83 percent cut by 2050.
On a vote of 33-25, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved the 900-page-plus bill after marathon sessions this week in which the Democratic majority defeated Republican amendments to weaken the bill and scuttle the cap-and-trade plan.
Only one Republican, Mary Bono Mack of Palm Springs, supported the bill. The two Bay Area members on the committee, Democrats Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney, voted for it.
House leaders plan to bring the bill up by August. Senate Democrats said if the House approves the bill, they would take it up this year. Obama strongly supports the measure, but it's uncertain whether he will make it a priority when he is also pushing for health-care reform this year.
Obama and Democratic leaders seek climate change legislation they can take to an international conference on global warming in Denmark in December, putting pressure on China, India and other major polluters to support an agreement on emissions limits.
The bill has some momentum behind it because major industries have bought into it. Committee Chair Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, and other party leaders offered financial incentives to the industries hardest hit by the transition to clean energy, such as coal and autos.
The coal industry will receive assistance to accelerate technology to capture and safely store carbon emissions, and the Energy Department will help retool auto plants for electric vehicles and fund equipment for plug-in vehicles.
Much of this assistance will come in the form of emissions credits — which put a dollar price on the right to pollute. The cap-and-trade system would put a "cap," an upper limit, on how much each company can pollute, and would allow companies that fall below the cap to "trade," or sell, emissions credits to companies that exceed the limits.
While most credits will be auctioned, with the proceeds helping consumers hit by higher utility costs, at least 15 percent in the early years of the program will be given to industries that compete with companies overseas.
The bill would boost the renewable energy industry, much of which is based in California, by requiring the nation's utilities to generate 20 percent of their power by 2020 from renewable sources and efficiency measures. By 2020, California utilities must produce 33 percent from renewables.
Environmental advocates strongly supported the bill, although some groups questioned the concessions to industry. And some Democrats voiced concern that a carbon market without strong oversight could lead to the sort of abuses and speculation that brought down financial institutions last fall.
But Al Gore, a leader on climate change, said the compromises were necessary, and he lobbied some House members to support the bill. He said it was important that the ambitious plan not be seen as an unfair alliance of the East and West coasts, which have greater access to renewable energy, at the expense of the rest of the country, which is more dependent on coal.
The bill also received a boost from John Doerr, a partner in Menlo Park-based Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers and a leader on clean energy, who serves on Obama's economic recovery advisory board. At a meeting of the board this week, Doerr circulated a four-page memo touting cap-and-trade as a competitive necessity.
Contact Frank Davies at fdavies@mercurynews.com or 202-662-8921.


text:
package org.auraframework.instance;

import org.auraframework.def.module.ModuleDef;
import org.auraframework.throwable.quickfix.QuickFixException;

/**
 * Created by byao on 2/10/17.
 */
public interface Module extends Instance<ModuleDef> {
    /**
     * @return The generated globally unique id of this component
     */
    String getGlobalId();

    /**
     * @return The user provided locally unique id of this component
     */
    String getLocalId();

    /**
     * Helper to get the definition of the component.
     * Could also usually be retrieved from the descriptor.
     *
     * @return
     * @throws QuickFixException
     */
    ModuleDef getModuleDef() throws QuickFixException;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Two way communication using satellite with Android mobile I am going to make an app which will be communicating with satellite to have two way text communication using Android device.
How to proceed with this? I have satellite modem and everything else that I might need. Just need a little guidance in regards to this matter.

A: I think you just need to handle your normal android programming since your communications is already handled .

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home Football AITEO CAF Awards: Premier League trio in a repeat of 2017 final shortlist
AITEO CAF Awards: Premier League trio in a repeat of 2017 final shortlist
Football, News
England Premier League trio of Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been shortlisted for the 2018 African Player of the Year, a repeat of the 2017 scenario.
The announcement of the trio was made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday with the winner to be crowned at the AITEO Awards Gala billed for the Senegalese capital, Dakar next Tuesday, January 8, 2018.
Salah was crowned the 2017 Player of the Year at a Gala in Accra, Ghana on January 4, 2018 with his club mate at Liverpool, Mane finishing second. Aubameyang who joined the duo in England by signing with Premier League rivals Arsenal last January, finished third.
This year's race is expected to be tougher in spite of Salah's continued brilliance for his club Liverpool. The Egyptian has contributed to a total of 20 goals (13 goals and 7 assists) in the Premier League this season, more than any player in the division, a significant factor in his side's leadership position on the league log.
Senegalese star Mane has also had a fine season so far, scoring eight league goals for the Reds while Aubameyang is the league's joint top scorer with thirteen goals so far (same number of goals with Salah and Tottenham's Harry Kane).
Aubameyang's final nomination sees him equal the record of Ivorian legend Yaya Toure and Ghanaian star Michael Essien of five consecutive final shortlist nominations. The Gabonese has always made the final shortlist since 2014 and he won the award once, in 2015.
In the women's version of the awards, reigning Women's Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala was also named in the final three of the award shortlist alongside her Super Falcons teammate Francisca Ordega and this year's favourite Chrestina Thembi Kgatlana from South Africa.
TagsAiteo CAF AwardsMohammed SalahPierre-Emerick AubameyangThembi Kgatlana
The good and bad highlights of Nigerian football in 2018
Ahly to host the Women's African Club Championship


