The thirteen-year-old son of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the ICU unit of a Los Angeles hospital after a surfing accident Sunday.
People reports that Christopher Schwarzenegger was boogie boarding on Sunday, when something went wrong and he suffered a collapsed lung, broken bones and broken ribs. His mother was with him on the beach.
"Christopher has been in ICU since Sunday," a source tells PEOPLE. "Maria has not left his side and is sleeping at hospital."
On Friday, his older brother, Patrick, Tweeted an update, writing: "Thank you everyone for your messages about my brother. This kid is strongest kid I ever seen. Keep praying."
Christopher's father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has also been visiting his son as well.


text:
//
//  SOSAccountUpdate.c
//  sec
//

#include "SOSAccountPriv.h"
#include <SecureObjectSync/SOSTransportCircle.h>
#include <SecureObjectSync/SOSTransport.h>
#include <SecureObjectSync/SOSPeerInfoCollections.h>
#include <CKBridge/SOSCloudKeychainClient.h>

static void DifferenceAndCall(CFSetRef old_members, CFSetRef new_members, void (^updatedCircle)(CFSetRef additions, CFSetRef removals))
{
    CFMutableSetRef additions = CFSetCreateMutableCopy(kCFAllocatorDefault, 0, new_members);
    CFMutableSetRef removals = CFSetCreateMutableCopy(kCFAllocatorDefault, 0, old_members);

    CFSetForEach(old_members, ^(const void * value) {
        CFSetRemoveValue(additions, value);
    });

    CFSetForEach(new_members, ^(const void * value) {
        CFSetRemoveValue(removals, value);
    });

    updatedCircle(additions, removals);

    CFReleaseSafe(additions);
    CFReleaseSafe(removals);
}

static void SOSAccountNotifyEngines(SOSAccountRef account, SOSCircleRef new_circle,
                                    CFSetRef added_peers, CFSetRef removed_peers,
                                    CFSetRef added_applicants, CFSetRef removed_applicants)
{
    SOSPeerInfoRef myPi = SOSAccountGetMyPeerInCircle(account, new_circle, NULL);
    CFStringRef myPi_id = NULL;
    CFMutableArrayRef trusted_peer_ids = NULL;
    CFMutableArrayRef untrusted_peer_ids = NULL;

    if (myPi && SOSCircleHasPeer(new_circle, myPi, NULL)) {
        myPi_id = SOSPeerInfoGetPeerID(myPi);
        trusted_peer_ids = CFArrayCreateMutableForCFTypes(kCFAllocatorDefault);
        untrusted_peer_ids = CFArrayCreateMutableForCFTypes(kCFAllocatorDefault);
        SOSCircleForEachPeer(new_circle, ^(SOSPeerInfoRef peer) {
            CFMutableArrayRef arrayToAddTo = SOSPeerInfoApplicationVerify(peer, account->user_public, NULL) ? trusted_peer_ids : untrusted_peer_ids;
            CFArrayAppendValue(arrayToAddTo, SOSPeerInfoGetPeerID(peer));
        });
    }

    CFArrayRef dsNames = account->factory->copy_names(account->factory);
    CFStringRef dsName = NULL;
    CFArrayForEachC(dsNames, dsName) {
        SOSEngineRef engine = SOSDataSourceFactoryGetEngineForDataSourceName(account->factory, dsName, NULL);
        if (engine)
            SOSEngineCircleChanged(engine, myPi_id, trusted_peer_ids, untrusted_peer_ids);
    }
    CFReleaseSafe(dsNames);
    CFReleaseNull(trusted_peer_ids);
    CFReleaseNull(untrusted_peer_ids);
}

static void SOSAccountNotifyOfChange(SOSAccountRef account, SOSCircleRef oldCircle, SOSCircleRef newCircle)
{
    CFMutableSetRef old_members = SOSCircleCopyPeers(oldCircle, kCFAllocatorDefault);
    CFMutableSetRef new_members = SOSCircleCopyPeers(newCircle, kCFAllocatorDefault);

    CFMutableSetRef old_applicants = SOSCircleCopyApplicants(oldCircle, kCFAllocatorDefault);
    CFMutableSetRef new_applicants = SOSCircleCopyApplicants(newCircle, kCFAllocatorDefault);

    DifferenceAndCall(old_members, new_members, ^(CFSetRef added_members, CFSetRef removed_members) {
        DifferenceAndCall(old_applicants, new_applicants, ^(CFSetRef added_applicants, CFSetRef removed_applicants) {
            SOSAccountNotifyEngines(account, newCircle, added_members, removed_members, added_applicants, removed_applicants);
            CFArrayForEach(account->change_blocks, ^(const void * notificationBlock) {
                ((SOSAccountCircleMembershipChangeBlock) notificationBlock)(newCircle, added_members, removed_members, added_applicants, removed_applicants);
            });
        });
    });

    CFReleaseNull(old_applicants);
    CFReleaseNull(new_applicants);

    CFReleaseNull(old_members);
    CFReleaseNull(new_members);
}

void SOSAccountRecordRetiredPeerInCircleNamed(SOSAccountRef account, CFStringRef circleName, SOSPeerInfoRef retiree)
{
    // Replace Peer with RetiredPeer, if were a peer.
    SOSAccountModifyCircle(account, circleName, NULL, ^(SOSCircleRef circle) {
        SOSPeerInfoRef me = SOSAccountGetMyPeerInCircleNamed(account, circleName, NULL);
        if(!me || !SOSCircleHasActivePeer(circle, me, NULL)) return (bool) false;

        bool updated = SOSCircleUpdatePeerInfo(circle, retiree);
        if (updated) {
            CFErrorRef cleanupError = NULL;
            if (!SOSAccountCleanupAfterPeer(account, RETIREMENT_FINALIZATION_SECONDS, circle, retiree, &cleanupError))
                secerror("Error cleanup up after peer (%@): %@", retiree, cleanupError);
            CFReleaseSafe(cleanupError);
        }
        return updated;
    });
}

static SOSCircleRef SOSAccountCreateCircleFrom(CFStringRef circleName, CFTypeRef value, CFErrorRef *error) {
    if (value && !isData(value) && !isNull(value)) {
        secnotice("circleCreat", "Value provided not appropriate for a circle");
        CFStringRef description = CFCopyTypeIDDescription(CFGetTypeID(value));
        SOSCreateErrorWithFormat(kSOSErrorUnexpectedType, NULL, error, NULL,
                                 CFSTR("Expected data or NULL got %@"), description);
        CFReleaseSafe(description);
        return NULL;
    }

    SOSCircleRef circle = NULL;
    if (!value || isNull(value)) {
        secnotice("circleCreat", "No circle found in data: %@", value);
        circle = NULL;
    } else {
        circle = SOSCircleCreateFromData(NULL, (CFDataRef) value, error);
        if (circle) {
            CFStringRef name = SOSCircleGetName(circle);
            if (!CFEqualSafe(name, circleName)) {
                secnotice("circleCreat", "Expected circle named %@, got %@", circleName, name);
                SOSCreateErrorWithFormat(kSOSErrorNameMismatch, NULL, error, NULL,
                                         CFSTR("Expected circle named %@, got %@"), circleName, name);
                CFReleaseNull(circle);
            }
        } else {
            secnotice("circleCreat", "SOSCircleCreateFromData returned NULL.");
        }
    }
    return circle;
}

bool SOSAccountHandleCircleMessage(SOSAccountRef account,
                                   CFStringRef circleName, CFDataRef encodedCircleMessage, CFErrorRef *error) {
    bool success = false;
    CFErrorRef localError = NULL;
    SOSCircleRef circle = SOSAccountCreateCircleFrom(circleName, encodedCircleMessage, &localError);
    if (circle) {
        success = SOSAccountUpdateCircleFromRemote(account, circle, &localError);
        CFReleaseSafe(circle);
    } else {
        secerror("NULL circle found, ignoring ...");
        success = true;  // don't pend this NULL thing.
    }

    if (!success) {
        if (isSOSErrorCoded(localError, kSOSErrorIncompatibleCircle)) {
            secerror("Incompatible circle found, abandoning membership: %@", circleName);
            SOSAccountDestroyCirclePeerInfoNamed(account, circleName, NULL);
            CFDictionarySetValue(account->circles, circleName, kCFNull);
        }

        if (error) {
            *error = localError;
            localError = NULL;
        }

    }

    CFReleaseNull(localError);

    return success;
}

bool SOSAccountHandleParametersChange(SOSAccountRef account, CFDataRef parameters, CFErrorRef *error){

    SecKeyRef newKey = NULL;
    CFDataRef newParameters = NULL;
    bool success = false;

    if(SOSAccountRetrieveCloudParameters(account, &newKey, parameters, &newParameters, error)) {
        if (CFEqualSafe(account->user_public, newKey)) {
            secnotice("updates", "Got same public key sent our way. Ignoring.");
            success = true;
        } else if (CFEqualSafe(account->previous_public, newKey)) {
            secnotice("updates", "Got previous public key repeated. Ignoring.");
            success = true;
        } else {
            CFReleaseNull(account->user_public);
            SOSAccountPurgePrivateCredential(account);
            CFReleaseNull(account->user_key_parameters);

            account->user_public_trusted = false;

            account->user_public = newKey;
            newKey = NULL;

            account->user_key_parameters = newParameters;
            newParameters = NULL;

            secnotice("updates", "Got new parameters for public key: %@", account->user_public);
            debugDumpUserParameters(CFSTR("params"), account->user_key_parameters);

