I've finally started reading Postmodern American Poetry by Paul Hoover, so while it may seem that I've temporarily abandoned this web site, rather, I'm refusing to read another book until I've finished this one.
I'm trying to force myself to travel outside my normal ruts, convinced that even if I don't find something that I like as well as my usual fare that I will at least come back to it more satisfied than I left.
Considering that I generally have wide-ranging tastes in everything from food to art, though, I can't help but feel that I will find some new kinds of poetry that will appeal to me. I've purposely made the task a little harder by automatically rejecting poems by postmodern poets I already like, particularly Beat poets like Ferlinghetti or Snyder.
So far I'm finding the going a little tough, at times have to read and reread a particular poet trying to understand, and appreciate, what's been written. I've found the first two, Charles Olson and John Cage particularly difficult to understand, and, not surprisingly, even harder to admire.
pain: a gap in creation.
Her poem makes me want to sit down right now and write a poem that explores how my parents' way of seeing the world has influenced me, and see if I can understand which of them has most influenced me. It's amazing how the poet can see the strengths and weaknesses of each parent, while at the same time understanding what part they play in her own makeup. At the moment, though, I'll have to settle for having added her to my Amazon wish-list.
I'll have to admit, though, that I'm not exactly sure why this poem, or the poet herself, for that matter, qualifies as "post-modern" poetry (except for the spacing that's nearly impossible to reproduce accurately in html) though perhaps that'll become clearer as I explore further.
I really like this poem too. Above all I like the last line. She could have just said 'natural' or maybe 'quite natural', but the slightly old-fashioned, rather formal, and more assertive 'most natural' somehow adds an extra dimension.


text:
New Spice Girls Gem Track Leaks, And It's Not Promising
By Benji Douglas November 23, 2016 at 3:11pm · 7 comments
Sure, it's fun to have nostalgia for the Spice Girls or whatever other 90s trend you were into, but let's not forget the dirty, awful truth: they were really not good at all. Sorry. It was all good stupid fun, and their movie's an entertaining thing to have on in the background at a party, but good grief they were/are terrible.
If you need a reminder, just take a look at their new semi-reunion song. Ginger, Baby, and Scary have gotten back together to form what they call a sub-group (no) called GEM (no) and their new song is … oh lord, maybe it could play in the background of a deodorant commercial?
"She's got that boom boom pop," the song goes, "that's something they can't stop. She's got that oh oh ohhhhhh."
There's maybe about 10 seconds of hooks in the whole song, looped until you don't even remember you're listening to a song anymore, and then it just sort of fades out like all of those songs that can't be bothered to write an ending.
It's probably sensible that Sporty and Posh said "no thanks" to whatever this project is.
In this uncomfortable new release lies the awful truth about nostalgia: it's a bad idea, a mistake to be avoided at all costs. When you think back fondly on the past, you remember a time that did not exist, and you shirk from your duty to appreciate that which is good in the present day. To be sure, there was good music in the 90s, and you should absolutely enjoy it today. But beware of nostalgia, always poisoning your judgement, always drawing you to impart virtue upon that which is undeserving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQY0FVBebDg
Entertainment 90's gem Music Nostalgia Pop Music Spice Girls
Subscribe to Queerty for a daily dose of #entertainment #90's #gem stories and more
British trash.
November 23, 2016 at 5:11pm
iggy6666
@Brian: how do turds type?
Jack Meoff
We have just had to endure Mel B as a judge on X Factor down here and after listening to this crap I think it is a bit rude that she gets to sit in judgement of others singing abilities.
She is the loudest and most obnoxious person and she has been all over our televisions promoting X Factor and Jenny Craig for months. Thank gods it finished and looks like not returning next year due to bad ratings.
November 24, 2016 at 6:11am
jag4313
This may not be a great song but they will be HUGE in the UK. And of course the gays that have been fans of the Spice Girls since they were 12. Good luck, girls!
Sounds stuck in the past .not contemporary. ..if that's what they intended to do then they succeeded. .don't see much radio play
luminglas
I don't think the track is all the bad. Plus, if we are gonna target them, they are plenty of pop stars from the 90s that should go home.
No they were not the most talented girl group, but I definitely wouldn't say they were TERRIBLE. While not vocally talented, I did find them to be entertaining and fun! And even though I'm not female, I did love their message of "Girl Power".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Helping Employers Navigate the Skills Landscape in Wales - Policy at work - CIPD Blogs - CIPD Community
6 Sep, 2021 13:00
Helping Employers Navigate the Skills Landscape in Wales
Nearly half of all young people in Wales (48%) feel that the pandemic has harmed their long-term career prospects, with over a third (34%) saying that they are not confident that they will achieve their future career aspirations. This is why the CIPD has launched its 'One Million chances Campaign', which calls on the Governments and employers across the UK to do everything they can to create and support opportunities for young people.
In Wales, matters over education and skills are devolved, and therefore the range of available programmes and support differs from what is available elsewhere in the UK. This can be challenging to navigate, especially for employers that operate across the whole country. Here we list some of the key devolved initiatives, with the relevant links throughout.
Young Person's Guarantee
To support the Welsh Government's aim to build an economy based on the principle of fair work and sustainable jobs, the Government launched the Young Person's Guarantee, which aims to provide everyone under the age of 25 the offer of employment, education, training or self-employment.
Working Wales serves as the gateway into the Guarantee system and it will be officially launched in September 2021, offering a job matching service to assist young people with securing employment and help employers to fill vacancies. The site provides an overview of the support available, granting a would-be employer and employee a single website to find the offer which suits them. In addition, the scheme is further strengthened by the Regional Skills Partnerships, which invites national and regional employers and skills providers across Wales to connect with Working Wales so that projects form part of the offer.
One of the critical ways for employers to access funded support is through the apprenticeship system. Welsh Government have identified their priority sectors for apprenticeships in Wales, and it's no easy task to navigate the numerous possibilities; assistance is granted through an Employer Toolkit. There are four different types of apprenticeship in Wales:
Foundation Apprenticeship: Foundation apprentices' study towards qualifications equivalent to 5 GCSEs or NVQ Level 2 and often complete Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship: Apprentices gain valuable on-the-job skills whilst studying towards a nationally recognised qualification equivalent to 5 GCSEs (at A*-C), 2 A-Levels or an NVQ Level 3.
Higher Apprenticeships: Higher apprentices work towards a qualification equivalent to an HND/HNC or Foundation Degree
Degree Apprenticeships: By combining higher-level learning and employment, employers can develop their workforce, and apprentices can gain a degree simultaneously as building their careers and earning a salary.
Apprenticeships in Wales can be studied in English or Welsh, or even bilingually, depending on the employer's needs and employee's language of choice. There are business benefits to employers who use the Welsh language and providing a Welsh service to Welsh speakers can improve customer service. Increasing the number of apprenticeship courses being delivered through the medium of welsh or bilingually is a policy priority for Welsh Government.
Even though larger businesses in Wales (larger annual pay bill of £3 million or more) must pay the UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy, the way apprenticeships work and are funded differently across the UK. Most of the training will be carried out by the employer in conjunction with an approved training provider. The approved training provider is funded by Welsh Government to support the apprentice and provide the training, and the employer will bear the cost of the salary of the apprentice and any additional training; however, Welsh Government offers incentives (until 30 September 2021) dependent on contract hours:
30 hours a week or more
Less than 30 hours a week
16 to 24-year-olds*
Aged 25 and over*
Re-employment of redundant apprentices**
*An additional £1500 will also be rewarded for each new apprentice with disabilities recruited. Further support is also available and can be found here with support through the Access to Work Programme.
**Businesses can re-employ apprentices made redundant between 23 March 2020 and 30 September 2021.
The Universal Credit system is not devolved to the Welsh Government, so businesses in Wales are eligible to benefit from the UK Government Kickstart Scheme. The scheme provides funding to employers to create jobs for people aged 16 – 24 who are long term unemployed on Universal Credit.
Employers of all sizes can apply for the funding, which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage (or National Living Wage, depending on the employee's age) for 25 hours per week, including NI and Pension contributions for a total of 6 months.
The latest an employee can start on this scheme is 31 December 2021, which means you will receive funding for the employee until 30 June 2021. Further funding and support are available for young people on the scheme.
This programme helps businesses recruit someone who has been made redundant or has become unemployed for another reason. ReAct can help you pay their wages and fund job-related training to sharpen skills. So you a business can secure the right person for the job and also reduce staff costs.
If you employ someone who is a resident of Wales and under formal notice of redundancy or within 12 months of the date of redundancy (or to be unemployed), you can benefit from £3000 in quarterly instalments for the first 12 months to cover their wages. With an additional £1000 for any job-related skills training that is needed to support your business.
The position on offer must be for 16 hours a week or more, paid at national minimum wage or above and last for 12 months.
This programme is for young people aged 16-18 to assist them in achieving their first job or progress to further training. Working with the trainee, you develop a training programme with the trainee and agree with them the days they will come in and how the training is delivered. Things can be adjusted as the programme goes along.
The programme will offer the trainee an allowance, and at the end of the traineeship, you might wish to keep them on and offer them an apprenticeship (see above) or another job opportunity.
This is available for any Business of any size, in any sector, as long as you're based in Wales. You also need to be able to provide a substantial and meaningful work experience.
Go Wales: Work Experience Programme
Similar to the Traineeships programme above, this programme is tailored for students at Welsh Universities and provides them with the opportunity to provide valuable work experience.
It could benefit you by bringing onboard a bright young spark to your team as they learn the skills and knowledge of your business. The programme can highlight that your business is a socially responsible employer and could grant you an opportunity to employ talented new employees once they have graduated from university.
Employers of any size or sector can offer work experience which can be:
Meet the Professional'- A short meeting between a student and a professional in a role and/or industry of the student's interest to help the student find out more about the position, career path and the skills needed for that role.
Work shadowing- Up to three days of unpaid work experience where the student observes someone in their role to understand how they do their job.
Work taster- Up to four weeks of unpaid work experience where the student can learn about work and the working environment by observing and undertaking some tasks.
Work placement- Four to six weeks of paid work experience where the student gets hands-on experience or works on a project.
Flexible Skills Programme
If your business is looking to expand into new business opportunities or if the team lacks specific skills to run effectively, then the Welsh Government Flexible Skills Programme could help.
The programme offers skills in five different sectors and industries:
Exporting Skills
Engineering and Manufacturing Training
Creative Sector Skills and Training
Tourism and Hospitality Skills
To be eligible, the business must be based in Wales, solvent and commit to releasing staff to undertake the requested training by the end of March 2022. Funding awards and edibility are discretionary, and upon completion of the expression of interest form, the final decision on eligibility rests with the Welsh Government.
Personal Learning Account
The Personal Learning Account Programme, launched by the Welsh Government, is designed to help businesses across the priority sectors to recruit new talent and overcome current and future skill shortages.
The programme will respond to employers' upskilling requirements and support employers for future skills and qualifications to help rebuild businesses during economic uncertainty.
Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF)
If your employees are trade union members, their union can deliver two to three-year training projects focused on improving their learning skills. The programme's primary focus is to develop essential skills and enhance the employability of the workforce with an emphasis on removing barriers for traditional non-learners.


