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- Theory
Walter Benjamin: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Fig.: Walter Benjamin
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
"Our fine arts were developed, their types and uses were established, in times very different from the present, by men whose power of action upon things was insignificant in comparison with ours. But the amazing growth of our techniques, the adaptability and precision they have attained, the ideas and habits they are creating, make it a certainty that profound changes are impending in the ancient craft of the Beautiful. In all the arts there is a physical component which can no longer be considered or treated as it used to be, which cannot remain unaffected by our modern knowledge and power. For the last twenty years neither matter nor space nor time has been what it was from time immemorial. We must expect great innovations to transform the entire technique of the arts, thereby affecting artistic invention itself and perhaps even bringing about an amazing change in our very notion of art."
(Paul Va1ery, PIECES SUR L'ART,
Le Conquete de l'ubiquite)
When Marx undertook his critique of the capitalistic mode of production, this mode was in its infancy. Marx directed his efforts in such a way as to give them prognostic value. He went back to the basic conditions underlying capitalistic production and through his presentation showed what could be expected of capitalism in the future. The result was that one could expect it not only to exploit the proletariat with increasing intensity, but ultimately to create conditions which would make it possible to abolish capitalism itseld The transformation of the superstructure, which takes place far more slowly than that of the substructure, has taken more than halfa century to manifest in all areas of culture the change in the conditions of production. Only today can it be indicated what form this has taken. Certain prognostic requirements should be met by these statements. However, theses about the art of the proletariat after its assumption of power or about the art of a classless society would have less bearing on these demands than theses about the developmental tendencies of art under present conditions of production. Their dialectic is no less noticeable in the superstructure than in the economy. It would therefore be wrong to underestimate the value of such theses as a weapon. They brush aside a number of outmoded concepts, such as creativity and genius, eternal value and mystery--concepts whose uncontrolled (and at present almost uncontrollable) application would lead to a processing of data in the Fascist sense. The concepts which are introduced into the theory of art in what follows differ from the more familiar terms in that they are completely useless for the purposes of Fascism. They are, on the other hand, useful for the formulation of revolutionary demands in the politics of art.
In principle a work of art has always been reproducible. Man-made artifacts could always be imitated by men. Replicas were made by pupils in practice of their craft, by masters for diffusing their works, and, finally, by third parties in the pursuit of gain. Mechanical reproduction of a work of art, however, represents something new. Historically, it advanced intermittently and in leaps at long intervals, but with accelerated intensity. The Greeks knew only two procedures of technically reproducing works of art: founding and stamping. Bronzes, terra cottas, and coins were the only art works which they could produce in quantity. All others were unique and could not be mechanically reproduced. With the woodcut graphic art became mechanically reproducible for the first time, long before script became reproducible by print. The enormous changes which printing, the mechanical reproduction of writing, has brought about in literature are a familiar story. However, within the phenomenon which we are here examining from the perspective of world history, print is merely a special, though particularly important, case. During the Middle Ages engraving and etching were added to the woodcut; at the beginning of the nineteenth century lithography made its appearance. With lithography the technique of reproduction reached an essentially new stage. This much more direct process was distinguished by the tracing of the design on a stone rather than its incision on a block of wood or its etching on a copperplate and permitted graphic art for the first time to put its products on the market, not only in large numbers as hitherto, but also in daily changing forms. Lithography enabled graphic art to illustrate everyday life, and it began to keep pace with printing. But only a few decades after its invention, lithography was surpassed by photography. For the first time in the process of pictorial reproduction, photography freed the hand of the most important artistic functions which henceforth devolved only upon the eye looking into a lens. Since the eye perceives more swiftly than the hand can draw, the process of pictorial reproduction was accelerated so enormously that it could keep pace with speech. A film operator shooting a scene in the studio captures the images at the speed of an actor's speech. Just as lithography virtually implied the illustrated newspaper, so did photography foreshadow the sound film. The technical reproduction of sound was tackled at the end of the last century. These convergent endeavors made predictable a situation which Paul Valery pointed up in this sentence: "Just as water, gas, and electricity are brought into our houses from far off to satisfy our needs in response to a minimal effort, so we shall be supplied with visual or auditory images, which will appear and disappear at a simple movement of the hand, hardly more than a sign." Around 1900 technical reproduction had reached a standard that not only permitted it to reproduce all transmitted works of art and thus to cause the most profound change in their impact upon the public; it also had captured a place of its own among the artistic processes. For the study of this standard nothing is more revealing than the nature of the repercussions that these two different manifestations--the reproduction of works of art and the art of the film--have had on art in its traditional form.
Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. This unique existence of the work of art determined the history to which it was subject throughout the time of its existence. This includes the changes which it may have suffered in physical condition over the years as well as the various changes in its ownership. The traces of the first can be revealed only by chemical or physical analyses which it is impossible to perform on a reproduction; changes of ownership are subject to a tradition which must be traced from the situation of the original.
The presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity. Chemical analyses of the patina of a bronze can help to establish this, as does the proof that a given manuscript of the Middle Ages stems from an archive of the fifteenth century. The whole sphere of authenticity is outside technical--and, of course, not only technical--reproducibility. Confronted with its manual reproduction, which was usually branded as a forgery, the original preserved all its authority; not so vis a vis technical reproduction. The reason is twofold. First, process reproduction is more independent of the original than manual reproduction. For example, in photography, process reproduction can bring out those aspects of the original that are unattainable to the naked eye yet accessible to the lens, which is adjustable and chooses its angle at will. And photographic reproduction, with the aid of certain processes, such as enlargement or slow motion, can capture images which escape natural vision. Secondly, technical reproduction can put the copy of the original into situations which would be out of reach for the original itself. Above all, it enables the original to meet the beholder halfway, be it in the form of a photograph or a phonograph record. The cathedral leaves its locale to be received in the studio of a lover of art; the choral production, performed in an auditorium or in the open air, resounds in the drawing room.
The situations into which the product of mechanical reproduction can be brought may not touch the actual work of art, yet the quality of its presence is always depreciated. This holds not only for the art work but also, for instance, for a landscape which passes in review before the spectator in a movie. In the case of the art object, a most sensitive nucleus--namely, its authenticity--is interfered with whereas no natural object is vulnerable on that score. The authenticity of a thing is the essence of all that is transmissible from its beginning, ranging from its substantive duration to its testimony to the history which it has experienced. Since the historical testimony rests on the authenticity, the former, too, is jeopardized by reproduction when substantive duration ceases to matter. And what is really jeopardized when the historical testimony is affected is the authority of the object.
One might subsume the eliminated element in the term "aura" and go on to say: that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art. This is a symptomatic process whose significance points beyond the realm of art. One might generalize by saying: the technique of reproduction detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition. By making many reproductions it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. And in permitting the reproduction to meet the beholder or listener in his own particular situation, it reactivates the object reproduced. These two processes lead to a tremendous shattering of tradition which is the obverse of the contemporary crisis and renewal of mankind. Both processes are intimately connected with the contemporary mass movements. Their most powerful agent is the film. Its social significance, particularly in its most positive form, is inconceivable without its destructive, cathartic aspect, that is, the liquidation of the traditional value of the cultural heritage. This phenomenon is most palpable in the great historical films. It extends to ever new positions. In 1927 Abel Gance exclaimed enthusiastically:
"Shakespeare, Rembrandt, Beethoven will make films... all legends, all mythologies and all myths, all founders of religion, and the very religions... await their exposed resurrection, and the heroes crowd each other at the gate." Presumably without intending it, he issued an invitation to a far-reaching liquidation."
During long periods of history, the mode of human sense perception changes with humanity's entire mode of existence. The manner in which human sense perception is organized, the medium in which it is accomplished, is determined not only by nature but by historical circumstances as well. The fifth century, with its great shifts of population, saw the birth of the late Roman art industry and the Vienna Genesis, and there developed not only an art different from that of antiquity but also a new kind of perception. The scholars of the Viennese school, Riegl and Wickhoff, who resisted the weight of classical tradition under which these later art forms had been buried, were the first to draw conclusions from them concerning the organization of perception at the time. However far-reaching their insight, these scholars limited themselves to showing the significant, formal hallmark which characterized perception in late Roman times. They did not attempt--and, perhaps, saw no way--to show the social transformations expressed by these changes of perception. The conditions for an analogous insight are more favorable in the present. And if changes in the medium of contemporary perception can be comprehended as decay of the aura, it is possible to show its social causes.
The concept of aura which was proposed above with reference to historical objects may usefully be illustrated with reference to the aura of natural ones. We define the aura of the latter as the unique phenomenon of a distance, however close it may be. If, while resting on a summer afternoon, you follow with your eyes a mountain range on the horizon or a branch which casts its shadow over you, you experience the aura of those mountains, of that branch. This image makes it easy to comprehend the social bases of the contemporary decay of the aura. It rests on two circumstances, both of which are related to the increasing significance of the masses in contemporary life. Namely, the desire of contemporary masses to bring things "closer" spatially and humanly, which is just as ardent as their bent toward overcoming the uniqueness of every reality by accepting its reproduction. Every day the urge grows stronger to get hold of an object at very close range by way of its likeness, its reproduction. Unmistakably, reproduction as offered by picture magazines and newsreels differs from the image seen by the unarmed eye. Uniqueness and permanence are as closely linked in the latter as are transitoriness and repro-ducibility in the former. To pry an object from its shell, to destroy its aura, is the mark of a perception whose "sense of the universal equality of things" has increased to such a degree that it extracts it even from a unique object by means of reproduction. Thus is manifested in the field of perception what in the theoretical sphere is noticeable in the increasing importance of statistics. The adjustment of reality to the masses and of the masses to reality is a process of unlimited scope, as much for thinking as for perception.


