From email monitoring to video surveillance, U.S. employers are increasingly adopting sophisticated technology solutions in the belief that they will boost productivity and protect resources.
A new survey of 526 U.S. companies found that two-thirds now use software to block connections to websites deemed to be inappropriate - a 27 per cent increase since 2001 – while three-quarters (76 per cent) monitor workers' web usage.
And according to the 2005 Electronic Monitoring & Surveillance Survey from American Management Association (AMA) and The ePolicy Institute, a quarter of firms have fired workers for misusing the Internet and for email misuse, while six per cent have even fired workers for misusing office telephones.
Workplace monitoring takes various forms, the survey found, with more than a third (36 per cent) of employers tracking content, keystrokes and time spent at the keyboard.
Another half store and review employees' computer files, while 55 per cent retain and review their employee's email messages.
The number of employers who monitor the amount of time employees spend on the phone and track the numbers called has also leapt to 51 per cent, up from only 9 per cent in 2001. Meanwhile 19 per cent tape the calls of employees in selected job categories, and three per cent record and review every word their employees say on the phone.
However most employers are careful to inform employees when they are being watched, with almost nine out of 10 of firms which monitor web usage letting their employees know that their surfing habits are being tracked.
Yet while more than eight out of 10 employers have established policies governing personal email and Internet use, the explosion in self-publishing and blogging seems to have left many organisations behind.
Only a third have policies about the operation of personal web sites on company time, fewer than a quarter (23 per cent) rule on personal postings on corporate blogs while only one in five have rules about personal blogs.
According to Nancy Flynn, executive director of The ePolicy Institute, U.S. employers have been spurred on in their surveillance efforts by the fact that one in five employers has had email subpoenaed by courts and regulators and another 13 per cent have battled workplace lawsuits triggered by employee email.
"Concern over litigation and the role electronic evidence plays in lawsuits and regulatory investigations has spurred more employers to implement electronic technology policies," she said.
"Workers' email, IM, blog and Internet content creates written business records that are the electronic equivalent of DNA evidence."
More than half of the companies surveyed use video monitoring to counter theft, violence and sabotage. But the number of companies that use video surveillance to track employees' on-the-job performance has also increased, with one in ten videotaping selected job categories and six per cent videotaping all employees.
The survey also showed that 15 per cent of employers were even prepared to videotape workers without notifying them of the practice.
Meanwhile, the Australian state of New South Wales earlier this month introduced legislation making covert surveillance by employers a criminal offence unless they can prove they had reasonable suspicion of wrong doing by an employee.
Surveillance also has its flip side. Studies have shown that monitored workers suffered more work dissatisfaction, depression, extreme anxiety, exhaustion, strain injuries and neck problems than unmonitored workers.
A recent report from the London School of Economics also argued that the sort of scrutiny and micromanagement that results from supply chain technologies developed for monitoring goods being applied to individuals undermines the productivity benefits of the technology-driven economy.
In short, while covert monitoring might assuage management paranoia, it also leads to people spending a lot of time proving to their bosses that they are working, instead of getting on with actually working.
But it appears that as far as most U.S. employers are concerned, the use of what Nancy Flynn terms "technology tools to battle people problems" is only going to increase as the risks – perceived or actual - of litigation, security breaches and other electronic disasters grow ever larger.


What can happen if people use Xanax recreationally?
Xanax being a highly potent benzodiazepine, it is commonly misused recreationally. The drug is dangerous when used by those who do not suffer from anxiety problems. This pill, which is the brand of Alprazolam, is currently the top prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Those who use this medication recreationally easily find ways to buy Xanax without prescription. Given the properties of the drug, this is a risky practice indeed and should be avoid in any case.
Xanax is highly effective as an anti-anxiety medication. It can help soothe the symptoms of anxiety quickly by controlling restlessness, tension, and other disruptive feelings that anxiety produces. While the effects of the drug are beneficial to the person with an anxiety disorder, the same can be very harmful to someone who simply uses it recreationally. Ideally, the anxiety pill should be taken for short-term use under medical supervision. If you are unaware just how much the recreational use of the anxiety medication can affect someone, then reading this blog will help you understand better.
Xanax is used recreationally in order to experience the euphoric side effects that occur when the it is abused. What really happens when using the anxiety medication without being prescribed for it is that the user does not really know the safe limit of the dose. The drug is fast acting but lasts in the system only for a few hours. This prompts the recreational user to take the next dose immediately after the effects start to wane. Using the benzo pills in this way leads to dangerous health complications.
Xanax has the property of quickly building tolerance. Prolonged abuse through recreational use will result in continually upping the dosage in order to feel the high. This leads to dependency and addiction, and the absence of the drug will cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
Another danger is that this medication is likely to be combined with other substances like alcohol and banned drugs in order to enhance the effects. The addiction can even go to the level or snorting or injecting the medication, which is a dangerous practice in itself. All these rampantly increase the risk of overdose and even death.
The use of Xanax can be done in a responsible way by taking the drug only if prescribed for it for an actual health problem. Under controlled use and with proper medical supervision, the drug is relatively safe. If there are any signs of tolerance, dependence or withdrawal side effects, the same should be consulted right away with the doctor. Avoid modifying the dosage on your own. The doctor's help should also be sought when discontinuing the medication so that the dose can be tapered to prevent withdrawal syndrome. Xanax is available for it immense potential in treating anxiety disorders and efficiently gaining control over the symptoms. Recreational use of the drug is counter to its intended use and should be avoided.


It's fun in the sun with hard or soft sided insulated promotional koolers ruggedly constructed to withstand a rough and tumble environment. Safely transport cool or warm food and drink for picnics, tailgating, and camping vacations also with many home uses like deck parties or a backyard BBQ and a no brainer for transporting perishables to and from the market. The health and weight conscious work force depend on insulated luncheon containers to help keep their diet on track—big step above brown bagging it. We have quality promotional koolers in all sizes and shapes at a range of prices to fit any budget. Our promotional koolers come in over 100 styles and in tons of colors. We also have many sizes available from lunch sack koolers to six pack, twelve pack and even up to 50 can. So many uses by so many users for a long time—great advertising value especially at our best pricing.
We use koolers for most of the summer months. As humans, we love being out in the sun, but how we keep our food and drinks safe and cold relies on the use of a cooler. We could not do this without the invention of one clever guy call Richard C. Laramy. He invented the portable ice chest back in 1951, in Joliet, Illinois. He devised the idea by creating a box which has insulation, contained in a double shell box, which slowed down the ice melt. The item was patented in 1953 and has since become extremely popular among people who like to enjoy a day at the beach, an afternoon in the park or on general camping trips. The kooler box is an extremely useful item to take with you on a hot day. You can store fresh food in it and help to maintain the lower temperature inside, by adding frozen gel packs. It is also useful for taking to the grocery store on a hot day to transport your frozen items for the journey home. Keeping food and drink fresh and refreshing has become so popular our promotional coolers have become a top choice for gifting clients and employee prizes and awards.
It makes them a rather versatile item to have around and nowadays the same thermal technology is used in many lunch boxes and portable, over the shoulder cooler bags. Many promotional kooler boxes now come with a handle and wheels. These are known commonly as rolling ice chests and perform in exactly the same way as static cooler boxes, except they can be conveniently wheeled around from place to place. The rolling ice chest was patented in 1994 and is attributed to Dennis L. Friedrich of Burbank, California. In New Zealand, the ice box, or cooler is known as the 'chilly bin', while in Australia the main brand name of most coolers has been adopted as a generic term, known as the 'Esky', short for Eskimos. The outer shell of an 'Esky' cooler is made from Polypropylene and the inner shell is polyurethane, making them extremely lightweight and very portable.
Many sporting companies brand their own coolers with their logos, slogans or colors and sell them to people for general use. Many companies also use them as free gifts for new customers or with a purchase. As a promotional cooler it is one of the most popular and certainly the most useful coupled with the food safety benefits. Because of the hot summers in many parts of the country, a promotional koolers can literally mean the difference between eating healthy and fresh food on a day trip or having the food turn bad very quickly in a hot vehicle.
If your company has any connection to outdoor life you might feel inclined to use promotional koolers to promote your business. Your logo or picture or slogan can easily be printed onto a promotional cooler which you can then offer to customers as a free gift and a way of enticing new business to your company. For the lowest market prices, just get in touch with us to order your promotional coolers!


We are pleased to offer a five-year guarantee on all workmanship.
Harmony Interiors of Markham specializes in upholstery, custom upholstery, refinishing and new furniture. We provide in-home fabric selection and, should you not find what you are looking for, you are also welcome to visit our showroom and use our fabric lines. In need of extra assistance? Our in-house interior decorator can provide a consultation to ensure you select a fabric suitable for your needs.
As a small operation, Harmony Interiors offers you a friendly décor experience tailored specifically to you and your needs. Our entire team is knowledgeable about everything to do with the upholstery process, so you will find in us all of the help you need to create the perfect décor piece for your home.
Get started today! Explore our services and then make a trip to our showroom. We'll help make your dream sofa, ottoman, headboard or any other upholstered piece a reality.
We're ready and waiting to discuss your upholstery project.