The Classified Service is represented by an Employees' Advisory Council (EAC) which is established by the Unified Personnel Act, Florida Statutes 77-642, Section 7. The organization and membership of the Council is established in the EAC Bylaws.
The EAC Council meets monthly and serves in an advisory capacity to the Personnel Board and the Director of Human Resources concerning personnel matters, policies, rules, and regulations affecting Pinellas County employees.
The EAC is also charged with developing and recommending ideas related to working conditions, morale, public image, efficiency, employee safety, and employee benefit programs. Perhaps the EAC's greatest responsibility is to speak directly and candidly to the Personnel Board on behalf of the classified employees.
The Director of Human Resources acts as a liaison between the Personnel Board and the Employee Advisory Council.
The Employees' Advisory Council is responsible for appointing two members of the Personnel Board.
The EAC members are elected to two-year terms by their fellow employees.
All documents provided in PDF format.
The mission of the Pinellas County Employees' Advisory Council (EAC) is to continually improve the Pinellas County classified employees' quality of work life by interacting cooperatively with the Appointing Authorities, advocating the views of classified employees, and by delivering candid, effective feedback to the Personnel Board on how employees perceive proposed Board actions affecting them.
To give generously and conscientiously of our time and effort to ensure that our mission is fulfilled and compatible with the overall policies, rules and procedures of Pinellas County Government.
To diligently and dedicatedly pursue our major responsibility of advising the Personnel Board on those significant human resource matters which affect the Classified Service employees.
To remain ever aware of the desire of employees to know more about the processes which govern their work lives and to do everything possible to keep them informed about, and involved in, each step of the decision-making process.
To conduct all our business in an open and candid manner and to do so without creating adversarial feelings or polarization within the County structure.
To continue and broaden our participation in joint management/employee committees to ensure that the feelings and opinions of employees are considered before decisions are made.
To conduct ourselves at all times in a manner which will engender the support of employees as well as management.


Under the UA Standard for Excellence it is understood, that members through the local union, and management through the signatory contractors, have duties and are accountable in achieving successful resolutions.
• The local union and the steward will work with members to correct and solve problems related to job performance.
• Job stewards shall be provided with steward training and receive specialized training with regard to the UA Standard for Excellence.
• Regular meetings will be held where the job steward along with UA supervision will communicate with the management team regarding job progress, work schedules, and other issues affecting work processes.
• The job steward shall communicate with the members about issues affecting work progress.
• The business manager or his delegate will conduct regularly scheduled meetings to discuss and resolve issues affecting compliance of the UA Standard for Excellence policy.
• The steward and management will attempt to correct such problems with individual members in the workplace.
is to use all available means to correct the compliance problem.
• Regular meetings will be held where the management team and UA supervision will communicate with the job steward regarding job progress, work schedules, and other issues affecting the work process.
• Management will address concerns brought forth by the steward or UA supervision in a professional and timely manner.
• A course of action shall be established to allow the job steward and/or UA supervision to communicate with higher levels of management in the event there is a breakdown with the responsible manager.
• In the event that the employee is unwilling or unable to make the necessary changes, management must make the decision whether the employee is detrimental to the UA Standard for Excellence platform and make a decision regarding his/her further employment.
• In the event an issue is irresolvable at this level, the local or the contractor may call for a contractually established labor management meeting to resolve the issues.
• Weekly job progress meetings should be conducted with job stewards, UA supervision and management.
• The local or the contractor may involve the customer when their input is prudent in finding a solution.
• Foremen, general foremen, superintendents and other management should be educated and certified as leaders in the UA Standard for Excellence policy.


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text:
Access Statistics for Sarah Zubairy
Addressing Household Indebtedness: Monetary, Fiscal or Macroprudential Policy? 1 3 11 113 2 5 25 171
Are Government Spending Multipliers Greater During Periods of Slack? Evidence from 20th Century Historical Data 1 1 6 166 1 3 22 288
Are Government Spending Multipliers State Dependent? Evidence from U.S. and Canadian Historical Data 0 2 3 109 0 6 12 193
Debt and Stabilization Policy: Evidence from a Euro Area FAVAR 1 1 5 48 1 2 11 34
Deep Habits, Nominal Rigidities and Interest Rate Rules 0 0 1 43 0 0 3 112
Explaining the Effects of Government Spending Shocks 0 0 5 72 1 3 14 160
Government Spending Multipliers in Good Times and in Bad: Evidence from U.S. Historical Data 2 9 24 228 5 25 94 587
Housing and Tax Policy 0 0 2 118 0 2 11 147
On Fiscal Multipliers: Estimates from a Medium Scale DSGE Model 0 3 7 272 0 6 19 595
Propagation Mechanisms for Government Spending Shocks: A Bayesian Comparison 1 2 3 10 0 1 8 19
Propagation Mechanisms for Government Spending Shocks: A Bayesian Comparison 0 2 6 25 0 7 25 78
What is the Importance of Monetary and Fiscal Shocks in Explaining US Macroeconomic Fluctuations? 1 2 3 115 1 3 11 204
Who benefits from increased government spending? a state-level analysis 0 0 0 74 0 0 2 263
Total Working Papers 7 25 77 1,545 11 65 268 3,146
A primer on the empirical identification of government spending shocks 0 0 3 69 0 0 4 181
Addressing household indebtedness: Monetary, fiscal or macroprudential policy? 4 8 31 74 8 18 84 193
Are Government Spending Multipliers Greater during Periods of Slack? Evidence from Twentieth-Century Historical Data 3 3 11 163 3 3 26 442
Debt and stabilization policy: Evidence from a Euro Area FAVAR 1 2 7 7 3 6 25 25
Government Spending Multipliers in Good Times and in Bad: Evidence from US Historical Data 2 14 58 63 12 56 216 260
Housing and Tax Policy 0 1 3 17 0 4 12 61
INTEREST RATE RULES AND EQUILIBRIUM STABILITY UNDER DEEP HABITS 0 0 1 4 0 0 2 22
ON FISCAL MULTIPLIERS: ESTIMATES FROM A MEDIUM SCALE DSGE MODEL 0 0 4 48 1 2 19 133
Propagation Mechanisms for Government Spending Shocks: A Bayesian Comparison 1 3 5 5 1 6 24 24
What Is the Importance of Monetary and Fiscal Shocks in Explaining U.S. Macroeconomic Fluctuations? 1 5 9 111 2 7 21 410
Total Journal Articles 12 36 132 591 30 102 442 1,925


text:
Q: Unconventional (but instructive) proofs of basic theorems of calculus Inspired by this questions asked on MathOverflow, I would like to ask if you know some "sophisticated" proofs of the basic theorems in a calculus course (that is, the ones that you can find, for instance, in Spivak's Calculus).
In this case, by "sophisticated", I do not mean awfully complicated, but unexpected, extremely clever and unconventional (and hopefully instructive), either because they use concepts from other areas of mathematics or because they enlighten a theorem by tackling it from a non-obvious and by no means standard(ized) perspective.

A: I think the classic example of this is the whole field of non-standard analysis.  It took 300 years to make infinitesimals rigorous (finally realized in the 1960's), but once equipped with such a toolkit you can derive all the basic calculus results (and much more) in just a couple of lines of infinitesimal algebra.

A: I always love to prove that:

If $\{a_n\}_{n\in\mathbb{N}}$ is a bounded real sequence, it has a converging subsequence.

with the Erdos-Szekeres', or Dilworth's, theorem:

(Erdos-Szekeres, finite version) Every sequence with $n^2+1$ terms admits a weakly monotonic subsequence with $n+1$ terms.
(Dilworth, infinite version) Every infinite POset contains an infinite chain or antichain.

To prove Erdos-Szekeres, we send $n^2+1$ people to a post office with $n$ employees, $n$ queues.
When a person arrives, he takes place in the first queue such that he is taller than the last person in the queue. If at some point someone ($A$) is not able to take place, then the people in the last position of every queue and $A$ give a decreasing sequence. On the other hand, if everyone is able to take place, there is a queue with at least $n+1$ people in it, giving an increasing sequence.
So we can use Erdos-Szekeres' or Dilworth's theorem to extract a (weakly) monotonic and bounded subsequence from $\{a_n\}_{n\in\mathbb{N}}$. Such a subsequence is clearly converging to its $\sup$ or $\inf$, and we are done.

