text:
Exciting and engaging: Richard Dawkins' The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True
By Christine Schofelt
For more than a decade we have experienced a veritable explosion in the number of books aimed at young adults and middle schoolers that treat vampires, witches and other supernatural subjects.
Fantasy, of course, has its place, but something else, of sociological and ideological significance, is going on here. There has been a concerted flight from reality on the part of many authors and publishers—complex issues of growing up or making sense of the world are increasingly reduced to good-versus-evil tropes, cloaked in macabre fantasy and packaged in ways that serve only to remove the reader from the world she or he inhabits. The search for the next big monster or magical element is ongoing, and creature after creature is seized upon, trumpeted and offered up as a trifling distraction.
In this climate, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins' latest offering, The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True, is a welcome book indeed. While most people who are familiar with Dawkins will likely recognize quite a bit of the content from his Unweaving the Rainbow (1998), this is a worthy endeavor, as he shows within its pages why reality offers so much more than fairy tales ever could.
Dawkins sets out in the first chapter—"What is reality? What is magic?"—to define the terms in question. He lays out how we know what is real, through direct sensory perception, as well as by using instruments and methods to test theories using models, arguing that how we know things ultimately comes down to reliance on our senses.
Importantly, he asks, "Does this mean that reality only contains things that can be detected, directly or indirectly, by our senses and by methods of science? What about things like jealousy and joy, happiness and love? Are these not also real?" His answer is firmly materialist; "Yes, they are real. But they depend for their existence on brains … These emotions are intensely real to those who experience them, but they didn't exist before brains did." This alone is refreshing.
As for magic, it is as he notes, "a slippery word," and Dawkins takes pains to define what exactly he means by it in this book. While providing examples of supposedly "supernatural magic" and "stage magic" too (including references to his friends Penn Jillette and James Randi), by far the most intriguing discussion involves what he calls "poetic magic"—the magic of viewing the stars, the magic of being "moved to tears by a beautiful piece of music," of "something that makes us feel more alive."
In one of my favorite passages, Dawkins provides a very useful warning against using supernatural magic as an explanation: "To say that something happened supernaturally is not just to say 'We don't understand it' but to say 'We will never understand it, so don't even try.'" Science, he says, takes the opposite approach, and "thrives on its inability—so far—to explain everything, and uses that as a spur to go on asking questions."
Opening the doors to inquiry and discovery, to finding out what is real, and encouraging young people to explore the wonders of reality are Dawkins' primary aims with The Magic of Reality, and he proves an engaging writer for the vast majority of the book. He writes with an excitement not often seen in nonfiction books aimed at people in this age group. His own love of the complexity of reality is palpable. Where many books on science tend to focus only on the facts, Dawkins' approach is very personal and warm. His assumption of intelligence on the part of the reader, and that we deserve to know the truth and will enjoy it, is endearing and caring. It matters to him that young people know what's what.
Each of the chapters poses and answers a question—in the second chapter, for example, "Who was the first person?" Dawkins uses a similar device to his "library" of time in Unweaving the Rainbow—this time using an imaginary three miles of photographs to describe the millennial pace of evolution. Tracing our ancestry back, Dawkins brings us from modern humans through 185 million generations of "great grandparents" to prehistoric fish. Having started the chapter with a couple of examples of creation myths, which Dawkins tells in a surprisingly even-handed tone, he then contrasts the reality and how we know what we know.
The chapter does get complex, describing several sorts of science involved in figuring out the process of evolution. This is better than fine, but could get daunting for some children. The illustrations by Dave McKean, however, provide a good hook to keep the reader on track. McKean, whose own career has ranged over quite a variety of projects, from the Sandman comic books and film direction to book and album illustration, is a perfect match for this project. His use of ink drawings, paintings, photography and collage is not just beautiful, but serves to draw the reader in—the "what is that?" effect of many of the illustrations is itself a spur to deeper attention and thought.
Moving through the subjects of atoms, earthquakes, the sun and (of course) rainbows, Dawkins then tackles such questions as "Are we alone?" "Why do bad things happen?" and "What is a miracle?" It is here that one can expect trouble from certain quarters, because while Dawkins' tone remains avuncular, his content will not sit well with some.
In "Are we alone?," Dawkins notes that there are not many ancient legends involving aliens, and therefore discusses more modern phenomena such as the Heaven's Gate cult. He treats the victims of the cult humanely, with an effort to explain why they took the actions they did. He is very good in this chapter, which covers the gamut of alien abduction stories, and brings in the studies of a number of psychologists on subjects such as how memory works, false memory syndrome, sleep paralysis and such.
His efforts to debunk alien abduction tales are not intended to discontinue the search for knowledge—indeed, it is just a jumping off point. In answer to the question, "Is there really life on other planets?," he answers flatly, "Nobody knows. If you forced me to give an opinion one way or the other, I'd say yes … But who cares about an opinion? One of the great virtues of science is that scientists know when they don't know the answer to something. They cheerfully admit that they don't know. Cheerfully, because not knowing the answer is an exciting challenge to try to find it."
"Why do bad things happen?" is a very useful chapter in which Dawkins not only sets out to make sense of superstition, but also to show what "luck" really is, and to "depersonalize" the universe. As in the other chapters, Dawkins makes good use of myths and stories of ancient traditions to introduce the chapter and illustrate his points, and we see in this section an especially welcome tendency not to condemn, but to understand why people thought the way they did.
The various myths are treated as past attempts to understand the world around us and dismissed gently. The reality of the situation—concepts such as probability, for example—are introduced. He makes, in every case, a very good argument for science as a better and more intriguing way to find out about the richness of the world than any story that has gone before. Gentle as he is, however, he does firmly place the legends and myths properly to rest, and this is bound to rile the more rabid elements of various religious communities.
All in all, this is a valuable book. Dawkins has said that he intended it for those 12 years old on up—but that he also hoped parents would read it with their kids. One could certainly see curling up with it.
The joy of science
A review of Unweaving the Rainbow by Richard Dawkins
[8 January 1999]
Sigrid Nunez's National Book Award-winning novel, The Friend: One form of contemporary misanthropy
A magnificent account of Stalin's opponents in the USSR
Skin Deep, Journey in the Divisive Science of Race, by Gavin Evans
A Warning: A manifesto of the pro-war "Resistance" in the American state
The Triumph of Injustice, by Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman: How tax cuts for the rich fuel inequality
Australia: Climate change and the bushfire crisis
Research explains how the measles virus destroys immune "memory"
UN report calls for "radical transformations" to avert global climate catastrophe


Ah, love and the search for the ideal soul mate. The pursuit of love isn't easy. Just watch The Bachelor (or The Bachelorette). Ironically, the show that is supposed to be all about love, is the show that people love to hate. Let's not sugarcoat it, the show is a veritable car wreck — each week it screeches across the pavement, hops over fences, rips up lawns and flower beds, and crashes into the living room of more than 7.5 million Americans, delivering its payload of histrionics and collective mischief. All of which explains the existence of the so-called "Bachelor Nation" — a legion of fans that laughs, jeers, and gags through each episode, anticipating the next one, like a tourist dehydrated from chronic Montezuma's revenge eagerly awaiting his next drink of bacteria-laced brown water from yet another restaurant.
Although poets wax um… poetically about how love is free — the pursuit of love certainly isn't free. Consider this: Americans spend more than $760 million per year on matchmaking and the average American spends $1,596 on dating every year. This includes personal grooming, matchmaking services, and of course the obligatory wining and dining. But what if you could find your soulmate for the cost of a cup of coffee (or tea)? That's right — a few dollars for some life-changing conversation over coffee at a local establishment. For once, this is when the concept of "talk is cheap" is actually a good thing.
So, what did the researchers find? Quite remarkably, they found that about one-third of the participants felt as connected to their partner in the lab — in just 36 questions — as they did one of their closest, deepest, most involved relationships outside the study; Aron writes "That is, immediately after about 45 minutes of interaction, this relationship is rated as closer than the closest relationship in the lives of 30% of similar students." That's quite an achievement when it has taken thousands of hours of conversations over many years to reach the same level of intimacy with a significant other. Those must be some amazingly insightful and profoundly probing questions that get right to the heart of the matter (if you'll excuse the pun). In fact, two participants did fall in love and married just six months later. The questions have also inspired a delightful series on YouTube that explores two strangers trying to find love.
Read related posts: How Do You Find the Ideal Mate?
This entry was posted on Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 at 10:05 AM	and tagged with 36 questions to find love, how much do people spend on matchmaking, how to find love and posted in Culture, Wisdom.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
« What are the Words and Definitions of 2018 Spelling Bee?


