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Q: How to use a bind property as a parameter in a View Model method I have a view model in Xamarin Forms using Prism framework. I have a lot of UI elements that have, each, lots of bind properties in my view model that have similar behaviour. After a command action, I want to perform exactly the same logic for each of these elements without having to duplicate the same logic all over for each.
To be more concrete. I have landmarks over a picture. Each landmark can be dragged. Each landmark has a command to activate the dragging mode, which changes the icon of the landmark and the size of it. When I create a method to modularise this behaviour in a single method, receiving as a parameter, each of the landmark bind properties, the setter of the properties is never triggered, thus the UI element is never changed.
This is what I've tried:
My landmark XAML
<Controls:LandmarkView
    DragMode="Touch"
    LBounds="{Binding ChinLandmarkBounds, Mode=TwoWay}"
    DragDirection="All"
    IsVisible="{ Binding AreLandmarksVisible }"
    ToggleDraggingCommand="{Binding ChinToggleDraggingCommand}"
    DraggingBoundaries="{Binding ChinDraggingBoundaries}">
    <Controls:LandmarkView.Content>
        <AbsoluteLayout>
            <Image BackgroundColor="#72C8BB"
                 WidthRequest="{Binding LandmarkLineWidth}"
                 AbsoluteLayout.LayoutBounds= "{Binding LandmarkLineXPos}"
                 AbsoluteLayout.LayoutFlags= "YProportional,WidthProportional"/>
            <ffimageloading:CachedImage
                WidthRequest="{Binding ChinSize}"
                HeightRequest="{Binding ChinSize}"
                Source="{Binding ChinLandmarkIcon, Converter={StaticResource SvgImageSourceConverter}}">
            </ffimageloading:CachedImage>
        </AbsoluteLayout>
    </Controls:LandmarkView.Content>
</Controls:LandmarkView>

The command in the view model for the dragging toggling:
public ICommand ChinToggleDraggingCommand { get; set; }

The landmark bind properties:
private Rectangle _chinLandmarkBounds;
    public Rectangle ChinLandmarkBounds
    {
        get { return _chinLandmarkBounds; }
        set
        {
            SetProperty(ref _chinLandmarkBounds, value);
            CalculateMouthRightEdgeDraggingBoundaries();
            CalculateMouthLeftEdgeDraggingBoundaries();
            CalculateChinDraggingBoundaries();
        }
    }
    private string _chinLandmarkIcon;
    public string ChinLandmarkIcon
    {
        get { return _chinLandmarkIcon; }
        set { SetProperty(ref _chinLandmarkIcon, value); }
    }
    private Rectangle _chinDraggingBoundaries;
    public Rectangle ChinDraggingBoundaries
    {
        get { return _chinDraggingBoundaries; }
        set { SetProperty(ref _chinDraggingBoundaries, value); }
    }
    private int _chinSize;
    public int ChinSize
    {
        get { return _chinSize; }
        set { SetProperty(ref _chinSize, value); }
    }

The method I would like to call for each landmark that doesn't trigger the property setter:
private void ToggleDraggingMode(Rectangle landmarkBounds, string landmarkIcon, int size, bool activateDraggingMode)
    {
        if (activateDraggingMode)
        {
            landmarkIcon = ControlsArrowsAllRed;
            size = size * 2;
            landmarkBounds = new Rectangle((double)landmarkBounds.X - size / 2, (double)landmarkBounds.Y - size / 2, size, size);
        }
        else
        {
            landmarkIcon = ControlsRedFull;
            size = size / 2;
            landmarkBounds = new Rectangle(landmarkBounds.X + size / 2, (double)landmarkBounds.Y + size / 2, size, size);
        }
    }

The call to the previous method:
ToggleDraggingMode(ChinLandmarkBounds, ChinLandmarkIcon, ChinSize, activateDraggingMode);

How can I pass my bind properties as parameters of a method and make the setter be called when I assign a value to the method parameter (in the previous code, the landmarkBounds local variable)?
Thanks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: Bayes weighted average understanding with an example and 2 additional questions The following link describes the Bayes weighted average with an example.
$$S = wR + (1-w)C$$
where
$S$ = score of the restaurant
$R$ = average of user ratings for the restaurant
$C$ = average of user ratings for all restaurants
$w$ = weight assigned to $R$ and computed as $v/(v+m)$, where $v$ is the number of user ratings for that restaurant, and $m$ is average number of reviews for all restaurants.
The example mentioned is

Restaurant A has 100 opinions with an average rating of 4.5
  Restaurant B has  1  opinion with an average rating of  5

The grades are recalculated using the above formula. However I have the following question:
Q1) How is the value of $m = 40$ and $c = 4.2$ derived? As a follow up of the above question: Shouldn't the value of $m$ be $(100+1)/2 = 50.5$ and the value of $C$ be $(4.5+5)/2 = 4.75$?
Q2) Are the final weighted scores on a scale of 1-5 ?
Update as of 06/12/2016
As a follow up to the link provided by tim and my understanding of the bayes weighted average, i have proposed an example with calculations. Please find attached the image.I have 2 questions A&B with respect to the image attached.
There are 5 products only each with their mean score and no of ratings
I have used the following formula to calculate the scores. Its the same formula posted earlier but i found this easier to implement.
b(r) = [ W(a) * a + W(r) * r ] / (W(a) + W(r)]
where
r = average rating for an item
W(r) = weight of that rating, which is the number of ratings
a = average rating for the entire data set of 5 products.
W(a) = weight of that average, which is the average number of ratings for all the 5 products,
b(r) = new bayesian rating
QA)The average rating for all products SUM(WX)/SUM(W) = 251.78/64 = 3.93. I took a weighted mean instead of an arithmetic mean.
The average number of ratings for all W(a)= 64/5 = 12.80. I have set m = 12.80 on the observation that 70 % of the products(data points with regards to the number of ratings fall above this value) .
Is this value optimal ? Does it need to change dynamically each time the total avg number of ratings changes ?
QB)Based on the bayes score calculations,
Why is BR2 (4.01) which has only 1 rating with a mean score of 5/5 still ranked higher than BR1 (4.00) which has 25 ratings with a mean score of 4.03/5 and BR4 (3.68) which has 21 ratings with a mean score of 3.52 ?
Please find attached the image

A:
Q1) How is the value of $m = 40$ and $c = 4.2$ derived? As a follow up
  of the above question: Shouldn't the value of $m$ be $(100+1)/2 =
 50.5$ and the value of $C$ be $(4.5+5)/2 = 4.75$?

Neither $m$ nor $c$ were "derived", those are some known values. This is actually said in the blog post you refer to:

Let's first assume that the average of user ratings for all
  restaurants (C) is 4.2 and the average number of reviews for all
  restaurants (m) is 40.

As about your second question

Q2) Are the final weighted scores on a scale of 1-5 ?

Yes. $R$ in on 1-5 scale, $C$ is on 1-5 scale, $w$ is in $[0,1]$, so $w + (1-w)=1$ and the weighted mean cannot be outside the 1-5 range.
As about your edits, I don't see what is the question you want to ask. Actually the blog post you refer to tells everything about this formula and gives detailed example. There is nothing more that could be said. Also there is no deeper math or statistical rationale behind it, it is simply a weighted average of all scores and the particular rating.


ARAB, Ala. — Arab police are investigating a stabbing from Saturday morning.
Arab Police Assistant Chief Shane Washburn says a man was walking down Vines Street when another man stopped him, held him at knife-point, and asked for money.
After the victim said he didn't have money, the offender stabbed him and ran off, Washburn says.
Officers found the offender, Anthony Lee Brown, on Sunday and will charge him with attempted murder.
Washburn says Brown did not know the victim.


text:
package ru.stqa.course.addressbook.appmanager;

import com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.TODO;
import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.support.ui.Select;
import org.testng.Assert;
import ru.stqa.course.addressbook.model.ContactData;
import ru.stqa.course.addressbook.model.Contacts;
import ru.stqa.course.addressbook.model.GroupData;

import java.util.List;

/**
 * Created by leonto on 3/4/2016.
 */
public class ContactHelper extends HelperBase {

  public ContactHelper(WebDriver wd) {
    super(wd);
  }

  public void submitContactCreation() {
      click(By.xpath("//div[@id='content']/form/input[21]"));
  }

  public void fillContactForm(ContactData contactData, boolean creation) {
    type(By.name("firstname"), contactData.getFirstName());
    type(By.name("lastname"), contactData.getLastName());
    type(By.name("address"), contactData.getAddress());
    type(By.name("home"), contactData.getHomePhone());
    type(By.name("mobile"), contactData.getMobilePhone());
    type(By.name("work"), contactData.getWorkPhone());
    type(By.name("email"), contactData.getEmail());
    type(By.name("email2"), contactData.getEmail2());
    type(By.name("email3"), contactData.getEmail3());
    type(By.name("address2"), contactData.getSecondaryAddress());
    type(By.name("phone2"), contactData.getHome());
    type(By.name("notes"), contactData.getNotes());
    atach(By.name("photo"), contactData.getPhoto());

    if (creation) {
      if (contactData.getGroups().size() > 0) {
        Assert.assertTrue(contactData.getGroups().size() == 1);
        new Select(wd.findElement(By.name("new_group"))).selectByVisibleText(contactData.getGroups().iterator().next().getName());
      }
    } else {
      Assert.assertFalse(isElementPresent(By.name("new_group")));
    }
     }

  public void returnToHomePage() {
    if (isElementPresent(By.id("maintable"))) {
      return;
    }
    click(By.linkText("home page"));
  }

  public void closePopupDeletion(){
    wd.switchTo().alert().accept();
  }

  public void selectContactById(int id) {
    wd.findElement(By.cssSelector("input[id='" + id + "']")).click();
  }

  public void initContactModification(int id) {
 //   wd.findElement(By.xpath(".//a[@href='edit.php?id=" + id + "']")).click();
    wd.findElement(By.cssSelector(String.format("a[href='edit.php?id=%s']", id))).click();
   // click(By.xpath("//table[@id='maintable']/tbody/tr[" + index + "]/td[8]/a/img"));
  }
  private void initContactDetails(int id) {
    wd.findElement(By.cssSelector(String.format("a[href='view.php?id=%s']", id))).click();
  }

  public void submitContactModification() {
    click(By.xpath("//div[@id='content']/form[1]/input[22]"));
  }

  public void submitContactDeletion() {
    click(By.xpath("//div[@id='content']/form[2]/div[2]/input"));
  }

  public void create(ContactData contact) {
    fillContactForm(contact, true);
    submitContactCreation();
    contactCache = null;
    returnToHomePage();
  }

  public void modify(ContactData contact) {
    initContactModification(contact.getId());
    fillContactForm(contact, false);
    contactCache = null;
    submitContactModification();
  }

  public void delete(ContactData contact) {
    selectContactById(contact.getId());
    submitContactDeletion();
    contactCache = null;
    closePopupDeletion();
  }

  public void addContactToGroup(ContactData contact) {
    selectContactById(contact.getId());
    String[] groupName = wd.findElement(By.name("to_group")).getText().split("\n");
    wd.findElement(By.cssSelector("input[name='add']")).click();

