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est un jeu vidéo d'action-aventure et de rôle, développé par Ubisoft Montréal et édité par Ubisoft, sorti en novembre 2020 sur Microsoft Windows,  4, , , Google Stadia et PlayStation 5. Il appartient à la série  et en est le douzième opus canonique. L'action principale du jeu se déroule pendant l'ère viking.

Trame
Assassin's Creed Valhalla prend place à la fin du  dans le cadre des raids vikings en Angleterre. Le joueur incarne Eivor, un viking qui mène ses camarades de Norvège dans des raids et des combats contre le roi Alfred le Grand et les quatre royaumes anglo-saxons : Wessex, Northumbrie, Est-Anglie et Mercie. Valhalla a été conçu depuis le début avec cette notion de héros masculin ou féminin ; le joueur peut donc choisir le genre du personnage.

Par la suite, bien que le jeu soit conçu pour être historiquement précis, des éléments de la mythologie nordique apparaîtront dans l'histoire, au travers du psychisme d'Eivor et de ses autres compagnons vikings, qui peuvent prendre des événements inhabituels comme des signes de l'implication de leurs dieux, d'après le directeur créatif du jeu, Ashraf Ismail. De plus, le jeu continuera de suivre les événements modernes liés à Layla Hassan, chercheuse d'Abstergo Industries présentée dans Origins et Odyssey.

Histoire
Un an après avoir découvert l'Atlantide, le renforcement inexpliqué du champ magnétique terrestre commence à avoir des effets négatifs sur la Terre. Les Assassins reçoivent un signal émis depuis la Nouvelle Angleterre, où Layla Hassan, Shaun Hastings et Rebecca Crane découvrent la tombe d'un guerrier viking. Layla, craignant encore l'influence du Bâton d'Hermès et encore sous le choc de la mort de Victoria Bibeau, accepte d'explorer la mémoire du viking par l'Animus.

Eivor Varinson/Varinsdottir est un guerrier norvégien du  du Clan du Grand Corbeau, qui a vu enfant le sac de son village par Kjotve le Cruel, qui a tué ses parents. Il doit la vie à Sigurd, le fils du roi Styrbjorn, mais dans sa fuite, Eivor est mordu par un loup, ce qui lui vaut le surnom d'Ami-des-Loups. Dix-sept ans plus tard, Eivor a été adopté par Styrbjorn, et retrouve la trace de Kjotve. Dans son campement, il retrouve la hache de Varin, et en s'en emparant, il a une première vision du dieu Odin. Valka, l'oracle du clan, lui donne d'autres visions dans lesquelles Eivor voit Sigurd perdre un bras avant d'être dévoré par un loup géant ; elle en déduit qu'Eivor est destiné à trahir Sigurd, ce que le guerrier considère comme absurde.

Styrbjorn déconseille Eivor de continuer à poursuivre Kjotve, car il risque la guerre ouverte. Sigurd revient alors d'une campagne de pillage, accompagné de Basim et Hytham, membres de Ceux-qu'on-ne-voit-pas, et offre une de leurs armes, la lame cachée, à Eivor. Eivor et Sigurd décident d'attaquer le repère de Kjotve avec les deux étrangers, avec la bénédiction du roi Harald. Basim et Hytham ont un intérêt à tuer Kjotve et laissent Eivor porter le coup fatal lors de l'assaut. Après la victoire, Harald annonce qu'il veut unir la Norvège, et Styrbjorn lui jure fidélité. Comprenant qu'il n'héritera pas du royaume de son père, Sigurd décide de quitter la Norvège pour rejoindre l'Angleterre avec ceux qui lui seront loyaux ; Eivor, Basim et Hytham le suivent jusqu'à un campement viking abandonné en Mercie, qu'ils nomment Ravensthorpe. Afin d'asseoir leur position, Sigurd charge Eivor de créer des alliances avec les clans vikings déjà installés et les royaumes saxons voisins. Le guerrier rencontre Ivar, Halfdan et Ubba Ragnarsson, Guthrum Jarl, et Ceolwulf de Mercie, tout en recherchant pour Hytham les membres de l'Ordre des Anciens implantés en Angleterre entre Lunden, Jorvik et Wincestre.

Au cours de son périple, Eivor a encore des visions d'Odin. Valka, qui les a rejoints, met au point un élixir qui lui permet d'avoir des visions d'Asgard dans lesquelles le guerrier incarne Odin alors que les premiers signes du Ragnarök se manifestent et qu'il cherche à échapper à son sort funeste. Eivor voit Odin apprendre que Loki a bravé son interdit et conçu un enfant, le loup Fenrir. Il trouve au Jotunheim le moyen de créer un breuvage magique qui permettra à son âme et celles d'autres Aesir (Thor, Tyr, Freyja...) de survivre au Ragnarök en se protégeant dans l'arbre Yggdrasil. Layla comprend que ces visions sont en fait des événements ayant eu lieu lors de la Grande catastrophe qui a décimé les Isus, et que Loki, à qui Thor avait interdit l'accès à Yggdrasil, a également sauvé son esprit dans l'arbre et survécu au Ragnarök.

Sigurd et Basim mettent la main sur une relique Isu, la Pierre de Saga, et Sigurd commence à se prendre pour une réincarnation divine. Il se laisse capturer par Fulke, une servante du roi Aelfred et membre de l'Ordre, qui croit également en la nature divine du guerrier. Quand Eivor le retrouve après avoir tué Fulke, il a été torturé durant des semaines et son bras droit amputé, mais son esprit est ailleurs. Eivor et Sigurd retournent ensemble en Norvège où les visions de Sigurd les mènent vers un temple Isu avec un ordinateur géant en forme d'arbre. En s'y connectant, ils se retrouvent dans le Valhalla, qu'Eivor voit comme un rêve éveillé et préfère quitter l'illusion paradisiaque. À leur réveil, Basim les attend et s'en prend à Eivor : les trois hommes sont les réincarnations de trois Isus, Basim est celle de Loki et croyait que Sigurd était celle d'Odin mais il est celle de Tyr, c'est Eivor qui est la réincarnation d'Odin. Basim veut venger la torture subie par Fenrir mais il finit piégé dans l'ordinateur.

De retour à Ravensthorpe, Sigurd abdique en faveur de Eivor (il retourne en Norvège ou reste en Angleterre selon les choix du joueur). Eivor est donc le jarl de son village quand il lance l'assaut sur le Wessex avec ses alliés contre les forces du roi Aelfred lors de la bataille de Chippenham, que les vikings emportent. Eivor retrouve plus tard Aelfred exilé dans le village d'Athelney, où ce dernier révèle être le "Pauvre Simple Soldat du Christ" qui a aidé Eivor à vaincre les membres de l'Ordre dont il était le Grand Maître : profondément croyant, Aelfred avait en horreur la philosophie païenne de l'Ordre et quand il a hérité de la charge de Grand Maître, il a attendu de pouvoir le détruire de l'intérieur afin de permettre l'avènement d'un nouvel Ordre catholique. Eivor épargne Aelfred et rentre dans la colonie en héros.

Dans le présent, les Assassins comprennent que le renforcement du champ magnétique terrestre est la suite de l'activation des tours Isu par Desmond Miles en 2012. Pour le stabiliser, elle se rend au temple de Norvège et entre à son tour dans la simulation du Valhalla où elle retrouve Basim. C'est lui qui a envoyé le signal qui a mené Layla vers la tombe d'Eivor et a trouvé le moyen de stabiliser le champ magnétique. Layla accepte mais se retrouve piégée dans la simulation, avec un être appelé le Lecteur, qui étudie les différentes évolutions qui permettront de sauver le monde. Ce faisant, Basim est libéré et s'empare du Bâton d'Hermès – ce qui lui permet de retrouver son amour, Aletheia. Basim demande à Shaun et Rebecca de rencontrer William Miles, avant de rentrer dans l'Animus et chercher ses enfants.

La Colère des druides
En 879, Eivor reçoit une lettre de son cousin Bárid mac Ímair, devenu roi de Dublin, qui souhaite s'allier au roi Flann Sinna, sur le point d'être sacré Haot-roi d'Irlande. Peu après son arrivée en Irlande, Eivor déjoue une tentative d'assassinant de Flann par les Enfants de Danu, une secte druidique qui veut empêcher la christianisation du pays. Avec l'aide de Ciara, poétesse au service de Flann autrefois associée aux rebelles, Eivor va les traquer tout en participant aux combats visant à prendre le contrôle de l'Ulster, dernière région non soumise à Flann, afin d'assurer une bonne place à Barid dans le premier cercle du Haut-roi, et la prospérité de Dublin qui s'étend par le commerce extérieur.

