Mention crime, and we think of robberies, murders and detectives examining the scene, interrogating witnesses and finally nailing the guilty.
There is, however, another kind of crime, where traditional methods of criminal investigation fall flat on its face. Instances like hack attacks, cyber fraud, phishing, identity and data theft, all account as cyber crime. Even though it may appear that the effects of digital crime are not life threatening, they have the potential to disrupt life, as well as tamper with property. Just imagine, a situation if Indian Railway's ticket reservation system goes down for even a day? In fact, a survey in UK concluded that people were more scared of their bank accounts being hacked or credit card details stolen over the Internet, than they were of muggings and robberies.
We could go on and on about different scenarios, but the point is, digital crime occurs. While better information security would certainly act as a deterrent, crime can never be totally eradicated. So, the next best thing to do, is to find out the culprit. When the crime committed is related to the Internet and computers, then cyber forensic expert enter the scene, and try to sniff out the clues, and trace the byte-trail that can help in catching the perpetrators.
Digital forensics, of which cyber forensics is one facet, is a vast discipline, which encompasses several other fields. A digital forensic expert is supposed to be adept in network security, because most cyber crimes take place over networks. He / she needs to be good at encryption and data recovery too, because passwords and data are always inevitably involved in theft of information. Awareness of cyber laws are also important, as most of these cases can go to court where the forensic expert would be called either as a witness for prosecution or defence. Again, cyber forensics does not necessarily mean that its practitioners would have to deal with computers and servers all the time. Depending on cases, mobile phones, pen drives and in some cases, even personal media players have come under the scanner of the e-sleuths.
Before we proceed deeper into the subject, there is an urgent need to know what cyber crime actually is. The United Nations defines cyber crime as illegal electronic operations that target the security of computer systems and data processed by them, or illegal behaviour that uses computers and networks.
In India, the primary statute is the IT Act 2000, although some sections of other laws like the Indian Penal Code can be applied to digital crime. We are not going to list out the provisions of the IT Act that are concerned with cyber crime. However, acts like hacking, identity theft, phishing and spamming all become cognizable offences, punishable by fine and prison terms.
Understandably concerned, the government and the private sector have done their bit in trying to educate police and judiciary in new paradigms and technologies. NASSCOM has four cyber labs across the country, and is involved in a government project to train state police departments in state-of-the-art digital investigation techniques. However, with crime rates soaring, these efforts may not be sufficient. The Indian IT and ITeS sectors urgently need solutions to these problems, as the industry deals with highly sensitive, and often, personal data.
When it comes to corporate houses, they don't really tend to trust cops a lot. They guard their data fiercely and don't like others messing up on their turf. Also, the process of recording evidence after a digital crime has been committed is a lot like walking on eggshells without making a sound—a single data packet missing out of millions, one electron with a magnetic pole askew, and the data would not stand up to legal scrutiny. To recover data from the crime scene, to analyse and map the course of events to non-technical persons, including your bosses and maybe a judge, is the daily job description of a digital forensic expert.
Every job has its tools and the job of a digital detective is no exception. Cyber forensic tools are software packages that can be used to preserve the state of hard disks and storage devices, extract data from mobile phones and sniff out network packets. As with other kinds of software, there is both open source as well as proprietary software. Many companies also use tools that are tailor-made to their specific needs. Some types of tools are En-Case, X-Ways Forensics and Cyber Examiner. In India, the Resource Centre for Cyber Forensics (RCCF), a part of C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is in charge of developing tools used by police departments and cyber crime cells. Professionals in this field are expected to be proficient in usage of more than one of these tools.
As mentioned earlier, the field of cyber forensics is still evolving. Hence, there is a lot of confusion on the part of students who are interested in pursuing this particular career option. To be good, students in digital investigation need to master various disciplines. Not only should they be comfortable with running a hash analysis of files, they would also need to know the legal procedures of presenting evidence in court. It's a mixture of being a cop and a geek, which is challenging and fun to interested and committed professionals. Jaya Narayanan, from the security consulting firm NJY hits the bull's eye, "What we would like to suggest to those individuals who have done, and are currently doing, a course in Cyber Forensics is to also do other various IT courses to support their career and to give their career a strong foundation".
For instance, a cyber forensic individual would always invariably have to work on computer networks, as well as network security. This means that network security certifications are essential for the candidate to be considered for this post. As a representative of Valiant Technologies, a Chennai-based information security-consulting firm affirms, certifications like CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Security and CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional) are good starting points.
Knowledge of networking is also stressed a lot by Dr R. Thilagaraj, head of department of Criminology at University of Madras. This department runs two popular courses related to cyber forensics. One is MSc in Cyber Forensics and Information Security (two years) and the other is Diploma in Cyber Crime and Information Security (one year). Started in 2004, with financial aid from the University Grants Commission, the Masters courses are open to candidates having BSc degrees in maths, physics, statistics, computer science or BE / BTech degrees. Apart from this, it is mandatory to clear a qualifying test. Further information about the course can be obtained from the University of Madras homepage (http://www. unom.ac.in/). It might be tough to get admission in the course, as the number of seats is only 20.
In the private sector, there are institutions that offer courses in cyber forensics along with information security. Some others also specialise in giving short terms courses in cyber law with emphasis on information security. Asian School of Cyber Laws at Pune is one, Cyber Law College Chennai is another. As of today, there is hardly any industry standard certification or standards in the field of digital forensics. Before they decide to spend their money and time, they should do a thorough research on the background. In particular, they should check the employability status of the alumni and decide whether the training provided is good enough for the industry. Look at the box on the previous page for a list of institutions that offer courses related to cyber forensics.
A career in cyber forensics can be sought both in public, as well as in the private sector. In the public sector, people are mostly absorbed into law enforcement agencies like the cyber crime cells, state forensic departments and central agencies like the CBI. However, regular and mass recruitment of freshers may not be possible, because government departments focus more on training existing employees rather than hiring new people.
However, the scope for employment in private sector is immense. According to a NASSCOM report, 20,000 cyber security professionals would be needed to detect and solve cyber crimes. A bulk of these people would be needed by banks, financial institutions, consulting companies—basically any entity that has valuable data. "In India most banks have their own Fraud Management Cells, which is where people with these skills are the most needed," says Dr Sachin Pandey, CEO of Agape Inc—the company that runs NIeF.
Besides, all the big IT companies have their own computer emergency response teams (CERT) who are responsible for internal IT security and usually the first line of defence against any external attack. Additionally, there are specialist companies that work on ethical hacking, cyber forensics and IT security. The career path is usually from engineer to principal or lead security consultant. In terms of salaries, freshers get about Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 more per annum than other entry-level positions. As with other positions in the IT industry, there are plenty of overseas opportunities. After sufficient experience, professionals can branch out into freelancing and become independent security consultants.
A cyber forensic professional's job is very important. It's also very challenging, and provides enormous scope for learning new technologies. The security landscape is changing continuously and unlike traditional crime busting, something happening thousands of miles away can have immediate impact on IT security parameters at your office or company. Only someone who has an active and alert mind with an attitude to constantly learn new things can succeed in this field.


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Niedersachsen F-208
July 12, 2004: Niedersachsen F-208 in the North Atlantic Ocean with the USS Emory S. Land AS-39,
Gediz F-495 and Alvaro de Bazan F-101 during exercise Majestic Eagle 2004.
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Atlantic Ocean while participating in exercise Majestic Eagle 2004.
July 12, 2004: Niedersachsen F-208 along side of USS Enterprise CVN-65 during exercise Majestic Eagle 2004.
October 13, 2004: Niedersachsen F-208 arriving at New York for the Parade of Ships.
December 18, 2010: Niedersachsen F-208 and Bayern F-217 seen at the Marinearsenal, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
(Photo courtesy of Markus Titsch)
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Image Loading Helpers in the Bedrock, Aka mozilla.org, Codebase

<time class='entry-date' datetime='2015-08-11T12:40:22+02:00'>Aug 11th, 2015 12:40 pm</time>

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Developing for the modern web has a lot of challenges. Some has been overcome and addressed by the evolution of HTML, and there are lots still being actively discussed on the WHAT-WG mailing list, and more and more being implemented by the various browser vendors.