//    List<WebElement> elements = wd.findElements(By.name("to_group"));
//    for (WebElement element : elements){
//      String groupName = element.getText();
//    }
    wd.findElement(By.cssSelector("a[href='./?group=" + groupName[0] + "']")).click();
  }

 // TODO
  public void filterByGroup() {
    wd.findElement(By.name("group")).click();
  }

  public boolean isThereAContact() {
    return isElementPresent(By.name("selected[]"));
  }

  public int getContactCount() {
    return wd.findElements(By.name("selected[]")).size();
  }

  private Contacts contactCache = null;

  public Contacts all() {
    if ( contactCache != null)
     {
      return new Contacts(contactCache);
    }
    contactCache = new Contacts();
    List<WebElement> elements = wd.findElements(By.tagName("tr"));
    for (int i = 1; i < elements.size(); i++) {
      String firstName = elements.get(i).findElements(By.tagName("td")).get(2).getText();
      String lastName = elements.get(i).findElements(By.tagName("td")).get(1).getText();
      String allPhones = elements.get(i).findElements(By.tagName("td")).get(5).getText();
      String allEmails = elements.get(i).findElements(By.tagName("td")).get(4).getText();
      String address = elements.get(i).findElements(By.tagName("td")).get(3).getText();
      int id = Integer.parseInt(elements.get(i).findElement(By.tagName("input")).getAttribute("id"));
      ContactData contact = new ContactData().withId(id).withFirstName(firstName).withLastName(lastName)
              .withAllPhones(allPhones).withAllEmails(allEmails).withAddress(address);
      contactCache.add(contact);
    }
    return new Contacts(contactCache);
  }

  public ContactData infoFromEditForm(ContactData contact) {
    initContactModification(contact.getId());
    String firstname = wd.findElement(By.name("firstname")).getAttribute("value");
    String lastname = wd.findElement(By.name("lastname")).getAttribute("value");
    String homePhone = wd.findElement(By.name("home")).getAttribute("value");
    String mobilePhone = wd.findElement(By.name("mobile")).getAttribute("value");
    String workPhone = wd.findElement(By.name("work")).getAttribute("value");
    String email = wd.findElement(By.name("email")).getAttribute("value");
    String email2 = wd.findElement(By.name("email2")).getAttribute("value");
    String email3 = wd.findElement(By.name("email3")).getAttribute("value");
    String address = wd.findElement(By.name("address")).getText();
    wd.navigate().back();
    return new ContactData().withId(contact.getId()).withFirstName(firstname).withLastName(lastname)
            .withHomePhone(homePhone).withMobilePhone(mobilePhone).withWorkPhone(workPhone)
            .withEmail(email).withEmail2(email2).withEmail3(email3).withAddress(address);
//    return new ContactData().withId(contact.getId()).withFirstName(firstname).withLastName(lastname);
  }

  public ContactData infoFromDetailsForm(ContactData contact) {
    initContactDetails(contact.getId());
    String [] info = wd.findElement(By.id("content")).getText().split("\n");
    String fistname = info[0].split(" ")[0];
    String lastname = info[0].split(" ")[1];
    String address = info[1];
    String homePhone = info[3].replaceAll("H:","").replaceAll("\\s", "").replaceAll("[-()]","");
    String mobilePhone = info[4].replaceAll("M:","").replaceAll("\\s", "").replaceAll("[-()]","");
    String workPhone = info[5].replaceAll("W:","").replaceAll("\\s", "").replaceAll("[-()]","");
    String email = info[7].split(" ")[0];
    String email2 = info[8].split(" ")[0];
    String email3 = info[9].split(" ")[0];
    wd.navigate().back();
    return new ContactData().withId(contact.getId()).withFirstName(fistname).withLastName(lastname)
            .withAddress(address).withHomePhone(homePhone).withMobilePhone(mobilePhone).withWorkPhone(workPhone)
            .withEmail(email).withEmail2(email2).withEmail3(email3);
  }

// .withHomePhone(homePhone).withWorkPhone(workPhone)

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


SM Town is an SM memorial hall in Samseong COEX. The place also operates SM Surrounding Theatre, which uses the latest technology to reproduce the scene of the concerts of SM singers, such as TVXQ, EXO, Girl's Generation, SHINee, Red Velvet, etc, for fans who missed that. In addition, they sell various goods for fans to reminiscing the charm of their singers. From concerts to musicals with SM singers, the place is MUST VISIT PLACE for SM fans!
It is the celebrity suggested unique lifestyle shop, where you can buy the limited edition of artists' goods, actually worn items, IT items picked by artists, global branding, and special items made from the collaboration of designers and artists. Buy a variety of goods here, often visited by EXO Chanyol and his stylists!
The place is combined cultural space, where you can see SM artists' producing process. From gift shop, where you can buy special goods only in SMTOWN Museum, to photo printings, to MCN Studio, where you can enjoy live broadcasting run by SM artists, and to Virtual Reality experience hall, where you can take pictures with your loving artists, feel and experience the images and traces of SM artists!
Korea's first hologram theater that combines the latest technologies and contents.
Surround Viewing is made out of 3 different angled cameras' footages shoot at a live concert in which that cover all 3 sides of the screen. Mix with concert and ICT (Information Communication Technology), SM Entertainment offers a new, yet live-like concert experience that can be viewed anywhere in the world.
• Great opportunity to see and meet the heat of live concerts of SM Entertainment singers on 3 sides of the screen!
• Great opportunity to own 3D figures of SM artists after a realistic performance!
• Move to a hand-printing space, compare your palm with your artists, and take a picture of it!
※ Due to editing problem, few tracks have been deleted. Apologies for the inconvenience.
1. Purchase the desired performance and Check mobile voucher or email voucher.
2. Present the voucher at the ticket counter on 5F.
3. Get an actual ticket an enter.
• Enter millennium square through the path connected to Exits 5 and 6 of Samseong Station (Subway line 2).
• CLICK HERE to check bus information in details.
1. Seat will be assigned on the day of the show.
2. The schedule may vary depending on the conditions of the of the SM internal circumstances.
3. If you need to use wheelchairs, please notify our CS in advance.
4. You must make a reservation under the name of the representative. If you are not yourself, you cannot receive the ticket nor enter.
5. Children under the age of 8 are not admitted.
6. Taking photographs / videos or Recording is not allowed.
7. Light reflection from individual light sticks can cause inconvenience to other visitors.
8. Outside food or beverages except for the water bottle with a lid are not allowed.
9. You must bring your passport.
10. All concerts have English / Japanese / Chinese subtitles.


A marriage ceremony is hardly the time for experimenting with do-it-yourself photography. Having a plan is critical to ensuring smooth running and success on your special day. One key element is getting a good wedding photographer to capture moments that will be lasting memories. However, the price has to be within budget and, therefore, one needs to get an affordable wedding photography services.
Most photography firms have little or no work during certain seasons of the year or days of the week. If you are hard-pressed on the budget, consider having your wedding during the off-peak season such as winter, or if during the peak season, have it on a weekday.
Couples will be amazed at the dramatic differences in price that exist between photography service providers. It is good practice, therefore, to shop around for the best prices and to find out what the whole coverage package entails, and whether it includes optional services such as videography, which you may not need.
Because the wedding day is meant to be memorable, there is always the tendency for the wedding couple to have extravagant. However, avoiding such plans can go a long way in helping your budget. Depending on how much you value the extraordinary, the most practical way of having top-quality photographic coverage, on a budget, is to decide on other expenditure you could forego.
Relatively smaller but equally experienced photographers will always have a better deal because they do not have significant overheads to cover, and are also quite flexible and willing to alter their schedule when necessary. Hiring the smaller firms could be a gamble, hence ensure you carefully review their previous work, which must be of acceptable standard.
Established photographers can be flexible on their pricing if they are of the opinion that the ceremony is within the locality and that, consequently, their overheads will not be too high. Negotiate with such providers first before considering anybody else.
For various reasons, some wedding venues will have a list of their preferred photographers. These reasons could be very valid other than merely an opportunity to earn more money from you. It is hence advisable to discuss with the venue providers and carefully evaluate the suitability of the recommended photographers like lake tahoe professional wedding photos.
Avoid unnecessary cost by limiting the coverage only to the crucial phases of the ceremony. Many behind-the-scenes activities do not need a professional photographer. An alternative to such less-important scenes is to have amateurs, such as friends or family, to take the pictures.
With careful planning and a few compromises, getting an affordable photographer need not be a daunting task.
What is the Toilet Training Age?