text:
Lib Dems hopeful station plans will help cyclists
Colin Rosenstiel
Cambridge Liberal Democrats are optimistic that Network Rail will take on board Cambridge's unique position as a cycling city when drawing up its plans for a new island platform at the railway station.
Liberal Democrats, supported by councillors across the political spectrum, have impressed upon Network Rail officials that they need to take into account that Cambridge is unlike anywhere else in the UK when it comes to the number of cyclists using the station and taking their bikes on the trains.
They feared plans for a footbridge and lifts to access the new platform would not be adequate in coping with the numbers of riders. But following a meeting with Network Rail, they are hopeful that any issues can be ironed out.
Colin Rosenstiel, Market ward councillor said: "Cambridge has more cyclists than anywhere else in the UK and we need to make sure that they can access the station easily and quickly.
"Our meeting with Network Rail was encouraging because the company is taking our concerns seriously. I am hopeful that the company will come back with a plan that meets the needs of cyclists."
Recent figures compiled by the Association of Train Operating Companies show that the number of cyclists travelling by train is increasing.
Nationally, around 28 million people a year cycle to the station - the equivalent of an average 77,000 journeys a day. The figures have increased by about 23,000 a day compared with two years ago.
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My name is Karen A. Szklany and I love stories about the sea and seafaring life. I also love music, walking labyrinths, sailing, writing, creating multimedia collages, cohousing, the art of Vincent van Gogh, the music of Mozart, the writing of JRR Tolkein and C.S. Lewis, and home-schooling my daughter. My family ties are rooted in the historic town of Sleepy Hollow, NY. My B.A. is in Psychology from Marist College (1986) and my M.Ed. in Elementary Education is from the University of Massachusetts at Boston (1996). I spent two years in California between those two degrees, completing graduate courses in Counseling Psychology and undergraduate courses in Music Performance, and participating in the Peace Club at Chapman Univesity. I also took classes in MusicTherapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA (1991).
In June 2009, my first poetry chapbook was published, titled Running with the Wings of the Beast. From that, I was the feature poet at the Stone Soup Poetry open mic one Monday night.
From November of 2009 until July of 2010, I wrote a book titled The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Fruits and Berries: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply, which can be purchased Amazon Author's Page, or through my Amazon capsule recommendations in a few of my hubs. If you would like to read more about my process of writing the book, please visit my hub titled The Adventure Called "Writing a Book."
Again, Welcome to my world and Blessed be!
Copyright Notice: This profile and all of my hubs, still photos, and featured videos are the intellectual and artistic property of Karen A Szklany (Gault). The copyright of photos not by Karen Szklany Gault are the intellectual and artisitic copyright of those to whom the credit for those works has been indicated. Text and images in all of Seafarer Mama's hubs may not be used without permission.
Account of a visitation by an angel or guardian spirit, which brought the author peace at a time in her life when she needed it most.
This original poem by Seafarer Mama is a shanty about gardening, inspired by her "pirate princess" daughter's arrangement of gardening tools into the likeness of a "jolly roger."
A poem about April snow showers dusting flowers in New England. In honor of NaPoWriMo 2016.
Bark mulch enhances the beauty of a garden in many meaningful ways. This hub outlines 5 important benefits derived from spreading your garden beds with finely cut bark mulch.
A simple step-by-step description of how to put together a worm farm. Includes photo gallery illustrating the steps of putting together your worm farm once all the resources have been collected.
This magical beet salad recipe can be multiplied to feed as many people as you'd like. Includes nutritional information and a video of the author preparing it.
An encouraging message and benediction for a wondrous new year.
Is mugwort an invasive weed or a medicinal plant? Are you inclined toward eradicating it or harvesting the leaves for their medicinal value? Read more about how mugwort benefits human health and well-being.
Balance is the root of all healthy relationships, including our relationship with ourselves. Our experience of wholeness depends upon our accepting ourselves, both our conscious minds and our unconscious "shadow" self. In this article are tools to help you.
A great way to start your day is with a colorful garden vegetable omelet for breakfast. It's packed with nutrients and flavor; it's filling as well as tasty!
Spaghetti squash is a fun and healthy alternative to serving starchy pasta. It can be eaten with tomato sauce, melted butter and herbs, or a variety of other toppings. Featured in this article is a basil pesto sauce that I designed, and tested successfully with my fussy daughter.
A green tea latte is a soothing way to wind down your day on a chilly evening. This recipe adds a teaspoon of pure raw honey (not on the original detox food list but fine to include in this treat), but it's the perfect balance to the slight bitterness of the Matcha.
Try this recipe for a cucumber parsley whey protein smoothie. Includes a video of the author preparing it.
Introduction to a series of recipes and food preparation articles about my journey through a month of detoxification. Eating from a list of limited foods brought my glucose numbers down, and from it I have emerged feeling so wonderful that I want to keep going.
The Magic of Friendship in "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"
Mr. Magorium leaves his magical toy store to Molly Mahoney as a legacy when he dies. When she begins to believe in herself she finds the magic within to keep the store alive.
Vincent van Gogh's art pulsates with passion and vitality. Presented here are mages of my own art, the stories behind them and how they have been inspired by Vincent.
After the initial rush of being in love, how do we build a lasting relationship? The art of staying in love means learning our partner's favored love language and "speaking" it every day.
A new year is a fresh opportunity to start making self-care a priority every day. Here are some ways to reduce stress and forge a path to your best self.
Step-by-step process of creating a backyard labyrinth near my garden beds as a walking meditation.
This article expands on Malcolm Gladwell's idea, from his book "Outliers," that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert through developing and practicing skills in a specific subject area.
April is National Poetry Writing Month. This article is inspired by the annual in-gathering of poets everywhere to share their craft and encourage each other to keep their lyrical pens in motion.
Simple steps we all can take toward lives filled with wonder and pleasure. Implementing these steps will make you feel more connected to our world and inclined to protect our natural home.
Bubble wrap may be the best stress-busting device ever invented! Dancing, hopping, or rolling on bubble wrap is an excellent way to relieve stress and bond with friends and neighbors. Try it!
Is work the same as employment? Is someone who is unemployed not working? Is someone's career the same as their purpose? These are important questions to ask in the 21st century.
This poem is more of a litany about the benefits of walking labyrinths as a form of meditation. The Sacred Geometry of the labyrinth reveals patterns and integrates a walkers' body, mind, and spirit.
My family helps raise chickens as a member of a community where the work is shared and the blessings are many. We raise our chickens for the eggs, which are delicious, and we learn so much from them.
My favorite way to return to health after a cold involves round-the-clock mugfuls of soothing tea, fresh ginger, and raw honey. I usually bounce back with full energy after a week or so.
In honor of the current UU campaign for "Standing on the Side of Love," I have published a poem hub that expresses my commitment to love my fellow creatures and my planet.
Do you ever wonder what your pet thinks? If that pet could write, what would s/he say about his/her life in your care? Here is one hamster's perspective on his life at our home.
My daughter and I were inspired to make banks using coffee cans as the foundation to build upon. Enjoy reading about the process we used to make these banks for big dreamers.
An angel comes down from heaven to observe the aftermath of a cult mass suicide, which he tried to help prevent. Includes tips for protecting yourself from cult involvement.
In June, I took an inter-generational vacation with my mother and daughter on Chincoteague Island in Virginia, where the island life welcomed us to slow down & enjoy the scenery, culture & history.
Fireflies are attracted to other small lights, and a small hand-made lantern will attract them to you if you light it and carry it with you between 8pm and midnight during the summer months. Enjoy!
Spending time appreciating beauty will clear your mind and heal your heart. Join Seafarer Mama on a short journey through the beauty that can be found in each season.
What can we learn from "Percy Jackson and the Olympians "?
Percy Jackson and his friends demonstrate the importance of developing one's strengths and holding to important universal values. We mortals can take inspiration from them for the work we have to do.
Ever wonder what future archaeologists would learn about the 21st century when digging up our remains? Learn how to make your own slab of fossils to use as both a garden decoration and a time capsule.
On June 21, 2013, I was pleased to meet fellow hubber Kathryn Stratford in Boston. This is the story of how we came to connect in person.
Chocolate chip cookies evoke feelings of safety and unconditional love. We all have a spiritual connection to their taste and smell. They form a bridge of love between us to be shared over and over.
Returning home to Massachusetts from a week in Florida, I bring with me the memory of warm days and lanes of palm trees. This pantoum is dedicated to the warm memories that palm trees evoke for me.
Got Clear Tape? If So, There are Millions of Magical Things You Can Make!
A hub that elaborates on all of the creative ideas that can come to fruition by using clear tape to construct them.
Love is the powerful force that makes our lives whole and brings us all the happiness that the world has to offer. We can live the most amazing lives we can imagine by making ourselves forces of love.
After some hours of sleeplessness and a case of "midnight munchies, " the protagonist of this story finally answers the call of the fridge and faces a sweet temptation smiling up at her.
The Kitchen Goddess and her friends perform a Mummer's play in the town square and host a Twelfth Night celebration. Served at their party were baked polenta cakes topped with savory black beans.
Karen the Kitchen Goddess and her faithful apprentice Esperanza host a Winter Solstice feast. Candles were lit. Paper bag puppets were made. Afterward, they walked around town caroling for neighbors.
Have you ever wanted to travel back in time to give yourself information that you wish you knew at a particular age? This letter is my hope and promise for a dawning new age on December 12, 2012.
The Puppet Showplace Theatre is a unique nonprofit organization that is located in Brookline, MA. They offer puppet shows performed by talented professional puppeteers for audiences age 3 to 103.