            SOSUpdateKeyInterest();

            success = true;
        }
    }

    CFReleaseNull(newKey);
    CFReleaseNull(newParameters);

    return success;
}

static inline bool SOSAccountHasLeft(SOSAccountRef account) {
    switch(account->departure_code) {
        case kSOSWithdrewMembership: /* Fallthrough */
        case kSOSMembershipRevoked: /* Fallthrough */
        case kSOSLeftUntrustedCircle:
            return true;
        case kSOSNeverAppliedToCircle: /* Fallthrough */
        case kSOSNeverLeftCircle: /* Fallthrough */
        default:
            return false;
    }
}

static const char *concordstring[] = {
    "kSOSConcordanceTrusted",
    "kSOSConcordanceGenOld",     // kSOSErrorReplay
    "kSOSConcordanceNoUserSig",  // kSOSErrorBadSignature
    "kSOSConcordanceNoUserKey",  // kSOSErrorNoKey
    "kSOSConcordanceNoPeer",     // kSOSErrorPeerNotFound
    "kSOSConcordanceBadUserSig", // kSOSErrorBadSignature
    "kSOSConcordanceBadPeerSig", // kSOSErrorBadSignature
    "kSOSConcordanceNoPeerSig",
    "kSOSConcordanceWeSigned",
};

bool SOSAccountHandleUpdateCircle(SOSAccountRef account, SOSCircleRef prospective_circle, bool writeUpdate, CFErrorRef *error)
{
    bool success = true;
    bool haveOldCircle = true;
    const char *local_remote = writeUpdate ? "local": "remote";

    secnotice("signing", "start:[%s] %@", local_remote, prospective_circle);
    if (!account->user_public || !account->user_public_trusted) {
        SOSCreateError(kSOSErrorPublicKeyAbsent, CFSTR("Can't handle updates with no trusted public key here"), NULL, error);
        return false;
    }

    if (!prospective_circle) {
        secerror("##### Can't update to a NULL circle ######");
        return false; // Can't update one we don't have.
    }

    CFStringRef newCircleName = SOSCircleGetName(prospective_circle);
    SOSCircleRef oldCircle = (SOSCircleRef) CFDictionaryGetValue(account->circles, newCircleName);
    SOSCircleRef emptyCircle = NULL;

    if(oldCircle == NULL) {
        SOSCreateErrorWithFormat(kSOSErrorIncompatibleCircle, NULL, error, NULL, CFSTR("Current Entry is NULL; rejecting %@"), prospective_circle);
        secerror("##### Can't replace circle - we don't care about %@ ######", prospective_circle);
        return false;
    }
    if (CFGetTypeID(oldCircle) != SOSCircleGetTypeID()) {
        secdebug("badcircle", ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  Non-Circle Circle found <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<");
        // We don't know what is in our table, likely it was kCFNull indicating we didn't
        // understand a circle that came by. We seem to like this one lets make our entry be empty circle
        emptyCircle = SOSCircleCreate(kCFAllocatorDefault, newCircleName, NULL);
        oldCircle = emptyCircle;
        haveOldCircle = false;
        // And we're paranoid, drop our old peer info if for some reason we didn't before.
        // SOSAccountDestroyCirclePeerInfo(account, oldCircle, NULL);
    }

    // Changed to just get the fullpeerinfo if present.  We don't want to make up FPIs here.
    SOSPeerInfoRef     me = NULL;
    SOSFullPeerInfoRef me_full = SOSAccountGetMyFullPeerInCircleNamedIfPresent(account, SOSCircleGetName(oldCircle), NULL);
    if(me_full) me = SOSFullPeerInfoGetPeerInfo(me_full);

    SOSTransportCircleRef transport = (SOSTransportCircleRef)CFDictionaryGetValue(account->circle_transports, SOSCircleGetName(prospective_circle));

    SOSAccountScanForRetired(account, prospective_circle, error);
    SOSCircleRef newCircle = SOSAccountCloneCircleWithRetirement(account, prospective_circle, error);
    if(!newCircle) return false;

    if (me && SOSCircleUpdatePeerInfo(newCircle, me)) {
        writeUpdate = true; // If we update our peer in the new circle we should write it if we accept it.
    }

    typedef enum {
        accept,
        countersign,
        leave,
        revert,
        ignore
    } circle_action_t;

    static const char *actionstring[] = {
        "accept", "countersign", "leave", "revert", "ignore",
    };

    circle_action_t circle_action = ignore;
    enum DepartureReason leave_reason = kSOSNeverLeftCircle;

    SecKeyRef old_circle_key = NULL;
    if(SOSCircleVerify(oldCircle, account->user_public, NULL)) old_circle_key = account->user_public;
    else if(account->previous_public && SOSCircleVerify(oldCircle, account->previous_public, NULL)) old_circle_key = account->previous_public;
    bool userTrustedOldCircle = (old_circle_key != NULL) && haveOldCircle;

    SOSConcordanceStatus concstat =
    SOSCircleConcordanceTrust(oldCircle, newCircle,
                              old_circle_key, account->user_public,
                              me, error);

    CFStringRef concStr = NULL;
    switch(concstat) {
        case kSOSConcordanceTrusted:
            circle_action = countersign;
            concStr = CFSTR("Trusted");
            break;
        case kSOSConcordanceGenOld:
            circle_action = userTrustedOldCircle ? revert : ignore;
            concStr = CFSTR("Generation Old");
            break;
        case kSOSConcordanceBadUserSig:
        case kSOSConcordanceBadPeerSig:
            circle_action = userTrustedOldCircle ? revert : accept;
            concStr = CFSTR("Bad Signature");
            break;
        case kSOSConcordanceNoUserSig:
            circle_action = userTrustedOldCircle ? revert : accept;
            concStr = CFSTR("No User Signature");
            break;
        case kSOSConcordanceNoPeerSig:
            circle_action = accept; // We might like this one eventually but don't countersign.
            concStr = CFSTR("No trusted peer signature");
            secerror("##### No trusted peer signature found, accepting hoping for concordance later %@", newCircle);
            break;
        case kSOSConcordanceNoPeer:
            circle_action = leave;
            leave_reason = kSOSLeftUntrustedCircle;
            concStr = CFSTR("No trusted peer left");
            break;
        case kSOSConcordanceNoUserKey:
            secerror("##### No User Public Key Available, this shouldn't ever happen!!!");
            abort();
            break;
        default:
            secerror("##### Bad Error Return from ConcordanceTrust");
            abort();
            break;
    }

    secnotice("signing", "Decided on action [%s] based on concordance state [%s] and [%s] circle.", actionstring[circle_action], concordstring[concstat], userTrustedOldCircle ? "trusted" : "untrusted");

    SOSCircleRef circleToPush = NULL;

    if (circle_action == leave) {
        circle_action = ignore; (void) circle_action; // Acknowledge this is a dead store.

        if (me && SOSCircleHasPeer(oldCircle, me, NULL)) {
            if (sosAccountLeaveCircle(account, newCircle, error)) {
                circleToPush = newCircle;
            } else {
                secnotice("signing", "Can't leave circle %@, but dumping identities", oldCircle);
                success = false;
            }
            account->departure_code = leave_reason;
            circle_action = accept;
            me = NULL;
            me_full = NULL;
        } else {
            // We are not in this circle, but we need to update account with it, since we got it from cloud
            secnotice("signing", "We are not in this circle, but we need to update account with it");
            circle_action = accept;
        }
    }

    if (circle_action == countersign) {
        if (me && SOSCircleHasPeer(newCircle, me, NULL) && !SOSCircleVerifyPeerSigned(newCircle, me, NULL)) {
            CFErrorRef signing_error = NULL;

            if (me_full && SOSCircleConcordanceSign(newCircle, me_full, &signing_error)) {
                circleToPush = newCircle;
                secnotice("signing", "Concurred with: %@", newCircle);
            } else {
                secerror("Failed to concurrence sign, error: %@  Old: %@ New: %@", signing_error, oldCircle, newCircle);
                success = false;
            }
            CFReleaseSafe(signing_error);
        }
        circle_action = accept;
    }

    if (circle_action == accept) {
        if (me && SOSCircleHasActivePeer(oldCircle, me, NULL) && !SOSCircleHasPeer(newCircle, me, NULL)) {
            //  Don't destroy evidence of other code determining reason for leaving.
            if(!SOSAccountHasLeft(account)) account->departure_code = kSOSMembershipRevoked;
        }

        if (me
            && SOSCircleHasActivePeer(oldCircle, me, NULL)
            && !(SOSCircleCountPeers(oldCircle) == 1 && SOSCircleHasPeer(oldCircle, me, NULL)) // If it was our offering, don't change ID to avoid ghosts
            && !SOSCircleHasPeer(newCircle, me, NULL) && !SOSCircleHasApplicant(newCircle, me, NULL)) {
            secnotice("circle", "Purging my peer (ID: %@) for circle '%@'!!!", SOSPeerInfoGetPeerID(me), SOSCircleGetName(oldCircle));
            SOSAccountDestroyCirclePeerInfo(account, oldCircle, NULL);
            me = NULL;
            me_full = NULL;
        }

        if (me && SOSCircleHasRejectedApplicant(newCircle, me, NULL)) {
            SOSPeerInfoRef  reject = SOSCircleCopyRejectedApplicant(newCircle, me, NULL);
            if(CFEqualSafe(reject, me) && SOSPeerInfoApplicationVerify(me, account->user_public, NULL)) {
                secnotice("circle", "Rejected, Purging my applicant peer (ID: %@) for circle '%@'", SOSPeerInfoGetPeerID(me), SOSCircleGetName(oldCircle));
                SOSAccountDestroyCirclePeerInfo(account, oldCircle, NULL);
                me = NULL;
                me_full = NULL;
            } else {
                SOSCircleRequestReadmission(newCircle, account->user_public, me, NULL);
                writeUpdate = true;
            }
        }

        CFRetain(oldCircle); // About to replace the oldCircle
        CFDictionarySetValue(account->circles, newCircleName, newCircle);
        SOSAccountSetPreviousPublic(account);

        secnotice("signing", "%@, Accepting circle: %@", concStr, newCircle);

        if (me && account->user_public_trusted
            && SOSCircleHasApplicant(oldCircle, me, NULL)
            && SOSCircleCountPeers(newCircle) > 0
            && !SOSCircleHasPeer(newCircle, me, NULL) && !SOSCircleHasApplicant(newCircle, me, NULL)) {
            // We weren't rejected (above would have set me to NULL.
            // We were applying and we weren't accepted.
            // Our application is declared lost, let us reapply.

            if (SOSCircleRequestReadmission(newCircle, account->user_public, me, NULL))
                writeUpdate = true;
        }

        if (me && SOSCircleHasActivePeer(oldCircle, me, NULL)) {
            SOSAccountCleanupRetirementTickets(account, RETIREMENT_FINALIZATION_SECONDS, NULL);
        }

        SOSAccountNotifyOfChange(account, oldCircle, newCircle);

        CFReleaseNull(oldCircle);

        if (writeUpdate)
            circleToPush = newCircle;
        SOSUpdateKeyInterest();
    }

