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Webelos left behind
By LongHaul,
January 13, 2008 in Cub Scouts
LongHaul 10
Discussion came up at our last District Operations Meeting; What do you do with a Webelos II that does not want to try and achieve his AOL and at crossover time does not qualify to crossover? According to the application they must be 11 or have graduated 5th Grade, or be at least 10 and have earned the AOL. DO you crossover the none AOL scout and hold the app till he graduates in June? or do you make him hang around the Pack till June?
evmori 6 posts
LongHaul 4 posts
Lisabob 4 posts
Oak Tree 4 posts
Gold Winger 9
Gold Winger
Does he want to become a Boy Scout? If not, it really doesn't matter.
If he does want to become a Boy Scout, he has two options: hang around with the Pack until he completes the fifth grade or hang around at home until he completes the fifth grade. Okay, or turns 11.
Whther he should be allowed to "cross" with the other boys is a difficult one. Will the other boys say, "hey! He didn't do squat and still gets the ceremony!" or "Hey! He's not a Boy Scout yet, get out of here!"
Nah, I'd let him sit it out. It might be percieved as mean but it might do him some good to see what he's missed. Maybe he'll decide to put the extra months to use to finish his AOL.
RememberSchiff 2442
RememberSchiff
old fogey nostalgic for the good old days
This is an opportunity to show that there are many paths to Scouting and that you can join at anytime. Also, advancement is just one method to achieve the aims of Scouting. (The "aims" are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Advancement is just one method used to achieve these aims. The other methods are Ideals, Patrols (a.k.a patrol method), Outdoor Programs, Personal Growth, Leadership Development, and Uniform)
At the crossover ceremony, I would recognize the non-AOL scout's accomplishments, respect his decision, and let him know he can join scouting anytime. They are all making a next step in their life, they are just going in different directions.
Maybe say something like
We honor the accomplishments that you have made on journey along the Cub Scout trail and we ask that you too look back and remember those accomplishments and your many friends as well. Now you have reached the end of the Cub Scout trail, where two new trails begin. Some of you will now take the trail (bridge) to Boy Scouts and some will take another trail. These trails will cross again and again. You can crossover to the scouting trail at any time, at any age. See you on the trail.
Those who earned AOL, "crossover" to meet Scouts/Scout Leaders of the troop they will be joining. Now if the Non-AOL scout wishes to join Boy Scouts let him walk a different symbolic trail over to the Boy Scouts. If he does not, he justs remains seated and watches as his friends head down the scouting trail.
Talk to the Scoutmaster and see if he can attend their meetings until he can "officially" join at 11 or graduates 5th grade in 4 or 5 months. Hopefully, this troop is now making plans for summer camp. I think he will lose interest in scouting, if he is "held back" in Cub Scouts. Would you place him in a Web I den?
All new Boy Scouts have to complete the "Scout Badge" which is mostly a repeat of AOL requirements anyway. He will have to work a little harder to complete Scout Badge than his fellow scouts who earned their AOL and hopefully that will make an impression.
Good Scouting
He remains registered in the Pack until such time he is eligible to register with a troop. It's not fair to allow him to be a Boy Scout if he's not interested in doing the work necessary to get there. He's made his choice, now there are consequences.
Trevorum 24
Trevorum
Mod-R8R
"I'd let him sit it out. It might be percieved as mean but it might do him some good to see what he's missed."
I agree with GW. Tough love.
Lisabob 13
Lisabob
I'd say it depends on some other background factors, including the relationship between pack and troop, the pack's structure, and why the boy didn't earn AoL to start with.
If there's a strong relationship between the pack and troop, this opens up all kinds of windows. For example, if the troop has den chiefs operating in the pack, maybe this boy can be an assistant to one of the best den chiefs for a couple of months. It is a way to keep him active in scouting, helps him build a connection with at least one older youth in the troop, and can give him motivation to be part of the troop once he's eligible.
Why didn't the boy(s) earn AoL? Is it because they just joined scouting as Webelos IIs and didn't have time? In that case, maybe they would benefit from a couple more months as cubs, if it can be arranged. Scouting is still new to them so they aren't as likely to be bored by sticking with the cub program a short while longer. Is it because they have special needs and can't progress as quickly as other boys? Again, maybe sticking with cubs a bit longer is beneficial. Is it because they just weren't that interested in the award? In that case, you have to determine whether they are the type who just found cubbing to be too constrained (I've known boys who disliked cubs, esp. toward the end, but loved boy scouts) and would thrive in a boy scout environment, or whether they really aren't so interested in becoming boy scouts. Or maybe they love doing all the cool stuff scouts of all ranks do, but aren't motivated by rank advancement. Your solution should vary, depending on why they aren't AoL yet.
In terms of pack structure - Does the pack have another webelos den? I've seen packs take boys who are Webelos IIs but not eligible to join the troop yet and move then into the Webelos I den for a couple of months. Some of those boys do go on to finish their AOL and just needed the extra time and/or incentive to do so, which works out nicely for all concerned. And the difference between 4th and 5th graders isn't usually that large, but if the older boy needs (and can handle) a little "extra" then he can also assist the Webelos I boys in learning material he may have already done.
If the pack doesn't have another den for the boy(s) to go to and the webelos II leader isn't planning to stick around after cross-over, then it is tougher. Asking a 5th grader to go hang out with the bear or wolf den is almost a punishment and won't fly well. Telling him to take a 2-3 month "break" from scouting is likely to result in losing the boy from the program altogether, as he will likely find other things to get involved in during the meantime, and even if he doesn't, he is then in a position to join the troop as a brand new scout just before shipping off to summer camp - not the easiest transition to make for boys or their parents.
In that case I have seen troops invite the boy to come along on some of their outings and meetings as a guest (not a member). The troop may decide that the boy can't do everything, and it would have to be clearly indicated that anything the boy does prior to actually joining doesn't "count" toward rank. But as we're only talking about a matter of 2-3 months in most cases, this might work as an interim measure. This assumes the boy plans to join the troop once he is eligible, of course.
There's also the maturity level of the boy, his interest in scouts, and his parents' interest in keeping him in the program to consider. Some boys could handle joining the troop a little later, going to summer camp with no prior acquaintance with the troop, and some could not. Some parents will find creative ways to keep their sons interested in scouting even during a short hiatus, others will not.
Hope this helps somewhat, and I'm interested in others' thoughts too. Around here, most boys who don't cross over with their dens drop out of scouting. As a district membership person, I'd really like to find some creative ways to reduce the likelihood of that outcome.
infoscouter 11
infoscouter
Is this Scout really "left behind"? or is he following one of the principles of BSA advancement as a self-paced exercise, rather than a lock-step march through the ranks?
After five years of leadership, I think a Webelos leader often gets focused on the end of their personal journey, rather than the best interests of the individual Scouts in the den. I can't blame them - it can be a long slog. Personally, I turned my first den over to another leader after year four because the pack needed an assistant cubmaster, but privately I was relieved.
The structure of the Webelos program, where all the kids work on the activity badges at the same time, also contributes to this mindset. You get focused on AoL and cross over and everybody getting done. It becomes easy to overlook the individual needs of the Scouts.
The pack leadership should of course find a place for this Scout in the den with the fourth graders. Webelos dens don't have to be all one grade. He can continue as a Cub Scout, and when he's ready the pack and troop should have a cross-over ceremony, just as they did for the other fifth grade Scouts.
evmori 11
evmori
Background makes no difference. If this Webelos has decided not to try to earn his AOL, that is his decision. And as has been posted, decisions have consequences. If he doesn't qualify to be a Boy Scout, he has to wait. That's the choice he has made regardless of the reason. And those are the consequence's of the decision he has made. A life lesson has been learned.
Ed Mori
I want to reiterate infoscouters mention that if he does not cross over with the rest of his den, a cross-over ceremony should be held in the spring, if he decides to join a troop at that point. Any cub scout joining boy scouts, regardless of whether or not they earned the AOL, should be given a cross-over ceremony.
I have to agree with meamemg. No where does it say one has to be AOL in order to cross over. They are crossing over from Cubs to Scouts. If the boys is a registered Cub and is doing a $1 transfer over to Scouts, he's entitled to a cross over ceremony.
Maybe we as adults convey too much importance on AOL that we forget what the Cubbing program is all about, just like we convey the importance that Eagle is the end-all for Boy Scouting.
If any negative dynamic is involved in the transition program between Webelos and Scouting it may turn the boy off from continuing his scouting career. This transition is difficult enough without adults doing a dump job of "tough love" on a kid.
I would think that scout troops would be doing back bends and hand stands to get these kids to join up with their troop. If not, that Cub needs to find a different troop. "A Scout is ... Helpful, Friendly, Kind, ..."
How "big" and how "old" does the little old lady have to be before a scout helping her across the street gets credit for his good turn for the day? People are more important than rules.
No where does it say one has to be AOL in order to cross over. They are crossing over from Cubs to Scouts. If the boys is a registered Cub and is doing a $1 transfer over to Scouts, he's entitled to a cross over ceremony.
I don't think anyone is saying he has to earn his AOL to crossover. The problem is if he doesn't he must wait until he ages out of Cub Scouts to crossover. He is entitled to a ceremony when he crosses over.
>>If he doesn't qualify to be a Boy Scout, he has to wait. That's the choice he has made regardless of the reason. And those are the consequence's of the decision he has made. A life lesson has been learned.
See things from the boy's point of view. BP
The scout who did not earn his AOL, sees his patrol leaving for Boy Scouts without him just because he did not earn a patch. Rejection is pretty tough at that age. Think of the boy, change the rules, and let him enter a Boy Scout troop together at the same time with his buddies.
From my Webelos Den Leader experience, this "tough love" policy has always been applied in my unit and always with the same result. Webs that did not earn their AOL and did not crossover at the same time, did not join Boy Scouts. Not one.
If the rules are to be changed it must come from National. A unit doesn't have the authority to change these rules.
While not wanting to get too far into the debate about whether or not a good idea to formally join the troop without meeting the criteria, I will say that I know of specific cases in which our council approved early cross-overs for boys who did not yet have their AoL and who were not either 11 or finished with 5th grade. Additionally, we did some looking into a situation of a boy who was 9, AoL, and part-way through his 5th grade year (he had skipped a couple grades). It appeared that our council would likely have granted him a waiver to join the troop also, despite not meeting the age/grade criteria at that point in time. We ended up not needing to pursue the matter so I can't be sure. However, from experience it seems as though national does not need to be involved in all cases.
And I do think circumstances matter; for example, boys who join cub scouts in October of their 5th grade year simply do not have time to earn AoL. We can do what will be perceived as "punishment" for their "error" of joining so late, or we can be more welcoming of them, make it work somehow, and keep them in scouting. This happens every year for most packs (though in fairly small numbers most of the time) and I'd hate to see us turn boys away from the program if it could be helped.