In fact it has grown way beyond just the evolution of HTML and is now an all encompassing goliath, we lovingly call The Open Web Platform. Then there is of course the device ecosystem. Growing and expanding at a dizzying pace. With larger form factors, devices with high density displays, audio and video capabilities that puts many DSLR cameras to shame.

This is great for users but, as mentioned earlier, presents real challenges for developers. One of these challenges is serving up different images based on the user's screen capabilities. When working on a large website such as mozilla.org, this is something that we face all the time. Because of all the platforms our products run on and, all the languages our content is localized in, we face an array of additional challenges.

In this post I will highlight some of the solutions that exist in the Bedrock, aka. mozilla.org, codebase. The hope is that you will find these useful in your own projects or, that it can act as a handy reference when you decide to contribute to the project, and for my own reference and learning. With no further ado, let's get right to it!

Python Helpers

A few of the helpers that we have is a combination of Python template tags, combined with JavaScript so, let's look at these first.

high_res_img()

As mentioned before, we often need to serve up two different versions of an image dependent upon the device's pixel denisty. When the image is not added as a background image using CSS, we need to dynamically swap them out using JavaScript.

The basic premise of how we do this is to have markup as follows:

Sample of generated image tag

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<img class="js tab" src="img/new-tab-enhanced.png" data-processed="false"
     data-src="img/new-tab-enhanced.png" data-high-res="false"
     data-high-res-src="img/new-tab-enhanced-high-res.png" alt="Screenshot">

Writing all of that for each image is a laborious task so, we have a template helper that makes it simpler. You can have a look at the Python code that generates the above here on Github.

The JavaScript is as follows:

Image Helper JSSee it on Github

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Mozilla.ImageHelper.initHighResImages = function() {
    $('img[data-src][data-high-res="true"][data-processed="false"]').each(function() {
        var $img = $(this);
        var src = $img.data('src');
        if (Mozilla.ImageHelper.isHighDpi()) {
            src = $img.data('high-res-src');
        }
        this.src = src;
        $img.attr('data-processed', 'true');
    });
};

All you have to write is the following:

Using the high_res_img helperDocumentation

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high_res_img('img/new-tab-enhanced.png', {
    'alt': 'Descriptive text', 'width': '200', 'height': '100'
})

l10n_img()

Having text embedded in an image file is generally not a good idea. There are accessibility implications, usability issues, for example if an image does not load, the content that was embedded in it is lost as well. Then there is the l10n implications. The general rule of thumb therefore is, don't do it.

It sometimes does happen though, and in those instances it is useful to have a template helper to make the loading of images based on locale easy. In bedrock we have the l10n_img helper for this exact use case. In the template you simply write:

Using l10n_img

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<img src="{{ l10n_img('firefox/os/have-it-all/messages.jpg') }}" />

The rest is handled by Python code. The only other detail you need to make sure of is that the images exist in the required location. This is further documented on Read The Docs.

If you need to load high res images as well, you can instead use the high_res_img helper above, setting the l10n parameter to true.

Using high_res_img with l10n

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high_res_img('img/new-tab-enhanced.png', {
    'l10n': True, 'width': '200', 'height': '100'
})

platform_img()

Another scenario we run into every now and again is loading different images based on the users platform. Think for example screen shots. For this scenario we have the platform_img template helper. Again, you can see the Python code that handles loading the appropriate image here.

Using platform_img

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platform_img('img/firefox/new/settings.png', {'alt': 'Firefox screenshot'})

As with the high_res_img helper, naming of the images are important. In the case of this helper, you need to append the platform to the image name, for example, settings-mac.png, settings-win.png etc. If those images also contain text that needs to be translated and, you need to load high res images, you simply need to pass two additional parameters:

Using platform_img with high_res and l10n

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platform_img('img/firefox/new/settings.png', {'alt': 'Firefox screenshot',
        'l10n': True, 'high-res': True})

Update: The JavaSript side of all of this can be found here on Github.

Background Images in CSS

So far I only touched on helpers used inside HTML/Jinja templates. But what about loading high res images conditionally in CSS? For that we have a LESS mixin from RetinaJS that makes it dead simple:

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.at2x('/media/img/firefox/personal/logo.png', 148px);

You can see the code for the mixin here or, checkout the RetinaJS repo for more.

I hope you find this post useful and that you can either reuse these directly or, use it as a springboard for your own helpers and mixins. Is there anything you use at work to make things like this easier across your codebase? Let me know in the comments.

Posted by Schalk Neethling

<time class='entry-date' datetime='2015-08-11T12:40:22+02:00'>Aug 11th, 2015 12:40 pm</time>

