text:
\section{Introduction}

The intermittent small-scale dynamics of fully developed turbulence at
very large
Reynolds numbers is believed to be more or less scale-invariant within
the so-called inertial range, the latter being bound by the integral
length scale $L$ and the dissipation length scale $\eta \ll L$.
Consequently, both experimental \cite{SRE97} and theoretical
\cite{NEL94,FRI95} efforts largely concentrate on
scaling exponents, which are deduced from structure functions of the
velocity field. However, ``scaling exponents are not everything'' as
they represent for sure the simplest, but at the same time also the
most insensitive observables characterising multi-scale processes.
Because of this insensitiveness any heroic effort to derive the
observed multi-scaling directly from the Navier-Stokes equation
\cite{YAK98,BEL98} remains somewhat incomplete as some physics might
have been lost with the applied approximations and assumptions. Also,
due to the finiteness of the real-world inertial range and the limited
statistical sampling, the experimental procedure to extract
multi-scaling
is not unequivocal and quoted values for scaling exponents beyond sixth
order should not be overemphasised. For these reasons and also in view
of the quest for universality in the up-to-now unreachable limit
$R_\lambda\rightarrow\infty$, additional observables other than
scaling exponents are needed.

In order to explain this philosophy, ``scaling exponents are not
everything'', in more detail, we discuss heuristic multiplicative
cascade processes and show that with a clever subclass of additional
observables more
can be learned about the intrinsic cascade dynamics than only from
scaling exponents. Following Richardsons historic metaphor of
large eddies decaying into successively smaller and smaller eddies,
a multiplicative cascade process phenomenologically describes the
turbulent redistribution of energy flux from large to small scales and
is able to reproduce the observed scaling exponents of the surrogate
energy dissipation field \cite{FRI95,MEN91}, which are related to those
of the velocity structure functions by the Refined Similarity
Hypothesis \cite{STO94}. Originally intended to directly access the
multiplicative
weight distribution associated to the energy cascade generator
distributions of so-called multipliers or break-up coefficients
\cite{NOV71} have been extracted from very large Taylor-scale based
Reynolds number atmospheric boundary layer
and wind tunnel flows recently \cite{CHH92,SRE95,PED96};
see also Ref.\ \cite{MOL95}.
It was found that within the upper part $0 \ll l < L$ of the inertial
range these multiplier distributions do in fact become
scale-independent. However, they do depend on the relative
position of parent and daughter
domain; this non-homogeneity of the breakup leaves a subsequent
extraction of scaling exponents inconsistent \cite{NEL96} and
indicates the presence of correlations between successive multipliers,
as has been confirmed by studying multiplier distributions conditioned
on the value of the (scale-) previous multiplier \cite{SRE95,PED96}.
The observed correlations appear to be in conflict with the simple
multiplicative cascade models, where the cascade generator is assumed
to be identical and independent at each breakup.
As has been convincingly demonstrated in Refs.\ \cite{JOU99a,JOU99b}
this apparent conflict can be resolved: introducing non-conservative
cascade generators with a positively skewed weight distribution
and restoring Euclidean homogeneity of the ultrametric cascade models,
the multiplier distributions resulting from a discrete binary
multiplicative cascade become a scale-independent fix-point due to
small-scale resummation and are in good qualitative agreement with
the experimentally deduced distributions, including all observed
correlation effects.

Originally not anticipated, these multiplier distributions represent
one of those wanted clever subclasses of additional observables, from which
more can be learned about the relevance of cascade processes in turbulence
and about the intrinsic cascade dynamics than only from scaling exponents.
The experimental analysis \cite{SRE95,PED96} reveals that unconditional
multiplier distributions are observed to be scale-independent within the
range $500\eta \leq l \leq L/2$. In view of the findings of Ref.\
\cite{JOU99b} we call this the visible cascade range. Since due to
small-scale resummation it takes about three binary scale steps for
the multiplier distributions to converge to the scale-independent fix-point
the lowest part of the true cascade range
$\eta^* \approx 500\eta/2^3 \approx 60\eta \leq l \leq L$
is not visible. A further conclusion from this line of reasoning would be
that below $\eta^*$ dissipation dynamics sets in and modifies the
scale-independent cascade dynamics. Besides this interpretation about the
scope of cascade processes in turbulence, also more details about the
intrinsic cascade dynamics can be learned from multiplier distributions
\cite{JOU99a,JOU99b}. Not every weight distribution, associated to a binary
cascade generator and reproducing observed scaling exponents within
experimental error bars, qualifies to yield the correct distributions of
multipliers and their correlations. It has to come with a positive
skewness. Weight distributions of log-normal or certain asymmetric
binomial type share this property, whereas, for example, a log-Poisson
weight distribution \cite{SHE94} does not.

All those conclusions have been drawn from binary discrete multiplicative
cascade processes in connection with base-two ($\lambda=2$)
multiplier distributions. Multiplier distributions referring to other
scale steps have not been looked at. In this respect it is of interest
to find out whether the latter do again reveal a scale-independent
fix-point behaviour with additional correlations or whether they are
simply artefacts of the binary discrete cascade model implementation.
Not only this aspect is of relevance to find answers, the impact of
cascade model implementations with scale steps other than
$\lambda^\prime = 2$, i.e.\ $\lambda^\prime > 2$ or
$\lambda^\prime \rightarrow 1$, has to be studied for the
multiplier phenomenology: do multiplier distributions resulting from
different model implementations differ or not? Put in other words:
are different cascade model implementations distinguishable or
indistinguishable on the level of multiplier observables?
--
Theoretically the scale step $\lambda^\prime$ associated to the cascade
generator is not fixed. Due to the present lack of a derivation of
cascade models from the Navier-Stokes equation, no specific choice is
favoured for $\lambda^\prime$, except for personal taste.
Only if the last question can be answered with yes, we can consider
multiplier distributions as a clever subclass of additional observables.

The organisation of the paper is as follows: In Sect.\ II we
sketch the implementation of general multiplicative cascade processes
and briefly summarize previous work on ($\lambda = 2$)-multiplier
distributions resulting from a discrete ($\lambda^\prime = 2$) model
implementation. Sect.\ III concentrates on discrete
($\lambda^\prime \geq 2$) implementations
of multiplicative cascade processes and presents multiplier distributions
referring to scale steps $\lambda \neq 2$. A quasicontinuous implementation
of random multiplicative cascade models is used in Sect.\ IV to study
respective multiplier distributions referring to various scale steps.
So-called log-stable weight distributions \cite{SCH87,SCH92a}
are considered in Sect.\ V and, although leading to correct
scaling exponents \cite{KID91,SCH92b}, shown not to reproduce the
observed multiplier distributions. Several conclusions are presented
in Sect.\ VI, the most important being that it does not matter how
multiplicative cascade models are implemented (discrete or continuous),
since the multiplier observables are indistinguishable.

\section{Implementation of discrete and continuous
         multiplicative cascade models}

\subsection{Implementation}

The following one-dimensional implementation of multiplicative cascade
processes is designed to model the energy cascade from large ($L$) to
small ($\eta^*$) length scales:

The initial energy flux density field at the integral scale $L$ is
set equal to $\varepsilon (x,L) = 1$ without any loss of generality.
For an intermediate length scale $\eta^* \leq l < L$ we introduce a
so-called weight field
\begin{equation}
\label{two1}
  q(x,l)
    =  \sum_{k=-\infty}^{\infty} q_k(l)
       \Theta (x - k l , l )
       \; ,
\end{equation}
where the index function
\begin{equation}
\label{two2}
  \Theta ( x , l )
    =  \left\{
       \begin{array}{ll}
         1  &  \qquad (0 \leq x < l) \\
         0  &  \qquad (x < 0, \, x \geq l)
       \end{array}
       \right.
\end{equation}
represents a subdomain of length $l$. Each random weight $q_k(l)$
is independently
drawn from a scale-independent probability distribution $p(q)$ with
mean $\langle q \rangle = 1$. The energy density field
\begin{equation}
\label{two3}
  \varepsilon (x,\eta^*)
    =  \left( \prod_{i=1}^n q(x,l_i) \right) \varepsilon (x,L)
\end{equation}
at the smallest scale $\eta^*$ is then constructed as a
multiplication of weight fields belonging to a hierarchy of
different intermediate length scales $l_i = L/(\lambda^\prime)^i$, where
$(\lambda^\prime)^n = L/\eta^*$.

Let us discuss the special case for $\lambda^\prime=2$, so that it
is sufficient to consider the fields only in the domain $0 \leq x < L$.
The implementation (\ref{two3}) can then be understood in terms of a binary
cascade generator: The energy density $\varepsilon(l)$ of a domain of
length $l$ is redistributed onto a left and right subdomain of length $l/2$
with energy densities $\varepsilon_L(l/2) = q_L \varepsilon(l)$ and
$\varepsilon_R(l/2) = q_R \varepsilon(l)$, where the random weights are
drawn from the splitting function
\begin{equation}
\label{two4}
  p(q_L,q_R) = p(q_L) p(q_R)  \; .
\end{equation}
The successive application of this cascade generator from the large scale
$L$ down to the small scale $\eta^*$ leads to the field (\ref{two3}).
--
The splitting function (\ref{two4}) is not in its most general form as it
does not need to factorise. However, it has been noted in Ref.\
\cite{JOU99b}, that because fully developed turbulence is a $3+1$ dimensional
process, the observational reduction of a more-dimensional multiplicative
cascade process to one dimension leads to a splitting function which
factorises almost completely.

\subsection{Observables}

The standard observable of multiplicative cascade processes are scaling
exponents representing the intermittency corrections.
They are deduced from a scale-invariant moment analysis
of the synergetic field (\ref{two3}); a naive derivation gives
\begin{equation}
\label{two5}
  \left\langle \varepsilon(x,l_m)^\nu \right\rangle
    =  \left\langle q(x,l)^\nu \right\rangle^m
    =  \left( \frac{L}{l_m} \right)^{\tau(\nu)}
    =  (\lambda^\prime)^{m \tau(\nu)}
\end{equation}
with scaling exponents
\begin{equation}
\label{two6}
  \tau(\nu)
    =  \frac{\ln\langle q^\nu \rangle}{\ln\lambda^\prime}
       \; ,
\end{equation}
where the independence of the $m$ weights $q(x,l_1)$, \ldots , $q(x,l_m)$
has been exploited. This deduction is not in full accordance with the analysis
of experimentally measured fields; those are recorded at the finest
resolution scale $\eta < \eta^*$, then averaged over
larger length scales $l$,
\begin{equation}
\label{two7}
  \overline{\varepsilon}(x,l)
    =  \frac{1}{l}
       \int_{x-l/2}^{x+l/2} \varepsilon(x^\prime,\eta) dx^\prime
       \; ,
\end{equation}
and are not identical to the model field evolved from scales $L$ to $l$
\cite{JOU99b,SCH87}, i.e.\
\begin{equation}
\label{two8}
  \overline{\varepsilon}(x,l)
    \neq  \varepsilon(x,l)
          \; .
\end{equation}
The scale dependence of moments
$\langle \overline{\varepsilon}(x,l)^\nu \rangle$
of the backward field are different from
(\ref{two5}) and do not show rigorous scaling at the very small
scales \cite{GRE96}. Only in the large-scale asymptotic scaling
exponents can be extracted unambiguously and coincide with
the expression (\ref{two6}).