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World Book Day - A Book and a Bun!!
We had a fabulous time celebrating World Book Day again this year. It was great fun doing our catwalk show and looking at the amazing costumes worn by children (and staff). It was lovely to see so many parents and family members staying to share a books with the children and then stay for a cuppa and an iced bun.
This year we also had a competition, where children had to decorate a potato like a character from a book - there were some very inventive entries.
We were lucky enough to have Karen and Rachel visit us during collective worship, to talk about Fair Trade and what it means. We were even given some delicious geo bars as a treat - thank you.


From top to bottom, the Razer Blade is a very well-thought out design, and is a joy to use on a day to day basis. It's hard to imagine porting around a 17-inch laptop, but at only a little under 7 pounds all-in and with surprisingly stellar battery life, the previously unthinkable is perfectly reasonable here.
Update: In light of the new 14-inch Razer Blade, the 17-inch version of the Razer Blade, reviewed here, is now known as the Razer Blade Pro.
In both form and function, there's a lot to love about Razer's new 17-inch Razer Blade Pro gaming laptop. It's attractive, thin, lightweight, and very, very fast.
Far and away, however, the feature everyone notices first - and that you'll want to show off to your friends, family, and fellow/random tech nerds - is first-of-its-kind Switchblade touchpad interface. This unique new feature turns the Blade's touchpad into a fully functioning second screen that allows you to check your email, watch YouTube videos, or - best of all - amplify your gaming experience.
This final point is the most important of all because from the hardware to the battery life to the right-hand position of touchpad, the Razer Blade Pro is decidedly gaming-ready.
The question is: Is it worth the top-shelf $2,500 (£1,500) price tag? Answer: If you have the cash, the answer is yes. Consider this: At this point in time, it's literally not possible to get this much power on another laptop with a 17-inch screen in a chassis this thin and light.
We'll get to the Switchblade UI touchpad shortly. Let's start at the top.
Even considering the impressive Switchblade second-screen touchpad, we still can't get over the size and shape of this system. At .88 inches thick and weighing only 6.6 pounds (a touch under 7 pounds with the power brick), this is an exquisite feat of modern engineering. Most laptops with the Razer Blade Pro's specs are literally twice as thick and weigh 10 percent to 20 percent more.
These dimensions felt even more impressive when we remembered that Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air measures .68 inches at its thickest point. It's not packing nearly half the power of this portable.
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The Razer Blade Pro has a 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 display. It's not an IPS screen, but it has great viewing angles and very nice color tones - enough so that we initially thought it was an IPS panel.
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Translation: This CPU is really, really fast - and power efficient.
The CPU does have Intel's integrated HD Graphics 4000, but Razer taps Nvidia's upper mid-range GeForce GTX 660M as the graphics workhorse. DirectX 11.1 compatible, it's ideally suited in terms of power consumption and output for the Razer Switchblade's ginormous HD display.
We also like the hybrid 500GB drive, which is an ideal mobile solution because it delivers a large amount of storage capacity, but also offers rapid access of the most utilized data via an integrated 64GB SSD. Some day, we'll play on laptops with 750GB solid state drives; until then the hybrid is a welcome alternative. We experienced lightning-fast boot times and the system comes out of sleep mode in a very snappy manner.
Also nice: The dual-band Wi-Fi network adapter is capable of exchanging data on both 2.4GHz and 5.0Ghz frequencies. That's a nice touch, given the large number of performance routers that also operate on both frequencies. At shorter ranges, the 5.0GHz is ideally suited for high-performance data transfers.


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Photo credit: Yale University Art Gallery
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Mask with Incised Design in Epi-Olmec Script
300 B.C.–A.D. 250
Incised and black slipped ceramic
11.75 × 8.89 × 6.35 cm (4 5/8 × 3 1/2 × 2 1/2 in.)
Gift of Peter David Joralemon, B.A. 1969, M.Phil. 1974
Chiapas, Mexico
Mexico, Chiapas, Izapa
Protoclassic
Ex-collection, Arno Leoff, Eduardo Uhardt, David Bramhall, acquired prior to 1982
William B. O'Boyle , New York, acquired 2/22/82
Acquired from Judith Nash, NYC in the 1990s
Samuel Y Edgerton, Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Aztec-Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica, exh. cat. (Northhampton, Mass.: Smith College Museum of Art, 1986), no. 16.
"Acquisitions July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018," https://artgallery.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/bulletin/Pub-Bull-acquisitions-2018.pdf (accessed December 1, 2018).
Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.

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Home > Ghosts and Spirits > Spring Heeled Jack
Spring Heeled Jack
By: Libby Pelham BA - Updated: 22 Oct 2012 | *Discuss
The legend of Spring Heeled Jack has been around since the Victorian era. This character of English folklore is said to be able to leap very high. Those who have seen him say he is tall, thin, and having features, which resembled the devil. Some say he has claws on his hands and can breathe flames. Even others say that his eyes resemble balls of fire.
Start of a Legend
The first sighting of Spring Heeled Jack occurred in 1837 in London. A businessman who was returning home from work late one night reported seeing a mysterious figure that jumped over the high railing of a cemetery. Spring Heeled Jack did not attack or harm the businessman in any way, other than to give him quite a scare! However, the description the businessman gave of what he saw was terrifying – a muscular man with large pointed ears, a pointed nose, and glowing eyes.
Later that same year, a young girl named Mary Stevens was walking to Lavender Hill. As she walked through Clapham Common, a strange figure leapt out at her. He grabbed her tightly and began kissing her. He started ripping her clothes and touched her with what she described as claws "cold and clammy as those of a corpse." The girl screamed and fled. Several residents searched, but found no one meeting that description. The next day, Spring Heeled Jack attacked another victim. This time, he did not physically attack a person, but the carriage they were riding in. The coachman lost control, crashing the carriage, while Spring Heeled Jack jumped over a nine-foot wall to escape.
Official Recognition
The Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Cowan, read a complaint by an anonymous resident of Peckham regarding Spring Heeled Jack. It told of a wager for someone to appear in disguises near London and play pranks on residents. The prank seemed to be confirmed by a member of the audience. The matter was reported to The Times and other national papers. More and more letters of "wicked pranks" occurring around the land poured into the Lord Mayor's office. One even said that in Stockwell, Brixton, Camberwell, and Vauxhall, people had not only been having fits after seeing Spring Heeled Jack, but some had died of fright. The Lord Mayor instructed the police to search for the individual responsible, offering a reward if he was captured.
Scales and Alsop
The best-known incidents involving Spring Heeled Jack are those of Lucy Scales and Jane Alsop. The attacks happened separately but both were covered by the newspapers. Jane answered the door to what she thought was a policeman, claiming to need a light because he had caught Spring Heeled Jack in the lane. But that man proceeded to tear at Jane's dress and hair until family members came to her rescue. She told the police that the attacker had a "hideous face; his eyes were like balls of fire" and he had "claws of some metallic substance."
Lucy and her sister were walking along Green Dragon Alley, when a character attacked her. He reportedly blew fire into her face then left. Lucy had spasms for hours after the attack.
Thomas Millbank
After the attack on Jane appeared in the headlines of the newspaper, Thomas Millbank was arrested and tried after he claimed to be Spring Heeled Jack. The trial was held at Lambeth Street court. Although there was some evidence to prove that he was Spring Heeled Jack, Millbank was eventually acquitted when Jane insisted that the attacker blew fire into her face and Millbank admitted he could not do that.
The legend of Spring Heeled Jack began to grow. He was the subject of several penny dreadfuls, nineteenth century British fiction publications. There were also plays performed which featured him. But, as his fame grew, his appearances began to decrease.
The End of Spring Heeled Jack?
In 1872, Spring Heeled Jack was seen Peckham, then in 1873, he was seen in Sheffield. In 1877, a group of soldiers reported seeing him in Aldershot's barracks. One soldier shot at him after he attacked a sentry, but Spring Heeled Jack just spat blue flames at them and disappeared into the dark. Later that year, he was seen in Newport Arch, in Lincolnshire. It was reported that residents there cornered him and shot at him, again with the shots having no affect on him as he leaped out of sight.
In 1904, he was seen in western England in Everton, in north Liverpool on the top of the Saint Francis Xaviers Church. After the beginning of the twentieth century, reports had died down. However, in the 1950s, there were reports of Spring Heeled Jack being seen in Houston, Texas. In 1986, a travelling salesman in South Herefordshire reported seeing a figure that matched the description of Spring Heeled Jack.
Some think that the sightings of Spring Heeled Jack were merely a case of mass hysteria. Still others think that he was less supernatural and more the pranks of a group of young men. Even others think that perhaps he was an extraterrestrial or even a demon accidentally summoned by those practicing the occult.
Regardless of whether he is real or not, Spring Heeled Jack is a figure that often appears in pop culture, from Thomas Haines' 1840 play (Spring Heeled Jack, the Terror of London) to an episode of Jackie Chan Adventure.
The Bell Witch
The Green Lady
Bradford Ghost
Fear Liath
The Ghosts of Famous Britons


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Гіват-Хен (, ''Ґіват-Хен) — мошав у центральній частині Ізраїлю. Населений пункт розташований недалеко від міста Раанана. Поселення входить до регіональної ради Дром-га-Шарон. У 2020 році населення становило 360 осіб.