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We have three types of courses: Structured Courses, Skill-based Courses and Speaking Courses.
2. in the first week, finish all the Introduction Lessons of Pinyin Course, Tone Courseand Character Course.
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A well-designed traditional set of Chinese student books usually come with a textbook, a workbook, a character workbook, a CD for the textbook, and a CD for the workbook. It can easily cost you over $150 just to get the full set of books.
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As more companies invest in Hybrid Cloud or Public Cloud and our ability to scale and shift at a moments' notice becomes the new normal, licensing is more relevant than ever. Hybrid and Public Cloud require a modern hybrid licensing design, where a combination of the available programs can be utilised alongside each other at any one time.
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Working in a professional team with professional boats and equipment.
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In Scuba College, the Divemaster-specific lesson is held by the Divemaster Coach, both theoretically and practically. Some self-studies also in the water are partially developed by the candidates in self-study. Of course, you will also have enough space to gain your knowledge, or to fill out any gaps.
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Very important, YOU NEED a medical certificate that is not older than a year!
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We also offer the possibility to extend the training to 2 months and thus to get the level of education of the Assitant Instructor. Just ask for your individual possibilities.


text:
Q: $\frac{2^x - 2^{-x}}{2^x + 2^{-x}} = \frac{1}{3}$ $\frac{2^x - 2^{-x}}{2^x + 2^{-x}} = \frac{1}{3}$
$2^x - 2^{-x} =1$
$2^x + 2^{-x} = 3$
My attempts

*

*A - b = 1

A + b = 3
Which lead to x = 1 and x = 0 inconsistency.

*$2^x -  \frac{1}{2^x} = 1$
$2^x + \frac{1}{2^x} = 3$
Which lead to x = 1
Why two method gave different answers, why is it wrong?

A: Actually for $$\dfrac ab=\dfrac cd$$
$\implies\dfrac ac=\dfrac bd=k$(say)
$k$ may not be $1$
Use https://www.qc.edu.hk/math/Junior%20Secondary/Componendo%20et%20Dividendo.htm
$$\dfrac{2^x}{2^{-x}}=\dfrac{3+1}{3-1}$$
$$2^{2x}=2^1\iff2^{2x-1}=1$$
Find all real numbers $x$ for which $\frac{8^x+27^x}{12^x+18^x}=\frac76$

A: Both your methods are wrong since
$$\frac A B = \frac C D \not \Rightarrow A=C \quad \land \quad B=D$$
we have
$$\frac{2^x - 2^{-x}}{2^x + 2^{-x}} = \frac{1}{3} \iff \frac{4^x - 1}{4^x + 1} = \frac{1}{3}\iff 3\cdot4^x - 3=4^x + 1 \iff  2\cdot4^x=4 \implies x=\frac12$$


Yesterday, just prior to the start of Baselworld 2019, the new Breitling Superocean Collection debuted. We had the chance to take a look at a couple different sizes.
When most think of Breitling, chronographs come to mind. With a stalwart such as the Navitimer (you can read our recent review of the new 1959 Reissue), other models often don't get the same level of press, but Breitling has actually been making dive watches since 1957 and they're quite popular. With the new Breitling Superocean Collection, the brand updates its collection (versus the prior Superocean II) with an astounding five different diameters – 36, 42, 44, 46, and 48mm. So, there's truly something for everyone and every gender. Note that all of the watches you'll see here are in either 46 or 44mm – Breitling was good enough to make these available before the announcement.
The major changes to the Breitling Superocean Collection consist of new dials and new surface finishes. However, we also have the addition of a 46mm case (previously only available in the Superocean Heritage collection) and where bracelets are employed, matte finishing is the standard.
When taking a look at the dials within the Breitling Superocean Collection, everything has switched to applied Arabic numerals at 6, 9, and 12 versus the previously found hash marks. Against dials such as the blue and black, it's a clean look that stands out more than prior versions. And the bezels have also changed away from a block of ceramic to what the brand calls "deposited varnish". The surface is embossed so that there's some real topography at work. Interestingly, the winged logo makes a return – sporty models will continue to feature this while dressier models will not. It seems the fans of the winged logo claimed a victory.
Starting at the top of the Breitling Superocean Collection, the 48mm (17.25mm in thickness) version differs from the rest of the lineup with its DLC-coated titanium case and lack of date function. It's massive! It keeps a ceramic bezel, non-Arabic dial and adds a sliding bezel lock on the left side of the case. Curiously, the biggest Superocean of them all contains 200M of water resistance. All models contain the Breitling Cal. 17 – an ETA 2824-2 brought up to chronometer spec.
Moving on, the 46mm (16.85mm thickness) versions all contain a DLC-coated stainless steel case. This is similar to what we've seen the brand do with the Navitimer 8 collection and prospective buyers should know that it's more dark grey than it is jet black. That makes it more wearable in my opinion. One can choose between either a blue or black dial while the pieces will come on rubber Pro Diver III straps with either a pin buckle or deployant clasp. Here again, water resistance is 200M. Pricing begins at 4,350 Euros.
The 44mm versions (14.21mm thickness) are also available in either black or blue, but the cases are normal stainless steel. If water resistance is important to you, these pieces will make it down to 1000M. Rubber in blue or black is available or a matte-finished stainless bracelet can be chosen. Pricing starts at 3,350 Euros. The 42mm variants offer the same choices, but the watches are rated to 500M and have a height of 13.32mm. Pricing starts at 3,250 Euros.
The links retain the diagonal links that have became a Breitling hallmark.
Finally, we have the 36mm models within the Breitling Superocean Collection and these are characterized as women's models. With a thickness of only 11.24mm, they'd probably look good on my wrist as well! With a water resistance of 200m, the smallest of the bunch will be available with either a light blue or white dial. Once again, a matching rubber strap is available along with the choice of bracelet. Pricing begins at 3,250 Euros.
The updates within the Breitling Superocean Collection should go over well with fans of the brand. More than that, though, the color options, new dial styling, and approachable pricing should attract looks from anyone looking for a new diver. We'll get to spend more time with these this week and will come back with additional photos – especially of the big 48mm piece!
For more information (including pricing in your country) on the updated Breitling Superocean Collection visit the brand's official site.


