We recently changed the data source for one of our reports. Since doing this, a couple of the columns have stopped being processed as columns of string data and are now instead being parsed as columns of numbers, completely messing everything up.
Please try to add "+" prefix before that column in the data source file.
More about data types in our documentation – Data types in CSV.
That works, however it isn't a great solution for us, as to prevent this type of bug creeping into future reports it requires us to differentiate between all of our columns of data in all of our datasets, to add these prefixes everywhere. In addition to this, we use these datasets in other tools and modifying all of them to be aware of and strip these prefixes isn't really feasible.
We really need a solution that doesn't require manipulating the dataset. Ideally, it would be great if FlexGrid itself is able to determine the column type based on all value types in the column, rather than just the first record.
I would appreciate your feedback on this matter.
Actually, it will be great to see a sample of your data-set.
We need to investigate if it's possible to automatically determine the column type on our side without any additional prefixes.
Your sample helped me to better understand your case.
I should say that the only way to get the appropriate result is to use "+" prefix OR set the string value to the first row.
Unfortunately, we are not planning to implement automatic type determination for such cases now, mostly because of the current component architecture.


The Dukan Diet: French Women's Secret Weapon, or Atkins 2.0?
Have you heard the buzz about the new fad diet that's taking France by storm?
Tackle the 'Freshman 15' by ... Cleaning Your Closet?
We hear that Scarlett Johansson noshed on salmon for energy before the Oscars.
In an ongoing effort to drop the infamous "Freshman 15," three college gals are following SELF's Jump Start Diet and blogging about their workout and diet progress every day.
A few weeks ago, we launched HealthySELF's partnership with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Talenthouse, a premier online platform that provides opportunities for young people to participate with the world's most renowned artists and creative institutions.
Recently, we launched a series of blogs highlighting advice from our friends behind Lose It!, the diet book based on the popular calorie counting app.
Should Lent Be Used as a Diet?
Ever since we were kids watching Popeye down cans of spinach, it has been ingrained in our brains that that this leafy green is a must-eat superfood.


Ben Rhodes cut a window into the belly of the beast and allowed us to see how the mainstream media in the US manipulates public opinion on government information concerning issues like the Iraq war, Iran deal, etc., says former US diplomat Jim Jatras.
Barack Obama's administration came under fire on Monday after White House National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said he created a so-called 'echo chamber.' According to him, it consisted of journalists and experts who were basically following the line of the White House during the Iran nuclear talks.
RT: How were these 'echo chambers' created, and how can you isolate a top politician from information you don't want him or her to consider?
Jim Jatras: I think Mr. Rhodes was quite explicit about this in his interview with the New York Times magazine – in fact quite proud of himself. The term he used was 'ventriloquism.' You have these young 20-something year old reporters many of whom know virtually nothing about the outside world, who depend lock, stock, and barrel on - let's be honest, propaganda – they get it from the administration. What is interesting here is not just how it applies to the Iran deal, which of course is what people and Congress want to focus on, but what does this say about how passive the American media are when it comes to government information, not only on Iran, bit on Syria, on Ukraine, on Iraq, and you can go down the list.
RT: How long has this been going on for? How frequently is this kind of 'echo chamber' tactic employed?
JJ: I think it has been going on for quite a long time, and the only transgression of Mr. Rhodes is that he actually cut a window into the belly of the beast and allowed us to see what is going on here. But as the government apparatus has expanded and the media has cut back on the news gathering services – they essentially operate as bulletin boards for government information. And this at least goes back in my opinion to the Iraq war under George Bush, but certainly it applies to Syria, Libya, and Ukraine.
RT: How is it different from lobbyism, which is legal in the US?
JJ: This is very different from lobbying. Lobbying – what you have is either private interest, or sometimes foreign government interest and so forth, who are paid money and disclose it publicly to try to impact government policy.
Here it is going in the opposite direction. You have the government using its influence and frankly the career aspirations of some journalists and … perhaps even illegally the payment of money to deliver information in another direction. It's the government impact on people in the broader society and in the private sector.
RT: Do you think there will be any consequences for Ben Rhodes and Obama's administration in general?
JJ: I hope there will be consequences not only for Mr. Obama, but for Hillary [Clinton] who was part of the same apparatus here. I don't know that there will be. As I say, people in Congress are more interested in learning the wrong lesson from this. What does this tell us about the Iran deal? They knew the Iran deal was a bad deal and they sold it anyway. I don't think you'll see much interest in what this tells us about the state of press freedom in this country and the degree to which public opinion is manipulated by the government. After all both parties have had an interest in doing that and they don't want people looking to much behind the curtain about what the real mechanisms are.


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Copyright 2018 Holy Angels Convent HSS, Thiruvananthapuram-. Designed by BST Software PVT. LTD.. All rights reserved.