    /*
     * In the revert section we'll guard the KVS idea of circles by rejecting "bad" new circles
     * and pushing our current view of the circle (oldCircle).  We'll only do this if we actually
     * are a member of oldCircle - never for an empty circle.
     */

    if (circle_action == revert) {
        if(haveOldCircle && me && SOSCircleHasActivePeer(oldCircle, me, NULL)) {
            secnotice("signing", "%@, Rejecting: %@ re-publishing %@", concStr, newCircle, oldCircle);
            circleToPush = oldCircle;
        } else {
            secnotice("canary", "%@, Rejecting: %@ Have no old circle - would reset", concStr, newCircle);
        }
    }

    if (circleToPush != NULL) {
        secnotice("signing", "Pushing:[%s] %@", local_remote, circleToPush);
        CFDataRef circle_data = SOSCircleCopyEncodedData(circleToPush, kCFAllocatorDefault, error);
        if (circle_data) {
            success &= SOSTransportCirclePostCircle(transport, SOSCircleGetName(circleToPush), circle_data, error);
        } else {
            success = false;
        }
        CFReleaseNull(circle_data);

        success = (success && SOSTransportCircleFlushChanges(transport, error));
    }

    CFReleaseSafe(newCircle);
    CFReleaseNull(emptyCircle);
    return success;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


This is a singleplayer/multiplayer map (Multiplayer might contain some bugs). Remember not to use cheats (Well, if you're stuck in a puzzle..) and not to use any mods/hacks. All puzzles are possible to solve and the map is tested and completed. Also remember not to use any texture packs or resource packs.
You wake up in an abandoned prison. You're alone and you don't feel well. After you've realized where you are, you start escaping from the countless tunnels and rooms of the prison. But the more you explore, the more you realize you're not alone..
The ending is affected by the choices you make.
-2 GoddessofDeath AWESOME map!! Very suspenseful and interesting! I did, however, have to cheat only a couple of times, but all in all it was fantastic!! Loved each ending, and storyline!!
+1 BYUflash I couldn't get past the Visitor's room area without cheating. I saw the lever opened one door and I got another lever by turning on the light, but couldn't use it anywhere.
-3 gameplayer70 Just a couple comments for this map. First, there is no explanation on what to do when you first start. Second, if you are going to have puzzles which implement the use of the run mechanic, either have a way to replenish your hunger, make it so the hunger bar doesn't decrease, or just remove it completely.
-2 Hpcat The map was pretty fun but a lot of it was so dark I couldn't see even with my brightness up all the way.
0 SkyKill3rPvP An amazing map. It's so good.
-2 ElMasterLuca This map is AMAZING. Although, it took me about 30 minutes to beat.
I did do the whole thing so if you have trouble look at my videos.
However I mainly wanted to point out that this is a super awesome map! they're tricky puzzles that I never even seen before. and the ending is pretty twisted. If I ever get the chance to meet the maker in real life I want to give him a big huge for making that map.
-1 whatevs My hunger goes to three hunger bars on the crafting table room and i can't get to the other crafting table. What do I do?
+2 Erendle That story sounds just like Amnesia!!!
im in the iron tunnels. Which way should i go?
-3 EpicMiner101 im in the iron tunnels. Which way should i go?
You have to drop the charcoal on the gold pressur plate while you are standing on it.
LOL actually that's what happen, but I did not know that was a thing.
am still trying to figure that out, I did it somehow? but I had no idea how, it had something to do with the redstone single to reach it. I don't know, maybe it's a bug I just happen to get or possible it's a mistake? I doubt it.
how do you get past the redstone room?
0 animalkingdom how do you get past the redstone room?
e as well, but am also recording this map to help people out, and honestly I struggle as well, it's what's cool is they're puzzles that I never seen. before. But I'll tell you howto get past the first room and I'll post a link of the videos am doing in case your also struggling on more parts.
To get past the first room you right click under the table, there a trap chest that's hidden.
You shouldn't be rude to the people who are playing your map, as the people who are playing your map shouldn't be rude to you. They are helping your map become more popular. And your are helping to entertain them. He just asked a question nicely, therefore you should reply nicely.
I replied nicely, I think?
I was just surprised because the answer to his question was a bunch of comments down here.


The position of "Hat Master" World Expedition project - Сайт hatmaster!
The position on the Project "Hat Master"
1.1. This Regulation defines the objectives , the order of the round-the-world expedition «Hat Master» (« Mastershlyapp ") (hereinafter - the Project) .
1.2. The project is carried out in a fixed time frame, from 01.04.2014 and lasts about 120 days , with complete coverage of the globe, crossing all meridians.
1.3. The authors of the project - the citizens of the Russian Federation Smolyuk Valery Uvarov and Oleg (hereinafter - the authors ), the organizers - LLC "Optima" and OOO TG "Snowstorm".
1.4. The project is non-commercial, funded by the sponsors, organizers and potential sponsors.
- The acquisition of national headgear or exchange them to create the city of Kirov region Vyatskie Polyana Museum headgear.
2.1. Maximum allowable number of project participants that are crewed vehicle (hereinafter - Crew ) - Four people , two of which - the sponsors, perform the functions of the drivers, one a professional journalist, a translator. The functions of the journalist and translator can be combined with one crew member . The crew alone is responsible for his physical, technical training, damage to the equipment used and knowledge of traffic regulations.
2.2. The Organizing Committee provides ongoing guidance, preparation and implementation of the project, according to the route and schedule, hopes the event's budget. The Organizing Committee of the Project includes authors , Project Manager and coordinator of the route.
2.3 . In agreement with the authors to participate in the project can be brought other members as partners ( sponsors) on a contractual basis. The partners may be government, public and commercial organizations of all forms of ownership, have expressed a desire to participate in the Project, taking its goals and objectives. Partners may provide financial, organizational, informational assistance in the preparation and implementation of the Project.
3 . Sponsors of the project.
3.1. As part of the Kirov region The project is different uniqueness and novelty of ideas, socially significant goals and objectives. The attractiveness of the project for the sponsors is an interesting route, the crew is always available to the press, the Internet users, citizens of the route.
- Information about the sponsors may be contained in the final publications, travel, travel books, photo albums, travel diary online.
4.1. The project is being implemented in seven phases: the first phase is preparatory, follow five stages - the passage route with fixed start and end points and the timing of this leg , the seventh stage - final.
4.3. Progress along the route is by car. Transportation vehicles from one continent to another is carried out by sea, the crew delivered by air or any other possible way.
fourth stage - Morocco - Spain - Portugal - France - Belgium, the fifth stage - Norway - Sweden - Finland - Russia.
Detailing the route and timing of its passage are presented in the Appendix, the route may be changed and updated at any stage of the Project.
- Gathering information about the headgear (history, technology creation).
- Classification and description of the exhibits received for onward transmission to the museum.
5.1. The primary means of transportation used car, specially prepared for long journeys: pickup service with the ability to mark in any country of the world. By car to be installed GPS-navigator and other equipment necessary for the purposes of the Project.
5.2 . Navigation, communication and computer equipment of the Project shall be calculated on the full and continuous mode of communication.
During the expedition route should operate a mobile office , providing for the crew to fully participate in the business processes of their organizations. Expedition equipment must be designed to ensure reliable communication from any point, and let other than voice communication, transfer and information about the current location of the expedition, photos, videos, video conferencing , to carry out the work of web - cameras directly on the route.
5.3. The list and the parameters required and optional equipment and the equipment must be approved by the authors of the Project no later than two months before the start of the route. Allowed refinement and change items of equipment , both before and during the route. Replacement equipment provided by sponsors , is allowed only in case of failure, as agreed.
6.1. The authors of the project have exclusive rights to photos, video , film and printed materials produced by their order in the framework of the implementation of the Project.
issued in the form of supplements and Regulations, approved by the Organizing Committee.


text:
Trump's legacy still uncertain, suggest experts on nation's collective memory
While Trump's legacy may indeed hinge on his ability to overcome partisan differences, ongoing research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that most U.S. presidents are destined to fade quickly from the nation's collective memory.
By Gerry Everding February 7, 2019 February 14, 2019
Quick learners remember more over time
Healthy adults who learn information more quickly than their peers also have better long-term retention for the material despite spending less time studying it, finds a new study from psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis finds.
Unless we spot changes, most life experiences are fabricated from memories
We may not be able to change recent events in our lives, but how well we remember them plays a key role in how our brains model what's happening in the present and predict what's likely to occur in the future, finds new research in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
By Gerry Everding July 24, 2018 July 24, 2018
Misinformation may improve event recall, study finds
Research on eyewitness testimony has shown that false details put forth during an interrogation can lead some people to develop vivid memories of events that never happened. While this "false memory" phenomenon is alive and well, new research suggests that a bit of misinformation also has potential to improve our memories of past events — at least under certain circumstances.
By Gerry Everding January 10, 2017 January 12, 2017
Memory test: Which president is this?
Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Hubert Humphrey and some guy named "Thomas Moore" are among the names that many Americans mistakenly identify as belonging to a past president of the United States, finds a news study by memory researchers at Washington University in St. Louis.
Washington University 'Memory Hackers' featured on PBS/NOVA
An upcoming broadcast of NOVA called "Memory Hackers," airs Wednesday, Feb. 10, and will explore the cutting edge frontiers of human memory. Washington University in St. Louis scientists are featured in the show.
Newly discovered brain network recognizes what's new, what's familiar
New research from Washington University in St. Louis has identified a novel learning and memory brain network that processes incoming information based on whether it's something we've experienced previously or is deemed to be altogether new and unknown, helping us recognize, for instance, whether the face before us is that of a familiar friend or a complete stranger.
By Gerry Everding August 13, 2015 January 13, 2016
Pre-lecture diagrams help students take better notes, learn more
Lecture-based learning can be challenging for students who have difficulties building mental models for the organization of new information, but providing them with diagrams and other supporting material in advance of the lecture can help them overcome these hurdles, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis.
By Gerry Everding June 9, 2015 February 18, 2016
Building a memory palace: World's top memory athletes to compete May 2-3
Recalling long lists of random words, numbers and playing cards will be the challenge this weekend as two dozen of the world's top memory athletes square off in San Diego for the 2015 Extreme Memory Tournament, an annual competition sponsored by Washington University in St. Louis and Dart NeuroScience.
By Gerry Everding April 30, 2015 February 18, 2016
Extra sleep fixes memory problems in flies with Alzheimer's-like condition
Many studies have linked more sleep to better memory, but new research in fruit flies at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis demonstrates that extra sleep helps the brain overcome catastrophic neurological defects that otherwise would block memory formation.
By Michael C. Purdy April 23, 2015 January 25, 2016