text:
Federico Curradi Is Appointed Creative Director Of Rochas Men's Fashion
There is a new man at the helm of menswear at French Maison Rochas. The menswear division of Rochas was non-existent for 22 years prior to Béatrice Ferrant's appointment and his quick tenure delivered yet another setback to the brand in its pursuit of a successful menswear collection.
After relaunching the men's ready-to-wear collections in 2017 under the aegis of Ferrant, Rochas's owner Interparfums has picked a new designer to lead the second phase of the label's new life. Italian Federico Curradi has in fact been appointed Creative Director of Rochas menswear, and his debut collection will be Autumn/Winter 2019-20.
It's a real honour for me to accept the position as men's creative director for Rochas. The Parisian legacy and the brand's natural yet sophisticated style are key sources of inspiration for me, and I will undoubtedly reference them as I write a new page in the brand's history.
Federico Curradi
Curradi will showcase his vision for Rochas at the Paris Fashion Week next January. Curradi, who was formerly head of men's styling at Ermanno Scervino from 2001 to 2005, and later head of men's collections at Roberto Cavalli (2005 – 2007). Then, for eight years, he was the Creative Director of Iceberg. In 2016, he relaunched his own label in January at Pitti Uomo, founded twenty years earlier while he worked as a knitwear consultant for Dunhill. The designer, who lives in the Florentine countryside, is also creative director of outerwear specialist Peuterey.
Federico Curradi's mission at Rochas is clear: to re-energise menswear, which was put on hold at the end of 2017 after his predecessor managed it for only one season. In the meantime, Interparfums has opted for a new strategy. After trying its hand for the first time at developing a fashion collection internally, the fragrance group revealed that it had inked a license with the Italian subsidiary of Japan's Onward Holding Co. Ltd, which already produces Rochas women's ready-to-wear with creative director Alessandro Dell'Acqua, since 2013.
Come into the beautiful world of Rochas.
Auteur amr63Geplaatst op 20 juni 2018 7 mei 2020 Categorieën FashionTags Beatrice Ferrant, Federico Curradi, Federico Curradi for Rochas, Rochas
Vorige Vorig bericht: Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Harrods Exclusive
Volgende Volgend bericht: Porsche Taycan starts the fight

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There's nobody quite like AURELIA. With her penchant for rich and vivid tunes that paint vivid pictures of bygone days and hopeful futures, her music is one-of-a-kind. With her latest cut 'America', she's truly outdone herself, creating an odyssey of existence through music alone.
Aurelia has received Grammy nominations and Top 10 Billboard listing via her songwriting for other artists, and these chops have been clear as day on her solo work. Her debut, 'Are We Losing', was a gentle introduction to her smoky and melancholic style. It was her follow-up 'Chest' that pulled out all the stops: it was a magical and dense track with a unique mix of indie-pop with ambient production and a hearty dose of Americana. 'America' dials up this magic: it's a distillation of countless influences and sounds into one indescribable package.
Aurelia is one of those artists where her influences are very clear, but her work is utterly unique. 'America' has the thick and ethereal sound of Enya, vocals like a combination of Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks, and a hint of anachronism from contemporaries like Lana Del Ray. The result is a sublime journey through feelings of hope, uncertainty and discovery, as the song builds from a gentle beginning to an absolute explosion of sounds. Simple synth pads layer underneath her breathy vocals as she describes herself waking up in the middle of the night in L.A and simply watching the rain out her window. As a strange feeling of destiny washes over her the song erupts into a chorus that is as catchy as it is powerful. Driving percussion leads layers of vocals and squealing guitars in a sea of reverb, and the song never lets up this immense feeling of triumph over anxiety.
It's probably a cop out but 'America' – and really, Aurelia's craft in general – is almost beyond description. It's one of those things, like going skydiving or trying Vegemite, that you have to experience for yourself to truly understand it. It's tough to craft a great pop song full of hooks and succinct songwriting, and it's even harder to craft a song that feels like a long journey in under five minutes. The fact Aurelia has managed to do both and absolutely nail it is a total marvel. She started off 2018 on a high note with 'Chest' and she's somehow managed to transcend that already. If she releases another song this year I think it might actually reveal to me the secrets of the universe – that's the only way I can imagine 'America' being topped.


The ProBasics K4 Wheelchair is a high-strength lightweight extremely versatile wheelchair. With a built-in seat and upholstery extension combined with all of its other unique features that come standard, the ProBasics K4 easily adapts to any patient�s individual needs. It offers superior value and functionality for those looking for a high-performance rental product at a moderate price.


If you thought that a hastily thrown together sequel rushed into production and released as soon as possible as a cynical gash-grab to capitalize on its far superior predecessor was a modern phenomenon you are sorely mistaken! That's been happening since pretty much the advent of filmmaking in general. Case in point: Son of Kong.
Now to be fair Son of Kong isn't a bad film – it's actually quite charming in its own little way – it just does not come close to matching or even attempting to rival its predecessor in any way.
And so they did – with interesting results.
This is another movie that I first saw on my portable B&W TV set late night at night. I want to say that it was played the week following the airing of the original King Kong because that seems like how it should have happened, but to be honest I'm not really sure if that is a fact or not (memory is weird that way). I can say for certain that I saw it fairly soon after seeing the original. And whereas when watching the original I mentioned that I was disappointed, almost bored, that it took quite a long time for Kong to show up in that movie in this one it didn't bother me as much when the same thing happened. You'd think it would bother me more since "Little Kong" in this film takes even longer to show up (about 43 minutes in to a 70 minute film to be in fact) but this movie has a completely different feel than the original and so that wait time did not seem as important. In fact the giant ape part of the movie feels almost incidental.
Because this is a comedy there is a very different vibe to the story. It resembles more of a Hope/Crosby road film or an Abbott and Costello genre romp than a pseudo fantasy action thriller. And the result of that is a completely different experience than of the first. The anticipation to see the giant monsters and the non-stop action associated with it is instead replaced with some goofy comedy and not-very-tense set pieces. Even Little Kong himself is played for laughs and he is more lovable and cuddly than terrifying killing machine.
Now as I've mentioned many times on this blog I feel as if I was a weird kid. I loved old movies – particularly the black and white ones from the 30s and 40s – and if there was a monster or a giant animal in them all the better. And the funny ones at the time were a particular favorite as well. Abbot and Costello, the Marx Brothers, Hope/Crosby, Laurel and Hardy, and all the screwball comedies made at this time I found endlessly watchable. So Son of Kong for me fell into that category.
It has all the beats of a 30s comedy with a little action thrown in for good measure. (And of course a musical number. God films at this time loved musical numbers didn't they? Sure, sometimes it was germane to the plot but more often than not it was a way to pad the run time. Son of Kong falls into the latter category.) I remember watching the movie like I would one of those comedies with no anticipation for the monster at all, so when Little Kong did show up for his deus ex monkeyna (can't lie – I cracked myself up when I wrote that) at the end I remember thinking that was just a bonus – like a man in a gorilla costume – played for laughs followed by a rush to the credits.
Well, no. But to be fair I don't think it was meant to. I said at the top that this was a cynical cash grab but I don't think that is exactly true. Oh, it was a cash grab for sure, specifically designed to capitalize on the success of the unexpected hit of the original, but I do think there was a genuine attempt to make an entertaining film.
For modern audiences there are some questionable depictions as was common of the era. The character of Charlie for instance (credited as "Chinese Cook") is played as comic relief in the most stereotypical ways you can imagine. He is played by a man of Asian descent rather than a white guy in yellowface – so that's a plus I suppose – still it can be cringe-worthy much of the time. And the island natives are similarly depicted, as in the original, as "savages" and that can also be a bit tough to stomach. Still, in one of the more amusing bits of the film, upon returning to the island Denham believes he will be received as a hero by the natives for ridding them of Kong only to find he is despised for ruining their culture and society. I would love to say this is a critique on colonialism – and could easily be read that way today – but let's face it this was just a gag at the time this was made with no other implications inherent in it. It is still rather amusing though.
But I'm more concerned with the hundreds of natives killed because Denham wanted to exploit them and make a lot of money. Basically, Carl Denham is a really bad person.
But a deep reading is not what this movie is about. That is not what this movie is. As I said before Son of Kong does have some quirky charm to it. This was never meant to be an all-time classic that will echo down the annals of moviedom, it was not a film to make you think hard about the issues of the day, or contemplate the philosophical ramifications of colonialism. Rather it was created to be a quasi-comedy follow-up of a wildly popular predecessor to entertain audiences in the tiny window of time after that major hit. It's a romp, a little popcorn flick to make the kids smile in matinee showings. It was meant to come and go quickly and make as much box-office revenue as possible while being as entertaining as possible. So it's fine. Nothing groundbreaking, just fine.
And in the end you really can't go wrong with a comedy romance that also has giant monsters in it.


text:
Watch Law Amazon Prime Kannada Web Series Leaked By Tamilrockers
PM Narendra Modi said - Yogi Adityanath government realizing every...
India warns China, there should not be any attempt to...
India warns China, there should not be any attempt to change the status quo on LAC
China army's action in Galvan affected the relationship between the two countries
India has given a clear warning to China to immediately stop its activities in East Ladakh, that any attempt to forcefully change the status quo along the border between the two countries will not only affect regional peace, but also worsen bilateral relations Will affect.
India has made it clear that any such attempt will be reacted and its consequences will have to be faced by China. Indian Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, gave a clear message on Friday that until China stops the construction work on the Line of Actual Control, there will be tension between the two countries.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi said – Yogi Adityanath government realizing every opportunity made by disaster
Meanwhile in New Delhi, Army Chief General MM Narwane informed Defense Minister Rajnath Singh about the overall situation in East Ladakh and Indian military preparedness.
The Indian Ambassador told reporters in Beijing that the repeated claims made by China over Galvan were unacceptable and said that such a claim would not benefit him. Misery said China's efforts to change the status quo on the ground could cause a rift in bilateral relations.
The recent steps taken by the Chinese military have severely damaged bilateral relations and trust between the two countries. Peace on the border is very important for better relations. Regarding the activities of the Indian Army on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), he said that India has always continued activities in its area of LAC.
Now it is entirely China's responsibility to carefully review the relationship between the two countries and then decide in which direction it should go. Peace on the border is a necessary condition for any progress in bilateral relations between India and China. Our view is quite clear about this.
The Chinese soldiers should not obstruct the task of patrolling the Indian soldiers. Misery rejected China's claim on the Galvan Valley, saying it could not find any support. The exaggerated claims do not help in the current situation.


text:
Q: VBA: Reverse an array? How could I reverse an array that is full of integers e.g.:
[1;5;8;45;54]

To:
[54;45;8;5;1]

Are there any built in functions I could use?
I tried using this method:
Array.Reverse(arr)

I added Mscorlib.dll from Tools > References, but it showed error: Syntax error. At the Array.Reverse(arr) location.