A: It's interesting to try to prove the basic results on derivatives without using the mean value theorem.
See for instance this previous MO discussion of the role of MVT in first-year calculus, a related post I made on the Expii "Mean Value Theorem" page, and (also on Expii) a MVT-free proof (inspired by the proof (given e.g. in Stein & Shakarchi) of Cauchy/Goursat from complex analysis, following a blog post of Gowers) of the fact that $f'=0$ on an interval implies $f$ is constant.

A: Here is an unconventional but instructive proof of the extreme value theorem for a continuous function $f$ on the interval $[0,1]$. Let $H$ be (gasp) an infinite hypernatural. Partition the interval into $H$ equal subintervals, each of infinitesimal length.  Among the partition points $p_i$, choose the one, say $p_{i_0}$, with the maximal value of $f$. Now round off $p_{i_0}$ to the nearest real number $c$, so that $p_{i_0}$ is infinitely close to $c\in\mathbb{R}$.  Then $c$ is a required maximum of $f$. This is because, by definition of continuity, the composed function $\text{st}\circ f$ is constant on the halo of $c$, where "st" is the standard part function.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I can package DLC pak with new map and load it by cmd "open newmap". But is possible to automatically overwrite some content (i.e. texture) just by adding DLC pak file into content folder? Without opening any new map? Or is there any blueprint node like "OnPakLoaded" to know that DLC was loaded?
Android packaging DLC hints can not find the DLC plug-in, what to set up?
How Do I Distribute C++ Code?


text:
Amelia Groom
There was once a typist from Texas named Bette Nesmith Graham, who wasn't very good at her job. In 1951 she started erasing her typing mistakes with a white tempera paint solution she mixed in her kitchen blender. She called her invention Mistake Out and began distributing small green bottles of it to her coworkers. In 1956 she founded the delectably named Mistake Out Company. Shortly after, she was apparently fired from her typist job because she made a "mistake" that she failed to cover up: she typed her company name instead of the name of the bank she was working for. She then sold her typewriter correction fluid from her suburban home for many years before changing the name of the company to Liquid Paper Corporation and selling it to Gillette in 1979—for fifty million dollars. She died six months later, and her son—Mike Nesmith from The Monkees—was primary heir to her estate.
Also in 1951, while Bette was concocting her solution, Ludwig Wittgenstein was dying. This is a curious parallel, because it seems that as his cancer spread, the Austrian philosopher spent his final months obsessing over the opacity of whiteness. After his death, a series of unfinished notes were found on his desk, later published in English as the Remarks On Colour.1 They're littered with basic Wittgensteinian problems, like having words for what we cannot imagine and thinking of what we have no language for.2 He is mainly preoccupied with the question, "Why can't we imagine a transparent white?," which he rephrases in dozens of ways, with varying degrees of exasperation, and never answers. White is opacity par excellence: the more it moves towards transparency, the less white it becomes. Wittgenstein cites Runge's letter to Goethe, reproduced in Goethe's Theory of Colours, in which Runge writes, "White water which is pure is as inconceivable as clear milk."
What was it about 1951? While Bette Nesmith Graham is using the supreme opacity of whiteness to cover up her typing mistakes in Dallas and Ludwig Wittgenstein is struggling with the inconceivable idea of white transparency on his deathbed in Cambridge, Robert Rauschenberg is starting his White Paintings at the Black Mountain College in North Carolina. These empty white canvases would become some of the most seminal works in the history of monochrome painting, famously prompting Rauschenberg's collaborator and friend John Cage to compose in the following year what he considered to be his most important musical score, 4'33" (1952), which is left empty so that audiences only hear the unprescribed noises that are already in the world.
Actually, this link between imageless pictures and soundless music predates the postwar North American avant-garde by many decades. At the risk of validating the classic philistine response, it should be said upfront that the first monochrome paintings were done as a joke. Thirty-five years before the Soviet avant-garde artists proclaimed the death of painting with their iconoclastic monochromes, the 1882 exhibition of des Arts Incohérents3in Paris featured an all-black painting by the poet Paul Bilhaud titled Negroes Fighting in a Cellar at Night. Soon after, the author Alphonse Allais made a series of monochromes that he published in an album in 1887, including a blank white page with an ornamental frame, named First Communion of Anemic Young Girls In The Snow.4 These late-nineteenth-century monochrome images were posited as a gibe against French Impressionism; its logical reductio ad absurdum where everything is turned to pure atmosphere, and blank nothingness is all that registers in the pictorial field. And, beating John Cage by more than half a century, Allais's album of monochromes was accompanied by a nine-page silent musical score billed as a Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man.
Rauschenberg quickly become disillusioned with his White Paintings and decided that what he really needed to do in order to liberate his art from the shackles of imagery was to obliterate something great, something that existed independently of himself. He famously persuaded Willem de Kooning, one of the giants of the New York art world at the time, to give him a drawing that Rauschenberg then rubbed out—a task that is said to have taken him one month and fourty erasers to complete. The resulting work, Erased de Kooning Drawing (1953), hinges on the interrelatedness of destruction and creation—Jasper Johns famously referred to Rauschenberg's gesture as "additive subtraction." As with the medieval palimpsest, the thing erased lingers—even if it has no physical presence. In deleting the older artist's marks, Rauschenberg created a new icon, but one that was completely dependent on what was formally there – as indicated by its title, which is embedded inside the frame.
Since the erasure of de Kooning, a number of other artists have made new work by rubbing out preexisting images from pages. For Another Misspent Portrait of Etienne de Silhouette, the Australian artist Christian Capurro enlisted 250 people to erase every image from a 246-page Vogue magazine, between the years 1999 and 2004. Keeping track of the amount of time each person spent erasing, Capurro calculated that a total of 267 hours, 49 minutes, and 5 seconds went into the final product, a truly vacuous publication. This was valued at AUD$11,349.18, though nobody was actually paid. Wiping out all the high-end commodification from the pages of Vogue, labor was then equated with time in order to be equated with money, the facilitator of all commodification. But beyond the obvious Marxist critique, this is a work about the base unity of matter. With all signification removed, the pages became pure substance, and the artist went on to exhibit other erased magazines alongside piles of the resulting rubber erasings, indicating simple but tedious transferral of the same thing from one physical state to another.
There's also Tom Friedman's 11 x 22 x .005 (1992), which is an erased Playboy centerfold, the deadpan title referring to the dimensions of the now blank white page. This is a painstakingly acquired blankness that once again blurs the distinction between mark-making and erasure. The image once carried on this surface was made for intense (masturbatory) visual scrutiny, and while it's no longer visible, it's not entirely eradicated either. In her essay The Aesthetics of Silence, Susan Sontag grappled with the concomitancy of emptiness and fullness:
As long as a human eye is looking, there is always something to see. To look at something which is "empty" is still to be looking, still to be seeing something—if only the ghosts of one's expectations. In order to perceive fullness, one must retain an acute sense of the emptiness which marks it off; conversely, in order to perceive emptiness, one must apprehend other zones of the world as full.
The removal of an image doesn't amount to its absence: the body of Christ is as present on the aniconic Protestant cross as it is in Michelangelo's Pietà. I stood before Friedman's empty Playboy centerfold recently at an exhibition of "unseen art" at the Hayward Gallery in London, and I couldn't help but see flashes of fleshy airbrushed voluptuousness, even though there was absolutely nothing there.
Alfredo Jaar's May 1, 2011 (2011) has a blank white LCD screen next to another screen showing the official White House Situation Room press photo with President Obama and his security team allegedly watching a live feed of the assassination of Osama bin Laden. With Hilary Clinton's hand clasped to her mouth, Obama literally on the edge of his seat, and take-away coffee cups indicating a Long Night, the visibly retouched image appeared as theatrical and carefully posed as anything in the history of tableaux vivants. We cannot see what we are being told to believe they are seeing—this was the image disseminated to replace a lack of image (the necessarily unseen body of the slain enemy). Paired with a blank screen of identical proportions, it becomes a critical reminder of the invisibility concomitant with what is made officially visible. A framed diagram next to the White House press image identifies each individual in the scene, but as nothing can be identified in the blank screen, the diagram accompanying it has to remain empty. Here the white monochrome isn't something obliterated; it simply discloses an absence that is already conspicuously present.
Erasure has revelatory capacities. When the Soviet Union and four Warsaw Pact countries invaded Prague in 1968, the non-violent civilian resistance campaign apparently included painting over all the street signs in white. Immediately upon arrival, half a million troops were lost. This silent mass effacement spoke loudly and clearly—legend has it that the only signs not obliterated were those indicating the way back to Moscow.
Pure whiteness also took on politically disruptive potential in Yoko Ono's chess set Play It By Trust (1966), in which the whole board and all chessmen are rendered achromatic, so that, once any game is underway, distinctions between self and other become unclear. In the artist's words:
How to proceed when the opponent is indistinguishable from oneself? You don't know what is yours and what is theirs. You have to convince people what is yours. In the chess situation it is simple if you are black then black is yours. But this is like a life situation, where you have to play it by convincing each other.5
Whiteness can be obliteration that facilitates; a ground cleared for a new set of relations. To erase an image is always to make another image, but to make any image is in the first place already an act of erasure. Deleuze wrote that "it is a mistake to think that the painter works on a white surface." Before any mark is made upon it, he argued, the canvas is cluttered with potential images, "so that the painter does not have to cover a blank surface but rather would have to empty it out, clear it, clean it."6 To give a form concrete presence is to eliminate all other possible forms ("a painting is the sum of its destructions," Picasso said). Deleuze was not speaking specifically of monochrome painting here, but his observation can be stretched. To paint a canvas completely in white is to paradoxically cover a thing with its own ground, to "clear it" by affirming its origin as its endpoint. But as we have seen, erasure is not always an intervention placed on top of an image; receptive white ground can be excavated from beneath a Playboy centerfold image or a drawing by de Kooning. In this sense, the negation is already contained within the thing, facilitating its appearance. Whiteness obliterates but is perfectly receptive: the invention of Liquid Paper depended on this apparent conundrum, and Wittgenstein's remarks failed to resolve it. In concealing with its supreme opacity, whiteness goes on to hold all possible images within itself.
While most art historical surveys would have us believe that monochromes are born as highly self-conscious public gestures of iconoclastic eradication or spiritual transcendence, the UK artist David Batchelor's Found Monochromes show us that they can also exist inadvertently and inconspicuously. Since 1997 Batchelor has photographed several hundred rectilinear blocks of whiteness encountered around London and in other cities. Things faded and forgotten, things painted over, things facing the other way, these temporary fields of emptiness have double invisibility in that they are blank surface spaces that negate imagery, and they also normally live out their existences completely unnoticed amongst the flux of city life. In "finding" them rather than making them, Batchelor in a sense creates something without adding to the stuff of the world. And maybe this is a better way to approach imageless images in general—not as destructive annihilation of what is there, but rather as an exposure of the emptiness that always already exists.
In Italo Calvino's short story "A Sign in Space," the narrator Qfwfq recalls being the first to distinguish in the undistinguished universe. In order to give form to space, he makes a mark in it, sparking an intergalactic feud with another being somewhere in the cosmos. For several billion years, the universe's first artist is driven by wounded vanity through an exhausting negotiation of mark-making and erasure, until finally there is no difference between the two, as the proliferation of signs returns the universe to the blank artless mass it started as, where nothing can stand apart from anything else. The story ends with the dejected conclusion that "independent of signs, space didn't exist and perhaps had never existed." First published in 1963, when the field of semiotics was taking off, "A Sign in Space" has been taken as Calvino's remark on the absurd futility of any study of signs in the grand scheme of the universe. The sign in space has to return to the perpetual void from which it emerged: what starts out as a radical gesture is to be obliterated in sameness. Qfwfq affirms existence by leaving a trace (i.e., he makes art), but alas, creation only amounts to self-negation.
Everything also amounts to nothing in the blank white screens of Hiroshi Sugimoto's well-known photographic series Theatres (1978-). As with Batchelor's Found Monochromes, this is empty whiteness where we expect visual clutter—confined spaces purged of signification amongst the saturated visual field of modern urban life. Also like Batchelor's inexhaustibly serialized project, these monochromes exist independently to the artist's intention, rather than as intervened obliteration. Sugimoto wondered what would happen if he 'photographed cinema' by keeping the shutter of his camera open for the entire duration of a film. Amazed by the pure white screen that resulted as the total sum of the projected images, he went on to enumerate dozens of images with prolonged exposure photographs from anonymous indoor and drive-through cinemas across the USA, always showing that to see all at once is to see nothing at all. Continuation is harnessed, and the flow of things results in their own disappearance.
Funnily enough (or maybe it's not funny at all), the most famous monochrome painting in history is currently undergoing auto-erasure. The Black Square is cracking up. Nearly a century has passed since Kazimir Malevich painted what he called "the embryo of all possibilities," and now its solid opaque surface is giving way, reluctantly opening up to what x-rays confirm are other geometric shapes behind it. The twentieth century's most remembered radical gesture against the image is revealing the images it has always contained within itself. Where does this leave us?
We know full well by now that Modernity's dream of the tabula rasa was doomed to fail, that memory refuses evacuation and Progress is always also regressive. At the turn of the twenty-first century, the Spanish artist Ignasi Aballí painted a black square directly onto a gallery wall and then meticulously covered it up with correction fluid brushstrokes. The erasure is of course incomplete, and the form lingers like the geometric ghost of High Modernism that we're not quite ready to exorcise. The work is called Big Mistake (1998–2005)—which brings this all back a little too neatly to Bette Nesmith Graham's Liquid Paper, where the whole point of whiteness is that it covers up and remains unseen, in order to receive alternate information on its surface. In this sense, Graham is a more successful monochrome painter than her contemporary Rauschenberg, since her brush strokes were really meant to be indecipherable (and therefore went unauthored). The Mistake Out Company was founded on a need for true erasure of the image, not the affectations of a very much visible "invisibility" that carries the artist's name/fame. Could the entire history of the avant-garde's authored monochromes—starting with a forgotten joke and ending with some cracks that are starting to show—be one big mistake that we might be able to cover over with something else?
Article published in e-flux journal #37 September 2012.
1 Ludwig Wittgenstein, Remarks on Colour, ed. G.E.M. Anscombe, trans. Linda L. McAlister and Margarete Schattle (Boston, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 1991).
2 Also classically Wittgensteinian is the self-depreciation with which the remarks are set down. Amongst the repetitive, rambling notes, for instance, this suddenly appears: "That which I am writing about so tediously, may be obvious to someone whose mind is less decrepit."
3 A short-lived Parisian literary and art movement whose explicit embrace of "incoherency" was influential on Dada and Surrealism.
4 There's also a red one named Apoplectic Cardinals Harvesting Tomatoes on the Shore of the Red Sea (Study of the Aurora Borealis), and a green one called Some Pimps, Known as Green Backs, on their Bellies in the Grass, Drinking Absinthe.
5 Yoko Ono
on Play It by Trust, (1966) at the Indica Gallery, see http://imaginepeace.com/archives/6943
6 Gilles Deleuze, Francis Bacon: The Logic of Sensation, trans. Daniel W. Smth (New York: Continuum Books, 2003), 71.
← all the objects
Indifference and Repetition →