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There are numerous instructions and recipes for making coffee in a plain pot over a campfire. You may have to try a few varieties to see what suits you best.
1. Bring two quarts of water to a good, rolling boil. Take it from the fire and add 2 handfuls of ground coffee (fine grind). Since 'handful' is hardly a precise measurement, whoever makes the coffee will alter the results.
Steep for 4 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of cold water to settle the grounds and then serve.
2. Add 6 teaspoons of ground coffee into the pot, and pour 3 pints of cold water over the grounds. Put the pot on the fire and bring to a boil. Take it off the heat and let steep for 3 minutes. Again, add a bit of cold water to settle the grounds. This makes 6 mugs of coffee.
3. This is the 'Canadian' version. In this recipe, you are supposed to use coarse ground coffee rather than fine. Use as much water as you want coffee, and use 2 heaping tablespoons of coffee for each cup. Add an extra cup of water, and an extra couple spoons of coffee 'for the pot'. (I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean). Sit this pot on hot coals, not open flame. Bring it slowly to a boil. When it boils, remove from the heat and let steep for 5 minutes. Add cold water to settle the grounds and serve.
This is likely the most common method, even though it requires extra equipment. You'll need coarsely ground coffee when using a percolator.
If you still end up with grounds in your coffee, you should get a regular coffee filter, poke a hole in it and put it in the perk basket. Use 1 or 1½ tablespoons of coffee for each 6 oz of water. How long to perk depends on how strong you like your coffee.
Using a French PressThe French Press, (or plunger pot) is a quick method for brewing small amounts of coffee. When using one, you'll also need to pack a pot to boil the water in. Your coffee should be medium ground, and you'll need 2 tbsp for every 6 ounces of water. Put the coffee in the pitcher and set aside. Boil your water and remove from the fire. Pour the water into the French Press. Put the plunger at the top but do not depress yet. Wait for one minute, and then remove the top to stir the grounds a bit. Wait for another 1 or 2 minutes. Slowly depress the plunger to the bottom of the pot. Serve.
These days of necessary luxuries, you can even buy espresso makers for the campfire. You should follow the directions that come with your particular model of pot. This is a great idea for those die-hard espresso drinkers who can't stand to be without their coffee. It won't be as strong as a commercially made cup, but still stronger than conventional coffee.
Good water. It's hard enough to make good coffee while in the great outdoors without having to deal with unpleasant lake, well or tap water. Bring some with you.
Keep it fresh. If you are going to be away from civilization for awhile, ground coffee won't last. So pack whole beans and bring a grinder. You can get small portable grinders that are light and easy to carry.
To appease the camping tea-drinkers, I'm going to mention one traditional campfire tea technique, Billy Tea. For authentic billy tea, you shouldn't use a pot, but a tin can. Boil water in the can over your open fire and toss in your tea (loose). Then swing the can around at arm's length in circles about 5 times. This will settle the tea leaves to the bottom.


text:
Time Tipper
A mug of coffee and stale bagel was all Deano needed to keep him going until lunch time.
Chasing furry vermin infesting the lower levels was thirsty work, and it was necessary to stay lean and keen. Some of the little critters bit and scratched given the chance so Deano preferred to get in first with the net and cage. The 15-year-old reckoned that the people who created the annoying creatures should have been doing this job. But his opinion, like his existence, counted for very little when the brains that controlled what was left of civilisation had privileged status. It was up to non-entities like him to clean up their failed experiments. Most annoying was that they were much younger and shouldn't have been allowed out of their prams until taught social responsibility. But what did a teenager know? His opportunity for status had long passed. Once past 13, and a dreg of a dwindling society, you were relegated to the lower levels chasing genetically engineered vermin resembling long-haired agouti with the expressions of startled lemurs.
One of the little pests was sitting up on its haunches and defying him to net it. It was ginger and had the air of the six-year-old teacher who delighted in telling him that he would come to nothing in this life.
Oh to be five again in those idyllic days when he seemed to know everything. Now it was all slipping away. People here aged at different rates. Some even grew younger. That was really bizarre. The end for them came in a test tube. Deano's time seemed to speed up towards a different form of oblivion. For him it would soon be tomorrow, then next year, and the year after when, quite probably, the ageing of his cells accelerated and he was rapidly reduced to a gibbering heap of flesh and bones.
The small critter insolently staring at him seemed to know this.
What the hell, Deano thought, and perched on a discarded storage crate to look it in the eye. 'I suppose you know what it's all about? I certainly don't. If I had my way you could all infest the sewers and breed until there were enough of you to take over the world. You'd probably make a better job of it.' A frown seemed to cross the ginger creature's face as though it understood. It wouldn't have surprised Deano if the varmints had human DNA spliced into their genes. 'Sorry. Forgot. You can't breed can you, being a hybrid and all that.'
The way the animal's expression changed suggested they had somehow managed to solve that problem. It was less disconcerting than the fact it understood what Deano was saying.
He pulled a cigarette from the secret pocket security hadn't searched for ages and lit it. 'Where did it all go wrong?'
The ginger varmint gave a high-pitched squeak.
'No, I got no idea neither. Two more years of this and I'll be lining up with all the other non-entities for that cushioned cubicle into nothingness.' Deano took a long drag on the cigarette and stretched out to wonder why his supervisors above had been so quiet for months. Not that he minded; as long as his rations held out and the automated system collected the vermin he caught, why should he care? He might not have been so philosophical if he had known it was releasing them out into the wild because there was no longer anyone up there to euthanise them. Lack of security also meant that he could have tried to contact all the other varmint catchers and subterranean operatives to see if they knew anything, but that was risky. People had been known to disappear after breaking the rules and he wanted to make the most of the time he had left, even if it was only chasing an infestation that would prefer to make friends.
Then a forbidden thought crossed the teenager's mind.
Why didn't he go down to those prohibited lower depths? That had to be where the answer lay, simply because they were prohibited. Then he might find out why some ten-year-olds seemed to stay the same age forever, while non-entities like him zapped through their limited life spans, or even grew younger again before having the chance to scribble on the chalkboard of life.
And what did Deano have to lose? Nobody had ever tried it so the penalty was unknown. He might as well do it before he was tipped into the black hole of non-existence.
The small, ginger critter seemed to realise what he intended to do and gave a sharp squeak of disapproval.
Deano told it to bug off if it didn't want to be chucked in the cage with the others. Then he wondered what happened to the harmless critters once they had been delivered to the depot. It probably wasn't good. They didn't gnaw though power cables, steal food or defecate all over the place. Their main problem seemed to be impertinence. So he lifted the latch and let them escape.
For a moment the creatures congregated in a corner, viewing him in astonishment, before scampering off in all directions.
Having just disposed of his obligatory quota for the day, there was no turning back. To the eight-year-old in charge, disobedience bordered on treason, but he hadn't checked on Deano for ages, so the teenager tossed the net aside and headed down to the lowest levels where not even the vermin dare venture.
As Deano went deeper the air pressure increased and passages became narrower.
His torch started to flicker. If the battery ran out now he wouldn't find his way back up in the dark. There was no point in panicking or expecting a rescue party. Had he called for help there was probably no one up there listening anyway, even if the signal did manage to get through half a mile of rock. If Deano died down in these dark depths, disorientated and dehydrated, he only had himself to blame.
And it was getting very hot.
Keep going, keep going, he told himself. Don't die without finding out what this sad existence is all about.
Just as the torch beam began to fail there was a sudden rush of clean air. At these depths there should have been hardly any at all... and there was also light. Far ahead, a door had opened and tall, unfamiliar humans were dashing towards him.
Deano didn't have the energy to run away. And why should he? They were probably the only ones who could answer the questions that had continued to nag him after he lost interest in everything else.
The rescue party moved fast, whisking the teenager to the other side of the door as though the atmosphere outside was fatal to them.
'We were right. The time-tip field must have passed,' Deano heard a voice say. It had to come from one of those fabled adults he had been taught about it lessons because it was far too deep for anyone his age.
'There's only one way to be sure,' joined another, just as old, 'put him in the isolation chamber and see if it accelerates his reversion.'
Deano didn't like the sound of that, but didn't have the strength to do anything about it.
There was the creak of a heavy door being opened. The next thing Deano knew, he was sitting in a huge chair looking at an illuminated ceiling.
His teenage limbs no longer ached with the effort of pursuing agile vermin and his clothes were too large for his five foot six frame.
Weirdest of all, Deano's feet no longer reached the ground.
Then he fainted.
He woke in a room filled with those adults he had only ever seen in teaching aids. Had he been himself, the teenager would have taken it in his stride. But he was no longer 15. His brain was still sharp and he could recall everything from his past life, even though he was now less than eight years old. He wanted to throw a tantrum at the indignity of being reduced to a child, but his teenage intellect told him not to be such an infant.
There was the babble of adult conversation on the other side of the room.
'That confirms it. The time anomaly has passed.'
'The boy must have been protected from reverting to his true age by living underground.'
'So what about those above ground? What's happened to them?'
'The time-tip might have accelerated human evolution.' This voice was unlike the others; it was thoughtful and considered, belonging to a small, ancient woman wearing a laboratory overall discoloured with age. Despite being senior to the others, years of frustration had eroded their deference to her opinion.
'Oh goodness, Professor Nixon, you don't still believe that, do you?'
Another scientist asked Deano, 'Hey kid, how long since anyone on the surface contacted you - relatively speaking?'
But Deano was still trying to take in his transformation. 'What's happened to me?' he demanded in an embarrassingly high-pitched voice.
'Nothing, nothing at all,' the elderly scientist explained. 'This is who you really are.'
'But I'm just a little kid.'
'And above, where everyone was exposed to the time anomaly, our ages would have been reduced as well or - much worse - increased.'
Deano hated himself for wanting to burst into tears. To placate him, Professor Nixon explained that the Earth had been struck by a time flux ejected by a cataclysm in the depths of space. Her group of scientists barely had the time to escape to their laboratory in the depths of the Earth where they were shielded from its effect. From there they observed the catastrophic consequences on cameras installed to monitor climate change. Every living thing was affected. Some elderly became infants, some infants became elderly and rapidly died of old age. Those juveniles Deano knew, controlling the remnants of society, had once been mature people who had retained their adult knowledge and experience. No one's biology remained stable enough to reproduce so the population rapidly dwindled. And then the scientists' window on the planet's surface began to fail as cameras were removed and cables corroded.
'What about the other animals?' demanded Deano, now realising that the critters he was sent down to pursue were experimental specimens genetically engineered to try and solve the problem of reproduction.
'Our sensors were focussed on human activity, so it's difficult to tell.'
'And now there's only one way to find out.'
Professor Nixon's tone was authoritative enough to make the others fall silent at the prospect.
At far as they knew, Deano was the first to survive the sudden reversion back to his true age. All previous attempts to send anyone above, away from the shielding of the bunker, had been fatal. The volunteers had either rapidly aged or reverted to embryos. But now the pumps drawing air from the surface were beginning to fail and what rations they had left were barely edible. They had to return to the surface of the Earth. Knapsacks were packed with as much equipment as they could carry and Deano's baggy clothes were adjusted to prevent them hampering him as he took the lead.
It was a long way for the surviving scientists, especially the older members like Professor Nixon. When they reached the levels where Deano used to work, they refreshed themselves from the meagre rations the vermin catchers were allowed.
The boy's seven-year-old brain could barely recall the way out to the world above. Fortunately one of the scientists had retained a map of the lower depths when hastily packing to escape the time flux and was able to pinpoint the nearest exit.
As he had already reverted, Deano volunteered to go out first into the daylight he had not seen for so many years, half expecting to be set upon by those hateful infants who had condemned him to his subterranean existence.
As they emerged, the scientists braced themselves, hoping to find that everyone had safely reverted to their true ages, though expecting a world of utter devastation. Had the first been true someone would have met them by now, but everything remained quite for too long.
Something far more disturbing was waiting.
The seven-year-old blinked hard in the bright sunlight of a silent, deserted world.
Suddenly there was the penetrating trill of a bird. Given their short lifespans they should have died out. Then the trilling was joined by a chorus of other birds... They were much brighter and larger than the ones he had been taught about.
The scientists emerged to stand and stare in amazement at what was left of the world they had escaped from.
This was not what most of them had expected. There was no sign of other humans, dead or otherwise. Everywhere was infested by cat-sized creatures; crosses between rodents and lemurs. Once they realised that the arrivals were harmless the air was filled with their high-pitched vocalisation as they returned to busily constructing rabbit-sized cities from the rubble of human habitation. The descendants of the vermin Deano had hunted avoided the huge, empty cocoons dotted about the derelict offices and homes. Whatever had been incubating in them had recently emerged.
Professor Nixon was unusually quiet as the other scientists debated what they were. Deano could see that she already knew and was not prepared to tell them the dreadful truth: better they worked it out for themselves.
As the discussion continued, other exits from Deano's subterranean world opened and the rest of the exiles emerged, blinking in the daylight and amazed that they were reverting to their true ages. Adults who had been infants and infants who had been teenagers were swapping clothes. Thankfully, because they had been protected by their subterranean existence, none of them dwindled into embryos or crumpled to skin and bones with accelerated ageing. All the same, introductions were complicated when the 15-year-old you had once known could be anything between five and 50.
The scientists and new arrivals agreed to form exploration parties for the sake of security, even though the only activity appeared to be by the creatures busily building their city.
Without warning one of the critters recognised Deano.
It squeaked urgently.
'Hi,' said the seven-year-old.
The others turned to wonder if the boy and creature were playing some bad joke. Then the rest of the animal's companions stopped working.
This was the teenager who had released them before he went exploring in the subterranean depths, but he wasn't quite as they remembered him.
'She knows you?' asked Professor Nixon.
'Think they want to show us something,' explained Deano.
He followed the creatures to a cocoon which was still intact.
Something inside it was moving. A luminous glow radiated through the cracks in its fibrous shell as it unzipped.
Everyone was engulfed by a bright light. When their eyes recovered they were aware of a figure glowing with phantom radiance.
Even the scientists stood speechless, until Professor Nixon admitted her worst fears, 'Accelerated evolution.'
Deano was too startled to understand. 'What?'
'The nature of the time anomaly ultimately changed and instead of ageing, the survivors metabolisms were sent into accelerated evolution... as I predicated it would.'
Deano stared at the phantom figure and demanded with childlike impertinence, 'Who are you?'
The newly emerged energy form said nothing. Expressionless, it dissolved into the air like steam.
'What was that all about?' he demanded.
Another scientist was loath to answer, 'Perhaps it wasn't able to communicate.'
Professor Nixon corrected him. 'It evaporated before it could transmute into a higher life form. Humans are not ready for enlightenment. That will take another million years.'
Deano gasped. 'So it really has disappeared?'
The Professor turned to the other search parties which were joining them. 'It looks as though we will have to get used to the idea that the world will now be populated by Deano's furry friends and fluorescent birds.'