text:
European first project to make hydrogen vehicles more cost-effective
Mark Salisbury Dec 07, 2020
Fuel Cell, General News, Hydrogen vehicles, News, Newsletter, Top News
Hydrogen technology expert, Logan Energy, has delivered the first hydrogen refuelling station in Europe to adopt an industry-leading fuelling method, making vehicles powered by the superfuel cheaper to run by reducing the capital and operational cost of the refuelling infrastructure.
The renewable hydrogen refuelling station will be Europe's first to use the MC Filling method, currently under consideration as the future standard hydrogen fuelling protocol. This analytical method delivers a more 'flexible and complete' fill by calculating the appropriate fuelling speed and ending pressure of a variety of vehicles, depending on the available hydrogen pre-cooling capacity. This results in a more cost-effective method of refuelling all types of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Located at the IZES research facility in Saarbrücken, Germany, the solar-powered project is the first of its kind for Logan Energy in mainland Europe and will deliver 700bar (H70) hydrogen fuel for passenger vehicles. Significantly, vehicles with 700bar hydrogen storage have an equivalent driving range and refuelling time to fossil fuel cars, capable of travelling up to 400 miles on a single, three-minute fill and creating a comparable zero-carbon driving experience for users.
Bill Ireland, CEO, Logan Energy
Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy, said: "Designing and supplying hydrogen refuelling stations that adopt the MC Filling method presents a fantastic opportunity to lay down a blueprint for alternatives to automotive infrastructures driven by fossil fuels. A universally agreed and recognised fuelling method will be essential to hydrogen powered vehicles becoming part of our everyday lives.
"This project with IZES is a real indication of the commercial maturity we're beginning to see in hydrogen technologies and will provide a roadmap for communities across the world to transition to renewable, hydrogen-based energy solutions.
"Our goal at Logan Energy is to lead the global road to decarbonisation and we believe that hydrogen is ideally placed to be a significant and, importantly, commercially viable energy solution for the future."
Powered entirely by solar photovoltaic panels, the refuelling station will also be the first of its kind to use two different electrolyser types housed in the same production unit. In a real-world environment first, both PEM and AEM electrolysers will be simultaneously tested, analysed, and compared to create hydrogen that will power vehicles specifically designed to run on the superfuel.
The pilot project between IZES and Logan Energy is part of GenComm, a €9.4 Million project funded by the Interreg program VB North West Europe (NWE344), that will address the energy sustainability challenges of communities in North West Europe through the implementation of smart, hydrogen-based energy solutions.
Dr Bodo Groß, head of department Technical Innovations at IZES, said: "Our collaboration with Logan Energy will play a vital role in our mission to develop the sustainable energy solutions that support alternative transport infrastructure and will benefit communities across Europe and beyond.
"Previously, we've delivered the successful construction and operation of renewable charging stations for battery powered electric vehicles. This solar-powered hydrogen refuelling station builds upon that work and is a natural, evolutionary step in the field of alternative mobility infrastructure.
"The success of this research project has the potential to play a catalytic role in the adoption of hydrogen vehicles by making the fuelling process a simpler and more flexible experience. Empowering drivers to use hydrogen-based solutions will underpin our effort to decarbonise the transport sector, ultimately helping to meet net-zero objectives both in Germany and abroad."
The Saarbrücken site increases Logan Energy's portfolio of projects throughout Europe, which include refuelling stations in Tenerife, the Netherlands, and several locations across the UK. Chosen for its track record of delivering innovative and technically excellent hydrogen technologies, Logan Energy recently announced that it will be responsible for the entire hydrogen production, distribution, and refuelling process for the Belfast Bus Project in Northern Ireland.
Hydrogen Vehicles, Logan Energy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
McCann Worldgroup Latin America & Caribbean
广告/全方位服务/整合传播
Santiago, 智利
Hello McCann Worldgroup Latin America & Caribbean , I saw your profile on adforum.com and would like to learn more about your capabilities. Please send your credentials to:
驾车线路
电话: (+56) 2 2337 6900
网址: www.mccannworldgroup.com
MWGLatam
网络: McCann Worldgroup (New York, 美国)
Holding: The Interpublic Group of Companies (New York, 美国)
奖项: 14
创意作品: 28
MCCANN WORLDGROUP AND UN WOMEN PUSH MEN TO THE LIMIT TO CONFRONT SEXUAL VIOLENCE
In the framework of the UN Women's campaign to eliminate violence against women that will run in Latin America until December 10, McCann Worldgroup created a spot that put men in the same situations that women live on a daily basis, to raise awareness of the fear that every day they have of being raped.
The aim of this campaign is to call to action and to make society aware to deal with the problem of sexual assault, expecting to promote changes in attitudes and behavior of men.
The advertising agency got involved after last year it signed the "Women Empowerment Principles" in the region. Fernando Fascioli, Regional President of McCann Worldgroup for Latin America and The Caribbean, expressed "We call for more actors to join in this task of UN Women and the great challenge to eradicate negative stereotypes and unconscious bias, but above all to the commitment of a more inclusive and non- violent society, mainly in the field of gender. It´s a big task and depends on actions of all of us at different levels".
Sexual violence is an issue in all over the world. In Brazil, Panamá and Uruguay, 1 in 7 women have suffered physical and sexual violence. In Bolivia, Latin America and The Caribbean, at least 1 in 3 has suffered it at some time in their lives.
María Noel Vaeza, Regional Director of UN Women, highlighted that "though in recent years, survivors and activists have raised their voices to report and condemn this scenario through movements such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, #Niunamenos, #NotOneMore and #BalanceTonPorc, violence against adult women and girls is still common, standardized and rooted in our society".
In addition, she also ensures that violence is omnipresent: "It´s in all countries and regions of the world. It´s in the advertising that objectifies women or hyper-sexualizes girls; in the sexist "jokes" to which women are exposed in the work environment or in educational centers or in songs inciting sexual violence."
The hashtag #NoMasViolenciaSexual is used to point out that one of the causes of violence is due to the lack of empathy of men, revealing that society as a whole, has to put into action, by means of social norms to minimize the damage to women and girls, victims of violence, in many cases violent actions are justified, re-victimizing the affected people, and contributing to the cycle of violence.
More News from McCann Worldgroup Latin America & Caribbean
After 20 years, iconic American Beauty's bag keeps polluting the Earth.
Greenpeace announces the launch of its new campaign to fight against the single-use plastic. Under the hashtag #ChileSinPlásticos and the worldwide... 阅读更多
AGENCY: ,
Weber Shandwick Mexico was recognized in SABRE Awards last week as the Agency of the year.
Its innovate work was recognized with this honorable award where they won important recognition in 9 categories. Last week in Mexico City the SABRE... 阅读更多
"Metastasis of Love" the concept used by FALP Oncology Institute for its relaunching
Cancer has a critical phase: the metastasis. It's related to how the disease is wide spreading all over the body. To change the perception of this... 阅读更多


text:
Q: ffmpeg: Incompatible pixel format 'yuv420p' for codec 'png', auto-selecting format 'rgb24' I have a bunch of .png files
file_000.png
file_005.png
file_010.png

I am using an inherited ffmpeg script to stitch together .png files into an .mp4 file. I don't understand all the flags, but I've used this script successfully in the past
## images_to_movie.sh
set -o noglob

in_files=$1
out_file=$2

ffmpeg \
    -framerate 10 \
    -loglevel warning \
    -pattern_type glob -i $in_files \
    -pix_fmt yuv420p \
    -vf 'crop=trunc(iw/2)*2:trunc(ih/2)*2:0:0' \
    -y \
    $out_file

with the command
./images_to_movie file_*.png files.mp4

I am now receiving the error

Incompatible pixel format 'yuv420p' for codec 'png', auto-selecting
  format 'rgb24'

Some searching reveals that
-pix_fmt yuv420p

is deprecated and I should instead use
-pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range 2

but the error remains. I tried using
-pix_fmt rgb24

and the error disappears but I'm no .mp4 file is created.
How do I need to modify this script to create an .mp4 ?

A: What's Going Wrong
file_*.png isn't being passed to your program at all -- neither is files.mp4.
Instead, when you run ./images_to_movie file_*.png files.mp4, what your shell actually invokes is ./images_to_movie file_000.png file_005.png file_010.png files.mp4.
Thus, file_000.png is treated as the only input file, and file_005.png is treated as the output file to use. The extra arguments (file_010.png and files.mp4) are in positions $3 and $4; are never read; and are thus ignored entirely.