text:
THE COMPLETE MAKING OF INDIANA JONES: THE DEFINITIVE STORY BEHIND ALL FOUR FILMS
Author: J.W. Rinzler, Laurent Bouzereau
Publisher: Del Rey (May 20, 2008)
Price: S$58.85
www.indianajones.com
www.delreybooks.com
Countless of making of books are published a year to tie-in with the summer blockbusters. But nothing even comes close to this one, "The Complete Making of Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films". Containing over three decades of information from the Lucas archives and spanning 300 pages of cast & crew interviews, artworks and photographs, it is simply breath-taking to say the least. It's indeed a book every Indy fan is waiting for.
Written by veterans Laurent Bouzereau and executive editor at Lucasfilm, J.W. Rinzler, the book is divided according to the various episodes and excerpts from the original script treatment are included for your reading pleasure. It's amazing to read about how the iconic George Lucas and Steven Spielberg work so closely despite their individual newfound successes to create the "Lost Ark". It was a daring venture for both Lucasfilm and Paramount to first launch the man with the hat at that time but of course everything pays off in the end.
Some rather interesting anecdotes include how the goofy Indy's duel with the scimitar wielding bad guy came about and Kate Capshaw resistance to film a scene with reptiles in a deleted sequence from the original "Temple of Doom" shooting script.
And who can forget ILM's contribution to the visual effects especially the memorable opening of the Ark sequence, get to know how the primitive optical and matte effects were done in those days where digital technology were unheard of. Even stuntman Vic Armstrong who stand in for Harrison Ford in a couple of action scenes were covered. Almost every notable cast and crew members who worked on the popular series were interviewed for their contribution.
Despite "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" being a lackluster entry to the magnificent franchise, "The Complete Making of Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films" serves to remind us that how the great cinema of the eighties were done and created. Of course let's not forget how it tediously traces the journey of how the man with the whip and hat was born. No doubt Indiana Jones will always be one of the greatest icons in contemporary cinema.
"All the films I have done in the past 15 years have really been movies that have appealed to me," Spielberg says, "which I assumed wouldn't reach vast audiences on the levels of Jurassic Park, E.T. or Indiana Jones. But this new film is for the audience; I had them in mind every waking hour: What would they like to see, are we being too complex in our layering of clues, are they too far ahead of us, too far behind, are they going to laugh here, is this crazy enough, is it funny enough? It was always for the audience!"
The Hat. The Whip. The Legend. Get this at all cost!
. Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal SKull (Movie Review)
. Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal SKull (Soundtrack Review)
"The Complete Making of
Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Susan Squires: Since beginning her career in 2000 with Danegeld, which won a Golden Heart for best unpublished manuscript from Romance Writers of America, Susan has published seventeen novels and three novellas in collections with Dorchester Publishing and St. Martin's Press, as well as self-publishing four books and a novella in The Magic Series. She's been a finalist in the Rita contest for Best Romance Novel and garnered several Reviewer's Choice awards from Romantic Times BookReviews. Publisher's Weekly honored Body Electric (2002) as one of the ten most influential mass-market books of 2013 and named One with the Shadows (2007) a Best Book of Year. Her work has appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Best Sellers lists. She's known for breaking the rules of romance writing, and whatever her subject, historical period, or theme, her work always contains some element of the paranormal.


text:
Q: Filling color to polygons using Mabox-gl-js I've countries GeoJson with a geometry of type polygon. Each polygon has only one property name (name is the country name). each polygon represents a country.
Now I want to paint each polygon with different color depending on the value of the name property, but this is not working properly.
See this JS bin Demo
map.on('load', function () {
    map.addLayer({
        'id': 'maine',
        'type': 'fill',
        'layout': {},
        'paint': {
            'fill-color': {
              property: 'name',
                stops: [
                    ['Albania', '#F2F12D'],
                    ['Algeria', '#7A4900'],
                    ['Australia', '#63FFAC'],
                    ["South Africa", "#4FC601"],
                    ["South Korea", "#3B5DFF"],
                ]
            },
            'fill-opacity': 0.8
        },
        'source': {
            'type': 'vector',
            'url': 'mapbox://saurabhp.countries_tileset'
        },
       "source-layer": "countries",
    });
});

A: Every thing in your code was perfect, the only thing which you have missed out is type: 'categorical' inside the fill-color, You need to specify the type
Checkout this link for more details run the below code snippet to see the demo

mapboxgl.accessToken = 'pk.eyJ1Ijoic2F1cmFiaHAiLCJhIjoiY2l6OWRwM2JlMDAxZTJ3b2ZwejAzdzhpdSJ9.nc4cEdRwhErEg2wuUkABbw';
var map = new mapboxgl.Map({
  container: 'map',
  style: 'mapbox://styles/mapbox/streets-v9',
  center: [-1.41, 6.32],
  zoom: 5
});

map.on('load', function () {
    map.addLayer({
        'id': 'maine',
        'type': 'fill',
        'layout': {},
        'paint': {
            'fill-color': {
              property: 'name',
              type: 'categorical',
                stops: [
                    ['Albania', '#F2F12D'],
                    ['Algeria', '#7A4900'],
                    ['Australia', '#63FFAC'],
                    ["South Africa", "#4FC601"],
                    ["South Korea", "#3B5DFF"],
                ]
            },
            'fill-opacity': 0.8
        },
        'source': {
            'type': 'vector',
            'url': 'mapbox://saurabhp.countries_tileset'
        },
       "source-layer": "countries",
    });
});

  <meta charset='utf-8' />
  <title></title>
  <meta name='viewport' content='initial-scale=1,maximum-scale=1,user-scalable=no' />

  <link href='https://api.tiles.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/v0.37.0/mapbox-gl.css' rel='stylesheet' />

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
package org.vaadin.mideaas.editor;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.List;

import org.vaadin.aceeditor.AceEditor;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.AceEditor.DiffEvent;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.AceEditor.DiffListener;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.AceEditor.SelectionChangeListener;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.AceMode;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.AceTheme;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.SuggestionExtension;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.TextRange;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.client.AceAnnotation;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.client.AceAnnotation.MarkerAnnotation;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.client.AceDoc;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.client.AceMarker;
import org.vaadin.aceeditor.client.AceRange;
import org.vaadin.mideaas.editor.AsyncErrorChecker.ResultListener;
import org.vaadin.mideaas.editor.ErrorChecker.Error;
import org.vaadin.mideaas.editor.MultiUserEditorUserGroup.EditorStateChangedEvent;
import org.vaadin.mideaas.editor.MultiUserEditorUserGroup.EditorStateChangedListener;

import com.vaadin.annotations.StyleSheet;
import com.vaadin.event.FieldEvents.TextChangeListener;
import com.vaadin.ui.CustomComponent;
import com.vaadin.ui.HorizontalLayout;
import com.vaadin.ui.Label;
import com.vaadin.ui.UI;
import com.vaadin.ui.VerticalLayout;