SunPower announced that it is supplying 349 megawatts of SunPower high efficiency solar panels for the Limondale solar power plant, Australia's largest solar project to date.
The company's 19 percent efficient P-Series solar panels deliver value as a result of a unique shingled design that improves reliability and efficiency, and outperforms conventional panel yield in real-world conditions such as partial shading and elevated temperatures. It is part of a comprehensive high-efficiency product portfolio that includes SunPower's X- and E-Series panels, and, beginning in 2019, will include its newly developed next generation technology.
innogy is constructing the solar power plant. The company's subsidiary, BELECTRIC, is the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, as well as the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) service provider. BELECTRIC is an experienced company in the global solar market with nearly 2 gigawatts of executed projects globally, including projects in Australia.


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Herschel Walker, 60, Supports a National Abortion Ban But Funded One For His Girlfriend
Herschel Walker, a former NFL running back and current candidate for the Georgia Republican Senate, is believed to have paid for a woman's abortion in 2009.
During the Republican Senate primary, the ex-athlete made headlines when he openly supported a national ban on abortions. Believing that there should be no exceptions including cases involving rape, incest, or a woman's health being at risk, Walker built his campaign on being "for life" with "no excuses."
Mary A Lupo / Shutterstock.com
While campaigning, the former NFL player made a point to tell voters that if he was elected, he would support a bill such as the 15-week federal ban on abortions put forth by Sen. Lindsey Graham.
"Raphael Warnock wants to protect the killing of babies right up to the moment of birth. We need to do better," Walker told Politico, arguing against his main competitor in the Senate race. "I am a proud pro-life Christian, and I will always stand up for our unborn children. I believe the issue should be decided at the state level, but I WOULD support this policy."
However, it seems that the exception to his no-excuses rule is himself. This week, a woman privately approached The Daily Beast claiming that she and Walker conceived a child in 2009, but he requested she terminate the pregnancy. "The woman said Walker, who was not married at the time, told her it would be more convenient to terminate the pregnancy, saying it was 'not the right time' for him to have a child," the news outlet wrote.
The woman supposedly provided a $575 receipt from the abortion clinic, a "get well" card from the politician, as well as a $700 bank account deposit that came from him. Due to the 60-year-old's stance on being anti-abortion, the woman felt compelled to share her story. "I just can't with the hypocrisy anymore," she explained. "We all deserve better."
Herschel Walker denies abortion claims and his son steps forward to set the record straight
RELATED: Brett Favre's SiriusXM Show Suspended Since September 13th After Supposedly Committing Welfare Fraud
Yet, Walker has adamantly denied these claims. "This is a flat-out lie and I deny this in the strongest possible terms," the Republican Senate candidate wrote on Twitter. "I'm not taking this anymore. I planning [sic] to sue the Daily Beast for this defamatory lie. It will be filed tomorrow morning."
I've stayed silent for nearly two years as my whole life has been lied about publicly. I did ONE campaign event, then said I didn't want involvement.
Don't you dare test my authenticity. Here is the full story: pic.twitter.com/ekVEcz8zq3
— Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) October 4, 2022
Despite his denial of any involvement with abortion, his son Christian believes that the story adds up. In response to Walker's denial, Christian relayed on social media, "Every family member of Herschel Walker asked him not to run for office because we all knew (some of) his past. Every single one. He decided to give us the middle finger and air out all of his dirty laundry in public, while simultaneously lying about it."
Another Woman Comes Forward, Claims Herschel Walker…
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Tags:AbortionChristian WalkerHerschel WalkerNewsNFLpoliticsSenatesportsSports News


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Asia Pinned Down In Vegas Final
The lights are still shining bright in Las Vegas, Nevada, but they dimmed, just a bit on the game of one of its daughters, American Asia Muhammad.
Asia waged a beautiful tournament. She was given a wildcard and she made the most of it. Today Asia's run at the Las Vegas Hilton Cup was stopped by Frenchwoman Camille Pin. Camille defeated Asia 6-4, 6-1.
In the first set Asia fought as hard as she could, and she gave as good as she got from Pin. With quite a bit more experience on her side, Pin was able to prevail. Unfortunately it was d own hill from there. Asia very simply ran out of steam. She wasn't able to put up the fight that had been serving her so well all week.
It's just a matter of time, she'll get her sea legs.
Asia's mom and dad, Ron and Faye Muhammad sat in the stands alongside her coach, and not too far from her mentor, the great Andre Agassi.
When asked whether she realized that Andre Agassi was in attendance today, Asia said "I did not, I wasn't trying to look into the stands, especially in the second set."
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Johan Agebjörn and Sally Shapiro are a mysterious Swedish duo known for their icy, haunting ambient disco soundscapes. While it's hard to top Johan's 2011 stunner "Watch the World Go By," this inspired remix of Frankfurt trance pioneers Jam & Spoon may be his most captivating production yet. The humble techno wizard from Lund, who works by day as an accountant for a green non-profit, conjures a mesmerizing flurry of synth and drums to accompany original vocals from 90s songstress Plavka. Meandering jazz-fusion piano fills and Sally's otherworldly backing harmonies help lift the track into the cosmic jam stratosphere.
"Find Me" appears alongside tracks from Holy Ghost!, Glass Candy, Young Galaxy and Lindstrøm on the duo's new remix album Sweetened, out now on Paper Bag Records.