The Hope Fairy Shop on Newbury Street in Boston is a magical realm of enchantment for all ages. Micheal the shop owner is warm and friendly, and children of all ages are invited to browse for hours.
It's Time to throw a Family Party with Music from Sandra Boynton's "Blue Moo" Album!
"Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Songs from Way Back Never" by Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford is a fun book and music album for the whole family.
If you like being treated like royalty when you walk into a shop, "New England Magic" on Essex St. in Salelm, MA is the place to go to explore the "witchy" side of life.
Louis Braille touched many lives when he developed a code using raised dots arranged into letters and words for blind students to read and learn by. This hub illustrates how braille books are made.
This hub answers a question posed by "Green Lotus" ~ If I were given a large chunk of financial resources for making home improvements, I'd start with the projects described in this hub.
A wet, rainy August evening is warmed and brightened with a new twist on a familiar dish ~ a quick new recipe that combines the simplicity of quesadillas with the comforting flavors of pizza.
The Kitchen Goddess serves sun tea with fruit and mint as she encourages a young lady to follow her dreams.
The Kitchen Goddess and Esperanza involve the neighborhood children in creating a delicious stir-fry dinner, which they share with their families.
Esperanza treats the Kitchen Goddess to an elegant birthday brunch of a garden veggie omelet topped with shredded cheese.
The Kitchen Goddess dishes about salads she loves to make for dinner or dessert on summer evenings. She tosses most of them with lemon or lime juice for an extra zesty burst of flavor in each bite.
Karen the Kitchen Goddess hosts a Midsummer party and campout for their neighbors on the shortest night of the year. They serve Ambrosia salad as a midnight snack along with some riotous fun.
Karen the "Kitchen Goddess" and her apprentice Esperanza invite the neighborhood children to the cottage for a fun day of painting and other crafts Features a recipe for magical mini fruit tarts.
Karen, the "Kitchen Goddess" cooks up a batch of enchanting English muffin pizzas, and shares a delicious meal with a new friend sent by a member of her small circle of reveling cohorts.
The Kitchen Goddess returns with a recipe for divine baked apples, which she prepares on chilly nights for friends and family. Gather round and enjoy some topped with fluffy whipped cream alongside your favorite brew of liquid warmth.
My husband and I raise our daughter in a way that is different from the way we were raised. We practice "Attachment Parenting." Enjoy the photo gallery of her early years.
How do I know that my husband is my "Soul Mate"? This hub expresses the many ways we kn0w we are meant for each other.
Bitten by the "Love Bug"
Falling in love is a wild ride, and where humans are involved it is guaranteed that sparks will fly. The best experience is finding someone we can feel at home with.
The Bats are Having Fun Tonight!
Book review of 4 picture books for children, written and illustrated by Brian Lies. Features summaries of the 4 books: "Bats at the Beach", "...Library", "...Ballgame," and "Bats in the Band."
A playful scene set in a cohousing village during an evening snowfall around the holidays.
A delightful story about a very colorful and festive New Year's Eve celebration with an unusual ending.
A description of two books that celebrate the spirit of giving from one's heart and hands at Christmas.
When the rest of the world goes crazy about Black Friday sales and spending sprees, this hub suggests a quieter, peaceful and more personal revolution as an alternative.
A fun rainy day in the life of a mother home-schooling her daughter.
A summer evening's fantasy of images and sensations.
A love letter to my favorite season, Autumn, and photos of some of my favorite places to visit during this colorful season.
A poem and photo gallery in honor of the many images of Father Christmas, who represents the spirit of Christmas to many.
Take a walk through the world of a young girl via her paintings, a few of them done alongside her mother (moi). Provided are whimsical but true stories behind the art of a seven-year-old child.
A photo gallery and poetic frolic along the memories of our fun 10th anniversary week in North Conway, NH with our daughter.
The crew of the Pirate Ship "Starry Night" engage in further adventures, traveling from cove to cove and teaching peace through art with young people.
In this hub I share my journey of growth as a writer on Hub Pages, and my intent to keep going. Enjoy!
Loving tribute hub to the remarkable woman who founded girl scouts in the U.S., including a brief biography of "Daisy" Low.
A new set of beatitudes that bless those who strive continuously to make the world a better place to live each day.
A short story about a band of pirates who feed and entertain a group of orphans on the seashore.
A short story about a pet dog who saves the life of his master and his son.
A new novel that tells the story of Vincent van Gogh's final days in the voice of Dr. Gachet, who befriended him while he stayed at the Cafe Ravoux in Auvers, France. A captivating read!
A review of the novel "Chocolat" by Joanne Harris, and a comparison of how the book differs from the movie. It serves as the "sequel" to my movie review hub written about this enchanting story.
This movie review of the film "Chocolat" outlines its uplifting story, illustrious main characters and universal themes.
Stitching with plastic canvas and yarn is a habit-forming pastime. Photo illustrations of the process and some examples of finished projects are featured in this how-to hub.
Recipe for a delicious pumpkin mousse dessert that is enjoyable all year round. Also good to eat if you have diabetes. Features enticing pictures of a batch made by the author.
Have you ever wanted to make your own flag to fly proudly outside your own home? I designed one to make one for our local public library's children's room librarian. A talented friend sewed it.
The Yankee Candle store in Williamsburg, VA is one of two unique stores in the United States. In Santa's Village families warm up to the holiday spirit and purchase unique gifts for family & friends.
An article by a published author about the process of writing a book. The journey toward publication involved sweat, tears and the dedication of burning the midnight oil on many nights.
A written meander through some of my daughter's favorite places to frolic at Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, MA. Includes a Google map of the garden's location and a link to the web site.
Having a sense of humor about the imperfections evident in the human condition can keep us honest about ourselves, compassionate and understanding toward others, and lengthen our life span.
The Out of the Blue art gallery in Central Square, Cambridge, MA is an exciting place to visit and learn. Once you walk in the doors, you will want to keep returning.
Cinnamon's taste and aroma are welcoming, comforting, and full of fond memories. Hub includes a brief history of the spice, a short description of its healing properties, and recipes for you to try.
This hub is a summary of one family's afternoon at a local sculpture park in Massachusetts, about 30 minutes outside Boston.
My daughter's sixth birthday crept upon us quickly without very much planning. With the help of lots of neighbors and friends my daughter celebrated a very joy-filled special day.
This hub presents a refreshing recipe for home-made orange soda that will perk you up on the hottest of summer days. Try it and enjoy.
A review of "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown, and a poem of my own for my daughter using her bedroom as the setting.
The RISD in Providence, Rhode Island is located in a pretty area of town. A group of home-schooling families took an engaging Mythology tour through the Ancient History/Civilization artifacts.
Old Shrewsbury Village in Central Massachusetts is a quaint shopping village full of delightful stores and small family eateries. An ideal place to visit in Autumn.
Indian Head Farm is an organic farm in the town of Berlin, Massachusetts. It is an ideal place to stop, stretch, and forage for fresh produce on your way to more leaf peeping on Mt. Greylock.
Making Apple Pancakes with the Recipe from "Curious George Makes Pancakes"
The best foods to eat are those that have stories behind them. Making pancakes using the recipe from "Curious George Makes Pancakes" was fun. Once you have enjoyed them, there are more you can try.
Highlights the personal benefits of forgiveness for the forgiver, and its role in bringing peace and love to a broken world.
The history of the Labyrinth dates back to ancient times. It was often used as a form of meditation, and is a timeless method of reaching our personal center for renewal and transformation.
Recipe for home-brewed sun tea. Features lovely pictures of ingredients and a sun-kissed jar of tea-in-progress. It is an eco-friendly process that tastes delicious. Read and enjoy!
The process of constructing a hub is as important as the content, for presentation is crucial to the hub's success. Here is an outline for the process to help you attain your hub publication goals.
Ireland is a land of enchantment. This is Seafarer Mama's list of 10 places to visit if you plan to jump across the pond to the Emerald Isle. Don't forget to sip a pint of Guinness. Slainte!
Summary of the many of the social and environmental benefits of living in a co-housing community. There are more intentional communities that sprout up each year. Read this hub to find out why.
Sometimes we delay completing a must-do task in favor of doing something more fun. This is often known as procrastination, which has its benefits. Read this article to find out what they are.
The author describes her experience as an assistant cook preparing a community meal for her co-housing neighbors.
This essay is a reflection on the evolution of my relationship with my husband - our courtship and marriage, now for almost ten years - with a little one who brightens our life each day.
Curiosity keeps us young and alive because it keeps our brain cells active, and our spirit of wonder alive. Here are some fun ideas for turning you life upside down in delightful ways.
A list of 10 ways that a family can enjoy a rainy day together. Having fun together strengthens our bonds and helps us live longer.
A delightful interview by the author with a young mermaid princess (daughter) who lives in a cove (bathtub). Fun to read aloud to young people as they look at the pictures.
There are many ways to preserve planet Earth by taking some extra steps that enhance our health, and that of future generations. This hub covers a bunch of them.
A group of Haiku about life with a newborn and toddler for the proud parents. Sweet, heartwarming, and humorous.
Hub summarizing the first (Kindergarten) year of home-schooling my child, and descriptions of the enriching activities we have done. Includes helpful resources and recommendations for materials.
Seafarer Mama's "hublog" for the 30-Day Challenge put forth by Sunforged in August 2010. Among the subjects covered are Creativity, Spirituality, Food, Travel, and Literature for Children.
Anecdote about one new homeowner's mistake of not securing floorboards in the attic above the master bedroom of her townhouse. The process taken to repair the hole is also discussed.
The leap into home-schooling my daughter was both joyous and uncertain. This hub outlines how it all began.
A poem about the character Cosette in Victor Hugo's classic novel "Les Miserables."
A reflection on the wonder and blessings of my world, and the gifts that humans bear one another when we approach each other with love.