Eivor finit par démasquer le chef des Enfants de Danu : Eogan mac Cartaigh, l'abbé d'Armagh, mais faux chrétien qui utilisait la secte pour chasser les Nordiques et les chrétiens des terres irlandaises. En défendant les places fortes conquises par Flann, Barid est tué et Eivor s'assure que le fils de Barid, Sichfrith, prenne le trône de Dublin sous la tutelle de Flann. Mais en apprenant la duplicité d'Eogan, les autres rois d'Irlande exigent qu'une inquisition contre les druides soit lancée et Flann accepte, à contrecœur. Ciara menace alors d'activer les pierres de Lia Fáil et d'éradiquer quiconque voudra abattre sa culture. Le joueur peut alors choisir de tuer ou non Ciara, mais dans les deux cas, Lia Fáil est détruite. Eivor quitte l'Irlande peu après, laissant Sichfrith et Flann construire une Irlande en paix et réaliser le rêve de Bárid, une Dublin prospère.

Le Siège de Paris

En 885, Eivor reçoit la visite de Toka Sinricsdottir, une guerrière Viking arrivant de Francie qui planifie un raid sur Paris. L'empereur franc Charles le Gros a ravagé le pays par une guerre qui menace de s'étendre en Angleterre et elle demande l'aide d'Eivor pour l'arrêter. Le guerrier accepte et suit Toka à Melun pour rencontrer Sigfred, le jarl et oncle de Toka, qui veut venger son frère Sinric. Eivor veut avant tout protéger Ravensthorpe et tenter une approche diplomatique auprès de Charles avant un conflit armé.

Il découvre qu'une secte religieuse, les Bellatores Dei, agit dans l'ombre pour nourrir le conflit. Eivor atteint Paris et trouve Charles, qui ne semble intéressé que par sa femme Richardis, disparue depuis peu. Eivor la retrouve à Évreux, où les Bellatores Dei voulaient l'exorciser et ils se réfugient à Lisieux, où Richardis explique qu'elle veut avant protéger Bernard, le fils illégitime de Charles et seul héritier mâle, de l'influence de son père. Eivor est après trahi par Charles, qui ne veut que Bernard, et tente une dernière négociation avec le comte Eudes (de l'argent et des terres contre un cessez-le-feu) qui échoue. Eivor rejoint le sud de Paris pour le siège de la ville, devenu inévitable.

Pendant l'assaut, Eivor traque les derniers Bellatores Dei mais voit aussi que Sigfred est consumé par une soif de sang. La ville est sur le point de tomber quand Charles le Gros arrive avec des forces armées et de l'argent. Sigfred accepte la trêve et devient le protecteur de la Normandie. Eivor voit enfin une chance d'arrêter le massacre et d'épargner l'Angleterre. Mais quelque temps après, Richardis et Bernard disparaissent. Le comte Eudes envoie Eivor à Amiens, où Charles, devenu fou, veut soumettre Richardis au bûcher pour adultère et sorcellerie. L'arrivée d'Eivor et le début de la pluie sauvent Richardis, et le sort de Charles dépend du joueur. Dans tous les cas, Eudes prend la suite de Charles.

Eivor quitte la Francie en voyant que les yeux des Francs ne sont plus tournés vers l'Angleterre et que Toka, devenue jarlskona après que Sigfred a choisi de se retirer, se dirige vers la paix.

Système de jeu
Les joueurs ont le choix de jouer en tant qu'homme ou femme et peuvent en outre sélectionner leurs cheveux, peinture de guerre, vêtements et armures. Thierry Noel, un conseiller créatif du jeu, a déclaré que bien qu'il y ait encore un débat historique sur le degré de participation des femmes en tant que guerrières au sein des Vikings, Ubisoft a décidé de les intégrer pleinement à l'histoire car les femmes figuraient en bonne place dans la mythologie nordique et la société à cette ère. Les mécaniques de combat ont été modifiées pour permettre l'utilisation simultanée de deux armes. Dans cet épisode, l'animal accompagnant le héros et pouvant marquer les cibles n'est pas un aigle mais un corbeau. Le jeu repose moins sur un système de mise à niveau traditionnel et se concentre plutôt sur la sélection des compétences à travers des arbres de compétences. Les ennemis sont évalués en fonction de la collection de compétences. Les arbres de compétences sont similaires à ceux trouvés dans The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Fallout 4 et The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. On y retrouve aussi un système d'aptitudes, qui peuvent être trouvées en explorant la carte du jeu. Celles-ci sont utilisées de la même manière que les compétences des précédents opus. Les choix des joueurs via les options de conversation ou de gameplay ont un impact sur les personnages et leurs alliances politiques avec d'autres personnages non-joueurs.

Une des caractéristiques centrales du jeu est la colonie que le joueur, en tant qu'Eivor, aide à construire et à diriger pendant le jeu. Selon Ashraf Ismail,  Le joueur peut diriger la construction de certains types de bâtiments qui pourront alors offrir des avantages au héros. Pour construire ces structures, le joueur doit participer à des raids pour collecter des ressources. La partie navale revient de façon beaucoup moins importante. Les drakkars servent, principalement, à se déplacer rapidement et quitter les lieux après une bataille.

Valhalla est un jeu solo mais il inclut des composants en ligne, dans le but d'encourager les joueurs à partager leurs progrès et leur créativité. Effectivement, il est possible de créer des jomsvikings, un type de personnage non-joueur qui agit comme membre de l'équipage d'Eivor. Il est ensuite possible de partager cette création avec la communauté en ligne.

Développement
Assassin's Creed Valhalla est en développement dès la sortie de Assassin's Creed Origins fin 2017. Le développement principal est dirigé par le studio Ubisoft Montréal, et plus particulièrement par l'équipe derrière Origins, et est soutenu par quatorze autres studios Ubisoft dans le monde. Ashraf Ismail, ayant auparavant dirigé des travaux sur Origins et Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, en est le directeur créatif, tandis que le directeur narratif du jeu est Darby McDevitt, qui était l'auteur principal dAssassin's Creed Revelations et Black Flag et le co-auteur de Unity.

McDevitt reconnaît qu'il y aura des similitudes avec les jeux God of War, mais il pense néanmoins que ces jeux , tandis qu'avec Valhalla, l'équipe de développement se base beaucoup plus sur des faits historiques. Parallèlement à ces faits historiques, des éléments de la mythologie nordique apparaîtront dans l'histoire, de façon plus subtile et moins ouverte que dans les deux opus précédents.

Si Valhalla est prévu sur Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One et sur Google Stadia, il s'agit du premier jeu Assassin's Creed à sortir sur la nouvelle génération de consoles, la PlayStation 5 et la Xbox Series. Selon Ashraf Ismail, Valhalla est le « jeu phare » d'Ubisoft pour le lancement de cette nouvelle génération et a été développé pour tirer parti des temps de chargement beaucoup plus rapides des deux nouvelles consoles. Enfin le jeu prendra en charge le programme « Smart Delivery » de Microsoft, permettant au joueur d'acheter une seule copie du jeu qui fonctionnera à la fois sur Xbox One et Xbox Series.

Avant d'être officiellement dévoilé en avril 2020, le jeu a fait face à quelques fuites, et plusieurs noms avaient été évoqués comme Assassin's Creed Kingdom ou Assassin's Creed Ragnarök. Ubisoft avait prétendument teasé l'univers du jeu à travers un easter egg présent dans Tom Clancy's The Division 2, .

L'échec critique et commercial de Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint en 2019 incite Ubisoft à réévaluer le développement de ses prochains titres, dont Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

La pandémie de Covid-19 entraîne l'annulation de l'Electronic Entertainment Expo 2020 qui est, traditionnellement, un événement majeur pour annoncer les prochaines sorties de jeux vidéo. En réponse à cela, Ubisoft est passée par une plate-forme en ligne pour dévoiler ses prochains titres. Le , Ubisoft a dévoilé le thème et le titre de ce nouvel épisode, avec la diffusion pendant huit heures de la création d'un artwork de BossLogic. Le , la bande-annonce officielle du jeu a été dévoilée.

Le jeu est sorti le  sur Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 et Xbox One et Xbox Series, puis sur PlayStation 5 lors de sa sortie.

Accueil

 reçoit un accueil critique , recevant sur l'agrégateur Metacritic entre 81/100 et 85/100 selon les plates-formes.

En plus d'être un succès critique, le jeu est également un succès commercial. En effet, cet épisode est celui de la série Assassin's Creed qui s'est le plus vendu pendant sa première semaine de commercialisation, détrônant ainsi Assassin's Creed III et ses 3,5 millions d'exemplaires vendus en une semaine.

Lauréats et nominations

 The Game Awards 2020:
 Meilleur innovation en termes d'accessibilité (nomination)
 Meilleur jeu d'action/aventure (nomination)
 GLAAD Media Awards 2021:
 Meilleur jeux vidéo (nomination)

 Grammy Awards 2023:
 Meilleure bande sonore pour jeux vidéo et autres médias interactifs (lauréat)

Notes et références

Lien externe

Jeu d'action-aventure
Jeu vidéo de rôle
Jeu Windows
Jeu Stadia
Jeu PlayStation 4
Jeu PlayStation 5
Jeu Xbox One
Jeu Xbox Series
Jeu vidéo développé au Canada
Jeu vidéo Assassin's Creed
Jeu vidéo se déroulant dans un monde ouvert
Jeu vidéo sur les Vikings
Jeu vidéo se déroulant au haut Moyen Âge
Jeu vidéo s'inspirant de la mythologie nordique
Jeu Anvil
Jeu vidéo sorti en 2020
Jeu vidéo avec une musique composée par Sarah Schachner


Learn more about the Drafting program.
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Drafting and Design Technology program prepares students as draftee technicians in Mechanical drafting, Computer Aided Design, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) programming, and manufacturing processes. Students develop skills in completing orthographic layouts, ANSI standard dimensioning,exploded/assembled and working drawings, 2D and 3D computer aided drafting, 3D printing, geometric dimensioning and tolerance, and a general understanding of manufacturing in industry. The program emphasizes current technological needs in the drafting industry.
Successful completion of the Drafting and Design Technology program may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this program. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Draw wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, schematics, and layout drawings used for manufacture, installation, and repair of electronic equipment.
It is suggested that you begin taking the courses found in this course sequence starting in a Fall Semester.
Learn more about and find contact information for the Drafting program.
View MCCCD's program website for the Associate in Applied Science in Drafting and Design Technology (http://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=124465).