@StyleSheet("ace-markers.css")
@SuppressWarnings("serial")
public class MultiUserEditor extends CustomComponent implements ResultListener, org.vaadin.mideaas.editor.SharedDoc.Listener {

	private final EditorUser user;
	private final MultiUserDoc mud;
	private final AceEditor editor;
	private SharedDoc activeDoc;

	private final HorizontalLayout hBar = new HorizontalLayout();
	private MultiUserEditorUserGroup group;
	private AsyncErrorChecker checker;

	private final Label titleLabel = new Label();

	public MultiUserEditor(EditorUser user, MultiUserDoc mud) {
		super();
		this.user = user;
		this.mud = mud;
		editor = new AceEditor();

		editor.setSizeFull();

		VerticalLayout layout = new VerticalLayout();
		layout.setSizeFull();
		layout.addComponent(hBar);
		hBar.addComponent(titleLabel);
		layout.addComponent(editor);
		layout.setExpandRatio(editor, 1);
		setCompositionRoot(layout);
	}

	//setAcePath("/mideaas/static/ace");
	public void setAcePath(String path) {
		editor.setThemePath(path);
		editor.setModePath(path);
		editor.setWorkerPath(path);
	}

	public void setTitle(String title) {
		titleLabel.setValue(title);
	}

	public void setErrorChecker(AsyncErrorChecker checker) {
		this.checker = checker;
	}

	public void setMode(AceMode mode) {
		editor.setMode(mode);
	}

	public void setTheme(AceTheme theme) {
		editor.setTheme(theme);
	}

	public void setWordWrap(boolean b) {
		editor.setWordWrap(true);
	}

	public void addSelectionChangeListener(SelectionChangeListener listener) {
		editor.addSelectionChangeListener(listener);
	}

	public void addTextChangeListener(TextChangeListener listener) {
		editor.addTextChangeListener(listener);
	}

	public TextRange getSelection() {
		return editor.getSelection();
	}

	public AceDoc getDoc() {
		return editor.getDoc();
	}

	public void setSuggestionExtension(SuggestionExtension se) {
		se.extend(editor);
	}

	@Override
	public void attach() {
		super.attach();

		group = new MultiUserEditorUserGroup(user, mud);
		setEditorState(group.getEditorState());
		hBar.addComponent(group);
		group.addDocStateChangedListener(new EditorStateChangedListener() {
			@Override
			public void stateChanged(EditorStateChangedEvent e) {
				setEditorState(e.state);
				editor.focus();
			}
		});

		SharedDoc myDoc = mud.getUserDoc(user).getDoc();
		myDoc.addListener(this);
	}

	@Override
	public void detach() {
		super.detach();

		if (activeDoc!=null) {
			activeDoc.detachEditor(editor);
		}

		SharedDoc myDoc = mud.getUserDoc(user).getDoc();
		myDoc.removeListener(this);
	}

	private void setEditorState(EditorState editorState) {

		EditorUser u = editorState.getUser();
		if (u!=null) {
			setActiveDocToUser(u);
		}
		else if (editorState.type==EditorState.DocType.BASE) {
			setActiveDocToBase();
		}
	}

	private void setActiveDocToBase() {
		setActiveDoc(mud.getBase());
		editor.setReadOnly(true);
	}

	private void setActiveDocToUser(EditorUser user) {
		setActiveDoc(mud.getUserDoc(user).getDoc());
		editor.setReadOnly(!this.user.equals(user));
	}

	private void setActiveDoc(SharedDoc doc) {
		if (activeDoc!=null) {
			activeDoc.detachEditor(editor);
		}
		activeDoc = doc;
		activeDoc.attachEditor(editor);
	}

	@Override
	public void errorsChecked(final List<Error> errors) {
		UI ui = getUI();
		if (ui!=null) {
			ui.access(new Runnable() {
				@Override
				public void run() {
					setEditorDoc(docWithErrors(getDoc(), errors));
				}
			});
		}
	}

	private void setEditorDoc(AceDoc doc) {
		boolean wasReadOnly = editor.isReadOnly();
		editor.setReadOnly(false);
		editor.setDoc(doc);
		editor.setReadOnly(wasReadOnly);
	}

	private AceDoc docWithErrors(AceDoc doc, List<Error> errors) {
		HashMap<String, AceMarker> markers = new HashMap<String, AceMarker>(errors.size());
		HashSet<MarkerAnnotation> manns = new HashSet<MarkerAnnotation>(errors.size());
		for (Error err : errors) {
			AceMarker m = markerFromError(newMarkerId(), err, doc.getText());
			markers.put(m.getMarkerId(), m);
			AceAnnotation ann = new AceAnnotation(err.message, AceAnnotation.Type.error);
			manns.add(new MarkerAnnotation(m.getMarkerId(), ann));
		}
		return doc.withMarkers(markers).withMarkerAnnotations(manns);
	}

	private long latestMarkerId = 0L;
	private String newMarkerId() {
		// TODO ?
		return "error" + this.hashCode() + (++latestMarkerId);
	}

	private static AceMarker markerFromError(String markerId, Error e, String text) {
		AceRange range = new TextRange(text, e.start, e.start==e.end ? e.start+1 : e.end);
		String cssClass = "myerrormarker1";
		AceMarker.Type type = AceMarker.Type.text;
		boolean inFront = true;
		AceMarker.OnTextChange onChange = AceMarker.OnTextChange.ADJUST;
		return new AceMarker(markerId, range, cssClass, type, inFront, onChange);
	}

	@Override
	public void changed() {
		if (checker!=null) {
			checker.checkErrors(editor.getValue(), this);
		}
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


"We will be looking to see what policies are in place to prevent, detect and respond to cyber attacks," said Jane Jarcho, the national associate director for the Securities and Exchange Commission's investment adviser exam program.
"We will be looking at policies on IT training, vendor access and vendor due diligence, and what information you have on any vendors," she added, in a presentation to a group of compliance professionals at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The SEC's upcoming 2014 review of cyber security policies at asset managers will be conducted as part of the agency's routine examinations of investment advisers and investment companies, such as mutual funds.
The new details revealed on Thursday about the SEC's focus on asset managers' cyber security policies come in the wake of attacks on several well-known retailers, including Target Corp and Neiman Marcus.
In 2011, hackers attempted to break into the networks of defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp after stealing information from EMC Corp's RSA security division that allowed them to duplicate SecurID electronic keys.
Last year hackers attacked security software maker Bit9, then used stolen data to forge digital signatures on malicious software so they could launch a second round of attacks on Bit9's customers.
In 2011, in response to another rash of cyber attacks, the SEC drafted some informal staff-level guidance for public companies to use when considering whether to disclose cyber attacks and their impact on a company's financial condition.
On the sidelines of Thursday's event, White said she felt the guidance the commission issued in 2011 has been "helpful in improving disclosures." However, she added, she plans to "continuously review" the issue to see if the SEC should do more, as Rockefeller is suggesting.
Meanwhile, Jarcho said that SEC examiners are planning to also make checks to ensure that asset managers are properly reporting major "material" cyber events to regulators.
"We recognize that as we sit here, there are probably thousands if not millions of attempts right now going on, but they are minor," Jarcho told the audience. "We don't expect each and every one to be reported," she added.