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COVID-19: The impact on firms and households
17 June 2020 Blog
We published our latest Financial Stability Review (FSR) yesterday and in my opening remarks (at the launch of the report) I noted COVID-19 had been a test of the financial system like no other in the last decade, triggered by an unprecedented economic shock (in both scale and speed) as a result of a public health crisis. A resilient financial system matters to the people, the families and the firms that make up the Irish economy. But the relationship is symbiotic: a healthy, resilient economy also makes it easier for the financial system to be resilient. This blog looks at the resilience, vulnerabilities and importance of firms and households to the economy since the pandemic hit.
Firms – assets, debt, and borrowing capacity
Firms in particular have borne a lot of the initial strain with almost a quarter of them having temporarily ceased trading and a third having made staff temporarily redundant in May. Seventy per cent of firms report reduced turnover, with 44 per cent reporting that their turnover was less than half of normal levels.
The shock is felt differently across sectors. Businesses which require personal interaction or where physical distancing is impractical – such as hotels, restaurants, travel and parts of the retail sector – are the most affected. The immediate challenge for them has been to meet or defer costs and liabilities. Recent survey responses have shown that a quarter of SMEs were not confident they had the financial resources to continue operating for three months or more.
Lenders have helped firms to reduce their current liabilities; by the end of May, Irish retail banks had active payment breaks on loans worth €8bn, or 23 per cent of the outstanding balances of Irish firms. And government initiatives have played an important role in supporting firms by reducing their wage costs (by over €1bn through the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme), reducing or deferring certain tax liabilities (by over €2bn), and increasing the size and scope of existing government loan schemes.
Recent research published by our economists and displayed in the table below estimates the liquidity shortfall for SMEs. The table focuses on the non-payroll expenses of moderately or highly affected firms. The range of reductions of such expenses reflects policy supports and reduced costs from closure giving an estimate of a three-month SME liquidity shortfall of between €2.4 and €5.7 billion due to COVID-19. The phased nature of economic re-opening, and uncertainty around the path for future revenue in many sectors, mean that a certain portion of the estimated liquidity needs for some firms are likely to recur beyond the first three months of the crisis.
Where liabilities fall due and cannot be met by current revenues, firms will rely on a combination of their existing liquid assets, undrawn credit facilities such as overdrafts, or new borrowing (or any pre-agreed facility with their lender).
Taking each of these channels in turn, the majority of firms entered this crisis period with relatively modest liquid assets. One in four SMEs hold 1 per cent of annual turnover in cash, while half hold less than 5 per cent. As for undrawn credit lines, Irish-resident SMEs had approximately €2.4 billion in undrawn facilities at Irish retail banks at the end of April. Access to this undrawn credit is higher in less affected sectors and is also concentrated in a small cohort of larger SME borrowers. In other words, the existing stock of undrawn credit is unlikely to be sufficient to cover the liquidity needs of all Irish SMEs in the coming months..
In the case of debt, the majority of SMEs entered this period with no outstanding bank debt, due to substantial deleveraging in recent years; 57 per cent of SMEs report that they have no bank debt and just 6 per cent have debt to turnover ratios of greater than 50 per cent (see Figure 1). So, from a macro perspective, SMEs have some capacity to take on debt to meet current outgoings. But we need to be cautious as the medium-term resilience of SMEs is likely to weaken if increased borrowing finances pandemic-related losses. And undoubtedly the current uncertainty around the future outlook will mean that debt financing is not attractive to all small businesses.
Figure 1: Share of SMEs in debt-to-turnover (DT) ratio bands by exposure to COVID-19
The viability of some firms will be determined by the path of recovery. But, in turn, the productive capacity of the economy will be damaged – and the pace of the recovery restricted – in the event viable companies cannot survive.
Households - debt, employment, and assets
In May, over 1 million people were accessing income assistance through income support programmes, representing 43 per cent of the labour force. This level of income loss, regardless of the temporary nature (for some), is a clear challenges to the financial position of households.
Figure 2 shows a trend of falling aggregate household debt since the last crisis. Across households, reductions in debt-to-income (DTI) levels have been widespread, with a halving of the share of highly-indebted borrowers since 2013. This means that households are in a more resilient position facing this shock: only 6 per cent of them have debt more than 5 times their income – helped by the Central Bank's mortgage measures – and there is significant equity to protect against house price falls. Moreover, in view of current rates, the interest burden is also lower than at any time over the past 15 years. This means that it is easier for borrowers to service their debt than in the past, helping to further increase their resilience to this crisis. But despite the improvement in the financial position of the household sector in recent years, legacy issues mean that 85,000 owner-occupier mortgage accounts (11.5 per cent of total accounts) were in restructuring arrangements at the onset of COVID-19, with another 60,000 starting the crisis in arrears.
Figure 2: Household sector debt to disposable income and weighted average interest rates on outstanding loans
Mortgage holders are more likely to work in full time employment and in sectors where employment has been less affected by COVID-19. Manufacturing, human health and social work, education, and public administration are four of the five largest sectors of employment for mortgage holders. The composition of the mortgage book will therefore likely help mitigate some of the more adverse potential outcomes for financial stability. Nonetheless, the widespread nature of the shock means that 47 per cent of mortgage holders work in a sectors affected by the public health measures.
A significant number of households have limited liquid assets to support them in the event of sustained income falls or unemployment. Between one and four months' worth of mortgage payments are estimated to be available in cash balances for the poorest fifth of mortgaged households, while the equivalent burden is higher for renters. The 2018 Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) indicates that bank deposits and incomes are lower for households working in sectors affected by COVID-19. By the end of May, retail banks had granted more than 66,000 payment breaks on Irish mortgages, providing important liquidity relief to households to absorb the immediate effects of lost income.
As I said yesterday at the launch of our FSR, COVID-19 has been a public health crisis the likes of which almost none of us have seen in our lifetime. It has also brought in its wake an economic shock unprecedented in scale and speed. And it has been a test of the financial system like no other in the last decade. Unlike the experience of a decade ago, the financial system is not the origin of the current challenges but, like the rest of the economy, it is affected by them. We are perhaps only at the end of the beginning of seeing those challenges emerge.
As we have taken stock of what this means for domestic financial stability in the FSR, I think there are three key messages emerging.
First, the speed, size and pervasive nature of the economic shock have presented both immediate challenges and tighter financing conditions, as well as a sharp deterioration in the macro-financial outlook, with further downside risks for households, businesses, the public finances and the financial sector.
Second, households, businesses and the financial system have entered into the current phase in a more resilient position compared to the onset of the financial crisis a decade ago. Indeed, the domestic banking system has played role in supporting the liquidity needs of households and businesses so far in this crisis, including through payment breaks. Looking ahead, the banking system will be making losses. The capital buffers we have asked banks to build up in recent years are now there to absorb those losses. But, of course, that resilience is not unlimited.
Third, the policy actions taken in the area of fiscal and monetary policy – as well as macroprudential and supervisory policy – have been necessary to mitigate the amplification of the immediate shock, enable the financial system to support households and businesses through the crisis, and to minimise the extent of longer-term difficulties.
Previous: The Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy