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Q: SQL db inserting to table works with 1 item but not multiple I have a sql database Im trying to write too via a python script. That python script parses DC switches then spits it out into results_list. I then filter for the below 2 items description and interface.
The front end of the app is a flask page I have buttons assigned that will query x cabinet and do all the above. I want to send all of below data to a sql database. I also want to prevent duplicates / update table if item has changed.
right now when i run the query if the working params gets passed on to sql and the rest of the flask script is processed. When I pass params with multiple items I get the following error.
OperationalError: (1241, 'Operand should contain 1 column(s)')

working params:
params = ([('TECH2_5750',)], [('Gi1/0/7',)], [(u'10.210.44.5',)])

not working params:
params = ([('TECH2_5252',), ('TECH2_5261',), ('TECH2_5857',), ('TECH2_5278',), ('TECH2_5855',), ('TECH2_5207',), ('TECH2_6539',), ('TECH2_6363',), ('TECH2_5253',), ('TECH2_5030',), ('TECH2_6575',), ('TECH2_5839',), ('TECH2_6953',), ('TECH2_6133',), ('TECH2_5046',), ('TECH2_6152',), ('TECH2_5267',), ('TECH2_5847',), ('TECH2_5748',), ('TECH2_5104',), ('TECH2_5649',), ('TECH2_5103',)], [('Gi2/0/11',), ('Gi1/0/11',), ('Gi2/0/7',), ('Gi3/0/27',), ('Gi1/0/7',), ('Gi2/0/9',), ('Gi3/0/7',), ('Gi2/0/27',), ('Gi1/0/29',), ('Gi3/0/25',), ('Gi2/0/25',), ('Gi2/0/29',), ('Gi2/0/31',), ('Gi1/0/31',), ('Gi2/0/5',), ('Gi1/0/25',), ('Gi1/0/5',), ('Gi3/0/5',), ('Gi1/0/9',), ('Gi1/0/35',), ('Gi1/0/27',), ('Gi1/0/33',)], [(u'10.210.45.5',)])

code:
local1 = []
device1 = []
items = len(filtered_interface)
for item in range(0, items):
    t = filtered_tech[item].split(' ')
    hostname = t[1]
    device1.append((hostname,))
    t = filtered_interface[item].split(' ')
    interfacelocal = t[1]
    local1.append((interfacelocal,))
cab1 = []
cab1.append((cab,))
params = (device1,  local1, cab1,)
connection1 = MySQLdb.connect(user="user", passwd="password", db="db",host="127.0.0.1")
mycursor = connection1.cursor()
sql = """
        INSERT INTO devices (hostname, localint, cab) VALUES (%s, %s, %s)"""
mycursor.execute(sql, params)
        connection1.commit()

A: mycursur.execute() requires that params have the same number of elements as you have placeholders in the query. Since you have 3 placeholders, params must have 3 elements.
If you want to insert multiple rows, you need to use mycursor.executemany. This will execute the query repeatedly for each element of the parameter sequence. params should then be a 2-dimensional sequence, with each element of the top-level sequence being a sequence of 3 parameters to fill in the placeholders.
params = [('TECH2_5252', 'Gi1/0/7', u'10.210.44.5'),
          ('TECH2_5261', 'Gi1/0/11', u'10.210.45.5'),
          ('TECH2_5857', 'Gi2/0/7', u'10.210.45.5'),
          ...]
sql = """
        INSERT INTO devices (hostname, localint, cab) VALUES (%s, %s, %s)"""
mycursor.executemany(sql, params)


Not the most pleasant user interface.
Right away I noticed that Downcast simply wasn't as nice-looking as Instacast was in its first beta. All the icons inside the app seem choppy around the edges and most transitions just aren't smooth. The pause button, for example, is so slim that it looks misplaced. Additionally, the advance (30 seconds or 2 minutes) and backtrack (15 seconds and 30 seconds) buttons look as if they've been rendered for the wrong PPI. I used a MacBook Air to test this app and all around, the graphics were choppier than I would hope to see in a final release.
Importing feeds and settings with iCloud is quick and easy.
Since I already had a bunch of feeds synced to iCloud, I immediately clicked the cloud icon in the bottom right corner of Downcast to import them. The app allows syncing of settings, episodes, podcasts, and playlists, so I was able to import everything nicely. I did like to see Downcast making use of iCloud rather than only allowing for cross-platform sync on its own server, which is what Instacast does. The latter method requires that you create an account, and that just seems silly since iCloud is typically registered with your device already.
Upon refreshing my feeds following the initial iCloud sync, I found that the app was re-downloading all the podcasts it had already stored on my hard drive. Earlier in the morning, it sent me a notification saying all feeds were refreshed and new episodes had been downloaded. However, that must have been a bug or something, because it proceeded to re-download the episodes I was listening to before.
The only way I was able to import a podcast was manually using its feed URL or through iCloud. Downcast's search function failed me with no results on every query I initiated. I even tried popular shows like MacBreak Weekly, but the search didn't yield any results. I also found that I wasn't able to browse categories after searching: they too were empty. I had to reopen the app to successfully explore for new podcasts.
I encountered some glitchy behavior when scrolling through my episodes. Hovering over each one makes a play button appear, but there's a delay between when you hover and the button actually displays. It also enlarges the size of the text, which makes part of the title disappear at times.
Playback worked well most of the time, but sometimes the app beach-balled in the middle of an episode. I found that this was due to a feed attempting to refresh and getting stuck somewhere along the way. This happened on quite a few occasions and I found it impossible to refresh all my feeds successfully while something was playing.
A downloaded episode must "prepare" for playback.
One of the weirdest things about the app's playback feature is that it spends a good 10–20 seconds "preparing" the episode for your listening pleasure. That makes no sense, though, because all the podcasts I tried to play were around 40 MB, I was using a MacBook Air with a SSD, and episodes always open instantly on my iPhone. Why would it need to "prepare" one for playback? My only theory is that it didn't actually download the episode, which would mean that the small "downloaded" icon was false.
My major quibble: When listening to a podcast, it's not possible to pause it with the hardware play/pause button. (To be fair, Instacast doesn't have this function either. Both apps just open iTunes.) Rdio and Spotify seem to have no problem with such functionality, so why are podcast apps stumbling?
Strangely, show notes are hidden in the Get Info pane of an episode.
Most podcasts use show notes to give you links to what they talked about. Downcast's are a bit harder to find than average. You'd expect them to be on the now playing screen, but since the app doesn't technically have one, they're actually hidden in the Get Info pane of the episode, which can be opened with the shortcut Command + I once the item is selected. The notes are then displayed in a small pane below the episode information. Really, this entire pane should be shown by default when an episode is playing, or there should at least be an easier way to access it.
Twitter and Facebook are supported, but App.net and others are left out.
Sharing is an important feature in all apps nowadays. Downcast's options are limited to the stock four, though: Twitter, Facebook, Email, and Message. Instacast, on the other hand, offers the ability to add a podcast to your Safari Reading List, Pocket, or Readability account, and even share it App.net. The developers of Instacast also ask you to support the podcast by Flattring it, something that Downcast doesn't integrate.
I used to enjoy Downcast on iOS for two reasons: it supported gestures for quick navigation in the car and it always worked well. However, I never enjoyed the bland iOS default user interface, and after trying Instacast there's no reason for me to go back. Downcast for Mac doesn't integrate gestures, much less a mini player, and has far too many bugs for daily use.
A choppy example of design in Downcast.
I like that the developers chose to go with iCloud as their syncing service, but other than that, the app doesn't make me want to switch from Instacast. In fact, it helps me to appreciate the polish of that podcast client even more. For half the price of Instacast, Downcast may be worth it for some.
Good podcast apps were hard to find on the Mac before Instacast. Even though Downcast has a good iOS counterpart, its recently-released Mac app needs some work.