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The fall semester has been in session now for two to three weeks. New law students have immersed themselves in class, with 40-50 hours of class logged at this point. It's the perfect time for new law students to evaluate and adjust their own listening and note-taking during class. Enough time has gone by and enough notes taken that this evaluation will be meaningful, but there is still tons of time left, so any adjustments could make a real positive difference moving forward.
Figuring out how to evaluate your own listening is an abstract and difficult task especially in an unfamiliar academic environment with large classes and assessments few and far between. Actually on that note, law schools have been ordered by the ABA to do more "formative assessment," meaning assessment before the final exam so that students can monitor their progress, understand how they are doing, and make adjustments. Formative assessments such as a midterm or paper won't explicitly mention or measure listening, but they can be an important indirect clue about listening skillfulness. Students should be proactive in preparing for formative assessments and should actively seek feedback on their results.
Even before any formative assessment such as a midterm, a new law student can reflect on the classroom experience and make adjustments. One way to give some shape to these reflections is by considering what veterans and experts say. That is why, earlier this summer, I reached out to lawyers and law professors, asking for suggestions on effective listening in class. Suggestions by lawyers on what worked for them can be found in an earlier post here. This post focuses on advice from law professors themselves. What do law profs say students should listen for, in the law-school classroom?
Note, as usual, I tried to delete the "parent tweet" of me prompting the question and as usual my efforts failed. Focus on the responses, not the irritating repetition of my prompt.
i often use class to contextualize cases–is it a core demonstration of the relevant doctrine or on the outer edges of it? is it representative of most jurisdictions or is there a split? what were litigants' goals/perspectives? so listen for what's not in the casebook.
also, listen to class discussions/questions, & listen to yourself during exercises & hypos. these are key for self-assessment & helping you identify what you don't have a good handle on.
Interesting question! Try to recognize the core idea as distinct from the examples and elaborations. The same skill is useful for reading cases, writing memos/briefs, sitting through meandering meetings, life generally….
This is such a tough question! I have started and stopped three responses. Substantive info from the reading they might have missed. Points of emphasis. Note tensions in how the rule would apply in future cases. Note discussions of parts of doctrine that might not make sense.
Good points. I was also thinking – (1) consistencies/inconsistencies in rules analyzed in class and (2) lessons about structure, who decides and controls the legal substance (court, legislature).
I often think that one of the unintended (but useful) lessons of law school is learning to listen to different types of law professors. Partners, judges, opposing counsel, associates… Everyone speaks differently. You need to adapt and learn what to listen for on the fly!
Yes. Yes. This is why it's so hard! There are so many levels or angles of legal understanding. Student will read with one or two levels of insight. In class, listen for any level or angle that the student didn't already pick up on their own!
I think students are often listening for *the answer* because they believe there is one, rather than hearing what I'm trying to say about making choices, exercising judgment, and understanding the effect of those choices.
Tough question. I think process/method over substance. I want them to understand that I am teaching methodology and not a right answer.
Please note that another good way to evaluate your own listening is to talk with a academic-support expert. Here's an earlier post, "Listening 101 for Law Students," featuring that and more general advice on listening in the law-school classroom.
See also my guest post on The Girl's Guide to Law School about a unique note-taking method that worked for me personally. I call it the #professorsays method.
It's that time of late summer when law-school boot camps and pre-orientation prep sessions start happening. I'll be speaking about legal writing next week and note-taking skills the week after that.
Hey I'm giving a talk on note-taking skills for law students. Planning an exercise where students sort note-cards for GOOD note-taking (what to do) & BAD (what not to do). E.g. listen for key terms (yes!) and surf the internet to stay focused (no!). Please share ideas here!!
Before the semester, decide on paper, highlighters, and other equipment.
Colour-code your notes as you go. Common law rules/governing cases in one colour, statutory rules in another, wisdom from the prof in yet another. And – the real secret – note where the ambiguities lie within or between cases. That's where fact patterns are born.
Use paper with a 3″ left margin.
As they're raised, put themes and concepts in the left area, details in the right. Basics of an outline from jump.
No one really talked about taking notes by laptop, which is a debate too large for this humble post. Extrapolating from the comments above, if you're going to take notes on a laptop I would advise experimenting with apps that give you flexibility for formatting the page, using color, and otherwise doing more than just writing or typing.
The difficulty in listening to learn is that a learner, by definition, lacks the framework of an expert. (It's sometimes called a schema.) Learners can help themselves build a rudimentary schema before class by preparing generally and specifically.
For general preparation, I was always taught to study the textbook's table of contents. And there's always the syllabus!
Actually read the syllabus. Helps with organizing notes and building an outline.
I found it helpful to have a few different topic headings based on the syllabus when class started so that I could then plug notes in during class where they belonged.
I made my own reading notes & then annotated in class, highlighting what the professor talked about, noting their comments & key concepts. Then I'd synthesize into a topic overview so I could figure out whether I was getting all the concepts. The overviews became outlines.
Listen carefully by focusing on key terms, on classmates' contributions, and on what the professor says in expressing an opinion.
Write down anything you think *might* be important. Why? You might not know what is important until later in the semester.
Note differences rather than details. The most important facts are the ones that turn the case. If you try to remember everything, you'll drive yourself bananas!
@RachelGurvich summarize in your own words, and write down competing policy rationales.
Jot down the questions classmates ask and answers. There are usually good connections made between concepts in questions.
My own special twist on note-taking was to add a feature I called "professor says." As I processed what the professor stated and asked, sometimes it would become apparent the professor was stepping out of a neutral role and taking a position on the topic. When he or she did that, I would label that moment in my notes with "Professor Says: ___" Keeping track of those moments helped me to match them up with my notes so I could be mindful of them while studying later. Here's my guest blog post for The Girl's Guide to Law School that expands on the "professor says" method.
Use visuals to indicate relationships and other ideas.
Get key rule terms. Use arrows, indenting or some other system to show idea relationships, and things like sub-definitions and layers of rule explanation material.
I recommend the Cornell method. I'm fascinated by sketchnoting (YouTube has tutorials) but no idea how to implement/teach to students. Can they see the forest for the trees? I think that's the hardest thing for students—being able to zoom in AND out.
Review and organize notes after class to prepare for outlining and final-exam prep.
I don't think this is a great tip — its time consuming — but it really helped me 2d semester of first year: take handwritten notes in class, but go over them and type them up more formally that night. Then, use the typewritten notes later to prepare your own outline.
I did that last semester – i organized my handwritten notes like a comprehensive outline and updated them each week; then closer to finals I whittled it down to a study outline.
These crowd-sourced suggestions struck me as a good starting place for 0Ls about to become 1Ls. Please feel free to share more note-taking techniques here in the comments or on social media at @ListenLikeaLwyr.
Listening contributes to law students' success in many ways. From participating in class discussion to doing good work in clinics to writing an exam that reflects what was discussed in class, students who listen effectively are in a better position to succeed in law school. They are also in a better position to effectively handle job interviews and real assignments on the job.
Law professors therefore may want to spend some time emphasizing listening skills, either explicitly or implicitly. Here are a few ideas for integrating listening skills into any law school class. Please share feedback and more ideas in the comments.
Modeling means showing how to do something the right way. It could also mean showing how to do something with a mix of successful and less successful moments, then discussing the challenges and the process. Either way, students can begin to learn by seeing and hearing models in action.
Modeling an interview during class time would be a significant investment of class time. For teaching in clinics, this investment should pay off directly. Students who have seen and discussed effective listening during an interview are far more likely to do the same in their own work with clients.
In doctrinal classes, a model client interview would be unconventional but could demonstrate good lawyering (including listening) while also covering doctrinal material in a vivid way. One specific idea comes to mind: remedies. Clients may feel they are entitled to some particular measure of compensation that the law actually does not allow. A client interview could bring out the client's ideas of what he or she deserves, including the lawyer's careful listening even where the client's damages theory cannot be supported by law. And then the discussion after the interview could address the substance of remedies as well as the interpersonal challenges of communicating with clients.
Offer listening conferences with assessment and feedback.
The next step after modeling a skill is letting students try it. A "listening conference" is one way to do this, as suggested by Hamilton in his listening article. The listening conference would be a chance for students to role-play a client interview or talk about a doctrinal area of law, and then get feedback on listening.
The assessment could provide more structured feedback on criteria for listening. The criteria's substance is a topic for future blog posts here. Hamilton has some sample assessment rubrics such as a student's performance during a client interview.
If you use Power Point, use it to promote listening and learning.
Reading text and listening to words simultaneously just does not work in the brain. The science suggests that far from reinforcing cognitive connections, these redundant inputs impose an "extraneous cognitive load" that interferes with learning.
That is one of many reasons it's such an awful idea to use text-heavy Power Point slides. Use a blank placeholder slide in every presentation, advises Professor Paul Zwier of Emory Law School, author of Power Point 2003 for Professors. Navigate the Power Point to the blank backdrop when you want students to focus entirely on listening.
You can use the screen to talk emotionally to the audience's right brain (through their eyes), and your words can go right through the audience's ears to talk to their left brain.
Enforce a classroom 5-second rule.
One protocol that can dramatically improve listening is to impose a "5-second rule": everyone must wait 5 seconds after a speaker has concluded speaking before raising a hand or otherwise continuing with the conversation. Mark Weisberg and Jean Koh Peters suggest this method in their paper Experiments on Listening.
They report that professors meeting with other professors in small groups found an "astonishing" benefit to this protocol. Participation was both broader—no longer favoring the gunners and turn sharks—and more thoughtful. The same benefit could extend to a law school classroom.
Assign students to listen to a particular case or legal authority in addition to reading it.