text:
Home MLB Sources: Blue Jays add free-agent RHP Phelps
Sources: Blue Jays add free-agent RHP Phelps
The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a deal with free-agent right-hander David Phelps, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Thursday night.
The one-year deal is worth $2.5 million and includes a club option, sources said.
Phelps, 32, missed the 2018 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow while throwing the final pitch of his last spring appearance while with the Mariners, with whom he was expected to serve as a setup man in 2018.
Phelps spent his first three big league seasons with the Yankees before they traded him to the Marlins following the 2014 season. He pitched two-plus seasons for Miami before a trade to Seattle in 2017.
Phelps is a career 30-33 pitcher with a 3.89 ERA and 520 strikeouts in 553⅔ innings.
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Remy: Translators for pitchers should be illegal
Nervous Kikuchi solid in debut with Mariners


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The History of Human Dwelling of the Earth According to Genesis
Raed Rahim Khuder
What is the history of human habitation on earth in the Torah? Did the Torah specify a time for that? To answer, we say that talking about the time of the earth's habitation is a thorny and sprawling topic, because of the multiple theories that have been put forward and discussed on this topic, whether by geologists, archaeologists, history or religions, but this research deals with (a new answer based on a new hypothesis that adopted the Book of Genesis: a major source to the hypothesis is associated with determining the time of the Prophet Ibrahim Al-Khalil, peace be upon him). Where our aim is to delve into what the predecessors neglected about the ages of the prophets mentioned in the Book of Genesis, in its two parts, the young and old ages), putting the majority of our study and its answer on what was mentioned in the Book of Genesis, the eighth edition issued by Dar Al-Mashreq in Beirut) and its parallels in the Bible and the Holy Qur'an as required by the study of indications, while fixing the observations and questions that may be raised on such a type of hypothesis, discussing them and linking them to archaeological studies, interpretations and resources specialized in the subject, a scientific interpretation (may) open a new horizon for reconsidering the biblical codes far from any ideology or theory that tries to find justifications applicable to our current era However, it does not correspond to the age of the Torah.
Genesis Adam the Flood Genealogies Noah Abraham 19 BC Jehovah
(2022). The History of Human Dwelling of the Earth According to Genesis. Athar Alrafedain, 7(2), 233-266. doi: 10.33899/athar.2022.174216
Raed Rahim Khuder. "The History of Human Dwelling of the Earth According to Genesis". Athar Alrafedain, 7, 2, 2022, 233-266. doi: 10.33899/athar.2022.174216
(2022). 'The History of Human Dwelling of the Earth According to Genesis', Athar Alrafedain, 7(2), pp. 233-266. doi: 10.33899/athar.2022.174216
The History of Human Dwelling of the Earth According to Genesis. Athar Alrafedain, 2022; 7(2): 233-266. doi: 10.33899/athar.2022.174216