Originally proposed in Ref.\ \cite{NOV71} and applied in Refs.\
\cite{CHH92,SRE95,PED96,MOL95} the method of random multipliers (or
break-up coefficients) aims at directly accessing scaling exponents
via respective distributions of the former.
In its most general form multipliers are defined as
\begin{equation}
\label{two9}
  M(x,l;\lambda,\Delta)
    =  \frac{\overline{\varepsilon}(x^\prime,\frac{l}{\lambda})}
            {\lambda \overline{\varepsilon}(x,l)}
       \; ,
\end{equation}
where
$\overline{\varepsilon}(x^\prime,\frac{l}{\lambda})$
represents the averaged energy density over an offspring interval of
length $l/\lambda$ and with its centre shifted by
$x^\prime - x = ( 1 - \lambda^{-1} ) l\Delta$
with respect to the parent interval. We distinguish three special cases
for the shift parameter $\Delta$:
for $\Delta=0$, $\pm 1/2$ we call $M(x,l;\lambda,\Delta)$
centred, right- and left-sided, respectively.
--
For very large Reynolds number turbulent flows it has been found
experimentally \cite{CHH92,SRE95,PED96} that the unconditional
multiplier distributions $p(M(l;\lambda,\Delta))$, which are sampled over
$x$, do not depend on the scale $l$ within the regime
$\eta \ll l \leq L/2$. However, a dependence on the shift parameter
$\Delta$ was noticed; this ``nonhomogeneity of the breakup''
obscures the relationship between multiplier and weight distribution
and the once intended extraction of scaling exponents \cite{NEL96}.
Actually the $\Delta$-dependence hints to the existence of
correlations between successive multipliers.
These correlations have been observed in conditional multiplier distributions
$p ( M(x^\prime, l/\lambda;\lambda,\Delta) | M(x,l;\lambda,\Delta) )$
with left/right-sided ($\Delta=\pm 1/2$) \cite{SRE95}
and centred ($\Delta=0$) \cite{PED96} shift parameter, respectively, and
with the emphasis on base-two ($\lambda=2$) scale steps.

These latest findings appear to contradict the simple multiplicative cascade
processes with independent breakups. However, this statement is not true!
The studies in Refs.\ \cite{JOU99a,JOU99b} with nonconservative binary
($\lambda^\prime=2$) random multiplicative cascade models have given a new
interpretation to multiplier distributions:
unconditional multiplier distributions represent a scale-independent
fix-point due to small-scale resummation; the ``nonhomogeneity of the
breakup'' is also naturally explained along this line. Once the sampling
of multipliers is allowed over all and not only dyadic positions the
correct multiplier correlations have been obtained from positively
skewed weight distributions; for example, a log-normal weight
distribution does qualify whereas a log-Poisson distribution does not
qualify. These results show that multiplier distributions do reveal more
information about the underlying weight distribution than might be
extracted from approximate scaling exponents.

\section{Multiplier statistics of discrete multiplicative cascade models}

\subsection{Discrete multiplicative cascade models with binary splittings}

For discrete multiplicative cascade models with binary splittings the
scale step entering into the construction of the energy density field
(\ref{two3}) is set equal to $\lambda^\prime=2$.
Furthermore, we choose $n=10$. The length of the field configuration
is set equal to $0 \leq x \leq 10^5 L$,
mimicking a long time series. As weight distribution we choose the
binomial distribution
\begin{equation}
\label{three1}
  p(q)
    =  \frac{\alpha_2}{\alpha_1+\alpha_2} \delta\left( 1-(1-\alpha_1) \right)
       + \frac{\alpha_1}{\alpha_1+\alpha_2} \delta\left( 1-(1+\alpha_2) \right)
\end{equation}
with parameters $\alpha_1=0.3$, $\alpha_2=0.65$;
this choice has the correct skewness
$S_3 = \langle ( q - \langle q \rangle )^3 \rangle /
 ( \langle ( q - \langle q \rangle )^2 \rangle )^{3/2}
 = (\alpha_2-\alpha_1)/\sqrt{\alpha_1\alpha_2} > 0$
in order to reproduce conditional base-two multiplier distributions
\cite{JOU99a}. Other, non-binomial weight distributions, such as of
log-normal or Pearson-III type, are also able to provide a positive
skewness and lead to more or less identical base-two multiplier
distributions \cite{JOU99b}, all being in
qualitative accordance with experimental
findings \cite{SRE95,PED96}. Also multiplier distributions
different from base-two do not distinguish the aforementioned
weight distributions. Hence, we will only
show results for the weight distribution (\ref{three1}).

Due to small-scale resummation \cite{JOU99b}
the base-two multiplier distributions are
scale-invariant in the regime $8\eta^* \leq l \leq L/2$;
for $\eta^*\leq l\leq 8\eta^*$ the distributions converge to the
scale-independent fix-point and for scales very close to the integral
length scale deviations from scale-invariance set in because of the
finiteness of $L$. Figure 1(a2) shows
simulation results for left-sided multiplier distributions
($\Delta = -0.5$) at scale $l=L/8$:
the unconditional multiplier distribution $p(M(l;2,-0.5))$
comes close to a Beta-distribution parametrisation
\begin{equation}
\label{three2}
  p(M)
    =  \frac{\Gamma(\beta_1+\beta_2)}{\Gamma(\beta_1)\Gamma(\beta_2)}
       M^{\beta_1-1} (1-M)^{\beta_2-1}
\end{equation}
with $\beta_1=\beta_2=3.2$, which has been extracted from
very large Reynolds number atmospheric boundary layer turbulence
\cite{SRE95}. Once conditioned on the respective parent
multiplier, correlations are observed:
the distribution $p(M(l;2,-0.5)|0.5 \leq M(2l;2,-0.5) \leq 1)$
with a large parent multiplier becomes broader than the unconditional
distribution and its average is shifted to a value larger than
$1/2$. The opposite holds for the conditional distribution
$p(M(l;2,-0.5)|0 \leq M(2l;2,-0.5) \leq 0.5)$ with a small parent
multiplier; it is more narrow than the unconditional distribution and its
average is shifted to a value smaller than $1/2$. The positive correlation
between left-sided daughter and left-sided parent multiplier is a
consequence of the homogeneous sampling of multipliers
over all $x$-positions, which is not
restricted to dyadic cascade positions. Respective multiplier distributions of
right/right combinations are identical to these left/left combinations.
A negative correlation between daughter and parent multipliers is revealed
for identical left/right and right/left combinations; their respective
distributions are mirror images of those for left/left and right/right
combinations, i.e.\
$p(M(l;2,0.5)|\underline{M} \leq M(2l;2,-0.5) \leq \overline{M})
 = p(1-M(l;2,-0.5)|\underline{M} \leq M(2l;2,-0.5) \leq \overline{M})$.
This explains that conditional distributions, which are averaged over all
four daughter/parent combinations, are again symmetric around
$M(\lambda=2)=1/2$;
these distributions have been shown in Refs.\ \cite{SRE95,JOU99a,JOU99b}.

Left-sided multiplier distributions for scale steps different from
$\lambda=2$ are shown in Figs.\ 1(a1+a3). For $\lambda=4$ the
unconditional multiplier distribution converges to a fix-point for
$\eta^* \ll l \leq L/2$; its maximum is shifted towards smaller values
since its average amounts to
$\langle M(\lambda=4) \rangle = 1/\lambda = 0.25$.
A conditioning on a left-sided parent multiplier again reveals correlations
between successive multipliers: the distribution
$p( M(l;4,-0.5) | 0.25 \leq M(4l;4,-0.5) \leq 1 )$
is broader than the unconditional one, whereas
$p( M(l;4,-0.5) | 0 \leq M(4l;4,-0.5) \leq 0.25 )$
is more narrow.
--
Also multiplier distributions of base step close to one, e.g.\
$\lambda = 2^{1/4}$, show fix-point behaviour in the regime
$\eta^* \ll l \leq L/2$. In view of the discrete
($\lambda^\prime=2$)-steps used
in the cascade evolution this result appears unexpected on first sight,
but again it is small-scale resummation, which explains this result on
second thought. The unconditional left-sided distribution comes with an
average of
$\langle M(\lambda=2^{1/4}) \rangle = 1/\lambda = 0.84$
close to one. The respective conditional distributions
$p( M(l;2^{1/4},-0.5) | 0 \leq M(2^{1/4}l;2^{1/4},-0.5) \leq 0.84 )$
and
$p( M(l;2^{1/4},-0.5) | 0.84 \leq M(2^{1/4}l;2^{1/4},-0.5) \leq 1 )$
both deviate from the unconditional distribution, but contrary to the
$\lambda = 2$ and $\lambda = 4$ cases, the former has now
become broader whereas the latter turns out to be more narrow. Closer
inspection reveals that this tendency has been reversed at around
$\lambda \approx 1.75$.

Centred multiplier distributions for scale steps $\lambda=4$, $2$ and
$2^{1/4}$ do qualitatively show the same behaviour as the respective
left-sided multiplier distributions depicted in Figs.\ 1(a1)-(a3). All
centred distributions are more narrow than their respective left-sided
counterparts, reflecting again the ``nonhomogeneity of the breakup''.
This is also illuminated in Fig.\ 2, where the $\lambda$-dependence
of the two exponents $\beta_1$ and $\beta_2$ of the Beta-distribution
(\ref{three2}), fitted to the respective unconditional left-sided and
centred multiplier distributions, are shown. Since according to
(\ref{three2}) we have $\langle M \rangle = \beta_1/(\beta_1+\beta_2)$,
the two exponents are related by setting
$\langle M \rangle = \lambda^{-1}$.

Conditional multiplier distributions of base step different from
$\lambda = 2$ have not been looked at in Refs.\ \cite{SRE95,PED96}.
Hence, we consider our respective simulation results as predictions.