How To Fix It
The original code assumes that ./images_to_movie file_*.png files.mp4 will put file_*.png in $1 and files.mp4 in $2. Unless file_*.png has no matches, that assumption is false.
set -o noglob prevents glob expansion from taking place after your script is started, but nothing in your script's contents can prevent the calling script from expanding globs beforehand. Thus, you want an invocation with quotes, akin to:
./images_to_movie 'file_*.png' files.mp4

...and script contents akin to:
#!/usr/bin/env bash

in_files=$1
out_file=$2

ffmpeg \
    -framerate 10 \
    -loglevel warning \
    -pattern_type glob -i "$in_files" \
    -pix_fmt rgb24 \
    -vf 'crop=trunc(iw/2)*2:trunc(ih/2)*2:0:0' \
    -y \
    "$out_file"

Note that we took out the noglob, and instead quoted all expansions; this not only prevents globbing, but also prevents string-splitting -- so a pattern like File *.png wouldn't be split into one word File and a second word *.png even in the absence of globbing.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The down is very appreciated for its lightness and loft. It is also the choice of tradition and authenticity.
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text:
An Arizona congressman who tested positive for the coronavirus criticized Republican lawmakers for refusing to wear masks in the Capitol
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is seen during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 29, 2020.
Bonnie Cash/Pool via Reuters
An Arizona congressman who tested positive for the coronavirus condemned Republican lawmakers for not wearing face masks in the Capitol.
Democrat Rep. Raúl Grijalva tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday but is currently asymptomatic and "feeling fine," according to a spokesperson.
Grijalva self-isolated out of pre-caution after attending a hearing with Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert, who has frequently not worn a face mask on the floor and tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.
An Arizona congressman who tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday criticized Republican lawmakers not wearing face masks while in the Capitol.
A spokesperson for Arizona Democrat Rep. Raúl Grijalva confirmed on Saturday that the lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19, but is currently asymptomatic and is "feeling fine and just getting some rest," according to CNN.
Grijalva issued his own statement on the same day, in which he condemned Republican lawmakers for being careless and not wearing face coverings while in the Capitol.
"While I cannot blame anyone directly for this, this week has shown that there are some members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously," he wrote, according to the Guardian. "Numerous Republican members routinely strut around the Capitol without a mask to selfishly make a political statement at the expense of their colleagues, staff, and their families."
Grijalva is quarantining at home in Washington, while staffers who were working alongside him all week are also being tested, the spokesperson added.
The lawmaker's diagnosis comes just days after Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert — who repeatedly refused to wear a face mask in the Capitol — tested positive for the virus.
Grijalva had been at a hearing with Gohmert on Tuesday, which prompted him to go into self-isolation on Wednesday out of precaution and "until he got a test," his spokesperson said, according to CNN.
Gohmert later said in an interview that he thinks he could have contracted the virus by incorrectly wearing his mask.
"I can't help but wonder if by keeping a mask on and keeping it in place, that if I might have put some germs or some of the virus on to the mask and breathed it in," Gohmert said, the Guardian reported.
Earlier in June, Rep. Tom Rice, a South Carolina Republican, announced that he, his wife, and his son had also been infected with COVID-19 after he appeared on the House floor without a face covering.
At least 14 members of the US House of Representatives and Senate have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to Reuters.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced last week that all House members and aides are required to wear face coverings while on the chamber floor and are only allowed to take them off if they are speaking — a mandate which Grijalva also praised in his statement.
"Stopping the spread of a deadly virus should not be a partisan issue," Grijalva said.
At the time of writing, more than 4.6 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the US, according to a tracker by Johns Hopkins University.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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In the tweet, Trump criticized both Ross and CNN for misreporting news stories related to the ongoing Russia investigation.
On December 1, Ross incorrectly reported that Trump, while a presidential candidate in 2016, had directed campaign adviser Michael Flynn to reach out to the Russian government. ABC News later acknowledged that the story as reported was inaccurate, because Trump had already won the election — making him president-elect, not just a presidential candidate — at the time when he directed Flynn to contact the Russians.
After correcting the story, ABC News suspended Ross for four weeks and announced that he would no longer report on stories related to Trump.
On December 8, CNN reported that Donald Trump, Jr. had received an email that included a link to documents that were publicly released by Wikileaks on September 14, 2016. CNN initially reported that the email had been sent on September 4, 2016 — suggesting that the Trump campaign had received access to the documents nine days before the documents were made public. The story was inaccurate, and CNN later corrected it to say that the email was actually sent to Trump, Jr. on September 14, 2016 — that is, after the documents were already released to the public.
In a statement, CNN said that its reporters had followed editorial guidelines and would not be disciplined.


Hours before the Apple Watch is set to officially launch, Apple has debuted three new ads called "Rise", "Up" and "Us". The three ads focus on the three aspects of the device CEO Tim Cook highlighted when the Apple Watch was first introduced: a device that helps you with time, a comprehensive health and fitness device and an intimate communication device.
The first ad, "Rise", shows people using the Apple Watch to help them spend their time. People are seen using the Apple Watch as an alarm clock, seeing incoming messages, using it on their commute, using it as a ticket at an airport, getting around with the Maps app and more.
The second ad, "Up", features users using the Apple Watch's health and fitness features. People can be seen setting up their fitness goals on the Watch in addition to using it while both exercising and doing various activities, both intensive and casual. It also features moments where users are alerted to stand while working or commuting.
The final ad, "Us", has people using the Watch's communication features, including the ability to draw pictures, send animated emojis, and send heart beats and taps to the wrists of other Apple Watch users. Interestingly, the ad also features people spending time with each other and paying attention to the world around them, illustrating how the Watch could free some users from their phones.
All three ads end similarly, declaring that "the Watch is here". Thus far, Apple's marketing campaign for the Apple Watch has focused on getting the device on the wrists of athletes, models and other celebrities for maximum exposure. Moving forward, it appears Apple will begin making a case for how the Apple Watch will be used by most people.
... is she about to do a walk of shame?
Until i remember that my watch is shipping in June and then i lose my ****!
The "Us" ad is quite excellent. Lots of emotion, good, bad, and connecting with people. Great job Apple!
The "US" ad is horrible, its like "sending the message" of reasons not to actual talk to one another.
Love it that Apple's ads focus on the product and not the competition.
great ads... Just watching these ads.. I can predict.. In the future.. We can't live without a smartwatch.. Just like smartphones today..
The watch is here! The watch is here! Um...it's a friggin watch people. Lol. Seriously. I'm an Apple fan, but even I think these ads have an overblown sense of self importance.
Noticed the ads all had average weather, and definitely noticed no rain or water. Weather is unpredictable. Im still shocked a watch this price is not waterproof.
Also, its a feel good commercial, not a documentary on disaster relief in a typhoon.
These ads are way too civilized for me, I want Apple to make fun of Samsung Gear and Motorola Moto 360... just kidding, these ads are great.
It's called marketing. How else to you expect people to find out about it? Not everyone lurks around on mac forums like we do.