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Gymate's Identity By Brand Brothers Is Subtly Playful
Posted inBranding & Identity Design
By Chloe GordonPosted March 2, 2022 ∙ 2 min. read
Brand Brothers recently worked with the private fitness studio Gymate to create a brand identity and visual system. The result is a system that's highly focused on a geometric typeface that is over-pronounced and exaggerated. Plus, the limited color palette keeps the identity-focused and sharp, exactly how you should feel when working out. The simplicity allows this brand to be relatable to most, while the subtle typographic playfulness entices the rest.
Gymate, whose first location opened in February 2022 in Paris (3rd arrondissement), are the first fully equipped private fitness spaces available on demand. Aimed at clients who want to train alone, with a coach or with friends, these refined and confidential spaces, whose architecture was designed by the DAS studio, are set to expand in France and Europe. Brand Brothers was called in to develop the graphic identity and visual system.
We designed a typogram based on geometric typefaces with a very large width and pronounced inktraps. The 'G' has the particularity of being completely closed in its center. This exaggerated stretching of the characters, evoking movement and effort, is found in the visual system, where the initial of Gymate is declined in different widths, forming the basis of a dynamic raw graphic system. This is combined with the NB National (Neubau, Berlin) typeface, and a limited color palette. The first variations were applied to a series of posters, the digital environment and the signage of the first space, rue Saint Martin.
Brand Brothers
Browse all Branding & Identity Design

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Christophe Robin, the A-list colorist for more than 20 years, created in 1999 his hair care line selecting powerful natural ingredients for recognized long term results.
Detergent-free formulas for gentle and effective cleansing as well as long-lasting treatment.
Deep care for sumptuous, repaired, smooth, shiny hair and long-lasting color.
Multi-purpose products that can be used for skin as well as for the hair, for both men and women.


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Setting up for provincials Oak Bay Barbers player Ryan Marcellus
Barbers a cut above: Oak Bay win boys Island volleyball championship
Nov. 22, 2011 2:00 p.m.
There were no surprises in the AAA boys Island finals as the host Oak Bay Barbers defeated the Reynolds Roadrunners in the final, 25-17, 25-11, 25-21, Nov. 19.
It was a rematch of the previous week's lower Island final, which ended in the same result.
The Barbers are a favourite to win the provincials with heaps of talent, including the Island championship tournament MVP Nick Stefanakis, four players on the first all-star team, Ryan Marcellus, Alex Swiatlowski, Elion Wong and Lars Bornemann, and one more, Leon Young, on the second all-star team.
Reynolds' Gabe Duval and Zach Mitchner were also named to the Island's first all-star team.
Parksville's Ballenas defeated Claremont in the bronze medal final 25-23, 25-23, 16-25, 25-21.
All four teams, Oak Bay, Reynolds, Ballenas and Claremont, qualify for the AAA B.C.s from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Kelowna.
Belmont finished fifth at Islands, Dover Bay sixth, Mount Doug in seventh and Stelly's in eighth.
Second all-star team
Luke Severinsen (Belmont)Connor McManaman (Claremont)T.R. Doty (Ballenas)Brad Harvey (Ballenas)Steven Shellard (Reynolds)
Offensively gifted Mount Doug Rams set for semifinal battle with No. 1 seed St. Thomas More
B.C. champs GNS set for Colonist Cup against Lambrick


Peramalla Pranay Kumar, the 23-year-old Dalit man, who was killed on Friday afternoon, eight months after he married upper caste girl, was laid to rest here on Sunday.
His pregnant wife Amrutha, who was brought home from hospital on Saturday night, was inconsolable.
"I can't live without him, but I will, for my baby, and to fight against caste system. No one should experience this pain," said grief-stricken Amrutha, in her fifth month of pregnancy.
Heart-rending scenes were witnessed when Ajay, Pranay's brother, who is pursuing medicine in Ukraine, arrived for the funeral around about 2.30 p.m.
What happened to my brother is betrayal. Maruthi Rao (the girl's father) should be kept in jail," he Ajay, grieving with his family members Balaswamy, Premalatha and Amrutha.
Pranay's body was carried in a freezer box along with his family members and relatives on a tractor, and as per Christian customs, and his body was placed in a coffin before burial.
The town came to a standstill with the three-km funeral procession that passed through the town centre and St. Mary's Church, while 'Jai Bheem' and 'Lal Salaam' slogans by various student and voluntary organisations rent the air.


text:
Q: Share data between two flavours of same app (for instance free / premium) Some free applications can often be upgraded to paid premium versions. Is there a known packaging pattern so that the paid app replaces the free apps, and therefore gets all data the free may have stored ?
I understand that since app is identified by its unique fully qualified name this is impossible for an app to see data from another, but I kinda recall already seeing this. Or does it mean that I have to consider the two apps as completely distinct, and foresee an export/import feature mechanism ?
(this question is not related to the actual development of those two flavours, which can be achieved in many ways, but rather to the way app should be packaged)

A:
Is there a known packaging pattern so that the paid app replaces the free apps, and therefore gets all data the free may have stored ?

No, the package names must be unique. Thus, one app does not "replace" another app and gets its data.

Or does it mean that I have to consider the two apps as completely distinct, and foresee an export/import feature mechanism ?

Yes, two apps are distinct. However, they can still exchange data.
These are common methods:

*

*Publish one (free) app which contains all functionality but only has the free functionality enabled by default. Publish an additional (paid) app which serves as an unlocker. Your free app can check if the unlocker is installed and enabled the paid functionality accordingly. It is recommended to check the package signature of the unlocker app, e.g., as described in the answers here.

*Similar to above but use in-app purchases in the free app instead of an additional unlocker app.

*Publish both a free and paid app as self-contained apps. You can implement a ContentProvider to transfer data from the free to the paid app. Of course you can implement other export/import methods as well. However, using a ContentProvider with permissions makes it easy to automatically and securely copy the data, e.g., when the paid app is started for the first time.


There are a great deal of temporary workers endeavoring to promote to motivate you to make a move amid the June occasion. They guaranteed to give additional sketch related administrations as far as voucher, just to have your name, portable and email.
I should state that their advertising is getting on, BUT there is one thing to note is that you may pay more than you expected more often than not. They will influence you to pay for the extra home administrations, with terms and conditions connected, which at last you need to pay significantly more than you anticipated.
As I shared beforehand on deceptive painting contractual workers in Singapore, how you can spot them and how YOU as the proprietor will endure as a result of the un-polished skill in their work. Be that as it may, say thanks to God the one that are having a publicizing tricks is an extremely respectable organization which charges a considerably higher painting administrations estimating than us.
I am not saying that don't utilize these work of art contractual workers, I am stating that would they say they are ready to satisfy what is been asked for by the proprietors, you? To paint as indicated by what you need, to give confirmation or even guarantee after the artistic creation benefits, that they won't have any extra shrouded charges when they guaranteed you in any case that it is at this specific cost.
To answer the inquiry above, we can demonstrate to you the genuine article… .
1) If we are not ready to do as per what you need, we would not acknowledge your work of art work. Truly, for what reason would regardless we need to clutch something which we can't convey. We have confidence in quality, however we likewise realize that distinctive painting organizations have diverse confinements.
2) We gave 2 years guarantee for the individuals who utilized our artistic creation administrations, and a large portion of our customers are guaranteed by this along. There isn't much painting organization out there in Singapore willing to give this 2 year guarantee assert.
3) No concealed charges from us. That is the reason we demand in completing an on location survey of your home, with the goal that we can give you an exact citation. I don't accuse the other painting temporary workers for giving you a statement that is value the slightest onwards, this is on account of a few customers demand knowing, and expect us (the contractual workers) to give precisely.
What these customers don't know is that not every one of the houses are the same, the most we can give you is a range (from to what cost). I trust that you will comprehend that we esteem quality in particular, and that we need to give and do our best work on each and everybody's home or workplaces or structures or even manufacturing plants.


Located in Instanbul, Jinemed is a specialized private hospital that focuses on women's health services such as Obstetrics, Gynecology, IVF, and a variety of other medical branches with over 19 years experience. Jinemed was the first private IVF center established in Turkey and serves as a reference center for IVF in the country. Jinemed's overall medical staff is US and European certified physicians with a management team composed of American Board Certified physicians.
Today, Jinemed consists of 1 Hospital and 2 Medical Centers in Turkey. The extensive medical experience and great reputation gained in the field of women's health services directed Jinemed's growth into other medical fields such as Plastic Surgery, Orthopedics, General Surgery-Bariatric, and Dentistry.
Jinemed has been serving international patients for several years. With its associate doctors in the US and UK, Jinemed keeps up to date with the latest medical developments and has gained prestige on an international level. All international patients will encounter friendly English speaking personnel readily available to provide "boutique customer service" with the latest technology, vast medical experience and modern facilities.


text:
« Townie terrorists are no friends of badgers, for whom bovine TB is a horrible disease | Main | Vandalism against historic buildings means the rise of barbarism. Society must defend itself »
16 March 2012 11:48 AM
They're mad to concrete over the countryside, but seem determined to do it
One of the great dramas of the past year has been played out between the National Trust and the government over the planning document known as NPPF – the National Planning Policy Framework, which replaces the whole of the existing planning rule book with a dossier of about 50 pages. Until recently, my money would have been on the National Trust. It has over 4m members, and they are mostly of the silver-haired vintage who like to exercise their democratic right at the ballot box – and whose instincts are naturally Tory or Lib Dem. The noises I have been hearing recently suggest the odds have changed the other way. It's madness, but the government, led by the Treasury, appears determined to yield as little as possible to the arguments against concreting over the countryside. Expect an announcement to coincide with the budget: it's an Osborne initiative to stimulate growth by building houses that most people can't get mortgages for. Besides, budget day is a good time to bury bad news.
We can already see the consequences. A planning inspector has given permission for a wind farm to be built bang next to Lyvden New Bield in Northamptonshire, an inspiring and mysterious Elizabethan house, built – but never completed -- by Sir Thomas Tresham, a passionate Roman Catholic, in the form of a cross (he had already built a Triangular Lodge, symbolising the Trinity). One of the iniquities of the NPPF is that it removes the protection previously given to the surroundings of historic buildings. Poor old Northamptonshire, a county of great estates which, as a result, has until now preserved large areas of its countryside intact, must feel that it's under siege. Recently, another planning inspector overturned the decision by Daventry District Council not to allow a wind farm built within sight of the battlefield of Naseby. That was the battle in which Prince Rupert of the Rhine swept all before him in a testosterone-fuelled charge, galloped off the field, and only returned in time to see the rest of the royalist army being crushed by Oliver Cromwell's newly created New Model Army; Charles I himself was there. It was the end of the royalist cause in the Civil War: a battle to rank alongside Hastings and Bosworth in importance. In the same county, whirling blades will spring up around Ashby St Ledgers, where the Gunpowder Plot was hatched, and such magnificent architectural set pieces as Easton Neston, Drayton House and Boughton House.
Every county in the Midlands, West and North is threatened. Rural Montgomeryshire is on the way to becoming a turbine landscape.
It was so typical of Tony Blair to make airy commitments about increasing the amount of green electricity that we use and reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 – without having a clue about how this was to be achieved, and knowing perfectly well that he would be gone from power before the consequences were reaped. No one can now be unaware of what these fluffy promises mean for the countryside – or our soaring energy bills.
The whole point of green energy is to make Britain more sustainable. But to be truly sustainable, a development shouldn't permanently affect the environment amid which it is set. Wind farms fail the test.
March 16, 2012 Comments (0) | Permalink
Clive Aslet's blog
Clive Aslet has a varied life. One day he may be in 'royal' Anglesey (Kate and Wills territory), talking to sheep farmers; the next he's visiting a new art gallery in Margate or Wakefield. It's a glorious thing to be Editor at Large of Country Life!
There's a serious side to all this activity. Clive is a champion of the countryside at a time when it's being threatened with windfarms, over-development and attacks on a way of life. But isn't there also room for celebration? You'll read about some of wonders of Britain – its sublime landsdcape, fascinating history, captivating wildlife, quirky characters and baffling customs – in this blog.
Married with three young boys, Clive divides his time, when not travelling elsewhere, between London and the Kent coast. His latest project is to research the history of a war memorial on the edge of Dartmoor – there'll be something about that in the blog, too.
No such thing as a free lunch. What about a free plastic bag?
Dairy farmers going bust? One day we may need their skills
I can't help it, I love the Shard
Yes, it's expensive in the country -- but heaven knows, it's worth it
Climate change needs the wisdom of elders rather than the evangelism and bureaucracy of Nick Clegg
Male dairy calves are killed, but why the surprise? People have no right to complain if they don't inform themselves about food
Well done, Your Honour. At least someone is seeing sense about wind farms
Would the monarchy be stronger with Prince William on the throne? Don't even think about it
Greece may be a land of myths, but the Euro crisis is also stirring real memories
Taking cathedrals and church alterations out of VAT is a start -- but all the other listed buildings in the country?