A private company is investing $500 M in our city, yet only this blog nitpicks about pedestrian access and provokes comments about the city being destroyed. Some of you are never happy.
If they invest the money wisely I'll be very happy — I'll be the first to praise them.
I'm pretty sure SSM took over the hospital from Tenet Health not SLU. Yes, I know, splitting hairs.
Can't wait to see what they do. If we use St. Mary's as a guide for what SSM does in more urban environs then we're not going to anything very exciting.
"Saint Louis University is buying back SLU Hospital from Tenet Healthcare, Saint Louis University President Fred Pestello said in letter Monday. The deal is expected to be finalized by late summer.


Nothing says "all-American comfort food" like homemade apple pie. Enjoy a healther version of this iconic dessert.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Place almond flour and sea salt into a food processor, pulse to combine, then add wet ingredients and zest, and blend until a ball of dough is formed.
Press into a 9" pie plate, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside.
Fill a large bowl with cold water and add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
Peel, core and slice apples one at a time, and drop them into the lemon water to keep them from turning brown.
Once apples are soaking, drain water from the bowl and pat apples dry with a clean cloth.
Add remaining ingredients to apples, including remaining tablespoon of lemon juice, and toss well to combine.
Pour mixture into pie crust and bake 45 to 55 minutes, until the crust is golden and the mixture is bubbling on top.
Remove and let cool for 1 hour before serving.
Clean never tasted so sinful! This chocolate brownie is packed with free radical–fighting flavonoids and antioxidants.
Guess what? This cold treat contains no dairy! Frozen bananas lend themselves perfectly to an ice cream - like texture. And at under two hundred clean calories, you won't have to save it for cheat days, either.
Even if gluten doesn't make your stomach cry foul, these healthy gluten-free foods should find space in your pantry.
Who says fit girls can't have cupcakes? These clean Red Velvet Cupcakes take the guilt out of indulging.
A healthy, low-fat treat to enjoy with the whole family.
Enjoy these hearty low-fat muffins as a warm and healthy start to your day.


In 2000 TIME Magazine dubbed Albert Einstein the "Person of the Twentieth Century".
Some pundits argued that TIME got it wrong. Hitler, they argued, had a greater influence on the history of the 20th Century than Einstein.
On balance I think TIME got it right. Here's why.
Think back to those two 17th Century figures, Oliver Cromwell and Isaac Newton. Outside the English speaking world few have heard of Cromwell; but every educated person knows about Isaac Newton. Similarly, I think Einstein's contribution to science will be remembered long after Hitler has been relegated to the status of obscure European warlord of interest only to a few historians.
But who deserves the title "Person of the Second Millennium"? Who, between AD 1000 and AD 2000 had the greatest impact on history?
Does Einstein get that title as well?
My vote goes to Charles Darwin though some would argue he should share the honour with Alfred Russell Wallace*. In 1859 the Theory of Evolution through NATURAL SELECTION was a BRILLIANT leap of scientific imagination.
In its early days the theory faced many obstacles. No one could imagine what sort of fuel could keep the sun burning for the hundreds of millions of years needed for evolution to work its magic. The actual mechanism of inheritance was unknown. Even the supposed age of the Earth – 400 million years at the outside said Lord Kelvin, one of the foremost scientists of his time – presented a problem. In reality, back in 1859, Darwinian evolution was not so much a "theory" as an "hypothesis".
But, in the end, Darwin's theory triumphed and the world has never been the same. The publication of "On the Origin of the Species" heralded a true discontinuity in human history.
As runners up I nominate Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton.
Do other posters have any thoughts?
My runners up for "Person of the 20th Century" would be Werner Heisenberg and Max Born for the uncertainty principle, Linus Pauling for his work on the nature of the chemical bond and James Watson and Frances Crick for the structure of DNA.
In terms of Australia, I don't really think you can go past John Howard.
If you believe most of the left wing political commentators, SMH letters contributors, and many of the OLO community this man had absolutely astounding influence on the very fabric of Australia. He had such amazingly wide ranging influence on the populace, in such a wholly negative way, reaching to the very core (and non-core) beliefs of every single citizen.
I mean Keating said 'if you change the Prime Minister, you change the country', but I'm sure he had no idea how fully and to what scale this was possible. The very fabric of Australian culture and personal values of each person was forever changed by this one man, John Winston Howard.
But on a world scale, well, who could go past Tom Cruise.
I think whoever discovered/invented electricity should win. It is the one most fundamental discovery that has led to everything else and without it we would have nothing.
Pope Clement VII in that he excommunicated Henry VIII ( because he had one more "I" than him?) caused the schism in religion that arguably changed the world.
Pope Urban II that created the problem between the Christians and Muslims (first Crusade) it's still persists today.
Dirk Hartog because he found Australia but rightly described it as worthless. Dutch wisdom.
Gandhi because I like salt (?) (historical joke) because he introduced non violent protestation, a good idea.
How about the man that set up McDonald's he's changed food and the body weights of of the people in half the world.
Griggs Chandler the man who founded coca cola. As above and add god to dentists.
and me because I'm the best Zionist plot detector ever.
The trouble with picking the most influential person is on what criteria? Greatest practical benefit to mankind, the best idea, the best individual talent? Then you have to acknowledge that the modern greats stand on the shoulders of their predecessors. IMO, it's impossible to pick just one.


Dina Ayoub is an Egyptian American Artist, Writer, and Tech Entrepreneur who lives in Seattle Washington with her husband Owais. With a background in Computer Science and Business, Dina spent over 10 years in the tech industry before she quit her job at Microsoft in 2014 to pursue her passion for the arts and creativity – writing her fantasy novel The Shapeshifter of Kayenta which is due for publication soon, creating an Injection Tracker android app to help people with diabetes, MS, RA… etc, and rediscovering her love of painting and jewelry making.
To me, what makes "Art" is all about feeling. Art makes me feel calm, inspired, and happy, whether I'm viewing it or making it. Painting and making jewelry have been hobbies of mine for years, but after leaving my role as a Product Manager in the bustle of the tech world, I've come to realize what it is that I enjoy the most across the board: Creating – be that creating art, working on my fantasy novels, or creating an app to help people. That's the beauty of having such a diverse set of skills, I get to create in so many different ways, and that is what I find most fulfilling.
I have always loved painting, and oil paint is my medium of choice. It offers so much flexibility, and the ability to blend beautiful color right there on the canvas, expressing my mood in the strokes and colors. As I began to rediscover my love for painting, I also found its healing abilities (putting aside the fact that most paints are actually toxic, that is!) Painting allows me to let go of the world and any worries clouding my mind. It gave me a sense of accomplishment every time I finished a piece or discovered a new technique. I could lose myself in it, the way I would in a good book. It soothes whatever ails me.
Due to health reasons, I sometimes can't paint as much as I would like. But when I can paint, I throw myself into it with gusto. I am so grateful that I've recently built my own studio at home. I now have a comfortable chair, an organized unorganized set up, and plenty of storage space for all my supplies and paintings.
I sometimes wonder whether it was worth it to give up a coveted role in a tech industry giant, but the next moment arrives with a new chance to create something wonderful, and I forget all about that. I miss a lot of things about my old jobs, but I am incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love, with the support of my wonderful husband who's always with me through thick and thin. I plan to make the best of it and spend all my time creating things that make other people feel the way art makes me feel.
I love my customers, and welcome your feedback and suggestions. Use the Contact Me page to tell me what I'm doing right or what I can improve on.