text:
Public Pension Cost Cover-Up? The Union Effort to Kill Transparency
By LaborUnionReport | Dec 19, 2010 2:30 PM ET
If you're going to be required to pay for something, common sense would say that you should have the right to know how much it costs, right? After all, no one likes surprises—especially if those surprises cost trillions and you, your children and your children's children are likely going to have to pay for it for decades to come.
Yet, there are those who seem to think that the American taxpayers will forever just keep shoveling our money into the furnace of bailing out banks, car companies, and union pensions funds. Moreover, these same putrid people (be they bureaucrats, bankers, or union bosses) seem to think that, if they hide the truth from the the American taxpayer, we will just blindly and willingly keep bailing out failure. Have they learned nothing over these past two years?
The Ticking Time Bomb
On Saturday, three examples were given of the public pension Ponzi scheme that is beginning to unravel. In one case (Central Fall, RI), the costs have put a city into financial ruin. In Chicago, Mayor Daley is openly talking about reorganizing the city's pension through bankruptcy. Then , of course, there's California and newly retread governor Jerry Brown and the 30-year old legacy of union domination in the tarnished Golden State.
However, just so you know that Saturday's three examples are not mere isolated incidents, you might want to know the following:
In 2011 70% of Decator, Illinois' property taxes will go to fund union pensions (h/t anacreon)
Illinois, as a state, has $54.4 billion in unfunded liabilities
New Jerseyans owe their public pension plans up to $173.9 billion and it was discovered the Democrat-run state allegedly defrauded investors without disclosing the debt as bonds were sold from 2001 through 2007
New York State may have $120 billion in unfunded pension debt
New York City, on the other hand, may have had up to $76 billion in unfunded liability before 2008's market slump
The City of Philadelphia's public pension plan is nearly $5 billion underfunded
Oklahoma has $12 billion in unfunded pension liabilities
Colorado has $16.8 billion in unfunded pension liabilities
Yet, despite the evidence all around, there are special interest groups that would like you to believe there are no problems. ['Move along citizen, there's nothing to see here'.] To them, bankruptcy is a four letter word that shouldn't be discussed around children and, why heck, the American taxpayers are children, after all. What they don't know won't hurt them! Let's just keep 'em in the dark. That way, when everything goes bust, we'll be long gone and they'll be stuck with the bill!
'Figures Don't Lie, But Liars Figure'
Right now, there is a fight going on over whether or not America will continue kicking the can of underfunded public pension plans down the road a few more years, or whether we deal with it now. In order to begin to deal with it, though, making sure that pension funds are being true with their actual numbers (as they relate to underfunding) is crucial.
This fight stems from the all-too-often boring topic of accounting and the rules that public-sector pensions report their liabilities which, according to some, are much more lenient that private-sector accounting standards.
By their own accounting, state and local government pension plans are in bad shape. In total they face an estimated shortfall of $628 billion. But that reckoning is off by five-fold. If the rosy accounting rules used by pension funds are stripped away, the real funding gap is closer to $3 trillion–a debt in excess of all outstanding state and local government bonds.
But bad pension accounting has done more than hide a huge debt. It has driven bad policy decisions that have increased the cost of public-employee pensions–and it has encouraged pension-fund managers to take unreasonable amounts of risk in the stock market. Unless the accounting is right, many proposed pension reforms will fall short, and the fundamental problems of high cost and high risk will remain.
By hiding the actual debt that the pensions owe, America's taxpayers may be on the hook for much, much more than is being reported by those responsible who handle the pension funds. This is why several prominent Republicans are trying to pass a law that introduces tighter accounting standards and transparency.
On December 2nd, U.S. House Representatives Devin Nunes (R-CA), Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act. The bill is aimed at providing more transparent accounting standards, as well as ensuring that, if a pension fund causes a municipality, city or state to go belly up, federal tax dollars won't be used as a trough from which public-sector pension plans can steal more money from the American taxpayers if they fail.
From Congressman Nunes' announcement of the bill:
The bill, which provides enhanced transparency for state and local pensions, also establishes a clear federal prohibition on any future public pension bailouts by the federal government.
"As we speak, lucrative pension promises are being made to public employees that taxpayers simply cannot afford. The plans themselves admit to more than a $1 trillion in unfunded liabilities," said Rep. Devin Nunes. "Unfortunately, the true level of unfunded liabilities associated with these plans – perhaps more than $3 trillion – is being hidden thanks to unrealistic accounting standards."
Congressman Paul Ryan, incoming Budget Committee Chairman, offered the following statement regarding the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act:
"We need to ensure that state and local governments are accurate and honest in detailing their financial liabilities, including the cost of pension plans for public employees. The Public Employee Pension Transparency Act will make government more accountable to taxpayers by shining a light on the financial soundness and unfunded obligations associated with these plans and I'm honored to join Representatives Nunes and Issa in sponsoring this common sense legislation."
Congressman Darrell Issa, Incoming Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee said:
"The American people have a right to know the truth about the unfunded liabilities being run-up by state and local pensions. Quite frankly, if they have nothing to hide, there's no reason why the states and local governments who control public employee pensions should not embrace this effort to ensure that the taxpayers have a more transparent accounting of the true nature of pension liabilities."
You can read the text of the bill here.
While the bill would tighten up accounting standards and ensure that federal tax dollars not be used to bailout incompetently under-funded plans, there are (surprisingly–or not) some special interests who are opposed to that idea.
The Usual Suspects Oppose Transparency & Accountability
Clearly, there are some entrenched interests opposed to exposing the true costs of underfunded pension plans. Most notably would be unions like the SEIU (which, ironically, attack Wall Street for its lack of accountability).
Representatives of state and local governments and unions counter that the bill, the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act, amounts to an all-out assault by the federal government on state and local government autonomy.
"It's a terrible proposal, and we're obviously going to oppose it," said Mark McCullough, a spokesman for the Service Employees International Union, Washington.
And, of course, AFSCME is also opposed to the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act.
Then on Friday, the Director of Federal Relations of National Association of State Retirement Administrators (an association that oversees public pension systems) sent an e-mail to recipients of the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems ("The Voice for Public Pensions"). The e-mail, from Jeannine Markoe-Raymond, urged NCPERS members to oppose the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act.
Resent-From: [email protected]
From: Resent-From: [email protected]
From: Jeannine Markoe-Raymond <[email protected]>
Date: December 17, 2010 1:11:37 PM EST
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Urging Opposition to HR 6484
FYI – NASRA and NCTR have urged our members to write members of their Congressional delegation relaying their opposition to HR 6484, the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act, to meet with their delegation while they are at home during adjournment, and also to educate key public officials in their state regarding the inaccuracies and harmful impacts of the bill. As many of you know, the introduction of H.R. 6484 on December 2 marked the beginning of a series of coordinated articles, reports and continuous media coverage falsely asserting state and local governments are a financial wreck and are not accurately accounting for the fiscal condition of their pension plans. Repeated over and over again is the reckless claim that public pension funds will soon be exhausted and bailouts and bankruptcies are on the horizon if the Federal government doesn't act. Press statements and supporting literature for HR 6484 are premised almost entirely on research by Joshua Rauh, whose work has been criticized for using unrealistic assumptions to exaggerate the financial condition of public plans, and recommending changes that would only serve to exacerbate their financial condition. The sample letter we circulated is below – feel free to edit for your own use as you see fit.
Now, why would an association of administrators charged with administering pension funds paid for with taxpayers' money not want greater accountability?
Perhaps knowing who some of the NCPERS' board of directors are could help explain:
NCPERS' President is Pat McEllicott, former president of the Tacoma Professional Fire Fighters Union, IAFF Local 31
Mel Aaronson, First Vice President of NCPERS, is the treasurer of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), Local 2, American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Daniel Fortuna, Second Vice President of NCPERS, is a 30-year member of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, IAFF Local 2
Tina Fazendine, NCPERS Secretary, was the Insurance and Retirement Services manager for the City of Tulsa, Human Resources Department.
Richard Wachsman, NCPERS Treasurer, was with the Dallas fire department for 41 years and held offices on the board of the IAFF Local 58.
Elmer J. Khal, Past President of NCPERS, is a past president of IAFF Local 93.
So, five out of six of NCPERS board are former union honchos—and, as The Voice for Public Pensions, they're being asked to urge members of Congress to reject greater transparency for public pension.
Obviously, unions and the pension administrators know that their pensions are in trouble. However, attempting to mask the problem by refusing to use the same higher standards that are in the private sector is both hypocritical and unconscionable—especially as the unions expect the taxpayers to pick up the tab.
After all, if it's our money, don't we have the right to know?
"I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes." Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776
X-posted.


text:
Chatham es un pueblo ubicado en el condado de Barnstable en el estado estadounidense de Massachusetts. En el Censo de 2010 tenía una población de 6.125 habitantes y una densidad poblacional de 96,95 personas por km².