Zaleplon is used to treat insomnia. Zaleplon does not help you to stay asleep longer or decrease the number of times that you awaken during the night. Zaleplon is in a class of medications called hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep.


Members of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers yesterday delivered a powerful message of unity in their drive for a contract that delivers the fully funded, racially equitable schools St. Paul students deserve.
Parents and working people in the district, meanwhile, delivered a message of their own: It's time for the school district to start listening to educators.
They included Teamsters Local 320, which represents more than 100 Nutrition Services workers in the St. Paul Public Schools. In a letter to the school board and administrators, Secretary-Treasurer Brian Aldes noted that teachers stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Local 320 member fighting for a $15 wage floor last fall.
Presidents of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, the Minnesota Nurses Association and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees weighed in with letters to the district as well. Together, the labor groups represent more than 80,000 union members.
SPFT held its strike-authorization vote at a downtown hotel yesterday, drawing participation from about two-thirds of it 3,700 members. The union represents three bargaining units in negotiations: community service professionals, educational assistants and teachers and licensed staff. All three overwhelmingly backed strike authorization, with over 80 percent support.
The union planned to file notice of members' intent to strike today, and a work stoppage could begin as early as mid-February.
The two sides have scheduled a return to mediated talks tomorrow. Teachers said they will continue to push for smaller class sizes, restorative practices, support for English language learners, more nurses and librarians and other measures aimed at improving student outcomes and tackling racial disparities.
Support for language programs is among SPFT's core bargaining proposals.
Teachers also aren't giving up on efforts to build new partnerships with corporations like Ecolab and U.S. Bank that avoid paying property taxes in St. Paul, as well as large nonprofits like Allina Health and Macalester that benefit from property-tax exemptions.
Parents like Kirinda Anderson, whose daughter attends Wellstone Elementary, want the district to team up with teachers and get serious about holding corporate tax-dodgers accountable for draining resources from public schools.


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The Way to Rainy Mountain (Paperback)
By N. Scott Momaday
First published in paperback by UNM Press in 1976, The Way to Rainy Mountain has sold over 200,000 copies.
"The paperback edition of The Way to Rainy Mountain was first published twenty-five years ago. One should not be surprised, I suppose, that it has remained vital, and immediate, for that is the nature of story. And this is particularly true of the oral tradition, which exists in a dimension of timelessness. I was first told these stories by my father when I was a child. I do not know how long they had existed before I heard them. They seem to proceed from a place of origin as old as the earth.
"The stories in The Way to Rainy Mountain are told in three voices. The first voice is the voice of my father, the ancestral voice, and the voice of the Kiowa oral tradition. The second is the voice of historical commentary. And the third is that of personal reminiscence, my own voice. There is a turning and returning of myth, history, and memoir throughout, a narrative wheel that is as sacred as language itself."--from the new Preface
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies


I am not one to go all out decorating for Halloween. Maybe it's because my kids aren't old enough yet and really don't care about anything but carving a pumpkin. I do, however, love decorating for Fall by adding touches of the season throughout my home. I think tiny pumpkins are just the cutest things ever and put them everywhere, it's ok in the bathroom right?
This season I am obsessed with this black buffalo check runner, below and can't wait to pair it with some burlap for my holiday table. In the spirit of everything Pumpkin (spice latte), here are a few decorative pieces that I think would add a great touch of Fall to any home to make it feel festive this season.
Omgosh how fun! I would love to decorate my home with all of these fall items!
Oh yes, so cute. Loving the black buffalo table runner. Too cute!
Loving the patterned pumpkins! All so cute!
That buffalo table runner is adorable! I really need to get on my fall decorating game!
These are such cute accents! I pulled out my Fall table runner, but I haven't done any other decorating yet. I can't wait to make it feel more like Fall in our house!
I am obsessed with fall decor! Give me all the cute little pumpkins!
So many cute fall pieces, girls! I love the herringbone pumpkin and I have always wanted that pumpkin cast iron dish. My mom has one and I'm so jealous of it!
I love fall decor because it'll outlast all the Halloween stuff + stretch until after Thanksgiving! So cute!
Fall decorations are my favorites – and there is nothing better than pie and football.
Love your picks! Decorating my home for Fall is almost as fun as dressing myself without having to worry about the heat though, lol!
All cute picks! I finally decorated this week!


What are some good ways for my child with Aspergers to learn to get along with others and make friends?
Making and keeping friends can be difficult for children with Autism. Weak social skills are one of the main reasons. However, other characteristics come into play. Difficulty breaking routines and schedules, sensory issues, and speech and language struggles are common issues for kids on the Autism spectrum and they all affect a person's ability to develop strong relationships.
Even though many children with Autism tend to isolate themselves, it is safe to say that most have some level of desire for friendships. It may be tough for your child and for you, but creating opportunities for your child to build friendships is definitely worth the effort. Here are some ways you can help your child learn to socialize and make lasting friendships.
Find group settings that are focused on topics of interest to your child. Extracurricular clubs are perfect places to find friends with a common interest. Clubs associated with school, such as art club, chess club, science club, and math club are good examples. Community clubs like scout troops or community center activities are another example.
Your local Autism support group may offer social skills classes, as well as topic related groups to help with socialization. Take advantage of everything your support group has to offer. It is a wonderful source.
Private therapy can also be a help when teaching social skills. Speech/language therapists and occupational therapists often add social skills to their therapy sessions. Not everyone has access to private therapy. However, if you do, ask your therapists specifically for help with social skills.
Recreational sports can be a fun way to learn how to be a part of a team. Recreational sports are not quite as competitive and often have special accommodations for children with Autism.
Children with Autism often learn best by example. They can greatly benefit from peer mentoring. Special needs preschools often incorporate typically developing children into their programs to help teach appropriate social responses. You can use this concept in your home by modeling friend and social skills for your child with Autism. Host supervised play dates with typically developing children in the neighborhood.
For a little extra help, the book Friendly Facts: A Fun, Interactive Resource to Help Children Explore the Complexities of Friends and Friendships by Margaret Carter and Josie Santomauro can help you better understand your child's needs and can help you find ways to offer a remedy.
I believe just like we manage outbursts and meltdowns instead of controlling our children's different reactions to their environment, bullying also needs to be investigated a bit and yes, analyzed. So we can work out the best way to manage different situations that children inevitably may experience throughout their school years.
Throughout this article I will be defining what 'bullying' is; what adults could change in themselves that may bring a new and empowering future for the child, and some strategies that will assist the child over time in developing a strong self esteem.
I am sure that as a parent you have been told at one time or the other that your child's perception is well……. 'Off, incorrect, err, wrong, mistaken, etc.' when a parent reports incidents that had occurred at the school.
When you hear this it will show you where the educators mind is set; basically they see your child as the one who got it wrong and the bullying did not take place or they have minimized it within their mind that the incident was 'nothing big'.
This annoys me a bit because every single person on this planet has a different perception to the other person. It does not mean they are necessarily wrong or adding things in to mess the 'fact' up; it is just the way they have heard it or seen something. Unfortunately though your child has a label and so they will be doubted first and foremost.
I wonder why it is so hard for an adult to say; "I can see your child was very upset about that incident we will see to it and make sure it does not happen again"; and hopefully they are honest and stick to the promise, instead of regurgitating such useless judgments or pushing 'their' perception into the incident.
To read this full article please click here to download the attached document.
Schools in! Lessons taught without compassion are not lessons and are not worthy of hearing.
My son has been to seven schools! He was put a year ahead due to the education system testing his IQ and finding he was well above the average child. They believed his behaviour was due to being 'bored' . Being a new mum, of course I listened to the professionals since they had that powerful piece of paper/degree that made them an expert on my child.
I say that school either makes or breaks a child. The school play ground reminds me of "Lord of the Flies", where kids are thrown into a huge environment and they either fight their way to the top or they are squashed and battered on the bottom.
Yet as trusting parents we just drop our children off and may or may not understand the hidden elements that go on in both the classrooms and the play ground. Our son basically had his own desk at the principal's office. I guess I could give a bit of understanding to the education institutions by saying ASD/Aspergers was relatively unknown of at that current time and was just being explored and so I guess my son and many others were the guinea pigs of the schools.