Історія
Мошав було засновано 1933 року іммігрантами з Литви, Польщі та Радянського Союзу як частину плану «Поселення тисячі». Пізніше тут також оселилися вихідці із Німеччини. Назва мошаву утворена від ініціалів Хаїма Нахмана Б'ялика.

Вулиці названі на честь віршів Б'ялика.

Примітки

Регіональна рада Дром га-Шарон
Мошави
Населені пункти, засновані 1933
Населені пункти Центрального округу Ізраїля

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Noble Families in Tibet (1900-1951)
Authored by Cering Yangzoin, the book tells of the history of Tibetan noble families and their members. In Tibet, the noble class played an important role to the introduction and development of the social system in Tibet. This is particularly true with the segment of history after the Yuan Dynasty incorporated Tibet into the Chinese map. The hereditary life of these noble families got closer to the political and economic system of the local government of Tibet before the advent of the 1950s.
Before the publication of this book, there are only two books published by the Tibet People's Publishing House that tell of the life of the Tibetan noble families―A General Survey of the TAR and Nobles and Government of Tibet (1728-1959) written by an Italian and translated into Chinese by Li Youyi.
As not many archives and related records are available for the study of this issue, and as the number of people who know these dwindles, the author of the book tells the history between the early days of last century and the 1950s. The book approaches the issue from the cultural angle, and is complete with on-the-spot investigation and interviews with historical people.
Japanese Invasion of Tibet in Modern Times
Authored by Qin Yongzhang, the book is the first one of its kind published in and outside China, that deals with, in a comparatively comparative way, the historical ties between modern Japan (1868-1945) and China's Tibet. The book is based on many first-hand historical materials taken from the Japanese archives, expounding the history how the Japanese infiltrated into and invaded China's Tibet from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. It will help readers understand the fact that the "Tibetan issue" is the product of imperialist invasion of China in modern history. The 32 mo book, running to 250,000 words and priced at 15.50 Yuan per copy, has been published by the China Tibetology Publishing House.
Dictionary on Tibetan Medicine and Calendaring
The dictionary in Tibetan is compiled jointly by the Gansu Provincial Tibetan Medicine Research Institute and the Gannan Prefectural Tibetan Medicine Research Institute.
It is fact that Tibetan medicine can not be separated from Tibetan calendaring. However, no dictionary was available for the study of the two in the past. The recently published dictionary therefore fills in the blank in the world history of Tibetan medicine.
This dictionary is the result of studying more than 1,000 works on Tibetan medicine, taking in some 7,000 entries treated in the Tibetan alphabic way. It is the first dictionary on Tibetan medicine and calendaring available today.
Changes in Tibet
Authored by Zhang Xiaoping, a senior reporter, the book vividly tells of development and changes in Lhasa, and records how the soul boy of the late 10th Panchen Erdeni was found and confirmed and how the Gandain Monastery was repaired. Meanwhile, the book carries stories about noted people including Zai Junjie, director of Stories of Tibet, and Guisang, female mountaineer, as well as stories about the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and what happened in Xigaze and Ngari.
Having read the book, many readers say they have been taken into Tibet by the book which they add helps them gain a better understanding of Tibet and know more of the beautiful landscapes of Tibet.
The 32 mo book, running to 240,000 words and priced at 19.00 Yuan per copy, has been published by the China Tibetology Publishing House.
Selected Stamps Collected by Wei Ke
Co-authored by Li Jiajun and Wei Ke, this book contains stamps Wei Ke has collected over the past few decades. These stamps are shown in different chapters, such as "Oh, How Beautiful the Plateau in My Mind," "What the Old Stamps Tell Me," "Unforgettable Journey," "New Lives of the Tibetans" and "Tibet Which Is Always in My Dream". Each of the stamps is good enough to tell a story.
The 16 mo book, running to 50,000 words and priced at 36.50 Yuan per copy, has been published by the China Tibetology Publishing House.
Selected Poems on Tibet
Authored by Gao Ping, the book contains poems that tell of the history to the effect that during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the central court granted official titles to the Tibetan monks, introduced the system of High Commissioners stationed in Tibet, sent troops to the southwestern border, fought Korga invaders, and adopted a series of measures for rule over Tibet that led to increased population. Most of the poems were written by government or military officials. The 32 mo book, running to 156,000 words and priced at 16.50 Yuan per copy, has been published by the China Tibetology Publishing House.
Tibet in the 1950s-1960s
The is a pictorial compiled by Chen Zonglie, who worked as a photographer of Tibet Day for 25 years. During this period, he visited the rural areas, the livestock breeding area and cities. His works cover social changes, the first success of Tibet mountaineers in dwarfing the Qomolangma, and other historic events. Many of his works were on view in national or international photo shows. The pictorial contains Chen's 352 photos. The 16 mo pictorial, with illustrations that run to 120,000 words and priced at 48 Yuan per copy, has been published by the China Tibetology Publishing House.
Fine Art Works on Tibet
This is the masterpiece of Meng Ganlu. It depicts, with fine art works and well-written captions, the colorful life of Tibet, including its folklore. It covers such fields as society, history, religion, culture and folklore. All the works are crystal of the author's experience in Tibet. The 24 mo book, running to 100,000 words and priced at 26 Yuan per copy, has been published by the Tibet People's Publishing House.


text:
package org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.core.service;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
import com.google.gson.Gson;
import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
import net.rcarz.jiraclient.Field;
import net.rcarz.jiraclient.Issue;
import net.rcarz.jiraclient.JiraClient;
import net.rcarz.jiraclient.JiraException;
import org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.core.dao.RVFFailureJiraAssociationDAO;
import org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.core.entity.Build;
import org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.core.entity.Product;
import org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.core.entity.RVFFailureJiraAssociation;
import org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.core.entity.ReleaseCenter;
import org.ihtsdo.buildcloud.jira.ImpersonatingJiraClientFactory;
import org.ihtsdo.otf.rest.exception.BusinessServiceException;
import org.ihtsdo.sso.integration.SecurityUtil;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Value;
import org.springframework.http.converter.json.Jackson2ObjectMapperBuilder;
import org.springframework.stereotype.Service;
import org.springframework.transaction.annotation.Transactional;
import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
import org.springframework.web.client.RestTemplate;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.*;

@Service
@Transactional
public class RVFFailureJiraAssociationService {

	private static Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(RVFFailureJiraAssociationService.class);

	@Autowired
	private ImpersonatingJiraClientFactory jiraClientFactory;

	@Value("${jira.url}")
	private String jiraUrl;

	@Value("${jira.project}")
	private String project;

	@Value("${jira.issueType}")
	private String issueType;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.assignee}")
	private String assignee;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.priority}")
	private String priority;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.customField.product.release.date}")
	private String productReleaseDate;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.customField.reporting.entity}")
	private String reportingEntity;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.customField.reporting.entity.default.value}")
	private String reportingEntityDefaultValue;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.customField.reporting.stage}")
	private String reportingStage;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.customField.reporting.stage.default.value}")
	private String reportingStageDefaultValue;

	@Value("${jira.ticket.customField.snomedct.product}")
	private String snomedCtProduct;

	@Autowired
	private RVFFailureJiraAssociationDAO rvfFailureJiraAssociationDAO;

	@Autowired
	private BuildService buildService;

	@Autowired
	private ProductService productService;

	public List<RVFFailureJiraAssociation> findByBuildKey(String centerKey, String productKey, String buildKey) {
		return rvfFailureJiraAssociationDAO.findByBuildKey(centerKey, productKey, buildKey);
	}

	public Map<String, List<RVFFailureJiraAssociation>> createFailureJiraAssociations(String centerKey, String productKey, String buildKey, String[] assertionIds) throws BusinessServiceException, IOException, JiraException {
		if (assertionIds.length == 0) {
			throw new IllegalArgumentException("Assertion IDs must not be empty");
		}
		Product product = productService.find(centerKey, productKey, false);
		Build build = buildService.find(centerKey, productKey, buildKey, true, false, true, null);
		if (!StringUtils.hasLength(build.getRvfURL())) {
			throw new BusinessServiceException("RVF URL not found");
		}

		ValidationReport report = getRVFReport(build.getRvfURL());
		if (!report.isComplete()) {
			throw new BusinessServiceException("RVF report must be completed");
		}

		// check duplicate
		List<String> validAssertionIds = new ArrayList<>();
		List<RVFFailureJiraAssociation> dupplicatedAssocs = new ArrayList<>();
		List<RVFFailureJiraAssociation> existingAssocs = rvfFailureJiraAssociationDAO.findByEffectiveTime(centerKey, productKey, build.getConfiguration().getEffectiveTime());
		if (!existingAssocs.isEmpty()) {
			for (String assertionId : assertionIds) {
				RVFFailureJiraAssociation existingAssoc = existingAssocs.stream().filter(item -> item.getAssertionId().equals(assertionId)).findFirst().orElse(null);
				if (existingAssoc == null) {
					validAssertionIds.add(assertionId);
				} else {
					dupplicatedAssocs.add(existingAssoc);
				}
			}
		} else {
			validAssertionIds = Arrays.asList(assertionIds);
		}