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Men have found different ways to express their obsessions with cars ever since cars became commonplace on the roads. These obsessions run deep, touching on everything from extravagant wheels to crazy modifications. You'll be surprised by just how far people will go to show their love for their vehicles.
Everyone knows someone who loves his or her car a little too much. Maybe they put in too much effort caring for the vehicle, or maybe they won't let any friends or pets too close. Still, there's someone out there who takes love for a car to a completely new level.
Nathaniel, a customer service technician, has a deep obsession with his car. It's a red 1998 Monte Carlo. Nathaniel named the car Chase. He and Chase have something of a typical relationship, except, of course, that Chase is a car. Nathaniel takes Chase on dates, gives Chase a kiss every morning, and buys Chase birthday presents. The man can't go longer than 24 hours away from the car—being apart for a long time makes him cry.
While Nathaniel's story might seem a bit extreme, plenty of others have obsessions with cars that get them into trouble.
Some people are so obsessed with rims they'll literally kill to get a set. The desire for a nice set of wheels has spread rapidly from sports stars and rappers to mere SUV drivers in the suburbs. And these rims aren't cheap—spinners, a kind that continues spinning after the car stops, go for upwards of $10,000. This expensive status symbol has even led to murder as thieves have killed the vehicle's owner for the wheels or killed police who have tried to interrupt a theft.
Annual sales of rims are in the billions. Of course, an underground economy has followed along, stocked by chop shops and thieves. Expensive rims have also caused the rate of auto thefts overall to rise. Now, when someone reports a crime related to their car, investigators don't just ask details about the car. They ask about its wheels.
Used car dealers have seen it all. Many car lovers express their feelings for their vehicles through bizarre modifications that decorate and personalize the cars. While modifications are not uncommon, some car owners have taken it to another level. There's an alien car, a car that functions (briefly) like an airplane, even an invisible car. Modification obsessions are one way that people take their love for cars very, very far.
While expensive wheels and other modifications are often the realm of men, women also develop obsessions for their cars. Sure, women are less likely to do modifications that make their vehicles more difficult or expensive to insure. They still buy cars based on color, decorate the interior with mirrors, decals, and other accessories, and develop attachments to cars that are better off upgraded.
Since cars became commonly available, people have found ways to express their love for their vehicles on the road. Some are stranger than others.
Author Bio: Joe Fortunato is a freelance writer from Tampa, Florida. He enjoys learning about new subjects, following his Baltimore Orioles, and traveling the country for fishing. You can find Joe on Twitter at@joey_fort.


Artistic impression of a sunset from Barnard's star b courtesy of Martin Kornmesser/ESO.
The planet, designated Barnard's Star b, now steps in as the second-closest known exoplanet to Earth. The gathered data indicate that the planet could be a super-Earth, having a mass at least 3.2 times that of the Earth, which orbits its host star in roughly 233 days. Barnard's Star, the planet's host star, is a red dwarf, a cool, low-mass star, which only dimly illuminates this newly-discovered world. Light from Barnard's Star provides its planet with only 2% of the energy the Earth receives from the Sun.
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Writing recently in The New York Times Magazine, prominent historian Rick Perlstein attempts to figure out how exactly American conservatism could produce, as if out of nowhere, a candidate and a president of such "intellectual embarrassment" as Donald Trump. What had American historians, particularly those of conservative focus, failed to see since William F. Buckley, Jr. supposedly recreated respectable conservatism out of the ashes of World War II by founding the National Review?
The simple if perhaps too simplistic answer to Perlstein's question is that the patron saints of the modern conservative movement–primarily Buckley and Ronald Reagan–have been venerated (mostly by conservatives) well beyond their actual intellectual/political brilliance. What they created has led to Trumpism because American conservatism was not grounded, beyond the small farm agrarianism of Thomas Jefferson, on justice and reality.
"One assumes that Mr. Buckley led this team. They have written their book not as reporters who have followed the blow-by-blow contests, but rather as "historians" who have studied the "historical" documents. One may legitimately doubt their objective approach, however; the authors have consulted with Senator McCarthy, but it is not known that they have consulted with General Marshall or any of the other "enemies" of the title.
Here, at any rate, is proof that it is the young who are infinitely more deadly — in purpose at least — of the species. Essentially what they have attempted is a defense both of Senator McCarthy and "McCarthyism" and an argument, well written in the English language as it is, that will rather stagger those to whom that language has long expressed certain concepts of fair play which Messrs. Buckley and Bozell seem to think either out of date or not viable in a world of great peril. They wish to make that kind of "security" that would astonish and worry traditional Conservatives.
So right from the very beginning of Buckley's career there is displayed the sort of radical reactionaryism that would be right at home among many of the "alt-right" to whom Trump turned as both candidate and president. Despite White's acerbic review, McCarthy and His Enemies appeared on the NY Times best-seller list, which goes to prove, I suppose, that this sort of nationalism-gone-berserk conservatism was pretty popular already back in the 1950's.
This, then, was the nature of Buckley's conservative "organic moral order." Yes, as Perlstein points out, Buckley denounced the John Birch Society, anti-Semitism and the fanatical followers of Ayn Rand; Buckley was a clever and by all accounts charming defender of traditional, wholesome aspects of culture he thought liberals were too quick to dismiss. But generally speaking, William F. Buckley, Jr. was no Russell Kirk, no lover of quiet agrarian traditions in which both silly "progress" and sillier war were opposed.
Kirk's brand of agrarian conservatism, closest to that of Thomas Jefferson, has always held some promise*(see note below), but is burdened, in my view, by an over-reliance on historical norms and prejudices and a suspicion of reason and egalitarian feeling. For Kirk, liberalism is always "radical collectivism" which "detests religious faith, private virtue, traditional personality, and the life of simple satisfactions." Not true, I reply. Liberalism does not forsake tradition, virtues and satisfactions, but will not be made a slave to unjust, inhumane traditions and practices. Liberals believe in the power of individual reason and a democratic government acting for the common good.
What Hofstadter said of Goldwater can be as easily said of Donald Trump, but Trump was actually elected. Perlstein writes that the election of Ronald Reagan to the office of president twice by landslides "made a mockery of Hofstadter." Well, hardly a mockery. The "paranoid style" of national security coupled with the fairy tale style of "trickle-down" economics remains the heart of conservative ideology and thus does not deserve to be taken seriously.
Perlstein, seems to me, is just being too polite. Or too circumspect. And to risk being impolite, as Perlstein writes future historians may have to be–Trumpism is just the dumbest form of conservatism.
*Note–Today our "conservatives" are more likely than liberals to be supporters of "factory farming" and other forms of corporate greed/government austerity that harm rural areas.
-That modern conservatism is doomed to remain unpopular and on the fringes of public discourse, because Americans find most of its principles repellent. Unfortunately, the way things played out was not kind to Hofstadter. Perlstein's life's work so far has been devoted to chronicling how: the story of how a bunch of fringe political insurgents managed to worm themselves into dominant political power. Part of the story is that conservatives just lie constantly to hide their less-popular beliefs, but part of it is the uncomfortable reality that many, many average Americans came to find some parts of conservatism (tax cut jihadism, some degree of anti-abortion/pro-death-penalty policies, etc.) actually appealing.
Thanks, Martin. Perhaps I should have made clear that Hofstadter's liberal optimism was justified at the time. As was Lionel Trilling's a decade earlier. Not sure why such optimism is "dangerous," however. It is a faith in American liberal democracy to ultimately prevail, despite the fatal attractions of a fearful, reactionary response now reflected in too many politicians and media outlets.
By "justified at the time" it sounds like you mean something like "it was reasonable given events at the time to believe as Hofstadter did," or "it is normatively desirable to believe in democracy winning over authoritarian challenges"? Because I agree with both of those. A commentator in the 1950s/1960s would have an easy time believing that a liberal, internationalist, welfare-state order seemed to be very, maybe even permanently, attractive to a post-New Deal American public. That political milieu is why Goldwater was viewed at the time as such an extremist.
But that's not really what I mean by Hofstadter's "error." He erred in understanding the political strength of challenges to this order. Hofstadter figured Goldwater's ideas were permanently unpopular political losers, bound to remain on the fringes until eventually flaming out, just as happened with previous examples of the paranoid style in the 19th century. And they were losers – but not permanently; in a three-decade project, movement conservatives managed to use racism (among other things) to fracture that post-New Deal order, take over one of the two political parties, and eventually attract enough white voters to put Reagan in the White House.
The reason I call this error "dangerous" was that it amounted to liberals failing to understand the danger posed by their enemy. Liberal intellectuals (of whom Hofstadter was a leading light) figured that enemy was, and would continue to be, so inconsequential that it was barely even worth going to the trouble to understand their appeal or their tactics. Had they made a more serious attempt to do so at the time, they might have been able to nip conservatism's ascendance in the bud. That ascendance, even if it doesn't ultimately succeed in destroying American democracy, has already had a real and terrible human cost.
George Will, columnist, wrote on Hofstadter: "Hofstadter dismissed conservatives as victims of character flaws and psychological disorders — a "paranoid style" of politics rooted in "status anxiety," etc. Conservatism rose on a tide of votes cast by people irritated by the liberalism of condescension." Liberals are "elite", etc. Not sure we can blame Hofstadter and other liberal intellectuals for irritating conservatives. Hofstadter might say that anti-intellectualism deserves to be dismissed. But I get what you're saying.