Various software, browser apps, and websites can read text out loud. Hearing an entire case read out loud, rather than silently reading it on the page, is a big investment of time. But intensely engaging with one or two cases this way could assist learning, especially for beginners. To use one common error students make when learning the structure of court opinions, where does the review of precedent end and the court's own decision begin? I believe that listening to the case could help them slow down and recognize the different components of the opinion.
The suggestion to listen to a case is better suited for students' own time outside of class. Class time could also involve short breaks from the lecture in which students read to one another. Bear with me here: Performing the law with a speaker and listener in this way could set up the significance of statutory language or a short segment of a case. The student reading the case out loud would have to decide how to inflect the reading, and the student doing the listening would get the benefit of hearing the words. It may feel forced and awkward to the students and perhaps to the professor as well, but they almost certainly would remember the language better as result of the process.
Better listening leads to better learning as well as better lawyering. These exercises are just a few ideas for focusing on listening in the law school classroom. The articles cited here contain many more ideas, and please also share ideas in the comments to this post.
And that connects to a post from last year, "Back to school means 'what's your learning style?'" That post points out that learning styles are better thought of as learning preferences by individuals. It cites some research and analysis questioning whether teaching to an individual's preferred learning style actually enhances their learning outcomes. In other words, it's not clear that teaching to learning styles helps people actually learn.
The nature of the information is the most significant factor in how that information should be presented to learners.
As I wrote last year, many people have written really good articles about using learning styles in the law-school classroom. And none of this is to excuse a decision by a professor to always use the Socratic method or any other default method. But it is worthwhile to question what seems to be the very popular belief that people learn information effectively when it is reshaped to fit their preferences.
Peg Cheng has worked in prelaw advising for more than twelve years, six and a half with the University of Washington (UW) and another six as the founder of her law school admissions consulting company, Prelaw Guru, which helps aspiring law students prepare their applications. Before that she worked in career counseling as well, bringing her grand total in higher education student services to 18 years.
Peg is moving into full-time work as a writer. She is in the process of wrapping up Prelaw Guru as of July 2016. Listen Like a Lawyer is grateful to Peg for sharing some of her insights from her years of experience working with aspiring law students.
What has your work in prelaw advising taught you about listening?
What really is an advisor? The advisor has two jobs: One, listen. Two, tell the truth. That's it.
All the work I've done with college students has taught me to be a better listener and a better writer. I couldn't have done it without the students. Some people think advising is about talking. But if you don't listen first, your advice is not effective.
How have you used listening with the students you advised and your clients in prelaw consulting?
Clients always tell me they appreciate the opportunity to think about their own stories. That's what I've done: listen to their stories in person, on the phone or Skype, and in their prewriting on the writing prompts I've given them.
I was spending so much time with the interviewing and listening that I developed an exercise called "49 Stories." They are writing prompts to help law-school applicants brainstorm what they might talk about in their personal statements. The process is for the student to set a timer for 3-5 minutes and write as fast as they can. What I've noticed is that the internal editor starts to turn off.
The 49 Stories are organized to begin with "softballs"—that is, easier prompts. As the student progresses, deeper prompts are sprinkled in. Completing the exercises allows the person to first sit back and appreciate the ideas they've come up with—and also to start to see themes from their life.
So this was a way of saving my own time spent on all those interviews. But the writing itself helps. The more they write, the less they fear the whole process of writing a personal statement. Dyslexic students are an exception. They're allowed to write less and then tell me more over the phone or Skype.
I read their stuff and tell them what stories I heard. They are in the middle of it and couldn't see the stories that are valuable to tell. They would spill their guts and then didn't know what to do after that. So, I would give them permission to write about their lives. They would say "Oh, I can write about that? I never thought of that." I help them see how the story is a good representation of them. 99 percent of the time, they say "You're right, I've got to tell that story." And then they crank it out.
Law school admissions officers are always telling applicants that personal statements need to be personal and about you, even if inspired by another person. Generally there's going to be one with stronger and more personal elements. It's almost always the most personal story. Not necessarily the most tragic, but the most personal. It's about finding the personal in your past and ascribing meaning to it.
Some professors have said personal statements are so trite and formulaic. But I push back against that. If you're tired of reading something formulaic, that means you're tired of reading stories. Stories are formulaic! The subject matter changes, but the formula is the same.
The best story to tell almost always has to do with making a change. Stories are about change. And stories are really about human survival.
Law school applicants have the opportunity to meet with admissions officers at law school fairs and forums. What's your advice to applicants for managing those conversations?
Students go in thinking, "I'm going to apply these particular schools." And they are listening to anything that backs up their plan. If they hear something that doesn't back it up, they'll stop listening.
When you are really listening, it sparks more questions. Some students are thinking so much about how they present themselves that they ask questions but don't really listen. And honestly when I was 20 or 21, I was like that too. So let's clarify some of the reasons this happens: Nerves get in the way. Ego gets in the way.
Instead of trying to be interesting, try to be interested in.
Whenever I follow this advice, the people I'm talking with and listening to develop a higher opinion of me than if I had tried to impress by talking and being interesting.
Asking questions is a great opportunity to listen and learn. What are some of your favorite questions for law school applicants to ask?
I tell students to ask questions that most people don't ask. For example, how frequently does the Dean meet with students? How easy is it for students to meet with the Dean? Some admissions people know this right off the bat. Others give vague answers with nothing set up institutionally. Be suspicious of that. The Dean sets the culture and attitude of the law school. Having a regular time to meet with students shows a level of care for the students.
I also ask about faculty culture. I watch how the admission person acts when answering the question. They may not have a great relationship with the faculty. Do they smile instantly? Do they look away and hesitate? For me, how they answer is as important as what they say.
What do you see in prelaw students today?
For me, prelaw students seem to fall into two major camps. They are all achievers—because the people I've worked with at Prelaw Guru are by definition achievers in some way—but they generally fall into two groups.
There's a small group who are good listeners and also very humble and very skilled. They often have something like a 3.9 GPA and a good LSAT score. They aren't perfect. They are very neurotic and worried about their future. But there's a relationship between their humbleness, their skill, and their dedication. This is a very small group and they always amaze me. I'm always heartened to find that the most achieving students are also the most humble and the most worried.
The other group is much larger. They've struggled too, but I don't know if they realized how hard law school is going to be. They're not as worried. They tend to think they will continue doing what they've been doing. They may not have been challenged enough in college. They're not arrogant, but they haven't experienced enough to know how hard it's really going to be. They may not have ever failed.
You mentioned a certain profile of some law students as humble but also worried. How do you think law students can cultivate their mental health throughout this process?
One of the biggest problems I see with prelaw students is they depend too much on external markers of success. They get depressed when they don't receive those external markers, like the grade they wanted to get in a certain class. The focus on external markers leads to anxiety, drinking, and depression.
You have to rage against the machine.
The machine wants you to believe if you get high grades, you'll be a good lawyer. If you get a big law job, you'll be a good lawyer.
But you have to realize the machine is not you. You have to find your own version of success.
This student knew he wanted to be a public defender. He would constantly ask for help and get to know everyone both in and out of the law school who could help him toward that goal. And by his third year, he had his job offer in the public defender's office before graduation and was ready to go.
In terms of listening, how can prelaw students get ready to be better listeners in law school and as practicing attorneys?
Any type of work experience or internship or volunteer work where they have to listen will help them later. It doesn't have to be legally oriented. One of my clients did customer service for a pharmaceutical company that helped her develop great listening skills. Many students I've met have done intake work as an intern or volunteer where they have to interview people and then write up those interviews in a report. They benefit from understanding what it means to be of service by listening rather than by speaking. Journalism is also great.
I'm not a fan of lectures where students take a lot of notes then take a test. Sadly, many classes are taught this way. It may be necessary to impart content and a certain way of thinking to students, but I think schools with more hands-on learning in classes will have more successful students.
Students should think about how they learn best. Some can read and absorb what they've read. Others need to read and then reiterate out loud what they've read. Others learn best by hearing the material spoken out loud. There are lots of different ways of learning and the students who do the best have found ways to support or supplement their learning style.
How have you worked on your own listening skills?
The more I listen and take risks at telling the truth about what I'm hearing, the better results I get. I did a lot of own experimentation with advising during my years at the UW. Also I had several years of personal and business coach training prior to working at the UW that helped me a lot. As I kept experimenting with my students, I realized that's what people are really looking for—for someone to listen to them and tell them the truth—even if they don't seem to know that's what they want initially.
What I have learned is to listen to clients and ask questions that help the client come up with their own solutions. And I tell the truth about what I heard. I try to ask questions that lead the person to the truth, for them. It's important to understand as well that what's the truth means different things for different people.
You are working on a career transition yourself.
I've always been writing on the side. Last year I wrote a middle-grade novel. I'm working on an adult suspense novel now and I'm also writing a personal finance book for college students.
This month, I'm wrapping up my consulting business and my online personal statement class. My last clients for this admission cycle have all got back to me and let me know their plans, so I feel good about that. It's been great to help so many people, but I'm one of those people who likes more variety. And I think you should get out of something when you still like what you're doing. So I will be a full-time writer this whole year, and then see where I'm at next January.
What's funny is that being a full-time writer has really helped me relate more to my clients and the fears they had about writing their personal statements. They would tell me, "I don't know if I can do it. But I keep telling myself, this is so important. This is going to decide my future." I can totally relate to that! This is my year for writing; it's not a year about procrastinating about writing. That means every single day, I go through the fear and the self-doubt, and just do it.