text:
Tag Archives: NYS Legislature
Rodent Alert at MCC
February 7, 2008 Tommy Belknap
Carla Palumbo checks in with interesting news about the goings-on at MCC. Looks like there's a Republican / Water Authority connection in the works, here. Great post by our resident insider!
Carla PalumboMonroe Community CollegeMonroe CountyNYS Legislature
P.D. Meeting: The Public Refused to Leave
January 18, 2008 Tommy Belknap
It's both sad and pathetic, with just a little bit of farce, the way the D&C bends over backwards to defend the Republican led Legislature. There was apparently quite the to-do at the Public Defender meeting last night, and I was clearly at the wrong meeting. Channel 10 seems to have decided that the change in policy – discussing which was the point of the meeting – was a foregone conclusion. R-News seems to have done a good job covering the play-by-play of the event. Channel 13 described it as a "fracas," which if nothing else is a delightful choice of words. RochesterTurning was there to cover the action.
And then there is the Democrat and Chronicle, the Paper of Rectum for the Rochester and Monroe County area. What do they have to say about the incident? Well, that silly body of humanity known as "the public," just refused to leave the meeting of a democratically elected body:
Public defender meeting shut down after protest || Democrat & Chronicle: Local News
The public refused to leave or listen to the public safety officers who were ordering them out, while legislature Democrats walked out in protest and Assemblyman David Gantt, D-Rochester approached Republican legislators and demanded a merit-based selection process.
Remarkable, isn't it? There is simply no room in this statement for insubordination to the rule of the Republican Legislature whatsoever. Everyone, including those who elected the body, is expected to toe the line.
Monroe CountyNYS LegislatureRepublicans
What's That Got to do With it, Jack?
I may not agree with Jack Driscoll on a lot of things, but I've spoken with him on a few issues, and he's struck me as a pretty decent guy. He's been fairly responsive to this blog, a statement that cannot be made for even a number of Democratic members of the Legislature.
Having said all that, now that the tax bills are in and folks are starting to realize that they either lost County school money for diddly in the way of tax breaks or even a loss, Republicans are starting to cover their bases and spin, spin, spin towards safety. Some municipalities are seeing County tax increases because of a redistribution of the costs of maintaining MCC, based on the number of people from each district attending that school. Jack gives us a mind-numbingly irrelevant comparison:
Homeowners Confused Over County Tax Bills – 13WHAM.com
The charge is part of a charge back for Monroe Community College, a way of dividing the costs of MCC based on how many students go there from the homeowner's municipality.County Legislator, Jack Driscoll (R, Henrietta) said, "Some communities had a much higher percentage of their residents attending MCC than other communities." Driscoll said it's all part of the county executive's F.A.I.R. plan, which kept services intact and erased a $50 million deficit.
Driscoll said his bill went up slightly too, but it paled in comparison to the price increases for gas or groceries.
OK, Jack. Should we now start blaming the Legislature for the rise in gas prices, or no?
FAIRJack DriscollMonroe CountyNYS LegislatureRepublicansTaxes
Cindy Kaleh to Serve in MCLD28
Carla has updated her blog to announce her replacement in the 28th Legislative district for the Monroe County Legislature:
» You heard it here… » Carla Palumbo
Cindy is small business owner of a local company KalTech Support Team, Inc. and currently president of the Maplewood Neighborhood Association (MNA). She has been active in MNA, Sector 2 and in numerous other community initiatives over the years. She knows the district, both its challenges and its opportunities and will be a strong voice for the people in these neighborhoods. This is Cindy's first bid for elected office and she is ready for the challenge. I know that I wish her well and have pledged to help her through the process.
Carla PalumboMonroe CountyNYS LegislaturePresident
Who Will Replace Carla Palumbo in the Lej?
Carla checks in with a new piece reflecting on her time in the Legislature. You might have guessed that being the minority leader in such a bully-ish majoritarian body cannot be fun, but she generally sees it in a rewarding light.
But best of all, she hints at the newest member of the Legislature, who will be replacing her when she steps into her role as a City Council member:
» Reflections… » Carla Palumbo
And of course 2008 will bring my swearing in to City Council, which will prove interesting I am sure. I look forward to moving an agenda and hope that happens with more ease than down the street at the County. Call me optimistic!My replacement is in the works… more on that in a few days. For now…. Happy 2008!
Carla PalumboNYS Legislature
Carla Palumbo Speaks Up on Public Defenders
December 20, 2007 Tommy Belknap
Carla Palumbo discusses the decision by County Democrats not to appoint someone to the Zyra Sham Committee nominating the new Public Defender. I agree with her completely, both that you normally need to stay engaged to get things done, and that you sometimes need to disengage completely and let the jerks take their own fall. In our inordinately majoritarian County Legislature, there is little else the Democrats can do:
» Democrats Decline to Support the Public Defender Sham Committee » Carla Palumbo
Though normally I would say you need to be at the table to "keep 'em honest" sometimes you need to step away from the table to not give them "cover". Having ONE community person on the committee comprised of Legislature appointees will not bring the independence to the process that was SO important in 1974 and in 1977.
NYS Legislature
Steve Minarik: The Corruptor
There is simply nothing, nothing, nothing that Steve Minarik will leave unpoliticized, uncorrupted by the political wranglings that dominate the business of Monroe County. Now he wants a hand in appointing people to the Public Defender department, giving him a list of 50 plum jobs to give out as he sees fit and as benefits his crony system in the Legislature. Carla Palumbo reports here at DFE:
» Another Scandal in the Making » Carla Palumbo
What appeared to be a plan modeled after the one 30 years ago where the Monroe County Bar Association (NCBA)convened a committee to make recommendations to the Legislature has quickly turned into something different. What appears to be happening is a closely controlled Republican committee with next to no racial diversity and no community input. And although the Monroe County Bar Association (MCBA) was initially on board with the process, in the midst of what it has seen happening as withdrawn its support.