When your child has a chronic illness that requires special care, sending them off to school—or just about anywhere you will not be present—can be nerve-wracking, if not downright scary. Are the teachers aware of diabetes, its symptoms, and its treatments? Will they know what to do in case there is an emergency? And even if the teachers themselves know, what will happen if they are gone and a substitute teacher is in place when something happens?
One mother from Florida, Lauren Rowe, came up with a brilliant solution to these potential issues: she created diabetes boxes for her daughter with type 1, putting together one for each of her daughter's classrooms.
The idea behind it is so simple yet so ingenious. You simply take a clear box, fill it with the supplies needed, tape a page to the lid of the box that provides details and instructions, and voila! You have a diabetes box that provides vital supplies as well as information about the child's needs and condition.
The box can be filled with all sorts of supplies, such as medicine, glucagon pens, test strips, and snacks in case of an emergency.
While the box Rowe made was specifically designed for her daughter with type 1 diabetes, this idea could be adapted to just about any chronic condition and could also be useful for anyone of any age. One of these boxes could be stored in the car, at the office, all over the house, you name it.
All in all, it's a pretty neat idea. Be sure to share it so that others in similar situations can try out this innovative strategy!


text:
ghanaonlinenews
Article: The Problem With The Inclusion Of Atewa Mountain In The Ghana-Chinese Deal
January 23, 2019 Science
My first ever formal Geography lessons in class started in 1960 at Abuakwa State College (ABUSCO), Kibi. I was in secondary Form One and the teacher was Mr Kwaku Darko (later Dr Kwaku Darko). He introduced to us the Kibi landscape including the Atewa-Atweredu range of mountains which jotted the outskirts of Kibi, ranging from Apedwa in the south to Asiakwa/ Sagyimase to the north.
It was later Mr. Adams, our Physical Education or Sports Master, who, after getting us to jog at dawn from the school compound on the main Accra-Kumasi road towards the outskirts of Potroase near Amanfrom/Wirenkyiren, made us to sketch the road network used for the jogging. The location of Atewa-Atweredu mountains were always featured.
It was from this time that I drew lots of inspiration for and became closely associated with the beauty of the Atewa landscape, which was always covered in clouds, making it the only remaining upland evergreen and cloud forest in Ghana. This forest range forms part of the Guinean-Congolean forest stretch that characterized the West African Region until it was disrupted over the last six decades by excessive land-use and land-use cover change including agriculture and urbanization.
It was much later in life that I became aware of the following features associated with this geographically important site: the knowledge about a small tributary of River Birim (called River Bannin) running near Apapam, which is highest in authority of all the river deities mentioned during libation pouring for the commencement of the Ohum festival for the Akyems by the Akyem Tafohene, and which has such historical significance for the heritage of the Akyems in general; the special rainfall pattern (raining everyday on the hills) which characterizes the Akyem Abuakwa area with the attendant microclimatic conditions for food and tree crop cultivation; the source of two other very important Ghanaian rivers, namely Densu and Ayensu, including River Birim; the only indigenous and endemic tree fern species whose presence is a result of disjunct distribution of the species along its global range; a number of endemic butterfly and frog species and several others of significant international conservation importance which are located Atewa. As students at ABUSCO at that time, there was no pipe-borne water and we fetched water from the BIrim river every day for our personal use.
I am narrating all of these to establish my unhappiness and disquiet that Atewa, a globally significant biodiversity area with multiple benefits including a great potential for ecotourism, is one of the natural resource sites to be exploited in exchange for the US$2.0 billion Chinese money acquired for infrastructural development across the country. I have no problem with infrastructural development, as has been described and which is good for national development, but I have a problem with the inclusion of Atewa in this deal. I see the Atewa as sacred and the total embodiment of the soul and spirit of the Akyem Abuakwa people. A place of such importance should be protected.
I ask the following questions: why should a precious, unique and priceless site such as Atewa be destroyed? Who accounts for the endemic animals and plants, many of which are yet to be scientifically discovered and named? Who will follow the removal of rocks which predate our current age, mark and study them to provide an account of their history? Who will supervise the removal and haulage of the excavated soil of the mountain and make sure that it is only bauxite deposits that are being removed but not diamonds and gold? Who will account for and who will authenticate the value of the excavated soils? There are many questions to ask and whose answers may never be found. ? I am aware of work done on the ecosystem valuation of the Atewa in terms of its contribution to human wellbeing which far outstrips any destructive and unsustainable economic endeavour that would involve the removal of the mountain. This is where the Precautionary Principle enshrined in Agenda 21, which is the forerunner of the current global Agenda 2030 and the AU 2063 should be invoked.
Meanwhile what the Ghanaian public should know is that once it is exploited, the contributions that this natural resource provides to the people of Akyem Abuakwa in particular and to Ghana in general will be lost forever. It should be made known that no jobs will be created with the mining exploitation and that there is no scientific mining anywhere without destruction, as quoted falsely by some government officials.
Studies by colleagues in the Birim, Densu, and Ayensu basins in the Eastern and Central Regions respectively, indicate extensive land degradation, pollution and silting of rivers and streams which have exacerbated extreme poverty for the local people who subsist on peasant farming because of changes in the landscapes. The climate buffer, which the Akyem Abuakwa people have enjoyed over the years, with the presence of the Atewa mountain contributing to climate regulation, is now under threat. The scenarios point to a bleak future where a place that was once a prosperous production socio-ecological landscape is now being turned into a zero-production area.
I wish to appeal to the President and his cabinet, many of whom come from this area of Ghana, to reconsider Atewa's future and remove it from the list for exploitation. I believe that this appeal, which is based on scenario predictions, will receive urgent attention. I can foresee, in two to three decades time when our present generation would have left the scene, and the new generation has taken over, these places will be in total desolation. It will not be easy for them to survive. We would have failed in living to the tenets of sustainable development, whose beginnings were vigorously promoted by Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, the Okyenhene, in many of his writings and speeches to the citizens of this country.
Profile of author
Professor Alfred Apau Oteng-Yeboah
Retired Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, University of Ghana, Legon
Former Chair of the Subsidiary Body on Science, Technical and Technology Advice to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Recipient of the global MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity in 2014
Part of Group that initiated the IPBES (Intergovernmental science-policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem services)
Former Chair of Ghana National Biodiversity Committee
Former member of Council for GEF representing Coastal West African States
Former Chair of the Standing Committee for UNEP Convention on Migratory Species
Former Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of CITES
Source: Modern Ghana
FDA declares zero tolerance for unregistered products
Accra Unregistered imports will not be cleared at Ghana's ports from February 1, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) said Read More »
Africa claims top three spots in Mastercard Index for highest concentration of women business owners in the world
Fourth edition of Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs examines progress in 58 economies, representing 80% of the world's female workforceUganda Read More »
CBG donates medical beds to LEKMA Hospital
As part of its regional CSR activities, Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) has donated medical beds to the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Read More »
December inflation rate rises to 10.4 per cent-Stats office
Accra The year-on-year inflation rate rose to 10.4 per cent in December compared to 9.8 per cent the previous month, Read More »
WR GWCL entreats customers to pay debts
The Western Regional office of the Ghana Water Company Limited has entreated consumers in the Region to settle all arrears Read More »
EC Extends Filing Of Nomination For Mfantseman Constituency
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that it has extended the filing of nomination for the Mfantseman Constituency Parliamentary seat Read More »
Election 2020: Be Mindful Of Your Utterances – Zongo Chiefs urged
The National Council of Zongo Chiefs (NCZC) has underscored the need for chiefs to be mindful of their utterances before, Read More »
Having Many Political Parties Reduces Political Contest To Personalities Not Ideas — Majority Leader
The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Member of Parliament for the Suame Constituency, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has emphasized the Read More »
Archives Select Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016
Our Page links
Prof Benneh's murder case: police to correct defects in charge sheet
Accra The Kaneshie District Court on Friday ordered the police to put their house in order following detection Read More »
Judge appeals to Legal Aid to defend MP's killers
Accra The Trial Judge of the alleged killers of J.B. Danquah Adu, the late Member of Parliament for Read More »
© Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved. Ghana Online News