The Music Ensemble class is suitable for groups that don't move (march or dance) during their performance.
In the event of a tie for first place, the Entertainment judge decides (subjectively) the winner.
Groups that have members who are all 18 or under on 01/02/2019, will compete for an additional award as best junior group. This competition runs in parallel to the main competition and with the same achievement levels.


Putin's rise to power and international fame was tainted with many tough situations, to say the least. The drama surrounding the Kursk submarine, the second Chechen war and numerous terrorist attacks allowed Putin to both demonstrate power and gain a reputation as a ruthless leader. One recent Foreign Policy article (http://atfp.co/1mXJcXH) argues that Putin effectively broke the social contract he had with citizens. In your opinion, do you see "Putinism" to (succesfully?) govern the country for a prolonged period of time, or are Putin's latest actions in Ukraine and towards the West merely the last vital sign of an ailing autocrat?
An ailing autocrat? Possibly an ailing economy near-term. When a nation is threatened economically or politically from within, time and time again we see a leader find an external enemy. This is especially true when the ailing economy threatens regime change. The historical trend is disturbing when put in the context of Japan and China. Both countries are stirring the nationalistic pot strategically as domestic challenges build on debt fronts. Nevertheless, "Putinism" is essentially the disregard of a social contract with the people and instead one with power and growth. This power and growth should in theory 'trickle down' to the economy, people and government. Putinism is the Beijing consensus, just on a level bent more towards power over economic growth as per the cards Russia and China have been respectively dealt.
When put in the historical perspective, the real important question becomes whether this "Putinism" / "Beijing Consensus" will rise to threaten the existing global political structure. The people of the world are more likely to follow, adapt and accept the political system of growth above all else, regardless of the power brokers. This is not my personal opinion, but rather what history has told us thus far. Although Putin has broken a social contract with his people, as FP states, the country has nevertheless rallied behind him like never before and even sanctioned oligarchs 'welcome' the sanctions put upon them as if they were a badge of honor.
Disruptions of political nature often mask the true underlying shifts: the shifts in economic power and the structure that leads it. The question of whether "Putinism" can successfully govern a country for a prolonged period of time is not one for us to answer, but rather market forces and to what extent persons bear arms to fight it.
A really well structured comment and, by the way, supported by some evidence from the world history (though, its interpretation is still opened to discussion). Thank you very much for giving thoughts on this topic.
However, after reading it, one question arises which is somewhat essential for the conclusion: what is democracy in Your opinion? What are the criteria of it and if there any government now living according purely democratic principles (in both economic and political terms)? And has not been the world political structure threatened many times before in the history, including the most recent one (I mean, first of all, the USA actions in Iraq and Afghanistan)? And where is the evidence that the Russian governmet today is looking for an external enemy?
Again, I would like to thank the author one more time for his attention to the topic discussed.
Hi Maria. In terms of the definition of democracy, and aside from the generic definition, most importantly a democratic nation has free speech and a sound judicial system. Jefferson said, "an educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people." In other words, a body of people in a democracy need to hold correct knowledge so that they may vote properly for the best man or woman. The more a society is subject to misinformation and corruption on the judicial front, the less likely the government functions for the general populous (the voters). Although no one nation can profess to perfection (there are always loopholes and mistruths), some certainly are farther ahead than others. You asked whether there is a government currently living to pure democratic principles in economic and political terms. I would argue that they are two separate matters. The economic system at hand is constantly shifting with sentiment, growth and necessity. The Chinese have found it strategic (and rightly so) to operate in a semi-capitalistic structure in a communist political system. It creates a new corrupt hybrid of capital accumulation as property rights and freedom are only guaranteed by how close you are to those in power, but provides higher living standards for the entire nation of over a billion people. The United States is democratic with property rights and a fair judicial system, but the democratic political system is now burdening the economy instead of being a force of sound growth. Russia is a multi-party representative democracy, but her potential output and living standards are burdened by corruption, a lack of governmental transparency and questionable state-owned media activity. In terms of Russia and her external enemies, a historical mistrust of the West is still embedded in public opinion and in state-owned media publications. Putin is a smart and strategic man and practices a Chinese style rule of global politics. It is no coincidence that his goal is to shift Russia's economic dependence to the East and seek to remove Russia from the 'Dollar world.' He his forcing Russia into a position where she is sanctioned in goods (agriculture, machinery) as well as services (financial). Since the sanctions he has welcomed Chinese financial institutions, signed a commodity trade deal with China and has sought to reduce dependence on the USDollar (dedollarization) whether it be in a reduced holding of Treasuries or Yuan swaps instead of USD with state owned companies. So although Japan and China are far worse offenders in seeking external enemies, Putin is using an opportunity to pivot East in a very strategic manner in my personal opinion.
Hello guys. In terms of historical events you are right, but I personally have a different interpretation and opinion about some of those. But the basic and the most fundamental idea to consider when talking about Putin, I think, is that not every country is the same, and if one country can be governed by an individual like Obama, other countries cannot (think about country like Afghanistan, China, Turkey, and any other). The opposite works too – I do not think that Putin's way of ruling the country would succeed in the US (or UK, Germany, etc.). However, as long as both of the presidents are in their countries – both nations are quite happy with them, or at least the majority of the population. And referring to Thomas Jefferson: "The government you elect is the government you deserve". Therefore I think it's not really the best idea to assail somebody relying only on the knowledge gotten from the local media or local government's books, because as Russian books (and TV) would advocate Russia's interest, US, and any other country will do the same.


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There are so many surprises that lead me into new places and discoveries. Carolyn is one of my many friends that encourages and participates in such adventures; and if you follow my Facebook posts recently, you know that we (with several others in Carolyn's web of interesting characters) decided to sponsor a Water Protector.
It happened rapidly. We linked up with a group ready to leave for Standing Rock in just under 2 weeks. A list of necessary items to properly equip them was developed, and shared amongst friends. We called upon our friends and family to help, and posted to social media specific items we needed. Carolyn's home was the warehouse as she met with, outfitted, and stocked the vehicles. Reassessed, and updated us for what we still needed. I'd hope to meet my Water Protector, but that seemed impossible in the flurry leading up to; and I only spoke briefly to Sam by phone just before they took off.
And then, she sent me a message – someone dropped out. I'm going. Don't tell anyone.
When she returned, only hours before blizzard conditions set in at the campsite in North Dakota, so many things happened in the anticlimactic conclusion of this chapter. Holiday's arrived, family and friends arrived. Carolyn got really sick. And over morning coffee, I had a vision. It was easy, really; the Pendleton mug I drink my coffee from is the All Night Meeting Legendary Mug.
It seemed perfect. I would wash it up, find the original box and give it to her. Perhaps. As the days rolled on, the word Potlatch came to mind. No, I wanted to give her a blanket.
So as we often do at the end of the year, when we spend so much time indoors, and looking at those cabinets, cupboards and closets of TOO MUCH STUFF, it occurred to me. There was a robe that I had never worn. I liked it a great deal, but it wasn't the right size or look when it hung awkwardly on my body.
The perfect occasion for such a share was the only thing required now; and sure enough – while I was angst just thinking about driving my too large, shaky throttle, way too American rental car across town to a very familiar and comfortable group of friends home in Laurelhurst – Carolyn suggested we go to the Sobriety Anniversary Pow Wow. At 6pm. I packed the car for a possible sleep over, should the predicted snow and ice make my plans to get home dangerous, and contemplated a night of sobriety on New Years Eve. Well, if anything, that's was probably a very good idea.
Camera's in hand, there was a break in the Native American dance, drumming, and celebration when we got up to look for some of the Elders, and it was there, at the stage that the big boxes containing Pendleton Blankets were being handed out. Quietly, without any fanfare, or announcement. The Potlatch was happening. That's when I presented Carolyn with the Pendleton Ranch Wrap coat, which fit like a glove. Beautifully. A combination of a favorite tribal blanket, seamed and tailored. Carolyn was wearing the coat as it was meant to be, as I slipped out the doors and headed up the hill to a snow covered Sylvan. The Sylvan exit off 26 is guaranteed to have snow even if it's the only spot in Portland. And so it was.
The All Night Meeting mug represents a meeting traditional among Lakota, Nakota and Dakota tribes, a gathering at which members drum, pray and meditate. The seven figures in the meeting and the seven Water Birds represent the seven Fires shared by the peoples on their journey to the Plains. This morning I enjoyed sipping coffee from The All Night Meeting mug.
Francene has over 40 years in the home mortgage business, and she loves being part of the Portland community. Connect with her on Facebook for Portland-centric updates and news or subscribe to her newsletter to receive monthly resources and tips just for locals. If you're interested in homeownership or refinancing, contact her today to schedule a consultation and find out more about Portland mortgage options.