Monroe CountyNYS Legislature
I Guess "Taxpayer Protection" is in the Eye of the Beholder. . .
Carla Palumbo discusses the dust-up between Republican manipulation tactics, where the "Taxpayer Protection Act" meets the "F.A.I.R." plan.
I would at least have more respect for Republicans if they could quit using the manipulative bill names. But then, the "pass a bill to strangle any Democratic majority, assuming there will be one, or else ignore the bill if there isn't one bill of 2007," doesn't sound very good, does it?
» Taxpayer Protection Scam….. » Carla Palumbo
Now here we are with a Taxpayer Protection Act, a 2008 budget pending for a vote and non-mandated expenses way higher than the Consumer Price Index for this year. Why — because in that budget we have a 90 million payment to municipalities to even out the money taken from them in the Medicaid intercept that according to the budget director is a non-mandated expense (even though there is an agreement) because its not mandated by the State or Federal Government. So now what…. is your heading spinning yet? Wait hold on because now we are told…..not a problem, its not in effect year.
Oh, About That Maggie Brooks "F.A.I.R." Plan?
November 14, 2007 Tommy Belknap 2 Comments
All of that genius fiscal planning Saggy Maggie did was predicated on the notion that New York State was planning on increasing funding to schools. Well, now there's rumblings in Washington that this may not happen at all:
State budget ills put planned school aid hike at risk || Democrat & Chronicle: Local News
Spitzer and the Legislature earlier this year agreed to raise aid to local school districts by $1.1 billion this year, and $7.6 billion between last year and 2010.The second installment is due in the new fiscal year that begins April 1. But at a budget conference Tuesday, Francis and budget experts from the Senate, Assembly and state comptroller's office agreed that state finances in the immediate future are shaky because of the recent Wall Street nosedive, the mortgage-lending crisis and the skyrocketing price of oil.
"When Wall Street gets a cold, New York state gets pneumonia," said Francis, who pointed out that the state depends on the financial-services industry for about 20 percent of its tax revenue.
Have you signed the petition to end this debacle, yet? Can your kids afford you not to?
EconomyEliot SpitzerMaggie BrooksMonroe CountyNew York StateNYS AssemblyNYS LegislatureNYS SenateSchools
Conformity and Democracy: a Study
Talking Points Memo's "Table For One" today features author and professor of law Cass Sustein. He has used his Table time to discuss a fascinating study done in Colorado exploring the effects of socialization on political opinions. Groups of basically like-minded people were first polled on political subjects, then allowed to discuss them with the group, then polled again:
Colorado Springs and the Politics of Conformity | TPMCafe
The results were simple. In almost every group, members ended up with more extreme positions after they spoke with one another. . .. . . Aside from increasing extremism, the experiment had an independent effect: it made both liberal groups and conservative groups significantly more homogeneous—and thus squelched diversity.
"Extremism" is perhaps a poorly-chosen word for what he's talking about, as furious commenting suggests. The point is that people of like minds, when discussing politics at any length, tend to become even more strident in their beliefs and swing harder towards their respective wings. In his second installment, he goes on to explain that not only was this not any kind of specific benchmark of Internet culture, but in fact that sitting Federal judges displayed the same "joiner mentality," leading to far more extreme positions in situations where like-minded judges sat in the same court.
What this all means for modern politics is interesting to consider. Professor Sunstein insists that the conclusions of his book are not as dire for political expression online as one might think, but certainly we can see that the blogging community has had this case-hardening effect in many quarters. There's no question that, while I certainly have always been politically-aware, there's never been anything in my life quite like DragonFlyEye.Net. Moreover, DFE had originally started as just an "About Me" type of webpage, and only for the purposes of practicing some of my then-hobby, web design. w00t! How times have changed!
On a more disappointing note, you can't escape the fact that the Supreme Court is now populated by the most Conservative judges in a generation. If this idea of like-minded individuals swinging harder is true, I am very, very concerned for the future of this country with such group of men chatting amongst themselves. I wonder if Thomas and Scalia have taken to throwing stuff at Bryer and calling him a wussie. . .
Here in Monroe County, we can hope that the thinning of the Republican herd in the Legislature might have the opposite effect: in addition to the fear of losing more seats, the fact that there are less Conservative minds to speak in the Lej might hopefully mean a smoothing over of the rougher Conservative edge just by virtue of this above-cited effect. Unfortunately, the rules of the Legislature as outlined by the Monroe Charter are, as I understand them, entirely weighted towards the majority party, so this might be a pipe-dream.
But back to the conformity and extremity question:
I think most of us assume that the ability for the average private citizen to blog means greater diversity of thought, not conformity. Are we wrong?
BloggingDemocracyDiscourseMonroe CountyNYS Legislature
Maggie Brooks' Tax Theft: What it Means to Your School
Maggie Brooks is so sure her plan to balance the budget of the County is so beyond reproach, so fair, that there was absolutely no reason the public needed to know about it until it was too late. She's started an advertising blitz the likes of which would even make Billy Fuccillo blush, ostensibly because things as fair as F.A.I.R. require a lot of explanation. And she claims, as the first leg of her stool, that the plan is "fair" and reduces the taxes of Monroe County residents:
MyMonroe. Opening Up Government. | Monroe County, NY
The Plan is fair to taxpayers, cutting the Monroe County property tax rate by eleven cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, as a way to reduce the property tax burden. At the same time, the Plan protects and maintains the County's revenue sharing with towns, villages and the City of Rochester at existing "Morin-Ryan" levels.
But you probably already knew that those costs wouldn't just disappear because Maggie said so, right? So, how does this affect your taxes? How does this affect your local school system? Continue reading Maggie Brooks' Tax Theft: What it Means to Your School →