\subsection{Discrete multiplicative cascade models with triple and
            quadruple splittings}

Most often discrete multiplicative cascade models are chosen with scale
steps $\lambda^\prime=2$. Now we will consider $\lambda^\prime=3$ and
$\lambda^\prime=4$ and investigate the resulting multiplier distributions.
Within the implementation (\ref{two1})-(\ref{two3}) the parameters are
chosen as $n=7$ and $0\leq x\leq 10^5L$. Again for
demonstration, the binomial weight distribution (\ref{three1}) is picked
with new parameters $\alpha_1=0.37$, $\alpha_2=0.8$ for $\lambda^\prime=3$
and $\alpha_1=0.42$, $\alpha_2=0.92$ for $\lambda^\prime=4$. According to
the expression (\ref{two6}) the two parameter settings yield an acceptable
intermittency exponent $\tau(2)=0.236$, but actually have been fitted
to reproduce the experimentally deduced unconditional left-sided
base-two ($\lambda=2$) multiplier distribution (\ref{three2})
with $\beta_1=\beta_2=3.2$ in the fix-point scale regime $\eta^*\ll l<L/2$.
For both cases the resulting unconditional and conditional left-sided
fix-point multiplier distributions of bases $\lambda=4$, $\lambda=2$ and
$\lambda=2^{1/4}$ are almost
indistinguishable from the respective distributions
shown in Figs.\ 1(a1)-(a3) for the binary discrete multiplicative cascade
implementation with $\lambda^\prime=2$. The same holds for centred
multiplier distributions.

For parameter choices $\alpha_1$, $\alpha_2$, resulting in a negative
skewness of the binomial weight distribution, the shape of the resulting
unconditional left-sided fix-point multiplier distribution turns out to
deviate from the symmetric Beta-distribution parametrisation to some
small, but noticeable extend. Moreover, the correct effects observed
in the conditional multiplier distributions can not be reproduced.
--
On the contrary, well adjusted log-normal weight distributions come again
with the correct positive skewness and almost identically reproduce all
unconditional and conditional multiplier distributions derived from the
good binomial weight parametrisations.

\section{Multiplier statistics of continuous
         multiplicative cascade models}

\subsection{Continuous multiplicative cascade models}

A discrete implementation of random multiplicative cascade processes is
often opposed by the question "why discrete?". It is true that a
continuous implementation leads to nicer mathematics in terms of
log-infinite divisible and log-stable distributions
\cite{SCH87,SCH92a,KID91,SCH92b,NOV94,SHE95},
but since the relationship of the
random multiplicative cascade processes to the Navier-Stokes equation
is unclear for the moment we prefer to consider discrete and continuous
versions on an equal footing.
--
As far as the numerical implementation is concerned a continuous random
multiplicative cascade process will always be quasi-continuous. Hence,
Eqs.\ (\ref{two1})-(\ref{two3}) do apply with a quasi-continuous
scale step $\lambda^\prime$ close to one; we choose
$\lambda^\prime = 2^{1/8}$, which compared to a binary cascade corresponds
to an eightfold scale-densification. Other parameters are set equal to
$n=80$ and $0\leq x\leq 10^5L$.
Due to scale-densification the binomial weight distribution (\ref{three1})
now comes with rescaled parameters. The setting $\alpha_1=0.1$,
$\alpha_2=0.22$ comes from a fit of the resulting unconditional
left-sided base-two multiplier distribution to the expression
(\ref{three2}) with $\beta_1=\beta_2=3.2$; see
Fig.\ 1(b2). Using Eq.\ (\ref{two6}) it also yields an intermittency
exponent of $\tau(2)=0.25$.

Because of small-scale resummation all multiplier distributions become
again scale-independent fix-points in the range $\eta^*\ll l\leq L/2$;
to be more concrete, the simulations reveal a lower bound of
approximately $8\eta^*$. The unconditional left-sided multiplier
distributions of base-scale $\lambda=4$, $2$ and $2^{1/4}$, which are
shown in Figs.\ 1(b1)-(b3), are hard to distinguish from those obtained
from a scale-discrete cascade implementation, which are illustrated in
Figs.\ 1(a1)-(a3). A similar statement can be made not only about the
respective left-sided conditional distributions, but also for all
unconditional and conditional centred multiplier distributions.
This finding demonstrates that multiplier distributions in the fix-point
regime do not distinguish discrete and continuous versions
of random multiplicative cascade processes; again, the reason for this is
small-scale resummation.

Other suitable parameter settings of the binomial weight distribution
quite easily reproduce all unconditional multiplier distributions shown
so far. Even with a different-signed skewness, as for example with
$\alpha_1=0.195$, $\alpha_2=0.1$, the correlation effects observed in the
resulting conditional multiplier distributions go in the right direction,
but are reduced by a factor of about $2$ in magnitude.
--
Another interesting parameter setting is
$\alpha_1=1-\gamma_1(\lambda^\prime)^{\gamma_2}$,
$\alpha_2=(\lambda^\prime)^{\gamma_2}-1$.
In the limit $\lambda^\prime \rightarrow 1^+$ with $\gamma_1=\gamma_2=2/3$
the weight distribution comes with a large negative skewness
$S_3=-1/\sqrt{2(\lambda^\prime-1)}$ and
leads to the infinite divisible log-Poisson cascade model of Refs.\
\cite{SHE94,SHE95}. All
unconditional multiplier distributions shown so far are again reproduced,
but only very weak correlation effects are observed in the resulting
conditional multiplier distributions. This demonstrates that although
the log-Poisson cascade model is capable to reproduce scaling
exponents with no doubt, it fails to describe the correlation
systematics of multiplier distributions.

These findings suggest that in order to reproduce unconditional as well as
correct conditional multiplier distributions the weight distribution has
to possess a positive skewness, irrespective of the chosen
scale-step-$\lambda^\prime$ implementation of the underlying multiplicative
cascade process. For the binomial weight distribution (\ref{three1}) we note
that for the qualitatively best parameter choices, i.e.\
($\alpha_1$, $\alpha_2$) $=$
($0.1$, $0.22$), ($0.3$, $0.65$), ($0.37$, $0.8$), ($0.42$, $0.92$)
for $\lambda^\prime=2^{1/8}$, $2$, $3$, $4$, respectively,
the resulting skewness almost coincides at a value around
$S_3 \approx 0.8$. Here a more quantitative analysis, driven by very large
Reynolds number data, would certainly deserve future consideration.
--
Multiplier distributions resulting from a meticulously tuned log-normal
weight distribution
\begin{equation}
\label{fourA1}
  p(q)
    =  \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}\sigma q}
       \exp\left(
       - \frac{1}{2\sigma^2}
       \left( \ln q + \frac{\sigma^2}{2} \right)^2
       \right)
\end{equation}
are also practically indistinguishable from the results
shown in Fig.\ 1. Qualitative best parameters for the implementations
with $\lambda^\prime=2^{1/8}$, $2$, $3$, $4$ are
$\sigma=0.15$, $0.42$, $0.55$, $0.60$, respectively, reflecting an
approximate, but obvious log-normal dependence
$\sigma \sim \sqrt{\log_2\lambda^\prime}$. Contrary to the case of the
binomial weight distribution, the skewness of the respective log-normal
distributions is not identical; it increases with increasing
$\lambda^\prime$ and stays positive for all four cases.

\subsection{Continuous-turned-discrete multiplicative cascade models}

The multiplier statistics of continuously
implemented multiplicative cascade processes appears to be indistinguishable
from their discrete counterparts. This poses the question to what degree
a continuous multiplicative cascade process might be described by an
effective discrete multiplicative cascade process.

For the translation of a continuous into a discrete multiplicative
cascade process it is important to deal with the forward field. In analogy
to Eq.\ (\ref{two3}) the energy density field is evolved from integral
down to the intermediate binary target length scales $l$ and $l/2$,
respectively, i.e.\
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{fourB1}
  \varepsilon(x,l)
    & = &  \left( \prod_{i=1}^{n_l} q(x,l_i) \right) \varepsilon(x,L)
           \; ,  \nonumber \\
  \varepsilon(x,\frac{l}{2})
    & = &  \left( \prod_{i=n_l+1}^{n_l+d} q(x,l_i) \right) \varepsilon(x,l)
\end{eqnarray}
with $2\eta^* \leq l \leq L$, $(\lambda^\prime)^{n_l} = L/l$ and the
scale-densification $d=\ln 2/\ln\lambda^\prime$.
We restrict the $x$-regime to
$0 \leq x \leq 10^5L$. The averaging
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{fourB2}
  \underline{\varepsilon}(x,l)
    & = &  \frac{1}{l} \int_{x}^{x+l} \varepsilon(x^\prime,l) dx^\prime
           \; ,  \nonumber \\
  \underline{\varepsilon}_L(x,\frac{l}{2})
    & = &  \frac{2}{l} \int_{x}^{x+l/2} \varepsilon(x^\prime,l/2) dx^\prime
           \; , \\
  \underline{\varepsilon}_R(x,\frac{l}{2})
    & = &  \frac{2}{l} \int_{x+l/2}^{x+l} \varepsilon(x^\prime,l/2) dx^\prime
           \nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
with discrete positions $x = k l$, $0 \leq k < 10^5L/l$ is principally
different from the backward averaging of Eq.\ (\ref{two7}) and leads to the
binary weights
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{fourB3}
  q_L
    & = &  \frac{\underline{\varepsilon}_L(x,\frac{l}{2})}
                {\underline{\varepsilon}(x,l)}
           \; ,  \nonumber \\
  q_R
    & = &  \frac{\underline{\varepsilon}_R(x,\frac{l}{2})}
                {\underline{\varepsilon}(x,l)}
           \; .
\end{eqnarray}
Sampling over all discrete positions leads to a binary splitting function
$p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R)$,
which still might depend on the scale $l$.

For the numerical simulations of a concrete quasi-continuous cascade
process again an eightfold scale-densification ($d=8$) has been chosen
together with the binomial weight distribution (\ref{three1})
with parameters $\alpha_1 = 0.1$, $\alpha_2 = 0.22$. The effective binary
splitting function $p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R)$
with effective weights (\ref{fourB3}) is illustrated in Fig.\ 3a for an
intermediate length scale. For $\eta^* \leq l \leq L/2$ it is practically
scale-independent; only at the very large scales a weak scale-dependence
is observed. The projected weight distributions
$p_{\rm eff}(q_L) = \int p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R) dq_R$
and
$p_{\rm eff}(q_R) = \int p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R) dq_L$
are identical and come close to a log-normal distribution with a positive
skewness.
Observe in Fig.\ 3b that the projected weight distribution is not simply
a $d$-fold convolution of the binomial weight distribution (\ref{three1});
the modification is a result of the multivariate implementation (\ref{two1})
of the weight fields.
Note also, that the effective splitting function does not strictly
factorise; a small correlation between the two effective weights
$q_L$ and $q_R$ exists as the relative entropy
$S_{\rm rel}
 = -\int dq_L dq_R p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R)
   \ln( p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R) / p_{\rm eff}(q_L) p_{\rm eff}(q_R) )
 \approx -0.1
 < 0$
turns out to be negative.