A: Array.Reverse sounds like VB.Net, not VBA.
Chip Pearson has functions for just about anything you will want to do with arrays (and other structures).
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/vbaarrays.htm --> ReverseArrayInPlace
The relevant part is:
Ndx2 = UBound(InputArray)
' loop from the LBound of InputArray to the midpoint of InputArray
For Ndx = LBound(InputArray) To ((UBound(InputArray) - LBound(InputArray) + 1) \ 2)
    'swap the elements
    Temp = InputArray(Ndx)
    InputArray(Ndx) = InputArray(Ndx2)
    InputArray(Ndx2) = Temp
    ' decrement the upper index
    Ndx2 = Ndx2 - 1
Next Ndx

A: you could use ArrayList class and wrap its Reverse method:
Function ReverseArray(arr As Variant) As Variant
    Dim val As Variant

    With CreateObject("System.Collections.ArrayList") '<-- create a "temporary" array list with late binding
        For Each val In arr '<--| fill arraylist
            .Add val
        Next val
        .Reverse '<--| reverse it
        ReverseArray = .Toarray '<--| write it into an array
    End With
End Function

to be used like:
Sub main()
    Dim arr As Variant

    arr = ReverseArray(Array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)) '<-- it returns an array of Variant/Integer with values 5,4,3,2,1
End Sub

A: Andre's answer referring to Chip Pearson's function I believe the +1 in the for loop is in error that in cases of LBound and UBound not BOTH being EVEN or BOTH being ODD results in the mid point reversal being reverted.  i.e. the difference between LBound and UBound being ODD.
Consider 0 = LBound and 9 = UBound.
9 + 1 = 10 / 2 = 5
So the loop will be for Ndx = 0 to 5.  That is 6 iterations.  One iteration too many.
Results in the following swaps.
Ndx = 0, Ndx2 = 9: 0<>9
Ndx = 1, Ndx2 = 8: 1<>8
Ndx = 2, Ndx2 = 7: 2<>7
Ndx = 3, Ndx2 = 6: 3<>6
Ndx = 4, Ndx2 = 5: 4<>5
Ndx = 5, Ndx2 = 4: 5<>4
So the mid point elements 4 and 5 are swapped, then swapped back.
Resulting in the order of: 9,8,7,6,4,5,3,2,1,0
Also LBound should be added to the UBound, not subtracted.  If subtracted then it only works for LBound of zero.  Consider 50 = LBound, 100 = UBound.  That would result in For Ndx = 50 to 25.  Note, this is supposed to be a FROM, TO calculation not an iterations count calculation.
Here is my functions for reversing one and two dimensional arrays.
They are also able to optionally retain a specified number of header rows.
' Reverse array (one dimensional), optionally retain header rows.
Private Sub Reverse_Array_1d(ByRef Ary As Variant, Optional Header_Rows As Integer = 0)

 Dim Dimension_Y As Integer     ' Rows (height)
 Dim Y_first As Long
 Dim Y_last As Long
 Dim Y_last_plus_Y_first As Long
 Dim Y_next As Long

 Dimension_Y = 1
 Y_first = LBound(Ary, Dimension_Y) + Header_Rows
 Y_last = UBound(Ary, Dimension_Y)
 Y_last_plus_Y_first = Y_last + Y_first

 Dim tmp As Variant

 For Y = Y_first To Y_last_plus_Y_first / 2
    Y_next = Y_last_plus_Y_first - Y
    tmp = Ary(Y_next)
    Ary(Y_next) = Ary(Y)
    Ary(Y) = tmp
 Next

End Sub

ReDim Ary(0 To 9) As Variant
Header_Rows = 1
Call Reverse_1d_Array(Ary, CInt(Header_Rows))

' Reverse array (two dimensional), optionally retain header rows.
Private Sub Reverse_Array_2d(ByRef Ary As Variant, Optional Header_Rows As Integer = 0)

 Dim Dimension_Y As Integer     ' Rows (height)
 Dim Y_first As Long
 Dim Y_last As Long
 Dim Y_last_plus_Y_first As Long
 Dim Y_next As Long

 Dimension_Y = 1
 Y_first = LBound(Ary, Dimension_Y) + Header_Rows
 Y_last = UBound(Ary, Dimension_Y)
 Y_last_plus_Y_first = Y_last + Y_first

 Dim Dimension_X As Integer      ' Columns (width)
 Dim X_first As Long
 Dim X_last As Long

 Dimension_X = 2
 X_first = LBound(Ary, Dimension_X)
 X_last = UBound(Ary, Dimension_X)

 ReDim tmp(X_first To X_last) As Variant

 For Y = Y_first To Y_last_plus_Y_first / 2
    Y_next = Y_last_plus_Y_first - Y
    For X = X_first To X_last
        tmp(X) = Ary(Y_next, X)
        Ary(Y_next, X) = Ary(Y, X)
        Ary(Y, X) = tmp(X)
    Next
 Next

End Sub

ReDim Ary(0 To 9, 0 To 3) As Variant
Header_Rows = 1
Call Reverse_2d_Array(Ary, CInt(Header_Rows))

A: (1): The simple but limited solution, if your data is made of of either single   characters or palindromes. Let's assume your array is named vTmp, and you can pick a delimiter that doesn't appear in your data -- I'll use "|". Then a one-line approach is:
vTmp = VBA.Split(VBA.StrReverse(VBA.Join(vTmp, "|")), "|")

It is limited, because each value will be reversed as well. It could be solved by replacing the values with indexes that refer to values in another array, but then it's no simpler than the other solutions.
(2): The full solution, as complete Excel VBA function:
Public Function rxReverse(uInput) As Variant
  '' Simply reverses the order of items in input array.
  '' If Input is singular, then it reverses the content.
  ''
  '' v1 Rich Sulin 05-08-2019
  Dim vTmp As Variant
  Dim a1 As Long, a2 As Long, a3 As Long
  Dim i As Long, j As Long
    ''
    rxReverse = vbNullString
    ''
    '' uInput is a Range object?
    If TypeOf uInput Is Range Then
        a1 = 1
        If uInput.Columns.Count > 1 Then
            a2 = uInput.Columns.Count
            ReDim vTmp(a1 To a2) As Variant
            a3 = 1 + (a2 - a1) / 2
            For i = a1 To a3
                j = a2 - i + 1
                vTmp(j) = uInput(1, i).Value
                vTmp(i) = uInput(1, j).Value
            Next i
        ElseIf uInput.Rows.Count > 1 Then
            a2 = uInput.Rows.Count
            ReDim vTmp(a1 To a2) As Variant
            a3 = 1 + (a2 - a1) / 2
            For i = a1 To a3
                j = a2 - i + 1
                vTmp(j) = uInput(1, i).Value
                vTmp(i) = uInput(1, j).Value
            Next i
        Else
            vTmp = VBA.StrReverse(VBA.CStr(uInput.Value))
        End If
    ''
    '' uInput is an Array?
    Else
        Select Case VBA.VarType(uInput)
            Case Is >= vbArray
                a1 = LBound(uInput)
                a2 = UBound(uInput)
                ReDim vTmp(a1 To a2) As Variant
                a3 = 1 + (a2 - a1) / 2
                For i = a1 To a3
                    j = a2 - i + 1
                    vTmp(j) = uInput(i)
                    vTmp(i) = uInput(j)
                Next i
    ''
    '' uInput is an irrelevant type?
            Case vbNull, vbEmpty, vbError
                Exit Function
    ''
    '' uInput is a singular data; reverse it.
            Case Else
                vTmp = VBA.StrReverse(VBA.CStr(uInput))
        End Select
    End If
    ''
    rxReverse = vTmp
    ''
    '' If called from a Worksheet, vertically, then orient output array "vertically"
    If VBA.IsObject(Application.Caller) Then
        If Application.Caller.Rows.Count > 1 Then
            rxReverse = Application.WorksheetFunction.Transpose(vTmp)
        End If
    End If
End Function

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Have you ever thought about doing missionary work, but didn't know where to do it? Here is your chance to serve the Lord, grow spiritually, touch other people's lives, and get to have lots of FUN. Each of us here believe that God has placed a calling on our lives to impact His Kingdom through the vibrant ministry here at Camp Westminster. All of us are thankful for that calling and opportunity. If you have a calling to be directly involved in the lives of others and to have a life-changing impact on them as well as yourself, then Camp Westminster might be the place for you.
Camp Westminster is the perfect place for college students, young professionals, school teachers, and adults of all ages. If you want to be involved in an exciting work that God is doing, Camp Westminster is the place for you. While not on the same scale the world offers, all summer ministry positions are paid positions with housing and food; however, we do appreciate volunteer help as well.
If you are interested in summer employment, please click below to go to our online staff application process. Once you set up an account, you can log in at any time to start a new application, edit one that is in process, and submit your completed application. Once you've submitted an application, you can log back in to this site to upload any additional required forms.
Apply for a Summer Staff Position!


text:
(function() {

    angular.module('respond.factories')

    .factory('MenuType', function($http, Setup){

		// init
		var menuType = {};
		menuType.data = [];

		// add a menutype
		menuType.add = function(toBeAdded){

			// set menutype
			var params = {
				friendlyId: toBeAdded.FriendlyId,
				name: toBeAdded.Name};

			// set post to URL Encoded
			$http.defaults.headers.post['Content-Type'] = 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=UTF-8';

			// post to API
			$http.post(Setup.api + '/menutype/add', $.param(params))
				.then(function(res){

					// push data to factory
					menuType.data.push(res.data);

				});
		}

		// removes a menutype
		menuType.remove = function(toBeRemoved, callback){

			// set params
			var params = {
				menuTypeId: toBeRemoved.MenuTypeId
				};

			// set post to URL Encoded
			$http.defaults.headers.post['Content-Type'] = 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=UTF-8';