text:
Q: prototype of int64_t or offset64 both linux and windows 32bits system I am developing a application which needs functions of int64 variables. and i was told offset64 or int64_t is viable for my need...
But i just wanna what is the prototype of int64 under 32bit system...
How can i use the variable.
is it a struction which consists of two ULONGs?
thanx !

A: There's usually no reason why the compiler can't support 64-bit integer types
transparently on a 32-bit (or smaller) platform since it can generate the code
necessary to handle them in smaller chunks whenever they are used. AFAIK
any C99-compliant compiler should support 64-bit types transparently
through the stdint.h header file which defines types such as int64_t and
you can use them as you would any other integer type.
[Edit] Example :
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void) {
        int64_t x = 0x1000000000LL;

        x = x*2;
        printf("%llX\n", x);
}

A: Use long long, both msvc and gcc support it.


text:
The Obsession With Socialism--Cuba's Response
According to most polls, millions of American, so-called "progressives," are beginning to coalesce around socialist Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilan Omar and other oracles of the far Left.
Former Cuban political prisoners have written a letter to Democrat Party Chair, Tom Perez, begging him to somehow deal with Bernie and his socialism. And they carefully articulate why.
Bernie's perspective.
I don't know this, but I would suspect Perez and others are already trying to deal with their Bernie problem. Much like they did when it appeared he might edge out Hillary in the 2016 primaries.
Whether they will be successful remains to be seen.
The match that lighted the fire was Bernie's appearance on CBS's "60 Minutes" last Sunday.
He heaped praise on aspects of the education system in Cuba under the regime of communist dictator Fidel Castro---even saying it was "unfair to say everything was bad under the brutal, tyrannical leader."
Sanders suggested that Castro's communist regime was fairly successful, the Cuban people did not revolt against Castro because he "educated their kids, gave them healthcare, and totally transformed the society."
Of course, anyone who has been around a while remembers that multiple revolts against Castro did occur. Each was knocked down by Castro.
And don't we all remember the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and President John F. Kennedy?
Bernie continued on Monday during his appearance on CNN's Town Hall.
He told the audience that it was a "good thing" that Castro taught people to read and write and that China's government has "taken more people out of extreme poverty than any other country in history."
Bernie said,
"When Fidel Castro first came to power ...he initiated a major literacy program. There were a lot of folks in Cuba at that point that were illiterate, and he formed a literacy brigade...they went out and they people learn how to read and write. You know what? I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing."
He acknowledged that China is becoming more and more authoritarian, saying,
"But can anyone deny---I mean, the facts are clear, that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history."
What he fails to remember is that China has also killed about 60 million of their own people in their march to "lift them out of poverty."
Thank you, Chairman Mao.
Cuban political prisoner's perspective. And probably that of many Cubans who weren't jailed.
Four former political prisoners, who spent a combined 81 years in prison for their opposition to Castro's socialist communism, have sent a letter to Democrat National Committee Chairman Tom Perez condemning presidential candidate Bernie Sanders for praising the late dictator Fidel Castro.
This is a link to an article that contains the complete letter. I encourage you to read it.
The former political prisoners note in their letter that Cuba had high literacy rates and was the region's wealthiest country before the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
They note that the price Cubans paid for the economic collapse under Castro, which Sanders appears to praise as a success, was the mass murder of thousands of dissidents, imprisonment in tropical gulags, and a total lack of freedom of expression.
They also note that Cuba's healthcare system relies on a form of modern slavery in which Cuba pays for diplomatic support from the developing world by sending doctors to work as slaves in dangerous conditions.
The former prisoners write in their letter:
"Does Mr. Sanders know that the regime sends doctors to work at other countries and the regime collects their wages while only giving doctors between 75 and 90% of the wage? In addition, their passports are removed and keep them all under close surveillance to prevent any 'desertion'."
The former prisoners write,
"As former political prisoners, who served many years in Fidel Castro's prisons, enduring tortures, beatings, years of solitary confinement , and inhuman treatment, we are offended that a presidential candidate of your party dared to praise a tyrant who shed so much blood of innocent Cubans."
"Mr Sanders either lies or ignores the events in Cuba," they say---"socialism is the worst political any country may go through."
Why socialism always fails.
Mark J. Perry has written an article titled, "Why Socialism Always Fails."
He gives these 4 reasons:
1. Socialism is the Big Lie of the twentieth century.
While it promised prosperity, equality, and security, it delivered poverty, misery, and tyranny. Equality was achieved only in the sense that everyone was equal in his or her misery.
In the same way that a Ponzi scheme or chain letter initially succeeds but eventually collapses, socialism may show early signs of success. But any accomplishments quickly fade as the fundamental deficiencies of central planning emerge. It is the initial illusion of success that gives government intervention its pernicious, seductive appeal. In the long run, socialism has always proven to be a formula for tyranny and misery.
2. The strength of capitalism can be attributed to an incentive structure based upon the three Ps:
prices determined by market forces
a profit-and-loss system of accounting
private property rights. The failure of socialism can be traced to its neglect of these three incentive-enhancing components.
3. By their failure to foster, promote, and nurture the potential of their people through incentive-enhancing institutions, centrally planned economies deprive the human spirit of full development.
Socialism fails because it kills and destroys the human spirit–just ask the people leaving Cuba in homemade rafts and boats [and those waiting in long lines today in Venezuela struggling, and often failing, to buy food].
4. The temptress of socialism is constantly luring us with the offer: "give up a little of your freedom and I will give you a little more security." As the experience of this century has demonstrated, the bargain is tempting but never pays off. We end up losing both our freedom and our security.
The main difference between capitalism and socialism is this: Capitalism works.
And capitalism is biblical. Socialism is not. Read the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30).
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.