So far the continously implemented multiplicative cascade process
has been directly translated into a ($\lambda^\prime=2$)-discrete
multiplicative cascade process with an effective splitting function
$p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R)$. For consistency we still
have to check, whether this effective
($\lambda^\prime=2$)-discrete multiplicative cascade
process leads to identical results for the multiplier statistics. The
discrete implementation (\ref{two1})-(\ref{two3}) with $\lambda^\prime=2$
and $p_{\rm eff}(q_L,q_R)$
instead of Eq.\ (\ref{two4}) leads to the multiplier distributions shown
in Figs.\ 1(c1)-(c3). Qualitatively there is no difference to the
distributions illustrated in Figs.\ 1(a1)-(a3), (b1)-(b3) and
quantitative differences remain very small.

\section{No room for log-stability}

In this Section we want to demonstrate again, that ``scaling exponents is
not everything''. In view of renormalisation theory so-called log-stable
distributions represent mathematically very attractive parametrisations for
the weight distribution $p(q)$, leading its way to the denotation
``universal multifractals'' \cite{SCH92a}.
In connection with the energy cascade
in fully developed turbulence they have already been discussed in Refs.\
\cite{KID91,SCH92b}, where the expression
\begin{equation}
\label{five1}
  \tau(\nu)
    =  \tau(2) \frac{n^\alpha-n}{2^\alpha-2}
\end{equation}
has been derived for the scaling exponents (\ref{two6}). With an
intermittency exponent of $\tau(2)=0.22$ and a stable index of
$\alpha\approx 1.6$ the experimentally deduced scaling exponents
\cite{ANS84} are reproduced remarkably well. Focusing on multiplier
distributions, we will now reveal limitations of log-stable
weight distributions.

Concentrating first on a discrete implementation of multiplicative cascade
processes, where according to (\ref{two1})-(\ref{two3}) the parameters
are set as $\lambda^\prime=2$, $n=10$ and
$0\leq x \leq 10^5L$, the associated log-stable weight distribution $p(q)$
is constructed by noting that $-\ln q \sim S_\alpha(\sigma,\beta,\mu)$ is
distributed according to a stable distribution \cite{SAM94}. The skewness
parameter has to be set equal to $\beta=1$ and the scale and shift
parameters $\sigma$ and $\mu$ are fixed by the scaling exponents
$\tau(1)=0$ and $\tau(2)=0.22$. For various stable parameters
$0 < \alpha \leq 2$
the respective log-stable weight distributions are illustrated in Fig.\
4a. Depending on $\alpha$ these distributions possess different asymmetries
with respect to the average $\langle q \rangle =1$;
in fact the skewness
$S_3 = \langle(q - \langle q \rangle)^3\rangle
       / \langle(q - \langle q \rangle)^2\rangle^{1.5}$,
which should neither be confused with the skewness parameter
$\beta$ nor with the notation $S_\alpha$ of the stable distributions,
amounts to $S_3 = -0.43$, $0.06$, $0.63$, $1.28$ for
$\alpha = 1.25$, $1.5$, $1.75$, $2.00$. If a correct skewness is really
a good criterion to reproduce unconditional as well as conditional
multiplier distributions, then according to what we now know from the
previous Sections it should be around $S_3 \approx 1$ for
$\lambda^\prime=2$. This would limit the stable index $\alpha$ to a
regime close to $2$.

The unconditional left-sided base-two multiplier distributions resulting
from the log-stable weight distributions with a given index $\alpha$ are
again scale-independent in the scale range $8\eta^* \leq l \leq L/2$
and are illustrated in Fig.\ 4b.
Since the log-stable weight distributions have already been fitted
to the scaling exponent $\tau(2)$,
there is no further free parameter left to adjust to the observed
unconditional left-sided multiplier distribution (\ref{three2}) with
$\beta_1=\beta_2=3.2$. For $\alpha \geq 1.5$ the agreement is acceptable.
Notice especially the extra contributions at $M=0$ and $M=1$
for small values of $\alpha$. This is a consequence of
the algebraic tails of the stable-distributions, which lead to excess
contributions at $q \approx 0$ in the corresponding weight distributions;
consult again Fig.\ 4a.

The conditional multiplier distributions
$p(M(l;2,\pm 0.5)|\underline{M}\leq M(2l;2,\pm 0.5)\leq \overline{M})$ are
also shown in Fig.\ 4b, where over all four possible left/right-sided
daughter/parent multiplier combinations has been averaged. For $\alpha=2$
a conditioning on a small parent multiplier, i.e.\
$(\underline{M},\overline{M})=(0,0.5)$, leads to a distribution more narrow
than the unconditional distribution and a conditioning on a large parent
multiplier, i.e.\
$(\underline{M},\overline{M})=(0.5,1)$, leads to a broader distribution.
This is in qualitative agreement with the experimental findings of Ref.\
\cite{SRE95}. For $\alpha=1.75$ this tendency has almost vanished, for
$\alpha=1.5$ it has vanished and for $\alpha=1.25$ it has even been reversed.
A very similar behaviour is observed in the conditional centred base-two
multiplier distributions, which are depicted in Fig.\ 4c; only for
$\alpha$ very close to 2 they are in qualitative agreement with the
experimental findings of Ref.\ \cite{PED96}. This outcome also confirms
our conjecture from above that a correct positive skewness is needed for
the weight distribution in order to reproduce the multiplier distributions.

A quasi-continuous implementation of multiplicative cascade processes with
log-stable weight distributions leads to multiplier distributions, which are
identical to those shown in Figs.\ 4b+c for the discrete implementation.
Hence, we arrive at the conclusion that although scaling exponents are
well fitted by log-stable weight distributions with index
$\alpha\approx 1.5$ \cite{KID91,SCH92b} the observed systematics of the
multiplier distributions rules out such a stable index value.
The log-normal limit $\alpha\approx 2$ reproduces the multiplier
distributions much better.

\section{Conclusions}

Discrete and continuous implementations of geometric multiplicative
cascade processes are both able to model multifractal characteristics
observed in the surrogate energy dissipation field of fully developed
turbulence. Since their relation to the Navier-Stokes equation remains
unclear neither form of implementation is principally favoured over
the other. Although perhaps somewhat unexpected, this
indistinguishability remains once a specific class of observables,
going beyond scaling exponents, is employed: multiplier distributions
referring to various scale-steps, discrete or quasi-continuous, do not
care whether they result from discrete or continuous versions of
nonconservative multiplicative cascade processes. The reason for this
is that the multivariate model implementation implies a small-scale
resummation leading to scale-independent fix-point distributions.
From an analysis point of view a discrete or continuous
multiplicative cascade process
with no correlations between the various branchings appears as a
continuous multiplicative cascade process with correlations.

There is more to learn from these fix-point multiplier distributions:
not every weight distribution associated to the cascade generator,
which matches scaling exponents within experimental error bars,
qualifies to reproduce the observed multiplier correlations. The weight
distribution has to possess a positive skewness. For example,
so-called log-stable distributions with a stable index not close to
$\alpha=2$ do not share this property and are unable to reproduce the
observed conditional multiplier distributions.
--
This leaves us with a speculation:
The original idea to directly access scaling exponents via unconditional
multiplier distributions does not work due to the observed correlations
between multipliers. However, these correlations help to restrict the
broad class of cascade weight distributions, which all reproduce the
observed lowest-order scaling exponents, to those having a positive
skewness. A further restriction of this subclass appears to be possible
with yet additional observables to be derived from the full analytic
solution of the multivariate cascade characteristic function
\cite{GRE98}. Then, by directly accessing the cascade weight distribution,
it is tempting to study its dependence on the Reynolds number and
on the flow configuration, and, thus, to check for universality.

\acknowledgements
B.J.\ acknowledges support from the Alexander-von-Humboldt Stiftung.