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Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan by Joseph Andoni Massad
By Joseph Andoni Massad
Colonial results analyzes the production and definition of contemporary Jordanian id. Massad experiences key institutions-- the legislations and the military--and makes use of them to create an unique and certain research of the improvement of Jordanian nationwide identification within the postcolonial period.Joseph A. Massad engages fresh scholarly debates on nationalism and richly fulfills the analytical promise of Michel Foucault's perception that smooth associations and their energy to have effective, now not basically repressive or coercive, capacities -- even though Massad additionally stresses their persevered repressive function.His argument is complicated through a attention of proof, together with photographs produced through country vacationer companies geared toward attracting Western viewers, the altering and precarious place of ladies within the newly built nationwide house, and such practices as football video games, tune, songs, nutrients, garments, and transferring accents and dialects.
Read Online or Download Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan PDF
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Additional info for Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan
25 This presentation is the effect of the symbiotic relationship that juridical nationalist discourse and popular nationalist discourse cohabit. Any questioning, however, of the ruptures prevalent in the law itself as regards the question of nationality, is coded in popular nationalist discourse as a subversive attempt to rupture the nation itself, indeed as national treason. National Time Nationalism's obsession with temporality (confused as historicity) is related more to establishing a collective memory for itself and its subjects than to inscribing itself in history (which is of secondary import).
The new party was able to attract members of the People's Party as well as members of the National Congress. The ECNC proved to be the most nationalist in its demands. Its members, who included Transjordanians as well as Syrians, Iraqis, and Palestinians, pledged that their task would be to realize the demands put forth in the National Charter. The ECNC continued to exist until 1934. It published a newspaper (Al-Mithaq), which was suppressed soon after, while its leaders, including Subhi Abu Ghanimah and ÛAdil Al-ÛAzmah, were in the forefront of opposing the Mandatory government and the amir on a number of issues including land sales to Zionists.
A number of educated men and intellectuals made common cause with him. Prominent among those was Jordan's foremost poet, Mustafa Wahbah Al-Tall, who coined the slogan "Al-Urdunn Lil Urduniyyin," or "Jordan for the Jordanians," as an assertion of nativist rights against their usurpation by outsiders. The government at first responded by reconstituting the cabinet, and in the process they appointed the Transjordanian ÛAli al-Khulqi as minister of education, as a gesture to meet the demands of the rebels.
Binary Node Books > International Relations > Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan by Joseph Andoni Massad
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You are here: Home » Updates » 2010 Newsletters » June 2010 Newsletter » Universal Design in Legislation Policy and Practice
The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design held a one day seminar entitled "Universal Design in Legislation, Policy and Practice" on the 3rd of June 2010. The seminar aimed to highlight international and national perspectives on Universal Design for senior decision makers in Irish Public Services on Transforming public services through Universal Design.
Eoin O'Herlihy of O'Herlihy Access Consultancy presented on one of the afternoon sessions on the topic of "Toward Universal Design of the Built Environment in Ireland Progress and Challenges. The presentation gave a background of recent Universal Design developments in Ireland over the last twenty years including:
A Strategy for Equality: The presentation highlighted that there were over 19 high level recommendations in the 1996 report relating to Universal Design and Accessibility, yet only 5 have been implemented to date.
Legislation: This section covered the importance of the Equal Status Act for private organisations; The introduction of Disability Access Certificates in 2010 and its potential implications and the proposed amendments of Part M of the Building Regulations;
Standards: The work being done by the National Standards Authority of Ireland and their role in the development of both national and international standards;
Education and Awareness which covered the importance of integrating Universal Design in Curricula and the importance of mainstreaming Universal Design in Continued Professional Development.
O'Herlihy Access Consultancy suggested a number of ways forward to ensure Universal Design in mainstreamed in legislation, policy and practice. These included:
Ensuring national consistency in the implementation of Disability Access Certificates and the new Part M 2010 through guidance, support, monitoring and advice by the Department of Environment, Heritage and local Government and all relevant key stakeholders;
Integrating Universal Design in all relevant mainstream national standards and rolling out the European Commission 'Stand for All' or equivalent training in Ireland
Ensuring the National Standards Authority of Ireland integrate Universal Design is a criteria in the development of all national standards
Creating better awareness amongst relevant professionals (not just architects) by mainstream Universal Design amongst professional bodies;
Establish Universal Design working groups within professional bodies and provision of regulated training to professionals.
If you would like a copy of the presentation or would like to discuss any of the above issues, please contact one of our team on 01-4151285 or e-mail [email protected].


Kate Tempest returns to perform at the Roundhouse following the release of her highly anticipated new album Let Them Eat Chaos (due out October 7th 2016).
Kate Tempest is a published playwright, novelist, poet and respected recording artist. Her work includes Balance, her first album with band Sound of Rum and Brand New Ancients, her self-performed epic poem to a live score, which won the Ted Hughes prize 2013 and the Herald Angel at Edinburgh Fringe.
Her collection of poetry, Hold Your Own was published by Picador on the back of being selected as a Next Generation Poet by the Poetry Society. In 2014 her Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize nominated album Everybody Down was released and has achieved widespread critical acclaim.
One of the brightest British talents around.
*times are approximate and subject to change without notice.


The Rio Grande National Forest's Divide Ranger District is seeking public input on the Poage Lake Spruce Beetle Salvage Project environmental analysis. The proposed project would salvage up to 515 acres of dead and dying Engelmann spruce trees near Poage Lake, located 11 miles south of South Fork.
The primary objectives of the project are to salvage dead and dying spruce trees for commercial use; provide wood products to benefit the local and regional economy; improve safety in high use areas; and ensure the area is maintained with commercially valuable species for future wood production.
The proposed Poage Lake Spruce Beetle Salvage Project is located in an area designated in the Rio Grande National Forest Land Management Plan for production of commercial wood products. The project would salvage approximately six million board feet of Engelmann spruce and would include up to 1.5 miles of temporary road construction. Seedlings would be planted following salvage operations in areas that are not fully stocked with young trees.
Public input on this proposed project is most useful if received by December 8, 2014.


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Exhibition for the British spy in Mallorca who was also an art lover
2020-10-17 Palma	By Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter
The presentation of the exhibition that has opened in Palma.
16-10-2020Pellicer
In Mallorca, Tomàs ('Tommy') Harris is best known for having been the MI6 spy who, with double agent Joan Pujol Garcia, pulled off what became known as the Garbo deception ahead of the Normandy landings in 1944.
In 1964, Harris, who lived in Camp de Mar, was killed in a road accident in Llucmajor.
It has long been claimed that this was no accident and that he was murdered, quite possibly by Soviet agents. Harris knew Kim Philby, another British intelligence officer and double agent for the Soviet Union, and he may himself have been a double agent.
There was another side to Harris.
His father had a successful art-dealing business. He continued this business and he acquired an important collection of works by Francisco Goya. Harris was an artist in his own right, and an exhibition - 'Tomàs Harris, Engraver in Mallorca' - has opened at Can Balaguer in Palma. It will run until March and, as was explained at a presentation yesterday, the exhibition consists of a self-portrait, landscapes of Mallorca, and Harris's 'crucifixions' with a marked expressionist tone. The exhibition also reflects his expert knowledge of Goya. Harris was the author of Goya: Engravings and Lithographs, a comprehensive two-volume publication that is considered to be an essential reference work about the Spanish artist.
After the war, Harris - it is thought - ceased his spying activities, but this is certainly debatable. But he did dedicate himself to researching art history and to his own production. The Camp de Mar house used to belong to the British illustrator Cecil Aldin. Harris bought it in 1949. The exhibition at Can Balaguer (C. Unió 3) just along from C&A, is open from 10.00 to 14.00 Tuesday to Friday and 10.30 to 13.30 on Saturday and Sunday. It lasts until March 21.
Camp de Mar in Mallorca
Exhibition at Can Balaguer in Palma
Tomas Harris British spy
Tomàs Harris engraver in Mallorca
Armengol in favour of earlier curfew in the Balearics


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Reserve a Room (by room)
Room Capacity: 70
The Hoyt Library Auditorium is limited to the capacity of 70 persons and includes a TV, Blu-ray/DVD player, projector, and screen.
The Hoyt Library Board Room is limited to the capacity of 10 persons.
The Hoyt Library Mezzanine is limited to the capacity of 30 persons and has a TV and Blu-ray/DVD player.
The Butman-Fish Library Meeting Room is limited to the capacity of 80 persons and has a TV and Blu-ray/DVD player.
The Wickes Library Meeting Room is limited to the capacity of 40 persons and has a TV, Blu-ray/DVD player, projector, and screen.
Room Capacity: 100
Zauel's Dr. Kurumety Meeting Room is limited to the capacity of 100 persons and has a Smart TV and Blu-ray/DVD player.