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Miami's 2017 Off-Season Recap
Published August 10, 2017 November 18, 2020 by Joshua K. Saunders in Editorials, Joshua K. Saunders, Miami Heat, NBA News/Rumors, The Beat
First off the Miami Heat are not getting Kyrie Irving…
Just get over it. Remember the old saying that your parents or mentors use to tell you: If it's too good to be true, then it is. That's the exact same situation with Miami and the possibility of adding Kyrie Irving. In order to possibly entice Cleveland into sending Kyrie to Miami, Miami must offer at LEAST Goran Dragic, Justise Winslow, and maybe a future draft pick that Miami doesn't have. Because of the Big-3 era and the Goran Dragic trade, Miami's draft picks will be slim until approximately 2022. Miami doesn't have a flexible base of youngsters to risk sending away. Which explains the course of action Miami took this off-season.
If you could describe Miami's off-season in one word, what would it be? CORE. Maintaining the core is exactly what Miami did. Besides a few hits and misses in free-agency, I'd give Miami a B- this summer. Heat fans should have nothing to complain about as the franchise has a solid .500 or better roster currently. The Heat also finally eliminated Chris Bosh's awful contract.
Miami also traded away the infamous Josh McRoberts for Aj Hammond and a 2023 second-round pick. This allowed for the installment of players who suited Spoelstra's system such as Kelly Olynyk, Bam Adebayo, and rookies Derrick Walton and Matt Williams.
In the NBA's 2017 Summer League, Bam Adebayo and Okaro White did not disappoint. Okaro White led the Summer League in points with 19 and was top-5 in rebounds with 8. Bam Adebayo looks like an absolute steal as the 14th pick. Adebayo has displayed a high motor and above the rim skills. He also has the ability to score and showcased a face-up game that we didn't really show at Kentucky. He averaged 17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1 steal, and 1 assist per outing.
Adebayo told reporters,
"Any game that's physical, I like it."
Erik Spoelstra and the Heat have also allowed Dion Waiters and James Johnson to revitalize their careers. Even though Waiters only averaged about 16 points per game this past season, he was on track to average over 20 points per game during the second half of the season before he became inactive with an ankle injury. As a viewer, you could immediately tell the difference in the swagger and style Miami played after Waiter's injury. James Johnson, around the same time as Waiters, seemed to catch fire as well in the latter half of the season. His effect on the floor goes beyond the stat sheet. You have to watch the tenacity in which he played this past season. I saw Johnson control and eliminate DeMarcus Cousins out of more than a few plays in Miami. He's a lot stronger than what some give him credit for.
Wayne Ellington has become a lethal, system shooter. Justise Winslow looks to pick his career up where he left it after dropping 20+ points on the Lakers around Christmas time. Because of Josh Richardson's value is set to cash in with a huge payday (four-year $43 million extension) and that is not something I would waste time with either. Tyler Johnson and Rodney McGruder still serves as capable backups (even though Tyler Johnson is way overpaid). The addition of Kelly Olynyk (four-year $50 million contract) serves as a solid pickup. He's a tough, competitive, stretch big man. His best performance was in last season's playoffs where he scored 27 points in Game 7 against the Washington Wizards.
All these moves all the more confirm that after Miami couldn't reel in any free agency whales like Gordon Hayward, they felt comfortable enough with the core group they've got.
"I think the team deserves a chance to grow organically," said Heat President Pat Riley.
"I think it's been pretty well documented that everybody wanted an opportunity to bring the group back together. Nothing is guaranteed, obviously, in this league, but the way the group and the team came together, connected and competed for each other, that the group wanted an opportunity to explore this further and we were given that opportunity, I think everybody obviously is pretty excited about it. We're going aim high and ultimately we'll find out when we start playing games. But we love our group. We love the fact that we were able to bring the majority of the team back together and add some guys that we think can help," said Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra (via Barry Jackson).
Tags: Bam Adebayo, chris bosh, dion waiters, erik Spoelstra, josh richardson, joshua Saunders, kelly olynyk, miami heat, pat riley
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SHANGHAI, Nov. 25 (SMM) – On Nov. 25, rebar futures prices hit the daily upward limit, leading the cross-board rise in China's ferrous metal market.
"The surge is due mainly to entering of market bulls after inspections on Anfeng I/S and expectations over inspections on many blast furnaces in Tangshan," SMM steel analyst points out.
China's State Council has reiterated its tough stance in eliminating inefficient capacities since the beginning of 2016, and the inspections on Anfeng steel has raised market expectations over the larger-scale checks, especially in Tangshan, which may lead to closures of unqualified ones.


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SYNONYM

#### According to
The Catalogue of Life, 3rd January 2011

#### Published in
Syll. fung. (Abellini) 5: 653 (1887)

#### Original name
null

### Remarks
null

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Marxist Societies
Theory & Analysis
School Student Movement
Workers Movement
Theory Thursday
Russian Revolutionary Movement
Women's Struggle
Personal Accounts Marx wasn't born a Marxist, many different things pull people towards Marxist ideas or inspire them think in a certain way. Learn about different inspirations for Marxist students.
Lessons of the movement
Why we fight
Organisational Guides
Revolution Pamphlet
Rent Strikes – Fight the Parasites
The British education system won't tell you the truth. Let the MSF do it!
Black History Month: Fight for Liberation!
Week One – Origins of Slavery
Week Two – Lessons of the Movement
Week Three – British Racism
Week Four – How to Fight Racism
MARXIST STUDENT FEDERATION
"Life is beautiful, let future generations cleanse it of all evil and oppression"
FIND YOUR LOCAL MARXIST SOCIETY HERE
The Marxist Student Federation is a national organisation of young workers and students who want to overcome capitalism. We fight for a revolutionary change and we need your help! We have Marxist Societies in universities and colleges across the country that you can get involved in. Find out about what our comrades have been up to in this video here.
THEORY AND ANALYSIS
Capitalism is in crisis and every day we're seeing new crises arise. Students and workers are bearing the brunt of the dying system. We need to fight this. In order to change the world, we must first understand it. This is why we write and publish articles about current events, theory and historical analysis.
'Fascism' in the USA?
Some on the left would have you believe that the prospect of fascism is looming over the US. But is this realistic, or just a ploy to shore up support…
Higher education pay: Thanks for nothing! Fight for the full claim!
Non-teaching staff in higher education (HE) have been 'offered' a derisory 0% pay 'rise' this year. In the middle of a pandemic where union members are on the frontline in…
How I was inspired by Revolution Festival 2020
Living in a small town, it can feel like you're surrounded by apathy, and this can often lead to feelings of isolation and powerlessness in the fight against capitalism. However,…
Over 300 young revolutionaries gravitate towards Cambridge Marxists
On 5 November, Cambridge Marxist Society held its weekly meeting, this week focused on the topic of "Capitalism and Mental Health". The meeting was attended by over 300…
UoM students fight back! Statement from the Manchester Marxists
The University of Manchester bosses and landlords have proven to be nothing but selfish profiteering fat cats as students mobilise against the spontaneous raising of fences imprisoning Fallowfield Campus.…
Mental health: pharmaceuticals, therapy and society
We previously published a review of The Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – And the Unexpected Solutions, a book by Swiss-British writer and journalist Johann Hari, in which he attempts…
HELP US FIGHT! OUR CAMPAIGNS
At the Marxist Student Federation, we believe in fighting to change the world. That's why we fight for the things we believe in. Not only do we fight alongside workers and youth, we fight campaigns of our own on issues we think are important. Stand with us and fight for a better world!
Rent Strike! Fight the University Bosses
Tell the truth!
Higher Education Pay: Fight for the full claim!
Marxist Students up and down the country have been involved in rent strike campaigning. Students have been forced back into University halls in order to keep up profit. Education should not be a commodity, we need a free education. Fight the University bosses!
The British government have banned teaching anti-capitalist materials in English schools. This is a blatant attempt to stop young people coming to revolutionary conclusions. The Marxist Student Federation is fighting back against this by telling the truth on economics, history and politics.
The MSF published a series of articles and videos on the origins of slavery; the roots of racism; the black power struggle; from Windrush to the refugee crisis; and how we must fight against capitalism, racism, and all forms of oppression.
Non-teaching staff in higher education (HE) have been 'offered' a derisory 0% pay 'rise' this year. In the middle of a pandemic where union members are on the frontline in universities, workers are seeing just how much they are valued by management.
THEORY THURSDAYS
Lenin said that without revolutionary theory there could be no revolutionary movement. This is entirely correct. The ruling class tries to teach us in a way which benefits them, telling us that capitalism is the only system we can live under. However, this is untrue. Every 2 weeks we will be posting a theoretical article on a different topic, from economics, to philosophy to lessons learnt from centuries of fighting.
The housing question in Britain: a history of struggle
Trotsky's advice to young Marxists – "don't spread yourself too thin"
Lenin on the tasks of young revolutionaries
As Marxists, we understand that socialism is international, or it is nothing. This is why we're proud to be a part the International Marxist Tendency, a revolutionary organisation present in over 40 countries – and growing! We are also supporters of Socialist Appeal, the Marxist Voice of Labour and Youth, which is the British section of the IMT. Check out these websites for more information.
Interested in getting involved? Drop us a message and we'll get back to you as soon possible!
contact@marxiststudent.com
Find Your Marxist Society


Why Do You Need to Use Business Removal Sydney Professionals?
One quick question, why on earth would you need to hire a team of business removal Sydney experts to do the relocation for you when you have your employees? Well, It'd be much cheaper and more convenient for your part, wouldn't it? And yes, you're right but there are some certain points that you would want to consider before letting your employees do it for you. In this article, we will help you find out how an expert mover could help your business move.
Anyway, let me ask you, have you experience moving to a new house? If yes, then you know how tiring it is to do a lot of things on your own, right? You had to pack everything with extra care, store stuff in a self storage unit, transfer them to your place, and then unpack them right away. But that doesn't just stop there, you still have to organise everything to the new place. Sounds stressful right? How much more if we talk about business relocation.
It's a fact that running a company is already a challenging task. You need to keep the daily operations running smoothly whilst making sure that your company stays profitable. Now, the question here is, how could you manage a move while running your business? Well, that is exactly the reason why you need business removal Sydney expert to do the job for you. Are you not still convince? Then, here are some other reasons why you need to use business removal Sydney experts when moving to a new office space.
First and foremost, an expert can handle everything. Knowing that they are all expert in their fields, they exactly know what to do. Likewise, they are aware of the fixtures they need to move out first. But not just that, there are also sensitive devices they need to disconnect, as well as the items that need to be carefully packed. In short, a professional removalist company is well-known to be an expert in relocating.
Every business needs complex moving plans. However, professional office movers can break the process down for you without using your own company's resources, time, and labour.
Likewise, they are capable of analysing your company's current situation and creates an efficient moving schedule. So, you don't have to stress yourself out about organising everything once you get to your new location. After all, expert removalist could work around processes. You can then move into your new office as if you never left the old one. It sounds stress-free and convenient, right?
Every company's lifeblood is the profit and revenues and downtime could be costly to a company. Well, professional business removal Sydney company understands this. That is why they are capable of working around your schedule. Making sure that your company's operation will be simultaneous and will not be affected while the move happens. As a matter of fact, most of the office moving company develops personalise moving solutions. Just to keep one's business runs smoothly while the removal process is on. Keeping your moving schedule followed to keep downtimes at its minimum.
Efficiency and time are what makes a business become successful. This is the reason why removal companies developed useful techniques. They categorise the moving process into several stages only to make sure that the transport is quick and safe. So, from organising the packing, storing, and transportation of the goods, the professionals can constantly coordinate the entire process. This is for them to make sure that the moving schedule stays within the schedule.
Incidents happen when you least expect it. It can occur anytime and anywhere. Thus, your moving process is not an exemption to this kind of situation. But you can prevent such things from happening. When working with the professionals, the transition will be done with ease and more safety in mind. You can also get an insurance for potential damages to your office property. And ultimately, your employees are away from risks knowing that the experts are handling the job. Your employees can then relax knowing that they do not have to add an office mover to their job descriptions.
Letting the professional business removal Sydney experts handle your business move could be the best option you could do. Knowing that they have the experience to do the job, they can execute the project with less hassle. They have the proper training on how to handle sensitive tools and devices such as servers, computers, and other electronic devices. Making it sure that they will arrive at its destination free from damage.
Well, the bottom line here is that moving is a challenging task that needs professional help to make the move smooth and productive. After all, what's important is the safety of your office possessions. And the smooth moving process away from a stress and danger.
Want to experience a hassle-free move?
Take it from one of the most reputable moving company in Australia, Business Relocation Service is the right choice for your relocation and removal needs. Call us today for more details and our expert team are always ready to help.