			// post to API
			$http.post(Setup.api + '/menutype/remove', $.param(params))
				.then(function(res){

					var i = menuType.getIndexById(toBeRemoved.MenuTypeId);
					if(i !== -1)menuType.data.splice(i, 1);

					return;
				})
				.then(callback);
		}

		// retrieve allowed menutypes
		menuType.list = function(callback){

			// get list from API, ref: http://bit.ly/1gkUW4E
			$http.get(Setup.api + '/menutype/list')
				.then(function(res){

					// set data for factory
					menuType.data = res.data;
					return menuType.data;

				})
				.then(callback);
		}

		// get the index by id
		menuType.getIndexById = function(id){

			var data = menuType.data;

			for(x=0; x<data.length; x++){

				if(data[x].MenuTypeId == id){
					return x;
				}

			}

			return -1;
		}

		return menuType;

	})

})();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Spotlight On Local: Kelly Maglia: From Closet Metalhead To Metal Queen
By Marissa Bergen | Monday, January 16th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
[Photo Credit: Sienna Spalding]
Kelly Maglia was a closet metalhead. Even though she grew up in Orange County, just miles from the bright lights of the Sunset Strip and was naturally musically talented, Maglia kept her love of metal under wraps. "It was more the circles that I ran in" Maglia explains, "I was very academic, very studious, and my parents were very not into metal so it felt like a very rebellious thing to be doing. Not a lot of my friends were into it except for my musician friends, so that's how I got into it. Most of my closest friends were nerdy like me, and I didn't want to admit to them that I was listening to this music."
As Maglia grew older, she decided to pursue her love of music becoming classically trained in vocals, piano, and clarinet. She also studied musical theater, theory, and composition and minored in dance. At the same time, Maglia, who was also interested in art and fashion, was being asked to design dance costumes for her sister and her sister's friends, all of whom were dancers. When she emerged from college she had a degree in music and drama, but she didn't know what to do with it. When her sister approached her about turning her costume designing hobby into a business, it seemed like a practical step.
Now, years later, Kelly is the successful owner of two design brands, Her Triple Threat line, which specializes in dance costumes, and the Kelly Maglia line, created to cater to pole dancing, another one of Maglia's passions. It is there where Maglia can let her rocker influence shine through. She is also currently expanding the line to include rock n' roll street wear. "I had to tone it down for Triple Threat," Maglia explains, noting that the costume market is often aimed at teenagers and children, whereas she calls her own line "edgy, sexy, adult."
Yet, while Maglia was enjoying the success of her design companies, she always felt that there was an itch that needed to be scratched. "I was building a business because it was what I thought was practical but then got to a point where I was like, I can't ignore this anymore. I can't pretend any more that I don't want to do this and I'm going to say it to everyone." And so Maglia decided the time was ripe for her to let her love of metal be known to the world, and she finally launched her band"¦ in a big way.
In December of 2015, she released her first EP, Just Enough Rough, a collection of five songs which Maglia describes as a "unique blend of metal and hard rock." The EP can be purchased on the Kelly Maglia web site.
Maglia has also started to do live shows which is more an experience than just another night out. Maglia incorporates her love of theater, dance, and music into a spectacle which you're not likely to forget. This is all presented in a medium Maglia has coined Cirque du Rock. "Every time you see a Kelly Maglia show, you're going to see me and the guys in my band, and I bring in contortionists, acrobats, and pole dancers, and we do a full rock show," Maglia describes.
[Photo Credit: Mike Quain]
However, because of the magnitude of the occasions, Maglia can't gig as often as she'd like. She is using the next year to build an internet presence for herself. We can look forward to Maglia releasing two albums. The first will be an LP of revamped covers where she will be experimenting with genres, "taking rock songs and toning them down or taking songs that are not metal and making them metal." Each one will be accompanied by a video, a medium in which Maglia can thrive, featuring her theatrical, musical, and design skills. She is hoping to follow that up with an album of originals by the end of the year.
And after that, she has plans to take her rock n' roll circus on tour so look out for her band at a venue near you.
Kelly Maglia – Love in an Elevator (Aerosmith cover)
You can follow Kelly Maglia at the following links:
Website: http://kellymaglia.com/
kellymaglia.com/cirquedurock
Facebook: facebook.com/kellymagliarocks
Twitter: twitter.com/kellymaglia
Instagram: instagram.com/kellymaglia/
You Tube: KM Official YouTube
Topics: Features, Interviews, Music, Spotlight On Local
Tags: Dance, Heavy Metal, Kelly Maglia, Pole Dancing, Rock n Roll, Triple Threat
Massive Metal Monday: Disfear "Get It Off"
TV Review: Gotham 3.12 "Mad City: Ghosts"
Related Articles on Geeks of Doom
• Metalhead's Holiday Gift Guide 2020
• The Drill Down 555: Dancing With The Avatars
• Book Review: We Sold Our Souls: A Novel By Grady Hendrix
• Heavy Metal Halloween: Baadasssss' Top 5 Favorite Headbanger Horror Movies
You may have noticed that we're now AD FREE! Please support Geeks of Doom by using the Amazon Affiliate link above. All of our proceeds from the program go toward maintaining this site.
Geeks of Doom Podcast Network!


Peiru is a determined, action-oriented and self-driven individual with a rigorous engineering academic background. She also has comprehensive training in the financial industry with Citi as a Management Associate and in a private equity fund, managing projects worth over 4 billion.
Thereafter, Peiru spent the next 9 years in entrepreneurship, turning around a company facing bankruptcy to leading it to be the market leader in the wedding industry by innovation and process automation. Her work of business transformation and technology has been featured in Channel News Asia, The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, The Business Times, Berita Harian and Today.
As part furthering the impact of what technology can do for organizations, she is now the CEO of KeyReply, which develops cutting edge AI technology solutions to help enterprises supercharge their productivity with process automation.
Within 2 short years, KeyReply has become one of the leading players in the AI industry with clients from Governments, Healthcare, Insurance, Banking and Ecommerce industries.
Peiru is a much sought after thought leader; frequently invited to speak in conferences and interviewed by the mainstream media.
As a millennial herself, she leads a team of dynamic and dedicated team of AI and software engineers, as well as automation specialists to build the robotic workforce of the future.
Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Peiru.


I'm swamped with (real) work right now and don't want to keep banging on about U.S. politics, but I thought I should report that at last night's Democrats Abroad primary for Northern Rhine-Westphalia, held in O'Reilly's Irish Pub in Duesseldorf, Obama (hic) crushed Clinton 71% – 29%.
27 votes to 11, that is. I think it was Oprah's surprise appearance that clinched it for the O-man.


Swimming, the neglected discipline. Time and time again I have experienced athlete's frustrations about the swim and their improvement or lack thereof. The stories and comments I hear are quit disheartening to me. Phrases such as, "I've been doing this swim thing for 2 years and I have not seen improvement." or "I have been with a master's swim program for over a year and I have not improved." I guess I am just not meant to be a swimmer, that is ok I can bike and run good. Wrong! Everyone has the potential to become a competitive swimmer.
I say competitive swimmer because that is what we do in triathlon. We compete. There is a big difference between "just swimming" with friends and swimming competitively with a group of crazy people in dark open water scrapping and clawing for position and survival.
Here are a few areas on why I believe athletes struggle with swim improvement.
Quantity Focused Not Quality Focused: So many put in countless hours of laps in a pool but never see improvement. It's very admirable that your swimming 10k a week and have that eau de chlorine by CK going for you but without specificity to that quantity you are not doing yourself any favors. Every second of every minute of every lap of every workout should have a goal and purpose. If it doesn't you should start. I've heard of people in master's swim classes that are learning nothing but being put in the far lane and being told finish what you can. No one gets better that way, especially in a sport as technical as swimming. Here's an example.
Swim for 30 minutes or do 2k with some kicks and pulling.
I'm doing what the guy in Lane 4 is doing. Instead add some quality to the workout!
Adding specific goals and focus to just 30 minutes of a swim set or a plain 2k swim will start yielding improvements over time.
Unclear goals or lack of Goals: Define your outcome goal and put the performance and process goals in place to achieve that outcome goal.
Performance Goal: I want to swim 70.3 New Orleans in 35 minutes.
Initial Outcome Goal: I want to be faster and better. I want to be efficient.
Performance Goal: Improve 10x100 holding effort per 100 pace to 1:40. Learn bi-lateral breathing.
Drill Work: If you're not doing drill work to improve your weaknesses, you should start. Make sure you know why you are doing a drill, what the focus is and how it should feel. You should have a ladder progression. Example: Can I hold a neutral body position, Do my fingers enter the water first. Do I have a high elbow catch or does it drop? Focusing on each phase of the swim stroke and working on each individually can yield fast improvements to your swim. Don't just do a drill because you saw someone doing it and not understand it. You're better off doing short sprints than doing a ton of drill work incorrectly.
Refocus your mind: You may not be Michael Phelps but you can start thinking like him or any professional swimmer for that matter. As you know the mind is very powerful and it is usually our own worst enemy. Where the mind goes, the body follows. Go into each swim set having confidence. Focus on being confident with your drill work. Believe in yourself and the time you are dedicating to improvement. Have a mantra you repeat while swimming such as: I am swimming faster, I feel faster. I have good body position. Just like anything else each swim set will not be magical. I have handfuls of bad swim sets from missing pace efforts to just not feeling comfortable in the water. Great swimmers know how to refocus quickly and move on.
If you get frustrated during a set, start to slow on pace or form is going downhill, instead of getting frustrated, back off the pace, refocus on form. Take a longer break after the frustrating set and refocus your mind and then continue.
After your swim think of what went well during the set. Maybe you felt more relaxed than normal, breathing felt better or you felt stronger on your 10x50's. Whatever it was being able to acknowledge those accomplishments, realize the frustrating sets will get better will aid in you staying focused, happy and enjoy what you are doing. This will make a big difference going into the next swim session feeling positive.
Conclusion: Set specific goals, focus on consistency, add specific drill work to your swim routine and most of all smile and enjoy being able to do this sport!
Great post. Eau de Chlorine - love it.