		List<RVFFailureJiraAssociation> associations = new ArrayList<>();
		List<ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem> assertionsFailedAndWarning = getAllAssertions(report);
		for (String assertionId : validAssertionIds) {
			ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem found = assertionsFailedAndWarning.stream().filter(item -> item.getAssertionUuid() != null && item.getAssertionUuid().equals(assertionId)).findAny().orElse(null);
			if (found != null) {
				Issue jiraIssue = createJiraIssue(product.getReleaseCenter(), generateSummary(product, build, found), generateDescription(build, found), build.getConfiguration().getEffectiveTimeFormatted());
				Issue.NewAttachment[] attachments = new Issue.NewAttachment[1];
				attachments[0] = new Issue.NewAttachment(found.getAssertionUuid() + ".json", getPrettyString(found.toString()).getBytes());
				jiraIssue.addAttachments(attachments);

				final RVFFailureJiraAssociation association = new RVFFailureJiraAssociation(product.getReleaseCenter(), product, buildKey, build.getConfiguration().getEffectiveTime(), found.getAssertionUuid(), jiraUrl + "browse/" + jiraIssue.getKey());
				rvfFailureJiraAssociationDAO.save(association);
				associations.add(association);
			} else {
				logger.error("No failure found for the assertion {} for the build {}", assertionId, build.getId());
			}
		}
		Map<String, List<RVFFailureJiraAssociation>> result = new HashMap<>();
		result.put("newlyCreatedRVFFailureJiraAssociations", associations);
		result.put("duplicatedRVFFailureJiraAssociations", dupplicatedAssocs);

		return result;
	}

	private String generateSummary(Product product, Build build, ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem testRunItem) {
		return product.getName() + ", " + build.getConfiguration().getEffectiveTimeFormatted() + ", " + testRunItem.getTestType().replace("DROOL_RULES", "DROOLS") + ", "+ testRunItem.getAssertionUuid() + ", " + build.getId();
	}

	private String generateDescription(Build build, ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem testRunItem) {
		String result = testRunItem.getAssertionText() + "\n"
				+ "Total number of failures: " + testRunItem.getFailureCount() + "\n"
				+ "Report URL: " + "[" + build.getRvfURL() + "|" + build.getRvfURL() + "]" + "\n";
		List<ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem.FailureDetail> firstNInstances = getFirstNInstances(testRunItem.getFirstNInstances(), 10);
		result += "First " + firstNInstances.size() + " failures: \n";
		for (ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem.FailureDetail failureDetail: firstNInstances) {
			result += "* " + failureDetail.toString() + "\n";
		}

		return result;
	}

	private String getPrettyString(String input) {
		Gson gson = new GsonBuilder().disableHtmlEscaping().setPrettyPrinting().create();
		JsonElement je = JsonParser.parseString(input);
		return gson.toJson(je);
	}

	private List<ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem.FailureDetail> getFirstNInstances(List<ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem.FailureDetail> instances, int numberOfItem) {
		if (numberOfItem < 0) {
			return instances;
		}

		int firstNCount = Math.min(numberOfItem, instances.size());

		return instances.subList(0, firstNCount);
	}

	private List<ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem> getAllAssertions(ValidationReport report) {
		List<ValidationReport.RvfValidationResult.TestResult.TestRunItem> assertionsFailedAndWarning = new ArrayList<>();
		if (report.getRvfValidationResult() != null && report.getRvfValidationResult().getTestResult() != null) {
			if (report.getRvfValidationResult().getTestResult().getAssertionsFailed() != null) {
				assertionsFailedAndWarning.addAll(report.getRvfValidationResult().getTestResult().getAssertionsFailed());
			}
			if (report.getRvfValidationResult().getTestResult().getAssertionsWarning() != null) {
				assertionsFailedAndWarning.addAll(report.getRvfValidationResult().getTestResult().getAssertionsWarning());
			}
		}
		return assertionsFailedAndWarning;
	}

	private Issue createJiraIssue(ReleaseCenter releaseCenter, String summary, String description, String releaseDate) throws BusinessServiceException {
		Issue jiraIssue;
		try {
			jiraIssue = getJiraClient().createIssue(project, issueType)
					.field(Field.SUMMARY, summary)
					.field(Field.DESCRIPTION, description)
					.field(Field.ASSIGNEE, getUsername())
					.execute();
			final Issue.FluentUpdate updateRequest = jiraIssue.update();
			updateRequest.field(Field.PRIORITY, priority);
			updateRequest.field(productReleaseDate, releaseDate);
			updateRequest.field(reportingEntity, Arrays.asList(reportingEntityDefaultValue));
			updateRequest.field(reportingStage, Arrays.asList(reportingStageDefaultValue));
			if (StringUtils.hasLength(assignee)) {
				updateRequest.field(Field.ASSIGNEE, assignee);
			}
			if (StringUtils.hasLength(releaseCenter.getSnomedCtProduct())) {
				updateRequest.field(snomedCtProduct, Arrays.asList(releaseCenter.getSnomedCtProduct().trim()));
			}
			updateRequest.execute();
		} catch (JiraException e) {
			logger.error(e.getMessage());
			throw new BusinessServiceException("Failed to create Jira task. Error: " + (e.getCause() != null ? e.getCause().getMessage() : e.getMessage()), e);
		}

		return jiraIssue;
	}

	private ValidationReport getRVFReport(String url) throws IOException {
		RestTemplate rvfRestTemplate = new RestTemplate();
		ObjectMapper objectMapper = Jackson2ObjectMapperBuilder.json().failOnUnknownProperties(false).build();
		String validationReportString = rvfRestTemplate.getForObject(url, String.class);
		if (!StringUtils.isEmpty(validationReportString)) {
			validationReportString = validationReportString.replace("\"TestResult\"", "\"testResult\"");
		}

		return objectMapper.readValue(validationReportString, ValidationReport.class);
	}

	private JiraClient getJiraClient() {
		return jiraClientFactory.getImpersonatingInstance(getUsername());
	}

	private String getUsername() {
		return SecurityUtil.getUsername();
	}

	private static final class ValidationReport {

		public static final String COMPLETE = "COMPLETE";

		private String status;

		private RvfValidationResult rvfValidationResult;

		public boolean isComplete() {
			return COMPLETE.equals(status);
		}

		public String getStatus() {
			return status;
		}

		public RvfValidationResult getRvfValidationResult() {
			return rvfValidationResult;
		}

		private static final class RvfValidationResult {

			private TestResult testResult;

			public TestResult getTestResult() {
				return testResult;
			}

			private static final class TestResult {
				private List<TestRunItem> assertionsFailed;

				private List<TestRunItem> assertionsWarning;

				public List<TestRunItem> getAssertionsFailed() {
					return assertionsFailed;
				}

				public List<TestRunItem> getAssertionsWarning() {
					return assertionsWarning;
				}

				private static final class TestRunItem {
					private String testType;
					private String assertionUuid;
					private String assertionText;
					private String severity;
					private Long failureCount;
					private String failureMessage;
					private List<FailureDetail> firstNInstances;

					public String getTestType() {
						return testType;
					}

					public String getAssertionUuid() {
						return assertionUuid;
					}

					public String getAssertionText() {
						return assertionText;
					}

					public String getSeverity() {
						return severity;
					}

					public Long getFailureCount() {
						return failureCount;
					}

					public String getFailureMessage() {
						return failureMessage;
					}

					public List<FailureDetail> getFirstNInstances() {
						return firstNInstances;
					}

					@Override
					public String toString() {
						return "{" +
								"\"testType\": \"" + testType + '\"' +
								", \"assertionUuid\": \"" + assertionUuid + '\"' +
								", \"assertionText\": \"" + assertionText + '\"' +
								", \"severity\": " + (severity != null ? "\"" + severity + "\"" : null) +
								", \"failureCount\": " + failureCount +
								", \"failureMessage\": " + (failureMessage != null ? "\"" + failureMessage + "\"" : null) +
								", \"firstNInstances\": " + firstNInstances +
								'}';
					}

					private static final class FailureDetail {
						private String conceptId;
						private String conceptFsn;
						private String detail;
						private String componentId;
						private String fullComponent;