Beethoven's Late String Quartets - Sublime Madness?
I wonder if Daniel Chua wrote a book on all Beethoven's late string quartets, or is going to. But he was invited to speak on such at CU's Book Club on 22 March, and the material could construe a book. Daniel Chua is the Head of the School of Humanities, HKU, and is a music professor. I would say a talk about music to a general audience would be likely on music appreciation and its philosophy. But Daniel Chua's talk was heavily dotted with technical aspects of the art, and would require some music knowledge to understand. This may not be applicable to the regular book talk attendants. Luckily, among the audience, there were many Daniel Chua fans, including music scholars and his music students. Also, Daniel Chua gave a lively talk with energy and humour. The floor was generally enlightened and satisfied. I think the CU Book Club website will have a video recording of the talk later on. Those who are interested may re-visit the talk in full. However, there are a few issues on the topic which allow me to wander further.
Beethoven concentrated on writing these string quartets during the last three years of his life. The style and emotion expressed were different from his previous work. All music critics pretended to be a worm in his belly and drew up various theories on the change, most were subjective and speculative. Some said he was deaf then and the music were for the eyes on the score instead of the ears; some said he was disillusioned from his heroic period and went pessimistic; some said these were his death songs. But none was true. Though with hearing impairment, the sound effect of music was still in his mind. Many musicians could hear music by reading the score. It was true that the heroic period in Europe as a whole diminished by then, but the late string quartets were not sad music. They were experimental and many passages were full of spirit. On the last part, Daniel Chua cleverly pointed out that Beethoven did not know he would die in three years. Instead, he just recovered from illness and was happy about it.
Beethoven was well known for his creativity and innovation. It would be a natural process for his music style to evolve. On appreciation of music, there are some standard approaches. One is to follow your natural instinct and reaction to melody and rhythm. Anyone would feel romantic or sad on slow passages, and be excited on loud and fast tunes. The other is to distinguish music instruments in an orchestra and appreciate tone colour. A deeper appreciation is on form, to be able to understand how the music developed following some composing methods. These are the perspectives of the audience. However, the mind of the composers may be different. While they still do all these normal things, at the same time they will try to break away from tradition.
After listening to Beethoven's glorious symphonies for a few decades, the audience suddenly found that Beethoven abandoned the orchestra and only composed string quartets, a simple form without other instruments. Also, the familiar construction of sonata form was also changed. Movements were arranged differently and expectation was broken. Even the basic melodic and rhythmic progressions were changed. There were mimics of conversation and recitative in the music which were theatrical. Beethoven had gone mad. This was the assessment in the 19th century. Nowadays, we found that all composers were doing the same. This was just not accepted as normal practice at that time.
A well-known work of the late string quartets I admire is the "Heiliger Dankgesang" or holy song of thanksgiving. It is the third movement of string quartet in A minor, op. 132, composed after Beethoven recovered from a serious illness. The main theme is peaceful, slow, steady, long and with perfect harmony; only white notes are used. Critics at that time called it a thanksgiving song to god. However, there is a middle section which is a dance, showing smooth bodily movement and is not suitable for use in worship. Modern critics considered that this movement was a record of the state of mind of Beethoven recovering from his illness. The slow and solemn section is a representation of him in convalescence in bed; and the dance section, marked "Neue Kraft fuhlend" with renewed strength, simply reflects his becoming energetic again. The slow passage in this movement contains much deep thoughts, and could only be discovered more and more as being listened to time and again.
Another prominent and controversial work of the quartets is the Grande Fugue, the last movement of string quartet in B flat major, op. 130, or not. It was originally written as the last movement of the quartet. The audience did not like it, finding it too difficult and awkward. Beethoven was furious, but he was persuaded by the publisher and friends to write a replacement movement, which was a dance with much simplicity. The Grande Fugue was published separately as op. 133, a standalone piece. Two centuries later, Stravinsky the modern composer still found the Grande Fugue fresh and revealing; and he considered Beethoven had written something well ahead of his time. The fugue is a standard composing method in the form of a canon highlighting intertwining melodies developed from a theme. It was popular a generation before Beethoven, but had then become archaic, to be composed as homework by music students. Beethoven chose this simple form but did it in the most complex manner. Instead of good harmony and well balanced counterpoint of a fugue, this piece is full of dissonance. Each instrument seems to have a mind of its own. The melodies seem to contradict rather than complement each other, creating great chaos. I took it as a challenge and listened for a week. It is a double fugue with two themes each with development of their own. Out of the confusing counterpoint, there emerges a scenery of chaos and pain before settling down. To put it in context with the quartet in B flat major, some critics noticed that the slow movement before it was the cavatina, a beautiful song with a very sad middle section, like someone weeping while singing with the lyrics broken. Some critics called it the Gethsemane scene which was the night of the capture of Jesus. Thus it followed that the next movement the Grande Fugue was about cruxification. However, I find it too far-fetched. To really put it in context, one has to consider the whole string quartet, where the first three movements are not religious as such.
There are many horror stories concerning IT security, which I think are overrated. All systems have security risks. Even the most basic method of double locking valuable documents in an expensive safe is not absolutely safe. Safes could be breached; locked offices could be broken in; documents could be lost in transit; officers could be careless. When information is digitized and stored on computers, the security risks just change emphasis. They are not more vulnerable nor safer. But paperless documents present a different perception. Some say you cannot steal when there is nothing to hold; but some say you do not even know it is stolen because there is nothing to hold. The bottom line is, major corporations, financial institutions and government agencies now all store their valuable information on computers. We could believe that reasonable and adequate protection are in place to avoid foreseeable security risks.
When valuable data are in the cloud, security considerations go one step further. The fact that the data are stored outside the office in the cloud, and accessed through external connection does raise concern. News of IT security breaching are often seen in the media, thus giving an impression that it is less safe. The truth is that online business transactions, especially financial transactions, are now very common. All banks are pushing very hard for online account management by users. Online purchasing and bill settlement is a booming business. Thus among the billions of transactions, the rate of security breaching is very low, much lower than road accidents and other crimes.
There are three main sources of IT security breaches. The first is a deliberate attack by criminals or hackers, like breaking in. The second is erroneous setting of IT procedures leading to data loss, like forgetting to lock the door. The third is information leakage by workers, either through carelessness or malicious actions. All these are still valid with cloud computing.
I would say that cloud computing could simplify much work for managers on hardware and software. However, it presents additional security risks which the managers should focus their attention. For outside attacks, managers could rely on the security of the cloud as the first line of defense. The security of the servers is the responsibility of the cloud operators. Managers could assume that state-of-the-art defense is deployed. There have been talks that security measures by the cloud operators alone is not sufficient. Additional security could be obtained by restricting access to the cloud through another cloud to prevent skillful intruders. I think this level of defense is for the top secret data, and may not be feasible for every system. Just rest assured the cloud could do its job properly.
Additional risks are in data transmission and reception. Security measures such as virtual private network and data encryption could be implemented according to the sensitivity of information. These may have to be specifically ordered. At the user end, computers are vulnerable to be attacked by hackers, or by malicious software rampant in the Internet. The standard protection is the IT security protection programs widely available in the market. Make sure that they are completely and actively installed, with instantaneous automatic updating. On user accounts, there is the issue of identity verification and local storage security. The standard gateway is the user name plus a password. Additional verification could be implemented through multi-factor authentication. In the past, security cards and digital tokens are used to identify an officer. These are now thought of as presenting only a false sense of security as they are easily lost or stolen. Furthermore, they present additional headache for managers in their issuing, replacing and maintaining. Recently, more popular methods are additional password with random digits and security secret questions and answers. The OCGIO Government Public Cloud Service GPCS bulk purchasing contract includes all these additional security services. They could be purchased as SaaS.
On the person level, managers are required to nurture the mindset and behaviour of officers on the vigilance of IT risks. On the technical side, software is available for monitoring staff behaviour on the Internet such as browsing habits and files download restriction. On the human side, it is more a human resource management subject than an IT management subject. IT security awareness and conscience could be promoted through training, staff management and staff relations.
When things are in the cloud, the ground is clear.
An IT infrastructure is the backbone of IT applications and IT services. Managers who are responsible for departmental IT matters would know all the issues associated with setting up and maintaining IT infrastructure in the department. Work would start from the basic requirement of accommodating the infrastructure, that is, special accommodation requirements. Usually, a secure room with uninterrupted power supply and temperature control is needed for the central servers and hubs. Then a series of servers is required for various functions. The servers are connected to individual terminals through a messy network of wire which could turn the office upside down. This beast requires constant feeding and care-taking. The manpower, attention and energy required for its up-keeping is enormous and continuous, not to mention the worry of interruption of service and its safety.
To get the infrastructure off the ground, managers first need to perform much work on procurement and installation. IT hardware needs to be constantly maintained and upgraded. The cycle of maintenance, system update, replacement and addition is never-ending.
What if someone else could do all these for the managers? Cloud computing offers such an opportunity. All those mentioned above could be put in the cloud. Then all that the managers need to do is to dream about it. IaaS Infrastructure as a service comes into play.
IaaS could be provided in private cloud, outsourced private cloud and public cloud. Managers could expect the Government private cloud to be almighty. OCGIO has tried her utmost to bring the capability of her data centres to a high level which should be capable of meeting all the needs of departmental applications. A public cloud run by major IT service providers is even mightier. They do that for a living. For outsourced private cloud, the contractor would be happy to make the data centre for the department as versatile as possible. When the infrastructure is in the cloud, all the associated daily chore of operation, backup, maintenance are taken care of as a package. Managers only need to choose how to use the infrastructure. They could safely assume all that is required are already in the cloud. Procurement and installation of equipment for the cloud will be the task of the cloud keeper. Managers could just pick what function they want from the cloud. The rest is taken care of by the service charge, or by OCGIO data centres.
Besides saving a lot of effort for the departmental users, IaaS offers much benefits in cost saving through economy of scale and resource sharing. With centralized procurement and system implementation, the infrastructure could be share-used by many different applications. A strong and ready cloud support is scalable and could meet service change on demand.
Nevertheless, managers making use of IaaS should first know how to ask the right questions. Up-to-date common knowledge of the IT infrastructure is still required, just like a government human resource manager who would need to know the Civil Service Regulations well. Most importantly, managers need to know and understand what the cloud could do. The technical details could be left to the technicians.
In a perfect scenario, which may not be feasible for all offices at present a least, we could foresee all back-office IT services to be carried out in the cloud. The office could be linked to the cloud through one or a few leased broadband connections. Users are then connected through wireless routers. Officers are each assigned a notebook computer or tablet computers so that they could be mobile in the office when using IT services. No network wiring is then required. All that the managers need to do is to stock a few spare computers for replacement.
Cloud computing is the order of the day. The market is now flooded with cloud services. All major IT service providers are competing to offer the best, fastest, most versatile and most secure cloud services. They are now in great demand. There are much talks on the mystery of cloud computing. Simply put, it is just a wider use of the TCP/IP protocol, or in more layman term, the Internet - the cloud.
The Internet has been here for more than twenty years. In the past, it was not extensively used by serious businesses. First, connection to the Internet was not reliable; and second, security over leased line was a major concern. These problems have largely been overcome. Many large corporations, financial institutions and governments are now comfortable in using the cloud as a standard platform for IT services.
The HKSAR Government announced that she would adopt the Cloud Computing model to meet rising public demands and community expectations on e-government services and reap the benefits of emerging technologies. Actually, the issue has been on the agenda for a long time when the OCGIO set up her own data centres years ago for the storage of data for departments and for acting as central servers for many departmental applications. The time is now ripe and a full scale introduction of cloud computing is being promoted.
EO as government resource and system managers are required to manage IT projects both for the delivery of departmental services and support services within the department. Cloud computing represents a new approach to such services. Thus managers would be impacted first hand with this modern trend. Lucky to say, the cloud computing model is a way forward and a much easier way from a management point of view. The major difference between cloud computing and traditional computing is that the majority of equipment and applications are not located on site.
Government announced that she plans to re-provision the central IT facilities and build the Government Cloud environment comprising three service layers: an in-house private Cloud owned and operated by the Government, an outsourced private Cloud with facilities dedicated to the Government in secure data centres operated by contractors, and public Cloud for generic services. They are used to host applications and data based on the level of sensitivity and confidentiality of the data and information involved.
Managers could look at the change from the organizational perspective. They have been tasked with the management of IT services, which may entail IT personnel, IT equipment and applications as well as IT security. OCGIO or the previous ITSD used to undertake the technical work in the past. Many years ago, OCGIO withdrew from the frontline, leaving departments to handle the technical work themselves. Instead, IT Management Units were set up in departments. These units, staffed by OCGIO seconded staff, acted as consultants on IT projects. Actual work was carried out in the departments by contractors. Departments were required to manage both the IT Management Units and the contractors. The government consultants, rather than hired consultants who took requests from clients, could dictate projects from the technical rather than the management angle.
The Cloud computing model may change the scenario to our favour. For private cloud, it could be the data centres operated by OCGIO. Operation personnel together with the daily chore with the servers will then be the responsibility of the centres. Some large departments may wish to set up their own private cloud in an out-sourced private data centre at off-site location. This would be a dedicated technical task usually with strong operational content and run by technicians. For the public cloud, an IT service provider offering general cloud services to the public may be engaged. This will be for non-sensitive public information distribution. In short, if handled well, cloud computing could mean lesser work but stronger control for departmental managers.