\newpage

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Tag Archives: Jimbo Yojimbo
My Favorite Non-Crime Fiction of 2018
By HCNewton ¶ Posted in Alex Bledsoe, Ben Aaronovitch, Fantasy, Fiction, Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood, Kevin Hearne, News/Misc., Nicholas Eames, Rivers of London (Peter Grant), Science Fiction, Seanan McGuire, The Band, The Tales of Pell, Tufa, Urban Fantasy, Wayward Children	¶ Tagged Alex Bledsoe, All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault, Ben Aaronovitch, Beneath the Sugar Sky, David W. Barbee, Delilah S. Dawson, Drifting Lands, Fantasy, Humor, James Alan Gardner, Jimbo Yojimbo, Joseph Brassey, Kevin Hearne, Kill the Farm Boy, Kings of the Wyld, Lies Sleeping, Nicholas Eames, Peter Grant, Science Fiction, Seanan McGuire, SF, Super-Heroes, The Band, The Dark vs. Spark, The Dragon Road, The Fairies of Sadieville, The Rivers of London, The Tales of Pell, Tufa, Urban Fantasy, Wayward Children	¶ 6 Comments
When I was trying to come up with a Top 10 this year, I ran into a small problem (at least for me). With 44 percent of my fiction, Crime/Thriller/Mystery novels so dominated the candidates, it's like I read nothing else. So, I decided to split them into 2 lists — one for Crime Fiction and one for Everything Else. Not the catchiest title, I grant you, but you get what you pay for.
I do think I read some books that were technically superior than some of these — but they didn't entertain me, or grab me emotionally the way these did. And I kinda feel bad about leaving them off. But only kind of. These are my favorites, the things that have stuck with me in a way others haven't — not the best things I read (but there's a good deal of overlap, too). I know I read books that are worse, too — I don't feel bad about leaving them off.
Anyway…I say this every year, but . . . Most people do this in mid-December or so, but a few years ago (before this blog), the best novel I read that year was also the last. Ever since then, I just can't pull the trigger until January 1. Also, none of these are re-reads, I can't have everyone losing to my re-reading books that I've loved for 2 decades.
Enough blather…on to the list.
Lies Sleeping
by Ben Aaronovitch
I've read all the comics (at least collected in paperback), listened to all the audiobooks, read the books at least once . . . I'm a Rivers of London/Peter Grant fan. Period. Which means two things — 1. I'm in the bag already for this series and 2. When I say that this is the best of the bunch, I know what I'm talking about. Aaronovitch writes fantastic Urban Fantasy and this is his best yet. The series has been building to this for a while, and I honestly don't know what to expect next. Great fight/action scenes, some genuine laughs, some solid emotional moments . . . this has it all. Everything you've come to expect and more.
The Fairies of Sadieville
by Alex Bledsoe
I was very excited about this book when Bledsoe announced it was the last Tufa novel. Then I never wanted it to come out — I didn't want to say goodbye to this wonderful world he'd created. But if I have to — this is how the series should've gone out. It's the best installment since the first novel — we get almost every question we had about the Tufa answered (including ones you didn't realize you had), along with a great story. It's just special and I'm glad I got to read this magical series.
Dragon Road
by Joseph Brassey
I haven't been able to get a post written about this –I'm not sure why. It's superior in almost every way to the wonderful Skyfarer — the idea behind the caravan, the scope of the ship and it's culture are more than you might think anyone has done before. A fantasy novel about wizards and warriors (and warrior wizards) in a SF setting. I had a blast reading this and I think you will, too.
Kill the Farm Boy
by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne
Probably the best comedic/parody/satire fantasy since Peter David's Sir Apropos of Nothing. The characters are fun, well-developed and pretty strange. This is a great fantasy story, it's a great bunch of laughs, but there's real humans and real human reactions — it's not all laughs but enough of it is that you won't have to work hard to thoroughly enjoy the book.
Kings of the Wyld
by Nicholas Eames
Like Dragon Road, I've been trying to write a post about this book for months. An epic story about brotherhood, about family, about heroism, about integrity — but at its core, it's a story about Clay Cooper. Clay's a good man trying to stay one. He worked really hard to get to where he is, but he has to e back on the road to help his friends' daughter. It's a fantastic concept and set up, with an even better follow-through by Eames. Possibly the best book I read last year — and I don't say that lightly.
All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault
by James Alan Gardner
A Superhero story, a SF story, an Urban Fantasy, a story about friendship and destiny told with just enough of a light touch to fool yourself into this being a comedy. From the great title, all the way through to the end this book delivers.
Smoke Eaters
by Sean Grigsby
I started my original post about the book like this: Really, the case for you (or anyone) reading this book is simply and convincingly made in 13 words:
Firefighters vs. Dragons in an Urban Fantasy novel set in a futuristic dystopia.
That could've been my entire post, and it's all I'm going to say now.
Dark Queen
This could have been the series finale and I'd have been satisfied. I'm thrilled that it's not. Hunter's been building to this for a few books now — and it absolutely pays off the work she's been doing. Better yet, there's something else she's been building toward that doesn't get the attention it needed — and it's devastating. The series will be different from here on out. Hunter's as good as the genre has, and this book demonstrates it.
Jimbo Yojimbo
by David W. Barbee
I don't have words for this. I really don't know how to say anything about this book — especially not in a paragraph. Click on the original post and know that even then I fail to do the book justice. It's strange, gross, funny, exciting and thrilling.
Beneath the Sugar Sky
As much as I appreciate McGuire's Toby Daye, Indexing and InCryptid series, her Wayward Children books are possibly the best things she'd done. This allows us to spend time with characters I didn't think we'd see again and the family — and world — of my favorite character in the series. It's like McGuire wrote this one specifically for me. But it's okay for you to read it, too. I'm generous like that.
Jimbo Yojimbo by David W. Barbee is strange, bizarre, funny, tragic and will make you say "ew" a lot.
By HCNewton ¶ Posted in 2018 First Reads Challenge, Science Fiction	¶ Tagged 4 Stars, David W. Barbee, Jimbo Yojimbo, Science Fiction, SF	¶ 6 Comments
Kindle Edition, 154 pg.
Eraserhead Books, 2018
Read: April 14 – 16, 2018
"Ready to make it official?" said his father.
Jimbo closed his cuttlefish eyes and prayed the revenge vow.
Let me kill 'em, he thought. Let me exist only to punish them that wronged me, for such is the pain of my life that only the pleasure of their death will weigh it equal. Amen.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," his dead father said.
Who doesn't like a good revenge story? Especially one featuring swords and blood and gladiator-like battles, and surgically-enhanced hybrid warriors, and warlord chefs, and . . . oh, man. I don't know how to summarize this one, I really don't. So let me just steal from the publisher:
From the author of Bacon Fried Bastard and A Town Called Suckhole, comes a countrified samurai epic in the vein of Squidbillies if directed by Akira Kurosawa.
A flood of frogs drowned the cities and gunked up all the guns. Now an evil restaurant chain called the Buddha Gump Shrimp Company rules a finger-licking shogunate of seafood mutants and murderous redneck swordsmen like Jimbo Yojimbo. Jimbo wants revenge on the Company for killing his family and stitching a cuttlefish to his face. After a daring escape, he will hack his way through hordes of crawdad soldiers, a church of quacking gun nuts on a jihad, and Bushido Budnick, the master chef who rules them all. But with every step he takes, Jimbo Yojimbo's sweet revenge will surely begin to taste like shit gumbo.
JIMBO YOJIMBO is [a] fast-paced post-apocalyptic redneck samurai tale of love, revenge, and a whole lotta mutant sumbitches.
I've read plenty of imaginative works over the last couple of years where I asked myself "what did I just read?" Typically, that was because as imaginative as the novel might have been, the author didn't relay the information too well and I just couldn't follow it (I usually didn't feel like I missed much). With this book, every time I asked something like, "Did he just say this cult was called the Holy Quackers?" I'd have to answer with, "Giant figures, wearing tattered camouflage kimonos and rubber boots, with giant duck bills on their face? Yup, he did say that." As strange, as out there, as bizarre as the trappings got — the story made complete sense. It wasn't overly complicated, it wasn't overly messy, it was really a straight-forward revenge tale. Just one that felt like it was the offspring of any two randomly selected sentences from My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist.
Strip away everything and you're looking at a tale of a guy who was betrayed by his wife and watched his father be butchered by a megalomaniacal dictator, who just wants to rescue his daughter from that dictator's clutches (and, sure, maybe overthrow the government while he's at it) while being pursued by his wife and his arch-enemy (who happens to be fixated on his wife, too). It's a basic story, decently developed and told — effective enough to entertain. But, once you add in the humor, the voice, the panache, the multiple cults, the hybrid warriors, the very strange world all this takes place in — and the tale becomes dazzling.
And you buy it — you buy all of it. Including the fact that Bushido Budnick can create entirely new species in his lab, but can't figure out how to take guns work anymore because science is hard or something. I'm not even sure it's that your disbelief is suspended, the book's just so cool that your disbelief says: "Who cares? I'm not Neil deGrasse Tyson. Just turn the page 'cuz I want to see what's next."
The fight scenes are disturbing, and bloody and . . . you'll say "ew" frequently. There's one fight near the end that just might be the grossest thing I read in 2018. There's another that's as close as you'll get to the Bride v the Crazy 88s in The House of Blue Leaves in print (just with robots, warriors with crawdad claws for hands, a samurai with sea anemones attached to his head in place of hair, and so on).
I'm tempted to just list off some of the stranger and/or cooler ideas that are given life in these pages, like the cult that "worshipped ideas and facts, and their relics were strange, ancient items that had mostly turned soggy in the flood: books. . . building a small army of highly literate and lethal fanatics dedicated to discovering and protecting that which would outlive them all: the untouchable truth of knowledge." But I won't — just trust me, there are plenty. This book is like the Mos Eisley cantina scene — something strange and interesting to look at everywhere, with a bit of violence and a bit of business going on in the midst of it all.
I'm in danger of going on too long here and I'm pretty sure I'm repeating myself — if you like bizarre settings, stories told with panache and boldness, and don't mind a good bit of violence along the way — get this. David W. Barbee is the real thing, I've got to get more of his work soon.
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion — I greatly appreciate it (the book wouldn't have appeared on my radar if not for that), but it didn't make an impact on my opinion (beyond giving me something to have an opinion about).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Welcome to The Gracious Goodness!
My hope for this space is it will serve as a collaboration of all things good. I read several years ago that a great blog often looks like a conversation among true friends. Over the years, I've learned that solid friendships revolve around sharing in moments, cheering on one another, and walking with each other through the joys and trials of life. I hope this site is a place of conversation and collaboration between friends.
Most of my favorite conversations with others involve laughing, raving about something we're loving, sharing helpful tidbits, and challenging while encouraging one another the best we know how. Sometimes conversation goes a little deeper; when life gets messy and we cling to one another for comfort, wisdom, and hope. I've found that diving into both, the loves of life and the hard of life, results in a life well shared and well spent.
I hope some days you will read here and feel encouraged. I hope you will read and find inspiration. I hope you will read here and perhaps support a new friend, a common dream, or a worthy cause.
There is so much in this world that is uncertain, ugly, and sometimes, downright scary. Let's focus on what's good, shall we?
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you"!


text:
The Drama Teacher
Mother, Mother
By Koren Zailckas
The author of the iconic New York Times bestseller Smashed undertakes a quest to confront her own anger.
In the years following the publication of her landmark memoir, Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood, Koren Zailc
By the New York Times bestselling author of Mother, Mother and Smashed comes a propulsive new thriller: the story of a desperate and devious woman who will do anything to give her family a better life… More
From Koren Zailckas, author of the iconic memoir SMASHED: an electrifying debut novel about a family being torn apart by the woman who claims to love them most Josephine Hurst has… More
Crown Publishing