Happy (belated) new year everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. I have missed you all and missed blogging. I've been doing a lot of writing and reading for grad school, but not always on topics of my preference. All this writing has made it a challenge to write for fun, as my "creativity tank" has been on empty after turning in so many other writing assignments. Reading other blog posts has unfortunately presented a similar challenge.
This winter holiday provided a much-needed break and also some time to reflect, both on what I've learned in school and on what I want this blog to look like moving forward. For the past few years, I have struggled with wanting to incorporate more advocacy and social change into my blog, but also wanting to keep the focus on finding life's magic. I felt somehow that these two ideas were in conflict. I think this is because there was a part of me that felt that pointing out the things in the world around me that were not ideal was a negative approach, something that conflicted with my concept of the Enchanted Outlook.
Recently, however, I realized that this does not need to be the case. If I can use the concept of having an Enchanted Outlook to find the magic in life's personal struggles, why not use this concept to find more positive ways to deal with struggles in the world at large? That's when I settled on the main focus of my blog for 2019, which is Advocacy Magic.
So, what is Advocacy Magic? It's using the concepts from my blog, namely, cognitive reframing, positive psychology, and metaphors in fantasy literature and, instead of focusing on personal happiness, focusing instead on making the world a happier place. It's doing so in a way that will, fingers crossed, be full of joy, fun, interconnectedness, a quest for knowledge, and most importantly, hope.
I plan on starting each blog post off with a topic highlight of something in the world that could stand to change. My hope is to make this brief, to the point, impactful, and, of course, to make sure that my sources are solid and my facts well-researched. Then, I plan on offering some solutions. While I understand that not EVERY solution, and not EVERY problem is best addressed in a lighthearted manner, the focus of Advocacy Magic will be on solutions that could be seen as enjoyable, rewarding, or that require easy lifestyle changes. I don't do this against, but rather in addition to, other advocacy styles, because I want the approach of Advocacy Magic to be true to the heart of The Enchanted Outlook, which is to say, a joyful approach.
Finally, I intend to incorporate elements of positive psychology to the idea of advocacy itself, to help others find the joy in being an advocate and maybe take away some of the fear and doubts that can prevent people from working towards positive change.
So that's it, folks. I hope this is something that will be interesting and fun. Please let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions for topics to cover.
A while back, I wrote a Creatures and Happiness Series, where I talked about magical creatures and what they can teach us about happiness. Now I would like to do the same with magical objects. This series will be a little different though; instead of simply talking about the metaphor behind the magic, I will be relating the magical object to a real-world equivalent. Hopefully, this can open our eyes to the wondrous things that are already all around us.
In the Harry Potter series, there is a device called a time turner. In the series, it is primarily used in such a way that the user gets some extra time in their day to accomplish things. Wouldn't we all like a device like that? Alas, I have no magical time-giving necklace, but I do use a few apps and tools that, to me, are just as magical in terms of helping me use the time I do have more wisely. I'm not affiliated with any of these companies; I just wanted to share some nifty (free!) ways to give yourself a little more time.
1. Overdrive– Lately, I've had a hard time finding the time to sit down and read a book, but I do have plenty of time in the car or while exercising to listen to a book. The overdrive app allows you to get free audio-books on your phone through your local library. In addition to being fun, this is a great resource to learn something new. If your library is participating, all you need is a library card. Think of it like a free audible.com. Ebooks are also available. Sometimes, you have to place a book on hold until it becomes available, but, I figure that I technically do the same thing with audible, as my subscription only allows me to check out one book a month. So, make sure to leave a little shopping time a couple of weeks prior to when you want to read your book, especially if it is very popular.
2. Headspace– I know this is a pretty common one, but I wanted to talk specifically about how Headspace helps me to save time. In addition to allowing you the benefits of meditation- including feeling more clear-headed and focused and therefore more productive, Headspace allows you to set a daily time in which to meditate. I set mine to 12:30 (around lunchtime) and right now it's set to just five minutes a day. Headspace will send you a reminder when your scheduled time approaches. You can also opt for daily messages of encouragement. Where I would normally drag my feet in finding time to meditate, having a daily reminder and a brief meditation time helps me to make it a habit.
3. Drops– This is a language app that teaches you a language in just five minutes a day. It's in the form of a game, and you can play it while waiting in line, while on your lunchbreak, or even in the bathroom if you are so inclined. Five minutes might not seem like much, but over time, you can learn a lot! And did I mention it's beautiful?
4. Stay Focused– These apps go by different names but this is the one I use. This limits website time on certain sites. I have mine set for 20 minutes. Currently, it's just on Facebook for me, but you can select any websites where you feel you are spending more time than you would like. I only wish you could customize the time for the website (such as 1.5 hours for Netflix, 30 minutes for Pinterest, 15 for Facebook, etc.) If anyone knows of an app that can do that, please let me know!
5. The Skimm- I don't have this as an app although I believe they have one (I'm just on their email list). They send you news highlights that can be read in about five minutes, along with links to longer news sources if you want to read more in depth, or verify the info. They are geared more towards millennial women and the writing style is very colloquial, so it may not be everyone's thing. For me, it's an easy way to get some quick highlights for those days when I don't have time to read all of my traditional news sources. And bonus: they emphasize quick and easy-to-follow updates on international news, something I struggle to find with many American newspapers.
You may be asking though, what does all this have to do with happiness? While time management may not directly lead to happiness, it certainly leaves us with less stress and more time to prioritize happiness. The trick is to be intentional about using that extra time in our day to invest in things that truly bring us joy. So, while we may not be able to turn back time, we can set aside more time for happiness.
What is your favorite time management tip?
I'll admit, this post comes after a number of failures on my part. Working in the social services field means I'm often seeing the direct, day-to-day impact of policy changes, which can feel frustrating. I've gotten lost in my share of ugly internet debates. I've burnt out trying to address everything I care about at once. I've found myself feeling bitter and even despondent. I don't think any of these reactions was "wrong," but, none of them helped me to be a better citizen, nor did they make me feel any better. So, I went back to the drawing board. What does citizenship actually mean?
This post is about the second definition. What kind of qualities make someone a responsible member of a community? I've spent a lot of time lately trying to figure out what it looks like to be a good citizen and how to have good citizenship in a way that was healthy, sustaining, and encouraging growth, while not shying away from taking responsibility for truths that need addressing. I came up with a combination of four areas of citizenship: ownership, goodwill, education, and action. Focusing on these four areas has helped me to be a happier and more effective citizen, so I wanted to share in case they were helpful to others as well.
Now, by ownership, I mean recognizing the ways in which we benefit (if indeed we do) from being a citizen of a particular governance or organization and then feeling a responsibility for our part in that governance or organization. Maybe we have the opportunity to attend a school. Maybe we can use emergency services. Maybe our area has public museums or parks. When we do benefit from our citizenship, perhaps this can bring about a sense of both gratitude and responsibility. I like to think that we as citizens of our nations and our communities can take a certain pride and ownership in helping maintain services that are for the benefit of all people. It also means realizing the impact that our decisions can have in the community as a whole and taking ownership of the results of our decisions.
By goodwill, I mean having a general attitude of cooperation and good intent towards others. This means humanizing individuals from all walks of life. I don't take this to mean always being agreeable with everyone; in some circumstances, it may mean standing one's ground or setting boundaries without resorting to disrespect or ridicule. I think that setting boundaries and standing our ground can sometimes be an act of kindness and compassion, if this is done with an attitude of goodwill. And personally, I think it is much easier to have goodwill towards others if we first practice self-love and self-acceptance. I find it is much more difficult to empathize from a place of hurt, shame, or fear.
Action. I find it most helpful to focus on action-oriented solutions. While it's great to have a general knowledge of community needs, I would recommend picking one or two causes to become actively involved in so you don't burn out. This means finding effective ways of giving back to the community and also sharing those ways with others. I would also personally encourage statistically significant, data-driven ways of giving back. Look into annual reports and results of studies, if they are available. Action has an added benefit because I find that negative people tend to have a harder time arguing with concrete actions rather than words. Action can be anything from volunteer work to donations, to engaging in community events to, of course, giving feedback and voting on issues. And finally, action might sometimes mean accepting that the way in which we have previously engaged as citizens might be harmful, and making meaningful changes to better the way we interact with our communities.
Now, when I find myself in a political or social conundrum or a disagreement, I move down that list. Am I taking good ownership on the issue as a member of my community? Am I responding in a way that exhibits goodwill to others? Do I have enough education on the subject at hand, and if so, have I taken the time to help educate others? And finally, have I taken action towards effective change rather than just talking about the issue?
Never forget that when we invest in our community as a whole, we also invest in ourselves. To me, citizenship is a verb, not a noun. There are so many different ways of being engaged citizens of our communities. When we take the responsibility to learn more about our communities' needs and act accordingly, we are able to pay forward the benefits that being members of that community has afforded us.