text:
Q: Extracting fields from .csv file input line I'm very new to the world of Java programming, and although I know this is a ridiculously easy question, I can't seem to phrase my searches in a way that turns up the answer I need...so hopefully someone from this community won't mind helping me.
MY program needs to take an input line from a .csv file and split it into fields of an array, using commas as delimiters. The fields of the array are then assigned to variables that are different data types - char, int, float, and string.  What I'm struggling with is the formatting for my String variables.
Here is part of my code:
public void parseCSV(String inputLine) {

String[] splitFields;
splitFields = inputLine.split(",");

try {
    empNumber = Integer.parseInt(splitFIelds[0[);
    payType = splitFields[1].charAt(0);
    hourlyRate = Float.parseFloat(splitFields[2]);
    last name =

I need to assign variable lastName, a String data type, to position 3 of my splitFields array. I just don't know how to format it. Help would be greatly appreciated!

A: A warning on your overall approach
Go with the other answers if you're doing a homework assignment with a simple csv file, but splitting a String on the comma character , will not work for more complicated CSVs. Example:
"Roberts, John", Chicago

This should be read as two cells where the first string is Roberts, John. Naive splitting on , will read this as three cells: "Roberts, John", and Chicago.
What you should be doing (for robust code)
If you're writing serious/production level code, you should use the Apache Commons CSV library to parse CSVs. There are enough tricky issues with commas and quotations, enough variation in possible formats that it makes sense to use a mature library. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel.
Another tool for parsing text
If you're a beginner, this might be opening up a can of worms, but a powerful tool for parsing/validating text input is "regular expressions." Regular expressions can be used to match a string against a pattern and to extract portions of a string. Once you have extracted a String from a specific cell of a csv, you could use a regular expression to validate that the String is in the format you're expecting.
While you're unlikely to really need regular expressions for this project, I thought I'd mention it.

A: String.split(...) returns a String[] so you really can just assign a specific index to a String.
String s = "one two dog!";
String[] sa = s.split(" ");
String ns = sa[1]; // ns now equals "two"

so you can just:
last_name = splitFields[index]; // this will work fine as long as index is within the `array` bounds.

Please mind that your last name var has a space(that might have been you problem).
I also recommend minding the parses, Integer.parseInt(...) & Float.parseFloat(...) might throw a NumberFormatException if you try to parse a non decimal values.

A: Easy, it is already a String, so you do not have to perform additional parsing. The following assignment will do the trick:
lastName = splitFields[3];

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


why buy from Warby Parker?
With buying a pair of glasses it really is hard buying a pair of glasses via online so I have talked about Warby Parker in the past since they offer amazing try at home programs before you buy your pair of glasses at no charge!
This how it works: choose 5 pairs to try on, put in your credit card so that they know that you are a real person trying on their glasses, dont worry you wont get charged only a temporary $1 charge so that they know that your credit card is real account, within 2-3 days you'll have your 5 pairs delivered to your home then you'll have 5 days to test them out before you mail them back with their repaid free return postage!
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So happy I found a glasses that feels right, looks nice, they are good quality frames that didnt break my wallet and also it feels good to buy from them!
I bought my first pair of Warbys in August, and haven't looked back. Love that they do the try on program…and they have a 30 day no questions asked return policy (they told me it's in case you ever wanted to try on a pair that wasn't available for the try-on program). I love seeing new collections from them a few times a year, and it makes me happy that they're nice and cheap for people on budgets. :) Great pick with those Chapmans!
They all look really good on you *A* I probably need to get new glasses soon too!
Sorry to confuse you but I did mention I made a post about them before, I didn't like the selection of the frames they had before. Since then they have added new selections of frames including frames with a nose pads which I hoped that they added before.
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text:
Congestion linked supply chain chaos to persist till mid-2022, says Maersk
A.P. Moller – Maersk forecasted that continuation of equipment shortage is expected in the near future across many locations throughout the Indian sub-continent, as various factors continue to impact the operator's ability to reposition containers.
The Danish box carrier identified factors like increased customs inspections of refrigerated containers as a preventive measure against Covid-19, lack of labour due to pandemic restrictions across maritime and land ports, and vessel delays due to long waiting times outside major ports.
Maersk estimates that the road logistics market in the region will grow fuelled by the rising demand for consumer products. In India, the market is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 8% over the next five years, according to a RedCore's study.
India's Manufacturing Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) reached a 10-month high of 57.6 in November driven by domestic sales which was the main source for growth as exports orders rose slightly.
While elaborating the reasons behind the continuation of equipment shortage, Maersk said the current operational landscape remains very challenging reflected in more than 90 vessels of the operator are now at anchor outside Los Angeles and Long Beach waiting to discharge cargo.
The environment remains challenging across US ports due to a lack of trucking and chassis capacity. Similarly, waiting time outside main ports in the UK continues to be high due to a lack of truck drivers.
"Key ports across our global network remain stressed due to infrastructure bottlenecks and shortage of labour. We continue seeing that 10-20% of global capacity is being absorbed due to increased waiting times. This is despite all vessel capacity being deployed, and hence effective vessel capacity remains severely limited, causing missed sailings," said Maersk in a market update.
The Copenhagen-based container line estimated that the waiting times at major ports in the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East, like Colombo, Chittagong, Salalah, Jebel Ali, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jeddah and Port Qasim, is less than two days, while a significant number of global ports have vessel waiting time of three to five days and over.
"Looking ahead, we expect that the supply chain chaos, as a result of port congestions, will persist until mid-2022. We are working to develop a new process to predict more accurate transit times in order to bring more clarity, accuracy and control to our customers," concluded Maersk.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yet the 4200 is ready to take whatever you dispense. Here is something to try. LaserJet 4200N Printer parts list. The page also lets you know when you should perform the next preventive maintenance. Product sold without warranty: This product was sold by a reseller. The correct voltage power is not Measure the voltage at the outlet. To visit this or any Web site, you must have Internet access.
One flaw was pale banding on CorelDraw images with graduated grays, but we saw no comparable issues with graduated pictures from other applications. If the printer is on a network, always consult with the network administrator before changing settings on this tab. It matches the product: Would you like to view the product details page for the new product? Look at the cost per page and include maintenance, not just toner. You could manage print queues as well as established them on either a web server or a workstation. Plate - Swing plate assembly - Pressure Roller GearSwing plate assembly - For tray 2 paper lift assembly Located between the main gear assembly and the fuser, just above the power supply. Steps 2: connects to the wireless network The Wireless Setup Wizard offers a simple method to establish as well as handle the wireless connection to your printer. The cheaper the printer, the more they cost to print.
If it comes up to ready, it was probably just a bad print job. With this one you never know. You must start the computer and printer. In order to use the embedded Web server with a direct connection, you must select the Custom installation option when you install the printer driver. When you remove the formatter two screws in back and slide back and out , look at the connector at the bottom left and see the connector it mates with. I strongly suspect that the power supply went out because although I can hear the printer going through the normal power cycle, about 5 seconds into it the whole thing stops.
The 604 sounds like a great deal because it's only a few pages per minute slower, but it also can only use the low yield toner cartridges and your cost per page goes up a lot. Print a menu map before changing printer settings or before replacing the formatter assembly. So she just shut it off. It provides useful accounting information for example, the number of pages of various paper sizes that have been used and data that can be used to calculate toner usage. Still, little divisions or organizations on a budget will value the 4200n's fast and exact message manufacturing. This page contains the traditional printer menus: Information, Paper Handling, Configure Device, and Diagnostics. Publication number: Q2431-90912 Edition 1, 08 2002 Warranty The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
They are cheap because no one wants them now that the newer machines are out. Thank you GaryL1, I tried all that you suggested, it didn't work : so I called several local printer repair company's and they were charging like you said way to much than the printer was worth. If you see Uninstall a Program, click this. Feeder - 1500 sheet paper tray and feeder assembly for LaserJet products series printers. Except for a bad batch of drive gears in a few of them when they were released, the 2400 was a pretty good series. After you do this, turn it on and see if you get any lights.
The Wi-Fi light will certainly activate when currently make it possible for a cordless link. Since you will be buying a used one you can not put a network formatter in a printer that originally did not have a network connection. Use this page to establish e-mailalerts for various printer and supplies events. The Settings tab can be password protected. This page also provides supplies part numbers. Use this page to add or customize a link to another Web site.
Make use of any kind of printer in the series to print even your biggest quantity tasks quickly with print speeds up to 35 ppm. Enhance your small office or workgroup performance by utilizing the high-performance series printers. Can anyone tell me how I may replace the power supply for the printer? Sometimes it looks fine but is not making full contact. Thank you for your help and fast response. Your model may return multiple results, some of which may contain only the parts list.
If necessary, plug the power cord into another available. See the reinstall note in Right-side cover. That connector will have two big screws and it should have a little play to it. Hewlett-Packardmakes no warranty of any kind with respect to this information. Watch you email as I will send you a wire diagram, but to be honest the printer has had it.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If you do not see your model in the list below, try the search box above, which will also return equivalent models. The 4200 is a speed devil; it was the fastest printer without a doubt on almost all of our performance examinations. The informational pages for the printer are also available in the embedded Web server. The 4200 delivers all this-- plus excellent print speeds-- at an affordable cost.