Having two young couples in the game viewing vehicle I was offered the front seat. Muzi our ranger at Thanda obviously knows people as well as he knows animals. I think he could sense I was hesitating about where to sit. So here we were, Muzi driving and our tracker Zakes perched on the front of the bonnet in his spotters seat.
We stopped within a few meters of the feeding family. Muzi quietly talked us through the scene. The mother is not feeding and is keeping a few meters away allowing her three, nine month old, cubs to open up their prey. Her four year old daughter is lying with them but not helping them. Their kill is a sub adult zebra and I cannot help but notice that the sun is glinting in its visible eye. Somewhere to from the surrounding bush I can hear another zebra calling. I have never been this close to a kill in terms of time and distance. We sat, watched and listened for some time. It was not long before the cubs were into their prey. Heads bloody, they feasted on the internal organs. At one point one of them was almost inside the zebra carcass. And from time to time the lions stood up strolled around, stretched and sharpened their claws on a nearby tree. On returning to the scene the following morning all that remained were four black and white, hoofed, lower limbs. The lions were gone and a lone black back jackal was sniffing the area.
There was no shortage of cats during our drives. We followed two cheetah's, brothers, walking a dirt road adjacent to one of the reserves boundary fences. The early morning sun illuminated their coats and reflected like a flame in their bright orange eyes. I read that an individual cheetah has more spots on its coat than there are cheetahs left in the wild. A fact that makes a cheetah sighting all the more special.
Game was plentiful as Muzi and Zakes combined their observational and tracking skills. A journey of twenty plus giraffes, a huge herd of wildebeest and a herd of well over one hundred buffalo. We followed the buffalo to a dam where one by one, young and old, they entered the water and drank. They were followed by dozens of red billed ox-peckers who seemed to land on mass on individual animals.
The lodge itself is an African work of art with a team of staff who compliment their surroundings. Intricate beadwork is prominent including beaded chairs on smooth clay floors and chandeliers hanging from the wooden beamed thatch ceilings. All meals are served in the main lodge, unless you opt for something more intimate such as dinner in the bush. Breakfast is shared with fellow game viewing vehicle guests plus ranger and tracker. Afternoon tea is a feast and social gathering prior to the afternoon's game drive. Dinner for us was in the main dining room around the fireplace and proved to be a safari through tastes and textures.
I must also mention the bush bar. Normally prior to afternoon game drives you are asked by your ranger what drinks you would like him to take along for you to enjoy at a designated stop for sundowners. Muzi did not ask me, and I assumed I just looked like a beer drinker so he had taken an educated guess. When he told us we were getting close to our stopping point I could see lights in the distance. As we got closer I could see lanterns on the ground marking a pathway. Disembarking we followed the lanterns on foot and there in front of us, in a clearing, were a ring of lanterns surrounding two large camp fires. At one end of the clearing was a fully stocked bar, with snacks including dry fruits, biltong and meatballs. The Thanda team in attendance made this a very special occasion.
Each room or bush villa is set on a wooden walkway with views into the private reserve. Spacious is an understatement, once through the double front door there is a lounge, stone fireplace and open plan bedroom. My four poster bed was positioned to look across my deck and private plunge pool and into the African bush. Beyond the bedroom is a bathroom, separate WC and through the last door is an outdoor shower. Each room has a large deck with a separate solarium complete with round bed thatched shade roof.
Thanda in the Zulu language means love and this is a place to fall in love with.


text:
Home MMA News Dan Hooker Dan Hooker jokingly dismisses Daniel Cormier's matchmaking, DC responds
Dan Hooker jokingly dismisses Daniel Cormier's matchmaking, DC responds
Harry Kettle
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker and former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier have a difference of opinion when it comes to who Hooker should face next inside the Octagon.
The Kiwi star was able to defeat Al Iaquinta at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia to establish himself as one to watch at 155 pounds. The next natural step would be for him to face someone higher up in the rankings, but with Raging Al fighting down the rankings to face Hooker, a lot of fans believe Dan should be doing the very same thing.
One person who believes in that theory is Cormier who threw out the suggestion of Islam Makhachev, whom DC knows quite well.
@danawhite @seanshelby this really does make all the sense in the world fellas pic.twitter.com/aTmbkSJ01F
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 8, 2019
Dan I'm saying it makes sense bud, you guys are both closely ranked. Both on streaks. Al fought you when you were ranked lower. Between the two let's see who gets that top 5 guy. Make sense? https://t.co/wzlCHdJEso
The Hangman was quick to shoot down the idea on Twitter, as he did when Makhachev himself proposed a fight between the two. With Makhachev being ranked 15th and Hooker at 7th, the comparison that is being made has some validity to it with Cormier being ranked 1st at heavyweight and Shamil Abdurakhimov being positioned in 9th. Of course, the circumstances are very different.
The talk of a potential UFC event in Auckland next year is rife after both Hooker and Adesanya were able to get the job done at Marvel Stadium, but with Israel being linked with a fight against Paulo Costa in Las Vegas in early 2020, Hooker would most likely be given the headline spot.
With six wins in his last seven, four of which were knockouts, few could argue that he doesn't deserve a shot in such a position.
Cormier's future, on the other hand, seems to be set in stone as the UFC moves towards booking the third and final fight in the trilogy series between DC and Stipe Miocic. The expectation is that it will be the last fight of Daniel's career, as he attempts to once again become the UFC heavyweight champion.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/9/2019.


text:
Geografia
 Opare – lago in Uganda

Persone
 Daniel Opare – calciatore ghanese, difensore
 Jessica Opare Saforo – personalità mediatica ghanese
 Kofi Opare – ex calciatore ghanese, difensore
 Frema Opare – politica ghanese

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Ferrari ›
Ferrari F8 Tributo ›
Ferrari F8 Spider 2020 UK review
We open up Ferrari's convertible mid-engined V8 supercar on UK roads
by Matt Prior
Follow @@matty_prior
Just the road. No race track, no test track, no airfield; just the road and an open-top 710bhp supercar with the instruction to keep the roof open. Or, if it's raining, keep the roof open but go faster.
Seriously, with this shiny head? The downside of not looking like Dave Lee Travis if the barber is closed for three months is that I can't have the roof open for long on a day like this.
But trying open-top driving for a while reveals something about the new Ferrari F8 Spider, the convertible version of the F8 Tributo: I don't think it's quite as rigid as an equivalent McLaren (which at the time of writing is a McLaren 720S Spider, but might be a new version or special edition by the time you read this).
Related Ferrari F8 Tributo reviews
Ferrari F8 Tributo road test review
The F8 Spider has, like the coupé variant, a largely aluminium platform. (The McLaren has a carbonfibre tub.) And when you lower the hood, which takes 14 seconds and can be operated at up to 28mph, some of the rigidity drops, and you can occasionally feel a slight shimmy over big bumps. Nothing serious, but just noticeable. With the roof up, it goes away
What's it like?
What you'll notice less than that, at least without a back-to-back drive of both variants together, is the 70kg weight increase the Spider carries over the Tributo coupé – a result of the hood mechanism's complexities.
Certainly, the turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 engine, which has won so many awards that Ferrari even named the car after it, makes sufficient power and torque – up to 568lb ft – that at any speed, in any gear, it has response to spare. On the road, anyway.
That's where most F8s, Tributo or Spider, will spend their time. So for all of the complexities and capabilities of a car like this, it's important that this is where they feel good. Yes, the diddy manettino on the steering wheel can be switched through to 'Race' or even 'everything off' and the traction control talks to the e-differential, which talks to the ABS and the side-slip control to make the F8 an absolute tyre-smoking, hero-making precision machine on a race track.
But most of the time, we're not at one. And that, for me, is where Ferrari gets things right. Roof up, roof down, 30mph, 70mph, doesn't matter: the F8 oozes class. It rides deftly but can ride better still with the push of a button; the steering's quick but not nervous. A McLaren does both of these better, but the Ferrari has, for me, a more joyful attitude to life.
With an electronically controlled differential, sweeter gearshift and more responsive, better-sounding engine, it's a more indulgent sports car. It's more playful, more willing to tighten its respective rear-wheel speeds and let you drive it on the throttle. I doubt it's as fast as a 720S along a given road or around a track but, honestly, who's counting?
I also prefer it inside. A carbon tub with strength in the sills is great for rigidity (and creating tremendous road roar) but the F8 has a still focused but more relaxed cabin; easier to enter and exit and airier of feel. I'm still no great fan of the over-square, over-complex steering wheel or that you can't pull it far enough towards you, but you can see the wing tops to help place the F8 – 1979mm wide – and gauge the extremities. Unlike a McLaren or Lamborghini Huracán, there's no nose lift option, but although I don't have the numbers, the F8 seems to need one less.
Should I buy one?
Even if you have all the world's money, I don't think you need many modern supercars in your life – too fast, too wide, and they all do basically the same thing. A Huracán has astonishing engine response, a McLaren some phenomenal traits.
But on balance, for how good it wants you to feel and how much fun it encourages you to have, I'd keep mine an F8. Albeit, being a purist of shiny bonce, one with a roof over my head all the time.
Ferrari F8 Spider specification
Where Oxfordshire UK Price £225,897 On sale now Engine V8, 3902cc, turbocharged, petrol Power 710bhp at 8000rpm Torque 568lb ft at 3250rpm (7th only) Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic Kerb weight 1400kg Top speed 211mph 0-62mph 2.9sec Fuel economy 21.7mpg CO2 296g/km, 37% Rivals Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder, McLaren 720S Spider
parklanecarrental 11 December 2020
I'm very excited to drive the new spider. i'm a huge lover of Ferrari.
Robiul Hasan 1 July 2020
i think its not suitable for
i think its not suitable for race.
Mark_N 1 July 2020
It can have a front axle lift
You can definitely have a front axle lift if you choose to specify it. I have on mine which will be blu corsa with crema interior. The car is magnificent in the metal, much more spacious than a McLaren with its huge sills and I rate the Ferrari ownership experience very highly.