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Суже́ () — муніципалітет у Франції, у регіоні Центр-Долина Луари, департамент Ендр. Населення —  осіб (2011).

Муніципалітет розташований на відстані близько 220 км на південь від Парижа, 110 км на південь від Орлеана, 23 км на північний захід від Шатору.

Демографія

Розподіл населення за віком та статтю (2006):

Економіка

У 2010 році в муніципалітеті числилось 65 оподаткованих домогосподарств, у яких проживали 153,0 особи, медіана доходів виносила  євро на одного особоспоживача

Посилання

 Суже на сайті французького Національного інституту географії
 Офіційний сайт муніципалітету
 [ Розташування муніципалітету Суже на мапі Франції та сусідні муніципалітети]

Див. також
 Список муніципалітетів департаменту Ендр

Примітки

Муніципалітети департаменту Ендр

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Which svn client to install on Windows 7 machine? I just got a new PC running Windows 7 (64-bit). I'd like to install an SVN client (command line only, I don't want TortoiseSVN). I'm not sure which of these to install:
http://subversion.apache.org/packages.html#windows
does anyone have any opinions on this?
I tried going for the ones hosted by Tigris, but the downloaded zip says to read an install file hosted at their site, but the link is broken. Do we simply download, then call svn.exe as needed, no need for a real 'install'?

A: I use CollabNet's command line client for windows.
http://www.collab.net/downloads/subversion/
It even has update notifications.

A: EDIT: By now TortoiseSVN includes the command-line client as well, if you choose to install it:

I've been using SlikSVN for some time now because the "official" CollabNet-branded command-line client is behind registration and stuff. It's still built from exactly the same sources and shares the same features, bugs, etc. so for all intents and purposes it's the same.

A: Any of the following choices are equally valid.
CollabNet (requires registration)
SlikSVN
TortoiseSVN (optionally installs 32- and 64-bit command line tools and svnserve)
VisualSVN
WANdisco (requires registration)
(Source: Apache Subversion Binary Packages)
Alternatively, you can install svn with Chocolatey: choco install svn, but this is outdated at version 1.8.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


You think this is hard to read? Try the website.
"We imagined that the hour could be more than just switching the lights off and thinking about global warming," says Mr. Namouric. "We wanted to make it a very creative time."
Creation in Dark: A group of artists create in the dark; you can see their work when the lights come up.
Brainstorm in the Dark: Thinkers, philosophers, urban planners, and business leaders will have a debate of ideas regarding the fight against climate change.
More information at Ideas in the Dark.
Is Lighting A Candle for Earth Hour Counterproductive?


The town of Serres has been a venue of the biggest Greek rally – Serres Rally Raid – already for the seventh time, where Števo defended his last year triumph successfully. The challenging seven-day event scrutinized 76 drivers and their skills on an extreme track using the expert navigation like in Rally Dakar.
The overal length of the track was 1,400 kilometres, and it was an important part of the training for Rally Dakar 2018. Organisers prepared "appetizers" for the drivers in the form of overpasses across rivers, hard roads, terrain footpaths and old military ruins.
Finally, Števo prevailed over Spanish Txomino Arano by the hour and a half margin. Third place was taken by Italian Carlo Augusto Cabini who was one hour and 44 minutes behind.
Svitko won the introductory prologue by a large margin in Greek Melenikitsi, and he did not hesitate for a while in subsequent five stages where he won first place in each stage. He was not so successful only in the last stage when he took fifth place. However, that did not endangered his outright first place.


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Cigaritis syama est une espèce de lépidoptères (papillons) de la sous-famille des Aphnaeinae (famille des Lycaenidae).

C'est un papillon très commun dans son aire de répartition.

Description
Cigaritis syama est un petit papillon « faux-cuivré » de  d'envergure. Son abdomen est blanc crème annelé de noir. Son aile antérieure a le dessus marron taché de bleu près de la bordure inférieure ; et a le dessous blanc crème avec des segments de lignes gris-bleu  bordés de noir. Son aile postérieure a deux fines queues ; le dessus est marron avec une large plage bleue et une tache rouge-orangé ornée d'un point noir près des queues ; le dessus est blanc crème avec des segments de lignes gris-bleu bordés de noir et, près des queues, une tache rouge-orangé ornée de deux points noirs.

Biologie

Plantes hôtes
La chenille se nourrit de feuilles de Dioscorea batatus (famille des Dioscoreaceae), de Psidium guajava ou Goyavier (famille des Mytaceae) et de Gmelina arborea (famille des Verbenaceae).

Répartition et habitat
Cigaritis syama est présent en Inde, en Asie du Sud-Est et en Chine. Il vit dans les champs et les zones anthropisées.

Liste des sous-espèces
Selon  :
 Cigaritis syama syama
 Cigaritis syama terana

Systématique
Le nom valide de ce taxon est Cigaritis syama (Horsfield, 1829).

Liens externes

Notes et références

Lépidoptère (nom scientifique)
Lycaenidae
Lépidoptère d'Asie


text:
Facebook Shares Major Spark AR Studio Update
Michael Slater
Augmented Reality2019Spark AR Studio
Join The 2019 Developer Circles Community Challenge
OC6 Save The Date: September 25 – 26 in San Jose
Introducing New Ways to Bring Immersive Web Content into VR
In 2017, we introduced the world to a powerful AR software suite called AR Studio. Since then, we've worked with a tremendous, global community of creators and developers to help shape and define the Spark AR platform. In fact, since last year's F8, over one billion people have used AR experiences powered by Spark AR. Hundreds of millions of people use these experiences monthly across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Portal. And all of these experiences have one thing in common: they are built with Spark AR Studio.
Today at F8, we're announcing a major update to Spark AR Studio which now includes support for Windows, as well as new features that bring more efficiency, interactivity and control to the AR creation process:
Create Effects More Efficiently with Blocks
We're introducing a new feature that allows you to break a project down into small reusable chunks called "Blocks." You can use Blocks to better organize your project, or you can create Blocks to help jumpstart your next project. We often see people in our Spark AR creator community sharing tips and code to help others with their AR projects, now they can share their Blocks too.
Updated Patch Editor Enables More Complex Interactions
A popular feature within Spark AR Studio is Patch Editor which makes it easy to add complex interactions to your AR effects. In the latest version of Spark AR Studio, we've rewritten Patch Editor from the ground up with a new UI and a foundation that will allow us to make it even more powerful with features such as Blocks and control over audio effects.
Easily Test Effects Across Facebook or Instagram
The Spark AR Player remains the trusted go-to app for creators and developers who want to quickly preview and iterate on their effects. However, we often hear that it would be helpful to test AR effects directly in a specific, targeted app. With this in mind, we added in-product testing to Spark AR Studio which helps you to quickly test your experience in either Facebook or Instagram.
Use Powerful New Audio Controls
We've added new features to the Patch Editor which make it possible to manipulate audio in a variety of ways, from shifting the pitch of a voice to making AR effects respond to sounds or the rhythm of music.
These are just a few of the new features in Spark AR Studio, in the near future you will see many more improvements. In fact, this video previews some of what's coming soon:
We're having trouble playing this video.
We owe our thanks to the countless members of our creator community who inspire our team every day with their creativity, insights and talent. And we're excited to share more of what's new inside Spark AR Studio with today's update. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
Augmented RealityPrograms
Augmented RealityVirtual Reality
Augmented RealityBusiness Tools