text:
namespace Calibrus.SparkPortal.DataAccess.Infrastructure
{
    using System;
    using System.Collections.Generic;

    public partial class Main
    {
        public Main()
        {
            this.IpLocations = new HashSet<IpLocation>();
            this.OrderDetails = new HashSet<OrderDetail>();
        }

        public int MainId { get; set; }
        public Nullable<System.DateTime> CallDateTime { get; set; }
        public Nullable<System.DateTime> WebDateTime { get; set; }
        public string WavName { get; set; }
        public string Dnis { get; set; }
        public string Verified { get; set; }
        public string Concern { get; set; }
        public string ConcernCode { get; set; }
        public string TpvAgentName { get; set; }
        public string TpvAgentId { get; set; }
        public Nullable<int> TotalTime { get; set; }
        public Nullable<int> UserId { get; set; }
        public string Email { get; set; }
        public string RecordLocator { get; set; }
        public string SalesState { get; set; }
        public string AuthorizationFirstName { get; set; }
        public string AuthorizationMiddle { get; set; }
        public string AuthorizationLastName { get; set; }
        public string Btn { get; set; }
        public string CompanyName { get; set; }
        public string CompanyContactFirstName { get; set; }
        public string CompanyContactLastName { get; set; }
        public string CompanyContactTitle { get; set; }
        public string Territory { get; set; }
        public string LeadType { get; set; }
        public string Relation { get; set; }
        public string NumberOfAccounts { get; set; }
        public string AccountFirstName { get; set; }
        public string AccountLastName { get; set; }
        public string OutboundWavName { get; set; }
        public Nullable<System.DateTime> QaDateChange { get; set; }
        public string QaReasonChange { get; set; }
        public string QaAgentId { get; set; }
        public string QaOriginalConcern { get; set; }
        public Nullable<bool> QaChanged { get; set; }
        public Nullable<int> LeadsId { get; set; }
        public string PreferredLanguage { get; set; }
        public string SwitchDate { get; set; }