Most tests this month relate to pregnant or lactating ewe mobs. The average faecal egg count for these was 582epg. The worm species have been Trichostrongylus (Black Scour worm) and Haemonchus (Barber's Pole worm) vying for the most popular! Young sheep (lambs and weaners) have generally had a higher average count coming in at 925epg.
The main point to take home is that most producers should be aware that worm activity has not stopped over these cool frosty months. Many mobs will probably require drenching again at this point to avoid production losses at best and deaths in the more severe infestations.
For those producers that had heavy Haemonchus activity last summer, they will need to be very vigilant as the weather warms up as larvae become even more active on pasture and eggs start hatching as well. A key to controlling these worms will be knowing what drenches are effective and also having the ability to clean up pastures to put sheep onto.
In the central area of the Lachlan LHPA average faecal egg counts for the month of July have ranged from 0-2000epg with individual counts ranging from 0-6360epg. We continue to see internal parasite as the major cause of loss of production and deaths across the area. Scour worms are beginning to dominate the larval culture results however we are still seeing issues with Barber's Pole worm.
Moving into spring producers need to monitor their flocks closely as the weather warms and if moisture remains barber pole worm will start building up numbers on pastures.
Worms have been a hot topic around here for more than a year. Amidst all the talk there has also been plenty of action. More producers have done more worm egg counts to monitor the health of sheep, as well as to check on the effectiveness of drenches; and there has been plenty of thought given to selection of lambing paddocks. The widespread losses of ewes during and after lambing in 2011 have so far largely been avoided, despite recently high counts of Black Scour worms and residual problems from Barber's Pole worms in a few flocks.
Some mobs of Merino weaners are showing the combined effects of poor quality pasture and high scour worm burdens, and have tended to be overlooked in all the activity of lambing and marking.
Of major concern has been resurgence in liver fluke. Fluke snails disappeared as springs and creeks dried up during the drought, and there was no need to drench for fluke, even on some properties where fluke had been a persistent problem. Serious and sudden losses have occurred in several flocks this month where sheep have grazed country prone to flooding.
In all cases, river and creek flats had been under water several times in the past two years, and often had slowly drying pools of water as flooding receded.
It is worth considering a fluke drench this month, before the weather warms up enough for snails to resume breeding, for sheep in paddocks where fluke have previously caused trouble. Alternatively, submit samples for testing from sheep that have grazed risky paddocks, remembering that fluke eggs only appear in sheep dung three months after infecting the sheep.
The Yass District is experiencing a very cold, harsh winter. Feed quantity and quality is falling which impacts on sheep production and the animals natural ability to cope with parasite burdens. Now is a crucial time to monitor young sheep or ewes and lambs which have not had the benefit of long acting drench treatments.
Weaners which have only been drenched with short-acting preparations have worm egg counts which are typically high for this time of year. These counts range from 40-1240epg, averaging 550epg. In the Yass District, weaners typically 'crash' in August/September so don't take your eye off then for at least 6 weeks. In the knowledge of the amount of contamination present, preparations for weaning this year's lambs should be in the planning phase regarding paddock selection, preparation and sourcing appropriate drench products - whether short acting oral, longer acting injection or capsules.
Due to the pasture contamination that is present on most farms and if only short acting products have been used pre-lambing, consideration should be given to drenching both ewes and lambs at lamb marking. In the previous 2 years, some producers have run in to trouble with both ewes and lambs 6-8 weeks after pre-lamb treatment.
Regarding worm types present - in the southern areas Trichs are the main worm species accounting for 70-80% of larval diff tests, but in the northern areas around Crookwell, Barber's Pole is still making up a large chunk of the worm species, with one holding having a larval diff of 100% BPW.
We now look forward to a little more rain and a lot more warmth.
Very few WormTest results received over the past month. One WormTest received showed high levels of Nematodirus in undrenched weaner lambs. Other WormTests seen have had low numbers of worm eggs present. One clinical case in weaned lambs that seemed to be rapid reinfestation relating to being grazed over heavily contaminated pastures. The lambs displayed ill thrift and scouring as well as some deaths.
Producers are reminded to drench weaners with an effective drench. This year would be a good year to conduct drench resistance tests in lambs just prior to weaning to work out the best drenches to use.
Only 1 WormTest in the last month, which had a zero egg count. No reported clinical cases either.
Very quiet in the Western Riverina.
Spring will be here soon, producers need to be on guard.
A few interesting worm issues in the south.
One producer did a WormTest on his ewes just after lambing to see if they needed any help. Half his samples were 0 or 40epg while the other half ranged from 160-1260epg. No type as yet.
An autopsy on a 5yo ewe for an unrelated cause had apparently masses of Teladorsagia in the Abomasum. Total worm count was only 4000 but even that is unusual in a mature ewe in good body condition on good feed.
Otherwise, very little by way of testing or reports of clinical disease.
Worms in sheep continue to be the major animal health issue in this part of the world. There has been a large jump in FEC's in mobs monitored this month. Average counts of 600-1000epg are common in weaners. It's an ideal season to do some drench testing.
A few on the go at the moment with a surprisingly high Haemonchus count in a lot of autumn born lambs (up to 70% in some flocks). Lambs in these flocks can look good with minimal scouring, so BPW contributing to high counts but not causing obvious symptoms at this stage. Also seeing this in some ewe flocks monitored this month, so monitoring post weaning is advised.
Trichs seem to dominate counts in the colder high rainfall parts of the district. I did see one case where lambs dropped out during muster for weaning. Good to fat condition but a fair % scouring and affected lambs were anaemic with a high FEC. Probably a mixed burden with good % of BPW.
In extreme cases there have been some flocks with heavy lamb and ewe losses caused by worms. Wormy ewes are not milking and undernourished lambs are forced to forage early. Reinfestation has been a problem. Sheep drenched but going back onto contaminated paddocks with very poor pasture growth due to cold conditions. There are obviously major worm management issues on these places that need to be addressed. In conclusion, young sheep are fully loaded, so effective drenching at weaning and good paddocks to wean onto will be essential to avoid problems this spring.
Black Scour worm is now increasing across the boards on the southern tablelands.
There are still some pockets of Barber's Pole worm hanging on but these may have been a carryover from autumn or the occurrence of resistance to the drenches used. Spring has arrived despite the snow last week. The Daffodils are out!
Black Scour worms are still around, but the Barber's Pole worm is getting an early spring start.


text:
August 20, 2013 / 4:16 PM / 6 years ago
Quitting smoking in pregnancy tied to benefit for baby
Veronica Hackethal, MD
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who quit smoking immediately before or after becoming pregnant gain more weight during and after pregnancy - but their babies are less likely to be born small than those born to smokers, a new study suggests.
Researchers in Denmark found that women who quit smoking gained about six more pounds during their pregnancies than those who continued to smoke, and a similar amount in the year after giving birth.
On the other hand, women who quit smoking early in pregnancy and nonsmokers gave birth to babies of similar birth weights, on average. Babies of women who kept smoking were more likely to be born at a low weight.
"The big thing to get out of this study is that quitting early in pregnancy is as helpful in respect to the birth weight of your baby as never having smoked while you were pregnant," Dr. Amber Samuel, a maternal-fetal medicine expert at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, said.
"I think that can be an inspiration to moms who are looking to make a change in their lives."
According to the American Cancer Society, between 10 and 15 percent of women smoke during pregnancy. Studies have linked smoking to premature birth and other complications, such as birth defects, low birth weight and stillbirth.
Infants have a three to four times higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome, or "crib death," if their mothers smoke during and after pregnancy. Children exposed to secondhand smoke also have more ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and other health problems.
The new study included 1,774 women who were part of the "Smoke-free Newborn" study conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 1996 and 1999.
Twice during pregnancy, researchers surveyed women about their smoking status. To double-check whether women who said they quit smoking really did, their saliva was checked for cotinine - created when nicotine is broken down in the body.
About 38 percent of women were smokers before becoming pregnant, and half of them quit right before or soon after, Dr. Line Rode of Copenhagen University Hospital and colleagues found.
During pregnancy, nonsmokers gained almost 30 pounds, on average, smokers gained 29 pounds and quitters gained 35 pounds.
Among women who quit smoking, 8 percent had babies born below the 10th percentile for birth weight, based on general Scandinavian records. In comparison, 22 percent of smokers had babies whose weight fell below that cutoff.
Babies with low birth weight are at higher risk for infections, breathing and respiratory disorders, delayed growth and social development and learning disabilities.
One year after giving birth, half of quitters were able to stay off cigarettes. Nonsmokers and relapsed quitters both gained between 1.5 and 2 pounds post-pregnancy, successful quitters gained 7 pounds and smokers lost about half a pound, according to findings published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
"One strength of the study is that it tried to ferret out whether women who say they quit smoking actually did quit," Samuel, who was not involved in the research, told Reuters Health.
On the other hand, she said the results may not apply to the current U.S. population.
"There were very few obese women in this study," Samuel said.
According to the Institute of Medicine, women with a normal pre-pregnancy weight should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy and obese women should gain 11 to 20 pounds.
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is linked to birth complications and medical problems for the mother, such as gestational diabetes. Extra weight that stays on after pregnancy can increase a woman's risk for obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Samuel said most women in this study did not gain enough weight to offset the long-term benefits of not smoking.
She said it's not possible to put a time frame on how late into pregnancy a woman can quit smoking and still see benefits for her baby, since the researchers did not analyze their results based on when, exactly, women kicked the habit.
SOURCE: bit.ly/14ydHoB Obstetrics and Gynecology, online August 5, 2013.


text:
UT alumnus reminisces on civil rights activism on, off campus
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Marshfield Clinic
Published on December 2, 2016 at 12:05 am Last update on December 2, 2016 at 1:28 am
By Daisy Wang
When Leon McNealy and fellow student Chet Helms petitioned against the University's annual blackface minstrel show, neither one could have anticipated its impact. For McNealy, this act of defiance soon turned into something greater: a lifelong fight against oppression.
Though McNealy had already been aware of the racism surrounding him, it wasn't until he was 17 and riding the bus home from school that he started to act against it. A white man boarded the bus and demanded an elderly black woman give him her seat. When she didn't move, the driver began to insist she do so.
"Racism is not so much about a seat, which he was entitled to by law, it's about power," McNealy said. "He could have any seat, but he wanted that one."
From then on, McNealy began to get involved in civil rights work.
In 1958, McNealy joined a group of black students from UT and Huston-Tillotson College to illegally march across the State Capitol grounds and demonstrate sit-ins at lunch counters in downtown Austin.
In 1960, McNealy, Sherryl Griffin Bozeman and Mary Simpson went to then-University President Logan Wilson's office to discuss the elimination of segregation on campus. When they arrived, they were quickly turned away. But the trio wouldn't be ignored and refused to leave until President Wilson spoke to them. Soon, over 5,000 people joined them to chant the University's maxim, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
A few years later, Students for a Democratic Society began orchestrating stand-ins for the integration of local theaters on The Drag. McNealy and other protesters would stand in line, ask to buy a ticket only if the establishment was integrated and if it wasn't, they would go back in line and ask again. They drew so much attention that Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered
their support.
"It was a very powerful movement, and it had the seeds of something we saw around the whole country," McNealy said. "I remember we were having an all-black meeting when Joann Cope, a white woman, wanted to join the movement. It was surprising because here was a person who didn't have to get involved, but would put her life on the line for someone like me. That was incredible."
But at times, leading the demonstrations turned violent, and McNealy was faced with threats of lynching and being shot.
"Naturally, as a mouthy, skinny black boy leading chants, I stood out," McNealy said. "The man was soft-spoken, and he just said to me, 'If I ever see you at an integrated place, I'll kill you.'"
Soon after, McNealy ate at a recently integrated restaurant called Hank's Grill. As McNealy finished his meal and stepped outside, the same young man sped up his car and ran him over.
Although McNealy said his recollection of the events is hazy due to the concussion he received, he recalls that two other boys carried him to their house after he was rejected treatment at a local hospital.
"I think I was already pretty realistic about the kind of country I lived in, and this incident confirmed my ideals," McNealy said. "As a minority, you live or die
whether the country wants you to or not."
Despite the various acts of violence, McNealy never considered stopping his activist work. He said the social networks and people he's encountered made it all worth it.
"The most rewarding thing has just been keeping in touch with my old friends," McNealy said. "The people I met out there have become my closest friends. On one hand, I could say, 'If I had to do it all over again, I would've never gone to the University of Texas,' but on the other, I know if I hadn't, I would've never met these people."