text:
Michael Schumacher's current health condition: Former Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo speaks
By Rachelle Corpuz on November 21 2015 5:01 PM
Mercedes Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany is seen at the back of the pits ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne March 24, 2011. The Australian F1 race, to be held on March 27, is the first race of the season after the event was cancelled in Bahrain due to political unrest. Reuters/Mick Tsikas
Former Ferrari President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo recently spoke about the current health condition of seven-time Formula One (F1) world champion Michael Schumacher. Montezemolo described Schumacher's fight for life as "terrible" in a recent interview.
Speaking to German news outlet RTL, the Italian businessman paid tribute to Schumacher saying that the German racing legend has been a significant part of the Prancing Horce marquee. He added that it pains him to witness Schumacher fight for life.
"He is an extraordinary person, who even in the most difficult moments was an absolute player, to see him in this situation is terrible," Montezemolo said. "It's a situation in which you don't know what you should do, so I try to recall so many great moments in life that we celebrated together."
Montezemolo said that he likes to picture Schumacher not only as an amazing F1 driver, but also as a great friend. He also paid his admiration to Schumacher's family, who stood by the F1 legend's side since the tragic skiing accident. The 68-year-old added that he is hoping to hear great news about the health condition of the seven-time F1 world champion.
Schumacher is still going through rehabilitation program in his Lake Geneva mansion after waking up from coma. It has been reported that a total of 15 medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, is helping the former F1 racer recover from the injuries he sustained nearly two years ago.
Auto Sport reported that former boss and family friend, FIA President Jean Todt, has been a regular visitor at Schumacher's house. During a media briefing ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Todt also revealed that the Schumacher is still fighting his health battle.
"I see Michael very often, and Michael is still fighting," Todt said. "And we must keep fighting with the family."
Montezemolo left Ferrari in September 2014 after serving the team for 23 years. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in July 2015.
Contact the writer at feedback@IBTimes.com.au, or let us know your thoughts below.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr.: 'What I did, it will never be duplicated'


There was this little 9 year old blind kid, and one day he said to his mom, "Mom, All I've ever wanted was to see."
His mom said, "Well son it's your lucky day, today is the last day of March, and if you pray your hardest, your prayers will be answered."
So the little boy goes to bed 2 hours early and starts praying himself to sleep. He wakes up half way through the night and realizes that the night isn't over, so he prays another hour before he falls asleep again.
He finally wakes up the next morning and yells, "Mom, Mom, get in here fast!"
His mom comes running in and says, "What is it son?"
The boy says, "Mom I did just what you said I prayed and prayed harder than anyone else ever has, but I woke up this morning and I'm still blind!"
And his mom says....... "I know, - April Fools!!"
The worst part is the refs fall for that ####. Which is why soccer can't be considered a sport.
PurpleMustReign wrote: The worst part is the refs fall for that ####. Which is why soccer can't be considered a sport.
Not a huge fan myself but those guys are incredible athletes (as are the refs who run constantly for 90+ minutes). I don't like the flopping either but it's not solely in soccer, you see it in a lot of sports, basketball for one. Just thought it was a funny gif.
Guy flies his drone w/ GoPro camera through a fireworks show.
Weird Al released a new album.


Alamo Manhattan's Bishop Arts Gateway plan is the latest new development to cause a stir in our neighborhood. It won't be the last, and it wasn't the first. Here are two more Bishop Arts developments currently in the works.
Demolition for the Bishop Arts Village project could start soon. A security fence went up around one city block — Bishop, Ninth, Madison and Melba — this week. The block includes nine single family homes, one empty lot and a 1970s apartment complex, where asbestos remediation is taking place.
The $42-million project planned for this block includes 200 apartments, one- and two-story retail buildings and a two-story underground parking garage. Developer Exxir Capital will recieve $5 million in future tax credits from the city of Dallas. About four years ago, the city kicked in $2 million to help the company buy properties for the project.
The company also has applied for a $2 million economic development grant.
The Dallas County Schools Building on Zang at Davis is selling to Charlotte, N.C.-based Crescent Communities. Crescent is still making plans on how to redevelop the property and declined to discuss future plans except to say they will be seeking community input.
The property is part of the Oak Cliff Gateway, and it currently is zoned for up to eight stories with a mix of retail, office, townhouses or apartments.
Thank you for the update! I'm excited to see what they come up with, and reusing the church will be a huge PR boost for them.
At least by the time these are filled up, the horseshoe will be done.
Hey, I saw your other comment, Lakewoodhobo. To answer, the Primrose development is going to change, but they're not ready to show us what they're working on yet. The new plan involves reusing the church sanctuary.
This was inevitable. It's too bad all the bottlenecks in and out of NOC have yet to be addressed. The horseshoe project, one lane going into and out of downtown, 3 lanes trying to squeeze into one under Commerce, the mess that has been Sylvan and 30 for several years… progress is not going to be fun or convenient.
so long, Smurf Village of The Shire apartment complex.
There is more coming, folks. Get ready.
Any update on the Primrose/Magnolia development on 6th and Elzbeth? Last time you reported on this, it would be 70 apartments along the future streetcar line.
Also, there were rumors that Billingsley was shopping for land around there, so we could be hearing about another one soon.


text:
World premiere celebrating the return of Minster grand organ
By Ed Horner @HornerPress Reporter
Director of Music Robert Sharpe plays the Grand Organ. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
A NEW composition written to celebrate the return of York Minster's grand organ following a once-in-a-century refurbishment will receive its world premiere on Sunday.
The piece, 'Toccata on 'Wachet Auf' written by David Halls, is the winning entry in the aged 19 and over category of the grand organ composers' competition, which was launched in June to mark the instrument's return after a £2 million refurbishment project which started in 2018.
The competition, run in partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust and Banks Music Publications, attracted more than 60 entries from amateur and professional musicians across two categories – aged 19 and over and 18 and under.
Ben Morris, York Minster's assistant director of Music, said: "We were delighted with the response to the competition which attracted a high calibre of entries.
"It's been fantastic to be able to invite people to be part of this landmark project, adding to this rich musical history."
The winning piece will receive its world premiere on Sunday at the cathedral's Advent Procession service.
The winner of the 18 and under category will be announced next month ahead of the winning composition receiving its first performances during the Minster's Nine Lessons and Carol services.


What have you discovered to be deeply true this year? This is what we found (and it is awesome!).
Rowan Lewis is the Coordinator of Whitley College's NEXT Diploma program that offers emerging and young adults a unique experience of personal development and spiritual formation within an accredited setting. He is also engaged in PhD research, exploring the ways in which religious and spiritual identity become established, lost and renegotiated in young people through their late teens and twenties.


When do you call yourself a writer?
When is the right time for write time?
This blog is about my journey as a creative writer. I am a trained historian so much of my past writing has been academic. I have also been working for the last several years as a professional editor and, more recently, a content designer. So there have been, and still are, lots of words in my life. But this is the first time I've decided to log my process as a creative writer specifically.
In 2017, I dedicated myself to writing a novel. I completed the first draft in a matter of months following a discipline of writing a page a day. The process was very therapeutic and I learnt a lot about myself. As an emotionally restorative project it was very useful and healing, but as a story it lacked conflict. With a very meandering plot line, it operated in many ways as a diary with the main character based very obviously on myself. That project is on hold at the moment. It could do with a major re-write and I might get to that or jump straight into a new novel.
In the meantime, I have been working on a short story. This project has been much more visceral. There is challenging conflict and a lot of pain. While the novel was about a character self-actualizing, this short story is about a character, a child, in crisis. Emotionally it is more draining to write, but still rewarding. I am close to composing the ending now, but am still undecided about what it will be.
In addition to the above efforts, I write poems almost daily. Some are tools that allow me to emotionally connect to the world around me. Others are observations or experiences worth recording in poetry. And sometimes I just put words together to play with sounds, rhythms and other literary devices that I need to brush up on.
I hope to make this blog useful for my readers who are writing creatively or interested in this topic. I want to connect to other writers, share advice from the community and document my own journey as a creative writer.


its been a roller coaster ride the past year. Although we are sometime impressed and motivated by quotes from wisdom of the ages, few of us actually make life changing moves as a result of that.
However, if there's something that you've always wanted to do and that has lasted ten or more years, then it is time to reflect on it and make a decision whether it is an unrealistic goal, to keep in the realm of fantasy, and to call upon when you need respite from the turmoils of this world..or, it is realistic, but needs disruption to your comfort zone, its existing has lots of uncertainties, and perhaps dealing with existing relationships. Whether it's to do with a career move, a relationship reconfiguration, or otherwise, give it the thought. The worse case scenario may not be as frightening as it at first appears.
I'm reaching that point in my own life now. In my sixties, I realize that waiting is not a good choice. So, a decision is pending.
What about you? Do you have this kind of thing on your mind?
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged change, Life on October 3, 2014 by Ed Simon.
Here we go again. The latest incarnation of my blog.
You are probably here because you've been given a link, to check out some part of my writings. Or you stumbled here "Accidentally". Which, if you are still reading, means we are fated to meet in cyber space, what the Chinese call "yuan fen" (缘分). Or so some would like to believe, though I'm agnostic on this matter.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 2, 2014 by chukerliang.