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Mattea Julia Meyer (* 9. November 1987 in Basel; heimatberechtigt in Villmergen und Opfikon) ist eine Schweizer Politikerin und Co-Präsidentin der Sozialdemokratischen Partei der Schweiz.

Leben
Mattea Meyer studierte zwischen 2007 und 2015 Geschichte, Geographie sowie Politikwissenschaften an der Universität Zürich. Sie war von 2009 bis 2013 Vizepräsidentin der JungsozialistInnen Schweiz. 2011 bis 2015 war sie Kantonsrätin im Kanton Zürich für den Wahlkreis XIV Winterthur Stadt. Im Kantonsrat war sie von 2011 bis 2013 Mitglied der Kommission für Bildung und Kultur, dann Mitglied der Kommission für Wirtschaft und Abgaben. 2015 wurde sie mit dem besten Resultat ihrer Partei in ihrem Wahlkreis wiedergewählt.

Im April 2015 wurde sie von der Kantonalpartei auf Platz 4 der 34-köpfigen Liste für die Nationalratswahlen 2015 gesetzt; die NZZ bezeichnete sie in der Folge als  der SP. Am 18. Oktober 2015 schaffte sie im ersten Anlauf die Wahl in den Nationalrat und trat als Kantonsrätin zurück.

In ihrer ersten Legislatur im Nationalrat war sie Mitglied der Finanzkommission sowie der Immunitätskommission des Nationalrates. In der Immunitätskommission amtete sie die ersten zwei Jahre als Vizepräsidentin, anschliessend hat Meyer das Präsidium übernommen. In ihrer zweiten Legislatur nahm sie anstelle der Finanzkommission in der Kommission für Gesundheit und soziale Sicherheit (SGK) Einsitz und blieb in der Immunitätskommission.

Bei den Parlamentswahlen 2019 schaffte Meyer die Wiederwahl als Nationalrätin.

Im Dezember 2019 gab Meyer bekannt, zusammen mit Cédric Wermuth für das Präsidium der SP Schweiz zu kandidieren. Sie wurden am 17. Oktober 2020 gewählt.

Meyer ist mit Marco Kistler liiert, das Paar hat zwei Kinder (* 2017, * 2021).

Weblinks

 Website von Mattea Meyer

 Mattea Meyer auf der Website des Kantons Zürich (Staatsarchiv)

Einzelnachweise

Nationalrat (Zürich)
Kantonsrat (Zürich, Person)
Politiker (Winterthur)
Parteipräsident (Schweiz)
SP-Mitglied (Schweiz)
Politiker (21. Jahrhundert)
Schweizer
Geboren 1987
Frau

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Jermaine Jackson has confirmed that The Jackson Five will reunite for a tour and to release new material in 2009.
Jackson told Australian Associated Press that all the original band members – including Michael Jackson – have agreed to the reunion and have been working on new material.
He added that sister Janet Jackson would open their tour dates with a solo set.
"This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together," he said.
He added, "What we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics. It is going to be more like a family affair, Janet's going to open and, of course, the original Jackson Five: Michael, Randy and the whole family.


Hi there! Devotiondresses here bringing you the newest trends on the bridal market. We've been to the shows, and we've flipped through the magazines, and we've compiled the latest and the hottest from the designer world and brought it to you for just a fraction of the retail price.
We all love a good contrast, as it keeps things interesting, therefore black accents will be among the things to appear in 2018. Whether it's in the form of a sash on the waistline, or some décor, this stylish detail will not only highlight your figure in the right places, but also fill your look with Parisian chic.
The next thing you will continue to see a lot of is really, really deep V necks. The plunge neckline is a stylish way to show off your feminine frame and give your guests something to marvel at. This particular neckline looks great with either a sleeveless dress or a long sleeved one, and can be welcoming to a wide array of décor, making it a versatile piece that any bride can pull off.
For all of you sleeve lovers, this season is a treat. Not only is the sleeve look going to be a major hit, it's also being taken to the next level. Mesh, tulle, or lace, sleeves can be made of literally anything, and the more extravagant, the better. Popular looks include bishops sleeves made out of sheer materials, or the Boho butterfly sleeve which is both feminine and carefree.
Don't want all of those days at the gym when you were sweating for the wedding go to waste? Off the shoulder looks are back in style, and we love it. Show off your feminine figure and fill your look with romance by revealing your shoulders.
Make your way down the aisle as if it were a runway and shop the latest season's collection of wedding dresses in the comfort of your own home.


We simply cannot till the soil this year, there has been too much rain and the soil is saturated. You could try but there is the chance the tiller or tractor would get bogged down and the soil would compact, making it harder for young plants to grow.
Raised beds can be planted now because they do not get tilled. Plus, it is easy to put a cold frame over them to warm the soil more quickly and protect delicate young plants.
A gentleman I was speaking with this morning is making raised beds out of old, large truck tires. He will fill them with soil and plant in them. Maybe now he can get parsnips to grow nice, deep roots for harvesting pate in the year or early next spring, when they are sweet. On second thought, could tires leach toxins into the food?