        public virtual ICollection<IpLocation> IpLocations { get; set; }
        public virtual ICollection<OrderDetail> OrderDetails { get; set; }
        public virtual User User { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide
Complete Streets and Parking Management
Transit Oriented Development
Women In Transport
Pune – Pimpri-Chinchwad
India Cycles4Change Challenge
Streets for People Challenge
Urbanlogue
Urbanlogue Webinars – Series One
Urbanlogue Webinars – Series Two
Transport investments for better cities
24th May 2016 By admin Leave a Comment
In the next fifteen years, the top hundred cities of India will grow by around 60 percent. These cities will have 125 million new inhabitants, roughly the population of Japan! Today, with less than a third of all urban trips on personal motor vehicles (and less than 10% by personal cars), and more than two thirds by sustainable modes—walking, cycling, and public transport—Indian cities look good on paper. But, the ground reality is different.
Formal public transport is poor or non-existent. Uncomfortable, unsafe, and polluting paratransit services fill the gap in most cities. Walking and cycling facilities are completely missing, or unusable if they exist. People use 'sustainable' modes out of financial compulsion, not out of choice. Cities are choked with traffic and pollution. Road fatality rates are 20-25 times that of developed countries.
On the other hand, personal motor vehicle ownership is doubling every decade, at nearly thrice the rate of population growth. As more and more people depend on personal motor vehicles for their daily travel needs, cities try to accommodate this deluge of traffic by expanding roads, building flyovers, and increasing parking space. However, such automobile centric planning practices cause urban sprawl, resulting in longer commutes and more traffic on the roads. Infrastructure costs, user costs, travel times, and pollution increase; traffic safety worsens.
To become smart, Indian cities must embrace a radically different approach to urban mobility: one that focuses on efficient and sustainable forms of mobility like public transport, walking and cycling. They also need to adopt a transit-oriented development (TOD) approach to create dense yet livable neighborhoods along mass transport lines, so that trips remain short and convenient and cities remain compact.
Large and medium-sized Indian cities must invest in an extensive network of rapid transit along with a wide coverage of frequent, high-quality urban bus service. Further, cities of all sizes must invest in safe and convenient walking and cycling infrastructure. The aim should be to provide safe, convenient, and attractive mobility options for all while restricting the vehicle-kilometres travelled (VKT) by personal motor vehicles to no more than present levels. In mode share terms, percentage of trips by personal motor vehicles should be cut by half of present level by 2031.
Rapid transit in India: A global comparison
A global comparison of rapid transit projects reveals that India has just 3.2 kilometers of rapid transit per million urban residents (counting only cities with population of more than half million), a third of its peers China and Brazil, and less than a twentieth of France. To keep pace with its urban growth, India needs over a eight-fold increase of its mass rapid transit supply by 2031. However, at the present rate of building rapid transit in India, it would take at least 3-4 times longer, by when, the need for rapid transit would increase even further. India is not investing in sustainable urban transport at anything close enough to meet even basic mobility needs, much less to addressing the issues of inequity and environmental degradation that are growing faster than the population.
Countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico not only have much more urban rapid transit per capita than India but are expanding their systems at significantly faster rate. The reason behind this is bus rapid transit (BRT)—an inexpensive and quick to implement rapid transit mode that can provide metro-quality service with the added benefit of flexibility of rubber-tyred buses compared to rail systems. BRT systems not only have dedicated median lanes to bypass congestion but also have feature elements like stepless boarding, off-board fare collection, and real-time passenger information that reduce delays and improve customer service.
BRT and bus-based public transport in India
The Ahmedabad BRT system—known as Janmarg or "the People's Way"—has revolutionised expectations about bus-based mass rapid transit in India. In a span of five years from 2009 to 2014, Janmarg has expanded from a 12.5 km corridor to a network of 88 km, providing connectivity across the city. Janmarg demonstrates that BRT can provide high-quality service at a fraction of the cost and has inspired similar BRT efforts like Rajmarg (Rajkot) in 2012, iBus (Indore) in 2013 and Citilink (Surat) in 2014.
Features of Bus Rapid Transit
In 2015, Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad inaugurated Rainbow BRT. Bus operations are monitored from a central control centre using real-time data from GPS tracking devices on buses. The system uses a fleet of Euro IV CNG buses to contain emissions. With a daily ridership of 130,000, Rainbow BRT has helped reduce reliance on personal motorized vehicles. Around 12 percent of Rainbow BRT commuters used personal motor vehicles for their daily travel earlier.
Rapid transit, while important, is not enough. Many Indian cities have skeletal bus services or none at all. In their absence, people depend on intermediate public transport modes that are unsafe and, often, highly polluting. Hence, a formal bus-based public transport service is a necessity in all cities. In all, Indian cities will need over 3 lakh new city buses and minibuses in operations by 2031.
Walking and cycling: Basics of urban transport
More than a third of all the trips in our cities are made by foot or cycle. Public transport trips too start and end on foot—making walking integral to India's transport systems. Cities must focus on redesigning streets to support walking and cycling—clean modes of transport that still play an important role in Indian cities. Indian cities need to build at least 32,000 km of wide and accessible footpaths and 16,000 km of safe and convenient cycle tracks over the next fifteen years.
Chennai is the first Indian city to adopt a non-motorised transport policy to promote walking and cycling in the city. The Corporation of Chennai has proposed to create a safe and pleasant network of footpaths, cycle tracks and greenways through the entire city to arrest the current decline in walking and cycling. 26 streets have been redesigned with better walking infrastructure, with another 20 streets under construction. Streets with wide carriageways and narrow or no footpaths have been replaced by wide, continuous and unhindered walking spaces, safe pedestrian crossings, properly scaled carriageways, conveniently placed bus stops, and clearly designated on-street parking.
Building cities around transit
Investments promoting walking, cycling and public transport will not bear fruit unless Indian cities stop counterproductive car-centric investments like flyovers and elevated roads. No city in the world has solved its congestion problem by building more roads. Our cities should follow a simple mantra: Build transit, Add density, Control parking. Cities should encourage higher densities in areas where there is good connectivity to mass rapid transit. They must also actively control personal motor vehicle use through parking restrictions and market-based pricing. Parking fees should be pegged to parking demand—higher demand, higher fee. Revenue generated from parking can be used to build better walking and cycling infrastructure and to expand public transport.
Ahmedabad's Development Plan 2021 embraces this mantra. It encourages the use of public transport and promotes a compact city by encouraging higher density commercial and residential activities along BRT and Metro corridors while removing minimum requirements for off-street parking in new buildings. In fact, there is a cap on the amount of parking that new buildings can create—a maximum of two basement levels. Any additional parking will be deducted from the permitted FSI.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), through its draft parking policy, makes a case for limited parking. In areas with good connectivity to mass rapid transit, the emphasis is on controlling parking supply. As per the policy, the city will be divided into multiple parking districts. Parking rates in these districts will reflect rentals in the area, the size of the vehicle and the levels of congestion in the area.
PMC has also proposed in its 2016-17 budget to spend 50% of its transportation budget on footpaths, cycle tracks, and BRT, thus prioritising spending on sustainable transport over car-oriented infrastructure. Revenue generated from parking will also be used to build streets with better walking and cycling infrastructure as well as to expand public transport. Many vehicle-free zones are also planned, particularly on busy shopping streets.
Benefits of adopting such a sustainable transport approach are many. It can bring down capital expenditure, fuel consumption, pollution levels and travel costs, saving money for government and individual citizens. Building safe streets that support the needs of all road users can also save tens of thousands of lives.
The Smart Cities Challenge has clear guidelines to promote walking, cycling, and public transport and will see an investment of around one trillion rupees (including central, state, and city contributions) over the next five years to develop best practices in the urban sector. Though these are good signs, implementation challenges remain. Access to funds, while essential, is not enough. Cities must also improve their capacity to plan and deliver high quality projects, by creating institutions with clear authority to plan, design, and implement. Smart are those cities that have the ability to create a sustainable, equitable and livable future.
The article was first published in Urbana World, Mar-Apr 2016
Filed Under: news Tagged With: Public Transport, TOD, Traffic reduction
Chennai adopts NMT Policy: A quantum leap towards safer streets
Delhi plans for smart growth around transit
Demystifying parking: Smart solutions to cities' parking woes
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text:
Top 10 boycotts
Friday 4th of June 2021
As boycotts hit the headlines, we ask our readers what they are currently boycotting.
Recently we've seen more and more conversations about boycotting: from questions over whether we should avoid products made in China, to the importance of the BDS campaign for Palestinian rights.
We sent our readers a survey to find out who they are boycotting.
Here's a list of the top 10 companies, countries or products that they say they are currently boycotting.
83% of readers are joining us in our boycott of Amazon.
We've been boycotting Amazon over their egregious tax avoidance since 2012.
Amazon recently announced that in 2020 it paid no corporation tax despite making a sales income of €44billion in Europe.
Find out more and join the campaign:
Boycott Amazon campaign
2. Nestlé
28% of readers have joined the world's longest running boycott.
Baby Milk action first called a boycott of Nestlé in 1977, and since then the global boycott campaign has targeted the company over the aggressive sale and marketing of formula to new mothers.
View our profile of Nestlé
Image from BDS Movement
3. BDS
26% said that they are part of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign, or boycott companies complicit in the Israeli state's abuses.
BDS calls for the international community to put non-violent pressure on Israel until it complies with international human rights laws, such as the Geneva Conventions and UN Resolution 242. We view the Palestinian BDS movement as a way for civil society to hold Israel to account for its internationally condemned human rights violations.
Discover more about BDS
12% of respondents said that they were boycotting China, mainly over their treatment of the Uyghur minority.
The human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese state are numerous, and many are linked to global corporations and products sold around the world. Increasingly people are asking should we boycott 'made in China'?
We explore the question through the cases of China's abuses in Tibet, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in our latest feature.
Should we boycott 'Made in China'?
5. Tesco
8% specified Tesco as a boycott target, but if you add in those that said they were boycotting all supermarkets this figure rises to 10%.
Supermarkets often score badly on our rating system, and many readers will remember the Tescopoly campaign of the early 2000's, which called for a boycott of the company due to their rapid expansion.
Recently they have faced pressure over deforestation across Brazil for meat.
See our company profile of Tesco
Image credit: Greenpeace
6. Palm oil
8% of people said that they are boycotting products containing this controversial ingredient.
Consumers increasingly want to avoid palm oil where possible, but it's a tricky task as it's used in so many products - including more than 50% of packaged supermarket products from margarine and oven chips to soaps and detergents.
We have advice on companies and brands to avoid, how to go palm-oil-free with certain products, whether there are sustainable alternatives, and whether we as consumers should boycott palm oil. Go to our special page on palm oil to find out more.
Discover more about palm oil
7. Coca-Cola
6% are boycotting the infamous soft drinks company.
The Campaign to Stop Killer Coke has called for a boycott of the company, following claims that it had been involved in the murders of union leaders at its factories in South America, and in other instances of violence, intimidation and workers' rights abuses.
Coca-Cola was accused of paying Colombian paramilitaries who murdered nine union members at its bottling plants. The campaign website also lists reports of the company ordering serious anti-union violence at Turkish and Guatemalan plants.
View the Coca-Cola company profile
8. Plastics
Plastics of one variety or another (including disposables and plastic toys) were mentioned by 5% of responders.
According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now estimated to be three times the size of France, with 46% of it composed of discarded nets and other kinds of fishing gear.
Aside from the environment, plastic could be affecting the health of humans and other animals. The WWF found that the average person ingests the equivalent of a credit card of plastic every week.
Latest Plastics News
9. Asda
Asda received 4% of the votes (rising to 7.5% if you also count those who said they were boycotting all supermarkets).
While the company isn't under any specific boycott calls, they score (and have scored) consistently poorly in our ratings tables. They sit near the bottom of the supermarkets guide with a score of zero.
Discover more about Asda on their company profile page
10. Meat products
5% said they were boycotting meat products.
We imagine that the number that identify as vegan or vegetarian is much higher (and perhaps don't consider this a boycott as such).
Our recent Ethical Consumer Markets Report found that sales of meat-free and dairy-free products increased by 25% and 28% respectively in the 12 weeks ending April 20203.
The results also showed that 30% of people intend to eat less meat and dairy than before the pandemic. This change is likely due to people paying more attention to their health, the environment and/or animal welfare, as these topics are increasingly dominating the public's decision making.
Read the latest Ethical Consumer Markets Report
See our guide to meat free sausages and burgers
See our guide to vegan non-dairy milk
More mentions
There were many other companies mentioned by readers as targets for their own boycotting. These included:
Google, Boots, Barclays, Sports Direct, Cadburys, Facebook, Primark, H&M, Zara, HSBC, Apple, Wetherspoons, Shell, Dyson, Starbucks, Unilever, McDonalds and more.
Other themes mentioned included fast fashion, products tested on animals, banks that invest in fossil fuels, GM foods and all companies with a low ethiscore.
We should also say that some people were boycotting a number of things. This included one dedicated reader who told us that they boycotted, "Nestlé, Coke, Pepsi. All companies (especially cosmetic companies) that do not have a proven track record of not testing on animals for any ingredients in their products. I particularly boycott large unethical corporations that buy small ethical companies then trade on their good reputation, effectively deceiving the public."
Thanks to all those that took part. The results are based on 693 responses.
See our list of current boycotts from around the world
10 ethical brands owned by unethical companies
Shopping without Amazon
Read about successful boycotts
Subscribe to Ethical Consumer
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Ethics, customer service and complaint handling: guest blog by The Complaining Cow
Helen Dewdney, The Complaining Cow consumer champion, writes a guest post on ethics, customer service and complaint handling.
Is Brexit damaging ethical business?
Now that Brexit's finally happened, what's the impact on the UK's ever growing ethical consumer market?
Amazon to pay $61.7million for withholding drivers' tips
Amazon has been ordered to pay over $61.7million in compensation to drivers for withholding tips, following charges by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Ethical Markets Report shows strong growth for Fairtrade
The latest annual report on ethical shopping provides good news for ethics including Fairtrade says Simon Birch
See all articles →
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Sports parents have a big impact on their young superstars. A healthy and successful sports experience will depend on sports parents' ability to instill confidence and self-esteem in athletes. Read sports psychology expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn's view on how to make sports a successful and fun experience.
Youth sports are huge in today's society. Coaches and parents have a tremendous impact on how children will engage in sports. I get several emails a month from concerned sports parents asking me how they should help their child superstar win at and enjoy sports. When working with young athletes, I often work with the parents themselves so parents can reinforce the concepts I teach to athletes in our mental game coaching sessions. Below are eight simple guidelines for sports parents to adopt with youth athletes.
1. Sports should be fun for kids. Treat sport as a game—It's not a business for kids. With all the money in professional sports today, it is hard for parents to understand that it's just good fun to young athletes. The primary goal should be to have fun and enjoy the healthy competition.
2. Your own agenda is not your child's. Young athletes compete in sports for many reasons. They enjoy the competition, like the social aspect, engage with being part of a team, and enjoy the challenge of setting goals. You might have a different agenda than your child and you need to recognize that racing is your child's sport, not yours.
3. Emphasize a mental focus on the process of execution instead of results or trophies. We live in a society that focuses on results and winning, but winning come from working the process and enjoying the ride. Teach your child to focus on the process of the challenge of playing one shot, stroke, or race at a time instead of the number of wins or trophies.
4. You are a role model for your child athlete. As such, you should model composure and poise on the sidelines. When you are at competition, your child mimics your behavior as well as other role models. You become a role model in how you react to a close race or the questionable behavior of a competitor. Stay calm, composed, and in control during games so your child superstar can mimic those positive behaviors.
5. Refrain from game-time coaching. During competition, it's time to just let them play. All the practice should be set aside because this is the time that athletes need trust in the training and react on the court or field. "Just do it" as the saying goes. Too much coaching (or over-coaching) can lead to mistakes and cautious performance (called paralysis by over analysis in my work). Save the coaching for practice and use encouragement at game time instead.
6. Help you athlete to detach self-esteem from achievement. Too many athletes I work with attach self-worth to the level of performance or outcomes. Help your child understand that they are a person FIRST who happens to be an athlete instead of an athlete who happens to be a person. Success or number of wins should not determine a person's self-esteem.
7. Ask your child athlete the right questions. Asking the right questions after competition and games will tell your child what you think is important in sports. If you ask, "Did you win?" your child will think winning is important. If you ask, "Did you have fun?" he or she will assume having fun is important.
8. Pledge the: P.A.Y.S. Parent's Code of Ethics. PAYS (Parents Association for Youth Sports) provides a parental handbook and code of ethics that adults must sign before each competitive season. This is a great tool to guide parents in their interaction with young athletes.
Dr. Patrick Cohn and Lisa Cohn are founders of The Ultimate Sports Parent. Listen to their radio show and download their free e-book, "Ten Tips to Improve Confidence and Success in Young Athletes," by visiting The Ultimate Sports Parent.