Waco, Texas is a quaint city with a lot to offer. From the Brazos riverfront to downtown to McLane Stadium and beyond, the seat of McLennan County is a picturesque Texas town. Life can, and should be good here. Sadly though, there are people in Waco whose lives are complicated by extremely difficult financial situations. Many residents of Waco struggle just to pay bills and put food on the table. In fact, nearly a quarter of the city's residents live below the poverty line.(1) But even if you're financial situation seems hopeless, there are many options in Waco.
The list above is helpful for finding specific social services, but what if you have another kind of emergency and need money quickly? This is when most people decide to pursue a loan. If you live in Waco, there are options for getting cash fast. But it's important to know that there are many predatory lenders that profit from high-cost, dangerous loans. Make sure you understand all the rates and terms associated with a loan before you decide to take one on.
Quick cash may create more financial emergencies.
Fast cash sounds good when you're in a tight spot. But taking out a risky loan always spells trouble later on. Payday loans are all over Waco, online or through storefront lenders. Getting quick cash is relatively easy, but if you pursue one of these high cost, short term loans you'll learn the cost of payday lending in Texas.
In a payday loan, you promise to repay the amount with your next paycheck. But these loans also have extremely high interest rates and fees; they are usually only two weeks to a month long. This means that you don't have a lot of time to pay off your balance. That's when these loans get expensive for you, and extremely profitable for the lender.
Because of the short terms and high interest rates, a lot of people are unable to pay back these loans on their due date. This leads to "rollover". Rollover means paying additional fees to extend a loan. Payday loans are supposed to last a couple of weeks or a month, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says that payday borrowers are in debt for an average of 11 months or longer.(3) The longer you extend or "rollover" the loan, the more you end up paying.
If you're a resident of Waco, Texas and you're in a difficult financial situation, remember that payday loans will cost you about double what they would in other states.3 Don't take out a loan that will leave you deeper in debt. Contact the Texas Fair Lending Alliance with any questions or concerns about payday loans in Waco.


text:
3 pupils rushed to hospital after car crashes into Harlesden school classroom
The students had already begun their lessons
Ian Molyneaux
Three Newman Catholic College pupils were taken to hospital (Image: David Nathan)
There was a dramatic start to the day at a Harlesden secondary school after a car reversed into a classroom wall injuring three pupils.
Students at Newman Catholic College had already sat down for to start lessons when the wall was suddenly struck by the vehicle.
Officers from the Met Police were called by London Ambulance Service (LAS) at 9.05am on Tuesday, October 1 to to reports of a vehicle crashing into the school on Harlesden Road, Brent.
LAS also dispatched an incident response officer and two ambulance crews to the scene.
Three children were taken to hospital (Image: David Nathan)
The three children were treated at the scene for minor injuries and then taken to hospital to be checked over.
A man was also treated by medical staff at the school but did not require to be taken to hospital - it has not been confirmed if the man was the driver of the car.
Danny Coyle, head teacher at Newman Catholic College, told MyLondon: "[The pupils] are all absolutely fine.
"Within the hour all emergency services had left the school.
"All the children were well and normality returned."
Newman Catholic College is an all-boys Catholic school for students aged between 11 and 19.
In a statement release by the Met Police a spokesperson said: "Three children (no further details) were taken to hospital.
"Their injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.
"No arrests have been made and enquiries continue."


The successful gaming Omen series is now making its way down the totem pole to the Pavilion family starting at a lower price of $999.
The Pavilion 15 Gaming Edition was rumored earlier last month, but HP has now made it official.
The gaming-centric notebook is the company's answer to the expensive Omen by providing a more affordable solution to gamers. Unlike the existing Pavilion 15 and upcoming Star Wars-themed Pavilion 15, this particular model can be equipped with up to a GTX 950M for better performance. The Green backlight, darker color scheme, and mesh skin only add to the its appeal. It will definitely be interesting to see how this will affect system noise, temperatures, and battery life compared to the standard base model. Systems will be pre-loaded with Unigine Heaven and Valley software for users to stress test the system as needed.
The Pavilion Gaming notebook will start at just under $1000 USD and will be available starting November 8. Previously rumors suggested an even later release date of March 2016.


A system that allows for periodical desorption operation at 300°C (high temperature desorption operation) to desorb accumulated substances with high boiling points and prolong the life of the rotor. The sealing material which is compatible with temperature upto 300°C is a mechanism that is unique to Nichias.
Applications: Exhaust gases from semiconductor and LCD production lines, photogravure print drying , and chemical production etc.
This system is for eliminating organic matter that has accumulated on the concentration rotor, and it will not restore the rotor to its original state.
It is highly recommended that a mist filter (activated carbon etc.) be installed at the stage prior to the concentration rotor.
If substances with boiling points of greater than 300°C are included, they cannot be removed.
Also, this system cannot remove all substances with boiling points at or below 300°C.
Depending on conditions, there are cases where this system should not be applied, such as high volumes of substances with high boiling points etc..
The desorption outlet temperature can be upto about 250°C, therefore it is necessary to select ducts, sealing materials, and fans that are suitable for that temperature.


text:
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FansBet is a trademark of Rush Partners Ltd.


text:
Q: Does marking a Swift class final also make all contained vars, lets and functions gain Static Dispatch benefits automatically? I am trying to squeeze every last bit of performance out of my app.  I try to use Structs over classes wherever possible (no state sharing, direct dispatch by default, etc etc).   But my view controllers and UIView objects are obviously still classes.  I want to force direct dispatch on every single one of my methods and data members - for performance reasons.
Do I need to still mark every var, let and func in my class final, or is it enough to just mark the hosting class final, in order for everything underneath it to take advantage of direct method dispatch?
In other words:  It's very tedious to paste final everywhere - before each method and variable.  So I'm hoping that just putting it on the class itself has the same effect of forcing direct dispatch on all class members.  But I don't know how to test or verify it.
For those who are wondering what I'm talking about, check out this article: "Method Dispatch in Swift".   Structs and protocol extensions give you Static Method Dispatch by default (fastest performance), but classes do not.  Static methods in classes do, but I want to force Static Dispatch on all instance methods and data members.
https://www.raizlabs.com/dev/2016/12/swift-method-dispatch/
The swift language runtime documentation mentions the effect on ability to subclass, but does not describe what happens to the dispatch behavior of child members and functions of classes that are marked "final".  It would be nice if everything underneath gained Static Method Dispatch without having to mark everything final individually.

final
Apply this modifier to a class or to a property, method, or subscript member of a class. It's applied to a class to indicate that the class can't be subclassed. It's applied to a property, method, or subscript of a class to indicate that a class member can't be overridden in any subclass. For an example of how to use the final attribute, see Preventing Overrides.

A: Yes, just mark the type as final and its properties and methods are final, too. But if this is UIKit code (method overrides, UIKit delegate methods, etc.), that's always going to be dispatched dynamically. It's really only material for your own, computationally intensive code, and even then there's a question as to whether that's the critical issue or whether there are other issues (e.g. lookups in arrays rather than dictionaries, parallelization of complex routines, use of Accelerate or Metal of certain tasks, turning on optimized release builds, etc.).
But if you're converting to static dispatch on code that isn't called very frequently, the difference may be modest/unobservable.

We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil. Yet we should not pass up our opportunities in that critical 3%.

I'm curious if you've really done enough analysis to confirm you're in that 3%. If you have, I apologize for pointing out the obvious; it's just that I didn't see anything above to indicate how you determined that static dispatch was going to make a real difference. If you have a performance issue, usually going through and making everything final is unlikely to be the silver bullet to resolve the issue.