						public String getConceptId() {
							return conceptId;
						}

						public String getConceptFsn() {
							return conceptFsn;
						}

						public String getDetail() {
							return detail;
						}

						public String getComponentId() {
							return componentId;
						}

						public String getFullComponent() {
							return fullComponent;
						}

						@Override
						public String toString() {
							return "{\n\t" +
									"\"conceptId\": " + (conceptId != null ? '\"' + conceptId + '\"' : null) + ",\n\t" +
									"\"conceptFsn\": " + (conceptFsn != null ? '\"' + conceptFsn + '\"' : null) + ",\n\t" +
									"\"detail\": " + (detail != null ? '\"' + detail + '\"' : null) + ",\n\t" +
									"\"componentId\": " + (componentId != null ? '\"' + componentId + '\"' : null) + ",\n\t" +
									"\"fullComponent\": " + (fullComponent != null ? '\"' + fullComponent + '\"' : null) + "\n" +
									"}";
						}
					}
				}
			}
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Utah State vs Air Force: Keys to an Aggie Victory
By Sam McConkie December 3, 2020 6:33 am
By Sam McConkie | December 3, 2020 6:33 am MT
Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire
Can USU keep the momentum rolling against the Cadets?
WEEK 14: Air Force Falcons (2-2) vs. Utah State Aggies (1-4)
WHEN: Thursday, December 3rd —7:30 P.M. MT
WHERE: Maverik Stadium (25,100) – Logan, Utah
TV: CBSSN
STREAM: FuboTV with a seven-day free trial
RADIO: Utah State radio broadcast on 1280 the zone (1280 AM), 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
SERIES RECORD: USU trails 3-5
GAME NOTES (PDF): Utah State | Air Force
ODDS (via BetMGM): Air Force -11.5
Air Force vs. Utah State: Three Keys For An Air Force Victory
Three Keys to an Aggie Victory
1. Succeed on Third Down Defense
Utah State has struggled mightily on defense this season, but this has been more apparent on third down than anywhere else. When combined with USU's subpar run defense, the 98th NCAA ranking looks even more hideous. The Aggies' opponents have converted on 46% of their third down attempts, which is absolutely not going to cut it against a run heavy team like the Falcons.
We've seen this defense get gashed time and again this season and they'll need to man up in a hurry to have a shot at stopping the triple option. With DT Marcus Moore likely out for the game, a suspect D-line will have to work even harder than before to stay in their gaps and push back a solid Falcon rushing attack. The Aggies can ill afford to give up large conversions on the ground if they want to stay in this game.
2. Force the Falcons to air it out
Last year in Colorado Springs, the Aggies got embarrassed by Donald Hammond III. Not only was the stud QB able to run all over the Aggies, he made it look easy in leading his team to a 31-7 romp on a cold, windy night.
Though Hammond was dismissed from the team earlier this season, this doesn't make the Falcons any less of a threat on the ground. They will pound at you all night long and force you to commit extra bodies in the box to slow their ground game down, regardless of who is captaining the offense. Haaziq Daniels has answered the call at QB valiantly this season, passing for 199 yards and one TD on just 31 pass attempts. It's not his preferred mode of attack in the triple-option offense, but the Aggies need to make a point of making it his lifeblood in this game.
If the Aggies can get the Falcons into third-down situations, they need to ensure they are passing downs and not rushing downs. The Aggie secondary has struggled with giving up big plays and making sturdy tackles. They need to stay disciplined and maintain eye control on receivers that can burn them with just one extra step.
We've seen Daniels go off on the ground plenty, and he becomes even more dangerous when he's effectively relieved for running spells by Brad Roberts. Though he's only played in two games, he's more than made up for lost time with stellar production. Roberts has garnered four TDs on the ground spread across 280 rushing yards, good for more than seven yards per carry. USU's defenders need to tackle much better than before and minimize the damage he's going to do on the ground or it will be a repeat of last year's debacle.
3. Stay creative on offense
Andrew Peasley surprised Aggie fans last week with a strong performance against New Mexico. He not only effectively ran the ball, but he also threw some dimes and scored touchdowns on big pass plays as well. Because of his dynamic playmaking, he was able to spread out the Lobos' defense and take whatever they gave him. That needs to continue against a solid pass defense from the Falcons, who are giving up a respectable 219.5 yards per game through the air.
USU's running game has clicked lately, so it's important to keep giving touches to Devontae Henry-Cole. Against a strong Falcon run defense, he needs to help make that all-important third down as manageable as possible for Peasley. With the Aggie receiving corps getting more looks as of late, shorter passes and an occasional gadget play is critical to keeping the Falcons honest. The Aggies have some speedsters in their midsts like Savon Scarver and Jordan Nathan and it's high time the offense finds a way to get them involved as much as possible.
Even an occasional jet sweep or QB draw could yield success if only because hardly any teams expect the Aggies to do that. Being vanilla is not an option when you have an inferior team but still want to win.
The Aggies have been bad at stopping the run this season. This already puts them at a big disadvantage against the Falcons. USU has little hope or reason to believe they can stop the Falcons, but they do have good reason to believe they can at least keep up and maintain the pace.
Peasley showed against the Lobos that he will play better as the game goes on as long as he has confidence. He got it in steady doses against a terrible New Mexico defense. Against the Falcons, it's a completely different story and he needs to manufacture offensive yards (and points) anyway he can. He'll need to strike the balance between being a hero and sharing the load with his teammates.
I expect the Aggies to compete better than they did last year in Colorado Springs, even with substantially less talent than last year's team. USU will give up a lot of yards, but they have a great chance of picking up a lot of yards as well with a rejuvenated offensive style. Unfortunately, every possession matters against a clock controlling team like Air Force. The Aggies haven't generated many turnovers this season and it seems unlikely that trend will improve against the Falcons.
It won't be a disaster, but this game will not be a win for the Aggies.
USU 24, Air Force 42
Air Force Football, Utah State Football, Air Force, Mountain West Football, Utah State, Week 14


The IFR championship is a world event hosted every 2nd year and it brings together the best working rottweilers from around the world to compete in an IPO tournament.
IFR – the German defintion is, Internationale Föderation für Rottweiler-Freunde, which translates to, International Federation for friends of the Rottweiler.
This year the IFR tournament was held in the German town of Rottweil. I have included the top 15 place getter results for the tournament in the table below.
This years champion was Greta Marani from Italy with her rottweiler Balu vom Turnleberg. They achieved an"SG" (sehr gut – very good) score as follows: A97, B96, C90 – Total 283. Interestingly this is Greta's 2nd world championship in a row having won the 2011 IFR also with Balu.
For those that are interested I have conducted an interview with Greta Marani to give us all an insight to her dog, and the required level of training to achieve this level of proficiency in the dogsport of IPO.


Genioglossus advancement is a surgical procedure where the base of the tongue is pulled forward, usually to enlarge the airway size due to deformity or a sleep breathing disorder. Tongue muscles are attached to the lower jaw below the teeth.
In this procedure, a small window or slice is made in the lower jaw. The piece of bone along with the attachment for the tongue is pulled forward to increase the airway opening.
Genioglossus advancement is a very safe and effective way in the improvement of sleep apnea.


There are $n$ heaps of sticks and two players who move alternately. On each move, a player chooses a non-empty heap and removes $1$, $2$, or $3$ sticks. The player who removes the last stick wins the game.
Your task is to find out who wins if both players play optimally.
The first line contains an integer $n$: the number of heaps.
The next line has $n$ integers $x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n$: the number of sticks in each heap.
For each test case, print "first" if the first player wins the game and "second" if the second player wins the game.


text:
Bye, bye London: Brexit spurs fashion exodus
by Olga NEDBAEVA / Fiachra GIBBONS
Brexit hasn't happened yet, but the fashion exodus has already begun. Craig Green, the rising star of British fashion who has won menswear designer of the year three out of the last four years, is quitting London to show in Paris for the first time.
He is one of four newcomers to a jam-packed Paris men's fashion week, which kicks off Monday.
With 53 runway shows in the official programme and just as many presentations outside, the French capital now utterly dominates fashion while Brexit-hit London, Milan and New York fall away in its wake.
The British Fashion Council and Italy's Chamber of Fashion joined forces to bring 10 emerging British designers and three established names to the Italian fashion capital last week as a "bridge between nations" as Britain's January 31 exit from the EU loomed.
"It's a political message… Too many frontiers aren't good for the fashion system," said Italy's Carlo Capasa, head of the Italian chamber.
Yet there is no disguising that both London and Milan are struggling for relevance in the face of the Parisian steamroller, which gets longer and more crowded every season.
– Paris domination –
Poaching 34-year-old Green — who has been hailed as a "true genius" — is another coup for Paris. He will show on Sunday, the final day of the menswear shows alongside two other British brands, Dunhill and Paul Smith.
Vogue has described the Londoner, who created the costumes for Ridley Scott's 2017 blockbuster "Alien: Covenant", as "without contest, one of the most important designers working in London right now."
Known for his gender-neutral style, he cut his teeth working for the hugely influential Belgian avant-gardist Walter Van Beirendonck, one of the "Antwerp Six", that included such trendsetters as Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester and Martin Margiela.
Three other debutants join Green on the official Paris catwalk, led by Botter, run by the Dutch eco-conscious couple Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, who also design for the French label, Nina Ricci.
Another French house Rochas will launch its first Paris menswear collection with the punky US brand Rhude the first of the newcomers out of the traps for its show Monday.
But there are also some notable absences, including Demna Gvasalia, who has probably done more to shake up Paris fashion in the last five years than anyone else.
He has also stepped back from designing for Vetements, the uber cool brand he founded before taking the reins at Balenciaga.
His rebel spirit and post-Soviet grunge aesthetic so beloved of US stars like Kanye West and Rihanna is likely to live on, as is his brand's penchant for hijacking corporate logos for cutting social comment.
– Abloh returns –
Celine's Hedi Slimane will also not be there, preferring to show his men's line with the women's in a co-ed Paris show next month.
The hyperactive American designer Virgil Abloh is back, however, for his Off-White and Louis Vuitton shows after being forced to curb his manic globe-trotting schedule in September because of "health considerations".
That meant him missing his Off-White women's show in the French capital.
But there were no signs that he was slowing up, teasing his new looks to his millions of social media followers, as well an exhibition of his art in a Paris gallery.
Over the New Year he predicted the eventual death of streetwear — the fashion sub-genre of which he is one the kings.
"I would definitely say it is gonna die," he said. "It's time will be up… how many more T-shirts can we own, how many more hoodies, how many mores sneakers?" he asked.
But he later clarified his comments, saying, "What we do is called design, it is not limited to being called 'streetwear'.
"The moral of the story is beware of whatever box you are labelled as. Challenge it, defy it, do not be defined by it," Abloh added.
BrexitBritish fashionCraig GreenLondonMartin MargielaMilanVirgil Abloh
Walang pinipili ang ashfall! Hontiveros: Private, government employees all need protection
Magbaon ng pasensya: Herrera urges airlines to help passengers affected by Taal eruption
Romero backs call for P30B supplemental budget for Taal…
Cha-cha debates reset to May, says Rodriguez
Rodriguez: 'Contentious' federalism proposal now in House…
Manila Water, Maynilad bilyonaryos may be jailed pending…
Ping pushes thorough study of supplemental budget for…
War crimes, not genocide committed against Rohingya: Myanmar…
Soap opera actress reportedly in line to replace…
Nearly half billion people lack decent jobs: UN


I always enjoy good conversation over lunch with my colleagues. We talk about our kids growing up, motherhood experiences, enrichment classes, issues with maid etc. Yesterday, we started a topic on saving money for our kids and the various available banking options.
Suddenly, I thought that I should open a savings account for little Edison. After the CNY, I can deposit all his ang pao money into his own savings account, rather than keeping them in my safe!
OCBC's Mighty SaverTM Program is on my list now. It's an interactive savings program that educates and motivates our children to save. Perhaps at 16 months, little Edison is too young to understand the concept of saving money. But as he grows older, he will join us on this fun money-saving adventure. He will definitely appreciate what we have done for him.
Being a Mighty Saver has its privilege too. We can enjoy special fast track service counters at any of the OCBC's Sunday Banking branches on Sundays. It's completely hassle-free! Furthermore, there is no monthly service charge.
I'm going to fill-up the application form tonight. Little Edison will be joining the Mighty Saver's club real soon.