Six months after Oreo's release, how have Android device-makers done at getting the upgrade into users' hands? A sobering but important analysis.
I'll go ahead and end the suspense for you now: Android upgrades are a big, hot mess — and the situation with Oreo is the worst we've seen to date.
It's kind of embarrassing, actually. But it's important. And that's why I take the time to track manufacturers' performance in this area so closely year after year — because software matters. It affects your experience more significantly on a day-to-day basis over the life of a modern mobile device than any other feature or element. And yet, it tends to get the least amount of attention.
To wit: Over the coming days, Samsung and other Android device-makers will take the stage to show off their latest and greatest wares. Their new phone models be plenty impressive, no doubt — gorgeously designed works of gadget art. We'll hear about every ever-shrinking bezel, every fresh feat of engineering, every new "smart" feature that sounds wildly impressive (but is bound to mostly fall flat in reality).
You know what we won't hear a peep about, though? The manufacturers' commitments — or lack thereof — to supporting and updating all those smartphones after you plunk down your hard-earned cash to buy 'em. Most Android device-makers don't like to draw attention to that area, and for good reason.
Guess what, though? Smartphones are expensive products that most of us own for two or even three years. And if you buy a phone from a manufacturer that doesn't make upgrades a priority, your device is going to be perpetually out of date and behind the curve in terms of both technological progressions and platform security.
You may not be able to force a manufacturer to make timely and reliable ongoing upgrades a priority, but you can arm yourself with knowledge about how different manufacturers tend to approach post-sales software support — and then make an educated decision about what sort of upgrade experience you want (or are willing to accept) ahead of your next phone purchase.
Now that we're six full months past the launch of the most recent major Android release, Android 8.0 Oreo, it's time to step back and look at who's making upgrades a priority and who's treating them as an afterthought.
Brace yourselves, gang. This one's rough.
With its Pixel line, Google officially became a full-fledged Android phone manufacturer. But even before, with its Nexus devices, it played the same role as far as updates go — acting as the sole provider of all rollouts and software-related matters.
The results for that lineup are mostly good, though not perfect: The rollout of Oreo to original Pixel owners started on August 29, nine days after the software's debut. That's a bit behind Google's typical immediate rollout window, but it's still perfectly reasonable — and still well within the one-to-14-day range for a top-of-line mark in these scoring standards.
Nexus 6P and 5X owners waited a bit longer, meanwhile, with the first confirmed general rollouts (not beta-tester-related) starting on September 7 and then spreading out slowly to more users over the subsequent weeks.
On that note, we have to mention that Google, rather infamously, rolls out its updates "in waves" — which means some people end up waiting days or even weeks longer than others to receive the software. That's a deliberate process designed to keep unexpected bugs or issues from reaching large groups of users before they can be addressed. It can understandably be a source of frustration for eager device-owners in the later parts of the rollouts, but for the purposes of this analysis, it's the start of the rollout that counts.
The real issue with Google's update performance — and it's one we see pretty consistently over time — is that the company's communication could stand to be better. Aside from its initial August 21 announcement that "carrier testing" was underway for all devices and rollouts would start "soon" — and then an equally vague August 31 tweet that rollouts had begun for "Nexus and Pixel" devices, in general — Google didn't provide much else in terms of official info about its process. That means users who were waiting were essentially in the dark, sometimes for several weeks, with no sign of the upgrade and no idea what was going on or how long the wait might be. A simple status report page with details about the state of the rollout for different device variations and regions would go a long way.
Between that less-than-stellar communication and the frustrations that sometimes result from its staged rollout process, Google's Android devices are by no means flawless when it comes to OS upgrades. Even so, they stand in a league of their own — without question the most reliable way to receive ongoing updates in a timely, if not always absolutely immediate, manner.
No, you didn't accidentally skip over a section: The grades on this year's report card actually go from a single "A" directly to a "D." So while second place is usually something worth celebrating, I don't know that there are any real bragging rights to be had here.
OnePlus — which is included in this analysis for the second year now, given its popularity among Android enthusiasts and its insistence that its devices are flagship caliber (and then some) — strangely provided Oreo to its previous-gen flagships, the OnePlus 3 and 3T, ahead of its current-gen flagship, the OnePlus 5. The former saw the software starting on November 19, nearly three months after Oreo's arrival. The rollout for the latter started in earnest on January 5, about four-and-a-half months after Oreo's release.
OnePlus didn't do much in the way of communication with customers, meanwhile — no official estimates, no promises, no meaningful updates or ETAs along the way. The only real communication was an announcement in the company's forums that a rollout was beginning. So if you owned a OnePlus device, all you could do was wait blindly and hope the upgrade might show up on your phone soon.
All in all, not a spectacular effort — despite its depressing second-place ranking in this class of underperformers.
HTC's fall from grace picks up serious pace this year, with a dismal 49% failing score. This continues the downward trend the company's been experiencing since last year's Nougat rollout.
HTC served up Oreo to the unlocked version of its current-gen U11 flagship starting on November 27, just over three months after the software's arrival — not cheer-worthy, by any stretch of the imagination, but not atrocious, either.
It's the previous-gen HTC 10 that really sunk the ship: Despite announcements suggesting Oreo rollouts had begun for the unlocked 10 in early January and then again in early February — and a separate announcement indicating Oreo was on its way to the Sprint model of the phone in mid-February — I've yet to find a single U.S.-based HTC 10 owner who has actually received the upgrade.
Reddit and other forums are filled with pages upon pages of frustrated 10 owners asking what's going on. HTC has remained curiously silent, with its typically vocal product VP sending nary a tweet since his now-empty-seeming February 11 proclamation. The official HTC Twitter account, meanwhile, has been sending only boilerplate non-responses to agitated inquiries.
On the subject of communication, HTC's once-exemplary "Software Updates" page — where the company used to post detailed information about the update status for every model and variant in its catalog — has basically been abandoned since last summer. The company gets a couple of communication points for at least releasing a general plan at the time of Oreo's release, with info about which phones would be upgraded (and a vague "Q4" timeframe for the U11's rollout, which it did meet), but all in all, things have really moved in the wrong direction.
For a company that once worked so hard to make upgrades — and, more broadly, customers — a priority, that's sure a shame (if not an entirely surprising transition) to see.
One thing's for sure: This ain't the Moto we used to know. The now-Lenovo-owned Motorola disappointed once again with a four-month delay for getting Oreo onto its current Moto Z2 Force flagship (starting with the Verizon version of the phone in late December) and then, critically, for failing entirely to get Oreo onto its previous-gen Moto Z flagship at all within these first six months of the software's availability.
Like HTC, the company gets a couple of communication points for at least putting out a vague plan of which devices it intended to upgrade shortly after Oreo's announcement. And Moto does still maintain a software update page where you can search for the update status of any make and model.
The problem is that the page is devoid of any real details. Look up the Moto Z, for instance — even the unlocked model — and all you'll see is: "This device will be upgraded to the Android 8 (Oreo) release of Android, pending partner support." The same seems to apply to most every device on the page. Having an information page with no actual information almost seems more insulting to customers than having no information page at all.


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HC notice to Delhi...
HC notice to Delhi government on plea for CBI probe against minister
New Delhi, April 22: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on a plea seeking CBI probe into charges of bribery against Food and Supplies Minister Imran Hussain. Justice Pratibha Rani asked the Delhi government to file the response on the plea filed by Mohammed Qasim, a businessman, from whom Hussain's staffer allegedly demanded Rs.30 lakh.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led government sought time to file a status report on the plea. The court posted the matter for hearing on July 27.
Filing the plea through advocates Pramod Dubey and Aman Panwar, Qasim alleged that the city police were "deliberately shielding" the minister and other accused. He sought the probe be transferred from Delhi Police to the CBI and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act be added in the case. Senior advocate N. Hariharan, appearing for Qasim, said on the basis of his complaint an FIR was lodged in February this year by police against Hussain and others, but graft charges were not added though these were clearly made out from the facts set out in the complaint. Qasim alleged that the minister runs a builder-mafia syndicate in Ballimaran area and no construction work can be carried out without paying the minister. Seeking police protection for himself and his family, Qasim said the minister has been threatening him with dire consequences and asking him to withdraw his police complaint. Hussain is the AAP's legislator from Ballimaran in the walled city. "The main accused in the present matter, i.e. Imran Hussain, is an MLA from the Ballimaran assembly constituency and being a powerful local politician, he virtually controls and holds great influence over each and every construction work that is carried out in the Ballimaran area, in as much as no construction work can be carried out without his permission," said the plea. (IANS)


Happy Memorial Day, everyone! I hope that you enjoyed a day off from work with family and friends in this beautiful summer day. However, I hope that you also took a moment to remember the great sacrifice that so many brave men and women have made so that we might enjoy freedom in this great nation.
I don't know about you, but lately I have had a SERIOUS craving for popsicles. There is a "gourmet popsicle" craze sweeping the nation, and I am loving it. Until a couple weeks ago, I was terribly envious of people posting homemade delicious looking popsicles. Well, I have to be envious no more! I ordered a popsicle mold off of Amazon, and I love it! I have been pinning popsicle recipes like crazy on pinterest. This key lime pie is the first one I've tried, and it was amazing!
I did struggle with getting the popsicles out of the mold. I googled it, and everyone says that you're supposed to set the container in some hot water for a few seconds, and then they should slip right out. Well, it took more than a few seconds, and when they finally did slip out, the top halves were a bit melted. But at least for this particular recipe, the graham cracker crumbs covered up the ugly parts :-).
Combine all ingredients except graham crackers in a bowl and whisk together until they are thoroughly combined.
Divide amongst your popsicle molds and freeze until solid, at least 5 hours. Add your popsicle sticks at the correct time for your molds.
Use a blender or food processor to crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs.
When ready to serve, let the pops sit out at room temperature for a minute to let the outside just start to soften and get "tacky". Press each side of the popsicles in the cracker crumbs and enjoy!
They look so fun and delicious, great idea!
Key Lime Pie in popsicle form, Sweet!! I adore Key Lime Pie, so I know I would absolutely LOVE these!! Such cute molds, too! I think I'm gonna have to check out Amazon, too.
If you like key lime pie, then you will love these! It tastes like a pie on a stick! I did learn however, NOT to put the popsicle sticks all the way in…there was barely enough room to grip below the popsicle!
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely remember that when I make some soon.


text:
The Vermilion Block 380 A Platform is a fixed offshore platform located in  of water approximately  off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico.  The platform was originally installed as an oil and gas drilling and production platform in early 1980.