Bamboo house design is one of today's most popular architectural concepts in the world. The artistic impression is the reason most often raised by those who decide to choose bamboo as their main house material replacing concretes. Another advantage of the bamboo house is, beside it's very easy to find, very inexpensive when compared to other building materials.
Even, according to the few studies that have been done, the bamboo house design is a type of building that turned out to be the most resistant to shocks of the earthquake. Therefore, the bamboo house would be more secure than the concrete one.
Unfortunately, this material also has the disadvantage that it has a limited durability value to be a bamboo house design. Bamboo contains bamboo powder that is favored by termites. We also need to pay attention to the quality of bamboo, which is usually influenced by the cutting period, the maintenance, the drying, and the preservation.
Therefore, there are two common bamboo preservation methods; the traditional way which is by soaking the bamboo in the water or mud and the modern way which integrates the use of the chemical preservatives. The liquid chemicals are absorbed into the pores of bamboo and let the liquid flow throughout the bamboo structure for hours until it's dry. After that, the bamboo's ready to be constructed as the bamboo house design.
The bamboo house design can also create a fresh and cool nuance inside the house during the heat of the daytime. It's because the bamboo can save the fresh night air and then release it when it's exposed by the heat of the sunlight. Likewise when the night falls, the bamboo can present the warmth of the daytime. Therefore, the bamboo house design is very suitable for those of you who live in the tropical region.


text:
LEARNING & INNOVATION
Weekly articles in The Manila Times - Business Times Section, written by Moje Ramos-Aquino, FPM
Together, let's pray that we host Olympics 2024
LEARNING & INNOVATION – August 30, 2008
By Moje Ramos-Aquino, FPM
Our Filipino Olympians did not get any medals. But they fought hard and long and even broke their personal best and Asean records. Congratulations!
I was dismayed to hear four Solar Entertainment anchors talked about the impossibility of the Philippines ever hosting the Olympics. And they went on with reasons (I don't know where they came from) such as is our lack of resources, blah, blah, blah, blah.
I don't know how much thought they put into their words. You just don't go bashing your own country on television watched by millions of Filipinos and foreigners, most likely, because they were the only ones covering the Olympic Games.
Years ago, many would not even think that China will be able to put up, according to many media observers, one of the best Olympics in history—venue, opening and closing ceremonies, over-all management, and many other aspects of backroom activities. Yet, they did it! Remember that several venues were finished near the start of the Games. Pollution was a big problem before and during the Games. Yet, they did it against all criticisms, negative speculations, etc.
Whether they were happy with or harbor a gripe against their government and life situation, I could just imagine how the Chinese people rallied towards their dream Olympics. So many volunteered to do particular tasks; there were even three Filipinos among the volunteers, who were taken because of their proficiency in English. For sure, from observations of media personalities reporting from different parts of China, there were many untold unhappy stories. For example, the uprooting of Beijing residents whose ancestral homes were demolished and land were appropriated by their government and used for the Olympics. Beijing underwent revolutionary changes, not only face lift, just for the Olympics.
They have all the political will to make things happen and went on with it. As soon as they won the bid for hosting, they never looked back; they dreamed on and made their dream real.
Going back to those four country-bashing TV commentators, who do they think they are? There are things such as political will, vision, mission, values, goals, objectives, and action-orientation as necessary ingredients to getting things done. Every entrepreneur knows this. Even workers should know this. Otherwise, the business will perish soon and there will be no more jobs.
Tell me, what is the vision, mission and core values (VMV) of the Philippines and the Filipino people?
Instead of bashing our country, those four predictors of doom, could redo their script and start talking about the Philippines formulating our VMV and propagating these via their network. Let's set basic directions where we could commit our important resources; the essential logic of our existence as a country and as a people. Then we can talk about setting long-, medium- and short-term goals towards having an impact in the global community, continuous learning, development and nurturing of our people, development and acquisition of support technologies and whatever focus of success our national leaders would choose.
I briefly caught the final announcement of the new program of President Arroyo on radio—hearts or something. That's a good start—having a focus. I hope this sinks into the heart and mind of other national and local government officials who are tasked with further defining expectations and standards (both qualitative and quantitative) and eventual implementing such programs. This will help avoid wasting time, effort, resources and disappointments.
I like to shout every time that woman comes on TV and thanks the president "sa pagtulong ninyo sa amin" (for helping us). Look, they are not helping you, they are just doing their job; in fact, not a very good job.
For those four clowns (aka Games anchors) and for all of us, we need to "set the bar" as high as possible for government initiatives, for government officials (from the president down), for business people, for our own people. We need to establish criteria for measuring tangibles, intangibles, levels of service and quality and other soft issues such as values, ethics, and culture.
As a people we need to raise the bar for our own expectations and aspirations. I dream of the Philippines hosting the 2024 Olympics. Let's dream together and make it happen. Let us remember that everything that we think, say and do are prayers. And as they say, be careful what you pray for, you just might get it.
www.learningandinnovation.com; innovationcamp@yahoo.com
Posted by Moje Ramos-Aquino, FPM at 9:06 PM
Lessons from the Beijing Olympics
Leaning & Innovation – August 23, 2008
Lessons learned from the Beijing Olympics
Thanks to Solar Entertainment (Solar Sports, C/S, b, ETC and Second Avenue) we are able to watch the games at the Beijing Olympics.
I can only describe the Olympics, past and present, in positive superlative words. Indeed it is the greatest show on earth and it will be a big challenge for England, the host of the 2012 Games, to top what China has done. Some of my insights are:
The Olympics is a huge profitable business especially for the host, China. Some major gains come from sponsorships, the influx of millions of foreign and local tourists, not to mention the horde of Games officials, athletes, trainers, cheering squads of families and friends, media people, and usual hangers-on and the sale of Olympics collaterals and merchandise. More importantly, they were able to prove to the whole world that they do not only manufacture cheap products, but they are also capable of doing larger, grander things.
No wonder that countries do everything they could to get the franchise. The untold mileage of free exposure vua all types of mass media all over the world is more than enough reason. All major TV networks and print media are reporting directly from Beijing, including our Solar Entertainment team.
Media coverage are not only focused on the Games, but also on the cultural, business, and social life of the host country. I have read, seen and heard about China in the past two weeks more than I have done previously in my entire life.
What other world event could attract so many world leaders and celebrities and not focus attention to them? I saw US President Bush briefly on TV in the stands, among hordes of other spectators, smiling so widely and waving a flag after Michael Phelps won another gold medal. Even Yao Ming and Jet Li got very little media attention compared to the athletes.
Other countries gained, too. Most athletes from Western countries spent months prior to the Games in Japan to get used to the climate of the China area and practiced on such conditions. Practically all Taekwondo participants went to Korea to learn and hone their skills. We gained, too, and time will tell if that is really a gain, because the Chinese mined a lot of our natural resources to use as raw materials to the construction of the fabulous Bird's Nest and other venues of the Olympics.
The Olympics proves that age is not a determinant of success. Money is. Political will is. Many countries really gave their athletes the best training, practice, and other support that money and power can get. I caught the tailend of an interview of one of our own Olympians and he said: Kaya natin! Magagaling tayo. Kulang lang sa suporta at praktis. Dapat ang praktis ay tuloy-tuloy at hindi pakonti-konti. (We can do it. We have very good athletes. We just lack support and practice. Practice should be continuous and not intermittent.)
All games and athletes are fascinating. My personal favorites are Synchronized Swimming, Gymnastics Rhythmic, Synchronized Trampoline, Rowing, Equestrian and all other sports that are judged in both technical and artistic merits. Russia's Anna Bessanova and the two Anastasias are a delight to watch. You wouldn't think that they were in a competition. They seem to simply enjoy what they are doing.
While Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps prove what man can do, all team sports really bring out the best in a person. Bolt ran and Phelps swan to Olympic history by breaking world records and winning all those gold medals. The competition was not for the best or the fastest, it was a fight to be the first at the finish line. On the other hand, the well-coordinated play and caring for each other exhibited by the athletes in teams are remarkable and should be the model for team play on every occasion. It was a triumph of an athlete to mind his or her partner athlete/s and move to the same beat regardless of how good he or she is.
It takes one-hundredth of a second for lightning to strike the ground. Phelps overtook the silver medalist by as much fraction of a second. Awesome!
Russia and Georgia athletes played against each other and ended their game with hugs and best wishes. I pray their political leaders will do the same after the dust have settled in South Ossetia and forget about wars.
www.learningandinnovation.com, innovationcamp@yahoo.com
In pursuit of excellence in sports and in business
In pursuit of excellence in sports
Have you been watching the Olympics Games? Awesome! Records of all standards--world, Commonwealth, Asian, country, personal and others—are being broken wholesale. Athletes are more prepared, intense, focused and motivated than ever. Champions overrun their competition by 8/100th of second, for example, in the 4 x 100m men freestyle. As the sports annotator reports, "out-touched in the end by a fingertip." Awesome!
What makes them do that? What lessons could entrepreneurs take home from watching these games, aside from being awed?
In The Daily Drucker, Peter F. Drucker astutely wrote: The great majority of executives tend to focus downward. They are preoccupied with efforts rather than with results. They worry over what the organization and their superiors "owe" them and should do for them. And they are conscious above all of the authority they "should have." As a result, they render themselves ineffectual. The effective executive focuses on contribution. He looks up from his work and outward toward goals. His stress is on responsibility. The focus on contribution is the key to effectiveness in a person's own work—its content, its level, its standards, and its impacts; in his relations with others—his superiors, his associates, his subordinates; in his use of the tools of the executive such as meetings or reports. The focus on contribution turns the executive's attention away from his own specialty, his own narrow skills, his own department, and toward the performance of the whole. It turns his attention to the outside, the only place where there are results.
After winning the gold for the 400-m relay, his teammates described Michael Phelps exactly as Mr. Drucker described an effective executive. He said that Phelps was concerned only with the gold and the performance of the team as a whole and he wasn't even articulating his personal need to amass all those gold to be the winningest athlete of all time.
How do you achieve perfection? What do you do with perfection? Where will Phelps go from here?
The revered Peter Drucker shares his own insights on pursuing excellence: The greatest sculptor of Ancient Greece, Phidias, around 440 BC made the statues that to this day, 2,400 years later, still stand on the roof of the Parthenon in Athens. When Phidias submitted his bill, the city accountant of Athens refused to pay it. "These statues stand on the roof of the temple and on the highest hills in Athens. Nobody can see anything but their fronts. Yet, you have charged us for sculpturing them in the round, that is, for doing their backsides, which nobody can see." Phidias retorted, "You are wrong. The Gods can see them." Whenever people ask me which of my books I consider the best, I smile and say, "The next." I do not, however, meant it as a joke. I mean it the way Verdi meant it when he talked of writing an opera at eighty in the pursuit of a perfection that had always eluded him. Though I am older now than Verdi was when he wrote Falstaff, I am still thinking and working on two additional books, each of which, I hope will be better than any of my earlier ones, will be more important, and will come a little closer to excellence.
Expect Phelps and all Beijing Olympics medalists and also runs to be there in the next Olympics and exceed themselves and the world's standards. These nuggets of wisdom from Mr. Drucker also give hope that Filipino athletes will achieve excellence and eventually win gold medals. Not a farfetched idea. We can do it.
One sour note though. 1.3 billion Chinese and they have to fake it. At the impressive opening ceremonies, there was this cute little girl who sang the first song and we were all mesmerized. It turns out that she was just lip-synching what another girl was actually singing while hidden in the background. She was not aloud to sing in front of the world-wide audience because, as Matt Lauer of Today Show reports, "she was not cute enough." Only in China.
The exhilarating spa business and sorority bonding
Learning & Innovation - August 9, 2008
We asked our sorority sis Raquel Jacobo and her hubby, our frat brod, Jake, what they want to do while on vacation here from California. Their answers were, in order of excitement: spa, tour of Metro Manila, an out-of-town outing and checking out old and new food outlets. To the dismay of Malou Amante, Angie Cruz and Salve Callanga, shopping is not in Raquel's list. PAL and other airlines have limited the baggage allowance of their passengers.
In the news today, many US airlines have started charging for check-in baggage, pillows, blankets, food and drinks and other inflight amenities. On top of higher airfare. Budget airlines have long done that, but they do it in exchange for low fares. Rumors have it that passenger airfare will be based on weight, just like cargo.
Oh, well. So off we went to Urban Spa on the fifth level of Shangri-la Plaza Mall. Urban Spa did not disappoint, from the reception to the spa experience and the free bibingka at C2 Restaurant after. The 90-minute therapeutic hot stone massage was very rejuvenating. I like the oil they used because it is not greasy and is not scented. This massage is done only in the Philippines because the stones were individually handpicked from the areas around Mt. Pinatubo. Try it.
The spa business is part of the burgeoning health and wellness industry around Asia. Practically all Balikbayans I know are excited over spending some quiet time in the spa. Abroad, going to the spa is an expensive treat. The rates here are very reasonable. And our masseuse/masseurs are very nurturing. Fast becoming a favorite is the "hilot" massage.
A favorite indulgence when you are in Boracay is the massage by the DOT-trained and accredited masseuse. They are very good and their service charges are really practical. They are all over the place and they do the massage right on the beach. However, if you want a more private session in your room, most hotels require some kind of a fee. I really don't understand this extra levy.
I go to the spa only once a year as a birthday treat and when we have visitors from abroad. On a regular basis, I am very satisfied with my trusty neighbor and "manghihilot," Aling Upeng whose 83-year old hands are very soothing and caring and the force is just enough to lull me to sleep.
Going back to our gallivanting, off we went to Fort Santiago. The facilities seem to be much improved from the last time I was there a year ago. But some portions are caving in and the big adobe stones are falling off. This memorable place needs our help—we need to visit it more often and make donations. It is a very beautiful and gentle place amidst the chaos in Manila.
The view from the Fort across the Pasig River, though, is not worth mentioning—you could almost touch, feel, hear and smell the filth and disarray. Something needs to be done in order to preserve the happy memories that you form going around the Fort.
The Manila Cathedral is as serene and as striking as always, in and out. And all churchgoers there are dressed appropriately—no mall or sports clothes.
Then to Luneta Park and the new Ocean Park. No comment.
We enjoyed our dinner at the Seafood Market along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue. First, you buy your meat, seafood and fruits from the market area. Then you bring the goodies to any of the restaurants there. They will cook and provide you the necessary restaurant services, e.g. plates, utensils, napkins, drinks, waiters. Their service charges are sensible. This is a practical place to dine in especially if you are a big group. Prices at the market are subject to a lot of haggling while those at the restaurants are fixed.
Tourism is good, not only for business, but also for the mind and soul.
Posted by Moje Ramos-Aquino, FPM at 10:20 AM
About Moje
Moje is a Fellow in People Management; Columnist in the Manila Times - Business Section; and Consultant on Human Resources and Organization Development
In pursuit of excellence in sports and in business...
The exhilarating spa business and sorority bonding...
Contents©2003-2010 Moje Ramos-Aquino; Website©2010 Ronwaldo Aquino. Picture Window theme. Theme images by Nikada. Powered by Blogger.