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Willem van Aelst, també anomenat Guillmo van Aelst i Guillelmo d'Olanda (Delft, 1627 – Amsterdam, 1683) va ser un pintor barroc neerlandès, especialitzat en la pintura de natura morta.

Batejat a Delft el 16 de maig de 1627, es va formar amb el seu oncle, el també pintor de natura morta Evert van Aelst. Es va inscriure en el gremi de Sant Lucas de Delft el 1643. Dos anys més tard va marxar a França on va residir fins al 1649 o el 1651. Va anar després a Itàlia, establint-se a Florència. on va treballar al servei del gran duc de Toscana, Ferran II de Mèdici. Segons algunes fonts, en contacte amb Otto Marseus van Schrieck s'hauria incorporat a la Schildersbent, agrupació de pintors nòrdics residents a Itàlia, on hauria sigut conegut per l'àlies «Vogelverschrikker» (espantaocells) i signat amb aquest pseudònim algunes obres, encara que no existeix prova documental d'això i ni tan sols és segur que arribés a residir a Roma. El 1656 va tornar a Holanda, establint-se a Amsterdam. El 1679 va contreure matrimoni amb Helena Nieuwenhuys. Va ser enterrat a Ámsterdam el 22 de maig de 1683.

Willem van Aelst és autor d'un elevat nombre de pintures de natura morta datats entre 1643 i 1683. Influït per Jan Davidsz. de Heem; es tracta normalment de flors i de fruites, sovint amb els rams tallats i asimètrics, amb petits ocells pel voltant i bases de marbre cobertes amb tapets sovint de color blau, a to amb els colors predominantment freds de les branques i els fons, junt amb les de desdejuni i les de peces de caça, amb aus mortes penjant de les potes i banyes de caça.

Va tenir com a deixebles, entre altres, a Maria van Oosterwijk, Rachel Ruysch, Isaac Denies i Ernst Stuven.

Referències

Bibliografia
 Pita Andrade, José Manuel i Borobia Guerrero, María del Mar, Maestros antiguos del Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, 1992, p. 513,

Pintors neerlandesos del Barroc
Persones de Delft
Morts a Amsterdam
Il·lustradors botànics neerlandesos
Pintors d'Holanda Meridional

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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If it does not help, contact the license owner to check why license got terminated. For further details, contact Plesk Sales team.


text:
3667 Анна-Марія (1981 EF, 1979 SC7, 1985 YO, 3667 Anne-Marie) — астероїд головного поясу, відкритий 9 березня 1981 року.

Тіссеранів параметр щодо Юпітера — 3,126.

Примітки

Див. також
 Список астероїдів (3601-3700)

Посилання

Астрономічні об'єкти, відкриті 1981
Головний пояс астероїдів


text:
north atlantic oscillation
News tagged with north atlantic oscillation
Distant processes influence marine heatwaves around the world
The frequency of marine heatwave days increased by 50% over the past century but our ability to predict them has been limited by a lack of understanding around the key global processes that cause and amplify these events.
No direct link between north Atlantic currents, sea level along New England coast
A new study by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) clarifies what influence major currents in the North Atlantic have on sea level along the northeastern United States. The study, published June 13 in the journal ...
Experts find the origins of Europe's climate hidden in shrimp shells
An international team of geographers has found indications that the climate we have in Europe today began 5000 years ago, hidden in the shells of mussel shrimps.
Debunking the solar-cycle/North Atlantic winter weather connection
The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is considered a key driver of winter weather patterns over the northern hemisphere. A positive NAO is linked with more windstorms, and mild and wet winters in Europe. A negative NAO indicates ...
Greenland ice melting four times faster than in 2003, study finds
Greenland is melting faster than scientists previously thought—and will likely lead to faster sea level rise—thanks to the continued, accelerating warming of the Earth's atmosphere, a new study has found.
Bluefin tuna are back around the UK and a new study explains why
Bluefin tuna are back in the sea around the U.K. after decades of absence and a new study says that warming seas can explain why. Bluefin tuna are one of the biggest, most valuable and most endangered fish in the oceans. ...
Commercial shellfish landings decline likely linked to environmental factors
Researchers studying the sharp decline between 1980 and 2010 in documented landings of the four most commercially-important bivalve mollusks—eastern oysters, northern quahogs, softshell clams and northern bay scallops—have ...
Study links natural climate oscillations in north Atlantic to Greenland ice sheet melt
Scientists have known for years that warming global climate is melting the Greenland Ice Sheet, the second largest ice sheet in the world. A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), however, shows that ...
Winter wave heights and extreme storms on the rise in Western Europe
Average winter wave heights along the Atlantic coast of Western Europe have been rising for almost seven decades, according to new research.
Weather phenomena such as El Nino affect up to two-thirds of the world's harvests
Air pressure, sea level temperature or other similar factors fluctuate regularly in areas far apart in a way that causes rain and temperature patterns to shift significantly.


text:
With Military Population Dwindling, Fort Hood Hangs a Vacancy Shingle
Austin American-Statesman | By Sean Collins Walsh
Rents start at $995 per month. The schools are good. And the neighborhood is safe -- after all, it's on one of the largest U.S. military installations in the world.
In the mornings, residents driving along Tank Destroyer Boulevard or Hell on Wheels Avenue will see "TROOP CROSSING" signs and might come across columns of jogging soldiers. In the evenings, they'll be serenaded by taps playing from loudspeakers, plus the occasional explosion in the distance.
Dealing with a low occupancy rate as the Army shrinks after the peak of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Fort Hood has, for the first time, opened up rental units on the post to people unaffiliated with the military.
The shift, triggered by a provision in the Army's contract with a private company that runs the post's family housing program, has caused concern among some soldiers about whether the presence of outsiders will introduce a new security risk at Fort Hood, home to two high-profile shootings in the last decade.
Brian Dosa, Fort Hood's director of public works, said the Army has received "mixed reactions" from soldiers.
"We would prefer to have strictly military families living in our villages," Dosa said. "But I don't think it's a major impact ... that we now have some civilians. The numbers are pretty small."
Just like their soldier-neighbors in the family housing areas, the newcomers are allowed to keep guns in their homes, Fort Hood spokesman Chris Haug said. (Single soldiers living in the barracks cannot keep guns in their residences.)
Haug said the gun policy isn't a security risk because there are rigorous safeguards for the new residents, who must go through two layers of background checks -- one by the housing company and another by the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services -- and register any firearms they bring on post with Fort Hood authorities.
"They've had two background checks for everyone in their family over the age of 18. That's more than your neighbor has," Haug said.
Thirty-four other U.S. military installations have already brought in nonmilitary residents, and there have been no major security issues, said Mack Quinney, project director for the housing company.
Two families who are currently unaffiliated with the military have already moved in at Fort Hood, Quinney said. Many more have applied and been rejected, mainly for financial reasons, he said.
Among the new tenants is a former service member who is a reservist, Dosa said. He expects most civilians who are interested in living on the post will have some kind of indirect military connection.
Housing privatization
In 2001, Fort Hood became the first U.S. military installation to hand over housing to a private operator when it entered into a deal with the Australia-based Lendlease Group to form the Fort Hood Family Housing company.
The deal has facilitated the building of hundreds of new homes on Fort Hood, where soldiers have complained about the quality of the housing stock, by allowing them to be financed with private construction bonds, Fort Hood and Lendlease officials said.
About 5,500 military families live in the family quarters that vary in size from two-bedroom townhouses to five-bedroom single-family houses. (Separately, an additional 14,000 single soldiers live in the post's barracks, which are still operated by Fort Hood.)
The contract allows the company to rent to nonmilitary residents once the occupancy rate falls below 96 percent. As U.S. military involvement in the Middle East has wound down, the total active-duty force at Fort Hood, which includes deployed soldiers based at the post, has fallen from 50,000 in 2011 to about 40,000, Dosa said. The current occupancy rate is now 88 percent, Quinney said.
In the meantime, new housing in nearby communities is luring soldiers off post. Only about 50 senior officers are required to live on Fort Hood.
The newer houses constructed by Lendlease are popular with the soldiers, and there is a waiting list for them. Consequently, the units that will be available to nonmilitary residents will be the older ones passed over by the soldiers and their families.
On a recent weekday afternoon, Shane Rohr, who spent nine years in the Army and has lived on Fort Hood, sat in Amazing Vapor across Fort Hood Street from the post and puffed on a vaporizer. The idea of nonmilitary residents moving into Fort Hood didn't sit well with him.
"There's a lot of places on Fort Hood that people shouldn't be going to," said Rohr, 28, who was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea before retiring as a sergeant.
Rohr said the nonmilitary residents shouldn't be allowed to keep guns in their homes and should instead have to store them with the post, as the single soldiers in the barracks do.
He added that it is a bad idea to throw civilians into the military culture. "Part of being on post is if you have a complaint about your neighbor, you can bring it through the chain of command," Rohr said. "They have no incentive to live by the standards of the military."
Patrick Bransten, an Air Force staff sergeant stationed at Fort Hood, echoed Rohr's concerns about on-post culture and safety but said he thought the change was a good idea overall.
"I'm sure they're doing it because of money," said Bransten, 28, a meteorologist who served in Afghanistan and has lived at other installations but not on Fort Hood.
When Bransten arrived at Fort Hood four and a half years ago, he said he found the on-post living options to be "subpar" and decided to live in Killeen.
Attracting service members like Bransten to on-post living is exactly what Dosa hopes Fort Hood will accomplish by making sure the housing company has enough money to build new houses and renovate older ones.
"It's going to increase our occupancy rate, which increases the amount of income that's coming in that will help us to build new homes and do major renovations," Dosa said. ___
Army Family and Spouse Relocation Military Bases
© Copyright 2020 Austin American-Statesman. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Discussion in 'Current Forex Trading Signals' started by Henry Liu, Feb 1, 2011.
As stated in previous analyses on ADP NFP news, I usually don't trade it but I use this release for future trend references, but if the deviation of 50K is actually hit, market will probably have not problem pushing it, and this will undoubtedly change market perception for Friday's NFP release; therefore it is best to be around your computer during the release time rather than finding out what happened hours later and perhaps missed the entire movement.
With the above being said, we'll be looking for a deviation of 50K, so if we get 200K or better release, I'd be looking to BUY USD/JPY; if we get a 100K or worse, then I'd be looking to BUY EURUSD... I will also recommend to look at my strength meter and find the best currency against the USD pending the actual data.
With NFP private jobs forecasted at +145K it is likely that we will get 150K as forecasted... as a matter of fact, considering the ISM Manufacturing PMI's and the GDP release for the 4th Quarter on 2010, I believe we are likely to get a better than expected release than a worse one.
The private jobs number is usually the true reflection of the economy. However, with the general liquidity still thin, we should stay out of the market unless we get our tradable deviation.
There should not be much pre-news trading opportunities for this release.
Pls tell me where to look for your strength meter. Sorry if I am missing something very obvious to everyone.
You can get it from the top of the FPA page (Forex Calendar & Tools) menu.