At Christmas, we make things easy with our online and in store ordering service.
Online ordering is now open.
You can order a large range of Butchery and Deli items to help you get ahead and have the very best at your table. Available to order are our best selling Norfolk Bronze Turkeys, our popular barn reared white birds, our Turkey Royales and the delicious, succulent turkey breast joints as well as pies, hams, sausage meat and more.
To help you get organised this Christmas, simply browse our online Christmas shop and place your order online or pick up an order form at the Butchery Counter, fill it in and return to us. We require a £25 deposit to secure your order and we will give you an order number to use when you pick up your Christmas treats. Your special pick up day and time will be given to you and all you need to do is pay the balance, collect and relax.
Our best selling, free range Norfolk Bronze & White Turkeys are reared on the Evans family farm.
Slow growing, outdoor reared in natural grass paddocks. Dry plucked and hung to bring out the unique gamey flavour and open texture to the meat.


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The madame's story: renegotiating Cairo's informal service sector
The Egyptian Government's anti-terrorism measures are causing subtle but significant shifts in Cairo's vibrant informal service sector - illustrated through the experiences of one middle-class resident and her long-serving part-time cleaner. Read part one of this two-part article: The maid's story.
Leila Zaki Chakravarti
Part Two: The madame's story
Part one of this two-part article described the experiences of Fadila, a part-time cleaner for Cairo's more affluent classes. One of her clients is Kawsar, a middle-class widow living her retirement in a small flat in a concrete block in one of the many new developments on the sandy northern fringes of Cairo out near the airport. She is effusive in stating her dependence on Fadila's twice-weekly visits:
'Fadila is my Number One (same words in Arabic)! I can't do without her. She took off once – not sure if it was because of a car crash or some sickness in the family – and left me stranded. For two whole months I had to make do with a stream of temporary replacements: all were useless – one of them even (hooting with laughter) made off with my brazierres (bras)! Every time I moved my head something went missing!'
Kawsar supplements her civil service pension and her late husband's military pension with the rent from their former flat in a more prosperous part of town, which she now lets to private tenants. With alleged Muslim Brotherhood ansheta ('goings on') bubbling up all over the city, Kawsar is in effect largely housebound – and heavily dependent on delivery boys from the grocery, pharmacy and other local shops which she can now only access by telephone order. Before the revolution service providers who bitkhabatu 'al bab ("knock on the door"), such as delivery boys, electricity or water meter readers etc, were part and parcel of the middle-class urban lifestyle – their visits to private residences were considered convenient as many shops made their business 'local' by providing free delivery services for goods purchased in person. Now, however, Kawsar sees that, as a result of the general infilat unleashed by the revolution, these services have become a necessity rather than a convenience.
The Arabic word infilat is also used by Fadila (see Part I): but where her use of the term is centred on her increasing struggle to find cash, Kawsar uses the term to describe the unleashing by the 2011 uprising of dark forces leading to a breakdown in the proper social order, with the collapse of deference by the urban poor towards their economic and social betters, and its replacement by an often violent grabbing of previously out of reach goods and riches. The sense of utter social and moral breakdown that Kawsar is invoking by use of the word infilat echoes its relentless repetition in official and private media, all effusive in their support of the Army's intervention and its self-styled harb did el-erha ('War Againt Terrorism').
In the state-supported media narrative, what the elected Muslim Brotherhood Government of President Morsi caused was the 'bursting out' (iflat – from the same root as infilat) of nothing less than a state of complete anomy, with no moral or social principles remaining in either individuals or society. Equally relentlessly repeated in the official narrative is how President Sisi's Government is firmly and unflinchingly battling infilat and replacing it with istikrar (stability), the word invoking a 'done and dusted' sense of a previously contested issue or situation having been permanently 'sorted out', settled once and for all. So where TV programmes over the first two years of the revolution had focused on uncovering corruption (state and individual) 'in high places', now the emphasis has switched dramatically towards 'investigative reports' in which TV cameras regularly prowl poorer neighbourhoods said to have a history of drug dealing, prostitution, homicide, suicide, fraud – their lurid allegations extending to institutions long respected for their time-honoured role in caring for the disadvantaged and dispossessed eg of human trafficking in orphanages and state hospitals.
Increasing media sensationalism in such reports purportedly 'exposing Egypt's social problems' invariably suppresses any mention of terms such as 'the needy', 'the poor', or 'victims' previously used for empathetic categorisation of the vulnerable in society. Instead what takes place is a ruthless criminalisation of all poor/working class lives, with their unleashed lust for instant cash and material possessions the only cause given for families plunging themselves into vicious cycles of criminality and despair. In this narrative the accusation that the less advantaged are now 'taking the law into their own hands' is not framed as part of any 'politics of redress' (to use Asef Bayat's phrase for how the urban poor are to be understood as stealing from the rich in order to lead dignified lives), but rather as the urban poor empowering themselves with the impunity to grab resources previously claimed only by the rich and powerful and to live 'beyond their means'.
In the face of this relentless media bombardment it is not surprising that residents of more affluent neighbourhoods speak of the place outside their immediate home as 'mish zay il- awil' (not like before) in the sense of hostile, threatening. Relatives and friends I visited spoke of the 'confusion' of people wandering around 'without regard to anyone,' the 'dark spirit to occupy people's hearts,' the 'crazy' driving in the streets, the 'decadence of appearances'. They described how the 'loss of values that once defined the essence of Egypt' had been forfeited in favour of increased signs of 'atheism' and 'promotional self-interest', the 'obsession with money' resulting in the 'bad smell in neighbourhoods' which were formerly areas of elegance and 'style'. Current tensions between the social classes are encapsulated in the complaint from many friends and relatives to whom I spoke (all members of the more affluent classes) that the forcible seizure of resources by the underclass constitutes a deep violation of established social boundaries, so that their rights as citizens have been undermined by infilat.
Their personal fears and worries are channelled into their closest engagements with possible representatives of the newly defined 'hostile other', namely the service workers who bitkhabatu 'al bab, or – even more threatening – those who are already 'inside the walls'. Kawsar gives a vivid account of these fears through the story she tells me of the bawab (doorman) of her apartment block, and her frequent visitor and long-time friend Roza:
'Roza is the type you find in almost any Cairene social circle, a social butterfly who speaks her mind. Because of old ties to many in the building, she often displays proprietorial airs when visiting, blurting out sweeping pronouncements, such as declaring that some watermelon peels the bawab had left littering the entrance would cause an outbreak of the plague. On her last visit, she loudly told the bawab to his face that he wasn't up to the job. This time, though, something totally unexpected happened. On her way out Roza found herself trapped by members of his family. The women knocked her to floor by the main sewage drain, pulled her veil off, and publicly gave her a humiliating beating. It was nothing short of savagery. There were leaping on her buttocks yelling obscenities, and grabbing her hair to knock her forehead on the drain. And their children – they're all under ten! - were mimicking Roza's cries for help. It was as if they were possessed! She was then abandoned to sort herself out. Her son came to her rescue, and they headed to the local Police Station. The neighbours she'd just been with, and whose interests she'd seen herself as defending as a matter of haq (moral/religious right), were contacted to back up her story as witnesses. In such circumstances it is of course fard 'ayyn (a religious necessity) to show your mettle. But did anyone step forward? It was as if the incident never took place. The neighbours ran scared. Unbelievable - but true. It shows il-balad bazitt (the country's collapsed).'
Shrugging her shoulders as if there's nothing else to say on the point, Kawsar goes on to tell me how Roza has severed all communication and disappeared – and how the building's residents, mostly middle-aged widows and housewives, have had to revise their dealings with their immediate social environment by ostracising the bawab and his family:
"They colonize the two rooms at the back - leaving the backyard in a filthy condition. We are a powerless lobby in this block and if anything needs doing, we have to pay someone else to sort it out. He lives like the 'ultra' rich now – immune from us bothering him with any requests. This is now a source of deep resentment for all of us."
This unsettling vignette of a violently confrontational incident in a middle class Cairene neighbourhood elicited neither surprise nor shock from other contacts to whom I spoke. Their 'nothing out of the ordinary' tone of neutrality exemplifies how, in the current climate of violence and social indifference, emotions of denial and fear are welded into responses to different forms of social tensions involving violence, and the collapse of social boundaries between classes co-existing in close proximity – and how, as individual experiences of previously tranquil neighbourhoods unravel in the face of more intimidating experience, levels of aggressive behaviour in the local landscape now appear to be accepted facets of Egypt's internal state of infilat.
A common response to the intricate calculations underlying the politics of fear involves new measures taken to keep conflict at bay, and simultaneously to bolster concepts of privilege and immunity by protecting core assets that identify class position. 'Security' has become a powerful trope for the introduction of market-led innovations, with commercial contractors installing metal grilles and gates on residences, and providing armed bodyguards or all-night surveillance. Other market innovations capitalise on mobility/security issues and the fears the affluent classes have developed of venturing out into 'threatening' public space, by providing digital (web and/or smartphone) 'summon on demand' services such as couriers for the transfer of all kinds of goods (ranging from mundane tasks such as collecting cakes from a patisserie at the other end of town, to major issues such as the transfer of serious sums of cash) in which nothing more than the exchange of receipts is required; cabs on demand (including an ultra-exclusive London Cab company that emulates the British system even in the vehicles it provides); cleaning companies that market their services as a 'one-day spring clean'; as well as on-line medical consultations offering diagnosis via satellite.
The effectiveness of these schemes, which are the prerogative of digital users and the moneyed classes, is based on reducing all forms of 'familiarity' associated with dependency relations of a mixed social order. Each service is deliberately structured to replace the informal sector's previously personalized relationships – which have now become threatening – with impersonalised (and therefore non-threatening) formal commercial services. As with the 'each according to his means' plethora of privatised transport services that cause Fadila such difficulty, it seems that the neoliberal market operates by invoking a system of separate legally ranked categories of customers in which membership is based on the ability to pay as a marker of differentiated privileges. And the end result of these schemes is to cement a lifestyle in which the fortification of residences and class privileges are spoken of as bubbles, the English word being taken directly into Arabic usage to describe your self-contained universe of assets regarded as tangible expressions of class gains. Its most conspicuous badge of distinction is to side-step the 'informal' and personalized contact of social interaction in the guise of a more up-dated 'service sector' (so that if working classes are brought in, these are directly monitored by a 'third party') - even if these outsourcing measures intensify the inequality gap and the segmentation of society more aggressively.
Since the new service businesses that cater to keeping these bubbles up and running by 'doing professionalism' to 'high standards' are inevitably more costly than the informal services they have displaced, the search for increased levels of security involves the digital and moneyed classes in a constant search for more cash, just as is the case for remaining informal service providers such as Fadila. Thus employers now share a similar predicament to the cleaners they hire, and have come to possess a more guarded view of their assets. Whereas previously employers would have given their service providers not only a sympathetic ear, but also often informal loans or other financial support, now the everyday becomes a site in which the negotiation of powers, rights and vulnerabilities is articulated through careful calculations established between employer and employee that aim to keep the power balance between conflicting interests from reaching an adversarial state of infilat.
For this reason, employers have resorted to 'appeasement and control' strategies that avoid the direct exchange of cash. Common measures include offering a 'full breakfast' and an endless supply of 'snacks' (same word used in Arabic) and drinks throughout the cleaner's visit; or producing packed lunch-boxes for her dependents (eg her ailing mother) to secure their assistance if the helping hand 'rebels'. Other 'control' tactics include intensifying daily surveillance by listening in on a cleaner's private calls, so as to be able to predict forthcoming problems, and assess in advance their likely consequences for the employer's interests. Employers now find it in their interest to mirror the strategies of those less equal in the social hierarchy, for example declaring that they are themselves hard pressed and in a tight financial corner, or that 'lending cash' is now contingent on the permission (unlikely, in such straitened economic times, to be given) of more senior members of the family. Sometimes these measures extend to almost comical performances of 'living tightly', such as ensuring that delivery of pharmacy pills (imparting notions of ill-health and ailments) take place on the day when the help is around - while at the same time only ordering the weekly delivery of food supplies, sticky desserts and take-away meals after she has safely left.
It goes without saying that the reduction of cash support in favour of in-kind support merely heightens the daily financial struggles of informal services workers such as Fadila – as does the threat to her livelihood from the new formal, digital competition. Yet one response which she and Kawsar share in common is their strong conviction that, in the face of general infilat, it is the new regime of President Sisi which alone can put things right. Kawsar finds immense reassurance from the daily media stream of images of the army and police fighting terrorists in Sinai, sealing off neighbourhoods of Cairo to uproot bad elements, or digging the new Suez Canal as shuhada il waqib ('martyrs to duty') – heroic rigal ('real – ie macho – men') embodying Egypt's new militarised, patriotic determination to defeat the causes behind the rampant 'state of lawlessness and chaos', and restore a state of social order.
Social media graphic: "Egyptian Soliders are ragal" (real - ie macho – men)These media images, which frequently complement the violence of Roza's predicament by graphically showing the killing or wounding of soldiers and policemen, are understood not as revealing continuing social tensions, but rather as testament to the lengths to which the current regime is prepared to go in order to achieve istikrar. And as in TV phone-ins and chat shows, the flow of conversation increasingly invokes infilat to condemn Egypt's uprising, and confirm the restoration of the former social order as the only remedy to the mayhem surrounding their lives.
"I support my country's Army and Police against terrorism - May Allah protect Egypt's Army, Police and people!"Kawsar is emphatically in support of the general mood:
'Il-ikhwan il-muslimin (the Muslim Brotherhood) turned out to be il-ikhwan il mugrimin (a brotherhood of gangsters, criminals): and these demons still won't give chaos a rest. After Mubarak's downfall, I first joined hands with other voices that said we were in good hands because the Brotherhood bikhafu rabbina (fear God). Out of this misplaced trust came a nest of liars and cheats! I'm not giving in to the wishful thinking you see around you – the misguided youth with their banners and their four-finger Rab'a signs. I deal with what I have under my belt as solid facts. The facts say we had a presidential election this summer, a written constitution, and that Sisi is Head of State. The Egyptian state is back - and the army, a known entity, represents istikrar. Now we can get back to business.'
As both women negotiate the turbulent waters of infilat and istikrar, they are equally strong in their support for the new 'tough love' approach of the Sisi regime (albeit for different reasons) – and, like most other Cairo residents, feel an increasing sense of individual isolation penetrating the social fabric of family, neighbourhood and community.
Read part one of this two part article: The maid's story.
50.50 Our Africa
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Energy is Consciousness and it either contracts or expands to maintain or increase its Rate of Frequency.
The process of how fast or slow energy contracts back towards its center point of source field is the Vibration rate.
The process of how fast or slow that same energy expands away from the center point of the source field is the Oscillation rate.
Beyond the material realm and into a realm in which everything is energy is the Law of Vibration. A Natural Universal Law that states that 'nothing rests; everything moves; every-thing vibrates which forms a rate of Frequency.' The lower the vibration, the slower the vibration; the higher the vibration the faster the vibration. The difference between the manifestations of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual result simply from different levels of vibrating energy, or frequencies. So, while the feelings of fear, grief and despair vibrate at a very low frequency, the feelings of love, joy and gratitude vibrate much quicker.
Vibration is a mechanical phenomenon whereby oscillations occur about an equilibrium or center point. The oscillations may be periodic such as the motion of a pendulum or random such as the movement of a tire on a gravel road. Vibration is responsible for the motion of a tuning fork, the reed in a woodwind instrument or harmonica, or mobile phones or the cone of a loudspeaker, and necessary for the correct functioning of the various devices. The study of sound and vibration are closely related. Sound, or "pressure waves", are generated by vibrating structures (e.g. vocal cords); these pressure waves can also induce the vibration of structures.
This page was last edited on 23 August 2014, at 12:04.