Host your Beyonce Themed Private Party at Inner Me in Houston, Texas! We cater to parties of all sizes, small or large. and we celebrate any party occasion: bachelorette, birthday or girls night out!
Come dressed to slay, and we will take you straight to the world of the Queen B! We will start with a quick stretch then your party professional will instruct you and your group your pre-selected Beyonce video or any song of your choice.
I had my 20th birthday party here , & it was LIT! When trying to plan an event the staff is EXTREMELY helpful. They think of things you don't even think of, which makes the experience even more phenomenal! Donnie was the instructor for my private dance party & he just lights up the room. I would suggest Inner Me to anyone !!!


What Is the Spining of Golf Shafts and Should You Care?
What Is the 'Spining' of Golf Shafts and Do You Need to Care?
"Spining" (one "n," as in "spine") is a term that applies to golf shafts and describes a process of matching all the shafts within a set of clubs so that their most consistent bending positions all point in the same direction. Spining is a service to golfers offered by some custom club makers and club fitters.
Your first question might be: Do I really need to be concerned about that? We'll answer that question, but first a little more explanation about spining.
"It is almost impossible to manufacture golf shafts that have precisely the same stiffness in all possible directions of bending. To do so would require so many time-consuming manufacturing procedures that the price of shafts would well more than double.
"Therefore, the practice of 'spining' is offered by some custom clubmakers. Spining involves, first, locating the most consistent bending position of the shaft; and second, installing (or re-installing in already finished clubs) the shaft so that its most consistent bending position is pointing directly toward or directly away from the target line."
The spining service — installing or re-installing shafts so that their spines all point in the same direction — is touted as a way to improve the consistency of feel and performance within a set of golf clubs.
Spining was once a pretty important service provided by custom club fitters to highly skilled golfers and to other golfers who love diving deep into the technical side of golf equipment. But with the improved golf shaft manufacturing standards of today, is spining still important?
"Today, many shaft makers pre-test their shafts to locate a consistent plane of bending in the shaft, and only then paint and apply the name/logo to the shafts. Thus, with the vast majority of quality shafts made today, there is little need to have the shafts checked for spine location and re-installed in the clubheads."
Do Recreational Golfers Need to Think About Spining?
The answer to this question is easy: No. The spining of golf shafts is not something that any recreational golfer needs to be concerned about, nor is it a service on which any recreational golfer needs to spend money.
What Are OEM Golf Clubs?
How Long Do Golf Shafts Last With Normal Use?


When things don't go as planned it's time to begin again. Being kind to yourself takes practice in those moments when a new health routine is interrupted. It's so easy to go back to a habitual way of being. When you are instantly thrown off course the mind's immediate response is to analyze and blame. Stop all of the shoulds.
Forgive yourself and begin again.
Stop the temptation to follow the drama.
The reason's can be multifold: life intervened. Something moves in and you made a choice to follow. With your health you can either resist where you are or let yourself be right here. Frustrated. Weary. Off course.
When your greatest resource is tapped out, the greatest gift you can give yourself is to quiet down your life. Lower your demands on your energy. give yourself a time out.
Your health is not an endless resource--it needs to be respected, nourished, and replenished.
Being human means learning through repetition. When we feel good we have energy to do more, right? Sensing the need to course correct usually happens after we over give, take on too much, or put your own needs last.
What's the most supportive thing I can do for myself?
Try connecting with yourself with this practice and let me know how it helped below.


The fortunes of Christianity have waxed and waned in Britain. Early in church history, so many Celts converted to Christ that the island could be called a Christian country. One of its sons, Patrick, carried the gospel to Ireland where Christianity also triumphed. However, the Celts fell to an invasion by Angles, Saxons and Jutes in the fifth century. The Anglo-Saxons were pagans, worshipping the Norse gods, whose pantheon was headed by Odin.
Celtic Christians, hating the invaders who had robbed them of their land, made little or no effort to convert them to Christ. In the sixth century, Irish monks crossing from Ireland, began the conversion of pagan England from the north. In the seventh century Augustine of Canterbury brought the gospel to Kent, in the south.
Ethelbert ruled Kent then. He worshipped Odin, the god of his fathers, but allowed his wife, Bertha, to practice Christianity. She was the daughter of a Christianized French king. Perhaps her influence explains why Ethelbert was gracious to Augustine when he came, declaring that he brought news of an eternal kingdom.
According to the eighth-century Anglo-Saxon historian Bede, Ethelbert agreed to meet Augustine and hear what he had to say. The meeting had to be in the open, however. The king believed that Augustine's "magic" could only work on him inside a building.
In spite of his precautions, Ethelbert was eventually converted with thousands of his followers, although he did not compel any of them to become Christians. The king built several church buildings and gave Augustine the ground at Canterbury where the cathedral now stands. It has always been the primary see of England.
Although Ethelbert's most important act was to accept the Christian faith, he is notable for promulgating the first English code of law and for bringing most of Anglo-Saxon England under his rather loose authority.
On February 24, 616 the king died. Because that is the feast of St. Matthias, Ethelbert is commemorated not on his death day, but on the following day, February 25.
"Augustine, St., of Canterbury," and "Ethelbert, St." The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Edited by F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone. Oxford, 1997.
Howorth, Henry Hoyle. Saint Augustine of Canterbury. London : J. Murrary, 1913.
McKilliam, A. E. Chronicle of the Archbishops of Canterbury. London: James Clarke, 1913.
"St. Augustine of Canterbury," and "St. Ethelbert." The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton, 1914.