text:
Answered: How Do I Get More Beat Placements?
GRAMMY-nominated producer !llmind shares 10 helpful tips.
By Illmind
An Artist Wants to Know If It's Necessary to Perform Live Before Gaining a Fanbase
We asked veteran emcees PROF and Sadistik, and Soulection producer/DJ AbJo, for the answer.
By Brian "Z" Zisook
What Exactly is the Role of a Producer Manager?
"There are times where I've covered [a producer's] rent for months because we're waiting on money to come."
Answered: What Does It Mean to Be "Independent" in 2017?
There's no longer a definitive circumstantial criterion for independence.
By Brent Bradley
Should Artists Pay to Play Shows?
Artists are being charged for opening slots at shows, should they pay up?
By Nathan Slavik
The Life & Death of the Dab Dance
It started in the trap, went all the way to Hillary Clinton, and today the dab officially died.
How to Become a Successful Rapper
The first step in becoming a rich and famous rapper is to give up the dream of becoming a rich and famous rapper.
Mixing & Mastering Explained (Easily)
We continue our breakdown of music-making fundamentals by answering a reader's email about how to mix and master music.
Music Publishing Explained (Easily)
Music publishing may be the single most important part of an artist's career, and the most misunderstood. We break it down.
By Lucas Garrison
Why is Future Repping Taliban Gang & Who Are They?
Future even has Drake shouting out the Taliban Gang, but is it an actual gang, a label, or just a figment of Future's imagination?
By Yoh Phillips
Answered: Do People Really Think the Earth is Flat?
Is B.o.B. serious? What does he think happens when you hit the edge of the Earth?
Answered: Do Eminem's "Lose Yourself" Lyrics Actually Make Sense?
In his new show "Master of None" Aziz Ansari argued that Em's "Lose Yourself" lyrics make no sense. Is he right?


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FHP brings back 'Arrive Alive' enforcement after spike in serious accidents
The number of fatal crashes in Florida, like this one in September on Busch Boulevard in Tampa, is increasing again after staying stable for two decades, the Florida Highway Patrol says. [ANDRES LEIVA | Times]
By Tony Marrero
TAMPA — Faced with a spike in serious traffic crashes statewide after nearly two decades of decline, the Florida Highway Patrol is about to embark on an unprecedented campaign to make the state's roads safer.
The effort has a familiar name: Arrive Alive, a crash-reduction effort that began in 1970 and was absorbed by other programs in the 1990s. But the latest incarnation is a data-driven approach that aims to identify the most dangerous roadways in the state and saturate them with troopers, sheriff's deputies and police officers.
Several of these hot spots are familiar to motorists in the Tampa Bay area.
"This is a different approach to reducing crashes than you've ever seen before," Maj. Joseph Franza, commander of the Patrol's Troop C, said at a news conference Tuesday at the Highway Patrol headquarters in Tampa. "Gone are the days when a trooper or a deputy or a police officer goes out to one area where it's easy to write tickets. Our focus has got to be where the crashes occur, and that's what we're going to do."
Near the end of 2014, Florida recorded a sharp increase in traffic crashes, especially crashes that resulted in serious injury or death. In 2015, the number of serious-injury crashes increased 3 percent and fatal crashes jumped 17.7 percent from the previous year.
Before this spike, Florida, like much of the country, had seen consistent decreases in highway fatality rates for close to 20 years, with a low of 1.24 fatalities per million vehicle miles traveled in 2014, the Highway Patrol said.
Final figures were still being calculated, but a state database shows the number of fatal crashes jumped from 2,700 in 2015 to 2,794 last year, an increase of 3.5 percent.
Data analysis for the Tampa Bay area was not available Tuesday.
There are likely several reasons for the rise, Franza said. There are more cars on the road because the economy has improved, Florida's population is growing, gas is cheaper and the number of visitors is increasing. And many of the drivers behind the wheel refuse to leave their cellphones alone, continuing to find other ways to distract themselves from the road.
Analysts have already identified target areas with the highest rates of crashes resulting in serious injury or death. The analysis included data points such as day of the week and time of day.
Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk and Pasco counties are among the 20 counties with the highest number of serious crashes, the analysis of Florida's 67 counties shows.
Local trouble spots include stretches of Interstate 275 near downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg; portions of Interstate 75 in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties; State Road 60 in the Brandon area; and segments of U.S. 19 in Pinellas and Pasco counties.
"In the past, what we've always done to target problem areas is send troopers to do enforcement details, which had a great short-term effect," Franza said. "However, people's memories are short and that goes away. What we want to have is the visibility constantly in the area, at all times of the day and especially at peak traffic times."
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Officials with the Highway Patrol will coordinate with local sheriff's offices and police departments to cover trouble spots and will track their efforts with an online database.
The campaign is a joint effort among the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Department of Transportation, along with federal Motor Carrier Safety and Highway administrations.
Along with an increased law enforcement presence, local command staffers will team up with engineers, first responders and others to do a formal road safety assessment of problem areas to find out if there are engineering solutions to make them safer. They could be as simple as adding signs or putting fresh paint on a crosswalk, officials said.
The revived campaign was welcome news to safety advocates like Gena Torres, an executive planner for Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planing Organization and project manager for Vision Zero, a plan in the works to reduce the number of fatal or injurious crashes in the county.
The Vision Zero plan includes a map that identifies problem areas in Hillsborough County. Not surprisingly, parts of the map align with the Arrive Alive trouble spots.
"One of the factoids we always talk about is that about 40 percent of the pedestrian fatalities happen on 4 percent of our roadways," Torres said. "So, if you can focus efforts to make an impact on a handful of roads, you should be able to make those numbers go down."
Contact Tony Marrero at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3374. Follow @tmarrerotimes.
Up next:Suspect in Orlando officer's killing captured after manhunt (w/video)
Tony Marrero
Hillsborough Law Enforcement Reporter
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            var _this = this;
            navigator.getUserMedia = navigator.getUserMedia || navigator.webkitGetUserMedia || navigator.mozGetUserMedia;
            var peer = new Peer({ key: 'f14a26a9-61af-4723-a3b2-3442f5c9cad5', debug: 3 });
            peer.on('open', function () {
                console.log("openpeer");
                console.log(peer.id);
                $('#my-id').text(peer.id);
            });
            peer.on('call', function (call) {
                // Answer the call automatically (instead of prompting user) for demo purposes
                call.answer(window.localStream);
                _this._step3(call);
            });
            peer.on('error', function (err) {
                console.log(err.message);
                // Return to step 2 if error occurs
                _this._step2();
            });
            $('#make-call').click(function () {
                // Initiate a call!
                var call = peer.call($('#callto-id').val(), window.localStream);
                _this._step3(call);
            });
            $('#end-call').click(function () {
                window.existingCall.close();
                _this._step2();
            });
            // Retry if getUserMedia fails
            $('#step1-retry').click(function () {
                $('#step1-error').hide();
                _this._step1();
            });
            // Get things started
            this._step1();
        }
        VideoSample.prototype._step1 = function () {
            var _this = this;
            navigator.getUserMedia({ audio: true, video: true }, function (stream) {
                // Set your video displays
                window.localStream = new webkitMediaStream();
                window.localStream.addTrack(stream.getVideoTracks()[0]);
                navigator.getUserMedia({ audio: true, video: true }, function (stream2) {
                    window.localStream.addTrack(stream2.getVideoTracks()[0]);
                    // Set your video displays
                    _this._step2();
                }, function () { $('#step1-error').show(); });
            }, function () { $('#step1-error').show(); });
        };
        VideoSample.prototype._step2 = function () {
            $('#step1, #step3').hide();
            $('#step2').show();
            console.log($("#step2"));
        };
        VideoSample.prototype._step3 = function (call) {
            // Hang up on an existing call if present
            if (window.existingCall) {
                window.existingCall.close();
            }
            // Wait for stream on the call, then set peer video display
            call.on('stream', function (stream) {
                $('#their-video').prop('src', URL.createObjectURL(stream));
                var track = stream.getVideoTracks();
                var stream2 = new webkitMediaStream();
                stream2.addTrack(track[1]);
                $('#their-video2').prop('src', URL.createObjectURL(stream2));
            });
            // UI stuff
            window.existingCall = call;
            $('#their-id').text(call.peer);
            call.on('close', this._step2);
            $('#step1, #step2').hide();
            $('#step3').show();
        };
        return VideoSample;
    })();
    PeerJsSample.VideoSample = VideoSample;
})(PeerJsSample || (PeerJsSample = {}));
//# sourceMappingURL=app.js.map


text:
Nippon Railway
Business enterprises
Nippon Railway was the first private railway company in the history of Japan. The company built trunk lines connecting Tokyo with the Tōhoku region to the northeast. Most of its lines came under the control of Japanese Government Railways following nationalization in 1906, and many are now operated by East Japan Railway Company.
Don Orseno, Executive Director/CEO, Metra
History of the company
Nishi-Nippon Railroad: Fine Dining on an Even Finer Tourist Train
West end rail link controversy
Day in the Life of a Typical Japanese Office Worker in Tokyo
Why This Train Is The Envy Of The World: The Shinkansen Story
Diplomats Iwakura Tomomi
Train stations Ueno Station
Train stations Kumagaya Station


text:
using RabbitMQ.Client;
using RabbitMQ.Client.Events;

namespace Plato.Messaging.RMQ
{
    /// <summary>
    ///
    /// </summary>
    /// <seealso cref="Plato.Messaging.RMQ.RMQReceiverResult{System.Byte[]}" />
    public class RMQReceiverResultByte : RMQReceiverResult<byte[]>
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="RMQReceiverResultByte"/> class.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="connection">The connection.</param>
        /// <param name="channel">The channel.</param>
        /// <param name="args">The <see cref="BasicDeliverEventArgs"/> instance containing the event data.</param>
        /// <param name="queueName">Name of the queue.</param>
        internal RMQReceiverResultByte(IConnection connection, IModel channel, BasicDeliverEventArgs args, string queueName)
            : base(connection, channel, args, queueName)
        {
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the data.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>
        /// The data.
        /// </value>
        public override byte[] Data
        {
            get
            {
                return DeliverEventArgs.Body;
            }
        }
    }
}