I'd refer you to WWDC videos that outline methodologies for identifying and resolve practical performance issues:

*

*WWDC 2018 Practical Approaches to Great App Performance

*WWDC 2012 iOS App Performance: Responsiveness is old, but it walks through the basic methodology of:

*

*Reproduce the performance problem

*Profile with tools

*Form a hypothesis

*Make a change

*and repeat.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Den Bengaluru gears up to celebrate an exciting grape stomping event with the perfect mix of music and fun. A Sunday spent with an elaborate buffet, Chef's special live stations like – grills, carving and pasta counters, and The Creek's superb mouth-watering dessert selections – this is one Sunday Brunch you won't want to miss!
In honour of this month of love, a special couple stomping will be the main attraction of the "Stompy Sunday" and a gift hampers will be given to the winning couple.
The selection on beverages range from a delicious Mulled Wine, Sangria, Sparkling wine and Mojito bar, to non-alcoholic mocktails at the Sunday Brunch, so there's something for everyone! Head to The Den for an afternoon full of fun, food, romance, and more!
A Perfect Weekend At Radisson Blu Atria!


Interactive software, connecting families and birth teams, on the most important day of their lives.
We've launched the parent content.
There are 4 million births every year in the US alone: A vast, renewable market. Financially, the market is huge. Insurance pays out an estimated $100 billion per year for maternity care.
Development costs - Phase 2 of development focuses on bringing care providers into the communication process by building tools such as messaging, content accessibility on Labor & Delivery Units, and being able to bring up your Motherboard when you check-in in labor.
We believe that doula work, childbirth education, and "birth plans" only get you halfway. If we don't bring care providers and teams into the process of communication, none of this matters.
Your contribution allows us to partner with care teams, building new software so they can serve families better.
WE HAVE LIFTOFF! Motherboard has launched!
What is the timeline for Motherboard?
Nov 5, 2018 : Parent content is launched, whoo hoo!
Physical goods are in stock and will be shipped ASAP. Items requiring some development work (or temporary work-arounds) like the Affiliate Program (bulk memberships) may take a couple months.
I ordered the wrong size shirt, what do I do?
You are responsible for shipping the shirt back to us, but if we have your preferred size in stock we will ship you a new one.
Sorry, not at this time! However any of the memberships or downloads are perfect for overseas contributors.
How do the Educator Packs work?
What kinds of things are your developers building next?
Great question! We are building dashboards for providers and hospitals to be able to securely message their patients, add their $.02 to our content, and bring up a family's Motherboard at the hospital when they check in in labor. Provider buy-in is incredibly important to lasting, meaningful change.
Hospitals - Ability to bring up a family's Motherboard when they check in in labor. Integrating our information on the floor to help families make decisions.
How do I talk with you about a strategic partnership?
You will receive a 16x20 print on fine art paper. If you'd like to upgrade to a print AND digital file with unlimited license to print wherever and however you wish, please go here.
Good for anywhere on Amy's art page! Holidays are coming up, so get your favorite parent, midwife, or doula something special.
Guaranteed by the holidays if you back this campaign by Dec 5!
You will receive a 16x20 print on fine art paper AND a digital file with unlimited license to print wherever and however you wish.
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE - I have 35 original watercolors of development from Week 1 (menstruation) to Week 34.
In 1-2 weeks I will invite you to view the gallery in the order of who purchased first. Pick the one you want and I'll ship it to you and offer the gallery to the next person (so it may take a few weeks to get through everyone).
Keep calm and build a Motherboard (or just drink more water). 26 oz, stainless steel, carabiner included.
Get cozy in our "Birth Like a [M]other(board)" tee! V-neck and unisex options, make sure you tell us your size.
Handouts, forms, interview questions, and downloads of Motherboard Content, everything a doula or educator could want!
Requires a yearly license to use these materials with your clients, practice, or class. Materials will be continually updated and added to as-needed. You may not remove our branding from the images or "white label" them, thanks!
This beautiful sculpture of the first moments of birth is hand crafted by artist (and our CEO) Amy Haderer. Polymer clay, glazed in purple, measuring 8x4x4"
Own this one-of-a-kind piece of art!!


Romantic love can be a bewildering emotion at the best of times; on Valentine's Day, where idealised and unattainable depictions of coupledom are at their most influential, it can be nice to have a reminder of that fact. That's where Bulgari steps in, with its Electro Love Valentine's Day accessory collection. Every piece in the range is made in flame red or cool blue — often both — leather, capturing passion's fickle, hot-and-cold tendencies. Pierced heart motifs and Bulgari's signature serpent also send mixed messages, suggesting temptation, pleasure and exquisite pain all at once. Cupid's arrow? More like snake bite.


text:
Saving languages
Andre Cramblit andrekar at NCIDC.ORG
Sat Jul 29 18:36:02 UTC 2006
Previous message: Stand By Your Words
Next message: Keep It Alive (language)
Congress urged to save native languages
By ZACHARY FRANZ
Bismarck Tribune
http://www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2006/07/28/news/topnews/
118406.tx\
<http://www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2006/07/28/news/topnews/
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MIKE McCLEARY/Tribune Ryan Wilson, president of the National Indian
Education Association, listens to Tex Hall, chairman of the
Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation, during a press conference dealing with
the loss of native languages and the connection between those languages
and academic performance in Native American students Thursday at United
Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.
Indigenous languages will die out in America unless Congress acts soon,
a leader in Indian education said Thursday.
"We're on the very verge of losing our languages,"said Ryan Wilson,
president of the National Indian Education Association. "We don't have
tomorrow. This has to happen today."
Wilson spoke at United Tribes Technical College in a press conference
regarding legislation to preserve American Indian languages. Also
speaking at the conference were Tex Hall, chairman of the
Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation, and David Gipp, UTTC president. The
conference promoted passage of a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan,
D-N.D., that would create grants to establish immersion schools where
Indian children could learn their traditional language.
Before Europeans came to America, there were about 500 different
American Indian languages, Wilson said. Fewer than 100 have survived,
and only 20 are spoken by American Indian children.
Immersion schools are important for two major reasons, Wilson said.
First, indigenous languages are an important part of America's culture
and history. Second, research has shown that Indian students do better
academically when the lessons are relevant to their culture, he said.
Language is an important part of that.
At a language immersion school, of which there are already a few in the
country for Indian students, children learn traditional languages and
are then taught other subjects in the language. Most of the schools
focus on young students, for whom it is easier to pick up new languages.
Graduates of the existing programs have been more academically
successful than students at traditional schools, Wilson said.
There are far too few of the schools, though, he said.
"You have one system that's scientifically proven, beyond a shadow of a
doubt, to fail our kids," Wilson said. "Here's another system that might
be a potential answer."
Furthermore, he said, other research has shown that studying any
language fosters intellectual development. For Indian students, an
indigenous language is the logical choice for study, he said.
At Thursday's conference, Indian leaders urged Dorgan to continue
championing the cause, and push to get the bill signed into law in this
congressional session. Dorgan is the vice chairman of the senate's
Committee for Indian Affairs.
"Indian country is resting its hopes on him,"Wilson said. "He's the only
one that can carry water on this."
The bill doesn't set a fixed dollar amount, but Wilson said the program
would likely cost around $8 million.
Fast action is important because some languages have only a few
remaining speakers, said Tex Hall. There are only 8 people alive who
speak Mandan fluently, he said.
"If we don't do this now, it will be gone,"Hall said. "These speakers
are passing on. When they pass, they take a wealth of knowledge with
One reason there are so few speakers is because the government
discouraged previous generations from speaking or learning indigenous
languages in an attempt to force cultural assimilation, Wilson said.
Many Indians attended boarding schools, where they were punished if
caught speaking their native tongue.
"We know that while that was well-intentioned ... we also know that it
did great damage to Indians," Wilson said. "We're not playing the role
of victims; we don't believe in that. But the U.S. government made the
biggest investment in the destruction of the languages, and it should
make a commensurate investment in helping to bring them back."
Wilson said that while most immigrants in the country's history have
been eager to assimilate, American Indians traditionally have not shared
that desire. That is something mainstream America has struggled to
understand, but is the right of Indians, nonetheless, he said.
"We ceded millions of acres of the most productive land in the world for
the right of continued sovereignty,"he said. "It's our right. We've
already paid for this."
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/endangered-languages-l/attachments/20060729/1ec71a6d/attachment.html>