In honor of my What's in the Bible? Giveaway, I am counting down the Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry of all time.
And the Number 1 Silly Song of all time is: I Love My Lips.
Bible, Children, Christian, Christianity, Givewaways, Humor, Movies, Veggie Tales, VeggieTales, Videos, What's in the Bible?


text:
.. Copyright (C) 2011-2012 James Rowe <jnrowe@gmail.com>
                           Stéphane Angel <s.angel@twidi.com>

   This file is part of python-github2, and is licensed under the 3-clause BSD
   License.  See the LICENSE file in the top distribution directory for the full
   license text.

In the wild
-----------

:mod:`github2` can be seen in the wild helping to power the tools and web sites
listed on this page.

.. note::

   Have an interesting Open Source project or public website using
   :mod:`github2`?  Add it to this list!  Just `open an issue`_ or click the
   ``Fork and edit this file`` button on the `project website`_

``applause``
''''''''''''

    Applause when a bug gets closed. Extra cheering for old bugs.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`applause`

``bitbucket2github``
''''''''''''''''''''

    Mirrors all public repos of a BitBucket account to GitHub and vice versa.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`bitbucket2github`

``bugwarrior``
''''''''''''''

    Pull tickets from github, bitbucket, and trac into `taskwarrior
    <http://taskwarrior.org/>`__

:PyPI project: :pypi:`bugwarrior`

``cligh``
'''''''''

    A simple command-line interface to the facilities of GitHub.

:GitHub project: https://github.com/CMB/cligh

``forkfeed``
''''''''''''

    Utility to build atom feeds for all commits in all forks of your projects on
    GitHub.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`forkfeed`

``ghmiles``
'''''''''''

    ``ghmiles`` is a Python library that generates a milestone model from the
    issues in a GitHub repository.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`ghmiles`

``ghsync``
''''''''''

    GitHub Syncer. Clones or Pulls all GitHub repos.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`ghsync`

``github-issues``
'''''''''''''''''

    github-issues allows you to create, close, show, list, and comment on
    issues on your github project - that's it.

:GitHub project: https://github.com/kashifrazzaqui/github-issues

``github-issues-export``
''''''''''''''''''''''''

    Script to liberate issues from github issues in case you would like to have
    your data free.

:GitHub project: https://github.com/mcepl/github-issues-export

``github-plots``
''''''''''''''''

    Alternative plots from GitHub stats.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`github-plots`

``hubugs``
''''''''''

    ``hubugs`` is a very simple client for working with `GitHub's issue
    tracker`_.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`hubugs`

.. _GitHub's issue tracker: http://github.com/blog/411-github-issue-tracker

``humble``
''''''''''

    Shows stats on a given GitHub user.

:PyPI project: :pypi:`humble`

``Repos.io``
''''''''''''

    The source code of the Repos.io site, a site to help you manage all your
    repositories (your own, and watched/liked/followed ones) hosted by different
    providers (github, bitbucket)

:GitHub project: https://github.com/twidi/Repos.io

``roundabout``
''''''''''''''

    ``Roundabout`` is a tool that automatically prevents code with failing tests
    from being merged into a github repository.

:GitHub project: https://github.com/ChristopherMacGown/roundabout

.. _open an issue: https://github.com/ask/python-github2/issues/
.. _project website: https://github.com/ask/python-github2/blob/master/doc/wild.rst


text:
Sam Baker
Captain Sam Baker founded Sol Margin Fishing & Conservation Foundation, Inc as a way to educate youth and the community about safe angling practices that promote environmental preservation.
Ginger Baker has been educating youth for over 10 years. She has a passion for service & has helped raise over $18,000 for various charities.
La Toya Peeples
La Toya Peeples has a background in law, business management, and education. She has helped launch multiple businesses & has had a leading role in their success.
T. Bryan Hand
T. Bryan Hand has been involved with the Boy Scouts. He is the father of two Eagle Scouts and has a daughter that is an Ambassador for SMFCF. He believes that by educating people about the importance of nature and the fun that can be had outdoors, it can help bring families and comunities together.
Bettye H. Peeples
Volunteer Coordinator
Bettye H. Peeples has been recognized not only at the state level but nationally for her community involvement. She can be found on the rosters of multiple organizations as she works hard to bring awareness to various causes.
Captains Committee Leader
A native of Northeast Florida, Captain Brian Walker has been a Fishing Guide in St. Augustine Florida since 2005. At a young age his family instilled in him a great love and appreciation for fishing and the outdoors. He offers years of experience as a local Fishing Guide, and is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Charter Captain.
Envelope Globe
SMFCF GEAR
AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO
— We Care
SMFCF hosts events through collaborating with
other like-minded organizations that support the
education and conservation of Florida's unique
ecosystems.
— We Educate
SMFCF educates youth and the community about safe angling practices that will bring a positive environmental influence for generations to come.
— We Support
SMFCF is dedicated to working with other
organizations in an effort to preserve our
estuaries and other habitats. Through various partnerships, we teach others how to be responsible stewards of their natural resources. We hope to raise awareness of the importance of habitat protection and taking ownership of the health of our environment.
— We Empower
SMFCF feels that it is important to let those in the community know that there are other avenues of entertainment that can be more beneficial to your physical and mental health. We live in a beautiful area with a unique ecosystem. We want to showcase that and encourage families to strengthen their relationships, fortify their mental health by learning a sport that is relaxing, builds confidence and teaches patience.
— We Give
Even though we are a non-profit organization, our foundation is committed to helping others. One way we do this is by helping those in the community give back. The Jarek Sonognini Scholarship is one way that we have done that. We honor a close friend and angler who has passed and give time and money towards his memorial scholarship program.
— We Engage
We engage the community through various programs by equipping them with the tools and training necessary to be successful in fishing. Additionally, we engage local Captains and anglers by encouraging them to log and tag the fish that they catch-and-release for research purposes.
HOW WE DO IT!
Clean Ups
SMFCF believes that one of the best ways to learn is by doing something. Instead of just talking about conservation, we offer monthly environmental clean-ups open to the community as a way for volunteers to get out and take action. Picking up trash and talking about marine debris and how we can prevent pollution of our waterways is a great way to teach our future generations about what conservation really is and how we can do our part to sustain a healthy environment for ourselves as well as plant and animal life.
Fishing Clinics
SMFCF is an official partner of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Through their Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN) program, our organization is able to host fishing clinics using the FWC's Hooked on Fishing Not On Drugs curriculum. We use this curriculum as a basis for our Fishing Clinics. These clinics teach the basics of fishing, habitat conservation, as well as catch-and-release techniques in accordance to FWC standards.
Through this community outreach, we host various clinics outside of just fishing, including archery, paddle sports, and wildlife discovery.
Get Unplugged and
Get Outdoors©
Our Merit Badge Blitz day was an event where students attended a series of courses that aligned with the Boy Scouts of America merit badge requirements. We have hosted that event for the last several years. Our biggest feedback from it were from parents and sisters of the brothers that were Boy Scouts, asking why we haven't opened this experience up to them.
"Get Unplugged & Get Outdoors©" aims to do just that–we want to encourage families to "unplug" from indoor entertainment and educate themselves on activities that can be conducted outdoors.
Interested in Discovering the Outdoors? Check our Events Page to see when our next clinic is.
BIGG SAM SLAM
The Bigg Sam Slam Fishing Tournament first began as an event to celebrate Sam Baker's birthday. What was supposed to be a few friends competing and claiming bragging rights turned into an annual fishing tournament. As it continues to grow in popularity, Sam wanted to add a conservation component and really make this tournament unique, so he paired up with GTM Research Reserve. This tournament will help benefit the Sol Margin Fishing & Conservation Foundation—a 501c3 non-profit.
Jarek Scholarship
Jarek was a tireless volunteer in many arenas. He could be found serving in his community for Hurricane clean-up, serving his parents as he cared for his 3 younger sisters, and he was even helping a friend on an Eagles Scout project just before the accident occurred. In addition to service and diesel technology, Jarek could be found fishing. He loved the outdoors and Jarek participated in SMFCF projects and fishing tournaments.
We want to honor Jarek's commitment to helping others by creating a scholarship
Vist Scholarship Site
Oyster Projects
We have partnered with Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve's (GTMRR) Shoreline Restoration Project by rebuilding oyster reefs. Volunteers come together to bag oyster shells. These bags are then laid on the shoreline to provide a place for oysters to attach and grow, ultimately rebuilding the oyster reefs, which are so crucial to the health of our estuaries.
Rent A Rod
Our Rent-a-Rod Program was established with our local county public library system where anyone with a library card can check out a rod and reel combo set–granting access to equipment to a greater population, and those with low socio-economic backgrounds.
A group of individuals that want to make a difference in their community and the world!
Visit Ambassador Site
In partnership with various like-minded organizations, our fish tagging program gives back critical information about fish population, sizes, and locations to those researchers and scientist who can most benefit from that data.
SUPPORT US AND EDUCATE FUTURE GENERATIONS
Sol Margin Fishing &
Conservation Foundation, Inc
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
2220 County Rd 210 W Suite 108 #204 St. Johns, FL 32259
Volunteer List
Copyright © 2019 Sol Margin Fishing & Conservation Foundation
Powered by Armege Media Group


text:
Q: Trying to call a SQL package function from ADF I have the following function in a package I need to call from java code in ADF
FUNCTION COPY_ITEM(O_error_message        IN OUT    VARCHAR2,
                     I_master_order   IN        FFE_ITEM.MASTER_ORDER%TYPE,
                     I_item           IN        FFE_ITEM.ITEM%TYPE,
                     O_new_item       OUT       FFE_ITEM.ITEM%TYPE)
return NUMBER;