This page is dedicated to the memory of Joseph P. Spivey, (my father) who has passed away, but the memories of him are forever.
The Lawnmower man Going way back,... at the Hughes home and now those pants are in style!
Ok so mom's gonna kill me, but didn't she look cute?!! ..and still is!
Cindy, our cat for years Fifi, was friendly,.. she liked her frog Lady!
Karen's Family November 2005 The Family in S.Carolina for Thanksgiving 2005! Thanks Roger! Roger and Ryan Spivey November 2005!
Hey Cat,..you're sitting in my spot,... I don't think so Shorty,.... ......What?
"Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the flowers!"


Solidworks is a 3D CAD software with an intuitive interface and offers wide range of tools for designing, analysis and also animation. Even without a prior knowledge of designing a student can easily and quickly design a part to their liking. A range of pre-designed components are also available with Solidworks and can be used as it is.
Solidworks is the most popular design tool, with its user base ranging from individuals to large corporation and covers a very wide cross-section of manufacturing market. With the licenses being purchased by companies like ADES, Adaptive Micro Systems, ACUTRONICS etc.
A product designer and engineer are required to have complete knowledge about developing a design virtually. But we believe an engineer needs something more than that to strive in an industry. This course is a part of Ready-for- Industry courses, which aims to make, the budding designing engineers, adept with the scenario in a company. The outcome of such courses is to give that extra edge to the students where in a company views them as the candidate.
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3. You will learn how to validate and design your product according to specifications given by the industry.