text:
Q: Custom Controller - "Attempt to dereference Null object" I have a visual force page that calls a custom object controller extension, as below:
Custom Controller
public class ProjectApproval{

    ApexPages.StandardController controller;
        public ProjectApproval(ApexPages.StandardController con){
                controller = con;
        }

    ResearchProject__c project {get; set;}

    public PageReference save(){
         controller.save();
         String base = URL.getSalesforceBaseUrl().toExternalForm();
         Pagereference pr = New PageReference(base + '/ApprovalSuccess');
         pr.setRedirect(true);
         return pr;
    }

    public void declTick(){
        project.Head_of_School_Appr__c = false;
    }
}

Visual Force Page
<apex:inputCheckbox value="{!ResearchProject__c.Head_of_School_Decline__c}">
    <apex:actionSupport event="onchange" action="{!declTick}" reRender="headAppr" />
</apex:inputCheckbox>

When I call the declTick() function, I get a Null reference error. I assume I am not instantiating the project object correctly, but I cannot work out how.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

A: You are getting that exception because you are using project variable in declTick method which is not yet initialized i.e. it is still null. And when you try to perform operations on null object, you will get Attempt to dereference a null object exception.
As this is an extension controller, you can assign the standard controller instance to the instance that you are working with in delTick method so that it copies all the field values from standard instance to your instance. You can do that in constructor by using the standard controller's getRecord method.
public ProjectApproval(ApexPages.StandardController con){
    controller = con;
    project = (ResearchProject__c)con.getRecord();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It's coming, just like they promised. Migos will be returning to the spotlight that, to be honest, hasn't been left since Culture dropped last year. We all knew that Culture II was coming, and trusted Quavo when he said it would be available in January. And now, we have a confirmation.
January 26th is the official date. It was announced via the Migos' Twitter account Monday night, and fans everywhere are now going insane. It's their first solo project since the initial installation of the Culture series was dropped in January 2017. And ever since, the entire group has been on a tear. Therefore, this sequel should be a classic as well.
With multiple side projects this past year since Culture dropped, all of Migos has been on fire. With albums they've been involved in such as Without Warning with Offset, 21 Savage and Metro Boomin, and Huncho Jack Jack Huncho with Quavo and Travis Scott, nothing has slowed down the Atlanta trio. And with this upcoming project, fans all around know that their streak of greatness won't end.
You can check the official announcement on Twitter below.


text:
Serena Williams: 'I want to see more people in design that look like me'
The tennis great wanted to create a pipeline for young designers of color to break into Nike. The Serena Williams Design Crew does just that. Here's a first look at their collection.
[Photo: Nike]
By Elizabeth Segran 6 minute Read
Tennis superstar Serena Williams has been a Nike-sponsored athlete since 2003. But as she developed her latest fashion collection with the activewear giant, she wasn't content to tap the company's existing slate of designers. "I have been at Nike for many years and I want to see more people in design that look like me," she tells Fast Company. "I wanted to cast our net further, to areas where Nike generally wouldn't go."
Serena Williams [Photo: Nike]
Two years ago, Williams proposed that Nike launch a design apprenticeship program—the Serena Williams Design Crew—to bring on young designers from communities of color to help design pieces for her collection. Williams helped pick 10 talented designers from New York who were invited to apprentice at Nike for six months starting in January 2020. This cohort worked closely with Nike designers to create Williams's newest collection, which launches this fall. It's inspired by '90s looks that influenced Williams's aesthetic sensibilities and reflects her own history and personality. From its colorful jumpsuits to asymmetrical body suits, this bold collection is just the first to acknowledge that inclusivity has to start with who's actually designing the pieces—not just who they're being designed for.
An exclusionary industry
The fashion industry is notoriously exclusionary toward Black designers: Fewer than 10% of fashion designers at New York Fashion Week are Black, and fewer than 5% of members on the Council of Fashion Designers of America, a prestigious trade group, are Black. Over the past three years, the fashion media has documented the racial disparities in the fashion world, but change has been slow to come.
While Williams is best known for her athletic achievements, she has always had a keen interest in fashion design. From 2000 to 2003, while still maintaining her tennis career, she attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale to study fashion design. And in 2018, she launched her own fashion line, called S by Serena. Throughout these experiences, she saw firsthand how hard it is for aspiring Black designers to break into the fashion industry.
"This program responds to the opportunity to increase diversity across the design industry," Williams says. "Can you imagine what it means for a young designer to work within Nike's world-renowned design organization? For me as a designer, it would be legit the best place to work." (Williams says she snuck her own design portfolio into the pile of applications. "I didn't get picked," she says with a laugh. "We had really high standards.")
Nike, for its part, has been criticized for its treatment of workers of color. The company has actively supported athletes who have used their platform to elevate the Black Lives Matter movement, such as former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. But it has also faced allegations of racism from within its own ranks. Last year, current and former Nike employees started an Instagram account called Black at Nike for sharing their experiences with racial discrimination within the organization.
A program such as the Serena Williams Design Crew could help Nike bolster its image as a company that hires diverse talent and supports Black employees. And ultimately, Nike hopes that it could help attract new generations of consumers from a wide range of backgrounds. "For a lot of companies, the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, sparked a whole new approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion," Jarvis Sam, Nike's VP of global diversity and inclusion, says. "For us, it was really a catalyst or an accelerator. We believe that by having diverse teams, it will have very positive downstream implications not only in how our consumers see our commitment to diversity, but how our employees see it."
Jarvis Sam [Photo: Nike]
The Design Crew's Inaugural Class
For the Design Crew, Williams thought that it would be best to conduct a search one city at a time, rather than doing a national search, because it would allow Nike to delve deep into the talent pool there. Sam helped Williams build out the program and says that Nike partnered with organizations like Harlem's Fashion Row, explored local community colleges in the New York area, and even looked at Nike's retail stores in the city to solicit applications.
Williams stayed involved throughout the process and helped select the final candidates. "They can bring parts of that city to the design and that's something you don't really get to see that often," Williams says. "We're talking about doing this program for a very long time and going to different cities, so we really want to build something sustainable that will have a lot of longevity to it." Williams has already helped pick the next round of 11 candidates, this time from Chicago, who began their apprenticeships at Nike in May 2021.
Once the apprentices were selected, each had an onboarding buddy, a mentor, and a people manager to give them the tools they needed to succeed. They went through a three-week training course with Pensole Design Academy, a footwear and activewear program developed by Nike alum D'Wayne Edwards.
Among the candidates was Toussaint King, who was working at a marketing company but had dreams of becoming a sneaker designer. He was selected to be in the first cohort of the Design Crew and go to work on some dream projects. During his six-month apprenticeship, he worked on Williams' Australian Open 2021 footwear, as well as the Air Max Koko sandal and the Air Force 1 that will launch in October. King is among seven of ten members of the Design Crew to land a full-time job; he is now a footwear designer for the Jordan Kids brand. "I've always been fascinated with creating something that doesn't exist," he says. "But as a self-taught designer in a highly competitive industry, I don't think I would have ever gotten to work on a collection like this without this platform. One of the best parts has been working with people at Nike who are icons of design in my eyes—getting to talk with them, have lunch with them, just regular things. That's been amazing."
Emiko McCoy, another member of the inaugural cohort, had a background in fashion. She studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and worked at brands like Champion and Ralph Lauren. But her dream had been to work at Nike. "Seeing Serena Williams's 'Dream Crazy' campaign on a billboard in Herald Square was a life-changing moment for me," she says about the video that featured female athletes tracing their careers from their childhood dreams to global success. "To see the greatest athlete of all time—someone who looks like me and has brought so many young girls into sport—inspired me to finally pursue my own crazy dream of becoming a Nike designer."
As a member of the Design Crew, McCoy worked on performance apparel items in Williams' new collection, which are colorful and covered in patterns. The prints emblazoned on these pieces are designed to tell a story about Williams' life. The double zero motif refers to 'love' in tennis as well as her daughter's initials. Meanwhile, the geometric prints pay homage to West African Kente cloth, with "S" for Serena embedded in the design. Even the cutouts are strategically placed on the right shoulder, which is Williams' serving arm. The apprenticeship led to a full-time job as a women's apparel designer at Nike.
Nike has hundreds of designers on staff, but the new designers who came through the Design Crew believe they have an opportunity to shape the brand's aesthetics. They can weave their culture and personal background into the pieces they create, which could resonate with the consumers they're trying to reach. "My design is a microcosm of where I'm from and my real-life experiences," King says.
The collection will be available in September.
Elizabeth Segran, Ph.D., is a senior staff writer at Fast Company. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts
How big philanthropists making big bets can keep their efforts compatible with democracy
Tech company Bolt is permanently embracing a 4-day workweek
When will the omicron wave peak in the U.S.?
With omicron spreading, will schools mandate COVID vaccines for all students and teachers?
The Great Resignation roars again: Here's why more workers than ever quit in November
Omicron in the US: Updated CDC map and tracker show where the variant is spreading
Delicious plant-based fried chicken is coming to KFCs nationwide
Feeling blah about your home? These 3 bold tweaks can help you transform it
This giant kite helps power cargo ships and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20%
This CEO pays new employees $5,000 to quit
7 hybrid work hurdles which you may have overlooked
The 5 lost superpowers hiding in each and every one of us. Tap them and succeed