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Swashbuckling Pirate Show
Pirates have returned to Hawks Cay Resort. Twice a week, families gather around the Pirate Ship Pool for an exciting adventure with Priscilla the Pirate Queen and her crew. The Swashbuckling Pirate Show is an interactive experience for our younger guests featuring singing, dancing and games!
Kids will laugh along with the show, as they learn about the history of pirates in the Florida Keys while dancing and playing with others their age. When characters are not performing, they can be found throughout the resort. Little ones will delight in getting to know the Swashbuckling Pirate Show characters who roam our tropical island.
Bring the whole family and let the kids earn their "badge of honor" while being sworn in to Priscilla's Pirate Crew.
Meet the Cast of the Swashbuckling Pirate Show
Priscilla the Pirate Queen — Priscilla the Pirate Queen is the Queen of the pirates! She sailed the 7 seas in search for lost treasure of Duck Key. She grew up on the island of Duck Key and has now returned to find the treasure and stake her claim. She is on a constant search for new pirates and can often be seen singing sea shanties at the bar or challenging kids to walk the plank at the resort pool. She is a courageous, sarcastic, cocky, and often short sighted. She is easily fooled by Captain Hawk, who often plays jokes on her.
Clarence the First Mate — Clarance is a fun-loving pirate who has been working under the Pirate Queen for many many years. He is blindly loyal to her. He loves to play with the children and often gets lost in his own thoughts. He has a huge imagination and acts out his fantasies on a regular basis. He is very much like an overgrown child and is constantly happy. He may try to be tough…he is about as tough as a toddler.
Captain Hawk — Captain Hawk, an avid fisherman and wrecker who's salvaged the sunken ships of the Keys for decades, has been hanging out on Duck Key for years. He has a stuffed hawk on his shoulder named Peaches that he thinks is real. He has a deep southern drawl and often entertains guests with tall tales of his "so called" adventures. He claims to be the owner/captain of the resort. Captain Hawk is described as fun loving, clumsy, eccentric, delusional and absent minded.
Koral the Mermaid — Koral is from deep below the seas of the Florida Keys. While she was searching for the long lost treasure of Hawks Cay she noticed a collection of garbage falling into the ocean. Since mermaids are protectors of the seas, she immediately went to remove the garbage. But there was more than she expected and ended up getting trapped in all the debris. Luckily, the Pirate Queen was nearby and rescued her. She brought her to Coral Cay to relax in the Coral Cay pool while her tail heals. She loves it so much here she has decided to stay longer and play with all of the children at Coral Cay. She is very happy and loves to speak to humans especially the children. Koral loves to search for treasure and swim with the dolphins. Like all mermaids, Koral is a protector of the seas. She strives for the balance of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water! When there is pollution in the sea, mermaids can become sick. So they love to teach children about the ocean and teach them how to love the sea!
Is there an age range?
The Swashbuckling Pirate Show is geared toward children ages 5-11, but all ages are welcome. Parents often enjoy the hidden humor and are able to take a quick "responsibility break," grab a drink and lounge by the pool. Kids will be completely engulfed learning how to become a pirate!
When and where are the shows?
Saturdays at 4 p.m. at the Pirate Ship Pool. Each show is 15 minutes long.
How do guests attend the show? Are tickets required?
The show is free, and no tickets are required. Just show up at the Pirate Ship Pool during the scheduled showtimes!
Is there seating available?
Tables and chairs are set up around the pool. Families can relax on the lounge chairs while children who want to participate are encouraged to sit along the water's edge. Parents usually end up standing to take photos of their children.
Can we meet the characters?
The entire crew takes pictures after the show. It's the best time to catch the whole cast together with such an iconic backdrop, our pirate ship. Keep an eye out for our crew members throughout the resort for more fun interactions and games!
In addition to this show, Coral Cay at Hawks Cay Resort hosts a variety of activities and programs for children and teens to enjoy such as snorkeling, corn hole competitions and Teen Night Out parties! There is fun for kids of all ages at our family resort in the Florida Keys.
#1 Family Resort by USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Hawk Cay Makes Vacationing with Toddlers Easy as 1, 2, 3
Top Hidden Experiences at Hawks Cay


text:
Abstractor: ERIC
Pedagogy and Student Services for Institutional Transformation: Implementing Universal Design in Higher Education
Higbee, Jeanne L., Ed.; Goff, Emily, Ed.
Center for Research on Developmental Education and Urban Literacy
PASS IT seeks to address a compelling need in higher education by developing a corps of trainers to facilitate professional development workshops in the implementation of Universal Design (UD) and Universal Instructional Design (UID) in higher education. UID, an adaptation of the architectural concept of Universal Design, is a relatively new model for providing access to higher education for students with disabilities. Through UD and UID, staff and faculty create more welcoming spaces for all students by rethinking professional practices to develop curricula and programs that are inclusive for all learners. This book is organized into six sections, each dealing with a different aspect of the implementation of UD and UID in higher education. The first section (Theoretical Frameworks) presents theoretical frameworks that explores the historical roots of attitudes toward disability and provides the theoretical foundations for UID and then illustrates intersections between UID and student development theory. The second, pedagogical section (Implementing Universal Instructional Design in the Classroom), of the book examines the inclusiveness of first-year courses through Universal Instructional Design and discusses the value of going beyond the usual syllabus statement to communicate to students about the importance of providing equal access to classrooms and the impact that such communication can have on teaching and on all students' learning. Examples are given to demonstrate the relevance of UID principles to courses in art, legal studies, student writing, social sciences, and mathematics. The use of a computer-assisted model known as the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) to teach a universally-designed psychology course is also explored in this section. The section closes with an examination of the role that learning communities play in implementing UD and UID. The third section (Implementing Universal Design in Academic Support and Student Development Programs and Services) explores the implementation of UD and UID in academic support and student development programs and services. The fourth section (Professional Preparation) addresses the application of UD and UID to professional preparation programs in higher education. The fifth section (Student Perspectives) is dedicated to student perspectives on the use of Universal Instructional Design. This section presents a discussion of the complicated process of disclosure for students with documented disabilities, as well as the results of the Multicultural Awareness Project for Institutional Transformation (MAP IT) that are specific to students with disabilities. A case study is described that demonstrates how developing accommodations for a student with multiple disabilities benefit the entire class. Finally, the sixth section (Administrative and Practical Considerations in Implementing Universal Instructional Design in Higher Education) addresses administrative and practical considerations in implementing UD in higher education. The book concludes with an expanded set of guidelines for extending UID as a model for multicultural postsecondary education. The book contains 38 articles, as follows: (1) Introduction (Emily Goff and Jeanne L. Higbee); (2) Theoretical Foundations of Universal Instructional Design (Nancy J. Evans); (3) Broadening the Pathway to Academic Success: The Critical Intersections of Social Justice Education, Critical Multicultural Education and Universal Instructional Design (Heather W. Hackman); (4) Linking Universal Instructional Design and Cultural Capital: Improving African American College Outcomes (Na'im Madyun); (5) Enhancing the Inclusiveness of First-Year Courses Through Universal Instructional Design (Jeanne L. Higbee, Carl J. Chung, and Leonardo Hsu); (6) Making a Statement (Mark Pedelty); (7) Practicing Universal Instructional Design in Visual Art Courses (Patricia James and Themina Kader); (8) Universal Instructional Design in a Legal Studies Classroom (Karen L. Miksch); (9) Teaching College History Using Universal Instructional Design (David Arendale and David Ghere); (10) Writing Assignments and Universal Design for Instruction: Making the Phantom Visible (Renee Delong); (11) Successful Undergraduate Mathematics Through Universal Design of Essential Course Components, Pedagogy, and Assessment (Irene M. Duranczyk and Annia K. Fayon); (12) Computer-Mediated Learning in Mathematics and Universal Instructional Design (D. Patrick Kinney and Laura Smith Kinney); (13) Universal Instructional Design in a Computer-Based Psychology Course (Thomas Brothen and Cathrine Wambach); (14) Charting a New Course: Learning Communities and Universal Design (Rashne R. Jehangir); (15) Universal Design Principles for Student Development Programs and Services (Jeanne L. Higbee); (16) Universal Learning Support Design: Maximizing Learning Beyond the Classroom (Donald L. Opitz and Lydia S. Block); (17) Implementing Universal Design in Learning Centers (Jeanne L. Higbee and Shevawn B. Eaton); (18) Universal Design in Counseling Center Service Areas (Kathleen B. Uzes and Daley O. Connelly); (19) Universal Design in Advising (Principles and Practices, Mary Ellen Shaw, Amy Kampsen, Carole Anne Broad, and Anthony Albecker); (20) The First-Year Experience (Jeanne L. Higbee and Karen S. Kalivoda); (21) Residential Living for All: Fully Accessible and "Liveable" On-Campus Housing (Martha E. Wisbey and Karen S. Kalivoda); (22) Disability Services as a Resource: Advancing Universal Design (Karen S. Kalivoda and Margaret C. Totty); (23) Ensuring Smooth Transitions: A Collaborative Endeavor for Career Services (Jeanne L. Higbee, Emily Goff, Karen S. Kalivoda, Margaret C. Totty, Janice Davis Barham, and Christopher D. Bell); (24) Infusing Universal Instructional Design Into Student Personnel Graduate Programs (Karen A. Myers); (25) The Application of Universal Instructional Design in Experiential Education (Nancy Sharby and Susan E. Roush); (26) An Administrative Approach to Universal Design in Allied Health Sciences (Deborah A. Casey); (27) Training Professional and Faculty Advisors in Universal Design Principles (Debbie Cunningham, Alfred Souma, and Kaycee Gilmore Holman); (28) Universal Instructional Design and Professional Development of Public School Teachers (Karen A. Myers, Jo Nell Wood, and Mark Poussan); (29) Student Evaluations of the Effectiveness of Implementing Universal Instructional Design (Jeanne L. Higbee, Pa Houa Lee, James R. Bardill, and Heidi Cardinal); (30) Why Not Disclose? (Julie R. Alexandrin, Ilana Lyn Schreiber, and Elizabeth Henry); (31) Empowering Students With Severe Disabilities: A Case Study (Jay T. Hatch, David L. Ghere, and Katrina N. Jirik); (32) Disability and Diversity: Results From the Multicultural Awareness Project for Institutional Transformation (Jeanne L. Higbee, Patrick L. Bruch, and Kwabena Siaka); (33) Using Universal Design for Administrative Leadership, Planning, and Evaluation (David Arendale and Robert Poch); (34) Computing Technologies, the Digital Divide, and "Universal" Instructional Methods (Jillian M. Duquaine-Watson); (35) Transforming the Community College by Eliminating Division Between Educational and Student Services (Melanie K. Wagner); (36) Community Colleges and Universal Instructional Design (Judy Schuck and Jane Larson); (37) Assistive Technology (Margret C. Totty and Karen S. Kalivoda); and (38) Institutional Transformation: Some Concluding Thoughts (Jeanne L. Higbee). [Individual articles contain references and tables.]
Descriptors: Social Justice, Cultural Pluralism, Counseling Services, Instructional Design, Multicultural Education, Student Evaluation, Disabilities, Student Personnel Services, Professional Development, Workshops, Student Development, Case Studies, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Enrollment, Academic Achievement, Cultural Capital, College Freshmen, Accessibility (for Disabled)
Center for Research on Developmental Education and Urban Literacy (CRDEUL). University of Minnesota, General College, 340 Appleby Hall, 128 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Tel: 612-625-6411; Fax: 612-625-0709; e-mail: crdeul@umn.edu; Web site: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/CRDEUL
Publication Type: Collected Works - General; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Two Year Colleges
Sponsor: Office of Postsecondary Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis. Center for Research on Developmental Education and Urban Literacy.