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2014 Major Change Models
January 13, 2013 ThaiDealer Australia New Car Dealer
2014 is going to be a busy year for new models. The biggest news for 4WD pickup truck and SUV lovers is expected release of Major Change Toyota Hilux Vigo and 2014 Toyota Fortuner. Here is the expected schedule for 2014 Next Generation vehicles.
The following models are expected in January 2014:
2014 Major Change Fiat Viaggio: Chinese-built Viaggio small sedan shares its underpinnings with the Dodge Dart and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. It will be powered by Fiat's 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and will be a new player in the ever-expanding premium small-car segment.
2014 Major Change Hyundai Genesis Coupe: It is likely to be a rear while drive vehicle with either a 2.0-llitre turbo-four or a 3.8-litre V6
2014 Major Change Kia Carnival: The all-new 2014 model Kia Carnival will have updated styling to bring it into line with the rest of the Peter Schreyer-penned Kia family
2014 Major Change Lexus Compact SUV is likely to be based on Toyota RAV4 and is expected to give BMW X1 a run for its money. Hybrid power is likely and we could even see a fully electric version, based around the Tesla-powered RAV4 EV's powertrain
2014 Major Change Renault Zoe: Renault will likely expand its EV line-up with the Clio-sized Zoe joining its bigger Fluence ZE sibling in 2014. Zoe shares some of its powertain with Japanese partner company Nissan's Leaf and has a potential range of up to 210 km on full charge
The following models are expected in February 2014:
2014 Major Change Alfa Romeo Guilia: This replacement for Alfa's 159 sedan will boast a new 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine with 224kW. Underpinned by Giulietta's platform, the Giulia will offer sharp ride/handling balance
2014 Major Change Morgan Eva GT: The first four-seat Morgan will be constructed of aircraft-style superformed aluminium body panels riding on a lightweight bonded aluminium chassis. Powered by BMW's direct-injection twin-turbo 225kW/400Nm inline petrol six, the Eva GT should be good for 0-100km/h acceleration in about 4.5 seconds and a 273km/h top speed, yet consume just 7.0L/100km
The following models are expected in March 2014:
2014 Major Change Alfa Romeo SUV: ALFA Romeo's first SUV will be produced alongside an all-new compact Jeep crossover in Italy as a result of Fiat and Chrysler's technology sharing strategy
2014 Major Change BMW 0 Series: The 0 Series will share its underpinnings with the next-generation Mini to become the first BMW-branded front-drive car
2014 Major Change Porsche Macan: Porsche's baby SUV Macan will be based on Audi's Q5
The following models are expected in April 2014:
2014 Major Change Ford Evos Coupe: Evos gullwing-doored coupe in addition to new design will boast Ford Focus-like proportions
2014 Major Change Nissan Ellure: Ellure will be based on the Ellure concept previewed at the 2010 LA show
2014 Major Change Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Super-lightweight at 999kg and super-powerful with 419kW, Lamborghini claims the Sesto Elemento concept can blast from 0-100km/h in a phenomenal 2.5 seconds. Various carbon-fibre technologies are said to have made their world-first automotive application with this car. The lightweight construction also aids the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions.
2014 Major Change Nissan NV200: This Nissan EV is based on Nissan Leaf and has a battery range of between 100 and 170 km depending on speed and conditions
The following model is expected in May 2014:
2014 Major Change Peugeot VELV: The VELV concept from French conglomerate PSA Peugeot Citroen has an enclosed car-like front-end and narrow rear track with motorcycle-style exposed suspension components. Like a McLaren F1 supercar, the driver sits front and centre, with the two passenger spaces further back. It weighs 650kg and is powered by a 20kW electric motor good for 110km/h, with a 100km range from its 8.5kWh battery
2014 Major Change BMW i8: BMW first hybrid supercar i8 is based on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept from the 2009 Frankfurt show. The concept offered M3 performance but Prius fuel economy, thanks to a 120kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel engine in combination with two electric motors
2014 Major Change Gordon Murray Teewave AR.1: The 3975mm long, 1765mm wide Gordon Murray Teewave AR.1 roadster's 850kg weight includes a 240kg, 16kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be fully charged in six hours and provides a claimed 186km range when sending power to the road through a mid-mounted 47kW electric motor borrowed from a Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
2014 Major Change Jensen Interceptor: This four-seat grand tourer sports car originally produced between 1966 and 1976, is set to make a thoroughly modern comeback. A public unveiling is planned for late 2012, with first deliveries in 2014 from a new facility to be built on the site of Jaguar's old Browns Lane factory in Coventry, UK.
The following model is expected in June 2014:
2014 Major Change Volvo XC90: Volvo's next-generation XC90 large SUV will feature Volvo lightweight new scalable architecture and its new four-cylinder engine range. A plug-in hybrid or fully electric model is also likely
The following model is expected in July 2014:
2014 Major Change Kia GT: KIA'S first rear-wheel-drive concept car, the GT sports sedan, will become a reality in 2014 and will be released with V8 firepower. The coupe will give it a place in upmarket niche
2014 Major Change Lotus Elite: Power for the front-engined 2+2 Elite coupe will come from a supercharged Lexus 5.0-litre V8 that revs to 8500rpm. Confirmed to produce up to 455kW/720Nm in top-shelf 'R' form, it will be linked to an optional hybrid transmission. Lotus says the Elite will achieve the sprint to 100km/h in 3.5 to 3.7 seconds, making it a match for some of the world's finest supercars
The following model is expected in September 2014:
2014 Major Change Volvo Concept You: The next generation Volvo S80 is likely to be based on the Concept You show car from the 2011 Frankfurt exhibition. Its unusual styling reminds one of a marine mammal
The following models are expected in October 2014:
2014 Major Change Audi R8: The second-generation Audi R8 supercar should achieve significant weight savings, unprecedented levels of stiffness and strength, while retaining real-world crash-repair practicalities by combining aluminium spaceframe construction with exotic materials like carbon-fibre. Audi is aiming for the R8's body in white structure to tip the scales at just 198kg
2014 Major Change Renault DeZir: Renault's coupe concept could enter production as an answer to the stylish RCZ coupe from French arch-rival Peugeot. Rear-wheel drive DeZir based on a tubular steel frame with a kerb weight of just 830kg, offers a zero-emissions driving range of about 160km, a top speed of 180km/h and can accelerate to 100km/h in just five seconds
2014 Major Change Tesla Model X: Tesla is generally known for building electric powered sports cars plans to add a seven-seat SUV to its line-up.
The following models are expected are November 2014:
2014 Major Change Mini: The MkIII Mini hatch will spawn the first front-drive BMW, so expect class-leading dynamics and high technology coupled with fuel-sipping new engines and possibly an electric or hybrid model
2014 Major Change Audi e-tron: Combining a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine and a pair of electric motors to drive all four wheels, the Audi e-tron Spyder will have startling acceleration, racing to 100km/h from rest in just 4.4 seconds. It will be able to travel 50km on electricity alone and return fuel economy of 2.2l/100km, saving the planet will never have been so much fun
2014 Major Change Hyundai BLUE-WILL: Hyundai's first dedicated plug-in petrol-electric vehicle is conceptually similar to the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota's Prius Plug-In but contains a world-first lithium-ion polymer battery pack powering a 100kW electric motor, which supplements Hyundai's all-alloy 113kW 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine
2014 Major Change Infiniti LE: This is a luxury five-seat EV described by Infiniti as a "stylish, high-performance luxury vehicle with zero emissions technology". Proportions are expected to be similar to the Etherea concept but the styling will carry more traits from the Essence concept
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Sherlock Holmes on the Stage
A Chronological Encyclopedia of Plays Featuring the Great Detective
Amnon Kabatchnik
One of the world's most well known fictional characters, Sherlock Holmes first appeared in print in 1887. The detective was featured in four novels and 56 short stories written by his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Within a decade of his creation Sherlock Holmes made his theatrical debut, first in a couple of obscure productions and soon in the celebrated play adapted by and starring William Gillette. Through the 20th century and beyond, the fictional detective featured in dozens of plays, not to mention radio programs, films, and television shows.
In Sherlock Holmes on Stage, Amnon Kabatchnik cites the many theatrical appearances of the great detective since his debut in a one-act musical satire in November 1893. Divided into three sections, this book focuses on plays written or cowritten by Conan Doyle, one-act productions, and plays written by other authors—either adaptations of the novels and stories or original works. Within these sections, each entry is arranged in chronological order and provides a plot synopsis, production details, and other unique features. Some entries identify principal actors and provide biographical sketches of the playwrights, as well as those actors who made a lasting impression as the fictional sleuth. The book also includes several appendixes that focus on special productions, plays that feature variations of the Holmes character, and a list of acting editions. « less more »
Scarecrow Press
Pages: 216 • Trim: 6 3/8 x 9 3/8
978-0-8108-6125-1 • Hardback • June 2008 • $100.00 • (£70.00)
978-1-4617-0722-6 • eBook • June 2008 • $95.00 • (£65.00)
Subjects: Performing Arts / Theater / History & Criticism, Performing Arts / Reference
Amnon Kabatchnik, now retired, was a Professor of Theatre at SUNY Binghamton, Stanford University, Ohio State University, Florida State University, and Elmira College. He is the author of Blood on the Stage: Milestone Plays of Crime, Mystery and Detection, An Annotated Repertoire, 1900-1925 (Scarecrow, 2008) and Blood on the Stage II (Scarecrow, 2009).
Page-turner....This is the kind of detail that brings the history of Sherlock Holmes in the theater to life.... Thick with interest to Sherlock Holmes scholars, theater students, and late 19th century popular scholars like.
— College & Research Libraries, March 2009
Preferable to others...it provides the opportunity to enjoy the plays rather than merely read a list. The volume is much more accessible than the play scripts themselves, many of which are quite scarce. The characterizations of Holmes, Watson, and their milieu are dizzying in their variety and complexity.
— Los Angeles Times, August 2008
The author of Blood on the Stage: Milestone Plays of Crime, Mystery, and Detection: An Annotated Repertoire, 1900-1925...has written an equally meritorious survey of the theatrical Holmes....What sets this book apart from other references on the 'public Holmes' are the detailed plot summaries and production histories, often including further professional biography of writers and actors involved.
— Mystery Scene, December 01, 2008
Kabatchinik's research for this book leaves me in awe....Kabatchnik...does a good job.
— Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
A concise overview.... Clearly written.... Sufficiently engaging.... Will appeal to any library supporting Sherlockian interests or theater studiesssss
— American Reference Books Annual
Theatre director Amnon Kabatchnik has done his homework and then some....It's hard to imagine you'll find a single source as detailed and thorough....recommended for Holmes completists and those with a meticulous fascination with theatre history.
— Bookgasm.Com
A concise overview.... Clearly written.... Sufficiently engaging.... Will appeal to any library supporting Sherlockian interests or theater studies
It is highly likely that Amnon Kabatchnik's book on Holmes is a first, as it examines the theatrical Holmes. Each chapter in the book ends with a set of notes, and appendix G provides a full list of the plays in the book. On close reading the book is written in a style that contains an element of humor and distinct tongue-in-cheek. Clearly this book is worth purchasing for institutions that run courses which relate to Conan Doyle's work or fictional crime literature.
— Reference Reviews, June 2009
From that inglorious beginning, the famous resident of 221B Baker Street has gone on to star in musicals, comedies, thrillers, solo shows, at least one puppetry piece, and a fairy tale about the heir of a marshmallow tycoon. Such are the revelations of Kabatchnik's energetically researched volume, which covers scores of Doyle-derived works. Theatre scholars and hardcore Sherlockians will welcome this book...
— American Theatre, October 1, 2009
In Sherlock Holmes on Stage, Amnon Kabatchnik cites the many theatrical appearances of the great detective since his debut in a one-act musical satire in November 1893. Divided into three sections, this book focuses on plays written or cowritten by Conan Doyle, one-act productions, and plays written by other authors—either adaptations of the novels and stories or original works. Within these sections, each entry is arranged in chronological order and provides a plot synopsis, production details, and other unique features. Some entries identify principal actors and provide biographical sketches of the playwrights, as well as those actors who made a lasting impression as the fictional sleuth. The book also includes several appendixes that focus on special productions, plays that feature variations of the Holmes character, and a list of acting editions.