Geografía
Chatham se encuentra ubicado en las coordenadas . Según la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos, Chatham tiene una superficie total de 63.18 km², de la cual 41.78 km² corresponden a tierra firme y (33.87%) 21.4 km² es agua.

Demografía
Según el censo de 2010, había 6.125 personas residiendo en Chatham. La densidad de población era de 96,95 hab./km². De los 6.125 habitantes, Chatham estaba compuesto por el 96.08% blancos, el 1.4% eran afroamericanos, el 0.26% eran amerindios, el 0.59% eran asiáticos, el 0% eran isleños del Pacífico, el 0.62% eran de otras razas y el 1.04% pertenecían a dos o más razas. Del total de la población el 1.76% eran hispanos o latinos de cualquier raza.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Pueblos de Massachusetts
Localidades del condado de Barnstable
Localidades portuarias del Atlántico de Estados Unidos
Localidades establecidas en 1712

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Clinical 13 Cognitive 8 Abnormal 6 Child/Adolescent 6 Behavioral 5 Behavioral Neuroscience 4
Development 4 Experimental 4 Education 3 Government 3 Other 3 Cognitive Neuroscience 3 Lifespan 3 Neuroscience 3 Personality 3 Social 3 Aging 2
Pennsylvania 4 Texas 2 California 1 Illinois 1 Nevada 1 South Carolina 1
Psychopathology Postdoctoral Community Quantitative Research Counseling
Program Officer, Human Sciences
Organization and Position The John Templeton Foundation serves as a philanthropic catalyst for discoveries relating to the deepest and most perplexing questions facing humankind. We support research within disciplines ranging from astrophysics, evolutionary biology, and genetics, to philosophy, psychology, and economics. We encourage civil, informed dialogue among scientists, philosophers, and theologians, as well as between such experts and the public at large. In all cases, our goal is to spur curiosity and accelerate discovery. To catalyze such discoveries, we provide grants for independent academic research on a wide range of topics that relate to the Foundation's mission. The Human Sciences department maintains a grants portfolio of more than $70 million of projects around the world. The department supports basic and applied scientific research on a wide array of topics within the social, behavioral, cognitive, and health sciences, especially as they relate to human nature, human flourishing, and the scientific study of religion. Current strategic priorities include health, religion, and spirituality , religious cognition , the science of character virtue , the dynamics of religious change , and intellectual humility . The Human Sciences department is particularly interested in building capacity and enthusiasm for neglected topics within the academy. To advance the Foundation's mission and strengthen our team, the Foundation is seeking a Program Officer for Human Sciences. The Program Officer will work with the Senior Program Associate and the Director of Human Sciences to develop and commission new initiatives to advance the strategic priorities, recruit and review grant proposals, communicate with applicants and grantees regarding the application and review process, and collaborate with our evaluation team to determine the impact of our grants. Areas of Responsibility Review and analyze grant proposals, prepare funding recommendations, monitor grant performance, and manage the Foundation's relationship with principle investigators. Develop and commission new ideas for grants and projects, including in collaboration with the Director, Human Sciences, and Vice President, Programs. Evaluate the performance of grants and grantees in conjunction with the Foundation's department of Planning and Evaluation. Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic priority plans. Communicate the mission of the Foundation both internally and externally, especially to researchers, academic institutions, and in related networking opportunities. Identify and communicate with other funding agencies whose goals overlap with the Foundation's interests in the human sciences. Organize and participate in conferences, workshops, and symposia relevant to the goals of the Human Sciences department. Participate in professional development opportunities. Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities Graduate degree in the social, cognitive, behavioral or health sciences (Ph.D. preferred). At least three years of professional experience in a foundation or academic setting. A track record of excellence in writing and editing program-related content, proposals, papers, and presentations. Highly organized with strong analytical skills. Skilled communicator able to work collaboratively with scholars and members of the academic community as well as across internal departments in an interdisciplinary environment. Strong personal interest in the Foundation's mission. Preferred Skills and Abilities A track record of scholarship in scientific study of religion and/or clinical research. Demonstrated interest in at least one of the department's current strategic priorities. Experience in interdisciplinary academic research. Ability to communicate with scholars and members of the academic community. Ability to build relationships and to maintain professional networks. Ability to understand the Foundation's mission and core themes. Benefits We are committed to caring for our employees and their families through exceptional benefits. We pay for 100% of employee medical, dental and vision premiums, and generously contribute to family premiums. We provide life insurance, short-term disability coverage and long-term disability coverage at no cost to employees. We offer a 401(k) retirement savings plan with an employer match and additional discretionary contributions. Paid time off includes generous vacation, sick, and personal days. The Foundation offers a unique donation program, enabling employees the ability to direct a $5,000 donation to a mission aligned organization of their choice, with no employee donation required. Location The Foundation's offices are in West Conshohocken, PA, a short drive (~15 miles) from Philadelphia and within walking distance of a commuter train station into downtown Philadelphia. The offices are close to residential and commercial districts with multiple restaurants, as well as Philadelphia's Main Line suburbs where Villanova University, Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College are located. The surrounding area has many walkable communities with an affordable cost of living and a robust variety of cultural and entertainment opportunities, including a vibrant food scene, five professional sports teams, world-class museums, galleries, gardens, and a broad array of music venues and other performing arts institutions. The offices are in close proximity to major highways, with New York City, the Jersey shore, the Pocono Mountains, and the heart of Pennsylvania's Amish country all within a two-hour drive. The offices also provide easy access to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (making New York City or Washington, D.C. an easy day trip) and to Philadelphia International Airport, an American Airlines hub serving destinations throughout the U.S. (more than a hundred routes), Caribbean (a dozen routes), and Europe/MENA (more than twenty routes).
John Templeton Foundation West Conshohocken, PA, USA Full time
Assistant Professor of Psychology (20-20)
Francis Marion University and the Department of Psychology invite applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor of Clinical/Counseling Psychology. The Department of Psychology is interested in continuing the excellence of its Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program, which is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) and trains Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) to work in a variety of settings. Thus, the faculty member will teach a combination of undergraduate courses and graduate courses based on the faculty member's specific area of specialization. While the area of research is open, the faculty member will be expected to establish and maintain a program of meaningful disciplinary research that is engaging to and inclusive of both undergraduate and graduate students. The clinical psychology faculty member should expect to play an active role in training, supervising, and supporting graduate students. Minimum requirements include a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology (licensed or license-eligible preferred) from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The Department of Psychology (comprised of 10 full-time faculty) has approximately 300 undergraduate majors; in addition to approximately 75 graduate students within three accredited/approved programs: Clinical/Counseling, School Psychology, and Applied Behavior Analysis. We offer an energetic, congenial faculty and a collaborative work environment. Generous internal funding, opportunities for research and professional development, competitive summer research stipends, and well-established community partnerships make FMU a great place to work. Also offered are excellent clinical and research facilities at the Center for the Child and the Health Sciences Complex. Francis Marion University (FMU) is a state-supported regional university with a strong emphasis on the liberal arts. Located in sunny Florence, SC, a growing city with a vibrant arts culture, FMU is within easy driving distance of the state capital, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston. FMU is consistently rated in the best colleges to work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education with an emphasis on a strong faculty governance. Position to begin: August 16, 2020 Materials Needed: 1) Letter of Interest (Referencing Position Number 20-20 ), outlining teaching and research interests; 2) Curriculum vitae , to include a listing of courses taken in graduate program; 3) Copies of all college transcripts (official transcripts will be required only of the successful candidate). 4) Statement of teaching philosophy; 5) Three letters of reference; and 6) FMU Faculty Application. To obtain an FMU faculty application please click here. Send or e-mail completed Application Packet to: Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning, Francis Marion University, PO Box 100547, Florence, SC 29502-0547. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission and encourages applications by women and minorities An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution
Francis Marion University Florence, SC, USA Full time
Pediatric Consultation Center and Associates is seeking a Post Doctoral Fellow (PsyD or PhD) for our growing outpatient private practice in Deerfield. A full-time, W-2 position, with benefits is currently available. PCCA is anestablished private practice offering individual neuropsychological evaluations, therapy for children and adolescents, parent consultation and family therapy. The position includes providing child and adolescent psychological and neuropsychological evaluations, as well as the opportunity to carry a small caseload of therapy clients. An approximate split of 80% testing and 20% therapy is offered, but can be tailored to an applicants' interest. PCCA also works within the Lake and Cook county courts to complete custody and court ordered evaluations. An interest in family law is a plus, although not required for this position. We also encourage clinicians to bring their own ideas and energy to our clinic! Post-doctoral candidates would be considered for a 12-month position that has the potential to extend the position at the practice. Starting date is negotiable. The postdoctoral fellow will receive weekly individual supervision by a licensed clinical psychologist. We are seeking a motivated, self- starter who have an interest in working in a group private practice long-term. We offer asteady referral stream with competitive compensation; attentiveness to areas of expertise & professional development is offered, via individual consultation & mentorship as well as regular team meetings & ongoing training opportunities. PCCA is a dynamic, collaborative team environment. Flexibility in scheduling, and beautiful offices. Applicants must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree in clinical psychology from an accredited university and an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship. A successful candidate must demonstrate a strong interest in children and adolescents and have testing and therapy experience with a range of children. He or she must also demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Please include a letter of interest, CV and names and contact information for 2 professional references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Starting date is flexible. For additional information, please visit our website: www.pccassociates.care Send Applications To: Sharon Johnson, PhD sharonzjohnson@pccassociates.care
Pediatric Consultation Center and Assoc. Deerfield, IL, USA Full time