Arenanet and Kung Fu Tea might not be as iconic a duo as Bonnie & Clyde or peanut butter and banana, but what their partnership can bring you is a free upgrade to the heroic edition of Guild Wars 2.
For the month of September, you can download the Kung Fu Tea app on your smart device, connect your social media account, and receive a code for the Guild Wars 2 heroic edition. The code will remove many of the restrictions on free to play players, as well as provide you with an 18 slot inventory box, 10 experience boosters, and a unique Guild Wars 2 armor set. If you'd like to go further, and live in the United States, you can enter the daily sweepstakes and have a chance at winning a copy of the deluxe edition.


TL;DR summary: I like it!
I have had the Surface Go for just over 1 week now. I had been interested in it since it came out and did a lot of research on my recent trip to Fargo comparing US prices vs. CAD prices and comparing the "unique" build configuration that Costco was selling vs. what everyone else had.
The low-end model: 4gb RAM, 64gb eMMC hard drive (still an "SSD" but nowhere near as fast as the larger model's option), no keyboard.
The high-end model: 8gb RAM, 128gb SSD, no keyboard.
Here the CAD pricing comes out slightly ahead, but very slightly.
Costco "special" configuration: 4gb RAM + 128gb SSD hard drive (a hybrid configuration of the 2 models sold everywhere else: RAM from the low-end model and hard drive from the high-end model) + the basic non-Alcantara black keyboard.
It would be nearly a $30 savings to buy it at home vs. in the US.
Keyboards: the "Type Cover" for an Alcantara model runs $130 USD and $170 CAD.
I believe the plain black one was about $30 cheaper in both countries but it doesn't have the Alcantara fabric, from what I recall seeing.
To have a perfect apples to apples comparison, I was comparing buying a Surface Go in that specific location, including paying local sales tax, and then converting that to CAD, vs. buying it at home in CAD with my local (Ontario) HST rate of 13%.
I could have compared to some "no tax" states but since I neither live near one nor was able to get to one, it wasn't relevant to my decision.
One other note: I didn't factor in duty or taxes on bringing the Surface Go back into Canada because I would have been bringing it in after a 7 day trip out of country, thus the purchase would have been within my personal exemption limit. That's a big factor if you properly declare your purchases over your exemption at the border as you're going to be paying at least the HST on that purchase if not duties, depending on the item.
Side note: I'm elaborating on the tax and exchange rate stuff because I often hear friends & colleagues talk about things being so much less expensive in the US for this or that. Often they are not taking sales tax into consideration in the price comparison, or they are underestimating how bad the FX rate is these days (or both!).
Many people aren't aware that Costco has a unique configuration. I still think that is a pretty sweet deal – best of breed including a type cover, I just didn't want to wait for it. I ended up visiting a Microsoft store in Toronto to buy one, opting for the top-end model (8gb RAM, 128gb SSD). I also picked up the "bundle" of Surface Type Cover, Pen, Warranty and 1 year subscription for O365 Personal. Good deal for sure, way less expensive then buying those individually, but ended up spending far more than what I was going to spend if I had gone to Costco.
Here are some of the things specific to this item that were the selling points for me, even though I could have purchased some other things for less money.
I'm often watching MVP PGIs while I cook or eat dinner, and this device will be perfect for that. I don't like bulky cases for iPads, even though one of the major benefits are kickstand-like functionality. I love that the Surface devices have this built-in, it's a major bonus to me.
I toted this around in an MEC sling bag half the week, it's that tiny. I also have an iPad mini, which will continue to serve a purpose, one of them though won't be a machine I expect to be capable of remoting into the office in a pinch. Sure, I could pair the iPad with a keyboard but that becomes clunky to travel with. This is compact and I could carry it with me everywhere with little need to worry about the space it takes up. I can do real work on it that I don't feel I could do as easily on my iPad, even if I had a full size or Pro model.
I wasn't sure I'd like the keyboard but I've typed out this entire post with it and it's getting more comfortable all the time. Yes, the keyboard is slightly more condensed due to the size of the Surface Go footprint but I am finding it's surprisingly pleasant to type on the type cover. It's a bonus to me that it doubles as a cover. As I said above, I am not a fan of bulky boxes and covers that offer similar functionality. This is trim, keeps the footprint small, and it works.
I'm a Windows gal. I love my iPhone and iPad, but I have zero interest in a Mac for my full computer experiences. I wanted a portable machine that operates the same O/S as my regular laptop and work machines do, period.