Getting new members for a CrossFit box is essential for continued growth, but do you know what's even more important?
If you answered 'keeping those clients,' then you earned a gold star. You'll need to work hard to keep your CrossFit clients from leaving, and that means you have to implement a few key strategies to achieve this goal.
No matter the fitness level of your members, they all crave coaching that will push their limits both mentally and physically.
In fact, one of the hallmarks of CrossFit is that success is measured by how each member improves as opposed to evaluation of actual performance.
In other words, you need to tailor your coaching methods to each of your box members, so that they feel like you are personally invested in their progress. How do you do that?
You do that by creating membership profiles that list all the likes, dislikes and goals of each client. This helps you modify your programs to match their wants and needs.
Rewards and incentives are effective ways to keep CrossFit clients because they provide tangible reasons for members to work toward a goal.
Whether you tie rewards to a measurable physical goal, or you offer referral incentives, these are time-tested strategies that can help your clients feel valued. This increases the likelihood of them sticking around.
It's impossible to create a personal experience for your box members if your staff isn't driven by that same goal.
As the owner of your box, it's your responsibility to hire and to train your staff to focus on making each client feel like they are stepping into a friendly, safe environment every time they enter your box.
Instruct your staff to learn every member's name and to use it as often as possible.
Your staff should also encourage members to ask questions. That way, you can understand if there are certain needs that your box is not satisfying.
When one of your members is consistently absent, it could be a sign that something is wrong. That's why it's so important to invest in gym software tracking the frequency of member visits. That way, you can see when someone who was visiting your box regularly begins to miss time.
You can use this information to reach out to those members, find out what's going on in their lives and whether an issue at the box is causing that absence.
Keeping your CrossFit clients requires that you focus on personalizing their experience, pay attention to their wants and needs, and seek out wayward members. And implementing these strategies is also an effective way to boost referrals and brand your box.


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Greylo 2D – Simon Game is a memory game like the retro Simon Says games. You control Greylo and have to follow the color and sound patterns for as long as you can. You earn coins for playing, and then you can buy other outfits to dress up! While you play you improve your memory skills!
I will be grateful for some reviews, opinions and ideas.
Please consider rating my game, thank you !


hey, did anyone go to the show in newport?
For those who like "charts"
Please read, it's driving me insane.
looking for Bo...Is he with the band?
Anyone at Portland, OR show?
is ballard still in the band?
WHY DO YOU PLAY 21+ VENUES!!!
Elf Power in Clemson, SC on Nov. 5, but where in Clemson?
A Dream in Sound and Red King coming out on 10/04?
Rieger, how long has this been going on?
Vainly Clutching...LP on the Drug Racer Label!!!
Andrew Rieger/Yume Bitsu - split 12"
elf power for earth day?
Elf Power @ Spaceland in LA!!!
The Red King Lyrics... ?
Elf Power European shows - the verdict?
What is the ESSENTIAL Elf Power Album?
New Tour Kicks Off Today - Who's in the band?
Do you have pictures of Elf Power on Flickr?
red king LP copies for sale anyone?
tour announced; anyone in san diego besides me?
of Montreal/Elf Power/Dark Meat - April 9th - 40 Watt - Athens!
Anybody going to the show w/ the Instruments this Friday?
New record "In A Cave"
win a homemade e6 totebag signed by andrew rieger of elf power!
New non-album Elf Power song "Venus and Mercury"
new elf power album due out this autumn!


English writing of all levels and category - Academic, Research, Essay, Reports etc.
Hi, I am a professionally qualified civil engineer from IIT Kharagpur. I spent 15 yrs working overseas in countries like UK, Australia and UAE in the Oil and Gas vertical. As you can imagine I have quite a strong background in the engineering, science and technology field. However, besides that, I have always had a love and a flair for writing. My poems were published in school magazine. At IIT, I was the Editor of my Civil Engineering Society Journal and I published some of my own poems too. Coming to academic writing, I have written the Masters Thesis for an Indian who was a student of Aberdeen University. I also wrote articles for my friends, who were studying Management courses in Heriott-Watt University, that were part of the coursework. I am attaching these samples for your perusal.


The installation and maintenance manuals, a list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers, and a formal offer to be signed.
A video-call with your local plumber and electrician to review installation requirements and procedures to connect the water pipe and the electric wire from the box to your building and maintenance questions in the future.
Once your down payment ($500) is received (non-refundable), we will book a Skype session to review logistics, installation, timing and answer any questions (typically within a week). Following that call, you will need to sign a formal offer (will be sent with your down payment confirmation).
At least two weeks before your manufacturing time slot you need to pay $15,000 to our Silicon Valley Bank account. Please keep an eye out for our email with banking information! If we don't hear from you, we may give your slot away.
Additionally, you are invited to visit us in Arezzo, Italy at the manufacturing site during the production of your box! Our partner, Off Grid Farming, is happy to host you for two free nights (2 people)!