There are three types of products you can create in truvi, Wine, Non Wine & Bundles. The steps below take you through adding a wine product.
Please Note: In the truvi platform you also have the ability to import products.
Click here to view instructions for importing products.
Sales Channels: Select the sales channels where this product should be available, Web Store, Club and POS. If you want the product to be available on your website, select Web Store, for Wine Club shipments, add it to Club and for POS, select POS.
Name*: Enter the name of your wine, such as Napa Valley Cabernet. Please note: there is no need to include a vintage in the name as that will be included later.
Product URL*: The URL is automatically created based on the product name.
Status: Determines whether the product is active or inactive on the website.
Type: Defines the type of product you are adding. i.e. Wine, Merchandise, Collateral, etc. Instructions for additional types are here.
Start and End Date: Allows you to specify a date range in which this product is enabled.
Wine Category: Select the wine category this product is associated with.
Varietals*: Select the varietal this wine is. If your varietal is not listed, click on Add Varietal link below the Varietals drop down menu.
Appellation*: Select the correct appellation for this wine from the drop down menu. If it is not listed, click on Add Appellation link below the Appellation drop down menu.
Wine Type*: Select the type of wine from the drop down. If your choice is not listed, click on Add Wine Type link below the Wine Type drop down menu.
Product Brand: This is optional. Select the correct brand from the drop down menu. If it is not listed, click on Add Brand link below the drop down menu.
Click the Create button to create the product.


text:
from __future__ import division, print_function, unicode_literals

import json_io
import word_set
import tagger

"""
This is an example of using the two classes Word_Set and Tagger to tag specified words
in a sentence.

"""

# Load tag/word maps from file.
fname_config = 'config.json'
mapping = json_io.read(fname_config)

# Build a tag matcher class with loaded tag/word mapping.
tag_matcher = tagger.Tagger(mapping)

# Demonstrate with a sentence.
sentence = 'I like to feed an apple and a carrot to the one horse while the cow eats asparagus.'

a, b, c, d = tag_matcher.process(sentence)

print('Original: {:s}\n'.format(a))
print('tagged:   {:s}\n'.format(b))
print('untagged: {:s}\n'.format(c))
print('Final:    {:s}\n'.format(d))


text:
HomeCelebrity
October 4, 2021 1:14 pm EDT
Varun Nath
Aiden Turner to Lead the Upcoming Series 'The Suspect'
A novel getting a series adaptation
A novel written by Michael Robotham called The Suspect has been ordered to get a small-screen adaptation. The adaptation was ordered by the British Broadcaster.
Majority of the audience is often hooked with the American series. However, there are a great number of people out there who enjoy watching British series as well. And the news about this adaptation got the fans of the novel as well as the British series watchers excited.
In fact, so many people overlook the British television series out there that are true gems. However, with holiday season around the corner people can easily binge some British series and enjoy them as well. And the upcoming adaptation of The Suspect will surely be one of the great series.
Credits: BBC
Aiden Turner will be playing one of the suspects in the suspect
Just recently, the news came out that Aiden Turner will be the star of the series. Aiden Turner is known for his role in the series Poldark and Being Human.
Additionally, Aiden Turner will be playing the role of a doctor who also has a dark side. The Suspect will be a drama that will come to ITV. In addition, the upcoming drama will contain five parts. World Productions will be the producer of the series.
World Productions is known for it's series like The Bodyguard and The Pembrokeshire Murder. Shaun Parkes, Sian Clifford, and Camilla Beeput will star alongside Turner in the series. Additionally, Adam James and Anjli Mohindra will also be in the series.
Joe getting involved in the investigation is one of the interesting points
Aiden Turner will be playing the role of Doctor Joe O'Loughlin. Joe, in the series, seems to be leading a perfect life. The plot of the series follows the events of an investigation. A dead body of a young girl is found in a small grave in the cemetery of West London. The investigation is assigned to Deputy Inspector Vincent Ruiz and his partner Detective Sergeant Riya Devi. However, has the young woman committed suicide or has she been murdered is the real question.
Additionally, it would be interesting to see how Joe factors into this investigation and what part he will play. Fans will find out what happens when the series airs in late 2022.


text:
Creatively Speaking: Mike Sacks
By David K. Israel
I first discovered Mike Sacks on McSweeney's. He's a hilarious writer, who's also penned pieces for mags like The New Yorker and Esquire.
Today, Writer's Digest Books is releasing a new book he's put together: And Here's the Kicker, 21 interviews with some of the funniest writers alive, like David Sedaris and Buck Henry. As usual, the _floss has scored a couple copies of the book, which can be yours, IF, you send me an e-mail begging for one. No, IF, you answer the question correctly at the end of my interview with Mike. Now, on with the show"¦
DI: Humorists and comedians aren't often funny when they're not 'performing.' Be honest: of all the people you interviewed in this great, new reference book you've created, who was the funniest in person?
MS: That's true. I think most people who work in professional comedy aren't that funny "away from the office." It's too exhausting to be "on," and, typically, they've heard every joke anyway. Their "humor IQ" is higher. That said, most of them have a very dry wit in person, usually quite cutting. The funniest person I interviewed was probably 93-year-old Irv Brecher, who started his career writing for Milton Berle and then wrote for The Marx Brothers. Irv was incredibly funny, and had a fantastic memory. He even remembered his phone number from 70 years ago: Circle 71294. They don't make phone numbers like that anymore. Sadly, Irv died not long after we spoke at the age of 94.
DI: How'd you pick the 21 writers who wound up in this collection? What was the criteria?
MS: I had carte blanche, which was great. I only asked those writers whose writing I really like and respect. Also, quite frankly, a lot had to do with the willingness of the interviewee to sit down and talk with for a total of five to ten hours (not necessarily consecutively, but over a period of a few days or weeks). There were a few writers I'd love to get for the second volume (if there is another volume).
DI: One of my favorite interviews in the book is the one you did with Dan Mazer, who has worked with Sacha Baron Cohen on all the big hits. As Bruno is opening this week, I thought it would be timely if you'd share a little anecdote from the Mazer interview re: Borat.
MS: Sure, here's my favorite anecdote: Sacha Baron Cohen is a huge perfectionist and very much into authenticity. When he was playing the Borat character for the movie, he felt that the character would never change his clothes. So Sacha refused to change his suit and underwear for months. It was never washed. Also, his underwear had a Russian tag on it, just on the off chance that someone happened to see it. Chances were slim, but he didn't want to take any chance whatsoever.
DI: You quote E.B. White in the book as saying "analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it." (I'd add something in there about reeking of formaldehyde, too.) And maybe that's why the book is categorized as a reference book. But people seem to like behind the scenes docs and such things. Why is it, then, that the poor frog MUST die?
MS: I think it all depends on how the frog is handled. If you man-handle the frog, it's going to die. If you treat it gently, it probably won't. So, back in the non-metaphor world, if you don't approach the subject of humor in a scientific way, but let the experts explain their processes and experiences and advice in their own words, the book will be better off for it. I think, too, that a lot of people who write non-fiction books about humor haven't necessarily been in that world, themselves. And I think that it shows.
DI: I've read a good bit of your writing, and I think you're pretty damn funny, too (funnier than some of the folk in your book). Did YOU learn anything interviewing these so-called masters?
MS: Thanks, David. I don't care what Oprah says: you're not a weirdo at all. Sure, I learned a lot. One of the most important things was that writers at all levels struggle. I think that's a vital lesson for beginning writers to learn. The craft of writing is so difficult that one shouldn't feel bad if things aren't going well. All writers, at every level, have a hard time, and all writers are edited. Nothing to be ashamed of; it's just part of the difficult process.
DI: In the book, David Sedaris talks about his OCD tendencies. I was expecting to hear some OCD-ish stories from some of the other writers, but you didn't go there. Were there any patterns that started to develop as you got to know these writers? Things a few had in common?
MS: Well, the only reason I asked about OCD is because I, too, suffer from it. I would say that at least half of the writers suffer from OCD, in some form or another. This was a surprise to me. I actually contacted Dr. Oliver Sacks (no relation, minus mental illness) to see if there was a connection between OCD and humor writing, but he said he wasn't aware of any. The other obvious connection is, of course, depression, which a very large percentage of humor writers suffer from.
DI: For those of our readers looking to get into comedy writing, or to market the humor they've already penned, what advice can you point to from the masters in the book that might help them along?
MS: Network. Write as much as possible. Read as much as you can. Get involved with people who share a similar interest. Be stubborn, but not obnoxious. Don't refer to yourself in the third person. Trust Mike Sacks on this one.
DI: What's next for you Mike? What are you working on these days?
MS: I just sold a pitch to Broadway Books this week. It will be a humor book about sex that I'm co-writing with friends from Daily Show, Tonight Show and The Onion. It'll be released next summer. I will be on the book's cover, nude except for black socks and a straw boater. This is not what I want, but supposedly it'll greatly improve sales.
Win a copy of Mike's new book! We're giving away two copies, totally at random! All you have to do is e-mail us the answer to the following question, and we'll pluck a couple and send you the book:
In the Q&A above, an author is mentioned who goes by two initials, plus his surname. What do those two initials stand for? Let us know via e-mail.
Browse through past Creatively Speaking posts here >>