Here is the code I am trying to call it with
        String stmt = "FFE_CREATE_ITEM.COPY_ITEM(?,?,?,?)";
        cst = this.getDBTransaction().createCallableStatement("begin ? := " + stmt + ";end;", 0);
        //Register dataType for return value
        cst.registerOutParameter(2, Types.VARCHAR);
        cst.registerOutParameter(3, Types.NUMERIC);
        cst.registerOutParameter(4, Types.VARCHAR);
        cst.registerOutParameter(5, Types.VARCHAR);

        cst.setObject(2 , errorO);
        cst.setObject(3 , orderNum);
        cst.setObject(4 , itemNum);
        cst.setObject(5 , newItemNum);

        cst.executeUpdate();

But I keep getting a oracle.jbo.JboException: Missing IN or OUT parameter at index 1 error.
Not really sure what I am doing wrong, any tips would be great. I think I have not registered the return value but not sure how to do this.


text:
Outside Matters
Churches and church buildings are not just a place to worship on Sunday morning, they are also tools for ministry and can be leveraged to help make ministry possible and successful. Last year a significant roof leak compelled us to look at the stewardship of our facilities. We needed to stop the water coming in, as well as do other important maintenance and upgrades, AND find the money to do it! We realized it was time to focus our energies and resources on being good stewards of our historic and valuable buildings, so we got busy praying, making and prioritizing "project to do" lists, and grant writing – and things started to HAPPEN in an "Outside In" sort of way!
The first thing that happened was filing an insurance claim for hail damage. We received funds for a new roof on our church, parish hall and rectory that will provide close to $230,000 worth of repairs that will cost us only $1,000 (our deductible.) The flat roofs were replaced in May 2018 and the Rectory roof in March 2019. The remaining and most expensive portion – the slate roof on the sanctuary, remains. Last week your vestry met to hear presentations from roofers and vote on which bid to accept. Work to replace the slate sanctuary roof with a new slate roof will begin in late July/early August. The current slate roof is the original roof (with the exception of a few individual tiles replaced here and there) and has served us for 108 years. The next slate roof has a warranty on the materials OUTside for another 100 years of ministry INside!
Last May we discovered extensive tuck pointing needs. Temporary caulking work to the capstones around the top of the parish hall was generously donated to us by Tesson Roofing (our roofing company). We also found cracks and gaping holes in the bell tower, as well as cracks and loose mortar all around the exterior. You'll see scaffolding go up before Memorial Day to repair the bell tower and work will also begin on the cap stones around the parish hall. Power washing to remove decades of grime and moss will happen to the exterior walls before they are tuck pointed. This work will be completed by mid-July.
We've been leveraging our newly-renovated parish hall for an alternative source of income from individuals or groups looking for a safe, attractive space to host parties, meetings and events. This month we have had two such events in our parish hall: a private baby shower hosted by a member and a larger event hosted by an organization of artists.
If you know of an organization or group in need of meeting or event space, please refer them to Pastor Rebecca or me. (Members of St. Paul's may also use the space for private parties at a discounted "member" rate.) In addition, we plan for St. Paul's to be used as a wedding venue for people outside the parish, and guidelines (including fees) are in the works. Income from the use of our facilities will help offset the cost of insurance, maintenance and utilities.
Building maintenance and planning have continued this spring, much of it behind the scenes. With the help of Vestry member and Facilities Management Team member Vernon Brown, working with Junior Warden Justin Vitale and Pastor Rebecca, the Rectory has been issued an occupancy permit and is ready for our new Youth Minister, Tilton Yokely, to move in.
Like the rest of our facilities, we'll leverage the Rectory as a ministry tool for our "Outside In" vision. Tilton will receive rent as part of his compensation, and St. Paul's will receive his time and talent as our new Youth Minister and 1/3 of the utilities. This won't have a negative impact on St. Paul's budget. In fact, it will actually help St. Paul's financially, because Tilton will bring a roommate who will pay rent and an additional 1/3 of the utilities to St. Paul's. This income will be used to help offset the costs of maintaining and insuring the building. (In addition to the maintenance and repairs Vernon just made to meet code for occupancy, the rectory was recently tuck pointed, and earlier this year a new roof was put on.)


text:
Tanzanian schools arrive in the digital age
By Jennifer Brookland
Many schools in rural Tanzania don't have electricity, let alone access to the internet. For the first time, schools in Mtwara and Zanzibar were hooked up to the outside world, and a host of electronic learning content that made teachers' jobs easier and students excited to learn.
Zanzibar, Tanzania—In a wired world filled with phonics apps and online courses, students can access a library of learning tools and content with the swipe of a finger or click of a mouse. For students in Tanzania, unfortunately, the 21st century did not necessarily bring with it a wave of technology.
In a 2007 report on information and communications technology in education, Tanzania's Ministry of Education acknowledged that "very few schools have computers or Internet access, and most schools also lack electricity." The digital learning revolution had not yet reached thousands of Tanzanian students.
"It's very important for us to recognize that Africa cannot and should not be left behind from what is happening globally," says Renuka Pillay, who leads Creative Associate International's Tanzania 21st Century Basic Education Program, which aimed to get technology into Tanzanian schools and classrooms, many of which had never had access to it before.
Pillay's program is working to change the situation. By bringing technology into schools, the Tanzania 21st Century Basic Education Program gives schools and teachers the tools to function more efficiently, better engage communities in supporting students and reading initiatives and track data on student performance through a newly established information management system that could inform national efforts to boost the country's unimpressive literacy scores. It is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Learning to teach with technology
Working across 900 primary schools in the Mtwara region and Zanzibar, the Tanzania 21st Century Basic Education Program has encountered some inevitable challenges while incorporating information and communication technology into classrooms for the first time, but it has also generated some creative innovations to boost student achievement.
"Bridge IT" schools, for example, have a laptop and projector for teachers to use e-content and educational videos during lessons. Other schools have full mobile labs—a suite of laptops for hands-on use by three students per computer during lessons.
The program began in 2011 as a technology program—aimed specifically at bringing these teachers and students into the 21st century. It was later retrofitted to focus on early grade science, math and reading, and the technology piece has stayed. After all, it was already proving to be an invaluable tool for improving literacy.
For some, the link between computers in the classroom and early grade reading is not obvious. But Dr. Edward Kavishe, the director of Kicheko Ltd, an information and communications technology company, remembers things he learned in first grade that were taught in a visual or tactile way.
"If there's something graphical it attracts them and it sticks. And that's where technology comes in," he says. "Because technology has a very powerful way of portraying: graphically, visually, with sound, with motion, and illustrations. And those things will stick to the kid much easier and much quicker and stay for long(er). So that's where I see technology coming in and having a very, very big impact."
Kicheko partnered with the program to install and troubleshoot the program's technology components in all 900 primary schools in Mtwara and Zanzibar.
The two regions faced different challenges. In Zanzibar, the larger problem was overcrowded classrooms: according to Kavishe, the average class has 70 students, and it's typical to find rooms with 100, even 120 pupils. In Mtwara, underdevelopment and poor infrastructure meant electricity was an issue.
"The ICT component for this project was very significant and very daunting," says the program's deputy chief of party in Mtwara, Felix Mbogella.
In both areas, teachers had very little exposure to technology.
"Some of the teachers were not used to this new technology," says Charles Nonga, Mbogella's counterpart in Zanzibar. "Some were scared how they could adapt the new machines—especially the computers in the schools."
Wired for success in reading
The program trained teachers on how to use the technology, and how to incorporate it into their lessons to help students learn to read better and faster. It provided digital literacy training and showed them how to use the computers, projectors and e-content that had been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Once all the work of learning to use the information and communications technology was over, teachers across the board found that using technology in the classroom made teaching much less work for them.
Children were engaged, and attentive. They seemed eager to participate in lessons driven by e-content.
With computers in the classroom, teachers can use videos and incorporate phonics and reading activities like games, skits and songs.
"It is a methodology of ensuring that both the child and the teacher are fully engaged during the sessions," says Pillay.
Teachers like Mektidis Nguli, who teaches first grade at Mangowela Primary School in Mtwara, say having the technology in the classroom makes it easier to inspire kids. It has even kept more of them in class.
"E-content and videos have indeed helped reduce absenteeism," Nguli says. "Back in the day it was normal to have more than 10 kids a day missing classes. But now that's very, very uncommon."
Mercy Elisha, the head teacher at Mangowela, says the 43 computers her school received through the Tanzania 21st Century Basic Education Program have changed the whole environment.
"Parents are very happy and very engaged now, because some of their kids are learning through computers, and this is a rare opportunity in the African context," she says.
"Many parents around this area wants to shift their kids from whichever school they were in to come here, just because kids are speaking about learning through games and videos and through computers," Elisha says. "But not only that. Experience shows that our kids are learning faster than those at other schools."
Elisha says having the technology has even reduced the number of primary school dropouts.
When school is that much fun and learning is a daily victory, children are motivated to come to class, participate and return. For many Tanzanian children, it's a whole new universe.
It seems that way to Elisha, too. From the tidy courtyard of her rural school, she announces: "We are now in the digital world."
 Special Report: Promoting reading through tech & teacher training.
 Share this article:  Facebook  Twitter
 Previous article
 Next article
Making books a part of life, and reading a part of success
Teacher training, mentoring and coaching brings learning to life