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Can Miss America Get in Touch With Reality?
Sun | Features
By Roxanne Roberts and Vanessa de la Torre, The Washington Post — Jul 1st, 2005
Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs waves after winning the title in Atlantic City, N.J.,
Pop quiz: Name the current Miss America.
Surely you know Carrie Underwood is the newest "American Idol" and Katie Holmes the next Mrs. Tom Cruise. Betcha you'd recognize Paris Hilton and her little dog, too. But ever hear of Deidre Downs?
Downs was crowned Miss America 2005 last September in a two-hour pageant that received such low TV ratings ABC dropped it — and no other broadcast network picked it up. No show, no sponsors, no scholarship money.
That's why the 84-year-old pageant is desperately trying to reinvent itself once again with a new look, a new date and a new deal on Country Music Television. The show will be more reality than rhinestone, and move from September to January. Is this a glamorous extreme makeover or the death knell of the scholarship-beauty-talent competition?
"I think that the Miss America pageant has run its course," says Lisa Ades, director of "Miss America," a PBS "American Experience" documentary. "I wish I could say that the audience has waned because there are so many opportunities for women and we don't need beauty pageants as a way to get ahead. But the truth is that interest has waned because it's simply not sexy enough."
Or maybe not "reality" enough. Tammy Haddad, a veteran network and cable producer who sits on the Miss America Organization board, says the deal with CMT is the perfect move because it will turn a one-night program into a heavily promoted, multi-night competition event with a traditional values audience. "I think it's an A-plus deal business-wise, and the pageant will be the hit it used to be. In some towns, it is the Super Bowl," Haddad says.
But what if the problem isn't sex or ratings, but identity?
To boost sagging ratings, the pageant has tried lots of tricks: cute videos, audience call-ins, bare feet in the swimsuit segment! But after eight years broadcasting the pageant, ABC drew only 9.8 million viewers to last September's show — the smallest turnout ever. The typical viewer was a 50-plus female (who probably watched as a little girl). Apparently, America isn't interested in a parade of all-American girls who are sort of pretty, sort of talented, sort of smart.
The rap on Miss America is that it's always been full of "Pageant Patties": Always smiling, always sweet, never smokes, never swears. In short, phonies.
"We are a beauty pageant, and we're not afraid to say we're about beautiful women," says Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, which presents the Miss USA pageant. "The women who participate in our pageants are more natural. It's easier for the viewing audience to relate to them. ... They're absolutely gorgeous, but somebody you feel you could talk to."
The problem isn't the pageant or the contestants, says Art McMasters, acting president and CEO of the Miss America Organization. It's television.
"Personally, I can't wait for the day when the pageant's all over — not banned, but disappeared," says Olga Vives, vice president of the National Organization for Women. "These shows don't really do anything for society."
But those who love it aren't prepared to give it up entirely.
Celebrity Watch
Don Cheadle Cheadle Speaks With Genocide Survivors Associated Press LOS ANGELES Don Cheadle has finally visited "Hotel Rwanda." The 40-year-old actor toured the Hotel des Milles Collines in Rwanda's capital Kigali last month, speaking with several of the more than 1,000 people who were ... [Read More...]
Seattle University Law Student the New Miss Washington
Tina Marie Mares, Miss Sno-Isle, waves to the audience after being named Miss Washington. lui kit wong, the news tribune | associated press TACOMA A Seattle University law student was selected the new Miss Washington at a weekend pageant at Tacoma's Champions Centre. Tina ... [Read More...]
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Knowles to open Super Bowl XXXVIII NEW YORK -- Beyoncé Knowles will sing the national anthem before the Super Bowl in her native Houston, the NFL announced Tuesday. Super Bowl XXXVIII is scheduled for Feb. 1 at Reliant Stadium and ... [Read More...]
Junior Miss Fails to Save Her World
MOBILE, Ala. Underneath grand crystal chandeliers, gold-framed portraits line the empty hallway of America's Junior Miss antebellum headquarters. Frozen in time, the fresh-faced young American women smile dreamily. Strewn below them in the hall are boxes containing a clutter of discarded pageant programs ... [Read More...]
Ethnic Pageants Restyle the American Beauty Contest
"I'm going to be an ambassador for Vietnamese women," says Virginia Nguyen, 23, of Newark, Calif., who was named Miss Vietnam USA. Katherine Frey | ASSOCIATED PRESS Robertha Budy heard the insult when she was a little girl, and now, even at Georgia State University ... [Read More...]