Do you like these tenants of ownership, goodwill, education and action? Is there something else related to good citizenship that I've overlooked? Or, is there a tactic you use in order to be a happier, more engaged citizen of your community?
Lately, I've been feeling guilty. I've had my first summer break in about eight years and it's delightful. Naturally, I've been wanting to make the most of it. Instead, I find myself sleeping more than I mean to and spending much of my time prepping for school, making annual appointments and check-ups, or up-keeping things that have been neglected during my busy school year. If not doing that, I've mostly been laying around reading, watching TV, and browsing things in Pinterest.
After a few weeks of feeling guilty, I ordered a new planner and made a few lists. I made a list of things I needed to accomplish, things I wanted to do for fun, and things I was needing to purchase prior to starting school in the fall. I filled in my planner so that I would have an approximate timeline to accomplish things. However, I also left time to rest.
Rest is essential to our well-being. It allows our bodies and minds to recharge. It helps us to be more resilient and ward off illness. It can even make us more creative and productive. Currently, I'm resting in three different ways: I'm sleeping more, I'm laying around doing "nothing" more, and I'm organizing my affairs in preparation for the fall. I hope to start school feeling very well-rested and having a clear mind.
So, the next time you find yourself feeling guilty for resting, remember that you are investing in your own health, your mental wellness, and your future creativity and productivity. Resting isn't an escape from productivity; it's an essential part of productivity.
What is your favorite way to rest?
Last week, I talked about investing in decisions that will lead to less stress and better outcomes in the future. This week, I would like to talk about a different kind of investment: our thoughts.
Thoughts may be a bit more difficult to change than decisions. While we can see the external result of the decisions we make, we may not be as aware of our thought processes. Still, I think there is a lot of value in taking the time to invest in our way of thinking. So often, we work to exercise our bodies, but we neglect to exercise our minds.
What I have done in the past and have found to be helpful is to start with one thought process to work on first. Maybe you would like to change a certain language usage or pay closer attention to the way you treat yourself internally. It helps to take some time to first be mindful and present with your current thought process. That way, you know where your starting point is and what you would like to change. Consider journaling, meditating, or talking things over with a friend to get started. Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself or to what you think about when you try to make plans or set goals.
Consider also having an external reminder of the change you would like to make, whether that be a written goal, a quote that speaks to your desired change, or even something symbolic, like a piece of art or jewelry. Strange as it may seem, I have used rings before to represent certain goals because I tend to look at my hands frequently as I type or write. I have one ring that I use to represent mindfulness and another that I use to represent self-care. Regardless, it helps for it be be something you notice regularly. Consider setting a reminder on your phone if you would like, or choosing a particular time of day with which to reflect on your goal.
The idea behind this is that changing our way of thinking takes practice and repetition, but it can have huge benefits in the long-run. With some time and effort, you may find yourself feeling better, having a more positive outlook, or finding it easier to meet your goals. Finally, if you are struggling to identify your thought patterns or make the changes you would like to make, consider seeing a licensed counselor, who can help identify any thought patterns that may be maladaptive and offer alternatives.
Is there something you have invested in that you found to be particularly helpful? If so, feel free to share!
Welcome to my new series on investment! In this series, I want to expand the meaning of the term investment beyond just finances and look into the power of making life choices that encourage growth. Looking at my life choices in the framework of this word for the past year-and-a-half has really changed my perspective and helped me to grow as a person.
I have lately been suffering from some major decision fatigue. I think it has been a combination of a lot of life changes in a short time and a job that requires minute-by-minute decision changes. One thing I have learned from working in the mental health field is that when we are very stressed, we tend to make the choices that seem the easiest in the moment. Our brains struggle to put in the extra effort and energy to find the best overall long-term solution. And it can feel like a relief to have made the decision, even if that decision is an unhealthy or maladaptive one.
So, one thing I have been doing lately is investing a little more time on the upfront on many of my decisions in order to consider what will be easiest and/or best for me long-term. For instance, I put in some extra research when considering buying new make-up because I couldn't find a make-up company that really worked for me and that I was passionate about. I have now found Elate Cosmetics* and am super excited to be building an eco-friendly capsule make-up collection that I hope to use as my go-to for years to come.
I've also invested in many reusable products lately. While the cost is sometimes bigger upfront, it has saved me time and money to only purchase a product once, rather than purchasing the same things repeatedly. This gives me more mental energy to prioritize my other life purchases.
Another example would be going back to school. This was a big choice, and one that I had been considering, but putting off, for years. In part, my hesitancy was due to the expense and not wanting to have debt. Last June, I buckled down and really did my research. Little did I know that, for the program I had interest in, the city where I lived had the cheapest in the country and was also well-ranked nationally.
1. Does this decision align with my values? Will I feel good about the decision in the long-term? Does it make me happy to make this decision? Does it feel right? Is it healthy?
2. Does this decision help to curb future decision-making? Is it a re-usable or long-lasting choice? Does it have an aspect of versatility to it? Will I continue to love this decision long-term? Am I only making the decision "for now" only to confront it later or is it a choice that is "settled" and clears my mind to focus on other things?
3. Is this decision an investment? Did I make the choice that will help me to grow as a person? Will it make my life easier long-term? Will this decision bring more wealth into my life, whether that be a wealth of good relationships, morals, materials, or happiness? Will this decision blossom?
You might find other questions to be helpful in your life as well, but these three were a good place for me to start. I would also add to not be afraid to think outside the box. You may find the decision that best fits you and your life is an unconventional one- I certainly have from time to time. So, I wish you a happy decision-making process, and may your choices bring you joy and help you to thrive!
*This post was not sponsored by Elate Cosmetics; I'm just excited to share a new product I am passionate about!
My current buzzword is investment. Is there a word or phrase that you like to use that has brought a bit of "charm" into your life? If so, I would love to hear it!
No, you didn't read that title wrong. Yesterday was my birthday and I'm very grateful to be another year older.
I've spent a large part of my career with women around twice my age. They are always trying to warn me of the perils of aging. They warn me of how terrible it is and how I really need to appreciate being young. Perhaps these were lessons that never sank in when they were younger. I just smile and nod.
My mother died of cancer at age 49 and my aunt at age 55. They both had a genetic mutation that made them predisposed to the disease. I also had two cousins who died in a car crash when they were in college. For my family, death has never been too far away.
I spent about fifteen years not knowing if I had the same gene mutation that killed my mother and my aunt. This meant that I was very unclear on my risk for early mortality. On the one hand, this encouraged me to eat healthy, to get plenty of sleep, to live in the now, and to never take my time for granted. On the other hand, it cast a large question mark over my life.
For some reason, I was never able to find an OBGYN who was willing to do the genetic testing until about a year ago. When I finally got the tests done, I found out that I didn't have the gene. I was the first woman in my extended family to test negative for it. Suddenly, the second half of my life opened up. I could stand to wait a few years to have children without raising my risk of cancer. I no longer felt silly putting money away for retirement. I could dream about what I might like to do in my golden years. I could count on with a bit more certainly all those milestones of life that others take for granted.
What a lot of women fear in growing older has become for me a blessing for which I am continually grateful. Bring on the achy muscles and creaky knees. Bring on the forgetfulness and the hot flashes and the wrinkles and saggy places. I am ready for all of it because I never knew if I would be able to have those years at all.
Believing from a young age that I could die young had another added benefit: every day counts. Life needs to be lived with no regrets, because we really don't know when our time will come, and with gratitude, since every day we are alive is a gift. It is not some privilege that life is obligated to give us.
So I have a small request for the young and old. It is good and well to feel what we need to feel and complain when we need to complain. Bad days (and months, and years) happen and are a part of living. But if you can, remember from time to time that the days we have on this earth are a gift. Do it for all those young people who did not have the blessing to be alive today. But more importantly, do it for yourself, because nothing is more nurturing to our own happiness than taking a moment to appreciate the simple act of living and all the wonders it entails.
So this birthday, and every birthday, I am taking a moment to practice gratitude that I was given another year of living. And, I'm thinking of how to squeeze the most magic out of the next year of my life, one day at a time.


text:
Q: ProjectEuler 9: Why this is not working ( Java )? Problem says that only one triplet exists for which :
a+b+c=1000 and  a^2 + b^2 = c^2
I'm trying to find this triplet by simple brute force but it return every time a=1000, b=1000 and c=1000, and I can't understand why?
 public class Euler9
{

    static long Answer()
    {
        long a=1,b=1,c=1;

        outer:
        for( ; a<1000; ++a )
        {
            for( ; b<1000; ++b )
            {
                for( ; c<1000 ; ++c )
                {
                    if( (a+b+c == 1000) && (a*a+b*b == c*c) )
                    break outer;
                }
            }
        }

        System.out.println(a+" + "+b+" + "+c+" = "+(a+b+c));
        return a*b*c;
    }

}

A: Your for loops need to initialize their index variables; your break needs to go to the code AFTER the nested loops.


This nearly 40 acre parcel on Ave E & Co. 24 1/2 St. is only 1/2 mile from the new Port of Entry 2 for San Luis. City water and sewer are off site and available. Zoned L-I. Seller may divide. Seller is a licensed Arizona Broker.