A long 10 years for those who loved and lost vivacious 11-year-old.
Before a motion-activated camera blinked on to show Carlie Brucia walking away from a Sarasota car wash with her soon-to-be murderer, friends said the 11-year-old liked to goof off and laugh about boys.
Mandi Langworthy, who grew up with Carlie and considered her house to be a second home, remembered her former best friend's smile and silly antics.
But Carlie's contagious grin vanished from Sarasota on Feb. 1, 2004, when she as abducted, raped and murdered by Joseph P. Smith. Smith left her body in woods behind a small Sarasota church.
He was convicted of killing Carlie and is awaiting execution.
Saturday marked the grim, 10-year anniversary of Carlie's disappearance.
The crime was seared into the collective consciousness of Sarasota residents, especially among parents, many of whom began taking extra safety precautions with their children after watching the grainy video of Smith grabbing Carlie's right arm and leading her away from a car wash.
The video also generated national attention as Susan Schorpen, Carlie's mother, made daily emotional pleas on morning news shows for her daughter's safe return.
But Carlie was already dead.
A public prayer vigil held just after her body was found drew more than 1,000 mourners, many of whom were young children.
Saturday evening, about 100 mourners gathered at the Central Church of Christ just east of Interstate 75 on Proctor Road, where Carlie's body was found 10 years ago.
Although the gathering was smaller than the one held just after the pre-teen's death, emotions seemed just as fresh.
Young women, who were barely a decade old when their classmate died, hugged each other and cried as they looked at the stone monument dedicated at the site where her body was found.
Others shuffled through the memorial pathway built on the church's grounds, stopping to read stone-inscribed Bible versus and words of comfort.
Carlie's mother arrived and was soon enveloped in long, emotional embraces.
Steve Kansler, Carlie's stepfather, spoke briefly and quietly to those who came to remember.
Sarasota Sheriff's Deputy Chris McConnell held one of the dozens of white candles handed out by volunteers. He said he was at the church the day authorities discovered Carlie's body, setting up a perimeter around the crime scene.
Langworthy, Carlie's friend, said she remembers sitting at the kitchen table with her family when an Amber Alert splashed across the small screen of the family's TV.
For the next week, Langworthy and her family spent almost every waking moment with Carlie's family, helping to shield them from eager reporters.
They draped a large sheet to thwart curious eyes in front of the house where Langworthy spent many nights sleeping over with Carlie.
Langworthy remembered when she and Carlie were 8-year-olds at one such sleepover, when Carlie began making prank calls.
The two giggled for hours.
But during the first week of February in 2004, Carlie's room was unoccupied, save for hundreds of presents from a shaken community that Langworthy said filled the pre-teens room almost to the ceiling. The tidings ended up being donated to charity after Carlie was eulogized.
Langworthy still thinks of Carlie often, but prefers to focus on her bubbly friend rather than the way in which she died.
She has a cross-shaped necklaces that contains a sprinkling of Carlie's ashes. She said she guards the keepsake, and only wears it on Carlie's birthday.


Anything Larus: Pale 1st Cycle American Herrings, Hybrids, Or Something Else?
Pale 1st Cycle American Herrings, Hybrids, Or Something Else?
In the spirit of appraising the limits of 1st cycle American Herring Gulls, I put forth several individuals with interesting plumage aspects and upperpart patterns.
All were photographed during the last week of January in Volusia County, Florida. 2018.
Keep in mind this region borders the southern range limits of wintering smithsonianus.
Aside from the excessively pale upperparts, the wing projection is short and the primaries and rectrices show pale edges.
The flight feathers are genuinely pale - not a result of bleaching.
Size-wise, it towered over all the other Herrings with a muscular build and a large bi-colored bill.
Below are birds that are a bit more problematic.
Perhaps another putative Herring x Glaucous. The face certainly gives a Glaucous impression.
The wing coverts have internal markings similar to a white-winger, and the innermost primaries show a blotchy marbling that is often associated with pale-winged gulls.
Structurally this is okay for Herring Gull, but the milky plumage aspect with extensive pale edging on the primaries is curious. The patterned tertials don't contrast with the wing coverts much at all.
The pale subterminal bars on the rectrices and marbled centers to the greater coverts are interesting. The primaries and secondaries are a lighter brown recalling thayeri.
Overall, this bird is fine for smithsonianus. However, the marbled lower tertials with pale notching throughout is unusual. The inner greater and median coverts are patterned like a white-winger - some of this may be seasonal as it is late January. The small rounded upper scapulars are peculiar.
Perhaps the least confusing of this bunch. Aside from a frosted appearance to the upperparts and a venetian blind pattern to the outer primaries, I suppose American Herring is fine for this individual.
The heavily notched tertials, and checkered greater coverts recall Vega Herring. The lower scapulars have large, broad, dark triangles throughout their centers. The structure to this bird was different and I have reservations about calling it an American Herring.
Not unheard of in smithsonianus, the tail band tapers toward the outer edges. However, such a tailband coupled with this individual's upperparts is noteworthy.
Although some or all of these birds may be pure HERGs, to my eye, they appear alien and outside of my comfort zone. I should stress that our accepted limits of 1st cycle American Herrings has much greater consequences than simply understanding this age group. Whether we call birds that are this pale and this well patterned, smithsonianus, later has implications for how we view 2nd cycles. More on this age group soon.


text:
New Cape Cod Tides Added
11/22/2010 - We added Wellfleet tides and weather along with other Cape Cod stations including Pleasant Bay, Chatham and Barnstable Harbor. We will continue to add more and more locations in Massachusetts. Click here to view Wellfleet Monthly Tide Charts http://massharbors.com/monthly-tides/Massachusetts-Cape%20Cod/Wellfleet%... Click here to view Wellfleet Weather & Daily Tides http://massharbors.com/harbor-guide/wellfleet-harbor Please… SEE MORE
Fogland Beach, Tiverton
10/6/2010 - Fogland Beach is black stone beach on the south side of Fogland Point. Its approximately 4 miles south of the mouth of Tiverton harbor. The beach is a favorite of kayakers and wind surfers. There are changing rooms, showers, picnic benches, a children's playground and pets are allowed. The conservation… SEE MORE
Clay Head Beach, Block Island
9/14/2010 - Secluded Beach If you have the opportunity, make your way to Clay Head, which is accessible from Corn Neck Road. A 10-15 minute hike down a well-traveled nature trail will take you to a gorgeous and secluded beach that is unmatched anywhere in New England. The beautiful photos of the… SEE MORE
Napatree Point
7/30/2010 - Napatree point is one of the prettiest and most secluded beaches in the state. It stretches for over a mile and ends with the remains of the Spanish American war era, Fort Mansfield, build in the Spanish-American war. At one time this area was heavily inhabited, but all of the… SEE MORE
Polly's Trolley, towing the Blue Jay back to the dock
7/23/2010 - Banzai, a 1962 Blue Jay being towed by Polly's Trolley, a 1960 Corson, being driven by a 1951 John Hanson. The dreams of a ten-year-old never die. SEE MORE
Flying Horse Carousel
6/30/2010 - The twenty horses are not attached to the floor but instead are suspended from a center frame, swinging out or flying when in motion. About each horse is hand carved from of wood and is embellished with real tails and manes, leather saddles and agate eyes. The only flying horse… SEE MORE
Brant Point Lighthouse
6/23/2010 - Brant Point Light was established in 1746, automated in 1965, and is still in operation (as of 2010). The light station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1987. The lighthouse image is used often as a representation of Nantucket on t-shirts, posters and advertisements.… SEE MORE


An exceptional health system needs to engage top talent to achieve its mission of providing world-class healthcare. That requires a world-class Human Resources function, and that's what we're delivering. Join us and make a difference every single day in service of this extraordinary work – excellence and innovation in patient care, research, and community service. We're improving our technology, energizing our climate, facilitating change, and enabling talent. The healthcare industry has never been more rewarding, and Cedars-Sinai Human Resources is pursuing extraordinary service and support for a dedicated workforce inspired by providing the best patient care, engaged in their work, and deft in their ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment.
Serving as a strategic partner to nursing leadership, you will lead and support the alignment of business initiatives with employees and management. You will develop, assess, and anticipate HR related needs. Additionally, you will build partnerships across the Centers of Excellence (COE) to ensure HR priorities are achieved. As the Senior HRBP for nursing, you will join a team of other HRBP's committed to providing consultative guidance and support to the business.
Candidates who have previous management or business operations experience are highly desired.