That brings me to "S" mode. This comes with Windows S mode, which I tried for a little while but what killed it for me was not being able to download Firefox. Of all things, a browser stopped me from continuing with S mode. I really wanted to give it a chance but the reality is, there are enough sites that simply don't seem to work properly in Edge, I don't want to use IE either and that meant getting out of S mode to have complete control over what I install.
In case you're unfamiliar with S mode, technically it's Windows Home under the covers but it (apparently) has some Windows Pro functionality that Windows Home doesn't. I didn't dig into that and now that I'm writing this, I can't find the post where that was outlined. If I find it I will update this post.
For certain scenarios, S mode would be completely fine, and preferable for the simplicity of controlling the ways applications can be installed as well as limiting the options. I for one prefer to manage that myself so, within the first couple of days I switched out of S mode and put in a key I have for Windows 10 Pro. I'm now connected to my Office 365 Azure AD account just like my other laptop is.
I love it so far but really haven't used it a ton. I will be using it a lot more this week while I am at a mini-conference, using it for note-taking.
The first morning I had it, someone from the office needed something so I used it to remote to my desktop at work and get the info he needed. Easy peasy. In a pinch, it's fine, but once again, I wouldn't be using this as a "work from home" device, I have a bigger, faster laptop to do that + a dual monitor setup for actual work.
I brought it with me one night to dinner and had it propped up on the table while I ate. I was able to do a little email catch up and ended up bringing up the Libby app to continue reading the library book I had started on my iPad. Love it!
Travel with this should be a no brainer. The only times where I may also need my full laptop would be if I am presenting any Dynamics GP content. I don't plan on installing SQL and GP on this, although it could probably handle it for minor demo situations.
Working with this should be interesting and that's ultimately where I hope this will be useful. I'd like to get away from paper notebooks and get more of my daily notes into OneNote. I also never take my work-issued laptop with me anywhere, as it's big and heavy and not what I would consider portable. I hope to use this in meetings at our other offices where I can take notes in my OneNote notebooks (thanks to Office 365) and rely less on paper. I can pull up documents in OneDrive to refer to in meetings easily and stay in touch with email on the road.
Overall, I like it so far, and it has a lot of promise. I had purchased a Surface Pro 4 when they first came out and I ended up returning it 3 days after I purchased it. The O/S was flaky, kept needing me to reset to factory default and I gave up. I was really hoping this experience was different and so far so good.


More than 30 printable letters from The Easter Bunny ready to instantly download and print.
Great gift idea for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and more.
NOTE: The PDF version is free.
lso, more than 20 Easter cards and 20 Easter coloring pages you can download and print.
Grab one, or grab them all, download and print them.
Entertain your little ones with several Easter-themed coloring pages.


A few years ago I wrote a grain-free cookbook for winter that involved many one-pot and one-pan meals. We were grain-free then and with two little ones underfoot that was how I cooked – simply and seasonally.
So much has changed since then. We're now building a cabin on our off-grid homestead while we fight against the elements here in Central Texas. I have two little ones underfoot once again but these little girls also have two big brothers. The one thing that hasn't changed is that never before have I needed simple, one-pan meals as much as I do now.
So when we look for something a little different to break up the slew of homemade soups and stews we often eat, I look for a flavorful, one-pan dish like this One Pan Chicken Verde Recipe. It's super simple, totally delicious, and feeds my little army with very little cleanup. I just add some fermented vegetables and we have a full meal we all love.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9×13″ pan with 2 Tablespoons of the butter or coconut oil. Sprinkle the dry rice evenly throughout the pan. Top with vegetables and season with sea salt. Pour over broth and sprinkle with chili powder. Spread the chicken pieces out over the surface of the rice and vegetables and season them with salt. Pour the salsa verde over the chicken and cover the whole pan with a tight-fitting lid or heavy-duty aluminum foil, being sure to secure it as tightly as possible.
Place pan in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and rice and vegetables are tender. Remove lid, and dot dish with remaining 4 Tablespoons butter or coconut oil. Turn heat up to 400 degrees and return to oven for an additional 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and edges of rice are crispy.
Serve topped with cilantro, avocado, or sour cream.
I so want to try this! I need to try this.. Know Dino will love it.
This looks delicious! I have brown jasmine rice, is that ok or will it only work with white?