Pakistan was formed as a result of partition of India in 1947. The new nation began the development of its army soon after separation. Within a few years, the army ousted democratic system of governance and army rule existed most of the time until General Pervez Musharraf quit his presidency in 2008. The army is the strongest force is the Pakistan defense system and has fought a number of wars over the decades. It has also tackled a number of internal conflicts. Pakistan army is the backbone of the nation and plays a major role in development of socio-economic conditions by developing infrastructure in the country. On the international front, the army of Pakistan is doing great work in promoting world peace. Recently, the army won appreciation for being the biggest contributor to United Nations peace keeping attempts. The following article is a brief sketch about the evolution, the present status and future plans of the Pakistani army.
An official army was soon formed after partition and the first General of Pakistan army, General Ayub Khan, took charge of the army in 1951. Before partition of India took place, both the countries experienced a lot of violence. The root of the problem was fear on behalf of the Pakistanis who feared that India would capture Kashmir. At the same time, India received 21 infantry regiments, 40 artillery and 12 armored weapons of war and Pakistan received less than half of each. This gave birth to insecurity and that resulted in the massive massacre of 1947. Pakistan army first fought India in 1947, hardly a few months after the division of the countries. The war was interrupted by the United Nations. However, the war did bring out the strength of the Pakistani army as it managed to hold on the northeastern parts of Kashmir.
The Pakistan army has fought a number of wars throughout history. In 1958, Pakistan army ousted democratic rule and military rule was established. General Ayub Khan became the President of the country. By 1957, the military strength of the army had increased significantly with United States and England providing a lot of aid to the country in terms of weapons and finances. This aid came after the Baghdad Pact of 1954 and subsequently, the South East Asian Treaty Organization and Central Treaty Organization.
At the time of independence, Pakistan acquired and raised 7th, 8th and 9th divisions. In 1948, the country raised 10th, 12th and 14th divisions. In 1950, the country got its 15th army division. However, due to the fact that aid from United States was restricted, several of them such as Division 6 and Division 9 were disbanded. Six infantry divisions and one armored division received US aid after 1954.
All through history, Pakistan has always had tensed relationship with India. A number of minor scuffles on the borders have been a common happening between the two countries. The tension peaked in the 1960s for the second time after 1947 and a battle was fought in the Rann of Kutch in the 1965. The most dominant feature of this border war was the implementation of Operation Gilbraltar. The battle ended with the Tashkent Declaration. However, the performance of Pakistan army has been widely appreciated in the war because it stood like a rock before the much stronger and advanced Indian army. In the war, artillery played a very important role.
In 1969, when General Yahya Khan became the president after ousting Ayub Khan, the Pakistan army was strengthened by formation of 16, 18 and 23 divisions. In the period between 1969 and 1971, a lot of civil unrest took place in the country and the army played a major role during this period. East Pakistan, which is the present Bangladesh, got its independence from Pakistan after a fierce war of Independence. The Bangladesh army, with the support of Indian army to a large extent, succeeded in defeating Pakistan army and gained their independence. The People's Republic of Bangladesh was formed on 16th December 1971 after General Niazi's surrender to the Indian attack.
Between 1971 and 1977, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over as the President and Chief Martial Law Administrator, a post vacated by General Yahya Khan. This appointment brought a brief end to the army rule and democracy was reinstated, although not for long. In 1977, army head General Zia ul Haq ousted the Bhutto government and declared himself President and military chief. Thus, army rule was back.
Pakistan has fought four wars with India in 1947, 1965, 1971 and the more recent Kargil war of 1999. In 1947, Pakistan took control of northern and western parts of Kashmir while India retained the northeastern, central and southern parts. The war ended on an equal footing. In the 1965 war that lasted five weeks, Pakistan army lost. The next war of 1971 was not over Kashmir but over the independence of Bangladesh. India won decisively and Bangladesh got its independence. Kargil war of 1999 was also lost by Pakistan and the forces had to retreat from the Line of Control. In the 1970s, Pakistan army fought the Balochistan war. Although the army was successful in the war, heavy losses were incurred. After the Kargil war, the army came back to governance with General Pervez Musharraf as the President.
Ever since 2000, Pakistan army has been involved in scuffles with the Al-Qaeda, Taliban and other terrorist groups that exist in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2004 May, Pakistan military suffered severe losses in war with Al Qaeda due to poor organization. Pakistan has been in the clutches of terrorist violence with a number of bombings taking place all over the country regularly.
In 2007, army attacked the militant region Swat Valley but was unsuccessful in driving militants out. In 2008, negotiations over Swat valley with militants did not yield results. In April 2009, the army again attacked the Swat Valley and by July of the same year, a lot of militants were cleared out. However, Taliban activity still exists in the country. The attack on the militant controlled Waziristan region took place in September-October of 2009. 30,000 troops were deployed and the army was able to recapture the territory of Waziristan.
All through history, Pakistan has had the support of United States financially and in military training and development. In 1948, US aided Pakistan with $0.77 million and progressively increased the aid. In 2010, $1867.37 million was provided.
Pakistan army is the biggest force in its defense mechanism. There are 651,000 personnel employed in the army with 500,000 personnel in the reserve force. The present General of the Army is General Ashwaq Pervez Kayani.
On the whole, Pakistan army has a 16,461 land based weapons, out of which, there are 2640 tanks, 1700 towed artillery, 4620 APC/IFVs, 500 SPGs, 200 MLRS, 3200 mortars, 3400 AT weapons, 2500 AA weapons and 11,500 logistical vehicles. The country plans on expanding its nuclear power. As of now, the army is in possession of various surface to surface, surface to air, air to air and air to surface missile.
Pakistan army is one of the largest and the most active participant in the peace keeping missions of the United Nations. Currently, thousands of soldiers are deployed in different parts of the world for peace keeping activities. 3556 troops are deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission. These troops have been involved in the operation since 1999. Beginning from 2003, 2741 troops have been assigned as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia. From 2004 onwards, 1185 troops have been stationed for United Nations Operations in Burundi. In the same year, 1145 troops were sent for peace keeping mission for United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire. In 2005, 1542 troops were sent to support the United Nations Mission in Sudan.
There are two main branches in the Pakistan Army – Services and Arms, the Services wing consists of Army Services Corps, Corps of Military Police, Military Intelligence Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Ordnance Corps, Pakistan Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps, Remount Veterinary and Farms Corps, Army Education Corps, JAG Corps and Army Clerical Corps. The Arms wing consists of the Armored Corps division, artillery, infantry, air defense, engineers, aviation, signals, chemical corps and airborne division.
The weapon strength of the Pakistan army is substantial. The force has different handguns such as Glock 17 and 26, Tokarev, HK P7, Beretta 92 and Steyr M9A1, which has been obtained by SSW. Sub machine guns are of different kinds such as Heckler and Koch MP5, Heckler and Koch MP5K, M4A1 and FN P90. Heckler and Koch Battle rifle is also present in the Pakistan army. In addition, the force has a number of Assault rifles such as Type 56, AK-103, Steyr AUG and FN F200 and Arges 84 & M67 Grenades, Sniper rifles such as Dragunov, HK PSG1, M82 Barret and Steyr SSG69 and Machine guns such as FN MAG, FN Minimi para, MG3 and RPD. Grenade launchers such as Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, Mk 19, RPG 7 and 29 are housed in the army weapons wing.
The Pakistani army houses 400 Al-Khalid, 320 T-80UD, 300 Type 85-IIAP, 400 Al-Zarrar, 400 Type 69-II, 400 Type 59 and a number of Type 63 and T-54/55 Main Battle Tanks. Many of these are held in reserve storage.
Armored personal carriers are a major contribution to the weapon strength with Hamza infantry fighting vehicles, 140 Al-Fahd infantry fighting vehicle, M113 armored personnel carrier which are 1600 in number, 120 armored personnel carriers of type BTR-70/BTR-80, Mohafiz Light Armoured Personnel Carriers, 260 Otokar Akrep Light Jeep and M88 ARV Armoured Recovery Vehicle. In addition to these, Pakistan army has two Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridges such as M60A1 AVLB and M48, both of which are currently in service.
Pakistan army consists of around 500 self propelled artillery such as M110 of caliber 203mm, M109 of caliber 155mm and Norinco SH1 of caliber 155mm. 36 300 mm A-100E, 122 mm Azar (Type 83) and 122mm KRL-122 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems are available with the army. The KRL-122 MLRS is a truck mounted launching systems that has a range of 40 km and is enabled with GPRS. In the towed artillery section, the army houses around 1700 weapons such as 28 M115 of 203mm caliber, 52 MKEK Panter, 148 M198 and 144 number of M114 of 155mm caliber. In addition, the towed artillery section consists of Type 59I, Type 54, M56, M101 and Type 56 weapons and equipments.
Anti tank weapons such as Bakter Shikan ATGM, BGM 71 TOW and BGM 71 TOW 2 and MILAN are present in the army. 35mm twin cannon Oerlikon GDF-005, modified cannon Oerlikon AHEAD, PG99 (CS/SA1) and Bofors 40mm cannons augment the army strength of Pakistan.
Originally, the Pakistani army consisted predominantly of Punjab regiment. However, as of now, the army is equipped with a number of regiments that fight in various formations. Important regiments in the army are Punjab regiment, Frontier Force Regiment, Baloch regiment, Azad Kashmir Regiment, Sind Regiment and Northern Light infantry. Besides these, there are a number of cavalry regiments under Pakistani Armored Corps. A special force is formed for the protection of the President called The President's Bodyguard.
For carrying out special elite operations, the army has special forces consisting of 2100 personnel who are divided into three battalions. The current strength, with possible enhancements is kept confidential although it is expected that the special forces now consist of six battalions. These forces have been created on the same lines as that of American Green Berets and SAS of Britain army.
The headquarters of the Pakistani army is at Rawalpindi in Punjab state. The army has thirteen corps divisions, each located in a different part of the country. Each of these Corps, in turn, has a number of armored brigades, artillery brigades, Infantry brigades and anti-tank brigades. The Corps are headquartered at Mangla Cantonment, Multan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta. The air defense command forces and army strategic forces command have their headquarters at Rawalpindi.
The army of Pakistan plays a major role in governance and nation building activities in arenas such as infrastructure development, industrial development, National disaster management and other miscellaneous national tasks. Besides defending the boundaries of its motherland, Pakistan army runs a number of welfare organizations such as AWT, FWO, Fauji Foundation, Bahria Foundation, Shaheen Foundation, SCO and NLC that work towards uplifting various sections of the society including national martyrs, those disabled in national service and military retirees. The army also takes up massive restoration and rehabilitation tasks in places hit by disaster. It works towards providing basic facilities such as medical aid and education in addition to restoring infrastructure such as roads, bridges and dams.
The contribution of Pakistani army in maintaining internal peace in a country that is always characterized by terrorism and violence is appreciable. The army acts as a major stabilizing force in the country.
Future plans of Pakistani army are to increase their weapons inventory and in keeping with this objective, several firms in Pakistan have come together to develop and produce weapons in joint agreements with Ukraine, France and South Korea. These deals were formed during the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar help in 2006 November at Karachi. As per these agreements, the Pakistani army is to receive land and armor weaponry, 155mm artillery shells and armor bricks. By 2019, the entire artillery capability of Pakistan army will be upgraded to 155mm. China, United States and Europe will be supplying a number of heavy, medium and light self propelled and towed howitzers to Pakistan.
Massive plans for enhancement and modernization of artillery, infantry and armor divisions are in line. Development is planned both quantitatively and qualitatively. The army aims at having a total of 2000 Talha armored personnel carriers. Sa'ad armored personnel carriers are currently in production. The army also plans to arm itself with 200 Al Qaswa logistic vehicles and they are in the process of procurement.
Pakistan army has signed agreement with Heavy Industries Taxila. This pact is for the development of main battle tank Al Khalid II. By 2012, the country plans to make these tanks the major tank force of its army. The older tanks that were procured from China will be replaced by these state of the art tanks. The tank sports western design and is said to be a huge development over the currently existing Al Khalids.
In addition, Pakistan army has formed contracts with Turkey for development of modern tank systems and other defense machinery. WS-1B multiple launch rocket systems are also in line for procurement from China. These rocket launching systems will be various sizes and ranges. The army aviation wing is another arena that is the subject of development. Attack helicopters will be acquired for Europe, United States and Russia.
The special forces, paramilitary forces and regular forces of the Pakistan army have been initiated for modernization. The modernization drive is planned to be a highly comprehensive activity that includes development of new battle strategies, improvement in training of personnel and procuring better weapons and equipments. Plans are also on to bring a change in the infantry uniform, which will include bullet proof vests, assault rifles of caliber 5.56mm and helmets.
The army also plans to improve its night vision equipment and systems of communication that will provide highly secure channels for communication. Devices for enhanced communication will be procured from the United States. For improving standards in training, Pakistan army sends officers to NATO countries, where instructors from the United States offer state of the art training. Development of missile strength, especially of the Shaheen II missile, is another major agenda in the future plans of the Pakistani army.