text:
Kirk's Photos
Flowers BW
Kirkville
Writings by Kirk McElhearn
Book Review: Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo
Dec 18, 2011 Jan 10, 2020
Buy from Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon FR
Dogen's Shobogenzo is the most profound and perplexing work of the Zen canon. Written in the 13th century by the founder of the Soto school of Zen, the Shobogenzo is a collection of texts written over a long period of time that examine the concepts and practices of Zen.
This edition is a milestone, representing a complete English translation of the Shobogenzo, in an extremely attractive set of books. The two volumes are, while a bit expensive, very well produced. The paper is thick and opaque, the font is very readable, and the binding will last one or more lifetimes. Volume one has introductory matter about Dogen's life and the composition of the Shobogenzo, and the first part of the texts (fascicles 1-47). (For a more thorough discussion of Dogen's life and career, as well as an analysis of his thought, see Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist, by Hee-Jin Kim.) The second volume contains the remainder of the texts (fascicles 48-95 plus a 96th fascicle not included in the original edition of the Shobogenzo), and an extensive glossary explaining the terms used in the books.
Some of the texts in this collection have been published previously, in Moon in a Dewdrop, Beyond Thinking, and Enlightenment Unfolds. In fact, many readers may find those there volumes sufficient in content, and more agreeable in overall price. (Another useful book is Realizing Genjokoan: The Key to Dogen's Shobogenzo, by Shohaku Okumura, which is a detailed, and very accessible commentary on this section of the Shobogenzo.)
This glossary in volume two is essential to the reading and study of this work. Readers will need to look up terms to get a better understanding of what they really mean. Often a single word, or a short phrase, may seem obscure when reading, but the glossary goes into detail to explain it better. In addition, the glossary serves as an index, with references to where the terms are used.
But the glossary is a bit problematic. At more than 200 pages, this is a big chunk of the text, and it is, of course, only available in the second volume. If you are reading the first volume, you still need to have this glossary handy, so you'll need to have both books. I wish that Shambhala had included the glossary as a separate volume – perhaps a paperback – so it could be more easily consulted. Or, if they could provide an e-book version, popping it on an iPad would make reading and consulting it more practical.
This doesn't detract from the overall work, which is, I must say, an amazing feat of translation that has taken decades. The text is beautifully rendered, and, while just one interpretation, it certainly has the weight of experience both of the translators as translators and as practitioners. This set is a monument to the work of Dogen.
Note: the original two-volume edition is out of print, but there is a one-volume edition (Amazon.com, Amazon UK) that has replaced it. I haven't seen it, but it apparently has much thinner paper. There's also a Kindle edition (Amazon.com, Amazon UK) which is great for reading on the go, since the book is so heavy, but the glossary is essentially unusable on the Kindle.
Categories Books, TechTags Books, Dogen, Zen
Music Notes: Hyperion 99-Disc Complete Liszt Box Set
Update: Bad Tracks from iTunes Match: Who Do You Complain To?
4 thoughts on "Book Review: Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo"
Jul 12, 2011 at 12:47 pm	 | Reply
From the sublime to the quotidian, I recommend the recent book Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist as an intro to the Dharma for Western non-religionists put off by some of the ancient accretions of Buddhist theology that seem at first glance to conflict with modern thinking.
(The book is less interesting for those already conversant in the topic, but is a readable intro for others. It might serve as a gateway drug for some untutored Western readers.)
I very much like Stephen Batchelor's books, notably his Buddhism Without Beliefs. I haven't read this one yet, but I will check it out. Thanks for pointing it out.
Learn How to Manage Your Media After iTunes
Support Kirkville
Make a donation on Patreon.
Or PayPal me.
Honkyoku: Learning to play the shakuhachi.
Subscribe to the Kirkville Weekly Newsletter
© 2020 Eyes of the World Limited. Privacy policy.


We three kings of Azeroth are.
Heroes of the Storm has never shied away from trying new things. At Blizzcon this year, two game-changing new characters were revealed: Varian Wrynn and Ragnaros. Varian, king of Stormwind and leader of the Alliance, has been out for a while now. Now that he's received his customary post-launch patch, it's time to get to know him.
A plain and simple trait. Every 18 seconds, Varian's next attack deals bonus damage. The cooldown is decreased by two seconds every time Varian attacks, meaning constant aggression will get this ability to activate regularly. That's the core theme of Varian in Heroes of the Storm: keep on fighting until you or the enemy have gone down, and don't back off.
Varian's not too good at clearing minion waves (keep this in mind on maps like Braxis Holdout or Tomb of the Spider Queen, where clearing waves is important). His only clearing ability is Lion's Fang, which launches a projectile forwards, dealing little damage but slowing enemies. Prioritise using it to keep up with fleeing enemies or land a little poke in lane.
Doing exactly what you imagine it might, Parry causes Varian to become immune to all attacks for 1.25 seconds. He is not, however, immune to spells, and this is primarily a way to get the upper hand against attack-heavy opponents like Illidan, Tracer, and so on.
Similar to Parry, Charge does exactly what you think it might do. Varian charges at an enemy, dealing a tiny amount of damage but slowing the enemy by 75% for a second. This is Varian's way to get on top of an opponent: learning when to use this is paramount to being successful with him. He's very good at getting into a fight, but bad at getting out of one. Learn when to go in, because Charge is a one way ticket.
This is where Varian breaks the mould. Instead of two heroic abilities, Varian has three, each of which drastically changes how you play him.
Taunt makes Varian a tank, greatly increasing his max health by 50% and giving him the ability to taunt an enemy, forcing them to attack Varian for 1.5 seconds. This can be used to distract opponents, keep them occupied, or drag them out of position by taunting and then running away. With this ultimate, he becomes a healthy frontliner.
Colossus Smash, on the other hand, decreases Varian's max health by 10%, making up for that with a whopping 75% attack damage buff. It also gives him a new way to engage an enemy—by leaping onto them, dealing heavy damage and increasing the damage they take for 3 seconds. It's a good way to burst down an opponent, and works well when your team focuses on deleting enemies instantly.
Twins Blades of Fury, finally, doesn't have an active component, but has a huge impact on Varian's regular attacks. His attack speed is increased by 100%, and attack damage decreased by 25%. His passive, Heroic Strike, also has its cooldown decreased by 9 seconds with every attack, essentially making every third attack do huge damage.
Which heroic choice you should go for depends on a few factors, but it's best to know his talents first.
Level 1: Some of Varian's talents synergise far better than others, and your start will often dictate the later talents. The two top choices at level 1 are Lion's Maw and High King's Quest: the former helps Varian to stick to enemies, and gives him some better poke, typically synergising best with talent choices that make Varian a wall rather than a damage dealer. High King's Quest, then, is best for the latter, and especially synergises with Twin Blades of Fury, making up for the attack damage decrease in that heroic.
Note: Varian's talents that buff his W are strong, but go against his core playstyle, which is unyielding aggression. Therefore, the build that focuses on taking these talents isn't worth it.
Level 4: Varian wants to get on the enemy and stay there, until he or they fall. Level 4 has two talents that decide on how he wants to try and win that fight. Shield Wall is great if he wants to soak up enemy abilities and win fights by being able to take more damage, while Warbringer gives him the edge by allowing him to get in early hits as well as offering some mobility with a decreased cooldown on Charge. The latter is typically the best choice, as the stun makes Charge a good way to pick off enemies out of position, but Shield Wall is a good choice if you're up against a lot of spells.
Level 7: Ordinarily, Varian has no way to keep his health topped up. That's where two of his level 7 talents come in. The default choice should be Second Wind: it works well with the constant aggression Varian puts out, and is even better with Twin Blades of Fury. Victory Rush is sometimes used on smaller maps, like Tomb of the Spider Queen where you'll be soaking multiple lanes of experience. Live by the Sword is only typically viable if you've been taking talents for Parry since level 1.
Level 10: Here's the kicker, the key level. You should have an idea for what talent you'll pick here from the draft phase (partly so your team knows what to draft around), but here's the key questions to ask. Do you need a tank? If so, Taunt. Are you able to duel opponents one-on-one? If so, Twin Blades of Fury. Are you looking to burst down opponents? Colossus Smash is your friend.
At high level play, Taunt and Colossus Smash are more reliable. It's hard to get fights that don't involve the entire team, and both of these options are better when engaging enemies who've picked a bad spot to stand in.
Level 13: It's hard to recommend any talent at level 13 over Banner of Ironforge. Varian's aggressive, and isn't made to back out of a fight: Banner of Ironforge is a good way to mitigate damage for both him and his team. Banner of Dalaran is useful alongside a team of spellcasters or alongside Colossus Smash, but Banner of Ironforge will get you out of energy scrapes to make it a worthwhile choice every time.
Level 16: At level 16, Varian gets to specialise in something to counter his enemies. Against lots of enemies with a high health pool? Pick up Juggernaut. Having enemies heal a lot of your damage up? Mortal Strike's the ticker. Against shield-toting enemies like Tassadar? Take Shattering Throw. A fun interaction: Shattering Throw counters Johanna's level 20 talent Indestructible very well. If none of those apply, Juggernaut is the safest pick.
Level 20: For his final talent, Varian's best off upgrading his heroic ability most of the time. Sometimes, though, it's good to switch it up: Glory to the Alliance makes abilities like Tranquility or Ray of Heaven heal for absurd amounts, and Demoralizing Shout is a good pickup if you're finding yourself on the front lines surrounded by enemies.
Varian fits into a similar niche to Sonya: get in a fight and don't leave. There's no easy way out for Varian apart from killing his enemies.
That means the way to truly master him is to know his limits while maintaining perfect situational awareness. Whether you're engaging with Charge or Colossus Smash, you need to pick the perfect moment. Can you team follow up? Do you have a strength or numbers advantage? Is the enemy low on health or mana?
Varian's also heavily reliant on talents: it's important for him to pick them up simply because he's weak at a base level, and becomes much stronger with them. It's not uncommon for Varian's team to lose out early on—just stay focused until you've picked up some levels.
Never forget: choose your fights wisely. Just because you can Charge and Colossus Smash a nearby enemy doesn't mean you should. Exercise restraint, and use Varian's unrelenting offense in combat to pick out the perfect fights. And, if you do go down in battle, make sure it's for the good of the Alliance.