Mariner Energy
The platform was owned by Mariner Energy, Inc., an oil and gas exploration company based in One Briar Lake Plaza in Westchase, Houston, Texas.  In 2010, Apache Corporation bought Mariner Energy for $2.7 billion.  The acquisition was completed on November 10, 2010.

Design
As viewed from the surface, the platform appears to be of a traditional four-pile design. However, the design incorporates four exterior skirt piles in order to provide additional stability at the base.  These skirt piles do not extend all of the way from the mudline to the water surface. The eight piles, four main and four skirt, that secure the platform to the seafloor are  in diameter and extend more than  below the mudline.

It was producing approximately  of natural gas and  of oil per day.

Location
The platform was located at the Vermilion Block 38 in the Gulf of Mexico about  south of Vermilion Bay.

Explosion
The rig exploded and caught on fire on September 2, 2010. The platform was off-line for maintenance at the time the incident occurred.  The flames from the explosion could be seen  off the Louisiana coast.  Thirteen workers were occupying the platform at the time of the explosion.  All of the workers were rescued from the ocean, with one person sustaining injuries.  The rescue vessel Crystal Clear rescued the crew members, all of whom wore type I life jackets at the time of rescue. All went to a hospital in Houma, Louisiana.

See also
 Deepwater Horizon

References

External links
 Gulf platform explodes in flames, 13 rescued, USA Today

Drilling rigs
Natural gas infrastructure in the United States
Oil platform disasters in the United States
2010 disasters in the United States
Disasters in Louisiana
2010 industrial disasters


"We need more systemic approaches!" This claim has gained some traction in the development world. Everybody is talking about how to make development approaches more 'systemic'. A quick internet research reveals quite a number of results related to development organizations: USAID, USAID, CGAP, GIZ, GIZ, GIZ, and SDC.
This post is cross-posted on our new Systemic Insight website. Have a look!
The website of SDC's employment and income network, for example, states that: "In order for SDC to increase the outreach and the sustainability of its interventions E+I promotes a powerful systemic framework for understanding market systems and guiding interventions for more inclusive markets." (emphasis added). [For readers that are not familiar with the abbreviations, SDC is the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and E+I is employment and income].
But, one might ask, what does 'systemic' actually mean? Is it just a buzzword or what is hidden behind it? First, we have to differentiate between 'systematic' and 'systemic', as these two are still often confused. If you do something in a systematic way, you follow a clear methodology in a regular and comprehensive way. Doing something in a systemic way, on the other hand, means that you take the wider system and its behavior into account. While a systematic intervention follows a clear plan in a meticulous and ordered way, a systemic intervention tries to have an impact on the 'whole system'. This brings us to the discipline of systems thinking or systems theory, which is studying how systems work and how they can be influenced. The following explanation of the concepts around the idea of 'systemic' is largely drawn from Bob Williams' and Richard Hummelbrunner's book 'Systems Concepts in Action: A Pracitioner Toolkit' as I think it gives a very good overview of the topic.
the massively entangled interrelationships, distinguishing the behavior of 'simple', 'complicated', and 'complex' interrelationships.
Firstly, the concept of perspectives in thinking systemically pushes us further than just considering stakeholder interests. We need to understand that different stakeholder groups may not share the same perspective, and most importantly, any one stakeholder will hold several different perspectives, not all of which will be compatible with each other. Thinking systemically about perspectives will help us make sense of individual, diverse, and unintended behaviors.
Secondly, perspectives draw the focus away from the perceived 'reality' of how the system works and allow us to consider alternatives. We can essentially not only look at the world how it is, but also compare our conclusions with alternative perceptions of what people think the world looks like. Thus thinking systemically about perspectives gives us a window into motivations through which we can explain and predict unanticipated behaviors.
The third feature of the concept of thinking systemically is based on the realization that we cannot think about everything. Thus, setting boundaries around our thinking is not optional. We make situations manageable by setting boundaries. Thinking systemically has to include a process of making this boundary setting conscious. A boundary determines what is deemed relevant and irrelevant, what is important and what is unimportant, what is worthwhile and what is not, who gets what kind of resources for what purpose and whose interests are marginalized, who benefits and who is disadvantaged. Boundaries are sites where values get played out and disagreements are highlighted. Power issues are often wrapped up in boundaries. Boundaries also determine how we approach a situation, what we expect from it, and what methods we might use to manage it.
Thanks, Marcus. This is a very useful synopsis of the concept 'systemic' and its main features, Next time when applying the 'Systems Game' as training tool we should stronger refer to these three characteristics when discussing implications with the participants: interrelationships, perspectives and boundaries.


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How and when to inspect your roof?
Your roof has a very important job as it is the first line of defence for your home when it comes to serious weather conditions. Be it snow, ice or water, any weakness in your roof's system can cause serious damage, that's why it is always important to know how and when to inspect your roof.
If you're not comfortable climbing on your roof, use binoculars.
First, check the roof from the attic to spot any potential damage before walking on the roof.
Check for overhead electrical lines prior to carrying your ladder to the roof's access point.
Don't walk on tile or wet roof shingles.
It is important to start with the inside and discover any potential damage or cracks in the roof. If light gets through your roof, so can water, that's why it's essential to discover any potential cracks and carry out immediate repairs. You need to make sure that your roof system is as sealed as it can be.
Another step to carry out is to check your room's ceilings for any signs of water stains, warping or cracking. If you find this, then the water is definitely coming from somewhere. In this case, the water is not necessarily located above the faulty area, it can run from quite a distance prior to starting to seep into your house's ceiling.
Carry out a visual inspection of the outside of your roof and check whether anything is out of place, missing or damaged. Perform a similar check around your chimney as well to ensure that the sealed and all flashing areas as in good working condition.
When it's the best time to carry out your roof inspection?
You should inspect your roof after any severe storm, an unusually windy day and at least once a year, in spring or fall, when the roof is easier to evaluate, and carry out any necessary maintenance repairs. If you've spotted any damage it is always recommended to use a qualified, professional roofer that will perform the repairs thoroughly and correctly. Avoid do-it-yourself projects or hiring the wrong person, as in this situation, the issue that your found may persist and create further damage to your roof system.
If you're looking for roofing specialists and you'd like to find out more about how to maintain your roof system, the roof experts at Warrington Roofing will be happy to help! Get in touch with us today on 01925 417 597, 07436 269 939 or send us an email at [email protected] and we'll be happy to discuss your requirements.


City Gourmet Cafe The East Village is known for it's great food and look no further if you want some great NYC sandwiches or soups for that matter, we offer a HUGE selection of diner quality type food, which is both delicious and filling. Feeling like breakfast at 9 pm? No Problem! Breakfast foods are served all day, so whatever your craving it won't be a problem for our Chef's to cook at all hours of the day, even if they are not the traditional dining hours. We strive to keep a diverse and extensive menu for every palate. Online ordering is available and we accept all major credit cards.