text:
Brassica elongata, the elongated mustard or long-stalked rape, is a species of the mustard plant that is native to parts of Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus, Morocco and parts of Central Asia. Through plant invasion this species has become naturalized in many other parts of the world. Some of these naturalized regions include South Africa, North Western Europe, Australia and North America. Given the wide range of climate and ecological conditions of these regions, B. elongata has been able to disrupt the ecosystems of their native plant habitats and has been label as an invasive species in many of its naturalized zones. In North America, this species is often found as a roadside weed in the southwestern states, particularly in the state of Nevada. Studies allude that the Cruciferae might have migrated through the Bering land bridge from what is now Central Asia. Commonly known as the long-stalked rape or as  in German, this species is a close cousin to Brassica napus (rapeseed) and a secondary genetic relative to B. oleracea (kale). As a close genetic species of the rapeseed, the long-stalked rape has one of the highest counts of accumulated polyunsaturated linoleic and linolenic acid. Both compounds are heavily used to manufacture vegetable oils. Brassica elongata has the propagative potential of turning into a horticultural product from what is currently a noxious weed.

Distribution
Brassica elongata is a native species that spreads from Eastern European countries starting from Austria to the Asian-Temperate that extends to Afghanistan and Iran. There are also areas in Northern Africa near Morocco with similar arid climates that have B. elongata as a native species. As an invasive species, B. elongata has spread north up to Norway, southwest into parts of France and Italy, and has even been introduced in large areas of Southern Africa, Southern Australia, and Southwest America. B. elongata was first collected in the United States at Linnton, Oregon by Wilhelm Suksdorf in 1911. The collection occurred near a surrounding ballast where ships were often unloaded but its specific subspecies of B. elongata was unknown. The next recording had occurred in Bingen, Washington in 1915. Thereafter in 1968, with no apparent evidence of the species spreading, Brassica elongata subsp. integrifolia was discovered by John Thomas Howell, an American botanist, while driving on the roadsides of US Highway 50 in the east-central regions of Nevada. Since then B. elongata has become an identifiable common sight of the regional flora of the desert regions of Eureka and White Pine counties.

Habitat and ecology
Brassica elongata is a perennial plant. Its habitat is often located in semi-arid to arid climates in regions located in Europe, central Asia, North America, Africa, and Australia. The plant undergoes its flowering during June through July in the Northern Hemisphere. It can grow on disturbed ground and on roads with open juniper and sagebrush desert areas. B. elongata can develop an abundant amount of seeds that germinate over a range of alternating temperatures. However, germination rates drop considerably at very cold seedbed temperatures.

Description
There are five subspecies of B. elongata: elongata, imdrhasiana, integrifolia, pinnatifida and subscaposa. The stems extend out from the base and are branched basally. The basal leaves are obovate to elliptic () and its margins are sub-entire to dentate. The cauline leaves have oblong or lanceolate leaves that are up to  in length. The inflorescence is raceme.

Flowers and fruit
Petals on B. elongata are bright yellow to orange yellow with its apex rounded and mostly obovate. It reaches about  and its sepals to about

in length. The filaments are  in length with  anthers. The fruits have a valvular section with 5–11 seeds per locule. The fruits are spreading and ascending from the base and its seeds may differ in shades of grey to brown. The seeds are  in diameter and its seed coat is dehiscent and becomes mucilaginous when wet.

Potential commercial value
Research has shown when measuring fatty acid content of some of the commonly known Brassicacae, such as Brassica napus, B. nigra and B. rapa, B. elongata has shown to have one of the higher counts of fatty acids in concentration of mass per leaf. These fatty acids, α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) and linoleic acid (C18:2n-6), are nutritional omega-3 oils and compounds that the human body is unable to synthesize. Research has shown that increased deficiencies in these polyunsaturated fatty acids lead to a higher rate of diseases for human populations in industrialized countries. While the USDA has labeled B. elongata as a noxious weed, cultivating this plant in its natural harsh and arid climate in order to harvest its organic compounds has a promising upside in a low risk scenario.

References

elongata
Flora of Europe
Plants described in 1792
Taxa named by Jakob Friedrich Ehrhart


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Q: btrfs recover: reliable or last-straw? The chunk tree of a btrfs filesystem corrupted and I could not recreate it after hour-long reconstruction. As a last resort (besides restoring from backup) I could use btrfs restore -S -x -m -v to get all the files back.
Does anyone know whether the restore is a best-effort way of accessing the data and corruption might be expected or is it reliable and all files that were saved can be assumed healthy - at least when no warnings or errors were reported? I could restore from backup but this would be very time consuming.
Are you storing file checksums and file permissions on disk as a safety measure for your archive storage in case you need recovery?

A: As read from the man page:
The btrfs restore utility is a non-destructive method for **attempting** to recover data from an unmountable filesystem
So I would definitely put it in the "last-straw" category. As such, I do not expect for it to made any guarantee on the consistency/integrity of recovered files (even if it seems to work quite well for people using it).


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It's a chance, an opportunity, to find and create the life you've always wanted.
A good coach is your own personal cheerleader, strategist, champion and guide. Someone who wants you to succeed; someone who holds your needs as a priority; someone who will motivate you when you're feeling low; someone who knows how to take your goal as a destination and assists you in finding your way to reach it. Coaching is a dynamic partnership that can achieve incredible and surprising results.
Coaching can help you find your centre when you're feeling lost. It will help you to reconnect with your true, natural self. Coaching can help you achieve an inner sense of calm, peace and contentment that few are lucky enough to achieve on their own. It's like getting back to the calmness of nature: a beautiful landscape, a peaceful meadow, a vibrant babbling brook, but in coaching this all happens within yourself.
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To find out what actually happens in a coaching session, see 'How does coaching work?'.
Already interested in signing up? Fill out the contact form, get in touch and start making your dreams a reality!