President Obama released five Taliban leaders from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility on Saturday without consulting Congress and without strict assurances that the militants won't somehow return to the fight. Republicans on Capitol Hill worry that the swap of these Taliban leaders for American hostage Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is a prelude to a bigger move—the emptying out of Guantanamo entirely.
In his 2014 State of the Union address, Obama promised to shutter the prison built on Cuban soil by the end of the year. Obama now has seven months to fulfill his latest promise to shut down Guantanamo—or come as close to it as he can. During that time, Congress will be unable to prevent the release of the 149 prisoners still there.
On Saturday, only three days after announcing the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by 2017, the White House revealed that it was releasing the Taliban commanders in exchange for Bergdahl. The law requires 30 days' advance Congressional notification before such a release from Guantanamo. But it was simply not workable in this case, White House officials, said; the soldier's health was failing, and the Qatari-brokered deal for the prisoner swap unfolded too quickly.
Lawmakers' surprise fueled their confusion and skepticism about the deal—especially since the on-again off-again negotiations for Bergdahl were an open secret, dating back years. GOP leaders, in particular, were offended that they received calls from their Democratic counterparts and administration officials only after Bergdahl's release was reported in the news.
Now there's growing concern on Capitol Hill that President Obama intends to bypass Congress to fulfill his promise to close the prison by releasing scores of more Guantanamo prisoners with little public or even private debate. Lawmakers and staffers see the Bergdahl case as only the latest maneuver in a larger plan to cut Congress out of the Guantanamo issue; and they're not exactly reassured by senior administration officials' refusal to disclose what steps will be taken to mitigate the risk that these prisoners could become involved again in the Afghan insurgency.
Of course, the Bergdahl case is a special one. Partially due to concern over Bergdahl's fate, Congress actually gave up a significant amount of oversight of Guantanamo releases last December by passing a defense policy bill that eased the burden on the administration before releasing prisoners. Now, it's just a simple Congressional notification. The law itself contains no enforcement measures and Obama even issued a signing statement at the time saying even the remaining restrictions violated his Constitutional prerogative.
"The whole reason the administration ignores reporting requirements is because they know there is no consequence for ignoring them," the senior GOP senate aide said.
It's also true that the Obama administration has been steadily transferring Guantanamo prisoners to third countries for years, as the George W. Bush administration did before it. But the Bergdahl deal was the first major release under the new, looser restrictions and the five Taliban former prisoners were seen as some of the worst of the worst being held at the facility.
Despite outrage by several Republican leaders—including House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Republican James Inhofe —about the release of the Taliban commanders, privately GOP offices admit that the deal is done. All they can do now is demand more transparency. But the GOP does intend to ramp up the fight over the larger issue of releasing the other 149 prisoners by taking trying to take some of their oversight authority back.
"At this point, I don't think Congress can do anything on his case. Nothing Congress is going to do is going to bring these guys back. But what this might lead to is tightening restrictions overall to make it harder for the administration to do this again," another senior GOP senate aide said.
Behind the scenes, several GOP senators had already been working to further restrict the Obama administration's authority to release Guantanamo prisoners, even before the news of the Bergdahl prisoner swap broke. In a previously unreported closed-door meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee over next year's defense policy bill, a fierce debate erupted over GOP efforts to slow the release of the prisoners.
Committee leaders Carl Levin and Inhofe had already included in their original version of the bill a provision requiring the administration to report on its overall strategy for handling the prisoners, the risk they posed if released, and their overall plan to close the prison before releasing the rest of the detainees. In the closed session, Sen. Lindsey Graham won support for an amendment that would provide for Congress to vote on that strategy on the Senate floor if it ever surfaced.
Then, Sen. Kelly Ayotte narrowly won support for her amendment, an outright ban on transferring Guantanamo prisoners to Yemen for one year. If implemented, that would effectively stop Obama from closing the prison in 2014. Over half of the remaining prisoners are Yemeni, and would presumably be shipped back there. Several Yemeni Guantanamo alumni released over the years have now reportedly taken up leadership positions in an al Qaeda affiliate there.
The GOP effort, however, will take longer than seven months to have any effect because the defense policy bill won't even be considered in the Senate until after the election. Typically, the defense bill is passed in late December. There's no chance Congress will pass an appropriations bill this year, meaning Congress can't remove the funding for transfers. That gives Obama plenty of time to use the current looseness of the law to push forward the releases of many more prisoners.
The Republican-controlled House already passed its version of the defense policy bill and won't get another chance to amend it until a potential conference with the Senate, after they pass their bill. House GOP aides said it's unlikely the House would take up a stand-alone measure on Guantanamo prisoner releases and even if that passed, the Senate Democratic leadership would never take it up.
The drive to stop Obama from releasing Guantanamo prisoners without Congressional oversight over the next seven months has also lost its key Democratic ally, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, who celebrated the Bergdahl-Taliban swap this weekend.
"I support the president's decision, particularly in light of Sgt. Bergdahl's declining health. It demonstrates that America leaves no soldier behind," she said in a statement.
That's a change of position for Feinstein. Back in 2012, when the prisoner swap negotiations were done directly by State Department, Pentagon, and White House officials in secret meetings with the Taliban in Berlin and Doha, Feinstein was vehemently opposed to the idea.