I love a good find on Pinterest…especially when it has to do with great resources for the families at church.
I came across an idea called Take Out Church. It's a resource created by two pastors in North Carolina. The concept behind it is for churches to give it to families for the summer…to take church with them when they go on vacation and are away for the summer. When I saw this I knew I had to do this with the families at our church. I took their ideas and also added some of my own. Here's all that is included in my Take Out Church resource. (Check out my YouTube video where I show you all the items in the box).
I used a pizza box to hold all the items. I ordered these pizza boxes on Amazon.
Here are some pictures of the box and its contents.
I typed up some instructions (some of it was used from the original Take Out Church), but I also added some of my own wording.
Need to get your family talking? Here is a great list of questions to strike up conversations with your kids. (I found this resource from the Realistic Mama blog).
Each family received a free VBS CD inside their box (from the VBS that we are doing this summer). What a great way for families to praise God together over the summer!
In the original Take Out Church they used a Skittles Prayer, but I changed it to M & M's (because I love chocolate). I put a pack of milk chocolate M & M's inside the box and also included this M & M Prayer for families to use. Each color represents something different and includes a prayer prompt.
In the original Take Out Church, some of the apps no longer existed so I did my own search and found these cool Bible apps for your children to use. It's a great way for your children to use their technology devices for something other than video games and Netflix.
Included in this resource are 10 Bible verses (found at Moritz Fine Designs). Families can choose to memorize one Bible verse per week. This is a great way for your kids to keep focused on God's Word this summer.
Included in the box is a beach ball (which I got from Amazon). Families can write down things that they are thankful for and then use the beach ball over the summer to give thanks to God.
This game is included in the original Take Out Church. It's a fun game for your family to use while you are on vacation. It gives ways for each family member to serve each other.
Rock painting is a fun activity in our small town. Families paint rocks and hide them around our Square. If you find a rock, then your family gets to keep it. Families can use rock painting to be witnesses for Christ. They can paint Christian symbols, Bible verses or other things to point people toward Jesus.
Remember Flat Stanley? This the same concept. I found this Flat Jesus online. Kids colored him and then I laminated and cut him out and included him in their box. Over the summer the kids will take Flat Jesus with them wherever they go. They will get their parents to snap a picture of them together and post their pictures onto our Children's Ministry Facebook page. I can't wait to see where all Flat Jesus goes!
I am excited to share this summer resource with the families in our church. I hope each of them will use it to live out their faith this summer!
Previous articleShould the Church View Homosexuality Like Divorce?


text:
Smith Miller (May 30, 1804 – March 21, 1872) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.

Born near Charlotte, North Carolina, Miller moved to Gibson County, Indiana, with his parents who settled in Patoka in 1813. He received a limited schooling and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1835 to 1839 and in 1846, and in the Indiana State Senate from 1841 to 1844 and from 1847 1850. He served as delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1850.

Miller was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1857).
After his congressional service, he resumed agricultural pursuits, and served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1860.

He died near Patoka, Indiana, March 21, 1872, and was interred in Robb Cemetery.

References

1804 births
1872 deaths
People from Gibson County, Indiana
Democratic Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives
Democratic Party Indiana state senators
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana
19th-century American politicians

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The importance of monitoring the condition of any given oil should not be underestimated. Oil is the lifeblood of all hydraulic, engine, plant and rotating machinery. Oil that is either contaminated through water or particulate ingress or is coming to the end of its useful life through additive depletion or excessive oxidation should be monitored closely to avoid costly breakdowns and unnecessary system failures.
Filtertechnik are proud to announce the launch of the next generation of it's award winning Particle Pal. The new FS9V2 Particle Pal range has many new features such as a combined LCD screen showing all connected sensors, built in memory as well as live data transfer to PC. We've also upgraded the internal gear pump for a pressurised fluid path, made a common input capable of tank or bottle sampling as well as live connection to pressurised systems up to 350Bar via a special High Pressure Adaptor.
Over the past twenty years Filtertechnik Ltd have manufactured high quality filtration solutions for oils, fuels, biofuels and process fluids for both the UK and overseas markets.
The very best oil analysis programs incorporate some degree of on-site analysis. For most plants, mills and mines, particle monitoring is the most productive onsite oil analysis activity available. A simple patch test enables the technician to quickly identify abnormal levels contamination and wear debris so that corrective actions can be scheduled accordingly.


Your first half marathon will be unlike anyone else's. The culmination of your struggles and your triumphs will be uniquely yours on race day. Some runners have an excellent first race and feel emotionally exuberant throughout each mile.
Others experience disappointment and are anguished by physical and mental exhaustion. Most racers likely feel a combination of both and feel awash with emotion when they cross the finish line. There are things you will wish had and hadn't done, but didn't realize until you had a chance to experience racing your first half marathon.
Many experienced runners have plenty of great tips for race day, but an overwhelming number stress the importance of not going out too fast. It is a common mistake that some will learn the hard way. However, if you trust in your training and have a plan on race day, it is possible to save plenty of energy for the final miles.
Keep a watchful eye on your pace during the first few miles. It can be easy to go out too fast when you are well-rested from your taper and ready to run. The adrenaline will likely not last 13.1 miles.
Race logistics can be a bit tricky, especially with larger races. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the starting line and then add another 30 minutes. Try to carpool if you are driving or at least have a family member or friend drop you off. Attempting to deal with the logistics of parking can be an unwanted stress on race day. If there is a shuttle bus offered by the race, take it!
By giving yourself plenty of time to get to the starting line, you will ensure that you have plenty of time to stand in line for your turn to use a porta-potty. Many races have notoriously long lines to use the facilities. Nearly every runner will be making last ditch attempts to hydrate that morning only to discover that all the other people with numbers on their shirts had the same great idea.
Plus, no one wants to stop while on the course if possible. Dave, a 5-time half marathoner from Michigan advises fellow racers, "Go to the bathroom at least twice." There is nothing worse than having a great race, but being forced to wait in line at a porta-potty along the course.
As for the race itself, it's hard to describe the feeling of when it hits you that you are really racing your first half marathon. It is a proud moment that you will likely feel within the first mile or two. Hold onto that feeling because you will likely need a mental boost at some point during the race.
Once you have settled into your pace, try to relax and enjoy the race. High-five bystanders, thank the race volunteers, and check out the spectators' signs.
Your training runs have prepared you for the first 10 to 12 miles and the excitement of completing your first half marathon will carry you to the finish line.
I followed Hal Higdon's novice plan to the letter and I felt good about my preparation to the point of finishing my first half marathon in 2:18. I couldn't believe it but it works….that is, dedication to your plan. Since then I have run 5 more halves in 10 months. I'm 61 and still going strong with 2 more halves planned this year and a full marathon in October. Passion and determination are the keys to success.