text:
HONG KONG SAN FRANCISCO CHINA
Now More Than Ever, Luxury Properties Need Price Corrections to Sell
Also, a roundup of other news from around the world this week
By ANNE MACHALINSKI
| Originally Published On June 24, 2016 | Mansion Global
This newly constructed 2,540-square-foot condo at 150 Charles Street in Manhattan's West Village is asking for $8.9 million.
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE
Price Correction. It's a term luxury property seekers and sellers are hearing bandied about rather often — and it's a concept that's likely here to stay.
Catherine Marcus, a broker at Sotheby's International Realty in Beverly Hills, said that she's regularly seeing properties with "nothing unique about them" hit the market for $50 to $100 million and above in Los Angeles.
"It's just fantasy land," she said, with sellers often settling for about half the listing price in the end.
"It's an ego thing," Ms. Marcus said. "Everyone is thinking about breaking records."
Donna Olshan, president and owner of Manhattan's Olshan Realty Inc., is also seeing this phenomenon play out in New York. Whether this "fantasy pricing" is driven by agents looking to increase their profiles, sellers who think their property is more unique and valuable than it really is, or some combination of the two, the market always speaks, Olshan said.
"The properties don't sell, they sit on the market, and ultimately, they become tainted with a label that they're old, stale inventory," she said.
Her firm's weekly luxury real estate report showed a 2016 high of 35 Manhattan homes were sold last week, but only after many sellers agreed to hefty price cuts (more than 11% on average).
"Pricing is a real challenge when the market is choppy," Ms. Olshan said, and right now, comparable sales aren't a relevant benchmark when deciding on price. "The only thing that's relevant is who's in the pool at the same time in the lanes next to you," she said.
For sellers, that means getting used to — and acting on — the idea that there's just more global inventory and less overall demand compared to a few years ago, said Jay Parker, the CEO of Douglas Elliman's Florida brokerage. Sellers can't expect that a property they spent $10 million on three years is automatically worth $17 million today, he said.
A final dynamic driving overpricing in the luxury market is data pollution, Ms. Olshan said. Because second quarter reports will include sales for new construction that's just closing now but went into contract in 2013 -- when prices in downtown Manhattan were particularly high -- they'll be numerically accurate, but won't reflect what's really happening right now.
All of these factors combined lead to a final takeaway: If a property is going to move, Ms. Olshan said, "people need to get reasonable and get their price in line."
Here's a look at other news from around the world compiled by Bradley Keoun:
Private Wealth in Asia-Pacific Surpasses North America for First Time
Millionaires' assets in the Asia-Pacific region rose 10% last year to $17.4 trillion, nudging past North America's $16.6 trillion, Bloomberg News reported, citing Cap Gemini. China's millionaire population increased by 16%, the fastest increase, although the U.S., Japan and Germany still have more total millionaires. By 2025, China's millionaires are projected to have $42.1 trillion of wealth, compared with $25.7 trillion in North America. (Bloomberg)
Hong Kong Overtakes Angola's Capital as Most Expensive City for Expats
Strength of the Hong Kong dollar has helped push the island to the top ranking on consultant Mercer's list of the most expensive destinations for expats, AFP reported. Hong Kong eclipsed the Angolan capital of Luanda, which had held the top spot for three years. Zurich, Singapore and Tokyo rounded out the top five in the annual survey, which examined the cost of more than 200 items such as housing, food, transport and entertainment, in about 200 cities. (The Business Times/AFP)
Home Prices in Washington State Rising Fastest in U.S.
Washington's home prices surged 10.6% in the year through April, the fastest in the nation, The Seattle Times reported, citing data from CoreLogic. The pace, almost double the national average, was attributed to an improving local economy, a low stock of available housing and Washington's attractiveness to millennial, with its mix of urban and scenic outdoor activities. (Seattle Times)
San Francisco's Housing Market Starts to Cool After Four Years
San Francisco's median home price rose 2% in the 12 months through May to $1.38 million, after surging 23% in 2015, Bloomberg News reported. While demand remains strong in the area, job growth and venture-capital investment are both slowing, and the stock market is sluggish. The city has fallen off of brokerage Redfin's list of the 20 hottest U.S. housing markets, with Denver, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, now taking the lead. (Bloomberg)
Super-Rich Eager for Luxury Real Estate Investments, Citigroup Says
Clients of Citigroup's private bank with at least $100 million are snapping up luxury properties as safe-haven investments, Reuters reported. Many Chinese investors see North America as the most desirable place to invest, according to Ida Liu, Citi Private Bank's New York market head. (Reuters)
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Why is the bang covering the right eye so prevalent among anime hairstyles?
Some examples: Wiz from Konosuba, Touka from Tokyo Ghoul, Sanji from One Piece
Note that while many have a plot reason, I'm referring to those who don't.
anime-history
Bryan TanBryan Tan
Perhaps the Peek-a-bang trope might be what your asking about? – Wondercricket Oct 29 '18 at 12:38
It's mostly done because it looks cool. It's a very simple design choice that introduces asymmetry to a character's face, makes them a little more interesting to look at.
In general, hiding part of the face makes a character seem more mysterious or withdrawn, so it's useful to contribute to characterization for those characters that are shy or aloof, it reinforces that characterization.
There's no special significance to the right eye, in fact it's not uncommon for the side of the face that's covered to switch back and forth, either due to mistakes made by the artist/animator or due to the angle the character is seen at, or due to an actual change in the character's design (Sanji, for example, switches which side of his face is covered by hair after the time skip in One Piece).
DmannDmann
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SPRINGFIELD—During the final meeting for two city councilors defeated for reelection November, the City Council closed out the year with new ordinances and approval of grants for parks in the city. Several weighty issues will be delayed until next year when the new council is sworn, but the body did take its first action, if also the least controversial one, toward approving MGM's site plan.
At a special meeting held two hours before its regular seven o'clock meeting, councilors approved a zone change to establish a casino overlay district for MGM's property. Following the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's acceptance of the company's Section 61 conditions, the zone change allows MGM to begin demolishing buildings, although further approvals for its design changes still lie ahead.
Those will not be taken up until next year. Monday night, the Council faced other matters, if ones it dispensed with quickly.
Substantive policy encompassed erecting the Colony Hills Historical District near Longmeadow. The new district, wedged between the city line and Forest Park, includes some of the city's stateliest homes.
Also approved was an ordinance making minor changes to the taxi and livery commission ordinance that removes minimum vehicle requirements for livery services registered in the city.
Several items remained in committee including a resolution urging limits to the sale of cigars, rules on for the Council's agenda and a home rule petition establishing special elections for vacancies in the Council's ward seats.
New items going to committee were a resolution urging Congress to allow municipalities in Puerto Rico to seek bankruptcy protection and an ordinance on freshwater fish consumption.
The rest was mostly housekeeping. Councilors had few questions on the revenue and expenditures report or grants. One grant totaling $650,000 was notable as it is slated for South Branch Park. Part of the park is being renamed for Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, a native son of Springfield killed during the shooting of a Chattanooga, Tennessee military recruiting station.
The Council also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission looking into establishing a bike share program in the region.
The Council allowed payment of a bill from last year and signed off on quitclaim deeds for properties along Maple and Central Streets. Facta Non Verba, LCC, the buyer, will restore townhouses along Maples Street and redevelop a lot on Central Street for parking.
One of Facta Non Verba's managers, Roger Roberge, purchased the former Sumner Avenue fire station in East Forest Park last year. Previous redevelopment schemes for these townhouses have not worked out and hopes that Roberge will succeed where others have not will be high.
Before an informal caucus of reelected and newly election councilors to nominate the Council's president and vice-president—President Michael Fenton and Vice-President Orlando Ramos were re-nominated—councilors honored their outgoing members with a pair of proclamations.
Both Ward 1 Councilor Zaida Luna and Ward 5 Councilor Clodo Concepcion were defeated for reelection in last month's election. Luna and Concepcion were part of the class of councilors elected in 2009 when Springfield restored ward representation.
"They have served with great distinction and honor and an incredible work ethic over the last six years," Fenton said announcing the recognitions.
Before the meeting, the Council also issued a proclamation to Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney.
(Disclosure: WMassP&I Editor-in-chief Matt Szafranski attended off the record).