text:
Iuka, Mississippi, USA
Precip. probability: 100%
On Thursday, February 2, rainfall is expected.
With a high probability, moderate precipitation is predicted for today. The temperature is anticipated to vary between a cold 39.2°F (4°C) and a freezing 28.4°F (-2°C).
The maximum temperature of 39.2°F (4°C) will be more in line with January's average highest temperature of 47.3°F (8.5°C) than the average highest temperature of 52.7°F (11.5°C) in February.
Current condition and temperature - Iuka, MS
At the moment, in Iuka, rain is falling.
Current rainfall is 0.08" (2mm).
The temperature is a wintry 33.8°F (1°C), while the real-feel temperature is a similar 32°F (0°C). The current temperature is only a few degrees off the highest temperature for today.
Does it rain currently in Iuka?
Yes, it currently rains in Iuka, and precipitation is 0.08" (2mm).
What is the current temperature in Iuka?
At 8:14 am, the temperature in Iuka is 33.8°F (1°C).
What is the weather forecast for Iuka for today?
Will it rain today in Iuka?
Moderate precipitation of 0.55" (14mm) is forecasted. The possibility of rainfall is high at 100%.
What will be the maximum temperature in Iuka today?
The highest temperature will be noticeably lower than the average maximum of 52.7°F (11.5°C) in February. The lowest temperature will be relatively lower than the average low of 37°F (2.8°C).
When is the sunrise / sunset today in Iuka?
On Thursday, in Iuka, sunrise was at 6:50 am and sunset will be at 5:22 pm (CST).
How long is the day today in Iuka?
In Iuka, today, there will be 10h and 32min of daylight.
Hourly weather forecast and temperature - Iuka, MS
Today, a combination of rainy and occasionally cloudy weather is expected.
The temperature will vary between the highest temperature of 39.2°F (4°C) and the lowest temperature of 33.8°F (1°C). The warmest part of the day will be from noon to 5 pm.
The highest temperature will be more resembling to January's average maximum of 47.3°F (8.5°C) than the average maximum of 52.7°F (11.5°C) in February. The lowest temperature will be also more comparable to January's average minimum of 33.1°F (0.6°C) than February's average of 37°F (2.8°C).
en: Iuka, Mississippi, USA
es: Iuka, Misisipí, EE.UU.
sr: Ajuka, Misisipi, SAD
zh: 艾尤卡, 密西西比州, 美国
Iuka @ Wikipedia
Nearby Iuka, Mississippi, USA
Blythe Crossing (1 mi)
Oldham (2 mi)
Bacon Springs (3 mi)
Walker Siding (4 mi)
Eastport (4 mi)
Burnsville (4 mi)
Margerum (5 mi)
Riverton (5 mi)
Cooks Landing (5 mi)
J P Coleman State Park (5 mi)
Holcut (6 mi)
Doskie (6 mi)
Short (6 mi)
Lime Kiln (6 mi)
Allsboro (6 mi)
Leedy (6 mi)
Waterloo (6 mi)
Chisca (7 mi)
Petertown (7 mi)
Paden (7 mi)
Carter Branch (7 mi)
Lane Springs (7 mi)
Mount Hester (7 mi)
Tishomingo (7 mi)
Iuka, Mississippi - Current temperature and weather conditions. Detailed hourly weather forecast for today - including weather conditions, temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, dewpoint, wind, visibility, and UV index data. [2364960]


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text:
Avaaz>
Jair Bolsonaro, far-right lawmaker and presidential candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL), gestures after casting his vote during general elections on October 28, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
As Latin America Braces for 'Bolsonaro Effect,' Leftist Teachers Already Being Targeted by Brazil's Fascist Forces
"Freedom of thought is not a concession made by the state. It is a fundamental right."
Julia Conley
Within days of retired military officer Jair Bolsonaro's victory in Brazil's presidential election, the president-elect's party is already demonstrating how a rapid rise of fascism will target its perceived political enemies and attack fundamental democratic principles in the country.
Less than 24 hours after Sunday's election results were in, State Representative Ana Caroline Campagnolo, who was elected to represent Bolsonaro's Social Liberal party in the legislature earlier this month, called on students to report teachers voicing criticism of his victory or policies.
As the Guardian reports, students who see or hear their teachers expressing outrage over the new president--whose open racism, misogyny, and plans to purge the country of leftists, has inspired millions to demonstrate against him in Brazil and around the world--were encouraged to send Campagnola a WhatsApp message exposing the educators.
"When you have a populist authoritarian, militaristic ruler in that context, he isn't just a laughing stock--as Trump often is--he is actually a very serious challenger to civil rights, and human rights and basic freedoms." --Ivan Briscoe, International Crisis Group
Campagnolo, who was herself a history teacher before entering public office, claimed in a radio interview Tuesday that she had received numerous messages from students so far. Meanwhile, educators denounced her attack on freedom of expression or being what she derisively calls "indoctrinator teachers."
As of this writing on Tuesday, a petition circulating on Avaaz.org, calling on teachers and students to reject Campagnola's efforts, had gathered more than 265,000 signatures.
"We, teachers, understand that Ana Caroline is inciting hatred by asserting untruths, provoking an unhealthy school environment," wrote the educators who started the petition.
Teachers "do not indoctrinate while teaching" but rather "present and promote debates with total respect respecting the free thought of students and the educational community in general."
"In the face of this, we ask that you, a teacher, a student, parents who care for a free and democratic education share and help us denounce the attempt to curtail that teachers are already suffering for a candidate that even without having assumed [office] is using authoritarianism to promote their ideas in a light and undemocratic way!" the petition continued.
Efforts to attack teachers' freedom of speech stoked fears of the new reality Brazilians will be living under after 55 percent of voters supported a man who has been called a "genuine fascist" by Brazil-based journalist Glenn Greenwald. Just before winning his election, Bolsonaro threatened to rid the country of left-wing politicians and their supporters, telling a crowd, "Either they go overseas, or they go to jail."
Campagnolo's campaign to target left-leaning teachers follows moves by government election authorities who, days before the country voted on October 28,seized election-related posters and other materials from university classes and events. The political activities ahead of the election were in violation of election laws, the authorities claimed, even though many of the materials made no mention of specific candidates and focused solely on defeating fascism.
Supreme Court Carmen Lucia ruled late last week that the seizure of political materials from universities was illegal, arguing, "Freedom of thought is not a concession made by the state. It is a fundamental right."
But political observers have expressed fears since Bolsonaro's victory on Sunday night that not only Brazil but other Latin American countries--especially those which, like Brazil, have been ruled by military dictatorships in years past--will experience serious curtailing of rights as the new president takes office.
"This is a guy who said the Brazilian dictatorship didn't kill enough people, that they need to kill another 30,000 people, that the police should be able to kill suspects, that the left will have a choice of going to jail or leaving the country. Will he do these things? I think he will implement as many of these threats as he can get away with," Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research toldFrance 24 on Tuesday.
"When you have a populist authoritarian, militaristic ruler in that context, he isn't just a laughing stock--as Trump often is--he is actually a very serious challenger to civil rights, and human rights and basic freedoms," added Ivan Briscoe, Latin America director of the International Crisis Group.
Julia Conley is a staff writer for Common Dreams.
AvaazBrazilCenter for Economic and Policy ResearchEducationJair BolsonaroLatin AmericaMark Weisbrot


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text:
Q: Connecting I2C sensors with the same address over 16-20 metres in a daisy-chain with 1 cable I'm trying to solve the following problem:

"How to connect 3 to 8 I2C sensors with the same address over 16-20 metres in a daisy-chain with 1 cable without having to deal with address clashes or wire length limitations? RS485 is not an option."
Steps:
1. One-cable requirement was easy to fulfill using CAT5e with RJ45 connectors:

2. To deal with the cable length, I plan to use PCA9615 I2C buffer for differential I2C over CAT5e, allowing ~50m of cable length. According to its datasheet, PCA9615 is completely transparent to all I2C devices on the bus, and requires no data overhead.
3. To handle address clashes, I'll add TCA95462 I2c Switch with 8 pin-selectable I2C addresses (using A0,1,2 pins)
The preliminary design comes up as such:

*

*PCA9615 I2C buffer for differential I2C over CAT5e, allowing ~50m of cable length.

*TCA95462 I2c Switch with 8 pin-selectable I2C addresses (using A0,1,2 pins) to allow "changing" of I2C address for devices that have only one available hardcoded address.

*HTU21D temperature sensor as the test I2C device. Address 0x40, hardwired.

Red, black and blue wires are CAT5 connector pins.The diagram does not include pull-up resistors for clarity.
My understanding of its operation is :
MCU sends "Enable" command signal to the device 0x00 (example). PCA9615 carries signal over long wires to the TCA95462 switch that has the address 0x00 (left). TCA95462 now opens its channel 0 where HTU21D (address 0x40) is connected, effectively connecting it with the master.
TCA95462 switch with the address 0x01 (right) will not react, and effectively physically isolates the second HTU21D (address 0x40) from being interacted with by the master.
Could anyone who has ever used these chips, or faced the similar problem provide feedback on the  feasibility of this design, my understanding and its current implementation? Thank you.
P.S: Please excuse the lousy circuit diagram, I was on a work laptop.

A: I see that you want to use some I2C sensors (slow by definition), and you are adding other components ...
I would suggest adding a "tiny microcontroller" (for each sensor) reading a flow of information from the master (containing address, command, ...).
The "concerned" tiny processor would decide ... if it is its "own address" ... execute the command ... and send the answer to the master via a "common" wire-ored line.
All slaves could receive the same command at one time and execute it.
Only one slave use the return line at one time.
Some outputs (if there are any more ...) could be used to specify a "hardware" address (change by soldering or jumpers ...) so the program of the tiny processor would be the same for all.
You need only 4 lines. 4 lines left for other "functions" and/or "signaling".